JPH02261483A - Pinball machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To adjust simply an amount of prize balls collected on a shooting ball supply tray of surplus ball receiving tray during a game by providing a paying-off means operated by a player to activate or disable a prize ball paying-off device. CONSTITUTION:A filled-up upper tray detector 77 is operated under the condition that a player depresses two times a paying-off stopping button 9 and disabled under the condition that the player does not depresses said button 9. When said detector 77 is activated by the player's operation, prize balls are paid off onto a shooting ball supply tray 6. When the prize balls are piled up to swing a filled-up upper trays sensor plate 76, said detector 77 is turned on to stop the drive of a motor 103 for a prize ball paying-off device 90 and the further paying-off of the prize balls. When the prize balls piled up on said tray 6 are lessened by a springing operation to return said sensor plate 76 to the initial state, said detector 77 is turned off to start the drive of the motor 103 for said device 90 so that the prize balls are again paid off.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a pinball game machine equipped with a prize ball payout device that pays out prize balls based on scores generated in a pinball game.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in a pinball game machine, a predetermined number of prize balls (for example, 13) are paid out when a score generated in a pinball game, such as a hit ball, enters a winning slot. It has become. The paid-out prize balls are guided to a ball supply tray provided at the front of the pinball game machine, and when a larger amount of prize balls are paid out, they are guided to a surplus ball tray placed below the ball supply tray. It looks like this. The payout operation of the prize balls was performed continuously as long as winning balls were generated. In other words, when there are winning balls, it is not possible to stop the payout operation of the prize balls.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, in pinball game machines, there is a cycle in which it becomes easier or harder for the ball to enter the winning hole during the game, that is, a phenomenon called a general slump. Are known. It is known from experience that this slump phenomenon is related to the amount of prize balls stored in the batted ball supply tray or surplus ball tray. The amount of prize balls in the saucer may be adjusted. However, in conventional prize ball dispensing devices, prize balls are automatically paid out as long as winning balls are generated, so in order to adjust the amount of prize balls in the batted ball supply tray or surplus ball tray, the operation handle must be used. This eliminates the problem of having to take out and adjust prize balls from the ball supply tray or surplus ball tray with the other hand that is not operating the ball, which makes it difficult to concentrate on the game and is troublesome.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to easily adjust the amount of prize balls in the batted ball supply tray and surplus ball tray, that is, to adjust the slump, while concentrating on the game. Our goal is to provide ball game machines.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a pinball game machine according to the present invention includes: a score storage means for storing scores generated in a pinball game; a prize ball payout device that pays out prize balls based on the points scored; a payout operation means that allows the player to operate the prize ball payout device to activate or deactivate the prize ball payout device; a prize ball dispensing device disabling detection means for detecting that a condition for disabling the prize ball dispensing device is satisfied based on the disabling of the prize ball dispensing device based on the operation of the dispensing operation device by a player; a prize ball dispensing device activation detection means for detecting that a condition for activating the prize ball dispensing device is satisfied based on the operation of the prize ball dispensing device; and an output of the prize ball dispensing device disabling detection means. a prize ball dispensing device drive control means for driving and controlling the prize ball dispensing device so as to stop the dispensing operation of the prize balls and permit the dispensing operation of the prize balls based on the output of the prize ball dispensing device activation detection means; It is composed of the following.

[Function] When a score is scored in the pinball game, the score is stored in the score storage means. When there is a score stored in the score storage means, the prize ball payout device operates to pay out a prize ball corresponding to the score. Therefore, if there is an output from the prize ball dispensing device inactivation detecting means that is operated based on the player's operation of the dispensing operation means, the prize ball dispensing device may The payout operation is stopped, and the scores generated thereafter are sequentially stored in the score storage means.

If there is an output from the prize ball payout device activation detection means that is operated based on the player's operation of the payout operation means in such a state, the payout operation of the prize ball payout device is restarted, so the score memory is If the score is stored in the means, prize balls are paid out. Therefore, the player can intentionally pay out prize balls by operating the payout operation means and alternately driving the prize ball payout device disablement detection means and the prize ball payout device activation detection means. Therefore, the amount of prize balls in the batted ball supply tray or the surplus ball tray can be adjusted, and the slump desired by the player can be easily achieved without performing troublesome operations such as picking out prize balls.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, with reference to FIG. 1, a pachinko game machine as an example of a pinball game machine to which this embodiment is applied will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view of the pachinko gaming machine. In the figure, an egg holding frame 3 is provided around a front frame 2 having a nodular shape of a pachinko game machine 1, and a glass door frame 4 having a glass plate and a front door plate 5 are attached to the egg holding frame 3. It is pivoted on the side and is attached so that it can be opened and closed. A game board 15 is removably attached to a game board holding frame 51 (see FIG. 2) behind the glass door frame 4 and on the back side of the front frame 2 using a game board fixture 52. Further, on the surface of the front door plate 5, a batted ball supply tray 6 is fixed that stores the ejected prize balls and supplies the batted balls one by one to the firing position. Batted ball supply tray 6
A prize ball dispensing lower is formed on the upstream side of the system, through which prize balls paid out from a prize ball dispensing device 90 (described later) flows out, and a speaker 8 that generates sound effects related to the game is provided in the internal space below. Built-in. Further, on the front door plate 5 at the top of the batted ball supply tray 6, there is a payout stop operation button 9 for stopping or starting the drive of a prize ball payout device 90, which will be described later, and an operation of the payout stop operation button 9. Payout stop indicators 10a, 10b (
Hereinafter, the payout stop indicator 10a will be referred to as a payout stop indicator A, and the payout stop indicator iob will be referred to as a payout stop indicator B). Although not shown, the payout stop operation button 9 has a payout stop operation detector 9a (shown in the circuit diagram in FIG. 5).
are provided accordingly. By pressing the payout stop operation button 9 once, the payout stop indicator A lights up and the operation of the prize ball payout device 90 is stopped. Therefore, in this case, even if there are prize balls to be paid out when the hit balls enter each winning slot, the number of prize balls to be paid out is memorized and no action is taken to pay out the prize balls. By pressing the payout stop operation button 9 twice, the payout stop indicator B lights up, and the operation of the prize ball payout device 9o is stopped by turning on the upper tray full detector 77, which will be described later, and then turning off. Driving is resumed. Therefore, in this case, when there are stored prize balls, the upper tray full detector 77 is turned OFF to dispense the prize balls, and turned ON to stop the dispensing operation, which is repeated. Furthermore, by pressing the dispensing stop operation button 9 three times, the dispensing stop indicator A
, B go out, and the system returns to the original state in which the start of driving of the prize ball dispensing device 90 is permitted. Therefore, in this case, when there is a memorized prize ball, 3
The dispensing operation is restarted by the second pressing operation, and the fourth (1st)
The dispensing operation is stopped by the suppression operation (time). In other words, in this embodiment, the player can arbitrarily stop and start driving the prize ball dispensing device 9o by alternately repeating one pressing operation and three pressing operations, thereby supplying batted balls. The amount of prize balls stored in the tray 6 and the surplus ball receiving tray 12 described later can be adjusted. Also, by pressing twice, the prize ball dispensing device 9o is stopped and driven by the 0N-OF of the upper tray full detector 77.
This can be done by QJ!F, and the amount of prize balls stored in the surplus ball tray 12 can be adjusted by combining two pressing operations and three suppressing operations. The amount of prize balls in the batted ball supply tray 6 will be automatically maintained at a constant level by the upper tray inertia detector 7, but this is based on the premise that the player can control the amount of prize balls using only the surplus ball tray 12. Adjustment of,
That is, this is a case where the player desires to adjust the slump, and as a result, the player can achieve the adjustment of the amount of prize balls intended by the player, that is, the slump adjustment. In addition, in the above embodiment, 1
Although activation and deactivation of the prize ball dispensing device 90 are selected using only the two dispensing stop operation buttons 9, dedicated operation buttons corresponding to each mode may be provided.

At the lower part of the front frame ♡, an operating handle 11 that constitutes a part of the batted ball firing mechanism and a surplus ball tray 12 for storing prize balls that cannot be stored in the batted ball supply tray 6 are provided. There is. Of these, a ball launcher 88 is attached to the back surface of the front frame 2 so as to correspond to the operating handle 11, as shown in FIG. The batted ball firing device 88 is integrated into a mounting board 88a, and includes a batting motor 88b as a driving source, a batting rod 88c that rotates back and forth by the rotation of the batting ball motor 88b, and fires a batted ball.
The ball feeding sliding rod 88d moves up and down in conjunction with the reciprocating rotation of the ball hitting rod 88c, and operates a ball feeding member of a ball feeding device (not shown). Further, a surplus ball outlet 13 through which prize balls flow out is provided on the rear surface of the surplus ball receiving tray 12, and an upper liquid operating lever 14 is provided at the lower front surface of the tray 12 to be operated when pulling out the stored prize balls downward. It is being

On the surface of the game board 15, there are a ball guiding rail 16a for guiding the shot ball, and a ball guiding rail 16a for guiding the shot ball.
Game area 1 for falling balls guided by a
A game area forming rail 16b dividing the area 7 is set up in a substantially circular shape. A variable display device 18 having a plurality of drum-shaped variable display members 19a to 19c is provided approximately in the center of the game area 17. The variable display device 18 has a line that informs which of the three horizontal winning lines the jackpot hit when the display mode of the variable display members 19a to 19c when they are stopped becomes the jackpot mode. A display 20 is provided.

Further, the variable display device 18 is provided with an opening number display 24 that displays the number of times the opening/closing plate 28 is opened, which will be described later. Alternatively, when the opening/closing plate 28 is open, a starting winning memory display 23 is provided which displays that a ball has been won in starting winning openings 33, 34a, 34b (to be described later) and has been stored (up to 4 balls). Further, at the top of the variable display device 18, a normal winning opening 25 is also provided. The variable display members 19a to 19C are variably displayed by corresponding drum drive motors 21a to 21c (not shown; shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 5),
The display mode when stopped is the drum position detectors 22a to 22.
c (not shown; shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 5).

A variable winning ball device 26 having a winning space 27 below the variable display device 18 is provided. The winning space 27 is
The surface of the game board 15 is covered with an opening/closing plate 28 that can be freely opened around the lower end, and the inside thereof has three openings, a central specific winning opening 29 and left and right normal winning openings 30a and 30b. It is divided into. The opening/closing plate 28 of the variable winning ball device 26 is the variable display member 19a of the variable display device 18.
When the combination of identification information in ~19c ceases to be in a predetermined specific display state, a specific gaming state is entered and the game is opened for a predetermined period of time (for example, until 20 seconds pass or until 10 winnings occur). It is set to catch balls falling in the game area 17 while the game area 17 is open. Then, when a prize is won in the specific winning hole 29 provided in the winning space 27, the above-described opening state is repeated again, and it can be repeated up to 10 times on the condition that the special winning hole 29 wins. ing. Also, on the rear side of the winning space 27, there is a winning number display 3 that displays the number of winning balls won during one opening of the opening/closing board 28.
1 is provided. In addition, a passage hole 32 through which the batted ball can pass is formed at the lower front of the variable winning ball device 26, and when the opening/closing plate 28 is in the closed state, the center of the variable winning ball device 26 is formed. The balls falling down the front are guided to a starting prize opening 33 which will be described later. The opening/closing plate 28 is driven by a solenoid 45 as shown in FIG. 2, and the specific winning hole 29 is provided with a specific winning ball detector 46 to detect balls hit. Further, a winning number detector 47 is also provided to detect all the balls that have won in the winning space 27 of the variable winning ball device 26.

Further, below the variable winning ball device 26, there is a starting winning opening 33 that allows variable display of the variable display members 19a to 19c.
．． 34a and 34b are provided. This starting prize opening 3
3.34a, When a hit ball hits the starting prize opening 33 provided in the middle of 34b, the number of prize balls paid out is equal to the number of prizes paid out when a hit ball wins a prize in another winning area. It is set to be less than the number of balls. In addition, the starting winning holes 33.34a, 34b have starting winning ball detectors 48.49a as shown in FIG.

49b is integrally provided, and the starting prize opening 33.34a,
A hit ball that won a prize in 34b is detected. Therefore, among the starting winning openings 33, 34a and 34b mentioned above numerically, the ball is most likely to be hit in the central starting winning opening 33, and then,
The starting prize opening 34a on the left side is the position where the ball is easily won, and the starting winning opening 34b on the right side is the position where it is most difficult to win. This is because a large winning ball device is generally arranged on the center line of the game board 15, so obstacles such as nails are planted so that the balls are guided to the winning ball device at the center. It's for a reason. Therefore, only the number of prize balls that are paid out by balls that enter the starting prize opening 33 in the center, which are the easiest to win, is smaller than the number of prize balls that are paid out by balls that enter other winning openings. It is set as follows.

Furthermore, in the gaming area 17, there are normal winning openings 35a on the left and right sides and the lower side of the variable display device 18.

35b, 36a, and 36b are provided.

In addition, in this embodiment, when a hit ball wins in the starting prize opening 33, 7 prize balls are paid out, and when a hit ball wins in another winning area, 13 prize balls are paid out. It is about to be paid out. Of course, the setting of the number of prize balls to be paid out may be changed depending on the probability of winning a prize in the starting winning hole 33.

In addition, the game area 17 is equipped with a windmill that changes the speed and direction of the falling balls and a large number of obstacle nails, and lights up or flashes when the specific game state described above is reached to alert the player. Game effect lamp 37a that notifies
, 37b are provided. This game effect lamp 37a
, 37b have the same effect as the frame lamps 39a and 39b provided on the upper part of the front frame 2. Note that these lamps are designed to light up or blink in different ways not only when a specific game state is reached, but also when the variable display device 18 is operating, thereby enlivening the atmosphere of the game. .

Further, at the lowermost part of the game area 17, there is provided an out port 38 through which balls that do not win in any of the winning areas mentioned above are guided to the rear of the game board 15.

Also, outside the gaming area 17 and above one side of the gaming board 15 (on the left side in the figure), there is a ball out indicator lamp 40 that notifies you of a shortage of prize balls on a ball alignment gutter 62, which will be described later.
and a payout display lamp 41 that indicates that a prize ball corresponding to one winning ball has been paid out.At the top of the other side (right side in the figure), there is a payout display lamp 41 that indicates the number of unpaid prize balls. A number display 42 is provided.

Next, the structure of the back side of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. 2. On the back side of the game board I5, there is an integrated winning ball collection cover 43 in which eight guiding paths are formed to guide the winning balls that have entered each of the winning areas downward while distributing them to the left and right.
a and 43b are fixed. The winning ball collecting covers 43a and 43b are fixedly divided into upper and lower halves, and approximately in the center of the upper winning ball collecting covers 43a is a drive section that houses the drive mechanism of the variable display device 18. An opening is opened so that the storage box protrudes rearward, and further,
A solenoid 45 for opening and closing the opening/closing plate 28 of the variable winning ball device 26 is fixed below it. In addition, on the back side of the variable winning ball device 26, there is the specific winning opening 29.
A specific winning ball detector 46 that detects that a ball hit has won a prize.
Also provided is a winning number detector 47 for counting the winning balls that have entered the winning space 27. Further, a relay terminal board 44 is attached to the upper part of the back surface of the input prize ball collection cover 43a, which relays the wiring extending from the above-described switches, lamps, drive sources, etc. provided on the game board 15.

In addition, a guiding member 50 is provided at a position corresponding to the starting prize opening 33 in the center, passing through the lower winning ball collecting cover 43b in the front and back direction. The guiding member 50 guides the hit balls that have won in the starting prize opening 33 to the rear of the winning ball collection cover 43b, and also guides the balls that have won in the starting prize opening 33 to the rear of the winning ball collection cover 43b, and also guides them to the second winning ball collection gutter 5, which will be described later.
It is designed to fall at 8.

Furthermore, a mechanism plate 53 is attached to the back of the pachinko game machine 1 so as to be openable and closable. This mechanism board 53 is provided with various mechanisms for processing winning balls from the winning opening provided on the game board 15 and discharging a predetermined number of prize balls corresponding to the winning balls. . Thus, the mechanism plate 53 is fixedly supported by the game board holding frame 51 by a mechanism plate fixture 54 that locks the mechanism plate 53 in the closed state. Furthermore, a window opening 55 is opened approximately in the center of the mechanism plate 53, and a first winning ball collecting gutter 57 and a second winning ball collecting gutter 58 are installed in front and behind a partition wall 56 located below the window opening 55. It is formed. The first winning ball collecting gutter 57 is formed on the front side of the mechanism board 53 to guide the winning balls that have entered the winning holes other than the starting winning hole 33 among the various winning holes described above. In addition, the second winning ball collection gutter 58 corresponds only to the starting winning hole 33 and guides the winning balls that have won into the starting winning hole 33. The second winning ball collecting gutter 58 is formed on the rear side of the mechanism plate 53 along the partition wall 56 which is the lower edge of the window opening 55. The winning balls guided to the first winning ball collecting gutter 57 and the second winning ball collecting gutter 58 are detected by a first winning ball detector 59 and a second winning ball detector 60 provided at the downstream end thereof, respectively. Detected. The detection signals detected by the first prize winning ball detector 59 are stored, and the number of prize balls obtained by multiplying the number of detection signals by "13" is paid out. Furthermore, the detection signal detected by the second winning ball detector 60 is also stored, and prize balls of the number obtained by multiplying the number of detection signals by "7" are paid out.

On the rear side of the mechanism plate 53, various mechanisms are provided for dispensing prize balls to the player, which are supplied from a supply mechanism (not shown) of the pachinko game machine installation stand. These mechanisms will be explained below. A prize ball tank 61 is fixed to the upper part of the mechanism plate 53. This prize ball tank 61
, a large amount of prize balls are supplied from the above-mentioned supply mechanism.

A ball alignment gutter 62 for arranging the prize balls is provided below the prize ball tank 61. The ball alignment gutter 62 is installed at an angle so that the prize balls are arranged in two rows and flow down naturally. In addition, a prize ball amount sensing plate 63 is swingably provided on the bottom surface of the upstream side of the ball alignment gutter 62, and a detector 64a that swings when no prize balls are placed and is provided below. Turn on 64b. The detector 64a is connected to the out-of-balls indicator lamp 40, and when activated, the detector 64a notifies the player that the prize balls are running out in the prize ball tank 61 and the ball alignment gutter 62. There is. Further, the detector 64b is connected to a management computer (not shown), and when activated, the detector 64b issues an instruction to replenish prize balls from the aforementioned replenishment mechanism (not shown) to the prize ball tank 61. Furthermore, the prize ball amount sensing plate 63 is linked to a supply device (not shown) that supplies batted balls to the batted ball firing position via link mechanisms 65a and 65b.
For this reason, the prize ball amount sensing plate 63 swings, thereby stopping the supply of batted balls and interrupting the game. This control to interrupt the game is not necessarily necessary, but when this control is performed, the interruption of the game is canceled when the prize balls are replenished into the prize ball tank 61. When the game is stopped, prize balls are not replenished even if there is a signal from the detector 64b.

The downstream side of the ball alignment gutter 62 is designed to straighten the prize balls flowing down in two rows into one line, and a bent gutter 66 is attached to the end thereof so as to be connected thereto. This bent gutter 66 is provided to change the direction of the prize balls flowing down the ball alignment gutter 62 by 180 degrees, and to weaken the earth pressure of the prize balls that are continuously flowing down. Further, the downstream side of the bent gutter 66 is a vertical gutter 67, and in the horizontal part just in front of the vertical gutter 67, a ball deficiency sensing lever 68 formed in the shape of a "<" is swingable. It is provided. When a prize ball is placed on the ball shortage detection lever 68, the rear end is flipped up and presses the actuator of the ball outage detector 69 that comes into contact with the rear end, but when there is a shortage of prize balls, , the rear end hangs down to release the pressure on the actuator of the ball breakage detector 69. When the actuator of the ball-out detector 69 is not pressed, the prize ball dispensing motor 103 (consisting of a stepping motor) of the prize ball dispensing device 90 (described later)
is stopped, and the operation of dispensing prize balls is stopped. In addition, if there is a memory of a winning ball when the ball out detector 69 turns OFF after the Bachinko gaming machine 1 is stopped, that is, if there is a prize ball that has not been paid out yet, the prize ball The prize balls may be supplied to the prize ball tank 61 until the payout is completed.

Furthermore, a bead-shaped device 70 is provided at the bent portion of the bent portion 66 to extract the prize balls remaining in the prize ball tank 61 and the ball alignment gutter 62 at the end of business hours, etc., and the bead-shaped device 70 is activated. When the prize ball is played, the prize ball is discharged to the outside of the pachinko game machine 1 via the upper liquid passage 71 formed so as to be connected to the bent portion.

A prize ball payout device 90 is connected to the downstream side of the bent portion 66. The prize ball dispensing device 90 is for dispensing prize balls guided from the bending part 66 in the first car position, and based on the detection signals of the first winning ball detector 59 and the second winning ball detector 60, The calculated prize balls are paid out continuously. The structure of the prize ball dispensing device 90 will be described in detail later.

The prize balls paid out from the prize ball dispensing device 90 are discharged into the prize ball discharge passage 72. A guiding amount lower 3 is provided at the lower end of the prize ball discharging passage 72, and this guiding amount lower 3 communicates with the batted ball supply tray 6. Further, on one side of the guidance amount lower 3, a connecting bridge 74 for communicating with the surplus ball passage 75 is provided.
is provided to guide surplus prize balls to a surplus ball passage 75. Further, on the other side wall of the lower guidance amount lower 3, an upper plate full sensing plate 76 is provided to be able to swing freely around the upper end. A detector 77 is provided. Then, when the upper tray full detection plate 76 is swung, the upper tray full detector 77 is turned ON, and the drive of the prize ball dispensing motor 103 of the prize ball dispensing device 90 is stopped.
When the upper tray full sensing plate 76 is not swung, the upper tray full detector 7 turns OFF and the prize ball payout motor 103 starts to be driven. However, the upper tray full detector 77 is activated only when the player presses the payout stop operation button 9 twice.
If the player is not performing this operation, the upper tray full detector 77 is in a disabled state. Then, when the player performs the above operation and the upper tray full detector 77 is activated, prize balls are paid out to the batted ball supply tray 6, and the prize balls stay there and shake the upper tray groove tongue sensing plate 76. When you move it,
The upper tray full detector 77 turns ON and the prize ball dispensing device 90
The driving of the prize ball dispensing motor 103 is stopped, and further dispensing operation of prize balls is stopped. Therefore, prize balls corresponding to winning balls generated after that are stored. Furthermore, when the number of prize balls stored in the batted ball supply tray 6 decreases due to the firing action and the upper tray full detection plate 76 returns to its original state, the upper tray full detector 77 turns OFF and prize balls are awarded. Since the drive of the prize ball payout motor 103 of the payout device 90 is started, the payout operation of the prize balls is performed again. Therefore, the amount of prize balls stored in the batted ball supply tray 6 can be maintained at a constant amount while the upper tray full detector 77 is activated. Note that the mounting position of the upper tray full detector 77 is not limited to the illustrated position, and may be provided in the storage portion of the batted ball supply tray 6. In this case, when the operation of putting out prize balls is restarted, the player can check the falling state of the prize balls to be put out.

The lower end of the surplus ball passage 75 is connected to a connection gutter 82 attached to the back surface of the front frame 2, and is designed to guide surplus prize balls to the surplus ball receiving tray 12. Further, a lower full-fill sensing plate 78 is provided on one side wall of the surplus ball passage 75 so as to be able to swing freely around the lower end. However,
The lower full tank detection plate 78 detects surplus ball passage 7 due to prize balls.
5 is full, it swings under pressure from the prize ball, and fixes the operation of the ball feeding member of the hit ball supply device (not shown) through the slide line rod 79 to move the hit ball to the hit ball firing position. We are trying not to supply it to A lower plate full detection plate 80 is also provided on the upstream side of the connecting bridge 74 so as to be able to swing around the upper end, and a lower plate full detector 81 is located at a position opposite to the lower plate full detection plate 80. is provided. and,
When the blood-full sensing plate 80 is swung, the blood-full detector 81 is turned on, and the drive of the prize ball dispensing motor 103 of the prize ball dispensing device 9o is stopped. Therefore, when the surplus ball passage 75 is filled with paid prize balls, the lower groove tongue sensing plate 78 first operates and the ball cannot be fired, and then the prize balls paid out based on the memorized winning balls are When the communication gutter 74 is also filled with water, the lower tray full detection plate 80 operates and prize balls are no longer dispensed. Note that the lower full-fill sensing plate 78 may not be provided.

Further, an out ball guide gutter 83 is attached to the mechanism plate 53 to guide out balls discharged from the out port 38, and the out ball guided to the out ball guide gutter 83 flows to the out ball which is the downstream end of the out ball guiding gutter 83. It is designed to be discharged to the outside of the pachinko game machine 1 from the discharge port 84. In addition, the mechanism plate 53
includes a relay terminal board 85 that relays the wiring from the prize ball dispensing device 90 and the wiring of the upper tray full detector 77, the lower tray full detector 81, etc., and the variable display device 18.
A ft1lJ control board box 86 housing a control board for controlling the variable winning ball device 26 and a terminal box 87 for supplying power to the pachinko game machine 1 are attached.

In this embodiment, a control circuit for controlling the prize ball dispensing device 90, which will be described in detail next, is housed integrally with the game control circuit in the control board box 86. The control board may be constructed separately, housed in a different control board box, and placed on the back side of the pachinko game machine 1.

Next, the structure of the prize ball dispensing device 90 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3A to 4.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the prize ball dispensing device 90 includes a mounting plate 91 attached to the mechanism plate 53, and a motor mounting plate 9 to which a prize ball dispensing motor 103 as a drive motor is attached.
Consisting of 7. The vertical gutter 6 is mounted on the mounting plate 91.
A supply passage 92 continuous to 7 is formed, and the supply passage 92
A flow path changing portion 93 (see FIG. 4) is formed downstream of the flow path changing portion 93 for changing the direction of the prize balls toward a soil placement portion 99 (described later). Further below the flow path changing section 93, there is a supply path 9.
A ball support part 101b that supports one lower part of the most advanced pachinko ball of No. 2 is formed, and a sprocket storage part 94 in which a sprocket 105 is stored below the ball support part 101b.
is formed. Further, on one side of the sprocket storage section 94, a prize ball discharge passage 95 is also formed. A paid-out prize ball detector 96 (for example, a proximity switch) is provided at the upstream portion of the discharge passage 95 to detect the prize balls pushed out and paid out by the sprocket 105.

On the other hand, the supply passage 92 is located at the upper part of the motor mounting plate 97.
A guide part 98 that guides pachinko balls flowing downward is provided in a protruding manner, and a soil placement part 99 on which one pachinko ball is placed is configured below this guide part 98. The soil placing part 99 is located below the ball receiving wall 100 formed on the lower side surface of the guide part 98 and the ball supporting part 101b, and is arranged to support pachinko balls. The ball support part 101a supports one lower part of the other pachinko ball, and the ball support part 101b supports one lower part of one of the pachinko balls. In other words, the soil loading section 99
has the function of receiving and stopping the earth pressure of the prize balls waiting in the supply passage 92, and the function of supporting the lower part of the most advanced pachinko ball at two points. In addition, the motor mounting plate 97 and the mounting plate 91 have ball support parts f01a and 10, respectively.
An arc-shaped guide rib 10 extends from 1b toward the discharge passage 95.
2a and 102b (102a not shown) are provided protrudingly,
The pachinko balls placed on the soil placement section 99 are discharged to the discharge path 9.
It is designed to guide the flow until it is discharged to 5. In addition, a prize ball payout motor 103 consisting of a stepping motor that rotates a predetermined angle every time a pulse signal is received is attached to the rear surface of the motor mounting plate 97, and its motor shaft 104 penetrates through the front surface of the motor mounting plate 97. A sprocket 105 having a plurality of pawls 106 on its outer periphery is fixed to its tip.

The pawl portion 106 of the sprocket 105 is formed in a concave shape so as to engage with the outer peripheral surface of the pachinko ball.
06 is inserted between the ball support parts 101a and 101b. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the concave lower part of the claw part 106 is the ball support part 101a
Since the position is lower than 101b, the soil placement part 99
The pachinko balls placed on the ball support parts 101a, 1
01b, and no earth pressure is applied to the sprocket 105.

The variable display device 18 and variable winning ball device 26 described above
, and the prize ball payout device 90 are controlled by a control circuit shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a block configuration, and includes a microcomputer 110 as a control center. The microcomputer 110 has a function of controlling the overall operation of the pachinko game machine 1 as described below. For this purpose, the microcomputer 110 is composed of, for example, several chips of LSI, and includes an MPU III that can execute control operations in a predetermined procedure, and a ROM 112 that stores operation program data for the MPU 111. and a RAM 113 in which necessary data can be written and read. Furthermore, the microcomputer 110 includes an input circuit 114 that receives input signals and provides human input data to the MPU11;
An output circuit 115 that receives output data from the MPU 111 and outputs it to the outside; a sound generator 116 that receives sound data from the MPU III;
a power-on reset circuit 117 that provides a reset pulse to the MPU 11; a clock generation circuit 118 that provides a clock signal to the MPU 111;
Pulse frequency divider circuit (regular reset circuit) given to UIII
119, and an address decode circuit 120 that decodes address data from the MPU III.

The MPUI 11 can execute the operation of the interrupt control routine in response to interrupt pulses periodically given from the pulse frequency divider circuit 119. Further, the address decoding circuit 120 decodes address data from the MPUI 11 and decodes the address data from the ROMI 12, RAM 113, and input circuit 11.
4. Give a chip select signal to the output circuit 115 and the sound generator 116, respectively. In this embodiment, the ROM 112 can be rewritten, that is, when it becomes necessary to rewrite the contents of the ROM 112, the M P 0 stored therein can be rewritten.
A programmable ROM is used so that the program data for the 111 can be changed. Then, the MPUI 11 operates the variable display device 18 and the variable winning ball device 26 in accordance with the program data stored in the ROMI 12 and in response to the input of each control signal described below.
, gives a control signal to the prize ball payout device 90 and the like.

The following signals are given to the microcomputer 110 as human input signals. First, starting prize opening 33.3
The detection signals of the starting prize ball detectors 48, 49a, 49b provided corresponding to the respective ones 4a, 34b are detected by the detection circuit 1.
21, and a starting winning ball detection signal is given to the microcomputer 110. The detection signal detected by the specific person prize ball detector 46 is given to the detection circuit 122 and given to the microcomputer 110 as a repetition determination signal. The detection signal detected by the number of winning balls detector 47 is given to the detection circuit 123, and is given to the microcomputer 110 as a number of winning balls counting signal. Detection signals from the drum position detectors 22a to 22c provided in the variable display device 18 are given to a detection circuit 124, and given to the microcomputer 110 as a signal for resetting a step counter for determining the absolute position of each drum. It will be done.

The signals from the upper tray full detector 77 and the lower blood full detector 81 are given to the detection circuit 125, which controls the prize ball payout motor 10.
3 is given to the microcomputer 110 as a stop signal. Detection signals from the winning ball detector 59 (hereinafter referred to as winning ball detector A) and the winning ball detector 60 (hereinafter referred to as winning ball detector B) are given to the detection circuit 126 and sent to the microcomputer 110 as a score signal. Given.

A signal from the payout prize ball detector 96 is given to a detection circuit 127, and is given to the microcomputer 110 as a signal for the number of prize balls paid out to the player.

The signal from the ball-out detector 69 is applied to the detection circuit 128, and is applied to the microcomputer 110 as a stop signal for the prize ball payout motor 103. Dispensing stop operation detector 9
The detection signal a is given to the detection circuit 129 and given to the microcomputer 110 as a stop signal or a drive start signal for the prize ball payout motor 103.

Additionally, the microcomputer 110 provides control signals to the following circuits or devices. First, a drive signal is applied to the prize ball payout motor 103 via the motor drive circuit 130. A display drive signal is given to the payout unprocessed ball number display 42 via the segment LED drive circuit 131. Lamp drive circuit 1
A lighting signal is given to the payout indicator lamp 41 or the out-of-balls indicator lamp 40 via the terminal 32. A lighting signal is given to the payout stop indicator A or the payout stop indicator B via the LED drive circuit 133. Variable display device 1 via motor drive circuit 134
A drive signal is given to drum drive motors 21a to 21c (stepping motors) that rotate variable display members 19a to 19c of 8. Game effect lamp 37a via lamp drive circuit 135.

37b and the frame lamps 39a, 39b are lit or given a blinking signal. A lighting signal is given to the starting winning memory display 23 or the line display 20 via the LED drive circuit 136. A display drive signal is given to the winning number display 31 or the winning number display 24 via the segment LED drive circuit 137. A drive signal is given to the solenoid 45 of the opening/closing plate 28 of the variable winning ball device 26 via the solenoid drive circuit 138. Furthermore, sound effects are announced from the speaker 8 via the amplifier 139. Note that a predetermined DC voltage is supplied from the power supply circuit 140 to each circuit configured as described above.

Next, the specific operation of the control circuit will be described with reference to FIGS. 68 to 6J. First, FIG. 6A shows a main routine showing the entire operation of the embodiment. First, when the power is turned on, the microcomputer 110 determines whether or not an error has occurred in the RAM 113 (step S1). If it determines that there is a RAM error, it sets initial data (step S2). ). Note that since the process of step S1 is always performed, an error determination is made even when the program of the microcomputer runs out of control, and the initial data of step S2 is set. Further, if no error is determined in step S1, or if initial data is set in step S2, game control processing is performed to control the game (step S3), and then, in this embodiment, Prize ball payout f! based on the score generated by the main part of the game control process! IJ m fi filling is performed (step S4). After outputting the data processed in the game system # process and the prize ball payout control process (step S5), wait for a regular reset signal from the pulse frequency dividing circuit 119,
If there is a reset signal, the processing from step S1 described above is repeated again. Therefore, the main routine is executed once every time there is a reset signal generated from the pulse frequency dividing circuit 119. Then, numerically, the pulse frequency divider circuit 119 generates a reset signal once every 4 msec, so the main routine
It will be held once every year.

The contents of the prize ball payout control process in step S4 are as follows:
As shown in Figure B. That is, first, a sound/lamp control process is performed (step S6). The specific process of this step S6 is shown in FIG. 6C. After the sound/lamp control process, a prize ball payout stop display control process (details are shown in Figure 6D) is performed (step S7), and then a number of unprocessed balls display control process (details are shown in Figure 6E). is performed (step S8). Hereinafter, the prize ball payout motor control process (Step SL details are shown in Figure 6F), the payout prize ball detector check process (Step S10; details are shown in Figure 6G), and the winning ball detector A check process (Step 81!; details are 6H), the winning ball detector B check process (step S12; details shown in FIG. 6H), and the payout stop operation detector check process (step S13; details shown in FIG. 6J) are sequentially performed.

Each of the above-mentioned subroutines will now be explained in detail.

First, the sound/lamp control process in step S6 will be explained with reference to FIG. If it is determined that
, if not, it is determined whether or not the ball breakage detector 69 is turned on (step 516), and when it is determined that this is also not turned on, the lower plate groove tongue detector 81 is turned on.
It is determined whether or not is ONL/(step 517
), and if the lower plate groove tongue detector 81 is also not turned on, after turning off the sound and lamp (step 31B
), the sound/lamp control process ends and returns to the subroutine. - On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that any of the alarm flags is set, the abnormal sound/lamp data is set (step 519) and the process returns to the subroutine. Further, if it is determined in step S15 that the payout motor 103 is ONb, the sound and lamp data at the time of payout of prize balls indicating that a predetermined prize ball is being paid out are set (step 520), and the subroutine Return to Further, the step S1
If it is determined in step 6 that the ball breakage detector 69 is ON, the sound and lamp data at the time of ball breakage are set (step 521) and the process returns to the subroutine. Further, if it is determined in step S17 that the lower tray full detector 81 is ON, the sound and lamp data when the lower tray is full are set (step 522) and the process returns to the subroutine.

Next, the prize ball payout stop display control process in step S7 will be explained with reference to FIG. 6D. first,
It is determined whether the payout stop flag A is set by the process shown in FIG. 6J, which will be described later (step 523).
, when it is determined that the payout stop flag B is not set, it is determined whether or not the payout stop flag B is set (step 524). If it is determined that the dispensing stop flag B is also not set, the dispensing stop indicator A-
After setting B to 0FFL (step 525), the prize ball payout stop display control process is completed and the process returns to the subroutine. On the other hand, the step S.

If it is determined in step 23 that the payout stop flag A is set, it means that the payout stop operation button 9 has been operated once, so the payout stop indicator A is turned ON.
After that (step 526), the prize ball payout stop display control process is ended and the process returns to the subroutine. Further, if it is determined in step S24 that the payout stop flag B is set, it means that the payout stop operation button 9 has been operated twice, so after turning the payout stop indicator B ON/OFF ( In step 527), the prize ball payout stop display control process is ended and the process returns to the subroutine.

Next, the control process for the number display of unprocessed balls to be paid out in step S8 will be explained with reference to FIG. 6E. Here, the payout unprocessed ball number display 42 is the normal prize ball payout device 9.
The number of prize balls is displayed based on the winning balls (scores) that occurred when the drive of 0 was stopped, but in this embodiment, a trouble occurred with the detectors related to the prize ball payout operation. It is set to have a function to display the following information. That is, first, it is determined whether alarm flag A is set (step 528).

Here, the alarm flag A is used to determine whether the winning ball detector A is disconnected, short-circuited, or ball jammed, and is set in FIG. 6H, which will be described later. Hereinafter, whether or not the alarm flag B (which determines whether the winning ball detector B is disconnected, short-circuited, or ball jammed, and is set in FIG. 61, which will be described later) is set (step 529), the alarm flag C ( This is to determine whether the payout prize ball detector 96 is disconnected, short-circuited, or ball jammed, and is set in FIG. 6G to be described later) is set (step 530). This is used to determine whether a ball is jammed between the ball dispensing unit 99 of the prize ball dispensing device 90 or a malfunction of the prize ball dispensing device 103 (set in Fig. 6G, which will be described later) is set. (step 531), alarm flag E
(This is to determine whether or not the prize balls have been paid out illegally, and is set in FIG. 6G, which will be described later). However, if none of the alarm flags is set, the payout unprocessed ball counter A-B
After displaying the total value (step 533), the control process for the number of unprocessed balls to be paid out is ended and the process returns to the subroutine. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S28 that the alarm flag A is set, "rE-01" is displayed on the payout unprocessed ball number display 42 (step 534). Similarly, in each step, when it is determined that alarm flag B is set, r
E-02" is displayed (step 535), and when it is determined that alarm flag C is set, rE
-03J is displayed (step 538), and when it is determined that alarm flag D is set, rE-03J is displayed (step 538).
04J is displayed (step 537), and when it is determined that alarm flag E is set, rE-0
5J is displayed (step 538), and then the payout unprocessed ball number display control IA filling is completed and the process returns to the subroutine.

Next, the prize ball payout motor control process in step S9 will be explained with reference to FIG. 6F. First, it is determined whether the interval timer has expired (step 539). Here, the interval timer is 13
This is to allow a predetermined time interval after the payout of 1 or 7 prize balls is completed before the start of the next payout, and in the case of this embodiment, it is set to 1 second. and,
The setting value of this interval timer is 10100Oe.
A value of c/4 msec m250 is set, and is subtracted by "1" each time the prize ball payout motor control process is executed.

If it is determined that the interval timer has ended, the value of the unprocessed paid ball counter A that stores the number of prize balls generated by turning on the winning ball detector A is "0".
It is determined whether or not (step 540), and if it is "0", the value of the payout unprocessed ball counter B that stores the number of prize balls generated by turning on the winning ball detector B is "0" or not. is determined (step 541). If both are "O", the process advances to step 552 to be described later, turns off the prize ball payout motor 103, ends the prize ball payout motor control process, and returns to the subroutine. On the other hand, if any value is not "0", step 34 described later is performed.
Proceed to step 7.

If it is determined in step S39 that the interval timer has not ended, "1" is subtracted from the set value of the interval timer to determine whether the interval timer has ended (step 542), and rl ”
If the process does not end even after subtracting , wait until that state is reached. Also, if you want to end by subtracting "1",
It is determined whether the value of the unprocessed ball counter A is "0" (step 543), and if it is "0", it is determined whether the value of the unprocessed ball counter B is "0". (Step 544) If both are "0", there are no stored prize balls to be paid out, so the process proceeds to Step S52, which will be described later.
Further, if the value of the unprocessed ball counter B is not "0", the counter B subtraction flag is set so that the operation of putting out 7 balls is performed (step 545). Setting the counter B subtraction flag in this way is done in the sixth step, which will be described later.
This is because it is necessary to determine from which of the two counters the subtraction signal based on the detection signal of the payout prize ball detector 96 is to be subtracted in the payout prize ball detector check and filling shown in Figure G. be.

If it is determined in the step S43 that the value of the unprocessed paid ball counter A is not "0", or if the process of the step 545 is completed, it is determined that the prize balls to be paid out are stored and a ball jam check is performed. A timer is set (step 546). This ball jam check timer is set to determine whether or not to set the alarm flag D.
The next prize ball will be paid out by the paid out prize ball detector 96 within a predetermined time from the start of rotation in step 3 or from the first detection by the paid out prize ball detector 96.
It is determined that there is an abnormality when it is not detected due to However, in this example, since "1" second is set,
Its setting value is r250, which is the same as the interval timer.
It is J. If it is determined in step S44 that the value of the unprocessed balls counter B is "0", the process proceeds to step S52, which will be described later.

When the process of step S46 is completed, or when the determination is "NO" in step S40 and step S41, it is determined whether or not the ball breakage detector 69 is ON (step 547), and ONb If the dispensing motor 103 is turned on, the process advances to step S52 to stop the dispensing motor 103.
If not, it is determined whether or not the lower tray full detector 81 is turned on (step 548), and in this case, if it is turned on, the process proceeds to step S52 to stop the dispensing motor 103. ONL/If not, it is determined whether or not the payout stop flag A is set (step 549), and if it is set, it means that the player has stopped the payout operation of the prize balls at his/her will. The process also advances to step S52 and the payout motor 103 is stopped. On the other hand, if the dispensing stop flag A is not set, it is determined whether the dispensing stop flag B is set (step 550), and if it is set, the upper tray full detector 77 is turned on. It is determined whether or not the tray is full (step 551). Here, the upper tray full detector 77 is turned on.
If it is determined that the ball is L, this indicates that prize balls are stored in the batted ball supply tray 6, so the process advances to step S52 to stop the operation of putting out any more prize balls, and the operation of the payout motor 103. will be stopped.

If it is determined in step S50 that the payout stop flag B is not set, or in step S5
If it is determined in step 1 that the upper tray full detector 77 is not ON, the dispensing motor! 03 is ONL, and a prize ball payout operation is performed (step 553).

As described above, this prize ball payout motor control process is performed when no unprocessed balls are stored, when the payout stop flag A is set, and when the payout stop flag B
is set and the upper tray full detector 77 is ON, the drive of the dispensing motor 103 is stopped (step 552), and in other cases, the unprocessed dispensing balls counter is stored. The dispensing motor 103 is driven as long as there is a certain amount (step 553). Then, upon completion of the processing in step S52 or step S53, the prize ball payout motor control processing is completed and the process returns to the subroutine.

Next, the payout prize ball detector check process in step SIO will be explained with reference to FIG. Prize ball detector 96 is ONL
/ is determined (step 554), ON
If not, check counter C is cleared (step 555) and alarm flag C is cleared (step 356). Check counter C here.
The set value is set to r250J, which is incremented by "1" each time the payout prize ball detector check process is performed, and when the value reaches the maximum "250", the alarm flag is activated. This is for setting C. However, the check counter C reaches the maximum r250J when the payout prize ball detector 96 is not turned off.
In other words, O continuously during r250J count (1 second).
The state remains in the N state, and in such a state, it is determined that some kind of abnormality (broken wire, short circuit, ball jam, etc.) has occurred in the payout prize ball detector 96. When it is determined that the payout prize ball detector 96 is not ON, it is determined that no abnormality has occurred in the payout prize ball detector 96, and the check counter C is cleared in step S55.

After the alarm flag C is cleared in step S56, it is determined whether or not the dispensing motor 103 is turned on (step 557), and if it is turned on, it is determined whether the ball jam check timer has ended or not. Identified (step 5)
58), that is, in this case, the dispensing motor 103 is ON.
Ball jam check timer (1 second) even though it is inside
The fact that the payout prize ball detector 96 is in the OFF state until after has passed is due to some reason that the balls do not flow between the downstream side of the ball shortage sensing lever 68 and the soil placement part 99 of the prize ball payout device 90. A problem may have occurred. Therefore, when it is determined that the ball jam check timer has expired, alarm flag D is set (step 559). Thereafter, the payout prize ball detector check process is ended and the process returns to the subroutine.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S57 that the payout motor 103 is not ON, and if it is determined in step S58 that the ball jam check timer has not ended, the payout prize ball detector check process is ended. and return to the subroutine.

In step S54, the payout prize ball detector 96 is set to O.
If it is determined that the value of the check counter C is the maximum (250), it is then determined (step 560), and if it is determined that the value is the maximum, the prize is paid out as described above. It is determined that some kind of failure has occurred in the ball detector 96, and an alarm flag C is set (step 575).
Turning off the dispensing motor 103 (step 576),
The payout prize ball detector check process is ended and the process returns to the subroutine.

Further, if it is determined that the value of the check counter C is not the maximum, "1" is added to the check counter C (step 561), and then the value of the check counter C is "1".
2" (step 562). If it is determined that it is not r2J, the payout prize ball detector check process is ended and the process returns to the subroutine. On the other hand, if it is determined to be "2", first the ball jam check timer is set (step 563), the alarm flag D is cleared (step 564), and then the value of the unprocessed ball counter A is set to "o". If the value of the unprocessed ball counter A is "0", it is determined whether the value of the unprocessed ball counter B is "0" (step 565). Step 566), and if it is "0", set alarm flag E (step 567).

This is because the payout prize ball detector 96 turns ON even though both the payout unprocessed ball counters A and B are "o".
This means that the prize balls are being paid out due to some kind of fraud, and therefore an alarm flag E is set to notify the player. Note that in order to reset the alarm flag E, the alarm flag E cannot be canceled unless a reset switch (not shown) is pressed.

In step S65, the payout unprocessed ball counter A
If it is determined that the value of is not "0", the detection operation of the prize ball by the payout prize ball detector 96 is performed in order to determine which of the two counters the prize ball is being paid out based on. It is determined whether or not the counter B subtraction flag is set (step 368), and if it is determined that it is set, it is determined that the payout is being performed based on the payout unprocessed ball counter B. The process then proceeds to step S71, which will be described later. On the other hand, if it is determined that the payout is not set, it is determined that the payout is performed based on the payout unprocessed ball counter A, and "1" is subtracted from the value of the payout unprocessed ball counter A ( step 569
), it is determined whether the value of the unprocessed paid ball counter A after the subtraction is a multiple of "13" (step 570). If the number is not a multiple of "13", the payout prize ball detector check process is ended and the process returns to the subroutine.

On the other hand, if it is determined in the step S66 that the value of the unprocessed ball counter B is not "0", or if it is determined in the step S68 that the counter B subtraction flag is set, the unprocessed ball counter B is "1" is subtracted from the value of the ball counter B (step 571), and it is determined whether the value of the paid-out unprocessed ball counter B after the subtraction is a multiple of "7" (step 572).
). If the number is not a multiple of "7", the payout prize ball detector check process is ended and the process returns to the subroutine. If the number is a multiple of "7", the counter B subtraction flag is cleared (step 573).

If it is determined in step 570 or step S72 that the number is a multiple of each, an interval timer is set (step 574), and then the payout prize ball detector check process is ended and the process returns to the subroutine. The process of step S74 is performed to allow a predetermined time interval after the end of the payout of 13 or 7 pieces before the start of the next payout.

In addition, as is clear from the operation explanation of the above-described prize ball payout motor control process and the above-described payout prize ball detector check process, in this embodiment, if both counters A and B are not "0", , subtraction from counter A is performed preferentially, but if counter A is "0" and counter B is not "0", payout is performed based on the value of counter B. Even if winning ball detector A detects a winning ball during the payout operation based on counter B and the value of counter A is no longer "0", until the subtraction of 7 balls from counter B is completed, In order to subtract M from counter B, it is necessary to set the counter B subtraction flag.

Next, the winning ball detector A check process and the winning ball detector B check process in step 511 and step S12 will be explained with reference to FIG. 6H and FIG. 6(2). In this case, since the check processing of winning ball detector A and winning ball detector B is exactly the same, only one of them, FIG. 6H, will be explained, and the explanation of FIG. 6(2) will be omitted. First, it is determined whether or not the winning ball detector A is ONL (step 577).
, if it is not turned on, the check counter A is cleared (step 578), the alarm flag A is cleared (step 579), and then the winning ball detector A check process is completed and the process returns to the subroutine. Here, the maximum value of check counter A is set to "250",
``1'' every time the winning ball detector A check process is performed once.
This is to set the alarm flag A when the value reaches the maximum r250J.However, the reason why the check counter A reaches the maximum r250 is when the winning ball detector A is turned off. ONL continuously for r250J count (1 second),
In this state, it is determined that some kind of abnormality (broken wire, short circuit, ball jam, etc.) has occurred in the winning ball detector A. However, the winning ball detector A is O.
If it is determined not to be N, it is determined that there is no abnormality in the winning ball detector A, and the check counter A is cleared in step S78.

By the way, in step S7, the winning ball detector A is turned on.
If it is determined that the check counter A has reached the maximum value (250), it is determined whether the value of the check counter A has reached the maximum (250) (step 5).
80) If it is determined that the maximum is the maximum, it is determined that some kind of failure has occurred in the winning ball detector A as described above, and the alarm flag A is set (step 586), and the winning ball detector A is checked. Ends the process and returns to the subroutine.

If it is determined that the value of the check counter A is not the maximum, "1" is added to the check counter A in step 581. ), then it is determined whether the value of check counter A is [2] (step 582), r2J
If it is determined that it is not, the winning ball detector A check process is ended and the process returns to the subroutine. On the other hand, when it is determined that the number is "2", the payout unprocessed ball counter A-B
It is determined whether or not both are "0", and if it is determined that both are "0", a ball jam check timer is set (step 584), which results in the prize ball being paid out. It is set when the motor 103 is started, and its purpose is the same as step S46.

If the ball jam check timer is set in step S84, or if at least one of the payout unprocessed ball counters A and B is set to "0" in step S83,
If it is determined not to be ``13'', ``13'' is added to the value of the unpaid ball counter A (step 5aS), the winning ball detector A check process is ended, and the process returns to the subroutine.

Note that in FIG. 61, steps S7 to S88 in FIG. 6H described above are replaced by step 587 in FIG.
~ Step S96, respectively, and can be easily understood by appropriately replacing the alarm flag B and the number of stored pieces regarding the winning ball processor B.

Next, the prize ball payout stop operation detector check process in step 813 will be explained with reference to FIG. 6J. First, it is determined whether or not the player has operated the payout stop operation button 9, that is, whether or not the payout stop operation detector 9a is ONL (step 397). Clear the counter (step 5)
98), the prize ball dispensing stop operation detector check process is completed and the process returns to the subroutine. Here, the operation check counter is incremented by "1" every 4 msec. On the other hand, if it is determined that the dispensing stop operation detector 9a is turned on, the operation check counter is incremented by "1" (step 599), and when it is determined that the value becomes "2" (step 5100) It is determined whether the payout stop flag A is set (step 51).
01), if it is not set, it is determined whether or not the payout stop flag B is set (step 5).
102). If it is determined that both the payout stop flags A and B are not set, the payout stop flag A is set as this is the first pressing operation (step 5103), and the prize ball payout stop operation detector Finish the check process and return to the subroutine. On the other hand, the step 51
If it is determined that the payout stop flag A is set in step 01, it is determined that this is the second pressing operation and the payout stop flag A is cleared (step 5104), and the payout stop flag B is set (step 5105). , the process advances to step 5107, which will be described later. Furthermore, step 10
If it is determined in step 2 that the payout stop flag B is set, it is determined that this is the third pressing operation, the payout stop flag B is cleared, and the state returns to the original state (step 51).
06) In this case, since there is a possibility that a prize ball payout operation will be performed immediately, a ball jam check timer is set (step 5107), and then the prize ball payout stop operation detector check process is completed and the process returns to the subroutine.

The operation of the prize ball payout device 90 according to the embodiment has been mainly explained above, but in this embodiment, the operation of the prize ball payout device 90 is controlled by the operation of the payout stop operation button 9 that can be operated by the player. respond and stop it,
Since the drive can be started, the batted ball supply tray 6
The amount of prize balls stored in the surplus ball tray 12 can be adjusted as desired by the player, and thus the slump state desired by the player can be created. In addition, in the case of this embodiment, if the player wishes to cause a slump state by adjusting the amount of prize balls stored only in the surplus ball tray 12,
By depressing the payout stop operation button 9 twice,
The upper tray full detector 77 is activated and its ON/OF state
Stop the operation of the prize ball dispensing device 90 based on F,
Alternatively, it is possible to start driving.

Note that the following may be considered as a modification of the above embodiment.

(2) In the above embodiment, two types of winning ports with different numbers of prize balls to be paid out have been shown, but the numbers of prize balls to be paid out may all be the same, or three or more types may be used. Further, the number of prize balls to be paid out may be changed depending on the gaming state. For example, based on the variable display device 18 becoming a predetermined display (jackpot state), the number of prize balls to be paid out during the jackpot control period may be increased compared to the normal time. A setting operation section may be provided to arbitrarily set the number of prize balls to be paid out, so that the number of prize balls to be paid out can be changed.

■ In the above embodiment, after a predetermined number of balls have been dispensed, the next predetermined number of balls are dispensed at a certain time interval, but the unprocessed balls counter reaches "0" without any time interval. It may be possible to continuously pay out the number until the number is reached. In this case, even if there are a plurality of types of prize balls to be paid out, the unprocessed paid ball counter may be constituted by one common counter.

(2) If an abnormality occurs in the prize ball payout control, the game control may be interrupted and the gaming state at that time may be stored.

■ The winning ball detector used for game control may also be used for prize ball payout control. For example, in the above embodiment, if the starting winning ball detector 48 is also used for prize ball payout control, the second The winning ball detector 60 becomes unnecessary.

Furthermore, if the winning number detector 47 is also used for prize ball payout control, fraud regarding the winning number detector 42 (pulling out, shifting, etc.) can be more effectively prevented.

■ If an abnormality occurs in the winning ball detector 59 or 60,
The winning balls collected in the winning ball collection channels 57 and 58 may be stored. Further, if an abnormality occurs in the payout prize ball detector 96, the prize ball discharging path may be switched to prevent prize balls from being paid out to the player.

■ In the above embodiment, the number of unprocessed balls to be paid out, that is, the number of prize balls that have not been paid out, is stored and displayed, but instead of the number of prize balls, the number of winning balls is cumulatively added and the value is stored. It may also be displayed.

■ The configuration of the prize ball dispensing device is not limited to the embodiment.
Furthermore, instead of dispensing pieces one by one, a configuration may be adopted in which a certain number of pieces (such as 13 pieces or 7 pieces) are dispensed at once. In the latter case, the stored number of winning balls may be paid out in one go.
．． A device for sequentially dispensing prize balls may be specially provided on the prize ball 58, and the prize ball dispensing device may be mechanically operated by the paid-out winning balls.

■ It is also not necessary to provide the upper tray full detector 77.

Further, the lower plate full detector 81 may be configured to be activated by the operation of the lower full sensor plate 78.

■ In the above embodiment, one dispensing stop operation button 9 is used for dispensing stop operation and stop release operation, but separate operation buttons may be provided, or a sliding operation switch may be used. In addition, two functions may be set as the payout function by the stop release operation: a function to pay out all unprocessed balls and a function to pay out a part of the unprocessed balls. It may also be possible to select.

[Synopsis] It may be a so-called arrangement ball type pachinko game machine in which points are generated based on combinations of winnings in a plurality of winning holes provided on a game board.

In this case, the points given according to the establishment of the combination may be accumulated and stored and displayed.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above explanation, the pinball game machine according to the present invention has a condition for disabling the prize ball payout device based on the player operating the payout operation means. a means for disabling the prize ball dispensing device for detecting that the prize has been established;
and a prize ball payout device activation detection means for detecting that a condition for activating the prize ball payout device is satisfied based on the player's operation of the payout operation means. By operating the payout operation means, the prize ball payout device disablement detection means and the prize ball payout weave activation detection means are alternately driven, thereby making it possible to intentionally perform the payout operation of the prize balls. The amount of prize balls in a batted ball supply tray or surplus ball tray can be adjusted, and the slump desired by the player can be easily achieved without any troublesome operations such as removing prize balls.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko game machine as an example of a pinball game machine according to an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic rear view of the pachinko game machine, and FIGS. 3A and 3B are a prize ball dispensing device. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the prize ball payout device, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control circuit that controls the entire pachinko game machine including the prize ball payout device. 6th
Figures A to 6J are flowcharts mainly showing specific operations of the prize ball payout device. 1. Pachinko game machine (pinball game machine) 9. Payout stop operation button (payout operation means) 9a. Payout stop operation detector 90. Prize ball payout device 103. Prize ball payout motor 110. φ micro Computer patent applicant Sankyo Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A score storage means for storing scores generated in a pinball game, a prize ball dispensing device for dispensing prize balls based on the scores stored in the score storage means, and operated by a player. a payout operation means capable of activating or disabling the prize ball payout device based on the player's operation of the payout operation means; a prize ball dispensing device disabling detection means for detecting that a condition for activating the prize ball dispensing device is satisfied; and a condition for activating the prize ball dispensing device based on the player operating the dispensing operation means. a prize ball dispensing device activation detecting means for detecting the activation of the prize ball dispensing device; and stopping the dispensing operation of the prize balls based on the output of the prize ball dispensing device activation detecting means; A pinball game machine comprising: a prize ball payout device drive control means for driving and controlling the prize ball payout device so as to permit a payout operation of prize balls.