JPH0755248B2 - A device for capturing the number of unit balls of a game machine using a pachinko ball - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention is a format in which a predetermined number of pachinko balls are used as a unit in a game, and a predetermined number of pachinko balls are paid according to the weight of the game result. Game machine, in particular, a device for capturing the number of unit balls thereof.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, for example, an idea of constructing a slot machine using pachinko balls has already been proposed.

It is possible to use a pachinko ball to play a slot machine, etc., because it is possible to use a common hard ball with a pachinko machine that has been widely used in the past in a single playground. The counting device and the centralized control device can be shared without discarding, therefore,
There is an advantage that pachinko machines and slot machines can be mixed in the same island facility.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in order to put the game machine into practical use, some problems different from those of a game machine using coins must be solved.

One of them is a procedure when a predetermined number of pachinko balls are divided as one unit and the number of balls is less than the number of balls taken in continuously when taken into the game machine.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems.

(Means for Solving Problems) The present invention is configured as follows to achieve the above object. That is, a unit ball number capturing device for a game machine using a pachinko ball, which is played with a predetermined number of pachinko balls as one unit and pays a predetermined number of pachinko balls according to the weight of the game result. A downflow gutter 32 for guiding the ball from the upper plate 16 provided on the front of the game machine to the downflow gutter 33, and an intake means provided so that the ball can be taken in the middle of the downflow gutter 32.
30, a control device 8 for controlling the capturing means 30 to capture a unit number of balls, and a count sensor 56 for counting the number of balls actually captured in the capturing trough 33, The control device 8 is configured to include control means for interrupting the taking-in operation of the taking-in means 30 when the actual number of taken-in balls counted by the count sensor 56 is less than a predetermined number of taken-in balls. It is a thing.

Furthermore, the control device 8 may be configured to include a control means for continuing the operation of the interrupted capturing means 30 from the time point counted by the count sensor 56 after interrupting the capturing operation. .

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on an example of the slot machine shown in the drawings.

1 and 2, the hinge 1 is attached to the hollow box-shaped machine frame 1.
A front frame 3 is attached so that it can be opened and closed by 4A and 4B.

The front frame 3 is a receiving bracket 5A and a hook piece 5B that constitute the locking device 5.
It is locked by engaging with, and unlocked by sliding the hook piece 5B in the vertical direction by the lock 5C.

The front frame 3 includes a case 10 of the game device 10 from the rear side thereof.
A is installed.

In the case 10A, three rotary drums 6 are juxtaposed so as to be rotatable around a rotary shaft 7, and one side thereof partially enters the opening 3A of the front frame 3.

The front surface of the front frame 3 is covered with the display cover 11 and the front cover 12, and the above-mentioned 3 through the visible window 12B of the front cover 12.
The side of each rotating drum 6 is visible.

On the operation panel 12C portion of the front cover 12, a start lever 13 that can start the game apparatus 10 at a fixed betting point (an integral multiple of the number of unit balls), a stop button 14 assigned to each rotating drum 6, and a A stop indicator 15 and a speaker 9 are provided.

Reference numeral 16 is an upper plate for supplying pachinko balls to the capturing means 30, and 17A, 17B, 17C are grade selection switches for selecting a bet point grade, that is, a constant (integer) by which the number of unit balls is multiplied. , 18A, 18B, 18C are grade indicators that indicate that they are selectable.

In this embodiment, the minimum number of unit balls that can be played in the game is 5, and the bet grade is 1 unit (5 balls), 2 units (10 balls), or 3 units (15 balls).

Incidentally, reference numeral 8 is a control device for controlling various devices of the present device to develop a predetermined game, and takes in the taking means 30 to take in a unit number of balls, or a count sensor 56.
When the actual number of balls taken in is less than the predetermined number of balls taken, the taking-in operation of the taking-in means 30 is interrupted, or it is interrupted from the time counted by the count sensor 56. The control means and the like for continuing the operation of the intake means 30 are provided.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, when the sart lever 13 is pushed, a motor (not shown) is activated and the three rotary drums 6 are driven.
Rotate all at once.

By pressing an arbitrary stop button 14, one of the play stopping devices (not shown) provided for each rotary drum 6 is actuated, and the corresponding one rotary drum 6 is stopped.

This play stopping device is configured, for example, so that the ratchet provided on each of the six rotating drums causes the stop claw released by the stop solenoid to fall.

A variety of symbols (predetermined figures, symbols, numbers, etc.) are continuously attached to the outer peripheral surface of each rotary drum 6 in the circumferential direction. In the upper, middle, and lower rows, a total of nine are simultaneously displayed from the front visible window 12B.

Reference numeral 19 is a direction line provided in the visible window 12B for specifying the combination direction of the nine display codes in total, and is composed of three horizontal lines in the upper, middle and lower directions and two oblique lines.

Next to the visible window 12B, a bet line display lamp (bet rate indicator) 20 is provided which indicates whether or not a combination on each direction line is a bet target.

Reference numeral 21 is a digital score indicator, and when one of the predetermined specific combinations (prize mode) of the rotary drum 6 is lined up on the line bet by the player, promised according to the weight of the combination. The score is displayed on the score indicator 21, and the prize ball discharging device 40 discharges the number of prize balls corresponding to the upper plate 16 from the upper plate outlet 16A.

When the upper plate 16 is full, the prize balls from the prize ball discharging device 40 are discharged to the lower plate 22 from the lower plate outlet 22C by the function of the overflow device 42.

Reference numeral 24 is a return switch, which is the upper plate 16 or the taking-in means.
When a semi-hemisphere less than the minimum number of unit balls is generated in 30 and returned to the player, or when the player wants to stop playing, the balls in the upper plate 16 are returned to the lower plate 22 ( (At the time of payment)
And so on.

The prize mode is 2, 7, 10, 14, under "general game".
It is roughly divided into two cases: payment of 15 units of prize balls and payment of 15 units of prize balls under "Large Bonus Game" and "Bonus Game."

In this embodiment, the combination of shifting from the general game state to the “large bonus game” is when three diamond symbols “☆” are prepared, and the combination of shifting to the “bonus game” is the number “7”. It is when three are gathered.

The display cover 11 has a large bonus display 25 for displaying the acquisition of the right for this "big bonus game" and a "bonus game".
And a bonus indicator 26 for displaying the acquisition of the right.

The display device 27 is a profit and loss display device for displaying the difference between the number of balls (or the number of units) thrown by the player and the number of prize balls (or the number of units) paid out, or the game machine on the day. It is used as a number-of-rights indicator that displays the number of rights transferred to the big bonus game.

Reference numeral 28 is a stop indicator (completion lamp) which is turned on when the number of paid prize balls reaches a predetermined number.

2 and 3, the mounting board 31 on the back surface of the front frame 3 is shown.
Includes a take-in means 30 and a flue gutter 32 to the take-in means, that is, a take-in gutter 33 which will be described later with a ball from an upper plate 16 provided on the front of the game machine.
Downflow gutter 32 that leads to the gating device, an intake gutter 33 for taking in a unit number of pachinko balls from the taking-in device 30, and a pachinko ball of the taking-in device 30 when a hemisphere occurs or when the settlement is made. A ball gutter 34 etc. for returning to 22 is provided.

In addition, the mounting board 31 has an upper tank provided with a ball out detection member 38.
37 and a prize ball discharge device 40 are provided, and the upper tank 37 is supplied with balls from a common supply gutter 35 provided as an island installation by a supply device 36. It is led to the discharge device 40.

Further, the mounting board 31 is provided with an upper tank ball removing device 44, and when the store is closed or the like, all balls from the upper tank 37 to the prize ball discharging device 40 are removed and passed through the ball removing gutter 45. Be guided downwards.

The balls led out from the ball removing gutter 45 and the intake gutter 33 of the intake means 30 are discharged into a confluent gutter 46 provided below the inside of the machine frame 1 and collected in a collecting gutter 48.

Taking-In Means FIG. 4 shows an taking-in means 30 of a type (unit variable type) capable of taking arbitrary N (N ≧ 1) pachinko balls (here, 5) as the taking-in unit number of balls. One specific example is shown.

This take-in means 30 is located downstream of the downflow gutter 32 in a "blocking position" for blocking the downflow of the downflow gutter 32 and a "release position" for allowing the downflow of the ball.
In this embodiment, the fan-shaped cam 50 is provided as an intake member that can be converted into and.

The cam 50 is rotatably supported by a shaft 50A orthogonal to the downward direction of the sphere, and the lower end of a plunger 52A of an intake solenoid 52 located above is supported via levers 51 whose ends are pivotally supported by pivot shafts 51A on both sides thereof. Is connected with.

Therefore, when the intake means 30 is in the normal non-operating state, the cam 50 is pushed down by the own weight of the plunger 52A to the blocking position shown in FIG.

Then, when the intake solenoid 52 is energized and the intake means 30 is activated, the cam 50 is pulled up to the release position that allows the ball to flow down.

In the normal blocking position (FIG. 4), the aligned balls in the downflow gutter 32 are blocked from flowing down by the cam 50 blocking the leading ball.

And whether there is a predetermined number of pachinko balls,
Three reflection type optical sensors (unit sphere number detectors) 53, 54, 55 (55 are not shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) are provided along the flow-down gutter 32 at each length position corresponding to the number of unit spheres. )).

The first sensor 53 is the fifth sensor (end of the first unit), the second sensor 54 is the tenth sensor (end of the second unit), and the third sensor 55.
Senses the 15th (the end of the 3rd unit).

In the downflow gutter 32, a pressure reducing portion 32C is provided by a step on the boundary between the fifth ball and the sixth ball counted from the leading ball blocked by the cam 50, that is, the boundary between the first unit and the second unit, The height center of the sphere row of the first unit is set lower than the height center of the sphere row of the second unit.

According to this structure, the ball pressure of the balls on the upstream side of the sixth ball is reduced by the pressure reducing unit 32C, and the reduced ball pressure acts to push down the first row of balls.

Therefore, the pressure applied to the shaft 50A of the cam 50 is also reduced, so that the cam 50 is smoothly rotated to the release position shown by the dotted line, and the series of balls from the first ball to the fifth ball is continuously and smoothly. Although it flows down, it takes time for the sixth and subsequent balls to pass as much as the flow direction is changed by colliding with the decompression unit 32C.

That is, the 6th and subsequent balls are delayed relative to the 1st unit.
There is a slight gap between the two.

Therefore, when capturing spheres that are an integral multiple of the number of unit spheres,
Assuming that the cam 50 is moved up and down once for each unit, a break is made at the downflow of the ball each time (5) for one unit passes,
The cam 50 can surely return to the blocking position in time.

For example, first, when the cam 50 is in the release position, the pachinko ball row is divided by the decompression unit 32C as a unit ball number and flows down,
The first unit is taken from the downflow gutter 32 into the intake gutter 33.

The cam 50 de-energizes the intake solenoid 52 to
At the time when the second unit and the second unit arrive, the blocking state is restored in good timing.

If you want to capture 2 units or 3 units, perform this operation 2
It only has to be repeated once or three times.

A slanting guide portion 33B is formed at the turning angle from the flow-down gutter 32 to the intake gutter 33 to improve the flow of the ball.

The number of balls actually taken in is confirmed by a ball passage detector (count sensor) 56 provided in the downflow gutter 32.

The count sensor 56 can also be provided in the intake gutter 33.

When the count sensor 56 is provided in the downflow gutter 32 as in the present embodiment, the detection position thereof can be set to an arbitrary position within the area where the first unit ball row exists.

In this case, in consideration of the problem of fraud, it is preferable that the count sensor 56 be detected from the first ball counted from the cam 50 when the ball is taken in, but mounting becomes difficult in terms of space.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the count sensor 56 senses the second ball counting from the cam 50 in the normal state shown in FIG. 4, and the third sensor counts when the ball is loaded. It is provided so as to be detected from the rising edge of the ball.

Even with this setting, after the cam 50 returns to the blocking position, the 6th and 7th balls from the beginning are the count sensors.
As it flows down to the position of 56 and is counted as the fourth and fifth spheres from the count sensor 56, it does not affect the calculation result of whether or not the number of unit spheres could be captured. Don't give.

Incidentally, the photoelectric detection positions of the count sensor 56 and each of the sensors 53, 54, 55 are located off the center of the sphere, and each sphere can be detected even if the sphere row passes integrally. .

If the number of passing balls actually captured is less than the number of unit balls, then in the section where the first unit of the ball row exists, the rubber flows down or the piano wire misconducts. It was when there was some kind of accident.

There are two possible methods of processing in this case.

The first processing method is to suspend the operation of the mounting means 30 and continue the taking-in operation after the cause of the accident is eliminated.

The second processing method is a form in which the same number of prize balls as the number of hemispheres actually taken in are returned from the prize ball discharging device 40 to the player.

Immediately after the completion of the ball capturing operation, when it is detected that there are no more than half the number of semi-spherical balls remaining in the falling trough 32, the ball game solenoid 60 is automatically energized and the gate member is automatically activated. Pull the barrel slide plate 59 to open the ball outlet 32A.

The half-end sphere in the take-in means 30 is returned from the leading sphere to the lower tray 22 through the sphere extraction port 32A and along the sphere extraction trough 34.

Such a configuration in which the fractional ball is automatically returned to the lower plate 22 has an advantage that the player does not need to operate the return switch 24 to return the fractional ball.

When the number of balls in the taking-in means 30 is less than the minimum unit number of balls or when the ball is removed from the pachinko ball as necessary at the time of settlement, the return switch 24 is operated.

As a result, the removal solenoid 60 is urged, the slide plate 59 as a gate member is pulled, and the ball outlet 32A is opened.

The ball in the downflow gutter 32 and the ball in the upper tray 16 are ball-extracted from the top ball.
It passes through 32 and is returned to the lower plate 22 along the ball removing trough 34, and the ball is removed.

Another specific example of the take-in means (a) Take-in means of FIG. 5 This take-in means 30 is a tilting member in which a horizontal U-shaped ball receiving portion 62 is located on the receiving opening 33A of the take-in gutter 33. 61, the tilting member
By passing the balls from the downstream end opening of the falling trough 32 to the ball receiving portion 62 of 61, the taking-in operation is performed one by one.

When the number of unit spheres to be taken in is one or more and the number of unit balls is two or more, the taking-in operation is performed a corresponding number of times.

The tilting member 61 is supported by a shaft 63 so as to be tiltable,
Normally, the side (front side) of the ball receiving portion 62 is in the "non-operating position" in which it falls by its own weight.

The horizontal U-shaped ball receiving portion 62 is a blocking piece that extends upward from the tip of the upper wall.
62A, the downstream end of the downflow gutter 32 is closed in the inoperative position by the blocking piece 62A.

The intake solenoid 52 is connected via a rod 64 to a pivot 61A provided on the front side of the shaft 63 of the tilting member 61.

By urging the intake solenoid 52, the front side of the tilting member 61 is pushed up to the stopper 65, and the ball receiving portion 62 is in the “operating position” in which it coincides with the downstream end opening of the downflow gutter 32.

Only one ball is received from the downflow gutter 32 in the ball receiving portion 62. At the completion of receiving this ball, the intake solenoid 52
Is off, and the tilting member 61 has the ball receiving portion 62 of the tilting member 61.
Return to the non-actuated position by its own weight and the weight of the ball received.

At the time of this returning operation, the ball in the ball receiving portion 62 flows down into the intake gutter 33 and is taken in.

The ball receiving portion 62 can be deepened so as to receive a plurality of balls in the axial direction.

For example, the unit can be configured to accept five, which is the number of unit balls, and in this case, as shown in the drawing, the tilting member
It is preferable to attach a weight 66 to the rear side of the 61 for balance.

(B) Take-in means of FIG. 6 This take-in means 30 has a format (unit: unit) in which any N (N ≧ 1) pachinko balls (here, 5) can be taken as the unit number of balls. (Variable) Another specific example is shown.

67 is a take-in rotating body arranged at the downstream end opening of the downflow gutter 32,
A plurality of warehouses (five in this example, corresponding to the number of unit balls) of anti-spherical ball receiving recesses 67A are provided in the periphery.

The take-in rotary body 67 is attached to an output shaft 68A of a pulse motor 68 that runs laterally at right angles to the flow-down direction of the flow-down gutter 32, and the lower portion thereof faces the flow-down gutter 32 from above.

The sphere of the downflow gutter 32 is configured so that it cannot flow down to the intake gutter 33 unless the upper part enters into the semicircular sphere receiving recess 67A.

In this example, the convex portion 67B remaining between the adjacent ball receiving concave portions 67A, 67A
Is stationary at a position that blocks downward flow of the ball and is rotated from one blocking position to the next.

During this time, the ball receiving concave portion 67A and the convex portion 67B alternately pass through the inside of the downflow gutter 32, and the ball receiving concave portion 67A receives the leading ball and sends it out in the axial direction of the downflow gutter 32.

The rotational angular position of the intake rotating body 67 is determined by the number of pulses input to the pulse motor 68. Therefore, by rotating the pulse motor 68 by a predetermined angle, a desired number of balls are made to flow down from the downflow gutter 32 to the intake gutter 33. be able to.

In this example, when the output shaft 68A is rotated once, five units for one unit are taken in.

Prize Ball Ejecting Device FIG. 7 shows a specific example of the prize ball ejecting device 40 for ejecting prize balls with an arbitrary number of pachinko balls as the unit number of balls.

The prize ball discharging device 40 includes a lead-out chute 39 and a prize ball discharging gutter 41.
A bent downflow gutter 70 that connects the downflow gutter, a fan-shaped cam 71 that can be converted into a blocking position that blocks the ball downflow of the downflow gutter, and a release position that allows the ball downflow, and the cam 71 that is the main position of the fan. And a discharge solenoid 72 for switching from the blocking position to the release position by rotating the shaft 71A provided around the shaft 71A against the return spring 71B.

Reference numeral 73 is a photoelectric count sensor provided at the leading prize ball position.

The prize balls released from the prize ball discharging device 40 to the prize ball discharging gutter 41 are:
Normally, it is guided to the lower plate 22, but when removing the ball, the prize ball discharge gutter
The switching valve 74 provided in the middle of 41 is switched, and is guided to the side of the ball gutter 45.

Control Device FIG. 8 is a configuration example of the control device 8 using a microcomputer, which has a CPU 80, a ROM 81, and a RAM 82 composed of a non-volatile memory. In accordance with the program written in the ROM 81, the CPU 80 fetches external data required from the input port 83, or exchanges data with the RAM 82 to perform arithmetic processing, and process as necessary. The data is output to the output port 84 or the voice IC (voice circuit) 85.

The main routine is shown in FIG. 9, and "input detection processing""grade selection processing""ball loading processing""game start processing""drum rotation processing""drum stop processing""judgmentprocessing""prizeball" Ejection process "Stopping process""Processing mode update"
Each process is defined. Although not shown, "general game" and "special game" in the subroutine of the determination process
The respective processes, and the process of "the number of prize balls calculation" are defined in the respective processes of the normal game and the special game. Each of the "grade selection process", "ball loading process", "game start process", "drum rotation process", "drum stop process", "judgment process", and "prize ball discharge process" is performed in process mode 1 to process mode 7. It is done sequentially. "Update flag" in any subroutine from "input detection processing" to "stop processing"
Becomes "1", the processing mode is updated to the next processing mode (processing mode update), the update flag is set to "0", and the processing is returned to the first "input detection processing".

An example of the taking-in operation will be described below by taking the taking-in device 30 of FIG. 4 as an example and following the flow shown in FIGS. 10 to 12.

Confirmation of existence of minimum unit sphere number When the program starts, the microcomputer enters "input detection processing" (step). First, a port designation signal is given to the input port 83 to check whether the first sensor 53 of the ball capturing device 30 has a pachinko ball statically for a predetermined time.

In step 1.04 of FIG. 10, first, the "rise timer" is set when the first sensor 53 detects a sphere and stands up (1.08). When the player first throws the ball into the upper plate 16, the rising timer is set only if the thrown flowing ball is temporarily detected, or it is set to a stationary state. This is because it is not possible to distinguish whether the existing sphere was detected. Next, it is checked whether or not the ball is stationary on the first sensor 53 for a predetermined timer time of the rising timer. That is, returning to step 1.03, it is checked whether or not the first sensor 53 is ON while the rising timer is in use (1.
09), if it is not ON yet, wait for the rising timer to expire (1.11). If the rising timer times out,
Since it is possible to confirm that the sphere exists statically, set the "sphere flag" to "1" 1.11 and 1.12). if,
When the first sensor 53 returns to OFF while using the rise timer (1.03, 1.09), the ball was in a flowing state, so the rise timer is released (1.10), and step 1.
Reset the rising timer of 08.

On the other hand, if the first sensor 53 does not detect the sphere, it is determined whether it is a temporary one based on the operation of the sphere capturing device 30 or a continuous one caused by the absence of the sphere. To determine, the CPU sets the "fall timer" when the ball is no longer detected (1.06, 1.13). Then, when the first sensor 53 detects a sphere and switches to ON within this timer time (1.05, 1.14), the rising timer is temporarily canceled (1.15). However, when the ball is not detected even after the fall timer or the first sensor 53 is still OFF (1.05, 1.14, 1.16), the ball is the upper plate 16 and the ball capturing device 30. Since there is no such condition, the "no ball flag" is set to "1" and the "ball flag" is returned to "0" (1.17, 1.1
8).

Ball game by return switch Steps 1.19 to 1.27 in FIG. 10 are when the player presses the return switch 24 (FIG. 1) during the period other than the ball loading process (process mode 2) described later. , Ball Solenoid 60
Is a program for activating and removing the ball of the capturing device 30. That is, if it is confirmed that the return switch 24 is pressed and the processing mode is 2 or less (1.02, 1.19),
Set the "ball removal flag" to "1" and the ball removal solenoid of the ball removal device.
Activate 60 (1.20, 1.21). As a result, the balls in the downflow gutter 32 flow down from the ball removal gutter 34, the return gutter 58, and the lower tray 22. When the ball removal flag becomes "1", the CPU proceeds from step 1.01 to step 1.22, and waits for the no ball flag = "1" to be set (1.23). If the no-ball flag = "1" is set, the last ball has just passed just below the first sensor 53, so the "ball removal timer" is set to completely remove the ball up to this last ball (1.24 ). Then, after waiting for the ball removal timer to finish the ball removal of the last ball (1.01, 1.22, 1.25), reset the ball non-ball flag and the ball removal flag to "0" and turn off the ball removal device.
Then, the operation of the ball removing device is stopped (1.26, 1.27). Thus, the return switch 24 becomes effective and the ball can be removed except during the taking-in operation.

Grade Selection Processing Subsequently, the grade selection processing of the processing mode = 1 is started (9th
Steps in the figure).

In steps 3.02 and 3.03 of FIG. 11, the CP checks whether the "sphere-present flag" and the "no-sphere flag" are "1". If the sphere flag = "1", it means that the first sensor 53 has been in the ON state for a certain period of time, and there are at least the number of spheres (5 spheres) in a state where the spheres are not flowing. .

(B) When there is a ball When the flag with a ball = "1" is confirmed, the grade display of the betting rate starts (3.02). First, the third sensor 55 and the second sensor 54 are operated for a certain period of time in order to display a betable unit by the combination of the lighting states of the grade indicators 18C, 18B and 18A.
Check if it is ON, that is, if there are 3 units (15) or 2 units (10) spheres (3.06, 3.
11).

Now there are 3 units of spheres (15 spheres), so the 1st to 3rd
If all the sensors 53, 54, 55 are ON (3.02, 3.0
(6, 3.11), first check whether the "wager rate is less than 1" (3.07). "Betting rate less than 1" means that the betting rate as a result of the player operating the grade selection switches 17A, 17B, 17C has not reached one unit, specifically, the grade selection switches 17A, 17B. , 17C means that neither is pressed. If the "bet rate is less than 1", 3 units are still bet, so 3 units,
2 units, 1 unit betting grade indicator 18C, 18B, 18A
Is turned on to inform the player that the operation is possible (3.08, 3.09, 3.10).

If "wager rate is less than 1" (3.07), already 3 credits, 2
Since either the unit or the unit has been bet, the process proceeds to step 3.11 and after confirming that the second sensor 54 is ON for a certain time (3.11), the bet is less than 2 units. That is, it is checked whether "betting rate is less than 2" (1.13). If YES, you can still bet 2 additional credits, so 2 credits, 1 credit grade indicator 18B, 18A
Is turned on to inform the player that the operation is possible (3.09, 3.10).

If neither "bet rate less than 1" or "bet rate less than 2" (3.07, 3.09), 2 or more units have already been bet, so proceed to step 3.13 to see if the bet is smaller than 3 units. That is, it is checked whether the "bet rate is less than 3" (1.13). If YES, you can bet 1 unit again, so turn on the grade indicator 18A for 1 unit,
Inform the player that the operation is possible (3.10).

Now, if the grade selection switch 17C is pressed first (3.14), the CPU determines whether or not the grade selection switch 17C is selectable by looking at whether or not the grade indicator 18C is lit (3.20). . If YES, the bet is 3 units, so the CPU increments the bet rate by 3 (3.21), and displays all the bet line belonging to the upper, middle, lower 3 horizontal lines 19 and the two diagonal lines 19 in total. The lamp 20 is turned on to display that all of them are targets for betting.
Also, write "15" as the "number of captures" (3.2
2) Set the capture timer A (3.23) for setting the release time of the cam 50 required for capture by the number of balls for 3 units (3.23), and set the sound effect A data (3.24). Then, the fetch flag is set to "1" and the update flag is set to "1", and the process proceeds to step 3.17 (3.25, 3.26). Since the "wager rate is 3", step 3.17
Judgment is YES, grade indicator 18A, 18B, 18C 3
Turn off both lights (3.27, 3.28, 3.29) and display that you can no longer increase the additional stakes, step 3.01
Return to.

On the other hand, when the grade selection switch 17B is first pressed and two units are bet, the bet rate is increased by 2 (3.31), the two bet line display lamps 20 belonging to the upper and lower horizontal lines 19 are lit, and The middle three lower horizontal lines 19 are displayed to indicate that they are to be bet. In addition, write "10" as the "number of captures" (3.32), and set up the capture timer B to determine the release time of the cam 50 required to capture the number of balls for 2 units (3.33). Set the data of sound effect B (3.34). Then set the import flag to "1" and the update flag to "1"
Proceed to 3.17, 3.18 (3.25, 3.26). Since the "wager rate is 2", the judgment in step 3.18 is YES, and the grade indicator 1
Turn off both 8B and 18C (3.28, 3.29) and leave only the grade indicator 18A in the on state, indicating that only one unit can increase the additional bet rate. afterwards,
If the player additionally presses the grade selection switch 17A to bet another unit, the CPU adds to the above bet rate (2).
1 and set to "3" (3.36). Grade indicator 18A, 18B,
For 18C, all three are turned off for the above reason.

When the grade selection switch 17A is pressed first and only one unit is bet (3.16, 3.35), the bet rate is incremented by 1 (3.
36) The central one of the betting line display lamps 20 is turned on to inform the player that the central lateral line 19 is the betting line targeted for betting. Also, "Number of acquisitions"
"3.3", write the capture timer C to set the release time of the cam 50 required to capture the number of balls for one unit, and set the capture flag and the update flag to "1". Then proceed to steps 3.17, 3.18 and 3.19 (3.25, 3.26). Since the "wager rate is 1", the judgment in step 3.19 is YES,
The grade indicator 18C is turned off (3.29), and only the grade indicators 18A and 18B are left on, indicating that only two units can be used to increase the additional bet rate. Thereafter, if the player additionally bets 1 unit or 2 units, the betting rate is incremented by +1 or +2 and increased to "2" or "3" (3.36, 3.31). Finally, when the betting rate reaches 3 units, all three grade indicators 18A, 18B and 1C are turned off.

If the betting rate determined in this way is present, wait for the start switch (start lever 19) to be turned on, and then jump to the game start processing (processing mode = 3),
At that time, the bet rate is returned to “0” (3.40 to 3.42).

(B) In the case of no ball When the "no ball flag" is "1", the "no ball timer" is set, the "update flag" is set to "1", and the ball import process of FIG. 3.03 to 3.05).

Ball Capture Processing When the bet rate is confirmed and the capture flag “1” is set (3.25), the ball capture processing is subsequently started (step in FIG. 9).

(B) Normal loading operation When it is determined in step 5.02 in FIG. 12 that the loading flag is “1”, the CPU turns on the loading solenoid 52 (5.0
5), move the cam 50 to the release position and operate the intake device. The pachinko ball is released from the cam 50 and flows down into the intake gutter 33. The ball flowing down the downflow gutter 32 is a count sensor
When 56 is detected and the count sensor 56 rises once,
Decrement -1 from the "capture count" set in steps 3.22, 3.32, and 3.37 (5.07). Steps 5.02 and 5.04 to 5.08 are repeated, and each time, the number of acquisitions is decreased by -1. When "the number of intakes" becomes 0 (5.08), the intake solenoid 52 is turned off and a sound effect is generated (5.09, 5.10). With this, the number of captures (bet rate) set in the grade selection process is “15” “10”
This means that a predetermined number of acquisition operations corresponding to any of "5" have been completed once. The grade indicators 18A, 18B and 18C are once turned off (5.11), the import flag is returned to "0" and the process returns (5.12).

The program step comes back to step 5.02 again. Since the take-in flag has been returned to "0", the determination here is NO, the processing mode is returned to "1" in step 5.03, and the grade selection processing is started again. Therefore, the additional bet rate can be increased, and in the same manner as described above, the operation of capturing the number of balls according to the bet rate is performed. However, since the stored bet rate remains the same, the range of units that can be bet by subsequent grade selection is narrowed until the added cumulative value becomes 3 units. As described above. If you don't increase your bet rate
When the start lever 13 is also pushed, the betting rate stored at the same time as the game start processing of the processing mode = 3 is returned to "0" (3.42).

(B) In the case of no sphere Next, when the first sensor 53 cannot confirm the existence of one unit of the sphere at the time when the sphere of the predetermined unit has been taken in, the grade shown in FIG. Selection process steps 3.03, 3.
In 04, "no ball timer" is set. The CPU turns on the ball removal solenoid 60 (5.01, 5.13, 5.14) until the ball-free timer is typed up, that is, until a time sufficient to allow four balls to flow down has elapsed. When the ball removal time has elapsed, the ball removal solenoid 60 is turned off (5.13, 5.15), the grade indicators 18A-18C are turned off (5.16), and the no ball flag is returned to "0" (5.17). ), Return to processing mode “1” (5.03).

(C) Insufficient number of balls to be captured When the count sensor 56 cannot confirm the passage of a predetermined number of balls due to some abnormality such as dust or fraud during the capturing operation, that is, the determination in step 5.08. If not YES, step 3.2 of the grade selection process in Figure 11
"Acquisition timer" set in 3, 3.32, 3.38 will be upgraded (5.04). The CPU immediately turns on the intake solenoid 52.
Along with the FF (5.18), the alarm is sounded (5.19) to notify the staff in the store of the abnormal condition.

Rubber etc. are removed by the staff. As a result, the sphere flows in the downflow gutter 32 and is detected by the count sensor 56.

The CPU waits for the count sensor 56 to detect a sphere and stand up (5.20), and then confirms that the front frame 3 is closed (5.21). This is a door switch not shown
It is done by checking whether or not. The reason for performing such confirmation is that if the front frame 3 is opened by an attendant, the capturing device is kept as it is.
This is because when the ball 30 starts to operate, the ball captured by the intake gutter 33 does not enter the confluence gutter 46 and spills outside. CPU
Confirms that the front frame 3 is closed (5.21), sets a timer for capturing the remaining balls that have not been captured (5.22), and returns.

The import flag remains "1" again, so step again
5.02, 5.04 to 5.08 are entered, the intake solenoid 52 is turned on (5.05), and the intake operation is continued. Each time a pachinko ball is detected by the count sensor 56, the value is decremented halfway to the previous time, and is subtracted by -1 (5.07) until the "captured number" = 0, steps 5.02 to 5.08. Is repeated. Since "the number of intakes" has become 0 (5.08), the intake solenoid 52 is turned off (5.09) as already checked. With this, all of the specified number of captives are completed for the capturing operation in which the abnormal state occurs (5.09).

Others and capture operation example The flow of the grade selection process in Fig. 13 and the ball capture process in Fig. 14 shows that if the number of captured balls is insufficient, the hemisphere is not returned to the player. Were completely taken in and collected, and instead, the prize ball discharging device 40 discharged as many pachinko balls as the number of balls already taken in as prize balls, and equivalently the take-up series was given to the player. It is an example of control to be returned.

The grade selection process of FIG. 13 differs from that of FIG. 11 in steps 3.22, 3.32, and 3.37. That is, the selection of the grade selection switch 17C, 17B, 17A is effective, and when it is pressed (3.14, 3.15, 3.16), the "confirmation acquisition number I" and the "target acquisition number II" are selected. "15", "10", and "5" are written as the two data of each (3.2
2).

Also, the point that the sphere loading process in FIG. 14 is different from that in FIG. 12 is in steps 5.23 to 5.33. To be more specific, the count sensor 56 is loaded during the loading operation based on some abnormality such as rubber or cheating.
Cannot detect a predetermined number of spheres, that is, step 5.08
If the judgment in step 3 is not YES, the "acquisition timer" is typed up as described above (5.04).

The CPU immediately turns off the intake solenoid 52 and sounds an alarm for 1 second (5.23, 5.23). And the number of balls actually captured,
That is, a value obtained by subtracting the "remaining confirmation capture number I subtracted by the actual capture ball number in step 5.07" from the "target capture number II" is written as the "prize ball discharge number" (5.25 ). For example,
If the target number of captures II is 5, and the number of actual captures is 3, then the number of confirmation captures I at that time is I.
Is “2”, so 5-2 = 3 is “number of prize balls discharged”
Write as. Next, the discharge solenoid 65 of the prize ball discharging device 40 is turned on (5.26), and every time the discharge count sensor 73 is turned on, the "number of discharged prize balls" is decremented by -1 (5.27, 5.2).
8). When the same number of balls as the number of balls actually captured is discharged and the number of discharged prize balls becomes “0” (5.29), the discharge solenoid 65
To OFF and the grade indicators 18A to 18C to OFF (5.
30, 5.31). Then, the take-in flag is set to "0", the bet rate is returned to "0" (5.32), the discharge count sensor 73 is turned on once, and then the process mode is returned to "1" (5.33, 5.03).

This means that the same number of prize balls that were actually captured can be returned to the player. It should be noted that the reason why the discharge count sensor is turned ON once is to accurately perform the number of prize balls for the next discharge operation in relation to the sense position of the discharge count sensor 73.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, in the ball capturing device of the present invention, since the count sensor counts and checks the number of balls actually captured in the capturing trough, the actual situation should occur. When the number of the taken-in balls is less than the predetermined number of taken-in balls, that is, when an abnormal state due to dust, cheating, or the like occurs, the operation of the taking-in means is interrupted.

Then, after this abnormal state is released, from the time when the count sensor detects a pachinko ball again, the operation of the interrupted capturing means is continued and the capture of the predetermined number of balls is completed.

Therefore, it is possible to surely prevent the start of the game when the number of balls taken in is less than the predetermined number, and it is possible to smoothly perform the next work of taking in after the abnormal situation is resolved. It is possible to prevent trouble with other persons.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a game machine to which the unit ball number capturing device of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, FIG. 3 is a perspective view with a front frame opened, and FIG. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are views showing specific examples of other loading devices, FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a prize ball discharging device, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a computer system as a control device, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of its main program, FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are flow charts showing a control example of the ball capturing device, FIG. 13 and FIG. FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing another control example of the ball capturing device. 8 ... Control device 15 ... Stop indicator, 16 ... Upper plate 17 ... Grade selection switch 18 ... Grade indicator, 19 ... Direction line 20 ... Bet line indicator lamp, 22 ... Lower plate 28 ... … Stop indicator, 30 …… Intake means 31 …… Mounting board, 32 …… Down trough 32A …… Ball outlet, 32B …… Opening 33 …… Intake trough, 33A …… Ball inlet 34 …… Ball gutter, 37 …… Upper tank 40 …… Prize ball discharge device, 41 …… Ball discharge gutter 44 …… Ball for upper tank, 45 …… Ball gutter 51 …… Lever, 52 …… Intake solenoid 53 …… 1st sensor, 54 …… 2nd sensor 55 …… 3rd sensor 56 …… Passing ball detector (count sensor) 70 …… Downflow gutter 71 …… Cam, 72 …… Ejection solenoid 73 …… Ejection count Sensor 80 …… CPU, 81 …… ROM 82 …… RAM

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A unit ball number capturing device for a game machine using a pachinko ball, wherein a predetermined number of pachinko balls are used as a unit to play a game and a predetermined number of pachinko balls are paid according to the weight of the game result. , A downstream gutter that guides a ball from an upper plate provided on the front surface of the game machine to the gutter, an intake means provided so that the ball can be taken in the middle of the downstream gutter, and the intake means is controlled. And having a control device for taking in the unit sphere number sphere, and a count sensor for counting the number of spheres actually taken into the intake gutter, the control device is the actual count by the count sensor When the number of taken-in balls is less than a predetermined number of taken-in balls, it includes a control means for interrupting the taking-in operation of the taking-in means. . 2. The control device, after interrupting the capturing operation,
A unit ball of a game machine using a pachinko ball according to claim 1, further comprising control means for continuing the operation path of the interrupted fetching means from the time counted by the count sensor. Number capture device.