JPH0640908B2 - Ball game machine - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a ball game machine represented by a pachinko game machine, a medal game machine, or the like, and more specifically, it is provided in a game area where a ball is hit. The present invention relates to a ball game machine including a variable winning ball device that can be changed between a first state that is advantageous to a player and a second state that is disadvantageous to a player.

[Prior Art] In this type of ball game machine, a variable winning ball device is provided to a player, which is generally known from the past, for example, based on the occurrence of a predetermined specific game state. By providing the first state that is advantageous and giving the player the opportunity to be able to give a relatively large gaming value, and giving the opportunity to be given a relatively large gaming value to not only the expert but also the beginner. There was something that was intended to be uniform.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional ball game machine of this type, a large number of hit balls are provided in the variable winning ball device when the variable winning ball device is in the first state. There is a possibility that only a player who is excellent in hitting ball operation technology that can win a prize wins a lot of game value, and in reality, the game service is not homogenized. Therefore, the prize winning balls that have won in the variable winning ball device in the first state are detected, the prize winning balls are counted, and when the count value reaches a predetermined upper limit number, the variable winning ball device. Is controlled to a second state, which is disadvantageous to the player, and the upper limit number of prize balls that can be won during the period of the first state of the variable winning ball device is determined, whereby uneven concentration of the game service is concentrated. It may be alleviated.

However, even in the case of such a configuration, if an abnormality relating to the winning ball detecting means occurs and the winning ball cannot be detected, the above-described object due to the provision of the winning ball detecting means cannot be achieved. Inconvenience occurs.

The present invention has been conceived in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to set an upper limit number of winning balls that can be won in the first state of the variable winning ball device and reduce uneven concentration of the game service. It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball game machine that can avoid the inconvenience when an abnormality occurs in the detection of the winning ball for determining whether or not the winning number reaches the upper limit.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The present invention is provided in a game area where a ball is hit, and can be changed to a first state that is advantageous to the player and a second state that is disadvantageous to the player. A ball game machine including a variable winning ball device, a specific game state detecting means for detecting that a predetermined specific game state has occurred, and when the variable winning ball device is in the first state, The prize winning ball detecting means for detecting the prize winning ball that has won the variable prize winning ball device and the variable prize winning ball device in the first state based on the detection output of the specific game state detecting means, and the prize winning ball detecting means detects the prize winning ball. Based on the drive control means for putting the variable winning ball device in the second state when the number of winning balls reaches a predetermined number, and the detection output of the winning ball detecting means being in a predetermined output state. , For the ball game machine Characterized in that it comprises a game deactivation means for deactivation of the game action specified.

[Operation] According to the present invention, when a predetermined specific game state occurs, the variable winning ball device is controlled to the first state by the operation of the drive control means, and the winning prize is awarded to the variable winning ball device. When the winning ball detecting means for detecting balls detects a predetermined number of winning balls, the variable winning ball device is controlled to the second state. Then, due to the function of the game immobilization means, the predetermined game operation in the ball game machine is immobilized based on the fact that the abnormality has occurred in the winning ball detection means and the detection output has become the predetermined output state. It

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Explanation of external configuration of pachinko gaming machine) a. Description of Front Structure of Pachinko Gaming Machine FIG. 2 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention. The pachinko gaming machine 1 shown in FIG. 2 is of a so-called typical “fever” (registered trademark owned by the present applicant) type, and is based on a variable display device 2 and a display mode of the variable display device 2. A variable winning ball device 4 having an opening / closing plate 3 which is controlled to be opened / closed is provided at substantially the center and the lower part of the game board 5, respectively. The variable winning ball device 4 is configured such that when the opening / closing plate 3 is opened forward, a horizontally long winning opening appears there. The game board 5 is mounted on a front frame 6 that is openably and closably attached. On the left and right sides and the lower center of the variable display device 2 on the game board 5, start winning holes 7, 8, 9 are provided. On the game board 5, further safe holes 10, 11, 1
2, Yakumono 13, 14 commonly called tulips
Is provided. The movable pieces of the yakmono 13, 14 are made of a translucent member, and the lamp is incorporated therein. A windmill 16 and a large number of nails (not shown) for changing the fall of the pachinko balls falling along the board surface of the game board 5 are provided in the out hole 15. Further, a guide rail 17 is arranged in a circular shape around the board surface of the game board 5 to define a game area. Further, on both left and right sides of the game board 5 provided inside the guide rail 17, there are provided fever lamps 20 and 21 which blink at the time of "fever". A fever lamp 29 is also provided on the upper right side of the front frame 6.

On the lower part of the front frame 6 of the pachinko gaming machine 1, the front plate 22
The prize ball discharge port 23 and the hit ball supply plate 24 are provided on the surface thereof. A speaker 25 is obliquely attached on the lower left side of the hitting ball supply plate 24 in FIG. This speaker 25, as described later,
This is for generating a sound effect for enlivening the atmosphere of the game in a predetermined game state, that is, in the “fever” state or when the variable display device 2 is variably displaying. On the lower part of the front plate 22, the hit ball handle 2
6, a surplus prize ball outlet 27 and a surplus ball tray 28 are provided. Here, the hitting ball supply tray 24 is used as a storage tray for temporarily storing the prize balls released from the prize ball outlet 23 and the pachinko balls borrowed by the player with a ball lending machine, and the stored pachinko balls. It functions to supply the hit balls one at a time to a hitting ball feeder (not shown). The hitting ball handle 26 adjusts the hitting ball strength by rotating the hitting ball handle 26, and hits a pachinko ball on the surface of the game board 5.

The variable display device includes three drum display sections 31 arranged in a row and one digital display section 3 provided above the drum display sections 31.
2 and two start prize winning memory display lamps 211, 212, 213, 214 provided on both sides thereof. When a pachinko ball is won in any of the start winning holes 7, 8 and 9, the rotary drum of the drum display section 31 starts to rotate and the display changes. The display of the drum display unit 31 is stopped, that is, each drum is stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed, or by pressing a stop button 33 provided on the lower left portion of the front plate 22 of the pachinko machine 1. In this embodiment, the predetermined time for stopping the display and the time from the pressing of the stop button 33 to the stop of the display of the drum display section 31 are irregularly changed in each case. . That is, the condition for the display of the drum display unit 31 to be in the “fever” state does not include the timing of pressing the stop button 33 by the player, and the predetermined time is irregular so that the chance factor can be increased. It is designed to change each time. When the display on the drum display section 31 of the variable display device 2 is in a state where, for example, "7" are gathered, that is, a so-called "all seven" state, as shown in the figure, the maximum value in the game is given and the variable winning ball is obtained. The device 4 remains open for the longest time, for example up to 30 seconds, which is advantageous for the player.
It becomes the state of. Further, immediately above the drum display section 31, built-in sections of lamps 38 and 39 are provided on the left and right.

As described above, the variable winning ball device 4 is provided with the opening / closing plate 3 having a horizontally long size in the center thereof. Pachinko balls cannot be won in the variable winning ball device 4 when the opening / closing plate 3 is closed, but when the opening / closing plate 3 is open, the pachinko balls are easily won in the variable winning ball device 4. Therefore, the state in which the opening / closing plate 3 is open is the open state in which the variable winning ball device 4 in this embodiment is in the first state which is advantageous for the player. On the contrary, the state in which the opening / closing plate 3 is closed is the open state in which the variable winning ball device 4 in this embodiment is in the second state, which is disadvantageous to the player.

The variable display device 2 and the variable winning ball device 4 described above.
The detailed structure and movement of will be described later.

B. Description of the back structure of the pachinko gaming machine FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the back structure of the pachinko gaming machine 1,
This is for explaining the back surface of the game board 5.

Referring to FIG. 3, on the back surface of the game board 5, a safe hole 10,
Corresponding to 11 and 12, paths 41 and 42 are provided for guiding the winning balls that have won the safe holes to the yakmono 13 and 14. Detection switches 43, 44, 45 are provided in association with the rear surface side where the start winning holes 7, 8, 9 are located. These detection switches 43, 44 and 45 detect that a pachinko ball has entered the start winning holes 7, 8 and 9. Then, the output is used as a display change start signal of the variable display device 2, as described later.

Further, paths 46 and 47 are provided on the back surface of the game board 5, which corresponds to a position slightly higher than the position of the out hole 15 on the front surface. The paths 46, 47 are provided in the safe holes 10, 1
1,12, start winning holes 7,8,9, Yakumono 13,14
The prize winning balls that have won in any one of the variable prize winning ball devices 4 are guided to the prize winning ball processor 48.

The winning ball processing device 48 intermittently drops the winning balls guided by the paths 46 and 47 one by one. When the winning ball dropped by the winning ball processor 48 passes through the meandering path 49, the operation lever 51 (see FIG. 4) connected to the prize ball payout mechanism 50 (see FIG. 4) by the weight of the pachinko ball.
(See). As a result, the prize ball payout mechanism 5
In 0, the prize ball payout operation is performed once for each winning ball. In addition, as the prize ball payout mechanism 50, an electric one may be used. In this case, a closed winning ball detection switch (not shown) is provided in association with the operation of the winning ball processing device 48 rotating to drop the winning balls one by one. Then, the prize ball payout mechanism 50 may be electrically driven by the output of the winning ball detection switch to pay out a predetermined number of prize balls.

An electric ball striking mechanism 52 is provided on the back surface side corresponding to the mounting position of the ball striking handle 26 shown in FIG. The electrically driven ball striking mechanism 52 is driven by the rotating force of the motor 53.
4 is rotated, and by the rotation of the hitting cam 54, the hitting rod 5
5 is moved to hit a pachinko ball.

C. Description of Structure of Mechanism Plate FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of the mechanism plate 61 shown in FIG. 3 and further mounted on the back surface structure.

A prize ball tank 62 is provided above the mechanism plate 61. The prize ball tank 62 is supplied with supply balls from a supply gutter (not shown). Below the prize ball tank 62, the above-mentioned prize ball payout mechanism 50 is provided. An alignment path 63 is arranged so as to be inclined between the prize ball payout mechanism 50 and the prize ball tank 62. The alignment path 63 serves to align the pachinko balls stored in the prize ball tank 62 into a plurality of rows and supply the pachinko balls to the prize ball payout mechanism 50. Below the prize ball payout mechanism 50, a junction gutter 64 is provided.
The joint gutter 64 is a gutter 66 that guides the prize balls paid out from the prize ball payout mechanism 50 to the prize ball payout outlet 65, a gutter 67 that guides the surplus prize ball to the surplus prize ball discharge port 27, and a gutter 68 that guides the out ball downward. However, for example, it is made of synthetic resin and is integrally molded. In the figure, arrows A, B,
C, D, and E are arrows indicating the flow of each pachinko ball.

(Description of Variable Winning Ball Device) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the variable winning ball device 4, as viewed from the front left side. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the variable winning ball device 4. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the variable winning ball device 4 viewed from the front right side, and is a partially cutaway view for explaining a link mechanism for driving the opening / closing plate 3. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the variable winning ball device 4 as viewed from the rear left side.

Next, the structure of the variable winning ball device 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The variable winning ball device 4 includes a horizontally long base plate 71. At the upper center of the base plate 71, a horizontally long rectangular opening 72 is formed.
Are formed. Holes 73 and 74 that form winning holes are provided on both left and right sides of the opening 72. Ball receiving members 75 and 76 surrounding the holes 73 and 74 on the back surface side of the base plate 71 are integrally attached to the base plate 71. Circular lamp holes 77 and 78 are formed on both outer sides of the holes 73 and 74. The lamps 79 and 80 are fitted into the lamp holes 77 and 78, respectively, from the back surface side of the base plate 71. A cover member 81 is attached on the front surface side of the base plate 71 so as to correspond to the holes 73 and the lamp holes 77. A cover member 82 is attached so as to correspond to the hole 74 and the lamp hole 78. The cover member 81 and the cover member 82 have a bilaterally symmetrical shape and are formed of, for example, a transparent synthetic resin colored in red. The thickness of the cover members 81 and 82 is selected to be slightly larger than the diameter dimension of the pachinko ball.

A front decoration plate 83 is attached to the front side of the cover members 81 and 82. The decorative plate 83 has a surface
It is a board on which a decorative pattern (not shown) is drawn to appeal to the player. The upper side of the center of the decorative plate 83 is notched so as not to interfere with the opening and closing of the opening / closing plate 3 described later. Further, window holes 84 and 85 are formed at both left and right ends of the front decorative plate 83. And these window holes 84 and 85 and transparent cover members 81 and 8
Through 2, the emission of lamps 79 and 80 is visible. For this reason, the front decorative plate 83 not only has a decorative pattern drawn on its surface, but also excites its decorative effect by blinking the window holes 84 and 85.

An arch-shaped open / close plate attachment member 86 is attached to the back surface side of the base plate 71. The opening / closing plate mounting member 86 is located so as to cover the upper edge of the opening 72 and the left and right side edges. Left and right plate portions 8 extending in the vertical direction of the opening / closing plate mounting member 86
Small projecting pieces 89 and 90 are formed on the front surfaces of the central portions of 7 and 88, and bearing holes 91 and 92 are formed on the inside thereof. And the opening and closing plate 3
Is disposed on the inner side of the opening / closing plate mounting member 86, and is rotatably held by the shaft 93 through the bearing holes 91 and 92.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the opening / closing plate 3 is made of an integral structure of a main body plate 94 and reinforcing members 95 and 96 extending rearward from both left and right edges of the main body plate. Body plate 94
On the back surface side of the same, that is, as shown in FIG. 5 or 6, on the upper surface side when the opening / closing plate 3 is opened, a large number of triangular projections 97 are arranged in parallel in the lower part thereof. . Here, the small protrusion 97 serves to guide the pachinko ball in a predetermined direction. In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, an engaging pin 98 projects outside the right reinforcing member 96.

Next, the engagement relationship between the engagement pin 98 and the drive link mechanism engaged with the engagement pin 98 will be described mainly with reference to FIG. 7.

The engaging pin 98 projecting from the reinforcing member 96 is inserted into the guide hole 101 formed in the right side plate portion 88 of the opening / closing plate mounting member 86, and a part thereof projects from the outside of the plate portion 88. Then, the operation link 10 having a long length is attached to the protrusion of the engagement pin 98.
The engaging hole 103 formed at one end of 2 engages. A fulcrum insertion hole 104 is formed at the other end of the long operation link 102, and the fulcrum insertion hole 104 is inserted into a fulcrum shaft 105 protruding outward from the rear of the plate portion 88. Therefore,
The operation link 102 is rotatable around the fulcrum insertion hole 104, and when the operation link 102 rotates, the engagement pin 98 that engages with the engagement hole 103 formed at one end of the operation link 102 is guided. The opening / closing plate 3 is opened by operating along the hole 101.

An engagement pin 106 is attached so as to project to the right outside in the drawing from a position slightly rearward of the center of the operation link 102. The tip of the engagement pin 106 has a connecting member 1
07 via the plunger 10 of the drive solenoid 108
It is fitted with 9. The drive solenoid 108 pulls up its plunger 109 when it is electrically biased. When electrically de-energized, the plunger 1
09 is adapted to be lowered by a return spring 110. Therefore, the plunger 109 moves up and down by the biasing / de-energizing of the drive solenoid 108, and the engagement pin 106
The actuation link 102 is rotated via the engagement pin 98, and the opening / closing plate 3 is opened / closed via the engagement pin 98.

Further, with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, and particularly with reference to FIG. 6, V as a specific region included in the variable winning ball device 4 will be described.
The structures and the like of the pocket device 111 and the winning ball collecting member 112 will be described.

The V-pocket device 111 includes a horizontally-arranged detection board mounting member 113, and V-winning collecting troughs 114 and 115 project below the detection board mounting member 113. Both of the V winning set gutters 114 and 115 are members that are slightly inclined toward the inner side, and as is clear from their names, they serve to collect the pachinko balls in the center. V
The V winning detection plate 1 is provided at the center of the winning set gutters 114 and 115.
16 is attached. The V winning detection plate 116 includes a detection member 117 which is integrated behind the V winning detection plate 116. A through hole 118 is formed in the detection member 117, and a pin or the like is passed through the through hole 118. The V winning detection plate 116 and the detection member 117 integrated with the V winning detection plate 116 swing with respect to the detection board mounting member 113. It is freely supported and mounted.

When the pachinko ball is guided to the center by the V winning combination gutters 114 and 115, the V winning detection plate 116 is detected by the pachinko ball.
The tip of the V swings backward, the V winning detection plate 116 and the detection member 117 integrated with it swings, and a V mechanism is described later (described with reference to FIG. 13).
The winning ball is detected.

A detection substrate 119 including a photo reflector (not shown) is attached to the upper portion of the detection substrate attachment member 113. A through hole 120 is formed in the center of the detection substrate mounting member 113 so that light can enter the photo reflector (not shown) provided on the detection substrate 119 from below.

The winning ball collecting member 112 is made of, for example, a transparent resin, and includes a back cover plate 121. The back cover plate 121 is attached parallel to the base plate 71. Also,
A notch 122 for fitting the above-mentioned V-pocket device 111 is formed in the upper center of the back cover plate 121. On the front surface of the back cover plate 121, ball gathering gutters 123 and 124, which are gently inclined downward toward the center, are attached. Ball gathering gutter 123,124
Is a gutter for guiding the winning pachinko ball guided by the opening / closing plate 3 to the opening 72 of the base plate 71.

The pachinko ball that has won the opening 72 passes through the V-pocket device 111 provided at the inner center of the opening 72, or falls down without passing, and is guided to a predetermined path by the ball gathering gutters 123 and 124.

Below the back cover plate 121, a counter mounting plate 125 is provided. The counter mounting plate 125 is the above ball gathering gutter 1
The part located between 23 and 124 is notched. A winning ball counter 126, which is an example of winning ball detection means, is mounted on the counter mounting plate 125. Prize Ball Counter 126
Is a sensor unit having a through hole 127 and a circuit built-in unit 128.
A coil is arranged around the through hole 127, which is a flat counter configured integrally with and, and a predetermined current flows from the circuit built in the in-circuit built-in portion 128 to the coil. Has been done. A magnetic flux is generated in the through hole 127. Therefore, the ball gathering gutter 123, 12
By the pachinko ball guided in 4 falls from the interval and passes through the through hole 127 of the winning ball counter 126,
The magnetic flux changes. This change in magnetic flux is caused by the circuit built-in unit
Detected by an electric circuit built in the, the winning balls will be counted. This count output is given to a predetermined control unit via a lead wire 129.

The variable winning ball device 4 further includes lead wires 130 and 131 connected to the lamps 79 and 80, a lead wire 132 connected to the detection substrate 119, and the like. As shown in the perspective view of the rear structure of FIG.
Nos. 1 to 132 are predetermined lead wire processing bosses 1, respectively.
33 and the processing covers 134 to 137. That is, the lead wire 129 extending from the winning ball counter 126 is wound around the lead wire processing boss 133 at least once and arranged in a predetermined circuit direction. In addition, the lead wire 130 extending from the lamp 79 is extended to a predetermined circuit integrally with the base plate 71, through which the lead wire processing covers 134 and 135 formed on the back surface side are passed. Similarly, the lead wire 131 extending from the lamp 80 is
It is passed through the lead wire processing covers 136 and 137 and extended in a predetermined direction. In this way, the lead wire processing bosses 133 are attached to the lead wire processing covers 134, 135, 1
By providing 36 and 137, a large number of lead wires attached to the variable winning ball device 4 can be put together so as not to disturb and be easy to handle. In particular,
Thereby, when the variable winning ball device 4 is attached to a predetermined position of the game board 5 of the ball game machine 1 at the time of assembly, the lead wire does not get in the way, which is a great advantage in terms of ease of assembly.

9 to 14 are drawings for mainly explaining the operation of the variable winning ball device 4. FIG. 9 is a top view of the variable winning ball device 4 with the opening / closing plate 3 in the open state, and FIG.
0 is a front view of the variable winning ball device 4 with the opening / closing plate 3 closed, and FIG. 11 is a variable winning ball device 4 shown in FIG.
1 is a front view showing a state in which is cut along a line XI-XI in FIG.
2 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a circle XII in FIG. Further, FIG. 13 is a side sectional view of the state in which the variable winning ball device 4 is attached to the game board 5 and is cut up and down at the center thereof. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the variable winning ball device 4 attached to the game board 5 as seen from the back surface side of the game board 5.

When the opening / closing plate 3 is closed, the variable winning ball apparatus 4 has only two winning holes 73 and 74 on the left and right sides. That is, in the central area surrounded by the winning holes 73 and 74, the opening 72 is closed by the opening / closing plate 3, and the surface of the opening / closing plate 3 is substantially flush with the surface of the base plate 71. There is. Therefore, the pachinko ball that falls to this portion simply passes between the base plate 71 and the front decorative plate 83 and falls downward.

However, when the opening / closing plate 3 is opened, as shown in FIG. 9, the opening / closing plate 3 pivots forward from the opening 72 of the base plate 71 and opens, so when viewed from above, the pachinko ball falling into this area is All are guided into the opening 72 by the opening / closing plate 3.

The movement of the falling pachinko ball at this time will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, the pachinko ball that has fallen from above drops to about a third from the right side of the opening 71, for example, like P1, and then falls to the back as it is, and the ball gathering cover. Winning ball counter 12 guided by 124
Follow the path of passing 6 and falling further down. In addition, the pachinko ball P2 that has dropped to the center of the opening 72
Passes through the V pocket device 111 provided at the center,
It is detected by the prize detection plate 116, and further passes through the prize ball counter 126 therebelow and falls downward. further,
For example, the pachinko ball P3 that has fallen to the left end of the opening 72 collides with the reinforcing member 95 that is integrally formed at the end of the opening / closing plate 3, and then rolls into the opening 72.

In this case, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 12, in this embodiment, the upper end surface 138 of the reinforcing member 95 is inclined so as to decrease toward the inside. Then, this inclination angle is set to a predetermined angle. Therefore, when the pachinko ball P3 collides with this portion, the inclination of the pachinko ball P3 causes the falling direction of the pachinko ball P3 to change toward the center of the opening 72 as indicated by the arrow. Therefore, the pachinko ball P3 that has fallen falls on the upper end surface 138 of the reinforcing member 95.
The tilting action of (1) makes it easy to lead to the V-pocket device 111. As a result, the movement of the pachinko ball 3 intrigues the player.

The reinforcing member 96 attached to the right side of the opening / closing plate 3 also has the same configuration, and the upper end surface 139 thereof is inclined so as to decrease toward the inner side direction.

It should be noted that, as shown in the figure, the slope may be a two-level slope, or a single slope may be a smooth slope.

Next, referring mainly to FIG. 13, when the pachinko ball P wins the variable winning ball device 4 in which the opening / closing plate 3 is in the open state, the pachinko ball P falls as shown by an arrow in the figure. On this occasion,
When the pachinko ball P wins in the center of the opening 72 and passes through the V pocket device 111, the V winning detection plate 116 is swung backward as indicated by the arrow, and the detection member 1 is accordingly responsively moved.
17 rocks. At this time, the reflection plate 140 is attached to a part of the detection member 117. Then, when the V winning detection plate 116 is swung by the pachinko ball P, and the detection member 117 is swung accordingly, the reflection plate 140 is moved.
Are moved to positions corresponding to the photo reflector 141 attached to the detection substrate 119. Therefore, the photo reflector 141 receives the light reflected by the reflection plate 140 and produces an output for detecting the V winning.

As described above, the V-winning pachinko ball P is detected.

The pachinko ball P that has won the opening 72 falls down through the V pocket device 111 as described above or without passing through the V pocket device 111, and is guided by the ball gathering covers 123 and 124 described above. The winning ball counter 126
Through the through hole 127 of Then, at the time of this passage, the winning ball counter 126 counts the number of pachinko balls. Furthermore, the pachinko ball that has dropped down is
1. The current-changing projection 1 provided so as to project to the back surface side of the lower end portion of 1.
It collides with 42 and changes are made in its direction of flow. The current-changing projection is a member for changing the flow of a falling pachinko ball. It is preferable that the current-changing protrusion 142 is integrally formed with the base plate 71 as shown in the drawing.

The reason for providing the current-changing protrusion 142 is as follows. That is, it is assumed that the pachinko ball falls directly below and hits the game board 5. In this case, the game board at this drop point is
As can be seen from 3, the thickness is not thin. because,
This is because the out hole 15 is formed immediately below this portion (see FIG. 3). Therefore, the pachinko ball P is caused to directly collide with the game board 143 in this portion, and the game board 5
When the pachinko ball P is made to flow down to the back side of
The portion 143 of the game board is likely to crack or chip due to short-term use. Therefore, in order to prevent such a situation, the current transformation protrusion 142 is provided,
The pachinko ball P is designed so as not to directly collide with the portion 143.

(Description of Prize Ball Counter 126) Next, with reference to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the prize ball counter 1
The circuit configuration of 26 will be described. Prize Ball Counter 126
Means that when a pachinko ball passes through the through hole 127, the magnetic flux of the coil swirled around the hole changes, whereby the pachinko ball passes, in other words, the number of pachinko balls can be detected. .

FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram showing the basic principle of the winning ball counter 126. In the figure, coils L1 and L2 are coils wound around the through hole 127 of the winning ball counter 126. Then, when the pachinko ball passes through the through hole 127, the magnetic flux of the coils L1 and L2 changes, and a counter electromotive force is generated in the coils L1 and L2. For this reason, the current I ₁ based on the back electromotive force of the coil L1 becomes
Flows to the collector, the current I ₂ based on the counter electromotive force of the coil L2 flows to the base of transistor Q1. Therefore, the transistor Q1 is turned on. Thus, the pachinko ball can be detected by turning on / off the transistor by utilizing the counter electromotive force generated when the pachinko ball crosses the collectors L1 and L2.

FIG. 16 is a specific circuit diagram of the winning ball counter 126 used in this embodiment using the principle of the basic circuit shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 16, transistors Q1 and Q2 of the pachinko ball detection circuit form an oscillation circuit, and normally, in the oscillation state, transistor Q1 is on. Therefore, the transistor Q3 of the buffer circuit is turned on and the transistor Q4 of the switching circuit is also turned on. Therefore, the current flowing from the input terminal IN flows to the output terminal OUT via the resistor R6 and the transistor Q4. However, when the pachinko ball passes through the through hole 127 of the winning ball counter 126, a counter electromotive force is generated in the coils L2 and L1, and the counter electromotive force causes the currents I ₂ and I ₁ to flow. This current flows in the direction in which the oscillation of the transistor Q1 is disturbed, that is, in the direction in which the transistor Q1 is turned off, and the transistor Q1 is momentarily turned off. Therefore,
The base potential of the transistor Q3 rises and the transistor Q3
3 turns off and the transistor Q4 also turns off. Therefore, the current flowing from the input terminal IN is
4, the voltage is temporarily cut off, and the voltage of the output OUT drops. After the pachinko ball passes near the coils L2 and L1, the counter electromotive force generated in the coils L2 and L1 immediately disappears, so that the transistor Q1 turns on again, and the transistor Q4 also turns on, and the current from the input terminal IN is turned on. Is
It flows to the output terminal OUT via the transistor Q4. Therefore, according to this circuit, a pulsed low-level potential appears in the output potential at each instant of passage of the pachinko ball. Therefore, it is possible to count the number of winning balls based on the number of the pulses.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view for explaining the winning ball counter 126. Referring to FIGS. 17A and 17B, the winning ball counter 126 has, for example, a flat and substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a sensor portion having a through hole 127 and a circuit built-in portion 1.
28 is a counter that is integrally combined. FIG. 17
As shown in the exploded perspective view of (b), the winning ball counter 1
26 is a housing body 701 and a housing lid 70
2 and the circuit mounting portion 703 are combined. The coil 7 is provided around the through hole 127 formed in the mounting portion 703.
04 is wound so that a magnetic flux is generated in the through hole 127. The coil 704 is connected to a predetermined electronic circuit 705 arranged on the mounting portion 703. The electronic circuit 705 is a circuit for detecting a change in magnetic flux generated in the through hole 127 by the coil 704 and counting the number of pachinko balls passing through the through hole 127 based on the change. The circuit configuration of the electronic circuit 705 is as shown in FIG. 16 described above. A lead wire 129 is connected to the electronic circuit 705, and its output is given to other external circuits.

Next, a case where the lead wire 129 of the winning ball counter 126 is broken will be described. Although rarely, the player breaks the lead wire 129, and when the variable winning ball apparatus 4 is in the advantageous first state, the winning ball counter 126.
It is possible to immobilize the. In this case, the output of the winning ball counter 126 given to the external circuit from the lead wire 129 is always at the low level potential, and the potential does not change even if the pachinko ball passes through the through hole 127. . In other words, when the lead wire 129 is normally connected, the through hole 12 of the winning ball counter 126.
The output level potential changes from high level-low level-high level in response to the pachinko ball passing through 7. However, when the lead wire 129 is disconnected, the output level does not change and is always low level. Become. Therefore, when the low level potential continues for a relatively longer time than the low level potential at the time of normal winning, it is possible to determine that the lead wire 129 is in a broken state. An alarm can be issued by an alarm process or the like based on the output that is determined to be in the disconnection state.

Next, a case where the output of the prize-winning ball counter 126 is at a low level for a certain period or longer due to a ball clogging or the like rather than a player's injustice will be described.

In the pachinko game state, if the supply ball is in the supply stopped state for some reason, the prize ball cannot be paid out by the prize ball won during that time, so the prize ball becomes the prize ball gathering gutter 46 (see FIG. 3). When the prize balls are accumulated and the prize balls are accumulated, a situation may occur in which the prize balls reach the through hole 127 of the prize ball counter 126 as shown in FIG. Then, as in the case where the winning ball counter 126 is broken, the winning ball counter 126 outputs the low-level potential for a relatively long time.

This will be described in more detail. 19 and FIG. 20 which is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 19, the output state when the pachinko ball is stopped due to a ball clogging or the like in the through hole 127 for detecting the winning ball passage of the winning ball counter 126 is as follows. When the pachinko ball stops between the position P4 and the position P6 shown by the dotted line, the output of the winning ball counter 126 has a low level potential. In the other states, that is, in the state where there is no pachinko ball in the through hole 127, the output of the winning ball counter 126 is at a high level potential. Therefore, the winning ball counter 126
Can be detected that the pachinko ball is clogged in the through hole 127 when the output of the above-mentioned becomes a low level potential for a relatively long fixed period or more.

Next, with reference to FIG. 21, a method of determining whether the winning ball counter 126 is broken or short-circuited is a state in which the through hole 127 is clogged with pachinko balls will be described. When the pachinko ball is detected by changing the magnetic flux as in this embodiment, the output of the winning ball counter 126 is 0V of the ground level or the complete conduction level when the winning ball counter 126 is in a broken or short state. Of 2
Stable to any level of 4V. On the other hand, through hole 127
When the pachinko ball is clogged in, the output potential does not completely reach the ground level 0V, and stabilizes at a little higher than that, for example, 0.5V. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the winning ball counter 126 is broken or is in a mere ball clogging state based on the difference in the output potential level. In the case of disconnection or short circuit, the output of the winning ball counter 126 may be immediately determined to be abnormal without observing it for a certain period of time and may be disabled.

In the above-described embodiment, the winning ball counter 126 is not limited to this as a switch for detecting passage of a pachinko ball due to a change in magnetic flux, and may be configured by using a contact microswitch or the like. . The figure in that case is shown in FIG.
2 and FIG. 23. Each of these drawings corresponds to FIG. 5 and FIG. 13 described above, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 22 and FIG. 23, since the winning ball counter 126 is configured by the contact micro switch, the pachinko ball sensing plate 707 for driving the contact is required in the through hole 127, and due to the structure of the switch, The thickness of the switch is slightly larger than that of the magnetic flux detection switch of the above embodiment.

In this case, when the pachinko ball stops in the through hole 127 due to the clogging of the pachinko ball or the like, the micro switch normally opens because the pachinko ball presses the actuator 707 to each other. The high level signal is output for a relatively long time if the switch is, and the low level signal is output for a relatively long time if the micro switch is a normally closed switch. Similarly to, it is possible to detect a ball clogging or the like.

The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment, and the explanation is omitted here.

(Description of Drum-Shaped Variable Display Member) FIGS. 24 and 25 are views for explaining a specific structure of the drum-shaped variable display member 151 included in the variable display device 2 (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 24 is an external perspective view of the drum-shaped variable display member 151 seen from the back surface side. As shown in FIG. 24, the drum-shaped variable display member 151 includes a storage box 152, and main constituent members are stored in the storage box 152. A motor 153 and a gear case 154 are attached to one side surface of the storage box 152, that is, a side surface on the left side in the drawing. The motor 153 drives the rotary drum in the storage box 152 via a gear mechanism provided in the gear case 154.

A manual adjustment hole 155 is provided on the upper rear surface of the storage box 152.
Are formed. The manual adjustment hole 155 is a hole provided so that the rotary drum in the storage box 152 can be manually moved. This hole 155 is necessary in the following cases. That is, when the drum-shaped variable display member 151 is incorporated in the game board 5 (see FIG. 1) and the display mode of the drum-shaped variable display member 151 becomes a predetermined display mode after the ball game machine is completed, It is necessary to inspect whether the control operation of the ball game machine is performed as scheduled. At that time, it is unreasonable to rotate the motor 153 and wait for the desired combination to happen by accident.
This is because it is necessary to manually force the rotary drum into a desired combination.

In addition, in the pachinko gaming machine, when the new product is completed,
Before selling the product, you must pass the approval test of the Public Safety Commission. At that time, such a manual adjustment hole 1
If 55 is formed, the rotary drum can be stopped at a desired position and a desired display mode can be easily obtained at the time of approval verification.

Incidentally, conventionally, such a manual adjustment hole 155 was not provided, and it was necessary to remove the screw and the front plate etc. with a driver.

A cover member 156 is fitted in the manual adjustment hole 155,
The manual adjustment hole 155 is closed by the cover member 156. Then, a seal 157 is attached thereon, and as described above, the cover member 156 is easily removed except when necessary to prevent unauthorized manual adjustment.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view drawn through the storage box and the gear case 154, and is a view showing the internal structure of the drum-shaped variable display member 151 from the back surface side. FIG. 26 is a top view of the drum-shaped variable display member 151 with the storage box 152 omitted. Further, FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the drum-shaped variable display member 151 as viewed from the front right side. 28, the drum-shaped variable display member 151 is the game board 5
It is a side sectional view of the state where it was attached to.

25 to 28, a storage box 152
Is an upper plate 158, a lower plate 159, a right side plate 160, a left side plate 1
61, a rear plate 162 and a front plate 163. On the outside of the right side plate 160, the gears 164 and 16
5 is attached, and the outside thereof is covered with the gear case 154 as described above. Inside the right side plate 160,
A light receiver 167 housed in a cover 166 is attached. The light receiver 167 is provided adjacent to each other in the lateral direction.
It includes one light receiving portion 168 and one light receiving portion 169.

A light emitter 170 is attached to the outside of the left side plate 161,
It is covered with a cover 171. Light emitter 170
Is provided corresponding to the light receiver 167, and is also 2
It includes two light emitting parts 172 and 173. Each of the light emitting units 172 and 173 is composed of, for example, a light emitting diode, and each of the light receiving units 168 and 169 is composed of, for example, a photodiode or a phototransistor. The light emitted from each of the light emitting portions 172 and 173 is directed to the light receiving portions 168 and 169 via the direction determining holes 174 and 175 provided on the inner side of the left side plate.

Inside the rear plate 162, three solenoids 176, 17 are provided.
7 and 178 are attached. Also, the rear plate 162
Attached to solenoids 176, 177 and 1
A large number of slits 179 are formed parallel to the longitudinal direction in order to release the heat generated by 78. Each solenoid 17
Plunger 18 protruding from the upper part of 6,177,178
The stop lever 1 is attached to each of 0, 181, and 182.
83, 184 and 185 are combined. One stop lever shaft 186 is commonly inserted into each of the stop levers 183, 184 and 185. The stop levers 183, 184, 185 are driven by the connected solenoids 176, 177, 178 and are rotated back and forth around the stop lever shaft 186. Both ends of the stop lever shaft 186 are held by the right side plate 160 and the left side plate 161 respectively.

In the storage box 152, there are three rotary drums 18
7, 188 and 189 are provided. Each rotating drum 1
87, 188, and 189 are inserted into the drum shaft 190 and are rotatably provided. The drum shaft 190 is
The left end is supported by the left side plate 161 via the bearing 191, and the right end is the round hole 1 formed in the right side plate 160.
It is connected to the transmission gear 164 via 92. Therefore, the rotation of the motor 153 is transmitted to the drum shaft 190 via the drive gear 165 and the transmission gear 164, and the drum shaft 190 is rotated.

From the drum shaft 190 to the rotary drums 187, 188, 18
The transmission of rotation to 9 is constituted by a slit mechanism (not shown) including a coil spring 193 and the like. Therefore, when a constant load is applied to the rotary drums 187, 188, 189, the rotation of the rotary drums 187, 188, 189 is stopped regardless of the rotation of the drum shaft 190.

Further, on the right side surface of each of the rotary drums 187, 188, 189, ratchet gears 196, 19 with a radius close to the circumference are provided.
7,198 are provided respectively. The ratchet gears 196, 197, 198 and the stop levers 183, 184, 185 described above are in mesh with each other.

The rotating drum 187 will now be described. The stop lever 183 is rotatably supported by the stop lever shaft 186 in association with the ratchet gear 196, and the stop lever 183 is the plunger 180 of the solenoid 176.
Are linked to. As a result, while the solenoid 176 is energized, the stop lever 183 is disengaged from the ratchet gear 196, and the rotary drum 187 is moved to the drum shaft 1.
It rotates according to the rotation of 90. When the solenoid 176 is deenergized, the plunger 180 is returned by the return spring 199, and accordingly the stop lever 183 is moved by the ratchet gear 19.
6, the rotation of the rotary drum 187 is immediately stopped. The other rotating drums 188 and 189 are designed to operate similarly.

The front plate 163 of the storage box 152 is a bent plate having a semicircular arc shape in cross section, and is made of, for example, transparent synthetic resin. Then, three windows 202, 203, and 204 are formed laterally in the central protruding portion. Each window 20
The portions 2, 203 and 204 are formed thicker than the other portions, and the portions are configured to form a convex lens. Then, the display contents displayed on the peripheral surfaces of the rotating drums 187, 188, 189 positioned inside the front plate 163 are configured to be largely reflected through the windows 202, 203, 204. In addition, the windows 202,
A seal is attached to the portions other than 203 and 204, and it is blurred, so that the pattern of the rotating drums 187, 188, 189 located at that portion is not visible or visible from the outside. It has been made difficult.

On the peripheral surfaces of the rotating drums 187, 188, 189 described above,
Information drawn at equal intervals is, for example, (a) of FIG.
The patterns are as shown in (b) and (c). In this embodiment, of the information shown in FIG. 29, when "7" is arranged in a row in the windows 202, 203, 204, or when "BAR" is arranged in a row in the windows 202, 203, 204. Then, a predetermined game state is established. FIG. 29
In the left drum 189, there are three "7", and the probability that "7" appears is "3 /
10 ", and in the middle drum 188 and the right drum 187, there is one" 7 "each and the probability of their appearance is" 1/10 ". Therefore,
The probability that three “7” s are available is calculated by multiplying each probability by “3/10
00 ”.

Similarly, the probability that "BAR" appears is "1/1".
Since they are "0", "2/10", and "1/10", the probability of having them is "2/1000". The probability obtained by adding these two probabilities, "3/1000" and "2/1000", is the probability of becoming a predetermined game state as a whole in this embodiment, and is "1/200".

Next, when the drum-shaped variable display member 151 is stopped, a signal output according to the combination of the displayed rotary drums,
That is, the mechanism for outputting a signal indicating the type of gaming state and its operation are shown in FIGS. 30, 31, and 32.
And it demonstrates with reference to FIG.

Each rotary drum 187, 188, 189 has a large number of through holes 2
05, 206 and 207 are formed respectively. These through holes 205, 206, 207 are formed in each rotary drum 1
On each side wall of 87, 188 and 189, they are distributed along two concentric circles. That is, the through holes 205, 20
Reference numerals 6 and 207 denote through holes 205 on the outer circumference.
a, 206a, 207a and the through hole 2 on the inner circumference
05b, 206b, 207b. The positions of these through holes on the circumference are the same as those described above (the rotary drum 18
The position of the pattern drawn on the surface of 7,188,189) and 1
It is selected corresponding to the area deviated by 80 °, and in each of these areas, the outer through holes 205a, 20a are formed in accordance with the type of pattern.
6a, 207a and inner through holes 205b, 206b, 2
07b and the outer through holes 205a, 2
06a, 207a only, a case where only the inner through holes 205b, 206b, 207b are provided, and a case where no further through holes are provided are appropriately selected. These through holes correspond to the rotary drums 187, 1
88 and 189 are used to detect the relative position with respect to the absolute position and with respect to the other drums. For that purpose, each drum 18
Corresponding to the positions of the through holes at the stop positions with respect to 7, 188 and 189, the above-described two light emitting units 172 and 173.
And two light emitting parts 168 and 169 are arranged and fixed in the radial direction of the rotary drum.

The light emitted from the light emitting units 172 and 173 is output through the above-described direction determining holes 172 and 173. When the light receiving units 168 and 169 receive light, the light receiving units 168 and 169 output the following combinations depending on the stop positions of the rotary drums 187, 188 and 189. That is, the light receiving sections 168 and 169
When there is an output from both, when there is an output only from the light receiving section 168, when there is an output from the light receiving section 169, and when there is no output from both the light receiving sections 168 and 169. Therefore, each rotary drum 187, 188, 1
The combination of 89 when stopped is these light receiving parts 168,
It can be determined based on the combination of the 169 outputs. That is, depending on the combination of the outputs of the light receiving units 168 and 169, whether the game state is the above-mentioned "7" or "B"
It is possible to detect whether "AR" is complete or whether a predetermined specific game state is reached.

The light emission timings of the light emitting units 172, 173 and the rotation stop timings of the rotary drums 187, 188, 189 are defined as follows. That is, the rotary drum 18
9 is stopped after a predetermined time randomly selected after the stop button 33 (see FIG. 2) is pressed, or even if the stop button 33 is not pressed, a plurality of predetermined time Stop after a randomly selected time from the inside. Then, after a further fixed time, the rotation of the rotary drum 188 stops. Then, after a further fixed time has elapsed, the rotary drum 187 is stopped. The light emission of the light emitting units 172 and 173 is
This is performed after the rotation of the middle drum 188 is stopped, the right drum 187 is stopped, and the light receiving portions 168 and 169 receive the light, and then immediately turned off. These time timings are performed by a control command from the central control unit, as will be described later.

Now, returning to FIG. 2, a little more description will be given to the overall configuration of the variable display device 2. In the central portion of the variable display device 2, the window 202 of the drum-shaped variable display member 151 described above,
203 and 204 are lined up. Then, the digital display unit 32 described above is provided thereon. In this embodiment, the digital display section 32 does not work as a display means for giving a predetermined game state. The digital display unit 32 has two display functions. One of them is that, when the opening / closing plate 3 of the variable winning ball device 4 is opened once, the pachinko balls winning the opening 72 (see FIG. 5) are counted by the winning ball counter 126 (see FIG. 5). Function to display the count value. Further, in this embodiment, a maximum of 10 is possible in one opening of the variable winning ball device 4.
Since only one pachinko ball is allowed to win, and no more pachinko balls are allowed to win, the digital display unit 32 plays an active part so as to display it easily.

Another display function of the digital display unit 32 is a display of how many times the variable winning ball device 4 has been opened. This is a variable winning ball device 4 as described later.
When a pachinko ball wins the V-pocket device 111 (see FIG. 6), the open state of the variable winning ball device 4 is continued, but since it is determined that it will be continued up to 10 times, The number of times is displayed. The switching of the display contents is performed by the control device described later.

The two lamps 211 to 214 provided on each of the left and right sides of the digital display unit 32 are for notifying that the pachinko balls have been won in the starting winning holes 7, 8 and 9 as described above. It is a lamp that lights up. When a pachinko ball is won in the start winning holes 7, 8 and 9, the display state of the drum display unit 31 of the variable display device 2 changes, and when it stops, it is determined whether or not it is a predetermined game state. In the state where the display of the variable display device 2 is not changed, when the pachinko ball is won in any of the start winning holes 7, 8, 9 the display of the variable display device 2 starts to change immediately.
It can be seen that a pachinko ball has won in any of the start winning holes 7, 8 and 9, but the display mode of the variable winning ball device 2 is changing, or in a predetermined game state, that is, in the "fever", When a pachinko ball is won in any of the starting winning holes 7, 8 and 9, the winning is not known. Also, if the display of the variable display device 2 does not change due to the winning, and the winning is wasted, it will be uninteresting for the player. Therefore, in this embodiment, when a pachinko ball is won in any of the start winning holes 7, 8 and 9 while the display of the variable display device 2 is changing, it is possible to hold up to four awards. Lamp 2 to inform
11, 112, 213 and 214 are provided. The lamps 211, 212, 213, and 214 are adapted to sequentially light up and display from the left side.

B. Other Embodiments of Variable Display Device In the above-described embodiment, the drum display unit 31 will be described as the variable display device 2, in particular, as the display unit involved in the predetermined game state. Three
Not limited to 1, the display unit involved in a predetermined game state,
It may be configured with a digital display unit. That is, by using a display segment whose display is electrically changed, the segment is selectively caused to emit light to electrically display digitally, and a predetermined game state is given by a combination of the digital displays. You can also do it. At this time, the electrical digital display can change the display content of each segment into a number of 0 to 9 and give a predetermined game state based on the combination of the displayed numbers. Also, not limited to a combination of numbers, a large number of cells are formed concentrically or radially so that a predetermined game state is given when a predetermined cell is turned on, and the cell is turned on. It is also possible to use a variable display unit that changes

(Explanation of control device) a. Description of Configuration Block Diagram FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the control circuit includes a microcomputer 221 as a control center. Microcomputer 2
21 is composed of, for example, an LSI of several chips,
It includes a CPU 712 capable of executing a control operation in a predetermined procedure, a ROM 710 storing an operation program of the CPU 712, and a RAM 709 capable of writing and reading necessary data. Furthermore, C
An input / output interface 711 is provided to maintain signal consistency between the PU 712 and an external circuit. In this embodiment, the RAM 710 rewrites its contents, that is, the CPU 7 stored therein when the need arises.
A programmable ROM 710 is used so that the program for 12 can be modified. Then, the CPU 712 controls the variable display device 2, the variable winning ball device 4, the speaker 5, various lamps, etc., according to the programs stored in the ROM 710 and in response to the input of each control signal described below. To give a control signal.

The following signals are given to the microcomputer 211 as input signals.

First, the detection switches 43, 44, 45 (FIG. 3) provided on the back surface side corresponding to the start winning holes 7, 8, 9 (see FIG. 2).
In response to turning on any of the
The winning signal is given from 2. V-pocket device (Fig. 6)
The signal from the photo reflector of FIG. 13 (see FIG. 13) is given to the V winning detection circuit 223, and the microcomputer 221
As a V detection signal. Stop button 33 (Fig. 2
When (reference) is pressed, a stop signal is given from the stop circuit 224 to the microcomputer 221. The count signal detected by the winning ball counter 126 (see FIGS. 6, 8 and 13) is given to the 10 count detecting circuit 225, and the winning ball counter 12 is detected by the 10 count detecting circuit 225.
When 6 signals are counted 10 times, 10 count signals are given. The outputs of the light receivers 167 and 168 (see FIG. 27) are given to the microcomputer 221 as a pattern determination signal via the pattern determination circuit 226. From the interrupt clock circuit 227, an interrupt clock signal is given to the microcomputer 221. Microcomputer 2
The 21 executes the operation of the interrupt control routine by the interrupt clock signal as described later. Further, predetermined signals are respectively sent from the runaway prevention circuit 228, the runaway reset circuit 229, the power-on reset circuit 230, the address decode circuit 231, etc.
21. The runaway prevention circuit 228, the runaway reset circuit 229, the power-on reset circuit 230, and the address decode circuit 231 do not particularly participate in the control operation that is a feature of the present invention, and therefore further description will be omitted. The microcomputer 221 may directly count the number of winning balls based on the detection signal of the winning ball counter 126.

The microcomputer 221 gives control signals for the following circuits and devices.

First, a prize winning memory display signal is given to the starting winning memory display circuit 232. The start winning award memory display circuit 232 can store up to four such signals.
Then, when one signal is stored, as described above, the lamp 21 composed of, for example, an LED, correspondingly, is stored.
1, 212, 213 and 214 (see FIG. 2) are sequentially turned on one by one.

The microcomputer 221 outputs the sound signal to the sound circuit 233.
The sound circuit 233 causes the speaker 25 (see FIG. 2) to ring.

The digital display signal output from the microcomputer 221 is given to the digital display circuit 234, and the digital display unit 32 (see FIG. 2) is display-controlled.

The microcomputer 221 gives a drum rotation control signal to the drum rotation control circuit 235, the motor 153 of the drum-shaped variable display member 151 (see FIG. 25) is rotated, and the solenoid 17 for rotating and stopping each rotating drum.
6,177,178 are controlled.

The microcomputer 221 gives an opening control signal to the opening control circuit 236, and the output of this circuit 236 drives the drive solenoid 108 of the variable winning ball device 4.

Further, the microcomputer 221 gives a lamp signal to the lamp circuit 237, and various lamps of the pachinko gaming machine shown in FIG. 2 are turned on by the output of the lamp circuit 237. That is, the V winning lamps 79 and 80, the "fever" lamps 20 and 2 that represent a predetermined game state
1, 29, and the tulip lamps 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 and 39 which are also flashed at "fever" are flashed.

A predetermined DC voltage is supplied from the power supply circuit 238 to each circuit having the above configuration.

B. Description of Flowchart FIGS. 34 to 39 are flowcharts showing the operation of the control circuit shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the control circuit shown in FIG. 1 will be described according to the flow of FIGS. 34 to 39.

When the power of the control circuit is turned on, the microcomputer 221 initializes the stored contents of the start winning award memory display circuit 232 (step S1) and waits for the next signal.

When a game is started on the pachinko gaming machine 1 (see FIG. 2) and a pachinko ball wins any of the start winning holes 7, 8, 9 then one of the detection switches 43, 44, 45 detects the winning ball. A winning signal is given from the starting winning circuit 222 to the microcomputer 221. Based on this signal, the microcomputer 221 gives a winning prize memory display signal to the starting winning prize memory display circuit 232. Along with this, a lamp signal is given to the lamp circuit 237 to blink the lamp during rotation (step S3). Further, a signal is given to the sound circuit 233 to generate a sound at the time of rotation (step S4). Further, a drum rotation control signal is given to the drum rotation control circuit 235 to rotate the rotating drums 187, 188, 18
The rotation of 9 (see FIGS. 2 and 26) is started (step S5). Then, in step S6, it is determined whether or not 5.055 seconds have elapsed since the rotation of the rotary drum started. If 5.055 seconds have elapsed, one time is randomly selected from 9 types of time. Select. For example, 5
3.28ms, 106.496ms, 163,840m
s, 217.088 ms, 274.4432 ms, 32
7.680ms, 380.680ms, 438.272
One time is randomly selected from ms and 491.520 ms. Then, the process proceeds to step S10.

Incidentally. From the beginning 5. x ₁ s, 5, x ₂ s, 5. x ₃ s,
…, 5. One may be randomly selected from the time of x _n s, and it may be determined whether or not the time elapses.

In step S6, if 5.055 _s has not elapsed after the start of rotation of the rotary drum, the microcomputer 221 determines whether the stop button has been turned on (step S7). That is, the stop circuit 2
It is determined whether or not the stop signal is input from 24. If the stop signal is not input, the control operation of steps S6 and S7 is repeated.

When the stop signal is received, one time is randomly selected from the five types of time in step S8. For example, 196.608 ms, 397.312 ms, 5
98.016ms, 798.720ms, 946.17
One time is randomly selected from 9 ms, and the process proceeds to the next step S10.

In step S10, step S8 or step S9
Wait for the next control for the time selected in. Then, after the selected time has elapsed, step S11
Go to.

In step S11, after the above time has elapsed, first, the left rotating drum 189 is stopped. This is done by the microcomputer 221 applying the drum rotation control signal 235 to deactivate the solenoid 178.

After that, a timer is set in order to open a predetermined time until the middle rotating drum 188 is stopped (step S1).
2) For example, wait until 1.21 seconds have elapsed (step S13), and stop the intermediate rotating drum 188 (step S14).

When the rotation of the middle rotating drum 188 is stopped, the light emitting units 172 and 173 (see FIG. 27) are turned on by the drum rotation control circuit 235. Then, in step S16, a timer is set to stop the right rotating drum 187,
For example, after waiting 1.21 seconds (step S17), the rotation of the right rotating drum 187 is stopped (step S1).
8). The time from the stop of rotation of the left rotary drum 189 to the stop of rotation of the middle rotary drum 188 and the stop of rotation of the right rotary drum 187 do not necessarily have to be the same time, and the time can be arbitrarily changed.

Then, in this state, the pattern determination circuit 226 (see FIG. 1)
Based on the output of the rotary drums 187, 188, 189
The display state of "3" is "7", or "BA
It is determined whether or not the state is the "fever" state in which three "R" are gathered (step S19).

When not in the “fever” state, the light emitting units 172, 1
73 is turned on (step S20), the sound output from the speaker 25 (see FIG. 1) by the sound circuit 233 is switched to a small hit sound (step S21), and a small hit opening process is performed (step S22). 3 (Figs. 2 and 5
See) is open for about 0.2 seconds. Then, each lamp is turned on (step S23), and the start winning award memory display circuit 2
The number of starting winnings stored in 32 (see FIG. 1) is decremented by 1, and the process returns to step S2.

In step S19, the microcomputer 221
When the “fever” is discriminated by, the light emitting units 172, 17
3 is turned on (step S25), a sound signal is given to the sound circuit 233, and a fever sound is output from the speaker 25. Also, each “fever” lamp 20, 21, 29, 3
4 to 39 are blinked (step S26). Step S
The 19, light emitting units 172, 173, and the light receiving units 168, 169 constitute a specific game state detecting means for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined specific game state.

Next, in step S27, the opening / closing plate 3 of the variable winning ball device 4 is opened. This is a microcomputer 221
Is provided by giving a signal to the opening control circuit 236 and energizing the drive solenoid 108 (see FIG. 5). Then, a signal is given to the digital display circuit 234, and the digital display unit 32 (see FIG. 2) causes the “fever” to be displayed.
Display the count for 1.5 seconds. What is the “fever” count?
It shows how many times the open / close plate 3 of the variable winning ball device 4 is in the open state.

If it is the first time, "1" is displayed for 1.5 seconds (step S28).

Then, the control of steps S29 to S34 is repeated for a predetermined time or until a predetermined number of prize balls, for example, 10 prize balls are won. That is, it is determined whether or not 30 seconds have passed since the opening / closing plate 3 was opened (step S29). If 30 seconds have not passed, the winning ball counter 126 (see FIG. 5).
It is determined whether 10 winning balls have been counted or not (step S30). The opening / closing plate may be opened only when the number of winning balls reaches 10 without step S29. When the number of winning balls is less than 10, each time a winning ball is detected, it is cumulatively counted and the number is displayed on the digital display unit 32 (step S3).
1).

Steps S32 to S41 represent the characteristic operation of this embodiment. That is, in these steps S32 to S41, it is determined whether or not the output of the winning ball counter 126 is at a low level for 5 seconds or more in the fever state (steps S32 and S33), and continuously at a low level for 5 seconds or more. If there is, open / close plate 3 and solenoid 108
(See FIG. 5) is deactivated (step S34), the timer is stopped (step S35), a predetermined alarm lamp is turned on, and an alarm sound is generated from the speaker (step S36,
S37). Then, after that, it is determined whether or not the winning ball counter 126 is at the high level. If not, the operations of steps S32 to S38 are repeated. This is because if the winning ball counter 126 is in a low level state due to a ball clogging or the like, the ball clogging may be eliminated, so that it is determined. Then, if the winning ball counter is at a high level at that time, that is, if the ball that has caused the ball clogging in the winning ball counter 126 is flowing out, the solenoid 108 is excited again (step S3).
9), the timer is restarted (step S40), the alarm sound is turned off, and a predetermined fever lamp is blinked (step S41).

Since such control is performed, no disadvantage is given to the player even if the opening / closing plate 3 is once closed in the middle of the fever state. This is because, in the fever state, the maximum time during which the opening / closing plate 3 can be opened once is 30 seconds, but the opening / closing plate 3 is closed once during the 30 seconds. In that case, since the stepping of the timer for counting the opening time is also stopped, the opening / closing plate 3 can be opened for the remaining time after the opening and closing. Therefore, there is no disadvantage for the player when the opening / closing plate 3 is closed.

Further, it is determined whether or not the "fever" is the 10th time (step S42), and if it is not the 10th time, it is determined whether or not there is a V winning (step S43). A V detection signal is given from the V winning detection circuit 223 (see FIG. 1),
When the winning is determined, the V winning lamp is turned on (step S44). This lamp is a variable winning ball device 4
Lamps 79, which are provided on both sides of the opening / closing plate 3 and which emit light through the window holes 84 and 85 of the front decorative frame 83 (see FIG. 6),
This is done by turning on 80.

In step S29 or step S30, when the opening time of the opening / closing plate 3 reaches 30 seconds, or when 10 winning balls are counted during that time, the control operation is step S29.
Proceed to 45.

In step S45, the opening / closing plate 3 is closed, and the "fever"
After finishing the state, it is judged whether or not the "fever" is the tenth time (step S46). If not the tenth time, the photo reflector 141 of the V-pocket device 111 (see FIG. 13)
Then, it waits for 1.8 seconds, for example, whether or not the V detection signal is given through the V winning detection circuit 223. That is, even after the opening / closing plate 3 is closed, it waits for 1.8 seconds to determine whether or not the V detection signal is given (step S).
47). This is because it takes time for the pachinko ball that has won the opening 72 of the variable winning ball device 4 to be caught by the V pocket device 111 or temporarily stopped for some reason. is there. For example, finally a pachinko ball wins the center of the variable winning ball device 4,
If the player feels that there is a V prize, and the pachinko ball happens to get caught, and the "fever" state does not continue, the player and the pachinko hall where this pachinko gaming machine is installed are Although troubles will occur with the staff, such troubles are prevented in advance.

Then, in step S48, it is determined whether or not a V detection signal is given from the V winning detection circuit 223, and when it is determined that the V winning is performed, the sound circuit 233 is controlled to switch the fever sound and pause. A middle tone is output and a pause time process is performed (step S50). The rest time process is to close the opening / closing plate 3 for a predetermined time, for example, 2 seconds. During that time, the V winning lamps 79 and 80 are turned off.

Then, the operation from step S26 is continued.

In step S46, the microcomputer 221
However, if it is determined that the "fever" state has been repeated 10 times, the sound from the speaker is turned off, the lamp and the display are turned off, the "fever" state is ended (step S52), and the start winning award memory display circuit 232. If there is a starting winning award stored in, the decrement is made by one, and the process is continued from step S2. The abnormality determination in steps S32 and S33 may be performed in the normal gaming state other than the fever state. Further, as a result of the abnormality determination, when it is determined that the variable display device is abnormal, the generated start winning may be invalidated so that the variable display device does not start variable.

The microcomputer 221 performs the series of processes described above, and at the same time, the interrupt clock circuit 227 (see FIG. 1).
Based on the signal interrupted every 4 ms from step S
The processes of 61 to S64 are performed.

In other words, the pachinko ball in the game, start winning hole 7,8,
It is determined whether or not any one of the nine prizes is won by the start winning circuit 222.
When a pachinko ball is won in any of the start winning holes 7, 8 and 9 based on the signal from (see FIG. 1), “5” is further stored in the starting winning memory display circuit 232. Is determined (step S62),
If "5" is not stored, the value is incremented by 1 (step S63). Then, in response thereto, the lamps 211, 212, 213, and 214 provided on both sides of the digital display unit 32 are sequentially lit from the left side to the right side. That is, these lamps 211
As for 214, as described above, the starting winning award memory display circuit 2
The value of the stored numerical value stored in 32 is displayed.

By the steps S27 to S53, the variable winning ball apparatus is brought into the first state based on the detection output of the specific game state detecting means, and the number of winning balls detected by the winning ball detecting means reaches a predetermined number. In this case, the drive control means is configured to bring the variable winning ball device into the second state. In addition, game immobilization means for immobilizing a predetermined game operation in the ball game machine is configured based on the detection output of the winning ball detection means being in a predetermined output state in steps S34 to S41. ing.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, as a typical example of the ball game machine,
Although the pachinko game machine is described as an example, the present invention can be similarly applied to other ball game machines, such as a coin game machine and a smart ball game machine.

[Advantages of the Invention] In the present invention, since the upper limit is set to the number of winning balls that can be won in the first state of the variable winning ball device, a large number of hit balls are generated when the variable winning ball device is in the first state. It is possible to prevent inconvenience that the game service is concentrated and concentrated only on an expert who is excellent in hitting ball operation technology capable of winning in the variable winning ball device, and it is easy to achieve homogenization of the game service.
Moreover, when an abnormality occurs in the winning ball detecting means for detecting the winning balls for determining whether or not the upper limit number has been reached, the predetermined game operation in the ball game machine is disabled. Therefore, it is possible to prevent as much as possible the inconvenience that the game is continued while the abnormality relating to the winning ball detecting means occurs.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control circuit configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram showing an example of a control circuit configured by using a microcomputer. FIG. 2 is a front view of the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a rear view for explaining the back surface structure of the game board of the pachinko gaming machine 1. FIG. 4 is a rear view for explaining the structure of the mechanism plate provided on the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the variable winning ball device 4 applied to this embodiment. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the variable winning ball device 4. FIG. 7 shows the opening / closing plate 3 of the variable winning ball device.
FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view for explaining the drive link mechanism of FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the variable winning ball device 4 as viewed from the back side. FIG. 9 is a top view of the variable winning ball device as viewed from above with the open state. FIG. 10 is a front view of the variable winning ball device in the closed state. 11th
The figure is a sectional front view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a circle XII in FIG. FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of the variable winning ball device 4 attached to the game board. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the game board of the portion to which the variable winning ball device 4 is attached, as seen from the back side. FIG. 15 is a basic circuit diagram of a detection circuit that detects a winning ball that has won a variable winning ball device. First
FIG. 6 is a specific circuit diagram of the winning ball counter used in this embodiment. 17A and 17B are detailed perspective views of the winning ball counter. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a ball clogging state. FIG. 19 is a front view of a variable winning ball device for explaining a ball clogging state. FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of the winning ball counter portion in FIG. Second
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a change in signal level in a ball clogging state. 22 and 23 are views showing another embodiment of the winning ball counter. FIG. 24 is a drum-shaped variable display member 151 included in the variable winning ball device of this embodiment.
FIG. FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the drum-shaped variable display member 151. 26th
The drawing is a top view showing the internal structure of the drum-shaped variable display member 151 excluding the storage box. FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the drum-shaped variable display member 151. FIG. 28 is a side sectional view in a state where the drum-shaped variable display member 151 is attached to the game board 5. FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of display information drawn on the peripheral surface of the rotary drum.
FIG. 30, FIG. 31, FIG. 32, and FIG. 33 are views for explaining how the display mode is detected by the combination of the rotary drums. Figures 34A and 3
FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing the operation of this embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a pachinko game machine, 2 is a variable display device,
3 is an opening / closing plate, 4 is a variable winning ball device, 5 is a game board, 7,
Reference numerals 8 and 9 are starting winning holes, 43, 44 and 45 are detection switches provided corresponding to the starting winning holes, 71 is a base plate, and 7
2 is an opening, 95 and 96 are reinforcing members, 108 is a drive solenoid, 111 is a V pocket device, 114 and 115 are V winning set gutters, 123 and 124 are Kyujosei, 12
6 is a winning ball counter, 141 is a photo reflector, 142
Is a drift projection, 151 is a drum-shaped variable display member, 152 is a storage box, 155 is a start adjustment hole, 167 is a light receiver,
170 is a light emitter, 187, 188, 189 is a rotating drum, 221 is a microcomputer, 31 is a drum display unit, 32 is a digital display unit, and 33 is a stop button.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A bullet including a variable winning ball device, which is provided in a game area where a ball is hit and which can be changed into a first state that is advantageous to a player and a second state that is disadvantageous to the player. A ball game machine, a specific game state detecting means for detecting that a predetermined specific game state has occurred, and a prize that is won in the variable prize ball device when the variable prize ball device is in the first state The winning ball detecting means for detecting a ball and the variable winning ball device in the first state based on the detection output of the specific game state detecting means, and the number of winning balls detected by the winning ball detecting means is a predetermined number. If the control output means for bringing the variable winning ball device into the second state when it becomes, and the detection output of the winning ball detecting means has reached a predetermined output state, a predetermined value in the ball game machine is determined. Immobilize game motion A ball-and-ball game machine including a game immobilization means.