JPS6146151B2 - - Google Patents

Description

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

This type of pinball game machine is equipped with a lighted display board on the surface of the game machine that displays a monitor-like display, and the player uses his or her brain to aim for the desired winning hole using ball batting techniques while thinking of a strategy by looking at the light arrangement on the display board. It is a machine that has increased interest from two aspects of manual operation, and for this reason, it is desirable to have a machine that can produce diverse results and can be operated in a variety of ways, rather than simply winning or losing as in the past. Pinball game machines have become available that are equipped with diversified functions and microcomputers that control and control game content.

The present invention aims to improve the above-mentioned pinball game machine, detects the insertion of a coin by a switch, automatically starts the game, and allows the ball to be fired from below the game board with a batting rod. Pachinko balls rolling through the game board are detected by a plurality of passing type detection switches, and a display board displays to the player how the pachinko balls pass through the game board. A program that allows the ratkey push button to be operated only when a winning is detected by the ratkey ball detection switch, and sets the manner in which these coin detection signals, pachinko ball detection signals, etc. are passed on the game board that is stored in the ROM and results in a winning. The game condition determination control section of the microcomputer makes a comprehensive judgment and controls the setting of winning conditions that are advantageous when operating the rat key button, allowing the player to aim for a predetermined passing pattern, and further promoting the realization of the winning condition. Therefore, you can aim to win a prize in a specific lucky hole, control the ball control solenoid so that the pachinko ball can be recovered quickly, or release coins according to the winning mode based on the judgment result with the coin release solenoid. gives special interest to players, and furthermore,
By removing the ROM from the joint and replacing it, it is possible to create a different passage mode for winning prizes, making it extremely easy to perform numerous game modes just by replacing the ROM, providing players with always fresh gaming options. The purpose is to provide a pinball game machine that provides certain conditions.

Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail according to its functions and operations based on the drawings.

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

Coins 64 inserted through the coin insertion slot 1 are sorted by a selector 29, coins deemed defective are returned to the return slot 20, and coins deemed good are turned on by a coin detection switch 34 to start the game. The signal from the coin detection switch 34 operates the computer section 43 to drive the ball alignment solenoid 31, which is a control solenoid that controls the ball to be resiliently recoverable. For this reason, the balls that have been stored and held by the stopper 56 (FIG. 7) in the storage gutter 48 for collecting and storing a predetermined number of balls are released and supplied to the automatic ball feeding device 2. The ball aligning solenoid 31 is driven only for the time set by a program in the computer section 43, that is, the time required to send a predetermined number of balls, for example, 16 balls, to the automatic ball feeding device 2 to open the stopper 56. , and then returns to the non-driving state again.

The balls are supplied to a well-known automatic ball feeding device 2, and the aligned balls are transferred one by one onto the firing rail 16 in response to the operation of the handle 3, and are fired toward the game board surface 50 by the ball hitting rod 23. Ru.

The fired ball rolls on the game board surface 50, passes through the winning hole 4 provided below the game board surface 50, and is returned to the storage gutter 48 again.

Further, replay holes 7 are provided at both lower ends of the game board surface 50, and the balls that fall into the replay holes 7 are returned to the automatic ball feeding device 2 again after passing through a return gutter 61 (FIG. 8). Ru. A passing type winning hole switch 57 (Fig. 7) is arranged in each of the 16 winning holes 4 provided below the game board surface 50, and when the winning hole switch 57 is activated by the passage of a ball, As shown in FIG. 5, the computer section 43 lights up the display lamps corresponding to each winning hole on the central display board 5 as a display board, and also memorizes the points.

The fired ball passes through a plurality of passing prize holes 6 (A, in this example) arranged on the game board surface 50.
B, C, D, H), the passing type micro switch 62 is activated, and the computer section 43 lights up the corresponding indicator lamp on the central display board 5 shown in FIG. 5 to indicate the passing mode. Display each point and memorize it.

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

Next, when the fired ball falls and passes through any of the plurality of ratkey holes 10 provided on the game board surface 50, the ratkey hole micro switch 28 as a ratkey ball detection switch is activated, and the detection signal is The information is input to the computer section 43. The computer section 43 determines this as a ratkey state, lights up the corresponding ratkey display lamp 11, and selects one of the plurality of ratkey pushbuttons 12 on the switch board 21 corresponding to the lit ratkey display lamp 11.
Set only 1 item to be available for input operation. It is programmed so that the number of input operations that can be performed using the rat key pushbutton 12 is limited to two times per game. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, four types of lucky holes 10 are provided for LA, LB, LC, and LD, winning hole A or B for LA, and winning hole C for LB. or D,
The computer that controls the setting of winning conditions that are advantageous to the player when the winning hole 4 or 7 for LC and the winning hole 10 or 13 for LD are enabled for input operation, and when the winning hole 10 or 13 for LD is operated. Part 43 is the ratkey hole 10 through which the ball passed.
Only the first operation signal of the rat key pushbutton 12 corresponding to is received as a regular operation signal. It is determined that the ball has fallen into the winning hole corresponding to the selected rat key pushbutton 12, and the corresponding display lamp on the central display board 5 is lit, and this point is memorized. Therefore, if the lighting pattern of the display lamps on the central display board 5 does not form a predetermined arrangement after firing the 16 balls, the ball has fallen into the rat key hole 10. If so, it becomes possible to form a predetermined arrangement state by selecting the rat key pushbutton 12 and to light up the winning display lamp 9.

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

When the player has finished hitting all the balls supplied to the automatic ball feeding device 2, a predetermined indicator lamp on the center display board 5, for example 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 1, is displayed.
2, 14, and 16 are lit, when the replacement button 15 corresponding to the desired display lamp is operated, the contact of the replacement button 15 is closed and a signal is transmitted to the computer section 43. The computer section 43 turns off the display lamp corresponding to the replacement button 15, and also clears the memory contents of the computer section 43 accordingly. At the same time, the computer unit 43 issues a drive signal for the refill solenoid 22, which is another control solenoid that controls the ball to be resiliently retrieved. Note that the predetermined display lamps on the central display board 5 are connected to the computer section 43.
It is determined based on the program set of

As shown in FIG. 9, the replacement solenoid 22 is provided at one end of the replacement ball storage path 49, and when the replacement solenoid 22 is driven, the ball stopper 60 is activated and the replacement ball storage path 49 The balls stored therein are transferred to the automatic ball feeding device 2, and the ball is instantly returned to the transfer preventing state to restrain and hold the following balls. The transferred balls pass through the automatic ball feeder 2 and are sent to the launch rail 1.
6 is reached, and the player is able to fire the supplied replacement balls.

By the way, the aforementioned storage gutter 48 is provided with a branch hole 58 as shown in FIG. Only a preset number of balls can be stored in the spare ball storage path 49, and balls beyond that number pass through the upper end of the spare ball storage path 49 and are held in line in the storage gutter 48. Therefore, there are two types of balls stored before the start of the game: those stored in the storage gutter 48 and those held in the replacement ball storage path 49.

The balls stored in the ball storage path 49 are stored in the ball stopper 60
The computer section 4 is released one by one.
Based on the program set No. 3, the number of times the solenoid 22 for batting is driven can be determined, and the number of pitches to be replenished for batting can be limited. In this example, the program of the computer section 43 is set to allow two replacement balls per game, and two replacement balls are supplied.

Next, based on FIG. 10, the computer section 4
3 will be explained, and the action of the computer section 43 during the above-mentioned changeover operation will be explained.

The computer section 43 is the input/output controller 6
It is composed of three basic elements: 6, 67, an arithmetic control CPU section 68, and a memory section 65 which becomes a game condition setting section. The input/output controllers 66 and 67 function to control the conversion of detection signals obtained from the outside by the computer section 43 into computer data used by the computer, and to control the conversion of instructions from the computer into output signals to the outside. Arithmetic control
The CPU unit 68 includes a CPU 69, a calculation unit 70, and a control unit 71, and the CPU 69 provides control information, that is, commands to the calculation unit 70, control unit 71, and input/output controllers 66 and 67 according to the setting program in the memory unit 65. perform an action. The calculation section 70 and the control section 71 process information obtained by the input/output controllers 66, 67, and the calculation data and control data are outputted via the input/output controllers 66, 67. Memory section 65
The ROM 51 stores a program that determines the processing conditions of the CPU 69, and the arithmetic unit 70.
It consists of an updatable RAM 53 that temporarily stores calculation data of the controller 71 and control data of the controller 71.
The program stored in the ROM 51 is information that retains its contents even if the power is turned off and cannot be rewritten by the computer itself, and is stored by means described later.

Now, when the player operates the change button 15,
The detection signal is input to the computer section 43,
The detection signal is converted into computer data by input/output controllers 66 and 67. This computer data is determined by the CPU 69 according to the program set in the ROM 51. That is, winning holes 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 12, 14, 1
RAM 53 indicates that the ball has landed in any of the 6 areas.
Confirm that it is memorized, then RAM53
searches for the number of operations of the change button 15 stored in the , and when the number of times the change button is operated is less than 2, the calculation unit 70 calculates the number of times the change button is operated;
The calculation result is stored in the RAM 53. next,
The CPU 69 issues an output command and issues a drive signal for the replacement solenoid 22 via the input/output controllers 66 and 67. In addition, the CPU 69 erases from the RAM 53 the memory of the ball falling into the winning hole 4 corresponding to the operated batting button 15, and also deletes from the RAM 53 the memory of the ball falling into the winning hole 4 corresponding to the operated change button 15, and the central display board corresponding to the winning hole 4 via the input/output controllers 66 and 67. Turn off the display of 5. If the number of times the replacement button is operated is 3 or more, the CPU 69 does not issue an output command and ends the replacement control.

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

In this way, one game ends when the player hits all the balls supplied at the beginning and completes the change of shots if possible. Then, when the player operates the settlement push button 17, a game clear signal is input to the computer section 43 by the operation of the contact portion of the settlement push button 17. When a coin is inserted into the coin slot again without operating the payment pushbutton 17, the coin detection switch 39 is activated after passing through the selector 29, and the coin alignment solenoid 31 is activated by a command from the computer section 43 as described above. At the same time, a game clear signal is input to the computer section 43. When the game clear signal is input to the computer section 43, the coin discharge solenoid 36 drive signal is outputted according to the number of winnings counted and stored in the computer section 43,
As shown in FIGS. 15 to 15, the computer section 4
A coin discharging solenoid 36, which discharges coins according to the winning mode based on the determination by the game condition determination control section 3, discharges coins provided at the lower end of the coin discharging cylinder 35 one by one into a coin discharging port 37. Then, the released coins are delivered to the winning coin receiving tray 18.

The coins stored in the coin ejection tube 35 are as follows:
These are coins set in advance by the game hall manager or coins inserted by the player through the coin slot 1, but when the number of coins in the coin ejection tube 35 falls below a predetermined number, the coins will be released as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. Then, the coin-out switch 40 is activated to turn on the end lamp 19 to notify the end of the game or the lack of coins.

Further, numeral 39 is an in/out meter, which is provided adjacent to the coin ejection tube 35, and this in/out meter 3
9 counts and stores the operating circuit of an input meter 44 that counts and stores the number of coins inserted according to the number of times the coin detection switch 34 is activated and displays the contents, and a microswitch MS that is opened and closed by driving the coin discharge solenoid 36. It consists of an output meter 45 that displays the contents, and when the administrator of the amusement park wants to know the operating status of the game machine, it is possible to accurately grasp the operating status based on the number of coins in and out of this input/output meter. .

As shown in Fig. 4, the main body of the game machine is normally rotatably supported by the shaft part of the machine body A relative to the machine B, and is fastened and fixed by a lock K. The body A is opened by unlocking the lock K provided on the rear surface B, and the access meter provided on the back surface B becomes visible.

By the way, in this game machine, the game contents of the previous game can be known as needed. As shown in FIG.
This is made possible by composing an execution area 54 and a reproduction area 55.

When the game clear signal is input to the computer section 43, the contents of the previous game, that is, the lighting states of the winning display lamp 9, the center display board 5, and the present display lamp 14 are erased, but at this time, the contents of the game are not memorized. The stored contents of the execution area 54 are transferred to the reproduction area 55 and stored therein. Therefore, the memory switch 46 shown in FIG.
When the memory switch 46 is operated, the content of the previous game is retrieved from the reproduction area 55, and the winning display lamp 9, the present display lamp 14, the center display board 5, etc. are lit according to the content of the previous game. If the memory switch 46 is not operated, the winning display lamp 9, the present display lamp 14, the central display board 5, etc. are lit according to the storage status of the execution area 54 for the content of the game currently in progress. Then, when the next coin is inserted or the settlement push button 17 is operated,
The content of the game from the previous game is erased from the reproduction area 55, and the content of the previous game is transferred from the execution area 54 to the reproduction area 55.

As can be understood from the above explanation, the functions and game contents of the game machine are controlled by the computer section 43.
It is controlled by a program stored in the ROM 51, and by changing this program, the arrangement state of the central display board 5 that sets winning conditions can be changed, and the types of winning holes that can be won and the number of times that can be changed can be changed. Alternatively, it can be seen that it is possible to change the winning hole corresponding to the lucky hole, the number of present winnings, and other various game contents.

Program changes are commonly known as Read Only Memory
This is done by changing the mask pattern of an IC memory called ROM. Multiple programs with different computer control contents are set in advance.
By preparing a ROM and replacing it with the ROM 51 from the IC connector 52 of the computer section 43 as desired or necessary, the functions and game content of the game machine can be changed.

As described above, the pinball game machine of the present invention automatically starts the game by detecting the insertion of a coin by the switch, and the ball is fired from below the game board surface by the batting rod and hits the game board surface. A plurality of passing type detection switches detect rolling pachinko balls, and a display board displays the pachinko balls passing through the game board to the player, and also detects falling into a specific lucky hole on the game board. The ratkey push button can be operated only when the ratkey ball detection switch detects it, and the coin detection signal, pachinko ball detection signal, etc. are stored in the ROM and are set by a program that sets the manner of passage on the game board that results in a prize. The microcomputer's game condition judgment control unit makes a comprehensive judgment, sets and controls winning conditions that are advantageous when operating the rat key button, makes the player aim to achieve a predetermined passage pattern, and furthermore sets specific conditions to promote the realization of the winning condition. Let them aim for winning in the rat key hole,
The ball control solenoid controls the pachinko balls so that they can be bounced back, and the coin release solenoid releases coins according to the winning pattern based on the determination result, giving players special interest.
By removing the ROM from the joint and replacing it, it is possible to create a different passage mode for winning prizes, making it extremely easy to perform numerous game modes just by replacing the ROM, and providing players with always fresh gaming conditions. It is possible to provide a pinball game machine in which a ball is given to the user.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a front view of the pinball game machine according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a structural view of the back side A of Fig. 4, Fig. 3 is a structural view of the back side B of Fig. 4, and Fig. 4 is the above front and back sides. Figure 5 is a diagram showing the arrangement of A and back side B, Figure 5 is a diagram of the central display board, Figure 6 is a diagram of the switch board, Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the storage gutter, and Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the return gutter. , Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the replacement ball storage path, Figure 10 is a block diagram centered on the computer section, and Figure 11 is its ROM.
FIG. 12 is a detailed diagram of the memory block, FIGS. 13 to 15 are diagrams of coin ejection, and FIGS. 16 and 17 are diagrams of operation of the coin cut-off switch. 1... Coin slot, 4... Winning hole, 5... Center display board, 6... Passing type winning hole, 7... Replay hole, 10... Rat key hole, 11... Rat key display lamp, 12... Rat key push button, 13...Present hole, 15...Internal change button, 17...Push button for payment, 21...Switch board, 22...Solenoid for replacement, 24, 62...Through type micro switch, 28 ... Rat key hole micro switch,
29...Selector, 31...Solenoid for ball alignment, 34...Coin detection switch, 35...Coin storage cylinder, 36...Solenoid for coin release, 3
9... Input/output meter, 40... Coin out switch, 43... Computer section, 49... Replacement ball storage path, 51... ROM, 53... RAM, 61...
Reduction gutter, 66, 67... Input/output controller, 6
9...CPU.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pinball game machine in which a game is started by inserting a coin, and a predetermined coin is released as a prize depending on the manner in which a pachinko ball rolls across a game board surface, and a switch that detects the insertion of a coin;
A ratkey ball detection switch that detects when a ball falls into a specific ratkey hole on the game board surface, and a multiple pass detection switch that detects pachinko balls that are fired from below the game board by the ball stick and roll on the game board surface. A shape detection switch, a storage gutter for collecting and storing a predetermined number of balls, a ball control solenoid for controlling the balls on the storage gutter so that they can be resiliently collected, and a player's operation only when the ratchet ball detection switch is activated. A ROM that stores a program that sets the winning key push button and the way the game board passes to win a prize.
A game condition setting section configured to be removable and replaceable from the joint, and a game condition setting section that sets and controls winning conditions that are advantageous to the player when operating the rat key push button, and comprehensively judges coin detection signals, ball detection signals, etc. A microcomputer having a game condition determination control unit, a display board that displays the passing manner of the ball on the game board one by one, a display lamp that displays the winning manner based on the determination result, and a display lamp that displays the winning manner based on the determination result. A pinball game machine characterized by having a coin ejection solenoid that ejects a coin.