Gaming machine

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of preventing dishonest modification.SOLUTION: When an upper movable body 200 is at an initial position, a fitting hook 250 of an upper decoration cover 244, a hook reception part 252 of a movable part 234, and a part of a screwing part of the upper decoration cover 244 become in a covered state of covered with a set plate 112. When the upper movable body 200 is at the initial position, in a state in which a power source of a Pachinko game machine 1 is turned off, the upper movable body 200 is locked and its movement is restricted. Since the upper movable body 200 is locked at the initial position, it becomes difficult to touch the fitting hook 250 of the upper decoration cover 244 and the hook reception part 252 (namely, holding part) of the movable part 234 covered with the set plate 112, and it becomes difficult to detach a screw on the screwing part of the upper decoration cover 244 covered with the set plate 112.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 19

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine capable of playing games.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a gaming machine, a game ball as a game medium is launched into a game area by a launching device, and when the game ball wins a prize in a prize area such as a winning hole provided in the game area, a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out to the player, and when the display result of the variable display of identification information (also referred to as "variation") becomes a specific display result, a gaming machine (so-called pachinko machine) that changes the game state is known.

[0003] Also, after setting a predetermined number of bets for one game, when the player operates the start lever, the variable display of identification information is started, and when the player operates the stop switch, the variable display of identification information is stopped within a range of a predetermined maximum delay time from the operation timing, and a prize occurs according to the display result derived when all the variable displays are stopped, and a predetermined game medium is paid out according to the prize, and when a specific prize occurs, a gaming machine (so-called slot machine) that changes the game state is known.

[0004] In such a gaming machine, there is known a gaming machine in which a decorative member (design part) is detachable while leaving the light-emitting substrate of the movable body on the main body side (base part) (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] By the way, Sufficient improvements are needed to prevent game balls that have entered the game area from returning to the guided passage (guide area). .

[0007] This invention was made in view of the above-described circumstances, and its purpose is: Improvements to prevent game balls that have entered the game area from returning to the guided passage (guide area). The goal is to provide gaming machines that can be used. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a guide area between an outer rail and an inner rail that guides a launched game ball into a game area, and a ball return prevention mechanism that prevents the game ball from returning from the game area to the guide area, wherein the ball return prevention mechanism includes a displacement member that can be displaced between a first state, a second state, and a third state, and a holding member that can hold the displacement member. identification The displacement member has a fixed portion and a side portion facing the game area and a tip portion on the tip side of the side portion, and the distance from the tip portion to the outer rail is defined as a specific distance, and the game ball that is about to be guided from the guide area to the game area is defined as the first game ball, and the game ball that is about to return from the game area to the guide area is defined as the second game ball, then the first state is a state in which the specific distance is shorter than that of the second state, the second state is a state in which the specific distance is longer than that of the first state, and the third state is a state in which the first game ball is the side portion, the outer rail and the second game The ball is in contact with the second game ball, and the second game ball is in contact with the tip, the outer rail, and the first game ball, so that the specific distance is longer than the first state and shorter than the second state, and shorter than the distance from the lowest point of the second game ball to the outer rail, the holding member has a contact portion that contacts the side portion in the second state, the game ball may contact the contact portion and the side portion in the first state, if in the first state the distance from the point of contact between the game ball and the contact portion to the point of contact between the game ball and the side portion is defined as the first distance, and the distance from the lowest point to the leftmost point of the game ball is defined as the second distance, The first distance is shorter than the second distance, identification The fixing part is smaller than the game ball. Therefore, the method for preventing game balls that have entered the game area from returning to the guided passage (guide area) has been revised. good can. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a pachinko machine. [Figure 2] This is a front view of the game board unit when the movable parts are in their initial position. [Figure 3] This is a front view of the game board unit when the movable parts are in their movable positions. [Figure 4] This is a front view of the game board. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the game board unit. [Figure 6] This is a disassembled perspective view of the game board unit. [Figure 7] This is a front view of the decorative unit. [Figure 8] This is an exploded perspective view of the decorative unit. [Figure 9] Figure 9(a) is a front view of the base member with the cover removed, and Figure 9(b) is a rear view of the base member. [Figure 10] This is an explanatory diagram showing how to attach model-specific parts to the base component. [Figure 11] This is a diagram illustrating different decorative units. [Figure 12] This is an explanatory diagram showing how to attach model-specific parts to the base component. [Figure 13] This is an explanatory diagram showing how to attach the decorative unit to the game board. [Figure 14] This is a disassembled perspective view showing the set board unit broken down into parts common to all models and parts specific to each model. [Figure 15] Figure 15(a) is a front view of the upper movable body, and Figure 15(b) is a rear view of the upper movable body. [Figure 16] This is an exploded perspective view of the upper movable body. [Figure 17] This is a longitudinal cross-section of the upper movable body. [Figure 18] This is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure for attaching the upper decorative cover to the movable part. [Figure 19]It is a rear view of a set plate with a liquid crystal display removed. [Figure 20] It is an exploded perspective view of the back side of the lower movable body. [Figure 21] It is an explanatory diagram showing a method of attaching a game board unit to a game board. [Figure 22] It is an explanatory diagram regarding the flow of assembly of a game board unit when exchanging from model A to model B. [Figure 23] It is an explanatory diagram regarding the flow of assembly of a game board unit when exchanging from model A to model B. [Figure 24] Figures 24(a1) to (b1) show the operation patterns of the movable body of model A, and Figures 24(a2) to (c2) show the operation patterns of the movable body of model B. [Figure 25] It is a front perspective view of a ball return prevention mechanism provided on an inner guide rail. [Figure 26] It is a rear perspective view of the same ball return prevention mechanism. [Figure 27] It is an exploded perspective view of the same ball return prevention mechanism. [Figure 28] It is a front view when the ball return prevention member provided in the same ball return prevention mechanism is in a closed state. [Figure 29] It is a front view when the same ball return prevention member is in an open state. [Figure 30] It is a diagram showing a state where a game ball that has entered the game area is trying to return to the boundary area while the ball return prevention member is being displaced from the closed state to the open state. [Figure 31] It is an enlarged view of the area surrounded by the dotted line shown in FIG. 11. [Figure 32] It is an enlarged view of the area surrounded by the dotted line shown in FIG. 11. [Figure 33] It is a diagram showing a state where a game ball that has returned from the game area to the boundary area is colliding with the ball return prevention member. [Figure 34] It is a perspective view of a movable body lifting unit. [Figure 35]Figures (a) to (c) illustrate the first lock lever provided on the first base member of the movable body and the first lock plate provided on the decorative member. [Figure 36] This diagram shows the positional relationship between the first lock lever when the movable body is in its initial position and the game board with the rail base removed. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0011] [Overall structure] Figure 1 is a front view of a pachinko game machine (hereinafter abbreviated as "pachinko machine") 1. Pachinko machine 1 uses game balls as the game medium, and players borrow game balls from the game hall operator and play games using pachinko machine 1. In the game played on pachinko machine 1, each game ball is a medium that has game value, and the benefits (profits) that players enjoy as a result of the game can be converted into game value based on, for example, the number of game balls acquired by the player. The overall configuration of pachinko machine 1 will be explained below with reference to Figure 1.

[0012] The pachinko machine 1 mainly consists of an outer frame unit 2, an integrated door unit 4, and an inner frame assembly 7 (plastic frame, game machine frame). When viewed from the front facing the player, the integrated door unit 4 is located at the very front. The inner frame assembly 7 is located on the rear side (back side) of the integrated door unit 4, and the outer frame unit 2 is arranged to surround the outside of the inner frame assembly 7.

[0013] The outer frame unit 2 is a structure formed by combining wood and metal materials in a vertically elongated rectangular shape. This outer frame unit 2 is fixed to the island equipment (not shown) in the amusement hall using fasteners such as screws. In the vertically elongated rectangular outer frame unit 2, wood is used for the parts corresponding to the shorter sides at the top and bottom, and metal is used for the parts corresponding to the longer sides at the left and right.

[0014] The integrated door unit 4 has a structure in which a receiving tray unit 6 is integrated at its lower position. The integrated door unit 4 and the inner frame assembly 7 are attached to the island equipment via the outer frame unit 2, and they each operate in an open and close manner via a hinge mechanism (not shown). The opening and closing axis of the hinge mechanism (not shown) extends vertically along the left end when viewed from the front of the pachinko machine 1.

[0015] In Figure 1, viewed from the front, a unified lock unit is provided on the right edge of the inner frame assembly 7. Correspondingly, locking devices (not shown) are also provided on the right edge (back side) of the integrated door unit 4 and the outer frame unit 2. As shown in Figure 1, when the integrated door unit 4 and the inner frame assembly 7 are closed relative to the outer frame unit 2, the unified lock unit on the back side, together with the locking device, prevents the integrated door unit 4 and the inner frame assembly 7 from being opened.

[0016] Furthermore, a cylinder lock 6a with a keyhole is provided on the right edge of the receiving tray unit 6. For example, when the manager of the amusement arcade inserts a special key into the keyhole and turns the cylinder lock 6a clockwise, the unified lock unit is activated, allowing the integrated door unit 4 to be opened together with the inner frame assembly 7. When the entire assembly is opened from the outer frame unit 2 to the front (moved like a door), the back of the pachinko machine 1 is exposed on the front side.

[0017] On the other hand, when the cylinder lock 6a is turned counterclockwise, the lock on the integrated door unit 4 is released while the inner frame assembly 7 remains locked, allowing the integrated door unit 4 to be opened. When the integrated door unit 4 is opened to the front, the game board unit 8 is directly exposed, allowing the game hall manager to remove any jams or other obstructions within the game board. When the integrated door unit 4 is opened, the receiving tray unit 6 is also opened to the front.

[0018] Furthermore, the pachinko machine 1 is equipped with the above-mentioned game board unit 8 as a game unit. The game board unit 8 is supported by the above-mentioned inner frame assembly 7 behind (inside) the integrated door unit 4. The game board unit 8 can be attached to and detached from the inner frame assembly 7, for example, when the integrated door unit 4 is opened to the front. The integrated door unit 4 has a vertically elongated circular window 4a formed in its center, and a glass unit (not reference numeral) is installed inside this window 4a. The glass unit is made by combining, for example, two transparent plates (glass plates) cut to match the shape of the window 4a. The glass unit is attached to the back of the integrated door unit 4 via a mounting device (not shown). A game area (board surface, game board) is formed on the front of the game board unit 8, and this game area is visible to the player from the front side through the window 4a. When the integrated door unit 4 is closed, a space is formed between the inner surface of the glass unit and the board surface through which game balls can flow down.

[0019] The receiving tray unit 6 has a shape that protrudes forward from the integrated door unit 4, and an upper tray 6b is formed on its upper surface. This upper tray 6b can store game balls (loaned balls) lent to players and game balls (prize balls) won through winning. The receiving tray unit 6 also has a lower tray 6c formed below the upper tray 6b. This lower tray 6c stores game balls that are dispensed when the upper tray 6b is full. In this embodiment, the pachinko machine 1 is a model that connects to a card unit, and the game balls borrowed by players are dispensed separately from prize balls from a dispensing device unit on the back into the receiving tray unit 6 (upper tray 6b or lower tray 6c).

[0020] A dispensing operation unit 14 is provided on the upper surface of the receiving unit 6, and a ball dispensing button 10 and a return button 12 are arranged on this dispensing operation unit 14. When a player operates the ball dispensing button 10 with a valuable medium (e.g., magnetic recording medium, memory IC embedded medium, etc.) inserted into a card unit (not shown), a number of game balls corresponding to a predetermined unit of units (e.g., 5 units) (e.g., 125 balls) are dispensed. For this reason, a unit of units display unit (not shown) is provided on the upper surface of the dispensing operation unit 14, and this unit of units display the remaining units of the valuable medium inserted into the card unit. The player can then return the valuable medium with remaining units by operating the return button 12. In this embodiment, a game machine connected to a card unit is given as an example, but the pachinko machine 1 may be a cash machine (a game machine not connected to a card unit).

[0021] A handle unit 16 is installed in the lower right part of the receiving tray unit 6. By operating this handle unit 16, the player can activate the launch control board set and launch (shoot) a game ball towards the game area 8b (see Figure 2) (ball launching device). The launched game ball rises from the lower edge to the left edge of the game board unit 8, is guided by an outer band (not shown), and is thrown into the game area 8b. Numerous obstacle nails and windmills (not indicated in the figure) are arranged within the game area 8b, and the thrown game ball flows down through the game area 8b while being guided and led by the obstacle nails and windmills. The configuration of the game area 8b (game surface, game board) will be described further later with reference to another drawing.

[0022] The integrated door unit 4 is equipped with a lens unit 47 and an upper right lighting unit 49 as components for special effects. The lens unit 47 incorporates a lamp 46, and the upper right lighting unit 49 incorporates a lamp 51 on the right side.

[0023] The various lamps 46 and 51 mentioned above perform effects, for example, by emitting light from their built-in LEDs (such as lighting, flashing, changes in brightness gradation, and changes in color tone). In addition, each integrated door unit 4 has speakers 60a to 60d built into it. These speakers 60a to 60d perform effects by outputting sound effects, background music, voices, etc. (general sound).

[0024] Furthermore, a presentation switching button 45 is installed in the center of the receiving unit 6, in front of the upper tray 6b. By pressing this presentation switching button 45, the player can switch the presentation content (for example, the background screen displayed on the LCD display 42), or trigger some kind of presentation (such as a pre-announcement presentation, a probability increase presentation, or a major win promotion presentation) during symbol changes, when a jackpot is confirmed, or during jackpot gameplay.

[0025] Furthermore, a jog dial 45a is installed around the effect switching button 45, surrounding it (operation input receiving means, rotary selector). By rotating this jog dial 45a, the player can change the content of the effects displayed on the liquid crystal display 42, for example.

[0026] [Game board unit configuration] Figure 2 is a front view showing the game board unit 8 alone. The game board unit 8 includes a base game board 8a, and is formed by mounting the game board 8a and the liquid crystal display 42 (described later) on a set plate. A game area 8b is formed on the front side of the game board 8a. The game board 8a is made of, for example, a transparent resin plate, and when the game board unit 8 is fixed to the inner frame assembly 7, the front of the game board 8a is parallel to the glass unit.

[0027] The game board 8a has a rail base 26, an outer guide rail 27, and an inner guide rail 28. The outer guide rail 27 is mounted along the inner circumferential surface of the rail base 26 and is arranged in an arc shape from a position to the left of the center bottom of the game board 8a to the left end, upper end, and near the upper right end. The inner guide rail 28 is mounted inside the outer guide rail 27 and is arranged in an arc shape from a position slightly to the left of the center bottom of the game board 8a to the left end and near the upper left end of the game board 8a. The curved area between these outer guide rail 27 and inner guide rail 28 is the guide passage 29. The guide passage 29 guides the game balls launched by the launching device to the game area 8b. A boundary area 70 is provided between the guide passage 29 and the game area 8b. The exit of the boundary area 70 communicates with the game area 8b, and the entrance of the boundary area 70 communicates with the guide passage 29. As will be described in more detail later, a ball return prevention mechanism (reference numeral 50 in Figure 25) is provided at the tip of the inner guide rail 28, and this ball return prevention mechanism is located in the boundary region 70.

[0028] The game area 8b is the area inside the outer guide rail 27 and the inner guide rail 28, and includes a left-hitting area 30a and a right-hitting area 30b, which differ from each other in the degree to which the game balls enter the area depending on the firing strength of the launching device.

[0029] Furthermore, the left-hand play area 30a of the game area 8b is equipped with regular prize entry points 22a-22c, a start prize entry point 23, and the like. Although not shown in the illustration, the right-hand play area 30b of the game area 8b is equipped with a start gate, a variable start prize entry device (start prize entry point), a variable prize entry device (large prize entry point), and the like.

[0030] Then, the game balls flowing down the left-handed area 30a of the game area 8b either enter the normal prize entry points 22a~22c or the start prize entry point 23, or if they do not enter (win) any of the prize entry points, they ultimately enter the out entry point 32. On the other hand, the game balls flowing down the right-handed area 30b of the game area 8b mainly pass through the start gate, enter the out entry point, enter the variable start prize entry device when it is activated, or enter the variable prize entry device when it is opened.

[0031] Game balls that enter each prize slot or exit slot are collected on the back side of the game board (the plywood material, transparent plate, etc. that make up the game board unit 8) through through holes formed in the game board unit 8.

[0032] Furthermore, a liquid crystal display 42 (image display) is installed in the center of the game board unit 8, and this liquid crystal display 42 displays various performance images, including performance symbols corresponding to special symbols.

[0033] An upper movable body 200 for performance effects is provided in front of the LCD display 42 at the upper center of the game area 8b, and a lower movable body 202 for performance effects is provided in front of the LCD display 42 at the lower center. In addition, a decorative member 204 is provided in front of the lower movable body 202 in the gap between the game board 8a and the LCD display 42.

[0034] In this way, by providing the decorative member 204 on the front side of the lower movable body 202, the lower movable body 202 and the decorative member 204 can be arranged to overlap in the front-to-back direction so that the lower movable body 202 is hidden in its initial position, thereby creating anticipation for the movement of the lower movable body 202. Furthermore, when the lower movable body 202 moves and appears, it can surprise the player, enhancing the effect of the presentation.

[0035] As shown in Figure 3, the upper movable body 200 can move downward from its initial position (the position shown in Figure 2). On the other hand, the lower movable body 202 can move upward from its initial position (the position shown in Figure 2).

[0036] The upper movable body 200 is visible under normal conditions, and can be fully visible when moved downwards. The lower movable body 202 is mostly covered by the game board 8a under normal conditions, but can be fully visible when moved upwards. On the other hand, the decorative member 204 is covered by the game board 8a in about its lower half, and the decorative member 204 does not move, so it is positioned in a location where it is more difficult for the player to see the entire decorative member 204 than the upper movable body 200 and the lower movable body 202. Furthermore, the decorative member 204 is formed in the center of the game area 8b and is difficult to see even through the through-hole that allows the liquid crystal display 42 to be seen.

[0037] In pachinko machine 1, various effects can be performed during the display of the changing symbols. The effects that can be performed in pachinko machine 1 include effects in which the upper movable body 200 and the lower movable body 202 are activated. The upper movable body 200 and the lower movable body 202 are activated in conjunction with the effect images on the LCD display 42 and suggest that a jackpot is imminent. Although it is possible to lose even if the upper movable body 200 and the lower movable body 202 are activated, the selection ratio of the effect patterns by the upper movable body 200 and the lower movable body 202 is set so that the probability of winning a jackpot increases when the upper movable body 200 and the lower movable body 202 are activated.

[0038] As shown in Figure 4, the game board 8a is replaced for each machine model, but it consists of a common part A (outside the dotted line in the figure) which has a common configuration regardless of the machine model, and a machine-specific part B (inside the dotted line in the figure) which differs for each machine model. In this embodiment, the common part A is the left area 30a of the left side of the game area 8b, and is provided with the above-mentioned ordinary prize entry openings 22a to 22c, start prize entry opening 23, etc. The machine-specific part B is the right area 30b of the right side of the game area 8b, and is provided with machine-specific ball passages, variable prize entry devices, variable start prize entry devices, start gates, etc. By providing the common part A in this way, the manufacturing cost of the game board 8a can be reduced.

[0039] [Game board unit configuration] Next, we will explain the configuration of the game board unit 8 in detail. Figure 5 is an external perspective view of the game board unit 8, and Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the game board unit 8.

[0040] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the game board unit 8 is broadly comprised of a game board 8a, a decorative unit 206, a set board unit 208, and a liquid crystal display 42.

[0041] The decorative unit 206 comprises a decorative element 204 equipped with LEDs and the like, and a base element 210 to which the decorative element 204 can be detachably attached. The decorative element 204 is a model-specific part that differs depending on the model, and is a part that is replaced depending on the model (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a replacement part). The base element 210 is a common part regardless of the model, and is a part that is reused (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a reused part). In addition to the decorative element 204, model-specific parts can also be detachably attached to the base element 210. The decorative unit 206 is attached to the back of the game board 8a.

[0042] The set board unit 208 comprises a set board 212, an upper movable body 200, and a lower movable body 202. The set board unit 208, including the set board 212 and the various parts attached to it, are common to all models. The movable parts of the upper movable body 200 and the lower movable body 202 are attached to the set board 212 and are common to all models, but the decorative parts attached to the front of the movable parts of the upper movable body 200 and the lower movable body 202 are model-specific and differ depending on the model. The set board unit 208 is detachably attached to the back of the game board 8a.

[0043] The liquid crystal display 42 is a common part regardless of the model. The liquid crystal display 42 is detachably attached to the back side of the set board 212.

[0044] [About decorative units] Figure 7 is a front view of the decorative unit 206, and Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the decorative unit.

[0045] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the decorative unit 206 includes a base member 210. A decorative member 204 is detachably attached to the base member 210. The decorative member 204 is a component for forming a motif design according to the concept of the machine. Since the game board 8a is transparent, the decorative member 204 is visible through the game board 8a. In addition, a machine-specific ball passage component 214, which differs depending on the machine, is detachably attached. A cover 210a is detachably attached to the front of the base member 210. The ball passage component 214 is a component for forming a ball passage in the right-hand portion of the game area 8b (i.e., machine-specific portion B of the game area 8b in Figure 4) according to the arrangement of variable prize winning devices (so-called attackers), etc.

[0046] Figure 9(a) is a front view of the base member 210 with the cover 210a removed, and Figure 9(b) is a rear view of the base member 210. The base member 210 is formed in a roughly L-shape.

[0047] As shown in Figure 9(a), the front surface of the base member 210 can be fitted with the following switches and sensors: an upper left prize slot switch 210b for detecting a game ball that has entered the regular prize slot 22a; a middle left prize slot switch 210c for detecting a game ball that has entered the regular prize slot 22b; a lower left prize slot switch 210d for detecting a game ball that has entered the regular prize slot 22c; a middle magnetic sensor 210e for detecting fraudulent activity using a magnet; a start slot switch 210f for detecting a game ball that has entered the start prize slot 23; and a radio wave sensor 210g for detecting fraudulent radio waves. These switches and sensors are interchangeable with other models.

[0048] As shown in Figure 9(b), a magnetic sensor 210h for detecting fraudulent activity using a magnet is provided on the back of the base member 210.

[0049] In this way, by making the sensors for detecting fraud common to all models, even if there are constraints due to the location of the prize winning slots depending on the model, the sensors for detecting fraud will not be omitted, and therefore fraudulent activities can be prevented regardless of the model.

[0050] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9(a), the front surface of the base member 210 is provided with ball passages 210i and 210j for collecting game balls that have entered each prize slot. The cover 210a is provided with a cleaning hole 210k (see Figure 7) for cleaning the ball passage 210i. Therefore, with the cover 210a attached, the ball passage 210i can be cleaned by inserting a cotton swab or the like into the cleaning hole 210k from the front side of the base member 210.

[0051] Similarly, the base member 210 is provided with a cleaning hole 210l for cleaning the ball passage 210j. Therefore, with the cover 210a attached, the ball passage 210j can be cleaned from the back side of the base member 210 by inserting a cotton swab or the like into the cleaning hole 210l from the back side of the base member 210.

[0052] By providing cleaning holes 210k and 210l, the base member 210 can be cleaned when it is reused.

[0053] Furthermore, in the gently sloping sections of the ball passages 210i,j, the game balls mostly roll without bouncing as they do in the steeper sections, making it easier for dirt from the game balls to adhere to the ball passages 210i,j. Therefore, the cleaning holes 210k,l are positioned to clean the gently sloping sections of the ball passages 210i,j. By minimizing the number of cleaning holes 210k,l in this way, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the rigidity of the base member 210 that would occur if a large number of cleaning holes were provided.

[0054] In addition, a transparent cover 210m is provided on the back of the base member 210 to cover the harnesses and relay boards for each switch, etc. By providing the cover 210m, it is possible to prevent damage to the relay boards, etc., when performing work related to the reuse of the base member 210, and also to simplify the routing of the harnesses.

[0055] As shown in Figure 10, model-specific parts such as decorative members 204 and spherical passage parts 214 are detachably attached to the base member 210 from the front side by screws 218. The screws 218 are positioned in locations where the cover 210a is not provided or in locations exposed through holes formed in the cover 210a, so that the screws 218 can be attached and detached without removing the cover 210a.

[0056] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, when attaching decorative members 220 or spherical passage components 222 of different models to the base member 210, the decorative members 220 or spherical passage components 222 can be attached to the base member 210 using screws 218 of the same standard.

[0057] As shown in Figure 12, the method for attaching model-specific parts such as decorative members 204 and spherical passage parts 214 to the base member 210 is the same regardless of the model. Specifically, a boss 224 is provided on the model-specific part side (i.e., the replacement part side). A screw hole 224a corresponding to a screw 218 is formed on the front end surface of the boss 224.

[0058] On the other hand, a recess 226 into which a boss can be inserted is formed on the back surface of the reused base member 210. Furthermore, a through hole 226a is formed in the recess 226 that penetrates through the base member 210 in the thickness direction.

[0059] Then, when attaching a decorative member 204, for example, as a model-specific part, to the base member 210, the boss 224 of the decorative member 204 is inserted into the recess 226 of the base member 210. This allows the decorative member 204 to be positioned relative to the base member 210. Then, a screw 218 is inserted from the front side of the base member 210 through the through hole 226a into the screw hole 224a of the boss 224 and screwed in. This attaches the decorative member 204 to the base member 210.

[0060] Thus, since the reused base member 210 does not have screw holes, it is possible to prevent the screw holes from deforming and becoming unusable due to repeated use. This allows the base member 210 to be reused repeatedly.

[0061] Furthermore, decorative elements such as decorative element 204 and decorative element 220, which constitute the design, are located in a position at the bottom of the game board 8a that is difficult for the player to see, and are also difficult to see due to the game pins on the game board 8a. In addition, decorative elements are parts that do not affect the gameplay, such as ball passage components. Therefore, it is possible to have a configuration in which decorative elements are not provided depending on the model.

[0062] Furthermore, it is also possible to attach model-specific components other than decorative members and spherical passage components (for example, an illuminated circuit board, a vibration sensor for detecting abnormal vibrations, etc.) to the upper left portion of the base member 210. These components are also attached in the same manner as the decorative member 204.

[0063] As shown in Figure 13, the decorative unit 206 is attached to the back of the game board 8a by screws 228. When attaching the decorative unit 206 to the back of the game board 8a, it is attached using the same method as the parts attached to the front of the game board 8a (for example, parts for forming the starting prize entry hole, the attacker device, the ball passage forming member 233 (see Figure 2)) and the parts attached to the back of the game board 8a (for example, the solenoid 232).

[0064] Specifically, as shown in Figure 12, a mounting portion 230 is provided on the front surface of the base member 210. The mounting portion 230 includes a boss 230b and a through hole 230c provided on the base 230a. Although not shown in the figure, multiple mounting portions 230 are provided on the front surface of the base member 210 (see Figure 9a).

[0065] Then, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, when attaching the decorative unit 206 to the back of the game board 8a, the boss 230b is inserted into the hole in the game board 8a to position the decorative unit 206, and the screw 228 is inserted into the through hole 230c and screwed into the screw hole in the game board 8a.

[0066] In this embodiment, components attached to the front side of the game board 8a (for example, components for forming the starting prize entry point, an attacker device, a ball passage forming member 233 (see Figure 2)) and components attached to the rear side of the game board 8a (such as a solenoid 232) are similarly attached to the game board 8a using screws 228 via the mounting portion 230 (see also Figure 2).

[0067] In this way, by attaching the decorative unit 206 in the same manner as the parts attached to the game board 8a, it is possible to prevent the decorative unit 206 from shifting position due to vibrations caused by the launch of game balls into the game area 8b and vibrations caused by the movement of movable parts. Furthermore, the manufacturing method of the pachinko machine 1 can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost of the pachinko machine 1 can be reduced by standardizing parts.

[0068] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the decorative unit 206 is not directly formed on the game board 8a but is detachably attached, so the decorative unit 206 can be easily assembled and disassembled by removing it.

[0069] Furthermore, in this embodiment, replacement parts are attached to the base member 210 by inserting the boss 224 on the replacement part side into the back side of the base member 210 and screwing it in from the front side, while the base member 210 is attached to the game board 8a by inserting the boss 230b provided on the front of the base member 210 into a hole formed in the game board 8a and screwing it in from the back side. For example, if the decorative unit 206 is attached to the set board unit 208, removing the decorative unit 206 from the heavy set board unit 208 would be difficult. Also, the harness and routing are complex, making it unsuitable for reuse. However, since the decorative unit 206 can be attached to and detached from the game board 8a, which is lighter and has fewer harnesses than the set board unit 208, the work can be made easier.

[0070] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since both sides of the base member 210 are not covered by replacement parts, the upper left prize slot switch 210b, middle left prize slot switch 210c, lower left prize slot switch 210d, middle magnetic sensor 210e, start slot switch 210f, radio wave sensor 210g, and magnetic sensor 210h attached to the base member can be visually inspected even with replacement parts attached to the base member 210 (see Figures 7 and 9). Therefore, it is easy to confirm whether or not each switch or sensor has been tampered with.

[0071] Furthermore, a movable element for performance purposes, which is operated by a motor or solenoid, may be attached to the base member 210 as a model-specific replacement part.

[0072] [About the set board unit] Figure 14 is an exploded perspective view showing the set plate unit 208 separated into parts common to all models and parts specific to each model.

[0073] As shown in Figure 14, the set board unit 208 reuses the set board 212 and various components attached to the set board 212 as common parts regardless of the model. Common parts attached to the set board 212 regardless of the model include, for example, two motors for moving the movable part 234 of the upper movable body 200, one motor for moving the movable part 236 of the lower movable body 202, a shaft 238 for moving the movable parts 34 and 236 in the vertical direction, a driver board, a connection board, and a cover 242 to cover the relay board 248 which is replaced depending on the model. The relay board 248 is a board (main control system board) for relaying signals to attackers, etc.

[0074] On the other hand, parts that are specific to each model and are replaced on a model-by-model basis include the upper decorative cover 244 attached to the movable part 234 of the upper movable body 200, the lower decorative cover 246 attached to the movable part 236 of the lower movable body 202, and the relay board 248. The relay board 248 is attached to the set plate 212 by being secured with hooks. The cover 242 is fastened with four screws.

[0075] In this embodiment, when the upper decorative cover 244 is attached to the movable part 234, the lower decorative cover 246 is attached to the movable part 236, and the decorative member 204 is attached to the base member 210, the decorative member 204 is positioned further forward than the upper decorative cover 244 and the lower decorative cover 246.

[0076] [Regarding the installation method of the upper decorative cover] Figure 15(a) is a front view of the upper movable body 200, and Figure 15(b) is a rear view of the upper movable body 200.

[0077] The upper movable body 200 comprises a movable part 234 held by a shaft 238 attached to the set plate 212, and an upper decorative cover 244 attached to the front of the movable part 234. The upper movable body 200 is movable in the vertical direction as the movable part 236 moves due to the rotation of the shaft 238.

[0078] Next, the method for attaching the upper decorative cover 244 to the movable part 234 will be described. Figure 16 is an exploded perspective view of the upper movable body 200, and Figure 17 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the upper movable body 200.

[0079] As shown in Figures 16 and 17, two L-shaped mounting hooks 250 with their tips pointing downwards are provided on the upper back of the upper decorative cover 244. In addition, two hook receiving parts 252 are provided on the upper part of the movable part 234, on which the mounting hooks 250 can be attached.

[0080] Furthermore, a lock lever 254 is provided at the lower part of the movable part 234, which can be slid from the rear side in the width direction. On the other hand, a locking part 256 is provided on the rear side of the upper decorative cover 244, which the lock lever 254 can engage with. The lock lever 254 is operable between an unlocked position, where it is not engaged with the locking part 256, and a locked position, where it is engaged with the locking part 256.

[0081] Figure 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure for attaching the upper decorative cover 244 to the movable part 234.

[0082] As shown in Figure 18(a), in order to attach the upper decorative cover 244 to the movable part 234, first, with the lower end of the upper decorative cover 244 tilted forward (in other words, outward), the upper decorative cover 244 is slid downward along the axial direction of the shaft 238.

[0083] Next, as shown in Figure 18(b), the upper decorative cover 244 is temporarily fixed to the movable part 234 by hooking the mounting hook 250 of the upper decorative cover 244 onto the hook receiving portion 252 of the movable part 234. Then, using the mounting hook 250, which is the temporary fixing portion (i.e., the holding portion), as a pivot point, the lower end of the upper decorative cover 244 is rotated toward the movable part 234, and the upper decorative cover 244 is brought into close contact with the movable part 234.

[0084] Next, as shown in Figure 18(c), the lock lever 254 is operated from the unlocked position to the locked position. This temporarily fastens and holds the upper decorative cover 244 to the movable part 234. Then, the harness is connected to the driver board and routed, and the harness cover 262 is screwed to the back of the movable part 234 using screws 260. The harness cover 262 is positioned by sliding it within the groove for the harness cover 262 before being screwed in. Finally, the upper decorative cover 244 is screwed to the back of the movable part 234 using screws 264. This completes the attachment of the upper decorative cover 244 to the movable part 234.

[0085] In this embodiment, screw 260 is red and screw 264 is silver. This prevents the mistake of using different screws for fastening. Alternatively, instead of using screws of different colors, screws of the same color but with different heads or nominal diameters may be used.

[0086] [Positional relationship between the set plate and the upper movable body 200] Figure 19 is a rear view of the set board 212 with the liquid crystal display 42 removed.

[0087] As shown in Figure 19, when the upper movable body 200 is in its initial position, the mounting hook 250 of the upper decorative cover 244, the hook receiving portion 252 of the movable part 234, and a portion of the screw fastening portion of the upper decorative cover 244 are covered by the set plate 212. In other words, the holding portion that holds the upper decorative cover 244 to the movable part 234 is covered by the set plate 212.

[0088] Furthermore, when the upper movable body 200 is in its initial position, the upper movable body 200 is locked and its movement is restricted when the power to the pachinko machine 1 is turned off. Specifically, the power supply to the solenoid for locking the upper movable body 200 is stopped, and the locking claw is engaged with the upper movable body 200 by the biasing force of the spring. When power is supplied to the pachinko machine 1, the solenoid is driven, the locking claw moves against the biasing force of the spring, and the engagement with the upper movable body 200 is released. As a result, the lock on the upper movable body 200 is released, and the restriction on its movement is lifted.

[0089] Furthermore, since the upper movable body 200 is locked in its initial position, it becomes difficult to touch the mounting hooks 250 of the upper decorative cover 244, which is covered by the set plate 212, and the hook receiving portion 252 (i.e., the holding portion) of the movable part 234. It also becomes difficult to remove the screws on the screw-fastened portion of the upper decorative cover 244, which is covered by the set plate 212. Additionally, unlocking the upper movable body 200 in its initial position requires power and is therefore not easy. This prevents the upper decorative cover 244 from being removed when the power to the pachinko machine 1 is turned off. Thus, modifications to the pachinko machine 1 outside of the manufacturing plant can be suppressed.

[0090] Furthermore, even when the upper movable body 200 is in its initial position, the lock lever 254 is exposed and not covered by the set plate 212. This allows for visual confirmation of whether or not unauthorized action has been taken by operating the lock lever 254.

[0091] Furthermore, when the lower decorative cover 246 is not attached, the lock lever 254 is not covered by the movable part 236 when the upper decorative cover 244 comes into contact with the movable part 236. Therefore, when lowering the movable part 234 to attach or detach the upper decorative cover 244, the movable part 236 does not get in the way, and the range in which the upper decorative cover 244 can be attached or detached is widened, improving work efficiency.

[0092] Thus, in this embodiment, with the upper decorative cover 244 temporarily fixed in place, it is possible to screw the set plate 212 in place with the upper decorative cover 244 facing the ground. Therefore, the installation of the upper decorative cover 244 can be made easier.

[0093] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the method for attaching the decorative member 204 to the base member 210 is as shown in Figure 12, and the method for attaching the upper decorative cover 244 to the movable part 234 is as shown in Figure 18. As a result, the method for attaching and detaching the decorative member 204 to the base member 210 is different from the method for attaching and detaching the upper decorative cover 244 to the movable part 234. In addition, while temporary fastening is possible when attaching and detaching the upper decorative cover 244 to the movable part 234, the method for attaching and detaching the decorative member 204 to the base member 210 only requires screw fastening, making the attachment and detachment of the upper decorative cover 244 to the movable part 234 a simpler configuration.

[0094] In this embodiment, the decorative member 204 is located in a position that is difficult for the player to see and may therefore be omitted, but the upper decorative cover 244 is easily visible to the player and will therefore always be provided. Thus, in the decorative unit 206, the decorative member 204 is attached only by screwing it to the boss 224, while in the upper movable body 200, the upper decorative cover 244 is attached by temporarily fastening it and then screwing it in. By making the attachment and detachment of the upper decorative cover 244 easier than the attachment and detachment of the decorative member 204, the attachment and detachment of the upper decorative cover 244, which will inevitably occur, can be made easier.

[0095] [Regarding the installation method of the lower decorative cover] Figure 20 is an exploded perspective view of the rear side of the lower movable body 201.

[0096] As shown in Figure 20, to attach the lower decorative cover 246 to the movable part 236, the harness is connected and then screwed to the movable part 236 using screws 266. The lower decorative cover 246 is not temporarily fastened like the upper decorative cover 244, but is directly screwed in, so the method of attachment for the upper decorative cover 244 and the lower decorative cover 246 is different. In this embodiment, it is possible to attach lower decorative covers of different models not only by screwing but also by fastening the locking part (so-called snap fastening).

[0097] [Regarding the installation of the set board unit] As shown in Figure 21, the upper decorative cover 244 is attached to the movable part 234 and the lower decorative cover 246 is attached to the movable part 236. After the decorative unit 206 is attached to the game board 8a, the set plate unit 208 is attached to the back of the game board 8a using screws 268. This completes the assembly of the game board unit 8.

[0098] [Assembly process for the game board unit] Next, the assembly process of the game board unit 8 when replacing model A with model B will be explained using Figures 22 and 23.

[0099] As shown in Figures 22(a) and (b), first, by removing each screw fastener, the recovered game board unit 8 of model A is disassembled into the game board 8a, the decorative unit 206, the set board unit 208, and the liquid crystal display 42.

[0100] As shown in Figure 22(c), after disassembling the game board unit 8, the machine-specific replacement parts are removed from the reused parts which are common regardless of the machine model. Specifically, the upper decorative cover 244 of machine A, which is a replacement part, is removed from the movable part 234 of the set board 212, which is a reused part. Also, the lower decorative cover 246 of machine A, which is a replacement part, is removed from the movable part 236 of the set board 212. Furthermore, the cover 242, which is a reused part, is removed from the set board 212, and the relay board 248 of machine A, which is a replacement part, is removed.

[0101] As shown in Figures 23(d) and (e), the upper decorative cover 270 of model B is attached to the movable part 234 of the set plate 212. The lower decorative cover 272 of model B is attached to the movable part 236 of the set plate 212. The relay board 248 of model B is attached to the set plate 212, and the cover 242 is attached.

[0102] As shown in Figure 23(f), the decorative member 204 and spherical passage part 214 of the decorative unit 206 model A are replaced with the decorative member 220 and spherical passage part 222 of model B, and quality checks are performed.

[0103] As shown in Figures 23(g) and (h), the decorative unit 206 is attached to the game board 8a. Then, the liquid crystal display 42 is attached to the set board unit 208, and the set board unit 208 is attached to the game board 8a for quality control. This completes the game board unit 8 that can be used with different models.

[0104] In this way, the game board unit 8 can be easily separated into machine-specific parts and parts common to all models, and by using the common parts in other models as well, development costs, prototyping costs, and mold costs for the pachinko machine 1 can be reduced. Furthermore, since there is no need to design reused parts, the development period for the pachinko machine 1 can be shortened. In addition, the inventory risk of parts can be reduced by using reused parts. Moreover, product costs can be reduced through reuse.

[0105] Furthermore, it is also possible to attach the upper and lower decorative covers simply by using a locking mechanism (so-called snap fastening) instead of screws. In this case, by reusing the circuit board for the lighting without disassembling it, only the cover needs to be replaced, the above-mentioned benefits of reuse can be further enhanced.

[0106] Furthermore, for parts that are prone to wear due to movement, it is preferable to use a configuration that facilitates part replacement (for example, snap fasteners). For example, it is possible to replace the harness by removing the cover, or to replace common mechanical parts (such as motors and gears) by removing screws.

[0107] [Regarding the movement of movable parts] Figures 24(a1) to (b1) show the operation patterns of the movable body of model A, and Figures 24(a2) to (c2) show the operation patterns of the movable body of model B. In this embodiment, the upper decorative cover can be equipped with 0 to 2 motors, and the lower decorative cover can be equipped with 0 to 2 motors.

[0108] For example, the maximum travel distance of the upper movable body 200 is set to 245 mm, and the maximum travel distance of the lower movable body 202 is set to 90 mm. The number of motors mounted on the upper and lower decorative covers combined may be limited to a maximum of two. That is, if one motor is mounted on the upper decorative cover, one motor is mounted on the lower decorative cover; if two motors are mounted on the upper decorative cover, none are mounted on the lower decorative cover; and if none are mounted on the upper decorative cover, two motors are mounted on the lower decorative cover.

[0109] Model A is equipped with the upper decorative cover 244 and lower decorative cover 246 described above. Model B is equipped with the upper decorative cover 270 and lower decorative cover 272 described above. For example, the upper decorative cover 244 and lower decorative cover 246 of model A do not have motors. On the other hand, the upper decorative cover 270 of model B is equipped with one motor, and the lower decorative cover 272 is equipped with one motor.

[0110] As shown in Figures 24(a1) to (b1), since the upper decorative cover 244 and the lower decorative cover 246 do not have motors, the upper decorative cover 244 only moves up and down in accordance with the up and down movement of the movable part 234, and the lower decorative cover 246 only moves up and down in accordance with the up and down movement of the movable part 236.

[0111] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 24(a2) to (b2), the upper decorative cover 270 is equipped with one motor, and another decorative member located behind the upper decorative cover 270 moves upward (appears) when driven by the motor.

[0112] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 24(a2) to (c2), the lower decorative cover 272 is movable up and down in accordance with the up and down movement of the movable part 236, and the lower decorative cover 272 is also movable by the drive of a motor provided in the lower decorative cover 272. For example, it is possible to make the front surface of the lower decorative cover 272 separate into two parts.

[0113] In this way, it is possible to add variations to the movement of the movable body while reusing the movable parts 234 and 236.

[0114] Depending on the model, a motor may be appropriately installed in the upper decorative cover. If a motor is installed in the upper decorative cover, for example, it becomes possible to perform rotational motion in addition to vertical movement.

[0115] [Configuration of the ball return prevention mechanism] Next, the ball return prevention mechanism 50 provided in the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment will be explained using Figures 25 to 33.

[0116] Next, the detailed configuration of the ball return prevention mechanism 50 will be described with reference to Figures 25 to 30. Figure 25 is a front perspective view of the ball return prevention mechanism 50, Figure 26 is a rear perspective view of the ball return prevention mechanism 50, and Figure 27 is an exploded perspective view of the ball return prevention mechanism 50.

[0117] As shown in Figures 25 to 27, the main body case 52 is integrally formed with the upper end of the internal guide rail 28 and has a bottom portion 52a and a side portion 52b erected from one end of the bottom portion 52a. The space enclosed by the bottom portion 52a and the side portion 52b forms a notch S. The notch S is open on the front side facing the transparent plate 11 and on the top side facing the boundary area 70 (see Figure 27). The upper open end of the notch S is a stopper wall 52c. The stopper wall 52c is formed at the upper end of the side portion 52b located near the game area 8b and is a cylindrical wall surface that crosses its upper end in the width direction.

[0118] A first bearing portion 52d and a guide groove 52e are formed on the bottom surface 52a of the main body case 52. The guide groove 52e extends in a substantially arc shape along a virtual circle centered on the first bearing portion 52d. A first screw hole 52f and a first positioning pin 52g are also provided on the bottom surface 52a (see Figure 27). A second positioning pin 52h is provided on the back side of the bottom surface 52a (see Figure 26), and the ball return prevention mechanism 50 is positioned on the acrylic plate 5a by inserting this second positioning pin 52h into a hole (not shown) in the acrylic plate 5a.

[0119] The cover 53 is formed in a plate shape and has a second screw hole 53a and a positioning hole 53b. A second bearing portion 53c is also formed on the back side of the cover 53. The cover 53 is attached to the main body case 52 with the front side of the notch S closed by inserting the first positioning pin 52g of the bottom portion 52a into the positioning hole 53b and inserting the screw 55 into the second screw hole 53a and the first screw hole 52f of the bottom portion 52a.

[0120] The ball return prevention member 54 has a shaft hole 54a, an on / off valve 54b, and a weight portion 54c. The on / off valve 54b and the weight portion 54c are formed to bend in a V-shape at the shaft hole 54a. A support shaft 56 is inserted through the shaft hole 54a, one end of which is locked to the first bearing portion 52d of the bottom portion 52a, and the other end is locked to the second bearing portion 53c of the cover 53. As a result, the ball return prevention member 54 is rotatably supported by the main body case 52 and the cover 53.

[0121] The on-off valve 54b is formed in a roughly rectangular plate shape, and its length in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) is long enough to collide with a game ball returning from the game area 8b to the boundary area 70. The on-off valve 54b has a first side portion 540b facing the guide passage 29, and a second side portion 541b on the opposite side of the first side portion 540b and facing the game area 8b (left-handed area 30a) (see Figure 28). The first side portion 540b is the part that collides with the game ball launched from the launching device and passing through the guide passage 29. The second side portion 541b is the part that collides with the game ball attempting to return from the game area 8b to the guide passage 29.

[0122] The tip of the on / off valve 54b is tapered. Specifically, the vertical length of the first side portion 540b is longer than the vertical length of the second side portion 541b, and it slopes downward from the tip of the first side portion 540b towards the tip of the second side portion 541b. In addition, a projection 541c is formed in the center of the second side portion 541b, which protrudes toward the game area 8b.

[0123] The weight portion 54c is thicker and heavier than the on / off valve 54b. An engagement pin 54d is provided protruding from the back side of the weight portion 54c, and this engagement pin 54d is inserted into the guide groove 52e of the bottom portion 52a (see Figure 26). As described above, the ball return prevention member 54 is rotatably supported by the main body case 52 and cover 53, and is displaceable between an open state and a closed state. Under normal conditions, the ball return prevention member 54 is biased to rotate in one direction (counterclockwise) around the support shaft 56 by the weight of the weight portion 54c, and the engagement pin 54d is in contact with one end of the guide groove 52e. As a result, the ball return prevention member 54 cannot rotate any further and maintains a closed state. On the other hand, when the ball return prevention member 54 comes into contact with a game ball launched from the launching device, the contact force causes it to rotate in the other direction (clockwise) around the support shaft 56, and it comes into contact with the stopper wall 52c described above, opening the valve.

[0124] Next, with reference to Figures 28 and 29, the ball return prevention mechanism 50 when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the closed state (first state) and the ball return prevention mechanism 50 when it is in the open state (second state) will be described. Figure 28 is a front view of the ball return prevention mechanism 50 when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the closed state, and Figure 29 is a front view of the ball return prevention mechanism 50 when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the open state.

[0125] As shown in Figure 28, when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the closed state (first state), the on-off valve 54b protrudes from the upper opening of the notch S toward the exit of the boundary region 70 in a substantially vertical position. In this state, the distance (specific distance) from the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 (on-off valve 54b) to the outer guide rail 27 is shorter than the diameter of the game ball B and is the shortest possible distance. This distance refers to the shortest distance from the tip of the on-off valve 54b (first side portion 540b) of the ball return prevention member 54 toward the outer guide rail 27. Therefore, even if a game ball that has entered the game region 8b collides with a game nail 36 or the like and bounces back toward the boundary region 70, it will collide with the ball return prevention member 54. Furthermore, the ball return prevention member 54 does not rotate counterclockwise because it maintains its closed state even when struck by a game ball. Therefore, when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the closed state, it prevents game balls that have entered the game area 8b from returning to the guide passage 29.

[0126] As shown in Figure 28, when a game ball B launched from the launcher toward the game area 8b rises up the guide passage 29 and enters the boundary area 70, and comes into contact with the on-off valve 54b, the contact force causes the ball return prevention member 54 to displace from the closed state to the open state. Then, as shown in Figure 29, the ball return prevention member 54 rotates in the direction of opening the exit of the boundary area 70, and when it collides with the stopper wall 52c, further rotation is restricted and it enters the open state (second state). In this state, the distance (specific distance) from the tip of the on-off valve 54b (first side portion 540b) to the outer guide rail 27 is longer than the diameter of the game ball B and is the longest distance. Therefore, when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the open state, it allows the game ball launched by the launcher to enter the game area 8b from the boundary area 70. Furthermore, after the ball return prevention member 54 is displaced to the open state, it is subjected to the biasing force of the weight portion 54c and instantaneously rotates in the opposite direction (counterclockwise), displacing it again to the closed state shown in Figure 9.

[0127] As described above, the ball return prevention mechanism 50 is configured to prevent game balls that have entered the game area 8b from returning to the guide passage 29 when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the closed state. In this embodiment, however, it is also possible to prevent game balls from returning to the guide passage (guide area) 29 even when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the process of being displaced from the closed state to the open state (third state).

[0128] Figure 30 shows a state in which the ball return prevention member 54 is being displaced from a closed state to an open state, and a game ball that has entered the game area 8b (left-handed shooting area 30a) is attempting to return to the boundary area 70. Figures 31 and 32 are enlarged views of the area enclosed by the dotted line in Figure 30.

[0129] In Figure 30, one game ball (first game ball) B1, launched from the launching device toward the game area 8b, enters the boundary area 70 from the guide passage 29 and makes contact with the ball return prevention member 54 (on-off valve 54b), the outer guide rail 27, and another game ball (second game ball) B2. In Figure 31, the contact point between the first game ball B1 and the first side surface 540b of the on-off valve 54b is indicated by the symbol P1, the contact point with the outer guide rail 27 is indicated by the symbol P2, and the contact point with the other game ball B2 is indicated by the symbol P3.

[0130] Furthermore, the other game ball B2 enters the boundary area 70 from the game area 8b and makes contact with the tip of the ball return prevention member 54, the outer guide rail 27, and one of the game balls B1. In Figure 31, the contact point between the other game ball B2 and the tip of the on / off valve 54b is indicated by the symbol P4, the contact point with the outer guide rail 27 is indicated by the symbol P5, and the lowest point of the other game ball B2 is indicated by the symbol P6.

[0131] In the state shown in Figure 31, the distance (specific distance) from the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 to the outer guide rail 27 is longer than in the closed state (see Figure 28) and shorter than in the open state (see Figure 29). In other words, it is the distance between the closed state and the open state. Moreover, the distance H1 from the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 (on-off valve 54b) to the outer guide rail 27 is shorter than the distance H2 from the lowest point P6 of the other game ball B2 to the outer guide rail 27. In other words, the distance H1 from the contact point P4 between the other game ball B2 and the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 to the outer guide rail 27 is shorter than the distance H2 from the lowest point P6 of the other game ball B2 to the outer guide rail 27. That is, the length H1 of the perpendicular L1 drawn from the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 to the outer guide rail 27 is shorter than the length H2 of the perpendicular L2 drawn from the lowest point P6 of the other game ball B2 to the outer guide rail 27.

[0132] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 32, when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the intermediate state described above, the distance H3 from the contact point P4 between the other game ball B2 and the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 (on-off valve 54b) to the contact point P3 between the other game ball B2 and one game ball B1 is shorter than the distance H4 from the lowest point P6 of the other game ball to the contact point P3. In other words, the length of the line segment L3 connecting the contact point P4 and the contact point P3 is shorter than the length of the line segment L4 connecting the lowest point P6 and the contact point P3.

[0133] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 31 and 32, when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the intermediate state described above, the ball return prevention member 54 has not rotated so that its tip reaches the lowest point P6 of the other game ball B2. Specifically, the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 is located higher than the lowest point P6 of the game ball B2 in the vertical direction, and to the left (towards the guide passage 29) of the lowest point P6 of the game ball B2 in the horizontal direction. In other words, the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 is located to the upper left of the lowest point P6.

[0134] After the collision between game ball B1 and game ball B2 as described above, even if game ball B2 tries to return to the guide passage 29, it will come into contact with the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 (on-off valve 54b) from the game area 8b side. As a result, the ball return prevention member 54 is likely to rotate counterclockwise due to the contact force applied from the game area 8b side toward the guide passage 29 side. Consequently, the ball return prevention member 54 blocks the exit of the boundary area 70 more than when game ball B1 and game ball B2 collide, making it difficult for game ball B2 to return to the guide passage 29. As a result, even when game ball B1 and game ball B2 collide as shown in Figure 30, it is possible to suppress game ball B2 from returning to the guide passage 29. In other words, it is possible to suppress two game balls from returning to the guide passage 29 consecutively.

[0135] Furthermore, when game ball B1 and game ball B2 collide as shown in Figure 30, if the distance H1 from the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 (on-off valve 54b) to the outer guide rail 27 is longer than the distance H2 from the lowest point P6 of the other game ball B2 to the outer guide rail 27, then after the collision, game ball B2 can enter between the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 and the outer guide rail 27. In this case, game ball B2 can come into contact with the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 from above, and the ball return prevention member 54 is more likely to rotate clockwise. Therefore, the ball return prevention member 54 opens the exit of the boundary region 70 more than when game ball B1 and game ball B2 collide, and is unable to prevent game ball B2 from returning to the guide passage 29.

[0136] As described above, the pachinko machine 1 according to this embodiment has made significant improvements compared to conventional pachinko machines in preventing game balls that have entered the game area 8b from returning to the guide passage (guide area) 29. However, as shown below, further improvements in preventing return are made by preventing the game balls from getting caught between the ball return prevention mechanism 50 and the game balls. With reference to Figure 33, the prevention of the ball return prevention mechanism 50 and the game balls from getting caught will be explained. Figure 33 shows a state in which a game ball B that has returned from the game area 8b to the boundary area 70 is colliding with the ball return prevention member 54.

[0137] As shown in Figure 33, the game ball B returns from the game area 8b to the boundary area 70 and makes contact with the on-off valve 54b and the main body case 52 of the ball return prevention member 54. Specifically, the game ball B is in contact with the protruding portion 541c of the on-off valve 54b, which is in the closed state, and also in contact with the upper end (stopper wall 52c) of the main body case 52. In Figure 33, the contact point between the game ball B and the protruding portion 541c of the on-off valve 54b is indicated by the letter P7, the contact point with the upper end of the main body case 52 is indicated by the letter P8, and the leftmost point of the game ball B is indicated by the letter P9.

[0138] In this state, the contact point P7 between the game ball B and the protruding portion 541c of the on-off valve 54b is located below the leftmost point P9 of the game ball B in the vertical direction. Also, the contact point P8 between the game ball B and the upper end of the main body case 52 is located to the left of the lowest point P6 of the game ball B in the horizontal direction, and above the lowest point P6 of the game ball B in the vertical direction. In other words, contact point P8 is located to the upper left of the lowest point P6. Furthermore, the distance H5 from contact point P7 to contact point P8 is shorter than the distance H6 from the leftmost point P9 of the game ball B to the lowest point P6. As a result, the game ball B cannot enter the gap area SP between the upper opening (see Figure 27) facing the boundary area 70 of the main body case 52 and the portion of the second side portion 541b of the on-off valve 54b that is closer to the base end than the protruding portion 541c. Furthermore, as shown by the dotted arrow in Figure 33, when the game ball B collides with the ball return prevention member 54, a force is applied to the right from the protruding portion 541c of the on-off valve 54b and a force is applied diagonally upward to the right from the upper end of the main body case 52, causing it to bounce back into the game area 8b. As a result, the game ball B is prevented from getting stuck between the on-off valve 54b of the ball return prevention mechanism 50 and the main body case 52 by entering the gap area SP. Therefore, the ball return prevention mechanism 50's ability to prevent the game ball from returning due to such entanglement of the game ball B is not impaired. Consequently, the ball return prevention mechanism 50 can be reliably ensured, further improving the prevention of the game ball returning to the guide passage (guide area) 29 once it has entered the game area 8b.

[0139] The pachinko machine 1 according to this embodiment, configured in this manner, can achieve the following effects.

[0140] The ball return prevention mechanism 50 not only prevents game balls that have entered the game area 8b from returning when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the closed state, but also suppresses game balls that have entered the game area 8b from returning to the guide passage 29 even when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the process of being displaced from the closed state to the open state. Therefore, it is possible to improve the prevention of game balls that have entered the game area 8b from returning to the guide passage (guide area) 29.

[0141] Furthermore, the pachinko machine 1 according to this embodiment includes a guide passage (guide area) 29 which is the area between the outer guide rail (outer rail) 27 and the inner guide rail (inner rail) 28 and guides the launched game balls to the game area 8b, and a ball return prevention mechanism 50 which prevents the game balls from returning from the game area 8b to the guide passage 29. The ball return prevention mechanism 50 has an on / off valve (displacement member) 54b which can be displaced between a closed state (first state) and an open state (second state), and a main body case (holding member) 52 which can hold the on / off valve 54b. The on / off valve 54b has a second side portion (side portion) 541b which faces the game area 8b, and a tip portion which is the tip portion which is the tip portion which is the outer guide rail 27 If the distance is defined as a specific distance, the closed state is a state where the specific distance is shorter than the open state, and the open state is a state where the specific distance is longer than the closed state. The main body case 52 has a stopper wall (contact portion) 52c that contacts the second side portion 541b of the on-off valve 54b in the open state. In the closed state, the game ball may come into contact with the stopper wall 52c and the second side portion 541b (protruding portion 541c). In the closed state, if the distance from the contact point P8 between the game ball and the stopper wall 52c to the contact point P7 between the game ball and the second side portion 541b (protruding portion 541c) is defined as the first distance H5, and the distance from the lowest point P6 to the leftmost point P9 of the game ball is defined as the second distance H6, then the first distance H5 is shorter than the second distance H6. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the prevention of the game ball returning to the guide passage (guide area) 29 once it has entered the game area 8b.

[0142] [Differentiation] Next, a modified version of the above embodiment will be described. In the above embodiment, the lock lever 254 is exposed and not covered by the set plate 212 even when the upper movable body 200 is in its initial position. That is, the lock lever 254 is operable when the upper movable body 200 is in its initial position. However, it is also possible to configure the system so that the lock lever 254 is inoperable when the upper movable body 200 is in its initial position. This example will be explained using Figures 34 to 36.

[0143] As shown in Figure 34, the movable body lifting unit 300 is attached to the game board unit 8, which is the base part. It comprises a movable body 301 corresponding to the upper movable body 200, and a pair of lifting mechanisms 302 that allow the movable body 301 to move up and down between an initial position and a movable position. The movable body 301 is equipped with a drive source for moving it up and down. The pair of lifting mechanisms 302 also have guide rails (not shown) that guide the movement of the movable body 301, and gears or drive belts that are linked to the drive source of the movable body 301. The movable body 301 is able to move up and down along the guide rails when the drive source is driven.

[0144] The movable body 301 includes a base member 303 (i.e., a mounting portion) and a decorative member 304 (i.e., a design portion) that is detachably attached to the front surface of the base member 303.

[0145] The base member 303 has a first base member 303a and a second base member 303b, both of which are roughly rectangular in shape. The first base member 303a and the second base member 303b are combined so as to overlap in the front-rear direction, with the first base member 303a positioned in front of the second base member 303b.

[0146] The first base member 303a is configured to allow the attachment and detachment of a decorative member 304 to its front surface. A recess 320a is formed in the center of the longitudinal direction of the first base member 303a. The recess 320a is provided with an engaging piece 321a that can engage with a locking claw 310a, which will be described later, when attaching the decorative member 304 to the first base member 303a. The engaging piece 321a has a locking groove 322a that extends horizontally. In addition, the right end and lower end of the first base member 303a are provided with a first lock lever 323a (corresponding to lock lever 254) and a second lock lever 324a (corresponding to lock lever 254) that lock the decorative member 304 in the state in which it is attached to the first base member 303a (hereinafter simply referred to as "the attached state of the decorative member 304"). Details of these first lock lever 323a and second lock lever 324a will be described later.

[0147] The second base member 303b is held at both ends in its longitudinal direction by the pair of lifting mechanisms 302 described above, and is able to move up and down together with the first base member 303a and the decorative member 304.

[0148] The decorative member 304 is formed in a roughly elongated rectangular shape and covers the front surface of the first base member 303a. A locking claw 310a, which is roughly L-shaped in cross-section and protrudes to the rear side, is formed at the center of the longitudinal direction on the rear side of the decorative member 304. The tip of the locking claw 310a protrudes from the rear side toward the front side and can be inserted into the locking groove 322a of the engaging piece 321a. When the tip of the locking claw 310a is inserted into the locking groove 322a, the locking claw 310a locks into the periphery of the locking groove 322a.

[0149] The right and lower ends of the back side of the decorative member 304 are provided with a first locking plate 311a that can be engaged with the first locking lever 323a, and a second locking plate 312a that can be engaged with the second locking lever 324a. Details of these first locking plate 311a and second locking plate 312a will be described later.

[0150] [Configuration of the first lock lever and first lock plate] Next, the details of the first lock lever 323a and the first lock plate 311a will be described with reference to Figures 35(a) to (c). Note that the configuration of the second lock lever 324a and the second lock plate 312a is the same as that of the first lock lever 323a and the first lock plate 311a, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0151] As shown in Figure 35(a), the first lock lever 323a is provided so as to protrude outward from the right end of the first base member 303a. A first shaft portion 325a is formed at the left end of the first lock lever 323a, and this first shaft portion 325a is inserted through an axial hole (not shown) of the first base member 303a. One end of a spring 326a is wound around the first shaft portion 325a inserted through this axial hole. The other end of the spring 326a is wound around a second shaft portion (not shown) of the first base member 303a, and the first lock lever 323a is biased counterclockwise with a predetermined gap between it and the first base member 303a. Under normal conditions, the first lock lever 323a is held in its initial position by a stopper formed on the first base member 303a.

[0152] As shown in Figure 35(b), in the installed state of the decorative member 304, the first lock lever 323a is positioned below the first lock plate 311a. A protruding wall 327a is formed in the central part of the first lock lever 323a. The protruding wall 327a is a triangular prism-shaped portion that protrudes upward from the first lock lever 323a. The amount of protrusion of the inclined surface of the protruding wall 327a gradually increases from the front end to the rear end of the first lock lever 323a. The rear end of the protruding wall 327a is capable of contacting the first lock plate 311a.

[0153] The first lock plate 311a is fixed to the right end of the decorative member 304 and is integrally formed from a rectangular plate-shaped main body portion 311a1 and a plate-shaped projection portion 311a2 that protrudes downward from the rear end of the main body portion 311a1. As shown in Figure 35(b), when the decorative member 304 is installed, the lower surface of the projection wall 327a of the first lock lever 323a engages with the upper surface of the projection portion 311a2, thereby locking the first lock lever 323a and the first lock plate 311a.

[0154] The decorative member 304 has a rod-shaped pin 313a extending from its back side. The pin 313a is positioned at a predetermined distance below the first lock plate 311a. Specifically, in the mounted state of the decorative member 304, the pin 313a is positioned such that the first lock lever 323a is located between it and the first lock plate 311a. By rotating the first lock lever 323a clockwise from its initial position against the biasing force of the spring 326a, the first lock lever 323a can be locked to the pin 313a.

[0155] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 35(c), when the first lock lever 323a moves to a holding position where it engages with the pin 313a, the pin 313a maintains a state in which the lock between the first lock lever 323a and the first lock plate 311a is released.

[0156] [Installation and removal of decorative components] Next, the installation and removal procedures for the decorative member 304 will be described with reference to Figures 34 and 35(a) to (c).

[0157] When attaching the decorative member 304 to the base member 303, the worker first inserts the tip of the locking claw 310a of the decorative member 304 into the locking groove 322a of the engaging piece 321a of the first base member 303a and locks it to its periphery (see Figure 34).

[0158] Next, as shown in Figure 35(a), the decorative member 304 is rotated toward the first base member 303a around the locking portion of the locking claw 310a and the locking groove 322a so that the decorative member 304 and the first base member 303a are approximately parallel, and the decorative member 304 is pushed toward the first base member 303a.

[0159] At this time, the protrusion 311a2 of the first lock plate 311a is pushed in while pressing against the inclined surface of the protruding wall 327a of the first lock lever 323a, and the first lock lever 323a gradually rotates clockwise from its initial position against the biasing force of the spring 326a.

[0160] Finally, as shown in Figure 35(b), when the projection 311a2 exceeds the tip of the projection wall 327a, the first lock lever 323a rotates counterclockwise due to the biasing force of the spring 326a and returns to its initial position.

[0161] When the first lock lever 323a returns to its initial position, the protruding wall 327a contacts the main body portion 311a1 of the first lock plate 311a and engages with the protruding portion 311a2, thereby locking the first lock lever 323a to the first lock plate 311a. A detailed explanation is omitted, but at this time, the second lock lever 324a also engages with the second lock plate 312a in the same manner.

[0162] In this state, even if one attempts to remove the decorative member 304 from the first base member 303a, the protruding portion 311a2 of the first locking plate 311a is restricted from moving forward by the protruding wall 327a of the first locking lever 323a. Similarly, the protruding portion of the second locking plate 312a is restricted from moving forward by the protruding wall of the second locking lever 324a. Therefore, the decorative member 304 cannot be removed from the first base member 303a. In this way, the decorative member 304 can be attached to the first base member 303a, and the attached state of the decorative member 304 can be locked.

[0163] On the other hand, when removing the decorative member 304 from the base member 303, the worker grasps the first lock lever 323a with their fingers and rotates it clockwise against the biasing force of the spring 326a. At this time, when the first lock lever 323a is rotated to the vicinity of the pin 313a, the worker rotates it while slightly pushing the first lock lever 323a backward so that it straddles the tip of the pin 313a.

[0164] Then, as shown in Figure 35(c), when the first lock lever 323a is released from the finger after it has passed the pin 313a, the first lock lever 323a rotates counterclockwise due to the biasing force of the spring 326a and engages with the pin 313a, and is held in the holding position. Subsequently, in the same manner, the operator pinches the second lock lever 324a with their fingers and rotates it to engage with the pin (not shown). In this state, the lock by the first lock lever 323a is released, and the lock by the second lock lever 324a is also released.

[0165] Finally, the worker rotates the decorative member 304 with the locking claw 310a inserted into the locking groove 322a of the engaging piece 321a, and then removes the locking claw 310a from the locking groove 322a (see Figure 4). In this way, the decorative member 304 can be removed from the base member 303.

[0166] In this way, it is not necessary to remove the decorative member 304 while holding the first lock lever 323a and the second lock lever 324a with your fingers, thus simplifying and streamlining the work. Furthermore, since the operation to release the locks of the first lock lever 323a and the second lock lever 324a can be performed one at a time instead of simultaneously at both locations, the work can be performed efficiently.

[0167] In this embodiment, the first lock lever 323a is provided with a range of motion in the front-rear direction so that it can move over the tip of the pin 313a and to the underside of the pin 313a. When no force is applied to the rearward side of the first lock lever 323a, the first lock lever 323a is maintained in a position where its lower surface faces the pin 313a.

[0168] Furthermore, in order to maintain this positional relationship, a spring may be provided to constantly bias the first lock lever 323a forward, or the vector resulting from the action of the spring 326a may be configured to include a component in both a counterclockwise and forward direction.

[0169] Next, with reference to Figure 36, the positional relationship between the game board 8a and the first lock lever 323a will be explained. Figure 6 shows the positional relationship between the first lock lever 323a and the game board 8a when the movable body 301 is in its initial position.

[0170] As shown in Figure 36, when the movable body 301 is in its initial position, the first lock lever 323a is located outside the opening 8c of the game board 8a. At this time, the first lock lever 323a overlaps with the upper right portion of the game board 8a in the front-to-back direction. Thus, when the movable body 301 is in its initial position, the first lock lever 323a (i.e., the holding part) is positioned in a way that prevents external operation.

[0171] Therefore, when the movable body 301 is in its initial position, the space around the first lock lever 323a becomes narrower, making it difficult to operate the first lock lever 323a. This makes it difficult to remove the decorative member 304 when the movable body 301 is in its initial position, thereby discouraging modifications to the pachinko machine 1 outside the factory.

[0172] On the other hand, when the movable body 301 is in the movable position, the first lock lever 323a is located inside the opening 8c of the game board 8a. Therefore, the first lock lever 323a is exposed without overlapping with the game board 8a in the front-to-back direction. In this way, when the movable body 301 is in the movable position, the first lock lever 323a is positioned to allow operation from the outside.

[0173] Therefore, when the movable body 301 is in the movable position, the space around the first lock lever 323a is widened, making it easier to operate the first lock lever 323a. This makes it possible to remove the decorative member 304 and perform maintenance when the pachinko machine 1 is installed in the game hall, the power is turned on, and the movable body 301 can be moved to the movable position.

[0174] [Effects of this embodiment] (a) In this embodiment, in a gaming machine equipped with a game board (in this example, game board 8a), A first unit (in this example, a base member 210) to which components (in this example, the upper left prize slot switch 210b, the middle left prize slot switch 210c, the lower left prize slot switch 210d, the middle magnetic sensor 210e, the start slot switch 210f, the radio wave sensor 210g, and the radio wave sensor 210h) are attached, The system comprises a second unit (in this example, a decorative member 204) that can be attached to the first unit, With the second unit attached to the first unit, the first unit can be attached to the back of the game board (in this example, Figure 13). The manner in which the second unit is attached to the first unit (in this example, by attaching the boss 224, through hole 226a, and screw 218) is different from the manner in which the first unit is attached to the game board (in this example, by attaching it with the attachment part 230). With the second unit attached to the first unit, the components attached to the first unit can be visually inspected (in this example, Figures 7 and 9). Therefore, by attaching the first unit to the game board in the same manner as the game board components, it becomes unnecessary to prepare separate parts for attaching the first unit, and no different work is required for attaching the first unit. This shortens the development period of the game machine and reduces manufacturing costs. In addition, since the parts attached to the first unit are visible when the second unit is attached to the first unit, the parts attached to the first unit can be checked after the second unit is attached, simplifying the inspection of parts during the manufacturing process of the game machine. The manner in which the first unit is attached to the game board and the manner in which the components attached to the game board (in this example, components attached to the front side of the game board 8a (for example, components for forming the starting prize entry opening, an attacker device, a ball passage forming member 233 (see Figure 2)), etc.) and components attached to the rear side of the game board 8a (for example, a solenoid 232)) may be the same (in this example, attached by the attachment part 230).

[0175] In the above embodiment, a base member 210 fixed to the game board 8a was given as an example of the first unit, and a non-movable decorative member 204 was given as an example of the second unit. However, the first unit may be configured to be movable, and the second unit may also be configured to be movable in conjunction with the first unit.

[0176] (b) In this embodiment, in a gaming machine (in this example, a pachinko machine 1) equipped with a plurality of decorative members visible to the player, It comprises a first unit (in this example, a set board unit 208) and a second unit (in this example, a decorative unit 206), The aforementioned plurality of decorative members include a first decorative member (in this example, an upper decorative cover 244) and a second decorative member (in this example, a decorative member 204), The first unit includes a movable element (in this example, a movable part 234) whose operating position can be changed. The first decorative member is detachably attached to the movable display body (in this example, Figure 18), The second decorative member is detachably attached to the second unit (in this example, Figure 12), In the state in which the first decorative member is attached to the movable performance body and the second decorative member is attached to the second unit, the second decorative member is positioned in front of the first decorative member. The manner in which the first decorative member is attached to and detached from the movable display body is different from the manner in which the second decorative member is attached to and detached from the second unit (in this example, the method shown in Figures 12 and 18). The second unit is positioned in a location that is less visible to the player than the first unit. Therefore, by making one of the first and second decorative members easier to attach than the other, the manufacturing cost of the gaming machine can be reduced. In addition, since the second decorative member is difficult to see, it is not always necessary to attach it, thereby shortening the development period of the gaming machine and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0177] In the above embodiment, the upper decorative cover 244 was given as an example of the first decorative member, but the first decorative member may be a different part from that in the above embodiment, for example, the lower decorative cover 246 may be used as the first decorative member. Also, although the decorative member 204 was given as an example of the second decorative member, it may be a different part from that in the above embodiment as long as it is positioned in front of the first decorative member.

[0178] (c) In this embodiment, the gaming machine comprises a design portion (in this example, an upper decorative cover 244) to which a design is applied, and a base portion (in this example, a set plate 212) having a mounting portion (in this example, a movable portion 234) to which the design portion is detachably attached, wherein the mounting portion is movable from an initial position. The design portion is provided with a holding portion (in this example, a mounting hook 250 and a hook receiving portion 252) for holding the design portion to the mounting portion, When the mounting portion is in its initial position, the retainer is covered by the base portion (in this example, Figure 19). Therefore, when the mounting part is in its initial position, it becomes difficult to release the design part from being held in place, thus preventing the design part from being removed outside the manufacturing process of the gaming machine and preventing unauthorized modifications.

[0179] In the above embodiment, the upper decorative cover 244 is held in place by temporarily fastening it to the movable part 234. However, the design portion and mounting portion may differ from those in the above embodiment, for example, by temporarily fastening the lower decorative cover 246 to the movable part 236.

[0180] [Other variations of the above embodiment] In the above embodiment, an example of applying the present invention to a pachinko machine was given, but the present invention may also be applied to other types of gaming machines, such as slot machines, where the number of bets is set using medals and credits as the value for play. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0181] 1 Pachinko machine 8 Game board units 8a Game board 42 LCD display

Claims

[Claim 1] The area between the outer rail and the inner rail, which includes a guide area that guides the launched game ball into the game area, The system includes a ball return prevention mechanism that prevents the game ball from returning from the game area to the guide area, The ball return prevention mechanism includes a displacement member that can be displaced between a first state, a second state, and a third state, a holding member that can hold the displacement member, and a specific fixing part. The displacement member has a side portion facing the game area and a tip portion on the tip side of the side portion, The distance from the tip to the outer rail is defined as a specific distance. The game ball that is to be guided from the guide area to the game area is referred to as the first game ball. If we consider the game ball attempting to return from the game area to the guide area as the second game ball, The first state is a state in which the specific distance is shorter than that of the second state. The second state is a state in which the specific distance is longer than that of the first state. The third state is a state in which the first game ball is in contact with the side portion, the outer rail, and the second game ball, and the second game ball is in contact with the tip portion, the outer rail, and the first game ball, so that the specific distance is longer than in the first state, shorter than in the second state, and shorter than the distance from the lowest point of the second game ball to the outer rail. The holding member has a contact portion that contacts the side portion in the second state, In the first state, the game ball may come into contact with the contact portion and the side portion. In the first state, the distance from the point of contact between the game ball and the contact portion to the point of contact between the game ball and the side portion is defined as the first distance. If we define the second distance as the distance from the lowest point of the game ball to the leftmost point, The first distance is shorter than the second distance. The aforementioned specific fixing part is smaller than the game ball. A gaming machine characterized by the following features.

Images