Game machine

Abstract

To suppress increase in a price of a game machine further properly.SOLUTION: A game machine comprises, on a back face side of a front frame 3 which is rotatable around a hinge 4 to an outer frame 2, a power source operation unit 128 and a RAM clear operation unit 107, and comprises a protrusion part protruded forward relative to a shooting handle 39 on a front side of the front frame 3. The power source operation unit 128 and the RAM clear operation unit 107 are arranged closer to an opening / closing end in a lateral direction on the front frame 3. When the front frame 3 is opened to a first open state with respect to the outer frame 2, the power source operation unit 128 and the RAM clear operation unit 107 become visible from a space between the outer frame 2 and the front frame 3. In the first open state, the power source operation unit 128 and the RAM clear operation unit 107 are provided on a front side of a front edge of the outer frame 2, and the whole protrusion part is positioned inside of the lateral direction relative to the hinge part 4. In addition, in an illumination device comprising a translucent part and a plurality of LEDs, a non-translucent part is provided on an outer edge of the translucent part, and the LEDs are arranged on a rear side of the non-translucent part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Gaming machines such as pachinko machines are equipped with an outer frame that is fixed to the game island equipment, and a front frame that is attached to the front of the outer frame in a rotatable state around a hinge part at one left-right end, for example, the left end. When the front frame is in a closed state where the rotation angle with respect to the outer frame is 0°, it can be locked to the outer frame by a locking means having a keyhole near the open / close end (for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, various operation units such as a power supply operation unit and a RAM clear operation unit, as well as various display means such as an error display means, are located on the back side of the front frame, and when performing a RAM clear operation using the power supply operation unit and the RAM clear operation unit, or when checking the details of an error using the error display means, the amusement hall staff must open the front frame before performing the work. In addition, in this type of gaming machine, illumination devices are arranged in various parts on the front side of the gaming machine main body, and by emitting light in a predetermined light pattern in synchronization with other presentation means such as image display means, movable bodies, and sound output means, it is possible to create presentations that correspond to the gaming status. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-122649 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Recently, the price of parts has risen due to the decrease in the supply of parts, which has led to the price of gaming machines rising. In this context, measures to suppress the price of gaming machines are required. As a measure against the price rise of gaming machines, it is considered to promote miniaturization, reuse, and diversion of gaming parts to other models in order to reduce the amount of new parts to be procured. However, there is a concern that such measures for reuse will lose their novelty and players will become bored. Therefore, there is a need for ingenuity to enhance the presentation effect, such as improving the appearance of presentation means such as lighting devices. In addition, in order to promote the reuse of game parts, it is also important to devise ways to simplify the wiring work when reusing game parts and the management work by hall staff. The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to curb the price hike of gaming machines in a more appropriate manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention provides an illumination device having a light-transmitting portion and a plurality of light sources for illuminating the light-transmitting portion, an outer frame that can be fixed to a game island facility, a front frame that is arranged on the front side of the outer frame with its rear side inserted into the outer frame, a power supply operation unit and a RAM clear operation unit that are arranged on the rear side of the front frame, and a launch handle that protrudes from the front side of the front frame and can launch game balls, the front frame being attached to the outer frame in a state in which it can rotate around a hinge unit on one left-right end side, and when in a closed state in which the rotation angle with respect to the outer frame is 0°, the front frame can be locked to the outer frame by a locking means having a keyhole near an opening / closing end that is the other left-right end side of the front frame, the front frame having a protrusion that protrudes forward of the launch handle, and when the RAM clear operation unit is turned ON, In a gaming machine that can be started up while erasing the game information stored in the RAM at the time the power was OFF by switching the power operation unit from power OFF to power ON, a non-transparent portion is provided on the outer edge of the translucent portion, the light source is located behind the non-transparent portion, and the power operation unit and the RAM clear operation unit are located near the opening and closing ends in the left-right direction of the front frame, and when the front frame is opened to a first open state relative to the outer frame, the power operation unit and the RAM clear operation unit become visible between the outer frame and the front frame, and in the first open state, the power operation unit and the RAM clear operation unit are located forward of the front edge of the outer frame, and the entire protrusion is located left-right inward of the hinge portion. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to more appropriately suppress price hikes of gaming machines. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the lower front unit of the pachinko machine. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a front view of the game board of the pachinko machine. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the lower side of the pachinko machine. [Figure 9] 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the pachinko machine. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 11] This is a diagram showing the settings of the pachinko machine's normal state and three advantageous states. [Figure 12] A diagram showing the relationship between the jackpot determination random number value and the jackpot / time-saving determination value in the jackpot / time-saving lottery of the same pachinko machine. [Figure 13] Regarding the first and second special pattern changes of the pachinko machine, (a) shows the type of jackpot mode, distribution rate, special profit state, advantageous state to transition to, and advantageous state ending condition, and (b) shows the type of time-saving mode, distribution rate, advantageous state to transition to, and advantageous state ending condition. [Figure 14] 1 is an explanatory diagram regarding the transition of game states in the pachinko machine. FIG. [Figure 15] This figure shows an overview of several types of errors related to the payout control in the pachinko machine, as well as how to display and clear the errors. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a volume setting table of the pachinko machine. [Figure 17] 2 is a plan view showing the first open state of the front frame in the pachinko machine. FIG. [Figure 18] 13 is a plan view showing the second open state of the front frame in the pachinko machine. FIG. [Figure 19] 13 is a plan view showing a third open state of the front frame in the pachinko machine. FIG. [Figure 20] 13 is a plan view showing the fourth open state of the front frame in the pachinko machine. FIG. [Figure 21]This is a plan view showing the fifth open state of the front frame in the pachinko machine. [Figure 22] FIG. 11 is a rear view of a pachinko machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 23] FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 24] 13 is an oblique view of a main portion of a power supply board case of a pachinko machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 25] 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a main portion of the power supply board case of the pachinko machine. FIG. [Figure 26] FIG. 11 is an overall front view of a pachinko machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control system of the pachinko machine. [Figure 28] 2 is a front view of the movable illumination device of the pachinko machine. [Figure 29] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the movable illumination device of the pachinko machine. [Diagram 30] 3 is a front cross-sectional view of the movable illumination device of the pachinko machine. FIG. [Diagram 31] 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the movable illumination device of the pachinko machine. FIG. [Diagram 32] 13 is an explanatory diagram of the LED rows of the movable illumination device of the pachinko machine. [Diagram 33] FIG. 13 is a front view of a movable illumination device for a pachinko machine according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 34] 3 is a front cross-sectional view of the movable illumination device of the pachinko machine. FIG. [Diagram 35] 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the movable illumination device of the pachinko machine. FIG. [Diagram 36] 13 is an explanatory diagram of the LED rows of the movable illumination device of the pachinko machine. [Figure 37] FIG. 13 is a front cross-sectional view of a movable illumination device for a pachinko machine according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 38] 13 is an explanatory diagram of the LED rows of the movable illumination device of the pachinko machine. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THEINVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, the embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figs. 1 to 21 illustrate a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine. In Figs. 1 and 2, a gaming machine main body 1 includes an outer frame 2 that can be fixed to a game island installed in a gaming hall, and a front frame 3 that is arranged on the front side of the outer frame 2 with its rear side inserted into the outer frame 2. The front frame 3 is pivotally attached to the outer frame 2 via a first hinge (hinge part) 4 of a vertical axis arranged on one end side in the left-right direction (here, the left end side) so as to be freely opened, closed, and detachable, and can be locked in a closed state relative to the outer frame 2 by a locking means 5 provided on the opening / closing end side (here, the right end side) which is the other end side in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the opening angle (rotation angle) of the front frame 3 around the first hinge 4 relative to the outer frame 2 is set to the closed state as a reference (0°), and the opening direction (i.e., clockwise in a plan view) is set to a positive direction.

[0009] The front frame 3 includes an inner frame 6 and a glass door 7 arranged in front of the inner frame 6. The glass door 7 is pivotally attached to the inner frame 6 via a second hinge 8 of a vertical shaft arranged at one end side in the left-right direction (here, the left end side) so as to be openable, closable, and detachable, and can be locked in the closed state relative to the inner frame 6 by a locking means 5. In this embodiment, the second hinge 8 and the first hinge 4 are coaxial.

[0010] The locking means 5 has a keyhole 5a arranged facing forward at a predetermined vertical position near the opening / closing end (right end) of the front frame 3, for example on the lower side. By inserting a special key into this keyhole 5a and rotating it to one side in the left-right direction (for example, the right side), the locking state of the front frame 3 to the outer frame 2 is released, and by rotating it to the other side in the left-right direction (for example, the left side), the locking state of the glass door 7 to the inner frame 6 is released.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 2, the outer frame 2 is formed in a rectangular shape by a pair of vertical frame members 2a, 2b on the left and right and a pair of horizontal frame members 2c, 2d on the top and bottom. In this embodiment, the top and bottom horizontal frame members 2c, 2d are made of wood, and the left and right vertical frame members 2a, 2b are made of metal (conductive member). A front cover member 9 made of synthetic resin is attached to the front lower part of the outer frame 2 so as to connect the front lower parts of the left and right vertical frame members 2a, 2b along the front edge of the lower horizontal frame member 2d. The front cover member 9 protrudes forward from the left and right vertical frame members 2a, 2b, and the inner frame 6 is disposed above it. In addition, the outer frame 2 has an upper outer frame hinge metal fitting 11 constituting the first hinge 4 disposed at the upper left part, and a lower outer frame hinge metal fitting 12 disposed above the front cover member 9 at the lower left part.

[0012] The inner frame 6 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in Fig. 2, integrally comprises a rectangular frame portion 13 that is above the front cover member 9 and can substantially abut against the front edge of the outer frame 2, a game board mounting portion 14 provided on the upper side of the frame portion 13, and a lower mounting portion 15 provided on the lower side of the frame portion 13. A game board 16 is detachably mounted on the game board mounting portion 14 from the front side, and a launching means 17, a lower speaker 18, etc. are disposed on the front side of the lower mounting portion 15. In addition, the inner frame 6 is provided with a main body frame upper hinge metal fitting 19 constituting the first hinge 4 and a main body frame upper hinge metal fitting 20 constituting the second hinge 8 at the upper left, and a main body frame lower hinge metal fitting 21 constituting the first and second hinges 4, 8 at the lower left.

[0013] The glass door 7 is provided with a resin door base 22 formed in a rectangular shape corresponding to the front side of the inner frame 6. In this door base 22, a window hole 24a of a glass window 24 is formed corresponding to the front side of a play area 23 formed on the game board 16, and various presentation means such as a plurality of (four in this case) upper speakers 25, a frame first movable body 26, a frame second movable body 27, and a blower means 28 are arranged around the window hole 24a.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1 and other figures, the upper front side of the door base 22 is provided with a left decorative cover part 29a that covers the hinge end side (left side) of the glass window 24, a right decorative cover part 29b that covers the opening / closing end side (right side) of the glass window 24, and an upper decorative cover part 29c that covers the upper side of the glass window 24. Comparing the left decorative cover part 29a and the right decorative cover part 29b, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and other figures, the right decorative cover part 29b on the opening / closing end side protrudes forward more than the left decorative cover part 29a on the hinge end side, and the right decorative cover part 29b protrudes forward more at the upper side than at the lower side. The amount of protrusion of the upper decorative cover part 29c forward is approximately the same as the amount of protrusion of the upper side of the right decorative cover part 29b.

[0015] The frame first movable body 26 is disposed on the front side of the upper decorative cover part 29c and at approximately the center in the left-right direction, and is formed in a predetermined shape, here a three-dimensional shape with a butterfly motif. This frame first movable body 26 can slide in the approximately forward and backward directions between an origin position and a protruding position further forward by driving a driving means not shown, and is normally held at the origin position shown in FIG. 3. The frame second movable body 27 is disposed on the front side of the right decorative cover part 29b and at approximately the center in the up-down direction, and as shown in FIG. 3, etc., it has a protruding part 27a protruding forward from the right decorative cover part 29b, and an operating part 27b provided on the front end side of this protruding part 27a. This frame second movable body 27 can slide in the forward and backward directions by driving a driving means not shown, and can be pushed in by the player. The air blowing means 28 is capable of blowing air toward the player's hands that are touching the frame second movable body 27 at the timing when the player operates the frame second movable body 27.

[0016] A lower front unit 31 is disposed on the lower front side of the door base 22. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, this lower front unit 31 is provided with an upper tray 33 for storing game balls dispensed from a dispensing means 32 disposed on the rear side of the inner frame 6 and supplying them to the launching means 17, a lower tray 34 for storing surplus balls when the upper tray 33 is full, and other various operating means are disposed on the upper surface side. The lower front unit 31 has a forward protruding amount that gradually decreases from the center in the left-right direction to both ends, and the performance button 35 is disposed corresponding to the center in the left-right direction where the protruding amount is the largest. In addition, a launching handle 39 that can be operated to launch game balls by the launching means 17 is protruded forward on the opening / closing end side (right side) of the lower front unit 31.

[0017] Incidentally, the maximum forward protrusion amount of the frame first movable body 26, the frame second movable body 27, and the lower front unit 31 is greater than the protrusion amount of the launch handle 39 (Fig. 3, etc.). Also, for the decorative cover parts 29a-29c, the forward protrusion amount of the upper side of the right decorative cover part 29b and the upper decorative cover part 29c is greater than the protrusion amount of the launch handle 39, and the forward protrusion amount of the lower side of the right decorative cover part 29b and the left decorative cover part 29a is less than the protrusion amount of the launch handle 39 (Fig. 3, etc.).

[0018] 2, a glass unit 40 that substantially covers the window hole 24a from the rear side is detachably attached to the rear side of the door base 22, and a vertical hinge end side reinforcing plate 41a arranged along the edge of the first and second hinges 4, 8, a vertical opening / closing end side reinforcing plate 41b arranged along the edge of the opening / closing end side, and a left / right lower side reinforcing plate 41c arranged below the window hole 24a are detachably fixed by screws or the like. In addition, the door base 22 has a glass door upper hinge metal fitting 42a that constitutes the second hinge 8 arranged at the upper left and a glass door lower hinge metal fitting 42b arranged at the lower left.

[0019] In addition, a ball feeding unit 43a, a lower tray guide unit 43b, etc. are attached to the back side of the lower reinforcing sheet metal 41c. The ball feeding unit 43a is for supplying the game balls in the upper tray 33 one by one to the launching means 17, and is arranged corresponding to the front side of the launching means 17. The lower tray guide unit 43b is for guiding surplus balls when the upper tray 33 is full, and foul balls that have been launched by the launching means 17 but have returned without reaching the playing area 23, to the lower tray 34, and is arranged adjacent to the ball feeding unit 43a on the first and second hinges 4, 8 sides.

[0020] As shown in Figure 5, the game board 16 has a base plate 45 made of polycarbonate or the like, on the front side of which a guide rail 46 for guiding the game ball launched from the launching means 17 is arranged in a circular shape, and inside the guide rail 46 in the game area 23, there are arranged unit components such as a central display frame unit 47, a start winning unit 48, a big winning unit 49, a normal winning unit 50, as well as a large number of game nails (not shown).

[0021] On the multiple unit parts 47-50 of the game board 16, there are provided a normal symbol starting means 61, a first special symbol starting means 62, a second special symbol starting means 63, a big prize means 64, multiple normal prize means 65, etc. In addition, on the rear side of the base plate 45, in addition to a liquid crystal display means (image display means) 66, a board movable performance means 67 having a board movable body 67a that can move in front of the liquid crystal display means 66, etc. are arranged.

[0022] The central display frame unit 47 constitutes a display frame for the liquid crystal display means 66, and is detachably attached from the front side to a mounting hole (not shown) formed in the base plate 45, which is formed with a display window 47a corresponding to the front side of the liquid crystal display means 66 at approximately the center, and is provided with a front mounting plate 71 that is arranged outside the mounting hole along the front surface of the base plate 45 and through which game balls can pass, a decorative frame 72 that is arranged in a generally gate-like shape in front view from both the left and right sides of the display window 47a to the upper side and protrudes forward on the inner periphery side of the front mounting plate 71, and a stage 73 that is arranged between the left and right lower ends of the decorative frame 72 below the display window 47a. The game balls that are launched by the launching means 17 and enter the upper side of the game area 23 are sorted to the left and right at the top of the decorative frame 72, and flow down either the left flow-down path 74a on the left side of the central display frame unit 47 or the right flow-down path 74b on the right side.

[0023] The central display frame unit 47 is provided with a warp inlet 75 through which game balls can flow, on at least one side of the left flow-down path 74a side and the right flow-down path 74b side, for example, on the left flow-down path 74a side. The game ball that flows into the warp inlet 75 while flowing down the left flow-down path 74a rolls freely in the left-right direction on the stage 73, and then falls to the front from either a central drop part 76 provided corresponding to the left-right center of the game area 23 or from another part.

[0024] In addition, various display means such as a normal symbol display means 81, a normal reserved number display means 82, a first special symbol display means 83, and a second special symbol display means 84 are provided on the central display frame unit 47. Of course, these display means 81 to 84 can be arranged not only on the central display frame unit 47 but also at any position on the front side of the game board 16 in a state where they can be seen from the front side.

[0025] The start winning unit 48 is disposed below the central display frame unit 47, and is detachably attached to the base plate 45 from the front side. The big winning unit 49 is disposed below the central display frame unit 47 to the right of the start winning unit 48, and is detachably attached to the base plate 45 from the front side. The normal winning unit 50 is disposed below the central display frame unit 47 to the left of the start winning unit 48, and is detachably attached to the base plate 45 from the front side.

[0026] The normal symbol starting means 61 is for starting the variable display of the normal symbol by the normal symbol display means 81, and is composed of a passing gate through which the game ball can pass, and is equipped with a game ball detection switch (not shown) that detects the passage of the game ball. This normal symbol starting means 61 is provided on the front side of the front mounting plate 71 on the right part of the central display frame unit 47, and the game ball flowing down the right flow down path 74b can pass through it.

[0027] The normal pattern display means 81 is used to display the normal pattern in a variable manner and is composed of multiple (here, two) LEDs. Based on the detection of a gaming ball by the normal pattern starting means 61, the two LEDs constituting the normal pattern emit light in a normal variation light pattern, and then if the winning determination random number value contained in the normal random number information acquired when the normal pattern starting means 61 detects a gaming ball matches a predetermined winning determination value, the variation stops in a winning state, and otherwise in a losing state.

[0028] The probability that the normal symbol will be a winning pattern (winning probability) has a low probability (here 100 / 251) and a high probability (here 250 / 251), and either of them is used depending on the game state (normal state, first to third advantageous states, which will be described later) (Fig. 11). In addition, the normal symbol fluctuation time has a normal (non-reduced) fluctuation time (here 5 seconds) and a shorter reduced fluctuation time (here 4.9 seconds), and either of them is used depending on the game state (normal state, first to third advantageous states, which will be described later) (Fig. 11).

[0029] In addition, the normal random number information acquired when the normal symbol starting means 61 detects a game ball is reserved and stored up to a predetermined upper limit of reserved number, for example, 4 pieces, and each time the normal symbol becomes available for variation, one piece is consumed to vary the normal symbol. The number of stored normal random number information (normal reserved number) is notified to the player by the normal reserved number display means 82, etc.

[0030] The first special symbol starting means 62 is for starting the pattern variation by the first special symbol display means 83, and is composed of a non-opening / closing winning means that does not have an opening / closing means, and is equipped with a game ball detection switch (not shown) that detects the winning game ball. This first special symbol starting means 62 is provided in the starting winning unit 48, and is arranged in an upward opening manner on the lower side corresponding to the central drop part 76 of the stage 73, and since there is a route from the warp entrance 75 on the left flow-down path 74a side through the stage 73 to win, the game ball that has flowed down the left flow-down path 74a has a higher probability of winning than the game ball that has flowed down the right flow-down path 74b. When a game ball wins in this first special symbol starting means 62, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out as prize balls for each win.

[0031] The second special pattern starting means 63 is for starting the pattern change by the second special pattern display means 84, and is composed of an opening / closing type winning means that can be changed between an open state in which the game ball can win a prize and a closed state in which it is impossible to win a prize (or it is more difficult to win a prize than in the open state) by operating the opening / closing section 78, and is equipped with a game ball detection switch (not shown) that detects a winning game ball, and the opening / closing section 78 is configured to be open for a predetermined time in the normal profit state that occurs when the stopped pattern after the change of the normal pattern display means 81 becomes a winning pattern.

[0032] In addition, the opening time of the second special pattern starting means 63 in this normal profit state can be a normal (non-extended) opening time (here, 80 ms) or a longer extended opening time (here, 4000 ms), and either of them is used depending on the game state (the normal state described below, or the first to third advantageous states) (Figure 11).

[0033] This second special symbol starting means 63 is disposed on the front mounting plate 71 at the right part of the central display frame unit 47 and downstream of the normal symbol starting means 61, and a game ball flowing down the right flow path 74b can win. When a game ball wins in this second special symbol starting means 63, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out as prize balls for each win.

[0034] The first special pattern display means 83 is composed of a display means such as a 7-segment type capable of variably displaying the first special pattern, and variably displays the first special pattern for a predetermined period of time based on the first special pattern starting means 62 detecting a gaming ball, and stops the variation in a jackpot mode if the jackpot determination random number value contained in the first special random number information acquired when the first special pattern starting means 62 detects a gaming ball matches a predetermined jackpot determination value, in a time-saving mode if it matches a predetermined time-saving determination value (if the time-saving lottery is won), and in a loss mode otherwise.

[0035] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 13(a), two types of A1 and A2 are provided as the jackpot modes of the first special symbol display means 83, and when the jackpot lottery result is a jackpot, one of the jackpot modes A1 and A2 is selected at a predetermined distribution ratio (here, 6:4) based on the symbol determination random number included in the first special random number information. Also, as shown in Fig. 13(b), two types of B1 and B2 are provided as the time-saving modes of the first special symbol display means 83, and when the time-saving lottery is won, one of the time-saving modes B1 and B2 is selected at a predetermined distribution ratio (here, 1:9) based on the symbol determination random number included in the first special random number information.

[0036] When the stopped pattern after the first special pattern display means 83 changes becomes a jackpot pattern, a special advantage state occurs according to the type of the jackpot pattern (either A1 or A2), and after the special advantage state ends, a predetermined advantageous state (here, either the second or third advantageous state) is entered (FIG. 13(a)). Also, when the stopped pattern after the first special pattern display means 83 changes becomes a time-saving pattern, a special advantage state does not occur, and at that point, a predetermined advantageous state (here, either the first or second advantageous state) is entered according to the type of time-saving pattern (either B1 or B2) (FIG. 13(b)).

[0037] The second special pattern display means 84 is composed of a display means such as a 7-segment type capable of variably displaying the second special pattern, and variably displays the second special pattern for a predetermined period of time based on the second special pattern starting means 63 detecting a gaming ball, and stops the variation in a jackpot mode if the jackpot determination random number value contained in the second special random number information acquired when the second special pattern starting means 63 detects a gaming ball matches a predetermined jackpot determination value, in a time-saving mode if it matches a predetermined time-saving determination value (if the time-saving lottery is won), and in a loss mode otherwise.

[0038] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 13(a), the second special symbol display means 84 has two types of jackpot modes, A1 and A2, as the first special symbol display means 83, and when the jackpot lottery result is a jackpot, one of the jackpot modes A1 and A2 is selected at a predetermined distribution ratio (here, 6:4) based on the symbol determination random number included in the second special random number information. Also, as shown in Fig. 13(b), the second special symbol display means 84 has two types of time-saving modes, B1 and B2, as the first special symbol display means 83, and when the time-saving lottery is won, one of the time-saving modes B1 and B2 is selected at a predetermined distribution ratio (here, 1:9) based on the symbol determination random number included in the second special random number information.

[0039] When the stopped pattern after the second special pattern display means 84 changes becomes a jackpot pattern, a special advantage state occurs according to the type of the jackpot pattern (either A1 or A2), and after the special advantage state ends, a predetermined advantageous state (here, either the second or third advantageous state) is entered (FIG. 13(a)). Also, when the stopped pattern after the second special pattern display means 84 changes becomes a time-saving pattern, a special advantage state does not occur, and at that point, a predetermined advantageous state (either the first or second advantageous state) is entered according to the type of time-saving pattern (either B1 or B2) (FIG. 13(b)).

[0040] It should be noted that the time-saving lottery is only conducted during the normal state (FIG. 11). However, as will be described later, in this embodiment, the second special pattern display means 84 hardly ever changes during the normal state, so in practice the time-saving lottery is almost never conducted for the second special pattern display means 84.

[0041] FIG. 12 shows the relationship between the jackpot determination random number value and the jackpot / time-saving determination value in the jackpot / time-saving lottery of the first and second special symbol display means 83, 84. As shown in FIG. 12, the jackpot determination random number value is generated in the range of 0 to 65535, and among them, when the jackpot probability is high, the range of 10001 to 12048 becomes the jackpot determination value, but when the probability is low, the narrower range of 10001 to 10205 becomes the jackpot determination value. In this way, the probability that the first and second special symbols become a jackpot state (jackpot probability) can be switched between a low probability (1 / 319 here) and a high probability (1 / 32 here). The jackpot probability is set to a high probability during the third advantageous state described later, and to a low probability during the normal state and the first and second advantageous states (FIG. 11).

[0042] Also, as shown in FIG. 12, only during the normal state described below, the time-saving judgment value is in the range of 20001 to 22184 (winning probability ≈ 1 / 30), and the time-saving judgment value is not set during the advantageous state. In other words, the time-saving lottery is only performed during the normal state, and is not performed during the advantageous state. Alternatively, it can be said that during the advantageous state, the time-saving lottery is not not performed, but the winning probability in the time-saving lottery is set to 0. As described above, in this embodiment, the jackpot lottery and the time-saving lottery are performed using a common random number value.

[0043] In this embodiment, the normal state and a plurality of types of advantageous states are set as shown in Fig. 11. That is, in the normal state, the jackpot probability of the first and second special symbols is set to a low probability (1 / 319), the hit probability of the normal symbol is set to a low probability (100 / 251), the fluctuation time of the normal symbol is set to a normal (non-reduced) fluctuation time (5 seconds), and the opening time of the second special symbol starting means 63 is set to a normal (non-extended) opening time (80 ms).

[0044] In addition, the first advantageous state is a state in which the normal symbol fluctuation time is changed to a shortened fluctuation time (4.9 seconds) in comparison with the normal state, and the second advantageous state is a state in which the opening time of the second special symbol starting means 63 is changed to an extended opening time (4000 ms) in comparison with the first advantageous state, and the third advantageous state is a state in which the jackpot probability of the first and second special symbols is changed to a high probability (1 / 32) and the hit probability of the normal symbol is changed to a high probability (250 / 251) in comparison with the second advantageous state. As described above, the time-saving lottery is only performed during the normal state, and is not performed during the first to third advantageous states. In addition, the difference between the normal (non-reduced) fluctuation time (5 seconds) and the shortened fluctuation time (4.9 seconds) in comparison with the fluctuation time of the normal symbol is small, and it is difficult for the player to distinguish the difference. Therefore, it can be said that the normal state and the first advantageous state are substantially the same except for whether or not the time-saving lottery is performed.

[0045] 11, during the normal state and the first advantageous state, since the opening time of the second special symbol starting means 63 in the normal advantageous state is short (80 ms), even if the player shoots the game ball aiming at the normal symbol starting means 61 and the second special symbol starting means 63 and generates the normal advantageous state, it is difficult to make the second special symbol starting means 63 win. Therefore, during the normal state and the first advantageous state, it is desirable for the player to hit from the left, aiming at the first special symbol starting means 62, whose difficulty of winning does not change even if the game state changes.

[0046] On the other hand, during the second and third advantageous states, the opening time of the second special symbol starting means 63 in the normal advantageous state becomes longer (4000 ms), making it easier to win, so it is desirable for the player to hit the right hand side, aiming at the normal symbol starting means 61 and the second special symbol starting means 63. As a result, the first special symbol display means 83 mainly fluctuates during the normal state and the first advantageous state, and the second special symbol display means 84 mainly fluctuates during the second and third advantageous states. In this way, since the second special symbol display means 84 rarely fluctuates during the normal state, a time-saving lottery is rarely performed regarding the fluctuation of the second special symbol display means 84. It is also possible not to perform a time-saving lottery regarding the second special symbol display means 84 regardless of the game state.

[0047] In addition, when the first and second special symbols are changed by the first and second special symbol display means 83, 84, the display of the change in symbols is performed in parallel on the liquid crystal display means 66 by the performance symbol 88. As shown in FIG. 5, the performance symbol 88 has a plurality of symbol rows (three in the left and right direction in this case) consisting of a plurality of numbers and other symbols, and each symbol row is composed of a symbol main body 88a consisting of numbers such as 1 to 8 and the like, and a character or other decorative part 88b associated with the symbol main body 88a. The display mode of the performance symbol 88 can be arbitrarily changed, such as by enlarging or reducing it, changing the display position, and erasing the decorative part 88b.

[0048] The performance symbols 88 start to vary by vertical scrolling or the like for each symbol row according to a predetermined variation pattern at approximately the same time as the first and second special symbols start to vary, and the stopped symbols on a predetermined effective line finally stop at approximately the same time as the first and second special symbols stop varying so that the stopped symbols become the pattern determined by lottery. Note that, in the performance symbols 88, when all the stopped symbols on the effective line are the same, it is a jackpot performance mode, and otherwise it is a time-saving performance mode or a miss performance mode, and when the first and second special symbols become a jackpot mode, a time-saving performance mode, or a miss mode, the performance symbols 88 become a jackpot performance mode, a time-saving performance mode, or a miss performance mode, respectively.

[0049] In addition, the first and second special random number information acquired at the time of winning the first and second special symbol starting means 62, 63 are reserved and stored with a predetermined upper limit of reserved number, for example, 4 each, and when the first and second special symbols can be changed, if the reserved memory on the second special symbol side is 1 or more, one reserved memory of the second special symbol is consumed to change the second special symbol, and if only the reserved memory on the first special symbol side is 1 or more, one reserved memory of the first special symbol is consumed to change the first special symbol. In this way, in this embodiment, the first special symbol and the second special symbol are not both changing, and when there are reserved memories on both the first special symbol side and the second special symbol side, the change of the second special symbol is prioritized.

[0050] The number of first and second special random number information pieces stored in reserve (first and second special reserved numbers) is notified to the player by the liquid crystal display means 66, etc. As shown in Fig. 5, the liquid crystal display means 66 is capable of displaying first and second reserved images X1-X4, Y1-Y4, and a changing reserved image Z, which indicate the first and second special reserved numbers. That is, when the number of first and second special reserved items increases based on the first and second special pattern starting means 62, 63 detecting a game ball, one additional first and second reserved image X1~, Y1~ is displayed on the liquid crystal display means 66, and when the number of first and second special reserved items decreases based on the start of a new variation of the first and second special patterns by the first and second special pattern display means 83, 84, the varying reserved image Z is erased and the first and second reserved images X1~, Y1~ are shifted one by one toward the front of the queue (for example, the right side of the screen), and the pushed-out first first and second reserved images X1, Y1 are moved to a predetermined position and changed into a new varying reserved image Z.

[0051] The big prize winning means 64 is an openable / closable winning means equipped with an openable / closable plate 79 that can be switched between an open state where the game ball can win and a closed state where the game ball cannot win, and is provided in the big prize winning unit 49, and is disposed downstream of the second special symbol starting means 63 and upstream of the first special symbol starting means 62, so that the game ball flowing down the right flow path 74b has a higher probability of winning than the game ball flowing down the left flow path 74a. In the special profit state that occurs when the first and second special symbols of the first and second special symbol display means 83 and 84 stop in a big win mode after fluctuating, the openable / closable plate 79 opens forward according to one or more types of opening patterns, and the game ball that falls on it is allowed to win inside. When a game ball wins in the big prize winning means 64, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out as prize balls for each win.

[0052] The opening pattern of the big prize winning means 64 in the special advantage state is configured to perform a closing operation for a predetermined number of rounds such as 3R, 10R, etc., on the condition that a predetermined time (e.g., 28 seconds) has elapsed since the big prize winning means 64 was opened or a predetermined number of game balls (e.g., 9 balls) have been won by that time, and in this embodiment, when either the first or second special pattern results in a big prize, the 10R opening pattern is selected regardless of the type of big prize (A1, A2) (Figure 13(a)).

[0053] In addition, a plurality of normal winning means 65 are arranged in the normal winning unit 50 etc. in the game area 23. The normal winning means 65 is a non-opening / closing type winning means that does not have an opening / closing means, and is equipped with a game ball detection switch (not shown) that detects winning game balls, and when a game ball wins, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out as prize balls for each winning.

[0054] In addition, game balls that have won in the winning means such as the first and second special symbol starting means 62, 63, the big winning means 64, the normal winning means 65, etc., are detected by the game ball detection switches, and then discharged outside the gaming machine through the back side of the gaming board 16. In addition, game balls that have not won in any of the winning means are discharged outside the gaming machine through one or more outlets 90 arranged in the playing area 23, through the back side of the gaming board 16.

[0055] 7 and other figures, a rear attachment 91 is disposed on the rear side of the game board 16, covering the winning means such as the big winning means 64 and the outlet 90. This rear attachment 91 is composed of a rear mounting base 92 and a ball collection case 93. A liquid crystal display means 66 is detachably attached to the rear mounting base 92 on the rear wall 92a side thereof and in a position corresponding to the rear of the display window 47a of the central display frame unit 47, and a board movable presentation means 67 (FIG. 5) is disposed between the base plate 45 of the game board 16 and the rear wall 92a.

[0056] The ball collection case 93 is used to receive game balls that have won in a winning means such as the large prize winning means 64 or that have passed through the outlet 90 and been guided to the back side of the game board 16, and discharges them downstream.As shown in Figure 7, the ball collection case 93 is positioned to cover the lower side of the rear mounting base 92, and a discharge outlet 94 is formed at a predetermined position on the bottom wall 93a, for example, on the front side approximately in the center in the left-right direction, to discharge collected game balls downward.

[0057] 7 and 8, the main control board case 102, the performance board case 106, etc. are detachably attached to the rear side of the back mounting body 91. The main control board case 102 is disposed on the lower side of the back mounting body 91, that is, on the rear side of the ball collection case 93, and the main control board 101 is housed inside with the first surface 101a on which the main electronic components are mounted facing the rear side. The performance board case 106 is disposed on the upper side of the main control board case 102 corresponding to the rear side of the liquid crystal display means 66, and the performance interface board 103, the liquid crystal interface board 104, and the liquid crystal control board 105 are housed inside with the first surfaces 103a, 104a, and 105a on which the main electronic components are mounted facing the rear side.

[0058] The main control board 101 has a horizontally elongated, generally rectangular shape that straddles the open / close end side and the hinge end side, sandwiching the left-right center of the front frame 3, and as shown in Figs. 6, 8, 9, etc., a RAM clear switch 107 is disposed on the lower side of the first surface 101a and on the open / close end side, i.e., on the lower left side as viewed from the rear (a position closer to the open / close end in the left-right direction on the front frame 3). The RAM clear switch (RAM clear operation unit) 107 is operated when clearing the RAM when the power is turned on, and can be operated by pressing it from the outside of the main control board case 102, and is configured to be OFF when not operated and ON when pressed. When the front frame 3 is in the closed state, the RAM clear switch 107 is located rearward of the rear edge side of the outer frame 2.

[0059] 6, the performance interface board 103 has a volume setting knob 108 disposed at a predetermined position on the first surface 103a side, for example, at a position near the left-right opening / closing end of the front frame 3. The volume setting knob 108 is used by the hall staff to select the volume, and is configured as a rotary switch that can be switched between multiple levels (here, 10 levels corresponding to the hall setting values ​​T0 to T9), and can be rotated from the outside of the performance board case 106. When the front frame 3 is in the closed state, the volume setting knob 108 is located behind the rear edge of the outer frame 2.

[0060] In addition, a rear cover 110 that covers the rear side of the game board 16 and can be opened and closed is attached freely to the back side of the front frame 3, as shown in Figures 6, 7, etc., and a game ball tank 111 and a first tank rail 112a are attached to the upper side of this, and a second tank rail 112b, a payout means 32 and a payout passage 113 are attached to the left and right sides, respectively.When a game ball wins a prize winning means such as the big prize winning means 64, or when a ball lending command is received from an automatic ball lending machine not shown, the game ball in the game ball tank 111 is paid out by the payout means 32 via the first and second tank rails 112a, 112b, and the game ball is guided to the upper tray 33 via the payout passage 113.

[0061] The rear cover 110 is made of a transparent synthetic resin, and has a vertical hinge 114 at one left-right end, for example the right end (left end when viewed from the rear), and one or more latch means 115 for fixing it in the closed state at the other left-right end, for example the left end (right end when viewed from the rear), and in the closed state, covers almost the entire performance board case 106 and a part of the upper side of the main control board case 102 from the rear. The RAM clear switch 107 provided on the main control board 101 is located on the outside (lower side) of the rear cover 110, and can be operated with the rear cover 110 closed. Also, the volume setting knob 108 provided on the performance interface board 103 is disposed inside the back cover 110, but the back cover 110 has an opening 110a formed corresponding to the rear side of the volume setting knob 108, and by inserting a tool such as a screwdriver into this opening 110a, it is possible to operate the volume setting knob 108 even with the back cover 110 closed. Of course, if the back cover 110 is open, the volume setting knob 108 can be operated without using a tool.

[0062] As shown in Figs. 6 to 10, a board mounting stand 121 is disposed on the lower rear side of the front frame 3, i.e., on the rear side of the lower mounting portion 15, and a power supply board case 124 that houses a power supply board 123, which is one of the parts constituting the power supply unit 122, and a payout launch board case 126 that houses a payout launch control board 125 are detachably mounted on the rear side of the board mounting stand 121. In addition, a ball discharge passage 127 for discharging game balls guided to the rear side of the game board 16 to the outside of the machine is integrally provided on the front side of the board mounting stand 121, for example. The ball discharge passage 127 has an inlet 127a on the upstream end side that communicates with the outlet 94 on the ball collection case 93 side from below, and an outlet 127b on the downstream end side that opens downward at the front side of the lower end of the board mounting stand 121.

[0063] The power supply board case 124 and the dispensing / launching board case 126 are arranged in a front-to-back stacked state near the lower side of the main control board case 102, with the power supply board case 124 removably mounted on the rear side of the board mounting stand 121, and the dispensing / launching board case 126 removably mounted on the rear side of the power supply board case 124. Note that the dispensing / launching board case 126 may be fixed to the board mounting stand 121, etc., instead of the power supply board case 124.

[0064] The power supply board 123 does not have a backup power supply, nor does it have the function of determining and outputting a power supply abnormality signal when the power is turned off, so it does not have any functions that may affect or may affect the outcome of the game, and it only has the function of supplying or cutting off power to the other boards and components, etc. In this way, since the power supply board 123 is merely one of the components that make up the power supply unit 122, there is no need to engrave board identification information consisting of the company name, board number, etc., and therefore it can be used commonly among group companies, etc.

[0065] It should be noted that the backup power supply can be provided on the relay board that relays between the power supply board 123 and the main control board 101, on the payout firing control board 125, etc., but cannot be provided on the main control board 101. This is because if the main control board 101 alone were able to back up information regarding the game status, it could make it easier to commit fraud. The function of determining and outputting the power supply abnormality signal can be provided on the main control board 101, in addition to the relay board, the payout firing control board 125, etc.

[0066] The power supply board 123 has a roughly horizontally elongated rectangular shape spanning the opening / closing end and the hinge end, sandwiching the left-right center of the front frame 3, and is housed in the power supply board case 124 with its first surface 123a, on which the main electronic components are mounted, facing the rear, and a power switch 128 is located on the upper side of the first surface 123a, on the opening / closing end side of the front frame 3, i.e., on the upper left side when viewed from behind (a position closer to the opening / closing end in the left-right direction on the front frame 3), so that it can be operated from outside the power supply board case 124.

[0067] The power switch (power operation unit) 128 is for turning the power on and off, and as shown in Figs. 6, 8 to 10, has a power ON part 128a and a power OFF part 128b, and when the power ON part 128a is pressed, the power OFF part 128b protrudes (power ON state), and when the power OFF part 128b is pressed, the power ON part 128a protrudes (power OFF state). It is configured as a so-called rocker switch (seesaw switch), and is arranged so that the power ON part 128a is on the lower side relative to the power OFF part 128b. This makes it possible to minimize the possibility that the power will be turned off even if a falling object such as a game ball hits the power switch 128. When the front frame 3 is in the closed state, the power switch 128 is located behind the rear edge side of the outer frame 2.

[0068] Further, near the power switch 128 on the first surface 123a of the power supply board 123, for example on the lower side, a power connector 130 for connecting a power harness 129 is exposed rearward from the power supply board case 124. The power harness 129 is for connecting the power supply board 123 to an external power source (24 V), and as shown in Figures 6 to 10, has a power plug 129a on one end and a connection connector 129b on the other end connected to the power connector 130 of the power supply board 123.

[0069] The power harness 129 is guided along a predetermined wiring path 131 on the rear side of the front frame 3 from a connection portion with the power supply board 123 (the left end portion of the power supply board 123 in a rear view) to an upper portion of the hinge end side on the rear side of the front frame 3. This wiring path 131 includes a first wiring path 131a disposed in the left-right direction along the underside of the power supply board case 124, and a second wiring path 131b disposed in the up-down direction along the hinge end side of the front frame 3. The power harness 129 is guided by a first guiding means 132 along the first wiring path 131a, and by a second guiding means 133 along the second wiring path 131b.

[0070] The first guiding means 132 is composed of a plurality of (four here) locking members 132a-132d arranged at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction along the lower edge side of the power supply board case 124. The locking members 132a-132d are formed in a hook shape or any other shape capable of locking the power supply harness 129, and are formed integrally with the rear side of the board mounting stand 121 or are detachably attached to the board mounting stand 121. The power supply harness 129 is guided in the left-right direction along the lower side of the power supply board case 124 by the first guiding means 132 while avoiding the outlet 127b of the ball discharge passage 127 (first wiring path 131a).

[0071] The second guide means 133 is composed of a plurality of (here, five) locking members 133a-133e arranged at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction along the hinge end side edge of the front frame 3. The locking members 133a-133e are formed in a hook shape or other arbitrary shape capable of locking the power harness 129, and are formed integrally with the rear surface side of the frame portion 13 constituting the inner frame 6, or are detachably attached to the frame portion 13. The power harness 129 is guided in the vertical direction by the second guide means 133 along the inner surface side of the vertical frame material 2a on the hinge side of the outer frame 2 (second wiring path 131b), and is drawn upward from the drawing portion 134 formed by the uppermost locking member 133e. This prevents the power harness 129 from being pinched between the outer frame 2 and the front frame 3 when the front frame 3 is opened, and allows the front frame 3 to be opened and closed smoothly. Of the multiple (five) fasteners 133a to 133e constituting the second guiding means 133, the lowest fastener 133a is positioned below the main control board 101, and the topmost fastener 133e is positioned above the performance interface board 103, the LCD interface board 104, the LCD control board 105, etc.

[0072] As described above, the power supply harness 129 is arranged in the second wiring path 131b along the metallic (conductive) vertical frame material 2a that constitutes the outer frame 2, and is arranged on the outside (hinge side) of the rear cover 110 that covers the main control board case 102, etc., and a certain distance is maintained between the rear cover 110 and the second wiring path 131b by arranging the second tank rail 112b, dispensing means 32, dispensing passage 113, etc., so that it is possible to eliminate the adverse effects of noise from the power supply harness 129 on the main control board 101, etc.

[0073] Also, the first wiring path 131a is not wired between a plurality of control boards equipped with CPUs, for example, between the main control board 101 and the dispensing / firing control board 125, but is arranged below those control boards. That is, the wiring path 131 of the power harness 129 is not arranged between a plurality of control boards equipped with CPUs, that is, the first wiring path 131a is arranged below all the control boards, and the second wiring path 131b is arranged closer to the hinge end side than all the control boards, so that it is arranged from the connection part with the power board 123 to the drawer part 134 at the upper part of the hinge part side on the back side of the front frame 3, and therefore it is possible to effectively eliminate the adverse effect of noise from the power harness 129 on each control board.

[0074] In addition, the power harness 129 is arranged on the outside of the rear cover 110, and is pulled out from the pull-out section 134 above the main control board 101, the performance interface board 103, the LCD interface board 104, the LCD control board 105, etc., so that the power harness 129 does not come into contact with or come into close proximity to the respective control boards.

[0075] As described above, the dispensing launch board case 126 is disposed behind the power supply board case 124, but as shown in Figures 6, 8, and 10, the left end side in rear view (the opening / closing end side in the front frame 3) is disposed slightly offset to the right side in rear view (the hinge end side in the front frame 3) with respect to the power supply board case 124 so as not to overlap with the rear side of the power switch 128. Note that the dispensing launch control board 125 and the dispensing launch board case 126 are shorter in the left-right direction than the power supply board 123 and the power supply board case 124, so that even when the dispensing launch board case 126 is attached, a part of the left end side (the right end side in rear view) of the power supply board 123 and the power supply board case 124 is visible from the rear.

[0076] An error display means 141 and an error reset button (error reset operation unit) 142 are arranged on the first surface 125a of the dispensing / firing control board 125 at the opening / closing end side of the front frame 3, i.e., at the left end side when viewed from the rear (a position closer to the opening / closing end in the left-right direction of the front frame 3). When the front frame 3 is in the closed state, the error display means 141 and the error reset button 142 are located behind the rear edge side of the outer frame 2.

[0077] The error display means 141 is for notifying the type of error when any of a plurality of types of error occurs, and is composed of a plurality of (here, three) first to third LEDs 141a to 141c. This error display means 141 is intended to notify three types of error states: a ball counting switch disconnection error, a payout shortage error, and a ball counting switch error. In the case of a ball counting switch disconnection error, the first LED 141a is turned on, in the case of a payout shortage error, the second LED 141b is turned on, and in the case of a ball counting switch error, the third LED 141c is turned on (FIG. 15). Of course, the error display means 141 may be composed of a 7-segment LED or the like. The contents of each error state will be described later.

[0078] The correspondence between the lighting mode of the error display means 141 and the error state is shown on the error notification information sticker 143 attached to the payout emission board case 126. As shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the error notification information sticker 143 is attached to the back side of the payout emission board case 126 and on the left end side in the rear view (position closer to the left and right opening / closing ends in the front frame 3). When the front frame 3 is in the closed state, the error notification information sticker 143 is located behind the rear edge side of the outer frame 2.

[0079] The error release button 142 is operated when releasing a specific error state, can be pressed from the outside of the payout emission board case 126, and is configured to be OFF when not operated and ON when pressed. In the present embodiment, the operation of the error release button 142 is included in the error release conditions (specific error release conditions) for releasing the above-described payout shortage error and ball count switch error (FIG. 15). Details of the error release conditions will be described later.

[0080] As described above, on the back side of the front frame 3, there are arranged operation means such as the RAM clear switch 107, power switch 128, error release button 142, volume setting knob 108, etc., and display means such as the error display means 141 and error notification information sticker 143. Hereinafter, matters related to these operation means and display means arranged on the back side of the front frame 3 will be described.

[0081] <Regarding the RAM clear process> In this pachinko machine, the main control board 101 comprehensively controls the progress of the game, and various game information indicating the game situation is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM provided in the main control board 101. When the power supply is stopped due to the end of business in the game hall or a power outage (when the power is OFF), the stored content of the RAM is held for a certain period of time by power supply from the backup power supply. Then, when the power supply is resumed with the RAM clear switch 107 remaining OFF (when the power is ON), the game resumes from the game state immediately before the power supply stop (power OFF) based on the game information held in the RAM (backup return).

[0082] In contrast, when the power switch 128 is switched from OFF to ON while the RAM clear switch 107 is ON (hereinafter referred to as the RAM clear start-up operation), a specified area of ​​the RAM is forcibly cleared, and game play is started from the initial state regardless of the game state immediately before the power supply was stopped (power OFF).

[0083] In this way, when a waiter performs the RAM clear activation operation, he or she must release the locking means 5 to open the front frame 3, and operate the RAM clear switch 107 and the power switch 128 simultaneously.

[0084] <Errors related to payment control and how to resolve them> Fig. 15 shows an overview of several types of errors related to payout control, as well as how to display and clear the errors. A ball jam error occurs when balls are jammed in the lower tray 34. The error is displayed by the LCD display means 66, and the error is cleared by removing the balls from the lower tray 34. An out-of-supply error occurs when there are not enough game balls in the game ball tank 111. The error is displayed by the LCD display means 66, and the error is cleared by refilling the game ball tank 111 with game balls.

[0085] The ball counting switch disconnection error occurs when the ball counting switch is disconnected, and the error is displayed by lighting the first LED 141a constituting the error display means 141, and the error is cleared by returning the ball counting switch to a normal state. The ball counting switch (not shown) is for counting the number of game balls paid out from the payout means 32, and is disposed downstream of the payout means 32 (not shown).

[0086] An insufficient dispensing error occurs when a dispensing operation occurs a predetermined number of times (e.g., twice) within a predetermined time (e.g., 300,000.4 ms ≒ 5 minutes) when the number of insufficient dispensed items (the shortage in the number of items actually dispensed compared to the number to be dispensed) is a predetermined number (e.g., 2 items), and an error is displayed by lighting up the second LED 141b that constitutes the error display means 141, and the dispensing motor of the dispensing means 32 is initialized when the error clear button 142 is operated to turn it ON, and the error is cleared if normal operation is confirmed (if specific error clearing conditions are met, including the error clear button 142 being operated).

[0087] A ball counting switch error occurs when the number of balls detected when the payout motor of the payout means 32 is not operating and the number of balls detected when an over-payout occurs reaches a predetermined number (for example, 25 balls).The error is displayed by lighting up the third LED 141c that constitutes the error display means 141, and the payout motor of the payout means 32 is initialized when the error clear button 142 is operated and turned ON.If normal operation is confirmed as a result (when specific error clearing conditions are met, including the error clear button 142 being operated), the error is cleared.

[0088] In this way, when a hall attendant checks whether a ball counting switch disconnection error, insufficient payout error, or ball counting switch error has occurred, he or she must release the locking means 5, open the front frame 3, and make a judgment by looking at the lighting state of the error display means 141. The relationship between the lighting state of the error display means 141 and the type of error can be confirmed by the error notification information sticker 143 arranged near the error display means 141. Furthermore, if the error display means 141 confirms that either a insufficient payout error or a ball counting switch error has occurred, the hall attendant can reset the error by operating the error reset button 142 while leaving the front frame 3 open.

[0089] <Volume adjustment operation> In this pachinko machine, the volume can be set to one of multiple levels, for example, eight levels from V0 (silent) to V7 (maximum volume), based on the setting of the volume setting knob 108 located on the back side of the front frame 3 and the volume adjustment operation using the volume adjustment operation unit 37 located on the front side of the front frame 3.

[0090] FIG. 16 shows an example of the volume corresponding to ten settings of T0 to T9 by the volume setting knob 108 and five settings of M1 to M5 by the volume adjustment operation unit 37. When the volume setting knob 108 is set to any of T0 to T3, the volume is fixed to V0 to V3, respectively, and the volume cannot be adjusted by the volume adjustment operation unit 37. When the volume setting knob 108 is set to any of T4 to T9, the volume adjustment range by the volume adjustment operation unit 37 is common to all of V3 to V7, but the initial setting values ​​are different. In particular, when the volume setting knob 108 is set in the range of T4 to T7, the initial setting values ​​are V4 to V7, respectively. As a result, when the volume setting knob 108 is set in the range of T0 to T7, the higher the setting step, the higher the initial setting value of the volume.

[0091] In this manner, with this pachinko machine, if one wishes to fix the volume to any of V0 to V3, or to set the initial setting value to any of V3 to V7 while allowing the player to adjust the volume, the hall attendant must release the locking means 5 and open the front frame 3, and then open the rear cover 110, or, with the rear cover 110 closed, insert a tool such as a screwdriver through the opening 110a to rotate the volume setting knob 108.

[0092] As described above, when the hall staff performs a RAM clear startup operation, when checking for a predetermined error and performing a release operation thereof, when setting the volume on the game hall side, etc., it is necessary to open the front frame 3 and perform a predetermined operation on the back side thereof, or visually recognize the display content at a predetermined location. On the other hand, in the case of a pachinko machine like this one, when the front frame 3 is provided with a portion (such as the frame first movable body 26, the frame second movable body 27, the lower front unit 31, etc.) that protrudes greatly forward, if the front frame 3 is opened widely, the protruding portion may come into contact with the adjacent gaming machine and be damaged. Therefore, even when performing work such as a RAM clear startup operation, the front frame 3 cannot be opened widely.

[0093] In that regard, in this pachinko machine, it is possible to efficiently perform work on the back side of the front frame 3 even when the front frame 3 is opened to such an extent that it does not contact the adjacent gaming machine. Hereinafter, the minimum required open state (opening angle) of the front frame 3 for each target work will be described. In the following description, a portion (such as the frame first movable body 26, the frame second movable body 27, the lower front unit 31, etc.) that protrudes forward of the firing handle 39 is referred to as a "protruding portion", and is distinguished from other portions (non-protruding portions). When opening the front frame 3, the positional relationship with the adjacent gaming machine becomes a problem. However, for non-protruding portions with a smaller protruding amount than the firing handle 39, even when the front frame 3 is opened widely, there is almost no problem of contact with the firing handle of the adjacent gaming machine and other portions.

[0094] <Open state of the front frame 3 when performing a RAM clear startup operation> The RAM clear start operation is performed by simultaneously operating the RAM clear switch 107 and the power switch 128, as described above. In this embodiment, the RAM clear switch 107 and the power switch 128 are both located near the opening / closing end on the rear side of the front frame 3, i.e., near the opening / closing end, and are located close enough to each other that they can be operated simultaneously with one hand. That is, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the main control board 101 on which the RAM clear switch 107 is provided and the power supply board 123 on which the power switch 128 is provided are located adjacent to each other vertically, and the RAM clear switch 107 is located at the lower left of the main control board 101 when viewed from behind, and the power supply switch 128 is located at the upper left of the power supply board 123 when viewed from behind.

[0095] The RAM clear start operation is possible when the front frame 3 is gradually opened from the closed state, and the RAM clear switch 107 and the power switch 128 reach the front side of the front edge of the outer frame 2 as shown in FIG. 17, and become visible and operable between the outer frame 2 and the front frame 3 (first open state). In the first open state shown in FIG. 17, the protrusion (frame first movable body 26, etc.) is located on the left-right inner side (here, on the right side) of the first hinge 4 (of course, from the side surface of the outer frame 2), so there is no risk of contacting the adjacent gaming machine. In the first open state shown in FIG. 17, the opening angle of the front frame 3 is about 21 degrees, and the inclination angle of the keyhole 5a with respect to the front is also about 21 degrees, which is an acute angle. If the front frame 3 is opened to the extent that it may come into contact with an adjacent gaming machine, such as when the inclination angle of the keyhole 5a relative to the front exceeds 90 degrees and becomes an obtuse angle, care must be taken when removing the special key from the keyhole 5a not to come into contact with the adjacent gaming machine. However, if the inclination angle of the keyhole 5a relative to the front is an acute angle, the special key can be easily removed from the keyhole 5a without such care, allowing the work to be done efficiently.

[0096] <Open state of front frame 3 when performing error release operation> When a payout shortage error or a ball count switch error occurs, it is necessary to operate the error reset button 142 to reset them (FIG. 15). In this embodiment, the error reset button 142 is located at a position near the opening / closing end on the back side of the front frame 3, that is, near the opening / closing end side (FIGS. 8, 10, etc.). Then, when the front frame 3 is gradually opened and the error reset button 142 reaches the front side of the front edge of the outer frame 2 as shown in FIG. 18, the error reset button 142 becomes visible and operable between the outer frame 2 and the front frame 3 (second open state). In the second open state shown in FIG. 18, the protruding part (frame first movable body 26, etc.) is located on the inside in the left-right direction (here, on the right side) from the first hinge 4 (of course, from the side surface of the outer frame 2), so there is no risk of contacting the adjacent gaming machine. In the second open state shown in Figure 18, the opening angle of the front frame 3 is approximately 22.3 degrees, and the inclination angle of the keyhole 5a relative to the front is also an acute angle of approximately 22.3 degrees. As a result, as described above, the dedicated key can be easily removed from the keyhole 5a without having to take care not to come into contact with an adjacent gaming machine, allowing for efficient operation.

[0097] <Open state of front frame 3 when checking for errors> In the event of a ball counting switch disconnection error, insufficient payout error, or ball counting switch error, the type of error can be confirmed by the error display means 141 (Figure 15). In addition, the correspondence between the lighting mode of the error display means 141 and the error state can be confirmed by the error notification information sticker 143 affixed to the payout launching board case 126. In this embodiment, both the error display means 141 and the error notification information sticker 143 are positioned near the opening and closing ends on the rear side of the front frame 3 (Figures 8, 10, etc.).

[0098] Then, the front frame 3 is gradually opened, and when the error display means 141 reaches the front side of the front edge of the outer frame 2 as shown in Fig. 19, this error display means 141 becomes visible between the outer frame 2 and the front frame 3 (third open state). When the front frame 3 is further opened from there, and substantially the entire error notification information sticker 143 reaches the front side of the front edge of the outer frame 2 as shown in Fig. 20, this error notification information sticker 143 becomes visible between the outer frame 2 and the front frame 3 (fourth open state).

[0099] In the third and fourth open states shown in Fig. 19 and Fig. 20, the protruding part (frame first movable body 26, etc.) is located on the left-right inner side (here, on the right side) of the first hinge 4 (and of course from the side surface of the outer frame 2), so there is no risk of contacting the adjacent gaming machine. In the third open state shown in Fig. 19, the opening angle of the front frame 3 is about 22.7 degrees, and the inclination angle of the keyhole 5a with respect to the front is also about 22.7 degrees, which is an acute angle, and in the fourth open state shown in Fig. 20, the opening angle of the front frame 3 is about 30.2 degrees, and the inclination angle of the keyhole 5a with respect to the front is also about 30.2 degrees, which is an acute angle, so in either case, the dedicated key inserted into the keyhole 5a for unlocking can be easily removed, allowing for efficient operation.

[0100] <Open state of front frame 3 when setting the volume on the gaming hall side> To change the volume setting values ​​T0 to T9 on the gaming hall side, it is necessary to operate the volume setting knob 108. In this embodiment, the volume setting knob 108 is located at a position near the opening / closing end on the rear side of the front frame 3, that is, near the opening / closing end side (FIG. 6, etc.). Then, when the front frame 3 is gradually opened and the extension line of the volume setting knob 108 to the rear reaches the outer side in the left-right direction from the outer frame 2 in a plan view as shown in FIG. 21, the volume setting knob 108 can be easily operated by inserting a tool from the opening 110a while keeping the rear cover 110 closed (fifth open state). In the fifth open state shown in FIG. 21, the protruding part (here, the frame first movable body 26) is located on the inner side in the left-right direction (here, the right side) from the first hinge 4 (of course, from the side surface of the outer frame 2), so there is no risk of contacting the adjacent gaming machine. In the fifth open state shown in Figure 21, the opening angle of the front frame 3 is approximately 32 degrees, and the inclination angle of the keyhole 5a relative to the front is also an acute angle of approximately 32 degrees, so that the special key inserted into the keyhole 5a for unlocking can be easily removed, allowing for efficient operation.

[0101] As described above, in this embodiment, the opening angles of the first to fifth open states are all less than 45 degrees. If the opening angle of the front frame 3 is less than 45 degrees, the possibility of contacting an adjacent gaming machine is extremely low, not only in the case of this pachinko machine, but also in gaming machines with different shapes of protruding parts. Therefore, when opening the front frame 3 to perform RAM clear start-up operation or other work, the person in charge of the gaming hall can prevent contact with the adjacent gaming machine simply by keeping the opening angle of the front frame 3 to the minimum required (first to fifth open states) or taking care not to exceed 45 degrees at most.

[0102] Next, the game progress of this pachinko machine will be specifically explained. As described above, this pachinko machine has a normal state and first to third advantageous states as game states (FIG. 11). In the normal state, the jackpot probability of the first and second special symbols is set to a low probability (1 / 319), the hit probability of the normal symbol is set to a low probability (100 / 251), the variation time of the normal symbol is set to a normal (non-reduced) variation time (5 seconds), and the opening time of the second special symbol starting means 63 is set to a normal (non-extended) opening time (80 ms). In addition, the time-saving lottery is only performed during this normal state, and is not performed during the advantageous state.

[0103] The first advantageous state differs from the normal state only in that the normal symbol fluctuation time is set to a shortened fluctuation time (4.9 seconds) and no time-saving lottery is performed. The second advantageous state differs from the first advantageous state only in that the opening time of the second special symbol starting means 63 is set to an extended opening time (4000 ms). The third advantageous state differs from the second advantageous state only in that the jackpot probability of the first and second special symbols is set to a high probability (1 / 32), and the hit probability of the normal symbol is set to a high probability (250 / 251). In addition, the difference between the normal symbol fluctuation time (5 seconds) and the shortened fluctuation time (4.9 seconds) is so small that it is difficult for a player to distinguish the difference. Therefore, the normal state and the first game state are essentially the same except for whether or not a time-saving lottery is performed.

[0104] In addition, in this pachinko machine, the normal state is the initial state, so when the RAM is cleared (when the RAM clear start operation is performed), the game starts from this normal state (FIG. 14). In this normal state, the opening time of the second special symbol starting means 63 in the normal profit state is short (80 ms), so even if the player shoots the game ball aiming at the normal symbol starting means 61 and the second special symbol starting means 63 and generates the normal profit state, it is difficult to make the second special symbol starting means 63 win. Therefore, during this normal state, it is desirable for the player to aim at the first special symbol starting means 62 and hit it to the left. As a result, during the normal state, the first special symbol mainly fluctuates among the first and second special symbols.

[0105] During this normal state, a time-saving lottery (with a winning probability of about 1 / 30) is held together with a jackpot lottery with a low probability (1 / 319) based on the entry of a game ball into the first special symbol starting means 62 (FIG. 12). If the time-saving lottery is won, the first special symbol stops in either time-saving mode B1 or B2 (FIG. 13(b)). When the first special symbol becomes time-saving mode B1 (allocation rate 10 / 100), the state transitions to the second advantageous state at that point (S1 in FIG. 14), and then returns to the normal state when the number of times the first and second special symbols change reaches a first predetermined number of times (here, 100 times) (S2 in FIG. 14).

[0106] On the other hand, when the first special symbol becomes the time-saving mode B2 (allocation rate 90 / 100), the game transitions to the first advantageous state at that point (S3 in FIG. 14). This first advantageous state continues until the number of times the first and second special symbols change reaches the second predetermined number (here, 10,000 times) (FIG. 13(b)), but since the first special symbol is highly likely to be a jackpot by that time (jackpot probability 1 / 319), the possibility that the first advantageous state will end due to the limit on the number of changes is extremely low. As mentioned above, this first advantageous state is essentially a normal state in which the time-saving lottery is not held.

[0107] As described above, when the RAM is cleared, the game starts in the normal state, and a time-saving lottery with a winning probability of about 1 / 30 is performed. If the lottery is won, the game moves to the second advantageous state with a distribution rate of 10 / 100, and to the first advantageous state (effectively the normal state without the time-saving lottery) with a distribution rate of 90 / 100. In this way, in this pachinko machine, when the RAM is cleared, a time-saving lottery with a winning probability of 1 / 30 is performed, and if the lottery is won, the game moves to the second advantageous state with a distribution rate of 10 / 100, so that the player can be given a special benefit. By clearing the RAM and starting business, the game hall can intentionally make the player start playing in the normal state where the time-saving lottery is performed. Note that, since there is a high possibility that the game is in the first advantageous state rather than the normal state when the game hall starts business without clearing the RAM, the game often starts in the first advantageous state, and the player cannot enjoy the special benefit described above.

[0108] During the normal state, if the first special symbol becomes a jackpot pattern before the time-saving lottery is won, a special advantage state occurs according to the type of jackpot pattern, and after the end of the special advantage state, a transition to a predetermined advantageous state occurs (FIG. 13(a)). In this embodiment, for the special advantage state, the big prize winning means 64 is opened in a 10R opening pattern regardless of the type of jackpot pattern. The subsequent transition destination (advantageous state) is the third advantageous state (S4 in FIG. 14) in the case of jackpot pattern A1 (allocation rate 60 / 100), and the second advantageous state (S5 in FIG. 14) in the case of jackpot pattern A2 (allocation rate 40 / 100).

[0109] In addition, during the first advantageous state transitioned from the normal state, the game proceeds in the same way as during the normal state, except that the time-saving lottery is not performed. Then, when the first special symbol becomes a jackpot pattern, a special advantage state of 10R opening pattern occurs as in the normal state, and after the end of that, in the case of the jackpot pattern A1 (allocation rate 60 / 100), the game transitions to the third advantageous state (S6 in FIG. 14), and in the case of the jackpot pattern A2 (allocation rate 40 / 100), the game transitions to the second advantageous state (S7 in FIG. 14).

[0110] During the second and third advantageous states, the opening time of the second special symbol starting means 63 in the normal advantageous state becomes longer (4000 ms), making it easier to win (FIG. 11), so it is desirable for the player to hit to the right, aiming at the normal symbol starting means 61 and the second special symbol starting means 63. Therefore, during the second and third advantageous states, of the first and second special symbols, mainly the second special symbol fluctuates.

[0111] In addition, when the first special symbol becomes the jackpot pattern A2 and the state transitions to the second advantageous state, the state returns to the normal state when the number of times the first and second special symbols change reaches the first predetermined number of times (here, 100 times) in the same way as when the time-saving lottery is won and the state transitions to the second advantageous state (Fig. 13(a)). On the other hand, when the first special symbol becomes the jackpot pattern A1 and the state transitions to the third advantageous state, the number of times the first and second special symbols change continues until the number of times the first and second special symbols change reaches the third predetermined number of times (here, 10,000 times) (Fig. 13(a)), but since the possibility that the second special symbol will become a jackpot by that time is extremely high (jackpot probability 1 / 32), the possibility that the third advantageous state will end due to the limit on the number of times of change is extremely low.

[0112] During the second advantageous state, a jackpot lottery is held with a low probability (1 / 319) based on the entry of a game ball into the second special symbol starting means 63 (FIG. 11). If the first and second special symbols reach 100 variations without the second special symbol becoming a jackpot, the game moves to the normal state (S2 in FIG. 14), and a time-saving lottery (with a winning probability of about 1 / 30) is held together with the jackpot lottery with a low probability (1 / 319) based on the entry of a game ball into the first special symbol starting means 62, as in the case of the above-mentioned RAM clearing (FIG. 11). Thus, in this embodiment, even if the second advantageous state is left due to the limit on the number of symbol variations (100 variations), a time-saving lottery with a winning probability of 1 / 30 is held, as in the case of the RAM clearing, and when the lottery is won, a special benefit is given to the player, that is, a time-saving lottery with a winning probability of 1 / 30 is held, and when the lottery is won, the player is transferred to the second advantageous state with a distribution rate of 10 / 100.

[0113] On the other hand, if the second special symbol becomes a jackpot pattern during the second advantageous state, a special advantageous state of a 10R opening pattern occurs, as in the case where the first special symbol becomes a jackpot pattern, and after the end of this state, in the case of jackpot pattern A1 (allocation rate 60 / 100), the state transitions to the third advantageous state (S8 in Figure 14), and in the case of jackpot pattern A2 (allocation rate 40 / 100), the second advantageous state with a limit of 100 pattern changes begins again (S9 in Figure 14).

[0114] During the third advantageous state, a lottery for a big win is held with a high probability (1 / 32) based on the entry of a game ball into the second special symbol starting means 63 (FIG. 11). If the second special symbol becomes a big win pattern during the third advantageous state, a special advantage state of a 10R opening pattern occurs, and after the end of the state, in the case of the big win pattern A1 (allocation rate 60 / 100), the third advantageous state starts again (S10 in FIG. 14), and in the case of the big win pattern A2 (allocation rate 40 / 100), the state transitions to the second advantageous state (S11 in FIG. 14).

[0115] In this embodiment, a normal state (initial state) and a plurality of types of advantageous states are provided, a time-saving lottery is executed during the normal state, and a time-saving lottery is not executed during other advantageous states. The plurality of types of advantageous states include a first advantageous state (specific advantageous state) that is substantially not different from the normal state except whether or not a time-saving lottery is executed. When a player wins the time-saving lottery, the game moves to either the first advantageous state or the other advantageous states at a predetermined distribution rate. Therefore, when a RAM clear start operation is performed (i.e., when a game is started from the normal state), a special benefit can be given to the player compared to when a backup is restored (i.e., when a game is started in a state other than the normal state, such as the first advantageous state). In this way, depending on whether or not the game hall performs RAM clear on each game machine before opening for business, a sense of expectation that there is a possibility of a normal state in which a time-saving lottery is executed at the start of business can be provided to the player. In this pachinko machine, the above-mentioned configuration is adopted for the members related to the RAM clear operation, so that the operation of giving a sense of expectation to the player by the RAM clear operation at the time of startup can be efficiently performed.

[0116] 22 and 23 illustrate a second embodiment of the present application, which is a partial modification of the first embodiment, in which second guiding means 133' for guiding power harness 129 along second wiring path 131b is formed from a conductive material. Note that the only difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is the second guiding means 133' (second guiding means 133 in the first embodiment).

[0117] As shown in Fig. 22, the second guide means 133' in this embodiment is disposed vertically between the vertical frame member 2a on the hinge side of the outer frame 2 and the first tank rail 112a, the dispensing means 32 and the dispensing passage 113 in the front frame 3, with its lower end side being located below the main control board 101 and its upper end side being located above the performance interface board 103, the liquid crystal interface board 104, the liquid crystal control board 105, etc. As shown in Figure 23, this second guiding means 133' is formed by bending sheet metal (conductive material) into a roughly U-shaped cross section with an open front side, consisting of a pair of left and right side walls 133a', 133b' and a back wall 133c', and is detachably attached to the back side of the inner frame 6 so as to close the front side. The power harness 129 is inserted inside, and the tip side of the power harness 129, i.e., the power plug 129a side, is pulled upward from the pull-out portion 134 on the upper end side of this second guiding means 133'.

[0118] In this way, the second guide means 133' that houses the power plug 129a is conductive and is arranged, including the upper end side pull-out portion 134, on the outside (hinge side) of the rear cover 110 that covers the main control board case 102, etc., and a certain distance is maintained between the rear cover 110 and the second guide means 133' by arranging the second tank rail 112b, the dispensing means 32, the dispensing passage 113, etc., so that it is possible to eliminate adverse effects on the main control board 101, etc. due to noise from the power harness 129. In this embodiment, not only the second guide means 133' but also the vertical frame material 2a of the outer frame 2 along the second wiring path 131b are made of a conductive material, but the vertical frame material 2a of the outer frame 2 does not have to be made of a conductive material.

[0119] 24 and 25 illustrate a third embodiment of the present application, which is a partial modification of the first embodiment, in which a peripheral wall that is higher than the maximum height of the power switch 128 is provided around the power switch 128.

[0120] 24 and 25, the power supply board case 124 of this embodiment has a recess 151 formed on the rear surface 124a side, and the power switch 128 is disposed in the recess 151. The recess 151 is formed by being surrounded on all sides (top, bottom, left and right) by a peripheral wall 152. The height (position on the rear end side) of the peripheral wall 152 is approximately the same as or greater (rearward) than the maximum height (rearmost position) of the power switch 128.

[0121] This makes it possible to prevent the power switch 128 from being operated by mistake, for example, when searching by hand for various parts on the rear side of the front frame 3. It also makes it possible to minimize the possibility of a falling object such as a game ball hitting the power switch 128 and turning it on / off. Note that the peripheral wall 152 may be provided only on a portion of the periphery of the power switch 128, for example, only on the upper side and both the left and right sides.

[0122] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figures 26 to 32 illustrate a fourth embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine. In Figure 26, a gaming machine main body 501 includes a rectangular outer frame 502 and a front frame 504 pivotally attached to the front of the outer frame 502 by a hinge 503 on one of the left and right sides, for example, the left side, so as to be freely opened and closed. In the front frame 504, a game board 505 and the like are arranged on the upper side, and a launching means 506 for launching game balls toward a game area 505a in front of the game board 505, a lower speaker SP1, and the like are arranged on the lower side, respectively, and a glass door 507 is arranged in front of the game board 505, and a front panel 508 is arranged in front of the launching means 506, the lower speaker SP1, and the like, and is pivotally supported by a hinge 509 on the same side as the hinge 503 so as to be freely opened and closed. The glass door 507 and the front panel 508 may be configured as a single door body so that they can be opened and closed as a unit.

[0123] The glass door 507 has a glass window 507a corresponding to the play area 505a at its approximate center, and various presentation means such as an upper speaker SP2 and an illumination device 510 are arranged around the glass window 507a. The illumination device 510 includes an LED board 511 on the front side of which an LED 511a is arranged, and a light-emitting lens section 512 arranged in front of the LED board 511. A synthetic resin glass frame cover 513 is provided on the front side of the glass door 507 to cover the upper speaker SP2 and the like from the front side, and at least a part of the glass frame cover 513 is the light-emitting lens section 512 having translucency. The light-emitting lens section 512 is subjected to a light diffusion treatment such as uneven processing in order to make the LED board 511 and the like inside difficult to see from the front side and to appropriately diffuse the light emitted from the LED 511a.

[0124] In front of the front panel 508, an upper tray 515 is arranged on the upper side for storing game balls dispensed from the dispensing means 514 (see FIG. 27) and supplying them to the launching means 506, and below the upper tray 515, a lower tray 516 for storing surplus balls when the upper tray 515 is full is arranged on the left end side, and a launch handle 517 for operating the launching means 506 is arranged on the right end side. Furthermore, various operating means such as a performance button 519 that can be pressed by a player are arranged on an upper tray cover 518 that covers the upper tray 515 from the front side. An illumination means may also be arranged on the upper tray cover 518.

[0125] A guide rail 520 that guides the game ball launched from the launching means 506 is attached in a ring shape to the front side of the game board 505, and various game components such as a center case 521, a normal pattern starting means 522, a special pattern starting means 523, a big prize means 524, and a normal prize means 525 are arranged in the game area 505a inside the guide rail 520.

[0126] The center case 521 is disposed, for example, approximately in the center of the game area 505a, and is provided with an approximately rectangular display window 527 corresponding to an image display means 526 such as a liquid crystal type, and on a decorative frame 528 surrounding the display window 527, various display means such as a normal pattern display means 531, a special pattern display means 532, a normal reserved number display means 533, a first special reserved number display means 534, as well as a stage 535, a movable performance means 536, etc. are provided.

[0127] The stage 535 is arranged in the left-right direction on the lower front side of the image display means 526, and allows the game balls that flow into the side of the center case 521, for example the warp entrance 535a on the left side, to roll freely and then drop to the front, for example from a central drop section in the center in the left-right direction or a side drop section on either side of that.

[0128] The movable performance means 536 includes a movable illumination device 540, a movable body guide means 541 for movably supporting the movable illumination device 540, and a drive means 542 for driving the movable illumination device 540. The movable illumination device (illumination device) 540 is formed in a horizontally long shape, and an arbitrary decoration (here, the characters "Kappa Densetsu", which is the title of the gaming machine) is formed three-dimensionally on the front side of the movable illumination device, and a predetermined part (here, the characters of "Kappa Densetsu") is illuminated in an arbitrary color by lighting an LED 573 arranged inside. The details of the movable illumination device 540 will be described later.

[0129] The movable body guide means 541 supports the movable illumination device 540 in a state in which it can move in a predetermined direction (here, the vertical direction) along the front side of the display screen 526a of the image display means 526, and includes a pair of guide rails 543 arranged in the vertical direction along both the left and right sides of the display screen 526a of the image display means 526, and both left and right ends of the movable illumination device 540 are supported so as to be vertically movable by each of the guide rails 543. The movable body guide means 541 allows the movable illumination device 540 to move in the vertical direction between an upper position on the upper side of the image display means 526 and a lower position on the front side of the image display means 526, and is normally held in the upper position which is the origin position.

[0130] The driving means 542 is constituted, for example, by a stepping motor and is arranged on the rear side of the decorative frame 528, and is capable of moving the movable illumination device 540 in the vertical direction according to a predetermined operating pattern via a belt or the like (not shown).

[0131] The normal pattern starting means 522 is used to start the pattern change by the normal pattern display means 531, and is composed of a passing gate through which the game ball can pass. It is arranged to the left of the center case 521, and is equipped with a game ball detection means (not shown) that can detect the passage of the game ball.

[0132] The normal pattern display means 531 is used to variably display normal patterns and is equipped with a plurality of light-emitting elements (e.g., LEDs) corresponding to a plurality of normal patterns (e.g., two types, "○" and "X"). Based on the detection of a gaming ball by the normal pattern starting means 522, the plurality of light-emitting elements blink to emit light in a predetermined sequence. If the winning determination random number value included in the normal random number information acquired when the normal pattern starting means 522 detects a gaming ball matches a predetermined winning determination value, the light-emitting element corresponding to the winning state, for example, on the "○" side, lights up, and otherwise the light-emitting element corresponding to the losing state, for example, on the "X" side, lights up and stops.

[0133] The normal random number information acquired when the normal symbol starting means 522 detects a game ball is reserved and stored up to a predetermined upper limit, for example, four pieces, and is consumed in sequence each time the normal symbol display means 531 starts changing the pattern. The number of stored normal random number information (normal reserved number) is notified to the player by the normal reserved number display means 533, etc.

[0134] The special symbol starting means 523 is for starting the variation of symbols by the special symbol display means 532, and is provided with, for example, two upper and lower start winning means 523a, 523b, an opening / closing means 546 for opening and closing the lower start winning means 523b, and a game ball detection means (not shown) for detecting the game balls that have won the start winning means 523a, 523b, respectively, and is disposed, for example, below the center case 521. The upper start winning means 523a is a non-opening / closing type winning means that does not have an opening / closing means, etc., and is disposed directly below the center drop part of the stage 535 with an upward opening. The lower start winning means 523b is an opening / closing type winning means which can be switched by the opening / closing means 546 between an open state in which the game ball can win a prize, and a closed state in which a prize is not possible (or a prize is more difficult to win than in the open state), and is arranged below the upper start winning means 523a, and is configured so that the opening / closing means 546 changes from a closed state to an open state for a predetermined time in the normal profit state which occurs when the stopped pattern after the change of the normal pattern display means 531 becomes a winning pattern.

[0135] The special pattern display means 532 is for variably displaying special patterns, and is composed of a display means such as a 7-segment type capable of variably displaying one or more special patterns, for example one special pattern, and when the special pattern start means 523 detects a game ball (when the pattern start condition is met), that is, when the game ball enters either of the two upper and lower start winning means 523a, 523b, the special pattern is variably displayed for a predetermined period of time, and if the jackpot determination random number value contained in the special random number information obtained at the time of the game ball entering the start winning means 523a, 523b matches a predetermined jackpot determination value, it stops in a predetermined jackpot mode, and if they do not match, it stops in, for example, a miss mode.

[0136] The special random number information acquired when the game ball enters the special symbol starting means 523 is reserved and stored up to a predetermined upper limit, for example, up to four pieces, and is consumed in sequence each time the special symbol display means 532 starts changing the patterns. The number of stored special random number information (special reserved number) is notified to the player by the first special reserved number display means 534, the second special reserved number display means 549 described later, etc.

[0137] The big prize means 524 is an opening / closing type prize means equipped with an opening / closing plate 547 that can be switched between an open state in which the game ball can win a prize and a closed state in which the game ball cannot win a prize, and is arranged, for example, below the special pattern starting means 523, and in a special profit state that occurs when the stopped pattern after the change of the special pattern display means 532 becomes a big win state, the opening / closing plate 547 opens to the front according to a predetermined opening pattern, allowing the game ball that falls on it to win a prize inside.

[0138] The image display means 526 also includes a performance pattern display means 548, a second special reserved number display means 549, etc. The performance pattern display means 548 displays the performance pattern P in a variable manner in parallel with the display of the special pattern by the special pattern display means 532. The performance pattern P has a plurality of pattern rows (three in the left and right direction in the example of FIG. 26) consisting of a plurality of patterns including numerical patterns and other patterns, and starts to vary by vertical scrolling or the like for each pattern row according to a predetermined variation pattern almost simultaneously with the start of variation of the special pattern, and finally stops almost simultaneously with the stop of the special pattern so that the stopped pattern on a predetermined effective line becomes a predetermined mode. In the performance pattern P, for example, when all the stopped patterns on the effective line are the same, it is a big win performance mode, and otherwise it is a miss performance mode, and when the special pattern becomes a big win mode or a miss mode, the performance pattern P becomes a big win performance mode or a miss performance mode.

[0139] The second special reserved number display means 549 is for notifying the number of special reserved items, and can display reserved display images Q4-Q1 for the number of special reserved items (maximum 4 items) and a changing reserved image Q0 corresponding to the changing performance pattern P at a predetermined position on the display screen 526a, for example, at the bottom. When the number of special reserved items increases due to the entry of a game ball into the special pattern start means 523, the second special reserved number display means 549 displays one additional reserved display image Q1- at the end of the queue (for example, the left end side), and when a new change of the special pattern starts and the number of special reserved items decreases, for example, the changing reserved image Q0 is erased and the reserved display image Q1- is shifted by one toward the front of the queue (for example, the right side), and the pushed-out top reserved display image Q1 is changed to the new changing reserved image Q0.

[0140] In addition to the movable performance means 536, an illumination device 550 is arranged on various game components such as the center case 521 on the game board 505. The illumination device 550 includes an LED board 551 having an LED 551a arranged on the front side, and a light-emitting lens section 552 arranged in front of the LED board 551. The light-emitting lens section 552 is composed of a light-transmitting section provided on at least a part of the decorative frame 528. The light-emitting lens section 552 is subjected to a light diffusion treatment such as uneven processing in order to make the LED board 551 and the like inside difficult to see from the front side and to appropriately diffuse the light emitted from the LED 551a.

[0141] FIG. 27 is a schematic block diagram of the control system of this pachinko machine. In FIG. 27, the main control board 561 controls the overall game operation, and is connected to the normal pattern starting means 522, special pattern starting means 523, big prize means 524, normal prize means 525, normal pattern display means 531, special pattern display means 532, normal reserved number display means 533, first special reserved number display means 534, etc. on the game board 505 via, for example, a relay board not shown, etc., and below it are connected a sub-control board 562 which controls the performance such as image display by the image display means 526, audio output by speakers SP1, SP2, light emission by the illumination devices 510, 540, 550, and movable body drive by the drive means 542 based on control commands from the main control board 561, a payout control board 563 which controls the payout means 514 based on control commands from the main control board 561, and a launch control board 564 which controls the launch means 506 based on launch control signals from this payout control board 563, etc.

[0142] Next, the configuration of the movable illumination device 540 will be described with reference to Figs. 28 to 32 and the like. As shown in Figs. 28 to 31 and the like, the movable illumination device 540 is composed of a front cover body 571, a base body 572, and an LED board 574 on which a plurality of LEDs (light sources) 573 are arranged. The front cover body 571 is made of a synthetic resin having translucency, and integrally includes a front plate 575 and an outer peripheral plate 576 that is extended backward along the outer periphery of the front plate 575. The front plate 575 of the front cover body 571 is subjected to a non-translucent treatment on the front side (non-translucent portion 577) except for a character area corresponding to the character string "Kappa Legend" written in horizontal Gothic font, for example, and thus a translucent character portion (translucent portion) 578 constituting the horizontal character string "Kappa Legend" is formed on the front plate 575. 28, this light-transmitting character portion 578 is composed of a plurality of (here, 14) light-transmitting regions 578a-578n separated from one another by non-light-transmitting portions 577. For example, the character "ka" is composed of one light-transmitting region 578a, and the character "tsu" is composed of three light-transmitting regions 578b-578d.

[0143] The non-light-transmitting treatment for forming the non-light-transmitting portion 577 may be any treatment such as plating, pasting of a non-light-transmitting sheet, etc. The non-light-transmitting portion 577 is not required to be completely non-light-transmitting, but only needs to have a sufficiently low light transmittance compared to the light-transmitting character portion 578. It is also desirable to apply the non-light-transmitting treatment to the outer surface side of the outer peripheral plate 576 of the front cover body 571.

[0144] The front plate 575 of the front cover body 571 is formed in a horizontally elongated shape that is slightly larger than the outline of the horizontally written character string "Kappa Legend" that constitutes the light-transmitting character portion 578, and a non-light-transmitting border portion 577a of a substantially constant width is formed in a forward-protruding shape along the outer periphery of each character that constitutes the light-transmitting character portion 578. In this embodiment, the outside of the non-light-transmitting border portion 577a is the non-light-transmitting portion 577, and the inside of the non-light-transmitting border portion 577a is the light-transmitting character portion 578. Note that the non-light-transmitting border portion 577a does not necessarily have to be formed in a forward-protruding shape, and may be formed to the same thickness as the other non-light-transmitting portions 577.

[0145] As shown in FIG. 31, on the inner surface of the front cover body 571, lens cutting and other light diffusion treatments are applied at least to the area corresponding to the translucent letter portion 578 in order to make the LED board 574 and the like less visible from the front and to appropriately diffuse the light emitted from the LED 573 (light diffusion portion 579).

[0146] In FIG. 31, an example in which the light diffusion treatment is applied not only to the region behind the light-transmitting character part 578 but also to the region behind the non-light-transmitting part 577 is shown, but the light diffusion treatment may be applied only to the region behind the light-transmitting character part 578, and not to the region behind the non-light-transmitting part 577. When the light diffusion treatment is applied to the rear side of the non-light-transmitting part 577, the light diffusion treatment may be applied only to a certain region corresponding to the front side of the LED 573, not to the entire non-light-transmitting part 577. When the light diffusion treatment is applied to both the light-transmitting character part 578 and the non-light-transmitting part 577, the type of light diffusion treatment (for example, the type of lens cutting) may be different between the rear side of the light-transmitting character part 578 and the rear side of the non-light-transmitting part 577. In this case, the type of lens cutting may be any type, such as ball cutting, knurling, diamond cutting, ice cutting, etc. Further, regarding the transparent character portion 578, the side of the transparent character portion 578 (i.e., the front side) may be subjected to the same or different type of lens cut processing as that on the inner side.

[0147] The front cover body 571 is detachably fixed to the front side of the base body 572 by means of screws or the like. The base body 572 is made of a synthetic resin having no translucency, and integrally includes a front plate 581 formed in substantially the same shape as the outer shape of the front cover body 571, and an outer peripheral plate 582 extending rearward along the outer periphery of the front plate 581, and the front cover body 571 is fixed to the front side of the front plate 581. The rear side of the front cover body 571 is substantially closed by the front plate 581 of the base body 572, so that a light emitting chamber 583 is formed in the front cover body 571. Rail connection parts 584 are provided on both the left and right ends of the base body 572 so as to be slidably mounted on the guide rails 543.

[0148] The LED board 574 is shaped to fit the inner surface of the outer peripheral plate 576 of the front cover body 571, and is equipped with a board main body 585 which is larger than the translucent character portion 578 and whose edges are formed to fit the outer shape of the translucent character portion 578, a number of LEDs 573 arranged on the front side of the board main body 585, and a connector 586 arranged on the back side of the board main body 585, and is fixed to the front plate 581 of the base body 572 by screwing or the like while being positioned at a predetermined rear position within the light-emitting chamber 583 and removably attached.

[0149] A boss 587 for supporting the board is formed on the front plate 581 of the base body 572 so as to protrude forward, and this boss 587 supports the LED board 574 while maintaining a certain gap between it and the base body 572. A harness 588 connected to the connector 586 is led out to the rear side of the movable illumination device 540 through an opening 589 formed in the base body 572, and is connected to the sub-control board 562 via a relay board or the like.

[0150] On the LED board 574, 3×10=30 LEDs 573 are arranged corresponding to the light-transmitting character section 578 on the front cover body 571 side, that is, the character string "Kappa Legend". That is, on the LED board 574, as shown in FIG. 32, a plurality of LED rows (light source rows) each consisting of a plurality of (three in this case) LEDs 573 arranged in the short side direction (here, the vertical direction which is the width direction of the character string) of the movable illumination device 540 are arranged in a plurality of (ten pairs of A to J in this case) in the long side direction (here, the horizontal direction which is the arrangement direction of the character string). The LEDs 573 on the LED board 574 are controlled to emit light in a different channel for each LED row. This makes it possible to easily perform light emission control such as sequentially changing the light emission state (light emission color and light emission mode such as on / off) of the LEDs 573 in the arrangement direction of the character string.

[0151] 30, the 30 LEDs 573 are distinguished by adding the reference characters A to J (FIG. 32) indicating the LED column to which they belong, and the reference characters 1 to 3 indicating the number within each LED column. For example, the first LED 573 belonging to LED column A is LED 573A1, and the third LED 573 belonging to LED column B is LED 573B3.

[0152] Moreover, all of the 30 LEDs 573 are arranged on the rear side of the non-transparent border 577a along the boundary between the light-transmitting character portion 578 and the non-transparent border 577a so that at least a part of each LED 573 overlaps the rear side of the non-transparent portion 577 in a front view. Specifically, the LEDs 573 (here, LEDs 573G3, 573I1, 573I2, and 573J2) arranged corresponding to the non-transparent portion 577 (middle non-transparent portion) sandwiched between a plurality of light-transmitting character portions 578 adjacent to each other are arranged on the rear side of the non-transparent portion 577 in correspondence with the approximate center (positions approximately equidistant from each light-transmitting character portion 578). Moreover, the LEDs 573 (here, 573F1) arranged corresponding to the non-transparent portion 577 substantially surrounded by the light-transmitting character portions 578 are arranged on the rear side of the non-transparent portion 577 in correspondence with the approximate center (positions approximately equidistant from the surrounding light-transmitting character portions 578). In these cases, depending on the size relationship between the width of the non-transmitting portion 577 and the LED 573, if the LED 573 is larger (for example, LED 573I1), a portion of the LED 573 will extend beyond the transmissive character portion 578, but if the LED 573 is smaller (for example, LED 573J2, 573J3), the entire LED 573 will overlap the rear side of the non-transmitting portion 577.

[0153] On the other hand, when the other LEDs 573, that is, the non-transmitting portion 577 having a sufficient width is in contact with the translucent character portion 578, the LEDs 573 (here, LEDs 573A1-573A3, 573B1-573B3, etc.) arranged corresponding to the non-transmitting portion 577 are arranged so that the edges of the LEDs 573 approximately coincide with the front-rear boundary between the non-transmitting portion 577 and the translucent character portion 578. In this case, it is preferable that the edges of the LEDs 573 do not extend beyond the translucent character portion 578, but they may be arranged so that they extend partially.

[0154] In this way, by positioning the LED 573 behind the non-translucent portion 577, the light emitted from the LED 573 directly ahead is not (or is barely) irradiated directly onto the translucent letter portion 578, thereby eliminating spot light and reducing the brightness difference of the translucent letter portion 578.

[0155] Among the plurality of light-transmitting regions 578a-578n, in a specific light-transmitting region (here, light-transmitting regions 578a, 578d-578f, 578h, 578i, 578n) in which the plurality of LEDs 573 are arranged, the LEDs (specific light sources) 573 corresponding to each specific light-transmitting region are arranged as follows: That is, each LED 573 corresponding to a specific light-transmitting region is arranged such that an entire straight line path to at least one of the other LEDs 573 corresponding to the specific light-transmitting region passes through the specific light-transmitting region in a front view.

[0156] Specifically, among the LEDs 573A1 to 573A3 and 573B1 to 573B3 corresponding to the specific light-transmitting region 578a, for the LED 573A1, the straight path L1 for the LED 573A2 and the straight path L2 for the LED 573A3 all pass through the specific light-transmitting region 578a in a front view. Similarly, for the LED 573A2, the straight path L1 for the LED 573A1 and the straight path L3 for the LED 573B1 all pass through the specific light-transmitting region 578a in a front view. The same is true for the other LEDs 573A3 and 573B1 to B3. As a result, the light-emitting regions of the multiple LEDs 573 overlap each other in the specific light-transmitting region, making it possible to further reduce the brightness difference of the light-transmitting character portion 578 due to point light.

[0157] 30, the LED 573 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and three terminals 569a-569c, 569d-569f are arranged on predetermined opposite sides 573a, 573b of the four sides. Then, wiring patterns 570a-570c, 570d-570f are respectively drawn out straight and parallel from each of the terminals 569a-569c, 569d-569f in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined opposite sides 573a, 573b for at least a predetermined distance X, and then bent in any direction or directly connected to a via or the like. 30, LEDs 573 that are disposed near the edge of the LED substrate 574 and are particularly located less than the predetermined distance X from the substrate edge are disposed such that a side 573c on which no terminals are provided, different from the predetermined opposite sides 573a, 573b on which the terminals 569a-569c, 569d-569f are provided, faces the edge of the LED substrate 574. This has the advantage that the wiring pattern can be easily routed even though the LEDs 573 must be disposed near the edge of the LED substrate 574.

[0158] As described above, the pachinko machine of this embodiment is equipped with a movable illumination device (illumination device) 540 having a translucent character portion (translucent portion) 578 and a plurality of LEDs (light sources) 573 that illuminate the translucent character portion 578, and a non-translucent portion 577 is provided on the outer edge of the translucent character portion 578, and the LEDs 573 are positioned behind the non-translucent portion 577. Therefore, it is possible to improve the appearance when illuminated by reducing the brightness difference of the translucent character portion 578 caused by the point light of the movable illumination device 540.

[0159] Furthermore, the LED 573 is positioned at the boundary between the translucent letter portion 578 and the non-translucent portion 577 so that at least a portion of it overlaps the rear of the non-translucent portion 577 when viewed from the front of the movable illumination device 540, and further, for the intermediate non-translucent portion of the non-translucent portion 577 that is sandwiched on both sides by the translucent letter portions 578, the LED 573 is positioned behind it, corresponding to approximately the center in the width direction. This makes it possible to eliminate spot lights and make the entire translucent letter portion 578 emit light more brightly and as evenly as possible.

[0160] In addition, the light-transmitting character portion 578 has a plurality of light-transmitting regions 578a-578n separated from one another by non-light-transmitting portions 577, and a plurality of LEDs 573 (hereinafter, specific light sources) are arranged behind the outer periphery of the non-light-transmitting portion 577 in correspondence with specific light-transmitting regions among the plurality of light-transmitting regions 578a-578n. These specific light sources are arranged so that the entire straight line path for at least one of the other specific light sources passes through the specific light-transmitting region when viewed from the front of the movable illumination device 540. Therefore, the light-emitting regions of the multiple specific light sources overlap each other within the specific light-transmitting region, thereby making it possible to reduce the brightness difference in the light-transmitting character portion 578 caused by point light.

[0161] Furthermore, LED rows (rows of light sources) consisting of a plurality of LEDs 573 arranged in the short direction of the movable illumination device 540 are arranged in multiple rows in the long direction of the movable illumination device 540, and the LEDs 573 are controlled by different channels for each LED row. This makes it possible to easily perform illumination control such as sequentially changing the light emission state of the LEDs 573 (light emission color, light emission mode such as on / off, etc.) in the arrangement direction of the character string.

[0162] In addition, the LED board 574 is formed so that at least a portion of its edge conforms to the outline of the light-transmitting character portion 578, and the LEDs 573 near the edge of the LED board 574 are positioned so that the side other than the specified opposite side on which the terminals are provided faces the edge of the LED board 574. This has the advantage that even though the LEDs 573 must be positioned near the edge of the LED board 574, it is easy to route the wiring pattern.

[0163] 33 to 36 illustrate a fifth embodiment of the present invention, which is a partial modification of the fourth embodiment, in which a non-translucent character section made of a non-translucent section is provided in the translucent section, and LEDs are arranged behind the non-translucent character section. This embodiment differs from the fourth embodiment only in the arrangement of the translucent section / non-translucent section in the movable illumination device, the associated arrangement of the LEDs, and the shape of the movable illumination device. The configuration of the movable illumination device will be described below, focusing on the differences from the fourth embodiment.

[0164] 33 to 35, the movable illumination device 590 of this embodiment is configured with a front cover body 591, a base body 592, and an LED board 594 on which a plurality of LEDs (light sources) 593 are arranged, similarly to the movable illumination device 540 of the fourth embodiment. The front cover body 591 is made of a translucent synthetic resin, and integrally includes a front plate 595 and an outer peripheral plate 596 that is provided so as to extend rearward along the outer periphery of the front plate 595. In front plate 595 of front cover body 591, a non-light-transmitting treatment is applied to the front side of a character area (non-light-transmitting character portion 597a) corresponding to the character string "Kappa Legend" written in horizontal Gothic font, and a frame area (non-light-transmitting frame portion 597b) surrounding each of these characters individually, so that the characters "KA", "TT", "PA", "DEN", ​​and "SETSU" constituting non-light-transmitting character portion 597a are formed in five rectangular light-transmitting portions 598 on front plate 595. Front plate 595 of front cover body 591 is formed in a horizontally elongated rectangular shape along the outer shape of non-light-transmitting frame portion 597b.

[0165] The non-light-transmitting treatment for forming the non-light-transmitting portions 597a and 597b may be any treatment such as plating, attachment of a non-light-transmitting sheet, etc. The non-light-transmitting portions 597a and 597b are not required to be completely non-light-transmitting, but only need to have a sufficiently low light transmittance compared to the light-transmitting portion 598. It is also desirable to apply the non-light-transmitting treatment to the outer surface side of the outer peripheral plate 596 of the front cover body 591.

[0166] In addition, as shown in FIG. 35, on the inner surface of the front cover body 591, lens cutting processing or other light diffusion processing is applied to at least the area corresponding to the translucent portion 598 in order to make the LED board 594, etc., less visible from the front and to appropriately diffuse the light emitted from the LED 593 (light diffusion portion 599).

[0167] 35 shows an example in which the light diffusion treatment is performed not only on the region behind the light-transmitting portion 598 but also on the region behind the non-light-transmitting portions 597a and 597b, but the light diffusion treatment may be performed only on the region behind the light-transmitting portion 598, and not on the region behind the non-light-transmitting portions 597a and 597b. When the light diffusion treatment is performed on the rear sides of the non-light-transmitting portions 597a and 597b, the light diffusion treatment may be performed only on a certain region corresponding to the front side of the LED 593, not on the entire non-light-transmitting portions 597a and 597b. When the light diffusion treatment is performed on both the light-transmitting portion 598 and the non-light-transmitting portions 597a and 597b, the type of light diffusion treatment (for example, the type of lens cut processing) may be different between the rear side of the light-transmitting portion 598 and the rear side of the non-light-transmitting portions 597a and 597b. In this case, the type of lens cut processing may be any type, such as ball cut processing, knurling processing, diamond cut processing, ice cut processing, etc. In addition, with respect to the light-transmitting portion 598, the light-transmitting portion 598 side (i.e., the front side) may be subjected to the same or different type of lens cut processing as that on the inner side.

[0168] The front cover body 591 is detachably fixed to the front side of the base body 592 by screwing or the like. The base body 592 is made of a synthetic resin having no translucency, and integrally includes a front plate 601 formed in substantially the same shape as the outer shape of the front cover body 591, and an outer peripheral plate 602 extending rearward along the outer periphery of the front plate 601, and the front cover body 591 is fixed to the front side of the front plate 601. The rear side of the front cover body 591 is substantially closed by the front plate 601 of the base body 592, so that a light emitting chamber 603 is formed in the front cover body 591. Rail connection parts 604 that are slidably attached to the guide rails 543 are provided on both the left and right ends of the base body 592.

[0169] The LED board 594 comprises a board main body 605 formed in a horizontally elongated rectangular shape that conforms to the inner surface of the outer peripheral plate 596 of the front cover body 591, a plurality of LEDs 593 arranged on the front side of the board main body 605, and a connector 606 arranged on the back side of the board main body 605, and is disposed at a predetermined rear position within the light-emitting chamber 603 and is fixed to the front plate 601 of the base body 592 by screwing or the like in a manner that allows it to be freely attached and detached.

[0170] A boss 607 for supporting the board is formed on the front plate 601 of the base body 592 so as to protrude forward, and this boss 607 supports the LED board 594 with a certain gap between it and the base body 592. A harness 608 connected to the connector 606 is led out to the rear side of the movable illumination device 590 through an opening 609 formed in the base body 592, and is connected to the sub-control board 562 via a relay board or the like.

[0171] On the LED board 594, 3×9=27 LEDs 593 are arranged corresponding to the non-translucent character part 597a on the front cover body 591 side, i.e., the character string "Kappa Legend". That is, on the LED board 594, as shown in FIG. 36, a plurality of LED rows (light source rows) each consisting of a plurality of (three in this case) LEDs 593 arranged in the short side direction (here, the vertical direction which is the width direction of the character string) of the movable illumination device 590 are arranged in a plurality of (nine sets of A to I in this case) in the long side direction (here, the left-right direction which is the arrangement direction of the character string). The LEDs 593 on the LED board 594 are controlled to emit light by different channels for each LED row. This makes it possible to easily perform light emission control such as sequentially changing the light emission state (light emission color and light emission mode such as on / off) of the LEDs 593 in the arrangement direction of the character string.

[0172] 34, the 27 LEDs 593 are distinguished by adding the symbols A to I (FIG. 36) indicating the LED column to which they belong, and the symbols 1 to 3 indicating the number within each LED column. For example, the first LED 593 belonging to LED column A is LED 593A1, and the third LED 593 belonging to LED column B is LED 593B3.

[0173] All of the 27 LEDs 593 are disposed behind the non-translucent character portion 597a, and are disposed at approximately the center in the width direction of the non-translucent character portion 597a when viewed from the front. This means that the light emitted from the LEDs 593 directly ahead is not (or is minimally) irradiated directly onto the translucent portion 598, eliminating point light and reducing the brightness difference of the translucent portion 598, and making the silhouette of the non-translucent character portion 597a stand out more clearly.

[0174] 37 and 38 show a sixth embodiment of the present invention, which is a partial modification of the fifth embodiment, in which LEDs 593 are arranged not only behind the non-light-transmitting character portion 597a but also behind the non-light-transmitting frame portion 597b. This embodiment differs from the fifth embodiment only in the arrangement of the LEDs 593. The following description will focus on the differences from the fifth embodiment.

[0175] In the LED board 594 of this embodiment, 3×16=48 LEDs 593 are arranged corresponding to the non-translucent character part 597a and the non-translucent frame part 597b on the front cover body 591 side. That is, as shown in FIG. 38, the LED board 594 has a plurality of LED rows (light source rows) (here, 16 pairs of A to P) arranged in the longitudinal direction (here, the left-right direction in which the character strings are arranged) of the movable illumination device 590, each of which is composed of a plurality of (three here) LEDs 593 arranged in the short side direction (here, the up-down direction in which the character strings are arranged) of the movable illumination device 590. The LEDs 593 on the LED board 594 are controlled to emit light by different channels for each LED row. This makes it possible to easily perform light emission control such as sequentially changing the light emission state (light emission color and light emission mode such as on / off) of the LEDs 593 in the arrangement direction of the character strings.

[0176] 37, the 48 LEDs 593 are distinguished by adding the symbols A to P indicating the LED column to which they belong and the symbols 1 to 3 indicating the number within each LED column. For example, the first LED 593 belonging to LED column A is LED 593A1, and the third LED 593 belonging to LED column B is LED 593B3.

[0177] All of the 48 LEDs 593 are disposed behind either the non-light-transmitting character portion 597a or the non-light-transmitting frame portion 597b. The LEDs 593 (e.g., LEDs 593B2, 593B3) corresponding to the non-light-transmitting character portion 597a disposed inside the light-transmitting portion 598 are disposed substantially in the center in the width direction of the non-light-transmitting character portion 597a when viewed from the front. Furthermore, of the LEDs 593 corresponding to the non-light-transmitting frame portion 597b arranged outside the light-transmitting portion 598, the LEDs 593 (e.g., LEDs 593D2, 593G2, etc.) arranged corresponding to the non-light-transmitting frame portion 597b sandwiched between two light-transmitting portions 598 are arranged behind the approximate center of the non-light-transmitting frame portion 597b (at a position approximately equidistant from each non-light-transmitting frame portion 597b).Other LEDs 593, i.e., when a non-light-transmitting frame portion 597b of sufficient width is in contact with the light-transmitting portion 598, the LEDs 593 (here, LEDs 593A1 to 593A3, 593B1, 593C3, etc.) arranged corresponding to the non-light-transmitting frame portion 597b are arranged so that the edges of the LEDs 593 approximately coincide with the front-to-back boundary between the non-light-transmitting frame portion 597b and the light-transmitting portion 598. In either case, it is preferable that the edge of LED 593 does not extend beyond light transmitting portion 598, but LED 593 may be disposed so that it partially extends beyond the light transmitting portion.

[0178] By arranging the LEDs 593 in this manner, the light emitted from the LEDs 593 directly ahead is not (or is barely) irradiated directly onto the translucent portion 598, so that it is possible to eliminate point light and reduce the brightness difference of the translucent portion 598, and also to make the silhouette of the non-translucent letter portion 597a stand out more clearly.

[0179] 37, the LED 593 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and three terminals 569a-569c, 569d-569f are arranged on predetermined opposite sides 593a, 593b of the four sides. Then, wiring patterns 570a-570c, 570d-570f are respectively drawn out straight and parallel from each of the terminals 569a-569c, 569d-569f in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined opposite sides 593a, 593b for at least a predetermined distance X, and then bent in any direction or directly connected to a via or the like. Therefore, the LEDs 593 (LEDs 593A1 to 593A3, 593B1, etc.) that are arranged near the edge of the LED substrate 594 formed in a horizontally elongated rectangular shape and that are particularly far from the edge of the substrate are arranged so that the side 593c on which no terminals are provided, which is different from the predetermined opposite sides 593a and 593b on which the terminals 569a to 569c and 569d to 569f are provided, faces the edge of the LED substrate 594, as shown in a partially enlarged view of FIG. 37. The LEDs 593 are arranged to avoid the vicinity of the corners of the LED substrate 594 (for example, LED 593A1). This has the advantage that the wiring pattern can be easily routed even when the LEDs 593 must be arranged near the edge of the LED substrate 594 as in this embodiment.

[0180] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, the first to third embodiments and the fourth to sixth embodiments are embodied as completely different gaming machines, but it goes without saying that the former and the latter can be embodied as the same gaming machine by appropriately combining them. For example, the gaming machines according to the fourth to sixth embodiments can adopt the same frame configuration as the gaming machines according to the first to third embodiments, and it is also possible to adopt the same illumination device as the gaming machines according to the fourth to sixth embodiments on the gaming machines according to the first to third embodiments.

[0181] In the first to third embodiments, the opening angle of the front frame 3 increases in the order of the first to fifth open states, but this is not limited to this. For example, the opening angle may be approximately the same in any two or more of the first to fifth open states, or the opening angle in the first open state may be greater than the opening angle in the second open state. The order of the first to fifth open states and the order of the corresponding opening angles do not have to match.

[0182] In the first to third embodiments, an example is shown in which the opening angle of the front frame 3 is an acute angle (hereinafter referred to as the first condition) and the protrusion is located left-right inwardly of the first hinge 4 (and the outer frame 2) (hereinafter referred to as the second condition) in all of the first to fifth opening states. However, it is also possible to configure the frame 3 so that only one of the first and second conditions is satisfied and the other is not satisfied for at least one of the first to fifth opening states.

[0183] If operating means (hereinafter referred to as other operating means) other than the above-mentioned RAM clear switch 107, power switch 128, error reset button 142, etc. are provided on the rear side of the front frame 3, or if display means (hereinafter referred to as other display means) other than the error display means 141, etc. are provided, those operating means and display means should also be positioned near the opening and closing ends in the left-right direction of the front frame 3, for example near the opening and closing ends, and when the front frame 3 is opened to a predetermined open state relative to the outer frame 2, those operating means and display means should be positioned forward of the front edge of the outer frame 2, so that they can be seen from between the outer frame 2 and the front frame 3, and the operating means should be operable, and it is desirable to configure the protruding portion to be positioned left-right inward of the first hinge 4 (and outer frame 2) at that time.

[0184] As another operation means, when the setting value corresponding to the jackpot probability can be set to one of a plurality of stages (for example, six stages from setting 1 to setting 6), a setting key switch (setting operation means) that is operated to set the setting can be considered. This setting key switch is provided on the main control board 101 together with the RAM clear switch 107, etc., and can be switched ON / OFF by inserting a dedicated setting key into the keyhole from the outside of the main control board case 102 and rotating it. When the power switch 128 is switched from OFF to ON with the setting key switch ON and the RAM clear switch 107 ON, a setting value setting period during which the setting value can be set is provided in the start-up process. During the setting value setting period, the setting value is changed sequentially by operating the RAM clear switch 107, and the changed setting value is confirmed by switching the setting key switch to OFF after that.

[0185] Other possible display means include specific information display means (e.g., a base monitor that displays a base value) that displays specific information obtained based on game results, and setting information display means that displays information related to the above-mentioned setting values. These specific information display means and setting information display means are arranged on main control board 101 in a state that is visible from the outside of main control board case 102, for example. The specific information display means and setting information display means may be configured by a common display means.

[0186] In the first to third embodiments, the connection portion of the power harness 129 to the power board 123 is disposed near the power switch 128, but the connection portion of the power harness 129 may be disposed at a position away from the power switch 128. Furthermore, the position of the connection portion of the power harness 129 is not limited to the opening / closing end side of the front frame 3 on the power board 123, but may be disposed near the lower edge side of the power board 123 or may be disposed on the hinge end side of the front frame 3 on the power board 123. In this case, the first wiring path 131a is short or unnecessary.

[0187] In the first to third embodiments, the RAM clear switch 107 is provided on the main control board 101, but this is not limiting and the switch may be provided on other boards, such as the payout / fire control board 125. In this case, the RAM clear switch provided on the payout / fire control board 125 may also be used as an error reset button.

[0188] The configurations of the movable illumination devices of the fourth to sixth embodiments can be similarly applied to the illumination device 50 fixedly disposed on the game components on the game board 5, such as the center case 21, and the illumination device 10 fixedly disposed on the front frame 4 side. Of course, they can be similarly applied to the case where a movable illumination device is provided on the front frame 4 side.

[0189] In the fourth embodiment, an example was shown in which the light-transmitting portion was in the shape of letters (light-transmitting letter portion 78), but the light-transmitting portion in this case is not limited to being in the shape of letters, and may be any shape, such as a graphic such as a logo mark, or a pattern such as a character. Also, in the fifth and sixth embodiments, an example was shown in which a non-light-transmitting portion in the shape of letters (non-light-transmitting letter portion 97a) was arranged in the light-transmitting portion, but the non-light-transmitting portion in this case is not limited to being in the shape of letters, and may be any shape, such as a graphic such as a logo mark, or a pattern such as a character.

[0190] In the fourth to sixth embodiments, the translucent and non-translucent portions are formed by applying a non-translucent treatment to a portion of the translucent front cover body 71. However, the translucent and non-translucent portions may also be formed, for example, by combining a non-translucent first member with a translucent second member (for example, fitting the second member to the back side of a first member having letter-shaped openings).

[0191] In the fourth to sixth embodiments, the illumination device is disposed facing the front of the gaming machine main body 1, but the illumination device may be disposed at an angle to the front of the gaming machine main body 1, for example, so that the front faces the player, such as by disposing the illumination device on the upper side of the front frame 4 diagonally downward. In this case, it is preferable that the LED (light source) of the illumination device is disposed behind the non-translucent part when viewed from the front of the illumination device, rather than when viewed from the front of the gaming machine main body 1.

[0192] In the fourth to sixth embodiments, the number of LEDs belonging to the LED row of the same channel is three, but it may be two or four or more.

[0193] Two or more of the first to sixth embodiments may be combined as appropriate. In addition, the embodiment shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine, but the present invention can be similarly applied to various gaming machines such as slot machines, arrange ball machines, and mahjong ball machines. [Explanation of symbols]

[0194] 2 Outer Frame 3 Front frame 4 First hinge (hinge part) 5 Locking means 5a Keyhole 39 Launch Handle 107 RAM clear switch (RAM clear operation part) 128 Power switch (power control section) 540 Movable lighting device 573 LED (light source) 577 Non-transparent part 578 Transparent text area (transparent area) 578a~578n Translucent area 593 LED (light source) 597a Non-transparent text area (non-transparent area) 597b Non-transparent frame part (non-transparent part) 598 Translucent part

Claims

[Claim 1] An illumination device having a light-transmitting portion and a plurality of light sources for illuminating the light-transmitting portion; An outer frame that can be fixed to the game island equipment; a front frame disposed on a front side of the outer frame with a rear portion thereof inserted into the outer frame; A power supply operation unit and a RAM clear operation unit disposed on the rear side of the front frame; A launch handle is provided on the front side of the front frame and is capable of launching game balls. the front frame is attached to the outer frame in a state in which it can rotate about a hinge portion at one left-right end, and when in a closed state in which the rotation angle relative to the outer frame is 0°, the front frame can be locked to the outer frame by a locking means having a keyhole near an opening / closing end at the other left-right end of the front frame, The front frame has a protruding portion that protrudes forward of the firing handle, By switching the power supply operation unit from OFF to ON while the RAM clear operation unit is ON, it is possible to start the game while erasing the game information stored in the RAM when the power supply was OFF. In the gaming machine, a non-transmitting portion is provided on an outer edge of the transmissive portion; The light source is disposed behind the non-transmitting portion, the power supply operation unit and the RAM clear operation unit are disposed at positions near the opening / closing ends in the left-right direction of the front frame, When the front frame is opened to a first open state relative to the outer frame, the power supply operation unit and the RAM clear operation unit are visible between the outer frame and the front frame; In the first open state, the power supply operation unit and the RAM clear operation unit are located forward of a front edge of the outer frame, and the entire protrusion is located inward of the hinge unit in the left-right direction. A gaming machine characterized by:

Images