JPH0515651A - Card system pinball game system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize the system by omitting a loudspeaker by inserting a card into a game board controller from a discharge controller or a ball bending controller, transmitting a generation request signal of a discharge sound, and also, providing a sound priority control means on the game beard controller. CONSTITUTION:A discharge controller 600 holds an excitation of discharge solenoids 741a, 741b by an input of a detecting signal from a holding ball detector and suspends discharge of a ball discharge device 170, and also, turns on a prize ball discharge display lamp or a lending ball discharge display lamp. Also, a discharge sound request signal of a prize ball or a lending ball is sent out to a game board controller 400. On the other hand, the game board controller 400 is provided with a sound priority control moans 470 for determining which sound is generated preferentially, based on a card insertion and a discharge sound request inputted to a communication means 410.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control technique for a gaming machine and a technique effective when applied to a control system for a card-type pachinko gaming machine. The present invention relates to an effective technology that is used as a control method in a card-type pachinko game system that is also configured to discharge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a card-type pachinko game system has been proposed in which a game is played using a magnetic card as a medium. The card system has an advantage that a player only has to carry a card as a storage medium, and can reduce the time and effort to carry a large number of pachinko balls that easily fall. The card-type pachinko game system that has been conventionally proposed is roughly divided into the following two systems. The first method is to store the ball number data corresponding to the purchase amount when issuing the card, play a pachinko game within the range of this ball number data, and use the ball number data that has increased or decreased during the game process to the card. It is to be remembered (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 47-42227). The second type of card system is to issue a card that records only the code number when purchasing a card, store the number of balls in the central management unit, and insert the card into the card reader of the pachinko machine. The number of balls held is recalled so that the player can play the game (Actual Kokoku Sho 61-32709, Japanese Examined Sho 51-).
17106).

[0003]

However, in any of the conventional card-type game systems, the cards can be played only within the game store that issued the card, and other game stores. It was impossible to play games with the cards issued in. Also, the issued card was only valid on the day of issue. Therefore, a game system of a common prepaid card system, which can be used even with cards issued at other amusement stores and can be used without being restricted by the expiration date, has been partially put into practical use.

However, if such a common prepaid card system is adopted, the player cannot start the game until the player purchases the card, puts it in the ball lending machine, and converts it into a lending ball. Compared to, there was a problem that it took extra time due to the increase in the act of purchasing cards. Further, in the conventional card-type pachinko game system, there is a problem that the player may leave the gaming machine while leaving the card in the card reader.

Therefore, the prize ball discharging device provided in the pachinko gaming machine is used to discharge the lending balls directly to the supply plate of the pachinko gaming machine so that the player's annoyance can be reduced and the ball lending can be performed. A discharge control method has been considered in which a speaker is provided in the machine to insert a card and generate a discharge sound. However, if such a control system is adopted, it becomes clear that there is a problem that the handling of the prize ball ejection, the card insertion, and the ejection when there is a competition, and the ball lending machine becomes large. . .

The present invention has been made under the above background, and its object is to discharge the rental balls directly to the supply tray by using the prize ball discharging device provided in the gaming machine. In a configured pachinko gaming machine, when a card is inserted or ejected, a speaker provided in the pachinko gaming machine is used to generate an insertion sound or an ejection sound, thereby providing a control method in which the speaker of the ball lending machine can be omitted. Especially. Another object of the present invention is to avoid generation of overlapping sounds when game sounds such as prize ball discharge and card insertion and discharge sounds compete.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, in a card-type pachinko game system configured to directly discharge rental balls to a supply tray by using a prize ball discharging device provided in a gaming machine, A ball lending conversion requesting means for giving a command to convert a part of valuable data held by the card into a lending ball, a game board control device for controlling a game, and a minimum ball for one operation of the ball lending conversion requesting means. A ball lending number setting means for setting the number of times of lending, and ball lending control is started by the operation of the ball lending conversion requesting means, and a ball lending request signal is sent to the discharge control device based on the set number of times by the ball lending number setting means. The ball lending control device for supplying the ball lending control device and the ball lending control device according to the request from the game board control device or the ball lending control device to discharge a predetermined number of prize balls or lend balls. And a control device provided out, and so as to transmit from the emission control device or the ball lending controller card insertion against the gaming machine controller, the generation request signal of the exhaust sound. Further, the game board control device is provided with sound priority control means.

[0008]

According to the above-mentioned means, since the card insertion / ejection sound generation request signal is transmitted from the ejection control device to the game board control device, it is possible to prevent the card from being left behind and the pachinko game machine. You can omit the speaker that should be installed in the ball lending machine because you can use the speaker provided to generate the sound of card insertion and ejection, and the ball lending machine is compact compared to the case where separate speakers are installed. And the cost of the entire system can be reduced. Further, by providing the sound board control device with the sound priority control means, it is possible to avoid the sound from being overlapped when the game sound such as the prize ball discharge and the card insertion / discharge sound compete with each other.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a card-type pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the pachinko gaming machine 100 and the ball lending machine 200 are configured to be paired with each other, and each ball lending machine 200 has a built-in card reader, and the front panel 210 of the ball lending machine 200 has the above-mentioned structure. Corresponding to the card reader, there are provided a card insertion / ejection port 211, an insertion balance indicator 220 for displaying the balance of the inserted card, and an effective display lamp 230 for indicating that the ball lending machine is in an operating state.

On the other hand, an operation panel 121 is formed on the upper surface of the supply tray 120 provided on the front panel 101 of the pachinko gaming machine 100, and a card inserted into the card insertion / ejection slot 211 on the operation panel 121. Balance display device 122 for displaying the balance of the card, a conversion button 123 for giving a command for conversion to a rental ball, a return button 124 for instructing the ejection (return) of the card, and that the conversion button 123 is valid. A ball lendable display lamp 126 for displaying is provided.

Numeral 112 is a prize ball discharge display lamp which is turned on when a prize ball is discharged, 113 is a rental ball discharge display lamp which is turned on when a rental ball is discharged, and 108 is a stop state in a pachinko gaming machine. A completion lamp that is turned on, 141 is a tray for storing prize balls that have overflowed inside when the supply tray 120 is full, 1
Reference numeral 42 is an operation dial of a hitting ball launching device that launches the balls flowing down from the supply tray 120 one by one into the game area. The structure of the game area on the front of the pachinko game board is the same as the conventional one, and can take any structure.

In this embodiment, when the conversion button 123 is pressed, a preset amount of money (for example, 300 yen) is set within the range of the amount of money that the card has on the assumption that the card is inserted into the card reader of the ball lending machine 200. It is configured to send a command for converting (minutes) to rental balls to the control device of the ball discharging device provided on the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine 100. The remaining amount of money of the converted card is displayed on the balance display 122 with a frequency of 100 yen as one unit.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a back mechanism of a pachinko gaming machine 100 to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 2, 170 is a ball ejecting device for ejecting prize balls, and 600 is the ball ejecting device 170 based on a signal from a prize detector or the like.
And a discharge control device for discharging a predetermined number of prize balls,
151 is a storage tank for storing the balls before being discharged,
Reference numeral 152 is a guide path for aligning the balls in the storage tank 151 in a line and guiding the balls to the ball discharging device 170. The guiding path 152 is not particularly limited, but is formed in two lines so that a large amount of balls can be supplied in a short time, and a ball leveling 153 and a waiting ball detector 160 that prevent balls from overlapping in the middle thereof. Is provided.

Below the ball discharge device 170, the discharged balls are provided with the discharged balls 12 on the front face of the gaming machine.
9 and a overflow gutter 156 that guides balls overflowing from the supply tray 120 to the lower tray 141 are continuously provided. Is arranged in parallel with the overflow gutter 156, and a flow path switching valve 158 is provided at a branch portion between the drain gutter 157 and the discharge gutter 155. 159 is a collecting gutter that collects the winning balls that have flowed into the winning openings provided on the front of the gaming machine in one place, and 180 is a detector that is provided at the lower end of the collecting gutter 159 and separates the collected winning balls one by one. The winning ball separation detecting device 400 is a game board control device that drives a winning object or a display lamp based on a signal from a winning detector provided in the game section.

The game board control device 400 and the discharge control device 600 are connected by a cord composed of three signal lines. Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment,
One ends of the codes 191 and 192 pulled out from the game board control device 400 and the discharge control device 600 are connected to the relay board 195, and the game board control device 400 and the discharge control device 600 can communicate with each other via the relay board 195. Is bound to. In this embodiment, the winning ball separation detection device 1
A detector (hereinafter referred to as a safe sensor) 181 is composed of a stopper 182 facing a downflow path of the winning balls collected by the collecting gutter 159 and a solenoid (hereinafter, referred to as a safe solenoid) 183, and the winning ball 1 Each time one is detected, an electric type is used in which the stopper 182 is driven by the solenoid 183 to make one winning ball flow down. However, a seesaw type having a stopper at the front end and a weight at the rear end is used. The number of winning balls is 6 and the discharge control device 6 is used.
It may be electrically stored in 00.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the ball discharging device 170. The ball discharge device 170 includes a guide gutter 710 configured to be continuous with the guide gutter 152 that guides the preliminary balls stored in the storage tank 151. The guide gutter 710 is formed in two lines corresponding to the above-mentioned guide gutter 152, and a discharge means 740 including a stopper 745 as a flow-down prevention means and a drive discharge solenoid 741 thereof is also provided corresponding to the passage of each line. Two sets are provided. The guide gutter 710 is composed of three parts due to its function, and the decompression section 711, the edge cutting section 712, and the discharge section 7 are arranged in this order from the top.
It is supposed to be 13.

The depressurizing unit 711 reduces the pressure of the reserve ball sent from the storage tank 151 through the guide gutter 152, and has a U-turn structure in a gently inclined state as shown in FIG. ing. The edging portion 712 is provided to allow the balls passing through the discharge portion 713 therebelow to be spaced apart from each other so as to easily stop the discharge of the balls by the discharge means 740 below. Part 7
21 and a direction changing passage portion 7 leading to a discharge portion 713 described later.
22 and 22.

A ball clogging preventing projection 723 is provided at the lower end of the vertical passage portion 721 so as to project forward. The ball clogging prevention protrusion 723 allows the center position of the lowest ball among the balls stopped vertically aligned in the vertical passage portion 721 to be always located in front of the center position of the upper ball. As a result, the downward moving pressure of the upper sphere acts so as to always push the lowermost sphere forward, so that the ball clogging is prevented. Non-contact type discharge ball detection sensors 730 (discharge sensors 1 and 2) for detecting falling balls are installed in the middle of the discharge portion 713 of each guide gutter 710.

A notch 703 is provided in the middle of each discharge portion 713, immediately after the discharge sensor 730, into which a stopper 745 forming the discharge means 740 can be projected and retracted. The stoppers 745 are rotatably supported by the support shafts 705, respectively.
Connecting pins 746 are provided on one side of each of the connecting pins 746, and the connecting pins 746 and the lower end of the operating rod 742 of the discharge solenoid 741 are connected by a connecting plate 747.

When the discharge solenoid 741 is in the demagnetized (OFF) state, the operating rod 742 is lowered and the tip of the stopper 745 is guided from the notch 703 to the guide trough 7.
10 into each of the discharge parts 713,
It is designed to prevent the game balls in 13 from flowing down. On the other hand, when the discharge solenoid 741 is excited (turned on), the operating rod 742 is raised and the stopper 745 is rotated in a direction of rising so as to be removed from the notch 703 of the discharge portion 713 and the ball in the discharge portion 713. The flow prevention state is released, and the preliminary ball in the guide gutter 710 is discharged to the discharge gutter 155 below.

Thus, the ball discharging device 170 of the above embodiment.
Can stop the discharge by operating the stopper 745 when the predetermined number is reached while detecting the falling balls one by one by the discharge sensor 730, and thus, as described above, the prize balls and the rental balls having different discharge balls It is possible to discharge and by the same ball discharging device. Note that in FIG. 3, reference numeral 750 is a ball punching sensor 750 that detects that a ball punching bar has been inserted through an operation hole (not shown) provided in the front frame 101 of the pachinko gaming machine 100. When the ball removal sensor 750 is turned on, the discharge solenoid 741
Are continuously excited to discharge the auxiliary ball in the guide gutter 710, and the driving means (solenoid) of the switching valve 158 in the discharge gutter 155 is operated to discharge the discharged ball to the outside of the machine through the ball discharge gutter 157. It is designed to be discharged.

The ball removing sensor 750, the discharge solenoid 741, and the discharge sensor 730 are electrically connected to the discharge control device 600. In Figure 4, the pachinko gaming machine 1
An example of a 00 control system is shown. This control system is roughly divided into a game board control device 400 that mainly controls the game board of the pachinko gaming machine 100, a ball lending control device 500 that controls the card reader and the like, and a ball discharge device 170. The discharge control device 600 is included.

Of the above control devices, game board control device 400
Receives a detection signal from various prize-winning ball detectors provided on the game board 102 of the pachinko gaming machine to form a drive signal for a winning character, or separates the prize-winning balls provided on the back mechanism board of the pachinko gaming machine. In response to a signal from a detector (safe sensor) 181 in the detection device 180, the safe solenoid 182 for winning ball separation is operated, or a drive signal for the speaker 190 is formed. In addition, the game board control device 400
Indicates that the pachinko machine is in operation or a big hit occurs for the management device 700 of the pachinko parlor by monitoring the gaming state.
It is equipped with a function to convey information regarding the state of occurrence of stoppage.

The discharge control device 600 has two guide gutters 7 in the ball discharge device 170 based on a discharge command signal from the ball lending control device 500 or the game board control device 400.
The discharge solenoids 741a and 741b for activating a pair of stoppers 745 provided in the middle of 10 are excited to discharge a predetermined number of preliminary balls in each guide trough 710 based on the detection signals of the discharge sensors 730a and 730b. Exciting the discharge solenoids 741a and 741b based on the ON signal from the ball removing switch 750 and operating the drive source of the flow path switching valve 158 to discharge all the reserve balls in the storage tank 151 and the guide trough 152. To do.

Further, the discharge control device 600 includes a guide gutter 15
When a detection signal from the standby ball detector 160 provided in the middle of 2 comes in, the excitation of the discharge solenoids 741a and 741b is suspended and the discharge by the ball discharge device 170 is stopped. In response to this, for example, the prize ball discharge display lamp 112 or the rental ball discharge display lamp 113 is turned on, or a discharge sound request signal of the prize ball or the rental ball is sent to the game board control device 400.

The ball lending control device 500 receives the read data from the card reader in the pachinko gaming machine 100, and outputs a drive signal to the insertion balance display 220 and the balance display 12.
2, a drive signal for a display drive signal and a drive signal for an effective display lamp 230 that indicates that the card reader is in operation and a ball lendable display lamp 126 provided in a pachinko gaming machine, and the card reader control device 2
A balance data rewrite signal q, a punch hole processing signal m, and a card ejection signal n for 50 are formed. Further, the ball lending control device 500 receives the on signals of the ball lending conversion switch (123) and the card return switch (124), and at the same time sends the ball lending request signal BRQ to the discharge control device 600.
And a card presence / absence signal CON, and a function of sending a card settlement signal j to the management device 800 of the card management company to inform the management device 800 of one (100 yen) conversion to a rental ball. There is.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the game board control device 400. That is, the game board control device 400 of this embodiment counts and holds the detection signals from the communication means 410 that transmits and receives signals to and from the discharge control device 600, and the detection signals from the prize-winning prize-based prize detectors of the game board 102. Two winning storage means 421, 422 and each winning storage means 421, 42
Number of prize balls storage means 430 for storing the number of prize balls corresponding to 2
And the prize ball number control means 44 for determining the number of prize balls to be discharged based on the stored contents of the prize storing means 421, 422.
0 and control related to games, such as driving solenoids, motors, and display lamps of the role object based on a signal from the game board 102, detecting the occurrence of a big hit, and driving the role object and the variable winning device according to a predetermined procedure. Game control means 45 for playing
0, and sound priority for determining which sound is to be prioritized based on a prize ball discharge sound request from the game control means 450, a big hit generation sound request, etc., a card insertion from the communication means 410, and a discharge sound request. Control means 470 and the game board 10
It is constituted by a signal input / output means 460 which receives an input signal from the device 2 and forms a drive signal for a display lamp on a game board, a motor, a solenoid, a speaker and the like.

In the game board control device 400 of this embodiment,
A number of prize balls different from the number of general prize holes are set, so that it is possible to correspond to the case where two kinds of prize ball-specific prize detectors 490 for detecting the balls prized in the prize holes are provided in the game board 102. Two winning storage means 421, 422 are provided, and the number of winnings is counted for each winning opening having a different number of prize balls. Since the winning detection signal continuously enters the game board control device 400 regardless of whether or not the prize balls are discharged, a winning storage means for storing the number of winning balls is required.

On the other hand, when the prize sphere number control means 440 learns from the signal from the communication means 410 that the discharge control device 600 has requested the transmission of the prize sphere number data, the prize memorization means 421, 422 stores the memorized data. Based on the contents, the number of prize balls to be discharged is read out from the prize ball number storage means 430 and determined, and the determined prize ball number data G is passed to the communication means 410 to transmit the prize ball number data to the discharge control device 600. Let At the same time, the prize ball number control means 440 transmits the prize ball number data once, and the prize storage means 421 or 422.
It is equipped with a function to reduce the stored contents of "1". Moreover, in this embodiment, the communication means 410 counts this with the timer counter on the basis of a signal (for example, a reset signal) that causes the game board control device 400 to periodically (every 2 msec) generate an interrupt. The clock CK having the period (8 msec) is formed and supplied to the emission control device 600.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of the communication means 410 in the game board control device 400. That is,
The communication means 410 counts the reset signal r from the reset generation circuit RST to form a synchronization clock CK, and the prize ball number control means 4 described above.
Transmitting means 412 for converting the prize ball number data G passed from 40 into serial data and transmitting it, line confirming means 413 for transmitting a line test signal by the transmitting means 412 when the power is turned on, and prize ball number data Transmission request control means 414 for controlling the transmission of the same data twice in succession and a reception timing for controlling the reading timing of the signal (command) transmitted from the discharge control device 600. The control means 415, the reception signal storage means 416 that reads and holds the reception signal according to the timing signal from the control means 415, and the reception signal storage means 416 that holds the same reception signal read for the second time Received signal comparing means 4 for comparing with a signal
17 and a received signal decoding means 418 which decodes the received signal based on the result of comparison. The received signal decoding means 418 decodes the received signal and sends the prize ball number request signal D to the prize ball number control means 440, or supplies the resend request signal E when the received data do not match, and also the above line. A command for transmitting a line test signal is given to the confirmation means 413, and a rental ball discharge sound request signal, a card insertion sound request signal, and a card discharge sound request signal are supplied to the sound priority control means 470.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which the game board control device 400 is constructed by using a general-purpose IC.
That is, the game board control device 400 is a microprocessor CPU, a read-only memory ROM, a memory RAM that can be read from and written to at any time, an input / output control circuit I / O including a gate array, and a display (lamp) on the game board. And LE
D, a solenoid, a driver DRV that forms a drive signal for a motor, a filter FLT that removes noise from the signal of the prize detector for each prize ball, and inputs various sound effects based on a selection signal from the sound priority control means 470. The sound generator SDG and the amplifier AMP that amplifies the output of the sound generator SDG and drives the speaker 190.

In FIG. 7, among the components shown in FIG. 5, the prize storing means 421 and 422 are RAM, and the prize ball number storing means 430 is ROM.
The communication means 410, the number of prize balls control means 440, and the game control means 450 store the CPU and its operation program R
Depending on the OM, the signal input / output unit 460 further includes a driver DRV, a filter FLT, a sound generator SDG.
And the amplifier AMP, respectively.

RST is a microprocessor CPU
A reset generation circuit for generating a reset signal r for
The PC1 and PC2 are based on the synchronization signal CK and the transmission data signal from the input / output control circuit I / O and the discharge control device 60.
0 is a photocoupler serving as a transmission driving unit that current-drives a signal line connected to 0, and RCV is a photocoupler PC3.
And a filter FLT2, which is a receiving circuit that converts the current supplied by the emission control device 600 into a voltage to generate received data. Reset generation circuit RST of this embodiment
Is composed of a power-on reset circuit that generates a reset signal when the power is turned on, and a frequency divider that generates a reset pulse every 2 msec based on a reference clock φc supplied from a clock generator or the like.

FIG. 8 shows a structural example of the discharge control device 600. The discharge control device 600 of this embodiment is a communication control means 6 for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the game board control device 400.
10, a prize ball number requesting means 620 for transmitting a request signal of prize ball number data to the game board control device 400 based on a detection signal from the safe sensor 181, and driving the discharge solenoids 741a, 741b to win the prize. Ejection control means 650 for ejecting balls, ejecting balls, or instructing the communication means 610 to perform a request transmission of prize ball ejection sound when ejecting prize balls, and balls from the ball lending control device 500. The lending, which calculates the number of ball lending discharges based on the lending request signal BRQ and informs the emission control means 610, or instructs the communication means 610 to perform a request transmission of the lending ball discharge sound when the lending balls are discharged. It is composed of a ball ejection control means 670.

The communication control means 610 confirms the reception of the power-on detection means 611 such as the power-on reset circuit and the synchronization clock CK supplied from the game board control device 400 immediately after the power is turned on, and the line test is performed. Line confirming means 612 for carrying out, and transmission information storing means 613 for storing various commands to be transmitted to the game board control device 400.
And a transmitting means 614 for transmitting the selected command to the game board control device 400, and a case where there is no response from the game board control device 400 to a prize ball number data request or the like or there is an error in the received signal. A re-transmission control means 615 for making a re-transmission request, a request number setting means 615a for storing the number of re-transmission requests, and a receiving means 616 for successively reading the signal from the game board control device 400 twice bit by bit.
Two reception signal storage means 617a and 617b for storing the signals transmitted twice in succession, reception signal comparison means 618 for comparing the two reception signals to detect an error, and decoding the received information It comprises a received information decoding means 619 for passing the prize ball number data to the discharge control means 650, and for a line test to inform the line confirmation means 612 that the line is normal.

The discharge control means 650 drives the separating solenoid 182 in the winning ball detecting / separating device 180 every time the winning ball discharging is completed, and the number of winning balls is provided on condition that the standby ball detector is turned on. Based on the data (reception data) and the detection signals from the discharge sensors 730a and 730b, the discharge solenoids 741a and 741b are driven to discharge the prize balls, or the prize ball discharge indicator 1 is used when the prize balls are discharged.
12 is turned on, or the ON / OFF signal from the ball removal switch 750 is used to switch the flow path switching valve (ball removal solenoid) provided in the middle of the prize ball discharge trough and the discharge solenoid 74.
Control is performed to drive 1a and 741b to discharge all the spare balls in the storage tank 151.

The rental ball discharge control means 670 is a ball lending number setting means (for example, a ROM) for storing the conversion rate to the rental ball (the number of rental balls for 100 yen), and a ball lending request from the ball lending control device 500. Signal BRQ and card presence / absence signal CON
And the ball lending start request signal from the ball lending start determination means, which determines whether or not the ball lending discharge control should be started based on On the basis of the above, the number of discharged balls for lending is read out from the number-of-lending-lens setting means and passed to the discharge control means 650, and the number of discharged balls for lending is determined, and the ball lending control device 500 is in a state where ball lending can be discharged. A ball lending signal RDY indicating that the rental ball discharge completion signal EXS indicating that the discharge of one (100 yen) rental ball is completed, and the prize ball number requesting means 620 are under the ball rental control. It is composed of a discharge control signal forming means for forming a signal x for notifying that. The prize ball number requesting means 620 delays the start of prize ball discharge if the ball lending is being discharged even if the winning detection signal is input from the safe sensor 181.

As shown in FIG. 9, the discharge control device 600 is a general-purpose IC such as a single-chip microcomputer CPU having a built-in ROM or RAM and an input / output control circuit I / O, a photocoupler PC, a driver DRV, a filter FLT, etc. Alternatively, it can be configured by using a discrete resistor R, a capacitor C, a line monitor light emitting diode LED, and a connector CNT. As an example, in this embodiment, 500 kH
A CPU operating with a system clock of frequency z is used. Further, the line monitor lamp LED is provided on the signal line for transmission / reception with the ball lending control device 500 so that disconnection of the signal line can be detected.

FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of the ball lending control device 500. The ball lending control device 500 of this embodiment includes a control unit 510 including a single-chip microcomputer, and a transceiver 502 that interfaces data transmission / reception between the control unit 510 and the card reader control device 250.
And display driving means 503a and 503b for forming drive signals for the balance indicator 122 and the insertion balance indicator 220, which are segment-type indicators, and the ball lending indicator lamp 1
26 and the drive circuits DRV1 and DRV2 for driving the ball lending validity display lamp 230, and signals from the return button 124 and the conversion button 123.
Input buffers 504a and 504b, a relay 505 that supplies a card settlement signal j to the card management device 800, and the number of discharges per operation of the conversion switch 123 (100 yen is the minimum discharge unit). It is configured by a ball lending number setting means 506 and the like.

The control unit 510 also reads the data from the card reader control unit 250 to determine the balance data of the card and outputs a card presence / absence signal CON indicating that the card is present in the card reader or the inserted balance. A card balance determination means 511 that forms display data for the display device 220, and subtracts the card balance when there is a ball lending and discharges to form display data for the balance display device 220 or write data for the card reader control device 250. And the card balance subtraction means 512 for forming a command and the card reader controller 250 when the return button 124 is turned on, the card balance becomes “0”, or there is an ejection error.
Card return requesting means 51 for giving a card return instruction to
3 and the ball lending discharge end signal E from the discharge control device 600
A card usage information output unit 514 for notifying the card management device 800 that there has been a lend for one unit based on XS, and a card balance or a ball lend when a conversion request signal from the conversion button 123 is input. The ball lending availability determining means 515 for determining whether or not ball lending is possible based on the availability signal RDY and the like, and the remaining number of ball lending discharges is determined based on the set number of the ball lending number setting means 506 and the discharge end signal EXS. Ball lending frequency control means 516 and ball lending possibility determination means 515
From a ball lending request signal BRQ to the discharge control device 600 based on a control signal permitting the generation of a ball lending request signal from the player and a signal from the ball lending frequency control means 517. Has been done.

Further, in this embodiment, from the ball lending request signal BRQ and the ball lending discharge end signal EXS, the discharge is not started within a predetermined time after the ball lending request is transmitted, or the ball lending discharge is started within a predetermined time. Discharge start time monitoring means 518 and discharge time monitoring means 519 for determining a discharge error and giving a card return command to the card return requesting means 513 when a series of ball lending and discharging are not completed are provided. . Further, the ball lending possibility determining unit 515 drives the drive circuit 507 based on the signal from the card balance determining unit 511 and the ball lending possible signal RDY from the emission control device 600, and the ball lending conversion button 124.
The ball lending possible display lamp 126 is turned on only when is enabled, and the ball lending possible display lamp 126 is turned off while the ball lending is being executed. The ball lending number setting means 506 can be configured by a storage means such as a ROM or a setting device such as a slide switch.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment in which the ball lending control device 500 is constructed by using a general-purpose IC. That is, the ball lending control device 500 includes a read-only memory ROM and a memory RA that can be read and written at any time.
M, a single-chip microcomputer CPU with a built-in serial interface SIF for serial communication, a transceiver TRS for performing serial communication with the card reader control device 250, and driving of a segment balance indicator 122 (insertion balance indicator 220). Photocoupler drivers DRV11, DRV12 (DRV13, DR) that form signals
V14), a photocoupler PC21 for inputting a signal from the ball lending conversion switch to the CPU, a photocoupler driver DRV21 forming a drive signal for the ball lendable indicator 126, and transmission / reception between the discharge control device 600. Photo couplers PC11-PC14 for converting signals, a ball lending number setting switch array SW-ARY, and a relay R for supplying a card settlement signal j to the card management device 800.
It is composed of LY and the like. Further, line monitor lamps LED11-LED14 for detecting disconnection of the signal line are provided on the signal line for transmission / reception with the emission control device 600.

Next, an example of the control procedure of the entire game board performed by the above-mentioned game board control device 400 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. This control flow is executed every predetermined time (for example, 2 msec) by the timer interrupt after the power of the game board control device 400 is turned on. When this interruption process is started, first, a switch input process for reading signals from the prize-winning prize detector 490 and other various switches (including sensors) provided on the game board 102 is performed (step S80). Next, the reset circuit RST
The power-on reset signal from is checked to determine whether the power is turned on (step S81). When it is determined that the power is turned on, the RAM and the input / output port are initialized and the interrupt processing is finished (step S8).
2).

On the other hand, if "No" in the step S81, that is, if it is determined that the power has been turned on, the process proceeds to a step S83 to output the clock CK as a synchronization signal to be supplied to the discharge control device 600 (see FIG. 13). ). Then, the prize ball switch input processing (see FIG. 14) for reading and counting the detection signal of the prize detecting detector 490 for each prize ball, the transmission / reception processing of commands and data with the discharge control device 600 (see FIGS. 15 to 18), and After performing fraud detection processing for checking whether fraud has been made based on the signals of various switches and sensors in the gaming machine and its cancellation processing (steps S84-S86), the flag set in this fraud detection processing is checked. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a fraud (step S87).

When an injustice is detected in step S87, an injustice process (step S89) such as blinking a display provided in the gaming machine or driving a speaker 190 to give an alarm is executed to perform an interrupt process. To finish. If it is determined in step S87 that there is no injustice, the process proceeds to step S88, in which a character provided on the game board 102 is driven, a display is turned on or off, and a sound effect such as a prize ball discharge sound is generated by a speaker. A game process such as setting an output port is performed in order to perform the above.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the control procedure of the clock signal output process of the above various processes. When this process is started, first, the clock timer counter is incremented (+1) in step S90, and then it is determined in step S91 whether the timer counter value is "2" or more. If "No", the process ends. Then, when the next interrupt process is started, the timer counter is incremented again in step S90. Then, if "Yes" is determined in the step S91, the process shifts to a step S92 to clear the above, and then the output state of the clock signal is inverted and the present routine is finished (step S93). As a result, this timer counter repeats the values of "0", "1" and "2" at every 2 msec interrupt, and the clock CK is inverted every time it becomes "2". As a result, as shown in FIG. 60, a clock CK having an interrupt period, that is, a period (8 msec) four times as long as the reset pulse r is output. In this embodiment, the clock CK is the emission control device 600.
Is supplied as a synchronizing signal for communication.

FIG. 14 shows an example of the control procedure of the prize ball switch input process among the various processes shown in FIG. In this input processing, a 7-piece award switch for detecting a ball that has won a winning opening that gives "7" prize balls or a 10-piece award that detects a ball that has won a winning opening that gives "10" prize balls It is determined whether the ball switch is on (steps S94 and S95). When the 7 award ball switch is turned on, the process proceeds to step S96, and it is determined whether the 7 award ball memory is "254 or less", and if "Yes", the 7 award ball memory is incremented by "1" (step 1). S97). Also, 1
When the 0 award ball switch is turned on, the process proceeds to step S98, and it is determined whether or not the 10 award ball memory is "254" or less, and "Y
If "es", the memory of seven prize balls is incremented by "1" (step S
99). As a result, a maximum of 254 prize winning balls can be stored.

15A to 15D show an example of a control procedure of data transmission / reception processing among the above various processing. Of these, FIG. 15A is a transmission processing flow, and FIG.
15D is a reception processing flow. In this transmission / reception process, first in step S801, step S885 described later is executed.
It is determined whether there is a transmission request by checking whether the 8-bit transmission bit counter set in (see FIG. 15D) is larger than “0”. The transmission bit counter is the discharge control device 60 at the last step of the data reception process.
It is prepared for transmitting 8-bit data or command when transmitting a response to 0. When this bit counter is set to "8", it is determined as "Yes" in step S801. Step S803
Then, the transmission process is started.

In step S803, it is determined whether or not the clock CK supplied from the game board control device 400 is at high level, and if it is at low level, this routine is ended. This is because if the transmission data is switched during the low level period of the clock CK, the data may be replaced while the emission control device 600 is reading the data, so that it is avoided. If "Yes" is determined in the above step S803, the process proceeds to step S805 and it is determined whether or not the clock timer counter is "0". The clock for interrupt processing in this routine is 2 ms, while the clock CK
Since the cycle is 8 ms, the high level may be determined twice during one cycle, and the data or command is transmitted at the timing immediately after the change to the high level.

If "Yes" is determined in step S805, the flow advances to step S807 to output the content of the corresponding bit (the bit designated by the transmission bit counter) in the transmission buffer to the transmission port. Then, after decrementing (-1) the value of the transmission bit counter (step S80)
9), it is determined whether the value of the transmission bit counter has been reached (step S811). Here, in the case of "No", the process is once terminated, and when the present routine is executed again, the above procedure is repeated to transmit the next bit in the transmission buffer.

When all 8-bit data is transmitted,
The determination in step S811 becomes "Yes", the flow proceeds to step S813, and the transmission count is decremented by "1". Then, in the next step S815, it is determined whether or not the number of transmissions has become “0”, and if “Yes”, the transmission processing is terminated,
If "No", the transmission bit counter is set to "8" again. As a result, the same data is repeatedly transmitted the set number of times. In this embodiment, the line test command is set to once and the prize ball number data is set to twice (step S8 described later).
59, S883), so the transmission is performed that number of times.

When it is judged "No" in the next step S801 and the process shifts to the receiving process of FIG. 15B, first, the step S8 is performed.
In step 21, it is determined whether or not the clock signal CK for synchronization is low level. If the clock CK is at high level, the process jumps to step S845 (FIG. 15C). The discharge control device 600 transmits data (command) in synchronization with the clock CK as shown by the broken line in FIG. 60. Considering the delay of the signal, the clock CK
This is for avoiding reading of data during the transition of data during the high level period T1. Note that FIG.
In, the deviation ΔT of the change between the solid line and the broken line of the clock signal CK is the time difference (round trip) caused by the delay on the signal line. The delay of the data SD to be received is only one way, so that it is less than the delay of the clock CK.

If "Yes" in the step S821, that is, if it is determined that the clock CK is at the low level, the process proceeds to a step S823 to read 1-bit received data from the input / output port (timing t1 in FIG. 60). then,
The clock timer counter updated in the subroutine of FIG. 13 is checked (step S825). If the counter value is "0", the received data read in step S823 is stored in the memory (step S827), and then the step Proceed to S829. On the other hand, when the value of the clock timer counter is not "0" in step S825, the process immediately proceeds to step S829 to determine whether the value of the timer counter is "1". If the determination in step S829 is "No", the process jumps to step S845.

The subroutine is executed again,
After the second reception data is read in step S823 (timing t2 in FIG. 60), when it is determined to be “Yes” at step S829, the process proceeds to step S831, and the second reception data read in step S823 ( (1 bit) and the first read data stored in step S827 are compared. As a result, if they are the same, it is considered that the reading was correctly performed, and the step S
In step 833, it is determined whether the value of the read bit counter is "0". Then, if "0", it is determined whether or not the bit received in step S835 is low level, that is, the head bit (so-called start bit) of the received data, and if "No", the process jumps to step S845 and "Yes".
If s ″, the flow advances to step S841 to write the reception data (1 bit) into the corresponding bit of the reception buffer, and then the read bit counter is incremented (+1) (step S843).

On the other hand, if the read data of the first time and the read data of the second time do not match in the determination of step S831, the flow shifts to step S837 to determine whether the read bit counter is larger than "0", and "0" is read. , The process jumps to step S845. If the read bit counter is "1" or more, that is, other than the first bit, the data error flag is set to "1" and the process proceeds to step S841 to write the received data (1 bit) to the corresponding bit of the reception buffer. Then, the read bit counter is incremented and step S84 of FIG. 15C is executed.
Go to 5. This is because all the 8-bit data is read for the time being, and finally a data error is dealt with.

In step S845, it is determined whether or not the read bit counter has reached "8". If "No", that is, if all the 8-bit received data has not been read yet, this routine is once terminated. When it is determined to be “Yes” in step S845 while repeating the read operation, the process proceeds to step S847, the read bit counter is cleared to “0”, and then the data error flag is set to “1”. It is determined whether or not (step S84
9). If "Yes" here, the flow advances to step S851 to clear the data error flag to "0", and the present routine ends. That is, the reception process ends without any response to the data transmission from the emission control device 600. However, in the flow of the emission control device 600 (described later), such non-response is dealt with by performing processing such as retransmission.

On the other hand, if the decision result in the step S849 is "No", the flow shifts to a step S853, and it is decided whether or not the received 8-bit data is a "line test command". Go to S855,
After setting the line test received flag to "1",
The "line test command" is set in the transmission buffer (step S857). The line test is the game board controller 40
This is because the "line test command" is transmitted from both 0 and the emission control device 600 and is confirmed. After setting the "line test command" in the transmission buffer, the process proceeds to step S859, the number of transmissions is set to "1", and then step S88 of FIG. 15D.
The routine jumps to step 5, sets the transmission bit counter to "8", and ends this routine. Send bit counter to "8"
Is set as the transmission start condition in the above-described transmission routine (FIG. 15A).

If "No" in the step S853, that is, if the received 8-bit data is not the "line test command", the process advances to step S861 to see if the line test received flag is already set to "1". If it is determined to be "No", this routine ends. This is because even if another command is sent before checking the line test, it is ignored. If it is determined in step S861 that the line test reception completion flag has already been set to "1", the flow shifts to step S863 in FIG. 15D.

In step S863, it is determined whether or not the received 8-bit data is a "prize ball request command" (steps S865 and S867). The award ball memory is checked, and if none is stored, 15 award ball number data is set in the transmission buffer in step S869. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S865 that there are 7 award balls stored, the process proceeds to step S871 and 7 is set as the award ball number data in the transmission buffer, and the number of the 7 award balls stored is "1". Subtract (step S873). Also, step S867
If it is determined that there is a memory of 10 prize balls in step S8
Move to 75, 1 as prize ball number data in the transmission buffer
Zero is set, and the number of stored 10 prize balls is subtracted by "1" (step S877). Then, step S88
In step 3, the number of transmissions is set to "2", the transmission bit counter is set to "8", and this routine is finished (step S885).

When it is determined that the 8-bit data received in step S863 is not the "prize ball request command",
In step S879, it is determined whether or not the received data is a "prize ball request command". If "No", step S879 is performed.
The process proceeds to 887, and if “Yes”, it is determined whether or not prize ball number data is already set in the transmission buffer. Then, when the prize ball number data is already set in the transmission buffer,
In step S883, the number of transmissions is set to "2" and then the transmission bit counter is set to "8" (step S883).
885) and then the process proceeds to the transmission process. If “No”, the process proceeds to step S887.

In step S887, it is determined whether a request command for a purchase sound (lens conversion sound) is received from the emission control device 600. If "Yes", the purchase sound output flag is set to "1" in step S893. This routine ends. This flag is referred to in the game process (step S88) in FIG. 12, and drives the speaker to generate a predetermined sound effect.

If "No" in step S887, the flow advances to step S889 to determine whether a card insertion sound request command has been received from the ejection control device 600, and "Yes"
If "s", the card insertion sound output flag is set to "1" in step S895, and the present routine ends. If "No" in step S889, step S890
Then, it is determined whether the card ejection sound request command is received from the ejection control device 600, and if “Yes”, the step S
At 895, the card ejection sound output flag is set to "1" and this routine ends. These flags are referred to in the game process (step S88) in FIG. 12, and the speaker is driven to generate a predetermined sound effect.

Next, a ball lending request signal or the like to the discharge control device 600 is sent by a control signal to the card reader 250, a drive signal of the balance indicator 122, and a signal from the ball lending conversion button 123 provided on the pachinko gaming machine. A control procedure of the ball lending control device 500 that forms and outputs the ball lending control device 500 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 16 to 25. FIG. 16 shows an outline of a main routine of the ball lending control device. This main routine is performed by the ball lending control device 50.
When the power of 0 is turned on, it is repeatedly executed.

When the power is turned on, first, initial settings such as RAM clear, flag setting, and output buffer resetting are performed (step S8002). Next step S80
In 04, the ball lending indicator 126 is temporarily turned off, and the balance indicator 122 forms and outputs a drive signal for displaying zero balance (“000” in the case of three-digit display) (step S8006). ).

Then, the process proceeds to the next step, and the ball lending process (step S8008) and the returning process (step S80).
10), function transmission / reception processing (step S801)
The four processes of 2) and the payment signal output process (step S8014) are performed concurrently in parallel with each other. 17 and 18 show the main routine (FIG. 16).
An example of a specific procedure of the ball lending process executed in step S8008 is shown.

When this process is started, first, the ball lending possible signal RDY sent from the discharge control device 600 is checked to determine whether or not the signal has fallen (step S810).
2). If "No", that is, if the ball lending possible signal RDY has not fallen, the process advances to step S8104 to check the ball lending available signal RDY to determine whether or not the signal has risen. The ball lending possible signal RDY is the emission control device 60.
0 is a signal that is changed to a low level when a shortage of balls in the storage tank 151 or a stopped state of the game board is detected. The lendable signal RDY is set to the high level state. Therefore, the ball lending control device 500
When the rising edge of this signal is detected in step S8104 and it is determined to be “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S8106, and after making a function code transmission reservation for notifying the card reader control device 250 that the card can be accepted,
The procedure returns to step S8102.

Next, steps S8102-S810 are executed again.
When it is determined to be “No” in step S8104 after proceeding to step 4, the process proceeds to step S8108, and the ball lendability indicator 126 is displayed.
Check if is lit. This ball lending indicator 126
Is the function transmission / reception processing described later (FIGS. 20 and 21).
In the above, the lamp is turned on when the card amount is received from the card reader control device 250. Therefore, before the card is inserted into the card reader, step S81
The determination in 08 is “No”, the process returns to step S8102 and the above steps are repeated.

Then, when the card is inserted into the card reader, the card amount is sent from the card reader control device 250, and the ball lending indicator 126 is turned on, the determination in step S8108 becomes "Yes" and the step becomes S
Proceed to 8110. In step S8110, it is confirmed whether the ball lending enable signal RDY is at a high level and "Yes".
If so, the process moves to the next step S8112, and if “No”, the process returns to step S8102.

On the other hand, when the fall of the ball lending enable signal RDY is detected in step S8102, the flow shifts to step S8103 to check whether the ball lending availability display 126 is on. If it is lit, the process proceeds to step S8105, the ball lending indicator 126 is turned off, the magnetic writing function transmission reservation is made (step S8107), and if the determination in step S8103 is "No", the step is continued. The process advances to step S8109 to make a transmission reservation for an unacceptable function indicating that the card cannot be accepted, and then step S810.
Return to 2. This is because the ball lending enable signal RDY falls to a low level when the discharge control device 600 detects a shortage of balls in the storage tank 151 or a stopped state of the game board.

If "Yes" in the step S8110, that is, if it is confirmed that the ball lending enable signal RDY is at a high level, the flow advances to step S8112 to see whether the ball lending conversion button 123 is turned on by observing the signal from the conversion switch. Determine whether. If “Yes”, step S81
The balance of the card shifts to 14 and the ball lending number setting device 506
It is determined whether or not the amount is larger than the amount corresponding to the number of ball lending set in. When the amount of the card is larger, the process proceeds to step S8116 to set the set number of balls to be dispensed in the payout count register, and when the amount of the card is smaller, the process proceeds to step S8118 and the card balance is paid to the payout count register. Set, then step S8130 of FIG.
Move to.

If it is determined in step S8112 that "No", that is, the ball lending conversion button 123 is off, the flow shifts to step S8120, and the return button 124 is turned on by observing the signal from the conversion switch. Determine whether or not. If “Yes” here, step S8122.
After shifting to, the ball lending indicator 126 is turned off, and the transmission of the magnetic writing function is reserved, then step S
Proceed to 8124 to make a transmission reservation for the ejection function for ejecting the card from the card reader, and then execute step S
Return to 8102. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8120 that the return button 124 is off, the process returns to step S8102 without doing anything.

When the process moves to step S8130 in FIG. 18, first, the ball lending indicator 126 is turned off, and then the
The ball lending request signal BRQ to the discharge control device 600 is asserted to a low level, and the EXS timer (10 seconds) waiting for a response to the discharge end signal EXS is set (step S8).
132, S8134). Then, it is determined whether the EXS timer has become zero, and if "No", it is determined whether the discharge end signal EXS from the discharge control device 600 has fallen (steps S8136, S8138). Then, if "No", it is determined whether or not the EXS timer has passed 10 ms (step S8140). Here, the discharge end signal EXS
If it is determined that the EXS timer has timed out before the start, the process advances to step S8172 to make a transmission reservation for the magnetic writing function, then to make a reservation for the card ejection function, and return to step S8102 (step S8174). The reason why the discharge end signal does not come back even after 10 seconds have elapsed since the ball lending request to the discharge control device 600 is made is that it is considered that an abnormality has occurred.

On the other hand, if the discharge end signal EXS falls and the EXS timer has passed 10 msec before the EXS timer times out, the process proceeds to the next step S8142 and the EXS timer is set to 10 sec again. Then, it is determined whether the EXS timer has become zero, and if "No", it is determined whether the discharge end signal EXS from the discharge control device 600 has risen (steps S8144, S814).
6). If “No”, the EXS timer is 200
It is determined whether m seconds have elapsed (step S8148).
If it is determined that the EXS timer (10 seconds) has timed out before the ejection end signal EXS rises, the process advances to step S8172 to make a transmission reservation for the magnetic writing function and then make a transmission reservation for the card ejection function. And returns to step S8102 (step S
8174). Discharge end signal E from the discharge control device 600
It is known from the structure of the ball discharging device 170 that XS rises after an average of about 1 second has elapsed, so even if 10 seconds have elapsed after the discharge end signal EXS has fallen to a low level, it remains at a high level. The reason why it doesn't rise is because it is thought that something is wrong.

Before the EXS timer times out, the discharge end signal EXS rises and the EXS timer becomes 200
If m seconds have elapsed (because the discharge should not end within this time), the process moves to the next step S8150 and the timer is set to 75 ms. Then, it is determined whether or not the timer has become zero (step S8152), and when the time is up, the process moves to the next step S8154 to negate the ball lending request signal BRQ to a high level. by this,
The ball lending request signal BRQ is changed to a high level after 75 m seconds have elapsed after the discharge end signal EXS rises. Then, the timer is set again to 100 ms (step S8156).

In the next step S8158, the card balance (frequency) is reduced by "1", and then the card management device 8
The output counter of the payment signal j (pulse) for 00 is incremented by "1" (step S8160). Then, the procedure proceeds to step S8162, after the payout number is decremented by “1”, it is determined whether or not the payout number is “0” (step S8164), and if “No”, the above step S is performed.
It is determined whether or not the timer set in 8158 has timed out (step S8170), and at the time when it has timed out, the process returns to step S8130 and the above procedure is repeated to assert the ball lending request signal BRQ again to discharge control device 60.
Wait for a response from 0. As a result, the ball lending request signal BRQ
Is generated continuously, the ball lending request signal BRQ is again asserted to the low level after 100 m seconds have elapsed since the previous signal rose, and the discharge control device 60
0 can detect the trailing edge of the ball lending request signal BRQ with certainty.

On the other hand, if "Yes" in the step S8164, that is, if the payout number is "0", the process shifts to a step S8166 to determine whether or not the card balance has become zero. After making a transmission reservation for the writing function and the card ejecting function (step S8174), the valid indicator lamp 230 is turned off (step S8176), and the insertion balance indicator 220 is displayed.
Display "000" in (3 digit display) (step S81
78) and the process returns to the first step S8102. As a result, even if the card is held in the card reader during the game, the card is automatically discharged from the card reader when the card balance becomes "0", and the player has the card balance "0".
You can quickly know that it has become. Further, at the time of reservation for transmission of the magnetic writing function, the card balance data is stored as text together with the writing function code in the transmission buffer.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8166 that the card balance is not "0", the flow advances to step S8168 to display that the ball lending / discharging process is completed and the next ball lending conversion button can be operated. Ball lending indicator 12
After turning on 6, the process returns to the first step S8102.
FIG. 19 shows an example of a specific procedure of card return processing executed in step S8010 of the main routine (FIG. 16).

When this process is started, it is first determined whether the return button 124 is turned on (step S820).
2) If "Yes", the process advances to step S8204 to check whether the ball lending indicator 126 is lit. This ball lending indicator 126 has a card inserted into a card reader,
This is a lamp that is turned on when the ball lending conversion button 123 is valid, and if it is determined in step S8204 that the lamp is lit, the process proceeds to step S8206, the ball lending indicator 126 is turned off, and then the magnetic writing is performed. After making the reservation for the included function transmission and the reservation for the card ejection function, the process returns to step S8202 and waits for the next return button to be turned on (step S
8208, S8210). When the card reader receives this function, the card is ejected from the inside of the card reader. Then, the valid indicator lamp 230 is turned off, and the display (three digits) of the insertion balance indicator 220 is changed to "000" (steps S8212, S821).
4).

On the other hand, if the return button is turned on while the ball lending indicator 126 is off, the above step S
The process proceeds from step 8204 to step S8216, and the ball lending flag set in step S8140 of the ball lending process (FIG. 17) is checked to determine whether or not the ball lending process is in progress. If no balls are being rented, nothing is done and the process returns to step S8202. The ball lending indicator 126 is turned off because the ball lending process is in progress or the card does not exist in the card reader, so it is necessary to instruct the card reader to return the card even if the return button is turned on. Because there is no.

If "Yes" is determined in the above step S8216, that is, it is determined that the ball is being lent, the process proceeds to step S8218, similarly, the ball lending flag is checked to determine whether or not the ball lending process is completed. Then, this step is repeated until the ball lending flag becomes "0", and when the ball lending process ends, the flow shifts to step S8202, and it is determined whether or not the card balance is "0". If the card balance is not "0", the flow advances to step S8206 to display the ball lending indicator 1.
After turning off 26, the magnetic writing function transmission reservation and the card ejection function transmission reservation are made, and then the process returns to step S8202 and waits for the next return button to be turned on.

In step S8220, the card balance is "0".
If it is determined that nothing is done, the process returns to step S8202 and waits for the operation of the next return button. When the card balance becomes “0”, steps S8172 and S817 of the ball lending process described above.
This is because the transmission reservation of the magnetic writing function and the ejection function is made in 4 (FIG. 18) and the card is ejected from the card reader in response to the reservation. 20 and 21, the card reader controller 250 executed in step S8012 of the main routine (FIG. 16).
An example of a specific procedure of a function transmission / reception process between and is shown.

The functions to be transmitted and received are transmitted in a data format in which the STX code is added to the head of the function code and the ETX code is added to the end. As signals that are sent and received other than function codes,
There is an ENQ code (inquiry of transmission) and an ACK code (acknowledgement), but these are transmitted alone without adding the leading STX code or the trailing ETX code. When this function transmission / reception process is started, first, in step S8300, it is determined whether or not the function transmission reservation by the ball lending process (FIGS. 17 and 18) or the card return process (FIG. 19) is set. If there is no transmission reservation, the process advances to step S8350, the ENQ reception flag set in the reception interrupt process (FIG. 25) described below is checked, and the ENQ reception flag from the card reader control device 250 is checked.
It is determined whether (inquiry code) is entered.

In step S8300, "transmission reserved"
If it is determined, the process proceeds to step S8302, the number of retransmissions is set to three, and then the ENQ code is transmitted (step S8304). This transmission causes a transmission interrupt, and the transmission interrupt processing described later is started. Then, in step S8306, after setting the response timer to 10 seconds, it is determined in step S9308 whether this response timer has timed out. See AC
It is determined whether K (response code) is received (step S8).
310). When the response timer times out before receiving the ACK, the process proceeds to step S8312 and the number of retransmissions set in step S8302 is set to "1".
Then, it is determined whether or not the number of retransmissions has become "0" (step S8314). If it is not "0", the flow returns to step S8304 to retransmit the ENQ code.

On the other hand, if an ACK is received before the response timer times out, the flow advances to step S8316 to clear the ACK reception flag to "0" and to transmit the STX code indicating the beginning of the transmission data. By this transmission, a transmission interrupt occurs, the transmission interrupt processing described later is started, and the function code and data are transmitted. Also, after setting the response timer to 10 seconds in step S8318, it is determined in step S8320 whether or not this response timer has timed out, and if "No", the ENQ reception flag set in the reception interrupt process (FIG. 25) is set. See EN
It is determined whether Q is received (step S8322). Since this ENQ is an inquiry from the card reader control device 250 to the ball lending control device 500 as to whether the reception result may be sent, the ball lending control device 500 receives the ENQ before the response timer times out. When step S8
Proceed to 324, clear the ENQ reception flag to "0",
And send an ACK code. If the response timer times out before receiving ENQ, it means that there is no response of the reception result to the text transmission, so it is determined that there is a communication error, the process moves to step S8340, and an error code indicating a communication error Is written in the display data buffer, the code is displayed on the balance display 122 in step S8344, and the control operation is stopped.

After transmitting the ACK in step S8324, the response timer is set to 10 seconds again (step S83).
26) and then, in step S8328, it is determined whether or not this response timer has timed out, and if "No", the function indicating the content of the reception result is received by checking the FNC reception flag set in the reception interrupt processing (FIG. 25). It is determined whether or not (step S8330). Then, when the response timer times out before receiving the function, it means that there is no response to the ACK transmission, so it is determined that there is a communication error, the process proceeds to step S8340, and the error code indicating the communication error is output. The data is written in the display data buffer, the code is displayed on the balance display 122 in step S8344, and the control operation is stopped.

If a function is received before the response timer times out, the flow advances to step S8332 to clear the FNC reception flag to "0", and then the content of the received function is "retransmission request" or "abnormal". “End” or “normal end” is determined (step S833).
4, S8336, S8338). Of these, the abnormal termination is
There is no abnormality in the communication itself, but it is sent when there is an abnormality such as a writing error in the card reader.

Therefore, if the received function is a resend request, the process returns to step S8302 to retry the transmission, and if abnormally ended, step S8.
In step S834, the error code indicating the card reader abnormality is written in the display data buffer.
In step 4, the code is displayed on the balance display 122 and the control operation is stopped. If the processing is normally ended, it is determined that the series of transmission processing is ended and the processing returns to step S8300 to perform the processing for the next transmission reservation. To do.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8300 that there is no transmission reservation, the process proceeds to step S8350 in FIG. 21 and ENQ set in the reception interrupt process (FIG. 25).
The reception flag is checked to determine whether ENQ from the card reader control device 250 has been received. If ENQ is received, the process moves to step S8351, the ENQ reception flag is reset, and then the process proceeds to step S8352.
After transmitting the ACK code, the response timer is set to 10 seconds (step S8354). A write interrupt to the send buffer causes a send interrupt to start a send interrupt process described later, and ACKs the card reader controller 250.
Will be sent.

Then, in step S8356, it is determined whether or not this response timer has timed out, and if "No", the function indicating the contents of the reception result is received by checking the FNC reception flag set in the reception interrupt processing (FIG. 25). It is determined whether or not (step S8358). Then, when the response timer times out before receiving the function, it means that there is no response to the ACK transmission, so it is determined that there is a communication error and step S in FIG.
After shifting to 8340, an error code indicating communication abnormality is written in the display data buffer, and the code is displayed on the balance indicator 122 in step S8344 to stop the control operation.

If a function is received before the response timer times out, the flow advances to step S8360 to clear the FNC reception flag to "0", and then it is determined whether or not the received function is a card data transmission function ( Step S8361). If the determination result is "No", nothing is returned to step S8300, and if "Yes", the process proceeds to step S8362 to determine whether the card balance is "0". If the card balance is not "0", the flow advances to step S8364 to turn on the ball lendability indicator 126 and write the contents of the reception buffer (balance data) to the card balance storage unit (step S83).
66). Then, turn on the effective display lamp 230,
The received card balance is stored in the insertion balance storage unit and is displayed on the insertion balance display unit 220, and the reception process ends (steps S8368, S8370). On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S 8362 is “Yes”, that is, if the card balance is “0”, then the flow shifts to step S 8372 to make a card ejection function reservation for the card reader and terminate the processing.

FIG. 22 shows the main routine (see FIG.
An example of a specific procedure of the payment information output processing executed in step S8014 of 6) is shown. When this process is started, first, step S817 during the ball lending process in FIG.
The payment signal number counter that counts up at 2 is checked to determine whether the payment signal number is "0" (step S840).
2). If “No”, that is, if the number of payment signals is 1 or more, the process advances to step S8404, the on-time timer is set to 200 msec, and the payment signal j is asserted to the high level. It waits for (steps S8408, S8410). Then, the process proceeds to step S8412 and the off time timer is set to 2
After setting the time to 00 msec and negating the settlement signal j to low level, it waits for the timer to time up (steps S8412, S8414).

Thereafter, in step S8416, the payment signal number counter is decremented by "1", and then step S8402.
Returning to, the settlement signal pulse is output until the settlement signal number counter becomes “0”. This gives a pulse width of 20
A payment signal j of 0 msec is output. Further, even when pulses of “2” or more are output, the interval between the pulses is set to 200 msec, and the card management device 800 that receives the pulses can reliably count the settlement signal pulses.

FIG. 23 shows the main routine (FIG. 1).
In addition to 6), an example of a specific procedure of timer interrupt processing executed by the ball lending control device 500 by a timer interrupt, for example, every 1 ms is shown. In this timer interrupt processing, the balance data is read from the card balance storage unit, a display signal of the balance display 122 is formed and output, and the card balance is displayed (step S8502). The timer is set to "-1" and the processing is ended (step S8504).

24 and 25 show an example of a concrete procedure of the transmission interruption processing and the reception interruption processing executed by the ball lending control device 500 separately from the main routine (FIG. 16). Among them, the transmission interruption is E during the ball lending process (see FIG. 18) or the function transmission / reception process (see FIG. 20) of the main routine.
It is generated by transmitting an NQ code, STX code or ACK code. When this transmission interrupt is started, steps S8602 and S860 are performed.
4, in S8606, it is determined which code is transmitted by looking at the transmission buffer. Here, if the transmitted code is either ENQ, ACK or ETX (a code indicating the end of text data), the interrupt is ended without doing anything.

On the other hand, when all the above judgments result in "No", the code stored in the transmission buffer is the STX code, the function code or the text data, and there are the following codes. Therefore, in that case, the process proceeds to step S8608, the next 8-bit code in the transmission data area of the memory is transferred to the transmission buffer, the address of the transmission data area of the memory is incremented, and then the transmission buffer is entered. The code is transmitted and the process ends (steps S8610 and S8612). Since a transmission interrupt is generated again by this transmission, if the transmitted code is other than ENQ, ACK, or ETX, there is a subsequent code. Therefore, in step S8608, the next 8-bit code in the transmission data area of the memory is transmitted. After transferring to the buffer, the procedure of transmitting the code in the transmission buffer by incrementing the address of the transmission data area of the memory is repeated, and all the codes are transmitted.

The reception interrupt shown in FIG. 25 is generated when a transmission from the card reader controller 250 comes in. When this reception interrupt is started, step S865
2, it is determined whether the code received in S8654 is an ENQ code or an ACK code. If the received code is an ENQ code, the process advances to step S8656 to set the ENQ reception flag to "1", and if it is an ACK code, the ACK reception flag is set to "1" in step S8658 to perform interrupt processing. finish. ENQ above
The reception flag and the ACK reception flag are referred to in the function transmission / reception processing flow.

On the other hand, when the received code is neither the ENQ code nor the ACK code, step S
After proceeding to 8660 and saving the received code from the reception buffer in the memory, the reception buffer address is updated (step S8662). If the subsequent reception code remains in the reception buffer, the reception interrupt is applied again, so that all the reception codes are saved in the memory by repeating the above routine. Next, it is determined whether or not the received code is an ETX code (step S8664), and if "No", this routine is terminated without doing anything. On the other hand, step S8
If it is determined in 664 that the ETX code has been received, the flow advances to step S8666 to check whether the length of the received function code is normal. If “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S8668 to set the function reception flag to “1” to end the interrupt process. If “No”, the process proceeds to step S8670 to make a retransmission request function transmission reservation and execute the interrupt process. finish.

Next, the procedure of the discharge control of the prize balls and the rental balls performed by the above-described discharge control device 600 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 26 to 57. FIG. 26 shows the entire main routine executed by the emission control device 600. This main routine is started at the same time when the power of the emission control device 600 is turned on, and the processing is repeated as long as the power is turned on. When the power is turned on, first, in step S0, initialization such as RAM clearing, flag setting, and output buffer resetting is performed.

At the subsequent step S1, background processing for updating the timer and reading detection signals and input signals from various sensors is performed. Then, the processing proceeds to step S2, and card insertion / ejection confirmation processing (FIG. 40) is performed. Check if the card is present in the card reader. Then, the process proceeds to step S3, it is determined whether or not the falling flag of the ball lending request signal BRQ set in the BRQ signal reading process (FIG. 37) described later is "1", and when the flag is "1". Performs the ball rental processing of step S10, and when the flag is "0", proceeds to step S4. Step S
In 4, it is determined whether or not the discharge wait timer (step S5708) activated during the safe ball discharge processing (FIG. 49) described later is in operation.

If "No" here, after performing the ball-punching process (FIG. 41-42) of the next step S5, "Ye"
If "s", step S5 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the safe sensor detection flag set in the safe sensor reading process flow of FIG. If the flag is "1", the payout process (FIG. 43) is executed in step S7. If the safe sensor detection flag is "0", step S7 is skipped and the process proceeds to steps S8 and S9.

In steps S8 and S9, the discharge counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 are checked, and when the value of any of the counters is "11" or more, the process returns to step S2 and the above procedure is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S8 or S9 that the value of either counter is equal to or less than "11", it is determined that the discharge is abnormal, the process proceeds to step S11, the ball drop solenoid is turned on, the safe lamp is turned on, and the ball lending is further performed. The enable signal RDY is changed to a low level (invalid state), and the process ends. When the ball drop solenoid is turned on, the extra balls paid out are collected on the back of the game machine through the ball drop path 157 instead of the saucer on the front of the game machine, avoiding the disadvantages of the game store due to malfunctions and the like. can do.

It should be noted that the discharge abnormality is determined by determining whether the value of the discharge counter is "11" or less in steps S8 and S9. This is because it is determined to be abnormal when a large amount is discharged. When a 4-bit counter is used as the discharge counter and the discharge number is set in advance to count down each time a discharge ball is detected, if the second bit from the higher order is monitored, the counter value will be "1."
It can be easily known by software whether or not the value becomes 1 ”or less.

FIG. 27 shows the procedure of the initialization process executed in step S0 of the main routine of FIG. When this process is started, first, the ball lending control device 60
After the ball lending enable signal RDY for 0 is negated to the low level, the stack pointer for designating the save area during interrupt processing is set (steps S101 and S10).
2). Next, the system clock is frequency-divided to set the frequency division ratio of the variable frequency divider for generating the clock of the timer to 1/4, and the timer is activated (steps S103 and S105). Thus, for example, if an 8-bit counter is used as the timer and a clock having a frequency of 500 kHz is used as the system clock, the timer counter is 125
The clock is counted up with a clock of kHz, and the timer outputs an overflow (carry) signal every 2.048 ms. If there is an overflow (carry) signal from the timer, a flag (I
NT RQF) is provided and this flag is set to CP
It is configured to be cleared by U reading its state.

After the timer is activated, the I / O port is initialized in step S107, and the emission control device 600 is initialized.
Lendable signal RDY supplied from the ball lending controller 500
And the state (initial level) of the discharge end signal EXS and the like are set. By the way, the initial state of the ball lending enable signal RDY is low level, and the initial state of the discharge end signal EXS is high level. Next, in step S109, the soft timer is set to 2 seconds (count value "976"), and then the flag (INT RQF) holding the overflow (carry) signal from the hard timer becomes "1". (Step S111), when it becomes "1", the soft timer set in step S109 is decreased by "1" (step S111).
113). Then, in the next step S115, it is determined whether or not the value of the soft timer has become "0", and if "No", the process returns to step S111 and the timer countdown is repeated. This is to wait for the system operation to stabilize after the power is turned on.

Thereafter, when it is determined in step S115 that the count value of the soft timer (2 seconds) has become "0",
After shifting to step S117 and performing line test processing (FIG. 28) for confirming connection of the communication line, step S1
18. Proceed to S119, and set 2 as the fraud monitoring ball number setting process.
After setting the respective discharge counters of the two discharge systems 1 and 2 to "4", the ball lending enable signal RDY is asserted to a high level (step S121), and the initialization process is ended.

FIG. 28 shows an example of the procedure of the line test process (step S117) in the subroutine of FIG. When this subroutine is started, first, in step S171, the "line test" command is set in the transmission buffer, and then the timer 2 is set to 12 msec.
Background processing is performed after the clock rising edge detection flag is cleared to "0" (step S173, step S173).
S175, S177). Then, in this background processing, the clock CK supplied from the game board control device 400
Is read (FIG. 28), and it is confirmed in step S181 whether the clock is generated by checking whether the clock rising edge detection flag set therein is set to "1". . The timer 2 is set to 12 msec because the cycle of the clock CK to be confirmed is 8 msec. If the clock rising edge detection flag does not become "1" before the timer 2 times out, the process returns to the step S173 and the timer 2 is set again (step S179).

When it is confirmed in step S181 that the clock rising edge detection flag is "1", the flow advances to step S183 to clear this flag to "0", and then the timer 2 is set to 12 ms again. , Background processing is performed (steps S185 and S187). Then, it is confirmed again that the clock rising edge detection flag is "1" (step S191). In this way, after confirming the rising edge of the clock CK twice, the process shifts to the transmission processing of step S193 (FIG. 29), and the "line test" command is transmitted. Timer 2
If the clock rising edge detection flag does not become "1" before (12 msec) has expired, the process returns to step S173, the timer 2 is set again, and the clock is checked again (step S189).

When the game board control device 400 receives the "line test" command, the "line test" command is sent back as described above (FIG. 1).
7 steps S853-S857). Therefore, after the transmission process (step S193) is executed, step S19 is performed.
5, the reception process (see FIG. 30) is performed, and a response (“line test” command) from the game board control device 400 is waited for. Then, in the next step S197, the data error flag set in the reception process is checked. If the flag is "0", the process proceeds to step S199 to check whether the received data is the "line test" command or not. Yes ”
Then, this routine is finished. On the other hand, the above step S19
If the data error flag is "1" in step 7 or a command other than the line test is received in step S199, the process returns to step S19 to repeat the receiving process.

FIG. 29 shows an example of the procedure of the transmission process (step S193) in the line test process routine of FIG. In this subroutine, first, the clock rising edge detection flag is cleared to "0" in step S701, and then 1 bit of the transmission data in the transmission buffer is read (step S703). then,
The background process is performed after the timer 2 is set to 12 ms (steps S705 and S707). Then, in this background processing, the clock CK supplied from the game board control device 400 is read (FIG. 39) to check whether the clock rising edge detection flag set therein is set to "1". By checking in step S711 that the clock has risen, the flow advances to step S713 to output one bit in the transmission buffer to the transmission port. As a result, the command is transmitted in synchronization with the rising of the clock CK (timing ts in FIG. 60). After the bit transmission in step S713, the process proceeds to step S715 to determine whether or not all the bits have been transmitted. If not, the process returns to step S707 and the above procedure is repeated to retrieve all the bits of the transmission code. Send in order. Note that step S711
If the timer set in step S705 expires before the change of the clock rising edge detection flag is detected in step S705, the process returns to step S0 in FIG. 26 and the initialization process is restarted.

FIG. 30 shows an example of the procedure of the receiving process (step S195) in the line test process routine of FIG. In this subroutine, first, the timer 3 is set to 3 seconds in step S721, and then the data error flag and the clock rising edge detection flag are each cleared to "0" (steps S723 and S7).
25). Next, another timer 2 is set to 12 msec and then background processing is performed (steps S727 and S72).
9). Then, in this background processing, the clock CK supplied from the game board control device 400 is read (see FIG. 4).
0) is performed, and it is checked in step S733 whether the clock rising edge detection flag set therein is set to "1", and it is confirmed that the clock has risen, and the process proceeds to the next step S735. , Perform background processing again.

Then, it is determined whether or not the level of the clock CK read in the background processing after chattering removal is low level. If "Yes", the process proceeds to step S741 to receive 1 bit of received data from the receiving port. It is read and stored in the memory (timing tr1 in FIG. 59). Since the game board control device 400 switches the transmission data in synchronization with the rise of the clock CK to the high level, by reading the reception data during the low level period of the clock CK, it is possible to prevent erroneous data reading. Note that steps S731 and S73
If it is determined in step 7 that the timer set in step S727 has timed out before the change in the clock rising edge detection flag is detected, the process returns to step S0 in FIG. 26 to restart the initialization process.

After reading the received bit in step S741, background processing is performed again (step S741).
743). Then, it is determined whether or not the level of the read clock CK after chattering removal is low level. If “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S747 to read one bit of received data from the receiving port and store it in the memory (FIG. 59 timing). tr2). Since 1 ms is waited in the background processing, by inserting step S743, the same bit is read twice at intervals of about 1 ms. Then, the above step S
741 and the two read bits stored in S747 (step S749), and if they match, step S
Proceed to 751 to determine if the start bit is being detected, and then "N
If “o”, the process jumps to step S755 to store the read bit in the corresponding bit of the reception buffer. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S751 that the start bit is being detected,
In step S753, it is determined whether the read top bit is at low level. Then, if "Yes", the process proceeds to step S755, and the read start bit is stored in the corresponding bit of the reception buffer.

Then, the process proceeds to step S757, it is determined whether the reading of all the bits of the received data is completed, and "N
If "o", the process proceeds to step S759 and the above step S7 is performed.
It is determined whether the timer 3 set in step 21 has timed out. If not, the process returns to step S725 to repeat the above procedure to read all bits.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S759 that the timer 3 has timed out before the reading of all bits is completed, this routine is interrupted and the process returns to step S2 of the main routine to start over. Also, the above step S749
Then, when the data read twice do not match,
The flow shifts to step S761, the data error flag is set to "1", and this routine ends.

FIG. 31 shows the contents of the background routine executed in the main routine of FIG. 26 and various processes, and FIGS. 32-39 show the concrete procedure thereof.
This processing is the update of the timer and the detection signal from various sensors,
This is performed for reading various input signals.
When this background processing is started, first, a 1-msec waiting processing (step S21) is performed, and then the timer 0
And count values of timer 1, timer 2 and timer 3 (all are soft timers) are updated (steps S22, S).
23, S24, S25). Then, the safe sensor reading process (step S26), the discharge sensor 1 reading process (step S27), the discharge sensor 2 reading process (step S28), the ball drop sensor reading process (step S29), and the ball lending request signal BRQ are performed. (Step S30), the card presence / absence signal CON is read (step S31), and then the clock CK is read (step S32).

FIG. 32 is a flow chart of the 1 msec wait processing routine performed in step S21.
When this subroutine is started, first, the previous count value of the timer 8-bit counter (2.048 msec) saved in the buffer or the memory is read (step S201), and then the current count value is read and The data is saved in the buffer or the memory (step S203). Next, the read current count value and the previous count value are compared to determine whether or not the most significant bit b7 has changed (step S205). If “Yes”, the process ends, and if “No”, step S201. Then, the previous count value and the current count value of the saved timer are read again and the comparison of the most significant bit b7 is repeated. This 8-bit timer counter is set to 1 as described above.
Since it is counted up with the clock of 25 kHz, when the most significant bit b7 changes, it takes 1 msec (more precisely, 1.
024 ms) has elapsed.

FIG. 33 is a flow chart of the timer 0 update processing routine executed in step S22. In this embodiment, three 4-bit counters are prepared as the timer 0, one of them is used as a 1 mS counter that is updated each time the above 1 msec waiting processing is completed, and the other one overflows this 1 mS counter. It is used as a 16 mS counter that is updated every time, and the other one is used as a 256 mS counter that is updated each time this 16 mS counter overflows.

When this subroutine is started, first, 1
After decrementing (-1) the mS counter (step S211), it is determined whether or not the 1mS counter is lowered, that is, changed from all 0 to all 1 (step S2).
12) If there is no digit reduction, this process ends as it is. On the other hand, if the 1 mS counter carries a carry down, the 1 mS flag prepared in advance is set to "1" (step S213), and then the 16 mS counter is decremented (step S214). Then, it is judged whether or not the 16 mS counter is digit-reduced, that is, whether all 0 is changed to all 1 (step S215), and if there is no digit-reduction, this process is finished as it is.

Further, if it is determined in step S215 that there is a carry down, "1" is set in the 16 mS flag prepared in advance (step S216), and the 256 mS counter is decremented (step S217). Then, it is determined whether or not the 256 mS counter has caused a digit reduction (step S218), and if there is no digit reduction, this processing is ended as it is, and if there is a digit reduction, a 256 prepared in advance is prepared.
The mS flag is set to "1" and the process ends (step S219).

Therefore, for example, when it is desired to wait for elapse of 10 msec, the timer is updated by the background process after setting "1010" in the 1 mS counter, and 1 mS is set.
It suffices to monitor the S flag and wait until it changes to "1".
It should be noted that the timer 1 update processing in step S23, the timer 2 update processing in step S24, and the timer 3 update processing in step S25 shown in FIG.
Since it is exactly the same as the updating process of the timer 0 of No. 3, the illustration and description will be omitted. The four soft timers are provided so that up to four times can be measured simultaneously in the same process.

FIG. 34 is a flow chart of the safe sensor read processing routine executed in step S26 of FIG. When this subroutine is started, the state of the safe sensor is first read from the input port in step S221, and then the safe sensor flag is temporarily set to "1" (step S223). Next, step S2
It is read in step 21 and it is determined from the state whether the safe sensor 181 is on (step S225). If “Yes”, the process is ended as it is, and if “No”, the safe sensor flag is cleared to “0” and the process is ended. (Step S2
27).

FIG. 35 is a flow chart of a routine for reading the emission sensor 1 performed in step S27 of FIG. This subroutine is for the discharge sensor 730a.
This is for detecting the state of the above, and is repeatedly executed about every 1 ms by the background processing of FIG. The output signal of the discharge sensor becomes low level when the sphere exists inside, and the output signal becomes high level when the sphere flows out and temporarily or continuously does not exist in the sensor. Is configured. Therefore, in this routine, when the output signal of the sensor 730a changes from the low level to the high level, the discharge flag described later is set to "1".
It is set to remember the discharge of the ball. On the other hand, when the output signal of the sensor 730a (hereinafter referred to as the discharge sensor 1) changes from the high level to the low level, the discharge flag is set to "0" to store that the ball is in the standby state. There is.

When this routine is started, first, the state of the output signal of the discharge sensor 1 is read from the input port, and the state of the output signal of the previous discharge sensor 1 is read from the buffer (or memory) (steps S232 and S234). ).
Then, in step S236, both signal states are compared. Suppose now that the balls are ejected and one ball comes out of the sensor 1. At this time, the output signal of the discharge sensor 1 changes from low level to high level. Therefore, the determination result of step S236 is "Yes" (changed), and steps S238 and thereafter are executed.

In step S238, the previous sensor state is discarded and the current sensor state is stored in the buffer, and then the timer 0 or 1 is used as a chattering elimination timer and set to 1 msec (step S24).
0). Next, it is determined from the read state in step S232 whether the output signal of the discharge sensor 1 is low level (step S242). Here, since the determination is "No", the chattering removal timer is reset to 4 msec (step S244). Then, set the discharge flag to "0"
Is set (step S246). Next, step S2
In step 62, the discharge flag is checked to determine whether or not there is discharge. Here, since it is still determined to be "No", step S264 is skipped and the process ends.

Next, the background processing is started again 1
When this routine is executed after waiting for m seconds, as long as the output signal of the emission sensor 1 maintains the high level state, it is determined to be "No" in step S236, that is, there is no change, and the process proceeds to step S248, and the above step is performed. S244
(Or S240) decrement (-1) the chattering removal timer, and then it is determined whether the timer has timed out (step S250). here,
Since the timer is set to 4 msec, it is first determined to be "No". Therefore, the process proceeds to step S246, the discharge flag is set to "0", and the process proceeds to step S262 to "N".
If it is determined to be "o", step S264 is skipped and the process ends.

After that, when it is determined in step S250 that the chattering removal timer has timed out while repeating the above procedure, the process proceeds to step S252, and it is determined whether or not the sensor state read in step S232 is low level. To do. Since the case where the sensor is at a high level is considered here, it is determined to be “No”, the flow proceeds to step S254, and the level after chattering removal (stored in the buffer and set to a low level by default) is a low level. It is determined whether or not. And "Yes"
Then, the process proceeds to step S256, the level after chattering removal is set to the high level, the discharge flag is set to "1" (step S258), and the process proceeds to step S262. Then, in step S262, the discharge flag set to "1" is checked, it is determined that there is discharge, the process proceeds to step S264, the discharge counter is decremented by "1", and this routine ends.

In the above case, if the output state of the discharge sensor 1 changes from the high level to the low level before the chattering removal timer times out, step S2
Since it is determined that there is a change in 36 and the process proceeds to step S238, even if the discharge sensor 1 picks up chattering noise or electrical noise of 4 msec or less, the discharge counter is not decremented.

Next, consider a case where the output signal of the discharge sensor 1 falls from the high level to the low level. Also in this case, similarly to the above, it is determined in step S236 that there is a state change, and the process proceeds to step S238. However, this time, since "Yes" is determined in step S242, steps S244 and S246 are skipped and the process is ended. Then, when this routine is executed again, step S2
After proceeding from S36 to S248, the chattering removal timer is decremented (-1), and then it is determined whether or not the timer is up (step S250). Here, since the timer is set to 1 msec, it is immediately determined to be "Yes". Therefore, the process proceeds to step S252 and it is determined whether or not the state of the discharge sensor 1 is at the low level. And "Ye
s "is determined, the process proceeds to step S260, the level after chattering removal is set to a low level, the discharge flag is set to" 0 "in step S246, the process proceeds to step S262, and" No "is determined. Step S2
The process will be skipped and the process will end. Note that FIG.
The reading process routine of the discharge sensor 2 in step S28 is completely the same as the reading process routine of the discharge sensor 1 in FIG.

FIG. 36 is a flow chart of the ball-punching sensor reading processing routine executed in step S29 of FIG. This sub-routine is a ball pulling switch 75
It is for detecting the state of 0, and is repeatedly executed about every 1 ms by the background processing of FIG.
The punching switch is configured so that its output signal is at a low level when it is turned on by the punching rod and that it is at a high level when it is turned off. Therefore, in this routine, the punching switch 750
When the output signal of 1 falls from the high level to the low level, a trailing edge detection flag, which will be described later, is set to "1" and the fact that is turned on is stored.

When this routine is started, first, the state of the output signal of the punching switch is read from the input port (step S302). Then, the next step S304
It is determined whether or not the signal state read in is at a high level.
Since the output signal is at the high level before the ball drop switch 750 is turned on, the determination result of step S304 is "Y".
It becomes "es" and moves to step S306. In step S306, it is determined whether the previous switch state was read from the buffer and was at the high level.
s ", that is, if the output signal of the ball drop switch is at the high level twice in a row, the level after chattering removal is set to the high level, the previous sensor state is discarded, and the current sensor state is set to the high level in the buffer. It is stored (steps S308 and S310).
When it is determined to be "No" in 306, step S308 is skipped, the process proceeds to step S310, the current sensor state is set to the high level in the buffer, and the present routine is once terminated.

Next, the background processing is started again 1
When this routine is executed after waiting for m seconds, the process proceeds from step S304 to steps S306 and S310 and is repeated as long as the output signal of the punching switch maintains the high level state. After that, when the ball punching switch 750 is turned on while repeating the above procedure, it is determined as “No” in step S304, and step S312 is performed.
Then, the process proceeds to and the previous switch state is read from the buffer and it is determined whether it was at high level. Here, if it is determined to be "No", the process proceeds to step S320, the previous sensor state is discarded, the current sensor state is stored in the buffer as a low level, and the present routine is ended.

On the other hand, in step S312, if "Yes", that is, the state of the output signal of the punching switch is low level twice in succession, the process proceeds to step S314 to determine whether or not the level after the previous chattering removal is low level. , "No", that is, when the level after the previous chattering removal is the high level, the process proceeds to step S316, the falling edge detection flag is set to "1", and the level after the chattering removal is set to the low level, and the process ends. Step S318). Thus, in the above routine,
If it is determined that the output state of the ball drop switch is high level or low level twice in succession, the output state is stored as a fixed state, so even if the chattering noise or electrical noise of 1 ms or less is picked up, The falling edge detection flag is never set to "1".

FIG. 37 is a flowchart of the processing routine for inputting (reading) the ball lending request signal BRQ performed in step S30 of FIG. This subroutine is for detecting the state of the ball lending request signal BRQ, and is repeatedly executed about every 1 ms by the background processing of FIG. The ball lending request signal BRQ indicates a valid state when the level is low and an invalid state when the level is high. Therefore, in this routine, when the ball lending request signal BRQ falls from the high level to the low level, a falling edge detection flag described later is set to "1" to store that the ball lending request signal BRQ is asserted to the low level. It is like this.

When this routine is started, first, the state of the ball lending request signal BRQ is read from the input port (step S332). Then, it is determined whether or not the signal state read in the next step S334 is a high level. Since the level is high level before the ball lending request signal BRQ is asserted, the determination result of step S334 is "Yes" and the process proceeds to step S336. Step S336
Then, the state of the previous ball lending request signal BRQ is read from the buffer and it is determined whether it is at the high level. here,
If “Yes”, that is, if the status of the ball lending request signal is high level twice in a row, the level after noise removal is set to high level, the previous signal level state is discarded, and the current signal level state is set to high level and buffered. (Steps S338 and S340). On the other hand, step S3
If it is determined to be "No" in 36, step S338 is skipped, the process proceeds to step S340, the current signal level state is set to the high level in the buffer, and this routine is once terminated.

Then, the background processing is started again 1
When this routine is executed after waiting for m seconds, as long as the output signal of the ball lending request signal BRQ maintains the high level state, the process proceeds from step S334 to steps S336 and S340, and this is repeated. After that, when the ball lending request signal BRQ is asserted to the low level while repeating the above procedure, it is determined as “No” in step S334, the process proceeds to step S342, the previous switch state is read from the buffer, and the high level is read. Determine if it was a level. If it is determined to be "No" here, the process proceeds to step S350, the previous signal level state is discarded, the current signal level state is stored in the buffer as a low level, and the present routine is once terminated. On the other hand, in step S342, "Yes"
That is, if the state of the output signal of the ball lending request signal is low level twice in succession, the process proceeds to step S344 to determine whether the level after the previous noise removal is low level,
If "No", that is, if the level after the previous noise removal is the high level, the process proceeds to step S346, the trailing edge detection flag is set to "1", and the level after the noise removal is set to the low level, and the process ends (step S346). S34
8). Thus, in the above routine, the ball lending request signal BR
When the output level of Q is determined to be high level or low level twice in a row, the output state is stored as a fixed state, and therefore the ball lending request signal BRQ is erroneously fallen even if a noise of 1 msec or less is present. The edge detection flag is never set to "1".

FIG. 38 is a flowchart of the input (read) processing routine of the card presence signal CON performed in step S31 of FIG. This subroutine is for detecting the state of the card presence / absence signal CON, and is repeatedly executed about every 1 ms by the background processing of FIG. The card presence / absence signal CON indicates a valid state (state in which a card is inserted) when the level is high, and an invalid state (state in which there is no card) when the level is low. Therefore, in this routine, when the card presence / absence signal CON rises from the low level to the high level, a rising edge detection flag described later is set to "1" and it is stored that the card presence / absence signal CON is asserted at the high level. When the presence / absence signal CON falls from the high level to the low level, a trailing edge detection flag described later is set to "1" to store that the card presence / absence signal CON is negated to the low level.

When this routine is started, first, the state of the card presence / absence signal CON is read from the input port (step S361). Then, it is determined whether or not the signal state read in the next step S362 is high level. Since the level is low level before the card presence / absence signal CON is asserted, the determination result of step S364 is “No”.
Then, the process proceeds to step S363. Step S36
At 3, the state of the previous card presence / absence signal CON is read from the buffer and it is determined whether it is at the low level. If "No" here, the read signal state is temporarily stored as a low level in step S364, and the present routine ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S363 that "Yes", that is, the state of the card presence / absence signal CON has been the low level twice consecutively, the process proceeds to step S365, and it is determined whether the level after the previous noise removal is the low level. And
If “Yes”, this routine is terminated without doing anything, and “N
If it is "o", the process proceeds to step S366, the fall flag is set to "1", the level after noise removal is set to low level, and this routine is finished (step S36).
7).

Then, the background processing is started again 1
When this routine is executed after waiting for m seconds, as long as the output signal of the card presence / absence signal CON maintains the low level state, steps S362 to S363, S365
And repeat this. After that, when the card presence / absence signal CON is asserted to a high level while repeating the above procedure, it is determined to be “Yes” in step S362, the process proceeds to step S368, the previous signal state is read from the memory and set to high. Determine if it was a level. If it is determined to be "No" here, the process proceeds to step S369, the previous signal level state is discarded, the current signal level state is stored as a high level in the memory, and this routine is once terminated. On the other hand, in step S368, if "Yes", that is, the state of the card presence / absence signal CON is high level twice in a row, the process proceeds to step S370 to determine whether the level after the previous noise removal is high level, and "Yes".
If “s”, this routine is terminated, and if “No”, that is, the level after the previous noise removal is low level, the process proceeds to step S371, the rising flag is set to “1”, and the level after noise removal is set. Is set to a high level and the process ends (step S372).

As described above, in the above routine, when it is determined that the output level of the card presence / absence signal CON is the high level or the low level twice in succession, the output state is stored as the definite state. Even if the following noise occurs, the fixed level will not be set to "H" or "L" by mistake. The card presence / absence signal CON is a signal indicating a state and is not a request or response signal like the ball lending request signal BRQ, and therefore it is not necessary to detect a rising edge or a falling edge and set a flag.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart of the clock CK input (read) processing routine performed in step S32 of FIG. This subroutine is clock C
It is for detecting the state of K, and is repeatedly executed about every 1 ms by the background processing of FIG.
In this routine, when the clock CK falls from the high level to the low level, the falling edge detection flag described later is set to "1" and the clock CK changes to the low level, and when the clock CK is at the low level or the high level. It is designed to remember that state.

When this routine is started, first, the state of the clock CK is read from the input port (step S3).
32). Then, it is determined whether or not the signal state read in the next step S334 is a high level. If the clock CK is at the high level, the determination result of step S334 becomes "Yes" and the process proceeds to step S336. In step S336, the previous state of the clock CK is read from the buffer and it is determined whether it is at high level. Here, if the state of the clock signal is "Yes", that is, if the state of the clock signal is high level twice in succession, the level after noise removal is set to the high level, then the previous signal level state is discarded, and the current signal level state is set to the high level. The data is stored in the buffer (steps S338 and S340). On the other hand, step S
If it is determined to be "No" in 336, step S338 is skipped, the process proceeds to step S340, the current signal level state is set to the high level in the buffer, and this routine is once terminated.

Next, the background processing is started again 1
When this routine is executed after waiting for m seconds, as long as the clock CK maintains the high level state, step S33.
From step 4, the process proceeds to steps S336 and S340 and is repeated. After that, when the clock CK is changed to the low level while repeating the above procedure, step S33.
In No. 4, it is determined to be “No”, the process proceeds to step S342,
The previous state is read from the buffer and it is determined whether it was at high level. If it is determined to be "No" here, the process proceeds to step S350, the previous signal level state is discarded, the current signal level state is stored in the buffer as a low level, and the present routine is once terminated. On the other hand, step S34
If “Yes”, that is, if the state of the clock signal is low level twice in succession, proceed to step S344 to determine whether or not the level after the previous noise removal is low level, and “No”, that is, after the previous noise removal. If the level is high, the process proceeds to step S346, the falling edge detection flag is set to "1", the level after noise removal is set to low level, and the process ends (step S3).
48). As described above, in the above routine, when it is determined that the output level of the clock CK is the high level or the low level twice in succession, the output state is stored as the definite state, so that the clock CK has noise of 1 msec or less. Also, the falling edge detection flag is not set to "1" by mistake.

FIG. 40 shows an example of a flowchart of a specific procedure of the card insertion / ejection confirmation processing in step S2 of the main routine (FIG. 26) executed by the ejection control device 600. When this routine starts,
First, in step S381, the rising flag set in the subroutine of FIG. 38 for reading the card presence / absence signal CON supplied from the ball lending controller 500 is checked to be "1".
Is determined, and if “Yes”, step S38.
Then, the process proceeds to step 5 to set the "card insertion sound request" command in the transmission buffer. Then, after proceeding to step S389 to perform the command transmission processing (see FIG. 29),
The rising flag and falling flag of the card presence / absence signal CON are cleared to "0" (steps S391 and S393), and this routine ends.

On the other hand, if "No" is determined in the above step S381, the process proceeds to step S383 to check the falling flag of the card presence / absence signal CON set in the subroutine of FIG. 38 to determine whether "1" is set. Then, "Ye
If "s", the process proceeds to step S387 and the "card ejection sound request" command is set in the transmission buffer. then,
After proceeding to step S389 to perform the command transmission processing (see FIG. 29), the rising flag and falling flag of the card presence / absence signal CON are cleared to "0" (step S38).
391, S393) and the present routine ends. Also,
When it is determined to be "No" in both steps S381 and S383, the routine is terminated without doing anything.

41 and 42 show a discharge control device 60.
27 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a ball dropout process executed in step S5 of the main routine (FIG. 26) executed by 0. In this ball removal processing routine, the ball removal sensor reading process in the background process when the ball removal switch is pressed by the staff at the game shop (FIG. 36)
When the falling edge detection flag of the ball drop sensor is set to “1”, the main routine (FIG. 2) is detected.
This is executed in step S5 of 6).

When this routine is started, first, at step S402, it is judged if the falling edge detection flag of the ball drop sensor is "1". Step S402
If the determination result of No is "No", the process proceeds to the next process without doing anything, and if "Yes", the process proceeds to step S404 to clear the falling edge detection flag of the ball drop sensor to "0". Then, the ball-exiting solenoid is excited (ON) (step S406). Then, the switching gate 158 is switched, and the balls discharged from the ball discharging device are discharged from the ball removing gutter 157.
It will be collected through the back of the game board.

In the following step S408, the timer 0 is set to 1
After setting to seconds, background processing is performed (step S410). By the background processing, the timer 0 set in step S408 is updated every 1 msec. Therefore, in the next step S412, the timer 0
Determines if the time is up, and if “No”, then step S
By returning to 410 and repeating the update of the timer 0, one second is awaited. This is to wait for the switching gate 158 to be completely switched by the ball-extracting solenoid operated in step S406.

When one second has passed after the ball-drawing solenoid was operated, the routine proceeds to step S414, where it is determined whether or not the discharge sensor 1 detects the presence of the standby ball. If "Yes", the routine jumps to step S418 and "No". Then step S416
Then, it proceeds to and determines whether the discharge sensor 2 detects the presence of the standby ball. If “Yes”, the next step S41
If it is “No”, the process jumps to step S468 described later. That is, when either the discharge sensor 1 or 2 detects the presence of the standby ball, the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are excited to start the ball discharge, and both discharge sensors 1 and 2 detect the standby ball. If not, the ball removal solenoid is demagnetized and the ball removal is completed.

After exciting the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 in step S418, the process proceeds to step S420 to perform background processing. This is because the state of the ball-extracting sensor is read again and checked. When the background process of step S420 is completed, the process proceeds to step S422, and it is determined whether or not the falling edge detection flag of the ball drop sensor is "1". If "1", step S4 of FIG.
Then, the process proceeds to 68 to perform the ball removal completion processing. This is because if the ball removing switch 750 is turned on again during the ball removing operation, the ball removing operation can be stopped.

If "No" in the step S422, that is, if the ball removing switch 750 is first turned on to start the ball removing process and then the ball removing switch 750 is not turned on, the process proceeds to a step S424, and the discharge sensor 1 waits. It is determined whether or not the presence of a sphere is detected. If "Yes", the process returns to step S420, and if "No", the process proceeds to step S42.
The process proceeds to step 6 and determines whether the discharge sensor 2 detects the presence of a standby ball. Then, if “Yes” here, the process returns to the step S420, and if “No”, the next step S428.
move on. That is, as long as either the discharge sensor 1 or 2 detects the presence of the standby ball, the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are excited to continue the ball discharge, and the discharge sensor 1
When both and 2 stop detecting the waiting ball, the process proceeds to step S428 and the timer 0 is set to 3 seconds.

Then, in step S430, background processing is performed to update the timer 0 set in step S428, and then in step S432, it is determined whether the discharge sensor 1 detects the presence of a waiting ball. , "Yes", the process returns to step S420 and "N"
If “o”, the process proceeds to step S434 to determine whether the discharge sensor 2 detects the presence of the standby ball. If “Yes” here, the process returns to step S420 and “No”.
If so, the process proceeds to the next step S436. That is, as long as either the discharge sensor 1 or 2 detects the presence of the standby ball, the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are excited to continue the ball discharge, and both discharge sensors 1 and 2 detect the standby ball. If not, the process proceeds to step S436 and step S4.
It is determined whether the timer 0 set in step 28 has timed out. If "No", the process returns to step S430, and "Yes"
If s ″, the process proceeds to the next step S438 to demagnetize the discharge solenoids 1 and 2. This is because the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are operated until the balls in the storage tank 151 and the guide path 152 are completely exhausted.

Normally, the storage tank 151 and the taxiway 15
When removing the balls in 2, the distance between the falling balls becomes wider as the number of spare balls decreases, and the last few balls sometimes flow down with a ball stop sometimes. Need to be discharged to. Step S4
After degaussing the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 in step 38, the process jumps to step S468 in FIG. 42 to turn off the ball removing solenoid to return the flow path switching valve 158 to its original state, and then discharge each of the discharge systems 1 and 2. The counter is set to "4" as the number of fraud monitoring balls, and the routine is finished (steps S470 and S472).

On the other hand, during the ball removing operation, it is detected that the ball removing switch 750 is turned on, and steps S422 to S440 are executed.
When the process shifts to, the trailing edge detection flag of the ball ejection sensor is cleared to "0", and then "1" is set to each discharge counter of the discharge systems 1 and 2. And the next step S
After setting the timer 0 to 1 second in 444, background processing (step S446) is performed, and step S444
After updating the timer 0 set in step S4,
Proceeding to 48, it is judged whether the discharge counter 1 is "0". If “Yes” here, the discharge solenoid 1 is demagnetized in the next step S450, and if “No”, step S450.
It is determined whether the discharge counter 2 is "0" in step S452 by skipping 450. "Yes" here
If so, the discharge solenoid 2 is demagnetized in the next step S454, and if "No", step S454 is skipped and it is determined whether the timer 0 set in step S444 has timed up (step S456). Then, if “No” here, the process returns to the step S446, and “Yes”
If so, the process proceeds to the next step S458. That is, even if both the discharge counters 1 and 2 do not become "0", the timer 0
When the time elapses, the process proceeds to the next step S458, and the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are demagnetized.

At the time of interrupting the ball removal, the above step S4
At 42, the discharge counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 are set to "1" because the relationship between the position of the discharge sensor and the position of the stopper driven by the discharge solenoid is taken into consideration for the falling ball. This is to prevent the balls from being caught between the stopper 745 and the guide gutter 710 due to the timing of demagnetizing the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 to cause the ball clogging.

At step S458, the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are discharged.
After degaussing, the process proceeds to step S460, timer 0 is set again to 3 seconds, and then background processing is performed (step S462). By the background processing, the timer 0 set in step S460 is updated by 1
It is performed every m seconds. Therefore, in the next step S464, it is determined whether or not the timer 0 has timed out, and if "No", the process returns to step S462 and the timer 0 is repeatedly updated to wait for 3 seconds. Then, after 3 seconds, the ball removing solenoid is turned off, and the switching gate 1
58 is switched to the original state so that the balls discharged from the ball discharging device 170 are guided toward the supply dish. The distance from the ball ejecting device 170 to the switching gate 158 is taken into consideration, so that the gates can be prevented from being switched before the balls ejected from the ball ejecting device 170 reach the switching gate 158. Continued Step S47
At 0 and S472, the number of fraud monitoring balls is set to "4" in each ejection counter of the ejection systems 1 and 2, and the routine is finished.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of payout processing executed in step S7 of the main routine (FIG. 26) executed by the discharge control device 600, and the prize balls are discharged by this flow. In this routine, first, the discharge condition determination process (FIG. 44) is performed in step S501, and then in step S502, it is determined whether the discharge is possible or not based on the result.
If it cannot be discharged, the routine is terminated without doing anything.

If the ball can be discharged, the prize ball number request process (step S503) and the prize ball number setting process (step S5).
04) and the prize ball discharging process (step S505) are sequentially performed, and then it is determined in step S506 whether the process is normally completed. If “No”, the process returns to step S504 to repeat the process, and if “Yes”, the next process is performed. The process proceeds to step, and the safe ball discharging process (step S507) and the prize ball discharging ending process (step S508) are sequentially performed, and the present routine is ended.

FIG. 44 shows a flowchart of the discharge condition determination processing routine executed in step S501 of FIG. In this routine, first, step S
In 5011, a safe ball discharge processing routine described later (FIG. 49)
It is determined whether the discharge wait timer set in step S5708 of No. is in operation, and if “Yes”, step S50.
The flag indicating that discharge is possible is cleared to "0" at 19 and this routine ends. If “No”, step S5
After the timer 0 is set to 50 msec in 012, the background processing (step S5013) is performed to update the timer 0 set in step S5012. In the next step S5014, the safe sensor reading process (see FIG.
The safe sensor flag set by 4) is checked, and if it is "1", it is determined in steps S5015 and 5016 whether the output levels of the discharge sensors 1 and 2 are high levels (with balls). If the output of any of the sensors is high level, the process proceeds to step S5017 and the above step S50.
Determine whether the timer 0 set in 12 has timed up,
If “No”, the process returns to step S5013 and repeats the update of the timer 0, thereby waiting for the lapse of 50 ms. Then, when the timer 0 times out, step S5
Proceeding to 018, the discharge possible flag is set to "1" and this routine is ended. On the other hand, in step S5014,
The safe sensor flag is "0" in S5015 and S5016.
Alternatively, if it is determined that the output of either the discharge sensor 1 or 2 is low level, the process proceeds to step S5019, the flag indicating that discharge is impossible is set to "1", and this routine is ended. This dischargeable flag is set in FIG.
Reference is made in step S502 of the payout processing routine of No. 3.

FIG. 45 shows a flowchart of the prize ball number request processing routine executed in step S503 of FIG. When this routine is started, first, in step S5031, a "prize number request" command is written in the transmission buffer and the number of retransmissions is set to "3", and then the transmission processing shown in FIG. 29 is performed ( Step S50
33). Next, the reception process (step S5035) shown in FIG. 30 is performed, and after the reception of all bits, the timer (3 seconds) set in step S721 in the flow of FIG.
Determines whether the time has expired (step S503
7). If “No” here, the flow advances to step S5039 to determine whether “1” is set in the data error flag.
If the error flag is "0", the received prize ball number data is stored in the memory from the buffer (step S5).
041), and the receiving process is performed again (step S504).
3). As a result, in addition to the double reading of the same bit in the reception processing of FIG.
The same data transmitted continuously twice is read twice.

After the reception processing in step S5043, it is determined whether the timer (3 seconds) set in step S721 in the flow of FIG. 30 has timed out (step S).
5045). If "No" here, the flow advances to step S5047 to determine whether "1" is set in the data error flag. Then, if the error flag is “0”, it is determined whether or not the received two prize ball number data are the same (step S
5049). If the prize ball number data is the same, the process advances to step S5051 to determine whether the received data is the prize ball number data. This determination can be made by checking whether or not the received data is a code other than the "line test" command, the "retransmission request" command and other predetermined usable commands. Here, when it is determined that the received data is the prize ball number data, the received prize ball number data is determined as the number of prize balls to be paid out by the discharging device, set in the discharge counter, and the present routine ends. (Step S5053).

On the other hand, the above step S5037 or S5
In 045, when it is determined that the timer 3 has timed out before the reception ends, or in step S5047, the data error flag is determined to be “1”, or in step S5.
If it is determined that the received data does not match twice in 049, or if the received data is not the prize ball number data in the determination in step S5051, the process proceeds to step S5055 and the "retransmission request" command is set in the transmission buffer. Determine if it has been done. If “Yes” here, step S50.
Jump to 59, subtract the number of resend requests by "1",
If "No" in step S5055, step S505
In step 7, the “retransmission request” command is written in the transmission buffer and the number of retransmissions is set to “4”, and then step S50
In step 59, the number of retransmission requests is decremented by "1". Then, in the next step S5061, it is determined whether or not the number of retransmissions has become “0”, and if “No”, the above step S5033.
Return to and start over from the sending process. Also, step S5
If the result of the determination at 061 is “Yes”, that is, if the number of retransmissions is “0”, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. 26 and starts over. It should be noted that although the above process does not describe checking the received data for a parity error, it may also be possible to check whether or not there is a parity error.

FIG. 46 shows a flowchart of the award ball number setting processing routine executed in step S504 of FIG. When this routine is started, first in step S5401, the discharge counters 1 and 2 are once set to "0".
After the setting, the number of prize balls received in the above routine is determined to be "9" or more (step S5402). If the number of prize balls data is "9" or more, step S540.
When the number of prize balls is even, the discharge counter 1 is set to one half of the number of prize balls, and when the number of prize balls is odd, one half of (number of prize balls + 1) is set. . Also, the discharge counter 2
Is a half of the number of prize balls when the number of prize balls is even,
When the number of prize balls is an odd number, a number smaller than ½ of (number of prize balls + 1) by “1” is set (step S540).
After 4), the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are excited (step S5405). As a result, the prize balls to be discharged can be equally distributed to the two discharge systems and discharged.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S5402 is "No", that is, if the number of prize balls data is "9" or less, the flow proceeds to step S5406 to reverse the one-sided discharge flag, and then the one-sided discharge flag is "1". It is determined whether or not (step S5407). This one-sided discharge flag is for instructing from which side of the discharge system 1 or the discharge system 2 the prize balls are to be discharged. When the one-sided discharge flag is "1", the process proceeds to step S5408 to determine the number of prize balls. Only the discharge counter 1 is set, the discharge solenoid 1 is excited, and this routine ends (step S5409).

If it is determined "No" in step S5407, that is, the one-sided discharge flag is "0", step S5407.
The process proceeds to 5410, the number of prize balls is set only in the discharge counter 2, the discharge solenoid 2 is excited, and the present routine ends (step S5411). As described above, in this subroutine, when the set number of prize balls is set to a large value (9 to 15), the set number is divided and the values are set in the two discharge registers 1 and 2. Therefore, based on the values of the discharge registers 1 and 2, the first and second discharge solenoids are independently turned off by the next prize ball discharge processing (FIG. 47), so that a predetermined number of prize balls are discharged. It can be done more quickly.

FIG. 47 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of prize ball discharge processing executed in step S505 of the payout processing routine of FIG. This prize ball discharge processing routine is executed subsequent to the setting of the number of discharged prize balls by the prize ball number setting process (FIG. 46).

When this routine is started, first, in step S5502, the award ball discharge indicator 112 (safe lamp) is turned on, and then in step S5504, the timer 0 is set to 35 msec, and then the background processing is executed. Is performed (step S5506). By the background processing, the timer 0 set in step S5504 is updated every 1 msec. Therefore, the next step S5
At 508, it is determined whether the timer 0 has timed up,
If “No”, the process returns to step S5506 and repeats the updating of the timer 0 to wait for 35 msec. This is to wait for the award ball discharge indicator 112 that has been turned on in step S5502 to become completely bright.

After 35 ms have elapsed after the award ball discharge indicator is turned on, the flow advances to step S5510 to set timer 0 to 3 seconds, and then background processing is performed to update timer 0 (step S5512). Next, a prize ball discharge end determination process (see FIG. 48) is performed on the discharge system 1, and then the discharge end flag set in the process is checked to determine whether the discharge system 1 has completed prize ball discharge ( Step S5
514, S5516). If “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S5518 to turn off the discharge solenoid 1,
If “No”, the process skips step S5518 and moves to step S5520 to perform the prize ball discharge end determination process (see FIG. 48) for the discharge system 2, and then checks the discharge end flag set in the process to discharge. It is determined whether or not the prize balls of the system 2 have been discharged (step S5522).

Here, if "Yes", the step S552.
4, the discharge solenoid 2 is turned off, and if "No", step S5524 is skipped and step S5530 is performed.
Then, it is determined whether the timer 0 set in step S5510 has timed out. If "No", the process returns to step S5512 to repeat the above procedure. After the discharge solenoid 2 is turned off in step S5524, the discharge completion flag of the discharge system 1 is checked again to determine whether the prize ball discharge is completed. If it is completed, the normal completion flag is set to "1". Then, the subroutine is finished (steps S5526, S5528).

That is, the counter of the discharge system 1 or 2 is checked, and if either is "0", the discharge solenoid 1
Alternatively, 2 is demagnetized to stop the prize ball discharge of the system, and when both the counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 become “0”, both solenoids are demagnetized to terminate the prize ball discharge. If it is determined in step S5526 that the discharge of the prize balls of the discharge system 1 is not completed, step S553.
0, timer 0 set in step S5510 above
Determines whether the time has expired. If "No", the process returns to step S5512 and the above procedure is repeated.

If the timer 0 times out before the discharge of either or both of the discharge systems 1 and 2 is completed, the flow advances to step S5532 to temporarily turn off the discharge solenoids 1 and 2. This is because, according to the ball discharging device of the embodiment, 15 prize balls can be sufficiently discharged in 3 seconds. After the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are turned off in step S5532, the flow proceeds to step S5534, the discharge counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 are decremented by "1", respectively, and then the prize ball discharge end determination process for the discharge system 1 (Fig. (See 48) and determines whether or not the prize ball discharge is completed (steps S5536 and S5538). Further, step S554
0, S5542, the award ball discharge end determination process (see FIG. 48) is also performed for the discharge system 2 to determine whether or not the award ball discharge is completed. If the discharge of both systems is completed, it is considered that the discharge is completed, the process proceeds to step S5528, the normal end flag is set to "1", and the subroutine is completed.
If the prize balls are discharged continuously, two discharge balls may be detected as one, or the discharge time may be longer than usual due to the ball stopping in the taxiway, so it is possible This is to enable the entire process to proceed without delay when prize balls are continuously discharged even if the number of discharged one balls is reduced.

However, even if the discharge counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 are decremented by "1" at step S5534, if the prize ball discharge has not been completed for either one of the discharge systems 1 and 2, then step S5538, If determined in S5542, the flow shifts to step S5544, and timer 0 is set to 3 seconds again. Then, after performing background processing and updating timer 0 (step S5546),
In step S5548, it is determined whether the discharge sensor 1 detects the presence of a standby ball, and if “Yes”, the step S5.
Proceeding to 5550, it is determined whether the discharge sensor 2 detects the presence of a standby ball. If "Yes" here as well, the flow advances to the next step S5552, and it is determined whether or not the timer 0 set in step S5544 has timed out, and "N"
If "o", the process returns to the step S5546 and repeats the above procedure. If "Yes", it is judged that the discharge is abnormal and the process proceeds to the next step S5554, where the normal end flag is cleared to "0" and the process ends. The reason why the prize ball discharge does not end within 3 seconds even though the presence of the standby ball is detected is considered to be due to a malfunction of the discharge solenoid or the like.

On the other hand, the above step S5548 or S5
If either of the discharge sensors 1 or 2 determines in 550 that there is no standby ball, the process returns to step S5544, the timer 0 is reset to 3 seconds, and then the above procedure is repeated. As a result, when the storage tank 151 is out of balls, the balls are replenished while the above process is repeated. Therefore, at the time of replenishment, the discharge sensors 1 and 2 determine that there is a standby ball. Then, the process proceeds to step S5554, clears the normal end flag to "0", and ends. After that, the normal end flag is checked in step S506 of FIG. 43, the process returns to step S502, and the suspended prize discharge can be re-executed by starting over from the prize count requesting process.

FIG. 48 shows the award ball discharge process (see FIG. 4).
7 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of prize ball discharge end determination processing performed in steps S5514, S5520, S5536 and S5540 of 7). In this determination processing, first, in step S5572, it is determined whether or not the value of the discharge counter is "0", and if "No", the count value is "1".
2 ”or more is determined (step S5574). And
When the count value is "0" or "12" or more, the process proceeds to step S5576, the discharge end flag is set to "1", and the process ends. Also, steps S5572 and S55.
If any of the determinations in step 74 is "No", step S5
Proceeding to step 578, the discharge end flag is cleared to "0" and the processing is ended.

Even when the count value is "12" or more, it is determined that the discharge is completed because the discharge counter is a 4-bit down counter, and after "0", "15", "14",
This is because the number will decrease, and even if about four more than the planned discharge amount, it will be regarded as an error range and control will be continued, so that the game will not be interrupted due to an error in the number of prize balls discharged.

FIG. 49 shows a flowchart of the safe ball ejection processing routine executed in step S507 of FIG. When this routine is started, first, in step S5702, the discharge counters 1 and 2 are set to "4" as the number of fraud monitoring balls. By monitoring the most significant bit (4th bit) of the 4-bit discharge counter in the fraud monitoring process, the number of balls can be set to "0" by the discharge ball detection signal even if there is no request for discharging a ball. When there are five or more discharges (the 4th bit changes from 0 to 1), it is determined that the discharge is illegal, and for example, the discharge ball is energized and the discharged balls are placed on the back of the game board instead of the supply plate. Used to collect.

Subsequently, the prize ball discharge processing routine (see FIG. 4).
After turning off the safe lamp turned on in step S5502 of 7), the safe solenoid 183 in the winning ball separating and discharging device 180 is excited (step S5704).
S5706). Then, the stopper 182 protruding into the winning ball outflow trough is retracted, and the winning ball flows down. Next, timer 0 is used as a discharge wait timer, which is set to 400 msec (step S5708), and timer 2 is set to 200 msec (step S5710), and then the safe sensor ball absence confirmation process (see FIG. 50). ) Is performed to confirm whether or not winning balls have flowed out from inside the safe sensor 181 (step S5712). The discharge wait timer is referred to in step S5011 in the discharge condition determination process (FIG. 44) as described above, and holds the process for the next prize ball payout process. Also, the safe sensor ball absence confirmation processing is performed by performing the background processing five times in a row,
That is, the reading process of the sensor or the like is performed 5 times every 1 msec to check the state of the safe sensor, and the ballless flag of the winning ball is set to "1" when the safe sensor flag is "0" in all 5 times.

In the safe ball discharge processing routine of FIG. 49,
After the safe sensor ball absence confirmation process is executed, it is determined whether or not the ball absence flag is "1", and if "Yes", that is, it is determined that the winning ball has flowed out from within the safe sensor 181, this routine is ended (step S5714). ). On the other hand, if it is determined "No" in step S5714, the flow advances to step S5716 to determine whether the timer 1 (200 msec) set in step S5710 has timed up. The timers 0 and 1 are updated by the background processing in the safe sensor ball absence confirmation processing (see FIG. 50). If “No” here, step S5712.
Return to and repeat the above procedure. Then, when the timer 1 times out before the ball-less flag becomes "1", the process proceeds to step S5718, the safe lamp (prize ball discharge indicator 112) is turned on, and then the ball removing solenoid (15
8) is excited (step S5720). When the ball removing solenoid is excited, the switching valve 158 is switched, and the balls discharged from the ball discharging device 170 are not discharged to the supply tray but are collected on the back of the game board. Normally, the winning ball will flow out of the sensor within 200 msec after the safe solenoid is turned on. Therefore, the ballless flag does not become "1" even after 200 msec because the winning ball is clogged. This is because it can be considered that the ball clogging is mistaken for the occurrence of a winning ball and the process proceeds to the next prize ball discharging process to prevent an extra prize ball from being given to the player.

After exciting the ball removing solenoid in step S5720, the flow shifts to step S5722,
The safe sensor ball absence confirmation processing (FIG. 50) is repeatedly executed until the ball absence flag becomes “1”, that is, until it is confirmed that the winning ball has flown out from the safe sensor (step S5724). Then, if the ballless flag becomes "1" while repeating the above procedure, the timer 1 is set to 900 msec, background processing is performed to update the timer, and the time when the timer expires This routine ends with (step S5726,
S5728, S5730).

The safe sensor ball non-confirmation processing executed in the safe ball discharge processing routine is the background processing (steps S5752, S) as shown in FIG.
5756, S5760, S5764, S5768), the safe sensor is read, and then the safe sensor flag is checked (steps S5754, S5758, S57).
62, S5766, S5770) and then the safe sensor 18
It repeats 5 times whether 1 detects the winning ball, and if the flag is "1" even once, that is, the winning ball is detected, the ballless flag is cleared to "0" (step S5774),
When the safe sensor flag is "0" at all five times, the no-ball flag of the winning ball is set to "1" (step S577).
2).

FIG. 51 shows a flowchart of the prize ball discharge end processing routine executed in step S508 of FIG. In this routine, first, the timer 1 (timer 0) is set to 100 msec (step S582), and then the safe solenoid, the safe lamp and the ball removing solenoid which are turned on in the safe ball discharge processing routine of FIG. 49 are turned off. End (steps S584, S58
6, S588).

FIG. 52 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the lending process executed in step S10 of the main routine (FIG. 26) of the above-mentioned prize ball emission control device. This flow is the reading of the ball lending request signal BRQ of FIG. The process is started when the falling edge of the signal is detected, and a predetermined number of loan balls are discharged. In this routine,
First, in step S150, the lending condition determination process (FIG. 53)
After that, the result is checked in the next step S151 to determine whether lending is possible or not. If the lending is not possible, the process proceeds to step S159 to determine whether or not the ball lending request signal BRQ is at the low level. If "Yes", the routine is terminated without doing anything. This is to wait for the already started lending process to end. In step S159, "N
o ", that is, when it is determined that the ball lending request signal BRQ is at the high level, the process proceeds to step S160, and the falling edge detection flag of the BRQ signal set by the reading process of the ball lending request signal BRQ in FIG. "BRQ signal is a signal that does not change to a high level unless the discharge control device 600 finishes discharging the ball lending once the BRQ signal falls once. If it is detected that the ball lending request signal BRQ has changed to the low level before the entry and the discharge are completed, it is because the previous fall detection is incorrect.

If lending is possible, lending ball setting processing (step S152) is performed, and then step S15.
In 3, it is determined whether the ball lending request signal BRQ is at a low level,
If “No”, that is, if it is determined that the ball lending request signal BRQ is at high level, the process proceeds to step S160, and BR
The falling edge detection flag of the Q signal is cleared to "0", and this routine ends. On the other hand, in step S153, "Y
es ", that is, if the ball lending request signal BRQ is determined to be at a low level, the process proceeds to step S154, the lending sound request command is set in the transmission buffer, and the number of retransmissions is set to three, and then the transmission process (Fig. 29) (step S155) After that, the process proceeds to step S156, and after the lending and discharging process is performed, it is determined in step S157 whether the process is normally completed. If “Yes”, the process proceeds to the next step and the lending and discharging process is completed. The process (step S158) is performed, and the present routine ends.

If "No" in the above step S157, that is, if it is determined to be an abnormal end, the process proceeds to step S161.
The ball drop solenoid is turned on, the safe lamp is turned on, the ball lending enable signal RDY is changed to a low level (ineffective state), and the process is ended. When the ball drop solenoid is turned on, the extra balls are collected to the back of the game machine through the ball drop passage 157 instead of the saucer on the front of the game machine.
It is possible to avoid the disadvantage of the game store due to a breakdown or the like.

FIG. 53 shows a flowchart of the lending condition determination processing routine executed in step S151 of FIG. In this routine, first, step S
At 1511, it is checked whether the card presence / absence signal CON from the ball lending control device 500 is at a high level. If "No", the process proceeds to step S1519 to clear the lendable flag to "0" and terminates this routine. If the card presence / absence signal CON is at high level, the process proceeds to step S1512, and it is determined whether or not the lending wait timer set in step S6571 of the lending ending processing routine (FIG. 57), which will be described later, is active. In S1519, the flag indicating that lending is possible is cleared to "0", and this routine ends. This is to wait for the loan discharge process that has already started to end.

On the other hand, if it is determined "No" in step S1512, the flow advances to step S1513 to set timer 0 to 50
After setting to m seconds, background processing (step S
1514) to update the timer 0 set in step S1513. Next step S1515, 501
At 6, the output level of the lending sensors 1 and 2 set by the discharge sensor reading process (FIG. 35) is checked to determine whether the output is at a high level (with balls). If the output of any of the discharge sensors is high level, step S1
In step 517, it is determined whether or not the timer 0 set in step S1512 has timed out. If “No”, the process returns to step S1513 to repeat the update of the timer 0 and wait for 50 msec to elapse. Then, when the timer 0 times out, the process proceeds to step S1518, the lending possible flag is set to "1", and the present routine ends. If it is determined in steps S1515 and S1516 that the output of either the emission sensor 1 or 2 is low, the flow advances to step S1519 to set the flag indicating that the lending is not possible to "1", and this routine is terminated.
This lending possible flag is referred to in step S152 of the lending processing routine of FIG. 52, as described above.

FIG. 54 shows a flow chart of the lending ball number setting processing routine executed in step S153 of the lending processing routine of FIG. When this routine is started, first, in step S1531, the number of lending balls (for example, 25) is read from the memory (ROM), and then in step S1532, when the number of lending balls is an even number based on the number of lending balls. Is 1/2 of the number of balls lent to the discharge counter 1, and when the number of balls lent is odd (number of balls lent + 1)
Set half of. In addition, the discharge counter 2 has
When the number of lending balls is even, it is 1/2 of the number of lending balls, and when the number of lending balls is odd, it is 1/2 of (lending ball number + 1).
Set a number smaller than that by "1" (step S153
After 3), the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are excited (step S1534). As a result, the lending balls to be discharged can be distributed and evenly distributed to the two discharge systems.

FIG. 55 is a flow chart showing the subroutine of the lending and discharging process executed in step S155 of the lending process routine of FIG. This lending and discharging process routine is almost the same as the award ball discharging process (FIG. 47) described above, and is executed after the number of discharged balls is set by the lending ball number setting process (FIG. 54).

When this routine is started, first in step S6502 the ball rental discharge indicator 113 is turned on,
After asserting the discharge end signal EXS to the ball lending control device 500 to a low level, the flow advances to step S6504 to set timer 0 to 35 msec, and then background processing is performed (step S6506). The background processing updates the timer 0 set in step S6504 every 1 msec. Then, in the next step S6508, it is determined whether or not the timer 0 has timed out. If “No”, the process returns to step S6506 and the timer 0
By repeating the update of, wait for 35 ms to elapse. Ball rental discharge indicator 1 turned on in step S6502
This is to wait until 13 is completely bright.

After 35 m seconds have elapsed after the ball rental display is turned on, the flow advances to step S6510 to set timer 0 to 3 seconds, and then background processing is performed to update timer 0 (step S6512). Next, after performing the lending / emission end determination process (see FIG. 56) on the emission system 1, the emission end flag set in the process is checked to determine whether the lending / emission of the emission system 1 is completed (step S6).
514, S6516). If “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S6518, the discharge solenoid 1 is turned off,
If “No”, step S6518 is skipped, the process proceeds to step S6520, the lending / emission end determination process (see FIG. 56) is performed on the emission system 2, and then the emission end flag set in the process is checked to determine the emission system. It is determined whether the lending and discharging of No. 2 is completed (step S6522).

Here, if "Yes", the step S652.
4, the discharge solenoid 2 is turned off, and if “No”, step S6524 is skipped and step S6530.
Then, it is determined whether the timer 0 set in step S6510 has timed out. If "No", the process returns to step S6512 to repeat the above procedure. After the discharge solenoid 2 is turned off in step S6524, the discharge completion flag of the discharge system 1 is checked again to determine whether the lending discharge is completed. If it is completed, the normal completion flag is set to "1". The subroutine is finished (steps S6526, S6528).

That is, the counter of the discharge system 1 or 2 is checked, and if either is "0", the discharge solenoid 1
Alternatively, it demagnetizes 2 to stop lending and discharging of the system, and when both the counters of the discharging systems 1 and 2 become “0”, demagnetizes both solenoids to end lending and discharging. When it is determined in step S6526 that the lending and discharging of the discharge system 1 is not completed, step S653
0, the timer 0 set in step S6510 is set.
Determines whether the time has expired, and if "No", returns to step S6512 to repeat the above procedure.

If the timer 0 times out before the discharge of either or both of the discharge systems 1 and 2 ends, the flow advances to step S6532 to temporarily turn off the discharge solenoids 1 and 2. This is because the ball discharging device of the embodiment can sufficiently discharge 25 ball rental balls in 3 seconds.

After the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are turned off in step S6532, the flow advances to step S6534, and the discharge counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 are each decremented by "1", and then the lending discharge end determination process for the discharge system 1 is performed. (See FIG. 56) is performed to determine whether or not lending and discharging have been completed (steps S6536, S6538). Further, step S654
0, in S6542, the lending / emission end determination process (see FIG. 56) is also performed for the emission system 2 to determine whether or not the lending / emission has ended. Then, if the discharge of both systems is completed, it is considered that the lending is completed, the process proceeds to step S6528, the normal end flag is set to "1", and the subroutine is completed.
Similar to the prize ball discharge processing, if balls are continuously discharged, two discharge balls will be detected as one, or the discharge time will be longer than usual due to the ball remaining in the taxiway. This is because the entire processing can proceed without delay when lending and discharging are continuous even if the number of discharged one is reduced by one at one time.

However, even if the discharge counters of the discharge systems 1 and 2 are respectively decremented by "1" in step S6534, if the lending and discharge of one of the discharge systems 1 and 2 is not completed, steps S6538, S6542. If it is determined in step S6544, the process proceeds to step S6544 and timer 0 is set to 3 seconds again. Then, after performing background processing and updating timer 0 (step S6546),
In step S6548, it is determined whether the discharge sensor 1 detects the presence of the standby ball, and if “Yes”, the step S6.
The process proceeds to 6550, and it is determined whether the discharge sensor 2 detects the presence of the standby ball. If "Yes" here as well, the flow advances to the next step S6552 to determine whether the timer 0 set in step S6544 has timed out, and "N"
If "o", the process returns to step S6546 and repeats the above procedure. If "Yes", it is determined that the discharge is abnormal, the process proceeds to the next step S6554, the normal end flag is cleared to "0" and the process ends. Detecting the presence of the standby ball does not finish the lending and discharging within 3 seconds because it is considered that the discharging solenoid or the like has a failure.

On the other hand, the above step S6548 or S6
If either of the discharge sensors 1 or 2 determines in 550 that there is no standby ball, the process returns to step S6544, the timer 0 is reset to 3 seconds, and then the above procedure is repeated. As a result, when the storage tank 151 is out of balls, the balls are replenished while the above process is repeated. Therefore, at the time of replenishment, the discharge sensors 1 and 2 determine that there is a standby ball. Then, the process proceeds to step S6554, the normal end flag is cleared to "0", and the process ends. However, unlike the case of prize ball discharge (FIG. 47), if the normal end flag is checked in step S157 of FIG.
The process proceeds to step 61, the ball removal solenoid is turned on, the safe lamp is turned on, the ball lending enable signal RDY is negated to a low level, and the lending and discharging process is interrupted.

FIG. 56 shows the above-mentioned lending and discharging process (see FIG. 4).
It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the lending discharge completion | finish judgment process performed in step S6514, S6520, S6536, and S6540 of 7). In this determination process, first, in step S6562, it is determined whether or not the value of the discharge counter is "0", and if "No", the count value is "1".
4 ”or more is determined (step S6564). And
When the count value is equal to or greater than "0" or "14", the flow advances to step S6566 to set the discharge end flag to "1" and ends. Also, steps S6562 and S65.
If all of the judgments in 64 are “No”, step S6
Proceed to 568 to clear the discharge end flag to "0" and end.

Even if the count value is "14" or more, it is determined that the lending is finished because the discharge counter is a 4-bit down counter, and "15", "14",
This is to prevent the control from being interrupted by a slight error in the number of discharges, even if the discharge is about two more than planned, considering it as an error range. However, unlike the case of prize ball discharge, the error in the number of balls lent is closely related to the interest of the amusement store, so the number of balls regarded as the error range is estimated to be smaller than that in the case of the prize ball discharge end determination (FIG. 48).

FIG. 57 shows a flowchart of the lending and discharging end processing routine executed in step S158 of the lending processing flow of FIG. This routine is executed when the normal end flag is set to "1" in the lending and discharging process of FIG. When this routine starts,
To prevent the next lending process from starting (see FIG. 53), first use timer 0 as a wait timer in step 6571, set it to 400 msec, and then set timer 1 to 100 msec (step 6572).
Then, after changing the discharge end signal EXS to the ball lending controller 500 to a high level (step 6573), background processing is performed to update each timer, and then the timer 1 set in the above step 6572 has timed up. Whether or not (steps 6574, S657)
5). If “No” here, the routine proceeds to step 6576, where it is determined whether or not the ball lending request signal BRQ from the ball lending control device 500 has changed to a high level, and if “No”, the procedure returns to the step S6574 and repeats the above procedure to repeat the ball lending. Wait for the request signal BRQ to change to high level. If the ball lending request signal BRQ changes to high level within 100 msec after changing the discharge end signal EXS to high level,
Go to step S6577, check the timer 1 and check 50
It is determined whether m seconds have elapsed. If 50 msec has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 6578, and the ball lending request signal B
The trailing edge detection flag of RQ is cleared to "0".

Then, the flow shifts to step S6579, the timer 1 is reset to 250 msec, background processing is performed to update the timer, and it is determined whether the timer 1 set in step 6579 has timed out. (Steps 6580 and S6581). Where "N
If “o”, the process proceeds to step 6582, and the ball lending control device 50
It is determined whether the ball lending request signal BRQ from 0 has changed to the low level. If "No", the process returns to the step S6580 and repeats the above procedure, and waits for the ball lending request signal BRQ to change to the low level. Then, if the ball lending request signal BRQ changes to the low level within 250 msec, or if the timer 1 times out before the ball lending request signal BRQ changes to the low level, this routine is ended (step 6577).

On the other hand, before the ball lending request signal BRQ is changed to the high level in the step 6575, the step 657 is executed.
When it is determined that the timer 1 set in 2 has timed up, the process proceeds to step 6585, the ball removal solenoid is turned on, the safe lamp is turned on, the ball lending enable signal RDY is negated to a low level, and the lending and discharging process is stopped. The reason why the response signal does not return from the ball lending control device 500 within the predetermined time is that a serious failure such as disconnection of the communication line may occur.

Next, the card is inserted into the card reader,
When the conversion button 123 provided on the pachinko gaming machine 100 is pressed and a ball lending request is made, a specific timing of a signal transmitted and received between the ball lending control device 500 and the discharge control device 600 is shown. 58. It should be noted that the signal timings in the case where the number of ball lending is set so that the ball lending for 300 yen is discharged for one operation of the conversion button 123 are shown in the same figure.

When the power of the game machine is turned on, the ball lending enable signal RDY supplied from the discharge control device 600 to the ball lending control device 500 is changed to a high level (timing t1). On the other hand, when the card is inserted into the card reader,
The ball lending control device 500 detects this and asserts the card presence / absence signal CON to the discharge control device 600 at a high level (timing t2).

After that, when the conversion button 123 is pressed,
The ball lending control device 500 confirms that the ball lending possible signal RDY is changed to a high level and changes the ball lending request signal BRQ to a low level (timing t
3). Emission control device 6 that has received the ball lending request signal BRQ
00 changes the discharge end signal EXS to a low level on condition that the ball lending possible signal RDY output by itself is at a high level and the card presence signal CON from the ball lending control device 500 is at a high level. Discharge solenoid 7
41a and 741b are driven to start the discharge of rental balls (timing t4).

Then, the discharge control device 600 monitors the detection signals of the discharge sensors 730a and 730b and the discharge number is 2
Ejection solenoid 74 when 5 pieces (100 yen worth) are reached
The driving of 1a and 741b is stopped, and the discharge end signal EXS to the ball lending control device 500 is changed to a high level (timing t5). Ball lending control device 50
0 is 75 when detecting the rising of the discharge end signal EXS.
After waiting for m seconds, the ball lending request signal BRQ is negated to a high level once (timing t6).

Then, the ball lending control device 500 sets 10
After the lapse of 0 ms, the ball lending request signal BRQ is asserted to the low level again (timing t7). Then, the discharge control device 600 detects it and changes the discharge end signal EXS to the low level to start discharging the rental balls (timing t8). By repeating the above operation 3 times, 3
The rental ball for 00 yen is discharged.

However, the ball lending controller 500 asserts the ball lending request signal BRQ at a low level (timing t
3, t7, t11), the discharge end signal EXS does not change to the low level even after 10 seconds have passed, or the discharge end signal EXS changes to the low level (timing t4, t).
Ejection end signal E even if 10 seconds have passed after (8, t12)
When XS does not change to high level (T1 <10
At S, T2 <10S, a card ejection command is sent to the card reader to interrupt the ball lending control (step S in FIG. 18).
8134, S8142). On the other hand, the discharge control device 60
0 means that the ball lending request signal BRQ does not change to the high level (T3 <100 mS) even after 100 m seconds have elapsed since the discharge end signal EXS was changed to the high level (timing t5, t9, t13). , It is determined that an abnormality has occurred (changes in 75 msec if normal), the ball removal solenoid is turned on, the safe lamp is turned on, the ball lending enable signal RDY is negated to a low level, and the ball rental processing is stopped (see FIG. 57). See steps S6572 and S6575).

Further, the emission control device 600 of the above embodiment.
In the control flow of Fig. 26, the ball rental process is repeated while the BRQ falling flag is "1" (Fig. 26).
Step S3), the ball lending control device 500 is BRQ
The falling flag asserts the ball lending request signal BRQ to a low level until the ball lending is repeated a set number of times (steps S8164 and S81 in FIG. 18).
70, S8130), so even if a prize ball discharge request is sent from the game board control device 400 after starting the ball rental discharge process, the ball rental discharge process is preferentially executed. However, if the emission control device 600 detects that the ball lending request signal BRQ has risen and the BRQ does not fall within a predetermined time (for example, 250 msec), that is, the time T4 in FIG.
If it is not within m seconds, the prize ball discharging process is started (see steps S6579 to S6582 in FIG. 57).

When the ball lending control device 500 starts the ball lending discharge processing, the ball lending control device 500 finishes discharging balls as many times as the number of ball lending.
Steps S8164, S8170, and S8130 of FIG.
The loop is repeated and the step S8112 of FIG. 17 is not passed. Therefore, even if the conversion button 123 is pressed after the ball lending request signal BRQ is asserted to the low level, this is not detected, and the conversion switch ON during this period is invalidated. It In the above embodiment, the ejection control device is configured to transmit a card insertion and ejection sound generation request signal to the game board control device, but the present invention is not limited to this and the ball lending control is performed. The device may be configured to directly transmit a card insertion / ejection sound generation request signal to the game board control device.

In the above embodiment, the detection signal of the safe sensor 181 in the winning ball separation detection device 180 is input to the discharge control device 600, and when the discharge control device 600 detects the winning ball, the game board control device 400 is operated. On the other hand, the prize ball number data is requested and the prize ball is discharged based on the received prize ball number data. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the detection signal of the safe sensor 181 is a game board. Input to the control device 400, the game board control device 400
When the prize winning ball is detected, the prize ball number data may be transmitted to the discharge control device 600 so that the prize ball is discharged.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the conversion button 123 to the rental ball, the return button 124, the balance indicator 122 and the like are provided on the operation panel 121 on the upper surface of the supply tray 120, but these positions are the supply tray. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be provided at any position on the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine or on the front surface of the ball lending machine 200. Further, in the embodiment, the card reader is incorporated in the ball lending machine arranged between the gaming machines, but the card reader is arranged on one side of the saucer 140 of the pachinko gaming machine 100 or the like to play the game. It may be configured to be built in the machine.

[0210]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the card type pachinko game system configured to discharge the lending balls directly to the supply tray using the prize ball discharging device provided in the gaming machine, Ball lending conversion requesting means for giving a command to convert a part of the valuable data held by the ball lending ball, a game board control device for controlling a game, and a minimum ball lending for one operation of the ball lending conversion requesting means. A ball lending number setting means for setting the number of times and a ball lending control is started by the operation of the ball lending conversion requesting means, and a ball lending request signal is sent to the discharge control device based on the set number of times by the ball lending number setting means. A ball lending control device to be supplied, and an emission system for discharging a predetermined number of prize balls or lend balls by controlling the ball discharging device in accordance with a request from the game board control device or the ball lending control device. Since the device is provided and the ejection control device or the ball lending control device transmits the card insertion request signal to the game board control device to generate the ejection sound, misplacement of the card can be prevented, and Since the sound of card insertion and ejection can be generated using the speaker provided in the pachinko gaming machine, the speaker that should be provided in the ball lending machine can be omitted and compared to the case where separate speakers are provided. The rental machine can be configured compactly and the cost of the entire system can be reduced. Further, since the game board control device is provided with the sound priority control means, it is possible to prevent the sounds from being overlapped when the game sound such as the prize ball discharge and the card insertion / discharge sound compete with each other. effective.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a card-type pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing a configuration example of a back mechanism of a pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional front view showing an embodiment of a ball discharging device 170.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a control system of a pachinko gaming machine 100 and a ball lending machine 200.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a game board control device 400.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a communication unit that constitutes the game board control device 400.

FIG. 7 is a system configuration diagram showing a specific configuration example of a game board control device 400.

8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an emission control device 600. FIG.

9 is a system configuration diagram showing a specific configuration example of an emission control device 600. FIG.

10 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a ball lending control device 500. FIG.

11 is a system configuration diagram showing a specific configuration example of a ball lending control device 500. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a control procedure for the entire game board, which is performed by the game board control device 400.

13 is a flowchart showing an example of a control procedure of clock signal output processing in the flow of FIG.

14 is a flowchart showing an example of a control procedure of prize ball switch input processing in the flow of FIG.

15A is a flowchart showing a part of an example of a control procedure of transmission / reception processing in the flow of FIG.

FIG. 15B is a flowchart showing a part of an example of a control procedure of transmission / reception processing in the flow of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15C is a flowchart showing a part of an example of a control procedure of transmission / reception processing in the flow of FIG. 12;

15D is a flowchart showing a part of an example of a control procedure of transmission / reception processing in the flow of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an outline of a main routine of the ball lending control device.

FIG. 17: Step S of the main routine (FIG. 16)
It is a flowchart which shows a part (first half) of the specific procedure of the ball lending process performed in 8008.

FIG. 18: Step S of the main routine (FIG. 16)
It is a flowchart which shows a part (second half) of the specific procedure of the ball lending process performed in 8008.

FIG. 19 is a step S of the main routine (FIG. 16).
It is a flowchart which shows a part of specific procedure of the card return process performed by 8010.

FIG. 20: Step S of the main routine (FIG. 16)
It is a flowchart which shows a part (first half) of the specific procedure of the function transmission / reception process performed by 8012.

FIG. 21 is a step S of the main routine (FIG. 16).
It is a flowchart which shows a part (latter half) of the specific procedure of the function transmission / reception process performed by 8012.

FIG. 22 is a step S of the main routine (FIG. 16).
It is a flowchart which shows an example of the specific procedure of the payment signal output process performed by 8014.

23 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a timer interrupt process performed every time a predetermined time (for example, 1 msec) has passed by the ball lending control device 500 in preference to the main routine of FIG.

24 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a transmission interrupt process performed by the ball lending control device 500 in preference to the main routine of FIG.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a reception interrupt process performed by the ball lending controller 500 prior to the main routine of FIG. 16;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an example of a main routine of discharge control processing by the discharge control device 600.

FIG. 27 is a step S of the main routine (FIG. 26).
6 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific procedure of an initialization process executed at 0.

28 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific procedure of a line test process executed in step S117 of the initialization process routine (FIG. 27).

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing an example of specific procedures of the line test processing, the card insertion / ejection confirmation processing of FIG. 40, and the transmission processing executed in the prize ball number request processing routine of FIG. 45.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific procedure of reception processing executed in the line test processing routine.

FIG. 31 is a step S of the main routine (FIG. 26).
3 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific procedure of background processing executed in 1.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of a 1 ms waiting process executed in step S21 of the background process (FIG. 31).

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of timer updating processing executed in step S22 of the background processing (FIG. 31).

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a safe sensor read processing routine executed in step S26 of the background processing (FIG. 31).

FIG. 35 is a flowchart of a discharge sensor reading processing routine executed in step S27 of the background processing (FIG. 31).

FIG. 36 is a flowchart of a read processing routine of the ball-extraction sensor 750 executed in step S29 of the background processing (FIG. 31).

FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing a routine of a ball lending request signal input process executed in step S30 of the background process (FIG. 31).

FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing a routine of card presence / absence signal input processing executed in step S31 of the background processing (FIG. 31).

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a routine of clock input processing executed in step S32 of the background processing (FIG. 31).

FIG. 40 is a step S of the main routine (FIG. 26).
6 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific procedure of card insertion / ejection confirmation processing executed in 3.

FIG. 41 is a step S of the main routine (FIG. 26).
5 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific procedure of a ball removing process (first half) executed in 5.

42 is a step S of the main routine (FIG. 26).
6 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific procedure of a ball removing process (second half) executed in 5.

FIG. 43 is a step S of the main routine (FIG. 26).
It is a flow chart which shows an example of the procedure of the payout processing performed in 7.

FIG. 44 is a step S501 of the above-mentioned payout processing (FIG. 43).
6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a discharge condition determination process executed in.

FIG. 45 is a step S503 of the payout process (FIG. 43).
It is a flow chart which shows the subroutine of a prize sphere number demand processing performed by.

FIG. 46 is a step S504 of the above-mentioned payout processing (FIG. 43).
5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a prize ball setting process executed in FIG.

FIG. 47: Step S505 of the above-mentioned payout processing (FIG. 43)
8 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of prize ball discharge processing performed in FIG.

FIG. 48 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of prize ball discharge end determination processing performed in the prize ball discharge processing (FIG. 39).

[FIG. 49] Step S507 of the above-mentioned payout processing (FIG. 43)
6 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of a safe ball discharge process executed in.

FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of safe sensor ball absence confirmation processing performed in the safe ball discharge processing (FIG. 41).

FIG. 51 is a step S508 of the payout process (FIG. 43).
6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a prize ball discharge end process executed in step S6.

FIG. 52 is a step S of the main routine (FIG. 26).
10 is a flowchart showing a part of a lending process subroutine executed in 10.

FIG. 53 is a step S151 of the lending process (FIG. 52).
5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a lending condition determination process executed in.

FIG. 54 is a step S153 of the lending process (FIG. 52).
5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a number-of-lending-balls setting process executed in.

FIG. 55 is a step S155 of the lending process (FIG. 52).
5 is a flowchart showing a sub routine of a lending and discharging process executed in.

FIG. 56 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a lending / ejection end determination process executed in the lending / ejection process (FIG. 47).

FIG. 57 is a step S157 of the lending process (FIG. 52).
5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a lending and discharging end process executed in.

FIG. 58 is the above-mentioned ball lending control device 500 and discharge control device 6
10 is a time chart showing specific timings of signals transmitted and received to and from 00.

59] The game board control device 400 and the discharge control device 6 described above.
10 is a time chart showing specific timings on the side of the emission control device for signals transmitted to and received from 00.

FIG. 60 is a game board control device 400 and a discharge control device 6;
It is a time chart which shows the concrete timing in the game board control device side of the signal transmitted / received between 00.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 pachinko machine 121 supply plate 122 Balance indicator 123 Ball Rental Conversion Button 125 ball number display 131 Ball shortage detector 132 Ball possession detector 170 ball ejector 180 prize winning ball separation discharge device 200 ball lending machine 211 Card slot 220 Insert balance indicator 230 Effective indicator lamp 400 game board control device 500 ball lending control device 600 emission control device

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display area G07F 7/08

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A ball discharging device capable of discharging an arbitrary number of game balls, a card reader capable of reading the data of a card storing valuable data, and a part of the valuable data held by the card converted into a rental ball. A ball lending conversion requesting means for giving a command, a game board control device for controlling a game, and a ball lending number setting means for setting a minimum ball lending frequency for one operation of the ball lending conversion requesting means, A ball lending control device that starts ball lending control by operating the ball lending conversion requesting means and supplies a ball lending request signal to the discharge control device based on the number of times set by the ball lending number setting means, and the game board control device. Or a ball lending control device that controls the ball discharging device according to a request from the ball lending control device to discharge a predetermined number of prize balls or lend balls. A card-type pachinko game system characterized in that a card insertion / ejection sound generation request signal is transmitted from the control device to the game board control device. 2. The game board control device is provided with sound priority control means for selecting any one of them when there is a conflict between the generation of a sound effect associated with a game, a card insertion request, and a discharge sound generation request. The card-type pachinko game system according to claim 1.