JP3182001B2 - Gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine having a pachinko ball discharging device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a pachinko game machine, a storage tank for storing pachinko balls is attached to an upper portion of the back of a game board,
This storage tank is connected to a pachinko ball (game ball) discharging device via a guideway or the like. Then, the pachinko balls in the storage tank are sent out as a prize ball or a lending ball to a tray or the like on the front of the game board by a pachinko ball discharging device.

The discharging mechanism of this pachinko ball discharging device includes:
A sprocket is rotated by a motor or the like to discharge a predetermined number of sprockets (for example, a prize ball discharging device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Heisei 3-49786).

[0004]

By the way, at the game store, when the store is closed, the game balls stored in the pachinko game machine are collected (ball-off) and washed. In the ball removing process, in a device that removes balls using a motor such as the award ball releasing device, the ball removing time depends on the rotation time of the motor. In order to shorten the ball removal time, increasing the number of rotations of the motor according to the natural falling speed of the game ball reduces the torque, and the timing of biting the game ball becomes difficult and the occurrence rate of ball increases The problem arises. Therefore, the present invention provides a gaming machine capable of reducing the ball-dropping time, reducing the occurrence rate of ball-dropping, and performing the ball-dropping process quickly, efficiently, and reliably. The purpose is to:

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a guide passage through which pachinko balls can flow continuously.
When, a plurality of can receiving the pachinko balls on the outer circumference facing to the guide passage and the sprocket formed by providing a notch, and Parusumo motor for rotating the sprocket, and a stopper mechanism for preventing the rotation of the sprocket, the sprocket depending on the pachinko ball discharge equipment provided with, and one addressed detectable ball detect hand stage pachinko balls involved in payout by turning <br/> Te, a predetermined number discharging pachinko balls which is stored in the game machine A gaming machine that, based on a signal for instructing the removal of balls, in a state in which the output of the drive signal to the pulse motor is stopped, the stopper mechanism is operated to release the rotation prevention state of the sprocket, The sprocket is rotated by the weight of the pachinko balls to shift to a natural falling ball removing state in which the pachinko balls stored in the gaming machine are removed. When the ball detecting means has not detected a pachinko ball for a predetermined time in a state where the ball has dropped into the falling ball removal state, the drive motor outputs a drive signal to the pulse motor to operate the pulse motor, thereby rotating the sprocket. When the ball detecting means does not detect a pachinko ball for a predetermined period of time in the state where the forced ball removal state is entered, the pulse motor is stopped and the stopper mechanism is stopped. And stopping the rotation of the sprocket to terminate the boring.

[0006]

According to the present invention, based on a signal for instructing boring, the boring control means stops the output of the driving signal to the pulse motor and activates the stopper mechanism to release the sprocket from the rotation preventing state. By rotating the sprocket by the weight of the ball and shifting to a natural falling ball removal state in which the pachinko ball stored in the gaming machine is removed, the pachinko ball stored in the gaming machine causes the sprocket to move. Fall naturally through. On the other hand, in the state in which the pachinko ball is removed in the natural falling ball removing state, the pachinko balls remaining in the gaming machine are reduced and the natural fall due to the ball pressure is eliminated, so that a state in which the ball detecting means does not detect the pachinko balls for a predetermined time occurs. A state in which the control means outputs a drive signal to the pulse motor and operates the pulse motor to rotate the sprocket to shift to a forced ball-off state, and to shift to the forced ball-off state. When the ball detecting means does not detect a pachinko ball for a predetermined period of time, the ball motor is stopped and the stopper mechanism is stopped to prevent the sprocket from rotating, thereby terminating the ball removal.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 14 show an embodiment of a pachinko gaming machine as a gaming machine according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire pachinko gaming machine as viewed from the front, and FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko gaming machine. , FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of a game ball discharge device (hereinafter also referred to as a pachinko ball discharge device), FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the game ball discharge device, and FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the game ball discharge device. 6 is a block diagram of the control system, and FIGS.
Is a flowchart showing a control process.

1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a pachinko gaming machine, and 2 denotes a ball lending machine for renting pachinko balls. The gaming machine 1 and the ball lending machine 2 are integrally assembled. Although not explicitly shown in the drawing, the ball lending machine 2 has a ball lending control device, a card reader, and the like built therein, and a card insertion / ejection port 211 and various display lamps 220 are provided on the front surface.

The ball lending machine 2 is connected to a ball (ball) discharge control device, which will be described later, and has a ball (ball) lending control device based on data magnetically recorded on a prepaid card inserted into a card insertion / ejection slot. A ball (ball) lending request signal, a ball lending unit signal, a ball (ball) lending completion signal, a ball (ball) lending receivable signal (see FIG. 6), and the like are exchanged with the ball discharge control device 902 to provide a pachinko ball. Pachinko balls are lent by the discharging device 804. Since the ball lending machine 2 is not directly related to the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted below.

The gaming machine 1 has a front frame 5 attached to a machine frame 4 via a hinge 6 so as to be openable and closable in a single-opening manner. A frame 7 is attached to the back side of the front frame 5 along the frame. A game board 8 is attached to the inside of the frame 7, and a back mechanism 800 is attached to the outside of the frame 7. The back mechanism 800 includes a winning ball processing device 801 for performing a prize ball processing of a pachinko ball, a pachinko ball discharging device 804 according to the present invention, and the like.

The game board 8 is mounted on the frame 7 so that it can be replaced by itself. Although illustration and detailed description are omitted, a game area is set on the game board 8, and a variable display device and a winning opening for performing a variable display game of generating a right of a big hit game (special game) in the game area of the game board 8. A variable prize winning device or the like with an opening is installed. These variable display devices and the like are connected to and controlled by a game board control device 901 (see FIG. 2), and a winning opening is communicated to a winning ball processing device 801 via a winning ball guide gutter or the like.

A game board control device 901 controls a game, and is connected to a discharge control device 902, which will be described later, to transmit prize ball data, receive a signal, and a synchronous clock signal (FIG. 6).
(See). Note that the game board control device 901 is provided with a probability setting / display switch 901a and a probability setting value display 901b (see FIG. 2).

Reference numeral 5G denotes a key device provided on the right side of the gaming machine 1, and reference numeral 20 denotes a lamp device 20 provided on an upper front portion of the gaming machine 1. The key device 5G locks the front frame 5 to the machine frame 4 and locks the glass storage frame 5D. The lamp device 20 has a prize ball discharge display lamp, a rental ball discharge display lamp, and a completion lamp, and these lamps are connected to the ball discharge control device 902 or the game board control device 901.
The prize ball discharge indicator lamp is lit when the prize ball is discharged, the lending ball discharge indicator lamp is lit when the lending ball is discharged, and the completion lamp is lit when a hit state occurs.

An opening / closing panel 9 is attached to the front frame 5 below the glass housing frame 5D so as to be openable and closable by a hinge (not shown), and a pan mounting plate 10A is attached below the opening / closing panel 9. A ball supply tray 9B is integrally formed on the opening / closing panel 9 by resin molding, and a tray 10 for storing pachinko balls overflowing from the ball supply tray 9B is formed on the front surface of the tray mounting plate 10A. The ball supply tray 9B and the tray 10 are connected to a pachinko ball discharge device 804, which will be described later, by a downflow gutter 808 (see FIG. 2).

An operation handle 10B is provided at the right side of the pan 10 on the front side of the pan mounting plate 10A, and a ball feed unit and a firing unit (not shown) are provided at the back side. Although illustration and detailed description are omitted, the operation handle 10B, the ball feed unit and the firing unit are connected to a firing drive control circuit 907 (see FIG. 2) to constitute a pachinko ball firing device, and are mounted on the ball supply tray 9B. The pachinko balls are fired toward the game area of the game board 8 described above. The firing drive control circuit 907 includes a ball discharge control device 90.
2, when the firing stop signal (see FIG. 6) is input from the ball discharge control device 902, the firing of the pachinko ball is stopped.

An operation panel 30 for operating the ball lending machine 2 is formed on the ball supply tray 9B. The operation panel 30 has a conversion button 31 for instructing a conversion to a lending ball, and a return command for discharging a card. Button 32 is provided, and the balance display 3
3 and a ball lending possible display lamp 34 are provided.
These balance display 33, conversion button 31, return button 3
2 and the ball lending possible display lamp 34 are connected to and controlled by the ball lending control device, the balance display 33 displays the balance of the inserted card, and the ball lending possible display lamp 34 determines whether the conversion button 31 is valid or invalid. Display and convert button 31
The return button 32 outputs an operation signal to the ball lending control device of the ball lending machine 2 described above.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a storage tank 806 is provided on the upper side of the front frame 5 via a frame 7 as shown in FIG.
And a back mechanism 800 including a winning ball processing device 801 and a pachinko ball discharging device 804,
The aforementioned game board control device 901 and ball discharge control device 902
And a launch control unit 907. Although a detailed description is omitted, the winning ball processing device 801 has a safe solenoid 791 and a safe sensor 792, and as shown in FIG. 6, these safe sensors 792 and the safe solenoid 791 are connected to the ball discharge control device 902. Connecting.

The storage tank 806 stores the pachinko balls before discharging, and communicates with the pachinko ball discharging device 804 through two guiding paths 807. The storage tank 806 is provided with a supply sensor 808 (see FIG. 6) for detecting the remaining amount of pachinko balls, and the supply sensor 808 is connected to the ball discharge control device 902. The guide path 807 guides the pachinko ball discharging device 804 by aligning the pachinko balls in a line.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 844 denotes a speaker, which emits sound effects and the like necessary for the game in accordance with a game state such as awarded ball discharge.

The pachinko ball discharging device 804 communicates with the storage tank 806 by the two guide paths 807 as described above, and is connected to the supply tray 9B by the downflow gutter 808 and the receiving tray by the overflow gutter 809 continuous with the downflow gutter 808. Contact 10 Although not explicitly shown in the drawing, a ball drain gutter branches off from the middle of the down flow gutter 808, and an electromagnetic flow path switching valve 58 having a ball drain solenoid at the branch of the ball drain gutter (see FIG. 2).
Reference).

As shown in FIG. 6, the ball-switching solenoid valve 58 is connected to a ball discharge solenoid controller (numbered 58 in FIG. 6). It operates when energized. The flow path switching valve 58 shuts off the down flow gutter 808 and the ball drain gutter when not energized, and connects the flow gutter 808 to the ball drain gutter when energized. Although not explicitly shown in the figure, the ball drainage gutter communicates with the recovery flow path of the island facilities of the game arcade.

Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 2, the overflow gutter 809 has an overflow sensor 59 upstream thereof.
The guide gutter 807 is provided with an odd sensor 160 (see FIG. 6) at a predetermined position.
A ball release switch 161 (see FIG. 6) is provided around 7. These overflow sensor 59 and odd sensor 16
0 and the ball release switch 161
Connected to.

As apparent from the patent application filed by the applicant of the present invention, the overflow sensor 59 is constituted by a proximity switch or a mechanical micro switch operated by a magnetic change. When the pachinko ball stays, an overflow signal is output to the ball discharge control device 902. The odd sensor 160 detects whether or not a predetermined number or more of pachinko balls are present on the guide path 807, and outputs a detection signal to the ball discharge control device 902. The ball removal switch 161 detects a ball removal rod inserted from the front frame of the gaming machine 1 and outputs a detection signal to the ball ejection control device 902.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the pachinko ball discharging device 804 includes four members 7 made of a transparent synthetic resin.
01a, 701b, 701c, and 701d are divided and joined to form a casing 701. Casing 70
Reference numeral 1 denotes an accommodation chamber defined therein, and a joining portion between the members 701b and 701c and a member 701c and a member 7
01d and guide passages 702a, 702, respectively.
2b is formed. Reference numeral 703 denotes a cooling vent for cooling a solenoid and a pulse motor formed on the members 701b and 701d of the casing 701.

The discharge mechanism 7 is provided in the accommodation room of the casing 701.
10, a stopper mechanism 720, two discharge sensors 771a and 771b as ball detecting means, and a pulse motor 750 as rotating means are accommodated. In addition, the guide passage 70
2a and 702b (hereinafter, represented by numbers without suffixes as needed) correspond to the above-mentioned two guideways 807 and communicate with the corresponding guideways 807, respectively, from the storage tank 806 to the pachinko balls. Flows down. These guide passages 7
At 02, the pachinko balls before ejection are aligned and wait. In addition, as described above, the lower end of the guide passage 702 has the downflow gutter 8.
Call 08.

The discharge mechanism 710 includes two sprockets 7
12a and 712b, a gear 713 for preventing rotation, and a driven gear 714.
2b and gears 713 and 714 are fixedly mounted on a shaft 711 that rotatably passes through a member 701b of the casing 701. Sprockets 712a, 712b (hereinafter represented with no number subscripts optionally) each have the outer peripheral
A plurality (eight in this embodiment) of notches 715 having a semicircular shape are formed so that pachinko balls can be fitted at equal intervals, and the sprocket 71 is formed.
2a corresponds to the guide passage 702a between the members 701b and 701c, and the sprocket 712b is
It is arranged between 1d corresponding to the guide passage 702b.

Each of these sprockets 712 is arranged such that the notch 715 has a phase difference of an angle (22.5 ° in this embodiment) corresponding to １ ／ of the notch 715 in the rotation direction. As described later, these sprockets 712
Is driven by a pulse motor 750 and rotates integrally, and alternately sends down pachinko balls that fit into the cutouts 715. This sprocket 712 corresponds to a notched disk.

The driven gear 714 includes members 701a, 701
b, and meshes with the transmission gear 716. The transmission gear 716 is rotatably supported by a shaft 716a protruding from the member 701b, and meshes with a drive gear 717 fixed to the output shaft of the pulse motor 750 to transmit the output of the pulse motor 750.

The pulse motor 750 is composed of, for example, a VR type step motor having a multi-phase stator winding, and the stator winding is connected to the discharge control device 902 (see FIG. 6). In this step motor 750, a pulse-like current (hereinafter, referred to as a pulse) is applied to each stator winding, and as described later, the energization method is a 1-2-phase excitation or a 2-2-phase excitation. The rotation direction is selectively controlled to be forward rotation or reverse rotation. Reference numeral 755 denotes a cooling fan provided in the pulse motor 750. The cooling fan 755 rotates integrally with the output shaft of the motor 750.

The gear for rotation blocking 713 is fixed to the shaft 711 between the sprockets 712, restraining the rotation by the stopper mechanism 720, Ru is released. Scan stopper mechanism 720,
A stopper 721 that can be engaged with and disengaged from the gear 713, a spring 724 that urges the stopper 721 in a direction that meshes with the gear 713, and a spring 724 that
And a stopper solenoid 722 driven against the elastic force of the discharge control device 90.
2 (see FIG. 6). Stopper 721 described above
Denotes a notch disk stop member, and the stopper solenoid 722 corresponds to a stop member driving unit.

In the stopper mechanism 720, when the stopper solenoid 722 is energized by the discharge control device 902, the tip of the stopper 721 meshes with the gear 713 when the energization is not energized to prevent the rotation of the gear 713 (see the solid line in FIG. 4). In addition, when power is supplied, the stopper 721 is moved to the gear 71.
3 to allow rotation of the gear 713 (FIG. 4).
Medium, broken line state). Then, in a state where the stopper mechanism 720 allows the rotation of the gear 713, the sprocket 712 is driven to rotate by the step motor 750, and the ejection mechanism 710 sends out the pachinko balls fitted in the notches 715 downward.

The ejection sensors 771a and 771b (hereinafter, represented by numbers without suffixes as necessary) are composed of a well-known photo sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion, and the like.
The pachinko balls sent out from the discharging mechanism 710 are detected. These discharge sensors 771, as shown in FIG.
It is connected to the ball discharge control device 902 and outputs its detection signal. The discharge sensor 771 corresponds to a ball detection unit.

In the above-described embodiment, the discharging mechanism 71
Although 0 illustrates an example having two sprockets 712, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to all those employing the pulse motor 750 regardless of the number of sprockets in the ejection mechanism. In the above embodiment, the driven gear 71
4 and a gear 713 are provided, but the functions of these gears are replaced by a single gear, and a notch disk stop member is fitted to this gear, and the rotating power from the rotating means is transmitted. You may do so.

As shown in FIG. 6, the ball discharge control device 902 includes an input filter 78 connected to the above-described sensors and the like.
1. Driver 78 to which each of the aforementioned solenoids is connected
2. It has a CPU 783 that performs signal arithmetic processing, a crystal oscillator 784 that generates a clock signal, and a power supply unit 785 for supplying power. The input filter 781 performs waveform shaping of the output signal of the sensor and the like, and the driver 782
Output signal is amplified and output to a solenoid or the like.
Reference numeral 83 processes the signal in accordance with a predetermined program to perform pachinko ball discharge control or ball removal control. This ball discharge control device 902 corresponds to the ball-pulling control means according to the present invention. Although a detailed description is omitted, the emission control device 902
Is connected to a central management device of a game store to input a stop signal and the like, and a reset switch 799 is provided on the outer surface.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 to 14 is executed in the ball discharge control device 902. In the ball discharge control device 902, the processing (main routine) shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 is repeatedly executed every 1 ms by interruption processing when the power of the gaming machine 1 is turned on.

In the main routine, as shown in FIG.
First, an input process is performed in step S1. In this input processing, for example, logical conversion from various detection switches and chattering prevention processing are performed. As the chattering prevention process, for example, there is a process of reading a signal from each detection switch twice by software, etc., and taking into consideration a time constant of noise and the like to prevent chattering.

Next, in step S2, it is determined whether or not the power is turned on. If the power is turned on, that is, if the first routine is executed, the process proceeds to step S3 to erase the data stored in the RAM (RAM clear). Is performed, and initialization is performed in step S4. This clears the working area of the RAM, sets flags, resets output ports, initializes subroutines, and the like. And after this, it is waiting for an interrupt,
The main routine is repeatedly executed from step S1 by a soft interrupt every 1 ms.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the execution is not the first routine execution, that is, if it is determined that the execution is the second or later execution, output processing is performed in step S5. In this output processing, processing such as outputting data to an output port and outputting a switching signal to a solenoid is performed. Then, step S
At 6, the input monitoring process of the switch is performed. This input monitoring process monitors input information of each sensor and switch, and specifically, the discharge sensor 771, the odd sensor 160
Also, the output signals of the overflow sensor 59 and the like are monitored.

Next, in step S7, a ball payout start confirmation condition monitoring process is performed. The ball payout start confirmation condition monitoring processing is to check whether or not the pachinko ball discharge device 804 has set a condition for starting discharge of a prize ball or a ball for lending. Confirmation is performed based on data such as "Yes" and "There is a ball lending request signal".

In the following step S8, the corresponding steps A to A are performed based on the result of the input monitoring process of each switch.
A process for branching to step G is performed. Then, the following processing is performed in each branch destination step. Step A: Perform safe ball confirmation and purchase confirmation processing. This is because it is necessary to confirm that a safe ball has been generated by winning, and the player operates the conversion button 31 to purchase a pachinko ball to generate a ball lending request signal or a ball lending unit signal. This is because it is necessary to confirm that the data has been received.

Step B: Perform award ball data transmission / reception processing. This is to receive prize ball data and output it when prize ball data is received. Step C: Perform a discharge start processing of award balls and loaned balls. By executing this processing, the pachinko ball discharging device 804 starts operating, and a prize ball or a lending ball is paid out.

Step D: A pachinko ball discharging process is performed. This processing is performed in order to slow down the operation of the pachinko ball discharging device 804 immediately before counting the number of discharged pachinko balls to reach the specified number, thereby preventing ball balling. Step E: A discharge end process is performed. By this end processing, the operation of the pachinko ball discharging device 804 stops, and the payout of the prize ball or the loaned ball ends. The processing of the above-described steps D and E will be described later in detail.

Step F: Perform safe ball payout and weight processing. In this process, the safe solenoid 79 of the prize ball processing device 801 is set when the discharge of the prize ball is completed.
1 is turned on once to discharge only one safe ball of the present time, and thereafter, when paying out the next prize ball continuously, a certain wait time is provided between the discharging operations of the ball to ensure smooth operation. The discharging operation is performed.

Step G: A ball removal process for discharging the game balls stored in the game machine to the collection flow path of the island facility is performed.
This boring processing is started when the bobble switch 161 detects that a bobble bar has been inserted into an operation hole (not shown) on the front surface of the gaming machine 1 by a staff member. Then, the process can be divided into a process of switching the pachinko ball discharge path to a ball drain gutter by energizing the ball discharging solenoid 58 and a process of controlling the operation of the pachinko ball discharging device 804 during ball discharging. The latter processing will be described later in detail.

After going through any one of the above-mentioned steps A to G, the process then proceeds to step S20, in which various solenoid control processes are performed. This is to set the drive information of the solenoid corresponding to a predetermined step state. In particular, in this step S20,
If the branching step described above is a process relating to the ejection or removal of pachinko balls, the solenoid 722 of the stopper mechanism 720 is energized to move the stopper 721 to the gear 713.
From the slingshot to enable the ejection or removal of pachinko balls. Next, control processing of the pulse motor 750 is performed in step S21. This is to control the drive phase of the pulse motor and control its rotation. This step S2
1 and the control processing in step S20 will be described later in detail.

Next, a subroutine for executing the processing of steps D, E, G, S20 and S21 in the main routine will be described. In the subroutine of step D, as shown in FIG. 8, first, it is determined whether or not the number of pachinko balls discharged by the discharging mechanism 710 in step S30 is a state in which "-1" has been subtracted from the specified number. For example, when fifteen prize balls are to be discharged, the “specified number = 15”. In step S30, it is determined whether the number of discharged pachinko balls has reached the 14th.

If the result of the determination in step S30 is No
(For example, when the number is less than 14), the process returns to the main routine. This is because the operating speed of the pachinko ball discharging device 804 is set to a normal state until the number of the pachinko balls reaches the 14th, and when the number of the pachinko balls reaches the 14th immediately before the stop, the operating speed is slowed down and the discharge of the 15th pachinko balls is slowed down. This is to prevent ball damage and to accurately stop the pulse motor 750.

If the result of the determination in step S30 is Yes
(For example, at the time of the 14th), step S3
Proceeding to 1, the branch step in the main routine is set to "E" and the process returns to the main routine. This allows
After returning to the main routine, the processing of step E (discharge end processing) is performed.

The subroutine of step E is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), it is first determined in step S40 whether or not the number of pachinko balls discharged by the discharge mechanism 710 is a specified discharge number. If not (N), the process returns to the main routine. If it is a number (Y), the process proceeds to step S41. In this step S41, the branch step in the main routine is set to "F". Then, as described later, by setting the branch step to “F”, when returning to the main routine, the processing of step F (safe ball payout and weight processing) is performed,
The safe solenoid 791 is energized. That is, when the discharge of the specified number of prize balls is completed, the safe solenoid 791 of the prize ball processing device 801 is turned on once, and only one safe ball at this time is discharged.

Next, in step S42, a wait timer is set. When a prize ball is paid out continuously, a fixed wait time is provided, but a timer for counting the wait time is set. For example, 200 ms is set as the wait time. With the setting of the wait time, when there is a continuous payout of prize balls, the start of the operation of discharging the pachinko ball is delayed by an amount corresponding to the fixed wait time.

In the subroutine of step G, as shown in FIG.
It is determined whether or not re-input has been performed. This takes into account that the ball-drawing operation may be stopped after the ball-drawing operation. If it is determined that there is no re-input, the process proceeds to step S51. In step S51, it is determined whether or not the discharge sensor 771a or 771b detects the presence of a ball, that is, there is a natural drop of the ball in the pachinko ball discharge device 804 due to the removal of the stopper 721 from the gear 713 in step S20. It is determined whether or not. When it is determined that there is a ball, the process proceeds to step S52, the timer is cleared, and the process returns to the main routine. This timer is used to determine that the ball removal has been completed when the ballless state has continued for a predetermined time (3 seconds in this embodiment). The timer is cleared each time the discharge sensor 771 detects a game ball. It has become. The above steps S50 to S52 are processing executed when the ball removal switch 161 is operated and the game ball is passing through the pachinko ball discharging device 804. In this case, since the solenoid 722 drives the stopper 721 and separates from the gear 713 based on the setting of the ON information of the stopper solenoid 722 (step S72) as described later in detail, the solenoid 722 is stored in the gaming machine. The game ball naturally falls through the sprocket 712. Therefore, since the ball removal can be performed without using the motor 750, the ball removal time can be reduced, and the occurrence rate of ball drop can be reduced.

If the discharge sensor 771 does not detect a game ball and it is determined in step S51 that there is no ball, the flow advances to step S55 to update the timer, and the flow advances to step 56 to determine whether three seconds have elapsed. If three seconds have not elapsed, the process returns to the main routine, but if three seconds have elapsed, the process proceeds to step S57, and it is determined whether or not a ball removal end flag is set. In this embodiment, the ball removal process is completed using the motor 750 after the game ball is naturally dropped. In order to turn on the pulse motor 750, the ball removal end flag is set. However, since this flag has not yet been set, it is determined No in step S57, and the process proceeds to step S58, where the ball-pulling end flag is set, and the process proceeds to step S59. In step S59, a process for clearing the timer is performed, and the process returns to the main routine. This is the case of the ball removal processing by the pulse motor 750.
This is to set a timer for judging whether or not the game ball has moved again for 3 seconds. As described above, in step S51,
In steps S55 to S59, preparations are made for shifting to the boring processing using the motor 750, and the motor 750 is rotated based on a pulse motor control processing described later.

When the ball removal process is performed by the pulse motor 750, the game ball is discharged from the discharge sensor 771.
Is detected, the processes in steps S51 to S52 are executed, and the process returns to the main routine. However, when a game ball is not detected by the discharge sensor 771, the timer is updated in the step S55, and the process shifts to the step S56 to determine whether or not 3 seconds have elapsed. If the 3 seconds have elapsed, the process shifts to the step S57. . In this step S57, it is determined whether or not there is a ball removal end flag as described above. Since this flag has been set in step S58, the determination is Yes here, and the process proceeds to step S53. In step S54, the ball removal end flag is cleared, the step is set to "A", and the process returns to the main routine. Step S53
, The ball-off completion flag is cleared, so that the motor OFF data is set in the pulse motor control processing described later (step S94), and the rotation of the motor is stopped. Further, since the step is set to "A" in step S54, the OFF information of the stopper solenoid 722 is set in the solenoid control processing described later (step S77), the stopper 721 is fitted into the gear 713, and the ball removal processing ends. It has become. In this way, the ball can be removed from the game ball that does not fall naturally by the motor, and the ball removal process can be performed reliably.

If the ball-drop switch 161 has been re-input, the result of the determination in step S50 is YES, and the flow proceeds to step S53 to clear a ball-drop end flag (described later). A "is set and the process returns to the main routine. Since the stopper 721 is fitted into the gear 713 when the ball removal is interrupted, the interruption control is extremely simple.

The solenoid control process in step S20 executes a subroutine shown in FIG. First, in step S71, it is determined whether or not the processing of the branch step in the current main routine is step C, D, E, or step G, that is, whether or not the processing is related to the discharge of pachinko balls or the ball removal processing. . Then, if it is determined that the process is related to the discharge or the ball removal process (Yes), the process from step S72 is executed. If the process is not the process related to the ball removal process or the discharge (No), the process from step S77 is performed. Execute the processing of In step S72, ON information of the stopper solenoid 722 is set and the stopper solenoid 722 is driven, and in step S77, OFF information of the stopper solenoid 722 is set and power supply to the stopper solenoid 722 is stopped. Therefore, if step G is set, the stopper 721 is set.
Is maintained detached from the gear 713, and the ball removing process can be performed. If step A is set in step S54, the stopper 72 is set.
1 is fitted into the gear 713, and the ball removing process is completed.

In the following step S73, it is determined whether or not the processing of the branching step is the step G, that is, the ball-dropping processing. If the processing is the ball-dropping processing (Yes), the processing of step 74 is executed, and then the processing of step S76 is performed. The process is performed, and if it is not the ball removal process (No), the process of step S75 is performed after the process of step S75 is performed. In step S74, ON information of the ball-drawing solenoid 58 is set to energize the ball-drawing solenoid 58, and in step S75, OFF information of the ball-drawing solenoid 58 is set to stop energizing the ball-drawing solenoid 58.

In step S76, it is determined whether or not the stopper solenoid 722 is at the off timing. If the timing is the off timing (Yes), the process of step S77 is performed, and the process proceeds to step S78. The processing of S78 is performed. In this way, the stopper solenoid 722 is dynamically driven to prevent the stopper solenoid 722 from generating heat. Step S77
Then, as described above, the off information of the stopper solenoid 722 is set.

In step S78, it is determined whether or not the branching step is step F, that is, whether or not safe ball payout and weight processing are to be performed. If the branch step is step F (Yes), the safe solenoid 791 is set to ON information to energize the safe solenoid 791 in step S79, and if the branch step is not step F (No), step S80 is performed. And safe solenoid 7
The off information of 91 is set and the drive of the safe solenoid 791 is stopped.

The pulse motor control process in step S21 executes a subroutine shown in FIG. First, ball ball processing is performed in step S90. This ball ball processing is
As described later, it is monitored whether or not the pachinko ball has clogged in the guide passage 702 or the like, and whether or not the pachinko ball has been bitten by the sprocket 712. When the error occurs, a process for eliminating the error is performed.

Next, in step S91, it is determined whether or not there is a reset waiting flag. If the reset waiting flag is set (Yes), the process returns to the main routine. If there is no reset waiting flag (N
o) Perform the process of step S92. As will be described later, the reset waiting flag is set when the release of the ball damage is not performed in the ball damage processing in step S90.

In step S92, it is determined whether or not the ball dust flag is set. If the ball dust flag is set (Yes), the process of step S105 described later is performed. If the ball dust flag is not set, (N
o) Perform the process of step S93. As will be described later, it is determined that the game ball is jammed in the guide passage 702 or the like or the game ball is caught in the sprocket 712 in the ball game process in step S90, that is, the ball game flag is determined as described later. It is set when it is determined to be in the occurrence state.

In step S93, the processing of the branching step in the current main routine is performed in step C,
It is determined whether or not D, E or step G, that is, whether or not the processing is related to the discharge of the pachinko balls or the ball removal processing. If it is not discharge processing or ball removal processing (No), in step S94, OFF data is set and power supply to the pulse motor 750 is stopped. It is determined whether or not there is an end flag. If the ball-pulling end flag has not been set, the step 9
Go to step 4. If the flag is set, step 9
Proceed to 6. Therefore, in the ball removal processing, the rotation of the motor 750 is controlled to stop until the ball removal end flag is set in step S58. If step A is set in step S54, the control is performed so that the rotation of the motor 750 is stopped.

In step S96, it is determined whether or not the pulse control timer is 0.
If not, the process of step S104 is performed after updating the timer in step S97, and when it is determined that the pulse control timer is 0, that is, the update time of the pointer (described below) has expired, the process of step S98 is performed.

Here, the pulse control timer is used to count the update time of the pointer of the motor control data for controlling the drive phase of the pulse motor 750, and the motor control data is used for the time for controlling the phase of the pulse motor 750. Motion data. The motor control data is specified by a plurality of pointers (four pointers “1” to “4” are illustrated), and when the pulse motor 750 is rotated forward, the pointers move in the forward direction (“1” → “4”). When the pointer is incremented and reversed, the pointer moves in the reverse direction ("4" →
It is decremented to "1").

In step S98, it is determined whether or not the branch step of the main routine executed this time is step E, that is, whether or not the discharge end processing is performed. If it is not the discharge end process (No), the timer 1 is set in step S99 and the process of step S102 is performed. If the discharge end process is (Yes), the timer 2 is set in step S100 and the process proceeds to step S101. The motor control pointer is incremented by "+1". Since the timer 1 counts up the pointer update time at a timing earlier than that of the timer 2, the rotation speed of the pulse motor 750 becomes slower in the discharge end processing, so that the pachinko balls can be prevented from biting into the sprocket 712. .

In step S102, it is determined whether or not the branch step of the main routine executed this time is step C, that is, whether or not it is the discharge start processing. This step S102
In, if it is determined that the discharge start process (Yes),
In step S103, the motor control pointer is decremented by "-1", and if it is determined that the processing is not the discharge start processing (No), the motor control pointer is incremented by "+1" in step S101 described above.

In the following step S104, it is determined whether or not the branch step of the main routine to be executed this time is step D, that is, whether or not the discharge processing is performed. If the discharge process is not performed (No), that is, if the branch step is C,
If any of the E and G discharge start processing, the discharge end processing, and the ball removal processing, the 2-2 phase table is set in step S105. In the case of discharge processing, (Ye
s), a 1-2 phase table is set in step S106. These tables set the pulse application method to the pulse motor 750, that is, the energization method of the multi-phase winding. When the 1-2 phase table is set, the 1-2 phase excitation and the 2-2 phase table are set. When set, 2-2 phase excitation is performed.

The above steps S104, S105, S1
06, the pulse motor 750 is set to 1-during the discharging process, that is, while the pulse motor 750 is rotating.
When driven by two-phase excitation and not in the discharge process,
That is, at the beginning of rotation or at the end of rotation of the pulse motor 750, the pulse motor 750 is driven by 2-2 phase excitation. Therefore, at the beginning of rotation or at the end of rotation of the pulse motor 750, a large torque can be obtained from the output of the pulse motor 750 to ensure smooth rotation, and the heat generation of the pulse motor 750 during rotation of the pulse motor 750. The amount can be reduced.

Next, in step S107, control data such as the drive phase of the pulse motor 750 is calculated by the motor control pointer, and in step S108, the calculated control data is set in the output buffer and output. Then, the process returns to the main routine at the end of step S108.

In addition, the ball grinding process in step S90 is performed as shown in FIG.
3 and the routine shown in FIG.
First, as shown in FIG. 13, it is determined whether or not there is a reset waiting flag in step S120. If the reset waiting flag is set (Yes), step S121 is performed.
To the step S123, and returns to the subroutine of the pulse motor control processing. If the reset waiting flag is not set (No), the processing from the step S124 is executed. The reset waiting flag will be described later.

In step S121, it is determined whether or not the reset switch 799 has been turned on, and if it is determined that the reset switch 799 has been reset (Ye).
s), the reset waiting flag is cleared in step S122, and if it is determined that the reset switch 799 has not been reset (No), each motor and each solenoid are turned off in step S123. Then, after the end of step S123, the process returns to the subroutine (pulse motor control processing). Note that, as described above, the reset switch 799 is turned on by an attendant when resetting the operation of the ball discharge control device 902 or the like.

In step S124, it is determined whether or not the pachinko ball is being discharged. If the pachinko ball is being discharged (Yes), the process proceeds to step S125. If not (No), the process proceeds to step S128. In step S125, it is determined whether or not a detection signal of the discharge sensor 771 has been input. And
If it is determined that the detection signal of the discharge sensor 771 has not been input (No), that is, if the detection signal has not been input from the discharge sensor 771 despite the discharge being performed, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred and monitoring is performed in step S126. Set a flag. If the detection signal of the discharge sensor 771 is input (Yes), the number of tries and the number of repetitions are cleared in step S127, and the monitoring flag is cleared in subsequent step S128. As will be described later, the number of repetitions is defined as the number of times the pulse motor 750 repeats the forward and reverse rotations, and one trial is defined as the number of repetitions.

Then, in a step S129, it is determined whether or not the monitoring flag is set. And
In this step S129, if it is determined that the monitoring flag is set (Yes), the process from step S130 to step S133 is performed and then step S129 is performed.
The process proceeds to 135, and if it is determined that the monitoring flag is not set (No), the process proceeds to step S135 after performing the process of step S134. Step S134
Then, the monitoring timer is cleared assuming that the abnormal state described above has been resolved.

In step S130, the monitoring timer is updated, and in step S131, it is determined whether the count time of the monitoring timer has reached a specified time. In this step S131, if the count time of the monitoring timer has reached the specified time, that is, if the abnormal state in which the detection signal is not input from the discharge sensor 771 continues during the specified time (Yes) while the discharging is being performed, Is determined to have occurred, and the ball damage flag is set in step S132, and then the upper limit of the monitoring timer is set in step S133. Also,
If the monitoring timer has not reached the specified time (No),
Proceed to step S135.

In step S135, as shown in FIG. 14, it is determined whether or not the ball damage flag is set. If the ball damage flag is not set (No), the process returns to the pulse motor control subroutine. If the ball ball flag is set (Yes), step S1
At 36, it is determined whether or not the rotation direction of the pulse motor 750 is the forward rotation timing.

In step S136, when it is determined that the timing is the normal rotation (Yes), the motor control pointer is incremented by "+1" in step S137, and then, in step S138, the ON information of the stopper solenoid 722 is set and the solenoid is set. When the reverse rotation timing is determined (No), the motor control pointer is decremented by "-1" in step S139, and then the stopper solenoid OFF information is set in step S140 to stop the power supply to the solenoid 722. I do. Then, in step S141, the pulse motor 750
Is updated.

The above steps S137 to S137
By repeatedly executing the processing up to 140, the sprocket 712 repeats the forward and reverse rotation, and the stopper mechanism 720 contacts the gear 713 each time the stopper 721 reversely rotates, and the pachinko ball that stays in the guide passage 702 or the like. Is rocked. In other words, the pachinko balls staying in the guide passage 702 and the like are swung by the sprocket 712 and the like in a state where the ball crush flag is set and it is determined that the ball mist has occurred. For this reason, ball damage can be eliminated.
In particular, as will be described later, the normal and reverse rotations of the sprocket 721 and the like are repeated a predetermined number of times with a predetermined number of repetitions as one trial, so that it is possible to surely eliminate ball damage.

Next, in step S142, it is determined whether or not the number of repetitions has reached a specified number. If the number of repetitions has not reached the specified number (No), the process returns to the subroutine. If it has reached (Ye
s) The number of repetitions counted in step S143 is cleared. If the number of repetitions has not reached the specified number, the process returns to the subroutine and returns to step S1.
In order to repeat the process from 20, the discharge sensor 77
When the detection signal of No. 1 is input and it is determined that ball damage has been resolved (see step S125), the above-described repetitive processing is interrupted. Therefore, rapid discharge is achieved without repeating unnecessary repetition.

Subsequently, the monitoring timer is cleared in step S144, the number of tries is updated in step S145, and it is determined in step S146 whether or not the number of tries has reached a specified number. In this step S146, if it is determined that the number of tries has not reached the specified number (No), the process returns to the subroutine. If it is determined that the number of tries has reached the specified number (Yes), the number of tries is determined in step S147. Is cleared, a reset wait flag is set in step S148. Then, as described above, when the reset wait flag is set, the reset switch 799
Are turned off (steps S121 to S12).
3). Note that the number of tries is defined as a predetermined number of repetitions of one try.

As described above, in the pachinko ball discharging apparatus of this embodiment, the pulse motor 750 is used as a driving source for pachinko ball discharging, and the pachinko ball discharging start processing and the discharge ending processing are performed. Motor 7
The pulse motor 750 is driven by the 2-2 phase excitation at the beginning of rotation and at the end of rotation of the motor 50, and 1-2 during the ejection of pachinko balls, that is, during the rotation of the pulse motor 750.
The pulse motor 750 is driven by phase excitation.

Therefore, the pulse motor 750 can output a large torque at the start of discharge and at the end of discharge so that discharge can be started and stopped reliably, and the amount of heat generated by the pulse motor 750 during discharge is reduced. In addition, the influence of heat on peripheral electronic devices and the like can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the clerk operates the ball-dropping switch 161 by inserting a ball-dropping rod into the operation hole of each gaming machine. The ball can be removed. Further, in the above embodiment, the ball detecting means is controlled to rotate the rotating means when the ball is not detected for a predetermined time,
The number of balls that can be removed by natural fall is predicted and set in advance, and control may be performed so that the rotating means is turned when the number of game balls is counted by the ball detecting means. Further, a ball detecting means may be attached above the notched disk, and when the ball detecting means detects a game ball which has not fallen spontaneously, the ball detecting means may be controlled to rotate the rotating means.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a main part of a pachinko ball discharging apparatus according to a modification in which the configuration of the above embodiment is changed. The major difference between the pachinko ball discharging device 1000 according to this modification and the pachinko ball discharging device 804 according to the embodiment is that an electromagnetic clutch 1001 is used instead of the stopper 721 and the stopper solenoid 722 as a stopper mechanism. is there. In addition, in this modified example, the gear 1002 has the respective functions of the rotation preventing gear 713 and the driven gear 714 according to the embodiment, and the gear 1
002 is a driven gear 1003 of the electromagnetic clutch 1001
Is always in mesh. Reference numeral 1004 denotes a guide passage, and a discharge mechanism 1005 is provided on the back side of the guide passage 1004 in the drawing. In the pachinko ball discharging device 1000, when the electromagnetic clutch 1001 is not energized, the driven gear 1003 is locked, and when energized, the driven gear 1003 is free to discharge the game ball or remove the ball. According to this modification, the structure of the game ball discharging device is extremely simple, and the size can be reduced. Also, the assembling work can be simplified.

[0083]

According to the present invention, based on a signal for instructing ball removal, the ball removal control means operates the stopper mechanism to stop the output of the drive signal to the pulse motor to rotate the sprocket. Release the motion blocking state, rotate the sprocket by its own weight of the pachinko balls, and shift to the natural falling ball removing state in which the pachinko balls stored in the gaming machine are removed, so that they are stored in the gaming machine. Since the pachinko balls that have been dropped fall naturally through the sprocket and the ball is removed, the ball removal processing can be performed more quickly than when the ball removal is performed using a pulse motor. Further, since the sprocket is rotated by the natural fall of the ball, the occurrence rate of the ball is reduced, and heat generation due to continuous energization of the pulse motor can be prevented. On the other hand, in the state in which the pachinko ball is removed in the natural falling ball removing state, the pachinko balls remaining in the gaming machine are reduced and the natural fall due to the ball pressure is eliminated, so that a state in which the ball detecting means does not detect the pachinko balls for a predetermined time occurs. And the control means outputs a drive signal to the pulse motor to operate the pulse motor to rotate the sprocket to shift to a forcible ball removal state. be able to. When the ball detecting means does not detect a pachinko ball for a predetermined time in a state where the forcible ball is removed, the pulse motor is stopped and the stopper mechanism is stopped to rotate the sprocket. , The ball can be reliably removed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pachinko gaming machine to which a game ball discharging device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, as viewed obliquely from the front.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the game ball discharging device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of the game ball discharging device.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the game ball discharging device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control system of the game ball discharging device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the game ball discharging device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the game ball discharging device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another subroutine of the game ball discharging device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another subroutine of the game ball discharging device.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing still another subroutine of the game ball discharging apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing yet another subroutine of the game ball discharging device.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing still another subroutine of the game ball discharging device.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the remainder of the subroutine of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a main part of a game ball discharging device according to a modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

702a, 702b guide communication path 712a, 712b sprocket 715 notch on 720 stopper Organization 750 pulse motor 771a, 771b discharge sensor (ball detecting means) 804 pachinko ball discharge unit 902 Ball emission control device (ball ejecting control means)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A guide passage through which pachinko balls can continuously flow, a sprocket provided with a plurality of cutouts on its outer periphery facing the guide passage for accommodating pachinko balls, and rotating the sprocket. A pachinko ball discharging device comprising: a pulse motor for causing rotation; a stopper mechanism for preventing rotation of the sprocket; and ball detection means capable of detecting one pachinko ball related to payout by rotation of the sprocket. A gaming machine for discharging a predetermined number of pachinko balls stored in the machine, wherein the stop mechanism is stopped in a state where the output of the drive signal to the pulse motor is stopped based on a signal for instructing ball removal. > To release the rotation stop state of the above sprocket,
By rotating the sprocket by the weight of the pachinko ball,
While shifting to the natural falling ball removal state in which the pachinko balls stored in the gaming machine are removed, the ball detecting means did not detect the pachinko balls for the predetermined time in the state of shifting to the natural falling ball removal state. At the time, by outputting a drive signal to the pulse motor and operating the pulse motor, the sprocket is rotated to shift to a forcible ball removal state, and in the state where the forcible ball removal state is shifted. If the ball detecting means does not detect a pachinko ball for a predetermined time, the pulse motor is stopped and the strike is stopped.
Tsu and the path mechanism is stopped game machine characterized by comprising a ball ejecting control means for terminating the ball ejecting by blocking the rotation of the sprocket.