a — — ———————— - the special game by operating the leading mem- ber periodically so as to adjust the prize- winning of balls in the special prize-winning hole.
BACKGROUND OF THE_ INVENTION The present invention relates to a pin=~ ball machine (Pachinko machine) which puts out prize balls according to the present betting rate when a ball enters a specific prize-win-
ning hole provided on the game hoard (a play board) and, more particularly, to a pinball machine which is provided with a changing prize-winning device having movable ball accep- ting members which are operated and switched to the first state where balls are not accepted and to the second state where balls are easily accepted. . In pinball machines, various contrivances are used for the prize-winning device for accep=-
ting a hit ball in order to increase interest in the game.
As one example, there is a machine provided with a changing prize-winning device having movable ball accepting members which are operated and switdhed from the first state where the balls are not accepted to the second state where balls are easily accepted for a certain time or a certain number of times if a ball wins a specific prize-winning hole, and moreover, which are so constituted that if a ball wins a special prize-winning hole inside it through this movable ball accepting member, oo 10 the right for a special game which is favorable ,
for the player is generated.
This special game maintains the second state where balls are easily accepted by the movable ball accepting members continuously for far longer time or far more times compared with the time when a ball wins the specific prize-winning hole, and in this sate, the balls are very easily accepted also by an ordinary prize-winning hole provided separately from the special prize-winning hole inside the changing prize-winning ‘device, and therefore; many prize balls can be obtained according to - nh ee the prescribed belting rate.
DlMoreover, 38 this special game is carried out continuous- ly on the condition that balls enter the spe- cial prize-winning hole azain during this period (however, the period for the special game is restricted Ly reaching the certain number of times of special prize-winning), it becomes very attractive for the players.
However, as the possibility of the balls’ entering the special prize-winning hole is set on sn apm i in the conventional changing prize-winning: wie device, even if the movable ball accepting mem- bers are changed to the second state where balls passed the movable ball accepting members to enter this special prize-winning hole.
Because of this, it is difficult to obtain the right for the special game, and even if the right for this special game is renerated, it can not be conti- nued, and it often happens that the special game is finished halfway without obtaining enough advantage of the special game, In this way, the valuable changing prize-
the prescribed betting rate, Moreover, as this special game is carried out continuous~ ly on the condition that balls enter the spe~ cial prize-winning hole again during this period (however, the period for the special game is restricted by reaching the certain : number of times of special prize-winning), it becomes very attractive for the players.
However, as the possibility of the balls’ , entering the special prize-winning hole is set . low in the conventional changing prize-winning device, even if the movable ball accepting mem- bers are changed to the second state where balls passed the movable ball accepting members to enter this special prize-winning hole.
Because of this, it is difficult to obtain the right for the special game, and even if the right for this special game is generated, it can not be conti- nued, and it often happens that the special game is finished halfway without obtaining enough advantage of the special game, In this way, the valuable changing prize- “5 a : « Ce SL
I ———— JE — J oo winning device Tolls short of the plaver's expectation and redvces interest of the game by half.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to create the state where the right for the special game is easily obtained.
Another object of the present invention is to elahorate contrivances of the game by adding a thrill to the possibility of the continuity of . the special game.
Cy A further object of the present invention is to increase interest of the game by also gi- ving an opnurtunity of prize-winning into the prize-winning holes other than the changing rrize=- winning device at the generation of the special game.
In order to attain these objects, the presant invention comprises! a game area which is formed surrounded by a guide rail on the surface of a game board, a hit ball shooting device for shooting a a ball te the game aren a{ the ahove game bonrd, A changin prize=-vining Asvice consisting of the Tollcwine copatitution provided in the game area, that is, a device provided with movable pall accepting members which are located al the entrance part and operated and avi tehed to the first state whore halls are hordly or nol accepted and to the cecond state where halls are easily accepted, ordinary prize-winning holes which are 1C 1ccnted inside and win a prize for the balls oo : accepted through the movable ball accepting mem- °° vers, 2 speclel prize-winning hole and a movable leading member which enables the balls which are accepted bY the movable ball accepting menbers to guide to the special prize-winning hole, a specific prize-winning hole provided in the game area for accepting a ball, a special game tricoers control for ope- rating the above movable ball acceuting memoers from the first state to the second state in the preset gpecific state on the detection of prize- winning of a ball in the above specific prize- r Co BAD ORIGINAL winning hole,
2 specia) cmme control mesma Tor opevatine the movovle bei! accepting memvera from the first state to the second slate in the preset special state when Lhe obove movalle hall accepting mem- bers are operated and switched to the second state and it is detecled that the accepted ball wins the ahove apecial prize-winning hole and at the same time, (or periodically shifting the above leading member so ag to carry out the special game,
Therefore, if a ball which is accepted when the movable ball accepting members are ope- rated to the second state drops to the leading member, as the flow down direction of this ball is restricted bw the leading member, the possi- bility of winning the special prize-winning hole located below becomes hich.
Accordingly, the right for the apecial game is easily cenerated and enjoyment of the game gan be increased,
During the generation of the special
- 8 =~ ' BAD ORIGINAL
— ee — ee em TTT came, = thrill oan be added to the posuibility of continuity o the special ame by cperating the leading wenher periodienily ase ac to adjust the prize-wiryiv. of teiie in the special prize- wining hole. Also, tho precent luvenriticn ie further provided will, rccovding Lo fhe obove constitum tion, movable ball culding members for conlrol- Ling the flew of balla inside ibe changcinge prize=- winning device. These movable ball gulding mem-
. bers are operated at the generation of the above special game and divide fallen balls into the cpecial prize-winning hole and the ordinary nrize- winning hole. Lioreover, the movable boll riding mervers open special tall low passase located below the changing prize-wing ing device, and the specific prize-winning hole is loented below Lhe paanage. Therefore, the ball which hes entered inside fron the movanle ball ccceviing members at the generation 0 penii loo is controlled to Flow into the special orize-winnine hole and - Oa. ’ r BAD ORIGINAL . —
a — oo rr the ovrdinovy ocloe-2in gin: ole, nd napredic- table enjovmoni oon ha cua, Also, Lhe posoibiiity to enber another prize-wianiae note Crom the coocinl boll Tow fq passa es onevsd below LL ta bnerossed Por the halt which did nab enter Lhe ohancine priza- winning device, al the ovooriamity Cor obtoine ing prize oalls is incraaoeld, These ociccts of the present invention will become avorrant when pralervrad embodiments are considered in connection with the accompany- ing drawings.
BRIEF, pial PLok OF Uke 0Rad Liss Fig, 1 is 2 Tront elevation showing a same board of a vrelferred embodiment of the present invention.
Fig, 2 is a tront elevation of the chan= ming vrize-winuing device.
Fig, 3 ia nn perspective view of the chan- ging prize-win:in; device.
Fig, Ih 1s on exposod porspective view of the chencing prize-winning device. —— BAD ORIGINAL - 1) = : i
[—
Fig. 5 is « perspective view of a doll having the leading member.
Fig. A is a perspective view showing the driving constitution of the movable ball pui- ding members.
Fig. 7 1s a cross-sectional view of the changing prize-winning device.
Fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram show- Vo ing the control device. | Fig. 9 is a flow chart showing the con-= Wie .ouieae sds wgwe) operation of the changing Prize~WilNing woman. wm ©. or 0 device. DETAILED DESULFTION Of THE PUEPLRD EBODINEILS On the surface of the ame hoard 1 of a pin- pall machine (Pachinko machine), as shown in
Fig. 1, a game part 3 surrounded by 2 guide rail > is formed, and a changing prize-winning device 4 is arranged almost at the center of the above game part 3, the first specific prize-winning hole 5 which is twice opening tulip type is formed below the above changing prize-winning device 4, the second specific prize-winning holes 6 and 6 are formed at the right and left below the above first specific prize-winning hole 5, and between the changing prize-winning device 4 and the first specific prize-winning . 5 hole 5, special ball flow passages 8 are formed with entrance parts 8a facing the movable ball guiding members mentioned later and exit parts 8b located above the entrance of the first spe- cific prize-winning hole 5 hy restricting parts 7 which are constituted by planting a plurality of obstacle nails in line, respectively.
The changing prize-winning device 4 is : constituted as shown in Fig, 2 and Fig. 3, an ; opening part 10 is opened on a base plate 9 mounted on the surface of the game board 1, a lateral armor part 11 is projectingly arranged : on the surface above.
A pair of movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are totatively equip- v ped on the right and left of the opening part 10 by the first supporting axes 13, which are capable of changing to the first state where the ball which has dropped standing in the upright ' ! i reo PIE CS Sr Gn te A ho ee — et —e ei eee AA SE ar nd state is prevented from flowing into the opening part 10 and to the second state where the ball which has dropped topring the upper end out~ wardly is accepted and flows into the opening part 10. Between these right and left movable ball accepting members 12 and 12, a shelf plate 15 for guiding the ball accepted by the movable ball accepting member 12, to a recession cham- : : ber 1h is formed slightly inclined downwardly - ’ from the opening part 10 to the rear.
Ball flow © gn tr ian oPEEVERDLNG HALLS 16 and. 18. are ProiefbilBLY churn: poe tars secuhs arranged below the axes mounted base ends of the movable ball accepting members 12, ordinary prize-winning holes 18 and 18 are formed at the right and left with a special prize-winning hole 17 at the center between the lower ends of the right and left hall flow preventing walls 16 and 16. At the entrance parts of the ordinary prize-winning noles 18, movable ball guiding members 21 and 21, veing supported by the se- cond supporting axes 20 and 20 arranged along the dividing parts 19 and 19 which divide the ordinary prize-winning holes 18 from the spe- cial prize-winning hole 17, are rotatively ar- ranged.
Phe movable ball guiding members 21 are 5 so constituted that, as shown in Fig. 6, ball guiding parts 23 in the shape of a lateral plates are formed on the backs of the front decoration plates 22 representing “loaches" and ball interrupting parts 24 are arranged extended : 10 downwardly from the outer edges of the above ball guiding parts 23 and the opposite ends of the ball enterrupting parts 24 are fastened to the tip : ends of the second supporting axes 20. And cranks n 25 are fixed to the rear ends of the second sup- : 15 ~ porting axes 20 projecting on the back of the n recession chamber 14, pins of the above cranks are freely engaged into a long hole 27 of a . communicating member 26 and this communicating : member 26 is connected to a plunger of the } 20 first driving source 28, like a solenoid, pro=- vided on the back of the recession chamber 14, Accordingly, the right and left movable 3 L | : oo Cee tad 4 FL » Ea Co an orang sn gh med e ELCT CTE i tr ! ’ : : Cab ie TE Ap Ee Som wi SM ¢ ido coud iB i gr Lo a Re A Cal I BABORiaN ed EE A Ce PRR TR CL hed RE ekg CREEL ’ Po iL Cl i EE Ca AR FL i pola v - j Coa Cr Re TR gy cere Lo cE mR LA Ege io Ti CL TREE ei CS ab aay glee a Mast ey guiding members 21 are usually stopvred in the first state where the pall cuidinge parts 23 are almost horizontal as the bottom parts of the ordinary prize-winning holes 18 by the applied force of a spring and so forth (shown by the solid line in Fig. 6.). When the movable ball guiding members 21 are stppped in the first state, the ball interrupting parts 2h shut the entrances ot 8a of the special ball flow pascages 8 (Cf.
Fig. 1) so that balls can not pass.
Accordingly, when ot sie. aewecithe.movable ball guiding members, 21 are in the ~~. =. first state, balls do not flow into the special . ball flow passares 8, Incidentally, the first state can be seb in such a manner that the mova= ble ball guiding members 51 are stopped to the decree that balls hardly pass the entrances 8a of the special ball flow pasaages 8 by the ball interrupting parts 24 though the entrances are not completely shut, and when the first driving source 28 is excited, the plunger raises the communicating member 26, and the cranks 25 ro- tate the second supporting axes 20 and therehy the right and left movable ball guiding members 21 . and 21 are rotated in the direction that the free sides, opposite to the special prize-win- ning hole 17, are raised as shown by the two- dotted line in Fig, 6, and they are changed to the second state where the ball guiding : parts 23 are inclined downwardly to the special prize-winning hole 17. The possibility of prize- winning in the special prize-winning hole 17 can be made better by bouncing back the ball which has dropped in this state toward the spe- cial prize-winning hole 17 by the ball guiding part 23. When the movable ball guiding members 21 are changed to the second state, as the ball interrupting parts 24 are removed from the en- trances 8a of the special ball flow passages 8; there appears the state where the balls which : flow down in the game part 3 can easily flow ‘ down to the special ball flow passages 8. Inci- : : 20 dentally, when the first driving source 28 is - turned off, the right and left movable ball gui- 4 ding members 21 and 21 are returned to the first : ee eeorere ren y Cadi oh goal LS BAD, Of 6! AE
1 . ne i Sloe : ! iy it i Bis - bo Lik CATA 1 Hl : : CL ee Chto Gtr ET kT Gerdes few 3 : L =o Lea ~ fre i A Re } ca 38 T Ad fh i L ie EL ak of Lr i T ChE an hha Cal Te Ed Lar TE ty nbs Loe LE iT Lh id hy Et SLR RRS a ade TE SRE ef Tp i a iH Cina rR er ie RE ee, aa I Lh L IH Pore Eo gl Li -d CO Aeggut os FA tah Ser fen a EEE 4 Jorad : , bl MTR EL Le VALE EE Ra Alyy ppt i PL ad ppt nent Cp : a FEE ee ip Ae Goh ee 0 RL Fro : A La dra Popa ge da VIBE Age iy 0 Co Te dl ERE Ln ee Le ea he Wl Ll LE Phd be 0 EAR ey ; i Gon I on ke no do ho " : cL EL J bn . 5h pi “yp ge wv SEF FE : ig tip § Lr »! ME > t 3 ; 3 . i IL i BER LT pi LESAN ‘ CE Th LEE ] tL 3 x] Pel a cE Deas hud eet Ro ; Ado pt Ee Ahr EE Tgde ow EE CT BE a — ee —— - = ro “3 7 i, state by the anplied force of the spring and the like.
Also, to change the state of the abhove- mentioned movable ball accepting members 12, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig, 4, the second driving sources 29 and 292 of solenoids and the like are provided on the back of the recession cham- ber 1, cranks 30 are fixed to the end of the first supporting axes 13 projecting on the back of the recession chamber 14, »ins of the above . cranks 30 are frecly engaged into holes 32 of the operating members 31 installed on the plun- Co gers of the second driving sources 29. Accor- . dingly, as the second driving sources 29 are usually turned off, the movable ball accepting members 12 are stopned standing straight by the applied force of the spring and so forth in the first state where balls which flow down in the game part 3 are not accepted.
And when the second driving sources 29 are excited by a dignal from an electric control device, as the plungers raise the operating members 31 by the length of a stroke,
the cranks 30 rotate the first supporting axes 13 and the upper ends of the right and left mo- Ce vable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are ro=- ’ tated in the outwardly falling direction. Accordingly, the right and left movable ball : accepting members 12 and 12 are, as shown by the dot- ted line in Fig. 2, changed to the second state where balls are accepted in a wide range and led from the shelf plate 15 into the recession cham- ber 14. And when the second driving sources 29 are turned off, the right and left movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are rotated in the
. returning direction by the ap:lied force of the : spring and so forth and returned to the first : 15 state where balls are not accepted. In this way, the movable ball accepting members 12 can be changed to the first state : where balls are not accepted and to the second } state where balls are easily accepted in a wide ) 20 range by the operation of the second driving + sources 29, but in the present preferred embo- diment, it is so constituted that they can be TT oo I. Co ., BADORIGINAL Gt Ct ; de . oo \ : - on . Vy : ES oh . . Ga . oy : Li Cor ov Cast bh Heo ! So Ch hy = 8. aa i Yo b : : | : ; th ! } - Poh Gogeage Lh , EE c,h fal lp Chet fo a — — ee = changed to the third state where balls are acced- ted in a narrow range. Yor this purpose, on the back of the recension chamber 1, as shown in
Fig. + and Fig. 7, a window 3 is opened at an installing base 33 to which the second driving sources 29 are inatalled and a stroke adjusting member 36 having a spacer part 35 coming into the above. 34 is provided, and a solenoid for Co | pressing the pressure part af the above stroke
1.0 adjusting member 36 is provided as the third ee wis. ue. Qriving source 37. As this third ariving source 37 is usually turned off, the stroke adjusting member 36 is, as shown by the dotted line in Fig. 7, stopped by its own weight in the state where the spacer part is removed from window 34. Accordingly, as mentioned above, the right end left movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are standing straight and in the first state where balls are not accepted when the second driving sources 29 is in the turned-off state, and when the second driving sources 29 are excited, the right and left movable ball accepting members 12 BAD ORIGINAL - 19 - Ce and 12 are opened enough abd changed to the second state where balls are easily accepted in a wide range.
And when the third driving source 37 is excited, the stroke adjusting mem- ber 36 is rotated as shown by the dotid line in ~ Fig, 7 and has the spacer part 35 come into the.
Lo window 34, and the effective stroke of the ope- oo rating member 31 is shortened by protruding the © tip end from the window 34. If the second dri- Co - 10 ving sources 29 are excited in this state, as a protruding part 38 of the operating members 31 is stopped halfway touching the spacer part 35 when - the plungers raise the operation members 31, the cranks 30 rotate the first supporting axes 13 halfway.
Accordingly, the right and left movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are rotated in the di- : : rection that the upper ends fall. down outwardly . and stopped halfway, and, as shown by the two-dot and two dashes in Fig. 2, they are stopped at a sharper angle than in the second state and are : changed to the third state where balls can be— BAD ORIGINAL oo Colm Dn Dhl oi CRRA HG ee — a ————— oe uh accepted in a narrow range. Also, a doll 40 with a leading member 39 as its part is provided in the recession chamber 14 to enable a ball easily to win the special prize- winning hole 17 As well as to increase decoration effect. As shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 7, this doll 40 is so constituted that a trunk part 41 is fixed on the front wall of the recession chamber ©
10 . 14, a head part 2 is equipped with an axis on the cane Ne Loma, oo drunk part 41 fluctuating up and down, and.2.REAT.. AN... Lo truding piece 43 is fixed on the back part of the head, the above protruding piece 43 and the above com- municating member 26 are connected to each other by a comaunicating rod ily. The right and left arm parts 45 with the leading member 39 at their tip ends are fixed on the right and left ends of a fluctuating member 6, mounted with an axis on the front wall of the recession chamber 14 fluctuating right and left, throtigh the sleeves opened at the trunk part 41. The tip end of a cam follower 47 arranged extended from the one side of the above BE - 21 - '8AD ora:
CN | : . fluctuating member 46 to the rear is faced to the upper surface of a cam 48 having an uneven part on its upper surface provided on the back of the recession chamber 14, and one end of a - 5 spring 49 is connected to the other side of the fluctuating member 46 so that the above cam follower - - 47 is pressed to the upper surface of the cam 48, CA leg member 50 which comprises the right and left leg parts is fixed with an axis on the front wall 10 of the recession chamber 14 in the trunk part 41, fluctuating right and left and a projection 51 of the axial fixing part of the leg member 50 is en- gaged with an engaging part 52 of the above fluctua- ting member 46, Also, the preferred embodiment of © 15 | the leading member 39 shown in Fig. 4 models-a : “winnow" , and so constituted that a holldw-3haped Ei , ) recession part 53 which is wider than the special Lo prize-winning hole 17 and follows the depth direc- "tion of the recession chamber 14 is formed at its Pp 20 upper surface and the inclined lower end of the above recession part 53 is face toward the special prize-winning hole 17 and the ordinary prize=-win= . r : * me : | aD ORO Co aoa BE | - 22 - RO ! Cay 8 . Co : ! bo
SE — _ oo . — —— — a be SR ning hole 18. And a position detector 54 of the photosensor and the like is provided on the back of the recession chamber 1l/t and a working member 56 to work on the position detector 54 is provided at an output axis of a motor 5% with decelerator for rotating the eam 48. The leading member 39 of the above-mentioned constitution is stopped in the state where the inclined lower end of the re- EE yo cession part 53 is faced toward the special prize- , 10. winning hole 17 with almost even heights of the Cie Cadre ris wu ves wD hght and the left in. the.normal-siate a8, SHOWIL. . . . yah’ . in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5, and when the motor with the decelerator 55 is operated, the cam L8 is rotated and the cam follower 47 touching the up- . 15 per surface of the cam 48 is worked on by the uneven part of the cam 48 upper surface and the height of the cam follower 47 is changed.
Then, the fluctuating member 46 fluctuates the right and left arms and legs in the different direction with each other, and if the first driving source 28 repeats excitement and turn off, the up and down and movement of the communicating member 26 rer, "aap ORIGINAL a is transmitted to the head part 42 through the the comnunicatipg rod 44, and it can give the movement as if the doll is cancing a “Ioach scooping” dance.
Also, when the right and left arms are fluctuated, the leading member 39 at their tip ends is fluctuated right and left as shown by the chain line in Fig. 5. Accordingly, the leading member 39 accepts balls which are dropving from the shelf plate 15 in a wider range and leads the above balls in the direction of the special prize-winning hole 17 or the ordinary prize- winning holes 18. Incidentally, the doll 40 which is moved in this way is stopped in the initial : state where the leading member 39 is faced toward the special prize-winning hole 17 in case of stop, ) as the position detector 54 detects the position of the cam 48 and sends a signal to the electric control device. / Next, the game state in the Pachinko machine ) 20 provided with the changing prize-winning device 4 made of the above-mentioned constitution will be described.
———— — ——— — Incidentally, in the initial state, each movable ball accepting member 12 of the changing prize-winning device I is usually stopped stan- ding straight in the first state where balls are not accepted, and each movable ball guiding mem- ber 21 is usually stopped in the Tirst state where the ball guiding part 23 is stopped almost horizon- tally as the bottom part of each ordinary prize- to n winning hole 18 by the applied force of the spring oo 10 and so forth and the entrances 8A of the special br eee Deamme meee . _ .pall. flow .passages 8 are shut. by. the .ball,intex-. emt ee rupting part 204, When a ball shot by the hit ball shooting device, not shown in Fig. flows down in the game part 3 and enters the second specific prize-win- ning hole 6, the second specific price-winning detector 57 detects this ball and sends a signal to the electric control device as shown in Fig. 8. Also, if a ball enters the first specific prize- winning hole 5, hall accepting pleces §9 and 59 of the above first specific prize-winning hole 5 are opened to the right and left and it is changed to the state where balls are easily acceoted, and the first specific prize-winning detector 60 detects this ball and sends a signal to the electric control device 58 (incidentally, in either case, prize balls based on the pres- cribed batting rate are put out apart from the output operation of each signal). When the electric control device 58 receives a signal from the second specific prize-winning detector 57, the third driving source 37 is ex- cited for 0.7 second after the waiting time of 0.6 second as shown in Fig. 9, and the second driving sources 29 are excited for 0.5 second after the
' waiting time of 0.8 second at the same time.
Accordingly, when a ball enters the second specific prize-winning hole 6, the movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are changed from the first state where balls are accepted to the third state where balls are accepted in a narrow range only for 0.5 second.
Incidentally, in this case, a special prize-winning detector 61 provided at the 11ow
- passace arranged exlended from the special prize-
[ — ea —————— ——— winning hole 17 of the changing prize-winning device 4 becomes offective or 3.3 seconds.
Also, vhen the electric control device 58 receives a «irnel from the first specific prize- winning detector 60, the third driving source 37 is excited for 1.0 second after 0.6 and turned off for 0.2 second and then, excited for 1.0 second again, ard the second driving sources 29 are excited for 0.8 second after 0.8 second and ’ turned off forQ.8 second and then, excited for i ke eat ie A yi eta pe BYE Ah Ce eden ts ate gl 8 regdond, Accordingly, when a ball enters the first specific prize-winning hole 5, the movable ball accepling members 12 and 12 are changed from the first state where balls are not accepted to the third state where balls are capable of being accepted in a narrow rance Tor 0.8 second and returned te the first state for 0,8 second and changed to the third state Tor 0.4 sccond and changed to the second state where balls are accep= : ted in a wide range only for 0.4 second.
In this case, the special prize-wimnming detector 61 te- comes effective for 5.2 seconds, BAD
Incidentally, even il a tall enters the first specific prize-winning hole 5 or the sccond specific prize-winning hole 6 and the movable ball } accepting members 12 and 12 are changed from the first state where balls are not accepted to the second or the third slate where balls are accepted as mentioned above, the movable ball guiding members 21 and 21 maintain the first state, If a ball flows down in the game area 3, it flows down on the movable hall accepting member 12 , ~ when the movable ball accepting memhers 12 and 12 of } the changing prize-winning device I, are changed from the first state to the second or the third state as menticned above, this hall passes the opening part 10 and rolls on the shelf plate 15 and then, enters the recession chamber 14. The i ball which has entered the recession chamber 14 ; | once drops on the leading member 39 or the bot=- ' tom surface of the recession chamber 14, As the } 20 flow down direction of the ball which has dropped on the leading member 39 is restricted toward the special prize-winning hole 17 by the recession
FE oo —_— ——— part 53, it is relatively easy for the ball to enter the special prize-winning hole 17, but in case where the ball docs not enter the special prize-winning hole 17, it enters the adjacent ordinary prize-winning hole 183, Also, the hall which has dropned on the hol tom surface of the recession chamber 14 rolls due to the downward inclination of the Lottom surface and enters the bo p special prize-winning hole 17 or the ordinary | prize-winning hole 18. If the ball enters the Cota ge em aren ordinary prize-winning hole 18, this bakl flows 0 #f "fv 0 out to the back of the game poard 1 and becomes a prize-winning ball and mize balls are discharged according to this, but there is no change to the game state.
On the other hand, if a ball luckily enters the special prize-winning hole 17, the gpecial prize-winning detector 61 provided at the flow pass- age arran ed extended from the ahove special prize- winning hole 17 detucts this ball and sends a sig- nal that the ri:ht for a special game is generated to the electric control device 58. Incidentally, a - 20 - 2) pO —
. | \ the ball having worked on the special prize- winning detector 61 flows oul to the back of the game board 1 and becomes a prize-winning ball, and prize balls are also discharged by this.
When the electric control device 58 receives ‘ a signal from the special prize-winning detector 61, the special game is started.
Fhe special game in this preferred embodi- ment is so constituted that after the waiting time 6f 2.9 seconds, one cycle being the state where the second driving sources 29 of the chang- ing prize-winning device 4 is capable of repeating excitement for 0.8 second and turning off for 0.8 second a prescribed number of time (e.g. 18 times), that is, the siate where the movable ball accepting members 12 are capable of repeating the first state where balls are not accepted and the second state where halls are ensily accepted for 0.8 second § 18 times, and the cycle is renewed up to the pres- - 20 eribed times (e.g. 8 cycles at the maximum) on condition that a bvall enters the special prize- winning hole 17 during this cycle.
Howdver, in ee —.————— TT case where a ball does not enter the special prize-wirming hole 17 at all while the movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are changed from the first ciate to the second state up to the 18th time in this special game cycles, the special game is finished in the concerned cycle regardless of the number ol cycles left, Vlhen the first cycle of the special game is started, the first driving source 28 is exci- ted for 0.3 second alter the waiting time of 0.3 ER ,.88g0ond by a signal from.the electric CONTROL war wa: His vo .
: . device 58 and alter being turned off for 0.3 : second, it is excited till the concerned cycle je finished. Accordingly, the movable guiding members 21 are changed from the first state where the fallen balls are capable of entering the ordi- nary prize-winning hole 18 without being guided to the specizl prize-winning hole 17 to the second state where the fallen balls are capable of being guided to the special prize-winning hole 17 by bouncing hack only for 0.3 second after the wait- ing time of 0.3 second and returning to the first gre obo ©
’ state for 0.3 second and chanced to the second state till the concerned cvele is finished. Therefore, when the halls accepted by the mova- ble ball accepling members 17 drop from the shelf plate 15 to the entrance parts of the ordinary prize-winning holes 18 through the leading men- ber 39 or on the bottom surface of the recession chamber 14, most of these balls Just enter the ordinary prize-winning holes 18 when the movable
40... ball guiding members 21 are sloped in the first state. However, if the balls drop to the entrance parts of the ordinary prize-winning holes 18 when the movable ball puiding members 2) are changed to the second ctate, some of them hit the inclined ball guiding perts 23 of the movable ball guiding members 2) and bounce back, and they can enter the special prize-wirming hole 17. Accordingly, if the movable ball suiding : members 21 are changed to the second state, the possibility of entering the special prize-winning hde 17 is increased compared with the first state, and the above-mentioned renewal of cycle becomes easy. WA
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Also, if the movable hall culding members 21 are changed from the first state to the second state as mentioned above, the ball enterrupting parts 2h formed nt the movable ball cuiding mem-= bers 21 are removed from the entrances 8a of the special ball flow passages 8. Lrcordingly, the halls which have passed outside and in the neigh- bohood of the changing prize-winning device 4 but ' could not enter the recession chamber 14 from the ' movable ball accepting members 12, or the balls ‘ A nr whith £roW down the right or -the -1eft Of-the. ahangr..a LA ing prize-winning device 4 particularly when the movable ball accepting members 12 have just re- turned from the second state to the Tirst state can easily enter the gpecial hall flow passages 8 from the entrances 8a released by the pall inter- rupting parts olf of the movable Lball guiding mem- bers 21, and these halls flow to the exits 8b guided by the restriciing parts 7. These exits 8b of the special ball flow passages 8 are located above the first specific prize-winning hole 5 and directly connected to the £1ow down route where v Ch Co oh® oh Ca , —
balls which win the first specitic prize-winning hole 5 will pass.
Lcecordingly, the possibility of entering the first specific prize-winning hole 5 for the balls which have passed the special ball flow passages 8 as mentioned above is very high.
As . ©" ‘the restricting parts 7 in the present preferred =~ CL embodiment are constituted of a plurality of obstacle nails, the entrances a and the exits : 10 8b of the special ball flow passages 8B can be set as desired by bending these nails right, left, up or down and changes can te given to the prize- winning possibility in the first specific prize- winning hole 5. , 15 Incidentally, the rectricting parts 7 are not limited to the constitution by obstacle nails, but can be constituted as desired as far as the flow direction of balls can be restricted.
Also, the ' special ball flow passages 8 can be constituted as : 20 desired as far as they are provided with the func- tion that the entrances are opened and closed by the hall interrupting parts 24 formed at the ball r onan = eo . —
I ES _ _—————_———— guiding members 721 and balls are guided so that they can easily enter the prize-winning holes. in this way, if balls vnss the special ball flow passages 0 during the syecinl same, luckily win the first specific prize-winning hole 5 and the ball accenting geces 59 and 59 are changed to the state where halls are easily accepted, the special game is finished, 2s balls can easily win Co Le the first specific prize-winning hole 5 soon, the movable ball accenting members 12 are changed once J dl +2 thi 4 3 Ao RA the Tirst state or the -second state » - sr aor and the third state.
Accordingly, the possibility of generating the right of the special game next time is heightened. | loreover, 1f the first driving source 28 is excited and the movable ball guiding members 21 are changed from the first state to the second state, the up and down 15 movement of the communi- cating member 26 is transmitted to the head part 42 through the communicating rod 44, and the head part 42 of the doll LO in the recession chamber 14 is moved up and dovm. "ap ORGMA
Also, when the special some is started, the electric control device 58 starts the motor with decelerator 55. Accordingly, the arms and legs of the doll 40 in the recession chamber 14 are fluctuated and the leading member 39 is fluctua- ted to risht and left at the same time.
If the leading member 39 is fluctuailed to the right and CL left, the balls dropning irom Lhe shelf plate 15 can be accepted in a wide range.
In this way, Coo A ows 1Qew ovo oodhe ball having dropped. on. the leading member 39... , enter the special prize-winning hole 17 or the ordinary prize-winning holes 18. If a prescribed condition ts established in a certain cycle without balls’ entering the B special prize-winning hole 17, for example, if
* the movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are changed to the second state 8 times or if the ; number of prize-winning balls in the ordinary prize-winning holes 18 in the concerned cycle reaches a preccribed number (e.g. 5), the opera-
tion of the motor with decelerator 55 is stopped and the leading member 39 is stoped in a state oN ay og ® Pe - 36 - vl a —,,,————erre— — — _- facing with the swvecial prize-winning hole 17. If the leading member 39 is stopped facing the special prize-winning, hole 17 as mentioned above, the balle accepted hy the movable tall accepting members 12 are guided to the recession part 53 of the jeading menber 39, the possibility of winning the special prize-winning hole 17 is heightened so that renewal of the cycle being easily carried out.
Incidentally, to stop the oo 10 leading member 39 in a state facing with the spe- Wort rege sen b Re Sage gb Sly ining Hole 17, the PEELE OT BE pha bors mar fg cam 48 is detected by the position detector 5h and the operation of the motor with decelerator 55 is stopped by the electric control device 58 at the time when the cam 48 is rotated to the pres- cribed position, Incidentally, if balls enter the ordinary prize-winning holes 18 and the special prize-win- ning hole 17 in a certain cycle, a detector for calculation 62 detects these halls one by one and sends a signal to the electric control device 58 and the electric control device 58 counts the pres- r Te = - oo cribed number (e.g. 10) of balls, it is set in such a manner that the special fame is finished regardless of the number of cvcles left.
Also, in the present vreferred embodiment, a continuous indicator 63 consisting of LED and the like, prize-winning number indicators 64 con- © 4 ww -.es rewgisting of, LED and.the.like provided.on the righf. .. . ~.. and left of the recession chamber 14, the first indicators 635 consisting of lamps and the like . 10 arranged in the neighborhood of the prize-winning number indicators 64, the second indicators 66 and the third indicators67 on the back of the recession chamber 14, and the fourth indicators 68 in the ) neighborhood of the movable ball accepting members ‘ 15 12 are respectively provided.
If balls enter the . first and the second specific prize-winning holes ; 5 and 6, the second indicators 66 and the third in- dicators 67 are flashed alternately, and if the special game 1s started, the first and the third ’ ; 20 indicators 65 and 67 and the second and the fourth indicators 66 and 68 are flashed alternately, and thereby decoration effect is hecishtened and the ' - 38 = pe so eo ;
J effect is visually indicated to the players.
And ’ the renewal of cycle of the special game is visual- ly indicated hy the continuous indicator 63, and the number of prize-winning halls accepted and won by the movable hall members 12 is visually indicated by the prize-winning number indicators 6, Incidentally, the movable ball accepting mem- Bb SE bers 12 in the present invention can be constituted Cl - as desired; not limited in the shape of a wing piece Lo - 10 | which reciprocates as above-mentioned preferred | Co ws Sop nee “ed RINT RE far as “they ‘can be ehangedstos Heth a adiilh a.
Capt By : | first state where flowing balls are not accepted and to the seconds state where balls are easily accepted.
For example, they can be constituted by shutters which slid back and forth.
It goes without saying that the present in- vention is not 1imited to the above-mentioned pre-= ferred embodiment, hut modification and improve- ments can be made within the scope of technical : 20 jdeas of the present invention. - | ’ r BS BAD ORIGINAL o - 39 - | em
26878 (i; SH pr : SEP 31991 wT ’ a 3 f Neen inary od WHAT IS CLATMID 1S:
1. A pinball machine conprising a game board having game area surrounded by a guide rail on the surface thereof; a hit ball shoot- oo 5 ing device for shooting a ball to said game area; a changing prize-winning device consisting of the SEETE peas A Teme v1 1 6Wing constitution provided in'8aid. GAMSAATER, it wer vows: that is, said changing prize-winning device being provided with movable ball accepting members which are located at the entrance part and operated and switched to the first state where balls are hard- ly or not accented and to the second state where balls are easily accepted, ordinary prize-winning holes which are located inside and win a prize for the balls accepted through said movable ball ac- cepting members, 2a special prize-winning hole and a movable leading member which guides a ball ac- . cepted by said movable Lall accepting members to said special prize-winning hole; a specific prize- . 20 winning hole provided in said game area for accep- ting a ball; a special game trirger control means for operating said movable hall accepting oN - ho = ‘ Oo - i #° members irom the first stele to the second state in the preset syecific shale at the deleetion of a prize-winnin: of a ball in said specific prize- winning hole; a special same conlrol means for operating said movatle ball accepting members from the firet state to the second state in the preset special state when said movable ball ac- cepting members are opernled and switched to the second state and it is detected that the accepted ! pall wins the srvecial prize-winning hole, and at LP wwe as he IP es vin phe same time, for periodically shifting said mevasu. ef, va..fS ble leading member so as to carry out the special game.