JP5869853B2 - Pachinko machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pachinko machine of a type that includes a variable winning device having a specific area and provides a jackpot game on condition that a game ball taken into the variable winning device passes through the specific area.

  Conventionally, in a pachinko machine, a so-called pachinko ball (hereinafter referred to as a game ball) is continuously or intermittently fired into a game area formed on the game board surface by a launching device, and the game ball is arranged in the game area. A player enters a variable winning device (sometimes referred to as a center prize, etc.), and a game ball is taken into a specific area (so-called V zone) formed in the variable winning device. There are known pachinko machines in which a gaming state (bonus) advantageous to the player is started.

  For example, Patent Document 1 is known as this type of pachinko machine. The pachinko machine described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a variable winning device (variable winning device) 80 having an inlet (game ball entrance) through which a game ball can win a prize in the approximate center of the game area. A pair of movable members (opening and closing bodies) are provided at the inflow port of the variable winning device, and the game balls are configured not to win the variable winning device except when the pair of movable members are opened. Yes. In Patent Document 1, the condition for opening the pair of movable members is to make a small hit in the special figure variation display game.

  In the winning space (internal space) of the variable winning device, a storage device, a special winning port (specific region), and a general winning port (losing region) are provided. The storage device includes a rectangular box-shaped storage unit (movable body) that can store a game ball, and the storage unit has a storage state in which an opening is directed upward so that the game ball can be stored, The stored game ball can be converted into a storage release state in which the opening is directed forward so that the stored game ball can be discharged. Note that the storage section is arranged at a position where it can receive a game ball flowing down from the inflow port at a predetermined timing in the storage state.

  The game balls that have flowed down to the winning space are divided into cases where they are stored in the storage device and cases where they are not stored. In either case, the game balls are distributed to the special winning opening or the general winning opening. However, due to the configuration of the shelf members, floors, etc. in the winning space, the probability that the game balls are distributed to the special winning opening is higher when stored in the storage device. Therefore, the storage unit described in Patent Document 1 has an effect on the subsequent game result due to the action of storing the game ball and releasing the storage, and when storing the game ball Depending on the difference in action from the case where it is not, it will affect the subsequent game result (whether it will be a big hit or not). When the game ball passes through the special winning opening, a special game state is generated (a jackpot game is provided).

  In addition, in patent document 1, the process until the special game state occurs will be described more specifically. For example, (a) a game ball wins a start winning device → (b) a movable member of a variable winning device opens and closes. → (c) Game balls are won from the entrance of the variable prize device → (2) Game balls taken into the variable prize device pass through the special prize port → (e) A special game state occurs. Yes. In other words, when the game ball wins the start winning device, the special game state occurs when the game ball finally passes through the special winning opening.

  Furthermore, the pachinko machine described in Patent Document 1 includes a magnetic sensor that detects magnetism and a vibration sensor that detects vibration. The magnetic sensor detects fraudulent acts caused by magnets, and the vibration sensor detects fraudulent acts caused by vibrations. It can be detected.

  In addition to the variable winning device described in Patent Document 1, various accessory devices are known. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which a plurality of action members (movable bodies) are driven and controlled. Has been. The plurality of action members collide with the game ball while moving in a predetermined direction to obstruct the course, or guide the game ball toward the specific entrance. As described above, the action member described in Patent Document 2 also acts on the game ball and affects the subsequent game result (for example, whether or not it is a big hit).

  By the way, in order to control a movable body that performs repeated operations as in the above-described conventional technique, the origin position is detected, and in what direction and in what direction the origin position is used as a reference and then stopped. Is common. If the movable body is controlled based on the origin position as described above, the origin position may be displaced. In order to solve this, for example, in Patent Document 2, based on the origin detection schedule, the action member is returned to the origin position and then stopped. That is, in Patent Document 2, even if an error occurs in the origin position of the action member, the conditions for starting the action of the action member are made the same by performing stop control so as to correct the error.

JP 2009-172147 A (paragraphs 0053 to 0057, etc.) JP 2008-200285 A (paragraph 0007, paragraph 0012, paragraph 0014, paragraph 0388, paragraph 0389, etc.)

  In a pachinko machine provided with a variable prize device having a movable body as described above, there are cases where an advantageous game result can be obtained by cheating on the movable body. For example, in Patent Document 1, if the stopping posture of the storage unit of the storage device is tilted slightly in an unauthorized manner, the posture at the time of starting the operation of the storage unit changes, so that it is easy to obtain a more advantageous game result than originally intended. There is a case. Furthermore, in patent document 1, since it is the structure which can store a game ball in the storage part currently hold | maintained in the position of a storage state beforehand, before playing a game, it opens a door illegally and makes a storage part. By putting some game balls in advance, even if the movable member opens during the game but the game ball does not win in the variable winning device, the big hit game is obtained by the illegal storage ball There are cases where it is possible. In addition, with respect to Patent Document 2, after the action member stops at the origin position, if the stop position is rotated a little bit illegally, the position of the action member at the start of operation changes. A result may be easily obtained.

  That is, in the above conventional technique, although the movable body can be controlled to stop at the origin position, an unauthorized change (position adjustment, game ball storage, etc.) is applied to the movable body that has been stopped. Therefore, there is a problem that the gameability is artificially distorted. However, the magnetic sensor and the vibration sensor described in Patent Document 1 cannot solve this problem.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pachinko machine that can prevent an illegal act on a movable body arranged in a variable winning device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a game board having a game area in which game balls flow down, a start opening provided in the game area, and a start for detecting that a game ball has won a prize in the start opening. A detector, and a specific area and a lost area that are provided in the game area, operate based on the detection of the game ball by the start detector, and allow the game ball taken in by the operation to pass through. In a pachinko machine comprising a variable winning device and a game control device that performs various processes relating to the game and performs processing related to the jackpot game based on the fact that the game ball has passed the specific area, the variable winning device is A game ball entrance into which the game ball enters, an opening / closing body for opening and closing the game ball entrance, an internal space for receiving the game ball that has passed through the game ball entrance, and an internal space. A movable body that acts on a rare game ball and affects whether or not the game ball passes through the specific area, and an origin position detector that detects that the movable body is at the origin position, The game control device opens and closes the opening and closing body and starts the operation of the movable body based on the detection of the game ball by the start detector, and moves the movable body based on the detection by the origin position detector. Control to stop the movement of the body, and if there is no detection by the origin position detector when the variable winning device is in an inactive state, an error state is set and input from the start detector with handle signals as invalid, the error processing is performed in which the detection signal from the home position detector is effective to initiate the origin return operation for returning the movable member to said home position, said to said home position When that body has returned detected by the origin detection device is characterized in that to release the error condition when handling an input signal from the starter detector as valid.

According to the present invention, even when an act of illegally changing the stopped position later is performed on the movable body stopped at the origin position, the variable winning device is in an inoperative state. If there is no detection by the origin position detector, that is, if the movable body is not stopped at the origin position, the game control device sets the error state and treats the input signal from the start detector as invalid. At the same time, error detection is performed to validate the detection signal from the origin position detector, so that the opening / closing body does not open / close even if a game ball wins at the start port. Therefore, the game ball is not taken into the variable winning device. Therefore, gameability is not distorted by the movable body whose stop position is illegally changed.

  Furthermore, since the present invention starts the origin return operation for returning the movable body to the origin position during error processing, the movable body always returns to the origin position when the error processing is canceled and becomes normal. ing. Therefore, when a game is played in a normal state, the movable body always starts to operate from the correct origin position, so that there is no inconvenience that the gameability is artificially distorted.

  As described above, the present invention can surely prevent an illegal act on the movable body arranged in the variable winning device. In addition, the present invention provides a special mechanism for preventing fraud, such as a lock mechanism so that the movable body does not physically move when the variable winning device is inactive. There is no need. Therefore, there is almost no cost for fraud countermeasures.

  Here, the “movable body” of the present invention has any structure as long as it acts on the game ball taken into the internal space of the variable winning device and affects whether or not the game ball passes through the specific area. May be. For example, a structure that changes the course of the game ball after the movable body collides with the game ball while rotating, or a structure that changes the course of the game ball while the movable body swings is movable. Since the result of whether the body acts on the game ball and the game ball passes through the specific area is different, it corresponds to the “movable body” of the present invention. Even if the movable body temporarily stores the game ball and releases the storage, it can affect whether or not the game ball passes through the specific area. This corresponds to the “movable body” of the invention.

  In the present invention, in order to invalidate the function of the start detector, for example, by turning off the start detector, the start detector cannot detect the game ball, Although the start detector detects the game ball, the detection signal is not output by the start detector, or even if the detection signal is input to the game control device, the input is processed as invalid. To be included.

  In the above configuration, the game control device may cancel the error processing when a predetermined time has elapsed since the error processing was performed. In this way, it is not necessary to separately prepare an operation for canceling the error processing, for example, an operation of pressing the reset button, so that it is easy to return to the normal state. The term “predetermined time” as used herein refers to a time set as a time sufficient to return the movable body to the origin position.

  Further, in the above configuration, the variable winning device includes a discharge passage that discharges game balls that have passed through the specific area or the loss area to the outside, and a discharge ball detector that detects game balls that pass through the discharge path; The game control device may be configured to cancel the error processing based on the fact that the discharge ball detector detects the game ball after performing the error processing. In this case, even if the game ball is illegally arranged in the variable winning device, the error processing is not canceled unless the illegal game ball is discharged outside via the discharge passage. There is no situation where an illegal game ball passes a specific area and a jackpot game is started. That is, according to the present invention, even if the game ball is stored in the variable prize apparatus, the game performance is not artificially distorted.

  Even in the case of this configuration, the game control device, if the error processing state continues for a predetermined time, even if the game ball is not detected by the discharge ball detector, It is preferable to adopt a configuration for canceling. In this way, even if an unexpected situation occurs, the error process is canceled after a predetermined time, so that it is possible to solve the problem in use such that the game cannot be performed after the error process.

1 is a schematic front view of a pachinko machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed typically the variable winning apparatus shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the electrical structure of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the origin return process of the storage device which the pachinko machine shown in FIG. 1 performs. FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing operating states of various devices, sensors, and the like when an origin return process of the storage device shown in FIG. 4 is performed. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the illegal sphere monitoring process shown in FIG. It is a timing chart which shows the operation state of various apparatuses, a sensor, etc. when the illegal ball monitoring process shown in FIG. 6 is performed. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the illegal ball | bowl monitoring process of the pachinko machine based on 2nd Example of this invention. FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing operation states of various devices, sensors, and the like when the illegal ball monitoring process shown in FIG. 8 is performed (however, when illegal ball discharge is confirmed). FIG. FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing operation states of various devices, sensors, and the like when the illegal ball monitoring process shown in FIG. 8 is performed (however, when illegal ball discharge is confirmed). FIG. FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing operation states of various devices, sensors, etc. when the illegal ball monitoring process shown in FIG. 8 is performed (however, when illegal ball discharge cannot be confirmed). FIG.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail through examples of the invention. However, the following examples do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the examples are included in the invention. It is not always essential to the solution.

  FIG. 1 is an overall front view of a pachinko machine 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention in which a variable winning device 1 is provided. The outline of the pachinko machine 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The pachinko machine 10 constitutes a housing of the pachinko machine 10, and includes an outer frame 11 installed in equipment called an island in the game facility, and a pair of hinges 12 and 13 provided on one side of the outer frame. And an inner frame 14 that is pivotally supported. The inner frame 14 can be opened and closed in the front-rear direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1) with respect to the outer frame 11 by being pivotally supported by the pair of hinges 12 and 13.

  A rectangular opening is provided in the upper part of the inner frame 14, and the game board 9 is attached in an exchangeable manner via an attachment mechanism 15A so as to close the opening. A front frame 16 having a window portion 15 is attached to an upper side portion of the inner frame 14 so as to be openable and closable in the front-rear direction of the inner frame 14 by a hinge (not shown). In a state where the front frame 16 is closed so as to cover the upper part of the inner frame 14, the lock mechanism 16 </ b> A is operated to be integrally engaged with the inner frame 14, and the player can shape the window 15 through the window 15. Within this range, a part of the game board 9 can be visually recognized. A panel body 17 that can be opened and closed in the front-rear direction of the inner frame 14 is attached to one lower side portion of the inner frame 14 by a hinge (not shown). In a state where the panel body 17 is closed so as to cover the lower side of the inner frame 14, the lock mechanism (not shown) is operated to be locked together with the inner frame 14. A dispensing port 18 is opened on the front surface of the panel body 17, and a dish structure 19 and a handle 20 project from the front side.

  The payout port 18 discharges game balls to be paid out from a prize ball payout device 150 (not shown) installed on the back side of the game board 9 onto the upper plate structure 19. The dish structure 19 includes a supply path (not shown) for supplying the storage balls discharged from the payout port 18 or supplied by the player to the launching device 21 side. The supply path is formed as an inclined surface that gradually descends from the payout port 18 and has a structure that allows the stored game balls to flow down to the launching device 21 while being aligned in a row. In addition, surplus game balls that cannot be stored in the dish structure 19 in a jackpot game, which will be described later, are stored in the pachinko machine 10 via a ball discharge passage (not shown) disposed inside the dish structure 19. It can be discharged to the outside.

  When the game ball stored in the dish structure 19 flows down a supply path (not shown) and is supplied to the launching device 21, when the handle 20 is rotated by the player, the launching device 21 moves to the handle 20. A game ball is launched above the game board 9 with a launch force according to the operation amount of the game board 9. A plurality of indicator lights L and speakers S are provided on the front frame 16 and the front surface of the panel body 17 that are locked together with the inner frame 14, and will be described later in accordance with the progress of the game and the occurrence of errors. It is driven by the main control processing unit 100.

  A game area 10 </ b> A surrounded by the outer guide rail 22 and the inner guide rail 23 is formed in the game board 9. The outer guide rail 22 is curved and arranged so as to surround the game board 9 in a circular shape. The inner guide rail 23 is a member arranged in parallel along a partial range of the outer guide rail 22. A launch passage 10B is formed in a region on one side of the game board 9 sandwiched between the outer guide rail 22 and the inner guide rail 23.

  In the game area 10A of the game board 9, the variable winning device 1 disposed roughly at the center of the gaming area 10A, and a plurality of start winning ports (starting ports) 2A disposed below the variable winning device 1; 2B, a plurality of general winning ports 3 arranged around the variable winning device 1, an out port 4 opened at the bottom of the game area 10A, and a game ball launched into the game area 10A in the process of flowing down A large number of guide nails 5 are arranged so as to guide or obstruct the course. Note that the number of guide nails 5 is omitted, and the guide nails 5 are implanted as necessary over substantially the entire game area 10A.

  Further, a position between the start winning port 2A; 2B and the out port 4 is provided with a large winning port 65 and an attacker device 60 for opening and closing the large winning port 65, which will be described later in detail. When the game is started, the attacker device 60 opens and closes, and the special winning opening 65 is opened for a predetermined time. Note that a big prize detector 900 is provided in the big prize opening 65, and a game ball taken into the big prize opening 65 is detected by the big prize detector 900.

  The variable prize winning device 1 is a device that takes in a part of the game ball launched into the game area 10A and rolls the taken game ball while guiding it to various paths inside, and is specified as the final point of the path A region 44 and a loss region 45 are provided. The details of the variable winning device 1 will be described later.

  The start winning opening 2A is a winning component provided at a distance in the left-right direction of the game area 10A, and can receive a game ball from an intake opening in the upper opening. When the game ball is taken into the start winning opening 2A in the process of flowing down the game area 10A, it is detected by a first start detector (starting detector) 200A provided in the start winning opening 2A, which will be described later. The unit (game control device) 100 requests the payout / launch control processing unit 100B to control to pay out, for example, five game balls to the player based on the detection signal. The payout / firing control processing unit 100B controls to drive the prize ball payout device 150 in accordance with this request so as to pay out the prize ball. Further, the main control processing unit 100 is a solenoid Sol1 (see FIG. 3) as an example of an opening / closing drive mechanism so that the opening / closing body 40 (see FIG. 2) provided in the variable prize-winning device 1 can be opened and closed once. To control.

  The start winning port 2B is a winning component provided between the start winning ports 2A; 2A, and can receive a game ball from the take-in port of the upper opening similarly to the start winning port 2A. When the game ball is taken into the start winning opening 2B in the process of flowing down the game area 10A, it is detected by a second start detector (starting detector) 200B provided in the start winning opening 2B, which will be described later. The unit 100 requests the payout / launch control processing unit 100B to pay out, for example, five game balls to the player based on the detection signal. The payout / firing control processing unit 100B controls to drive the prize ball payout device 150 in accordance with this request so as to pay out the prize ball. Further, the main control processing unit 100 controls the solenoid Sol1 so that the opening / closing body 40 provided in the variable prize-winning device 1 so as to be openable / closable opens twice.

  That is, the start winning port 2A and the start winning port 2B are winning ports that serve as an opportunity for the opening / closing body 40 to open, and the opening operation of the opening / closing body 40 is performed to the starting winning port 2A or the starting winning port 2B. It is executed on condition that a game ball is won.

  When a game ball flows into the general winning opening 3 in the process of flowing down the game area 10A, it is detected by a general winning detector 300 provided in the general winning opening 3, and the main control processing unit 100 described later detects the detection. Based on the signal, for example, the payout / launch control processing unit 100B is requested to pay out five game balls to the player. The payout / firing control processing unit 100B controls to drive the prize ball payout device 150 in accordance with this request so as to pay out the prize ball. Note that the opening / closing body 40 is not opened even if the game ball wins the general winning opening 3. The out port 4 has a take-in hole in the front opening, and collects the game balls that have not been taken into the above-described winning ports in the process of flowing down the game area 10A. The game balls taken in from the out port 4 and each of the above-mentioned winning holes are collected in a collecting basket after flowing down a guide path (not shown) arranged on the back side of the game board 9 and sequentially discharged to the outside of the pachinko machine 10. Is done.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the variable winning device 1. The main part of the variable winning device 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The variable prize-winning apparatus 1 generally includes a housing 30 that forms an internal space R in which a game ball rolls, a game ball entrance 34 that is provided in the housing 30 and serves as an entrance for the game ball, and the game ball entrance 34. An opening / closing body 40 that opens and closes to prevent or allow entry of the game ball into the internal space R, a first stage 41 and a second stage 42 on which the game balls taken into the internal space R roll, A storage device 50 for temporarily storing game balls taken in the space R, a cleon 44 disposed in the internal space R of the housing 30 and having a specific region 44 and a loss region 45, a specific region 44 or a loss Discharge passages 46 and 47 for discharging game balls that have passed through the region 45 to the outside. Details of each part will be described below.

  The housing 30 is a member having an internal space R formed in a box shape with a front opening, and has a substantially rectangular box shape with the front opened, and a game ball is placed at the upper left corner. A game ball entrance 34, which is an opening that can be entered, is provided. The game ball entrance 34 is provided with an approach ball detector 400 formed of a magnetic sensor, and the game ball passing through the game ball entrance 34 is detected by the entrance ball detector 400. The approach ball detector 400 has a detection hole that is substantially the same diameter as the game ball entrance 34, and a detection signal to the main control processing unit 100 described later based on the fact that the game ball has passed through the detection hole. Is output.

  Further, the game ball entrance 34 is provided with an opening / closing body 40 so as to be rotatable in the left-right direction of FIG. 2, and when the opening / closing body 40 is opened as shown in FIG. 2, the game ball entrance 34 is exposed. The game ball can enter the internal space R. On the other hand, when the opening / closing body 40 is closed, the game ball entrance 34 is closed, so that the game ball is not taken into the internal space R. The opening / closing body 40 is controlled by the main control processing unit 110, and is configured to open and close by driving the solenoid Sol1 (see FIG. 3).

  Inside the internal space R, a first stage, a storage device 50, a second stage 42, and a cron 43 are installed in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side of the flow of game balls. The first stage 41 and the second stage 42 are each formed with a rolling surface that is inclined downward from the upstream side to the downstream side of the flow of the game ball. The first stage 41 is disposed below the game ball entrance 34 and guides the game ball that has passed through the game ball entrance 34 to the storage device 50. On the other hand, the second stage 42 is for guiding the game ball lifted by the storage device 50 to the crone 43.

  The crune 43 is a mortar-like structure, and is provided with a specific region 44 and a loss region 45, respectively. Each of the specific area 44 and the loss area 45 is configured by a hole that allows one game ball to pass through. The specific area 44 communicates with the first discharge passage (discharge passage) 46, and the loss area 45 communicates with a second discharge passage (discharge passage) 47. The first discharge passage 46 is provided with a special winning detector (discharge ball detector) 600 formed of a magnetic sensor, and the game balls passing through the first discharge passage 46 are detected by the special winning detector 600. A detection signal is output to the main control processing unit 100. Similarly, the second discharge passage 47 is provided with a lost ball detector (discharge ball detector) 700 formed of a magnetic sensor. A game ball passing through the second discharge passage 47 is detected by the lost ball detector 600. And a detection signal is output to the main control processing unit 100. Then, the game ball that has passed through the first discharge passage 46 and the game ball that has passed through the second discharge passage 47 are discharged to the outside of the variable winning device 1.

  Note that the game ball rolling on the second stage 42 is guided to the cron 43 at a predetermined speed, and gradually decelerated while circling on the cron 43. Then, the game balls that have lost the momentum to go around enter the specific area 44 or the lost area 45.

  Here, instead of the cron 43, for example, a configuration in which a rotating body having a specific area 44 and a loss area 45 is rotated by driving means such as a motor may be employed. That is, not only a structure in which the positions of the specific area 44 and the loss area 45 are fixed as in the case of the clune 43 but also a structure in which these areas 44 and 45 move can be adopted.

  Next, the storage device 50 will be described. The storage device 50 includes a bottom plate 51b and a wall portion 51a that covers a part of the periphery of the bottom plate 51b. A storage unit (movable body) 51 that can store game balls therein and a support that extends downward from the bottom plate 51b. It is composed of a rod 52, a motor M (see FIG. 3) connected to the support rod 52 via a gear (not shown), and a transmission type photo interrupter, and whether the storage portion 51 is at the lowest position of the origin. An origin position detector 500 that detects whether or not, and a storage ball detector 800 that includes a reflection type photo interrupter and detects whether or not there is a game ball in the storage unit 51 are configured.

  The storage part 51 has a substantially box shape with the upper part opened, and can store a game ball inside thereof. Furthermore, when the motor M rotates forward, the storage unit 51 rises when the support rod 52 is pushed upward (in the direction of arrow A4 in FIG. 2) via the gear, and when the motor M rotates backward, Thus, the support bar 52 is lowered by being pulled downward (in the direction of the arrow A3 in FIG. 2).

  When the storage unit 51 is positioned at the lowermost end as shown by a solid line in FIG. 2, the storage unit 51 can receive and store the game ball that has rolled on the first stage 41. And in the process in which the storage part 51 is rising along the side wall 42a of the 2nd stage 42, since the side wall 42a exists, the game ball stored in the storage part 51 does not spill. However, when the storage unit 51 reaches the position of the uppermost end indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, the side wall 42a disappears, so that the game balls stored in the storage unit 51 are released from the storage and are stored in the second stage 42. It spills over. That is, the storage unit 51 is configured to be able to store game balls when positioned at the lowermost end, and to be released from storage of game balls when positioned at the uppermost end.

  Therefore, the game ball that has passed through the game ball entrance 34 falls in the direction of arrow A1 in FIG. 2 and proceeds in the direction of arrow A2 while rolling on the first stage 41. Then, the game balls that have fallen from the first stage 41 in the direction of arrow A3 and stored in the storage unit 51 rise in the direction of arrow A4 along with the normal rotation of the motor M, and the storage unit 51 is at the uppermost end. When reaching the position, the storage is released and the vehicle rolls in the direction of arrow A5. Then, the game ball falls on the cruiser 43 at a certain speed while rolling the second stage 42, and gradually decelerates while circling the cruiser 43. Thereafter, when entering the hole of the specific area 44, the game ball passes through the first discharge passage 46 and is discharged in the direction of arrow A6. On the other hand, the game ball that has entered the hole of the lost region 43 passes through the second discharge passage 47 and is discharged in the direction of the arrow A7.

  When the special winning detector 600 detects the passage of the game ball, it outputs a detection signal to the main control processing unit 100, and the main control processing unit 100 that has received the detection signal provides a jackpot game. On the other hand, when the lose ball detector 700 detects the passage of the game ball, the detection signal is output to the main control processing unit 100, but the main control processing unit 100 that receives the detection signal does not provide a big hit game.

  Although not shown, the game ball that has rolled on the first stage 41 is not necessarily guided to the storage device 50, but the second ball via a branch route provided in the middle of the first stage 41. In some cases, it may go directly to the discharge passage 47. Therefore, when a game ball is taken into the storage device 50, the game ball always reaches the crune 43, so it is a probability that the game ball will enter either the specific area 44 or the loss area 45, When branching in the middle of the first stage 41 and being guided to the second discharge passage 47, the losing is determined.

  As will be described in detail later, since the motor M stops in response to a detection signal from the origin position detector 500 in a normal state, the storage unit 51 is held at the lowermost position. When the illegal sphere is detected, the illegal sphere discharge process is executed, and the storage unit 51 starts to rise. The storage ball detector 800 can detect the presence or absence of a game ball in the storage unit 51 when the storage unit 51 is substantially at the origin position (see the detection range in FIG. 2).

  Next, an outline of control of the pachinko machine 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram centering on the main control processing unit 100 of the pachinko machine 10 including the variable winning device 1. In FIG. 1, a pachinko machine 10 includes a main control processing unit (game control device) 100 that controls the entire game. The main control processing unit 100 is a so-called microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM in which a program necessary for a game such as prize ball information and effect information is written, and a RAM as a work area necessary for executing the program. Then, each gaming component connected to the output side is controlled based on the input signal of each detector connected to the input side. The main control processing unit 100 includes a first start detector 200A, a second start detector 200B, a general winning detector 300, an approach ball detector 400, and an origin position detector 500 via a detection circuit and an input port (not shown). The special prize detector 600, the lost ball detector 700, the stored ball detector 800, and the big prize detector 900 are connected.

<About opening / closing body opening control>
The main control processing unit 100 is a solenoid that opens and closes the opening / closing body 40 based on an input signal from the first start detector 200A or the second start detector 200B (that is, based on the fact that the operation start condition is satisfied). While driving the Sol1, a command is transmitted to the sub-control processing unit 100A and the payout / firing control processing unit 100B. Specifically, the main control processing unit 100 demagnetizes the solenoid Sol1, for example, for 0.45 seconds based on the input signal from the first start detector 200A. That is, the open / close body 40 is opened for 0.45 seconds and then closed. Further, the solenoid Sol1 is energized, for example, for 0.75 seconds based on the input signal from the second start detector 200B, and then demagnetized, and this is repeated again. That is, the opening / closing body 40 is opened for 0.75 seconds and then closed, and this is repeated twice.

<Prize ball payout control>
The main control processing unit 100 generates a payout command based on input signals from the first start detector 200A, the second start detector 200B, the general winning detector 300, the approach ball detector 400, and the big winning detector 900. To the payout / launch control processing unit 100B. The payout command includes information on the number of payouts for one winning game ball, and the payout / launch control processing unit 100B controls the prize ball payout device 150 based on the information to pay the player a prize ball. put out. The payout / firing control processing unit 100B is connected with a payout counting switch SW1, and stops paying out prize balls when the prize ball count output from the payout counting switch SW1 matches the payout number information. .

<Direction control>
The main control processing unit 100 outputs different production commands based on input signals from the first start detector 200A, the second start detector 200B, the general winning detector 300, the approaching ball detector 400, and the special winning detector 600. Generated and sent to the sub-control processing unit 100A. The sub-control processing unit 100A drives the indicator lamp L and the speaker S based on the effect command from the main control processing unit 100, and suggests the game state to the player or performs an effect that excites the game.

<About motor rotation control during normal games>
When the main control processing unit 100 receives an input signal from the first start detector 200A or the second start detector 200B, the main control processor 100 rotates the motor M at a predetermined rotation speed after a predetermined time has elapsed. Then, when the reservoir 51 reaches the uppermost end, the motor M is temporarily stopped. Thereafter, the motor M is rotated in the reverse direction, and the motor M is stopped based on an input signal from the origin position detector 500. Then, when the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing body 40 is completed, the storage unit 51 is always stopped at the lowermost position. Note that the predetermined time is, for example, from the first start detector 200A in consideration of the arrival time of the game ball from the game ball entrance 34 to the storage device 50, the number of times the opening / closing body 40 is opened, and the opening time. When the input signal is received, it is set to 0.8 seconds, and in the case of the input signal from the second start detector 200B, it is set to 1.7 seconds.

  When the opening / closing body 40 opens and closes based on the detection of the game ball by the first start detector 200A or the second start detector B and the motor M starts to rotate, the storage unit 51 is moved to the origin position. Until the operation stops, the functions of the first start winning detector 200A and the second start detector B are disabled. Therefore, even if a game ball wins the start winning opening 2A, 2B during this time, the opening / closing body 40 does not open / close, and no winning ball is paid out.

<About jackpot games>
When the special winning detector 600 detects that the game ball has passed through the specific area 44 established in the internal space R, and the detection signal is input, the main control processing unit 100 receives the game after a predetermined time has elapsed. The jackpot game process, which is a game state advantageous to the player, is executed. Specifically, the main control processing unit 100 drives the solenoid Sol2 of the attacker device 60 for a predetermined time based on the input from the special prize detector 600, thereby opening the attacker device 60 to expose the big prize opening 65. Like that.

  The opening operation of the attacker device 60 is performed, for example, until the total number of detections by the game ball big prize detector 900 reaches 10 counts or until 30 seconds have elapsed after the attacker device 60 is operated (hereinafter, simply “round-off”). This is performed by repeating, for example, 12 rounds until one of the earlier conditions is satisfied, which is called “end condition”. Therefore, since the game ball can be detected by the big prize detector 900, it is possible to obtain a large amount of prize balls within a short time compared to the case of the normal game. Note that the number of rounds is not limited to this, and may be set at random, for example, once, three times, five times, ten times, or fifteen times.

<About motor rotation control during jackpot games>
The main control processing unit 100 stops the motor M based on the input signal from the origin position detector 500 and maintains the state. Therefore, when the big hit game is finished, the storage unit 51 is stopped at the lowermost position (that is, the initial position).

  By the way, in the pachinko machine according to the first embodiment, the storage unit 51 of the storage device 50 is configured to move up and down, so that the storage unit that is stopped at the origin position when the variable winning device 1 is not in operation. The stop position of the storage part 51 can be changed by moving 51 illegally. For example, an illegal act of lifting the storage unit 51 stopped at the origin position to an appropriate height position by a human hand is possible. Therefore, if the game is continued after such an illegal act, the game ball is won at the start winning opening 2A, 2B, the opening / closing body 40 is opened, and the game ball is taken into the internal space R. Sometimes, the storage unit 51 moves from a position different from the original position, and the gameability is distorted. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the stop position of the storage unit 51 is changed due to an illegal act, the storage unit 51 is controlled to return to the origin position. Hereinafter, this control will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG.

  FIG. 4 shows a control procedure for returning the storage unit 51 to the origin position. First, in step S1, the main control processing unit 100 determines whether or not the current state is the “waiting state”. . Specifically, the main control processing unit 100 determines whether or not the variable winning device 1 is operating. If Yes in step S1, the process proceeds to step S2, and the main control processing unit 100 determines whether or not a detection signal is input from the origin position detector 500. The fact that the ON signal from the origin position detector 500 is not input means that the reservoir 51 has not stopped at the origin position that is the lowermost end. For example, in FIG. 5, if the timing determined by the main control processing unit 100 is t11, the determination in step S1 is Yes and the determination in step S2 is No.

  In addition, the case where it is determined Yes in step S1 is a case where a game ball is being fired but a game ball is not won at the start winning opening 2A, 2B, and the variable winning device 1 is not activated. There are both cases where the variable prize-winning device 1 does not operate due to the failure.

  Next, in the case of No in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3, and the main control processing unit 100 sets an error state. In the error state, the main control processing unit 100 invalidates the input signals from the first start detector 200A, the second start detector 200B, the general winning detector 300, the approach ball detector 400, and the big winning detector 900. (In other words, although the detection signal itself is input to the main control processing unit 100, processing based on the detection signal is not performed). Even in the error state, the detection signal detected from the origin position detector 500 and input to the main control processing unit 100 is effective to return the storage unit 51 to the origin position. In addition, the detection signals input to the main control processing unit 100 from the special winning detector 600 and the lost ball detector 700 are valid. Therefore, the main control processing unit 100 can confirm the discharge of the game ball based on the input signals from the special prize detector 600 and the lost ball detector 700. However, even if the detection signal from the special prize detector 600 is input, the main control processing unit 100 does not shift to the big hit game based on the detection signal as long as it is set in an error state.

  Subsequently, it progresses to step S4 and the main control process part 100 performs the origin return process of the storage apparatus 50. FIG. Specifically, the main control equipment processing unit 100 drives the motor M to move the storage unit 51 up and down and stops driving the motor M when an ON signal is input from the origin position detector 500. Control is performed (see t12 in FIG. 5). Thus, the storage unit 51 is forcibly returned to the original position during the error state. In step S4, the driving of the motor M is not stopped until the ON signal from the origin position detector 500 is input to the main control processing unit 100.

  Next, in step S5, the main control processing unit 100 cancels the error state. That is, since the storage unit 51 has returned to the original position in step S4, the main control processing unit 100 cancels the error, and the first start detector 200A, the second start detector 200B, the general winning detector 300, Input signals from the approach ball detector 400 and the big prize detector 900 are treated as valid. The period of the error state is a period from t11 to t12 as shown in FIG.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S6, and the main control processing unit 100 executes an illegal ball monitoring process. In this embodiment, since the game ball can be illegally stored in the storage unit 51 of the storage device 50, the illegal ball monitoring process is performed in this step S6 in order to prevent such an illegal act. . The details of the illegal sphere monitoring process will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 shows the procedure of the discharge process when an illegal game ball is detected, and FIG. 7 shows the operation status of various devices and sensors at that time in time series. As shown in FIG. 6, first, in step S <b> 61, the main control processing unit 100 determines whether or not the current state is a “waiting state”. Specifically, the main control processing unit 100 determines whether or not the variable winning device 1 is operating. In the case of Yes in step S61, the process proceeds to step S62, and the main control processing unit 100 determines whether or not a detection signal is input from the storage ball detector 800. If the timing determined by the main control processing unit 100 is t1 in FIG. 7, the determinations in steps S61 and S62 are both Yes.

  In addition, the case where Yes is determined in step S61 means that the game ball is being fired, but the game ball is not won at the start winning opening 2A, 2B, and the variable winning device 1 is not activated. There are both cases where the variable prize-winning device 1 does not operate due to the failure.

  Next, in the case of Yes in step S62, the process proceeds to step S63, and the main control processing unit 100 sets an error state. At this time, the main control processing unit 100 sets the error timer to 5 seconds and starts subtraction. That is, in FIG. 7, an error state occurs for 5 seconds from t1 to t5. In the error state, the main control processing unit 100 invalidates the input signals from the first start detector 200A, the second start detector 200B, the general winning detector 300, the approach ball detector 400, and the big winning detector 900. (In other words, although the detection signal itself is input to the main control processing unit 100, processing based on the detection signal is not performed). Even in the error state, the detection signal detected from the origin position detector 500 and input to the main control processing unit 100 is effective to return the storage unit 51 to the origin position. In addition, the detection signals input to the main control processing unit 100 from the special winning detector 600 and the lost ball detector 700 are valid. Therefore, the main control processing unit 100 can confirm the discharge of the game ball based on the input signals from the special prize detector 600 and the lost ball detector 700. However, even if the detection signal from the special prize detector 600 is input, the main control processing unit 100 does not shift to the big hit game based on the detection signal as long as it is set in an error state.

  Here, the number of seconds of the error timer is set to 5 seconds. This is because, in this embodiment, the illegal ball is carried to the second stage 42 by the storage unit 51, and then the specific area 44 or A small margin is provided for a time sufficient to pass through the lost region 45 and discharged to the outside, and for the storage unit 51 to return to the origin position which is the lowermost end, that is, the time from t1 to t4 in FIG. This is because the time taken into consideration is about 5 seconds.

Next, the process proceeds to step S64, and the main control processing unit 100 executes an illegal ball discharge process. Specifically, the main control processing unit 100 outputs a drive signal to the motor M, rotates it forward until the storage unit 51 reaches the uppermost end, and then reversely rotates the motor M to bring the storage unit 51 to the origin position. Control to return to start. This illegal ball discharge process is performed between t1 and t4 in FIG. By this processing, the game balls illegally stored in the storage unit 51 roll on the second stage 42 and finally pass through the specific area 44 or the loss area 45 and are discharged to the outside. During this time, since the pachinko machine is set in an error state, even if detection signals from the special prize detector 600 and the lost ball detector 700 are input to the main control processing unit 100, the main control is performed as described above. The processing unit 100 only confirms the discharge of the game ball, and the main control processing unit 100 does not execute the big hit game by the detection signal from the special prize detector 600.
In the first embodiment, it is not essential for the main control processing unit 100 to confirm the discharge based on the detection signals from the special prize detector 600 and the lost ball detector 700.

  Here, the timing t2 at which the origin position detector 500 in FIG. 7 is turned off is later than t1. This is due to the detection range by the origin position detector 500.

  Next, in step S65, the main control processing unit 100 determines whether or not the error timer is zero. In the case of Yes in step S65, the process proceeds to step S66, where the main control processing unit 100 cancels the error state and ends the illegal ball discharge process.

  In the case of No in step S61 and step S62, the main control processing unit 100 ends the illegal ball discharge process. If the answer is No in step S65, the process returns to the position before step S65.

  As described above, according to the pachinko machine according to the first embodiment, when the storage unit 51 of the storage device 50 is not at the origin position even though the variable winning device 1 is in an inoperative state, Since the error processing is performed to return the storage unit 51 to the origin position, the gameability is not artificially distorted. Further, since the error processing is not canceled until the storage unit 51 returns to the origin position, even if a game ball wins the start winning opening 2A, 2B, the variable winning device 1 does not operate. Further, even if a game ball is illegally placed in the internal space R of the variable winning device 1, the detection by the special prize detector 600 is invalidated in an error state. It is not provided. That is, in this embodiment, even if the stop position of the storage unit 51 is changed illegally, no advantageous game result can be obtained. Therefore, fraudulent acts can be reliably prevented.

  In addition, even for an illegal act of illegally storing a game ball in the storage unit 51 of the storage device 50 by a human hand, an illegal ball is automatically assigned to the variable winning device by performing an illegal ball monitoring process. 1 can be discharged to the outside. Since it is an error until the illegal game ball is discharged to the outside of the variable winning device 1, an illegal jackpot game cannot be obtained by the illegal game ball. Therefore, the gameability is not distorted illegally. In addition, since the error is canceled after 5 seconds from the occurrence of the error, there is no need for a new error canceling operation, so there is no inconvenience in terms of usability.

  Next, a pachinko machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The pachinko machine according to the second embodiment is executed in step S6 of FIG. 4 as compared with the pachinko machine according to the first embodiment described above. The contents of the illegal sphere monitoring process to be performed are different, but the other configurations are the same. Therefore, in the following, this different part will be mainly described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11, and description of other parts will be omitted. FIG. 8 shows the procedure of the discharge process when an illegal game ball is detected, and FIGS. 9 to 11 show the operation states of various devices and sensors at that time in time series.

  In the pachinko machine according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, first, in step S161, the main control processing unit 100 determines whether or not the current state is the “waiting state”. Specifically, the main control processing unit 100 determines whether or not the variable winning device 1 is operating. In the case of Yes in step S161, the process proceeds to step S162, and the main control processing unit 100 determines whether or not a detection signal is input from the storage ball detector 800. If the timing determined by the main control processing unit 100 is t1 in FIGS. 9 to 11, both the determinations in step S161 and step S162 are Yes.

  In addition, the case where it is determined Yes in step S161 is a case where a game ball is being fired but a game ball is not won at the start winning opening 2A, 2B and the variable winning device 1 is not activated, and a game ball is fired. There are both cases where the variable prize-winning device 1 does not operate due to the failure.

  Next, if Yes in step S162, the process proceeds to step S163, and the main control processing unit 100 sets an error state. At this time, the main control processing unit 100 sets the error timer to 5 seconds and starts subtraction. In the error state, the main control processing unit 100 invalidates the input signals from the first start detector 200A, the second start detector 200B, the general winning detector 300, the approach ball detector 400, and the big winning detector 900. (In other words, although the detection signal itself is input to the main control processing unit 100, processing based on the detection signal is not performed). Even in the error state, the detection signal detected from the origin position detector 500 and input to the main control processing unit 100 is effective to return the storage unit 51 to the origin position. In addition, the detection signals input to the main control processing unit 100 from the special winning detector 600 and the lost ball detector 700 are valid. Therefore, the main control processing unit 100 can confirm the discharge of the game ball based on the input signals from the special prize detector 600 and the lost ball detector 700. However, even if the detection signal from the special prize detector 600 is input, the main control processing unit 100 does not shift to the big hit game based on the detection signal as long as it is set in an error state.

  Here, the number of seconds of the error timer is set to 5 seconds. This is because, in this embodiment, the illegal ball is carried to the second stage 42 by the storage unit 51, and then the specific area 44 or A small margin is provided for a time sufficient to pass through the loss area 45 and be discharged to the outside, and for the reservoir 51 to return to the lowest origin position, that is, from t1 to t6 in FIG. This is because the time taken into consideration is about 5 seconds. Therefore, the time between t1 and t5 in FIG. 11 (that is, 5 seconds) is longer than the time between t1 and t6 in FIG.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S164, and the main control processing unit 100 executes an illegal ball discharge process. Specifically, the main control processing unit 100 outputs a drive signal to the motor M, rotates it forward until the storage unit 51 reaches the uppermost end, and then reversely rotates the motor M to bring the storage unit 51 to the origin position. Control to return to start. This illegal ball discharge process is performed between t1 and t4 in FIGS. By this processing, the game balls illegally stored in the storage unit 51 roll on the second stage 42 and finally pass through the specific area 44 or the loss area 45 and are discharged to the outside. During this time, since the pachinko machine is set in an error state, even if detection signals from the special prize detector 600 and the lost ball detector 700 are input to the main control processing unit 100, the main control is performed as described above. The processing unit 100 only confirms the discharge of the game ball, and the main control processing unit 100 does not execute the big hit game by the detection signal from the special prize detector 600.

  Here, the timing t2 at which the origin position detector 500 in FIGS. 9 to 11 is turned off is later than t1, and this is due to the detection range by the origin position detector 500. .

  Next, in step S165, the main control processing unit 100 determines whether or not there is an input signal from the special prize detector 600 or the lose ball detector 700. That is, when the illegal sphere is stored in the storage unit 51, the illegal sphere should be discharged to the outside through the special area 44 or the loss area 45 by the operation of the storage device 50 in step S164. It is. Therefore, the main control processing unit 100 determines whether or not the illegal ball is surely placed outside the variable winning device 1 by determining whether or not the detection signal is input from the special winning detector 600 or the lost ball detector 700 in step S165. It is confirmed whether or not it was discharged.

  In the case of No in step S165, the process proceeds to step S166, and the main control processing unit 100 determines whether or not the error timer is 0. In the case of Yes in step S166, the process proceeds to step S167, the error state is canceled, and the illegal ball discharge process is terminated. In addition, as a case where Yes is determined in step S166, for example, when the illegal ball is clogged in the variable winning device 1 and does not flow to the discharge passages 46, 47, or when the illegal ball is detected, the discharge passage 46 , 47 may be removed by a human hand before passing through, or the detector may malfunction.

  On the other hand, in the case of Yes in step S165, it means that the discharge of the illegal sphere has actually been detected, so the process jumps to step S167 without waiting for the error timer to become zero, The error state is released. In the case of No in step S161 and step S162, the main control processing unit 100 ends the illegal ball discharge process. Further, in the case of No in step S166, the process returns to the position before step S165.

  Here, in the pachinko machine according to the second embodiment, the time until the error state is canceled differs between Yes and No in step S165. This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  First, FIG. 9 shows a time chart when the process proceeds from step S165 to Yes → step S167 (provided that the discharge of the illegal sphere is earlier than the return of the origin of the storage unit 51). As shown in FIG. 9, when the error state occurs at the timing t1, and the on-edge of the detection signal of the special winning detector 600 or the lost ball detector 700 is detected at the timing t6, the main control processing unit is detected at the timing t6. 100 cancels the error state. Therefore, in the case of FIG. 9, the error state is held between t1 and t6. In addition, since the storage part 51 of the storage device 50 has not yet reached the origin position at the time t6, the error state is canceled before the timing t4 when the origin position detector 500 is turned on.

  Next, FIG. 10 shows a time chart when the process proceeds from step S165 to Yes → step S167 (however, the discharge of the illegal sphere is later than the return of the origin of the storage unit 51). As shown in FIG. 10, when an error state occurs at the timing t1, and the on-edge of the detection signal from the special winning detector 600 or the lost ball detector 700 is detected at the timing t6, the storage unit 51 of the storage device 50 has already been detected. An ON signal is input from the origin position detector 500 after reaching the origin position. Therefore, the main control processing unit 100 releases the error state at the timing t6. Therefore, in the case of FIG. 10, the error state is held between t1 and t6.

  Next, FIG. 11 shows a time chart when the process proceeds from No in step S165, Yes in step S166, and Yes in step S167. As shown in FIG. 11, an error state occurs at the timing t1, but since the detection signal of the special prize detector 600 or the lost ball detector 700 is not input, the storage unit 51 of the storage device 50 reaches the origin position. Thereafter, the error state continues. The main control processing unit 100 cancels the error state at a timing t5 when 5 seconds have elapsed from t1. Therefore, in the case of FIG. 11, the error state is held between t1 and t5. The time between t1 and t5 shown in FIG. 11 is the longest time in the error state in the second embodiment.

  As described above, according to the pachinko machine according to the second embodiment, even when game balls are artificially stored in the storage device 50, the illegal balls are automatically placed outside the variable winning device 1. Can be discharged. Since it is an error until the illegal game ball is discharged to the outside of the variable winning device 1, an illegal jackpot game cannot be acquired by the illegal game ball. Therefore, the gameability is not distorted illegally.

  Furthermore, in the second embodiment, when it is detected that the illegal ball is discharged to the outside, the error state is canceled. Therefore, the error recovery time can be shortened. In addition, since the error is canceled after 5 seconds since the error occurred, even if an illegal ball is not detected, there is no need to perform a new error cancel operation. As it is completed, there is no inconvenience in terms of usability.

  In the above embodiment, as the movable body of the present invention, the configuration of a storage unit that can store a game ball and moves up and down is adopted, but other than this, for example, in the variable winning device 1, It is also possible to employ a configuration in which a rotating body that rotates around a predetermined axis is arranged as a movable body, and when the rotating body acts on the game ball at a predetermined timing, it is easy to enter a specific area. In addition, an arch-like member that swings in a predetermined direction as a movable body is arranged in the variable winning device 1, and if this arch-shaped portion acts on the game ball at a predetermined timing, it becomes easier to enter a specific area. A configuration may be adopted. As described above, the present invention can employ a movable body of any configuration as long as it affects the probability of winning a specific area by acting on a game ball.

  In the above embodiment, the present invention is configured to open and close the opening / closing body 40 by turning on the solenoid Sol1 when the first start detector 200A or the second start detector 200B detects a game ball. Although the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, an electronic lottery related to a special symbol triggered by the detection of a game ball by the first start detector 200A or the second start detector 200B. This is also applicable to a pachinko machine (so-called wings equipped with a special figure) configured to open and close the opening / closing body 40 when a small win or a big win is won in the electronic lottery. In this case, in step S1, step S61, and step S161, the main control processing unit 100 determines whether or not the special symbol display device is operating in addition to whether or not the variable winning device 1 is operating (the special symbol is changing). ) Or not.

  In addition, a through-chucker is provided in the game area 10A, and an electric tulip is arranged at least one of the first start winning port 2A and the second starting winning port 2B, and the game ball passes through the through chucker. In response to this, a lottery related to a normal symbol may be performed, and the electric tulip may be opened and closed when the lottery is won. In this case, a gate detector that detects that the game ball has passed through the through chucker may be electrically connected to the main control processing unit 100. In addition, when an error state is set, a detection signal from the gate detector is input to the main control processing unit 100, but it is desirable to invalidate processing such as lottery related to a normal symbol based on the detection signal.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the operation | movement which moves the storage part 51 up and down was performed once in step S4 or step S164, you may make it repeat this operation | movement several times. In this case, the time of the error timer set in step S63 or step S163 may be appropriately set in consideration of the time for the repetitive operation of the storage unit 51.

  In the above embodiment, the attacker device 60 is operated for a predetermined number of rounds during the jackpot game. However, it is possible to play the jackpot game using only the variable winning device 1 without using the attacker device 60. is there. In this case, the main control processing unit 100 may execute the jackpot game and the motor rotation control during the jackpot game as follows.

<About jackpot games>
When the special winning detector 600 detects that the game ball has passed through the specific area 44 established in the internal space R, and the detection signal is input, the main control processing unit 100 receives the game after a predetermined time has elapsed. The jackpot game process, which is a game state advantageous to the player, is executed. Specifically, the main control processing unit 100 continuously opens and closes the opening and closing body 40 by continuously driving the solenoid Sol1 based on the input from the special prize detector 600.

The opening / closing operation of the opening / closing body 40 is performed, for example, until the total number of detection of the game ball by the approaching ball detector 400 reaches 10 counts or until the total number of opening / closing of the opening / closing body 40 reaches 18 times (hereinafter, simply “ This is performed by repeating, for example, 12 rounds until one of the earlier conditions is satisfied, which is referred to as “round end condition”. Therefore, compared with the case of a normal game, the possibility that a game ball is detected by the approach ball detector 400 is dramatically improved, and a large amount of prize balls can be obtained within a short time.
Will be).

  Note that the number of rounds is not limited to this, and may be set at random, for example, once, three times, five times, ten times, or fifteen times. Further, it is also possible to make the continuation condition to the next round that the game ball enters the specific area 44 during one round. In this case, if the game ball does not enter the specific area 44 during the round, the big hit game ends (that is, punctures) in the middle of the number of rounds.

<About motor rotation control during jackpot games>
The main control processing unit 100 keeps the motor M stopped until the end condition for each round of jackpot game is satisfied. Then, a plurality of game balls are usually stored in the storage unit 51. When the round end condition is satisfied, the rotation of the motor M is started. Then, the storage part 51 rises. When the storage unit 51 reaches the uppermost end, the main control processing unit 100 temporarily stops the motor M and then reversely rotates it, and stops the motor M based on the input signal from the origin position detector 500. This series of operations is performed for each round. Therefore, when the big hit game is ended, the storage unit 51 is always stopped at the lowermost position.

1 Variable winning device 2A Start winning opening (starting opening)
2B Start prize opening (start opening)
9 Game board 10 Pachinko machine 10A Game area 34 Game ball entrance 40 Opening and closing body 44 Specific area 45 Loss area 46 First discharge passage (discharge passage)
47 Second discharge passage (discharge passage)
50 storage device 51 storage section (movable body)
100 Main control processing unit (game control device)
200A First start detector (start detector)
200B Second start detector (start detector)
600 Special prize detector (discharge ball detector)
700 Lost ball detector (discharge ball detector)
800 Storage ball detector R Internal space

Claims (3)

A game board having a game area where game balls flow down, a start opening provided in the game area, a start detector for detecting that a game ball has won a prize at the start opening, provided in the game area, The start detector operates based on the detection of the game ball, and the variable winning device having a specific area and a loss area through which the game ball taken in by the operation can pass, and various processes related to the game are performed. In a pachinko machine comprising a game control device that performs processing related to jackpot games based on the fact that a game ball has passed through the specific area,
The variable winning device is:
Acts on a game ball entrance into which a game ball enters, an opening / closing body that opens and closes the game ball entrance, an internal space that receives the game ball that has passed through the game ball entrance, and a game ball taken into the internal space And a movable body that affects whether or not the game ball passes through the specific area, and an origin position detector that detects that the movable body is at the origin position,
The game control device includes:
Based on the detection of the game ball by the start detector, the open / close body is opened and closed, and the operation of the movable body is started, and the operation of the movable body is stopped based on the detection by the origin position detector. In addition, when there is no detection by the origin position detector when the variable winning device is in an inactive state, an error state is set and the input signal from the start detector is treated as invalid. The error signal from the origin position detector is validated and an origin return operation for returning the movable body to the origin position is started to indicate that the movable body has returned to the origin position. If detected by the detector, pachinko machines, characterized in that when handling the input signal from the starter detector as valid by releasing the error state In the description of claim 1,
The pachinko machine, wherein the game control device releases the error processing when a predetermined time has elapsed since the error processing was performed. In the description of claim 1,
The variable winning device further includes a discharge passage that discharges the game ball that has passed through the specific area or the loss area to the outside, and a discharge ball detector that detects the game ball that passes through the discharge path,
The pachinko machine, wherein the game control device cancels the error processing based on the fact that the discharged ball detector detects a game ball after performing the error processing.

Images