Gaming machine

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of maintaining game amusement.SOLUTION: A Pachinko machine 1 includes a start pocket capable of receiving a game ball shot into a game area 5a. When a game ball enters a start pocket, winning determination processing is performed. After that, variable display according to the result of the determination processing is started, and when a winning symbol is displayed in the variable display, a winning game is performed. In this regard, the Pachinko machine 1 can perform a special performance as a performance related to the operation means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 60

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to gaming machines such as pachinko machines (commonly also referred to as "pachinko machines") and rotary gaming machines (commonly also referred to as "slot machines").

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, as seen in Patent Document 1, there is known a gaming machine in which a special game in which a large amount of prizes can be obtained is performed when a win is selected.

[0003] That is, in the gaming machine described in this Patent Document 1, first, it is determined whether or not a game ball has won at the start port. When a game ball has won at this start port, a determination process for determining a win or loss is performed. At this time, a special symbol is variably displayed on a predetermined display for a predetermined variable time. When the predetermined variable time has elapsed, the special symbol is stopped and displayed in a display mode indicating that a win has been selected, and by operating the opening / closing member of the big win port, a special game in which a player can obtain many prizes is provided.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In such a conventional gaming machine, effects by operating means are often executed, but it is required to further improve the gaming interest when the effects by the operating means are performed.

[0006] This invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine capable of suppressing a decrease in gaming interest. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] Means 1: Special operating means and predetermined operating means that can be operated by the player, A determination means for making a determination, A reward granting means that can grant a reward to a player based on the determination obtained by the determination means, When an operation is accepted for the special operation means in a state in which acceptance of operations for the special operation means is permitted, a special permitted state execution means capable of executing a post-acceptance change in response to the acceptance is provided. When an operation is accepted for the predetermined operating means in a state in which acceptance of an operation is permitted, a predetermined permitted state execution means capable of executing a post-acceptance change in accordance with the acceptance is provided. A predetermined operation-related display means capable of displaying a predetermined operation-related display related to the predetermined operation means, A specific video display means capable of displaying a specific video and Equipped with, Even when the aforementioned predetermined operation-related display is not shown, acceptance of operations to the aforementioned predetermined operation means may still be permitted. In a gaming machine where, when an operation is performed to set the special operating means to a specific operating state and maintain it therein, an automatic operation reception function may be activated, in which the post-reception change is performed multiple times based on the detection information obtained when the operation is performed, The start condition for displaying the aforementioned specific video is such that the condition may be met when a specific time has elapsed since the start of displaying the predetermined operation-related display. In this case, even if a state occurs during the period before the elapsed time in which the acceptance of operations to the special operation means is permitted, the condition may still be met when the elapsed time has elapsed. When the display of the specific video is started while the special operating means is in a state where it is permitted to accept operations, and when an operation is accepted by the special operating means while the specific video is being displayed, a special change may occur as one of the post-acceptance changes. In a state in which the acceptance of operations to the special operating means is permitted, there are cases in which the acceptance of operations to the predetermined operating means is permitted, and cases in which the acceptance of operations to the predetermined operating means is not permitted. A gaming machine characterized by the following features.

[0008] According to the above configuration, firstly, even when the predetermined operation-related display is not displayed, it may be possible to accept an operation to the predetermined operation means. Furthermore, when an operation is performed to set the special operation means to a specific operation state and maintain it in a state where the acceptance of an operation to the special operation means is permitted, an automatic operation acceptance function may be activated based on the detection information obtained when the operation is performed, resulting in the execution of multiple changes after acceptance. This can enable a so-called auto-repeated function for the special operation means, which is expected to reduce the difficulty of operation-related games. In addition, the start condition for displaying the specific video may be met when a specific time has elapsed since the predetermined operation-related display started to be displayed. In this case, even if a state in which the acceptance of an operation to the special operation means is permitted occurs before the specific time has elapsed, the condition may still be met when the specific time has elapsed. Furthermore, when a specific video is displayed while the system is in a state where it is permitted to accept operations on the special control device, and when an operation on the special control device is accepted while the specific video is being displayed, a special change may occur as one of the post-acceptance changes, thereby further enhancing the enjoyment of the game in relation to operations on the special control device.

[0009] In this regard, the above configuration is such that, when the acceptance of operations to the special operating means is permitted, there are cases where the acceptance of operations to the predetermined operating means is permitted, and cases where the acceptance of operations to the predetermined operating means is not permitted. In other words, when the acceptance of operations to the special operating means is permitted, there are cases where operations to both the special operating means and the predetermined operating means are permitted, and cases where only the special operating means is permitted, so it is expected that a sense of tension will be provided more appropriately (see, for example, paragraphs 2692, 8611, 8612, etc.). [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to this invention, the decline in the enjoyment of playing games can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a pachinko machine, which is one embodiment of the design. [Figure 2] This is a right-side view of a pachinko machine. [Figure 3] This is a left side view of a pachinko machine. [Figure 4] This is a rear view of a pachinko machine. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of a pachinko machine from the front right. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of a pachinko machine, seen from the front left. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view of a pachinko machine from the back. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of a pachinko machine from the front, with the door frame open from the main frame and the main frame open from the outer frame. [Figure 9] This is a disassembled perspective view of a pachinko machine, showing it from the front after it has been separated into the door frame, game board, main body frame, and outer frame. [Figure 10] This is a disassembled perspective view of a pachinko machine, showing it from the rear after it has been separated into the door frame, game board, main body frame, and outer frame. [Figure 11] This is a front view of the outer frame of a pachinko machine. [Figure 12] It is a right side view of the outer frame. [Figure 13] It is a perspective view of the outer frame seen from the front. [Figure 14] It is a perspective view of the outer frame seen from the back. [Figure 15] It is an exploded perspective view of the outer frame seen from the front with the outer frame disassembled. [Figure 16] (a) is a perspective view of the part of the upper hinge member on the outer frame side of the outer frame, seen from below with the left frame member omitted, and (b) is an exploded perspective view showing (a) disassembled. [Figure 17] (a) is an enlarged perspective view showing the state where the upper hinge member on the main body frame side of the main body frame is removed from the upper hinge member on the outer frame side of the outer frame, and (b) is an enlarged perspective view showing the state where the upper hinge member on the main body side is attached to the upper hinge member on the outer side. [Figure 18] It is an explanatory diagram showing the action of the lock member in the outer frame. [Figure 19] It is a front view of the door frame in a pachinko machine. [Figure 20] It is a right side view of the door frame. [Figure 21] It is a left side view of the door frame. [Figure 22] It is a rear view of the door frame. [Figure 23] It is a perspective view of the door frame seen from the right front. [Figure 24] It is a perspective view of the door frame seen from the left front. [Figure 25] It is a perspective view of the door frame seen from the back. [Figure 26] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 19. [Figure 27] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 19. [Figure 28] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 19. [Figure 29] It is an exploded perspective view of the door frame seen from the front with the door frame disassembled by each main member. [Figure 30] It is an exploded perspective view of the door frame seen from the back with the door frame disassembled by each main member. [Figure 31](a) is a perspective view of the door frame base unit in the door frame, seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the door frame base unit, seen from the rear. [Figure 32] This is an exploded perspective view of the door frame base unit, disassembled into its main components and viewed from the front. [Figure 33] This is a disassembled perspective view of the door frame base unit, showing each main component separately from the rear. [Figure 34] (a) is a front view of the effect control unit in the door frame, and (b) is a right side view of the effect control unit. [Figure 35] (a) is a perspective view of the production control unit from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the production control unit from the rear. [Figure 36] This is an explanatory diagram of the performance control unit, viewed from the direction in which the central axis of the control buttons extends. [Figure 37] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the DD line in Figure 34(a). [Figure 38] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the EE line in Figure 34(b). [Figure 39] (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the FF line in Figure 34(b), and (b) is an enlarged view of section A in (a). [Figure 40] This is an exploded perspective view of the production control unit, disassembled into its main components and viewed from the front. [Figure 41] This is a disassembled perspective view of the production control unit, showing it broken down into its main components and viewed from the rear. [Figure 42] (a) is an exploded perspective view of the disassembled control button, seen from the front, and (b) is an exploded perspective view of the disassembled control button, seen from the rear. [Figure 43] This is a disassembled perspective view of the decorative circuit board unit of the performance control unit, taken from the front. [Figure 44] This is an explanatory diagram showing the state when the operation button is pressed in the cross-sectional view of the performance control unit in Figure 37. [Figure 45](a) is an explanatory diagram showing the part of the control unit that is intended to be hidden by the first button decoration, button frame, etc., by cutting out a portion of the control button in a view of the control unit from the direction in which the central axis of the control button extends, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the part of the control unit that is intended to be hidden by the first button decoration, button frame, etc., in a cross-sectional view of the control unit. [Figure 46] (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the external appearance of the performance control unit as seen from the front in a perspective view, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the external appearance of the performance control unit as seen from the direction in which the central axis of the control buttons extends. [Figure 47] (a) is a front view of the left side unit of the door frame, (b) is a perspective view of the left side unit of the door frame seen from the front, and (c) is a perspective view of the left side unit of the door frame seen from the rear. [Figure 48] This is a disassembled perspective view of the left side unit of the door frame, seen from the front. [Figure 49] This is a disassembled perspective view of the left side unit of the door frame, seen from the rear. [Figure 50] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the LL line in Figure 47(a). [Figure 51] (a) is a front view of the right side unit of the door frame, (b) is a perspective view of the right side unit of the door frame seen from the front, and (c) is a perspective view of the right side unit of the door frame seen from the rear. [Figure 52] This is a disassembled perspective view of the right side unit of the door frame, seen from the front. [Figure 53] This is a disassembled perspective view of the right side unit of the door frame, seen from the rear. [Figure 54] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the MM line in Figure 51(a). [Figure 55] (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line NN in Figure 51(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line OO in Figure 51(a). [Figure 56](a) is a front view of the door frame top unit in the door frame, (b) is a perspective view of the door frame top unit seen from the front, and (c) is a perspective view of the door frame top unit seen from the rear. [Figure 57] This is a disassembled perspective view of the door frame top unit, seen from the front. [Figure 58] This is a disassembled perspective view of the door frame top unit, seen from the rear. [Figure 59] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the PP line in Figure 56. [Figure 60] This is a front view of the game board. [Figure 61] This is a disassembled perspective view of the game board, broken down into its main components and viewed from the front. [Figure 62] This is a disassembled perspective view of the game board, showing its main components separated and viewed from the rear. [Figure 63] This is a front view of the game board, excluding the front and back units. [Figure 64] Figure 63 is a disassembled perspective view of the game board, seen from the front. [Figure 65] Figure 63 is a disassembled perspective view of the game board, seen from the rear. [Figure 66] This is an explanatory diagram showing a close-up of the function display unit from the front, with the game board installed in the pachinko machine. [Figure 67] This is an exploded perspective view from the front of a game panel with a different configuration from that shown in Figure 63, along with the front components, circuit board holder, and main control unit. [Figure 68] Figure 67 is an exploded perspective view taken from the rear. [Figure 69] This is a block diagram of the main control board, the dispensing control board, and the peripheral control boards. [Figure 70] This is a block diagram, a continuation of Figure 69. [Figure 71] This is a schematic diagram of the various detection signals input and output to the game ball dispensing device connection terminal board, which relays the electrical connections between the payout control board that constitutes the main board, the CR unit, and the rate display board. [Figure 72] This is a block diagram, a continuation of Figure 69. [Figure 73] This is a block diagram illustrating the peripheral control MPU. [Figure 74] This is a block diagram of the area around the sound source-integrated VDP in the liquid crystal and sound control unit. [Figure 75] This is a block diagram of the power supply system for a pachinko machine. [Figure 76] This is a block diagram, a continuation of Figure 75. [Figure 77] This is a circuit diagram showing the circuit of the main control board. [Figure 78] This is a circuit diagram showing a power outage monitoring circuit. [Figure 79] This is a circuit diagram showing the communication interface circuit between the main control board and the peripheral control boards. [Figure 80] This is a circuit diagram showing the circuitry of the payout control unit. [Figure 81] This is a circuit diagram showing the payout control input circuit. [Figure 82] This is a circuit diagram showing a continuation of Figure 81. [Figure 83] This is a circuit diagram showing the drive circuit for the dispensing motor. [Figure 84] This is a circuit diagram showing the input / output circuit of the CR unit. [Figure 85] This is an input / output diagram showing various input / output signals to the main control board and various output signals to the external terminal board. [Figure 86] This diagram shows the arrangement of the output terminals on the external terminal board. [Figure 87] This is a circuit diagram showing the liquid crystal module circuit that draws the display area of ​​the upper tray-side liquid crystal display device. [Figure 88] This table shows examples of various commands transmitted from the main control board to the dispensing control board. [Figure 89] This table shows examples of various commands transmitted from the main control board to peripheral control boards. [Figure 90] This table shows the sequence of various commands transmitted from the main control board to the peripheral control boards in Figure 89. [Figure 91]This table shows examples of various commands received by the main control board from the payout control board. [Figure 92] This flowchart shows an example of the processing that occurs when the main control side power is turned on. [Figure 93] This flowchart shows the continuation of the power-on process on the main control side, as shown in Figure 92. [Figure 94] This flowchart shows an example of the main control side timer interrupt processing. [Figure 95] This flowchart shows an example of the processing that occurs when the peripheral control unit is powered on. [Figure 96] This flowchart shows an example of the V-blank interrupt processing in the peripheral control unit. [Figure 97] This flowchart shows an example of the peripheral control unit's 1ms timer interrupt processing. [Figure 98] This flowchart shows an example of interrupt processing for receiving commands from the peripheral control unit. [Figure 99] This flowchart shows an example of the interrupt processing for a power outage warning signal in the peripheral control unit. [Figure 100] This flowchart shows an example of the LOCKN signal history creation process. [Figure 101] This flowchart shows an example of a connection failure detection process. [Figure 102] This flowchart shows an example of the connection recovery process. [Figure 103] This timing chart explains the timing for outputting a connection confirmation signal to the INIT terminal of the upper-panel LCD transmitter IC. [Figure 104] This flowchart shows the procedure for controlling special symbols and special electric features (step S114). [Figure 105] This is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first start port passage process (step S5232). [Figure 106] This is a flowchart showing the procedure for the second start port passage process (step S5234). [Figure 107]This is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first special pattern processing (step S5238). [Figure 108] This is a flowchart showing the procedure for the normal processing of the first special symbol (step S5280). [Figure 109] This is a flowchart showing the procedure for determining a jackpot (step S5305). [Figure 110] (A) is a diagram showing the jackpot determination table, and (B) and (C) are diagrams showing the symbol determination tables. [Figure 111] This is a flowchart showing the procedure for setting the first special symbol stop symbol (step S5281). [Figure 112] This is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first variation pattern setting process (step S5282). [Figure 113] This is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first special symbol variation process (step S5283). [Figure 114] This is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for stopping the first special symbol (step S5284). [Figure 115] This flowchart shows the procedure for the control process of the regular symbols and regular electric gimmicks (step S116). [Figure 116] This is a flowchart showing the procedure for the gate passage process (step S5402). [Figure 117] This is a flowchart showing the procedure for normal processing of regular patterns (step S5403). [Figure 118] This figure shows the determination table T1 for the effect pattern (effect variation) that is referenced in the effect symbol variation start process when the game is in a normal game state. [Figure 119] This figure shows an example of a sound definition table. [Figure 120] This figure shows the notification content, notification method, notification duration, and conditions for termination of the notification (cancellation conditions) for each type of notification sound exemplified in Figure 119. [Figure 121]This is a front view of a gaming machine equipped with a sword animation control unit. [Figure 122] This is a right-side view of a gaming machine equipped with a sword animation control unit. [Figure 123] This figure shows an example of a selection table for performance patterns in a performance mode in which a sword-drawing performance can be executed. (A) shows an example of a selection table for selecting whether or not to perform a sword-drawing preparation transition performance according to the type of variation pattern, and (B) shows an example of a selection table for selecting whether or not to perform the main sword-drawing performance. [Figure 124] This is a state transition diagram illustrating the drawing motion of a sword ornament when the aura component is attached to the sword part (blade part) itself, showing (A) the sheathed state, (B) the first drawing state, and (C) the second drawing state. [Figure 125] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the aura component. [Figure 126] This is a state transition diagram illustrating the drawing motion of a sword ornament when an aura component is provided on the scabbard, showing (A) the sheathed state, (B) the first drawing state, and (C) the second drawing state. [Figure 127] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the aura component. [Figure 128] This diagram illustrates the screen transitions of the display device and the operation transitions of the sword ornament during the Princess Reach animation. [Figure 129] This diagram illustrates the screen transitions of the display device and the operation transitions of the sword ornament during the Princess Reach animation. [Figure 130] This diagram illustrates the screen transitions of the display device and the operation transitions of the sword ornament during the Princess Reach animation. [Figure 131] This diagram illustrates the screen transitions of the display device, the state transitions of the control buttons, and the movement transitions of the sword ornament in a reach animation, including the operation animations of the control buttons used in multiple ways. [Figure 132] This diagram illustrates the screen transitions of the display device, the state transitions of the control buttons, and the movement transitions of the sword ornament in a reach animation, including the operation animations of the control buttons used in multiple ways. [Figure 133]This diagram illustrates the screen transitions of the display device, the state transitions of the control buttons, and the movement transitions of the sword ornament in a reach animation, including the operation animations of the control buttons used in multiple ways. [Figure 134] This diagram illustrates the screen transitions of the display device, the state transitions of the operation buttons, and the movement transitions of the sword ornament during the reach animation. [Figure 135] This diagram illustrates the screen transitions of the display device, the state transitions of the operation buttons, and the movement transitions of the sword ornament during the reach animation. [Figure 136] This diagram illustrates the screen transitions of the display device, the state transitions of the operation buttons, and the movement transitions of the sword ornament during the reach animation. [Figure 137] This diagram illustrates the screen transitions of the display device, the state transitions of the operation buttons, and the movement transitions of the sword ornament during the reach animation. [Figure 138] This diagram illustrates the screen transitions of the display device, the state transitions of the operation buttons, and the movement transitions of the sword ornament during the reach animation. [Figure 139] This diagram illustrates the form of the sword ornaments used in simulated combo effects. [Figure 140] This figure shows an example of a reach animation transition in which, based on the variation animation (reach animation) of the variation pattern drawn by the main control board, the peripheral control board determines by lottery that either the operation button or the sword ornament will be activated during the reach animation, and the pre-operation suggestion animation of the first suggestion pattern is executed. [Figure 141] This figure shows an example of a reach animation transition in which, based on the variation animation (reach animation) of the variation pattern drawn by the main control board, the peripheral control board determines by lottery that either the operation button or the sword ornament will be activated during the reach animation, and the pre-operation suggestion animation of the first suggestion pattern is executed. [Figure 142] This figure shows an example of a reach animation transition where, similar to the first suggestion pattern described above, if it is determined that either the operation button or the sword ornament is operationally enabled during the reach animation, the pre-operation suggestion animation of the second suggestion pattern is executed. [Figure 143]This diagram illustrates a step-up pattern of pre-operation suggestion animation where, despite the second suggestion pattern being performed as a pre-operation suggestion animation, the sword ornament does not become operable, the operation button becomes operable initially, and then the sword ornament becomes operable. [Figure 144] This figure shows an example of an integrated model image. [Figure 145] This figure shows an example of how the integrated replica image is displayed from the start to the end of the validity period. [Figure 146] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 1A slot. [Figure 147] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 1A slot. [Figure 148] This figure shows an example of a variation pattern that generates the 1A acceptance state. [Figure 149] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for 2A. [Figure 150] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for 2A. [Figure 151] This figure shows an example of a variation pattern that generates the 2A acceptance state. [Figure 152] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for 3A. [Figure 153] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for 3A. [Figure 154] This figure shows an example of a variation pattern that generates the 3A acceptance state. [Figure 155] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for 4A. [Figure 156] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for 4A. [Figure 157] This figure shows an example of a variation pattern that generates the 4A acceptance state. [Figure 158] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for reception of item 5A. [Figure 159]This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for reception of item 5A. [Figure 160] This figure shows an example of a variation pattern that generates the 5A acceptance state. [Figure 161] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for reception of 6A. [Figure 162] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for reception of 6A. [Figure 163] This figure shows an example of a variation pattern that generates the 6A acceptance state. [Figure 164] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 1B application. [Figure 165] This figure shows an example of a variation pattern that generates the 1B acceptance state. [Figure 166] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 2B group. [Figure 167] This figure shows an example of a variation pattern that generates the 2B acceptance state. [Figure 168] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 3B category. [Figure 169] This figure shows an example of a variation pattern that generates the 3B acceptance state. [Figure 170] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 4B slot. [Figure 171] This figure shows an example of a variation pattern that generates the 4B acceptance state. [Figure 172] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 5B slot. [Figure 173] This figure shows an example of a variation pattern that generates the 5B acceptance state. [Figure 174] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 6B slot. [Figure 175] This figure shows an example of a variation pattern that generates the 6B acceptance state. [Figure 176]This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 7B category. [Figure 177] This figure shows an example of a variation pattern that generates the 7B acceptance state. [Figure 178] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 7B category. [Figure 179] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for both the 1B and 2B reception conditions. [Figure 180] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for both the 1B and 2B reception conditions. [Figure 181] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 3B and 4B reception conditions. [Figure 182] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 3B and 5B reception conditions. [Figure 183] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 3B and 5B reception conditions. [Figure 184] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 1B and 6B reception conditions. [Figure 185] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 2B and 6B reception conditions. [Figure 186] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 3B and 7B reception conditions. [Figure 187] This is a time chart showing an example of the 5B acceptance status and the 7B acceptance status. [Figure 188] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 1B and 6B reception conditions. [Figure 189] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 4B and 7B reception conditions. [Figure 190] This is a time chart showing an example of the 5B acceptance status and the 7B acceptance status. [Figure 191]This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 6B slot. [Figure 192] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 7B category. [Figure 193] This is a time chart showing an example of the acceptance status for the 7B category. [Figure 194] This figure shows examples of presentations to explain the basic presentation characteristics when the "sword operation related display" is displayed in the first and second modes. [Figure 195] This is a time chart to explain the basic presentation when the "sword operation related display" is shown in the first and second modes. [Figure 196] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 197] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 198] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 199] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 200] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 201] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 202] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 203]This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 204] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 205] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 206] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 207] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 208] This diagram shows an example of the animation when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in place. [Figure 209] This diagram shows an example of the animation when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in place. [Figure 210] This diagram shows an example of the animation when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in place. [Figure 211] This diagram shows an example of the animation when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is already in place. [Figure 212] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 213] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 214]This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 215] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 216] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 217] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 218] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 219] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 220] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 221] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 222] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 223] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 224] This diagram shows an example of the animation when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 225]This diagram shows an example of the animation when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 226] This diagram shows an example of the animation when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 227] This diagram shows an example of the animation when the "1st C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 228] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 229] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 230] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 231] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 232] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 233] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 234] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 235] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 236]This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 237] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 238] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 239] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 240] This diagram shows an example of the animation when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 241] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 242] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 243] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 244] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 245] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 246] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 247]This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 248] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 249] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 250] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 251] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 252] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 253] This diagram shows an example of the animation when the "2nd C Sword input state" occurs while the "1st C button input state" is already in effect. [Figure 254] This is a time chart showing the performance details for another example of the "1st C button reception state". [Figure 255] This is a time chart showing the performance details for another example of the "1st C button reception state". [Figure 256] This is a time chart showing the performance details for another example of the "1st C button reception state". [Figure 257] This is a time chart showing the performance details for another example of the "1st C button reception state". [Figure 258] This is a time chart showing the performance details for another example of the "1st C button reception state". [Figure 259] This is a time chart showing the performance details for another example of the "1st C button reception state". [Figure 260]This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword Acceptance State" occurs while the "2nd C Button Acceptance State" is already in effect. [Figure 261] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword Acceptance State" occurs while the "2nd C Button Acceptance State" is already in effect. [Figure 262] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword Acceptance State" occurs while the "2nd C Button Acceptance State" is already in effect. [Figure 263] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword Acceptance State" occurs while the "2nd C Button Acceptance State" is already in effect. [Figure 264] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword Acceptance State" occurs while the "2nd C Button Acceptance State" is already in effect. [Figure 265] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword Acceptance State" occurs while the "2nd C Button Acceptance State" is not currently in effect. [Figure 266] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button acceptance state" is already in effect, and then the "2nd C sword acceptance state" is triggered. [Figure 267] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button reception state" occurs while the "3rd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 268] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button reception state" occurs while the "3rd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 269] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button reception state" occurs while the "3rd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 270] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button reception state" occurs while the "3rd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 271] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button reception state" occurs while the "3rd C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 272] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "3rd C button reception state" occurs while the "2nd C sword reception state" is not in effect. [Figure 273] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C Sword input input state" occurs while the "3rd C button input input state" is already in effect. [Figure 274] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button reception state" occurs while the "4th C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 275] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button reception state" occurs while the "4th C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 276] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button reception state" occurs while the "4th C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 277] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button reception state" occurs while the "4th C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 278] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button reception state" occurs while the "4th C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 279] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "4th C button input state" occurs while the "2nd C sword input state" is not in effect. [Figure 280] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "4th C button acceptance state" is already in effect, and then the "2nd C sword acceptance state" is also activated. [Figure 281] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button reception state" occurs while the "5th C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 282] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button reception state" occurs while the "5th C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 283] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button reception state" occurs while the "5th C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 284] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button reception state" occurs while the "5th C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 285] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "2nd C button reception state" occurs while the "5th C sword reception state" is already in effect. [Figure 286] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "5th C button acceptance state" occurs while the "2nd C sword acceptance state" is not in effect. [Figure 287] This is a time chart showing the animation sequence when the "5th C button acceptance state" is already in effect, and then the "2nd C sword acceptance state" is also triggered. [Figure 288] This is a time chart showing the performance details for another example of the "1st C button reception state". [Figure 289] This is a time chart showing the performance details for another example of the "1st C button reception state". [Figure 290] This is a time chart showing the performance details for another example of the "1st C button reception state". [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] [1. Overall structure of a pachinko machine] A pachinko machine 1, which is one embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 10. Figure 1 is a front view of the pachinko machine, which is one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a right side view of the pachinko machine, Figure 3 is a left side view of the pachinko machine, and Figure 4 is a rear view of the pachinko machine. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine seen from the front right, Figure 6 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine seen from the front left, and Figure 7 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine seen from the rear. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine seen from the front with the door frame open from the main frame and the main frame open from the outer frame. Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the pachinko machine seen from the front with the pachinko machine disassembled into the door frame, game board, main frame, and outer frame, and Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the pachinko machine seen from the rear with the pachinko machine disassembled into the door frame, game board, main frame, and outer frame.

[0013] The pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment comprises a frame-shaped outer frame 2 installed on an island (not shown) in a gaming hall, a door frame 3 that can be opened and closed to close the front of the outer frame 2, a main body frame 4 that can be opened and closed to support the door frame 3 and is also attached to the outer frame 2 in an open and closed manner, and a game board 5 that is detachably attached to the main body frame 4 from the front and is visible to the player through the door frame 3, and has a game area 5a into which the player puts game balls.

[0014] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the outer frame 2 of the pachinko machine 1 comprises an upper frame member 10 and a lower frame member 20 that are spaced apart vertically and extend horizontally, and a left frame member 30 and a right frame member 40 that connect both ends of the upper frame member 10 and the lower frame member 20 and extend vertically. The upper frame member 10, the lower frame member 20, the left frame member 30, and the right frame member 40 are formed to have the same width from front to back. In addition, the vertical length of the left frame member 30 and the right frame member 40 is longer than the horizontal length of the upper frame member 10 and the lower frame member 20.

[0015] Furthermore, the outer frame 2 includes a fascia member 50 that connects the lower ends of the left frame member 30 and the right frame member 40 and is attached to the front side of the lower frame member 20, an outer frame side upper hinge member 60 attached to the left end side of the upper frame member 10 when viewed from the front, and an outer frame side lower hinge member 70 attached to the upper left end of the fascia member 50 when viewed from the front and to the left frame member 30. The outer frame side upper hinge member 60 and the outer frame side lower hinge member 70 of the outer frame 2 allow the main frame 4 and the door frame 3 to be opened and closed.

[0016] The door frame 3 of the pachinko machine 1 consists of a frame-shaped door frame base unit 100 having a rectangular shape that extends vertically when viewed from the front and a through-hole 111 that penetrates from front to back; a handle unit 300 that is attached to the lower right corner of the front below the through-hole 111 of the door frame base unit 100 and can be operated by the player to shoot game balls into the game area 5a of the game board 5; a tray unit 320 that is attached to the lower front below the through-hole 111 of the door frame base unit 100; and a control unit attached to the center of the tray unit 320 that allows the player to participate in the game state which changes as game balls are shot into the game area 5a. The system includes a performance operation unit 400 capable of presenting performances, a left door frame side unit 530 attached to the left front of the door frame base unit 100 above the plate unit 320 and to the left of the through-hole 111, a right door frame side unit 550 attached to the right front of the door frame base unit 100 above the plate unit 320 and to the right of the through-hole 111, and a top door frame unit 570 attached to the upper front of the door frame base unit 100 above the through-hole 111, above the left door frame side unit 530 and the right door frame side unit 550.

[0017] The main frame 4 of the pachinko machine 1 comprises a frame-shaped main frame base 600 that is partially insertable into the frame of the outer frame 2 and capable of supporting the outer circumference of the game board 5; upper hinge member 620 and lower hinge member 640 attached to the upper and lower ends of the left side of the main frame base 600 in a front view, and rotatably attached to the upper hinge member 60 and lower hinge member 70 of the outer frame 2, respectively, and rotatably attached to the upper hinge member 140 and lower hinge member 150 of the door frame 3, respectively; a reinforcing frame 660 attached to the left side of the main frame base 600 in a front view; and a component attached to the lower front of the main frame base 600. The game board 5 includes a ball launching device 680 for launching game balls into the game area 5a of the game board 5, a locking unit 700 attached to the right side of the main frame base 600 in a front view and locking the space between the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4, and between the door frame 3 and the main frame 4, an inverted L-shaped dispensing unit 800 attached to the rear side along the upper and left edges of the main frame base 600 in a front view and dispensing game balls toward the player, a circuit board unit 900 attached to the lower rear surface of the main frame base 600, and a back cover 980 that is attached to the rear side of the main frame base 600 so as to be openable and closable and covers the rear side of the game board 5 attached to the main frame base 600.

[0018] The dispensing unit 800 of the main frame 4 includes an inverted L-shaped dispensing unit base 801 attached to the rear side of the main frame base 600, a ball tank 802 attached to the top of the dispensing unit base 801 and extending to the left and right, open upwards, for storing game balls supplied from island equipment (not shown), a tank rail 803 attached to the dispensing unit base 801 below the ball tank 802 and extending to the left and right to guide the game balls in the ball tank 802 to the left in a front view, a ball guidance unit 820 attached to the rear side of the upper left side of the dispensing unit base 801 and guiding the game balls from the tank rail 803 downwards in a meandering manner, and a dispensing control board box 950 attached to the bottom of the ball guidance unit 820 so as to be detachable from the dispensing unit base 801, which houses the game balls guided by the ball guidance unit 820. The system includes a dispensing device 830 that dispenses game balls one by one based on instructions from a dispensing control board 951; an upper full-tank ball path unit 850 attached to the rear surface of the dispensing unit base 801 that guides the game balls dispensed by the dispensing device 830 downward and discharges the game balls from either a normal discharge port 850d or a full-tank discharge port 850e depending on the storage state of the game balls in the upper tray 321 of the tray unit 320; and a lower full-tank ball path unit 860 attached to the lower end of the dispensing unit base 801 that has a normal guide path 861 that guides the game balls discharged from the normal discharge port 850d of the upper full-tank ball path unit 850 forward and from the front end to the penetrating ball passage 273 of the door frame 3, and a full-tank guide path 862 that guides the game balls discharged from the full-tank discharge port 850e forward and from the front end to the full-tank ball receiving port 274 of the door frame 3.

[0019] The main body frame 4's circuit board unit 900 comprises a circuit board unit base 910 mounted on the rear side of the main body frame base 600, a speaker unit 920 mounted on the rear side of the main body frame base 600 on the left side of the circuit board unit base 910 in a front view and having a lower speaker 921 for low frequencies inside, a power supply board box 930 mounted on the right side of the rear side of the circuit board unit base 910 in a front view and housing a power supply board inside, an interface control board box 940 mounted on the rear side of the speaker unit 920 and housing an interface control board inside, and a payout control board box 950 mounted across the power supply board box 930 and the interface control board box 940 and housing a payout control board 951 that controls the payout of game balls inside.

[0020] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the game board 5 of the pachinko machine 1 includes a front component 1000 which has an outer rail 1001 and an inner rail 1002 that demarcate the outer periphery of the game area 5a into which game balls are played and guide the game balls launched from the ball launching device 680 to the upper part of the game area 5a, and a flat game panel 1100 which is attached to the rear side of the front component 1000 and demarcates the rear end of the game area 5a.

[0021] In this embodiment of the pachinko machine 1, with game balls stored in the upper tray 321, when a player rotates the handle 302, the ball launcher 680 launches the game balls into the game area 5a of the game board 5 with a force corresponding to the rotation angle of the handle 302. When the game balls launched into the game area 5a are received into a prize slot, a predetermined number of game balls are dispensed into the upper tray 321 by the dispenser 830, according to the prize slot into which they were received. This dispensing of game balls enhances the player's enjoyment, allowing them to launch the game balls in the upper tray 321 into the game area 5a and enjoy the game.

[0022] [2. Overall structure of the outer frame] The outer frame 2 of the pachinko machine 1 will be explained with reference to Figures 11 to 16. Figure 11 is a front view of the outer frame of the pachinko machine, and Figure 12 is a right side view of the outer frame. Figure 13 is a perspective view of the outer frame from the front, and Figure 14 is a perspective view of the outer frame from the rear. Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of the outer frame from the front after it has been disassembled. Figure 16(a) is a perspective view of the upper hinge member on the outer frame side of the outer frame, with the left frame member omitted and viewed from below, and (b) is an exploded perspective view of (a) after it has been disassembled. The outer frame 2 is attached to the island equipment (not shown) where the pachinko machine 1 is installed in a gaming hall or the like.

[0023] As shown in the figure, the outer frame 2 comprises an upper frame member 10 and a lower frame member 20 that are spaced apart vertically and extend horizontally, and a left frame member 30 and a right frame member 40 that connect both ends of the upper frame member 10 and the lower frame member 20 and extend vertically. The upper frame member 10, the lower frame member 20, the left frame member 30, and the right frame member 40 are formed to have the same width from front to back. Furthermore, the vertical length of the left frame member 30 and the right frame member 40 is longer than the horizontal length of the upper frame member 10 and the lower frame member 20. The outer frame 2 is assembled so that the left and right end faces of the upper frame member 10 and the lower frame member 20 and the outward-facing sides of the left frame member 30 and the right frame member 40 are on the same plane.

[0024] Furthermore, the outer frame 2 includes an outer frame side upper hinge member 60 attached to the left end of the upper frame member 10 in a front view, a locking member 66 attached to the lower surface of the outer frame side upper hinge member 60, and an outer frame side lower hinge member 70 attached to the upper left end of the front view of the fascia board member 50 and the left frame member 30. The outer frame side upper hinge member 60 and the outer frame side lower hinge member 70 of the outer frame 2 allow the main frame 4 and the door frame 3 to be attached in an openable and closable manner.

[0025] Furthermore, the outer frame 2 includes a fascia board member 50 that connects the lower ends of the left frame member 30 and the right frame member 40 and is attached to the front side of the lower frame member 20, a fascia board reinforcing member 80 that is attached to the rear side of the fascia board member 50 and has both ends attached to the left frame member 30 and the right frame member 40 respectively, a flat plate-shaped left sliding member 81 that is attached to the upper surface of the fascia board member 50 at a position slightly to the left of the left-right center, and a flat plate-shaped right sliding member 82 that is attached to the upper surface of the fascia board member 50 at a position near the right end. The fascia board reinforcing member 80 is made of a solid material (for example, wood, plywood, etc.) and is attached to the lower frame member 20, the left frame member 30, and the right frame member 40.

[0026] Furthermore, the outer frame 2 is equipped with connecting members 85 that connect the upper frame member 10 to the left frame member 30, the upper frame member 10 to the right frame member 40, the lower frame member 20 to the left frame member 30, and the lower frame member 20 to the right frame member 40, respectively. The outer frame 2 is also equipped with an upper hooking member 90 and a lower hooking member 91 that are attached to the inside (left side) of the right frame member 40 and to which the outer frame hook 703 of the locking unit 700, which will be described later, is engaged.

[0027] [2-1. Upper frame member] The upper frame member 10 of the outer frame 2 is formed from a solid material of a predetermined thickness (for example, wood, plywood, etc.). This upper frame member 10 has engagement notches 11 that penetrate vertically and are recessed toward the left-right center at the center in the front-rear direction at both ends. The upper lateral fixing parts 87 of the upper left connecting member 85A and the upper right connecting member 85B, which will be described later, are attached to these engagement notches 11. In addition, the upper frame member 10 has mounting steps 12 on the upper and front surfaces of the left end when viewed from the front, which are recessed from the general surface. The outer frame side upper hinge member 60 is attached to these mounting steps 12.

[0028] [2-2. Lower frame member] The lower frame member 20 of the outer frame 2 is formed from a solid material (for example, wood, plywood, etc.) of a predetermined thickness. The length from left to right and the thickness from top to bottom of the lower frame member 20 are the same dimensions as the length from left to right and the thickness from top to bottom of the upper frame member 10, while the width from front to back is longer than the width from front to back of the upper frame member 10. The lower frame member 20 has engagement notches 21 that penetrate vertically and are recessed toward the center in the left-right direction at positions slightly behind the center in the front-to-back direction at both the left and right ends. The lower lateral fixing portions 88 of the left lower connecting member 85C and the right lower connecting member 85D, which will be described later, are attached to these engagement notches 21.

[0029] Furthermore, the lower frame member 20 is provided with front end notches 22 that are recessed from the front to the rear at both the left and right ends. In the lower frame member 20, the width in the front-to-back direction from the rear end of the front end notches 22 to the rear surface of the lower frame member 20 is formed to be the same dimension as the width in the front-to-back direction of the upper frame member 10. When the lower frame member 20 is assembled to the outer frame 2, the portion between the left and right front end notches 22 is inserted into the fascia board member 50.

[0030] [2-3. Left frame member and right frame member] The left frame member 30 and the right frame member 40 of the outer frame 2 extend vertically with a fixed cross-sectional shape and are formed from extruded metal profiles such as aluminum alloy. The left frame member 30 and the right frame member 40 are formed in a symmetrical shape when viewed from above. When assembled as the outer frame 2, the left frame member 30 and the right frame member 40 have inwardly recessed recesses 31 and 41 on their outer sides in the left-right direction, from a position slightly behind the center in the front-rear direction to near the rear end, and protruding portions 32 and 42 that bulge out from the side opposite to the recesses 31 and 41 and have a hollow interior. The strength and rigidity of the left frame member 30 and the right frame member 40 are enhanced by the protruding portions 32 and 42. The rear lower lateral fixing portions 88 of the upper left connecting member 85A and the upper right connecting member 85B, which will be described later, are inserted into and attached to the protruding portions 32 and 42.

[0031] Furthermore, the left frame member 30 and the right frame member 40 have multiple grooves extending vertically on their surfaces. These multiple grooves provide hand grips for workers when installing or transporting the pachinko machine 1 in island facilities such as amusement halls, making it easier to hold the machine, and also enhance the aesthetic appearance of the pachinko machine 1.

[0032] [2-4. Skirting board components] The fascia member 50 of the outer frame 2 is formed in a box shape with the rear side open. The fascia member 50 includes a rear extension portion 51 that extends in a flat shape to the rear from near the left end of the upper surface when viewed from the front, a left discharge hole 52 that is cut out in a U shape from the left end of the rear extension portion 51 and is large enough for a game ball to pass through and penetrates vertically, a right discharge hole 53 that is large enough for a game ball to pass through vertically and penetrates vertically to the right of the left discharge hole 52 in the rear extension portion 51, a vertical wall portion 54 that extends in a flat shape upward from the rear end of the upper surface of the fascia member 50 including the rear end of the rear extension portion 51, and a return portion 55 that bulges forward from near the upper end of the vertical wall portion 54 and is inclined so that the front surface goes towards the rear as it goes upward.

[0033] The lower hinge member 70 on the outer frame side is attached to the front upper surface of the rear extension portion 51 of the fascia board member 50, and the horizontal portion 71 of the lower hinge member 70, which will be described later, is attached to the upper surface of the rear extension portion 51 of the fascia board member 50 so that the lower hinge member 70 on the outer frame side is placed on the front upper surface of the rear extension portion 51. The left discharge hole 52 of the fascia board member 50 is formed in a position that coincides with the discharge hole 74 of the lower hinge member 70, which will be described later, when assembled to the outer frame 2. The right discharge hole 53 is formed in a position to the right of the lower hinge member 70 on the outer frame side when assembled to the outer frame 2. The right discharge hole 53 is formed to be larger than the left discharge hole 52.

[0034] Furthermore, the upper surface of the fascia board member 50 is inclined such that the front end is lower on the right side of the rear extension portion 51. The fascia board member 50 also includes a left mounting portion 56 for attaching the left sliding member 81 to the right side of the upper surface of the fascia board member 50, and a right mounting portion 57 for attaching the right sliding member 82 near the right end of the upper surface. The lower surface of the main frame 4 rests on the upper surface of the fascia board member 50 via the left sliding member 81 and the right sliding member 82.

[0035] As shown in the figure, the fascia board member 50 has a shallow relief-like decoration formed on its front surface. Although not shown in the figure, the box-shaped interior of the fascia board member 50 is divided into a grid pattern by multiple ribs, which enhances its strength and rigidity. Furthermore, the fascia board member 50 is formed so that the front half of the fascia board reinforcing member 80 can be housed inside.

[0036] [2-5. Upper hinge component on the outer frame side] As shown in the figure, the upper hinge member 60 on the outer frame side of the outer frame 2 comprises a horizontally extending, flat, rectangular upper fixing portion 61, a flat, forward-extending portion 62 extending forward from the front end of the upper fixing portion 61, a bearing groove 63 extending from the right end of the forward-extending portion 62 toward the left-right center of the forward-extending portion 62 and penetrating vertically, a flat, lateral fixing portion 64 extending downward from the left side of the upper fixing portion 61 in a plan view, and a flat, hanging portion 65 extending downward from the end edge of the forward-extending portion 62 around the front end to the part where the bearing groove 63 opens, and continuous with the lateral fixing portion 64 (see Figure 16(b), etc.).

[0037] The upper hinge member 60 on the outer frame side has its upper fixing portion 61 placed on the upper surface of the mounting step portion 12 of the upper frame member 10 when the outer frame 2 is assembled, and is fixed with screws (not shown). The forward extension portion 62 extends forward beyond the front end of the upper frame member 10. The lateral fixing portion 64 is inserted from above into the recess 31 on the outer side surface of the left frame member 30 and is fixed to the left frame member 30 with screws.

[0038] The upper hinge member 60 on the outer frame side can support the main frame 4 in an openable and closable manner in cooperation with the lower hinge member 70 on the outer frame side by inserting the upper hinge pin 622 of the upper hinge member 620 on the main frame side into the bearing groove 63. The upper hinge member 60 on the outer frame side is formed by bending a metal plate through press molding.

[0039] [2-6. Locking components] As shown in Figure 16, the locking member 66 of the outer frame 2 comprises a strip-shaped locking body 66a that extends front to back with a predetermined width on both sides, an operating part 66b that protrudes to the right from the rear end of the locking body 66a, an elastically deformable rod-shaped elastic part 66c that extends to the left from the rear end of the locking body 66a and then diagonally forward to the left, and a mounting hole 66d that penetrates vertically near the rear end of the locking body 66a. This locking member 66 is made of synthetic resin. The locking member 66 is rotatably attached to the lower surface of the forward extension 62 of the upper hinge member 60 on the outer frame side by mounting screws 67.

[0040] The locking member 66 is mounted through a mounting hole 66d, with the rear end of the lock body 66a positioned behind the bearing groove 63 in the forward extension 62 of the outer frame upper hinge member 60. Furthermore, when the locking member 66 is attached to the outer frame upper hinge member 60, the lock body 66a can block the bearing groove 63 in a plan view, and the right side near the front end extends forward so that it can contact the portion of the hanging part 65 of the outer frame upper hinge member 60 that extends to the opening of the bearing groove 63 (see Figure 18).

[0041] Furthermore, the tip of the elastic portion 66c, which extends to the left from the rear end of the lock body 66a, abuts against the inner circumferential surface of the hanging portion 65 of the upper hinge member 60 on the outer frame side. The lock member 66 is biased by the biasing force of the elastic portion 66c to rotate its front end to the left around the mounting hole 66d. Therefore, in the normal state, the right side surface of the lock member 66 near the front end of the lock body 66a abuts against the hanging portion 65 (see Figure 18). In this state, a space is formed in the bearing groove 63 in front of the lock body 66a that can accommodate the upper hinge pin 622 of the upper hinge member 620 on the main frame side, which will be described later.

[0042] The locking member 66 allows the lock body 66a to be rotated against the biasing force of the elastic part 66c by operating the operating part 66b. By operating the operating part 66b, the lock body 66a is rotated in a direction in which its front end moves to the left, so that the lock body 66a can be retracted from the bearing groove 63 in a plan view, and the bearing groove 63 can be made fully open. This makes it possible to insert the upper hinge pin 622 of the main frame into the bearing groove 63 or to remove the upper hinge pin 622 of the main frame from the bearing groove 63.

[0043] [2-7. Lower hinge component on the outer frame side] As shown in the figure, the lower hinge member 70 on the outer frame side of the outer frame 2 comprises a horizontal plate-shaped horizontal portion 71 extending horizontally, a horizontal plate-shaped rising portion 72 rising upward from a point on the left side of the horizontal portion 71 that is further back than the center in the front-to-back direction, a lower hinge pin 73 protruding upward from near the front end of the horizontal portion 71, and an ejection hole 74 that penetrates the horizontal portion 71 vertically and is sized to allow only one game ball to pass through. This lower hinge member 70 on the outer frame side is formed by bending a metal plate through press molding.

[0044] The horizontal portion 71 of the lower hinge member 70 on the outer frame side is formed in a trapezoidal shape with the left side as the base when viewed from above. The lower hinge pin 73 on the outer frame is cylindrical, and the upper part above the center in the vertical direction is formed in a truncated cone shape with the upper end narrowing. This lower hinge pin 73 on the outer frame is attached to the left side near the front end of the horizontal portion 71. The discharge hole 74 is in contact with the central part of the rising portion 72 in the front-rear direction on the horizontal portion 71 and is formed to extend in an inverted U shape from the left side of the horizontal portion 71 to the right. This discharge hole 74 is formed to be approximately the same size as the left discharge hole 52 of the skirting plate member 50.

[0045] When the outer frame 2 is assembled, the lower hinge member 70 on the outer frame side has a horizontal portion 71 that rests on the upper surface near the left end of the skirting plate member 50 and on the rear extension portion 51, and the horizontal portion 71 is fixed to the skirting plate reinforcing member 80 by screws (not shown) that penetrate the upper surface of the skirting plate member 50. Also, when the outer frame 2 is assembled, the rising portion 72 is attached to the part of the inner side surface of the left frame member 30 that is in front of the protruding portion 32 by screws (not shown). This lower hinge member 70 on the outer frame side can be attached to the main frame 4 in an openable and closable manner in cooperation with the upper hinge member 60 on the outer frame side by inserting the lower hinge pin 73 on the outer frame side into the lower hinge hole for the main frame (not shown) in the lower hinge member 640 on the main frame side of the main frame 4.

[0046] Furthermore, when the outer frame 2 is assembled, the discharge hole 74 coincides with the left discharge hole 52 of the fascia board member 50. This allows the game balls on the horizontal section 71 to fall (discharge) to the rear side of the fascia board member 50 through the discharge hole 74 and the left discharge hole 52. More specifically, when closing the main body frame 4 to the outer frame 2, the game balls that have fallen between the outer frame 2 and the main body frame 4 will roll towards the rear side where the gap is wider as the main body frame 4 is closed, and will be discharged through the discharge hole 74. In this case, the discharge hole 74 is formed at a position that is approximately the same as the rear end of the main body frame 4 when the main body frame 4 is closed to the outer frame 2 in the assembled state of the pachinko machine 1. Therefore, it is possible to prevent game balls that have fallen between the outer frame 2 and the main body frame 4 from rolling further behind the main body frame 4 by discharging them through the discharge hole 74, and it is possible to prevent game balls from getting stuck in the area of ​​the lower hinge member 70 on the outer frame side.

[0047] [2-8. Connecting Members] The connecting members 85 of the outer frame 2 include an upper left connecting member 85A that connects the upper frame member 10 and the left frame member 30, an upper right connecting member 85B that connects the upper frame member 10 and the right frame member 40, a lower left connecting member 85C that connects the lower frame member 20 and the left frame member 30, and a lower right connecting member 85D that connects the lower frame member 20 and the right frame member 40.

[0048] The connecting member 85 comprises a horizontally extending, flat plate-shaped horizontal fixing portion 86, a flat plate-shaped upper horizontal fixing portion 87 extending upward from either the left or right side of the horizontal fixing portion 86, and a flat plate-shaped lower horizontal fixing portion 88 extending downward from the same side of the horizontal fixing portion 86 as the portion from which the upper horizontal fixing portion 87 extends. This connecting member 85 is formed by bending a flat metal plate.

[0049] In the upper left connecting member 85A and the upper right connecting member 85B, the upper lateral fixing portion 87 extends upward from the center of the horizontal fixing portion 86 in the front-rear direction, and the lower lateral fixing portions 88 extend downward from both the front and rear sides of the upper lateral fixing portion 87. In other words, the upper left connecting member 85A and the upper right connecting member 85B are provided with two lower lateral fixing portions 88 spaced apart in the front-rear direction. The horizontal fixing portion 86 of the upper left connecting member 85A and the upper right connecting member 85B is fixed to the upper frame member 10 in a state where it abuts against the lower surface of the upper frame member 10. In addition, the upper lateral fixing portion 87 of the upper left connecting member 85A and the upper right connecting member 85B is inserted into the engagement notch 21 of the upper frame member 10 and fixed to the left-right end of the upper frame member 10. Furthermore, the front lower horizontal fixing portion 88 of the upper left connecting member 85A and the upper right connecting member 85B are fixed to the inner side surfaces of the left frame member 30 and the right frame member 40, respectively, that are in front of the protrusions 32 and 42. In addition, the rear lower horizontal fixing portion 88 of the upper left connecting member 85A and the upper right connecting member 85B are fixed to the left frame member 30 and the right frame member 40, respectively, by screws that are inserted into the protrusions 32 and 42 of the left frame member 30 and the right frame member 40 and screwed in from the outer side surfaces.

[0050] In the lower left connecting member 85C and the lower right connecting member 85D, the rear end of the upper horizontal fixing portion 87 protrudes further rearward than the rear end of the horizontal fixing portion 86, and the lower horizontal fixing portion 88 extends downward from the lower end of the portion of the upper horizontal fixing portion 87 that protrudes further rearward than the horizontal fixing portion 86. Furthermore, the lower left connecting member 85C and the lower right connecting member 85D are further provided with a bent portion 89 that protrudes from the rear end of the upper horizontal fixing portion 87 toward the same side as the horizontal fixing portion 86. The horizontal fixing portion 86 of the lower left connecting member 85C and the lower right connecting member 85D is fixed in contact with the upper surface of the lower frame member 20. In addition, the upper horizontal fixing portion 87 of the lower left connecting member 85C and the lower right connecting member 85D is fixed to the inner side surface in front of the protruding portions 32 and 42 of the left frame member 30 and the right frame member 40, respectively. Furthermore, the lower horizontal fixing portions 88 of the lower left connecting member 85C and the lower right connecting member 85D are inserted into the engagement notches 21 of the lower frame member 20 and fixed to the left and right end faces of the lower frame member 20, respectively.

[0051] [2-9. Locking mechanism of the upper hinge member on the outer frame side] Next, in the outer frame 2 of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment, the locking mechanism of the locking member 66 on the outer frame side upper hinge member 60 for the main frame side upper hinge member 620 of the main frame 4 will be described with reference to Figures 17 and 18. Figure 17(a) is an enlarged perspective view showing the state in which the main frame side upper hinge member of the main frame is detached from the outer frame side upper hinge member of the outer frame, and (b) is an enlarged perspective view showing the state in which the main frame side upper hinge member is attached to the outer upper hinge member. Figure 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the locking member in the outer frame.

[0052] In the outer frame 2, when the locking member 66 is attached to the forward extension 62 of the outer frame side upper hinge member 60 (normal state), the tip of the elastic part 66c abuts against the inner circumferential surface of the hanging part 65, and the locking body 66a closes off a portion of the bent bearing groove 63. At the same time, the tip of the locking body 66a does not close off the deepest part of the bearing groove 63, and a space is formed in the deepest part of the bearing groove 63 into which the upper hinge pin 622 of the main frame side upper hinge member 620 of the main frame 4 can be inserted.

[0053] In this embodiment, the support mechanism for the main frame upper hinge pin 622 using the outer frame upper hinge member 60 and the lock member 66 is such that, in the normal pivot state where the main frame upper hinge pin 622 is inserted into the deepest part of the bearing groove 63 and the right side surface of the front end of the lock body 66a is close to the right hanging part 65 (in this state there is a small gap between the right side surface of the front end of the lock body 66a and the right hanging part 65 and they are not in contact), the centers of the main frame upper hinge pin 622 located in the deepest part of the curved bearing groove 63 and the front end surface of the lock body 66a are obliquely offset and facing each other.

[0054] In this normal pivot state, the hinge pin 622 on the upper frame of the main body, which pivots the heavy main frame 4, is in contact with the front end portion of the bearing groove 63, so there is almost no load from the hinge pin 622 on the front end surface of the lock body 66a. In other words, there is no load on the elastic portion 66c of the lock member 66. Furthermore, since the front end surface of the lock body 66a is formed in an arc shape, the lock member 66 rotates smoothly when the operating part 66b is rotated to rotate the lock member 66. Also, in the illustration, the center of the arc on the front end surface of the lock body 66a is the center of the mounting hole 66d (the rotation center of the lock member 66).

[0055] Therefore, when the hinge pin 622 on the main frame is subjected to a force F acting in a direction that causes it to withdraw along the inclination of the angled bearing groove 63, and comes into contact with the arc-shaped front end surface of the lock body 66a, the force F is divided into a component force F1 acting on the contact portion between the hinge pin 622 on the main frame and the arc-shaped front end surface (normal to the arc of the front end surface of the lock body 66a) and a component force F2 acting on the contact portion between the hinge pin 622 on the main frame and the inner surface of one side of the bearing groove 63. Since the direction of component force F1 is directed toward the center of the mounting hole 66d (mounting screw 67) (the rotation center of the lock member 66), no moment acts to rotate the front end of the lock body 66a of the lock member 66 away from the right-side hanging portion 65, and the state in which the hinge pin 622 on the main frame is sandwiched between the front end of the lock body 66a of the lock member 66 and the inner surface of one side of the bearing groove 63 is maintained.

[0056] Therefore, even in the normal pivot state, or when the force applied by the hinge pin 622 on the main frame is applied to the locking member 66, the elastic part 66c of the locking member 66 is not constantly subjected to load, preventing plastic deformation due to creep of the elastic part 66c which is integrally formed from synthetic resin, and preventing the hinge pin 622 on the main frame from falling out of the bearing groove 63 over a long period of time. Furthermore, even if excessive force is applied and the front end of the locking body 66a of the locking member 66 is rotated in a direction that moves to the right, the right side of the front end of the locking body 66a will come into contact with the hanging part 65 and will not rotate any further, so that the locking member 66 does not protrude outside the forward extension 62.

[0057] Furthermore, even if the shape of the front end surface of the lock body 66a is not arc-shaped, by positioning the rotation center of the lock member 66 (the axis fixed by the mounting screw 67) at a position where no rotational moment is generated by the action of the component force F1 described above, or at a position where a rotational moment is generated that causes the front end of the lock member 66 to rotate toward the outside of the forward extension 62, no load is constantly applied to the elastic part 66c of the lock member 66, and even if the lock member 66 rotates, only the right side surface of the front end of the lock body 66a will come into contact with the hanging part 65, so the lock member 66 will not protrude beyond the outside of the forward extension 62.

[0058] When supporting the main frame upper hinge pin 622 of the main frame upper hinge member 620 in the bearing groove 63 of the outer frame upper hinge member 60, the main frame upper hinge pin 622 is inserted into the bearing groove 63 from the open side of the bearing groove 63. When the main frame upper hinge pin 622 is inserted into the bearing groove 63, the main frame upper hinge pin 622 comes into contact with the right side of the lock body 66a of the lock member 66, and the lock member 66 rotates around the mounting screw 67 so that the front end of the lock body 66a moves to the left against the biasing force of the elastic part 66c. As a result, the lock body 66a, which was closing the bearing groove 63, retracts, opening the bearing groove 63, and allowing the main frame upper hinge pin 622 to move to the deepest part (front end) of the bearing groove 63.

[0059] Then, when the upper hinge pin 622 of the main frame is moved to the deepest part of the bearing groove 63, the contact between the upper hinge pin 622 of the main frame and the lock body 66a of the locking member 66 is released, and the locking member 66 rotates so that the front end of the lock body 66a moves to the right due to the biasing force of the elastic part 66c, and the locking member 66 returns to its normal state. As a result, the upper hinge pin 622 of the main frame is housed in the space in front of the front end of the lock body 66a within the bearing groove 63, and the upper hinge pin 622 is held (locked) in a rotatable state at the deepest part of the bearing groove 63.

[0060] To remove the upper hinge pin 622 from the bearing groove 63, the operating portion 66b of the locking member 66 is operated to rotate the locking member 66 so that the front end of the locking body 66a moves to the left, thereby retracting the locking body 66a from the bearing groove 63 against the biasing force of the elastic portion 66c. This creates a state where the deepest part of the bearing groove 63 and the opening are in communication, allowing the upper hinge pin 622 from the bearing groove 63 to be removed.

[0061] [2-10. Anti-theft mechanism and ball-joint prevention mechanism in the lower hinge member on the outer frame side] This invention describes the anti-theft mechanism at the lower hinge member 70 on the outer frame side of the outer frame 2 and the ball jamming prevention mechanism for preventing game balls from getting caught between the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4 in the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment.

[0062] In the assembled state, the outer frame 2 has the outer frame side lower hinge member 70 attached to the left end of the upper surface of the fascia board member 50 when viewed from the front. The horizontal portion 71 of the outer frame side lower hinge member 70 is attached in a state where it rests on the vicinity of the left end of the upper surface of the fascia board member 50 and on the upper surface of the rear extension portion 51. The fascia board member 50 is provided with a vertical wall portion 54 that rises upward from the rear end of the upper surface. As a result, even if someone tries to insert an illegal tool such as piano wire into the rear of the main frame 4 (pachinko machine 1) through the gap between the outer frame side lower hinge member 70 and the main frame side lower hinge member 640, the tip of the illegal tool will come into contact with the vertical wall portion 54 that extends upward from the rear end of the upper surface of the fascia board member 50, thus preventing the illegal tool from being inserted any further to the rear, and preventing illegal acts from being carried out through the part of the outer frame side lower hinge member 70.

[0063] Furthermore, since the upper end of the vertical wall portion 54 is provided with a return portion 55 that extends forward, if an unauthorized tool comes into contact with the vertical wall portion 54 and bends upward, the return portion 55 can cause the tip of the unauthorized tool to bend further forward. This prevents the unauthorized tool from entering the rear side of the main frame 4 and reliably prevents unauthorized activity from being carried out through the lower hinge member 70 on the outer frame side.

[0064] However, if the upper surface of the fascia board member 50 is provided with a vertical wall portion 54 extending upward from the rear end, when the main frame 4 is open relative to the outer frame 2, if a game ball falls onto the lower hinge member 70 (horizontal portion 71) on the outer frame side, the game ball on the horizontal portion 71 will not be discharged backward from the rear end of the horizontal portion 71 due to the presence of the vertical wall portion 54, and there is a risk that the game ball will get stuck between the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4. In contrast, in this embodiment, the horizontal portion 71 of the lower hinge member 70 on the outer frame side and the rear extension portion 51 of the fascia board member 50 are provided with discharge holes 74, a left discharge hole 52, and a right discharge hole 53 through which the game ball can pass. As a result, the game ball on the horizontal portion 71 of the lower hinge member 70 on the outer frame side can be discharged downward from the discharge holes 74, etc., and the risk of the game ball getting stuck between the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4 can be reduced.

[0065] Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to the area around the lower hinge member 70 on the outer frame side by preventing game balls from getting stuck between the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4, or to prevent the main frame 4 from closing properly, creating a gap between the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4, which could then be used to carry out fraudulent activities.

[0066] [3. Overall structure of the door frame] The door frame 3 of the pachinko machine 1 will be described with reference to Figures 19 to 30. Figure 19 is a front view of the door frame in the pachinko machine, Figure 20 is a right side view of the door frame, Figure 21 is a left side view of the door frame, and Figure 22 is a rear view of the door frame. Figure 23 is a perspective view of the door frame from the front right, Figure 24 is a perspective view of the door frame from the front left, and Figure 25 is a perspective view of the door frame from the rear. Figure 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 19, Figure 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Figure 19, and Figure 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in Figure 19. Figure 29 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame taken from the front with its main components separated, and Figure 30 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame taken from the rear with its main components separated.

[0067] As shown in Figures 29 and 30, the door frame 3 comprises a rectangular, frame-shaped door frame base unit 100 with an outer shape extending vertically when viewed from the front, a handle unit 300 attached to the lower right corner of the front of the door frame base unit 100, a plate unit 320 attached to the lower front of the door frame base unit 100, a performance operation unit 400 attached to the center of the plate unit 320, a door frame left side unit 530 attached to the front left of the door frame base unit 100 above the plate unit 320, a door frame right side unit 550 attached to the front right of the door frame base unit 100 above the plate unit 320, and a door frame top unit 570 attached to the front upper part of the door frame base unit 100 above the door frame left side unit 530 and the door frame right side unit 550.

[0068] The door frame base unit 100 of the door frame 3, as will be described in detail later, consists of a plate-shaped door frame base 110 having a rectangular (square) shape extending vertically when viewed from the front and a through-hole 111 that penetrates from front to back; a frame-shaped reinforcing unit 130 attached to the rear side of the door frame base 110; an upper door frame side hinge member 140 and a lower door frame side hinge member 150 attached to both the upper and lower ends of the left end of the reinforcing unit 130 when viewed from the front and mounted so as to be hinge-rotatable relative to the main frame 4; a glass unit 190 attached to the rear surface of the door frame base 110 to close the through-hole 111; and the lower rear surface of the glass unit 190. The system includes a security cover 200 that covers the section, an opening / closing cylinder unit 210 for locking the space between the door frame 3 and the main frame 4, which are attached to the rear surface of the door frame base 110 so as to penetrate the door frame base 110 and protrude forward, and between the main frame 4 and the outer frame 2, a ball feeding unit 250 attached to the lower rear surface of the door frame base 110 for sending game balls to the ball launching device 680, and a foul cover unit 270 attached to the lower rear surface of the door frame base 110 for receiving game balls that have been launched by the ball launching device 680 and have not reached the game area 5a, and for discharging them into the lower tray 322.

[0069] The handle unit 300 of the door frame 3, as will be described in detail later, allows the player to rotate the rotatable handle 302, thereby launching the game balls stored in the upper tray 321 into the game area 5a of the game board 5 with a force corresponding to the rotation angle of the handle 302.

[0070] The tray unit 320 of the door frame 3, as will be described in detail later, is attached to the lower part of the through-hole 111 on the front of the door frame base 110 of the door frame base unit 100, with its front bulging forward, and the performance operation unit 400 is attached to the front end in the center in the left-right direction. The tray unit 320 has an upper tray 321 for storing game balls to be played into the game area 5a, a lower tray 322 located below the upper tray 321 and capable of storing game balls supplied from the upper tray 321 and the foul cover unit 270, an upper tray ball release button 327 for removing game balls stored in the upper tray 321 to the lower tray 322, and a ball dispensing button 328 for dispensing game balls to the player within the limits of the cash or prepaid card balance inserted into the ball dispensing machine. The machine includes a return button 329 for returning cash or prepaid cards minus the amount of game balls dispensed from the ball dispenser, a ball dispenser return display unit 330 for displaying the remaining amount of cash or prepaid cards inserted into the ball dispenser, a left performance selection button 331 and a right performance selection button 332 that can be operated by the player when a performance is presented, and a lower tray ball removal button 333 for discharging game balls from the lower tray 322 to the lower part of the tray unit 320.

[0071] The door frame 3's performance control unit 400 is mounted on the front of the center of the plate unit 320 in a front view, and can be operated by pressing it, as well as displaying performance images to the player. As will be described in detail later, this performance control unit 400 includes a large operation button 410 that can be operated by the player, and a door frame-side performance display device 460 that is positioned within the operation button 410 so as to be visible from the player's side and capable of displaying performance images.

[0072] The left side unit 530 of the door frame 3, as will be described in detail later, is attached to the front left side of the door frame base unit 100, above the plate unit 320 and to the left of the through-hole 111, and decorates the left outer side of the through-hole 111 (game area 5a). The left side unit 530 of the door frame is equipped with a left unit decorative lens member (not shown) that can emit light.

[0073] The right side unit 550 of the door frame 3, as will be described in detail later, is attached to the front right side of the door frame base unit 100, above the plate unit 320 and to the right of the through-hole 111, and decorates the right outer side of the through-hole 111 (game area 5a). This right side unit 550 protrudes significantly further forward than the left side unit 530 of the door frame and includes a right unit left decorative member 554 and a right unit right decorative member 557, which are provided on both the left and right sides, and a right unit decorative lens member 561, which is provided at the front end. The right side unit 550 can illuminate the right unit left decorative member 554, the right unit right decorative member 557, and the right unit decorative lens member 561.

[0074] The door frame top unit 570 of the door frame 3 is attached above the door frame left side unit 530 and the door frame right side unit 550, and above the through-hole 111 on the front surface of the door frame base 110 of the door frame base unit 100, and is used to decorate the upper part of the door frame 3. The door frame top unit 570, as will be described in detail later, comprises a pair of upper speakers 573 spaced apart to the left and right, a top central decorative member 576 protruding forward from the center of the front surface, and a top left decorative lens member 579 and a top right decorative lens member 580 decorating both the left and right sides of the top central decorative member 576. The door frame top unit 570 can illuminate the top central decorative member 576, the top left decorative lens member 579, and the top right decorative lens member 580.

[0075] [3-1. Overall configuration of the door frame base unit] The door frame base unit 100 of the door frame 3 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 31 to 33. Figure 31(a) is a perspective view of the door frame base unit in the door frame as seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the door frame base unit as seen from the rear. Figure 32 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame base unit as seen from the front, with each main component separated, and Figure 33 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame base unit as seen from the rear, with each main component separated.

[0076] The door frame base unit 100 is attached to the main frame 4 so as to be openable and closable (hinge rotatable) on the left side when viewed from the front, so as to close the front of the main frame 4. The door frame base unit 100 has a handle unit 300 attached to the lower front corner of the front, a plate unit 320 to which a performance operation unit 400 is attached to the lower front of the through-hole 111, a door frame left side unit 530 attached to the left outer front of the through-hole 111, a door frame right side unit 550 attached to the right outer front of the through-hole 111, and a door frame top unit 570 attached to the upper outer front of the through-hole 111.

[0077] As shown in Figures 32 and 33, the door frame base unit 100 comprises a plate-shaped door frame base 110 having a rectangular outer shape that extends vertically when viewed from the front and a through-hole 111 that penetrates from front to back; a frame-shaped reinforcing unit 130 attached to the rear side of the door frame base 110; a door frame upper hinge member 140 and a door frame lower hinge member 150 attached to both the upper and lower ends of the left end of the reinforcing unit 130 when viewed from the front, projecting forward from the door frame base 110 and rotatably attached to the main frame upper hinge member 620 and main frame lower hinge member 640 of the main frame 4; a door frame left side decorative substrate 160 attached to the front of the door frame base 110 on the left side of the through-hole 111 when viewed from the front, with multiple LEDs mounted on its front surface; and a glass unit mounting member 170 rotatably attached to the rear side of the door frame base 110 for detachably mounting the glass unit 190.

[0078] Furthermore, the door frame base unit 100 includes a cylindrical handle mounting member 180 for mounting the handle unit 300, which is attached to the lower right corner of the front surface of the door frame base 110 when viewed from the front; a glass unit 190 attached to the rear surface of the door frame base 110 to close the through-hole 111; a security cover 200 covering the lower rear surface of the glass unit 190; an opening / closing cylinder unit 210 attached to the rear surface of the door frame base 110 so as to penetrate the door frame base 110 and protrude forward; a ball feeding unit 250 attached to the lower rear surface of the door frame base 110; and a foul cover unit 270 attached to the lower rear surface of the door frame base 110.

[0079] Furthermore, the door frame base unit 100, although not shown in the illustration, includes a door body relay board for relaying connections between the door frame 3, various decorative circuit boards, a ball-feeding solenoid 255, a handle rotation detection sensor 307, a handle touch sensor 310, a single-shot button operation sensor 312, a ball-dispensing button 328, a return button 329, a ball-dispensing / return display unit 330, a left performance selection button 331, a right performance selection button 332, a vibration motor 424, a pressure detection sensor 440, a door frame-side performance display device 460 (liquid crystal display device 461), an upper speaker 573, etc., and the door frame relay board 911 of the circuit board unit 900 in the main frame 4.

[0080] [3-1a. Door frame base] The door frame base 110 of the door frame base unit 100 in the door frame 3 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 31 to 33. The door frame base 110 has an outer shape that extends vertically when viewed from the front, forming a rectangle. The door frame base 110 has a through-hole 111 that penetrates from front to back, and the inner circumference of the through-hole 111, when viewed from the front, is formed as a roughly rectangular shape that extends vertically. The upper and left and right sides of the through-hole 111, which form the inner circumference, are close to the outer perimeter of the door frame base 110, respectively, and the lower side, which forms the inner circumference, is located at a height of approximately 1 / 3 of the height in the vertical direction from the lower end of the door frame base 110. Therefore, the entire door frame base 110 is formed in a frame shape by the through-hole 111 that penetrates from front to back. This door frame base 110 is integrally molded from synthetic resin.

[0081] The door frame base 110 includes a handle mounting surface 112 formed at the lower right corner of the front view and inclined so that the left end protrudes slightly forward compared to the right end; a cylinder mounting portion 113 recessed from the rear towards the front near the right end of the front view between the handle mounting surface 112 and the through-hole 111, to which the cylinder mounting plate 213 of the opening / closing cylinder unit 210 is attached; a cylinder insertion hole 114 that penetrates the cylinder mounting portion 113 from front to back and through which the cylinder lock 211 of the opening / closing cylinder unit 210 is inserted; and a ball feeding opening 115 that penetrates the cylinder insertion hole 114 and the left side of the handle mounting surface 112 in the front view and faces forward to allow the entry port 251a and ball removal port 251b of the ball feeding unit 250 to face forward.

[0082] Furthermore, the door frame base 110 includes a lower tray passage 116 located slightly to the left of the left-right center of the door frame base 110 and extending forward at approximately the same height as the handle mounting surface 112, allowing the ball discharge port 276 of the foul cover unit 270 to face forward; an upper tray passage 117 located near the left end of the door frame base 110 in a front view, adjacent to the lower edge of the passage 111, extending forward and allowing the ball passage 273 of the foul cover unit 270 to face forward; a glass unit mounting portion 118 recessed from the rear to the front along the inner circumference of the passage 111, into which the glass frame 191 of the glass unit 190 is inserted; and speaker insertion ports 119 located at both the left and right upper corners of the door frame base 110, extending forward and backward, through which the rear end of the upper speaker 573 of the door frame top unit 570 is inserted.

[0083] [3-1b. Reinforcement Unit] The reinforcing unit 130 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 31 and 33, etc. The reinforcing unit 130 is attached to the rear side of the door frame base 110, thereby reinforcing the door frame base 110 and increasing the strength and rigidity of the door frame base 110 (door frame 3). The reinforcing unit 130 includes an upper reinforcing plate 131 extending left and right and attached along the upper edge of the rear surface of the door frame base 110, a middle reinforcing plate 132 extending left and right and attached below the through-hole 111 on the rear surface of the door frame base 110, a left reinforcing plate 133 extending up and down and attached along the left edge of the front view of the rear surface of the door frame base 110, a right reinforcing plate 134 extending up and down and attached along the right edge of the front view of the rear surface of the door frame base 110, and a locking locking part 135 attached to the rear surface of the right reinforcing plate 134, into which the door frame hook 702 of the locking unit 700 is engaged.

[0084] The reinforcement unit 130 is formed in a frame shape by the upper reinforcement sheet metal 131, with both the left and right ends of the upper reinforcement sheet metal 131 connected and fixed to the upper ends of the left reinforcement sheet metal 133 and the right reinforcement sheet metal 134, respectively, with screws. The left end of the middle reinforcement sheet metal 132 is connected and fixed to the left reinforcement sheet metal 133 with screws. The right end of the middle reinforcement sheet metal 132 is connected and fixed to the right reinforcement sheet metal 134 via the cylinder mounting sheet metal 213 of the opening / closing cylinder unit 210, which will be described later. Thus, the reinforcement unit 130 is formed in a frame shape by the upper reinforcement sheet metal 131, the middle reinforcement sheet metal 132, the left reinforcement sheet metal 133, and the right reinforcement sheet metal 134, etc.

[0085] The upper reinforcing plate 131, middle reinforcing plate 132, left reinforcing plate 133, right reinforcing plate 134, and locking mechanism 135 of the reinforcing unit 130 are each formed by appropriately bending metal plates. The middle reinforcing plate 132 has a notch 132a that penetrates from front to back at a position corresponding to the pass-through opening 117 for the upper tray of the door frame base 110.

[0086] Although detailed illustrations are omitted, the reinforcing unit 130 has a portion that is bent in the front-rear direction in each of the upper reinforcing sheet metal 131, middle reinforcing sheet metal 132, left reinforcing sheet metal 133, and right reinforcing sheet metal 134. This portion increases the strength and rigidity of the unit and prevents the intrusion of unauthorized tools such as piano wire or flathead screwdrivers from the outside.

[0087] [3-1c. Upper hinge component on the door frame side] The door frame side upper hinge member 140 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 31 to 33, etc. The door frame side upper hinge member 140 comprises a door frame upper hinge shaft bracket 141 attached to the door frame base 110 and having a pair of vertically spaced protruding pieces 141a; a cylindrical door frame upper hinge pin 142 that penetrates the pair of protruding pieces 141a of the door frame upper hinge shaft bracket 141 and whose upper end is inserted into the door frame upper hinge hole 623 of the main frame side upper hinge member 620; a disc-shaped flange member 143 attached to the door frame upper hinge pin 142 at a position between the pair of protruding pieces 141a; and a lock spring 144 interposed between the flange member 143 and the lower protruding piece 141a of the pair of protruding pieces 141a, through which the door frame upper hinge pin 142 is inserted, biasing the door frame upper hinge pin 142 upward.

[0088] The door frame upper hinge shaft bracket 141, although not shown in the figure, has a flat mounting piece that connects the rear ends of a pair of protruding pieces 141a, and its side view is formed in a U-shape that opens forward. The mounting piece connecting the pair of protruding pieces 141a of the door frame upper hinge shaft bracket 141 is attached to the rear surface of the door frame base 110 by screws.

[0089] The hinge pin 142 on the door frame is inserted rotatably into the upper hinge hole 623 for the door frame of the upper hinge member 620 on the main body frame side at a part (upper end) protruding above the upper protruding piece 141a. Also, although not shown in the figure, a part of the hinge pin 142 on the door frame protruding below the lower protruding piece 141a is bent in the horizontal direction. By this bent part abutting against the lower surface of the lower protruding piece 141a, upward movement of the hinge pin 142 on the door frame is restricted.

[0090] The flange member 143 is an E-ring and is inserted and held in a groove formed on the outer periphery of the hinge pin 142 on the door frame. The lock spring 144 is a coil spring through which the hinge pin 142 on the door frame can be inserted. The upper end abuts against the flange member 143 and the lower end abuts against the lower protruding piece 141a. This lock spring 144 is interposed in a compressed state between the flange member 143 and the lower protruding piece 141a, and biases the hinge pin 142 on the door frame upward through the flange member 143.

[0091] The upper hinge member 140 on the door frame side is in a state where the hinge pin 142 on the door frame is biased upward by the lock spring 144. By the horizontally bent part at the lower end of the hinge pin 142 on the door frame abutting against the lower surface of the lower protruding piece 141a, further upward movement is restricted. In this state, the upper end of the hinge pin 142 on the door frame protrudes a predetermined amount above the upper surface of the upper protruding piece 14l a.

[0092] The door frame side upper hinge member 140 can be moved downward as a whole by an operator holding the horizontally bent portion at the lower end of the door frame upper hinge pin 142 and pulling that portion downward against the biasing force of the lock spring 144, thereby allowing the upper end of the door frame upper hinge pin 142 to be retracted below the upper surface of the upper protruding piece 141a. Therefore, the door frame side upper hinge member 140 can be inserted into or removed from the door frame upper hinge hole 623 of the main frame side upper hinge member 620 from below. This allows the upper end of the door frame upper hinge pin 142 of the door frame upper hinge member 140 to be inserted into the door frame upper hinge hole 623 of the main frame upper hinge member 620, thereby supporting the upper left end of the door frame 3 in a hinge-rotatable manner relative to the main frame 4.

[0093] Furthermore, the portion of the door frame side upper hinge member 140 that is supported by a pair of protruding pieces 141a of the door frame upper hinge shaft bracket 141 on the door frame upper hinge pin 142 is supported coaxially with the door frame lower hinge pin 152 of the door frame lower hinge member 150, which will be described later. As a result, the door frame 3 can be hinged and rotated relative to the main frame 4 in a good manner by the door frame side upper hinge member 140 and the door frame side lower hinge member 150.

[0094] [3-1d. Lower hinge component on the door frame side] The lower hinge member 150 on the door frame side of the door frame base unit 100 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 31 and 32. The lower hinge member 150 on the door frame side comprises a lower hinge shaft bracket 151 which is attached to the door frame base 110 and has a flat extension piece 151a extending forward, and a cylindrical lower hinge pin 152 (see Figures 21 and 22) which protrudes downward from near the front end of the extension piece 151a on the lower hinge shaft bracket.

[0095] The lower hinge shaft bracket 151 of the door frame has a flat mounting piece (not shown) extending upward from the rear end of a horizontally extending flat extension piece 151a, and its overall shape in side view is roughly L-shaped. The mounting piece (not shown) of this lower hinge shaft bracket 151 is attached to the rear surface of the door frame base 110 by screws.

[0096] The lower hinge pin 152 of the door frame is formed in the shape of a truncated cone, with its lower end narrowing as it approaches the bottom. This lower hinge pin 152 is rotatably inserted from above into the hinge hole 644 for the door frame of the lower hinge member 640 on the main frame side of the main frame 4, which will be described later. The lower hinge pin 152 of the door frame is arranged coaxially with the upper hinge pin 142 of the upper hinge member 140 on the door frame side.

[0097] The lower hinge member 150 on the door frame side allows the door frame 3 to be hinged and rotatable relative to the main frame 4 by inserting the lower hinge pin 152 of the lower hinge member 640 on the main frame side into the hinge hole 644 for the door frame.

[0098] [3-1e. Decorative base plate on the left side of the door frame] The decorative base plate 160 on the left side of the door frame of the door frame base unit 100 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 31 and 32. The decorative base plate 160 on the left side of the through-hole 111 in a front view, on the front surface of the door frame base 110. The decorative base plate 160 on the left side of the door frame comprises an upper decorative base plate 161 that extends vertically from a height below the speaker insertion opening 119 on the left side of the door frame base 110 in a front view to a height near the center of the through-hole 111 in the vertical direction, and a lower decorative base plate 162 that extends vertically from a height below the upper decorative base plate 161 to approximately the same height as the lower end of the upper tray passage opening 117.

[0099] The upper left side decorative substrate 161 and the lower left side decorative substrate 162 of the left side decorative substrate 160 of the door frame are each equipped with multiple LEDs 161a and 162a on their front surfaces, capable of emitting light forward. These LEDs 161a and 162a are full-color LEDs.

[0100] The door frame left side decorative substrate 160 is located behind the door frame left side unit 530 (described later) when the door frame 3 is assembled. By appropriately illuminating the multiple LEDs 161a and 162a provided (mounted) on its front, the left unit decorative lens member of the door frame left side unit 530 can be illuminated.

[0101] [3-1f. Glass Unit Mounting Components] The glass unit mounting member 170 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figure 31(b), etc. The glass unit mounting member 170 is rotatably mounted on the rear side of the door frame base 110 and is for attaching and detaching the glass unit 190. The glass unit mounting member 170 has a disc-shaped base portion 171 that is rotatably mounted on the rear side of the door frame base 110 around an axis extending in the front-rear direction, and a rod-shaped projection portion 172 that protrudes from the base portion 171 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

[0102] The glass unit mounting members 170 are rotatably mounted on the rear surface of the door frame base 110, below the pair of speaker insertion openings 119, and in a location outside the glass unit mounting portion 118.

[0103] By rotating the glass unit mounting member 170 so that the protruding portion 172 protrudes upward from the base portion 171, the protruding portion 172 is positioned outside the glass unit mounting portion 118 of the door frame base 110 when viewed from the rear, allowing the glass unit 190 to be inserted into the glass unit mounting portion 118 of the door frame base 110 or removed from the glass unit mounting portion 118.

[0104] When the glass unit mounting member 170 is rotated with the glass unit 190 inserted into the glass unit mounting portion 118 of the door frame base 110, the protruding portion 172 protrudes downward from the base portion 171. This causes the protruding portion 172 to contact the rear side of the mounting piece 191a of the glass unit 190, restricting the rearward movement of the upper part of the glass unit 190, thereby enabling the glass unit 190 to be attached to the door frame base 110.

[0105] The glass unit mounting member 170 has a protruding portion 172 that protrudes from a disc-shaped base 171 that is rotatably attached to the door frame base 110, so the center of gravity of the glass unit mounting member 170 is located within the protruding portion 172. Therefore, when the glass unit mounting member 170 is in a state where it can rotate freely, it is stable with the protruding portion 172 protruding downward from the base 171. Furthermore, the glass unit mounting member 170 is designed so that when the protruding portion 172 is in the rotational position where it protrudes downward from the base 171, the protruding portion 172 restricts the backward movement of the glass unit 190. Therefore, even if vibrations or other forces act on the glass unit mounting member 170, the entire unit will not rotate so that the protruding portion 172 protrudes upward from the base 171, and the restriction on the backward movement of the glass unit 190 will not be released naturally.

[0106] Furthermore, when removing the glass unit 190 from the door frame base 110, the glass unit mounting member 170 is rotated so that the protruding portion 172 protrudes upward from the base portion 171, and the protruding portion 172 is moved outward from the mounting piece 191a of the glass unit 190. This allows the upper side of the glass unit 190 to be moved backward, and the glass unit 190 can be removed from the door frame base 110.

[0107] [3-1g. Handle mounting component] The handle mounting member 180 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 31 to 33. The handle mounting member 180 is for attaching the handle unit 300 to the front surface of the door frame base 110. As shown in Figures 32 and 33, the handle mounting member 180 comprises a cylindrical tube portion 181 extending in the front-rear direction, an annular flange portion 182 extending outward from the rear end of the tube portion 181 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the tube portion 181, a plurality of protrusions 183 (three in this example) that protrude into the tube portion 181 and extend along the entire axial length of the tube portion 181 and are arranged at unequal intervals with respect to the circumferential direction of the tube portion 181, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 184 that connect the outer surface of the tube portion 181 and the front surface of the flange portion 182 and are arranged in the circumferential direction of the tube portion 181.

[0108] The handle mounting member 180 is attached to the handle mounting seat 112 of the door frame base 110 by screws, with the rear surface of the flange portion 182 in contact with the front surface of the handle mounting seat 112 of the door frame base 110.

[0109] The cylindrical portion 181 is formed with an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the base portion 301a of the handle base 301 in the handle unit 300. Three protrusions 183 are provided, one on the upper side inside the cylindrical portion 181 and the other two on the lower side inside the cylindrical portion 181. These three protrusions 183 are formed in positions corresponding to the three groove portions 301c in the handle base 301. Therefore, the handle mounting member 180 can only insert the base portion 301a of the handle base 301 into the cylindrical portion 181 when the three protrusions 183 and the three groove portions 301c of the handle base 301 are aligned, thereby restricting the rotational position of the handle base 301 (handle unit 300) relative to the door frame base 110.

[0110] Note that since the axis of the cylindrical portion 181 extends perpendicularly with respect to the rear surface of the flange portion 182, the handle attachment member 180 can be attached to the inclined handle attachment seat surface 112 of the door frame base 110, so that the axis of the cylindrical portion 181 is inclined so as to extend right forward, and the handle unit 300 can be attached to the door frame base 110 in a similarly inclined state.

[0111] [3-1h. Glass unit] The glass unit 190 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 31 to 33 and the like. The glass unit 190 closes the through-hole 111 of the door frame base 110 so that the front to the rear can be visually recognized. The glass unit 190 includes a frame-shaped glass frame 191 that can be attached to the glass unit attachment portion 118 and is larger than the inner peripheral shape of the through-hole 111 of the door frame base 110, and two transparent glass plates 192 that close the inside of the frame of the glass frame 191 and whose outer peripheries are attached to the glass frame 191. The two glass plates 192 are respectively attached to the front end side and the rear end side of the glass frame 191, and are spaced apart front and rear so that a space is formed between them (see FIG. 26 and the like).

[0112] The glass frame 191 has a pair of attachment pieces 191a that extend outward in a flat plate shape from positions below the upper left and right corners in a front view, and a strip-shaped locking piece 191b that protrudes downward from the lower end and extends along the lower side. The attachment piece 191a of the glass frame 191 can be brought into contact with the protruding portion 172 of the glass unit attachment member 170. The locking piece 191b can be inserted into the space between the door frame base 110 and the middle reinforcing sheet metal 132 of the reinforcing unit 130 (see FIG. 26).

[0113] The glass unit 190 is attached to the door frame base 110 by inserting the locking piece 191b of the glass frame 191 from above into the gap between the door frame base 110 and the reinforcing sheet metal 132 of the reinforcing unit 130 from the rear side of the door frame base 110, bringing the front end of the glass frame 191 into contact with the rear surface of the glass unit mounting portion 118 of the door frame base 110, and rotating the glass unit mounting member 170 so that the protruding portion 172 of the glass unit mounting member 170 comes into contact with the rear surface of the mounting piece 191a of the glass frame 191.

[0114] To remove the glass unit 190 from the door frame base 110, the procedure can be reversed from the one described above. This makes the glass unit 190 detachable from the door frame base 110.

[0115] [3-1i. Anti-theft cover] The security cover 200 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 31 to 33. The security cover 200 is attached to the rear side of the door frame base 110 so as to cover the lower rear surface of the glass unit 190, and is made of transparent synthetic resin. The security cover 200 comprises a flat main body portion 201 with an outer circumference formed in a predetermined shape, a flat rear projection 202 that protrudes a short distance to the rear along the outer edge of the main body portion 201, and a pair of locking pieces 203 that are spaced apart on the left and right, protrude forward of the main body portion 201, and can be locked to the rear side of the door frame base 110.

[0116] The main body 201 of the security cover 200 is formed such that, when attached to the door frame base 110, its lower end protrudes below the lower end of the glass unit 190. Furthermore, the upper end of the main body 201 is shaped to follow the lower end of the game area 5a on the game board 5 when assembled to the pachinko machine 1. More specifically, the upper end of the main body 201 is shaped to follow a part of the inner rail 1002, the out guide section 1003, a part of the lower right rail 1004, and the right rail 1005 of the preceding component 1000, which will be described later, and is shaped so as not to protrude into the game area 5a when assembled to the pachinko machine 1.

[0117] The rear projection 202 is formed over almost the entire circumference of the outer edge of the main body 201. Therefore, the security cover 200 is formed in a shallow box shape that is open to the rear by the main body 201 and the rear projection 202, resulting in high strength and rigidity. In addition, as shown in Figure 33, the rear projection 202 also protrudes rearward from a part of the rear surface of the main body 201 that is different from the outer edge of the main body 201. This rear projection 202 that protrudes rearward from a part of the rear surface of the main body 201 is formed to be aligned with a part of the outer rail 1001 of the front component member 1000 of the game board 5 when assembled in the pachinko machine 1.

[0118] Furthermore, the rear projection 202 is not formed in the portion of the game board 5 located between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002 when assembled to the pachinko machine 1. As a result, the game balls (game balls launched by the ball launching device 680) passing between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002 do not come into contact with the rear projection 202 of the security cover 200, and the entry of game balls into the game area 5a is not obstructed.

[0119] A pair of locking pieces 203 are elastically locked to the rear side of the door frame base 110. This allows the security cover 200 to be easily attached to and detached from the door frame base 110.

[0120] When assembled to the pachinko machine 1, the security cover 200 has a front surface of the main body 201 that abuts against the rear surface of the glass unit 190 (the rear end of the glass frame 191), and the rear projection 202, excluding the portion that protrudes rearward from the lower edge of the main body 201, is inserted into the security recess 1008 of the front component 1000, which will be described later. In addition, the security cover 200 has a rear projection 202 that protrudes rearward from the lower edge of the main body 201 that protrudes further rearward than the front surface of the front component 1000, so as to contact the lower surface of the front component 1000. As a result, the space between the security cover 200 and the game board 5 (front component 1000) is intricately bent by the rear projection 202 of the security cover 200 and the security recess 1008 of the front component 1000. Therefore, even if someone tries to insert an illegal tool such as piano wire into the game area 5a from the lower front of the game board 5 through the space between the security cover 200 and the front component 1000, it will be blocked by the rear projection 202 and the security recess 1008, thus preventing the illegal tool from entering the game area 5a.

[0121] [3-1j. Opening / Closing Cylinder Unit] The opening / closing cylinder unit 210 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described mainly with reference to Figures 31 to 33, etc. The opening / closing cylinder unit 210 is attached from the rear to the cylinder mounting portion 113 located near the right end of the door frame base 110 in a front view, between the through-hole 111 and the handle mounting seat surface 112. It works in cooperation with the locking unit 700, which will be described later, to open and close the door frame 3 and the main frame 4, and to open and close the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4.

[0122] The opening / closing cylinder unit 210 includes a cylindrical cylinder lock 211 extending forward and backward and having a keyhole 211a on its front surface, a rotation transmission member 212 attached to the rear end of the cylinder lock 211 that transmits the rotational operation of the key inserted into the keyhole 211a to the key cylinder 710 of the locking unit 700, and a cylinder mounting plate 213 that attaches the cylinder lock 211 to the door frame base 110 (reinforcement unit 130).

[0123] The cylinder lock 211 allows the key to be rotated by inserting the corresponding key (not shown in the figure) into the keyhole 211a. With the correct key, the lock can be rotated by a predetermined angle in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction when viewed from the front.

[0124] The rotation transmission member 212 is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open rear (more specifically, a conical shape with a diameter that increases towards the rear), and has a pair of notches 212a that are cut out from the rear end toward the front at positions opposite each other on the central axis. This rotation transmission member 212 is formed so that the key cylinder 710 of the locking unit 700 in the main frame 4 is inserted from the rear, and when the projection of the key cylinder 710 of the locking unit 700 is inserted into the pair of notches 212a, the rotation of the rotation transmission member 212 (the key inserted into the keyhole 211a of the cylinder lock 211) is transmitted to the key cylinder 710 of the locking unit 700, causing the key cylinder 710 to rotate.

[0125] The cylinder mounting plate 213 is formed by bending a single metal plate, and its shape in plan view is a convex shape that protrudes forward. More specifically, the cylinder mounting plate 213 comprises a rectangular, flat front plate portion 213a that extends vertically in a front view, a pair of side plate portions 213b that extend flatly to the rear from both the left and right sides of the front plate portion 213a, and a pair of mounting plate portions 213c that extend flatly from the rear edges of each of the pair of side plate portions 213b in a direction away from each other. The cylinder lock 211 passes through the front plate portion 213a of the cylinder mounting plate 213 from the rear at a position approximately in the vertical center, and the rear end of the cylinder lock 211 is attached to the rear surface of the front plate portion 213a. The pair of mounting plate portions 213c of the cylinder mounting plate 213 are such that the left mounting plate portion 213c in a front view is attached to the right end of the central reinforcing plate 132 of the reinforcing unit 130, and the right mounting plate portion 213c in a front view is attached to the right reinforcing plate 134 of the reinforcing unit 130. In this way, the cylinder mounting plate 213 connects the central reinforcing plate 132 and the right reinforcing plate 134 of the reinforcing unit 130.

[0126] When assembled to the door frame base unit 100, the opening / closing cylinder unit 210 has a cylinder lock 211 that protrudes forward from the front plate portion 213a of the cylinder mounting plate 213, which is inserted into the cylinder insertion hole 114 from the rear side of the door frame base 110 and protrudes forward from the door frame base 110. The front plate portion 213a and a pair of side plate portions 213b of the cylinder mounting plate 213 are housed in a box-shaped cylinder mounting portion 113 that is open to the rear.

[0127] [3-4. Overall configuration of the production control unit] The overall configuration of the performance control unit 400 in the door frame 3 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 34 to 41. Figure 34(a) is a front view of the performance control unit in the door frame, and (b) is a right side view of the performance control unit. Figure 35(a) is a perspective view of the performance control unit from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the performance control unit from the rear. Figure 36 is an explanatory diagram of the performance control unit viewed from the direction in which the central axis of the control buttons extends. Figure 37 is a cross-sectional view taken along the DD line in Figure 34(a), and Figure 38 is a cross-sectional view taken along the EE line in Figure 34(b). Figure 39(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the FF line in Figure 34(b), and (b) is an enlarged view of part A in (a). Figure 40 is an exploded perspective view taken from the front with the performance control unit disassembled into its main components, and Figure 41 is an exploded perspective view taken from the rear with the performance control unit disassembled into its main components. The performance control unit 400 is attached to the front of the center of the plate unit 320 in a front view, and can be operated by pressing it, as well as displaying performance images to the player.

[0128] The performance control unit 400 includes an operation button 410 that is circular in shape with a transparent central portion excluding the outer edge and can be pressed by a player; a frame-shaped frame unit 415 that surrounds the outer edge of the operation button 410 and is attached to the performance control unit mounting portion 326a of the tray unit cover 326; a decorative substrate unit 420 that is positioned behind the operation button 410 and can illuminate the outer edge of the operation button 410 and the frame unit 415; a base unit 430 that is attached to the rear of the frame unit 415 and has the operation button 410 and the decorative substrate unit 420 attached to its front; and a door frame side performance display device 460 that is attached to the base unit 430 so that it can be seen by the player through the operation button 410 and can display performance images.

[0129] [3-4a. Operation Buttons] The operation button 410 of the performance control unit 400 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 39 to 42. Figure 42(a) is an exploded perspective view of the operation button as seen from the front, and (b) is an exploded perspective view of the operation button as seen from the rear. The operation button 410 is formed in a circular shape with a diameter slightly smaller than the vertical height of the dish unit 320, and the central part, excluding the outer edge, is made transparent. The operation button 410 comprises a transparent button lens 411 with a circular outer edge and a curved surface (shape of a part of a sphere) that bulges forward towards the center, an annular button frame 412 attached to the front of the outer edge of the button lens 411, and a cylindrical button base 413 attached to the rear of the button frame 412 so as to sandwich the outer edge of the button lens 411. The button frame 412 and the button base 413 are made of a material that does not easily transmit light.

[0130] The button lens 411 is formed to have a substantially uniform thickness throughout. The surface of the button lens 411 is formed to be a smooth, curved surface without any irregularities. The button lens 411 includes a first button decorative part 411a that extends from the back surface inwards (inwards) for a predetermined length in a W-shaped cross-section recess and is arranged in a row in the circumferential direction, located on the inner circumference side of the button frame 412, and a plurality (six) of second button decorative parts 411b that extend from the back surface inwards on an axis toward the center in a circular arc-shaped cross-section recess and is arranged in a row within a predetermined angular range in the circumferential direction, located on the outer circumference side of the first button decorative part 411a.

[0131] As shown in the figure, when assembled to the operation button 410, the first button decorative portion 411a of the button lens 411 extends from the inner circumference of the button frame 412 toward the center, with the groups on the left and right sides extending longer toward the center than the groups on the top and bottom sides.

[0132] The multiple second button decorative parts 411b of the button lens 411 each extend in an arc shape on the same circumference, with three formed on each of the left and right sides. These second button decorative parts 411b are formed to face the frame opening 412a of the button frame 412, and protrude forward so that their front sides are substantially flush with the front surface of the button frame 412.

[0133] The button lens 411 exhibits a lens effect due to the refraction of light caused by the W-shaped or arc-shaped cross-sections of the irregularities formed on the back surface of the first button decorative part 411a and the second button decorative part 411b, so that the rear side is not clearly visible.

[0134] The button frame 412 is formed in an annular shape and has multiple (six) frame openings 412a that penetrate in the front-to-back direction and extend in an arc shape for a predetermined length in the circumferential direction. There are three frame openings 412a on each of the left and right sides, and they correspond to the six second button decorative parts 411b of the button lens 411. The button frame 412 has a plated layer on its surface that has a metallic luster.

[0135] The button base 413 comprises a roughly cylindrical main body portion 413a that extends short in the front-rear direction, an annular flange portion 413b that protrudes outward from the front end of the main body portion 413a, multiple (four) guide boss portions 413c that protrude cylindrically rearward from the rear side of the flange portion 413b along the outer circumference of the main body portion 413a and are arranged at roughly equal intervals in the circumferential direction, multiple (three) detection pieces 413d that protrude in a strip-like shape rearward from the rear side of the flange portion 413b along the outer circumference of the main body portion 413a and are arranged in the circumferential direction, a base opening 413e that is outside the main body portion 413a, penetrates the flange portion 413b in the front-rear direction, extends along the outer circumference for a predetermined length and is formed in multiple (six) locations in the circumferential direction, and an inner extension portion 413f that extends cylindrically forward from the front end of the main body portion 413a and whose front end side narrows inward (towards the center) so as to follow the inner surface of the button lens 411.

[0136] The outer edge of the button lens 411 and the button frame 412 are attached to the outer circumferential surface of the inner extension 413f and the front surface of the flange portion 413b of the button base 413. The four guide boss portions 413c are positioned at the four corners (top, bottom, left, and right) of the main body portion 413a in the circumferential direction. These four guide boss portions 413c are slidably inserted into the holding holes 431b of the unit base 431 of the base unit 430. The three detection pieces 413d are arranged at approximately equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the main body portion 413a, with two on the upper side and one on the lower side. When the operation button 410 is pressed, these three detection pieces 413d are detected by the press detection sensor 440 of the base unit 430.

[0137] The six base openings 413e are provided in three on each side, and correspond to the second button decorative portion 411b of the button lens 411 and the frame opening 412a of the button frame 412. In the base opening 413e portion of the button base 413, the main body portion 413a and a part of the inner extension portion 413f are recessed inward from the outer circumference. The inner diameter of the front end of the inner extension portion 413f, which narrows inward, is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the button frame 412.

[0138] The operation button 410 has a front surface that bulges forward in a curved shape (partially spherical in shape) and is made of transparent material, allowing the display screen of the door frame side display device 460 located at the rear to be visible from the front. The operation button 410 has four guide bosses 413c that are slidably inserted into the retaining holes 431b of the unit base 431 in the base unit 430, and is biased forward by an operation button spring 438 inserted into the retaining holes 431b of the unit base 431. The operation button 410 is restricted from moving further forward by the biasing force of the operation button spring 438 in the base unit 430, which causes the front side of its outer edge to abut against the frame unit 415. By pressing against the biasing force of the operation button spring 438, the operation button 410 moves backward until its rear end abuts against the front surface of the base unit 430. When the operation button 410 is pressed and moved backward, at least one of the three detection pieces 413d is detected by the press detection sensor 440 of the base unit 430. The detection of the detection piece 413d by the press detection sensor 440 indicates that the operation button 410 has been operated.

[0139] Furthermore, when the performance control unit 400 is assembled, the operation button 410 has a first button decorative part 411a that extends around its entire circumference from the inner edge of the button frame 412 in the transparent button lens 411 toward the center, which makes the gap between the inner surface of the button base 413 and the operation button interior decorative member 432 of the base unit 430 less visible to the player.

[0140] Furthermore, the operating button 410 closes the front end opening of the cylindrical button base 413 with a button lens 411 and a button frame 412. The button frame 412, which is attached to the outer edge of the button lens 411, creates a transparent portion of the operating button 410 that allows the rear to be seen, and it narrows inward from the outer edge. The presence of this button frame 412 also makes the gap between the inner surface of the button base 413 and the decorative member 432 inside the operating button of the base unit 430 difficult for the player to see.

[0141] Furthermore, when the operation button 410 is assembled to the performance operation unit 400, the rear end of the cylindrical button base 413 (main body 413a) protrudes behind the front of the decorative circuit board unit 420 through the inner circumference of the decorative circuit board unit 420. This prevents light emitted forward from the first LEDs 422a, 423a and the second LEDs 422b, 423b mounted on the left outer decorative circuit board 422 and the right outer decorative circuit board 423 of the decorative circuit board unit 420 from leaking from the outside to the inside of the button base 413, and also prevents light emitted forward from the LEDs mounted on the left inner decorative circuit board 433, the right inner decorative circuit board 434, the upper inner decorative circuit board 435, and the lower inner decorative circuit board 436 of the base unit 430 from leaking from the inside to the outside of the button base 413. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the LEDs mounted on the first LEDs 422a, 423a and the second LEDs 422b, 423b of the decorative substrate unit 420, and on the left interior decorative substrate 433, right interior decorative substrate 434, upper interior decorative substrate 435, and lower interior decorative substrate 436 of the base unit 430 from illuminating areas other than those targeted for illumination decoration, thereby enabling aesthetically pleasing illumination decoration.

[0142] [3-4b. Frame Unit] The frame unit 415 of the performance control unit 400 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 39 to 41. The frame unit 415 is attached from the front to the performance control unit mounting portion 326a of the plate unit cover 326 of the plate unit 320, surrounding the outer circumference from the front side of the operation button 410, and decorating the outside of the operation button 410. The outer shape of the frame unit 415 is formed to match the front end side of the performance control unit mounting portion 326a.

[0143] The frame unit 415 includes a frame-shaped frame body 416 having a circular central opening 416a and attached to the performance operation unit mounting portion 326a of the plate unit cover 326 of the plate unit 320, a pair of translucent frame side lenses 417 attached to the frame body 416 from the rear on both the left and right sides of the central opening 416a, and a translucent frame top lens 418 attached to the frame body 416 from the front above the central opening 416a.

[0144] The frame body 416 includes a circular central opening 416a that is smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the operation button 410 and penetrates from front to back, a plurality (six) of outer peripheral openings 416b that are located on both the left and right sides of the central opening 416a, penetrate from front to back, and extend in an arc shape along the periphery of the central opening 416a, arranged in a row in the circumferential direction, and a notch 416c that is cut out to a predetermined width on the upper front surface of the central opening 416a. The central opening 416a is formed to be approximately the same size as the outer diameter of the frame opening 412a of the button frame 412 of the operation button 410. This allows the front end of the flange portion 413b of the button base 413 of the operation button 410 to abut against the rear outer peripheral side of the frame opening 412a.

[0145] The six outer peripheral openings 416b are located three on each side of the central opening 416a, and are closed from the rear by the frame side lenses 417. The notch 416c also penetrates in the front-to-back direction, and the frame top lens 418 is fitted into it from the front.

[0146] Furthermore, the frame body 416 is provided with a roughly cylindrical inner cylindrical portion 416d that extends rearward from a position slightly outside the periphery of the central opening 416a. The inner cylindrical portion 416d extends rearward from a position between the central opening 416a and the outer peripheral opening 416b, and is notched in a portion corresponding to the notch 416c. When the performance operation unit 400 is assembled, the inner cylindrical portion 416d is located between the first LEDs 422a, 423a and the second LEDs 422b, 423b, respectively, on the left outer decorative board 422 and the right outer decorative board 423 of the decorative board unit 420, and separates the first LEDs 422a, 423a from the second LEDs 422b, 423b (see Figure 38).

[0147] Furthermore, the frame body 416 extends outward from the upper left and right sides of its outer circumference and is equipped with a pair of mounting parts 416e that are attached to the performance control unit mounting part 326a of the plate unit cover 326 of the plate unit 320. The frame body 416 (performance control unit 400) has the pair of mounting parts 416e and the left and right sides of the notch 416c attached to the performance control unit mounting part 326a of the plate unit cover 326 of the plate unit 320.

[0148] The frame body 416 has a metallic plating layer formed on almost its entire surface, except for a portion the same width as the notch 416c on the side opposite to the notch 416c (the side to which the frame top lens 418 is attached), with the central opening 416a in between.

[0149] The frame side lenses 417 close the outer peripheral openings 416b, three on each side of the frame body 416, from the rear. The front surface of the frame side lenses 417 is formed as a smooth surface without irregularities, while the rear surface has multiple irregularities along the periphery of the central opening 416a (see Figures 39 and 46). Light is refracted by these multiple irregularities, preventing the rear of the frame side lenses 417 from being seen.

[0150] The frame top lens 418 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape so that it fits into the notch 416c of the frame body 416 from the front. The front side of the frame top lens 418 is smoothly formed. In addition, the rear side of the frame top lens 418 has multiple rows of zigzag-shaped protrusions extending along the periphery of the central opening 416a in the radial direction of the central opening 416a (see Figures 37 and 46). Light is refracted by these multiple protrusions, so that the rear side of the frame top lens 418 is not visible.

[0151] In the assembled state of the performance operation unit 400, the frame unit 415 has a pair of frame side lenses 417 positioned in front of the second LEDs 422b and 423b on the left outer decorative board 422 and the right outer decorative board 423 of the decorative board unit 420, respectively, and the frame top lens 418 is positioned in front of the frame top lens decorative board 437 of the base unit 430, and each of them can be illuminated and decorated by the second LEDs 422b and 423b mounted on them.

[0152] [3-4c. Decorative circuit board unit] The decorative circuit board unit 420 of the performance control unit 400 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 39 to 43. Figure 43 is an exploded perspective view of the decorative circuit board unit of the performance control unit, disassembled and viewed from the front. The decorative circuit board unit 420 is mounted on the front of the base unit 430 below the frame unit 415, and can illuminate and decorate the second button decorative part 411b of the operation button 410 and the frame side lens 417 of the frame unit 415, as well as provide vibration to the performance control unit 400.

[0153] The decorative circuit board unit 420 comprises a C-shaped circuit board base 421 with an open top, a left and right exterior decorative circuit board 422 and a right exterior decorative circuit board 423 attached to the left and right front sides of the circuit board base 421, respectively, a vibration motor 424 attached to the lower front of the circuit board base 421, and a motor cover 425 attached to the front of the circuit board base 421 so as to cover the front of the vibration motor 424.

[0154] The substrate base 421 is formed such that its inner circumference is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical body portion 413a of the button base 413 of the operation button 410, while its outer circumference is larger than the outer diameter of the flange portion 413b of the button base 413 and smaller than the outer diameter of the frame unit 415.

[0155] The left external decorative circuit board 422 of the operation button extends in an arc shape along the front surface of the circuit board base 421. The left external decorative circuit board 422 of the operation button has a plurality of first LEDs 422a mounted on its front side along the inner circumference of the circuit board base 421, and a plurality of second LEDs 422b mounted radially outward from the plurality of first LEDs 422a along the inner circumference of the circuit board base 421. The right external decorative circuit board 423 of the operation button extends in an arc shape along the front surface of the circuit board base 421. The right external decorative circuit board 423 of the operation button has a plurality of first LEDs 423a mounted on its front side along the inner circumference of the circuit board base 421, and a plurality of second LEDs 423b mounted radially outward from the plurality of first LEDs 423a along the inner circumference of the circuit board base 421. Both the front and rear surfaces of these left external decorative circuit boards 422 and right external decorative circuit boards 423 of the operation button are white.

[0156] The vibration motor 424 has an eccentric weight 424a attached to its rotating shaft, and vibration can be generated by rotating this weight 424a.

[0157] When assembled to the performance operation unit 400, the decorative circuit board unit 420 has the rear end of the cylindrical main body portion 413a of the button base 413 of the operation button 410 inserted inside the circuit board base 421. In addition, the decorative circuit board unit 420 has the first LEDs 422a and 423a of the left outer decorative circuit board 422 and the right outer decorative circuit board 423 of the operation button positioned behind the second button decorative portion 411b of the operation button 410, and the second LEDs 422b and 423b are positioned behind the frame side lens 417 of the frame unit 415. Furthermore, when assembled to the performance operation unit 400, the inner cylindrical portion 416d of the frame unit 415 is positioned between the first LEDs 422a and 423a of the left outer decorative circuit board 422 and the right outer decorative circuit board 423 of the operation button and the second LEDs 422b and 423b (see Figure 38).

[0158] Therefore, the decorative substrate unit 420 can illuminate and decorate only the second button decorative part 411b of the operation button 410 with light from the first LEDs 422a and 423a, respectively, on the left outer decorative substrate 422 and the right outer decorative substrate 423 of the operation button, and can illuminate and decorate only the frame side lens 417 of the frame unit 415 with light from the second LEDs 422b and 423b, respectively.

[0159] Furthermore, the decorative circuit board unit 420 can generate vibrations by rotating the weight 424a of the vibration motor 424, thereby causing the entire performance control unit 400 to vibrate.

[0160] [3-4f. Effects of the Production Control Unit] The effects and functions of the performance control unit 400 will be explained in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 44 to 46. Figure 44 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the operation button is pressed in the cross-sectional view of the performance control unit in Figure 37. Figure 45(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the part of the operation button that is to be hidden by the first button decoration part and button frame, etc., in a view of the performance control unit from the direction in which the central axis of the operation button extends, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the part of the operation button that is to be hidden by the first button decoration part and button frame, etc., in a cross-sectional view of the performance control unit. Figure 46(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the external appearance of the performance control unit in a perspective view from the front, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the external appearance of the performance control unit from the direction in which the central axis of the operation button extends.

[0161] The performance control unit 400 of this embodiment can show performance images to the player in accordance with the game state that changes as a game ball is played into the game area 5a of the game board 5, and can also allow the player to participate in the performance presented to them by having them operate the operation buttons 410, thereby providing them with enjoyment.

[0162] The performance control unit 400 is formed to have an overall height that is approximately the same as the height of the lower part of the through-hole 111 of the door frame base 110 in the door frame base unit 100 of the door frame 3. The performance control unit 400 is also formed to have an overall width that is slightly larger than 1 / 3 of the overall width of the door frame 3. In a front view, the performance control unit 400 is positioned in the center in the left-right direction below the game area 5a (the through-hole 111 of the door frame base 110).

[0163] The performance control unit 400 is attached to the performance control unit mounting portion 326a of the plate unit cover 326 of the plate unit 320 by the upper part of the frame body 416 of the frame unit 415. When the performance control unit 400 is attached to the plate unit 320, a gap is formed between the lower surface of the legs 442a of the relay board cover 442, which forms the bottom surface, and the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 326i of the plate unit cover 326 of the plate unit 320. In other words, only the upper part of the performance control unit 400 is attached to the plate unit 320, and it is mounted in a suspended state.

[0164] Furthermore, the performance control unit 400 is mounted such that the front surface of the frame unit 415 (the surface formed by the front end inner circumference of the central opening 416a of the frame body 416) is parallel to the inclined surface of the front end opening of the performance control unit mounting portion 326a. As a result, the central axis CL of the transparent operation buttons 410, which bulge forward in a curved shape (a shape that is part of a roughly spherical surface), is inclined at an angle of 63 degrees with respect to the vertical line, so as it moves forward, it moves upward. Consequently, when a player sits in front of the pachinko machine 1 to play the game, the player's head is positioned in front of the center of the game area 5a on the game board 5 located above the tray unit 320 (performance control unit 400), so the central axis CL of the operation buttons 410 passes near the player's head. Therefore, when a player shifts their gaze from the game area 5a to the performance control unit 400 (operation button 410), the operation button 410 will be visible in a state as close as possible to its frontal view (projected view from a direction parallel to the central axis CL), allowing the player to clearly see the operation button 410 and the door frame side performance display device 460 inside the operation button 410.

[0165] In the performance control unit 400, the four guide boss portions 413c of the operation button 410 are slidably inserted into the four holding holes 431b of the base unit 430, and are biased forward by the operation button spring 438. In the normal state (when the operation button 410 is not pressed), the biasing force of the operation button spring 438 causes the front end of the flange portion 413b of the button base 413 of the operation button 410 to abut against the area near the central opening 416a on the rear surface of the frame body 416 of the frame unit 415.

[0166] In the normal state, the control unit 400 has the central part (towards the central axis CL) of the button frame 412 of the control button 410 protruding forward from the central opening 416a of the frame body 416 of the frame unit 415. In other words, in the transparent button lens 411 of the control button 410, which bulges forward in a curved shape (a shape that is part of a roughly spherical surface), the part that protrudes forward from the inner circumference (inside) of the button frame 412 protrudes forward from the central opening 416a of the frame body 416 of the frame unit 415 (see Figure 37, etc.).

[0167] Incidentally, in this embodiment, the diameter of the central opening 416a of the frame body 416 in the frame unit 415 is approximately 15 cm, and the button lens 411 (front end) protrudes approximately 4 cm forward from the front surface of the frame unit 415 with respect to the central axis CL direction of the operation button 410.

[0168] Under normal conditions, when a player presses the operation button 410 of the performance control unit 400, the operation button 410 moves backward along the central axis CL against the biasing force of the operation button spring 438. When the rear end of the operation button 410 comes into contact with the front surface of the unit base 431 of the base unit 430, its backward movement is restricted and the backward movement of the operation button 410 stops. When a player presses the operation button 410, they are pressing the button lens 411, which bulges forward in a curved shape (a shape that is part of a roughly spherical surface).

[0169] Because the outer diameter of this operation button 410 is significantly larger than that of the operation buttons used for effects in conventional pachinko machines, there is a high probability that the area near the periphery, away from the center of the button lens 411, will be pressed. More specifically, while the operation buttons used for effects in conventional pachinko machines are mounted so that their central axis extends approximately parallel to the vertical line, the operation button 410 of the effect operation unit 400 in this embodiment is mounted with its central axis CL tilted relative to the vertical line. Therefore, when a player presses the operation button 410 from above, as in conventional pachinko machines, the part of the operation button 410 away from its central axis CL will be pressed, as shown by the white arrow in Figure 44.

[0170] By the way, in conventional pachinko machines, the control buttons used for performances are formed on a flat surface that the player presses. If the control buttons are made larger while keeping the pressable area flat, pressing a part of the control button that is off-center may cause the pressable area to tilt so that the pressed part retracts first. This could prevent the control button from retracting straight, potentially making it impossible to press the control button.

[0171] In contrast, the operation button 410 of the performance operation unit 400 of this embodiment has a curved surface (a shape that is a part of a roughly spherical surface) that bulges forward at the part (button lens 411) that the player presses. Therefore, when the operation button 410 is pressed at a position away from the center, the force is distributed across the entire operation button 410, making it less likely for the operation button 410 to tilt, and allowing the operation button 410 to move straight backward. Consequently, no matter where on the front side of the operation button 410 is pressed, the operation button 410 can move backward smoothly without tilting, ensuring reliable detection of the press operation and allowing players to fully enjoy the performance of pressing the operation button 410.

[0172] Furthermore, the performance control unit 400 has a vibration motor 424 attached to the lower front of the board base 421 of the decorative board unit 420. As described above, only the upper part of the performance control unit 400 is attached to the performance control unit mounting part 326a of the plate unit cover 326 so that it can be suspended. Therefore, when the vibration motor 424 rotates the weight 424a to generate vibration, the vibration occurs at the part furthest from the mounting part. This allows the entire performance control unit 400 to vibrate significantly (strongly), and the vibration can be transmitted to the player who is touching the performance control unit 400. In addition, since the vibration motor 424 is positioned directly below a position that is relatively easy for the player to press (the position of the white arrow in Figure 44), a strong vibration can be transmitted to the player who is pressing the operation button 410, surprising the player and allowing them to enjoy the performance.

[0173] Furthermore, the performance control unit 400 is attached to the disc unit cover 326 in a suspended state, and a gap is formed between the lower surface of the legs 442a of the relay board cover 442 which forms the lower surface and the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 326i of the disc unit cover 326. Therefore, when the operation button 410 is pressed or struck hard downwards, the mounting portion 416e of the frame unit 415 and the performance control unit mounting portion 326a of the disc unit cover 326 can bend downwards to absorb the impact until the lower surface of the legs 442a contacts the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 326i. In addition, after the lower surface of the legs 442a contacts the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 326i, the downward movement of the performance control unit 400 is restricted, preventing excessive force from being applied to the mounting portion 416e of the frame unit 415 and the performance control unit mounting portion 326a of the disc unit cover 326, thereby preventing damage to the performance control unit 400. Therefore, when a performance is presented to the player that requires pressing the operation button 410 of the performance control unit 400, even if the operation button 410 is pressed or struck with strong force, the operation button 410 and the performance control unit 400 will not be damaged. This prevents interruptions to the game due to damage, suppresses a decline in the player's enjoyment, and reduces the burden on the arcade by making the equipment less prone to damage.

[0174] As mentioned above, the button lens 411 of the operation button 410, which is pressed by the player, is formed in a curved shape (a shape that is part of a roughly spherical surface) that protrudes forward. Compared to a flat shape, this increases the strength and rigidity, and even if it is struck hard, the impact can be distributed across the entire button lens 411, making it less prone to damage.

[0175] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 46, the performance control unit 400 has a button lens 411, a frame side lens 417, a frame top lens 418, and an internal decorative member 432 for the operation button, all of which are made of transparent material. As a result, the decorations formed by the indentations and recesses on the back side of these components, such as the first button decorative part 411a, the second button decorative part 411b, the first internal decorative part 432f, and the second internal decorative part 432g, can be seen from the front (player side). In addition, because the plate thickness changes in the areas where these indentations and recesses are formed, light is refracted in a complex manner, making it difficult to see the back through the areas where the indentations and recesses are formed.

[0176] The performance control unit 400 is equipped with a first button decorative part 411a that extends from the inner circumference of the button frame 412 in the button lens 411 of the operation button 410 toward the center. As a result of the uneven decoration of this first button decorative part 411a, it is possible to make it difficult to see behind the outer peripheral edge of the part that is inside the button lens 411. Behind the part where the first button decorative part 411a is formed (behind in the direction of the central axis CL), there is a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the main body part 413a of the button base 413 of the operation button 410 and the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall part 432a of the operation button interior decorative member 432. However, the first button decorative part 411a, which is located in front of this gap, makes it difficult to see the gap on the outer circumference of the operation button interior decorative member 432 from the front side (player side). As a result, even if a fixed-position decorative member 432 is provided inside the pressable operation button 410, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the appearance of the operation button 410, prevent players from feeling uncomfortable when they see the operation button 410, and also allow the decorative member 432 to be placed inside the transparent operation button 410 without any problems, thereby improving the appearance of the operation button 410.

[0177] More specifically, the performance control unit 400 is designed so that the unit base 431 and decorative circuit board unit 420, etc., located outside and behind (inside) the outer circumference of the decorative member 432 inside the operation button of the base unit 430, are not visible to the player through the transparent button lens 411, thanks to the first button decorative part 411a, the second button decorative part 411b, and the button frame 412 of the button lens 411 on the operation button 410. Specifically, in Figure 45, the cross-hatched area enclosed by the dashed line is not visible to the player. In this way, because the operation button 410 is equipped with the first button decorative part 411a, the second button decorative part 411b, and the button frame 412, etc., the outside and inside of the decorative member 432 inside the operation button can be made difficult to see and hidden, improving the appearance of the operation button 410, and by extension, the entire performance control unit 400.

[0178] Furthermore, in the performance control unit 400, the first button decorative portion 411a of the button lens 411 on the operation button 410 extends toward the central axis CL of the operation button 410 and is arranged in a circumferential direction, whereas the second button decorative portion 432g formed on the front plate portion 432b of the operation button decorative member 432 located on the inner rear of the operation button 410 extends in a modified octagonal shape around the central axis CL and is arranged in a concentric circle. As shown in Figure 46, the uneven lines of the first button decorative portion 411a and the uneven lines of the second button decorative portion 432g intersect, allowing a geometric decoration to be shown to the player.

[0179] Furthermore, in the performance control unit 400, the first button decoration section 411a and the second button interior decoration section 432g are separated in the front-to-back direction (in the direction in which the central axis CL extends). As a result, the first button decoration section 411a and the second button interior decoration section 432g create a geometric pattern with depth and a three-dimensional feel, allowing the player to enjoy the decoration, including the inside of the control button 410.

[0180] Furthermore, in the performance control unit 400, the first button decoration section 411a and the second button interior decoration section 432g are separated in the front-to-back direction. As the player's eye position moves, the degree of overlap between the raised and recessed lines of the first button decoration section 411a and the raised and recessed lines of the second button interior decoration section 432g changes, allowing the player to see a dynamic decoration and enjoy the experience.

[0181] In this way, the performance control unit 400, through the first button decoration part 411a of the operation button 410 and the second button decoration part 432g of the operation button interior decoration member 432, can show the player a dynamic and three-dimensional decoration, thereby strongly attracting the player's attention and resulting in a highly appealing pachinko machine 1.

[0182] Furthermore, within the operation button 410 (inside the button frame 412), the operation button interior decorative board 433, the operation button left interior decorative board 434, the operation button upper interior decorative board 435, and the operation button lower interior decorative board 436 are arranged behind the operation button interior decorative member 432. By illuminating the multiple LEDs mounted on the front of these boards, the operation button interior decorative member 432 inside the operation button 410 can be illuminated. In other words, the operation button 410 can be illuminated and decorated using the operation button left interior decorative board 433, the operation button right interior decorative board 434, the operation button upper interior decorative board 435, and the operation button lower interior decorative board 436. As shown in Figure 38, the LEDs mounted on the front surfaces of the left interior decorative substrate 433, the right interior decorative substrate 434, the upper interior decorative substrate 435, and the lower interior decorative substrate 436 of the operation button are positioned inside the cylindrical body portion 413a of the button base 413 of the operation button 410 when viewed from the direction in which the central axis CL extends. Therefore, light from them does not leak to the outside of the body portion 413a, and the inside of the operation button 410 can be illuminated and decorated effectively.

[0183] Furthermore, the performance control unit 400 has the first LED 422a of the left outer decorative substrate 422 of the operation button and the first LED 423a of the right outer decorative substrate 423 of the operation button located near the outer periphery of the operation button 410 positioned behind the second button decorative section 411b as seen from the frame opening 412a of the button frame 412. By illuminating these first LEDs 422a and 423a, the six second button decorative sections 411b of the operation button 410 can be illuminated and decorated. As shown in Figure 38, the first LED 422a on the left outer decorative substrate 422 of the operation button and the first LED 423a on the right outer decorative substrate 423 of the operation button are positioned between the cylindrical body portion 413a of the button base 413 of the operation button 410 and the cylindrical inner cylindrical portion 416d of the frame body 416 of the frame unit 415. As a result, light from the first LEDs 422a and 423a does not leak to the inside of the body portion 413a or to the outside of the inner cylindrical portion 416d, allowing only the second button decorative portion 411b of the operation button 410 to be illuminated and decorated effectively.

[0184] Furthermore, the performance control unit 400 has the second LED 422b of the left outer decorative board 422 and the second LED 423b of the right outer decorative board 423 of the operation button positioned behind the frame side lenses 417, which are visible through the six outer peripheral openings 416b of the frame body 416 of the frame unit 415. By illuminating these second LEDs 422b and 423b, the frame side lenses 417 can be illuminated. The second LED 422b of the left outer decorative board 422 and the second LED 423b of the right outer decorative board 423 of the operation button are positioned between the cylindrical inner cylindrical portion 416d and the outer circumference of the frame body 416 of the frame unit 415. As a result, light from the second LEDs 422b and 423b does not leak inside the inner cylindrical portion 416d or outside the frame body 416, allowing only the frame side lenses 417 of the frame unit 415 to be illuminated effectively.

[0185] Furthermore, the performance control unit 400 has the frame top lens decorative substrate 437 of the base unit 430 positioned behind the frame top lens 418 of the frame unit 415. By illuminating the multiple LEDs mounted on the front of the frame top lens decorative substrate 437, the frame top lens 418 can be illuminated. From the lower side of the part of the unit base 431 of the base unit 430 to which the frame top lens decorative substrate 437 is attached, a flat light-shielding wall portion 431c protrudes forward to near the rear of the lower end of the frame top lens 418. This prevents light from the LEDs of the frame top lens decorative substrate 437 from leaking to the operation buttons 410 or the frame side lenses 417, allowing only the frame top lens 418 of the frame unit 415 to be illuminated effectively.

[0186] [3-5. Door frame left side unit] The left side unit 530 of the door frame 3 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 47 to 50. Figure 47(a) is a front view of the left side unit of the door frame in the door frame, (b) is a perspective view of the left side unit of the door frame seen from the front, and (c) is a perspective view of the left side unit of the door frame seen from the rear. Figure 48 is an exploded perspective view of the left side unit of the door frame disassembled and seen from the front, and Figure 49 is an exploded perspective view of the left side unit of the door frame disassembled and seen from the rear. Figure 50 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line LL in Figure 47(a). The left side unit 530 of the door frame is attached to the front left side of the door frame base unit 100, to the left of the through-hole 111, so as to cover the front sides of the upper decorative substrate 161 and the lower decorative substrate 162 (left side decorative substrate 160) of the left side of the door frame, above the tray unit 320. The left side unit 530 of the door frame is for decorating the left side of the through-hole 111 of the door frame base 110 when viewed from the front.

[0187] The left side unit 530 of the door frame comprises a vertically extending strip-shaped left unit base 531 attached to the front of the door frame base 110 of the door frame base unit 100, on the left side of the through-hole 111 in a front view; a transparent strip-shaped left unit diffusion lens member 532 attached to the front of the left unit base 531; a translucent left unit decorative lens member (not shown) positioned in front of the left unit diffusion lens member 532 and having a polyhedral decoration at its front end; and a cylindrical frame-shaped projection extending forward from the front of the left unit decorative lens member to the upper front of the left unit base 531. The left unit comprises an upper decorative base 534 extending vertically, a lower decorative base 535 attached to the front of the left unit base 531 from the front of the left unit decorative lens member and shorter than the upper decorative base 534 and protruding forward in a frame shape, a transparent left unit decorative cover 536 attached to the front of the left unit base 531 from the front of the upper decorative base 534 and the lower decorative base 535 so as to cover the front end of the left unit decorative lens member, and a plurality of decorative members 537 attached to the front of the left unit decorative cover 536.

[0188] The left unit base 531 of the left side unit 530 of the door frame is formed in a shallow box shape with the rear side open, and has multiple openings 531a that penetrate from front to back on the front side. As shown in the figure, the multiple openings 531a include circular holes and square-shaped holes that extend vertically. The left unit base 531 is mounted on the front left side of the door frame base 110 such that the LEDs 161a and 162a mounted on the front of the left side decorative substrate 160 of the door frame (upper left side decorative substrate 161 and lower left side decorative substrate 162 of the door frame) face forward through the multiple openings 531a. Each opening 531a of the left unit base 531 is formed such that, when assembled with the door frame 3, each LED 161a and 162a of the left side decorative substrate 160 of the door frame is positioned approximately in the center in the vertical direction. This left unit base 531 is made of an opaque material.

[0189] Furthermore, the left unit base 531 has a left reflective vertical wall portion 538 (see Figures 5 and 23) that is erected toward the front from the glass plate 192 which is positioned to cover the through-hole 111. In this left reflective vertical wall portion 538, the inner surface which has a flat surface shape and is positioned to face the through-hole 111 is provided as a reflective surface capable of reflecting light. This reflective surface can be provided by making the inner surface of the left reflective vertical wall portion 538 itself from a reflective material such as metal or resin, or by attaching a reflective seal to the inner surface. As will be described later, this left reflective vertical wall portion 538 is formed by the left unit base 531 and constitutes a part (left side portion) of the reflective vertical wall portion 33 described above.

[0190] The left unit diffusion lens member 532 is made of a transparent material and is divided vertically into an upper diffusion lens member 532A and a lower diffusion lens member 532B. The left unit diffusion lens member 532 includes a circular lens portion 532a that is circular in front view and corresponds to the circular opening 531a in the left unit base 531, and a rectangular lens portion 532b that is rectangular in front view and corresponds to the rectangular opening 531a. When the door frame left side unit 530 is assembled to the door frame 3, the LEDs 161a and 162a of the door frame left side decorative substrate 160 are positioned directly behind the center of the circular lens portion 532a and the rectangular lens portion 532b, respectively.

[0191] The circular lens portion 532a of the left unit diffusion lens member 532 is formed in a smooth convex lens shape on both its front and rear surfaces. This circular lens portion 532a allows light from the LEDs 161a and 162a located at the rear to be projected forward as a point. The light projected forward from this circular lens portion 532a can illuminate the circular decorative portion of the left unit decorative lens member.

[0192] The rectangular lens portion 532b of the left unit diffusion lens member 532 comprises a central diffusion reflective portion 532c that is conically recessed backward in the center of the front surface, a front diffusion lens portion 532d formed outside the central diffusion reflective portion 532c on the front surface, an input lens portion 532e that bulges backward in a curved shape in the center of the rear surface (immediately behind the central diffusion reflective portion 532c), and a front reflection portion 532f that is inclined on the outside of the input lens portion 532e on the rear surface and moves forward as it moves away from the input lens portion 532e.

[0193] The front diffuse lens portion 532d of the rectangular lens portion 532b is formed by a plurality of concentric arc-shaped grooves that are divided circumferentially by lines extending radially from the central diffuse reflecting portion 532c. More specifically, when the front diffuse lens portion 532d is cut along the radial direction, the groove portion is recessed in an arc shape towards the rear, and the peak portion between the grooves bulges forward in an arc shape, forming a smooth, wavy front surface. Furthermore, the front diffuse lens portion 532d is formed such that the groove portion and the peak portion are alternately located in the circumferential direction, with the radially extending lines dividing it circumferentially as the boundary.

[0194] The front reflective portion 532f of the rectangular lens portion 532b is formed by a plurality of concentric arc-shaped grooves that are divided circumferentially by lines extending radially from the input lens portion 532e. These grooves are V-shaped indentations extending from rear to front, with the deepest part being formed in an arc shape. When the front reflective portion 532f is cut along the radial direction, its cross-sectional shape is formed in a sawtooth shape, with the peaks between the grooves forming a triangular shape that is pointed towards the rear. The front reflective portion 532f is formed so that the grooves and peaks move forward as you move away from the center. Furthermore, the front reflective portion 532f is formed so that the grooves and peaks are alternately located circumferentially, with the radially extending lines dividing it circumferentially as the boundary. These radially extending lines dividing it circumferentially coincide with the radially extending dividing lines in the front diffusion lens portion 532d.

[0195] When assembled to the door frame 3, the rectangular lens section 532b is positioned directly behind the input lens section 532e, with the corresponding LEDs 161a and 162a of the decorative circuit board 160 on the left side of the door frame located therebetween.

[0196] The rectangular lens section 532b receives light emitted forward from LEDs 161a and 162a via the input lens section 532e. Because the input lens section 532e bulges backward in a curved shape (convex lens shape), it refracts the light spreading forward from LEDs 161a and 162a so that it travels parallel to the forward direction, guiding almost all of the input light to the conical central diffuse reflecting section 532c. The light guided to the central diffuse reflecting section 532c is then reflected by the inclined conical surface of the central diffuse reflecting section 532c so as to diffuse in a direction perpendicular to the axis extending from front to back (parallel to the front of the decorative substrate 160 on the left side of the door frame), and travels through the rectangular lens section 532b from the center outwards along its front surface. Furthermore, the light reflected by the central diffuse reflector 532c travels from the center outwards (away from the center line of the central diffuse reflector 532c) across the entire thickness of the rectangular lens portion 532b in the front-to-back direction.

[0197] Light reflected from the center outward through the rectangular lens section 532b, approximately parallel to the front surface of the decorative substrate 160 on the left side of the door frame, reaches the sawtooth-shaped forward reflecting section 532f and is reflected forward by the surface of the forward reflecting section 532f. At this time, since the forward reflecting section 532f is inclined so that its rear surface moves forward as it moves away from the central diffuse reflecting section 532c, the thickness of the rectangular lens section 532b in the front-to-back direction becomes thinner as it moves away from the center (see Figure 50). As a result, the light that is reflected outward across the entire thickness of the rectangular lens section 532b in the front-to-back direction at the central diffuse reflecting section 532c can be sequentially reflected forward by the forward reflecting section 532f as it moves from the center outward.

[0198] The light reflected forward by the front reflector 532f then passes through the front diffuser lens 532d and is irradiated forward from the rectangular lens 532b. In this process, because the front diffuser lens 532d has a wavy cross-section, it can diffuse the light reflected forward by the front reflector 532f in various directions, allowing light to be irradiated almost uniformly forward (to the rear surface of the decorative lens member of the left unit) from the front of the rectangular lens 532b.

[0199] In this rectangular lens portion 532b, the front diffusion lens portion 532d and the front reflecting portion 532f are divided by multiple concentric grooves with multiple radially extending lines, and then the multiple concentric arc-shaped grooves are shifted radially along the dividing lines, so that the concentric arc-shaped grooves are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. As a result, the light irradiated forward from the front surface of the rectangular lens portion 532b will not have a concentric striped pattern of varying intensity, and a more uniform light intensity will be irradiated forward. This makes it possible to illuminate and decorate the multifaceted decorative portion in front of the rectangular lens portion 532b of the left unit decorative lens member with substantially uniform light emission.

[0200] The left unit decorative lens member, not shown in the figure, is formed to conform to the front surface of the left unit decorative cover 536. The left unit decorative lens member comprises a circular decorative portion formed in front of the circular lens portion 532a of the left unit diffusion lens member 532, and a polyhedral decorative portion formed in front of the rectangular lens portion 532b of the left unit diffusion lens member 532. The circular decorative portion is formed in a shape with a cylindrical portion that is recessed on the front and extends short in the front and rear directions, and has multiple triangular ribs arranged in the circumferential direction on its outer circumference. The polyhedral decorative portion is formed in a shape with multiple square pyramidal portions arranged vertically on the front surface of a rectangular parallelepiped that extends vertically, and multiple polyhedra made of multiple triangles arranged vertically on both the left and right sides of the rectangular parallelepiped portion. The circular decorative portion and the polyhedral decorative portion are formed in the same shape as the circular decorative portion 561a and the polyhedral decorative portion 561b of the right unit decorative lens member 561 in the right side unit 550 of the door frame.

[0201] The left unit decorative lens member can be seen from the front (player side) through the transparent left unit decorative cover 536. Furthermore, the left unit decorative lens member is illuminated by light radiated forward from the circular lens portion 532a of the left unit diffusion lens member 532 for the circular decorative portion, and by light radiated forward from the rectangular lens portion 532b of the left unit diffusion lens member 532 for the multifaceted decorative portion.

[0202] The decorative base 534 on the left unit has a rectangular shape when viewed from the front, extending vertically, and is formed in a rectangular tube shape extending front to back. The portion that makes up the lower surface on the outer circumference of the decorative base 534 is inclined to protrude downward from the front end to the rear end, and the lower part of that portion penetrates from front to back. This decorative base 534 on the left unit is formed of an opaque material.

[0203] The lower decorative base 535 of the left unit is formed in a U-shape when viewed from the front, with an opening at the top. The upper part of the lower decorative base 535 at the front end is inclined upwards and then moves backwards towards the rear end. This lower decorative base 535 of the left unit is formed of an opaque material.

[0204] The left unit decorative cover 536 extends vertically across the entire height of the left side unit 530 of the door frame. The left unit decorative cover 536 is bent so that its middle section in the vertical direction is recessed to the rear, and is composed of a V-shaped section in which the lower part is bent backward along the front end of the left unit upper decorative base 534, a V-shaped section in which the upper part is bent backward along the front end of the left unit lower decorative base 535, and a straight section connecting the lower end of the upper V-shaped section and the upper end of the lower V-shaped section.

[0205] The left unit decorative cover 536 is attached at both its upper and lower ends to the front of the left unit upper decorative base 534 and the front of the left unit lower decorative base 535, respectively. This left unit decorative cover 536 is made of a transparent material, allowing the left unit decorative lens member located at the rear to be visible from the front.

[0206] The decorative member 537 extends briefly vertically and is attached to the front surface of the left unit decorative cover 536 at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. The decorative member 537 is made of an opaque material.

[0207] [3-6. Door frame right side unit] The right side unit 550 of the door frame 3 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 51 to 55. Figure 51(a) is a front view of the right side unit of the door frame in the door frame, (b) is a perspective view of the right side unit of the door frame seen from the front, and (c) is a perspective view of the right side unit of the door frame seen from the rear. Figure 52 is an exploded perspective view of the right side unit of the door frame disassembled and seen from the front, and Figure 53 is an exploded perspective view of the right side unit of the door frame disassembled and seen from the rear. Figure 54 is a cross-sectional view taken along the MM line in Figure 51(a). Figure 55(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the NN line in Figure 51(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the OO line in Figure 51(a). The right side unit 550 of the door frame is attached to the upper side of the dish unit 320 and to the right of the through-hole 111 on the front surface of the door frame base 110 of the door frame base unit 100.

[0208] The door frame right side unit 550 comprises a vertically extending box-shaped right unit base 551 attached to the front of the door frame base 110 of the door frame base unit 100, on the right side of the through-hole 111 in a front view; a door frame right side decorative substrate 552 attached to the front of the right unit base 551; a transparent flat plate-shaped right unit left diffusion lens member 553 attached to the front of the door frame right side decorative substrate 552, to the left of the center of the front view of the right unit base 551, and extending in the vertical and front-rear directions; a sheet-shaped right unit left decorative member 554 attached to the left side of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 and decorated; and a transparent flat plate-shaped right unit left cover 555 attached to the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 so as to cover the left side of the right unit left decorative member 554.

[0209] Furthermore, the right side unit 550 of the door frame comprises a transparent, flat plate-shaped right unit right diffusion lens member 556 that is attached to the front side of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame and to the right side of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 in a front view, to the right of the center in a front view on the front of the right unit base 551 and to the right unit left diffusion lens member 553, and extends in the vertical and front-back directions; a sheet-shaped right unit right decorative member 557 that is attached to the right side of the right unit right diffusion lens member 556 and is decorated; and a transparent, flat plate-shaped right unit right cover 558 that is attached to the right unit right diffusion lens member 556 so as to cover the right side of the right unit right decorative member 557.

[0210] Furthermore, the right side unit 550 of the door frame comprises a shallow, opaque, box-shaped right unit left light-shielding member 559 that extends vertically and horizontally, with its front and right sides open, positioned between the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 and the right unit right diffusion lens member 556, and an opaque, flat right unit right light-shielding member 560 that is mounted to the left of the right unit right diffusion lens member 556 to close the open right side of the right unit left light-shielding member 559.

[0211] Furthermore, the right side unit 550 of the door frame includes a translucent right unit decorative lens member 561 that is attached to the front ends of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 and the right unit right diffusion lens member 556 and has a polyhedral decoration at its front end; a frame-shaped right unit decorative base 562 that penetrates from front to back and is attached to the front surface of the right unit base 551 so as to cover both the left and right sides of the right unit decorative lens member 561 and the front ends of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 and the right unit right diffusion lens member 556; a transparent right unit cover 563 that is attached to the front side of the right unit decorative base 562 so as to close the front end opening of the right unit decorative base 562; and a plurality of decorative members 564 attached to the front side of the right unit cover 563. Although not shown in the figures, the right side unit 550 of the door frame is attached so as to penetrate the right unit base 551 vertically and includes a connecting cable for connecting the door body relay board of the door frame base unit 100 and the door frame top unit relay board 589 of the door frame top unit 570.

[0212] The right unit base 551 of the door frame right side unit 550 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the front, which is elongated vertically and extends in a short rectangular tube shape from front to back, forming a box shape that is closed near the center in the front-to-back direction. This right unit base 551 is made of an opaque material.

[0213] Furthermore, the right unit base 551 has a right-side reflective vertical wall portion 568 (see Figures 6 and 24) that is erected toward the front from the glass plate 192 which is positioned to cover the through-hole 111. In this right-side reflective vertical wall portion 568, the inner surface, which is flat and faces the through-hole 111, is provided as a reflective surface capable of reflecting light. This reflective surface can be provided in the same way as the inner surface of the left-side reflective vertical wall portion 538, by making the inner surface of the right-side reflective vertical wall portion 568 itself from a reflective material such as metal or resin, or by attaching a reflective seal to the inner surface. As will be described later, this right-side reflective vertical wall portion 568 is formed by the right unit base 551 and constitutes a part (right-side portion) of the reflective vertical wall portion 33 described above.

[0214] The right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame is formed in the shape of a strip extending vertically. The right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame comprises a plurality of left LEDs 552a mounted to the left of the center in the left-right direction on the front, a right LED 552b mounted to the right of the center in the left-right direction on the front, and a plurality of middle LEDs 552c mounted in the center in the left-right direction on the front. The left LEDs 552a of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame are for illuminating the left decorative member 554 of the right unit via the left diffusion lens member 553 of the right unit. The right LEDs 552b are for illuminating the right decorative member 557 of the right unit via the right diffusion lens member 556 of the right unit. The middle LEDs 552c are for illuminating the decorative lens member 561 of the right unit.

[0215] The decorative substrate 552 on the right side of the door frame is formed in white on both its front and rear surfaces. The decorative substrate 552 on the right side of the door frame is divided into an upper decorative substrate 552A and a lower decorative substrate 552B. Although not shown in the diagram, the lower decorative substrate 552B is connected to the door body relay board of the door frame base unit 100, and the upper decorative substrate 552A is connected to the lower decorative substrate 552B.

[0216] The right unit left diffusion lens member 553 comprises a flat main body portion 553a extending in the vertical and front-rear directions, a rear wall portion 553b projecting a short, flat shape from the rear edge of the main body portion 553a to the right in a front view, a notch portion 553c formed at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, with a rectangular cutout extending to the left from the right end of the rear wall portion 553b in a front view, a receiving recess 553d shallowly recessed on the left side of the main body portion 553a in a front view to accommodate the right unit left decorative member 554, an input lens portion 553e projecting rearward from the rear end surface of the main body portion 553a and provided in multiple quantities in the vertical direction, and a side reflecting portion 553f arranged in multiple quantities in the vertical direction on the right side of the main body portion 553a in a front view such that each input lens portion 553e is centered in the vertical direction.

[0217] The main body portion 553a of the left diffusion lens member 553 of the right unit has a side view shape in which the upper corner of the front end of a vertically extending rectangle is beveled, and the lower edge is inclined to move upward as it moves forward. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 55, the main body portion 553a is slightly inclined with respect to the vertical line on the front of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame, so that it moves to the right in a front view as it moves from the rear end towards the front. When assembled to the door frame 3, the front end of the main body portion 553a protrudes further forward than the front end of the left side unit 530 of the door frame.

[0218] When assembled to the right side unit 550 of the door frame, the rear wall portion 553b extends approximately to the center of the right unit base 551 in the left-right direction. The left end of the rear wall portion 556b of the right unit right diffusion lens member 556 abuts against the right end of this rear wall portion 553b.

[0219] Multiple notches 553c are formed at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, and some of them correspond to the central LEDs 552c of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame. When assembled to the right side unit 550 of the door frame, the central LEDs 552c of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame face forward from the multiple notches 553c, and the multiple central LEDs 552c can illuminate and decorate the right unit decorative lens member 561 well.

[0220] The receiving recess 553d has a flat bottom surface, and the shape of its outer periphery substantially matches the outer shape of the left decorative member 554 of the right unit. This allows the left decorative member 554 of the right unit to be accommodated.

[0221] Multiple input lens portions 553e protrude backward from the rear end surface of the main body portion 553a at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. Specifically, they are formed approximately in the center of each of the six equal vertical divisions when the left diffusion lens member 553 of the right unit is divided vertically. Although detailed illustration is omitted, the input lens portion 553e has a rectangular portion with a vertically extending rectangle protruding backward, and a portion that curves spherically from the rear surface of the rectangular portion and is recessed toward the front. When assembled to the right side unit 550 of the door frame, these input lens portions 553e are each positioned directly in front of the left LED 552a of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame. This allows light from the left LED 552a to be input in a way that it is widely diffused within the main body portion 553a.

[0222] Multiple (six) side reflectors 553f are provided in the vertical direction. Each side reflector 553f is formed by multiple concentric arc-shaped grooves that are divided circumferentially by lines extending radially from the input lens portion 553e. In each of these concentric arc-shaped grooves, the surface closer to the input lens portion 553e is inclined with respect to the surface of the main body portion 553a, while the surface further away from the input lens portion 553e extends perpendicularly to the surface of the main body portion 553a, and the deepest part is formed in an arc shape. When the side reflector 553f is cut radially with respect to the input lens portion 553e, the cross-sectional shape is formed in a pointed triangular shape such that the peaks between the grooves face towards the center, and the entire shape is saw-toothed. Furthermore, the side reflector 553f is formed such that the groove portions and peak portions are alternately arranged circumferentially, with the radial lines dividing the multiple concentric arc-shaped grooves in the circumferential direction as the boundary.

[0223] In this right unit left diffusion lens member 553, light irradiated forward from the left LED 552a of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame enters the main body 553a of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553a from the rear surface of the input lens portion 553e. Since the rear end of this input lens portion 553e is curved and recessed toward the front, the light from the left LED 552a is refracted by its curved surface and spreads out, and within the main body 553a, it diffuses radially toward the front with each input lens portion 553e as the center.

[0224] The main body 553a is slightly inclined with respect to a line extending vertically from the front of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame, so that as the whole unit moves forward, it moves to the right when viewed from the front. As a result, light emitted from the left LED 552a mounted on the front of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame and incident into the main body 553a from the input lens 553e strikes the flat left surface inside the main body 553a. However, due to the angle of incidence of the left LED 552a to the left surface of the main body 553a, the direct light from the left LED 552a is not emitted outwards from the left surface of the main body 553a, but is reflected towards the side reflector 553f on the inner surface of the left surface.

[0225] Then, the light that enters the main body 553a from the input lens 553e toward the front strikes the sawtooth-shaped side reflector 553f, is reflected to the left when viewed from the front, and is irradiated outward from the left side of the main body 553a. In addition, light is also irradiated outward (to the right when viewed from the front) from the right side of the main body 553a (side reflector 553f), but since the right unit left light shielding member 559, which is located on the right side of the main body 553a, is made of a white material, the left side of the right unit left light shielding member 559 is brightly illuminated, and the indirect light reflected by the right unit left light shielding member 559 passes through the main body 553a and is irradiated to the left side. Therefore, from the left side of the main body 553a, light reflected to the left by the side reflector 553f within the main body 553a and light irradiated to the right from the side reflector 553f, reflected to the left by the left side of the left light-shielding member 559 of the right unit, and passing through the main body 553a are irradiated to the left, so that the left decorative member 554 of the right unit, which is attached to the left side of the main body 553a, can be illuminated with good brightness.

[0226] Furthermore, in the side reflective section 553f, multiple concentric grooves are divided by multiple radially extending lines, and multiple concentric arc-shaped grooves are shifted radially along the dividing lines, so that the concentric arc-shaped grooves are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. This prevents the light irradiated outward (to the left) from the left side of the main body 553a from having a concentric striped pattern of varying intensity, and allows for more uniformly luminous light to be irradiated to the left. As a result, the left decorative member 554 of the right unit, which is housed in the receiving recess 553d on the left side of the main body 553a, can be illuminated and decorated with approximately uniform light.

[0227] Furthermore, since the left diffusion lens member 553 of the right unit is made of a transparent material, the pattern consisting of multiple concentric arc-shaped grooves and radially extending lines of the side reflecting portion 553f formed on the opposite side can be seen from the left side of the front view of the main body portion 553a (the side where the housing recess 553d is formed). Therefore, if a transparent portion is formed in the left decorative member 554 of the right unit, the pattern of the side reflecting portion 553f of the left diffusion lens member 553 of the right unit can be seen through the transparent portion, and the transparent portion of the left decorative member 554 of the right unit can be decorated with the side reflecting portion 553f.

[0228] The left decorative member 554 of the right unit is formed in a thin sheet shape, and is decorated with the manufacturer's logo of the pachinko machine 1 and a logo that is in line with the concept of the presentation presented to the player on the game board 5, in a manner that allows light to pass through. The left cover 555 of the right unit protects the outer surface of the left decorative member 554 of the right unit when assembled to the right side unit 550 of the door frame.

[0229] The right unit right diffusion lens member 556 is formed substantially symmetrically to the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 and has a similar configuration. More specifically, the right unit right diffusion lens member 556 includes a flat main body portion 556a extending in the vertical and front-rear directions, a rear wall portion 556b projecting a short, flat shape from the rear edge of the main body portion 556a to the left in a front view, multiple notches 556c formed at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, with a rectangular cutout extending to the right from the left end of the rear wall portion 556b in a front view, a shallow recess 556d on the right side of the main body portion 556a in a front view capable of accommodating the right unit right decorative member 557, multiple input lens portions 556e projecting rearward from the rear end surface of the main body portion 556a and provided in the vertical direction, and multiple side reflectors 556f arranged in the vertical direction on the left side of the main body portion 556a in a front view such that each input lens portion 556e is centered in the vertical direction.

[0230] The main body portion 556a of the right unit right diffusion lens member 556 has a side view shape in which the upper corner of the front end of a vertically extending rectangle is beveled, and the lower edge is inclined to move upward as it moves forward, and its outer shape is substantially the same as the main body portion 553a of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 55, the main body portion 556a is slightly inclined with respect to the vertical line on the front of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame, so that it moves to the left as it moves forward from the rear end. When assembled to the door frame 3, the front end of the main body portion 556a protrudes further forward than the front end of the left side unit 530 of the door frame.

[0231] When assembled to the right side unit 550 of the door frame, the rear wall portion 556b extends approximately to the center of the right unit base 551 in the left-right direction. The right end of the rear wall portion 553b of the left diffusion lens member 553 of the right unit abuts against the left end of this rear wall portion 556b.

[0232] Multiple notches 556c are formed at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, and some of them correspond to the central LEDs 552c of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame. These multiple notches 556c are formed in positions corresponding to the multiple notches 553c of the left diffusion lens member 553 of the right unit. Therefore, when assembled to the right side unit 550 of the door frame, a rectangular opening is formed that penetrates from front to back by the notches 553c of the left diffusion lens member 553 of the right unit and the notches 556c of the right diffusion lens member 556 of the right unit. The central LEDs 552c of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame face forward from this opening, and the multiple central LEDs 552c can illuminate and decorate the right unit decorative lens member 561 effectively.

[0233] The receiving recess 556d has a flat bottom surface, and the shape of its outer periphery substantially matches the outer shape of the right decorative member 557 of the right unit. This allows the right decorative member 557 of the right unit to be accommodated.

[0234] Multiple input lens portions 556e protrude backward from the rear end surface of the main body portion 556a at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. Specifically, they are formed approximately in the center of each of the six equal vertical divisions when the right unit right diffusion lens member 556 is divided vertically. Although detailed illustration is omitted, each input lens portion 556e has a rectangular portion with a vertically extending rectangle protruding backward, and a portion that curves spherically forward from the rear surface of the rectangular portion. When assembled to the door frame right side unit 550, these input lens portions 556e are positioned directly in front of the right LED 552b of the door frame right side decorative substrate 552. This allows light from the right LED 552b to be input in a way that it is widely diffused within the main body portion 556a.

[0235] Multiple (six) side reflectors 556f are provided in the vertical direction. Each side reflector 556f is formed by multiple concentric arc-shaped grooves that are divided circumferentially by lines extending radially from the input lens portion 556e. In each of these concentric arc-shaped grooves, the surface closer to the input lens portion 556e is inclined with respect to the surface of the main body portion 556a, while the surface further away from the input lens portion 556e extends perpendicularly to the surface of the main body portion 556a, and the deepest part is formed in an arc shape. When the side reflector 556f is cut radially with respect to the input lens portion 556e, the cross-sectional shape is formed in a pointed triangular shape such that the peaks between the grooves face towards the center, and the entire shape is saw-toothed. Furthermore, the side reflector 556f is formed such that the groove portions and peak portions are alternately arranged circumferentially, with the radial lines dividing the multiple concentric arc-shaped grooves in the circumferential direction as the boundary.

[0236] In this right unit right diffusion lens member 556, light irradiated forward from the right LED 552b of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame is incident into the main body 556a of the right unit right diffusion lens member 556 from the rear surface of the input lens portion 556e. Since the rear end of this input lens portion 556e is curved and recessed toward the front, the light from the right LED 552b is refracted by its curved surface and spreads out, and within the main body 556a, it diffuses radially toward the front with each input lens portion 556e as the center.

[0237] The main body 556a is slightly inclined with respect to a line extending vertically from the front of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame, so that as the whole unit moves forward, it moves to the left when viewed from the front. As a result, light emitted from the right LED 552b mounted on the front of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame and incident into the main body 556a from the input lens 556e strikes the flat right surface inside the main body 556a. However, due to the angle of incidence of the right LED 552b to the right surface of the main body 556a, the direct light from the right LED 552b is not emitted outwards from the left surface of the main body 556a, but is reflected towards the side reflector 556f on the inner surface of the right surface.

[0238] Then, the light that enters the main body 556a from the input lens 556e toward the front strikes the sawtooth-shaped side reflector 556f, is reflected to the right in a front view, and is irradiated outward from the right side of the main body 556a. Although light is also irradiated outward (to the left in a front view) from the right side of the main body 556a (side reflector 556f), since the right unit right light shielding member 560 located on the left side of the main body 556a is made of a white material, the right side of the right unit right light shielding member 560 is brightly illuminated, and the indirect light reflected by the right unit right light shielding member 560 passes through the main body 556a and is irradiated to the right side. Therefore, from the right side of the main body 556a, light reflected to the right by the side reflector 556f within the main body 556a, and light irradiated to the left from the side reflector 556f, reflected to the right by the right surface of the right unit right light-shielding member 560, and passing through the main body 556a are irradiated to the right, so that the right unit right decorative member 557 attached to the right side of the main body 556a can be illuminated with good brightness.

[0239] Furthermore, in the side reflective section 556f, multiple concentric grooves are divided by multiple radially extending lines, and multiple concentric arc-shaped grooves are shifted radially along the dividing lines, so that the concentric arc-shaped grooves are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. This prevents the light irradiated outward (to the right) from the right side of the main body 556a from having a concentric striped pattern of varying intensity, and allows for more uniformly luminous light to be irradiated to the right. As a result, the right unit right decorative member 557 housed in the receiving recess 556d on the right side of the main body 556a can be illuminated and decorated with approximately uniform light emission.

[0240] Furthermore, since the right unit right diffusion lens member 556 is made of a transparent material, the pattern of multiple concentric arc-shaped grooves and radially extending lines of the side reflecting portion 556f formed on the opposite side can be seen from the right side of the front view of the main body portion 556a (the side where the housing recess 556d is formed). Therefore, if a transparent portion is formed in the right unit right decorative member 557, the pattern of the side reflecting portion 556f of the right unit right diffusion lens member 556 can be seen through the transparent portion, and the transparent portion of the right unit right decorative member 557 can be decorated with the side reflecting portion 556f.

[0241] The right unit right decorative member 557 is formed in a thin sheet shape, and is decorated with the manufacturer's logo of the pachinko machine 1, a logo in line with the concept of the presentation presented to the player on the game board 5, etc., in a translucent manner. The right unit right cover 558 protects the outer surface of the right unit right decorative member 557 when assembled to the door frame right side unit 550. The right unit right decorative member 557 and the right unit right cover 558 are formed approximately symmetrically with the right unit left decorative member 554 and the right unit left cover 555. Furthermore, the decorations applied to the right unit left decorative member 554 and the right unit right decorative member 557 may be the same or different.

[0242] The left light-shielding member 559 of the right unit is formed in a shape that is substantially the same as the shape of the left diffusion lens member 553 and the right diffusion lens member 556 of the right unit when viewed from the side. The left light-shielding member 559 of the right unit is formed in a shallow box shape that is open at the front and right. The left light-shielding member 559 of the right unit comprises a flat main body portion 559a extending in the vertical and front-rear directions, a rear wall portion 559b that protrudes in a short, flat shape from the rear edge of the main body portion 559a to the right when viewed from the front, a notch portion 559c that is cut out in a square shape from the right end of the rear wall portion 559b to the left and is formed at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, and a plurality of flat reinforcing portions 559d that extend to the right from the right surface of the main body portion 559a and also extend from the rear wall portion 559b to the front end of the main body portion 559a.

[0243] The main body portion 559a of the left light-shielding member 559 of the right unit has a side view shape in which the upper corner of the front end of a vertically extending rectangle is beveled, and the lower edge is inclined to move upward as it moves forward. It is formed to have substantially the same external shape as the main body portions 553a and 556a of the left diffusion lens member 553 of the right unit and the right diffusion lens member 556 of the right unit.

[0244] When assembled to the right side unit 550 of the door frame, the rear wall portion 559b extends to the right of the approximate center in the left-right direction of the right unit base 551. The left surface of the right light-shielding member 560 of the right unit abuts against the right end of this rear wall portion 559b.

[0245] Multiple notches 559c are formed at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, and some of them correspond to the central LEDs 552c of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame. These multiple notches 559c are formed in positions corresponding to the multiple notches 553c and 556c of the left diffusion lens member 553 and the right diffusion lens member 556 of the right unit. Therefore, when assembled to the right side unit 550 of the door frame, the central LEDs 552c of the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame face forward from the multiple notches 559c, and the multiple central LEDs 552c can illuminate and decorate the right unit decorative lens member 561 effectively.

[0246] Multiple reinforcing parts 559d are provided in pairs, each pair of reinforcing parts 559d spaced vertically at approximately the same height as the left and right width, and three such pairs are spaced a predetermined distance apart vertically. Each pair of reinforcing parts 559d is formed at a position behind the decorative member 564 attached to the right unit cover 563. These multiple reinforcing parts 559d increase the overall strength and rigidity of the right side unit 550 of the door frame.

[0247] The right light-shielding member 560 of the right unit has a side view shape in which the upper corner of the front end of a vertically extending rectangle is beveled, and the lower edge is inclined to move upward as it moves forward, and is formed in substantially the same shape as the main body 559a of the left light-shielding member 559 of the right unit. When assembled to the right side unit 550 of the door frame, the right light-shielding member 560 of the right unit closes the right-side opening that is open to the right of the left light-shielding member 559 of the right unit, which is formed in a shallow box shape.

[0248] The left light-shielding member 559 of the right unit and the right light-shielding member 560 of the right unit are each formed from a white material. As shown in Figure 55, when assembled to the right side unit 550 of the door frame, the main body portion 559a and the right light-shielding member 560 of the right unit are positioned close to the main body portions 553a and 556a of the left diffusion lens member 553 and the right diffusion lens member 556 of the right unit. As a result, the main body portion 559a of the left light-shielding member 559 and the right light-shielding member 560 of the right unit are spaced apart in the left-right direction, forming a space that extends in the vertical and front-back directions with a predetermined width in the left-right direction. Light emitted forward from the LED 552c in the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame is irradiated to the rear side of the right unit decorative lens member 561 through the space formed between the main body 559a of the left light-shielding member 559 of the right unit and the right light-shielding member 560 of the right unit.

[0249] Furthermore, the left light-shielding member 559 and the right light-shielding member 560 of the right unit are made of an opaque material, preventing the light emitted forward from the left LED 552a, middle LED 552c, and right LED 552b on the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame from interfering with each other. This allows the left decorative member 554 of the right unit, the right decorative member 557 of the right unit, and the decorative lens member 561 of the right unit to be illuminated and decorated only by the corresponding left LED 552a, right LED 552b, and middle LED 552c, respectively.

[0250] Furthermore, the left light-shielding member 559 of the right unit and the right light-shielding member 560 of the right unit have their internal spaces divided into four vertically by three sets of reinforcing parts 559d. As a result, the LEDs 552c in the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame, which are located at the rear of each divided space, prevent light interference between the spaces. This allows the parts of the right unit decorative lens member 561 located in front of each space to be illuminated and decorated independently. In other words, the front end of the right side unit 550 of the door frame can be divided into multiple (four) vertical regions, and each can be illuminated and decorated independently.

[0251] The right unit decorative lens member 561 is formed in a shape that conforms to the front end shapes of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 and the right unit right diffusion lens member 556. The right unit decorative lens member 561 comprises a circular decorative part 561a that is formed in a circular shape when viewed from the front, and a polyhedral decorative part 561b that extends vertically and has multiple polyhedra formed on it. The circular decorative part 561a is formed in a shape with a cylindrical part that is recessed on the front and extends short in the front and back directions, and has multiple triangular ribs in the circumferential direction on its outer circumference. The polyhedral decorative part 561b is formed in a shape in which multiple square pyramidal parts are arranged in the vertical direction on the front of a rectangular parallelepiped that extends vertically, and multiple polyhedra made of multiple triangles are arranged in the vertical direction on both the left and right sides of the rectangular parallelepiped part.

[0252] More specifically, the right unit decorative lens member 561 is formed such that, in the parts located in front of each of the four spaces divided by the three sets of reinforcing parts 559d in the right unit left light-shielding member 559, the top three parts have one polyfaced decorative part 561b on each of the upper and lower sides of the circular decorative part 561a which is positioned in the center in the vertical direction, while the lowest part has only a polyfaced decorative part 561b.

[0253] The right unit decorative lens member 561 is attached to the front ends of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 and the right unit right diffusion lens member 556. The right unit decorative lens member 561 can be seen from the front side (player side) through the transparent right unit cover 563. This right unit decorative lens member 561 is illuminated by an LED 552c located in the right side decorative substrate 552 of the door frame, which is positioned at the rear.

[0254] The right unit decorative base 562 is formed in the shape of a cylindrical frame that penetrates in the front-to-back direction. The right unit decorative base 562 is shaped to conform to the shapes of the front and upper ends of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 and the right unit right diffusion lens member 556. The right unit decorative base 562 is formed to cover both the left and right outer sides near the front ends of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 and the right unit right diffusion lens member 556, and both the left and right sides of the right unit decorative lens member 561. When assembled to the door frame right side unit 550, the front end of the right unit decorative lens member 561 protrudes slightly forward from the front end of the right unit decorative base 562. This right unit decorative base 562 is made of an opaque material.

[0255] The right unit cover 563 is formed to be able to close the front end opening of the right unit decorative base 562. This right unit cover 563 is made of a transparent material, and the right unit decorative lens member 561, which is located at the rear, can be seen from the front.

[0256] The decorative members 564 extend short vertically and are attached to the front surface of the right unit cover 563 at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. The decorative members 564 are made of an opaque material. The three decorative members 564 divide the right unit cover 563 (right unit decorative lens member 561) into four sections in the vertical direction.

[0257] The right side unit 550 of the door frame, when assembled to the door frame 3, protrudes significantly forward in a plate-like shape compared to the left side unit 530 of the door frame, and protrudes slightly forward from the front end of the upper plate 321 of the plate unit 320. The right side unit 550 of the door frame can be illuminated and decorated independently by the right unit left decorative member 554 and the right unit right decorative member 557, which are provided on both the protruding left and right sides, and the right unit decorative lens member 561, which is provided at the front end.

[0258] The right side unit 550 of the door frame is plate-shaped and protrudes significantly forward. Therefore, when this pachinko machine 1 is installed in the island layout of a gaming hall, the right side unit 550 of the door frame acts as a partition between it and the adjacent pachinko machine on the right. This creates the illusion for players of this pachinko machine 1 that they are playing in a private room, allowing them to play in a relaxed atmosphere without worrying about other players around them.

[0259] Furthermore, because the right side unit 550 of the door frame protrudes significantly forward, in a gaming hall where pachinko machines 1 are installed in a row, it can be seen from the side along the island equipment, even if not positioned directly in front of the pachinko machine 1, making the pachinko machine 1 stand out in a gaming hall where many pachinko machines are lined up. Therefore, by illuminating the left decorative member 554 and the right decorative member 557 on both the left and right sides of the right side unit 550 of the door frame, the presence of the pachinko machine 1 can be announced from a distance, even if not positioned near the front of the pachinko machine 1, making the pachinko machine 1 highly appealing to players.

[0260] Furthermore, in the right side unit 550 of the door frame, when a malfunction such as a ball jam or error occurs in the pachinko machine 1, the left decorative member 554 of the right unit, the right decorative member 557 of the right unit, and the decorative lens member 561 of the right unit on both the left and right sides are illuminated in a specific manner, so that the staff of the amusement hall can be immediately notified and made aware of the occurrence of a malfunction, and a quick response can be made to the malfunction, thereby resolving the interruption of the player's game as soon as possible and preventing the player from becoming frustrated and losing interest in the game.

[0261] [3-7. Door frame top unit] The door frame top unit 570 of the door frame 3 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 56 to 59. Figure 56(a) is a front view of the door frame top unit in the door frame, (b) is a perspective view of the door frame top unit from the front, and (c) is a perspective view of the door frame top unit from the rear. Figure 57 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame top unit from the front, and Figure 58 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame top unit from the rear. Figure 59 is a cross-sectional view taken along the PP line in Figure 56. The door frame top unit 570 is attached above the door frame left side unit 530 and the door frame right side unit 550, above the through-hole 111 on the front surface of the door frame base 110 of the door frame base unit 100.

[0262] The door frame top unit 570 includes a central base 571 mounted in the center in the left-right direction above the through-hole 111 on the front of the door frame base 110 of the door frame base unit 100, a pair of side bases 572 mounted on both the left and right sides of the central base 571 and also mounted on the front of the door frame base 110, a pair of upper speakers 573 mounted on the front of the pair of side bases 572, and a box-shaped structure that extends left and right, with the center in the left-right direction protruding forward and the rear open, and penetrates from front to back at the front position of the pair of upper speakers 573. The unit body 271 is attached to the front of the central base 571 and the pair of side bases 572 and has a pair of openings 574a, and a number of slits 574b (three on each side) that extend from a position closer to the center in the left-right direction than the pair of openings 574a to the vicinity of the center, and penetrate in the front-rear direction and spaced apart vertically. The unit body 271 is attached to the front of the central base 571 and the pair of side bases 572, and a speaker cover 575 made of perforated metal is attached to the rear of the unit body 271 and positioned in front of the pair of upper speakers 573 so as to close the pair of openings 574a.

[0263] Here, although not shown in the diagram, each of the pair of side bases 572 (left side base 572a, right side base 572b) has an internal space that is open only toward the side where the opening window is provided. Within these internal spaces, there is a structure in which the outer peripheral light-emitting parts 34 (left outer peripheral light-emitting part 34a, right outer peripheral light-emitting part 34b) are provided to emit light from outside the outer peripheral into the outer peripheral of the opening window, and outer peripheral light detection parts 35 (left outer peripheral light detection part 35a, right outer peripheral light detection part 35b) are provided to detect light from inside the outer peripheral of the opening window outside that outer peripheral.

[0264] Furthermore, the door frame top unit 570 includes a light-transmitting top decorative member 576 attached to the front center of the unit body 271 in the left-right direction, a door frame top decorative substrate 577 attached to the rear of the top decorative member 576 with multiple LEDs mounted on its front surface, and multiple (three on each side) transparent flat light guides attached to the front of the unit body 271, each closing multiple slits 574b and extending from near both ends of the top decorative member 576 across the opening 574a to near both ends of the unit body 271. The unit comprises a material 578, a top left decorative lens member 579 and a top right decorative lens member 580 which are attached to the left and right sides of the top central decorative member 576 on the front surface of the unit body 271 and cover the front surfaces of multiple (three) light guide members 578, respectively, and a top central left decorative member 581 and a top central right decorative member 582 which are attached to the front surface of the unit body 271 from the front side of the top left decorative lens member 579 and the top right decorative lens member 580, respectively, and extend from the left and right sides of the top central decorative member 576 to near the central end of the opening 574a, respectively.

[0265] Furthermore, the door frame top unit 570 includes a left door frame top decorative substrate 583 and a right door frame top decorative substrate 584, which are attached to the inside of both the left and right sides of the unit body 271, respectively, and LEDs are mounted on the parts facing the left and right outer ends of the multiple (three) light guide members 578; a pair of substrate bases 585, which are attached to the parts through which multiple (three) slits 574b, which are formed on both the left and right sides of the left-right center of the rear side of the unit body 271, respectively; a middle left door frame top decorative substrate 586 and a middle right door frame top decorative substrate 587, which are attached to the front of the pair of substrate bases 585, respectively, and LEDs 586a and 587a are mounted at positions behind the slits 574b of the unit body 271; and a pair of light shielding members 588, which are attached to the rear side of the unit body 271 in front of the middle left door frame top decorative substrate 586 and the middle right door frame top decorative substrate 587.

[0266] Furthermore, the door frame top unit 570 includes a door frame top unit relay board 589 mounted on the front of the central base 571 within the unit body 271, a relay board cover 590 mounted on the central base 571 so as to cover the front of the door frame top unit relay board 589, an upper cover 591 mounted on the unit body 271 so as to close the upper opening 574c of the unit body 271, and a lower cover 592 mounted on the unit body 271 so as to close the lower opening 574d of the unit body 271.

[0267] The central base 571 of the door frame top unit 570 is formed in a rectangular shape that extends to the left and right when viewed from the front. The central base 571 is formed in a box shape that opens to the rear and has multiple indentations on its front surface. A pair of side bases 572 are attached to the left and right ends of the central base 571, respectively. A pair of upper speakers 573 are attached to the front of each side base 572, respectively. When assembled to the door frame top unit 570, the front of each upper speaker 573 is mounted diagonally so that the side closer to the left-right center of the door frame top unit 570 moves towards the rear. The pair of upper speakers 573 are full-range cone-type speakers capable of outputting sound across a wide frequency range.

[0268] The unit body 271, when viewed from the front, is formed in a shape resembling a rectangle extending to the left and right, with the lower parts near both ends of the rectangle bulging downwards. In other words, the unit body 271, when viewed from the front, is formed in a shape resembling a rectangle extending to the left and right, with a trapezoidal notch that narrows upwards from the lower end. The unit body 271, when viewed from above, is formed in a shape that combines a rectangle extending to the left and right, a trapezoid projecting forward with its base at approximately half the width (length in the left-right direction) centered on the left-right center of the front end of the rectangle, and a rectangle projecting forward more briefly with the front end of the trapezoid as its longer side. Therefore, on the front of the unit body 271, both sides of the part that projects forward at the left-right center are located behind (recessed) the line connecting the left-right ends of the unit body 271 and the left-right ends of the front end of the projecting part.

[0269] The unit body 271 has openings 574a formed in the front of the unit, extending from the left and right ends to the parts that protrude forward, and these openings penetrate from front to back. The unit body 271 also has a plurality of slits 574b formed in the diagonally extending part of the trapezoidal part that protrudes forward on the front of the unit body 271, extending left and right at a predetermined height in the vertical direction and penetrating from front to back. The plurality of slits 574b extend left and right from near the front end of the part that protrudes diagonally forward on the front of the unit body 271 to near the openings 574a. In addition, the plurality of slits 574b are formed in groups of three on each side of the center of the unit body 271 in the left-right direction, spaced apart vertically.

[0270] Furthermore, the unit body 271 includes an upper opening 574c, which is a rectangular cutout in the center of the upper surface extending from the rear end towards the front, and a lower opening 574d, which is a cutout in the lower surface extending from the rear end towards the front in the left-right direction. The upper opening 574c of the unit body 271 is closed by an upper cover 591. The lower opening 574d is closed by a lower cover 592.

[0271] Furthermore, the unit body 271 is equipped with a top left decorative section 574e and a top right decorative section 574f that extend vertically at both the left and right ends. The front surface of the top left decorative section 574e is formed at approximately the same position in the front-to-back direction as the front surface of the area where the opening 574a is formed. The front surface of the top right decorative section 574f is formed to be located further forward than the front surface of the area where the opening 574a is formed. This unit body 271 is made of an opaque material.

[0272] The top central decorative member 576 is attached to the front end of a portion that protrudes forward from the center in the left-right direction on the front of the unit body 271. The top central decorative member 576, when viewed from the front, is formed in a shape that combines a modified pentagon, in which the left-right center of the lower side of a roughly square is bent downwards, and roughly right-angled triangles formed by connecting the tips of the sides extending outward from the upper ends of the left and right sides of the modified pentagon to the lower ends of the left and right sides of the pentagon. The top central decorative member 576 is inclined so that the modified pentagon portion on the front moves backward as it is directed downwards. The top central decorative member 576 is formed in a three-dimensional shape as a whole and is translucent.

[0273] The door frame top decorative substrate 577 is mounted on the rear side of the top decorative member 576 in a state where its front surface is inclined to move backward as it moves downward, so as to align with the front surface of the irregularly shaped pentagonal portion of the top decorative member 576. The door frame top decorative substrate 577 has multiple LEDs mounted on its front surface, and by illuminating these LEDs, the top decorative member 576 can be illuminated.

[0274] The light guide member 578 is made of a transparent material. The light guide member 578 is shaped to conform to the shape of the left and right outer edges of the forward-projecting portion on the front surface of the unit body 271. If we describe the unit body 271 as having end sides on the left and right sides and center sides on the right and center sides, the light guide member 578 consists of a straight portion 578a that extends straight left and right from the end side toward the center, and an arc portion 578b that extends in a large-radius arc shape from the central end side of the straight portion 578a toward the center, moving forward as it moves toward the center. In the straight portion 578a, the depth in the front-to-back direction is smaller than the height in the up-to-down direction, while in the arc portion 578b, the depth in the front-to-back direction is larger than the height in the up-to-down direction. Furthermore, the light guide member 578 has a constant vertical height in the straight portion 578a, and the vertical height of the arc portion 578b decreases towards the center. When assembled to the door frame top unit 570, the straight portion 578a is located directly in front of the opening 574a of the unit body 271, and the arc portion 578b closes the slit 574b of the unit body 271 from the front.

[0275] The light guide member 578 includes a diffuse reflecting portion 578c consisting of sawtooth-shaped irregularities formed on the rear surface of the straight portion 578a, and a diffuse input portion 578d consisting of a plurality of irregularities formed on the rear side of the arc portion 578b.

[0276] When assembled to the door frame top unit 570, the light guide member 578 has its outer ends facing the LEDs 583a and 584a of the left or right decorative substrate 583 or the right decorative substrate 584 of the door frame top, and its diffusion input section 578d faces the LEDs 586a and 587a of the middle left decorative substrate 586 or the middle right decorative substrate 587 of the door frame top. When light from the LEDs 583a and 584a of the left or right decorative substrate 583 or the right decorative substrate 584 of the door frame top is incident on the light guide member 578 from its outer ends, the light travels towards the center within the straight section 578a and is sequentially reflected forward from the ends by the diffusion reflector section 578c formed on the rear surface of the straight section 578a, so that light is irradiated forward from the entire front surface of the straight section 578a. In front of the light guide member 578, either the top left decorative lens member 579 or the top right decorative lens member 580 is positioned, and the portion of these members in front of the straight section 578a is illuminated.

[0277] Furthermore, when light from the LEDs 586a and 587a of the door frame top left decorative substrate 586 or the door frame top right decorative substrate 587 is incident on the light guide member 578 through the diffusion input portion 578d formed on the rear surface of the arc portion 578b, the light is widely diffused into the arc portion 578b by the irregularities of the diffusion input portion 578d, and light is irradiated forward from the entire front surface of the arc portion 578b. As a result, the portion of the top left decorative lens member 579 or the top right decorative lens member 580 located in front of the arc portion 578b can be illuminated and decorated.

[0278] In this way, the light guide member 578 guides light from the LEDs 583a and 586a of the left decorative substrate 583 and the middle left decorative substrate 586 of the top of the door frame, or from the LEDs 584a and 587a of the right decorative substrate 584 and the middle right decorative substrate 587 of the top of the door frame, so that the entire top left decorative lens member 579 or top right decorative lens member 580, which is positioned in front, can be illuminated and decorated in a good (uniform) manner.

[0279] The top left decorative lens member 579 is attached to the front of the unit body 271 so as to cover the front of the three light guide members 578, which are located to the left of the center in the left-right direction on the front surface of the unit body 271. The top left decorative lens member 579 has three decorative lens sections 579a, each independently housing the three light guide members 578 from the front. The decorative lens sections 579a of the top left decorative lens member 579 are formed in a shape that follows the light guide members 578 and cover the front surface and both the upper and lower surfaces of the light guide members 578. On the front surface of each decorative lens section 579a, there are rows of square pyramidal pyramidal protrusions projecting forward from left to right.

[0280] The top left decorative lens member 579 extends from the left end of the top middle decorative member 576 in the door frame top unit 570 to the right end of the top left decorative section 574e of the unit body 271. In other words, the top left decorative lens member 579 decorates almost the entire area to the left of the top middle decorative member 576 in the door frame top unit 570. This top left decorative lens member 579 is illuminated by LEDs 583a and 586a on the door frame top left decorative substrate 583 and the door frame top middle left decorative substrate 586 via three light guide members 578.

[0281] The top right decorative lens member 580 is attached to the front of the unit body 271 so as to cover the front of the three light guide members 578, which are located to the right of the center in the left-right direction on the front surface of the unit body 271. The top right decorative lens member 580 has three decorative lens sections 580a, each independently housing the three light guide members 578 from the front. The decorative lens sections 580a of the top right decorative lens member 580 are formed in a shape that follows the light guide members 578 and cover the front surface and both the upper and lower surfaces of the light guide members 578. On the front surface of each decorative lens section 580a, there are rows of square pyramidal protrusions projecting forward from left to right.

[0282] The top right decorative lens member 580 extends from the right end of the top middle decorative member 576 in the door frame top unit 570 to the left end of the top right decorative section 574f of the unit body 271. In other words, the top right decorative lens member 580 decorates almost the entire area to the right of the top middle decorative member 576 in the door frame top unit 570. This top right decorative lens member 580 is illuminated by LEDs 584a and 587a on the door frame top right decorative substrate 584 and the door frame top middle right decorative substrate 587 via three light guide members 578.

[0283] The top center-left decorative member 581 is attached to the front of the unit body 271 from in front of the top left decorative lens member 579, between the left opening 574a on the front of the unit body 271 and the top center decorative member 576. When assembled to the door frame top unit 570, the top center-left decorative member 581 is attached so as to fill the space between the three decorative lens portions 579a of the top left decorative lens member 579, with the central part of its front protruding further forward than the front of the top left decorative lens member 579. This top center-left decorative member 581 is made of an opaque material.

[0284] The top center-right decorative member 582 is attached to the front of the unit body 271 from in front of the top right decorative lens member 580, between the right-side opening 574a on the front of the unit body 271 and the top center decorative member 576. When assembled to the door frame top unit 570, the top center-right decorative member 582 is attached so as to fill the space between the three decorative lens portions 580a of the top right decorative lens member 580, with the central part of its front protruding further forward than the front of the top right decorative lens member 580. This top center-right decorative member 582 is made of an opaque material.

[0285] The door frame top left decorative substrate 583 is mounted on the inside of the left side (top left decorative part 574e) within the unit body 271, with the side on which the LED 583a is mounted facing to the right. The LED 583a on the door frame top left decorative substrate 583 is mounted opposite the left end face of the three light guide members 578 that are mounted on the front left side of the center of the unit body 271 (see Figure 59). Each of the three LEDs 583a can be made to emit light independently. The LED 583a on the door frame top left decorative substrate 583 can illuminate and decorate the part of the top left decorative lens member 579 located in front of the left opening 574a of the unit body 271, via the straight parts 578a of the three light guide members 578.

[0286] The door frame top right decorative substrate 584 is mounted on the inside of the right side (top right decorative part 574f) within the unit body 271, with the side on which the LED 584a is mounted facing left. The LED 584a on the door frame top right decorative substrate 584 is mounted opposite the right end face of the three light guide members 578 that are mounted on the front right side of the unit body 271, which is slightly to the right of the center in the left-right direction (see Figure 59). Each of the three LEDs 584a can be made to emit light independently. The LED 584a on the door frame top right decorative substrate 584 can illuminate and decorate the part of the top right decorative lens member 580 located in front of the right-side opening 574a of the unit body 271, via the straight parts 578a of the three light guide members 578.

[0287] A pair of substrate bases 585 are attached to the rear side of the portion of the unit body 271 in which a plurality of slits 574b are formed. The pair of substrate bases 585 are formed to be approximately symmetrical with respect to each other. The substrate base 585 is formed in the shape of a triangular prism box with an open space between the upper and lower hypotenuses. It comprises a side wall that is approximately square in side view, having sides extending vertically and horizontally, a rear wall that is square in front view, extending outward at right angles from the rear edge of the side wall, an upper wall that is approximately a right triangle connecting the upper edges of the side wall and the rear wall with the line connecting the front end of the upper edge of the side wall to the middle of the upper edge of the side wall as the hypotenuse, and a lower wall that is approximately a right triangle connecting the lower edges of the side wall and the rear wall on the opposite side from the upper wall. The substrate base 585 is attached to the unit body 271 such that the open portion is closed by the unit body 271. The base plate 585 is fitted with either the door frame top center left decorative board 586 or the door frame top center right decorative board 587 so that the open portion is closed.

[0288] The door frame top center left decorative substrate 586 is attached to the substrate base 585, which is mounted on the rear left side of the unit body 271 from the left-right center, in such a way that it closes the open box-shaped section from the front. By being attached to the front of the substrate base 585, the front of the door frame top center left decorative substrate 586 is inclined with respect to the left-right extending surface so that it moves forward as it moves towards the left-right center of the unit body 271. As a result, when assembled to the door frame top unit 570, the front of the door frame top center left decorative substrate 586 is approximately parallel to the surface of the section where the three slits 574b are formed to the left of the left-right center of the unit body 271.

[0289] The decorative substrate 586 on the left center of the door frame top has multiple LEDs 586a mounted in positions corresponding to the three slits 574b of the unit body 271. As a result, when the decorative substrate 586 on the left center of the door frame top unit 570 is assembled, the multiple LEDs 586a face forward from the three slits 574b to the left of the center of the unit body 271. By emitting light from the multiple LEDs 586a, the decorative substrate 586 on the left center of the door frame top can illuminate and decorate the part of the top left decorative lens member 579 that is close to the top center decorative member 576 via the arc portion 578b of the light guide member 578.

[0290] The right-center decorative base plate 587 of the door frame top is attached to the base plate base 585, which is mounted on the rear right side of the left-right center of the unit body 271, in such a way that it closes the open box-shaped section from the front. By being mounted on the front of the base plate base 585, the front of the right-center decorative base plate 587 is inclined with respect to the left-right extending surface so that it moves forward as it moves towards the left-right center of the unit body 271. As a result, when assembled to the door frame top unit 570, the front of the right-center decorative base plate 587 is approximately parallel to the surface of the section where the three slits 574b are formed on the right side of the left-right center of the unit body 271.

[0291] The decorative substrate 587 on the right center of the door frame top has multiple LEDs 587a mounted in positions corresponding to the three slits 574b of the unit body 271. As a result, when the decorative substrate 587 on the right center of the door frame top is assembled to the door frame top unit 570, the multiple LEDs 587a face forward from the three slits 574b to the right of the center of the unit body 271. By emitting light from the multiple LEDs 587a, the decorative substrate 587 on the right center of the door frame top can illuminate and decorate the part of the top right decorative lens member 580 that is close to the top center decorative member 576 via the arc portion 578b of the light guide member 578.

[0292] The pair of light-shielding members 588 are attached to the front and rear sides of the unit body 271 at a position between the door frame top left decorative substrate 586 and the door frame top right decorative substrate 587 and the unit body 271. The pair of light-shielding members 588 are formed from an opaque material and are substantially symmetrical to each other. The light-shielding members 588 partition the space between the upper and lower parts of the multiple LEDs 586a, 587a on the door frame top left decorative substrate 586 and the door frame top right decorative substrate 587, which are arranged in a row corresponding to the three slits 574b on the unit body 271. With these light-shielding members 588, only the LEDs 586a, 587a located immediately behind each light guide member 578 can guide light forward by that light guide member 578, and the respective decorative lens portions 579a, 580a of the top left decorative lens member 579 and the top right decorative lens member 580 can be illuminated effectively while remaining independent.

[0293] The door frame top unit relay board 589 is mounted on the front of the central base 571. The door frame top unit relay board 589 relays the connections between the pair of upper speakers 573, the door frame top central decorative board 577, the door frame top left decorative board 583, the door frame top right decorative board 584, the door frame top central left decorative board 586, and the door frame top central right decorative board 587, and the door frame base unit 100's door body relay board. The door frame top unit relay board 589 is connected to the door body relay board via a connection cable (not shown) provided on the door frame right side unit 550. The front of the door frame top unit relay board 589 is covered by a relay board cover 590.

[0294] The door frame top unit 570 is equipped with a top central decorative member 576 that protrudes forward in the center in the left-right direction, and the front surfaces on both the left and right sides of the top central decorative member 576 are curved so as to be recessed backward. This creates the illusion for the player that only the top central decorative member 576 protrudes significantly forward, thereby strongly attracting the player's attention to the pachinko machine 1.

[0295] Furthermore, the door frame top unit 570 is formed such that the top left decorative lens member 579 and the top right decorative lens member 580, which decorate both the left and right sides of the top central decorative member 576 located in the center, extend from both the left and right sides of the top central decorative member 576 to the top left decorative section 574e and the top right decorative section 574f formed at both ends of the unit body 271. As a result, the door frame top unit 570 can decorate the entire upper front surface of the door frame 3.

[0296] In this configuration, the door frame top unit 570 is equipped with upper speakers 573, each protected by a speaker cover 575 made of perforated metal, located behind the left and right ends where the top left decorative lens member 579 and the top right decorative lens member 580 are positioned. The speaker cover 575 faces forward from between the three decorative lens sections 579a and 580a that are spaced apart vertically from the top left decorative lens member 579 and the top right decorative lens member 580. As a result, the sound output from the left and right upper speakers 573 can be heard by the player in good condition, allowing them to enjoy high-quality stereo sound.

[0297] Furthermore, the door frame top unit 570, with its multiple light guide members 578 provided on the rear sides of the top left decorative lens member 579 and the top right decorative lens member 580, can guide light from the door frame top left decorative substrate 583, the door frame top right decorative substrate 584, the door frame top middle left decorative substrate 586, and the door frame top middle right decorative substrate 587 to the top left decorative lens member 579 and the top right decorative lens member 580, thereby enabling the entire front surface of the top left decorative lens member 579 and the top right decorative lens member 580 to be illuminated and decorated. Accordingly, the door frame top unit 570 can illuminate and decorate the entire front surface of the upper part of the door frame 3, including the front of the left and right upper speakers 573.

[0298] [3-8. Effects of Door Frames] The effects of the door frame 3 will now be explained. In the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment, the door frame 3 has through-holes 111 that penetrate the front and rear of the door frame base 110 in the door frame base unit 100, which are larger in the vertical and horizontal directions than in conventional pachinko machines. In line with the enlargement of the through-holes 111, the vertical height of the tray unit 320 and the door frame top unit 570 has been reduced, and the horizontal width of the door frame left side unit 530 and the door frame right side unit 550 has been reduced. As a result, the front of the game board 5 (game area 5a) attached to the main frame 4 can be seen as widely as possible from the player (front) through the through-holes 111 (glass unit 190), and it is compatible with game boards 5 with a wide game area 5a.

[0299] The door frame 3 is equipped with a performance control unit 400 (second performance control unit 400A) located below the through-hole 111, which has a large hemispherical operation button 410 in the left-right center of the plate unit 320 that bulges forward. The front surfaces (front surfaces of the lower front decorative part 326c of the plate) of the lower halves (the parts below the upper plate 321) on both the left and right sides of the performance control unit 400 are formed in a recessed shape that is carved out towards the rear (the front surfaces of both sides of the performance control unit 400 are curved in a concave shape so that they are positioned further back than the straight line connecting the front ends of both sides of the plate unit 320 and the front ends of both sides of the performance control unit 400). As a result, the performance control unit 400, which is attached to the front surface in the left-right center of the plate unit 320, appears to protrude significantly forward, making the performance control unit 400 stand out and emphasize it to the player, and drawing their attention to it.

[0300] The door frame 3 has a performance control unit 400 located on the front of the plate unit 320 below the through-hole 111, and the large, hemispherical, transparent control button 410 is mounted at an angle so that it faces diagonally upward and forward. As a result, when a player sits in front of the pachinko machine 1, the control button 410 faces the player's head (face), and when the player lowers their gaze to look at the performance control unit 400, the control button 410 is visible almost directly in front of them. This makes the large, round control button 410 highly visible, increasing anticipation for the performances using the control button 410, and also allows the performance images displayed on the door frame side performance display device 460 located inside the transparent control button 410 to be clearly visible, allowing the player to fully enjoy the performance images.

[0301] Furthermore, the door frame 3 is equipped with a large, forward-protruding, rounded operating button 410, which has a diameter approximately the same as the total height of the plate unit 320. This allows the user to touch any part of the operating button 410 with a short hand movement, making it relatively easy to "quickly" press the operating button 410. In addition, because the large-diameter, forward-protruding, rounded operating button 410 is mounted at an angle, it can be pressed from above like the operating buttons on conventional pachinko machines, but it can also be easily operated from the left, right, or even the front. The user-friendly operating button 410 makes the gameplay using the operating button 410 more enjoyable.

[0302] Furthermore, the door frame 3 is mounted in a suspended state to the performance control unit 400 by the plate unit 320, and the performance control unit 400 is equipped with a vibration motor 424 at its lower part. By rotating the vibration motor 424 according to the game state to generate vibrations, a strong vibration can be transmitted to the player's hand touching the top of the operation button 410, surprising the player and making the performance using the operation button 410 even more enjoyable.

[0303] Furthermore, since the door frame 3 is equipped with a large operation button 410 (performance operation unit 400) that extends across the entire height of the tray unit 320 in the center of the front of the tray unit 320, the lower tray 322 located below the upper tray 321 becomes less conspicuous compared to conventional pachinko machines. This makes it easier for players accustomed to conventional pachinko machines to recognize that it is clearly different, resulting in a highly appealing pachinko machine 1 that strongly attracts the attention of players.

[0304] Furthermore, the door frame 3 is formed such that the lower tray 322 wraps around to the rear of the performance control unit 400 relative to the lower tray opening 326d, which is located to the left of the performance control unit 400 on the front of the tray unit 320. This allows the volume of the lower tray 322 to be larger relative to the size of the lower tray opening 326d, ensuring a sufficient number of game balls can be stored in the lower tray 322. In addition, because the rear of the lower tray 322 wraps around to the rear of the performance control unit 400, when a player puts their left hand into the lower tray 322 or places their fingers on the lower tray opening 326d, their fingertips are less likely to touch the rear wall of the lower tray 322. This reduces discomfort for the player, preventing a decrease in interest in the game, and also allows the player to tactilely recognize that the volume of the lower tray 322 is larger than the size of the lower tray opening 326d.

[0305] Furthermore, the door frame 3 has a lower tray ball supply port 323c through which game balls from the upper tray 321 are released into the lower tray 322, and a lower tray ball removal hole 322a for removing game balls from the lower tray 322 into a coin box or the like below the tray unit 320, arranged in a straight line from front to back. In a front view, it is positioned to the right outside of the lower tray opening 326d (to the right of the left end of the frame unit 415 of the performance operation unit 400). In other words, because the lower tray ball supply port 323c and the lower tray ball removal hole 322a are located behind the performance operation unit 400, the performance operation unit mounting portion 326a on the tray unit cover 326 (the right outer side of the lower tray opening 326d), the front end of the lower tray cover 340, etc., the lower tray ball supply port 323c and the lower tray ball removal hole 322a are not visible from the player's side, the appearance of the tray unit 320 (pachinko machine 1) can be made neater, and the appearance of the pachinko machine 1 can be improved.

[0306] Furthermore, in the lower tray 322, the door frame 3 has a lower tray ball removal hole 322a positioned below the front (directly in front) of the lower tray ball supply opening 323c. Therefore, when the lower tray ball removal hole 322a is open, game balls released from the upper tray 321 etc. into the lower tray 322 are immediately discharged from the lower tray ball removal hole 322a into the prize box below as soon as they enter the lower tray 322. At this time, the player cannot see the lower tray ball supply opening 323c or the lower tray ball removal hole 322a, and therefore cannot see the flow of game balls from the upper tray 321 etc. through the lower tray 322 to the prize box. This creates the illusion for the player that the game balls in the upper tray 321, or the game balls dispensed from the payout device 830 when the upper tray 321 is full, are being directly discharged into the coin box. As a result, the player is less likely to feel the inconvenience of the game balls passing through the lower tray 322, and the player can concentrate on the game (playing the game balls, viewing the visual effects, etc.), thus preventing a decline in enjoyment.

[0307] Furthermore, the door frame 3 has a lower tray ball removal hole 322a positioned slightly to the front left of the lower tray ball supply opening 323c, and the raised wall portion of the lower tray 322 to the right of the lower tray ball removal hole 322a is curved diagonally so as to face the direction of the lower tray ball removal hole 322a. This allows the game balls supplied from the lower tray ball supply opening 323c to the lower tray 322a to be directly guided to the lower tray ball removal hole 322a, or to be indirectly guided to the lower tray ball removal hole 322a by being reflected off the right wall portion. As a result, when the lower tray ball removal hole 322a remains open, the game balls supplied to the lower tray 322 from the lower tray ball supply port 323c do not enter the area to the left of the lower tray ball removal hole 322a (lower tray first area A1) in the lower tray 322, and can be discharged downward from the lower tray ball removal hole 322a. Therefore, the game balls can be discharged downward from the lower tray 322 (to the coin box) without the player seeing the game balls circulating inside the lower tray 322, thus achieving the same effects as described above.

[0308] Furthermore, the door frame 3 has a lower tray opening 326d of the tray unit cover 326, which faces forward towards the lower tray 322, between the performance operation unit mounting section 326a (performance operation unit 400) and the lower speaker opening 326e. Therefore, even if a player places their hand over the lower tray opening 326d or puts their hand into the lower tray 322, the front of the lower speaker opening 326e is not obstructed by the player's hand. As a result, the sound from the lower speaker 921 of the circuit board unit 900 of the main frame 4 can be output forward effectively, allowing the player to enjoy the sound provided by this pachinko machine 1. In addition, when a player puts their hand into or near the lower tray 322, the vibrations from the deep bass sound emitted forward from the lower speaker 921 through the lower speaker opening 326e can be felt tactilely by the player, entertaining the player and preventing a decrease in enjoyment.

[0309] Furthermore, since the door frame 3 is equipped with a right-side door frame unit 550 that protrudes significantly forward in a plate-like manner from the right side of the through-hole 111, when this pachinko machine 1 is installed in the island equipment of a gaming hall, the right-side door frame unit 550 can act as a partition between it and the adjacent pachinko machine on the right side. This can give players of this pachinko machine 1 the illusion that they are playing in a private room, allowing them to play in a relaxed atmosphere without worrying about other players around them.

[0310] Furthermore, since the front end and both sides of the right side unit 550 of the door frame 3, which is plate-shaped and protrudes significantly forward, can be illuminated, even if the pachinko machine 1 is not located directly in front of it in a gaming hall where pachinko machines 1 are lined up, the presence of the pachinko machine 1 can be announced from a distance, such as from the side along the island equipment, making the pachinko machine 1 highly appealing to players.

[0311] Furthermore, the door frame 3 includes a top decorative member 576 that protrudes forward from the center in the left-right direction on the upper door frame top unit 570 above the through-hole 111, and the front surfaces on both the left and right sides of the top decorative member 576 are formed in a concave shape that is recessed backward (the front surfaces on both the left and right sides of the top decorative member 576 on the door frame top unit 570 are curved in a concave shape so that they are positioned further backward than the straight line connecting the front ends on both the left and right ends of the door frame top unit 570 and the front ends on both the left and right ends of the top decorative member 576). As a result, only the top decorative member 576 of the door frame top unit 570 appears to protrude significantly forward, making the top decorative member 576 stand out and emphasize it to the player, and drawing their attention to it.

[0312] Incidentally, in conventional pachinko machines, the upper part of the door frame is equipped with a pair of upper speakers spaced apart on the left and right, making the two upper speakers conspicuous. In contrast, the door frame 3 of this embodiment is equipped with a pair of upper speakers 573 at both the left and right ends of the door frame top unit 570, which is mounted above the through-hole 111, and whose front surfaces are protected by speaker covers 575 made of perforated metal. Furthermore, it is equipped with a top left decorative lens member 579 and a top right decorative lens member 580 that extend from both the left and right sides of the central top decorative member 576, passing in front of the speaker covers 575 to both ends in the left-right direction, and the entire front surface of the top left decorative lens member 579 and the top right decorative lens member 580 can be illuminated and decorated. This allows the entire upper front surface of the door frame 3 to be decorated, making the pair of upper speakers 573 less conspicuous on the top of the door frame 3. This allows players to immediately recognize that the machine has a distinctly different design from conventional pachinko machines, resulting in a pachinko machine 1 that is highly appealing to players. Furthermore, the pair of upper speakers 573 allow players to enjoy high-quality stereo sound.

[0313] Thus, in this embodiment, the door frame 3 has the performance operation unit 400 attached to the plate unit 320 and the top central decorative member 576 of the door frame top unit 570 protruding significantly forward from the center in the left-right direction, both below and above the through-hole 111. As a result, a unified decoration is presented to the player, with a prominent imaginary line passing through the center in the left-right direction, and the sophisticated decoration makes it stand out from other pachinko machines, resulting in a highly appealing pachinko machine 1.

[0314] Furthermore, since the door frame 3 has the top central decorative member 576 and the performance operation unit 400 of the door frame top unit 570, which are positioned vertically in the center in the left-right direction, protruding forward, when the top central decorative member 576 and the performance operation unit 400 are illuminated, a line of light extending vertically in the center in the left-right direction of the front of the door frame 3 can be shown to the player, guiding the player's gaze to the operation buttons 410, etc., of the performance operation unit 400, which are positioned in the center in the left-right direction.

[0315] [5. Overall structure of the game board] Next, the overall configuration of the game board 5 of the pachinko machine 1 will be explained in detail with reference to Figures 60 to 66, etc. Figure 60 is a front view of the game board. Figure 61 is an exploded perspective view of the game board as seen from the front, disassembled into its main components, and Figure 62 is an exploded perspective view of the game board as seen from the rear, disassembled into its main components, and Figure 63 is a front view of the game board excluding the front and back units, Figure 64 is an exploded perspective view of the game board from Figure 63 as seen from the front, disassembled, and Figure 65 is an exploded perspective view of the game board from Figure 63 as seen from the rear, disassembled. Figure 66 is an explanatory diagram showing a magnified front view of the function display unit when the game board is installed in the pachinko machine.

[0316] The game board 5 has a game area 5a into which game balls are driven when a player operates the handle 302 of the handle unit 300. The game board 5 also includes a front component 1000 that demarcates the outer perimeter of the game area 5a and has an outer shape that is roughly rectangular when viewed from the front, a plate-shaped game panel 1100 attached to the rear side of the front component 1000 and demarcates the rear end of the game area 5a, a circuit board holder 1200 attached to the lower rear side of the game panel 1100, and a main control unit 1300 attached to the rear surface of the circuit board holder 1200 and having a main control board 1310 that controls the game content performed by driving game balls into the game area 5a. Multiple obstacle nails that come into contact with the game balls are planted in a predetermined gauge arrangement in the part of the front of the game panel 1100 that is within the game area 5a (not shown in the figure).

[0317] Furthermore, the game board 5 includes a function display unit 1400 that displays the game status based on control signals from the main control board 1310 and is mounted on the lower left corner of the front component 1000 so that it is visible to the player; a peripheral control unit 1500 mounted on the rear side of the game panel 1100; a game board-side performance display device 1600 that is positioned in the center of the game area 5a when viewed from the front and is capable of displaying predetermined performance images; a front unit 2000 mounted on the front of the game panel 1100; and a rear unit 3000 mounted on the rear side of the game panel 1100. The game board-side performance display device 1600 is mounted on the rear side of the rear unit 3000, and the peripheral control unit 1500 is mounted on the rear side of the game board-side performance display device 1600.

[0318] The game panel 1100 comprises a transparent, flat panel plate 1110 whose outer circumference is slightly larger than the inner circumference of the frame-shaped front component 1000, and a frame-shaped panel holder 1120 which holds the outer circumference of the panel plate 1110 and is attached to the rear side of the front component 1000, with a back unit 3000 attached to its rear surface.

[0319] The front unit 2000 includes a plurality of general prize slots 2001 that are always open to receive game balls that have been driven into the game area 5a, a first start slot 2002 that is always open to receive game balls at a different location within the game area 5a from the plurality of general prize slots 2001, a gate section 2003 that is installed at a predetermined location within the game area 5a and detects the passage of game balls, a second start slot 2004 that can receive game balls according to the result of a normal lottery drawn when a game ball passes through the gate section 2003, and a large prize slot 2005 that can receive game balls according to the result of a first special lottery drawn when a game ball is received into the first start slot 2002 or the second start slot 2004.

[0320] Furthermore, the front unit 2000 includes a start-up unit 2100 mounted in the center of the left-right direction within the game area 5a, directly above the out-up opening 1126, and having a first start-up opening 2002 and a large prize-winning opening 2005; a lower side unit 2200 mounted along the inner rail 1002 to the left of the start-up unit 2100 in a front view, and having multiple general prize-winning openings 2001; an upper side unit 2300 mounted above the left end of the lower side unit 2200 in a front view; and a frame-shaped center mechanism 2500 mounted approximately in the center of the game area 5a, and having a gate section 2003 and a second start-up opening 2004.

[0321] The back unit 3000 includes a back box 3010 that is attached to the rear surface of the panel holder 1120 and is box-shaped with an open front and a square opening 3010a in its rear wall, and a locking mechanism 3020 that is attached to the rear surface of the back box 3010 and is for attaching the game board side display device 1600 to be removable.

[0322] Furthermore, the back unit 3000 includes a back left center decorative unit 3050 mounted at the front end of the back box 3010, slightly above the center in the vertical direction on the left side when viewed from the front; a back lower rear movable display unit 3100 mounted below the opening 3010a inside the back box 3010, near the rear wall of the back box 3010; a back upper left movable display unit 3200 mounted above the opening 3010a inside the back box 3010, on the left side when viewed from the front; a back left movable display unit 3300 mounted on the left side of the opening 3010a inside the back box 3010 when viewed from the front; a back upper center movable display unit 3400 mounted above the opening 3010a inside the back box 3010, extending from the center in the horizontal direction to the right edge when viewed from the front; and a back lower front movable display unit 3500 mounted below the opening 3010a inside the back box 3010, in front of the back lower rear movable display unit 3100.

[0323] [5-1. Front Components] Next, the front component 1000 will be described mainly with reference to Figures 64 and 65, etc. The front component 1000 has an outer shape that is approximately square when viewed from the front, and an inner shape that is approximately circular and penetrates in the front-to-back direction, with the inner circumference of the inner shape defining the outer perimeter of the game area 5a. This front component 1000 includes an outer rail 1001 that extends in an arc shape along the circumferential direction clockwise from the lower end slightly to the left of the center in the front view, passing over the upper end of the center in the front view and extending to the upper right diagonally; an inner rail 1002 that is positioned inside the front component 1000, approximately along the outer rail 1001, and extends in an arc shape from the lower center in the front view to the upper left diagonally; and an out-guiding section 1003 that is formed at the lowest point of the game area 5a on the right side of the lower end of the inner rail 1002 when viewed from the front, and is inclined to be lower toward the rear.

[0324] Furthermore, the front component 1000 includes a right lower rail 1004 that slopes linearly from the right end of the out guide section 1003 in a front view to the vicinity of the right edge of the front component 1000 such that the right end is slightly higher; a right rail 1005 that extends from the right end of the right lower rail 1004 along the right edge of the front component 1000 to the lower side of the upper end of the outer rail 1001, with its upper part curved inward from the front component 1000; and a stopper section 1006 that connects the upper end of the right rail 1005 to the upper end of the outer rail 1001, and which comes into contact with the game ball that has rolled along the outer rail 1001.

[0325] Furthermore, the aforementioned component 1000 is pivotally supported at the upper end of the inner rail 1002 and includes a backflow prevention member 1007 that is rotatable only between a closed position extending upward from the upper end of the inner rail 1002 to close the gap between it and the outer rail 1001, and an open position that rotates clockwise in a front view to open the gap between it and the outer rail 1001, and is biased by a spring (not shown) to return to the closed position.

[0326] Furthermore, the front component 1000 is provided with anti-theft recesses 1008 that are recessed from the front end to the rear at the outer side of the parts of the outer rail 1001 and inner rail 1002 that extend approximately vertically from the lower end, the underside of the out guide part 1003 and the lower right rail 1004, and the outer side of the right rail 1005. When the game board 5 is attached to the main frame 4 and the door frame 3 is closed to the main frame 4, the rear projection 202 of the anti-theft cover 200 on the door frame 3 is inserted into these anti-theft recesses 1008. As a result, the space between the security cover 200 and the game board 5 (front component 1000) is intricately bent by the rear projection 202 of the security cover 200 and the security recess 1008 of the front component 1000. Therefore, even if someone tries to insert an illegal tool such as piano wire into the game area 5a from the lower front of the game board 5 through the space between the security cover 200 and the front component 1000, it will be blocked by the rear projection 202 and the security recess 1008, thus preventing the illegal tool from entering the game area 5a.

[0327] Furthermore, the front component 1000 is equipped with a plurality of positioning protrusions 1009 that protrude rearward from the rear end of the inner rail 1002. These positioning protrusions 1009 can be inserted into inner rail fixing holes 1116 formed in the panel plate 1110 of the game panel 1100, thereby positioning and fixing the inner rail 1002 to the front surface of the panel plate 1110.

[0328] Furthermore, the front component 1000 is equipped with a plurality of mounting bosses 1010 that protrude rearward from its rear surface. The plurality of mounting bosses 1010 can be positioned relative to the panel holder 1120 (game panel 1100) by being inserted into the mounting holes 1128 of the panel holder 1120 in the game panel 1100.

[0329] Furthermore, the front component 1000 has a notch 1011 that is cut upward from the lower end at the lower left corner when viewed from the front. This notch 1011 coincides with the notch 1127 of the panel holder 1120 in the game panel 1100, so that when the game board 5 is attached to the main frame 4, the front end openings of the normal guide path 861 and the full guide path 862 of the lower full ball path unit 860 face forward, passing through these notches 1011 and 1127.

[0330] [5-2. Game Panel] Next, the game panel 1100 will be described mainly with reference to Figures 61 and 62, 64 and 65, etc. The game panel 1100 comprises a flat panel plate 1110 made of transparent synthetic resin, the outer circumference of which is formed to be slightly larger than the inner circumference of the frame-shaped front component 1000, and a frame-shaped panel holder 1120 which holds the outer circumference of the panel plate 1110 and is attached to the rear side of the front component 1000, and to which the back unit 3000 is attached.

[0331] The panel plate 1110 of the game panel 1100 is made of synthetic resin plates such as acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, polyarylate resin, or methacrylic resin, or inorganic plates such as glass or metal. The thickness of this panel plate 1110 is thinner than that of the panel holder 1120 (game panel 1150), and is the minimum necessary thickness (8-10 mm) that is sufficient to hold obstacle nails planted on the front or the front unit 2000 attached. In this example, the panel plate 1110 is made of a transparent synthetic resin plate.

[0332] The panel 1110 has an out recess 1111 formed at the lowest point within the game area 5a, which is recessed upward from the bottom end. The panel 1110 also has multiple openings 1112 that run through from front to back for attaching the front unit 2000.

[0333] Furthermore, the panel plate 1110 is provided with a plurality of fitting holes 1113, which are round holes located near the outer circumference and extending in the front-to-back direction, and an elongated hole 1114 located near the outer circumference of the lower left side, which extends in the front-to-back direction and extends in the up-to-down direction. These fitting holes 1113 and elongated hole 1114 are located outside the game area 5a and are used for positioning with respect to the panel holder 1120. In addition, the panel plate 1110 is provided with stepped engagement portions 1115, which are recessed at the front, at both ends of the upper edge and both ends of the lower edge. These engagement portions 1115 are cut out to approximately half the thickness of the panel plate 1110 and, like the fitting holes 1113 and elongated hole 1114, are located outside the game area 5a and are used for engaging and fixing the panel plate 1110 to the panel holder 1120.

[0334] Furthermore, the panel board 1110 is provided with multiple internal rail fixing holes 1116 at predetermined positions. By fitting and fixing the positioning projections 1009 that protrude from the rear side of the internal rail 1002 into these internal rail fixing holes 1116, the internal rail 1002 can be fixed in a predetermined position.

[0335] The panel holder 1120 of the game panel 1100 is sized to enclose the panel plate 1110, has a roughly rectangular shape, and is thicker than the panel plate 1110 (approximately 20 mm in this example). The panel holder 1120 is made of synthetic resin (for example, thermoplastic synthetic resin). The panel holder 1120 has a retaining step 1121 that is recessed from the front to the rear and detachably holds the panel plate 1110, and a through-hole 1122 that penetrates in the front-to-back direction and is approximately the same size as the game area 5a inside the retaining step 1121.

[0336] The holding step portion 1121 of the panel holder 1120 has a depth from the front that is approximately the same as the thickness of the panel plate 1110, so that the front surface of the panel plate 1110 held within the holding step portion 1121 is approximately flush with the front surface of the panel holder 1120. Furthermore, the front inner circumferential surface of the holding step portion 1121 is formed to create a predetermined clearance with the outer circumferenti...

Claims

[Claim 1] A first operating means and a second operating means that can be operated by the player, A determination means for making a determination, A reward granting means that can grant a reward to a player based on the determination obtained by the determination means, Equipped with, A gaming machine in which, when the first operating means is kept in an operating state, multiple post-reception changes in response to an operation received by the first operating means may occur, and when the second operating means is kept in an operating state, multiple post-reception changes in response to an operation received by the second operating means may occur, When an operation instruction for the second operating means is displayed, a specific sound can be output, and the output state of the specific sound is maintained for the output time corresponding to the specific sound. When an operation instruction for the first operating means is displayed, a special sound can be output, and while the special sound is being output, there are cases where a specific termination condition is met and cases where the specific termination condition is not met, and in the cases where the special sound is being output, the output state is terminated early at an intermediate stage before the output time corresponding to the special sound has elapsed. When the first operating means is maintained in an operating state while an operation instruction for the first operating means is displayed, there is a post-reception change that can occur multiple times in response to the operation reception of the first operating means, which can occur at time intervals of a specific time or less, whereas, When the second operating means is maintained in an operating state while an operation instruction for the second operating means is displayed, there are two types of post-reception changes that can occur multiple times in response to the operation reception of the second operating means: a second post-reception change that can occur at time intervals of less than or equal to the specified time, and a third post-reception change that can occur at time intervals longer than the specified time. moreover, In cases where the special sound is being output and the specific termination condition is met, causing the output state of the special sound to terminate prematurely before the output time corresponding to the special sound has elapsed, and in cases where the specific termination condition is not met, causing the output state of the special sound to continue for the output time corresponding to the special sound, the operation instructions for the first operation means are displayed in the same display manner from the start. moreover, In a situation where the special sound is being output and the first operating means is maintained in an operating state, if the output state of the special sound is terminated prematurely at an intermediate stage before the output time corresponding to the special sound has elapsed, the rate at which the player is granted a benefit based on the determination by the determination means is higher than in the case where the specific termination condition is not met and the output state of the special sound continues for the output time corresponding to the special sound. moreover, The system includes a third operating means that can be operated by a player different from either the first or second operating means. A gaming machine characterized by the following features.

Images