JPH04322684A - Ball cast controlling mechanism in game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable play to be resumed when a device is stopped by power stoppage or the like after the completion of ball casting by confirming the condition of balls cast in the unit of plural balls while storing the condition of the cast balls in a non-volatile memory. CONSTITUTION:When a stand-by sensor 42 confirms the presence of balls exceeding a predetermined number of balls on a ball receiving tray, balls can be cast for a game. When a casting switch is depressed, a solenoide 40 prohibiting the rotation of a sprocket 38 of a casting means is operated to disengage the sprocket from the solenoide 40 to the rotatable condition. The balls in a flow trough 36 are received one by one in a groove of the sprocket 38 while being dropped from the casting flow trough 36. When a predetermined number of balls are cast, a completion detecting means 43 transmits a cast completion signal to a controller 44. When the cast completion signal is transmitted, the information is stored from the controller 44 in a non-volatile memory 48 of a main controller 46.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a ball-throwing control mechanism in a ball-throwing type gaming machine, which is constructed so that a game can only be played after a plurality of balls are thrown.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional slot machines are coin-insertion machines, and employ a system in which money is exchanged for coins, and coins earned through games are exchanged for merchandise after the game is over. Furthermore, pachinko machines are configured to allow players to enjoy the game using balls, but because the value of one ball and the value of one coin are different, it has not been possible to adopt the ball insertion method to slot machines.

However, in the case of such a conventional method,
Unlike balls, coins are not suitable for feeding into gaming machines using a gutter, and coins that have been exchanged for products must be manually returned to gaming machines, making coin management troublesome. There is. Furthermore, pachinko and slot machines have different game formats, such as balls and coins. It was also inconvenient for people. There is a method to electronically count the coins at the prize exchange after the game ends, but it cannot be counted as smoothly as with pachinko balls, and there are also disadvantages such as difficulty in managing the coins. Therefore, a slot machine using pachinko balls has been invented, but since there is a difference between the game time of the pachinko and the game time of the slot machine, there is a problem that it is not possible to play the games with the same value. Therefore, so that the same balls used for pachinko can also be used for slot machines, the slot machine is configured so that a plurality of balls (a predetermined number) can be inserted at one time, and each predetermined number of balls can be used as one unit. A device has been developed. However, how to control the introduction of balls has been a major problem. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the disadvantages of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for controlling ball throwing.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] That is, the present invention provides a standby sensing means for checking whether or not there are a predetermined number or more of balls on the ball tray in an apparatus configured to allow a game to be played when a plurality of balls are inserted. , a throwing means that throws in a predetermined number of balls when a player gives an instruction to throw balls, a throwing end detection means provided around the throwing means, and a throwing end detecting means that inserts a predetermined number of balls. A casting control circuit that sends a casting completion signal to the main control device when confirmation is confirmed, and displays a casting error on the display if confirmation is not confirmed within a predetermined time, and supplies a predetermined number of winning balls to the player. The main control device stores whether or not a ball has been inserted into a non-volatile memory after the ball is inserted, so that even if the game becomes impossible due to a power outage, the player can restart play based on the stored information after recovery. This objective is achieved by a ball feeding control mechanism configured as follows.

[0005]

[Operation] In the control mechanism having the above configuration, first, the player can play when the number of balls he/she owns is greater than the number of playable balls (as confirmed by the standby sensing means);
When playing, first issue an instruction to throw balls into the machine via the operating section. Then, the throwing means inserts the balls one by one while counting them. As for whether or not the throwing means has finished throwing balls, the throwing end detection means transmits to the control circuit whether or not a predetermined number of balls necessary for play have been thrown, and this information is stored in the non-volatile memory of the main control device. is memorized. Normally, the device becomes ready for gaming. Further, if the charging is not completed within a predetermined time, the control circuit instructs the display means to display an error. Then, the player requests the store clerk at the game center to make repairs. Even after the input end signal has been sent, the game machine may stop due to a power outage, etc., but since the input signal is stored in advance in the non-volatile memory of the main control device, the game machine may stop after the power is restored. The player can resume play.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be explained in detail below according to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a slot machine in which a ball control mechanism according to the present invention is installed, and 1 is a reel display section displayed on a rotating body. Below the reel display section 1, from the left, a reel start switch 2 and a a reel stop switch 3a for stopping the rotating reel;
3b and 3c are attached together with a ball throwing switch 4 for instructing the gaming machine to throw in a predetermined number of balls, and below the switches 2, 3, and 4 there is a receiving tray divided into two stages for receiving winning balls, etc. 5 is installed. In addition, 6 is an upper plate ball removal switch for moving the balls on the upper stage to the lower stage.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the back side of the device in FIG. 1, and shows an auxiliary tank 7 installed in each gaming machine that receives balls from the ball supply mechanism of the gaming hall, and a tank connected to the auxiliary tank 7. A gutter 9 for guiding the balls to the ball dispensing means 8 in a continuous line; A gutter 11 on the player side and a gutter 12 on the gaming machine side, which are branched into
Rotary solenoid 14 for switching the path between
and a ball throwing means 16 interlocked with the throwing switch 4, 18 is an upper tray dispensing port of the ball receiving tray, 20 is a lower tray dispensing port thereof, 22 is an overflow tank, and 24 is an overflow switch.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the mechanism of the ball dispensing means 8, in which the balls 9a supplied from the gutter 9 are connected to an intermittent sprocket 26 having a groove with the same diameter as the ball, and an energized sprocket 26. It consists of a solenoid 27 and a stop bar 28 that are configured to stop the rotation of the sprocket 26, and a sensing means 30 that confirms the passage of falling balls and counts the number of balls that have passed. The solenoid 27 rotates the sprocket 26 so as to dispense balls one by one according to commands from the control device, and at the same time, the sensing means 30 confirms the number of passing balls.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the rotary solenoid 14 that distributes the balls falling from the gutter 10 into the gutter 11 on the player's side and the gutter 12 on the gaming machine side. A switching lever 32 connected to a rotary solenoid is connected to the gutter 12 so that the balls flow toward the gutter 11.
However, when it is detected that the number of balls passing through the sensing means 30 exceeds a predetermined number, the solenoid 14 is energized by an instruction from the control device, and the lever 32 is positioned so as to close the gutter 11. Operate. In this embodiment, in consideration of malfunctions of the lever 32, etc., the operation is made when the number of balls is two more than the predetermined number.

Next, FIG. 5 shows the structure of the ball feeding means 16, in which a gutter 36 continuous with the ball receiving tray is bent downward, and a concave groove with the same diameter as the outer diameter of the balls is formed below the gutter 36. A sprocket 38 configured to rotate by the number of balls thrown in, a solenoid 40 for controlling the start and stop of rotation of the sprocket 38, and a sprocket 38.
The solenoid 40 of this embodiment is configured to lock the sprocket 38 when the solenoid 40 is temporarily energized. is disengaged, and as a result, it is configured to allow rotation within a range in which a predetermined number of balls can be sent out, and it is possible to send out a predetermined number of balls in half a rotation or one rotation, and is locked by a solenoid 40. Ru. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the sprocket 38 is configured to rotate one ball at a time after a ball is thrown into the sprocket 38, and if a ball is not thrown into the sprocket 38 for some reason, the sprocket 38 will stop midway. state. 42 is a standby sensor installed at a predetermined position in the gutter 36 for detecting whether or not there is a predetermined number or more of balls on the tray; Communicate the presence or absence of

[0011] With the above-described configuration, in the device according to this embodiment, balls cannot be thrown in for the game until the standby sensor 42 confirms that a predetermined number or more of balls are present in the ball tray. When the closing switch is pressed, the solenoid 40 that restricts the rotation of the sprocket 38 of the closing means is activated to release the lock and become rotatable. Since the grooves of the sprocket 38 have the same diameter as the balls, the balls in the gutter 36 are dropped into the input gutter 36 one by one while being accommodated in the grooves of the sprocket 38. When a predetermined number of sprockets have been sprocketed, the end detection means 43 transmits a sprocket end signal to the control device 44, and when the sprocket 38 does not rotate by a predetermined angle within a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) and the sprocket does not complete the sprocket, the control device 44 is activated to display an error on the display section 45.

When the input completion signal is transmitted, the non-volatile memory 4 of the main controller 46 is transferred from the controller 44 to the nonvolatile memory 4 of the main controller 46.
The information is stored in 8. Therefore, if the machine stops due to a power outage or the like after the ball has been inserted but before the player presses the play button, the machine will be restored because the fact that the ball has been inserted is stored in the memory 48 of the control means 46. After that, the player is immediately ready to play. Then, the player
After pressing the play button, the memory regarding said input is erased. When the player wins a winning ball, the control device 44 sends a signal to the sprocket 24 to pay out one ball at a time, and according to the instruction, the sprocket 24 rotates one ball at a time, and the number of balls is increased to the lower part of the sprocket 24. It is counted by a sensing means installed in the When the number of balls that have been paid out exceeds a predetermined number, the information is transmitted to the control means 44, which operates the rotary solenoid to change the path of the balls.

[0013]

[Effects] As described above, the device according to the present invention not only confirms the throwing state of balls thrown in in units of multiple balls, but also
Since the input state is stored in non-volatile memory,
Even if you are unable to play due to a power outage, etc., you can resume playing immediately after the power is restored. In addition, when the ball is not completely inserted, the control device displays an error message and displays the error until the clerk or the like operates the ball, so there is no need to force the player to use extra balls. This provides a safe device for players.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a slot machine.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the device showing the internal mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the dispensing device.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the sorting mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing the loading mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a loading mechanism according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Reel display section 2 Reel start switch 4
Ball loading switch 5 Receiving tray 6 Ball removal switch 7 Auxiliary tank 8 Ball discharging means 9, 10, 11, 12, 36 Gutter 14
Rotary solenoid 16 Ball charging means 18 Upper plate dispensing port 20 Lower plate dispensing port 22 Overflow tank 24
Overflow switch 26, 38
Sprocket 27 Solenoid 28 Stopping rod 30 Sensing means 32 Switching lever 40 Solenoid 42 Standby sensor 44
Control device 46 Main control device

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A device configured to allow a game to be played when a plurality of balls are thrown in, comprising standby sensing means for checking whether there are a predetermined number or more of balls on a ball tray, and an instruction from a player to throw in balls. an input means for inputting a predetermined number of balls when a predetermined number of balls have been inputted, and an input end detection means provided around the input means; The main circuit consists of a casting control circuit that sends a casting completion signal and displays a casting error on the display if the signal is not confirmed within a predetermined time, and a ball dispensing means that supplies a predetermined number of winning balls to the player. The control device is configured to store the presence or absence of the input in its non-volatile memory after the input is completed, so that if the game becomes impossible due to a power outage or the like, the player can resume play based on the stored information after recovery. A ball insertion control mechanism for a gaming machine. 2. The ball dispensing means comprises a sprocket having a groove for holding the balls and rotating one ball at a time, a solenoid for controlling the start and stop of rotation of the sprocket, and a sprocket provided around the sprocket in a predetermined manner. 2. The ball throwing control mechanism in a gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising throwing end detection means for detecting whether the ball has been rotated by an angle.