JP6091184B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine that performs fraud monitoring using a sensor.

This type of gaming machine, such as a slot machine, can start a game when a medal inserted from a medal slot is detected by a medal selector. The medal selector cancels the inserted medal and discharges it to the outside of the gaming machine when an inappropriate medal is inserted or when the gaming machine is not in the medal acceptance state.
Here, there is a risk that various fraudulent acts may be performed on the parts related to the insertion of medals such as the medal selector. As a typical example, an illegal instrument is inserted from the medal insertion slot so that the medal detection part of the medal selector is misdetected, and a game is performed without inserting a medal, or a medal that has been handled once is settled. Refunds and unfair profits are known. Various measures have been taken to prevent such fraud. For example, in Patent Document 1, a fraudulent act detection sensor is installed in the medal passage (exit of the guide member) separately from the medal insertion number detection sensor, and the fraudulent act is monitored based on the detection result of the sensor. It is described to do. Specifically, the difference between the number of insertions detected by the medal insertion number detection sensor and the number of insertions detected by the fraud detection sensor is counted, and this count value is outside the predetermined range In addition, error handling is performed. The count value is cleared for each game.

JP 2005-288007 A

However, when it is configured to monitor the consistency of detection by a plurality of sensors based on the number of ON / OFF times of the sensor, erroneous detection or chattering may occur due to vibration depending on the accuracy of the sensor, and errors frequently occur. There is a fear. Further, in the above-described conventional technique, there is an advantage that error processing is performed immediately when a large number of medals are falsely inserted in a short time using an illegal instrument or the like. It is not possible to discover fraudulent conduct over a long period of time, such as performing pseudo-injection once per time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to effectively prevent not only a short period of fraud but also a long period of fraud while avoiding frequent errors due to erroneous detection in fraud monitoring using a sensor.

The invention described in each claim has been made to achieve each of the above-described objects, and features of the present invention will be described below using the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings.
In addition, the code | symbol in parenthesis shows the code | symbol used in embodiment of invention, and does not limit the technical scope of this invention.
(First invention)
Among the inventions of the present application, the first invention is a gaming machine configured to detect the occurrence of an error based on a detection result of a predetermined detector and to change the state of the gaming machine to a predetermined error state. The number of times that the detection mode of the part has become an abnormal mode other than the normal mode (number of times of abnormality detection) is updated so as to be away from the initial value (addition when the initial value is 0, subtraction when the initial value is a predetermined numerical value) An abnormality detection number storage means (R shoot error counter 254) for storing the same in the following is provided, and when the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means (254) becomes a predetermined value set in advance, When an error state is set and a predetermined elapsed condition relating to the progress of the game is satisfied while the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means (254) does not become the predetermined value, the abnormality detection number storage means (254 ) Memory value is initial If the initial value is 0, the stored value is updated so as to be close to the initial value (subtracted when the initial value is 0, added when the initial value is a predetermined value, and so on). It is characterized by being.
The first invention further includes a medal selector (4) for receiving a medal inserted from the medal insertion slot (28), detecting the inserted medal with a medal sensor (passage detection sensor 45), and discharging the medal from the medal outlet (43). And a guiding member (R chute main body 50) for guiding the medals discharged from the medal outlet (43) to a medal storage part (hopper device 7) provided inside the gaming machine. Further, a passing sensor (R chute sensor 52) for detecting a medal passing through the guide member (50) is provided, and the count value is updated by a predetermined number in one direction on the number line when the medal sensor (54) is detected ( Add or subtract), and the count value is updated in the direction opposite to one direction on the number line when the passage sensor (52) is detected (added when the medal sensor (54) is detected) In this case, there is provided a counting means (fraud monitoring counter 252) for subtracting and adding when the medal sensor (54) is set to detect, and the abnormality detection number storage means (254) Each time the error determination trigger is met, the count value of the counting means (252) is converted into an absolute value, and the value is updated and stored away from the initial value. Then, when the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means (254) reaches a predetermined value, the gaming machine is put into an error state, and the abnormality detection number storage means (254 ) Stored value does not become the predetermined value, when the number of times that the medal sensor is normally detected by the medal sensor (45) becomes a predetermined number of times set in advance, the abnormality detection number storage means (254) On the condition that the stored value is not the initial value, the stored value is updated so as to be close to the initial value by a predetermined number.

(Action / Effect)
Here, the “predetermined detection unit” can be a predetermined sensor provided in a component part of the gaming machine. Taking the slot machine (S) as an example, for example, a medal provided in the medal selector (4) It may be a sensor, a payout sensor provided in the hopper device (7), a door sensor for detecting opening / closing of the front door, or the like.
Here, the “predetermined progress condition relating to the progress of the game” can be the number of times normal detection is performed by the detection unit, the elapsed time, or the number of digested games. In the present invention, it is preferable to include means for measuring a predetermined progress condition.

  According to the present invention, when the detection mode of the detection unit is not a normal mode, the error state is not immediately set, and erroneous detection is overlooked and frequent occurrence of errors can be avoided. On the other hand, when the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means (254), that is, the number of abnormality detection reaches the predetermined number (when the number is added from the initial value 0, the initial value is the number of times the predetermined number is subtracted) (Including both of them) is in an error state, and when a predetermined progress condition is satisfied, for example, when normal detection is performed a predetermined number of times, the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means (254) is predetermined. The number is updated (subtracted when the stored value is added, and added when the stored value is subtracted). As a result, when the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means (254) reaches a predetermined value (a predetermined number of numerical values or 0) before satisfying a predetermined progress condition, that is, when a detection mode abnormality occurs in a short period of time. Is in an error state. In addition, even if the predetermined elapsed condition is satisfied, the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means (254) is not necessarily cleared. The number of detections is accumulated, and the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means (254) becomes a predetermined value, resulting in an error state. Conversely, if no fraud has been performed, the stored value of the abnormality detection count storage means (254) will be subtracted every time a predetermined elapsed condition is satisfied even if an abnormality is detected due to a false detection. It is also possible to avoid an error from accumulating false detections.

In the present invention, it is preferable to provide means (normal detection counter 253) for counting the number of times that a medal is normally detected by the medal sensor (45). Further, the counting means (252) in the present invention is formed so that the count value may become a negative number due to a mismatch in the number of detections of the medal sensor (45) and the passage sensor (52). When medals are inserted normally, the count value of the counting means (252) is maintained at an initial value (for example, 0).
According to the present invention, it is possible to suitably monitor an illegal act related to medal insertion.
( Second invention)
In addition to the configuration of the first invention described above, the second invention further includes a time measuring means (a fraud monitoring timer 251) that starts measuring a predetermined time each time the medal sensor (45) detects a medal. . The counting means (252) updates the count value by a predetermined number in one direction on the number line every time the time counting means (251) starts time measurement, and the time counting means (251) wherein every time the passage sensor (52) detects the medals, the predetermined number of updates the count value in the direction towards the opposite one direction on the number of straight lines, the abnormality detection count storage means during the time of measurement (254) The time counting means (251) converts the count value of the counting means (251) into an absolute value and updates the value so as to deviate from the initial value when the predetermined error determination triggers that the time measurement has been completed. And is formed so as to be memorized.

(Action / Effect)
In the present invention, when the time counting means (251) is not measuring time, in other words, when the medal sensor (45) is not detecting a medal, the counting means (252) counts the detection of the passage sensor (52). do not do. Therefore, when the passing sensor (52) is in a form in which erroneous detection due to vibration or the like is likely to occur, for example, when the medal sensor (45) does not detect a medal (normally no medal is inserted) ), The count value of the counting means (252) is updated, and no error occurs at the time of error determination.
According to the present invention, it is possible to suitably perform fraud monitoring in a short period from when a medal is inserted until a predetermined time elapses.

( Third invention)
In addition to the above-mentioned second invention, the third invention is such that when the count value of the counting means (252) falls outside a predetermined threshold range, the time measuring means (251) ends the time measurement. Even before the game, the game machine is configured to be in an error state.
(Action / Effect)
According to the present invention, when there is a high probability of fraud, it is possible to quickly cope with fraud by setting an error state without waiting for a normal determination time.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, in fraud monitoring using a sensor, not only frequent frauds due to false detections but also fraudulent acts over a long period of time are effectively avoided. Can be prevented.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a slot machine as a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the slot machine which opened the front door. It is a perspective view which shows the back surface of a lower door. It is a top view of a medal selector and R chute. It is a back perspective view of a medal selector and R chute. It is a schematic rear view of a medal selector. It is a schematic side view of a medal selector. It is a disassembled perspective view of R chute | shoot. It is a top view of R chute cover. It is a top view of a R chute main body. It is the sectional view on the AA line in FIG. It is a side view of R chute. It is a perspective view which shows the housing | casing and the bottom part of a housing | casing. It is a perspective view which shows the state which attached the rail member to the base board of (A) hopper base, and (B) base board. It is a perspective view of a right rail member. It is a perspective view of a left rail member. It is the fragmentary perspective view which installed the overflow tank in the hopper base. It is a perspective view which shows the back part of a bar flow tank. (A) The whole perspective view which installed the overflow tank in the hopper base, (B) The whole perspective view which installed the hopper apparatus and the overflow tank in the hopper base. It is. It is a top view which shows installation of the hopper apparatus to a hopper base. It is the front view which installed the hopper apparatus and the overflow tank in the hopper base. It is a front view which shows a rail member and a hopper apparatus. It is the perspective view which installed the overflow tank for automatic collection in the overflow sensor unit which lowered the shielding board. It is a perspective view which shows an overflow sensor unit. It is a perspective view which shows the overflow sensor unit which bounced up the shielding board. It is the perspective view which installed the overflow tank in the overflow sensor unit which bounced up the shielding board. It is a block diagram which shows the input and output of the control apparatus of a slot machine. It is a time chart which shows the detection state of a sensor. 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of the slot machine. It is a flowchart which shows the fraud monitoring process by a fraud monitoring means. It is a flowchart which shows the timer interruption process during fraud monitoring. It is a flowchart which shows the error determination execution process by an error control means.

A preferred embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking a slot machine S as an example of a gaming machine. In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, the constituent members are installed in the slot machine S in the vertical and horizontal directions and the front and rear directions (front / back, front / back, front / back). The direction when the slot machine S is viewed from the front in the state is shown.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slot machine S according to the present embodiment is roughly divided into a housing 1 having an opening on the front side, and a front door 3 that can open and close the opening of the housing 1. It is composed of The front door 3 is divided into an upper door 3A that closes the upper opening 1A of the housing 1 and a lower door 3B that closes the lower opening 1B of the housing 1.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 13, the housing 1 is a box that opens to the front surface (front surface facing the player), and includes a top plate 10, a bottom plate 11, left and right side plates 12 and 13, and a back plate 14. have. An intermediate plate 15 is provided between the side plates 12 and 13 to partition the opening of the housing 1 in the vertical direction. A reel unit 2 including three rotating reels 2A and a main board unit 100 are housed inside an upper opening 1A above the middle plate 15, and a lower opening below the middle plate 15. A power supply device, a hopper device 7 and an overflow tank 8 are installed inside 1B.
Here, the reel unit 2 is placed on the intermediate plate 15 and is detachably formed on the housing 1, and the main board unit 100 is fixed to the frame of the reel unit 2. The reel unit 2 includes three rotary reels 2A that are respectively pivotally attached to three stepping motors (not shown). Although not shown, a plurality of symbols are displayed on the surface of each rotary reel 2A. The main board unit 100 is a main board on which various electronic components such as a CPU and a ROM are mounted in a board case, and functions as a main controller 200 (see FIG. 27) for controlling the execution of the game. Details of the main controller 200 will be described later. The hopper device 7 is a medal storage part of the gaming machine, and is installed on the hopper base 6 fixed to the bottom plate 11 of the housing 1. The hopper device 7 stores medals and pays out medals when winning a prize. Is for. The overflow tank 8 is an auxiliary container for receiving and storing the overflowing medal from the medal tank 71 (see FIG. 20), which is a storage part of the hopper device 7, and is on the front side of the overflow sensor unit 9 shown in FIG. Is to be installed. The details of the hopper base 6, the hopper device 7, the overflow tank 8, and the overflow sensor unit 9 will be described later.

In addition, here, the bottom plate 11 of the housing 1 has an automatic collection opening used when collecting medals overflowing from the medal tank 71 of the hopper device 7 with an automatic collection device provided in the island facility of the game hall. 18 is formed (see FIGS. 13 and 25), and when the automatic collection of medals is not performed, the automatic collection opening 18 is formed to be closed. This will be described later in detail. .
As shown in FIG. 2, the upper door 3A of the front door 3 is a plate-like door pivotally supported on the left side plate 13 of the housing 1 via a hinge 16 as shown in FIG. As described above, the rotary panel 2A has an upper panel 20 having a symbol display window 22 through which the reel 2A can be seen from the front side, and a lamp 25 is provided on the side of the upper panel 20. A liquid crystal display device 26 is provided above the upper panel 20, and speakers 27 (upper speakers 27A) are provided on both sides of the liquid crystal display device 26.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a sub board unit 200 is installed at a position behind the liquid crystal display device 26 on the back surface of the upper door 3A. The sub-board unit 200 is a sub-board on which various electronic components such as a CPU and a ROM are mounted in a board case, and a sub-board unit 200 for controlling the effects associated with the game based on the output signal from the main board. It functions as the control device 300 (see FIG. 27). The sub-control device 300 is mainly for controlling the operation of the lamp 25, the liquid crystal display device 26, and the speaker 27.
As shown in FIG. 2, the lower door 3B of the front door 3 is a plate-like door pivotally supported on the left side plate 13 of the housing 1 via a hinge 17 as shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, a counter-like operation unit that protrudes toward the front side from the upper panel 20 with the door closed is provided, and the operation unit has a medal slot 28 for inserting game medals, and credits are replaced with medal insertions. Bet switch 30, a start switch 31 for starting the rotation of the rotary reel 2A, three stop switches 32 for stopping the rotation of the rotary reel 2A, an adjustment switch 33 for adjusting the credit, etc. ing. Here, credit means that medals for use in the next game or later are stored in the gaming machine in advance, and the slot machine S is paid out by medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 28 or by winning. Up to 50 medals can be handled electronically stored inside the gaming machine. The number of medals credited is displayed on a predetermined credit display unit (not shown).

A lower panel 21 that displays the model of the slot machine S and the like is provided below the operation unit, and medals paid out from the hopper device 7 are provided below the lower panel 21 and below the lower door 3B. A medal payout outlet 24 to be discharged and a lower plate 23 in which medals discharged from the medal payout outlet 24 can be stored are formed. A speaker 27 (lower speaker 27B) is provided on the back wall of the lower plate 23.
A medal selector 4 is provided on the back surface of the front door 3 at a position below the medal slot 28 as shown in FIGS. The medal selector 4 detects medals while guiding medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 28. The medals that have passed the medal selector 4 are transferred to the hopper device 7 via the R chute 5 provided on the side of the medal selector 4. Details of the medal selector 4 and the R chute 5 will be described later.

(Medal selector 4)
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the medal selector 4 includes a base 40 and a cover 47 attached to the base 40, and the cover 47 is on the back side (the back side when the slot machine S is viewed from the front). It is attached to the back surface of the lower door 3B. 4 and 5, the direction indicated by the white arrow is the front side. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a medal inlet 42 for receiving a medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 28 is formed on the upper surface of the medal selector 4, and a medal is placed on the side of the medal selector 4. A medal outlet 43 for discharging is provided. The cover 47 is attached so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction around a rotation shaft 48 provided on the base 40, and is always urged toward the base 40 by a spring 48A provided on the rotation shaft 48. ing. As shown in FIG. 6, a medal passage 41 communicating from the medal inlet 42 (upstream side) to the medal outlet 43 (downstream side) is formed on the back surface of the base 40. A detection sensor 44 and a passage detection sensor 45 are provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a medal discharging device 46 is provided on the front side of the base 40.

When viewed from the rear, the medal passage 41 is formed so as to bend so as to guide the medal inserted into the medal inlet 42 from above to the side and to incline downward toward the medal outlet 43, as shown in FIG. Yes. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the medal outlet 43 of the medal passage 41 is formed so as to be inclined such that the upper end portion is on the back side (left side in FIG. 7) with respect to the lower end portion. In other words, the wall surface 41A (the surface along which the front and back surfaces of the medal pass along the medal pass) of the medal passage 41 that is inclined downward is formed so that the upper side is inclined toward the front side when viewed from the back.
The insertion detection sensor 44 is a switch provided below the medal entrance 42, and has a protrusion / depression urged in a direction protruding to the wall surface 41A of the medal passage 41, and the protrusion / depression protrusion normally protrudes. The sensor is OFF, and when the medal passes through the medal passage 41, the protrusion / depression protrusion is immersed and the sensor is turned ON.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the passage detection sensor 45 is an optical sensor provided in the vicinity of the medal outlet 43, and is a first detection unit that is arranged in parallel with the wall surface 41 </ b> A of the medal passage 41 in the flow direction of the medal. 45A and a second detector 45B are provided. The first detection unit 45A and the second detection unit 45B are OFF while the light receiving unit receives the light beam from the light emitting unit, and the sensor is turned off when the light beam from the light emitting unit is blocked by the passage of the medal. It is formed to be ON. When the medal passes through the medal passage 41, the first detection unit 45A and the second detection unit 45B are turned on in this order, and the first detection unit 45A and the second detection unit 45B are turned on at the same time. It becomes OFF in the order of 45A and the second detection unit 45B.

  The medal discharging device 46 is a canceling device for preventing the medal staying in the medal passage 41 from being transferred to the hopper device 7, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the solenoid 46A and the solenoid 46A are interlocked with each other. It has a protruding claw 46B called an operating blocker and a locking plate 46C. In the normal state, the protruding claw 46B does not protrude from the wall surface 41A of the medal passage 41, and the upper end of the game medal with the lower end of the locking plate 46C standing can be locked from the outside (back side). Here, the cover 47 is provided with an opening 47A (see FIG. 5) whose lower edge is above the medal rolling surface 41B (the surface on which the medal rolls; see FIG. 6) of the medal passage 41. Yes, the upper and lower ends of the medal are supported by the lower edge of the opening 47A and the locking plate 46C, so that the medal can pass through the medal passage 41 inclined to the back side without falling. .

  On the other hand, when the slot machine S is not in the medal acceptance state such as excessive credit, the solenoid 46A is activated, the projecting claw 46B projects from the wall surface 41A of the medal passage 41, and the lower end of the locking plate 46C is the upper end of the medal It moves in the direction away from (back direction). Thereby, the medal is repelled from the medal passage 41 and dropped from the opening 47A of the cover 47 before being detected by the passage detection sensor 45. Note that when a medal with a diameter smaller than the prescribed medal is inserted, the upper end portion of the medal is detached from the locking plate 46C, so that the medal also falls from the opening 47A before being detected by the passage detection sensor 45. The dropped medal is discharged from the medal payout opening 24 (see FIG. 1) through the medal discharge duct 29 (see FIG. 2) provided on the back surface of the lower door 3B, and is returned to the lower plate 23.

Medals that have not been canceled by the medal discharge device 46 are detected by the passage detection sensor 45 and discharged from the medal outlet 43. Then, it is guided to a medal tank 71 (see FIG. 2) of the hopper device 7 through an R chute 5 attached to the side of the medal selector 4.
The lower door 3B is provided with a cancel device (not shown) for dropping the game medals in the medal passage 41 downward by operating the medal cancel button 49 shown in FIG. This cancel device is a device for manually canceling medals, which is different from the medal discharge device 46, and is used particularly in the case of releasing a medal jam. Specifically, by operating the medal cancel button 49, the cover 47 is rotated in a direction away from the base 40, and the medal staying in the medal passage 41 is supported by rotating the cover 47. Losing and falling.

(R chute 5)
The R chute 5 is a unit member having a guide member for guiding the medals discharged from the medal outlet 43 of the medal selector 4 to the medal tank 71 of the hopper device 7. As shown in FIG. 3, the R chute 5 is disposed on the medal outlet 43 side of the medal selector 4, and is attached to a predetermined attachment portion (not shown) formed on the back surface of the lower door 3B. 4, 5, and 8 to 10, an R chute main body 50, an R chute cover 51, and an R chute sensor 52 are provided. 9 and 10, the upper side of the drawing is the front side.

(R chute body 50)
As shown in FIGS. 5, 8, and 10, the R chute main body 50 is a guide member having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view in which a medal rolling path 53 is formed in a flat plate-like fixing portion 54. The fixing portion 54 is for fixing the R chute main body 50 to the lower door 3B and fixing the R chute cover 51 and the R chute sensor 52 to the R chute main body 50. The medal rolling path 53 is a passage for rolling the medals discharged from the medal outlet 43 of the medal selector 4 in a standing state and guiding them to the medal tank 71 of the hopper device 7.
As shown in FIG. 10, the medal rolling path 53 has an upper side extending from a medal receiving portion 53A located on the side surface (left side in the drawing) to a medal discharging portion 53B located on the back side (lower side in the drawing). It is an open groove, and has a bottom 53C where a standing medal can roll, and two side walls where a rising medal can slide from the bottom 53C. When viewed from above, the two side walls are curved to form an arc from the medal receiving portion 53A to the medal discharging portion 53B. That is, the medal rolling path 53 has, as two side walls, an inner peripheral wall 53D having a curved portion corresponding to an inner (arc center side) arc and an outer peripheral wall 53E having a curved portion corresponding to an outer arc. (See FIGS. 8 and 10). Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, the medal rolling path 53 has a substantially V-shaped cross section in a direction orthogonal to the medal rolling direction. That is, the inner peripheral wall 53D and the outer peripheral wall 53E are formed such that the distance (width) between the inner peripheral wall 53D and the outer peripheral wall 53E increases as the height from the bottom 53C increases, and the width of the upper open portion is wider than the width of the bottom 53C. It has become. This is based on the fact that the R chute main body 50 is made of synthetic resin by injection molding and needs to have such a shape because of die cutting.

  By the way, the diameter of medals used in the slot machine S may differ depending on the model of the slot machine S and the area where it is installed. When using medals with different diameters, the basic structure is the same, but the diameter of the medals. The medal selector manufactured to match is used. 7A is a schematic side view of the medal selector 4 when a medal having a diameter of 25 mm (25φ) is used, and FIG. 7B is a medal selector when a medal having a diameter of 30 mm (30φ) is used. FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of 4 ′. As shown, the medal outlet 43 of the medal selector 4 for 25φ and the medal outlet 43 ′ of the medal selector 4 ′ for 30φ have different inclination angles. As described above, when the medal diameters are different, not only the height of the medal outlets 43 and 43 ′ but also the inclination of the medals discharged from the medal outlets 43 and 43 ′ are different.

  In the R chute main body 50 according to the present embodiment, the curved portion of the medal rolling path 53 (the curved portion of the inner peripheral wall 53D and the outer peripheral wall 53E) includes both a 25φ medal and a 30φ medal. Between the outer peripheral wall 53E and the outer peripheral wall 53E. Further, the medal receiving portion 53A of the medal rolling path 53 has a shape that can accept both the 25φ medal and the 30φ medal discharged from the medal outlets 43, 43 ′ of the medal selectors 4, 4 ′ at different inclination angles. And dimensions. That is, the R chute main body 50 can be used in common for both the medal selector 4 for 25φ medal and the medal selector 4 ′ for 30φ medal.

(R chute cover 51)
The R chute cover 51 is a cover member attached to the R chute main body 50, and covers the front half of the R chute main body 50 from above as shown in FIG. The R chute cover 51 is provided with a guide passage 55 that is formed along the medal rolling path 53, covers at least the medal receiving portion 53A of the medal rolling path 53, and opens at least on the lower side.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the guide passage 55 is formed so as to be curved substantially along the curved shape of the medal rolling path 53 when viewed from above, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8. The inner wall 55D corresponding to the inner peripheral wall 53D of the medal rolling path 53, the outer wall 55E corresponding to the outer peripheral wall 53E, the inner wall 55D and the outer wall 55E are connected to face the bottom 53C of the medal rolling path 53. It has a ceiling 55C. The inner wall 55D and the outer wall 55E are positioned on the side of the medal rolling on the medal rolling path 53, and the ceiling portion 55C is positioned above the medal rolling on the medal rolling path 53. It will be.

  In addition, a ceiling opening 56 in which a ceiling portion 55C is cut out is formed at an intermediate portion of the guide passage 55, and an outlet portion 55B on the downstream side (medal discharge portion 53B side) of the guide passage 55 is illustrated in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, only the inner wall 55D is extended. The ceiling opening 56 is for removing the medals staying in the medal rolling path 53 from the passage. Here, from the viewpoint of preventing foreign matter insertion from the medal outlet 43 of the medal selector 4, it is conceivable that the ceiling opening 56 is not provided. However, when the medal is jammed in the guide passage 55, the R chute cover 51 is removed. The ceiling opening 56 is formed because it would be troublesome if the clogged medals cannot be removed. In this embodiment, the length of the ceiling opening 56 in the passage direction is formed to be a length necessary and sufficient for taking out a medal (see FIG. 5 and the like). If the medal in the aisle can be accessed with a finger or the tip of a stick even if it is shorter than the diameter of the sword, poke the medal part exposed from the ceiling opening 56 with a finger or the like You can release the clogged medals.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the width w ′ (see FIG. 9) between the inner wall 55D and the outer wall 55E, which is the passage width of the guide passage 55, is the same as the inner peripheral wall 53D at the upper end of the medal rolling path 53. The medal receiving portion 55A of the guide passage 55, which is formed narrower than the width w (see FIG. 10) between the outer peripheral walls 53E and is located above the medal receiving portion 53A of the medal rolling path 53, is a side view. As shown in FIG. 12, the inner wall 55D is located almost directly above the inner peripheral wall 53D of the medal rolling path 53, and the outer wall 55E is located on the inner side (the inner peripheral wall 53D side) of the outer peripheral wall 53E of the medal rolling path 53. ). The width w 'between the inner wall 55D and the outer wall 55E is such that one medal can pass through. Since the medal discharged from the medal outlet 43 of the medal selector 4 is restricted from moving in the direction of the outer peripheral wall 53E of the medal rolling path 53 by the outer wall 55E of the guide passage 55, the entrance of the medal rolling path 53 The traveling direction is changed in the vicinity and is guided to the downstream direction of the medal rolling path 53 without being violated. That is, the inner wall 55D and the outer wall 55E of the medal receiving portion 55A of the guide passage 55 can receive the upper portion of the medal discharged from the medal outlet 43 of the medal selector 4, and at the upper end portion of the medal rolling path 53 It functions as an inlet restricting portion formed with a width narrower than the width between the two side walls (the inner peripheral wall 53D and the outer peripheral wall 53E).

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 11, the inner wall 55D of the guide passage 55 is formed so as to protrude toward the outer peripheral wall 53E of the medal rolling path 53 from the upstream side toward the downstream side. On the other hand, contrary to the above, the outer wall 55E is formed so as to approach the inner peripheral wall 53D side of the medal rolling path 53 from the upstream side toward the downstream side (see FIGS. 11 and 12). The guide passage 55 is formed from the upstream end portion to the downstream side so as to have a width necessary and sufficient for one medal to pass between the inner wall 55D and the outer wall 55E. That is, the inner wall 55D of the guide passage 55 is provided on the opposite side of the outer peripheral wall 53E with a gap through which one medal can pass between the curved portion of the outer peripheral wall 53E of the medal rolling path 53, and It functions as a medal side regulating portion located at the upper part of the front and back sides of the medal rolling on the movement path 53. Even if the course of the medal is blocked at the medal discharge port 53B of the medal rolling path 63 due to the inner wall 55D, the medal passing through the medal rolling path 53 stops at the medal rolling path 53. Since the upper portions on the front and back sides are supported by the inner wall 55D, they do not jump out of the medal rolling path 53.

  Since the guide passage 55 has the inner wall 55D and the outer wall 55E formed as described above, the speed of the medals that roll while sliding on the curved portion of the outer wall 55E decreases, and the subsequent medals catch up. Even if the medals are stuck, the medals rolling path 53 is not in a state where a plurality of medals are overlapped, and the clogging due to the overlap of a plurality of medals can be prevented. Further, medals can be transferred one by one to the R chute sensor 52 described later, and the number of medals that have passed the R chute 5 can be accurately counted. Further, since the guide passage 55 has a ceiling portion 55C above the metal receiving portion 53A of the medal rolling path 53, for example, from the gap between the upper door 3A and the lower door 3B, the inside of the medal selector 4 By inserting a foreign object such as a wire into the passage detection sensor 45 or the like, it is possible to make it difficult to perform an act of mischief. Further, by providing an R chute cover 51 having a guide passage 55, the medal discharge portion 53B of the R chute main body 50 is closed with a plate or the like that has entered from the medal payout outlet 24 (see FIG. 2), and passes through the medal selector 4. Thus, it is possible to prevent so-called medal cancellation goto, in which the detected medal is deviated from the medal rolling path 53 and returned to the medal discharge duct 29 (see FIG. 3).

The R chute cover 51 is provided with a mounting piece 51A provided on the front side (left side in FIG. 8, upper side in FIG. 9) on the front side (left side in FIG. 8, upper side in FIG. 10) of the R chute body 50. The engaging claw 51B provided on the back side (the right side in FIG. 8 and the lower side in FIG. 9) is engaged with the opening 50B provided in the fixing portion 54 of the R chute body 50. And attached to the R chute body 50 (see FIGS. 5 and 12).
Here, as the R chute cover 51, there are provided for a small diameter medal having a guide passage 55 through which a 25φ medal can pass and for a large diameter medal having a guide passage 55 through which a 30φ medal can pass. Both can be attached to the R chute body 50. That is, the R chute cover 51 for small diameter medals and the R chute cover 51 for large diameter medals have the same shape mounting pieces 51A and mounting claws 51B, although the shape dimensions of the guide passage 55 are different. In the present embodiment, an R chute cover 51 for small-diameter medals is shown. The R chute cover 51 for large-diameter medals is not particularly shown, but the medal receiving portion 53A receives medals discharged from the medal outlet 43 ′ (see FIG. 7B) of the medal selector 4 ′ for 30φ medal. The curved portion of the inner side wall 55D and the outer side wall 55E has a curvature that allows a 30φ medal to pass one by one. When a slot machine S is used to play a 25φ medal, a small diameter medal R chute cover 51 is attached to the R chute main body 50 and a 30φ medal is used to play a game. An R chute cover 51 for a large diameter medal can be attached to the R chute main body 50.

(R chute sensor 52)
The R chute sensor 52 is a detection device for detecting medals discharged from the medal discharge portion 53B of the medal rolling path 53, and is arranged downstream of the medal discharge portion 53B as shown in FIGS. It is fixed to the R chute body 50 so as to be positioned.
As shown in FIG. 5, the R-chute sensor 52 includes an outer case attached so as to straddle the medal rolling path 53, and although not shown, the standing medal can pass through the outer case. A groove is provided. A plate-like detection piece 52A is swingably attached to the downstream end of the groove, and the medal rolling on the medal rolling path 53 passes through the inside of the groove, and the medal discharging portion 53B. The detection piece 52A is pushed up when being discharged from the battery. A detection unit (not shown) is arranged inside the outer case, and the detection piece 52A is pushed up and swings to pass through the detection unit. The detection unit may be an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, a contact sensor, or the like, and is normally configured such that the sensor is turned off and the sensor is turned on when the detection piece 52A passes or contacts. The R chute sensor 52 is provided with three locking claws 52B (see FIG. 8) provided at the bottom of the outer case on the edge of the outer peripheral wall 53E of the fixed portion 54 of the R chute main body 50 and the medal rolling path 53. The R chute body 50 is attached by engaging with the locking hole 50C (see FIG. 10).

The R chute sensor 52 is provided separately with a sensor capable of detecting a 25φ medal and a sensor capable of detecting a 30φ medal, and the R chute sensor 52 corresponding to the diameter of the medal used is provided as an R chute main body. The R chute sensor 52 that can detect both the 25φ medal and the 30φ medal may be attached to the R chute main body 50.
Further, in the present embodiment, based on the detection of the R-shoot sensor 52 and the above-described insertion detection sensor 44 and passage detection sensor 45 of the medal selector 4, defects and fraudulent acts relating to the insertion of medals are monitored. This will be described later.

(Modification of guide member)
In the above-described embodiment, the R chute 5 has the configuration including the R chute sensor 52. However, the configuration in which the R chute cover 51 is attached to the R chute main body 50 does not have the R chute sensor 52. 5 is also applicable.
In the above-described embodiment, the medal rolling path 53 of the R chute main body 50, which is a guiding member, is formed in a curved shape, but the configuration for attaching the cover member to the guiding member is not particularly illustrated, The present invention can be applied even when the moving path 53 is formed in a straight line from the medal receiving portion 53A to the medal discharging portion 53B. In this case, the cover member is formed so as to cover at least the medal receiving portion 53A, whereby foreign matter insertion into the medal outlet 43 of the medal selector 4 can be prevented. In addition, by providing a guide portion that allows medals to pass one by one above the medal rolling path 53, even if the medal discharging section 53B of the medal rolling path 53 is blocked, the medal rolling path 53 Can be prevented without departing from the above.

(Hopper base 6)
The hopper base 6 is for installing the hopper device 7 and the overflow tank 8 at an appropriate installation position (appropriate position) of the bottom plate 11 of the housing 1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the hopper base 6 includes a base plate 60 that is a fixed plate installed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 11 of the housing 1 and a pair of rail members 80 fixed to the base plate 60. And. In FIG. 13, the description of the intermediate plate 15 is omitted.
The base plate 60 is made of a thin metal plate, and, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14A, a horizontal frame portion 61 having a rectangular shape in a top view disposed on the front side of the bottom plate 11 in the left-right direction, and a horizontal frame A bottom plate portion 62 having a substantially square shape in a top view and extending rearward from the portion 61 is provided. At both ends of the horizontal frame portion 61, a rising piece 61A formed by bending the horizontal frame portion 61 upward is provided, and this rising piece 61A is attached to the inner surfaces of the side plates 12 and 13 of the housing 1 by screws (not shown). The base plate 60 can be fixed to the housing 1 by fixing. Although not shown, a ground wire is connected to the base plate 60, and electric shock prevention and electrostatic noise countermeasures are taken for the hopper device 7 placed on the base plate 60. The rear right end portion of the bottom plate portion 62 is provided with a static elimination standing piece 63 formed by bending a band-like tongue piece protruding sideways upward, which will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the rail member 80 includes a right rail member 80R fixed to the right edge of the bottom plate portion 62 of the base plate 60 and a left rail member 80L fixed to the left edge of the bottom plate portion 62. Become. As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the right rail member 80R is a synthetic resin member that is substantially L-shaped when viewed from above, and bends from the guide rail 81 to the side (left side) from the guide rail 81. A bent portion 82 is provided. Further, as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the left rail member 80L is a substantially I-shaped synthetic resin member as viewed from above, and has a guide rail 85. Then, as shown in FIG. 14B, the rail member 80 is arranged so that the respective guide rails 81 and 85 are in the front-rear direction and are opposed to each other in a state of being fixed to the base plate 60. At this time, the bent portion 82 of the right rail member 80R is positioned at the rear end portion of the horizontal frame portion 61 of the base plate 60 (see FIG. 20).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 22, the guide rails 81 and 85 are formed with gaps 81A and 85A between the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 62, which is a mounting surface on which the hopper device 7 is mounted. . Further, the guide rails 81 and 85 are engaged with the overhanging pieces 72 of the hopper device 7 by inserting overhanging pieces 72 provided in the hopper device 7 described later into the gaps 81A and 85A. Is formed. Then, by engaging the projecting piece 72 of the hopper device 7 with the two guide rails 81, 85, the hopper device 7 can be fixed to the base plate 60 and eventually to the housing 1. Yes. Details of the guide rails 81 and 85 will be described later. Further, at the base of the guide rail 81 and the bent portion 82 of the right rail member 80R, as shown in FIGS. 15 (A), (B) and FIG. This will be described later.

(Hopper device 7)
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 20, the hopper device 7 includes a medal tank 71 whose upper side is open, and a main body 70 provided below the medal tank 71. Although not shown in the drawings, the main body 70 includes a rotating disk that is located at the bottom of the medal tank 71 and has a medal hole into which a medal can be inserted, and a drive motor that is positioned below the rotating disk and that rotates the rotating disk. Built in. When the rotating disk is rotated by driving the drive motor, the medals fitted in the medal hole of the rotating disk are discharged from the medal discharging slit 70A provided on the front side of the main body 70. is there. The medal discharged from the medal discharge slit 70A enters the medal receiving hole 29A (see FIGS. 2 and 3) communicating with the medal discharge duct 29 provided on the back surface of the lower door 3B, passes through the medal discharge duct 29, and the medal discharge It is paid out to the lower plate 23 from the outlet 24 (see FIG. 1).

In addition, the medal stored in the side of the medal tank 71 when the number of inserted medals is relatively larger than the medal paid out by winning due to the setting of the game of the slot machine S, etc. A medal overflow portion 71A is formed for discharging the battery to the outside of the tank. Although not shown, the medal overflow part 71A has an opening for dropping the stored medal, and the medal dropped from this opening is received by the overflow tank 8 installed adjacent to the hopper device 7. It has become.
And as shown in FIGS. 20-22, the overhang | projection piece 72 projected to the side is formed in the both-sides edge part of the bottom part of the main-body part 70. As shown in FIG. The overhanging piece 72 is an engaging portion that can engage with the guide rails 81 and 85 of the pair of rail members 80 as described above.

(Overflow tank 8)
As shown in FIGS. 2, 20, and 21, the overflow tank 8 is a synthetic resin box that is installed on the front right side of the hopper device 7 and that is open on the upper side. That is, as shown in FIG. 17, the overflow tank 8 has a front plate 8A, a back plate 8B, left and right side plates 8C and 8D, and a bottom plate 8E. Opposing detection openings 8F are formed on the rear side of the left and right side plates 8C, 8D. The detection opening 8E coincides with the position of a detection portion 94A of an overflow sensor 94 described later when the overflow tank 8 is installed at an appropriate position (see FIG. 25). Further, as shown in FIG. 18, a bottom opening 8G formed by cutting out corners of the back plate 8B, the left side plate 8D, and the bottom plate 8E is formed at the bottom of the overflow tank 8 on the back side. This bottom opening 8G matches the position of the static elimination standing piece 63 provided on the base plate 60 of the hopper base 6 when the overflow tank 8 is installed at an appropriate position, and the static elimination standing piece 63 is opened at the bottom. 8G is inserted into the overflow tank 8 (see FIG. 17). As described above, since the base plate 60 is connected to the ground, the static elimination standing piece 63 protruding into the overflow tank 8 and the medal stored in the overflow tank 8 come into contact with each other. Static electricity generated by friction between medals can be removed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in order to neutralize the medals stored in the overflow tank 8, the static elimination standing piece 63 integrally formed with the metal base plate 60 connected to the ground. Is used. Thereby, it is not necessary to separately provide a ground wire for the overflow tank 8. The static elimination standing piece 63 and the bottom opening 8G are limited to the shape shown in the figure as long as the static elimination standing piece 63 can protrude into the overflow tank 8 installed at an appropriate position. is not. For example, the static elimination standing piece 63 may protrude in the horizontal direction toward the overflow tank 8, and an opening may be provided in the back plate 8B or the side plate 8D of the overflow tank 8.

(Installation of hopper device 7 and overflow tank 8)
Next, a procedure for installing the hopper device 7 and the overflow tank 8 having the above-described configuration in the housing 1 will be described.
First, when installing the hopper device 7, the overhanging piece 72 provided in the hopper device 7 is front-facing to the guide rails 81 and 85 of the rail member 80 fixed to the base plate 60 of the hopper base 6. Engage from the side. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 20, the bottom surface of the main body portion 70 of the hopper device 7 is placed on the horizontal frame portion 61 of the base plate 60 and the hopper device 7 is moved in the back direction, while the right extension piece 72 is moved. Is engaged with the guide rail 81 of the right rail member 80R, and the left overhanging piece 72 is engaged with the guide rail 85 of the left rail member 80L. That is, the protruding piece 72 is inserted from the front side into the gap 81A, 85A between the guide rails 81, 85 and the bottom plate portion 62 of the base plate 60, as shown in FIG. 22 (A). It is assumed that the piece 72 is sandwiched between the bottom plate portion 62 and the guide rails 81 and 85.

Here, on the front left side surface portion of the guide rail 81 of the right rail member 80R, as shown in the figure, a corner portion is provided so that the distance from the left rail member 80L increases toward the front side (lower side in FIG. 20). It is formed in a chamfered shape. This is because the projecting piece 72 is easily inserted into the gaps 81A and 85A between the guide rails 81 and 85. When the hopper device 7 placed on the horizontal frame portion 61 is pushed straight inward, first, the left extension piece 72 is engaged with the guide rail 85 of the left rail member 80L, and the hopper device 7 is pushed in as it is. As a result, the left overhanging piece 72 is engaged with the guide rail 81 of the right rail member 80R while the left overhanging piece 72 is guided by the guide rail 85.
Here, the bottom plate portion 62 is formed with a stopper 62A that is positioned at the rear end portion of the guide rails 81 and 85 when the rail members 80 are fixed to the base plate 60 (FIG. 14A). )reference). When the left and right projecting pieces 72 come into contact with the stopper 62A, the hopper device 7 is installed at an appropriate position as shown in FIG. 19B.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the upper surface of the guide rail 81 of the right rail member 80R and the upper surface of the guide rail 85 of the left rail member 8B are formed to have different heights from the bottom plate portion 62. That is, the height to the upper surface of the guide rail 81 is formed to be lower than the height to the upper surface of the guide rail 85. Further, in the present embodiment, the guide rail 81 of the right rail member 80R formed so that the height to the upper surface is lower than the height to the upper surface of the guide rail 85 of the left rail member 8B is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the hopper device 7 places the left overhanging piece 72 on the bottom plate portion 62 (that is, the left overhanging piece 72 is properly engaged), and the right overhanging piece 72 is placed over the guide rail 81. Formed at a height that makes it possible to visually confirm that the hopper device 7 is not installed horizontally when placed on the top (that is, the right extension piece 72 is not properly engaged) Has been. Specifically, when the hopper device 7 is installed in a state of poor engagement as described above, the top surface of the medal tank 71 when the hopper device 7 is viewed from the front as shown in FIG. Is inclined with respect to a line L parallel to the bottom plate 11 of the housing 1. In such a case, the gap between the lower end of the medal overflow portion 71A of the medal tank 71 and the upper end of the overflow tank 8 is larger than that in FIG. In contrast to the above, even when the right overhanging piece 72 is placed on the bottom plate portion 62 and the left overhanging piece 72 is placed on the guide rail 85, it is shown in FIG. As indicated by the dotted line, it is visible that the hopper device 7 is not installed horizontally. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 22C, the difference in height between the upper surfaces of the two guide rails 81 and 85 is that the hopper device 7 places the right extension piece 72 on the guide rail 81 of the right rail member 80R. Even when the left extension piece 72 is placed on the guide rail 85 of the right rail member 80L (that is, when both extension pieces 72 are not engaged with the guide rails 81 and 85). The hopper device 7 is formed at a height that allows visual observation that the hopper device 7 is not installed horizontally.

Since it is formed as described above, it is possible to find at a glance the engagement failure between the guide rails 81 and 85 and the overhanging piece 72 of the hopper device 7, and the inconvenience caused by the hopper device 7 not being fixed properly, for example, It is possible to prevent the generation of noise due to vibration when the drive motor is driven, the insufficient ground connection and electric shock during maintenance, and the occurrence of malfunction due to electrostatic noise.
On the other hand, the overflow tank 8 is not placed on the base plate 60, and as shown in FIGS. 17 and 19A, the right side of the right rail member 80R of the hopper base 6 of the bottom plate 11 of the housing 1 is provided. It is arranged at a location located on the rear side. However, actually, it is placed not on the top surface of the bottom plate 11 of the housing 1 but on the shielding plate 91 (see FIG. 24) provided in the overflow sensor unit 9 described below. Will be described later. The overflow tank 8 is positioned such that the left side plate 8D is positioned on the right side of the protrusion 83 provided on the right rail member 80R, and the front plate 8A is positioned on the back side of the bent portion 82 of the right rail member 80R. 17, as shown in FIG. 17, the static elimination standing piece 63 of the hopper base 6 is inserted into the bottom opening 8 </ b> G. In this state, the overflow tank 8 is restricted from moving forward by the front plate 8A coming into contact with the back surface of the bent portion 82, and the right side surface of the projection 83 and the left side plate 8D are in contact with each other. Is restricted from moving to the left. That is, the bent portion 82 corresponds to a front locking portion that contacts the front surface of the overflow tank 8 and prevents the overflow tank 8 from moving toward the front side, and the protrusion 83 contacts the side surface of the overflow tank 8. This corresponds to a side locking portion that prevents the overflow tank 8 from moving to the hopper device 7 side.

  Further, when the overflow tank 8 is installed in a state where the front plate 8A is in contact with the back surface of the bent portion 82 and the left side plate 8D is in contact with the right side surface of the projection 83, as shown in FIG. The detection openings 8F formed in the side plates 8C and 8D coincide with the position of the detection portion 94A of the overflow sensor 94 provided in the overflow sensor unit 9. In other words, the overflow sensor 94 can detect the amount of medals inside the tank. Further, in this state, the overflow tank 8 can appropriately receive medals falling from the medal overflow portion 71 of the hopper device 7. The position of the overflow tank 8 installed in this way is an appropriate position in the housing 1. The bottom opening 8G restricts the movement of the overflow tank 8 in the back direction by the contact between the front surface of the static elimination standing piece 63 and the rear end 8e (see FIG. 18) of the bottom plate 8E in the bottom opening 8G. It is formed with a size that does not hinder the installation of the overflow tank 8 at an appropriate position. That is, the static elimination standing piece 63 also functions as a positioning means in the depth direction of the overflow tank 8.

As described above, the hopper base 6 not only installs the hopper device 7 in an appropriate position, but also functions as a means for installing the overflow tank 8 in an appropriate position, and also stores medals stored in the overflow tank 8. It also functions as a means for performing static elimination.
The side locking portion that prevents the overflow tank 8 from moving to the side may be a surface on the opposite side (right side) of the guide rail 81 of the right rail member 80R. Further, the front locking portion that prevents the overflow tank 8 from moving forward may be a protrusion provided on the back surface of the bent portion 82.
(Overflow sensor unit 9)
As shown in FIG. 13, the overflow sensor unit 9 is a member disposed at a corner on the lower right rear side of the housing 1 and supports the overflow sensor 94 and the overflow sensor 94 as shown in FIG. And a shielding plate 91 for closing the automatic recovery opening 18 formed in the bottom plate 11 of the housing 1.

The support member 90 is a plate-like member fixed to the back plate 14 of the housing 1 and includes two arm portions 92 protruding forward from the side surface portion. An overflow sensor 94 is provided. In addition, a shaft support portion 93 for attaching the shielding plate 91 is provided below the support member 90.
The overflow sensor 94 is an optical sensor including a light receiving unit and a light emitting unit that are opposite detection units 94A. When the light receiving unit receives a light beam from the light emitting unit, the overflow sensor 94 is in an OFF state, and the light beam from the light emitting unit is blocked. When the light receiving unit stops receiving the light from the light emitting unit, the light receiving unit is turned on. When the medals stored in the overflow tank 8 are stored up to a position where the detection unit 94A is blocked, a signal indicating that the sensor is turned on is transmitted to the main control device 200, and a predetermined error display is displayed. Yes.

  The shielding plate 91 is a thin plate member that is pivotally attached to the shaft stopping portion 93 of the support member 90 so that the front side moves up and down. The shielding plate 91 rotates between a closed position (see FIGS. 13 and 24) that closes the automatic recovery opening 18 and an open position (see FIG. 25) that completely opens the automatic recovery opening 18. It is formed freely. 24 to 26, the hopper base 6 is not shown. The shielding plate 91 in the closed position is parallel to the bottom plate 11 of the housing 1, and the shielding plate 91 in the open position is almost upright. Since the horizontal width of the shielding plate 91 is narrower than the width between the arm portions 92 of the support member 90, the arm portion 92 does not hinder the rotation of the shielding plate 91, and the outer shape of the shielding plate 91 is Since it is formed slightly larger than the outer shape of the automatic collection opening 18, the automatic collection opening 18 is entirely covered.

Further, a hook 95 as a holding portion protruding forward is provided at the upper end portion of the support member 90, and a locking hole 96 engageable with the hook 95 is provided at a substantially central portion of the shielding plate 91. Is formed. Then, when the shielding plate 91 is rotated to the open position, the hooks 95 of the hook 95 are engaged with the engaging holes 96 and the shielding plate 91 is held by the support member 90 as shown in FIG.
(Usage of overflow sensor unit 9)
A usage mode of the overflow sensor unit 9 having the above configuration will be described.
Here, when automatic collection of medals is not performed, that is, when there are no medals in the hopper tank 71 of the hopper device 7, the lower door 4 is opened and the medals are manually supplied, and when the overflow tank 8 is full, the lower door 4 When the token is opened and the medal is manually taken out, the automatic recovery opening 18 is unnecessary and must be closed. Therefore, in this case, as shown in FIG. 24, the shielding plate 91 is turned to the closing position to close the automatic recovery opening 18, and the overflow tank 8 is placed on the shielding plate 91 ( (See FIG. 23). As described above, when the overflow tank 8 is installed in accordance with the right rail member 80R of the hopper base 6, the detection portion 94A of the overflow sensor 94 becomes the position of the detection opening 8F of the overflow tank 8.

  On the other hand, when performing automatic collection of medals, the hopper tank 71 of the hopper device 7 opens the lower door 4 and manually supplies the medals when there are no medals, but if the hopper tank 71 is full, it overflows. The medal is dropped from the automatic collection opening 18 and collected by a collection device (not shown). The medals collected from the plurality of slot machines S are collected in one place and supplied to each medal sand installed adjacent to each slot machine S. In this case, as shown in FIG. 25, the shielding plate 91 is rotated to the open position to open the automatic recovery opening 18, and the shielding plate 91 is supported by the support member 90 by the hook 95 and the locking hole 96. To hold. Then, as shown in FIG. 26, an automatic recovery overflow tank 8 ′ having an opening 8H in the bottom plate is installed above the automatic recovery opening 18. The medals overflowing from the hopper tank 71 fall from the automatic recovery opening 18 through the opening 8H of the bottom plate of the overflow tank 8 ′. Note that the opening 8H of the bottom plate of the overflow tank 8 ′ may be formed to be openable and closable. For example, a lid capable of opening and closing the opening 8H may be attached to the bottom plate so as to be rotatable. Then, when automatic collection is not performed, the opening 8H can be closed and used, and when automatic collection is performed, the opening 8H can be opened and used.

  Here, when performing automatic collection, since the overflow sensor 94 is not used, the power of the sensor is turned off. In the illustrated example, the automatic recovery overflow tank 8 ′ has the same external shape as the overflow tank 8 that does not have the opening 8H on the bottom plate, but is installed above the automatic recovery opening 18. Any shape may be used as long as it is a shape that can be guided to the automatic recovery opening 18 so that the medals falling from the medal overflow portion 71A of the hopper device 7 are not scattered. For example, a cylindrical duct or a funnel-shaped receptacle may be used. Further, the detection opening corresponding to the detection portion 94A of the overflow sensor 94 and the bottom opening corresponding to the static elimination standing piece 63 may not be provided. The overflow sensor 94 may be automatically turned off when the shielding plate 91 is rotated to the open position.

As described above, the overflow sensor unit 9 not only supports the overflow sensor 94, but also supports the shielding plate 91 for closing the automatic recovery opening 18, and is obstructive when the shielding plate 91 is not used. It can be stowed up and stored in a position (between the arm portions 92). By storing the shielding plate 91 in the housing, the shielding plate 91 is not lost anywhere. This eliminates the need to newly purchase a lid for closing the automatic recovery opening 18 as a fixture when the slot machine S is used and recovered.
Note that the holding portion for holding the shielding plate 91 in the open position is not limited to the hook 95 and the locking hole 96 described above, and is hooked so that the shielding plate 91 does not return to the closed position due to its own weight. Any shape structure may be used as long as it can be used. For example, the support member 90 may be provided with a locking piece for locking the side edge portion of the shielding plate 91 rotated to the open position. Further, the shielding plate 91 is formed so as to be rotatable to a position where it is tilted to the back side from the vertical state, and the shielding plate 91 is supported by the front upper end portion of the support member 90 (the front upper end portion of the support member 90 is defined as the holding portion). It may be a structure.

(Modification of overflow sensor unit 9)
In the above-described embodiment, the shielding plate 91 is pivotally attached to the support member 90 so that the front side moves up and down. However, the shielding plate 91 is supported so that the side surface (left side) moves up and down. You may attach to the member 90 so that rotation is possible. In this case, when the shielding plate 91 is rotated to the open position, the attachment position of the detection unit 94A is adjusted or a notch is provided in the shielding plate 91 so that the detection unit 94A of the overflow sensor 94 is not blocked. Just do it. In this case, a holding portion that holds the shielding plate 91 in the open position may be provided on the side plate 12 of the housing 1. Further, the shielding plate 91 may be formed detachably from the support member 90. For example, when the automatic collection opening 18 is opened, the shielding plate 91 is held by a predetermined holding portion of the support member 90, and when the automatic collection opening 18 is closed, the shielding plate 91 is supported by the support member. It may be removed from 90 and placed over the automatic collection opening 18.

  Further, the shielding plate 91 may be attached to the housing 1. For example, when the automatic collection opening 18 is opened to be attached to the bottom plate 11 of the housing 1 so as to be pivoted, it is rotated to the side plate 12 side and held by the holding portion provided on the side plate 12. it can. Alternatively, the shielding plate 91 may be formed on the inner surface of the side plate 12, the back surface of the middle plate 15, the back surface of the top plate 10, or the like. For example, it is slid from the front side and attached to a guide portion provided in the front-rear direction on the inner surface of the housing 1. Alternatively, the shielding plate 91 may be mounted by engaging the hook or the locking hole formed on the inner surface of the housing 1 with the locking hole or the hook formed in the shielding plate 91. When opening the automatic collection opening 18, the shielding plates 91 are attached to those places, and when closing the automatic collection opening 18, the shielding plate 91 is removed from the installation place and automatically The recovery opening 18 may be covered. In short, if the shielding plate 91 is not used, the shielding plate 91 will not be lost if it can be stored in any location inside the housing 1.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the overflow sensor 94 is an optical sensor having the detection unit 94A located on the side surface side of the overflow tank 8, but the overflow sensor 94 is not limited to such an example. It may be a contact sensor that protrudes two metal rods arranged vertically in the tank 8 and is turned on when the medal stored in the overflow tank 8 reaches the position of the upper metal rod.
(Main controller 200)
Next, the main controller 200 will be described based on the block diagram of FIG.
On the input side of the main controller 200, there are an input detection sensor 44, a passage detection sensor 45, an R chute sensor 52, an overflow sensor 94, a payout sensor 35, an index sensor 36, a bet switch 30, a start switch 31, a stop switch 32, and a checkout. Each part of the switch 33 and the reset switch 34 is connected. Further, the reel unit 2, the medal discharging device 46, and the hopper device 7 are connected to the output side of the main control device 200. Here, although not shown, the payout sensor 35 is a detection device that detects medals discharged from the medal payout slit 70A of the hopper device 7, and the index sensor 36 is provided on the reel unit 2 although not shown. This is a detection device for detecting the rotation of the rotary reel 2A. Further, the reset switch 34 is a switch provided inside the housing 1, although not particularly illustrated, for releasing the error state.

The sub-control device 300 is formed so that an output signal from the main control device 200 can be input in one direction. On the output side of the sub-control device 300, the liquid crystal display device 26, the lamp 25, and the speaker 27 are provided. Each device is connected.
As shown in FIG. 27, the main control device 200 functions as each means of the insertion control means 210, the role lottery means 220, the reel control means 230, the game result determination means 240, the fraud monitoring means 250, and the error control means 260. To do.
The insertion control means 210 controls the medal insertion based on the detection signal of the passage detection sensor 45. The slot machine S can play (bet) a maximum of three medals, and medals inserted exceeding the maximum bet number are electronically stored as credits. When a medal is inserted beyond the credit, the medal discharging device 46 of the medal selector 4 is operated to cancel the inserted medal. Then, the start switch 31 can be operated in a state where a specified number of bets have been placed. Note that the prescribed number is the number of medals that can be bet for one game.

The role lottery means 220 receives the operation signal of the start switch 31, and the role lottery for determining whether or not to win a role associated with a predetermined symbol combination composed of symbols displayed on the rotating reel 2A. Is for doing.
Here, in the slot machine S, when a combination of symbols corresponding to a predetermined winning combination is displayed on the active line by operating the stop switch 32 (hereinafter referred to as winning), a profit corresponding to the winning combination is displayed. It is to be granted. The effective line is a symbol displayed on each of the three rotating reels 2A, and one symbol is connected to each of the rotating reels 2A located in the upper, middle and lower stages of the symbol display window 22. Among the possible lines (winning line), the line defines the arrangement of symbol combinations that are effective for winning. The winning line becomes an active line by betting a prescribed number of medals.

In the present embodiment, a bonus combination, a replay combination and a small combination are provided as the combination. When the bonus combination wins, the bonus game starts from the next game. When the re-game player wins, the re-game is activated, and the start switch 31 can be operated without inserting a new medal in the next game. When the small role wins, a predetermined number of medals are paid out.
The reel control means 230 is for controlling the rotation and stop of the rotary reel 2A based on the operation signals of the start switch 31 and the stop switch 32. Specifically, when an operation signal of the start switch 31 is input in a state where a predetermined number of bets are placed, the rotation of all the rotary reels 2A is started. When the operation signal of the stop switch 32 is input when the rotation reel 2A is rotating and the predetermined condition is satisfied, the rotation of the rotation reel 2A corresponding to the operated stop switch 32 is stopped. At this time, if the result of the winning combination lottery wins the predetermined winning combination, the symbols constituting the symbol combination associated with the winning winning combination are drawn on the effective line under the predetermined condition, and the rotating reel 2A Stop. On the other hand, if the result of the lottery is a loss that has not been won for any role, a symbol that must not be stopped on the active line is displayed so that the combination of symbols that are stopped and displayed will not be in any winning form. Kick off and stop rotating reel 2A.

The game result determination means 240 determines whether or not the stop symbol of the rotating reel 2A stopped by the operation of the stop switch 32 has become a symbol combination associated with a predetermined combination, and performs processing according to the determination result It is for making it. In other words, when it is determined that the bonus combination has won, a process of shifting to the bonus state is performed, and when it is determined that the re-playing combination has won, a process of automatically treating bet (automatic processing) Bet), when it is determined that the small role has won, the hopper device 7 pays out the number of medals corresponding to the winning.
(Fraud monitoring means 250)
The fraud monitoring means 250 is for monitoring fraud and defects related to medal insertion based on detection signals of the insertion detection sensor 44, the passage detection sensor 45, and the R-shoot sensor 52. As shown in FIG. 27, the fraud monitoring unit 250 includes a fraud monitoring timer 251, a fraud monitoring counter 252, a normal detection counter 253, an R-shoot error counter 254, and an error flag setting unit 255.

(Unauthorized monitoring timer 251)
The fraud monitoring timer 251 is a time measuring unit that measures a predetermined time (for example, 2000 ms) set in advance every time the passage detection sensor 45 detects a medal. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 28, the fraud monitoring timer 251 includes a second detection unit 45B of the passage detection sensor 45 (in the drawing, the first detection unit 45A is the passage sensor 1 and the second detection unit 45B is the passage sensor 2. (Notation) starts time counting from ON to OFF, and when the second detection unit 45B further turns from ON to OFF during the time counting, the count is reset to the initial value and the time counting is performed (timer Overwrite). The predetermined time described above is set to a necessary and sufficient time from when the medal passes the position detected by the passage detection sensor 45 until it reaches the position detected by the R chute sensor 52.

The fraud monitoring timer 251 shown in FIG. 28 performs time counting by a method of subtracting the count value using the count initial value as a predetermined set value (150 ms). The time may be counted by a method in which the count value is added with 0 being zero.
(Unauthorized monitoring counter 252)
The fraud monitoring counter 252 is a counting unit that increments the count value by “1” every time the passage detection sensor 45 detects a medal and decrements the count value by “1” every time the R-shoot sensor 82 detects a medal. More specifically, the count value is incremented by “1” when the second detection unit 45B of the passage detection sensor 45 is switched from ON to OFF, and the count value is incremented by “1” when the R chute sensor 82 is switched from OFF to ON. "It is supposed to subtract. Thus, when the medal is ejected from the medal selector 4, the count value is incremented by +1, and when the medal is ejected from the R-shoot sensor 82, the count value is decremented by 1, so that the medal is inserted normally. In this case, the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 should finally be “0”. Here, the numerical values that can be counted by the fraud monitoring counter 252 are a positive number and a negative number. For example, when a medal is detected by the R chute sensor 82 when the count value is “0”, the count value is set to “−1”.

In addition, the fraud monitoring counter 252 ignores this when the fraud monitoring timer 251 is not counting the time, that is, when a medal is detected by the R-shoot sensor 82 when the insertion of a medal is not detected (see FIG. 28 (A)). This is based on the high possibility of erroneous detection due to vibration or the like.
The predetermined numerical value added or subtracted by the fraud monitoring counter 252 is not limited to “1”, may be “2”, “10”, or “1.5”. The fraud monitoring counter 252 subtracts a predetermined number every time the passage detection sensor 45 detects a medal, and adds the same number as the predetermined number every time the R-shoot sensor 82 detects a medal. It may be formed. Even in this manner, when the medal is inserted normally, the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 is finally “0”.

(Normal detection counter 253)
The normality detection counter 253 is a counting unit that counts the number of times that a medal is normally detected. In the present embodiment, the count value is incremented by “1” every time a medal is normally detected. The counting means is configured to reset the count when a predetermined value set in advance, for example, “255” is reached.
Here, the case where “the medal is detected normally” is a case where the medal is detected in the order of the insertion detection sensor 44, the first detection unit 45A, and the second detection unit 45B. In other cases, for example, when the order in which medals are detected is different from the above, or when a medal is not detected by the passage detection sensor 45 for a certain period of time after detection by the insertion detection sensor 44, or when the insertion detection sensor 44 or the passage detection is detected. If any of the sensors 45 continues to detect a medal for a certain time, it is handled as a predetermined error.

Note that the predetermined numerical value added or subtracted by the normal detection counter 253 is not limited to “1”. Further, the normal detection counter 253 sets the initial value of the count as a set value (255), and subtracts “1” from the count value every time a medal is detected normally, and when the count value becomes “0”. May be configured to initialize the count value (set 255). The upper limit of the count value is set to “255” for convenience of the program (256 is 1 byte), and the upper limit value is not limited to this value. For example, it may be “100” or “200”.
(R chute error counter 254)
The R-shoot error counter 254 converts the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 into an absolute value and stores the value (hereinafter referred to as an error count) every time a predetermined error determination trigger is met. It is a storage means. In the present embodiment, the R-shoot error counter 254 performs the error count when the fraud monitoring timer 251 ends the time count as a predetermined error determination trigger. That is, when the fraud monitoring timer 251 times out, the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 is added to the stored value if the count value is a positive number, and the absolute value is added to the stored value if the count value is a negative number. It is something to remember.

The R-shoot error counter 254 subtracts 1 from the stored value when the count value of the normal detection counter 253 reaches a predetermined value (255). However, when the stored value is 0, it is not subtracted. Further, when the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254 becomes a predetermined numerical value set in advance, for example, “5”, the stored value is reset (cleared to 0). In this case, it is handled as a predetermined error.
The initial value of the R chute error counter 254 is set to “5”, the absolute value of the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 when the fraud monitoring timer 251 times out is subtracted from the stored value, and the stored value is “0”. In this case, the count value may be initialized (5 is set). Further, the predetermined value (upper limit value) at which the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254 is initialized is not limited to “5”. This numerical value is set in consideration of the upper limit value of the normal detection counter 253, the accuracy of the R-shoot sensor 52, and the like.

(Error flag setting means 255)
The error flag setting means 255 is for setting a predetermined error flag based on the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 and the count value of the R-shoot error counter 254.
Specifically, the error flag setting means 255 basically, when the count value of the R-shoot error counter 254 reaches a predetermined value (5) set in advance after the time-up of the fraud monitoring timer 251, Set the R-shoot error flag.
As an exception, even before the time of the fraud monitoring counter 251 is up, if the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 is outside the preset threshold range, the R-shoot error flag can be set. More specifically, the upper limit value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 is set to “7” and the lower limit value is set to “−8”. Before the fraud monitoring timer 251 expires, the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 is When the value is 7 or more or -8 or less, the count value of the R-shoot error counter 254 is immediately updated. As a result, the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 is incremented by 7 or 8, and is always “5” or more. Based on this, the error flag setting means 255 sets the R-shoot error flag.

  In this way, the medal rolling path 53 of the R chute 5 has a structure in which only up to six medals are physically placed continuously, and the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 is 7 or more. This is because there is a high possibility of fraud. Further, the fact that the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 becomes negative may indicate that the detection piece 52A of the R-shoot sensor 52 is oscillating for reasons other than the passage of medals. In this case, it can be assumed that the ON / OFF of the sensor is repeated due to the occurrence of chattering (see FIG. 28B), but the number of times exceeds the number of times expected for chattering and is unnaturally large. This is because there is a high possibility that fraud is being performed on the R chute sensor 52.

From the above, the upper limit value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 is preferably set to a value larger than the number of medals that can physically exist in the medal rolling path 53, and the lower limit value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 is the R chute sensor. It is preferable to set according to the accuracy of 52. In addition, the upper limit value of the R chute error counter 254 needs to be set to a value smaller than the absolute values of the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the fraud monitoring counter 252.
The error flag setting means 255 sets a backflow error flag when the medal is not detected normally. The case where the medal is not detected normally is as described above.

When the R-shoot error flag or the backflow error flag is set by the error flag setting means 255, the slot machine S is brought into a predetermined error state by the error control means 260 described below.
The error flag setting means 255 sets the detection abnormality error flag when the backflow error flag is set repeatedly, which will be described later.
(Error control means 260)
The error control unit 260 sets the state of the slot machine S to a predetermined error state based on the monitoring result of the fraud monitoring unit 250 described above, and cancels the error state when a predetermined error cancellation trigger is met. This is for performing control. As shown in FIG. 27, a determination unit 261 and an error state setting unit 262 are provided.

  The determination unit 261 determines whether or not to put the slot machine S into an error state based on the presence or absence of an error flag, and also determines whether or not to cancel the error in the error state. Specifically, the determination means 261 determines the presence or absence of an R shoot error flag or a back flow error flag by timer interrupt processing, and determines that there is an R shoot error when the R shoot error flag is set. If the flag is set, the backflow error is determined. Further, when an error state is set by the error state setting means 262, if a predetermined error release condition is met, an error release decision is made.

  Here, the error release condition is an operation of a predetermined reset switch 34 (see FIG. 27) in the case of an R-shoot error, and the elapse of a predetermined time in the case of a backflow error. That is, the R-shoot error cannot be canceled unless the reset switch 34 is operated, but the backflow error is automatically canceled after a predetermined time. However, when the backflow error is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, 5 times) within a certain time, the determination unit 261 determines a detection abnormality error. When the detection abnormality error is determined, the error flag setting means 255 sets the detection abnormality error flag. The detection abnormality error cannot be canceled unless the reset switch 34 is operated.

  The error state setting unit 262 sets the operating state of the slot machine S to an error state based on the determination of the error by the determination unit 261, and cancels the error state setting based on the determination of the error cancellation of the determination unit 261. To do. Specifically, when it is determined as an R-shoot error or a detection abnormality error, an error is displayed on a predetermined error display section and the game is disabled. For example, the bet is invalidated (the medal discharging device 46 of the medal selector 4 is activated or the operation of the bet switch 30 is invalid), the start switch 31 is invalidated, or the stop switch 32 is invalidated. To do. If it is determined that there is a backflow error, an error is displayed on a predetermined error display section, but the progress of the game is not stopped. If the determination unit 261 determines to cancel the error, the error display and the game inexecutable state are ended.

In addition to the error control based on the monitoring result of the fraud monitoring means 250, the error control means 260 is a predetermined error related to the components of the slot machine S, such as an error related to the hopper device 7 or an error related to opening / closing of the front door 3. Although control can be performed, description thereof is omitted.
(Outline of operation of slot machine S)
An outline of the operation of the slot machine S having the above configuration will be described based on the flow of FIG. FIG. 29 shows the flow of one game.
First, in step 100 shown in FIG. 9, it is determined whether or not a prescribed number of medals has been bet. Betting includes automatic betting by the operation of replays in addition to the insertion of medals and the operation of the bet switch 30. If the specified number of medals is not bet, the process returns to step 100. If the specified number of medals is inserted, the process proceeds to the next step 101.

In step 101, it is determined whether or not the start switch 31 is turned on. If the start switch 31 is not turned ON, the process returns to step 101. If the start switch 31 is turned ON, the process proceeds to the next step 102.
In step 102, a role lottery process is performed by the role lottery means 210. Then, the process proceeds to the next step 103.
In step 103, a rotation start process for the rotary reel 2A is performed. Then, the process proceeds to the next step 104.
In step 104, it is determined whether any one of the stop switches 32 is turned on. If the stop switch 32 is not turned ON, the process returns to step 104. If any stop switch 32 is turned ON, the process proceeds to the next step 105.

In step 105, rotation stop processing for the corresponding rotary reel 2A is performed. Then, the process proceeds to the next step 106.
In step 106, it is determined whether all the rotary reels 2A have been stopped, that is, whether the stop switch 32 corresponding to the three rotary reels 2A has been operated. If all the rotating reels 2A are not stopped, the process returns to step 104, and if all the rotating reels 2A are stopped, the process proceeds to the next step 107.
In step 107, a game result determination process is performed. Then, the process proceeds to the next step 108, and processing according to the game result is performed. That is, when a predetermined winning combination is won, a payout of a winning medal, a re-game operation, and a transition process to a bonus game are performed, and one game is completed. When no winning combination is won, one game is finished as it is.

(Unauthorized monitoring process)
Next, the fraud monitoring process performed by the fraud monitoring unit 250 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 30 and 31 is an example when the initial values of the fraud monitoring counter 252, the normal detection counter 253, and the R-shoot error counter 254 are set to 0.
First, in step 200 of FIG. 30, it is determined whether or not a medal is normally detected by the insertion detection sensor 44 and the passage detection sensor 45. If the medal is not normally detected, the process proceeds to step 207, and the backflow error flag is set. Then, the fraud monitoring process is terminated. On the other hand, if the medal is normally detected, the process proceeds to the next step 201.

In step 201, the fraud monitoring timer 251 is set. That is, the fraud monitoring timer 251 starts time counting at the timing when the second detection unit 45B of the passage detection sensor 45 is turned from ON to OFF. At the same timing, the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 is incremented by one. Then, the next step 202 is executed.
In step 202, 1 is added to the count value of the normal detection counter 253. Then, the process proceeds to the next step 203.
In step 203, it is determined whether or not the count value of the normal detection counter 253 has reached the upper limit value. If the count value of the normal detection counter 253 is not the upper limit value, the fraud monitoring process is terminated as it is. If the count value of the normal detection counter 253 reaches the upper limit value, the process proceeds to the next step 204.

In step 204, it is determined whether or not the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254 is “0”. If the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254 is not “0”, that is, 1 or more, in the next step 205, the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254 is decremented by 1. Then, the process proceeds to the next step 206. On the other hand, if the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254 is “0” in step 204, the process skips step 205 and proceeds to step 206.
In step 206, the count value of the normal detection counter 254 is cleared. Then, the fraud monitoring process is terminated.

Next, interrupt processing performed during the above-described fraud monitoring processing will be described with reference to FIG.
First, in step 300 of FIG. 31, it is determined whether or not the fraud monitoring timer 251 has expired. If the fraud monitoring timer 251 has not expired, the process proceeds to the next step 301.
In step 301, it is determined whether or not the count value of the normal detection counter 254 is equal to or lower than the lower limit value or higher than the upper limit value. When the count value of the normal detection counter 254 is not less than the lower limit value or not more than the upper limit value, the process proceeds to the next step 302.

In step 302, it is determined whether the ON edge of the R chute sensor 52 has been detected, that is, whether the R chute sensor 52 has been switched from OFF to ON. When the ON edge of the R chute sensor 52 is detected, the process proceeds to the next step 303, and the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 is decremented by 1. Then, the interrupt process ends. On the other hand, when the ON edge of the R chute sensor 52 is not detected, the interrupt process is terminated as it is.
If it is determined in step 300 that the fraud monitoring timer 251 has timed up, and if it is determined in step 301 that the count value of the normal detection counter 254 is less than or equal to the lower limit value or greater than the upper limit value, the process proceeds to step 304. move on.

In step 304, the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 is converted into an absolute value and added to the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254. In the next step 305, the fraud monitoring counter 252 is cleared. Then, the process proceeds to next Step 306.
In step 306, it is determined whether or not the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254 has reached the upper limit value. If the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254 has not reached the upper limit value, the interrupt process is terminated as it is. On the other hand, when the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254 reaches the upper limit value, the process proceeds to the next step 307.
In step 307, the fraud monitoring timer 251 is cleared (except when the fraud monitoring timer 251 has timed up), the normal detection counter 253 is cleared, and the R-shoot error flag is set. Then, the interrupt process ends.

(Error execution processing)
Next, error execution processing based on the control of the error control means 260 will be described based on the flow of FIG. Note that the flow in FIG. 32 shows processing at the time of a predetermined timer interruption.
First, in step 400 of FIG. 32, it is determined whether or not the slot machine S is in an error state, that is, whether or not a predetermined error flag is set by the determination means 261. If the slot machine S is in an error state, the process proceeds to the next step 401, and processing in error is performed. Specifically, the error state setting means 262 starts or continues an error display corresponding to the content of the error and a process for making the game impossible to execute. If the backflow error is the predetermined time and the detection abnormality error is determined (when the detection abnormality error flag is set), it is determined in step 400 that the error state is in the next determination. Then, the process proceeds to the next step 402.

In step 402, it is determined whether or not an error release trigger is met. Specifically, it is determined whether the reset switch 34 has been operated or whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If it does not correspond to an error release trigger, the error determination execution process is terminated as it is. On the other hand, if a predetermined error release trigger is met, the process proceeds to the next step 403, where the error state is released. That is, the error display ends and the game is returned to a state where it can be executed. At the same time, the set predetermined error flag is reset. Then, the error execution process ends.
As described above, in this embodiment, the medal selector 4 is incremented by 1 when the medal is detected by the passage detection sensor 54 and decremented by 1 when the medal is detected by the R-shoot sensor 52. The fraud monitoring counter 252 monitors the consistency between the number of medals discharged from the R chute 5 (the number of medals accepted by the R chute 5) and the number of medals discharged from the R chute 5, and the count of the fraud monitoring counter 252 when a predetermined time has elapsed since medal detection When the value is not 0, an R-shoot error counter 254 is provided for storing the number of times that medals come and go are inconsistent by converting the value into an absolute value and storing it. When the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 falls outside the predetermined threshold range, an error state is set. Accordingly, when the medal selector 4 is used with a fraudulent tool (so-called Clement) that repeats blinking of the illuminant at the portion of the passage detection sensor 45 to perform false insertion of the medal, or the passage detection sensor 45 is changed to the medal Even if an illegal act of illegally remodeling the medal selector 4 is performed so that a signal indicating that three medals have passed is output when one of the medals passes, those illegal acts can be detected at an early stage. For example, when the Clement is used, the R-chute sensor 52 does not detect a medal, so when the passage detection sensor 45 detects seven medals, the value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 becomes “7”, and an error is immediately detected. . On the other hand, an error due to erroneous detection of the sensor, for example, chattering is less likely to occur compared to the specification in which an error occurs immediately when the count value of the fraud monitoring counter 252 is not 0 when a certain time has elapsed.

  Further, when the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254 reaches the upper limit value (5) before the normal detection counter reaches the upper limit value (255), the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254 is set to an error state. If the normal detection counter reaches the upper limit before the value reaches the upper limit, 1 is subtracted from the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254. Thus, for example, when a medal selector 4 that has been tampered with so that eleven medals are detected when ten medals are inserted (one is obtained when ten medals are inserted) is used. When 50 medals are inserted, inconsistency in and out of medals occurs five times, and the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254 becomes “5”, which is regarded as an error. Alternatively, in order to avoid the occurrence of an error, even if the medals are falsely inserted little by little during normal insertion of medals, the R-shoot error counter 254 is required until the normal detection counter reaches the upper limit value. If the stored value of becomes the upper limit value, an error occurs. On the other hand, when the normal detection counter reaches the upper limit value, the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254 is decremented by 1. Therefore, even if inconsistencies in the entry / exit of medals occur due to chattering or vibrations, It is diminished naturally during Note that the stored value of the R-shoot error counter 254 to be subtracted when the normal detection counter reaches the upper limit value may be 1 or more, or all stored values may be reset. From the viewpoint of preventing fraud, the smaller the stored value, the better. From the viewpoint of preventing the occurrence of errors due to the accumulation of false detections, the larger the stored value, the better.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, not only short-term fraud using fraudulent tools but also long-term fraud performed while avoiding errors can be prevented, and sensor errors can be prevented. It is also possible to prevent the detection from being accumulated and causing an error.
(Modification of fraud monitoring process)
The fraud monitoring method in the above embodiment can be applied to fraud monitoring other than the fraud monitoring related to the R chute 5. For example, in the above-described backflow error monitoring, based on the medal detection signals of the insertion detection sensor 44 and the passage detection sensor 45 of the medal selector 4, the medal inserted into the medal selector 4 and the medal discharged from the medal selector 4 are inconsistent. And an error is generated when the number of inconsistencies exceeds a predetermined number. Specifically, the count value is incremented by +1 (or -1) at the timing when the insertion detection sensor 44 is turned on, and the count value is decremented by -1 (at the timing when the second detection unit 45B of the passage detection sensor 45 is turned off. Alternatively, a fraud monitoring counter for +1) is provided, and when the count value of the fraud monitoring counter is equal to or higher than a predetermined upper limit value and lower than a lower limit value, an abnormality detection number storage means (error) for +1 (or -1) the stored value Counter). Then, when the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means reaches a predetermined value set in advance, an error state is set, and the normal medal detection number is set while the storage value of the abnormality detection number storage means does not become the predetermined value. When the predetermined value is reached, the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means is decreased by a predetermined number. By forming in this way, for example, even if there is a phenomenon that medals are clogged and stopped near the entrance of the medal selector 4, by overlooking it to some extent, a temporary detection failure causes an error. Can be prevented from occurring frequently.

  Further, the present invention can be applied to fraud monitoring regarding medal payout based on a detection signal of a payout sensor 35 (see FIG. 27) provided in the hopper device 7. Specifically, when the drive motor of the hopper device 7 is not operating, an abnormality detection number storage means for storing the number of times the dispensing sensor 35 is turned on is provided, and the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means is set in advance. When a predetermined value is set, an error state is entered, and when the normal payout detection reaches the predetermined number without the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means reaching the predetermined value, or when a certain time has elapsed Can be formed so as to reduce the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means by a predetermined number.

In addition to the above example, if an error occurs, it will automatically recover up to a predetermined number of times, etc., but if it exceeds the predetermined number of times, it can be canceled without a predetermined reset operation. The present embodiment can be applied to errors that are present. According to the present embodiment, when the predetermined elapsed condition is satisfied, the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage unit is decreased by a predetermined number. According to the conventional configuration, an error is automatically detected when the predetermined elapsed condition is satisfied. Therefore, it is difficult to detect a configuration that is canceled in a long time.
The above-described embodiment can also be applied to a gaming machine other than the slot machine, for example, a parrot gaming machine that uses a game ball (pachinko ball) as a game medium and performs a game similar to the slot machine. In this case, the medal selector 4 can be replaced with a ball counter, the hopper device 7 can be replaced with a ball payout device, and the overflow tank 8 can be replaced with a ball overflow tank that receives game balls overflowing from the ball payout device. Then, the fraud monitoring control of the above-described embodiment is applied to fraud monitoring based on the ball detection by the ball counter, and the positioning structure of the hopper device 7 and the overflow tank 8 and the discharging method of the overflow tank 8 of the above-described embodiment are applied. It can be applied to a ball dispensing device and an overflow tank for a ball. Further, the structure of the overflow sensor unit 9 of the above-described embodiment can also be applied when automatically collecting game balls.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes modifications and improvements in a range where the object of the present invention can be achieved. Further, the present invention may be appropriately combined or rearranged in the above-described embodiment and modification examples as long as no contradiction occurs.

S slot machine (game machine) 1 chassis 2 reel unit 2A rotating reel 3 front door 4 metal selector
44 Insertion detection sensor 45 Pass detection sensor (medal sensor)
50 R chute body (guide member) 51 R chute cover
52 R chute sensor (pass sensor) 53 Medal rolling path 6 Hopper base 7 Hopper device (medal storage part)
8 Overflow tank 9 Overflow sensor unit
200 Main control unit
210 Input control means 220 Role lottery means
230 Reel control means 240 Discharge control means
250 Fraud monitoring means 251 Fraud monitoring timer (time keeping means)
252 Fraud monitoring counter (counting means) 253 Normal detection counter
254 R-shoot error counter (abnormality detection count storage means)
255 Error flag setting means 260 Error control means

Claims (3)

In a gaming machine that is configured to detect the occurrence of an error based on a detection result of a predetermined detection unit and to change the state of the gaming machine to a predetermined error state,
An abnormality detection number storage unit is provided for updating and storing the number of times that the detection mode of the detection unit is an abnormal mode which is not a normal mode, so as to be away from the initial value,
When the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means becomes a predetermined value set in advance, an error state is set, and the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means does not become the predetermined value, and the game progresses. When a predetermined progress condition is satisfied, the stored value is updated so that the stored value approaches the initial value by a predetermined number on condition that the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means is not the initial value. With
A medal selector that accepts a medal inserted from the medal slot, detects the inserted medal with a medal sensor, and discharges it from the medal exit;
A guiding member for guiding a medal discharged from the medal outlet to a medal storage section provided inside the gaming machine,
Providing a passage sensor for detecting a medal passing through the guide member;
Counting means for updating a predetermined number of count values in one direction on a number line when the medal sensor is detected, and updating a predetermined number of count values in a direction opposite to the one direction on the number line when detecting the passage sensor Provided,
The abnormality detection number storage means is configured to convert the count value of the counting means to an absolute value every time a predetermined error determination trigger is met, and update and store the value away from the initial value. ,
When the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means reaches a predetermined value, the gaming machine is put into an error state, and the storage value of the abnormality detection number storage means is the predetermined value when the predetermined progress condition is satisfied. If the number of times that the medal sensor has been normally detected by the medal sensor becomes a predetermined number set in advance, the stored value of the abnormality detection number storage means is not an initial value. A gaming machine configured to update a value so that a predetermined number approaches an initial value . A timer for starting measurement for a predetermined time each time the medal sensor detects a medal;
The counting means updates the count value by a predetermined number in one direction on the number line every time the time measuring means starts time measurement, and the passing sensor detects a medal during time measurement by the time measuring means. every time that, a predetermined number of updates the count value in the direction towards the opposite one direction on the number of straight line,
The abnormality detection frequency storage means converts the count value of the counting means to an absolute value and updates the value so as to deviate from the initial value, with the predetermined error determination triggering that the time measuring means has finished time measurement 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the gaming machine is configured to be stored. When the count value of the counting means is out of a predetermined threshold range, the gaming machine is configured to be in an error state even before the timing means finishes the time measurement. The gaming machine according to claim 2 .

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