JPH0671028A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a game machine capable of ejecting prize winning balls without affecting the game even if a great amount of prize winning balls are generated for a short time, while ejecting properly prize winning balls even in the occurrence of sudden stoppage of elasticity, troubles, etc. CONSTITUTION:The number of ejected prize winning balls corresponding to the assortment of prize winning balls detected by a prize winning ball assortment detecting means 117 is stored in a first number-of-ejected-prize-winning- balls-storing means 118 and the number of prize winning balls detected by a prize winning ball detecting means 120 for detecting all prize winning balls is stored in a number-of-prize-winning-balls storing means 121. A second number- of-ejected-prize winning-balls storing means 123 stores individually the number of respective prize winning balls and a momory protecting means 125 protects the momory content of a second number-of-ejected prize-winning-balls storing means 123 and an ejecting operation control means 124 operates a game ball ejecting device 71 on the basis of the memory of the number of ejected prize winning balls in the second number-of-ejected-prize-winning-balls storing means 123.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention maintains compatibility with various game boards that are exchanged according to the content of the game, and can control the number of prize balls set according to the winning area of the game board. The present invention relates to a gaming machine including a discharge control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a gaming machine represented by a pachinko machine, a gaming board that determines the game contents of the gaming machine is constructed so that it can be replaced appropriately. By replacing the various game devices provided with an electric control device that controls the operation according to the game content, it is possible to play a game on a new game board. By doing so, each mechanism section (machine frame body, hitting ball launch mechanism, etc.) other than the game board can be continuously used, and the game store can simply replace the game board and the electric control device with a new game machine. Since the game contents of the machine can be renewed, the cost associated with the replacement can be reduced, and the amount of oversized garbage (unnecessary game board etc.) discarded due to the replacement can be reduced.

Further, in recent game machines, a ball lending device for lending a game ball, which is a game medium used for a game, to a player is not separately installed, but a prize ball provided for each game machine is discharged. There is also one that causes a ball rental discharge operation by using a game ball discharge device. By doing so, it becomes possible to directly discharge the ball rental balls discharged from the game ball discharging device to the ball dish of the game machine, and the game balls borrowed from the separately provided ball lending machine to the ball dish of the game machine. Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of transferring and use it for the player's convenience. In the gaming machine having such a configuration, the game ball discharging function for controlling the single game ball discharging device and discharging the game balls (ball rental and prize ball) is independent from the electric control device, and the game ball discharging control is performed. It is separately provided as a device, and even when the electric control device is replaced with the game board, the game ball discharge control device is configured to be compatible with the new electric control device.

As a means for maintaining compatibility between the game ball discharging device and the electric control device, the number of prize balls to be discharged is not set in the game ball discharging device in advance, but each of the electric control device to the game board is changed. The number of prize balls according to the winning area is supplied to the game ball discharge control device, and the game ball discharge device causes the game ball discharge device to perform the prize ball discharge operation based on the supplied number of prize balls. Also, when performing the prize ball discharging operation, the number of discharged prize balls is set for each prize ball by the electric control device, so that the prize balls collected through the prize ball collecting gutter collecting the prize balls received from each prize area. The balls are temporarily stored in a diversion gutter or the like, and after the prize ball discharging operation for the winning ball is completed, the discharging operation of the winning ball is performed by a safe ball payout mechanism.

[0005]

However, in recent game machines, the game content in which a special game or the like in which a large number of winning balls are generated in a relatively short time is set is mainstream, and such a game machine is used. In the above, a large amount of unprocessed prize balls stay in the diversion trough and the prize ball collecting trough, which causes an inconvenience that the prize balls cannot be accepted from each prize area, which hinders smooth game play. It can happen. In order to prevent such a situation, it is necessary to configure a gaming machine in which a space capable of storing a large amount of safe balls is secured in advance, but a game machine provided with various mechanisms by effectively utilizing the small space. It is relatively difficult to secure more space in the machine, and the design of the entire gaming machine is forced to be changed, so that compatibility with the conventional gaming machine cannot be ensured.

It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which each winning ball is sequentially stored without temporarily storing the winning balls, but if a power failure or a failure occurs during the game, unprocessed winnings will be won. There is a possibility that the memory of the ball will disappear and the player will suffer great disadvantages, and it is not possible to simply switch to the memory system.

Therefore, even if a large number of prize balls are generated in a short time, the prize balls can be reliably discharged without affecting the game, and in the event of an unexpected power failure or failure during the game, It has been desired to develop a gaming machine which can surely obtain a prize ball according to a prize ball without a player being disadvantaged.

[0008]

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and is a winning area (for example, first to third special figure starting ports provided in the game section (9) of the game board (10). 38a-3
8c, a special winning opening 33a of the variable winning device 33, etc.) winning type detection means (117) for detecting the type of winning ball that has won a prize.
And a prize ball discharge number storage means (for example, a second prize ball discharge number storage means 12) for individually storing the prize ball discharge number according to the prize ball type detected by the prize type detecting means (117).
3), a memory protection means (125, 125 ') for protecting the stored contents of the prize ball discharge number storage means (123), and the prize ball discharge number stored by the prize ball discharge number storage means (123). Then, a discharge operation control means (124) for discharging the prize balls from the game ball discharging device (71) is provided.

[0009]

The function of the winning ball type detecting means detects the type of the winning ball that has won the various winning areas provided in the game part of the game board, and the prize according to the type of the winning ball detected by the winning ball type detecting means. The number of discharged balls is temporarily stored in the number of discharged balls storage means. Then, based on the award ball number storage stored in the award ball number storage means, the ejection operation control means controls the game ball ejection device to eject the award balls according to the award ball number storage. Further, the stored contents stored and held in the prize ball discharge number storage means are protected by the storage protection means.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention, which is a game machine capable of pachinko game using small balls as a game medium, will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 1 is composed of a main frame 2 and an auxiliary frame 3, and various functions (detailed later) related to the game are added to the main frame 2 to supplement the auxiliary frame. 3 is a card control function that enables the use of a prepaid card (a card for pachinko games that is sold in advance at a predetermined amount and stores valuable data equivalent to currency stored in a magnetic recording unit). It also has a ball lending control function.

The main frame 2 is constructed by rotatably providing a frame-shaped front frame 5 on the front side of a hollow box frame-shaped machine frame 4. A glass frame 6 and a front panel 7 are rotatably provided in a window opened in the front frame 5, and a guide rail 8 is provided behind the glass frame 6 in which transparent glass is arranged.
A game board 10 having a game section 9 surrounded by is provided. Then, a game ball, which is a game medium, is shot on the game board 10, and the first to fourth general winning openings 11 are general winning areas.
By winning prizes that have a, 11b, 11c, 11d, etc. opened, a pachinko game in which a prize ball as a prize ball is obtained can be performed. In addition, in the game part 9 of the game board 10, a plurality of game nails 12, ... A gaming device is provided. Further, an out port 14 is provided for guiding a hit ball that has not won in any winning area to the back side of the game board 10 while rolling in the game unit 9.

On the other hand, on the front panel 7 located below the glass frame 6, a prize ball based on the fact that a hit ball is won in any prize area provided in the game section 9 of the game board 10, and the above-mentioned auxiliary A sphere supply tray 16 for storing lent balls based on the operation of the sphere loan controller 15 in the frame 3 is provided, and the sphere supply tray 16 supplies spheres to the launch ball standby unit 17. Further, an operation handle 18 for operating the hitting ball launching mechanism, a ball receiving tray 19 for receiving a ball that cannot be stored in the ball supply tray 16, and the like are appropriately provided at appropriate places below the front frame 5.

The ball lending control device 15 housed in the auxiliary frame 3 reads valuable data of the prepaid card inserted from the card insertion / ejection port 20 and, for example, the ball supply tray 1
In response to the player operating the ball lending switch 21 provided in 6, a predetermined number of game balls are lent, and the valuable data of the prepaid card is rewritten to a value obtained by subtracting the currency corresponding to the lent game balls, and the return switch 22. When the player operates or the remaining number of valuable data of the prepaid card becomes "0", the prepaid card taken in is ejected from the card insertion / ejection slot 20. Note that it is limited to the case where the card read / writer 23 of the ball lending control device 15 always subtracts the valuable data of the frequency provided for ball lending by operating the ball lending switch 21 from the valuable data of the prepaid card. Instead, the prepaid card may be rewritten at an appropriate timing such as card ejection. Further, when the prepaid card is ejected from the card insertion / ejection slot 20, the lighting display of the card insertion indicator lamp 24 made of, for example, an LED is extinguished, and the card read / writer 23 does not accept the prepaid card to the player. It is designed to be visible.

In the vicinity of the ball lending switch 21, a display means capable of displaying a number (for example, a structure capable of displaying a 3-digit number by providing three 7-segment type variable displays) is provided. A device 25 and an operation switch validity display device 26 for displaying that the ball lending operation based on the use of the prepaid card can be performed are provided.
In addition, if a frequency display for displaying the frequency when the prepaid card is inserted into the ball lending control device 15 is provided separately from the remaining frequency display unit 25, the player can play the game in the gaming machine 1. It can be used as a guide for how much balls you have borrowed and can be used for the player's flights. In addition, auxiliary frame 3
A card availability indicator 27 that indicates that the ball rental operation based on the use of the prepaid card is possible is provided at an appropriate place (upper part in FIG. 1).

Further, a discharge number indicator 28 (for example, a 4-digit 7-segment variable indicator) is provided at an appropriate place of the gaming machine 1 (for example, on the front side upper part), and the prize is given in the gaming machine 1. When performing the ball discharge operation, the number of discharged prize balls is visually displayed. Note that the discharge number display 28 is not limited to displaying only the number of prize balls discharged, and the number of ball rental discharged may be visually displayed, or the number of discharged balls may be displayed while the discharging operation is not performed. May display other different information. For example, by visually displaying a message according to the game state (occurrence of a special game, etc.), the number of unsettled winning prizes, the number of prize balls discharged, etc., for which the discharge operation has not been completed yet, it is provided for the player's convenience. be able to.

On the other hand, the valuable data of the prepaid card is
Originally, it is consumed in units of frequency, but it is equivalently exchanged for drinks, cigarettes, etc. through a vending machine etc. in the amusement store (convert the product value into the number of balls and exchange it with the desired product with a prepaid card) System), there may be a fraction less than the frequency that cannot be used for ball lending. Therefore, it is assumed that the fraction data of the prepaid card is displayed on the discharge number display 28, and a fraction display switch 29 for switching the display content of the discharge number display 28 to the fraction display of the prepaid card is placed at an appropriate position of the auxiliary frame 3. It is provided. When the discharge number indicator 28 is used for displaying a fraction, it is not limited to the configuration in which only the fraction display data of the prepaid card is displayed, and various data relating to the prepaid card (for example, the balance at the time of card insertion, the actual Data such as frequency used for ball borrowing) may be selectively displayed.

In addition, at an appropriate place on the upper portion of the front frame 5, an operation display lamp 30 for displaying the game state of the gaming machine 1 is displayed.
Is provided so that an employee or the like of the game store can judge the gaming state of the gaming machine 1 according to the lighting or blinking state of the operation display lamp 30. In addition, when the game state in the gaming machine 1 satisfies a predetermined game completion condition, it is customary to stop the operation of the gaming machine 1 to end the game (so-called stopping). A completion lamp 31 for notifying the player and the clerk of the game store of the game state is separately provided on the game board 10, for example.

On the game board 10 which is actually used for the game in the game machine 1, the above-mentioned first to fourth general winning openings 11a to 11 are provided.
In addition to d, various prize areas and various game devices are provided. For example, a special symbol display device 32 in the approximate center of the game part 9, a variable winning device 33 in the lower part of the game part 9, an auxiliary variable winning device 34 in an appropriately lower part of the special symbol display device 32, A normal symbol display device 35 is provided in the center of the variable winning device 32, and these game devices are electrically driven and controlled by an electric control device which will be described later, thereby enhancing the interest of the game.

On the left and right sides of the auxiliary variable winning device 33, a first universal figure starting gate 36a and a second ordinary figure starting gate 3 for passing and winning a ball flowing down on the board surface of the game board 10.
6b is provided, and these first and second universal figure starting gates 3 are provided.
6a, 36b spheres pass and win, the above-mentioned ordinary symbol display device 35 (in the embodiment of FIG.
Preliminary game to convert the display symbol of the segment type variable display) is started, a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the preliminary game, and is normally fixed by displaying the symbol of the normal symbol display device 35 on a specific symbol. End the game.

Here, when a prize mode is formed by the stop symbol of the normal symbol display device 35 corresponding to a predetermined specific symbol (for example, the number "7"), the auxiliary variable winning device 34 Is transferred to the first auxiliary game for converting the first state, which is disadvantageous to the player, into the second state, which is advantageous to the player. In addition, when the stop symbol of the normal symbol display device 35 does not correspond to the prize mode, it returns to the normal game state again, but at this time, the passage memory of the first and second universal symbol start gates 36a, 36b is stored. If there is, a preliminary game is played again based on the passing memory. The passage memory of each universal figure starting gate 36a, 36b, for example, is supposed to store and retain up to four, and by illuminating four universal figure gate passage memory LEDs 37 provided in the vicinity of the ordinary symbol display device 35, The number of memories of the gate passage memory is visually displayed.

In addition, a second state (for example, a pair of ball receiving pieces (not shown) is rotated in the left-right direction by the prize mode being formed in the above preliminary game, so that the game ball flowing down the board surface is The first special figure starting port 38 of the auxiliary variable winning device 34, which is converted into a state of being invited into the auxiliary variable winning device 34)
a, or the special symbol display device 32, when the game ball wins in any of the second special figure starting port 38b and the third special figure starting port 38c formed on the left and right sides of the big winning opening 33a of the variable winning device 33. The second auxiliary game to be converted and displayed at high speed is started, and when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of this second auxiliary game, the second auxiliary game is displayed by fixing the display symbol of the special symbol display device 32 to an arbitrary symbol. To end.

Special symbol display device 32 of the embodiment shown in FIG.
Is made up of, for example, three variable indicators, and these three-digit symbols have predetermined conditions (for example, the three-digit symbols must match. For example, “7”, “7”,
When the prize mode is formed by satisfying “7”),
The variable winning device is shifted to a special game in which the first state, which is disadvantageous to the player, is changed to the second state, which is advantageous to the player. On the other hand, when the second auxiliary game ends, if the stop symbol displayed on the special symbol display device 32 does not correspond to the prize mode, the normal game state is restored,
At this time, the first, second and third special figure starting ports 38a, 38b,
When there is a winning memory of 38c, the second auxiliary game is played again based on the winning memory. In addition, each special map starting port 3
The winning memory of 8a to 38c, for example, stores and holds up to four, and by turning on the special figure starting winning overstoring LEDs 39 ... Which are provided on the upper portion of the special symbol display device 35,
The number of memories of the special figure start winning prize is visually displayed.

When the special game is started as described above, the ball receiving door 40 of the variable winning device 33 is tilted forward, for example, and the game ball flowing down on the board surface of the game board 10 is provided with the large winning opening 3
It is converted to the second state that is invited to 3a. That is, in the special game, the variable winning device 33 is converted into the second state in which a large amount of game balls can be received, so that the player can obtain a large amount of prize balls. In the special game, either the number of winning balls to the special winning opening 33a reaches a predetermined number or the second state conversion time of the variable winning device 33 reaches a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds), whichever is predetermined. When the earliest condition is satisfied, the variable winning device 33 is returned to the first state, and this period is set as one cycle, for example, a special game with game contents that can be updated up to 16 cycles is performed. Therefore, although not shown in the variable winning apparatus 33 shown in FIG. 1, a regular winning area and a continuous winning area are provided in the special winning opening 33a of the variable winning apparatus 33, and the winning balls to the variable winning apparatus 33 are won. It has a structure in which the "normal prize ball" and the "continuous prize ball" are separately classified to win the prize, and the cycle update condition is that the continuous prize ball is detected in the cycle.

Further, in the game board 10 constructed as described above, the first special figure starting winning ball detector 41 and the second special figure starting winning ball detector 41 for detecting the ball winning the first special figure starting opening 38a of the auxiliary variation winning device 34. 2nd special figure starting winning ball detector 42 which detects the ball which entered the special figure starting port 38b, 3rd special figure starting winning ball detector 43 which detects the ball which wins the 3rd special figure starting port 38c, variable winning A continuous winning ball detector 44 that detects a ball that has won a continuous winning area in the device 33, and a large winning opening winning ball detector 4 that collectively detects large winning opening winning balls that have entered the variable winning device 33
5, 1st universal figure starting gate which detects the passing winning ball to the 1st universal starting gate 36a Passing ball detector 46, 2nd universal starting gate which detects the passing winning ball to the 2nd universal starting gate 36b Passing ball detector 47, first general winning ball detector 48 for detecting a winning ball to the first general winning opening 11a, second general winning ball detector 4 for detecting a winning ball to the second general winning opening 11b
9, a third general winning ball detector 50 for detecting a winning ball to the third general winning opening 11c, a fourth general winning ball detector 51 for detecting a winning ball to the fourth general winning opening 11d, respectively at appropriate positions The detection output of each detector is supplied to an electric control device described later.

Further, the ball feeding tray 16 is provided with a launch ball waiting portion 17
The ball supplied to the guide rail 8 is repulsed by the repulsion part of the operating rod of the ball striking mechanism (not shown in FIG. 1).
It reaches the game section 9 of the game board 10 via. At this time, each shot ball is detected by the firing sensor 52, and the count value of the shot balls can be calculated by the electric control device. Also, the ball that could not reach the game unit 9 due to the weak elastic force flows down again along the guide rail 8 as a foul ball, but there is a problem that this foul ball collides with the subsequent elastic ball. Guide the foul sphere to the foul sphere derivation path 53 so that it will not occur,
For example, it is configured to be discharged to the ball tray 19. In addition, when this foul sphere passes through the foul sphere derivation path 53,
The number of foul balls is detected by the foul sensor 54. By subtracting the number of foul balls from the total number of firing balls, the actual number of effective firing balls can be obtained.

On the other hand, on the back side of the gaming machine 1 (shown in FIG. 3), the balls (safe balls and out balls) bounced into the game section 9 of the game board 10 are collected and appropriately treated. In addition, a back mechanism board 55 having various functions is provided so that the prize balls according to each winning ball can be discharged and the player can control the ball lending according to the use of the prepaid card. , In the proper place on the back of the back mechanism board 55, an electric control device 56 for controlling the game board 10, etc., a preliminary game collected by the electric control device 56, a first and a second auxiliary game, and a special game. A first terminal device 57a that outputs related management information to an external management device or the like, and a second terminal device 57 that outputs management information other than that handled by the first terminal device 57a and that also functions as a power supply terminal.
b, a discharge control device 58 for collectively controlling the prize ball discharging operation and the ball rental discharging operation is detachably attached. The electric control device 56, the first and second terminal devices 57a and 57b, the discharge control device 58, and the ball lending control device 15 are functionally connected to each other via a connecting line, and signals are transmitted between the respective devices. It is possible to give and receive.

External connection connectors 59a, 5 are provided on the first terminal device 57a and the second terminal device 57b.
9b are provided respectively, and the external connector 59a,
The management information is supplied to a management device (not shown) via 59b. The ball lending control device 15 and the ball lending management device (not shown) are configured to be capable of bidirectional communication by optical communication or the like, and the data transmitting / receiving unit 59c is provided at an appropriate place instead of a connector for external connection. (Upper front side in FIG. 1). Further, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a firing stop relay 60a for forcibly stopping the hitting ball firing mechanism in association with so-called hit control, for example, in the second terminal device 57b, When the firing stop relay 60a stops the power supply to the firing control device 60b that controls the rotary solenoid of the hitting firing mechanism, the operation of the hitting firing mechanism is forcibly stopped. In addition, for example, a speaker 61 for outputting sound according to various game states is provided on the lower portion of the back side of the gaming machine 1 (see FIG. 3).

Next, the general structure of the main functions provided on the back mechanism board 55 will be described with reference to FIG.

A winning ball from the game board 10 is provided by a winning ball guide trough 62 whose upper surface is opened at a required position where a winning ball flowing down from a winning ball collecting trough (not shown) provided on the back surface of the game board 10 can be received. Collecting and collecting winning balls in an aligned state to the adjusting trough 64 for guiding to the safe sensor 63 including a magnetic sensor, and while passing through the adjusting trough 64, one winning ball is addressed by the safe sensor 63. Detected, diversion gutter 6
It is discharged to the outside of the gaming machine 1 from the lead-out gutter 65 connected to 4.

In the gaming machine 1 according to this embodiment, apart from the safe sensor 63, the first to fourth general winning openings 11a to 1 as various winning areas provided on the game board 10.
Since a prize ball detector is provided in each of 1d and the variable winning device 33 and the type of the prize ball can be individually detected, the number of prizes in each prize area can be individually acquired as management information. The number of discharged prize balls can be made different according to the type of each winning area. Further, when a plurality of winning ball collecting gutters provided on the back side of the game board 10 are provided, each winning ball collecting gutter is connected to each winning ball collecting gutter.
It is also possible to provide two systems of flow paths corresponding to the respective winning ball guide gutters and separately detect the winning balls passing through the respective flow paths by different safe sensors.

On the other hand, the out ball guided from the out port 14 to the back side of the game board 10 passes through the out ball lead-out path 66,
The ball is discharged to the outside of the gaming machine 1 from the out-ball flow-down path 67. still,
By providing appropriate irregularities in the out-ball flow-down path 67, the momentum of the out-ball falling is dampened, and the impact of the out-ball falling on the recovery gutter is reduced. Further, an out sensor 68 as an out-ball detecting means is provided at an appropriate position in the out-ball descending path 67 so that the number of balls collected as out-balls can be counted.

A ball storage tank 69 for storing balls as a game medium is provided on the upper part of the back mechanism board 55, and the balls in the ball storage tank 69 are discharged through the guide trough 70. It is supplied to the game ball discharging device 71. The balls are supplied to the ball storage tank 69 from a ball supply gutter of an island facility composed of a row of gaming machines. For example, the balls are appropriately controlled by the control of a management device that manages each gaming machine 1 ... It is designed to be supplied to. A supply sensor 72 for detecting that the number of balls in the ball storage tank 69 is insufficient is arranged, for example, in the ball inflow portion of the guide gutter 70, and the supply sensor 72 detects the ball shortage, When the management device receives the detection information, the balls are supplied to the ball storage tank 69 of the gaming machine 1.

Inside the game ball discharge device 71, there are formed two inflow gutters 73, 73 communicating with the ball passage of the guide gutter 70, and flow control gutters 74, 74 following the inflow gutters 73, 73. There is a discharge stop mechanism 7 in each of the flow control gutters 74, 74.
5, 75 and a first discharge sensor 76 which is a means for detecting a discharged ball
a and the second discharge sensor 76b are provided at appropriate places. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the first and second discharge sensors 76
A discharge stop mechanism 75, 75 is appropriately provided on the downstream side of a, 76b.
And the first and second discharge solenoids 77a,
77b allows the ball to flow down by rotating the flow-down prevention members 79, 79 in the direction of pulling up from the flow control troughs 74, 74 via appropriate link mechanisms 78, 78. As in this embodiment, the game ball discharging device 71 is provided with two ball passages, and each ball passage has a discharge stopper mechanism 75, 75 and first and second discharge sensors 76a, 76b.
In the case where is provided, it is possible to configure two game ball discharging mechanisms and improve the game ball discharging ability.

In the prize ball discharging operation or the ball lending discharging operation performed by using the game ball discharging device 71 configured as described above, the first and second discharge solenoids 77a, 77a, with the remaining number of game balls being odd. When 77b is turned on, since the predetermined number of game balls cannot be discharged within the predetermined time, the game ball discharging operation is temporarily interrupted, and then the discharging operation is restarted when the discharging balls are replenished. Therefore, a significant time lag occurs until the discharge of the predetermined number of game balls is completed, which may give the player a feeling of distrust. Therefore, when the balls for discharge are insufficient, the management device which receives the supply request signal output based on the supply sensor 72 of the guide gutter 70 being turned on performs the ball supply control, and thereby the game. Since the ball replenishment to the machine 1 is performed promptly, such a hemisphere discharge operation is not normally executed. However, the replenishment command of the management device is delayed or the replenishment sensor 72 is supplied.
Considering the case where the supply request was not made due to the failure of
In the present embodiment, the first half-end sensor 80a and the second half-end sensor 80b are provided at appropriate positions on the downstream side of the guide gutter 70.
When the first and second half-end sensors 80a and 80b are turned on, the ball discharging operation by the game ball discharging device 71 is regulated.

Flow control gutters 74, 7 of the game ball discharging device 71
4 The ball discharge gutter 81 continuing to the lower end is provided with the inflow part 82 and the front frame 5
It is formed from a discharge ball portion 84 provided with a downflow gutter 83 connected to the ball supply tray 16 on the front side, and a downflow gutter while hitting the game balls flowing from the flow adjustment gutters 74, 74 of the game ball discharge device 71 against the projecting wall or the like. It is dropped onto 83 and the ball is supplied to the ball supply port 85. Thus, the discharge balls are discharged to the ball supply tray 16 located on the front side of the front panel 7 through the ball supply port 85.

Distribution gutter 8 connected to the lower part of the above-mentioned drain gutter 83
6 is connected to the ball receiving tray 19 at the lower front surface of the front frame 5, and when the ball supplying tray 16 is filled with the pachinko balls, the pachinko balls overflowing from the downflow gutter 83 are discharged to the ball receiving tray 19. Further, the distribution gutter 86 is provided with an overflow sensor 8 which is a switch which is interlocked with a detection piece 87 which also functions as a gutter wall immediately below the downflow gutter 83.
8 is provided, and when the distribution gutter 86 is filled with pachinko balls, the detection piece 87 is pressed by the pressing force,
The overflow sensor 88 outputs an ON signal.

A ball removal gate 90, for example, a plate-like ball removal gate 90 is rotatably provided by a support shaft 91 at the inflow portion of a ball removal gutter 89 branched from the middle of the ball discharge gutter 81. By turning, the branch path to the ball drop trough 89 can be opened and closed as appropriate. This ball removal gate 9
0 is a support shaft 91 and a ball removal solenoid 9 outside the gutter wall.
2 is connected via an appropriate link 93, and the ball-exiting solenoid 92 is turned on / off to turn the ball-exiting gate 90 by a desired angle (a state in which the inlet to the downflow gutter 83 can be closed). , And can be converted into a state in which the inflow port to the ball removing trough 89 can be closed. It should be noted that this ball removal operation is performed based on the detection signal of the ball removal sensor 94 which is turned on by operating from the front side of the gaming machine 1.

When the ball-removing solenoid 92 is energized, the plunger of the ball-removing solenoid 92 is pulled up, the link 93 moves upward, and the ball-removing gate 90 is rotated toward the flow-down gutter 83 to remove the ball. Open the inlet of the gutter 89. The ball removal gate 90 is a ball discharge gutter 81.
It is supposed to be rotated up to a position (a position where the pachinko ball is in a state where the pachinko ball cannot pass). When the energization of the ball-exiting solenoid 92 is cut off, the ball-exiting gate 90 promptly returns to the position where the ball-out gate 90 closes the inflow port of the ball-extracting gutter 89 by an appropriate restoring force composed of a spring or the like.

When the ball removal gate 90 is returned, if the plunger of the ball removal solenoid 92 is lowered to a predetermined position, the ball removal gate 90 cannot rotate any more, so the ball removal gate 90 is inside the ball removal trough 89. There will be no major retreat to. Further, by providing an appropriate stopper or the like that abuts the ball-removing gate 90 when it is returned to the predetermined position, it is possible to prevent the ball-removing gate 90 from oscillating, and the ball-removal solenoid is restored by the restoring force of a spring or the like. The risk of damage to 92 can also be reduced.

As described above, the ball processing function of the back mechanism board 55,
A game medium discharging function for performing the prize ball discharging operation or the ball rental discharging operation, from the game ball discharging device 71 to the ball storage tank 69
The ball removal function and the like for extracting the balls stored over the course of time were explained. In addition, the downstream side of the ball removal gutter 89 is joined with the out ball flow down path 67, and is led to a recovery gutter (not shown) to be returned to the game ball circulation mechanism of the island facility consisting of a pachinko machine row, and the collected game balls. After being polished and cleaned, it is supplied again to the ball storage tank 69.

Further, a hitting ball launching mechanism for continuously shooting game balls is provided at a position corresponding to, for example, the operation handle 18 on the lower side of the back surface of the gaming machine 1, and an electric drive source for the hitting ball launching mechanism. The rotary motion of the motor as a firing pestle 95
Is converted into a reciprocating rotary motion of the launching pestle 95, and the ball located in the launching ball waiting portion 17 is repelled by the projecting part 96 (see FIG. 3) formed at the end of the launching rod 95, and the launch rail 97 (see FIG. 1). Playing through the guide rail 8 of the game board 10, the game board 10
To reach the game section 9. The hitting ball launching mechanism is configured so that the launching force of the hitting ball can be adjusted according to the amount of rotation of the operation handle 18. Further, the electric drive source of the hitting ball firing mechanism is not limited to the motor but may be configured by using a rotary solenoid or the like.

Next, the input / output of various signals will be described based on the I / O block diagram (FIG. 5) related to the input / output of the electric control device 56.

The electric control unit 56 is a central processing unit (C
PU98) and storage device (ROM99, RAM100)
The CPU 98 is connected to a power supply circuit 101 for supplying power, a frequency dividing circuit 102 for supplying a clock, a sound generator 103 for generating sound, and the like. Also, the sound generator 103 is the amplifier 1
The speaker 61 is contacted via 04 to generate a game sound effect or the like.

The buffer gate 10 is connected to the CPU 98.
5 through the low-pass filter 106, the first special figure starting winning ball detector 41, the second special figure starting winning ball detector 42, the third special figure starting winning ball detector 43, continuous winning ball detector 44,
The winning prize winning ball detector 45, the first universal figure starting gate passing ball detector 46, the second universal figure starting gate passing ball detector 47, the discharge control device 58, etc. Receive the signal.

Although not shown in the block diagram shown in FIG. 5, the electric control device 56 of the gaming machine 1 is also connected to the management device of the game store, and the stop control and management information are sent from the management device. Receives command signals such as requests. Further, the first general winning ball detector 48, the second general winning ball detector 49, the third general winning ball detector 50, and the fourth general winning ball detector 48, which detect the balls winning the first to fourth general winning holes 11a to 11d, respectively. The detection signals from the general winning ball detector 51 are sent to the electric control device 56, respectively.
May be supplied to.

From the CPU 98, the output port 107
Also, a signal is transmitted through the driver 108 to receive and open the ball receiving door 40 of the variable winning device 33, which is a driving source for the large winning opening solenoid 109 and the auxiliary variable winning device (normal electric accessory) 34. A power source solenoid for rotating the piece to the left and right, a special solenoid 110, a special symbol display device 32, a normal symbol display device 35, a special symbol start winning prize memory LED 39.
.., a general-purpose starting gate passage memory LED 37, ..., A signal is output to the operation display lamp 30 to control the operation of various game devices. Although not shown in the block diagram, management information related to the gaming state of the gaming machine 1 is output from the electric control device 56 to the management device.

Next, the functions related to the input / output of the discharge control device 58 will be described based on the I / O block diagram shown in FIG. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the emission control device 5
8 is also connected to an overflow sensor 88, a frame sensor that detects the open state of the front frame 5 and the front panel 7, and the like. In some cases, it may be configured to determine whether or not.

The main part of the discharge control device 58 is composed of, for example, a one-chip microcomputer 111, and a CPU, ROM, RA are provided in one chip.
M is integrally assembled, operates based on the power supply of the power supply circuit 112, and divides the clock input from the oscillator 113 for use. In addition, the one-chip
A power failure detection circuit 114 for outputting a power failure detection signal to the microcomputer 111 is provided, and the power supply circuit 112 is provided.
The power supply voltage supplied to the one-chip microcomputer 111 is constantly monitored.
A power failure detection signal is output by detecting a condition (power failure condition) that is low enough to cover the operation of the microcomputer.

The one-chip microcomputer 111 is connected to the one-chip microcomputer 111 via a low-pass filter 115.
The first discharge sensor 76a, the second discharge sensor 76b, the ball drop sensor 94, the safe sensor 63, the overflow sensor 8
8, half-end sensor 80, replenishment sensor 72, firing sensor 5
2. Receive signals from the foul sensor 54, the out sensor 68, the electric control device 56, the management device 100, the ball lending control device 15, and the like. On the other hand, from the one-chip microcomputer 111, through the driver 116, the first discharge solenoid 77a, the second discharge solenoid 77b, the ball discharge solenoid 92, the completion lamp 31, the discharge number indicator 28,
A signal is output to the electric control device 56, the ball lending control device 15, and the like. Although omitted in the block diagram shown in FIG. 6, the emission control device 58 also outputs a signal to the firing stop relay 60, the management device, and the like.

Next, the essential parts of the prize ball discharging function in the electric control device 56 and the discharge control device 58 of the gaming machine 1 will be described in detail with reference to the functional block diagram shown in FIG. In this block diagram, the electrical control device 5
Various functions related to the game control of 6 and parts related to the ball rental discharge function of the discharge control device are omitted.

First, the prize type detection means 117 (in FIG. 2, first to third start provided in each prize area in FIG. 2) for detecting prize balls to various prize areas provided in the game section 9 of the game board 10. Prize winning ball detectors 41 to 43, continuous prize winning ball detector 4
4, a prize winning type detection signal output from a detector such as a special winning opening winning ball detector 45) is input to the first winning ball discharge number storage means 118 of the electric control device 56.
Then, the first prize ball discharge number storage means 118 individually stores the number of prize ball discharges corresponding to the prize ball type indicated by the prize type detection signal input from the prize type detection means 117, and the prize ball discharge amount concerned. The number is sent to the prize ball discharge number transmission means 119.

When the first prize ball discharge number storage means 118 has a plurality of prize ball discharge number memories, the prize ball discharge number is sent out in a predetermined order each time the prize type detecting means 117 receives an input. It may be configured to. For example, the first prize ball discharge number storage means 118 stores the prize ball discharge number in the order in which the prize ball type detection signal is input, and outputs the oldest prize ball discharge number storage means 119 to the prize ball discharge number transmission means 119. You can
It is also possible to set some sort of priority to the type of the number of discharged prize balls, and preferentially output any of the discharged number of prize balls to the prize ball discharge number transmission means 119 according to this priority order.

On the other hand, the winning ball detecting means 120 of the gaming machine 1
(The balls that have won all the winning areas are collectively detected, and correspond to the safe sensor 63 in the above embodiment. The safe sensor 63 passes through the first and second universal figure starting gates 36a and 36b. Since the winning sphere cannot be detected, if the winning sphere for these passing winning spheres is also set to be performed, the safe sensor 63 and the first and second universal figure starting gate passing sphere detectors 46, 47 will win the winning sphere. The winning ball detection signal input from the winning ball number storage means 121 of the discharge control device 58 is based on the winning ball storage of the winning ball number storage means 121. The prize ball discharge number requesting means 122 of the discharge and discharge control device 58 makes a request for the prize ball discharge number to the prize ball discharge number transmitting means 119.

That is, each winning ball is detected by the prize type detecting means 117 when passing through any prize area targeted for discharge of prize balls, whereby the number of discharged prize balls according to the prize ball type concerned is detected. Is stored and held in the first winning ball discharge number storage means 118, and is detected by the winning ball detection means 120 after passing through the winning area, so that the winning ball detection memory based on the winning ball detection is the winning ball number memory 121. When the number of prize balls discharge requesting unit 122 requests the number of prize balls discharge from the prize ball discharge number transmitting unit 119 based on this winning ball detection memory, the number of first prize balls discharge is stored. Means 1
The number of discharged prize balls, which has been supplied from the number 18 to the discharged number of prize balls transmission means 119, is transmitted to the second discharged amount storage means 123 of the prize balls in the discharge control device 58. It should be noted that the prize ball discharge number transmission means 119 transmits a reset signal to the first prize ball discharge number storage means 118 every time the operation of transmitting the prize ball discharge number is completed, and the first signal is transmitted in response to the input of the reset signal. The prize ball discharge number storage means 118 erases the memory of the prize ball discharge number and outputs another prize ball discharge number to the prize ball discharge number transmission means 119.

Thus, the second prize ball discharge number storage means 123
Stores the number of discharged prize balls according to the type of prize balls detected by the prize type detection means 117, respectively, and
Based on the number of discharged prize balls stored in the number of discharged prize balls,
The discharging operation control means 124 controls the operation of the game ball discharging device 71, and causes the game ball discharging device 71 to discharge a predetermined number of prize balls.

As described above, the winning ball detecting means 120 for collectively detecting the winning balls in all the winning areas is provided, and the winning balls detected by the winning ball detecting means 120 and the winning type detecting means 117 are provided. The number of discharged prize balls determined by collating with the detected prize ball type is the second prize ball discharge storage means 1
If 23 is stored and held, it is possible to detect a case where only the prize type detecting means 117 is operated due to an illegal act of the player, and it is possible to execute a game stop or the like based on the injustice detection. The prize type detecting means 117
For winning balls not detected by the winning balls (for example, winning balls to the first to fourth general winning holes), the winning ball discharge number transmitting means 1
The number 19 may be configured to transmit a predetermined number of prize balls to the second prize ball discharge number storage means 123.

Upon receipt of the number of prize balls from the prize ball discharge number transmitting means 119, the second prize ball discharge number storage means 123 outputs a memory reset signal to the prize ball count storage means 121, and the memory reset signal is inputted. As a result, the signal output to the prize ball discharge number requesting means 122 is stopped, and "1" is subtracted from the winning ball count memory, so that the processed memory (the prize ball discharge number is the second prize ball discharge number memory). The memory set in the means 123) is reset.

When the prize ball discharge operation based on the stored contents of the second prize ball discharge number storage means 123 is completed, the discharge operation control means 124 sends a discharge operation completion signal to the second prize ball discharge number storage means 123. In response to the input of the discharge operation completion signal, the second prize ball discharge number storage means 123 stops the signal output to the discharge operation control means 124, and stores the prize ball discharge number for which the discharge operation is completed. Is reset.

As described above, in the gaming machine 1 according to the present invention, the winning ball type detecting means 117 detects the types of winning balls that have won the various winning areas provided in the game section 9 of the game board 10. Then, the number of discharged prize balls according to the type of the prize ball detected by the prize ball type detection unit 117 is temporarily stored in the second prize ball discharge number storage unit 123.
Therefore, when a large amount of winning balls generated in a short time cannot be processed as in the conventional game machine in which the winning balls are temporarily stored until the prize ball discharging operation is completed, the stored winning balls are collected. There is a possibility that a game inconvenience may occur such that the gutter 62 overflows into the winning ball gathering gutter on the back side of the game board 10 and the acceptance of the winning balls from each award winning area to the winning glove gathering gutter occurs. It can be prevented.

Further, the second prize ball discharge number storage means 12
The discharge operation control means 124 controls the game ball discharging device 71 on the basis of the number of prize balls stored in 3 to discharge the prize balls according to the number of prize balls stored, so that the second discharged number storage means 123. By providing the discharge operation control means 124 in the discharge control device 58 of the gaming machine 1, it is possible to realize the prize ball number discharge processing based on the prize ball number memory. Therefore, even for a conventional gaming machine that temporarily stores game balls, the second prize ball discharge number storage means 123 stores and holds the prize ball number memory based on the prize balls, and then the prize balls are discharged. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent a large amount of winning balls for which the winning ball discharge operation has not been completed from remaining. Therefore, the prize ball discharge processing based on the prize ball number storage can be realized. Therefore, if the discharge control device 58 having the second prize ball discharge number storage means 123 and the discharge operation control means 124 according to the present invention is used, It is possible to maintain compatibility with the conventional gaming machine without changing the hardware configuration of the gaming machine.

Further, the second prize ball discharge number storage means 12
When 3 holds a plurality of prize ball discharge number storages, the discharge operation control means 124 continues the prize ball discharge operation to the game ball discharge device 71 until the second prize ball discharge number storage means 123 has no memory. However, an appropriate wait time (for example, 0.5 seconds) is generated between the first prize ball discharging operation and the next prize ball discharging operation. There is. By doing so, the player can identify the number of prize ball discharging operations and secure a necessary and sufficient time for replenishing the game ball discharging device 71 with the discharging game balls. When the discharge control device 58 controls not only the prize ball discharging operation but also the ball rental discharging operation, a wait time is set for each end of each operation of the game ball discharging device 71 so that the prize ball discharging operation is performed. It is also possible to identify the rental ball discharge operation.

Therefore, a storage protection means 125 is provided in the discharge control means 58, and the power failure detection means 114 described in the I / O block diagram (FIG. 6) of the discharge control device detects a power failure state, for example. By doing so, in order to protect the stored contents of the winning ball number storage means 121 and the second winning ball discharge number storage means 123, the power supply necessary for holding the memory is performed, and the predetermined time from the power supply stop is the second. The contents stored in the winning ball discharge number storage means 123 and the winning ball number storage means 121 can be backed up.

Therefore, according to the gaming machine 1 of the present invention, the memory contents stored and held in the second prize ball discharge number storage means 123 are protected by the memory protection means 125, so that an unexpected power outage during the game occurs. In the event of a failure or the like, the player can surely obtain a prize ball according to the prize ball without any disadvantage. Not only when the memory protection means 125 is provided only in the discharge control means 58, but when the memory protection means 125 ′ is also provided in the electrical control device 56, the stored contents of the first prize ball discharge number storage means 118 are stored. Can also be ensured, and the backup of the memory associated with prize ball ejection can be more complete. Further, the memory protection means 125 and 125 'are not limited to those capable of supplying power, and for example, a nonvolatile memory is used, and by transferring each memory content to the memory protection means,
Even after the power supply is stopped, it is possible to protect the stored contents related to the prize ball discharging operation.

Further, unlike the electric control device 56 that is individually created according to the type of the game board 10, the discharge control device 58 that is continuously used in the game machine 1 is compatible with various electric control devices 56. Since it is necessary to maintain the nature, the second prize ball discharge number storage means 123 must have a storage function capable of individually storing the prize ball discharge numbers corresponding to various prize ball discharge numbers in advance. Therefore, the second prize ball discharge number storage means 123 is provided with a plurality of predetermined storage areas for each prize ball discharge number, and the prize ball discharge number memory is stored in a storage area corresponding to the prize ball discharge number storage. By setting, the number of discharged prize balls can be individually stored and held.

However, when a storage area is individually provided for each of the dozens to several tens of types of discharged prize balls, the storage capacity of the second prize ball discharged number storage means 123 must be increased. No, it is not efficient. Therefore, the second
In the prize ball discharge number storage means 123, a prize ball discharge number storage area creating means 12 capable of arbitrarily creating a storage area for the prize ball discharge number.
6 is provided, and the number of discharged prize balls can be individually stored and held by creating a storage area corresponding to the number of discharged prize balls set in the game board 10 by the prize ball discharge number storage area creating means 126. Good.

Further, the discharge operation control means 124 is provided with a storage number determination means 127 and a discharge interval control means 128, and stores the unprocessed portion stored and held in the second prize ball discharge number storage means 123. Remaining number level of memory number determination means 1
27 makes a determination, and based on the result of this determination, the discharge interval control means 128 variably controls the wait time when the game ball discharging device 71 is continuously operated. For example, the unprocessed total storage number (total count value of the number of discharged prize balls) stored and held in the second prize ball discharge number storage unit 123 is “5”.
If it is less than "0", the first level is "50" or more and "10".
If it is less than "0", it is the second level, if it is "100" or more, it is the third level. In the case of the first level, the wait time is 0.5 seconds, and in the case of the second level, the wait time is 0. .4 seconds, in the case of the third level, the wait time is 0.3 seconds. By doing so, when the total memory number of the second prize ball discharge number storage means 123 is large, the weight time is shortened to increase the number of prize ball discharge processing operations performed per unit time, and the prize ball discharge processing is performed. It should be done quickly and smoothly.

That is, in the gaming machine 1 according to the present invention, since the number of discharged prize balls is stored and held in the second prize ball discharge number storage means 123, the conventional safe ball storage type prize ball discharge system is used. Differently, since the total number of unprocessed prize balls discharged can be grasped, the wait time of the discharge interval control means 128 is determined according to the judgment result of the memory number judgment means 127 based on the total number of unprocessed memories. It is possible to perform variable control. As a result, when a large number of winning balls are generated in the special game and the "stop" of the gaming machine 1 is executed, the winning ball discharging operation speed for the winning balls for processing is improved, thereby ending the game. It is possible to shorten the time until the prize ball discharging operation is completed later, and the player can quickly exchange the won ball for a prize. Moreover, by shortening the time until the game machine 1 is restarted after being stopped, the game store can increase the operation rate of the game machine 1. In the present embodiment, the remaining number level of the stored number is set to the first to third levels, but the remaining number level may be set finely and the wait time for each level may be set differently. May be set appropriately.

Next, the control flow of the electric control device 56 and the discharge control device 58 in the gaming machine 1 configured as described above will be described based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Although omitted in the present embodiment, the electric control device 56 and the discharge control device 58 are intended to perform two-way communication with the management device of the game shop in which the gaming machine 1 is installed, and are set by the management device. While receiving various command signals, various management information collected and processed from the gaming machine 1 is output to the management device.

First, each control process of the electric control unit 56 will be described. This electric control device 56 is, for example, 2
It is supposed to be reset every millisecond, and every time it is activated by a reset, it performs a routine work according to a predetermined processing procedure, and again stands by (waits for reset). In addition, when the power of the gaming machine 1 is turned on at the time of opening a store,
Initialization processing such as RAM clearing and flag initial setting is performed, and then the processing proceeds to each processing.

When the system is restarted by resetting, first, the input processing for processing the detection output of various detectors is performed, and then the special symbol display device 32, the variable winning device 33, the auxiliary variable winning device 34, and the ordinary symbol display device 35. By controlling the operation of the gaming device such as the above, a game process that produces an appropriate game state is performed, and a state in which the game machine 1 has been tampered with is detected, and the illegitimate state is notified, or the illegal state is reported. Unauthorized processing is performed to disable the game in the gaming machine 1 until is released. Next, an output process of outputting various signals from the electric control device 56 to various game devices and management devices of the game board 10 is performed, and operation sounds according to the game state and various notification information are output as audible sounds. The voice output process is performed, the prize ball number transmission process of transmitting the prize ball number set in the input process described in detail later to the discharge control device 58 is performed, and various timers used in the electric control device 56 are updated, It will be in a standby state.

In the above input processing, first, the first special figure starting winning ball detector 41 and the second special figure starting winning ball detector 4
2, the detection output of each sensor such as the third special figure starting winning ball detector 43, the continuous winning ball detector 44, the special winning opening winning ball detector 45, the control command from the discharge control device 58, respectively,
Determine whether there is any input.

Next, for example, when the first to third special figure starting winning ball detectors 41 to 43 are turned on, it is determined that there are "5" winning balls, and 5 winning balls are stored. The stored value is updated by adding “1” to the stored value, and when the special winning opening winning ball detector 45 is on, it is determined that there are “15” winning balls, The stored value is updated by adding "1" to the stored value of the individual prize ball memory.

After the memory update processing of the number of prize balls based on the detection information of each detector is performed as described above, the data from the discharge control device 58 is received and the content of the received data is determined. When the number of prize balls is requested, the "number of prize balls request flag" is set, and when the sound lending of balls is requested, the flag "sound loan ball request" is set, and the sound of discharging five balls is set. Is requested, the "5 unit discharge sound request flag" is set, and when 10 unit discharge sounds are requested, "1" is set.
The 0-piece discharge sound request flag "is set, and when the 15-piece discharge sound is requested, the" 15-piece discharge sound request flag "is set, and the input process ends.

Next, a description will be given of a sound process for outputting a sound of a game ball based on the setting of various sound request flags in the input process and for outputting various sounds according to the game state of the gaming machine 1.

First, "ball lending sound output flag", "5 pieces discharging sound output flag", "15 pieces discharging sound output flag", "10"
It is determined whether or not the "piece discharge sound output flag" is set, and if none of the flags is set, the "ball lending sound request flag", "5 piece discharge sound request flag", "10" in the above input processing. It is determined whether or not the "piece discharge sound request flag" and the "15 piece discharge sound request flag" are set. If neither flag is set, a game sound request (game state of the gaming machine 1 in question) is executed in the game processing. It is determined whether or not an appropriate game sound request corresponding to, for example, the preliminary game, the first and second auxiliary games, a special game or the like is performed to notify the game state), and this game sound is generated. If the request has not been made, the voice output process is once ended as it is. On the other hand, if the game sound request has been made,
Data of a game sound corresponding to the requested game sound is set, and a sound effect corresponding to the set game sound is output.

When the "ball lending sound request flag" is set in the input process, the ball lending data is set and an audio output timer (for example, 1 second) for measuring the audio output time is set. Is set and the “ball lending sound output flag” is set, and a sound effect output corresponding to the ball lending sound data is performed. In addition, when the above-mentioned game sound is output at the time of ball lending sound output, both sound effects may be combined and output, and either sound effect may be output depending on the importance of the sound effect. May be preferentially output. Then, in the voice output process after the "ball lending sound output flag" is set, it is determined whether or not the voice output timer has timed up. "And" ball lending sound output flag "
Is reset and the voice output process is terminated.

Further, if the "ball lending sound request flag" is not set, it is judged whether or not the "5 piece discharge sound request flag" is set, and the "5 piece discharge sound request flag" is determined.
If is set, the sound output timer (for example, 200 milliseconds) is set, the “5 sound output flag” is set, and the 5 sound output data is set to the 5 sound output data. The corresponding sound effect is output. And
In the voice output process after the "five discharge sound output flag" is set, it is determined whether or not the voice output timer has timed out. "And" 5 discharge sound output flag "are reset, and the audio output process is ended.

If neither the “ball lending sound request flag” nor the “5 piece discharge sound request flag” is set, it is judged whether or not the “10 piece discharge sound request flag” is set, and “10 If the "piece discharge sound request flag" is set, the 10 piece discharge sound data is set, the audio output timer (for example, 400 milliseconds) is set, and the "10 piece discharge sound output flag" is set. A sound effect corresponding to the 10 pieces of discharge sound data is output. Then, in the voice output processing after the "10 discharge sound output flag" is set, it is determined whether or not the voice output timer has timed out, and when the voice output timer has timed up,
The "10-piece discharge sound request flag" and the "10-piece discharge sound output flag" are reset, and the audio output process is ended.

On the other hand, if neither the "ball lending sound request flag", the "5 discharge sound request flag", or the "10 discharge sound request flag" is set, the "15 discharge sound request flag" is set. If it is determined whether or not the "15-piece discharge sound request flag" is set, the 15-piece discharge sound data is set and the audio output timer (for example, 600 milliseconds) is set, and "15-piece discharge sound" is set. The sound output flag "is set, and a sound effect corresponding to the 15 pieces of discharge sound data is output. Then, in the voice output process after the "15 discharge sound output flag" is set, it is determined whether or not the voice output timer has timed up. Request flag ”
And the "15 discharge sound output flag" is reset, and the audio output process is ended.

In the audio output processing, the audio output time is determined on the side of the electric control device 56 according to the ball lending discharge, the 5 prize ball discharge, the 10 prize ball discharge, and the 15 prize ball discharge. However, by setting the voice output timers with different set times, it is possible to set the output time of the unique ball rental discharge sound and prize ball discharge sound according to the type of the game board 10. Further, by outputting the discharge sound request and the output time of the discharge sound together from the discharge control device 58 side, the output time of the rental ball discharge sound and the prize ball discharge sound is made constant regardless of the type of the game board 10. It can be held, and the output time of the discharge sound in all the game machines 1 can be unified.

Next, when the discharge control device 58 discharges the prize balls, the discharge control device 58 requests the electric control device 56 for the number of discharge prize balls corresponding to the winning balls, and accordingly the discharge prize. The prize ball number transmission processing for transmitting the number of balls from the electric control device 56 to the discharge control device 58 will be described.

In the prize ball number transmitting process, it is determined whether or not the "prize ball request flag" is set in the input process, and if the "prize ball request flag" is not set, the prize is as it is. The number of balls transmission process ends. On the other hand, if the “prize ball request flag” is set, it is determined whether or not the “prize ball transmission flag” is set, and if the “prize ball transmission flag” is not set, First, it is determined whether or not the memory for five prize balls is set. Then, if there is a memory for the number of five award balls, the data for the award five balls is set and the memory for the award five balls is updated by subtracting "1" from the memory for the five award balls. And set the five prize ball data to the discharge control device 58.
Performs transmission processing to send to. Thus, in the prize ball number transmission processing performed after the “prize ball number transmission flag” is set, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the five prize ball data set as described above is completed, If the transmission is not yet completed, the transmission process is continued, and when the transmission is completed, the “prize ball transmission flag” and the “prize ball request flag” are reset, and the prize ball number transmission process is terminated.

If there is no memory for the five prize balls,
It is determined whether or not there is a memory for 15 award balls, and if there is a memory for 15 award balls, 15 award ball data is set and "1" is subtracted from the award 15 ball award memory to obtain 15 award balls. Update the sphere memory, set the "prize ball number transmission flag", and
A transmission process of transmitting the individual prize ball data to the discharge control device 58 is performed. Thus, in the prize ball number transmission processing performed after the "prize ball number transmission flag" is set, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the 15 prize ball data set as described above is completed, If the transmission is not yet completed, the transmission process is continued, and when the transmission is completed, the “prize ball transmission flag” and the “prize ball request flag” are reset, and the prize ball number transmission process is terminated.

On the other hand, when neither 5 nor 15 prize balls are stored, 10 prize ball data is set, the "prize ball number transmission flag" is set, and 10 prize ball data is discharged. A transmission process for transmitting to the control device 58 is performed. Thus, in the prize ball number transmission process performed after the "prize ball number transmission flag" is set, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the 10 prize ball data set as described above is completed, If the transmission is not finished yet, the transmission process is continued, and when the transmission is finished, the “prize ball number transmission flag” and the “prize ball number request flag”
Is reset, and the prize ball number transmission processing is ended.

In the present embodiment, since only the five award sphere memory and the fifteen award sphere memory are stored in the input processing, the ones not stored are uniformly stored.
Since it is set to determine 0 award balls, 10 award ball data is set when neither 5 award ball memory nor 15 award ball memory is stored. It is not limited to. For example, in the above input process, 10 prize ball memories (for example, detection memories of the first to fourth general prize ball detectors 48 to 51) are also stored and held, and the number of prize balls detected by the safe sensor 63 is verified one by one. According to this structure, it is possible to reliably detect the case where the prize type detecting means 117 is illegally turned on. In such a case, for example, by setting the "abnormal data" without setting the prize ball number data and outputting the abnormal data to the discharge control device 58, the prize ball number request is invalidated. do it. Further, the fact that an illegal state has occurred in the gaming machine 1 may be visually and audibly notified.

Next, the processing relating to the game ball discharge control of the discharge control device 58 will be described. Although omitted in this embodiment, the discharge control device 58 receives a control command from the management device and transmits various management information related to game ball discharge to the management device in accordance with the command.

When activating the discharge control device 58, first,
It is determined whether the gaming machine 1 is powered on or restored from a power failure (whether a power failure memory is set in a power failure interrupt process described later). If the power is turned on, various flags and timers are initialized. . On the other hand, if the power is restored, the output state at the time of the power failure is restored (for example, the first and second discharge solenoids 77a and 77b are returned to the ON state, or the display output to the discharge number display 28 is restarted). Performs recovery processing and returns to each processing when interrupted by power failure.

After the initialization process, it is determined whether or not the "dischargeable flag" is set in the discharge condition confirmation process described later. If the "dischargeable flag" is not set, then another Is not processed. on the other hand,
If the "emission possible flag" is set because the discharge condition is satisfied, it is determined whether or not the "ball lending request flag" is set in the input processing described later, and the "ball lending request flag" is set. If "is not set", the discharge memory relating to discharge of prize balls is confirmed, and then it is determined whether or not there is discharge memory.

Here, if the "ball lending request flag" is set, a predetermined discharge number (for example, 25) is set in the discharge counter based on the ball lending rate, and the ball lending and discharging process is performed. Furthermore, if the "ball lending request flag" is not set, but the discharge memory is confirmed, and if there is discharge memory, the number of discharges according to the discharge memory is set in the discharge counter and prize balls are discharged. The discharge memory provided is reset to update the discharge memory, and the prize ball discharging process is performed. It should be noted that when confirming the discharge storage, it may be possible to confirm all the storage contents set in the discharge storage, assuming that there are a plurality of discharge storages in advance, or according to the preset discharge order. It is also possible to arrange the discharge memories serially and check only whether or not there is a discharge memory for the next discharge. Further, when all discharge memories are confirmed, discharge memories to be used for prize ball discharge may be selected in a predetermined order (for example, the one having the largest number of discharges or the one having the smallest number of discharges). The discharge storage may be selected in the order received from the control device 56. Alternatively, according to the number of discharged memories for each number of discharged prize balls, the discharged memories having a large amount of unprocessed discharged memories may be sequentially processed.

Next, the ball rental discharge processing will be described. First, in the ball rental discharge process, the number of emissions set in the discharge counter based on the ball rental rate as described above is set in the "emission data area", and the "ball rental start flag" and the "ball rental flag" are set. The first and second discharge solenoids 77a,
77b is turned on, and a ball rental discharge signal is transmitted to the ball lending control device 15.

Next, it is judged whether or not the "discharge end flag" is set, and if the "discharge end flag" is not set, it is judged whether or not the count value of the discharge counter is "0", and it is not yet determined. The discharge counter count value is "0"
If not, whether or not the "discharge start flag" (a flag that is set by turning on the first and second discharge sensors 76a and 76b of the game ball discharging device 71 in the input processing described later) is set. To determine.
Although omitted in the embodiment shown in the flowchart, a discharge timer (for example, 3 seconds) for detecting a state where the game balls are not discharged smoothly due to a ball clogging in the game ball discharging device 71. ) May be set. In this way, it is possible to detect a case where the game ball is not discharged before the discharge timer times out, as a discharge error state.

When the "discharge start flag" is set based on the discharge of the game balls from the game ball discharge device 71, the "discharge start flag" is reset and the count value of the discharge counter is changed. The discharge count value is updated by subtracting "1", and the "discharge rising flag" is reset. As described above, a predetermined number of ball rental discharge operations are performed by the game ball discharge device 71,
When the count value of the discharge counter becomes "0", the first and second discharge solenoids 77a and 77b are turned off, the "ball rental end flag" is set, and the discharge weight timer (for example, 5) is set.
00 milliseconds) is set, and the ball rental discharge signal to the ball lending control device 15 is turned off. When the game ball discharging device 71 having two game ball discharging mechanisms is used as in the above-described embodiment, the stop timing of each game ball discharging mechanism can be appropriately changed to discharge an odd number of ball rental balls. Or 2
You may make it perform a ball rental discharge operation by alternately using one game ball discharge mechanism.

Thus, after the "ball rental end flag" is set, it is determined whether or not the discharge weight timer has timed up. When the discharge weight timer times out, the "ball rental end flag" and “Flag during ball rental”
Is reset and the rental ball discharge processing is ended. When the "ball rental request flag" is set based on the ball rental control device 15 receiving a ball rental discharge request during the ball rental discharge operation, the same processing as described above is performed again. By performing the above, the ball rental discharge processing is performed.

Next, the prize ball discharge processing will be described. First, in the prize ball discharge processing, the number of discharges set in the discharge counter based on the discharge memory as described above is set in the "discharge data area", and the "prize ball start flag" and the "ball in prize ball" are set. , First and second discharge solenoids 77
Turn on a and 77b.

Then, it is judged whether or not the "discharge end flag" is set, and if the "discharge end flag" is not set, it is judged whether the count value of the discharge counter is "0" or not. The discharge counter count value is "0"
If not, it is determined whether or not the "discharge rising flag" is set.

When the "discharge start flag" is set on the basis of the discharge of the game balls from the game ball discharge device 71, the "discharge start flag" is reset and the count value of the discharge counter is changed. The discharge count value is updated by subtracting "1", and the "discharge rising flag" is reset. As described above, a predetermined number of ball rental discharge operations are performed by the game ball discharge device 71,
When the count value of the discharge counter reaches "0", the first and second discharge solenoids 77a and 77b are turned off, the "discharge end flag" is set, and the wait timer setting process is performed.

The weight timer setting process is for setting the discharge operation interval when the prize ball discharge operation is continuously performed. In the weight timer setting process, the number of memories is first confirmed, and the total number of memories, which is the total number of discharged prize balls based on the unprocessed winning memory, is 100.
If it is 100 or more, the discharge weight timer is set to 300 milliseconds. On the other hand, if the total memory number is less than 100, then it is determined whether the total memory number is 50 or more. If it is 50 or more,
Set the discharge weight timer to 400 milliseconds. If the number of awards stored is less than 50, the discharge weight timer is set to 500 milliseconds. By doing so, when the number of unprocessed prize balls discharged is large, the discharge weight time can be set to be short to speed up the prize ball discharging operation.

After the "discharge end flag" is set as described above, it is judged whether or not the discharge weight timer has timed up. When the discharge weight timer times out, the "discharge end flag" and " The prize ball in-progress flag "is reset, and the prize ball discharge processing ends. Further, when the discharge memory regarding the prize ball remains, the prize ball discharge process is performed by performing the same process as above.

Further, in the discharge control device 58, it is assumed that a timer interrupt process is performed every predetermined time (for example, 1 millisecond). In this timer interrupt process, an input process, a replenishment process, a discharge condition confirmation process, The number of prize balls request processing, the discharge sound request processing, the discharge display processing, the storage display processing, and the transmission processing are respectively performed, and the elapsed time of the clock timer used in each processing is updated.

Next, the input process will be described. In this input processing, first, the sensor outputs of various detectors are read, the input data and the like from the electrical control device 56 are read, and these detection information and input data and the like are determined.

As a result of input reading and determination as described above, if the detection output is input from the safe sensor 63, the safe storage is updated by adding "1" to the safe storage. If the supply sensor 72 is turned on, it is determined that the remaining number of discharge standby balls to be supplied to the game ball discharge device 71 is insufficient, and the "supply request flag" is set, and the detection of the supply sensor 72 is detected. If no output is input, the "replenishment request flag" is reset. When setting the "replenishment request flag", it is not limited to simply detecting the ON state of the replenishment sensor 72, but whether or not replenishment is necessary is determined. You may make it set a "flag."
For example, if a stopping command is received from the management device, or if a ball ejection process (a process for extracting the stored ball of the gaming machine 1 which is omitted in the present embodiment) is being executed, the stored ball Since it is not necessary to receive the replenishment even if the supply is insufficient, it is desirable to determine whether or not the replenishment is necessary by taking these conditions into consideration.

Next, it is determined whether or not the signal level of the detection signal input from the first and second discharge sensors 76a and 76b of the game ball discharging device 71 has risen (whether it is inverted from low level to high level). If it has started, the "discharge rising flag" is set and the "discharge falling flag" is reset. In addition, the first and second discharge sensors 76
It is determined whether or not the signal level of the detection signals input from a and 76b has fallen (whether it has been inverted from high level to low level), and if it has fallen, the "discharge falling flag" is set. When the balls are discharged from the game ball discharging device 71, the first and second discharge sensors 76a and 76b
The detection output rises when the discharge ball arrives at, and the detection output falls when the discharge ball comes out of the first and second discharge sensors 76a and 76b. Therefore, the discharge rising flag and the discharge falling flag alternate. Although it is set / reset, the discharge start flag is reset in the above-mentioned ball rental discharge process or prize ball discharge process.

Then, the signal from the ball lending control device 15 is read, the command content of the command signal is judged, and if it is not a command for the ball lending request, the "ball lending request flag" is reset. On the other hand, if the command from the ball lending control device 15 is a ball lending request, the "ball lending request flag" is set, and the above-described ball lending discharging process is executed based on the "ball lending request flag". is there.

Next, the data signal from the electric control device 56 is received, the type of the received data is judged, and it is judged whether or not there is the number of prize balls in the judged data. If it is determined that the data has not been received, the input process is temporarily terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the data regarding the number of prize balls has been received, it is determined whether or not there is a discharge number storage area for the prize number, and if the corresponding discharge number storage area has already been created. , The discharge number memory is updated by adding “1” to the stored value of the discharge number memory, and if the discharge number memory area is not yet created, the corresponding discharge number memory area is created and the created discharge number memory area is created. The discharge number memory is updated by adding "1" to the number memory area.

It should be noted that such a processing method is adopted in that a necessary discharge number storage area is created when necessary rather than providing a discharge number storage area corresponding to all discharge numbers in advance. This is because it is efficient to store the discharge number in the storage area, and the capacity of the storage means (memory) prepared in advance for storing the discharge number can be reduced. Moreover, if a storage area for all expected discharge numbers is formed in advance and the stored contents of all the storage areas are confirmed in a brute force manner, discharge that is not used in the type of the game board 10 concerned is adopted. Since the storage area for the number is also confirmed, the operation speed at the time of confirming the discharge storage becomes slow. Therefore, the necessary storage areas are sequentially created and the discharge storage is updated as in this embodiment. By doing so, the processing speed can be improved. In addition, the discharge storage area created according to the number of prize balls is cleared by the initialization process when the power is turned on, and the discharge count storage area that is no longer needed does not remain.

In the replenishment process for requesting a ball replenishment to the management device, first, it is judged whether or not the "replenishment request flag" is set in the above input process, and if the "replenishment request flag" is set. For example, a replenishment signal is output to the management device (for example, the signal level of the replenishment signal is inverted to a high level) to prompt the replenishment of the ball to the gaming machine 1. On the other hand, when the "replenishment request flag" is not set, the replenishment signal is not output (for example, the signal level of the replenishment signal is inverted to the low level or held at the low level).

Further, in the discharge condition confirmation processing, it is confirmed whether or not the game ball discharge operation by the game ball discharge device 71 of the game machine 1 can be performed. The state that satisfies the condition is, for example, a state in which the first and second half-end sensors 80a and 80b are not turned on (a state in which sufficient discharge standby balls that can be supplied to the game ball discharge device 71 remain), The second discharge sensor 76a,
A state in which 76b detects a ball for discharge standby (a state in which a proper ball discharging operation is not possible due to a ball clogging in the game ball discharging device 71), a prize ball discharging operation, or A state in which the ball lending discharge operation is not executed, a state in which a proper game ball discharge operation cannot be executed and a discharge error occurs (this is omitted in the flowchart of this embodiment,
The state in which the "ejection error flag" is set based on the occurrence of the ejection error), and the state in which the ball ejection operation is not executed.

Then, in order to confirm these discharge conditions,
Whether the first and second half-end sensors 80a and 80b are in the off state, whether the first and second discharge sensors 76a and 76b are in the non-detection state of the discharge standby ball, the game ball discharging device 71 is a ball When it is determined whether or not the discharging operation is being performed, whether or not the discharging error is being performed, and whether or not the ball is being removed, and if any one of these determination conditions is satisfied. In this case, by resetting the "dischargeable flag", neither the rental ball discharging process nor the prize ball discharging process can be executed.
On the other hand, when all the above conditions are not satisfied (when all the dischargeable conditions are satisfied), by setting the “dischargeable flag”, the ball lending discharge operation based on the ball lending request or The prize ball discharging operation based on the discharge memory for discharging prize balls can be performed.

The dischargeable condition is not limited to the above, and may be set appropriately according to the detectable state of the gaming machine 1. For example, a state in which the front panel 7 is closed (a discharge ball discharged from the game ball discharge device 71 is led out to the ball supply tray 16), a state in which the overflow sensor 88 is not turned on (ball discharge gutter 81) The state in which the game balls are not filled in the distribution gutter 86 may be set as the dischargeable condition.

In the award ball number requesting process, it is first determined whether or not the "award ball number request flag" is set. If the "award ball number request flag" has already been set, it is left as it is. The prize ball number requesting process ends. That is,
By the completion of the transmission of the prize ball number request (data transmission performed in the transmission process described later) for requesting the electrical control device 56 to output the number of prize balls discharged to the safe balls detected by the safe sensor 63 in the input process, Until the "award ball number request flag" is reset, the award ball number requesting operation based on another safe memory is restricted.

On the other hand, if the "prize number request flag" is not set, it is determined whether or not there is a safe memory based on the safe sphere detection in the input processing. If there is no safe memory, the award ball number requesting process is temporarily terminated, and if there is a safe memory, the "award ball number request flag" is set and "1" is subtracted from the stored value of the safe memory. By updating the safe memory.

In the discharge sound request processing, when performing the prize ball discharge operation or the ball rental discharge operation, the discharge sound output for identifying the game ball discharge operation is output by the electric control device 56.
"Discharge sound request flag" for requesting to.
In this discharge sound request process, it is first determined whether or not the "discharge sound request flag" is set, and if the "discharge sound request flag" has already been set, the discharge sound request process is ended as it is. .

On the other hand, if the "discharge sound request flag" is not set, it is determined whether or not the "prize ball start flag" is set based on the start of the prize ball discharging operation. If the "prize ball start flag" has been set, the "prize ball start flag" is reset and the "discharge sound request flag" is set, and the discharge sound request process is once ended. If the "award ball start flag" is not set, it is determined whether or not the "ball rental start flag" is set based on the start of the ball rental discharge operation, and the "ball rental ball" is determined. If the "start flag" has been set, the "ball rental start flag" is reset, the "discharge sound request flag" is set, and the discharge sound request process is temporarily ended. Thus, in the transmission process performed after the "discharge sound request flag" is set, the discharge sound request data suitable for the discharge operation is transmitted to the electric control device 56.

Further, in the discharge number display processing for visually displaying the number of game balls discharged by the prize ball discharging or the ball lending discharging operation, first, the "prize ball discharging flag" is set (prize ball discharging operation). Is being executed), and if the “in-prize ball flag” is set, the number-of-prize data indicating the number of prize balls to be discharged by the prize-ball discharging operation is displayed on the discharge number display 28. It is displayed and output. on the other hand,
If the "award ball flag" is not set,
Next, it is determined whether or not the "ball lending flag" is set (the ball lending discharging operation is being executed), and if the "ball lending flag" is set, the currently playing game ball is discharged. The fact that the operation is ball rental discharge is visually displayed on the discharge number display 28. The number of lent balls discharged by the lent-ball-discharging operation (for example, 25) may be displayed on the discharge number display 28.

In the memory display processing for visually displaying the memory about the number of unprocessed award balls discharged, it is first determined whether or not the "award ball flag" or the "ball rental flag" is set. When either one of the flags is set, the emission number display 28
Since the number of discharges and the like are displayed, the storage display process is once ended.

When neither the "award ball flag" nor the "a ball lending flag" is set, all the award ball numbers received from the electric control device 56 in the input processing are stored. When the discharge number storage is confirmed, and if there is no discharge number storage in any of the discharge number storage areas, the storage display process is once ended as it is. On the other hand, if there is a discharge number storage in any of the discharge number storage areas, the content of the discharge number storage is displayed on the discharge number display 28. That is, when the prize ball discharging operation is continued due to the existence of a plurality of discharging memories, the discharging number memory is displayed during the wait time provided between the discharging operations.

The discharge number indicator 28 (4
It is difficult to display the contents of discharge memory at once by means of the discharge number display means composed of a variable digit display.
For example, when the number of stored 5 prize balls is “3”, the number of stored 10 prize balls is “0”, and the number of stored 15 prize balls is “1”,
By scrolling the display of "5-3, 10-0, 15-1", it becomes possible to inform the player of the outline of the discharge memory content. If a discharge memory indicator is provided separately from the discharge number indicator 28, it is possible to perform a visible display of the discharge memory even during the wait time.

In the transmission process, it is first judged whether or not the data is being received from the electric control device 56. If the data is being received from the electric control device 56, the transmission process is once ended as it is. To do. If data is not being received, it is determined whether or not the "sending flag" is set. If the "sending flag" is not set, the discharge sound request data (when the "discharge sound request flag" is set (Data for requesting a discharge sound according to the discharge operation type and the number of discharges being executed) is set, and the "transmission flag" is set. If the "discharge sound request flag" is not set, then it is determined whether or not the "prize ball request flag" is set, and the "prize ball request flag" is determined.
If is set, the award ball number request data is set and the "transmitting flag" is set.

As described above, after the "transmission flag" is set, it is judged whether or not the transmission of the set data is completed, and if the transmission of all the data is not completed, the data transmission is completed. When the data transmission is completed, the "transmission flag" and the corresponding request flag ("discharge sound request flag" or "prize ball request flag") are reset. If neither the “discharge sound request flag” nor the “prize ball request flag” is set, there is no data to be transmitted to the electric control device 56, and the transmission process is terminated.

Further, in the emission control device 58 of the present embodiment, in order to back up various memories at the time of power failure, for example, the power failure detection circuit 114 is in a power failure state (voltage drop to the one-chip microcomputer 111). Based on the detection, the power interruption interrupt processing is performed. In this power outage interrupt process, various signals output from the emission control device 58 are turned off, and each processing state at the time of power outage detection (during power outage interrupt process) and the fact that a power outage has occurred are stored. Of. By doing so, when the power is restored, the emission control device 5
As shown in the general flow chart of No. 8, it is determined that the power is restored based on the memory of the occurrence of the power failure, and the stored processing states are restored. It should be noted that, at the time of activation of the power interruption interrupt processing, the waveform of the commercial AC power supply supplied to the gaming machine 1 is monitored not only when the detection output of the power failure detection circuit 114 is used, but a specific frequency (50 Hz) of the AC power supply. Alternatively, a state in which the maximum value (peak voltage) is not reached even after a predetermined time required for one cycle corresponding to 60 Hz) may be determined as a power failure occurrence, or the peak value (peak voltage) of the power supply waveform is It may be possible to determine that a power failure has occurred if the value is less than the predetermined value.

[0122]

As described above, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, the winning ball type detecting means detects the types of winning balls that have won the various winning areas provided in the game section of the game board, The number of discharged prize balls according to the type of the prize ball detected by the prize ball type detection unit is temporarily stored in the discharged prize ball number storage unit. Therefore, when a large amount of winning balls generated in a short time cannot be processed like a conventional game machine that temporarily stores winning balls, the stored winning balls overflow to the back side of the game board, It is possible to prevent a game inconvenience such as obstructing acceptance of winning balls from each winning area from occurring.

Further, based on the prize ball number memory stored in the prize ball discharge number storage means, the discharge operation control means controls the game ball discharge device to discharge the prize balls according to the prize ball number memory. Therefore, by providing the discharge number storage means and the discharge operation control means in the discharge control device of the gaming machine or the like, the prize ball number discharge processing based on the prize ball number storage can be realized. Therefore, even in the conventional game machine that temporarily stores the game balls, it is possible to realize the prize ball discharge processing based on the number of prize balls stored without changing the hardware configuration of the game machine, which is compatible with the conventional game machines. Can retain sex.

Moreover, since the memory contents stored and held in the prize ball discharge number storage means are protected by the memory protection means, the player is disadvantaged even in the case of an unexpected power failure or failure during the game. Without, you can surely get the prize ball according to the winning ball.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the game board.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the gaming machine.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the main frame in which the outline of the internal mechanism is in a visible state.

FIG. 5 is an I / O block diagram related to input / output of an electric control device.

FIG. 6 is an I / O block diagram related to input / output of the emission control device.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the functions related to the prize ball discharging operation of the electric control device and the discharge control device.

FIG. 8 is a general flowchart of the electric control device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a front stage of input processing of the electrical control device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a latter stage of input processing of the electrical control device.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a preceding stage of a voice output process of the electric control device.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a middle stage of a voice output process of the electrical control device.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a latter stage of a voice output process of the electrical control device.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a prize ball number transmission process of the electric control device.

FIG. 15 is a general flowchart of an emission control device.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a ball rental discharge process of the discharge control device.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing prize ball discharge processing of the discharge control device.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a wait timer setting process of the discharge control device.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an interrupt process of the discharge control device.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a front stage of input processing of the discharge control device.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a latter stage of the input process of the discharge control device.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a replenishing process of the discharge control device.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a discharge condition confirmation process of the discharge control device.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a prize ball number requesting process of the discharge control device.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a discharge sound request process of the discharge control device.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a discharge number display process of the discharge control device.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a storage display process of the discharge control device.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a transmission process of the emission control device.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a power failure interrupt process of the emission control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Gaming Machine 9 Gaming Department 10 Gaming Board 11 Winning Equipment 33 Variable Winning Device 33a Large Winning Port 38a 1st Special Drawing Starting Port 38b 2nd Special Drawing Starting Port 38c 3rd Special Drawing Starting Winning 41 Detection 42 42 2nd special figure start winning prize ball detector 43 3rd special figure starting prize winning ball detector 45 Big winning mouth prize winning ball detector 71 Game ball discharging device 117 Prize winning type detecting means 123 Second prize ball discharging number storing means 124 Discharging Operation control means 125 Memory protection means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A prize type detection means for detecting the type of a prize ball that has won a prize area provided in a game section of a game board, and a prize ball discharge according to the type of the prize ball detected by the prize type detection means. Based on the prize ball discharge number storage means for individually storing the number, the memory protection means for protecting the stored contents of the prize ball discharge number storage means, and the prize ball discharge number stored by the prize ball discharge number storage means, An ejecting operation control means for ejecting a prize ball from the gaming ball ejecting device, and a gaming machine. 2. A winning ball detecting means for collectively detecting balls that have won a prize in all winning areas, and the winning ball detected by the winning ball detecting means is compared with the winning ball type detected by the winning type detecting means. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the number of discharged prize balls thus determined is individually stored and held in the number of discharged prize balls storage means. 3. The prize ball discharge number storage means is provided with a plurality of storage areas predetermined for each prize ball discharge number, and the prize ball discharge number storage is set in a storage area corresponding to the prize ball discharge number. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the number of discharged prize balls can be individually stored and held. 4. The prize sphere discharge number storage means is provided with a prize sphere discharge number storage area creating means capable of arbitrarily creating a storage area for the number of prize sphere discharges, and a storage area corresponding to the number of prize balls is provided. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the number of discharged prize balls can be individually stored and held by being created by the prize ball number storage area creating means. 5. The discharge operation control means continuously performs the prize ball discharging operation to the game ball discharging device based on that the prize ball discharge number storage means holds a plurality of prize ball discharge number memories. When the discharge operation is performed, a wait time is generated between the discharge operation and the discharge operation.
The gaming machine according to claim 4. 6. The discharge operation control means is a discharge interval control means capable of variably controlling a wait time generated between discharge operations, and an unprocessed one stored in a prize ball discharge number storage means. Storage number determination means for determining the remaining number level of the number of stored minutes, and the discharge interval control means variably controls the wait time according to the remaining number level of the storage number determined by the storage number determination means. The gaming machine according to claim 5, characterized in that.