JPH09192317A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine which can promptly correspond to a case where abnormality occurs in a game ball discharging operation. SOLUTION: This game machine is played by shooting game balls by a ball shooting means 103 into a game region. In this case, the game machine comprises: a ball discharging means 20 which can discharge a predetermined number of game balls on the basis of a predetermined ball discharge command signal; an abnormality discriminating means 200' for discriminating abnormality in the ball discharging means 20 in accordance with the kind of an abnormal state; and an abnormality cause notifying means (for example, a defective operation displaying lamp 115) for notifying of the kind of the cause of the abnormality so as to be identified when it is discriminated by the abnormality discriminating means 200' that there is abnormality in the ball discharging means 20.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game ball discharging technique in a game machine, for example, when a game ball is won in a winning area provided in a game area, a predetermined number of game balls are discharged as prize balls by a ball discharging device. The present invention relates to an effective technique applied to a pachinko game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional game machine, a predetermined number of game balls are discharged as a prize ball when a condition for discharging a game ball, such as a game ball winning a prize area provided in a game area, is satisfied. It is supposed to do. Further, recently, a model has been proposed in which a winning ball detector is provided in the winning area, and a predetermined number of winning balls are paid out by electrically operating a ball discharging device based on a detection signal from the winning ball detector. There is.

[0003]

When an abnormality occurs in the discharge operation of the game ball in the above-mentioned conventional gaming machine, is the cause of the abnormality caused, for example, by a ball clogging occurring in the discharge passage? However, it was not possible to immediately discriminate whether or not it was due to a failure of an electrical component.

Therefore, there arises a disadvantage that it is not possible to quickly deal with the abnormality in the discharging operation, and a huge problem that a huge amount of time and labor is required to identify the cause of the abnormality in the game shop. I was holding.

Further, due to the above-mentioned reasons, a situation occurs in which a business cannot be immediately restarted when an abnormal discharge operation occurs in the game store, which causes the player to feel unsatisfied due to a long stop of the game, or Had a number of problems, such as the possibility of causing unforeseen disadvantages, and the profit rate of amusement stores also decreasing.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and provides a gaming machine capable of promptly responding to an abnormality in discharge operation of a game ball. To aim.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a gaming machine which is designed to repel a game ball by hitting ball launching means (eg, hitting ball launching device 103) to a game area. Based on the ball discharge command signal, a ball discharge means capable of discharging a predetermined number of game balls (for example, the prize ball discharge device 20), and an abnormality determination means for determining an abnormality related to the ball discharge means according to the type of the abnormal state. (For example, the control device 200, the CPU 200 ′) and the abnormality determining means determines that the ball discharging means has an abnormality,
An abnormality cause informing unit (for example, a malfunction display lamp 115) that informs the type of the cause of the abnormality in a distinguishable manner is provided.

According to the above means, when the abnormality determining means for determining the abnormality relating to the ball discharging means according to the type of the abnormal state determines that the ball discharging means has an abnormality, the abnormality cause notifying means determines the abnormality. Since the type of cause of can be notified in a distinguishable manner, for example, an attendant of a game shop can quickly know the cause of the abnormality, and a huge amount of time and effort is required to identify the cause as in the past. The harmful effect of spending can be prevented.

In addition, since appropriate measures can be swiftly taken according to the type of the cause of abnormality notified by the abnormality cause notification means, the game can be restarted in a short time, and the player It is possible to prevent dissatisfaction with and to prevent unfavorable disadvantages.

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows an example of the structure of a back mechanism of a pachinko game machine to which the present invention is applied.

A storage tank 2 for storing spare balls is arranged above the back mechanism board 1, and a guide gutter 11 for automatically aligning and guiding the internal spare balls is connected to one end of the storage tank 2. ing.

The guide gutter 11 has two passages, is gently inclined, and is provided with a pendulum type ball seal 3 and a pressing type ball seal 4 in the middle thereof, whereby the spare ball is guided. It is arranged in two rows while flowing down the gutter 11.

A stopper type prize ball discharging device 20 (see FIG. 4) is arranged at the lower end of the guide gutter 11 as a ball discharging means. The hit balls which have been won in the winning holes provided in the game board in front of the pachinko gaming machine 100 (see FIG. 2) are collected on the back surface and collected at one place by the collecting shelf 10, and one by one by the winning ball processing device 40. It is separated and detected by the winning ball detector 91, and as a result, a discharge command signal is formed. As a result, the prize ball discharging device 20 is operated only once, and a predetermined number (for example, 13) of prize balls are discharged. Separated by the winning ball processing device 40,
The detected winning balls are discharged to a collecting gutter (not shown) at the rear of the game machine through the derived gutter 12. When the discharge of the prize ball by the prize ball discharge device 20 is completed, the prize ball processing device 40 receives and separates the discharge completion signal, and separates and detects the next prize ball.

On the other hand, the prize balls discharged by the prize ball discharge device 20 flow through the prize ball discharge trough 13 and out of the ball outlet 14 to the supply plate 101 (see FIG. 2) on the front of the gaming machine. When the supply tray 101 is full, the prize ball is placed in the diversion gutter 15.
Is discharged to the tray 102 below the front of the gaming machine.
When the tray 102 is full, it is detected by an overflow detector 92 provided in the middle of the diversion gutter 15 and, for example, the driving of a ball-striking device 103 as a ball-striking device is stopped.

When the overflow detector 92 detects an overflow state of the tray, an overflow indicator 113 is provided on the front of the gaming machine to notify the player of the overflow state.

On the front of the gaming machine 100, in addition to the above-mentioned overflow indicator 113, a prize ball lamp 111 which is turned on every time a prize ball is discharged in accordance with the occurrence of a prize ball, and a storage tank 2 are emptied. Completion lamp 11 that is turned on when the number of prize balls discharged reaches a predetermined number.
2. The prize ball discharging device 20 is intentionally inserted by inserting a piano wire or the like.
Warning indicator lamp 114, which is lit or blinked when there is a fraudulent operation of the prize ball, the prize ball discharging device 2
When the ball clogging at 0 or the like, the discharge solenoid, the discharge sensor, or the like malfunctions, the malfunction display lamp 115 as an abnormality cause notifying means that is turned on or blinks, and the number of prize balls to be paid out corresponding to one winning ball is displayed. Various display devices such as a prize ball number display 116 and a pilot lamp 117 that is turned on while the firing motor of the hit ball firing device 103 is driven are provided. Above sphere number indicator 11
6 includes, for example, a transparent plate on which three types of prize balls are described and three lamps arranged behind the transparent plate, and a lamp corresponding to the number of prize balls set by a setting device (described later) is provided. The display is performed by selectively turning on the light.

Reference numeral 105 denotes an out hole for collecting, at the back of the game board, a hit ball which did not win the winning opening out of the hit balls hit into the game board. This is a ball shortage detector for detecting this.

A ball drain gutter 16 is provided below the prize ball discharge device 20 in parallel with the prize ball discharge gutter 13 at an entrance of the ball drain gutter 16, that is, at a junction with the prize ball discharge gutter 13. Is provided with a ball punching device 60 having a switching gate. The ball punching device 60 can operate the gate by inserting a tool such as a pin or a wire through an operation hole 106 formed on the front surface of the holding frame 104 of the gaming machine. When the switching gate is switched to the ball drain gutter 16 side, the ball drain switch 84 is turned on.

In a conventional pachinko game machine using a ball-sheath case, a ball-extraction gate is provided upstream of the prize-ball discharge device 20, so that even if the ball is eliminated, a ball remains on the way. However, in this embodiment, since the ball removing device 60 is located on the downstream side of the prize ball discharging device 20, all balls can be removed, and data of pachinko parlors can be accurately collected.

The lower end of the ball drain gutter 16 joins with an out ball lead-out gutter 17 for guiding the out ball collected from the out hole 105, and is connected to a collection gutter (not shown) disposed below the island facility of the pachinko parlor. The collecting sphere flows out toward it.

Further, the back mechanism board 1 is used to electrically control the entire pachinko gaming machine such as stopping the firing of the hit ball by the detection signals from the prize ball discharging device 20 and the overflow detector 92 and driving various display devices. A game content control device 210 for controlling the game operation based on signals from a detector incorporated in the control device 200 as an abnormality determining means, various prize winning devices on the front of the game board, a variable display type auxiliary game device, and the like. Is provided.

In the field of pachinko machines, in order to prevent game players from leaving due to monotonization of game contents, the game contents are exchanged with new game boards having different game contents and design. The pachinko game machine main body and the back mechanism board except for the board are almost the same. However, it is very uneconomical to replace such an invariable part together with the game board before the end of its life.

In the above embodiment, when the game board is replaced, only the game board and its game content control device 210 need be replaced. That is, the game content control device 2
10 is fixed to the back of the detachable game board, the prize ball discharge device 20, the winning ball processing device 40 and their control device 200, the spare ball storage tank 2 and various guiding gutters 10
17 together with the game machine main body and is fixed to the back mechanism board 1. Therefore, even when the game board is replaced, most of the main body and the back mechanism board can be left as they are and can be used continuously, which is very economical.

On the outer surface of the control device 200, a prize ball number setting device 8 composed of a dip switch or the like is provided in order to set the number of discharged balls in one discharging operation in the prize ball discharging device 20.
1, 82 are attached. In addition, a manual switch (hereinafter referred to as a memory discharge switch) for discharging a winning ball on the collecting shelf 10 without operating the prize ball discharging device 20 at the time of hitting or failure, is provided on the upper portion of the back mechanism board 1. 83 are provided. That is, the storage and discharge switch 83 provides a pseudo discharge end signal instead of the discharge sensor 25 in the prize ball discharge device 20 described later.

FIG. 3 shows a reserve sphere storage tank 2 and a guide gutter 1.
1 and the structure of the prize ball discharging device 20 and the connection state thereof.

The storage tank 2 is mounted so as to be placed in a storage recess formed in the upper part of the back mechanism panel 1. Although not shown, an opening is formed at one end (the left end in the figure) of the bottom wall of the storage tank 2, and the guide gutter 1 is arranged so as to face the opening.
1 is attached. A tread plate is rotatably arranged on the bottom wall of the guide gutter 11, and when the reserve ball runs out in the storage tank 2, the tread plate rises. This is detected by the ball shortage detector 93 to form a ball supply request signal.

A flow dividing wall 11a is provided in the middle of the guide gutter 11, and separates and aligns the flowing ball into two lines. The ball fly 3 is hung down by a pin 3a on a support portion 11b formed on the upper part of the guide gutter 11, and the balls that flow vertically over the guide gutter 11 are broken up and aligned. Ball narashi 4
Are rotatably supported by pins 4b on support pieces 4a fixed to both sides of the guide gutter 11 to prevent the balls flowing down on the guide gutter 11 from overlapping.

Further, in the middle of the guide gutter 11, preferably immediately before the prize ball discharging device 20, there is provided a flow-down control member 7 rotatable around the pin 4b. The tip bent piece of the flow-down control member 7 is divided into two pieces, and when turned as shown by the broken line a in the figure, each bent piece 7c, 7d corresponds to the two guide paths and the guide gutter 11 Slot 1 formed in the upper wall
By entering the inside of 1c, 11d, the flow of the ball in the guide gutter 11 is prevented, and the supply to the prize ball discharging device 20 can be manually interrupted.

As a result, the maintenance and inspection of the prize ball discharging device 20 and the replacement operation in the case of failure can be easily performed.

An operation piece 7b is provided on one side of the flow-down control member 7 so as to protrude laterally so that the flow-down control member 7 can be easily rotated manually. Further, a spring 9 is stretched between the operation piece 7b and the pin 8 provided on the side wall of the guide gutter 11, so that the state of the flow-down control member 7 can be stably maintained by the spring 9.

At the lower end of the guide gutter 11, a prize ball discharge device 20 having a flow-down path 30 is provided. In this case, a locking piece 11e is provided on the side of the gutter at the lower end of the guide gutter 11.
Guide piece 30a protruding forward at the top and bottom of the starting end of the zero
The guide gutter 11 and the downflow path 30 can be connected by the guide piece 30a and the locking piece 11e.

FIG. 4 shows the details of the prize ball discharging device 20. The prize ball discharge device 20 includes a downflow path 30 and a downflow prevention member 2 that enters the downflow path 30 and controls the flow of the ball.
2 and a solenoid 21 as a driving means thereof are integrally connected.

The flow path 30 includes a slowly inclined alignment gutter 31, a flow adjustment gutter 33 extending substantially vertically downward from the lower end of the alignment gutter 31, and a flow gutter 33 extending from the lower end of the flow gutter 33. Guide gutter 34 extending obliquely downward at 45 degrees
And a discharge gutter 35 extending substantially vertically downward from the end of the guide gutter 34.

In the vicinity of the boundary between the guide gutter 34 and the discharge gutter 35, a pair of support pieces 36 project from the outer wall of the flow path 30, and the support shaft 24 is suspended between the support pieces 36. .

The flow-down path 30 is formed in two lines corresponding to the guide gutter 11, and a pair of fan-shaped flow-down preventing members 22 are formed around the support shaft 24 in correspondence with the two flow-down paths 30. It is mounted rotatably. Downflow prevention member 22
, A pair of solenoids 21 is provided. The tip of the flow-down preventing member 22 is connected to the flow-down path 3
No. 0 enters through a slit provided in the inner wall portion and protrudes into the guide gutter 34. The rear end of the downflow prevention member 22 is connected to the solenoid 21 through a link member 23.
Is connected to the tip of the plunger 21a.
4, the tip part enters the guide gutter 34 or retreats. As a result, a predetermined number of discharges are performed while allowing or preventing the flow of the ball.

Further, the side wall of the guide gutter 34 bulges out to form an accommodating portion 37, into which the ejected ball detector 25 composed of a transmission type optical sensor is inserted.

In addition, above the solenoid 21, the lead wires drawn from the solenoid 21 and the discharge ball detector 25 are concentrated at one place, and the control device 200
A connector 26 is provided so that wiring for connecting to the terminal can be collectively connected from the front. An engaging portion 13a formed at the start end of the prize ball lead-out gutter 13 is engaged with the lower end of the flow-down path 30 to perform connection.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, slits 31a and 33a are formed on the upper wall of the flow control gutter 31 and the outer wall of the flow control gutter 33 which constitute the flow path of the prize ball discharging device 20, respectively.
a is provided. As a result, a foreign matter or the like enters the downflow path and causes clogging in the prize ball discharge device 20,
When smooth flow is impeded, this slit 3
Maintenance can be facilitated, for example, by inserting a tool such as a pin from 1a or 33a to remove foreign matter. A cover member 39 having a step portion 39a having substantially the same size as the slit is engaged with the slits 31a and 33a, and is fixed and closed with screws or the like.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the prize ball processing device 40 confirms the end of discharge in the prize ball discharge device 20, and then operates the solenoid 46 to discharge the previous prize ball, and detects the next prize ball. Is controlled to proceed to Thus, it is possible to prevent a trouble that occurs between a player and a game store, such as a case where a prize ball is not paid out even when a prize ball is generated. In other words, if there is no prize ball discharged, the winning ball remains at the stopper,
You can see immediately if the player's claim is correct. Moreover, there is a one-to-one relationship between the prize ball and the discharge of the prize ball, and while the discharge is stopped, the processing of the prize ball is interrupted,
In addition, since the prize balls that have not been discharged are kept on standby, it is not necessary to take a power outage countermeasure. In other words, if the winning balls are detected in advance and stored electrically in a memory or counter,
In order to prevent the number of stored data from being lost at the time of a power failure, it is necessary to take measures against power failure such as backup with a battery,
The use of the winning ball processing apparatus of the above embodiment eliminates the necessity.

Next, one embodiment of the control device 200 as an abnormality determining means for controlling the prize ball discharging device 20 to discharge a predetermined number of prize balls and control the hitting ball launching device 103, the malfunction indicator lamp 115 and the like. An example will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the prize ball discharging device 20, the malfunction indicator lamp 115, etc. are controlled by using a CPU (microcomputer) 200 'as abnormality determining means.

The CPU 200 'receives the prize ball number setting devices 81 and 82, the memory ejection switch 83, the ball removal switch 84, the safe sensor 91, the overflow detector 92, and the ball shortage detector 93 in the above embodiment. By installing the prize ball number setting devices 81 and 82, models with different prize ball numbers
(Pachinko machines) can be controlled. Further, the CPU 200 ′ includes a pair of ejected ball detectors (hereinafter, referred to as ejected sensors) 2 provided in the middle of the downflow path 30 of the prize ball ejecting device 20.
The ejected ball detection signal from No. 5 is input.

Further, a stop command signal from a central control device of a pachinko parlor (not shown) is input to the CPU 200 '.

The CPU 200 'has a ROM 201 as a read-only memory and a RAM 202 as a memory which can be read and written at any time. ROM
201 includes a C for controlling the prize ball discharge device 20 and the like.
A program to be executed by the PU 200 ′ and fixed data such as a drive time and a wait time (discharge interval) of the safe solenoid 46 are stored.

On the other hand, the RAM 202 stores the discharge sensor 25
A memory area for storing the cumulative number of balls ejected from each flow-down path 30 and the number of ejected balls in each flow-down path, a register area forming a soft timer, and a CPU 200 'Work area (work area) is provided.

Further, the CPU 200 'includes a driver 2
20, a pair of solenoids (hereinafter referred to as “discharge solenoid”) 21 in the prize ball discharge device 20, a solenoid (hereinafter referred to as “safe solenoid”) 46 in the winning ball processing device 40, a prize ball lamp 111, and a completion lamp 11
2. Overflow lamp 113, improper warning indicator lamp 114, malfunction indicator lamp 115, prize ball indicator 11
6, a display device such as a pilot lamp 117 (all shown in FIG. 2), a speaker 120, a hit ball launching device 103, and the like. The CPU 200 ′ drives the prize ball discharge device 20, various display lamps, the hit ball launching device 103, and the like based on signals from the setter, various detectors and switches according to a program in the ROM 201.

The main processes of the CPU 200 'are an overflow process, a tank process, a ball removing process, a winning ball detecting process, and a prize ball discharging process. However, the procedure of the processing is not limited to the above order, and the processing may be started from any processing. The pachinko gaming machine is controlled by repeatedly executing the above processing by a timer interrupt or the like.

Here, in the overflow processing, the detection signal from the overflow detector 92 is detected, and for example,
The overflow lamp 113 is operated for a predetermined time (10 to 20).
Second) Turn on or blink, and if the overflow state is not yet released, stop the firing operation of the hit ball firing device 103. As a result, it is possible to prevent the inside of the prize ball lead-out gutter 13 from being filled with the prize balls up to the vicinity of the prize ball discharge device 20 and adversely affecting the discharging operation.

In the tank processing, when it is detected that the storage tank 2 is empty and the ball shortage detector 93 has been turned off, for example, a ball replenishment request is sent to the central control room and the completion lamp 112 is turned on. At the same time or thereafter, when the ball absence state is detected based on the signal of the discharge sensor 25 in the prize ball discharge device 20, the hitting ball firing device 103 is stopped. When the ball replenishment request signal is sent to the central control room, a replenishing device (not shown) above the tank is operated by a command from the central control quality, and replenishment to the storage tank 2 is performed. In this embodiment, the discharge of the prize ball is not restarted immediately even if the state of the ball in the tank is detected by the signal from the ball shortage detector 93, and a delay time td of, for example, 2 seconds elapses as shown in FIG. Waiting for it to resume. The delay time is taken into account in consideration of the time difference between when the tank is refilled and when the guide gutter 11 is filled with the spare ball, thereby preventing the prize ball discharging device 20 from being discharged empty.

A signal from the ball release switch 84 indicates that the switching gate of the ball release device 60 has been switched to open the entrance of the ball drain gutter 16 and close the entrance of the prize ball outlet gutter 13. , The solenoid 21 in the prize ball discharging device 20 is operated to continuously discharge the reserve sphere through the two flow paths 30, thereby emptying the storage tank 2.

Since the winning ball detection processing and the prize ball discharging device are related to each other and become complicated, timing charts are shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 and will be described below based on the timing charts.

When the processing is started by turning on the power or generating an interrupt, the CPU 200 'first sets a safe memory for storing the number of winning balls and various registers before detecting a winning ball, and then sets a prize ball. The number of discharge spheres (hereinafter, referred to as radix number) for each flow down path in the discharge device 20 is determined.

In the gaming machine of the above embodiment, the prize ball number setting device 8 comprising a dip switch for setting the number of ejected balls.
1, 82 are provided. Accordingly, the CPU 200 'determines the discharge bases 1 and 2 as shown in the following table, for example, according to the combination of the ON and OFF states of the switches 81 and 82, and displays the total number of prize balls on the display on the front of the gaming machine. 1
16 is displayed. Here, as an example, a case where the total number of prize balls is set to any one of 11, 13, and 15 is shown.

[0054]

[Table 1] In the above [Table 1], the discharge solenoid 1 side refers to a solenoid provided on a path closer to the mounting substrate in the two flow paths, and in Table 1 above, the discharge base number on the discharge solenoid 1 side is It is determined to be always larger than the discharge solenoid 2 side. The reason for setting such a relationship is that, when the flow-down path is set to two, the flow of the ball flowing down from the storage tank 2 through the guide gutter 11 toward the prize ball discharge device 20 is closer to the substrate. This is because it has been experimentally revealed that the flow path is smoother, and that the distant side tends to be short of balls at all times. Therefore, by constantly increasing the number of discharge bases on the side of the discharge solenoid 1 as shown in [Table 1], it becomes possible to balance the supply of the balls to the two downward flow paths.

When the set n prize balls are discharged by the prize ball discharge device 20 shown in FIG. 3, the flow-down preventing member 22 is provided downstream of the mounting position of the discharge sensor 25.
There is one ball blocked by the discharge sensor 25
Waits for the next ejection command in a state where is detected the previous ball. Therefore, in the actual control, it is necessary to change the control signal to the solenoid 21 that activates the flow-down preventing member 22 when the discharge sensor detects the (n-1) th ball that is “1” smaller than the set number n. is there.

During normal operation, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 7, the winning memory of the safe memory is set to "1" in response to the rise of the output of the safe sensor, the safe lamp is turned on and the discharge solenoid 1 is connected. 2 is turned on. Then, the discharge of the prize balls is started, and the outputs of the discharge sensors 1 and 2 change for each discharged ball, and a predetermined number (Table 1)
When the radix-1) is reached, a solenoid demagnetization command is issued, the corresponding discharge solenoid is turned off, and the safe lamp is turned off. At the same time, the safe solenoid is turned on for only about 100 msec to discharge the winning ball, and the next winning ball can be accepted. on the other hand,
The discharge wait timer is turned on at the same time when the safe solenoid is turned on, and until the time is up (600 ms), the start of the discharge of the next prize ball is waited.

The set time of the safe solenoid timer is 1
00 ms, the safe solenoid 46
The stopper 47 driven by the stopper 47 is raised for 100 ms, and the winning ball blocked by the stopper 47 is surely ejected, and promptly moves to a state for waiting for the winning ball next flowing into the winning ball processing device 40. Can be migrated to.

The set time of the discharge wait timer is 6
00 ms, the guide gutter 11 after the discharge is completed.
After the state of the ball inside is stabilized, the next discharge can be performed, and the accuracy of the discharge is guaranteed.

In this embodiment, however, if a ball clogging occurs in the flow path 30 of the guide gutter 11 or the prize ball discharging device 20 and a ballless state is detected during the prize ball discharging operation, it is possible to deal with it. The discharge solenoid 21 on the path side is turned off to display a malfunction indication for informing the occurrence of an abnormality.

That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the discharge sensor 1 detects three discharge balls, a ball clogging occurs, and when the output of the sensor 1 is kept at a low level, the CPU returns to 10%. After a lapse of seconds, the discharge solenoid 1 is turned off. Also, the prize ball lamp 1
11 is turned off, and the malfunction indicator lamp 115 as an abnormality cause informing means blinks at a cycle of 400 msec, for example. In addition, in the above case, even if the discharge solenoid is turned off, the winning memory in the safe memory is maintained without being subtracted, and the operation of the safe solenoid is also suspended. That is, originally, the winning solenoid is turned off, the winning memory is subtracted, the safe solenoid is turned on, the next winning ball is taken into the winning ball processing device 40, is detected, and the prize ball discharging device 20 is activated again. However, in this embodiment, when a ball clogging occurs in the prize ball discharging device 20, the separation and detection of the winning ball in the winning ball processing device 40 is interrupted, and a malfunction display indicating the cause of the abnormality is displayed.

Therefore, the staff of the amusement store can see the malfunction display lamp 115 to know the occurrence of the malfunction and the cause of the malfunction, and can take prompt action.

Then, when the ball clogging is cleared by the staff member and the output signal of the discharge sensor 1 changes to the high level as shown in FIG. 8, the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 of the prize ball discharge device 20 are restarted after a lapse of 2 seconds. Is turned on, the malfunction display of the malfunction display lamp 115 is stopped, and the prize lamp 111 is turned on.

On the other hand, the prize ball discharge device 20 does not perform accurate discharge even when the discharge sensors 1 and 2 and the discharge solenoid fail. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
If the output of the discharge sensor 1 (or 2) remains at a high level before the predetermined number of prize balls (six) are detected after the discharge solenoids 1 and 2 are turned on, this state is assumed. Is continued for 1.5 seconds, the drive signal of the discharge solenoid 1 (or 2) is lowered to a low level, the safe lamp is turned off, and the malfunction indicator lamp 115 is blinked at a cycle of, for example, 200 ms. ing.
Therefore, the staff of the amusement store can know that the malfunction has occurred by looking at this display, and can take appropriate measures such as the replacement of the solenoid and the sensor.

Even if the discharge solenoid or the discharge sensor has failed before the start of discharge, the output of the discharge sensor does not change and remains at a high level, so that a malfunction display is performed after 1.5 seconds. .

In addition, as described above, when the ball is clogged (the first abnormal state) and when the discharge solenoid or the discharge sensor has a failure (the second abnormal state), the malfunction display lamp 115 serving as the cause of abnormality is displayed. Since the blinking cycle is changed (400 msec and 200 msec), the clerk can infer the cause of the defect and can respond more promptly.

Further, when a malfunction (abnormal state) is detected, the winning memory in the safe memory is retained without being subtracted, so that the player may be disadvantaged in that the prize ball is not paid. Absent. Further, since the discharge solenoid is turned off when the malfunction is detected, it is possible to prevent the solenoid from being heated for a long time and generating heat.

In the above-described embodiment, when there is an abnormality in the prize ball discharger, the malfunction indicator lamp 115 is caused to blink. However, the malfunction is indicated by voice using a speaker or a buzzer instead of the lamp. You may make it notify. It is also conceivable to use a liquid crystal display or a display such as a CRT or segment type LED to display the cause of the abnormality by characters or symbols.

[0068]

As described above, the present invention is based on a predetermined ball discharge command signal in a gaming machine in which a game ball is ejected to the game area by a hitting ball launching means (for example, a ball launching device 103) to play a game. Then, a ball discharge means capable of discharging a predetermined number of game balls (for example, the prize ball discharge device 20), and an abnormality determination means for determining an abnormality relating to the ball discharge means according to the type of the abnormal state (for example, the control device 200 , CPU2
00 ') and the abnormality determining means determines that the ball discharging means has an abnormality, the abnormality cause notifying means (for example, the malfunction display lamp 115) for distinguishably informing the type of the cause of the abnormality. Therefore, when it is determined that there is an abnormality in the ball discharging means by the abnormality determining means that determines the abnormality related to the ball discharging means according to the type of the abnormal state, Since the type of cause can be notified in a distinguishable manner, for example, an attendant at a game shop can quickly know the cause of the abnormality, and spends enormous amount of time and effort to identify the cause as in the past. This has the effect of preventing the adverse effect.

In addition, since appropriate measures can be swiftly taken according to the type of abnormality cause identifiable by the abnormality cause informing means, the game can be restarted in a short time, and the player There is also an effect that it is possible to prevent feelings of dissatisfaction with, and to prevent an unexpected disadvantage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view showing a configuration example of an entire back mechanism board of a pachinko gaming machine as an example of a gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a reserve ball storage tank, a guide gutter, and a prize ball discharge device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a prize ball discharging device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a control system of the pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing a timing in a tank process for replenishing a storage tank.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing timing in a prize ball discharging process in a normal state by the CPU.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart of a prize ball discharging process when a ball is clogged.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart of prize ball discharge processing when a discharge solenoid or a discharge sensor is defective. 1 Back mechanism board 2 Storage tank 10 Assembly shelf 11 Guide gutter 12 Prize ball outflow gutter 13 Prize ball outflow gutter 20 Prize ball discharge device (ball discharge means) 22 Downflow blocking member 25 Discharge sensor 30 Downflow path 40 Winning ball treatment device 91 Prize Ball detector (safe sensor) 100 Pachinko gaming machine 101 Supply tray 102 Receiving tray 103 Hitting ball launching device (hitting ball launching means) 115 Malfunction indicator lamp (abnormality cause notifying means) 200 Control device (abnormality determining means) 200'CPU (abnormality determining means) means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a gaming machine for playing a game by blasting a game ball into a game area by a hitting ball launching means, a ball discharging means capable of discharging a predetermined number of game balls on the basis of a predetermined ball discharging command signal, An abnormality determining means for determining an abnormality relating to the ball discharging means according to the type of the abnormal state, and when the abnormality determining means determines that the ball discharging means has an abnormality, the type of the cause of the abnormality can be identified. A gaming machine comprising: an abnormality cause informing means for informing.