Gaming Machines

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of suppressing occurrence of ball biting at a discharge destination of a game ball discharged from a front duct.SOLUTION: A Pachinko game machine 10 in an embodiment is provided with a discharge guide part 80 for guiding game balls flowing down in a front duct 30D, toward the front side of a game board 11, and directing the game balls to an exhaust port 92B. Hereby, game balls discharged continuously from the exhaust port 92B win in a third winning port 16 smoothly, to thereby suppress occurrence of ball biting.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a gaming machine in which gaming balls flow down the front of a gaming board. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, this type of gaming machine has been A path where game balls flow down one by one Equipped with flow path There is known a machine in which a gaming ball that enters the machine is guided to a predetermined location and discharged (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP2018-126562 (see Figs. 3 and 4) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the gaming machine having the above configuration, flow path When multiple game balls are discharged in a row from a machine, the balls can get stuck at the destination, and measures to prevent this are required. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The gaming machine of the present disclosure includes: Extends diagonally horizontally A flow path that restricts the game balls to flow down one at a time, and a ball ejection device that is provided at the end of the flow path and ejects the game balls that flow down the flow path one at a time. And fall A discharge outlet and one of the flow paths Front side in the fore-aft direction The game balls flowing down are discharged through one of the outlets. So that it falls from a position closer to the rear an upstream guide portion that is provided upstream of the discharge guide portion and that guides the game balls toward the discharge guide portion; A prize-winning projection having a prize-winning port that opens upward downstream of the discharge port; Equipped with El It is an amusement machine. Effect of the Invention

[0006] Due to the variation in the forward and backward positions of the game balls discharged from the discharge port, for example, a game ball closer to the rear may fall behind a game ball closer to the front, causing the two game balls to become clogged at the discharge destination. Falling from a position closer to the rear in the front-to-rear direction Since the game ball is guided in this manner, the occurrence of ball jamming is suppressed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a pachinko game machine according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 2] Front view of the game board [Diagram 3] Exploded perspective view of the winning unit from the rear [Figure 4] A perspective view of the unit body [Diagram 5] Front view of the lower right part of the flow area [Figure 6] A cutaway perspective view of the upper part of the winning unit [Figure 7] A cross-sectional view of the area around the terminal rolling surface of the winning unit [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the winning unit and the winning protrusion taken along line AA of FIG. [Figure 9] A side cross-sectional view of the winning unit and the winning projection showing an example of ball clogging. [Figure 10] A cross-sectional view of the second start-up winning gate with the sliding door closed [Figure 11] A cross-sectional view of the second starting winning gate with the sliding door open [Figure 12] (A) Perspective view of the sliding door, (B) Plan view [Figure 13] A perspective view of a drive unit [Figure 14] A cutaway perspective view of the winning unit [Figure 15] A cross-sectional view of part of the winning unit [Figure 16] A cross-sectional view of a branched rolling path in a winning unit according to a modified example. [Figure 17]A cross-sectional view of the periphery of the terminal rolling surface according to the modified example. [Figure 18] A cross-sectional view of the periphery of the terminal rolling surface according to the modified example. [Figure 19] A cross-sectional view of the periphery of the terminal rolling surface according to the modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] [First embodiment] Hereinafter, a pachinko gaming machine 10 (corresponding to the "gaming machine" of the present invention) of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 15. As shown in Fig. 1, the front of the pachinko gaming machine 10 is covered by a front frame 10Z, and a gaming area R1 of a gaming board 11 shown in Fig. 2 can be seen through a glass window 10W of the front frame 10Z. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, "right" and "left" refer to "right" and "left" when the gaming machine 10 is viewed from the front. In addition, in the drawings, the horizontal direction is indicated by the symbol "H1", the right side of the arrow is indicated by "R", the left side is indicated by "L", and the front-rear direction is indicated by the symbol "H2", the front side of the arrow is indicated by "F", and the rear side is indicated by "B".

[0009] Below the glass window 10W of the front frame 10Z, an upper tray 26 and a lower tray 27 are provided in two tiers, one above the other, and an operation knob 28 is provided on the right side of the lower tray 27. When the operation knob 28 is rotated, the game balls contained in the upper tray 26 are ejected toward the game area R1. When a ball ejection button (not shown) provided on the upper tray 26 is pressed, the game balls contained in the upper tray 26 move to the lower tray 27.

[0010] 2, the game area R1 is entirely surrounded by a guide rail 12, and has a display opening 11H penetrating the game board 11 on the inside. The display screen 13G of the display device 13 can be seen through the display opening 11H. A display decorative frame 23 is attached to the edge of the display opening 11H to prevent game balls from entering the display opening 11H.

[0011] A plurality of winning holes and a plurality of obstacle nails (not shown) are distributed around the display opening 11H in the game area R1. An outlet 22 is provided at the lower end of the game area R1. A game ball flowing down the game area R1 is taken into the rear side of the game board 11 through one of the winning holes or the outlet 22. A game ball entering a winning hole is called a "winning ball," and when a game ball enters each winning hole, a plurality of game balls (prize balls) are paid out to the upper tray 26 (see FIG. 1).

[0012] The multiple winning openings mentioned above include multiple regular winning openings 21 which are pocket-type winning openings, the first and third start winning openings 14, 16, the second start winning opening 15 which is a sliding opening / closing type winning opening, and the large winning opening 20 which is a horizontally rotating opening / closing type winning opening.

[0013] The pocket-shaped multiple normal winning openings 21 and the first and third start winning openings 14, 16 open on the upper surface of a winning protrusion (see symbol 16A in FIG. 8) protruding from the front of the game board 11, and are large enough to allow one game ball to enter each. The first start winning opening 14 is located in the center of the horizontal direction H1 of the area below the display decoration frame 23 in the game area R1, and the third start winning opening 16 is located to the lower right of it. In addition, a pair of normal winning openings 21 are located to the left of the first start winning opening 14, and one normal winning opening 21 is located at the top of the area to the right of the display decoration frame 23.

[0014] The sideways pivoting opening and closing type large prize opening 20 protrudes from the front of the game board 11 and opens into the side of the front duct 20D adjacent to the right side of the display decoration frame 23, and is opened and closed by a pivoting door 20T. The pivoting door 20T pivots about a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction H2 along the lower end opening edge of the large prize opening 20, and is normally in an upright position to close the large prize opening 20. When a big win game is played, the pivoting door 20T tilts sideways to open the large prize opening 20 and guides the game ball to the large prize opening 20.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the winning unit 30, which will be described later in detail, is provided in the lower right portion of the game area R1, and as shown in FIG. 5, the second start winning port 15 opens in the middle of the rolling path 96 in the winning unit 30. The second start winning port 15 is provided with a sliding door 15T, which slides in the front-rear direction H2 and is usually arranged in a closed position at the front end of the movable range to block the second start winning port 15 and form a part of the rolling path 96. When a win is made in the normal game judgment described later, the sliding door 15T moves to an open position at the rear end of the movable range to open the second start winning port 15. A start gate 18 is provided at the entrance of the game ball to the winning unit 30, and a detection switch 18S constituting the start gate 18 detects that the game ball has passed through the start gate 18. The third start winning opening 16 described above opens directly below the discharge opening 92B of the winning unit 30 through which the game balls that have passed through the rolling path 96 are discharged.

[0016] The game machine 10 of this embodiment has a normal pattern judgment and a special pattern judgment in its hit / miss judgment. The normal pattern judgment is performed when the game ball passes through the start gate 18, and the result of the judgment is, for example, as shown in Fig. 2, displayed on the display screen 13G as a normal pattern 13D, which is a single digit number, by alternating between odd and even numbers, and then displayed stationary, and the normal pattern 13D at that time is notified as a "hit" if it is an odd number, and as a "miss" if it is an even number. Then, when the normal pattern judgment is a hit, the sliding door 15T of the second start winning port 15 opens for a certain period of time.

[0017] The special symbol judgment is performed due to the entry of the game ball into the first to third start winning holes 14 to 16, and the result of the winning or losing judgment is notified by the combination of the special symbols 13A, 13B, and 13C at that time, which are displayed by vertically scrolling the three special symbols 13A, 13B, and 13C on the display screen 13G, and then stopped and displayed. In addition, there are "big win" and "small win" for the winning of the special symbol judgment. When it becomes a "big win", a big win game is executed in which the big win hole 20 is opened a prescribed number of times for a prescribed time for each time, and when it becomes a "small win", a small win game is executed in which the big win hole 20 is opened a prescribed number of times less than the case of a big win for a short prescribed time. In addition, the probability of a big win is the same for a special chart determination resulting from a game ball entering the first and second start winning ports 14, 15 and a special chart determination resulting from a game ball entering the third start winning port 16, while the probability of a small win is higher for a special chart determination resulting from a game ball entering the third start winning port 16.

[0018] In addition, the normal map judgment is performed every time the game ball passes through the start gate 18, and when the game ball passes through the start gate 18 between the start of the judgment and the announcement of the judgment result, the normal map judgment for that game ball is reserved, and the upper limit of the number of reserved balls is, for example, 4. In addition, the special map judgment is performed every time the game ball enters the first to third start winning holes 14-16, and when the game ball enters the first to third start winning holes 14-16 between the start of the judgment and the announcement of the judgment result, and during the execution of the big win game and the small win game, the special map judgment for the passage of that game ball is reserved, and the upper limit of the number of reserved balls is also 4.

[0019] The game state is provided with a non-time-saving state and a time-saving state, and the non-time-saving state and the time-saving state are switched at the end of the jackpot game. In the time-saving state, the variable display time of the normal pattern 13D in the normal pattern judgment is shorter and the opening time of the second start winning hole 15 when the normal pattern judgment is a hit is longer than in the non-time-saving state. In addition, the game state is provided with a low probability state and a high probability state, and the low probability state and the high probability state are switched at the end of the jackpot game, as in the time-saving state. In the high probability state, the probability of a jackpot judged by the special pattern based on the winning of the first to third start winning holes 14 to 16 is higher than in the low probability state. That is, in this embodiment, four game states are set: a normal state in which the probability is low and the time is not shortened, a low probability time-shortened state in which the probability is low and the time is shortened, a low probability time-shortened state in which the probability is high and the time is not shortened, and a high probability time-shortened state in which the probability is high and the time is shortened. The special chart judgment jackpot includes a normal jackpot, a low probability time-shortened jackpot, a high probability time-shortened jackpot without time-shortened, and a high probability time-shortened jackpot, and the judgment of which game state will occur after the jackpot game is made by the special chart judgment. In this embodiment, the special chart judgment based on the third start winning port 16 is more likely to result in a jackpot with time-shortened than the special chart judgment based on the winning of the first and second start winning ports 14 and 15, and the probability of a small jackpot is higher.

[0020] In addition, the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment may enter a small win rush state due to the above setting. That is, in this embodiment, when the gaming state becomes a high probability no time shortening state, a guide is displayed on the display screen 13G to aim at the third start winning hole 16 from the area to the right of the entry restriction frame 23 in the gaming area R1. As a result, many gaming balls pass through the start gate 18 and head toward the third start winning hole 16. At this time, since the second start winning hole 15 is less likely to be opened compared to the time shortening state, many gaming balls roll on the slide door 15T and head from the discharge port 92B to the third start winning hole 16. In addition, compared to the low probability state, it is in a state where a small win is more likely to occur in the special chart judgment based on the winning of the third start winning hole 16, and the time until the judgment result of the special chart judgment is obtained is shorter. As a result, the number of game balls entering the third start winning port 16 increases, making it easier for small wins to occur, and a small win rush state occurs in which small wins occur frequently.

[0021] The winning unit 30 will be described in detail below. As shown in Fig. 3, the winning unit 30 is formed by attaching a unit cover 41 to the front of a unit body 31. The unit body 31 has a structure in which a mechanism 70 protrudes from the rear surface of a base plate 32. The mechanism 70 is received in a through window (not shown) that penetrates the game board 11 at the lower right corner of the game area R1, and the base plate 32 is placed on the front surface of the game board 11 and screwed in place.

[0022] The unit cover 41 has a structure in which a partition wall 34 protrudes from the rear surface of a front plate 42 that is superimposed on the inner surface of the glass plate 10G (see FIG. 7) of the glass window 10W. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, a partition wall 43 protrudes from the right side of the front surface of the base plate 32. The unit cover 41 is screwed to the base plate 32 with the partition walls 34, 43 sandwiched between the front plate 42 and the base plate 32, and a space through which the game balls pass is formed between the base plate 32 and the front plate 42. In other words, the portion of the winning unit 30 in front of the base plate 32 protrudes from the front surface of the game board 11 to form a front duct 30D (see FIG. 8) through which the game balls pass.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 5, the lower right corner of the game area R1 is divided into first to third flow paths 91, 92, 93 by the partition walls 34, 43 of the winning unit 30. The first to third flow paths 91, 92, 93 are wide enough for one game ball to flow down, and the ball entrances 91A, 92A, 93A are arranged side by side, facing upward, and facing a common trunk flow path 94. The common trunk flow path 94 gradually narrows toward the top, and has a narrowing passage portion 94A at the top end that is just large enough for one game ball to pass through. All game balls that are shot to the right of the display decoration frame 23 in the game area R1 and do not enter the big winning opening 20 (see FIG. 2) pass through the common trunk flow path 94 and flow into one of the first to third flow paths 91, 92, 93.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 5, the first flow-down path 91 is sandwiched between a part of the partition wall 34 constituting the upper surface of the winning unit 30 and a part of the display decoration frame 23 from above and below, and has a ball inlet 91A at the left end of the lower end of the common trunk flow path 94. The first flow-down path 91 extends slightly vertically from the ball inlet 91A, and then extends diagonally downward to the lower left. More specifically, the first flow-down path 91 has a pair of gently sloping parts 91C with an extremely small gradient, and a pair of arc parts 91D that draw an arc from the end of the pair of gently sloping parts 91C and gradually increase in downward gradient, and the end of the downstream arc part 91D is curved in an S-shape, and its end is an outlet 91B that opens toward the left side. The outlet 91B is located diagonally above and to the left of the third start winning hole 16, and most of the game balls discharged from the outlet 91B pass between the first and third start winning holes 14, 16 toward the outlet 22, and occasionally bounce off an obstacle nail to win at the third start winning hole 16. A base plate 32 is located on the entire rear side of the first flow-down path 91, and a part of the front side of the first flow-down path 91 is covered by a front plate 42. The base plate 32 and the front plate 42 are provided with a plurality of vertically elongated protrusions 91T protruding toward the first flow-down path 91 and arranged in a staggered pattern, so that the game balls flowing down the first flow-down path 91 meander.

[0025] The third flow-down path 93 is sandwiched between the partition wall 43 constituting the right side surface of the winning unit 30, a part of the guide rail 12 intersecting with the lower end of the partition wall 43, and the partition wall 34 facing them, and has a ball inlet 93A at the right end of the lower end of the common trunk flow path 94. The whole third flow-down path 93 is L-shaped with a part of the guide rail 12 as the horizontal side, and has an outlet 93B facing the left side. The game ball that has passed through the third flow-down path 93 rolls on the guide rail 12, passes under the third start winning port 16, and heads toward the outlet 22. Furthermore, at the corner of the L-shape of the third flow-down path 93, an arc portion 43A is formed by bulging the lower end of the partition wall 43 toward the third flow-down path 93 in an arc shape, so that the flow-down speed of the game ball in the third flow-down path 93 is reduced.

[0026] The second flow path 92 is surrounded by a plurality of members, such as the base plate 32, the front plate 42, the partition wall 34, the vertically long duct 33 described below, and the hood portion 73, and is bent three-dimensionally and also branches along the way, as shown by the thick arrow in Fig. 3. In addition, as shown in Fig. 5, the inlet 92A of the second flow path 92 is disposed at the center in the horizontal direction H1 of the lower end of the common trunk flow path 94, and is located directly below the throttle passage portion 94A.

[0027] 6, the ball entrance 92A of the second flow-down path 92 is provided with a detection switch 18S that detects the passage of a game ball, and the detection switch 18S constitutes the above-mentioned start gate 18. In addition, a guide protrusion 44T protrudes from the upper part of the front plate 42 above the detection switch 18S, and an inclined surface 44K is formed on the upper end of the rear surface of the guide protrusion 44T, so that when the game ball that has fallen from the narrowing passage part 94A (see FIG. 5) approaches the front side, it is guided backward so that it can be smoothly taken into the second flow-down path 92.

[0028] An upper wall 34A, which is a part of the partition wall 34, is provided below the detection switch 18S and is spaced by one game ball, and a lower wall 34B, which is a part of the partition wall 34, is provided below the upper wall 34A and is spaced by one game ball. A vertical duct 33 provided in the mechanism unit 70 connects the space above the upper wall 34A to the space above the lower wall 34B. Triangular ribs 44L are provided at both upper and lower ends of the vertical duct 33, and a triangular rib 44L is also provided between the upper surface of the upper wall 34A and the front plate 42. As a result, a curved flow path 92C curved backward is formed at the starting end of the second flow-down path 92. The game ball that enters the second flow-down path 92 is received by the upper wall 34A and moves backward, returns to the front side in an arc, and reaches the lower wall 34B.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 3, the lower wall 34B has a generally square, flat upper surface that is large enough to fit just one game ball as the starting rolling surface 95A. As shown in Fig. 5, the space between the upper wall 34A and the lower wall 34B is open in both the left and right directions, allowing the game ball to move from the starting rolling surface 95A to the third flow-down path 93.

[0030] However, the starting end rolling surface 95A is inclined downward to the left, and in addition, a regulating protrusion 44A is provided to make it difficult for the game ball to move from the starting end rolling surface 95A to the third flow-down path 93. The regulating protrusion 44A extends in the front-rear direction H2 along the right edge of the lower surface of the upper wall 34A, as shown in FIG. 3. Also, as shown in FIG. 10, the ball receiving portion 42A, which faces the space between the upper wall 34A and the lower wall 34B, on the rear surface of the front plate 42, is provided with a guide protrusion 44B that guides the game ball to roll from the starting end rolling surface 95A to the left. Specifically, the guide protrusion 44B has a shape having a guide surface 44B1 that is inclined so as to protrude backward from the center toward the right edge of the ball receiving portion 42A in the horizontal direction H1.

[0031] 6, a bounce-restricting protrusion 44C is provided on the upper part of the ball receiving portion 42A. The bounce-restricting protrusion 44C has a guide surface 44C1 that is inclined so as to protrude rearward from the vertical middle position of the ball receiving portion 42A toward the upper edge. When the game ball that has advanced from the vertical duct 33 bounces up and down, the guide surface 44C1 suppresses the bounce of the game ball. Furthermore, a step portion 33D with a higher rear side is formed at the rear of the starting end rolling surface 95A, and a backflow from the starting end rolling surface 95A to the vertical duct 33 side is restricted.

[0032] As shown in Figure 5, the downstream side of the starting rolling surface 95A of the second flow path 92 is a rolling path 96 for rolling the game ball, and as mentioned above, the second start winning port 15 opens into the rolling path 96 and is normally closed by a sliding door 15T.

[0033] Specifically, the second start winning hole 15 is located to the left of the starting end rolling surface 95A, and the terminal rolling surface 95B is provided to the left of the second start winning hole 15. The terminal rolling surface 95B is located diagonally to the lower left, separated by 4 to 6 game balls in the horizontal direction H1 from the starting end rolling surface 95A, and separated by 1 to 2 game balls in the vertical direction from the starting end rolling surface 95A. The entire area between the starting end rolling surface 95A and the terminal rolling surface 95B forms the second start winning hole 15.

[0034] In the second start winning opening 15, a guide surface 15A hangs down from the left end of the starting rolling surface 95A, bends to the left at a position below the terminal rolling surface 95B, then bends downward and extends, forming an introduction path 15D between the guide surface 15A and the introduction surface 15C hanging down from the right end of the terminal rolling surface 95B. A game ball that has won in the second start winning opening 15 is taken in from the lower end of the introduction path 15D to the rear of the game board 11, and the game ball that has won in the second start winning opening 15 is detected by a detection switch 15S provided in the middle of the introduction path 15D.

[0035] The terminal rolling surface 95B is slightly inclined downward to the left and extends in the diagonal horizontal direction H1, and the discharge port 92B of the second flow-down path 92 opens at its terminal (left end), and the third start winning port 16 is located directly below the discharge port 92B as described above. In detail, the partition wall 34 at the lower left side of the winning unit 30 is provided with a curved portion 34C curved to cover the third start winning port 16 from above and the right side, and a rolling plate portion 34D extending to the right side from the apex of the curved portion 34C. The upper surface of the rolling plate portion 34D forms the terminal rolling surface 95B, and the discharge port 92B penetrates vertically through the apex of the curved portion 34C, which is also one end of the rolling plate portion 34D. Directly above the discharge outlet 92B is located an arc portion 34E provided in the partition wall 34 to form the arc portion 91D on the downstream side of the first downflow path 91. The portion between the lower right end of the curved portion 34C and the guide rail 12 constitutes the discharge outlet 93B of the third downflow path 93 described above.

[0036] As shown in Figure 7, the opening edge of the discharge port 92B has a pair of side edges 92B1 extending straight forward from the front surface of the base plate 32 to the middle position of the terminal rolling surface 95B in the fore-and-aft direction H2, a pair of oblique edges 92B2 extending toward each other as they move forward from the front ends of the pair of side edges 92B1, and a front edge portion 92B3 extending in the lateral direction H1 connecting the front ends of the pair of oblique edges 92B2, and is positioned toward the rear of the terminal rolling surface 95B in the fore-and-aft direction H2.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 5, the guide groove 35 extending in the vertical direction is provided in the portion of the base plate 32 immediately behind the discharge port 92B. The guide groove 35 forms a slit 35S extending in the vertical direction in the base plate 32 and having a semicircular upper end, and the rear opening of the slit 35S is closed by the front surface of the game board 11. The inner surface of the slit 35S, which is the groove side surface 35M of the guide groove 35, is inclined so as to widen from the rear end of the guide groove 35 toward the front, as shown in FIG. 7. That is, a pair of groove side surfaces 35M facing each other in the width direction of the guide groove 35 are V-shaped. A game ball that fits in the guide groove 35 abuts against both or one of the pair of groove side surfaces 35M while abutting or adjacent to the front surface of the game board 11 at the back of the slit 35S.

[0038] From the front plate 42, a discharge guide portion 80 protrudes toward the discharge outlet 92B from a position in front of the discharge outlet 92B. The discharge guide portion 80 extends vertically in a planar cross section of a substantially right-angled triangle, the apex of which is located directly in front of the front edge portion 92B3 of the discharge outlet 92B, and has a guide surface 80G inclined to the right of the apex. In detail, the guide surface 80G protrudes rearward from a position in front of the upstream side portion 92B1 of the discharge outlet 92B toward a position in front of the front edge portion 92B3. As a result, the game ball that has rolled on the terminal rolling surface 95B abuts against the guide surface 80G and is guided to the rear side of the discharge outlet 92B.

[0039] In addition, a plurality of vertically elongated protrusions 92T are provided on the opposing surfaces of the base plate 32 and the front plate 42, and are arranged in a staggered pattern along the longitudinal direction of the terminal rolling surface 95B, so that the game balls rolling on the terminal rolling surface 95B are made to snake. In addition, the vertically elongated protrusions 92T closest to the discharge port 92B are arranged on the base plate 32 side. Then, the game balls rolling on the terminal rolling surface 95B are directed forward by the vertically elongated protrusions 92T just before the discharge port 92B and come into contact with the guide surface 80G of the discharge guide section 80, and the game balls are guided backward by the guide surface 80G and discharged from the discharge port 92B to the third start winning port 16. As a result, most of the game balls discharged from the discharge port 92B are brought closer to the front side of the game board 11 in the space between the rear surface of the glass plate 10G and the front surface of the game board 11, and head toward the third start winning port 16.

[0040] 8 shows a winning projection 16A having a third start winning hole 16 on its upper surface. The winning projection 16A has a structure in which the front end of a groove wall 16B, which has an arc-shaped cross section and protrudes forward from the game board 11, is blocked by a front wall 16C. The base end of the groove wall 16B is received in a through hole 11A penetrating the game board 11, and the bottom surface of the groove wall 16B is inclined downward toward the rear, and the bottom surface of the groove wall 16B and the front wall 16C are connected by a triangular rib 16D. A guide projection 16E stands up from the center of the upper end of the front wall 16C in the horizontal direction H1 (see FIG. 2), and an inclined surface 16F is formed on the rear surface of the tip of the guide projection 16E. In the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, as described above, the gaming ball discharged from the discharge outlet 92B is attracted to the front side of the gaming board 11 and flows down, so that it reaches the bottom surface of the groove wall 16B in the third start winning port 16 without touching the front part of the third start winning port 16 (guide protrusion 16E, front wall 16C) and is smoothly taken into the rear of the gaming board 11.

[0041] Here, if the discharge outlet 92B were configured as shown in Figure 9 to open over the entire width of the terminal rolling surface 95B and to have neither a guide groove 35 nor a discharge guide portion 80, due to variation in the position of the game balls discharged from the discharge outlet 92B in the front-to-back direction H2, for example, a game ball closer to the rear would fall after a game ball closer to the front, and as shown in the same figure, the two game balls would become caught between the front wall 16C of the third start winning opening 16 and the front surface of the game board 11, causing a ball jam; however, according to the configuration of this embodiment described above, the occurrence of such ball jams is suppressed.

[0042] Fig. 10 shows the sliding door 15T in a closed state, and Fig. 11 shows the sliding door 15T in an open state. When the sliding door 15T is closed as shown in Fig. 10, a straight rolling path 96A (see Fig. 3) is formed in front of the front surface of the game board 11, along which the game ball rolls on the sliding door 15T and moves from the starting end rolling surface 95A to the terminal end rolling surface 95B. In addition, a detour rolling path 96B (see Fig. 3) is provided behind the straight rolling path 96A, which branches rearward from the starting end of the straight rolling path 96A and joins the intermediate position of the straight rolling path 96A.

[0043] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 15, the sliding door 15T has a shape that is bent in a substantially crank shape when viewed from the front, and as shown in Fig. 12(A) in a single state, has an upper plate portion 61, a lower plate portion 62 located diagonally below and to the left of the upper plate portion 61, and a step plate portion 63 connecting the upper plate portion 61 and the lower plate portion 62. The upper plate portion 61 extends in the front-rear direction H2, while the lower plate portion 62 extends in the lateral direction H1, and the upper plate portion 61 and the lower plate portion 62 are shifted in the up-down direction by about the width of a game ball. The step plate portion 63 hangs down vertically from the middle position in the front-rear direction H2 at one side edge of the upper plate portion 61, and the rear end of the right side of the lower plate portion 62 is connected to the front end of the step plate portion 63. In addition, the portion of the step plate portion 63 rearward of the front end portion to which the lower plate portion 62 is connected hangs down below the lower plate portion 62, and a connecting plate 64 protrudes to the left side from its lower edge, and a long hole 64H extending in the horizontal direction H1 is formed therein.

[0044] 13 shows a drive unit 70U having a hood portion 73 on the upper surface of a drive device 72 that drives the sliding door 15T. With the sliding door 15T attached to the drive device 72, the drive unit 70U is fixed to the rear surface of the base plate 32 as shown in FIG. 3, and the flow path opening 32K formed in the base plate 32 is mainly covered from the rear side by the hood portion 73.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 13, the hood section 73 is provided with an upright wall 77 that divides the interior into an outward room 73A on the right side and a return room 73B on the left side, and a slit 76 extending in the front-rear direction H2 is formed between a bottom wall 75 of the outward room 73A and a bottom wall 74 of the return room 73B. An under-bottom space 71 is formed below the bottom wall 74 of the return room 73B, and the under-bottom space 71 communicates with the inside of the hood section 73 via the slit 76. A boss 79T, which is an output part of the drive unit 72, protrudes from the lower surface of the under-bottom space 71 and moves linearly back and forth within the under-bottom space 71.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 14, the step plate portion 63 of the sliding door 15T is received in the slit 76, the lower plate portion 62 and the connecting plate 64 are accommodated in the bottom space 71, and the upper plate portion 61 is accommodated in the forward room 73A and is stacked on the bottom wall 75. The boss 79T engages with the long hole 64H of the connecting plate 64, and the sliding door 15T is driven by the driving device 72 to move linearly back and forth. As shown in FIG. 10, when the sliding door 15T is placed in the closed position, the upper plate portion 61 and the lower plate portion 62 protrude from the front surface of the base plate 32 with their rear portions accommodated in the flow path opening 32K, blocking the second start winning opening 15, and as shown in FIG. 11, when the sliding door 15T is placed in the open position, the entire upper plate portion 61 and the lower plate portion 62 retract backward from the front surface of the base plate 32, opening the second start winning opening 15.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 14, the standing wall 77 is formed from the front end of the bottom wall 74 of the return room 73B to the middle position in the front-rear direction H2, and the rear end of the outward room 73A and the return room 73B are not separated by the standing wall 77. The bottom wall 74 of the return room 73B is gently inclined from the rear end to the front end, so that the game ball rolls forward on the bottom wall 74. In order to suppress the rolling speed, a vertically elongated protrusion 77G is formed near the rear end of the side surface of the return room 73B side of the standing wall 77, which extends in the vertical direction, and further, as shown in FIG. 10, a vertically elongated protrusion 77J is also formed on the front end edge of the inner surface of the return room 73B facing the standing wall 77.

[0048] On the other hand, the bottom wall 75 of the outward room 73A is approximately horizontal, and a rib 61T (see Figures 12 and 15) hanging down from the upper plate portion 61 of the sliding door 15T slides against the bottom wall 75 as the sliding door 15T moves back and forth, so that the upper plate portion 61 is supported from below by the bottom wall 75.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 10, the rear surface 73C of the outward room 73A is inclined so as to bounce the game balls moving backward toward the return room 73B, and the rear surface 73D of the return room 73B is curved so as to guide the game balls moving from the outward room 73A forward. In addition, an extension room 73F is formed at the lower rear surface of the outward room 73A in the hood part 73 by bulging a part of the hood part 73 backward, and opens at the lower part of the rear surface 73C of the outward room 73A. Then, as shown in Fig. 11, when the sliding door 15T moves to the open position, the rear end of the upper plate part 61 is received in the extension room 73F.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 12(B), the lower plate portion 62 of the sliding door 15T extends in the horizontal direction H1 as described above, and the front edge of the lower plate portion 62 is inclined toward the rear as it moves toward the left side, and the rear edge extends parallel to the horizontal direction H1. As shown in FIG. 15, the upper surface of the lower plate portion 62 is inclined downward to the left at a constant gradient as a whole. In addition, the upper surface of the lower plate portion 62 is horizontal in the front-rear direction. In addition, due to the inclination of the front edge of the lower plate portion 62 and the front edge of the upper plate portion 61 described below, etc., when a game ball is caught between the sliding door 15T and the front plate 42, it is easy for the game ball to escape upward or downward of the sliding door 15T.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 12(B), the upper plate portion 61 of the sliding door 15T extends in the front-rear direction H2 as described above, and the entire front edge and the entire rear edge except for the left end are inclined toward the rear as they move toward the left side, and the left end of the rear edge is parallel to the horizontal direction H1. Also, as shown in FIG. 12(A), the upper surface of the upper plate portion 61 has different gradients at the middle portion 61C, the front end portion 61F, and the rear end portion 61R in the front-rear direction H2. That is, the upper surface of the middle portion 61C of the upper plate portion 61 is gently inclined downward toward the rear and is also inclined downward to the left as shown in FIG. 15. Also, the upper surface of the rear end portion 61R of the upper plate portion 61 is horizontal in the front-rear direction H2 and is slightly inclined downward to the left. Furthermore, the upper surface of the front end portion 61F of the upper plate portion 61 is inclined downward to the rear at a steeper gradient than the middle portion 61C, and is also inclined slightly downward to the right in the horizontal direction H1. Also, the boundary line between the middle portion 61C and the front end portion 61F is inclined in the same direction as the front edge portion of the upper plate portion 61 with respect to the horizontal direction H1. Furthermore, the front end portion 61F is formed with a guide groove 61G that becomes wider toward the rear. Then, when the sliding door 15T is placed in the closed position, the front end portion 61F of the upper plate portion 61 receives the game balls rolling from the starting end rolling surface 95A, and guides most of them to the outward route room 73A at the rear.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 10, the front plate 42 is provided with a guide protrusion 44D at a position in front of the outward room 73A. The guide protrusion 44D is formed on the rear surface of the front plate 42 from the right end of the portion facing the outward room 73A to a position toward the right of the center in the horizontal direction H1, and has a guide surface 44D1 that is inclined so as to protrude rearward as it moves toward the left side. It is designed to guide the game ball that has rolled on the starting end rolling surface 95A to the outward room 73A. In addition, a vertically long protrusion 44E protrudes forward from the right edge of the flow path opening 32K. This narrows the rolling range of the game ball on the starting end rolling surface 95A so that the game ball discharged from the vertical duct 33 to the starting end rolling surface 95A moves toward the guide protrusion 44D. In addition, a vertically long protrusion 44G protrudes forward from the left edge of the flow path opening 32K.

[0053] In addition, a guide protrusion 44F is provided below the guide protrusion 44D on the rear surface of the front plate 42 at a position facing the flow path opening 32K. As shown in FIG. 3, the guide protrusion 44F extends in the horizontal direction H1 when viewed from the rear, and has a step portion in the middle of its longitudinal direction and is bent in a crank shape. The step portion of the guide protrusion 44F is located in front of the standing wall 77, and the downstream portion of the step portion of the guide protrusion 44F is located above the lower plate portion 62 of the sliding door 15T (see FIG. 14), and as shown in FIG. 10, the protrusion amount from the front plate 42 gradually decreases toward the terminal rolling surface 95B side. As a result, the game ball that has advanced from the return room 73B onto the lower plate portion 62 abuts against the guide protrusion 44F and is guided to the terminal rolling surface 95B side. In addition, the portion of the guide protrusion 44F upstream of the step portion is located slightly below the upper plate portion 61, and prevents the game ball from entering from the lower plate portion 62 below the front end portion 61F of the upper plate portion 61.

[0054] The configuration of the pachinko game machine 10 of this embodiment has been described above. Next, the action and effect of the pachinko game machine 10 of this embodiment will be described. When a right-handed game is played on the pachinko game machine 10, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of game balls pass through the narrowing passage 94A and flow down one of the first to third flow paths 91, 92, and 93, and most of them flow into the second flow path 92. Then, after passing through the start gate 18, the flow speed is reduced in the curved flow path 92C (see FIG. 6) and the game balls reach the starting end rolling surface 95A, and roll on the rolling path 96 (see FIG. 3) after the starting end rolling surface 95A. At this time, if the sliding door 15T is open as shown in FIG. 11, all game balls that have advanced from the starting end rolling surface 95A along the rolling path 96 enter the second start winning hole 15.

[0055] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 10, when the sliding door 15T is closed, a straight rolling path 96A that crosses above the second start winning opening 15 and a detour rotating path 96B that branches off from the starting end of the straight rolling path 96A and joins the straight rolling path 96A at a midpoint are formed. Then, the game ball rolling from the starting end rolling surface 95A branches off and rolls on either the straight rolling path 96A or the detour rotating path 96B.

[0056] Here, in a general gaming machine, when the sliding door 15T is closed, the gaming ball moves straight along the straight rolling path 96A that crosses above the second start winning opening 15, but in the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, most of the gaming balls move along the roundabout rolling path 96B that branches off from the straight rolling path 96A to the rear, so that a rolling mode that has not been seen before can be enjoyed. In addition, the gaming ball that has moved along the roundabout rolling path 96B from the straight rolling path 96A above the second start winning opening 15 merges again with the straight rolling path 96A above the second start winning opening 15, so in this respect too, a rolling mode that has not been seen before can be enjoyed.

[0057] Also, if a large number of game balls flow into the second flow path 92 and the rolling to the roundabout rotating path 96B is delayed or the roundabout rotating path 96B becomes full, the game balls will move straight along the straight rolling path 96A and many game balls will gather near the second start winning opening 15. Then, when the sliding door 15T is opened, the game balls on the roundabout rotating path 96B will also flow into the second start winning opening 15 in the same way as the game balls on the sliding door 15T, so the mere presence of the game balls on the roundabout rotating path 96B can build up a sense of expectation.

[0058] When the game ball passes through the second start winning opening 15 and advances along the rolling path 96, it reaches the terminal rolling surface 95B and is discharged from the discharge opening 92B at the terminal. At that time, the game ball rolls on the gently inclined terminal rolling surface 95B while snaking due to the multiple vertically elongated protrusions 92T, so that the speed is sufficiently reduced toward the discharge opening 92B. Then, as described above, at the discharge opening 92B, the game ball is guided directly below by the guide groove 35 while being brought close to the front surface of the game board 11 by the discharge guide portion 80 and the guide groove 35, and is discharged from the discharge opening 92B. As a result, most of the game balls discharged from the front duct 30D of the winning unit 30 are smoothly sucked into the inner part of the third start winning opening 16 one after another without touching the opening edge of the third start winning opening 16, providing the player with a sense of exhilaration.

[0059] [Other embodiments] (1) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, a branch rolling path (more specifically, a detour rolling path 96B) branching off from the straight rolling path 96A of the winning unit 30 is configured to merge with the straight rolling path 96A. However, as shown in FIG. 16, the branch rolling path 96V may be configured to be connected, for example, to the outlet 22 or the rear side of the game board 11.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the branch rolling path is provided behind the sliding door 15T that opens and closes the second start winning opening 15, but the branch rolling path may be provided in the straight rolling path 96A where the second start winning opening 15 and the sliding door 15T are not provided. In this case, a partition wall 34V is provided in front of the branch opening of the branch rolling path, and the partition wall 34V may be configured similarly to the front end portion 61F of the upper plate portion 61 in the sliding door 15T and may be configured to have a guide groove 34G.

[0061] (2) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the discharge guide portion 80 was configured to protrude from the rear surface of the front plate 42. However, for example, as shown in FIG. 17, the front plate 42 may be inclined toward the discharge opening 92B so as to approach the game board 11, thereby forming the discharge guide portion 80V.

[0062] (3) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the discharge outlet 92B of the winning unit 30 was positioned toward the rear, but as shown in FIG. 18, if a discharge guide portion 80 is provided, the discharge outlet 92B may be formed over the entire area from the front end to the rear end of the lower wall 34B.

[0063] (4) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a guide groove 35 was formed behind the discharge outlet 92B. However, as shown in FIG. 19, instead of the guide groove 35, a cutout portion 35V may be formed that matches the width of a pair of side portions 92B1 of the discharge outlet 92B.

[0064] Also, the guide groove 35 or the cutout 35V may not be provided. Furthermore, the slit 35S of the guide groove 35 may be recessed into the front surface of the base plate 32, instead of penetrating in the front-rear direction.

[0065] (5) In the above embodiment, the upper surface of the front end portion 61F of the upper plate portion 61 of the sliding door 15T has a slight downward inclination to the right in the horizontal direction H1. However, for example, the upper surface may have a zero inclination or a gentler inclination than the starting rolling surface 95A.

[0066] (6) In the above embodiment, the third start winning opening 16 is located directly below the discharge opening 92B of the winning unit 30 as shown in Fig. 5, but the third start winning opening 16 may be configured to be shifted left and right from the discharge opening 92B. In this case, a blocking nail or a resin protrusion may be provided so that the game ball discharged from the discharge hole 92B is guided to the third start winning opening 16.

[0067] (7) The winning device located directly below the outlet 92B of the winning unit 30 is not limited to a starting winning port, but may be, for example, a large winning port that opens to the front and has a pivoting door that pivots around the bottom end, or it may be a starting gate.

[0068] In addition, although this specification and drawings disclose specific examples of the technology included in the scope of the claims, the technology described in the claims is not limited to these specific examples, but includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples, as well as parts of the specific examples taken alone.

[0069] <Additional Notes> Hereinafter, the first to fourth invention groups extracted from the above-mentioned embodiments will be described while indicating effects, etc., as necessary. Note that, in the following, for ease of understanding, the corresponding configurations in the above-mentioned embodiments will be appropriately indicated in parentheses, etc., but the present invention is not limited to the specific configurations indicated in parentheses, etc.

[0070] (First invention group) The first group of inventions is "intended to suppress the ball jamming phenomenon that occurs when multiple game balls are discharged in succession from a front duct in a conventional gaming machine equipped with a front duct protruding from the front of the gaming board (for example, JP 2018-126562 (see Figures 3 and 4))" and has the following configuration, action, and effect.

[0071] [Invention 1] In a gaming machine in which game balls flow down through a space between a game board and a transparent light-transmitting window plate covering the game board from the front, a front duct and a winning projection protrude from the front of the game board, and game balls taken into the front duct are discharged from a discharge port opening on the bottom surface of the front duct toward a winning port on the top surface of the winning projection provided below the front duct, The gaming machine is provided with a discharge guide section that guides the gaming balls flowing down inside the front duct so as to approach the front side of the gaming board and direct them toward the discharge port.

[0072] In a game machine like the one of Invention 1, where game balls flow down the space between the game board and the light-transmitting window plate, ball jamming can occur in the part where the space narrows in the front-rear direction when a plate-like member overlaps either the front surface of the game board or the rear surface of the light-transmitting window plate. In a winning projection with a winning opening on its upper surface, the front wall of the winning projection that covers the winning opening from the front corresponds to the plate-like member that overlaps the rear surface of the light-transmitting window plate, so in a game machine with a front duct having an outlet above the winning opening of the winning projection, when game balls are discharged in succession from the outlet, the following game balls can get caught between the game ball that has climbed up the front wall of the winning projection and moved toward the front side of the game board and the front surface of the game board, causing ball jamming. In contrast, the gaming machine of the present invention is equipped with a discharge guide section that guides the gaming balls flowing down inside the front duct toward the front side of the gaming board and directs them toward the discharge outlet, so that the gaming balls discharged in a line from the discharge outlet smoothly enter the winning opening, thereby preventing ball jamming.

[0073] [Invention 2] The front duct has a rear plate portion overlapping the front surface of the game board and a front plate portion adjacent to the rear surface of the translucent window plate, The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the discharge guide portion protrudes from the rear surface of the front side plate portion.

[0074] The discharge guide portion may be provided on the lower or upper surface of the front duct, or may protrude from the rear surface of the front plate portion of the front duct as in the configuration of invention 2.

[0075] [Invention 3] A rolling surface is provided inside the front duct to roll the air in an obliquely downward direction inside the front duct and guide the air to the exhaust port, The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the discharge guide portion is provided with a horizontally inclined guide surface that is inclined with respect to the rolling direction so as to receive the gaming ball rolling on the rolling surface and direct it backward.

[0076] According to the third aspect of the present invention, the game ball rolling on the rolling surface can be smoothly guided toward the game board by the horizontally inclined guide surface.

[0077] [Invention 4] The front duct has a rear plate portion overlapping the front surface of the game board and a front plate portion adjacent to the rear surface of the translucent window plate, A gaming machine according to any one of Inventions 1 to 3, wherein a guide groove extending upward from the discharge port is recessed into the rear side plate portion.

[0078] According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the guide groove enables the game ball to be guided downward from a position close to the front surface of the game board and discharged.

[0079] [Invention 5] The gaming machine according to invention 4, wherein the guide groove penetrates the rear side plate portion.

[0080] The guide groove may or may not pass through the rear plate portion. However, as in the fifth aspect, it is preferable that the guide groove passes through the rear plate portion.

[0081] [Invention 6] An amusement machine as described in Invention 4 or Invention 5, in which a pair of groove side surfaces opposing each other in the width direction of the guide groove are opened in a V-shape.

[0082] According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the trajectory of the game ball flowing down the guide groove is stabilized.

[0083] [Invention 7] The front duct has a rear plate portion overlapping the front surface of the game board and a front plate portion adjacent to the rear surface of the translucent window plate, The gaming machine according to any one of Inventions 1 to 3, further comprising a cutout portion formed by cutting out a portion of the rear panel portion above the discharge port.

[0084] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to eject the game balls by moving them toward the front of the game board.

[0085] [Invention 8] A front protruding piece of the winning protrusion protruding from a front opening edge portion of the winning opening; A gaming machine as described in any one of Inventions 1 to 7, comprising a vertically inclined guide surface formed on the rear surface of the front protrusion and inclined toward the rear as it extends downward from the tip of the front protrusion.

[0086] According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the game ball that collides with the front protrusion of the winning protrusion can be guided toward the game board by the vertically inclined guide surface, allowing the ball to enter the winning hole smoothly.

[0087] (Second invention group) The second group of inventions is "intended to suppress the ball jamming phenomenon that occurs when multiple game balls are discharged in succession from a front duct in a conventional gaming machine equipped with a front duct protruding from the front of the gaming board (for example, JP 2018-126562 (see Figures 3 and 4))" and has the following configuration, action, and effect.

[0088] [Invention 1] This gaming machine has a structure in which game balls flow down the space between a game board and a transparent light-transmitting window plate that covers it from the front, a front duct and a winning projection protrude from the front of the game board, and game balls taken into the front duct are discharged from an outlet that opens into the underside of the front duct toward an opening on the upper surface of the winning projection located below, and the center of the outlet in the front-to-rear direction is shifted rearward from the center of the front-to-rear direction on the underside of the front duct.

[0089] In the gaming machine of invention 1, where game balls flow down the space between the game board and the light-transmitting window plate, ball jamming can occur in the area where the space narrows in the front-rear direction due to a plate-like member overlapping either the front surface of the game board or the rear surface of the light-transmitting window plate. In a winning projection with a winning opening on its upper surface, the front wall of the winning projection that covers the winning opening from the front corresponds to the plate-like member overlapping the rear surface of the light-transmitting window plate, so in a machine with a front duct that has an outlet directly above the winning opening of the winning projection, when game balls are discharged in succession from the outlet, the following game balls can get caught between the game ball that has climbed up the front wall of the winning projection and moved toward the front side of the game board and the front surface of the game board, causing ball jamming. In contrast, in the gaming machine of the present invention, the fore-and-aft center of the discharge outlet is shifted rearward from the fore-and-aft center of the underside of the front duct, so that the game balls discharged in a row from the discharge outlet can smoothly enter the winning port, reducing the occurrence of ball jamming.

[0090] (Third invention group) The third group of inventions is "a machine that is equipped with a variable member that moves in the forward and backward directions relative to the game board, and when the variable member is moved back from a position in the front side, the game ball that was rolling on the variable member when in the front side position falls downward (for example, JP 2018-126562 A (see Figures 5 and 6)) and aims to improve the ingenuity around the variable member," and has the following configuration, action, and effect.

[0091] [Invention 1] A variable member that reciprocates between a first position and a second position in the front-rear direction relative to a game board along which game balls flow; a retractable rolling part that is provided on the variable member, and that when located at the first position, protrudes from the front surface of the game board, and when located at the second position, does not protrude forward from the front surface of the game board or the amount of protrusion from the front surface of the game machine is reduced; When the variable member is disposed at the first position, a game ball can roll on the upper surface of the in and out rolling part, and when the variable member is disposed at the second position, a game ball can drop and pass in front of the in and out rolling part. a rear bypass passage that connects a ball intake opening that opens on the front surface of the game board with a ball discharge opening that opens on the front surface of the game board at a position diagonally below the ball intake opening, and discharges game balls taken in rearward from the ball intake opening to the front from the ball discharge opening; The retractable rolling portion includes a first rolling portion located in front of the ball inlet and a second rolling portion located in front of the ball outlet when the variable member is located in the first position, A gaming machine having a first path along which a gaming ball rolls from the first rolling portion, passing in front of the front surface of the gaming board, to the second rolling portion, and a second path along which a gaming ball rolls from the first rolling portion, passing through the rear bypass path, to the second rolling portion.

[0092] According to the invention 1, when the variable member is moved from the first position to the second position, in addition to the game balls rolling on the variable member, the game balls caught in the rear detour can be dropped from the front of the variable member. This allows the player to see a new way in which the game balls fall, and makes it possible to enhance the appeal of the area around the variable member.

[0093] [Invention 2] The gaming machine described in invention 1 is provided with a branching guide mechanism that guides the gaming balls so that more of them proceed along the second path than along the first path.

[0094] According to the second aspect, since more game balls head toward the second path than toward the first path, the player can see many different ways in which the game balls fall that have not been seen before.

[0095] [Invention 3] A gaming machine as described in Invention 1 or Invention 2, wherein a winning opening through which the gaming ball can enter or a winning guide for guiding the gaming ball to the winning opening is provided below the variable member.

[0096] According to Invention 3, when the variable member is moved from the first position to the second position, in addition to the game balls rolling on the variable member, the game balls taken into the rear detour drop into the winning opening or winning guide, thereby giving the player an exhilarating feeling.

[0097] [Invention 4] An amusement machine according to any one of Inventions 1 to 3, wherein the upper surface of the first rolling portion is inclined downwardly toward the ball intake port.

[0098] According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the gaming ball can be guided to the ball intake opening by the inclination of the upper surface of the first rolling portion.

[0099] [Invention 5] An amusement machine as described in any one of Inventions 1 to 4, wherein a guide groove extending in the front-to-rear direction and widening in width toward the ball intake port is provided on the upper surface of the first rolling portion.

[0100] According to Invention 5, game balls flowing down from the upstream side can be received in the guide groove and guided to the ball intake port.

[0101] [Invention 6] An amusement machine according to any one of Inventions 1 to 5, wherein the first rolling portion is positioned so as to overlap the rear detour path when the variable member is positioned at the second position.

[0102] When the variable member is positioned in the second position, in the case where the first rolling part is positioned below the rear detour, there is a problem in that the step between the first rolling part and the rear detour makes it difficult for the game ball on the first rolling part to flow down to the rear detour. However, according to the configuration of Invention 6, the above problem does not occur, and the game ball flows down smoothly to the rear detour.

[0103] [Invention 7] The gaming machine according to claim 6, wherein the first rolling portion extends rearward and is always positioned overlapping the rear detour path.

[0104] According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the game ball is prevented from getting caught between the rear end of the first rolling portion and the inner surface of the rear detour path, and the game ball can smoothly flow down the rear detour path.

[0105] [Invention 8] An amusement machine according to any one of Inventions 1 to 7, wherein the second rolling portion is accommodated in an accommodation space provided under the rear bypass passage when the variable member is positioned at the second position.

[0106] According to Invention 8, when the variable member is positioned in the second position, the game ball on the second rolling portion falls as if pushed forward by the step between the storage space and the rear detour, thereby preventing the game ball on the second rolling portion from running back toward the rear detour and interfering with the game ball taken into the rear detour from falling from the ball discharge hole.

[0107] (Fourth invention group) The fourth group of inventions is intended to "provide a gaming machine capable of rolling a gaming ball in a new rolling manner not found in conventional gaming machines equipped with a rolling path (e.g., see Figures 3 and 4 of JP 2018-57980 A)" and has the following configuration, action, and effect.

[0108] [Invention 1] A game board with game balls flowing down the front, A rolling path is provided on an upper surface of a front protrusion protruding from the front surface of the game board, and a game ball rolls along the front surface of the game board; A branch path having a branch opening at one end facing a middle position of the rolling path and extending rearward from the front surface of the game board; a front wall facing the branch port across the rolling path; The gaming machine is provided with a branch guide section that allows game balls rolling on the rolling path to both pass in front of the branch opening and enter the branch path from the branch opening, and guides the game balls so that the number of game balls entering the branch path from the branch opening is greater than the number of game balls passing in front of the branch opening.

[0109] According to Invention 1, a branch path is provided midway along the rolling path, and a branch guide section is used to cause many game balls to roll from the rolling path into the branch paths that branch off from the rolling path, thereby providing a new rolling mode not found in conventional gaming machines.

[0110] [Invention 2] The branch guide portion is A rear guide protrusion protruding rearward from the front wall and guiding the game ball that has rolled on the rolling path from the starting position to the intermediate position to the branch path; The gaming machine described in Invention 1 is provided with a straight-line rolling space provided between the rear guide protrusion and the opening edge of the branching port, allowing the gaming ball to pass in front of the branching port.

[0111] In Invention 2, if a game ball that has rolled on the rolling path from the starting position to the midpoint position does not touch the rear guide protrusion, it will pass through the straight-line rolling space in front of the branching opening and continue straight on the rolling path, and if it touches the rear guide protrusion, it will be guided to the branching path.

[0112] [Invention 3] The gaming machine according to Invention 2, wherein the play in which the gaming ball can move in the width direction of the branching opening is greater than the play in which the gaming ball can move in the width direction of the straight-line rolling space.

[0113] According to the third aspect, it is possible to reliably make more game balls roll on the branch paths than on the rolling paths. [Invention 4] A gaming machine as described in Invention 2 or Invention 3, in which the amount of protrusion of the rear guide protrusion from the front wall is greater than the play available for the gaming ball to move in the width direction of the straight-line rolling space.

[0114] According to the invention 4, it is also possible to reliably make more game balls roll on the branch paths than on the rolling paths.

[0115] [Invention 5] The gaming machine described in any one of Inventions 2 to 4, wherein the branch guide portion is provided upstream of the branch port and is equipped with a forward guide portion that guides the gaming ball rolling on the rolling path diagonally forward to the rear guide protrusion.

[0116] According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the game balls are guided toward the rear guide protrusion by the front guide portion, and it is possible to increase the number of game balls heading toward the branching opening side.

[0117] [Invention 6] An amusement machine as described in any one of Inventions 1 to 5, wherein the branch guide portion is provided in a front portion of the branch opening of the rolling path and has a rearward inclined portion that slopes downward toward the branch opening.

[0118] According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the rear inclined portion makes it possible to change the course of the game ball flowing down the rolling path toward the branching opening.

[0119] [Invention 7] The gaming machine according to any one of Inventions 1 to 6, wherein the branch guide portion is provided in the forward portion of the branch opening of the rolling path, and has a guide groove that extends in the front-to-rear direction and widens in width toward the branch opening.

[0120] According to Invention 7, it is possible to receive the game ball that has flowed down the rolling path in the guide groove and guide it to the branch outlet.

[0121] [Invention 8] An amusement machine as described in any one of Inventions 1 to 7, wherein the lateral rolling gradient of the front portion of the rolling path of the branching port is smaller, zero, or a reverse gradient compared to the lateral rolling gradient of the entire rolling path.

[0122] According to Invention 8, it is possible to suppress the speed of the game ball flowing down the rolling path at the front part of the branching port.

[0123] [Invention 9] A gaming machine as described in any one of Inventions 1 to 8, which has an entrance opening on the front surface of the gaming board above the rolling path and an exit opening at a position facing the starting position of the rolling path from the rear, and a rear curved path that curves or bends between the entrance and exit, through which gaming balls pass one by one.

[0124] According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the rear curved path makes it possible for the game ball to enter the rolling path while keeping its speed low.

[0125] [Invention 10] The gaming machine described in Invention 9, wherein the branch guide portion protrudes from the rear surface of the front wall facing the outlet of the rear curved path and is provided with a starting guide protrusion that guides the gaming ball rolling forward from the outlet to the midway position of the rolling path.

[0126] According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the starting end guide protrusion can smoothly guide the game ball into the rolling path. [Explanation of symbols]

[0127] 10 Pachinko machines 10G Glass plate 11 Game Board 15 2nd starting prize slot 15T sliding door 16 3rd Start Winning Port 18 Starting Gate 30 Winning Units 30D Front Duct 96A Straight Rolling Path 96B Detour rolling path

Claims

[Claim 1] A flow path extending diagonally horizontally and restricting the game balls to flow down one ball at a time; An outlet provided at the end of the flow path, through which the game balls flowing down the flow path are discharged one by one and dropped; A discharge guide portion is provided at the front side of the flow-down path in the front-rear direction and guides the flowing-down game balls so that they fall from a position closer to the rear side of the discharge port; An upstream guide portion provided upstream of the discharge guide portion and guiding the game ball toward the discharge guide portion; A gaming machine comprising: a winning projection having a winning port that opens upward, downstream of the discharge port.

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