JPH05237241A - Ball discharge control device for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To continuously discharge prize balls during a big-prize game and give no disadvantage to a player by switching the passage of a branch section between a discharge trough and a ball extracting trough to the ball extracting trough side normally and to the discharge trough side during the big-prize game when multiple balls are discharged by one discharge action of a discharging device. CONSTITUTION:When multiple balls are discharged by one discharge action of a ball discharging device 200, a microcomputer switches a branch section between a discharge trough 813 and a ball extracting trough 815 to the ball extracting trough 815 side during a normal game via passage switching devices 820, 821 and reports it to an external control device, and it switches the branch section to the discharge trough 813 side during a big-prize game. The passage of the branch section is switched to the ball extracting trough 815 side via the passage switching device 820, 821 based on the signal from a check switch so that the ball discharging device 200 performs a discharge action, the number of discharged balls is counted, and the failure of the ball discharging device 200 is judged.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device for controlling the discharge of balls of a gaming machine which causes a ball discharge device to discharge a prize ball in response to a prize winning in a prize portion provided in a game area. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In response to winning a ball in a winning area provided in a game area, a ball discharging device discharges one prize ball at a time to discharge a predetermined number of balls, and under certain conditions, a prize ball. Converts from a normal game state with a low discharge frequency to a big hit game state with a high discharge frequency of prize balls, and a discharge gutter and a ball removal gutter are provided below the ball discharge device at the branch part. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a control device for controlling the discharge of balls of a gaming machine provided with a passage switching device for switching the passage of balls.

[0003]

However, the ball ejecting device may eject two or more balls by one ejecting operation when it breaks down. In such a case, if the balls discharged by the ball discharging device are always collected on the side of the ball removing trough, it may result in interrupting the big hit game when it is during the big hit game. However, there is a problem that it may cause many disadvantages to the player. The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and even if the ball discharging device malfunctions and two or more balls are discharged in one discharging operation, a big hit game is performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control device for controlling the discharge of balls of a gaming machine that does not cause a disadvantage to the player by continuing paying out the prize balls.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a control device for controlling the discharge of balls of a gaming machine according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, responds to winning of each ball in a winning section provided in a game area. By the ball discharging device, one prize ball is discharged for each discharging operation to discharge a predetermined number of balls. Converted to a jackpot gaming state with a high discharge frequency, the passage at the branch between the discharge gutter and the ball discharge gutter below the ball discharge device is a state in which the ball flows to the discharge gutter side by the passage switching device and the ball discharge. In a control device for controlling discharge of balls of a gaming machine which is switched to a state of flowing to a gutter side, when a plurality of balls are discharged by one discharging operation of the ball discharging device, the passage switching device is used. When switching the path of the branch, At the time of the game machine of the above, it switches to a state in which the ball flows to the gutter side and informs an external management device, and at the time of the big hit game, switches to a state in which the ball flows to the discharge gutter side. A configuration is provided in which the control of the discharge of the balls of the gaming machine is provided, which is provided with a notification means. The control device for controlling the discharge of the balls of the ball game machine, based on a signal from a check switch provided on the back side of the game machine or a signal from an external management device, controls the branching unit by the passage switching device. The passage is switched to a state in which the balls flow toward the ball-spilling gutter side, and the ball discharging device is caused to perform the discharging operation a predetermined number of times, and the number of discharged balls at that time is counted to judge the failure of the ball discharging device. It may be provided with a discharge failure check means for performing. Further, the control device for controlling the discharge of the balls of the gaming machine includes a ball collapsing device for collapsing the ball inside the discharge passage and a ball presence sensor for detecting the ball presence state of the standby ball in the discharge passage. Detecting a sphere in at least one of the sphere sensor and at least one of the discharge sensors, even though the sphere discharging device provided with a discharge sensor for detecting the discharged sphere is operated to discharge the sphere. When the above is not recognized, the ball collapsing device may be provided with a ball collapsing control means for performing the ball collapsing operation. Further, the control device that controls the discharge of the balls of the gaming machine may include a ball collapse operation notification control unit that notifies an external management device that the ball collapse operation is being performed by the ball collapse device. .

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided 1 of the ball discharging device.
When multiple balls are discharged in one discharging operation, the passage of the branch part between the discharge gutter and the ball draining gutter is discharged to the ball draining gutter side during normal play, and when the big hit is played. Since the balls can be switched to flow on the gutter side respectively, it is possible to prevent erroneous discharge of the number of prize balls at the time of normal game,
It is possible to avoid interruption of prize ball discharge during a big hit game. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the discharge failure check means switches the passage of the branch portion by the passage switching device based on the signal from the check switch provided on the back side or the signal from the external management device. The balls are switched to a state in which they flow to the side of the ball removing gutter, and the ball discharging device is caused to perform a predetermined number of discharging operations, and the number of balls discharged at that time is counted to judge the failure of the ball discharging device. Therefore, it is easy to check the failure of the ball ejector.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, although the ball ejecting device is caused to eject the ball, the detection of the ball is not recognized by both at least one of the ball presence sensor and at least one of the ejection sensors. In this case, the ball collapsing control means causes the ball collapsing device to perform the ball collapsing operation. Therefore, even if a ball clogging of the ball discharging device occurs, the ball clogging is automatically cleared. According to the invention described in claim 4, when the ball collapsing device is performing the ball collapsing operation, the ball collapsing operation informing means informs the external management device that the ball collapsing operation is being performed. Therefore, the management device side can know that the ball collapsing operation is being performed.

[0006]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a card type game machine 1 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine 10 and a ball lending machine 2 exemplified as gaming machines for ejecting prize balls.
The ball lending machine 20 has a card reader (not shown) built therein. On the front panel 21 of the ball lending machine 20, a card slot 22 corresponding to the above card reader, an insertion balance indicator 23 for displaying the balance of the inserted card, and a display indicating that the ball lending machine 20 is in operation An effective display lamp 24 is provided.

On the other hand, the front panel 1 of the pachinko gaming machine 10
The operation portion 13 is provided on the upper surface of the supply tray 12 attached to
Are formed. On this operation unit 13, a balance indicator 13a for displaying the balance of the card inserted into the card insertion / ejection slot 22, a conversion button 13b for giving a command for conversion into a loan ball, and ejection (return) of the card. A return button 13c for instructing and a ball lending indicator lamp 13d for displaying that the conversion button 13b is valid are provided.

On the right end side of the front surface of the panel 11, an overflow lamp 14 for notifying that a prize ball discharged by a prize ball discharging device described later is in an overflow state.
And a ballless lamp 15 for notifying that the prize balls to be discharged have been exhausted.

A metal frame detection switch 104 for detecting the open / closed state of the metal frame 103 is provided inside the metal frame 103 which is openable and closable with the left end as an axis with respect to the front panel 11. Is installed. Front panel 11
On the upper end side of the front face of the player, there are a prize ball discharge display lamp 16a which is turned on when the prize ball is discharged, a loan ball discharge display lamp 16c which is turned on when the loan ball is discharged, and a completion lamp 16b which is turned on when a stop condition occurs. is set up.

In FIG. 1, 17 is a tray for storing prize balls that have overflowed inside when the supply tray 12 is full, and 18 is a transparent glass window for each of the balls supplied from the supply tray 12. It is an operation dial of a hitting ball launching device for launching in a game area 19 inside. The structure of the game area is the same as the conventional one, and can take any structure.

The card-type pachinko gaming machine 1 according to this embodiment is roughly configured as described above, and when a ball wins a winning portion (not shown) of the game area 19 during a game, a ball discharging device (described later) The prize balls are discharged by. In addition, under certain conditions, a special gaming state called a jackpot, which gives the player many chances of winning prize balls, is occurring.

On the other hand, when the conversion button 13b is pressed after the card is inserted into the card insertion / ejection slot 22 of the ball lending machine 20, a preset amount of money (for example, 300) is held within the range of the amount of money of the card. A command for converting (for a circle) into a lending sphere is sent to the sphere ejection control device, and the lending sphere is ejected to the supply tray 12 by the sphere ejection device (described later). And the remaining amount of money of the converted card is, for example, 1
The balance is displayed on the balance display 13a at a frequency of 00 yen as one unit.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a back mechanism including a ball discharging portion of the pachinko gaming machine 10. In FIG. 2, 2
00 is a ball discharging device for discharging prize balls and rental balls, 600
Is a ball discharge control device for controlling the ball discharge device 200 on the basis of a signal from a prize detector or the like for detecting a prize of a ball into the prize portion of the game area 19 and discharging a predetermined number of prize balls or loan balls. , 811 is a storage tank for storing the preliminary balls before being discharged, and 812 is a guide gutter for aligning the balls flowing down from the inside of the storage tank 811, and guiding them to a guide gutter 840 directly above the ball discharging device 200. .. Although not particularly limited, the guide trough 812 has two discharge passages for discharging a large number of balls in a short time so that the balls can be discharged. A ball collapsing device (described later) is installed on the upstream side, and a ball clogging detection sensor (described later) is installed on the downstream side.

Below the ball discharge device 200, a discharge gutter 813 having an internal passage for guiding the discharged balls to the outlet 12a of the supply tray 12 on the front of the game machine, and the supply tray 12
An overflow gutter 814 is continuously provided to guide a ball overflowing from the tray to the lower tray 17. An overflow switch 818 is installed upstream of the overflow gutter 814. Further, a ball draining gutter 815 having an internal passage branched from the middle of the ball draining gutter 813 is arranged in parallel with the overflow gutter 814, and a passage switching is provided at a branch portion between the ball draining gutter 815 and the discharge gutter 813. As a device, a ball-eliminating solenoid 820
A flow path switching valve 821 operated by the above is installed. 825 is a collecting gutter that collects the winning balls that have won the winning portion (not shown) provided in the game area 19 on the front of the pachinko gaming machine 10 and has reached the back side of the pachinko gaming machine 10 in one place, and 830 is the collecting gutter. A winning ball separating device that separates the winning balls collected by the collecting path 828 below the winning balls 825 one by one and detects them by a detector (safe sensor) 831.
Reference numeral 700 denotes an accessory control device that operates an accessory or various display lamps based on a detection signal from a prize detector (not shown) that detects a prize ball that has won a prize in the game area 19.

The accessory control device 700 and the ball discharge control device 600 are connected to each other by a cord composed of three signal lines. Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, one ends of the cords 711 and 611 pulled out from the accessory control device 700 and the ball discharge control device 600 have the relay substrate 68.
0, and the accessory control device 7 through the relay board 680.
00 and the ball ejection control device 600 are communicatively coupled to each other.

The back mechanism is constructed as described above, and prize balls and balls for lending are designed to be supplied to the supply tray 12 or the receiving tray 17 by the ball discharging device 200 according to a command from the ball discharging control device 600.

A ball ejection device 20 is shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.
An example of 0 is shown. Among them, FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the ball discharging device 200, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view thereof, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. The ball discharge device 200 includes a ball discharge control mechanism unit 200A that controls the flow of the ball and a flow-down guide unit 200B that causes the ball to flow.

The ball discharge control mechanism 200A
Is a pair of half-cases 211 and 21 connected to each other.
A ball feeding member 220, a stopper device 230 as a rotation control device, and a check base 240 are housed in the inside 2.

The pair of half-split cases 211 and 212 are formed in a box shape with their opposite sides open.
Openings 211d (half case 212
The side openings are not visible in the figure. ) Has been formed.
A flow-down passage (described later) in a guide trough 250 described below from the rear side to the lower side of the pair of half cases 211 and 212.
Partition wall plates 211h and 212h are formed.

The ball feeding member 220 is the downflow guide portion 2
Alternate left and right discharge balls (described later) in 00B
A pair of left and right ball feeding sprockets 221 and 222 are provided, which are discharged one by one and are out of phase with each other by an angle of 1/2 pitch of teeth (30 ° in this embodiment). Ball feed recesses 221a and 222a are formed on the outer circumferences of the sprockets 221 and 222, respectively, at a pitch of a constant angular interval. An engaging piece 223 and an engaging recess 224 are respectively provided between the pair of left and right sprocket wheels 221-222 for engaging with a stopper member 232 (described later) of the stopper device 230 which is alternately engaged on the left and right. They are provided with a pitch of 30 ° and a phase shifted by ½ of that (30 ° in this embodiment). The ball feeding member 220 is rotatably supported between the inner walls of the pair of half-split cases 211 and 212 via a support shaft 229, and the outer circumferential ball feeding recesses 221a and 222a on the lower end side of the pair of half split cases 211 and 212 have the pair of half-parts. Split case 211,
It projects below the opening 211d and the like of the lower plate portion of 212 (FIG. 5).

In the case of this embodiment, the supporting shaft 229 serves as a stepped supporting shaft composed of a large diameter shaft portion 229a and a small diameter shaft portion 229b, while the ball feeding member 220 into which the supporting shaft 229 is inserted.
Side shaft hole 226 is a corresponding stepped hole,
The ball feeding member 220 cannot be installed upside down. Further, the bearing portions 211a and 212a on the inner wall side of the half cases 211 and 212 are also formed in the holes having the inner diameters corresponding to the stepped shape of the support shaft 229 so that the ball feeding member 220 cannot be attached to the left and right. It has become.

A shaft hole 226 of the ball feeding member 220 is provided.
The shape of the support shaft 229 and the support shaft 229 is not limited to the above-mentioned shape.
Any shape may be used as long as it does not allow the support shaft 229 to be inserted into the 26 in the opposite direction.

The stopper device 2308 rotation control device)
The left and right reciprocating movements control the rotation of the ball feeding member 220 by 1/2 pitch (30 ° in this embodiment) of the teeth of the sprockets 221 and 222. And a stopper member 232 made of a magnetic material, which is suspended by a suspension support portion 211b of the ceiling wall of the vehicle through a pin 231 so as to be swingable in the left-right direction.
2 has the claw 232a on the lower left side of the ball feeding member 220.
Direction of fitting between the engaging pieces 223, 223 (left direction)
The leaf spring 233 that urges the leaf spring 233 and the stopper member 232 against the force of the leaf spring 233 and the tapered claw 2 on the lower right side thereof.
32b is composed of an electromagnet 234 which urges the engaging member 224 of the ball feeding member 220 in the direction of fitting (rightward). The rotation range (swing range) of the stopper member 232 in the left-right direction is the insertion holes 211c, 21 of the inner walls of the pair of left and right half-split cases 211, 212.
Stopper receiving member 29 inserted and fixed in 2c
1, 292, one of which is a claw 232
a enters too much between the engaging pieces 223, 223 of the ball feeding member 220, and the other claw 232b is engaged by the engaging recess 22.
It does not hit the inner wall of No. 4 hard. Further, the base end portion of the leaf spring 233 has the half case 21.
It is attached to the mounting base 211i in the No. 1 unit.

Further, in the checking device 240, the failure lamp (LED) 242 is mounted on the mounting board 241 fixed to the inner wall mounting columns 212d, 212d of the half case 212.
A (fault display section) and a check switch 243 are attached. The check switch 243 and the failure lamp 242 are in a state of protruding outward through the openings 212e and 212f of the half case 212, respectively.

On the other hand, the downflow guide portion 200B guides down the ball from the upstream guide path 840 to a downflow ball discharge gutter 813, and a downflow gutter 250 for downflowing the ball. A mounting frame 27 is provided below the drain gutter 250.
It is composed of a detection base 260 attached via 0 to detect a ball in the ball discharge gutter 813 and a ball collapsing solenoid 280 for vibrating the discharge gutter 250.

Explaining in more detail the respective parts of the structure, the discharge gutter 250 includes the pair of half-split cases 21.
It is configured as an L-shaped gutter that is attached from the back to the lower part of 1, 212. Downflow guide walls 250a, 250a are formed on both left and right sides of the discharge trough 250,
Mounting pieces 255, 256 for screwing to the outer side portions of the pair of left and right half cases 211, 212 are formed at the upstream and downstream ends of the flow-down guide walls 250a, 250a. Further, at the upstream end and the downstream end of the discharge trough 250, lids for closing the openings at the upper and lower ends of the space defined between the partition plates 211h of the pair of half-split cases 211, 212. Pieces 251 and 252 are provided. When the ball discharging device 200 is attached to the prize ball discharging portion of the pachinko gaming machine 10, central portions of the lid pieces 251 and 252 are upstream and downstream flow path opening / closing members 842 (FIG. 6) described later. Stopper release projection 251a for opening the
252a is formed. These lid pieces 251, 252
The left and right sides of the ball are an inlet 253 and an outlet 254 of the sphere.

The drain gutter 250 constructed as described above is mounted on the pair of half-split cases 2 through the mounting pieces 255 and 256.
It is attached along the lower part from the rear part of 11,1212. In this attached state, the half case 2
The respective partition plates 211h and 212h of 11 and 212 are the discharge gutter 2
Two discharge passages 259a, which are located inside one of the 50 flow-down guide walls 250a, 250a and are separated by at least one sphere.
259b is defined.

In addition, inside the upstream side of the discharge gutter 250,
Partition plates 211h, 2 of the half cases 211, 212
At the position corresponding to 12 h, the ball collapsing solenoid 28
0 is set. This ball breaking solenoid 280
When the ball is clogged, it is turned on / off by a command from the ball discharge control device 600, and its operating rod 281
The partition plates 211h and 212h are alternately hit at the left and right ends of the ball to release the ball clogging state in the ball discharge trough 250.

The detection board 260 is provided with balls 262A and 262B on the mounting substrate 261 and a discharge sensor 263.
A and 263B are arranged in a pair so that the left and right pairs are mounted in parallel. Sensors 262A and 262 with these balls
B and the left and right detection units 26 of the discharge sensors 263A and 263B
2a, 262a, 263a, 263a are the discharge gutter 25.
No. 0 is projected into the discharge gutter 250 through the openings 257 and 258 provided on the downstream side bottom plate portion. And
The presence / absence of a sphere is detected by the sphere presence sensors 262A, 262B, and the presence / absence of a sphere ejection is detected by the ejection sensors 263A, 263B, respectively.
It is designed to be input to 0.

At the lower end of the guide gutter 840 directly above the ball discharge part of the pachinko gaming machine 10 in which this ball discharge device 200 is installed, as shown in FIG. The opening / closing member 842 that opens and closes the lower end openings of the ball downward passages 841 and 841 slides in the left-right direction in the figure while being biased by the return spring 843 in the direction of closing the downward passages 841 and 841. It is installed freely. In addition, a fitting recess 844 is formed in the central portion on the downstream left side of the guide gutter 840 so as to receive the ball stop release projection 251a at the upper end of the ball discharge device 200 from the left side.

On the other hand, at the upper end portion of the ball discharge trough 813 immediately below the portion where the same ball discharge device 200 is installed, although illustration is omitted, it is similar to that shown in FIG. 6 which opens and closes the internal ball flow passage. An opening / closing member and a return spring are installed, and a fitting recess similar to that shown in FIG. 5 for receiving the ball stopper release projection 252a at the lower end of the ball discharging device 200 from the left side is formed.

The ball discharge device 200, the lower end portion of the guide trough 840 and the upper end portion of the ball discharge trough 813 are configured as described above, and the ball discharge portion between the guide trough 840 and the discharge trough 813 is vertically attached. When installed by being screwed through the base 211k (FIG. 3), the operation is roughly as follows.
That is, when the ball discharge device 200 is removed from the part of the ball discharge portion between the guide gutter 840 and the discharge gutter 813,
The opening / closing member 842 at the lower end of the guide trough 840 is provided with the return spring 84.
The state where the ball flow-down passages 841 and 841 are closed by 3 (see FIG.
The state shown in (1) is restored, and the ball is prevented from spilling from the guide gutter 840. Also, at this time,
The opening / closing member (not shown) at the upper end of the ball discharge gutter 813 is in a state in which the ball flow passage (not shown) inside the ball discharge gutter 813 is closed by the return spring (not shown). It is not possible to pour.

Then, the guide gutter 840 and the discharge gutter 81
When the ball ejecting device 200 is set from the left at the part of the ball ejecting portion between the ball ejecting device 3 and the ball ejecting device 3, the upper and lower ball stopper releasing projections 251a and 252a of the ball ejecting device 200 are fitted into the fitting recesses at the lower end of the guide trough 840. 844 and the ball discharge gutter 81
3 is fitted into a fitting concave portion (not shown) at the upper end of the guide member 3, and the opening / closing member 842 and the like of the same portion is moved to the right against the force of the return spring 843 and the like, and the ball flow passages of the guide troughs 840 and 813. 8
41, 841 etc. are opened (FIG. 7).

In this state, the balls in the storage tank 811 pass through the guide gutter 812 and the guide gutter 840 and the ball discharge gutter 250.
When it flows into the two discharge passages 259a and 259b,
The sphere is on the left and right sprockets 22 of the ball feed member 220.
Stopped by 1,222. In this stopped state, the discharge electromagnet 234 is turned on (ON) / off (OFF) by an initial setting command from the ball discharge control device 600, and the stopper member 232 is moved to the left or right according to the on / off state. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the left and right claws 232a and 232b of the stopper member 232 are engaged with the ball feeding member 220 with a phase difference of 15 ° from each other. While alternately engaging the piece 223 and the engaging recess 224, the ball feeding member 220 is allowed to rotate by 30 ° per one reciprocating swing to the left and right. And FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3 as a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3, the ball feeding concave portion 221 of the sprocket 221 or 222 on the left side or the right side.
a or 222a into which a ball enters and the left and right discharge passages 259
a, 259b sphere presence detection sensor 262A or 262B
It is stopped at the time when the state with a ball is detected.

In this state, when a ball discharge command is issued from the ball discharge control device 600, the discharge electromagnet 234 is turned on (O
N) -OFF is activated. Then, the ball feeding member 220 is allowed to rotate by 30 ° per one ON / OFF operation, and the left and right discharge passages of the ball discharging trough 250 are accompanied by the rotation by 30 °. 259
Balls are alternately ejected from a and 259b.

During this time, the left and right discharge passages 259a, 2
The state of the ball 59b and the state of discharge of the ball B are detected by the left and right ball sensors 262A and 262B and the left and right discharge sensors 263A and 263B, respectively, and the detection signals are sent to the ball discharge control device 600, The number of discharged balls B is accurately detected. The number of discharged balls is usually counted based on the detection signals from the discharge sensors 263A, 263B. When at least one of the discharge sensors 263A, 263B fails, the sensor with ball 26 is detected.
Counting is performed based on the detection signals from 2A and 262B.

Then, when a predetermined number of balls B are discharged, one of the claws 232a of the stopper member 232.
(Or 232b) engages with the engagement piece 223 or the engagement recess 224 of the ball feeding member 220 to stop the discharge of the ball.

In this embodiment, since the left and right claws 232a and 232b of the stopper member 232 are always engaged with either the engaging piece 223 or the engaging recess 224 of the ball feeding member 220, the ball feeding member is provided. No accidental ejection of the ball due to the runaway of 220 will occur.

When a ball-free sensor 262A, 262B detects a ball-free state due to a ball clogging in the ball discharge gutter 250, the ball breaking solenoid 280 is turned on by a command from the ball discharge control device 600. It is turned off, and as shown in FIG. 11 as a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.
Since the second partition plates 211h and 212h are alternately hit, the ball clogging is released.

Further, when a failure occurs in the ball discharging device 200, the failure lamp 242 is turned on by a command from the ball discharging control device 600, so that a staff member opens the front frame 11 (FIG. 1). When you do, you can immediately discover the failure. Further, when it is desired to check whether or not the balls are normally discharged by the ball discharging device 200, if the check switch 243 is pressed, the ball discharging member 220 discharges once by a command from the ball discharging control device 600. Electromagnet 2
Since 34 is turned on / off to discharge the ball, counting the discharged ball B makes it possible to know whether the ball is normal or not.

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional rear view of the storage tank 811 and the guide gutter 812. As shown in the figure, the no-sphere detector 410 is provided at the downstream end wall portion of the storage tank 811.
Is installed. This sphereless detector 410 is provided with a pin 41 in the opening of the downstream end wall of the storage tank 811, for example.
1 and a detection sensor 413 that detects the detection portion 412a of the detection piece 412 that is swingably supported by
It consists of and. The detection piece 412 is biased by a return spring (not shown) in a direction in which the detection portion 412a at the lower end of the detection piece 412 is separated from the detection sensor 413.

The sphere-free detector 410 is constructed as described above, and when the storage tank 811 is filled with spheres, the ball pressure causes the detection piece 412 and the detection portion 412a at the lower end thereof to detect the sensor 413. Since the detection sensor 413 is pushed inward and the detection sensor 413 is turned off (OFF), the presence of the ball is detected. However, when the number of balls in the storage tank 811 disappears or the number of balls decreases, the detection piece 412 is rotated and returned by the force of the return spring in the direction of coming out of the detection sensor 413, and the detection sensor 413 is turned on ( O
N), the ballless state is detected. When the ball-free state is detected, the detection signal is sent to a management device (not shown) installed in a pachinko gaming shop or the like, and the storage tank 811 is supplied with balls by a command from the management device.

A ball clogging detector 420 is installed at the bottom of the guide gutter 812 on the downstream side, and a ball breaking device 430 is installed at the upstream end thereof. More specifically, the ball clogging detector 420 includes, for example, a detection piece 422 rotatably installed by a pin 421 in an opening at the bottom of the guide trough 812 on the downstream side, and a detection piece for detecting the detection piece 422. It is composed of a sensor 423. And
The detection piece 422 is given a turning return force in the direction in which its free end side rises by an urging spring (not shown).

On the other hand, the ball collapsing device 430 has a guide gutter 81.
Sprocket 4 arranged in a state in which a part of the sprocket 4 is projected
31 and a motor 432 for rotating the sprocket 431
It consists of and.

Ball clogging detector 420 and ball collapsing device 4
30 is configured as described above, and when the guide gutter 812 is filled with a sphere and there is a sphere on the detection piece 422, the weight of the sphere causes the detection piece 422 to move toward the free end side detection unit 42.
2a is pushed in the direction of entering the detection sensor 423 and the detection sensor 423 is turned off (OFF),
The presence of a ball is detected. However, when there is no ball on the detection piece 422 due to a ball clogging in the upstream portion of the guide trough 812, the detection piece 422 rotates in the direction in which its free end side rises due to the urging force of the urging spring (not shown). When the detection portion 422a on the free end side is moved back from the detection sensor 423 and the detection sensor 423 is turned on (ON),
The no ball condition is detected. Then, this detection signal is sent to the ball ejection control device 600, and the ball ejection control device 6
The motor 432 is operated by a command from 00 to rotate the sprocket 431. By the rotation of the sprocket 431, the ball on the upstream side of the guide trough 812 is broken and the ball clogging is released, and when the ball reaches the detection piece 422, the detection sensor 413 of the ball clogging detector 420 is turned off by the weight of the ball ( OF
When it becomes F), the state with the ball is detected again. This detection signal is sent to the ball ejection control device 600, and the motor 4 is instructed by the ball ejection control device 600.
32 returns to the stopped state.

FIG. 13 shows a first modification of the ball collapsing device described with reference to FIG. The ball collapsing device 440 of the first modified example is composed of a rotating bottom plate 441 installed in the bottom side opening of the guide gutter 812, and a drive device 442 for applying a turning force to the rotating bottom plate 442. There is.

More specifically, the rotating bottom plate 44 will be described.
1 is rotatably installed in a direction in which a free end side moves up and down with a horizontal shaft 441a as an axis.

On the other hand, the drive unit 442 is a motor 442.
a and a cam 442c attached to the drive shaft 442b of the motor 442a. The cam 442c is arranged in contact with the lower side surface of the rotating bottom plate 441.

Then, the ball clogging detector 420 (see FIG.
When the ball-free state is detected by 2), the motor 432 is operated and the cam 442c rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG.
The rotating bottom plate 441 is rotated by 2c, and the guide gutter 8
Twelve upstream ball collapses are to be performed.

FIG. 14 shows a second modification of the ball collapsing device. The ball collapsing device 450A of the second modified example is a guide gutter 8
The solenoid 450 is provided at the upstream end of the solenoid 12, and one end side of the operating rod 451 of the solenoid 450 faces the guide path 812. Then, when the ball clogging detector 420 (FIG. 12) detects the ball-free state, a command from the ball ejection control device 600
The solenoid 450 is turned on (ON) and turned off (OFF)
The guide rod 812 is actuated and the reciprocating motion of the actuating rod 451 causes a ball collapse on the upstream side of the guide gutter 812.

FIG. 15 shows a third modification of the ball collapsing device. The ball collapsing device 460 of the third modified example has a guide gutter 81.
2 is constituted by a spiral body 462 which is rotationally driven by a motor 461 installed on the upstream side lower side portion. Then, when the ball clogging detector 420 (FIG. 12) detects the ball-free state, the spiral body 462 is rotated in the reverse screw direction, and the ball collapses on the upstream side of the guide gutter 812.

FIG. 16 shows a fourth modification of the ball collapsing device. The ball collapsing device 470 of the fourth modified example is a guide gutter 81.
The belt conveyor device 480 is installed so as to face the upstream side bottom portion of No. 2. The belt conveyor device 480 includes a motor 481 and a traveling belt 482 that is driven by the driving force of the motor 481. The traveling belt 482 is provided with a drive pulley 483 attached to the drive shaft of the motor 481.
And a driven pulley 484 installed so as to be separated from the pulley 483 by a predetermined distance, and a guide pulley 485, 486, 487 arranged between them.

The belt conveyor device 480 is constructed as described above, and has the ball clogging detector 420 (see FIG. 1).
When the ball-free state is detected by 2), the traveling belt 482 is caused to travel in the direction of arrow D by the motor 481 in response to a command from the ball ejection control device 600 so that the ball collapses on the upstream side of the guide gutter 812. It has become.

FIG. 17 shows a control block diagram of a ball discharging system which is carried out by the microcomputer 1000 constituting the ball discharging control device 600. The microcomputer 1000 operates based on a reference time created by an oscillator 1010. An input filter 102 is provided on the input side of the microcomputer 1000.
Emission sensor I (263A), emission sensor II
(263B), sphere sensor I (262A), sphere sensor II (262B), sphere sensor (not shown) that detects an external sphere removal operation, overflow switch 81
8, the safe sensor 831, the check switch 243, the ball clogging detection sensor 423 are connected, and the accessory data signal from the accessory control device 700 (for example, the discharge regulation number M
(Signal to be described later) and the like, a purchase payout signal from the ball lending machine 20 and an external input signal from a management device (not shown) (for example, a signal to execute processing of task 7 (described later)).
Etc. are to be input.

On the other hand, this microcomputer 1000
To the output side of the winning electromagnet 234, the ball removing solenoid 820, and the winning ball separating device 83 via the driver 1030.
A safe solenoid 833 as a drive source of 0, a ball collapsing solenoid 280, an award ball discharge display lamp 16a, an overflow lamp 14d, a ball-less lamp 15, a ball collapsing motor 432, a failure lamp 242, and a discharge number signal, The external output signals I to III (illegal signals I to III), the external output signal IV (task 5 processing signal), the failure signal, and the like are output. Further, the microcomputer 1000, the input filter 1020, and the driver 10
Electric power is supplied to the power source 30 from the power source unit 1040.

This microcomputer 1000 normally uses the emission sensors I, II (263) as a control program.
A, 263B), the number of discharged balls is counted, and the discharge sensors I, II (263A, 263A,
263B), at least one of
Not based on the detection signals from the discharge sensors I, II (263A, 263B), the sensor with balls I, II (262
A, 262B), a substitute count control means for counting the number of discharged balls, and the discharged balls based on the detection signals from the ball presence sensors I, II (262A, 262B). Substitute count state notification control means for notifying at least a specific person of the state of counting the number of discharges, and the discharge sensors I, II (263A, 263).
B) and the sensors with balls I, II (262A, 262B) have both failed, the failure indicator lamp 242 (failure indicator) provided in the ball ejecting device 200 displays a failure and the The management device is provided with a count failure notification control means for notifying the failure.

Further, this microcomputer 1000
As a control program, when a plurality of balls are discharged by one discharging operation of the ball discharging device 200 (in this embodiment, a discharging operation in which the ball discharging member 220 rotates 30 °),
By means of the passage switching device (820, 821), during normal play, the passage of the branch portion between the discharge gutter 813 and the ball draining gutter 815 is switched to a state in which the ball flows to the ball draining gutter 815 side, and is used as an external management device. In the case of a big jackpot game, the ball is switched to the discharge gutter 813 side by switching to a state in which the ball flows to a bypass path switching notification means, and based on a signal from a check switch 243 provided on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine 10, the path is switched. The switching of the passage of the branch portion by the device (820, 821) is switched to a state in which the ball flows to the ball drop trough 815 side, and the ball discharging device 200 performs the discharging operation a predetermined number of times, and the number of the discharged balls at that time is counted. Ejection check failure means for determining failure of the ball ejecting device 200, ball ejecting device 200
Despite the ball ejecting operation, the ball sensor 26
At least one of 2A and 262B and the discharge sensor 263
If the ball is not discharged to at least one of A and 263B, the ball collapsing control means for causing the ball collapsing device 280 to perform the ball collapsing operation, and the ball collapsing operation by the ball collapsing device 280 are performed. It is provided with a ball collapsing operation notification control means or the like for notifying an external management device that there is.

Further, this microcomputer 1000
Is a control means for moving the stopper member 232 of the stopper device 230 (rotation control device) one reciprocation (one swing) after confirming the ball presence state by the ball presence sensor 262A or 262B, and the ball collapsing device 430 (440, 450, 460,48
0) Ball collapsing control means for controlling the operation, ball collapsing device 4
It is provided with a ball ejection speed control means or the like for making the ejection speed of the ball ejection device 200 slower than the normal time when the 30 (440, 450, 460, 480) is operated.

Then, the discharge electromagnet 234 is turned on a predetermined number of times based on the purchase payout signal and the safe sensor signal.
・ The ball is ejected by being turned off. The number of discharges of this ball is normally the discharge sensor I, II (263A, 2
63B) is counted by the microcomputer 1000 on the basis of the detection signal.
When at least one of the IIs (263A, 263B) has a failure, the sensors I, II (262A, 2) with a ball
When the counting is performed based on the detection signal of 62B), the failure lamp 242 is turned on by a command from the microcomputer 1000.

When both the discharge sensor 263A or 263B and the ball presence sensor 262A or 262B fail, the failure lamp 242 is turned on by a command from the microcomputer 1000 and the management device (not shown). A fault signal is sent to.

In addition, the sensors I and II with balls (262A, 26)
When the ball-free state is detected by 2B), the ball collapsing solenoid 280 is turned on and off to collapse the ball in the ball discharge trough 250. And
When the ball presence sensor I, II (262A, 262B) detects the ball presence state, the ball collapse solenoid 28
The operation of 0 is stopped.

When there is an overflow signal from the overflow switch 818, the overflow lamp 14 is turned on, and when there is a ball clogging signal from the ball clogging detection sensor 423, the ball breaking motor 432 is released until the ball clogging state is resolved. Is activated and the guide gutter 8
The ball collapsing operation in 12 is performed. When the check switch 243 is turned on, the ball feeding member 220 is set to 1
The exhaust electromagnet 234 is turned on and off until it is rotated.

FIG. 18 shows the microcomputer 1 described above.
000 shows the procedure of the main control process of the ball discharge performed by 000. When the main control process is started, first, it is determined in step S2 whether or not the power is on, and only when the power is on, the initial setting is performed in step S4 and then the process proceeds to step S6. Goes directly to step S6 to perform task control processing of which processing of tasks 1 to 7 is to be performed. Then, based on the control processing, steps S10, S12, S1
After performing the corresponding task processing among S4, S16, S18, S20, and S22, the process returns to step S2, and the loop for performing the processing from step S2 onward is repeated.

FIG. 19 shows the microcomputer 1 described above.
000 shows a control processing procedure of interrupt processing performed by 000. This interrupt processing is performed based on the interrupt signal during the main processing (FIG. 18), and when this processing is started, steps S30, S32, S34 and S3 are performed.
In step 6, the input process to the input filter 1020 (FIG. 17), the output process to the driver 1030, the timer process, and the monitoring process are performed, and then the process returns to the main process.

FIG. 20 shows the monitoring process (subroutine process) in step S36 of the interrupt process (FIG. 19).
The procedure of is shown. This monitoring process is a process of monitoring the state of the balls in the guide gutter 812 and the ball discharge gutter 250 and eliminating the ball clogging when the ball clogging occurs. When this process is started, first, step S40. Then, it is determined whether or not the sphere sensors 262A and 262B are in the sphere state.

As a result, when the ball is present, the process proceeds to step S42, the flag A is set and the flag B is cleared to eject the ball, and then the process proceeds to step S48.

However, when the ball is not present,
In step S44, it is determined whether task 1 is being processed. As a result of this determination, when the task 1 is not being processed, the process directly proceeds to step S48, and the task 1
If the flag A is set, the flag A is cleared in step S46, and the flag B is set in order to perform processing for canceling the no-ball state. Then, the process proceeds to step S48.

Therefore, when the process proceeds to step S48, it is determined in step S48 whether or not the ball clogging detection sensor 423 is on (no ball is present).

As a result, when it is determined that the motor is not turned on (the ball is present), the ball collapsing motor 43 is released.
2 is turned off and the process returns to the main control process (FIG. 18). But,
When it is determined that the ball is on (no ball is present), the ball breaking motor 432 is turned on and the process returns to the main control process (FIG. 18).

FIG. 21 shows the control processing (subroutine processing) procedure of task 1. The control process of this task 1 is a process of reading a prescribed number of data signals from the accessory control device 700 and the ball lending machine 20. When the processing of this task 1 is started, first, in step S60, it is determined whether or not there is a signal of prize ball data from the accessory control device 700.

As a result, when it is determined that there is a prize ball data signal, the prize ball data signal is read in step S62. This reading is performed in the next step S64.
Then, the process returns to step S62 until it is determined that the data signal has been read a predetermined number of times (N times), and the prize ball data is read. At the time when the data is read a predetermined number of times, the process proceeds to step S66 and reads the data. Then, the discharge regulation number M is stored, and then the process proceeds to step S68 to determine whether or not the flag B is set (no ball is present). Then, as a result of the determination, when it is determined that the flag B is not set (the ball is present), the task 2 is set to the task 2 and the task 1 is cleared as a process for shifting to the ball discharging process. Main control process (Fig. 18)
Return to step S2. However, if it is determined that the flag B is set (no ball is present), step S
In step 80, as a process for canceling the no-ball state, the task 5 is set and the task 1 is cleared, and the process returns to step S2 of the main control process (FIG. 18).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S60 that there is no prize ball data from the accessory control device 700, the process proceeds to step S70, it is determined whether or not the prescribed discharge number M is stored, and that storage is stored. At step S78, the main control process (FIG. 18) is performed by setting to task 2 and clearing task 1 as the process of shifting to the ball discharge process.
The process returns to step S2, but if the memory is not stored, the process proceeds to step S72.

In step S72, it is determined whether or not the flag B is set (no ball is present). If it is determined that the flag B is set (no ball is provided), step S80 is performed. As a process for making the ball present, the task 5 is set, the task 1 is cleared, and the process returns to step S2 of the main control process, but if it is determined that the flag B is not set (the ball is present), the purchase is made. The process proceeds to step S74 to pay out the balls based on the payout signal.

In step S74, it is determined whether or not there is a purchase payout signal, and if it is determined that there is a payout signal, in step S76 the task 6 is set and task 1 is cleared before the main control processing ( Figure 1
8) The process returns to step S2, but when it is determined that there is no such step, the main controller (FIG. 18) does not perform step S2.
Return to.

FIG. 22 shows the control processing (subroutine processing) procedure of task 2. The processing of this task 2 is processing (S100, S102, S104, S10) when there is no sphere.
6), prize ball discharge processing (S112, S114, S116,
S118, S138, S144, S148, S15
0), processing at the time of failure or ball clogging (S114, S1)
26, S132, S134, S136), processing when the discharge sensor has failed (S114, S126, S128,
S130), processing at the time of overflow (S144,
S146) and the like.

When the processing of this task 2 is started, first, at step S100, it is judged whether or not the flag A is set (the ball is present), and the flag A is not set (there is no ball). If it is determined that there is no ball, the process proceeds to step S102, and if it is determined that the flag A is set (the ball is present), the process proceeds to step S108 to perform the ball present process. Transition.

As a result, when the process proceeds to step S102, it is determined whether or not the normal flags of the discharge sensors I and II (263A and 263B) are set (the discharge sensors I and II are operating normally), Not standing (not working)
When it is determined that the ball-free lamp 15 is turned on (ON) in order in steps S104 and S106, a ball-free signal is transmitted to the management device, and then step S100 is performed.
However, if it is determined that the user is standing (working), the process proceeds to step S108.

However, when the process proceeds to step S108, in steps S108, S110, and S112, the lampless lamp 15 is turned off (OFF) and the prize ball discharge lamp 16a is turned on (ON). The process of clearing the no-sphere signal transmission and the process of turning the discharge electromagnet 234 on (ON) and off (OFF) once are performed, and the process proceeds to step S114.

In step S114, the discharge sensor I (2
63A) or II (263B) has risen. If it is determined that there is no rise, the process proceeds to step S126 to handle the failure, and if it is determined that there is a rise, the discharge sensor is determined in step S128. The normal flag is set and the process proceeds to step S118.

As a result, when the process proceeds to step S126, the ball presence sensor I (262
It is determined whether there is a fall of A) or II (262B). As a result of this determination, when it is determined that there is none, in steps S132, S134, and S136, the failure lamp 242 is turned on, the failure signal is transmitted to the management device, the ball collapsing solenoid 280 is turned on (ON), and turned off (OFF). ) Performing a process in which the operation is performed 5 times, and then step S11
Return to 4. However, if the result of that determination is that there is, in steps S128 and S130, the process for clearing the discharge sensor normal flag and the illegal signal I to the management device are sequentially performed.
The process of transmitting (external output signal I) is performed. here,
Illegal signal I is emission sensor I (263A), II (263B)
One of the discharge sensors I (263
It is a signal that the count processing is performed in A) or II (263B). After this processing, the process moves to step S118.

However, when the process proceeds to step S118, the discharge sensor I (263A) or II (263)
It is determined whether the count in B) was 1 (normal).

If the result of this determination is that the number of balls is one (normal), the flow directly advances to step S138 in order to perform the ball discharging process. Is not one (normal), step S120
It is better for the player to continue playing the big hit as it is. It is better for the player to continue playing the big hit as it is. In step S138, the process proceeds to step S138. However, if there is no big hit, the number of ejected balls may increase unless they are ejected one by one. Therefore, the ball removing solenoid 820 is turned on in step S122, and the illegal signal II is sent to the management device in the next step S124. The process of transmitting (external output signal II) is performed. These steps S122, S1
The processing of 24 is repeatedly performed until one (normal) discharge is returned. Here, the illegal signal II is a destruction signal for notifying the destruction of the stop mechanism for stopping the ball feeding member 220 by the stopper member 232.

In step S138, it is determined whether or not the number of discharges has reached the specified number M, and when it is determined that the number of discharges has not reached the specified number M, the process proceeds to step S144 in order to continue the discharge on condition that it is not an overflow, but it has been reached. When the determination is made, step S140, which is the end processing of the prize ball discharge,
In S142, the award ball discharge display lamp 16a is turned off (OFF), the task 2 is cleared, and the set process of the task 3 for changing the time interval of the ball discharge according to the situation is performed to perform the main control process (FIG. 18). ) Return to step S2.

In step S144, it is determined whether the overflow switch 818 is on (ON). As a result of this determination, the overflow switch 818
If is not ON, step S14
In step S150, the overflow lamp 14 is turned off and the failure signal transmission to the management device is cleared in order, and then the process returns to step S112 to repeatedly discharge the prize balls until the discharge number reaches the specified number N. Is done.

However, if it is determined in step S144 that the overflow switch 181 is turned on (ON), the overflow lamp 13d is turned on (ON) in step S146, and the process returns to step S144. Step S14 as this overflow processing
The processing of S4 and S146 is repeatedly performed until the overflow state is resolved.

FIG. 23 shows the control processing (subroutine processing) procedure of task 3. The processing of this task 3 is the processing when the prize balls are improperly discharged, and the guide gutter 8
12 is a process of lengthening the discharge interval of balls when the ball is clogged or shortening the discharge interval of balls when the ball is a big hit. When the processing of this task 3 is started, first, in step S200, it is determined whether or not the safe sensor 831 has a ball, and if there is a ball, the safe solenoid 833 is turned on (ON). The safe ball (winning ball) that has finished discharging the prize ball is dropped (collected) and then the process proceeds to step S204, but if there is no ball, the prize ball is discharged even if there is no safe ball. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S208, and the illegal signal II is sent to the management device.
Send I (external output signal III). Here is the false signal II
I is a signal notifying that the safe sensor 831 is abnormal.

As a result, when the process proceeds to step S204, it is determined in step S204 whether or not the safe sensor 831 is in the ball presence state, and if it is, the prize ball is discharged. Since the safe ball still remains, the state with the ball is 20 in step S206.
While it is determined that 0 msec has not elapsed, step S20
Returning to step 2, the process of turning on the safe solenoid 833 to drop the safe ball (process of collecting the safe ball) is repeated. However, in step S204, the safe sensor 831
When it is determined that the ball is no longer present, the safe ball from which the award ball has been ejected has fallen normally, so the process proceeds to the next step S210.

However, when it is determined in steps S204 and S206 that the safe sensor 831 has passed 200 msec with the ball present, it means that the safe ball from which the prize ball has been ejected has not fallen, so the management device determines that it is illegal. Illegal signal III (external output signal III) is transmitted. The cause of this fraud may be that the safe ball did not fall or that a foreign object was inserted into the safe sensor 831.

In step S210, it is determined whether or not the ball clogging detection sensor 420 is on (ON). If it is determined that the ball clogging detection sensor 420 is not on (ON), the process proceeds to step S212. If it is determined that the wait time is longer than the normal wait time (for example, 400 msec), then a wait time (for example, 1 sec) is set in step S216. The reason why the wait time longer than usual is taken in the process of step S216 is that the interval of ball discharge is increased and the ball shortage condition is not generated so that the ball does not run short when the guide gutter 812 has a ball jam. is there. After the process of step S216, the process of setting the task 1, the process of clearing the task 3, and the process of turning off the safe solenoid 833 are performed in step S220 to perform step S2 of the main control process (FIG. 18).
Return to.

In step S212, it is determined whether or not a big hit is in progress. As a result, when it is determined that the big hit is not in progress, a normal wait time (for example, 400 msec) is taken in step S218, and then the set processing of task 1, the clear processing of task 3, and the safe solenoid 833 are turned off (step S220). The process of turning it off is performed, and the process returns to step S2 of the main control process (FIG. 18). But,
When it is determined that it is a big hit, a wait time (for example, 200 msec) shorter than a normal wait time (for example, 400 msec) is taken at step S214, and then at step S220, a set process of task 1, a clear process of task 3, The safe solenoid 833 is turned off, and the process returns to step S2 of the main control process (FIG. 18).

FIG. 24 shows the control processing (subroutine processing) procedure of task 4. The process of this task 4 is a ball removal process. When this process is started, step S25
At 0, the ball removing solenoid 820 is turned on (ON), and at the next step S252, the discharge electromagnet 280 is turned on (ON).
After the off operation is performed, the process proceeds to step S254.

At step S254, the discharge sensor I (26
3A) or II (263B) has risen. As a result, the emission sensor I (263A) or II
If it is determined that (263B) has risen, then in step S260, the ball ejection sensor is turned on again (O
Until it is determined to be N), the process returns to step S252 and the discharge electromagnet 234 is turned on (ON) and turned off (OFF).
Steps S252 and S for performing processing for operation
The loop of 254 and S260 is repeated until there are no more balls.

On the other hand, the discharge sensor I (263A) or II
If it is determined that (263B) has not risen, the discharge electromagnet 234 is turned on (ON) / OFF (OFF) S times in step S256 in order to confirm whether or not the ball is completely lost. Good) and move to step S258 and sensor I with a ball I (262A)
Alternatively, it is determined whether or not II (262B) has a sphere. As a result, if it is determined that there is a ball,
Returning to step S252 again, the emission sensor I (263
Step S2 until A) or II (263B) does not rise or the ball removal sensor is turned on again (ON).
52, S254, S260, the loop of the ball removing process is repeated. However, if it is determined that there is no ball, in step S262, the task 4 is cleared, the task 1 is set, and the ball removal solenoid 820 is turned off (OFF), and the main control processing (FIG. 18) is performed. Return to S2.

On the other hand, in step S254, the discharge sensor
Even if it is determined that I (263A) or II (263B) has risen and the process proceeds to step S260, if it is determined in step S260 that the ball removal sensor is turned on (ON) again, the task is performed in step S262. 4 clear, task 1 set and ball removal solenoid 82
After performing processing of turning off (OFF) of 0, the process returns to step S2 of the main control processing (FIG. 8).

FIG. 25 shows the control processing (subroutine processing) procedure of task 5. The processing of this task 5 is performed by the sensor I with a ball when a new ball is replenished after the ball removal processing.
(262A) or II (262B) is a process for guiding the sphere.

When the processing of this task 5 is started, first, in step S300, the discharge electromagnet 324 is turned on (O
N) • Off (OFF) operation, then step S30
2, and in step S302, the sensor I (2
62A) or II (262B) is in a ball presence state. Then, in step S308, a wait time of a predetermined time (for example, 500 msec) is waited in step S308 until it is determined that the ball presence sensor I (262A) or II (262B) is in the ball presence state. A signal indicating that task 5 is being processed is transmitted, and the process returns to step S300 to turn on the discharge electromagnet 234 (O
N) The loop of steps S300, S302, S308, and S310 of performing the processing of turning off (OFF) is repeated.

However, when the sphere presence sensor I (262A) or II (262B) detects the presence of a sphere in step S302, the process proceeds to step S304 at that point and the task 5 processing signal ( External output signal IV)
Is stopped, the task 1 is set and the task 5 is cleared in the next step S306, and the process returns to step S2 of the main control process (FIG. 18).

FIG. 26 shows the control processing (subroutine processing) procedure of task 7. The processing of this task 7 is an inspection processing of the discharge state of the ball discharging device 200 performed by an ON operation of the check switch 342 and a command from the management device.

When the processing of this task 7 is started, first, the ball removing solenoid 820 is turned on in step S350. Then, in the next step S352, after waiting for the sphere sensor I (262A) or II (262B) to enter the sphere state, the next step S354 is performed.
Then, the discharge electromagnet 354 is turned on and off, and the process proceeds to step S356.

At step S356, the discharge sensor I (26
3A) or II (263B) has risen, and if there is a rise, the process proceeds to step S362, but if there is no rise, there is a possibility of ball clogging or failure, so the process proceeds to step S358 and collapses. Solenoid 2
80 is turned on and off, a failure signal is transmitted to the management device in the next step S360, and the process returns to step S356. Emission sensor I (263A) or II
Until there is a rise of (263B), step S356,
The loop of S358 and S360 is repeated, and when there is a rise, the process proceeds to step S362.

In step S362, it is determined whether or not the number of discharges at that time is one, and if it is one, the process proceeds to step S366. If it is not one, it is determined that the ball discharge device 200 is broken. The process of transmitting the illegal signal II to the management device to notify is continued.

In step S366, it is determined whether or not 12 pieces have been discharged. If 12 pieces have not been discharged, the process returns to step S352 to repeat the processing of step S352 and subsequent steps, and when 12 pieces have been discharged, The process proceeds to step S368, and the ball-off solenoid 820 is turned off (O
FF) and then returns to step S2 of the main control process (FIG. 18).

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 27 to 30 show a second embodiment of the ball feeding device. Of those drawings, FIG. 27 is a left side internal mechanism diagram of the ball discharging device 2000 when not discharging,
FIG. 28 is a left side internal mechanism view of the ball discharging device 2000 at the time of discharging, FIG. 29 is a vertical sectional front view of the discharging flow path at the time of not discharging, and FIG.
0 is a front view of the vertical discharge flow path at the time of discharge. In the ball discharging device 2000 of this embodiment, in order to prevent runaway of ball discharging, a downflow control member 2300 for preventing runaway of ball discharging is installed above the ball feeding member 2200 for discharging balls.

This ball discharge device 2000 has a mounting substrate 21 having discharge passages 2110 defined by guide walls 2111 on both left and right side surfaces (both front and back surface sides in FIG. 27) on one end side.
It is equipped with 00. Around the mounting substrate 2100, a mounting piece 2101 for mounting the ball discharging device 2000 on the ball discharging portion is formed. A ball feeding member 2200 is provided in a lower step portion of the attachment substrate 2100 on the discharge passage 2110 side.
Downflow control members 2300 are rotatably installed in upper and lower stages in upper and lower two stages with the support shafts 2220a and 2220a as axes. The ball feed member 2200 and the flow control member 2300 have the same shape, the same size, the same number of teeth (eg, 6), and the same number of ball feed recesses 2205 (eg, 6).
The sprocket wheels 22221 and 2222 are integrally formed in a state where the right and left pairs are 180 ° / number of teeth (eg, 30 °) out of phase with each other. Although not shown in detail, one of the sprockets 2221 is on the left side of the mounting board 2100 (on the front side in FIG. 27) and the other sprocket 2222 is on the right side of the mounting board 2100 (see FIG. 2).
7, the back surface side).

The left side of the mounting substrate 2100 (in FIG. 27,
(Front side) the ball feeding member 2200 and the downflow control member 2
On the opposite side of the discharge passage 2110 sandwiching the 300, for example, the pin 2231 is rotated about the axis to rotate the left and right sprockets 2221 and 222 of the upper flow-down control member 2300.
Upper engaging portion 223 engaging with a valley 2206 between two teeth
2 and the left and right sprockets 222 of the ball feeding member 2200
A stopper member 2230 (made of a magnetic material) having a lower engagement portion 2232 that engages with the top side 2207 of the teeth of the teeth 1 and 222, and a counterclockwise rotation return force to the stopper member 2230. A restoring force applying device 2240 for giving
The restoring force applying device 2240 is attached to the stopper member 2230.
A state switching device 2250A including an exhaust electromagnet 2250 that applies a turning force in a clockwise direction against the force of the above is installed. The restoring force applying device 2240 includes a main body 2241 fixed to the mounting substrate 2100 and the main body 2241.
Actuating rod 22 whose one end side is retractable in 241
42 and a return spring 2243 for urging the operating rod 2242 in the extending (projecting) direction. The rotation range of the stopper member 2230 is the rotation range restriction protrusion 21 provided on the mounting substrate 2100.
It is regulated within the proper range by 12, 2113.

Also, the left and right sprockets 2221 and 222 of the ball feeding member 2220 in the discharge passages 2110 on both the left and right sides (front side and back side in FIG. 27) of the mounting substrate 2100.
A ball presence sensor 2260 that detects a ball presence state is installed at a position corresponding to 2, and a discharge sensor 2270 that detects the discharge of the ball is installed below the sensor 2260.

The ball discharging device 2000 of this embodiment is configured as described above, and the mounting piece 2 is provided on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine 10 between the guide gutters 840 and 813.
It is mounted by means of mounting means such as bolts via 101, and operates as follows.

The discharge electromagnet 2250 is normally off (OF
27, the stopper member 2230 is rotated and returned counterclockwise by the restoring force applying device 2240 as shown in FIG. 27, and the engagement portion 2232 on the lower end side thereof is the sprocket 2221 or 2222 of the lower ball feeding member 2200. The ball feeding member 2200 cannot be rotated by engaging with the top side 2207 of the tooth, and the ball cannot be discharged. And
At this time, the engaging portion 2232 at the upper end thereof is disengaged from the valley 2206 between the teeth of the left and right sprockets 2221 and 222 of the flow control member 2300, the flow control member 2300 is rotatable, and the discharge passage 2110 is free. 27, the sphere on the upstream side of the ball is supplied to the space between the flow control member 2300 and the ball feed member 2200 while rotating the flow control member 2300 clockwise in FIG. 27 (FIG. 27, FIG. 29). ..

In this state, when a ball is ejected by the ball feeding member 2200 in response to a command from the ball ejection control device 600, the ejection electromagnet 2250 is excited and the magnetic attraction force of the ejection member causes the stopper member 2230 to return. It is rotated clockwise in FIG. 27 against the force of the applying device 2240,
The engaging portion 2232 on the lower end side is the ball feeding member 22 on the lower stage side.
00 sprocket 221, 222 tooth top side 2
The ball feeding member 2200 becomes free to rotate away from 207, and the ball is discharged. However, at this time, the engaging portion 2233 at the upper end thereof has a valley 2 between the teeth of the left and right sprockets 2221 and 2222 of the upper-stage ball feeding member 2200.
The flow control member 2300 is prevented from rotating by engaging with 206, so that the ball on the upstream side of the discharge passage 2110 cannot flow below the flow control member 2300.

Therefore, as described above, the discharge electromagnet 225
0 is turned on (ON) / off (OFF) for a predetermined time,
Along with that, the ball feeding member 2200 and the downflow control member 2
300 are alternately rotated by a constant angle (30 ° in this embodiment) to discharge and replenish the balls one by one. A restoring force applying device 22 at the time of discharging the ball by the ball feeding member 2200
Even if the ball feeding member 2200 runs away due to breakage of the ball 40 or the like, only the balls between the downflow control member 2300 and the ball feeding member 2200 are discharged, and the balls on the upstream side of the downflow control member 2300 are erroneously discharged. I don't know.

Moreover, when the ball feed member 2200 returns to the non-ejection state of the ball, the flow control member 2300 returns to the freely rotatable state, and the ball is placed between the flow control member 2300 and the ball feed member 2200. Since it is filled, there is no shortage of balls to be discharged.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 31 is a mechanical view of the inside of the left side of a ball discharging device 3000 according to the third embodiment. The ball ejecting device 3000 of this embodiment can eject the ball left and right (see FIG. 31).
The cams 3200 on the front and back sides are alternately performed one by one, and the downflow control members 3300 are installed on the left and right sides above (on the front and back sides in FIG. 31) to prevent runaway of the balls. I did it.

Since this ball discharging device 3000 uses a mounting substrate having the same structure as the mounting substrate 2100 of the ball discharging device 2000 in the above-mentioned second embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the second embodiment are used and the description thereof is repeated. Avoid This mounting piece 2
Cams 3200 for ejecting balls are independently rotatably installed on the left and right sides (front and back in FIG. 31) of the 100 on the side of the discharge passage 2110 with the pin 3201 as an axis, and the left and right sides of the upper part. On the sides (front side and back side in FIG. 31), sprocket type downflow control members 3300 that prevent the balls from flowing down when the balls are ejected by the cam 3200 are independently rotatable about a spindle 3300a as an axis. The flow control member 3300 has a ball feeding concave portion 3305 on its outer periphery.
6 pieces are provided at an equal angle pitch. A stopper piece (not shown) is provided adjacent to each of the flow control members 3300.
It is provided radially at 0 ° intervals.

Then, the flow-down control members 3300 on both the left and right sides (front side and back side in FIG. 31) of the mounting substrate 2100.
On the opposite side (left side in FIG. 31) of the discharge passage 2110 sandwiching the cam 3200, for example, the pin 22 is provided.
31 is independently rotated about the axis, and each of the flow-down control members 330 is rotated.
Engagement portion 2232 that engages with a stopper piece 0 (not shown)
And each lower end has a link 32
A stopper member 2230 (made of a magnetic material) connected to the free end side of the cam 3200 via 35, and a return spring for applying a counterclockwise rotational return force to each stopper member 2230. A state switching device 3250A, which is composed of 3240 and a discharge electromagnet 3250 that applies a turning force in the clockwise direction against the force of the respective return springs 3240, is installed in the stopper member 3230.

A ball presence sensor 2260 for detecting a ball presence state is installed at a position corresponding to the lower cam 3200 of the discharge passage 2110 on both left and right sides (front side and back side in FIG. 31) of the mounting substrate 2100. A discharge sensor 2270 that detects the discharge of the ball is installed below the discharge sensor 2270.

The ball discharging device 3000 of this embodiment is configured as described above, and the mounting piece 2101 is provided between the guide gutters 840 and 813 of the ball discharging portion on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine 10.
It is mounted by a mounting means such as a bolt via the so that it operates as follows.

Normally, the left and right discharge electromagnets 3250 are turned off, and the left and right stopper members 3230 are rotated and returned counterclockwise by the return springs 3240 as shown in FIG. The respective cams 3200 are connected to each other via the link 3235 on the lower end side as shown in FIG.
The ball is not returned by turning back in the middle direction. Then, at this time, the engaging portions 3232 at the respective upper ends thereof are disengaged from the stopper pieces (not shown) of the left and right sprockets 3300 of the downflow control member 3300, and the left and right upper sides (the front side and the back side in FIG. 31) of the upper stage side are removed. Downflow control member 3
300 becomes free to rotate, and the sphere on the upstream side of the discharge passage 2110 flows between the downflow control member 3300 and the cam 3200 while rotating the downflow control member 3300 in the clockwise direction in FIG. ..

In this state, the left and right (front and back sides in FIG. 31) discharge electromagnets 32 are commanded by the ball discharge control device 600.
When 50 is alternately excited, the respective left and right stopper members 3230 are alternately rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 31 by the magnetic attraction force thereof against the force of the return spring 3240, and the respective links 3235 are locked. The left and right cams 3200 are alternately rotated in the counterclockwise direction to eject the balls. But,
At the same time, the left and right stopper members 3230 engage with the stopper pieces (not shown) of the left and right downflow control members 3300 of the downflow control member 3300 to prevent the downflow control member 3300 from rotating. The upstream sphere cannot flow down between the flow control member 2300 and the cam 3200.

Therefore, even if the cams 3200 cannot rotate and return clockwise when the balls are ejected by the cams 3200, the balls between the downflow control members 2300 and the cams 3200 are simply ejected and the downflow is achieved. The erroneous discharge of the ball on the upstream side of the control member 3300 is not performed.

Moreover, when the respective discharge electromagnets 3250 are demagnetized and the respective cams 3200 return to the non-ejecting state of the balls, the respective downward flow control members 3300 return to the freely rotatable state and the respective downward flow control members 3300 and the respective downward flow control members 3300. Since the balls are filled with the cam 3200, there is no shortage of balls to be discharged.

In this embodiment, the sprocket is used as the flow-down control member for the standby ball and the cam is used as the discharge control member for the ball. Conversely, the cam is used as the flow-down control member for the standby ball to control the discharge of the ball. A sprocket may be used as the member.

[0122]

According to the invention as set forth in claim 1, when a plurality of balls are discharged by one discharging operation of the ball discharging device, the passage of the branch portion between the discharge gutter and the ball discharge gutter is normally formed. The balls can be switched so that they flow to the ball-spilling gutter side when playing the game, and to the discharge gutter side when playing a big hit, so it is possible to prevent erroneous discharge of the number of prize balls during normal play , It is possible to avoid interruption of prize ball discharge during a big hit game.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the discharge failure check means causes the passage switching device to detect the passage of the branch portion based on the signal from the check switch provided on the back side or the signal from the external management device. Is switched to a state in which the balls flow to the side of the ball removing gutter, and the ball discharging device is caused to perform a predetermined number of discharging operations, and the number of discharged balls at that time is counted to determine the failure of the ball discharging device. So, you can easily check the failure of the ball ejector.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the detection of the sphere is recognized by both at least one of the sphere presence sensor and at least one of the ejection sensors, even though the sphere ejecting device is caused to eject the sphere. If not, the ball collapsing control means causes the ball collapsing device to perform the ball collapsing operation. Therefore, even if the ball clogging of the ball discharging device occurs, the ball clogging is automatically cleared.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the ball collapsing device is performing the ball collapsing operation, the ball collapsing operation informing means informs the external management device that the ball collapsing operation is being performed. Since the notification is given, the management device can know that the ball collapsing operation is being performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a card-type pachinko gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of a card-type pachinko gaming machine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of a ball discharging device of the pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ball discharging device.

5 is a vertical sectional side view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the guide gutter 840 showing a state in which an opening / closing member of the guide gutter 840 of the pachinko gaming machine is closed.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the guide gutter showing a state in which the opening / closing member is opened.

8 is a view as seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5 showing the ball discharging mechanism when the stopper member is engaged with the stopper piece side of the ball feeding member.

9 is a view of a ball discharging mechanism when the stopper member is engaged with the engaging recess side of the ball feeding member, as viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
It is an arrow view.

10 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional rear view of the storage tank and the guide gutter.

FIG. 13 is a rear view of a storage tank and a guide gutter showing a first modification of the ball collapsing device.

FIG. 14 is a rear view of a storage tank and a guide gutter showing a second modification of the ball collapsing device.

FIG. 15 is a rear view of a storage tank and a guide gutter showing a third modified example of the ball collapsing device.

FIG. 16 is a rear view of a storage tank and a guide gutter showing a fourth modification of the ball collapsing device.

FIG. 17 is a control block diagram of a sphere ejection system performed by a microcomputer constituting the sphere ejection control device.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a main control process for discharging a ball, which is performed by the microcomputer.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a control processing procedure of interrupt processing performed by the microcomputer.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a procedure of monitoring processing (subroutine processing) in step S36 of the interrupt processing (FIG. 19).

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a procedure of control processing (subroutine processing) of task 1.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a procedure of control processing (subroutine processing) for task 2;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a procedure of control processing (subroutine processing) for task 3;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the procedure of control processing (subroutine processing) for task 4;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the procedure of control processing (subroutine processing) for task 5;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a procedure of control processing (subroutine processing) of task 7.

FIG. 27 is a mechanical view of the inside of the left side of the ball feeding device showing a non-ejection state of the ball feeding device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a mechanical view of the inside of the left side of the ball feeding device showing a state when the ball feeding device is ejected.

FIG. 29 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of the discharge passage of the ball discharging device when not discharging.

FIG. 30 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of the discharge flow path of the ball discharging device at the time of discharge.

FIG. 31 is a mechanical view of the inside of the left side of the ball discharging device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Gaming Machine (Pachinko Gaming Machine) 19 Gaming Area 200 Ball Ejecting Device 220 Ball Feeding Member 221,222 Sprocket 243 Check Switch 259a, 259b Ejecting Passage 280 Ball Disintegrating Device 600 Ball Ejecting Control Device 813 Ejection Gutter 815 Ball Switching Gutter 820 Passage Switching Device 1000 microcomputer (flow path switching notification control means, discharge failure check means, ball collapse control means, ball collapse operation notification control means)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. With respect to winning of each ball to a winning portion provided in a game area, a ball discharging device discharges one prize ball for each discharging operation to discharge a predetermined number of balls. Along with a certain condition, the normal game state in which the prize balls are discharged less frequently is converted to a jackpot game state in which the prize balls are discharged more frequently, and a branch between the discharge gutter and the ball removing gutter under the ball discharge device is converted. In the control device for controlling the discharge of the balls of the gaming machine, the passage of which is switched between a state where the balls flow to the discharge gutter side and a state where the balls flow to the ball discharge gutter side by the passage switching device, When a plurality of balls are discharged by one discharging operation, switching of the passage of the branch portion by the passage switching device causes the balls to flow to the ball removing trough side in the normal gaming machine. To the external management device to notify the A control device for controlling the discharge of a ball of a gaming machine, which is provided with a flow path switching informing means for switching to a state where the ball flows to the discharge gutter side during a game. 2. A state in which a ball flows to the ball drop trough side when the passage switching device switches the passage of the branch portion based on a signal from a check switch provided on the back side or a signal from an external management device. It is characterized by further comprising discharge failure check means for causing the ball discharging device to perform a discharging operation a predetermined number of times and counting the number of discharged balls at that time to judge a failure of the ball discharging device. A control device for controlling the discharge of balls of the game machine according to claim 1. 3. A ball collapsing device for collapsing an internal discharge passage, a ball presence sensor for detecting a ball presence state of a standby ball in the discharge passage, and a discharge sensor for detecting a discharge ball in the discharge passage are installed. In addition, even if the sphere ejecting device is operated to eject the sphere, if the sphere is not detected by at least one of the sphere presence sensor and at least one of the ejection sensors, the sphere collapse The control device for controlling the discharge of balls of a gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a ball collapse control means for causing the device to perform a ball collapse operation. 4. The ball collapsing operation informing control means for informing an external management device that the ball collapsing device is performing a ball collapsing operation is provided. A control device for controlling discharge of balls of the game machine according to claim 3.