gaming machines

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of maintaining interest in games. [Solution] This pachinko machine 1 has a starting opening that can accept a game ball shot into the game area 5a. When a game ball enters the starting opening, a process to determine whether or not there is a win is carried out. After this, a variable display is started according to the results of this determination process, and when a winning symbol is displayed on the variable display, a winning game is played. In this regard, this pachinko machine 1 can perform special effects as effects related to the operating means.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, for example, gaming machines are known that provide special games in which a large amount of prize can be won when a winning jackpot is won.

[0003] That is, the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1 first determines whether a gaming ball has entered the starting hole. Then, when a gaming ball has entered the starting hole, a determination process is performed to determine whether a winning combination has been achieved. At this time, a special symbol is displayed on a predetermined display for a predetermined period of time. After the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the special symbol is displayed in a static manner indicating a winning combination, and the opening and closing member of the large prize opening is operated, thereby providing the player with a special game in which multiple prizes can be won. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-201901 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In such conventional gaming machines, effects are often executed by the operating means, but there is a demand for further increasing the gaming interest when effects are executed by the operating means.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a gaming machine that can prevent a decline in interest in gaming. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] Means 1: special operation means and predetermined operation means operable by a player; A determination means for making a determination; a bonus awarding means for awarding a bonus to a player based on a predetermined result obtained in the determination by the determination means; a special permissive state execution means for executing a post-acceptance change in response to an operation received by the special operation means when the operation is received by the special operation means in a state in which the reception of an operation by the special operation means is permitted; a predetermined permissible state execution means for executing a post-acceptance change in response to an operation received by the predetermined operation means when the operation is received by the predetermined operation means in a state in which the acceptance of the operation by the predetermined operation means is permitted; a predetermined operation related display means capable of displaying a predetermined operation related display relating to the predetermined operation means; specific video display means capable of displaying a specific video; Equipped with, Even when the predetermined operation-related display is not displayed, there is a case where acceptance of an operation on the predetermined operation means is 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 a state occurs in which the acceptance of an operation to the special operation means is permitted, within that state, there may be two modes of transition: one in which the video transitions from a non-video section where the specific video is not displayed to a video section where the specific video is displayed, and another in which the video transitions from a video section where the specific video is displayed to a non-video section where the specific video is not displayed. If an operation to the special operation means is accepted while the video section where the specific video is displayed is in place, a special change may occur as one of the post-acceptance changes. A gaming machine characterized by the following features.

[0008] According to the above configuration, firstly, even when a predetermined operation-related display is not shown, 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 that state while it is possible to accept an operation to the special operation means, an automatic operation acceptance function may be activated, in which case the changes after acceptance will be executed multiple times based on the detection information obtained when the operation is performed. As a result, a so-called auto-repeated function may be activated for the special operation means, which is expected to reduce the difficulty of operation-related games.

[0009] In this regard, the above configuration allows the start condition for displaying a specific video to be met when a specific time has elapsed since the start of displaying a predetermined operation-related display. Even if a state occurs during the period before the specific time elapses in which acceptance of operations to the special operation means is permitted, the condition can still be met when the specific time has elapsed. When a state occurs in which acceptance of operations to the special operation means is permitted, within that state, there may be two modes of transition: one where the player transitions from a "non-video section where the specific video is not displayed" to a "video section where the specific video is displayed," and another where the player transitions from a "video section where the specific video is displayed" to a "non-video section where the specific video is not displayed." When an operation to the special operation means is accepted while in the "video section where the specific video is displayed," a special change may occur as one of the post-acceptance changes. This is expected to further enhance the enjoyment of the game regarding operations to the special operation means (see, for example, paragraphs 2708, 8643, etc.). [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to this invention, a decline in interest in games can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 4] This is a rear view of a pachinko machine. [Figure 5] This is an oblique view of a pachinko machine seen from the front right. [Figure 6] This is an oblique 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 an oblique view of a 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] This is an exploded oblique view of a pachinko machine disassembled into a door frame, a game board, a main body frame, and an outer frame, as seen from the front. [Figure 10] This is an exploded oblique view of a pachinko machine disassembled into a door frame, a game board, a main body frame, and an outer frame, viewed from the rear. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a front view of the outer frame of the pachinko machine. [Figure 12] FIG. [Figure 13] This is a perspective view of the outer frame from the front. [Figure 14] This is a perspective view of the outer frame from behind. [Figure 15] This is an exploded perspective view of the outer frame as seen from the front. [Figure 16] 1A is a perspective view of the portion of the outer frame upper hinge member in the outer frame, seen from below with the left frame member omitted, and FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view showing FIG. 1A. [Figure 17] (a) is an enlarged perspective view showing the state in which the main body frame side upper hinge member of the main body frame has been removed 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 body side upper hinge member has been attached to the outer upper hinge member. [Figure 18] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams showing the action of the locking member on the outer frame. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a front view of a door frame in a pachinko machine. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a right side view of the door frame. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a left side view of the door frame. [Figure 22] FIG. [Figure 23] This is an oblique view of the door frame from the front right. [Figure 24] This is an oblique view of the door frame from the front left. [Figure 25] This is a perspective view of the door frame from behind. [Figure 26] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 19. [Figure 27] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 19. [Figure 28] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 19. [Figure 29] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame, broken down into its main components, viewed from the front. [Figure 30] This is an exploded perspective view of the door frame, broken down into its main components, viewed from the rear. [Figure 31] 1A is a perspective view of a door frame base unit in a door frame as seen from the front, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the door frame base unit as seen from the back. [Figure 32] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame base unit, broken down into its main components, viewed from the front. [Figure 33] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame base unit disassembled into its main components and viewed from behind. [Figure 34] (a) is a front view of the production operation unit in the door frame, and (b) is a right side view of the production operation unit. [Figure 35] (a) is a perspective view of the production operation unit seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the production operation unit seen from the back. [Figure 36] This is an explanatory diagram showing the performance operation unit viewed from the direction in which the central axis of the operation button extends. [Figure 37] FIG. 34(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 34(a). [Figure 38] FIG. 34(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. [Figure 39] 34(b), and (b) is an enlarged view of part A in (a). [Figure 40] This is an exploded oblique view of the performance operation unit, broken down into its main components, viewed from the front. [Figure 41] This is an exploded oblique view of the performance operation unit, broken down into its main components, viewed from behind. [Figure 42] 1A is an exploded perspective view of the operation button as seen from the front, and FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of the operation button as seen from the rear. [Figure 43]This is an exploded oblique view of the decorative board unit of the performance operation unit, viewed from the front. [Figure 44] 38 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the operation button is pressed in the cross-sectional view of the performance operation unit of FIG. 37. [Figure 45] (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the operation unit viewed from the direction in which the central axis of the operation button extends, with part of the operation button cut out to show the area that is to be hidden by the first button decorative part of the operation button, button frame, etc., and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the area that is to be hidden by the first button decorative part of the operation button, button frame, etc. in a cross-sectional view of the operation unit. [Figure 46] (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the appearance of the production operation unit as seen from the front in an oblique view, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the appearance of the production operation unit as seen from the direction in which the central axis of the operation button extends. [Figure 47] (a) is a front view of the door frame left side unit in the door frame, (b) is a perspective view of the door frame left side unit from the front, and (c) is a perspective view of the door frame left side unit from the back. [Figure 48] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame left side unit as seen from the front. [Figure 49] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame left side unit as seen from behind. [Figure 50] FIG. 47(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line LL in FIG. 47(a). [Figure 51] (a) is a front view of the door frame right side unit in the door frame, (b) is a perspective view of the door frame right side unit from the front, and (c) is a perspective view of the door frame right side unit from the back. [Figure 52] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame right side unit as seen from the front. [Figure 53] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame right side unit as seen from behind. [Figure 54] FIG. 51(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line MM in FIG. 51(a). [Figure 55]51(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line NN in FIG. 51(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line OO in FIG. 51(a). [Figure 56] (a) is a front view of the door frame top unit in the door frame, (b) is an oblique view of the door frame top unit from the front, and (c) is an oblique view of the door frame top unit from the back. [Figure 57] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame top unit from the front. [Figure 58] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame top unit from the rear. [Figure 59] FIG. 57 is a cross-sectional view taken along line PP in FIG. 56. [Figure 60] FIG. [Figure 61] This is an exploded perspective view of the game board, broken down into its main components, viewed from the front. [Figure 62] This is an exploded perspective view of the game board disassembled into its main components and viewed from behind. [Figure 63] This is a front view of the game board excluding the front unit and back unit. [Figure 64] FIG. 64 is an exploded perspective view of the game board of FIG. 63 as seen from the front. [Figure 65] FIG. 64 is an exploded perspective view of the game board of FIG. 63 as seen from behind. [Figure 66] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged front view of the function display unit with the game board attached to the pachinko machine. [Figure 67] This is an exploded oblique view of a game panel of a different configuration from that of Figure 63, seen from the front, along with its front components, board holder, and main control unit. [Figure 68] FIG. 68 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 67 seen from behind. [Figure 69] This is a block diagram of the main control board, dispensing control board, and peripheral control board. [Figure 70] This is a block diagram showing the continuation of Figure 69. [Figure 71]This is a schematic diagram of various detection signals input and output to the gaming ball lending device connection terminal board, which relays the electrical connection between the payout control board that constitutes the main board and the CR unit and degree display board. [Figure 72] This is a block diagram showing the continuation of Figure 69. [Figure 73] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a peripheral control MPU. [Figure 74] This is a block diagram of the LCD and sound control unit and the surroundings of the VDP with built-in sound source. [Figure 75] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a power supply system of a pachinko machine. [Figure 76] FIG. 76 is a block diagram showing the continuation of FIG. 75. [Figure 77] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit of the main control board. [Figure 78] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a power outage monitoring circuit. [Figure 79] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an interface circuit for communication between a main control board and a peripheral control board. [Figure 80] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the circuitry of a dispensing control unit. [Figure 81] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a dispensing control input circuit. [Figure 82] FIG. 82 is a circuit diagram showing a continuation of FIG. 81. [Figure 83] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a dispensing motor drive circuit. [Figure 84] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a CR unit input / output circuit. [Figure 85] 10 is an input / output diagram showing various input / output signals to and from the main control board and various output signals to the external terminal board. FIG. [Figure 86] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of output terminals on an external terminal board. [Figure 87] This is a circuit diagram showing a liquid crystal module circuit that draws in the display area of ​​the upper tray liquid crystal display device. [Figure 88] This is a table showing examples of various commands sent from the main control board to the dispensing control board. [Figure 89]10 is a table showing an example of various commands transmitted from a main control board to a peripheral control board. [Figure 90] This is a table showing the sequence of various commands sent from the main control board to the peripheral control board in Figure 89. [Figure 91] This is a table showing examples of various commands received by the main control board from the dispensing control board. [Figure 92] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a process when the main control side power is turned on. [Figure 93] This is a flowchart showing the continuation of the main control side power-on processing in Figure 92. [Figure 94] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of main control side timer interrupt processing. [Figure 95] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a peripheral control unit power-on process; [Figure 96] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a peripheral control unit V blank interrupt process. [Figure 97] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a peripheral control unit 1 ms timer interrupt process. [Figure 98] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a peripheral control unit command reception interrupt process. [Figure 99] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a peripheral control unit power outage warning signal interrupt process. [Figure 100] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a LOCKN signal history creation process. [Figure 101] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a connection malfunction determination process. [Figure 102] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a connection recovery process. [Figure 103] This is a timing chart that explains the timing at which a connection confirmation signal is output to the INIT terminal of the transmitter IC for the liquid crystal on the upper tray side. [Figure 104] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the special symbol and special electric accessory control process (step S114). [Figure 105]10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first starting port passing process (step S5232). [Figure 106] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the second starting port passing process (step S5234). [Figure 107] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first special symbol process processing (step S5238). [Figure 108] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first special symbol normal processing (step S5280). [Figure 109] This is a flowchart showing the procedure for the jackpot determination process (step S5305). [Figure 110] (A) is a diagram showing a jackpot determination table, and (B) and (C) are diagrams showing a symbol determination table. [Figure 111] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first special symbol stop symbol setting process (step S5281). [Figure 112] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first variation pattern setting process (step S5282). [Figure 113] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first special symbol change processing (step S5283). [Figure 114] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first special symbol stop processing (step S5284). [Figure 115] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for normal symbol and normal electric accessory control processing (step S116). [Figure 116] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for gate section passing processing (step S5402). [Figure 117] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for normal symbol normal processing (step S5403). [Figure 118] This is a diagram showing a judgment table T1 of the presentation pattern (variation presentation) that is referenced in the presentation symbol variation start process when in the normal game state. [Figure 119]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sound definition table. [Figure 120] FIG. 119 is a diagram showing the notification content, notification mode, notification time, and conditions for terminating notification (cancellation conditions) for each type of notification sound illustrated in FIG. [Figure 121] FIG. 1 is a front view of a gaming machine equipped with a sword effect operation unit. [Figure 122] FIG. 10 is a right side view of the gaming machine equipped with a sword effect operation unit. [Figure 123] This figure shows an example of a selection table for presentation patterns in a presentation mode in which the sword-drawing presentation can be performed, where (A) shows an example of a selection table for selecting whether or not to display a transition presentation to prepare for drawing the sword depending on the type of variation pattern, and (B) shows an example of a selection table for selecting whether or not to display the actual sword-drawing presentation. [Figure 124] This is a state transition diagram explaining the unsheathing action of a sword decoration when an aura member is attached to the sword portion (blade portion) itself, showing (A) the sheathed state, (B) the first unsheathing state, and (C) the second unsheathing state. [Figure 125] 10A and 10B are longitudinal cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of the aura member. [Figure 126] This is a state transition diagram explaining the unsheathing action of a sword decoration when an aura member is attached to the sheath, showing (A) the sheathed state, (B) the first unsheathing state, and (C) the second unsheathing state. [Figure 127] 10A and 10B are longitudinal cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of the aura member. [Figure 128] A diagram explaining the screen transitions of the performance display device and the movement transitions of the sword decoration body during the princess reach performance. [Figure 129] A diagram explaining the screen transitions of the performance display device and the movement transitions of the sword decoration body during the princess reach performance. [Figure 130] A diagram explaining the screen transitions of the performance display device and the movement transitions of the sword decoration body during the princess reach performance. [Figure 131] This is a diagram explaining the screen transitions of the performance display device, the state transitions of the operation buttons, and the movement transitions of the sword decoration in a reach performance that includes operation performances of the operation buttons that are used in various ways. [Figure 132]This is a diagram explaining the screen transitions of the performance display device, the state transitions of the operation buttons, and the movement transitions of the sword decoration in a reach performance that includes operation performances of the operation buttons that are used in various ways. [Figure 133] This is a diagram explaining the screen transitions of the performance display device, the state transitions of the operation buttons, and the movement transitions of the sword decoration in a reach performance that includes operation performances of the operation buttons that are used in various ways. [Figure 134] This is a diagram explaining the screen transitions of the performance display device, the state transitions of the operation buttons, and the operation transitions of the sword decoration during the reach performance. [Figure 135] This is a diagram explaining the screen transitions of the performance display device, the state transitions of the operation buttons, and the operation transitions of the sword decoration during the reach performance. [Figure 136] This is a diagram explaining the screen transitions of the performance display device, the state transitions of the operation buttons, and the operation transitions of the sword decoration during the reach performance. [Figure 137] This is a diagram explaining the screen transitions of the performance display device, the state transitions of the operation buttons, and the operation transitions of the sword decoration during the reach performance. [Figure 138] This is a diagram explaining the screen transitions of the performance display device, the state transitions of the operation buttons, and the operation transitions of the sword decoration during the reach performance. [Figure 139] A diagram explaining the shape of the sword ornament used in the pseudo-consecutive performance. [Figure 140] This figure shows an example of the transition of a reach effect in which a pre-operation suggestion effect of the first suggestion pattern is executed when it is determined by lottery by the peripheral control board that either the operation button or the sword decoration is enabled for operation during the reach effect based on the change effect (reach effect) of the change pattern drawn by the main control board. [Figure 141] This figure shows an example of the transition of a reach effect in which a pre-operation suggestion effect of the first suggestion pattern is executed when it is determined by lottery by the peripheral control board that either the operation button or the sword decoration is enabled for operation during the reach effect based on the change effect (reach effect) of the change pattern drawn by the main control board. [Figure 142]This figure shows an example of a transition in a reach performance in which a pre-operation suggestion performance of the second suggestion pattern is executed when it is determined that either the operation button or the sword decoration is enabled for operation during the reach performance, as with the first suggestion pattern described above. [Figure 143] This figure shows a step-up pattern pre-operation suggestion effect in which, even though the second suggestion pattern is performed as a pre-operation suggestion effect, the sword decoration does not become operable, but the operation button becomes operable at first, and then the sword decoration becomes operable. [Figure 144] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an integrated model image. [Figure 145] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of display of an integrated mockup image from the start to the end of the validity period. [Figure 146] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a 1A reception permission state. [Figure 147] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a 1A reception permission state. [Figure 148] A figure showing an example of a fluctuation pattern in which the 1A reception allowance state occurs. [Figure 149] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a second A reception permission state. [Figure 150] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a second A reception permission state. [Figure 151] A figure showing an example of a fluctuation pattern in which the 2A reception allowance state occurs. [Figure 152] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a 3A reception permission state. [Figure 153] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a 3A reception permission state. [Fig. 154] A figure showing an example of a fluctuation pattern in which a 3A reception-permitting state occurs. [Figure 155] 4 is a time chart showing an example of a fourth A reception permission state. [Figure 156] 4 is a time chart showing an example of a fourth A reception permission state. [Figure 157]A figure showing an example of a fluctuation pattern in which the 4A reception acceptance state occurs. [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] 6 is a time chart showing an example of the 6A reception permission state. [Figure 162] 6 is a time chart showing an example of the 6A reception permission state. [Figure 163] A figure showing an example of a fluctuation pattern in which the 6A reception acceptance state occurs. [Figure 164] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a first B reception permission state. [Figure 165] A figure showing an example of a fluctuation pattern in which the 1B reception acceptance state occurs. [Figure 166] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a second B reception permission state. [Figure 167] A figure showing an example of a fluctuation pattern in which the second B reception allowance state occurs. [Figure 168] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a third B reception permission state. [Figure 169] A figure showing an example of a fluctuation pattern in which the 3B reception allowance state occurs. [Figure 170] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a fourth B reception permission state. [Figure 171] A figure showing an example of a fluctuation pattern in which the 4B reception acceptance state occurs. [Figure 172] 5B is a time chart showing an example of a reception permission state. [Figure 173] A figure showing an example of a fluctuation pattern in which the 5B reception acceptance state occurs. [Figure 174]10 is a time chart showing an example of the 6B reception permission state. [Figure 175] A figure showing an example of a fluctuation pattern in which the 6B reception acceptance state occurs. [Figure 176] 7 is a time chart showing an example of a seventh B reception permission state. [Figure 177] A figure showing an example of a fluctuation pattern in which the 7B reception acceptance state occurs. [Figure 178] 7 is a time chart showing an example of a seventh B reception permission state. [Figure 179] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a first B reception permission state and a second B reception permission state. [Figure 180] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a first B reception permission state and a second B reception permission state. [Figure 181] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a third B reception permission state and a fourth B reception permission state. [Figure 182] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a third B reception permission state and a fifth B reception permission state. [Figure 183] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a third B reception permission state and a fifth B reception permission state. [Figure 184] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a first B reception permission state and a sixth B reception permission state. [Figure 185] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a second B reception permission state and a sixth B reception permission state. [Figure 186] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a third B reception permission state and a seventh B reception permission state. [Figure 187] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a 5B reception permission state and a 7B reception permission state. [Figure 188] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a first B reception permission state and a sixth B reception permission state. [Figure 189]10 is a time chart showing an example of a fourth B reception permission state and a seventh B reception permission state. [Figure 190] 10 is a time chart showing an example of a 5B reception permission state and a 7B reception permission state. [Figure 191] 10 is a time chart showing an example of the 6B reception permission state. [Figure 192] 7 is a time chart showing an example of a seventh B reception permission state. [Figure 193] 7 is a time chart showing an example of a seventh B reception permission state. [Figure 194] A figure showing an example of a presentation to explain the basic presentation when the ``sword handling related display'' is displayed in the first or second mode. [Figure 195] This is a time chart for explaining the basic effects when the "sword handling related display" is displayed in the first mode or the second mode. [Figure 196] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 197] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 198] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 199] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 200] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 201] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 202] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 203] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 204] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 205] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 206] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 207] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 208] This is a diagram showing an example of a presentation when a "first C button acceptance state" occurs while a "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 209] This is a diagram showing an example of a presentation when a "first C button acceptance state" occurs while a "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 210] This is a diagram showing an example of a presentation when a "first C button acceptance state" occurs while a "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 211] This is a diagram showing an example of a presentation when a "first C button acceptance state" occurs while a "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 212] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs when the "second C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 213] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs when the "second C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 214] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs when the "second C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 215] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs when the "second C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 216] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs when the "second C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 217] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs when the "second C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 218] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs when the "second C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 219] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs when the "second C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 220] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs when the "second C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 221] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs when the "second C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 222] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs when the "second C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 223] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "first C button acceptance state" occurs when the "second C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 224] This figure shows an example of a presentation when the "1st C button acceptance state" occurs when the "2nd C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 225] This figure shows an example of a presentation when the "1st C button acceptance state" occurs when the "2nd C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 226] This figure shows an example of a presentation when the "1st C button acceptance state" occurs when the "2nd C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 227] This figure shows an example of a presentation when the "1st C button acceptance state" occurs when the "2nd C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 228] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 229] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 230] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 231] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 232] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 233] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 234] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 235]This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 236] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 237] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 238] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 239] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 240] This is a diagram showing an example of a presentation when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 241] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 242] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 243] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 244] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 245] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 246]This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 247] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 248] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 249] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 250] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 251] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 252] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 253] This is a diagram showing an example of a presentation when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "first C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 254] 10 is a time chart showing the effects of another example of the "first C button acceptance state." [Figure 255] 10 is a time chart showing the effects of another example of the "first C button acceptance state." [Figure 256] 10 is a time chart showing the effects of another example of the "first C button acceptance state." [Figure 257] 10 is a time chart showing the effects of another example of the "first C button acceptance state." [Figure 258] 10 is a time chart showing the effects of another example of the "first C button acceptance state." [Figure 259] 10 is a time chart showing the effects of another example of the "first C button acceptance state." [Figure 260] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 261] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 262] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 263] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 264] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs while the "second C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 265] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs when the "second C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 266] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" is also generated while a "second C button acceptance state" is already generated. [Figure 267] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs while the "third C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 268] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs while the "third C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 269] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs while the "third C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 270]This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs while the "third C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Fig. 271] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs while the "third C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 272] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "third C button acceptance state" occurs when the "second C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Fig. 273] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when a "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while a "third C button acceptance state" occurs. [Fig. 274] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs while the "fourth C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 275] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs while the "fourth C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 276] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs while the "fourth C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 277] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs while the "fourth C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Fig. 278] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C button acceptance state" occurs while the "fourth C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 279] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "4th C button acceptance state" occurs when the "2nd C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 280] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "second C sword acceptance state" occurs while the "fourth C button acceptance state" occurs. [Figure 281]This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "2nd C button acceptance state" occurs while the "5th C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 282] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "2nd C button acceptance state" occurs while the "5th C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 283] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "2nd C button acceptance state" occurs while the "5th C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 284] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "2nd C button acceptance state" occurs while the "5th C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 285] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "2nd C button acceptance state" occurs while the "5th C sword acceptance state" has already occurred. [Figure 286] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "5th C button acceptance state" occurs when the "2nd C sword acceptance state" has not occurred. [Figure 287] This is a time chart showing the effects that occur when the "5th C button acceptance state" is already occurring and the "2nd C sword acceptance state" is also occurring. [Figure 288] 10 is a time chart showing the effects of another example of the "first C button acceptance state." [Figure 289] 10 is a time chart showing the effects of another example of the "first C button acceptance state." [Figure 290] 10 is a time chart showing the effects of another example of the "first C button acceptance state." DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] [1. Overall structure of a pachinko machine] A pachinko machine 1 according to 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 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a right side view of the pachinko machine, FIG. 3 is a left side view of the pachinko machine, and FIG. 4 is a rear view of the pachinko machine. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine as seen from the right front, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine as seen from the left front, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine as seen from the rear. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine as seen from the front with the door frame opened from the main body frame and the main body frame opened from the outer frame. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the pachinko machine as seen from the front, disassembled into the door frame, game board, main body frame, and outer frame. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the pachinko machine as seen from the rear, disassembled into the door frame, game board, main body frame, and outer frame.

[0013] The pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment comprises a frame-shaped outer frame 2 installed in an island facility (not shown) of an amusement hall, a door frame 3 that closes the front of the outer frame 2 in an openable and closable manner, a main frame 4 that supports the door frame 3 in an openable and closable manner and is attached to the outer frame 2 in an openable and closable manner, and a game board 5 that is detachably attached to the main frame 4 from the front and is visible from the player side through the door frame 3 and has a game area 5a into which game balls are shot by the player.

[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 with the same front-to-back width. 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.

[0015] Further, the outer frame 2 includes a curtain plate 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 in the front view of the upper frame member 10, and an outer frame side lower hinge member 70 attached to the upper left end side in the front view of the curtain plate member 50 and the left frame member 30. The main body frame 4 and the door frame 3 are attached to the outer frame side upper hinge member 60 and the outer frame side lower hinge member 70 of the outer frame 2 so as to be openable and closable.

[0016] The door frame 3 of the pachinko machine 1 includes a frame-shaped door frame base unit 100 having a through-hole 111 that penetrates front and back and has a rectangular outer shape that extends vertically in the front view, a handle unit 300 that is attached to the lower right corner of the front surface below the through-hole 111 of the door frame base unit 100 and can be operated by a player to drive a game ball into the game area 5a of the game board 5, a dish unit 320 that is attached to the lower part of the front surface below the through-hole 111 of the door frame base unit 100, an effect operation unit 400 that is attached to the center of the dish unit 320 and can present a participatory effect to the player according to the game state that changes when a game ball is driven into the game area 5a, a door frame left side unit 530 that is attached to the upper left part of the front surface on the left side of the through-hole 111 in the door frame base unit 100 above the dish unit 320, a door frame right side unit 550 that is attached to the upper right part of the front surface on the right side of the through-hole 111 in the door frame base unit 100 above the dish unit 320, and a door frame top unit 570 that is attached to the upper part of the front surface above the through-hole 111 in the door frame base unit 100 above the door frame left side unit 530 and the door frame right 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 described 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 as seen from the front, and Figure 14 is a perspective view of the outer frame as seen from the rear. Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of the outer frame as seen from the front. Figure 16(a) is a perspective view of the portion of the outer frame upper hinge member in the outer frame as seen from below with the left frame member omitted, and Figure 16(b) is an exploded perspective view of Figure 16(a). The outer frame 2 is attached to an island facility (not shown) in an amusement hall or the like on which the pachinko machine 1 is installed.

[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 (e.g., wood, plywood, etc.) of a predetermined thickness. The left-right length and top-bottom thickness of this lower frame member 20 are the same as those of the upper frame member 10, and its front-to-back width is greater than that of the upper frame member 10. The lower frame member 20 has engagement cutouts 21 at both left and right ends, located rearward of the center in the front-to-back direction, that penetrate vertically and are recessed toward the center in the left-to-right direction. Lower lateral fixing portions 88 of a left lower connecting member 85C and a right lower connecting member 85D (described later) of the connecting member 85 are attached within these engagement cutouts 21.

[0029] The lower frame member 20 also has front-end notches 22 recessed rearward from the front surface at both left and right ends. The width of the lower frame member 20 in the front-to-rear 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 front-to-rear width of the upper frame member 10. When this 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 header panel member 50.

[0030] [2-3. Left and right frame members] The left and right frame members 30 and 40 of the outer frame 2 extend vertically with a uniform cross-sectional shape and are formed from extruded metal profiles such as aluminum alloy. The left and right frame members 30 and 40 are formed symmetrically to each other in a plan view. When assembled into the outer frame 2, the left and right frame members 30 and 40 have, on their outer lateral sides in the left-right direction, recesses 31 and 41 recessed inward, and protrusions 32 and 42 bulging from the side opposite the recesses 31 and 41 and forming a hollow interior, between a position rearward of the center in the front-rear direction and near the rear end. The protrusions 32 and 42 enhance the strength and rigidity of the left and right frame members 30 and 40. Furthermore, rear lower horizontal fixing portions 88 of the upper-left connecting member 85A and the upper-right connecting member 85B (described later) of the connecting member 85 are inserted into the protrusions 32 and 42 for attachment.

[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 outer frame side upper hinge member 60 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 forward from the right end of the forward extending portion 62 to the center of the left and right sides of the forward extending portion 62 and penetrating it from top to bottom, a flat lateral fixing portion 64 extending downward from the left edge of the upper fixing portion 61 when viewed from above, and a flat hanging portion 65 extending downward from the edge from the left end of the forward extending portion 62 around the front end to the point where the bearing groove 63 opens and continuing 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 a 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. The lower-left connecting member 85C and the lower-right connecting member 85D further include a bent portion 89 that protrudes from the rear end of the upper horizontal fixing portion 87 to 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 a state of abutting against the upper surface of the lower frame member 20. 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 that is forward of the protrusions 32, 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 for the upper hinge member on the outer frame side] Next, the locking mechanism for the main body frame upper hinge member 620 of the main body frame 4 by the locking member 66 of the outer frame upper hinge member 60 in the outer frame 2 of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 17 and 18. Figure 17(a) is an enlarged perspective view showing the main body frame upper hinge member of the main body frame 4 detached from the outer frame upper hinge member of the outer frame, and (b) is an enlarged perspective view showing the main body upper hinge member attached to the outer upper hinge member. Figure 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the action of the locking member in the outer frame.

[0052] When the locking member 66 in the outer frame 2 is attached to the forward extension portion 62 of the outer frame side upper hinge member 60 (normal state), the tip of the elastic portion 66c abuts against the inner surface of the hanging portion 65, and the locking body 66a blocks part of the L-shaped bent bearing groove 63, and the tip portion of the locking body 66a does not block the deepest part of the bearing groove 63, so that a space is formed in the deepest part of the bearing groove 63 into which the main body frame upper hinge pin 622 of the main body frame side upper hinge member 620 of the main body 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 a game ball from being caught between the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4, which could cause damage around the outer frame lower hinge member 70, or the main frame 4 not closing normally and creating a gap between the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4, which could then be used to commit fraud.

[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 seen from the front right, Figure 24 is a perspective view of the door frame seen from the front left, and Figure 25 is a perspective view of the door frame seen 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 disassembled into its main components as seen from the front, and Figure 30 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame disassembled into its main components as seen from the rear.

[0067] As shown in Figures 29 and 30, the door frame 3 comprises a door frame base unit 100 which has a rectangular, frame-shaped 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 tray unit 320 attached to the lower front of the door frame base unit 100, a performance operation unit 400 attached to the centre of the tray unit 320, a door frame left side unit 530 attached to the left front of the door frame base unit 100 above the tray unit 320, a door frame right side unit 550 attached to the right front of the door frame base unit 100 above the tray unit 320, and a door frame top unit 570 attached to the upper front of the door frame base unit 100 above the left side unit 530 and the 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 is equipped with a handle mounting seat 112 formed in the lower right corner of the front surface when viewed from the front, and inclined so that the left end protrudes slightly forward more than the right end, a cylinder mounting section 113 recessed from the rear toward the front near the right end when viewed from the front between the handle mounting seat 112 and the through hole 111, to which the cylinder mounting sheet metal 213 of the opening / closing cylinder unit 210 is attached, a cylinder insertion hole 114 that penetrates from front to back in the cylinder mounting section 113 and through which the cylinder lock 211 of the opening / closing cylinder unit 210 is inserted, and a ball feeding opening 115 that penetrates from front to back on the left side of the cylinder insertion hole 114 and the handle mounting seat 112 when viewed from the front, allowing the entrance opening 251a and ball removal opening 251b of the ball feeding unit 250 to be exposed forward.

[0082] The door frame base 110 also has a lower tray passage opening 116 that penetrates front to back, to the left of the center of the door frame base 110 in the left-right direction and at approximately the same height as the handle mounting seat surface 112, and allows the ball discharge opening 276 of the fall cover unit 270 to face forward, an upper tray passage opening 117 that penetrates front to back near the left end of the door frame base 110 when viewed from the front, adjacent to the lower edge of the through opening 111, and allows the through ball passage 273 of the fall cover unit 270 to face forward, a glass unit mounting portion 118 that is recessed from the rear surface toward the front along the inner circumference of the through opening 111, and into which the glass frame 191 of the glass unit 190 is inserted, and speaker insertion openings 119 that penetrate front to back at both upper left and right corners of the door frame base 110, and into 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 upper hinge pin 142 of the door frame has a portion (upper end) that protrudes above the upper protruding piece 141a that is rotatably inserted into the upper hinge hole 623 for the door frame of the main frame side upper hinge member 620. Although not shown in the illustration, the portion of the upper hinge pin 142 that protrudes below the lower protruding piece 141a is bent horizontally. This bent portion contacts the lower surface of the lower protruding piece 141a, thereby restricting the upward movement of the upper hinge pin 142.

[0090] The flange member 143 is an E-ring and is inserted and held in a groove formed on the outer circumference of the door frame upper hinge pin 142. The lock spring 144 is a coil spring through which the door frame upper hinge pin 142 can be inserted, with its upper end in contact with the flange member 143 and its lower end in contact with 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, biasing the door frame upper hinge pin 142 upward via the flange member 143.

[0091] In the upper hinge member 140 on the door frame side, the upper hinge pin 142 is biased upward by the lock spring 144, and the horizontally bent portion at the lower end of the upper hinge pin 142 abuts against the lower surface of the lower protruding piece 141a, thereby restricting further upward movement. In this state, the upper end of the upper hinge pin 142 protrudes a predetermined amount above the upper surface of the upper protruding piece 141a.

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

[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, etc. The handle mounting member 180 is for mounting the handle unit 300 to the front surface of the door frame base 110. As shown in Figures 32 and 33, etc., the handle mounting member 180 includes 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 (three in this example) protrusions 183 that protrude into the tube portion 181 and extend the entire axial length of the tube portion 181 and are arranged at uneven intervals in the circumferential direction of the tube portion 181, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 184 that connect the outer circumferential 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 surface 112 with screws, with the rear surface of the flange portion 182 abutting against the front surface of the handle mounting seat surface 112 of the door frame base 110.

[0109] The cylindrical portion 181 is formed so that its inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the base 301a of the handle base 301 in the handle unit 300. One of the three ridges 183 is provided on the upper side of the cylindrical portion 181, and the remaining two are provided on the lower side of the cylindrical portion 181. These three ridges 183 are formed at positions corresponding to the three grooves 301c in the handle base 301. Therefore, the handle attachment member 180 can insert the base 301a of the handle base 301 into the cylindrical portion 181 only when the three ridges 183 and the three grooves 301c of the handle base 301 are aligned, and the rotational position of the handle base 301 (handle unit 300) relative to the door frame base 110 can be restricted.

[0110] Furthermore, since the axis of the cylindrical portion 181 of the handle mounting member 180 extends perpendicularly to the rear surface of the flange portion 182, when it is attached to the inclined handle mounting seat surface 112 of the door frame base 110, the axis of the cylindrical portion 181 is tilted so that it extends to the right and forward, and the handle unit 300 can be attached to the door frame base 110 in a similarly tilted 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 Figures 31 to 33. The glass unit 190 closes the through-hole 111 of the door frame base 110 so that the rear can be seen from the front. The glass unit 190 comprises a frame-shaped glass frame 191 that is larger than the inner circumference of the through-hole 111 of the door frame base 110 and can be attached to the glass unit mounting part 118, and two transparent glass plates 192 that close the inside of the glass frame 191 and have their outer circumferences attached to the glass frame 191. The two glass plates 192 are attached to the front end and rear end of the glass frame 191, respectively, and are spaced apart front to back so that a space is formed between them (see Figure 26, etc.).

[0112] The glass frame 191 has a pair of mounting pieces 191a that extend outward in a flat shape from a position below the upper left and right corners when viewed from the front, and a strip-shaped locking piece 191b that protrudes downward from the lower end and extends along the lower edge. The mounting pieces 191a of the glass frame 191 are capable of contacting the protruding portion 172 of the glass unit mounting member 170. The locking piece 191b is capable of being inserted into the space between the door frame base 110 and the central reinforcing sheet metal 132 of the reinforcing unit 130 (see Figure 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 the opening / closing cylinder unit 210 is assembled to the door frame base unit 100, the front end of the cylinder lock 211, which protrudes forward from the front plate portion 213a of the cylinder mounting metal plate 213, is inserted into the cylinder insertion hole 114 from the rear side of the door frame base 110 and protrudes forward of the door frame base 110, and the front plate portion 213a and a pair of side plate portions 213b of the cylinder mounting metal plate 213 are housed within the box-shaped cylinder mounting portion 113, which is open to the rear.

[0127] [3-4. Overall configuration of the production operation unit] The overall configuration of the production operation 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 production operation unit in the door frame, and (b) is a right side view of the production operation unit. Also, Figure 35(a) is a perspective view of the production operation unit seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the production operation unit seen from the rear. Figure 36 is an explanatory diagram of the production operation unit seen from the direction in which the central axis of the operation button extends. Figure 37 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in Figure 34(a), and Figure 38 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in Figure 34(b). Figure 39(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF in Figure 34(b), and (b) is an enlarged view of part A in (a). Figure 40 is an exploded perspective view of the production operation unit disassembled into its main components as seen from the front, and Figure 41 is an exploded perspective view of the production operation unit disassembled into its main components as seen from the rear. The performance operation unit 400 is attached to the front of the tray unit 320 in the center of the left-right direction when viewed from the front, and can be pressed by the player and can present performance images to the player.

[0128] The performance operation unit 400 comprises an operation button 410 which has a circular outer shape and is transparent at the center except for the outer periphery, and which can be pressed by the player; a frame-shaped frame unit 415 which surrounds the outer periphery of the operation button 410 and is attached to the performance operation unit attachment portion 326a of the plate unit cover 326; a decorative board unit 420 which is positioned behind the operation button 410 and is capable of illuminating and decorating the outer periphery of the operation button 410 and the frame unit 415; a base unit 430 which is attached to the rear of the frame unit 415 and has the operation button 410 and decorative board unit 420 attached to the front; and a door frame side performance display device 460 which is attached to the base unit 430 so as to be visible from the player side through the operation button 410 and is capable of displaying performance images.

[0129] [3-4a. Operation buttons] The operation button 410 of the performance operation 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 Figure 42(b) is an exploded perspective view of the operation button as seen from the rear. The operation button 410 has a circular outer shape with a diameter slightly smaller than the vertical height of the tray unit 320, and the center, excluding the outer periphery, is transparent. The operation button 410 includes a transparent button lens 411 having a circular outer periphery and a curved surface (partial spherical shape) that bulges forward toward the center, an annular button frame 412 attached to the front of the outer periphery 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 periphery of the button lens 411. The button frame 412 and button base 413 are formed from materials that are difficult for light to pass through.

[0130] The button lens 411 is formed with a substantially uniform thickness throughout. The front surface of the button lens 411 is formed with a smooth, curved surface without any irregularities. The button lens 411 includes a first button decorative part 411a, which is recessed from the back surface into a W-shaped cross section at a position on the inner periphery of the button frame 412, extending a predetermined length toward the center (inside), and is arranged in a row in the circumferential direction; and a plurality (six) of second button decorative parts 411b, which are recessed from the back surface into an arc-shaped cross section at a position on the outer periphery of the first button decorative part 411a, extending on an axis toward the center, and is arranged in a row in the circumferential direction within a predetermined angular range.

[0131] As shown in the figure, when assembled to the operating 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 further 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 back side is not clearly visible.

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

[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] The frame main body 416 also has a generally cylindrical inner tube portion 416d that extends rearward from a position slightly outside the periphery of the central opening 416a. The inner tube portion 416d extends rearward from a position between the central opening 416a and the outer peripheral opening 416b, and is cut out at a location corresponding to the cutout portion 416c. When the performance operation unit 400 is assembled, the inner tube portion 416d is located between the first LEDs 422a, 423a and the second LEDs 422b, 423b on the operation button left outer decorative board 422 and the operation button right outer decorative board 423 of the decorative board unit 420, respectively, and separates the first LEDs 422a, 423a from the second LEDs 422b, 423b (see Figure 38).

[0147] Furthermore, the frame main body 416 has a pair of mounting portions 416e that extend outward at the upper left and right sides of the outer periphery and are attached to the performance operation unit mounting portion 326a of the dish unit cover 326 of the dish unit 320. The frame main body 416 (performance operation unit 400) has the pair of mounting portions 416e and the left and right sides of the cutout portion 416c that are attached to the performance operation unit mounting portion 326a of the dish unit cover 326 of the dish unit 320.

[0148] The frame body 416 has a plated layer with a metallic luster formed on almost the entire surface, except for a region with the same width as the cutout 416c on the opposite side of the central opening 416a from the cutout 416c (the side where the frame top lens 418 is attached).

[0149] The frame side lenses 417 close the peripheral openings 416b, three of which are formed on each side of the frame main body 416. The front side of the frame side lenses 417 is formed as a smooth surface without any irregularities, and the rear side has multiple irregularities formed along the periphery of the central opening 416a (see Figures 39 and 46). These multiple irregularities refract light, making it impossible to see behind the frame side lenses 417.

[0150] The frame top lens 418 has a substantially rectangular outer shape so that it fits into the cutout 416c of the frame main body 416 from the front. The frame top lens 418 has a smooth front surface. The rear surface of the frame top lens 418 has multiple rows of irregularities that extend in a zigzag pattern along the periphery of the central opening 416a in the radial direction of the central opening 416a (see Figures 37 and 46). These multiple irregularities refract light, preventing the rear side of the frame top lens 418 from being seen.

[0151] When the frame unit 415 is assembled into the performance operation unit 400, the pair of frame side lenses 417 are positioned in front of the second LEDs 422b, 423b on the operation button left outer decorative board 422 and the operation button right outer decorative board 423 of the decorative board unit 420, 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 can be illuminated and decorated by the second LEDs 422b, 423b etc. mounted on them.

[0152] [3-4c. Decorative board unit] The decorative board unit 420 of the performance operation 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 board unit of the performance operation unit as seen from the front. The decorative board unit 420 is attached to the front of the base unit 430 below the frame unit 415, and can illuminate and decorate the second button decorative portion 411b of the operation button 410 and the frame side lens 417 of the frame unit 415, as well as impart vibrations to the performance operation unit 400.

[0153] The decorative board unit 420 comprises a C-shaped board base 421 with an open upper side, a left outer decorative board for operation buttons 422 and a right outer decorative board for operation buttons 423 attached to the front of both the left and right sides of the board base 421, a vibration motor 424 attached to the lower front of the board base 421, and a motor cover 425 attached to the front of the board base 421 so as to cover the front side of the vibration motor 424.

[0154] The substrate base 421 is formed so that its inner periphery is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical main body 413a of the button base 413 of the operation button 410, and its outer periphery 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 operation button left outer decorative board 422 extends in an arc shape along the front surface of the board base 421. The operation button left outer decorative board 422 is provided with a plurality of first LEDs 422a mounted on the front surface along the inner periphery of the board base 421 and a plurality of second LEDs 422b mounted on the front surface along the inner periphery of the board base 421 radially outward from the plurality of first LEDs 422a. The operation button right outer decorative board 423 extends in an arc shape along the front surface of the board base 421. The operation button right outer decorative board 423 is provided with a plurality of first LEDs 423a mounted on the front surface along the inner periphery of the board base 421 and a plurality of second LEDs 423b mounted on the front surface along the inner periphery of the board base 421 radially outward from the plurality of first LEDs 423a. Both the front and rear surfaces of the operation button left outer decorative board 422 and the operation button right outer decorative board 423 are white.

[0156] Vibration motor 424 has an eccentric weight 424a attached to its rotation shaft, and can generate vibrations by rotating this weight 424a.

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

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

[0159] In addition, the decorative board unit 420 can generate vibrations by rotating the weight 424a of the vibration motor 424, causing the entire performance operation unit 400 to vibrate.

[0160] [3-4f. Effects of the Production Control Unit] The effects of the production operation unit 400 will be described 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 production operation unit in Figure 37. Figure 45(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the portion of the operation button that is intended to be hidden by the first button decorative portion of the operation button, the button frame, etc., with a portion of the operation button cut out in a view of the production operation unit seen from the direction in which the central axis of the operation button extends, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the portion of the operation button that is intended to be hidden by the first button decorative portion of the operation button, the button frame, etc., in a cross-sectional view of the production operation unit. Figure 46(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the appearance of the production operation unit in a perspective view seen from the front, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the appearance of the production operation unit seen from the direction in which the central axis of the operation button extends.

[0161] The presentation operation unit 400 of this embodiment can show the player presentation images according to the game state that changes as the game ball is shot into the game area 5a of the game board 5, and can also have the player operate the operation button 410 to participate in the presentation presented to the player, allowing the player to enjoy the experience.

[0162] The overall height of the performance operation unit 400 is formed to be approximately the same height as the height of the portion below the through-hole 111 of the door frame base 110 in the door frame base unit 100 of the door frame 3. The overall width of the performance operation unit 400 is also formed to be slightly larger than 1 / 3 of the overall width of the door frame 3. When viewed from the front, the performance operation unit 400 is located below the game area 5a (through-hole 111 of the door frame base 110) in the center in the left-right direction.

[0163] The performance operation unit 400 is attached such that the upper part of the frame body 416 of the frame unit 415 is attached to the performance operation unit attachment part 326a of the dish unit cover 326 of the dish unit 320. When the performance operation unit 400 is attached to the dish unit 320, a gap is formed between the lower surface of the leg part 442a of the relay board cover 442, which forms the bottom surface, and the upper surface of the bottom plate part 326i of the dish unit cover 326 of the dish unit 320. In other words, only the upper part of the performance operation unit 400 is attached to the dish unit 320, and it is attached in a suspended state.

[0164] Furthermore, the effect operation unit 400 is attached so that the front surface of the frame unit 415 (the surface formed by the inner periphery of the front end of the central opening 416a of the frame main body 416) is parallel to the inclined surface of the front end opening of the effect operation unit attachment portion 326a. As a result, the effect operation unit 400 is inclined so that the central axis CL of the transparent operation button 410, which bulges forward in a curved surface shape (the shape of a portion of an approximately spherical surface), moves upward as it moves forward at an angle of 63 degrees with respect to the vertical. As a result, when a player sits in front of the pachinko machine 1 to play a game using the pachinko machine 1, the player's head is positioned in front of the center of the play area 5a of the game board 5, which is located above the spinner unit 320 (effect operation unit 400), and the central axis CL of the operation button 410 passes near the player's head. Therefore, when a player looks down from the game area 5a to the performance operation unit 400 (operation button 410), the operation button 410 will appear as close as possible to its front view (projected view from a direction parallel to the central axis CL), and the operation button 410 and the door frame side performance display device 460 inside the operation button 410 can be seen in good condition.

[0165] In the performance operation 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, respectively, and are urged forward by the operation button spring 438. In the normal state (state in which the operation button 410 is not being pressed), the urging 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 a portion near the central opening 416a on the rear surface of the frame main body 416 of the frame unit 415.

[0166] In the normal state of the performance operation unit 400, the center side (the side of the central axis CL) from near the inner periphery of the button frame 412 of the operation button 410 protrudes forward from a central opening 416a of a frame main body 416 of the frame unit 415. In other words, in the transparent button lens 411 that bulges forward in a curved surface shape (the shape of a part of a substantially spherical surface) of the operation button 410, the part that protrudes forward from the inner periphery (inside) of the button frame 412 protrudes forward from the central opening 416a of the frame main body 416 of the frame unit 415 (see FIG. 37, etc.).

[0167] Incidentally, in this embodiment, the diameter of the central opening 416a of the frame main 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 in the direction of the central axis CL of the operation button 410.

[0168] In a normal state, when a player presses the operation button 410 of the effect operation unit 400, the operation button 410 moves rearward along the central axis CL against the biasing force of the operation button spring 438. Then, when the rear end of the operation button 410 abuts against the front surface of the unit base 431 of the base unit 430, the rearward movement of the operation button 410 is restricted and the rearward movement of the operation button 410 stops. When the player presses the operation button 410, he presses the button lens 411, which bulges forward in a curved surface shape (the shape of a part of a substantially spherical surface).

[0169] This operation button 410 has a much larger outer diameter than the operation buttons for effect provided in conventional pachinko machines, and therefore there is a high possibility that the peripheral area away from the center of the button lens 411 will be pressed. In more detail, the operation buttons for effect in conventional pachinko machines are attached so that their central axes extend approximately parallel to the vertical, whereas the operation button 410 of the effect operation unit 400 of this embodiment is attached so that its central axis CL is inclined with respect to the vertical, and therefore, when a player presses the operation button 410 from above as in conventional pachinko machines, the player will press a portion of the operation button 410 away from the central axis CL, as shown by the outline arrow in Figure 44.

[0170] Incidentally, the operation buttons for effects in conventional pachinko machines are formed so that the surface that the player presses is a flat surface. Therefore, if the operation button is made larger while keeping the part that is pressed a flat surface, when a part that is off the center of the operation button is pressed, the surface that is pressed will tilt so that the pressed part will move back first, and the operation button will no longer be able to move back in a straight line, which could make it impossible to press the operation button.

[0171] In contrast, the operation button 410 of the effect operation unit 400 of this embodiment has a portion (button lens 411) that is pressed by the player in a curved surface shape (a part of a substantially spherical surface) that bulges forward, so that when a position away from the center of the operation button 410 is pressed, the force is distributed over the entire operation button 410, making it difficult for the operation button 410 to tilt, and the operation button 410 can move straight backward. Therefore, no matter where on the front side of the operation button 410 is pressed, the operation button 410 can move backward smoothly without tilting, so that the pressing operation can be reliably detected and the effect of pressing the operation button 410 can be fully enjoyed.

[0172] Furthermore, in the performance operation unit 400, the vibration motor 424 is attached to the lower front surface of the board base 421 of the decorative board unit 420, and as described above, only the upper portion is attached to the performance operation unit attachment portion 326a of the dish unit cover 326 so that the performance operation unit 400 can be suspended. Therefore, when the vibration motor 424 rotates the weight 424a to generate vibration, the vibration occurs at the part farthest from the attached part, so that the entire performance operation unit 400 can be vibrated greatly (strongly) and the vibration can be transmitted to the player who is touching the performance operation unit 400. Furthermore, since the vibration motor 424 is located directly below a position where it is relatively easy for the player to press the operation button (the position of the white arrow in FIG. 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, since the performance operation unit 400 is attached to the dish unit cover 326 in a suspended state, and a gap is formed between the underside of the leg 442a of the relay board cover 442 forming the underside and the upper surface of the bottom plate 326i of the dish unit cover 326, when the operation button 410 is pressed or struck strongly downward, the mounting portion 416e of the frame unit 415 and the performance operation unit mounting portion 326a of the dish unit cover 326, etc., bend downward to absorb the impact until the underside of the leg 442a abuts against the upper surface of the bottom plate 326i. Furthermore, after the underside of the leg 442a abuts against the upper surface of the bottom plate 326i, the downward movement of the performance operation unit 400 is restricted, and it is possible to avoid the application of excessive force to the mounting portion 416e of the frame unit 415 and the performance operation unit mounting portion 326a of the dish unit cover 326, etc., and to prevent damage to the performance operation unit 400, etc. Therefore, even if the operation button 410 is pressed or hit with great force when a performance that requires pressing the operation button 410 of the performance operation unit 400 is presented to the player, the operation button 410 or the performance operation unit 400 will not be damaged, so that interruption of the game due to damage can be avoided, and a decrease in the player's interest can be suppressed, and by making it less susceptible to damage, an increase in the burden on the gaming hall can be suppressed.

[0174] As mentioned above, the button lens 411 of the operation button 410 that the player presses is formed in a curved surface shape (the shape of a part of an approximately spherical surface) that protrudes forward, so it has greater strength and rigidity than if it were flat, and even if it is hit hard, the impact can be dispersed throughout the entire button lens 411, making it less likely to break.

[0175] 46, the button lens 411, frame side lens 417, frame top lens 418, and operation button interior decorative member 432 of the performance operation unit 400 are made of transparent members, so that the uneven decorations formed on the backsides of the first button decorative portion 411a, second button decorative portion 411b, first button interior decorative portion 432f, and second button interior decorative portion 432g can be seen from the front (player's side). In addition, in the areas where the uneven decorations are formed, the plate thickness changes, causing light to refract in complex ways, making it difficult to see the rear side through the areas where the uneven decorations are formed.

[0176] The effect operation unit 400 is provided with a first button decorative portion 411a extending from the inner periphery of the button frame 412 of the button lens 411 of the operation button 410 toward the center, and the uneven decoration of this first button decorative portion 411a makes it difficult to see behind the outer periphery of the part inside the button lens 411. Behind the part where the first button decorative portion 411a is formed (behind the direction of the central axis CL), there is a gap between the inner periphery of the main body portion 413a of the button base 413 of the operation button 410 and the outer periphery of the peripheral wall portion 432a of the operation button internal decorative member 432, and the first button decorative portion 411a located in front of that gap makes it difficult to see the gap on the outer periphery of the operation button internal decorative member 432 from the front side (the player side). This prevents the appearance of the operation button 410 from deteriorating even if the operation button 410 is provided with an operation button interior decorative member 432 whose position is fixed inside the operation button 410 which can be operated by pressing it, and prevents players from feeling uncomfortable when looking at the operation button 410, and also allows the operation button interior decorative member 432 to be arranged without any problems inside the transparent operation button 410, improving the appearance of the operation button 410.

[0177] More specifically, the effect operation unit 400 is formed such that the first button decorative portion 411a, the second button decorative portion 411b, and the button frame 412 of the button lens 411 of the operation button 410 prevent the player from seeing the unit base 431 and the decorative board unit 420, which are located outside the outer periphery of the operation button interior decorative member 432 of the base unit 430 and on the rear side (back side) through the transparent button lens 411. Specifically, in FIG. 45, the crosshatched area surrounded by the dashed line is hidden from the player. In this way, the operation button 410 is provided with the first button decorative portion 411a, the second button decorative portion 411b, and the button frame 412, etc., so that the outside and back sides of the operation button interior decorative member 432 can be hidden and made difficult to see, improving the appearance of the operation button 410 and, ultimately, the effect operation unit 400 as a whole.

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

[0179] Furthermore, since the first button decorative portion 411a and the second button inner decorative portion 432g of the performance operation unit 400 are separated in the front-to-back direction (the direction in which the central axis CL extends), the first button decorative portion 411a and the second button inner decorative portion 432g can present the player with a geometric pattern that has depth and a three-dimensional feel, allowing the player to enjoy the decoration including the inside of the operation button 410.

[0180] Furthermore, in the performance operation unit 400, the first button decorative portion 411a and the second button inner decorative portion 432g are spaced apart in the front-to-back direction, so when the player's eye position moves, the degree of overlap between the uneven lines of the first button decorative portion 411a and the uneven lines of the second button inner decorative portion 432g changes, allowing the player to see a dynamic decoration and entertaining the player.

[0181] In this way, the performance operation unit 400 can present a dynamic, three-dimensional decoration to the player using the first button decorative portion 411a of the operation button 410 and the second button internal decorative portion 432g of the operation button internal decorative member 432, which can strongly attract the player's attention and make the pachinko machine 1 highly appealing.

[0182] Furthermore, in the performance operation unit 400, a left operation button interior decorative board 433, a right operation button interior decorative board 434, an upper operation button interior decorative board 435, and a lower operation button interior decorative board 436 are arranged behind the operation button interior decorative member 432 within the operation button 410 (inside the button frame 412), and by illuminating the multiple LEDs mounted on the front surfaces of these, the operation button interior decorative member 432 within the operation button 410 can be illuminated and decorated. In other words, the inside of the operation button 410 can be illuminated and decorated by the left operation button interior decorative board 433, the right operation button interior decorative board 434, the upper operation button interior decorative board 435, and the lower operation button interior decorative board 436. The LEDs mounted on the front of the left operation button interior decorative board 433, the right operation button interior decorative board 434, the upper operation button interior decorative board 435, and the lower operation button interior decorative board 436 are positioned inside the cylindrical main body 413a of the button base 413 of the operation button 410 when viewed from the direction in which the central axis CL extends, as shown in Figure 38, so that light from them does not leak outside the main body 413a, and only the inside of the operation button 410 can be illuminated and decorated well.

[0183] In addition, the performance operation unit 400 has a first LED 422a on the left outer decorative board 422 of the operation button and a first LED 423a on the right outer decorative board 423 of the operation button in the decorative board unit 420 arranged behind the second button decorative part 411b that is visible from the frame opening 412a of the button frame 412 located near the outer periphery of the operation button 410, and by illuminating these first LEDs 422a, 423a, the six second button decorative parts 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 board 422 of the operation button and the first LED 423a on the right outer decorative board 423 of the operation button are located between the cylindrical main body 413a in the button base 413 of the operation button 410 and the cylindrical inner tube 416d in the frame main body 416 of the frame unit 415, so that light from the first LEDs 422a, 423a does not leak inside the main body 413a or outside the inner tube 416d, and only the second button decorative part 411b of the operation button 410 can be well illuminated and decorated.

[0184] Furthermore, in the performance operation unit 400, a second LED 422b of the left operation button outer decorative board 422 and a second LED 423b of the right operation button outer decorative board 423 are arranged behind the frame side lens 417 facing from the six outer peripheral openings 416b of the frame main body 416 in the frame unit 415, and by illuminating these second LEDs 422b, 423b, the frame side lens 417 can be illuminated and decorated. The second LED 422b of the left operation button outer decorative board 422 and the second LED 423b of the right operation button outer decorative board 423 are positioned between the cylindrical inner tube portion 416d of the frame main body 416 of the frame unit 415 and the outer periphery of the frame main body 416, and light from the second LEDs 422b, 423b does not leak inside the inner tube portion 416d or outside the frame main body 416, and only the frame side lens 417 of the frame unit 415 can be illuminated and decorated well.

[0185] Furthermore, in the performance operation unit 400, a frame top lens decorative board 437 in the base unit 430 is disposed behind the frame top lens 418 of the frame unit 415, and the frame top lens 418 can be illuminated and decorated by illuminating a plurality of LEDs mounted on the front surface of the frame top lens decorative board 437. A flat light-shielding wall portion 431c protrudes forward from below the portion of the unit base 431 in the base unit 430 where the frame top lens decorative board 437 is attached, to near the rear of the lower end of the frame top lens 418, so that light from the LEDs in the frame top lens decorative board 437 does not leak toward the operation button 410 or frame side lens 417, and only the frame top lens 418 of the frame unit 415 can be illuminated and decorated well.

[0186] [3-5. Door frame left side unit] The left-side door frame 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 door frame unit in the door frame, (b) is a perspective view of the left-side door frame unit seen from the front, and (c) is a perspective view of the left-side door frame unit seen from the rear. Figure 48 is an exploded perspective view of the left-side door frame unit seen from the front, and Figure 49 is an exploded perspective view of the left-side door frame unit seen from the rear. Figure 50 is a cross-sectional view taken along line LL in Figure 47(a). The left-side door frame unit 530 is attached to the left side of the front surface 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 left-side decorative board 161 and the lower left-side decorative board 162 (left-side decorative board 160) above the tray unit 320. The left-side door frame unit 530 is used to decorate the left side of the through-hole 111 of the door frame base 110 when viewed from the front.

[0187] The door frame left side unit 530 comprises a vertically extending strip-shaped left unit base 531 attached to the front of the door frame base 110 in the door frame base unit 100, on the left side of the through-hole 111 as seen from the front; 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) disposed in front of the left unit diffusion lens member 532 and having a polyhedron-shaped decoration at its front end; and a cylindrical frame-shaped member attached to the upper front surface of the left unit base 531 from the front side of the left unit decorative lens member. a left unit lower decorative base 535 attached to the lower front surface of the left unit base 531 from the front side of the left unit decorative lens member and projecting forward in a frame shape shorter than the left unit upper decorative base 534; a transparent left unit decorative cover 536 attached to the front side of the left unit base 531 from the front sides of the left unit upper decorative base 534 and the left unit lower decorative base 535 so as to cover the front end side of the left unit decorative lens member; and a plurality of decorative members 537 attached to the front side of the left unit decorative cover 536.

[0188] The left unit base 531 of the door frame left-side unit 530 is formed in a shallow box shape with an open rear and has multiple openings 531a penetrating the front from front to back. As shown in the figure, the multiple openings 531a include circular holes and rectangular holes extending vertically. The left unit base 531 is attached to the left side of the front of the door frame base 110 so that the LEDs 161a, 162a mounted on the front of the door frame left-side decorative board 160 (the door frame left-side upper decorative board 161 and the door frame left-side lower decorative board 162) face forward through the multiple openings 531a. Each opening 531a of the left unit base 531 is formed so that, when assembled to the door frame 3, the LEDs 161a, 162a of the door frame left-side decorative board 160 are positioned approximately in the vertical center. The left unit base 531 is formed from an opaque material.

[0189] The left unit base 531 also has a left-side reflective upright wall 538 (see FIGS. 5 and 23) that stands toward the front from the glass plate 192 that is disposed so as to close the through-hole 111. The left-side reflective upright wall 538 has a flat inner surface that faces the through-hole 111 and is provided as a reflective surface that can reflect light. Note that this reflective surface can be provided by forming the inner surface of the left-side reflective upright wall 538 itself from a reflective material such as metal or resin, or by attaching a reflective sticker to the inner surface. As will be described later, the left-side reflective upright wall 538 is formed by the left unit base 531 and serves as a part (left portion) of the above-mentioned reflective upright wall 33.

[0190] The left unit diffusion lens member 532 is formed from a transparent member and is divided 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. The door frame left side unit 530 is formed so that, when assembled to the door frame 3, the LEDs 161a and 162a of the door frame left side decorative board 160 are located immediately behind the centers of the circular lens portion 532a and the rectangular lens portion 532b.

[0191] The circular lens portion 532a of the left unit diffusion lens member 532 is formed as a convex lens with smooth front and rear surfaces. This circular lens portion 532a allows light from the LEDs 161a and 162a located at the rear to be emitted forward as a point. The light emitted forward from this circular lens portion 532a illuminates and decorates 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 reflecting portion 532c that is conically recessed backward at the center of the front surface, a front diffusion lens portion 532d that is formed outside the central diffusion reflecting portion 532c on the front surface, an input lens portion 532e that bulges backward in a curved shape at the center of the rear surface (immediately after the central diffusion reflecting portion 532c), and a front reflecting portion 532f that is outside the input lens portion 532e on the rear surface and is inclined overall so as to move forward as it moves away from the input lens portion 532e.

[0193] The front diffusion lens portion 532d of the rectangular lens portion 532b is formed by a plurality of concentric arc-shaped grooves that are divided in the circumferential direction by lines extending radially from the central diffuse reflection portion 532c. More specifically, when the front diffusion lens portion 532d is cut along the radial direction, the grooves are recessed in an arc-like shape toward the rear, and the peaks between the grooves are bulged in an arc-like shape toward the front, forming a smooth wave-like front surface. Furthermore, the front diffusion lens portion 532d is formed so that the grooves and peaks alternate in the circumferential direction, separated by the radially extending lines.

[0194] The front reflecting portion 532f of the rectangular lens portion 532b is formed by multiple concentric arc-shaped grooves divided circumferentially by lines extending radially from the input lens portion 532e. These multiple grooves are V-shaped recessed from rear to front, with their deepest portions formed in an arc shape. When cut along the radial direction, the cross section of the front reflecting portion 532f is saw-like, with the peaks between the grooves formed in triangular shapes that point backward. The front reflecting portion 532f is formed so that the grooves and peaks move forward as they move away from the center. The front reflecting portion 532f is also formed so that the grooves and peaks alternate circumferentially, separated by radially extending lines. These radially extending lines that divide the front reflecting portion 532f in the circumferential direction coincide with the radially extending dividing lines of the front diffusion lens portion 532d.

[0195] When this rectangular lens portion 532b is assembled to the door frame 3, the corresponding LEDs 161a and 162a on the door frame left side decorative board 160 are located immediately after the input lens portion 532e.

[0196] In the rectangular lens portion 532b, light emitted forward from the LEDs 161a and 162a is input through the input lens portion 532e into the rectangular lens portion 532b. Because the input lens portion 532e bulges backward in a curved surface (convex lens shape), it refracts the light spreading forward from the LEDs 161a and 162a so that it travels parallel to the forward direction, and guides almost all of the input light to the conical central diffuse reflector 532c. The light guided to the central diffuse reflector 532c is then diffusely reflected by the inclined conical surface of the central diffuse reflector 532c in a direction perpendicular to the axis extending forward and parallel to the front surface of the door frame left-side decorative board 160, and travels within the rectangular lens portion 532b from the center toward the outside along the front surface. Furthermore, light reflected by central diffuse reflecting portion 532c travels from the center to the outside (direction away from the center line of central diffuse reflecting portion 532c) over the entire thickness of rectangular lens portion 532b in the front-to-rear direction.

[0197] Light reflected from the center toward the outside within the rectangular lens portion 532b, approximately parallel to the front surface of the door frame left-side decorative board 160, reaches the sawtooth-shaped forward reflecting portion 532f, where it is reflected forward by the surface of the forward reflecting portion 532f. Because the rear surface of the forward reflecting portion 532f is inclined so that it moves forward as it moves away from the central diffuse reflecting portion 532c, the thickness of the rectangular lens portion 532b in the front-to-back direction becomes thinner as it moves away from the center (see FIG. 50). This allows the light reflected outward by the central diffuse reflecting portion 532c across the entire thickness of the rectangular lens portion 532b in the front-to-back direction to be sequentially reflected forward by the forward reflecting portion 532f as it moves from the center toward the outside.

[0198] The light reflected forward by front reflecting portion 532f passes through front diffusing lens portion 532d and is irradiated forward from rectangular lens portion 532b. At this time, because front diffusing lens portion 532d has a wave-shaped cross section, it can diffuse the light reflected forward by front reflecting portion 532f in various directions, and can irradiate light forward (to the rear surface of the left unit decorative lens member) approximately uniformly from the front surface of rectangular lens portion 532b.

[0199] In the front diffusion lens portion 532d and the front reflection portion 532f of this rectangular lens portion 532b, the multiple concentric grooves are divided by multiple radial lines, and the multiple concentric arc grooves are radially shifted about the dividing lines so that the concentric arc grooves are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. This prevents the light irradiated forward from the front of the rectangular lens portion 532b from becoming a concentric striped pattern of light and shade, and allows for more uniform light to be irradiated forward. This allows the multifaceted decorative portion in front of the rectangular lens portion 532b in the left unit decorative lens component to be illuminated and decorated in a substantially uniform manner.

[0200] The left unit decorative lens element (not shown) is formed to fit along the front surface of the left unit decorative cover 536. The left unit decorative lens element includes a circular decorative element formed in front of the circular lens element 532a of the left unit diffusing lens element 532 and a multifaceted decorative element formed in front of the rectangular lens element 532b of the left unit diffusing lens element 532. The circular decorative element has a cylindrical shape with a recessed front surface and a short, elongated cylindrical portion with multiple triangular ribs circumferentially arranged around the periphery. The multifaceted decorative element is formed in a vertically extending rectangular parallelepiped front with multiple rows of quadrangular pyramid-shaped elements arranged vertically on both sides of the rectangular parallelepiped. The circular decorative element and multifaceted decorative element are formed in the same shape as the circular decorative element 561a and multifaceted decorative element 561b of the right unit decorative lens element 561 in the door frame right-side unit 550.

[0201] The left unit decorative lens member can be seen from the front (player's side) through the transparent left unit decorative cover 536. The circular decorative portion of the left unit decorative lens member is illuminated by light irradiated forward from the circular lens portion 532a of the left unit diffusing lens member 532, and the multifaceted decorative portion is illuminated by light irradiated forward from the angular lens portion 532b of the left unit diffusing lens member 532.

[0202] The left unit upper decorative base 534 has a rectangular shape extending vertically when viewed from the front, and is formed as a rectangular tube extending front to back. The portion of the lower surface of the left unit upper decorative base 534 on the outer periphery is inclined so that it protrudes downward from the front end to the rear end, and the lower part of this portion is open from front to back. This left unit upper decorative base 534 is made of an opaque material.

[0203] The left unit lower decorative base 535 is U-shaped and open upward when viewed from the front. The left unit lower decorative base 535 is inclined from the approximate center in the vertical direction at the front end to the rear end so that the upper side moves rearward as it goes upward. The left unit lower decorative base 535 is made of an opaque material.

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

[0205] The upper and lower ends of the left unit decorative cover 536 are attached to the front of the left unit upper decorative base 534 and the front of the left unit lower decorative base 535. This left unit decorative cover 536 is made of a transparent material, so that the left unit decorative lens member located on the rear side can be seen from the front.

[0206] The decorative members 537 extend vertically in short lengths and are attached at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction to the front surface of the left unit decorative cover 536. The decorative members 537 are made of an opaque material.

[0207] [3-6. Door frame right side unit] The door frame 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 door frame right side unit in the door frame, (b) is a perspective view of the door frame right side unit seen from the front, and (c) is a perspective view of the door frame right side unit seen from the rear. Figure 52 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame right side unit seen from the front, and Figure 53 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame right side unit seen from the rear. Figure 54 is a cross-sectional view taken along line MM in Figure 51(a). Figure 55(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line NN in Figure 51(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line OO in Figure 51(a). The door frame right side unit 550 is attached above the tray unit 320 to the right of the through-hole 111 in 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 box-shaped right unit base 551 that extends vertically and is attached to the front of the door frame base 110 in the door frame base unit 100, on the right side of the through hole 111 when viewed from the front; a door frame right side decorative board 552 attached to the front of the right unit base 551; a transparent, flat, right unit left diffusion lens member 553 that is attached to the front side of the door frame right side decorative board 552, to the left of the center when viewed from the front, on the front of the right unit base 551, and extends in the vertical and front-to-back directions; a sheet-shaped right unit left decorative member 554 that is attached to the left side of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 and is decorated; and a transparent, flat, right unit left cover 555 that is 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] The door frame right side unit 550 also includes a transparent, flat right unit right diffusion lens element 556 which is attached to the front side of the door frame right side decorative base plate 552 and to the right of the right unit left diffusion lens element 553 when viewed from the front, to the right of the center when viewed from the front on the front of the right unit base 551 and to the right of the right unit left diffusion lens element 553, and which extends in the vertical and front-to-back directions; a decorated sheet-like right unit right decorative element 557 which is attached to the right side of the right unit right diffusion lens element 556; and a transparent, flat right unit right cover 558 which is attached to the right side of the right unit right decorative element 557.

[0210] Furthermore, the door frame right side unit 550 is equipped with a shallow, box-shaped, opaque right unit left shading member 559 that is positioned between the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 and the right unit right diffusion lens member 556 and extends in the vertical and front-to-back directions with the front and right sides open, and a flat, opaque right unit right shading member 560 that is attached to the left of the right unit right diffusion lens member 556 so as to close the open right side of the right unit left shading member 559.

[0211] The door frame right-side unit 550 also includes a translucent right-unit decorative lens member 561 attached to the front ends of the right-unit left diffusion lens member 553 and the right-unit right diffusion lens member 556 and having a polyhedron-shaped 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 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 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, the door frame right-side unit 550 is attached so as to penetrate the right unit base 551 from top to bottom and includes a connection cable for connecting a door main body relay board of the door frame base unit 100 to a 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, a short rectangular cylindrical shape extending from front to back, and a box-like shape with a closed central portion in the front-to-back direction. This right unit base 551 is made of an opaque material.

[0213] The right unit base 551 also has a right-side reflective upright wall portion 568 (see FIGS. 6 and 24) that stands toward the front from the glass plate 192 that is disposed so as to close the through-hole 111. The right-side reflective upright wall portion 568 has a flat inner surface that faces the through-hole 111 and is provided as a reflective surface that can reflect light. As with the inner surface of the left-side reflective upright wall portion 538, this reflective surface can be provided by forming the inner surface of the right-side reflective upright wall portion 568 itself from a reflective material such as metal or resin, or by attaching a reflective sticker to the inner surface. As will be described later, the right-side reflective upright wall portion 568 is formed by the right unit base 551 and serves as a part (the right portion) of the above-mentioned reflective upright wall portion 33.

[0214] The door frame right-side decorative board 552 is formed in the shape of a vertically extending strip. The door frame right-side decorative board 552 includes multiple left LEDs 552a mounted to the left of the center in the horizontal direction on the front surface, a right LED 552b mounted to the right of the center in the horizontal direction on the front surface, and multiple middle LEDs 552c mounted in the center in the horizontal direction on the front surface. The left LEDs 552a of the door frame right-side decorative board 552 illuminate and decorate the right unit left decorative member 554 via the right unit left diffusion lens member 553. The right LEDs 552b illuminate and decorate the right unit right decorative member 557 via the right unit right diffusion lens member 556. The middle LEDs 552c illuminate and decorate the right unit decorative lens member 561.

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

[0216] The right unit left diffusion lens member 553 comprises a flat main body portion 553a extending in the vertical and front-to-rear directions, a rear wall portion 553b protruding in a short, flat shape from the rear edge of the main body portion 553a to the right when viewed from the front, multiple notches 553c cut out in a rectangular shape from the right end side of the rear wall portion 553b to the left when viewed from the front and formed at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, a shallow storage recess 553d on the left surface side of the main body portion 553a when viewed from the front so that the right unit left decorative member 554 can be stored therein, multiple input lens portions 553e protruding rearward from the rear end surface of the main body portion 553a and provided in the vertical direction, and multiple side reflecting portions 553f arranged in the vertical direction on the right surface side of the main body portion 553a when viewed from the front so that each input lens portion 553e is centered in the vertical direction.

[0217] The main body 553a of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 has a rectangular shape extending vertically in a side view, with the upper front corner of the rectangular shape being notched at an angle in a C-shape, and the lower edge being inclined upward as it moves forward. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 55, the main body 553a as a whole is slightly inclined relative to the vertical line of the front surface of the door frame right side decorative board 552, so that it moves to the right as viewed from the front as it moves forward from the rear end. When assembled to the door frame 3, the front end of the main body 553a protrudes further forward than the front end of the door frame left side unit 530.

[0218] When assembled to the door frame right side unit 550, the right end of the rear wall portion 553b extends to approximately the center in the left-right direction of the right unit base 551. 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] The multiple cutouts 553c are formed at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, and some of them correspond to the middle LEDs 552c of the door frame right side decorative board 552. When assembled to the door frame right side unit 550, the middle LEDs 552c of the door frame right side decorative board 552 face forward from the multiple cutouts 553c, and the multiple middle LEDs 552c can effectively illuminate and decorate the right unit decorative lens member 561.

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

[0221] The input lens portions 553e protrude rearward at predetermined intervals from the rear end surface of the main body 553a. Specifically, they are formed approximately in the vertical center of each of the six equal vertical divisions of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553. Although not shown in detail, the input lens portions 553e have a rectangular parallelepiped portion with a vertically extending rectangular shape protruding rearward and a spherically curved portion recessed forward from the rear surface of the rectangular parallelepiped portion. When assembled to the door frame right side unit 550, these input lens portions 553e are each positioned immediately in front of the left LED 552a of the door frame right side decorative board 552. This allows light from the left LED 552a to be widely diffused within the main body 553a.

[0222] A plurality (six) of side reflectors 553f are provided in the vertical direction. Each side reflector 553f is formed by a plurality of concentric arc-shaped grooves divided in the circumferential direction by lines extending radially from the input lens portion 553e. The surface of each of these concentric arc-shaped grooves closer to the input lens portion 553e is inclined with respect to the surface of the main body portion 553a, while the surface farther from the input lens portion 553e extends perpendicular to the surface of the main body portion 553a, with the deepest portion formed in an arc shape. When cut in the radial direction around the input lens portion 553e, the cross section of the side reflector 553f is formed in a sharp triangular shape with the peaks between the grooves pointing toward the center, forming a sawtooth shape overall. Furthermore, the side reflector 553f is formed such that the grooves and peaks are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction, with the peaks dividing the concentric arc-shaped grooves in the circumferential direction as boundaries.

[0223] In this right unit left diffusion lens member 553, light emitted forward from the left LED 552a of the door frame right side decorative board 552 is incident from the rear surface of the input lens portion 553e into the main body portion 553a of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553. Because the rear end of this input lens portion 553e is recessed in a curved shape facing forward, the light from the left LED 552a is refracted so as to spread by the curved surface, and within the main body portion 553a, the light is diffused radially forward from each input lens portion 553e as a center.

[0224] Because the main body 553a is slightly inclined with respect to a line extending perpendicularly from the front surface of the door frame right-side decorative board 552 so that the main body 553a moves to the right as viewed from the front as it moves forward, light emitted from the left LED 552a mounted on the front surface of the door frame right-side decorative board 552 and incident on the main body 553a through the input lens 553e strikes the flat left surface of the main body 553a. However, due to the angle of incidence with respect to the left surface of the main body 553a, the direct light from the left LED 552a is not emitted to the outside from the left surface of the main body 553a, but is reflected by the inner surface of the left surface toward the side reflector 553f.

[0225] Light incident forward from input lens unit 553e into main body unit 553a hits sawtooth side reflecting portion 553f, is reflected leftward as viewed from the front, and is then irradiated outward from the left surface of main body unit 553a. Note that light is also irradiated outward (rightward as viewed from the front) from the right surface (side surface reflecting portion 553f) of main body unit 553a, but because right unit left light-shielding member 559 disposed on the right side of main body unit 553a is a white member, the left surface of right unit left light-shielding member 559 is brightly illuminated, and indirect light reflected by right unit left light-shielding member 559 passes through main body unit 553a and is irradiated leftward. Therefore, from the left surface of main body 553a, light reflected to the left by side reflecting portion 553f within main body 553a and light irradiated to the right from side reflecting portion 553f, reflected to the left by the left surface of right unit left shading member 559, and passed through main body 553a are irradiated to the left, so that right unit left decorative member 554 attached to the left side of main body 553a can be illuminated and decorated with good brightness.

[0226] In addition, in side reflector 553f, the concentric grooves are divided by radially extending lines, and the concentric arc grooves are radially shifted along the dividing lines so that the concentric arc grooves are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. This prevents the light irradiated outward (leftward) from the left surface of main body 553a from becoming a concentric striped pattern of light and shade, and allows a more uniform light to be irradiated to the left. This allows right unit left decorative member 554, which is housed in housing recess 553d on the left surface of main body 553a, to be illuminated and decorated in a substantially uniform manner.

[0227] Because right unit left diffusion lens member 553 is made of a transparent material, the pattern consisting of multiple concentric arc grooves and radially extending lines of side surface reflector 553f formed on the opposite side can be seen from the left side of main body 553a when viewed from the front (the side where storage recess 553d is formed). Therefore, if right unit left decorative member 554 has a transparent portion, the pattern of side surface reflector 553f of right unit left diffusion lens member 553 can be seen through the transparent portion, and the transparent portion of right unit left decorative member 554 can be decorated with side surface reflector 553f.

[0228] The right unit left decorative member 554 is formed in a thin sheet shape and is given translucency with decorations such as the manufacturer logo of the pachinko machine 1 and a logo that matches the concept of the presentation presented to the player on the game board 5. The right unit left cover 555 protects the outer surface of the right unit left decorative member 554 when assembled to the door frame right side unit 550.

[0229] The right unit right diffusion lens member 556 is formed approximately symmetrically with the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 and has a similar configuration. Specifically, the right unit right diffusion lens member 556 includes a flat main body portion 556a extending in the up-down and front-rear directions, a rear wall portion 556b projecting in a short, flat shape from the rear edge of the main body portion 556a to the left in a front view, a plurality of notches 556c cut out in a rectangular shape from the left end side of the rear wall portion 556b to the right in a front view and formed at predetermined intervals in the up-down direction, a shallow storage recess 556d on the right surface side of the main body portion 556a in a front view so as to be able to store the right unit right decorative member 557, a plurality of input lens portions 556e projecting rearward from the rear end surface of the main body portion 556a and provided in the up-down direction, and a plurality of side reflecting portions 556f arranged in the up-down direction on the left surface side of the main body portion 556a in a front view so that each input lens portion 556e is centered in the up-down direction.

[0230] The main body 556a of the right-unit right diffusion lens member 556 has a rectangular shape extending vertically in a side view, with the upper front corner of the rectangular shape cut out at an angle in a C-chamfered shape, and the lower edge slopes upward as it moves forward. The main body 556a has a shape that is roughly the same in outline as the main body 553a of the right-unit left diffusion lens member 553. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 55, the main body 556a as a whole is slightly inclined relative to the vertical line of the front surface of the door frame right-side decorative board 552 so that it slopes leftward as viewed from the front as it moves forward from the rear end. When assembled to the door frame 3, the front end of the main body 556a protrudes further forward than the front end of the door frame left-side unit 530.

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

[0232] The multiple cutouts 556c are formed at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, and some correspond to the middle LEDs 552c of the door frame right-side decorative board 552. These multiple cutouts 556c are formed in positions corresponding to the multiple cutouts 553c of the right-unit left diffusion lens member 553. Therefore, when assembled to the door frame right-side unit 550, the cutouts 553c of the right-unit left diffusion lens member 553 and the cutouts 556c of the right-unit right diffusion lens member 556 form a square opening that penetrates from front to back, and the middle LEDs 552c of the door frame right-side decorative board 552 face forward from this opening, allowing the multiple middle LEDs 552c to effectively illuminate and decorate the right-unit decorative lens member 561.

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

[0234] The input lens portions 556e protrude rearward at predetermined intervals from the rear end surface of the main body 556a. Specifically, they are formed approximately in the vertical center of each of the six equal vertical divisions of the right unit right diffusion lens member 556. Although not shown in detail, the input lens portions 556e have a rectangular parallelepiped portion with a vertically extending rectangular shape protruding rearward and a spherically curved portion recessed forward from the rear surface of the rectangular parallelepiped portion. When assembled to the right door frame unit 550, these input lens portions 556e are each positioned immediately in front of the right LED 552b of the right door frame decorative board 552. This allows light from the right LED 552b to be widely diffused within the main body 556a.

[0235] A plurality (six) of side reflectors 556f are provided in the vertical direction. Each side reflector 556f is formed by a plurality of concentric arc-shaped grooves divided in the circumferential direction by lines extending radially from the input lens portion 556e. The surface of each of these concentric arc-shaped grooves closer to the input lens portion 556e is inclined with respect to the surface of the main body portion 556a, while the surface farther from the input lens portion 556e extends perpendicular to the surface of the main body portion 556a, with the deepest portion formed in an arc shape. When cut in the radial direction around the input lens portion 556e, the cross section of the side reflector 556f is formed in a sharp triangular shape with the peaks between the grooves pointing toward the center, forming a sawtooth shape overall. Furthermore, the side reflector 556f is formed such that the grooves and peaks are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction, with the peaks dividing the concentric arc-shaped grooves in the circumferential direction as boundaries.

[0236] In this right unit right diffusion lens member 556, light emitted forward from the right LED 552b on the door frame right side decorative board 552 is incident from the rear surface of the input lens portion 556e into the main body portion 556a of the right unit right diffusion lens member 556. Because the rear end of this input lens portion 556e is recessed in a curved shape facing forward, the light from the right LED 552b is refracted by the curved surface so that it spreads out, and within the main body portion 556a, the light is diffused radially forward from each input lens portion 556e as a center.

[0237] Because the main body 556a is slightly inclined with respect to a line extending perpendicularly from the front surface of the door frame right-side decorative board 552 so that the main body 556a moves to the left as seen from the front as it moves forward, light emitted from the right LED 552b mounted on the front surface of the door frame right-side decorative board 552 and incident on the main body 556a through the input lens 556e strikes the flat right surface of the main body 556a. However, due to the angle of incidence of the direct light from the right LED 552b with respect to the right surface of the main body 556a, the direct light is not emitted to the outside from the left surface of the main body 556a, but is reflected by the inner surface of the right surface toward the side reflector 556f.

[0238] Light incident forward from input lens unit 556e into main body unit 556a hits sawtooth side reflecting portion 556f, is reflected to the right as viewed from the front, and is irradiated outward from the right surface of main body unit 556a. Note that light is also irradiated outward (left as viewed from the front) from the right surface (side surface reflecting portion 556f) of main body unit 556a, but because right unit right light-shielding member 560 arranged on the left side of main body unit 556a is a white member, the right surface of right unit right light-shielding member 560 is brightly illuminated, and indirect light reflected by right unit right light-shielding member 560 passes through main body unit 556a and is irradiated to the right side. Therefore, from the right surface of main body 556a, light reflected to the right by side reflecting portion 556f within main body 556a and light irradiated to the left from side reflecting portion 556f, reflected to the right by the right surface of right unit right shading member 560, and passed through main body 556a are irradiated to the right, so that right unit right decorative member 557 attached to the right side of main body 556a can be illuminated and decorated with good brightness.

[0239] In addition, in side reflector 556f, the concentric grooves are divided by radially extending lines, and the concentric arc grooves are radially shifted along the dividing lines so that the concentric arc grooves are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. This prevents the light irradiated outward (to the right) from the right surface of main body 556a from becoming a concentric striped pattern of light and shade, and allows a more uniform light to be irradiated to the right. This allows right unit right decorative member 557, which is housed in housing recess 556d on the right surface of main body 556a, to be illuminated and decorated in a substantially uniform manner.

[0240] Because right unit right diffusion lens member 556 is made of a transparent member, the pattern consisting of multiple concentric arc grooves and radially extending lines of side surface reflector 556f formed on the opposite side can be seen from the right side of main body 556a when viewed from the front (the side where storage recess 556d is formed). Therefore, if right unit right decorative member 557 has a transparent portion, the pattern of side surface reflector 556f of right unit right diffusion lens member 556 can be seen through the transparent portion, and the transparent portion of right unit right decorative member 557 can be decorated with side surface reflector 556f.

[0241] The right unit right decorative member 557 is formed in the shape of a thin sheet and is decorated with translucent decorations such as the manufacturer logo of the pachinko machine 1 and a logo based on the concept of the presentation presented to the player on the game board 5. 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 bilaterally symmetrical with the right unit left decorative member 554 and the right unit left cover 555. The decorations on the right unit left decorative member 554 and the right unit right decorative member 557 may be the same or different.

[0242] The right unit left light shielding member 559 has a shape in a side view that is substantially the same as the shapes of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 and the right unit right diffusion lens member 556. The right unit left light shielding member 559 is formed in a shallow box shape that is open on the front and right sides. The right unit left light shielding member 559 includes a flat main body portion 559a extending in the up-down 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 in a front view, a plurality of notches 559c that are cut out in a rectangular shape from the right end side of the rear wall portion 559b in a front view to the left and are formed at predetermined intervals in the up-down direction, and a plurality of flat reinforcing portions 559d that extend rightward from the right surface of the main body portion 559a and extend from the rear wall portion 559b to the front end of the main body portion 559a.

[0243] The main body 559a of the right unit left shading member 559 has a shape when viewed from the side, in which the upper corner of the front end of a rectangle extending vertically is cut out diagonally in a C-chamfered shape, and the lower side is slanted so that it moves upward as it moves forward, and is formed into approximately the same outer shape as the main body parts 553a, 556a of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 and the right unit right diffusion lens member 556.

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

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

[0246] The multiple reinforcing portions 559d are provided in three sets spaced a predetermined distance apart in the vertical direction, with each set consisting of a pair of reinforcing portions 559d spaced apart in the vertical direction at approximately the same height as the left-right width. Each set of reinforcing portions 559d is formed in a position behind a decorative member 564 attached to the right unit cover 563. These multiple reinforcing portions 559d increase the overall strength and rigidity of the door frame right-side unit 550.

[0247] The right unit right light shielding member 560 has a shape in side view that is a vertically extending rectangle with the upper corner on the front end side thereof cut out at an angle in a C-chamfered shape and the lower side is formed in a shape that slopes upward as it extends forward, and is formed in substantially the same shape as the main body 559a of the right unit left light shielding member 559. When assembled to the door frame right side unit 550, the right unit right light shielding member 560 closes the right opening that opens to the right of the right unit left light shielding member 559 that is formed in a shallow box shape.

[0248] The right unit left light shielding member 559 and the right unit right light shielding member 560 are each formed of a white material. As shown in FIG. 55 , when the right unit left light shielding member 559 and the right unit right light shielding member 560 are assembled to the door frame right side unit 550, their respective main bodies 559a and right unit right light shielding member 560 are arranged in close proximity to the main bodies 553a, 556a of the right unit left diffusion lens member 553 and the right unit right diffusion lens member 556. As a result, the main body 559a of the right unit left light shielding member 559 and the right unit right light shielding member 560 are spaced apart in the left-right direction, forming a space that extends up-down and front-to-back by a predetermined width in the left-right direction. Light emitted forward from the LED 552c in the door frame right side decorative substrate 552 is irradiated onto the rear side of the right unit decorative lens member 561 through the space formed between the main body 559a of the right unit left shading member 559 and the right unit right shading member 560.

[0249] In addition, the right unit left light-shielding member 559 and the right unit right light-shielding member 560 are formed from opaque materials, which prevents the light emitted forward from the left LED 552a, middle LED 552c, and right LED 552b on the door frame right side decorative board 552 from interfering with each other, allowing the right unit left decorative member 554, right unit right decorative member 557, and right unit decorative lens member 561 to be illuminated and decorated only by the corresponding left LED 552a, right LED 552b, and middle LED 552c, respectively.

[0250] Furthermore, the right unit left light-shielding member 559 and the right unit right light-shielding member 560 have their internal spaces vertically divided into four by three sets of reinforcing parts 559d, so that the LEDs 552c in the door frame right side decorative board 552 located at the rear of each divided space can prevent light from interfering between the spaces, and the parts of the right unit decorative lens member 561 located in front of each space can be illuminated and decorated independently. In other words, the front end side of the door frame right side unit 550 can be divided into multiple (four) areas vertically, and each can be illuminated and decorated independently.

[0251] The right unit decorative lens element 561 is formed in a shape that follows the front end shapes of the right unit left diffusion lens element 553 and the right unit right diffusion lens element 556. The right unit decorative lens element 561 includes a circular decorative element 561a that is circular in front view, and a polyhedral decorative element 561b that extends vertically and has multiple polyhedrons formed thereon. The circular decorative element 561a has a concave front surface and a cylindrical portion that extends shortly in the front-to-back direction, with multiple triangular ribs formed around the periphery. The polyhedral decorative element 561b has a shape that resembles a vertically extending rectangular parallelepiped with multiple rows of quadrangular pyramid-shaped portions on the front surface, and multiple rows of polyhedrons made up of multiple triangles arranged vertically on both the left and right sides of the rectangular parallelepiped portion.

[0252] In more detail, the right unit decorative lens member 561 is formed so that, in the areas located in front of each of the spaces divided into four by three sets of reinforcing portions 559d in the right unit left shading member 559, multiple circular decorative portions 561a and multifaceted decorative portions 561b are arranged, one on each side of the circular decorative portion 561a located in the center in the vertical direction, in the top three areas, and only the multifaceted decorative portion 561b is arranged in the lowest area.

[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 (player's side) through the transparent right unit cover 563. This right unit decorative lens member 561 is illuminated and decorated by the LED 552c in the door frame right side decorative board 552 located 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-rear direction. The right unit decorative base 562 is formed in a shape that follows 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, as well as 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 beyond the front end of the right unit decorative base 562. The right unit decorative base 562 is formed from an opaque material.

[0255] The right unit cover 563 is formed so as to be able to close the front end opening of the right unit decorative base 562. This right unit cover 563 is formed from a transparent member, and the right unit decorative lens member 561 arranged on the rear side can be seen from the front side.

[0256] The decorative members 564 extend vertically in short lengths 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 parts in the vertical direction.

[0257] When assembled to the door frame 3, the door frame right side unit 550 protrudes in a plate shape further forward than the door frame left side unit 530, and protrudes slightly forward than the front end of the upper tray 321 of the tray unit 320. The door frame right side unit 550 can independently illuminate and decorate the right unit left decorative member 554 and the right unit right decorative member 557 provided on both the protruding left and right sides, and the right unit decorative lens member 561 provided at the front end.

[0258] The door frame right side unit 550 is plate-shaped and protrudes significantly forward, so when this pachinko machine 1 is installed in an island facility in a gaming hall, the door frame right side unit 550 can act as a partition between it and the adjacent pachinko machine on the right side. This gives players playing this pachinko machine 1 the illusion that they are playing in a private room, allowing them to play in a relaxed atmosphere without having to worry about other players around them.

[0259] Furthermore, because the door frame right side unit 550 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 it is not located 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, if the right unit left decorative member 554 and the right unit right decorative member 557 on both the left and right sides of the door frame right side unit 550 are illuminated, the presence of the pachinko machine 1 can be made known from a distance even if it is not located near the front of the pachinko machine 1, making the pachinko machine 1 highly appealing to players.

[0260] Furthermore, in the door frame right side unit 550, when a malfunction such as ball jamming or an error occurs in this pachinko machine 1, the right unit left decorative member 554, right unit right decorative member 557, and right unit decorative lens member 561 on both the left and right sides are illuminated and decorated in a unique manner, so that the occurrence of the malfunction can be immediately notified to the game hall staff and they can respond quickly to the malfunction, which means that the player's interruption to play can be resolved early and the player's frustration and loss of interest in the game can be prevented.

[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 seen from the front, and (c) is a perspective view of the door frame top unit seen from the rear. Figure 57 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame top unit seen from the front, and Figure 58 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame top unit seen from the rear. Figure 59 is a cross-sectional view taken along line P-P in Figure 56. The door frame top unit 570 is attached above the left door frame side unit 530 and the right door frame 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.

[0262] The door frame top unit 570 comprises a central base 571 attached to the center in the left-right direction above the through-hole 111 on the front surface of the door frame base 110 of the door frame base unit 100, a pair of side bases 572 attached to both the left and right sides of the central base 571 and attached to the front surface of the door frame base 110, a pair of upper speakers 573 attached to the front surfaces of the pair of side bases 572, and a box-shaped base 571 extending left and right, with the center in the left-right direction protruding forward and the rear open, which penetrates forward and backward in front of the pair of upper speakers 573. The unit body 271 has a pair of openings 574a and multiple slits 574b (three on each side) that extend from positions closer to the center in the left-right direction than the pair of openings 574a to near the center, penetrate in the front-to-rear direction, and are spaced apart vertically, and is attached to the front of the central base 571 and the pair of side bases 572; and speaker covers 575 made of punching metal that are arranged in front of the pair of upper speakers 573 and attached to the rear of the unit body 271 so as to close the pair of openings 574a.

[0263] Although not shown in the figures, 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, and these internal spaces are configured to respectively accommodate the above-mentioned outer periphery external light-emitting unit 34 (left outer periphery external light-emitting unit 34a, right outer periphery external light-emitting unit 34b) that is arranged to emit light from outside the outer periphery into the outer periphery of the opening window, and outer periphery external light detection unit 35 (left outer periphery external light detection unit 35a, right outer periphery external light detection unit 35b) that detects light from inside the outer periphery of the opening window outside the periphery.

[0264] The door frame top unit 570 is made up of a translucent top middle decorative member 576 attached to the front of the unit body 271 in the center in the left-right direction, a door frame top middle decorative board 577 attached to the rear side of the top middle decorative member 576 and having a plurality of LEDs mounted on the front, and a plurality of transparent flat light guide portions (three on each side) attached to the front of the unit body 271, closing the plurality of slits 574b, and extending from near the left and right ends of the top middle decorative member 576 across the opening 574a to near the left and right ends of the unit body 271. The light-guiding members 578 are provided with 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 middle decorative member 576 on the front of the unit body 271 and cover the front of each of the multiple (three) light-guiding members 578, and a top middle left decorative member 581 and a top middle right decorative member 582, which are attached to the front 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 and extend from the left and right sides of the top middle decorative member 576 to near the central end of the opening 574a.

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

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

[0267] The central base 571 of the door frame top unit 570 is formed into a rectangular shape that extends left and right when viewed from the front. The central base 571 is formed into a box shape that is open to the rear and has multiple protrusions and recesses 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 surfaces of each side base 572, respectively. When assembled to the door frame top unit 570, the pair of upper speakers 573 are attached at an angle so that the front surface of each speaker moves toward the rear on the side closest to the center of the door frame top unit 570 in the left-right direction. The pair of upper speakers 573 are full-range cone-type speakers that can output sound over a wide frequency band.

[0268] The unit body 271, when viewed from the front, has a shape like a rectangle extending left and right, with lower portions near both left and right ends bulging downward. In other words, the unit body 271, when viewed from the front, has a shape like a rectangle extending left and right, with a trapezoidal notch tapering upward from the bottom edge. The unit body 271, when viewed from the top, has a shape that combines a rectangle extending left and right, a trapezoid that protrudes forward, with its base centered at the left-right center of the front edge of the rectangle and approximately half the overall width (left-right length), and another rectangle that protrudes forward a short distance with the front edge of the trapezoid as its long side. Therefore, both sides of the portion that protrudes forward at the left-right center on the front surface of the unit body 271 are located behind (recessed in) a line connecting the left and right ends of the unit body 271 and the left and right ends of the front end of the forward-protruding portion.

[0269] The unit body 271 has openings 574a formed on its front surface, penetrating from both left and right ends to positions outside the portion protruding forward. Furthermore, the unit body 271 has a plurality of slits 574b formed on its front surface, extending diagonally from the trapezoidally protruding forward portion, that extend left and right at a predetermined height and penetrate the front and rear direction. The plurality of slits 574b extend left and right from near the front end of the portion of the front surface of the unit body 271 that extends diagonally forward to near the opening 574a. The plurality of slits 574b are formed on both sides of the center of the unit body 271 in the left and right direction, three on each side, spaced apart vertically.

[0270] The unit body 271 also has an upper opening 574c cut out in a square shape from the rear end to the front in the center of the left-right direction on the upper surface, and a lower opening 574d cut out in the left-right direction on the lower surface from the rear end to the front. 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] The unit body 271 also has a top left decorative part 574e and a top right decorative part 574f that extend vertically on both the left and right ends. The front surface of the top left decorative part 574e is formed at approximately the same position in the front-to-back direction as the front surface of the part where the opening 574a is formed. The top right decorative part 574f is formed so that its front surface is located further forward than the front surface of the part where the opening 574a is formed. The unit body 271 is formed from an opaque material.

[0272] The top middle 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 surface of the unit main body 271. When viewed from the front, the top middle decorative member 576 has a shape that combines an irregular pentagon bent so that the center of the bottom side of the approximately square is located downward, and an approximately right-angled triangle formed by connecting the tips of the sides extending outward in the left-right direction from the upper ends of the left and right sides of the irregular pentagon to the lower ends of the left and right sides of the pentagon. The irregular pentagonal portion of the front of the top middle decorative member 576 is inclined so that it moves backward as it moves downward. The top middle decorative member 576 is formed into a three-dimensional shape overall and is translucent.

[0273] The door frame top middle decorative board 577 is attached to the rear of the top middle decorative member 576 in a state where it is tilted so that its front surface is aligned with the front surface of the irregular pentagonal portion of the top middle decorative member 576 and moves rearward as it goes downward. The door frame top middle decorative board 577 has multiple LEDs mounted on its front surface, and by illuminating these LEDs, the top middle decorative member 576 can be illuminated and decorated.

[0274] The light guide member 578 is made of a transparent material. The light guide member 578 is formed in a shape that conforms to the shape of the left and right outer sides of the front end of the portion of the front surface of the unit body 271 that protrudes forward. Referring to the end sides as the sides closer to both left and right ends of the unit body 271 and the center side as the center side, the light guide member 578 is composed of a straight portion 578a that extends straight from the end sides toward the center, and an arc portion 578b that extends in an arc shape with a larger radius so as to move forward from the end side toward the center of the straight portion 578a. The light guide member 578 is formed such that the depth in the front-to-rear direction of the straight portion 578a is smaller than the height in the up-to-down direction, and the depth in the front-to-rear direction of the arc portion 578b is greater than the height in the up-to-down direction. Furthermore, light guiding member 578 is formed so that straight portion 578a has a constant vertical height, and so that arc portion 578b has a vertical height that decreases toward the center. When light guiding member 578 is assembled to door frame top unit 570, straight portion 578a is located immediately before opening 574a of unit main body 271, and arc portion 578b closes slit 574b of unit main body 271 from the front.

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

[0276] When the light-guiding member 578 is assembled to the door frame top unit 570, its outer left and right ends face the LEDs 583a and 584a on the door frame top-left decorative board 583 or the door frame top-right decorative board 584, and its diffusion input portion 578d faces the LEDs 586a and 587a on the door frame top-left decorative board 586 or the door frame top-right decorative board 587. When light from the LEDs 583a and 584a on the door frame top-left decorative board 583 or the door frame top-right decorative board 584 is incident on both of the outer left and right ends of the light-guiding member 578, the light travels toward the center within the straight portion 578a and is sequentially reflected forward from the ends by the diffusion reflecting portion 578c formed on the rear surface of the straight portion 578a, so that light is irradiated forward from the entire front surface of the straight portion 578a. A top left decorative lens member 579 or a top right decorative lens member 580 is disposed in front of the light guide member 578, and the portion of each of these in front of the straight portion 578a is illuminated and decorated.

[0277] Furthermore, when light from the LEDs 586a, 587a on the door frame top middle-left decorative board 586 or the door frame top middle-right decorative board 587 enters the light-guiding member 578 through the diffusion input portion 578d formed on the rear surface of the arc portion 578b, the light is diffused widely into the arc portion 578b by the unevenness of the diffusion input portion 578d, and the light is irradiated forward from the entire front surface of the arc portion 578b. This allows 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 to be illuminated and decorated.

[0278] In this way, the light-guiding member 578 guides light from the LEDs 583a, 586a on the door frame top left decorative board 583 and the door frame top middle left decorative board 586, or from the LEDs 584a, 587a on the door frame top right decorative board 584 and the door frame top middle right decorative board 587, allowing the entire top left decorative lens member 579 or top right decorative lens member 580 located in front to be illuminated and decorated in a good (uniform) state.

[0279] The top left decorative lens member 579 is attached to the front of the unit main body 271 so as to cover the front of the three light guiding members 578 located to the left of the center in the left-right direction on the front of the unit main body 271. The top left decorative lens member 579 has three decorative lens portions 579a that independently accommodate the three light guiding members 578 from the front. The decorative lens portions 579a of the top left decorative lens member 579 are formed in a shape that imitates the light guiding members 578, and cover the front surface and both the upper and lower surfaces of the light guiding members 578. The front surface of each decorative lens portion 579a has a row of rectangular truncated pyramidal concaves and convexes that protrude forward, arranged on the left and right.

[0280] The top left decorative lens member 579 extends from the left end of the top middle decorative member 576 of the door frame top unit 570 to the right end of the top left decorative portion 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 of the door frame top unit 570. This top left decorative lens member 579 is illuminated and decorated by the LEDs 583a, 586a of the door frame top left decorative board 583 and the door frame top middle left decorative board 586 via the three light-guiding members 578.

[0281] The top right decorative lens member 580 is attached to the front of the unit main body 271 so as to cover the front of the three light guiding members 578 located to the right of the center in the left-right direction on the front of the unit main body 271. The top right decorative lens member 580 has three decorative lens portions 580a that independently accommodate the three light guiding members 578 from the front. The decorative lens portions 580a of the top right decorative lens member 580 are formed in a shape that imitates the light guiding members 578, and cover the front surface and both the top and bottom surfaces of the light guiding members 578. The front surface of each decorative lens portion 580a has a row of rectangular truncated pyramidal concaves and convexes that protrude forward, arranged on the left and right.

[0282] The top right decorative lens member 580 extends from the right end of the top middle decorative member 576 of the door frame top unit 570 to the left end of the top right decorative portion 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 of the door frame top unit 570. This top right decorative lens member 580 is illuminated and decorated by LEDs 584a, 587a on the door frame top right decorative board 584 and the door frame top middle right decorative board 587 via three light-guiding members 578.

[0283] The top middle left decorative member 581 is attached to the front of the unit main body 271, between the left opening 574a on the front side of the unit main body 271 and the top middle decorative member 576, from the front of the top left decorative lens member 579. When assembled to the door frame top unit 570, the top middle left decorative member 581 is attached so as to fill the gap between the three decorative lens portions 579a of the top left decorative lens member 579, with the portion of the front side closer to the center protruding further forward than the front side of the top left decorative lens member 579. This top middle left decorative member 581 is made of an opaque member.

[0284] The top middle right decorative member 582 is attached to the front surface of the unit main body 271 from the front of the top right decorative lens member 580, between the right opening 574a on the front surface of the unit main body 271 and the top middle decorative member 576. When assembled to the door frame top unit 570, the top middle 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 portion of the front surface near the center protruding further forward than the front surface of the top right decorative lens member 580. This top middle right decorative member 582 is formed from an opaque member.

[0285] The door frame top-left decorative board 583 is attached to the inside of the left side surface (top-left decorative part 574e) of the unit main body 271, with the surface on which the LED 583a is mounted facing rightward. The door frame top-left decorative board 583 has the LED 583a mounted in a position facing the left end face of three light-guiding members 578 attached to the front surface to the left of the center in the left-right direction of the unit main body 271 (see Figure 59). Each of the three LEDs 583a can emit light independently. The LED 583a on the door frame top-left decorative board 583 can illuminate and decorate the portion of the top-left decorative lens member 579 located in front of the opening 574a on the left side of the unit main body 271, via the straight portions 578a of the three light-guiding members 578.

[0286] The door frame top right decorative board 584 is attached to the inside of the right side surface (top right decorative part 574f) of the unit main body 271, with the surface on which the LEDs 584a are mounted facing leftward. The door frame top right decorative board 584 has the LEDs 584a mounted in a position facing the right end faces of the three light-guiding members 578 attached to the front surface of the unit main body 271 to the right of the center in the left-right direction (see Figure 59). Each of the three LEDs 584a can emit light independently. The LEDs 584a on the door frame top right decorative board 584 can illuminate and decorate the portion of the top right decorative lens member 580 located in front of the opening 574a on the right side of the unit main body 271, via the straight portions 578a of the three light-guiding members 578.

[0287] The pair of board bases 585 are attached to the rear side of the portion of the unit main body 271 where the multiple slits 574b are formed. The pair of board bases 585 are formed approximately bilaterally symmetrical to each other. The board base 585 includes side walls that are approximately square in side view with sides extending up and down and front and rear, a rear wall that is rectangular in front view and extends outward in the left-right direction at a right angle from the rear edges of the side walls, an upper wall that is approximately right-angled triangular in shape and connects the upper edges of the side walls and rear walls with the line connecting the front ends of the upper edges of the side walls to partway along the upper edges of the side walls as the hypotenuse, and a lower wall that is approximately right-angled triangular in shape and connects the lower edges of the side walls and rear walls on the opposite side to the upper wall. The board base 585 is formed in a triangular box shape with the upper and lower hypotenuses open. The board base 585 is attached to the unit main body 271 so that the open portion is closed by the unit main body 271. This board base 585 is fitted with a door frame top middle left decorative board 586 or a door frame top middle right decorative board 587 so that the open section is closed.

[0288] The door frame top middle-left decorative board 586 is attached to the board base 585, which is attached to the rear side of the unit main body 271 on the left side of the center in the left-right direction, so as to close the box-shaped open area from the front. By attaching the door frame top middle-left decorative board 586 to the front of the board base 585, the front surface is inclined relative to the plane extending left and right, so that it moves forward as it approaches the center in the left-right direction of the unit main body 271. As a result, when assembled to the door frame top unit 570, the front surface of the door frame top middle-left decorative board 586 is approximately parallel to the surface of the area where the three slits 574b are formed, to the left of the center in the left-right direction of the unit main body 271.

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

[0290] The door frame top middle right decorative board 587 is attached to the board base 585, which is attached to the rear side of the unit main body 271 on the right side of the left-right center, so as to close the box-shaped open area from the front. By attaching the door frame top middle right decorative board 587 to the front of the board base 585, the front surface is inclined relative to the plane extending left and right, so that it moves forward as it approaches the left-right center of the unit main body 271. As a result, when the door frame top middle right decorative board 587 is assembled to the door frame top unit 570, its front surface is approximately parallel to the surface of the area where the three slits 574b are formed, to the right of the left-right center of the unit main body 271.

[0291] The door frame top middle right decorative board 587 has multiple LEDs 587a mounted in positions corresponding to the three slits 574b of the unit body 271. As a result, when the door frame top middle right decorative board 587 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 illuminating the multiple LEDs 587a, the door frame top middle right decorative board 587 can illuminate and decorate the area of ​​the top right decorative lens member 580 near the top middle decorative member 576 via the arc portion 578b of the light-guiding member 578.

[0292] The pair of light-blocking members 588 are attached to the rear front side of the unit body 271, between the top middle-left decorative board 586 and the top middle-right decorative board 587 and the unit body 271. The pair of light-blocking members 588 are made of opaque material and are formed approximately symmetrically with each other. The light-blocking members 588 separate the upper and lower LEDs 586a, 587a on the top middle-left decorative board 586 and the top middle-right decorative board 587, which are aligned in a row corresponding to the three slits 574b in the unit body 271. The light-blocking members 588 allow light to be guided forward only by the LEDs 586a, 587a located immediately behind each light-guiding member 578, allowing the decorative lens portions 579a, 580a of the top left decorative lens member 579 and the top right decorative lens member 580 to emit light and be beautifully decorated independently.

[0293] The door frame top unit relay board 589 is attached to 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 middle decorative board 577, the door frame top left decorative board 583, the door frame top right decorative board 584, the door frame top middle left decorative board 586, and the door frame top middle right decorative board 587 and the door main body relay board of the door frame base unit 100. The door frame top unit relay board 589 is connected to the door main body relay board via a connection cable (not shown) provided in the door frame right side unit 550. The front side of this door frame top unit relay board 589 is covered by a relay board cover 590.

[0294] This door frame top unit 570 is equipped with a top middle 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 middle decorative member 576 are curved as if they are carved out toward the rear, giving the player the illusion that only the top middle decorative member 576 is protruding significantly forward, which strongly attracts the player's attention to this pachinko machine 1.

[0295] Additionally, the door frame top unit 570 has a top left decorative lens member 579 and a top right decorative lens member 580 that decorate both the left and right sides of the centrally located top middle decorative member 576, and are formed to extend from both the left and right sides of the top middle decorative member 576 to top left decorative portions 574e and top right decorative portions 574f formed on both the left and right ends of the unit body 271. This allows the door frame top unit 570 to decorate the entire upper front surface of the door frame 3.

[0296] In this case, the door frame top unit 570 is provided with upper speakers 573 whose front faces are protected by speaker covers 575 made of punched metal, located behind each of the left and right ends of the top left decorative lens member 579 and the top right decorative lens member 580, and the speaker covers 575 face forward from between the three decorative lens parts 579a, 580a spaced apart above and below the top left decorative lens member 579 and the top right decorative lens member 580, allowing the player to hear the sound output from the left and right upper speakers 573 in good condition and enjoy high-quality stereo sound.

[0297] Furthermore, the door frame top unit 570 can guide light from the door frame top-left decorative board 583, the door frame top-right decorative board 584, the door frame top-middle-left decorative board 586, and the door frame top-middle-right decorative board 587 to the top-left decorative lens member 579 and the top-right decorative lens member 580 using multiple light-guiding members 578 provided on the rear side of the top-left decorative lens member 579 and the top-right decorative lens member 580, allowing the entire front of the top-left decorative lens member 579 and the top-right decorative lens member 580 to be well-illuminated and decorated. Therefore, the door frame top unit 570 can illuminate and decorate the entire front of the upper part of the door frame 3, including in front of the left and right upper speakers 573.

[0298] [3-8. Function and effect 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 is attached with the effect operation unit 400, which is located on the front of the tray unit 320 below the through hole 111, tilted so that the large, hemispherical, transparent operation button 410 faces diagonally upward and forward. Therefore, when a player sits in front of this pachinko machine 1, the operation button 410 faces the player's head (face), and when the player lowers his or her eyes to look at the effect operation unit 400, the operation button 410 appears to be almost directly ahead, allowing the large, round operation button 410 to be seen in a strong light, increasing anticipation for the effect using the operation button 410, and allowing the effect image displayed on the door frame side effect display device 460, which is located inside the transparent operation button 410, to be seen in good condition, allowing the player to fully enjoy the effect image.

[0301] Furthermore, the door frame 3 is provided with a large operation button 410 that has a diameter approximately equal to the overall height of the tray unit 320 and that bulges outward in a round shape, so that when operating the operation button 410, any part of the operation button 410 can be touched by moving the hand a short distance, making it relatively easy to "quickly press" the operation button 410. Furthermore, since the operation button 410 that has a large diameter and bulges outward in a round shape is attached in an inclined position, it can not only be pressed from above like the operation buttons of conventional pachinko machines, but can also be easily operated from the left, right, or front, and the easy-to-operate operation button 410 makes the performance using the operation button 410 more enjoyable.

[0302] In addition, the door frame 3 is attached with the effect operation unit 400 in a suspended state by the tray unit 320, and is equipped with a vibration motor 424 that generates vibrations at the bottom of the effect operation unit 400.Therefore, when the vibration motor 424 is rotated to generate vibrations depending on the game status, strong vibrations can be transmitted to the player's hand that is touching the top of the operation button 410, surprising the player and making the effect using the operation button 410 even more enjoyable.

[0303] Furthermore, the door frame 3 is provided with a large operation button 410 (performance operation unit 400) at the center of the front of the tray unit 320, which spans the entire height of the tray unit 320, making the lower tray 322 located below the upper tray 321 less noticeable compared to conventional pachinko machines, making it easier for players who are accustomed to conventional pachinko machines to recognize that it is clearly different, and making it a highly appealing pachinko machine 1 that strongly attracts the attention of players.

[0304] Furthermore, the door frame 3 is formed so that the lower tray 322 wraps around to the rear of the performance operation unit 400 with respect to the lower tray opening 326d, which opens to the left of the performance operation unit 400 on the front of the tray unit 320, so that the volume of the lower tray 322 can be made larger relative to the size of the lower tray opening 326d, and a sufficient number of game balls can be stored in the lower tray 322. Furthermore, because the rear of the lower tray 322 wraps around to the rear of the performance operation unit 400, when a player puts his / her left hand inside the lower tray 322 or places his / her fingers on the lower tray opening 326d, his / her fingertips are less likely to touch the rear wall of the lower tray 322, which makes it less likely for the player to feel uncomfortable and reduces a decline in interest in the game, and also allows the player to recognize by touch 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, through which game balls from the lower tray 322 are removed into a box or the like below the tray unit 320, arranged in a straight line from front to back, and located to the right outside the lower tray opening 326d when viewed from the front (to the right of the left end of the frame unit 415 of the performance operation unit 400). In other words, the lower tray ball supply port 323c and the lower tray ball removal hole 322a are positioned behind the performance operation unit 400, the performance operation unit mounting portion 326a (the right outside of the lower tray opening 326d) on the tray unit cover 326, the front end side of the lower tray cover 340, etc., so the lower tray ball supply port 323c and the lower tray ball removal hole 322a are not visible from the player's side, which gives the tray unit 320 (pachinko machine 1) a neat appearance and improves the appearance of the pachinko machine 1.

[0306] In addition, the door frame 3 has the lower tray ball ejection hole 322a located below (directly in front of) the lower tray ball supply port 323c on the lower tray 322, so when the lower tray ball ejection hole 322a is opened, the gaming balls released from the upper tray 321 etc. to the lower tray 322 will be ejected from the lower tray ball ejection hole 322a to the dollar box etc. below as soon as they enter the lower tray 322. At this time, the player cannot see the lower tray ball supply port 323c or the lower tray ball ejection hole 322a, and therefore cannot see the flow of gaming balls being ejected from the upper tray 321 etc. through the lower tray 322 to the dollar box. This gives the player the illusion that the game balls in the upper tray 321 or the game balls paid out from the payout device 830 when the upper tray 321 is full are being discharged directly into the money box, making it less likely that the game balls will feel annoyed as they pass through the lower tray 322, allowing the player to concentrate on the game (such as the operation of shooting the game balls and the visual effects), thereby preventing a decline in interest.

[0307] In addition, the door frame 3 has a lower tray ball removal hole 322a located in the lower tray 322, forward and to the left of the lower tray ball supply port 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.Therefore, game balls supplied to the lower tray 322 from the lower tray ball supply port 323c can be guided directly to the lower tray ball removal hole 322a, or can be reflected off the right wall portion and indirectly guided to the lower tray ball removal hole 322a. As a result, when the lower tray ball removal hole 322a remains open, game balls supplied to the lower tray 322 from the lower tray ball supply port 323c can be discharged downward from the lower tray ball removal hole 322a without entering the area to the left of the lower tray ball removal hole 322a in the lower tray 322 (lower tray first area A1).This means that game balls can be discharged below the lower tray 322 (to the cash box) without the player being able to see the game balls circulating within the lower tray 322, and the same effect as described above can be achieved.

[0308] In addition, the door frame 3 has the lower tray opening 326d of the tray unit cover 326, through which the lower tray 322 faces forward, between the performance operation unit mounting portion 326a (performance operation unit 400) and the lower speaker port 326e, so that even if a player places their hand on the lower tray opening 326d or puts their hand into the lower tray 322, the front of the lower speaker port 326e is not blocked by the player's hand, so the sound from the lower speaker 921 in the board unit 900 of the main body frame 4 can be output well forward, allowing the player to enjoy the sound from this pachinko machine 1. In addition, when a player puts their hand into or approaches the lower tray 322, the player can feel the vibrations caused by the deep bass from the lower speaker 921 output forward from the lower speaker port 326e, which entertains the player and prevents a decline in interest.

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

[0310] Furthermore, the door frame 3 can be decorated with illuminating light on the front end and both left and right sides of the door frame right side unit 550, which is plate-shaped and protrudes significantly forward, so that even in an amusement hall where pachinko machines 1 are installed in a row, even if you are not located in front of the pachinko machine 1, you can make the presence of the pachinko machine 1 known from a distance, such as from the side along the island equipment, making it a pachinko machine 1 that is highly appealing to players.

[0311] Furthermore, the door frame 3 is provided with a top middle decorative member 576 that protrudes forward in the center in the left-right direction in the door frame top unit 570 above the through-hole 111, and the front faces on both the left and right sides of the top middle decorative member 576 are formed in a concave shape that carves them out backward (a concave curved shape so that the front faces on both the left and right sides of the top middle decorative member 576 in the door frame top unit 570 are positioned further back than the straight line connecting the front ends on both the left and right sides of the door frame top unit 570 and the front ends on both the left and right sides of the top middle decorative member 576). As a result, only the top middle decorative member 576 of the door frame top unit 570 appears to protrude significantly forward, making the top middle decorative member 576 stand out and emphasized to the player and drawing strong attention to the top middle decorative member 576.

[0312] In conventional pachinko machines, a pair of upper speakers spaced apart on the left and right sides are provided at the top of the door frame, and the two upper speakers are conspicuous. In contrast, the door frame 3 of this embodiment has a door frame top unit 570 attached to the upper side of the through-hole 111, and is provided with a pair of upper speakers 573 whose front faces are protected by speaker covers 575 made of punching metal on both left and right ends, and is also provided with a top left decorative lens member 579 and a top right decorative lens member 580 that extend from both left and right sides of the central top middle decorative member 576, passing in front of the speaker covers 575, to both left and right ends, so that the entire front faces 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 noticeable at the top of the door frame 3, allowing players to recognize at a glance that the decoration is clearly different from that of conventional pachinko machines, making the pachinko machine 1 more appealing to players, and allowing players to enjoy high-quality stereo sound from the pair of upper speakers 573.

[0313] In this way, in the door frame 3 of this embodiment, the performance operation unit 400 attached to the dish unit 320 and the top middle decorative member 576 of the door frame top unit 570 each protrude significantly forward in the center of the left and right directions below and above the through hole 111, so that the player can see a unified decoration from top to bottom, with an imaginary line passing through the center of the left and right directions standing out, and the sophisticated decoration makes the machine stand out more than other pachinko machines, making it a pachinko machine 1 with high appeal.

[0314] In addition, the door frame 3 has the top middle decorative member 576 of the door frame top unit 570 and the performance operation unit 400, which are arranged vertically in the center in the left-right direction, protruding forward. Therefore, when the top middle decorative member 576 and the performance operation unit 400 are illuminated, the player can see an illuminated line extending vertically in the center in the left-right direction on the front of the door frame 3, and the player's gaze can be guided to the operation button 410 of the performance operation unit 400, which is arranged 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 described 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 disassembled into its main components as seen from the front, and Figure 62 is an exploded perspective view of the game board disassembled into its main components as seen from the rear. Figure 63 is a front view of the game board excluding the front unit and the rear unit, Figure 64 is an exploded perspective view of the game board of Figure 63 disassembled into its main components as seen from the front, and Figure 65 is an exploded perspective view of the game board of Figure 63 disassembled into its main components as seen from the rear. Figure 66 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of the function display unit from the front when the game board is attached to a pachinko machine.

[0316] The gaming board 5 has a gaming area 5a into which gaming balls are shot by a player operating the handle 302 of the handle unit 300. The gaming board 5 also includes a front component 1000 that defines the outer periphery of the gaming area 5a and has a generally rectangular outline when viewed from the front, a plate-like gaming panel 1100 that is attached to the rear side of the front component 1000 and defines the rear end of the gaming area 5a, a board holder 1200 that is attached to the lower rear side of the gaming panel 1100, and a main control unit 1300 that is attached to the rear surface of the board holder 1200 and has a main control board 1310 that controls the game content that is played by shooting gaming balls into the gaming area 5a. A plurality of obstacle nails that come into contact with the gaming balls are planted in a predetermined gauge arrangement in a portion of the front of the gaming panel 1100 that is within the gaming area 5a (not shown).

[0317] The game board 5 further includes a function display unit 1400 that displays the game status based on a control signal from the main control board 1310 and is attached to the lower left corner of the front component 1000 so as to be visible to the player, a peripheral control unit 1500 that is attached to the rear of the game panel 1100, a game board side performance display device 1600 that is located 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 that is attached to the front of the game panel 1100, and a back unit 3000 that is attached to the rear of the game panel 1100. The game board side performance display device 1600 is attached to the rear of the back unit 3000, and the peripheral control unit 1500 is attached to the rear of the game board side performance display device 1600.

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

[0319] The front unit 2000 is equipped with a plurality of general winning openings 2001 that are always open so that they can accept game balls that have been shot into the game area 5a, a first starting opening 2002 that is always open so that it can accept game balls at a different position in the game area 5a from the plurality of general winning openings 2001, a gate unit 2003 that is attached to a predetermined position in the game area 5a and detects the passage of game balls, a second starting opening 2004 that can accept game balls depending on the result of a normal lottery that is drawn when a game ball passes through the gate unit 2003, and a special winning opening 2005 that can accept game balls depending on either the result of a first special lottery or the result of a second special lottery that is drawn when a game ball is accepted into the first starting opening 2002 or the second starting opening 2004.

[0320] The front unit 2000 also includes a start port unit 2100 which is attached directly above the outlet 1126 in the left-right center of the game area 5a and has a first start port 2002 and a large prize port 2005, a lower side unit 2200 which is attached along the inner rail 1002 to the left of the start port unit 2100 when viewed from the front and has a plurality of general prize ports 2001, an upper side unit 2300 which is attached above the left end of the lower side unit 2200 when viewed from the front, and a frame-shaped center device 2500 which is attached approximately in the center of the game area 5a and has a gate section 2003 and a second start port 2004.

[0321] The rear unit 3000 comprises a rear box 3010 which is attached to the rear surface of the panel holder 1120, is box-shaped with an open front and has a square opening 3010a in the rear wall, and a locking mechanism 3020 which is attached to the rear surface of the rear box 3010 and allows the game board side performance display device 1600 to be attached and detached.

[0322] Furthermore, the back unit 3000 is equipped with a back left middle decorative unit 3050 which is attached at the front end of the back box 3010, towards the top from the center in the vertical direction on the left side when viewed from the front, a back bottom rear movable performance unit 3100 which is attached below the opening 3010a inside the back box 3010 and near the rear wall of the back box 3010, a back top left movable performance unit 3200 which is attached above the opening 3010a inside the back box 3010 and on the left side when viewed from the front, a back left movable performance unit 3300 which is attached to the left side of the opening 3010a inside the back box 3010 when viewed from the front, a back top middle movable performance unit 3400 which is attached above the opening 3010a inside the back box 3010 from the center in the horizontal direction to the right edge when viewed from the front, and a back bottom front movable performance unit 3500 which is attached below the opening 3010a inside the back box 3010 in front of the back bottom rear movable performance unit 3100.

[0323] [5-1. Front components] Next, the front component 1000 will be described mainly with reference to Figures 64 and 65. The front component 1000 has a substantially square outer shape in a front-to-back view, a substantially circular inner shape that penetrates in the front-to-back direction, and the inner periphery of the inner shape defines the outer periphery of the play area 5a. The front component 1000 includes an outer rail 1001 that extends in an arc shape from the lower end toward the left of the center in the left-to-right direction in a front view, in a clockwise circumferential direction, passing the upper end of the center in the left-to-right direction in a front view, and extending to the upper right diagonal. An inner rail 1002 is disposed inside the front component 1000 and extends in an arc shape from the lower center in the left-to-right direction in a front view to the upper left diagonal direction in a front view, approximately along the outer rail 1001. An out guide portion 1003 is formed at the lowest position of the play area 5a on the right side of the lower end of the inner rail 1002 in a front view, and is inclined so as to become lower toward the rear.

[0324] The front component 1000 also includes a lower right rail 1004 that slopes linearly from the right end of the out guide section 1003 when viewed from the front to near the right edge of the front component 1000, with the right end being slightly higher; a right rail 1005 that extends from the right end of the lower right rail 1004 along the right edge of the front component 1000 to below the upper end of the outer rail 1001, with the upper part curved inward of the front component 1000; and a collision stop section 1006 that connects the upper end of the right rail 1005 to the upper end of the outer rail 1001 and against which a game ball rolling along the outer rail 1001 comes into contact.

[0325] In addition, the component 1000 is rotatably supported on the upper end of the inner rail 1002, and is equipped with a backflow prevention member 1007 which can rotate only between a closed position in which it extends upward from the upper end of the inner rail 1002 to close the space between it and the outer rail 1001, and an open position in which it rotates clockwise when viewed from the front to open the space between it and the outer rail 1001, and which is biased by a spring (not shown) to return to the closed position.

[0326] Furthermore, the front component 1000 is provided with security recesses 1008 recessed rearward from the front end at the outside of the portions near the bottom ends of the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002 that extend substantially perpendicularly, the underside of the out guide portion 1003 and the lower right rail 1004, and the outside of the right rail 1005. When the game board 5 is attached to the main body frame 4 and the door frame 3 is closed relative to the main body frame 4, a rear projection 202 that projects rearward from the security cover 200 on the door frame 3 is inserted into the security recess 1008. As a result, the area between the security cover 200 and the game board 5 (front component 1000) is bent in a complex manner by the rear protrusion 202 of the security cover 200 and the security recess 1008 of the front component 1000, so that even if an attempt is made to insert an illegal tool such as a piano wire into the game area 5a through the gap between the security cover 200 and the front component 1000 from below the front of the game board 5, the attempt will be blocked by the rear protrusion 202 and the security recess 1008, preventing the illegal tool from entering the game area 5a.

[0327] The front component 1000 also has a plurality of positioning protrusions 1009 protruding 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 a panel plate 1110 of the gaming panel 1100 to position and fix the inner rail 1002 to the front surface of the panel plate 1110.

[0328] Furthermore, the front component 1000 has a plurality of mounting bosses 1010 protruding rearward from the rear surface. The plurality of mounting bosses 1010 can be inserted into mounting holes 1128 of the panel holder 1120 in the gaming panel 1100 to determine positioning between the panel holder 1120 (gaming panel 1100).

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

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

[0331] The panel board 1110 of the game panel 1100 is formed from a synthetic resin board such as acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, polyarylate resin, or methacrylic resin, or an inorganic board such as glass or metal. The thickness of this panel board 1110 is thinner than that of the panel holder 1120 (game panel 1150), and is set to the minimum necessary thickness (8 to 10 mm) that can sufficiently hold nails planted on the front surface or the front unit 2000 attached. In this example, the panel board 1110 is formed from a transparent synthetic resin board.

[0332] The panel board 1110 has an out recess 1111 recessed upward from the bottom end at the lowest position within the playing area 5a. The panel board 1110 also has a plurality of openings 1112 formed therein that penetrate from front to back and are used to attach the front unit 2000.

[0333] The panel plate 1110 also has a plurality of fitting holes 1113, which are round holes that are located near the outer periphery and penetrate in the front-to-rear direction, and a long hole 1114 that is located near the outer periphery in the lower left corner and penetrates in the front-to-rear direction and extends in the up-to-down direction. These fitting holes 1113 and long hole 1114 are located outside the play area 5a and are used to position the panel plate 1110 with respect to the panel holder 1120. The panel plate 1110 also has step-shaped engagement steps 1115 with recessed front ends at both ends of the upper and lower edges. These engagement steps 1115 are cut out approximately halfway through the thickness of the panel plate 1110 and, like the fitting holes 1113 and long holes 1114, are located outside the play area 5a and are used to engage and secure the panel plate 1110 to the panel holder 1120.

[0334] The panel plate 1110 is also provided with a plurality of inner rail fixing holes 1116 at predetermined positions. By fitting and fixing positioning protrusions 1009 protruding from the rear side of the inner rail 1002 into these inner rail fixing holes 1116, the inner rail 1002 can be fixed in a predetermined position.

[0335] The panel holder 1120 of the gaming panel 1100 has a substantially rectangular outer shape large enough to encompass the panel plate 1110, 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 holding step 1121 that detachably holds the panel plate 1110 and is recessed from the front side toward the rear side, and a through-hole 1122 that penetrates the inside of the holding step 1121 in the front-to-rear direction and has a size approximately equal to the playing area 5a.

[0336] The holding step 1121 of the panel holder 1120 has a depth from the front surface that is approximately the same as the thickness of the panel plate 1110, so that the front surface of the panel plate 1110 held in the holding step 1121 is approximately flush with the front surface of the panel holder 1120. The holding step 1121 is also sized so that its front inner peripheral surface forms a predetermined amount of clearance with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the panel plate 1110. This clearance allows the panel plate 1110 to absorb any expansion or contraction that occurs relative to the panel plate 1110 due to temperature changes or changes over time.

[0337] The panel holder 1120 is disposed at a position corresponding to the fitting holes 1113 and elongated holes 1114 formed in the panel plate 1110 held by the holding step 1121, and is provided with a plurality of protruding pins 1123 that extend forward from the front surface of the holding step 1121 and can be fitted into and inserted into the fitting holes 1113 and elongated holes 1114 of the panel plate 1110. By fi...

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, If the specific termination condition is met while an operation instruction for the first operating means is displayed and the special sound is being output, the output state will be terminated prematurely at an intermediate stage before the output time corresponding to the special sound has elapsed, and the operation instruction for the first operating means that was displayed up to that point will also be hidden. 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.

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