JPH10216335A - Pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the stop of ball discharge due to a temporary ball jam and a ball supply delay and automatically return a machine to the normal control condition when the cause is removed by executing designated processing when the discharge time required for actually completing discharge exceeds the reference time required for discharge. SOLUTION: On receiving prize ball number signals D0-D3 from a game control substrate 31, a discharge control microcomputer 60 stores an instructed discharge number and a discharge motor 189 is started. Whereupon, a screw is rotated by the discharge motor 189 to start the control for discharging Pachinko (pinball game) balls one by one from a ball supply trough. Further, the discharge control microcomputer 60 sets a timer and sets a discharge flag and a sensor-off wait flag. The timer measures whether or not the time required for one discharge ball exceeds the reference time, and if the value of the timer exceeds a designated value, a discharge number detector 201 failure flag is set to conduct failure processing.

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 typified by a pachinko game machine, a coin game machine, and the like.
The present invention relates to a ball and ball game machine that pays out a predetermined number of balls based on a hit ball being hit into a winning area formed in a game area and a payout command signal generated due to a lending operation of a game ball.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A large number of ball dispensing apparatuses have been proposed in a ball game machine, in which a predetermined number of balls are dispensed while counting a predetermined number of balls one by one based on the ball dispensing command signal. I have. Examples of the ball payout command signal include a prize ball payout command signal based on a prize ball winning a prize area formed in the game area, and a loan ball payout command signal based on a game ball renting operation. Many of the ball payout devices sequentially pay out balls flowing down from a plurality of rows of ball supply gutters, and precisely pay out a predetermined number of balls using ball counting means provided for each row.

[0003]

However, when counting is performed by a detection signal from ball counting means provided for each column,
It is possible to distinguish between a faulty detection of the ball counting means in that row due to temporary clogging or delay in ball supply in one of the rows, and a failure of the ball counting means itself. Not stick. Therefore, actually, even if it is possible to continue payout processing by another row due to clogging or delay in ball supply in only one row, the payout operation of the ball payout apparatus must be stopped. . Otherwise, in spite of the fact that the detection signal is not output due to the failure of the ball counting means (actually, the balls are flowing), by continuing the payout operation, more balls than the predetermined number can be obtained. There is a possibility of paying out.

Accordingly, the present invention can prevent the ball payout from being stopped due to factors such as temporary clogging of the ball or delay in the supply of the ball, and further, when the factor is released, the normal control state is automatically set. It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball game machine capable of returning.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A ball game machine according to the present invention comprises a sequential payout mechanism for sequentially discharging balls flowing down from a plurality of rows of ball supply gutters, and a ball to be discharged by the operation of the sequential payout mechanism. And a payout control means for sequentially operating a payout mechanism up to a predetermined number counted by the ball count means based on the payout command signal, wherein the payout control means is a reference required for payout. The time is compared with the payout time actually required to complete the payout, and when the payout time exceeds the reference time, a predetermined process is executed.

[0006] The ball-and-ball game machine may be configured so that the payout control means notifies that the payout time has exceeded the reference time as a predetermined process.

[0007] The ball-and-ball game machine may be configured so that the payout control means executes a predetermined process when the payout time exceeds the reference time a plurality of times.

[0008] The ball-and-ball game machine may be configured so that the payout control means deactivates the game as a predetermined process.

[0009]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 1 which is an example of a ball game machine will be described. 1 is a front view of the pachinko gaming machine 1 as viewed from the front, FIG. 2 is an overall rear view showing the internal structure of the pachinko gaming machine 1, and FIG. 3 is a rear view of the mechanical plate 36 of the pachinko gaming machine 1 as viewed from the back.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko gaming machine 1 comprises:
It has a glass door frame 2 formed in a frame shape. On the lower surface of the glass door frame 2, there is a hit ball supply tray 3. Below the hitting ball supply tray 3, a surplus ball receiving tray 4 for storing premium balls overflowing from the hitting ball supply tray 3 and a hitting operation handle 5 for firing a hitting ball are provided. A game board 6 is detachably mounted behind the glass door frame 2.

In the vicinity of the center of the game area 7 of the game board 6, C
A variable display device 8 including an image display unit 9 using RT and a variable display 10 using 7-segment LEDs is provided. On the side of the variable display device 8, a passing gate 11 for guiding a hit ball is provided. The hit ball that has passed through the passing gate 11 is guided to the starting winning opening 14 via the ball exit 13.
In a passage between the passage gate 11 and the ball outlet 13, there is a gate sensor 12 for detecting a hit ball. In addition, starting winning opening 1
The winning ball that has entered 4 is guided to the back of the game board 6 and detected by the starting port sensor 17. In addition, starting winning opening 14
A first variable winning ball device 15 that performs an opening / closing operation is provided at a lower portion of the first winning ball device. The first variable winning ball device 15 is opened by the solenoid 16. First variable winning ball device 15
An opening / closing plate 20 which is opened by the solenoid 21 in a specific game state (big hit state) is provided at a lower portion of the opening. Of the prize balls guided from the opening / closing plate 20 to the back of the game board 6, the prize balls entering one (V zone) are detected by the V count sensor 22, and the prize balls entering the other are detected by the count sensor 23. . At the lower portion of the variable display device 8, a starting winning storage display 18 having four display sections for displaying the number of winning balls entering the starting winning port 14 is provided. In this example, each time there is a start winning, the starting winning storage display 18 changes the lit display unit to one with a maximum of four.
Increase one by one. Then, every time the variable display of the image display unit 9 is started, the number of the lit display units is reduced by one.

The game board 6 is provided with a plurality of, in this example, four winning ports 24. Further, a second variable winning opening device 19 which is opened under a predetermined condition is provided. At the left and right sides of the game area 7, there are provided decorative lamps 25 which are displayed blinking during the game, and at the lower part there is an out port 26 for absorbing hit balls which have not won. In addition, two speakers 27 emitting sound effects are provided on the upper left and right sides of the game area 7.
Is provided. On the outer periphery of the game area 7, a frame decoration lamp / LED 28 is provided. In this example, a prize ball lamp 51 is provided near one of the speakers 27 and is turned on when a prize ball is paid out.
2 are provided. Further, FIG. 1 shows a card unit 50 which is installed adjacent to the pachinko gaming table 1 and enables lending of balls by inserting a prepaid card.
Are also shown.

A hit ball fired from the hitting ball launching device enters the game area 7 through the hitting ball rail, and thereafter, enters the game area 7.
Come down. When the hit ball passes through the passage gate 11 and is detected by the gate sensor 12, the number displayed on the variable display 10 changes continuously under the control of the game control microcomputer described later. When the hit ball enters the start winning opening 14 and is detected by the start sensor 17, the symbols in the image display section 9 start rotating under the control of the game control microcomputer and the variable display control microcomputer described later. The rotation of the image in the image display unit 9 stops when a certain time has elapsed. If the combination of images at the time of stop is a combination of jackpot symbols,
Transition to the jackpot game state. That is, the opening and closing plate 20
Is released until a predetermined time elapses or until a predetermined number (for example, 10) of hit balls is won. When the hit ball wins in the specific winning area and is detected by the V count sensor 22 while the opening and closing plate 20 is open, a continuation right is generated and the opening and closing
The release of 0 is performed again. The generation of the continuation right is permitted a predetermined number of times (for example, 16 times).

The combination of images in the image display section 9 at the time of stop is a combination of big hit symbols, and the variable display 1
If the number indicated by 0 is a predetermined number, then the first variable prize ball device 15 and the second variable prize ball device 19 are frequently opened. Therefore, the winning probability increases.

Next, the structure of the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. On the back side of the pachinko gaming machine 1, as shown in FIG. 2, a prize ball tank 38 is provided above the mechanism plate 36, and the prize ball is provided from above the pachinko gaming machine 1 in a state where the pachinko gaming machine 1 is installed on the gaming machine installation island. Is supplied to the prize ball tank 38. The prize ball in the prize ball tank 38 is
Through the guiding gutter 39, it reaches a ball payout device 97 described later.

On the mechanism plate 36, a game control board 31 covered with a board case 32 and mounted with a game control microcomputer and the like, and a payout control microcomputer mounted with a payout control microcomputer and the like for controlling payout of premium balls. Substrate 37
Is installed. In addition, the relay board 3 attached to the back of the game board 6 extends from the opening located at the center of the
A variable display control unit 29 for controlling the variable display device 8 via the control unit 0 and a relay board 33 for relaying a signal between the variable display control unit 29 and the game control board 31 are provided so as to face. In addition, pachinko machine 1
On the back side of the ball, a ball launching device 34 that launches a ball into the game area 7 using the rotational force of a motor, and an illumination board 35 for sending a signal to the speaker 27 and the frame decoration lamp / LED 28 are installed. I have.

On the back surface of the game board 6, there is provided a winning ball set cover (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) for guiding a winning ball winning each winning port and the winning ball device along a predetermined winning path. Is provided. Of the winning balls guided to the winning ball cover, those winning through the opening / closing plate 20 are controlled so that the ball payout device 97 pays out a relatively large number of prize balls (15 in this example). You. The winnings through the start winning opening 14 are controlled so that the ball payout device 97 pays out a relatively small number of prize balls (six in this example). Then, the winnings through the other winning ports 24 and the winning ball device are controlled so that the ball payout device 97 pays out a relatively medium number of prize balls (10 in this example). In order to perform such control, signals from the starting port sensor 17, the V count sensor 22, and the count sensor 23 are sent to the game control board 31.
When a signal from each sensor is sent to the game control board 31,
A prize ball number signal, which will be described later, is sent from the game control board 31 to the payout control board 37.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ball that has passed through the guiding gutter 39 passes through the broken-out detector 42 and reaches the ball dispensing device 97 via the ball supply gutter 90. The prize ball paid out from the ball payout device 97 is supplied to the hit ball supply tray 3 provided on the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1 through the communication port 45. On the side of the communication port 45, an excess ball passage 46 communicating with the excess ball tray 4 provided on the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is formed. A large number of prize balls based on the prize are paid out, and the hitting ball supply plate 3 becomes full.
When you get more prize balls after reaching,
It is led to the surplus ball tray 4 through the surplus ball passage 46. When the prize ball is further paid out, the sensing lever 47 presses the full tank detector 48 and the full tank detector 48 is turned on. In that state, the rotation of the stepping motor in the ball discharging device 97 stops, and the operation of the ball discharging device 97 stops.
The driving of the hit ball firing device 34 is also stopped as needed.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ball payout device 97, and FIG.
FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the ball payout device 97 as viewed from the side, FIG.
(B) is a sectional view of the ball payout device 97 as viewed from the front.
Next, the configuration and operation of the ball payout device 97 will be described with reference to FIGS. Ball payout device 9 in this embodiment
In step 7, the stepping motor (payout motor) 189 rotates the screw 188 to pay out pachinko balls one by one. The ball payout device 97 pays out not only prize balls based on winnings but also game balls to be lent.
As shown in FIG. 4, the ball dispensing device 97 includes two cases 9.
8a and 98b. Each case 98a, 98
At two locations on the left and right of b, engagement projections 180 are provided which come into contact with positioning projections provided above the installation position of the ball dispensing device 97. In addition, each case 98a, 98b
Are formed with ball supply paths 181a and 181b.
The ball supply paths 181a, 181b are curved surfaces 182a, 182.
b, and ball feed horizontal paths 184a, 184b are formed below the ends of the curved surfaces 182a, 182b. Further, ball discharge paths 183a and 183b are formed at the ends of the ball feed horizontal paths 184a and 184b. A slope 202 is formed in each of the ball discharge paths 183a and 183b. And ball discharge paths 183a, 183b
The number-of-payout detector 201 by the proximity switch
Is installed. Ball supply paths 181a, 181b, ball feed horizontal paths 184a, 184b, ball discharge paths 183a, 183b
The slopes 202 are formed in front of partition walls 195a and 195b that partition the cases 98a and 98b forward and backward, respectively. Further, in front of the partition walls 195a and 195b, the ball pressure buffering member 185 is connected to the cases 98a and 9b.
8b. The ball pressure buffer member 185 is provided in FIG.
As shown in (B), the balls supplied to the ball payout device 97 are distributed to the left and right sides and guided to the ball supply paths 181a and 181b. Further, a position detector 200 including a light emitting element (LED) 186 and a light receiving element 187 is provided below the ball pressure buffering member 185. The light emitting element 186 and the light receiving element 187 are provided at a predetermined interval. The distal end of the screw 188 is inserted into the space. When the cases 98a and 98b are attached to each other, the ball pressure buffering member 185 is completely housed and fixed therein.

The ball feed horizontal paths 184a and 184b have a screw 18 rotated by a payout motor 189.
8 are arranged. The dispensing motor 189 is fixed to the motor fixing plate 190, and the motor fixing plate 190 is
Fixing grooves 191a, 1 formed behind 5a, 195b
Fits into 91b. In this state, the motor shaft of the dispensing motor 189 projects forward of the partition walls 195a and 195b, so that the screw 188 is fixed forward of the projection. On the outer periphery of the screw 188, there is provided a spiral projection 188a for moving the balls placed on the ball feed horizontal paths 184a, 184b forward by the rotation of the payout motor 189. And, at the tip of the screw 188,
A concave portion is formed to accommodate the light emitting element 186, and two notches 192 are formed 180 degrees apart from each other on the outer periphery of the concave portion. Therefore, if the screw 188 is 1
During the rotation, the light from the light emitting element 186 is applied to the notch 19.
2, and is detected twice by the light receiving element 187. That is,
Position detector 2 including light emitting element 186 and light receiving element 187
00 is for stopping the screw 188 at a fixed position and for detecting that the payout operation has been performed. The wiring 1 from the light emitting element 186, the light receiving element 187, the payout motor 189, and the payout number detector 201
The connector 93 is pulled out to the outside through a draw-out hole formed below the rear part of the cases 98a and 98b.
4

When the payout motor 189 rotates while the balls are placed on the ball feeding horizontal paths 184a and 184b, the balls are directed forward on the ball feeding horizontal paths 184a and 184b by the spiral projection 188a of the screw 188. Move. And finally, the ball feed horizontal path 184a,
From the end of 184b, it falls to ball discharge paths 183a and 183b. At this time, the left and right ball feed horizontal paths 184a, 184
The falling from b is performed alternately. That is, every time the screw 188 makes a half turn, one ball falls from one side.
Therefore, each time one ball falls, light from the light emitting element 186 is detected by the light receiving element 187. The balls dropped from each of the ball feed horizontal paths 184a and 184b are guided to the payout number detector 201 by the slope 202. If the number of balls passing through the number-of-payouts detector 201 is controlled to stop driving the payout motor 189 when the number of balls reaches a predetermined number corresponding to winning or lending, a predetermined number of balls can be accurately determined. Can be paid out.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the main electric components of the game control board 31 and the payout control board 37 together with related members. On the game control board 31, a game control microcomputer 53 is mounted. The game control microcomputer 53 includes a ROM 54, a RAM 5
5, including a CPU 56 and an I / O port 57. The game control microcomputer 53 receives signals from the gate sensor 12, the starting port sensor 17, the V count sensor 22, and the count sensor 23 installed on the game board 6. The first variable winning ball device 15 of the game board 6
16 for opening and closing the opening and closing plate 2 of the game board 6
A control signal is given to a solenoid 21 for opening and closing 0, and a numerical signal that continuously changes is given to the variable display 10 on condition that the gate sensor 12 is turned on. Further, a start winning prize memory display 18 is provided on condition that the start port sensor 17 is turned on.
, And at the start of the variable display on the image display unit 9 of the variable display device 8, a light-off instruction is given, and the decorative lamp 25 is given an instruction to light or blink at a predetermined timing. In addition, in response to the winning data signal from the payout control board 37, the payout control board 37 sends the prize ball number signals D0 to D
Give 3. In this case, when a winning data signal corresponding to the turning on of the starting port sensor 17 is input, the game control microcomputer 53 outputs “6” to the winning ball number signals D0 to D3, and the count sensor 23 or When a winning data signal corresponding to the ON of the V count sensor 22 is input, “15” is output to the winning ball number signals D0 to D3.
If the winning data signal is input when these sensors are not turned on, "1" is added to the winning ball number signals D0 to D3.
"0" is output.

The variable display control unit 29 has a variable display microcomputer 58 mounted thereon. The variable display microcomputer 58 controls the display of the image display unit 9 according to the instruction of the game control microcomputer 53. A drive circuit and the like are mounted on the illumination board 35,
According to the control of the game control microcomputer 53,
A control signal for lighting or blinking is given to the frame lamp / LED 28 and a control signal for generating sound is given to the speaker 27.

The payout control board 37 has a payout control microcomputer 60 mounted thereon. The payout control microcomputer 60 includes a ROM 61, a RAM 62, a C
It includes a PU 63 and an I / O port 64. When the out-of-ball detector 42 detects no prize ball, the payout control microcomputer 60 outputs the payout motor 1 in the ball payout device 97.
The payout of the prize ball is stopped by not driving the 89.
When the full tank detector 48 is turned on, the rotation of the payout motor 189 in the ball payout device 97 is stopped to stop the operation of the ball payout device 97, and the driving of the hit ball firing device 34 is stopped as necessary.

The dispensing control microcomputer 60 comprises:
When a winning ball detector 122 that detects a winning ball in each winning opening and a winning device is turned on, a winning data signal is output to the game control board 31. The prize ball number signals D0 to D3 are output from the game control board 31 in response thereto, and the payout control microcomputer 60 executes the prize ball payout control. Specifically, the payout motor 189 is rotated. Then, as described above, the prize balls are dispensed one by one by the action of the screw 188, so that a detection signal is output from the light receiving element 187 of the position detector 200. The balls paid out by the action of the screw 188 are detected by the payout number detector 201. Payout number detector 2
01 is the number of detection signal outputs D0 to D
When the value reaches 3, the payout control microcomputer 60 stops the rotation of the payout motor 189. Then, a drive signal is sent to the discharge solenoid 127 for discharging the winning ball, and the discharge solenoid 127 is turned on for a predetermined time. Then, the winning ball flows down from the winning ball detector 122. If there is a next prize ball, the prize ball is detected by the prize ball detector 122, so that the prize ball payout control and the prize ball discharge process are executed again.

A payout control microcomputer 6
In the case of 0, when the tank ball detector 41 detects a ball break in the prize ball tank 38, the ball break lamp 52 is turned on, and when the prize ball is paid out, the prize ball lamp 51 blinks.
Since the ball payout device 97 also pays out game balls to be rented,
When receiving the pachinko ball lending request signal from the card unit 50, the payout control microcomputer 60 controls to pay out a predetermined number of pachinko balls by a process similar to the prize ball payout process. When a failure is detected, the payout control microcomputer 60 displays a code indicating the type of the failure on the error display 59.

Next, the operation of the payout control microcomputer 60 relating to the ball payout processing will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 to 9 and the timing charts of FIGS. FIG. 10 shows an example in which an abnormal factor such as temporary clogging of a ball or delay in supply of a ball has not occurred. FIG.
An example in the case where the occurrence of an abnormal factor continues is shown. FIG. 12 shows an example in which the cause of the abnormality disappears in the middle of the occurrence of the abnormality. In each of the timing charts, ON of the position detector 200 means that the light emitting element 186
Indicates a state in which light from the device to the light receiving element 187 is blocked,
For example, one cycle of the waveform shown in FIG. 10B corresponds to a half turn of the screw 188, that is, one ball payout. In addition, ON of the number-of-payouts detector 201 indicates that there is a ball at the position of the number-of-payouts detector 201.

The ball payout control process shown in FIG. 7 is started every predetermined time. For example, it is started every 2 ms. When activated, the payout control microcomputer 60 performs an abnormality check process described later (Step S).
1). This process does not necessarily have to be performed immediately after activation, and may be performed, for example, as the last step in the ball payout control process.

The dispensing control microcomputer 60 comprises:
When a ball payout command signal is received, the number of ball payouts corresponding to the command signal is stored. In this embodiment, when receiving the prize ball number signals D0 to D3 from the game control control board 31, the payout number commanded by the prize ball number signals D0 to D3 is stored (steps S2 and S3). Then, the payout motor 189 is started (Step S4). Then, as described above, the control of paying out the pachinko balls one by one from the ball supply gutter 90 by rotating the screw 188 by the payout motor 189 is started. Further, the payout control microcomputer 60 sets a timer and sets a paying-out flag and a sensor OFF waiting flag (step S5).

The timer measures whether or not the time required for one ball payout (for example, 15 ball payouts) exceeds a reference time. The timer is also used to detect a malfunction of the number-of-payouts detector 201. Then, although not shown in FIG. 7, for example, the timer value is incremented by one when the process shown in FIG. 7 is started once. The sensor OFF wait flag is used to wait for the on-state of the payout number detector 201 in the initial state to be canceled, and to wait for the on-state to be canceled after the payout number detector 201 is detected to be on. This is a flag for Therefore, the state in which the sensor OFF waiting flag is reset is a state in which it waits for the number-of-payouts detector 201 to be turned on. The payout flag is a flag indicating that one ball payout process has been started and is being continued. Therefore, when a new ball payout command signal has not been received but the payout flag has been set, the process of step S10 is executed (step S6).

Then, the payout control microcomputer 60 checks the state of the sensor OFF waiting flag (step S10). The sensor OFF waiting flag is set when the ON state of the number-of-payouts detector 201 is still in the initial state or when the detection signal from the number-of-payouts detector 201 has already risen and the ON state is detected. Is shown, the number-of-payouts detector 201
Do not check the detection signal from. With the sensor OFF wait flag set, the number-of-payouts detector 20
When 1 is turned off, the sensor OFF waiting flag is reset (steps S11 and S12).

When the sensor OFF wait flag is not set, the payout control microcomputer 60
Confirms whether or not the number-of-payouts detector 201 is turned on (step S13). That is, the ball payout device 97
Check whether the ball paid out has passed. When the number-of-payouts detector 201 is turned on, the value of the counter is incremented by one (step S14).

In step 11, the number-of-payouts detector 20
1 is not detected, or Step 1
3, when the turn-on of the number-of-payouts detector 201 is not detected, the payout control microcomputer 60
Checks whether the value of the timer does not exceed a predetermined value for detecting a failure of the number-of-payouts detector 201 (step S15). When the value of the timer exceeds the predetermined value,
The payout number detector abnormal flag is set, and the process ends. The fact that the value of the timer exceeds a predetermined value for detecting a defect of the number-of-payouts detector 201 means that the payout motor 18
9 indicates that the ball payout process is started and the payout number detector 201 has been kept on or off for a predetermined time. In such a case, it is considered that the number-of-payouts detector 201 has failed. Also,
Abnormal processing may be performed on the position detector 200 when the on-continuation state or the off-continuation state continues for a predetermined time. This predetermined value is longer than the ON time of the number-of-payouts detector 201 in the normal payout and is compared with the second timer in the case of the continuous ON state. Further, in the case of the off-continuation state, the time required for paying out two pieces, in other words, the payout number detector 2 in the normal payout.
01 (the ball supply gutter 90 is 2
The value is set to be longer than that of the first timer, and the value is compared with the first timer.

The dispensing control microcomputer 60 comprises:
When the value of the counter is incremented by 1, it is checked whether the counter value has reached the stored number of payouts (step S2).
0). If not reached, the sensor OFF waiting flag is set (step S28), and the process ends. The number of payouts is 15 in the example shown in FIGS.
Individual. If the counter value reaches the number of payouts, 1
Since the ball payout process has been completed twice, the payout motor 189 is stopped and the payout flag is reset (steps S21 and S22). Further, the value of the counter is cleared (step S23).

The payout control microcomputer 60 checks whether the timer value exceeds the reference time (step S24). In addition, assuming that the on-cycle of the number-of-payouts detector 201 is normal, that is, when the supply of balls from a plurality of rows is performed smoothly, for example, 32 ms, the reference time is calculated from {32 × number of payouts} Is also a large value, and {32 × number of payouts × [(number of columns) / (number of columns−
1)] is set to a value smaller than｝. 15 paid out
In the case where the number of ball supply gutters is two in individual, for example, it is set to about 750 ms which is larger than 32 × 15 and smaller than 32 × 15 × 2. With such a setting, even if a clogging occurs in one of the plurality of rows, the fact is detected.
If the timer value exceeds the reference time, an abnormal flag is set (step S25), and if not, a normal flag is set (step S26). Then, the timer value is cleared (step S27).

Next, the abnormality check processing in step S1 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. When confirming that the abnormality flag is set, the payout control microcomputer 60 resets the flag (steps S31 and S32). Then, it is determined whether the abnormality handling flag is set (step S33). The abnormality handling flag is a flag indicating that an error handling process described later is performed and the recovery process is not performed. If the abnormality handling flag is not set, the value of the abnormality number counter is incremented by 1 (step S34), and it is confirmed whether the value of the abnormality number counter has reached a specified value (step S35). When the value of the abnormality number counter has reached the specified value, an abnormality handling process described later is performed (step S36), and an abnormality handling flag is set (step S37).

The example shown in FIG. 11 is a case where the specified value is 3, and two rows of ball supply gutters 90 (specifically, the ball feed horizontal paths 184a, 184 downstream of the ball out detector 42).
(b, upstream of the screw 188). In other words, the term “ball jam” as used herein refers to a ball jam in which the ball-break detector 42 detects the presence of a ball and no ball is supplied to the screw 188, and a ball jam upstream of the ball-break detector 42 is excluded. Have been. Also in this case, the position detector 200 outputs two detection signals corresponding to both ball supply gutters per rotation in accordance with the rotation of the screw 188 driven by the payout motor 189. However, actually, the ball flows down from only one ball supply gutter 90. Therefore, the payout number detector 20
The detection signal output from 1 is transmitted from the position detector 200 to 2
When the detection signal is output once, it is output once. Therefore,
The time required for one ball payout process (15 ball payouts)
The timer value exceeds the reference time when the ball payout process is completed, which is almost twice as long as the normal time. Therefore, when one ball payout process is completed, the abnormality flag is set. If such a state continues three times, it is determined in step S35 that the abnormal number counter value has exceeded the specified value, and the abnormality handling process is started.

Position detector 2 as shown in FIGS.
00, each of the detectors for detecting the flow of the ball in each ball supply gutter 90 is provided, and even if the supply of the ball from one of the ball supply gutters 90 is stopped, the supply of the other ball is normal. Then, it is conceivable to continue the ball payout processing without regard to the abnormality. However, in such a state, if the ball payout processing is continued without giving any abnormality notification, the payout processing capability is reduced, so that the prize ball processing may eventually be delayed. Furthermore, when the number of payouts is confirmed based on the detection signal from each detector, the detection signal is not output from one of the detectors. It cannot be determined whether the vessel itself has failed. If the detector itself actually fails and no detection signal is output (actually, the ball is flowing) and the payout process is continued by supplying the ball from the other ball supply gutter 90, it is determined that You pay out more balls than you have been given. In order to prevent such a situation from occurring, the payout process must be stopped when a state occurs in which the detection signal is not output from one of the detectors.

However, as in this embodiment, the number-of-payouts detector 201 for detecting the balls paid out from the ball payout device 97 collectively is provided, and the number of payouts is confirmed by a detection signal from the detector. , The number-of-payouts detector 2
As long as the detection signal from 01 is output, if the speed of the payout process is reduced, that is, if one payout time exceeds the reference time, the operation of the detector is normal and one of the detectors is normal. It is clear that the state in which the supply of the ball from the ball supply gutter 90 is stopped has occurred. That is, it is not impossible to determine whether a clog has occurred or the detector itself has failed. Therefore, even if the payout process is continued in a state where the speed of the payout process is reduced, there is no possibility of paying out a larger number of balls than the predetermined number. Also,
If the speed of the payout processing is reduced, that is, if the state where one payout time exceeds the reference time is continued, the abnormality handling processing is performed, such a state is notified or stopped by the abnormality handling processing. As a result, it is possible to prevent occurrence of a situation in which the winning ball processing is delayed.

In the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, when the abnormality flag is not set, the payout control microcomputer 60 checks whether or not the payout number detector abnormality flag is set (step). S38). If it is set, the flag is reset (step S39), and the abnormality handling process of step S36 is started. As an abnormal process in this case, a payout stop (interruption) process is performed together with the error notification.

If the number-of-payouts detector abnormal flag is not set, the payout control microcomputer 60
Checks whether the normal flag is set (step S40). When the flag is set, the flag is reset (step S41), and the abnormality number counter is cleared (step S42). Further, if the abnormality response flag is set, a predetermined recovery process is performed (step S44), and the error response flag is reset (step S45).

The normal flag is set when one ball payout operation is completed within the reference time as shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, all ball supply gutters 9
0 is set when a ball is normally supplied. Therefore, even if temporary clogging or delay in ball supply occurs, the normal flag is set when the problem is resolved. The example shown in FIG. 12 is a case where two consecutive ball payout operations do not end within the reference time and the value of the abnormal number counter becomes 2, and then the ball payout operation ends within the reference time. It is an example. Therefore, the abnormality counter is cleared at the timing of c in FIG. In this way, by preventing the occurrence of an abnormality immediately after the occurrence of a ball jam or a delay in supplying a ball, if the ball jam or the delay in the supply of the ball is temporary and has been resolved, The ball payout operation is self-recovered. For example, a prize ball tank 38
If dirt or dust adheres to any of the ball supply paths from the ball feeder 97 to the ball dispensing device 97, ball jam or ball supply delay may occur. As a result, when the actual payout time exceeds the reference time, the abnormality flag is set.
However, there is a possibility that dirt and dust adhere to the ball according to the flow of the ball. Then, since the actual payout time is shorter than the reference time, the normal flag is set. Then, since the abnormality counter is cleared, the ball payout control is restored to a normal state before the abnormality is detected. If such control is not performed, the control must be performed to interrupt the game even if a temporary clogging of the balls or a delay in the supply of the balls, which may cause a recovery, occurs.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the abnormality handling process in step S36. For example, an abnormality notification process is performed as shown in FIG. Specifically, the payout control microcomputer 60 outputs a predetermined alarm sound from the speaker 27, and performs blinking display for notifying an abnormality using the prize ball lamp 51 or the ball-out lamp 52. Further, a code indicating the type of abnormality is displayed on the error display 59. Further, a code indicating the type of abnormality may be displayed on the variable display 10 via the game control microcomputer 53. When the normal flag is set after such an abnormality handling process is performed, a recovery process for stopping the alarm sound and the abnormal display is performed. Also, a hall computer provided in a game store (FIG. 6)
(Not shown in FIG. 1), a signal indicating that an abnormality has occurred may be sent. Further, the above-described abnormality notification processing and the signal transmission processing to the hall computer may be performed together. By performing the abnormality notification processing as described above, the clerk at the game arcade can eliminate clogging and the like, and can prevent delay in paying out balls.

As shown in FIG. 9 (B), a game deactivation process may be performed. Specifically, the driving of the hit ball firing device 34 is stopped, and the feeding of the ball to the hit ball firing device 34 is stopped. Alternatively, the game state is stopped via the game control microcomputer 53. Further, even if there are already won prize balls, the ball payout process may not be performed on those prize balls. If the normal flag is set after such an abnormality handling process is performed, the recovery process is performed so that the game is restarted from the process at the time of starting the game deactivation process.
As described above, by performing the game deactivation process, the recovery process can be promoted, and a problem due to a delay in paying out balls can be prevented. Further, first, the abnormality notification process shown in FIG. 9A is performed, and if the recovery process is not started within a predetermined period thereafter, the game deactivation process shown in FIG. 9B is started. It may be. In this case, the specified value for starting the abnormality notification processing may be set to 1, and thereafter the specified value for starting the game inactivation processing may be set to 1 or more. That is, if the state where the abnormality flag is set at least once occurs, the abnormality notification processing is performed first, and then, if the state where the abnormality flag is set continues one or more times, the game inactivation processing is performed. Is also good.

In this embodiment, a timer check is performed at the time of completion of one payout process, and if the time is over, the abnormal flag is set. However, when the time is over, the abnormal flag is set. It may be set. Further, in this embodiment, a case where 15 balls are paid out in one payout process is described as an example.
Even when another number of balls are paid out in one payout process, this embodiment can be applied as it is, although the value of the reference time is different.

FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, when the abnormality flag is set a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time, an abnormality handling process is performed. In this example, the predetermined number is three. For example, since the abnormality flag was set at the timing of d,
A timer for measuring a predetermined time is set. However, after that, the abnormality flag was not set before the timer expired (until the timing of e) was reached, so that the value of the abnormality occurrence counter remains 1 when a predetermined time has elapsed. Therefore, the abnormality occurrence counter is cleared and the abnormality handling process is not executed.
That is, the state returns to the normal state before the abnormality is detected. FIG. 13 shows an example in which the value of the abnormality occurrence counter has reached the predetermined number of 3 when the timer set at the timing of f has expired. Therefore, the abnormality handling process is started at the timing of g.

According to such an embodiment, even if a ball is clogged or delayed in one of the ball supply gutters 90, supply control is temporarily continued by supply balls from the other ball supply gutter 90. . In addition, when the clogging of the balls and the delay of the supply of the balls are eliminated, the ball payout operation is self-recovered.
Further, when the payout control using only the supply ball from the other ball supply gutter 90 frequently occurs, the abnormality handling process is started.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where the ball supply gutters 90 for supplying the balls of the ball dispensing device 97 have two rows has been described. However, the present invention detects the balls dispensed from the ball dispensing device 97. Therefore, the present invention can be applied even when there are three or more ball supply gutters 90. In each of the above embodiments, the ball payout process based on the prize ball payout command signal resulting from the occurrence of a winning ball has been described. Applies similarly.

In each of the above embodiments, the payout number detector 2
Although the proximity switch is illustrated as 01, other types of detectors may be used. For example, a mechanical switch that is pressed down by passing a ball to turn on a contact may be used. Further, as a sequential payout mechanism for sequentially paying out balls, a ball payout device 97 in which a payout motor 189 rotates a screw 188 to pay out pachinko balls one by one has been exemplified, but other types of ball payout mechanisms May be used. For example, a ball dispensing mechanism in which the supplied balls flow down by rotation of the sprocket (induction in the rotation direction) may be used. The timer (reference time, payout time) may be, for example, the number of motor feed steps, and the method of measurement is not particularly limited.

Further, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the balls flowing into the plurality of ball supply paths 181a and 181b are guided by the slope 202 and guided to one downstream path, but are discharged to different downstream paths. It may be. In that case,
A number-of-payouts detector is provided corresponding to each of the downflow paths, and a detection signal from each of the number-of-payouts detectors is input to the microcomputer 60 for controlling the payout. Even in such a case, the payout control microcomputer 60 collectively handles the respective detection signals, whereby the balls paid out from the ball payout mechanism are detected collectively.

In the above-described embodiment, a predetermined process is executed when it is continuously detected that the actual ball payout time exceeds the reference time, and the actual ball payout time exceeds the reference time. Although the example in which the predetermined process is executed when the predetermined time is detected within the predetermined period has been described, each present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The balls to be dispensed from the dispensing mechanism are sequentially detected in a lump, and it is determined that the actual ball dispensing time has exceeded the reference time using the detection result, and if that matches a predetermined condition that is predetermined. Each mode in which a predetermined process such as the abnormality handling process is started is included in the present invention.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, the ball game machine is dispensed by the sequential dispensing mechanism for sequentially dispensing balls flowing down from a plurality of rows of ball supply gutters and the operation of the sequential dispensing mechanism. Ball counting means for detecting the balls collectively; and payout control means for sequentially operating the payout mechanism up to a predetermined number counted by the ball counting means based on the payout command signal, wherein the payout control means actually completes the payout. It is configured to execute a predetermined process when the required payout time exceeds the payout reference time, so whether a clogging occurs in a certain row or the detector itself has failed. , Can be determined by a ball flowing down from a row where no clogging occurs. Therefore, even when a factor such as temporary clogging or delay in ball supply occurs in a certain row, the ball payout operation can be continued without any problem, and when the factor is released, the payout operation automatically returns to a normal state. There is an effect that can be done. Further, when factors such as clogging of balls and delay of supply of balls are not eliminated, delay of paying out balls can be prevented through notification or deactivation of the game.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine viewed from the front.

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

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the mechanical plate of the pachinko gaming machine as viewed from the rear.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ball payout device.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the ball payout device as viewed from the side,
(B) is sectional drawing seen from the front of the ball payout apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing main electric components of a game control board and a payout control board together with related members.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a ball payout process of the payout control microcomputer.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an abnormality check process of the payout control microcomputer.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an abnormality handling process of the payout control microcomputer.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing an example in a case where an abnormal factor such as a temporary clogging of a ball or a delay in supplying a ball has not occurred.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing an example in the case where the occurrence of an abnormal factor continues.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing an example of a case where the occurrence of an abnormal factor continues but the factor disappears in the middle.

FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing an example in which the cause of an abnormal factor disappears in the middle of the occurrence of an abnormal factor in another embodiment and an example in which the occurrence of an abnormal factor continues.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 31 game control board 37 payout control board 53 game control microcomputer 60 payout control microcomputer 90 ball supply gutter 97 ball payout device 200 position detector 201 payout number detector

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A ball game machine that pays out a predetermined number of balls based on a payout command signal, wherein a ball supply trough in which balls flow down in a plurality of rows, and balls flowing down from the plurality of rows are sequentially paid out. A sequential payout mechanism; a ball counting means for detecting balls to be paid out by the operation of the sequential payout mechanism; and operating the sequential payout mechanism to a predetermined number counted by the ball counting means based on the payout command signal. The payout control means compares the reference time required for payout with the payout time actually required to complete the payout, and performs a predetermined process when the payout time exceeds the reference time. A ball game machine characterized by executing. 2. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the payout control means performs, as a predetermined process, a process of notifying that the payout time has exceeded a reference time. 3. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the payout control means executes a predetermined process when the payout time exceeds the reference time a plurality of times. 4. The ball game machine according to claim 3, wherein the payout control means performs a process for inactivating the game as the predetermined process.