JPH06238051A - Pachinko machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a pachinko machine in which a generated winning ball never causes a ball clogging phenomenon or have a bad influence on a prize hole or prize device. CONSTITUTION:When a determined quantity or more of winning balls wait and overflow, an overflow detection switch 13 is ON to continuously operate a winning ball treatment mechanism 28, the winning balls are released to a winning ball guide passage 27 in a short time, and the released winning balls are counted and stored by a taking detection switch 36. Thus, a necessary quantity or more of the winning balls are never stored on a winning ball collecting gutter 12, and therefore, the winning balls never cause a ball clogging phenomenon on the winning ball collecting gutter 12 or have a bad influence on a prize hole or prize device provided in the lower part of a game board.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pachinko machine for temporarily holding a generated winning ball and releasing the winning ball when the payout of the prize ball corresponding to the winning ball is completed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a pachinko machine equipped with an electric prize ball payout device for paying out prize balls while counting the prize balls one by one, the generated prize balls are temporarily stopped by a stopper member and the prize balls are paid. When the payout of the prize balls corresponding to is completed, the stopper member is driven by an electric drive source such as a solenoid to open the prize balls, and thereafter, the above operation is repeated every time the prize balls occur. It had been.

[0003]

In the pachinko machine having the above structure, for example, when the gaming state becomes a big hit gaming state and a large number of winning balls are generated in a short time, Because the payout speed takes a certain amount of time,
The processing of prize balls is delayed, and the prize balls are stored on standby on the prize ball collecting gutter, and finally reach the position of the prize opening and the prize winning device arranged at the bottom of the game board, which adversely affects their operation. Alternatively, there is a problem that the prize balls cause a jamming phenomenon in a dango-like manner on the collecting gutter. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a pachinko machine that does not cause a jamming phenomenon of generated winning balls or adversely affect a winning opening or a winning device. Especially.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the present invention, the generated winning balls are once put on standby, and when the payout of the prize balls corresponding to the winning balls is completed, the winning balls are finished. In a pachinko machine that releases a prize winning ball fullness detecting means for detecting that the prize winning ball has been filled by a predetermined amount or more, and when the output of the prize winning ball fullness detecting means is released, the waiting state is released and winning is achieved. A releasing means for releasing a ball, a winning ball uptake detecting means for detecting a winning ball released during an operation period of the releasing means, and a counting memory for counting and storing an output signal derived from the winning uptake detecting means. Means and
It is characterized by having.

[0005]

[Function] When the prize balls have been filled in a predetermined amount or more on standby, the waiting state of the prize balls is released, the prize balls are released, and the released prize balls are counted and stored, so that the prize balls are stored more than necessary. Therefore, there is no possibility of causing a ball clogging phenomenon or adversely affecting the winning opening or the winning device provided in the lower part of the game board. In addition, the prize balls corresponding to the prize-winning balls that have been memorized and stored are
After that, the prize ball payout device may pay out based on the stored value.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of a pachinko machine 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a rear view of the pachinko machine 1. As shown in the figure, the pachinko machine 1 has a game board provided with various winning openings, winning devices, display devices, etc. as is well known. On the back surface of the game board, there is a winning ball aggregate cover body 2 Is detachably fixed. The winning ball aggregate cover body 2 covers the main area of the back surface of the game board and corresponds to the opening 11 of the mechanism plate 10 described below. In addition, a game control circuit board 3 for driving and controlling a symbol display device, a variable winning device, etc. provided on the game board is attached to the back surface of the winning ball aggregate cover body 2. In this embodiment, the number of prize balls to be paid out according to the winning openings provided in the game board and the winning balls won in the winning device is divided into two types, and the relatively small number of prize balls (for example, 7 pieces) The winning opening to be set is
Winning prizes such as winning holes, which are provided with a detection switch 4 for seven (not shown; however, shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4) and set a relatively large number of prizes (for example, 15) The winning detection switch 35, which will be described later, detects the winning ball. This point will be described in detail later.

On the other hand, on the back surface of the pachinko machine 1, the mechanical plate 1
0 is openable and closable so as to cover the entire back surface of the game board. A concave prize-ball collecting space is formed on the front surface side of the mechanism plate 10, and a square-shaped opening 11 is provided at substantially the center of the mechanism plate 10 so as to communicate with the prize-ball collecting space. The opening 11 is formed to have substantially the same size as the surface area of the winning ball aggregate cover body 2. The reason for providing the opening 11 in this way is that, in general, in recent pachinko machines, a type in which only the game board is replaced and the main body of the pachinko machine 1 including the mechanism plate 10 is repeatedly used, Among the winning devices arranged on the game board to be replaced, there are some which are largely protruding to the rear of the game board and some which are not protruding. A mechanism board is provided to cope with such various game boards. The opening 11 is opened in 10, and for the change in the structure due to the back surface of various game boards, the winning ball aggregate cover body 2 is processed so as to match the back surface structure at the stage of manufacturing the game board. Are being dealt with in this way. Of course, the prize-ball collecting space may be configured without fixing the prize-ball collecting cover 2 to the back surface of the game board, and without forming the opening 11 in the mechanism plate 10.

At the lower end of the prize winning ball collecting space, a prize winning ball collecting trough 12 is provided so as to incline to one side, and the prize winning balls which have fallen in the prize winning ball collecting space are introduced into a prize winning guide passage as described later. The game is guided to the winning ball processing mechanism 28 via 27. In addition, on the bottom surface of the upstream part of the winning ball collecting trough 12, a fullness detection switch 13 for detecting that a large amount of winning balls have been stored on the winning ball collecting trough 12 is provided. That is, the actuator 1 of the charge detection switch 13
3a projects into the winning ball collecting trough 12, and when the stored winning balls are placed on the actuator 13a, the filling detection switch 13 is turned on. And
When the filling detection switch 13 is turned on, a standby solenoid 31 described later operates for a certain period of time to discharge the stored winning balls. The filling detection switch 13 may be provided on the upstream side surface instead of the bottom surface of the winning ball collecting trough 12. When it is provided on the bottom surface, a cover may be provided so that winning balls falling in the winning ball collecting space do not directly collide with the actuator 13a.

Various mechanisms for ejecting prize balls are provided on the rear surface side of the mechanism plate 10. Explaining these mechanisms, a prize ball tank 14 for storing a large number of prize balls replenished from a prize ball replenishing mechanism (not shown) is provided at the top of the mechanism plate 10, and the prize balls below the prize ball tank 14. An alignment gutter 15 for arranging the balls is provided at an angle. The alignment gutter 15 arranges the prize balls in two rows. A curve gutter 16 is provided so as to be connected to the alignment gutter 15 to reduce the ball pressure caused by the prize balls stored in the alignment gutter 15. Then, the prize balls that have been arranged in two rows by the alignment gutter 15 and flowed down are merged into one row at a connection portion with the curve gutter 16 and supplied to the prize ball payout device 17 described below.

Now, the structure of the prize ball payout device 17 will be described. The prize ball payout device 17 is provided with a drop passage 18 which is vertically connected with the lower end of the curve gutter 16 as shown in FIG. The drop passage 18 includes a sprocket 20 facing a notch 19 formed on one side wall of the drop passage 18, and a payout solenoid 21 having a stop piece 22 that engages and disengages from the sprocket 20. The sprocket 20
A plurality of recesses for accommodating the prize balls flowing down through the drop passage 18 are formed on the outer periphery of the sprocket, and the recesses engage with the prize balls to rotate the sprocket 20 by the weight of the prize balls. ing. A stop piece 22 is arranged on the side opposite to the cutout portion 19, and a spring 23 is locked to the upper end of the stop piece 22. Therefore, the stop piece 22
The lower end of the sprocket 20 is always biased toward the sprocket 20 side, and engages with the recess of the sprocket 20 to stop the rotation of the sprocket 20. When the payout solenoid 21 is excited, the stop piece 22 is attracted. Sprocket 2
The engagement with the recess of 0 is released, and the sprocket 20 is allowed to rotate.

When the stop piece 22 stops the rotation of the sprocket 20, the prize balls flowing down the drop passage 18 on the opposite side are accommodated in the recesses and stopped, and the prize balls are placed at the stopped positions. A confirmation detection switch 24 for confirming whether or not it is present is provided. The confirmation detection switch 24 is composed of a light emission / reception type detection switch, and is controlled so that the prize ball payout device 17 is not driven unless the confirmation detection switch 24 is turned on. Further, in the drop passage 18, below the confirmation detection switch 24, a counting detection switch 25 which is also a detection switch of a light emitting / receiving system is provided. The counting detection switch 25 detects the prize ball immediately after being opened by the sprocket 20 when the engagement with the stop piece 22 is released and the sprocket 20 starts rotating, and counts the number of detections. By doing so, the number of prize balls corresponding to the prize balls having different payout numbers is discharged. Then, the prize balls paid out from the prize ball payout device 17 are discharged to the upper plate or the lower plate (neither is shown) provided on the front surface of the pachinko machine 1 through the prize ball discharge passage 26.
The confirmation detection switch 24 does not necessarily have to be provided at a position close to the count detection switch 25 as shown in the figure.
It may be provided on the upstream side (for example, a position for detecting the last prize ball of the highest prize ball number to be paid out by one prize ball).

The prize ball payout device 17 is driven in association with a prize ball processing mechanism 28 provided in the middle of a prize ball guiding passage 27 connected to the prize ball collecting gutter 12. Here, regarding the configuration of the winning ball processing mechanism 28, FIG.
Will be described with reference to. The winning ball processing mechanism 28 includes a swing lever 29 that faces the winning ball guiding passage 27 and a standby solenoid 31 that swings the swing lever 29. The swing lever 29 is swingably supported at a portion near the tip end by a support shaft 30, and the tip end thereof is formed in a concave shape so as to receive a prize ball. As shown by the solid line, the winning ball P1 flowing down the winning ball guiding passage 27 is received, and when the rear end moves upward, the winning ball P1 is released as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. It is designed to be locked at the top.

The lower end of the connecting rod 33 is connected to the rear end of the swing lever 29, and the upper end of the connecting rod 33 is connected to the plunger 32 of the standby solenoid 31. Further, a return spring 34 is provided around the plunger 32 and always urges the plunger 32 downward. For this reason, the tip of the swing lever 29 is always in the upwardly moved position to receive the prize balls. In addition, a standby detection switch 35 for detecting the winning balls received by the swing lever 29 in such a state is provided in the winning ball guiding passage 27. Like the confirmation detection switch 24, the standby detection switch 35 is composed of a projection / reception type detection switch, and when the standby detection switch 35 is turned on, the prize ball payout device 17 is driven. Further, in the winning ball guiding passage 27 on the downstream side of the standby detection switch 35, when the filling detection switch 13 is turned on and the winning ball processing mechanism 28 continuously discharges the winning balls one by one. A take-in detection switch 36 for counting the number of winning prizes is provided.

The prize ball payout device 17 and the winning ball processing mechanism 28 described above are driven and controlled by a payout control circuit board 37 provided on the back surface of the mechanism plate 10. In addition, the payout control circuit board 37 is connected to derive a predetermined signal (for example, a stop signal when the prize ball cannot be paid out) to the hitting motor 41 of the hitting ball launching device 40 provided at the lower part of the back surface of the pachinko machine 1. May be. Further, on one side upper part of the mechanism plate 10, the game control circuit board 3 and the payout control circuit board 3
7 or a hitting ball launching device 40 or the like is provided with a terminal 39 for supplying power, and the terminal 39 is provided with a payout lamp 38 which is lit when paying out prize balls.

Therefore, the structure of the payout control circuit board 37 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the payout control circuit. A microcomputer 50 as a control center is used in the payout control circuit. An external ROM 51 and an external RAM 52 are connected to the microcomputer 50. In the external RAM 52,
A payout amount memory 53 that stores the payout amount α, a 7-piece counter 54 that counts the number of winning balls detected by the 7-piece detection switch 4, and a prize-counting ball that is detected by the take-in detection switch 36. It has a built-in counter 55 and a counting counter 56 for counting the number of prize balls detected by the counting detection switch 25.

On the other hand, the seven detection switch 4, the confirmation detection switch 24, the count detection switch 25, the standby detection switch 35, the acquisition detection switch 36, and the charge detection switch 13 are connected to the microcomputer via the waveform shaping circuit 57. Connected to 50. In addition, the detection switch 4 for 7
In the illustrated case, the seven detection switches 4 are connected to the waveform shaping circuit 57 as a connection method between the microcomputer 50 and the microcomputer 50.
Although it is shown that they are directly connected via, the signals of the seven detection switches 4 are introduced into the game control circuit board 3, and the payout control circuit board 37 is delivered from the game control circuit board 3 based on the introduced signals. A winning ball signal may be sent to the microcomputer 50 of FIG.

The clock generation circuit 59 sends an external interrupt signal to the IN of the microcomputer 50 via the frequency divider 58.
Outputs to the T terminal. Then, the microcomputer 50 executes the main program of FIGS. 5 and 6 in synchronization with the external interrupt signal. When the power supply circuit 60 is powered on, the reset signal generation circuit 61 outputs a reset signal. The reset signal is input to the RST terminal of the microcomputer 50, and an initial program (not shown) is activated. Further, drivers 62 to 64 are connected to the respective output ports of the microcomputer 50. The pay-out lamp 38 is connected to the driver 62, the pay-out solenoid 21 is connected to the driver 63, and the standby solenoid 31 is connected to the driver 64, which drive-control each.

Next, the game operation controlled by the above-mentioned payout control circuit will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6 showing the processing procedure of the microcomputer 50. After the initial setting, every time the external interrupt signal output from the frequency divider 58 is input, the microcomputer (C
PU) 50 executes the main program of FIGS. 5 and 6. In step 10, the timer T1, T2, T3 is updated, and in step 20, the 7-piece detection switch 4 is turned off.
If it is not turned on, the next step 30 is skipped. If it is turned on, the step 30 is skipped.
The value of the counter C for seven is updated by "1". The following steps 40 to 360 are processing steps corresponding to each state.

First, in step 40, it is judged whether or not the payout operation of the prize balls is being carried out. If the payout operation is being carried out, the routine proceeds to step 140 which will be described later. In step 50, it is determined whether or not the interval time set between the prize ball payout operation and the payout operation is in progress, and if so, the process proceeds to step 250 described later. Step 60
Is a winning ball gathering gutter 12 when the charge detection switch 13 is activated.
It is determined whether or not a large amount of winning balls that have been stored on standby above have been taken in (released). If not, the process proceeds to the next step 70, and if so, the process proceeds to step 300. Further, in step 70,
It is determined whether or not the standby detection switch 35 is ON, that is, whether or not a winning ball has been generated. If a winning ball has occurred, the process jumps to step 90 and no winning ball has occurred. In this case, in step 80, it is determined whether or not the value D of the take-in counter 55 is "1" or more. If it is "1" or more, the process proceeds to the next step 90. When it is determined in step 70 that no winning balls have been generated, and when the value D of the take-in counter 55 is not "1" or more (that is, 0) in step 80, the process proceeds to step 360. To do. In this case, in step 360, the payout lamp 38, the payout solenoid 21, and the standby solenoid 31 are not turned on or excited because each flag described later has been reset. Step 90 is the confirmation detection switch 2
4 is ON, that is, it is determined whether or not the prize balls to be paid out are correctly supplied to the prize ball payout device 17, and if they are supplied, the next step 100
If not supplied, step 360
Move to. Also in this case, the payout lamp 38, the payout solenoid 21, and the standby solenoid 31 are not turned on or excited.

In steps 40 to 90 described above, the waiting detection switch 35 is ON or the value D of the take-in counter is "1" because the prize balls are not being paid out, the interval time is not being taken in, and the taking-in is not taking place. When the confirmation detection switch 24 is ON as described above, the prize ball payout operation is completed, and the prize ball payout operation is started. If it is determined in step 100 that the value of the 7-piece counter C is not equal to or greater than “1”, that is, the 7-piece counter 54 has no memory, the payout amount α is set to 15 in step 120. On the other hand, when it is determined that the counter 54 has a memory, the payout amount α is set to 7 in step 110. Then, in step 130, the state flag is set to F = 1 indicating that the payout operation is being performed, and the payout solenoid flag is set. Although not shown, a lamp flag is also set. When the payout solenoid flag is set, the payout solenoid 21 is excited in the process of step 360, the sprocket 20 is allowed to rotate freely, and the prize ball is paid out. At the same time, the payout lamp 38 is turned on by setting the lamp flag. It Then, in steps 140 and 150, the value of the counter E is incremented by 1 each time the count detection switch 25 is turned on. The process of steps 160 → 360 → 10-40 → 140-160 ... Is repeated until the value of the counting counter E reaches the value of α = 7 or α = 15 set in step 110 or step 120.

When the value of the counter E reaches the set value α, step 17 is executed to judge whether the above-mentioned payout operation of prize balls is 7 or 15.
If it is 0, it is determined whether or not α = 7. If α = 7, the value of the 7-piece counter C is decremented by 1 in step 180, and then the prize ball payout operation described above is stored in the take-in counter D. In step 190, it is determined whether or not the standby detection switch 35 is ON to determine whether it is based on a value or a standby winning ball. If it is not ON,
In step 200, it is confirmed whether or not the value of the fetch counter D is 1 or more, and then, in step 210, the value of the fetch counter D is decremented by 1, and the process proceeds to step 220. Note that step 200 is performed for confirmation and may be omitted. On the other hand, in step 170, α = 7
If it is determined that it is not (that is, 15 payouts), the process of step 180 is not performed, and if it is determined that the standby detection switch 35 is ON in step 190 (that is, payout by the standby winning a prize) Processing of step 210 is not performed, the process proceeds to step 220.

At step 220, the value of the counter E is reset to 0, and the payout solenoid flag and the lamp flag (not shown) are reset. As a result, the excitation state of the payout solenoid 21 is released, the stop piece 22 engages with the sprocket 20 to stop the rotation of the sprocket 20, and the payout lamp 38 is also turned off.

Next, at step 230, the value F of the state flag is set to 2 and the standby solenoid flag is set. As a result, the standby solenoid 31 is excited to swing the swing lever 29, and the winning balls waiting in the winning ball guiding passage 27 are discharged. To ensure this operation, in step 240 timer T1 (eg 0.4 seconds)
Is set, and steps 250 → 360 (the standby solenoid 31 is driven) → 10 to 50 → 250 ... Are repeated until the timer T1 times out. When the timer T1 times out, step 2
At 60, the standby solenoid flag is reset to release the excited state of the standby solenoid 31, and the state flag F is also reset to 0.

The following steps 270 to 350 show the processing for turning on the fullness detection switch 13 and releasing the prize-winning balls stored in standby by the prize-winning ball processing mechanism 28. That is, in step 270, it is determined whether or not the charge detection switch 13 is ON. If not, the process below is skipped and the process proceeds to step 350.
If it is N, the value of the status flag F is set to "3" in step 280, and the timer T2 is set. Here, the timer T2 is set to a relatively long time (for example, 2 to 3 seconds), and within this time, a large number of the prize-winning balls held and stored are released.

In the prize winning ball releasing process, first, at step 290, the timer T3 is set and the standby solenoid flag is set. The timer T3 defines the excitation time of the standby solenoid 31, and the time required for the swing lever 29 to reliably discharge the winning balls in the standby position one by one to the downstream side is set ( For example, 0.1 seconds). Then, until it is determined in step 320 that the timer T3 has timed out, it is determined in step 300 whether or not the capture detection switch 36 is turned on, and if it is turned on, step 31
When it is 0, the process of adding "1" to the value of the fetch counter D is executed. Until it is determined in step 320 that the timer T3 has timed out, step 320 →
The processes of 360 → 10-60 → 300-320 are repeated. When it is determined in step 320 that the timer T3 has timed out, the standby solenoid flag is reset in step 330, whereby the standby solenoid 31 is turned off and one winning ball is processed. Next, at step 340, it is judged if the timer T2 has timed out. If not, then the procedure returns to step 290, and the processing of steps 290 to 330 is repeated again until the timer T2 times up. By repeating this, a predetermined number (20 to 30 in terms of time) of winning balls are released, the released winning balls are stored in the take-in counter D, and the prize corresponding to the stored winning balls is stored. As described above, the balls are paid out after all the winning prize balls waiting are exhausted. When it is determined in step 340 that the time is up, the state flag F is reset in step 350 to set the value to 0, and then the process proceeds to step 360.

It should be noted that, in the above-described winning prize take-in process, the standby solenoid 31 is turned on and off to release a plurality of winning prizes during the time T2, but only a predetermined number should be taken in. You can For example, when the charging detection switch 13 is turned on, the take-in process may be ended when approximately half of the number of prize-winning balls stored in standby is taken in. Further, if the taking-in process is performed during the interval, the prize ball paying-out process and the winning prize taking-in process can be performed in parallel.

Although the structure and operation of the pachinko machine 1 according to the embodiment have been described above, according to the present embodiment, when the prize winning balls are on standby and filled by a predetermined amount or more, the filling detection switch 13 operates to win the winning balls. The waiting state is released and the winning balls are released, and the released winning balls are counted and stored in the take-in counter D. Therefore, the winning balls are not stored in the winning ball collecting gutter 12 more than necessary. For this reason, the winning balls will not be clogged on the winning ball collecting trough 12 or will not adversely affect the winning openings or the winning devices provided in the lower part of the game board.

In the above embodiment, the prize ball payout device 17 is provided with the sprocket 20 and the payout solenoid 21, but the motor rotates the sprocket or the spiral screw to pay out the prize ball. Any type may be used as long as it is a type driven by an electric drive source such as a type. Further, the structure of the winning ball processing mechanism 28 is not limited to that shown in the figure, and any structure may be used as long as it processes the winning balls one by one. It should be noted that the capture detection switch 36 may be omitted and the standby detection switch 35 may also be used. Further, the number of prize-winning balls that have been taken in may be transmitted to a management computer in a game hall to be used for creating management data or for monitoring abnormal payout of prize-winning balls. Furthermore, the value of the take-in counter 55 may be displayed inside or outside the pachinko machine so that it can be visually recognized by a player or a store clerk, or a backup power supply is provided so that the value of the take-in counter 55 does not disappear during a power failure. A configuration of storing and holding may be adopted.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above description, in the present invention, when the winning balls have reached the predetermined amount of waiting standby, the waiting state of the winning balls is released, and the winning balls are released. Since the winning prize balls are stored in a counting manner, the winning prize balls are not stored more than necessary, which may cause a jamming phenomenon or adversely affect the winning hole or the winning device provided in the lower part of the game board. There is no influence.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a prize ball discharging device provided in a pachinko machine.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a winning ball processing mechanism provided in the pachinko machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a payout control circuit that controls a prize ball payout operation.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a specific operation of a payout control circuit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a specific operation of the payout control circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pachinko machine 4 7 detection switch 10 Mechanism plate 12 Prize ball gathering gutter 13 Fullness detection switch 17 Prize ball payout device 20 Sprocket 21 Payout solenoid 25 Count detection switch 28 Prizeball processing mechanism 29 Swing lever 31 Standby solenoid 35 Standby detection Switch 36 Capture detection switch 37 Discharge control circuit board 50 Microcomputer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pachinko machine that temporarily holds the generated winning balls and releases the winning balls when the prize balls corresponding to the winning balls have been paid out. Winning ball fullness detecting means, a releasing means for releasing the waiting state and releasing the winning ball when the output of the winning ball fullness detecting means is derived, and a releasing means for releasing during the operation period of the releasing means. A pachinko machine comprising: a winning ball intake detecting means for detecting a winning ball; and a counting memory means for counting and storing an output signal derived from the winning ball intake detecting means.