JPH09173564A - Pachinko machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent illegal reform of a game control means as much as possible and to expedite the processing operation of winner balls. SOLUTION: The detection signal from a winner ball detector 122 is inputted in a microcomputer 202 for game control; the signal for the number of prize balls, which is the information for the number of prize balls to be paid out in response to the winner ball, is outputted from the microcomputer 202 for game play control to a microcomputer 220 for payout control; and also, a discharge control operation of the winner ball is started before the completion of the dispensing operation of the prize balls.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball game machine represented by, for example, a pachinko game machine and a coin game machine. About the machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this type of ball game machine, a conventionally known ball game machine is provided with, for example, a prize ball processing device for processing prize balls won in a prize area provided in a game area. In some games, the winning ball processing device controls the winning balls and pays out a predetermined number of prize balls for each winning ball to the player. The winning ball processing device detects winning balls held by the winning ball holding means for holding the winning balls, and the winning balls held by the winning ball holding means, and the detection output thereof is used for prize ball payout control. The detecting means and the winning ball discharging means for discharging the winning balls held by the winning ball holding means are provided.

Further, in this type of conventional ball game machine, game control means for controlling the game state of the ball game machine,
It has a payout operation control means for controlling a ball payout device for paying out balls, and the detection output of the winning ball detection means is input to the payout operation control means, and the payout operation control means controls the game control means. A winning ball detection signal indicating that a winning ball has been detected is transmitted, and the game control means which has received the signal determines the payout amount information for specifying the number of prize balls to be paid out for the winning ball. It was configured to reply to the control means. And the payout operation control means,
Control is performed to cause the ball payout device to pay out the number of prize balls according to the payout number information.

[0004]

On the other hand, in the conventional ball game machine of this type, since the game control means controls the game state of the ball game machine, for example, a game with a high gambling property. There has been an inconvenience that the game control means is illegally modified so as to be modified so that the operation is performed. Especially,
Since the prize control signal is input from the payout operation control means, the game control means inputs incorrect data from the input port of the signal to cause the game control means to perform an operation different from normal normal operation. There was a risk of unauthorized modification.

Further, when a large number of prize balls are generated in a short period of time, there is also a need to accelerate the processing operation speed of the prize balls by the prize ball processing means to process the prize balls promptly. .

The present invention has been conceived in view of the actual situation, and an object thereof is to prevent the illegal modification of the game control means described above as much as possible and to increase the processing speed of winning balls. It is to provide a game machine.

[0007]

The present invention according to claim 1 is a ball game machine in which a ball is hit in a game area to perform a game, and a game state of the ball game machine is controlled. Game control means, a prize area provided in the game area, in which a ball can be won, and a prize ball that processes the prize ball to perform a payout operation based on the prize ball that is won in the prize area. The winning ball processing apparatus includes a processing device, a ball paying-out device for paying out balls, and a payout operation control means for controlling the ball paying-out device and the winning ball processing device, wherein the winning ball processing device holds the winning ball. Holding means, winning ball detection means for detecting the winning balls held by the winning ball holding means and outputting the detection output to the game control means, and winning balls held by the winning ball holding means The game system including a winning ball discharging means for discharging. The means outputs payout number information for specifying the number of prize balls to be paid out corresponding to the winning balls, to the payout operation control means, on condition that the detection output from the winning ball detecting means is inputted. The payout operation control means, on condition that the payout number information is input, performs control for paying out the number of prize balls according to the input payout number information from the ball payout device, and Without waiting for the end of payout of prize balls accompanying the control, the control for starting the discharge operation of the prize balls by the prize ball discharge means is performed, and the information communication between the game control means and the payout operation control means, One-way communication is made from the game control means to the payout operation control means.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the gaming state of the ball game machine is controlled by the operation of the game control means.
By the function of the winning ball processing device, the winning balls are processed in order to perform the payout operation of the prize balls based on the winning balls which are won in the winning area provided in the game area. The function of the payout operation control means controls the ball payout device for paying out the balls and the winning ball processing device. And, the winning ball processing device,
By the winning ball holding means for holding the winning ball, the winning ball detecting means for detecting the winning ball held by the winning ball holding means and outputting the detection output to the game control means, and the winning ball holding means And a winning ball discharging means for discharging the held winning balls. Further, the game control means, on condition that the detection output from the winning prize detecting means is input, the payout number information specifying the number of prize balls to be paid out corresponding to the winning prize, the payout operation The payout operation control means controls the payout operation to pay out the number of prize balls from the ball payout device according to the input payout number information, on condition that the payout number information is input. At the same time, control for starting the prize winning ball discharging operation by the prize winning ball discharging means is performed without waiting for the end of the payout of prize balls associated with the payout control. The information communication between the game control means and the payout control means is one-way communication from the game control means to the payout operation control means.

[0009]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a pachinko game machine is shown as an example of a ball game machine, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a coin game machine.

First, with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, an overall configuration of a pachinko gaming machine 1 which is an example of a ball game machine according to an embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view of the pachinko gaming machine 1, FIG. 2 is an overall rear view showing a partial internal structure of the pachinko gaming machine 1, and FIG. is there.

In FIG. 1, a pachinko gaming machine 1 has a front frame 2 formed in a frame shape as is well known, and a door holding frame 3 is provided around a frame-shaped opening of the front frame 2. A glass door frame 4 having a glass plate is provided above the door holding frame 3, and a front door plate 5 having a hit ball supply tray 6 is provided below the door holding frame 3 so as to be freely opened and closed. In addition, on the lower surface of the front frame 2, there is provided a surplus ball tray 20 for storing surplus prize balls overflowing from the hit ball supply tray 6, and an operation handle 21 for firing a hit ball is also provided. . Further, the front frame 2 is provided with a game effect lamp 22 which is turned on or blinks when the game state becomes a predetermined specific game state at the upper part thereof, A lock decoration is provided to decorate the periphery of the lock of the locking device, and an operation lamp 23 is provided inside the lock decoration to indicate that the ball is fired and the pachinko gaming machine 1 is operating. I have.

The hitting ball supply tray 6 will be described in more detail. The hitting ball supply tray 6 communicates a prize ball payout port 7a formed on the upstream side with a supply port 7b formed on the downstream side. The storage alignment path 8 is formed as described above, and a ball detector 9 is provided on the bottom rear surface in the middle of the storage alignment path 8. The ball detector 9 detects the ball remaining on the ball supply plate 6. In addition, hitting ball supply plate 6
In the lower space of the upstream side of the
Is built-in. Further, another ball detector 9a having the same structure is provided on the slightly upstream side of the ball detector 9, and the ball detector 9a on the upstream side does not detect the presence of a hitting ball even if the ball detector 9 stops detecting the presence of a hitting ball. When the presence of a hitting ball is detected, it is determined that a trouble such as a ball jam occurs and the detection output of the absence of a hitting ball of the ball detector 9 is invalidated. Good.

In addition, the hitting ball supply tray 6 is provided with an operation section which is operated when borrowing a game ball through a card unit 50 provided adjacent to the pachinko gaming machine 1. Ball rental switch 15 and return switch 17 as operation units
And a mode changeover switch 18, and a frequency display LE is provided between the ball lending switch 15 and the return switch 17.
D16 is provided. The ball lending switch 15 is operated when borrowing a game ball from the card unit 50, and the return switch 17 is for returning the card inserted into the card insertion slot 55 of the card unit 50 at the end of the game. It is a thing. The fact that the card has been inserted into the card insertion slot 55 can be seen from the fact that the card insertion display lamp 54 provided in the card unit 50 is lit. The frequency display LED 16 is
The remaining amount of the card inserted into the card insertion slot 55 of the card unit 50 is displayed. Further, the mode changeover switch 18 is a manual mode in which game balls to be borrowed are operated by operating the ball lending switch 15, and when the remaining amount of the ball hitting the ball supply tray 6 is no longer detected by the ball detector 9. An automatic mode for automatically paying out game balls, or one of the modes is set. Also,
Reference numeral 11 denotes an automatic ball lending display for displaying the automatic mode, and reference numeral 12 denotes a ball lending display for displaying that ball lending is possible.

At the rear of the glass door frame 5 and on the back of the front frame 2, a game board 30 is detachably mounted. This game board 30 is provided with a guide rail 31 for guiding a hitting ball in a substantially circular shape.
A middle area surrounded by the area constitutes a game area 32, and the game area 32 is provided with game devices such as a variable display device, a variable winning ball device, and a winning opening. More specifically, a variable display device 33 having a plurality of rotary drum mechanisms is arranged in the approximate center of the game area 32, and a start winning port 34 and a variable winning ball device 35 are provided below the variable display device 33. Are arranged. The starting winning opening 34 is for rotating the rotary drum mechanism of the variable display device 33. Therefore, the winning balls won in the starting winning opening 34 are
As shown in FIG. 3, it is guided to the back surface of the game board 30 and is detected by a starting winning ball detector 46 provided in the winning ball collecting cover body 45. The variable prize ball device 35 has an opening / closing plate 36 driven to be opened and closed by a solenoid 37. The inside of the opening / closing plate 36 is divided into three, the center of which is set as a specific prize area. The specific winning ball detector 38 faces the region, and the winning ball detectors 39a and 39b face the left and right. Also,
In addition to the above-described configuration, the game board 30 is provided with an out port 40 at the lowermost portion of the game area 32, and winning ports 42 a and 42 b on the left and right of the center of the game area 32.
A payout lamp 43 and an out-of-ball lamp 44 are provided on the outer side of the upper part of the lamp. As shown in FIG. 3, a flow-down concave path 41 is provided on the back surface of the outlet 40 so that the balls entering the outlet 40 are guided toward the lower edge of the game board 30.

The game contents of the game board 30 having the above-described structure are as follows: When a ball hits the starting winning opening 34 and the starting winning ball detector 46 is turned on, the rotary drum mechanism of the variable display device 33 rotates. Is started, and the rotation is stopped when a fixed time (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed. Then, when the combination of symbols displayed on the variable display device 33 at the time of stop is a predetermined combination of big hit symbols, it becomes a specific game state (also called a big hit game state) and the opening / closing plate of the variable winning ball device 35. 36 is opened until a fixed time (for example, 30 seconds) elapses or a predetermined number (for example, 10) of winning balls are generated. When the opening / closing plate 36 is opened, the hit ball wins in the specific winning area, and the specific winning ball detector 38 is turned on.
When N, the continuation right is generated, and the above-mentioned opening operation of the opening / closing plate 36 is repeated again. This continuation right is allowed a predetermined number of times (for example, 16 times). Therefore, when the big hit game state is reached, there is a chance to obtain a large number of winning balls in a short time. As described above, since a great chance for the player in the big hit game state is generated based on the variable display device 33 and the result of one variable display, it may occur when the remaining balls in the hit ball supply tray 6 are almost exhausted. In such a case, the hit ball does not remain in the hit ball supply tray 6 even though it is necessary to successively fire the hit ball to cause the hit ball to win a specific winning area of the variable winning ball device 35. Therefore, the player must borrow a game ball by operating the ball lending switch 15 in a hurry. However, it takes some time until the game balls are paid out after the ball lending switch 15 is operated, and the balls are fired to reach the specific winning area of the variable winning ball device 35, so during that time. Although there is an inconvenience of losing an advantageous chance (establishment of the continuation right), in the present embodiment, if the mode change switch 18 is set to the automatic mode, the ball detector 9 detects the absence of a hitting ball. Since the game balls are automatically paid out to the hitting ball supply tray 6 at the time of detection, the above-mentioned inconvenience does not occur. On the other hand, when the prize ball payout frequency per unit time is high even when the automatic mode is set as described above, for example, when the big hit game state is reached, the prize ball is paid out immediately thereafter. Therefore, there is no need to automatically pay out game balls, and the remaining ball lending information in the magnetic card is not wasted.

By the way, on the back surface of the game board 30, as shown in FIG. 3, the various prize holes or the prize balls provided on the front surface of the game board 30 are provided with prize balls along a predetermined prize path. The prize ball collecting cover body 45 that is guided by the above is provided. Among the prize balls guided to the prize ball collecting cover body 45, the prize balls that have won the opening / closing plate 36 are relatively large in number of prize balls (for example, It is controlled so as to pay out 15 prizes, and the prize balls that have won a prize opening other than the opening / closing plate 36 are controlled so as to pay out a relatively small number of prize balls (for example, 5 prizes). In order to distinguish such winning balls, signals from the winning ball detectors 38, 39a and 39b are sent to a payout control circuit board 152, which will be described later, or a game control circuit board 199 (see FIG. 2). ) Is sent to the payout control circuit board 152. A game relay board 47 that relays wiring extending from switches, lamps, driving sources, and the like provided on the game board 30 is attached to the back surface of the winning ball collecting cover body 45.

A pachinko gaming machine 1 configured as described above
As shown in FIG. 1, the card unit 50 provided on the side of the card has a usable indicator lamp 51 for displaying whether or not it is in a usable state, and a fraction (100 yen) in the balance information recorded in the card. If there is a number less than), the fraction display switch 52 for displaying the fraction on the frequency display LED 16 and whether or not the card unit 50 corresponds to which side of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is displayed. A connecting stand direction indicator 53 and a card insertion indicator lamp 54 for indicating that a card is being inserted into the card unit 50.
A card insertion slot 55 into which a magnetic card as a recording medium is inserted; and a card unit lock 56 to be opened when checking the mechanism of the card reader / writer provided on the back surface of the card insertion slot 55. ing. And
The card unit 50 configured in this manner is controlled by a unique control circuit, but is provided with the switches 15, 17, 18, the display LED 16, and the payout control circuit board 152 provided on the pachinko gaming machine 1 side. An interface board 138 is provided on a mechanism plate 60, which will be described later, provided on the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1 because it is necessary to connect the interface board 138. The card unit 50 may be built in the pachinko gaming machine 1.

Next, the structure of the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. A ball tank 65 is provided on the top of the mechanism plate 60 of the pachinko gaming machine, and the pachinko balls are supplied into the ball tank 65 from above with the pachinko gaming machine 1 installed on the gaming machine installation island. .
67 is a ball deficiency detector. The pachinko balls stored in the ball tank 65 are supplied to the ball payout device 97, and the balls are paid out into the hitting ball supply tray 6 by the operation of the ball payout device 97.

The mechanism plate 60 further includes a board box 149 for a payout control circuit board and a game control board box 1 for accommodating a game control board 199 for performing game control.
98 are provided. In the figure, 33 is a variable display device, and 47 is a game relay board. The prize balls that have been hit in the game area and won in the prize area or the variable prize ball device are processed by the prize ball processing device 115, and a predetermined number of prize balls for each prize ball are paid out from the ball payout device 97. It

Reference numeral 196 is a hitting ball launching device, which is a motor 19
The ball is fired one by one into the game area using the turning force of No. 7. In FIG. 2, a terminal board 78 is provided in the upper corner portion of the pachinko gaming machine 1. This terminal board has a power connector 8 for connecting to an external power source.
0 and a power switch 81 are provided. further,
The terminal board 78 includes a ball breaking information output terminal 79a, a firing control signal input terminal 79b, a ball lending information output terminal 79c,
A supply information output terminal 79d is provided.

The game control board box 198 is provided with a key switch 200 for inputting and setting the probability that the variable display device 33 becomes a predetermined specific display mode and the specific game state occurs. By operating a predetermined key inserted in the key switch 200 by an attendant at the game arcade, the probability can be set to three levels of high probability, medium probability and low probability.
The setting state of the probability is indicated by the setting probability display LED 20.
It is indicated by 1.

The card unit 50 provided on the side of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with a ball lending amount setting switch 213. A ball lending amount to be lent with one ball lending operation is set.

Next, the structure of the mechanism plate 60 provided on the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 11. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the mechanism plate 60, and FIG.
7 is a front view of the ball payout device 97 provided on the mechanism plate 60 as viewed from the back, FIG. 6 is a side sectional view thereof, and FIG. 7 is a rear view of the winning ball processing device 115 provided on the mechanism plate 60. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a passage cover body 132 that covers the lower rear surface of the mechanism plate 60, and FIG. 9 is a mounting structure of a dispensing control circuit board box 149 mounted on the mechanism plate 60. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing FIG.
11A is an exploded view of the ball dispensing device 97, and FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view of the ball dispensing device 97 viewed from a side.
(B) is a cross-sectional view of the ball payout device 97 as viewed from the front.

Further, in the figure, the mechanism plate 60 is provided with a ball tank 65 that mainly stores prize balls and a ball alignment rail 69 that guides the prize balls stored in the ball tank 65 while aligning them downstream. Upper base unit 61
And a ball payout device 9 for paying out prize balls mainly based on winning.
7 is provided and an intermediate base unit 62 is provided, and a lower base unit 63 provided with a processing mechanism that mainly processes hit balls including winning balls hit on the game board 30 It As shown in FIG. 4, the mechanism plate 60 of the present embodiment configured by assembling the three base units 61 to 63 as described above has a generally "U" shape as viewed from the back. In a state where the mechanism plate 60 is closed, one side of the game board 30 is opened. Therefore, even if the back surface structure of the game board 30 is complicated (some game boards have a large rearward projecting area and a large amount of protrusion, and some have complicated wiring), The opening / closing operation of the mechanism plate 60 can be smoothly performed. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper base unit 6 is provided on the opposite side of the intermediate base unit 62.
Connecting temporary member 6 for connecting the first base unit 63 to the lower base unit 63
4, the connecting temporary member 64 is not always necessary, and may not be necessary depending on the structure of the winning ball collecting cover body 45.

Therefore, the structure of the mechanism plate 60 will be described below for each base unit. First, in the upper base unit 61, as shown in FIG. 4, a ball tank 65 for storing a large amount of prize balls, and a plurality of rows of prize balls supplied from the ball tank 65 (two rows in the present embodiment) ), And a ball alignment rail 69 which flows down in a line;
Gutter 74 for changing the direction of the prize ball guided by the ball toward the ball dispensing device 97 described later, and the curved gutter 74
Are provided at predetermined positions, respectively.

The ball tank 65 is located at a predetermined position of the upper base unit 61 (at this position, a concave portion is formed along the side surface shape of the ball tank 65) by means of mounting pieces provided on both right and left sides thereof. It can be attached with screws. Further, the ball tank 65 is formed in a box shape having an open upper surface, and a drop port 68 communicating with the ball alignment rail 69 is opened on the downstream side of the bottom surface thereof.
The bottom surface is formed by a plurality of inclined bottom surfaces that are inclined toward 8. A ball deficiency detection lever 66 pivotally supported is provided on the inclined bottom surface above the drop port 68, and a ball deficiency detector 67 is fixed below the ball deficiency detection lever 66. . The ball deficiency detector 67 derives a prize ball replenishment request signal to a management computer (not shown) provided in the amusement arcade when the prize balls are insufficient in the ball tank 65, and a ball provided on the game board 30. The cutting lamp 44 is turned on. The ball deficiency detection lever 66 turns off the ball deficiency detector 67 when a prize ball in the ball tank 65 is placed, and the ball tank 6
When the prize ball in 5 is no longer placed due to a shortage, the ball shortage detector 67 is turned on to output the above signal. The wiring extending from the ball deficiency detector 67 is connected to the terminal board 78 once, and then the output line is connected from the terminal board 78 to the hall management computer.

The ball alignment rail 69 arranged on the downstream side of the ball tank 65 is attached in an inclined shape from one end to the other end of the upper base unit 61, and a partition wall 69a is erected at the center of the inside thereof. ing. This partition 69a is
It is formed gradually higher so that the prize balls flowing out of the falling port 68 of the ball tank 65 are aligned in two rows on the left and right as they go downstream. In addition, a ball leveling member 70 is hung down at the upper portion on the downstream side of the ball alignment rail 69, so that the prize balls flowing down the ball alignment rail 69 in two stages up and down are one stage. Further, a ball stopper 71 and a ball stopper 72 are provided on the downstream side of the ball stopper 70. The ball stopper metal fitting 71 is for temporarily stopping the balls stored in the ball alignment rail 69 at the time of failure or inspection, and the ball leveling metal fitting 72 is for finally aligning the balls in one step. It is. In addition, when the ball alignment rail 69 is fixed to the mechanism plate 60, the position of the adjustment long hole 73 formed on the upstream end side of the ball alignment rail 69 is adjusted to adjust the inclination of the ball alignment rail 69. The angle can be adjusted.

Further, on the downstream side of the alignment rail 69, a curved gutter 74 having an inverted "U" -shaped passage is formed. The curve gutter 74 flows down the prize balls, which are flown down in two rows in the front-rear direction (viewed from the back surface of the mechanism plate 60) by the ball alignment rails 69, in two rows in the left-right direction (also viewed from the back surface of the mechanism plate 60). While changing the direction as described above, a ball drop opening is formed in the bent portion, and the ball drop valve 75 is configured to be openably and closably closed. The ball removal valve 75 closes or opens the ball removal port by inserting a ball removal pin from the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1. In addition, a ball extraction upper passage 76 is formed below the ball extraction opening.

The upper base unit 61 is provided with a terminal board 78 in addition to the above-described structure. The terminal board 78 has a power connector 80 to which an external power supply line is connected, a power switch 81, and an external (for example, for a hall). Printed wiring provided with a ball break information output terminal 79a, a launch control signal input terminal 79b, a ball lending information output terminal 79c, a replenishment information output terminal 79d, etc., which connect a signal line between the management computer) and the pachinko gaming machine 1. It is composed of a substrate.

The upper base unit 61 is provided with connecting projections 77 on the left and right sides of the lower portion of the curve gutter 74. The connection protrusion 77 is adapted to be fitted with a connection concave protrusion 82 formed at the upper end of the intermediate base unit 62, and includes an upper base unit 61 and an intermediate base unit 62.
Is to be assembled. Specifically, the connection concave protrusion 82
Is formed with a concave portion into which the connecting protrusion 77 is fitted. After the concave portion is fitted into the connecting protrusion 77, the screw is integrally screwed from above the connecting concave protrusion 82 with a screw, thereby forming the upper base. The unit 61 and the intermediate base unit 62 are firmly connected.

Next, the structure of the intermediate base unit 62 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 5, the connecting concave protrusions 8 are provided above and below the intermediate base unit 62.
2 is formed, and the ball-cutting intermediate passage 8 is formed on the side thereof.
3 are formed. The connection concave protrusion 82 is for connecting and fixing the upper base unit 61 and the lower base unit 63 to the intermediate base unit 62. As described above, the connection protrusion 77 of the upper base unit 61 is connected to the upper connection concave protrusion 82. Are connected and fixed, and the lower connecting concave protrusion 82 of the lower base unit 63 described later is connected and fixed to the upper base unit 61, the intermediate base unit 62, and the lower base unit 6.
3 are integrally connected. In addition, the connection protrusion 102 of the lower base unit 63 and the connection recess protrusion 82 of the lower
Is connected and fixed in the same way as the connection and fixing of the connecting projection 77 of the upper base unit 61 and the connecting concave projection 82 of the upper part. The bleeding intermediate passage 83 communicates with the bleeding upper passage 76 and allows the prize balls, which have been bleeded by the bleeding valve 75, to flow down.

By the way, the intermediate base unit 62 includes
A passage body 84 is fixed to an upper portion thereof, and a ball discharging device 97 is fixed below the passage body 84. More specifically, the passage body 84 has prize ball passages 86a and 86b for flowing down two rows of prize balls whose flow direction has been changed right and left by the curve gutter 74, and the prize ball passages 86a and 86.
The ball detection sensors 87a and 87b face upstream of b. The ball detection sensors 87a and 87b detect the presence or absence of a prize ball in the prize ball passages 86a and 86b. When one of the ball detection sensors 87a and 87b stops detecting the prize ball, the prize ball is paid out. The rotation of a stepping motor (not shown) of the device 97 is stopped to inactivate the payout of prize balls. In addition,
The ball detection sensors 87a and 87b are locked by the locking pieces 88 at positions where the prize ball dispensing device 97 detects 27 to 28 prize balls in the two rows of prize ball passages 86a and 86b. I have.

Further, the passage body 84 is curved in the left and right direction at its central portion so as to reduce the ball pressure of the prize balls flowing down inside, and the stop hole 8 is formed at the center of the curved portion.
9 are formed. A mounting boss (not shown) projecting from the intermediate base unit 62 is fitted into the back surface of the stop hole 89. After the stop hole 89 is fitted into the mounting boss, a set screw is screwed. Thus, the passage body 84 is fixed to the intermediate base unit 62. Before screwing the set screw, the passage body 84 can be mounted at a predetermined position by a locking projection 85 projecting from the intermediate base unit 62. After finishing, the passage body 84 is finally fixed to the intermediate base unit 62 by screwing a set screw.

Further, a ball stopper 90 is provided below the passage body 84. FIG.
As shown in the figure, a stopper piece 91 pivotally supported by a support shaft 93 and having a stopper portion 91a at the tip end protruding and retracting into a prize ball passage 86a, 86b through a hole 92, and an upper rear portion of the stopper piece 91. The operating pin 95 is engaged with an engaging portion 94 formed on the operating pin 95, and a spring 96 is provided around the operating pin 95, and the operating pin 95 is slidably supported in the vertical direction. Then, in a normal use state in which the ball discharging device 97 is mounted in a normal state, as shown in FIG. 6A, the lower end of the operating pin 95 contacts the case 98 of the ball discharging device 97 and the spring 96 The engagement portion 94 is engaged with the middle of the operating pin 95 pushed up against the urging force of
a, 86b, so that it is retracted.
The prize balls flowing down the prize ball passages 86a and 86b are supplied to a ball discharging device 97 on the downstream side. On the other hand, the ball payout device 97
6 is mounted in the opposite direction, the lower end of the operating pin 97 has a hole 9 formed in the case 98, as shown in FIG. 6B.
9, the operating pin 95 moves downward by the urging force of the spring 96, so that the engagement state between the middle of the operating pin 95 and the engaging portion 94 is released, so that the stopper portion 91a of the stopper piece 91a is released. From hole 92 to prize ball passage 86
Therefore, the prize balls flowing down through the prize ball passages 86a and 86b are not supplied to the ball payout device 97 on the downstream side. In this way, the ball stopping device 90 supplies a prize ball to the ball payout device 97,
Alternatively, the supply is stopped, but for example, when the ball payout device 97 fails, the ball payout device 9
Compared to the conventional one in which the flow of the prize balls is automatically stopped by removing 7, and the ball payout device 97 can be removed only after the ball removing operation for all the prize balls is completed as in the conventional case. The ball payout device 97 can be removed extremely easily and quickly. Further, since the illustrated ball payout device 97 is housed in a rectangular parallelepiped case 98,
It is difficult to know the normal direction in the up and down direction, and there are cases where it is installed upside down, but even in such a case, if it is mistakenly installed in the reverse direction as described above, the flow of the prize ball will stop. It is supposed to do.

The ball paying-out device 97 mounted below the intermediate base unit 62 is housed inside a rectangular parallelepiped case 98, and four engaging projections 180 on the left and right of the case 98 (see FIG. 10). (See FIG. 3) is brought into contact with the positioning projection 100 formed on the intermediate base unit 62, and in this state, the lower end of the case 98 is engaged by the elastic engagement piece 101 formed on the lower portion of the intermediate base unit 62 to attach the positioning protrusion 100. To be done. The specific configuration of the ball dispensing device 97 formed in the case 98 will be described in detail below, but the screw 188 is rotated by a stepping motor 189 to count and discharge the balls one by one. belongs to. The balls to be paid out by the ball payout device 97 are not only prize balls based on winnings, but also game balls to be lent out by the ball payout device 97.

The structure of the ball payout device 97 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 11.
As shown in FIG. 10, the case 98 of No. 7 is divided into two parts, left and right, and ball supply paths 181a and 181b are formed in the respective divided cases 98a and 98b. The ball supply passages 181a, 181b have a curved surface 182a, 1 inside thereof.
82b, and is curved rearward. The ball feed horizontal path 18 is located below the ends of the curved surfaces 182a and 182b.
4a and 184b are formed, and the ball feed horizontal path 184 is further formed.
Ball discharge passages 183a and 183b are formed at the ends of a and 184b. These ball supply paths 181a, 181b,
Ball feed horizontal paths 184a, 184b and ball discharge path 18
3a and 183b are formed in front of partition walls 195a and 195b that partition the divided cases 98a and 98b into front and rear. A ball pressure buffer 185 is sandwiched in front of the split cases 98a and 98b. The ball pressure buffer member 185 is provided in the prize ball passage 8 of the passage body 84.
As shown in FIG. 11B, the prize balls supplied from 6a and 86b are distributed to the left and right sides, and the ball supply paths
181b, and the light emitting element 1
86 (LED) and a light receiving element 187 are provided.
The light emitting element 186 and the light receiving element 187 are provided at a predetermined interval, and the tip of a screw 188, which is an example of a rotating body described below, is inserted into this interval. In addition, the ball pressure buffering member 185 includes the split case 98a,
When the sheets 98b are bonded together, they are completely housed and fixed inside.

Further, the ball feeding horizontal paths 184a, 184
A screw 188 rotated by a stepping motor 189 is arranged between b. That is, the motor fixing plate 190 for fixing the stepping motor 189 is fitted and fixed in the fixing grooves 191a and 191b formed behind the partition walls 195a and 195b, and the motor shaft of the stepping motor 189 is positioned in front of the partition walls 195a and 195b. The screw 188 is fixed so as to protrude forward of the protrusion. On the outer circumference of the screw 188,
Ball feed horizontal path 1 by rotation of stepping motor 189
A helical projection 188a is provided to project the prize balls placed on 84a and 184b forward, and a recess for covering the light emitting element 186 is formed at the tip of the screw 188. Two notches 192 are formed. Since the notch 192 is formed at a symmetrical position of 180 degrees, the light from the light emitting element 186 is detected twice by the light receiving element 187 via the notch 192 during one rotation of the screw 188. It has become. The light emitting element 186, the light receiving element 187,
And the wiring 193 from the stepping motor 189
They are put together and pulled out to the outside through a drawing hole formed below the rear part of the case 98 and connected to the connector 194.

In the ball payout device 97 configured as described above, the prize balls supplied from the ball supply paths 181a and 181b are stopped at the positions where they are supplied to the rear ends of the ball feed horizontal paths 184a and 184b. In this state, when the stepping motor 189 starts to rotate, the spiral projection 188a of the screw 188 causes the prize ball to move to the ball feed horizontal path 184.
a, 184b to move forward, and finally from the end of the ball feed horizontal paths 184a, 184b to the ball discharge path 183.
a, 183b. At this time, the prize balls fall alternately from the left and right ball feed horizontal paths 184a and 184b.
Since one prize ball falls from one side every time the 8 rotates a half turn, the light from the light emitting element 186 is eventually detected by the light receiving element 187 every time one prize ball falls. Therefore, the number of signals detected by the light receiving element 187 is equal to the predetermined number of prize balls (corresponding to one winning).
Is controlled so that the driving of the stepping motor 189 is stopped when the prize is reached, so that a prize ball corresponding to the winning can be accurately paid out. Note that the rotating body may be a sprocket or the like that rotates to rotate the balls downward, in addition to the screw 188.

Next, the structure of the lower base unit 63 will be described. In FIG. 4, the lower base unit 63
On the front side (the side in contact with the game board 5), a winning ball collecting gutter 103 is provided in an approximately middle position in an inclined manner. The winning ball collecting gutter 103 is provided on the variable winning ball device 3 of the game board 30.
A winning ball that has won 5 or the like is received and guided to a winning ball processing device 115 described later, and a downstream side thereof is a winning ball guiding passage 105 through which the winning ball flows down one by one. In addition, the dust discharging hole 104 is formed along the inclination of the winning ball collecting gutter 103. In addition, winning ball collecting gutter 103
Out ball guiding passage 106 for guiding out balls from the out port 40 provided in the game board 32 is also formed below the game board 32. The end of the out-ball guide path 106 joins a ball-drop lower path 107 to be described later.

On the other hand, on the rear surface side of the lower base unit 63, a prize ball payout passage 108 is formed in the upper part on one side,
An upper plate communication port 110 is formed at the lower end of the prize ball payout passage 108. The upper plate communication port 110 guides a prize ball to the hitting ball supply plate 6 provided on the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1. Also, beside the prize ball payout passage 108,
Ball-drop lower passage 10 communicating with ball-drop intermediate path 83
7 is formed. The beading lower passage 107 is formed from one side of the lower base unit 63 to the center thereof, and in the middle thereof, the prize bead payout passage 108.
And communicates with the prize winning ball outlet 121, which will be described later, and finally joins the out ball guiding passage 106.

A switching lever 109 is arranged between the prize ball payout passage 108 and the ball drop lower passage 107 described above. The switching lever 109 is rotatable by its lower end pivotally supported by a support shaft. When the switching lever 109 is tilted to the right as shown by the solid line in FIG. When the prize ball is tilted to the left, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. It is designed to be discharged outside the gaming machine 1. The switching operation of the switching lever 109 can be performed by manually operating an operation pin (not shown) projecting above the switching lever 109. Further, it is desirable that the switching lever 109 be provided with a spring member that is biased so as to maintain the state when the switching lever 109 is tilted left or right. The switching lever 109 may be switched by an electric drive source such as a solenoid.

A communication passage 111 is connected to the other side of the upper plate communication port 110, and a surplus ball passage 112 is connected to the end of the communication passage 111. Thus, when a large number of prize balls are paid out based on the winning and the hitting ball supply tray 6 is full of prize balls, and finally reaches the upper plate communication port 110 and continues to pay out the prize balls, the prize balls are connected to the communication passage. It is led to the surplus ball passage 112 via 111,
The surplus balls are discharged to the tray 20 via a connection gutter (not shown). When the prize ball is further paid out, the surplus ball tray 20 becomes full, but the surplus ball passage 112
When reaching the full tank detection plate 113 provided on one side wall of the, the full tank detection plate 113 is pressed by the prize ball and swings outward about the support shaft at the upper end. The detector 114 is turned on to stop the driving of the stepping motor of the ball payout device 97 to deactivate the prize ball payout operation, and to stop the driving of the hit ball firing device as necessary.

The prize ball payout passage 108, the ball drop lower passage 107, the communication passage 111, and the surplus ball passage 11 described above.
8 is covered with a passage cover body 132 fixed by screws as shown in FIG. 8, and a mounting opening 113 is formed at a position corresponding to the winning ball processing device 115 described below. , The mounting opening 113 of the support shaft 13
The cover 5 is openably and closably covered with an opening / closing lid 134 that opens and closes around the center 5. The opening / closing lid 134 is formed in a concave shape, and an interface board 138 for electrically connecting the card unit 50 and components on the pachinko gaming machine 1 side is accommodated in the concave portion. Further, a storage section 148 for storing a substrate box 149 for storing a prize ball payout control board 152 for controlling the operation of the prize ball processing device 115 and the ball payout device 97 is formed on the lower 1 side of the lower base unit 63. ing.

Therefore, first, the configuration of the winning ball processing device 115 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the prize-ball processing device 115 is formed integrally on the mounting base 116, and therefore, the mounting portion 118 formed around the mounting base 116 is mounted on the lower base unit 63 so as to abut. By fitting it into the boss and screwing it in with screws,
It can be easily attached to the lower base unit 63. The periphery of the mounting base 116 is a reinforcing rib 117.
Are formed to enhance the overall rigidity. When the mounting base 116 is mounted on the lower base unit 63, the winning ball entrance 1 formed on the lower base unit 63 is formed.
19 and the winning ball flowing down road 12 formed on the mounting base 116
The starting point of the coin is coincident with the starting point of 0, whereby the winning ball is guided to the winning ball processing device 115. Further, the winning balls processed by the winning ball processing device 115 are provided in the lower ball passage 10 of the lower base unit 63.
7 are discharged to a winning ball exit 121 formed at a position communicating with the winning ball 7.

By the way, a right-angled winning ball downflow path 120 is formed from the lower side of the mounting base 116 to the center, and the winning ball detector 122 has a locking claw 123 slightly below the bent portion of the winning ball downflow path 120. It is fixed by. The winning ball detector 122 is a proximity type switch, and a passage hole through which a winning ball passes is formed in the front part of the switch. Further, the first ball locking member 124 and the second ball locking member 130 are pivotally supported about the supporting shafts 125 and 131 so as to sandwich the passage hole of the winning ball detector 122, respectively. There is. A rear end of the first ball locking member 124 is connected to a plunger 128 of a solenoid 127 through a link rod 126.
It is connected to. Solenoid 127 is mounting base 1
The lug 16 is detachably mounted by a locking claw protruding from the plunger 16, and a spring 129 is provided around the plunger 128 to constantly urge the plunger 128 downward. On the other hand, on the tip side of the first ball locking member 124, a ball stop portion 124a is formed in the upper portion thereof, and an engaging piece 124b that engages with the second ball stop portion 130 is formed in the lower portion thereof.
The ball stopper 130 has a ball stopper 130a formed in the upper front portion thereof, and an engagement recess 130b formed in the middle thereof to engage with the engagement piece 124b.

The operation of the winning ball processing apparatus 115 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the normal state of the FF, as shown in FIG. 7A, the ball stopping portion 124a of the first ball locking portion 124 does not protrude into the winning ball flowing down path 120, or the second ball stopping member. 13
The 0 ball stopping portion 130a is in a state of protruding into the winning ball flow path 120 below the winning ball detector 122. When the winning balls are generated in such a state and the winning balls flow down into the downflow path 120, the leading winning ball P1 is stopped by the ball stopper 130a in the passage hole of the winning ball detector 122. . For this reason, a detection signal is sent from the winning ball detector 122 to the control circuit of the payout control circuit board 152, whereby the ball payout device 97 is driven and controlled, and a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out. In addition, in the state where the first winning ball P1 is parked at the stopping portion 130a, the ball pressure of all winning balls including the succeeding winning ball is applied to the stopping portion 130a of the second stopping member 130, The load is applied to the ball stop 130
a, the load on the first ball stop member 124 due to the engagement between the engagement recess 130b and the engagement piece 124b is reduced. It does not rise against the urging force of the spring 129. That is, the first and second ball stop members 124, 13 are loaded by the loads of a large number of winning balls.
0 does not blind, and reliably processes winning balls one by one.

When the payout of the predetermined number of prize balls is completed, a drive signal is sent from the payout control circuit board 152 to the solenoid 127 to turn on the solenoid 127 for a predetermined time. When the solenoid 127 is turned on, FIG.
As shown in (B), the ball stop portion 124a has the winning ball falling path 1
The prize winning ball detector 122 for the next prize winning ball P2 after entering 20
Of the ball stopper 130a
Is withdrawn from the winning ball downflow path 120, the leading winning ball P1 is opened and flows downward. Then, when the solenoid 127 is turned off after a certain period of time,
Returning to the state shown in FIG. 7A again, a prize ball payout operation with the next prize ball is performed. In this embodiment, the time from when the winning ball detector 122 detects a winning ball to when the ball payout device 97 is driven is referred to as a WAIT time (also referred to as a waiting time). It is supposed to be.

As described above, the winning ball processing apparatus 115 in this embodiment temporarily holds the generated winning balls and processes one winning ball each time a predetermined prize ball is paid out. In the event of a power failure, the generated winning balls remain as evidence balls, so there will be no trouble with the player. If the backup function is provided, all generated winning balls are stored without using such a winning ball processing device 115, and the stored winning balls are discharged to the outside of the ball game machine 1. You may make it.

Next, referring to FIG. 8, the passage cover body 132
Will be described. As described above, the passage cover body 132 includes the prize ball payout passage 108 and the ballless lower passage 1.
07, the communication passage 111, and the surplus ball passage 112. The mounting opening 133 is formed at a position corresponding to the winning ball processing device 115, and the mounting opening 133 It is openably and closably covered by an opening / closing lid 134 that opens and closes at the center. Also, the opening / closing lid 13
4 is formed on the open side with a locking claw 1 having a passage cover body 132 protruding from the locking portion 134a.
The engagement is performed by engaging the engagement member 36. Opening / closing lid 1
A substrate storage recess 137 is formed in the substrate storage recess 34, and the interface substrate 138 is stored and supported in the substrate storage recess 137. Specifically, the upper end of the interface board 138 is locked by a locking portion 139 formed in the board storage recess 137, and the mounting boss 140 projecting from the lower side 1 in the board storage recess 137 is screwed with a screw 141. Interface board 138
Is fixed by screwing the lower part. Then, the interface board 138 is protected by the lid cover 142 while being housed and supported by the board housing recess 137. Lid cover 142
Has a connection opening 143 for connection with a connector terminal of the interface board 138 (a connection opening is provided at a lower portion in addition to the position shown in the drawing) and is connected with a connector of the speaker 19. An opening 142a facing the terminal is formed. Also, the lid cover 142
Attaches the engaging projection 144 formed on one side thereof to the opening / closing lid 13
4 is engaged with an engaging groove 145 formed on the other side, and an engaging claw 146 formed on the other side is engaged with an engaging portion 147 formed on the opening / closing lid 134, so that it can be attached / detached to / from the opening / closing lid 134. It can be attached to. 142a
Is an opening facing a terminal connected to the connector of the speaker 19.

Next, the structure of the board box 149 attached to the payout control circuit board housing 148 formed on the lower side of the lower base unit 63 on the one side will be described. First, the board box 149 is composed of a support cover 150 and a lid cover 151, in which a dispensing control circuit board 152 is housed. In the payout control circuit board 152, the operation of hitting the ball is stopped when the ball payout device 97, the winning ball processing device 115, or the connector terminal 153 for connecting the wiring from the card unit 50, for example, the ball shortage detector 67 is operated. A select switch 154 for selecting whether or not to perform the operation;
5. A reset switch 156 is provided for resetting when the program of the control operation runs out of control, etc., and the lid covers 151 are formed stepwise on both left and right sides so as to face the outside, and have openings. And the lid cover 15
One step-shaped portion serves as a locking portion 157. In the board box 149 formed in this manner, the lower side portion is brought into contact with the contact piece 159 protruding from the payout control circuit board housing portion 148, and the locking portion 157 on the upper side portion thereof is paid out. The lower base unit 63 is mounted by engaging with the locking claws 158 protruding from the storage portion 148.

The board box 149 mounted as described above is covered by the lid cover body 160. That is, the locking claws 16 protruding from the upper part of the lid cover body 160
1 is a locking portion 162 formed on the lower base unit 63
And the engaging claws 164 protruding from the lower base unit 63 are engaged with the engaging portions 163 formed on the lower portion of the lid cover body 160.
0 is attached to the lower base unit 63, and the stopper holes 165 formed on one side of the lid cover body 160 are made to correspond to the stoppers 166 protruding from the lower base unit 63 so as not to come off more easily. Screw 167. Note that a wiring lead-out opening 168 for drawing out wiring to be connected is formed in the lid cover body 160.

The payout control circuit board 152 housed in the board box 149 receives a winning ball signal from the winning ball detector 122, derives a drive start signal to the stepping motor 189 of the ball payout device 97, and The signal from the counting detection means provided in the payout device 97 is counted, and when the count value reaches a predetermined payout prize number, a drive stop signal is derived to the stepping motor 189 to give a prize ball payout operation. While stopping the winning a prize ball processing device 11
5 is given a drive signal. In addition, when there is a signal from the ball detection sensors 87a and 87b and the full tank detector 114, a stop signal is derived to the stepping motor 189 when the payout operation for the winning is completed or immediately. When there are two types of payout prize balls as in the present embodiment, the winning prize ball with the smaller payout prize ball number is stored, and the payout operation corresponding to the stored value is given priority. Should be executed. In this way, even if the stored value is erased due to a power failure or the like, it is possible to pay out with a relatively large number of payout prize balls for the player. Without taking this into account,
Any of them may be designed to be stored. Similarly, when there is a ball lending request signal for a game ball from the card unit 50, a predetermined number (25/25) is obtained by the same operation as described above.
A game ball (100 yen) is paid out by the ball payout device 97.

On the mechanism plate 60, the above-mentioned game control board 1
A game control board box 198 accommodating 99 is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the box mounting base 170 is fixed to a base mounting portion 169 formed at an appropriate position of a rib portion formed on the upper back surface of the lower base unit 63,
The game control board box 198 is detachably attached to the box attachment base 170. Note that the game control board box 198 for the game control board 199 is
May be attached directly to the back surface of the mechanism plate 6 in that case.
What is necessary is just to make it protrude outside from the U-shaped space of 0. Further, when the mechanism plate 60 configured as described above is provided on the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1, one side is pivotally supported so as to be freely opened and closed, and the other side is a mechanism plate fastening provided above and below the mechanism plate 60. This is performed by locking with a member 171.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing control circuits provided on the payout control circuit board 152, the card unit control board 210a provided on the card unit 50, and the game control board 199.

The card unit control board 210a has an R
A card unit control microcomputer 210 including an AM, a ROM, a CPU, an I / O port and the like; a switch circuit 211 for inputting a detection signal from a switch to the card unit control microcomputer 210;
Between the display circuit 212 for outputting a display control signal from the card unit control microcomputer 210 to various displays, and between the card unit control microcomputer 210 and the payout control microcomputer 220 of the payout control circuit board 152. A signal circuit 214 including a photocoupler for exchanging signals and a power supply circuit 215 are provided. As described above, since signals are exchanged between the two microcomputers 210 and 220 after being converted into optical signals through the photo coupler, the two microcomputers 210 and 220 are electrically disconnected from each other. Since the abnormal high voltage or the like caused by the failure of one is not transmitted to the other microcomputer, it is possible to prevent the failure of one from adversely affecting the other. Further, the card unit control board 210a is provided with a fraction display switch 52 connected to the switch circuit 211 and a ball lending amount setting switch 213, and further connected to the display circuit 212, a unit availability display. Device 51 and card insertion display device 54
And a connection direction indicator 53. FIG.
57 is the connector 13 of the interface board 138.
It is a connector connected to 8a.

Further, a ball lending switch 15 and a return switch 17 are connected to the switch circuit 211, and a card balance display 16 is connected to the display circuit 212.

The payout control circuit board 152 is provided with a signal circuit 216 composed of a photo coupler, and between the card unit control microcomputer 210 and the payout control microcomputer 220, the signal circuits 214, Unit connection signal (V
L), unit operation signal (BRDY), ball lending request signal (BRQ), ball lending completion signal (EXS), and P machine operation signal (PRDY). That is, when the card unit control microcomputer 210 and the payout control microcomputer 220 are connected, a unit connection signal (VL) is transmitted from the card unit control microcomputer 210 to the payout control microcomputer 220. To be done. On condition that the unit connection signal (VL) is input, the pachinko gaming machine is in a state capable of hitting a ball and also in a state capable of payout control of a prize ball based on a winning ball.

When the power of the pachinko gaming machine is turned on, the payout control microcomputer 220 outputs a P machine operation signal (PRDY) to the card unit control microcomputer 210. Next, the card is accepted on the card unit 50 side and the ball lending switch 1
When 5 is operated and the detection signal is input, the unit operation signal (BRDY) is output to the payout control microcomputer 220. When a predetermined delay time has elapsed from this point, a ball lending request signal (BRQ) is output from the card unit control microcomputer 210 to the payout control microcomputer 220. The reason for providing the predetermined delay time is to prevent a malfunction due to noise by providing a sufficient time for the pachinko gaming machine side to determine that the unit operation signal (BRDY) has been input.

When the predetermined time has elapsed after the delay time has elapsed, a ball lending preparation signal is output from the payout control microcomputer 220 to the card unit control microcomputer 210. When a predetermined time has elapsed from this point, the ball lending request signal (BR
Q) is turned off, and with this, the ball lending command signal is output from the card unit control microcomputer 210 to the payout control microcomputer 220. When a predetermined time has elapsed from this point, the ball lending completion signal (EXS) indicates that the ball lending completion signal (EXS) is based on the completion of the ball lending control operation performed by the payout control microcomputer 220 in accordance with the ball lending command signal. The data is output from 220 to the card unit control microcomputer 210.

On the game control board 199, a one-chip game control microcomputer 202 is provided. The game control microcomputer 202 includes a CPU 203, a RAM 205, and an I / O port 20.
6, a security circuit 204 and the like are provided. In addition, a ROM 207 and an address decode circuit 208 are provided outside the game control microcomputer 202 formed as one chip. Address decode circuit 2
08 decodes address data from the game control microcomputer 202, and stores the RAM 205 and the I / O port 20 in the game control microcomputer 202.
6, or a chip select signal is applied to the ROM 207.

The security circuit 204 includes the ROM 2
It has a function of monitoring unauthorized modification of the program stored in 07. Security data corresponding to the storage program of the ROM 207 is stored in the security circuit 204.
The program stored in the OM 207 is read, the stored security data is compared with the stored program, and it is determined whether or not the two have consistency. Only when they are compatible, the CPU 203 operates normally. Enable operation. While the pachinko gaming machine is in operation, the CPU 203 operates according to the program data stored in the ROM 207. This ROM
When the security circuit 204 determines whether the address of the program data stored in 207 exceeds the normal address range, and the security circuit 204 determines that the address exceeds the normal address range. First, the CPU 203 is set in a state in which the control operation cannot be performed normally.

The ROM 207 stores prize ball number data which is the number of prize balls to be paid out according to which winning area the hit ball has won. When the winning ball detector 122 (see FIG. 7) detects a winning ball and the detection signal is input to the game controlling microcomputer 202 via the switch circuit 229, the game controlling microcomputer 202 The winning ball number data corresponding to the winning area in which the hit ball is won is read from the ROM 207, and the payout control microcomputer 220 via the signal circuits 209 and 217 (both are constituted by photocouplers).
Reply to. In the present embodiment, the prize ball number signal is composed of four bit data (D0 to D
It is transmitted to the payout control microcomputer 220 in the form of 3).

A switch circuit 218 is further provided on the payout control circuit board 152, and a detection signal from the upper bowl detector 9, a detection signal from the ball break switches 87a and 87b, and a detection from the full tank switch 114 are provided. The signal, the detection signal from the automatic ball lending switch 118, and the detection signal from the ball payout detector 187 are input to the payout control microcomputer 220 via the switch circuit 218.
The payout control circuit board 152 includes
4 (see FIG. 4). The hitting mode switch 154 is connected to the switch circuit 218, and when the hitting mode input operation is performed by the hitting mode switch 154, the hitting mode data is transmitted to the payout control microcontroller via the switch circuit 218. Computer 2
It is input to 20. The payout control circuit board 152 is further provided with a reset switch 156 (see FIG. 4).
Is connected to the reset terminal of the payout control microcomputer 220 via the. Then, when a staff at the game arcade operates the reset switch 156 to perform a reset operation, the reset operation signal is input to the payout control microcomputer 220 via the reset circuit 221 to be in a power-on state.

A power supply circuit 219 is further provided on the payout control circuit board 152, and electric power from an external power supply AC24V is supplied to the power supply circuit 219 and converted into a predetermined DC current. This direct current is supplied to the electronic device. In addition, the power of 24 V AC is supplied to the card unit control board 21 via the payout control circuit board 152.
0a is also supplied to the power supply circuit 215, and the power supply circuit 215 supplies power to various control circuits and electronic devices provided in the card unit 50.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a control circuit including various control devices controlled by the payout control microcomputer 220. In addition to the circuits described above, the payout control circuit board 152 has an LED circuit 222, a motor circuit 223, a relay circuit 224, a solenoid circuit 225, and the like.
An information output circuit 226, a buzzer / LED circuit 227, and a lamp circuit 228 are provided. Discharge control circuit board 15
2 is further provided with an error indicator 155,
The error indicator 155 is connected to the LED circuit 222. The error code display control signal from the payout control microcomputer 220 is sent to the LED circuit 2.
22 to the error indicator 155. A motor control signal is supplied from the dispensing control microcomputer 220 to the dispensing motor 189 via the motor circuit 223, and the firing motor 1 is transmitted via the relay circuit 224.
97. Further, a control signal for solenoid excitation is given to the winning ball discharge solenoid 127 via a solenoid circuit 225. The payout control microcomputer 220 outputs supply information, ball lending information, and ball lending condition establishment information via the information output circuit 226. What is supply information?
Each time a predetermined number (for example, 10) of prize balls are paid out, this is an output pulse indicating that, and the supply information output terminal 7
The data is output to the hall management computer via 9d (see FIG. 2). The ball lending information is information indicating that the ball lending operation has been performed, and is output to the hall management computer via the ball lending information output terminal 79c (see FIG. 2).
The ball lending condition establishment information is information indicating that a ball lending condition for paying out ball lending to the hit ball supply tray 6 has been established, and is output to the card unit 50.

Discharge control microcomputer 220
Further, via the buzzer / LED circuit 227, gives a buzzer control signal to the buzzer 10 and an automatic ball lending display signal to the automatic ball lending display 11. Further, a control signal for lighting the prize ball lamp is given to the prize ball lamp 43 via the lamp circuit 228, and the control signal for lighting the ball breaking lamp is sent to the ball breaking lamp 44.
Give to.

FIG. 14 is a connection diagram showing a connection state of the terminal board, the payout control circuit board, the interface board, and the peripheral equipment.

The terminal board 78 includes a power connector 8
0 and a plug 80 connected to an external power supply.
When a is inserted into the power supply connector 80, the power from the external power supply is input to the terminal board 78. When the power switch 81 is turned on, power is supplied from the terminal board 78 to each control board and peripheral devices. The terminal board 78 is provided with a ball breaking information output terminal 79a, a firing control signal input terminal 79b, a ball lending information output terminal 79c, and a supply information output terminal 79d. When the ball deficiency detector 67 (see FIG. 2) provided on the tank rail detects a broken-ball condition, a signal indicating that the broken-ball condition has occurred is output from the broken-ball information output terminal 79a to an external device (for example, a hall-use signal). Management computer).

If the pachinko gaming machine 1 is stopped and a signal is input to the firing control signal input terminal 79b from the outside (for example, a hall management computer), the electromagnetic solenoid 80
b is activated, the power supplied from the connector 153a to the payout control circuit board (prize ball lending control board) 152 is cut off, and the power is emitted via the connector 153c of the payout control circuit board (prize ball lending control board) 152. The supply of power to the device motor 197 is stopped, and the ball is not fired in the game area. Payout control circuit board (prize ball lending control board) 152
Payout motor (prize ball motor) via connector 153e
When a control signal is given to 198 and a predetermined number of balls are paid out, information indicating that the balls have been lent is given to connector 153.
a, output to outside (for example, hall management computer) via ball lending information output terminal 79c. When a payout motor (prize ball motor) 189 operates according to the control of the payout control circuit board (prize ball lending control board) 152 and a predetermined number (for example, 10) of prize balls are paid out, supply information including a pulse signal is provided. Is the connector 153a, the supply information output terminal 79
External via d (for example, hall management computer)
Is output to

Payout control circuit board (prize ball rental control board) 1
52, a winning ball discharge solenoid 127, a ball payout detector (prize ball sensor) 187, and ball cutout switches 87a and 87b are further connected to a connector 153a.
When the ball payout detector (prize ball sensor) 187 detects the cutout portion 192 with the rotation of the payout motor (prize ball motor) 189, the detection signal is output as a payout control circuit board (prize ball ball lending control board). 152. Further, the detection signals of the out-of-ball switches 87a and 87b are input to the payout control circuit board (prize ball lending control board) 152 via the connector 153a. Payout control circuit board (prize ball lending control board) 152
Is a winning ball discharge solenoid 1 via the connector 153a.
27 is controlled so as to allow the winning prize ball to pass downward and drop.

Payout control circuit board (prize ball rental control board) 1
52 outputs the winning signal to the game control board 199 via the connectors 153b and 199b based on the detection signal from the ball payout detector (prize ball sensor) 187, and the game control board 199 outputs the winning signal. Based on this, the prize ball number signal described above is returned to the payout control circuit board (prize ball lending control board) 152 via the connectors 199b and 153b. The payout control circuit board (prize ball lending control board) 152 includes the above-described select switch 154 and the error indicator 1.
55 and a reset switch 156 are provided. Further, the payout control circuit board 152 includes connectors 153d,
138b is connected to the interface board 138, and the interface board 138 is connected to the connector 13
8a, the electrical wiring 58, and the connector 57 are connected to the card unit 50. Then, the payout control circuit board 152 and the card unit 50 exchange various signals described with reference to FIG. Further, the full tank switch 114 is connected to the payout control circuit board 152 via the connector 153f, and a detection signal of the full tank switch 114 is input.

The interface board 138 is connected to the connector 6a of the hitting ball supply tray 6 through the connector 138c, and signals are transmitted and received between the card unit 50 and the hitting ball supply tray 6 through the interface board 138. Be done. The hitting ball supply tray 6 is provided with the return switch 17, the ball detector 9, the frequency display LED 16, the ball lending switch 15, the mode changeover switch 18, the automatic ball lending display 11, and the ball lending display 12. Have been.

The game control board 199 is a connector 199c.
It is connected to the terminal board 78 via, and the electric power from the terminal board 78 is input. Connector 1
The speaker 19 is connected to the speaker 19 via a 99a, and a sound generation control signal is given to the speaker 19 from the game control board 199. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a buzzer, which is connected to the interface board 138 via a connector 138b. When a payout error occurs, a control signal from the payout control circuit board 152 is given to the buzzer 10 via the interface 138. A sound is emitted from the buzzer 10. Further, a winning ball detector 122 (see FIG. 7) is connected via the connector 199d, and a detection signal from the winning ball detector 122 is input.

FIG. 15 is a timing chart showing a payout operation state for paying out prize balls. When a winning ball is detected by the winning ball detector 122 (see FIG. 7) and the winning ball detector 122 is turned on, the detected pulse signal is input to the game control microcomputer 202 (see FIG. 12), and the game is executed. A prize ball number signal is sent from the control microcomputer 202 to the payout control microcomputer 220.
Is output to In FIG. 15, D1 and D3 are ON and D0
And D2 are OFF prize ball number signals. This represents 0101 in a binary number, and if converted into a decimal number, it becomes five award ball number signals.

The payout control microcomputer 220, which has received the prize ball number signal, turns on the prize ball motor (stepping motor) 189 (see FIG. 10) with a delay of a predetermined period.
To control the payout of the prize ball. Then, the screw 188 rotates to feed and pay out the prize ball, and the light from the light projector 186 is detected by the prize ball sensor (light receiving element) 187 every half rotation of the screw 188, and the prize ball sensor 187 outputs a pulse signal that turns ON.

At the same time when the prize ball motor 189 is switched on, the prize winning ball discharge solenoid 127 (see FIG. 7) is turned off.
N, the winning ball locked and held by the second ball locking member 130 is dropped downward. Then, since there is no winning ball detected by the winning ball detector 122,
The winning ball detector 122 is turned off. At the same time as the switching to OFF, the output of the prize ball number signal from the game control microcomputer 202 is stopped, and D0 to D
All 3 are OFF.

Next, the case where some kind of error such as a failure has occurred will be described based on the timing chart of the latter half of FIG. First, when a winning ball is detected by the winning ball detector 122 and the detection signal is turned on, a prize ball number signal is output as described above. The prize ball motor is controlled to be turned ON slightly after the output of the prize ball number signal, and a detection output pulse is derived from the prize ball sensor 187 as described above. Then, in synchronization with the control to turn on the prize ball motor 189, the prize ball discharge solenoid 127 is controlled to be ON so that the prize balls held and dropped are discharged and discharged. However, the prize ball discharge solenoid 127 is turned on.
Despite being controlled to 1, the winning ball is not discharged and the winning ball detector 122 is continuously turned on. this is,
An error state is assumed in which the winning balls are not discharged downward due to a failure of the winning ball discharge solenoid 127, a ball jam, or the like. In that case, as shown in FIG.
The winning ball discharge solenoid 127 is turned off once, then turned on again, and the discharging control of the winning ball is tried again. Nevertheless, if the winning ball detector 122 remains ON and does not change, the occurrence of an error is detected by the discharge control board (payout control circuit board 152), and an error display is performed by the error display 155.

FIG. 16 is a timing chart showing a ball payout operation in another error state. The error state shown in FIG. 16 is an error in which the winning balls are discharged downward by passing through the winning ball detector 122 even though the winning ball discharging solenoid is turned off. As a result, when the prize ball passes, the prize ball detector 122 is momentarily turned ON and a pulse signal is output instantaneously, and in response to this, a prize ball number signal is output instantaneously. The dispensing control microcomputer 220 receives it and the prize ball motor 18
9 is turned on to pay out the ball, and the prize ball sensor 187 outputs a pulse signal in the same manner as described above.
However, as shown in FIG.
Since the winning ball detector 122 is switched from the ON state to the OFF state in spite of the FF, the error is detected by the discharge control board (payout control circuit board 152) and the prize ball motor 189 is controlled to OFF. To stop paying out balls. Accordingly, the detection pulse of the prize ball sensor 187 is not output. Then, similarly to the above, an error display is performed by the error indicator 155 of the discharge control board.

17 and 18 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the card unit control microcomputer 210.

In step (hereinafter simply referred to as S) A1, the setting of the rental coin amount is read. The “reading of the setting of the ball-amount” is a process of reading the ball-amount set by the ball-amount setting switch 137 shown in FIG.

Next, the operation proceeds to SA2 and the unit usable indicator 5 is displayed.
1 (see FIG. 1) is lit to indicate that it can be used. Next, the process proceeds to SA3, where it is determined whether or not a card acceptance signal has been received from a card reader / writer control unit that controls the card reader / writer of the card unit. It is determined whether or not there is a signal. If there is no signal, the process returns to SA3 again. If the card reader / writer accepts an appropriate card during this loop, the card reader / writer controller determines that a card acceptance signal has been received, and proceeds to SA7. On the other hand, if there is a card abnormality signal output from the card reader / writer control unit, a determination of YES is made by SA4, and the process proceeds to SA5, in which control is performed to display the card abnormality cause on the card balance display 16 (see FIG. 1) as a code. Be done. Specifically, a code indicating the type of the cause of the abnormality, such as the inability to read the inserted card or a security error, is displayed on the card balance indicator 16.
Then, the process proceeds to SA6, where the unit availability indicator 51 (see FIG. 1) is turned on and off. If the recorded data on the card is abnormal, a command signal for collecting the abnormal card is output to the card reader / writer control unit. On the other hand, in SA7, the card insertion indicator 54 is turned on, and the card balance indicator 1 is displayed.
According to 6, processing for displaying the current card balance is performed.

Next, at SA8, it is judged whether or not there is a ball lending operation. If not, it proceeds to SA8a. If it is not a big hit, it proceeds to SA8c. , It is determined whether or not in the automatic ball lending mode, and if it is not in the automatic ball lending mode, SA9
The process proceeds to SA9a, where it is determined whether or not a return operation has been performed. In SA9a, it is determined whether or not the non-operation time check timer has expired, and if not, the flow returns to SA8. The non-operation time check timer is for measuring a non-operation time during which no ball lending operation is performed and no return operation is performed on a card having a remaining card balance.
Is set by Then, when the non-operation time check timer expires, the process proceeds to SA9b, where a notification that the card has been left is performed, and it is possible to prevent the player from losing the remaining card.

SA8d when in automatic ball lending mode
The program proceeds to SA9, where it is determined whether or not the upper ballless flag is set. If not, the process proceeds to SA9. The upper bowl no-ball flag is set when the balls in the hit ball supply tray 6 run short. On the other hand, when the pachinko gaming machine 1 is in a big hit, Y
The ES is determined, and the process proceeds to SA9. If YES is determined in SA8a, the process of clearing the current mode may be performed in SA8b, and then the process may proceed to SA9. As a result of the processing of SA8b, if the automatic ball lending mode is in effect, the automatic ball lending mode is cleared, and the ball lending operation is not automatically performed even if the balls in the hit ball supply tray 6 are running short. Return.

If the player presses the ball lending switch 15 while the loop of SA8 to SA9b is being circulated, SA
A determination of YES is made in step 8 and the process advances to SA8e, where a determination is made as to whether or not the payout condition is satisfied.
The payout condition is satisfied when the front frame, the glass door frame, and the front panel are not opened, and the specific game state and the winning are not generated. SA1 if the conditions to pay out are met
The process proceeds to 1 and shifts to the subsequent ball lending command control. If the conditions for paying out are not met, the process returns to SA8. Before returning to SA8, the cause of the condition not to be paid out (for example, the front frame is open) is indicated by the card balance indicator 16
Or the like. On the other hand, when the automatic ball lending mode is set, the control proceeds to SA8e also when the flag for no upper ball is set as described later based on the detection signal of the ball detector 9 (see FIG. 1). . Further, if the player presses the return switch 17, a determination of YES is made by SA9 and the process proceeds to SA10, the ball lending indicator for displaying that the ball lending is possible is turned off, and the process proceeds to SA26. Control for returning the inserted card is performed. SA11
Then, it is determined whether or not the current balance of the inserted card, that is, the balance displayed on the card balance indicator 16 (see FIG. 1) is equal to or greater than the amount set by the ball lending setting switch 213 (see FIG. 2). Is performed. If the current balance is equal to or greater than the set amount, a process of setting the set amount to the lending amount is performed in SA12, and the process proceeds to SA14. On the other hand, if the current balance is less than the set amount, the process proceeds to SA14 after setting the current balance to the lending amount in SA13. In other words, if the current balance of the inserted card is less than the set amount, it is not possible to set the set amount to the lending amount and pay out pachinko balls for the set amount, so it is possible to pay out with the inserted card A process of setting the maximum amount of money, that is, the current balance of the inserted card, to the ball lending amount is performed.

Next, at SA14, processing for turning off the ball lending indicator is performed. The ball lending operation is performed once, and the next ball lending operation is not accepted until the ball lending operation based on the ball lending operation is completed. The display is turned off to indicate that the ball lending operation cannot be performed. Next, the process proceeds to SA15, where control for starting output of the ball lending request signal to the payout control microcomputer is performed. Next, the process proceeds to SA16, in which a ball lending preparation confirmation timer is set, and proceeds to SA17 to determine whether a ball lending preparation signal has been input from the payout control microcomputer. The payout control microcomputer receives the ball lending request signal by SA15, performs preparation control for ball lending if the ball lending is possible, and then sends the ball lending preparation signal to the card processing machine control microcomputer by SA77. Is output. The microcomputer for controlling the card processor is S
If this ball lending preparation signal is received before the ball lending preparation confirmation timer set by A16 expires, a YES determination is made by SA17, and after the ball lending command signal is output by SA20 to the payout control microcomputer, A process of waiting for the transmission of a signal indicating that the ball lending of the payout control microcomputer has been completed is performed. On the other hand, if the ball lending preparation signal is not input from the payout control microcomputer until the ball lending preparation confirmation timer expires, SA19
, The output of the ball lending request signal is stopped, the processing for clearing the ball lending amount is performed, and the flow proceeds to SA8.

When the pachinko gaming machine 1 has already paid out the rental balls or when paying out the prize balls associated with the winning, SA100, SA101, SA7 to be described later.
6. Since the processing in SA77 is not performed, the payout control microcomputer does not output the ball lending preparation signal until the ball lending preparation confirmation timer expires. In that case, the processing in SA19 is performed. There is no. This ball lending preparation confirmation timer is, for example, 10 m
The time is about 10 sec or more and not less than 10 sec.

On the other hand, after the ball lending command signal is output by SA20, the processing of subtracting the unit amount from the current balance and the unit amount from the ball rental amount is performed by SA21. SA
When a ball lending command signal from 20 is given to the payout control microcomputer, a pachinko ball corresponding to a unit amount (for example, 100 yen) is controlled by the pachinko gaming machine as will be described later. The unit amount corresponding to the pachinko ball to be lent is subtracted from the current balance of the inserted card, and the unit amount is subtracted from the lending amount set in SA12 and SA13. Next, the process proceeds to SA22, where processing is performed to output a unit sales signal to the card unit terminal box via the unit box. The unit sales signal transmitted to the card unit terminal box is output to the ball lending card central management computer, and the ball lending card use data of the ball lending card central management computer is totaled.
The sales signal output from the card unit terminal box to the ball lending card centralized management computer may be performed in real time, or may be collectively performed at regular time intervals or daily intervals. In addition, a process of outputting a unit sales signal to the hall management computer is performed by SA23. As a result, the hall management computer can take the sales information from either the card processing machine or the pachinko gaming machine, and also takes the information from both sides, compares the sales information, and determines an abnormality if they do not match. Thus, a failure or the like can be found quickly.

Next, at SA27, the ball lending confirmation timer is set. This ball lending confirmation timer is, for example, 10 seconds in consideration of the time required for paying out lending balls on the pachinko machine side.
ec. If the ball lending completion signal is input from the payout control microcomputer before the ball lending confirmation timer expires, the process proceeds to SA31. However, even if the ball lending confirmation timer is terminated, the ball lending completion signal is input. If not, the process proceeds to SA30, the unit availability indicator 51 (see FIG. 1) is turned off, and the process proceeds to SA24. Then, return control of the inserted card after SA24 is performed. That is, although the ball lending preparation signal is input from the payout control microcomputer and the ball lending control should be performed by the payout control microcomputer, the ball lending is completed even if the ball lending confirmation timer expires. If the signal is not transmitted from the payout control microcomputer, it is considered that some kind of abnormality has occurred in the ball payout device or the like of the pachinko gaming machine, and in that case, the inserted card is returned to the player. It is.

On the other hand, if a ball lending completion signal is input from the payout control microcomputer before the ball lending confirmation timer expires, the flow proceeds to SA31, where it is determined whether or not the ball lending amount = 0. If there is an unpaid unpaid portion of the pachinko balls corresponding to the lending amount set by SA12 and SA13, the lending amount is not “0”, so the determination of NO by SA31 is made. Is made and the process proceeds to SA15, where a ball lending request signal is output to the payout control microcomputer again. On the other hand, when all the pachinko balls have been paid out for the lending amount, since the lending amount is 0, the process proceeds to SA32, and it is determined whether or not the current balance is 0. If the current balance of the inserted card still remains, the process proceeds to SA33, the ball lending indicator is turned on, the process proceeds to SA8, and the ball lending operation and the return operation of the ball lending operation are performed again. On the other hand, if the current balance is determined to be 0 by SA32, the process proceeds to SA34, and a process of outputting a balance 0 and a card write / discharge command signal to the card reader / writer control unit is performed. Thereby, the card reader / writer control unit returns the inserted card to the player side after updating the card balance of the inserted card to "0".

Next, SA35 blinks the card insertion indicator, and SA36 sets the processing confirmation timer. This processing confirmation timer is set in consideration of a time sufficient for the card reader / writer to return the inserted card after updating the balance of the inserted card to “0”. If the card processing completion signal has not been received from the card reader / writer control unit before the processing is completed, the flow advances to SA39 to perform processing for displaying an error in the card processing machine with a code using the card balance display 16 and to indicate that the unit can be used. The lamp 51 is controlled to blink. More specifically, for example, a code is displayed to indicate that the balance “0” cannot be written to the inserted card, an error when reading the written data is confirmed, and the like.

On the other hand, if a card processing completion signal is input from the card reader / writer control unit before the expiration of the processing confirmation timer, the process proceeds to SA40, where a card is inserted to display that a card has been inserted. Indicator 5
4 (see FIG. 1) is turned off, and it is determined in SA41 whether or not there is a ball lending abnormality.
And control is performed to accept the insertion of a new card into the card reader / writer.
Proceeding to 2, the control of accepting the payout enable signal from the payout control microcomputer is performed.

As described above, every time a pachinko gaming machine side lends a pachinko ball (for example, 25 coins) corresponding to a unit amount (for example, 100 yen), the payout control microcomputer changes to a card processing machine control microcomputer. Since the ball lending completion signal is output, every time the output signal is input, the card processor control microcomputer determines whether or not all the pachinko balls for the ball lending amount (see SA12 and SA13) have been lent out. If there is an unloaned portion that has not been lent yet, the unit amount (for example, 100
The pachinko balls (yen) are lent out repeatedly.

19 to 21 are flow charts for explaining the operation of the game control microcomputer 202.

FIG. 19 shows the main routine.
For example, it is executed once every 2 msec. First, a stack set process is performed in S1, and RA is performed in S2.
A determination is made as to whether there was an M error. This determination is made by reading the contents of a predetermined address of RAM 205 shown in FIG. 12 and checking whether or not the value is equal to the predetermined value. Since the data stored in the RAM 205 is indefinite immediately after the program goes out of control or immediately after the power is turned on, the answer to the determination is NO and the process proceeds to control S3. In S3, initial data is written in the RAM. At this time, the set value which is the probability data of the occurrence of the big hit is read and the RAM
After that, the identification information of the variable display device 33 is controlled to be displayed at a probability determined according to the read value. Thereafter, the control proceeds to S10. Since the initial data is written in S3, when the main routine is executed thereafter, the answer to the decision in S2 is YES, and the control advances to S4.

In S4, data output processing from the I / O port is performed, and control signals are output to the various circuits and devices shown in FIG. Then proceed to S5, 1
It is determined whether there is a 0 count error and whether there is a drum error. With this 10 count error, the specific winning ball detector 38 and the winning ball detectors 39a, 3a
9b is short-circuited or disconnected. Specifically, the specific winning ball detector 38, the winning ball detector 39a,
There is a 10 count error when the output signal of 39b is derived for more than a predetermined time (for example, 2.9 seconds) or when no prize ball is detected during one opening of the variable prize ball device 3. Is determined. The drum error is a case where a rotary drum (not shown) of the variable display device 33 is stopped in the middle of rotation or becomes in a state where rotation control cannot be performed.
If there is no 10 count error and no drum error, the process proceeds to S6, and after the process process is performed, the process proceeds to S7.
If there is a 10 count error or a drum error, the process directly proceeds to S7, where prize ball information output processing is performed, then the process proceeds to S8, a switch input process is performed, and the process proceeds to S9.

At S9, the process of inputting the probability setting switch is performed. The input of the probability setting switch is a process of inputting the setting state of the probability of the big hit occurrence based on the operation of the key switch 200 (see FIG. 2). After S9, the control proceeds to S10. In S10, a random 1 counter,
Update processing of the random 2 counter and the random 4 counter is performed. The random 1 counter is a counter for the primary lottery regarding whether or not a big hit is generated.
The random 2 counter is a counter for a secondary lottery and a winning symbol determination regarding whether or not to generate a big hit. Whether or not to generate a big hit must be determined first as a result of the primary lottery based on the random 1 counter, and further as a result of the secondary lottery based on the random 2 counter. The random 4 counter is a counter for selecting a winning line for determining which of the three winning lines the winning symbol combination is to be established when it is decided to generate a big hit. is there.
This winning symbol is determined based on the count value of the random 2 counter. Then, after operating the key switch 20, the upper limit of the count value of the random 1 counter changes. That is, in the case of setting 1, the random 1 counter counts within the range of 0 to 41. In the case of setting 2, counting is performed within the range of 0 to 44. In the case of setting 3, counting is performed within the range of 0-49. On the other hand, random 2
The counter counts within the range of 0 to 49. The random 4 counter counts within the range of 0 to 2, and when the picked-up count value is 0, the middle hit line is selected and determined, and when it is 1, the diagonally upward right hit line is selected and determined. Occasionally, a right-down and diagonal hit line is selected and determined.

Next, in S11, it is determined whether the number of resets is 0, 4 or 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7. The number of resets means the number of times the CPU 203 is reset by a reset signal input to the CPU 203 from the regular reset circuit, and each time it is reset, "0" is incremented by "1" to reach "7", In this state, "1" is further added to become "0", and the count is incremented again from "0". When the number of resets is 0, the process proceeds to S12, sound data is output, and a predetermined sound is emitted from the speaker 19. On the other hand, if the number of resets is 4, S13
In step S15, the output data table is selected and the drum lamp data set is processed. In step S15, the set data is output to control the lighting of the drum lamp. On the other hand, when the number of resets is 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, the process proceeds to S14, the decoration LED and lamp data are set, the set data is output in S15, and the decoration LED and various lamps are turned on. Or flashing is controlled. Next, the process proceeds to S16 to perform a winning storage area storage process, and the process proceeds to S17 to perform a process of updating the random 1 counter, random 2 counter, random 3 counter, and random 5 counter. The processing in S17 is performed by the CPU 20 based on the reset signal from the regular reset circuit.
The periodical reset waiting time until the reset of 3 is performed is used to repeat the count value update processing. The random 3 counter is a counter for determining which out-of-symbol stop control is performed when it is determined not to generate a big hit, and is counted up within a range of 0 to 5831. The random 5 counter is a counter for determining which out-of-symbol stop control is performed when it is determined not to generate a big hit, 0 to
It is counted up within the range of 5831. Random 5
The counter is a counter for determining the lucky number symbol, and is counted up within the range of 0-99. The lucky number is a number that is predetermined in order to provide a player with a predetermined service in the game hall. If the lucky number is matched, the privilege that the prize ball obtained based on the occurrence of the big hit can be used again for the game without exchanging the prize is given.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing the control operation of the game control microcomputer.

FIG. 20 (a) is a flow chart showing a switch input subroutine program shown in S8 of FIG. At SB1, input processing of a start-up switch is performed, at SB2, input processing of a V-switch / count switch is performed, and at SB3, input processing of a winning ball switch is performed.

FIG. 20 (b) is a flow chart showing a subroutine program for inputting the starting opening switch shown in SB1. It is determined by SD1 whether or not there is a start winning, and if not, the program ends as it is. If a pachinko ball wins the starting winning opening 34 and is detected by the starting opening switch (starting winning ball detector 46), S is determined.
Proceeding to D2, the start winning counter is incremented by "1", and
Proceeding to D3, the start winning process is performed.

FIG. 20C is a flow chart showing a subroutine program of the V switch / count switch input processing shown in SB2. It is judged by SC1 whether or not there is a V winning, and if not, the procedure proceeds to SC5, where it is judged whether or not there is a counting winning, and if not, the program ends.

If the pachinko ball enters the variable winning ball device 35 and the pachinko ball wins the specific winning area and is detected by the V switch (specific winning ball detector 38), SC
Then, the process proceeds to 2 to add and update the winning counter (variable winning ball device) winning counter by "1". Next, it proceeds to SC3, it is judged whether or not it is a big hit, and if it is not a big hit, it proceeds to SC5. On the other hand, if it is a big hit, the process proceeds to SC4, and after the V winning process is performed, the process proceeds to SC5.

If the pachinko ball enters the variable winning ball apparatus 35 and the pachinko ball is detected by the winning ball detectors 39a and 39b, the determination at SC5 is YES and the process proceeds to SC6, where the large winning a prize winning counter is provided. Is updated by adding "1". Then, it goes to SC7, it is judged whether or not it is a big hit, and if it is not a big hit, the program ends as it is, but if it is a big hit, it goes to SC8 and the program after the count winning process is performed finish.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing the control operation of the game control microcomputer 202 and showing a subroutine program of the prize ball information output processing shown in S7 of FIG. First, a port input process is performed in S18, and it is determined in S19 whether or not the award ball data output flag is set. The prize ball data output flag is for storing that the prize ball data D0 to D3 is output, and is set in S23, S29, and S26 described below, and is set in S31.
Is cleared by If the winning ball data output flag is not set, the process proceeds to S20, where the winning ball detector is turned on.
It is determined whether or not the program has been turned on. If the program has not been turned on, the program ends.

If the detection output from the winning ball detector 122 is input, YES is determined in S20, and S21
Then, it is determined whether or not the start winning counter is equal to or more than "1". The start winning counter is incremented and updated by "1" at SA2. If it is determined that the starting winning counter is equal to or more than "1", the process proceeds to S22.
To decrement and update the start winning counter by "1", and
Sets the award ball data output flag,
A process of setting the prize ball data to “5” is performed. Then, according to S27, the award ball data of "5", that is, 01
01 prize ball data is a microcomputer 2 for game control
02 to the payout control microcomputer 220.

When the start winning award counter is not "1" or more, the process proceeds to S24, and it is determined whether or not the special winning opening award counter is "1" or more. This special winning opening winning counter is incremented and updated by "1" by SC6, and if it is determined to be "1" or more, S is executed.
In step S25, the special winning opening winning counter is decremented by "1" and updated, and in S29, a process of setting a prize ball data output flag and a process of setting prize ball data to "15" are performed. As a result, according to S27, 15
Is output from the microcomputer 202 for game control to the microcomputer 220 for payout control.

On the other hand, if the special winning opening prize counter is less than "1", the process proceeds to S26, and the process of setting the prize ball data output flag and setting the prize ball data to "10" is performed. As a result, according to S30, ten award ball data, that is, 1010 award ball data, is output from the game control microcomputer 202 to the payout control microcomputer 220.

When it is determined in S19 that the prize ball data output flag is set, the process proceeds to S27, in which the process of outputting the prize ball data set in S23, S29, and S26 is performed and set. The prize ball data is output from the game control microcomputer 202 to the payout control microcomputer 220. Then S
The program proceeds to 28, where it is determined whether or not the winning ball detector is OFF. If not, the program ends. The dispensing control microcomputer 220 includes:
By receiving the prize ball data, a prize ball payout control operation is performed, and a control operation of exciting the prize ball discharge solenoid 127 and discharging the prize ball is performed as described above. As a result, the prize ball is normally discharged. Then, the winning ball detector 122 is switched from ON to OFF. If the winning ball detector 122 is turned off, YE is determined in S28.
After the determination of S is made, the process proceeds to S30, and the award ball data signal is set to O.
The process is set to FF, and a process of clearing the award ball data output flag is performed in S31.

22 to 25 are flowcharts showing the control operation of the payout control microcomputer. In S201, it is determined whether or not there is a card processor connection signal.
97 is made inactive so that the game cannot be played. Then S
Proceed to step 203 and display the error code 12 as the error indicator 155.
Is performed to control the display. The error code display in S203 indicates that the connection between the card processor 55 and the pachinko gaming machine 1 has not been established.
The display of an error code of another process, which will be described later, is also indicated by a code (number) on the error code display 155.

Next, when it is determined that there is a card processor connection signal, the process proceeds to S204, and it is determined whether or not the rail ball out has been detected. If not, the process proceeds to S208. (Ball detection sensor 87a,
87b) If a broken-out detection signal is input from (see FIG. 5), the flow advances to S205 to determine whether or not a broken-out tank has been detected. Ball deficiency detector 67 (see FIG. 4)
If there is no out-of-ball detection signal from, the process proceeds to S206,
The burnout lamp 44 (see FIG. 1) is controlled to blink. On the other hand, if a tank burnout detection signal is input, S2
In step 07, the lighting of the burnout lamp 44 is controlled. That is, there is a ball-break detection signal from the ball-deficiency detector 67, and ball detection sensors 87a and 87b for detecting a rail-ball break.
Is detected when the pachinko balls in the ball tank 65 and the tank rail 69 have run out. In this case, the ball-break lamp 44 is controlled to be turned on, and a ball break occurs. An indication that the operation has been performed is displayed. On the other hand, the fact that the ball shortage detection signal is input from the ball detection sensors 87a and 87b even though the ball shortage detection signal is not input from the ball shortage detector 67 means that the ball shortage detector 67 and the ball detection sensors 87a and 87b are input. It is assumed that a ball jam has occurred in the flow path between and and the ball does not flow down, or the ball deficiency detector 67 has a failure. In that case, the ball breakage lamp 44 blinks and is displayed. A message to that effect is displayed. After S207, the process proceeds to S207a, in which control is performed to increment the interval data by one and clear the continuous prize ball number counter. The interval data is data that determines an interval time from the end of the current prize ball operation (prize ball payout operation) to the start of the next prize ball operation, and is stored in the form of a table as shown in FIG. Have been. The continuous prize ball counter counts the number of consecutive occurrences of the prize ball generated at a time interval shorter than 0.5 seconds after the prize ball payout operation is completed after the prize ball is generated. .

After the processing of S207a is performed, S2
In 08, it is determined whether or not the number of unpaid items is zero. The “number of unpaid” means the number of pachinko balls that have not been paid out of the pachinko balls to be paid out, are set to respective values by S216 and S238, and are decremented by “1” by S251. Cleared by S220. If the unpaid number is not “0”, S2
Proceed to 41a.

If the unpaid amount is "0", S
The process proceeds to 211, where it is determined whether or not the full state is detected by the full-state switch 114 (see FIG. 4). S2 if not detected
Proceed to 12. In S212, it is determined whether or not there is a ball lending request signal from the card processing machine control microcomputer. This determination in S212 is repeated until the ball lending priority timer times out, and if there is no ball lending request signal from the card processing machine control microcomputer until the ball lending priority timer expires, S222.
Proceed to. The ball lending priority timer is provided for giving priority to the reception of the ball lending request over the reception of the winning prize ball only for a certain period, and is set in S275 described later. On the other hand, before the ball lending priority timer expires,
When the ball lending request signal is sent from the card processing machine control microcomputer to the payout control microcomputer, the flow proceeds to S213, where it is determined whether or not the tank out-of-tank state is detected based on the out-of-ball detector 67. The decision is made. When there is no pachinko ball in the ball tank 65, the ball payout control cannot be performed based on the ball lending request signal, so the flow proceeds to S214, the ball burnout lamp is turned on, and then the flow proceeds to S215. When it is detected by 67 that there are pachinko balls in the ball tank 65, the process proceeds to S216, where the number of unpaid balls is set to the number of unpaid balls, and the payout mode “ball lending” is set to perform the ball lending operation. Control is performed. Until the ball lending priority timer expires, the control for the ball lending operation is prioritized, and since the ball lending priority timer is terminated, the payout control of the prize ball based on the winning prize ball after S222 is performed. When the value of the ball to be paid is 200 yen or more, the control for the ball lending operation is given priority over the payout control of the prize ball. The "number of balls to be rented" in S216 is a ball lending unit amount (for example, 1
It is the number of pachinko balls corresponding to (00 yen), and is set to 25, for example. Next, the process proceeds to S217, and after the ball lending command timer is set, the process proceeds to S218. And
The determination as to whether or not there is a ball lending command signal in S218 is repeated until this ball lending command timer expires, and when it is determined in S218 that the ball lending command signal has been transmitted, In step S221, control is performed to start blinking the lending indicator, and the process proceeds to step S240. However, if it has not been transmitted, the unpaid amount is cleared in step S220, and the process returns to step S201.

Next, in S240, it is judged whether or not the unpaid amount is "4" or less, and if not, it is S2.
According to 41, the payout motor 189 is set to the start pattern, and the process proceeds to S241a. Since the dispensing motor 189 uses a stepping motor, and it is necessary to accelerate the dispensing motor 189 in the stopped state without difficulty, the start pattern including the control pattern of the stepping motor that can accelerate smoothly without difficulty is used. S2
It is set by 41. On the other hand, if the unpaid number is equal to or less than “4”, the flow proceeds to S242, and the payout motor 18
After the processing of setting the motor speed of 9 to the deceleration pattern is performed, the process proceeds to S241a. When the payout motor 189 is controlled to rotate in accordance with a series of constant acceleration / deceleration patterns in which the payout motor 189 is started, accelerated, then rotated at a constant speed, and then decelerated and stopped, the series of controls is inevitable. If the number of balls to be paid out is smaller than the number of balls to be paid out in the series of controls, the motor speed is set to a deceleration pattern immediately in S242, and the speed is reduced. The stop control is performed after the end of the pattern, so that the payout of pachinko balls less than “5” is performed.
Next, in S241a, it is determined whether or not the payout mode is “prize ball”. In the case of the prize ball mode, the process proceeds to S225, and in the case of the ball lending mode, the process proceeds to S243.

In S222, it is determined whether or not the prize ball number information has been transmitted from the game control microcomputer 202, and if it has not been transmitted, S22.
Proceeding to 3, it is determined whether or not the prize ball payout operation is detected by the ball payout detector (light receiving element 187). The fact that the ball payout operation is detected even though the prize ball number information has not been transmitted means that the ball payout operation has been performed even though the ball payout condition has not been satisfied. Therefore, the process proceeds to S223a, where the error code 1 is displayed on the error display 155, and then the process proceeds to S295. On the other hand, if it is determined in S223 that the payout operation of the ball has not been detected, the process returns to S201.

If the prize ball number information is transmitted from the game control microcomputer, a YES determination is made in S222, and the flow advances to S222a to detect a ball detection sensor 87a,
A broken-rail condition is determined based on the detection output of 87b, and if the broken-rail condition occurs, the process returns to S201. If the ball to be paid out is not in the rail ball out state, S
Proceeding to 224, the payout code is set to "prize ball", and S2
Then, the process proceeds to step S32 in which the sent award ball number information is read. Next, the process proceeds to S233, and it is determined whether or not the content of the data has changed during reading. If there is no change in the read data, the process proceeds to S235, where it is determined whether or not the reading has been completed, and the data being read is checked until the reading is completed. The data reading in S232 and the determination as to whether or not the contents of the read data have been changed are repeatedly performed, for example, eight times. If the contents of the read data have changed during this repetition, the process proceeds to S234. After displaying the error code 9 on the error display 155, the process proceeds to S295.

On the other hand, if all the read data have not changed as a result of the eight-time check, the process proceeds to S238, in which the unpaid amount is set to the input number input from the game control microcomputer, and S239 is performed. Thus, the control for starting the blinking of the payout lamp is performed, and the process proceeds to S240.

In S225 of FIG. 23, it is determined whether or not the solenoid 127 (see FIG. 7) for ejecting the winning balls is ON. If not, S2
The process proceeds to 25b, where it is determined whether or not the prize ball operation (prize ball payout operation) has started. If not, the process proceeds to S225c to determine whether or not a prize ball number signal has been transmitted from the game control microcomputer. If it is determined that the error code has not been transmitted, the process proceeds to S225d, where control is performed to display the error code 13 on the error display 155, and then the process proceeds to S295. The error code 13 is an error state in which the input of the award ball number data is stopped before the award ball number data is input and the discharge solenoid 127 is excited.

If YES is determined in S225, NO is determined in S225b, or YES is determined in S225c, the process proceeds to S226 and it is determined whether or not the timer counts a predetermined time. Is done. This timer is for measuring a solenoid excitation time sufficient to excite the solenoid 127 (see FIG. 7) for discharging a winning ball and discharge the winning ball. If the timer has not counted the predetermined time, the process proceeds to S226c, where the discharge solenoid is controlled to be ON, and the process proceeds to S227 to determine whether the timer is counting time. If the timer is not counting the time, the process proceeds to S227c, where the timer is reset and initialized, and a process of starting the time counting from the beginning is performed. On the other hand, if the timer reset start processing has already been performed, a determination of YES is made in S227, and the flow directly proceeds to S243.

When the timer counts a predetermined time, the process proceeds to S226b, and the discharge solenoid is turned off.
The process proceeds to S227b, and it is determined whether or not the award ball number signal is ON. If the discharge solenoid is excited for a predetermined time and then de-energized, the winning ball should have been discharged at that stage, and as described above, the prize ball from the game control microcomputer was used. The count signal should also be stopped. In that case, S
A determination of NO is made by 227b, and the flow proceeds to S243.
However, if the prize ball number signal is still transmitted from the game control microcomputer even though the solenoid has been switched to OFF, the process proceeds to S228, and it is determined whether the counter is 1 or not. . Since the value of this counter is "0" at the beginning, N is set here.
After the determination of O is made, the process proceeds to S228b, the process of adding "1" to the counter is performed, and then the process proceeds to S226c, where the control for turning on the discharge solenoid is performed again. This is because the prize ball number signal is still transmitted even though the discharge solenoid is excited for the predetermined period, and it is considered that the prize balls have not been discharged. Is re-excited and another discharge control is attempted. Then, if YES is determined in S227b despite the second discharge operation, YES is determined in S228 because the value of the counter is already "1". Then, at that stage, the value of the counter is cleared to zero (not disclosed), and the display control of the error code 11 by the error indicator 155 is performed in S229, and then S295 is performed.
Proceed to. The error code 11 indicates that the winning ball is not discharged as described above.

In S243 of FIG. 23, control is performed to rotate the payout motor, and in S244, it is determined whether or not the motor for one payout has rotated, and if the motor for one payout has not yet rotated. Advances to S245, and it is determined whether or not the payout of balls has been detected. In the case where the payout of a ball is detected even though the motor is not rotating for the payout of one piece, even though the motor is not rotated for the payout of one piece even though the motor is configured to pay out one ball only after the motor rotates for the payout of one piece, Since an error code is displayed in S246 due to the abnormality, the process proceeds to S295. On the other hand, if NO is determined in S245, the process proceeds to S266 and the ball deficiency detector 67
A determination is made as to whether or not the broken-out tank has been detected (see FIG. 4). If the broken-out state has not been detected, the process proceeds to S268 to determine whether or not the broken-out state has just been returned. Is determined, and if it is not immediately after the recovery from the out-of-ball processing, the process proceeds to S269, where the winning ball processing mode is set to the normal mode, and then returns to S201. That is, since the pachinko balls are stored in the ball tank 65 in a normal state, the payout control of the prize balls based on the prize balls is performed as usual, so that the prize ball processing mode is set to the normal mode by S269. , And the interval period during which the winning ball discharge solenoid 127 (see FIG. 7) is demagnetized is controlled to a short period of, for example, about 0.5 second so that the control of payout of the prize ball can be performed at a relatively high speed. Controlled. On the other hand, if the out-of-tank condition is detected in S266, the process proceeds to S267, in which a message indicating that there is no more ball in the ball tank 65 is displayed by turning on the out-of-ball lamp 44, and then proceeds to S270. After the winning prize processing mode is set to the mode at the time of losing the ball, the process returns to S201. This S
The interval period during which the payout solenoid 127 is demagnetized by 270 becomes a long period of, for example, about 0.9 seconds,
In response, the number of payouts of the prize ball per unit time based on the detection of the winning ball is controlled to be relatively small. Note that the excitation period of the payout solenoid 127 is always, for example, about 0.1 second regardless of the mode at the time of the burnout and the normal mode. If it is determined in S268 that it is immediately after returning to the out-of-ball condition, the process in S270 is performed for a predetermined period of time because sufficient balls are not stored in the ball tank 65 yet.

Next, in S244, when it is determined that one payout has been rotated, the process proceeds to S247, and it is determined whether or not the payout of the ball is detected, and when it is not detected, the process proceeds to S248. , The motor is rotated in the reverse direction by a predetermined angle and then the motor is rotated in the normal direction by the same angle. Next, in S249, it is determined whether or not the payout of the balls is detected.
In other words, if the payout of one ball is not detected even though the payout motor has been rotated, the ball may be caught on the way and will not fall. Therefore, the payout motor is reversed by a predetermined angle in S248. By performing the forward rotation again, the catch of the ball is eliminated, and the ball may drop normally and the payout detection may be performed. Therefore, the reverse rotation and the forward rotation control of the payout motor are performed only once. The detection of payout is performed again. If the payout is detected again as a result of the detection, the process proceeds to S251. If the payout is still not detected, the process proceeds to S2.
The process proceeds to step 50, where a code indicating that an abnormality to that effect has occurred is displayed. On the other hand, in S251, a process of subtracting “1” from the unpaid number is performed because one ball is paid out, and S2 is executed.
Proceeding to 52, a determination is made as to whether the payout motor is lending a ball. If the payout mode is ball lending, S257
If the payout mode is not the ball lending, the process proceeds to S253 because the prize ball is paid out, and the prize ball payout number is set to “1”.
The process proceeds to S254, and it is determined whether or not the number of prize balls paid out has reached “a”.
Proceed to 57. This “a” is the same value as the number of output units of the supply ball detector of the supply device 153. When the number of prize balls has been paid out reaches "a", the process proceeds to S255, and processing for outputting supply information to the hall management computer via the information output circuit 226 is performed. The hall management computer detects the number of disadvantageous balls, which is disadvantageous to the game arcade, based on the prize ball payout signal. As described above, every time a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out, the prize ball payout signal is output to the hall management computer by one pulse, and the prize required for outputting the one pulse of the prize ball payout signal. The payout number of balls is “a” and is set to, for example, 10. Then, when the prize ball payout signal is output, the number of prize ball payouts is cleared in S256 and S25.
Go to 7.

In S257, it is determined whether or not the payout motor speed is set in the starting pattern, and if it is set, the process proceeds to S258, in which the payout motor speed is updated to the acceleration pattern, and the process proceeds to S266. move on. As a result, the payout motor speed shifts from the speed at the time of startup to the speed at the time of acceleration, and the payout motor 189 is smoothly and smoothly accelerated. On the other hand, if the motor speed has already been set to the acceleration pattern, YE is determined in S259.
After the determination in S is made, the process proceeds to S260, in which the payout motor speed is updated to the constant speed pattern, and the process proceeds to S266. In other words, when the payout motor speed is already set in the acceleration pattern and smooth acceleration can be performed, the payout motor is controlled to rotate at a constant speed after the next acceleration. Next, if the motor speed has already been set to the constant speed pattern, a determination of YES is made in S261 and the process proceeds to S262, in which it is determined whether the unpaid number is "2" and the unpaid number is determined. Is not "2", the payout motor speed is maintained in the constant speed pattern and S266
Proceeds to S263 if the unpaid number becomes “2”.
Then, the payout motor speed is updated to the deceleration pattern, and the control is shifted to a control for smoothly reducing the rotational speed of the payout motor in accordance with the remaining number of unpaid motors decreasing. On the other hand, if the payout motor speed has already been set to the deceleration pattern, the process proceeds to S264, and it is determined whether or not the unpaid number has reached “0”. The process proceeds to S266 as it is.
Proceeding to 265, the payout motor speed is set to a stop pattern to stop rotation of the payout motor, and then to S271.

In S271 of FIG. 24, it is judged whether or not the payout mode is "lens lending". Output processing is done, S2
Go to 73, turn off the lending indicator, go to S274,
A process of outputting ball lending information to the hall management computer via the terminal board 78 and the ball lending information output terminal 79c is performed. This ball lending information is a unit amount (for example, 1
(00 yen) means a pachinko ball sales signal for a unit amount due to the lending of the pachinko ball using the card, and the hall management computer that receives the signal sums up the sales amount by the card. Next, the process proceeds to S275, in which a process of setting a ball lending priority timer is performed, and the process returns to S201.

On the other hand, if the payout mode is not "ball lending",
That is, in the case of the payout of the prize ball, the process proceeds to S291, and it is determined whether or not the prize ball processing mode is the normal mode. The normal time is set in the winning ball processing mode in S269. In the normal time, the process proceeds to S291a, and the interval time is set in the interval timer. This interval time is one time data among a plurality of time data stored in the interval time table (see FIG. 26).
This interval time data is 760 msec stored in the subscript “2” when the power is turned on.
Each time the step of S207a is executed, the suffix is added and updated by "1", and each time the step of S291k described later is executed, the suffix is subtracted and updated by "1", and the time data corresponding to the current suffix is calculated. It is set by S291a.

On the other hand, if the processing mode is an out-of-ball time (see S270) that is not normal, the flow advances to S291b to set the out-of-ball time in the interval timer. The time at which the ball breaks is, for example, about 0.9 seconds (900 msec).

Next, in S291c, it is determined whether or not the set interval timer has expired. If not, the process proceeds to S291d, in which it is determined whether or not the ball presence detection flag is set. Done. The ball presence detection flag is a winning ball detector 122 (see FIG. 7).
Is set when prize game number information is transmitted from the game control microcomputer in association with detection of the presence of a winning ball. When the ball presence detection flag is not set, the process proceeds to S291e, and it is determined whether or not the prize ball number information is ON, that is, whether or not the prize ball number information is sent from the game control microcomputer. If the prize ball number information has not been sent, the process returns to S291c. On the other hand, if the prize ball number information has been sent, the process proceeds to S291f, where a ball presence detection flag is set. That is, the prize balls detected by the prize ball detector 122 are dropped downward by exciting the solenoid at the stage when the prize ball payout operation based on the generation of the prize balls is started, and the succeeding prize balls are already dropped at that stage. Is occurring, or if a subsequent winning ball is generated before it is determined that the interval timer in S291c has expired, a YES determination is made in S291e and the ball presence detection flag is set in S291f. It is set. Next, after proceeding to S291g and after the previous prize ball movement is completed (after the interval timer is set).
It is determined whether or not the time is within 0.5 seconds. If the time is within 0.5 seconds, the flow proceeds to S291i, and the continuous prize ball number counter is incremented by "1". A determination is made whether the value has reached 16 and 16
If not, the process returns to S291c. And 1
When the number reaches 6, the processing advances to S291k, the interval data is subtracted and updated by "1", the continuous prize ball number counter is cleared, and the processing returns to S291c. In other words, if the winning prize ball is continuously generated during a short period of time and the time interval of the generation is shorter than 0.5 seconds after the end of the previous prize ball operation, the short time The number of winning balls generated at intervals is counted by the continuous prize ball counter. When the counted number reaches 16, the process of S291k is performed. As a result, the subscript of the interval time data table is updated by subtracting “1”, so that the interval time is shortened. Next, if it is determined in S291c that the interval timer has expired, the process proceeds to S29.
Go to 1m, clear the ball presence detection flag and S201
Return to Thereafter, if there is no ball lending request signal and a winning ball is generated, the next prize ball operation based on the detection of the winning ball in S222 and thereafter is executed.

As described above, the winning balls are generated 16 times consecutively at a time interval shorter than the time from the occurrence of the winning balls to the lapse of 0.5 seconds after the award ball operation associated with the winning balls is completed. In this case, the interval data will be decremented and updated, and a short time will be set in the interval timer. The interval time until the ball motion is executed is shortened, the prize ball motion is executed at a high tempo, and the number of balls paid out per unit time increases. On the other hand, if the ball in the ball tank has run out and the rail ball is out of condition, the interval data is incremented by one at S207a and the interval time is updated to a longer time. The interval time from the end of the prize ball operation to the execution of the prize ball operation based on the next winning ball becomes longer,
In order for the prize ball movement to be executed at a slow tempo,
Since the number of balls to be paid out per unit time is reduced, even if the ball tank is installed in a game center where the replenishment capacity of the ball tank is not so high, the ball breaking phenomenon on the ball tank and rail frequently occurs. Can be prevented.

Next, in S295 of FIG. 25, the payout motor 189 is stopped to stop the payout of the balls, the process proceeds to S295b, and it is determined whether or not there is a reset operation. If not, an error code is output by S296. The error display 155 is controlled according to the type (code 1 to code 12) of the reset switch 156 (see FIG. 4).
If there is a pressing operation (see step S297), the flow advances to step S297 to execute processing for clearing the error code and returning to the state at the time of occurrence of the error.

Next, the features and modifications of the above-described embodiment will be listed below. (1) The light receiving element 187 constitutes a ball payout detection unit that detects the payout of the ball by the ball payout device that pays out the ball. The ball payout detecting means may detect a ball to be discharged on the upstream side of the ball payout device, or may detect a ball discharged on the downstream side of the ball payout device. Further, the payout operation of the ball payout device may be detected together with the detection of the balls themselves.

(2) The game control means comprising the game control microcomputer 202 is a program storage means (ROM 207) which stores control program data.
Control operation means (CPU) for performing a control operation in accordance with program data stored in the program storage means.
203) and security means (security circuit 204) for determining whether or not the program data stored in the program storage means is proper. By the function of the security means, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that the game is played in a state where the game control contents are not appropriate as much as possible.

(3) S291a, 291c to 29
1k and 291m constitute payout speed adjusting means for variably adjusting the number of payouts per unit time by the ball payout device in accordance with the condition of the ball payout condition established by the ball payout device. The ball deficiency detector 67 and the ball detection sensors 86a and 86b constitute a ball deficiency detecting means for detecting that the balls dispensed by the ball dispensing device are deficient. S204, 205, 207a, 291
a, 291c and 291m constitute a payout speed adjusting means for variably adjusting the number of payouts per unit time by the ball payout apparatus according to the detection condition of the ball shortage detecting means. It should be noted that regarding the payout control of the prize ball by the payout control circuit board 152, the prize ball need not be discharged at the same time as the start of the prize ball payout if the prize ball is not paid out yet.

[0132]

[Specific Example of Means for Solving the Problem] The game control board 199 constitutes a game control means for controlling the game state of the gaming machine. By the starting winning opening 34, the variable winning ball device 35, and the normal winning openings 42a, 42b,
A prize-winning area is provided in the game area, where a hit ball can win. The prize winning ball processing device 115 constitutes a prize winning ball processing device for processing the prize balls in order to perform the payout operation of the prize balls based on the prize balls winning in the prize area. A ball payout device that pays out balls is configured by the ball payout device 97. The payout control circuit board 152 constitutes a payout operation control means for controlling the ball payout device and the winning ball processing device.

The winning ball processing device detects winning balls holding means (second ball locking portion 130) for holding winning balls and winning balls held by the winning ball holding means, and outputs the detection output. Winning ball detecting means (winning ball detector 122) for outputting to the game control means, and winning ball discharging means (solenoid 127, first ball locking portion 124) for discharging the winning balls held by the winning ball holding means. ) And are included. Then, the game control means, on condition that the detection output from the winning prize detecting means is input, the payout number information specifying the number of prize balls to be paid out corresponding to the winning prize Output to control means. Further, the payout operation control means, on condition that the payout number information is input, performs a control of paying out a number of prize balls according to the input payout number information from the ball payout device, and the payout control. The control for starting the prize winning ball discharging operation by the prize winning ball discharging means is performed without waiting for the end of the payout of the prize balls. Further, as described above, the timing of discharging the winning prize ball may not be the same as the start of the prize ball payout. And information communication between the game control means and the payout operation control means,
It is one-way communication from the game control means to the payout operation control means.

In S28, S30, and S31, when the payout operation control unit controls the discharging operation of the winning prize and the winning prize detecting unit stops detecting the winning prize, the payout amount information is output. A payout amount information stopping means for stopping is configured.

By S227b, the abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormal state in which the output of the payout amount information from the game control means does not stop even though the payout operation control means controls the discharge operation of the winning balls. Is configured. The S228, S228b, S226c,
S227, S227c, S226, S226b, S22
7b constitutes re-discharging operation control means for re-performing the discharging operation control of the winning balls by the payout operation control means when the abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality. By S228 and S229, when an abnormality occurs that the output of the payout amount information from the game control means does not stop even though the re-discharge operation control is performed by the re-discharge operation control means, the abnormal state Abnormality notification control means is configured to perform control for notifying. There is a case where the abnormal state is naturally resolved in association with the redejecting operation by the re-ejecting operation control means, and it is possible to reduce the occurrence of a situation such as an operation stop due to the abnormal state.

[0136]

[Effect of a concrete example of means for solving the problem]
Regarding, when a prize ball is generated, payout number information for specifying the number of prize balls to be paid out corresponding to the prize ball is output from the game control means to the payout operation control means, and the payout operation control means In order to control the payout of the number of prize balls according to the input payout number information, when performing the payout operation based on the prize balls, the information is transmitted from the payout operation control means to the game control means. The payout operation can be performed without performing any of the above, and it is possible to prevent unauthorized modification by inputting illegal data using the input unit of the information input from the payout operation control means to the game control means as much as possible. Moreover, since the prize winning ball discharging operation is started without waiting for the end of the prize ball paying-out operation, the prize winning balls can be quickly processed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall front view showing a pachinko game machine as an example of a ball game machine.

FIG. 2 is an overall rear view showing a partial internal structure of the pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 3 is a rear view showing a rear structure of the gaming board.

FIG. 4 is an overall view showing a mechanism plate.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a ball payout device and its peripheral devices.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ball payout device.

FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of a winning ball processing device.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a passage cover body that covers a lower rear surface of the mechanism plate.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing an attachment structure of a payout control circuit board box attached to a mechanism plate.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the ball payout device.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the ball payout device.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a control circuit used in the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a control circuit used in the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a connection diagram showing a wiring connection state of a terminal board, a game control board, a prize ball lending control board, an interface board, and various peripheral devices.

FIG. 15 is a timing chart showing a payout prize payout operation based on a winning prize.

FIG. 16 is a timing chart showing a prize ball payout operation based on a winning ball.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the card unit control microcomputer.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a control operation of a microcomputer for controlling a card unit.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the game control microcomputer.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the game control microcomputer.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the game control microcomputer.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a control operation of a payout control microcomputer.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the payout control microcomputer.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a control operation of a payout control microcomputer.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a control operation of a payout control microcomputer.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an interval time data table.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a pachinko game machine which is an example of a ball game machine, 32 is a game area, 35 is a variable winning ball device, 33 is a variable display device, 34
Is a start opening of an example of a winning area, 42a and 42b are normal winning openings of an example of a winning area, 115 is a winning ball processing device, 97 is a ball payout device, 127 is a solenoid, 124 is a first ball locking portion, and 130 is The second ball locking portion, which is an example of the winning ball holding means, 1
22 is a winning ball detector as an example of winning ball detecting means, 152 is a payout control circuit board as an example of payout operation control means, and 199 is a game control board as an example of game controlling means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A ball-and-ball game machine in which a ball is hit in a game area to play a game, and game control means for controlling a game state of the ball-game machine, and a ball-hitting ball provided in the game area. A prize area in which a prize can be won, a prize ball processing device that processes the prize ball to perform a prize ball payout operation based on the prize ball that has won in the prize area, a ball payout device that pays out the ball, It includes a payout operation control means for controlling a ball payout device and the winning ball processing device, wherein the winning ball processing device is held by the winning ball holding means for holding the winning ball, and the winning ball holding means. The game control means includes a winning ball detection means for detecting a winning ball and outputting the detection output to the game control means, and a winning ball discharging means for discharging the winning ball held by the winning ball holding means, From the winning ball detection means On the condition that the payout output is input, the payout amount information for specifying the number of prize balls to be paid out corresponding to the winning prize is output to the payout operation control means, and the payout operation control means is provided for the payout operation. On condition that the number information has been input, a control is performed to pay out the number of prize balls according to the input payout number information from the ball payout device, and the end of the payout of the prize balls according to the payout control is performed. Control for starting the winning ball discharging operation by the winning ball discharging means without waiting, and information communication between the game control means and the payout operation control means is performed from the game control means to the payout operation control. A ball game machine characterized by one-way communication to the means.