JP6298963B2 - Enclosed game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an enclosed game machine that plays a game by circulating a predetermined number of game balls enclosed in the game machine.

  Conventionally, a pachinko machine, which is a gaming machine, has a predetermined number of game balls enclosed in a machine base, and fires the enclosed game balls toward the game area of the game board and collects the released game balls. In addition, there is known a configuration in which a game is played by recirculating the collected game balls to use the game balls inside (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

This type of enclosed pachinko machine is based on the number of game balls rented to the player and the winnings during the game, instead of storing the game balls that the player can play in the upper and lower plates. The number of game balls that a player can play is calculated and displayed according to the number of prize balls, and the number of held balls is increased or decreased as the game progresses. Since no prize balls are paid out in this way, less game balls are used.
Patent Document 1 describes a configuration for lending a ball and storing (settlement) the ball at the end of the game using an IC card.

Generally, a game ball is enclosed in a game machine at a game store.
In addition, there are multiple types of encapsulated pachinko machines with different game contents, and the recommended number of game balls to be encapsulated varies depending on the model, because the firing interval and the flow speed of game balls flowing down the game board differ. . In particular, there is a gaming machine in which an operating device that operates by storing a game ball on a game board is installed, and there is a tendency that the difference in recommended ball quantity between those with and without an operating device increases.

Japanese Patent No. 4175524

By the way, even in a sealed pachinko machine, if a ball is clogged on the game board, the glass frame on the front of the game machine is opened to eliminate the clogging. Also, defective balls such as deteriorated or deformed game balls are eliminated, but this may cause a shortage of balls. When there is a shortage of balls, the game balls are not circulated sequentially, and the gaming machines cannot be continuously fired at normal timing, which hinders the game.
Accordingly, in view of the above circumstances, the present invention has been made with the object of providing an enclosed game machine that can efficiently eliminate game defects due to a shortage of game balls and minimize adverse effects on the game. is there.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the game balls launched from the launching device to the game board are collected, and the collected game balls are fired again from the launching device to the game board. A game ball-enclosed gaming machine that circulates game balls to play games,
The gaming machine is composed of a game board side component and a frame side component that supports the game board side component,
A main control device for controlling the progress of the game, a sub-control device for controlling the display device , provided in the game board side component ;
An information processing apparatus provided in the frame side configuration unit adjacent to the gaming machine so as to perform information processing such as reading and writing of a storage medium storing information such as the number of game balls that can be played. The game ball lending process and the launching device are controlled based on information such as the number of balls held, and award balls are awarded according to the winnings at a plurality of winning holes provided on the game board. A payout control device;
An enclosing ball detecting means for detecting the enclosing ball quantity of the game balls;
The payout control device includes encapsulated sphere quantity grasping means for grasping the encapsulated sphere quantity of the game sphere encapsulated based on a detection signal of the enclosed sphere detecting means, and information on the enclosed sphere quantity at a predetermined timing. An encapsulated ball quantity transmitting means for transmitting to the control device;
The main control device stores recommended ball quantity storage means that stores information on recommended ball quantity of game balls to be enclosed so as to be suitable for launching game balls without causing game stagnation while circulating the game balls. And a collating means for collating the recommended sphere quantity and the enclosed sphere quantity by receiving the enclosed sphere quantity,
When it is determined that the number of encapsulated balls is insufficient, the lack notification means informs that the number of encapsulated balls is insufficient ,
At the time of powering on the gaming machine, the recommended ball quantity is displayed on the display device under the control of the sub-control device .

According to this, it is possible to efficiently collate the recommended ball quantity with the enclosed ball quantity by the collating means provided in the main control device that controls the progress of the game. Judging whether the number of encapsulated balls is insufficient, and if there is a shortage, it will notify the shortage of balls, so it is possible to take measures against the shortage of balls quickly, replenish the game balls before the game stagnates, By eliminating it, adverse effects on the game can be minimized.
Further, the main control device having the collating means is communicably connected to a sub-control device that controls display, lamps, and the like, and can efficiently perform control related to notification of insufficient balls.
The gaming machine is composed of a game board side component and a frame side component that supports this. Among gaming machines of different models, the frame side component is made common, and the game board side component having the main control device is changed (model change). In general, in gaming machines, general management of game balls is performed by the payout control device of the frame side component, but the present invention stores the recommended ball quantity in a different main control device for each model, so according to the model Suitable for management of recommended ball quantity.

Furthermore, a game store employee who encloses game balls can recognize at a glance the recommended number of game balls to be encapsulated for each machine, and by enclosing game balls according to the recommended number of balls, more games can be played. It is economical because it is not necessary to prepare a ball, and it is possible to effectively prevent a shortage of game balls, and to reduce adverse effects on the game due to a shortage of balls, such as being unable to fire.
The recommended ball quantity may be stored in the sub-control device, or may be configured so that the sub-control device receives the recommended ball quantity from the main control device when the power is turned on and displays the recommended ball quantity.

It is a front view of the gaming machine of the first embodiment to which the present invention is applied. It is explanatory drawing of the launching apparatus used for the said gaming machine. It is a rear view of the gaming machine. It is an electric block diagram of the whole of the gaming machine. It is an electrical block diagram of the principal part relevant to this invention of the said gaming machine. It is an electric block diagram regarding the power supply structure of the gaming machine. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the power-on process 1 performed at the time of power-on in the main controller of the gaming machine. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the recommended ball | bowl quantity storage process performed with the payout control apparatus of the said gaming machine. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the collation process 1 performed with the said payout control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the collation result display process performed with the sub control apparatus of the said gaming machine. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the recommended ball quantity display process performed with the said sub control apparatus. The game machine of 2nd Embodiment to which this invention is applied is shown, and it is an electrical block diagram of the principal part corresponding to the said FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the power-on process 2 performed at the time of power activation in the main controller of the gaming machine. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the collation process 2 performed with the said main control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the enclosed ball quantity grasping | ascertainment process performed with the payout control apparatus of the said gaming machine.

A pachinko machine as a gaming machine according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. This pachinko machine encloses a predetermined number of game balls in the machine base and launches the enclosed game balls toward the game area of the game board. The game balls that have been launched are collected regardless of the balls, and the collected game balls are fired again to play the game using the internal game balls cyclically.
Then, the enclosed ball quantity of the enclosed game ball is compared with the recommended ball quantity of the enclosed game ball so as to be suitable for launching the game ball without causing the game to stagnate while circulating the game ball well. If the quantity of encapsulated balls is insufficient, this is notified.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 1 has a structure in which each part of the configuration is held by an outer frame 10 that forms a vertically long fixed outer frame holding frame. The outer frame 10 is provided with a front frame (glass frame) 11 in which a plate glass 110 is fitted and an inner frame (not shown) that can be opened and closed through a hinge 101 provided at the upper and lower positions on the left side. The front frame 11 and the inner frame are closed and locked to the outer frame 10 by a cylinder lock 18 so that a predetermined key is inserted into the cylinder lock 18 and the key is operated clockwise to open the inner frame. None, the front frame 11 is opened by a counterclockwise operation.
A game board 2 held by the inner frame is provided behind the plate glass 110 of the front frame 11.

Speakers 112 are respectively installed at the left and right sides of the lower part of the front frame 11, and game sounds are thereby output, thereby improving the game preference. In addition to the frame-side decorative lamp 113 that emits light according to the gaming state, the front frame 11 is provided with lamps and LEDs for notifying game abnormality.
A firing handle 14 is provided on the right side of the lower half of the front frame 11, and the firing device 31 provided at the upper left end of the front frame 11 is actuated by operating the firing handle 14 in the clockwise direction. A game ball is launched toward the game board 2.

  The pachinko machine 1 is adjacent to a card unit (CR unit) 60 that performs information processing such as reading and writing of stored contents from the player's IC card. The CR unit 60 corresponds to an “information processing apparatus” described in the claims, and the IC card corresponds to a “storage medium”. The IC card stores, as stored information, a credit balance indicating the amount of gaming balls that can be lent, and the number of possessed balls that have been won by winning balls because the player cannot directly obtain gaming balls in the enclosed type. With the IC card, at the start of the game, gaming balls can be rented within the range of the credit balance, and the credit balance is updated according to the rental. At the end of the game, the number of balls is stored.

In connection with the CR unit 60, the pachinko machine 1 is provided with a loan SW 171, a return SW 172, and a balance display device 173 on the left side of the lower half of the front frame 11.
In addition, a game button 15 that can be operated by the player is adjacent to the lending SW 171, the return SW 172, and the balance display device 173, and a jog dial 16 is provided so as to surround the outer periphery thereof.
Further, a counting SW 174 for counting up the number of balls that can be played and a ball number display device 175 for displaying the number of balls held are installed.

  A game area 20 surrounded by a rail body 201 is formed on the game board 2. A center case is attached to the game area 20 at the center thereof, and an LCD panel of an effect symbol display device 21 (not shown as a whole) is disposed in the center case. The center case is provided with a warp entrance, a warp cage (game ball passage), a stage, and the like, as is well known.

  Passage gates 22 through which game balls can pass are respectively installed at the left and right side positions of the effect symbol display device 21. Further, at the lower position in the center of the production symbol display device 21, there is a first special symbol start port (hereinafter referred to as a first special diagram start port) 23 which is always open upward and allows a game ball to enter. A second special symbol start opening (hereinafter referred to as a second special figure start opening) 24 that can be opened and closed by a normal electric accessory (general electric accessory) and can enter only at the time of opening is provided at the position.

  The first special figure start opening 23 and the second special figure start opening 24 are start openings for performing a lottery (whether or not) of special symbols (hereinafter simply referred to as special figures). Each of the first and second special figure starting ports 23 and 24 extracts a plurality of types of random numbers when a game ball enters, and the extracted random numbers are stored as a special figure hold memory.

  The second special figure starting port 24 is won by a lottery of a normal symbol (hereinafter simply referred to as a normal figure) executed due to the passing of the game ball to the passing gate 22, thereby Open for a predetermined time.

A plurality of normal winning openings 26 are arranged at the left and right side positions of the first and second special figure starting openings 23 and 24. Also, below the second special figure starting port 24 is provided a large winning port 25 that is opened and closed by an opening / closing plate, and an out port 29 is provided at the bottom of the board surface.
A number of game nails are planted in the game area 20 of the game board 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the launching device 31 is provided with a launching table 310 in the center, and the game balls B are sent to the launching table 310 one by one through the opening 313 by the operation of the ball feeding mechanism 312. It is. Then, the game ball B is launched by the operation of the launcher 311 driven by the launch motor 314 and is launched toward the game area 20 of the game board 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the back side of the pachinko machine 1 houses an inner frame 30 to which the game board 2 is detachably attached. As with the front frame 11, the inner frame 30 is installed so that the vertical position of one side edge (the right side in FIG. 3) is hinged to the outer frame 10 and can be opened and closed.
The rear surface of the front frame 11 and the inner frame 30 are provided with a main control device 40, a payout control device 41, a sub-integrated control device 42, a production symbol control device 43, a launching device 31, and a power supply board (not shown). Yes.
The main control device 40, the sub integrated control device 42, the launching device 31 and the effect symbol control device 43 are provided on the back surface of the game board 2, and the payout control device 41 and the power supply board are provided on the inner frame 30.

  In addition, a polishing device 46 for collecting the game balls launched on the game board and polishing the collected game balls is installed at the bottom of the back surface of the pachinko machine, and the polished game balls are further removed from the lower part of the pachinko machine. A lifting device 33 for sending to the upper launching device 31 is installed vertically along the right side of the back surface of the inner frame 30. Note that a ball replenishing port 460 for enclosing and replenishing a game ball in the gaming machine is provided on the upper surface portion of the polishing apparatus 46.

  FIG. 4 shows the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 1, with a payout control device 41, a sub-integrated control device 42 and an effect symbol control device 43 as sub-control devices, centering on a main control device 40 that controls the game. It is the structure which comprises. The main control device 40, the payout control device 41, the sub-integrated control device 42, and the production symbol control device 43 are all provided with a CPU, ROM, RAM, input port, output port, etc., all of which are controlled by the CPU. After the power-on process, a program consisting of a main routine and a subroutine mounted in the ROM is started due to an interrupt signal of 2 ms cycle or 4 ms cycle, and various controls are executed.

  Main controller 40 is electrically connected to front frame (glass frame) 11, glass frame open SW (switch) 501 and inner frame open SW 502 for detecting whether or not inner frame 30 is open. A first start port SW503 for detecting a ball entering the first special figure start port 23, a second start port SW504 for detecting a ball entering the second special figure start port 24 via the plate 541, a normal pass gate The normal symbol operation SW 505 for detecting the entrance to the ball 22, the left winning entrance SW 506 for detecting the entrance to the left and right ordinary winning entrances 26, the right winning entrance SW 507, and the count SW 508 for detecting the entrance to the big winning device 25. These are electrically connected to a magnet sensor 511, a radio wave sensor 512, and the like for detecting fraud, and detection signals from each SW and each sensor are input.

  The main control device 40 operates in accordance with the installed program, generates various commands related to the progress of the game based on the above detection signals and the like, and issues a payout control device 41, a sub-integrated control device 42, and an effect symbol control device. 43, and the display control of the special symbol display device 27, the special symbol hold number display device 271, the normal symbol display device 28, and the general symbol hold number display device 281 via the symbol display device relay terminal board 542. To do. These display devices 27, 271, 28, 281 are provided outside the game area on the front surface of the game board.

  Further, the main control device 40 drives the special prize opening solenoid 513 via the game board version relay terminal board 541 to open the special prize opening 25, and drives the universal electrification solenoid 514 to start the second special figure. Open and close the electric utility of the mouth 24. Further, the main controller 40 is connected to a prize ball number display device 176, and performs display control of the number of prize balls.

The main control device 40 is connected to the payout control device 41 so that bidirectional communication is possible.
The payout control device 41 is communicably connected to the CR unit 60 via the CR unit terminal plate 548. Further, it is configured to accept operation signals for lending requests and return requests by lending and returning SWs 171 and 172 via the balance display device 173. The payout control device 41 communicates with the CR unit 60 based on the operation signals of the lending request and the return request, grasps the credit balance regarding the IC card inserted into the CR unit 60, and responds to the lending request signal The credit balance is returned according to the setting of the number of rented balls and the return request signal.
The CR unit 60 is connected so as to be communicable with the hall computer 500 on the game store side, and is configured to transmit game information of the pachinko machine 1 to the hall computer 500 based on communication contents with the payout control device 41.

In addition, the payout control device 41 has an operation amount detection signal for the handle volume 520 that detects the operation amount of the firing handle 14 via the launch operation unit relay terminal plate 543, and the player is in contact (operated) with the launch handle 14. A detection signal of the touch SW 521 for detecting this, a stop detection signal of the firing stop SW 522, and the like are input.
Further, an operation signal of a counting SW 174 that performs an operation of counting the number of balls held is input via the launch operation unit relay terminal plate 543 and the operation unit relay terminal plate 549, and display control of the ball holding display device 175 is performed.

  Further, the payout control device 41 includes a ball feeding sensor 523, a launch inlet sensor 524 that detects the presence or absence of a game ball at the entrance of the launch device 31, a launch motor 314, and a ball feed mechanism 312 via the launch device relay terminal plate 544. A driving ball feed solenoid 526 is connected. Then, the payout control device 41 is based on a command reflecting the gaming situation sent from the main control device 40, signals from the handle volume 520, touch SW521, firing stop SW522, ball feed sensor 523, launch entrance sensor 524, and the like. The launch motor 314 and the ball feed solenoid 526 are driven and controlled to launch and stop the game ball.

  Furthermore, the payout control device 41 receives the detection signal of the cassette switch 527 and the polishing motor sensor 528 via the polishing device relay terminal plate 545 in addition to the control regarding communication processing with the CR unit 60 and the launch of the game ball. In this configuration, the polishing motor 46 is controlled by driving the cassette motor 529 and the polishing motor 530 in accordance with the detection signal.

  In addition to the control of the polishing device 46, the dispensing control device 41 receives detection signals from the lifting inlet sensor 532 and the lifting motor monitoring sensor 533 via the lifting relay terminal plate 546, and according to these detection signals. The lifting motor 531 is driven to control the lifting device 33.

  Furthermore, the payout control device 41 receives a prize that has won a prize through the inner frame relay terminal plate 547, such as the first and second special figure starting ports 23, 24, the big winning port 25, or the normal winning port 26. A winning ball sensor 509 that detects a ball, an out ball sensor 510 that detects an out ball that is out without winning, and an enclosed ball quantity sensor that detects the number of enclosing balls of a game ball enclosed in a pachinko machine (encapsulated ball detection) Means) 534, a full sensor 535, a night monitoring switch 536, and other detection signals are inputted.

The winning ball sensor 509 collects winning balls that have been won at the respective winning ports such as the first and second special figure starting ports 23 and 24, the large winning port 25, the normal winning port 26, and the like, and sends them to the polishing apparatus 46. It is installed in the downstream part of the ball passage provided on the back surface of the game board for sending, and is configured to detect the winning balls to each winning opening in a lump.
The out ball sensor 510 is provided in a ball path for sending an out ball from the out port 29 to the polishing apparatus 46.

The polishing device 46 includes a tank that temporarily stores game balls to be polished, and the enclosed ball quantity sensor 534 is provided in the tank. The sensor 534 is configured to detect the height level of the game ball stored in the tank in a plurality of stages. The enclosed ball quantity sensor 534 is such that no game ball has been fired in the launch device 31 (launch stop state), and both the launch inlet sensor 524 and the lift inlet sensor 532 are on, and the game ball is in the lift device 33. The quantity of encapsulated spheres is detected by considering that is full.
The full tank sensor 535 detects that the height level of the game ball in the tank is the upper limit.

A detection signal for detecting an operation of the jog dial 16 and the game button 15 is input to the sub integrated control device 42.
Then, the sub integrated control device 42 drives the speaker 112 to output sound, and controls lighting and extinguishing of various LEDs and various lamps 113. Furthermore, a command for a pseudo effect for displaying a character or the like or a display pattern for a special symbol for the special symbol is transmitted to the effect symbol control device 43.

  The effect symbol control device 43 constitutes the effect symbol display device 21 together with the LCD panel unit and the accessory unit. The effect symbol control device 43 controls the display of the LCD panel of the effect symbol display device 21 in accordance with a command sent from the sub integrated control device 42.

FIG. 5 shows the mutual relationship of a plurality of devices closely related to the present invention. The main control device 40 stores the information of the recommended ball quantity of the game balls to be encapsulated so as to be suitable for continuously launching the game balls without circulating the game balls while circulating the game balls. A storage unit and a recommended sphere quantity storage / transmission unit for transmitting the stored recommended sphere quantity information to the sub-integrated control device 42 are provided. The recommended number of balls is the number recommended by pachinko machine manufacturers, and is often different for different types of games.

  The main controller 40 is connected to the payout controller 41 so as to be able to communicate with each other. Between the two, the main controller 40 sends a payout instruction or the like according to the winning prize from the main controller 40 to the payout controller 41, and the game controller launches the number of balls and the number of balls held from the payout controller 41 to the main controller 40. It is possible to transmit a signal related to

The payout control device 41 is provided with a recommended sphere quantity storage unit that receives the recommended sphere quantity information transmitted from the recommended sphere quantity storage transmission unit of the main controller 40 and stores the recommended sphere quantity.
Further, the dispensing control device 41 is provided with an encapsulated sphere quantity grasping unit for grasping the encapsulated sphere quantity based on the detection signal of the enclosed sphere quantity sensor 534.
Further, the payout control device 41 collates the recommended sphere quantity in the recommended sphere quantity storage unit with the encapsulated sphere quantity in the encapsulated sphere quantity grasping part to determine whether or not the encapsulated sphere quantity is insufficient. Is provided.

The payout control device 41 is connected to the CR unit 60 so that they can communicate with each other. An IC card 61 is detachably inserted (connected) into the CR unit 60, and the CR unit 60 performs information processing such as reading and writing of information such as credit balance and number of balls stored in the IC card 61.
At the start of the game, information such as the credit balance and the number of possessed balls read from the IC card 61 is transmitted from the CR unit 60 to the payout control device 41.

  As a result, the payout control device 41 manages (storage processing, addition / subtraction processing) information on the credit balance after the ball lending and the number of possessed balls that change according to the ball launch or prize ball during the game. At the end of the game, the information about the number of possessed balls and credit balance is transmitted from the payout control device 41 to the CR unit 60, and the information on the IC card is updated.

The sub-integrated control device 42 is connected to the main control device 40 so as to be able to receive signals in one direction such as special information from the device 40, its variation pattern, and information on the recommended ball quantity.
Further, the sub-integrated control device 42 can transmit, for example, information on the pseudo effect design corresponding to the special illustration and the recommended ball quantity to the effect design control device 43 and the effect design display device 21.

  FIG. 6 shows a power supply path and a signal transmission path between the power supply board 45 of the pachinko machine 1 and each part of the gaming machine including the main control device 40 and the payout control device 41. The power supply board 45 is supplied with AC 24V power provided on the game store side via a power switch 450 to the power generation circuit 452, and the main power from the power generation circuit 452 includes the main controller 40 and the payout controller 41. Power is supplied to each part of the gaming machine. The power switch 450 is of a type that maintains its state when turned on or off.

The full-wave 24V output in the power generation circuit 452 is input to the power supply voltage monitoring circuit 453, and the reset signal generation circuit 455 outputs or cancels the reset signal based on the detection result of the presence / absence of the full-wave 24V output by the power supply voltage monitoring circuit 453. . That is, the power supply voltage monitoring circuit 453 determines that the full-wave 24V output is stopped if the non-output state in which a voltage higher than the predetermined reference voltage is not output continues for a predetermined time, and the reset signal generation circuit 455 determines that the full-wave 24V output is stopped. A reset signal is output according to the determination. On the other hand, when full wave 24V output is started, the reset signal is canceled. Here, the output of the reset signal is to output a low level signal, and changes from low level to high level upon release. The reset signal is released after a predetermined delay time from the detection of the full-wave 24V output.
The reset signal output of the reset signal generation circuit 455 is transmitted to the reset terminals of the CPUs 401 and 411 of the main control device 40 and the payout control device 41, respectively.

  A power failure signal generation circuit 454 that generates a power failure signal corresponding to the output of the power supply voltage monitoring circuit 453 is provided, and when a power failure such as a power failure occurs, the power failure signal is transmitted to the NMI terminals of the CPUs 401 and 411 of each control device. ing. The power failure signal is a signal that changes from a high level to a low level when the power is cut off, and the output timing is set so that it is output before the reset signal is output.

  The power supply board 45 is configured to generate a DC5V backup power supply (VBB) by a backup power supply generation circuit 457 including a capacitor. The backup power supply (VBB) output is output from the CPUs 401 and 411 of the control devices. The data is output to the backup terminal (VBB), and the contents stored in the RAMs 404 and 414 of the CPUs 401 and 411 of the respective control devices are held in the event of a power failure, as described later.

The RAM clear switch 451 on the power supply board 45 clears the contents stored in the RAMs 404 and 414 of the CPUs 401 and 411 of the control devices.
The RAM clear switch 451 is a push button type that is turned on only when pressed and turned off when released. If the RAM clear switch 451 is on, the RAM clear signal generation circuit 456 is a high-level signal RAM. The clear signal is output to the input ports 402 and 412 of the main control board 40 and the payout control board 41 until a predetermined time elapses or until the RAM clear switch 451 is turned off. Here, the delay time from turning on the power switch 450 to releasing the reset signal is set to, for example, 100 ms. To generate the RAM clear signal, the power switch 450 is turned on while pressing the RAM clear switch 451. Note that the CPUs 401 and 411 of each control device monitor the presence or absence of a RAM clear signal at the input ports 402 and 412.
The sub-integrated control device 42 and the production symbol control device 43 provided with the CPU are also supplied with the main power from the power supply board 45 in the same manner as the main control device 40 and the payout control device 41, and the reset signal, stop signal, RAM clear signal. Is connected to input.

  Next, based on FIG. 7, the “power-on process 1” executed by the CPU 401 of the main control device 40 when the power is turned on will be described. First, when the power switch 450 is operated, the pachinko machine is energized, the reset signal is released, and the security check of the CPU 401 itself is completed, this processing is executed, and the power-on initial processing is executed (S100).

  Next, in step S101, it is confirmed whether or not the RAM clear signal is on. The RAM clear signal is turned on if the RAM clear switch 451 is in the on state when the reset signal is released, and it is substantially confirmed whether or not the RAM clear switch 451 is in the on state when the power is turned on.

  If the RAM clear signal is not on when the power is turned on (S101: no), the pachinko machine is restored to the power-off state (normal power-on). For this purpose, first, it is confirmed whether or not the occurrence information at the time of power-off at the time of power-off is normal (S102). If the information is normal (S102: yes), the RAM judgment value is calculated (S103). It is confirmed whether or not the determination value is normal (S104). The RAM determination value is a value stored in the RAM when the power is turned off. In the process of S104, it is confirmed whether or not the value calculated in the process of S103 matches the value stored in the RAM.

  If the determination value of the RAM is normal, that is, if the determination value matches the stored value (S104: yes), processing at the time of power recovery is performed (S105). In this process, for example, information generated when the power is turned off is cleared, and a command is transmitted to return the sub integrated control device 43 to the gaming state when the power is turned off.

  If the RAM clear signal is ON in the process of S101 (S101: yes), all the stored contents of the RAM are cleared to 0 in the process of S106, and then an initial value random number setting process is executed (S107). When the initial value random number setting process is completed, the RAM is initialized (S108).

After the process at the time of power recovery in S105 or the initial value setting process in the RAM in S108, the recommended sphere quantity stored in advance in the recommended sphere quantity storage unit is read in the process in S109.
Then, the recommended ball quantity storage read in the processing of S110 is transmitted to the payout control device 41 as information on the recommended ball quantity. The processing of S110 corresponds to “recommended ball quantity transmission means” described in the claims.
Thereafter, an interrupt is set (S111), and the main routine processing of the main control device 40 relating to game execution is started.

  It should be noted that in the process when the power is turned on, when the occurrence information at the time of power-off in the process of S102 is abnormal (S102: no), or when the RAM determination value in the process of S104 is abnormal (S104: no). Since it is impossible to recover to the power-off state, the processes of S106 to S111 are executed in the same manner as when the RAM is cleared.

  The main routine of the main control device 40 is started due to an interrupt signal having a period of 2 ms or 4 ms, and a process for updating or winning a plurality of types of random numbers such as a random number for determining whether or not a special figure is appropriate and a random number for determining a special jackpot symbol Confirmation processing, validity determination processing, output processing, fraud monitoring processing, and the like are performed.

When a game is started on the pachinko machine 1, the game ball is lent out within the range of the credit balance of the IC card, and the game is started as a possessed ball that can be used for the game, or to the CR unit 60. If the card has a stored number of balls when the IC card is inserted, the card is read and the game is started as a ball.
In the game of the pachinko machine 1, when there is a ball entering the first and second special figure starting ports 23 and 24, a random number value for determining whether or not the special figure is determined is extracted based on this, and based on the random value The determination is made, and the special symbol display device 27 starts the symbol variation of the special symbol, and the effect symbol display device 21 starts the symbol variation of the pseudo effect symbol corresponding to the special symbol.
If the determination result of the special figure is a big hit, the big hit symbol is determined, the big hit symbol is determined and displayed on each display device 21, and the big hit game (special game) is executed. The jackpot game continues for a predetermined number of rounds, with one round being the operation from opening the grand prize winning device 25 until the predetermined time or number of balls reached the predetermined number and closing.

  FIG. 8 shows a “recommended ball quantity storage process” performed by the payout control apparatus 41. In this process, first, in the process of S200, whether or not the recommended ball quantity information transmitted from the main controller 40 has been received. Confirm. If the reception of the recommended ball quantity information is confirmed (S200: yes), the received recommended ball quantity is stored in the recommended ball quantity storage unit of the payout control device 41 in the process of S201.

The payout control device 41 which has received and stored the recommended ball quantity is enclosed in the pachinko machine with the recommended ball quantity in the process of a part of the main routine of the payout control apparatus 41 which is started due to interruption of a predetermined period. Checking with the number of encapsulated balls is performed.
FIG. 9 shows the “verification process 1” executed by the payout control device 41. First, in the processing of S300, it is confirmed whether or not the game ball is not being fired by the launching device 31 and the ball firing is stopped. To do. If it is stopped (S300: yes), the detection signal of the enclosed sphere quantity sensor 534 is confirmed (S301), and the quantity of enclosed spheres is grasped according to the detection of the enclosed sphere quantity sensor 534 (S302). In this case, the enclosed ball quantity sensor 534 detects the height level of the game sphere in the tank of the polishing apparatus, but the number of spheres may be calculated according to the level and grasped as the enclosed sphere quantity. Good. The processing of S302 corresponds to “encapsulated ball quantity grasping means” described in the claims.

In the subsequent process of S303, the recommended sphere quantity and the enclosed sphere quantity are collated. In addition, when “encapsulated sphere quantity” is converted into the number of spheres, “recommended sphere quantity” is also converted into the number of spheres and collated. The processing of S303 corresponds to “collation means” described in the claims.
Next, in the process of S304, it is confirmed whether the recommended sphere quantity and the enclosed sphere quantity are the same in the process of S304. If they are different (S304: no), A signal indicating that the collation result is different is transmitted to the control device 42.

  Receiving the collation result, main controller 40 transmits a command for instructing sub integrated control device 42 to notify that the collation result is different. In this case, when the enclosed ball quantity is smaller than the recommended ball quantity, an instruction is given to display that the ball is insufficient.

FIG. 10 shows a “collation processing result display process” executed by the sub-integrated control device 42. First, in the processing of S400, it is determined whether or not a command related to the shortage of balls in the collation result is received from the main control device 40. If it is confirmed and reception is confirmed (S400: yes), a display for informing the effect symbol display device 21 of the shortage of the ball via the effect symbol control device 43, a lamp indicating that the ball is insufficient, and a lighting display of the LEDs 113 are displayed. Do.
In addition, the display of the collation result is not limited to the shortage of the spheres, and a display for notifying that the encapsulated sphere quantity is larger than the recommended sphere quantity and that both quantities are the same may be performed.

According to the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment, the encapsulated sphere quantity is grasped, the recommended sphere quantity and the enclosed sphere quantity are collated, and if the collation result is insufficient, this is notified. When the quantity is smaller than the recommended ball quantity, it is possible to immediately take measures to eliminate this, and by replenishing the balls, the adverse effects on the game due to the shortage of balls can be reduced.
In particular, when the power to the pachinko machine is turned on, information on the recommended ball quantity is transmitted from the main control device 40 to the payout control device 41, so that the payout control device 41 can check the recommended ball quantity and the enclosed ball quantity immediately after turning on the power. It is possible to detect a shortage of balls during preparations for opening the amusement store, and replenishment of the balls improves workability in preparation for opening the store.
In addition, the payout control device 41 performs the matching process between the recommended ball quantity and the enclosed ball quantity as a part of the main routine, and is executed while the game ball is being stopped. Can be verified during a short rest, etc., so there are many opportunities for verification processing, and it is possible to quickly find a shortage of balls due to falling balls or eliminating defective balls. By eliminating the ball shortage each time, it is possible to minimize the adverse effects on the game due to the ball shortage.
It should be noted that when the filled ball quantity reaches the recommended ball quantity by replenishing the balls, the payout control device 41 notifies the main control device 40 that the recommended ball quantity has been reached, and the ball shortage notification is canceled.

  Generally, a pachinko machine is composed of a game board side component and a frame side component that supports it. Among game machines of different models, the frame side component is shared, and the game board side component provided with the main controller is changed. Further, overall management regarding the game balls is performed by the payout control device of the frame side component, but in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the recommended ball quantity is stored in the main control device 40 which is different for each model. It is suitable for management of recommended sphere quantity according to. Furthermore, it is possible to efficiently collate the recommended ball quantity with the encapsulated ball quantity by the payout control device that performs overall management regarding the game balls as described above.

In the pachinko machine 1, in the process of S110 of the “power-on process 1” executed by the main controller 40, the recommended ball quantity information is transmitted to the payout controller 41 and also to the sub-integrated controller 42. The recommended sphere quantity may be displayed on the effect symbol display device 21 when the power is turned on by the “recommended sphere quantity display process” shown in FIG.
The “recommended sphere quantity display process” executed by the sub-integrated control device 42 confirms whether or not the recommended sphere quantity information has been received from the main controller 40 (S500), and if the reception is confirmed (S500: yes), in the process of S501, a command (command) for displaying an optimal recommended ball quantity for enclosing the game balls is sent to the effect symbol display device 21 via the effect symbol control device 43.

Generally, in the pachinko machine, the machine base is powered on and the hardware and software aspects of the machine base are prepared. When these preparations are completed, a standby screen waiting for the start of the game is displayed on the effect symbol display device 21. . Therefore, according to the “recommended sphere quantity display process”, the recommended sphere quantity is displayed on the effect symbol display device 21 for a predetermined time before the standby screen. When the “recommended sphere quantity” is converted into the number of spheres, it is desirable to display the recommended sphere quantity.
Note that the recommended sphere quantity may be stored in the sub integrated control apparatus 42 as in the case of the main control apparatus 40, and the recommended sphere quantity may be displayed based on this. In this case, transmission / reception processing of recommended ball quantity information between the main control device 40 and the sub integrated control device 42 can be omitted.
In addition, the “recommended ball quantity display process” is not limited to the sub-integrated control device 42, but the production symbol control device 43
May be executed. In this case, the production symbol control device 43 is sub-integrated control device 42.
Thus, the recommended ball quantity information from the main control device 40 is received.

  In this way, the optimal recommended ball quantity is displayed when enclosing game balls before displaying the standby screen when the power is turned on, so that the game store employees enclosing the game balls can see each machine at a glance. You can recognize the recommended number of game balls to enclose. By enclosing game balls according to the recommended number of balls, there is no need to prepare game balls more than necessary, it is economical, and the shortage of game balls is solved, and the adverse effects on the game due to the shortage of balls are reduced. be able to.

Next, a pachinko machine according to a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described.
This pachinko machine is configured such that the main controller 40 performs a matching process between the recommended sphere quantity and the enclosed sphere quantity. The basic configuration of this pachinko machine is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, and the differences will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 12, the main control device 40 of this pachinko machine has a recommended ball quantity storage unit and a recommended ball quantity storage transmission unit, as well as a recommended ball quantity and an enclosed ball quantity grasped by the payout control device 41. A matching unit for matching is provided.
The payout controller 42 includes an encapsulated sphere quantity grasping unit for grasping the encapsulated sphere quantity based on the detection by the enclosed sphere quantity sensor 534, and an encapsulated sphere quantity transmitting unit for transmitting the grasped enclosed sphere quantity to the main controller 40. Is provided.

FIG. 13 shows “power-on processing 2” executed by the main controller 40 when power is turned on, and “power-on processing 2” is S100 to S108 of “power-on processing 1” in the first embodiment. The processing of S120 to S128 having the same content as is performed.
After the power recovery processing in S125 or the initial value setting processing in the RAM in S128, the recommended sphere quantity stored in advance in the recommended sphere quantity storage unit in the process in S129 is read. Then, the recommended ball quantity read in the process of S130 is transmitted to the sub integrated control apparatus 42 as recommended ball quantity information.
As a result, when the sub-integrated control device 42 receives the recommended ball quantity information, the “recommended ball quantity display process” (FIG. 11) is executed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and when the pachinko machine is turned on, the effect symbol is displayed. The recommended sphere quantity is displayed on the display device 21.

In the subsequent process of S131, the recommended sphere quantity and the enclosed sphere quantity enclosed in the pachinko machine are collated.
As shown in FIG. 14, in the “collation process 2”, the main control device 40 first checks whether or not the game ball is not being fired by the launching device 31 and the ball firing is stopped in the process of S310. . If it is stopped (S310: yes), a request is made to send the information on the enclosed ball quantity to the payout control device 41 (S311), and then the information on the enclosed ball quantity is sent from the payout control device 41. Is confirmed (S312). The process of S312 repeats the loop process until information on the number of encapsulated balls is received.

In response to a request for the number of encapsulated balls from the main control device 40, the payout control device 41 performs an “encapsulated ball number grasping process” shown in FIG. 15 and transmits information on the number of encapsulated balls to the main control device 40. In this process, first, it is confirmed whether or not the game ball is not being launched by the launching device 31 and the launch of the ball is stopped (S600), and if it is stopped (S600: yes), It is confirmed whether there is a request (S601), and if there is a request (S601: yes), the enclosed ball quantity sensor 534 is confirmed (S602), and the number of enclosed balls is grasped according to the detection of the enclosed ball quantity sensor 534. (S603). In this case, the enclosed ball quantity sensor 534 detects the height level of the game sphere in the tank of the polishing apparatus, but the number of spheres may be calculated according to the level and grasped as the enclosed sphere quantity. Good. Then, in the process of S604, the grasped enclosed ball quantity is transmitted to the main controller 40. The process of S603 corresponds to “encapsulated sphere quantity grasping means” described in the claims, and the process of S604 corresponds to “encapsulated sphere quantity transmitting means”.

Returning to FIG. 14, if the information of the enclosed ball quantity is received in the process of S312 (S312: yes), the main controller 40 confirms the enclosed ball quantity (S313), and determines the recommended ball quantity and the enclosed ball quantity. Are collated (S314). In addition, when “encapsulated sphere quantity” is converted into the number of spheres, “recommended sphere quantity” is also converted into the number of spheres and collated. The processing of S314 corresponds to “collation means” recited in the claims.
In the process of S315, it is confirmed whether the result of collation is the same as the recommended sphere quantity and the enclosed sphere quantity. If they are different (S315: no), the sub-integrated control is performed in the collation result transmission process of S316. A command for instructing the device 42 to notify that the collation result is different is transmitted. In this case, it is instructed to perform a display notifying that when the number of encapsulated balls is smaller than the recommended number of balls.
Thereafter, the process returns to the “power-on process 2” process shown in FIG. 13 to set an interrupt in the process of S132, and shifts to the main routine.
The main control device also performs the “collation process 2” as part of the process in the main routine. Thus, the recommended ball quantity and the enclosed ball quantity are collated before starting the game at the time of power-on and during the game.
In the “collation process 2”, the payout control device 41 transmits the encapsulated ball quantity in response to a request from the main control device 40, and the main control device 40 receives it to perform collation. Instead, when the payout control device 41 confirms that the game ball is stopped, the number of encapsulated balls can be grasped and transmitted to the main control device 40, and the main control device 40 that has received this can be configured to perform collation. .

In response to the collation result from the main control device 40, the sub integrated control device 42 performs the “collation result display process” shown in FIG. 10, and displays a notification to that effect when the enclosed ball quantity is less than the recommended quantity. Is displayed on the effect symbol display device 21 via the effect symbol control device 43. Along with this, a lamp or LED may be turned on.
In addition, the display of the collation result is not limited to the shortage of the spheres, and a display for notifying that the encapsulated sphere quantity is larger than the recommended sphere quantity and that both quantities are the same may be performed.

According to the pachinko machine of the present embodiment, the same effects as the pachinko machine of the first embodiment can be obtained. That is, when the power to the pachinko machine is turned on, information on the number of encapsulated balls is transmitted from the payout control device 41 to the main control device 40. It is possible to detect a shortage of balls during preparations for opening an amusement store, and the replenishment of balls can improve the workability of preparation for opening a store.
In addition, the main controller 40 performs the collation process between the recommended ball quantity and the enclosed ball quantity as a part of the main routine, and is executed while the game ball is not being fired. Can be verified during a short rest, etc., so there are many opportunities for verification processing, and it is possible to quickly find a shortage of balls due to falling balls or eliminating defective balls. By eliminating the ball shortage each time, it is possible to minimize the adverse effects on the game due to the ball shortage.
Further, since the main controller 40 collates the recommended sphere quantity and the encapsulated sphere quantity, it is advantageous for the process of notifying the collation result. For example, the main control device 40 can directly communicate with a sub-integrated control device related to display control of symbols, lamps, and LEDs, which is advantageous for communication of collation result instruction commands and the like.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can of course be implemented in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, when there is a shortage of encapsulated spheres, not only notification by display but also notification by sound may be made. In addition to display and sound notification, the game ball may be stopped by control of the payout control device. Further, the hall computer may be notified that the enclosing ball is insufficient.
Further, it is desirable to notify the full tank when the filled ball quantity becomes full by replenishment of the game balls and is detected by the full tank SW 535. And when it is replenished more than a full tank, it is good also as a structure which discharges an extra ball outside a gaming machine.

1 Pachinko machine (enclosed game machine)
2 Game board 21 Production symbol display device (shortage notification means, display device)
31 Launcher 40 Main controller (recommended sphere quantity storage means, recommended sphere quantity transmission means, verification means)
41 Dispensing control device (encapsulated sphere quantity grasping means, verification means, reception recommended sphere quantity storage means, enclosed sphere quantity transmitting means)
42 Sub integrated control device (sub control device, shortage notification means)
43 Production design control device (sub control device, shortage notification means)
534 Encapsulated sphere quantity sensor (encapsulated sphere detection means)
60 CR unit (information processing equipment)
61 IC card (storage medium)

Claims (1)

The game balls launched from the launching device to the game board are collected, and the collected game balls are fired from the launching device to the game board again, and a predetermined number of game balls enclosed inside are circulated to play the game. A game ball enclosed type gaming machine,
The gaming machine is composed of a game board side component and a frame side component that supports the game board side component,
A main control device for controlling the progress of the game, a sub-control device for controlling the display device, provided in the game board side component;
An information processing apparatus provided in the frame side configuration unit adjacent to the gaming machine so as to perform information processing such as reading and writing of a storage medium storing information such as the number of game balls that can be played. The game ball lending process and the launching device are controlled based on information such as the number of balls held, and award balls are awarded according to the winnings at a plurality of winning holes provided on the game board. A payout control device;
An enclosing ball detecting means for detecting the enclosing ball quantity of the game balls;
The payout control device includes encapsulated sphere quantity grasping means for grasping the encapsulated sphere quantity of the game sphere encapsulated based on a detection signal of the enclosed sphere detecting means, and information on the enclosed sphere quantity at a predetermined timing. An encapsulated ball quantity transmitting means for transmitting to the control device;
The main control device stores recommended ball quantity storage means that stores information on recommended ball quantity of game balls to be enclosed so as to be suitable for launching game balls without causing game stagnation while circulating the game balls. And a collating means for collating the recommended sphere quantity and the enclosed sphere quantity by receiving the enclosed sphere quantity,
When it is determined that the number of encapsulated balls is insufficient, the lack notification means informs that the number of encapsulated balls is insufficient,
In addition, when the game machine is powered on, the recommended ball quantity is displayed on the display device under the control of the sub-control device.

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