JPH0415704B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a pinball game machine in which balls are launched and dropped from the upper part of the board to a ball receiver.

<Prior art> A pinball game machine has ball receivers arranged horizontally in a line below the surface of the nailing board, and in front of each ball receiver, there are many display sections vertically and horizontally that indicate when a ball has entered the ball receiver. At the same time, on the back side of each display part, there is a front part that covers the front of the display part so that it can be opened and closed freely, and from the bottom so that the cover of the display part can be released according to the number of balls that have entered the ball receiver. There is a device which pivotally supports a plurality of stages of swinging members that swing sequentially, and is provided with a ball stopper corresponding to the lower end of each ball receiving portion for discharging the balls one by one from the ball receiving portion by moving back and forth. but,
In this type of conventional pinball game machine, push buttons for operating the ball stopper back and forth are directly connected to the ball stopper and arranged horizontally in a line, and the front surface of the nailing board is covered with a front door that can be opened and closed freely. The front of the display was covered by a display window constructed separately from the
−6938).

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> Therefore, in the conventional device, it is necessary to separately install a front door and a display window in front of the panel surface and display section.
The structure of this part became complicated, and more parts were covered by the mounting frames of the front door and display window, resulting in disadvantages such as a narrower panel surface. In addition, the push button connected to the ball stopper must be held in a mounting frame of the display section or the like so as to be movable back and forth, and it is troublesome to assemble the push button.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is designed to have a simple structure, a wide board surface, and to easily incorporate a push button for operating the ball stopper back and forth.

<Means for Solving the Problem> The technical means of the present invention for solving this technical problem is to install balls below the nailing board surface 7 to receive the balls 5 launched onto the top of the board surface 7 and to store them vertically one after another. Receiving part 2
1 are provided in a row horizontally, and in front of each ball receiving part 21, a large number of display parts 17 indicating that a ball 5 has entered there are arranged vertically and horizontally. The front surface of the display section 17 is opened and closed freely, and the display section 17 is sequentially oscillated from the bottom so that the display section 17 is sequentially unlocked by the balls 5 of the ball receiving section 21 according to the number of balls stored therein. A member 25 is pivotally supported,
In a pinball game machine provided with a ball stopper 32 that discharges the balls 5 of the ball receiver 21 one by one by moving back and forth corresponding to the lower end of each ball receiver 21, the front surface of the nailing board surface 7 and the display section 17 A front door 43 is provided, which is integrally covered by transparent bodies 47 and 48, and push buttons 50 for operating the ball stopper 32 back and forth are provided in a line horizontally in a separate state from the ball stopper 32 at the bottom of the front door 43. It is characterized by being

<Embodiment> The following will explain the illustrated embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 1 to 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a rectangular machine frame, which is attached to a box-shaped base 2 so as to be openable and closable. ing. Reference numeral 3 denotes a front plate, which is attached to the machine frame 1 via a spacer 4. A large number of obstacle nails 6 are planted on the upper front side of the front plate 3 to prevent the ball 5 from falling uncontrollably, and a nailing plate surface 7 is installed. It is formed.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a mounting window that opens below the board surface 7 of the front plate 3, and a mounting frame 10 is attached to the mounting window 9 so as to penetrate inside and outside. Reference numeral 11 denotes a ball introduction port provided at the upper end of the mounting frame 10, and 16 are arranged horizontally in a row below the board surface 7.
When a predetermined number (12 balls) of balls 5 are launched from a waiting path 13 using a ball hitting handle 12, the balls 5 enter the ball introduction port 11 from the upper part of the board 7. Further, a pair of upper and lower partition plates are arranged in the mounting frame 10 in a row in the lateral direction corresponding to the ball introduction port 11.

Reference numeral 14 designates a large number of display units arranged laterally in correspondence with each ball introduction port 11, which are removably fitted between the upper and lower partition plates of the mounting frame 10. Each display unit 14 includes a case body 15 and a cover/switch board 16 that closes the case body 15, and the case body 15 has display sections 17 arranged in five stages in the vertical direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, 16 display units 17 are provided in the horizontal direction and 5 display units 17 in the vertical direction. 14
Each display section 17 is provided with a pattern 18 of the same type in the vertical direction up to the third row, and characters 19 indicating "OUT" are provided on the fourth and fifth rows. In addition, each display section 17 corresponding to the display unit 14 in the third to fourteenth rows counting from the left end has numbers 20 from 1 to 12 increasing in number from the left end up to the fourth row from the bottom row. The numbers are the same in the vertical direction, and the word OUT (19) is placed in the fifth row. A ball receiving part 21 corresponding to each ball introduction port 11 is formed in the vertical direction behind the display part 17, and the ball receiving part 21 receives the balls 5 launched onto the upper part of the board surface 7 and sequentially stores them in the vertical direction. Between the display section 17 and the ball receiving section 21, five horizontal shafts 22 are provided projecting in the vertical direction at equal intervals.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a swinging member provided in five stages in each display unit 14. The rear part of each swinging member 25 is pivotally supported on the horizontal shaft 22 of each corresponding stage, and under normal conditions, the front part is rotated due to its own weight. 25a is the display section 1 of each corresponding row.
The ball 5 swings to a position covering the front surface of the ball 5 and hits the ball receiver 21.
When the ball 5 falls, the rear end is pushed down, and the lowermost swinging member 2
From No. 5 onwards, the front portion 25a of the display section 21 swings sequentially to open the front surface of the display section 21. Reference numeral 27 denotes a magnet fixed to each of the swinging members 25 in the third or fourth row from the bottom (swinging members 25 that cover the display section 17 with the pattern 18 or the number 20). 26 is a reed switch, which is attached to the outer surface of the switch board 16 in three or four stages corresponding to the magnets 20 of each swinging member 25, and the swinging member 25 is connected to the display section 17.
When the display section 17 is covered, the display section 17 is located at a position away from the magnet 27 and is in the off state, and when the swinging member 25 swings to open the display section 17, the magnet 27 approaches and the display section 17 is turned on. There is.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a ball ejecting means provided below the display unit 14, which includes a ball ejecting plate 31 extending over the entire display unit 14, and a ball ejecting means on the ball ejecting plate 31 corresponding to each ball receiving portion 21 to close the lower end opening thereof. A large number of ball stoppers 32 are arranged, and a horizontal shaft 33 is attached to the front end of each ball stopper 32.
An operating body 35 is rotatably supported and biased forward by a spring 34. When the operating body 35 is pushed against the spring 34, the ball stopper 32 moves backward on the ball removal plate 31. By moving, the balls 5 in the corresponding ball receiving portions 21 can be removed one by one in the direction of the arrow a through the ball holes 36, and the ball removal plate 31 can be locked in a horizontal state and can freely rotate around the support shaft 37. and
When the solenoid 38 is activated, the pressing rod 40 moves downward via the swinging rod 39, so that the ball removal plate 3
1 is pulled down from the horizontal state around the support shaft 37 as shown by the chain line in FIG.
All the balls 5 in each ball receiving part 21 can be removed in the direction of arrow b by opening the lower end opening of the ball receiving part 21.

43 is a front door; a rectangular mounting frame 44;
4 and a closing plate 45 attached to the lower part of the closing plate 4.
The front door 43 is provided with transparent glasses 47 and 48 placed on the machine frame 1 and held on the mounting frame 44 via a support frame 46, etc. The board 7 and the front surface of the display section 17 are integrally covered by transparent glasses 47 and 48. Reference numeral 50 denotes push buttons for re-hitting the ball 5, which are arranged in rows in the lateral direction on the closing plate 45 in correspondence with the operating bodies 35, and each push button 50 is held through the closing plate 45 so as to be movable back and forth, and is supported by a spring. By pressing the push button 50 forward, the ball stopper 32 is moved forward via the operation body 35, and when the push button 50 is released, the spring 3 is urged forward.
The push button 50 and the ball stopper 32 are moved backward by the biases 4 and 51, and the ball stopper 32 is returned to its original position.

Reference numeral 53 denotes a display plate provided between the transparent glasses 47 and 48, and the display plate 53 has patterns 18 or numbers 20 corresponding to the ball receivers 21 arranged in a row in the horizontal direction.

Reference numeral 55 denotes a ball passage provided below the ball receiving part 21. The ball passage 55 is formed in a length extending over all the ball stop parts 21, and when the ball removing plate 31 is pulled down, the ball receiving part 21 is removed.
The ball 5 is configured to receive the ball 5 ejected from the ball in the direction of the arrow b, and roll and fall from the outlet 56 at the center in the left-right direction. 57 is a ball receiving plate that receives the balls 5 rolling and falling from the ball path 55 in a horizontal line;
It is pivotably supported below the ball passage 55 about a front-rear shaft 58. Reference numeral 59 denotes a holding member that holds the free end side of the ball receiving plate 57 so as to restrict downward rotation.The holding member 59 is pivotally supported below the ball receiving plate 57 so as to be freely rotatable around the front and rear axis 60, and holds the ball receiving plate 57. It is movable between a horizontal holding position P ₁ where it is held horizontally and an inclined holding position P ₂ where it is held in a downward tilted state to the left. 62 is the holding member 5
9 from the horizontal holding position P ₁ to the inclined holding position P ₂ , which includes a solenoid 64 having an operating rod 63 and a connecting rod 65 connected to the operating rod 63 .
and a tension coil spring 66 that urges the connecting rod 65 to the left side.
9 are connected to each other, and when the solenoid 64 is activated, the operating rod 63 moves backward in the direction of arrow c, and the connecting rod 65 moves in the same direction.
9 from the horizontal holding position _P1 to the inclined holding position _P2 . 68 is the ball receiving plate 5
The guide plate is provided at the free end of the ball receiving plate 57 and integrally includes an upright part 69 projecting upward from the front end of the ball receiving plate 57 and a guide part 70 bent backward from the upright part 69.
Reference numeral 71 denotes a ball discharging passage provided in the front plate 3, which has an opening extending through the front face 3 from front to back corresponding to the lower end of the ball receiving plate 57 which is in an inclined state. Receive the ball 5 and move the ball 5 to the front plate 3
It is designed to send out to the waiting path 13 in front of the.

Reference numeral 74 denotes an uneven display device, which includes a display window 75 formed at the upper left end of the board surface 7 and a pattern 1 of the display section 17.
Display body 76 with a display similar to 8 or number 19
and a reading means 77 (shown in FIG. 8) for optically reading the display contents of the display body 76.
Note that the display body 76 can be replaced with another display body 76 provided with another pattern 18 or a number 19.

78 is a central checker provided in the center of board surface 7, 7
Reference numeral 9 denotes side chucks provided at both ends of the board surface 7. These chucks 78 and 79 are formed in a box shape with an open top end, and catch the ball 5 falling from the front surface of the board surface 7 and direct the ball 5 to the board surface 7. Insert it on the back side. 80
is a ball return port provided below the chuckers 78, 79 on the board surface 7, and the balls 5 introduced from the chuckers 78, 79 onto the back surface of the board surface 7 are dropped from here onto the front surface of the board surface 7.
On the back side of the board 7 is the ball 5 that entered the central chuck 78.
A ball detection switch 81 (shown in FIG. 8) detects the
is provided.

Reference numeral 84 indicates indicator lamps arranged horizontally in a line corresponding to each ball receiving portion 21. They are mounted horizontally at equal intervals on a printed circuit board 85 arranged horizontally slightly below the ball introduction port 11, and each indicator Lamp 84 is the seventh
As shown in the figure, it is visible from the front through a through hole 86 opened in the front wall 10a of the mounting frame 10 and an opening window 87 formed in the display board 53.

Reference numeral 88 is a tachometer that displays the number of times the ball 5 is re-hit, and also controls the ball receiving part 21 by the back and forth movement of the ball stopper 32.
The balls 5 discharged from the ball receiver 21 in the direction of the arrow a are returned to the waiting path 13 only a certain number of times (six times), and then the balls 5 discharged from the ball receiver 21 in the direction of the arrow a are returned to the waiting path 13 from the discharge passage 89. It is configured to be delivered onto a ball receiving plate 57. 90 is a coin slot, 91 is a coin return push button, 92 is a coin return slot, 93 is a coin tray, 94 is a payment switch, and 95 is a start switch. Note that up to seven coins can be inserted into the coin slot 90, and the inserted coins are stored in a RAM 98, which will be described later, as stored coins. 96 is a coin dispensing device for dispensing coins into the coin tray 93.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of the control system. In the same figure, reference numeral 97 is a control device mainly composed of a microcomputer;
4 reading means 77, a coin detection switch 99 for detecting a coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 90,
Signals are input from the ball detection switch 81, the payment switch 94, the start switch 95, the read switch 26, etc., and the gaming state is sequentially stored in the RAM 98 shown in FIG.

Then, the control device 97 turns on the solenoid 3 by turning on the payment switch 94, which has the following processing functions.
8 is operated, and the coin dispensing device 96 is also operated to dispense the stored coins to the coin tray 93. If there are stored coins that have been inserted from the coin slot 90 but have not yet been used for play, the start switch 95 is turned on to activate the solenoid 38, and the solenoid 64 is activated a little later than the activation of the solenoid 38. balls 5 are delivered to a waiting path 13. During play, if the ball 5 enters the center chuck 78, each indicator lamp 84
are sequentially turned on one by one starting from the left end, and after one cycle, the circular lighting is stopped at a randomly selected specific display lamp 84, and that display lamp 84 is kept lit. At this time, if the randomly selected indicator lamp 84 is already lit, after the indicator lamp 84 is lit in a cycle, the next indicator lamp 84 is kept lit together with that indicator lamp 84. In addition, when the settlement switch 94 or the start switch 95 is turned on, an upward winning combination is formed by the combination of the ball receivers 21 into which the balls 5 are received by launching 12 balls 5 or re-hitting the balls 5. That is, all of the 12 patterns 18 or numbers 20 displayed on the display section 17 when the launched ball 5 enters the ball receiving section 21 are replaced by three identical patterns, three identical numbers, or three identical numbers. If the numbers match consecutively, it is determined that an upward winning combination has been formed, and the coin payout device 96 is activated to pay out one coin to the coin tray 93. Also at this time, 3
If there are pairs of identical patterns 18, the number of coins added is the number of coins to be paid out, and the randomness display device 7
Pattern 1 that is the same as the pattern or number displayed in 4
If 8 or the number 20 is displayed on the display unit 17, the sum of these numbers is taken as the number of coins to be paid out,
Also, the pattern 18 corresponding to the lit indicator lamp 84
Or if the number 20 is displayed on the display section 17,
The sum of these numbers is determined as the number of coins to be paid out, and the coin paying out device 96 is operated to pay out that number of coins to the coin tray 93. Furthermore, if there are three sets of three identical numbers 20 or the same pattern 18 on the display section 17, or if there are three sets of three consecutive numbers 20,
If there are 4 sets of the same number 20 or the same pattern 18, or if there are 4 sets of 3 consecutive numbers 20, the number added by 3 will be the number of coins to be paid out. The device 96 is operated to dispense that number of coins into the coin tray 93. In other words, even if the combinations of ball receivers 21 containing balls 5 are the same, if special conditions are met, such as the display lamp 84 corresponding to the ball receiver 21 containing balls 5 being lit, the winning result will be improved. It increases the number of winnings and pays out coins according to the winning hand.

FIG. 9 shows a circuit diagram of the RAM 98 portion of the control device 97. In the same figure, the RAM 98 has an access terminal OE, a write terminal WR, a power supply terminal _VDD , and an operation terminal CS; When a high voltage is applied from V _DD , a signal is input from the write terminal WR to sequentially memorize the game state, and the power supply terminal
The memory is configured to be erased by applying a low voltage to V _DD . RAM98 also has an operating terminal.
When a low voltage (approximately 0V) is applied to CS,
The RAM 98 is in an operational state in which input and output are possible, and can be written and read, and can sequentially store game states. Also, high voltage (approximately 5V) is applied to the operating terminal CS.
is applied, the RAM 98 does not input or output, retains its memory state, and is configured so that power consumption is reduced at this time. 101 is the power input terminal, where high voltage (approx.
5V) is supplied. 102 is a capacitor that is charged by the power supply and is connected to the power supply terminal when the power is turned off.
Apply high voltage to V _DD . 103 is capacitor 1
A discharge circuit that operates to rapidly discharge the transistor 104 and the resistors 105 and 10.
It consists of 6th grade. A timer circuit 107 activates the discharge circuit 103 when the power is turned off for a certain period of time (approximately one hour), and includes a resistor 108, a capacitor 109, a resistor 110, a diode 111, and the like. 112 is a transistor.

Next, the operation will be explained. Ball 5 by handle 12
When the ball is launched, it falls into the ball receiving part 21 of the display unit 14 from the ball introduction port 11, and the swinging member 25 at the lowest stage swings around the horizontal axis 22 in the direction of arrow d to display the corresponding lowest stage. portion 17 is exposed, and at the same time a reed switch 26 corresponding to this swinging member 25 is opened.
turns on. In addition, second, third...
When the ball 5 falls, the swinging members 25 of the second stage, third stage, etc. from the bottom also swing in the direction of the arrow d, superimposing the ball 5 that has fallen on the work machine, and the corresponding display section 17
is exposed to indicate that the ball 5 is in the ball receiving part 21, and at the same time the corresponding reed switch 26 is turned on.

When a ball 5 launched during a game enters a central chuck 78, the ball 5 passes through the back side of the board 7, drops from a ball return port 80 onto the front surface of the board 7, and enters a certain ball receiver 21. At this time, by turning on the ball detection switch 81, the control device 97 turns on the display lamps 84 sequentially starting from the left end, and then turns on a specific display lamp 84.

When the push button 50 corresponding to the ball receiver 21 on which the ball 5 has fallen is pressed, the ball stopper 32 is pressed via the operating body 35 as shown by the chain line in FIG. 32 moves back and forth, and as a result, one ball 5 in the ball receiving portion 21 is ejected from the ball hole 36 in the direction of arrow a. If the number of times the ball 5 has been re-hit has not yet reached six, the ejected ball 5 is returned to the waiting path and the ball 5 can be re-hit. If the number of times the ball 5 is re-hit is six, the ball 5 is sent out from the discharge passage 89 to the ball receiving plate 57 by the action of the tachometer 88.

If no ascending hand has been formed, settlement switch 9
4 is turned on, the solenoid 38 is actuated to pull down the ball ejecting plate 31 as shown by the chain line in FIG. The balls 5 are sent out from the ball passage 55 onto the ball receiving plate 57 in a horizontal state, and if there are coins stored at this time, the stored number of coins are paid out to the coin receiving tray 93. Also, start switch 9
5, if there are coins stored, the solenoid 38 is actuated to send out all the balls 5 in the ball receiving part 21 to the ball receiving plate 57 in the horizontal state, and then the solenoid 64 is actuated to send out all the balls 5 as shown in the chain line in FIG. As shown in , the holding member 59 moves from the horizontal holding position _P1 to the inclined holding position.
As _a result, the ball receiving plate 57 swings as shown by the chain line and tilts downward to the left, and the balls 5 on the ball receiving plate 57 are delivered to the waiting path 13 through the ball discharging passage 71. This makes the next pinball game machine possible.

Then, when a predetermined number (12) of balls 5 are launched or an upward winning combination is formed by re-hitting the balls 5, when the settlement switch 94 is turned on, all of the balls in each ball receiver 21 are activated by the operation of the solenoid 38. The ball 5 is sent out onto the ball receiving plate 57, and a coin payout device 96 is activated to pay out coins in the number of coins corresponding to the up winning combination and the number of stored coins to the coin receiving plate 93. Also, start switch 9
5 is turned on, the solenoid 38 is actuated to send all the balls 5 of each ball receiving part 21 onto the ball receiving plate 57, and then the solenoid 64 is actuated to send out all the balls 5 onto the ball receiving plate 57.
The upper ball 5 is sent out to a waiting path 13, and the number of coins corresponding to the upward winning combination is paid out to a coin tray 93.

During play, the commercial power supply is connected to the power input terminal 10.
1, a high voltage is applied to the power supply terminal V _DD of the RAM 98 by the power supply, and the capacitors 102 and 109 are charged. Also, at this time, the transistor 112 is turned on, so the operating terminal CS becomes a low voltage, and the RAM 98 becomes the write terminal WR.
The game state is sequentially stored by inputting signals from the machine.
When the commercial power supply is turned off due to a power outage or the like, high voltage is supplied from the capacitor 102 to the power supply terminal _VDD due to discharge of the capacitor 102, and the memory in the RAM 98 is not erased. At this time, since the transistor 112 is turned off, the operating terminal CS becomes high voltage, and the RAM 98 stops operating.
The memory of is retained as is, and RAM98
power consumption is reduced. Then, after a certain period of time (approximately 1 hour) has passed since the power was turned off, capacitor 1
Due to the discharge of 09, the voltage at point A increases, turning on the transistor 104, and as a result, the discharge circuit 103
Due to the operation of the capacitor 102, the capacitor 102 is rapidly discharged.
At this point, high voltage is no longer supplied from the capacitor 102 to the power supply terminal _VDD , and the memory in the RAM 98 is erased.

In the embodiment described above, coins are paid out to the coin tray 93 according to the winning combination, but if the number of stored coins inserted is less than 7, the coins to be paid out are replaced with 7 stored coins. It is also possible to add the coins to the stored coins until the number of coins reaches 1, and then pay out only the remaining coins to the coin tray 93.

In the embodiment described above, the front door 43 covers the front surface of the board 7 and the display section 17 with two pieces of transparent glass 47 and 48, but what covers the board surface 7 and the display section 17 is limited to the transparent glasses 47 and 48. For example, it may be a transparent body made of plastic, or it may be a single transparent body.

<Effects of the Invention> According to the present invention, the nailing board surface 7 and the display section 17
Since the front door 43 is integrally covered by transparent bodies 47 and 48, the structure is very simple.
The front surface of the display section 17 can be covered, and the portions covered by the mounting frames of the transparent bodies 47 and 48 are minimized, and the board surface 7 can be made wider. Further, since the push buttons 50 for operating the ball stopper 32 back and forth are provided in a line horizontally in a separate state from the ball stopper 32, the pushbuttons 50 can be operated completely separately from the ball stopper 32 at the front door. 43, and even though the front door 43 covers the front surface of the display section 17, the push button 50 can be assembled very easily, and the effect is remarkable.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a front view of a pinball game machine showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a rear view of the machine with the frame side open, and Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the machine with the display unit removed. , FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the display unit fitted in, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1,
FIG. 6 is a rear sectional view of the ball dispensing mechanism, FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of the display section, FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the control system, and FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of the control system. 5... Ball, 7... Nailing board surface, 17... Display section, 21... Ball receiving section, 25... Swinging member, 25a
...Front part, 32 ... Ball stopper, 43 ... Front door, 4
7, 48...transparent glass (transparent body), 50...push button.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Below the nailing board surface 7, there is a ball receiving part 2 that receives the balls 5 launched onto the top of the board surface 7 and stores them vertically one after another.
1 are provided in a row horizontally, and in front of each ball receiving part 21, a large number of display parts 17 indicating that a ball 5 has entered there are arranged vertically and horizontally. The front surface of the display section 17 is opened and closed freely, and the display section 17 is sequentially oscillated from the bottom so that the display section 17 is sequentially unlocked by the balls 5 of the ball receiving section 21 according to the number of balls stored therein. A member 25 is pivotally supported,
In a pinball game machine provided with a ball stopper 32 that discharges the balls 5 of the ball receiver 21 one by one by moving back and forth corresponding to the lower end of each ball receiver 21, the front surface of the nailing board surface 7 and the display section 17 A front door 43 is provided, which is integrally covered by transparent bodies 47 and 48, and push buttons 50 for operating the ball stopper 32 back and forth are provided in a line horizontally in a separate state from the ball stopper 32 at the bottom of the front door 43. A pinball game machine characterized by: