JPS6146152B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a pinball game machine that enables play by inserting a coin, for example, and discharges a predetermined number of coins as a prize based on the result of the game.

This type of pinball game machine is equipped with a lighted display board on the surface of the game machine that displays a monitor-like display, and the player uses his or her brain to aim for the required winning hole using ball batting techniques while thinking of a strategy by looking at the light arrangement on the display board. It is a game that has become more interesting from two aspects, and recently, more variety has been added to the operations and results than just winning and losing as in the past.

By the way, in game machines, it is generally necessary to know the contents of the previous game as necessary.

The object of the present invention is to reproduce the game content of the previous game by performing predetermined operations.

In order to achieve this purpose, the pinball game machine of the present invention includes a display section for displaying game contents, a memory section for storing the game contents displayed on the display section, and a previous game stored in the memory section. It has a switch that reproduces the content.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings regarding its functions and operations.

1 is a front view of a pinball game machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a structural view of the back side A of FIG. 4, and FIG. 3 is a structural view of the back side B of FIG. 4.

Coins 64 inserted through the coin input slot 1 are sorted by a selector 29, coins deemed defective are returned to the return slot 20, and coins deemed good are turned on by a coin detection switch 34. The signal from the coin detection switch 34 operates the computer section 43 to drive the ball alignment solenoid 31. For this reason, a stopper 56 (Fig. 7) is installed in the storage gutter 48.
The balls stored and held are released and supplied to the automatic ball feeding device 2. Ball alignment solenoid 31
is a time set by a program in the computer section 43, that is, a predetermined number of balls, e.g.
The stopper 56 is opened by driving only for the time required to send 16 balls to the automatic ball feeding device 2, but
After that, it returns to the non-driving state again.

The balls that are supplied to the well-known automatic ball feeding device 2 and arranged are transferred one by one onto the firing rail 16 in response to the operation of the handle 3, and are fired toward the game board 50 by the handle mallet 23. . The fired ball rolls on the game board surface 50 and then returns to the game board surface 5.
0 passes through the winning hole 4 provided below and is returned to the storage gutter 48 again. In addition, replay holes 7 are provided at both lower ends of the game board surface 50, and the ball that falls into the replay hole 7 is sent to the return gutter 61 (the eighth
After passing through (Fig.), it is returned to the automatic ball feeding device 2 again. Each of the 16 winning holes 4 provided below the game board surface 50 has a winning hole switch 57 (7th
) are arranged in a row, and when the winning hole switch 57 is activated by the passage of the ball, the computer section 4
3 turns on the display lamp corresponding to each winning hole on the central display board 5 shown in FIG. 5, and memorizes the point.

The fired ball passes through a plurality of passing prize holes 6 (A in this example) arranged on the game board surface 50.
B, C, D, H), the pass-through micro switch 62 is activated, and the computer section 43 lights up the corresponding display lamp on the central display board 5 shown in FIG. Remember.

As the game progresses, when the pattern lit and displayed on the central display board 5 matches an arrangement state (for example, a square) predetermined by the program set in the computer section 43, the computer section 43 determines it as a winning prize. At the same time, the winning state is added and stored according to the type of predetermined arrangement state (for example, one horizontal row lit, one vertical row lit, square lit), and the winning display lamp 9 provided on the game board 50 is lit.

Next, when the fired ball passes through any one of the plurality of ratkey holes 10 provided on the game board surface 50, the ratkey hole micro switch 28 is activated.
The detection signal is input to the computer section 43. The computer section 43 determines this as a ratkey state, lights up the corresponding ratkey display lamp 11, and inputs only one of the plurality of ratkey pushbuttons 12 on the switch board 21 corresponding to the lit ratkey display lamp 11. set to possible. The user is programmed so that the number of times the ratkey pushbutton 12 can be operated is limited to two times per game. In this example,
As shown in FIG. 6, the ratkey holes 10 are LA, LB,
There are four types for LC and LD,
The rat key push button 12 of the winning hole A or B for LA, the winning hole C or D for LB, the winning hole 4 or 7 for LC, and the winning hole 10 or 13 for LD can be input, The computer section 43 receives only the first operation signal of the ratkey pushbutton 12 corresponding to the ratkey hole 10 through which the ball has passed, as a regular operation signal. When the selected lottery key pushbutton 12 is operated, it is determined that the ball has fallen into the winning hole corresponding to the lottery key pushbutton 12, and the corresponding display lamp on the central display board 5 is lit. Memorize the points. Therefore, if the lighting pattern of the display lamps on the center display board 5 does not form a predetermined arrangement after firing the 16 balls, the ball has fallen into the ratkey hole 10. For example, by selecting the rat key pushbutton 12, a predetermined arrangement state can be formed, and the winning display lamp 9 can be turned on.

Furthermore, when the fired ball passes through the present hole 13 provided on the game board surface 50, the passing type micro switch 24 is activated, and its detection signal is input to the computer section 43. The computer section 43 determines this as a winning prize, adds and stores it, and lights up one present display lamp 14 to display the winning result. A program set in the computer section 43 allows the player to win a prize by dropping the ball into the present hole 13 up to four times in one game.

In this way, the central display board 5, the winning display lamp 9, the lucky display lamp 11, and the display lamp 1
4 constitutes a display section that displays the game content.

When the player has hit all the balls supplied to the automatic ball feeding device 2, a predetermined indicator lamp on the central display board 5, for example 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 12, etc.
14, 16 are lit, when the change button 15 corresponding to the desired display lamp is operated, the contact of the change button 15 is closed and a signal is transmitted to the computer section 43. The computer section 43 turns off the display lamp corresponding to the replacement button 15, and also clears the memory contents of the computer section 43 accordingly. At the same time, a drive signal for the replacement solenoid 22 is issued from the computer section 43. Note that the predetermined display lamps on the central display board 5 are determined based on the program set of the computer section 43.

As shown in FIG. 9, the replacement solenoid 22 is provided at one end of the replacement ball storage path 49, and when the replacement solenoid 22 is driven, the ball stopper 60 is activated and the replacement ball storage path 49 The balls are transferred to the automatic ball feeding device 2 stored therein, and instantaneously return to the transfer preventing state to restrain and hold subsequent balls. The transferred balls pass through the automatic ball feeding device 2 and reach the firing rail 16, allowing the player to shoot the supplied replacement balls.

By the way, the aforementioned storage gutter 48 is provided with a branch hole 58 as shown in FIG.
8, balls to be used for replacement are sent to the automatic ball feeding device 2, but only a preset number of balls can be stored in the replacement ball storage path 49, and balls larger than that can be stored in the replacement ball storage path 49. It passes through the upper end of the storage gutter 48 and is held aligned in the storage gutter 48. Therefore, there are two types of balls stored before the start of the game: those stored in the storage gutter 48 and those held in the replacement ball storage path 49.

The balls stored in the ball storage path 49 are stored in the ball stopper 6.
0, the number of times the refilling solenoid 22 is driven can be determined based on the program set of the computer section 43, and the number of balls supplied for refilling can be limited. In this example, the program of the computer section 43 is set to allow two replacement balls per game, and two replacement balls are supplied.

Next, the configuration of the computer section 43 will be explained based on FIG. 10, and the operation of the computer section 43 during the above-mentioned changeover operation will be explained.

The computer section 43 is the input/output controller 6
6, 67, an arithmetic control CPU section 68, and a memory section 65. The input/output controllers 66 and 67 are connected to the computer section 43
It functions to control the conversion of detection signals obtained from the outside into computer data used by the computer, and also to control the conversion of instructions from the computer into output signals to the outside. Arithmetic control CPU section 6
8 consists of a CPU 69, a calculation section 70, and a control section 71, and the CPU 69 functions to give control information, that is, commands to the calculation section 70, control section 71, and input/output controllers 66 and 67 according to the setting program in the memory section 65. . Arithmetic unit 70 and control unit 71
processes the information obtained by the input/output controllers 66, 67, and the calculation data and control data are outputted via the input/output controllers 66, 67. The memory section 65 is
It consists of a ROM 51 that stores a program that determines processing conditions for the CPU 69, and an updatable RAM 53 that temporarily stores calculation data of the calculation section 70 and control data of the control section 71.

Now, when the player operates the change button 15,
The detection signal is input to the computer section 43, and the detection signal is input to the input/output controllers 66, 67.
is converted into computer data by This computer data is determined by the CPU 69 according to the program set in the ROM 51. That is, winning holes 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 12, 14, 1
6. RAM5 indicates that the ball has landed in any of the areas.
Confirm that 3 is memorized, then RAM5
3, and if the number of times of operation of the change button 15 is less than 2, the number of times of operation of the change button 15 is calculated by the calculating section 70, and the calculation result is stored in the RAM 53. let Next, the CPU 69 issues an output command and issues a drive signal for the replacement solenoid 22 via the input/output controllers 66 and 67. Further, the CPU 69 erases from the RAM 53 the memory of the ball falling into the winning hole 4 corresponding to the operated change button 15, and also erases the memory of the ball falling into the winning hole 4 corresponding to the winning hole 4 via the input/output controllers 66 and 67. Turn off the display. If the number of times the replacement button is operated is 3 or more, the CPU 69 does not issue an output command and ends the replacement control.

When the player shoots the supplied replacement ball and the ball falls into any of the winning holes 4 or the passing winning holes 6, the corresponding display lights up on the central display board 5 as described above. At the same time as being displayed, the computer section 43 stores the point. Therefore, even if the center display board 5 does not yet display the winning conditions, that is, the predetermined arrangement state in the game progress process up to the above, the ball falling into the winning hole 4 etc. due to the batting operation The winning conditions can be satisfied, and the computer section 43 counts and stores this as a winning prize.

In this way, one game ends when the player hits all the balls supplied at the beginning and completes the replacement of balls if possible. Then, the player presses the checkout button 1.
7, a game clear signal is input to the computer section 43 by actuation of the contact portion of the settlement push button 17. When a coin is inserted into the coin slot 1 again without operating the settlement push button 17, the coin detection switch 39 is activated after passing through the selector 29, and the coin alignment solenoid is activated by a command from the computer section 43 as described above. 31
At the same time, a game clear signal is input to the computer section 43. When the game clear signal is input to the computer section 43, a driving signal for the coin discharge solenoid 36 is outputted according to the number of winnings counted and stored in the computer section 43, and coins are discharged as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15. The solenoid 36 finally operates the coin discharge plate 63 provided at the lower end of the coin discharge tube 35 to discharge coins one by one into the coin discharge port 37. The released coins are sent to the winning coin tray 18.

The coins stored in the coin ejection tube 35 are as follows:
When the number of coins in the coin discharge tube 35 falls below a predetermined number, a coin cut-off switch is activated, as shown in FIG. 40 operates and lights up the end lamp 19,
Notify the end of the game or lack of coins.

Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the coin ejecting cylinder 35 is connected to an in/out meter 39, which counts and stores the number of coins inserted according to the number of times the coin detection switch 34 is activated, and displays the contents. It consists of an input meter 44 and an output meter 45 that counts and stores the number of coins discharged according to the number of activations of the coin discharge solenoid 36 and displays the contents.
By monitoring the entry/exit meter 39, the amusement hall manager can grasp the operating status of the game machine.

By the way, reference numeral 46 denotes a memory switch provided at the lower front of the game machine, and is electrically connected so that an operation signal to the memory switch 46 is input to the computer section 43. The memory section 65 of the computer section 43 is composed of the ROM 51, RAM 53, etc. as described above, but the memory area of the computer section 43 in the pinball game machine of this embodiment is an execution area 54 essential for controlling the game. It was constructed by adding a reproduction area 55. That is, in addition to a storage area (execution area 54) that stores and updates information regarding the game contents of the game machine and control data of the game machine as the game progresses, each time the game ends, the game machine stores the game results of that time. A storage area (reproduction area 5) that stores information such as game content displayed on the display section
5) A memory area is constructed. Now, all of the aforementioned winning determination change control, present control, lucky key control, etc. are performed via the execution area.
When the settlement push button is operated or a coin is inserted, a game clear signal is input to the computer section 43. Based on the game clear signal, the CPU 69 transfers the final information of the current game stored in the execution area 54 to the reproduction area 55, and then erases the information in the execution area 54.

As a result, the lighting displays of the prize display lamp 9, the central display board 5, the present display lamp 14, etc. are erased.

When the game is started, information regarding the current game is accumulated and stored in the execution area 54 as the game progresses. The information is transmitted to various display sections via the input/output controller, and a winning display lamp and the like are lit.

During the progress of the game, when the player or the administrator of the amusement center operates the confirmation switch 46 provided at the lower front of the game machine, the CPU 69 controls the execution area via the input/output controllers 66 and 67 based on the operation signal of the confirmation switch 46. In addition to disconnecting the information transmission paths to the various display sections, the reproduction area and the various display sections are connected, and information such as the content of the previous game stored in the reproduction area of the memory section 65 is converted and transmitted to the various display sections. , lights up the winning display lamp, etc., and reproduces the content of the previous game.

Upon completion of the operation on the confirmation switch, the process goes through the reverse process again as described above, and the various display sections receive the information stored in the execution area and turn on the winning display lamps, etc.

Then, when the next coin is inserted or the settlement push button 17 is operated, the content of the previous game is erased from the reproduction area 55, and the content of the previous game is transferred from the execution area to the reproduction area 55. be transferred.

In the above embodiment, the confirmation switch can be operated by either the player or the administrator of the playground, but it is preferable for the management of the game machine if the confirmation switch is a key switch and is configured so that only the administrator can operate it. becomes.

As described above, in the pinball game machine of the present invention, the content of the previous game is reproduced on the display section of the game machine as desired, so it is possible to know the content of the game last time and plan future strategies. It can be used as a reference when thinking about things, and can also be used to plan the game as a whole.

Furthermore, the player can easily check whether the number of coins corresponding to the prize-winning mode of the game has been released, and there is no need to play the game while worrying about malfunctions due to malfunctions of the game machine. effective. In addition, the playground manager can confirm whether or not more than a predetermined number of coins have been fraudulently dispensed, which is highly effective in preventing fraudulent acts.

In addition, in the figure, 19 is an end lamp, 25 is a winning display lamp board, 26 is a present display lamp board,
27 is a central display lamp board, 30 is a push button switch for payment, 32 is a coin discharge gutter, 33 is a coin receiving slot, 38 is an IC control board, 41 is a coin storage box, 42 is a power supply box, 47 is a coin guide gutter,
62 is a passing type micro switch.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a front view of the pinball game machine according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a structural diagram of its back side A, Fig. 3 is a structural diagram of its back side B, and Fig. 4 is the arrangement of the front side, back side A, and back side B. Figure 5 is a display diagram of the central display board, Figure 6 is a diagram showing the
The figure shows the display of the switch board, Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the storage gutter, Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the return gutter, Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the replacement ball storage path, and Figure 10 is a block centered on the computer section. 11 is a detailed view of the memory block, FIGS. 12 to 14 are explanatory views of coin ejection, and FIGS. 15 and 16 are explanatory views of the operation of the coin cut-off switch. 1; Coin slot, 4; Winning hole, 5; Central display board, 6; Passing type winning hole, 7; Replay hole, 10;
Rat key hole, 11; Rat key indicator lamp, 12;
Rat key push button, 13; Present hole, 14;
Display lamp, 15; Replacement button, 17; Settlement push button, 21; Switch board, 22; Replacement solenoid, 24, 62; Pass-through type micro switch, 2
8; Rat key hole micro switch, 29; Selector, 31; Ball alignment solenoid, 34; Coin detection switch, 35; Coin storage tube, 36; Coin release solenoid, 39; Input/output meter, 40;
Coin cut-off switch, 43; computer section,
46; Confirmation switch, 49; Replacement ball storage path, 5
1; ROM, 53; RAM, 54; execution area, 5
5; reproduction area, 61; reduction gutter, 65; memory section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A display unit that displays game content, a first memory unit that stores the game content displayed on this display unit, and a transfer that transfers and stores the storage content of the first memory unit to a second memory unit. means, a confirmation switch, and when the confirmation switch is operated, the second
A pinball game machine characterized by comprising display control means for reading out stored contents from the memory section and causing the display section to reproduce the contents of the previous game.