Game machine

Abstract

To provide a game machine enabling a suitable arrangement of displacement members to a game board.SOLUTION: A pachinko machine includes a left side first design piece 51 and a right side first design piece 52 capable of being displaced from a closed state to an open state. Further, the pachinko machine includes a left side second design piece 53 and a right side second design piece 54 disposed at positions different from the left side first design piece 51 and the right side first design piece 52 and capable of being displaced from a closed state to an open state. The left side second design piece 53 and the right side second design piece 54 includes interlocking projection portions 97, 98 enabling a displacement of the left side second design piece 53 and the right side second design piece 54 from the closed state to the open state, when the left side first design piece 51 and the right side first design piece 52 are displaced from a closed state to an open state, due to an application of an external force to the left side second design piece 53 and the right side second design piece 54 from the left side first design piece 51 and the right side first design piece 52.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Pachinko machines and slot machines are known as gaming machines. For example, a pachinko machine has a tray storage section on the front of the machine that stores gaming balls awarded to a player. The gaming balls stored in the tray storage section are guided to a gaming ball launcher and launched toward a gaming area in response to a player's launch operation. Then, for example, when a gaming ball enters a ball entry section provided in the gaming area, the gaming ball is paid out to the tray storage section from, for example, a payout device. In addition, a pachinko machine is also known that has a configuration in which the tray storage section includes an upper tray storage section and a lower tray storage section. In this case, the gaming balls stored in the upper tray storage section are guided to the gaming ball launcher, and surplus gaming balls in the upper tray storage section are discharged to the lower tray storage section (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In addition, in a slot machine, when a start lever is operated to start a new game while medals have been bet, a lottery process is executed by the control means. When the lottery process is executed, the control means executes a rotation start control to start the reels, and when a stop button is operated during the rotation of the reels, the control means executes a rotation stop control to stop the rotation of the reels. If the result of the reels stopping after the rotation stops corresponds to a winning combination in the lottery process, a bonus corresponding to the winning combination is awarded to the player. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-59585 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Here, in gaming machines such as those exemplified above, it is necessary to appropriately manage the gaming machines, and there is still room for improvement in this regard.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the circumstances exemplified above, and has as its object to provide a gaming machine that allows for suitable management of the gaming machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the invention of claim 1 comprises a predetermined storage execution means for executing a predetermined storage process so that when a predetermined event occurs as a result of a game, information corresponding to the event is stored in the predetermined storage means, thereby storing the predetermined information in the predetermined storage means; an information calculation means for calculating, each time a predetermined calculation trigger occurs, behavior information corresponding to a game result during a predetermined period using the predetermined information; a result storage execution means for sequentially storing the aspect information obtained by the calculation by the information calculation means in a calculation result storage means; Equipped with the result storage execution means includes means for causing the mode information to be stored among the mode information obtained by the calculation by the information calculation means to be stored in the calculation result storage means; the state information obtained by the calculation by the information calculation means, which is not a storage target, is not stored in the calculation result storage means; This gaming machine is a predetermined control means capable of executing predetermined processes including a predetermined progression process for progressing a game and the predetermined storage process; a specific storage means for storing information when the predetermined progress process is executed; A means for generating a specific advantageous period when a specific opportunity occurs; means for erasing the predetermined information from the predetermined storage means after the information calculation means has completed the calculation of the mode information; a notification means capable of notifying the user of the content corresponding to the aspect information stored in the calculation result storage means; Equipped with In one processing cycle of the predetermined process, the predetermined progress process is executed, and then the predetermined storage process is executed, the calculation result storage means is provided separately from the specific storage means, When a specific event occurs that stops the game progress control, the predetermined storage process is not executed by the predetermined storage execution means. the information calculation means calculates the status information using the predetermined information in the specific advantageous period as the status information corresponding to the game result in the predetermined period, When the supply of operating power is stopped, the notification means terminates the notification of the content corresponding to the status information, but when the supply of operating power is resumed, the notification means continues to notify the content corresponding to the status information before the supply of operating power was stopped. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately manage gaming machines. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a pachinko machine according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the main components of a pachinko machine. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a design unit showing a part of the front side configuration and the rear side configuration. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the base body and the upper design piece separated from the base body. [Figure 6] This is a front view of the design unit shown separated from the game board. [Figure 7]FIG. 7 is an end view of the cross section of the design unit taken along line AA in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view of the design unit taken along line BB in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 1(a) is a front view of the upper rear passage forming body, (b) is a rear view of the upper rear passage forming body, and (c) is a left side view of the upper rear passage forming body. [Figure 10] 10(a1) to 10(d2) are explanatory diagrams for explaining the correspondence between the flow-down position of the game ball in the upper passage section and the upper rear passage section and the movement of the design piece. [Figure 11] A front view of the design unit showing a state in which multiple game balls are present in the passage section at the same time. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration for discharging game balls that have flowed down the game area. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine. [Figure 14] This is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of various counters used in lotteries, etc. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart showing a main process executed by a main CPU. [Figure 16] 10 is a flowchart showing a timer interrupt process executed by the main CPU. [Figure 17] This is an explanatory diagram to explain the configuration in which the detection results of the ball entry detection sensor are input to the main CPU. [Figure 18] This is a flowchart showing the ball entry detection process executed by the main CPU. [Figure 19] A block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of a dispensing control device and various devices that communicate with the dispensing control device. [Figure 20] 10 is a flowchart showing the timer interrupt processing executed by the dispensing CPU. [Figure 21] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of a management IC. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of an input port of a management side I / F. [Figure 23] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration of a correspondence relationship memory; [Figure 24] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of a history memory. [Figure 25] 10 is a flowchart showing a recognition process executed by a main CPU. [Figure 26] 10 is a flowchart showing a management process executed by a management-side CPU. [Figure 27] 10(a) to 10(d) are time charts showing how information on the correspondence between the first to fifteenth buffers and the types of signals is stored in the correspondence memory. [Figure 28] 10 is a flowchart showing a management output process executed by the main CPU. [Figure 29] 10 is a flowchart showing a history setting process executed by a management-side CPU. [Figure 30] 10(a) to 10(e) are time charts showing how history information is stored in a history memory. [Figure 31] 10 is a flowchart showing a data output process executed by the main CPU. [Figure 32] 10 is a flowchart showing an external output process executed by a management CPU. [Figure 33] FIG. 10 is a front view of a game board according to a second embodiment. [Figure 34] This is a front view of the design unit shown separated from the game board. [Figure 35] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the design unit. [Figure 36] FIG. [Figure 37] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the design unit showing the rear vicinity of the plate-shaped front portion cut away. [Figure 38] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the upper side of the design unit. [Figure 39] (a) is a front view of the design unit with both switching window sections in an open state, and (b) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the design unit in that state, showing the rear vicinity of the plate-shaped front section. [Figure 40] (a) is a front view of the design unit with the lower switching window portion in an open state, and (b) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the design unit in that state, showing the rear vicinity of the plate-shaped front portion cut away. [Figure 41] (a) A front view of the design unit with game balls placed on both the upper guide plate portion and the lower guide plate portion, and (b) a vertical cross-sectional view of the design unit in this state, showing the rear area of ​​the plate-shaped front portion cut away. [Figure 42] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of an input port of a management side I / F in the third embodiment. [Figure 43] 10 is a flowchart showing a recognition process executed by a main CPU. [Figure 44] 10 is a flowchart showing a management process executed by a management-side CPU. [Figure 45] 10(a) to 10(h) are time charts showing how information on the correspondence between the first to twelfth buffers and the types of signals is stored in the correspondence memory. [Figure 46] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of a management IC according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 47] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of an input port of a management side I / F. [Figure 48] 10 is a flowchart showing a power outage information storage process executed by a main CPU. [Figure 49] 10 is a flowchart showing a power failure response process executed by a management CPU. [Figure 50] 10 is a flowchart showing an external output process executed by a management CPU. [Figure 51] 13 is a flowchart showing a power failure response process executed by a control CPU in the fifth embodiment. [Figure 52] 13A is a flowchart showing a trigger identification process executed by a main CPU in the sixth embodiment, and FIG. 13B is a flowchart showing a calculation process executed by a management CPU. [Figure 53]13 is a flowchart showing a trigger identification process executed by a main CPU in the seventh embodiment. [Figure 54] 13 is a flowchart showing a calculation process executed by a control-side CPU in the eighth embodiment. [Figure 55] 13 is a flowchart showing a history setting process executed by a management-side CPU in the ninth embodiment. [Figure 56] FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of a history memory in the tenth embodiment. [Figure 57] 10 is a flowchart showing a history setting process executed by a management-side CPU. [Figure 58] FIG. 22 is a block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the MPU of the main control device in the eleventh embodiment. [Figure 59] This is a flowchart showing the ball entry detection process executed by the main CPU. [Figure 60] FIG. 23 is a block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of a main control device in a twelfth embodiment. [Figure 61] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of an input port of a management side I / F. [Figure 62] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of a history memory. [Figure 63] 10 is a flowchart showing a history setting process executed by a management-side CPU. [Figure 64] 10 is a flowchart showing an external output process executed by a management CPU. [Figure 65] 10 is a flowchart showing a parameter management process executed by a main CPU. [Figure 66] This is a block diagram to explain the configuration of the signal path that transmits the detection results of each ball entry detection sensor to the main CPU and management IC in the 13th embodiment. [Figure 67] FIG. 22 is a block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the main control device and the audio and light emission control device in the fourteenth embodiment. [Figure 68]10 is a flowchart showing a timer interrupt process executed by the main CPU. [Figure 69] 10 is a flowchart showing a special chart special power control process executed by the main CPU. [Figure 70] 10 is a flowchart showing the performance control process executed by the sound and light side CPU. [Figure 71] This is a flowchart showing the special chart change start processing executed by the main CPU. [Figure 72] 10 is a flowchart showing a special call start process executed by the main CPU. [Figure 73] 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a normal counter area, an opening / closing execution mode counter area, and a high frequency support mode counter area provided in the main RAM. FIG. [Figure 74] This is a flowchart showing the ball entry detection process executed by the main CPU. [Figure 75] This is a flowchart showing the normal ball entry detection processing executed by the main CPU. [Figure 76] 10 is a flowchart showing a check process executed by a main CPU. [Figure 77] (a) A front view of the special map display section, (A) an explanatory diagram for explaining the display contents of the special map display section, (b) a front view of the general map display section, (B) an explanatory diagram for explaining the display contents of the general map display section. [Figure 78] 10 is a flowchart showing a check waiting process executed by the main CPU. [Figure 79] 10 is a flowchart showing a process during display of a check result executed by the main CPU. [Figure 80] 10(a) to 10(g) are time charts showing the progress of a check waiting period and a check result display period. [Figure 81] 10 is a flowchart showing a main process executed by a main CPU. [Figure 82] 1(a) to 1(j) are diagrams individually showing the patterns variably displayed on the pattern display device. [Figure 83] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing the display surface of a pattern display device. [Figure 84] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams for explaining the display contents of the pattern display device during the check waiting period or the check result display period. [Figure 85] 23 is a flowchart showing a check process executed by a main CPU in the fifteenth embodiment. [Figure 86] 10 is a flowchart showing a process during display of a check result executed by the main CPU. [Figure 87] 10(a) to 10(g) are time charts showing the progress of a check waiting period and a check result display period. [Figure 88] FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration of an input port provided in an MPU of an audio and light emission control device in the 16th embodiment. [Figure 89] 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration of a correspondence area provided in the audio-visual ROM. FIG. [Figure 90] 10 is a flowchart showing a management output process executed by the main CPU. [Figure 91] 10 is a flowchart showing the performance control process executed by the sound and light side CPU. [Figure 92] 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a normal counter area, an open / close execution mode counter area, and a high frequency support mode counter area provided in the sound / light side RAM. FIG. [Figure 93] 10 is a flowchart showing a history setting process executed by the sound and light side CPU. [Figure 94] 10 is a flowchart showing a check process executed by the sound and light side CPU. [Figure 95] FIG. 20 is a front view of the main control device in the seventeenth embodiment. [Figure 96] 96 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 95. [Figure 97] FIG. 22 is a front view of a slot machine according to an eighteenth embodiment. [Figure 98]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slot machine with the front door open. [Figure 99] FIG. [Figure 100] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the arrangement of symbols on each reel. [Figure 101] FIG. [Figure 102] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the correspondence between winning symbol combinations and the benefits awarded when a winning symbol combination is obtained. [Figure 103] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the slot machine. [Figure 104] 10 is a flowchart showing main processing executed by a main MPU. [Figure 105] 10 is a flowchart showing a timer interrupt process executed by the main MPU. [Figure 106] 10 is a flowchart showing normal processing executed by the main MPU. [Figure 107] 10 is a flowchart showing a lottery process executed by the main MPU. [Figure 108] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a lottery table for a normal mode. [Figure 109] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the stopping order of the reels and the winning patterns that are achieved when the lottery table for the normal mode is selected. [Figure 110] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a lottery table for the first RT mode. [Figure 111] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the stop order of the reels and the winning patterns that are achieved when the lottery table for the first RT mode is selected. [Figure 112] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a lottery table for the second RT mode. [Figure 113] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the stop order of the reels and the winning patterns that are achieved when the lottery table for the second RT mode is selected. [Figure 114] 10 is a flowchart showing the response process executed by the main MPU when a game ends. [Figure 115] 10 is a flowchart showing a transition chance management process executed by a main MPU. [Figure 116] 10 is a flowchart showing the ART state processing executed by the main MPU. [Figure 117] 10 is a flowchart showing a game management process executed by the main MPU. [Figure 118] 1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams for explaining the display contents of the image display device. [Figure 119] 10 is a flowchart showing a management process executed by the main MPU. [Figure 120] 10 is a flowchart showing a lighting process executed by the main MPU. [Figure 121] 10A and 10B are time charts showing the relationship between the opening angle of the front door and the control state of the lighting device. [Figure 122] (a) is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of the lighting device when the front door is in an open state and the opening angle is equal to or less than a predetermined opening angle, and (b) is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of the lighting device when the opening angle of the front door is at the maximum opening angle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] First Embodiment A first embodiment of a pachinko gaming machine (hereinafter referred to as "pachinko machine"), which is a type of gaming machine, will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine 10, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the main components of the pachinko machine 10 in an exploded form. For convenience, Fig. 2 omits the components within the gaming area PA of the pachinko machine 10.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, a pachinko machine 10 has an outer frame 11 that forms the outer shell of the pachinko machine 10, and a gaming machine main body 12 that is attached to the outer frame 11 so that it can rotate forward. The outer frame 11 is made up of wooden boards connected at all four sides, forming a rectangular frame. The pachinko machine 10 is installed in an amusement hall by attaching and fixing the outer frame 11 to island equipment. Note that the outer frame 11 is not an essential component of the pachinko machine 10, and the outer frame 11 may be attached to island equipment in the amusement hall.

[0012] 2, the gaming machine main body 12 includes an inner frame 13, a front door frame 14 disposed in front of the inner frame 13, and a back pack unit 15 disposed behind the inner frame 13. The inner frame 13 of the gaming machine main body 12 is rotatably supported by the outer frame 11. In detail, the inner frame 13 can be rotated forward with the left side as the base end of rotation and the right side as the tip end of rotation when viewed from the front.

[0013] A front door frame 14 is rotatably supported by the inner frame 13, and can be rotated forward with the left side being the base end and the right side being the tip end when viewed from the front. A back pack unit 15 is rotatably supported by the inner frame 13, and can be rotated rearward with the left side being the base end and the right side being the tip end when viewed from the front.

[0014] The gaming machine main body 12 is provided with a locking device at its rotating tip, which has the function of locking the gaming machine main body 12 so that it cannot be opened relative to the outer frame 11, and also has the function of locking the front door frame 14 so that it cannot be opened relative to the inner frame 13. Each of these locked states can be released by using an unlocking key to unlock the cylinder lock 17, which is exposed on the front of the pachinko machine 10.

[0015] Next, the configuration of the front side of the gaming machine main body 12 will be described.

[0016] The inner frame 13 is mainly composed of a resin base 21 whose outer shape is substantially the same as that of the outer frame 11. A substantially elliptical window hole 23 is formed in the center of the resin base 21. A game board 24 is detachably attached to the resin base 21. The game board 24 is made of plywood, and a game area PA formed on the front surface of the game board 24 is exposed to the front side of the inner frame 13 through the window hole 23 in the resin base 21.

[0017] Here, the configuration of the game board 24 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a front view of the game board 24.

[0018] An inner rail portion 25 and an outer rail portion 26 are attached to the game board 24 so as to define part of the outer edge of the game area PA, and these inner rail portion 25 and outer rail portion 26 form a guide rail as a guide means. A game ball B1 launched from a game ball launching mechanism 27 (see Figure 2) attached below the window hole 23 in the resin base 21 is guided to the upper part of the game area PA by the guide rail. The game ball B1 is made of iron and is a sphere with a diameter of 11 mm.

[0019] The game ball launching mechanism 27 includes a launching rail 27a extending toward the guide rail, a ball feeding device 27b that supplies game balls B1 stored in an upper tray 111a (described later) onto the launching rail 27a, and a solenoid 27c that is an electric actuator that launches the game balls B1 supplied onto the launching rail 27a toward the guide rail. When a launching operation device (or operation handle) 28 provided on the front door frame 14 is rotated, the solenoid 27c is driven and controlled, and the game ball B1 is launched.

[0020] A plurality of large and small openings are formed in the game board 24, penetrating in the front-to-rear direction. Each opening is provided with a general winning opening 31, a special electric winning device 32, a first operating opening 33, a second operating opening 34, a through gate 35, a variable display unit 36, a special symbol unit 37, and a general symbol unit 38. There are four general winning openings 31 in total, and one of each of the others.

[0021] Even if a ball enters the through gate 35, the payout of game ball B1 is not executed. On the other hand, when balls enter the general winning opening 31, the special electric winning device 32, the first operating opening 33, and the second operating opening 34, a predetermined number of game balls B1 are paid out. Specifically, when one game ball B1 enters the first operating opening 33 or when one game ball B1 enters the second operating opening 34, one prize ball is paid out; when one game ball B1 enters the general winning opening 31, ten prize balls are paid out; and when one game ball B1 enters the special electric winning device 32, fifteen prize balls are paid out.

[0022] The number of prize balls is arbitrary, and for example, the second actuation port 34 may be configured to have fewer prize balls than the first actuation port 33, or the second actuation port 34 may be configured to have more prize balls than the first actuation port 33.

[0023] In addition, an outlet 24a is provided at the bottom of the game board 24, and game balls B1 that do not enter any of the various winning holes are discharged from the game area PA through the outlet 24a. In addition, the game board 24 is provided with a large number of nails 24b for appropriately dispersing and adjusting the falling direction of the game balls B1, and various components such as windmills are also provided.

[0024] Here, "entering" means that the game ball B1 passes through a predetermined opening, and includes not only the case where the game ball B1 passes through the opening and is discharged from the game area PA, but also the case where the game ball B1 continues to flow down the game area PA without being discharged from the game area PA after passing through the opening. However, in the following explanation, in order to clearly distinguish from the game ball B1 entering the outlet 24a, the game ball B1 entering the general winning opening 31, the special electric winning device 32, the first operating opening 33, the second operating opening 34, and the through gate 35 will also be referred to as "winning."

[0025] The first actuation port 33 and the second actuation port 34 are united as an actuation port device and installed on the game board 24. Both the first actuation port 33 and the second actuation port 34 open upward. Furthermore, the first actuation port 33 is at the top, and both actuation ports 33, 34 are aligned vertically. The second actuation port 34 is provided with a normal power device 34a serving as a guide piece consisting of a pair of movable pieces on the left and right. When the normal power device 34a is in a closed state, the game ball B1 cannot enter the second actuation port 34, but when the normal power device 34a is in an open state, it becomes possible for the game ball B1 to enter the second actuation port 34.

[0026] A through gate 35 is provided upstream of the second operating port 34 in the flow direction of the gaming ball B1. The through gate 35 has a through hole (not shown) that penetrates vertically, and the gaming ball B1 that enters the through gate 35 flows down through the gaming area PA after winning. This allows the gaming ball B1 that enters the through gate 35 to enter the second operating port 34.

[0027] Based on winning the through gate 35, the normal power device 34a of the second operating port 34 is switched from a closed state to an open state. Specifically, an internal lottery is performed with winning the through gate 35 as a trigger, and a variable picture display is performed on the normal map display section 38a of the normal map unit 38, which is located in the lower right corner of the game area PA, an area where the game ball B1 does not pass. Then, when the result of the internal lottery is a win for the electric role release, the stop result corresponding to that result is displayed, and the variable display on the normal map display section 38a is terminated, the system transitions to the normal power open state. In the normal power open state, the normal power device 34a is opened in a predetermined manner.

[0028] The map display unit 38a is configured with a segment display in which a plurality of segment light-emitting elements are arranged in a predetermined manner, but is not limited to this and may be configured with other types of display devices such as a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display device, a CRT, or a dot matrix display. As for the image displayed variably on the map display unit 38a, a configuration in which a plurality of types of letters are displayed variably, a configuration in which a plurality of types of symbols are displayed variably, a configuration in which a plurality of types of characters are displayed variably, or a configuration in which a plurality of types of colors are displayed in an alternating manner may be considered.

[0029] In the normal map unit 38, a normal map reserve display unit 38b is provided adjacent to the normal map display unit 38a. The number of game balls B1 that enter the through gate 35 is reserved up to four, and the number of reserved balls is displayed by lighting up the normal map reserve display unit 38b.

[0030] A winning lottery is triggered by the entry into the first operating port 33 or the second operating port 34. The result of the lottery is then displayed clearly through the display effects on the special symbol unit 37 and the symbol display device 41 of the variable display unit 36.

[0031] Specifically, the special symbol unit 37 includes a special symbol display section 37a. The display area of ​​the special symbol display section 37a is smaller than the display surface 41a of the symbol display device 41. A winning lottery is triggered by a win through the first operating port 33 or the second operating port 34, and the special symbol display section 37a displays a variable or predetermined symbol. The result corresponding to the lottery result is then displayed. While the special symbol display section 37a is configured as a segment display device in which multiple segment light-emitting elements are arranged in a predetermined manner, it is not limited to this and may be configured as a liquid crystal display device, an organic electroluminescence display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a dot matrix display, or another type of display device. The symbol displayed on the special symbol display section 37a may be configured to display multiple characters, multiple symbols, multiple characters, or multiple colors.

[0032] In the special symbol unit 37, a special symbol reserve display unit 37b is provided adjacent to the special symbol display unit 37a. The number of game balls B1 that have entered the first operating port 33 or the second operating port 34 can be reserved up to a maximum of four, and the number of reserved balls is displayed by lighting up the special symbol reserve display unit 37b.

[0033] In detail, the pattern display device 41 is configured as a liquid crystal display device equipped with a liquid crystal display, and the display content is controlled by a display control device described later. Note that the pattern display device 41 is not limited to a liquid crystal display device, and may be other display devices having a display screen such as a plasma display device, an organic EL display device, or a DRT, or may be a dot matrix display device.

[0034] In the symbol display device 41, when a variable or predetermined display of symbols is performed in the special symbol display unit 37a based on a winning entry in the first actuation port 33 or a winning entry in the second actuation port 34, a variable or predetermined display of symbols is performed accordingly. For example, the display surface 41a of the symbol display device 41 has three symbol rows (top, middle, and bottom) set as multiple display areas, and in each symbol row, main symbols numbered "1" through "9" are scrolled and displayed in ascending or descending order. In this scrolling display, scrolling of all symbol rows is first started, then switched from scrolling display to standby display in the order of the top symbol row → bottom symbol row → middle symbol row, and finally ended with a predetermined symbol being statically displayed in each symbol row. Then, for example, in a game where the game result is a jackpot, a predetermined combination of symbols is displayed stationary on a predetermined pay line on the display surface 41a of the symbol display device 41.

[0035] In addition, the symbol display device 41 not only displays effects triggered by winning a prize in the first actuation port 33 or the second actuation port 34, but also displays effects during the opening / closing execution mode to which the game enters after a winning combination is achieved. Furthermore, based on a winning combination in either actuation port 33, 34, display begins on the special symbol display unit 37a and the symbol display device 41, and one game session is played until a predetermined result is displayed and the game ends. Furthermore, the manner in which the symbols are displayed in the symbol display device 41 is not limited to the above and is arbitrary, and the number of symbol rows, the direction of the symbol display in the symbol rows, the number of symbols in each symbol row, etc. can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, the symbols displayed in the symbol display device 41 are not limited to the above-described symbols; for example, a configuration in which only numbers are displayed as symbols may be used.

[0036] If a jackpot is won in a lottery based on a win through the first actuation port 33 or the second actuation port 34, the system transitions to an open / close execution mode in which a prize can be won in the special electric prize winning device 32. The special electric prize winning device 32 includes a large prize winning port (not shown) that leads to the back side of the game board 24, and an open / close door 32a that opens and closes the large prize winning port. The open / close door 32a is positioned in either a closed state or an open state. Specifically, the open / close door 32a is normally in a closed state in which the game ball B1 cannot win a prize. If an internal lottery is selected to transition to the open / close execution mode, the system transitions to an open state in which the game ball B1 can win a prize. The open / close execution mode is a mode that is transitioned to when a prize is won. While a prize can be won in the closed state, it may be configured to be less likely to win than in the open state.

[0037] 3, the game areas PA into which the game ball B1 can flow are provided on both the left and right sides of the display surface 41a. Of these, the right area PA1 provided on the right side of the display surface 41a is provided with a design unit 44 that opens and closes the design pieces 51 to 54 in accordance with the flow of the game ball B1.

[0038] <Configuration of Design Unit 44> Next, the design unit 44 will be described below.

[0039] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the design unit 44, showing a portion of the front side configuration and the rear side configuration. As shown in Fig. 4, the design unit 44 includes a plate-shaped base body 45, a plurality of passage forming bodies 46-48 fixed to the front side of the base body 45, a pair of upper and lower rear passage forming bodies 49, 50 fixed to the rear side of the base body 45, and a plurality of design pieces 51-54 fixed at positions facing the upper and lower rear passage forming bodies 49, 50 across the base body 45.

[0040] First, the passages 46a to 50a provided on the front and rear sides of the base body 45 will be described below.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the base body 45 and the upper design pieces 51-54 separated from the base body 45, and FIG. 6 is a front view of the design unit 44 separated from the game board 24. As shown in FIG. 5, the base body 45 is formed into a vertically elongated rectangle using a transparent resin material such as polycarbonate, and extends vertically. The horizontal dimension of the base body 45 is approximately four times the diameter of the game ball B1 (FIG. 3), and the vertical dimension of the base body 45 is approximately ten times the diameter of the game ball B1. As shown in FIG. 6, an upper passage forming body 46, in which an upper passage portion 46a (FIG. 4) is formed, is fixed to the center of the upper part of the base body 45.

[0042] First, the upper passage portion 46a will be described below with reference to Figures 4 to 8. Figure 7 is an end view of the cross section of the design unit 44 taken along line AA in Figure 6, and Figure 8 is a cross section of the design unit 44 taken along line BB in Figure 7.

[0043] 4, the upper passage forming body 46 is made of a transparent resin material such as polycarbonate, and includes an upper front plate portion 46d having a rectangular region 46b and a protruding region 46c protruding downward from the bottom of the rectangular region 46b. A left side plate portion 46e is integrally formed on the back surface of the rectangular region 46b of the upper front plate portion 46d, with the left side peripheral edge portion standing upright, and a right side plate portion 46f is integrally formed on the back surface of the rectangular region 46b of the upper front plate portion 46d, with the right side peripheral edge portion standing upright.

[0044] The left and right plate portions 46e, 46f extend vertically and face each other laterally. As a result, the upper passage forming body 46 is divided into front, left, and right sides by the upper front plate portion 46d, the left plate portion 46e, and the right plate portion 46f, forming an upper passage portion 46a. The upper passage portion 46a extends vertically downward and is open upward, downward, and rearward when the upper passage forming body 46 is separated from the base body 45.

[0045] Fixing portions 55, 56 that can fix the upper passage forming body 46 to the base body 45 are integrally formed on the side surfaces of the left and right plate portions 46e, 46f opposite the upper passage portion 46a. The left and right fixing portions 55, 56 protrude in the opposite direction from the upper passage portion 46a and extend from an intermediate position slightly rearward of the upper front plate portion 46d to the same rear position as the left and right plate portions 46e, 46f. The left fixing portion 55 provided on the left plate portion 46e and the right fixing portion 56 provided on the right plate portion 46f form a left-right pair and have the same horizontal dimension.

[0046] The fixing portions 55, 56 are formed with screw holes (not shown) that extend from the back surface to a midpoint on the front side. In addition, near the upper end of the base body 45, a pair of left and right upper fixing holes 45a that correspond to the screw holes formed in the left and right fixing portions 55, 56 are formed.

[0047] 6, the upper passage forming body 46 is fixed to the front side of the base body 45 by screwing the fixing parts 55, 56 from the rear of the base body 45, with the upper end of the upper passage forming body 46 coinciding with the upper end of the base body 45. In this state, the upper passage part 46a (FIG. 7) is open upward, allowing the game ball B1 (FIG. 3) flowing down the right area PA1 (FIG. 3) to flow in.

[0048] The rear side of the upper passage portion 46a (FIG. 7) is closed by the base body 45. As shown in FIG. 4, a guide protrusion 45b is integrally formed on the front surface of the base body 45 in an area defining the rear side of the upper passage portion 46a, and the guide protrusion 45b moves the flow position of the game ball B1 (FIG. 3) that flows into the upper passage portion 46a and flows downward toward the front. The guide protrusion 45b extends from a midpoint in the height direction of the base body 45 to a height position that is the same as the lower ends of the left and right plate portions 46e, 46f.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 4, the width of the upper passage portion 46a and the depth of the upper passage portion 46a at the height position where the guide protrusion 45b is provided are slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball B1 (Fig. 3). Because the guide protrusion 45b is not provided near the upper end of the upper passage portion 46a, the depth near the upper end of the upper passage portion 46a is slightly larger than the depth at the height position where the guide protrusion 45b is provided, making it easier for the game ball B1 to flow into the upper passage portion 46a.

[0050] Throughout the entire vertical length of the upper passage portion 46a, the dimensions of the upper passage portion 46a in a direction perpendicular to the passage direction are larger than the diameter of the game ball B1 (Figure 3), allowing the game ball B1 to flow downward within the upper passage portion 46a.

[0051] 8, an upper rear guide portion 57 that guides the game ball B1 (FIG. 3) rearward is provided vertically below the upper passage portion 46a on the front side of the base body 45. Additionally, an upper through-hole 58 that penetrates the base body 45 from front to rear and has a vertically elongated, approximately rectangular cross section is formed in the base body 45 at a position rearward of the upper rear guide portion 57.

[0052] Next, the upper rear guide portion 57 and the upper through-hole 58 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0053] As shown in Figure 8, the upper through hole 58 is formed across the entire lateral area of ​​the upper passage portion 46a, and is formed from the lower ends of the left and right plate portions 46e, 46f of the upper passage forming body 46 to a height position approximately at the center of the base body 45.

[0054] 5, the upper rear guide portion 57 includes a rectangular plate-shaped base portion 59 extending in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the game ball B1 (FIG. 8) that has flowed down the upper passage portion 46a (FIG. 8), and a rear guide protrusion 61 provided on the upper flat surface of the base portion 59. The base portion 59 is provided at a height position at the center of the upper through-hole 58, and the left and right ends at the rear end of the base portion 59 are integrally formed with the left and right peripheral edges of the upper through-hole 58 in the base body 45.

[0055] The upper through-hole 58 is divided into upper and lower parts by the base portion 59, and the area above the base portion 59 and the area below the base portion 59 both have vertical and horizontal dimensions that allow the game ball B1 to move back and forth across the base body 45.

[0056] The rear guide protrusion 61 is provided at a position where it can come into contact with all game balls B1 flowing vertically downward from the upper passage portion 46a (FIG. 7), and is formed integrally with the upper flat surface of the base portion 59 by protruding upward. The rear upper portion of the rear guide protrusion 61 is inclined downward toward the rear, and the front upper portion of the rear guide protrusion 61 is inclined toward the rear more than the front upper portion.

[0057] 7, the protruding region 46c of the upper front plate portion 46d protrudes to a height position near the upper end of the rear guide protrusion 61, and is located slightly forward of the rear guide protrusion 61. The gap between the protruding region 46c and the rear guide protrusion 61 prevents the game ball B1 from passing through. The protruding region 46c is located in front of the game ball B1 that has flowed down to the height position of the upper rear guide portion 57, and the forward movement of the game ball B1 is restricted.

[0058] On the left and right sides of the rear guide protrusion 61 are openable and closable design pieces 51, 52 (Fig. 5), which restrict the movement of the game ball B1 to the left and right after it has flowed down to the height position of the upper rear guide portion 57. The game ball B1 that cannot move left or right is guided rearward by the upper rear guide portion 57 and moves to the rear of the base body 45 through the upper through-hole 58.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 7, an upper rear passage forming body 49 (Fig. 7) in which an upper rear passage portion 49a is formed is fixed at a position facing the upper rear guide portion 57 across the upper through-hole 58. The upper rear passage portion 49a will be described below with reference to Figs. 4, 5, and 7 to 9. Fig. 9(a) is a front view of the upper rear passage forming body 49, Fig. 9(b) is a rear view of the upper rear passage forming body 49, and Fig. 9(c) is a left side view of the upper rear passage forming body 49.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 9(a), the upper-rear passage forming body 49 is formed using a colored, opaque resin material such as ABS resin, and includes a housing portion 49b in which an upper-rear passage portion 49a is formed. The housing portion 49b is formed in a box shape that is open to the front by a back wall portion 49e (FIG. 9(b)), an upper wall portion 49f, a lower wall portion 49g, a left side wall portion 49j, and a right side wall portion 49i. The housing portion 49b is divided into a rear side, an upper side, a lower side, a left side, and a right side by these five walls 49e to 49g, 49i, and 49j, thereby forming the upper-rear passage portion 49a. The upper-rear passage portion 49a extends vertically downward and is open to the front when the upper-rear passage forming body 49 is separated from the base body 45.

[0061] The left and right wall portions 49j and 49i are integrally formed with a left fixing portion 49p and a right fixing portion 49q that enable the upper rear passage-forming body 49 to be fixed to the base body 45 (FIG. 4). The left fixing portion 49p protrudes outward from the left wall portion 49j, and the right fixing portion 49q protrudes outward from the right wall portion 49i. Fixing through-holes 49r and 49s that penetrate the fixing portions 49p and 49q from the front to the rear are formed in the fixing portions 49p and 49q. In addition, a pair of left and right bosses (not shown) are integrally formed on the back surface of the base body 45 (FIG. 4) at a height position approximately at the center of the upper through-hole 58, corresponding to the fixing through-holes 49r and 49s. The bosses are provided to the left and right of the upper through-hole 58, and each boss has a screw hole (not shown) that extends from the back surface to a position partway forward. 7, the upper rear passage forming body 49 is fixed to the base body 45 by screwing fixing portions 49p, 49q (FIG. 9(a)) onto bosses from the rear. In this state, the front ends of the upper wall portion 49f, the lower wall portion 49g, the left side wall portion 49j, and the right side wall portion 49i (FIG. 9(a)) abut against the peripheral portion of the upper through-hole 58 in the base body 45 from the rear.

[0062] As shown in Figure 8, the entire area of ​​the upper through-hole 58 is continuous with the upper rear passage portion 49a (Figure 9(a)). As shown in Figure 9(a), a front guide protrusion 66 that guides the game balls B1 forward is provided at the lower end of the upper rear passage portion 49a. The front guide protrusion 66 is provided at a position where it can come into contact with all game balls B1 flowing down the upper rear passage portion 49a, and is formed integrally with the upper flat surface of the lower wall portion 49g by protruding upward.

[0063] 7, the rear half of the upper part of the front guide protrusion 66 is inclined downward toward the front, and the front half is inclined downward toward the front more than the rear half. All game balls B1 that flow down the upper rear passage portion 49a are guided forward by the front guide protrusion 66 and return to the front of the base body 45 through the upper through-hole 58. At a position opposite the front guide protrusion 66 across the upper through-hole 58, a central passage forming body 47 is fixed, which has formed therein a central passage portion 47a into which the game balls B1 that have returned to the front of the base body 45 flow.

[0064] Next, the central passage portion 47a will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0065] 4, the central passage forming body 47 is made of a transparent resin material such as polycarbonate and includes a central front plate portion 47e having a rectangular region 47b, an upper protruding region 47c protruding upward from the upper part of the rectangular region 47b, and a lower protruding region 47d protruding downward from the lower part of the rectangular region 47b. A pair of left and right partition portions 67 and 68, which partition the left and right sides of the central passage portion 47a, are integrally formed on the back surface of the central front plate portion 47e.

[0066] The left and right partitions 67, 68 have the same depth dimension as the left and right plate portions 46e, 46f provided on the upper passage forming body 46. The left and right partitions 67, 68 are formed spaced apart in the horizontal direction at a predetermined interval, and extend from the lower ends of the left and right peripheral edges of the central front plate portion 47e to a height position near the upper end of the upper protruding region 47c of the central front plate portion 47e. The right side surface of the left partition portion 67 and the left side surface of the right partition portion 68 extend vertically, and the two side surfaces face each other in the horizontal direction.

[0067] The central passage forming body 47 is partitioned into a front side, a left side, and a right side by a central front plate portion 47e, a left partition portion 67, and a right partition portion 68, thereby forming a central passage portion 47a. The central passage portion 47a extends vertically downward. When the central passage forming body 47 is separated from the base body 45, the central passage portion 47a is open upward, downward, and rearward.

[0068] The horizontal dimensions of the left and right partitions 67, 68 are approximately the same as the horizontal dimensions of the left and right fixing portions 55, 56 provided in the upper passage portion 46a. The left partition 67 and the right partition 68 are formed with screw holes (not shown) that extend from the back surface to a position partway forward.

[0069] 5, a pair of left and right central fixing holes 45c are formed in the base body 45 at a height position slightly higher than the lower end of the upper through-hole 58, corresponding to the screw holes (not shown) formed in the left and right partitions 67, 68. The left and right central fixing holes 45c are formed to the left and right of the upper through-hole 58, and penetrate the base body 45 from front to back.

[0070] 7, the central passage forming body 47 is fixed to the base body 45 by screwing the partitioning portions 67, 68 (FIG. 4) from the rear side of the base body 45. In this state, the central passage portion 47a is located vertically below the upper rear guide portion 57, and the upper protruding region 47c of the central front plate portion 47e faces the front guide protrusion 66 provided on the upper rear passage portion 49a, with the base body 45 interposed therebetween.

[0071] The gap between the upper protruding region 47c and the upper rear guide portion 57 prevents the game ball B1 from passing through the gap. The upper protruding region 47c is located in front of the game ball B1 that has been guided by the front guide protrusion 66 and returned to the front of the base body 45.

[0072] 5, a left-side restricting wall portion 69 and a right-side restricting wall portion 71 are integrally formed on the left and right outer edges of the lower part of the upper through-hole 58 on the front surface of the base body 45. As shown in FIG. 8, the left and right restricting walls 69, 71 are formed from the front surface of the base body 45 to the front end of the pedestal portion 59, and extend from the lower end of the pedestal portion 59 to the upper ends of the left and right partition portions 67, 68 of the central passage forming body 47.

[0073] As shown in Figure 8, the left and right regulating wall portions 69, 71 and the left and right partition portions 67, 68 are located to the left and right of the game ball B1 that has been guided by the front guide protrusion 66 and returned to the front of the base body 45. The game ball B1, whose movement to the front, left, and right is restricted, flows downward and into the central passage portion 47a (Figure 7).

[0074] 7, the rear side of the central passage portion 47a is closed by the base body 45. On the front surface of the base body 45, in an area defining the rear side of the central passage portion 47a, a guide protrusion portion 45d is integrally formed to guide the game ball B1 that has flowed into the central passage portion 47a toward the front.

[0075] As shown in Fig. 8, the guide protrusion 45d extends from below the lower end of the upper through-hole 58 to a height position near the lower ends of the left and right partitions 67, 68. As shown in Fig. 4, the width and depth dimensions of the central passage 47a are the same as the width and depth dimensions of the upper passage 46a already described, and the game ball B1 can flow down the central passage 47a.

[0076] 7, the depth dimension near the upper end of the central passage portion 47a is slightly larger than the depth dimension at the bottom, making it easier for the game ball B1 to flow into the central passage portion 47a. The game ball B1 flows downward while its flow position is changed to a forward position by the guide protrusion portion 45d.

[0077] A lower rear guide portion 72 that guides the game ball B1 that has flowed down the central passage portion 47a rearward is integrally formed on the front surface of the base body 45, vertically below the central passage portion 47a. The configuration of the lower rear guide portion 72 is the same as the configuration of the upper rear guide portion 57 already described. Due to the presence of the lower rear guide portion 72, the game ball B1 that has flowed down the central passage portion 47a is guided rearward along the slope of the upper surface of the lower rear guide portion 72.

[0078] As described above, the base body 45 is formed using a transparent resin material. The front surface of the base body 45 is colored and opaque except for the upper and lower rear guide portions 57, 72, making it impossible to see behind. On the other hand, the upper and lower rear guide portions 57, 72 are transparent, making it possible to see the game ball B1 guided by the rear guide portions 57, 72 from the front.

[0079] The lower protruding region 47d of the central front plate portion 47e protrudes to a height position near the upper end of the lower rear guide portion 72, and is located slightly forward of the lower rear guide portion 72. The gap between the lower protruding region 47d and the lower rear guide portion 72 prevents the game ball B1 from passing through. The lower protruding region 47d is located in front of the game ball B1 that has flowed down to the height position of the lower rear guide portion 72, and the forward movement of the game ball B1 is restricted.

[0080] 7, a lower through-hole 73 is formed in the base body 45 at a position rearward of the lower rear guide portion 72, and a lower rear passage forming body 50, in which a lower rear passage portion 50a is formed, is fixed in a position facing the lower rear guide portion 72 across the base body 45. The configurations of the lower through-hole 73, the lower rear passage portion 50a, and the lower rear passage forming body 50 are the same as the configurations of the upper through-hole 58, the upper rear passage portion 49a, and the upper rear passage forming body 49 already described.

[0081] Openable and closable design pieces 51, 52 are present on the left and right sides of the lower rear guide section 72, which restrict the movement to the left and right of the game ball B1 that is discharged from the central passage section 47a and flows down to the height position of the lower rear guide section 72. As shown in Figure 7, the game ball B1 that cannot move left or right is guided rearward by the lower rear guide section 72 and flows into the lower rear passage section 50a. The game ball B1 that flows down the lower rear passage section 50a is guided by the front guide protrusion 76 provided at the bottom end and returns to the front of the base body 45.

[0082] As shown in Fig. 5, left and right restriction wall portions 77, 78 that restrict the left and right movement of the game ball B1 (Fig. 7) that has returned to the front of the base body 45 are integrally formed on the left and right outer edges of the lower part of the lower through-hole 73. The restriction wall portions 77, 78 differ from the restriction wall portions 69, 71 provided on the left and right outer edges of the lower part of the upper through-hole 58, which have already been described, in that the restriction wall portions 77, 78 extend to approximately the lower end of the lower through-hole 73. As shown in Fig. 7, the lower passage forming body 48, in which the lower passage portion 48a is formed, is fixed at a position facing the front guide protrusion 76 across the base body 45.

[0083] Next, the lower passage portion 48a will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0084] 4, the lower passage forming body 48 is formed using a transparent resin material such as polycarbonate. The lower passage forming body 48 includes a lower front plate portion 48d having a vertically long rectangular region 48b and an upper protruding region 48c protruding upward from the upper portion of the rectangular region 48b. A left side plate portion 48e is integrally formed on the back surface of the lower front plate portion 48d with an upright left peripheral edge portion, and a right side plate portion 48f is integrally formed with an upright right peripheral edge portion.

[0085] The left and right plate portions 48e, 48f have the same depth dimension as the left and right plate portions 46e, 46f of the upper passage forming body 46. The left and right plate portions 48e, 48f extend vertically and face each other laterally. As a result, the lower passage forming body 48 is partitioned into front, left, and right sides by the lower front plate portion 48d, the left side plate portion 48e, and the right side plate portion 48f, forming a lower passage portion 48a. The lower passage portion 48a extends vertically downward and is open upward, downward, and rearward when the lower passage forming body 48 is separated from the base body 45.

[0086] Fixing portions 79, 81 that can fix the lower passage forming body 48 to the base body 45 are integrally formed on the side surfaces of the left and right plate portions 48e, 48f opposite the lower passage portion 48a. The left and right fixing portions 79, 81 protrude in the opposite direction from the lower passage portion 48a and extend from an intermediate position slightly rearward of the lower front plate portion 48d to the same rear position as the left and right plate portions 48e, 48f.

[0087] The left fixing portion 79 provided on the left plate portion 48e and the right fixing portion 81 provided on the right plate portion 48f form a left-right pair and have the same horizontal dimension as the left and right fixing portions 55, 56 provided on the upper passage forming body 46. The fixing portions 79, 81 are formed with screw holes (not shown) that extend from the back surface to a position partway forward.

[0088] A pair of left and right lower fixing holes 45e are formed near the lower end of the base body 45, corresponding to the screw holes (not shown) provided in the fixing portions 79 and 81. The lower fixing holes 45e penetrate the base body 45 from the front to the rear. The lower passage forming body 48 is fixed to the base body 45 by screwing the fixing portions 79 and 81 from the rear of the base body 45.

[0089] As shown in Figure 7, the lower passage forming body 48 is fixed vertically below the lower rear guide portion 72. The gap between the upper protruding region 48c of the lower front plate portion 48d and the lower rear guide portion 72 prevents the game ball B1 from passing through the gap. The upper protruding region 48c, which is located in front of the game ball B1 guided by the front guide protrusion 76, restricts the forward movement of the game ball B1. In addition, restriction wall portions 77, 78 provided on the left and right outer edges of the lower through-hole 73 restrict the left and right movement of the game ball B1.

[0090] Since the forward, left, and right movement of the game ball B1 that has returned to the front of the base body 45 is restricted, the game ball B1 flows into the lower passage portion 48a below. With the lower passage forming body 48 fixed to the base body 45, the rear side of the lower passage portion 48a is closed by the base body 45.

[0091] The lower passage portion 48a has the same width as the upper passage portion 46a already described, and has the same depth as the depth of the upper passage portion 46a near the upper end, allowing the game ball B1 to flow down. The game ball B1 is guided vertically downward by the lower passage portion 48a and then discharged downward.

[0092] In addition, in the upper passage section 46a, the upper rear passage section 49a, the central passage section 47a, the lower rear passage section 50a, and the lower passage section 48a, the dimensions of the passage sections 46a to 50a in a direction perpendicular to the passage direction (horizontal direction) are less than twice the diameter of the game ball B1, and multiple game balls B1 cannot pass through each passage section 46a to 50a while lined up horizontally.

[0093] As described above, by configuring the gaming ball B1 to pass through the passage sections 46a-50a provided alternately on the front and back sides of the base body 45, the downward movement speed of the gaming ball B1 can be decelerated at the timing when the gaming ball B1 moves in the forward and backward directions. This makes it possible to extend the flow time of the gaming ball B1 through the passage sections 46a-48a while reducing the vertical dimension of the design unit 44. In addition, the effect of the speed at which the gaming ball B1 enters the upper passage section 46a can be reduced, and the flow time of the gaming ball B1 can be averaged out.

[0094] 6, front plate portions 46d, 47e, 48d of the upper passage forming body 46, the central passage forming body 47, and the lower passage forming body 48, which are fixed to the front side of the base body 45, are divided into a plurality of regions, each including one or more transparent regions, and the plurality of regions are aligned horizontally. Specifically, each of the front plate portions 46d, 47e, 48d has a central region 83 that is transparent and from which the rear can be seen, and a left region 82 and a right region 84 that are opaque and from which the rear cannot be seen.

[0095] As described above, the passage forming bodies 46 to 48 including the front plate portions 46d, 47e, and 48d are formed using a transparent resin material. The opaque design 44a is applied to the entire left region 82 and right region 84 of the front plate portions 46d, 47e, and 48d, and the region in which the game ball B1 passing behind the front plate portions 46d, 47e, and 48d can be seen from the front is limited to the central region 83.

[0096] The central region 83 has a horizontal dimension that allows a portion of the game ball B1 passing through the three passages 46a to 48a (FIG. 7) provided on the front side of the base body 45 to be visible from the front, throughout the entire area in the flow direction of the three passages 46a to 48a. By always allowing a portion of the game ball B1 flowing down the three passages 46a to 48a to be visible, the player can keep track of the movement of the game ball B1 without losing sight of it.

[0097] If the entire area of ​​each of the front panel portions 46d, 47e, 48d were made transparent so that the entire game ball B1 passing through the passage portions 46a to 48a could be seen from the front, the area in which the design 44a could be displayed would be small on the front of the design unit 44. In contrast, in the design unit 44 of this embodiment, the horizontal dimension of the central area 83 is made smaller than the diameter of the game ball B1 (FIG. 7), so that the movement of the game ball B1 can be seen from the front, and the design 44a can also be displayed in the left and right areas 82, 84.

[0098] As shown in Fig. 4, a plurality of design pieces 51-54 are fixed on the front side of the base body 45 in a height range substantially equal to that of the upper and lower rear passage sections 49a, 50a (Fig. 7). The configuration of the plurality of design pieces 51-54 fixed in a height range substantially equal to that of the lower rear passage section 50a is the same as the configuration of the plurality of design pieces 51-54 fixed in a height range substantially equal to that of the upper rear passage section 49a. The plurality of design pieces 51-54 fixed in a height range substantially equal to that of the upper rear passage section 49a will be described below.

[0099] As shown in Fig. 5, the design unit 44 (Fig. 4) includes a pair of left and right first rotating shafts 85 fixed to the front side of the base body 45, a pair of left and right first design pieces 51, 52 rotatably fixed to the first rotating shafts 85, a pair of left and right second rotating shafts 86 fixed near the lower sides of the left and right first rotating shafts 85, and second design pieces 53, 54 rotatably fixed to the second rotating shafts 86 and rotating outside the first design pieces 51, 52. Note that Fig. 5 only shows the upper design pieces 51 to 54 and the rotating shafts 85, 86.

[0100] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the left side of the left design pieces 51, 53 and the right side of the right design pieces 52, 54 (the left and right sides of the design unit 44) are described as the outside, and the right side of the left design pieces 51, 53 and the left side of the right design pieces 52, 54 (the center side of the design unit 44) are described as the inside.

[0101] First, the first design pieces 51 and 52 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0102] As shown in Figure 5, the first design pieces 51, 52 are made of a transparent resin material such as polycarbonate. The first design pieces 51, 52 have an opaque design 44a (Figure 6) applied to the entire front surface and have plate-like front portions 51a, 52a that prevent rear visibility. The left side plate-like front portion 51a of the left first design piece 51 and the right side plate-like front portion 52a of the right first design piece 52 form a left-right pair. Note that the design 44a is not shown in Figure 6.

[0103] Downward recesses 51b, 52b are formed on the upper outer surfaces of the left and right first design pieces 51, 52, which prevent the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a from coming into contact with the fixed portions 55, 56 (Figure 4) of the upper passage forming body 46 when the first design pieces 51, 52 rotate around the first pivot axis 85.

[0104] The rear surfaces of the plate-like front portions 51a and 52a are integrally formed with upright wall portions 51c and 52c, respectively, by extending the peripheral edges of the recessed portions 51b and 52b. Fixing portions 87 and 88 are integrally formed with the rear ends of the upright wall portions 51c and 52c, respectively, to fix the first design pieces 51 and 52 around the first pivot shaft 85.

[0105] The fixing portions 87, 88 have plate-shaped base portions 87a, 88a that protrude upward from the rear ends of the recessed surfaces of the upright wall portions 51c, 52c, and disk portions 87b, 88b formed on the upper back surfaces of the base portions 87a, 88a. The disk portions 87b, 88b have a predetermined thickness in the front-to-rear direction, and first shaft insertion holes 87c, 88c are formed in the disk portions 87b, 88b, allowing a cylindrical metal first rotating shaft 85 to be inserted therethrough. The first shaft insertion holes 87c, 88c penetrate the base portions 87a, 88a and the disk portions 87b, 88b in the front-to-rear direction.

[0106] A pair of left and right rear accommodating portions 45f, 45g capable of accommodating the rear end portions of the left and right first pivot shafts 85 are integrally formed on the front surface of the base body 45 at a height position substantially the same as the upper ends of the upper through-holes 58. In addition, as shown in Figure 4, a pair of left and right front accommodating portions 89, 91 capable of accommodating the front end portions of the first pivot shafts 85 are integrally formed on the front lower portions of the left and right fixing portions 55, 56 of the upper passage forming body 46.

[0107] 4 and 5, the front and rear housing portions 45f, 45g, 89, and 91 have a predetermined thickness in the front-rear direction and face each other in the front-rear direction. The surfaces of the front and rear housing portions 45f, 45g, 89, and 91 that face each other are recessed in a manner that allows them to accommodate the end of the first rotating shaft 85.

[0108] The first rotating shaft 85 is sandwiched between the base body 45 and the upper passage forming body 46 in such a manner that its rear end is accommodated in the rear accommodating portions 45f, 45g and its front end is accommodated in the front accommodating portions 89, 91. The front surfaces of the front accommodating portions 89, 91 provided in the upper passage forming body 46 are colored and opaque, so that the first rotating shaft 85 cannot be seen from the front.

[0109] The left and right first rotation shafts 85 are fixed equidistantly on the left and right from the center in the lateral direction of the base body 45. The first design pieces 51, 52 are fixed to the front side of the base body 45 with the first rotation shafts 85 inserted into the first shaft insertion holes 87c, 88c, and are rotatable around the first rotation shafts 85.

[0110] The first design pieces 51, 52 fixed around the first pivot shaft 85 can be switched between a closed state in which the left and right plate-like front portions 51a, 52a are closed in front of the upper rear guide portion 57 and the upper rear passage portion 49a to display the design 44a (Fig. 6), and an open state in which the plate-like front portions 51a, 52a are open outward to make the game ball B1 guided by the upper rear guide portion 57 and the game ball B1 passing through the upper rear passage portion 49a (Fig. 7) visible from the front. First, the first design pieces 51, 52 in the closed state will be described below.

[0111] 6, the upright wall portions 51c, 52c (FIG. 5) have a depth dimension that places the front surfaces of the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a at approximately the same forward position as the front plate portions 46d, 47e, 48d of the upper passage forming body 46, the central passage forming body 47, and the lower passage forming body 48, relative to the base body 45. When the first design pieces 51, 52 are fixed around the first pivot shaft 85 (FIG. 5), the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a extend in a vertical direction parallel to the front surface of the base body 45.

[0112] The plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a extend to a height position midway between the central passage forming body 47. An upward-facing lower recess 92 is formed on the inner lower portion of each of the left and right plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a in a manner that avoids the upper protruding region 47c of the central front plate portion 47e. The lower recess 92 is formed along the periphery of the central front plate portion 47e. At height positions other than near the lower ends of the lower recesses 92, the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a are inclined downward and outward, and at height positions near the lower ends of the lower recesses 92, the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a extend vertically.

[0113] Downward-facing upper recesses 93 are formed on the upper inner surfaces of the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a in a manner that avoids the protruding region 46c of the upper front plate portion 46d. The upper recesses 93 are formed along the periphery of the protruding region 46c. The upper recesses 93 are provided by sloping the upper inner surfaces of the left and right plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a downward and inward.

[0114] In the left and right plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a, inner sides 94, 95 connecting the lower end of the upper recess 93 provided on the upper inside portion and the upper end of the lower recess 92 provided on the lower inside portion extend vertically. The inner sides 94, 95 of the left and right plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a are close to each other in front of the center of the upper rear passage portion 49a. Therefore, when the first design pieces 51, 52 are in the closed state, the upper rear guide portion 57 and almost the entire upper rear passage portion 49a are not visible from the front.

[0115] As shown in Figure 5, the first design pieces 51, 52 are capable of contacting the game ball B1 (Figure 7) and are provided with rotating upright walls 51d, 52d that provide the force required to move the first design pieces 51, 52 to the open state from the contacting game ball B1. The rotating upright walls 51d, 52d are integrally formed by erecting the peripheral edge of the back side of the upper recessed portion 93 (Figure 6) in the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a. The left and right rotating upright walls 51d, 52d are inclined downward and inward, similar to the peripheral edge of the upper recessed portion 93.

[0116] Rod-shaped contact portions 51e, 52e are integrally formed at the inner lower ends of the left and right rotating upright wall portions 51d, 52d, and come into contact with the game ball B1 guided by the upper rear guide portion 57 to maintain the open state of the first design pieces 51, 52. The left rod-shaped contact portion 51e provided on the left first design piece 51 extends slightly rearward from the front end of the upper rear passage portion 49a (FIG. 7), and the right rod-shaped contact portion 52e provided on the right first design piece 52 extends slightly rearward from the center of the upper rear passage portion 49a.

[0117] Plate-shaped rear contact portions 51f, 52f are integrally formed at the rear ends of the left and right rod-shaped contact portions 51e, 52e. The plate-shaped rear contact portions 51f, 52f come into contact with the game ball B1 passing through the upper rear passage portion 49a to maintain the open state of the first design pieces 51, 52. The right rod-shaped contact portion 52e is set to have a length dimension greater than that of the left rod-shaped contact portion 51e, so that the left rear contact portion 51f provided on the left rod-shaped contact portion 51e is present in approximately the front half of the upper rear passage portion 49a (FIG. 7), and the right rear contact portion 52f provided on the right rod-shaped contact portion 52e is present in approximately the rear half of the upper rear passage portion 49a. In other words, the left-side first design piece 51 and the right-side first design piece 52 are positioned at the same or approximately the same position in the front-to-back direction of the pachinko machine 10, whereas the left-side rear contact portion 51f and the right-side rear contact portion 52f are positioned offset forward and backward in the upper rear passage portion 49a.

[0118] When the first left-side design piece 51 is in the closed state, the area from the left-side pivoting upright wall portion 51d to the left-side rear contact portion 51f extends from the upper left corner of the upper rear passage portion 49a toward the lower right, as shown in Fig. 8, and the tip of the left-side rear contact portion 51f is located to the right of the lateral center of the upper rear passage portion 49a and rear of the upper rear guide portion 57. Furthermore, the left-side rear contact portion 51f is located rearward of the left-side pivoting upright wall portion 51d by the length of the left rod-shaped contact portion 51e. As a result, the left-side pivoting upright wall portion 51d is located forward of the front surface of the base body 45, i.e., in the area where the upper passage portion 46a extends downward, while the left-side rear contact portion 51f is located rearward of the front surface of the base body 45, i.e., within the upper rear passage portion 49a.

[0119] When the first right design piece 52 is in the closed state, the region from the right rotating upright wall portion 52d to the right rear contact portion 52f extends from the upper right corner of the upper rear passage portion 49a toward the lower left, as shown in Fig. 8, and the tip of the right rear contact portion 52f is located to the left of the lateral center of the upper rear passage portion 49a and rear of the upper rear guide portion 57. Furthermore, the right rear contact portion 52f is located rearwardly of the right rotating upright wall portion 52d by the length of the right rod-shaped contact portion 52e. As a result, the right rotating upright wall portion 52d is located forward of the front surface of the base body 45, i.e., in the region where the upper passage portion 46a extends downward, while the right rear contact portion 52f is located rearward of the front surface of the base body 45, i.e., within the upper rear passage portion 49a.

[0120] As described above, due to the existence of the area extending from the left rotating upright wall portion 51d to the left rear contact portion 51f and the area extending from the right rotating upright wall portion 52d to the right rear contact portion 52f, when the first design pieces 51, 52 are in the closed state, the left rear contact portion 51f and the right rear contact portion 52f are in a state of intersecting in a front view in a positional relationship shifted forward and backward. In this case, when the first design pieces 51, 52 are in the closed state, the left rotating upright wall portion 51d and the right rotating upright wall portion 52d have their ends on the left rear contact portion 51f side and the right rear contact portion 52f side above the rear guide protrusion 61, and the distance between these ends is less than the diameter of the game ball B1, more specifically, less than the radius. Furthermore, the distance from the lateral center position of the passage area extending from the upper passage portion 46a to the rear guide protrusion 61 to the end of the left rotating upright wall portion 51d on the side of the left rear contact portion 51f and the distance from the end of the right rotating upright wall portion 52d on the side of the right rear contact portion 52f are the same or approximately the same. Furthermore, the game ball B1 flowing down the upper passage portion 46a is restricted to a position closer to the front by the guide protrusion 45b provided on the upper passage portion 46a, and the plate surfaces of the left rotating upright wall portion 51d and the right rotating upright wall portion 52d extend rearward of the center of gravity of the game ball B1 flowing down the forward position. Furthermore, the lateral dimension of the passage area extending from the upper passage portion 46a to the rear guide protrusion 61 is set to be larger than the diameter of the game ball B1 but smaller than twice, more specifically, smaller than 1.5 times, the diameter of the game ball B1. With the above configuration, regardless of the horizontal position of the game ball B1 in the passage area, as the game ball B1 moves toward the rear guide protrusion 61, it abuts from above against both the plate surfaces of the left-side pivoting upright wall portion 51d and the right-side pivoting upright wall portion 52d before coming into contact with the rear guide protrusion 61. Furthermore, the plate surfaces of the left-side pivoting upright wall portion 51d and the right-side pivoting upright wall portion 52d are both inclined downward toward the horizontal center of the passage area, and the inclination angles are symmetrical but identical or approximately identical. Therefore, the game ball B1 that abuts from above against the plate surfaces of the left-side pivoting upright wall portion 51d and the right-side pivoting upright wall portion 52d is guided to the horizontal center of the passage area.

[0121] As will be described in detail later, in the initial state when the game ball B1 is not in contact with the first design pieces 51, 52, the first design pieces 51, 52 are positioned in a closed state. However, when the game ball B1 abuts from above against the plate surfaces of the left-side pivoting upright wall portion 51d and the right-side pivoting upright wall portion 52d, the first design pieces 51, 52 are configured to pivot outward toward a position where they are in an open state. In this case, the game ball B1 abutting from above against the plate surfaces of the left-side pivoting upright wall portion 51d and the right-side pivoting upright wall portion 52d as described above is guided to the horizontal center of the passage area. When the game ball B1 flows down the horizontal center, the distance between the position where the game ball B1 abuts against the plate surface of the left-side pivoting upright wall portion 51d and the center of gravity of the game ball B1 is the same or approximately the same as the distance between the position where the game ball B1 abuts against the plate surface of the right-side pivoting upright wall portion 52d and the center of gravity of the game ball B1. Therefore, the external force from the game ball B1 is applied evenly to the plate surface of the left-side pivoting upright wall portion 51d and the plate surface of the right-side pivoting upright wall portion 52d, causing the left-side first design piece 51 and the right-side first design piece 52 to pivot outward in a symmetrical manner.

[0122] As the game ball B1 moves downward, it pushes the first design pieces 51, 52 and rotates outward toward the position where they are in the open state, causing the game ball B1 to move toward the rear guide protrusion 61 and rest on the rear guide protrusion 61 while maintaining contact with the plate surfaces of the left-side pivoting upright wall portion 51d and the right-side pivoting upright wall portion 52d. The game ball B1 resting on the rear guide protrusion 61 moves rearward by flowing down the rearwardly sloping upper surface of the rear guide protrusion 61. As the game ball B1 moves rearward, the contact object of the game ball B1 changes from the plate surfaces of the left-side pivoting upright wall portion 51d and the right-side pivoting upright wall portion 52d to the left-side rod-shaped contact portion 51e and the right-side rod-shaped contact portion 52e, and when the game ball B1 flows into the upper rear passage portion 49a, it changes to the plate surfaces of the left-side rear contact portion 51f and the right-side rear contact portion 52f. The game ball B1 then flows vertically downward through the upper rear passage 49a while remaining in contact with the plate surfaces of the left rear contact portion 51f and the right rear contact portion 52f. The state in which the game ball B1 abuts on the tip of the left rear contact portion 51f and the tip of the right rear contact portion 52f is the open state position of the first design pieces 51, 52.

[0123] Furthermore, if the first design pieces 51, 52 rotate outward beyond the position where the open state is achieved, further rotation is restricted by abutting against the left side wall portion 49j and the right side wall portion 49i (Fig. 9(a)) of the upper rear passage forming body 49. This makes it possible to limit the outward rotation position of the first design pieces 51, 52 to a predetermined position even if the game ball B1 comes into contact with the first design pieces 51, 52 with force.

[0124] The game ball B1 flowing down the upper rear passage portion 49a does not contact the plate surfaces of the left rear contact portion 51f and the right rear contact portion 52f at a position below the upper rear guide portion 57 and above the front guide protrusion 66. This non-contact state means that the external force of the game ball B1 is not being applied to the first design pieces 51, 52, and the first design pieces 51, 52 return to the closed state due to the biasing force described below. The rotation of the first design pieces 51, 52 toward the closed state is restricted by the first design pieces 51, 52 contacting the central passage forming body 47 fixed to the base body 45 from the outside. This restricted position is the closed state position.

[0125] Next, the second design pieces 53 and 54 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0126] As shown in Fig. 5, the second design pieces 53, 54 are formed using a colored, opaque resin material such as ABS resin, and include substantially square pillar-shaped main bodies 53a, 54a with opaque designs 44a (Fig. 6) on the front surface. Fixed portions 53c, 54c are integrally formed at the upper rear ends of the main bodies 53a, 54a with second shaft insertion holes 53b, 54b through which the second rotating shaft 86 can be inserted. The fixed portions 53c, 54c have a predetermined thickness in the front-rear direction, and the second shaft insertion holes 53b, 54b pass through the fixed portions 53c, 54c in the front-rear direction.

[0127] The second rotating shaft 86 is made of metal and includes a cylindrical barrel portion 86a and a disk-shaped head portion 86b that is provided at one end of the barrel portion 86a and has a diameter larger than that of the barrel portion 86a. In the base body 45, a pair of left and right second shaft fixing portions 45h, 45i that can fix the left and right second rotating shafts 86 are integrally formed near the bottom of a pair of left and right rear housing portions 45f, 45g that house the rear ends of the left and right first rotating shafts 85.

[0128] The second shaft fixing portions 45h, 45i protrude from the front and rear of the base body 45 and are formed in a disk shape at the front and rear of the base body 45. The forward protrusion dimension of the second shaft fixing portions 45h, 45i is set to be smaller than the thickness dimension of the rear housing portions 45f, 45g. A screw thread is formed on the end of the body shaft portion 86a of the second rotating shaft 86 opposite the head 86b, and screw holes 45j, 45k corresponding to the screw thread are formed in the second shaft fixing portions 45h, 45i. The screw holes 45j, 45k are formed from the front surface to the vicinity of the rear surface of the second shaft fixing portions 45h, 45i.

[0129] The second rotating shaft 86 is fixed to the second shaft fixing portions 45h, 45i with screws from the front side of the base body 45. The second design pieces 53, 54 are fixed around the second rotating shaft 86 with the body shaft portion 86a of the second rotating shaft 86 inserted into the second shaft insertion holes 53b, 54b, and are rotatable around the second rotating shaft 86. Washers 96 are inserted between the fixing portions 53c, 54c of the second design pieces 53, 54 and the head portion 86b of the second rotating shaft 86, reducing the possibility that the second rotating shaft 86 will rotate as the second design pieces 53, 54 rotate.

[0130] After the second design pieces 53, 54 are fixed, the first design pieces 51, 52 are fixed in front of the second design pieces 53, 54, so that the second design pieces 53, 54 are present between the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a and the base body 45. In this state, the fixing portions 87, 88 of the first design pieces 51, 52 and the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a are present in front of the second rotating shaft 86, and the second rotating shaft 86 cannot be seen from the front.

[0131] Interlocking protrusions 97, 98 are integrally formed on the upper inside parts of the second design pieces 53, 54, allowing the second design pieces 53, 54 to rotate in conjunction with the first design pieces 51, 52. The interlocking protrusions 97, 98 include plate-shaped bases 97a, 98a extending upward and inward from the main bodies 53a, 54a, and contact portions 97b, 98b provided on the ends of the bases 97a, 98a opposite the main bodies 53a, 54a.

[0132] The bases 97a, 98a are provided at the rear ends of the main bodies 53a, 54a, and the contact portions 97b, 98b stand upright from the front surfaces of the bases 97a, 98a. The left contact portion 97b provided on the left second design piece 53 and the right contact portion 98b provided on the right second design piece 54 contact the left pivoting upright wall portion 51d and the right pivoting upright wall portion 52d from the outside.

[0133] As shown in Fig. 8, when the first design pieces 51, 52 are in the closed state, the main bodies 53a, 54a extend to approximately the same height as the left and right partitions 67, 68 of the central passage forming body 47. Upward recesses 53d, 54d (Fig. 5) are formed in the lower back surfaces of the main bodies 53a, 54a to prevent the main bodies 53a, 54a from coming into contact with the partitions 67, 68.

[0134] As shown in Figure 6, the outer peripheral portions 99, 101 of the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a of the first design pieces 51, 52 extend vertically. The main body portions 53a, 54a of the second design pieces 53, 54 protrude outward. Most of the main body portions 53a, 54a overlap the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a from the rear and are not visible from the front. Meanwhile, the outer lower portions of the main body portions 53a, 54a protrude outward beyond the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a, making the design 44a attached to the outer lower portion visible from the front.

[0135] Hemispherical protrusions (not shown) that reduce the contact area between the second design pieces 53, 54 and the base body 45 are integrally formed on the back surfaces of the outer lower parts of the main bodies 53a, 54a. By limiting the contact area between the main bodies 53a, 54a and the base body 45 to the protrusions, the frictional force generated between the second design pieces 53, 54 that rotate around the second rotation shaft 86 and the base body 45 is reduced.

[0136] As shown in Fig. 5, the volume of the interlocking protrusions 97, 98 is set smaller than the volume of the main bodies 53a, 54a, and the weight of the interlocking protrusions 97, 98 is set smaller than the weight of the main bodies 53a, 54a. As shown in Fig. 8, the interlocking protrusions 97, 98 have an inclination angle and length dimensions that prevent the main bodies 53a, 54a from being located inside the second pivot shaft 86 when the first design pieces 51, 52 are in the closed state. With these configurations, the center of gravity of the second design pieces 53, 54 is set outward from the second pivot shaft 86.

[0137] When the first design pieces 51, 52 rotate outward to the open state, an outward force is applied from the rotating upright walls 51d, 52d to the interlocking protrusions 97, 98. In this case, the second design pieces 53, 54 also open outward in conjunction with the first design pieces 51, 52. At this time, the centers of gravity of the second design pieces 53, 54 move further outward.

[0138] The center of gravity of the second design pieces 53, 54 is always located outside the second pivot shaft 86, and gravity acting on the second design pieces 53, 54 always acts to rotate the second design pieces 53, 54 inward. As already explained, the interlocking protrusions 97, 98 of the second design pieces 53, 54 are in contact with the pivoting upright walls 51d, 52d of the first design pieces 51, 52 from the outside. Therefore, an inward force is always applied to the first design pieces 51, 52 from the second design pieces 53, 54. Specifically, a force is applied in the upper right direction from the interlocking protrusions 97, 98 that are in contact with the left pivoting upright wall 51d, and a force is applied in the upper left direction from the interlocking protrusions 97, 98 that are in contact with the right pivoting upright wall 52d.

[0139] Here, the torsional moment generated around the first rotation shaft 85 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0140] 8, when the first design pieces 51, 52 are not in contact with the game ball B1, a torsion moment due to gravity acting on the first design pieces 51, 52 and a torsion moment due to the force applied from the interlocking protrusions 97, 98 to the rotating upright wall portions 51d, 52d are generated around the first rotation axis 85. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the torsion moment due to gravity acting on the first design pieces 51, 52 will be referred to as the torsion moment due to the first design pieces 51, 52, and the torsion moment due to the force applied from the interlocking protrusions 97, 98 to the rotating upright wall portions 51d, 52d will be referred to as the torsion moment for interlocking.

[0141] Most of the first design pieces 51, 52 are located inside the first pivot shaft 85 to which the first design pieces 51, 52 are fixed, and the centers of gravity of the first design pieces 51, 52 are located inside the first pivot shaft 85. Because the gravity of the first design pieces 51, 52 acts downward, the torsional moment caused by the first design pieces 51, 52 causes the first design pieces 51, 52 to pivot outward.

[0142] The contact points between the interlocking protrusions 97, 98 and the rotating upright walls 51d, 52d are located inside the left and right first pivot shafts 85. As already explained, an inward force is always applied from the interlocking protrusions 97, 98 of the second design pieces 53, 54 to the rotating upright walls 51d, 52d of the first design pieces 51, 52. For this reason, the interlocking torsion moment tends to rotate the first design pieces 51, 52 inward, opposite to the torsion moment caused by the first design pieces 51, 52.

[0143] In the design unit 44 of this embodiment, the shapes of the first design pieces 51, 52 and the second design pieces 53, 54 are adjusted so that the interlocking torsion moment is larger than the torsion moment caused by the first design pieces 51, 52. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, by reducing the depth dimension of the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a of the first design pieces 51, 52, the weight of the first design pieces 51, 52 is reduced, and the torsion moment caused by the first design pieces 51, 52 is reduced.

[0144] As already explained, by adjusting the inclination angle and length of the interlocking protrusions 97, 98, the center of gravity of the second design pieces 53, 54 is set outside the second pivot shaft 86. In this configuration, by setting a large distance between the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a and the base body 45, it is possible to set a large depth dimension of the main body portions 53a, 54a, most of which is housed between the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a and the base body 45. By increasing the volume of the second design pieces 53, 54, the gravity acting on the second design pieces 53, 54 is increased.

[0145] With the above configuration, the torsional moment for interlocking is increased and becomes larger than the torsional moment caused by the first design pieces 51, 52. Therefore, as shown in Figure 6, when the first design pieces 51, 52 are not in contact with the game ball B1 (Figure 8), the first design pieces 51, 52 rotate inward to enter the closed state. At this time, the second design pieces 53, 54, which are applying an inward force to the first design pieces 51, 52, also interlock and enter the closed state.

[0146] When the game ball B1 (FIG. 8) comes into contact with the rotating upright wall portions 51d, 52d, a torsion moment is generated around the first rotation axis 85 due to a new force applied from the game ball B1 to the rotating upright wall portions 51d, 52d. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, this torsion moment will be referred to as a torsion moment caused by the game ball B1.

[0147] As already explained, the contact position between the game ball B1 and the rotating upright wall portions 51d, 52d is inside the first rotating shaft 85. The torsional moment caused by the game ball B1 tends to rotate the first design pieces 51, 52 outward. This torsional moment acts in the same direction as the torsional moment caused by the first design pieces 51, 52, and acts in the opposite direction to the interlocking torsional moment.

[0148] In the design unit 44 of this embodiment, the material of the second design pieces 53, 54 and the distance from the contact position of the game ball B1 with the rotating upright wall portions 51d, 52d to the first pivot axis 85 are adjusted so that the sum of the torsional moment due to the game ball B1 and the torsional moment due to the first design pieces 51, 52 is greater than the torsional moment for linkage.

[0149] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 8, by fixing the left and right first pivot shafts 85 at positions spaced apart from the downstream position of the game ball B1, the distance from the contact position of the game ball B1 with the pivoting upright walls 51d, 52d to the first pivot shafts 85 is set long. This increases the torsional moment caused by the game ball B1. Also, while the game ball B1 is made of iron, the second design pieces 53, 54 are made of resin, which has a lower specific gravity than iron, so the torsional moment for linkage is smaller than the torsional moment caused by the game ball B1.

[0150] With the above configuration, the sum of the torsional moment due to the game ball B1 and the torsional moment due to the first design pieces 51, 52 is greater than the torsional moment for interlocking. Therefore, when the game ball B1 comes into contact with the rotating upright walls 51d, 52d, the first design pieces 51, 52 rotate outward to the open state. In addition, the second design pieces 53, 54 rotate outward in conjunction with the first design pieces 51, 52 to the open state.

[0151] In the design unit 44 of this embodiment, the shape and size of the second design pieces 53, 54 are adjusted so that the force of the design pieces 51-54 returning to the closed state due to their own weight does not interfere with the movement of the game ball B1 being guided into the rear guide section while contacting the left and right rod-shaped contact portions 51e, 52e, and the movement of the game ball B1 flowing down the upper rear passage section 49a while contacting the left and right rear contact portions 51f, 52f. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 8, the outward protrusion dimension of the second design pieces 53, 54 is reduced. This reduces the weight of the second design pieces 53, 54, and sets the center of gravity of the second design pieces 53, 54 closer to the second pivot shaft 86.

[0152] When the first design pieces 51, 52 are configured to be returned to the closed state using only the first design pieces 51, 52 without using the second design pieces 53, 54, the center of gravity of the first design pieces 51, 52 in the closed state needs to be in the same position as the first pivot shaft 85 in the lateral direction or outside the first pivot shaft 85. In this case, the first design pieces 51, 52 have a large volume outside the first pivot shaft 85.

[0153] In contrast, in the design unit 44 of this embodiment, the second design pieces 53, 54 are utilized, and by positioning the second design pieces 53, 54 between the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a and the base body 45, it is possible to return the first design pieces 51, 52 and the second design pieces 53, 54 to the closed state while reducing the horizontal dimension of the design unit 44.

[0154] Here, the manner in which the first design pieces 51, 52 and the second design pieces 53, 54 move in accordance with the flow of the game ball B1 will be described with reference to Figures 10(a1) to 10(d2). Figures 10(a1) to 10(d2) are explanatory diagrams for explaining the correspondence between the flow-down position of the game ball B1 in the upper passage section 46a and the upper rear passage section 49a and the movements of the design pieces 51 to 54.

[0155] As shown in Figures 10(a1) and 10(a2), the game ball B1 that flows down the upper passage portion 46a comes into contact with the left and right rotating upright wall portions 51d, 52d before coming into contact with the upper rear guide portion 57. Then, as shown in Figures 10(b1) and 10(b2), the game ball B1 moves downward to the upper rear guide portion 57 while contacting the left and right rotating upright wall portions 51d, 52d. In this case, the left and right rotating upright wall portions 51d, 52d receive an external force from the game ball B1, causing the left and right first design pieces 51, 52 to rotate outward, and the left and right interlocking protrusions 97, 98 are pushed outward by the left and right rotating upright wall portions 51d, 52d, causing the left and right second design pieces 53, 54 to rotate outward. In addition, the inclination angle and length dimension in the inclination direction of the left and right rotating upright wall portions 51d, 52d are set so that when the game ball B1 flows down to a height position where it is guided by the upper rear guide portion 57, the entire game ball B1 is present between the lower end of the left rotating upright wall portion 51d and the lower end of the right rotating upright wall portion 52d, and the left and right first design pieces 51, 52 and the left and right second design pieces 53, 54 are in an open state until almost the entire upper rear passage portion 49a is visible from the front.

[0156] As shown in Figure 10(b2), when the game ball B1 comes into contact with the upper rear guide portion 57, the entire game ball B1 is present between the left and right rod-shaped contact portions 51e, 52e. In this state, the first design pieces 51, 52 and the second design pieces 53, 54 are in an open state, and the height positions of the rod-shaped contact portions 51e, 52e are approximately the same as the height position of the center of gravity of the game ball B1 guided by the upper rear guide portion 57. As shown in Figures 10(c1) and 10(c2), the game ball B1 moves rearward while being guided by the upper rear guide portion 57 while in contact with the left and right rod-shaped contact portions 51e, 52e. During this process, the left and right rod-shaped contact portions 51e, 52e are prevented from rotating inward, i.e., the left and right first design pieces 51, 52 and second design pieces 53, 54 are prevented from rotating in the direction returning to the closed state, by the game ball B1 present between the left and right rod-shaped contact portions 51e, 52e. Therefore, the first design pieces 51, 52 and the second design pieces 53, 54 remain in the open state until the game ball B1 flows into the upper rear passage portion 49a. As already explained, in the open state, the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a are not present in front of the upper rear guide portion 57, and the player can see the game ball B1 being guided to the upper rear passage portion 49a from the front.

[0157] As shown in Figures 10(d1) and 10(d2), the game ball B1 that flows into the upper rear passage 49a flows downward while contacting the left and right rear contact portions 51f, 52f. During this process, the game ball B1 present between the left and right rear contact portions 51f, 52f is prevented from rotating inward, i.e., the left and right first design pieces 51, 52 and second design pieces 53, 54 are prevented from rotating in a direction returning to the closed state. The rear contact portions 51f, 52f have a length dimension that allows the game ball B1 to break contact with the rear contact portions 51f, 52f while being guided by the front guide protrusion 66. Therefore, the first design pieces 51, 52 and second design pieces 53, 54 remain open until the game ball B1 reaches the height position of the front guide protrusion 66. As already explained, in the open state, the plate-shaped front portions 51a, 52a are not present in front of the upper rear passage portion 49a, and the player can see the game ball B1 flowing down the upper rear passage portion 49a from the front.

[0158] Subsequently, when the contact between the game ball B1 and the rear contact portions 51f, 52f is released, the force maintaining the first design pieces 51, 52 and the second design pieces 53, 54 in the open state is lost. In this case, the first design pieces 51, 52 are pushed inward by the second design pieces 53, 54 arranged on the outside and rotate inward, and the second design pieces 53, 54 also rotate inward accordingly. Then, the first design pieces 51, 52 and the second design pieces 53, 54 return to their closed positions. As already explained, the game ball B1 guided by the front guide protrusion 66 and returning to the front of the base body 45 can be seen from the central region 83 defined in the central front panel portion 47e. Therefore, even if the first design pieces 51, 52 and the second design pieces 53, 54 return to the closed state while the game ball B1 is being guided by the front guide protrusion 66, there is no time when the game ball B1 becomes invisible from the front. The player can always see at least a part of the game ball B1 and can grasp the movement of the game ball B1.

[0159] As described above, a pair of left and right first design pieces 51, 52 and a pair of left and right second design pieces 53, 54 are provided in a front position of the lower rear passage section 50a. As shown in Fig. 4, the configurations of the first design pieces 51, 52 and the second design pieces 53, 54 provided in front of the lower rear passage section 50a are the same as the configurations of the first design pieces 51, 52 and the second design pieces 53, 54 provided in front of the upper rear passage section 49a. Description of the configuration in front of the lower rear passage section 50a will be omitted.

[0160] The case where a gaming ball B1 flows down from the upper passage portion 46a to the lower passage portion 48a will be described. As shown in Figure 8, when one gaming ball B1 flows into the upper passage portion 46a, the design pieces 51-54 in front of the upper rear passage portion 49a are in an open state from the time the gaming ball B1 flows down the upper passage portion 46a and comes into contact with the rotating upright walls 51d, 52d until it comes into contact with the front guide protrusion 66 of the upper rear passage portion 49a (Figure 9(a)). The design pieces 51-54 return to a closed state while the gaming ball B1 is being guided by the front guide protrusion 66.

[0161] Thereafter, from the time when the game ball B1 flowing down the central passage portion 47a comes into contact with the rotating upright walls 51d, 52d until the time when the game ball B1 comes into contact with the front guide protrusion 76 of the lower rear passage portion 50a (FIG. 5), the design pieces 51-54 present in front of the lower rear passage portion 50a are in an open state. The design pieces 51-54 return to a closed state while the game ball B1 is being guided by the front guide protrusion 76. From the time when the game ball B1 flowing into the upper passage portion 46a is discharged from the lower passage portion 48a, at least a portion of the game ball B1 is always visible from the front.

[0162] By arranging the design pieces 51-54, which can be switched between a closed state and an open state, in multiple locations on the passage sections 46a-50a (Fig. 7), the design pieces 51-54 can open and close multiple times when one game ball B1 passes through. By frequently changing the front face of the design unit 44, the design unit 44 can attract the player's attention.

[0163] A situation may occur in which multiple game balls B1 are simultaneously present in the passage sections 46a to 50a (FIG. 7) of the design unit 44. For example, after a first game ball B1 (FIG. 8) contacts the rotating upright wall sections 51d, 52d (FIG. 8) of the upper first design pieces 51, 52 and the first design pieces 51, 52 are in the open state, a situation may occur in which a second game ball B1 contacts the rotating upright wall sections 51d, 52d of the first design pieces 51, 52 in the open state before the first game ball B1 reaches the front guide protrusion 66 (FIG. 8) of the upper rear passage section 49a. In this case, one or more game balls B1 are present between the left and right first design pieces 51, 52 until the second game ball B1 reaches the front guide protrusion 66 of the upper rear passage section 49a, and the first design pieces 51, 52 remain in the open state.

[0164] A situation may also occur in which different game balls B1 are in contact with the upper and lower first design pieces 51, 52. Figure 11 is a front view of the design unit 44 showing a state in which multiple game balls B1 are simultaneously present in the passage sections 46a to 50a. In this case, as shown in Figure 11, the upper and lower design pieces 51 to 54 are simultaneously in the open state. The design unit 44 in this embodiment can always make at least a portion of all game balls B1 passing through the passage sections 46a to 50a (Figure 7) visible from the front.

[0165] As shown in Fig. 3, a pair of left and right design members 105 are provided on the left and right sides of the design unit 44. The design member 105 has a design portion 105b (Fig. 11) with a design 105a on the front surface, and a support portion 105c (Fig. 11) that supports the design portion 105b in front of the game board 24. Note that the design 105a is not shown in Fig. 11.

[0166] The support portions 105c (Fig. 11) are screwed to the gaming board 24 from the rear side of the gaming board 24 and are fixed near the upper left and upper right of the design unit 44. The support portions 105c protrude from the front of the gaming board 24 to a position forward of the front of the design unit 44. The design portion 105b (Fig. 11) is provided at the front end of the support portion 105c and extends vertically downward to a height position approximately the same as the lower end of the design unit 44.

[0167] As shown in FIG. 3, when the design pieces 51-54 of the design unit 44 are closed, the entire design pieces 51-54 are contained within the left and right design portions 105b (FIG. 11). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, when the design pieces 51-54 are open, portions of the outer sides of the open design pieces 51-54 are hidden behind the design portions 105b and cannot be seen. As previously explained, the tilting of the pivoting upright walls 51d and 52d reduces the amount of rotation of the first design pieces 51 and 52 when transitioning from the closed state to the open state. This reduces the area of ​​the plate-like front portions 51a and 52a that are hidden behind the design portions 105b and cannot be seen in the open state. As shown in FIG. 3, the design unit 44 and the design member 105 are arranged side by side in the right area PA1, ensuring a wide area in which the designs 44a and 105a (FIGS. 3 and 6) can be displayed. This makes it possible to enhance the decorative appearance of the game board 24 while preventing the game ball B1 from becoming invisible from the front.

[0168] As shown in Figure 6, unit fixing bosses 102 that enable the design unit 44 to be fixed to the game board 24 are integrally formed at the four corners of the back surface of the base body 45. Each of the four unit fixing bosses 102 has screw holes (not shown) formed from the back surface to a midpoint on the front side. On the front surface of the game board 24 (Figure 3), a recess (not shown) that can accommodate the components on the back side of the design unit 44 (base body 45, rear passage forming bodies 49, 50, and unit fixing bosses 102) is provided in the right area PA1 (Figure 3).

[0169] As shown in Fig. 3, the design unit 44 is fixed to the front side of the gaming board 24 by screwing the unit fixing boss 102 (Fig. 6) from the rear side of the gaming board 24, with the rear side structure housed in a recessed portion (not shown). In this state, the front side of the base body 45 (Fig. 6) is on the same plane as the front side of the gaming board 24. The gaming ball B1 discharged from the lower passage portion 48a (Fig. 7) flows smoothly down and returns to the right area PA1.

[0170] In the right-side area PA1, a plurality of left-side guide nails 103 are provided on the upper left side of the design unit 44 to guide the game ball B1 flowing downstream upstream to the left of the upper passage portion 46a (FIG. 7) to the upper passage portion 46a, and a plurality of right-side guide nails 104 are provided on the upper right side of the design unit 44 to guide the game ball B1 flowing upstream to the right of the upper passage portion 46a to the upper passage portion 46a. The plurality of guide nails 103, 104 provided on the left and right sides form a row, and the row of left-side guide nails 103 is inclined downward from the left end of the right-side area PA1 to the right, and the row of right-side guide nails 104 is inclined downward from the right end of the right-side area PA1 to the left.

[0171] By providing the left guide nail 103 and the right guide nail 104, all game balls B1 flowing downstream upstream of the design unit 44 in the right area PA1 are guided by the left guide nail 103 and the right guide nail 104 and enter the upper passage portion 46a (FIG. 7). By guiding many game balls B1 to the design unit 44, the frequency of switching between the closed and open states of the design pieces 51-54 can be increased. This can attract the player's attention to the design unit 44. Furthermore, by providing the left guide nail 103 and the right guide nail 104, the game ball B1 that has flowed into the right area PA1 is prevented from entering the left or right side of the design unit 44. This can prevent the game ball B1 from colliding with the design pieces 51-54 of the design unit 44 from the outside or the design member 105.

[0172] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration regarding the discharge of the game ball B1 that has flowed down the game area PA.

[0173] As already explained, a game ball B1 that enters any of the general winning opening 31, the special electric winning device 32, the first operating opening 33, the second operating opening 34, and the outlet 24a is discharged from the game area PA. In other words, a game ball B1 that is launched from the game ball launching mechanism 27 and flows into the game area PA is discharged from the game area PA by entering any of the general winning opening 31, the special electric winning device 32, the first operating opening 33, the second operating opening 34, and the outlet 24a. A game ball B1 that enters any of the general winning opening 31, the special electric winning device 32, the first operating opening 33, the second operating opening 34, and the outlet 24a is guided to the back side of the game board 24.

[0174] On the back of the game board 24, discharge passages 122-128 are formed corresponding to the general winning opening 31, the special winning device 32, the first operating opening 33, the second operating opening 34, and the outlet 24a, respectively. The game balls B1 that flow into the discharge passages 122-128 flow down the discharge passages 122-128 into which they flow, and are guided to the lower end of the game board 24 on the back side of the game board 24, and are collected by a discharge ball collection section (not shown). The game balls B1 collected by the discharge ball collection section are then discharged to a ball circulation device of the island equipment where the pachinko machine 10 is installed in the game hall.

[0175] Each of the discharge passage sections 122-128 is provided with various detection sensors 122a-128a for detecting the gaming ball B1. These discharge passage sections 122-128 and detection sensors 122a-128a will be described below. As already explained, four general winning openings 31 are provided, and therefore, there are discharge passage sections 122-124 corresponding to each of the four general winning openings 31. In this case, one detection sensor 122a is provided for the first discharge passage section 122 corresponding to the leftmost general winning opening 31, and one detection sensor 123a is provided for the second discharge passage section 123 corresponding to the general winning opening 31 adjacent to it on the right. Specifically, the first winning opening detection sensor 122a is provided so that its detection range is located midway along the first discharge passage section 122, and the second winning opening detection sensor 123a is provided so that its detection range is located midway along the second discharge passage section 123. A gaming ball B1 that enters the leftmost general winning opening 31 is detected by the first winning opening detection sensor 122a as it passes through the first discharge passage 122, and a gaming ball B1 that enters the general winning opening 31 adjacent to it on the right is detected by the second winning opening detection sensor 123a as it passes through the second discharge passage 123. A third discharge passage 124 is provided for the two general winning openings 31 on the right, and is formed so that the two general winning openings 31 merge midway. The third discharge passage 124 has entrance-side regions corresponding to the two general winning openings 31, and these entrance-side regions merge midway to form a single exit-side region. The third winning opening detection sensor 124a is provided so that a detection range is located midway in the exit-side region of the third discharge passage 124. A gaming ball B1 that has entered one of the two regular winning openings 31 on the right side is detected by the third winning opening detection sensor 124a while passing through the third discharge passage portion 124.

[0176] A fourth discharge passage section 125 exists corresponding to the special electric winning device 32. A special electric detection sensor 125a is provided so that a detection range exists at a position midway through the fourth discharge passage section 125, and the game ball B1 that enters the special electric winning device 32 is detected by the special electric detection sensor 125a as it passes through the fourth discharge passage section 125. A fifth discharge passage section 126 exists corresponding to the first operating port 33. A first operating port detection sensor 126a is provided so that a detection range exists at a position midway through the fifth discharge passage section 126, and the game ball B1 that enters the first operating port 33 is detected by the first operating port detection sensor 126a as it passes through the fifth discharge passage section 126. A sixth discharge passage section 127 exists corresponding to the second operating port 34. A second operating port detection sensor 127a is provided so that its detection range exists at a midpoint of the sixth discharge passage section 127, and a game ball B1 that enters the second operating port 34 is detected by the second operating port detection sensor 127a as it passes through the sixth discharge passage section 127. A seventh discharge passage section 128 exists corresponding to the outlet 24a. An outlet detection sensor 128a is provided so that its detection range exists at a midpoint of the seventh discharge passage section 128, and a game ball B1 that enters the outlet 24a is detected by the outlet detection sensor 128a as it passes through the seventh discharge passage section 128.

[0177] It should be noted that a gaming ball B1 that has become the detection target of one of the various detection sensors 122a to 128a will not become the detection target of the other detection sensors 122a to 128a. A gate detection sensor 129a is also provided for the through gate 35, and the gaming ball B1 that passes through the through gate 35 while flowing down the gaming area PA is detected by the gate detection sensor 129a.

[0178] Electromagnetic induction type proximity sensors are used as the various detection sensors 122a-129a, but any sensor can be used as long as it can detect the gaming ball B1 individually. The various detection sensors 122a-129a are electrically connected to the main control device 140, which will be described later, and the detection results of the various detection sensors 122a-129a are output to the main control device 140. Specifically, the various detection sensors 122a-129a output a LOW level signal when they are not detecting the gaming ball B1, and output a HI level signal when they are detecting the gaming ball B1. However, this is not a limitation, and the relationship between HI and LOW may be reversed.

[0179] As shown in Fig. 2, a front door frame 14 is provided so as to cover the entire front side of the inner frame 13 formed by attaching the game board 24 having the above-described configuration to the resin base 21. As shown in Fig. 1, the front door frame 14 is formed with a window portion 131 that allows almost the entire area of ​​the game area PA to be viewed from the front. The window portion 131 has a substantially elliptical shape, and a window panel 132 is fitted into the window portion 131. The window panel 132 is formed of colorless and transparent glass, but is not limited to this and may be formed of colorless and transparent synthetic resin, or may be formed of colored transparency as long as the game area PA is visible through the window panel 132 from the front of the pachinko machine 10.

[0180] A display light-emitting unit 133 is provided above the window 131. A pair of left and right speakers 134 are also provided to output sound effects and other sounds according to the game status. An upper bulge 111 and a lower bulge 136, which bulge toward the front, are arranged vertically below the window 131. An upper tray 111a that opens upward is provided inside the upper bulge 111, and a lower tray 136a that also opens upward is provided inside the lower bulge 136. The upper tray 111a temporarily stores game balls B1 dispensed from a dispensing device (described later) and guides them in a row toward the game ball launching mechanism 27. The lower tray 136a also stores surplus game balls B1 in the upper tray 111a.

[0181] Next, the configuration of the rear side of the gaming machine main body 12 will be described.

[0182] As shown in FIG. 2, a main control device 140, which is responsible for the primary control of the game, is mounted on the back of the inner frame 13 (specifically, the game board 24). The main control device 140 comprises a main control board 141 housed in a board box 140a. The board box 140a may be provided with a trace means for leaving a trace of its opening, or a trace structure for leaving a trace of its opening. Possible trace means include a joint structure that inseparably connects the multiple case bodies constituting the board box 140a and requires destruction of a predetermined portion upon separation, or a structure in which a seal is attached across the boundaries between the multiple case bodies, leaving a trace of its removal by leaving an adhesive layer on the bonded object upon peeling. Another possible trace structure is a structure in which an adhesive is applied to the boundaries between the multiple case bodies constituting the board box 140a.

[0183] A back pack unit 15 is installed so as to cover the back side of the inner frame 13, including the main control device 140. The back pack unit 15 has a back pack 152 formed from a transparent synthetic resin, and a dispensing mechanism section 153 and a control device assembly unit 154 are attached to the back pack 152.

[0184] The payout mechanism 153 includes a tank 155 to which game balls B1 supplied from the island equipment of the gaming hall are successively replenished, and a payout device 156 for paying out the game balls B1 stored in the tank 155. The game balls B1 paid out from the payout device 156 are discharged into the upper tray 111a or the lower tray 136a through a payout passage provided downstream of the payout device 156. The payout mechanism 153 is supplied with a main power supply of, for example, 24 volts AC, and is equipped with a back pack board having a power switch for turning the power on and off.

[0185] The control device aggregate unit 154 is equipped with a payout control device 157 having the function of controlling the payout device 156, and a power supply / launch control device 158 which generates and outputs the predetermined power required by various control devices, etc., and controls the launch of game balls B1 in response to the player's operation of the launch operation device 28. The payout control device 157 and the power supply / launch control device 158 are stacked one on top of the other, with the payout control device 157 at the rear of the pachinko machine 10.

[0186] <Electrical configuration of pachinko machine 10> FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10.

[0187] The main control device 140 comprises a main control board 141 that is responsible for the main control of the game, and a power outage monitoring board 147 that monitors the power supply. The main control board 141 is equipped with an MPU 142. The MPU 142 has a main CPU 143, which is a processing unit including a control unit and an arithmetic unit, as well as a main ROM 144, a main RAM 145, and a management IC 146. In addition to the above elements, the MPU 142 also has built-in interrupt circuits, timer circuits, data input / output circuits, various counter circuits such as random number generators, etc.

[0188] The main ROM 144 is a memory (i.e., a nonvolatile storage means) that does not require an external power supply to retain data, such as a NOR flash memory or a NAND flash memory, and is used for read-only purposes. The main ROM 144 stores various control programs and fixed value data executed by the main CPU 143.

[0189] The main RAM 145 is a memory (i.e., a volatile storage means) that requires an external power supply to retain data, such as SRAM or DRAM, and is used for both reading and writing. The main RAM 145 is randomly accessible and takes less time to read data than the main ROM 144 when compared for the same data capacity. The main RAM 145 temporarily stores various data for the execution of the control program stored in the main ROM 144.

[0190] The management IC 146 is a management device that manages the entry patterns of the game ball B1 in the game area PA based on information supplied from the main CPU 143. As will be described in detail later, the management IC 146 grasps the entry history of the game ball B1 into the general winning opening 31, the special electric winning device 32, the first operating opening 33, the second operating opening 34, and the outlet 24a, and also grasps the entry frequency into the general winning opening 31, the special electric winning device 32, the first operating opening 33, and the second operating opening 34 according to the grasped entry history.

[0191] The MPU 142 is provided with an input port and an output port. The input side of the MPU 142 is connected to a power outage monitoring board 147 and a dispensing control device 157 provided in the main control device 140. The power outage monitoring board 147 is connected to a power supply / launch control device 158 having the function of supplying operating power, and the MPU 142 is supplied with operating power via the power outage monitoring board 147.

[0192] Various sensors, such as the ball entry detection sensors 122a-129a, are connected to the input side of the MPU 142. As already explained, the ball entry detection sensors 122a-129a are the first prize entry detection sensor 122a, the second prize entry detection sensor 123a, the third prize entry detection sensor 124a, the special electric current detection sensor 125a, the first operation port detection sensor 126a, the second operation port detection sensor 127a, the outlet detection sensor 128a, and the gate detection sensor 129a. Based on the detection results of these ball entry detection sensors 122a-129a, the main CPU 143 determines whether a ball has entered each entry area. In addition, the main CPU 143 executes various lotteries based on whether a ball has entered the first operation port 33, and also executes various lotteries based on whether a ball has entered the second operation port 34.

[0193] The output side of the MPU 142 is connected to a power outage monitoring board 147, a payout control device 157, and an audio / light emitting control device 161. A prize ball command is output to the payout control device 157, for example, based on the game ball B1 entering a prize ball entry portion among the above-mentioned entry portions, which corresponds to the payout of the game ball B1. Various commands such as a variation command, a type command, and an opening command are output to the audio / light emitting control device 161.

[0194] The output side of the MPU 142 is connected to a special power drive unit 32b that opens and closes the opening and closing door 32a of the special power winning device 32, a normal power drive unit 34b that opens and closes the normal power device 34a of the second operating port 34, a special chart unit 37, and a normal chart unit 38. Incidentally, the special chart unit 37 is provided with a special chart display unit 37a and a special chart reserve display unit 37b, all of which are connected to the output side of the MPU 142. Similarly, the normal chart unit 38 is provided with a normal chart display unit 38a and a normal chart reserve display unit 38b, all of which are connected to the output side of the MPU 142. Various driver circuits are provided on the main control board 141, and the MPU 142 controls the drive of various drive units and various display units through these driver circuits.

[0195] That is, in the opening / closing execution mode, the main CPU 143 executes drive control of the special power drive unit 32b so that the special power winning device 32 is opened and closed. Also, when the open state of the normal power device 34a is won, the main CPU 143 executes drive control of the normal power drive unit 34b so that the normal power device 34a is opened and closed. Also, during each game round, the main CPU 143 executes display control of the special chart display unit 37a. Also, when the lottery result of whether or not the normal power device 34a is to be opened is clearly displayed, the main CPU 143 executes display control of the normal chart display unit 38a. In addition, when a prize is won at the first operating port 33 or the second operating port 34, or when a changing display starts in the special chart display unit 37a, the main CPU 143 executes display control of the special chart reserve display unit 37b, and when a prize is won at the through gate 35, or when a changing display starts in the regular chart display unit 38a, the main CPU 143 executes display control of the regular chart reserve display unit 38b.

[0196] The power failure monitoring board 147 relays between the main control board 141 and the power supply / launch control device 158, and monitors the voltage of 24 volts DC stabilization, which is the maximum voltage output from the power supply / launch control device 158. The payout control device 157 controls the payout of prize balls and loan balls by the payout device 156 based on the prize ball command received from the main control device 140.

[0197] The power supply and launch control device 158 is connected to a commercial power source (external power source) in, for example, an amusement hall or the like. Based on the external power supplied from the commercial power source, the power supply and launch control device 158 generates the operating power required for the main control board 141, the payout control device 157, and the like, and supplies the generated operating power. Incidentally, the power supply and launch control device 158 is provided with a power supply unit for use in the event of power interruption, such as a backup capacitor, and even when the power to the pachinko machine 10 is turned off, power for memory retention is supplied from the power supply unit for use in the event of power interruption to the main RAM 145 of the main control device 140 and the payout control device 157. The power supply and launch control device 158 is also responsible for controlling the launch of the game ball launching mechanism 27, which is driven when predetermined launch conditions are met.

[0198] The audio and light emitting control device 161 drives and controls the display light emitting unit 133 and the speaker unit 134 provided on the front door frame 14 based on various commands received from the main control device 140, and also controls the display control device 162. The display control device 162 executes display control of the pattern display device 41 based on commands received from the audio and light emitting control device 161.

[0199] <Electrical configuration for performing various lotteries in the main CPU 143> Next, the electrical configuration for performing various lotteries in the main CPU 143 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0200] During play, the master CPU 143 uses various counter information to determine whether a jackpot occurs, set the display of the special symbol display unit 37a, set the symbol display of the symbol display unit 41, and set the display of the normal symbol display unit 38a. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, the master CPU 143 uses a hit random number counter C1 used to determine whether a jackpot occurs, a jackpot type counter C2 used to determine the type of jackpot, a reach random number counter C3 used to determine whether a reach occurs when the symbol display unit 41 changes due to a miss, a random number initial value counter CINI used to set the initial value of the hit random number counter C1, and a change type counter CS that determines the display duration of the special symbol display unit 37a and the symbol display unit 41. Furthermore, the master CPU 143 uses a normal power feature release counter C4 used to determine whether the normal power feature 34a of the second operating port 34 is set to a normal power release state. The counters C1-C3, CINI, CS, and C4 are provided in the various counter area 145b of the master RAM 145.

[0201] Each counter C1 to C3, CINI, CS, and C4 is a loop counter that adds 1 to the previous value each time it is updated and returns to "0" after reaching its maximum value. Each counter is updated at short intervals. Information corresponding to the winning random number counter C1, the big win type counter C2, and the reach random number counter C3 is stored in the reserved storage area 145a provided as acquired information storage means in the main RAM 145 when a winning occurs in the first actuation port 33 or the second actuation port 34.

[0202] The reservation storage area 145a comprises a reservation area RE and an execution area AE. The reservation area RE comprises a first reservation area RE1, a second reservation area RE2, a third reservation area RE3 and a fourth reservation area RE4, and a combination of numerical information of the win random number counter C1, the jackpot type counter C2 and the reach random number counter C3 is stored as reservation information in one of the reservation areas RE1 to RE4 according to the winning history of the first actuation port 33 or the second actuation port 34.

[0203] In this case, when multiple consecutive wins occur in the first actuation port 33 or the second actuation port 34, the numerical information is stored in the first hold area RE1 to the fourth hold area RE4 in chronological order from the first hold area RE1 to the second hold area RE2 to the third hold area RE3 to the fourth hold area RE4. By providing four hold areas RE1 to RE4 in this way, up to four winning histories of game balls B1 in the first actuation port 33 or the second actuation port 34 can be reserved and stored.

[0204] The number of items that can be stored on hold is not limited to four and can be any number, such as two, three, five or more, or it can be singular.

[0205] The execution area AE is an area for moving each piece of numerical information stored in the first holding area RE1 of the holding area RE when the variable display of the special chart display section 37a begins, and when one game round starts, a win / loss determination is made based on the various numerical information stored in the execution area AE.

[0206] Each of the counters will now be described in detail.

[0207] First, the normal power accessory release counter C4 will be described. The normal power accessory release counter C4 is configured to be incremented by 1 in sequence within a range of 0 to 250, for example, and to return to "0" after reaching the maximum value. The normal power accessory release counter C4 is periodically updated, and is stored in the normal power reserve area 145c of the main RAM 145 at the timing when the game ball B1 enters the through gate 35. Then, at a predetermined timing, a lottery is held to determine whether or not to control the normal power accessory 34a to the open state based on the value of the stored normal power accessory release counter C4.

[0208] In the present pachinko machine 10, a plurality of types of support modes are set so that the manner of support by the normal power device 34a differs from one another. In detail, the support modes are set to a high frequency support mode and a low frequency support mode so that the frequency with which the normal power device 34a of the second operating port 34 is opened per unit time is relatively high or low when compared in a situation where the launch of the game ball B1 continues in the same manner into the game area PA.

[0209] In the high-frequency support mode and the low-frequency support mode, the probability of winning the normal power opening state in the normal power opening lottery using the normal power device opening counter C4 is the same (for example, 4 / 5 in both), but in the high-frequency support mode, the number of times the normal power device 34a opens when the normal power opening state is won is set to be more than in the low-frequency support mode, and the opening time for each opening is set to be longer.In this case, if the normal power opening state is won in the high-frequency support mode and the normal power device 34a opens multiple times, the closing time from the end of one opening state to the start of the next opening state is set to be shorter than the opening time for each opening.Furthermore, in the high-frequency support mode, the minimum time ensured between one normal power opening lottery and the next normal power opening lottery (i.e., the duration of one display on the normal power display unit 38a) is set to be shorter than in the low-frequency support mode.

[0210] As described above, in the high-frequency support mode, the probability of a winning entry into the second actuation port 34 is higher than in the low-frequency support mode. In other words, in the low-frequency support mode, the probability of a winning entry into the first actuation port 33 is higher than in the second actuation port 34, but in the high-frequency support mode, the probability of a winning entry into the second actuation port 34 is higher than in the first actuation port 33. When a winning entry into the second actuation port 34 occurs, a predetermined number of game balls B1 are paid out, so in the high-frequency support mode, the player can play without losing too many balls.

[0211] The configuration for increasing the frequency of normal power release per unit time in the high-frequency support mode compared to the low-frequency support mode is not limited to the above, and may be configured to increase the probability of winning the normal power release state in the normal power release lottery, for example. In addition, in a configuration in which multiple types of reserved time (e.g., the time of variable display executed by the normal power display unit 38a based on winning at the through gate 35) are available for the period between one normal power release lottery and the next, the high-frequency support mode may be configured to be more likely to select a shorter reserved time or to have a shorter average reserved time than the low-frequency support mode. Furthermore, the advantage of the high-frequency support mode over the low-frequency support mode may be increased by applying any one or any combination of the following conditions: increasing the number of releases, lengthening the open time, shortening the reserved time between one normal power release lottery and the next, shortening the average reserved time, and increasing the winning probability.

[0212] Next, the winning random number counter C1 will be described. The winning random number counter C1 is configured to increment by one within a range of, for example, 0 to 599, and return to "0" after reaching a maximum value. In particular, when the winning random number counter C1 completes one cycle, the value of the random number initial value counter CINI at that time is read as the initial value of the winning random number counter C1. The random number initial value counter CINI is a loop counter similar to the winning random number counter C1 (value = 0 to 599). The winning random number counter C1 is periodically updated, and is stored in the reserve storage area 145a of the main RAM 145 when the gaming ball B1 enters the first actuation port 33 or the second actuation port 34.

[0213] The random number value that results in a jackpot win is stored as a hit / miss table in the main ROM 144. As the hit / miss table, a hit / miss table for a low probability mode and a hit / miss table for a high probability mode are set. In other words, in this pachinko machine 10, a low probability mode and a high probability mode are set as the lottery modes in the hit / miss lottery means.

[0214] In a gaming state where the winning / losing table for the low probability mode is referenced in the lottery, the number of random numbers that will result in a jackpot is 2. On the other hand, in a gaming state where the winning / losing table for the high probability mode is referenced in the lottery, the number of random numbers that will result in a jackpot is 20. Note that the number of random numbers that will result in a jackpot can be any number as long as the winning probability is higher in the high probability mode than in the low probability mode.

[0215] The jackpot type counter C2 is configured to be incremented by 1 in sequence within a range of 0 to 29, and to return to "0" after reaching the maximum value. The jackpot type counter C2 is updated periodically, and is stored in the reserved storage area 145a when the gaming ball B1 enters the first actuation port 33 or the second actuation port 34.

[0216] A plurality of jackpot results are set in this pachinko machine 10. These plurality of jackpot results are set by providing differences in three conditions: (1) the manner of opening and closing control of the special power winning device 32 in the opening and closing execution mode, (2) the lottery mode in the winning / losing lottery means after the opening and closing execution mode ends, and (3) the support mode in the normal power device 34a of the second operating port 34 after the opening and closing execution mode ends.

[0217] As the manner of opening and closing control of the special power winning device 32 in the opening and closing execution mode, a high frequency winning mode and a low frequency winning mode are set so that the frequency of winning in the special power winning device 32 from the start to the end of the opening and closing execution mode is relatively high and low. Specifically, in either the high frequency winning mode or the low frequency winning mode, a predetermined number of rounds of play are played up to the upper limit.

[0218] Here, a round game is a game that continues until one of the following conditions is met: a predetermined upper limit duration has elapsed, or a predetermined upper limit number of game balls B1 have entered the special winning device 32. Furthermore, the number of round games in the open / close execution mode triggered by a jackpot result is the same fixed number of rounds regardless of the type of jackpot result that triggered the transition. Specifically, regardless of the jackpot result, the upper limit number of round games is set to 15 rounds.

[0219] Furthermore, in this pachinko machine 10, a plurality of types are set for one opening mode of the special electric winning device 32, with different opening durations from when the special electric winning device 32 is opened until when it is closed. In detail, a long-time mode in which the opening duration is set to 29 seconds, which is a long time, and a short-time mode in which the opening duration is set to 0.06 seconds, which is a short time shorter than the long time, are set.

[0220] In this pachinko machine 10, when the launch operation device 28 is operated by a player, the game ball launching mechanism 27 is driven and controlled so that one game ball B1 is launched toward the play area PA every 0.6 seconds. The upper limit for the round game termination condition is set to nine. In this case, the long-time mode among the above-mentioned release modes sets the release duration longer than the product of the launch cycle of the game ball B1 and one round game. On the other hand, the short-time mode sets the release duration shorter than the product of the launch cycle of the game ball B1 and one round game, more specifically, shorter than the launch cycle of the game ball B1. Therefore, when a single release is performed in the long-time mode, it is expected that the special electric winning device 32 will win the maximum number of prizes in one round game. When a single release is performed in the short-time mode, it is expected that the special electric winning device 32 will not win, or if it wins, it will win only about one prize.

[0221] In the high frequency winning mode, the special power winning device 32 is opened once in each round of play in a long time mode. On the other hand, in the low frequency winning mode, the special power winning device 32 is opened once in each round of play in a short time mode.

[0222] In addition, the number of times the special electric winning device 32 is opened and closed, the number of rounds of play, the duration of opening for one opening, and the upper limit number of rounds of play in one round in the high frequency winning mode and low frequency winning mode are not limited to the above values ​​and are arbitrary, as long as the frequency of winning in the special electric winning device 32 from the start to the end of the opening and closing execution mode is higher in the high frequency winning mode than in the low frequency winning mode.

[0223] The allocation destination of the game result for the jackpot type counter C2 is stored as an allocation table in the main ROM 144. The allocation destinations are set to a low probability jackpot result, a low prize winning high probability jackpot result, and a most advantageous jackpot result.

[0224] A low probability jackpot result is a jackpot result in which the opening / closing execution mode becomes a high frequency winning mode, and after the opening / closing execution mode ends, the winning / losing lottery mode becomes a low probability mode and the support mode becomes a high frequency support mode. However, this high frequency support mode will transition to a low frequency support mode if the number of games played after the transition reaches the termination reference number (specifically, 100 times).

[0225] A low-prize, high-probability jackpot result is a jackpot result in which the open / close execution mode becomes a low-frequency win mode, and after the open / close execution mode ends, the win / lose lottery mode becomes a high-probability mode and the support mode becomes a high-frequency support mode. These high-probability mode and high-frequency support mode continue until the lottery result in the win / lose lottery is a jackpot state win and the game transitions to the jackpot state.

[0226] The most favorable jackpot result is a jackpot result in which the open / close execution mode becomes a high-frequency winning mode, and after the open / close execution mode ends, the win / lose lottery mode becomes a high-probability mode and the support mode becomes a high-frequency support mode. These high-probability mode and high-frequency support mode continue until the lottery result in the win / lose lottery is a jackpot state win and the game transitions to the jackpot state.

[0227] In relation to the above game states, the normal game state refers to a state in which the win / lose lottery mode is a low probability mode and the support mode is a low frequency support mode, rather than the open / close execution mode. Also, a low-prize, high-probability jackpot result may not be set as a game result. In addition, in the open / close execution mode in a low-prize, high-probability jackpot result, the number of rounds of play may be fewer than in the case of a low-probability jackpot result and a most favorable jackpot result.

[0228] In the distribution table, of the values ​​of the jackpot type counter C2 from "0 to 29", "0 to 9" corresponds to a low probability jackpot result, "10 to 14" corresponds to a low probability jackpot result with a high probability of winning, and "15 to 29" corresponds to the most favorable jackpot result.

[0229] Next, the reach random number counter C3 will be described. The reach random number counter C3 is configured to increment by one within a range of, for example, 0 to 238, and return to "0" after reaching a maximum value. Here, the pachinko machine 10 is configured with an expectation effect as one type of display effect on the symbol display device 41. The expectation effect refers to a display state that makes a player believe that a variable display state that is likely to result in a prize-related result is achieved in a gaming machine equipped with a symbol display device 41 capable of displaying variable symbols, and in which the final stop result in a game round resulting in a predetermined jackpot result is a prize-related result, from the start of the variable display of symbols on the symbol display device 41 until the stop result is derived and displayed. Specifically, the prize-related result is a combination of symbols with the same number displayed on any of the pay lines.

[0230] There are two types of expectation effects: a reach display and a notice display that is set to anticipate the occurrence of a reach display or a corresponding result before the reach display occurs.

[0231] The reach display includes a display state in which a reach symbol combination is displayed by stopping the display of symbols in some of the multiple symbol rows displayed on the display surface 41a of the symbol display device 41, and in that state, a variable display of symbols is performed in the remaining symbol rows. Also included are a reach effect in which, in a state in which a reach symbol combination is displayed as described above, a variable display of symbols is performed in the remaining symbol rows, and a reach effect is performed by displaying predetermined characters or the like as a moving image on the background screen, and a reach effect in which a reach symbol combination is displayed in a reduced size or is not displayed, and then a predetermined character or the like is displayed as a moving image on almost the entire display surface 41a.

[0232] The preview display includes a mode in which a character is displayed separately from the symbols on the symbol row when symbols are displayed variably in all symbol rows or when symbols are displayed variably in some symbol rows after the display of the variable symbols on the display surface 41a of the symbol display device 41 has started. It also includes a mode in which the background screen is displayed in a predetermined mode different from its previous mode, or a mode in which the symbols on the symbol row are displayed in a predetermined mode different from their previous mode. Such a preview display can occur in both game rounds when a reach display is made and when a reach display is not made, but is set to occur with a higher probability when a reach display is made than when a reach display is not made.

[0233] The reach display is executed regardless of the value of the reach random number counter C3 in a game in which the same symbol combination is finally stopped and displayed. Also, in a game in which a jackpot result is reached and the same symbol combination is not stopped and displayed, the reach display is not executed regardless of the value of the reach random number counter C3. Also, in a game in which a miss result is reached, the reach display is executed when the reach random number counter C3 obtained at a predetermined timing by referring to the reach table stored in the main ROM 144 corresponds to the occurrence of the reach display.

[0234] On the other hand, the decision on whether to display a notice is not made by the main control device 140 but by the audio and light emitting control device 161. In this case, the audio and light emitting control device 161 executes a lottery process for the notice display so as to satisfy at least one of the conditions that a notice display is more likely to occur in a game round corresponding to a jackpot result than a game round corresponding to a loss result, and that a notice display with a low appearance rate is more likely to occur. Incidentally, this lottery result is reflected when the effect for the game round is executed by the symbol display device 41.

[0235] Next, the variation type counter CS will be explained. The variation type counter CS is configured to be incremented by 1 in sequence within a range of, for example, 0 to 198, and to return to "0" after reaching the maximum value. The variation type counter CS is used in determining the display duration in the special symbol display unit 37a and the display duration of the symbol in the symbol display device 41 in the main CPU 143. The variation type counter CS is updated once each time the normal processing described below is executed, and is also repeatedly updated within the remaining time in the normal processing. Then, the buffer value of the variation type counter CS is acquired when determining the variation pattern at the start of the variable display in the special symbol display unit 37a and at the start of the symbol variation by the symbol display device 41.

[0236] <Regarding the processing configuration of the main CPU 143> Next, we will explain each process executed to progress the game by the main CPU 143. The processes of the main CPU 143 are roughly divided into main processing that is started when the power is turned on, and timer interrupt processing that is started periodically (every 4 msec in this embodiment).

[0237] <Main processing> First, the main processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0238] First, a power-on wait process is executed (step S101). In this power-on wait process, for example, the main process is started and a predetermined wait time (specifically, 1 second) elapses before proceeding to the next process. During the execution period of this power-on wait process, the operation start and initial setting of the pattern display device 41 are completed. Thereafter, access to the main RAM 145 is permitted (step S102), and the internal function register of the main CPU 143 is set (step S103).

[0239] Thereafter, it is determined whether the RAM erase switch provided on the power supply / launch control device 158 has been manually operated (step S104), and further whether the power outage flag of the main RAM 145 has been set to "1" (step S105). Also, a checksum calculation process is executed to calculate a checksum (step S106), and it is determined whether the checksum matches the checksum saved when the power was shut off, i.e., the validity of the stored data (step S107).

[0240] In this pachinko machine 10, when the power is turned on, for example, when the gaming hall opens for business, to initialize the RAM data, the power is turned on while pressing the RAM clear switch. Therefore, if the RAM clear switch is pressed, the process proceeds to step S108. Similarly, if the power interruption occurrence information is not set or if an abnormality in the stored data is confirmed by the checksum, the process proceeds to step S108. In step S108, the main RAM 145 is cleared. Then, the process proceeds to step S109.

[0241] On the other hand, if the RAM erase switch has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S109 without executing the process of step S108, provided that the power outage flag is set to "1" and the checksum is normal. In step S109, a power-on setting process is executed. In the power-on setting process, a predetermined area of ​​the main RAM 145 is set to an initial value, such as initializing the power outage flag, and a command corresponding to the current game status is sent to the sound and light emission control device 161. After executing the process of step S109, a recognition process (step S110) is executed to have the management IC 146 recognize various information, and a data output process is executed to output various data to a reader connected to the MPU 142 (step S111). The details of the recognition process and the data output process will be described later.

[0242] The main CPU 143 is configured to periodically execute timer interrupt processing, but the occurrence of timer interrupt processing is prohibited when the main processing is started. This state in which the occurrence of timer interrupt processing is prohibited is released when the processing of step S111 is completed and before the processing of step S112 is executed, and execution of timer interrupt processing is permitted. As a result, when the supply of operating power to the main CPU 143 starts, the data output processing of step S111 ends and the timer interrupt processing is not executed until the stage before the processing of step S112 is started. Therefore, processing for progressing the game in the main CPU 143 is not started until this situation is reached.

[0243] Thereafter, the process proceeds to the remaining process of steps S112 to S115. In other words, the main CPU 143 is configured to periodically execute timer interrupt processing, but there will be a remaining time between one timer interrupt processing and the next timer interrupt processing. This remaining time will vary depending on the processing completion time of each timer interrupt processing, but this irregular time will be used to repeatedly execute the remaining process of steps S112 to S115. In this respect, the remaining process of steps S112 to S115 can be said to be non-periodic processing that is executed non-periodically.

[0244] In the remaining process, first, in step S112, interrupt prohibition is set to prohibit the occurrence of timer interrupt processing. In the following step S113, random number initial value update processing is executed to update the random number initial value counter CINI, and in step S114, fluctuation counter update processing is executed to update the fluctuation type counter CS. In these update processing, current numerical information is read from the corresponding counter in the main RAM 145, and the read numerical information is incremented by 1, and then the counter from which it was read is overwritten. In this case, when the counter value reaches its maximum value, it is cleared to "0". Thereafter, in step S115, interrupt permission is set to switch from a state in which the occurrence of timer interrupt processing is prohibited to a state in which it is permitted. After executing the processing of step S115, the process returns to step S112, and the processing of steps S112 to S115 is repeated.

[0245] <Timer interrupt processing> Next, the timer interrupt process will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 16. The timer interrupt process is executed periodically (for example, every 4 msec).

[0246] First, a power outage information storage process is executed (step S201). In the power outage information storage process, it is monitored whether a power outage signal corresponding to the occurrence of a power outage has been received from the power outage monitoring board 147, and if a power outage has been identified, a power outage process is executed and then an infinite loop is entered. In the power outage process, the power outage flag in the main RAM 145 is set to "1", and a checksum is calculated and stored.

[0247] Then, a lottery random number update process is executed (step S202). In the lottery random number update process, the winning random number counter C1, the jackpot type counter C2, the reach random number counter C3, and the normal power feature release counter C4 are updated. Specifically, the current numerical information is sequentially read from the winning random number counter C1, the jackpot type counter C2, the reach random number counter C3, and the normal power feature release counter C4, and after executing a process of adding 1 to each of the read numerical information, a process of overwriting the counter from which it was read is executed. In this case, when the counter value reaches its maximum value, each is cleared to "0". Then, in step S203, a random number initial value update process is executed as in step S113, and in step S204, a variable counter update process is executed as in step S114.

[0248] Thereafter, a fraud detection process is executed to monitor whether or not a predetermined event set as a target for fraudulent use has occurred (step S205). In this fraud detection process, the occurrence of multiple types of events is monitored, and if a predetermined event has occurred, a game stop flag provided in the main RAM 145 is set to "1". In the following step S206, it is determined whether or not the game progress has been stopped by determining whether or not the game stop flag has been set to "1". If a negative determination is made in step S206, the process from step S207 onwards is executed.

[0249] In step S207, port output processing is executed. In the port output processing, if output information has been set in the previous timer interrupt processing, processing is executed to output corresponding to that output information to the various drive units 32b, 34b. For example, if information to switch the special power winning device 32 to an open state is set, output of a drive signal to the special power drive unit 32b is started, and if information to switch to a closed state is set, output of the drive signal is stopped. Also, if information to switch the normal power device 34a of the second operating port 34 to an open state is set, output of a drive signal to the normal power drive unit 34b is started, and if information to switch to a closed state is set, output of the drive signal is stopped.

[0250] Then, a read process is executed (step S208). In the read process, signals other than the power outage signal and the winning signal are read, and the read information is stored for use in subsequent processes.

[0251] Thereafter, a ball entry detection process is executed (step S209). In the ball entry detection process, signals received from each ball entry detection sensor 122a-129a are read, and based on the read results, it is determined whether or not a ball has entered the out hole 24a, the general winning hole 31, the special electric winning device 32, the first operating hole 33, the second operating hole 34, and the through gate 35. Details of the ball entry detection process will be explained later.

[0252] Thereafter, a timer update process is executed (step S210) for collectively updating the numerical information of the multiple types of timer counters provided in the main RAM 145. In this case, the timer counters in which the stored numerical information is updated by subtraction are handled collectively, but it is also possible to collectively update both the subtraction type timer counters and the addition type timer counters.

[0253] Thereafter, a launch control process is executed to control the launch of the gaming ball B1 (step S211). While the launch operation to the launch operation device 28 is continuing, one gaming ball B1 is launched at a predetermined launch cycle of 0.6 seconds. In the following step S212, as an input status monitoring process, based on the information read in the reading process of step S208, a disconnection check is performed for each ball entry detection sensor 122a-129a, and the opening of the gaming machine main body 12 and the front door frame 14 is confirmed.

[0254] Thereafter, a special symbol special electric control process is executed to control the execution of a game round and the opening / closing execution mode (step S213). In this special symbol special electric control process, when a winning occurs in the first actuation port 33 or the second actuation port 34 while the number of reserved information stored in the reserved storage area 145a is less than the upper limit, the numerical information of the win random number counter C1, the jackpot type counter C2, and the reach random number counter C3 at that time is stored as reserved information in chronological order in the reserved storage area 145a. In addition, in the special symbol special electric control process, on the condition that the game round or the opening / closing execution mode is not in progress and reserved information is stored, a hit / miss determination process is executed to determine whether the reserved information corresponds to a jackpot win, and if it corresponds to a jackpot win, an allocation determination process is executed to determine which jackpot result the reserved information corresponds to. In addition, the special symbol special signal control process not only performs a win / loss determination process and a distribution determination process, but also, if the pending information does not correspond to a jackpot win, performs a reach determination process to determine whether the pending information corresponds to a reach occurrence, and performs a process to select the duration of the game round using the numerical information of the variation type counter CS at that time. Then, a variation command containing duration information corresponding to the results of each process and a type command containing information on the game result are sent to the audio and light-emitting control device 161, and the special symbol display unit 37a starts displaying the varying symbols. Upon receiving the variation command and the type command, the audio and light-emitting control device 161 starts displaying the corresponding game round effects on the display light-emitting unit 133 and the speaker unit 134. The audio and light-emitting control device 161 also sends a variation pattern command corresponding to the variation command and the type command to the display control device 162. Upon receiving the variation pattern command, the display control device 162 starts displaying the corresponding pattern variations on the symbol display device 41. This marks the start of one game round.

[0255] During a game round, the special symbol special signal control process determines whether the game round's duration determined at the start of the game round has elapsed, thereby determining whether it is time to end the game round. If it is time to end the game round, the process ends the game round with a display corresponding to the game result. In this case, if the current game round corresponds to the occurrence of a jackpot result, a symbol corresponding to the type of jackpot result is displayed frozen on the special symbol display unit 37a. If the current game round corresponds to a loss result, a symbol corresponding to the loss result is displayed frozen on the special symbol display unit 37a. A final stop command indicating that the game round should be ended is sent to the audio and light-emitting control device 161. Upon receiving the final stop command, the audio and light-emitting control device 161 ends the effects for the current game round on the display light-emitting unit 133 and speaker unit 134. The audio and light-emitting control device 161 also sends the final stop command to the display control device 162. Upon receiving the final stop command, the display control device 162 ends the presentation for the current game round on the symbol display device 41.

[0256] In the special symbol special electric control process, if the result of a game round corresponds to a transition to the open / close execution mode, a process is executed to start the open / close execution mode. To start the open / close execution mode, an opening command indicating the start of the open / close execution mode is sent to the audio / light-emitting control device 161. The special symbol special electric control process also executes processes to start each round of play and to end each round of play. When a round of play starts, the special electric winning device 32 enters an open state, and when a round of play ends, the special electric winning device 32 enters a closed state. During each of these processes, an opening command indicating the start of a round of play is sent to the audio / light-emitting control device 161, and a closing command indicating the end of a round of play is sent to the audio / light-emitting control device 161. In addition, when the special symbol special electric control process ends the open / close execution mode, an ending command indicating this is sent to the audio / light-emitting control device 161. The audio / light-emitting control device 161 causes the display / light-emitting unit 133 and the speaker unit 134 to execute effects for the open / close execution mode in a manner corresponding to the various commands received during the open / close execution mode. Furthermore, the sound and light emission control device 161 transmits a command corresponding to the command received during the opening and closing execution mode to the display control device 162. The display control device 162 causes the pattern display device 41 to execute the effects for the opening and closing execution mode in a manner corresponding to the various commands received during the opening and closing execution mode. Furthermore, in the special pattern special electricity control processing, when the opening and closing execution mode is to be ended, processing is executed so that the win / loss lottery mode and support mode after the end of the opening and closing execution mode become modes corresponding to the type of jackpot result that triggered the execution of the opening and closing execution mode.

[0257] After executing the special power control process of step S213 in the timer interrupt process, the normal power control process is executed (step S214). In the normal power control process, if a win has occurred in the through gate 35, a process is executed to acquire the reserved information on the normal side, and if the reserved information on the normal side is stored, an opening judgment is made for the reserved information, and further, a process is executed to perform a normal power performance triggered by the opening judgment. Also, based on the result of the opening judgment, a process is executed to open and close the normal power role 34a of the second operating port 34. In this case, if the support mode is the low-frequency support mode, a corresponding process is executed, and if the support mode is the high-frequency support mode, a corresponding process is executed. Also, if the opening and closing execution mode is selected, the support mode immediately before will be the low-frequency support mode even if it was the high-frequency support mode.

[0258] In the following step S215, based on the processing results of the immediately preceding steps S213 and S214, output information is set to reflect the increase or decrease in the number of reserved information related to the special map display unit 37a in the special map reserved display unit 37b, and output information is set to reflect the increase or decrease in the number of reserved information related to the ordinary map display unit 38a in the ordinary map reserved display unit 38b. Also, in step S215, based on the processing results of the immediately preceding steps S213 and S214, output information is set to update the display contents of the special map display unit 37a, and output information is set to update the display contents of the ordinary map display unit 38a.

[0259] Thereafter, the contents of the command and signal received from the payout control device 157 are confirmed, and a payout status receiving process is executed to perform processing corresponding to the confirmation result (step S216). Also, a payout output process is executed to set the prize ball command as an output target (step S217). Also, an external information setting process is executed to control the start and end of the output of an external signal according to the processing results of various processes executed in this timer interrupt process (step S218). Thereafter, a management output process is executed to output information corresponding to the ball entry result of the game ball B1 in the game area PA to the management IC 146 (step S219). The details of the management output process will be explained later.

[0260] Next, a description will be given of the configuration for determining whether or not the game ball B1 has entered the outlet 24a, the general winning port 31, the special electric winning device 32, the first operating port 33, the second operating port 34, and the through gate 35 based on the detection results of each ball entry detection sensor 122a to 129a in the main CPU 143. Figure 17 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration for inputting the detection results of the ball entry detection sensors 122a to 129a to the main CPU 143.

[0261] The main CPU 143 is provided with an input port 143a. The input port 143a is configured as an 8-bit parallel interface so that it can handle eight types of signals simultaneously. An area in which information "0" or "1" is stored according to the voltage of each signal is provided in one-to-one correspondence with each terminal. That is, this area includes the 0th bit D0 to the 7th bit D7. Although more than eight types of signals are input to the input port 143a, in order to limit the number of signals that can be input simultaneously to eight, the group of signals to be input to the input port 143a is switched through switching control by a driver IC.

[0262] In the ball entry detection process (step S209) of the timer interrupt process (FIG. 16), the signal group to be input to the input port 143a is set to the signal group from each ball entry detection sensor 122a-129a. In such a setting, the 0th bit D0 stores information corresponding to the detection signal from the first winning opening detection sensor 122a, the 1st bit D1 stores information corresponding to the detection signal from the second winning opening detection sensor 123a, the 2nd bit D2 stores information corresponding to the detection signal from the third winning opening detection sensor 124a, the 3rd bit D3 stores information corresponding to the detection signal from the special power detection sensor 125a, the 4th bit D4 stores information corresponding to the detection signal from the first operating opening detection sensor 126a, the 5th bit D5 stores information corresponding to the detection signal from the second operating opening detection sensor 127a, the 6th bit D6 stores information corresponding to the detection signal from the outlet detection sensor 128a, and the 7th bit D7 stores information corresponding to the detection signal from the gate detection sensor 129a.

[0263] Each of the ball entry detection sensors 122a-129a outputs a LOW-level signal indicating that it is not currently detecting a ball B1 when it has not detected the ball B1 passing through, and outputs a HI-level signal indicating that it is currently detecting a ball B1 when it has detected the ball B1 passing through. The input port 143a stores a "0" in the corresponding bit when it receives a LOW-level signal, and stores a "1" in the corresponding bit when it receives a HI-level signal. In other words, when the ball entry detection sensors 122a-129a have not detected the ball B1 passing through, a "0" corresponding to the information indicating that it is not currently detecting a ball B1 is stored in the corresponding bit, and when it has detected the ball B1 passing through, a "1" corresponding to the information indicating that it is currently detecting a ball B1 is stored in the corresponding bit.

[0264] FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the ball entry detection process executed in step S209 of the timer interrupt process (FIG. 16).

[0265] When it is confirmed that the 0th bit D0 has changed from a state in which "0" is stored to a state in which "1" is stored, it is determined that one game ball B1 has been detected by the first winning opening detection sensor 122a (step S301: YES). In this case, the first output flag provided in the main RAM 145 is set to "1" (step S302), and the value of the 10-ball counter provided in the main RAM 145 is incremented by 1 (step S303). The first output flag is a flag that specifies to the main CPU 143 that information indicating that one game ball B1 has been detected by the first winning opening detection sensor 122a should be output to the management IC 146. The 10-ball counter is a counter that specifies to the main CPU 143 the number of times that the payout of 10 game balls B1 should be executed. If the value of the 10 prize ball counter is 1 or more, a 10 prize ball command is output to the payout control device 157 in the payout output process of step S217 in the timer interrupt process (Fig. 16), and when the 10 prize ball command is output once, the value of the 10 prize ball counter is decremented by 1. When the payout control device 157 receives the 10 prize ball command, it drives and controls the payout device 156 so that 10 game balls B1 are paid out.

[0266] When it is confirmed that the first bit D1 has switched from a state in which information "0" is stored to a state in which information "1" is stored, it is determined that one game ball B1 has been detected by the second winning opening detection sensor 123a (step S304: YES). In this case, the second output flag provided in the main RAM 145 is set to "1" (step S305), and the value of the 10-ball counter provided in the main RAM 145 is incremented by 1 (step S306). The second output flag is a flag for specifying in the main CPU 143 that information indicating that one game ball B1 has been detected by the second winning opening detection sensor 123a should be output to the management IC 146.

[0267] When it is confirmed that the second bit D2 has switched from a state in which information "0" is stored to a state in which information "1" is stored, it is determined that one game ball B1 has been detected by the third winning opening detection sensor 124a (step S307: YES). In this case, the third output flag provided in the main RAM 145 is set to "1" (step S308), and the value of the 10-ball counter provided in the main RAM 145 is incremented by 1 (step S309). The third output flag is a flag for specifying in the main CPU 143 that information indicating that one game ball B1 has been detected by the third winning opening detection sensor 124a should be output to the management IC 146.

[0268] When it is confirmed that the third bit D3 has changed from a state in which "0" is stored to a state in which "1" is stored, it is determined that one game ball B1 has been detected by the special electric detection sensor 125a (step S310: YES). In this case, the special electric winning flag provided in the main RAM 145 is set to "1" (step S311), the fourth output flag provided in the main RAM 145 is set to "1" (step S312), and further, the value of the 15-ball counter provided in the main RAM 145 is incremented by 1 (step S313). The special electric winning flag is a flag for the main CPU 143 to identify that one game ball B1 has entered the special electric winning device 32 during a round game in the open / close execution mode. In the special chart special electric control process (step S213) of the timer interrupt process (FIG. 16), by confirming that the special electric winning flag is set to "1," it is determined that one game ball B1 has entered the special electric winning device 32, and the remaining number of balls that can enter the special electric winning device 32 in a round of play is subtracted by 1. When the process of subtracting 1 from the number of balls that can enter is executed, the special electric winning flag is cleared to "0." The fourth output flag is a flag that specifies to the main CPU 143 that information indicating that one game ball B1 has been detected by the special electric detection sensor 125a should be output to the management IC 146. The 15-ball counter is a counter that specifies to the main CPU 143 the number of times that 15 game balls B1 should be paid out. If the value of the 15 prize ball counter is 1 or more, a 15 prize ball command is output to the payout control device 157 in the payout output process of step S217 in the timer interrupt process (Fig. 16), and when the 15 prize ball command is output once, the value of the 15 prize ball counter is decremented by 1. When the payout control device 157 receives the 15 prize ball command, it drives and controls the payout device 156 so that 15 game balls B1 are paid out.

[0269] When it is confirmed that the fourth bit D4 has switched from a state in which information "0" is stored to a state in which information "1" is stored, it is determined that one gaming ball B1 has been detected by the first actuation port detection sensor 126a (step S314: YES). In this case, the first actuation winning flag provided in the main RAM 145 is set to "1" (step S315), the fifth output flag provided in the main RAM 145 is set to "1" (step S316), and further the value of the one winning ball counter provided in the main RAM 145 is incremented by 1 (step S317). The first actuation winning flag is a flag for the main CPU 143 to identify that one gaming ball B1 has entered the first actuation port 33. In the special power control process (step S213) of the timer interrupt process (FIG. 16), by confirming that the first activation winning flag is set to "1," a process is executed to newly store reserved information, provided that the number of reserved information stored in the reserved area RE of the reserved storage area 145a is less than the upper limit of four. In the special power control process (step S213), it is confirmed that the first activation winning flag is set to "1," and when a process corresponding to that confirmation is executed, the first activation winning flag is cleared to "0." The fifth output flag is a flag that specifies to the main CPU 143 that information indicating that one game ball B1 has been detected by the first activation port detection sensor 126a should be output to the management IC 146. The single prize ball counter is a counter that specifies to the main CPU 143 the number of times that one game ball B1 should be paid out. If the value of the 1 prize ball counter is 1 or more, a 1 prize ball command is output to the payout control device 157 in the payout output process of step S217 in the timer interrupt process (Fig. 16), and when the 1 prize ball command is output once, the value of the 1 prize ball counter is decremented by 1. When the payout control device 157 receives the 1 prize ball command, it drives and controls the payout device 156 so that one game ball B1 is paid out.

[0270] When it is confirmed that the fifth bit D5 has switched from a state in which information "0" is stored to a state in which information "1" is stored, it is determined that one gaming ball B1 has been detected by the second actuation port detection sensor 127a (step S318: YES). In this case, the second actuation winning flag provided in the main RAM 145 is set to "1" (step S319), and the sixth output flag provided in the main RAM 145 is set to "1" (step S320), and further the value of the one winning ball counter provided in the main RAM 145 is incremented by 1 (step S321). The second actuation winning flag is a flag for the main CPU 143 to identify that one gaming ball B1 has entered the second actuation port 34. In the special power control process (step S213) of the timer interrupt process (FIG. 16), by confirming that the second activation winning flag is set to "1," a process for storing new reserved information is executed, provided that the number of reserved information stored in the reserved area RE of the reserved storage area 145a is less than the upper limit of four. In the special power control process (step S213), it is confirmed that the second activation winning flag is set to "1," and when a process corresponding to that confirmation is executed, the second activation winning flag is cleared to "0." The sixth output flag is a flag for specifying in the main CPU 143 that information indicating that one game ball B1 has been detected by the second activation port detection sensor 127a should be output to the management IC 146.

[0271] When it is confirmed that the sixth bit D6 has changed from a state in which the information "0" is stored to a state in which the information "1" is stored, it is determined that one gaming ball B1 has been detected by the outlet detection sensor 128a (step S322: YES). In this case, the seventh output flag provided in the main RAM 145 is set to "1" (step S323). The seventh output flag is a flag for specifying in the main CPU 143 that information indicating that one gaming ball B1 has been detected by the outlet detection sensor 128a should be output to the management IC 146.

[0272] When it is confirmed that the seventh bit D7 has changed from a state in which "0" information is stored to a state in which "1" information is stored, it is determined that one game ball B1 has been detected by the gate detection sensor 129a (step S324: YES). In this case, the gate winning flag provided in the main RAM 145 is set to "1" (step S325). The gate winning flag is a flag for the main CPU 143 to identify that one game ball B1 has entered the through gate 35. In the normal map normal power control process (step S214) of the timer interrupt process (FIG. 16), by confirming that the gate winning flag is set to "1", the process of storing the current numerical information of the normal power device opening counter C4 as normal map side reserved information in the normal power reserve area 145c is executed, provided that the number of normal map side reserved information stored in the normal power reserve area 145c is less than the upper limit number of 4. In the normal map normal power control process (step S214), it is confirmed that the gate winning flag is set to "1", and when the process corresponding to that confirmation is executed, the gate winning flag is cleared to "0".

[0273] As already explained, the timer interrupt process (FIG. 16) is started at a 4 msec cycle, so when one of the ball entry detection sensors 122a to 129a starts detecting one game ball B1, while the ball entry detection sensor 122a to 129a continues to detect the one game ball B1, the main CPU 143 determines that one game ball B1 has been detected by the ball entry detection sensor 122a to 129a. Therefore, it is sufficient to provide one each of the first to seventh output flags.

[0274] Next, we will explain the processing contents executed by the dispensing control device 157. First, we will explain the electrical configuration of the dispensing control device 157 and various devices that communicate with the dispensing control device 157, with reference to the block diagram in Figure 19.

[0275] The dispensing control device 157 is equipped with an MPU 171. In addition to a dispensing side CPU 172, which is a processing device including a control unit and a calculation unit, the MPU 171 also includes a dispensing side ROM 173, a dispensing side RAM 174, an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, a data input / output circuit, etc.

[0276] The dispensing ROM 173 is a memory (i.e., a non-volatile memory means) that does not require an external power supply to retain data, such as a NOR flash memory or a NAND flash memory, and is used for read-only purposes. The dispensing ROM 173 stores various control programs and fixed value data executed by the dispensing CPU 172.

[0277] The dispensing-side RAM 174 is a memory (i.e., a volatile memory means) that requires an external power supply to retain data, such as SRAM and DRAM, and is used for both reading and writing. The dispensing-side RAM 174 is randomly accessible, and takes less time to read data than the dispensing-side ROM 173 when compared for the same data capacity. The dispensing-side RAM 174 temporarily stores various data for the execution of the control program stored in the dispensing-side ROM 173.

[0278] The payout CPU 172 is capable of bidirectional communication with the main CPU 143. By receiving a prize ball command from the main CPU 143, the payout CPU 172 drives and controls the payout device 156 so that the number of game balls B1 corresponding to the prize ball command is paid out. The payout CPU 172 also monitors whether the payout of game balls B1 can be performed normally, and if it determines that the payout of game balls B1 cannot be performed normally, it stops the payout device 156 even if information on the number of unpaid prize balls is stored in the payout RAM 174. The payout CPU 172 also transmits a payout limit command to the main CPU 143 indicating that the payout of game balls B1 cannot be performed normally. When the main CPU 143 receives the payout limit command, it transmits a notification command to the audio and light-emitting control device 161 so that the symbol display device 41, the display light-emitting unit 133, and the speaker unit 134 issue a notification indicating that the payout of game balls B1 cannot be performed normally. The states in which it is not possible to normally dispense game balls B1 include a full state in which the lower tray 136a is full of game balls B1, a no-ball state in which the tank 155 has not been replenished with game balls B1, an abnormal dispense state in which the dispenser 156 does not operate normally, a main body open state in which the game machine main body 12 is open from the outer frame 11, and a front door open state in which the front door frame 14 is open from the inner frame 13.

[0279] A full tank detection sensor (not shown) is provided midway along the game ball B1 passageway leading from the payout device 156 to the lower tray 136a, and the detection result of the full tank detection sensor is input to the payout side CPU 172. The payout side CPU 172 determines that the tank is full when the full tank detection sensor continues to detect the game ball B1, and determines that the full tank state has been released when the state in which the full tank detection sensor continues to detect the game ball B1 is released.

[0280] A no-ball detection sensor (not shown) is provided at a midpoint in the game ball B1 passageway leading from the tank 155 to the payout device 156, and the detection result of the no-ball detection sensor is input to the payout side CPU 172. The payout side CPU 172 determines that a no-ball state exists when the no-ball detection sensor continues to not detect the game ball B1, and determines that the no-ball state has been released when the state in which the no-ball detection sensor continues to not detect the game ball B1 is released.

[0281] The payout device 156 is provided with a payout detection sensor (not shown) for detecting game ball B1 paid out from the payout device 156, and the detection result of the payout detection sensor is input to the payout side CPU 172. When the payout detection sensor detects game ball B1, the payout side CPU 172 determines that one game ball B1 has been paid out from the payout device 156. Furthermore, the payout side CPU 172 determines that an abnormal payout state exists when the payout detection sensor continues to not detect game ball B1 even though the payout device 156 is being driven and controlled so that game ball B1 is paid out, and determines that the abnormal payout state has been released when the state in which the payout detection sensor continues to not detect game ball B1 is released.

[0282] A front door open sensor 175 is provided on the front portion of the inner frame 13 (see FIG. 2), and the detection result of the front door open sensor 175 is input to the dispensing side CPU 172. In this case, when the front door frame 14 is closed relative to the inner frame 13, the front door open sensor 175 sends a closed detection signal to the dispensing side CPU 172, and when the front door frame 14 is open relative to the inner frame 13, the front door open sensor 175 sends an open detection signal to the dispensing side CPU 172. When the dispensing side CPU 172 receives a closed detection signal from the front door open sensor 175, it determines that the front door frame 14 is closed, and when it receives an open detection signal from the front door open sensor 175, it determines that the front door frame 14 is open. Furthermore, the dispensing side CPU 172 transmits a front door open command to the main side CPU 143 at the timing when it determines that the front door frame 14 has changed from a closed state to an open state, and transmits a front door close command to the main side CPU 143 at the timing when it determines that the front door frame 14 has changed from an open state to a closed state. The main side CPU 143 determines that the front door frame 14 has changed to an open state when it receives a front door open command, and determines that the front door frame 14 has changed to a closed state when it receives a front door close command.

[0283] A main body open sensor 176 is provided on the front portion of the rear pack unit 15 (see FIG. 2), and the detection result of the main body open sensor 176 is input to the payout side CPU 172. In this case, when the gaming machine main body 12 is in a closed state relative to the outer frame 11, the main body open sensor 176 transmits a closed detection signal to the payout side CPU 172, and when the gaming machine main body 12 is in an open state relative to the outer frame 11, the main body open sensor 176 transmits an open detection signal to the payout side CPU 172. When the payout side CPU 172 receives a closed detection signal from the main body open sensor 176, it determines that the gaming machine main body 12 is in a closed state, and when it receives an open detection signal from the main body open sensor 176, it determines that the gaming machine main body 12 is in an open state. Furthermore, the payout side CPU 172 transmits a main body open command to the main side CPU 143 at the timing when it determines that the gaming machine main body 12 has changed from a closed state to an open state, and transmits a main body close command to the main side CPU 143 at the timing when it determines that the gaming machine main body 12 has changed from an open state to a closed state. The main side CPU 143 determines that the gaming machine main body 12 has changed to the open state when it receives the main body open command, and determines that the gaming machine main body 12 has changed to the closed state when it receives the main body close command.

[0284] The timer interrupt process executed by the dispensing CPU 172 will be described with reference to the time chart of Fig. 20. The timer interrupt process is repeatedly started at a predetermined cycle (for example, every 2 msec).

[0285] First, a full tank process is executed (step S401). In the full tank process, as already explained, it is determined whether the tank is in a full state based on the detection result of the full tank detection sensor, and if the tank is in a full state, a process for stopping the payout of game balls B1 is executed, and a command indicating that the tank is in a full state is sent to the main CPU 143. Furthermore, if the full tank state is released, a process for enabling the payout of game balls B1 is executed, and a command indicating that the full tank state has been released is sent to the main CPU 143.

[0286] Thereafter, no-ball processing is executed (step S402). In the no-ball processing, as already explained, it is determined whether or not the no-ball state is present based on the detection result of the no-ball detection sensor, and if the no-ball state is present, it executes processing to stop the payout of the game ball B1 and sends a command indicating the no-ball state to the main CPU 143. Furthermore, if the no-ball state is released, it executes processing to enable the payout of the game ball B1 and sends a command indicating that the no-ball state has been released to the main CPU 143.

[0287] Thereafter, a payout abnormality monitoring process is executed (step S403). In the payout abnormality monitoring process, as already explained, it is determined whether or not a payout abnormality state exists based on the detection result of the payout detection sensor, and if a payout abnormality state exists, a process to stop the payout of the game ball B1 is executed, and a command indicating that a payout abnormality state exists is sent to the main CPU 143. Furthermore, if the payout abnormality state is released, a process to enable the payout of the game ball B1 is executed, and a command indicating that the payout abnormality state has been released is sent to the main CPU 143.

[0288] Thereafter, a front door open monitoring process is executed (step S404). In the front door open monitoring process, as already explained, it is determined whether the front door frame 14 is in an open state based on the detection result of the front door open sensor 175, and if the front door frame 14 is in an open state, a process to stop the payout of the game balls B1 is executed and a front door open command is sent to the main CPU 143. In addition, if the front door frame 14 is closed, a process to enable the payout of the game balls B1 is executed and a front door close command is sent to the main CPU 143.

[0289] Thereafter, a main body open monitoring process is executed (step S405). In the main body open monitoring process, as already explained, it is determined whether or not the gaming machine main body 12 is in the open state based on the detection result of the main body open sensor 176, and if the gaming machine main body 12 is in the open state, a process to stop the payout of the gaming balls B1 is executed and a main body open command is sent to the main CPU 143. Furthermore, if the gaming machine main body 12 is closed, a process to enable the payout of the gaming balls B1 is executed and a main body close command is sent to the main CPU 143.

[0290] Then, a command read process is executed (step S406). In the command read process, a process is executed to read the prize ball command sent by the main CPU 143. The prize ball command is then stored in the payout RAM 174. Then, a prize ball setting process is executed to add the number corresponding to the received prize ball command to the unpaid prize ball number information in the payout RAM 174 (step S407), and then a payout control process is executed to control the execution of the payout of game balls B1 by the payout device 156 (step S408). In the payout control process, if the unpaid prize ball number information stored in the payout RAM 174 is a value of 1 or more, the payout device 156 is driven and controlled, and if the payout detection sensor detects one game ball B1, the value of the prize ball number information is subtracted by 1. Then, if the value of the prize ball number information becomes "0," the drive control of the payout device 156 is stopped. Thereafter, an external information setting process is executed to control the start and end of output of an external signal according to the results of the various processes executed in this timer interrupt process (step S409).

[0291] Next, a configuration for externally outputting information from the pachinko machine 10 to the hall computer HC installed in the gaming hall will be described.

[0292] As shown in Fig. 2, the back pack unit 15 is provided with an external terminal board 177. The external terminal board 177 is provided with a large number of external terminals, some of which, i.e., a plurality of external terminals, are electrically connected to the main CPU 143, and some of which, i.e., a plurality of external terminals, are electrically connected to the dispensing CPU 172. In this way, the main CPU 143 and the dispensing CPU 172 are each electrically connected to the external terminal board 177, so that the main CPU 143 and the dispensing CPU 172 can externally output information to the hall computer HC, as shown in Fig. 19.

[0293] One external terminal of the external terminal board 177 is electrically connected to the front door open sensor 175, and another external terminal of the external terminal board 177 is electrically connected to the main body open sensor 176. Regarding the configuration of this electrical connection in detail, a signal relay board 178 is provided midway along the signal path from the front door open sensor 175 to the dispensing side CPU 172. The signal relay board 178 has a branch path SL2 that branches off from the signal path SL1 from the front door open sensor 175 to the dispensing side CPU 172. The branch path SL2 is connected to an external terminal for front door opening on the external terminal board 177. Therefore, an electrical signal corresponding to the detection result of the front door open sensor 175 is input not only to the dispensing side CPU 172, but also to the external terminal for front door opening on the external terminal board 177. This allows a signal indicating whether the front door frame 14 is open to be output to the hall computer HC without control by the dispensing side CPU 172.

[0294] Regarding the main body open sensor 176 in more detail, the signal relay board 178 is provided with a branch path SL4 that branches off from the signal path SL3 that runs from the main body open sensor 176 toward the payout side CPU 172. The branch path SL4 is then connected to an external terminal for main body open on the external terminal board 177. Therefore, an electrical signal corresponding to the detection result of the main body open sensor 176 is not only input to the payout side CPU 172, but also to the external terminal for main body open on the external terminal board 177. This makes it possible to externally output a signal indicating whether the gaming machine main body 12 is in an open state to the hall computer HC without going through control by the payout side CPU 172.

[0295] Next, we will explain the contents of the information externally output to the hall computer HC from the main CPU 143 and the payout CPU 172. First, we will explain the contents of the information externally output from the main CPU 143 to the hall computer HC.

[0296] In the external information setting process (step S218) in the timer interrupt process (FIG. 16), the main CPU 143 performs setting for outputting information to each external terminal assigned to the main CPU 143 on the external terminal board 177. The information output from the main CPU 143 to the external terminal board 177 includes information indicating that the opening / closing execution mode is in progress, information indicating that the support mode is in the high frequency support mode, information indicating that one game round has ended, information indicating that a predetermined number (for example, 100) of game balls B1 have been discharged from the game area PA through any of the outlet 24a, the general winning port 31, the special electric winning device 32, the first operating port 33, and the second operating port 34, information indicating that the game ball B1 has entered the first operating port 33, and information indicating that the game ball B1 has entered the second operating port 34.

[0297] In the external information setting process (step S409) in the timer interrupt process (FIG. 20), the payout side CPU 172 sets the output of information to each external terminal assigned to the payout side CPU 172 on the external terminal board 177. The information output from the payout side CPU 172 to the external terminal board 177 includes information indicating that 10 game balls B1 have been paid out.

[0298] The hall computer HC can grasp the execution mode of payout of the game balls B1 in the pachinko machine 10 in accordance with various information received from the pachinko machine 10 through the external terminal board 177. For example, The payout rate is the ratio of the number of game balls B1 paid out until 100 game balls B1 are discharged from the game area PA of the pachinko machine 10. - Ball payout rate in normal game mode, not in open / close execution mode or high frequency support mode (hereinafter, this ball payout rate will be referred to as "B") Ball payout rate in open / close execution mode - Ball payout rate in high frequency support mode The number of times a game is played until 100 game balls B1 are discharged from the game area PA of the pachinko machine 10 (hereinafter, this ratio will be referred to as "S"). BS x "Number of winning balls for winning into the first actuation port 33 and the second actuation port 34" The number of game balls B1 that enter the first operating port 33 until 100 game balls B1 are discharged from the game area PA of the pachinko machine 10 (hereinafter, this ratio will be referred to as "S1"). The number of game balls B1 that enter the second operating port 34 until 100 game balls B1 are discharged from the game area PA of the pachinko machine 10 (hereinafter, this ratio will be referred to as "S2"). B-(S1 x "number of winning balls for winning into the first operating port 33" + S2 x "number of winning balls for winning into the second operating port 34") This allows the hall computer HC to manage the manner in which game balls B1 enter the game area PA of the pachinko machine 10. The number of prize balls refers to the number of game balls B1 that are paid out when one game ball B1 enters the corresponding ball entry section.

[0299] <Configuration for managing winning status of gaming ball B1> Next, a description will be given of a configuration for managing the winning status of the gaming ball B1 using the management IC 146. First, the electrical configuration of the management IC 146 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

[0300] As already explained, the MPU 142 of the main control device 140 includes a main CPU 143, a main ROM 144, a main RAM 145, and a management IC 146. In addition to these, the MPU 142 also includes an I / F 101 and a read terminal 182.

[0301] The I / F 101 is an interface for transmitting and receiving signals to and from devices external to the MPU 142. The I / F 101 is electrically connected to the main CPU 143 via the internal bus 183. Detection results from sensors such as the ball entry detection sensors 122a-129a and commands from the dispensing CPU 172 are input to the MPU 142 through the input port of the I / F 101, and the main CPU 143 executes various processes based on the input detection results and command contents, as already explained. Furthermore, when a signal is output to a device such as the special call drive unit 32b as a result of the execution of various processes by the main CPU 143, the signal is output through the output port of the I / F 101. Furthermore, when a command is output to the dispensing CPU 172 and the audio / light-emitting control device 161 as a result of the execution of various processes by the main CPU 143, the command is output through the output port of the I / F 101.

[0302] The reading terminal 182 is a terminal for electrically connecting the MPU 142 to a reading device, which is an external device of the pachinko machine 10, and is provided on the surface of the MPU 142 so that the connection terminal portion is exposed. However, as already explained, the main control board 141 on which the MPU 142 is mounted is housed in the board box 140a, and the reading terminal 182 faces the wall of the board box 140a so as not to be exposed to the outside of the main control device 140. Therefore, in order to electrically connect the reading device to the reading terminal 182, it is necessary to open the board box 140a to expose the MPU 142. This makes it possible to prevent unauthorized electrical connection of the reading device to the reading terminal 182. Note that this is not limited to this, and a configuration may also be adopted in which an opening is formed in the board box 140a to expose the reading terminal 182 to the outside of the main control device 140, and the reading device can be electrically connected to the reading terminal 182 without having to destroy the board box 140a.

[0303] The management IC 146 includes a management I / F 111, a management CPU 192, a management ROM 193, a management RAM 194, an RTC 195, a correspondence memory 196, and a history memory 197. These devices are connected to each other via an internal bus 146a provided in the management IC 146 so as to enable two-way communication.

[0304] The management side I / F 111 is an interface for receiving various signals from the main CPU 143 via a group of signal paths 198 for one-way communication built in the MPU 142, and for transmitting various signals to the reading terminal 182 via a group of signal paths 199 for one-way communication built in the MPU 142. Various signals from the main CPU 143 are input to input ports of the management side I / F 111, and various signals to the reading terminal 182 are output from output ports of the management side I / F 111. The main CPU 143 is electrically connected to the reading terminal 182 via a group of signal paths 200 for two-way communication built in the MPU 142.

[0305] The management CPU 192 is an arithmetic processing unit including a control unit and an arithmetic unit. The management ROM 193 is a memory (i.e., non-volatile storage means) such as a NOR flash memory or a NAND flash memory that does not require an external power supply to retain its memory, and is used as a read-only memory. The management ROM 193 stores various control programs executed by the management CPU 192 and fixed value data. The management RAM 194 is a memory (i.e., volatile storage means) such as an SRAM or DRAM that requires an external power supply to retain its memory, and is used as a read / write memory. The management RAM 194 is randomly accessible and has a faster read time than the management ROM 193 when compared for the same data capacity. The management RAM 194 temporarily stores various data and the like in response to the execution of the control programs stored in the management ROM 193.

[0306] The RTC 195 is a real-time clock that constantly measures date and time information and is configured to be able to output the measured date and time information in accordance with instructions from the management CPU 192. The RTC 195 is equipped with a backup power supply, so that it can measure date and time information even when the power to the pachinko machine 10 is cut off.

[0307] The correspondence memory 196 is a memory (i.e., a volatile storage means) that requires an external power supply to retain data, such as an SRAM or DRAM, and is used for both reading and writing. The correspondence memory 196 is used to store information on the correspondence between each of the buffers 202a-202p provided in the input port 201 of the management side I / F 111 and the types of signals input to those buffers 202a-202p. The contents of the correspondence memory 196 will be described in detail later.

[0308] The history memory 197 is a memory (i.e., a non-volatile storage means) that does not require an external power supply to retain data, such as a NOR flash memory or a NAND flash memory, and is used for both reading and writing. The history memory 197 is used to store information regarding the game ball B1 entering the game, which is received from the main CPU 143 via the management I / F 111. Details of the contents of the history memory 197 will be explained later.

[0309] Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the input port 201 provided in the management side I / F 111. Fig. 22 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration of the input port 201 of the management side I / F 111.

[0310] The input port 201 is provided with a plurality of buffers 202a to 202p. Specifically, first to sixteenth buffers 202a to 202p are provided. Each of the first to sixteenth buffers 202a to 202p can receive one type of signal via signal paths 198a to 198p, and each of the first to sixteenth buffers 202a to 202p stores information of "0" as first data when the signal to be input is at a LOW level, and stores information of "1" as second data when the signal to be input is at a HI level. Note that the relationship between LOW and HI and the first and second data may be reversed.

[0311] A first signal corresponding to the detection result of the first winning opening detection sensor 122a is input to the first buffer 202a. In this case, the main CPU 143 outputs a LOW level first signal when the first winning opening detection sensor 122a does not detect a new gaming ball B1, and outputs a HI level first signal for a specific period when the first winning opening detection sensor 122a detects one gaming ball B1. This specific period is a period sufficient for the management CPU 192 to determine that a HI level first signal has been input to the first buffer 202a.

[0312] A second signal corresponding to the detection result of the second winning opening detection sensor 123a is input to the second buffer 202b. In this case, the main CPU 143 outputs a LOW level second signal when the second winning opening detection sensor 123a does not detect a new gaming ball B1, and outputs a HI level second signal for a specific period when the second winning opening detection sensor 123a detects one gaming ball B1. This specific period is long enough for the management CPU 192 to determine that a HI level second signal has been input to the second buffer 202b.

[0313] A third signal corresponding to the detection result of the third winning opening detection sensor 124a is input to the third buffer 202c. In this case, the main CPU 143 outputs a LOW level third signal when the third winning opening detection sensor 124a does not detect a new gaming ball B1, and outputs a HI level third signal for a specific period when the third winning opening detection sensor 124a detects one gaming ball B1. This specific period is a period sufficient for the management CPU 192 to determine that a HI level third signal has been input to the third buffer 202c.

[0314] A fourth signal corresponding to the detection result of the special electric charge detection sensor 125a is input to the fourth buffer 202d. In this case, the main CPU 143 outputs a LOW level fourth signal when the special electric charge detection sensor 125a does not detect a new gaming ball B1, and outputs a HI level fourth signal for a specific period when the special electric charge detection sensor 125a detects one gaming ball B1. This specific period is sufficient for the management CPU 192 to determine that a HI level fourth signal has been input to the fourth buffer 202d.

[0315] A fifth signal corresponding to the detection result of the first actuation port detection sensor 126a is input to the fifth buffer 202e. In this case, the main CPU 143 outputs a LOW level fifth signal when the first actuation port detection sensor 126a does not detect a new gaming ball B1, and outputs a HI level fifth signal for a specific period when the first actuation port detection sensor 126a detects one gaming ball B1. This specific period is a period sufficient for the management CPU 192 to determine that a HI level fifth signal has been input to the fifth buffer 202e.

[0316] A sixth signal corresponding to the detection result of the second actuation port detection sensor 127a is input to the sixth buffer 202f. In this case, the master CPU 143 outputs a LOW-level sixth signal when the second actuation port detection sensor 127a does not detect a new game ball B1, and outputs a HI-level sixth signal for a specific period when the second actuation port detection sensor 127a detects one game ball B1. This specific period is long enough for the management CPU 192 to determine that a HI-level sixth signal has been input to the sixth buffer 202f.

[0317] A seventh signal corresponding to the detection result of the outlet detection sensor 128a is input to the seventh buffer 202g. In this case, the main CPU 143 outputs a LOW level seventh signal when the outlet detection sensor 128a does not detect a new gaming ball B1, and outputs a HI level seventh signal for a specific period when the outlet detection sensor 128a detects one gaming ball B1. This specific period is a period sufficient for the management CPU 192 to determine that a HI level seventh signal has been input to the seventh buffer 202g.

[0318] An eighth signal corresponding to whether or not the open / close execution mode is in progress is input to the eighth buffer 202h. In this case, the main CPU 143 continuously outputs the eighth signal at a low level when the open / close execution mode is not in progress, and continuously outputs the eighth signal at a high level when the open / close execution mode is in progress.

[0319] A ninth signal corresponding to whether or not the high frequency support mode is in effect is input to the ninth buffer 202i. In this case, the main CPU 143 continuously outputs a LOW level ninth signal when the high frequency support mode is not in effect, and continuously outputs a HI level ninth signal when the high frequency support mode is in effect.

[0320] A tenth signal corresponding to whether or not the front door frame 14 is open is input to the tenth buffer 202j. In this case, the main CPU 143 continuously outputs a low-level tenth signal when the front door frame 14 is closed, and continuously outputs a high-level tenth signal when the front door frame 14 is open.

[0321] An output instruction signal is input to the sixteenth buffer 202p to cause the management CPU 192 to recognize an opportunity to output history information stored in the history memory 197 to the reading terminal 182. In this case, the main CPU 143 outputs a LOW level output instruction signal when there is no need to output history information, and outputs a HI level output instruction signal for a specific period when there is a need to output history information. This specific period is long enough for the management CPU 192 to determine that a HI level output instruction signal has been input to the sixteenth buffer 202p.

[0322] Although the eleventh buffer 202k, the twelfth buffer 202l, the thirteenth buffer 202m, the fourteenth buffer 202n, and the fifteenth buffer 202o can receive signals from the main CPU 143, they are blank buffers that do not receive normal signals in the present pachinko machine 10. In this way, by providing the input port 201 of the management I / F 111 with a greater number of buffers 202a-202p than the number of types of signals output from the main CPU 143 to the management IC 146 in the present pachinko machine 10, the management IC 146 can be used in models other than the present pachinko machine 10. This makes it possible to increase the versatility of the management IC 146. Incidentally, signal paths 198a to 198p are formed between the main CPU 143 and the first to sixteenth buffers 202a to 202p, respectively, so as to correspond one-to-one to the first to sixteenth buffers 202a to 202p, but this is not limited to this, and the signal paths 198k to 198o may not be formed between the main CPU 143 and the buffers 202k to 202o to be blanked.

[0323] It was determined at the design stage of the management IC 146 that an output instruction signal will be input to the sixteenth buffer 202p in the input port 201 of the management I / F 111, and the management CPU 192 can identify that an output instruction signal will be input to the sixteenth buffer 202p without receiving an instruction from the main CPU 143. On the other hand, the types of signals that will be input to the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o were not determined at the design stage of the management IC 146, and the types of these signals are identified by the management CPU 192 upon receiving an instruction from the main CPU 143. The identification of the types of these signals by the management CPU 192 will be described in detail below, when control is started in the main CPU 143 and the management CPU 192 in response to the supply of operating power to the MPU 142, and a type identification command is sent from the main CPU 143 to the management CPU 192. In this case, the information on the types of various signals provided by the type identification command is stored in the correspondence memory 196, and when the management CPU 192 identifies the types of various signals while operating power is being supplied, the information stored in the correspondence memory 196 is referenced.

[0324] 23 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration of the correspondence memory 196. The correspondence memory 196 is provided with first to fifteenth correspondence areas 203a to 203o in one-to-one correspondence with the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o provided in the input port 201 of the management side I / F 111.

[0325] The first correspondence area 203a stores information indicating that the input signal to the first buffer 202a is the general winning opening 31, as information for the management CPU 192 to identify the type of signal input to the first buffer 202a. The first correspondence area 203a also stores information indicating that the input signal is the general winning opening 31, as well as information on the number of game balls B1 (10) that will be paid out when one game ball B1 enters the general winning opening 31. The second correspondence area 203b stores information indicating that the input signal is the general winning opening 31, as information for the management CPU 192 to identify the type of signal input to the second buffer 202b. The second correspondence area 203b also stores information indicating that the input signal is the general winning opening 31, as well as information on the number of game balls B1 (10) that will be paid out when one game ball B1 enters the general winning opening 31. The third correspondence area 203c stores information indicating that the signal input to the third buffer 202c is from the general winning opening 31, as information for the management CPU 192 to identify the type of signal input to the third buffer 202c. In addition to the information indicating that the signal is from the general winning opening 31, the third correspondence area 203c also stores information on the number of game balls B1 (10) that will be paid out when one game ball B1 enters the general winning opening 31.

[0326] The fourth correspondence area 203d stores information indicating that the signal input to the fourth buffer 202d is the special electric winning device 32, as information for the management CPU 192 to identify the type of signal. The fourth correspondence area 203d also stores information indicating that the signal is the special electric winning device 32, as well as information on the number of game balls B1 (15) that will be paid out when one game ball B1 enters the special electric winning device 32. The fifth correspondence area 203e stores information indicating that the signal is the first actuation port 33, as information for the management CPU 192 to identify the type of signal input to the fifth buffer 202e. The fifth correspondence area 203e also stores information indicating that the signal is the first actuation port 33, as well as information on the number of game balls B1 (1) that will be paid out when one game ball B1 enters the first actuation port 33. The sixth correspondence area 203f stores information indicating that the signal input to the sixth buffer 202f is the second actuation port 34, as information for the management CPU 192 to identify the type of signal. The sixth correspondence area 203f also stores information indicating that the signal is the second actuation port 34, as well as information on the number of game balls B1 (1) that will be paid out when one game ball B1 enters the second actuation port 34. The seventh correspondence area 203g stores information indicating that the signal is the outlet 24a, as information for the management CPU 192 to identify the type of signal input to the seventh buffer 202g.

[0327] The eighth correspondence relationship area 203h stores information indicating the open / close execution mode as information for the management CPU 192 to identify the type of signal input to the eighth buffer 202h. The ninth correspondence relationship area 203i stores information indicating the high frequency support mode as information for the management CPU 192 to identify the type of signal input to the ninth buffer 202i. The tenth correspondence relationship area 203j stores information indicating the front door frame 14 as information for the management CPU 192 to identify the type of signal input to the tenth buffer 202j.

[0328] The eleventh correspondence area 203k stores information indicating a blank that does not correspond to any of the signals, as information for the management CPU 192 to identify the type of signal input to the eleventh buffer 202k. The twelfth correspondence area 203l stores information indicating a blank that does not correspond to any of the signals, as information for the management CPU 192 to identify the type of signal input to the twelfth buffer 202l. The thirteenth correspondence area 203m stores information indicating a blank that does not correspond to any of the signals, as information for the management CPU 192 to identify the type of signal input to the thirteenth buffer 202m. The fourteenth correspondence area 203n stores information indicating a blank that does not correspond to any of the signals, as information for the management CPU 192 to identify the type of signal input to the fourteenth buffer 202n. The fifteenth correspondence area 203o stores information indicating a blank that does not correspond to any of the signals, as information for the management CPU 192 to identify the type of signal input to the fifteenth buffer 202o.

[0329] As described above, by configuring the management CPU 192 to specify what types of signals are input to the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o by receiving instructions from the main CPU 143, it becomes possible to use the management IC 146 for models other than this pachinko machine 10. This makes it possible to increase the versatility of the management IC 146.

[0330] Furthermore, instead of outputting information for recognizing the type of signal each time a signal corresponding to the storage of history information is output to the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o, information for recognizing the type of signal is output in advance, and information for specifying the type of signal to be input to the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o by the management CPU 192 based on the output information is stored in the correspondence memory 196. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of information output from the main CPU 143 to the management CPU 192 each time a signal is output, compared to a configuration in which information for recognizing the type of signal is output each time a signal corresponding to the storage of history information is output to the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o.

[0331] Furthermore, the information for specifying the types of signals input to the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o by the management CPU 192 is output when the supply of operating power starts. This allows the management CPU 192 to specify the types of signals input to the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o when a game is started in this pachinko machine 10.

[0332] Furthermore, information that an output instruction signal is input to the 16th buffer 202p is set at the design stage of the management IC 146. This makes it possible to omit the process for identifying the type of signal input to the 16th buffer 202p for output instruction signals that are reliably used not only in this pachinko machine 10 but also in other models of pachinko machines that use the management IC 146. This makes it possible to reduce the processing load of the process for identifying the type of such signal.

[0333] Next, a description will be given of the history memory 197 of the management IC 146. FIG.

[0334] The history memory 197 is provided with a history area 204 for sequentially storing history information. The history area 204 contains a plurality of pointer information items set with consecutive numbers, and a history information storage area 205 is set in one-to-one correspondence with each pointer information item. The history information storage area 205 can store a combination of RTC information and correspondence information. Each history information storage area 205 has a data capacity of 2 bytes, with 1 byte of data allocated as an area for storing RTC information and 1 byte of data allocated as an area for storing correspondence information. When it becomes necessary to store correspondence information in response to signals input to the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o (actually, the first to tenth buffers 202a to 202j in this pachinko machine 10), the date and time information currently measured by the RTC 195 is first stored in the area for storing RTC information in the history information storage area 205 corresponding to the pointer information currently being written. Thereafter, the correspondence information corresponding to the buffers 202a to 202o that triggered the current information storage is read from the correspondence areas 203a to 203o corresponding to the buffers 202a to 202o in the correspondence memory 196, and the read correspondence information is stored in an area for storing correspondence information in the history information storage area 205 that corresponds to the pointer information currently being written.

[0335] Specifically, with regard to the correspondence information stored in history information storage area 205, as already explained, first to seventh buffers 202a to 202g receive signals corresponding to the detection results of goal entry detection sensors 122a to 128a, and therefore first to seventh correspondence areas 203a to 203g in correspondence memory 196 store information corresponding to the types of goal entry sensors 122a to 128a. More specifically, information corresponding to the types of goal entry sections corresponding to each of goal entry detection sensors 122a to 128a is stored in first to seventh correspondence areas 203a to 203g. As already explained, in this pachinko machine 10, the first to third winning opening detection sensors 122a to 124a all detect the game ball B1 that has entered the general winning opening 31, and therefore the first to third correspondence areas 203a to 203c corresponding to these first to third winning opening detection sensors 122a to 124a all store information indicating that they are the general winning opening 31. In addition, the fourth correspondence area 203d stores information indicating that they are the special winning device 32, the fifth correspondence area 203e stores information indicating that they are the first operating opening 33, the sixth correspondence area 203f stores information indicating that they are the second operating opening 34, and the seventh correspondence area 203g stores information indicating that they are the outlet 24a. If the buffer 202a to 202o that triggered the current information storage is one of the first to seventh buffers 202a to 202g, information on the type of ball-entering section corresponding to that buffer 202a to 202g is read from one of the first to seventh correspondence areas 203a to 203g, and the read information on the type of ball-entering section is stored directly in the area for storing correspondence information in the history information storage area 205.

[0336] On the other hand, the eighth buffer 202h receives a signal indicating whether or not it is in the opening / closing execution mode, the ninth buffer 202i receives a signal indicating whether or not it is in the high frequency support mode, and the tenth buffer 202j receives a signal indicating whether or not the front door frame 14 is open. Therefore, the eighth correspondence area 203h stores information indicating the opening / closing execution mode, the ninth correspondence area 203i stores information indicating the high frequency support mode, and the tenth correspondence area 203j stores information indicating the front door frame 14.

[0337] As already explained, the main CPU 143 continuously outputs the eighth signal at a low level when the open / close execution mode is not in effect, and continuously outputs the eighth signal at a high level when the open / close execution mode is in effect. This allows the management CPU 192 to determine that the open / close execution mode has started when the eighth signal changes from a low level to a high level, and to determine that the open / close execution mode has ended when the eighth signal changes from a high level to a low level. In either case, when the eighth signal changes from a low level to a high level, or from a high level to a low level, the management CPU 192 determines that an opportunity to store correspondence information in the history information storage area 205 has occurred. In other words, when the eighth signal changes from a low level to a high level, not only the information indicating the open / close execution mode read from the eighth correspondence area 203h but also the start information are stored in the area for storing correspondence information in the history information storage area 205. In addition, when the 8th signal changes from HI level to LOW level, not only the information indicating the opening / closing execution mode read from the 8th correspondence relationship area 203h but also the end information are stored in an area for storing correspondence relationship information in the history information storage area 205.

[0338] As already explained, the main CPU 143 continuously outputs the ninth signal at a low level when the high-frequency support mode is not active, and continuously outputs the ninth signal at a high level when the high-frequency support mode is active. This allows the management CPU 192 to determine that the high-frequency support mode has started when the ninth signal changes from a low level to a high level, and to determine that the high-frequency support mode has ended when the ninth signal changes from a high level to a low level. When the ninth signal changes from a low level to a high level, or when it changes from a high level to a low level, the management CPU 192 determines that an opportunity to store correspondence information in the history information storage area 205 has occurred. In other words, when the ninth signal changes from a low level to a high level, not only the information indicating the high-frequency support mode read from the ninth correspondence area 203i but also the start information are stored in the area for storing correspondence information in the history information storage area 205. In addition, when the 9th signal changes from HI level to LOW level, not only the information indicating the high frequency support mode read from the 9th correspondence relationship area 203i but also the termination information are stored in an area for storing correspondence relationship information in the history information storage area 205.

[0339] As already explained, the main CPU 143 continuously outputs a LOW-level tenth signal when the front door frame 14 is closed, and continuously outputs a HI-level tenth signal when the front door frame 14 is open. Therefore, the management CPU 192 can determine that the front door frame 14 is open when the tenth signal changes from a LOW level to a HI-level, and can determine that the front door frame 14 is closed when the tenth signal changes from a HI-level to a LOW-level. When the tenth signal changes from a LOW level to a HI-level, or when it changes from a HI-level to a LOW-level, the management CPU 192 determines that an opportunity to store correspondence information in the history information storage area 205 has occurred. In other words, when the tenth signal changes from a LOW level to a HI-level, not only the information indicating the front door frame 14 read from the tenth correspondence area 203j but also the opening start information are stored in the area for storing correspondence information in the history information storage area 205. In addition, when the 10th signal changes from HI level to LOW level, not only the information indicating that it is the front door frame 14 read from the 10th correspondence relationship area 203j but also the opening completion information are stored in an area for storing correspondence relationship information in the history information storage area 205.

[0340] The history information storage area 205 is provided for a number of times that will enable storage of all the history information generated during 10 consecutive business days, during which the shooting of game balls B1 continues in this pachinko machine 10 from opening to closing. For example, if history information is generated 60,000 times per day, more than 600,000 history information storage areas 205 will be provided. This makes it possible to store and hold all the history information in the history memory 197 for at least 10 days.

[0341] The history memory 197 is provided with a pointer area 206 separate from the history area 204. The pointer area 206 stores information that allows the management CPU 192 to identify the pointer information currently being written to in the history memory 197. Specifically, when the pachinko machine 10 is shipped, the pointer area 206 is set with information specifying pointer information of "0" as the write target. Each time a new piece of history information is stored in the history information storage area 205, the information in the pointer area 206 is updated so that the value of the pointer information to be written is incremented by 1. When the last pointer information is to be written and history information is stored in the history information storage area 205 corresponding to the last pointer information, the information in the pointer area 206 is updated so that pointer information of "0" is the write target. As a result, when a trigger occurs to store history information that exceeds the number of pieces of history information that can be stored, the history information is overwritten with new history information, starting with the oldest history information stored in the history information storage area 205.

[0342] Furthermore, when the reading device reads history information from the history memory 197, the history information storage area 205 is cleared to all "0"s, and the information in the pointer area 206 is updated so that pointer information of "0" becomes the write target. This makes it possible to prevent history information that has once been read from becoming the read target again.

[0343] Next, a specific processing configuration for managing the winning status of the gaming ball B1 using the management IC 146 will be described. First, a processing configuration for storing information on the correspondence between the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o provided in the input port 201 of the management side I / F 111 and the signal type in the correspondence memory 196 will be described. Figure 25 is a flowchart showing the recognition processing executed by the main side CPU 143. The recognition processing is executed in step S110 in the main processing (Figure 15).

[0344] First, "15" is set in a recognition output counter provided in the main RAM 145 (step S501). The recognition output counter is a counter used by the main CPU 143 to identify the remaining number of times information output is required to make the management CPU 192 recognize which type of signal each of the buffers 202a to 202p of the input port 201 in the management I / F 111 corresponds to. As already explained, the 15 buffers, the 1st to 15th buffers 202a to 202o, are targets for signal type recognition, so "15" is set in the recognition output counter.

[0345] Thereafter, an output process of an identification start command is executed (step S502). The primary CPU 143 outputs various commands to the management CPU 192 to have the management CPU 192 recognize which types of signals the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o correspond to. When outputting these commands, the first to eighth signals input to the first to eighth buffers 202a to 202h are used. That is, the first to eighth signals (i.e., the first to eighth signal paths 198a to 198h) used to instruct the management CPU 192 to store history information are used to output commands to have the management CPU 192 recognize which types of signals the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o correspond to. This makes it possible to reduce the number of signal paths and simplify the configuration compared to a configuration in which a signal path for outputting the commands is provided separately from the signal paths 198a to 198p for outputting signals to the first to sixteenth buffers 202a to 202p. The identification start command has a data capacity of 8 bits, and each bit of data is input to the first to eighth buffers 202a to 202h as the first to eighth signals, respectively. Furthermore, in the output process of the identification start command, the output state of the ninth signal is switched to HI level at the timing when the output of the identification start command is started so that the management CPU 192 recognizes that a new command has been sent. Furthermore, the output period of the identification start command and the period during which the output state of the ninth signal is maintained at HI level are set to be long enough for the management CPU 192 to recognize the identification start command and the output state of the ninth signal. Upon receiving the identification start command, the management CPU 192 determines that it should start processing to store information on the correspondence between the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o and the signal types in the correspondence memory 196.

[0346] Thereafter, a type identification command corresponding to the current value of the recognition output counter in the main RAM 145 is read from the main ROM 144 (step S503). In this case, the first buffer 202a is the first to be set as the signal type, and thereafter, the signal type recognition setting corresponding to the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o is performed so that the signal type is set for the nth buffer and then the (n+1)th buffer. Therefore, if the recognition output counter is "15" to "13", a type identification command indicating that it is the general winning port 31 and the number of prize balls is read out; if the recognition output counter is "12", a type identification command indicating that it is the special winning device 32 and the number of prize balls is read out; if the recognition output counter is "11", a type identification command indicating that it is the first operating port 33 and the number of prize balls is read out; if the recognition output counter is "10", a type identification command indicating that it is the second operating port 34 and the number of prize balls is read out; if the recognition output counter is "9", a type identification command indicating that it is the outlet 24a is read out; if the recognition output counter is "8", a type identification command indicating that it is in the opening / closing execution mode is read out; if the recognition output counter is "7", a type identification command indicating that it is in the high frequency support mode is read out; if the recognition output counter is "6", a type identification command indicating that it is the front door frame 14 is read out; and if the recognition output counter is "5" to "1", a type identification command indicating that it is blank is read out.

[0347] Thereafter, the control unit 192 executes an output process of the read type identification command (step S504). The type identification command, like the identification start command, has an 8-bit data capacity, and each bit of data is input to the first to eighth buffers 202a to 202h as the first to eighth signals, respectively. In the output process of the identification type command, the control unit 192 switches the output state of the ninth signal to HI level at the timing when output of the identification type command starts to allow the control CPU 192 to recognize that a new command has been sent. In addition, the output period of the identification type command and the period during which the output state of the ninth signal is maintained at HI level are set to a period sufficient for the control CPU 192 to recognize the output states of the identification type command and the ninth signal. By receiving the identification type command, the control CPU 192 stores information corresponding to the identification type command in the correspondence area 203a to 203o corresponding to the buffer currently being set among the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o.

[0348] Thereafter, the value of the recognition output counter in the main RAM 145 is decremented by 1 (step S505), and it is determined whether the value of the recognition output counter after decrementing by 1 is "0" (step S506). If the value of the recognition output counter is 1 or more (step S506: NO), processing is executed to output a type identification command corresponding to the value of the recognition output counter after decrementing by 1 (steps S503 and S504).

[0349] On the other hand, if the value of the recognition output counter is "0" (step S506: YES), an identification end command output process is executed (step S507). The identification end command has a data capacity of 8 bits, and each bit of data is input to the first to eighth buffers 202a to 202h as the first to eighth signals, respectively. In the identification end command output process, the output state of the ninth signal is switched to HI level at the timing when output of the identification end command is started so that the management CPU 192 recognizes that a new command has been transmitted. The output period of the identification end command and the period during which the output state of the ninth signal is maintained at HI level are set to be long enough for the management CPU 192 to recognize the identification end command and the output state of the ninth signal. By receiving the identification end command, the management CPU 192 determines that the process of storing information on the correspondence between the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o and signal types in the correspondence memory 196 has been completed.

[0350] Next, the management processing executed by the management CPU 192 will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 26. The management processing is started when the supply of operating power to the management CPU 192 is started. The processing speed of the management CPU 192 is configured to be faster than the processing speed of the main CPU 143, and the combination of processing from step S606 onwards in the management processing is executed 16 or more times from the time one timer interrupt processing (Fig. 16) is started in the main CPU 143 until the next timer interrupt processing (Fig. 16) is started.

[0351] When an identification start command is received from the main CPU 143 (step S601: YES), the value of a setting target counter provided in the control RAM 194 is cleared to "0" (step S602). The setting target counter is a counter that allows the control CPU 192 to identify the types of buffers 202a to 202o for which a signal type is to be set. The first buffer 202a is the first to be set as a signal type, and thereafter the nth buffer and then the (n+1)th buffer are set as signal type settings.

[0352] Thereafter, on the condition that a type identification command has been received from the main CPU 143 (step S603: YES), a correspondence setting process is executed (step S604). In the correspondence setting process, information on the signal type set in the currently received type identification command is stored in the correspondence area corresponding to the current value of the setting target counter in the control RAM 194, among the first to fifteenth correspondence areas 203a to 203o of the correspondence memory 196. Thereafter, the value of the setting target counter in the control RAM 194 is incremented by 1 (step S605).

[0353] If a negative determination is made in step S603, or if the processing of step S605 is executed, it is determined (step S606) whether or not an identification end command has been received from the main CPU 143. If an identification end command has not been received (step S606: NO), the process returns to step S603, and the processing of steps S604 and S605 is executed again on the condition that a new type identification command is received from the main CPU 143 (step S603: YES).

[0354] If an identification end command has been received from the main CPU 143 (step S606: YES), the processes of steps S607 and S608 are repeatedly executed. In step S607, details of which will be described later, a history setting process is executed to store history information corresponding to the type of signal received from the main CPU 143 in the history memory 197. In step S608, details of which will be described later, an external output process is executed to output the history information stored in the history memory 197 to the reading terminal 182.

[0355] Fig. 27 is a time chart showing how information on the correspondence between the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o and the types of signals input to these buffers 202a to 202o is stored in the correspondence memory 196. Fig. 27(a) shows a period during which commands are output from the main CPU 143 to the control CPU 192 using the first to eighth signals (i.e., the first to eighth signal paths 198a to 198h), Fig. 27(b) shows a period during which the output state of the ninth signal is at HI level, Fig. 27(c) shows an execution period of an identification state during which processing is executed to identify the correspondence between the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o and the types of signals input to these buffers 202a to 202o, and Fig. 27(d) shows the timing at which the correspondence setting process (step S604) is executed by the control CPU 192.

[0356] When the supply of operating power to the primary CPU 143 and the management CPU 192 begins, output of the identification start command using the first to eighth signals begins at time t1, as shown in FIG. 27(a). Also, at time t1, the output state of the ninth signal is changed from low to high, as shown in FIG. 27(b). Thereafter, at time t2, while the output of the identification start command is continuing, the output state of the ninth signal is changed from high to low, as shown in FIG. 27(b). The management CPU 192 determines that a command has been sent from the primary CPU 143 by confirming that the output state of the ninth signal has changed from high to low, and determines the content of the command received from the primary CPU 143 by checking the information in the first to eighth buffers 202a to 202h. In this case, since the identification start command has been received, the management CPU 192 makes a positive determination in step S601 of the management process (FIG. 26) and enters the identification state. Then, at time t3, output of the identification start command is stopped, as shown in FIG. 27(a).

[0357] Thereafter, at timing t4, output of the first type identification command using signals 1 to 8 is initiated as shown in FIG. 27(a). Also at timing t4, the output state of signal 9 is changed from LOW to HI at timing t4 as shown in FIG. 27(b). Thereafter, at timing t5 while the type identification command is still being output, the output state of signal 9 is changed from HI to LOW at timing t5 as shown in FIG. 27(b). The control CPU 192 determines that a command has been sent from the primary CPU 143 by confirming that the output state of signal 9 has changed from HI to LOW, and determines the content of the command received from the primary CPU 143 by checking the information in buffers 1 to 8 (202a to 202h). In this case, since the first type identification command has been received, the control CPU 192 executes a correspondence setting process at timing t5 as shown in FIG. 27(d). In the correspondence setting process, information indicating that the general winning port 31 is a general winning port and information on the number of winning balls are stored in the first correspondence area 203a of the correspondence memory 196. After that, at timing t6, the output of the type identification command is stopped as shown in FIG.

[0358] Thereafter, from timing t7 to timing t9, from timing t10 ​​to timing t12, from timing t13 to timing t15, and from timing t16 to timing t18, similar to timing t4 to timing t6, the correspondence setting process corresponding to the type identification command output from the main CPU 143 is executed by the management CPU 192. In this case, the correspondence setting process corresponding to the 15th type identification command is completed from timing t16 to timing t18.

[0359] Subsequently, at timing t19, output of the identification end command using the first to eighth signals is initiated as shown in FIG. 27(a). Also, at timing t19, the output state of the ninth signal is changed from LOW level to HI level as shown in FIG. 27(b). Then, at timing t20, while the output of the identification end command is continuing, the output state of the ninth signal is changed from HI level to LOW level as shown in FIG. 27(b). The control side CPU 192 determines that a command has been sent from the primary side CPU 143 by confirming that the output state of the ninth signal has changed from HI level to LOW level, and determines the content of the command received from the primary side CPU 143 by checking the information in the first to eighth buffers 202a to 202h. In this case, since the identification end command has been received, the identification state of the control side CPU 192 ends at timing t20 as shown in FIG. 27(c). Then, at timing t21, output of the identification end command is stopped as shown in FIG. 27(a).

[0360] As described above, the configuration allows the management CPU 192 to recognize whether a command is being output using the 9th signal, so that the management CPU 192 can clearly recognize that a command is being output even when the command is output using the 1st to 8th signals (i.e., the 1st to 8th signal paths) used to instruct the management CPU 192 when to store history information.

[0361] Next, a description will be given of a processing configuration for storing history information in the history memory 197. Fig. 28 is a flowchart showing the management output processing executed by the main CPU 143. The management output processing is executed in step S219 in the timer interrupt processing (Fig. 16).

[0362] First, "10" is set to the management target counter provided in the main RAM 145 (step S701). The management target counter is a counter that allows the main CPU 143 to determine whether there are any management targets that have not been identified as whether the signal output status to the management CPU 192 should be changed in this management output process, and to identify which management targets the signal output status to the management CPU 192 should be changed for. In one management output process, the management targets for which the main CPU 143 identifies whether the signal output status to the management CPU 192 should be changed are the seven ball entry detection sensors 122a-128a, whether the open / close execution mode is being executed, whether the high frequency support mode is being executed, and whether the front door frame 14 is being opened or closed, a total of 10. Therefore, the management target counter is initially set to "10".

[0363] Then, it is determined whether the signal output state to the management side CPU 192 for the management object corresponding to the current value of the management object counter is at HI level (step S702). If it is not at HI level (step S702: NO), it is determined whether the value of the management object counter is 4 or more, thereby identifying which of the seven ball entry detection sensors 122a to 128a is the management object corresponding to the value of the management object counter (step S703).

[0364] If the determination in step S703 is affirmative, it is determined whether or not "1" is set to the output flag of the main RAM 145 corresponding to the value of the managed counter (step S704). Specifically, if the value of the managed counter is "10" and corresponds to the first winning opening detection sensor 122a, it is determined whether or not "1" is set to the first output flag, if the value of the managed counter is "9" and corresponds to the second winning opening detection sensor 123a, it is determined whether or not "1" is set to the second output flag, if the value of the managed counter is "8" and corresponds to the third winning opening detection sensor 124a, it is determined whether or not "1" is set to the third output flag, if the value of the managed counter is "7" and corresponds to the special power detection sensor 125a, it is determined whether or not "1" is set to the If the value of the managed counter is "6" and corresponds to the first actuation port detection sensor 126a, it determines whether the fourth output flag is set to "1"; if the value of the managed counter is "5" and corresponds to the second actuation port detection sensor 127a, it determines whether the sixth output flag is set to "1"; and if the value of the managed counter is "4" and corresponds to the outlet 24a, it determines whether the seventh output flag is set to "1." As already explained, these first to seventh output flags are set to "1" in the ball entry detection process (Figure 18).

[0365] If the output flag corresponding to the value of the managed counter is set to "1" (step S704: YES), the output state of the signal corresponding to the value of the managed counter among the first to seventh signals is set to HI level (step S705), and then the output flag corresponding to the value of the managed counter is cleared to "0" (step S706).

[0366] If a negative determination is made in step S703, it is determined whether an opportunity has occurred to switch the output state of the signal corresponding to the value of the managed counter to HI level (step S707). Specifically, if the value of the managed counter is "3", it is determined whether a transition to the open / close execution mode has occurred, if the value of the managed counter is "2", it is determined whether a transition to the high frequency support mode has occurred, and if the value of the managed counter is "1", it is determined whether the front door frame 14 has entered the open state. If a positive determination is made in step S707, the output state of the signal corresponding to the value of the managed counter is set to HI level (step S708).

[0367] If the determination in step S702 is affirmative, it is determined whether an opportunity has occurred to switch the output state of the signal corresponding to the value of the counter to be managed to a low level (step S709). Specifically, if the value of the counter to be managed is 4 or greater and the current managed object is one of the ball entry detection sensors 122a-128a, it is determined whether a HI output duration (specifically, 10 msec) has elapsed since the output state of the signal corresponding to the value of the counter to be managed among the first to seventh signals was switched from a low level to a high level. This HI output duration is set in the management CPU 192 to a period longer than the longest processing interval of the history setting process (step S607) of the management process (FIG. 26), and is a period that allows the management CPU 192 to reliably identify the output state of the signal that switched from a low level to a high level. Furthermore, if the value of the management target counter is "3" and the current management target is in the open / close execution mode, it is determined whether the open / close execution mode has ended, if the value of the management target counter is "2" and the current management target is in the high-frequency support mode, it is determined whether the high-frequency support mode has ended, and if the value of the management target counter is "1" and the current management target is the front door frame 14, it is determined whether the front door frame 14 is in the closed state. If an opportunity has occurred to switch the output state of the signal corresponding to the value of the management target counter to a LOW level (step S709: YES), the output state of the signal corresponding to the value of the management target counter is set to a LOW level (step S710).

[0368] If a negative determination is made in step S704, if the processing of step S706 is executed, if a negative determination is made in step S707, if the processing of step S708 is executed, if a negative determination is made in step S709, or if the processing of step S710 is executed, the value of the managed object counter in the primary RAM 145 is decremented by 1 (step S711). Then, it is determined whether the value of the managed object counter after the decrement by 1 is "0" (step S712). If the value of the managed object counter is 1 or greater (step S712: NO), the processing of step S702 and subsequent steps is executed for the managed object corresponding to the new value of the managed object counter.

[0369] Next, the history setting process executed by the management CPU 192 will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 29. The history setting process is executed in step S607 of the management process (Fig. 26).

[0370] First, the number of buffers to be checked by the management CPU 192 among the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o is set in a confirmation target counter provided in the management RAM 194 (step S801). Specifically, the number of correspondence relationship areas in which information other than information indicating that the correspondence relationship areas are blank is identified among the first to fifteenth correspondence relationship areas 203a to 203o in the correspondence relationship memory 196 is stored, and the information of the identified number is set in the confirmation target counter. As already explained, in this pachinko machine 10, information other than information indicating that the correspondence relationship areas are blank is stored in the first to tenth correspondence relationship areas 203a to 203j, and therefore, in step S801, "10" is set in the confirmation target counter.

[0371] Thereafter, it is determined whether the output state of the input signal from the main CPU 143 to the buffer corresponding to the current value of the counter to be checked, among the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o, has been switched from LOW level to HI level by checking whether the numerical information stored in that buffer has changed from "0" to "1" (step S802). Note that if the value of the counter to be checked is "n", the nth buffers 202a to 202o are the target for checking the numerical information. For example, if the value of the counter to be checked is "10", the tenth buffer 202j is the target for checking the numerical information, and if the value of the counter to be checked is "5", the fifth buffer 202e is the target for checking the numerical information.

[0372] If the determination in step S802 is affirmative, RTC information, which is date information and time information, is read from the RTC 195 (step S803). Then, a write process to the history memory 197 is executed (step S804). In this write process, the pointer information in the history area 204 that is currently being written is identified by referencing the pointer area 206 of the history memory 197, and the RTC information read in step S803 is written to the history information storage area 205 of the history area 204 that corresponds to the pointer information that is being written. Furthermore, correspondence information is read from the correspondence areas 203a to 203o that correspond to the current counter value to be checked, and the correspondence information is written to the history information storage area 205 that corresponds to the pointer information that is being written. Furthermore, if the correspondence information is any of information indicating the open / close execution mode, information indicating the high-frequency support mode, and information indicating the front door frame 14, not only the correspondence information but also start information is written to the history information storage area 205 that corresponds to the pointer information that is being written. If the value of the counter to be checked is "n," the n-th correspondence area 203a to 203o is the target for reading the correspondence information. For example, if the value of the counter to be checked is "10," the tenth correspondence area 203j is the target for reading the correspondence information, and if the value of the counter to be checked is "5," the fifth correspondence area 203e is the target for reading the correspondence information.

[0373] By executing the write process as described above, if the value of the counter to be checked is any of the outlet 24a, general winning port 31, special electric winning device 32, first operating port 33, and second operating port 34, the history information storage area 205 corresponding to the pointer information to be written stores as history information a combination of RTC information and correspondence information indicating that it is any of the outlet 24a, general winning port 31, special electric winning device 32, first operating port 33, and second operating port 34. Also, if the value of the counter to be checked is any of the opening / closing execution mode, high frequency support mode, and front door frame 14, the history information storage area 205 corresponding to the pointer information to be written stores as history information a combination of RTC information, correspondence information indicating that it is any of the opening / closing execution mode, high frequency support mode, and front door frame 14, and start information.

[0374] Thereafter, the target pointer is updated (step S805). In this update, the numerical information stored in the pointer area 206 of the history memory 197 is read and incremented by one. It is determined whether the pointer information after incrementing by one has exceeded the maximum value of the pointer information in the history area 204. If the maximum value has not been exceeded, the pointer information after incrementing by one is overwritten in the pointer area 206 as new pointer information to be written. If the maximum value has been exceeded, the pointer area 206 is cleared to "0" so that the pointer information to be written becomes the initial pointer information.

[0375] If a negative determination is made in step S802, or if the processing of step S805 is executed, it is determined whether or not correspondence information for which it should be confirmed whether the signal output has been switched to a LOW level is stored in the correspondence areas 203a to 203o corresponding to the current value of the counter to be confirmed (step S806). Specifically, if the current value of the counter to be confirmed is "8" to "10", any of information indicating the opening / closing execution mode, information indicating the high frequency support mode, and information indicating the front door frame 14 is stored in the corresponding correspondence areas 203h to 203j, and therefore a positive determination is made in step S806.

[0376] If the determination in step S806 is affirmative, it is determined whether the output state of the input signal from the main CPU 143 to the buffer corresponding to the current counter value to be checked among the first to fifteenth buffers 202a to 202o has been switched from HI level to LOW level by checking whether the numerical information stored in that buffer has changed from "1" to "0" (step S807). If the determination in step S807 is affirmative, RTC information is read (step S808) as in step S803, and a write process to the history memory 197 is executed (step S809). In this write process, the RTC information read in step S808 is written to the history information storage area 205 of the history area 204 corresponding to the pointer information to be written. In addition, correspondence information is read from the correspondence areas 203a to 203o corresponding to the current counter value to be checked, and the correspondence information is written to the history information storage area 205 corresponding to the pointer information to be written. In addition, not only the correspondence information but also the termination information is written to the history information storage area 205 corresponding to the pointer information to be written. By executing the write process in this manner, when the value of the counter to be checked is either the open / close execution mode, the high frequency support mode, or the front door frame 14, a combination of the RTC information, the correspondence information indicating either the open / close execution mode, the high frequency support mode, or the front door frame 14, and the termination information is stored as history information in the history information storage area 205 corresponding to the pointer information to be written. Thereafter, the target pointer update process is executed in the same manner as in step S805 (step S810).

[0377] If a negative determination is made in step S806, if a negative determination is made in step S807, or if the processing of step S810 is executed, the value of the confirmation target counter in the management RAM 194 is decremented by 1 (step S811). Then, it is determined whether the value of the confirmation target counter after decrementing by 1 is "0" (step S812). If the value of the confirmation target counter is 1 or greater (step S812: NO), the processing of step S802 and subsequent steps is executed for the confirmation target corresponding to the new value of the confirmation target counter.

[0378] Next, the manner in which history information is stored in history memory 197 will be described with reference to the time chart of Fig. 30. Fig. 30(a) shows a period in which a HI level signal is input to any of the first to seventh buffers 202a to 202g, Fig. 30(b) shows a period in which a HI level signal is input to the eighth buffer 202h, Fig. 30(c) shows a period in which a HI level signal is input to the ninth buffer 202i, Fig. 30(d) shows a period in which a HI level signal is input to the tenth buffer 202j, and Fig. 30(e) shows the timing of writing history information to history memory 197.

[0379] At time t1, the output state of a signal input to one of the first to seventh buffers 202a to 202g is switched from LOW to HI at time t1, as shown in FIG. 30(a). Therefore, at time t1, history information is written to history memory 197, as shown in FIG. 30(e). Thereafter, at time t2, the signal that was switched to HI at time t1, as shown in FIG. 30(a), is switched to LOW at time t2. However, since this signal is input to one of the first to seventh buffers 202a to 202g and the switching to LOW does not result in history information being stored, no writing of history information is executed at time t2, as shown in FIG. 30(e).

[0380] Thereafter, at times t3, t5, t6, t9, t10, t13, and t14, the output state of the signal input to any of the first to seventh buffers 202a to 202g is switched from LOW to HIGH, as shown in Fig. 30(a). Therefore, at each of these times, history information is written, as shown in Fig. 30(e).

[0381] As shown in FIG. 30(b), the output state of the signal input to the eighth buffer 202h is HI level from time t4 to time t7. This eighth buffer 202h corresponds to whether or not the open / close execution mode is occurring. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 30(e), history information is written at time t4, when the output state of the signal input to the eighth buffer 202h switches to HI level, and at time t7, when the output state of the signal switches to LOW level. In this case, the history information written at time t4 includes start information, and the history information written at time t7 includes end information. This makes it possible to determine the execution period of the open / close execution mode by checking the history information in the history memory 197.

[0382] Furthermore, the history information is written in chronological order to the history memory 197. Therefore, it is possible to distinguish whether or not the history information indicating that a ball has entered any of the outlet 24a, general winning opening 31, special electric winning device 32, first operating opening 33, and second operating opening 34 is during the opening / closing execution mode. Furthermore, since the history information includes RTC information, it is also possible to distinguish whether or not the history information indicating that a ball has entered any of the outlet 24a, general winning opening 31, special electric winning device 32, first operating opening 33, and second operating opening 34 is during the opening / closing execution mode by comparing the RTC information.

[0383] As shown in FIG. 30(c), the output state of the signal input to the ninth buffer 202i is HI level from time t8 to time t11. This ninth buffer 202i corresponds to whether or not the high frequency support mode is active. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 30(e), history information is written at time t8, when the output state of the signal input to the ninth buffer 202i switches to HI level, and at time t11, when the output state of the signal switches to LOW level. In this case, the history information written at time t8 includes start information, and the history information written at time t11 includes end information. This makes it possible to determine the execution period of the high frequency support mode by checking the history information in the history memory 197.

[0384] Furthermore, the history information is written in chronological order to the history memory 197. Therefore, it is possible to distinguish whether or not the history information indicating that a ball has entered any of the outlet 24a, general winning opening 31, special electric winning device 32, first operating opening 33, and second operating opening 34 is from the high frequency support mode. Furthermore, since the history information includes RTC information, it is also possible to distinguish whether or not the history information indicating that a ball has entered any of the outlet 24a, general winning opening 31, special electric winning device 32, first operating opening 33, and second operating opening 34 is from the high frequency support mode by comparing the RTC information.

[0385] As shown in FIG. 30(d), the output state of the signal input to the tenth buffer 202j is HI level from time t12 to time t15. This tenth buffer 202j corresponds to whether the front door frame 14 is open or closed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 30(e), history information is written at time t12, when the output state of the signal input to the tenth buffer 202j switches to HI level, and at time t15, when the output state of the signal switches to LOW level. In this case, the history information written at time t12 includes start information, and the history information written at time t15 includes end information. This makes it possible to determine the period during which the front door frame 14 is open by checking the history information in the history memory 197.

[0386] Furthermore, the history information is written in chronological order to the history memory 197. Therefore, it is possible to distinguish whether or not the history information indicating that a ball has entered any of the outlet 24a, general winning opening 31, special electric winning device 32, first operating opening 33, and second operating opening 34 occurred while the front door frame 14 was open. Furthermore, since the history information includes RTC information, it is also possible to distinguish whether or not the history information indicating that a ball has entered any of the outlet 24a, general winning opening 31, special electric winning device 32, first operating opening 33, and second operating opening 34 occurred while the front door frame 14 was open by comparing the RTC information.

[0387] Next, a description will be given of a processing configuration for outputting history information stored in the history memory 197 to a reading device electrically connected to the reading terminal 182 of the MPU 142. Fig. 31 is a flowchart showing the data output processing executed by the main CPU 143. The data output processing is executed in step S111 of the main processing (Fig. 15).

[0388] In the data output process, first, it is determined whether or not a connection signal indicating that the reading device is electrically connected to the reading terminal 182 is received from the reading terminal 182 (step S901). The reading device is configured to output a connection signal when electrically connected to the reading terminal 182, and if the connection signal is received through the reading terminal 182, a positive determination is made in step S901.

[0389] If a negative determination is made in step S901, the data output process is terminated. In this case, the supply of operating power to the MPU 142 must be restarted in order for the data output process to be executed. Therefore, in order for the history information to be output externally, the supply of operating power to the MPU 142 must be started with a reading device electrically connected to the reading terminal 182. The power control unit for stopping and starting the supply of operating power to the MPU 142 is located on the back of the back pack unit 15. Therefore, in order to perform these stopping and starting operations, the gaming machine main body 12 must be opened relative to the outer frame 11 to expose the back of the back pack unit 15. Under these circumstances, by configuring the system so that the supply of operating power to the MPU 142 must be started with a reading device electrically connected to the reading terminal 182 in order for the history information to be output externally, it becomes difficult for anyone other than the gaming hall manager to read the history information.

[0390] If the determination in step S901 is affirmative, the process determines whether a control information confirmation signal has been received from the reading terminal 182, thereby determining whether the current connection of the reading device to the reading terminal 182 corresponds to confirmation of the control information (programs and data) in the main ROM 144 (step S902). The reading device is configured to be able to confirm both the control information and the history information. If control information confirmation is selected by manual operation of the reading device, the reading device transmits a control information confirmation signal. If history information confirmation is selected by manual operation of the reading device, the reading device transmits a history confirmation signal. Note that this is not limited to this, and a reading device for control information confirmation and a reading device for history confirmation may be separate. In this case, if a reading device for control information confirmation is electrically connected to the reading terminal 182, the reading device transmits a control information confirmation signal. If a reading device for history confirmation is electrically connected to the reading terminal 182, the reading device transmits a history confirmation signal.

[0391] If the determination in step S902 is affirmative, an output process for confirming the control information is executed (step S903). In this output process, a program and data are read from the main ROM 144 as control information, and the read control information is output to the read terminal 182. This makes it possible to read the control information using a reading device electrically connected to the read terminal 182, and to confirm whether the control information is authentic or normal.

[0392] If a negative determination is made in step S902, an output instruction signal is sent to the management CPU 192 (step S904). Specifically, the output state of the output instruction signal is switched from a low level to a high level. This high level output state continues for a specific period of time. This specific period is long enough for the management CPU 192 to determine that a high level output instruction signal has been input to the sixteenth buffer 202p. When the output state of the output instruction signal is switched to a high level, processing for outputting history information is executed in the management CPU 192. This processing will be described in detail later.

[0393] When the process of step S903 is executed or when the process of step S904 is executed, it is determined whether the electrical connection of the reading device to the reading terminal 182 continues (step S905). If it continues (step S905: YES), the process waits in step S905. This makes it possible to prevent a process set in the execution order after the data output process from being executed until the electrical connection of the reading device to the reading terminal 182 is released. When the electrical connection of the reading device to the reading terminal 182 is released (step S905: NO), the data output process is terminated.

[0394] Next, the external output process executed by the management CPU 192 will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 32. The external output process is executed in step S608 of the management process (Fig. 26).

[0395] When the output state of the output instruction signal received from the main CPU 143 is switched from LOW level to HI level (step S1001: YES), processing for outputting history information from step S1002 onwards is executed. Specifically, first, the number of history information storage areas 205 in which correspondence relationship information indicating the outlet 24a is stored in the history area 204 of the history memory 197 is counted to calculate the number of balls that have entered the outlet 24a (step S1002). In addition, the number of history information storage areas 205 in which correspondence relationship information indicating the general winning port 31 is stored in the history area 204 of the history memory 197 is counted to calculate the number of balls that have entered the general winning port 31 (step S1003). In addition, the number of history information storage areas 205 in which correspondence relationship information indicating the special winning device 32 is stored in the history area 204 of the history memory 197 is counted to calculate the number of balls that have entered the special winning device 32 (step S1004). The number of balls that have entered the first operating port 33 is calculated by counting the number of history information storage areas 205 in the history area 204 of the history memory 197 that store correspondence information indicating that the opening is the first operating port 33 (step S1005). The number of balls that have entered the second operating port 34 is calculated by counting the number of history information storage areas 205 in the history area 204 of the history memory 197 that store correspondence information indicating that the opening is the second operating port 34 (step S1006).

[0396] Thereafter, by referring to the history information storage area 205 in the history area 204 of the history memory 197 that exists in the period between the history information storage area 205 in which the correspondence relationship information and start information indicating that it is the front door frame 14 is stored and the history information storage area 205 in which the correspondence relationship information and end information indicating that it is the front door frame 14 is stored, the number of balls that entered each of the outlet 24a, the general winning port 31, the special electric winning device 32, the first operating port 33, and the second operating port 34 while the front door frame 14 was in the open state is calculated (step S1007). The period between the history information storage area 205 in the history area 204 of the history memory 197 that stores the correspondence relationship information and start information indicating that it is the front door frame 14 and the history information storage area 205 in which the correspondence relationship information and end information indicating that it is the front door frame 14 is stored is calculated from the RTC information stored in these history information storage areas 205. In addition, in the entire consecutive pointer information, if there are multiple sections between the history information storage area 205 in which correspondence information and start information indicating that it is the front door frame 14 are stored and the history information storage area 205 in which correspondence information and end information indicating that it is the front door frame 14 are stored, the total number of balls entered for each section is calculated. In addition, if there is a history information storage area 205 in which correspondence information and start information indicating that it is the front door frame 14 are stored, but the history information storage area 205 in which RTC information corresponding to a time later than the history information storage area 205 in which correspondence information and start information indicating that it is the front door frame 14 is stored does not store correspondence information and start information indicating that it is the front door frame 14, all history information in the history information storage area 205 in which RTC information corresponding to a time later than the history information storage area 205 in which correspondence information and start information indicating that it is the front door frame 14 is stored is treated as if the front door frame 14 is in an open state.

[0397] After that, various parameters are calculated using the calculation results of steps S1002 to S1007 (step S1008). Specifically, first, the number of balls that entered the room while the front door frame 14 was open, calculated in step S1007, is subtracted from the number of balls that entered the room calculated in steps S1002 to S1006. Then, the following parameters are calculated using the number of balls entered after this subtraction: The difference between the number of balls entering the out port 24a calculated in step S1007 and the number of balls entering the port calculated in step S1002 is designated as the number of balls entering the port K1, the difference between the number of balls entering the general winning port 31 calculated in step S1007 and the number of balls entering the port S1003 is designated as the number of balls entering the port K2, the difference between the number of balls entering the special electric winning device 32 calculated in step S1007 and the number of balls entering the port S1004 is designated as the number of balls entering the port K3, the difference between the number of balls entering the first operating port 33 calculated in step S1007 and the number of balls entering the port S1005 is designated as the number of balls entering the port K4, and the difference between the number of balls entering the second operating port 34 calculated in step S1007 and the number of balls entering the port S1006 is designated as the number of balls entering the port K5. First parameter: the total number of game balls B1 dispensed (K2 x "number of prize balls for winning at the general winning port 31" + K3 x "number of prize balls for winning at the special winning device 32" + K4 x "number of prize balls for winning at the first operating port 33" + K5 x "number of prize balls for winning at the second operating port 34") / the ratio of the total number of game balls B1 dispensed from the game area PA (K1 + K2 + K3 + K4 + K5) (hereinafter, this ratio will be referred to as "D1"). Second parameter: the ratio of the total number of game balls B1 entering the general winning slot 31 (K2) to the total number of game balls B1 discharged from the game area PA (K1+K2+K3+K4+K5) Third parameter: the ratio of the total number of game balls B1 entering the special winning device 32 (K3) to the total number of game balls B1 discharged from the game area PA (K1+K2+K3+K4+K5) Fourth parameter: the ratio of the total number of game balls B1 entering the first operating port 33 (K4) to the total number of game balls B1 discharged from the game area PA (K1 + K2 + K3 + K4 + K5) (hereinafter, this ratio will be referred to as "D2"). Fifth parameter: The ratio of the total number of game balls B1 entering the second operating port 34 (K5) to the total number of game balls B1 discharged from the game area PA (K1 + K2 + K3 + K4 + K5) (hereinafter, this ratio will be referred to as "D3") Sixth parameter: D1 - (D2 x "Number of winning balls for winning into the first operating port 33" + D3 x "Number of winning balls for winning into the second operating port 34") Seventh parameter: (K3 × "number of prize balls for winning at the special electric winning device 32" + K5 × "number of prize balls for winning at the second operating port 34") / total number of game balls B1 paid out (K2 × "number of prize balls for winning at the general winning port 31" + K3 × "number of prize balls for winning at the special electric winning device 32" + K4 × "number of prize balls for winning at the first operating port 33" + K5 × "number of prize balls for winning at the second operating port 34") ratio Eighth parameter: K3 × "Number of prize balls for winning the special electric winning device 32" / Total number of game balls B1 paid out (K2 × "Number of prize balls for winning the general winning port 31" + K3 × "Number of prize balls for winning the special electric winning device 32" + K4 × "Number of prize balls for winning the first operating port 33" + K5 × "Number of prize balls for winning the second operating port 34") ratio Thereafter, the oldest RTC information and the newest RTC information in the history area 204 of the history memory 197 are used to calculate the total time required for all of the history information currently being calculated to be extracted (step S1009). Then, a first output process is executed (step S1010). In the first output process, all of the history information stored in the history area 204 of the history memory 197 is sequentially output to the reading terminal 182. Furthermore, the various parameters calculated in step S1008 are sequentially output to the reading terminal 182, and the total time calculated in step S1009 is output to the reading terminal 182. As a result, the information to be output in the first output process is read by a reading device electrically connected to the reading terminal 182.

[0398] Thereafter, by referring to the history information storage area 205 in the history area 204 of the history memory 197 that exists in the period between the history information storage area 205 in which the correspondence relationship information and start information indicating the opening and closing execution mode are stored and the history information storage area 205 in which the correspondence relationship information and end information indicating the opening and closing execution mode are stored, the number of balls that entered each of the out hole 24a, the general winning hole 31, the special power winning device 32, the first operating hole 33, and the second operating hole 34 that occurred in the opening and closing execution mode ...

Claims

[Claim 1] a predetermined storage execution means for executing a predetermined storage process so that when a predetermined event occurs as a result of a game, information corresponding to the event is stored in the predetermined storage means, thereby causing the predetermined information to be stored in the predetermined storage means; an information calculation means for calculating behavior information corresponding to a game result during a predetermined period of time using the predetermined information each time a predetermined calculation trigger occurs; a result storage and execution means for sequentially storing the aspect information obtained by the calculation by the information calculation means in a calculation result storage means; Equipped with the result storage execution means includes means for causing the behavior information to be stored among the behavior information obtained by the calculation by the information calculation means to be stored in the calculation result storage means; The aspect information obtained by the calculation by the information calculation means and which is not to be stored is not stored in the calculation result storage means, This gaming machine is A predetermined control means capable of executing a predetermined process including a predetermined progress process for progressing a game and the predetermined storage process; A specific storage means for storing information when the predetermined progress process is executed; A means for generating a specific advantageous period when a specific opportunity occurs; a means for erasing the predetermined information from the predetermined storage means after the information calculation means has completed the calculation of the aspect information; a notification means capable of notifying the user of the content corresponding to the aspect information stored in the calculation result storage means; Equipped with In one processing cycle of the predetermined process, the predetermined progress process is executed, and then the predetermined storage process is executed. the calculation result storage means is provided separately from the specific storage means, When a specific event occurs that stops the game progress control, the predetermined storage process is not executed by the predetermined storage execution means. the information calculation means calculates the status information by using the predetermined information in the specific advantageous period as the status information corresponding to the game result in the predetermined period, A gaming machine characterized in that, when the supply of operating power is stopped, the notification means terminates the notification of content corresponding to the status information, but when the supply of operating power is resumed, notification of content corresponding to the status information before the supply of operating power was stopped is made.

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