JPH067531A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obviate troubles about a game played with a magnetic card as a medium by providing a disabled play condition detecting means for detecting the disabled play condition to stop the lending operation of a ball lending device in the detection of the disabled play condition. CONSTITUTION:A pack key card system pachinko (Japanese pinball game) machine 1 incorporates in the side a card reader 31 as a card system ball lending machine. A ball lending button 24, card frequency indicator 25, etc., are provided on an indicating panel 14 disposed in a lower position of the front face of a game board, and the remaining amount of cards inserted into the card reader 31 is indicated on the card frequency indicator 25. The number of shot balls is subtracted from the number of remaining balls written on the card through the card reader 31, or the number of foul balls is added to the number of prize classes to play the game. Then, the operation of the pachinko machine 1 is monitored through a CPU, and when the defective pachinko machine 1 is detected, the ball lending operation of the card reader 31 is stopped.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine, and more specifically, it is provided with a game medium lending device (so-called ball lending machine), and stops the operation of the game medium lending device when the game machine malfunctions. Regarding gaming machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, for example, a pachinko machine is a typical game machine using balls as a game medium. Recently, in the process of playing a game with this game machine, the number of prize balls of a ball is large in a specific game state (for example, a big hit state, hereinafter referred to as a special game state), which attracts the interest of the player.

Recently, a card-type pachinko game system has been proposed, in which a game is played using a magnetic card as a medium. In this card-type conventional pachinko gaming system, for example, one pachinko gaming machine and one ball lending machine are arranged in pairs in an island facility of a gaming shop. Such a card system has an advantage that the player only has to carry around a card that is a storage medium and can reduce the time and effort to carry a large number of pachinko balls that easily fall.

[0004] A game store can also grasp the sales of pachinko game machines by the sales of ball lending machines paired with the game machines.

On the other hand, instead of a complete card-type pachinko gaming system, there is also a gaming machine that lends balls from a ball lending machine using a so-called prepaid card. The ball lending machine as described above is usually called "hamburger" or "sandwich".

[0006]

By the way, in the conventional pachinko gaming machine paired with the ball lending machine, when the gaming machine is in a malfunction state, the operation of the adjacent ball lending machine is Since it was not configured to stop, if you buy a ball with a ball lending machine and put it in the upper plate of the paired gaming machine, the gaming machine is malfunctioning (because it can not fire), remove the ball from the upper plate However, there is a problem that it is troublesome for the player. In addition, it causes a problem that the service for the hall is deteriorated for the hall. In other words, even if the pachinko gaming machine is out of order, the adjacent ball lending machine operates, so it was possible to purchase balls.

Further, the sales of ball rental machines do not correspond to the sales of pachinko gaming machines, and it is difficult for the hall to grasp the sales of pachinko gaming machines by the sales of ball rental machines. Therefore, even if the game machine breaks down, it is desired that the game machine and the ball lending machine have a desirable relationship of pairing.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the gaming machine is malfunctioning, the operation of the adjacent ball lending machine is stopped to avoid the troublesomeness of the game, and the desirable relationship is that the gaming machine and the ball lending machine are paired. The purpose is to provide a gaming machine that can be.

[0009]

To achieve the above object, a gaming machine according to the present invention (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 1), within the range of valuable data read by a card reader 31,
A game medium lending device (for example, a ball lending machine 300) for lending a game medium (for example, a pachinko ball) is provided, and a game machine that shoots the game medium to a game area (for example, a game board 13) to perform a predetermined game. In, a game impossible state detecting means (for example, CPU 201) for detecting a game impossible state of the gaming machine
And, when the game-disabled state detection means detects that the gaming machine is in the game-disabled state, a game medium lending stop means (for example, C
PU201) and are provided.

In a preferred mode, the game-disabled state detecting means (for example, the CPU 201) determines that the game is in a game-disabled state when a firing stop signal is input from the hall management device.

In the gaming machine, an accessory control circuit (for example, a gaming board control device 57) for controlling the gaming board 13 and an ejection control circuit (for example, an ejection control device 56) for controlling the ejection of winning balls and rental balls. ) Are provided independently of each other, data is transmitted and received by both, and prize ball discharge processing means 400 for performing prize ball discharge processing.
2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a game-disabled state detection means that determines that the game is in a game-disabled state when the exchange of data performed by the prize ball discharge processing means 400 is impossible.

The gaming machine includes an accessory control circuit (for example, a gaming board controller 57) for controlling the gaming board 13 and a discharge control circuit (for example, a discharging controller 56) for controlling the discharge of winning balls and rental balls. ) Are provided independently of each other, data is transmitted and received by both, and prize ball discharge processing means 400 for performing prize ball discharge processing.
The game-disabled state detecting means is characterized by determining that the game-disabled state is when the accessory control circuit (for example, the game board control device 57) is in an error state.

[0013]

According to the present invention, the operation of the gaming machine is monitored, and when it is detected that the gaming machine is defective, an error command is output to determine that the gaming machine is out of order, for example, when the prize ball data is poorly received. The lending device stops working.

Therefore, when the gaming machine is malfunctioning, it becomes impossible to purchase the balls from the adjacent game medium lending device, and there is no problem that the balls are mistakenly purchased and placed in the upper plate. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the troublesomeness for the player to pull out the balls from the upper plate.

In addition, a desirable relationship of a pair of a game machine and a game medium lending device is established, and the sales of the game medium lending device correspond to the sales of the corresponding pachinko gaming machine. For the hall, sales of the game medium lending device result in pachinko. It becomes possible to grasp the sales of gaming machines.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 27 show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko game machine of a packy card system. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the entire pachinko machine 1. The pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment is usually of a type that incorporates a card type ball lending machine (that is, a ball lending machine) as a game medium lending device arranged on the side of the pachinko machine 1. There is. Therefore, the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment is installed in the hall in such a manner that the gaming machine and the ball lending machine are paired.

Front Mechanism of Pachinko Machine The pachinko machine 1 has a frame-shaped front frame 11 as a portion visible on the front side, and a metal frame (glass frame) 12 which is arranged in an opening of the frame-shaped front frame 11 and supports glass. And the game board 13,
It has a front display panel 14 and a front operation panel 15 below the front panel 14. The frame-shaped front frame 11 is openably / closably supported by a wooden frame 16 for installing the pachinko machine 1, and similarly, the frame 12 is openably / closably supported by the frame-shaped front frame 11.

One end of the front display panel 14 is openably and closably supported by the frame-shaped front frame 11, and the front display panel 14 is formed in a curved shape such that the front side is slightly raised, and the front display panel 14 has a pachinko ball as a prize ball. A top plate 21 for receiving balls is formed, and a card discharge button (return button) 22, a ball lending indicator 23, a purchase button (ball lending button) 24, a card frequency display (card balance) An indicator) 25 and a ball ejection push button 26 are provided.

First, the card frequency indicator 25 displays, for example, 7
It is composed of 3 rows using the light emitting diode of the segment,
The balance of the packy card inserted into the card insertion slot 32 of the card reader 31 as a ball lending machine, which will be described later, is displayed in units of frequency up to 100's. In frequency units, one degree is 100
Corresponding to a circle, the remaining frequency is displayed to the player by calculating degree / 100 yen. Therefore, for example, when a 3000 yen packy card is inserted, it is displayed on the card frequency indicator 25 as 30 degrees.

In this embodiment, the card frequency indicator 25
In the above description, 7-segment light-emitting diodes are used to form three columns, but the present invention is not limited to this, and dot-LEDs, liquid crystals, fluorescent display tubes and the like may be used.

The purchase button 24 is a unit for discharging a pachinko ball, which will be described later, on the back of the pachinko machine 1 in units of once within the range of the balance of the packy card inserted in the card insertion slot 32. The switch that is pushed by the player in order to discharge and rent it from the player. In this case, the display of the state that the pachinko ball can be lent out is dot L
This is performed by the ball lending indicator 23 including an ED.
If the pachinko balls can be lent out, the entire purchase button 24 may be bright.

On the other hand, if the pachinko balls are not ready for lending, the ball lending indicator 23 is turned off, and even if the purchase button 24 is pressed, the pachinko balls are not discharged for lending. When the purchase button 24 is pressed once, only pachinko balls (for example, 25 balls) corresponding to one time are rented out and supplied to the upper plate 21. If you press it twice, pachinko balls equivalent to twice will be lent out.

The card ejection button 22 is for pulling out the packy card inserted in the card insertion slot 32 to the outside from the card insertion slot 32. In this embodiment, this button is used when the player wants to end the game. By pressing, the packy card is pulled out again from the card insertion slot 32. The player can pick up the withdrawn pucky card and freely choose whether to start the game on another pachinko machine or to end the game for the time being. The ball lending indicator 23 is not limited to the dot LED, but may be an elongated display lamp, for example. The ball discharge push button 26 is for opening and closing the passage connecting the balls of the upper plate 21 to the ball storage plate 33, which will be described later.

The front operation panel 15 is formed with a card insertion opening 32 of a card reader 31 (see FIG. 2) on the left side thereof, and is formed in such a shape that the center side of the front surface is projected forward. Inside is a ball storage tray (sauce) 3
It is 3. The card reader 31 has a structure in which the main body is embedded inside the front operation panel 15, and the card insertion slot 32 appears on the front surface. The ball storage tray 33 has a role of receiving a prize ball when the upper tray 21 is full of pachinko balls, and is for temporarily storing balls. Further, the front operation panel 15 is provided with a ball pulling lever 34 and a firing operation knob 35 of the firing device.

The card reader 31 is connected to a card reader control circuit 31A as shown in FIG. 2 which will be described later, and the card reader control circuit 31A is connected to the card reader 3.
1 is controlled. The card reader 31 reads the data of the packy card and outputs the data necessary for ball lending to the discharge control device 56 (see FIG. 2), and the card reader control circuit 31A also sends the data necessary for ball lending to the management device. To send.

The card reader 31 is a pachinko machine 1.
By arranging it on the lower side, the player's convenience can be improved. Further, the card reader 31 can be detached from the pachinko machine 1 and separated from the pachinko machine 1, and can be replaced when repaired.
At least the pachinko machine 1 and the card reader 31 are not connected in terms of signal, so that the game cannot be played. Here, the card reader 31, the card reader control circuit 31A, the card insertion slot 32, and the ejection control device 56 described later constitute the ball lending machine 300 as a whole.

As the card insertion slot 32, one capable of displaying the acceptance of the card is used. For example, a card acceptance indicator 36 is provided on the card insertion slot 32, and the card acceptance indicator 36 comprises a light emitting diode or the like. Indicates that acceptance of is valid. Here, the "paqy card" refers to a "prepaid card" dedicated to pachinko games. Therefore, in this embodiment, a game can be started with a necessary ball secured by inserting a pucky card into the card insertion slot 32 in addition to bringing in a pachinko ball.

The ball drop lever 34 is for pulling out the balls stored in the ball storage tray 33 to the outside downward. When the ball drop lever 34 is moved to the left, for example, the ball storage tray 33.
The bottom part of the bottom part is open so that the ball can be discharged downward. The firing operation knob 35 is for operating a firing device that causes one of the pachinko balls lined up in a row to be fired one by one in the firing position into the game area on the front surface of the game board 13.

On the other hand, in the upper part of the frame-shaped front frame 11 of the pachinko machine 1, from the left side, a ball discharge indicator 41 that lights up when prize balls are discharged and rental balls are discharged, a big hit indicator 42 that lights when a big hit, and a pachinko machine. The machine 1 is provided with a completion lamp 43 which is turned on when a stopped state occurs.

The metal frame 12 is openably and closably supported by the front frame 11, and is normally locked to the front frame 11 by a locking device by inserting a key into the locking hole 44 and operating the key. When the metal frame 12 is opened, by inserting a predetermined key into the locking hole 44 and rotating it, the locked state of the locking device is released and the metal frame 12 is opened.

The game board 13 is made of, for example, wooden veneer, and the front side thereof is a game area. The game area is a part that determines whether it is out or safe while dropping the launched pachinko ball from above, and the ball enters the winning opening of various prize equipment and variable winning devices provided in the game area and it is effectively safe. In such a case, a predetermined number of prize balls are discharged from the ball discharging device described later and are supplied to the upper plate 21. Further, even if the ball is fired by operating the firing operation handle 35, when it becomes a foul, the pachinko ball returns to the firing position or is discharged to the ball storage tray 33.

The game area on the game board 13 can have any structure, for example, there are so-called first type, second type, and third type. Anything can be applied to the present invention. In this embodiment, those belonging to the first type are adopted.

Back Mechanism of Pachinko Machine Next, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the back mechanism of the pachinko machine 1. In FIG. 2, as a main back mechanism of the pachinko machine 1, a storage tank (upper tank) 51, a guide gutter 52, an external terminal board 53, a ball discharging device 54, a ball punching device 55, a discharging control device 56, a game board. There are a control device 57, a safe ball collecting gutter 58, a safe ball payout device 59, a firing control device 60, a base frame body 61 of a back mechanism board, and a speaker 62. 6
Reference numeral 3 denotes various signal lines, and numbers of other signal lines are omitted.

The base frame 61 is made of synthetic resin (for example, ABS.
It is formed of an integrally molded product made of resin) and is attached to a metal frame (not shown) fixed to the back side of the front frame 11 of the pachinko machine 1. Then, various unit parts such as the storage tank 51 and the guide gutter 5 are provided on the base frame 61.
2, external terminal board 53, ball ejecting device 54, ball removing device 5
5, a discharge control device 56, a game board control device 57, etc. are attached (for example, fixed by a one-touch claw member), these various unit parts and the base frame 61.
Are collectively referred to as a back mechanism board 70.

The ball discharging device 54 and the ball removing device 5
5 is detachably attached at a predetermined position on the back mechanism board 70. In addition, a cover (not shown) that integrally covers these parts from the guide gutter 52 to the ball discharging device 54 and the ball removing device 55 in the mounted state is provided. 71a, 7
Reference numerals 1b and 71c denote locking holes for attaching the cover.

The storage tank 51 is for storing the balls before being discharged in advance, is formed in an elongated bottomed box shape, has a volume capable of storing a certain amount of pachinko balls, and is made of a resin material. There is. The storage tank 51 is formed in such a shape that its bottom portion inclines downward as it moves to the left in the figure, and narrows down slightly, and the pachinko balls are smoothly moved to the left by their own weight.

The shortage of the number of balls in the storage tank 51 is detected by the replenishment sensor 71 provided at the bottom of the tank, and when the number is short, the balls are replenished from the island facility. The balls in the storage tank 51 are guided by a guide gutter (ball guide means) 52 and discharged by a ball discharging device 54. The guide gutter 52 guides the balls discharged from the storage tank 51. One end of the guide gutter 52 is connected to the bottom opening of the storage tank 51, and the other end has a structure that gently inclines downward toward the discharge downstream side of the balls. A ball discharging device 54 is provided below the end of the ball discharging device.

"Detailed structure of the guide gutter unit" The part of the guide gutter 52 shown in FIG. 2, that is, the part which gently inclines from the bottom opening of the storage tank 51 and leads to the ball discharging device 54 guides the balls. It is a guide gutter unit 520 that operates. As shown in the exploded perspective view enlarged in FIG. 3, the guide gutter unit 520 has an upstream portion (guide path: chute) 520A that gently flows down the balls while rectifying the balls in two rows, and the balls meander in the vertical direction. A flow dividing wall 81 that defines a parallel path 80 is provided in the gutter of the upstream section 520A. The height of the flow dividing wall 81 gradually increases toward the downstream of the gutter (finally rises to a height equal to or larger than the diameter of the pachinko ball).
Is formed as.

The downstream portion 520B is formed by assembling the case-like first and second flow path forming members 82 and 83 with the substrate 84 sandwiched therebetween, and a parallel path 80 of the upstream portion 520A is formed on both sides of the substrate 84 inside. A vertical meandering path 86 is formed that connects via a U-turn path 85. Downstream part 520
As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), inside B, one end has a shaft 87 erected on the gutter immediately before the U-turn path 85 as a fulcrum, and the other end is free to swing in the vertical direction. A movable piece (half-end sphere detection member) 88 and an optical detector (ball detection sensor) 89 for detecting a ball breakage state in the trough from the swing of the movable piece 88 are provided. In addition, T shows a pachinko ball.

As the optical detector 89, a gate type optical sensor which allows the movable piece 88 to enter is used.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the movable piece 88 is pushed up into the gate type optical sensor due to the continuous presence (or continuous movement) of the pachinko balls T, it turns off, while FIG.
When the movable piece 88 descends into the gutter due to the interruption of the flow of balls as shown in FIG. That is, one end of the movable piece 88 hangs down in the gutter, and the suspended one end is pushed up by the movement of the ball, whereby the optical detector 89 is shielded from light and the presence or absence of the ball is detected.

As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the optical detector 89 is mounted side by side on a common wiring board 90. Since this wiring board 90 is installed at a predetermined position of the downstream portion 520B, the flow path on one side is formed. The component member 83 is provided with a mounting hole 91 and a lid piece 92 thereof. A common connector 93 is attached to the wiring board 90, and the output of the optical detector 89 is taken out through the connector 93. The movable piece 88, the optical detector 89, the wiring board 90, and the connector 93 collectively constitute hemisphere detection means 94.

As the ball detection sensor, an optical detector 89 may be used as in this embodiment to take advantage of being less susceptible to noise, but the present invention is not limited to this and other types may be used. A sensor may be used.

As the mounting position of the movable piece 88, for example, when the optical detector 89 is turned on by the lowering of the movable piece 88, one of the balls to be rented as a discharge standby ball is provided on the downstream side of the movable piece 88 (in the gutter of the two systems). It is set so that pachinko balls more than the number of discharged pieces (for example, 25 pieces) remain. In this embodiment, at least 30 balls are set to remain. That is, the half-end ball detecting means 94 is arranged upstream of the discharge cam 113 (flow-down blocking member) described later in the ball discharging device 54 by at least 30 balls. As a result, one rental ball (for example, 25 yen for 100 yen)
Will be guaranteed.

Reference numeral 95 is a ball leveling plate (guide plate) for adjusting the weight of the ball from the upstream portion 520A by one step. The ball leveling plate 95 is swingably supported in the vertical direction via a shaft 96 near the entrance of the downstream portion 520B, and is provided with a weight 97 on the tip side that extends in a slightly warped manner so as to cover the parallel path 80. ing.

The meandering paths 86 are adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction with the substrate 84 interposed therebetween, and are formed so as to be connected to the lower end portions which are opened in a state where they are bent differently and are offset to the left and right. A shutter 98 for preventing balls from falling is provided at the lower end of each meandering path 86. The shutter 98 is formed by forming one flat plate into a stepped shape corresponding to the positional relationship between the two meandering paths 86 on a plane, and is supported in the lower end opening portion so as to be slidable (open / close) in the front-rear direction. The shutter 98 is biased to the closed position by the spring 99, and the ball discharging device 54
When connecting with, it can be pushed into the open position against the biasing force of the spring 99. The spring 99 is supported by the lid member 100.

Therefore, when the guiding gutter unit 520 is detached and separated from the ball discharging device 54, if there is a continuous ball in the meandering path 86, the shutter 98 pushes the balls apart to close them, Is a guide gutter unit 520
Prevent it from falling from.

The two parallel rows 80 of the upstream portion 520A are provided with conductive metal plates 101 which also serve as reinforcement of the road surface from the position facing the opening of the storage tank 51 to the downstream side. Clips 102 to 104 can be inserted into predetermined locations in the upstream portion 520A of the guide trough unit 520, and clips 105 can be inserted into the downstream portion 520B, and these clips 102 to 105 can be inserted into corresponding locations on the back mechanism board 70. The upstream portion 520A and the downstream portion 520B are detachably fixed to the back mechanism board 70 by inserting and locking them in the.

As described above, the guide trough unit 520 has two ball passages, which allows a large number of balls to be discharged in a short time. Further, such a two-row structure is the same in the inside of the ball discharging device 54 and the ball removing device 55.

Next, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a mounting state of the ball discharging device 54, the ball removing device 55 and the safe ball paying-out device 59. Each device 54, 55, 59 is one-touch with respect to the mounting base 1111. It is fixed by the claw member. The mounting base 111 is made of resin, for example, and is fixed to a metal frame on the back side of the game board 13 (that is, made of veneer).

The ball discharging device (corresponding to a so-called stopper type prize ball discharging device) 54 is mainly composed of a discharging solenoid 112, a discharging cam 113, a discharging sensor 114 and a relay board 115, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. And a discharge passage (corresponding to the lower end of the guide gutter 52) 1
16 are formed. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the ball discharging device 54 seen from the side, and another passage (not shown) similar to the discharge passage 116 is formed in parallel. Therefore, the ball discharging device 54 has two discharge passages inside.

In FIG. 6, the discharge solenoid (corresponding to the drive source of the downflow prevention member) 112 is not energized, and a part of the discharge cam (corresponding to the downflow prevention member) 113 projects into the discharge passage 116 to prevent the discharge of the balls. It is in the state of doing. On the other hand, when the discharge solenoid 112 is turned on, the discharge cam 113 is pulled out from the discharge passage 116, and the balls that have been blocked until now are discharged downward through the discharge passage 116.

At this time, the discharged balls are detected by the discharge sensor (discharged ball detecting means) 114, and the detection signal is sent to the discharge control device 56 via the relay board 115. In this case, the discharge solenoid 112 and the discharge cam 1
The unit 13 controls the discharge of the two-row balls with one unit.
Reference numeral 117 denotes a bounce prevention member that prevents the ejection cam 113 from bouncing.

As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 7, the ball punching device 55 has a flow path switching solenoid (driving gate driving source) 121 and a switching valve (ball cutting gate) 122 as main components. A discharge passage 123 is formed inside. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the punching device 55 as seen from the side, and another passage (not shown) similar to the discharge passage 123.
Are formed in parallel. Therefore, the punching device 55
Has two discharge passages inside.

The discharge passage 123 branches in the middle and is divided into a ball supply passage 124 and a beading passage 125. In addition,
T indicates a pachinko ball. FIG. 7 shows the flow path switching solenoid 12
1 is not energized, the switching valve 122 is pulled out from the discharge passage 123 to block the beading passage 125, and the balls T flow toward the ball supply passage 124 side and are supplied to the upper plate 21 as shown by the arrow. It is possible.

On the other hand, when the flow path switching solenoid 121 is turned on, the switching valve 122 is displaced so as to block the discharge passage 123, the balls T flow to the side of the ball removing passage 125 and are discharged to the hole removing passage of the hole. . That is, the balls T flow to the side of the beading passage 125 and are collected to the side of the hall. In this case, the passage switching solenoid 121 and the switching valve 122 simultaneously control passage switching of two balls by one unit.

The safe ball payout device 59, as shown in the sectional view of FIG.
31, a first safe cam 132, a second safe cam 133, and a non-contact type safe sensor 134, and a ball passage 135 is formed inside.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the safe solenoid 131 is not energized and a part of the second safe cam 133 projects into the ball passage 135 to prevent the safe balls from being discharged and hold them. The held ball (the first safe ball in the figure) is at the position of the safe sensor 134, and is detected as a safe ball by the photo sensor type safe sensor 134. At this time, the first safe cam 132 is pulled out from the ball passage 135 and is not in contact with the ball.

On the other hand, when the safe solenoid 131 is turned on, first, the second safe cam 133 is pulled out from the ball passage 135 and the safe ball (that is, the first safe ball) that has been held until now is discharged to one. At the same time, a part of the first safe cam 132 temporarily projects into the ball passage 135 so that the safe ball (the second safe ball) following it is not discharged.

Next, the second safe cam 133 again projects into the ball passage 135, and at the same time, the first safe cam 132
Is drawn out from the ball passage 135. As a result, the second safe ball comes into contact with the second safe cam 133 and is held, and the third safe ball comes into contact with the second safe ball and continues. That is, each time the safe solenoid 131 is turned on, only one ball T moves and is ejected, and immediately after that, the next ball is held and stopped. By temporarily holding the safe balls in this way, it is possible to confirm that the safe balls actually occurred due to winning, and it is possible to prevent fraud and avoid trouble with the player.

The external terminal board 53 serves as a relay for inputting an AC power source and for exchanging signals with the hall management device. The safe ball gathering gutter 58 is provided so as to surround almost the central portion of the back side of the pachinko machine 1 (a range corresponding to the game area on the front side), and the safe balls that have flowed into the respective winning openings arranged in the game area (winning prize). The balls are gathered in one place and are guided to the safe ball payout device 59 described above through a safe ball collection gutter (not shown).

Firing controller 60 controls the operation of the firing device. The discharge control device (corresponding to a discharge control circuit) 56 performs various controls necessary for discharging balls, and in the present embodiment also performs various controls necessary for lending balls in a ball lending machine. The game board control device (corresponding to the accessory control circuit) 57 performs various controls necessary for executing the game on the game board 13. The speaker 62 is for notifying a sound effect necessary for the game (for example, a sound effect caused by discharging a ball), and generates various sounds according to the number of discharged balls, the prize mode and the rental of the ball to notify the player. .

Here, in the present embodiment, a game board control device 57 for controlling the game board 13 and a discharge control device 56 for controlling the discharge of winning balls and rental balls are provided independently of each other, and data of both are stored. The prize balls are discharged by giving and receiving. The game board controller 57 and the discharge controller 5
6 constitutes a prize ball discharge processing means 400.

Next, FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a control system in the pachinko machine 1. In FIG. 9, this control system is roughly divided into a CPU 201 that performs control necessary for pachinko games and ball lending, and processing that receives various information signals and performs waveform shaping or A / D conversion as necessary. An input filter 202 that goes and outputs to the CPU 201,
A crystal 203 for engraving a basic frequency of an operation clock of the CPU 201, a driver 204 for driving a control signal from the CPU 201 to generate various drive signals and outputting them to each display unit, the CPU 201, an input filter 202. , A power supply unit 205 that supplies necessary power to the driver 204, a sensor group that detects various states related to a pachinko game and outputs necessary data to the input filter 202, and an actuator that is driven by a signal from the driver 204. It is composed of a group and.

The CPU 201, the input filter 202, the crystal 203 and the driver 204 realize the function of the emission control device 56, and are mounted by a board unit including a microcomputer. Then, the board unit of the microcomputer exchanges control signals and data with the card reader 31, the island facility, the management device of the game shop, and the like.

The input filter 202 has an output signal from the discharge sensor 1 (that is, one discharge sensor 114 of the ball discharge device 54, and may be hereinafter referred to as a discharge sensor 114a), and the discharge sensor 2 (that is, a ball discharge). The other discharge sensor 114 of the device 54 is referred to as the discharge sensor 1 hereinafter.
14b) output signal, safe sensor 1
34 output signal, half-end sensor (half-end sphere detection means, hereinafter simply referred to as half-end sensor) 94 output signal, prize ball data from prize ball data reception signal line 211, game board control device 57 and discharge control device 56. Sync signal to synchronize with
A ball lending request signal from the card reader 31, a ball lending unit signal, an overflow state detection signal from the overflow sensor 212, an output signal from the replenishment sensor 71, a ball removal signal from the ball removal sensor signal line 213, and a stop signal line 214. And a signal from the reset switch 215 for resetting the operation of the pachinko machine 1.

The functions of the discharge sensors 114a and 114b, the safe sensor 134, the half-edge sensor 94, the replenishment sensor 71, etc. are as described above. The ball-punching signal is output from a ball-punching sensor (not shown). The ball-punching sensor is used by an operator of the game store to start the ball-punching process, that is, an operation hole provided on the front of the pachinko machine 1. It is detected that an operation of inserting a punching rod (not shown) into the is performed.

The prize sphere data output from the accessory device includes the number of prize spheres in the big hit state, the number of discharges when the start winning hole is won, and the like. For example, 7 or 15
This is the data for individual prize balls. The ball lending request signal is a signal when the player inserts a packy card into the card reader 31 and requests lending of balls, and the ball lending unit signal is a signal in which 100 yen is one unit, for example, a purchase button (ball It is output each time the lending button 24 is pressed once (that is, once).

Discharge solenoid 1 from driver 204
(That is, one discharging solenoid 1 of the ball discharging device 54)
12, the discharge solenoid 112a may be referred to hereinafter), the discharge solenoid 2 (that is, the other discharge solenoid 112 of the ball discharging device 54, which may be referred to as the discharge solenoid 112b hereinafter),
A control signal is output to the safe solenoid 131, a ball-punching solenoid (that is, a passage switching solenoid) 121, various lamps 220 arranged on the front surface of the game board 13, and the illegal signal line 221 is illegal. The signal outputs a prize ball data transmission signal to the prize ball data transmission signal line 222, and further outputs a ball lending end signal and a launch stop signal.

The illegal signal is output to the management device of the amusement store and used for management, the prize ball data transmission signal is output to the game board control device 57, and the ball lending end signal is output to the card reader control circuit 31A. Further, the firing stop signal is output to the firing control device 60. The CPU 201 has a function as a game-disabled state detection means and a game medium lending stop means.

Next, the procedure of various controls performed by the CPU 201 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The control by the CPU 201 is performed by the pachinko machine 1
There is a main routine which is started at the same time when the power is turned on and repeatedly executes the process as long as the power is turned on, and an interrupt process (INT) which is executed every 1 ms.

Main Routine First, the main routine (so-called general flow) will be described with reference to FIG. This routine is repeatedly performed after the power of the pachinko machine 1 is turned on as described above.

When the main routine is activated, first, in step S1, initialization is performed. In the initial setting, for example, RAM
Are cleared, flags are set, output ports are reset, and subroutines are initialized. Next, an output process is performed in step S2. In the output process, for example, the data set in each subroutine is output to the output port, and the switching signal is output to the solenoid. Next, in step S3, fraud monitoring processing is performed. In the fraud monitoring process, the movement of the balls other than the discharge operation by the prize balls and the rental balls is constantly monitored. Details of the fraud monitoring process will be described later in a subroutine.

In step S4, it is determined which of step S5 to step S9 the process is to be performed in accordance with the currently set process number (process NO.), And the process proceeds to the corresponding step. For example, if the same process as the previous routine needs to be continued, the process number is set to continue that process, and if another process is required, the process number is set to proceed to another step. Is set, the determination of the division step is performed.

In step S5, normal processing for managing prize balls, rental balls, etc. is performed. In step S6, a discharge process for executing a prize ball payout process is performed. In step S7, a ball removing process for removing balls from the storage tank 51 is performed. In step S8, after the prize balls have been paid out, a safe ball payout process for paying out the winning balls to the collecting side is performed. Furthermore, in step S9, as a process when it is determined that the prize ball is illegal in step S3, an ejecting device illegal process for converting the passage of the prize ball to the collecting side is performed.

When any one of steps S5 to S9 is completed, the routine returns to step S2, and the same loop is repeated. In this way, in the main routine, the processing of the corresponding steps is sequentially executed.

Interrupt Processing (INT) FIG. 11 shows an interrupt processing (INT) program executed by the CPU 201 every 1 ms. This interrupt processing is performed based on the interrupt signal between the main routines (FIG. 10). When this interrupt processing is started, the processing of the main routine described above is temporarily interrupted, and after the interrupt processing is completed. The main routine process is restarted from the step where it was interrupted again.

In step S12, the register used in the main routine is saved, and in step S14, the timer generating the basic time for generating the interrupt signal is set. Here, the timer is set to 1 ms. Next, an input process is performed in step S16. In the input processing, logic conversion from various detection sensors and switches and chattering prevention processing are performed.

Next, in step S18, timer processing is performed to create a reference time such as the time required in the main routine or the set time used in the subroutine.
For example, if a flag (timer flag) is set every 1 ms, it is possible to determine whether or not there is a flag in the main routine or the subroutine, and to count the flag to obtain the required time in 1 ms units.

Next, in step S20, it is determined whether or not the number of pachinko balls before being discharged is equal to or greater than the number of lending balls or prize balls of at least one unit (30 in this embodiment) in the guide gutter 52. Half-end sensor monitoring processing for monitoring is performed.
In step S22, a replenishment process is performed to monitor whether or not there are more than a predetermined amount of balls in the storage tank 51. Step S24
Then, overflow processing is performed to monitor whether the ball storage tray 33 has overflowed. In step S26, the discharge sensors 1 and 2 for monitoring whether the discharge sensor 112a and the discharge sensor 112b of the ball discharge device 54 have balls.
Performs monitoring processing with balls.

The above steps S20 to S26
As a result, the number of balls before discharge is equal to or larger than the number of lendable balls and the number of prize balls per unit in the guide gutter 52, and a predetermined amount or more of balls are stored in the storage tank 51 (the discharge of balls continuously There is no problem), the ball storage tray 33 does not overflow (the balls can be discharged into the tray), and the balls are continuously present in the two passages of the ball discharging device 54. Each condition is determined.

At least three of these conditions, that is, the number of balls before discharge corresponding to the number of lending balls and the number of prize balls of one unit or more are present in the guide gutter 52, and the ball storage tray 33 overflows. If all the conditions that the balls are continuously present in the two passages of the ball discharging device 54 are satisfied,
In this embodiment, the necessary and sufficient condition for starting the discharge process, that is, the condition for starting the discharge of the balls is satisfied. Therefore, even if the balls are paid out according to the prize ball data signal or the ball lending request signal, the discharge of a certain number of balls is guaranteed.

Therefore, in step S28, the process for determining the discharge start condition as described above is performed. This is a process that takes the AND logic of the above three input monitoring conditions,
It is to judge whether or not the condition for starting the discharge of balls is satisfied. When the discharge start condition is satisfied, a flag (condition completion flag) is set, and by determining this flag, it is determined in each routine to be described later whether or not to start ball discharge.

Then, in step S30, it is determined whether or not the reset switch 215 is turned on. The reset switch 215 resets the operation of the pachinko machine 1 and initializes it, and is reset, for example, when the pachinko machine 1 is inspected or repaired by a staff member in the hall. When the reset switch 215 is input, the process proceeds to step S32, and all the control devices of the pachinko machine 1 including the CPU 201 are initialized (initial setting).

As a result, for example, the recovery from the firing stop is performed or the prize ball data is cleared. Specifically, since the ball lending machine and the gaming machine are integrated, the firing of the ball is stopped if either of them breaks down, but the returning means at that time is the operation of the reset switch 215, which is so-called forced operation. It will be reset.

Then, in step S34, the process number (process NO.) Currently set is returned to the normal process, and the process proceeds to step S36. This is because the forced reset has been performed, so that the main routine starts from the normal process. On the other hand, if there is no input from the reset switch in step S30, steps S32 and S34 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S36.

In step S36, it is determined whether or not a stop signal (corresponding to a firing stop signal from the management device) is input from the management device. The stop signal is output by the hole management device when the pachinko machine 1 finishes the game by playing a predetermined number of prize balls, and for example, when a big hit occurs, it is changed once. Is output. Also, for example, if it is a second-class gaming machine, [3000
This is the case when the [Piece] balls are discharged as prize balls. If there is a stop signal, step S38
Then, a stop signal is sent to the firing control device 60 to stop the firing. As a result, the ball does not fire even if the firing control knob 35 is operated.

Then, in step S40, the condition completion flag is cleared. As a result, even if the prize ball data or the ball lending request signal is input, the condition completion flag for determining whether or not the condition for starting the discharge of the balls is not set, so the balls are not discharged.

[Processing when Game is Unavailable] In the present embodiment, when the firing stop signal is input from the hall management device, it is determined that the game is unavailable. Then, in this case, by clearing the condition completion flag, the ball lending operation is not performed regardless of the input of the ball lending request signal. That is, the operation of the discharge control circuit 56 is stopped. As a result, it becomes impossible to purchase the balls from the ball lending machine 300 built in the pachinko machine 1, and it is possible to eliminate the problem that the player mistakenly buys the balls and puts them in the upper plate 21. As a result, it is possible to avoid the player's annoyance of pulling out the balls from the upper plate 21.

On the other hand, if the stop signal is not input in step S36, the process jumps from step S38 and step S40 to step S42. In step S42, the register saving is canceled and the process returns to the step of the original main routine. Therefore, the main routine temporarily suspended is restarted after exiting the interrupt processing.

Fraud Monitoring Process FIG. 12 is a subroutine of the fraud monitoring process executed in step S3 of the main routine. The fraud is a state in which balls are discharged (moved) other than prize balls and rental balls, for example. First, in step S300, it is determined whether or not the processing number of the main routine is discharge processing. That is, in the main routine, it is determined whether or not the discharging process is currently being performed. In the case of the discharge process, since the prize balls or the balls according to the rental ball request have been discharged, it is determined that it is not illegal and the routine of this time is ended and the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, when the processing number of the main routine is not the discharge processing, there is a possibility that the balls may be moved for some reason other than the discharge of the prize balls or the balls in response to the rental ball request. In S302, it is determined whether or not there is an input edge of the discharge sensor 1. Emission sensor 1
Signal has been input, and if there is an edge change that rises from "L" to "H" by positive logic, it is determined that there is an input edge, and the ball ejecting device 54 moves the ball (for example, a normal ball). It is assumed that there was a ball movement due to discharge or fraud. At this time, the change of the input edge is
It is stored in the memory of U201.

If there is an input edge, first the discharge sensor 1 input edge is cleared in step S304, and the fraud monitoring counter 1 is incremented in step S306. Here, the input edge of the discharge sensor 1 is cleared by returning to the main routine and then executing the illegality monitoring processing subroutine again in the next loop so that the illegal state continues through the same steps. Because it will be. Therefore, the discharge sensor 1 input edge is cleared each time this subroutine is executed, but since the illegality monitoring counter 1 is immediately incremented after clearing in step S306, there is no discharge sensor 1 input edge. This fact is continuously stored, and the number of changes of this input edge corresponds to the number of movements of the ball.

Next, in step S308, it is determined whether or not the fraud monitoring counter 1 = 5. The determination of the illegality monitoring counter 1 = 5 is made by, for example, when the balls are discharged from the ball discharging device 54, the discharge cam 113 is moved by the movement of the balls.
To avoid detecting that there is a plurality of balls discharged despite the fact that the discharge sensor 114 is affected by the bounce and one ball is discharged due to the bounce. If the value of the fraud monitoring counter 1 does not become at least [5], the fraud determination accuracy is improved by not determining fraud.

In step S308, fraud monitoring counter 1 =
When it is 5, it is determined that the illegal ball movement is performed, the process jumps to step S318, the current process number is saved in the register, and the process number to be executed in the main routine is further processed in the subsequent step S320. Change to and return to the main routine. As a result, in the main routine, the ejection device fraud process is immediately executed to deal with the fraud. Here, as an illegal mode,
For example, an act of inserting a piano wire, a stick, or the like into the back surface of the pachinko machine 1 and displacing the discharge cam 113 of the ball discharge device 54 can be considered.

On the other hand, when the illegality monitoring counter 1 is not [5] in step S308, at least the ball ejecting device 54
It is determined that there is no illegal ball movement in one of the passages, and the process proceeds to step S310. Note that step S3
If there is no input edge of the discharge sensor 1 in 02, the process skips steps S304, S306, and S308, and proceeds to step S310.

Similarly, in step S310, the discharge sensor 2
If there is no input edge, it is determined that there is no injustice, and the process returns to the main routine. If there is an input edge, first, step S31
The discharge sensor 2 input edge is cleared at 2 and the fraud monitoring counter 2 is incremented at step S314.
Here, the reason why the discharge sensor 2 input edge is cleared is
The same as above.

Next, in step S316, it is determined whether or not the fraud monitoring counter 2 = 5, and the fraud monitoring counter 2
When = 5, it is determined that an illegal ball movement has been performed, the process proceeds to step S318, and similarly, processing for dealing with fraud is performed. On the other hand, when the fraud monitoring counter 2 is not [5],
At least in the other passage of the ball discharging device 54, it is determined that there is no illegal movement of the ball, and the process returns to the main routine. In this manner, the fraud monitoring process is performed for each of the two passages of the ball ejecting device 54, whether or not the balls are ejected (moved) other than the prize balls and the rental balls.

Normal Processing FIG. 13 is a subroutine of the normal processing executed in step S5 of the main routine. First, step S500
It is determined whether or not there is a wait flag (is standing). The weight flag is for waiting (waiting) until a predetermined number (30) of balls are aligned in the guide gutter 52 after the balls are discharged from the ball discharging device 54 in response to a prize ball or a rental ball request. This is a flag for setting a wait time. The weight flag is set in the last step of the discharging process (see step S644). If there is a wait flag in step S500, step S500
Proceeding to step 502, wait timer setting processing is performed. This provides a corresponding wait time.

Next, in step S504, a discharge confirmation process is performed. In this discharge confirmation processing, it is confirmed whether or not there is a ball lending request and a prize ball data signal, and details thereof will be described in a later-described subroutine (see FIG. 18). In the discharge confirmation process, the discharge flag or the ball lending flag is finally set. Next, in step S506, it is determined whether or not there is a wait timer flag. The wait timer flag is set when a predetermined wait time is set. Therefore, when there is no wait timer flag, the process waits in this step until a predetermined wait time is set, and when it is set, the process proceeds to step S508.

On the other hand, when there is no weight flag in step S500, the process proceeds to step S510, and it is determined whether or not the punching switch is turned on. If the ball drop switch is turned on, the process number (process NO.) Of the main routine is set to the ball drop process in step S512, and the process returns to the main routine. Thus, in response to the turning on of the ball drop switch, the storage tank 51 is executed in the main routine.
The punching is performed.

If the punching switch is not turned on in step S510, the discharge confirmation process is also performed in step S514. This loop is executed when the balls are discharged without setting the wait time. After step S514, the process proceeds to step S508.
The process branches to step S508 described above in step S508.
The same applies when the processing of 506 has passed.

In step S508, it is judged whether or not there is a discharge flag, and if there is no discharge flag, it is judged that it is not necessary to discharge the balls, and this routine is ended. On the other hand, if there is a discharge flag, the discharge flag is cleared in step S516, and then the processes of step S518 and thereafter are executed.

Here, the discharge flag is cleared because after returning to the main routine, when the normal processing subroutine is executed again in the next loop, the discharge state continues through the same steps. Because. Therefore, when the discharge flag is set, the discharge flag is cleared each time this subroutine is executed, but in the subsequent step S518, the payout counter values are set in the discharge counters 1 and 2 immediately after the clearing. So
The process according to the discharge flag is continuously executed, and after the illegal counters 1 and 2 are both cleared in step S520, the process number (process NO.) Of the main routine is set to the discharge process in step S522 and the main routine is executed. To return. As a result, balls are discharged in the main routine.

Discharge Process FIG. 14 is a subroutine of the discharge process executed in step S6 of the main routine. First, step S600
Then, it is determined whether or not the discharge 1 end flag is present (is standing). The discharge 1 end flag is set when the discharge of the specified number of balls on the discharge passage 1 side (one of the two discharge passages 116a) of the ball discharge device 54 is finished. Similarly, in step S602, it is determined whether or not the discharge 2 end flag is present (is set). Emission 2
The end flag indicates that the discharge passage 2 (2
It is set up when the discharge of the specified number of balls on the side of the other discharge passage 116b) of the strip is completed.

If there is no discharge 1 end flag, step S6
At 04, the discharge solenoid 1 is turned on. Exhaust solenoid 1
Corresponds to the discharge solenoid 112 on the discharge passage 1 side of the ball discharge device 54. As a result, the discharge cam 11
3 operates to open the discharge passage 1 side to allow the discharge of balls.

Next, in step S606, the discharge sensor 1
It is determined whether or not there is an input edge. If there is no discharge sensor 1 input edge, the process jumps to step S602, and if there is a discharge sensor 1 input edge (that is, if there is a movement of the ball), the process proceeds to step S608. In step S608, the discharge sensor 1 input edge is cleared, and in step S610, the number of balls discharged by the discharge sensor 1 is detected and the discharge counter 1 is decremented. Then, step S
At 612, it is determined whether or not the discharge counter 1 = 0.

Since the discharge counter 1 has a prescribed number (corresponding to the prescribed number of balls ejected), when the ejection counter 1 is not [0], the routine proceeds to step S602 and the routine is repeated until the ejection counter 1 = When it reaches 0, it is determined that the discharge is completed, the process branches to step S614 to set the discharge 1 end flag, and the discharge 1 solenoid is turned off in step S616. Then, similarly, step S6
Go to 02. In this way, the specified number of balls are discharged on the discharge passage 1 side of the ball discharging device 54.

If the discharge 1 end flag is present in step S600, the process proceeds to step S602. If the discharge 2 end flag is not present in this step, the discharge solenoid 2 is turned on in step S618. The discharge solenoid 2 is the discharge solenoid 112 on the discharge passage 2 side of the ball discharge device 54.
Equivalent to. As a result, the discharge cam 113 operates and the discharge passage 2 side is opened to allow the discharge of the balls.

Then, in step S620, the discharge sensor 2
It is determined whether or not there is an input edge, and if there is no discharge sensor 2 input edge, the process jumps to step S632, and if there is a discharge sensor 2 input edge (that is, if there is a ball movement), the process proceeds to step S622. In step S622, the discharge sensor 2 input edge is cleared, and in step S624, the number of balls discharged by the discharge sensor 2 is detected and the discharge counter 2 is decremented. Then, step S
At 626, it is determined whether or not the discharge counter 2 = 0.

Since the discharge counter 2 also has a specified number (corresponding to the specified number of discharged balls), when the discharge counter 2 is not [0], the routine proceeds to step S632 and the routine is repeated. When = 0, the process branches to step S628 to set the discharge 2 end flag, and the discharge 2 solenoid is turned off in step S630. After that, similarly, the process proceeds to step S632. In this way, the specified number of balls are discharged on the discharge passage 2 side of the ball discharge device 54.

In step S632, the logical product of the discharge 1 end flag and the discharge 2 end flag is calculated, and step S6
At 34, it is determined whether the logical product is [1]. When the logical product is not [1], for example, when the discharge counter 1 or the discharge counter 2 is not [0], this loop is repeated, and when the logical product = [1], the discharge of the discharge passages 1 and 2 is completed. It is judged that both have ended, and step S63
Go to 6.

In step S636, the discharge 1 end flag and the discharge 2 end flag are both cleared, and the subsequent step S636
At 638, it is determined whether or not there is a ball lending flag. If there is no ball lending flag, it is determined that the current ball discharge is based on the prize ball data, and in step S640, the main routine process number (process NO.) Is set to the safe ball payout process and the main routine is executed. Return to. As a result, the safe ball payout process is performed in the main routine. That is,
One safe ball is paid out in accordance with the discharge of the ball based on the award ball.

On the other hand, when there is a ball lending flag, it is determined that the current ball discharge is based on the ball lending request, and the ball lending machine (which is built in this embodiment) is determined in step S642. This time, a ball lending end signal indicating that 25 lending balls have ended is transmitted, the weight flag is set in step S644, the ball lending flag is cleared, and the process number (process NO.) Is normally processed in step S646. Set to and return to the main routine. As a result, normal processing is performed in the main routine.

Ball Dropping Process FIG. 15 is a subroutine of the ball pulling process executed in step S7 of the main routine. First, step S700
It is determined whether or not there is a ball drop cancellation flag (is standing). The ball drop cancellation flag is set when the ball drop switch is pressed by mistake (re-inputting) and the ball drop operation is forcibly stopped (that is, forced termination) when the ball drop switch is operated by mistake. . Further, in step S702, it is determined whether or not there is a ball removal start flag. The ball drop start flag is set in step S712 described below after the ball drop switch is operated. That is, it is set up when the preparation for punching is completed.

When there is no ball removal stop flag and there is no ball removal start flag, the process first proceeds to step S704 and the ball removal solenoid (that is, the flow path switching solenoid) 121 is turned on. As a result, the switching valve 122 causes the discharge passage 123 to
The balls that are displaced so as to cut off the discharged balls are
It is prepared in advance so that it can flow to the 25 side and be recovered to the hall side. Therefore, at this point, ball ejection has not yet started.

Next, in step S706, it is determined whether or not there is a timer flag set in the interrupt processing routine. The timer flag is set every 1 ms in the interrupt processing routine. When the timer flag is present, the timer flag is cleared in step S708, and then the process proceeds to step S710, and it is determined whether or not the counter 2000 has timed up (that is, 2 seconds have elapsed). This is because counting the timer flag set every 1 ms 2000 times results in 2 seconds. The reason for setting 2 seconds is to allow sufficient time for switching the switching valve 122 and setting the balls so that the balls can escape to the side of the ball drop passage 125.

When the counter 2000 times out,
In step S712, the ball drop start flag is set, and in step S714, the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 of the ball discharge device 54 located upstream of the ball drop device 55 are both turned on. As a result, the balls flow to the side of the ball-sucking passage 125 and are discharged to the hole-side ball-sucking passage (see FIG. 7). At this time, passage control of two balls is simultaneously controlled by one unit by the ball drop solenoid 121 and the switching valve 122.

After the processing of step S714, then, in step S716, the logical sum of the input levels of the discharge sensors 1 and 2 is calculated. On the other hand, YES in step S702 above.
If (there is a ball drop start flag), step S70
If there is no timer flag in step 6, or step S71
When it is 0 and the counter 2000 has not timed up, the process jumps to step S716.

After step S716, the process proceeds to step S718 to determine whether the logical sum of the input levels of the discharge sensors 1 and 2 is [0]. Logical sum is [0]
If not, it is determined that the ball is still flowing in one of the passages, the counter 3000 counting 3 seconds is cleared in step S720, and it is determined in step S722 whether the ball drop switch is turned on. To do. When the ball drop switch is on, it is determined that there is a request to forcibly cancel the ball drop processing by re-inputting the ball drop switch, and the ball drop switch input flag is set in step S724.

Next, in step S726, it is determined whether or not there is a ball drop switch input flag. If the ball drop switch is turned on, the ball drop switch input flag has been set, and the flow exits to step S728. On the other hand, if the ball drop switch is not turned on, the process jumps to step S724 and exits to step S726. Therefore, the ball drop switch input flag is not set, the determination result in step S726 is NO, and this routine ends To do.

In step S728, it is determined whether or not the discharge sensor 1 input edge is present. If YES, step S728 is selected.
At 730, the discharge solenoid 1 is turned off, and then step S
Proceed to 732. This is because the closing timing is taken into consideration so that the discharge solenoid 1 is turned off immediately after the movement of the ball is recognized by the discharge sensor 1 so that the ball can be closed by the discharge cam 113 without closing the discharge passage 116. is there.

On the other hand, if there is no discharge sensor 1 input edge in step S728, step S730 is skipped and step S732 is proceeded to. Similarly, in step S732, it is determined whether or not there is the discharge sensor 2 input edge, and Y
In the case of ES, the discharge solenoid 2 is turned off in step S734, and then the process proceeds to step S736. This also considers the closing timing so that the discharge solenoid 2 is turned off immediately after the movement of the balls is recognized by the discharge sensor 2 so that the balls can be closed by the discharge cam 113 without closing the discharge passage 116. is there.

On the other hand, if there is no discharge sensor 2 input edge in step S732, step S734 is skipped and step S736 is proceeded to. In step S736, it is determined whether the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are both off,
If NO, the routine of this time is ended. When both the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are turned off, the ball drop stop flag is set in step S738, the ball drop switch input flag is cleared in step S740, and the subroutine ends. To do.

If the logical sum is [0] in step S718, it is determined that the ball has stopped moving in either passage, the process proceeds to step S742, and the timer flag set every 1 ms is set in the interrupt processing routine. It is determined whether or not there is. If there is a timer flag, step S7
After clearing the timer flag in 44, step S746
Then, it is determined whether the counter 3000 has timed out (that is, whether 3 seconds have elapsed).

This is because if the timer flag set every 1 ms is counted 3000 times, it becomes 3 seconds. The time period of 3 seconds is set to allow sufficient time to switch the switching valve 122 of the ball removing device 55 to the ball supply passage 124 which is a normal prize ball side passage after the movement of the balls in the ball discharging device 54 is stopped. Has been taken into consideration.

If the counter 3000 has not timed up in step S746, the process returns to step S742.
When 3 seconds elapse after the time is up, the following step S7
Proceed to 48, and pull out solenoid (flow path switching solenoid) 1
Turn off 21. As a result, the switching valve 122 is pulled out from the discharge passage 123 to block the beading passage 125, so that the balls can flow to the ball supply passage 124 side (that is, the upper plate 21 side).

Next, in step S750, the ball drop start flag is cleared, and in step S752 the ball drop stop flag is also cleared. Then, in step S754, the punching device 55
Both the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 of the ball discharge device 54 located on the upstream side of are turned off. As a result, the ejection of balls due to the operation of the ball ejection device 54 is completely stopped. Next, in step S756, the process number (process NO.) Is set to normal process, and the process returns to the main routine. This allows
Normal processing is performed in the main routine.

Safe Ball Payout Process FIG. 16 is a subroutine of the safe ball payout process executed in step S8 of the main routine. This subroutine is a process performed after the discharge of winning balls based on the winning ball data is completed.

First, in step S800, it is determined whether or not there is a safe ball. When a ball wins the safe hole (that is, when there is a safe ball), the request signal for the prize ball data is first output to the accessory circuit side, and then the discharge controller receives the prize ball data and the prize of the ball is awarded. After discharging the ball, the procedure is to remove the safe ball that caused the prize ball to be discharged. Therefore, when the discharge of the winning balls based on the winning ball data is completed, it is necessary to remove the safe balls. Conversely, if the safe ball from which the prize balls are discharged does not exist at the time when the discharge of the prize balls is completed, it is considered to be fraudulent.

Therefore, if there is no safe ball in step S800, it is determined that the prize balls have been discharged due to fraud, and the process proceeds to step S816 to turn on a lamp indicating an error, and in step S818, the hall management device. Send an error signal to. Then, the loop of steps S816 and S818 is repeated. As a result, a staff member in the hall inspects the pachinko machine 1 which has been fraudulent and takes necessary measures.

On the other hand, if there is a safe ball in step S800, it is determined that the safe ball is not illegal, and the process proceeds to step S802 to turn on the safe solenoid 131 of the safe ball payout device 59. As a result, the second safe cam 133 of the safe ball payout device 59 pulls out from the ball passage 135 and discharges one safe ball (that is, the safe ball from which the prize ball is discharged this time) that has been held until now. At the same time, a part of the first safe cam 132 temporarily projects into the ball passage 135 to prevent the safe ball (the second safe ball) following it from being discharged. The safe sensor 134 detects when one held safe ball is ejected, and the output of the safe sensor 134 changes when the safe ball is ejected.

Next, in step S804, it is determined whether or not there is a safe ball falling edge. When the safe ball is ejected normally, there is a safe ball falling edge, which does not usually exceed 200 ms. Therefore, if there is no safe ball falling edge in step S804, the process proceeds to step S810, and it is determined whether or not there is a timer flag set in the interrupt processing routine.

The timer flag is set every 1 ms in the interrupt processing routine. If there is no timer flag, the process returns to step S802. On the other hand, when there is a timer flag, after clearing the timer flag in step S812, the process proceeds to step S814, and it is determined whether or not the counter 200 has timed up (that is, 0.2 seconds = 200 ms has elapsed). This is 200ms when the timer flag set every 1ms is counted 200 times.
Because.

The time of 200 ms is set to the first safe cam 13 after discharging one safe ball that has been held up to now (that is, the safe ball from which the prize ball is discharged this time).
A part of 2 is temporarily projected into the ball passage 135, and a sufficient amount of time is taken into consideration in order to prevent the safe ball (second safe ball) following it from being discharged. Is. That is, this is because the time taken for the ball to stop without being bitten by the first safe cam 132 is taken into consideration.

If it is determined in step S814 that the counter 200 has not timed out, the process returns to step S802.
When the time is up, the process proceeds to step S816. As a result, one safe ball that has been held up to now is discharged, but even after 200 ms has elapsed, there is no safe ball falling edge, so the safe ball seems to be caught in the first safe cam 132. It is determined that there is a defect. Therefore, the lamp indicating the error is turned on in the same manner as described above, an error signal is transmitted to the management device, and necessary measures are taken by the staff in the hall.

On the other hand, when the safe balls are ejected normally, there is usually a safe ball falling edge within 200 ms. Therefore, at this time, the determination result of step S804 is YE.
Then, the wait flag is set in step S806. The weight flag sets that a waiting time for prize ball discharge is required. Therefore, when a wait is required in the normal processing, the wait flag set here is used. Next, in step S808, the process number (process NO.) Is set to normal process, and the process returns to the main routine. As a result, normal processing is performed in the main routine.

Ejection Device Illegal Processing FIG. 17 is a subroutine of ejection device illegality processing executed in step S9 of the main routine. This subroutine is a process performed when there is an illegality in the ball discharging device 54 or the like.

First, in step S900, the ball removing device 55
Solenoid solenoid (that is, flow path switching solenoid) 1
Turn on 21. As a result, the switching valve 122 of the beading device 55 is displaced so as to block the discharge passage 123, the discharged balls flow to the beading passage 125 side, and the balls are collected to the hole side. That is, the balls are not discharged to the ball supply plate (lower plate) 33 and are collected on the side of the hall, and the balls discharged by fraud do not flow to the front side of the pachinko machine 1. Therefore, there is an inconvenience that an illegal person can obtain an unjust profit, and there is an advantage that the loss of the hole can be avoided.

At this time, the balls coming out of the beading passage 125 reach the lower surface of the recovery passage with a drop of about 40 cm under the pachinko machine 1, and a large and violent falling sound is generated. Therefore, it is possible to hear the situation that the balls are being ejected by fraudulently due to this violent falling sound, so that the "prank" can be effectively warned, and fraud can be prevented.

After taking measures for collecting the illegal ball discharge to the hole side in this way, it is judged in step S902 whether or not there is a discharge sensor ball presence flag. this is,
It is determined whether or not the ball stop is detected by the discharge sensor 1 and the discharge sensor 2 of the ball discharge device 54. At this time, the discharge sensors 1 and 2 cause the discharge passages 1, 2 in the ball discharge device 54, that is, 2
It is determined that the balls are stopped in both of the discharge passages 116a and 116b of the strip. This is because if the balls are not stopped even in Article 1, it is considered that there is an illegal discharge of balls.

If both balls have stopped discharging, it can be judged that the illegal discharging of balls has ended. At that time, the normal state is automatically restored to save the staff member's time and improve the efficiency. It is like this. Therefore, if the ball ejection stop state continues for a certain period of time, it is automatically restored.

If there is a discharge sensor ball presence flag at step S902, first, at step S9, for automatic recovery.
In 04, it is determined whether or not there is a timer flag set in the interrupt processing routine. The timer flag is set every 1 ms in the interrupt processing routine. If there is no timer flag, this loop is terminated and the process returns to the main routine. If there is a timer flag, the timer flag is cleared in step S906, and then the process proceeds to step S908 where the counter 5000 times out (that is,
It is determined whether 5 seconds have elapsed. This is because counting the timer flag set every 1 ms 5000 times results in 5 seconds.

[0143] The reason for setting 5 seconds is that the improper ejection of the balls is completed when the time when the ejection sensors 1 and 2 of the ejection device 54 detect the stopped state of the balls in both of the two passages for 5 seconds. It can be judged that. If the counter 5000 has not timed out, the process returns to step S904, and 5 seconds have elapsed when the time has elapsed, so the process proceeds to step S910 and the ball-punching solenoid (that is, the flow path switching solenoid) 121 of the ball-punching device 55 is turned off. To do. As a result, the switching valve 122 is pulled out from the discharge passage 123 to block the beading passage 125, and the balls can flow to the side of the ball supply passage 124 (that is, the side of the upper plate 21).
Return to the normal game state.

Thereafter, in step S912, the process saved to execute the subroutine of the ejecting device illegal process is set to the process number (process NO.), And the process returns to the main routine. As a result, the processing corresponding to the saved processing number (processing NO.) Is performed in the main routine. As described above, the means for automatically canceling the illegal processing is provided, and therefore, it is possible to save the labor for the staff member to press the reset button of the discharge control device 56. Of course, even if the staff member presses the reset button of the discharge control device 56, the illegal processing can be canceled.

On the other hand, if there is no discharge sensor ball presence flag in step S902, the illegal balls are still being discharged, so the automatic resetting is not performed and the counter 5000 is cleared in step S914. By clearing the counter 5000, preparation is made for counting continuously for 5 seconds.

Ejection Confirmation Processing FIG. 18 shows steps S504 and S of normal processing.
This is a subroutine of the discharge confirmation processing executed in 514. This subroutine is for confirming whether there is a ball lending request and a prize ball data signal.

First, in step S1000, it is determined whether or not there is a ball lending request signal. The ball lending request signal is output from the ball lending machine (in this embodiment, the built-in ball lending machine 300). If there is a ball lending request signal, the flow advances to step S1010 to determine whether or not there is a ball lending unit signal. The ball lending unit signal is, for example, a signal in which 100 yen is a unit. If there is a ball lending unit signal, in step S1012, 25 coins are set in the payout counter as the number of balls to be lended per unit. As a result, balls for lending to 25 balls are discharged to the ball supply tray 33.

For example, when there is a request to purchase a ball for 300 yen, a pulse of 3 units is generated as a ball lending unit signal, and the ball lending request signal is active during this period. Therefore, the balls will be rented out in three times for each unit.

Next, in step S1014, the ball lending flag is set and the routine of this time is ended. In order to set the ball lending flag, it is necessary to output a ball lending end signal to the ball lending machine at the end of the ball lending, but in the present embodiment, prize ball discharge and ball lending discharge are performed in the same discharge process. This is because the ball lending flag is used to determine whether to output the ball lending end signal to the ball lending machine depending on whether or not the ball lending flag is present. By checking the ball lending flag, a ball lending end signal is output to the ball lending machine, and it can be confirmed that the ball lending machine has discharged the requested ball rental amount.

If there is no ball lending unit signal in step S1010, it is determined in step S1016 whether there is a timer flag set in the interrupt processing routine. The timer flag is set every 1 ms in the interrupt processing routine. If there is no timer flag, step S101
Return to 0. If there is a timer flag, step S101
After clearing the timer flag in step 8, step S1020
Then, it is determined whether or not the counter 10000 has timed out (that is, 10 seconds = 10000 ms has elapsed). This is because if the timer flag set every 1 ms is counted 10,000 times, it will be 10 seconds.

The time of 10 seconds is taken into consideration when the ball lending request signal becomes active, but if the ball lending unit signal cannot be received, 10 seconds is taken into consideration as a time sufficient for determining a ball lending error. is there. Counter 10 in step S1020
If 000 is not up, step S10
Returning to 10, when the time is up, there is no ball lending unit signal even though 10 seconds have passed, so it is determined that there is a ball lending error. That is, it is determined that the ball lending machine is malfunctioning.

When it is determined that the ball lending machine is malfunctioning, the ball firing is usually stopped. However, if the ball lending machine stops firing at the time of a big hit, a puncture will occur, which must be avoided. Therefore, in step S1022, it is determined whether or not there is a big hit flag, and if there is a big hit flag, it is determined that the accessory device is in a big hit, the routine of this time is ended, and the ball firing is not stopped. Therefore, at least during the big hit, the ball can be fired, the big hit state is not punctured, the deterioration of service to the player can be avoided, and the trouble between the player and the hole can be prevented. There is an advantage that you can.

On the other hand, if there is no big hit flag, the accessory device is not making a big hit, so the flow advances to step S1024 to stop the launching device. When the launcher stops, the pachinko machine 1
You will not be able to fire the ball until is reset by the hall personnel. That is, when the ball lending machine is malfunctioning, the launching operation of the adjacent pachinko machine 1 is stopped, so that the trouble of continuing the game is avoided.

For example, even if a ball is purchased from another ball lending machine, the game cannot be continued for the pachinko machine 1, so that the game is stopped and the prize is exchanged. , The trouble of continuing the game can be avoided. In addition, since the firing of the balls is stopped, the game cannot be started, and the game is not played from the beginning, so that no trouble occurs in the game.

If there is no ball lending request signal in step S1000, the flow advances to step S1002 to determine whether or not there is a safe ball. If there is no safe ball, neither a ball lending request nor a ball discharge associated with winning is required. Judge and finish the routine.
On the other hand, if there is a safe ball, prize ball data transmission / reception processing is performed in subsequent step S1004. Thereby, the process of receiving the prize ball data from the accessory device is performed, and the number of balls to be discharged as the prize balls is set in the payout counter.

Next, in step S1006, it is determined whether or not there is a condition satisfaction flag. Whether or not the condition satisfaction flag is set is determined in step S28 of the interrupt process, and when the condition for starting the discharge of the balls is satisfied, the condition completion flag is set. When the condition completion flag is not set, the process stands by at step S1006. When the flag is set, the process proceeds to step S1008 to set the discharge flag, and then returns to the corresponding step of the normal process. The ejection of the balls is started by setting the ejection flag.

Prize Ball Data Transmission / Reception Processing FIG. 19 is a subroutine of prize ball data transmission / reception processing executed in step S1004 of the discharge confirmation processing.

First, in step S1200, the prize ball data request command is set in the transmission buffer, and then in step S12.
In 02, the transmission buffer is transmitted to the accessory circuit side. Then
In step S1204, the received data from the accessory circuit is read, and in step S1206, it is determined whether or not the received data has a read start flag. Since there is no read start flag at the beginning, the flow advances to step S1208 to determine whether the received data has start data, that is, a start bit (corresponding to the head of the data). In addition,
The received data has, for example, an 8-bit structure, and includes start bits, prize ball data (7 or 15 pieces), parity check bits, command data, and the like. Also,
A signal indicating whether or not it is a big hit (information capable of determining a big hit) is added to the prize ball data.

If there is no start bit, step S12.
Return to 04 and repeat the loop. Then, the loop is repeated until there is a start bit. After that, when there is a start bit, the process proceeds to step S1210, the read start flag is set, and the process returns to step S1204. Next time,
Since the reading start flag has been set, step S120
The determination result of 6 is YES, and the process exits to step S1212. In step S1212, it is determined whether reading of all the received data (for example, all 8 bits) has been completed.

If the reading of all the received data has not been completed, the process returns to step S1204 and the loop is repeated. When the reading of the received data is completed, step S1
In step 214, the read start flag is cleared. Then
In step S1216, it is determined whether the received data is prize ball data, and if it is not prize ball data, step S12.
In step 18, it is determined whether the command is an error command. If it is not an error command, the process returns to step S1200 to repeat the loop and request the prize ball data again.

If it is an error command, step S122.
The process proceeds to 0 to stop the firing, and similarly returns to step S1200. Therefore, during the error, the firing is stopped and this loop is repeated, so that the ball lending process is not performed.

[Processing when Game is Unavailable] In the present embodiment, as described above, when the error command is not the prize ball data, it is determined that the game is impossible. During this error, firing is stopped and the loop is repeated, so that the ball lending process is not performed. That is, even if the ball lending request signal is input, the operation of the discharge control circuit 56 is stopped and the ball lending operation is not performed. As a result, it becomes impossible to purchase a ball from the ball lending machine built in the pachinko machine 1, and it is possible to eliminate the problem that the player mistakenly purchases a ball and puts it in the upper plate 21. as a result,
It is possible to avoid the annoyance for the player of pulling out the balls from the upper plate 21.

Even when data transfer between the game board control device 57 and the discharge control device 56 is impossible, an error command is output as a game inoperable state, and the same procedure as above is taken.

On the other hand, if the received data is prize ball data in step S1216, the flow advances to step S1222 to see if there is a big hit signal in the received data (whether it is a big hit).
Determine whether or not. When the big hit is in progress, the big hit flag is set in step S1224, and when it is not big hit, the big hit flag is cleared in step S1226. After the process of step S1224 or step S1226, the prize ball data is set in the payout counter in step S1228, and the process returns to the corresponding step of the discharge confirmation process.
Therefore, the ball lending data and the prize ball data are always set in the payout counter, and the number of balls set in the payout counter is discharged.

Half-End Sensor Monitoring Process FIG. 20 is a subroutine of the half-end sensor monitoring process executed in step S20 of the interrupt processing routine. First, in step S2000, the output signal of the half-end sensor (half-end sphere detection means) 94 is monitored to determine whether the half-end sensor 94 is on. When the half-edge sensor 94 is on, it is determined that a ball may be present in the guide gutter 52, and first, in step S2002, the counter 100 that counts 100 ms is cleared, and then in step S2.
In 004, it is determined whether or not the counter 2000 that counts 2 seconds has timed up.

It should be noted that the condition that the balls are present in the guide trough 52 is to be confirmed by the half-end sensor 94 on condition that the half-end sensor 94 is on for 2 seconds continuously. By doing so, the accuracy of the presence confirmation of the ball is improved.

The counter 100 measures the time of 100 ms by counting the timer flag which is set every 1 ms about 100 times in the interrupt processing routine, and the counter 2000 counts the timer flag about 2000 times and the time of 2 seconds. It is to measure.

When the counter 2000 has timed out in step S2004 (two seconds have passed), the process proceeds to step S2006 to set the half-end flag, and in step S2008 the counter 2000 is cleared and the process returns to the interrupt processing routine. On the other hand, when 2 seconds have not elapsed, the process directly returns to the interrupt processing routine. As described above, when the half-end sensor 94 is continuously turned on for 2 seconds, it is determined that the ball is present in the guide gutter 52, and the half-end flag is set. That the odd-end flag is set means that the number of pachinko balls before discharge corresponding to at least one unit of the number of lending balls or the number of prize balls (30 in this embodiment) exists in the guide gutter 52. I have confirmed that.

On the other hand, in step S2000, the half edge sensor 9
If No. 4 is not turned on, it is determined that the ball may not exist in the guide gutter 52, and first, step S201.
The counter 2000 is cleared with 0, and step S2012
Then, it is determined whether or not the counter 100 that counts 100 ms has timed up. When the counter 100 has timed out (when 100 ms has elapsed), the process proceeds to step S2014 to clear the half-end flag, and
In step S2016, the counter 100 is cleared and the process returns to the interrupt processing routine. On the other hand, when 100 ms has not elapsed, the process directly returns to the interrupt processing routine.

In this way, the half-end sensor 94 is 100 ms
If the ball is continuously turned off for a while, it is determined that the ball is not present in the guide gutter 52, and the odd flag is cleared. The fact that the odd-end flag is cleared means that the number of pachinko balls before discharge corresponding to the number of lending balls per unit or the number of prize balls or more (30 in this embodiment) is not present in the guide gutter 52. , Or at least it was confirmed that it was not ready for continuous discharge.

Also, since the balls in the guide trough 52 are flowing apart, the output of the half-end sensor 94 is frequently turned on / off repeatedly, but in the present embodiment, the half-end sensor 94 is turned on continuously for 2 seconds. If there is a ball, it is judged that the ball exists in the guide gutter 52 (with a ball), and if the half-end sensor 94 is continuously turned off for 100 ms, it is judged that the ball does not exist in the guide gutter 52 (no ball). Therefore, there is an advantage that the signal of the half-end sensor 94 can be smoothly monitored.

Supply Sensor Monitoring Process FIG. 21 is a subroutine of the supply sensor monitoring process executed in step S22 of the interrupt processing routine. First, in step S2200, it is determined whether or not the replenishment sensor 71 is on, and when it is on, the storage tank 5
The counter 50 that counts 500 ms in step S2202, judging that there is a possibility that the first ball may be insufficient
When 0 is cleared, it is determined in step S2204 whether or not the counter 4000 that counts 4 seconds has timed up.

If the counter 4000 has not timed out, the routine of this time is ended, and when the time is up,
That is, when the supply sensor 71 is kept on for 4 seconds or more, it is determined that there are insufficient balls in the storage tank 51,
The supply flag is set in step S2206, the counter 4000 is cleared in step S2208, and the process returns to the interrupt processing routine. This allows
Balls are supplied from the island facility to the storage tank 51.

In this way, by starting the replenishment of the balls when the on state of the replenishment sensor 71 continues for 4 seconds or more, the replenishment sensor 71 is temporarily operated due to noise or movement of the balls in the storage tank 51. Even if the ON signal is output to the device, it is possible to avoid the measures such as replenishment by mistake.

On the other hand, in step S2200, the supply sensor 7
If 1 is not on, it is determined that balls may have been replenished, and first, in step S2210, the counter 40
00 is cleared, and the counter 500 is set in step S2212.
Determines whether the time has expired. Counter 500
Is up (when 500ms has passed)
Advances to step S2214 to clear the supply flag and at step S2216 clears the counter 500 to return to the interrupt processing routine. on the other hand,
If 500 ms has not elapsed, the process directly returns to the interrupt processing routine.

As described above, the replenishment sensor 71 is set to 500 ms.
If the ball is continuously turned off for a while, it is determined that the balls are present in the storage tank 51 (that is, the balls have been supplied), and the supply flag is cleared. Clearing the supply flag corresponds to a state where balls are supplied from the island facility to the storage tank 51, or a state where the balls in the storage tank 51 are not insufficient.

Overflow Monitoring Process FIG. 22 is a subroutine of the overflow monitoring process executed in step S24 of the interrupt processing routine.
First, in step S2400, it is determined whether or not the overflow switch (that is, the overflow sensor) 212 is turned on, and when it is turned on, the ball storage tray 3
It is determined that the balls may have overflowed to 3, and the counter 100 that counts 100 ms is cleared in step S2402, and it is determined whether the counter 2000 that counts 2 seconds has timed up in step S2404. .

If the counter 2000 has not timed out, the routine of this time is ended, and when the time is up,
That is, when the ON state of the overflow switch 212 continues for 2 seconds or more, it is determined that the balls have overflowed into the ball storage tray 33, the overflow flag 1 is set in step S2406, and the step S24 is performed.
The counter 2000 is cleared at 08.

As a result, the overflow lamp, which is one of the lamps 220, is turned on to notify the player. When the player sees the overflow lamp lighting, the ball storage tray 33
The overflow condition disappears when the ball is pulled out from. If the overflow switch 212 remains on for 2 seconds or more and the overflow flag 1 is set,
As will be described later, a measure is taken to make the wait time between the ejection of balls longer than a predetermined time.

Then, in step S2410, it is determined whether or not the counter 30000 for counting 30 seconds has timed up. When the counter 30000 times out (when 30 seconds have elapsed), the flow advances to step S2412 to set the overflow flag 2 and
In step S2414, the counter 30000 is cleared and the process returns to the interrupt processing routine. On the other hand, when 30 seconds have not elapsed, the routine directly returns to the interrupt processing routine and the routine is repeated.

In this way, the overflow switch 21
When the ON state of 2 continues for 30 seconds or more, it is determined that the player does not notice the overflow state or is temporarily away from the front of the pachinko machine 1. Then, when the overflow flag 2 is set, a measure is taken such that the new discharge process is not forcibly started as described later.

On the other hand, when the overflow switch 212 is off in step S2400, step S2
Branch to 416, counter 2000 and counter 30
Clear 00 together. Next, in step S2418, it is determined whether or not the counter 100 has timed up.
When the counter 100 has timed out (when 100 ms has elapsed), the flow advances to step S2420 to clear the overflow flags 1 and 2, and also to step S24.
At 2422, the counter 100 is cleared and the process returns to the interrupt processing routine. On the other hand, when 100 ms has not elapsed, the process directly returns to the interrupt processing routine to repeat the loop.

In this way, the overflow switch 21
When the OFF state of 2 continues for 100 ms or more, the overflow flags 1 and 2 are cleared and the above-mentioned treatment is canceled.

Discharge Sensor 1/2 Ball Presence Process FIG. 23 is a subroutine of the discharge sensor 1/2 ball possession process executed in step S26 of the interrupt processing routine. First, in step S2600, a process of having one ejection sensor is performed. This is the discharge sensor 1 in the ball discharge device 54.
Ejection sensor 1 for 10 ms or more by monitoring whether or not there is a ball
When the output of 1 detects that there is a ball, it is determined that the ball is stopped at one passage position of the ball discharging device 54.

Next, in step S2602, the ejection sensor two-ball presence process is similarly performed. This is to monitor whether there is a ball in the discharge sensor 2 in the ball discharging device 54,
When the output of the discharge sensor 2 detects the presence of a ball, it is determined that the ball is stopped at the other passage position of the ball discharging device 54. The processing of steps S2600 and S2602 will be described in detail in a subroutine.

Next, in step S2604, it is determined whether or not there is a ball existence 1 flag. The ball existence 1 flag is set when it is determined that the ball is stopped at one passage position of the ball discharging device 54. If there is a ball existence 1 flag, the flow advances to step S2606 to determine whether or not there is a ball existence 2 flag. The ball presence flag is set when it is determined that the ball is stopped at the other passage position of the ball discharging device 54.

If both the flag 1 with a ball and the flag 2 with a ball are present, the discharge sensor ball present flag is set in step S2608. Further, when there is only one of the flag 1 with the flag and the flag 2 with the flag, both are in step S2610.
Proceed to and clear the emission sensor ball presence flag. After step S2608 or step S2610, the process returns to the interrupt processing routine. In this way, it is determined whether or not there are balls in the two passages of the ball discharging device 54.

Condition Judgment Processing FIG. 24 is a subroutine of the condition judgment processing executed in step S28 of the interrupt processing routine. Step S
Whether there is an odd flag in 2800, whether there is a discharge sensor ball existence flag in step S2802, and further step S28
In 04, it is determined whether or not there is the overflow flag 2.

If there is a half-end flag, there is a discharge sensor ball presence flag, and there is no overflow flag 2, the flow advances to step S2806 to set the condition completion flag and return to the interrupt processing routine.

Therefore, the condition completion flag is set because (I) the number of balls before discharge is equal to or greater than the number of lendable balls or the number of prize balls in one unit, and (II) balls are present. The balls are continuously present in the two passages of the discharging device 54, and (III) the ball storage tray 33 does not overflow (it is safe to discharge the balls to the tray). It's time to go. At this time, the condition completion flag =
A necessary and sufficient condition for starting the ball discharge processing with 1 being set, that is, a ball discharge start condition is satisfied. Therefore, even if the balls are paid out in accordance with the prize ball data signal or the ball lending request signal, the discharge of a certain number of balls is guaranteed.

On the other hand, the above conditions (I), (II) and (I
If any one of II) is missing, the process advances to step S2808 to clear the condition completion flag and return to the interrupt processing routine. This case is a case where the necessary and sufficient condition for starting the ball discharge processing, that is, the ball discharge start condition is not satisfied.

Ejection Sensor 1-ball Existence Processing FIG. 25 is a step S260 of the ejection sensor 1 / 2- existence processing .
This is a subroutine for the discharge sensor 1-ball existence process executed at 0. In step S3000, it is determined whether or not the ejection sensor 1 has a ball. When the ejection sensor 1 has a ball, it is determined in step S3002 whether or not the counter 10 that counts 10 ms has timed up.

If the counter 10 has not timed up, the routine of this time is ended, and if the time is up, that is, if the discharge sensor 1 of one passage of the ball discharge device 54 is kept on for 10 ms or longer, the ball is discharged to the same passage. Is determined to be stopped, or the state of continuous flow is detected, the flag 1 is set in step S3004, and the counter 1 is set in step S3006.
After clearing 0, the process returns to the discharge sensor 1 and 2 ball existence processing routine.

On the other hand, in step S3000, the discharge sensor 1
When there is no ball in the passage, it is determined that there is no ball in the same passage, the flow proceeds to step S3008 to clear the ball existence 1 flag, and in step S3010 the counter 10 is cleared to enter the discharge sensor 1 or 2 ball existence processing routine. To return.

Ejection sensor 2 ball existence process FIG. 26 is a step S260 of the ejection sensor 1/2 existence process .
It is a subroutine of the discharge sensor 2 ball existence process executed in 2. In step S4000, it is determined whether or not the ejection sensor 2 has a ball. When the ejection sensor 2 has a ball, it is determined in step S4002 whether or not the counter 10 that counts 10 ms has timed up.

If the counter 10 has not timed up, the routine of this time is ended, and if the time is up, that is, if the discharge sensor 2 of the other passage of the ball discharge device 54 is kept on for 10 ms or longer, the ball is discharged to the same passage. Is determined to be stopped, or the state of continuous flow is detected, the ball presence flag is set in step S4004, and the counter 1 is set in step S4006.
After clearing 0, the process returns to the discharge sensor 1 and 2 ball existence processing routine.

On the other hand, in step S4000, the discharge sensor 2
When there is no ball in the passage, it is determined that there is no ball in the same passage, the flow proceeds to step S4008 to clear the ball existence 2 flag, and in step S4010 the counter 10 is cleared to enter the discharge sensor 1 and 2 ball existence processing routine. To return.

Wait Timer Setting Process FIG. 27 is a subroutine of the wait timer setting process executed in step S502 of the normal process. In step S5000, it is determined whether or not the overflow flag 1 is present. When the overflow flag 1 is set, the wait timer counter is set to 1000 m in step S5002.
s is set and the process proceeds to step S5004. If the overflow flag 1 is not set, step S
Jump 5002 and proceed to step S5004.

As a result, when the overflow flag 1 is set, that is, when it is determined that the overflow switch 212 has been on for 2 seconds or more and the balls have overflowed to the ball storage tray 33, the overflow lamp is set as described above. The player is expected to pull out the ball from the ball storage tray 33 while seeing the lighting of the overflow lamp, while notifying the player by lighting up, so that the wait time between the discharging of the balls is a normal value ( 500 ms longer than 500 ms to 1000 ms (ie 1 second). By lengthening the wait time in this way, there is an advantage that the discharge of the balls can be made almost continuous and the game can be played smoothly.

Next, in step S5004, it is determined whether or not there is a supply flag. If the supply flag is set, the wait timer counter is set to 200 in step S5006.
0 ms is set and the process proceeds to step S5008. Also,
If the supply flag is not set, step S5010
In step S50, it is determined whether or not the overflow flag 1 is present, and if the overflow flag 1 is set.
At 08, the wait timer flag is cleared and the process returns to the normal process. On the other hand, when the overflow flag 1 is not set, the wait timer counter is set to 500 ms in step S5012 and the process proceeds to step S5008.

As a result, when the supply flag is set, that is, when it is determined that the supply sensor 71 is on for 4 seconds or more and there are insufficient balls in the storage tank 51,
It is expected that balls will be replenished from the island facility to the storage tank 51, but there is a time delay in replenishing the balls, so the wait time between ball ejections is 1500ms longer than the normal value (500ms). For 2000 ms (ie, 2 seconds). By lengthening the wait time in this way, there is an advantage that the ball can be replenished from the island facility to the storage tank 51, and the ball can be discharged almost continuously to smoothly play the game.

As described above, in this embodiment, the operation of the pachinko machine 1 is monitored, and if it is detected that the pachinko machine 1 is defective, it is determined that the game is impossible and the operation of the ball lending machine is stopped. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the troublesomeness related to the game. For example, it is possible to eliminate the problem that a player mistakenly purchases a ball and places it in the upper plate 21. As a result, it is possible to avoid the player's annoyance of pulling out the balls from the upper plate 21.

Further, it is possible to further enhance the desirable relationship that the game machine and the ball lending machine are paired, and the sales of the ball lending machine correspond to the sales of the corresponding pachinko machine 1. For the hall, the sales of the ball lending machine lead to the pachinko machine sales. The sales of the machine 1 can be grasped.

The location of the ball lending machine is not limited to the location of the front display panel (decorative front plate) as in the above example. For example, it may be provided on the front operation panel, or may be integrated with the pachinko machine at another position.

FIG. 28 is a front view showing the configuration of another embodiment of the pachinko machine to which the present invention is applied, and is an example in which the ball lending machine is arranged on the side of the pachinko machine. In FIG. 28, 500
Is a pachinko machine. A ball lending machine 501 is disposed on the side of the pachinko machine 500, and a large number of these ball lending machines 501 are installed in a hall. The ball lending machine 501 is formed in a vertically long type with a relatively narrow width and has a certain depth. And
By arranging it on the side of the pachinko machine 500, the player's convenience can be improved. In addition, ball rental machine 5
01 is also separable from the pachinko machine 500 (however, it has a close relationship as described above in terms of signal processing), and has a structure that can be independently replaced for repair. An ashtray 510 is formed on the left side of the front operation panel 15 of the pachinko machine 500.

The ball lending machine 501 has a built-in card reader, and the front panel 502 of the ball lending machine 501 has a card insertion slot 503 into which the above-mentioned packy card is inserted, and a ball lending machine showing a state in which a pachinko ball can be lent. Possible indicator 504
And a card frequency indicator (card balance indicator) 505 for displaying the balance of the packing card. It should be noted that the card insertion slot 503 used is one capable of displaying the acceptance of the card, and for example, the acceptance of the card is displayed by a light emitting diode. Therefore, even in a pachinko machine 500 having such a type of ball lending machine 501, the present invention can be applied to obtain the same effects as described above.

Further, the gaming machine according to the present invention is not limited to the example applied to the pachinko gaming machine of the packy card type as in the above embodiments. For example, it can be applied to a pachinko game machine of credit system. Further, the application of the present invention is not limited to the case where the game medium is a pachinko ball, and even if other game media are used, the game medium lending device can be applied to a game machine paired with the game machine. Is.

[0208]

According to the present invention, the operation of the gaming machine is monitored, and when it is detected that the gaming machine is defective, it is determined that the gaming machine is in an unplayable state and the operation of the game medium lending device is stopped. Can be avoided. For example, it is possible to eliminate the problem that a player mistakenly purchases a ball and puts it in a plate. As a result, it is possible to avoid the annoyance for the player of pulling out the balls from the upper plate.

[0209] Further, it is possible to further enhance the desirable relationship that the game machine and the game medium lending device are a pair, and the sales of the game medium lending device become the sales of the corresponding game machine. It is possible to grasp the sales of gaming machines.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a pachinko machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a back mechanism of the pachinko machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the guide gutter unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a downstream portion of the guide gutter unit of the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a mounted state of main units of the back mechanism of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the ball discharging device of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the ball punching device of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the safe ball payout device of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a control system of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control main routine of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an interrupt process of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of fraud monitoring processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of normal processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a discharge processing subroutine of the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a ball drop processing of the same embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a safe ball payout process of the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of an ejection device fraud process of the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of discharge confirmation processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of prize ball data transmission / reception processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of half-end sensor monitoring processing of the same embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a supply sensor monitoring process of the embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of overflow monitoring processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a discharge sensor 1/2 ball presence process of the embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of condition determination processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a discharge sensor 1-ball presence process of the embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of discharge sensor two-ball presence process of the embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of wait timer setting processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing the configuration of another embodiment of the pachinko machine to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,500 Pachinko machine (gaming machine) 11 Frame-shaped front frame 12 Gold frame 13 Game board 22 Card ejection button (return button) 23,504 Ball lending indicator 24 Purchase button (ball lending button) 25,505 Card frequency display Container (card balance indicator) 26 Ball discharge push button 31 Card reader 51 Storage tank 52 Guide trough (ball guide means) 54 Ball discharge device 55 Ball removal device 56 Discharge control device 57 Game board control device 59 Safe ball discharge device 71 Replenishment Sensor 112 Ejection solenoid (driving source) 113 Emission cam (downflow prevention member) 114 Emission sensor (ejection ball detection means) 121 Flow path switching solenoid (drive source) 122 Switching valve (ball removal gate) 125 Ball removal passage 131 Safe solenoid 201 CPU (game impossible state detection means, game medium lending stop means) 202 Input filter 204 Driver 300, 501 Ball lending machine 400 Award ball discharge processing means 520 Guide gutter unit 520A Upstream part 520B Downstream part

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] November 2, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0149

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Next, in step S1014, the ball lending flag is set , and then the process proceeds to step S1006. To set the ball lending flag, it is necessary to output a ball lending end signal to the ball lending machine at the end of the ball lending, but in this embodiment,
Since prize ball discharge and ball lending discharge are handled in the same discharge process, in order to determine whether to output the ball lending end signal to the ball lending machine depending on whether or not this ball lending flag is present, This is because the ball lending flag is used. By checking the ball lending flag, a ball lending end signal is output to the ball lending machine, and it can be confirmed that the ball lending machine has discharged the requested ball rental amount. Step S1006 will be described later.
The condition satisfaction flag is determined so that this flag
It is set up when the conditions for starting ball ejection are met.
It Therefore, from step S1014 to step S1
By proceeding to 006
In this case as well, the presence or absence of the condition satisfaction flag must be confirmed before ejecting the ball.
It will be done .

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Fig. 18

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

FIG. 18

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A gaming machine comprising: a game medium lending device for lending a game medium within a range of valuable data read by a card reader, wherein the game medium is launched into a game area to perform a predetermined game. A game-disabled state detecting means for detecting a game-disabled state of the machine, and a game medium lending stop for stopping the lending operation of the game medium when the game-disabled state detecting means detects that the game machine is in the game-disabled state A means and a gaming machine provided with. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game-disabled state detection means determines that the game is in a game-disabled state when a firing stop signal is input from the hall management device. 3. The gaming machine is provided with an accessory control circuit for controlling the gaming board and an ejection control circuit for controlling the ejection of winning balls and rental balls, and exchanges data between them.
It is provided with prize ball discharge processing means for performing prize ball discharge processing, and the game-disabled state detection means determines that it is in a game-disabled state when the exchange of data performed by the prize ball discharge processing means is impossible. The gaming machine according to Item 1. 4. The game machine is provided with an accessory control circuit for controlling the game board and a discharge control circuit for controlling discharge of winning balls and rental balls, and exchanges data between them.
The game according to claim 1, further comprising: prize ball discharge processing means for performing prize ball discharge processing, wherein the game-disabled state detection means determines that the game is in a game-disabled state when the accessory control circuit is in an error state. Machine.