JP4438020B1 - Game machine frame unit - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a gaming machine frame unit capable of preventing an illegal act with respect to a prize ball payout unit for supplying a game ball to a player.
The gaming machine frame unit includes a gaming machine frame that includes a gaming board, and a prize ball dispensing unit 100 that is detachably attached to the gaming machine frame. Between the supply passage 106 through which the game balls pass, the ball guide member 141 through which the game balls 23 in the supply passage 106 pass one by one, and the position where the passage width of the supply passage 120 is narrowed and the position where the passage width is widened And a movable rocking member 130a.
[Selection] Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine frame unit, and more particularly to a gaming machine frame unit capable of preventing an illegal act with respect to a prize ball payout unit for paying out a prize ball.

  In a pachinko machine, a ball that has been bulleted flows down a game area (an area formed on or near the game board surface for realizing a game or production by the flow of the game ball). In the process of flowing down, the game ball turns while colliding with a game nail (also referred to as a gauge) or a windmill in the game area, and the flow direction changes. As a result, if a game ball wins a variety of winning holes arranged on the game area, a predetermined winning ball is paid out. On the other hand, if a game ball flows into the out port without winning any of the winning holes, the winning ball Will not be paid out. The player enjoys the game by demonstrating his / her skill in the ball or using the chance of the game ball flowing down and expecting the game ball to be won and paid out.

  On the back side of the pachinko machine, there is a launching device that launches game balls toward the game area, a prize ball payout unit for paying out the prize balls to the player, a game ball launch and a prize ball delivery Control means and the like for controlling are arranged. This control means executes the payout of a prize ball to the player through the prize ball payout unit when a game ball has entered the prize opening in the game area.

  The game balls paid out from the prize ball payout unit are supplied to the ball tray through a ball passage provided on the back side of the gaming machine frame. Patent Document 1 describes a pachinko machine in which a ball outlet and a ball dish of a ball passage are provided in front of the pachinko machine, and a game ball discharged from the ball outlet is guided to the ball dish (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Further, in recent years, an illegal act of obtaining a prize ball has been performed by illegally accessing a prize ball payout unit arranged on the back of a pachinko machine and causing the prize ball payout unit to malfunction.

JP 2008-55057 A

  The ball outlet of the pachinko machine described in Patent Document 1 opens toward the front, and a part of the ball passage can be visually recognized through this ball outlet. In addition, a prize ball payout unit is provided upstream of the ball exit in the direction of passing the ball. Therefore, there is a possibility that an illegal act of obtaining a prize ball by illegally accessing the prize ball payout unit via the ball exit of the ball passage and causing the prize ball payout unit to malfunction.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an example of providing a gaming machine frame unit capable of preventing an illegal act against a prize ball payout unit that supplies a game ball to a player. As an objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a gaming machine frame unit as an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a gaming machine frame that includes a gaming board that realizes a game based on the flow of gaming balls, and a detachable attachment to the gaming machine frame. A gaming machine frame unit having a prize ball paying unit mounted freely, wherein the prize ball paying unit passes a first supply passage through which a game ball passes and a game ball guided from the first supply passage. The second supply passage, a ball guide member that is disposed between the first supply passage and the second supply passage, and passes the game balls in the first supply passage one by one toward the second supply passage; A swing member that constitutes a part of the second supply passage and moves between a position that narrows the passage width of the second supply passage and a position that widens the passage width, and swing detection that detects the position of the swing member A position where the swing member narrows the passage width by its own weight. The swinging member and the ball guiding member are disposed above the ball outlet of the second supply passage. When the swinging member is in a position to narrow the passage width, 2 A swing member is arranged on a vertical line from the outlet of the supply passage toward the side of the ball guide member.

  The prize ball payout unit is detachably attached to a gaming machine frame containing a gaming board. Since the prize ball payout unit is detachable, the prize ball payout unit can be easily removed and maintenance such as inspection can be performed. Compared to a configuration in which the prize ball payout unit and the gaming machine frame are integrally formed, only the prize ball payout unit can be easily replaced, and disassembly work can be easily performed during maintenance. Maintenance efficiency can be improved.

  The prize ball payout unit includes a first supply passage through which game balls pass, a second supply passage through which game balls guided from the first supply passage pass, and a space between the first supply passage and the second supply passage. And a ball guide member for passing the game balls in the first supply passage one by one toward the second supply passage, and a part of the second supply passage, and the passage width of the second supply passage And a rocking member that moves between a position that narrows the passage and a position that widens the passage width, and the passage width of the second supply passage can be changed by the rocking member.

  The swing member is disposed on the downstream side of the ball guiding member that passes the game balls one by one, and the passage width of the second supply passage on the downstream side of the ball guiding member can be changed. By changing the passage width of the second supply passage by the swing member, it becomes difficult to illegally access the ball guiding member from the downstream side of the prize ball payout unit, and the illegal action against the prize ball payout unit can be prevented. it can.

  Specifically, in order to gain unauthorized access to the ball guiding member from the downstream side of the prize ball dispensing unit, a long member such as a wire is inserted from the front side of the pachinko machine toward the prize ball dispensing unit, It is conceivable to cause the ball guide member to malfunction. At this time, if the width of the second supply passage of the prize ball payout unit is constant, a long member is inserted along the wall constituting the second supply passage from the ball outlet of the second supply passage, and the ball guide member is inserted. There is a risk of reaching. However, since the passage width of the second supply passage can be changed, the passage width from the front side of the pachinko machine to the ball guide member can be changed, making it difficult to access the long member. .

  Furthermore, since the swing member is configured to be in a position where the passage width is narrowed by its own weight, it is in a position where the passage width is narrowed when no external force is applied, making it difficult to access the ball guiding member from the outside. Can do. In addition, in a state where the swinging member is in a position where the passage width is narrowed, the swinging member is disposed on the vertical line from the ball outlet of the second supply passage toward the side of the ball guiding member. Even when the long member is inserted upward from the side, the long member interferes with the swinging member and cannot reach the side of the ball guiding member.

  For example, in order to illegally drive the ball guiding member made of a rotating body, it is conceivable to contact the ball guiding member from the upstream side or the side of the ball guiding member to forcibly rotate the ball guiding member. However, it is possible to effectively prevent unauthorized access from the ball outlet to the ball guiding member by arranging the swinging member at the narrowing position on the vertical line from the ball outlet to the side of the ball guiding member. it can.

  The vertical line is a straight line along the vertical direction (vertical direction). Further, the swinging member may be arranged on a vertical line from the ball outlet to the ball guiding member at a position where the passage width is narrowed. For example, even when the passage width is widened, the swinging member is moved from the ball outlet to the ball guiding member. It may be arranged on the vertical line to go, and it is only necessary to make unauthorized access from the ball outlet of the second supply passage to the ball guiding member difficult.

  Further, the swinging member is movable between a position for narrowing the passage width of the supply passage and a position for widening the passage width, and the volume of the supply passage can be changed depending on the movement mode of the swinging member. It is possible to increase or decrease the number of game balls that can be accommodated in the game. Accordingly, by moving the swing passage to a position where the passage width of the supply passage is widened, the number of balls accommodated in the supply passage can be increased as necessary, and space efficiency can be improved.

  As a specific configuration of the swing member, it is a part of the wall surface constituting the supply passage and can be moved away from the other wall surface constituting the supply passage by moving in the rotation direction around the rotation axis. Can be exemplified. By setting the direction away from the other part of the wall surface constituting the supply passage as the direction toward the inside of the supply passage, the passage width can be narrowed by the movement of the swing member. Further, by setting the direction away from the other part of the wall surface constituting the supply passage as the direction toward the outside of the supply passage, the passage width can be widened by the movement of the swing member.

  Further, the swinging member may be configured to move in accordance with the accommodation state of the game ball in the supply passage, or may be configured to move by driving means such as a motor or a solenoid. However, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and to reduce the size of the prize ball payout unit, as compared with the configuration using the driving means, by being configured to move in accordance with the accommodation state of the game balls.

  Specifically, the structure that moves in accordance with the state in which the game balls are accommodated is configured such that, in a state where the number of game balls in the supply passage is small, the swing member is positioned to narrow the passage width. As the number of game balls increases, a configuration in which the swing member is pressed by the game balls in the supply passage and the swing passage becomes a position to widen the passage width can be exemplified. In this way, by increasing the number of game balls accommodated and increasing the passage width, the volume in the supply passage can be increased when the number of game balls in the supply passage is relatively large. Become. On the other hand, when the number of game balls in the supply passage is relatively small, the swing member can be moved to a position where the passage width is narrowed to prevent unauthorized access from the outside.

  The prize ball payout unit may include a ball detection member disposed on the downstream side of the ball guide member in the passing direction of the game ball for detecting the position of the swing member. By providing the ball detection means, it is possible to count the number of game balls that have passed through the ball guide member or to detect a staying state in which the game balls stay in the supply passage.

  The prize ball payout unit includes a swing detection unit that detects the position of the swing member, and the swing detection unit moves between a position at which the passage width of the second supply passage is narrowed and a position at which the second supply passage is widened. The position of the swing member can be detected. For example, by configuring the swing member to move to an arbitrary position due to unauthorized access from downstream of the prize ball payout unit, the swing detection means causes unauthorized access from downstream of the prize ball payout unit. Can be detected.

  In addition, the swing member is in a position to narrow the passage width when the game ball does not stay in the second supply passage, and the swing member widens the passage width when a predetermined number of game balls stay in the supply passage. Therefore, the staying state of the second supply passage can be detected by detecting the position of the swing member.

  For example, in a gaming machine frame unit configured to guide game balls discharged from a prize ball payout unit to a ball tray, when the game balls are full in the ball tray and no further game balls can be accommodated (full tank state). The game ball is not supplied to the ball tray and stays in the supply passage on the downstream side of the ball guide member. By detecting the state in which the game ball stays in the supply passage by the swing detection means, it is possible to detect a full tank state.

  Compared with the configuration in which the full-tank state of the ball pan is detected by the full-tank detection unit provided immediately above the ball pan by detecting the full-tan state of the ball pan by the swing detection unit in the second supply passage, Since game balls can be stored in the space from the ball tray to the supply passage, it is possible to increase the number of game balls that can be accommodated until a full tank condition is detected, and games based on the ball tray becoming full The interruption frequency can be reduced.

  That is, it is possible to detect the staying state downstream of the ball guiding member and the fraudulent act in which an unauthorized foreign object is inserted into the second supply passage by the swing detection means. Furthermore, it is possible to distinguish and detect the staying state and the fraud based on the detection time of the swing detection means and the driving mode of the ball guiding member.

  Specifically, for example, when a foreign object such as a long member is inserted, the swing member moves in small increments, and the detection time by the swing detection means is relatively short. On the other hand, when the plurality of game balls stay in the second supply passage, the swing member expands the passage width until the game balls staying in the second supply passage are discharged from the second supply passage. Therefore, the detection time by the swing detection means is relatively long. As described above, it is possible to distinguish and detect the staying state and the illegal act according to the detection time of the swing detection means.

  Furthermore, when the position where the swing member expands the passage width is detected, it is possible to distinguish between the staying state and the fraud by detecting whether the ball guiding member is driven. . Specifically, when the swinging member moves to a position where the passage width is widened even though the ball guiding member is not driven, there is a high possibility that it is not due to the retention of the game ball but due to the insertion of a foreign object. On the other hand, if the swinging member moves to a position where the passage width is widened within a predetermined time after the ball guiding member is driven, there is a high possibility that the game ball is not retained but inserted. Thus, it becomes possible to distinguish and detect a staying state and an improper act also by the driving mode of the ball guiding member.

  Further, it is desirable that the winning ball payout unit further includes a protective plate that is detachably attached to a part of the inner wall surface of the second supply passage and protects the inner wall surface. By providing the protection plate, the inner wall surface of the second supply passage can be protected. If the long member is inserted from the ball outlet of the second supply passage in order to drive the ball guiding member illegally, the inner wall surface of the second supply passage may be damaged by the long member. If the second supply passage is damaged, the game ball passing through the second supply passage may be adversely affected.

  However, by providing the protective plate, it is possible to prevent the inner wall surface of the second supply passage from being damaged. In addition, the protection plate is configured to be detachable from the inner wall surface, and when the protection plate is deteriorated, the protection plate is appropriately replaced, thereby ensuring smooth passage of the game ball and the second supply passage. The inner wall surface can be protected.

  The protective plate may be any member that protects the inner wall surface of the second supply passage, but is preferably made of a relatively strong material such as metal. In addition, the protective plate may be arranged so as to cover the entire inner wall surface, or the inner wall surface facing the rocking member in the vicinity of the rocking member where the long member is relatively easily contacted by narrowing the passage width. May be arranged.

  Furthermore, by connecting the protective plate made of metal to the ground, the static electricity of the game ball passing through the second supply passage in the process of passing through the supply passage can be removed. Many electric parts are used in the gaming machine, and if the game ball is charged with static electricity, the electric parts may be adversely affected and malfunctions may occur. However, by configuring the game ball to remove static electricity in the process of passing the game ball through the supply passage, static electricity can be easily removed without providing a separate configuration for removing static electricity.

  In addition, when the protection plate is arranged to face the swinging member and the swinging member is moved to a position where the passage width of the supply passage is widened, the game ball in contact with the swinging member passes through another game ball. By being configured to be electrically connected to the protection plate, the game ball in contact with the swing path can also be electrically connected to the protection plate to remove static electricity.

  Note that a game ball that comes into contact with the swing member is electrically connected to the protection plate via another game ball means that there are a plurality of game balls between the swing member and the protection plate. When the game ball in contact with the protection plate does not directly contact the protection plate, the game ball in contact with the swing member is electrically connected to the protection plate via a plurality of game balls between the swing member and the protection plate. That is. In this way, by configuring the game ball that contacts the swinging member to be electrically connected to the protection plate via another game ball, the static electricity of the game ball that does not directly contact the protection plate is also removed by the protection plate. can do.

  The swing member moves between a position where the passage width is narrowed and a position where the passage width is widened, and the protective plate is disposed to face the swing member. , The most distance from the protective plate. When the swinging member is moved to a position where the width of the supply passage is widened, the game ball in contact with the swinging member is far away from the protective plate, so there is a risk that static electricity cannot be removed via the protective plate. . However, when the swinging member is moved to a position where the width of the supply passage is widened, the game ball in contact with the swinging member is electrically connected to the protective plate via another game ball. Therefore, it is possible to remove static electricity from the game ball that is relatively far from the protective plate.

  Further objects and other features of the present invention will become apparent from the preferred embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  According to the present invention, since the prize ball payout unit is configured to be detachable from the gaming machine frame, it is possible to easily remove the prize ball payout unit and perform maintenance such as inspection. Can be increased. Further, a swing member that moves between a position where the width of the second supply passage is widened and a position where the width of the second supply passage is narrowed is provided so that the passage width of the second supply passage can be changed. By changing the width of the passage leading to the guide member, making it difficult to access the elongated member, it is possible to prevent an illegal act on the prize ball payout unit.

  Furthermore, since the swing member is configured to be in a position where the passage width is narrowed by its own weight, it is in a position where the passage width is narrowed when no external force is applied, making it difficult to access the ball guiding member from the outside. Can do. In addition, in a state where the swinging member is in a position where the passage width is narrowed, the swinging member is disposed on the vertical line from the ball outlet of the second supply passage toward the side of the ball guiding member. Even when the long member is inserted upward from the ball, the long member interferes with the swinging member and cannot reach the side of the ball guiding member. Unauthorized access to members can be effectively prevented.

It is a front view of the pachinko machine concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a rear view of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. It is a rear view of the state which removed the cover member and the game board unit from the pachinko machine shown in FIG. It is an expansion perspective view of the prize ball paying unit portion of the pachinko machine visually recognized from the right rear. It is an expansion perspective view of the prize ball paying unit portion of the pachinko machine visually recognized from the right rear. It is the perspective view which visually recognized the prize ball payout unit from the right rear. It is a right view of the prize ball payout unit in a state where the right component is removed. It is a left view of the prize ball payout unit in a state where the left component member is removed. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a sphere presence detection unit shown in FIG. 7. It is the perspective view which expanded the rotary body part. It is the figure which showed the count sensor and the rotary body typically. It is an enlarged view of the switching valve shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the swing member shown in FIG. 7. It is an enlarged view of the 2nd supply path shown in FIG. It is an enlarged view of the 2nd supply passage concerning a modification. It is a functional block diagram of a pachinko machine. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a prize ball payout processing operation by a prize ball payout unit. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the cancellation process of a full tank error. It is the figure which showed typically the gear which connects the rotary body and motor which concern on a modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine 2 including a gaming machine frame unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pachinko machine 2 includes a gaming machine frame 3, a gaming board unit 5, a glass 10, a launch unit (not shown), and a ball tray 14. The launch units can launch the game balls 23 one by one toward the game area 16 configured in the game board unit 5.

  In the pachinko machine 2, when a player operates a launcher handle 15 described later, a game ball 23 is launched by the launch unit toward the game area 16, and a game by the flow of the game ball 23 is realized. In addition to the pachinko machine 2, the gaming machine can be an arcade machine such as a pachinko slot machine or a coin game machine, and various game machines. In short, a gaming area that realizes a game by the flow of gaming media. Any gaming machine you have is included. In addition, in the pachinko machine, any pachinko machine such as a combination pachinko machine such as an arrangement ball machine or a sparrow ball machine, a so-called digipachi type (one type) or a honey mono type (two types) pachinko machine can be conceptualized. In this embodiment, a so-called one-type pachinko machine that realizes a digipachi game (also referred to as a one-type game or a symbol variation game) will be described as an example. The symbol variation game will be described later.

  The gaming machine frame 3 of the pachinko machine 2 is for holding a gaming board unit 5 to be described later, and is configured to surround the peripheral side surface of the pachinko machine 2 and the front side or the rear side in addition thereto. In addition to the game board unit 5, various mechanism parts such as various control boards and paths for game media, which are described later, are arranged on the inner side of the gaming machine frame 3. Unauthorized access to the inside of the pachinko machine 2 from behind is prevented.

  The outer frame 4 that surrounds the pachinko machine 2, the front frame 9 that is swingably supported by a hinge 22 inside the pachinko machine 2 so as to be able to be opened and closed forward, and that can hold the game board unit 5. The gaming machine frame 3 is configured to include the glass frame 12 that holds the decorative member 32 that is supported in a swinging manner and decorates the periphery of the glass 10. The glass 10 is a transparent member that allows the player to visually recognize the game board 6 held inside the gaming machine frame 3 from the front. The gaming machine frame unit includes a front frame 9 that holds the game board unit 5 and a prize ball payout unit 100 described later.

  The glass 10 is a transparent plate that is spaced apart from the game board 6 by a certain distance or more. The glass 10 is formed of two transparent flat glasses and is held on the back side of the glass frame 12, and has a function of forming a flowing-down space for the game ball 23 to flow between the game board 6 and the player through the glass 10. The function of ensuring visibility so that the game board 6 can be visually recognized and the function of preventing unauthorized access so that the player cannot illegally access (contact) the game board 6 are exhibited.

  The ball tray 14 is a dish member disposed on the front surface of the pachinko machine 2 to store the player's ball, and in the present embodiment, has an upper ball tray 14a and a lower ball tray 14b. Yes. The upper ball tray 14a has a ball punching member 14c and is disposed below the game board 6, that is, a lower portion of the glass frame 12, and the lower ball tray 14b is disposed further below the upper ball tray 14a. .

  The launch unit launches (balls) the game ball 23 sent from the upper ball tray 14a as a part of the ball tray 14 to the launch position by the ball feeder (not shown) toward the upper part of the game area 16. belongs to. The launch unit includes, for example, a launcher for projecting the game ball 23 at the launch position, a launch motor for driving the launcher, a launch spring for energizing the launcher to generate a ball force, and the like. It is attached to the front frame 9. In order to launch a ball by the launch unit, a launcher handle 15 is provided below the front surface of the pachinko machine 2 to realize on / off of the launch of the ball and adjustment of its launch intensity based on the player's operation.

  The game board unit 5 has a game board 6 in which a center object 7 as a game object is arranged at substantially the center on the game board surface 6a side, and a number of game nails 27 are also arranged on the game board surface 6a. ing. An effect display device 7a as an image display means is disposed at the center of the center accessory 7, and a display opening 7d for exposing the display portion 7b of the effect display device 7a is formed.

  The game board 6 is a board-like member for constituting a game area 16 for realizing a game by the flow of the game ball 23 on the surface side thereof, so that the game board 6 can be visually recognized from the front by the player. It is held in the gaming machine frame 3 (in the present embodiment, the front frame 9 as a part of the gaming machine frame 3). A rail ornament 26 is attached to the surface of the game board 6 in a substantially circular shape so as to surround the periphery, and an outer rail 26a of the rail ornament 26 is arranged so as to stand on the game board. The game area 16 is a substantially circular area defined by the outer rail 26a of the rail decoration 26 and facing the outer rail 26a.

  The game nails 27 are flow-down changing members that collide with the game balls 23 flowing down the game area 16 and change the flow-down direction thereof, and many of them are arranged in the game area 16. Further, in the game area 16, a winning member 28 such as a normal winning port 28, a starting winning port 29, and a big winning port 31 and an out port 30 are arranged. Furthermore, a gate 33, a windmill 34, and the like are arranged in the game area 16, and the game balls 23 that flow down flow into each ball entry member, pass through the gate 33, and rotate the windmill 34. Thus, it is possible to enjoy the down-flow game by the game ball 23.

  The center accessory 7 is configured to cover the periphery of the effect display device 7a, and realizes a symbol variation game (one type game). A first symbol (special symbol) display device 17 as a symbol display means is disposed on the center accessory 7, and an effect display device 7 a is disposed in the center of the center accessory 7.

  The first symbol display device 17 displays the variation of the first symbol 17a, which is the lottery result of the lottery means. The first symbol is a symbol corresponding to the result of the lottery executed when the game ball 23 enters the start winning opening 29. A big hit as a first special game occurs when the variable display of the first symbol is stopped in a predetermined winning manner.

  The effect display device 7a is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display, an LED, and the like, and is arranged so that the player can see from the game board surface 6a side, and displays an image on the display unit 7b. It is. A display symbol (first decorative symbol) 7c linked to the first symbol is displayed on the display unit 7b of the effect display device 7a. The display symbol is a symbol for visually producing the lottery result of the first lottery means, and corresponds to the first game. Further, for example, an effect image as a story tailoring image by a character or the like is also displayed on the display unit 7b. An effect control board as a game control means is electrically connected to the effect display device 7a via a relay board, and image display is controlled by the effect control board.

  On the back side of the game board 6, the main control board case 35 containing the main control means (main control board) 200 for controlling the whole of the pachinko machine 2 and effect control such as image display of the effect display device 7a are performed. An effect control board case 36 containing the effect control means (effect control board) 220 and a payout control board case containing payout control means (payout control board) 230 for controlling the payout of prize balls by the prize ball payout unit 100 described later. 37 and a power supply board case 38 containing power supply means (not shown) are arranged. A game is realized by each control means accommodated in each control board case. The main control board case 35 and the effect control board case 36 are mounted on the rear surface of the game board unit 5 and are configured to be detachable from the front frame 9 together with the game board unit 5. Further, the main control means 200 and the payout control means 230 have the function of the control means according to the present invention.

  Furthermore, an external output terminal plate 39 for outputting game information such as the gaming state of the pachinko machine 2 to the outside is provided on the back side of the game board 6. Further, on the back side of the pachinko machine 2, a cover member 42 that covers a part of the effect control board case 36 and the prize ball payout unit 100 is provided.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, on the back of the pachinko machine 2, the ball storage as a game ball storage device for temporarily storing the game balls 23 supplied from the equipment of the hall where the pachinko machine 2 is installed. The game balls 23 from the tank 40 and the ball storage tank 40 flow in, and the prize ball payout unit 100 that passes the game balls 23 one by one, and the game balls 23 that have passed the prize ball payout unit 100 are placed in the ball tray 14. A prize ball supply passage 41 that leads toward the player.

  The award ball payout unit 100 is configured to be driven and controlled by a payout control means 230 described later, and responds to a request for entering the game ball 23 into various winning holes and a request for lending the game ball 23 from a player. Thus, the game ball 23 is supplied to the player. In the present embodiment, a description will be given of the payout process for winning balls based on the entering of game balls 23 into various winning ports. The prize ball payout unit 100 will be described later.

  When the game ball 23 is launched by a ball launcher (not shown), the game ball 23 travels along the outer rail 26 a of the rail decoration 26 and reaches the upper part in the game area 16. Thereafter, the game ball 23 moves along a plurality of passing trajectories, some moves to the right along the outer rail 26 a of the rail decoration 26, and some moves in the game area 16 while colliding with the game nail 27. Some things flow downward, some flow into the normal winning opening 28 and trigger the payout of a certain number of winning balls, and some things do not flow into any of the pitching devices and are out at the bottom in the game area 16 It flows into the mouth 30 and is discharged to the outside of the pachinko machine 2 as an out ball.

  When the game ball 23 flows into the start winning opening 29 during the symbol variation game, the display symbol 7c of the effect display device 7a starts rotating display (the first special game lottery) due to the inflow. If 7c is stopped and displayed with a predetermined symbol (for example, “7, 7, 7”), a big hit (first special game; hereinafter referred to as symbol fluctuation big hit) occurs in the symbol variable game. Then, the special winning opening 31 is opened to accept a large amount of winning balls, and a large amount of winning balls are paid out to the ball tray 14.

  Next, the prize ball payout unit 100 according to the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 14. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the pachinko machine 2 shown in FIG. 2 with the cover member 42 covering the back and the game board unit 5 removed. 4 and 5 are enlarged perspective views of the prize ball paying unit 100 portion of the pachinko machine 2 shown in FIG. 3 viewed from the right rear. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the prize ball payout unit 100 viewed from the right rear.

  The prize ball payout unit 100 is detachably attached to a front frame 9 containing the game board 6. FIG. 4 shows a state of being attached to the front frame 9, and FIG. 5 shows a state of being removed from the front frame 9. The winning ball payout unit 100 is contained in a right component 101 that forms a right portion in a front view, a left component 102 that forms a left portion, a right component 101 and a left component 102, and a first right described later. It is constituted by a central constituent member 103 that constitutes a supply passage (first supply passage) 106 and a first left supply passage (first supply passage) 107.

  FIG. 7 is a right side view of the prize ball payout unit 100 with the right component member 101 removed. FIG. 8 is a left side view of the prize ball payout unit 100 with the left component member 102 removed. Two inlets 104 and 105 into which the game ball 23 supplied from the ball storage tank 40 flows are formed on the upper surface 100 c of the winning ball payout unit 100, and the inlets 104 and 105 are respectively supplied downstream. A passage is arranged.

  The inlet has a right inlet 104 located on the right side and a left inlet 105 located on the left side. The game ball 23 that has flowed in from the right inlet 104 flows into the first right supply passage 106 disposed on the right side, and the game ball 23 that has flowed in from the left inlet 105 has a first left supply passage 107 disposed on the left side. Flow into.

  The first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107 are two rows of spherical passages adjacent to each other in the left-right direction, and a central component is provided between the first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107. 103 is arranged. The central component member 103 includes a partition portion 103a disposed between the first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107, and protruding wall portions projecting from the right side surface and the left side surface of the partition portion 103a. Have.

  The protruding wall portion includes a right protruding wall portion 103b protruding from the partition portion 103a toward the right side (right component member 101 side), and a left protrusion protruding from the partition portion 103a toward the left side (left component member 102 side). Wall part 103c. A right end portion (not shown) of the right protruding wall portion 103b is in contact with an inner wall surface (not shown) of the right component member 101, and a space surrounded by the right protruding wall portion 103b and the right component member 101 is formed. It becomes the first right supply passage 106. Further, the left end portion (not shown) of the left protruding wall portion 103c is in contact with the inner wall surface (not shown) of the left constituent member 102 and is surrounded by the left protruding wall portion 103c and the left constituent member 102. The space becomes the first left supply passage 107.

  The winning ball payout unit 100 includes a ball presence detecting means 108 for detecting that the game ball 23 is present in the first right supply passage 106 or the first left supply passage 107. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the ball presence detecting means 108 shown in FIG. The sphere presence detection means 108 includes a sphere presence detection piece 108a that moves in the rotation direction (X direction and -X direction shown in FIG. 9) around the rotation axis, and a sphere presence detection sensor 108b that detects the position of the sphere presence detection piece 108a. And comprising.

  The detecting piece 108a with a sphere moves between a first position shown in FIG. 9A and a second position shown in FIG. 9B. The ball presence detection piece 108a is configured to interfere with the game ball 23 in the first right supply passage 106 and the game ball 23 in the first left supply passage 107, and the first right supply passage 106 or the first left supply passage 106 If there is a game ball 23 in the supply passage 107, it is pressed by the game ball 23 to be in the first position, and if there is no game ball 23 in the first right supply passage 106 or the first left supply passage 107, it is in the second position.

  The ball presence sensor 108b detects that the ball presence detection piece 108a is in the first position, that is, the presence of a game ball in the first right supply passage 106 or the first left supply passage 107. The error determination means 211 performs an error determination process for determining whether or not the prize ball payout unit 100 is abnormal based on the detection information of the ball presence sensor 108b. This error determination process will be described later.

  The game ball 23 that has passed through the first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107 is guided to the rotating body 141. The rotating body 141 includes a rotating plate 141a in which a holding portion 141b capable of holding the game balls 23 one by one is formed on the outer periphery, and a motor 141d (see FIG. 6) as a driving unit that rotationally drives the rotating plate 141a. Have. FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the rotating body 141 portion.

  Two turntables 141a are arranged adjacent to each other in the left-right direction, and are rotated in the Y direction shown in the figure by a motor 141d in synchronization with the rotation shaft 141c. A partition 103a is disposed between the two rotating disks 141a. Further, a first rotating body passage (ball passage) 141e and a second rotating body passage (ball passage) 141f are arranged with the partition 103a interposed therebetween.

  Each turntable 141a is formed with three holding portions 141b, and each time it rotates 120 degrees, the game ball 23 that has passed through the first right supply passage 106 or the game ball 23 that has passed through the first left supply passage 107 is provided. Hold. In addition, the holding portions 141b of the two rotary disks 141a are formed so as to be shifted by approximately 30 degrees. Therefore, every time the rotating body 141 rotates 30 degrees, the gaming ball 23 that has passed through the first right supply passage 106 and the gaming ball 23 that has passed through the first left supply passage 107 are alternately held by the rotating body 141.

  The game ball 23 held by the holding portion 141b moves in the Y direction shown in the figure along with the rotation of the rotating disk 141a, passes through the first rotating body passage 141e or the second rotating body passage 141f, and passes through the rotating body 141. It flows down toward the second supply passage 120 provided downstream. The first rotating body passage 141e and the second rotating body passage 141f are ball passages through which the game ball 23 held by the holding portion 141b of the rotating body 141 passes. In addition, a count sensor (ball detection member) 143 that detects passage of the game ball 23 is provided, and the number of prize balls to be paid out by the prize ball payout unit 100 can be counted based on the detection of the count sensor 143.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating the count sensor 143 and the rotating body 141. (A) is a front view, (b) is a right side view. The count sensor 143 is a photosensor that has a pair of measurement units 143a and detects an object between the measurement units 143a by light projection and reception. The pair of measuring units 143a is a light projecting unit that projects light and a light receiving unit that receives light from the light projecting unit, and is disposed with the rotating body 141 and the partition unit 103a interposed therebetween. The partition 103a is formed with a light hole (hole) 103e for allowing the light projected and received by the measuring unit 143a to pass therethrough. The count sensor 143 receives light projected from one measurement unit 143a by the other measurement unit 143a, and when the game ball 23 held by the rotating body 141 passes, the measurement unit 143a is shielded from light, and the game The passage of the sphere 23 can be detected.

  According to the count sensor 143 configured in this way, it is possible to measure the passage of the game ball 23 through the two rotary disks 141a arranged with the partition portion 103a interposed therebetween, with one count sensor 143. When the passing of the game ball 23 is detected by the count sensor 143, it is determined that the game ball has been normally paid out by an error determination means described later.

  Further, a discharge passage 117 for discharging the game ball 23 in the first right supply passage 106 and the game ball 23 in the first left supply passage 107 to the outside of the pachinko machine 2 is provided in front of the rotating body 141. . Further, a switching valve 118 for switching the flow path of the game ball 23 is provided above the rotating body 141. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the switching valve 118 shown in FIG.

  The switching valve 118 is configured to be movable in the rotation direction (the Z direction shown in FIG. 12) about the rotation shaft 118a located at the upper part. The switching valve 118 constitutes a part of the first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107 and moves so as to be separated from the other parts of the first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107. The game ball 23 in the first right supply passage 106 and the game ball 23 in the first left supply passage 107 are guided to the discharge passage 117 and to the rotating body 141.

  The front surface of the switching valve 118 is in contact with the operation member 119 disposed on the front side. The operation member 119 passes through the operation hole 101a formed in the right component member 101 of the prize ball payout unit 100 and is disposed so as to protrude from the right side surface 100a of the prize ball payout unit 100 (see, for example, FIG. 6). The operation member 119 can be operated from the outside of the winning ball payout unit 100, and slides in the front-rear direction in the operation hole 101a. The operating member 119 moves between a first position shown in (a) and a second position shown in (b).

  As shown in (a), when the operation member 119 is in the first position, the operation member 119 restricts the movement of the switching valve 118 in the Z direction. Lower portions of the first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107 are bent forward, and the switching valve 118 is pressed forward by the game ball 23 passing through the inside. However, when the operation member 119 is in the first position, the movement of the switching valve 118 in the Z direction is restricted by the operation member 119, and the switching valve 118 is connected to the first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107. Does not move away from other parts. Therefore, the game ball 23 that has passed through the first right supply passage 106 and the game ball 23 that has passed through the first left supply passage 107 are guided to the rotating body 141.

  On the other hand, when the operation member 119 is moved to the second position, the restriction on movement of the switching valve 118 in the Z direction by the operation member 119 is released. Therefore, the switching valve 118 is pressed by the dead weight of the game ball 23 in the first right supply passage 106 and the game ball 23 in the first left supply passage 107 and moves in the Z direction. The game balls 23 in the first right supply passage 106 and the game balls 23 in the first left supply passage 107 flow into the discharge passage 117. The game ball 23 that has flowed into the discharge passage 117 passes through a discharge path (not shown) and is discharged to the outside of the pachinko machine 2.

  Further, the position of the holding portion 141 b of the rotating body 141 changes with rotation, and the game ball 23 in the first right supply passage 106 is held in a state where the holding portion 141 b faces the first right supply passage 106. The game ball 23 in the first left supply passage 107 is held while facing the first left supply passage 107 (see, for example, FIG. 12B). Further, when the holding portion 141b is not opposed to the first right supply passage 106 or the first left supply passage 107, the outer peripheral surface of the rotating disk 141a prevents the game ball 23 from flowing into the holding portion 141b. (For example, see FIG. 12A).

  The switching valve 118 is disposed immediately above the rotating body 141. When the operation member 119 moves to the second position, the switching valve 118 is located above the rotating body 141 including the game ball 23 that is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating disk 141a. The game ball 23 located at is guided to the discharge passage 117. Therefore, the game ball 23 upstream of the game ball 23 held by the holding portion 141b of the rotating body 141 can be guided to the discharge passage 117, and the number of game balls remaining in the prize ball dispensing unit 100 after the ball removal process is reduced. can do.

  The game ball 23 that has passed through the rotating body 141 flows into the second supply passage 120. The second supply passage 120 is a single row of ball passages. All the game balls 23 that have passed through the rotating body 141 are guided to the second supply passage 120, and the game balls 23 from the first right supply passage 106 and the game balls 23 from the first left supply passage 107 are connected. It flows in together. The cross-sectional area of the second supply passage 120 in the cross section orthogonal to the passing direction of the game ball 23 is equal to the cross-sectional area of the first right supply passage 106 in the cross section orthogonal to the passing direction of the game ball 23 and the first left supply passage 107. The cross-sectional area in the cross section orthogonal to the passing direction of the game ball 23 is configured to be wider than the total cross-sectional area.

  In the second supply passage 120, a stay detection means for detecting the stay state of the game ball is provided. The stay detection means 130 constitutes a part of the wall surface constituting the second supply passage 120, the swing member 130a that moves relative to the other part of the wall surface, and the swing sensor 130b that detects the position of the swing member 130a. And comprising.

  FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the stay detection means 130 shown in FIG. The swing member 130a constitutes a part of the rear wall portion 120a that constitutes the rear surface of the second supply passage 120, and moves in the rotation direction about the rotation shaft arranged at the upper end (T direction shown in the drawing). . The swing member 130a is located near the front wall portion 120b facing the rear wall portion 120a in a first position where the passage width of the second supply passage 120 is narrowed, and away from the front wall portion 120b. It moves between the second position where the passage width is widened. Further, a swing sensor 130b that detects that the swing member 130a is in the second position is provided behind the swing member 130a.

  The swing member 130a is in the first position when no external force is applied, and is pressed by the game ball 23 to the second position when the plurality of game balls 23 stays in the second supply passage 120. Further, when the swing sensor 130b detects that the swing member 130a is at the second position, the error determination unit 211 described later determines whether there is an abnormality. Further, according to the determination result of the error determination means 211, an error processing means 212 described later performs a process for stopping the driving of the rotating body and a process for prompting the player to remove the game ball 23 from the ball tray 14. It is configured to be executed.

  The game ball 23 that has passed through the second supply passage 120 flows into the prize ball supply passage 41 and is guided to the ball tray 14 through the prize ball supply passage 41. However, when the ball tray 14 becomes full, the game ball 23 cannot be supplied to the ball tray 14, and the game ball 23 is stored in the prize ball supply passage 41. When the prize ball supply passage 41 becomes full, the game balls 23 cannot be discharged from the prize ball payout unit 100, and the game balls 23 that have passed through the rotating body 141 accumulate in the second supply passage 120.

  When the number of game balls 23 in the second supply passage 120 increases, the game balls 23 staying in the second supply passage 120 press the swing member 130a, and the swing member 130a moves to the second position. Based on the detection of the position of the swinging member 130a, the full state of the ball tray 14 can be detected. Further, according to the staying state of the game ball 23 in the second supply passage 120, the swinging member 130a moves to the second position to increase the volume of the second supply passage 120 and accommodate it in the second supply passage. The number of possible game balls can be increased.

  Moreover, the 2nd supply channel | path 120 is comprised so that the game ball which passes the inside may be passed along an up-down direction, The channel | path shape has a some bending part. By providing a plurality of bent portions, the passing direction of the game ball 23 can be appropriately changed in the process of passing through the second supply passage 120, and the game ball 23 can be decelerated. Furthermore, even when a long member is inserted upward from the ball outlet 120d, the inner wall surface constituting the second supply passage 120 can be disposed above the ball outlet 120d, and the insertion of foreign matter can be performed. Cheating can be prevented.

  Further, an illegal act on the prize ball payout unit 100 can be detected by the swing member 130a and the swing sensor 130b. FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the second supply passage 120 shown in FIG. The dishonest act with respect to the prize ball payout unit 100 here means that a long member such as a wire is inserted into the prize ball payout unit 100 from the ball tray 14, the rotating body 141 is illegally rotated, and the game ball 23 is illegally received. It is an act.

  The positional relationship between the ball inlet 120c of the second supply passage 120 into which the game ball 23 that has passed through the rotating body 141 flows and the ball outlet 120d of the second supply passage is shifted in the front-rear direction so as to partially overlap. A swing member 130a is disposed at a portion where the ball inlet 120c and the ball outlet 120d overlap. Accordingly, even when a long member is inserted upward from the ball outlet 120d, the long member cannot directly contact the ball inlet 120c, and therefore, illegal acts using the long member can be prevented. it can.

  Specifically, when a long member is inserted from the bottom to the top of the ball inlet 120c, the long member interferes with the swing member 130a and cannot reach the ball inlet 120c ( L1 shown in FIG. In addition, when the long member is inserted upward so as to be positioned along the front surface of the swinging member 130a, since the spherical inlet 120c is not disposed on the extended line, the long member is not the spherical inlet. 120c is not reached (L2 shown in FIG. 14). Further, when the long member is inserted so as to be in a position ahead of the swinging member 130a, the long member does not reach the ball inlet 120c because the ball inlet 120c is not disposed on the extended line. (L3 shown in FIG. 14).

  As described above, by disposing the ball inlet 120c and the ball outlet 120d in the front-rear direction, it is possible to prevent an illegal act on the rotating body 141 due to insertion of a long member or the like, and to obtain a prize ball illegally. It is possible to prevent illegal acts. Further, since the swinging member 130a is in the first position for narrowing the passage width of the second supply passage 120 in a state where no external force is applied, the insertion opening of the long member is narrowed to effectively prevent illegal acts by the long member. Can be suppressed.

  Further, the positional relationship between the rotating body 141 and the second supply passage 120 can be conceptualized as a modification. FIG. 15 shows a rotating body 141 and a second supply passage 120 according to a modification. In addition, about the same structure, description is abbreviate | omitted using a same sign. In the modification shown in FIG. 15, the rotating body 141 and the second supply passage 120 are arranged above the ball outlet 120d, and the vertical direction straight line (on the vertical line) from the ball outlet 120d to the side of the rotating body 141. A swinging member 130a is disposed on the surface.

  Specifically, when a long member is inserted from below the ball inlet 120c toward the front (side) of the rotating body 141, the long member interferes with the swing member 130a, and the rotating body 141 cannot be reached (L4 shown in FIG. 15). Further, when a long member is inserted upward so as to be positioned along the front surface of the swinging member 130a, the ball inlet 120c is disposed on the extension line and reaches the rotating body 141. Can do. However, the long member can contact the lower side of the rotating body 141, but cannot contact the side of the rotating body 141 or the upstream side of the rotating body 141. Difficult to get.

  If the elongate member reaches the side of the rotating body 141, the side is accessed from the side to the holding part 141b of the rotating body from the side, and the elongate member or the like is hooked on the holding part 141b downward. By pulling the long member, the rotating body 141 may be rotated to obtain a prize ball illegally. However, since it is difficult to illegally rotate the rotating body 141 only by accessing the lower surface of the rotating body 141, an illegal act can be prevented.

  Furthermore, when a long member is inserted so as to be in a position ahead of the swinging member 130a, the rotating body 141 is not disposed on the extended line, and the inner wall surface of the second supply passage 120 is disposed. Therefore, the rotating body 141 cannot be rotated by the long member (L6 shown in FIG. 15). As described above, by disposing the ball outlet 120d and the side of the rotating body 141 in the front-rear direction, an illegal act on the rotating body 141 due to insertion of a long member or the like can be prevented, and the prize ball is illegally obtained. Fraudulent attempts to obtain Further, since the swinging member 130a is in the first position for narrowing the passage width of the second supply passage 120 in a state where no external force is applied, the insertion opening of the long member is narrowed to effectively prevent illegal acts by the long member. Can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, the lower end portion 130c of the swinging member 130a disposed to face the ball outlet 130d is formed in a curved shape. A gap k is formed between the lower surface 130d of the swing member 130a and the metal plate 121 disposed below the swing member 130a. Since the lower end portion 130c of the swing member 130a has a curved shape and a gap k is provided below the swinging member 130a, when a foreign object is inserted, the second supply passage 120 is moved from the inside to the outside via the gap k. Foreign matter can be moved. By moving the foreign matter from the inside of the second supply passage 120 to the outside, an illegal act on the rotating body 141 disposed upstream of the second supply passage 120 can be prevented.

  In the state where the swing member 130a is in a position to narrow the passage width, the passage width between the swing member 130a and the rear wall surface 120a facing the swing member 130a is substantially the same width as the ball inlet 120c. You may comprise so that it may become. Thus, the passage width between the swinging member 130a at the position where the passage width is narrowed and the rear wall surface 120a facing the swinging member 130a is configured to be substantially the same width as the ball inlet 120c. Thus, even in a state where the swing member 130a narrows the passage width, the game ball 23 flowing in from the ball inlet 120c can be passed downstream without being delayed.

  Furthermore, in a state where the swing member 130a is in a position to widen the passage width, the passage width between the swing member 130a and the front wall surface 120b facing the swing member 130a is substantially the same as that of the ball outlet 120d. You may comprise so that it may become width. As described above, the passage width between the swinging member 130a at the position where the passage width is widened and the front wall surface 120b facing the swinging member 130a is configured to be substantially the same width as the ball outlet 120d. Thus, the game ball 23 accommodated in the second supply passage 120 can be discharged from the ball outlet 120d in a state where the swinging member 130a widens the passage width.

  The second supply passage 120 includes a metal plate 121 as a protective plate along the rear wall portion 120a and the front wall portion 120b (shaded portions shown in FIGS. 13 and 14). By providing the metal plate 121, the strength of the second supply passage 120 can be increased. In particular, it is desirable to dispose the metal plate 121 in a portion where the game ball 23 is likely to collide. Specifically, the metal plate 121 is provided on the extended line of the inclined surface 120e disposed immediately below the ball entrance 120c. By arranging the metal plate 121 in such a portion, the strength of the portion where the game ball 23 collides can be increased, and damage due to the collision of the game ball 23 can be effectively prevented.

  In addition, when an illegal act of inserting a long member from the lower side of the second supply passage 120 is performed, the inner wall surface (the rear wall portion 120a and the front wall portion 120b) of the second supply passage is damaged, The damage may affect the smooth passage of the game ball 23. In particular, when the second supply passage 120 is made of resin, the damage becomes remarkable, and there is a possibility that problems such as a decrease in the passing speed of the game ball 23 may occur. However, the inner wall surface of the second supply passage 120 can be protected by covering the inner wall surface with the metal plate 121 that is relatively high in strength and hardly damaged. Furthermore, the metal plate 121 is configured to be detachable with respect to the inner wall surface, and can be appropriately replaced.

  Furthermore, the metal plate 121 has a function as a discharge plate, and the static electricity of the game ball 23 can be removed through the metal plate 121. If the game ball 23 is charged with static electricity, a malfunction such as an abnormality of an electrical component may occur, and it is desirable to appropriately remove the static electricity from the game ball 23. For example, by connecting the metal plate 121 to the ground, static electricity charged on the game ball 23 via the metal plate 121 can be removed.

  The metal plate 121 is provided on a part of the rear wall part 120a and a part of the front wall part 120b, and the static electricity of the game ball 23 flowing down along the front wall part 120b is attached to the front wall part 120b. The metal plate 121 can be removed. On the other hand, the game ball 23 that has flowed down along the rear wall portion 120b and the game ball 23 that has flowed down between the front wall portion 120b and the rear wall portion 120a may not be in direct contact with the metal plate 121. However, even if the game ball 23 is not in direct contact with the metal plate 121, static electricity can be removed while the game ball 23 stays in the second supply passage 120.

  For example, in the state where the game ball 23 shown in FIG. 13B stays, the swing member 130a is in the second position, and the game ball B1 that is in contact with the swing member 130a is not in direct contact with the metal plate 121. However, the game ball B1 is in contact with another game ball (for example, the game ball B2), and is electrically connected to the metal plate 121 via the game ball B2 and the game ball B3 in contact with the game ball B2. Yes. Therefore, the static electricity of the game ball B1 can be removed via the other game balls (B2 and B3).

  Also, a detachable detachable wall 150 is provided on the rear surface 100f of the prize ball payout unit. The detachable wall 150 is configured to be detachable from the rear hole 100g formed in the rear surface 100f of the prize ball payout unit 100. The detachable wall portion 150 includes a plate portion 150a having an outer shape along the inner wall surface of the rear hole portion 100g, and a grip portion 150b protruding rearward from the plate portion 150a. The grip 150b protrudes rearward from the rear surface 100f of the prize ball payout unit 100 in a state where the detachable wall 150 is attached to the prize ball payout unit 100, and the operator can easily attach and detach the handle with the grip 150b. It can be carried out.

  On the rear surfaces of the first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107, a supply passage hole portion 106a is formed at a position facing the rear surface hole portion 100g. When the detachable wall portion 150 is removed from the winning ball payout unit 100, the first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107 can be accessed from the outside through the rear hole portion 100g and the supply passage hole portion 106a. ing. Therefore, the ball clogging of the first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107 can be eliminated by inserting a rod or the like from the rear hole portion 100g and the supply passage hole portion 106a.

  In addition, the width of the supply passage hole 106a and the width of the rear hole 100g are both less than the diameter of the game ball 23 (for example, 11 mm). Therefore, even when the detachable wall 150 is detached in a state where the game balls 23 are in the first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107, the first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107 are separated from each other. It is possible to prevent the game ball 23 from spilling.

  Next, the attaching / detaching operation of the winning ball payout unit 100 configured as described above with respect to the front frame 9 will be described. On the upper surface of the prize ball supply passage 41, a hole into which the game ball 23 that has passed through the second supply passage 120 of the prize ball dispensing unit 100 flows, a rear wall portion 41 g protruding upward from the rear end portion, and a left end Left wall 41h protruding upward from the portion.

  When the prize ball dispensing unit 100 is mounted on the front frame 9, the bottom surface 100d of the prize ball dispensing unit 100 is awarded from above the prize ball supply passage 41 with the lower part of the prize ball dispensing unit 100 inclined forward. It is placed on the upper surface 41 c of the sphere supply passage 41. Then, the upper part of the prize ball payout unit 100 is moved forward with the bottom surface 100d of the prize ball payout unit 100 as an axis, and the inlets 104 and 105 of the prize ball payout unit 100 are connected to the outlets of the ball storage tank 40 (not shown). ).

  On the other hand, when removing the prize ball payout unit 100 from the front frame 9, after moving the upper part of the prize ball payout unit 100 rearward, the entire prize ball payout unit 100 is moved rearward and upward. Can be attached to and detached from the front frame 9, and the maintenance of the prize ball payout unit 100 can be easily performed.

  Next, the system configuration of the pachinko machine 2 will be described in detail. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the pachinko machine 2. In the pachinko machine 2, the control means (first control means, second control means, and error determination means) having the main control means 200, the effect control means 220, and the payout control means 230 is an operation control and display device for the pachinko machine 2. And the like, control of game progress, and payout of prize balls. The control means includes a normal winning opening 28 as a winning opening, a starting winning opening 29, a large winning opening 31, a first symbol display device 17, an effect display device 7a, a ball presence detecting means 108, a stay detecting means 130, and a count sensor. Each component such as 143 is electrically connected.

  The main control unit 200 includes a lottery unit 201, a symbol determination unit 203, a hold storage unit 204, a symbol display control unit 205, a prize ball determination unit 206, a pattern storage unit 207, a ball entry determination unit 208, Special game control means 209, error determination means 211, and error processing means 212 are provided. The effect control means 220 includes an effect determination means 221, an effect control means 222, and an effect pattern storage means 223.

  The payout control means 230 includes a prize ball payout control means 231. Each function included in the main control means 200 may be configured to be mounted on the effect control means 220 or the payout control means 230, or the function included in the effect control means 220 or the payout control means 230 is You may comprise so that it may mount in the main control means 200. FIG.

  The lottery means 201 acquires a random value for determining whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than a normal game, triggered by the game ball 23 entering the start winning opening 29. . The lottery means 201 holds a plurality of success / failure determination tables that are referred to in the determination of whether or not to shift to a special game based on a random number value. In the plurality of success / failure determination tables, a lottery result of winning or losing and a random value are associated with each other, and the success / failure probability is determined according to the range setting of the random value associated with the winning. The lottery means acquires a lottery result based on the random value. The acquired lottery result is temporarily stored in the hold storage unit 204.

  The lottery means 201 refers to the normality probability determination table at the normal time, and refers to the normality probability determination table at a higher probability than the normal probability when the probability variation is higher than the normal probability. The lottery means 201 appropriately selects and refers to any one of the plurality of success / failure determination tables, and determines whether or not the random number value is a win.

  The random value can be configured to be acquired from a value in a range from “0” to “65535”, for example. The random number may not be a mathematically generated random number, but may be a pseudo random number generated by a hardware random number, a software random number, or the like.

  The holding storage unit 204 stores the lottery result of the lottery unit 201. The number of holds in the holding means has an upper limit, and the lottery result is stored until the number of holds in the holding means reaches a predetermined upper limit. In the present embodiment, the upper limit of the number of holds of the holding means is 4. The number of holds held by the holding means is displayed with a lamp or the like so that the player can check the number of holds.

  The lottery result of the lottery means 201 is displayed on the first symbol display device 17 as the first symbol 17a. Further, in conjunction with the first symbol 17a, an effect display including the display symbol 7c is performed on the effect display device 7a. The symbol determination means 203 determines the stop symbol of the first symbol 17a and the display symbol 7c displayed on the first symbol display device 17 and the effect display device 7a and the symbol variation display pattern according to the lottery result of the lottery means 201. .

  The pattern storage means 207 includes a symbol pattern table 207a that should be referred to in order to determine the stop symbol pattern of the first symbol, and a symbol variation display pattern table 207d that should be referred to in order to determine the symbol variation display pattern. The symbol pattern table 207a stores the first symbol 17a and the lottery result in association with each other, and the symbol variation display pattern table 207d stores the symbol variation display pattern and the lottery result in association with each other.

  The symbol variation display pattern is a variation display pattern in which the variation mode from the variation start to the stop when the symbol is variably displayed is defined. The variation mode includes a design variation mode and a variation time. The variation time is the time from when the symbol starts to vary until the symbol stops, and is defined as a symbol variation end condition. When the fluctuation time elapses, the symbol fluctuation is stopped. The variation time is set to be different for each symbol variation display pattern.

  The symbol determination means 203 acquires the lottery result of the lottery means 201, refers to the symbol pattern table 207a, and determines the stop symbol of the first symbol 17a. In addition, the symbol determining unit 203 in the present embodiment also has a function of a variation display pattern selecting unit, and selects any symbol variation display pattern with reference to the symbol variation display pattern table 207d. The symbol determination unit 203 sends information indicating the determined stop symbol and symbol variation display pattern to the symbol display control unit 205 and the effect control unit 222.

  The ball entering determination unit 208 determines whether or not a game ball has entered each winning opening. The winning determination means 208 determines that the winning winning opening 29 has been won when receiving the winning detection information of the starting winning opening sensor 29a. Upon receiving the winning detection information of the big winning opening sensor 31a provided in the big winning opening 31, the winning determination means 208 determines that the big winning opening 31 has been won. The winning ball determination means 208 sends the determined winning information to the winning ball determination means 206 and the lottery means 201.

  The winning ball determining means 206 determines the number of winning balls to be paid out to the player by the winning ball paying unit 100 based on the winning information determined by the winning ball determining means 208. The winning ball determining unit 206 includes a winning ball number storage unit 206a for determining the number of winning balls. The winning ball number storage means 206a stores each winning opening information and the number of winning balls in association with each other. Specifically, the number of prize balls 3 is associated with the normal prize opening 28, the number of prize balls 15 is associated with the large prize opening 31, and stored in the prize ball number storage means 206a. .

  When receiving the winning information of the normal winning opening 28 from the winning determination means 208, the winning ball determination means 206 determines the number of winning balls 3 based on the winning ball number storage means 206a. The winning ball determination means 206 sends the determined number of winning balls to the winning ball payout control means 231 of the payout control means 230. The prize ball payout control means 231 controls the payout of game balls by the prize ball payout unit 100 based on the number of prize balls determined by the prize ball determination means 206. Specifically, the rotating body 141 of the prize ball payout unit 100 is driven and controlled, and a predetermined number of game balls 23 are supplied toward the ball tray 14.

  Further, the error determination unit 211 determines the presence / absence of an error such as a payout of a prize ball based on a payout process by the prize ball payout unit 100, a state of the ball tray 14 to which the paid out prize ball is supplied, and the like. At the same time, the presence / absence of an illegal act against the winning ball payout unit 100 is determined. The error processing unit 212 executes processing for eliminating the error when the error determination unit 211 determines that there is an error. The error determination process by the error determination unit 211 and the error cancellation process by the error cancellation unit will be described later.

  The symbol display control means 205 causes the first symbol display device 17 to variably display the first symbol 17a based on the variation display pattern determined by the symbol determination means 203. The symbol display control unit 205 transmits a variation start command and a variation stop command to the effect control unit 222 at the timing of starting and stopping the variation display of the first symbol 17a. By sending this command, the variable display by the symbol display control means 205 and the effect control means 222 can be synchronized and kept in sync.

  When the lottery result by the lottery means 201 is a win, the special game control means 209 executes the special game by opening the special winning opening 31. The special game is a game in which the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening 31 is continuously performed a plurality of times, and is configured by one or a plurality of unit games with one opening / closing unit. The unit game is repeated, for example, up to 15 times, and the special winning opening 31 is opened for about 30 seconds in one unit game. The special game control means 209 terminates the special game when the unit game is consumed a predetermined number of times.

  The effect determining means 221 determines the stop symbol and the display symbol variation display pattern of the display symbol 7c based on the first symbol 17a and the symbol variation display pattern of the first symbol 17a.

  The effect pattern storage means 223 includes a decorative symbol variation display pattern table 223a to be referred to in order to determine a decorative symbol variation display pattern. The decorative symbol variation display pattern table 223a has a display symbol variation display pattern for determining the stop symbol of the display symbol 7c. The decorative symbol variation display pattern is a symbol of the first symbol 17a and the first symbol 17a. Associated with variable display pattern.

  The decorative symbol variation display pattern is a variation display pattern in which a variation mode from the variation start to the stop when the ornamental symbol is variably displayed is defined. The variation mode includes a design variation mode, a variation time, and an effect display mode in each region of effect display. The effect determining unit 221 selects a decorative symbol variation display pattern in which a variation time equal to the symbol variation display pattern is set according to the symbol variation display pattern determined by the symbol determination unit. For example, when a symbol variation display pattern is selected from a fixed time pattern, a decoration variation display pattern having the same variation time is selected. The effect determining means sends information on the determined decorative symbol variation display pattern to the effect control means 222.

  The effect control means 222 displays the lottery result by the lottery means 201 on the effect display device 7a in a variable manner based on the selected decorative symbol change display pattern.

  Next, error determination processing and error elimination processing in the pachinko machine configured as described above will be described based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. FIG. 17 is an example of a prize ball payout process by the prize ball payout unit 100, and FIG. 18 is an example of an error elimination process when a full tank error of the ball tray 14 is detected.

  When the prize ball payout control means 231 acquires the prize ball number information from the prize ball determination means 206 (S1), the game ball 23 is placed in the first right supply path 106 or the first left supply path 107 of the prize ball payout unit 100. It is determined whether or not there is (S2). Specifically, it is determined by the ball presence sensor 108b whether or not the ball presence detection piece 108a is at the first position.

  If it is determined in S2 that there is a game ball 23 in the first right supply passage 106 or the first left supply passage 107, a payout process for the game balls 23 of the predetermined number of prize balls acquired in S1 is executed (S3). ). Specifically, the rotating body 141 of the prize ball paying unit 100 is rotationally driven by a motor 141d. On the other hand, when it is determined in S2 that there is no game ball 23 in the first right supply passage 106 or the first left supply passage 107, the first ball error processing is not performed, so the first error processing is performed (S4).

  The first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107 are supplied with the game ball 23 from the ball storage tank 40, but when there is no game ball 23 in the ball storage tank 40 or when the ball is clogged. The game ball 23 does not flow in. If there is no game ball 23 in the first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107, it is necessary to solve problems such as ball clogging by hall attendants.

  Therefore, as the first error process, a message for prompting the player to call a hall attendant is sent, and error information is transmitted to the hall computer via the external output terminal board 39. As a message display for the player, for example, displaying a message “Please call a clerk” on the display screen of the effect display device 7a can be exemplified.

  Next, after executing the payout process of S3, it is determined whether or not the payout of the game balls 23 having a predetermined number of winning balls has been completed (S5). Specifically, the number of prize balls detected by the count sensor 143 is counted, and it is determined by determining whether or not this number is a predetermined number of prize balls.

  If it is determined in S5 that the payout process of the predetermined number of game balls 23 has been completed, it is determined whether or not the game balls 23 remain in the second supply passage 120 (S6). Specifically, the swing sensor 130b detects whether or not the swing member 130a is in the first position. If it is determined in S6 that the game ball 23 is not staying in the second supply passage 120, the process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in S6 that the game ball 23 stays in the second supply passage 120, the ball tray 14 is considered to be in a full state, so the full tank error elimination process (S20) is executed. To do.

  If it is determined in S5 that the predetermined payout process has not been completed, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S7). The predetermined time is an elapsed time since the payout processing is executed, and is a time that takes into account the time lag between the payout of the prize ball (rotation of the rotating body 141) and the detection timing of the count sensor 143. . Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined again whether or not the payout process has been completed (S5).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S7 that the predetermined time has passed, it is highly possible that a malfunction such as a rotating body 141 or a ball clogging has occurred, and the game cannot be continued. First error processing is executed (S4).

  Next, the full tank error elimination process that is executed when it is determined in S6 that the game ball 23 stays in the second supply passage 120 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the second error process is executed (S21). The second error process is a process for urging the player to perform a ball removing operation for removing the game ball 23 from the ball tray 14 in order to eliminate the full state. Specifically, a message “Please remove the ball” is displayed on the display screen of the effect display device a, and a message prompting the user to remove the ball via a speaker (not shown) attached to the gaming machine frame. Is output.

  After executing the second error process of S21, after a lapse of a certain time (S22), it is determined again whether or not the game ball 23 stays in the second supply passage 120 (S23). The certain time of S22 is the time required for the player to perform the ball removal operation. If it is determined in S23 that the game ball 23 is not staying in the second supply passage 120, it is determined that the full state of the ball tray 14 has been eliminated by the player's ball removal operation, and therefore a full error has occurred. Terminate the resolution process.

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in S23, when it is determined that the game ball 23 stays in the second supply passage 120, the award ball payout process is stopped (S24). This is because if the award ball payout process is continued, problems such as ball clogging may occur further. After the award ball payout process is stopped, it is determined again whether or not the game ball stays in the second supply passage 120 (S25).

  As a result of the determination in S25, when it is determined that the game ball is not staying in the second supply passage 120, the prize ball payout process is resumed (S27), and the process is terminated. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in S25, when it is determined that the game ball stays in the second supply passage 120, a game stop process is executed (S26), and the process is terminated. The game stop process is, for example, a launch stop process of the game ball 23, and a process of temporarily stopping the game is performed in order to suppress the occurrence of further problems.

  As described above, according to the prize ball payout unit 100 according to the present embodiment, the full state of the ball tray 14 can be detected based on the staying state of the game balls 23 in the second supply passage 120. In addition, by changing the volume of the second supply passage by the swing member 130a, the number of game balls that can be accommodated when the state becomes a staying state can be increased. Furthermore, since the metal plate 121 is provided on the wall surface constituting the second supply passage 120, the strength of the wall surface can be increased and the static electricity of the game ball passing through the second supply passage 120 can be removed. .

  Furthermore, depending on the storage state of the game balls 23 in the first right supply passage 106 and the first left supply passage 107 upstream of the rotation body 141 and the retention state of the game balls in the second supply passage 107, the rotation body 141 is used. Is configured to control the payout process of the game ball 23 and the game interruption process. By detecting the occurrence of a malfunction such as a ball jam of the game ball 23 at an early stage and executing the solution process, It is possible to reduce the interruption frequency of the game and contribute to the smooth execution of the game.

  As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary. For example, in the present embodiment, the rotating body 141 and the motor 141d as driving means for driving the rotating body 141 are connected coaxially, but the driving force of the motor is transmitted to the rotating body via a plurality of gears. You may comprise so that it may transmit. FIG. 19 is a diagram schematically illustrating a modification in which a motor and a rotating body are connected via a plurality of gears. In addition, about the structure similar to embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted using a same sign.

  The gear G1 is a gear connected to the motor, and transmits the driving force of the motor to the gear G4 via the large-diameter gears G2 and G3. The gear G4 is a gear connected to the rotating body 141. The driving force (P1) of the gear G1 is the torque (τ1) of the G1 × the angular velocity (w1) of the gear G1, and the driving force P1 is transmitted to the gear G4 via the gear G2 and the gear G3. Further, the radius r4 of the gear G4 is larger than the radius r1 of the gear G1.

  Therefore, the angular velocity (w4) of the gear G4 is smaller than the angular velocity (w1) of the gear G1. However, the driving force (P1) of the gear G1 and the force (P4) transmitted to the gear G4 are substantially the same. Therefore, when the torque of the gear G1 (τ1) and the torque of the gear G4 (τ4) are compared, the torque of the gear G4 increases. Since the torque of the gear G4 is large, the robustness of the rotating body 141 can be improved. Accordingly, even if the rotating body 141 is illegally rotated from the outside, it is possible to counter the unauthorized external force from the outside, and to prevent an illegal act on the rotating body 141.

  Furthermore, by providing the gear G2 and the gear G3, the motor and the rotating body can be spaced apart. The rotating body is disposed in the vicinity of the second supply passage 120. If the rotating body 141 and the motor 141d are disposed close to each other, the space in the vicinity of the second supply passage 140 becomes narrower, and the inside of the second supply passage 120 is reduced. There is a risk that the number of balls to be accommodated will be reduced. However, by disposing the motor 141d away from the rotating body 141, it is possible to secure a storage space for the game ball 23 in the second supply passage 120.

B1, B2, B3: Game balls G1, G2, G3, G4: Gears r1, r4: Radius 2: Pachinko machine (game machine)
3: gaming machine frame 4: outer frame 5: gaming board unit 6: gaming board 6a: gaming board surface 7: center role 7a: effect display device 7b: display unit 7c: display pattern 7d: display opening 9: front frame 10 : Glass 12: Glass frame 14: Ball tray 14 a: Upper ball tray 14 b: Lower ball tray 14 c: Ball release member 15: Launcher handle 16: Game area 17: First symbol (special symbol) Display device 17 a: First symbol 22: Hinge 23: Game ball 26: Rail decoration 26a: Outer rail 27: Game nail 28: Ordinary winning port 29: Start winning port 29a: Starting winning port sensor 30: Out port 31: Large winning port 31a: Large winning port sensor 32: decoration member 33: gate 34: windmill 35: main control board case 36: production control board case 37: payout control board case 38: power supply board case 39: external output terminal board 40: ball storage tank 41: prize ball supply passage Road 41c: Upper surface 41g: Rear wall portion 41h: Left wall portion 42: Cover member 100: Prize ball dispensing unit 100a: Right side surface 100c: Upper surface 100d: Bottom surface 100f: Rear surface 100g: Rear hole (opening)
101: Right component 101a: Operation hole 102: Left component 103: Central component 103a: Partition 103b: Right projection wall 103c: Left projection wall 103e: Light hole 104: Right inlet 105: Left flow Inlet 106: first right supply passage (first supply passage)
106a: supply passage hole 107: first left supply passage (first supply passage)
108: Sphere presence detection means 108a: Sphere presence detection piece 108b: Sphere presence sensor 117: Discharge passage 118: Switching valve
118a: Rotating shaft 119: Operating member 120: Second supply passage 120a: Rear wall (inner wall surface)
120b: Front wall (inner wall surface)
120c: Sphere inlet 120d: Sphere outlet 120e: Inclined surface 121: Metal plate 130: Stay detection means 130a: Swing member 130b: Swing sensor (swing detection means)
130c: lower end portion 130d: lower surface 141: rotating body (sphere guide member)
141a: turntable 141b: holding portion 141c: rotating shaft 141d: motor 141e: first rotating ball passage (ball passage)
141f: Second rotating ball passage (ball passage)
143: Count sensor (ball detection member)
143a: measuring unit 150: detachable wall unit 150a: plate unit 150b: gripping unit 200: main control means (main control board)
201: Lottery means 203: Symbol determination means 204: Holding storage means 205: Symbol display control means 206: Prize ball determination means 206a: Prize ball number storage means 207: Pattern storage means 207a: Symbol pattern table 207d: Symbol variation display pattern table 208: Entry determination unit 209: Special game control unit 211: Error determination unit 212: Error processing unit 220: Production control unit (production control board)
221: Effect determining means 222: Effect control means 223: Effect pattern storage means 223a: Decoration symbol variation display pattern table 230: Dispensing control means (effect control board)
231: Prize ball payout control means

Claims (2)

A gaming machine frame containing a gaming board that realizes a game based on the flow of gaming balls;
A gaming machine frame unit having a prize ball payout unit detachably attached to the gaming machine frame,
The prize ball payout unit is
A first supply passage through which the game ball passes;
A second supply passage having a ball inlet through which game balls guided from the first supply passage flow, and through which the flowed game balls pass;
A ball guiding member that is disposed between the first supply passage and the second supply passage and has a rotating body that passes the game balls in the first supply passage one by one toward the second supply passage ; ,
Drive means for rotationally driving the rotating body;
An oscillating member that constitutes a part of the second supply passage and moves between a position of narrowing the passage width of the second supply passage and a position of widening the passage width;
Swing detection means for detecting the position of the swing member,
The second supply passage has a plurality of bent portions,
The swinging member has a curved lower end, and the lower end moves to the inside of the passage from the first wall surface constituting the second supply passage due to its own weight, and becomes a position to narrow the passage width. Configured,
A gap is provided between the lower surface of the swing member and the first wall surface disposed below the swing member,
The lower surface of the swing member is inclined upward from the inside of the second supply passage toward the outside of the passage,
In a state where the rocking member is moved to a position where the width of the second supply passage is narrowed, a wall surface of the second supply passage that is disposed opposite the rocking member and the rocking surface are arranged. The width dimension between the moving member and the width dimension of the ball inlet of the second supply passage is configured to be substantially the same,
Above the ball outlet of the second supply passage, the rocking member and the ball guiding member are disposed,
In a state where the swinging member is in a position where the passage width is narrowed, a side of the ball guiding member disposed above the first wall surface from the first wall surface constituting the ball outlet of the second supply passage . A gaming machine frame unit in which the rocking member is arranged on a vertical line toward.   A first gear connected to the rotating body;
  A second gear connected to the drive means;
  A third gear meshing with the first gear;
  A fourth gear meshing with the second gear;
  2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the driving force of the driving unit is transmitted to the rotating body via the first gear, the second gear, the third gear, and the fourth gear. Game machine frame unit.

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