JP6831663B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to gaming machines such as slot machines and pachinko machines.

A game machine such as a slot machine that uses medals as a game medium is provided with a medal slot member having a medal slot on a front panel mounted on the front surface of the housing, and a predetermined number per game from the medal slot. The game is played by inserting the medals.
The medals inserted from the medal slot are guided to the medal sorting means on the back side of the front panel via the guide passage to perform positive and incorrect sorting, and then the regular medals pass through the guide shoot and the medal hopper on the housing side. The fraudulent medals are removed by the medal sorting means and returned to the saucer at the bottom of the front panel via the return passage.
The insertion slot member includes an arc-shaped receiving portion that receives a plurality of medals stacked in the thickness direction side by side in the front-rear direction, and a medal insertion slot formed on the rear end side of the receiving portion, and medals on the receiving portion. By pressing the medals backward, the medal on the rear end side of the plurality of medals falls into the medal slot. The medal insertion slot has a front-rear dimension larger than the thickness of one medal and a smaller size than the thickness of two medals on the upper end opening side, and is formed in a tapered shape in which the lower end side spreads back and forth (Patent Document 1). ..

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-42316

As a measure to prevent fraudulent activity, a medal sorting means itself or a guidance path from the medal sorting means to the end of the guidance chute is equipped with a fraud detection function that detects and eliminates the insertion of fraudulent medals. There is.
On the other hand, for illegal medals or pseudo members, although the thickness of the main body portion is slightly larger than that of the regular medal, the thickness of the outer peripheral side of the main body portion is made thinner than that of the regular medal, and the thickness detection function of the medal sorting means is invalidated. Incorrect medals or pseudo-members appear that invalidate the fraud detection function originally possessed by the medal sorting means and cause the medal sorting means to malfunction while stopped in the middle of the medal sorting means to increase credits. doing.
If this type of fraudulent medal or pseudo member passes through the medal insertion slot, it enters the medal sorting means side and the medal sorting means malfunctions, thus preventing the fraudulent medal or pseudo member from being inserted into the medal slot. There is a need to.
However, since the conventional medal insertion slot has a tapered shape that spreads back and forth from the upper end opening side to the lower end side, the illegal medal or the pseudo member can sort medals as long as it passes through the upper end opening of the medal insertion slot. It will be easy to reach the means side.
In view of such conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a game machine capable of preventing the insertion of illegal medals or pseudo-members as much as possible.

The present invention is a gaming machine provided with a medal insertion slot for inserting medals. The medal insertion slot has a tapered portion in which the distance between the guide surfaces on both sides in the medal thickness direction is reduced from the entrance to the exit side, and the taper. The outlet side of the portion is provided with a parallel portion in which the guide surfaces on both sides are formed substantially parallel to the tapered portion, and the entrance is larger than the thickness of one medal and larger than the thickness of two medals. are small, the parallel portion is greater than one thickness medals, the length from the inlet of the tapered portion to the outlet side is Ru der those in larger than the diameter of the medal.

According to the present invention, there is an advantage that the insertion of an illegal medal or a pseudo member can be prevented as much as possible.

It is a front view of the slot machine which illustrates the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the same side view. It is a rear view of the front panel. It is a front view of the same housing. It is a block diagram of the control system. It is sectional drawing of the main part of the slot machine. It is an exploded view of the input port member. It is sectional drawing of the input port member. It is a front view of the input port member. It is an enlarged sectional view of the input port member. It is a rear view of the slot member and the medal sorting means. It is a rear view of the medal selection means. It is a side sectional view of the medal sorting means. It is a top view of the medal guide chute side. It is a rear view of the medal guide shoot side. It is explanatory drawing of the medal selection means. It is explanatory drawing of the medal guide shoot. It is a flowchart of the medal insertion process. It is a flowchart of the medal insertion process. It is explanatory drawing of the detection of the insertion medal error. It is a time chart of the same medal detection. It is a flowchart of the transition and stay check processing. It is a partially broken plan view of the inlet member which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the input port member. It is sectional drawing of the inlet member which shows 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the input port member which shows 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the inlet member which shows 5th Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 to 22 illustrate a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a slot machine. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, this slot machine is arranged in a rectangular box-shaped housing 1 and is arranged on the front side of the housing 1 and can be opened and closed in the housing 1 via hinges on the left and right end sides. It is provided with a worn front panel 2. The housing 1 shows an example of the game machine main body frame, and the front panel 2 shows an example of the front opening / closing door.

In the housing 1, as shown in FIG. 4, a symbol display means 3 is arranged at a substantially central portion in the vertical direction thereof, and a medal hopper 4, a medal payout means 5, and an auxiliary tank are arranged below the symbol display means 3. 6 and the power supply unit 7 are arranged, and the main control board 8 and the probability setting board 9 are arranged above the symbol display means 3.

The symbol display means 3 is provided with three (plurality) rotary reels 10a to 10c that can be individually rotated and stopped around the horizontal axis in the left-right direction, and is on a shelf plate 11 fixed in the housing 1. It is attached to. Each of the rotating reels 10a to 10c is provided with a game pattern of a plurality of pieces in the circumferential direction. The game symbols include character symbols such as BB (big bonus) and RB (regular bonus), various fruit symbols, and replay symbols.

The medal hopper 4 and the medal payout means 5 are vertically arranged on the bottom plate 12 of the housing 1, and the power supply unit 7 and the auxiliary tank 6 are arranged on both the left and right sides thereof. The medal hopper 4 is for storing medals for payout including inserted medals, and is provided on the medal payout means 5.

The medal payout means 5 is for paying out the medals in the medal hopper 4 to the player, and the medal hopper is rotated around the tilt axis and the payout case 13 arranged on the bottom plate 12 of the housing 1. It is provided with a rotary plate 15 for paying out the medals in 4 to the front side from the payout port 14, and a payout motor 16 provided in the payout case 13 for driving the rotary plate 15 around an inclined shaft. The payout connection board 17, the payout board 18, the payout sensor 19, and the like shown in FIG. 5 are housed in the payout case 13.

The power supply unit 7 has a power supply board 20 (see FIG. 5) connected to an external power supply via a power cord or the like. The auxiliary tank 6 receives medals overflowing from the overflow portion 4a of the medal hopper 4.

As will be described later, the main control board 8 controls the game operation, and is detachably attached to the inner surface of the rear wall 21 of the housing 1 via the main control board case or the like. The probability setting board 9 sets the probability that the display result of the symbol display means 3 becomes a winning mode, and is detachably attached to the inner surface of the rear wall 21 of the housing 1 via the probability setting board case or the like. ..

On the front panel 2, a display window 23 corresponding to the symbol display means 3 is provided in a substantially central portion in the vertical direction, and a liquid crystal display window 24 and a liquid crystal display means 25 are arranged in front and back on the upper side of the display window 23. An operation panel 26, a decorative panel 27, and a medal tray 28 are arranged below the display window 23, respectively.

The display window 23 can visually recognize the game symbols attached to the three rotary reels 10a to 10c of the symbol display means 3, and when each rotary reel 10a to 10c is stopped, three (plurality) in the vertical direction are visible. The size is such that the game design can be visually recognized. The display window 23 has two or three horizontal and two diagonal stop lines (not shown) corresponding to each of the three game symbols stopped and displayed by the rotating reels 10a to 10c. It is attached.

The liquid crystal display means 25 is adapted to display an effect image such as a character for enlivening the gaming state by the rotating reels 10a to 10c and the like. Inside the rotary reels 10a to 10c, the reel LED substrates 30a to 30c (see FIG. 5) are mounted so as to emit light of three game symbols corresponding to the display window 23 side when each rotary reel 10a to 10c is stopped. The reel LED is arranged. The reel LED is turned on and off according to the rotating state and the stopped state of each of the rotating reels 10a to 10c, or various effects.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the operation panel 26 has an upper panel portion 31 that is inclined upward and a front panel portion 32 that is bent downward from the front end of the upper panel portion 31. The upper panel portion 31 is provided with an insertion slot member 35 having a medal insertion slot 34 for inserting medals, and a max bet button 37 for inserting three pseudo medals in a credit state. The medal insertion slot 34 is provided in the insertion slot member 35 as described later.

The front panel portion 32 is provided with a start lever 38, stop buttons 39a to 39c, a return button 40, and a credit settlement button 41. The start lever 38 is for rotating the rotary reels 10a to 10c, and when the start lever 38 is operated, each rotary reel 10a to 10c starts to rotate in the positive direction.

The stop buttons 39a to 39c are for stopping the rotary reels 10a to 10c, and are individually provided corresponding to the rotary reels 10a to 10c, and are rotating when the stop buttons 39a to 39c are operated. The rotary reels 10a to 10c of the above are individually stopped.

When performing a reel effect for notifying the internal winning state, the rotating reels 10a to 10c start rotating in the positive direction after a part or all of them rotate irregularly (so-called "effect rotation"). Sometimes.

The return button 40 is for returning medals packed in the medal sorting means 43, and when the return button 40 is operated, the medals in the medal sorting means 43 are returned to the medal tray 28 via the medal ejection port 44. It has become. The credit settlement button 41 is for paying out medals in the credit state (medals stored as credits), so that the stored medals are paid out by the medal payout means 5 when the credit settlement button 41 is operated. It has become. A keyhole 45 for inserting a dedicated key is provided on the right side of the return button 40.

In a slot machine, the number of bets can generally be set by inserting medals from the medal insertion slot 34 or operating the max bet button 37. Then, by setting the bet number of a predetermined number of medals for one game, such as setting the number of medals of "3" which is the same as the number of the three rotating reels 10a to 10c of the symbol display means 3, the game Can be started.

If the start lever 38 is operated after setting the bet number of medals, the three rotating reels 10a to 10c of the symbol display means 3 rotate, and the symbol change of the unit symbol by the symbol display means 3 starts. After that, when the stop buttons 39a to 39c are operated, the rotary reels 10a to 10c are stopped, a predetermined stop symbol is displayed on the display window 23, and the game ends.

If the stop symbol of the symbol display means 3 constitutes a combination of predetermined winning combinations, a predetermined number of medals in the medal hopper 4 are paid out to the medal tray 28 by the medal payout means 5 as the game result.

As shown in FIG. 1, the front panel 2 has an insertion number display LED 46 that displays the number of medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 34, a replay display LED 47 that indicates a replay state, and rotary reels 10a to 10c. Rotation preparation display LED48 (LED indicating that a predetermined number of medals required to start one game have been inserted: a so-called start lamp) indicating the completion of rotation preparation and an acceptable display indicating a state in which medals can be inserted The LED 49, the payout number display unit 50 that displays the number of medals paid out, and the storage number display unit 51 that displays the number of stored medals are arranged between the display window 23 and the operation panel 26.

The payout number display unit 50 displays the number of medals to be paid out by the medal payout means 5 as a game result, and is configured by connecting two 7-segment LEDs in a row, displaying the number of medals, or something else. When an abnormal situation occurs, it also functions as an error indicator that displays the details of the abnormality. The storage number display unit 51 displays the number of medals stored as credits.

The front panel 2 is provided with LED effect units 53a to 53c on both the left and right sides and the upper side of the display window 23. The LED effect units 53a to 53c provide, for example, an effect when the BB or RB is won, an effect indicating the state of AT (assist time), ART (assist replay time), or an effect such as an assist effect during AT or ART. This is to be performed, and a light emitting portion having a predetermined pattern, design, etc. is provided on the front side, and the light emitting portion emits light by the light from the LED behind to execute a predetermined effect.

On the back side of the front panel 2, as shown in FIG. 3, a medal sorting means 43, a medal return passage 54, and a medal guide chute 55 are provided under the display window 23, and speakers 56 are arranged at four corners. A board case 57 is arranged between the left and right speakers 56 on the upper side of the display window 23.

The medal selection means 43 is for selecting illegal medals from the medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 34. The medal return passage 54 is for returning the illegal medals selected by the medal sorting means 43 to the medal tray 28 via the medal ejection port 44, and is vertically extending from the lower side of the medal sorting means 43 to the medal ejection port 44. It is provided in the direction. The medal return passage 54 is provided with a medal receiving port 58 for receiving medals paid out from the payout port 14 of the medal payout means 5. The medal guide chute 55 guides the medals determined to be appropriate by the medal selection means 43 to the medal hopper 4 as described later.

The substrate case 57 houses the effect control board 59, the effect interface board 60, the liquid crystal control board 61, the liquid crystal interface board 62, and the like shown in FIG. Further, on the side of the medal sorting means 43, a game relay board 63 (see FIG. 5) that relays signals between various game members shown in FIG. 1 and the main control board 8 is provided.

As the reel effect by the rotating reels 10a to 10c, for example, the following first to seventh effects are prepared. The first reel effect is a slow effect in which the rotary reels 10a to 10c rotate in the forward direction (forward rotation) extremely slowly and stand still, and the second reel effect is a slow effect in which the rotary reels 10a to 10c rotate in the opposite direction to the forward rotation. This is a reverse rotation effect in which the rotation is repeated and then the rotation is reversed for a predetermined time to stand still.

The third reel effect is the first swing effect in which the rotary reels 10a to 10c repeat the forward rotation and the reverse rotation for the first predetermined time and then stand still, and the fourth reel effect is the rotary reel 10a. 10c is a rocking effect that stops after repeating forward rotation and reverse rotation for a predetermined time.

The fifth reel effect is a slow swing effect in which the rotating reels 10a to 10c repeat forward rotation and reverse rotation for a predetermined time and then stop, and then extremely slowly forward rotation and then stop. The sixth reel effect is. This is a swing reverse rotation effect in which the rotary reels 10a to 10c are stopped after repeating forward rotation and reverse rotation for a predetermined time, and then stationary after being reversely rotated for a predetermined time. Further, the seventh reel effect is an effect in which the rotary reels 10a to 10c rotate forward or reverse at a predetermined speed and then stand still in a predetermined pattern.

In the reel effect by the rotating reels 10a to 10c, all or part of the character effect by the image of the liquid crystal display means 25, the lamp effect by blinking the LED lamp, and the sound effect by the voice of the speaker 56 are appropriately selected. It is desirable to do it.

The insertion slot member 35 including the medal insertion slot 34 is configured as shown in FIGS. 6 to 10. The insertion port member 35 is made of metal such as stainless steel, and is configured by combining the first member 65 and the second member 66, which are separately formed, in the front-rear direction, and the first member 65 side and the second member 66 side. A medal insertion slot 34 having a horizontally long cross section is formed between the two, and as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the lower side thereof is inserted into the mounting hole 67 of the upper panel portion 31 of the operation panel 26 and screwed. It is detachably fixed to the front panel 2 by a fixing tool such as.

The first member 65 is formed by an upper arrangement portion 68 arranged on the upper side of the upper panel portion 31 and a front wall portion formed by hanging downward from the upper arrangement portion 68 and inserted into the mounting hole 33 from the upper side. It is integrally equipped with 69.

The upper arrangement portion 68 is provided with a medal receiving portion 70 in the front-rear direction on which a plurality of medals can be placed in a state of being stacked in the thickness direction. The medal receiving portion 70 has an arc shape in which the central portion in the left-right direction is recessed below both the left and right sides, and is provided in an inclined shape in the forward descent.

The second member 66 is arranged on the upper side of the upper panel portion 31, and has a contact portion 71 on which medals can abut on the rear end side of the medal receiving portion 70, and the second member 66 hangs down from the abutment portion 71. The rear wall portion 72 is integrally provided with the rear wall portion 72 which is formed and inserted into the mounting hole 67 from above. The left and right sides of the first member 65 and the second member 66 are in contact with each other in the front-rear direction, are positioned by the positioning recess 73a and the positioning protrusion 73b, and are inserted into the through hole 74a from the rear side of the second member 66. It is detachably connected by a screw screwed into the screw hole 74b of the member 65.

The medal insertion slot 34 is provided in the vertical direction between the front wall portion 69 of the first member 65 and the rear wall portion 72 of the second member 66 on the rear end side of the medal receiving portion 70. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the medal insertion port 34 is formed in a tapered shape in which the front-rear width a of the inlet 34a on the upper end side is wide and the front-rear width b on the outlet 34b side of the lower end side is narrower than the inlet 34a. ing.

That is, the medal insertion slot 34 has a flat shape in which the front-rear width is smaller than the left-right width, and the front-rear width a of the entrance 34a on the upper end side thereof is larger than the thickness of one medal and larger than the thickness of two medals. It is small, and the front-rear width b on the exit 34b side on the lower end side is slightly larger than the thickness of one medal.

There are a front wall surface 69a and a rear wall surface 72a on both front and rear sides of the medal insertion slot 34, the front wall surface 69a is formed on the front wall portion 69 of the first member 65, and the rear wall surface 72a is the rear wall portion 72 of the second member 66. Is formed in. A plurality of ridges 72b in the medal insertion direction are provided on the rear wall surface 72a in the left-right direction intersecting the insertion direction at a substantially right angle. Therefore, the contact resistance of the rear wall surface 72a with respect to the inserted medal can be reduced. The ridge 72b may be provided on at least one of the front wall surface 69a and the rear wall surface 72a.

Both the front wall surface 69a and the rear wall surface 72a are inclined in the opposite direction, and as a whole, the outlet 34b is tapered with respect to the inlet 34a of the medal insertion port 34 in the thickness direction of the medal. The front wall surface 69a and the rear wall surface 72a have a substantially vertical shape, whereas the upper end of the front wall surface 69a side is inclined toward the medal receiving portion 70 side. This is because the medal on the medal receiving portion 70 can easily enter the entrance 34a of the medal insertion slot 34, and the medal in contact with the contact portion 71 can easily fall substantially vertically. On the contrary, the front wall surface 69a may be vertically formed and the rear wall surface 72a may be inclined, or both the front wall surface 69a and the rear wall surface 72a may be inclined.

A parallel portion 34c in which the front wall surface 69a and the rear wall surface 72a are substantially parallel, or a parallel portion 34c substantially parallel to the vertical line is provided in a part of the range c on the lower end side of the medal insertion slot 34, that is, on the exit 34b side. ing. This is to reduce the wear of the front wall surface 69a and the rear wall surface 72a due to the medal. A parallel portion 34c substantially parallel to the vertical line may be provided on one of the front wall surface 69a and the rear wall surface 72a.

The medal sorting means 43 is configured as shown in FIGS. 6, 9 to 13. That is, the medal sorting means 43 is a first opening / closing plate arranged on the rear side of the support plate 75 fixed to the front panel 2 side and pivotally attached to the support shaft 76 on the upper end side. 77, an inflow passage 78 and a sorting passage 79 provided between the support plate 75 and the first opening / closing plate 77, and a support shaft 76 arranged on the rear side of the support plate 75 and on the upper end side so as to be pivotally attached. The second opening / closing plate 90, the insertion sensor 80 that detects the medals inserted in the inflow passage 78, and the medals of the selection passage 79 that are freely arranged on the better side than the outlet 79a of the selection passage 79. Drives the medal stopper 81 to be stopped, the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 arranged in the passage direction above the medal stopper 81 on the exit 79a side of the sorting passage 79, the second opening / closing plate 90, and the medal stopper 81. A drive means 84 is provided, and whether or not the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 34 is appropriate is selected, the appropriate medal is passed through the medal guide chute 55, and the illegal medal or the returned medal is passed to the medal return passage 54. It is designed to discharge.

The support plate 75 and the opening / closing plates 77 and 90 are arranged so that the medals of the sorting passage 79 can be easily removed into the medal return passage 54 with the upper side inclined to the rear side, and the support plate 75 is arranged on the back side of the front panel 2. It is fixed to the support frame 86 and the like. The first opening / closing plate 77 is for holding / releasing the lower side of the medal on the sorting passage 79, and is pivotally supported by the support shaft 76 on the rear side of the support plate 75, and the lower part of the medal on the sorting passage 79. It is urged in the closing direction by a spring 87 so as to hold the side. The first opening / closing plate 77 is provided with a medal discharge port 77a for discharging fraudulent medals corresponding to the sorting passage 79, and the fraudulent medal is discharged from the medal discharge port 77a to the receiving port 54a side of the medal return passage 54. It is designed to be excluded.

The second opening / closing plate 90 is for holding / releasing the upper side of the medal on the sorting passage 79, and is pivotally supported by the support shaft 76 on the front side of the support plate 75, and the upper side of the medal on the sorting passage 79. It is urged in the opening direction by a spring so as to release the holding of the. The medal stopper 81 is rotatably provided around the support shaft 76 together with the second opening / closing plate 90.

The inflow passage 78 receives the medals that are inserted from the medal insertion port 34 and guides them downward, and is provided between the support plate 75 that sandwiches the medals in the thickness direction and the first opening / closing plate 77. It communicates with the lower end side of the medal insertion slot 34 of the insertion slot member 35. A sensing member 88 for detecting the passage of a medal is provided in the middle of the inflow passage 78, and the insertion sensor 80 detects the medal through the sensing member 88. The sensing member 88 is pivotally supported by the support plate 75 via the support shaft 89, and is urged by a spring 89a in a direction of projecting into the inflow passage 78.

The sorting passage 79 guides the medals flowing down from the inflow passage 78 to the outlet 79a side, and is substantially L-shaped from the lower end side of the inflow passage 78 between the support plate 75 and the first opening / closing plate 77. It is bent and provided in an inclined shape. A first sensor 82, a second sensor 83, and the like for determining whether or not the medal is appropriate are provided in the middle of the sorting passage 79.

The sorting passage 79 has a receiving rail portion 75a that receives the medal from the lower side, a lower holding rail portion 77b that holds the lower side of the medal on the receiving rail portion 75a between the support plate 75, and a medal on the receiving rail portion 75a. It is provided with an upper holding rail portion 90a for holding the upper side of the above side with the support plate 75.

The receiving rail portion 75a is provided on the rear side of the support plate 75, and the lower holding rail portion 77b is provided on the lower edge side of the medal discharge port 77a of the first opening / closing plate 77 so as to project upward from the receiving rail portion 75a. .. The first opening / closing plate 77 is normally in a closed state of holding the lower side of the medal, and when the return button 40 is operated, it rotates rearward around the support shaft 76 against the spring 87, and the receiving rail portion 75a The upper medal is dropped from between the support plate 75 and the lower holding rail portion 77b to the receiving port 54a side of the medal return passage 54.

A pressing member 93 pivotally supported by a support shaft 94 is interposed between the first opening / closing plate 77 and the return button 40, and when the return button 40 is operated, the first opening / closing plate 77 is interposed via the pressing member 93. It rotates around the support shaft 76 in the opening direction, and the illegal medals and the like stuck on the receiving rail portion 75a are dropped to the receiving port 54a side of the medal return passage 54. The first opening / closing plate 77 is provided with a guide plate 91 that guides the medals discharged from the sorting passage 79 to the receiving port 54a of the medal return passage 54.

The upper holding rail portion 90a is provided on the lower end side of the second opening / closing plate 90. The second opening / closing plate 90 and the medal stopper 81 are rotatable around the support shaft 76, and are urged by the spring 95 in the direction of retreating from the sorting passage 79. When the second opening / closing plate 90 is in the closed state, the distance between the upstream end of the holding rail portion 90a and the support plate 75 is the appropriate thickness of the medal, and an illegal medal thicker than the regular medal is obtained. When it is thrown in, it is regulated on the upstream end side of the upper holding rail portion 90a to prevent passage. In that case, a medal error is determined after a lapse of a predetermined time after the insertion sensor 80 detects an illegal medal, and the medal is ejected from the medal ejection port 77a to the medal return passage 54 as described later. ..

The drive means 84 includes a drive solenoid 96 fixed to the front side of the support plate 75, and when the drive solenoid 96 is excited, the interlocking plate 97 is sucked to push the second opening / closing plate 90 against the spring 95 to support the shaft 76. It is designed to rotate in the closing direction. Therefore, the drive means 84 holds the second opening / closing plate 90 in the closed state and the medal stopper 81 in the retracted state by the excitation of the drive solenoid 96 during operation.

When the drive solenoid 96 is degaussed, the second opening / closing plate 90 returns by the spring 87 to release the holding of the upper side of the medal in the sorting passage 79, so that the medal falls to the rear side and the medal return passage 54 from the medal discharge port 77a. Fall into. Further, since the medal stopper 81 projects into the sorting passage 79 in conjunction with the opening of the second opening / closing plate 90, the medal in the sorting passage 79 does not pass to the medal guide chute 55 side. The interlocking plate 97 is supported by the support plate 75 so as to swing in the front-rear direction with the lower end side as a fulcrum, and the upper end side can come into contact with the second opening / closing plate 90. The interlocking plate 97 is urged by a spring 98 in a direction away from the second opening / closing plate 90.

The first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 are of an optical type having a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit arranged with the sorting passage 79 interposed therebetween, and are incorporated in a U-shaped sensor unit 99. The sensor unit 99 is mounted on the support plate 75 at a predetermined interval in the passage direction so that the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 detect the upper side of the disk-shaped medal.

The first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 can detect medals passing through the sorting passage 79 separately and at the same time. Therefore, when a proper medal passes through the sorting passage 79, the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 detect the medal by both the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 from the detection of the medal only by the first sensor 82. , The detection state sequentially shifts to the detection of medals only by the second sensor 83.

Further, in the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83, when medals are continuously inserted into the medal insertion slot 34, the first sensor 82 follows after the second sensor 83 finishes detecting the first medal. The interval is set so as to detect medals, and the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 do not detect medals continuously inserted at the same time. Therefore, even when a plurality of medals are continuously inserted into the medal insertion slot 34, it is possible to reliably detect individual medals, and due to the continuous insertion, a proper medal is mistaken as an illegal medal, and the medal is misidentified. It is possible to prevent the medals from being ejected from the medal ejection port 77a to the medal return passage 54.

The medal guide chute 55 guides medals determined to be appropriate by the medal sorting means 43 to the medal hopper 4, and is composed of a gutter-shaped member that opens upward as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The medal sorting means 43 is arranged so as to be curved in an arc shape in a plan view from the exit 79a side onto the medal hopper 4.

The upstream end side of the medal guide chute 55 is fixed to the side surface of the medal sorting means 43 by screwing so as to communicate with the outlet 79a of the medal sorting means 43, and gradually from the outlet 79a side to the discharging portion 100 on the medal hopper 4. It is formed in an arc shape in a plan view while being inclined in the downward direction, and guides the medal from the exit 79a backward to the medal hopper 4.

The medal guide chute 55 has a gutter shape having a substantially J-shaped cross section with the upper side open, and has a curved outer wall 101 higher than the diameter of the medal and a curved inner side wall 102 lower than the curved outer wall 101 at the bottom 103. It is provided on both sides of.

As shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, when an illegal medal M with a thread-like object Ma is inserted into the medal guide chute 55 from the medal insertion slot 34, the illegal medal M is bent into the curved inner side wall 102. A drop portion 124 is provided to drop the medal from the middle of the medal to the inside, and when the fraudulent medal M falls from the drop portion 124 or the discharge portion 100 at the end, the fraudulent medal M does not return to the medal guide chute 55 again. A first hooking portion 104 and a second hooking portion 106 for hooking the filamentous material Ma are provided on the.

The curved inner side wall 102 is provided with a good wall portion 102a provided on the upper side and a lower wall portion 102b provided on the lower side in a stepped shape, and the first hook portion 104 and the illegal medal M fall on the stepped portion. A guide portion 125 is provided to guide the filamentous material Ma to the first hook portion 104 when falling from the portion 124.

The lower wall portion 102b has a height of less than 1/3 of the diameter of the medal, and the upper side of the lower wall portion 102b is the drop portion 124 of the illegal medal M. When the fraudulent medal M falls inward toward the curved inner side wall 102 due to the operation of the thread-like object Ma or the like, the falling portion 124 is adapted so that the fraudulent medal M gets over and falls downward.

That is, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 17C, the fraudulent medal M is usually guided by the medal guide chute 55 in a state of being tilted toward the curved outer wall 101. However, if the thread-like object Ma is pulled toward the exit 79a side or the thread-like object Ma becomes tense between the outlet 79a and the fraudulent medal M, an external force is applied to the fraudulent medal M via the thread-like object Ma. Join. Then, the fraudulent medal M stands up on the lower wall portion 102b side as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 17C due to its external force, and its center of gravity exceeds the contact point with the lower wall portion 102b. , It falls downward from the medal guide chute 55 via the falling portion 124 on the lower wall portion 102b.

The first hook portion 104 is formed by cutting in a slit shape so that the thread-like object Ma does not come off, and when the illegal medal M falls from the falling portion 124 of the medal guide chute 55, the guide portion 125 moves downward. The thread-like object Ma to be guided is hooked so that the illegal medal M does not return to the medal guide chute 55.

Since the outlet 79a of the medal sorting means 43 is inclined in the same manner as the support plate 75, when the filamentous material Ma changes from the loose state to the tension state with the illegal medal M on the medal guide chute 55, the outlet 79a is tilted. The filament Ma moves to the upper end side of the outlet 79a. Therefore, the guide portion 125 needs to have a height that can guide the thread-like object Ma even when the thread-like object Ma moves to the upper end side of the outlet 79a. Although the guide portion 125 is formed on the lower side of the upper wall portion 102a, the height of the guide portion 125 may be higher than that of the upper wall portion 102a.

On the discharge portion 100 side of the medal guide chute 55, a pass sensor 105 for detecting the passage of the medal and a second hook portion 106 for hooking the filament Ma of the illegal medal M that has passed through the medal guide chute 55 are provided. .. The passage sensor 105 is an optical type provided with a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit so as to detect the upper side of the disk-shaped medal, and is incorporated in the sensor holder 107. In the sensor holder 107, a fixture 109 such as a screw is attached to the attachment portion 108 of the curved outer wall 101 on the emission portion 100 side of the medal guide chute 55 so that the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are located on both sides of the medal guide chute 55. It is detachably fixed.

The second hooking portion 106 is for hooking the thread-like object Ma when the illegal medal M with the thread-like object Ma passes through the medal guide chute 55 to prevent the illegal medal M from returning to the medal guide chute 55. There is an inlet portion 106a that is arranged at the base of the curved inner side wall 102 of the medal guide chute 55 and is recessed from the end of the medal guide chute 55 to the upper side, and the curved inner side wall 102 from the inner end side of the entrance portion 106a. It is formed in a slit shape including a retaining portion 106b that bends in a V or U shape to the base portion of the above.

The control system of the slot machine is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the main control board 8 is for controlling the overall game operation of the slot machine, and is provided with a microcomputer including a CPU, ROM, and RAM. The symbol display means 3 is provided with a reel LED relay board 110 and a reel relay board 111, and an external centralized terminal plate 112 is arranged in the vicinity of the symbol display means 3.

The main control board 8 is connected to a power supply board 20, an effect interface board 60, a game relay board 63, an external centralized terminal board 52, a probability setting board 9, a payout connection board 17, and a reel relay board 111.

The power supply board 20 rectifies AC24V to a DC voltage and smoothes it, and then generates the main control power supply voltage V1 required for the main control board 8 and the effect control power supply voltage V2 required for the effect interface board 60. Generate power supply voltage. The power supply board 20 is provided with a power supply monitoring circuit (not shown) for detecting a power cutoff state, a backup power supply circuit (not shown) for supplying a backup power supply voltage to the main control board 8.

The effect control board 59 controls the effect operation of the slot machine, receives control commands sent from the main control board 8 via the effect interface board 60, and responds to the control commands to produce sound by each speaker 56. The effect control process such as lamp effect by LED lamp or the like and design effect by the liquid crystal display means 25 is performed.

Further, the effect control board 59 receives a control command (game start command) for specifying the internal lottery result from the main control board 8, and executes an AT lottery as to whether or not the assist time winning state is set in accordance with the internal lottery result. To do.

During the game (during AT) a predetermined number of times after winning the AT lottery on the effect control board 59, the game symbols of the rotating reels 10a to 10c can be aligned on the stop line in the small winning combination winning state. The player is notified of the stop order of each of the rotary reels 10a to 10c. Further, when the effect control board 59 receives a control command indicating the reel effect execution from the main control board 8, the effect control board 59 starts the effect operation corresponding to the reel effect executed by the main control board 8. The effect control board 59 performs necessary communication with the control target of each unit through the effect interface board 60 in order to execute each effect operation.

The effect control board 59 is connected to the liquid crystal control board 61 via the effect interface board 60 and the liquid crystal interface board 62. The liquid crystal control board 61 controls the effect of image display by the liquid crystal display means 25. The liquid crystal control board 61 is equipped with a VDP, an image ROM, a VRAM, a liquid crystal control CPU, a liquid crystal control ROM, a liquid crystal control RAM, and the like.

The VDP controls overall video output processing such as image development processing and image drawing. The image ROM stores image data (effect image data) for the VDP to perform image development processing. The VRAM is an image memory area that temporarily stores the image data developed by the VDP. The liquid crystal control CPU outputs control data necessary for the VDP to perform display control. The liquid crystal control ROM stores a program that describes the display control operation procedure of the liquid crystal control CPU and various data necessary for the display control. The liquid crystal control RAM functions as a work area or a buffer memory.

Such a liquid crystal control board 61 receives a display effect command from the effect control board 59, generates a predetermined display drive signal, and sends the display drive signal to the liquid crystal display means 25 via the liquid crystal interface board 62 to obtain an image. The display is executed.

The effect control board 59 controls the speaker relay board 113 via the effect interface board 60 to execute sound effect using the speaker 56. Further, the effect control board 59 controls the LED board 114 via the effect interface board 60, and further controls the reel LED boards 30a to 30c from the effect interface board 60 via the reel LED relay board 110. On the LED substrate 114, for example, the LEDs constituting the LED effect units 53a to 53c of FIG. 1 are arranged.

The main control board 8 is connected to each board 115 to 119 via the game relay board 63. The game display board 115 is provided with an input number display LED 46, a re-game display LED 47, a rotation preparation display LED 48, an acceptable display LED 49, a payout number display unit 50, a storage number display unit 51, and the like.

The start switch board 116 is provided with a start switch (not shown) for detecting the operation of the start lever 38. The stop switch board 117 is provided with a stop switch (not shown) for detecting the operation of the stop buttons 39a to 39c, a stop button LED (not shown) for causing each of the stop buttons 39a to 39c to emit light.

The storage medal switch substrate 118 is provided with a closing switch (not shown) for detecting the operation of the max bet button 37 and a max bet LED (not shown) for causing the max bet button 37 to emit light. The settlement switch board 119 is provided with a settlement switch (not shown) for detecting the operation of the credit settlement button 41. The main control board 8 receives the detection signal from each board via the game relay board 63.

The input sensor 80 such as the medal sorting means 43, the first sensor 82, the second sensor 83, and the passing sensor 105 are connected to the main control board 8 via the game relay board 63, and the sensors 80, 82, 83, 105 are connected to the main control board 8. Receives the detection signal of. The main control board 8 accepts the medal as an insertion medal only when the insertion time and the passing direction of the medal meet a predetermined standard by the detection signals from the sensors 80, 82, 83, 105, and in other cases, the medal is inserted. Treat as a inserted medal error.

The drive solenoid 96 of the drive means 84 that prevents the passage of the illegal medal M is connected to the main control board 8 via the game relay board 63, and controls the excitation / demagnetization of the drive solenoid 96. Further, the main control board 8 passes through the reel relay board 111, the stepping motors 120a to 120c for driving the rotation of the rotary reels 10a to 10c, and the index sensors 121a to the index sensors 121a to detect the origin position of the rotary reels 10a to 10c. 121c is connected.

The main control board 8 executes a rotation operation of the rotary reels 10a to 10c and a stop operation at a target position by driving and stopping the stepping motors 120a to 120c, and also detects a detection signal from the index sensors 121a to 121c. The stop operation at the origin position of each rotary reel 10a to 10c is executed.

The main control board 8 is connected to the payout motor 16 via the payout connection board 17 and the payout board 18, and is also connected to the payout sensor 19 via the payout connection board 17. The payout board 18 is for controlling the payout of the medal payout means 5, and controls the rotation and stop of the payout motor 16 so as to pay out a predetermined number of medals based on the control command from the main control board 8.

The payout sensor 19 detects medals paid out by the medal payout means 5, and if there is a payout abnormality such as an insufficient number of medals to be paid out or a malfunction of the payout operation, the detection signal from the payout sensor 19 is used. Based on this, the main control board 8 determines the payout abnormality.

Further, the main control board 8 is connected to the probability setting board 9 and the external centralized terminal board 112. The external centralized terminal board 112 is connected to the hall computer, and outputs the number of medals inserted and the number of medals sent from the main control board 8 to the hall computer. The probability setting board 9 is provided with a setting key switch 122 that is turned on / off by a setting key and a reset switch 123 that is turned on / off by a reset button.

The probability setting board 9 outputs a set value vd set by a staff member using a setting key or a reset button. The set value vd is a value indicating the winning probability of the lottery process executed by the slot machine, in other words, the stage of the probability of whether or not to win the gaming state advantageous to the player, and is based on the sales strategy of the game hall. Can be set as appropriate.

For example, when there are 6 stages of winning probability, the setting value vd can be set as a value representing any stage from the 6 stages from setting "1" to setting "6" by operating the setting key or the like. is there. In this case, "0" to "5" are assigned as the value of the set value vd itself. In addition, the winning probability increases in the order of setting "1" to setting "6".

The staff in the hall can change the set value vd by a predetermined operation. To change the set value vd, first open the front panel 2, turn the setting key to the right, and turn on the power while keeping the setting key switch 122 on. Then, the current setting value (any of "1" to "6") is displayed on the display of the probability setting board 9, and the display is displayed every time the reset button is pressed and the reset switch 123 is turned on in that state. +1 is added to the value. The displayed value returns to "1" after "6".

After selecting the set value by the reset button, the set value vd is fixed to the set value by operating the start lever 38. After that, by turning the setting key counterclockwise to turn off the setting key switch 122, the change of the set value vd is completed.

When inserting medals from the medal insertion slot 34, for example, a plurality of medals are placed on the medal receiving portion 70 in the front-rear direction with a plurality of medals stacked in the thickness direction, and then the plurality of medals are placed on the medal receiving portion 70. Gently push backward along the slope of. Then, each time the medal on the rear end side corresponds to the entrance 34a side of the medal insertion slot 34 among the plurality of medals, each medal falls downward due to its own weight, and the front wall surface 69a and the rear wall surface 72a of the medal insertion slot 34 Flow down along. As a result, the medals on the medal receiving portion 70 can be sequentially inserted into the medal insertion slot 34.

When inserting medals from the medal insertion slot 34, the medal insertion slot 34 has a wide entrance 34a side, so that each medal can be easily inserted into the medal insertion slot 34. Moreover, since the entrance 34a is larger than the appropriate thickness of one medal and smaller than the thickness of two medals, the medals can be reliably inserted one by one.

Further, the outlet 34b side of the medal insertion slot 34 is narrower than the inlet 34a so that the size is larger than the thickness of one appropriate medal and close to the thickness of one medal, so that the medal is thicker than the appropriate medal. It is possible to prevent the illegal medal M or the illegal member from being thrown in as much as possible. Therefore, in the case of an illegal medal M or an illegal member thicker than the exit 34b, even if it passes through the entrance 34a, it is clogged in the middle of the medal insertion slot 34, so that it is possible to prevent the subsequent illegal game from continuing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17, even if there is a fraudulent act such as connecting a thread Ma to an fraudulent medal M having a size close to that of an appropriate medal and inserting the fraudulent medal M from the medal slot 34, the fraudulent act is performed. It is possible to prevent the illegal medal M from passing to the medal sorting means 43 side as much as possible due to the bulkiness of the attachment portion of the filamentous material Ma to the medal M.

While the power of the slot machine is turned on, the drive solenoid 96 of the medal sorting means 43 excites and sucks the interlocking plate 97, so that the second opening / closing plate 90 closes against the spring 95 as shown by the solid line in FIG. The holding rail portion 90a is in a state of being able to hold the medal of the sorting passage 79.

Therefore, when a medal is inserted from the medal insertion slot 34, the medal enters the inflow passage 78 of the medal sorting means 43 as shown in FIG. 16A, is detected by the insertion sensor 80 via the sensing member 88, and then is detected. While being held by the receiving rail portion 75a, the lower holding rail portion 77b, and the upper holding rail portion 90a of the sorting passage 79, the medal guide chute 55 is guided along the inclination of the receiving rail portion 75a.

In the case of an illegal medal with a small diameter in which the upper part of the medal does not reach the upper holding rail portion 90a, since the upper holding rail portion 90a does not hold the upper side, the medal falls backward from the medal discharge port 77a of the first opening / closing plate 77. It falls down. This makes it possible to eliminate fraudulent medals with a small diameter. The medals that have fallen from the medal discharge port 77a are returned to the medal tray 28 via the medal return passage 54.

Illegal medals that are thicker than regular medals are regulated on the upstream end side of the upper holding rail portion 90a to prevent passage. Then, when a predetermined determination time elapses from the detection of the medal by the insertion sensor 80, the drive solenoid 96 is degaussed by the determination of the medal error, and the second opening / closing plate 90 is opened in the opening direction as shown in FIG. 16B. It rotates and the medal stopper 81 protrudes. As a result, the illegal medal falls from the medal discharge port 77a of the first opening / closing plate 77 into the medal return passage 54, and the illegal medal can be prevented from passing through the medal guide chute 55.

Further, the medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 34 count the output of the insertion sensor 80 and can be credited up to a predetermined maximum number, but when the maximum number is exceeded, the drive solenoid 96 is demagnetized. By opening the second opening / closing plate 90, the medal sorting means 43 returns the medal to the medal return passage 54.

The medals that have passed through the medal sorting means 43 are guided to the medal hopper 4 via the medal guide shoot 55, and are stored in the medal hopper 4. At this time, the medal is guided while rolling on the bottom 103 in a state of falling on the curved outer wall 101 of the medal guide chute 55. Therefore, the upper wall portion 102a of the curved inner side wall 102 is lower than the radius of the medal, and the lower wall portion 102b is further lower than the upper wall portion 102a, but the medal is irrespective of the height of the curved inner side wall 102. I can guide you. The medals that have passed the medal guide chute 55 are detected and counted by the passing sensor 105.

The fraudulent activity is the input sensor 80, the first sensor 82, the second sensor 83, the passing sensor 105, etc., and the length of the medal movement time between the sensors 80, 82, 83, 105, and each sensor 80, 82, 83. , 105 medals are monitored by the difference in the detection order, the detection timing of the passing sensor 105, and the like. If there is any fraudulent activity, an alarm may be given by appropriate means and the game may be interrupted.

However, the fraudulent medal M with the filament Ma is inserted from the medal insertion slot 34, and the sensors 80, 82, 83, 105 are at appropriate timings while pulling or loosening the filament Ma at appropriate timings. There is a concern about fraudulent acts of fraudulently adding credits by operating so as to sequentially detect fraudulent medals M.

In response to such fraudulent activity, the fraudulent medal M is dropped or passed from the medal guide chute 55, and the filamentous material Ma is hooked on the hooking portions 104 and 106, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B. As such, it is possible to prevent the subsequent continuation of fraudulent activity.

For example, if the thread-like object Ma is pulled after the fraudulent medal M reaches the lower wall portion 102b of the curved inner side wall 102 of the medal guide chute 55, the exit 79a and the fraudulent medal M are connected as shown in FIG. 17 (A). The filamentous material Ma becomes tense between them. Therefore, an external force is applied to the fraudulent medal M in the direction of falling toward the lower wall portion 102b of the curved inner side wall 102, and the fraudulent medal M falls over the falling portion 124 on the lower wall portion 102b from the medal guide chute 55.

Then, as shown in FIG. 17B, if the fraudulent medal M falls from the falling portion 124 of the curved inner side wall 102, the filamentous material Ma is caught by the first hooking portion 104, so that even if the filamentous material Ma is pulled. The fraudulent medal M does not return to the medal guide shoot 55.

Further, when the thread-like object Ma is pulled after the fraudulent medal M has passed the end of the medal guide chute 55, the thread-like object Ma is also caught on the second hook portion 106, so that the fraudulent medal M returns to the medal guide chute 55. There is no such thing.

Therefore, after the fraudulent medal M has fallen from the medal guide chute 55, by hooking the filament Ma with the hooking portions 104 and 106, the fraudulent medal M does not return to the medal guide chute 55, and further fraudulent It is possible to prevent the continuation of the act.

The medal insertion process is performed according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. This medal insertion process is a process of updating the credit value according to the number of inserted medals from the medal insertion slot 34 and the operation of the max bet button 37, and is performed by the main control board 8.

In FIG. 18, the main control board 8 first executes a transition and retention check process (step S1101). The transition and retention check processing is a process for detecting fraud related to medal insertion, and the passing mode of medals to the insertion sensor 80, the first sensor 82, the second sensor 83, and the passing sensor 105 of the medal sorting means 43 is predetermined. It is a process of determining whether or not it corresponds to the abnormal passing mode, and setting the input error monitoring flag if there is an abnormality.

The medal error detection is performed according to the timing chart of FIG. FIG. 20A shows the transition of the detection signals of the insertion sensor 80, the first sensor 82, the second sensor 83, and the passing sensor 105 when one medal is normally inserted from the medal insertion port 34. ..

When the medals are normally inserted, the insertion sensor 80, the first sensor 82, the second sensor 83, and the passing sensor 105 detect the medals in that order and turn them on one after another. At this time, the arrangement interval of the closing sensor 80, the first sensor 82, the second sensor 83, and the passing sensor 105 is set so that the first sensor 82 is turned on after the closing sensor 80 is turned from on to off. The arrangement interval between the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 is set so that the second sensor 83 is turned on while the first sensor 82 is on and the first sensor 82 is turned off while the second sensor 83 is on. Has been done. Further, the arrangement interval between the second sensor 83 and the passing sensor 105 is set so that the passing sensor 105 is turned on after the off timing of the second sensor 83.

Here, as shown in FIG. 20A, the on-time point is the time point t1, the off time point is the time point t2, the on time point of the first sensor 82 is the time point t3, and the on time point of the second sensor 83 is the time point t4. The off time point of the 1 sensor 82 is the time point t5, the off time point of the second sensor 83 is the time point t6, the on time point of the passing sensor 105 is the time point t7, and the off time point is the time point t8.

The error detection of the inserted medal is performed from the viewpoint of whether or not the order in which the medals pass through the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 is appropriate, and the interval between the edges of the detection signals of each sensor is within a predetermined time. It is done based on the viewpoint of whether or not there is.

FIG. 20B shows the order of changes in the on / off states of the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 when the medals are normally inserted. When a normal medal is inserted, the order of "1st sensor 82 = off, 2nd sensor 83 = off" is changed from "0" to "1st sensor 82 = on, 2nd sensor 83 = off". Order "1" state, "1st sensor 82 = on, 2nd sensor 83 = on" order "2" state, "1st sensor 82 = off, 2nd sensor 83 = on" order "3" The on / off state of the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 transitions through the above state. Therefore, if the order of change of the on / off state of the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 does not match the order of “0” → “1” → “2” → “3”, the input is turned on. Treat as a medal error.

However, when the inserted medals are discharged to the medal return passage 54 side as shown in FIG. 16B, the inserted medals are detected by the first sensor 82 and then the medal return passage 54 side. Fall into. Therefore, in this case, the order in which the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 change to the on / off state does not match, and the error is detected as an insertion medal error.

That is, in this case, the order of change of the on / off state of the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 is changed from "both the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 are off" to "first" as shown in FIG. Since the sensor 82 = on, the second sensor 83 = off, and the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 are both off, the input medal error occurs.

Therefore, when the on / off state of the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 changes in the order of "0"-> "1"-> "0", it is exceptionally not detected as a inserted medal error. ..

Further, in order to detect the insertion medal error based on the time between the edges of the detection signals of the insertion sensor 80, the first sensor 82, the second sensor 83, and the passing sensor 105, as shown in FIG. A monitoring timer, a second monitoring timer, a third monitoring timer, a fourth monitoring timer, a medal passing first counter, a medal passing second counter, and a passing sensor on timer are used.

The detection of the inserted medal error using each of these timers and counters is as follows in light of each time point t shown in FIG. 20 (A). Each timer is subtracted (-1) for each timer interrupt.

[Time point t1]
-Set a predetermined value (for example, the number of timer interrupts equivalent to 402 ms) in the first monitoring timer.
When the first monitoring timer becomes 0, an insertion medal error occurs (an error occurs because the continuous on time of the insertion sensor 80 is excessive).

[Time point t2]
・ Clear the first medal pass counter to 0. ..
-Set a predetermined value (for example, the number of timer interrupts equivalent to 250 ms) in the second monitoring timer.
When the second monitoring timer becomes 0, an insertion medal error is made (an error occurs because the time from the passage of the insertion sensor 80 to the on of the first sensor 82 is excessive).

[Time points t3 to t5]
-Set a predetermined value (for example, the number of timer interrupts equivalent to 101 ms) in the third monitoring timer.
When the third monitoring timer becomes 0, an insertion medal error occurs (an error occurs because the continuous on-time of the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83 is excessive).

[Time points t4 to t6]
-If the input order of the detection signals of the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 does not change properly, an error (medal retrograde) occurs.
-For both or one of the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83, if the time from the previous sensor transition to the current sensor transition is less than 2.98 ms (2 interrupts), an error (previous sensor and current sensor) The detection interval is too short).

[Time point t6]
-Set a predetermined value (for example, the number of timer interrupts equivalent to 150 ms) in the 4th monitoring timer.
When the 4th monitoring timer becomes 0, an insertion medal error occurs (an error occurs because the time from the passage of the second sensor 83 to the passage of the passage sensor 105 is excessive).
-Add +1 to the first medal passing counter and the second medal passing counter.
When the medal passing first counter becomes "5", an insertion medal error is made (the difference between the number of passing medals of the insertion sensor 80, the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 and the number of passing medals of the passing sensor 105 is 5). Error when the number of medals is reached). These five medals are due to the fact that the maximum number of medals that can be arranged in series between the second sensor 83 and the passing sensor 105 on the medal guide chute 55 when the medals are continuously inserted is four.
Error detection based on the number of passed medals assumes the case where medals are continuously inserted. The insertion sensor 80 and the passing sensor 105 continuously turn on the detection signal when medals are continuously inserted, whereas the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 individually insert medals even if medals are continuously inserted. It is configured to be detected by.

[Time point t7]
-While the pass sensor 105 is on, the pass sensor on timer is incremented by 1.
When the pass sensor on timer reaches a predetermined value (for example, the number of timer interrupts equivalent to 101 ms), a throw-in medal error occurs (an error occurs because the continuous on time of the pass sensor 105 is excessive).

[Time point t8]
・ If the second counter for passing medals is not 0, clear it to 0.
-If the second counter for passing medals is 0 and the monitoring timer 4 is 0, a medal insertion error is considered (an abnormality in which only the passing sensor 105 is turned on without the medal passing through the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83). ).

The transition and retention check process (S1101) will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 20, the CPU of the main control board 8 first executes a process of saving the values of all the registers to the register save area in the RAM in step S1201, and executes a process of clearing the input error monitoring flag in step S1202. This transition and retention check processing is a process for taking measures against fraudulent activities, and the program and data for realizing this transition and retention check processing are stored in the second memory area.

The memory accessible to the CPU of the main control board 8 includes a first memory area and a second memory area. The first memory area is for arranging a predetermined program and data used by the CPU in controlling a game operation (game). The second memory area is for arranging programs and data that are permitted to be arranged outside the first memory area. For example, it detects illegal acts such as illegal insertion of medals and payment of medals. The program and data for detecting the setting value vd, the abnormality of the random number, and the like are arranged.

In the first memory area and the second memory area, a control area for storing a program, a data area for storing data used by the program, and various flags and timer values generated in the process of processing by the program are stored. The R / W area to be rewritably stored is set.

Next, in step S1202, the input error monitoring flag is cleared. Since this input error monitoring flag is a flag (data) to be updated by the transition and retention check processing, it is stored in the second memory area. The first monitoring timer, the second monitoring timer, the third monitoring timer, the fourth monitoring timer, the medal passing first counter, the medal passing second counter, and the passing sensor on timer are also data to be updated by the transition and retention check processing. Therefore, it is stored in the second memory area.

When the closing error monitoring flag is cleared, the CPU executes the time monitoring process of each sensor in step S1203, and determines whether or not an error occurs based on the result of the monitoring process in step S1204.

That is, in step S1203, it is determined whether or not each of the values of the first monitoring timer, the second monitoring timer, the third monitoring timer, the fourth monitoring timer, and the passing sensor on timer has reached a predetermined value. Then, in step S1204, it is determined whether or not an error occurs based on the result of the monitoring process. If an error is determined, the CPU sets the input error monitoring flag in step S1205 and proceeds to the process in step S1206. If it is determined that there is no error, the CPU passes step S1205 and proceeds to step S1206.

In steps S1206 to S1209, processing for detecting a inserted medal error is performed based on the order of on / off state changes of the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83. In step S1206, the CPU determines whether or not the detection signals input from the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 have changed. That is, it is determined whether or not on-edge or off-edge is detected in the detection signal of any of the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83. If there is no change in the detection signals of the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83, the CPU proceeds to step S1210.

On the other hand, if there is a change in the detection signals of the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83, the CPU determines in step S1207 whether or not the order of the changes is normal. Specifically, whether or not the order of the on / off state changes of the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 so far matches the order of “0” → “1” → “2” → “3”. To judge. If the order of change is normal, the CPU passes the flag setting process of step S1209 and proceeds to step S1210.

On the other hand, if the order of change is not normal, the CPU determines in step S1208 whether or not the order of change corresponds to the exception of "1" → "0" ("0" → "1" → "0"). To do. If the order of change corresponds to "1" → "0", the CPU passes the flag setting process of step S1209 and proceeds to step S1210. As a result, the ejection of medals is not mistakenly detected as an inserted medal error, and the appropriateness of the inserted medal error detection can be ensured. If the order of change corresponds to "1" → "0", the CPU sets the input error monitoring flag in step S1209, and proceeds to step S1210.

As shown in FIG. 16B, when the fraudulent medal M is in contact with the medal stopper 81 to prevent the flow down, neither the first sensor 82 nor the second sensor 83 detects the medal. You may. In that case, the process proceeds to step S1209 without determining whether or not the exception order is applicable, and the input error monitoring flag is set. If the time from the previous sensor transition to the current sensor transition is less than 2.98 ms (2 interrupts) for both or one of the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83, the previous sensor detection and the current sensor detection are performed. It may be controlled to set the input error monitoring flag because the interval is too short.

A timer interrupt is applied to the CPU at a time interval of 1.49 ms (milliseconds). A medal insertion process (FIG. 18) of one routine during the timer interrupt process executed by the timer interrupt is included. The reason why it is less than 2.98 ms (2 interrupts) is that the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83 is affected by noise even though the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83 does not detect the medal. The reason why the inconvenience of erroneously detecting the signal of the above was set to 1.49 ms (1 interrupt) was that the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83 detected the medal despite the erroneous detection due to the noise. This is to avoid the inconvenience of erroneously determining.

In steps S121 to S1218, the CPU performs a process for detecting a medal error based on the values of the medal passing first counter and the medal passing second counter. First, in step S1210, it is determined whether or not the detection signal of the input sensor 80 is off-edge, and if it is off-edge, the value of the medal passing first counter is cleared to 0 in step S1211, the process proceeds to step S1212, and the off-edge If not, the process passes step S1211 and proceeds to step S1212.

In step S1212, it is determined whether or not the medal has normally passed through the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83. Specifically, whether or not the medal has normally passed through the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 in terms of both the time element monitored in step S1203 and the order element monitored in step S1207. Is determined. Since the timing at which the medal passes through the second sensor 83 is when the detection signal of the second sensor 83 turns off, it is the second sensor that is determined to be "normally passed" in step S1212. It is only in the timer interrupt processing executed at the timing when the detection signal of 83 is turned off (off-edge is detected).

If it is determined in step S1212 that the medal has normally passed through the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83, the values of the medal passing first counter and the medal passing second counter are incremented (+1) in step S1213. Then, the process proceeds to step S1214. If it is determined that the medal has not normally passed through the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83, the process passes step S1213 and proceeds to step S1214.

In step S1214, it is determined whether or not the value of the medal passing first counter is 5 or more, and if it is not 5 or more (if it is 4 or less), the value of the medal passing second counter is 5 or more in step S1215. Judge whether or not.

In steps S1214 and S1215, if the value of the medal passage first counter and the value of the medal passage second counter are 5 or more, the CPU sets the insertion error monitoring flag in step S1216 and proceeds to step S1217. If the value of the medal passing second counter is not 5 or more, the process passes through step S1216 and proceeds to step S1217.

In step S1217, it is determined whether or not the detection signal of the passing sensor 105 is off-edge. Then, if the detection signal of the passing sensor 105 is off-edge, it is determined in step S1220 whether or not the medal passing second counter is 0, and if it is not 0, the value of the medal passing second counter is set to 0 in step S1218. In step S1219, the return processing of all the registers is executed, and then the transition and retention check processing is completed. If the detection signal of the pass sensor 105 is not off-edge, the process passes step S1218, the return processing of all registers is executed in step S1219, and the transition and retention check processing is completed.

If the medal passing second counter is determined to be 0 in step S1220, the CPU determines in S1221 whether or not the fourth monitoring timer is 0, and if it is not 0, the process proceeds to S1219, but if it is 0, the process proceeds to S1219. Sets the input error monitoring flag in S1222, and then proceeds to S1219. As a result, it is possible to detect an abnormality in which the medal passes only the passing sensor 105 without passing through the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 and is turned on.

In the medal insertion process (step S813) of FIGS. 18 and 19, when the transition and retention check process of step S1101 is completed, the CPU checks the state (on / off state) of the insertion error monitoring flag in step S1102. If the input error monitoring flag is on, the input error flag is set (turned on) in step S1123. Then, in the case of a medal insertion error, a process of turning off the drive solenoid 96 of the drive means 84 and the acceptable display LED 49 is executed in step S1124, respectively, and the medal insertion process is completed.

In the medal insertion process, a new insertion error flag is set based on the insertion error monitoring flag set in the transition and retention check processing (program in the second memory area). The processing other than the "transition and retention check processing" in this medal insertion processing does not correspond to a program for taking measures against fraudulent activities. Therefore, the program for realizing these processes is stored in the first memory area.

The program in the first memory area can refer to and update the data in the R / W area in the first memory area, but can only refer to the data stored in the R / W area in the second memory area. Is possible and updates are not permitted. That is, in the medal insertion process (excluding the transition and retention check process), it is possible to refer only to the insertion error monitoring flag stored in the R / W area of the second memory area, but it is not permitted to update it. ..

Therefore, based on the result of referring to the input error monitoring flag stored in the R / W area of the second memory area in step S1102, the input error flag is set in the R / W area of the first memory area in step S1123. I am doing it. That is, the program in the first memory area sets the flag as a flag that can be updated by itself.

The input error flag is referred to in determining whether or not an error is occurring by the program in the first memory area, such as determining whether or not to perform error display control and error canceling determination processing. As can be seen from this, the error flag related to fraud detection needs to be able to update the program in the first memory area, and the processing in steps S1102 and S1123 is updated by the program in the first memory area. It is realized because it is possible.

After the error flag for the area (input error flag) is set by the program in the area (step S1123), the error flag for the area is also configured to be cleared according to the detection of the error release in the error release process by the program in the area. ing. However, there is no process for clearing the error monitoring flag for outside the area (input error monitoring flag) according to the detection of error cancellation. Therefore, in the transition and retention check processing (FIG. 20) by the program outside the region, the error monitoring flag is cleared every time the processing is started (step S1202). As a result, the appropriateness of error detection can be ensured.

In addition, although the error flag related to the insertion error is illustrated as an example of the error flag related to fraud countermeasures, other error flags such as main board error, RWM error, insertion medal error, medal payout no medal error, medal payout sensor error, Similarly, regarding the error flags related to the unjust winning error, overflow error, and door opening error, the program in the second memory area sets the error monitoring flag in the R / W area of the second memory area according to the error detection. It is also possible to set the corresponding error flag in the R / W area of the first memory area based on the result that the program of the first memory area refers to the error monitoring flag.

When the insertion error monitoring flag is turned off in step S1102 of FIG. 18, the number of inserted medals (number of bets) and the value of credits are updated according to the normal insertion of medals by the processing after step S1103, and the max bet button 37. The number of inserts (number of bets) and the value of credits are updated according to the operation of. At this time, the bet counter and the bet timer are used in the input processing (max bet processing) corresponding to the operation of the max bet button 37.

In this max bet process, a predetermined value (in this example, the number of timer interrupts corresponding to 50 ms) is set in the bet timer by turning on the max bet button 37. Then, when the value of the bet timer is consumed and becomes "0", the input process (+1) for setting the bet number is executed. The bet counter is for defining the number of times to execute the input process when the bet timer = 0. That is, when the max bet button 37 is turned on, the value of the bet counter is set within the permissible range of the credit value. For example, if the credit value is "3" or more, "3" is set, and if the credit value is "2" or less, the same value as the credit value is set.

The max bet button 37 can be turned on even when the number of bets is "1" or more, but in that case, the bet processing should not be performed beyond the permissible range of the credit value (upper limit of the number of bets = "3"). Because it is). Therefore, in the medal insertion process, the number of inserted sheets by the max bet process does not exceed the upper limit of the number of bets.

In FIG. 18, the CPU determines in step S1103 whether or not the medal is being inserted, that is, whether or not the medal is passing through either the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83. Then, if the medal is being inserted, the process proceeds to step S1111.

If the medal is not being inserted, the CPU determines in step S1104 whether or not the value of the bet counter is "0". The value of this bet counter is set in step S1129 by detecting the on-edge of the max bet button 37 in step S1128 described later. Therefore, if it is determined in step S1104 that the value of the bet counter is not "0", it means that the max bet processing is in progress, and if it is determined that the value of the bet counter is "0", it means that the max bet processing is not in progress. To do.

If it is determined in step S1104 that the value of the bet counter is "0", the max bet process is not in progress, so the CPU proceeds to step S1111. On the other hand, when it is determined that the value of the bet counter is not "0", the max bet process is in progress. Therefore, the bet timer value is decremented (-1) in step S1105, and the bet timer value is set to "1106" in step S1106. It is determined whether or not it is "0". This corresponds to determining whether or not the input process (+1) should be executed according to the bet timer = "0".

If the value of the bet timer is "0", the CPU advances the process to step S1107, executes the process related to the input process, and decrements the value of the bet counter (that is, consumes one input count).

Then, in the subsequent step S1108, the CPU determines whether or not the number of input sheets is "3". This corresponds to determining whether or not the closing process by the max bet button 37 is unnecessary. That is, if there is a medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 34, the number of inserted medals by the max bet button 37 may reach "3" when the number of insertion processes is less than "3". Determine if processing is unnecessary. Because of this determination process, it is possible to set a value based only on the credit value (a value that does not consider the number of inserted sheets) as the value of the bet counter.

If the number of inserted sheets is "3", the CPU proceeds to the process in step S1111 and does not execute the input process by max bet in step S1110. If the number of inserted sheets is not "3", the CPU sets the bet timer in step S1109, and in the following step S1110, decrements the credit value (-1), increments the number of inserted sheets, and sets the input sound command, and then steps S1111. Proceed to processing. The input sound command is a command for instructing the effect control board 59 side to output a sound effect to be output when a medal is inserted.

The processing of steps S1111 to S1118 of the CPU is a processing for controlling the on / off of the drive solenoid 96 and the acceptable display LED 49 based on the results of performing various condition determinations. In step S1111, it is determined whether or not an error has occurred (whether or not at least one of various errors has occurred), and if an error has occurred, a process for turning off the drive solenoid 96 and the acceptable display LED 49 in step S1118. (Process for updating the corresponding value in the work of RAM 82c) is executed.

That is, during an error, the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 34 is ejected from the medal ejection port 77a by turning off the drive solenoid 96, and the player is not allowed to insert medals by turning off the acceptable display LED 49. It is notified that the state is (the state where the medal insertion is not permitted).

On the other hand, if no error is occurring, the CPU confirms the enable flag Fai (confirms on / off) in step S1112. The insertable flag Fai is a flag that is turned on at the timing when the main processing side should start accepting medals and turned off based on the operation of the start lever 38. If the turnable flag Fai is off, the CPU executes the process of step S1118. That is, if the insertable flag Fai is off, the medal insertion is prohibited. If the insertable flag Fai is on, the CPU determines in step S1113 whether or not the medal is being paid out.

Whether or not the medal is being paid out can be determined by, for example, whether or not either the medal payout request or the settlement request is on. If the medal is being paid out, the CPU executes the process of step S1118 to disallow medal insertion, and if the medal is not being paid out, the process proceeds to step S1114.

In step S1114, the CPU determines whether or not the bet is 3 (inserted number = "3") and the credit is 50. If there are 3 bets and 50 credits, the CPU executes the process of step S1118 to disallow medal insertion, and if the medal is not being paid out, the process proceeds to step S1115.

The CPU determines whether or not the state of 3 bets and 50 credits is obtained by adding the passing medals in step S1115. That is, it is determined whether or not it is currently in the state of 2 bets and 50 credits, and it is determined in step S1103 that a medal is being inserted (passing through either the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83). This determines whether or not one of the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 is detecting a medal in the pre-reception state in which the reception of medals is prohibited when one more medal is inserted. It is equivalent to being.

In step S1115, if the number of bets is 3 and the number of credits is not 50 in consideration of the passing medals, the CPU proceeds to step S1116 and performs a process for turning on the drive solenoid 96 and the acceptable display LED 49. Execute. This makes it possible to insert medals.

When the number of bets is 3 and the number of credits is 50 in consideration of the passing medals, the CPU proceeds to step S1117, turns off the drive solenoid 96, and turns on the acceptable display LED 49. That is, if either the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83 is detecting a medal before the medal acceptance is prohibited, the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 34 is ejected from the medal ejection port 77a. The player is informed that the medal can be inserted by the acceptable display LED 49.

In this embodiment, a process of linking the off of the drive solenoid 96 and the invalidation of the reception of the max bet button 37 is incorporated. That is, if the drive solenoid 96 is off in the storage medal settlement process in the timer interrupt process, the process of turning off the max bet LED is executed. Then, if the max bet LED is off, the reception of the max bet button 37 is invalidated by the process of step S1125 (FIG. 19). This is because the process for confirming the on-edge detection of the max bet button 37 (step S1128) is passed, so that the operation reception of the max bet button 37 is invalidated. As a result, if either the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83 is detecting a medal before the medal acceptance is prohibited, the max bet button 37 is linked to the off of the drive solenoid 96. The operation reception is invalidated.

Further, according to the processes of steps S1103 and S1115-S1117, in the case of a state other than the state before the prohibition of acceptance of medals (a state other than the state of 2 bets and 50 credits), the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 Regardless of whether any of them is detecting a medal, the drive solenoid 96 is not turned off and the operation reception of the max bet button 37 is not invalidated. However, this excludes an error (step S1111), an insertable flag = off (step S1112), a medal payout (step S1113), and a medal acceptance prohibited state (step S1114). In other words, in a state other than the state before the prohibition of medal acceptance, the operation acceptance of the max bet button 37 is invalidated even if either the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83 is detecting a medal. There is no such thing.

If one more medal is inserted, the reception of medals is prohibited. If either the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83 is detecting a medal in the pre-reception state, the operation of the max bet button 37 is accepted. Is invalid. However, in a state other than the state before the reception prohibition, even if either the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83 is detecting a medal, processing is performed so as not to invalidate the operation reception of the max bet button 37. ..

If either the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83 is detecting a medal before the medal acceptance is prohibited and the operation acceptance of the max bet button 37 is enabled, the so-called medal swallowing (medal is swallowed). It is taken in without being detected or returned), which prevents the medal from being swallowed.

In FIG. 18, the CPU executes the process of step S1116, S1117 or S1118, and then proceeds to step S1119 of FIG.

Steps S1119 to S1129 of FIG. 19 mainly increment the number of inserted medals or the value of credits according to the normal passage of medals, and set the values of the bet counter and the bet timer according to the operation of the max bet button 37. It becomes.

First, the CPU determines in step S1119 whether or not the medal has normally passed through the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83. The process of step S1119 is the same as that of step S1212 (FIG. 18). In step S1119, the determination of "normally passing" is performed only in the timer interrupt processing executed at the timing when the detection signal of the second sensor 83 turns off, and it is said that "normally passing" is not performed. The determination also includes the case where the medal is passing through either the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83.

If it is determined in step S1119 that the medal has passed normally through the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83, the CPU proceeds to step S1120, confirms the on / off of the acceptable display LED 49, and turns off the acceptable display LED 49. If so, the process proceeds to step S1123 (FIG. 18). That is, although it was determined in step S1119 that the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 were normally passed, it was determined in step S1119 that the acceptable display LED 49 was off and the medal insertion was not permitted. In that case, after setting the insertion error flag (S1123), the insertion of medals is prohibited (S1124).

If the acceptable display LED 49 is on, the CPU increments the number of inserted medals or the value of the credit in step S1121 and executes a process of setting the inserted sound command. The value of the number of inserted sheets is incremented in step S1121 when the value of the number of inserted sheets is "2" or less, and the value of the credit value is incremented when the value of the number of inserted sheets is "3".

In step S1122, the CPU executes the data update process of the input number display LED. That is, the input number display LED data of the RAM 82c is updated according to the increment of the input number or the credit value in step S1121. For example, if the number of inserted sheets is incremented, the data to be set as common 4 (displayed number of inserted sheets 1 to 3) is updated, and if the credit is incremented, the data to be set as commons 2 and 3 is updated. .. Then, when the update process of step S1122 is executed, the CPU finishes the medal insertion process of step S813.

If the CPU determines in step S1119 that the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 have not normally passed, the process proceeds to step S1125. In step S1125, the on / off of the max bet LED is confirmed, and if the max bet LED is off, the medal insertion process is completed. Therefore, the process for confirming the on-edge detection of the max bet button 37 (step S1128) is not executed in conjunction with the off of the max bet LED, and the operation reception of the max bet button 37 is invalidated.

If the max bet LED is on, the CPU proceeds to step S1126 and determines whether or not the value of the number of inserted sheets is "3". If the value of the number of inserted sheets is "3", the CPU finishes the medal insertion process. This is because max bet processing is not required.

If the value of the number of inserted sheets is not "3", the CPU proceeds to step S1127, determines whether or not the bet counter is "0", and if the bet counter is not "0", the medal insertion process ends. If the bet counter is not "0", it means that the max bet process is in progress. Therefore, the process of confirming the on-edge detection of the max bet button 37 (step S1128) and setting the bet counter and the bet timer (step S1129) is performed. It is unnecessary and passes these processes to complete the medal insertion process.

When the bet counter is "0", the CPU determines in step S1128 whether or not the on-edge of the max bet button 37 is detected. If the on-edge of the max bet button 37 is not detected, the CPU finishes the medal insertion process.

If the on-edge of the max bet button 37 is detected, the CPU proceeds to step S1129 and executes a process of setting the bet counter and the bet timer if the credit can be inserted. Then, when the credit value is "2" or less, the same value as the credit value is set in the bet counter and the bet timer is set, and when the credit value is "3" or more, the bet counter is set to "3". "And set the bet timer. After executing the process of step S1129, the CPU finishes the medal insertion process.

When the bet counter and the bet timer are set in response to the on operation of the max bet button 37, the bet counter is set to "0" in step S1104 (FIG. 18) in the medal insertion process in the timer interrupt process executed thereafter. If not, the bet timer is consumed in step S1105. Then, in response to the bet timer becoming "0" (S1106), the processes after step S1107 are executed, and the input from the credit (S1110: credit is -1, the number of inserted sheets is +1) is realized. ..

In the medal insertion processing of FIGS. 18 and 19, medals can be inserted from the medal insertion slot 34 even during the max bet processing. This is clear from the fact that the number of inserted cards or credits can be incremented in step S1121 even when the bet counter is determined not to be "0" in step S1104.

When a medal is inserted during the max bet process in this way, the max bet process is interrupted when either the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83 is detecting the medal, and the medal is inserted normally. If it is determined that the bet has been made, the max bet processing is restarted. Further, if the number of inserted sheets reaches "3" (predetermined number) while the max bet processing is interrupted, the max bet processing is terminated.

23 and 24 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. In the insertion port member 35 of this embodiment, a medal insertion port 34 is provided in the vertical direction between the first member 65 and the second member 66 on the rear end side of the medal receiving portion 70, and the medal insertion port 34 is provided. The inlet 34a on the upper end side is wide, and the outlet 34b side on the lower end side is formed in a tapered shape narrower than the inlet 34a, but the configuration on the second member 66 side is slightly different.

The second member 66 has a rear wall surface 72a of the medal insertion port 34 on the lower side of the contact portion 71, and then the wall surface 72a is a plan view circle whose substantially central side in the left-right direction projects to the front wall surface 69a of the first member 65. It has an arc-shaped curved surface 72b. The distance between the upper end side of the curved surface 72b and the front wall surface 69a is larger than the thickness of the medal and less than twice the thickness of the medal, and is larger than the distance between the lower end side of the curved surface 72b and the front wall surface 69a. It has become. The distance between the lower end side of the curved surface 72b and the front wall surface 69a is larger than the thickness of the medal. The curved surface 72b may be provided so as to straddle the contact portion 71 above the inlet 34a of the medal insertion port 34. Other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

By making the entrance of the medal insertion port 34 wider and the outlet 34b side on the lower end side narrower than the entrance 34a in this way, it is possible to prevent the insertion of a thick illegal medal M. In that case, one or both of the front wall surface 69a and the rear wall surface 72a of the medal insertion slot 34 may be provided with a curved surface 72b approaching the other side. Further, instead of the curved surface 72b, one or a plurality of ridges long in the vertical direction may be provided in the horizontal direction. In this case, the contact area between the medal and the curved surface 72b or the ridge can be reduced.

FIG. 25 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention. When the medal receiving portion 70 is provided on the first member 65 side, as shown in FIG. 25 (A), the entrance 34a side is provided between the medal receiving portion 70 inclined forward and the entrance 34a of the medal insertion port 34. The medal guide surface 70a may be provided so as to be inclined, or as shown in FIG. 25B, the medal receiving portion 70 is formed in an inclined shape so as to be inclined backward toward the entrance 34a side of the medal insertion slot 34. , The medal receiving portion 70 may also serve as the medal guide surface 70a.

FIG. 26 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 26A and 26B, a plurality of vertical protrusions 69c and 72c are provided on the front wall portion 69 of the first member 65 and the rear wall surface 72a of the second member 66 in the left-right direction. The medal slot 34 is located between the protrusions 69c and 72c before and after this. Other configurations are the same as in each embodiment.

In this way, the medal will be guided between the front and rear ridges 69c and 72c. In this case, since the contact area of the medal with respect to both the front and rear sides of the medal insertion slot 34 is reduced, the resistance at the time of insertion can be reduced.

FIG. 27 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment has a medal insertion hopper 130 and a medal insertion port 34 formed in an oblique direction (insertion direction) from the medal insertion hopper 130, and is inside the medal insertion hopper 130. The medal is slipped into the medal insertion slot 34 from the medal insertion hopper 130 along the downward inclined surface 131 provided so as to straddle the medal insertion slot 34.

In any of the cases of FIGS. 27 (A) and 27 (B), the lower inclined wall 132 and the upper inclined wall 133 are provided. The upper inclined wall 133 of FIG. 27 (A) is arranged so that the exit 34b side is closer to the lower inclined wall 132 with respect to the entrance 34a side, and the entrance 34a is larger than the thickness of one medal, and the medal 2 It is less than the thickness of the sheet. The outlet 34b is smaller than the inlet 34a side and larger than the thickness of one medal.

The upper sloping wall 133 of FIG. 27B is substantially parallel to the lower sloping wall 132, and the upper sloping wall 133 has an inlet limiting member 134 that limits the gap of the inlet 34a and an outlet restriction that limits the gap of the outlet 34b. A member 135 is provided. The distance between the entrance limiting member 134 and the downward inclined wall 132, that is, the entrance 34a side of the medal insertion port 34 is larger than the thickness of one medal and less than the thickness of two medals. Further, the distance between the exit limiting member 135 and the lower inclined wall 132 is smaller than that on the entrance 34b side, and is larger than the thickness of one medal.

The limiting members 134 and 135 are integrally attached to the upper inclined wall 133 or are detachably provided by a fixing means such as a screw. It is desirable that the limiting members 134 and 135 are provided with medal guide portions 134a and 135a on the upper side thereof.

In this way, the same can be performed in the case of the medal insertion slot 34 in which the medal is inserted while sliding the medal along the downward inclined surface 131 of the medal insertion slot 34. Therefore, the same can be applied to either the medal insertion slot 34 in which the medal falls in the substantially vertical direction and the medal insertion slot 34 in which the medal slides diagonally along the downward inclined surface 131.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the medal insertion slot 34 is sufficient as long as the medal can be inserted, and the insertion direction thereof may be a vertical direction or an oblique direction.

Further, the medal insertion slot 34 has a larger dimension on the inlet 34a side in the thickness direction of the medal than the exit 34b side, and the dimension on the inlet 34a side is larger than the thickness of one medal and less than the thickness of two medals. The size of the exit 34b side is larger than the thickness of one medal, but the size of the entrance 34a side is less than the thickness of two medals and as close as possible to the thickness of two medals, and the exit 34b side is the passage of medals. It is desirable to make the size as close as possible to one medal within the range that does not limit the speed.

Further, the medal insertion slot 34 is preferably formed between two smooth facing surfaces facing each other in the thickness direction of the medal, but one or both of the two facing surfaces are uneven surfaces, curved surfaces, etc. other than the smooth surface. You may.

In addition to the illegal medal M, the illegal member inserted or inserted from the medal insertion slot 34 includes a wire rod, a strip material, and the like, and it is desirable that the medal insertion slot 34 can handle any of the illegal members. The medal insertion slot 34 may be provided so that medals can be inserted with the thickness direction facing left and right.

When the upper wall portion 102a and the lower wall portion 102b having different heights are provided on the curved inner side wall 102 of the medal guide chute 55, the upper wall portion 102a is in a state where the thread-like material Ma is stretched between the illegal medal M and the outlet 34b. It is desirable that the lower wall portion 102b has a height so as not to come into contact with the filamentous material Ma when the medals are formed, and the medal guided in a state of being tilted along the curved outer wall 101 does not come off from the bottom 103. It should be about.

When the fraudulent medal M to which the filamentous material Ma is connected is targeted, the curved inner side wall 102 may be about the same height as the curved outer wall 101, or may be slightly lower than the curved outer wall 101. In that case, if the thread-like object Ma is pulled after the fraudulent medal M has fallen from the end of the medal guide chute 55, it will be caught by the second hook portion 106, so that further fraudulent acts can be prevented.

Further, when the illegal medal M is dropped from the discharge portion 100 on the terminal side of the curved inner side wall 102, it is possible to omit the second hook portion 106 as only the first hook portion 104 on the upper side of the discharge portion 100. is there.

Further, the gaming machine may be any gaming machine such as a slot machine, a pachinko machine, an arrange ball machine, etc., as long as it is provided with the medal insertion slot 34.

The slot machine of this embodiment is an error determination means for determining an error of the inserted medal based on the detection mode of the medal by the insertion sensor 80, the first sensor 82, and the second sensor 83 provided in the medal sorting means 43. (CPU of main control board 8) is provided.

In this error determining means, the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 do not detect medals in the first state (order "0"), the first sensor 82 detects medals, and the second sensor 83 does not detect medals. State (order "1"), third state where the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 detect medals (order "2"), the first sensor 82 does not detect medals and the second sensor 83 detects medals. When the detection mode of the medal changes in the order of the fourth state (order "3"), it is determined that the medal has passed, and when the detection mode changes from the above order, the medal is determined to be an invalid medal M. Includes determination means. This detection order determining means determines that there is no error when the state transitions to the first state after the second state. As a result, the appropriateness of the error judgment of the inserted medal can be guaranteed.

Further, in this slot machine, the game can be started by setting a predetermined number of bets for one game, and when the display result after the change of the symbol display means 3 is obtained, one game ends and the symbol is displayed. A betting operation means (max bet button 37) for instructing the setting of the number of bets of medals inserted from the medal slot 34 and stored as credits, which can generate a prize according to the display result of the means 3. And an operation reception control means (CPU of the main control board 8) for controlling the operation reception of the bet operation means to be valid or invalid.

The operation reception control means bets when either the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83 is detecting a medal in the pre-reception state in which the reception of medals is prohibited when one more medal is taken in. The operation reception of the means is invalidated, and the operation reception of the bet operation means is not invalidated even if either the first sensor 82 or the second sensor 83 is detecting a medal in a state other than the state before the reception prohibition. It is configured as follows. As a result, it is possible to prevent the medal from being swallowed.

Further, in this slot machine, the insertion determination means (CPU of the main control board 8) for determining the insertion of medals when the detection mode of medals by the first sensor 82 and the second sensor 83 is normal, and the number of bets are set to a predetermined number. A predetermined number of bets are placed on the inserted medal betting processing means (CPU of the main control board 8) that performs processing to increase the number of bets when the insertion determining means determines that the medals are inserted in a state where the medals are not satisfied, and medals stored as credits. Max bet processing for increasing the number of medals until a predetermined number is reached within the range of the number of medals stored as credits based on the max bet operation means for instructing the setting of the number and the operation for the max bet operation means. It is provided with a max bet processing means (CPU of the main control board 8) for performing the above.

In this slot machine, in addition to the max bet processing means for performing max bet processing, the medal settlement operation means for instructing the settlement of the stored medal as a credit and the operation for the medal settlement operation means are used to settle the medal. It is equipped with a settlement processing means for performing processing for the purpose.

The inserted medal bet processing means enables acceptance of medals from the medal insertion slot 34 even when the max bet processing means is executing the max bet processing, and the max bet processing means is a plurality of first sorting means, first 2 The max bet process is interrupted when any of the sorting means is detecting a medal, the max bet process is restarted when the insertion determination means determines that a medal is inserted, and the number of bets reaches a predetermined number during the interruption. If so, the max bet process is terminated (see FIGS. 15 and 16 and the like). As a result, it is possible to prevent the medal from being swallowed.

This slot machine includes a plurality of rotary reels 10a to 10c in which a plurality of symbols are displayed in the circumferential direction, a rotary drive means such as a stepping motor for driving each rotary reel 10a to 10c, and a process for advancing a game operation. It is provided with a control means (CPU) for executing the above.

The control means are a rotary reel starting means that performs a starting process of starting the rotating reels 10a to 10c while gradually accelerating in response to a rotation start command of the rotating reels 10a to 10c, and a rotating reel 10a to 10c after the starting process. When the rotation stop operation of the rotary reels 10a to 10c is performed during the steady rotation, the predetermined maximum sliding frame range is based on the symbol position when the rotation stop operation is performed. The stop position determining means for determining the stop position and the stop control for stopping the rotary reels 10a to 10c when the specific stop step position of the symbol corresponding to the stop position determined by the stop position determining means is reached. It may include a stopping means to start.

Further, the slot machine includes an error monitoring means for setting an error flag according to the presence or absence of an error in the timer interrupt processing, and an error notification means for executing an error notification process according to the error flag in the timer interrupt processing. May be good.

34 Medal slot 34a Entrance 34b Exit 69a Front wall surface 72a Rear wall surface

Claims (1)

In a game machine equipped with a medal slot for inserting medals,
The medal insertion slot has a tapered portion in which the distance between the guide surfaces on both sides in the medal thickness direction decreases from the inlet to the exit side, and the guide surfaces on both sides continuous with the tapered portion on the outlet side of the tapered portion. With parallel parts formed substantially parallel to
The entrance is larger than the thickness of one medal and smaller than the thickness of two medals.
The parallel portion is larger than the thickness of one medal.
A gaming machine characterized in that the length of the tapered portion from the inlet to the outlet side is larger than the diameter of the medal .

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