JP5856770B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine that is installed and used in a game hall such as a pachinko parlor.

  As a ball game machine, for example, in a pachinko game machine, a game ball as a prize ball is paid out based on the winning of the game ball to each winning opening, and as a ball rental based on data of a recording medium such as a prepaid card Of game balls are paid out.

In the upper part on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine, a storage tank for storing game balls supplied from the island facility side where the pachinko gaming machine is installed is provided.
A flow path for the game ball to flow down from the storage tank to the upper plate side of the lower part of the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine is provided, and a game ball payout device is provided in the flow path. This game ball payout device pays out game balls stored in a storage tank to the upper plate side through the flow path as the above-mentioned prize balls or rental balls.

In addition, the game ball payout device is controlled by the payout control device, and the payout control device relates to the game of the pachinko gaming machine including control for paying out the winning ball based on the winning of the game ball in the pachinko gaming machine. A main controller that performs control is connected. Further, a ball lending signal control device of a sand device provided adjacent to the pachinko gaming machine is connected to the payout control device.
The main control device outputs a command to the payout control device so as to pay out the number of game balls corresponding to the winning port each time the gaming ball wins one of the winning ports.

  In addition, the ball lending signal control device, for example, reads the data of the prepaid card in which the point corresponding to the amount of money is stored as data by the CR unit provided in the sand device and reading / writing the prepaid card, When a ball lending operation is performed using a ball lending button or the like provided on the right end of the upper plate of the pachinko gaming machine, the prepaid card point data and the payout control device corresponding to the above-mentioned ball lending operation A ball lending signal is output.

  The game ball payout device controlled by the payout control measure is designed to pay out each game ball at a relatively high speed and continuously. For example, about 1 to 15 game balls are continuously paid out as the number of awarded balls. The number of prize balls is included in the command output from the main control device to the payout control device, and the number of prize balls included in this command is the planned number of payouts to be paid out from the game ball payout device. In addition, when a large number of game balls win in a short period of time, such as winning game balls to the attacker in the big hit state, for example, game balls of the number of prize balls corresponding to the attacker's big winning opening are continuously paid out. Is repeated.

  In the case of lending, for example, a lending ball corresponding to a predetermined point is paid out by a single lending operation. At this time, a number of game balls corresponding to a predetermined unit number are continuously paid out. Note that. When the number of lent balls corresponding to the predetermined point is larger than the predetermined unit number (in the case of a multiple of the predetermined unit number), it is repeated that the predetermined number of game balls are continuously paid out. Basically, the input to the payout control device for one ball lending signal means that a predetermined unit number is input as the number of game balls to be continuously paid out, and this predetermined unit number is controlled by the payout control device. The game ball payout device is a planned payout number that is a payout amount that is to be paid out.

  Here, when a power failure occurs due to a power failure or power failure, the number of game balls to be paid out continuously (scheduled payout number) input from the main control device or the ball lending signal control device to the payout control device is: When the payout of game balls corresponding to the planned payout number has not been started, power is supplied by a battery or the like so that the stored information is not erased even in a power interruption state, for example, in a battery backup memory (BB memory) Information corresponding to the planned payout number is stored.

Further, in the gaming machine, the number of game balls to be paid out to the upper plate side after the start of paying out the game balls corresponding to the above-mentioned scheduled payout number is output from the game ball detection sensor (game ball payout detection sensor). It is counted by counting the detection signal. The game ball payout detection sensor is provided downstream from the game ball payout device and upstream from the upper plate so that the game balls discharged from the game ball payout device can be detected one by one, and when the game ball is detected. A detection signal is output to.
Using this game ball payout detection sensor, the number of game balls actually paid out of the planned payout amount and the remaining number as unpaid game balls obtained by subtracting the number of game balls from the planned payout amount are paid out. The remaining number of data can be stored in the BB memory at the time of power interruption.
It should be noted that the power supply is temporarily supplied by a battery or the like when the power is cut off, and the above-described data can be stored in the BB memory immediately after the power is cut off.

When returning from the power interruption, first, the remaining number of game balls stored in the memory are paid out as described above, and then when there is a predetermined payout number stored, the game ball is played by a normal payout operation. Will be paid out.
In other words, if the game ball is interrupted while the game ball is paid out, and the game ball payout is interrupted, the game ball is not paid based on the number of game balls detected by the game ball detection sensor that detects the game ball to be paid out. The remaining number of game balls is stored, and at the time of power recovery, first, the remaining number of game balls are paid out (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, the game ball payout device includes a sprocket-like rotating body provided with recesses for holding the game balls on the outer periphery, and rotates the lowest game ball among the game balls aligned in the flow path. After holding the concave portion facing upward corresponding to the rotation of the body, the concave portion is inclined corresponding to the rotation of the rotating body, so that the game balls are continuously paid out one by one by dropping the game balls from the concave portion. Can be done.
The game ball payout detection sensor described above is provided below the rotating body.

  For example, an interval of about 2 to 3 times the diameter of the game ball is provided between the above-described rotating body and the game ball payout detection sensor. The rotating body of the game ball payout device rotates at a relatively high speed while paying out the game balls, and passes through the flow path below the rotating body in a state where the discharged game balls are close to each other. When the ball passes, it is detected by the gaming ball payout detection sensor.

  Therefore, if there is a power interruption while the game balls are continuously being paid out, the game ball detection sensor will not function due to the power interruption, and the rotation body and the game ball detection sensor will stop when the rotation of the rotation body stops. The game ball between the two will flow down to the upper plate side without being detected by the game ball detection sensor.

  As described above, when the remaining number of game balls obtained based on the number of game balls detected by the above-mentioned game ball detection sensor is paid out after returning from the power interruption, the above-mentioned game ball detection is actually performed. Only a few game balls that have flowed down without being detected by the sensor are paid out more than the above-mentioned scheduled payout number.

  Further, for example, when n ball receiving portions are provided on the outer periphery, the rotating body rotates 1 / n to pay out one game ball, and every 1 / n rotation. Game balls will be paid out. Here, when the rotation angle when the rotating body rotates 1 / n is m (= 360 degrees / n), when the rotating body rotates m degrees, the game ball is just dropped from the ball receiving portion. In this case, there is a possibility that the game ball does not fall even if the rotating body rotates by m degrees with a slight shift in the rotation angle.

  Therefore, in reality, when the rotation angle p is slightly smaller than the rotation angle m, the game ball falls, and even after the game ball falls, the rotating body rotates until the rotation angle becomes m. Become. In this case, when the power is cut off, even if the rotating body is not rotated up to the rotational angle m for paying out one game ball, the gaming ball falls when the rotational angle of the rotating body reaches p. .

  When the rotating body stops by power interruption before the rotational angle of the rotating body reaches m, when the rotational angle of the rotating body exceeds p, the power interruption occurs immediately after the game ball falls. Become. In this case, a game ball that has been dropped immediately before the power interruption is disconnected before it is detected by the game ball payout detection sensor, even if the game ball payout detection sensor is in the immediate vicinity of the rotating body. There is a high possibility that it will not be detected by the ball detection sensor.

Also, even if a game ball is detected immediately before the game ball payout detection sensor is disconnected, the processing in the payout control device is not in time, and the remaining number corresponding to the last detected game ball may not be updated and stored. There is also sex.
As will be described later, the power interruption occurs only on the substrate of the payout control device. For example, even when the game ball detection sensor continues to operate, the payout control device loses power and the game is sent to the payout control device. Even if a ball detection signal is input, the remaining number is not updated and stored, and the result is almost the same as when the game ball detection sensor is disconnected.

  However, normally, power outages due to lightning strikes, etc. rarely occur, and even if several game balls are paid out by each of many gaming machines at the time of power outage, it is a big problem It will not be. In addition, even when a power failure occurs in the entire game store, the gaming machines that are paying out game balls at the time of the power failure are only a part of the game stores.

JP 2002-925 A

  By the way, attempts to illegally take away gaming media such as coins and game balls from gaming machines are required, and there are known a number of unauthorized methods that exploit the weaknesses of gaming machines. An illegal method that has been known to the amusement store will be dealt with by taking some measures at the amusement store, but it will be possible to deal with a new method until it is known. Can not.

The above-described structure in which several game balls are paid out if there is a power interruption when paying out the game balls may be exploited as a weak point of the gaming machine.
For example, it is conceivable that a pachinko gaming machine is illegally opened, a wiring board for fraudulent action is connected to the board of the payout control device, and the payout control device is forcibly cut off. In this fraudulent circuit board, for example, power interruptions are repeated in a short period of time, for example, while a predetermined number of game balls are being paid out, power interruptions are generated and power interruptions are restored. Is repeated, and there is a possibility that extra undetected game balls that are not detected by the game ball detection sensor as described above can be paid out.

  In this case, if the power supply is restored to rotate the rotating body and the game ball detection sensor is restored, and if several game balls are discharged from the rotary body, the game ball detection is performed again. The sensor goes down and several game balls can be paid out again without increasing the remaining number. If the power interruption and return are repeated at short intervals in this way, the number of game balls flowing down to the upper plate increases without decreasing the remaining number. In other words, a configuration in which only a few extra game balls may be paid out upon return from power interruption becomes a weak point, and there is a possibility that the game balls can be illegally paid out.

Although this illegal method generates power interruption, it is not necessary to interrupt the main control device that controls the progress of the game or the sub-control device for performing effects by sound or video. It is only necessary to generate a power interruption only in the control device (substrate).
Therefore, the entire gaming machine is cut off during the fraudulent action, the LED lighting is turned off, the sound including music for production is turned off, and the video display on the liquid crystal display device is turned off. The game ball can be paid out. As a result, it becomes possible to make the game ball pay out illegally without being relatively noticeable.

  The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and a game capable of suppressing fraud based on paying out several extra game balls after the game machine that is paying out the game balls is disconnected. The purpose is to provide a machine.

The gaming machine according to claim 1, a game ball payout means for paying out a game ball,
Based on the input of the planned payout number as the number of game balls to be continuously paid out in one payout operation, the game ball paying means is controlled so as to pay out the game balls for the planned payout number. A payout control means;
Game ball payout detecting means for detecting game balls paid out from the game ball paying means in order to sequentially count the game balls paid out from the game ball paying means;
Each time the game ball is detected by the game ball pay-out detecting means after the game ball pay-out operation is started by the game ball pay-out means corresponding to the planned pay-out number, one is sequentially subtracted from the value of the planned pay-out number. And a remaining number calculation storage means for updating and storing the value to be subtracted as the remaining number,
The game ball payout means includes a flow path for continuously flowing the game balls in a row from a storage tank for storing the game balls to be paid out,
Provided upstream of the game ball payout detection means in the flow path, and when the rotation stops, the flow of the game ball in the flow path is stopped, and whenever it rotates by a predetermined rotation angle that is a predetermined number of one rotation, A rotating body that causes the game balls in the flow path to flow downward one by one;
The rotation angle of the rotator during the payout operation can be specified, and the rotator is rotated by a multiplication rotation angle obtained by multiplying the predetermined rotation angle by the planned payout number and the rotator from the start of the payout operation. Rotation driving means for stopping the rotation of the rotating body when the rotation angle becomes the multiplication rotation angle,
The payout control means includes a memory holding means capable of holding memory even in a power interruption state,
In addition, when power is interrupted during the payout operation, the remaining number stored in the remaining number calculation storage means at the time of power interruption is stored in the storage holding means, and the memory is stored at the time of return from power interruption. In the gaming machine that controls the game ball payout means so as to pay out the remaining number of game balls stored in the holding means,
The payout control unit divides the rotation angle of the rotating body from the start of the payout operation by the predetermined rotation angle when the rotation by the rotation driving unit stops due to power interruption when the power cut occurs during the payout operation. The halfway rotation angle corresponding to the remainder is obtained, and this halfway rotation angle is the rotation angle of the rotating body within the predetermined rotation angle, and the game ball is released from the state held by the rotating body and dropped. If the rotation angle is less than or equal to the game ball fall rotation angle, the remaining number is maintained without being changed, and if the midway rotation angle is greater than or equal to the game ball fall rotation angle, the remaining number is calculated from the remaining number. A remaining number determining means for changing to a value obtained by subtracting 1;
Between the position where the game ball paying-out detecting means detects the game ball and the position where the rotating body of the game ball paying-out means drops the game ball, it is continuously discharged by the rotating body and flows down. , An interval is provided in which undetected game balls that are not yet detected by the payout game ball detecting means can be arranged by the number of undetected game balls of 1 or more,
In the case where power is interrupted during the payout operation, the payout control means determines the remaining number determined by the remaining number determining means if the remaining number is equal to or greater than the number of undetected game balls. To the value obtained by subtracting the number of undetected game balls from
If the remaining number is less than the number of undetected game balls, a remaining number changing means for changing the remaining number determined by the remaining number determining means to 0 is provided .

In the first aspect of the present invention, each time the rotating body rotates by a predetermined angle, the gaming ball on the upstream side of the rotating body in the flow path flows down and one gaming ball is paid out. At this time, the game ball is not paid out when the rotating body rotates by a predetermined angle, but falls from a state where the game ball is held by the rotating body when the game ball falls to a rotation angle smaller than the predetermined angle. In this way, the holding state is released.
In addition, when paying out only one game ball, the rotating body passes through the game ball falling rotation angle and rotates to a predetermined angle. Here, if power is cut off during rotation of the rotating body, the game ball to be paid out at that time is held by the rotating body if the midway rotation angle at the time of the power interruption is less than the game ball falling rotation angle. In this state, the rotation of the rotating body is stopped by power interruption, and the game ball to be paid out is held by the rotating body.

  On the other hand, if the midway rotation angle is equal to or greater than the game ball falling rotation angle (less than a predetermined angle), the game ball is not held by the rotating body immediately before power interruption, and the flow starts. In this case, even if there is a game ball payout detecting means in the vicinity immediately below the rotating body, a gaming ball separated from the rotating body due to power interruption is not detected. In this case, the actual number of remaining game balls is reduced by one, but the remaining number based on the detection of the game balls by the game ball payout detecting means has not changed.

In this case, if the game balls are paid out for the remaining number when the power is restored, an extra game ball will be paid out for one game ball. If a repetitive device is attached, it may be possible to illegally pay out a large number of game balls in the case of continuous payout of game balls.
On the other hand, when the midway rotation angle becomes larger than the game ball falling rotation angle as described above, by subtracting 1 from the remaining number, the remaining number of game balls reduced by 1 when the power is restored are paid out. become. In this case, since no extra game balls are paid out due to power interruption, an increase in payout of game balls due to fraudulent acts can be suppressed.

In addition , when there is an interval in which a plurality of game balls to be discharged simultaneously flow down in a row between a rotating body that pays out game balls and a game ball pay-out detection unit that detects the game balls that have been paid out, Undetected game balls between the rotating body and the game ball payout detection means are not detected by the game ball payout detection means, and undetected game balls are not counted.

In this case, if the remaining number of game balls are paid out at the time of return from the power failure because the game ball payout detection means does not detect it, the game balls will be paid out by the number of undetected game balls. By subtracting the number of undetected game balls from the remaining number obtained by the detection of the game balls of the payout detection means, the extra game balls are prevented from being paid out.
When the remaining number is less than the number of undetected game balls, the remaining game balls are between the rotating body and the game ball payout detecting means, and the actual remaining number is zero.
In addition, in claim 1, a game ball that has been cut off immediately after the start of dropping due to the midway rotation angle being equal to or greater than the game ball falling rotation angle is not included in the number of undetected game balls. Therefore, in a state where the midway rotation angle is equal to or greater than the game ball falling rotation angle and the remaining number is greater than the number of undetected game balls,

In the invention according to claim 1, when the payout control means is disconnected during the payout operation, the rotation of the rotating body, which has stopped rotating by the rotation driving means due to power interruption, from the start of the payout operation. A value obtained by dividing the angle by the predetermined rotation angle is a predetermined angle rotation speed,
A value obtained by subtracting the predetermined number of rotations from the scheduled number of payouts in the payout operation at the time of power interruption may be the remaining number instead of the remaining number.

According to such a configuration, the number of game balls paid out from the game ball paying means is determined by the rotation angle of the rotating body, and the game balls are paid out at every predetermined rotation angle. By dividing the rotation angle by the predetermined rotation angle, the remaining number can be determined without using the detection of the game ball of the game ball detection means. It is not necessary to consider the above-mentioned number of undetected game balls for this remaining number. In this case, when the rotation of the rotating body stops in the middle of the predetermined rotation angle due to power interruption as described above, if the above-mentioned halfway rotation angle is larger than the game ball falling rotation angle, it is divided by the predetermined rotation angle. One more game ball is paid out than the calculated number of payouts. In that case, it is necessary to reduce the remaining number by one as described above.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the game ball from being paid out due to an illegal act by preventing the game ball from being paid out excessively at the time of return after power failure during the game ball is being paid out.

1 is a perspective view showing a pachinko gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the glass door of the said pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the game ball payout apparatus in the flow path for game ball payout of the said pachinko gaming machine. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the game ball payout of the said pachinko gaming machine. (A)-(d) is a figure for demonstrating the paying-out operation | movement of the game ball in the said game ball payout apparatus. (A)-(d) is a figure for demonstrating the paying-out operation | movement of the game ball in the said game ball payout apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the undetected game ball in the said game ball payout apparatus. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the electric power interruption evacuation process performed with the payout control apparatus which controls the said game ball payout apparatus. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the electric power interruption reset process performed with the said payout control apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a pachinko gaming machine includes a vertically long rectangular machine frame 1 installed in an island facility of a game store, and a front frame 2 attached to the machine frame 1 so as to be openable and closable in a door shape. A game board 3 housed in the front frame 2, a glass door 4 attached to the front surface of the front frame 2 so as to be openable and closable, and having a large opening 5 at the center, and an opening of the glass door 4 A transparent double glass plate 6 attached to the part 5 and an upper plate 7 provided under the double glass plate 6 on the front surface of the glass door 4 and containing a game ball B (shown in FIG. 3 and the like). And a lower plate 8 that accommodates the game ball B overflowing from the upper plate 7, and a rotary operation handle 9 provided on the right side of the upper plate 7 and the lower plate 8 of the glass door 4.

In addition, the game ball B supplied from the island facility side is stored on the back side of the upper part of the machine casing 1 and the game ball B is paid to the upper plate 7 through a flow path 21 (shown in FIG. 3) described later. A storage tank 20 is provided for delivery.
When this pachinko gaming machine is installed in an island facility, a sanding device (not shown) is provided adjacent to the pachinko gaming machine, and a prepaid card (recording medium: shown in FIG. 4) is inserted by inserting, for example, banknotes into the sanding device. 45 can be purchased, and the points recorded on the prepaid card 45 can be exchanged for a game ball B as a rental ball.

  On the right side of the upper plate 7 of the glass door 4, there is provided an operation unit 10 capable of displaying the points, paying out a rented ball, and discharging the prepaid card 45. A signal from the operation unit 10 is input to the ball lending signal control device 43 of the sand device, and based on the ball lending signal from the ball lending signal control device 43, the game ball payout device 37 of the pachinko gaming machine serves as a lending ball. The game ball B is paid out to the upper plate 7.

Between the storage tank 20 and the upper plate 7, a flow path 21 (shown in FIG. 3) for flowing the game balls B stored in the storage tank 20 in a line is provided. A game ball payout device 37 is formed using a part thereof.
The game ball payout device 37 stops the flow of the game balls B in the flow path 21 in a stopped state and rotates the game balls B one by one by rotating, and a sprocket-like rotation body 38. And a stepping motor 39 (shown in FIG. 4) that is rotationally driven.

  The flow path 21 extends vertically so as to connect the storage tank 20 and the upper plate 7 as described above, and a game ball payout device 37 is formed in the middle thereof. Note that the game ball B is stopped and stored on the upper side of the game ball payout device 37 in the flow path 21 when the game ball payout device 37 is stopped. A game ball extraction port 28 is provided above the game ball dispensing device 37 in the flow path 21, and the game ball extraction port 28 is provided with an openable / closable member 24, for example, for maintenance and other purposes. Thus, the game ball B can be extracted from the flow path 21.

  The rotating body 38 has a sprocket-like shape by repeatedly forming the concave portion 40 and the convex portion 41 on the outer peripheral portion thereof. Moreover, the rotating shaft of the rotating body 38 is arranged horizontally. The recess 40 is formed in a substantially arcuate shape, and the radius of the arc of the recess 40 is substantially the same as the radius of the game ball B. The game ball B is held in the recess 40 and rotated and moved. It is possible. Note that the arc of the recess 40 is shorter than a semicircle. Further, the recesses 40 are formed on the outer periphery of the rotating body 38 so as to be arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, four concave portions 40 are provided, and a convex portion 41 is formed between the four concave portions 40.

That is, the concave portion 40 is arranged on the outer periphery of the rotating body 38 every 90 degrees in rotation angle. In addition, the number of the recessed parts 40 does not need to be four, for example, it may be less than or more than four.
The rotating body 38 holds the lowermost game ball B on the upper side of the rotating body 38 of the flow path 21 in the upwardly facing concave portion 40, and the concave portion 40 holding the game ball B is turned obliquely by the rotation of the rotating body 38. When it is, the game ball B is released. At this time, the game ball B to be paid out next is held in the recess 40 on the rear side in the rotation direction.

  The portion of the flow path where the rotating body 38 is arranged, that is, the portion that becomes a part of the game ball dispensing device 37 is located at a portion slightly behind in the rotational direction from the top of the rotating body 38 and the bottom of the rotating body 38. The part between the center and the center of the rotating body 38 is formed to have an arc having a radius slightly larger than the radius of the convex portion 41 of the rotating body 38. Thereby, this part of the flow path 21 is disposed close to the outer peripheral part of the rotating body 38. This portion becomes a portion before the game ball B flowing down the flow path 21 is received by the recess 40.

  Further, in the portion of the flow path 21 where the rotator 38 is disposed, the space between the uppermost portion of the rotator 38 and the portion slightly forward in the rotational direction and the portion lower than the lowermost portion in the rotational direction is the rotator 38. The arc has a radius slightly larger than the radius obtained by adding the diameter of the game ball B to the shortest radius of the concave portion 40 of the rotating body from the center of rotation. At this portion, the rotating body 38 that has received the game ball B in the recess 40 rotates to pay out the game ball B. Since the rotator 38 has four recesses 40, one game ball B is paid out each time the rotator 38 rotates 1/4, and when the rotator 38 makes one revolution, four game balls B are obtained. To be paid out. That is, one game ball B is paid out every 90 degrees of rotation angle of the rotating body 38.

The rotating body 38 is rotated by a stepping motor 39 as a rotation driving means. In the stepping motor 39, the number of steps when the rotating body 38 is rotated once is 96 steps. Therefore, the game ball B is paid out every 24 steps.
In addition, a game ball payout detection sensor 23 is provided below the game ball payout device 37 in the flow path 21 so that the payout game balls B are detected one by one. Thereby, the number of game balls B paid out can be confirmed.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D and FIGS. 6A to 6D, the rotating body 38 rotates 1/4 while the stepping motor 39 performs 24 steps. The game ball B is allowed to flow down from the upper side of the rotating body 38 of the flow path 21 to the lower side of the rotating body 38.
A state where one concave portion 40 shown in FIG. 5A faces upward is the home position (origin position) of the rotating body 38.

The rotation angle of the rotating body 38 at this time is set to zero. Since the rotating body 38 has four recesses 40, the rotating body 38 has four home positions. When the rotation angle reaches 90 degrees from one home position, the rotation angle of the next home position is as follows. As a result, the rotation angle becomes 0 degree again. 5 and 6, the rotation angle of the rotating body 38 from the home position is 0 degree in FIG. 5A, 15 degrees in FIG. 5B, 30 degrees in FIG. 5C, and FIG. Is 45 degrees, FIG. 6A is 60 degrees, FIG. 6B is the angle at which the game ball B falls from the recess 40, for example, 70.2 degrees here, FIG. 6C is 75 degrees, FIG. (D) is 90 degrees, which is 0 degrees of the next home position.

Further, the rotation angle at which the rotating body 38 becomes the home position can be arbitrarily set as long as the concave portion 40 corresponding to the home position faces substantially upward. That is, the home position is not a state in which the concave portion 40 is inclined so that the game ball held in the corresponding concave portion 40 falls, but a state in which the concave portion 40 faces substantially upward.

As described above, since one rotation of the rotating body 38 corresponds to 96 steps of the stepping motor 39, the rotating body 38 rotates by 3.75 degrees in one step. Accordingly, the number of steps required to rotate the rotating body 38 by 90 degrees, which is an angle for paying out one game ball B, is 24 steps.
5 and 6, the rotation of the rotating body 38 from the home position to 90 degrees is illustrated by the rotation angle of 15 degrees (except for FIG. 6B), that is, the stepping motor 39 is rotated by 4 steps. Show.

  The rotating body 38 holds the game ball B in the recess 40 and then holds it between the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 38 on the recess 40 side and the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 21. The rotation angle of the rotating body 38 that holds the game ball B is not 90 degrees (for example, 85 degrees or more), but is, for example, 70.2 degrees shown in FIG.

  That is, every time the rotating body 38 rotates 90 degrees, one game ball B is paid out, but at a rotation angle from the home position, the game ball B is paid out at 70.2 degrees. In this state, the game ball B is released from the engagement of the rotating body 38 and can fall. Here, when paying out one game ball B, the rotating body 38 rotates even after one game ball B is dropped. That is, by rotating the rotating body 38 until the stepping motor reaches 24 steps, the rotating body 38 rotates 90 degrees to reach the rotation angle of the home position corresponding to the next recess 40.

In other words, the game ball B is paid out every time the four home positions are rotated to a rotation angle of 70.2 degrees. After the game ball B is paid out, the rotation angle of the rotating body 38 is set to the next home position. Rotate until heading to
Further, since the rotating body 38 rotates 3.75 degrees in one step of the stepping motor 39, the rotating body 38 rotates 67.5 degrees by rotating 18 steps from the home position and 71 steps by rotating 19 steps. Rotate 25 degrees. That is, when the rotator 38 is rotated by a rotation angle corresponding to 18 steps to 19 steps, the game ball B is paid away away from the rotator 38.

  When a plurality of game balls B are paid out continuously, the rotation angle from the first home position is a value obtained by multiplying the number of game balls B to be paid out at 90 degrees. A predetermined number of game balls B to be set are continuously paid out by stopping after the rotating body 38 has been rotated to this rotation angle.

  Further, the game ball paid out by the rotating body 38 of the game ball payout device 37 is detected by the game ball payout detection sensor 23 downstream of the game ball payout device 37 in the flow path 21. As shown in FIG. 7, the game ball payout device 37 is between the game ball payout position of the game ball payout device 37 (rotating body 38) and the game ball detection position of the game ball payout detection sensor 23. After the payout, the undetected game ball B that has not been detected by the game ball payout detection sensor 23 (the two game balls from the top of the game ball B on which a number of points are drawn in FIG. At least two game balls are detected by the game ball payout detection sensor 23).

  Therefore, for example, when the first game ball is detected by the game ball payout detection sensor 23, the game ball payout device 37 has already been paid out. As described above, when the number of steps from the home position is 19 or more and immediately after the game ball is paid out from the game ball payout device 37, three games including the game ball immediately after the payout are added. A ball is arranged between the game ball payout device 37 and the game ball payout detection sensor 23, and these three game balls become undetected game balls.

  That is, in the game ball payout device 37 and the game ball payout detection sensor 23, the number of the above-mentioned undetected game balls becomes 2 or more and 3 or less in a state where the game balls are continuously paid out. The number of undetected game balls is determined by the payout speed of the game balls by the rotating body 38 and the distance between the rotating body 38 and the game ball paying detection sensor 23. For example, each type of pachinko gaming machine The setting may be different depending on the difference in the configuration of the back side of the pachinko gaming machine except for the gaming board 3 that may be used in common by a plurality of models. When the remaining number is equal to or less than the number of undetected game balls, the actual number of undetected game balls is, for example, the same as the remaining number.

  In this embodiment, the game ball B that falls from the rotary body 38 when the rotary body 38 is less than 24 steps and 19 steps or more is provided between the rotary body 38 and the game ball payout detection sensor 23. The game balls B in the above are set as the above-mentioned undetected game balls B, and the number of the undetected game balls B is set to 2. Note that the number of undetected game balls B may vary between 2 and 3, assuming that the game balls B immediately after dropping from the rotating body 38 are included in the undetected game balls B.

Next, a control system related to payout of the game ball B will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the game ball payout device 37 is controlled by a payout control device 34 including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The payout control device 34 is connected to a main control device 30 of the gaming machine and a ball lending signal control device 43. In addition, a game ball payout detection sensor 23 is connected to the payout control device 34 to detect a game ball paid out from the game ball payout device 37.
To the main control device 30 of the gaming machine, for example, a winning ball detecting sensor 31 provided at each winning opening is connected, and an error detecting sensor 32 for detecting an error in the pachinko gaming machine is connected.
The winning ball detection sensor 31 is provided at each winning opening, and detects the game ball B that has won the winning opening. The main control device 30 plays a game based on the winning signal from each winning ball detection sensor 31. , And in order to cause the game ball payout device 37 to pay out the game ball B as a winning ball based on the winning signal, the payout control device 34 sets the expected payout number as the number of game balls B to be paid out. Output a command containing information.
A CR unit 42 is connected to the payout control device 34 via a ball lending signal control device 43 for reading the data of the prepaid card 45 and performing lending control of the game ball B.

  The payout control device 34 performs control for paying out a ball based on the ball lending signal input from the CR unit 42 via the ball lending signal control device 43. In this case, one lending signal is received. The payout of 25 game balls B is shown. As a result, the payout control device 34 stores the input of the ball rental signal, and controls the game ball payout device 37 to pay out 25 game balls B as the planned payout amount for each input ball signal. It will be.

Here, as described above, the payout control device 34 to which the command including the planned payout number from the main control device 30 or the ball lending signal indicating the 25 planned payout number from the ball lending signal control device 43 is input is a game. A payout signal is output to the ball payout device 37, and the payout signal includes information on the planned payout number indicating the number of game balls B to be paid out.
The information on the planned payout number is obtained by multiplying the planned payout number by the number of steps of the stepping motor necessary for the above-described rotating body 38 to pay out one game ball B, for example.
In the game ball dispensing device 37, the number of pulse powers corresponding to the number of steps is input to the stepping motor.

Accordingly, the stepping motor 39 is rotated step by step by applying pulse power output from the drive circuit of the stepping motor 39 of the game ball payout device 37 based on a control signal from the payout control device 34 described later. The body 38 is rotated.
In addition, the payout control device 34 stores the number of steps. At this time, the number of steps is stored for each home position of the rotating body. That is, it is stored in a divided manner every 24 steps when the rotating body 38 is at the home position. Further, for example, a control signal is input from the payout control device 34 so as to pay out 1 to 25 game balls B in one payout operation, so the number of steps from the start of the payout operation is also counted and stored. It is like that.

The game balls B to be paid out from the game ball payout device 37 include payout of rented balls according to the request from the above-mentioned sand device side and payout of prize balls based on a prize ball signal from the main control device 30.
In this case, in the case of renting a ball, the number of payouts of one game ball B is set to 25, and when the number of rented balls is more than 25, 25 payouts are repeated. It has become.

  On the other hand, in the payout of prize balls, the number of game balls B to be paid out is often different depending on the type of prize opening. For example, the number of prize balls is 3, 7, or 12, depending on the type of prize opening. There may be three types. In addition, the number of prize balls is selected from any one of 1-15, for example. Further, the number of prize balls in the pachinko gaming machine is not limited to three, and may be less or more.

  In the drive control of the stepping motor 39, basically, feedback control is not necessary. However, for example, due to a problem on the island facility side, the game ball B is not supplied to the storage tank 20, and the storage tank 20 becomes empty. If the game ball B does not flow down to the game ball dispensing device 37, such as when a ball clog occurs in the storage tank 20 or the flow path 21, the game ball B is paid out even if the stepping motor 39 rotates. The game balls B to be paid out are counted by the game ball pay-out detection sensor 23 because the game balls may not be paid out, and when the game balls B paid out with respect to the planned payout number are short, the shortage is paid out. The rotating body 38 is further rotated by the stepping motor 39.

Next, a process in the case where a power interruption occurs on a substrate for a payout control device including at least the payout control device 34 will be described. As a function corresponding to the power interruption, the payout control device 34 is supplied with electric power for a short time by a battery or the like when the power interruption occurs, and stops after the data saving process at the time of power interruption. Yes.
In addition, the payout control device 34 is provided with a battery backup memory (BB memory: storage holding means) that is always supplied with power by a battery or the like including when the power is interrupted. Data is saved from the normal memory to the BB memory so that data to be described later does not disappear due to power interruption.

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8, the data interruption interruption process at the time of interruption in the payout control device 34 will be described.
The payout control device 34 includes voltage detection means for detecting the voltage supplied from the power supply, and the voltage detection means signals to the CPU of the payout control device 34 when the voltage from the power supply becomes a predetermined voltage or less. And a data saving process is started in the payout control device 34 based on the input of a signal to the CPU. At this time, even if the power supply voltage to the payout control device 34 falls below a predetermined voltage, backup power is temporarily supplied to the payout control device 34 so that the payout control device 34 operates. It has become.

  In this data saving process, the number of steps as the number of pulse powers output to the stepping motor 39 is stored in the BB memory (step S1). The number of steps stored at this time is, for example, the number of steps after the payout operation for continuously paying out the number of game balls B corresponding to the above-mentioned planned payout number is started. Note that the number of steps since the last home position may be stored. If no payout operation is performed, 0 is stored as the number of steps.

  Next, the number N of payouts based on the detection of the game ball payout detection sensor 23 that counts the number of signal inputs from the game ball payout detection sensor 23 from the start of the payout operation to the power interruption, and the above-mentioned scheduled payout number M are stored. (Step S2). It should be noted that the payout control device 34 plays a game at the game ball payout device 37 in accordance with the scheduled payout number of the game ball B set based on a command from the main control device 30 or a ball loan signal from the ball loan signal control device. When the ball B is paid out, every time a signal from the game ball payout detection sensor 23 is input, a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the planned payout number may be calculated and stored. The remaining number is a value obtained by subtracting the payout number N from the planned payout number M.

In the payout control device 34, when a plurality of commands are input from the main control device 30 or a plurality of ball lending signals are input from the ball lending signal control device 43, the payout control device 34 stores them. In such a case, these data are also stored in the BB memory. That is, data that needs to be backed up is stored in addition to the number of steps, the planned payout number M, and the payout number N described above.
When the data backup is completed, the payout control device 34 is stopped and the power interruption saving process is completed.

Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, the power interruption recovery process when the payout control device 34 recovers from the power interruption will be described.
After the above-described power interruption saving process is performed at the time of power interruption, the power interruption recovery process is performed when the power is restored from the power interruption. When the power interruption is restored, it is determined whether or not the above-described power interruption evacuation process is during a payout operation by the game ball payout device 37 (that is, during a payout process by the payout control device 34) (step S11).

  When the payout process is not in progress, a power interruption return process other than the process of setting the above-mentioned remaining number of game balls is performed. When the power interruption is performed during the payout process, the number of steps stored in the BB memory is, for example, 1 or more when the payout operation is started (1 after the payout operation is started). become). In this case, the remainder is obtained by dividing the number of steps by the number of steps 24 when the rotating body 38 pays out one game ball.

  This remainder is the number of steps from the home position that lasted during the rotation that was interrupted by the power interruption of the rotating body 38, and whichever number of steps is stored in the power interruption saving process as described above. Good. Further, when determining the number of steps from the home position, the number of steps may be started from 0 every time the home position is reached. In this case, the remainder may be obtained by dividing the number of steps counted by the above-mentioned 24 steps. Whether or not the number of steps from the home position where the rotating body 38 has reached the end before the power interruption is 19 to 24 steps as the number of steps after the game ball has dropped from the rotating body 38 as described above. Is determined (step S12).

  If the number of steps is 19 or more (19 to 24), the payout control device 34 as the remaining number determining means subtracts 1 from the remaining number which is the above-mentioned scheduled payout number M−payout number N (step S13). As a result, the game ball immediately after being paid out from the rotating body 38 at the time of power interruption is not detected by the game ball pay-out detection sensor 23, so that the remaining number stored at the time of power interruption is one more than the actual number. It can be corrected.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the remaining number represented by MN is 2 or more (step S14). When the remaining number is 2 or more, that is, when the planned payout number is 25, for example, when the number of payouts detected by the game ball payout detection sensor 23 is 23 or less, the remaining number becomes 2 or more. In this case, when the game ball B is detected by the game ball payout detection sensor 23, there are, for example, two game balls B that have already been paid out from the game ball payout device 37 above the game ball B. At this time, the game ball B immediately after being paid out in the above-described steps 19 to 24 is excluded. When the power interruption occurs at this stage, these two game balls are not detected by the game ball payout detection sensor 23 but become non-detection game balls, and the number of non-detection game balls becomes two. Therefore, when the remaining number is disconnected at a stage of 2 or more, the remaining number based on the number of times that the game ball payout detection sensor 23 detects the game ball B is two more than the actual remaining number.

  Therefore, when the remaining number is 2 or more, 2 which is the number of non-detected game balls is subtracted from the remaining number (step S15). In this case, when the remaining number is 2, all the game balls having the planned payout number are paid out from the game ball paying device 37, and the actual remaining number becomes 0. Therefore, when the remaining number is smaller than 2 (even when it is 2 or less), the remaining number is all zero. That is, when the remaining number is smaller than the number of non-detected game balls (or in the following case), the remaining number is set to 0 (step S16).

  Basically, the payout number of game balls is controlled by the number of steps indicating the rotation angle of the rotating body 38 rotated by the stepping motor 39, and the game actually paid out by the number of steps from the start of payout. It is possible to calculate the number of balls. In other words, the number of steps from the start of payout in the game ball payout operation to become the planned payout number is divided by the number of steps (24) for rotating the rotating body 38 by the rotation angle (90 degrees) at which one game ball is paid out. Thus, the number of payouts as the number of game balls to be paid out can be calculated. Further, the remaining number can be obtained by subtracting the calculated payout number from the planned payout number. The remaining number can always be obtained by subtracting 1 each time the number of steps increases by 24 from the planned payout number.

  By replacing the number of payouts and the remaining number based on the number of steps with the number of payouts and the remaining number based on the detection signal in the game ball payout detection sensor 23, the game ball payout device 37 and the game ball payout detection sensor 23 are It is possible to eliminate errors in the number of payouts and the remaining number at the time of power interruption based on the distance.

  In this case, the number of steps of the stepping motor 39 from the start of the game ball payout operation to reach the planned payout number is counted, and the counted number of steps is stored in the BB memory at the time of power interruption. The number of steps stored at the time of power failure recovery is divided by, for example, the number of steps at which one game ball is paid out, and the quotient is set as the payout number. At this time, if there is a surplus, and the surplus number of steps is one greater than the number of steps immediately before the game ball is released from the rotating body 38 (the number of steps immediately after the release), the payout number is Increase by one. If the remaining number obtained by subtracting the number of payouts from the planned number of payouts has already been obtained, 1 is subtracted from the remaining number as described above. Thereby, the error of the remaining number by the above-mentioned non-detection game ball can be avoided.

  In the pachinko gaming machine as described above, the game balls are paid out by the remaining number based on the count of the detection signal from the game ball pay-out detection sensor 23 after returning from the power interruption, so that more game balls than the planned pay-out number are obtained. For example, an unauthorized circuit board is connected to the payout control device 34, and the payout control device 34 repeats power interruption and return during the payout of the game ball, so that an extra payout is made at the time of return. It is possible to prevent repeated and illegal acquisition of game balls.

Note that these processes are performed when, for example, a game ball is not paid out from the game ball payout device 37 due to ball clogging or the like. When a game ball is not paid out by the ball payout detection sensor 23, an error is generated, and after the error canceling operation, the remaining number may be returned to the state before power interruption, and the remaining number may be paid out.
Further, the above-described M and N may be stored at the time of power interruption, and the remaining number may be obtained from MN at the time of return, or the remaining number may be obtained from MN at the time of power interruption, Based on the detection signal from the game ball payout detection sensor 23 as described above, the remaining number may be obtained and stored by subtracting the planned payout number by one.

Also, when storing the number of steps, the number of steps from the start of the payout operation is stored at the time of power interruption, and the number of steps is divided by the number of steps (24) required at the time of paying out one game ball at the time of return, The number of steps that become a quotient and the number of remaining steps may be obtained, or the number of steps that become the quotient and the number of remaining steps may be stored when power is interrupted.
That is, a value that can be calculated at the time of power interruption or at the time of recovery may be calculated at the time of power interruption or may be calculated at the time of recovery.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment which applied the invention made by this inventor was described, this invention is not limited by the description and drawing which make a part of indication of this invention by this embodiment. That is, it should be added that other embodiments, examples, operation techniques, and the like made by those skilled in the art based on this embodiment are all included in the scope of the present invention.

B game ball 21 flow path 23 game ball payout detection sensor (game ball payout detection means)
34 Payout control device (payout control means, remaining number calculation storage means, storage holding means, remaining number determination means, remaining number change means)
37 game ball payout device (game ball payout means)
38 Rotating body 39 Stepping motor (rotation drive means)

Claims (1)

Game ball payout means for paying out game balls;
Based on the input of the planned payout number as the number of game balls to be continuously paid out in one payout operation, the game ball paying means is controlled so as to pay out the game balls for the planned payout number. A payout control means;
Game ball payout detecting means for detecting game balls paid out from the game ball paying means in order to sequentially count the game balls paid out from the game ball paying means;
Each time the game ball is detected by the game ball pay-out detecting means after the game ball pay-out operation is started by the game ball pay-out means corresponding to the planned pay-out number, one is sequentially subtracted from the value of the planned pay-out number. And a remaining number calculation storage means for updating and storing the value to be subtracted as the remaining number,
The game ball payout means includes a flow path for continuously flowing the game balls in a row from a storage tank for storing the game balls to be paid out,
Provided upstream of the game ball payout detection means in the flow path, and when the rotation stops, the flow of the game ball in the flow path is stopped, and whenever it rotates by a predetermined rotation angle that is a predetermined number of one rotation, A rotating body that causes the game balls in the flow path to flow downward one by one;
The rotation angle of the rotator during the payout operation can be specified, and the rotator is rotated by a multiplication rotation angle obtained by multiplying the predetermined rotation angle by the planned payout number and the rotator from the start of the payout operation. Rotation driving means for stopping the rotation of the rotating body when the rotation angle becomes the multiplication rotation angle,
The payout control means includes a memory holding means capable of holding memory even in a power interruption state,
In addition, when power is interrupted during the payout operation, the remaining number stored in the remaining number calculation storage means at the time of power interruption is stored in the storage holding means, and the memory is stored at the time of return from power interruption. In the gaming machine that controls the game ball payout means so as to pay out the remaining number of game balls stored in the holding means,
The payout control unit divides the rotation angle of the rotating body from the start of the payout operation by the predetermined rotation angle when the rotation by the rotation driving unit stops due to power interruption when the power cut occurs during the payout operation. The halfway rotation angle corresponding to the remainder is obtained, and this halfway rotation angle is the rotation angle of the rotating body within the predetermined rotation angle, and the game ball is released from the state held by the rotating body and dropped. If the rotation angle is less than or equal to the game ball fall rotation angle, the remaining number is maintained without being changed, and if the midway rotation angle is greater than or equal to the game ball fall rotation angle, the remaining number is calculated from the remaining number. A remaining number determining means for changing to a value obtained by subtracting 1;
Between the position where the game ball paying-out detecting means detects the game ball and the position where the rotating body of the game ball paying-out means drops the game ball, it is continuously discharged by the rotating body and flows down. , An interval is provided in which undetected game balls that are not yet detected by the payout game ball detecting means can be arranged by the number of undetected game balls of 1 or more,
In the case where power is interrupted during the payout operation, the payout control means determines the remaining number determined by the remaining number determining means if the remaining number is equal to or greater than the number of undetected game balls. To the value obtained by subtracting the number of undetected game balls from
A game machine comprising: a remaining number changing means for changing the remaining number determined by the remaining number determining means to 0 if the remaining number is less than the number of undetected game balls .

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