JPH0714432B2 - Ball game machine - Google Patents

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 a pachinko game machine, a medal game machine, and the like.
A first state, which is provided in a game area where a hit ball is hit and which is advantageous to the player, and a second state, which is disadvantageous to the player
The present invention relates to a ball game machine including a variable winning ball device that can be changed to a state of.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a ball game machine of this type, a variable winning ball device is provided to a player, which is generally known in the art, for example, based on the occurrence of a predetermined specific game state. There has been an attempt to provide the player with an opportunity to be able to give a relatively large game value by controlling to the advantageous first state, and not evenly provide a game service including a beginner.

However, in this type of conventional ball game machine, when the variable winning ball device is in the first state, many winning balls can be hit in the variable winning ball device. There is a possibility that the game value will be concentrated only on a skilled person who is excellent in operation technique, and in reality, the game services cannot be made uniform.

[0004]

Therefore, a certain upper limit is set for the number of winning prizes that can be won in the variable winning ball device in the first state, and the winning balls winning in the variable winning ball device are set. When the winning ball detecting means detects the winning ball and the winning ball reaches the upper limit, the variable winning ball device is controlled to the second state, which is disadvantageous to the player, so that only a skilled player who is excellent in hitting ball operation technology can control it. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience that the game services are concentrated and given to one side.

However, even in the case of such a configuration, if an abnormality resulting from a failure such as a disconnection of the winning ball detecting means or an abnormality such as a ball clogging in the ball detecting portion of the winning ball detecting means occurs, The winning ball becomes undetectable,
There is an inconvenience that the above-described object of providing the winning ball detecting means cannot be achieved.

Therefore, when the output of the winning ball detecting means reaches a predetermined output state, immediately, for example, the variable winning ball device is set to the second state and the normal game cannot be continued, and the winning ball detecting means is abnormal. It is conceivable to prevent the game from continuing in the state where the occurrence of the occurrence. However, if an abnormality such as a ball jam occurs, the abnormality is discriminated by some method and the variable winning ball device is set to the second position.
After controlling the state, if the ball clogging is cleared and the variable winning ball device is still in the second state, the variable winning is generated despite the occurrence of the specific game state. The ball device is switched to the second state, which causes a problem that the player is dissatisfied.

The present invention has been conceived in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to set the upper limit number of winning balls that can be won in the variable winning ball apparatus in the first state, and set the upper limit thereof. In a ball game machine provided with a winning ball detection means for detecting that the number of balls has reached the number, after the variable winning ball device is set to the second state based on an abnormality such as a ball jam, the ball jam is resolved. It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball game machine capable of relieving the player's dissatisfaction.

[0008]

The present invention is provided in a game area where a hit ball is hit, and can be changed to a first state which is advantageous to the player and a second state which is disadvantageous to the player. A ball game machine including a variable winning ball device, specific game state detecting means for detecting that a predetermined specific game state has occurred, and the variable winning ball device when the variable winning ball device is in the first state The winning ball detecting means for detecting the winning balls won in the winning ball device and the variable winning ball device in the first state based on the detection output of the specific game state detecting means,
Drive control means for bringing the variable winning sphere device into a second state when the number of winning spheres detected by the winning sphere detection means reaches a predetermined number, and the drive control means includes the winning sphere detection means. When the output of the means is in a predetermined output state, the variable winning ball device is set to the second state, and the output of the winning ball detecting means is in the output state when the winning ball is not detected. And a first state interrupting means for returning the variable winning ball device to the first state.

[0009]

According to the present invention, if a specific game state occurs,
The variable winning ball device is in the first state, the winning ball that has won the variable winning ball device is detected by the winning ball detecting means, and the number of the detected winning balls becomes a predetermined number, the variable winning ball device. The device is controlled in the second state. And
When the output of the winning ball detecting means is in a predetermined output state, the variable winning ball detecting device is in the second state, and the output of the winning ball detecting means is in the output state when the winning ball is not detected. The variable winning ball device is returned to the first state.

In other words, when an abnormality occurs in the winning ball detecting means, the variable winning ball device is controlled to the second state, so that it is possible to continue the game with the abnormality still occurring as much as possible. It can be prevented. Moreover, even if the variable winning ball device is brought into the second state based on the abnormality such as the ball clogging, if the abnormality such as the ball clogging is resolved, the variable winning ball device is returned to the first state.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Description of Appearance of Pachinko Gaming Machine) a. Description of Front Structure of Pachinko Gaming Machine FIG. 2 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention. The pachinko gaming machine 1 shown in FIG. 2 is of a so-called typical “fever” (registered trademark owned by the present applicant) type, and is based on a variable display device 2 and a display mode of the variable display device 2. A variable winning ball device 4 having an opening / closing plate 3 which is controlled to be opened / closed is provided at substantially the center and the lower part of the game board 5, respectively. The variable winning ball device 4 is configured such that when the opening / closing plate 3 is opened forward, a horizontally long winning opening appears there. The game board 5 is mounted on a front frame 6 that is openably and closably attached. On the left and right sides and the lower center of the variable display device 2 on the game board 5, start winning holes 7, 8, 9 are provided. On the game board 5, further safe holes 10, 11, 1
2, Yakumono 13, 14 commonly called tulips
Is provided. The movable pieces of the yakmono 13, 14 are made of a translucent member, and the lamp is incorporated therein. A windmill 16 and a large number of nails (not shown) for changing the fall of the pachinko balls falling along the board surface of the game board 5 are provided in the out hole 15. Further, a guide rail 17 is arranged in a circular shape around the board surface of the game board 5 to define a game area. Further, on both left and right sides of the game board 5 provided inside the guide rail 17, there are provided fever lamps 20 and 21 which blink at the time of "fever". A fever lamp 29 is also provided on the upper right side of the front frame 6.

A front plate 22 is provided at a lower portion of the front frame 6 of the pachinko gaming machine 1, and a prize ball discharge port 23 and a hit ball supply plate 24 are provided on the surface thereof. A speaker 25 is obliquely attached on the lower left side of the hitting ball supply tray 24 in FIG. This speaker 25
As will be described later, when a predetermined game state, that is, a "fever" state or when the variable display device 2 is variably displaying, it is for generating a sound effect for enlivening the atmosphere of the game. A ball hitting handle 26, a surplus prize ball discharge port 27, and a surplus ball receiving tray 28 are disposed below the front plate 22. Here, the hit ball supply plate 2
4 is used as a storage tray for temporarily storing the prize balls released from the prize ball discharge port 23 and the pachinko balls borrowed by the player with a ball lending machine, and the stored pachinko balls are arranged one by one. It serves to supply a hitting ball supply device (not shown). The hitting ball handle 26 adjusts the hitting ball strength by rotating the hitting ball handle 26, and hits a pachinko ball on the surface of the game board 5.

The variable display device has three drum display parts 31 arranged side by side, one digital display part 32 provided above the drum display parts 31, and two start prize winning memory displays provided on each side. Lamps 211, 212, 213
It consists of 214. When a pachinko ball is won in any of the start winning holes 7, 8 and 9, the rotary drum of the drum display section 31 starts to rotate and the display changes. The display of the drum display unit 31 is stopped, that is, each drum is stopped after a lapse of a predetermined time or by pressing a stop button 33 provided on the lower left portion of the front plate 22 of the pachinko machine 1. . In this embodiment, the predetermined time for stopping the display and the time from the pressing of the stop button 33 to the stop of the display of the drum display section 31 are irregularly changed in each case. . That is, the condition for the display of the drum display unit 31 to be in the “fever” state does not include the timing of pressing the stop button 33 by the player, and the predetermined time is irregular so that the chance factor can be increased. It is designed to change each time. When the display on the drum display section 31 of the variable display device 2 is in a state where, for example, "7" are gathered, that is, a so-called "all seven" state, as shown in the figure, the maximum value in the game is given and the variable winning ball The device 4 remains open for the longest time, for example up to 30 seconds, which is the first condition that is advantageous for the player. Furthermore, the drum display section 3
Immediately above 1 is a built-in part of lamps 38 and 39 on the left and right.

As described above, the variable winning ball device 4 is provided with the opening / closing plate 3 having a horizontally long size in the center thereof. Pachinko balls cannot be won in the variable winning ball device 4 when the opening / closing plate 3 is closed, but when the opening / closing plate 3 is open, the pachinko balls are easily won in the variable winning ball device 4. Therefore, the state in which the opening / closing plate 3 is open is the open state in which the variable winning ball device 4 in this embodiment is in the first state which is advantageous for the player. On the contrary, opening / closing plate 3
The variable winning ball device 4 in this embodiment is in a closed state.
Is a closed state in which the player is in a second state, which is disadvantageous.

The detailed structure and movement of the variable display device 2 and the variable winning ball device 4 will be described later.

B. Description of the back structure of the pachinko gaming machine FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the back structure of the pachinko gaming machine 1,
This is for explaining the back surface of the game board 5.

Referring to FIG. 3, on the back surface of the game board 5, a path 4 corresponding to the safe holes 10, 11, 12 and for guiding the winning balls won in the safe holes to the yakmono 13, 14.
1, 42 are provided. The detection switches 43, 44, 4 are associated with the rear surface side where the start winning holes 7, 8, 9 are located.
5 are provided. These detection switches 43, 4
Reference numerals 4 and 45 detect that a pachinko ball has entered the start winning holes 7, 8 and 9. Then, the output is used as a display change start signal of the variable display device 2, as described later.

Further, on the back surface corresponding to a position slightly above the position of the out hole 15 on the front surface of the game board 5, the path 4 is provided.
6, 47 are provided. The paths 46 and 47 are provided with a winning ball processing unit 48 for winning balls that have won any of the safe holes 10, 11, 12, the starting winning holes 7, 8, 9, the yakmono 13, 14, and the variable winning ball device 4. It is a guide.

The winning ball processing device 48 intermittently drops the winning balls guided by the paths 46 and 47 one by one.
When the winning ball dropped by the winning ball processor 48 passes through the meandering path 49, the operation lever 51 (see FIG. 4) connected to the prize ball payout mechanism 50 (see FIG. 4) by the weight of the pachinko ball. (See). Thereby, the prize ball payout mechanism 50 performs the prize ball payout operation once for each winning ball. In addition, as the prize ball payout mechanism 50,
An electric type can also be used. In this case, a closed winning ball detection switch (not shown) is provided in association with the operation of the winning ball processing device 48 rotating to drop the winning balls one by one. Then, the prize ball payout mechanism 50 may be electrically driven by the output of the winning ball detection switch to pay out a predetermined number of prize balls.

An electric ball striking mechanism 52 is provided on the back side corresponding to the mounting position of the ball striking handle 26 shown in FIG. The electric ball striking mechanism 52 rotates the ball striking cam 54 by the rotational force of the motor 53, and moves the ball striking rod 55 by the rotation of the ball striking cam 54 to hit a pachinko ball.

C. Description of Structure of Mechanism Plate FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a mechanism plate 61 that is further mounted on the back surface structure shown in FIG.

On top of the mechanism plate 61, a prize ball tank 62
Is provided. The prize ball tank 62 is supplied with supply balls from a supply gutter (not shown). Below the prize ball tank 62, the above-mentioned prize ball payout mechanism 50 is provided. An alignment path 63 is slanted between the prize ball payout mechanism 50 and the prize ball tank 62. The alignment path 63 serves to align the pachinko balls stored in the prize ball tank 62 into a plurality of rows and supply the pachinko balls to the prize ball payout mechanism 50. Below the prize ball payout mechanism 50, a confluent gutter 64
Is provided. The confluent gutter 64 is a prize ball payout mechanism 50.
The gutter 6 that guides the prize balls paid out from the prize ball to the prize ball payout exit 65.
6. The gutter 67 that guides the surplus prize ball to the surplus prize ball outlet 27 and the gutter 68 that guides the out ball downward are integrally formed of synthetic resin, for example. In the figure, arrows A, B, C, D and E are arrows showing the flow of each pachinko ball.

(Explanation of Variable Winning Ball Device) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the variable winning ball device 4, viewed from the left front side.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the variable winning ball device 4. Figure 7
Is a perspective view of the variable winning ball device 4 viewed from the front right side,
FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway view for explaining a link mechanism for driving the opening / closing plate 3. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the variable winning ball device 4 as viewed from the rear left side.

Next, the structure of the variable winning ball device 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The variable winning ball device 4 has a horizontally long base plate 71.
including. A horizontally long substantially rectangular opening 72 is formed in the upper center of the base plate 71. Holes 73 and 74 that form winning holes are provided on both left and right sides of the opening 72. Ball receiving members 75 and 76 surrounding the holes 73 and 74 on the back surface side of the base plate 71 are integrally attached to the base plate 71. Circular lamp holes 77 and 78 are formed on both outer sides of the holes 73 and 74. The lamps 79 and 80 are fitted into the lamp holes 77 and 78, respectively, from the back surface side of the base plate 71.

A cover member 81 is attached on the surface side of the base plate 71 so as to correspond to the holes 73 and the lamp holes 77. A cover member 82 is attached so as to correspond to the hole 74 and the lamp hole 78. The cover member 81 and the cover member 82 have a bilaterally symmetrical shape and are formed of, for example, a transparent synthetic resin colored in red. The thickness of the cover members 81 and 82 is selected to be slightly larger than the diameter dimension of the pachinko ball.

A front decorative plate 83 is attached to the front side of the cover members 81 and 82. Decorative plate 83
Is a plate on the surface of which a decorative pattern (not shown) that attracts the interest of the player is drawn. The upper side of the center of the decorative plate 83 is notched so as not to interfere with the opening and closing of the opening / closing plate 3 described later. Further, window holes 84 and 85 are formed at both left and right ends of the front decorative plate 83. The light emitted from the lamps 79 and 80 is visible through the window holes 84 and 85 and the transparent cover members 81 and 82. Therefore, the front decorative plate 8
3 is not only the decorative pattern drawn on the surface but also the window hole 8
The blinking of 4 and 85 excites the decorative effect.

On the back side of the base plate 71, an arch-shaped opening / closing plate mounting member 86 is mounted. The opening / closing plate mounting member 86 is located so as to cover the upper edge of the opening 72 and the left and right side edges. Small projecting pieces 89 and 90 are formed on the front surfaces of the left and right plate portions 87 and 88 extending in the vertical direction of the opening / closing plate mounting member 86 substantially at the center thereof, and bearing holes 91 and 92 are formed on the inside thereof. Has been formed. The opening / closing plate 3 is arranged inside the opening / closing plate mounting member 86, is pierced by the shaft 93 together with the bearing holes 91 and 92, and is rotatably held.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the opening / closing plate 3 is formed integrally with a main body plate 94 and reinforcing members 95 and 96 extending rearward from the left and right edges of the main body plate. On the rear surface side of the main body plate 94, that is, on the upper surface side when the opening / closing plate 3 is opened as shown in FIG. 5 or 6, a large number of small triangular projections 97 are arranged in parallel at the lower part thereof. Has been done. Here, the small protrusion 97 serves to guide the pachinko ball in a predetermined direction. In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, an engaging pin 98 projects outside the right reinforcing member 96.

Next, the engagement relationship between the engagement pin 98 and the drive link mechanism engaged with the engagement pin 98 will be described mainly with reference to FIG.

Engaging pin 98 protruding from the reinforcing member 96
Is inserted into the guide hole 101 formed in the right side plate portion 88 of the opening / closing plate mounting member 86, and a part thereof projects from the outside of the plate portion 88. Then, the protrusion of the engagement pin 98 is engaged with the engagement hole 103 formed at one end of the long operation link 102. A fulcrum insertion hole 104 is formed at the other end of the long operation link 102, and the fulcrum insertion hole 104 is inserted into a fulcrum shaft 105 protruding outward from the rear of the plate portion 88. Therefore, the operation link 102 has the fulcrum insertion hole 10
4, the engaging pin 98 engaging with the engaging hole 103 formed at one end of the operating link 102 is operated along with the guide hole 101 by rotating the operating link 102, The opening / closing plate 3 is opened.

An engagement pin 106 is attached so as to project to the right outside in the figure from a position slightly rearward of the center of the operation link 102. The tip of the engagement pin 106 is fitted to the plunger 109 of the drive solenoid 108 via the connecting member 107. Drive solenoid 1
08 is its plunger 1 when it is electrically energized.
09 is pulled up. In the electrically deenergized state, the plunger 109 is lowered by the return spring 110. Therefore, the plunger 109 is moved up and down by the energization / de-energization of the drive solenoid 108, the operation link 102 is rotated via the engagement pin 106, and the opening / closing plate 3 is opened / closed via the engagement pin 98.

Further, with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, particularly with reference to FIG. 6, regarding the structure of the V pocket device 111 and the winning ball collecting member 112 as a specific region included in the variable winning ball device 4. explain.

The V-pocket device 111 includes a detection board mounting member 113 arranged horizontally and the detection board mounting member 11
The V winning set gutters 114 and 115 project below the number 3. Both of the V winning set gutters 114 and 115 are members that are slightly inclined toward the inner side, and as is clear from their names, they serve to collect the pachinko balls in the center. In the center of the V winning set gutters 114 and 115, V
The winning detection plate 116 is attached. V winning detection plate 1
16 includes a detection member 117 which is integrated behind the detection member 117. A through hole 118 is formed in the detection member 117, and a pin or the like is passed through the through hole 118. The V winning detection plate 116 and the detection member 117 integrated with the V winning detection plate 116 swing with respect to the detection board mounting member 113. It is freely supported and mounted.

Pachinko balls are V winning set gutters 114 and 115
When guided to the center by the pachinko ball, the tip of the V prize detection plate 116 is swung backward, and the V prize detection plate 1
16 and the detection member 117 integrated therewith swings, and a V winning ball is detected by a mechanism (described later with reference to FIG. 13).

A detection substrate 119 including a photoreflector (not shown) is attached to the upper portion of the detection substrate attachment member 113. A through hole 120 is formed in the center of the detection substrate mounting member 113 so that light can enter the photo reflector (not shown) provided on the detection substrate 119 from below.

The winning ball collecting member 112 is made of, for example, a transparent resin and includes a back cover plate 121. The back cover plate 121 is attached parallel to the base plate 71. Further, in the center of the upper portion of the back cover plate 121, the notch portion 12 for fitting the above-mentioned V pocket device 111.
2 is formed. On the front surface of the back cover plate 121, ball gathering gutters 123 and 124, which are gently inclined downward toward the center, are attached. Ball gathering gutter 1
Reference numerals 23 and 124 are gutters for guiding the prize-winning pachinko balls guided by the opening / closing plate 3 to the opening 72 of the base plate 71.

The pachinko ball that won the opening 72 is the opening 7
Passing through the V-pocket device 111 provided at the back of the center of 2,
Alternatively, it falls down without passing and the ball-storing gutters 123, 12
4 leads to a predetermined passage.

Below the back cover plate 121, a counter mounting plate 125 is provided. The counter mounting plate 125 is notched at a portion located between the ball gathering gutters 123 and 124. A winning ball counter 126, which is an example of winning ball detection means, is mounted on the counter mounting plate 125. The winning ball counter 126 is a flat counter in which a sensor unit having a through hole 127 and a circuit built-in unit 128 are integrally configured. A coil is arranged around the through hole 127, and a predetermined current is supplied to the coil from the circuit built in the circuit built-in portion 128. A magnetic flux is generated in the through hole 127. Therefore, the ball gathering gutter 1
The magnetic flux is changed by the pachinko ball guided by 23 and 124 falling downward from the space and passing through the through hole 127 of the winning ball counter 126. The change in the magnetic flux is detected by the electric circuit built in the circuit built-in unit 128, and the winning balls are counted. This count output is given to a predetermined control unit via a lead wire 129.

The variable winning ball device 4 is further provided with a lamp 7.
The lead wires 130 and 131 connected to 9, 80 and the lead wire 132 connected to the detection substrate 119 are included. As shown in the rear view perspective view of FIG. 8, each of the lead wires 129 to 132 is processed by a predetermined lead wire processing boss 133, processing covers 134 to 137, and the like. That is, the lead wire 129 extending from the winning ball counter 126 is wound around the lead wire processing boss 133 at least once and arranged in a predetermined circuit direction. In addition, the lead wire 130 extending from the lamp 79 is extended to a predetermined circuit integrally with the base plate 71, through which the lead wire processing covers 134 and 135 formed on the back surface side are passed. Similarly, the lead wire 131 extending from the lamp 80 is passed through the lead wire processing covers 136 and 137 and extended in a predetermined direction. in this way,
The lead wire processing cover 13 is attached to the lead wire processing boss 133.
By providing 4,135,136 and 137,
A large number of lead wires attached to the variable winning ball device 4 can be put together so as not to disturb and be easy to handle. Especially, by this, the ball game machine 1 at the time of assembly
When attaching the variable winning ball device 4 to a predetermined position of the game board 5, there is a great advantage in that the lead wire does not get in the way and the assembling is easy.

9 to 14 are views for mainly explaining the operation of the variable winning ball device 4. 9 is a top view of the variable winning ball device 4 with the opening / closing plate 3 open, FIG. 10 is a front view of the variable winning ball device 4 with the opening / closing plate 3 closed, and FIG. 11 is shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a circle XII in FIG. 11, in which the variable winning ball device 4 is cut along the line XI-XI. Further, FIG. 13 is a side sectional view of the state in which the variable winning ball device 4 is attached to the game board 5 and is cut up and down at the center thereof. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the variable winning ball device 4 attached to the game board 5 as seen from the back surface side of the game board 5.

When the opening / closing plate 3 is closed, the variable winning ball device 4 has only two winning holes 73 and 74 on the left and right sides. That is, in the central area surrounded by the winning holes 73 and 74, the opening 72 is closed by the opening / closing plate 3, and the surface of the opening / closing plate 3 is substantially flush with the surface of the base plate 71. There is. Therefore, the pachinko ball that falls into this portion is simply the base plate 71 and the front decorative plate 83.
It just passes between and and falls downward.

However, when the opening / closing plate 3 is opened, as shown in FIG. 9, the opening / closing plate 3 is opened through the opening 72 of the base plate 71.
Is swung forward to open, so that when viewed from above, all the pachinko balls falling in this area are guided into the opening 72 by the opening / closing plate 3.

The movement of the falling pachinko ball at this time will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, the pachinko ball falling from above has an opening 7 such as P1.
It follows a path in which it falls from about 1/3 of the right of 1, falls to the back as it is, is guided by the ball gathering cover 124, passes through the winning ball counter 126, and falls further downward. . In addition, the pachinko ball P2 that has dropped to the center of the opening 72 passes through the V pocket device 111 provided in the center, is detected by the V winning detection plate 116, and
It passes through the winning ball counter 126 below and falls downward.
Further, for example, the pachinko ball P3 that has fallen to the left end portion of the opening 72 collides with the reinforcing member 95 integrally formed at the end portion of the opening / closing plate 3, and then rolls into the opening 72.

In this case, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG.
In this embodiment, the upper end surface 138 of the reinforcing member 95 is inclined so as to decrease toward the inside. Then, this inclination angle is set to a predetermined angle. Therefore, when the pachinko ball P3 collides with this portion, the inclination of the pachinko ball P3 causes the falling direction of the pachinko ball P3 to change toward the center of the opening 72 as indicated by the arrow. Therefore, the falling pachinko ball P3 is inclined by the tilting action of the upper end surface 138 of the reinforcing member 95, so that the V-pocket device 11 is released.
It is easy to lead to 1. As a result, the movement of the pachinko ball P3 is intriguing to the player.

Reinforcing member 9 mounted on the right side of the opening / closing plate 3.
6 has the same structure, and its upper end surface 1
39 is inclined so that it becomes lower toward the inside.

It should be noted that, as shown in the figure, the slope may be a two-level slope, or a single slope may be a smooth slope.

Next, referring mainly to FIG. 13, when the pachinko ball P wins the variable winning ball device 4 in which the opening / closing plate 3 is in the open state, the pachinko ball P falls as shown by the arrow in the figure. At this time, when the pachinko ball P wins in the center of the opening 72 and passes through the V pocket device 111, the V winning detection plate 116 is swung backward as indicated by the arrow, and the detection member 117 is swung accordingly. Move. At this time, the detection member 1
A reflection plate 140 is attached to a part of 17.
Then, when the V winning detection plate 116 is swung by the pachinko ball P and the detection member 117 is swung accordingly, the reflection plate 140 is positioned at a position corresponding to the photo reflector 141 attached to the detection substrate 119. It is made to move. Therefore, the photo reflector 141 receives the light reflected by the reflection plate 140 and produces an output for detecting the V winning.

As described above, the V-winning pachinko ball P is detected. The pachinko ball P that won the opening 72 is
As described above, it falls down through the V-pocket device 111 or without passing through the V-pocket device 111 and is guided by the above-mentioned ball gathering covers 123 and 124,
It passes through the through hole 127 of the winning ball counter 126. And
During this passage, the winning ball counter 126 counts the number of pachinko balls. Further, the pachinko ball that has dropped downward collides with the current-changing projection 142 that is provided so as to project to the back surface side of the lower end portion of the base plate 71, and the flow direction is changed. The current-changing projection is a member for changing the flow of a falling pachinko ball. It is preferable that the current-changing protrusion 142 is integrally formed with the base plate 71 as shown in the drawing.

The reason why the current-changing projection 142 is provided is as follows. That is, it is assumed that the pachinko ball falls directly below and hits the game board 5. In this case, the game board at this drop point does not have a thin thickness, as can be seen from FIG.
This is because the out hole 15 is formed immediately below this portion (see FIG. 3). Therefore,
When the pachinko ball P is directly collided with the game board 143 of this portion so that the pachinko ball P flows down to the back surface side of the game board 5, the portion 143 of the game board is cracked or chipped due to short-term use. There is a high possibility that Therefore, in order to prevent such a situation, the current transformation protrusion 142
Is provided so that the pachinko ball P does not directly collide with the portion 143.

(Explanation of winning ball counter 126) Next, referring to FIG.
The circuit configuration of the winning ball counter 126 will be described with reference to FIGS. The winning ball counter 126 has a through hole 1
When the pachinko spheres pass 27, the magnetic flux of the coil swirled around the change occurs, whereby the passage of the pachinko spheres, in other words, the number of the pachinko spheres can be detected.

FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram showing the basic principle of the winning ball counter 126. In the figure, coils L1 and L2 are coils wound around the through hole 127 of the winning ball counter 126. Then, when the pachinko ball passes through the through hole 127, the magnetic flux of the coils L1 and L2 changes, and a counter electromotive force is generated in the coils L1 and L2.
Therefore, the current I ₁ based on the counter electromotive force of the coil L1 flows into the collector of the transistor Q1, and the current I ₂ based on the counter electromotive force of the coil L2 flows into the base of the transistor Q1. Therefore, the transistor Q1 is turned on. In this way, the pachinko ball can be detected by turning on / off the transistor by utilizing the counter electromotive force generated when the pachinko ball crosses the coils L1 and L2.

FIG. 16 shows a winning ball counter 1 used in this embodiment which uses the principle of the basic circuit shown in FIG.
FIG. 26 is a specific circuit diagram of 26.

Referring to FIG. 16, the transistors Q1 and Q2 of the pachinko ball detection circuit constitute an oscillation circuit,
Normally, in the oscillating state, the transistor Q1 is on. Therefore, the transistor Q3 of the buffer circuit is turned on and the transistor Q4 of the switching circuit is also turned on. Therefore, the current flowing from the input terminal IN is
Output terminal OU via resistor R6 and transistor Q4
It is flowing to T. However, when the pachinko ball passes through the through hole 127 of the winning ball counter 126, a counter electromotive force is generated in the coils L2 and L1, and the counter electromotive force causes a current I _{2 to} flow.
And I ₁ flow. This current flows in the direction in which the oscillation of the transistor Q1 is disturbed, that is, in the direction in which the transistor Q1 is turned off, and the transistor Q1 is momentarily turned off. Therefore, the base potential of the transistor Q3 rises, the transistor Q3 turns off, and the transistor Q4 also turns off. Therefore, the current flowing from the input terminal IN is temporarily cut off by the transistor Q4, and the output OUT
Voltage drops. After the pachinko ball passes near the coils L2 and L1, the counter electromotive force generated in the coils L2 and L1 immediately disappears, so that the transistor Q1 turns on again, and the transistor Q4 also turns on, and the current from the input terminal IN is turned on. Output terminal OUT via transistor Q4
Flow to. Therefore, according to this circuit, a pulsed low-level potential appears in the output potential at each instant of passage of the pachinko ball. Therefore, it is possible to count the number of winning balls based on the number of the pulses.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view for explaining the winning ball counter 126. Referring to (a) and (b) of FIG. 17, the winning ball counter 126 has, for example, a flat substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a sensor portion having a through hole 127,
It is a counter that is integrally combined with the circuit built-in unit 128. As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 17B, the winning ball counter 126 includes a housing body 701, a housing lid 702, and a circuit mounting portion 703. A coil 704 is wound around the through hole 127 formed in the mounting portion 703 so that a magnetic flux is generated in the through hole 127. The coil 704 has a mounting portion 7
03 is connected to a predetermined electronic circuit 705. The electronic circuit 705 is a circuit for detecting a change in magnetic flux generated in the through hole 127 by the coil 704 and counting the number of pachinko balls passing through the through hole 127 based on the change. The circuit configuration of the electronic circuit 705 is as shown in FIG. 16 described above. A lead wire 129 is connected to the electronic circuit 705, and its output is given to other external circuits.

Next, the case where the lead wire 129 of the winning ball counter 126 is broken will be described. Although rare, it is conceivable that the player disconnects the lead wire 129 and disables the winning ball counter 126 when the variable winning ball device 4 is in the advantageous first state. In this case, the output of the winning ball counter 126 given to the external circuit from the lead wire 129 is always at the low level potential, and the potential does not change even if the pachinko ball passes through the through hole 127. . In other words, the lead wire 12
When 9 is normally connected, the winning ball counter 12
The output level potential changes from high level-low level-high level in response to the pachinko ball passing through the through hole 127 of No. 6, but when the lead wire 129 is disconnected, the output level does not change. Always low level. Therefore, when the low level potential continues for a relatively longer time than the low level potential at the time of normal winning, it is possible to determine that the lead wire 129 is in a broken state. An alarm can be issued by an alarm process or the like based on the output that is determined to be in the disconnection state.

Next, the case where the output of the winning ball counter 126 becomes low level for a certain period or longer due to a ball clogging or the like rather than a player's injustice will be described.

In the pachinko game state, if the supply ball is in the supply stopped state for some reason, the prize ball cannot be paid out by the prize ball won during that time, so the prize ball is the prize ball collecting gutter 46 (FIG. 3). 18), the winning balls may reach the through hole 127 of the winning ball counter 126 as shown in FIG. Then, as in the case where the winning ball counter 126 is broken, the winning ball counter 126 outputs the low-level potential for a relatively long time.

A more detailed description will be given. 19 and 19
With reference to FIG. 20, which is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 20, the output state when the pachinko ball is stopped due to a ball clogging or the like in the through hole 127 for detecting the winning ball passage of the winning ball counter 126 is indicated by the dotted line. When stopped from the position P4 to the position P6, the output of the winning ball counter 126 becomes a low level potential. In addition, other states, that is, through-hole 1
When there is no pachinko ball on 27, the winning ball counter 126
The output of is a high level potential. Therefore, when the output of the winning ball counter 126 becomes a low level potential for a relatively long fixed period or more, it can be detected that the through hole 127 is clogged with a pachinko ball.

Next, referring to FIG. 21, the winning ball counter 1
A method of determining whether 26 is in a broken or short-circuited state or whether the pachinko ball is clogged in the through hole 127 will be described. When the pachinko ball is detected by changing the magnetic flux as in this embodiment, the output of the winning ball counter 126 is 0V of the ground level or the complete conduction level when the winning ball counter 126 is in a broken or short state. Stable to any level of 24V. On the other hand, when the through hole 127 is clogged with pachinko balls,
The output potential does not completely become the ground level 0V, but becomes stable at a slightly higher level, for example, 0.5V. Therefore, due to the difference in the output potential level,
It is possible to determine whether the winning ball counter 126 is broken or is simply in a ball clogging state. In the case of disconnection or short circuit, the output of the winning ball counter 126 may be immediately determined to be abnormal without observing it for a certain period of time and may be disabled.

In the above embodiment, the winning ball counter 1
The switch 26 is not limited to this as a switch for detecting passage of a pachinko ball due to a change in magnetic flux, and may be configured using a contact microswitch or the like. The drawings in that case are shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. These respective figures correspond to the above-mentioned FIG. 5 and FIG. 13, respectively.
The same parts are given the same numbers. 22 and 23, since the winning ball counter 126 is composed of a contact micro switch, a pachinko ball sensing plate 707 for driving the contact is required in the through hole 127, and because of the switch structure, The thickness of the switch is slightly larger than that of the magnetic flux detecting switch of the above-described embodiment.

In this case, when the pachinko ball stops in the through hole 127 as described above due to the ball clogging of the pachinko ball or the like, since the pachinko ball presses the actuator 707 to each other, the micro switch is operated. If is a normally open switch, a high level signal will be output for a relatively long time, and if a micro switch is a normally closed switch, a low level signal will be output for a relatively long time. Therefore, similar to the above, it is possible to detect a ball clogging or the like.

The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment, and the explanation is omitted here. (Explanation of Drum-shaped Variable Display Member) FIGS. 24 and 25
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a specific structure of a drum-shaped variable display member 151 included in the variable display device 2 (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 24 is an external perspective view of the drum-shaped variable display member 151 as seen from the back surface side. As shown in FIG. 24, the drum-shaped variable display member 151 includes the storage box 1
52, the main components are housed in the storage box 152. A motor 153 and a gear case 154 are attached to one side surface of the storage box 152, that is, a side surface on the left side in the drawing. Motor 153
Drives the rotating drum in the storage box 152 via the gear mechanism provided in the gear case 154.

A manual adjustment hole 155 is formed on the upper rear surface of the storage box 152. This manual adjustment hole 155
Is a hole provided so that the rotary drum in the storage box 152 can be manually moved. This hole 155
Is necessary in the following cases. That is, when the drum-shaped variable display member 151 is incorporated in the game board 5 (see FIG. 1) and the display mode of the drum-shaped variable display member 151 becomes a predetermined display mode after the ball game machine is completed, It is necessary to inspect whether the control operation of the ball game machine is performed as scheduled. At that time, it is unreasonable to rotate the motor 153 and wait for the desired combination to be formed by accident, and it is necessary to manually and manually set the rotary drum to the desired combination.

Further, in a pachinko gaming machine, when a new product is completed, it must be approved by the Public Safety Commission before the product is sold. At this time, if such a manual adjustment hole 155 is formed, it is possible to easily stop the rotary drum at a desired position and set a predetermined display mode at the time of approval verification.

Incidentally, in the prior art, such a manual adjustment hole 1
No 55 was provided, and it was necessary to remove the screws and the front plate with a screwdriver.

The manual adjustment hole 155 has a cover member 156.
And the manual adjustment hole 155 is provided with the cover member 156.
Blocked by. And on top of that, the seal 157
Is attached, and as described above, the cover member 156 is easily removed except when necessary to prevent unauthorized manual adjustment.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view drawn through the storage box and the gear case 154, showing the internal structure of the drum-shaped variable display member 151 from the back side. FIG. 26 is a top view of the drum-shaped variable display member 151 with the storage box 152 omitted. Furthermore, FIG.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the drum-shaped variable display member 151 as viewed from the front right side. FIG. 28 shows a drum-shaped variable display member 15
1 is a side sectional view of a state in which 1 is attached to a game board 5. FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 25 to 28, the storage box 152 includes an upper plate 158, a lower plate 159, and a right side plate 16.
0, a left side plate 161, a rear plate 162, and a front plate 163. On the outside of the right side plate 160, the gear 16
4 and 165 are attached, and the outside thereof is covered with the gear case 154 as described above. Right side plate 160
A light receiver 167 housed in a cover 166 is attached to the inside. The light receiver 167 includes two light receiving units 168 and 169 provided laterally adjacent to each other.

A light emitter 170 is attached to the outside of the left side plate 161, and a cover 171 covers the light emitter 170.
The light emitter 170 is provided corresponding to the light receiver 167, and also includes two light emitting units 172 and 173. Each of the light emitting units 172 and 173 is composed of, for example, a light emitting diode, and each of the light receiving units 168 and 169 is composed of, for example, a photodiode or a phototransistor. The light emitted from each of the light emitting portions 172 and 173 is directed to the light receiving portions 168 and 169 via the direction determining holes 174 and 175 provided on the inner side of the left side plate.

Inside the rear plate 162, three solenoids 176, 177 and 178 are mounted. Further, the solenoid 176, which is attached to the rear plate 162,
A large number of slits 179 are formed in parallel with the longitudinal direction in order to release the heat generated by 177 and 178. Stop levers 183, 184, and 185 are coupled to the plungers 180, 181, and 182 protruding from the upper portions of the solenoids 176, 177, and 178, respectively. One stop lever shaft 186 is commonly inserted into each of the stop levers 183, 184 and 185. The stop levers 183, 184, 185 are driven by the connected solenoids 176, 177, 178 and are rotated back and forth around the stop lever shaft 186. The stop lever shaft 18
Both ends of 6 are the right side plate 160 and the left side plate 16 respectively.
Held by 1.

The storage box 152 is provided with three rotary drums 187, 188, 189. The rotary drums 187, 188, 189 are inserted into the drum shaft 190 and are rotatably provided. The drum shaft 190 has its left end supported by the left side plate 161 via a bearing 191, and its right end connected to the transmission gear 164 via a round hole 192 formed in the right side plate 160. Therefore, rotation of the motor 153 causes the drive gear 16 to rotate.
5 and the transmission gear 164 to transmit to the drum shaft 190, and the drum shaft 190 is rotated.

From the drum shaft 190 to the rotary drums 187,
Transmission of rotation to 188 and 189 is configured by a slit mechanism (not shown) including a coil spring 193 and the like. Therefore, when a constant load is applied to the rotary drums 187, 188, 189, the rotation of the rotary drums 187, 188, 189 is stopped regardless of the rotation of the drum shaft 190.

Further, each rotary drum 187, 188, 1
On the right side of 89 is a ratchet gear 1 with a radius close to the circumference.
96, 197 and 198 are provided respectively. The ratchet gears 196, 197, 198 and the stop levers 183, 184, 185 described above are in mesh with each other.

The rotary drum 187 will now be described. In connection with the ratchet gear 196, the stop lever 1
83 is rotatably supported by a stop lever shaft 186, and the stop lever 183 is connected to a plunger 180 of a solenoid 176. As a result, while the solenoid 176 is energized, the stop lever 1
83 is disengaged from the ratchet gear 196, and the rotary drum 18
7 rotates according to the rotation of the drum shaft 190. When the solenoid 176 is deenergized, the plunger 180 is returned by the return spring 199, and accordingly, the stop lever 183 meshes with the ratchet gear 196, and immediately the rotary drum 187.
To stop the rotation of. Other rotating drums 188 and 18
The same applies to 9 as well.

The front plate 163 of the storage box 152 is a bent plate having a semi-circular cross section, and is made of, for example, transparent synthetic resin. Then, three windows 202, 203, and 204 are formed laterally in the central protruding portion. The portions of the windows 202, 203, 204 are formed thicker than the other portions, and the portions form a convex lens. Then, the display contents displayed on the peripheral surfaces of the rotating drums 187, 188, 189 located inside the front plate 163 and rotating are the windows 202, 203, 2
It is configured so as to be greatly reflected through 04. Further, a seal is put on the portions other than the windows 202, 203, 204, and the portions are shaded, so that the patterns of the rotating drums 187, 188, 189 located at the portions can be seen from the outside. It is either missing or hard to see.

The rotating drums 187, 188, 18 described above
The information drawn at equal intervals on the circumferential surface of 9 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
The patterns are as shown in (a), (b), and (c) of 9. In this embodiment, of the information shown in FIG. 29, when “7” is aligned in a row in the windows 202, 203, 204, or “BAR” is the windows 202, 203, 204.
When lined up in a horizontal row, a predetermined predetermined game state is entered. According to the display in FIG. 29, the probability is calculated. In the left drum 189, there are three “7”, the probability that “7” appears is “3/10”, and in the middle drum 188 and the right drum 187, “7” appears. 7 ”is one each,
The probabilities of their appearance are "1/10", respectively. Therefore, the probability that three "7" are gathered is "3/1000" obtained by multiplying each probability.

Similarly, the probabilities that "BAR" appears are "1/10", "2/10", and "1/10", so that the probability that they are aligned is "2/1000". . These two probabilities, "3/1000" and "2/1000"
In this embodiment, the probability of adding and is the probability of becoming a predetermined game state as a whole, which is "1/200".

Next, when the drum-shaped variable display member 151 is stopped, a mechanism and its operation for outputting a signal output according to the combination of the displayed rotary drums, that is, a signal indicating the type of the game state. , FIG. 30, FIG. 31, FIG. 32, and FIG. 33.

In each of the rotary drums 187, 188, 189,
A large number of through holes 205, 206, 207 are formed respectively. These through holes 205, 206, 207 are formed on the side walls of the rotary drums 187, 188, 189, respectively.
It is distributed along two concentric circles. That is, the through hole 2
05, 206, 207 are classified into through holes 205a, 206a, 207a on the outer circumference and through holes 205b, 206b, 207b on the inner circumference, respectively. The positions of these through holes on the circumference are selected in correspondence with the regions shifted by 180 ° from the positions of the above-described patterns (the patterns drawn on the peripheral surfaces of the rotating drums 187, 188, 189), and each of these regions is selected. , The outer through holes 205a, 206a and 207a and the inner through hole 205
b, 206b, 207b, only the outer through holes 205a, 206a, 207a are provided, and only the inner through holes 205b, 206b, 207b are provided. The case where it is not provided is appropriately selected. These through holes show that the rotary drums 187, 188 and 189 have absolute positions with respect to each other.
And used to detect in what relative position it has stopped relative to the other drums. for that reason,
Corresponding to the positions of the through holes at the stop positions for the drums 187, 188, 189, the two light emitting units 17 described above are provided.
2, 173 and two light receiving portions 168, 169 are arranged and fixed in the radial direction of the rotary drum.

The light emitted from the light emitting portions 172 and 173 is
It is output through the above-described direction determining holes 172 and 173. When the light receiving units 168 and 169 receive light, the light receiving units 168 and 169 output the following combinations depending on the stop positions of the rotary drums 187, 188 and 189. That is, the light receiving unit 1
There are outputs from both 68 and 169, only from the light receiving section 168, there is output from the light receiving section 169, and there is no output from both light receiving sections 168 and 169. Therefore, each rotary drum 1
The combination of 87, 188 and 189 when stopped can be determined based on the combination of the outputs of these light receiving units 168 and 169. That is, it is possible to detect whether or not the gaming state is in a predetermined specific gaming state, that is, whether the above-mentioned "7" is complete or "BAR" is complete, based on the combination of the outputs of the light receiving units 168 and 169.

The light emission timing of the light emitting portions 172, 173 and the rotation stop timing of the rotary drums 187, 188, 189 are defined as follows. That is,
The rotary drum 189 has a stop button 33 (see FIG. 2).
Stops after a predetermined time that has been randomly selected has elapsed, or even after the stop button 33 has not been pressed, it stops after a time randomly selected from among a plurality of predetermined times. To do. Then, after a further fixed time, the rotation of the rotary drum 188 stops. Then, after a further fixed time has elapsed, the rotary drum 187 is stopped. Light emission of the light emitting units 172 and 173 is performed after the rotation of the middle drum 188 is stopped,
The right drum 187 is stopped, and the light receiving units 168 and 169 are configured to be immediately turned off after receiving the light. These time timings are performed by a control command from the central control unit, as will be described later.

Now, returning to FIG. 2, the overall structure of the variable display device 2 will be described a little more. The drum-shaped variable display member 151 described above is provided at the center of the variable display device 2.
Windows 202, 203, and 204 are lined up. Then, the digital display unit 32 described above is provided thereon. In this embodiment, the digital display section 32 does not work as a display means for giving a predetermined game state. The digital display unit 32 has two display functions. One of them is that the opening / closing plate 3 of the variable winning ball device 4 is 1
The pachinko balls that have won in the opening 72 (see FIG. 5) are counted by the winning ball counter 126 (see FIG. 5) during the re-opening, and the count value is displayed. And
In this embodiment, a maximum of 10 pachinko balls can be won in one opening of the variable winning ball device 4,
Since no more pachinko balls can be won, the digital display unit 32 plays an active part so as to display it easily.

Another display function of the digital display unit 32 is a display of how many times the variable winning ball device 4 has been opened. As will be described later, when a pachinko ball wins the V-pocket device 111 (see FIG. 6) of the variable winning ball device 4, the variable winning ball device 4 continues to be in the open state, but it is up to 10 times. Since it is set to continue until, the number of times is displayed. The switching of the display contents is performed by the control device described later.

The two lamps 211 to 214 provided on each of the left and right sides of the digital display unit 32 are, as described above, in response to the pachinko balls winning the start winning holes 7, 8 and 9. It is a lamp that lights up to notify. When a pachinko ball is won in the start winning holes 7, 8 and 9, the display state of the drum display unit 31 of the variable display device 2 changes, and when it stops, it is determined whether or not it is a predetermined game state. In the state where the display of the variable display device 2 is not changed, when a pachinko ball is won in any of the start winning holes 7, 8 and 9, the display of the variable display device 2 immediately starts changing and the start winning holes 7 and 8 are displayed. It can be seen that a pachinko ball has won a prize in any of the following, but when the display mode of the variable winning ball device 2 is changing or in a predetermined game state,
That is, when a pachinko ball wins any of the starting winning holes 7, 8 and 9 during the “fever”, the winning is not known. Also, if the display of the variable display device 2 does not change due to the winning, and the winning is wasted, it will be uninteresting for the player. Therefore, in this embodiment, the start winning hole 7, while the display of the variable display device 2 is changing,
When a pachinko ball is won in any one of 8 and 9, the lamps 211, 212, 213, and 214 are provided so that the player can hold up to four winnings and notify that. The lamps 211, 212, 213 and 214 are
It is arranged to sequentially light up and display from the left side.

B. Other Embodiments of Variable Display Device In the above-described embodiment, the drum display unit 31 will be described as the variable display device 2, in particular, as the display unit involved in the predetermined game state. Three
Not limited to 1, the display unit involved in a predetermined game state,
It may be configured with a digital display unit. That is, by using a display segment whose display is electrically changed, the segment is selectively caused to emit light to electrically display digitally, and a predetermined game state is given by a combination of the digital displays. You can also do it. At this time, the electrical digital display can change the display content of each segment into a number of 0 to 9 and give a predetermined game state based on the combination of the displayed numbers. Also, not limited to a combination of numbers, a large number of cells are formed concentrically or radially so that a predetermined game state is given when a predetermined cell is turned on, and the cell is turned on. It is also possible to use a variable display unit that changes

(Explanation of Control Device) a. Description of Configuration Block Diagram FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the control circuit includes a microcomputer 221 as a control center. The microcomputer 221 is composed of, for example, an LSI of several chips, and includes therein a CPU 712 capable of executing a control operation in a predetermined procedure, a ROM 710 storing an operation program of the CPU 712, and necessary data. And a RAM 709 capable of writing and reading. Further, an input / output interface 711 is provided for matching signals between the CPU 712 and an external circuit. In this embodiment, the ROM 710 uses the programmable ROM 710 so that its contents can be rewritten, that is, the program stored for it for the CPU 712 can be changed if necessary. Then, the CPU 712 controls the variable display device 2, the variable winning ball device 4, the speaker 5, various lamps, etc., according to the programs stored in the ROM 710 and in response to the input of each control signal described below. To give a control signal.

The following signals are given to the microcomputer 211 as input signals.

First, the start winning holes 7, 8, 9 (see FIG. 2)
Detection switches 43, 4 provided on the back side corresponding to
In response to the turning on of any one of 4 and 45 (see FIG. 3), a winning signal is given from the starting winning circuit 222. The signal from the photo reflector (see FIG. 13) of the V pocket device (FIG. 6) is given to the V winning detection circuit 223 and given to the microcomputer 221 as the V detection signal. When the stop button 33 (see FIG. 2) is pressed, a stop signal is given from the stop circuit 224 to the microcomputer 221. The count signal detected by the winning ball counter 126 (see FIGS. 6, 8 and 13) is given to the 10-count detection circuit 225 and the 10-count detection circuit 225.
When the signal of the winning ball counter 126 is counted by 10
A count signal is given. The outputs of the light receivers 167 and 168 (see FIG. 27) are given to the microcomputer 221 as a pattern determination signal via the pattern determination circuit 226. From the interrupt clock circuit 227, an interrupt clock signal is given to the microcomputer 221. The microcomputer 221 executes the operation of the interrupt control routine, as will be described later, by the interrupt clock signal. Furthermore, the runaway prevention circuit 228, the runaway reset circuit 2
Predetermined signals are applied to the microcomputer 221 from the power supply 29, the power-on reset circuit 230, the address decoding circuit 231, and the like. The runaway prevention circuit 228, the runaway reset circuit 229, the power-on reset circuit 230, and the address decode circuit 231 do not particularly participate in the control operation that is a feature of the present invention, and therefore further description will be omitted. The microcomputer 221 may directly count the number of winning balls based on the detection signal of the winning ball counter 126.

The microcomputer 221 gives control signals to the following circuits and devices. First, a prize winning memory display signal is given to the starting winning memory display circuit 232. The start winning award memory display circuit 232 can store up to four such signals. Then, when one signal is stored, as described above, the lamps 211, 212, 213 composed of, for example, LEDs are correspondingly stored therein.
214 (see FIG. 2) are sequentially turned on one by one.

The microcomputer 221 gives a sound signal to the sound circuit 233, and the sound circuit 233 causes the speaker 25 (see FIG. 2) to sound.

The digital display signal output from the microcomputer 221 is given to the digital display circuit 234, and the digital display section 32 (see FIG. 2) is display-controlled.

The microcomputer 221 gives a drum rotation control signal to the drum rotation control circuit 235 to rotate the motor 153 of the drum-shaped variable display member 151 (see FIG. 25), and also to rotate and stop each rotary drum. The solenoids 176, 177, 178 are controlled.

The microcomputer 221 gives an opening control signal to the opening control circuit 236, and the drive solenoid 108 of the variable winning ball device 4 is driven by the output of this circuit 236.

Further, the microcomputer 221 is
The ramp signal is given to the ramp circuit 237, and the ramp circuit 23
By the output of 7, various lamps of the pachinko gaming machine shown in FIG. 2 are turned on. That is, the V winning lamp 79,
80, "fever" lamps 20, 21, 29 representing a predetermined game state, and tulip lamps 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 and 39 which are also blinked at the time of "fever" are blinked.

In addition, the power supply circuit 2 is included in each circuit of the above configuration.
A predetermined DC voltage is supplied from 38.

B. Description of Flowchart FIGS. 34 to 39 are flowcharts showing the operation of the control circuit shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the control circuit shown in FIG. 1 will be described according to the flow of FIGS. 34 to 39.

When the power supply of the control circuit is turned on, the microcomputer 221 initializes the stored contents of the starting prize winning memory display circuit 232 (step S1) and waits for the next signal.

When the game is started on the pachinko gaming machine 1 (see FIG. 2) and the pachinko ball wins in any of the start winning holes 7, 8, and 9, one of the detection switches 43, 44, and 45 wins the winning ball. The start winning circuit 222 gives a winning signal to the microcomputer 221. Based on this signal, the microcomputer 221 gives a winning prize memory display signal to the starting winning prize memory display circuit 232. Along with this, a lamp signal is given to the lamp circuit 237 to blink the lamp during rotation (step S
3). Further, a signal is given to the sound circuit 233 to generate a sound at the time of rotation (step S4). Further, a drum rotation control signal is given to the drum rotation control circuit 235, so that the rotating drum 1
The rotation of 87, 188, 189 (see FIGS. 2 and 26) is started (step S5).

Then, in step S6, it is determined whether or not 5.055 seconds have passed since the rotation of the rotary drum was started. If 5.055 seconds have passed, it is randomly selected from 9 types of time. Select one time. For example, 53.28 ms, 106.496 ms, 163.8
40 ms, 217.088 ms, 274.4432 ms,
327.680 ms, 380.680 ms, 438.2
1 randomly selected from 72ms and 491.520ms
Choose one time. Then, the process proceeds to step S10.

From the beginning, 5. x ₁ s, 5. x ₂ s,
5. x ₃ s, ..., 5. One may be randomly selected from the time of x _n s, and it may be determined whether or not the time elapses.

In step S6, if 5.055 seconds have not elapsed after the start of rotation of the rotary drum, the microcomputer 221 determines whether the stop button has been turned on (step S7). That is,
It is determined whether or not a stop signal is input from the stop circuit 224. If the stop signal is not input, the control operation of steps S6 and S7 is repeated.

When the stop signal is received, step S
At 8, one time is randomly selected from five types of time. For example, 196.608 ms, 397.3
12 ms, 598.016 ms, 798.720 ms,
One time is randomly selected from 946.179 ms, and the process proceeds to the next step S10.

In step S10, the process waits for the next control for the time selected in step S8 or step S9. Then, after the selected time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S11.

In step S11, after the above time has elapsed,
First, the left rotating drum 189 is stopped. This is because the microcomputer 221 outputs the drum rotation control signal 235.
And deenergize the solenoid 178.

After that, a timer is set to open a predetermined time until the middle rotating drum 188 is stopped (step S12), and, for example, wait until 1.21 seconds have elapsed (step S13). 188 is stopped (step S14).

When the rotation of the middle rotating drum 188 is stopped,
By the drum rotation control circuit 235, the light emitting units 172, 17
3 (see FIG. 27) is turned on. And step S1
In 6, the timer is set to stop the right rotating drum 187, and waits 1.21 seconds, for example (step S17), and stops the rotation of the right rotating drum 187 (step S18). The time from the stop of rotation of the left rotary drum 189 to the stop of rotation of the middle rotary drum 188 and the stop of rotation of the right rotary drum 187 do not necessarily have to be the same time, and the time can be arbitrarily changed.

Then, in this state, the pattern judging circuit 226
Based on the output (see FIG. 1), the rotary drums 187, 1
It is determined whether or not the display mode of 88 and 189 is "7", or the three "BARs" are in the "fever" state (step S19).

If not in the "fever" state, the light emitting units 172 and 173 are turned on (step S20), and the sound output from the speaker 25 (see FIG. 1) by the sound circuit 233 is switched to the small hit sound (step S20). S21), a small hit opening process is performed (step S22). For example, the opening / closing plate 3 (see FIGS. 2 and 5) is opened for about 0.2 seconds. Then, the respective lamps are turned on (step S23), the number of times of starting prizes stored in the starting prize winning memory display circuit 232 (see FIG. 1) is decremented by 1, and the process returns to step S2.

When the microcomputer 221 determines "fever" in step S19, the light emitting units 172 and 173 are turned on (step S25), and the sound circuit 2 is turned on.
A sound signal is given to 33, and a fever sound is output from the speaker 25. Also, each “fever” lamp 20, 2
1, 29, 34 to 39 are blinked (step S2
6). The step S19, the light emitting parts 172, 173, and the light receiving parts 168, 169 constitute a specific game state detecting means for detecting that a predetermined specific game state has occurred.

Next, in step S27, the opening / closing plate 3 of the variable winning ball device 4 is opened. This is done by the microcomputer 221 applying a signal to the opening control circuit 236 to energize the drive solenoid 108 (see FIG. 5). Then, a signal is given to the digital display circuit 234, and the digital display unit 32 (see FIG. 2)
Display the "fever" count for 1.5 seconds. The “fever” number of times indicates how many times the opening / closing plate 3 of the variable winning ball device 4 has been opened.

If it is the first time, "1" for 1.5 seconds
Is displayed (step S28). And step S
The control from 29 to S34 is repeated for a predetermined time or until a predetermined number of prize balls, for example, 10 prize balls are won. That is, it is determined whether or not 30 seconds have passed since the opening / closing plate 3 was opened (step S29). If 30 seconds have not passed, 10 winning balls are counted by the winning ball counter 126 (see FIG. 5). It is determined whether or not has been counted (step S30). In addition, the winning ball is 1 without step S29.
The opening / closing plate may be opened only when the number of the plates reaches zero. When the number of winning balls is less than 10, each time a winning ball is detected, it is cumulatively counted and the number is displayed on the digital display unit 32 (step S31).

Steps S32 to S41 represent the characteristic operation of this embodiment. That is, in these steps S32 to S41, it is determined whether or not the output of the winning ball counter 126 is at a low level for 5 seconds or more in the fever state (steps S32 and S33), and continuously at a low level for 5 seconds or more. If so, the opening / closing plate 3 is opened to deactivate the solenoid 108 (see FIG. 5) (step S3).
4) Stop the timer (step S35), turn on a predetermined alarm lamp, and generate an alarm sound from the speaker (steps S36, S37). Then, after that, it is determined whether or not the winning ball counter 126 is at the high level. If not, the operations of steps S32 to S38 are repeated. This is because if the winning ball counter 126 is in a low level state due to a ball clogging or the like, the ball clogging may be eliminated, so that it is determined. Then, if the winning ball counter is at a high level at that time, that is, if the ball that has caused the ball clogging of the winning ball counter 126 is flowing out, the solenoid 108 is excited again (step S39). The timer is restarted (step S40), the alarm sound is turned off, and the predetermined fever lamp is blinked (step S41).

Since such control is carried out, even if the opening / closing plate 3 is once closed in the middle of the fever state, no disadvantage is given to the player. This is because, in the fever state, the maximum time during which the opening / closing plate 3 can be opened once is 30 seconds, but the opening / closing plate 3 is closed once during the 30 seconds. In that case, since the stepping of the timer for counting the opening time is also stopped, the opening / closing plate 3 can be opened for the remaining time after the opening and closing.
Therefore, there is no disadvantage for the player when the opening / closing plate 3 is closed.

Further, it is determined whether or not the "fever" is the 10th time (step S42), and if it is not the 10th time, it is determined whether or not there is a V winning (step S4).
3). When the V winning signal is given from the V winning detection circuit 223 (see FIG. 1) and the V winning is determined, the V winning lamp is turned on (step S44). This lamp is
This is done by turning on lamps 79, 80 which are emitted through the window holes 84, 85 of the front decorative frame 83 (see FIG. 6) provided on both sides of the opening / closing plate 3 of the variable winning ball device 4.

In step S29 or step S30, if the opening time of the opening / closing plate 3 reaches 30 seconds, or if 10 winning balls are counted during that time, the control operation proceeds to step S45.

In step S45, the opening / closing plate 3 is closed,
After finishing the "fever" state, it is judged whether or not the "fever" is the tenth time (step S46). If it is not the tenth time, V from the photo reflector 141 of the V pocket device 111 (see FIG. 13) via the V winning detection circuit 223.
It waits for 1.8 seconds, for example, whether or not the detection signal is given. That is, even after the opening / closing plate 3 is closed, it waits for 1.8 seconds to determine whether or not the V detection signal is given (step S47). This is because the pachinko ball that has won the opening 72 of the variable winning ball device 4 is caught for some reason, temporarily stopped, and it takes time for the V pocket device 111 to detect it. . For example, when the pachinko ball finally wins the central portion of the variable winning ball device 4 and the player feels that there is a V winning, and the pachinko ball happens to be caught, the "fever" state does not continue. Then, a trouble occurs between the player and a staff member of the pachinko hall where the pachinko gaming machine is arranged. However, such trouble is prevented in advance.

Then, in a step S48, it is determined whether or not a V detection signal is given from the V winning detection circuit 223,
If it is determined that the V prize has been achieved, the sound circuit 233 is controlled to switch the fever sound, the pause sound is output, and the pause time process is performed (step S50). The downtime processing is
The opening / closing plate 3 is closed for a predetermined time, for example, 2 seconds. And during that time, the V prize lamps 79, 80
Turn off.

Then, the operation from step S26 is continued. When the microcomputer 221 determines in step S46 that the "fever" state has been repeated 10 times, the sound from the speaker is turned off, the lamp and the display are turned off, and the "fever" state is ended (step S52). If there is a starting winning prize stored in the starting winning prize memory display circuit 232, decrement it by one,
The process continues from step S2. Note that step S3
The abnormality determinations in S2 and S33 may be performed in the normal gaming state other than the fever state. Further, as a result of the abnormality determination, when it is determined that the variable display device is abnormal, the generated start winning may be invalidated so that the variable display device does not start variable.

The microcomputer 221 carries out the series of processes described above and, at the same time, the interrupt clock circuit 227.
The processing of steps S61 to S64 is performed based on the signal interrupted every 4 ms (see FIG. 1).

That is, whether or not the pachinko ball in the game has won in any of the start winning holes 7, 8 and 9 is determined based on the signal from the starting winning circuit 222 (see FIG. 1). When a pachinko ball is won in any of the starting winning holes 7, 8 and 9, the starting winning memory display circuit 232 is further added.
It is determined whether or not "5" is stored in (step S
62), if "5" is not stored, the value is incremented by 1 (step S63). Then, in response thereto, the lamps 211, 212, 213, 214 provided on both sides of the digital display unit 32 are sequentially turned on from the left side to the right side. That is, these lamps 211 to 214 display the value of the stored numerical value stored in the start winning award memory display circuit 232.

Further, as in the above-described embodiment, in the "fever" state, the output of the sound effect generator 256 is the amplifier 32.
It is provided to the speaker via 0. By the steps S27 to S53, the variable winning ball device is set to the first based on the detection output of the specific game state detecting means.
In this state, when the number of winning balls detected by the winning ball detecting means reaches a predetermined number, the drive controlling means for setting the variable winning ball device to the second state is configured. Further, in steps S34 to 41, the variable winning ball detecting device is set to the second state based on the output of the winning ball detecting means being in the predetermined output state, and the output of the winning ball detecting means indicates the winning ball. A first state interruption means for returning the variable winning ball device to the first state when the output state when not detected is formed.

In the above-described embodiment, the pachinko game machine was taken up as a typical example of the ball game machine, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other ball game machines, such as coin game machines and smart ball game machines, are used. Etc. can be similarly applied.

[0128]

According to the present invention, the variable winning ball device is controlled to the second state when an abnormality occurs with respect to the winning ball detecting means for detecting the winning ball which is won when the variable winning ball device is in the first state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the game from continuing in the state where the abnormality still occurs. Moreover, even if the variable winning ball device is in the second state due to the occurrence of an abnormality such as a ball jam, when the abnormality such as a ball jam is resolved, the variable winning ball device is brought into the first state. Since the player is returned, the player's dissatisfaction can be eliminated as much as possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control circuit configuration block diagram showing an example of a control circuit diagram configured by using a microcomputer.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 3 is a rear view for explaining the back surface structure of the game board of the pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 4 is a rear view for explaining the structure of a mechanism plate provided on the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a variable winning ball device applied to this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a variable winning ball device.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway perspective view for explaining a drive link mechanism of an opening / closing plate of the variable winning ball device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the variable winning ball device as viewed from the back side.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the variable winning ball device as viewed from above in the open state.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the variable winning ball device in a closed state.

11 is a sectional front view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG.

12 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a circle XII in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a side sectional view of the variable winning ball device attached to a game board.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a portion of the game board to which the variable winning ball device is attached as seen from the back surface side.

FIG. 15 is a basic circuit diagram of a detection circuit that detects a winning ball that has won a variable winning ball device.

FIG. 16 is a specific circuit diagram of the winning ball counter used in this embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a detailed perspective view of a winning ball counter.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a ball clogging state.

FIG. 19 is a front view of the variable winning a prize ball device in a ball clogging state.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of a winning ball counter portion in a ball clogging state.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a change in signal level in a ball clogging state.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the winning ball counter.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the winning ball counter.

FIG. 24 is an external perspective view of a drum-shaped variable display member included in the variable winning ball device of this embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of a drum-shaped variable display member.

FIG. 26 is a top view showing the internal structure of the drum-shaped variable display member excluding the storage box.

FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of a drum-shaped variable display member.

FIG. 28 is a side sectional view showing a state where the drum-shaped variable display member is attached to the game board.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of display information drawn on the peripheral surface of a rotating drum.

FIG. 30 is a diagram for explaining how a display mode is detected by a combination of rotating drums.

FIG. 31 is a diagram for explaining how a display mode is detected by a combination of rotating drums.

FIG. 32 is a diagram for explaining how a display mode is detected by a combination of rotating drums.

FIG. 33 is a diagram for explaining how a display mode is detected by a combination of rotating drums.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a pachinko game machine, 2 is a variable display device, 3 is an opening / closing plate,
4 is a variable winning ball device, 5 is a game board, 7, 8 and 9 are starting winning holes, 43, 44 and 45 are detection switches, 71 is a base plate, 72 is an opening, 95 and 96 are reinforcing members, and 108 is a drive. Solenoid, 111 is V pocket device, 114, 115
Is a V winning set gutter, 123 and 124 are ball gathering gutters, 126 is a winning ball counter, 141 is a photo reflector, 142 is a current-changing projection, 151 is a variable display member for drums, 152 is a storage box, and 155 is a manual adjustment hole. , 167 is a light receiver, 17
0 is a light emitter, 187, 188 and 189 are rotary drums, 2
21 is a microcomputer, 31 is a drum display unit, 3
Reference numeral 2 denotes a digital display unit, and 33 denotes a stop button.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A game area in which a ball is hit is provided,
A ball game machine including a variable winning ball device that can be changed to a first state that is advantageous to a player and a second state that is disadvantageous to a player, in which a predetermined specific game state has occurred. A specific game state detecting means for detecting that, a winning ball detecting means for detecting a winning ball that has won the variable winning ball device when the variable winning ball device is in the first state, and a specific game state detecting means The variable winning ball device is brought to the first state based on the detection output, and the variable winning ball device is brought to the second state when the number of winning balls detected by the winning ball detecting means reaches a predetermined number. Drive control means, the drive control means sets the variable winning ball device to a second state based on the output of the winning ball detecting means being in a predetermined output state, The output detects the winning ball A ball game machine characterized by including a first state interruption means for returning the variable winning ball device to a first state when the output state is reached when it is not. 2. The drive control means includes a period measuring means for measuring a period during which the variable winning ball device is in the first state, and the variable winning a prize is obtained when the period measuring means measures a predetermined period. The ball device is in the second state, and the period measuring means is in a period during which the variable winning ball device is controlled to the second state based on the output of the winning ball detecting means being in a predetermined output state. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the measurement of the period is stopped.