JP6175627B2 - Circulating game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a circulating game machine that collects launched game balls and guides them to a launch position again.

  Conventionally, hall staff often open the glass frame to solve troubles on the game board surface during business, but when the glass frame is opened, game balls are accidentally fired and scattered outside the machine. There was a problem of letting it go.

  In order to solve such a problem, there has been an invention that restricts the launch of a game ball by a launching device when the opening of a glass frame is detected <Patent Document 1>.

JP 2007-289476 A

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1, since the launch of the game ball is restricted when the opening of the glass frame is detected, there is no possibility that the newly launched game ball will jump out of the machine, but it has already been launched before the release. It is also assumed that the game balls that have been played are flowing down the game area. If the glass frame is opened in such a situation, there is a high possibility that the game ball in the middle of flowing down will jump out of the aircraft even if launching is prohibited.

  In particular, in a circulation type gaming machine in which a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed, the number of encapsulated balls decreases when the game balls jump out of the machine, and normal games can be performed depending on the decreased number. There is a risk of disappearing.

  In addition, by opening the glass frame while the game ball is flowing down the game area, it becomes possible to intentionally take out the enclosed ball outside the machine. By mixing it in the encapsulated ball, it becomes possible to play an illegal game with the normal number of encapsulated balls.

  In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention makes it possible to avoid a decrease in the number of encapsulated balls by preventing the enclosed game balls from spilling out of the gaming machine and taking out the enclosed balls outside the machine when the glass frame is opened. An object of the present invention is to provide a circulating game machine.

The circulating game machine according to claim 1 is:
In a circulating game machine in which a game ball at a launch position is launched toward a game area by a launching device, the launched game balls are collected and guided to a launch position, and a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed inside ,
Fire ball counting means for counting game balls fired by the launch device;
A collection ball counting means for counting the collected game balls; a management means for managing game balls based on the number of shot balls counted by the shot ball counting means and the number of collected balls counted by the collection ball counting means;
Lock means capable of displacing the glass frame into an locked state and an unlocked state with respect to the inner frame;
Blocking means for displacing the locking means from the locked state to the unlocked state for blocking the displacement from the locked state to the unlocked state;
Closing detection means for detecting that the glass frame is closed with respect to the inner frame;
A glass frame is closed with respect to the inner frame, and immediately after the detection state of the closure detection means is changed from non-detection to detection, the enclosed ball number detecting means for detecting the number of enclosed balls is provided,
The blocking means is
On the condition that the detection state of the closure detection means is closed, and the management means determines that the number of shot balls and the number of recovered balls are the same, the state is displaced to a release state,
A circulation type gaming machine comprising: a blocking notification means for notifying that the blocking means is in a blocking state or in a released state.

  The collected ball counting means may count the collected game balls in a collective route together, out balls (game balls that have entered the out port), safe balls (game balls that have entered the winning port), The number of game balls individually detected as a foul ball (a game ball that has not reached the game area after launch) may be added.

  The predetermined number of game balls enclosed in the gaming machine may be configured such that a range of the number of game balls that can be played is set, or may be a number specified as one type of game balls instead of a range.

  For the displacement of the blocking means, a sensor for detecting the displacement may be provided to determine the blocking state and the released state. When a stepping motor is used to control the displacement of the blocking means, the rotation angle of the stepping motor is controlled. By doing so, the blocking state and the release state may be determined.

The circulation type gaming machine according to claim 2 is:
In the circulation type gaming machine according to claim 1,
Wherein on condition that the detection state changes to the non-detection of the detection of the closing detection means, with an open time of inclusion counts detection means to detect the number of inclusion sphere,
And determining means for determining whether or not the number of encapsulated balls detected by the closed enclosing ball number detecting means matches the number of encapsulated balls detected by the opened enclosing ball number detecting means. It is a circulation type gaming machine.

  In the case where the predetermined number of game balls enclosed in the gaming machine is set as a range of game balls that can be played, the number-of-enclosed ball detection means at the time of opening individually determines the number of game balls within the range. A configuration that enables detection and the number of enclosed game balls can be specified is desirable.

The circulating game machine according to claim 3 is:
In the circulation type gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2,
Comprising key detection means for detecting that a key has been inserted into the lock means;
The blocking means, in addition to determining that the detection state of the closure detection means is closed, and that the number of fired balls and the number of recovered balls match by the management means, the key detection means It is a circulation type gaming machine characterized in that it shifts to a released state on condition that a key is detected.

  The key detection means preferably has a configuration capable of determining whether a key that can be normally unlocked and locked is inserted into the lock means, and the key may be an electronic key.

  According to the circulation type gaming machine according to claim 1, if the launched game ball and the collected game ball do not coincide with each other, the blocking means is not displaced in the released state and the lock of the glass frame cannot be unlocked. Since the glass frame cannot be opened unless there is a game ball in the game area, that is, the game ball does not scatter outside the machine even if it is opened, it can be avoided that the number of enclosed game balls decreases, Since the status notification of the blocking means notifies whether the glass frame can be opened or not, it is possible to eliminate the excessive opening operation of the locking means and avoid the destruction of the locking means and the blocking means.

  According to the circulation type gaming machine according to claim 2, the predetermined number of game balls enclosed in the game machine is set as a range of the number of game balls that can be played, and when the glass frame is closed Even if the number of encapsulated balls is within this range, it is possible to prevent the game balls from being taken out of the machine when the glass frame is opened and the game balls from being mixed.

  According to the circulation type gaming machine of the third aspect, the useless state change of the blocking means can be eliminated by adding the key to the condition that the blocking means is in the released state.

The front view of the enclosure type pachinko machine 50. FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows typically rear views, such as a game area | region of the enclosed pachinko machine 50, and the path | route of a game ball. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration in Embodiment 1. FIG. The structure figure which shows the relationship between the unlocking | locking means of a lock means, and a control means. The flowchart which shows the IN / OUT management process which the main control apparatus 80 performs. 7 is a flowchart showing a restricting means operation process 1 executed by the main controller 80 in the first embodiment. The flowchart which shows the discharge control process which the main control apparatus 80 performs. The flowchart which shows the prevention member withdrawal process which the main control apparatus 80 performs. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration in Embodiment 2. 7 is a flowchart 1 illustrating a restriction unit operation process 2 executed by the main controller 80 in the second embodiment. 7 is a flowchart 2 illustrating a restricting means operation process 2 performed by the main controller 80 in the second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart 3 showing a restriction means operation process 2 executed by the main controller 80 in the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration in Embodiment 3. 9 is a flowchart showing a restricting means operation process 3 executed by the main controller 80 in the third embodiment.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications belonging to the technical scope of the present invention can be adopted, and the contents described in the respective embodiments can be appropriately combined. It goes without saying that this is possible.

  First, a basic configuration of an encapsulated pachinko machine (hereinafter also simply referred to as a pachinko machine) will be described. The encapsulated pachinko machine collects game balls launched toward the game board by the launch control device, and fires the collected game balls again by the launch control device, so that a predetermined number of game balls enclosed inside are collected. It is a pachinko machine that uses the game in a circular manner. A player who plays a game with this enclosed pachinko machine does not have a game ball directly, but proceeds with the game based on the number of balls (game balls that can be used for the game) displayed on the pachinko machine. To do.

  The enclosed pachinko machine is provided with an IC card processing device, and a player possesses a ball by inserting a game card (IC card) owned by the player and performing a predetermined ball lending process, Game with pachinko machine becomes possible. A unique ID is assigned to this game card, and various information such as a balance (amount) for lending a ball, a possessed ball obtained from the game, and a storage ball can be provided outside the machine in correspondence with the unique ID. Stored in the server.

  If the player inserts a game card into the IC card processing device and performs a ball lending operation, after the game card is verified, if there are any balls or storage balls, the number is displayed on the pachinko machine. In addition, a predetermined number of balls are given to the player in exchange for a predetermined amount being subtracted from the balance of the game card, and the given balls are reflected in the number of balls held.

  When a game made possible by this is started, the holding ball is subtracted according to the launch of the game ball, and when the winning ball is given by entering the winning opening, the holding ball is accordingly Is added, and the latest number of balls is displayed on the pachinko machine. In addition, the number of game balls that have been fired from the launch control device and have reached the game area on the game board (also referred to as IN (IN)), the number of game balls that have passed through the game area (also referred to as OUT (out)), The game information such as the number of winning balls and the occurrence of a big hit is transmitted from the pachinko machine to the hall computer.

  Also, if a player who has finished a game with a ball has performed a checkout operation, the number of balls held is stored in the server in correspondence with the unique ID of the game card, Various prizes can be obtained accordingly.

  Next, the overall configuration of the enclosed pachinko machine 50 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 50 is arranged adjacent to the above-described IC card processing apparatus 100. The IC card processing apparatus 100 is provided with a card insertion slot 110. By inserting a game card into the card insertion slot 110, a ball lending operation or the like is possible, and a game with the pachinko machine 50 is possible.

  The pachinko machine 50 has a structure in which each part is held by an outer frame 51 that forms a vertically long fixed outer frame. A hinge 53 is provided on the upper left and right sides of the outer frame 51, and an inner frame 70 is attached to the hinge 53. The inner frame 70 can be opened and closed with respect to the outer frame 51. .

  A front frame 52 is attached to the inner frame 70 by a hinge 53 or the like so that it can be opened and closed. A plate glass 61 is detachably provided on the front frame 52. A game board 1 attached to the inner frame 70 is arranged. The front frame 52 corresponds to the glass frame of the present invention, and the inner frame 70 corresponds to the inner frame of the present invention.

  Speakers (not shown) are provided on the upper left and right sides of the front frame 52, and game sounds generated from the pachinko machine 50 are output to improve the player's preference. Further, in order to improve the player's preference, a plurality of frame side decorative lamps (not shown) that emit light according to the gaming state are provided in the front frame 52.

  A launch handle 64 is attached to the lower right side of the front frame 52, and the launch control device is moved by rotating the launch handle 64 clockwise so that a game ball is formed on the game board 1. Fired towards area 3.

  A cylinder lock 36 for operating a slide lock 39 capable of restricting the opening of both the inner frame 70 and the front frame 52 is disposed on the upper right of the firing handle 64 (the right end of the pachinko machine 50), and a key can be inserted. ing. The cylinder lock 36 is a variable lock that can freely change the type of key for unlocking. By using such a variable lock for the pachinko machine 50, the pachinko amusement store All the pachinko machines placed in can be set as a unique key (one type). The cylinder lock 36 and the slide lock 39 correspond to the lock means in the present invention.

  Below the front frame 52, a control unit 8 serving as an interface with the player is provided. The control unit 8 includes a withdrawal button 8a for lending a ball (getting a ball in exchange for the balance of the game card), a settlement button 8b for performing a settlement (stores the number of balls held in the server), and a game There is provided a return button 8c for storing the number of held balls in the game card, taking out the game card from the IC card processing device 100, and a display 8d for displaying the balance of the game card and the number of held balls. The front plate portion including the control unit 8 can also be opened and closed from the inner frame 70 by the hinge 53 or the like. However, since the front frame 52 is installed so as to cover the front plate portion, the front frame 52 is opened. Only when the front plate part can be opened.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows the state of the game area 3 of the game board 1 located in the back of the glass plate 61. The game area 3 is a substantially circular area surrounded by the guide rails 16 and the like, and a large number of game nails are planted. The game balls launched from the launch control device are played by the guide rails 16 in the game area 3. Be guided to.

  A center case and a window in which a warp passage, a stage, and the like are formed are provided in a substantially central portion of the game area 3, and a liquid crystal screen of the effect symbol display device 6 is arranged behind the window. . In addition to these, the game area 3 includes a first start opening 11 that can always be won, a second start opening 12 configured as an ordinary electric accessory, a general winning opening 13, and an attacker-type big prize. An accessory such as a mouth 14 (winning mouth), an out mouth 15, a special figure display device, a special figure reservation number display device, and the like are provided.

  Next, a mechanism for circulating the game balls in the enclosed pachinko machine 50 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 is a rear view of the game area 3 of the enclosed pachinko machine 50, the game ball launch control device 84, the path for guiding the game ball, the regulating means for regulating the opening of the slide lock and the front frame 52, and the like. An explanatory diagram schematically showing is described.

  In the pachinko machine 50, the launch control device 84 and the game area 3 are connected by the launch path 61, and the game ball launched from the launch control apparatus 84 reaches the game area 3 through the launch path 61. A part of the launch path 61 is formed by a guide rail 16 provided on the game board 1.

  A game ball that has reached the game area 3 enters a winning port such as the first starting port 11 and the second starting port 12, or enters an out port 15, but each winning port, out port 15 Are connected to a guide path for guiding the game balls that have entered the game ball, and the game balls flowing down these guide paths are guided to the collection path 60.

  The game balls that have been launched from the launch control device 84 but have not reached the game area are collected as foul balls from the foul ball intake 63 formed in the launch path 61 and guided to the collection path 60.

  The game balls that have flowed down the collection path 60 are guided to the launch standby path 62 and reach the launch control device 35 through a polishing device (not shown) that removes dirt from the game balls.

  The game ball circulates in the pachinko machine 50 according to the flow described above, but in the vicinity of the start point of the launch path 61 (near the arrangement position of the launch control device 84), a launch ball sensor 91 that detects the passage of the launched game ball. A foul ball sensor 93 for detecting the passage of the foul ball is provided at the foul ball inlet 63 formed in the launch path 61. In addition, an out ball sensor 92 for detecting the flow of the game ball is provided at a position where a collection ball other than the foul ball passes through the collection path 60.

  In addition, when the enclosed game balls are rectified in the firing standby path 62 and arranged in the firing order, the enclosed ball number confirmation switch 1 (94) for detecting the game balls in the 50th position of firing, An enclosed ball number confirmation switch 2 (95) for detecting the game ball at the 51st position is provided.

  The main controller 80 of the pachinko machine 50 counts the number of game balls at each point using the various sensors described above. The main control device 80 calculates the number obtained by subtracting the number of game balls counted by the foul ball sensor 93 from the number of game balls counted by the launch ball sensor 91 as in, and the game counted by the out ball sensor 92 The number of spheres is calculated as out, and in and out are transmitted to a hall computer 87 provided outside at regular intervals.

  The arrangement of the sensors for counting in and out is not limited to this. For example, the launch ball sensor 91 is provided on the end point side of the foul ball intake 63 in the launch path 61, and the The number of game balls counted using the firing ball sensor 91 may be in. In addition, the out ball sensor 92 is provided in the collection path 60 at a position downstream of the meeting point of the game balls that have entered the winning port and the out port 15 and downstream of the meeting point of the foul ball. The number obtained by subtracting the number of game balls counted by the foul ball sensor from the number of game balls counted by the sensor 92 may be set to “out”.

  Further, the game balls that have entered the first start port 11, the second start port 12, the general winning port 13, and the big winning port 14 join the collection path 60 downstream from the out ball sensor 92. The number of game balls counted by the detection switch arranged at each winning opening may be added to the number of game balls that have entered the out opening 15 counted by the out-ball sensor 92.

  A slide lock 39 is arranged at the left end of the pachinko machine 50 when viewed from the back, and a front frame stopper member 38 fixed to the front frame 52 as a front frame opening restricting portion is attached to the upper portion of the pachinko machine 50 and attached to the slide lock 39. A claw portion 41 that restricts the opening of the front frame 52 that is formed, an opening prevention member 42 that restricts the claw portion 41 from sliding downward, and a frame opening restriction motor 96 that displaces the stop state of the opening prevention member 42. And are provided. A specific configuration of the front frame opening restricting portion will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the sealed pachinko machine 50 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. In this block diagram mainly composed of the main controller 80, a so-called relay board and a power supply circuit that merely relays signals are not described. Although not shown in detail, the main control device 80, the production symbol control device 82, and the sub integrated control device 83 all include a CPU, ROM, RAM, input port, output port, and the like. The launch control device 84 is not provided with a CPU, ROM, or RAM. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the launch control device 84 may be provided with a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like.

  The main controller 80 receives a game ball that has entered the first start port 11a and the second start port 12 through the game board relay terminal plate 74 to detect a game ball that has entered the first start port 11. A second start opening switch 12a to detect, a normal symbol operation switch 17a to detect a game ball that has entered the normal symbol operation gate 17, a count switch 14a to count the game balls that have entered the big winning port 14, a general winning port A detection signal from a general winning opening switch 13a for detecting a game ball that has entered the ball 13 is input, and detection signals from the front frame closing switch 18 and the inner frame closing switch 19 are input via the back wiring relay terminal board 75. Is done. The front frame closing switch 18 corresponds to closing detection means in the present invention.

  In addition, the main control device 80 receives detection signals from the above-described firing ball sensor 91, out ball sensor 92, foul ball sensor 93, encapsulated ball number confirmation switch 1 (94), and encapsulated ball number confirmation switch 2 (95). The game balls that are input and circulated in the pachinko machine 50 are managed. In the present embodiment, the number of game balls enclosed in the enclosed pachinko machine 50 is 50.

  The main control device 80 operates according to the installed program, generates various commands related to the progress of the game based on the above-described detection signals and the like, and outputs them to the sub integrated control device 83. In addition, the main control device 80 displays the first special figure display device 9, the second special figure display device 10 and the normal symbol display device 7 connected via the symbol display device relay terminal board 90, the first special figure. The lighting of the hold number display device 9a, the second special figure hold number display device 10a, and the universal figure hold number display device 8 is controlled.

  Further, the main controller 80 controls the opening / closing of the special winning opening 14 by controlling the special winning opening solenoid 14b, and controls the opening / closing of the second starting opening 12 by controlling the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 12b, By controlling the frame opening restriction motor 96, the stop position of the opening prevention member 42 that restricts the unlocking of the slide lock 39 is controlled. The opening blocking member 42 corresponds to the blocking means of the present invention.

  The main controller 80 is electrically connected to a hall computer 87, which is a management device outside the pachinko machine, via the back wiring relay terminal board 75 and the external connection terminal board 78. The main control device 80 is configured to be able to communicate with the IC card processing device 100 via the IC card relay board 23. The main controller 80 also displays the number of balls on the display 8d via the IC card relay board 23 and detects the operation of the drop button 8a, the settlement button 8b, and the return button 8c.

  Further, the main control device 80 permits the launch control device 35 to launch a game ball when a ball is present and launch prohibition is not set. The launch control device 84 controls the launch motor 30 to launch the game ball into the game area 3.

  The launch control device 84 receives a rotation amount signal from the launch handle 64, a touch signal from the touch switch 28, and a launch stop signal from the launch stop switch 29. The rotation amount signal is output when the player operates the launch handle 64, the touch signal is output when the player touches the launch handle 64, and the launch stop switch signal is output by the player pressing the launch stop switch 29. Is output. If the touch signal is not input to the launch control device 84, the game ball cannot be fired. If the launch stop switch signal is input, the game ball is not fired even if the player touches the launch handle 64. .

  The sub-integrated control device 83 receives data and commands transmitted from the main control device 80, distributes them to data for effect display control, sound control, and lamp control, and so on. Is transmitted to the production symbol control device 82, and the sound control and lamp control are distributed to each control part (function unit as a sound control device and a lamp control device) included in itself. Then, the function unit as the sound control device controls the sound output from the speaker by operating the sound LSI based on the data for sound control, and the function unit as the lamp control device is based on the data for lamp control. The various LED and lamp 26 are controlled by operating the lamp driver.

  The effect symbol control device 82 receives the data and commands received from the sub integrated control device 83 (both those transmitted from the main control device 80 and those generated by the sub integrated control device 83 based on the input from the main control device 80). And effect images such as pseudo symbols are displayed on the screen of the effect symbol display device 6. The sub integrated control device 83 and the main control device 80 are configured as a one-way communication circuit from the main control device 80 to the sub integrated control device 83 via the production relay terminal board 65. The effect symbol control device 82 is configured as a one-way communication circuit from the sub integrated control device 83 to the effect symbol control device 82.

  Next, the configuration of the front frame opening restriction portion that is the upper portion of the slide lock 39 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the upper side of the slide lock 39, and the left figure (A) shows a state in which the downward sliding of the claw portion 41 that restricts the opening of the front frame 52 is restricted by the opening preventing member 42. FIG. (B) in the middle shows a state where the downward sliding of the claw portion 41 that restricts the opening of the front frame 52 is not restricted by the opening preventing member 42, and the right figure (C). This shows a state in which the claw portion 41 has been slid downward because the downward sliding of the claw portion 41 that restricts the opening of the front frame 52 is not restricted by the opening prevention member 42.

  The opening prevention member 42 is attached to the rotation shaft of the frame opening restriction motor 96 fixed to the motor holding portion 96a of the slide lock 39, and the main controller 80 controls the rotation angle of the frame opening restriction motor 96 that is a stepping motor. Accordingly, the position of FIG. (A) that restricts the downward sliding of the claw portion 41 (blocked state in the present invention) and the position of FIG. (B) and (C) that does not restrict the downward sliding of the claw portion 41. (The unlocked state in the present invention).

  Therefore, as a specific unlocking mechanism, when the key set in the cylinder lock 36 is inserted as described above and an attempt is made to turn the key counterclockwise, the release preventing member 42 is shown in FIG. In the position (the position where the claw portion 41 has advanced on the track sliding downward), the unlocking of the slide lock is restricted and the front frame 52 cannot be opened. When the opening prevention member 42 is in the position shown in FIGS. (B) and (C) (the position where the claw portion 42 has retreated from the track where it slides downward), the claw portion 41 is provided on the front frame 52 by sliding downward. The front frame stopper member 38 is released, and the front frame 52 can be opened.

  In this embodiment, the stop position of the opening prevention member 41 is controlled by controlling the rotation angle of the stepping motor. However, the present invention is not limited to this control method, and a sensor for detecting the stop position of the opening prevention member 41 is provided. A configuration in which the opening prevention member 41 is operated using a motor or other actuator is also conceivable.

  Next, an IN / OUT management process executed by the main controller 80 in order to manage the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls enclosed in the pachinko machine 50 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. To do. This IN / OUT management process corresponds to the management means of the present invention, and is a process including a firing ball counting means and a collected ball counting means.

  When the IN / OUT management process is started, it is determined whether or not the launch ball sensor 91 has detected a game ball (S10). If the determination is affirmative (S10: yes), the management counter is incremented by 1 (S15), the determination is negative (S10: no), or following S15, it is determined whether or not the out-ball sensor 92 has detected a game ball (S20). ). If an affirmative determination is made (S20: yes), the management counter is decremented by -1 (S25), a negative determination (S20: no), or following S25, it is determined whether the foul ball sensor 93 has detected a game ball ( S30). If the determination is affirmative (S30: yes), the management counter is decremented by 1 (S35).

  Following the negative determination in S30 (S30: no) or S35, it is determined whether the value of the management counter is 0 (S40). If the determination is affirmative (S40: yes), the management flag is set to 1 (S45) and the process returns. If the determination is negative (S40: no), the management flag is set to 0 (S45) and the process returns.

  The management flag is a value stored in the main control device 80. If the value is 1, it is determined that all of the launched game balls have been collected. It is determined that all items have not been collected. Therefore, if the management flag is 1, at least the time from the end of the game ball launching to the end of the flow of the game area 3 after the last released game ball has passed, It can be determined that the sphere is not present.

  Next, the restriction means operation process 1 executed by the main controller 80 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The restricting means operation process 1 is a process for controlling the displacement operation (switching operation between the unlocked state and the blocked state) of the opening prevention member 42. In addition, the game enclosed in the pachinko machine 50 when the front frame 52 is closed. It is determined whether or not the number of balls is a regular number (50 in this embodiment), and if there is an abnormality, an error state notification is performed.

  When the restriction means operation processing 1 is started, it is determined whether or not the signal from the front frame closing switch 18 is HI, that is, whether or not the front frame 52 is closed (S100). If a negative determination is made (S100: no), the process proceeds to S115. If an affirmative determination is made (S100: yes), whether or not the signal from the front frame closing switch 18 has changed from LOW to HI in the processing, that is, the front frame 52 is closed. It is determined whether it is immediately after (S105: yes). If the determination is negative (S105: no), it is determined whether the management flag is 1 (S110). If the determination is affirmative (S110: yes), the restriction flag is set to 0 (S115), and if the determination is negative (S110). : No), the restriction flag is set to 1 (S120), and the process returns.

  The restriction flag is a value stored in the main controller 80. If the value is 1, the frame opening restriction motor 96 is controlled so that the opening prevention member 42 stops on the track of the claw portion 41, and the value is 0. If so, the frame opening restriction motor 96 is controlled so as to stop at a position where the opening prevention member 42 deviates from the track of the claw portion 41. Further, the light emission mode of the LEDs arranged in the front frame 52 changes in accordance with the switching of the restriction flag. Specifically, when the value of the restriction flag is 0, that is, when the opening prevention member 42 is lost from the track of the claw member 41 and the front frame 52 can be unlocked, the opening confirmation arranged at the upper right end of the front frame 52 is confirmed. When the LED is lit in blue and the value of the restriction flag is 1, that is, when the opening prevention member 42 is on the track of the claw member 41 and the front frame 52 cannot be unlocked, the LED is lit in red. The light emission mode of the open confirmation LED corresponds to a blocking notification unit that notifies that the blocking unit in the present invention is in the advanced position or the retracted position.

  If S105 is affirmative, i.e., immediately after the front frame 52 is closed (S105: yes), whether or not the enclosed ball number confirmation switch 1 (94) has detected a game ball, i.e., all the game balls have been detected. It is determined whether or not there is a game ball at the 50th position in the firing order in the collected state (the launch control device 84 is set to prohibit firing and the launch control process will be described later) (S125). If the determination is affirmative (S125: yes), it is determined whether or not the enclosed ball number confirmation switch 2 (95) detects a game ball, that is, whether or not there is a game ball at the 51st position (S130). . In Example 1, the determination of S125 and S130 corresponds to the enclosed ball number detecting means in the present invention.

  If S130 is negative (S130: no), it is determined that there is no abnormality in the number of encapsulated balls when the front frame 52 is closed, the restriction flag is set to 1 (S135), and the process returns. If S125 is negative (S125: no), or if S130 is positive (S130: no), an enclosing ball number error notification process is performed (S140), and the display device, lamp LED, and speaker included in the pachinko machine 50 are in an error state. And a signal indicating an enclosed ball number error is output to the hall computer 87 via the external connection terminal plate 78. In addition, it is carried out when the error notification mode is performed when S125 is negative (when the number of encapsulated balls is less than the specified number) and when S130 is positive (when the number of encapsulated balls is greater than the specified number). The error notification mode is different.

  The above is the restricting means operation process 1 executed by the main controller 80 in this embodiment. When the front frame 52 is closed, all the released game balls are collected, in other words, all the game balls on the game area 3 flow down, and even if the front frame 52 is opened, there is a possibility that the game balls may spill outside the machine. When the control flag is set to 0, the restriction flag is set to 0, so that the release preventing member 42 is disengaged from the track of the claw portion 41, and the key inserted into the slide lock 36 can be rotated counterclockwise. 52 can be opened.

  On the contrary, there is a possibility that the game balls that have been launched are not all collected, in other words, there is a possibility that the game balls are flowing down on the game area 3, and when the front frame 52 is opened, the game balls are out of the plane. In a state where there is a risk of spilling, the release prevention member 42 stops on the track of the claw portion 41 by continuing to set 1 to the restriction flag, and tries to rotate the counterclockwise by inserting the key into the slide lock 36. The key does not rotate.

  Further, immediately after closing the front frame 52, it is determined whether or not the number of encapsulated balls is greater than one, and if there is no abnormality, 1 is set in the restriction flag. Specifically, the number of encapsulated balls in the pachinko machine 50 of this embodiment is 50, and if there are game balls up to the 50th position in the order of firing the game balls on the firing standby path 62, the number of game balls is reduced. It can be confirmed that there is no game ball in the 51st, and it is confirmed that there is no increase in game balls, thereby determining that 50 game balls are enclosed in the pachinko machine 50, If there is not, the restriction flag is set to 1 and a game is possible. If there is an abnormality, an error notification is performed.

  Next, the launch control process executed by the main controller 80 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. This launch control process is a process including the launch prohibiting means of the present invention.

  When the firing control process is started, it is determined whether or not the signal transmitted from the front frame closing switch 18 is LOW, that is, whether or not the front frame 52 is open (S150). If the determination is affirmative (S150: yes), launch prohibition is set for the launch controller 84 (S160), and the process returns. If the determination in S150 is negative, that is, if the front frame 52 is closed (S150: no), it is determined whether an enclosing ball number error is being reported (S155). If the determination is affirmative (S155: yes), the process proceeds to S160. A launch prohibition setting is performed. If a negative determination is made (S155: no), a launch permission setting is made for the launch control device 84 (S165), and the process returns. With this process, since the game ball cannot be launched when the front frame 52 is opened, the launch ball is not spilled out of the pachinko machine 50, and the game ball cannot be easily taken out. In addition, when it is determined that the number of encapsulated balls is abnormal when the front frame 52 is closed (S125: no, S130: yes), the restriction flag is not set to 1, but the firing control process prohibits the firing of the ball. Therefore, the game becomes impossible.

  Next, the blocking member withdrawal process executed by the main controller 80 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In this process, when the restriction flag is set to 1 and the release preventing member 42 is stopped on the track of the claw portion 41 and the front frame 52 cannot be unlocked, the game ball that has been fired for some reason such as a ball clogging. Only when it becomes the situation which cannot collect | recover, it becomes the process which makes the open | release prevention member 42 withdraw from the track | orbit of the nail | claw part 41, and can unlock the front frame 52 for a trouble solution.

  When the blocking member withdrawal process is started, it is determined whether or not the value of the management counter has changed (S200). If the determination is negative, that is, if the value has not changed (S200: no), it is determined whether or not the timer for determining the occurrence of trouble is in operation (S205). In this embodiment, it is determined that there is a possibility that the enclosing ball circulation trouble has occurred when 20 seconds have passed without the control counter changing. However, the present invention is not limited to this time. Can take.

  If S205 is negative (S205: no), a timer operation start process (S210) is performed. After S210, or if S205 is affirmative (S205: yes), an increment process for incrementing the counter constituting the timer by +1 is performed. It performs (S215). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the value of the timer counter is a predetermined value (S220). If the determination is negative (S220: no), the process returns. If the determination is affirmative, that is, if 20 seconds have elapsed from the start of the timer operation (S220: yes). ), It is determined whether or not the enclosed ball number confirmation switch 1 (94) has detected a game ball (S225).

  If S225 is affirmative, that is, if all (50) encapsulated spheres are waiting on the launch ball standby path 62 (S225: yes), return is made with no abnormality in the circulation of the encapsulated sphere, and if negative (S225: no), by setting the restriction flag to 0, the release preventing member 42 is retracted from the track of the claw portion 41, the front frame 52 can be unlocked (S230), and the process returns. If S200 is affirmative (S200: yes), the timer operation is stopped (S235), the timer counter is cleared (S240), and the process returns.

  The above is the blocking member withdrawal process. If a normal game is in progress, the value of the management counter will always change within a predetermined period (a game ball will be fired once every approximately 0.6 seconds), but trouble will occur in the circulation of the encapsulated ball In such a case, it is impossible to launch due to a lack of game balls, or the player notices a trouble and intentionally stops the launch, and detects the circulation of the enclosed ball, a launch ball sensor 91, an out ball sensor 92, a foul ball A state in which none of the sensors 93 detect a game ball continues for 20 seconds, and there is a problem with the circulation of the encapsulated sphere, provided that all encapsulated spheres are not waiting on the launch ball standby path 62. Even if the value of the management counter is inconsistent between the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls, the release blocking member 42 is removed from the orbit of the claw portion 41 in order to solve the trouble, and the front frame 52 is removed. A lock is possible.

  The above is the description of the first embodiment. As described above, if the value of the management counter that manages the circulation of the encapsulated sphere does not become 0 by adding the number of game balls that have been fired and subtracting the number of collected game balls, the front frame 52 and the inner frame 70 are locked. It cannot be unlocked. As a result, when the encapsulated balls are normally circulated, the front frame 52 cannot be unlocked unless all the game balls have finished flowing down the game area 3, and the game area is always available when unlocking is possible. No game ball is present in No. 3, the opening of the front frame 52 prevents the game ball from jumping out of the pachinko machine 50, and it is possible to avoid a decrease in the number of game balls enclosed by the pachinko machine 50. It has become a structure.

  In addition, when the front frame 52 is closed, it is configured to confirm whether or not 50 game balls are enclosed. Therefore, if an illegal ball is mixed when the front frame 52 is opened, an error state occurs and the illegal ball is mixed. To prevent playing games. Further, when the front frame 52 is opened, the launch prohibition setting is performed by the launch control process of FIG. 7. Therefore, when the front frame 52 is unlocked, the game ball is taken out of the machine when combined with a configuration in which there is no game ball in the game area 3. Is impossible. This prevents an illegal act such as returning an unauthorized gaming ball to the cabin according to the number of gaming balls taken out of the aircraft.

  Next, Example 2 will be described. In this embodiment, the basic configuration of the enclosed game machine is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the overlapping part will be described with reference to the first embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, the number of game balls to be enclosed in the pachinko machine 50 is 50, which is the specified specified number, and an error in the number of encapsulated balls is generated even if the number is less than or greater than that. did. In contrast, in this embodiment, the specified number of encapsulated spheres is given a width. The specific number of encapsulated balls is 11 types from a minimum of 45 to a maximum of 55. If the number of game balls is within this range, the game balls are circulated as a normal game.

  The specific difference from the first embodiment is three points, and the first point is the number of encapsulated ball number confirmation switches arranged in the launch standby path 62. The second point is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration. The third point is the content of the restricting means operation process (2).

  In the present embodiment, the number of game balls enclosed in the pachinko machine 50 may be in the range of 45 to 55, but 11 in accordance with the prescribed range of the number of encapsulated balls and +1 in total 12 By placing individual enclosing ball number confirmation switches at predetermined positions, when the front frame 52 is opened and when the front frame 52 is closed, whether or not there is a game ball within a specified range, and if within the specified range, the number of encapsulated balls is determined. It has a specific configuration.

  The specific arrangement of the number-of-enclosed ball confirmation switches is the 45th when the firing control device 84 stops the launch of the game ball and the enclosed game balls are arranged in the order of rectification and launch to the launch standby path 62. The enclosing ball number confirmation switch 1 (94) is disposed at a position where a game ball to be detected is detected, and the encapsulated ball number confirmation switch 2 (95) is disposed at a position where the 46th game ball is detected. An encapsulated ball number detection switch 11 (104) is arranged up to a position for detecting the game ball to be fired next, and further, an encapsulated ball number confirmation switch 12 (105) for detecting when more than 55 game balls are encapsulated. ) Is arranged at a position to detect the 56th game ball to be launched, and each switch is connected to the main controller 80 as shown in the electric block diagram of the second embodiment in FIG.

  Next, the restricting means operation process 2 executed by the main controller 80 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the basic configuration of the configuration shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10 is the same as that of S100 to S120 of the restricting means operation process 1 of the first embodiment, the description of the same component is used, and a negative determination of S250 corresponding to S100 is made. This will be described later.

  If S250 is negative, that is, if the front frame 52 is open (S250: no), the process proceeds to S300 in FIG. 11 and whether or not the signal from the front frame closing switch 18 has changed from HI to LOW in this process. That is, it is determined whether or not it is immediately after the front frame 52 is opened (S300). If a negative determination is made (S300: no), the process proceeds to S340. If an affirmative determination is made (S300: yes), whether or not the enclosed ball number confirmation switch 12 (105) has detected a game ball, that is, all game balls are collected. In this state, it is determined whether or not there is a game ball at the 56th position in the firing order (S305).

  If S305 is affirmative (S305: yes), it is determined that there is an abnormal state in which there are more game balls than the maximum prescribed number in the pachinko gaming machine 50, and an enclosed ball number abnormality error notification process is performed (S345). If S305 is negative (S305: no), whether or not the enclosed ball number confirmation switch 1 (94) has detected a game ball, that is, in the state where all the game balls have been collected, the firing order is 45th. It is determined whether or not there is a game ball at the position (S310). If a negative determination is made (S310: no), it is determined that the number of game balls enclosed in the pachinko gaming machine 50 is less than the minimum prescribed number (45), and an enclosed ball number abnormality error notification process is performed (S345). ). In this case, the error notification mode implemented from the positive determination in S305 and the error notification mode implemented from the negative determination in S310 are different.

  If S310 is affirmative, that is, if the number of enclosed game balls is within the specified range (S310: yes), whether or not the enclosed ball number confirmation switch 2 (95) detects a game ball, that is, is enclosed. It is determined whether the number of game balls is greater than 45 or 45 (S315). If the determination is negative (S315: no), 45 is stored in the storage area for storing the number of encapsulated balls when the front frame 52 is opened (S320), and the process proceeds to S340.

  If S315 is an affirmative determination (S315: yes), the following determination process and storage process are performed in the same manner as S315 and S320, and the enclosure is detected when the front frame 52 is opened according to the detection of the enclosed ball number confirmation switch and the installation position of the switch. The number of balls is stored and the process proceeds to S340. In S340, the restriction flag is set to 0 (S340) and the process returns. In addition, S305, S310, S315, and S325 correspond to the enclosed ball number detecting means of the present invention, and S320, S330, and S335 correspond to the storage means of the present invention.

  Returning to FIG. 10, if S255 is an affirmative determination, that is, immediately after the front frame 52 is closed (S255: yes), the process proceeds to S350 in FIG. 12 to confirm the number of enclosed balls when the front frame 52 is closed. The same processing as the flowchart after S305 in FIG. 11 is performed. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the enclosed ball number confirmation switch 12 (105) has detected a game ball (S350). If the determination is affirmative (S350: yes), more game balls than the maximum prescribed number are pachinko games. It is determined that there is an abnormal state in the machine 50, and the enclosed ball number abnormality error notification process is performed (S395). If S350 is negative (S350: no), the enclosed ball number confirmation switch 1 (94) detects a game ball. If it is negative (S355: no), it is determined that the number of enclosed game balls is less than the minimum specified number, and an enclosed ball number abnormality error notification process is performed ( S355).

  If S355 is affirmative (S355: yes), it is determined whether or not the enclosed ball number confirmation switch 2 (95) has detected a game ball (S360). If the determination is negative (S360: no), 45 is stored in the storage area for storing the number of encapsulated balls when the front frame 52 is closed (S365), and the process proceeds to S385. If S360 is affirmative (S360: yes), the following determination processing and storage processing are performed in the same manner as S360 and S365, and the enclosed ball number confirmation switch is detected and enclosed when the front frame 52 is closed according to the installation position of the switch. The number of balls is stored and the process proceeds to S385. In this embodiment, S350, S355, S360, and S370 correspond to the enclosed ball number detecting means of the present invention.

  In S385, it is determined whether the number of enclosed balls stored in any of S320 to S335 when the front frame 52 is opened and the number of enclosed balls stored in any of S365 to S380 when the front frame 52 is closed are the same. (S385) If the determination is affirmative (S385: yes), the restriction flag is set to 1 and the process returns. If the determination is negative, that is, if the number of enclosed balls is different between when the front frame 52 is opened and when it is closed, an abnormal state Judgment is made and an enclosing ball number abnormality error notification process is performed (S395). In this case as well, the error notification mode from the positive determination in S350 is different from the error notification mode from the negative determination in S355, and there are two other error notification modes implemented from the negative determination in S385. By making the contents different from each other, the abnormal contents can be understood depending on the type of error notification mode.

  The above is the description of the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the specified number of balls to be encapsulated is widened, and when the front frame 52 is opened, the processing is performed so that the game balls do not jump out of the machine as in the first embodiment. The number of balls is stored, and when the front frame 52 is closed, the number of encapsulated balls at the time of closing and the number of encapsulated balls at the time of opening are compared, and if there is no change (unless an error occurs), the game ball can be launched. At the same time, by setting 1 to the restriction flag, the unlocking of the front frame 52 is restricted.

  As a result, even if the prescribed number of enclosing balls is wide, if the act of mixing game balls into the pachinko machine 50 when the front frame 52 is opened, the enclosing balls when the front frame 52 is opened and closed Due to the difference in number, an error state is immediately notified at the time of closing to prevent illegal games.

  Next, Example 3 will be described. In this embodiment, the basic configuration of the enclosed game machine is the same as in the first and second embodiments. Therefore, the overlapping part will be explained with reference to the second embodiment.

  In the first and second embodiments, as described in the restriction means operation process 1 (2), when all the game balls that have been launched are collected and the management flag is set to 1, the restriction flag is set to 0 and the front frame 52 In this embodiment, the condition for setting the restriction flag to 0 is detection of key insertion into the cylinder lock 36 in addition to the above conditions.

  The specific difference from the second embodiment is two points, the first point is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration, and the second point is the content of the regulating means operation process (3). As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 13, the electrical configuration of the present embodiment is obtained by adding the key switch 20 to the configuration of the second embodiment and connecting it to the main controller 80 via the back wiring relay terminal board 75. . Thereby, the main controller 80 can determine whether or not a key is inserted into the cylinder lock 36.

  The restricting means operation process 3 is the content of the flowchart shown in FIG. 14 and is configured by adding one determination process to the structure of the restricting means operation process 2 described in the second embodiment. Specifically, if the determination in S410 corresponding to S260 of the restricting means operation process 2 is affirmative (management flag = 1) (S410: yes), it is determined whether the signal from the key switch is HI, that is, the cylinder lock 36. It is determined whether a key has been inserted (S415). If the determination is negative (S415: no), the process returns. If the determination is affirmative (S415: yes), the restriction flag is set to 0 (S420) and the process returns.

  The above is the description of the third embodiment. In the configurations of the first and second embodiments, the restriction flag is set to 0 each time all of the projecting balls are collected, and each time the release preventing member 42 is released from the track of the claw portion 41, the front frame 52 can be opened. However, in this embodiment, since the key insertion into the cylinder lock 36 is added to the condition, the restriction flag is not set to 0 just by collecting all the fired balls, so that the opening prevention member 42 is usedlessly retracted. It can be said that it is a configuration that prevents the act of opening the front frame 52 illegally without a legitimate key by eliminating the operation and reducing the unlockable timing of the front frame 52 correspondingly.

  The above is the description of the embodiment. In each embodiment, the process for detecting the number of encapsulated balls is performed immediately after the front frame 52 is closed and immediately after the front frame 52 is opened, and if there is an abnormality at that time, an error notification is performed. Even during opening, the process for detecting the number of encapsulated balls is continued (provided with a means for detecting the number of encapsulated balls when opening is continued). A configuration is also conceivable in which it is determined that the state is abnormal at the time and error notification is executed.

  With this configuration, when an illegal act is actually executed, specifically, when an illegal game ball is mixed in the pachinko machine 50, or when a game ball is taken out from the pachinko machine 50 using any means. By determining the abnormal state, it becomes possible to more strictly prevent fraud.

  As described above, according to the enclosed ball game machine of the present invention, the number of fired balls, the number of recovered balls, and the number of enclosed balls are managed to prevent the game balls from spilling out of the machine and It becomes possible to prevent mixing of the spheres. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to a circulating game machine having a function capable of confirming the number of enclosed balls.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game board 36 Cylinder lock 38 Front frame stop member 39 Slide lock 41 Claw part 42 Opening prevention member 50 Enclosed pachinko machine 60 Collection path 61 Launch path 62 Launch standby path 63 Foul ball intake 80 Main controller 84 Launch controller 91 Launch ball sensor 92 Out ball sensor 93 Foul ball sensor 94 Enclosed ball number confirmation sensor 1
95 Enclosed ball number confirmation sensor 2
96 Frame opening restriction motor

Claims (3)

In a circulating game machine in which a game ball at a launch position is launched toward a game area by a launching device, the launched game balls are collected and guided to a launch position, and a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed inside ,
Fire ball counting means for counting game balls fired by the launch device;
A collection ball counting means for counting the collected game balls; a management means for managing game balls based on the number of shot balls counted by the shot ball counting means and the number of collected balls counted by the collection ball counting means;
Lock means capable of displacing the glass frame into an locked state and an unlocked state with respect to the inner frame;
Blocking means for displacing the locking means from the locked state to the unlocked state for blocking the displacement from the locked state to the unlocked state;
Closing detection means for detecting that the glass frame is closed with respect to the inner frame;
A glass frame is closed with respect to the inner frame, and immediately after the detection state of the closure detection means is changed from non-detection to detection, the enclosed ball number detecting means for detecting the number of enclosed balls is provided,
The blocking means is
On the condition that the detection state of the closure detection means is closed, and the management means determines that the number of shot balls and the number of recovered balls are the same, the state is displaced to a release state,
A circulation type gaming machine comprising: a blocking notification unit that notifies that the blocking unit is in a blocking state or in a released state. In the circulation type gaming machine according to claim 1,
On the condition that the detection state of the closure detection means changes from detection to non-detection, it comprises an opening ball number detection means for detecting the number of enclosed balls,
And determining means for determining whether or not the number of encapsulated balls detected by the closed enclosing ball number detecting means matches the number of encapsulated balls detected by the opened enclosing ball number detecting means. Circulating game machine. In the circulation type gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2,
Comprising key detection means for detecting that a key has been inserted into the lock means;
The blocking means, in addition to determining that the detection state of the closure detection means is closed, and that the number of fired balls and the number of recovered balls match by the management means, the key detection means A circulation type gaming machine characterized by being displaced into a released state on condition that a key is detected.

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