JP6536652B2 - Gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine represented by a pachinko machine.

A game machine such as a pachinko machine is provided with a game board on the front of which a game area where a game ball flows down is formed, and a game ball can be led to the game area of this game board to play a game Is common .

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2010-240101

Although the gaming balls used for pachinko machines are defined as having a predetermined diameter, for example, it may be necessary to distribute the gaming balls.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems and the like, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine capable of efficiently distributing gaming balls.

In order to achieve the above object, a gaming machine according to the present invention
A gaming machine comprising a distribution mechanism capable of distributing gaming balls of a predetermined diameter flowing down , comprising:
The distribution mechanism
An opening portion which can restrict passage of gaming balls of the predetermined diameter by size and shape smaller than the predetermined diameter ;
A pushback portion capable of pushing the gaming ball of the predetermined diameter whose passage is restricted by the opening portion to the upstream side;
A guiding portion for guiding the gaming ball of the predetermined diameter pushed back by the push back portion to a predetermined discharging portion side provided downstream ;
And a drive unit configured to drive the push-back unit and the induction unit .
Further, the gaming machine may be a pachinko machine.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the game balls can be distributed efficiently.

The front view which shows an example of a pachinko machine. The perspective view of the front side of the pachinko machine of FIG. The perspective view of the front frame of the pachinko machine of FIG. The front view which shows an example of a game board. The perspective view of the main display unit. The disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the back of the pachinko machine of FIG. The perspective view of the back side of the game board of FIG. The rear view of the game board of FIG. The block diagram which shows an example of the electric constitution of a pachinko machine. The perspective view which shows a classification unit (sorting mechanism). The front view which shows a classification unit (sorting mechanism). The perspective view of a classification operation part. The disassembled perspective view of a classification | category operation part. The schematic diagram which shows the distribution channel of the game ball in a pachinko machine, and the arrangement position of a classification unit (sorting mechanism). The perspective cross-sectional view which shows the condition which an undersized ball (small diameter ball) is classify | fractionated and distribute | circulates in a classification unit (sorting mechanism). The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the condition which an undersized ball (small diameter ball) is classify | fractionated and distribute | circulates in a classification unit (sorting mechanism). The perspective cross-sectional view which shows the condition which an undersized ball (small diameter ball) is classify | fractionated and distribute | circulates in a classification | fractionation operation part. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the condition which an underball (small diameter ball) is classify | fractionated and distribute | circulates in a classification | fractionation operation part. The perspective sectional view showing the situation where a regular sphere (large diameter sphere) is caught by a classification hole (open part) in a classification unit (sorting mechanism). The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the condition where the regular sphere (large diameter sphere) is caught by the classification hole (open part) in the classification unit (classification mechanism). The perspective sectional view which shows the condition where the regular sphere (large diameter sphere) is caught by the classification hole (open part) in the classification operation part. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the condition in which the regular sphere (large diameter sphere) is caught by the classification hole (open part) in the classification operation part. The perspective view which shows the condition of the inside in which a regular sphere (large diameter sphere) is caught by a classification hole (open part) in a classification operation part. The perspective view which shows the condition of the inside in which a regular sphere (large diameter sphere) is caught by a classification hole (open part) in a classification operation part. The top view which shows the condition of the inside in which a regular sphere (large diameter sphere) is caught by a classification hole (open part) in a classification operation part. The perspective sectional view which shows the condition where the regular ball (large diameter ball) is pushed back by the lower side rotor (push-back means) in the classification unit (classification mechanism). The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the condition where the regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball | bowl) is pushed back by the lower side rotor (push-back means) in a classification unit (sorting mechanism). The perspective sectional view which shows the condition where the regular ball (large diameter ball) is pushed back by the lower side rotary wing (push back means) in the classification operation part. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the condition where the regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball | bowl) is pushed back by the lower side rotary blade (push-back means) in a classification | fractionation operation part. The perspective view which shows the internal condition in which the regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball | bowl) is pushed back by the lower side rotary blade (push-back means) in a classification | fractionation operation part. The perspective view which shows the internal condition in which the regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball | bowl) is pushed back by the lower side rotary blade (push-back means) in a classification | fractionation operation part. The top view which shows the condition of the inside in which a regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball | bowl) is pushed back by the lower side rotary blade (push-back means) in a classification | fractionation operation part. The perspective sectional view which shows the condition where the regular ball (large diameter ball) is contacted by the contact piece of the upper rotary wing (delivery means) in the classification unit (sorting mechanism). The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the condition where the regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball | bowl) is contact | abutted by the contact | abutting piece of the upper side rotary blade (delivery means) in a classification unit (sorting mechanism). The perspective sectional view which shows the condition where the regular ball (large diameter ball) is contacted by the contact piece of the upper rotary wing (delivery means) in the classification operation part. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the condition where the regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball | bowl) is contact | abutted by the contact | abutting piece of an upper side rotary blade (delivery means) in a classification | fractionation operation | movement part. The perspective view which shows the condition of the inside in which a regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball | bowl) is contact | abutted by the contact | abutting piece of the upper side rotary blade (delivery means) in a classification | fractionation operation | movement part. The perspective view which shows the condition of the inside in which a regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball | bowl) is contact | abutted by the contact | abutting piece of the upper side rotary blade (delivery means) in a classification | fractionation operation | movement part. The top view which shows the condition of the inside in which a regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball | bowl) is contact | abutted by the contact | abutting piece of the upper side rotary blade (delivery means) in a classification | fractionation operation | movement part. The perspective sectional view showing the situation where the regular ball (large diameter ball) is pushed out from the classification hole (open part) by the contact piece of the upper rotary wing (delivery means) in the classification unit (sorting mechanism). The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the condition where the regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball | bowl) is pushed away from the classification hole (opening part) by the contact piece of an upper side rotary blade (delivery means) in a classification unit (sorting mechanism). The perspective sectional view showing the situation where the regular ball (large diameter ball) is pushed away from the classification hole (open part) by the contact piece of the upper rotary wing (delivery means) in the classification operation part. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the condition where the regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball | bowl) is pushed away from the classification hole (opening part) by the contact piece of an upper side rotary blade (delivery means) in a classification | fractionation operation part. The perspective view which shows the internal condition in which the regular ball (large diameter ball) is pushed away from the classification hole (opening part) by the contact piece of an upper side rotary blade (delivery means) in a classification | category operation part. The perspective view which shows the internal condition in which the regular ball (large diameter ball) is pushed away from the classification hole (opening part) by the contact piece of an upper side rotary blade (delivery means) in a classification | category operation part. The top view which shows the condition of the inside in which the regular ball (large diameter ball) is pushed away from the classification hole (open part) by the contact piece of an upper side rotary blade (delivery means) in the classification operation part. The perspective sectional view which shows the condition where a regular ball (large diameter ball) is discharged from a large diameter ball outlet in a classification unit (sorting mechanism). The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the condition where a regular ball (large diameter ball) is discharged | emitted from a large diameter ball | bowl outlet in a classification unit (sorting mechanism). The perspective sectional view showing the situation where a regular ball (large diameter ball) is discharged from a large diameter ball outlet in a classification operation part. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the condition where a regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball | bowl) is discharged | emitted from a large diameter ball | bowl outlet in a classification | fractionation operation part. The perspective view which shows the internal condition in which a regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball | bowl) is discharged | emitted from a large diameter ball | bowl outlet in a classification | fractionation operation part. The perspective view which shows the internal condition in which a regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball | bowl) is discharged | emitted from a large diameter ball | bowl outlet in a classification | fractionation operation part. The top view which shows the internal condition in which a regular ball | bowl (large diameter ball) is discharged | emitted from a large diameter ball | bowl discharge port in a classification | fractionation operation part. The top view which shows the other example of a push-back means and a sending means. The front view which shows the other example of a push-back means. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the other example of a ball arrangement mechanism. The perspective view which shows the example which formed the guidance groove in a rotating disc (ball transfer member) and a ball holder (wall part). The model front view which shows the other structural example of a classification unit (sorting mechanism). The top view which shows the other example of a classification hole (open part). The top view which shows the other example of a classification hole (open part).

The present invention relates to a gaming machine represented by a pachinko machine.
A game machine such as a pachinko machine is provided with a game board on the front of which a game area where a game ball flows down is formed, and a game ball can be led to the game area of this game board to play a game Is common. In the game area, various winning devices such as a general winning device, a variable winning device, and a starting winning device are disposed, and a predetermined number of winning balls are paid out when entering the winning devices while the gaming ball is flowing down It has become. (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-240101)
A game ball used for a pachinko machine is defined as having a diameter of 11 mm (also referred to as "regular ball" in this specification), but for example, a game ball having a diameter smaller than 11 mm of the regular ball. (Also referred to herein as "underballs") may be mixed in.
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine capable of sorting gaming balls having different diameters efficiently and with good accuracy by a simple configuration. I assume.
Hereinafter, the best mode of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. Here, a pachinko gaming machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a "pachinko machine") will be mentioned as a gaming machine.

(Configuration of Pachinko machine front side)
1 is a front view of a pachinko machine 10, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine 10, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a front frame of the pachinko machine 10. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pachinko machine 10 includes an outer frame 11 forming an outer shell of the pachinko machine 10 and an inner frame 12 supported openably and closably on one side of the outer frame 11. Have. Below, the structure of the outer frame 11 and the inner frame 12 is demonstrated separately.

  The outer frame 11 is generally formed in a rectangular shape by a wooden plate material, and the plate materials are assembled by a detachable fastener such as a small screw. The outer frame 11 may be made of a light metal such as resin or aluminum. By configuring in this manner, it is possible to reduce the weight of the pachinko machine.

  On the other hand, the opening / closing axis of the inner frame 12 is set to extend vertically on the opposite side (the left side of the pachinko machine 10 of FIG. 1) of the handle (the game ball launch handle 18 described later) The inner frame 12 can be sufficiently opened to the front side with the open / close axis as an axis. Assuming that the opening / closing axis of the inner frame 12 is in the vertical direction on the handle installation location side (the right side of the pachinko machine 10 of FIG. 1), the game ball launch handle is opened when the inner frame 12 is opened. This is because the head or the like of 18 interferes with the adjacent pachinko machine or card unit (ball lending unit), and the inner frame 12 can not be opened sufficiently. Also, the inner frame 12 is made of a synthetic resin, specifically, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin. By doing so, the advantages of high viscosity and resistance to impact, and low cost manufacturing can be exhibited.

  Further, the inner frame 12 has a lower tray unit 13 at its lowermost portion, and a front frame set 14 attached openably and closably with an opening / closing axis on the left and right of the inner frame 12 as an axis, and a resin base 25 (See FIG. 6) and a game board 30 described later attached to the rear side of the resin base 25. Each of these configurations is described in detail below.

  The lower tray unit 13 is fixed to the front frame base member as a part of the front frame set 14. On the front side of the lower tray unit 13, a lower tray 15, a ball release lever 17, a game ball emission handle 18, and an effect button 79 are provided. The lower plate 15 as a ball tray is provided substantially at the center of the lower plate unit 13, and plays a role of retaining the game ball discharged from the discharge port 16 when the upper plate described later becomes full. is there. The ball release lever 17 is for removing game balls in the lower plate 15. By moving the ball release lever 17 to the left in FIG. 1, a predetermined portion of the bottom surface of the lower plate 15 is opened, The gaming balls retained in the lower tray 15 can be discharged to the ball storage box (dollar box) of the player through the opening of the bottom of the lower tray 15. The gaming ball emission handle 18 is disposed to project to the front side on the right side of the lower plate 15. In response to the operation of the game ball emission handle 18 by the player, the game ball launch device provided with the launch solenoid is configured to drive the game ball toward the game board 30 described later. At the upper part of the front frame set 14, a sound output port 24 for outputting a sound from a speaker is provided.

  On the other hand, an upper plate 19 serving as a tray for gaming balls is provided integrally with the front frame set 14 at a lower portion of the front frame set 14 (above the lower plate 15 described above). The upper tray 19 is a ball tray for temporarily storing the game balls and guiding them to the game ball launch device 38 while aligning them in a line. In the lower left of the upper tray 19, an effect button 79 is provided for the player to perform an operation such as changing the background of the decorative symbol display device 42.

  In addition, the front frame set 14 is provided with light emitting means such as various lamps around its periphery (for example, a corner portion). These light emitting means are controlled to change the light emission mode like lighting and blinking according to the change of the gaming state in the jackpot gaming state etc., and play a role to enhance the rendering effect during the game. For example, on the periphery of the window part 101, the annular electric decoration part 102 incorporating a light emitting means such as an LED is provided symmetrically on the left and right, and being in the big hit gaming state by lighting and blinking in the big hit gaming state. It is the structure to alert | report.

  In addition, below the window portion 101, a rental ball operation unit 120 is disposed, and the rental ball operation unit 120 is provided with a ball rental button, a return button, and a frequency display unit. When the rental ball operation unit 120 is operated with a bill, a card, etc. being inserted into a card unit (ball lending unit) (not shown) arranged on the side of the pachinko machine 10, the gaming ball is lent according to the operation. To be done. The ball lending button is operated to obtain a lending ball based on the information recorded on the card etc. (recording medium), and the lending ball is supplied to the upper tray 19 as long as the remaining amount is present on the card etc. Ru. The return button is operated to request return of a card or the like inserted in the card unit. The frequency display unit is for displaying balance information of a card or the like. In the case of a pachinko machine in which gaming balls are directly lent out from the ball lending device unit to the upper tray without passing through a card unit, the so-called cash machine does not require the ball rental operation unit 120. Therefore, a decorative seal or the like is attached to the installation portion of the rental ball operation unit 120. As a result, it is possible to share the ball rental operation unit between the pachinko machine and the cash machine using the card unit.

  Next, the configuration of the game board 30 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the configuration of the game board 30. As shown in FIG. The game board 30 has a general winning device 31 having a general winning hole, a variable winning device 32, a start winning device 33 having a central start opening 33a, a right start opening 33b (constituted by an operation chucker 33b), and a pair of opening and closing blades 60. There is provided a variable display device unit 35 provided with an operation winning device 34 (consisting of a through gate) having a passage port, a main display unit 371, and a decorative symbol display device 42. The general winning device 31, the variable winning device 32, the start winning device 33, the operation winning device 34, the variable display device unit 35, etc. are disposed in the respective through holes formed by router processing in the gaming board 30. , It is attached by a wood screw etc. from the game board 30 front side. In addition, a pair of opening and closing blades 60 are provided at the entrance of the right start opening 33b, and the open position for guiding the game ball and the closed position where the game ball does not enter easily in the right start opening 33b It can be taken. The opening and closing blade 60 is driven by a solenoid SL1 disposed on the back side of the game board 30. In addition, below the central start opening 33a, a special winning opening (inlet of the storage portion) 61 is disposed. The special winning opening 61 will be mentioned later. In the special winning opening 61, a ball entry detection switch SW1 is provided.

  The game ball enters the above-mentioned general winning device 31, variable winning device 32, and start winning device 33, and the ball is detected by a detection switch (a winning opening switch, a count switch, an operation opening switch, etc.) described later. A predetermined number of prize balls are paid out to the upper tray 19 (or lower tray 15) based on the output of the detection switch. In addition, the game board 30 is provided with an out port 36, and game balls that have not entered the various winning devices etc. are guided through the out port 36 toward a ball discharge path not shown. It has become. A large number of nails are implanted in the game board 30 in order to appropriately disperse and adjust the falling direction of the game balls, and various members (features) are disposed.

  The main display unit 371 is a display unit directly controlled by a main controller 261 described later, and as shown in FIG. 5, the upper right corner is a right angle and the opposite side is an oblique side extending from the upper left to the lower right Each corner (corner) of a roughly vertical triangle that is slightly up and down is rounded off and has a front shape in which the oblique side curves inward in an arc along the upper right of the game area, It is a part having a three-dimensional external shape having a thickness slightly larger than the diameter of a sphere. In the upper right of the main display unit 371, a flange 371H having a screw insertion hole is formed along the rear surface, and in the lower right corner, the rear surface wall is recessed from the front side and the screw insertion hole (see FIG. In a front view, a U-shaped screw insertion portion 371N having a not-shown portion is formed, and as shown in FIG. 4, a screw is screwed into the flange 371H and the screw insertion portion 371N. It is fixed to the upper right part in the front. The upper left upper surface portion of the main display unit 371 is formed so as to be slightly inclined downward to the left, and the central portion thereof is at the tip of the outer rail 52 corresponding to the largest flying portion of the game ball, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, a return rubber 371R made of a rubber plate is attached close to the area. By this return rubber 371R, a game ball fired with a predetermined momentum or more is hit and bounced back. The front surface portion of the main display unit 371 is formed with a display portion 371M having a front shape extending in an arc along the oblique side from the vicinity of the upper left end to be adjacent to the screw insertion portion 371N. It is done.

  In the display portion 371M, seven display devices 371A to 371G are sequentially arranged in an arc shape from above. The display device 371B (first special symbol display device) displays the first special symbol that is variably displayed triggered by the game ball winning in the central starting opening 33a, and the display device 371D (second special symbol display) The device is for displaying a second special symbol that is variably displayed triggered by the game ball winning in the right start opening 33b. Each of these display devices 371B and 371D is composed of a total of eight LED segments, seven of which are arranged in the shape of "8" and one of which is arranged in the form of dots at the corners. In addition, since each special symbol is sequentially displayed in the order of winning without being changed and displayed simultaneously in the display devices 371B and 371D, in the decorative symbol display device 42, a display corresponding to the special symbol is displayed by a common decorative symbol It is supposed to be The display device 371A (first special symbol hold display device) displays the hold number of the first special symbol, and the display device 371C (first special symbol hold display device) holds the hold number of the second special symbol. It is something to display. These display devices 371A and 371C are respectively configured by two left and right LEDs, and are configured to display up to four pending numbers by lighting or blinking only the left side LED or both. At the lower part of the center frame 43, a holding lamp 800a consisting of a total of four lamps capable of emitting two colors is arranged along the lower side of the decorative symbol display device 42 (see FIG. 4). The number of reservations of the decorative symbol displayed by the lamp 800a corresponds to the number of reservations displayed by any of the display devices 371A and 371C according to the gaming state (whether the support state described later or not). There is. The display device 371E (normal symbol display device) displays a normal symbol which is variably displayed triggered by the game ball winning to the passage opening in the operation winning device 34, and is configured by two LEDs on the left and right, and one side The LED is turned on to indicate the detachment, and both are turned on to indicate the hit. Display 371F (normal symbol hold display unit) is to display the number of reserved symbols normally, is composed of two LEDs on the left and right, up to four by lighting or flashing only the left LED or both The number of pending calls is displayed. The display device 371G displays the type of gaming state, and is configured by a total of eight LEDs. Each of these LEDs is turned off, turned on, or blinked, and the combination of 6560 except for all off is 1. Normal gaming state (lottery of jackpot random number counter C1 is a low probability, not support state); Time saving state (lottery of jackpot random number counter C1 is low probability, support state), 3. 4. Latency high probability state (lottery of jackpot random number counter C1 is high probability, not support state); 5. High probability state (lottery of jackpot random number counter C1 is high probability and support state); Any of the jackpot states is displayed, and when displaying the jackpot state, different displays are performed depending on the maximum number of rounds of the jackpot.

  The decorative symbol display device 42 is configured as a liquid crystal display device, and the display content is controlled by a display control device described later. On the decorative symbol display device 42, symbols (decorative symbols) as identification information are displayed at, for example, the upper, middle, and lower three places. These symbols are scrolled and variably displayed on the decorative symbol display device 42. In the present embodiment, the decorative symbol display device 42 (liquid crystal display device) is provided with a large liquid crystal display of, for example, 10 inches or 12 inches. The number of times the game ball passes through the start winning device 33 is suspended up to four times, and the number of suspension is lit and displayed by the suspension lamp 800a, but the number of suspension displayed by the suspension lamp 800a is It is also displayed on a part of the decorative symbol display device 42 (specifically, the lower right part). In this hold display, the number of character images corresponding to the hold number is displayed in parallel.

  The variable winning device 32 is normally in a closed state where the gaming ball can not win or is difficult to win, and is operated repeatedly in an open state where the gaming ball is easy to win in the case of a big hit and a normal closed state. Although its specific configuration will be described later. Briefly, if the special symbol display device becomes a specific display mode (when the final symbol after stopping the decorative symbol display device 42 becomes a combination of a specific symbol set in advance), the special gaming state is Occur. Then, the variable winning device 32 receives the ball, and allows the game ball to win. Specifically, with a lapse of a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) or a predetermined number (for example, 10) of winnings as one round, the ball receiving state of the variable winning device 32 is repeatedly released a predetermined number of times.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a rail unit 50 for guiding a game ball fired from the game ball launch device to the upper portion of the game board 30 is attached to the game board 30. The game balls fired in response to the rotation operation are guided to a predetermined game area through the rail unit 50. The rail unit 50 is formed of a ring-shaped metal plate, and has an inner rail 51 and an outer rail 52 integrally formed as inner and outer doubles. At the rear edge of the inner rail 51 and the outer rail 52 (the edge opposite to the game board 30), weirs 56 are provided at a plurality of places at predetermined intervals, and the inner rail 51 and the outer rail 52 It is attached to the game board 30 so as to strike the 打 ち 56. The inner rail 51 is formed in a substantially annular shape except about 1⁄4 of the upper side, and an outer rail 52 is formed such that a part (mainly the left side) faces the inner rail 51. In such a case, the inner rail 51 and the outer rail 52 constitute a guide rail, and the portions 51 (52) parallel to each other with a predetermined distance (portion on the left side) form a ball guide passage. The ball guiding passage is formed in the shape of a groove having a contact surface with the game board 30, that is, the shape of a groove whose front side is opened.

  A return ball preventing member 53 is attached to the end portion (upper left portion in FIG. 4) of the inner rail 51. As a result, it is prevented that the gaming ball guided to the upper part of the game board 30 from the ball guiding passage between the inner rail 51 and the outer rail 52 is once again returned to the ball guiding passage. There is.

  The game area is divided into a substantially circular shape by the inner peripheral portion (inner and outer rails) of the rail unit 50 and the oblique side of the main display unit 371. In the present embodiment, in particular, the game area is partitioned on the board of the game board 30. The gaming castle is constructed much larger than before.

  Further, at the right edge of the game board 30, a side end rail 50S is disposed. The side end rail 50S is configured separately from the inner rail 51 and the outer rail 52, and is spaced apart from the inner rail 51 and the outer rail 52 independently, but is approximately the same as the outer rail 52. It is located on the circumference and divides the right end of the game area, that is, constitutes a part (right end) of the rail unit 50. The configuration and mounting structure of the side end rail 50S will be described later.

(Rear configuration of pachinko machine)
Next, the configuration of the back of the pachinko machine 10 will be described. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the back of the pachinko machine 10. As shown in FIG.

  First, an overview of the entire rear surface configuration of the pachinko machine 10 will be described. In the pachinko machine 10, various control boards are arranged on the back surface (in fact, on the back surface of the inner frame 12 and the game board 30) so as to be aligned vertically or horizontally or stacked vertically. A game ball supply device (payout mechanism) for supplying game balls, a resin back cover (protection cover), and the like are attached. In this embodiment, various control boards are divided and mounted on three mounts to form three control board units, and the control board units are individually attached to the inner frame 12 or the back of the game board 30. . In this case, the main control device 261 configured of a main control substrate, a power supply monitoring substrate, a substrate box for accommodating these substrates, and a sealing unit for sealing the substrate box is united into one, and a display control substrate and the display control substrate Is mounted on an outer packaging member 82 described later, including a display control unit 45 including a board box for accommodating the display and the decorative symbol display device 42 and a sub control board including the sub control board and the board box for storing the sub control board. And a dispensing control substrate, a substrate box (dispensing control substrate case) for containing the dispensing control substrate, and a dispensing control device 311 including a sealing unit for sealing the substrate box, a power supply substrate, a firing control substrate, Consists of a substrate box (power supply / discharge control substrate case 203A) that accommodates these substrates It is unitized by mounting a power-firing controller in a single mount. Here, for convenience, each unit will be referred to as “first control board unit 201”, “second control board unit 202”, and “third control board unit 203” in the above order.

  In addition, since the dispensing mechanism and the back cover (protective cover) are also integrated into the third control board unit 203 and the resin portion may be generally referred to as a back pack, the third control board unit 203 It is also called "pack unit 203". The detailed configuration of each of the units 201 to 203 will be described later.

  As described later, the first control board unit 201 needs to release the sealed state with a tool when it is removed, but the attachment is configured without requiring any fasteners such as screws or tools. The second control board unit 202 and the back pack unit 203 can be attached and detached without using a tool or the like in unit units. Furthermore, in addition to this, each of the units 201 to 203 is configured to be able to open and close with respect to the inner frame 12 or the back surface of the game board 30 by partially providing a support shaft. This is also a device for making it possible to easily confirm a hidden configuration and the like even when the units 201 to 203 and the other configurations are arranged one over the other.

  The first control board unit 201 described above has a main control board that controls the progress of the game and a power supply monitoring board that monitors the power supply. The main control substrate and the power supply monitoring substrate are accommodated in a substrate box made of a transparent resin material or the like. The substrate box includes a substantially rectangular box base and a box cover that covers the opening of the box base, and the box base and the box cover are unopenably connected by the sealing unit, whereby the substrate box is formed. Is sealed.

  The sealing unit may have any configuration as long as it connects the box base and the box cover in an unopenable manner, and the sealing process by the sealing unit prevents unauthorized opening after the sealing. Even if unauthorized opening is performed, such a situation can be detected early and easily.

  The second control board unit 202 has a display control device 45 which controls display control of the decorative symbol display device 42 in accordance with an instruction from a main control board, and a sub control board which controls voice lamp control in accordance with an instruction from the main control board. In the display control device 45, the decorative symbol display device 42 and the display control substrate are configured as a unit, and are accommodated in a substrate box made of a transparent resin material or the like and attached to the back side of an outer packaging member 82 described later. The sub control substrate is accommodated in a substrate box made of a transparent resin material or the like, and is attached to the back side of the display control device 45.

  Next, the third control board unit (backpack unit) 203 has a payout control board, a power supply board, a discharge control board, and a card unit connection board. The payout control board controls the payout of the prize balls and the lending balls, and the power supply board and the launch control board generate and output a predetermined power supply voltage required for various control devices etc. Control of the firing solenoid is performed according to the operation. The card unit connection board is electrically connected to the ball operation unit 120 (see FIG. 1) on the front of the pachinko machine and a card unit (not shown), and takes in a ball lending operation command from the player and controls it. It is output to the substrate. In a cash machine in which gaming balls are directly lent out to the upper tray from a ball lending device or the like without passing through a card unit, a card unit connection board is unnecessary.

  The delivery control substrate is housed in a delivery control substrate case (not shown) made of a transparent resin material or the like, and the power supply substrate and the emission control substrate are a power / emission control substrate case 203A made of a transparent resin material or the like. It is housed inside. The card unit connection board is housed in a card unit connection board case (not shown) made of a transparent resin material or the like. In particular, in the dispensing control board, as in the case of the main control board described above, the box base and the box cover constituting the board case (encapsulation means) are connected unsealably by the sealing unit (sealing means). Is sealed.

  The above-mentioned payout control board is electrically connected to the status recovery switch. For example, when the status recovery switch is pressed when a payout error occurs such as ball clogging of the payout motor section, the payout motor is slowly forwardly rotated. And to solve the ball clogging (return to the normal state).

  The back pack unit 203 is an integrated unit of a resin molded back pack 351 and a game ball dispensing mechanism portion 352.

  The back pack 351 is molded of, for example, an ABS resin, and has a substantially flat base portion 353 and a back cover portion (protective cover portion) 354 which protrudes to the rear of the pachinko machine and has a horizontally long substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The back cover portion 354 has a shape in which the left and right side surfaces and the upper surface are closed and only the lower surface is open, and at least has a size sufficient to surround the motorized character display control device 45 (in the present embodiment, however, The control device 262 is also configured to be enclosed together). A large number of vents are provided on the back of the back cover portion 354. Each of the vents is in the form of a long hole, and the vents are provided adjacent to each other at relatively close positions. Therefore, the back surface of the back pack 351 can be easily opened by cutting the resin portion between the adjacent vent holes. That is, by cutting the resin portion between the vent holes to expose the display control device and the like inside, it is possible to easily carry out a predetermined verification and the like.

  Further, a dispensing mechanism portion 352 is disposed in the base portion 353 so as to bypass the back cover portion 354. That is, a tank 355 opened upward is provided at the top of the back pack 351, and gaming balls supplied from an island facility of the game hall are sequentially replenished to the tank 355. Below the tank 355, there is connected a tank rail 356 which has, for example, two rows (two rows) of ball passages in the lateral direction and which slopes gently toward the downstream side, and further vertically on the downstream side of the tank rail 356. Case rails 357 are connected. The payout device 358 is provided at the most downstream portion of the case rail 357, and the required number of gaming balls are appropriately paid out by a predetermined electrical configuration such as a payout motor. The gaming balls paid out from the payout device 358 are supplied to the upper tray 19 through a payout passage (not shown) and the like.

  The tank rail 356 and the vibrator 359 for applying vibration to the tank rail 356 are unitized so as to be integrated, and if the ball clogs in the vicinity of the tank rail 356, the vibrator 359 is driven. Ball clogging is resolved by this.

  In the payout mechanism portion 352, a payout relay board 381 for relaying a signal of a payout command from the payout control board to the payout device 358 is installed, and a power switch board 382 for fetching the main power from the outside is installed. ing. The power switch substrate 382 is supplied with a main power of, for example, 24 V AC via a voltage converter, and is turned on or off by switching the power switch.

  An inner frame open detection switch (not shown) is provided on the upper right side of the inner frame 12 to detect that the inner frame 12 is opened relative to the outer frame 11, and the inner frame 12 is opened. And, it is outputted from the inner frame opening detection switch to the computer for the inside of the hall (in the pachinko parlor). In addition, a front frame open detection switch (not shown) is provided on the left of the inner frame open detection switch, and when the front frame set 14 is opened, the inside of the hall is opened from the front frame open detection switch (in the pachinko parlor ) Is output to the computer.

(Electric configuration and various control processing of pachinko machine)
Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The pachinko machine 10 includes a power supply device 313, a power supply monitoring device 540, a main control device 261, a sub control device 262, a payout control device 311, a display control device 45, and the like. These devices are individually described in detail below. The power supply monitoring device 540 and the main control device 261 are sealed by the sealing unit as described above.

  Next, the configuration of main controller 261 will be described. The main controller 261 is equipped with an MPU 501 as a one-chip microcomputer which is an arithmetic device. The MPU 501 is a ROM 502 storing various control programs to be executed by the MPU 501 and fixed value data, and a memory for temporarily storing various data etc. when the control program stored in the ROM 502 is executed. A certain RAM 503 and various circuits such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, and a data transmission / reception circuit are incorporated.

  The RAM 503 is configured to be able to receive data (backup) supplied with a backup voltage from the power supply 313 even after the pachinko machine 10 is powered off, and temporarily stores various data in the RAM 503. There is an area for

  The power failure signal SG1 from the power failure monitoring circuit 542 is input to the NMI terminal (non-maskable interrupt terminal) of the MPU 501 at the time of power interruption due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. NMI interrupt processing as power failure processing is immediately executed.

  An input / output port 505 is connected to the MPU 501 of the main control device 261 via a bus line 504 configured by an address bus and a data bus. In the input / output port 505, the RAM erase switch circuit 543 in the power supply monitoring device 540, the payout control device 311, the firing control device 312, the sub control device 262, the main display unit 371 (first special symbol hold display device 371A, first Special symbol display device 371B, second special symbol hold display device 371C, second special symbol display device 371D, normal symbol display device 371E, normal symbol hold display device 371F, status notification display device 371G), and other prize detection not shown Switches and fraud detection switches are connected. The decorative symbol hold display device 800 (hold lamp 800 a) is connected to the display control device 45 subordinate to the sub control device 262.

  The payout control device 311 performs payout control of the winning balls and the rental balls by the payout motor 358a. The MPU 511, which is an arithmetic device, includes a ROM 512 storing a control program executed by the MPU 511, fixed value data, and the like, and a RAM 513 used as a work memory or the like.

  Like the RAM 503 of the main controller 261, the RAM 513 of the payout control device 311 is configured to be able to receive a backup voltage from the power supply device 313 even after the pachinko machine 10 is turned off. The RAM 513 is provided with an area for temporarily storing various data and the like.

  As with the MPU 501 of the main controller 261, the NMI terminal of the MPU 511 is configured to receive the power failure signal SG1 from the power failure monitoring circuit 542 at the time of power interruption due to the occurrence of a power failure, and the power failure signal SG1 is When input to the MPU 511, NMI interrupt processing as power failure processing is immediately executed.

  An input / output port 515 is connected to the MPU 511 of the payout control device 311 via a bus line 514 configured by an address bus and a data bus. A main control unit 261 and a payout motor 358a are connected to the input / output port 515, respectively.

  The launch control device 312 permits or prohibits the launch of the gaming ball by the launch solenoid, and the launch solenoid is permitted to drive when the predetermined condition is satisfied. Specifically, it is detected from the sensor signal that a connection signal indicating that the connection with the card unit is connected is output from the payout control device 311 and that the player is touching the game ball firing handle 18. The launch control unit 312 outputs a launch permission signal to the main control unit 261 on condition that the launch stop switch for stopping the launch is not operated. The main control unit 261 that has received the release permission signal outputs a release solenoid control signal to the release control unit 312. As a result, the firing control device 312 drives the firing solenoid in response to the firing solenoid control signal, and as a result, the gaming ball is fired with a strength in accordance with the amount of operation of the gaming ball firing handle.

  The sub control device 262 controls the ringing control of the effect speaker 810 or the like according to the variable display of the decorative symbol based on the command from the main control device 261 and the lighting (flickering) control of the effect lamp 811 and the main control device 261. Function to edit the command to the display control device 45 based on the command from the display control device 45 and send it to the display control device 45. The MPU 550 of the sub control device 262 includes a ROM 551 storing control programs to be executed by the MPU 550, fixed value data, and the like, and a RAM 552 used as a work memory or the like. An input / output port 554 is connected to the MPU 550 via a bus line 553 including an address bus and a data bus. Connected to the input / output port 554 are a speaker, a lamp, an effect button 79 for executing a predetermined display effect during variable display in the decorative symbol display device 42, and a main control device 261. Examples of the effect button 79 include, for example, a button for display effect such as a step-up notice for announcing that the possibility of a jackpot state is large by a mode in which predetermined characters sequentially appear. When the effect button 79 is pressed, an effect specifying command for performing a predetermined effect is generated and transmitted to the decorative symbol display device 42.

  The display control device 45 controls variable display of the decorative symbol in the decorative symbol display device 42. The display control device 45 includes an MPU 521 having a RAM 523 used as a work RAM, a ROM (program ROM) 522, a video RAM 524, a character ROM 525, an image controller 526, an input port 527 and an output port 529. Have.

  The MPU 521 receives a symbol display command (stop symbol command, variation pattern command, determination command, etc.) transmitted from the sub control device 262 via the input port 527, and analyzes the received command or based on the received command. A predetermined arithmetic process is performed to control the image controller 526 (specifically, to generate an internal command for the image controller 526). The program ROM 522 is a memory for storing various control programs executed by the MPU 521 and fixed values, and also stores and holds JPEG format image data for a background image. The RAM 523 is a memory for temporarily storing work data, flags, and the like used when the MPU 521 executes various programs.

  The image controller 526 is configured of a VDP (Video Display Processor). The VDP is a kind of drawing circuit that directly operates the LCD driver (liquid crystal drive circuit) incorporated in the decorative symbol display device 42, and since it is formed into an IC chip, it is also called a "drawing chip". It should be called a microcomputer chip with built-in software for processing only. The image controller 526 adjusts the respective timings of the MPU 521, the video RAM 524, etc. to intervene in reading and writing of data, reads the display data stored in the video RAM 524 from the character ROM 525 at a predetermined timing, and outputs the output port 529. It is outputted and displayed on the decorative symbol display device 42 via the display.

  The video RAM 524 is a memory for storing display data displayed on the decorative symbol display device 42, and the display content of the decorative symbol display device 42 is changed by rewriting the content of the video RAM 524. The character ROM 525 plays a role as an image data library for storing character data such as symbols displayed on the decorative symbol display device 42. In the character ROM 525, bitmap format image data of various display symbols, a color pallet table to be referred to when determining a color to be expressed in each dot of the bitmap image, and the like are stored. In particular, symbol codes (symbol numbers) are given to symbol image data in a bitmap format, and each symbol image can be managed only with symbol codes at the command level. It is also possible to provide a plurality of character ROMs 525 and store image data etc. in each character ROM 525 in a shared manner. In addition, it is also possible to store in the character ROM 525 the JPEG format image data for background image stored in the program ROM 522.

  The power supply device 313 includes a power supply unit 541 for supplying power to each part of the pachinko machine 10. The power supply unit 541 supplies necessary operating voltages to the main control device 261, the payout control device 311, and the like through the power supply path. The outline of the power supply unit 541 is a voltage of 12 volts AC supplied from the outside, and a voltage of 12 volts for driving various switches and motors, a voltage of 5 volts for logic, and RAM backup. A backup voltage or the like is generated, and the voltage of 12 volts, the voltage of 5 volts and the backup voltage are supplied to the power supply monitor 540, the sub controller 262, the payout controller 311, the display controller 45 and the like. An operating voltage (12 volts and 5 volts) is supplied to main controller 261 via power supply monitor 540. In addition, an operating voltage (a voltage of 12 volts and a voltage of 5 volts) is supplied to the emission control device 312 via the main control device 261.

The power supply monitoring device 540 includes a power failure monitoring circuit 542 that monitors power supply interruption due to a power failure or the like, and a reset circuit 544 that outputs a reset signal.
The power failure monitoring circuit 542 is a circuit for outputting the power failure signal SG1 to each NMI terminal of the MPU 501 of the main control device 261 and the MPU 511 of the payout control device 311 when the power is shut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. The power failure monitoring circuit 542 monitors the voltage of the stable DC voltage of 24 volts which is the maximum voltage output from the power supply 541, and determines that a power failure (power interruption) occurs when this voltage becomes less than 22 volts, The power failure signal SG1 is output to the main control device 261 and the payout control device 311. The main control device 261 and the payout control device 311 recognize the occurrence of the power failure by the output of the power failure signal SG1, and execute NMI interrupt processing. Note that the power supply unit 541 outputs 5 volts, which is the drive voltage of the control system, for a time sufficient for execution of the NMI interrupt processing even after 24 volts DC stabilization voltage is less than 22 volts. Is configured to maintain a normal value. Therefore, the main controller 261 and the payout control device 311 can execute and complete the NMI interrupt processing normally.

The RAM erase switch circuit 543 is a circuit that outputs a RAM erase signal SG2 for clearing backup data to the main control device 261 and the payout control device 311 when the RAM erase switch is pressed. The transmission of the signal to the payout control device 311 is performed via the main control device 261.
When the RAM erase signal SG2 is input when the pachinko machine 10 is powered on, the main control device 261 and the payout control device 311 clear the respective backup data.

  The reset circuit 544 is a circuit that outputs a reset signal to initialize the main control device 261, the payout control device 311, the sub control device 262, and the display control device 45. Although the reset signal from the reset circuit 544 is directly given to the main control device 261, it is supplied to the payout control device 311, the sub control device 262, and the display control device 45 through the power supply device 313. It is supposed to be given.

  Here, the display contents of the special symbol display device, the normal symbol display device, and the decorative symbol display device 42 will be described. In the pachinko machine 10 of the present embodiment, the special symbol displayed on the two special symbol display devices as a symbol for showing the occurrence of the jackpot to the player and the single decorative symbol display device 42 are displayed. There are two types of decorative designs. The decorative symbol is a symbol that changes in synchronization with the special symbol, and starts changing at the same time (or almost at the same time) of the change of the special symbol, and simultaneously (or almost at the same time of stopping the change of the special symbol ) To stop the fluctuation. This decorative pattern is provided to provide the player with a variety of display effects and to provide game characteristics that are hard to get bored.

  First, the display contents of the special symbol performed by the first special symbol display device 371B and the second special symbol display device 371D will be described. The variation display of the special symbol is expressed by the change of the lighting pattern of eight LED segments. The variable display of this special symbol is started on any of the first special symbol display device 371B and the second special symbol display device 371D based on the winning order triggered by the winning on the start winning device 33 of the game ball, and after a predetermined time Stop. Specifically, after performing the all-off process for stopping the lighting state of the corresponding special symbol display device, the variation process is started by executing the switching process for sequentially lighting each LED segment in a predetermined order, When the variable display time determined by the value of stop pattern selection counter C3 to be described later elapses, the above switching process is interrupted to perform all extinguishing processing, and it is determined based on the values of big hit random number counter C1 and big hit symbol counter C2 described later According to the above aspect, each LED segment is turned on, and only one dot-like LED segment is turned on when displaying an out result in a big hit lottery, while displaying a big hit result. Depending on whether or not to win a high probability gaming state after a big hit, different numbers will be arranged in the shape of "8" 7 Lit display using LED segments. In addition, in the period in which one special symbol display device is in the variable display state, the other special symbol display device does not perform the variable display, and the lighting display of the symbol stopped and displayed at the time of the last variable display is made. Ru. The number of times the game ball has won in the central starting opening 33a and the right starting opening 33b of the starting winning device 33 is held up to four times at maximum, and the number of holdings is the number of holdings corresponding to winning in the central starting opening 33a. The second special symbol hold display device 371C and the decorative symbol display device are displayed on the predetermined areas of the first special symbol hold display device 371A and the decorative symbol display device 42 and the number of holds corresponding to winning on the right start opening 33b. 42 are displayed in a predetermined area, and additionally, with the holding lamp 800a of the decorative symbol holding display device 800, according to the gaming state, the number of holdings corresponding to the winning of the central starting opening 33a or The number of holding times corresponding to the winning on the right start opening 33b is displayed in a lit state.

  Next, the display contents of the decorative symbol display device 42 will be described. On the display screen of the decorative symbol display device 42, for example, three decorative symbol rows Z1 to Z3 are displayed in three display areas divided into upper, middle and lower stages. These decorative symbol rows Z1 to Z3 are scrolled from right to left. The decorative symbol is constituted of, for example, a main symbol consisting of numerals "1" to "9" and a sub-symbol smaller than the main symbol, and a symbol row of the decorative symbol is formed by each of the main symbol and the sub-symbol. In each symbol row formed by the decorative symbols, the main symbols are arranged in ascending or descending order of the numbers and the sub symbols are arranged between the respective main symbols. When a winning on the start winning device 33, that is, a start winning occurs, the variation display of the decoration symbol is performed, and the variation display is stopped after a predetermined time according to the variation pattern, and the decoration symbol display device 42 is vertical 3 x horizontal Three nine decorative symbols are displayed as a display result. In the variable display in which the jackpot lottery is won, the display control device 45 performs control such that three of the same main symbols are aligned and stopped in a vertical or diagonal straight line among the nine decorative symbols, and the player is notified The occurrence of a jackpot is indicated. On the other hand, in the variable display out of the big hit lottery, the display control device 45 performs control so that three identical main symbols do not stop in alignment vertically or diagonally among nine decorative symbols, and the game is played The person is shown the occurrence of the detachment. In the case where the gaming state does not include the support state (a state in which the pair of open / close blades 60 is easier to open than usual and the open time is longer than normal), the hold lamp 800a of the decorative symbol hold display 800 is used. While the number of reservations corresponding to the winning on the central start opening 33a is lit and displayed with red light emission, the right start opening is indicated by the holding lamp 800a of the decorative symbol display device 800 when the gaming state includes the support state. The hold count corresponding to the winning of 33b is displayed in a lit state.

  Next, the display contents of the normal symbol performed in the normal symbol display device 371E will be described. The variation display of the normal symbol is expressed by alternately lighting the two LEDs described above. The variation display of the normal symbol is started on the condition that the gaming ball passes through the passage opening of the operation winning device 34, and the variation display of the normal symbol is stopped after a predetermined time. Then, when both LEDs are turned on and stopped, the start-up winning device 33 is in an operating state for a predetermined time (the pair of open / close blades 60 is opened). The number of times the game ball passes through the passage opening of the operation winning device 34 is suspended up to four times, and the number of suspension is lit and displayed in the normal symbol suspension display device 371F.

(At power on)
At power-on of the pachinko machine 10, each part such as a speaker, a liquid crystal screen of the decorative symbol display device 42, various LEDs arranged in a frame, various LEDs arranged in the game board 30 are predetermined as operation check and power on notification. It is set to perform a predetermined operation over time (30 seconds in the present embodiment). For this reason, it can be visually confirmed whether or not each of these units function properly. At this time, it is also possible to confirm whether or not the pachinko machine 10 has been tampered with.

Next, the operation of the pachinko machine 10 configured as described above will be described. In the present embodiment, the MPU 501 in the main control device 261 performs jackpot lottery and setting of symbol display of a special symbol display device, etc., using various counter information in the game. Specifically, the counter group associated with the special symbol and the counter group associated with the normal symbol are provided. First, the counter group related to the special symbol will be described. As a group of counters related to the special symbol, the jackpot random number counter C1 used for lottery of the jackpot, the jackpot symbol counter C2 used for selecting the jackpot symbol of the special symbol display device, and the special symbol display device out of fluctuation Stop pattern selection counter C3 used for selection of stop pattern (corresponds to reach lottery whether it is reach or complete removal in the variation of decorative symbol) and initial value used for initial value setting of jackpot random number counter C1 A random number counter CINI1 and fluctuation type counters CS1 to CS3 that determine the type used for fluctuation pattern selection are provided.

  Here, the variation pattern means each pattern (form) in the case where the features of the variation display are common.

  Each of the counters C1 to C3, CINI1 and CS1 to CS3 is a loop counter in which 1 is added to the previous value each time the updating is performed, and the value is returned to 0 after reaching the maximum value. Each counter is updated at short time intervals, and the updated value is appropriately stored in a counter buffer set in a predetermined area of the RAM 503. In the RAM 503, a holding ball storage area 0 consisting of one execution area and four holding areas (the first to fourth holding areas) is provided. In each of these areas, a game for the start winning device 33 is provided. The values of the big hit random number counter C1, the big hit symbol counter C2 and the stop pattern selection counter C3 are respectively stored according to the winning timing of the ball.

Next, the specific contents of each counter will be described in detail.
For example, the jackpot random number counter C1 is sequentially incremented by 1 within the range of 0 to 738, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value (that is, 738). In particular, when the big hit random number counter C1 makes one revolution, the value of the random number initial value counter CINI1 at that time is read as the initial value of the big hit random number counter C1. The random number initial value counter CINI1 is configured as a loop counter that is updated in the same range as the big hit random number counter C1 (value = 0 to 738), and is updated once for each timer interrupt and within the remaining time of normal processing. It is updated repeatedly with. The big hit random number counter C1 is periodically updated (once in each timer interrupt in the present embodiment), and is stored in the holding ball storage area 0 of the RAM 503 at the timing when the gaming ball wins the start winning device 33. There are two types of jackpot random number values for low probability and high probability, and the number of jackpot random numbers at low probability is 2 and the value is “373, 727”. Yes, the number of random numbers that will be jackpots at high probability is 14, and the values are "59, 109, 163, 211, 263, 317, 367, 421, 479, 523, 577, 631, 683, 733" is there. In the high probability time, the combination of special symbols is a combination of a specific symbol that is a predetermined probability variation symbol, and it is a big hit and the state that the subsequent big hit probability is increased as added value, is called the time of so-called definite variation, The time (low probability time) means the case where such a definite change is not made.

  The jackpot symbol counter C2 is to decide the symbol at the time of the variation stop of the special symbol in the special symbol display device at the time of the jackpot, for example, one by one is sequentially added within the range of 0 to 4, and the maximum value It becomes a structure to return to 0 after reaching. For example, in the case of the stop symbol when the value of the jackpot symbol counter C2 is "0" or "1", nine LED segments stop at a specific lighting pattern, and the combination of the stop symbols in this case is a non-specific symbol (usually The jackpot symbol of) means.

  As for the stop symbols when the value of the jackpot symbol counter C2 is “2”, “3”, “4”, the nine LED segments stop at a specific lighting pattern different from the above, and in this case the stop symbols The combination means a specific symbol (probability fluctuation symbol).

  The jackpot symbol counter C2 is periodically updated (once in each timer interrupt in the present embodiment), and stored in the holding ball storage area 0 of the RAM 503 at the timing when the gaming ball wins the start winning device 33.

  The stop pattern selection counter C3 is configured to be sequentially incremented by one within the range of 0 to 238, for example, and return to 0 after reaching the maximum value (i.e., 238). In this embodiment, since the variation display of the special symbol is configured to be expressed by nine LED segments, there is no concept of reach in the case of the special symbol, and the stop pattern corresponding to the reach is the stop pattern selection counter C3. It is decided to decide. On the other hand, in the case of the decoration pattern, since three decoration patterns stop, reach exists. Therefore, in the case of the decorative symbol, the reach lottery is determined by the stop pattern selection counter C3. That is, in the case of the decorative symbol, the final stop symbol is shifted by only one before and after the reach symbol and stopped after reaching the reach symbol, and the final stop symbol after the same reach is also generated before and after the reach symbol It is decided to draw the lottery "stop out of reach" and stop "out of reach". For example, stop pattern selection counter C3 = 0 to 201 corresponds to complete removal, stop pattern selection counter C3 = 202 to 208 corresponds to back and forth reach, and stop pattern selection counter C3 = 209 to 238 is reach other than back and forth Applicable

  Here, reach means that after the decorative symbol displayed on the display screen of the decorative symbol display device 42 starts variable display, the combination of the symbols to be stopped first is the same symbol (in the case of the decorative symbol with multiple effective lines) The same symbol on any activated line) that satisfies the jackpot condition, and the symbol display result that the variable display continues is a combination of jackpot symbols suggesting to the player that it may be a jackpot depending on the result This is a display that makes the player expect the player, and is a kind of entertainment effect. In the middle of the variable display, the interesting effect is to make the display screen of the decorative symbol display device 42 display a predetermined symbol represented by reach, output a specific sound from a speaker, or use a motor for vibration. This is an effect that causes the player to expect that the display result after the variable display will be a jackpot, by causing the game ball emission handle 18 to vibrate, etc., with a mode different from the normal mode.

  The stop pattern selection counter C3 is periodically updated (once in each timer interruption in the present embodiment), and is stored in the holding ball storage area 0 of the RAM 503 at the timing when the gaming ball wins the start winning device 33.

The fluctuation type counter CS1 is configured to be sequentially incremented by one within the range of 0 to 198, for example, and returned to 0 after reaching the maximum value (that is, 198). The fluctuation type counter CS2 is configured to be sequentially incremented by one within a range of 0 to 240, for example, and returned to 0 after reaching the maximum value (i.e., 240). For example, the fluctuation type counter CS3 is configured to be sequentially incremented by one within the range of 0 to 162, and to return to 0 after reaching the maximum value (that is, 162).
Rough pattern fluctuation mode such as normal reach, super reach, special reach, premium reach, etc. reach type is determined by the change type counter CS1, and further, for example, normal reach A, normal reach B, etc. by the change type counter CS2. A fine symbol variation mode is determined, and the variation type counter CS2 determines, for example, addition / subtraction of the variation time in the case of the slip stop variation. Therefore, by combining these variation type counters CS1 to CS3, a wide variety of variation patterns can be easily realized.

  The counters CS1 to CS3 are updated once each time a normal process described later is executed once, and repeatedly updated even within the remaining time in the normal process. Then, the buffer values of the counters CS1 to CS3 are acquired when the variation pattern is determined at the start of variation of the special symbol by the special symbol display device and the decorative symbol display device 42.

  Then, the counter group related to the normal symbol will be described. As a group of counters related to ordinary symbols, a random number counter C4 used for lottery of winning and an initial value random number counter CINI2 used for setting an initial value of random number counter C4 are provided.

  The per-random number counter C4 is a loop counter in which 1 is added to the previous value each time the updating is performed, and the value is returned to 0 after reaching the maximum value. The counter is updated at short time intervals, and the updated value is appropriately stored in a counter buffer set in a predetermined area of the RAM 503. In the RAM 503, there is provided a holding ball storage area 1 consisting of one execution area and four holding areas (the first to fourth holding areas), and in each of these areas, a game for the operation winning device 34 is provided. As the ball passes, the value of the random number counter C4 is stored.

  Next, the specific contents of the per-random number counter C4 and the initial value random number CINI2 will be described in detail. The per-random number counter C4 is, for example, sequentially incremented by one within the range of 0 to 250, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value (ie, 250). Then, when the per-random number counter C4 makes one revolution, the value of the per-initial value random number counter CINI2 at that time is read as the initial value of the per-random number counter C4. The initial value random number counter CINI2 is configured as a loop counter that is updated in the same range as the random number counter C4 (value = 0 to 250), and is updated once per timer interrupt and within the remaining time of normal processing. It is updated repeatedly with. The random number counter C4 is periodically updated (once in each timer interrupt in the present embodiment), and is stored in the holding ball storage area 1 of the RAM 503 at the timing when the gaming ball passes through the operation winning device 34. The number of values of the random number to be hit per the random number counter C4 is 149, and the value is “5 to 153”.

  Note that the size and range of each counter are merely an example and can be arbitrarily changed. However, if importance is placed on irregularity, the sizes of the big hit random number counter C1, the stop pattern selection counter C3, the hit random number counter C4, and the variation type counters CS1 to CS3 are all different prime numbers, and they are not synchronized in any case It is desirable to keep.

The details of each control process executed by the MPU 501 in the main control device 261 will not be described in detail.
However, in summary, as described above, the main control device 261 makes a random lottery with a predetermined probability by winning on the start-up winning device 33, and when it hits, it shifts to the special gaming state, Thus, the variable winning device 32 is in a state of receiving a winning ball.

(Variable winning device and collecting unit)
In this embodiment, the above-mentioned variable winning device 32 is configured as follows.
The basic configuration of the variable winning device 32 accommodates, in a housing portion (not shown), a ball from a big winning opening 61 having a width that allows a plurality of game balls to pass in the lateral direction of the game board 30; It is comprised so that it may detect from the discharge part provided in this accommodating part to a detection sensor (not shown).

  A start winning device 33 (33a and 33b: see FIG. 4) is provided in the game area of the game board 30, for entering the game balls flowing down the flowing space between the window portion 101 and the game board 30; By entering the ball into the start winning device 33, the main control device 261 performs a lottery of a predetermined probability, the gaming state is shifted to the special gaming state by the corresponding lottery, and the special gaming state is performed at least once in the special gaming state. The variable winning device 32 is switched from the non-ball receiving state to the ball receiving state, and in the ball receiving state, the detection sensor detects a specified number of winning balls accommodated in the storage section from the big winning opening 61 It is configured to pay out a specified number of prize balls by

(Feature configuration)
The pachinko machine 10 has a classification unit 70 as a sorting mechanism for sorting gaming balls into gaming balls having a relatively large diameter, ie, large balls and gaming balls having a relatively small diameter, ie, small balls. It has become.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the classification unit 70 includes a game ball storage unit 71, a sorting operation unit 72, a large diameter ball storage unit 73, and a small diameter ball storage unit 74.

  The game ball storage portion 71 is a tank having a whole shape with a square bottom surface, four side surfaces expanding upward in an inverted square pyramid shape, and a square top surface portion opened, and the peripheral edge of the upper end is to the outside It extends slightly and is shaped like a flange. On the bottom wall of the game ball storage section 71, as shown in FIG. 26, the diameter slightly larger than a regular sphere (10 dozen mm) at three points equidistantly spaced from each other to form a vertex of a regular triangle in plan view. A falling ball hole 71P is drilled, each having only one game ball which can easily pass through. The bottom surface of the game ball storage portion 71 is flat in the figure, but in actuality, the bottom surface of the game ball storage portion 71 is shaped so as to be slightly recessed downward toward each falling ball hole 71P. That is, the three falling holes 71P are at the lowest position, and the center between the three falling holes 71P and the positions around the three falling holes 71P are formed to be higher than the falling holes 71P. There is. A cylindrical fitting peripheral wall 71C having a diameter larger than that of the falling ball hole 71P is integrally extended around the respective falling ball holes 71P on the lower side surface of the bottom wall in the game ball storage portion 71. Is formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a sorting operation unit 72 is disposed and fixed immediately below the gaming ball storage unit 71. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the sorting operation unit 72 includes an upper ball guiding member 721, a rotary disc 722, a ball bearing disc 723, a middle ball guiding member 724, an upper rotary wing 725, a classification plate 726, and a lower rotary wing. 727, a lower ball guiding member 729 and a motor 728 are arranged in this order from the top.

  The upper ball guiding member 721 is a hollow disc having a thickness slightly larger than the diameter of a regular sphere, and is disposed so that the axial direction coincides with the vertical direction, that is, it is reciprocated, and the lower surface is opened. A cylindrical shape extending vertically upward from three points equally spaced to correspond to the falling ball holes 71P of the gaming ball storage 71 at the base 721B having a shape and the peripheral edge of the upper surface of the base 721B. The ball guiding tube 721 T is integrally formed. At the center of the upper surface wall of the base portion 721B, a bearing hole 721S rotatably supporting a rotation shaft 728S described later is bored. The inside diameter of the guiding tube 721T is the same as the inside diameter of the falling ball hole 71P of the gaming ball storage 71, and the outside diameter of the guiding tube 721T is the same as the inside diameter of the fitting peripheral wall 71C of the gaming ball storage 71. It is fitted in and fixed to the fitting peripheral wall 71C. The ball guiding tube 721T penetrates up and down, and the upper side communicates with the internal space of the gaming ball storage portion 71 and the lower side communicates with the internal space of the base 721B.

  The rotary disc 722 is formed in a disk shape having a thickness and a diameter that can be accommodated with a slight margin inside the base portion 721B of the upper ball guide member 721. In the peripheral portion of the rotary disk 722, ball accommodating notches 722P are formed at six positions obtained by equally dividing the entire circumference into six equal portions, that is, angular positions every 60 °. Each ball accommodation notch 722P has an inner diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the falling ball hole 71P of the gaming ball storage portion 71, and is approximately circular in top view as it can accommodate only one game ball with some margin. The rotary disc 722 penetrates in the vertical direction, that is, in the thickness direction, and partially intersects the outer periphery of the rotary disc 722 to partially open the outer peripheral surface of the rotary disc 722. That is, from the outer peripheral surface of the rotary disk 722, it has a shape that is recessed in an approximately C-shape as viewed from the top (inner side). A shaft insertion hole 722S is bored at the center of the rotary disk 722, and a rotation shaft 728S described later is inserted and fixed so as not to be rotatable with respect to the rotation shaft 728S.

  The ball retaining disc 723 is a disc having an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of the base 721 B of the upper ball guiding member 721. The ball hole 723P has an inner diameter equal to the inner diameter of the ball drop hole 71P at three positions equally spaced from the ball drop hole 71P of the gaming ball storage portion 71 in the peripheral portion of the ball holder 723 Are drilled respectively. A shaft insertion hole 723S is bored at the center of the ball holder 723 so that a rotation shaft 728S described later is rotatably inserted.

  The middle ball guiding member 724 has a hollow disc shape having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the base 721 B of the upper ball guiding member 721 and a thickness slightly smaller than the diameter of a regular ball, and the lower surface is open. A ball guiding portion 724P is integrally formed at three points at a peripheral portion of the base portion 724B, the base portion 724B being equally spaced to correspond to the ball passing holes 723P of the ball holding plate 723. It is a structure. The ball guiding portion 724P is a cylindrical portion which penetrates up and down basically the same as the ball guiding tube 721T of the upper ball guiding member 721, and the inner diameter is also the same as the inner diameter of the ball guiding tube 721T. However, the base end portion is expanded in the lateral direction to form the large-diameter ball discharge passage 724D, and is formed so as to have a generally L-shape in a side view as a whole. As shown in FIG. 25 from the base end of the ball guiding portion 724P, the large-diameter sphere discharge passage 724D extends counterclockwise in plan view along the circumferential direction of the base 724B and in the radial direction of the base 724B. Has a roughly flat shape with a slightly curved oval (capsule) shape that extends slightly outwards while slightly curving outward, and is slightly larger than the diameter of one game ball It is a hollow part. The lower surface of the large diameter ball discharge passage 724D is open, the inside communicates with the internal space of the cylindrical portion in the ball guiding portion 724P, and the other part is closed, and only one regular ball or one small ball is spared It has become a passage that can circulate inside. The tip end of the large diameter ball discharge passage 724D comes to a position corresponding to the large diameter ball discharge port 726M of the classification plate 726 described later. A shaft insertion hole (not shown) is formed at the center of the base 724B, and a rotation shaft 728S described later is rotatably inserted.

  The upper rotary wing 725 is a plate having a thickness of about 3 mm having a substantially Y-shaped planar shape as a whole, with the contact pieces 725E of the same shape extending in three directions spaced at 120 ° from the center in plan view It is a member. The tip of each contact piece 725E is tapered in a mountain shape in plan view, and the corner is rounded. Furthermore, the peripheral ridgeline portions on the upper surface and the lower surface of the upper rotary wing 725 are shaped so as to form an inclined surface which gradually inclines downward and upward from the slightly inner side on the upper surface and the lower surface over the entire circumference. It is assumed. A shaft insertion hole 725S is bored at the center of the upper rotary wing 725, and a rotation shaft 728S described later is inserted and fixed so as not to be able to rotate with respect to the rotation shaft 728S.

  As shown in FIG. 25, in the classification plate 726, each corner of an equilateral triangle to which the same circle as the outer periphery of the base 721B of the upper ball guiding member 721 to the ball retainer 723 can be inscribed is arc-shaped It is a plate-like member having a thickness of about 2 mm and having a shape. A large diameter ball outlet 726M is bored on the inside of each corner so as to be located on a straight line connecting the vertex and the center of a virtual triangle in the outer shape of the classification plate 726. As described above, the large-diameter ball outlet 726M comes to a position corresponding to the tip of the large-diameter ball discharge passage 724D in the central ball guiding member 724. Similarly, it has a diameter (about 12 to 13 mm) slightly larger than that of a regular sphere, and it is a circular hole through which only one regular sphere can easily pass. The large diameter ball outlet 726M intersects the base 721B of the upper ball guiding member 721 to the outer periphery of the ball bearing 723 substantially at the center, that is, the base 721 B of the upper ball guiding member 721 to the ball ball. It is formed in such a position that approximately half protrudes outward so as to straddle the outer circumference of 723. On the other hand, a classification hole is provided at a position slightly offset in the clockwise direction in plan view from each large diameter ball outlet 726M and at a position corresponding to the cylindrical portion of the ball guiding portion 724P of the middle ball guiding member 724. (Large ball passage port) 726N is bored. The diameter of the classification hole 726N is a diameter (about 10.5 to 10.8 mm) slightly smaller than that of a regular sphere, and a regular sphere can not pass through, and only a small diameter sphere can pass. A shaft insertion hole 726S is formed at the center of the classification plate 726, and a rotation shaft 728S described later is rotatably inserted.

  The lower rotary wing 727 has the same configuration as the upper rotary wing 725, and the contact piece 727E and the shaft insertion hole 727S having the same configuration as the contact piece 725E and the shaft insertion hole 725S in the upper rotary blade 725 It has become.

  The motor 728 has the rotation shaft 728S fixed to the shaft mounting portion 728H, and is disposed so that the rotation shaft 728S faces upward.

  The lower ball guiding member 729 has an outer diameter the same as the outer diameter of the base portion 724B of the middle ball guiding member 724, and is a hollow substantially disk-shaped base portion 729B having an open top surface. A cylindrical guiding tube 729T extending vertically downward from three equally spaced points corresponding to the classification holes 726N of the classification plate 726 in the peripheral portion of the base 729B is integrally formed. It has a formed configuration. The upper end portion of the guiding tube 729T penetrates the lower surface wall (bottom surface wall) of the base 729B and extends to about the height center of the base 729B. In other words, it extends so as not to reach the space of the upper half of the base 729B. In the outer peripheral wall of the base 729B, at positions corresponding to the large-diameter spherical outlet 726M of the classification plate 726, concave portions 729R which are concaved inward in a substantially semicircular shape in plan view are respectively formed. The inner peripheral surface of the recessed portion 729R substantially coincides with the inner peripheral edge of the large-diameter ball outlet 726M of the classification plate 726 in plan view, and the upper end portion of the curved peripheral wall of the recessed portion 729R is the above-mentioned tube bulb 729T. It extends to a height approximately equal to the upper end of the. That is, as in the case of the above-described ball guiding tube 729T, it extends so as not to reach the space of the upper half of the base 729B. In a central portion of the lower surface wall of the base 729B, a circular area in a plan view slightly crossing the above-described ball guide tube 729T is indented downward in a stepwise manner to form an indented portion 729G. Screw holes 729F are respectively formed at two opposing positions of the peripheral portion of the lower surface wall (bottom surface wall) of the indented portion 729G. An insertion hole 729S for inserting the shaft attaching portion 728H of the motor 728 is formed at the center of the indented portion 729G.

  The rotary disc 722 is accommodated inside the base 721B of the upper ball guiding member 721, and the ball retainer 723 is disposed on the lower surface to be closed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 13, the angular positions at which the three ball-passing holes 723 P in the ball retainer 723 are shifted by approximately 60 ° with respect to the three ball guiding tubes 721 T of the upper ball guiding member 721. Arranged to come to Under the ball retainer 723, the middle ball guiding member 724 is disposed so as to align the cylindrical portion of the ball guiding portion 724 P with the ball passing hole 723 P. The base 724B of the middle ball guiding member 724 has the upper rotary wing 725 housed therein, and the classification plate 726 disposed on the lower surface to close it. Below the classification plate 726, a lower ball guiding member 729 is disposed with a lower rotor 727 interposed therebetween. The lower rotor 727 is arranged to be accommodated in the space of the upper half of the base 729B of the lower ball guiding member 729. A motor 728 is disposed from below as shown in FIG. 12 on the lower surface wall (bottom surface wall) of the recessed portion 729G in the lower ball guiding member 729, and the shaft mounting portion 728H is inserted into the insertion hole 729S and the screw hole 729F Screw fixed. Although the motor 728 is illustrated above the lower ball guiding member 729 in FIG. 13, it is actually disposed and fixed to the lower ball guiding member 729 from below as shown in FIG.

  The rotary shaft 728S is longitudinally cut at a position slightly inward (closer to the center) than the circumferential surface of the round bar to form a flat portion, which is formed into a substantially D-shaped cross section. The shaft insertion hole 722S of the rotary disk 722, the shaft insertion hole 725S of the upper rotary wing 725, and the shaft insertion hole 727S of the lower rotary wing 727 all have an internal shape that can be engaged with the flat portion of the rotary shaft 728S. The rotary disk 722, the upper rotary wing 725, and the lower rotary wing 727 are fixed to the rotary shaft 728S and rotationally driven. At this time, the contact piece 727E of the lower rotary wing 727 is disposed so as to be slightly larger than the game ball by one ball in the clockwise direction in plan view with respect to the ball accommodation notch 722P of the rotary plate 722, Further, the contact piece 725E of the upper rotary wing 725 is disposed so as to be displaced by approximately one game ball clockwise in plan view with respect to the contact piece 725E of the lower rotary wing 727.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a large diameter ball housing portion 73 and a small diameter ball housing portion 74 are disposed below the sorting operation portion 72.

  The small diameter ball housing portion 74 has a width and a height substantially the same as the width of the bottom surface of the gaming ball storage portion 71, and a length corresponding to approximately twice the width of the bottom surface of the gaming ball storage portion 71. It is a box-shaped part of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped extending horizontally. One side half (the lower left side half in FIG. 10) on the upper surface of the small diameter ball accommodating portion 74 is closed by the rectangular upper wall, and the other half is open.

  The large diameter ball housing portion 73 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the lateral direction, having a width and a length approximately equal to the width and length of the small diameter ball housing portion 74, and a height slightly larger than the height of the small diameter ball housing portion 74. A box-shaped main body portion 73B is provided, and one laterally long side surface of the main body portion 73B is disposed so as to overlap the lower side and both side edges on one horizontally long side surface of the small diameter ball accommodating portion 74 . The upper surface of the main body 73B is completely open. On the bottom surface inside the main body 73B, there is disposed a discharge mechanism constituted by an inclined surface on which gaming balls are rolled, a ball outlet formed in a lower part of the inclined surface, etc. (not shown) .

  The ball guide portion 73G is integrally formed on one side half (the lower left side half in FIG. 10) of the upper end portion of the side surface portion of the small diameter ball housing portion 74 in the main body portion 73B of the large diameter ball housing portion 73. Are formed. The ball guiding portion 73G has a rectangular flat shape substantially the same as the upper wall of the upper surface of the small diameter ball accommodating portion 74, and projects a slightly flat substantially rectangular parallelepiped protruding portion so as to cover the upper wall from above. It has become. The upper surface wall of the ball guiding portion 73G extends on the same plane as the upper surface of the main body portion 73B, and the lower surface wall of the ball guiding portion 73G overlaps the upper end edge of the small diameter ball housing portion 74 on the side of the small diameter ball housing portion 74 of the main body portion 73B. From the position, it extends so as to gradually rise slightly outwards. The upper surface part, the lower surface part, both side surface parts and the tip surface part which project outside in the ball guiding part 73G are closed and the side part of the main body part 73B is opened so that the internal space of the ball guiding part 73G and the internal space of the main body 73B communicate doing.

  As shown in FIG. 26, an opening having the same shape and size as the classification plate 726 of the sorting operation unit 72 is bored in the upper surface wall of the ball guiding portion 73G, and the thickness of the wall is A support step 731 which is slightly shifted downward by one step and slightly extends inward is integrally formed. As the classification plate 726 is fitted to the support step portion 731, the sorting operation portion 72 is fitted from above into the upper surface wall of the ball guiding portion 73 G and fixed. In the lower wall of the ball guiding portion 73G, an insertion hole having a diameter equal to the outer diameter of the ball guiding tube 729T is formed at a position corresponding to the ball guiding tube 729T in the lower ball guiding member 729 of the sorting operation portion 72 The ball guiding tube 729T is inserted through the insertion hole and protrudes slightly downward. In the upper wall of the upper surface of the small diameter ball housing portion 74, a drainage hole 74P having a diameter equal to the inner diameter of the ball guiding tube 729T at a position corresponding to the ball guiding tube 729T in the lower ball guiding member 729 of the sorting operation portion 72. A cylindrical fitting peripheral wall 74C having an inside diameter equal to the outside diameter of the above-mentioned ball guiding tube 729T is formed upward from the upper surface wall of the small diameter ball housing 74 around the ball discharging hole 74P. It is extended and the lower end part of the above-mentioned ball guiding tube 729T is fitted into this fitting peripheral wall 74C.

  As shown schematically in FIG. 14, the classification unit 70 intervenes at two points, A) between the case rail 357 and the payout device 358 and B) between the upper plate 19 and the game ball launch device 38. (Hereafter, the position of the former A is "pre-disbursing position pA", the classification unit 70 disposed at the former A's position is "(pre-disbursed) classification unit 70A", the latter B is The classification unit 70 disposed at the position pB, the position of the latter B is also referred to as "(pre-launch) classification unit 70B". In the upper tray 19, as described above, the gaming balls M1 are temporarily stored and are directed toward the gaming ball launching device 38 while being aligned in a row, and at this time, the upper tray 19 on the upstream side The game balls M1 derived from the above are sorted by the pre-launch classification unit 70B as described later, and then guided to the downstream game ball launch device 38. In the classification unit 70 shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and others, the gaming ball storage portion 71, the large diameter ball housing portion 73 and the small diameter ball housing portion 74 are formed large so that a large number of game balls M1 can be stored. Although the game ball storage unit 71 may at least allow the game balls M1 to flow into the sorting operation unit 72, the large diameter ball storage unit 73 may at least play the game balls discharged from the sorting operation unit 72. The small ball storage unit 74 may receive at least the gaming ball M1 discharged from the sorting operation unit 72 and temporarily store it as long as it can receive M1 and guide it downstream. As long as it is sufficient, for example, as shown schematically in FIG. 14, when the classification unit 70 is arranged inside the gaming machine as the classification unit 70A before dispensing and the classification unit 70B before launch, etc. Part 71, the large 径球 housing portion 73 and the small-diameter ball accommodating portion 74 may be molded to a size corresponding to the arrangement space.

Hereinafter, the operation of the classification unit 70 will be sequentially described.
(1) Supply of gaming balls M1 As described above, the gaming balls M1 derived from the case rail 357 or the upper tray 19 on the upstream side are classified units 70, ie, pre-discrimination classification units at the pre-disbursement position pA and the pre-fire position pB, respectively. It is introduced into the classification unit 70B and the pre-launch classification unit 70B, and in each classification unit 70, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, it is introduced into and stored in the gaming ball storage unit 71. In this case, the game ball M1 is a regular ball M11 having a diameter of 11 mm as a large diameter ball, and a diameter smaller than 11 mm as a small diameter ball, strictly speaking slightly smaller than the diameter of the classification hole 726N of the classification plate 726 It is assumed that an underball M12 having a small diameter is mixed with a difference of about 0.7 mm.

  The bottom surface of the game ball storage portion 71 is shaped so as to be slightly recessed downward toward the three falling ball holes 71P as described above, so the game ball M1 is along the bottom surface of the game ball storage portion 71. It rolls to any falling ball hole 71P, and flows into the falling ball hole 71P.

  The gaming ball M1 having flowed into the falling ball hole 71P falls within the ball guiding tube 721T of the upper ball guiding member 721 in the sorting operation unit 72, and reaches the upper surface of the rotary disc 722. At this time, the rotary disc 722 is driven by the motor 728 and rotates at a constant speed in a counterclockwise direction in plan view, but the ball accommodation notch 722P of the rotary disc 722 reaches the position of the guiding tube 721T and the guiding If the gaming ball M1 has just dropped when communicating with the bulb tube 721T, the gaming ball M1 is directly fitted into the ball accommodation notch 722P and accommodated. At the position immediately below the guiding tube 721T, the lower surface side of the ball housing notch 722P is closed by the ball holder 723. Therefore, at this position, the gaming ball M1 is inserted into the ball housing notch 722P while the ball holder 723 It stays on top. On the other hand, when the game ball M1 is dropped when the ball housing notch 722P of the rotation plate 722 is shifted from the position of the guiding tube 721T back and forth, the game ball M1 is placed on the rotation plate 722 When the ball housing notch 722P of the rotary disc 722 reaches a position directly below the ball guiding tube 721T and is communicated with the ball guiding tube 721T, the ball housing notch 722P is fitted and housed. In the same manner as described above, it is held on the ball carrier 723.

  When the rotary disc 722 rotates while the gaming ball M1 is accommodated in the ball accommodation notch 722P, the gaming ball M1 rolls on the ball holder 723 so as to be dragged while being restrained by the ball accommodation cutout 722P. When the ball accommodation notch 722P reaches immediately above the ball passage hole 723P of the ball carrier 723 and communicates with the ball passage hole 723P, the gaming ball M1 flows into the ball passage hole 723P, and the middle ball guiding member It passes through the inside of the ball guiding portion 724P of 724 and falls onto the classification hole 726N of the classification plate 726.

  As described above, the gaming ball M1 is guided from the gaming ball storage unit 71 to the classification hole 726N of the classification plate 726. At this time, while the gaming ball M1 is transported while being housed in the ball housing notch 722P of the rotary disc 722 as described above, since only one game ball M1 is housed in the ball housing notch 722P, When another game ball M1 continues to flow after the game ball M1, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the subsequent game ball M1 rotates in the ball guide tube 721T of the upper ball guide member 721. It will be held on the board 722 and will wait until the next empty ball receiving notch 722P is reached. At this time, when another game ball M1 continues to flow in, the plurality of game balls M1 stand by in a row in the guiding tube 721T. Thus, the gaming balls M1 are guided one by one onto the classification holes 726N of the classification plate 726 at regular time intervals. In other words, the upper ball guiding member 721, the rotary disc 722, and the ball holding plate 723 supply the balls M1 from the gaming ball storage section 71 one by one to the classification holes 726N of the classification plate 726 at regular intervals. A ball arrangement mechanism is configured. As described above, the game balls M1 are supplied one by one at regular intervals by the arrangement mechanism, and the circulation of the game balls M1 and the later-described sorting (sieving) are surely made for each ball, causing stagnation. It has become difficult to fight.

  At this time, the entire path along which the game ball M1 is guided from the above-mentioned game ball storage section 71 to the top of the classification hole 726N of the classification plate 726 is sized to allow the regular ball M11 to pass. Similarly, the underball M12 is (indiscriminately) guided up to the classification hole 726N of the classification plate 726. Here, when the ball accommodating notch 722P of the rotary disc 722 reaches immediately above the ball passing hole 723P of the ball bearing disc 723 and communicates with the ball passing hole 723P, the classification hole of the classifying plate 726 from the ball accommodating notch 722P It communicates in a straight line up and down to 726N. As a result, since the gaming balls M1 fall substantially straight to the classification holes 726N of the classification plate 726, the balls can be distributed more quickly.

(2) Sorting of the game ball M1 (sieve)
(2a) When the gaming ball M1 guided to the top of the classification hole 726N of the passing ball M12 of the underball M12 is the underball M12, the underball M12 has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the classification hole 726N. As shown in 15 to 18, it passes through the classification hole 726 N, passes through the inside of the ball guiding tube 729 T of the lower ball guiding member 729 and falls into the small diameter ball housing portion 74.

  At this time, the diameter of the underball M12 is only slightly smaller than the diameter of the classification hole 726N (for example, by a difference of about 0.1 to 0.7 mm as described above, and further about 0.1 to 0.3 mm). Since there is not much room, it hardly passes immediately through the classification hole 726N, and in most cases, while staying in the classification hole 726N, it stays while rocking so as to slightly bounce on the classification hole 726N. However, while falling within the ball guiding portion 724P of the middle ball guiding member 724 before reaching the classification hole 726N, the margin between the inner peripheral surface of the ball guiding portion 724P and the underball M12 is at most 2 for example It is about 3 mm, so the underball M12 does not fall off largely toward the classification hole 726N and falls in a state close to concentric with the classification hole 726N. Although the peripheral edge of the hole 726N may be hit, most of it will be captured and fitted in the classification hole 726N. After that, while swinging with most of the parts fitted in the classification holes 726N in this way, they approach a position concentric with the classification holes 726N by their own weight and pass through the classification holes 726N.

  Further, at this time, when the ball housing notch 722P of the rotary disc 722 reaches immediately above the ball passing hole 723P of the ball bearing disk 723 and communicates with the ball passing hole 723P, the small diameter ball housing portion 74 from the ball housing notch 722P. It communicates up and down in a straight line up to the ball discharging hole 74P. At this time, as described above, the contact piece 727E of the lower rotary wing 727 is disposed to be slightly larger than one game ball by approximately larger on the clockwise side in plan view with respect to the ball accommodation notch 722P, Further, the contact piece 725E of the upper rotary wing 725 is arranged so as to be substantially displaced by one game ball in the clockwise direction in plan view with respect to the contact piece 725E of the lower rotary wing 727. Neither the rotary wing 727 nor the upper rotary wing 725 has yet come to the falling trajectory of the underball M12 and therefore does not collide with the underball M12. Therefore, the underball M12 drops from the ball accommodating notch 722P of the rotary disk 722 into the small diameter ball accommodating portion 74 substantially linearly after passing through slight stagnation in the classification hole 726N. That is, the underball M12 can be rapidly circulated from the ball accommodating notch 722P of the rotary disk 722 into the small diameter ball accommodating portion 74.

(2b) Catching the regular ball M11 If the gaming ball M1 guided to the upper side of the classification hole 726N of the classification plate 726 is a regular ball M11, the regular ball M11 has a diameter larger than the diameter of the classification hole 726N. As shown in FIG. 19 to FIG. 25, it can not pass through the classification hole 726 N and stays in this position.

  At this time, since the diameter of the regular sphere M11 is only slightly larger (about 0.2 to 0.5 mm) than the diameter of the classification hole 726N, as shown in FIG. At the lower position, it is held in a supported and supported posture by being held around the periphery of the classification hole 726N. In other words, the lower half from the lower end to a position slightly lower than the center in the height direction is held in a posture in which the classification hole 726N is inserted from above. Also, thereby, the lower end portion between the lower end of the regular sphere M11 and the overall height, that is, the height of about 1⁄4 of the diameter of 11 mm, is in a posture projecting downward from the classification hole 726N.

  At this time, while the regular ball M11 falls in the ball guiding portion 724P of the middle ball guiding member 724 before reaching the classification hole 726N, the space between the inner circumferential surface of the ball guiding portion 724P and the regular ball M11 The margin is smaller than in the case of the above-mentioned underball M12, so that the regular sphere M11 falls almost concentrically, almost without shifting toward the classification hole 726N. Also, as described above, the diameter of the regular sphere M11 is only slightly larger than the diameter of the classification hole 726N. Therefore, the normal sphere M11 that has fallen falls into the classification hole 726N with almost no trouble and is captured.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 23 to FIG. 25, when the regular sphere M11 falls and fits into the classification hole 726N, as in the case when the above-mentioned underball M12 passes the classification hole 726N, The contact piece 727E of the lower rotary wing 727 and the contact piece 725E of the upper rotary wing 725 have not yet come to a position approaching the classification hole 726N, and the clockwise direction in plan view with respect to the position of the classification hole 726N It is in the position shifted by about one or more game balls on the side.

(3) Discharge of gaming balls M1 (3a) Storage of undersized balls M12 As described above, the undersized balls M12 which have passed through the classification holes 726N of the classification plate 726 and dropped into the small diameter ball accommodating portion 74 are shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the small diameter ball storage portion 74 is stored. Thereafter, the underball M12 stored in the small diameter ball housing portion 74 is collected at an appropriate timing thereafter, and the inside of the small diameter ball housing portion 74 is made empty again.

(3b) Discharge of regular sphere M11 (3b-1) Pushing up of regular sphere M11 After the regular sphere M11 falls into the classification hole 726N of the classification plate 726 as described above and the insertion posture is taken, the lower rotary wing 727 The contact piece 727E is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in plan view to reach a position immediately below the classification hole 726N. At this time, as shown in FIG. 22, the contact piece 727E of the lower rotary wing 727 is rotationally moved in a horizontal posture along the lower surface of the classification plate 726. It will contact from the side to the lower end part of regular ball M11 which projected to. At this time, the contact piece 727E of the lower rotor 727 has a shape in which the ridge line portion of the peripheral edge of the upper surface is angularly dropped so as to form an inclined surface gently inclined from the inside to the outside on the upper surface. On the other hand, the regular sphere M11 is inserted from above into the classification hole 726N and is restrained by a posture that can move only upward, and gradually narrows toward the lower end below the classification hole 726N It is in a position where the sphere is exposed. Therefore, when the contact piece 727E of the lower rotary wing 727 abuts on the lower end of the regular ball M11 and continues to rotate, the slopes of the contact piece 727E and the spherical surfaces at the lower end of the regular ball M11 mutually It functions like a cam surface, whereby the contact piece 727E rotates while moving the regular ball M11 upward, and as shown in FIGS. 26 to 32, the contact piece 727E places the regular ball M11 on top. It will be placed. That is, while the contact piece 727E pushes up the regular ball M11 upward, the contact piece 727E enters the bottom and supports the regular ball M11 on the contact piece 727E.

  At this time, the regular ball M11 can roll on the contact piece 727E of the lower rotary wing 727, but the classification hole 726N has a depth (about 2 mm) of the thickness of the classification plate 726 Therefore, even if the regular ball M11 rolls due to, for example, vibration due to any reason, the lower end adheres to the periphery of the classification hole 726N, and accordingly, the movement of the regular ball M11 is as follows to the periphery of the classification hole 726N. It is regulated within the contact range. In other words, at this time, the lower surface side of the classification hole 726N is substantially closed by the contact piece 727E of the lower rotary wing 727, and the classification hole 726N of which the lower surface is substantially closed by the contact piece 727E On the bottom surface, the regular ball M11 is mounted so as to be movable in the lateral direction, and the movement of the regular ball M11 is restricted by the periphery of the classification hole 726N.

(3b-2) Abutment of the abutment piece 727E When the abutment piece 727E of the lower rotary wing 727 continues to rotate counterclockwise from the position immediately below the classification hole 726N in a plan view, Then, as shown in FIGS. 33 to 39, the abutment piece 725E of the upper rotary wing 725 rotates counterclockwise in plan view and abuts on the regular sphere M11.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 36, the contact piece 725E of the upper rotary wing 725 rotates in a horizontal posture along the upper surface of the classification plate 726, and the depth of the classification hole 726N is as described above. Since the thickness of the upper rotary wing 725 is about 2 mm and the thickness of the upper rotary wing 725 is about 3 mm, the normal ball M11 is located at about the center in the height direction of the abutment piece 725E. Abut on the side about 3.5 mm from the lower end of the, or about 1/3 the height position of 11 mm in total height of the regular ball M11.

(3b-3) Reciprocation of the regular sphere M11 When the contact piece 725E of the upper rotary wing 725 continues to rotate counterclockwise in plan view, the regular sphere M11 follows the radial direction of the classification hole 726N. Along the outer periphery of the classification hole 726N, as shown in FIG. 40 to FIG. That is, the regular ball M11 is pushed outward from the classification hole 726N by the contact piece 725E of the upper rotary wing 725.

(3b-4) Guidance of regular sphere M11 After the regular sphere M11 runs onto the upper surface of the classification plate 726, the regular sphere M11 is transverse to the contact piece 725E of the upper rotary wing 725 which continues to rotate counterclockwise in plan view. It is pushed in the direction and rolls on the classification plate 726. At this time, as shown in FIG. 46, the tip of the contact piece 725E of the upper rotary wing 725 is tapered in a mountain shape in plan view, so that the regular sphere M11 is horizontal at the oblique edge of this tip. Rather than being pushed in a direction and thus counterclockwise in plan view with the contact piece 725E, the contact piece 725E is pushed outward from the counterclockwise direction in which the contact piece 725E moves. Also, since the large diameter ball discharge passage 724D is expanded from the ball guiding portion 724P in the middle ball guiding member 724 generally along the direction in which the regular ball M11 is pushed by the contact piece 725E in this manner, The regular sphere M11 is guided from the proximal end to the distal end in the large diameter sphere discharge passage 724D.

  When the regular ball M11 is guided to the tip of the large diameter ball discharge passage 724D, as shown in FIGS. 47 to 53, it reaches the large diameter ball discharge port 726M of the classification plate 726, and the large diameter ball discharge port From 726 M, it falls into the inside of the ball | bowl guide part 73G in the said large diameter ball | bowl accommodating part 73 through the recessed part 729R in the said lower ball guiding member 729. As described above, the internal space of the ball guiding portion 73G communicates with the internal space of the main portion 73B in the large diameter ball housing portion 73, and the lower wall of the ball guiding portion 73G is slightly inclined toward the main portion 73B. Therefore, the regular ball M11 which has fallen into the ball guiding portion 73G falls onto the lower wall of the ball guiding portion 73G and then rolls on the lower wall, as shown in FIG. It falls into the inside of the part 73B.

(3b-5) Releasing Ball of Regular Ball M11 The regular ball M11 that has dropped into the main body 73B of the large diameter sphere housing portion 73 falls to the bottom of the main body 73B, and the above-mentioned discharging mechanism Discharged to the outside of the The ball outlet communicates with the payout device 358 to the game ball launch device 38, and the regular ball M11 passes from the main body 73B of the large diameter ball storage unit 73 to the payout device 358 or the game ball launch device 38 through the ball outlet. You will be guided.

  At this time, according to the number of regular spheres M11 dispensed from the dispensing device 358 and the number of regular spheres M11 fired by the gaming sphere launching device 38, respectively, from the classification unit 70, ie, the classification unit 70A before payout and the classification unit 70B before launch. A corresponding number of regular balls M11 are supplied to the payout device 358 and the game ball launcher 38, respectively. That is, the supply (discharge) operation of regular balls M11 from the pre-dispense classification unit 70A and the pre-launch classification unit 70B is performed in synchronization with the payout at the payout device 358 and the firing at the gaming ball launch device 38, respectively. The required number of regular spheres M11 are to be sequentially supplied (discharged) from the pre-dispensing classification unit 70A and the pre-launch classification unit 70B, respectively.

  As described above, the game balls M1 derived from the case rail 357 and the upper tray 19 on the upstream side pass the classification unit 70, ie, the classification unit 70A before payout and the classification unit 70B before launch, respectively, from among which the small balls The M12 is sorted out (screened), excluded, and sorted so as to become only regular balls M11, and is guided to the downstream payout device 358 and the gaming ball launch device 38 respectively.

  At this time, the classification unit 70 is separated after the game ball M1 flows into the ball drop hole 71P of the game ball storage portion 71 and is separated and discharged to either the large diameter ball storage portion 73 or the small diameter ball storage portion 74. Although it has a path, this separation path is prohibited or permitted to pass the gaming ball M1 in the classification hole 726N having a diameter slightly smaller than the regular ball M11 (about 10.5 to 10.8 mm) Since the regular balls M11 and the under-balls M12 are separated, the game balls M1 can be sorted efficiently and with high accuracy by a simple structure.

  Further, three routes are formed in the same configuration as the above-mentioned sorting route, and the game ball M1 can be distributed in the same way in these three routes. Here, these three routes are each provided with a ball arrangement mechanism for supplying the game balls M1 from the game ball storage unit 71 one ball at a certain interval onto the classification holes 726N of the classification plate 726, and In this arrangement mechanism, since six ball housing notches 722P are provided on the rotary disk 722, after the game ball M1 is housed in the rotary disk 722, the game ball from each ball housing cutout 722P M1 will be distributed at the same time. Therefore, up to three game balls M1 are simultaneously circulated and sorted by these three paths, and the circulation and sorting of up to three each are performed repeatedly at a predetermined interval. Thus, the game balls M1 respectively derived from the case rail 357 and the upper tray 19 on the upstream side are more efficiently sorted.

  In addition, the allocation operation of the game ball M1 by the rotary plate 722 and the discharge operation of the regular ball M11 by the upper rotary wing 725 and the lower rotary wing 727 rotate all of these rotary elements at once by the motor 728. This is done so that up to three game balls M1 can be distributed and discharged at the same time. Therefore, for example, compared with the case where a mechanism for distributing and discharging one game ball is configured to provide a plurality of the mechanisms, the mechanism can distribute and discharge the plurality of game balls more efficiently and with a simple configuration. ing.

  Also, as described above, the classification unit 70 includes the game ball storage unit 71, the sorting operation unit 72, the large diameter ball storage unit 73, and the small diameter ball storage unit 74, and these units have the detailed configurations described above. However, the components of the classification unit 70 can also be classified as shown in Table 1 from the viewpoint of function, for example.

  As shown in Table 1, the classification unit 70 introduces gaming balls M1 from the case rail 357 and the upper tray 19 on the upstream side, separates and removes the undersized balls M12, and sorts them so that they become only regular balls M11. It is efficiently and concisely configured to guide to the downstream payout device 358 and the game ball launch device 38, respectively.

  Further, as described above, the classification unit 70 is disposed as the pre-dispense classification unit 70A and the pre-discharge classification unit 70B at two positions, the pre-dispense position pA and the pre-launch position pB, as schematically shown in FIG. . Basically, the classification unit 70 may be disposed at any position in the distribution channel of the gaming ball M1 circulating in the gaming hall, including the island equipment, whereby the gaming sphere M1 circulating in the gaming hall is undersized The ball M12 can be sorted out and excluded. However, as classification unit 70 is disposed at a position farther upstream from each pachinko machine 10 installed in the game hall, until game balls M1 are sorted by classification unit 70 and reach each pachinko machine 10 Again, there is a high possibility that the underball M12 will be mixed again. Therefore, when the classification unit 70 is disposed in the distribution channel of the gaming balls M1 in each pachinko machine 10, it is possible to more effectively prevent the under-ball M12 from being used for playing a game. In addition, when the classification unit 70 is arranged in each pachinko machine 10, for example, by examining the quantity of the underball M12 sorted by the classification unit 70, the underball M12 is illegally mixed in any pachinko machine 10 It also offers the advantage of being able to predict whether it is likely to

  Furthermore, in one pachinko machine 10, as indicated by a broken line A11 in FIG. 14, when the gaming ball M1 is supplied from the island facility of the game hall, the tank 355, the tank rail 356, the case rail 357, the payout device 358, the upper plate 19 and the game ball launch device 38 are distributed in the order, and then they are fired from the game ball launch device 38 and guided to the game area, but the classification unit 70 is disposed at any position in this circulation path. It is also good. However, even in the distribution channel in this one pachinko machine 10, there is a possibility that the underball M12 may be mixed at any position, so the classification unit 70 is preferably positioned to be fired from the game ball launch device 38 It is possible to more effectively prevent the underball M12 from being used for playing if it is arranged closer to the upstream side.

  Furthermore, in the case where the classification unit 70 is disposed after the predetermined number of winning balls have been paid out in the distribution channel in the pachinko machine 10, if the underball M12 is separated and excluded by the classification unit 70. The amount of prize balls paid out is reduced, which is disadvantageous to the player. Therefore, it is preferable that the classification unit 70 be disposed on the upstream side as close as possible to the position where the predetermined number of winning balls are paid out.

  From the above viewpoint, in the pachinko machine 10, as described above, as shown schematically in FIG. 14, the pre-dispense classification unit 70A and the pre-launch classification unit are respectively placed at the pre-dispense position pA and the pre-launch position pB. 70B is arranged. According to this arrangement configuration, even if the underball M12 is mixed in the gaming ball M1 before reaching the pre-disbursing position pA, the under-ball M12 is separated and excluded immediately after being classified and excluded by the pre-discrimination classification unit 70A. Since the payout is performed by the device 358, a predetermined number of regular balls M11 are correctly paid out as payout balls from the payout device 358 (hereinafter, the number of regular balls M11 equal to the predetermined number of winning balls is n1). The predetermined number n1 of regular balls M11 are thereafter distributed from the upper tray 19 to the gaming ball launcher 38, but there are also cases where the upper tray 19 is particularly open forward. Under-ball M12 may be mixed in the period until it reaches. If it is assumed that the underball M12 is mixed (hereinafter, the number of the mixed underball M12 is n2) and that no game ball is additionally inserted other than this, the game ball launcher 38 is A predetermined number n1 of regular balls M11 paid out from the above-mentioned payout device 358 and n2 small balls M12 mixed are introduced as n1 + n2 game balls M1, but the game ball launcher Since n2 under-balls M12 are sorted out and excluded by the pre-launch classification unit 70B at the pre-launch position pB immediately before 38, only the predetermined number n1 regular spheres M11 are properly launched from the gaming ball launch device 38 It will be done. Therefore, only the n1 regular balls M11 which are not mixed with the undersized ball M12 and not reduced from the predetermined number are fired from the game ball launching device 38 and guided to the game area, whereby the game is properly played. It is supposed to be.

(Action)
The pachinko machine 10 is a gaming ball (large diameter ball) having a relatively large diameter, a regular gaming ball (regular ball) M11 having a defined diameter of 11 mm, and a gaming ball having a relatively small diameter ( The classification unit 70 includes the classification unit 70 as a sorting mechanism for sorting the gaming ball M1 into a gaming ball (overball) M12 having a diameter of less than 11 mm smaller than the regular ball M11 as a small diameter ball). A classification hole 726N, which is an open part having a size and a shape that restricts the passage of the ball M11 and does not restrict the passage of the above-mentioned underball M12, and a regular sphere M11 whose passage is restricted by the classification hole 726N, The lower rotor 7 as a pushing-back means for pushing back the direction in which M11 tends to pass through the classification hole 726N, that is, the lower side and the opposite side, ie, the upper side. 7 and the upper rotary wing 725 as a delivery means for feeding the regular sphere M11 pushed back by the lower rotary wing 727 toward the large diameter sphere discharge passage 724D and the large diameter sphere discharge port 726M which are predetermined discharge paths. It has composition.

  In the above configuration, passage of the regular sphere M11 as the large diameter sphere is restricted by the classification hole 726N, and the large sphere evacuation passage 724D is performed by the upper rotary wing 725 in a state where the regular sphere M11 is pushed back by the lower rotary wing 727. And the large diameter ball outlet 726M. Therefore, the game ball M1 in which the underball M12 as a small ball is mixed and distributed can be efficiently sorted into a regular ball M11 and an underball M12 with a simple configuration, and can be sent out to different discharge paths. It is supposed to be. Further, by restricting only the passage of the regular ball M11 with the classification hole 726N, the gaming ball M1 can be separated into the regular ball M11 and the under-ball M12 with good accuracy.

  Therefore, in the above configuration, the gaming ball M1 in which regular spheres M11 and undersized spheres M12 having different diameters are mixed can be sorted efficiently and with good accuracy by a simple configuration. As a result, it is possible to separate and eliminate the underball M12 efficiently and with good accuracy from the circulating game balls M1 with a simple configuration. Further, since the gaming balls M1 can be efficiently sorted in this manner, the pachinko machine 10 is less likely to prevent smooth circulation of the gaming balls.

  Further, the classification hole 726N, which is the above-mentioned open portion, is a penetrating portion formed in the classification plate 726 which is a plate-like member, and is partially protruded in the direction of passing the regular sphere M11, that is, downward. The lower rotary blade 727, which is the push-back means, is a plate-like member from which the contact piece 727E extends, and the normal sphere M11 is to pass through the classification plate 726. The upper rotary blade 725 which is disposed along the surface or lower surface of the side projecting in the direction of movement and which is the delivery means is a plate-like member from which the contact piece 725E extends. The lower rotary wing 727 and the upper rotary wing 725 are disposed along the surface or upper surface opposite to the direction in which the M 11 is going to pass, and the contact pieces 727 E and 725 E are classified holes respectively. It is adapted to be driven to pass through the position of 26N.

  According to this configuration, when the lower rotary wing 727 is driven, the contact piece 727E abuts against the projecting portion of the regular sphere M11 restrained by the classification hole 726N in the middle of the drive and the direction to pass the regular sphere M11, ie, It will be pushed back to the opposite side to the lower side, that is, the upper side. Next, when the upper rotary wing 725 is driven, the abutment piece 725E abuts on the regular ball M11 pushed back by the abutment piece 727E of the lower rotary wing 727 in the process to drive the regular ball M11 from the classification hole 726N. It will be sent out so as to push it out. Therefore, the simple configuration enables efficient operation of push-back and delivery of the regular sphere M11.

  Further, as the thickness of the classification plate 726 which is the plate-like member becomes larger, the projection height of the portion in which the regular sphere M11 restrained by the classification hole 726N tends to pass, ie, the downward projection, becomes smaller. On the other hand, in the pachinko machine 10, the classification plate 726 has a thickness smaller than the radius (5.5 mm) of the regular sphere M11, more specifically, about 2 mm corresponding to about 36% of the radius of the regular sphere M11. Since it has a thickness, the projection height of the projection of regular sphere M11 restrained by classification hole 726N can be secured, whereby the lower rotary wing 727 can be secured to the projection of regular sphere M11. The abutment piece 725E can be reliably abutted. On the other hand, as the thickness of the classification plate 726 which is the plate-like member becomes larger, the regular sphere M11 in the posture pushed back by the contact piece 727E of the lower rotary wing 727 becomes deeper into the classification hole 726N. On the other hand, in the pachinko machine 10, since the thickness of the classification plate 726 is smaller than the radius of the regular sphere M11 as described above, the regular sphere pushed back by the abutment piece 727E of the lower rotary wing 727 Since the portion including the upper half of M11 and larger than this is in a posture to project upward beyond the classification plate 726, the normal sphere M11 is pushed by the abutment piece 725E of the upper rotary wing 725 and the classification hole 726N It is easy to get on from the periphery to the upper surface of the outer classification plate 726.

  Further, the sum (about 5 mm) of the thickness (about 2 mm) of the classification plate 726 and the thickness (about 3 mm) of the upper rotary wing 725 is smaller than the radius (5.5 mm) of the regular sphere M11. Therefore, the contact piece 725E of the upper rotary wing 725 can be in contact with the lower portion of the regular sphere M11 in the posture pushed back by the contact piece 727E of the lower rotary wing 727, ie, lower than the center. The ball M11 runs from the classification hole 726N to the upper surface of the classification plate 726 and is easily pushed out.

  Further, the lower rotary wing 727 and the upper rotary wing 725 are rotationally driven at the same speed in a counterclockwise direction in plan view, which is the same direction around an axis extending in the vertical direction, and the lower rotary wing 727 contacts Since the contact piece 725E of the upper rotary wing 725 is disposed so as to be displaced by approximately one game ball in the clockwise direction in plan view opposite to the rotational drive direction with respect to the piece 727E, the lower side By rotationally driving the rotary wings 727 and the upper rotary wings 725, it is possible to easily perform the push-back and delivery operations of the regular ball M11. Further, since the lower rotary wing 727 and the upper rotary wing 725 can be rotationally driven by the same rotation shaft 728S, the mechanism is simply configured.

  Further, since the ball sorting mechanism is provided with the ball sorting ball 726N for supplying the game balls M1 one ball at a constant interval, the distribution of the game balls M1 and the sorting (sieving) in the class holes 726N It is made sure that it is difficult to cause stagnation.

  In addition, the ball arrangement mechanism can supply the game ball M1 to the classification hole 726N immediately before the operation of pushing back and sending out the regular ball M11 by the lower rotary wing 727 and the upper rotary wing 725 is started. Therefore, when the supplied game ball M1 is the underball M12, the underball M12 may pass through the classification hole 726N without being impeded by the operation of the lower rotor 727 and the upper rotor 725. On the other hand, if the supplied gaming ball M1 is a regular ball M11, the regular ball M11 whose passage is restricted by the classification hole 726N is pushed back by the lower rotary wing 727 and the upper rotary wing 725 and sent out. It becomes. As a result, the regular spheres M11 and the underballs M12 can be separated efficiently and reliably, and can be guided to the respective discharge paths.

  Also, the ball distribution mechanism is located on the upper side along the vertical direction from the classification hole 726N, and is a wall having a ball hole 723P as a ball portion through which only one game ball can pass with a slight margin. A game ball is vertically disposed at a position which is disposed on the bearing plate 723 and the ball bearing plate 723 and is movable in the lateral direction and can pass on the ball passing hole 723P while moving. , A ball transfer member having a ball accommodating notch 722P as a penetrating portion capable of accommodating only a small amount of space, and a position which is disposed on the rotary plate 722 and shifted laterally to the ball passing hole 723P The ball guiding tube 721T of the upper ball guiding member 721 is provided as a guiding portion which can guide the game ball to fall to a position where the ball accommodating notch 722P of the rotary disc 722 can pass.

  In the above configuration, the gaming ball M1 is guided by the guiding tube 721T of the upper guiding member 721 and accommodated in the ball accommodation notch 722P of the rotary disc 722, transferred to the rotary disc 722, and It moves onto the ball hole 723P and drops from the ball passage hole 723P onto the classification hole 726N. Thereby, the ball arrangement mechanism capable of supplying the game balls M1 one by one at regular intervals to the classification hole 726N is configured with a simple configuration.

  In addition, the rotary disc 722 is a rotary body that can rotate around an axis extending in the vertical direction, and in a counterclockwise direction in plan view, which is the same direction as the lower rotary wing 727 and the upper rotary wing 725 The ball accommodating notch 722P is rotationally driven at the same speed as the lower rotary wing 727 and the upper rotary wing 725, and the ball accommodation notch 722P is substantially the gaming ball in the counterclockwise direction side in plan view with respect to the contact piece 727E of the lower rotary wing 727 The game ball M1 is dropped from the ball-passing hole 723P of the ball holding plate 723 onto the classification hole 726N while the rotary disk 722 is rotating since the ball 722 is arranged to be slightly deviated by one ball or more. Immediately after this, the contact piece 727E of the lower rotary wing 727 comes to the position of the classification hole 726N. Therefore, with a simple configuration, the ball arrangement mechanism is capable of efficiently supplying the game ball M1 to the classification hole 726N just before the pushback and delivery operations of the regular ball M11 by the lower rotor 727 and the upper rotor 725 are started. It is configured. Further, since the rotary disc 722, the lower rotary wing 727 and the upper rotary wing 725 can be rotationally driven by the same rotation shaft 728S, the mechanism is simplified accordingly.

  In addition, since a plurality of separation paths for separating the game balls M1 are formed by the classification hole 726N which is an open part, the lower rotary wings 727 which are push-back means, and the upper rotary wings 725 which is delivery means, three or more The balls M1 can be efficiently separated.

  Further, the lower rotary wing 727 and the upper rotary wing 725 are rotationally driven by the same rotation shaft 728 S, and the plurality of separation paths are disposed at positions passing through the rotation trajectories of the lower rotary wing 727 and the upper rotary wing 725 As a result, a plurality of separation paths are efficiently arranged in a space-saving manner as much as possible.

  Further, since the rotary board 722 which is a ball transfer member has a configuration in which a plurality of, ie, six ball housing notches 722P are provided, after the gaming ball M1 is housed in the rotary disk 722, a plurality of balls are cut from the ball housing cutout 722P. That is, three gaming balls M1 will be distributed simultaneously. Therefore, the game balls M1 are distributed at the same time up to the plurality, ie, three, by the plurality, ie, three paths, and separated at the same time, and the plurality, that is, the plurality, ie, three each It is performed repeatedly at intervals. As a result, the gaming balls M1 are more efficiently sorted.

  In addition, the allocation operation of the game ball M1 by the rotary disc 722 and the discharge operation of the regular ball M11 by the upper rotary wing 725 and the lower rotary wing 727 are performed by driving these elements at the same time. Up to the plurality of game balls M1 are distributed and discharged at the same time up to the plurality or three. Therefore, for example, compared with the case where a mechanism for distributing and discharging one game ball is configured to provide a plurality of the mechanisms, the mechanism can distribute and discharge the plurality of game balls more efficiently and with a simple configuration. ing.

  Further, since the classification unit 70 is disposed at two positions, the pre-disbursement position pA immediately upstream of the dispensing device 358 and the pre-firing position pB immediately upstream of the gaming ball launcher 38, for example, the dispensing device 358 After the predetermined number of winning balls have been paid out, the under-ball M12 is separated and excluded by the classification unit 70, and there is no decrease in the paid out balls, and the game ball launching device 38 At the time of introduction, the underball M12 is not mixed. Therefore, only the proper number of regular balls M11 are fired from the gaming ball launcher 38 and guided to the gaming area, whereby the game is properly played.

(Modification)
Various modifications can be made to the pachinko machine 10 according to the above-described embodiment, for example, as listed below. In the following description and drawings, the same members or parts as those in the above embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be basically omitted. Also, the following modifications can be implemented singly or in combination of two or more.

(1) In the above embodiment, the classification unit 70 is disposed at two positions, the pre-disbursement position pA and the pre-launch position pB, respectively, but the game ball other than the regular ball M11 is prevented from being used for gaming From the viewpoint of the game, it is desirable to dispose the classification unit 70 at least at the pre-launch position pB, while the game balls in which game balls other than the regular ball M11 are sorted out and eliminated are less It is desirable to dispose the classification unit 70 at least at the pre-dispense position pA, from the viewpoint of preventing the disadvantage of the person. That is, it is desirable to dispose the classification unit 70 in at least one of the pre-dispense position pA and the pre-launch position pB.

  Furthermore, in separating and excluding game balls other than regular ball M11 from game ball M1 which distributes pachinko machine 10, classification unit 70 is arranged in at least one place in the distribution channel of game ball M1 in pachinko machine 10 Just do it. Also, for example, at least one of the components of tank 355, tank rail 356, case rail 357, payout device 358, upper tray 19 and game ball launch device 38 constituting the flow path of game ball M1 in pachinko machine 10 A configuration similar to that of the classification unit 70 may be incorporated inside.

  In addition, as described above, when the classification unit 70 is disposed in the distribution channel of each pachinko machine 10, for example, any pachinko machine 10 can be checked by examining the quantity of the underball M12 sorted by the classification unit 70. It is possible to guess whether there is a high possibility that gaming balls other than the regular ball M11 are mixed improperly, but in this case, for example, the discharge path of the underball M12 in the classification unit 70, ie, the classification hole 726N of the classification plate 726 A ball entry detection switch (ball entry sensor) is disposed in the ball guide tube 729T of the lower ball guide member 729 located at the downstream side and in the ball discharge hole 74P of the small ball storage portion 74 etc. It is good also as composition which can be detected. Further, the classification unit 70 may be configured to be detachable, and for example, the classification unit 70 may be selectively disposed or transferred to a specific pachinko machine 10 in a game hall.

  If further extended, the game balls other than the regular ball M11 are separated and excluded from the game balls M1 circulating in the game hall, as described above, at least one of the distribution channels of the game balls M1 circulating in the game hall The classification unit 70 may be disposed at a location. For example, the classification unit 70 is disposed at a position immediately before the gaming ball supplied from the island facility is introduced to the pachinko machine 10, that is, a position pC immediately upstream of the tank 355 as shown in FIG. May be In this case, for example, a large sized classification unit 70 as shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and others can also be arranged.

  Further, for example, the classification unit 70 may be disposed outside or inside a counter (jet counter) that counts gaming balls. In this case, if the classification unit 70 is disposed at a position upstream of the position where counting is performed in the counter, the underball M12 is excluded and the number of gaming balls reduced is counted. It is desirable to dispose the classification unit 70 at a position downstream of the position where the operation is performed, for example, a position immediately downstream or immediately upstream of the discharge section of the counter.

  In addition, as in the case where the classification unit 70 is disposed at the position immediately before being introduced into the above-described pachinko machine 10, in the distribution channel of the gaming ball M1 circulating in the gaming hall, inside the gaming machine and other devices. Instead, the classification unit 70 may be separately disposed as a game ball sorting device outside.

(2) In the above embodiment, although the lower rotary wing 727 as the push-back means, the upper rotary wing 725 as the delivery means, and the rotary disc 722 as the ball transfer member are rotating bodies rotating at a constant speed, For example, the ball housing notch 722P of the rotating disk 722 is from the ball guiding tube 721T of the upper ball guiding member 721 to the ball passing hole 723P of the ball bearing 723 and the ball passing hole 723P of the ball bearing 723 is the next upper ball bearing member 721. It may be made to rotate intermittently so as to move sequentially by 60 ° to the ball guiding tube 721 T of According to this, the gaming ball M1 from the ball guiding tube 721T of the upper ball guiding member 721 to the ball accommodating cutout 722P of the rotating disk 722, and from the ball accommodating cutout 722P of the rotating disk 722 to the ball passing hole 723P of the ball holder 723 Flow of each ball, separation of gaming balls M1 in the classification holes 726N of the classification plate 726, pushing back of the regular balls M11 by the lower rotary wings 727 and the upper rotary wings 725, and delivery operations. It will be done more reliably and stagnation will be less likely to occur. In this case, a stepping motor, a solenoid or the like may be used as the driving means. In any case, the drive means is not limited to the motor, and various drive means can be used.

  The push-back means, the delivery means, and the ball transfer member are not limited to those rotating about an axis extending in the vertical direction. For example, as the delivery means or push-back means, as shown in FIG. 54, along the one surface (upper surface or lower surface) of the classification plate 826, the position shifted from the classification hole 826N to the outside as shown by arrow A12 and the classification hole It may be a contact piece 825E which can be slid to reciprocate between the position crossing the 826N and the transverse position. In this case, a contact piece 825E is disposed on one surface (lower surface) of the classification plate 826 as push-back means, and another contact piece 825E having the same configuration is disposed on the other surface (upper surface) as delivery means. The contact piece 825E is shifted relative to the contact piece 825E as push-back means toward the classification hole 826N by approximately one game ball, and the contact piece 825E as delivery means The large diameter ball outlet 826M may be drilled at a position where the Further, the contact piece 825E as the push-back means and the contact piece 825E as the delivery means may be driven by the same drive means (not shown). As a result, the normal ball M11 inserted into the classification hole 826N and restrained is pushed back upward by the contact piece 825E as the push-back means, and thereafter, is sent out from the classification hole 826N by the contact piece 825E as the delivery means It is guided to the large diameter ball outlet 826M. That is, the operation of pushing back and sending out the regular sphere M11 can be performed almost similarly to the case of the above embodiment. In this case, as the driving means, a solenoid or the like can be suitably used in addition to the motor. Further, in this case, for example, a plurality of classification holes 826N are bored in the classification plate 826, the game ball sorting paths communicating with the classification holes 826N are respectively disposed, and the contact pieces 825E corresponding to the classification holes 826N are A large contact piece which can be individually disposed or can be traversed to block all the classification holes 826N at one time may be disposed (not shown).

  Also, as a push-back means, instead of the lower rotary blade 727 in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 55, for example, as a pivoting member 827 that pivots to open and close in a hinge type (open door type) Good. The pivoting member 827 is a plate-like member that is rotationally driven by a laterally extending rotation shaft 828S disposed laterally of the classification hole 726N along the lower surface of the classification plate 726, and from the rotation shaft 828S From the posture suspended downward, as shown by arrow A13, by being rotationally driven by the rotation shaft 828S, it is pivoted to be lifted toward the classification hole 726N, and a horizontal posture that closes the classification hole 726N from below. At the same time, the lower end portion of the regular ball M11 protruding downward from the classification hole 726N is lifted and pushed back. Thereby, the operation of pushing back the regular sphere M11 can be performed similarly to the lower rotary wing 727 in the above-described embodiment. However, it is common to the upper rotary wing 725 serving as the delivery means and the rotary disc 722 serving as the ball transfer member to rotate around an axis extending in the vertical direction like the lower rotary wing 727 in the above embodiment. The mechanism can be simplified because rotation can be driven by the rotation shaft 728S.

  Further, as a ball transfer member, for example, as shown in FIG. 56, a slide piece 822 which can slide so as to reciprocate in the lateral direction may be used. In the example shown in the figure, a ball bearing disc 823 similar to that of the above embodiment is disposed, and a slide piece 822 is disposed so as to be reciprocable laterally along the upper surface of the ball bearing disc 823. . A ball guiding tube 821T having the same configuration as the ball guiding tube 721T of the above embodiment is disposed on the slide piece 822 at a position spaced laterally from the ball passing hole 823P of the ball holding plate 823. It is done. In the vicinity of the tip of the slide piece 822, a ball accommodation hole 822P which penetrates the slide piece 822 in the thickness direction, that is, in the vertical direction and can accommodate only one game ball with a slight margin is bored. 822 reciprocates in the lateral direction as shown by an arrow A14, and as a result, it is possible to reciprocate between the position where the ball housing hole 822P communicates with the ball guiding tube 821T and the position where it communicates with the ball passage hole 823P. Thus, as in the case of the above-described embodiment, a ball arrangement mechanism is configured to guide the game balls M1 one by one at a given time interval to the ball passing hole 823P and to drop the ball.

  In this case, for example, a plurality of ball housing holes 822P may be formed in the slide piece 822 and the ball guiding tube 821T and the ball passing hole 823P may be disposed at positions corresponding to the ball housing holes 822P, Thus, it is possible to configure a ball arrangement mechanism capable of supplying a plurality of gaming balls M1 per one reciprocation of the slide piece 822 (not shown). Also, in this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 54 described above, the contact piece 825E as a push-back means or delivery means which can reciprocate by reciprocating movement is disposed together, and the contact piece 825E and the slide piece 822 are solenoids. And the like, and the mechanism can be simplified (not shown).

(3) In the above embodiment, the three separation paths are equally spaced from each other so as to form the apexes of a regular triangle in plan view so as to pass through the rotational trajectories of the lower rotor 727 and the upper rotor 725. For example, the lower rotor blade and the upper rotor blade are made larger in the planar direction than in the case of the above embodiment, and at least four contact pieces (for example, 5 to 7). About four) It may be formed at equal intervals, and it may be made to arrange four or more division paths corresponding to pass through a rotation track of these four or more contact pieces, and thereby the gaming ball M1 is further added. It can be sorted efficiently.

(4) In the above embodiment, as the ball transfer member, the rotary disc 722 having the ball accommodating notch 722P receives the gaming ball M1 from the guiding tube 721T of the upper ball guiding member 721 into the ball accommodating notch 722P, The game ball M1 is rotated as being dragged while being restrained in the ball accommodation notch 722P and guided to the ball passing hole 723P of the ball holder 723. At this time, for example, the ball A certain amount of allowance in the height direction, for example, between the rotating plate 722 as the transfer member and the upper guide tube 721T thereon and / or between the rotating plate 722 and the lower ball hole 723P. 1/6 (1/3 of radius) or more (about 1.8 mm or more) of the diameter of the ball M1, more preferably about 1/6 to 1/3 of the diameter of the gaming ball M1 (about 1.8) ~ 3.7 mm) margin is formed As such, it is desirable to mold thin rotating disk 722. As described above, when there is a proper margin between the rotary disc 722 and the upper and lower guiding tubes 721T to the ball-piercing hole 723P, the guiding tube 721T to the ball housing cutout 722P of the rotary disk 722 or the ball housing cutout 722P The ball ball 723 can be guided and moved to the ball passage hole 723P more smoothly without the game ball M1 being clogged.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 57, a position (for example, about 30 to 50 degrees) slightly away from the center of each ball accommodation notch 922P in the rotational direction, that is, in the counterclockwise direction in plan view The guiding grooves 922 G extending from the ball guiding groove 721 T to the ball housing notches 922 P extend in a direction opposite to the rotational direction, that is, a clockwise direction in plan view to communicate with the ball housing notches 922 P. The gaming ball M1 can be guided and moved to the ball accommodation cutout 722P more smoothly and surely. Further, the guide groove 922G is formed to have a planar shape expanding in a substantially isosceles triangular shape and an arc-like cross-sectional shape from the distal end side to the ball accommodating notch 922P side and extend gradually downward Thus, the gaming ball M1 can be guided and moved more smoothly and reliably.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 57, on the upper surface of the ball base 923, a distance from the center of each ball-passing hole 923P in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotary disc 922, that is, clockwise direction in plan view When guide grooves 923 G are formed extending from the position at about 60 ° to the respective through holes 923 P in the rotational direction of the rotary plate 922, that is, in the counterclockwise direction in plan view and communicating with the through holes 923 P, The game ball M1 can be guided and moved more smoothly and reliably to the ball passing hole 923P of the ball holder 923 from the ball accommodation notch 722P of the rotary plate 722. Further, the guide groove 923G is formed to have a planar shape expanding in a substantially isosceles triangular shape and an arc-like cross-sectional shape from the distal end side to the ball hole 923P side and to be extended gradually downward Thus, the gaming ball M1 can be guided and moved more smoothly and reliably.

  Also, the guiding groove may be of any shape and size, for example, having the same width, as long as it extends from the upper surface to the ball receiving notch or ball passing hole, that is, the groove from the upper surface in the thickness direction of the member. Even if the game ball M1 has a width slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball M1, or extends flat without tilting, etc., at least the game ball M1 can be easily guided along the correct trajectory. However, the game ball M1 can be guided more smoothly and reliably by having the above-described spread flat shape and the arc-like cross-sectional shape or the downward tilt shape. Also, for example, the guide groove may be formed to penetrate the member (for example, in the form of a slit). In this case, by extending at least a width smaller than the diameter of the gaming ball M1, it is possible to guide while holding the gaming ball M1 in the guiding groove without dropping it. Furthermore, in this case, for example, if the ball accommodating groove and the ball-opening hole are gradually expanded and extended, the gaming ball M1 is guided to be gradually and deeply embedded in the guiding groove, and thereby more smoothly and surely. You can be guided and move.

(5) In the above embodiment, the classification hole 726N which is an open part has a diameter of about 10.5 to 10.8 mm, which is slightly smaller than the regular sphere M11, and the regular sphere M11 having a diameter of 11 mm and the diameter less than 11 mm For example, the diameter of the classification hole is about 11.2 to 11.5 mm, which is slightly larger than the regular sphere M11, and the regular sphere M11 having a diameter of 11 mm is used as a small-diameter sphere. The game ball having a diameter larger than that of the regular ball M11 (hereinafter, also referred to as an "oversized ball") may be classified as a large-diameter ball and its passage may be restricted to separate from the regular ball M11. In this case, the classification holes are made slightly larger than in the case of the above embodiment, and the size (cross-sectional area) of the game ball distribution channel is made slightly larger so that the excessive balls can be distributed freely. Except for the above, the configuration can be the same as that of the classification unit 70 according to the above embodiment. In this case, the ball discharging mechanism may be disposed not in the large diameter ball housing portion 73 but in the small diameter ball housing portion 74 so that the regular ball M11 is discharged from the small diameter ball housing portion 74 to the outside of the classification unit 70. .

  Furthermore, as described above, in addition to separating the regular sphere M11 and the undersphere M12 slightly smaller than the regular sphere M11 or the slightly larger oversized sphere based on the regular sphere M11, for example, somewhat smaller than the regular sphere M11 or to a certain extent A configuration in which the game ball and another game ball slightly smaller than the game ball or another game ball slightly larger than the game ball are separated on the basis of the large game ball, in other words, of any diameter not based on the regular ball M11. Arbitrary diameters may be used as long as two types of game balls of two different sizes, ie, a game ball having a relatively large diameter (large diameter ball) and a game ball having a relatively small diameter (small diameter ball) The game balls may be separated. For example, the diameter of the classification hole is about 10.2 to 10.5 mm, and a game ball (large diameter ball) having a diameter of about 10.7 mm, for example, larger than the diameter of the classification hole, and a diameter 10 smaller than the diameter of the classification hole It may be configured to separate the game ball (small diameter ball) of about -10.4 mm. That is, by appropriately changing the diameter of the classification hole and the size (cross-sectional area) of the game ball distribution channel, not only the two types of game balls including the large and small balls with reference to the regular ball but also two kinds of large and small balls of any diameter The balls can be sorted out.

  Furthermore, as described above, a plurality of classification plates with different open dimensions may be prepared, and these may be configured to be removable and easily replaced. In this case, if the classification unit is configured such that the largest game balls can be distributed among the gaming balls separated by the plurality of classification plates, the same configuration except the classification plates may be used in common. It can correspond also to the classification board of.

  Furthermore, open parts may be provided at a plurality of locations in the gaming ball distribution channel, and three or more types of gaming balls having different diameters may be separated. FIG. 58 shows an under-sized ball M12 as a small-sized ball, a regular ball M11 as a gaming ball having a diameter between the small-sized ball and the large-sized ball (hereinafter also referred to as "medium-sized ball"), and an oversized ball as a large-sized ball. The example made into the structure which separates M13 is shown. In the classification unit 90 shown in the figure, the small-diameter spherical classification plate 726 similar to the classification plate 726 according to the above embodiment is disposed, and the delivery means 925 having arbitrary configuration on the upper and lower sides of the small-diameter spherical classification plate 726 A push-back means 927 is provided, thereby forming a small-diameter ball sorting mechanism D12 capable of sorting the regular sphere M11 and the under-ball M12 in the same manner as in the above embodiment. A ball arrangement mechanism D10 having an arbitrary configuration is disposed above the small diameter ball sorting mechanism D12 so that the game ball M1 can be supplied so as to be dropped toward the small diameter ball sorting hole 726N in the small diameter ball sorting mechanism D12. It has become. A large diameter ball sorting mechanism D13 is disposed between the small diameter ball sorting mechanism D12 and the ball distribution mechanism D10. In the large diameter ball sorting mechanism D13, vertically above the small diameter ball classification hole 726N in the small diameter ball sorting mechanism D12, that is, on the track where the gaming ball M1 drops from the ball arrangement mechanism D10 to the small diameter ball classification hole 726N. The small diameter ball sorting mechanism D12 is different except that a large diameter ball sorting hole 926M is bored and the large diameter ball outlet 926L is bored at a position above the medium diameter ball outlet 726M in the small diameter ball sorting mechanism D12. A large diameter spherical classification plate 926 having the same configuration as that of the small diameter spherical classification plate 726 is disposed. On the side of the large diameter spherical classification hole 926M in the large diameter spherical fractionation mechanism D13, the delivery means 925 and the push-back means 927 having the same configuration as that of the small diameter spherical separation mechanism D12 are disposed in the same manner. The large diameter spherical classification hole 926M in the large diameter sphere sorting mechanism D13 has a diameter (about 11.2 to 11.5 mm) slightly larger than that of the regular sphere M11, and only one regular sphere M11 to one or less spherical sphere M12 is easy It is a round hole that can pass through. The large diameter ball outlet 926L in the large diameter ball sorting mechanism D13 has a diameter (about 12 to 15 mm) slightly larger than the oversized ball M13 and is a round hole through which the oversized ball M13 can easily pass.

  In the classification unit 90, as shown in FIG. 58, when the gaming ball supplied from the ball distribution mechanism D10 is the oversized ball M13, the oversized ball M13 is the large diameter sphere classification hole in the large diameter sphere sorting mechanism D13. Since it has a diameter larger than the diameter of 926 M, it can not pass through the large diameter spherical classification hole 926 M as in the case of the regular sphere M 11 in the above embodiment, and is in a fitting posture here, and then pushed back by the push back means 927 It is pushed out by 925 and guided to the large diameter ball outlet 926L, and is discharged and stored from the large diameter ball outlet 926L to a large diameter ball storage mechanism (not shown) as shown by arrow A15. On the other hand, when the gaming ball supplied from the arrangement mechanism D10 is a regular ball M11 to an underball M12, the small diameter ball in the small diameter ball sorting mechanism D12 passes through the large diameter ball sorting hole 926M in the large diameter ball sorting mechanism D13. It falls on the classification hole 726N and is separated into the regular sphere M11 and the under-sphere M12 in the same manner as in the above embodiment, and the regular sphere M11 is guided to the medium-diameter sphere accommodating portion (not shown) as shown by arrow A16. Then, the ball is discharged to the outside of the classification unit 90, and the underball M12 is stored in the small diameter ball storage portion (not shown).

  In the classification unit 90, for example, the ball transfer member, push-back means and delivery means in the ball distribution mechanism D10, the small diameter ball sorting mechanism D12 and the large diameter ball sorting mechanism D13 are constituted by rotating bodies as in the above embodiment. If these components are rotationally driven by the same rotation shaft, the mechanism can be simplified.

(5) In the above embodiment, the classification hole 726N, which is an open part, is a round hole, but as the open part, if it restricts the passage of the large diameter ball and does not restrict the passage of the small diameter ball It can be of any shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 59, it is possible to use a triangular or octagonal polygonal shape, an elliptical shape, an irregular shape, or the like like an equilateral triangle open portion 856N through which the regular sphere M11 can not pass and the undersphere M12 can pass. It is. For example, as shown in FIG. 60, a through groove having a width w11 of about 10.5 to 10.8 mm, which is slightly smaller than the regular sphere M11, so that the regular sphere M11 can not pass and the undersphere M12 can pass. It may be a slit-like open portion 956N or the like. However, in order to sift the game ball which is a sphere as accurately as possible without omission, it is desirable to make the open part as circular as possible. Therefore, from such a point of view, it is preferable to use an annularly closed shape (for example, a polygonal shape) rather than a through groove (slit), and in particular, a polygonal shape having a large number of corners such as an octagonal shape. It is more desirable to use a circular shape (round hole) rather than a polygonal shape or the like.

  In this specification, all of the contents listed below are disclosed.

A gaming machine according to the present invention comprises, as means A1,
A gaming machine comprising a sorting mechanism for sorting gaming balls into gaming balls having a relatively large diameter (large diameter balls) and gaming balls having a relatively small diameter (small diameter balls),
The sorting mechanism
An open portion having a size and a shape that restricts the passage of the large diameter ball and does not restrict the passage of the small diameter ball;
Push-back means for pushing back the large-diameter ball whose passage is restricted by the open portion in the direction opposite to the direction in which the large-diameter ball tries to pass through the open portion;
The large-diameter ball pushed back by the push-back means may be sent out to a predetermined discharge path.

  In the present invention, the "game ball having a relatively large diameter (large diameter ball)" and the "game ball having a relatively small diameter (small diameter ball)" are selected from two types of game balls having different diameters. It means larger diameter gaming balls and smaller diameter balls. In other words, it means a game ball having a predetermined diameter and a game ball smaller or larger than the predetermined diameter, and the predetermined diameter itself does not matter.

  According to the sorting mechanism according to the means A1, the large diameter sphere is restricted in passage at the open part, and the large diameter sphere is sent out toward the predetermined discharge path by the delivery means in a state of being pushed back by the push back means. Therefore, the game balls can be efficiently sorted into large balls and small balls with a simple configuration, and can be sent out to different discharge paths. In addition, by restricting only the passage of the large diameter ball at the opening part, the gaming ball can be separated into the large diameter ball and the small diameter ball with good accuracy.

  Therefore, according to the configuration of the means A1, gaming balls having different diameters can be sorted efficiently and with high accuracy by a simple configuration. Therefore, for example, underballs having a diameter smaller than that of regular balls can be sorted out and eliminated efficiently and with good accuracy by a simple configuration from the circulating game balls. Furthermore, since the game balls can be efficiently sorted in this manner, it is possible to obtain a game machine that is less likely to impede smooth circulation of the game balls.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, in the gaming machine of means A1 as means A2,
The open portion is a penetrating portion formed in a classification plate which is a plate-like member, and can be restrained by a posture which is partially protruded in a direction in which the large diameter sphere is to be passed. The push-back means is a plate-like member from which the contact piece extends, and is disposed along the surface of the classification plate that protrudes in the direction in which the large-diameter sphere tends to pass; The means is a plate-like member from which the contact piece extends, and is disposed along the surface of the classification plate opposite to the direction in which the large-diameter ball tends to pass, the push-back means and the delivery means And each of the contact pieces is driven to pass through the position of the opening.

  According to the configuration of the means A2, when the push-back means is driven, the contact piece abuts against the projecting portion of the large diameter sphere restrained by the opening portion in the middle of the drive to move the large diameter sphere. It will be pushed back to the other side. Then, when the delivery means is driven, the contact piece abuts against the large-diameter ball pushed back by the push-back means on the way to push out the large-diameter ball from the opening. Therefore, the simple configuration enables efficient operation of push-back and delivery of the large diameter ball.

In the gaming machine according to the present invention, the gaming machine according to the means A1 or the means A2 is the means A3.
The open portion is a through portion formed in a classification plate which is a plate-like member, and the classification plate has a thickness smaller than the radius of the large diameter sphere. Do.

  The larger the thickness of the classification plate which is a plate-like member, the smaller the projecting height of the part projecting in the direction in which the large-diameter sphere restrained by the open part tends to pass. In the configuration, since the thickness of the classification plate is smaller than the radius of the large-diameter sphere, the projection height of the projection of the large-diameter sphere constrained to the open portion can be secured, thereby The large diameter sphere can be easily pushed back by means of pushing back using the projection. On the other hand, the larger the thickness of the classification plate is, the larger diameter sphere in the posture pushed back by the pushing back means is deeply sunk in the open part, whereas in the configuration of the means A3, the classification plate Since the thickness is smaller than the radius of the large-diameter sphere, a larger portion including the half opposite to the passing direction in the large-diameter sphere pushed back by the pushing-back means is larger than the classification plate Also, since the large diameter spheres project in the opposite direction to the passing direction, the large diameter spheres can be easily sent out from the opening by the delivery means.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, in the gaming machine of the means A2, as the means A4,
The sum of the thickness of the classification plate and the thickness of the contact piece of the delivery means is smaller than the radius of the large diameter ball.

  According to the configuration of the means A4, the contact piece of the delivery means is in contact with the passing side portion of the large diameter ball in the posture pushed back by the push back means, that is, the direction side passing through the center. It can be in contact, which makes it easy to feed the large diameter ball from the opening.

In the gaming machine according to the present invention, the gaming machine according to any one of the means 1 to the means A4 as the means A5,
The push-back means and the delivery means are members that are rotationally driven at the same speed in the same direction around the axis, and the delivery means is in the direction opposite to the rotational drive direction with respect to the push-back means. It is characterized in that the game balls are arranged so as to be displaced by about one game ball.

  According to the configuration of the above-mentioned means A5, it is possible to easily carry out the push-back and the delivery operation of the large diameter ball by rotationally driving the push-back means and the delivery means. Further, since the push-back means and the delivery means can be rotationally driven by the same rotation shaft, the mechanism can be simplified.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, the gaming machine according to any one of the means 1 to the means A5 as the means A6,
A ball arrangement mechanism for supplying game balls one by one at regular intervals to the open portion is provided.

  According to the configuration of the means A6, the distribution of the game balls and the sorting (sieving) in the open part can be reliably performed for each ball, and stagnation can be prevented.

In the gaming machine according to the present invention, the gaming machine according to any one of the means 1 to the means A6 as the means A7,
The ball arrangement mechanism is characterized in that the game ball can be supplied to the open part immediately before the operation of pushing back and sending out the large diameter ball by the push back means and the sending means is started.

  According to the configuration of the means A7, when the gaming ball to be supplied is a small diameter ball, the small diameter ball can pass through the opening without being hampered by the operation of the push-back means and the sending means, When the gaming ball to be supplied is a large diameter ball, the large diameter ball whose passage is restricted by the opening portion is pushed back and sent out by the push back means and the sending means. As a result, the large diameter ball and the small diameter ball can be separated efficiently and reliably and guided to the respective discharge paths.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, in the gaming machine of the means 6 or the means A7 as the means A8,
The ball arrangement mechanism is located on the upper side along the vertical direction from the open part, and is disposed on the wall with a wall having a ball passing portion through which only one game ball can pass with a slight margin. A ball transfer member having a penetrating portion which is vertically movable at a position which can move laterally and pass through the ball passing portion while moving, and which can accommodate only one game ball with some margin; The game ball may be guided so as to be disposed on the ball transfer member and laterally offset with respect to the ball passing portion to a position where the penetration portion of the ball transfer member can pass through. And a guide portion.

  According to the configuration of the means A8, the gaming ball is guided by the guide portion, accommodated in the penetration portion of the ball transfer member, transported to the ball transfer member and moved onto the ball passage portion of the wall portion, It will drop from the ball onto the opening. Thereby, the ball arrangement mechanism capable of supplying game balls one by one at regular intervals to the opening can be configured with a simple configuration.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, the gaming machine according to the means 8 is the means A9.
The push-back means and the delivery means are members that are rotationally driven at the same speed in the same direction around the axis, and the delivery means is in the direction opposite to the rotational drive direction with respect to the push-back means. It is arranged to be shifted by approximately one game ball,
The ball transfer member is a rotary body capable of rotating around an axis, and is rotationally driven at the same speed as the push-back means and the delivery means in the same direction as the push-back means and the delivery means. The through portion is disposed so as to be deviated from the push-back means in the rotational drive direction by approximately a little larger than one game ball.

  According to the configuration of the means A9, the game ball is dropped from the ball passing portion of the wall portion onto the opening portion and supplied while the ball transfer member rotates, and the push-back means comes to the position of the opening portion immediately after this It is supposed to be. Therefore, with a simple configuration, it is possible to configure a ball arrangement mechanism capable of efficiently supplying the game balls to the opening immediately before the push-back means and the sending means start the push-back and delivery operations of the large diameter ball. In addition, since the ball transfer member, the push-back means and the delivery means can be rotationally driven by the same rotation shaft, the mechanism can be simplified.

In the gaming machine according to the present invention, the gaming machine according to any one of the means 1 to the means A9 as the means A10,
A plurality of separation paths for separating the gaming balls having the opening portion, the push-back means, and the delivery means are formed.

  According to the configuration of the means A10, the game balls can be sorted more efficiently.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, in the gaming machine of means 10, as means A11,
The push-back means and the delivery means are both plate-like members from which the contact pieces extend, and are rotationally driven by the same rotation axis, and the plurality of separation paths are rotation trajectories of the push-back means and the delivery means It is arranged in the position which passes through.

  According to the configuration of the means A11, it is possible to efficiently arrange a plurality of separation paths as much as possible in a space-saving manner.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, in the gaming machine of the means 10 or the means A11 as the means A12,
A wall portion having a ball portion which is located on the upper side along the vertical direction from the open portion in each of the plurality of sorting paths and only one game ball can pass with a slight margin, and the wall portion A plurality of penetrations which can be arranged vertically and can be moved laterally and can pass through the plurality of ball passing portions in the course of movement so as to vertically penetrate and accommodate only one game ball with a slight margin. A ball transfer member having a portion, and a position which is disposed on the ball transfer member and is laterally shifted with respect to the plurality of ball passing portions, and a position through which the penetration portion of the ball transfer member can pass And a guide unit capable of guiding the game balls to be dropped.

  According to the configuration of the means A12, after the gaming balls are accommodated in the penetration portion of the ball transfer member, a plurality of gaming balls are simultaneously circulated from the penetration portion. Therefore, the game balls are distributed and sorted at the same time up to a plurality of the game balls by a plurality of paths, and the plurality of game balls are distributed and separated repeatedly at a predetermined interval at the maximum. Thereby, the game balls can be sorted more efficiently.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, in the gaming machine of the means 12, as the means A13,
The ball arrangement operation of the game ball by the ball transfer member and the discharge operation of the large diameter ball by the push-back means and the delivery means are performed by driving these elements at the same time.

  According to the configuration of the means A13, the game balls are distributed and discharged at the same time up to a number equal to the number of sorting paths. Therefore, for example, as compared with the case where a mechanism for distributing and discharging one game ball is configured to provide a plurality of the mechanisms, a plurality of game balls can be distributed and discharged with a more efficient and simple configuration. be able to.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the means 1 to A13 as the means A14,
The sorting mechanism separates gaming balls having a prescribed diameter from gaming balls having a diameter different from a prescribed one, and among gaming balls distributed, excludes gaming balls having a diameter different from the prescribed one, to thereby provide a prescribed diameter. It is comprised so that the game ball which has can be classify | selected.

  According to the configuration of the means A14, it is possible to sort out the gaming balls having a diameter different from the specified one out of the circulating gaming balls efficiently and with good accuracy by the simple configuration and to eliminate the gaming balls smoothly. It is possible to obtain a gaming machine that is less likely to impede distribution.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, in the gaming machine of the means 14 as the means A15,
The sorting mechanism is characterized in that it is disposed in at least one of a pre-disbursing position immediately upstream of the gaming ball dispensing position and a pre-firing position immediately upstream of the gaming ball firing position in the gaming machine. I assume.

  By arranging a sorting mechanism capable of sorting gaming balls having a prescribed diameter at the pre-disbursing position as in the configuration of the above means A15, a game having a diameter different from the prescribed one after the predetermined number of winning balls are paid out It is possible to prevent the disadvantage of the player that the balls are sorted out and excluded by the sorting mechanism and the number of prize balls paid out is reduced. On the other hand, by placing a sorting mechanism capable of sorting gaming balls having a prescribed diameter at the pre-launch position, gaming balls having a different diameter from the prescribed ones are mixed into the launched gaming balls and used for gaming. It can be deterred. Thereby, the game can be properly performed.

In the counter according to the present invention, as means B1,
A counting machine comprising a sorting mechanism for sorting gaming balls into gaming balls (large diameter balls) having relatively large diameters and gaming balls (small diameter balls) having relatively small diameters,
The sorting mechanism
An open portion having a size and a shape that restricts the passage of the large diameter ball and does not restrict the passage of the small diameter ball;
Push-back means for pushing back the large-diameter ball whose passage is restricted by the open portion in the direction opposite to the direction in which the large-diameter ball tries to pass through the open portion;
The large-diameter ball pushed back by the push-back means may be sent out to a predetermined discharge path.

  According to the sorting mechanism according to the means B1, the large diameter sphere is restricted in passage at the opening portion, and the large diameter sphere is sent out toward the predetermined discharge path by the delivery means in a state of being pushed back by the push back means. Therefore, the game balls can be efficiently sorted into large balls and small balls with a simple configuration, and can be sent out to different discharge paths. In addition, by restricting only the passage of the large diameter ball at the opening part, the gaming ball can be separated into the large diameter ball and the small diameter ball with good accuracy.

  Therefore, according to the configuration of the means B1, gaming balls having different diameters can be sorted efficiently and with good accuracy by a simple configuration. Therefore, for example, underballs having a diameter smaller than that of regular balls can be sorted out and eliminated efficiently and with good accuracy by a simple configuration from the circulating game balls. Furthermore, since the game balls can be efficiently sorted in this manner, it is possible to obtain a counter that is not likely to impede smooth circulation of the game balls.

In the counter according to the present invention, the means B2 comprises:
The sorting mechanism separates gaming balls having a prescribed diameter from gaming balls having a diameter different from a prescribed one, and among gaming balls distributed, excludes gaming balls having a diameter different from the prescribed one, to thereby provide a prescribed diameter. It is comprised so that the game ball which has can be classify | selected.

  According to the configuration of the means B2, among the circulating game balls, the game balls having a diameter different from the specified one can be sorted out efficiently and with good accuracy by the simple structure, and the game balls are smooth. It is possible to obtain a counter that is less likely to impede distribution.

Further, the counter according to the present invention is characterized in that, as means B3, in the counter of means B2,
It is characterized in that the sorting mechanism is disposed at a position downstream of the position where counting is performed in the counter.

  If the sorting mechanism is arranged at a position upstream of the position where counting is performed in the counter, gaming balls having diameters different from the specified ones are excluded and the number of gaming balls reduced is counted, so the above means B3 It is desirable to arrange the sorting mechanism at a position downstream of the position where counting is performed in the counter, as in the configuration of (1).

In addition, the game ball sorting device according to the present invention is, as means C1,
A gaming ball sorting apparatus comprising a sorting mechanism for sorting gaming balls into a gaming ball (large diameter ball) having a relatively large diameter and a gaming ball (small diameter ball) having a relatively small diameter,
The sorting mechanism
An open portion having a size and a shape that restricts the passage of the large diameter ball and does not restrict the passage of the small diameter ball;
Push-back means for pushing back the large-diameter ball whose passage is restricted by the open portion in the direction opposite to the direction in which the large-diameter ball tries to pass through the open portion;
The large-diameter ball pushed back by the push-back means may be sent out to a predetermined discharge path.

  According to the sorting mechanism according to the means C1, the large diameter sphere is restricted in passage at the open portion, and the large diameter sphere is sent out toward the predetermined discharge path by the delivery means in a state of being pushed back by the push back means. Therefore, the game balls can be efficiently sorted into large balls and small balls with a simple configuration, and can be sent out to different discharge paths. In addition, by restricting only the passage of the large diameter ball at the opening part, the gaming ball can be separated into the large diameter ball and the small diameter ball with good accuracy.

  Therefore, according to the configuration of the means C1, gaming balls having different diameters can be sorted efficiently and with high accuracy by a simple configuration. Thus, for example, by arranging the gaming ball sorting apparatus in the distribution path of the gaming balls, the undersized balls having a diameter smaller than the regular balls from the circulating gaming balls can be efficiently and with good accuracy by the simple configuration. It can also be separated and eliminated. Furthermore, since the gaming balls can be efficiently sorted in this manner, it is possible to obtain a gaming ball sorting device that is less likely to impede smooth circulation of the gaming balls.

Further, in the gaming ball sorting device according to the present invention, as the means C2, the gaming ball sorting device of the means C1 is
The sorting mechanism separates gaming balls having a prescribed diameter from gaming balls having a diameter different from a prescribed one, and among gaming balls distributed, excludes gaming balls having a diameter different from the prescribed one, to thereby provide a prescribed diameter. It is comprised so that the game ball which has can be classify | selected.

  According to the configuration of the means C2, among the gaming balls, gaming balls having a diameter different from the specified one can be sorted out efficiently and with good accuracy by a simple configuration, and within the distribution path of the gaming balls A game ball sorting apparatus which is less likely to impede smooth circulation of the game balls even if disposed can be obtained.

Further, in the gaming ball sorting device according to the present invention, in the gaming ball sorting device of the means C2, as the means C3,
A game ball supplied from the island facility is disposed at a position immediately before being introduced into the game machine.

  According to the configuration of the means C3, among the gaming balls circulating the gaming machine, the gaming balls having a diameter different from the specified one can be efficiently and with good accuracy by the simple configuration without interfering with the smooth distribution of the gaming balls. The game ball sorting apparatus can be configured in a large size because it can be sorted out and eliminated and it is arranged outside the gaming machine.

  The means A1 to A15, the means B1 to B3 and the means C1 to C3 can be implemented in combination. In other words, the sorting mechanism according to the present invention can also be disposed at any of a plurality of gaming machines, counters, and gaming ball distribution channels other than gaming machines.

  The present invention can be suitably implemented in a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine.

M11: Regular sphere (large diameter sphere)
M12: Undersized ball (small diameter ball)
M1: gaming ball 70: classification unit (sorting mechanism)
726N: Classification hole (open part)
727: Lower rotor (push-back means)
725: Upper rotary wing (delivery means)
724D: Large diameter ball discharge passage (discharge route)
726M: Large diameter ball outlet (discharge path)

Claims (2)

A gaming machine comprising a distribution mechanism capable of distributing gaming balls of a predetermined diameter flowing down , comprising:
The distribution mechanism
An opening portion which can restrict passage of gaming balls of the predetermined diameter by size and shape smaller than the predetermined diameter ;
A pushback portion capable of pushing the gaming ball of the predetermined diameter whose passage is restricted by the opening portion to the upstream side;
A guiding portion for guiding the gaming ball of the predetermined diameter pushed back by the push back portion to a predetermined discharging portion side provided downstream ;
A game machine comprising: driving means for driving the push-back portion and the induction portion . The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is a pachinko machine.