Gaming machine

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of appropriately processing an object falling from an upper part of the game machine in the so-called enclosed-type game machine.SOLUTION: In the so-called enclosed-type game machine, the game machine houses a game board in a game machine frame, the game machine includes an upper surface cover for protecting the game board from an upper part and a rear surface cover for protecting it from a rear part, and an upper surface of the upper surface cover has a slope for allowing spherical game balls to flow down to the rear but a nonspherical member to stay on the upper surface of the upper surface cover, thus allowing metal powder, screws, and the like to stay in the upper surface cover but game balls to fall down so as be collected by island facilities.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 23

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine (commonly also referred to as a "pachinko machine").

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in gaming machines such as pachinko machines, in order to enhance the decorativeness, a unique frame decoration member corresponding to the game board is detachably provided. In such gaming machines, by using the frame decoration member, for example, a predetermined dedicated effect related to the variable display of the symbols displayed on the display means can be executed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, for example, in order to check the operating state of the frame decoration member, it is troublesome to, for example, restart the power every time the frame decoration member is attached, and there are concerns about convenience.

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0005] Therefore, in the following solution means, in view of the above situation, A specific decorative component that can improve convenience and it is an object to provide a gaming machine.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The present invention is a gaming machine capable of awarding a privilege to a player based on the result of a lottery, and for the gaming machine electrically a specific effect unit that can be connected, control means capable of executing predetermined error control, and is provided with the specific effect unit is not something that the player detaches and attaches, has a predetermined light-emitting unit and constitutes a part of the gaming machine, the control means is capable of executing specific error control corresponding to the specific abnormality when the specific abnormality occurs, and even if the specific effect unit becomes unconnected while the specific error control is being executed, the specific error control can be continued without generating an error corresponding to the fact that the specific effect unit has become unconnected, When the specific error control is being executed when the specific effect part is connected, it is allowed to perform a light emission operation based on the specific error control using the light emitting part of the connected specific effect part. When the specific effect part is connected during the execution of the specific error control, it is possible to reflect the light emission operation based on the specific error control on the light emitting part of the specific effect part at the moment when the specific effect part is connected without requiring any operation. Furthermore, it is also possible to perform a light emission operation based on the specific error control with a separate light emitting part different from the light emitting part. Even if the specific effect part becomes disconnected during the execution of the specific error control, the light emission operation based on the specific error control using the separate light emitting part can be continued. It is characterized by this.

Effect of the Invention

[0011] Thus, according to the present invention, and it is possible to improve convenience a gaming machine as described can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] [1. Overall Structure of Pachinko Machine] The pachinko machine 1 which is one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine which is one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the pachinko machine shown in a state where the upper side is tilted forward. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine seen from the front, and FIG. 4 is a rear view of the pachinko machine. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where a door frame, a main body frame, and an outer frame constituting the pachinko machine are respectively rotated by hinges and opened. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the pachinko machine disassembled by main components and seen from the front, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the pachinko machine disassembled by main components and seen from the rear.

[0014] The pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment is installed and used in the island facilities of a game hall or the like. In this pachinko machine 1, a large number (for example, 40 to 60) of game balls B are enclosed without being discharged to the outside or supplied from the outside, and circulate inside, so that the player does not touch the game ball B. It is a so-called enclosed game machine or a game machine called a management game machine. In this pachinko machine 1, the number of balls held by the player is digitized and handled as ball-holding data.

[0015] The game ball B enclosed in the pachinko machine 1 has the same diameter (hereinafter also referred to as diameter D. Diameter D = 11 mm) as the game ball used in conventional pachinko machines, but is made of non-magnetic stainless steel such as SUS304. As a result, even if the game ball B is enclosed in the pachinko machine 1 for a long time, it will not rust, and it is distinguished from the conventional game ball (iron ball SB) that is magnetically attached.

[0016] The pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment includes a frame-shaped outer frame 2 installed in the island facilities (not shown) of the game hall, a door frame 3 that closes the front surface of the outer frame 2 in an openable and closable manner, and a body 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 front side of the main body frame 4 and has a game area 5a that is visible from the player's side through the door frame 3 and into which the game ball B is driven by the player.

[0017] [2. Outer Frame] The outer frame 2 of the pachinko machine 1 will be mainly described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 16 and the like. FIG. 8 is a front view of the pachinko machine shown with the door frame removed. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the state where the game board is separated from the main body frame in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a front view of the pachinko machine shown with the door frame and the game board removed, FIG. 11 is a rear view of the pachinko machine in FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine in FIG. 10 as seen obliquely from the front. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the outer frame and the main body frame as seen from the front in a disassembled state, and FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the outer frame and the main body frame as seen from the rear in a disassembled state. FIG. 15 is a plane cross-sectional view of the outer frame cut at the center in the vertical direction. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the lower part of the outer frame.

[0018] The outer frame 2 can be attached to the island equipment of a game hall (not shown), and can be attached to the main body frame 4 so as to be openable, closable, and detachable forward. The outer frame 2 includes an outer frame main body 10 formed in an overall vertically long frame shape, outer frame assembly fittings 20 for assembling the outer frame main body 10, an outer frame hinge mechanism 30 for supporting the main body frame 4 so as to be openable and closable, an outer frame locking fitting (not shown) for locking the main body frame 4 in a closed state, a curtain plate 45 attached to the lower frame body 14 of the outer frame main body 10, and a sliding plate 46 attached to the upper surface of the curtain plate 45.

[0019] The outer frame main body 10 of the outer frame 2 includes a left frame body 11 and a right frame body 12 that extend in the vertical direction and are spaced apart from each other left and right, an upper frame body 13 that connects the upper ends of the left frame body 11 and the right frame body 12, and a lower frame body 14 that connects the lower ends of the left frame body 11 and the right frame body 12. The left frame body 11 and the right frame body 12 are each formed of an extruded profile of a metal such as an aluminum alloy. The upper frame body 13 and the lower frame body 14 are formed of wood. The left frame body 11, the right frame body 12, the upper frame body 13, and the lower frame body 14 have the same dimensions in the front-rear direction.

[0020] The outer frame assembly fitting 20 of the outer frame 2 includes an upper left fitting that connects the left frame body 11 and the upper frame body 13, an upper right fitting that connects the right frame body 12 and the upper frame body 13, a lower left fitting that connects the left frame body 11 and the lower frame body 14, and a lower right fitting that connects the right frame body 12 and the lower frame body 14. The lower left fitting also serves as the outer frame lower hinge body 35.

[0021] The outer frame hinge mechanism 30 includes an outer frame upper hinge body 31 provided at the upper left end of the outer frame body 10 and an outer frame lower hinge body 35 provided at the lower left end of the outer frame body 10.

[0022] The outer frame upper hinge body 31 of the outer frame hinge mechanism 30 is attached to the upper surface of the left end of the upper frame body 13, and its front end protrudes forward from the outer frame body 10. The outer frame upper hinge body 31 has a bearing groove 31a that penetrates vertically and is open on one side at a portion protruding forward from the outer frame body 10, and a lock member 32 provided on the lower surface of the portion protruding forward from the outer frame body 10 that can open and close the open portion of the bearing groove 31a.

[0023] The bearing groove 31a of the outer frame upper hinge body 31 can pivotally support the main body frame hinge shaft 511a of the main body frame upper hinge body 511 in the main body frame 4 by inserting the main body frame hinge shaft 511a into it from the open portion. In its normal state, the lock member 32 of the outer frame upper hinge body 31 is positioned in a locked position where it closes the open portion of the bearing groove 31a by the biasing force of an elastic piece (not shown). When the lock member 32 is moved to the release position against the biasing force of the elastic piece, the bearing groove 31a is opened to the side, allowing the main body frame hinge shaft 511a to be inserted into the bearing groove 31a from the side or removed from the bearing groove 31a.

[0024] The lower outer frame hinge body 35 of the outer frame hinge mechanism 30 is attached to the overlapping part (upper part) of the lower frame body 14 on the upper surface of the left end of the curtain plate 45, and the front end protrudes forward from the outer frame main body 10. The lower outer frame hinge body 35 has a hinge shaft 35a protruding upward at the part protruding forward from the outer frame main body 10. By inserting the hinge shaft 35a of the lower outer frame hinge body 35 into the outer frame shaft hole (not shown) of the main body frame lower hinge body 512 in the main body frame 4, the main body frame lower hinge body 512 can be rotatably supported.

[0025] The outer frame hinge mechanism 30 can support the main body frame 4 so that it can be opened and closed by pivotally supporting the main body frame hinge shaft 511a of the main body frame upper hinge body 511 in the main body frame 4 in the bearing groove 31a of the outer frame upper hinge body 31 and inserting the hinge shaft 35a of the lower outer frame hinge body 35 into the outer frame shaft hole of the main body frame lower hinge body 512.

[0026] The outer frame locking fittings of the outer frame 2 are provided in two vertically spaced positions on the inner surface (left side surface) of the right frame body 12. The outer frame locking fittings can lock the main body frame 4 in a non-openable state with respect to the outer frame 2 when the main body frame 4 is closed by the outer frame locking claws 784 of the lock unit 780 in the main body frame 4 being respectively locked.

[0027] The curtain plate 45 of the outer frame 2 is attached to the lower frame body 14, and the front end protrudes forward from the lower frame body 14. The curtain plate 45 is formed of synthetic resin. The slip plates 46 are provided in two positions spaced apart left and right on the upper surface of the curtain plate 45. The slip plates 46 are such that when the main body frame 4 is closed with respect to the outer frame 2, the lower end surface of the main body frame 4 abuts thereon. The slip plates 46 are formed of a low-friction material with low frictional resistance, making it easier for the main body frame 4 to slide and facilitating opening and closing.

[0028] Regarding the curtain plate 45, to describe it in more detail, the curtain plate 45 includes a curtain plate main body 45a formed to cover a portion in front of the center in the front-rear direction on the upper end surface of the lower frame body 14 and the front end side of the lower frame body 14, a hinge body cover portion 45b provided near the left end of the upper surface of the curtain body main body 45a, a rear wall portion 45c extending upward in a flat plate shape from the rear end of the hinge body cover portion 45b, and a guide display portion 45d provided on the upper surface of the curtain plate main body 45a.

[0029] The hinge body cover portion 45b of the curtain plate 45 is provided so as to cover the lower surface and the side surface of the outer frame lower hinge body 35. Thereby, when a player, an operator such as for maintenance, transportation, installation, etc. reaches their hand near the outer frame lower hinge body 35, it is possible to prevent the hand from directly touching the outer frame lower hinge body 35 by the hinge body cover portion 45b, and it is possible to prevent injury by the edge of the outer frame lower hinge body 35.

[0030] Also, since the hinge body cover portion 45b covers the lower surface and the side surface of the outer frame lower hinge body 35, it is possible to hide the outer frame lower hinge body 35 from the player side, and at the same time, it is possible to enhance the unity with the curtain plate 45 (curtain plate main body 45a) and improve the appearance.

[0031] The rear wall portion 45c of the curtain plate 45 is provided such that when the main body frame 4 is closed with respect to the outer frame 2, the rear surface of the main body frame lower hinge body 512 in the main body frame 4 to be described later abuts against the front surface of the rear wall portion 45c. Thereby, when the main body frame 4 is closed with respect to the outer frame 2, by the main body frame lower hinge body 512 abutting against the rear wall portion 45c, it is possible to restrict the main body frame 4 from further hinge-rotating rearward.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 etc., the guide display portion 45d of the shutter plate 45 is provided so as to protrude rearward from the rear edge of the upper surface of the shutter plate main body 45a, and the left - right direction extends from the rear part of the left - side slipping plate 46 to the rear part of the right - side slipping plate 46. On this guide display portion 45d, an arrow pointing leftward is displayed near the left end, and an arrow pointing rightward is displayed near the right end. Between the two arrows, the characters "! Protrusion of fixing nails and fixing fittings is prohibited in this range!" are displayed. These arrows and characters are engraved by a mold for injection - molding the shutter plate 45.

[0033] The guide display portion 45d is provided so as not to contact the main body frame 4 which is provided to be openable and closable with respect to the outer frame 2. This guide display portion 45d is for calling the attention of the operator when installing the pachinko machine 1 in the island equipment of the game hall. Specifically, when fixing the lower frame body 14 of the outer frame 2 to the island equipment with mounting screws (not shown in the figure), it is for calling attention so that the head of the mounting screw does not protrude above the guide display portion 45d within the range displayed on the guide display portion 45d. By fixing the outer frame 2 with mounting screws in accordance with this call for attention, when the main body frame 4 is closed with respect to the outer frame 2, the mounting screw does not contact the main body frame 4 and the mounting screw does not interfere with the main body frame 4.

[0034] According to this guide display portion 45d, it becomes possible to prevent the mounting screw for fixing the outer frame 2 from interfering with the main body frame 4, so that it is possible to avoid the main body frame 4 being damaged due to the interference of the mounting screw. Also, the guide display portion 45d serves as a mark for the driving amount of the mounting screw for fixing the outer frame 2, so there is no need to drive the mounting screw while opening and closing the main body frame 4 so that the mounting screw does not interfere, and the working efficiency can be improved.

[0035] Furthermore, since it has the guide display portion 45d, when checking the fixed state of the outer frame 2 with respect to the island equipment, by using the guide display portion 45d as a guide, it is possible to easily visually confirm the quality of the state of the mounting screw.

[0036] In addition, since the guide display portion 45d indicating the fixing range of the mounting screws is integrally formed with the shutter plate main body 45a, by simply attaching the shutter plate main body 45a to the lower frame body 14 and assembling it into the outer frame 2, the guide display portion 45d can be provided on the outer frame 2, and the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the guide display portion 45d is provided separately.

[0037] In the above embodiment, the guide display portion 45d protruding rearward from the rear end of the shutter plate main body 45a is shown as extending continuously in the left-right direction from the arrow at the left end to the arrow at the right end. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a form in which only the portions of the left and right arrows protrude rearward from the rear end of the shutter plate main body 45a may also be acceptable.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the guide display portion 45d is shown to be engraved during the injection molding of the shutter plate 45. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the guide display portion 45d may be provided by attaching a sticker, printing, painting, or the like.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the guide display portion 45d is shown to be provided on the shutter plate 45. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be provided on the lower frame body 14, the sliding plate 46, or the like. When the guide display portion 45d is provided on the lower frame body 14, for example, a sticker may be attached, an ink stamp may be pressed, or a branding may be pressed. When the guide display portion 45d is provided on the sliding plate 46, for example, a concave engraving may be made on the sliding plate 46.

[0040] [3. Door Frame] The door frame 3 of the pachinko machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, and FIGS. 5 to 7. The door frame 3 is formed in a rectangular shape that is substantially the same size as the inside of the outer frame 2 and extends vertically in a front view. It is attached to the inside of the outer frame 2 via the main body frame 4 so as to be openable and closable from the front side. The door frame 3 includes a door frame main body 100 that is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the main body frame 4 and has a game window 101 through which the game area 5a of the game board 5 attached to the main body frame 4 faces forward when closed; a transparent glass 120 that is detachably attached to the rear side of the door frame main body 100 and closes the game window 101; a held ball number display unit 140 that displays the number of held balls of the player; a handle 160 that is operated by the player to drive a game ball B into the game area 5a of the game board 5; a cylindrical handle cover 170 that surrounds the outer periphery of the handle 160; and a count button switch 180 that can be operated by the player.

[0041] Also, the door frame 3 includes a door frame curtain plate 190 that extends across the entire width in the left-right direction at a certain height from the lower end on the front surface of the door frame main body 100; a shelf unit 200 that protrudes forward at a portion between the game window 101 and the door frame curtain plate 190 on the front surface of the door frame main body 100; and an effect operation unit 250 that is provided at the center in the left-right direction of the shelf unit 200 and can be operated by the player. The held ball number display unit 140 and the count button switch 180 are provided on the upper surface of the shelf unit 200 (the upper surface of the shelf portion 201).

[0042] Furthermore, the door frame 3 includes a door frame top unit 300 that is provided above the game window 101 on the front surface of the door frame main body 100; a door frame left side unit 320 that is provided on the left side of the game window 101 on the front surface of the door frame main body 100; and a door frame right side unit 340 that is provided on the right side of the game window 101 on the front surface of the door frame main body 100.

[0043] The door frame body 100 has a door frame hinge mechanism 110 for attachably mounting it to the main body frame 4 so as to be openable and closable. The door frame hinge mechanism 110 has a door frame upper hinge body 111 (see FIG. 6) provided at the upper left end of the door frame body 100 and a door frame lower hinge body 112 provided at the lower left end of the door frame body 100. The door frame upper hinge body 111 has a door frame upper hinge shaft 111a protruding upward. The door frame hinge mechanism 110 inserts the door frame upper hinge shaft 111a of the door frame upper hinge body 111 downward into a door frame upper shaft hole 511b of a main body frame upper hinge body 511 described later, and inserts the door frame lower hinge shaft 112a of the door frame lower hinge body 112 upward into a door frame lower shaft hole 512b of a main body frame lower hinge body 512 described later, whereby the door frame 3 can be supported by the main body frame 4 so as to be openable and closable.

[0044] Also, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 and the like, the door frame body 100 has a protrusion 102 protruding rearward from near the lower end on the rear surface. When the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 4, the lower surface of the protrusion 102 abuts so as to ride on a support step portion 501q of a main body frame base 501 of the main body frame 4 described later, and the door frame 3 can be lifted to some extent. According to this protrusion 102, since the door frame 3 is lifted by closing the door frame 3 with respect to the main body frame 4, the load of the door frame 3 can be dispersed to the protrusion 102 and the door frame lower hinge body 112. Thereby, it is possible to avoid an excessive load being continuously applied to the hinges (the door frame lower hinge body 112 and the outer frame lower hinge body 35) that enable the door frame 3 to be opened and closed, and it is possible to make the hinges difficult to distort. Also, even if the hinges are distorted, the protrusion 102 can lift the door frame 3, so that the door frame 3 can be closed at an appropriate position with respect to the main body frame 4. Although not shown, the lower surface of the protrusion 102 has a plurality of ribs extending in the front-rear direction, and the strength and rigidity are enhanced by these ribs.

[0045] The protruding portion 102 has a guiding surface 102a that slopes so as to move leftward as it goes rearward. Although details will be described later, when the door frame 3 is about to be closed with respect to the main body frame 4 while the ball grinding motor base 686 in the ball lifting unit 650 is in a state other than the locked position, the guiding surface 102a of the protruding portion 102 is such that the front end of the ball grinding motor base 686 comes into contact and can move (rotate) the ball grinding motor base 686 to the locked position.

[0046] The held ball number display section 140 is composed of six-digit 7-segment LEDs. The held ball number display section 140 is provided at a site on the upper surface of the shelf unit 200 that is to the right of the center in the left-right direction and to the left of the counting button switch 180.

[0047] The handle 160 is provided at the lower right corner of the front surface of the door frame main body 100, that is, near the right end between the game window 101 and the door frame curtain board 190 on the front surface of the door frame main body 100. The handle 160 is attached so that the player can rotate it with the rotation axis facing in the front-rear direction. The handle 160 is formed in a shape like an automobile steering wheel and has a central hub portion 160a, a plurality (here, three) of spoke portions 160b extending outward from the hub portion 160a, and an annular ring portion 160c connecting the tips of the spoke portions 160b.

[0048] The ring portion 160c of the handle 160 is provided at a front site slightly separated from the front end of the cylindrical handle cover 170 and is arranged so that the player cannot grip the ring portion 160c. Therefore, when the player rotates the handle 160, mainly, the player operates it in a state of gripping the hub portion 160a with fingers passing through between the spoke portions 160b. In this state, the player's fingers are in a state of being inserted into the cylinder of the handle cover 170.

[0049] The handle 160 is provided with a firing stop switch 161 that can be pressed by the player, a handle touch sensor 162 that detects a change in the capacitance of the handle 160, and a handle rotation sensor 163 that detects the rotation angle of the handle 160 (see FIG. 68).

[0050] When the firing stop switch 161 is pressed by the player, the drive of the firing solenoid 553 is stopped by the frame control board 740. Therefore, when the player presses the firing stop switch 161 during the rotation operation of the handle 160, the firing of the game ball B can be temporarily stopped without returning the rotation operation of the handle 160. After that, if the rotation operation of the handle 160 remains the same and the pressing operation of the firing stop switch 161 is released, the game ball B can be driven again into the game area 5a with the driving strength before the pressing operation of the firing stop switch 161 (the driving strength corresponding to the rotation operation of the handle 160).

[0051] The handle touch sensor 162 detects static electricity acting on the handle 160. When the player touches the handle 160, it detects the static electricity acting from the player and detects the player's contact (touch) with the handle 160. Then, when the handle touch sensor 162 detects the player's contact and the handle 160 is rotated, the detection of the handle rotation sensor 163 is received, and the drive of the firing solenoid is controlled according to the rotation angle of the handle 160, so that the game ball B can be driven in.

[0052] Therefore, even if the player tries to rotate the handle 160 by some means without touching the handle 160 and drive the game ball B into the game area 5a, since the handle touch sensor 162 does not detect the player's contact, the firing solenoid 553 is not driven and the game ball B cannot be driven in. This can prevent the game from being played by rotating the handle 160 in a way different from the original, and can reduce the load (burden) on the game hall where the pachinko machine 1 is installed.

[0053] The steering wheel rotation sensor 163 is a variable resistor. When the steering wheel 160 is rotated, the detection axis rotates and the internal resistance changes according to the rotation angle of the detection axis. Therefore, when the steering wheel 160 is rotated to change the internal resistance of the steering wheel rotation sensor 163, the driving force of the firing solenoid 553 in the ball firing unit 550 described later changes according to the internal resistance, and the game ball B can be driven into the game area 5a with a strength corresponding to the rotation angle of the steering wheel 160.

[0054] The steering wheel cover 170 extends rearward from a part behind the annular part of the steering wheel 160 so that the diameter expands, and is formed in a conical tube shape. Openings 171 communicating with the inside are provided on the right circumferential surface and the lower circumferential surface of the outer circumferential surface of the steering wheel cover 170. Due to these openings 171, even if dust, liquid, etc. enter the steering wheel cover 170, they can be discharged downward.

[0055] The count button switch 180 is provided at a position on the upper surface of the shelf unit 200 that is to the right of the center in the left-right direction. Although the details will be described later, when it is pressed in a state where there are balls in hand, the balls in hand can be sent to the game ball lending device 8 or the like for settlement.

[0056] The door frame curtain board 190 extends left and right with a certain height and the same length as the width of the door frame body 100 in the left-right direction, and is attached to the lower end of the front surface of the door frame body 100. The door frame curtain board 190 penetrates in the front-rear direction at the center in the left-right direction, and has a duct grille 191 located in front of the bass reflex duct 501e of the main body frame 4 described later. The duct grille 191 extends long in the left-right direction and is partitioned by a plurality of vertical grids. Although the details will be described later, this duct grille 191 is for discharging the air vibration (wind) caused by driving the main body frame speaker 503 from the bass reflex duct 501e of the main body frame 4 forward.

[0057] The shelf unit 200 is provided at a position between the game window 101 and the door frame curtain board 190 on the front surface of the door frame body 100. A spherical effect operation unit 250 is provided at the center in the left - right direction of the shelf unit 200. The shelf unit 200 has a shelf portion 201 that bulges forward in a shelf shape along the lower end of the game window 101 from the upper end, a speaker grill 203 provided below the shelf portion 201 and on the right side of the effect operation unit 250, a setting adjustment button 204 provided on the upper surface of the shelf portion 201 and consisting of four push buttons arranged in the front - rear and left - right directions, and a pair of protrusions 205 provided at intervals in the left - right direction. Note that among the four push buttons arranged in the front - rear and left - right directions of the setting adjustment button 204, operating the front - rear push buttons enables volume adjustment, and operating the left - right push buttons enables light amount adjustment.

[0058] The upper surface of the shelf portion 201 is formed as a smooth surface. On the upper surface of the shelf portion 201, on the right side of the center in the left - right direction, a count button switch 180 is provided near the right end, and a held ball number display portion 140 is provided on the left side of the count button switch 180. On the right side of the center in the left - right direction, the setting adjustment button 204 is provided, and protrusions 205 are provided on both the left and right sides near the rear end of the setting adjustment button 204.

[0059] The pair of protrusions 205 protrude higher than the setting adjustment button 204, and the upper ends are rounded. The pair of protrusions 205 are provided substantially parallel to the rear edge of the shelf portion 201. The pair of protrusions 205 can be used, for example, to lean a smartphone on the upper surface of the shelf portion 201, which is convenient.

[0060] The speaker grill 203 is located in front of the main body frame speaker 503 in the main body frame 4 described later, and is formed of a punching metal having a plurality of through - holes. The speaker grill 203 is provided symmetrically and with the same size as the handle 160 with the center in the middle direction of the door frame 3 as the boundary, and is formed in a shape that bulges forward similar to the handle cover 170.

[0061] The performance operation unit 250 is provided at the center in the left - right direction in the shelf unit 200. Its front end protrudes forward beyond the shelf unit 200, and its upper end protrudes upward beyond the shelf unit 200. The performance operation unit 250 is formed entirely in a spherical shape. The performance operation unit 250 has a circular first performance button 251 provided near the center on the upper surface, and an annular second performance button 252 provided so as to surround the first performance button 251. Although detailed illustration is omitted, the first performance button 251 is formed in a columnar shape, and the second performance button 252 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The first performance button 251 and the second performance button 252 are provided coaxially, and their axis is inclined so as to move forward as it goes upward.

[0062] The first performance button 251 and the second performance button 252 are provided so as to move (pop - up) upward as a whole according to the player - participation type performance. The first performance button 251 can always be pressed, while the second performance button 252 can only be pressed when it pops up.

[0063] Although illustration is omitted, a vibrator (vibration device) is provided inside the first performance button 251.

[0064] The door frame top unit 300 is provided at a position above the game window 101 on the front surface of the door frame body 100, and both left - right ends are sandwiched between the upper end portions of the door frame left side unit 320 and the door frame right side unit 340. The door frame top unit 300 protrudes forward like an eaves. The door frame top unit 300 is provided with a semi - tube - shaped door frame top decoration body 301 that extends left - right along the front edge and has translucency. The door frame top decoration body 301 is curved in the front - rear direction so that the center in the left - right direction is located most forward in plan view.

[0065] Although not shown in the drawings, the door frame top unit 300 includes a door frame top decorative substrate on which a plurality of LEDs for illuminating and decorating the door frame top decorative body 301 are mounted, a pair of door frame top speakers 303 that output sounds such as voices, music, and sound effects and are provided spaced apart left and right, and a pair of door frame top side speakers 304 provided on both the left and right outer sides of the pair of door frame top speakers 303. The pair of door frame top speakers 303 are full-range speakers (or mid-range speakers), and the pair of door frame top side speakers 304 are tweeters (high-frequency speakers).

[0066] The door frame left side unit 320 is provided vertically long in a portion on the front surface of the door frame body 100 that is to the left of the game window 101, from near the upper end of the door frame body 100 to near the speaker grill 203 that is below the shelf portion 201 of the shelf unit 200. The door frame left side unit 320 extends over the entire vertical length and includes a semi-tube-shaped door frame left side decorative body 321 having translucency. The lower end vicinity of the door frame left side decorative body 321 is curved to the right.

[0067] Although not shown in the drawings, the door frame left side unit 320 includes a door frame left side decorative substrate on which a plurality of LEDs for illuminating and decorating the door frame left side decorative body 321 are mounted.

[0068] The door frame right side unit 340 is provided vertically long in a portion on the front surface of the door frame body 100 that is to the right of the game window 101, from near the upper end of the door frame body 100 to the handle cover 170 that is below the shelf portion 201 of the shelf unit 200. The door frame right side unit 340 protrudes longer forward than the door frame left side unit 320 and is formed in a vertically long partition shape.

[0069] The door frame right side unit 340 includes a semi-tubular door frame right side decorative body 341 that extends vertically along the front end and has translucency, a translucent door frame right side left side decorative body (not shown) provided behind the door frame right side decorative body 341 and forming the left side surface, a translucent door frame right side right side decorative body (not shown) provided behind the door frame right side decorative body 341 and forming the right side surface, and a door frame right side decorative substrate (not shown) on which a plurality of LEDs for emitting light and decorating the door frame right side decorative body 341, the door frame right side left side decorative body, and the door frame right side right side decorative body are mounted. The lower end vicinity of the door frame right side decorative body 341 is curved to the left.

[0070] Also, the door frame right side unit 340 has an opening 342 that penetrates front to back near the lower end and faces forward the keyhole 782 of the lock unit 780.

[0071] [3-1. Counting Button Switch] The counting button switch 180 is provided at a position on the upper surface of the shelf unit 200 that is to the right of the center in the left-right direction. The counting button switch 180 can send the held balls to a lending device 8 for game balls or the like for settlement by pressing the switch when there are held balls (the number of held balls > 0). Although details will be described later, the counting button switch 180 can send the held balls one by one or in predetermined numbers (for example, every 250) according to the pressing time. The number of held balls sent to the lending device 8 for game balls or the like is sent to the management server 9 via the communication network, and an IC card storing the number of held balls is discharged from the lending device 8 for game balls or the like.

[0072] Here, the lending device 8 for game balls and the like is provided adjacent to the pachinko machine 1 in the island facilities of the game hall (also referred to as a sand). Although not shown in detail in the drawings, the lending device 8 for game balls and the like is provided with an insertion slot for inserting cash, prepaid cards, etc., a card slot for inserting / removing an IC card, a ball lending button switch 8a, a return button switch, a display unit for displaying the inserted amount, the counted number of balls, etc. When the ball lending button switch 8a is pressed while cash or the like is inserted into the insertion slot, a predetermined number of game balls B are lent out within the range of the inserted amount. In the present embodiment, the number of lent game balls B is transmitted to the frame control board as digital data and is also transmitted to the management server 9 via the communication network for management.

[0073] Regarding the counting button switch 180 in detail, when the player "short-presses" (for example, the pressing time for one time is less than 500 ms) the counting button switch 180 while having held balls, one game ball B is counted from the held balls. When the counting button switch 180 is "long-pressed" (for example, the pressing time for one time is 500 ms or more), until the number of held balls becomes less than 250, game balls B are counted 250 at a time at the counting notification timing every predetermined time (for example, 300 ms) during the long press. When the number of held balls becomes 250 or less during the long press, game balls B are counted one by one. Also, when the counting button switch 180 is "long-pressed" (for example, the pressing time for one time is 500 ms or more), even if the counting button switch 180 is not continuously pressed, the total number of held balls may be unconditionally counted.

[0074] When counted by the pressing operation of the counting button switch 180, the number of held balls displayed on the held ball number display unit 140 is subtracted and displayed, and the counted number of balls is displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the lending device 8 for game balls and the like.

[0075] [4. Main body frame] The main body frame 4 of the pachinko machine 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 to 14, FIGS. 17 to 21, etc. FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the main body frame disassembled by each main component and viewed from the front, and FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the main body frame disassembled by each main component and viewed from the rear. FIG. 19 is a plan view of the pachinko machine in FIG. 10 cut at the upper and lower centers. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 19. FIG. 21 is a front view of the main part showing the firing unit and the far unit, etc. in cross-section in the front view of FIG. 8.

[0076] The main body frame 4 is formed in a box frame shape with the front open, and the game board 5 is detachably accommodated inside from the front. The main body frame 4 is openably attached to a frame-shaped outer frame 2 attached to the island equipment in the game hall at the upper and lower positions on the front left side, and a door frame 3 is openably attached so that the open front side is closed.

[0077] The main body frame 4 includes a frame-shaped main body frame base unit 500 that is openably supported with respect to the outer frame 2, a ball firing unit 550 for driving the game ball B into the game area 5a of the game board 5, and a far unit 570 for collecting the game ball B that was not driven into the game area 5a despite being fired by the ball firing unit 550, a circulation ball path unit 600 for sending the game ball B discharged from the game board 5 and the game ball B collected by the far unit 570 to the ball firing unit 550 side, a ball lifting unit 650 for moving the game ball B upward from the downstream end of the circulation ball path unit 600, and a ball feeding unit 700 for sending the game balls B lifted by the ball lifting unit 650 one by one to the ball firing unit 550.

[0078] Further, the main body frame 4 includes a ball receiving tray 720 for receiving the game ball B discharged from the ball outlet 613p of the circulation ball path unit 600, a frame board unit 730 having a frame control board 740 for controlling the ball firing unit 550, the ball lifting unit 650, etc., and a locking unit 780 for locking between the outer frame 2 and the main body frame 4 and between the door frame 3 and the main body frame 4.

[0079] [4-1. Main Body Frame Base Unit] Regarding the main body frame base unit 500 in the main body frame 4, it will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 22 to 24 and the like. FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the main body frame base unit in the main body frame as seen from the front with each main component disassembled, and FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the main body frame base unit in the main body frame as seen from the rear with each main component disassembled. FIG. 24(a) is a front view of the main body frame base in the main body frame base unit, and (b) is an explanatory view showing a perspective view of a state where a plurality of main body frame bases are stacked.

[0080] The main body frame base unit 500 is supported so as to be openable and closable forward with respect to the outer frame 2, and is also capable of supporting the door frame 3 so as to be openable and closable forward. The main body frame base unit 500 is attached with a ball launching unit 550, a fair unit 570, a circulating ball path unit 600, a ball lifting unit 650, a ball feeding unit 700, a ball receiving tray 720, a frame substrate unit 730, a lock unit 780, and the like.

[0081] The main body frame base unit 500 has a main body frame base 501 that penetrates in the front-rear direction and into which the game board 5 is inserted from the front, and a base wall portion 501b provided below the game board insertion portion 502, and the whole is formed in a vertically long rectangular shape, and a side reinforcement plate 509 that reinforces the left side surface of the main body frame base 501.

[0082] In addition, the main body frame base unit 500 includes a main body frame speaker 503 attached to the rear side of the base wall portion 501b in the main body frame base 501, a box-shaped main body frame speaker box 504 attached to the base wall portion 501b so as to cover the main body frame speaker 503 from the rear and having a front side that is open, and a back cover 505 provided so as to be openable and closable from the rear for the game board insertion portion 502 in the main body frame base 501.

[0083] Furthermore, the main body frame base unit 500 includes a game board locking member 506 attached to the main body frame base 501, a door opening switch 507 and a frame opening switch 508 attached to the main body frame base 501, and a main body frame hinge mechanism 510 attached to the main body frame base 501.

[0084] The main body frame base 501 is formed in a vertically long rectangular shape when viewed from the front. The main body frame base 501 is formed of a black opaque synthetic resin. The main body frame base 501 includes a frame-shaped frame body 501a without a left side, a game board insertion portion 502 that penetrates front to back within the frame of the frame body 501a in the range of about 2 / 3 of the full height from near the upper end downward, a base wall portion 501b provided below the game board insertion portion 502, a game board regulating portion 501c that protrudes upward (into the game board insertion portion 502) near the center in the left-right direction on the upper end surface of the base wall portion 501b, a main body frame speaker opening 501d that penetrates front to back near the left end of the base wall portion 501b and faces the main body frame speaker 503 forward, and a bass reflex duct 501e that is horizontally long and penetrates front to back near the lower end at the center in the left-right direction of the base wall portion 501b.

[0085] In addition, the main body frame base 501 includes a tray insertion recess 501f that is recessed from the front side to the rear above the bass reflex duct 501e in the base wall portion 501b and into which the ball receiving tray 720 is inserted, and a ball storage passage insertion opening 501g that penetrates front to back above the tray insertion recess 501f in the base wall portion 501b and into which the ball meandering member 613 and the meandering cover 614 of the circulating ball path unit 600 are inserted.

[0086] In addition, the main body frame base 501 includes a fairing unit mounting portion 501h and a ball launching unit mounting portion 501i that are arranged side by side left and right above the ball storage passage insertion port 501g on the front surface of the base wall portion 501b, a ball lifting unit mounting portion 501j provided to the right of the ball launching unit mounting portion 501i on the base wall portion 501b, a ball feeding unit mounting portion 501k provided at a position behind the ball launching unit mounting portion 501i on the rear surface of the base wall portion 501b, a circulating ball path unit mounting portion 501l provided on the rear surface of the base wall portion 501b, and a cylinder insertion port 501m that penetrates through in the front-rear direction near the upper right corner of the base wall portion 501b and through which the cylinder 781 of the lock unit 780 is inserted.

[0087] Furthermore, the main body frame base 501 includes locking claws 501n that protrude from the left and right inner walls of the tray insertion recess 501f and restrict the forward movement of the ball receiving tray 720 by engaging with the elastic claws 721 of the ball receiving tray 720 inserted into the tray insertion recess 501f. The main body frame base 501 also includes a vertically long opening 501o that penetrates through in the front-rear direction at the position of the ball lifting unit mounting portion 501j.

[0088] In addition, the main body frame base 501 includes an upper surface cover 502a that extends rearward from the upper end of the game board insertion portion 502, a rear surface cover 502b that extends downward in a short flat plate shape from the rear end side of the upper surface cover 502a, a left side surface cover 502c that extends rearward from the left end of the game board insertion portion 502 and whose upper end is connected to the upper surface cover 502a, a right side surface cover 502d that extends rearward from the right end of the game board insertion portion 502 and whose upper end is connected to the upper surface cover 502a, and a lower surface cover 502e that extends rearward from the lower end of the game board insertion portion 502.

[0089] In addition, the main body frame base 501 includes a plurality of ventilation holes 502f that penetrate the rear cover 502b, a plurality of upper surface recesses 502g provided on the upper cover 502a and recessed downward, a plurality of lower surface recesses 502h provided on the lower cover 502e and recessed downward, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 502i provided on the lower surface of the upper cover 502a and the upper surface of the lower cover 502e, respectively.

[0090] Furthermore, the main body frame base 501 is provided above the ball launching unit mounting portion 501i and further includes a shielding portion 501p for shielding the incidence of light from above to the ball launching unit 550. This shielding portion 501p can shield external light from the emission subtraction sensor 554 composed of a photosensor of the ball launching unit 550 mounted on the ball launching unit mounting portion 501i, and can prevent false detection by the emission subtraction sensor 554.

[0091] Also, the main body frame base 501 includes a support step portion 501q provided at a portion between the tray insertion recess 501f and the opening 501o, at a portion slightly above the bottom surface of the tray insertion recess 501f, and a pair of support protrusions 501r provided vertically spaced apart near the right end on the rear surface of the base wall portion 501b and protruding rearward. The support step portion 501q has an upward-facing surface (upper surface). When the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 4, the support step portion 501q abuts so that the protrusion 102 of the door frame 3 rides up, and can lift the door frame 3 to a certain extent, and supports a part of the load of the door frame 3. A locking hole for locking the nylon latch 774 of the frame substrate unit 730 is provided on the rear end surface of the support protrusion 501r.

[0092] The game board insertion portion 502 of the main body frame base 501 is detachably inserted with the game board 5 from the front. The periphery of the portion of the game board insertion portion 502 behind the base wall portion 501b is surrounded by the upper cover 502a, the left side cover 502c, the right side cover 502d, and the lower cover 502e.

[0093] The base wall portion 501b has the game board 5 placed on its upper end surface. On the front surface of the base wall portion 501b, a door opening switch 507, a ball launching unit 550, a fairing unit 570, and a ball receiving tray 720 are attached. Also, on the rear surface of the base wall portion 501b, a main body frame speaker 503, a main body frame speaker box 504, a frame opening switch 508, a circulating ball path unit 600, a ball lifting unit 650, and a ball feeding unit 700 are attached.

[0094] The game board regulating portion 501c regulates the movement of the game board 5 in the left - right direction and rearward when the game board 5 is inserted into the game board insertion portion 502. As shown in the figure, the main body frame speaker opening 501d is formed in a grid pattern and is provided so as to be located behind the speaker grill 203 of the door frame 3 in a state where the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 4. The main body frame speaker 503 is attached to the rear surface of the base wall portion 501b so as to close the main body frame speaker opening 501d from the rear.

[0095] The bass reflex duct 501e is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape that is long in the left - right direction. Although details will be described later, the bass reflex duct 501e communicates with an enclosure 504a of the main body frame speaker 503 constituted by the base wall portion 501b and the main body frame speaker box 504, and is for inverting the phase of the sound output rearward from the main body frame speaker 503 and emitting it forward. In this embodiment, with the cylindrical bass reflex duct 501e, it is possible to resonate and amplify the low - frequency range of the sound output from the main body frame speaker 503 to make a more heavy - bass sound resonate. This bass reflex duct 501e is provided so as to be located behind the duct grill 191 of the door frame 3 in a state where the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 4.

[0096] The tray insertion recess 501f can detachably support the ball receiving tray 720 from the front. The bottom wall of the tray insertion recess 501f is inclined such that the front end side is lower (see FIG. 20). Thereby, even if the game ball B spills into the tray insertion recess 501f when the ball receiving tray 720 is not inserted into the tray insertion recess 501f, it can be discharged forward. Also, since the bottom wall of the tray insertion recess 501f is inclined such that the front end side is lower, it is possible to easily slide the placed ball receiving tray 720 forward.

[0097] The ball storage passage insertion port 501g is provided so that the front side portions of the ball meandering member 613 and the meandering cover 614 of the circulating ball path unit 600 attached to the rear surface of the base wall portion 501b penetrate and project forward. The far unit attachment portion 501h is provided on the right side of the main body frame speaker port 501d near the upper end of the base wall portion 501b. The ball launch unit attachment portion 501i is provided on the right side of the far unit attachment portion 501h. The ball lifting unit attachment portion 501j is provided at a portion between near the upper end and near the lower end of the base wall portion 501b.

[0098] The ball feed unit attachment portion 501k is provided on the rear surface of the base wall portion 501b such that the upper surface of the ball feed unit 700 faces upward (inside the game board insertion portion 502), and is provided so that the ball feed unit 700 can be detached from above. When the ball feed unit 700 is attached to the ball feed unit attachment portion 501k, the elastic claw 709b of the ball feed unit 700 faces forward through the locking hole of the base wall portion 501b on the right side of the ball launch unit 550. In this state, by pressing the elastic claw 709b backward to elastically deform it and pinching and pulling up the knob portion 709a provided on the upper surface of the ball feed unit 700, the ball feed unit 700 can be removed upward.

[0099] The circular global path unit mounting portion 501l is provided at a position above the box extension portion 504c of the main body frame speaker box 504, which will be described later, at the central portion in the left - right direction on the rear surface of the base wall portion 501b. The cylinder insertion port 501m is provided to the right of the ball lifting unit mounting portion 501j near the upper end of the base wall portion 501b.

[0100] The upper cover 502a extends rearward from the game board 5 when the game board 5 is mounted on the game board insertion portion 502. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 etc., two upper surface recesses 502g are provided at intervals in the left - right direction on this upper cover 502a. By this upper surface recess 502g, a part of the reinforcing rib is omitted with respect to the upper cover 502a. By configuring in this way, it becomes possible to position the upper cover 502a upward by the amount of the reinforcing rib compared to the case where a plurality of reinforcing ribs are arranged in the left - right direction on the upper surface of the upper cover, and the internal volume of the game board insertion portion 502 is ensured. Further, if a plurality of reinforcing ribs are provided on the upper surface of the upper cover, wiping residues will occur during cleaning and the appearance will be impaired. However, in this embodiment, by eliminating the reinforcing ribs etc. from the upper surface of the upper cover 502a, it becomes possible to maintain the appearance.

[0101] The upper surface of the upper cover 502a and the bottom surfaces of the two upper surface recesses 502g are inclined so as to be about 2 degrees lower toward the rear with respect to the horizontal plane. Further, the pachinko machine 1 is usually installed so as to be tilted backward, and the angle is generally tilted backward by about 0.75 degrees, so that the total downward tilt is about 2.75 degrees. Also, the two upper surface recesses 502g are wider toward the rear in the left - right width.

[0102] By making such a gentle slope, the game ball B falling from above the pachinko machine 1 flows down the upper surface of the upper cover 502a or the upper surface recess 502g and falls into the recovery path of the game ball B of the island equipment provided below the pachinko machine 1 and is recovered. Also, falling objects such as metal powder and non - spherical objects such as screws stay on the upper surface of the upper cover 502a or the upper surface recess 502g. To achieve such an effect, the inclination of the upper surface of the upper cover 502a from the horizontal plane is desirably within 15 degrees.

[0103] Since the upper cover 502a is formed in a flat plate shape, the lower surfaces (inner surfaces) of the two upper concave portions 502g that are recessed upward in the upper cover 502a protrude downward from the lower surface of the upper cover 502a (see Fig. 24(b)). That is, the upper concave portions 502g are in the form of convex portions protruding downward on the lower surface of the upper cover 502a. And the end points, that is, the front walls, of the two upper concave portions 502g are on the back of the abutting surface 502j, and the abutting surface 502j is in contact with the rear surface of the upper side of the game board 5 for positioning.

[0104] In other words, on the back side (lower surface side) of the upper cover 502a, there are the back sides of the two upper concave portions 502g. The front ends of the back sides of the two upper concave portions 502g serve as the abutting surface 502j and are in contact with the rear surface of the upper side of the game board 5 to position the game board 5.

[0105] On the back side (lower surface side) of the upper cover 502a, there are four reinforcing ribs 502i among the plurality of reinforcing ribs 502i, and together with the upper concave portions 502g, they reinforce the upper cover 502a. By providing the reinforcing ribs 502i on the inner lower surface rather than the upper surface of the upper cover 502a in this way, it becomes possible to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the upper surface (outer surface) of the upper cover 502a.

[0106] As shown in Fig. 23, a plurality of ribs 502k are provided at the front end of the upper surface of the upper cover 502a. However, the upper parts of these ribs 502k are covered by the frame body 501a at the edge of the main body frame base 501, and furthermore, the upper part is covered by the outer frame 2, so metal powder or the like does not fall from above, and it does not affect the aesthetic appearance.

[0107] Furthermore, although not shown in the figure, gates for feeding the molten resin during injection molding are not provided on the upper surface and the upper concave portions 502g of the upper cover 502a. This is because the unevenness due to the gates does not prevent the flow of the game balls B flowing down on the upper surface and the upper concave portions 502g of the upper cover 502a.

[0108] Also, consideration is given to not providing ejector pin marks for removing the injection-molded main body frame base 501 from the mold on the upper surface of the upper cover 502a or in the upper concave portion 502g. Normally, ejector pin marks are less likely to prevent the flow of the game balls B by appropriately treating burrs, but there is a possibility of impairing the aesthetics when cleaning the upper surface of the upper cover 502a or the upper concave portion 502g where metal powder or the like has accumulated. For this reason, consideration is given to not providing ejector pin marks.

[0109] The rear cover 502b of the main body frame base 501 is connected at both left and right ends to the left side cover 502c and the right side cover 502d, respectively. A plurality of vertically long slit-shaped ventilation holes 502f are arranged in a row in the left-right direction in this rear cover 502b.

[0110] Also, the depth in the front-rear direction of the left side cover 502c of the main body frame base 501 is the same as the depth of the upper cover 502a. The left side cover 502c is inclined so as to move to the right as it goes rearward in plan view. Two cover locking portions 502l for locking the back cover 505 are provided at vertically spaced positions at the rear end of the left side cover 502c.

[0111] The right side cover 502d of the main body frame base 501 is inclined so as to move to the left as it goes rearward in plan view. The lower part of the right side cover 502d than the rear cover 502b is cut out from the rear end toward the front, and the rear end of the said part is located in front of the rear end of the upper cover 502a. That is, the depth of the lower part of the right side cover 502d than the rear cover 502b is formed to be short. A plurality of cover shaft support portions 502m for rotatably supporting the back cover 505 in a hinge manner are provided at intervals in the vertical direction at the lower part of the right side cover 502d at the rear end than the rear cover 502b.

[0112] The lower surface cover 502e of the main body frame base 501 extends rearward from a position one step above the lower end of the game board insertion part 502 (the upper surface of the base wall part 501b). The lower surface cover 502e is provided so as to exclude the part above the circulating ball path unit mounting part 501l. In the part to the left of the circulating ball path unit mounting part 501l, it extends rearward to the same position as the rear end of the left side surface cover 502c. In the part to the right of the circulating ball path unit mounting part 501l, it extends rearward to the same position as the rear end of the part where the depth of the right side surface cover 502d is formed to be short. This lower surface cover 502e is inclined so as to be higher toward the rear.

[0113] The lower surface recess 502h of the main body frame base 501 is recessed downward from the upper surface of the lower surface cover 502e. The lower surface recess 502h is open toward the front and is formed such that the left and right widths become narrower toward the rear. The bottom surface of the lower surface recess 502h is inclined so as to be higher toward the rear, similar to the lower surface cover 502e. Since the lower surface cover 502e is formed in a flat plate shape, the lower surface (the back surface) of the lower surface recess 502h that is recessed from above in the lower surface cover 502e protrudes downward from the lower surface of the lower surface cover 502e. Refer to FIG. 24(b). That is, the lower surface recess 502h has a form of a convex part protruding downward on the lower surface of the lower surface cover 502e. A reinforcing rib 502i is provided inside the lower surface recess 502h.

[0114] The plurality of reinforcing ribs 502i are respectively provided on the lower surface of the upper surface cover 502a and the bottom surface of the lower surface recess 502h. Four reinforcing ribs 502i are provided on the upper surface cover 502a. Two of them are provided so as to extend forward from the two opposing surfaces 502j respectively, and the remaining two are provided at positions on both the left and right outer sides of the two upper surface recesses 502g. The reinforcing ribs 502i provided on both the left and right outer sides of the upper surface recesses 502g have their rear ends connected to the rear surface cover 502b and extend forward shorter than the upper surface recesses 502g.

[0115] Among the plurality of reinforcing ribs 502i, a total of four ribs, namely two on the left and right outer sides of the upper surface recess 502g in the upper surface cover 502a and two respectively provided in the two lower surface recesses 502h, are provided so as to function as ribs. Specifically, the main body frame base 501 of the present embodiment is configured to be placed horizontally without rattling when placed on a workbench or the like with the front end side facing down. Further, as shown in FIG. 24(b), the main body frame base 501 is formed so that it can be stacked and stored. At this time, by the abutment of the four reinforcing ribs 502i as ribs against the counterpart side, it is possible to avoid the meshing of the stacked main body frame bases 501 with each other. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the time required to remove the parts (main body frame bases 501) from meshing with each other, and to improve the efficiency of the assembly work. Further, since the main body frame base 501 can be stacked, it is possible to increase the number of packages and reduce the size of the packing box, etc.

[0116] According to the main body frame base 501 of the present embodiment, in the upper surface cover 502a of the main body frame base 501 that protects the game board 5 stored in the main body frame 4 from above, the upper surface thereof is a gently sloping surface that slopes downward to the rear, so that game balls B, metal powder, screws, etc. falling from above the pachinko machine 1 can be appropriately processed. Specifically, regarding the game ball B which is spherical, since it can flow down the upper surface of the upper surface cover 502a and fall under the pachinko machine 1, the game ball B can be recovered as it is without causing trouble. Also, non-spherical objects such as metal powder and screws can be retained on the upper surface cover 502a without flowing down, so trouble is not caused either.

[0117] Also, no ventilation holes 502f are provided on the upper surface of this upper surface cover 502a. Thereby, the intrusion of metal powder, screws, etc. from the ventilation holes 502f is prevented, and the electrical components of the game board 5 and the like are not adversely affected.

[0118] Furthermore, no gates for injecting molten resin into the mold when molding are provided on the upper surface of the upper surface cover 502a molded by an injection molding machine. Thereby, no unevenness derived from the gate is generated on the upper surface of the upper surface cover 502a, so that the flow-down of the game ball B is not hindered.

[0119] Similarly, consideration is given to not providing ejector pin marks when removing the injection-molded main body frame base 501 from the mold. Usually, ejector pin marks are less likely to prevent the flow-down of the game balls B by appropriately treating burrs. However, when cleaning the upper surface of the upper cover 502a where metal powder or the like has accumulated, they may remain on the ejector pin marks, which may impair the appearance. Therefore, by not providing ejector pin marks, the appearance can be easily restored by cleaning.

[0120] Also, this upper cover 502a is integrally molded with the main body frame base 501. By molding in this way, it becomes possible to save the assembly man-hours and improve the strength of the entire main body frame base unit 500 (game board housing frame).

[0121] And the upper cover 502a not only protects the game board 5 housed inside on its upper surface, but also has a positioning portion (contact surface 502j) that contacts the game board 5 on the inside to position the game board 5. Thereby, the positional relationship between the game board 5 and the upper cover 502a is fixed, and the purpose of the game board housing frame (main body frame 4), which is to protect the game board 5, can be achieved.

[0122] Also, as shown in FIG. 18 and the like, ribs for reinforcement are not provided on the upper surface of the upper cover 502a. Thereby, cleaning is not made difficult by the ribs, and maintenance becomes easier. Note that there are other members (for example, the frame body 501a, the outer frame 2, etc.) that cover the upper surface of the upper cover 502a, and ribs may be provided for portions where foreign matter does not fall.

[0123] The side reinforcing plate 509 is formed in a U-shaped shape that is open to the right in a plan view, and is attached so as to serve as a substitute for the left side of the frame body 501a in the main body frame base 501 that is open. The side reinforcing plate 509 is formed of an extruded metal material such as an aluminum alloy. The side reinforcing plate 509 is provided with two left position regulating members 509a that are vertically spaced apart. The left position regulating member 509a is for positioning the left side of the game board 5.

[0124] The main body frame speaker 503 is attached to the rear side of the base wall portion 501b so as to close the main body frame speaker opening 501d of the main body frame base 501 from the rear. The main body frame speaker 503 is a cone type speaker that mainly outputs bass.

[0125] The main body frame speaker box 504 is formed in a box shape that is open to the front, and is attached to the rear side of the base wall portion 501b so as to cover the main body frame speaker 503 from the rear. The main body frame speaker box 504 forms an enclosure 504a of the main body frame speaker 503 by being attached to the base wall portion 501b.

[0126] The main body frame speaker box 504 has a box main body portion 504b located behind the main body frame speaker 503, a box extension portion 504c connected to the lower end of the box main body portion 504b and extending to the right in a front view, and a frame substrate unit shaft support portion 504d provided on the rear surface of the box main body portion 504b. The box extension portion 504c of the main body frame speaker box 504 extends to the right up to near the right end of the main body frame base 501 so as to cover the rear of the bass reflex duct 501e, and a part thereof extends rearward from the box main body portion 504b.

[0127] The enclosure 504a is composed of the box main body portion 504b and the box extension portion 504c, and communicates with the outside through the bass reflex duct 501e. That is, the bass reflex duct 501e, the main body frame speaker 503, and the main body frame speaker box 504 constitute a bass reflex type speaker of the phase inversion type.

[0128] Specifically, a predetermined sound is output from the main body frame speaker 503 to the front and the rear. The sound output from the main body frame speaker 503 to the front is emitted to the front of the pachinko machine 1 through the main body frame speaker opening 501d and the speaker grill 203.

[0129] On one hand, the sound output rearward from the main body frame speaker 503 will vibrate the air inside the main body frame speaker box 504 (enclosure 504a). And since this enclosure 504a is open to the front (outside) by the cylindrical bass reflex duct 501e, it will be emitted forward from the bass reflex duct 501e. At this time, because the bass reflex duct 501e is formed in a cylindrical shape with a predetermined length, in its interior, the bass range is amplified due to resonance caused by air column vibration, and it is emitted forward in a state where the phase is inverted.

[0130] As a result, the sound output forward from the main body frame speaker 503 and the sound output rearward do not act so as to cancel each other out and attenuate, but rather act so as to resonate with each other and amplify. Thus, even if the diameter of the main body frame speaker 503 is small, it is possible to output a large sound with booming bass, and it is possible to let the player hear a sound with rich bass.

[0131] The box extension part 504c of the main body frame speaker box 504 is formed such that the depth in the front-rear direction is longer than the height in the vertical direction, and the rear end is provided so as to protrude slightly rearward from the rear end of the frame substrate unit 730 (see FIG. 20). The box extension part 504c covers the lower part of the frame substrate unit 730 so that a gap is formed between it and the frame substrate unit 730 (unit base 770 and power supply substrate box 772) when assembled to the main body frame 4. Thereby, the box extension part 504c makes it difficult for various wirings connected to the frame substrate unit 730 to hang down.

[0132] As shown in FIG. 20, the upper surface of the box extension part 504c is inclined so as to be lower toward the rear. Thereby, it is possible to guide dust, game balls B, etc. that have fallen from above to the rear and discharge them. Also, the lower surface of the box extension part 504c is inclined so as to be higher toward the rear. Thereby, when closing the main body frame 4 with respect to the outer frame 2, the box extension part 504c does not contact the lower frame body 14 of the main body frame 4.

[0133] Also, as shown in FIG. 20, the bottom surface of the box extension portion 504c is inclined so as to be higher toward the rear. Thus, when closing the main body frame 4 with respect to the outer frame 2, even if the main body frame 4 is tilted, the main body frame 4 can be guided into the outer frame 2 by the bottom surface of the box extension portion 504c.

[0134] This main body frame speaker box 504 supports the main body frame 4 in a state of being assembled to the main body frame 4 so as to suspend the rear end side of the tray insertion recess 501f in the main body frame base 501. Thus, even when a load (the weight of a plurality of game balls B) acts on the tray insertion recess 501f from above via the ball receiving tray 720 when the game balls B discharged from the circulating ball path unit 600 are received by the ball receiving tray 720, the tray insertion recess 501f does not deform.

[0135] Also, the main body frame speaker box 504 is formed of a transparent synthetic resin, and the main body frame speaker 503 can be confirmed from the outside.

[0136] The back cover 505 is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the main body frame base 501 so as to cover the rear of the game board 5 attached to the main body frame 4 in a state of being assembled to the pachinko machine 1. The back cover 505 is formed in an L shape in a plan view as if the right side of a flat plate is bent forward. The back cover 505 has two locking claws 505a provided at the left end so as to be vertically separated, and a plurality of shaft portions 505b provided in a vertical row at the right end. The locking claws 505a are detachably locked to the cover locking portion 502l in the main body frame base 501. The shaft portions 505b are pivotally supported by the cover shaft support portion 502m in the main body frame base 501. Thus, the back cover 505 is attached to the main body frame base 501 of the main body frame 4 so as to be openable and closable. A plurality of ventilation holes are provided in the back cover 505, and heat from the game board 5 can be released to the outside. This back cover 505 is formed of a transparent synthetic resin.

[0137] The back cover 505 is configured such that when attempting to close it to the main body frame base unit 500 (main body frame base 501) after first closing the frame substrate unit 730, which will be described later, with respect to the main body frame base unit 500, it is prevented from being closed due to interference (contact) with the closed frame substrate unit 730. Further, the back cover 505 is configured such that when attempting to close the main body frame 4 with respect to the outer frame 2 while opening the main body frame 4 with respect to the outer frame 2 and opening the back cover 505 with respect to the main body frame base 501, it is prevented from being closed due to interference (contact) with the outer frame 2.

[0138] The game board lock member 506 is rotatably attached to the front surface of the main body frame base 501 (base wall portion 501b) about an axis extending in the front-rear direction. The game board lock member 506 can prevent the lower end side of the game board 5 from moving forward by rotating it to the lock position with the game board 5 inserted into the game board insertion portion 502.

[0139] The door open switch 507 is for detecting the opening and closing of the door frame 3 with respect to the main body frame 4. The door open switch 507 is attached below the cylinder insertion port 501m in the base wall portion 501b of the main body frame base 501.

[0140] The frame open switch 508 is for detecting the opening and closing of the main body frame 4 with respect to the outer frame 2. The frame open switch 508 is attached below the door open switch 507 in the base wall portion 501b of the main body frame base 501.

[0141] The main body frame hinge mechanism 510 includes a main body frame upper hinge body 511 attached to the upper end of the left side of the main body frame base 501 and a main body frame lower hinge body 512 attached to the lower end of the left side of the main body frame base 501.

[0142] The main body frame upper hinge body 511 includes a main body frame hinge shaft 511a that protrudes upward in a columnar shape and is inserted into the bearing groove 31a of the outer frame upper hinge body 31 in the outer frame 2, and a door frame upper shaft hole 511b that is provided adjacent to the main body frame hinge shaft 511a and into which the door frame upper hinge shaft 111a of the door frame upper hinge body 111 in the door frame 3 is inserted from below. The main body frame upper hinge body 511 has a flat plate-shaped portion that extends horizontally and a portion that extends downward from the rear end of the horizontally extending portion. The main body frame hinge shaft 511a and the door frame upper shaft hole 511b are provided in the horizontally extending portion of the main body frame upper hinge body 511. Further, the portion of the main body frame upper hinge body 511 that extends downward is attached to the main body frame base 501.

[0143] The main body frame lower hinge body 512 includes an outer frame shaft hole (not shown) into which the hinge shaft 35a of the outer frame lower hinge body 35 in the outer frame 2 is inserted from below, and a door frame lower shaft hole 512b into which the door frame lower hinge shaft 112a of the door frame lower hinge body 112 in the door frame 3 is inserted from above. The main body frame lower hinge body 512 has a flat plate-shaped portion that extends horizontally and a portion that extends upward from the rear end of the horizontally extending portion. The outer frame shaft hole and the door frame lower shaft hole 512b are provided in the horizontally extending portion of the main body frame lower hinge body 512. Further, the portion of the main body frame lower hinge body 512 that extends downward is attached to the main body frame base 501. Also, the portion of the main body frame lower hinge body 512 that extends downward abuts against the rear wall portion 45c of the curtain plate 45 when the main body frame 4 is closed with respect to the outer frame 2. Thereby, the main body frame 4 does not hinge-rotate further rearward.

[0144] The main body frame hinge mechanism 510 supports the main body frame 4 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the outer frame 2 by inserting the main body frame hinge shaft 511a of the main body frame upper hinge body 511 into the bearing groove 31a of the outer frame upper hinge body 31 in the outer frame 2 and inserting the hinge shaft 35a of the outer frame lower hinge body 35 in the outer frame 2 into the outer frame shaft hole of the main body frame lower hinge body 512.

[0145] Further, the main body frame hinge mechanism 510 supports the door frame 3 so that it can be opened and closed with respect to the main body frame 4 by inserting the door frame upper hinge shaft 111a of the door frame upper hinge body 111 in the door frame 3 from below into the door frame upper shaft hole 511b of the upper hinge body 511 for the door frame on the main body frame, and inserting the door frame lower hinge shaft 112a of the door frame lower hinge body 112 in the door frame 3 from above into the door frame lower shaft hole 512b of the lower hinge body 512 for the door frame.

[0146] [4-2. Ball Launching Unit] The ball launching unit 550 in the main body frame 4 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 25 to 28 and the like. FIG. 25(a) is a perspective view of the ball launching unit in the main body frame as seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the ball launching unit in the main body frame as seen from the rear. FIG. 26(a) is an exploded perspective view of the ball launching unit as seen from the front, and (b) is an exploded perspective view of the ball launching unit as seen from the rear. FIG. 27(a) is a perspective view of the launching unit cover of the ball launching unit as seen from the left rear, and (b) is an explanatory view of the ball launching unit showing only the launching unit cover in cross section in a front view. FIG. 28 is a front view of the ball launching unit showing the launch subtraction sensor and the launch hammer in broken lines.

[0147] The ball launching unit 550 is for launching the game ball B into the game area 5a of the game board 5, and has a ball inlet 550a for receiving the game ball B sent from the ball feeding unit 700, a ball launching port 550b through which the launched game ball B is discharged to the outside, and a ball discharge port 550c for discharging the game ball B. The ball launching unit 550 can drive the game ball B with a strength corresponding to the rotation angle of the handle 160 at the lower right front corner of the door frame 3. The ball launching unit 550 is attached to a ball launching unit attachment portion 501i provided below the light-shielding eaves portion 501p on the upper part of the front surface of the base wall portion 501b of the main body frame base 501, on the right side of the center in the left-right direction.

[0148] The ball inlet 550a of the ball launch unit 550 is provided at the rear surface and is square-shaped and open with a size that allows one game ball B to pass through. This ball inlet 550a is positioned in front of the ball delivery outlet 702 of the ball delivery unit 700 and communicates with the ball delivery outlet 702 when assembled to the main body frame 4. The ball launch port 550b is obliquely open at the left end of the upper surface such that the left end side is lower. This ball launch port 550b communicates with the upper part of the far right opening 570b of the far unit 570 when assembled to the main body frame 4. The ball discharge port 550c is open on the left side surface. This ball discharge port 550c communicates with the lower part of the far right opening 570b of the far unit 570 when assembled to the main body frame 4.

[0149] The ball launch unit 550 includes a flat unit base 551, a launch unit cover 552 attached to cover the front side of the unit base 551, a launch solenoid 553 attached to the rear side of the unit base 551 such that the rotation shaft 553a projects forward from the unit base 551, a launch subtraction sensor 554 capable of detecting the presence or absence of the launch of the game ball B, a launch hammer 555 attached to the rotation shaft 553a of the launch solenoid 553, a nut 556 attaching the launch hammer 555 to the rotation shaft 553a of the launch solenoid 553, an annular spacer 557 inserted into the rotation shaft 553a of the launch solenoid 553, and two contact rubbers 558 capable of contacting the launch hammer 555.

[0150] The unit base 551 of the ball launch unit 550 is formed of a metal plate such as an iron plate. The unit base 551 is provided with the ball inlet 550a, which penetrates through the upper part from the center in a square shape when viewed from the front.

[0151] The launch unit cover 552 is formed by injection molding using a transparent synthetic resin. The launch unit cover 552 includes a flat front plate 552a provided at a distance forward with respect to the unit base 551, a ball launch table 552b provided at a position directly below the ball inlet 550a of the unit base 551 on the rear side of the front plate 552a and inclined such that the left end side is higher, and a detection port 552c penetrating the ball launch table 552b vertically.

[0152] Also, the launch unit cover 552 includes a launch table upper wall portion 552d that forms a gap through which the game ball B cannot pass between it and the ball launch table 552b at the upper right in the front view of the ball launch table 552b on the rear side of the front plate 552a, and a sensor lower mounting portion 552e and a sensor upper mounting portion 552f provided so as to sandwich the ball launch table 552b and the launch table upper wall portion 552d on the rear side of the front plate 552a.

[0153] Furthermore, the launch unit cover 552 includes a barrier portion 552g provided in the launch direction of the game ball B on the ball launch table 552b and having an upper end constituting the lower end of the ball launch port 550b, a discharge guide inner wall portion 552h extending downward from the left end of the ball launch table 552b and then extending leftward so as to become lower on the rear side of the front plate 552a, a window portion 552i penetrating vertically at a position above and to the right of the sensor lower mounting portion 552e, a wiring groove 552j recessed on the front surface of the front plate 552a and extending from the lower left to the upper right, and a plurality of wiring locking portions 552k protruding parallel to the bottom surface of the wiring groove 552j from the front end of the wiring groove 552j.

[0154] The ball launching platform 552b has the game ball B supplied through the ball inlet 550a placed thereon. The upper surface of the ball launching platform 552b is inclined such that the left end is higher in a front view. The ball launching platform 552b is recessed into a constant cross-sectional shape (trapezoidal shape) so as to narrow downward along the direction in which the upper surface is inclined. The length of the ball launching platform 552b in the inclined direction (launching direction) is approximately the same as the diameter of the game ball B, and it is formed such that only one game ball B is placed in contact with the two inclined surfaces recessed in a trapezoidal shape. In the present embodiment, the ball launching platform 552b is inclined at an angle of approximately 27 degrees with respect to the horizontal.

[0155] The detection port 552c is provided at the bottom of the portion of the ball launching platform 552b that is recessed in a trapezoidal shape. The upper wall portion 552d of the launching platform is provided above the lower end side of the inclined ball launching platform 552b. The upper wall portion 552d of the launching platform is provided so as to form a gap between it and the ball launching platform 552b through which the game ball B cannot pass but the tip of the launching hammer 555 can pass. As a result, the game ball B supplied to the ball launching platform 552b is placed on the ball launching platform 552b in a state where it abuts against the left end of the upper wall portion 552d of the launching platform and its movement downstream (here, to the right) in the inclined direction of the ball launching platform 552b is restricted.

[0156] When the game ball B is placed on the ball launch base 552b, the center of the game ball B is located slightly to the right of the center of the ball inlet 550a. Also, the length of the ball launch base 552b is set to the length at which only one game ball B is placed. Thus, when the game ball B is placed on the ball launch base 552b, even if the launched game ball B returns or a game ball B is fed from the ball feeding unit 700 and another game ball B is supplied to the ball launch base 552b, the game ball B placed on the ball launch base 552b will be repelled and discharged to the discharge guide inner wall portion 552h side (the far ball unit 570 side) without landing on the ball launch base 552b and detected by the far ball sensor 607. Therefore, when the game ball B is placed on the ball launch base 552b, even if the launched game ball B returns or is supplied from the ball feeding unit 700, the game ball B is sent to the far ball unit 570 and added to the held balls as a far ball, so that the error with the actual number of launched game balls B can be eliminated.

[0157] The sensor lower mounting portion 552e and the sensor upper mounting portion 552f are respectively attached with the light emitting portion 554a and the light receiving portion 554b that constitute the launch subtraction sensor 554. In the sensor lower mounting portion 552e, since the launch subtraction sensor 554 (here, the light emitting portion 554a) is mounted facing upward, there is a risk of false detection if dust or dirt adheres to the upper surface of the light emitting portion 554a. However, since the light emitting portion 554a is mounted obliquely, it is difficult for dust or the like to accumulate.

[0158] The barrier portion 552g is provided below the trajectory of the game ball B launched from the ball launch base 552b at a position farther to the left from the ball launch base 552b than the diameter of the game ball B. The barrier portion 552g is configured such that a game ball B with a weak driving strength can come into contact with it, and the contacting game ball B will flow down onto the lower discharge guide inner wall portion 552h through the space between the barrier portion 552g and the ball launch base 552b and will not return to the ball launch base 552b. Also, since the barrier portion 552g extends vertically, it is possible to prevent the intrusion of game balls B from the far ball unit 570 side.

[0159] The discharge guide inner wall portion 552h forms a ball discharge port 550c with the barrier portion 552g. The discharge guide inner wall portion 552h is inclined such that the left end side is lower, guiding the game ball B that has flowed down through the space between the ball launch base 552b and the barrier portion 552g to the left, and discharging it from the ball discharge port 550c at the left end to the far unit 570 side. Thus, even though the game ball B was struck by the launch hammer 555 at the ball launch base 552b, the game ball B that was not launched from the ball launch port 550b is guided by the discharge guide inner wall portion 552h and discharged from the ball discharge port 550c to the far unit 570.

[0160] The window portion 552i is provided at a portion between the ball launch base 552b and the sensor mounting portion 552e below, and at a portion in front of the tip of the launch hammer 555 at the retracted position away from the striking position. Since the launch subtraction sensor 554 (here, the light emitting portion 554a) is mounted upward on the sensor mounting portion 552e below, dust, dirt, etc. tend to accumulate on the upper surface of the light emitting portion 554a, and there is a risk of false detection if dust, etc. adheres. However, by inserting a cleaning tool such as a cotton swab through the window portion 552i at the portion between the ball launch base 552b and the sensor mounting portion 552e below, the upper surface of the light emitting portion 554a can be easily cleaned.

[0161] Also, since the tip of the launch hammer 555 comes into contact with the game ball B, if dust or the like adheres to the tip of the launch hammer 555, there is a risk that the game ball B cannot be launched well. However, as shown in Fig. 28, since the window portion 552i is provided in front of the tip of the launch hammer 555 at the standby position, the tip of the launch hammer 555 can be easily cleaned by inserting a cleaning tool such as a cotton swab through the window portion 552i.

[0162] The launch solenoid 553 is constituted by a rotary solenoid having a rotation axis 553a extending in the front-rear direction. Although details will be described later, the launch solenoid 553 operates a series of operations hard based on a predetermined launch sequence in relation to the ball feed solenoid 706 described later.

[0163] The launch subtraction sensor 554 can detect the presence or absence of the game ball B on the ball launch base 552b. The launch subtraction sensor 554 includes a light emitting unit 554a that irradiates detection light and a light receiving unit 554b that receives the detection light, and they are respectively attached to the sensor lower mounting portion 552e and the sensor upper mounting portion 552f of the launch unit cover 552. The detection light emitted from the light emitting unit 554a is received by the light receiving unit 554b through a detection port 552c provided at the bottom of the ball launch base 552b. At this time, if the game ball B is placed on the ball launch base 552b, the detection light is blocked by the game ball B, and the detection light is not received by the light receiving unit 554b. Thereby, the presence or absence of the game ball B on the ball launch base 552b can be detected.

[0164] The launch subtraction sensor 554, the details of which will be described later, is for detecting that the game ball B has been launched from the ball launch base 552b and subtracting one from the number of balls held by the player.

[0165] In this embodiment, the number of balls held by the player is subtracted by determining that the launch subtraction sensor 554 is OFF. However, since the number of balls held by the player may change depending on the operation of the launch subtraction sensor 554, a one-to-one reliability is required for the launch of the game ball B. By the way, in the normal passing determination for the game ball B, it is determined by the switching from non-detection, detection, detection (so-called "011") OFF to ON (from the absence to the presence of the game ball B) at a predetermined time interval (for example, the interrupt period is 4 ms) with respect to the light from the light emitting unit at the light receiving unit. However, there is a concern about the ball frenzy when the game ball B is supplied to the ball launch base 552b (launch rail) and false detection other than the launched ball by the tip of the launch hammer 555 after the launch.

[0166] In contrast, in this embodiment, paying attention to the fact that the game ball B is staying on the ball launching base 552b, first, it is determined whether there is a game ball B on the ball launching base 552b, and when it is determined that the game ball B is gone, it is determined to launch. That is, after making an ON (there is a game ball) determination, it is set to OFF (no game ball = launch). Specifically, thresholds for recognizing ON and OFF are provided (for example, the ON threshold is 80 ms and the OFF threshold is 80 ms). Only when the ON threshold is exceeded is it regarded as "there is a game ball" for the first time. When the OFF threshold is exceeded from that point, it is recognized that the game ball B has been launched ( "no game ball"), and the number of held balls is subtracted. Thereby, it is possible to prevent malfunction due to chattering or noise of the game ball. Note that as the above threshold, an integer multiple of the interrupt period (for example, 4 ms) is desirable.

[0167] The firing hammer 555 is for hitting and launching the game ball B. The firing hammer 555 is attached to the rotating shaft 553a of the firing solenoid 553 and rotates (pivots) together with the rotating shaft 553a. The tip of the firing hammer 555 is provided so as to be able to contact the game ball B placed on the ball launching base 552b through the space between the ball launching base 552b and the upper wall portion 552d of the launching base.

[0168] By the way, in mass-producing the ball launching unit 550, in order to ensure the firing accuracy of the game ball B, all of the insertion angle of the tip of the firing hammer 555, the mounting angle of the ball launching base 552b (firing rail), the adjustment of the tip position of the firing hammer 555 after assembly into the ball launching unit 550, etc. need to be adjusted with strict values, and the difficulty of mass production was high. Therefore, in this embodiment, the method of determining the firing accuracy is changed from ensuring by the way the game ball B hits the conventional firing rail and the shape of the firing rail to ensuring only the contact between the firing hammer 555 and the game ball B. In this change, since the accuracy of the tip of the firing hammer 555 alone becomes more important for the firing accuracy, the tip of the firing hammer 555 is formed by sheet metal insert molding, and the contact area with the game ball B at the tip of the firing hammer 555 is made larger than before. Thereby, it is possible to ensure the stability of the firing accuracy and to allow some assembly errors, and the ball launching unit 550 can be mass-produced.

[0169] Nut 556 is screwed onto the rotation shaft 553a of the launch solenoid 553. Spacer 557 is for the rotation shaft 553a of the launch solenoid 553 to be inserted therein. The rotation shaft 553a of the launch solenoid 553 is inserted through the spacer 557 and the launch hammer 555 in order from the rear, and the nut 556 is screwed onto and tightened against the tip protruding forward from the launch hammer 555, whereby the launch hammer 555 is attached.

[0170] This rubber 558 is attached to the unit base 551 so as to regulate the rotation range (swing range) of the launch hammer 555.

[0171] According to the ball launch unit 550 of the present embodiment, only one game ball B is placed on the ball launch table 552b, and the launch subtraction sensor 554 is used to detect that the game ball B has been launched from the ball launch table 552b. Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect the launch of the game balls B one by one.

[0172] Also, according to the ball launch unit 550, since the launch unit cover 552 is formed of a transparent synthetic resin, by opening the door frame 3 with respect to the main body frame 4, the inside of the ball launch unit 550 can be confirmed from the front. By making this launch unit cover 552 transparent, there is a risk of false detection in the launch subtraction sensor 554 composed of a photosensor due to light entering the inside. However, when the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 4, the light from the front is blocked by the door frame 3, the light from the rear is blocked by the unit base 551 made of a metal plate, and furthermore, the light from above is blocked by the eaves portion 501p of the black opaque main body frame base 501. Therefore, no light enters the inside, and false detection due to light in the launch subtraction sensor 554 is prevented.

[0173] In addition, the pachinko machine 1 (circulating gaming machine) disclosed in this embodiment is configured to subtract the held balls only after the launch is completed. Therefore, compared with the method of subtracting the held balls using the ball feed before launch as a trigger, which was adopted in conventional circulating gaming machines, when clearing the game, the game balls B (held balls already subtracted) remaining on the launch rail without being launched are automatically fired blank to become foul balls in order to return them to the player, eliminating the need to add held balls to balance the accounts and enabling rapid clearing processing.

[0174] Furthermore, according to the ball launch unit 550, since the launch subtraction sensor 554 is mounted obliquely, it is possible to make it difficult for dust, dirt, etc. to accumulate on the detection surface of the launch subtraction sensor 554. Also, even if dust or the like adheres to the launch subtraction sensor 554, it is possible to easily clean the detection surface by inserting a cleaning tool such as a cotton swab through the window portion 552i of the launch unit cover 552, and it is possible to easily eliminate false detection (malfunction) due to the adhesion of dust or the like.

[0175] Also, according to the ball launch unit 550, since the window portion 552i is also provided at a position where the tip of the launch hammer 555 can be cleaned, the tip of the launch hammer 555 can be easily cleaned by inserting a cleaning tool through the window portion 552i of that part, and it is possible to eliminate variations in the launch of the game balls B due to the adhesion of dust or the like.

[0176] [4-2a. Ball Launch Unit of the Second Embodiment] The ball launch unit of the second embodiment will be described. Fig. 29(a) is an exploded perspective view of the ball launch unit of the second embodiment as seen from the front after disassembly, and (b) is an exploded perspective view of the ball launch unit of the second embodiment as seen from the back after disassembly. Fig. 30(a) is a perspective view of the launch unit cover of the ball launch unit of the second embodiment as seen from the left rear, and (b) is an explanatory diagram of the ball launch unit showing only the launch unit cover in cross-section in a front view of the second embodiment.

[0177] The difference from the ball launching unit of the first embodiment is that the launching subtraction sensor 554, which was present in the ball launching unit 550 of the first embodiment, is not present in the ball launching unit 550A of the second embodiment. Conversely, the length of the ball launching base 552b (launching rail) is such that only one game ball B can be placed, and due to the length and inclination of the launching rail, two game balls B cannot be placed, which is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0178] As a replacement for the launching subtraction sensor 554, which was present in the ball launching unit 550 of the first embodiment, a ball feeding unit of the second embodiment with an added ball feeding outlet sensor 711 is used.

[0179] [4-3. Phar Unit] Regarding the phar unit 570 in the main body frame 4, it will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 31 to 33. FIG. 31(a) is a perspective view of the phar unit in the main body frame as seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the phar unit in the main body frame as seen from the rear. FIG. 32(a) is an exploded perspective view of the phar unit as seen from the front, and (b) is an exploded perspective view of the phar unit as seen from the rear. FIG. 33(a) is an explanatory view showing the state where the phar shutter is closed in the side cross-section of the phar unit, and (b) is an explanatory view showing the state where the phar shutter is open in the side cross-section of the phar unit.

[0180] The phar unit 570 is for recovering game balls B that were launched by the ball launching unit 550 and driven between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002 on the game board 5 but not driven into the game area 5a, game balls B that were launched by the ball launching unit 550 but whose launching intensity was too weak to reach the game board 5 (between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002), and so on. The phar unit 570 has a phar upper opening 570a that is open on the upper surface, a phar right opening 570b that is open on the right side surface, and a phar ball outlet 570c that communicates with the phar upper opening 570a and the phar right opening 570b and is open rearward at the lower end.

[0181] The fur unit 570 is attached to a fur unit attachment portion 501h provided at the middle portion in the left - right direction at the upper front of the base wall portion 501b of the main body frame base 501. In a state where the fur unit 570 is assembled to the main body frame 4, the upper end is substantially at the same height as the upper end of the base wall portion 501b, and the fur right opening 570b is closed by the ball - launching port 550b and the ball discharge port 550c of the ball - launching unit 550. That is, in a state where it is assembled to the main body frame 4, the fur right opening 570b communicates with the ball - launching port 550b and the ball discharge port 550c. The fur upper opening 570a and the fur right opening 570b are formed by a unit base 572 and a front cover 573 described later, and the ball discharge port 550c is formed in the unit base 572.

[0182] The fur unit 570 includes a fur shutter 571 that can open and close the fur upper opening 570a so that the game ball B cannot pass through, a unit base 572 attached to the base wall portion 501b of the main body frame base 501, a front cover 573 attached to the front side of the unit base 572, a rear cover 574 attached to the rear side of the unit base 572 so as to cover the rear part of the fur shutter 571, and a spring 575 that biases the fur shutter 571 forward.

[0183] The fur shutter 571 is slidably supported in the front - rear direction by the cooperation of the unit base 572 and the front cover 573. The fur shutter 571 has a shutter portion 571a in the shape of a long strip plate extending in the left - right direction, two front - projecting portions 571b that project forward from both the left and right ends of the shutter portion 571a, respectively, and a flat - plate - shaped rear wall portion 571c that extends downward from the rear - end side of the shutter portion 571a.

[0184] The fur shutter 571 can close the fur upper opening 570a so that the game ball B cannot pass through it by the shutter part 571a. The two front protruding parts 571b are provided such that the front ends protrude forward from the front cover 573 and are provided so that the rear surface of the door frame body 100 in the door frame 3 can abut thereon. The rear wall part 571c has the front end of the spring 575 abutting on the rear surface.

[0185] The unit base 572 is formed in an L shape having a portion that extends downward near the right end and is long in the left-right direction. The unit base 572 has a shutter housing part 572a that extends left and right along the upper side and is recessed rearward, a ball guide part 572b that extends left and right below the shutter housing part 572a and has its right end extending downward and is recessed rearward, a cylindrical part 572c that extends rearward in a square tube shape from the lower end of the ball guide part 572b, and a receiving part 572d that extends forward in a flat plate shape from the lower end of the ball guide part 572b.

[0186] The shutter housing part 572a of the unit base 572 houses the fur shutter 571 and the spring 575 from the front. The portions of the unit base 572 where the ball guide part 572b extends left and right are inclined so as to be lower toward the right. The cylindrical part 572c of the unit base 572 is inclined so as to be lower rearward, and the opening at the rear end is the fur ball outlet 570c.

[0187] The receiving part 572d of the unit base 572 is inclined such that the rear end side is lower. The right end edge of this receiving part 572d constitutes the lower end edge of the far right opening 570b. Since the receiving part 572d has its right end edge constituting the lower end edge of the far right opening 570b and the lower part including the lower end of the far right opening 570b communicates with the ball discharge port 550c in the ball launching unit 550, the game ball B discharged from the ball discharge port 550c through the far right opening 570b after falling from the ball launching base 552b, etc., will flow down onto the receiving part 572d, be guided rearward by the receiving part 572d, and be discharged rearward from the far ball outlet 570c through the cylindrical part 572c. In addition, in a state where the far shutter 571 is closed, the game ball B launched from the ball launching unit 550 and contacting the back surface (lower surface) of the far shutter 571 through the far right opening 570b is sent to the rear ball guiding part 572b by the lower wall part 573c of the front cover 573, passes through the rear of the receiving part 572d, and is discharged from the far ball outlet 570c through the cylindrical part 572c.

[0188] Also, the unit base 572 has a notch 572e that is recessed forward near the right end of the bottom wall of the portion extending left and right in the ball guiding part 572b. This notch 572e is formed in a size that does not obstruct the flow of the game ball B and can discharge dust, etc. that has entered the ball guiding part 572b from the far upper opening 570a downward.

[0189] The front cover 573 includes an L-shaped flat front plate 573a having a portion that is long left and right and extends downward near the right end, a left wall part 573b extending rearward from the left end edge of the front plate 573a, a lower wall part 573c extending rightward along the lower end edge of the front plate 573a from the lower end of the left wall part 573b and also extending rearward, a hanging wall part 573d extending downward and rearward along the left end edge of the portion extending downward in the front plate 573a from the right end of the lower wall part 573c, and a right wall part 573f extending rearward from the upper right end of the front plate 573a.

[0190] The upper edge and the right edge of the front plate 573a form the front edges of the upper fall opening 570a and the right fall opening 570b. The right edge at the upper end of the left wall portion 573b forms the left edge of the upper fall opening 570a, and the left edge at the upper end of the right wall portion 573f forms the right edge of the upper fall opening 570a, respectively. The lower edge of the right wall portion 573f forms the upper edge of the right fall opening 570b, respectively.

[0191] The front cover 573 has a lower wall portion 573c located below the upper fall opening 570a. The lower wall portion 573c of this front cover 573 is gently inclined so as to be lower toward the left and is also inclined so as to be lower toward the rear. As a result, it does not properly receive the impact of the game ball B that has fallen from above as a fall ball, and while letting the impact escape, it can pass the game ball B to the ball guiding portion 572b of the unit base 572 provided at the rear. Then, the game ball B passed to the ball guiding portion 572b is discharged rearward from the fall ball outlet 570c through the cylindrical portion 572c from the lower end at the right end of the ball guiding portion 572b.

[0192] Two springs 575 are provided separately on the left and right and are arranged inside the box-shaped shutter housing portion 572a in the unit base 572. The front end of the spring 575 abuts against the rear surface of the rear wall portion 571c of the fall shutter 571, and the rear end abuts against the front surface of the rear wall of the shutter housing portion 572a. The spring 575 biases the fall shutter 571 forward.

[0193] This fall unit 570 is attached to a fall unit attachment portion 501h provided near the upper part in the center in the left-right direction on the front surface of the base wall portion 501b of the main body frame 4 in a state of being assembled to the pachinko machine 1. In this state, the ball launching unit 550 is attached adjacent to the right side of the fall unit 570.

[0194] Then, as shown in FIG. 21, the upper far opening 570a of the far unit 570 is located near the upper end of the base wall portion 501b and on the axis of the firing direction of the game ball B in the ball firing unit 550. In other words, the upper far opening 570a is provided at a position between the lower end opening portion between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002 on the game board 5 and the ball firing port 550b of the ball firing unit 550.

[0195] On the other hand, the right far opening 570b of the far unit 570 has its upper part communicating with the ball firing port 550b of the ball firing unit 550 and its lower part communicating with the ball discharge port 550c of the ball firing unit 550. Therefore, the upper far opening 570a and the right far opening 570b are provided at a position between the lower end opening portion between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002 on the game board 5 and the ball firing port 550b of the ball firing unit 550. As a result, the game ball B fired from the ball firing port 550b of the ball firing unit 550 enters the far unit 570 through the right far opening 570b and then enters between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002 on the game board 5 through the upper far opening 570a.

[0196] When the door frame 3 is opened forward with respect to the main body frame 4, the far shutter 571 slides forward by the biasing force of the spring 575 as shown in FIG. 36(a), and the shutter portion 571a of the far shutter 571 protrudes between the front surface of the unit base 572 and the front plate 573a of the front cover 573, closing the upper far opening 570a so that the game ball B cannot pass through. That is, the far shutter 571 is in the closed position. In this state, the stepped portion provided at the rear end of the front protruding portion 571b of the far shutter 571 is in contact with the front cover 573 and does not slide forward any further.

[0197] When the fur shutter 571 is in the closed position and the game ball B is launched from the ball launch unit 550, the launched game ball B enters the fur unit 570 through the fur right opening 570b, then contacts the lower surface of the shutter portion 571a of the fur shutter 571, and flows down inside the fur unit 570 without being hit upward through the fur upper opening 570a. The game ball B that has flowed down inside the fur unit 570 is guided by the lower wall portion 573c, the ball guide portion 572b, the cylindrical portion 572c, etc., and is supplied from the rear fur ball outlet 570c to the circulating ball path unit 600. Thereby, even when the game ball B is launched while the door frame 3 is open, the game ball B does not leak to the outside from the fur unit 570.

[0198] Note that when the door frame 3 is opened with respect to the main body frame 4, the door open switch 507 turns OFF. Therefore, the launch of the game ball B from the ball launch unit 550 may be stopped by the OFF of the door open switch 507. Alternatively, when the door frame 3 is opened, instead of stopping the launch of the game ball B, the game may be temporarily stopped by the main control board 1310, and when the door frame 3 is closed, the game may be resumed.

[0199] Also, when the main body frame 4 is opened with respect to the outer frame 2 (the frame open switch 508 is OFF), since the door frame 3 is closed and the game ball B does not leak to the outside, the launch of the game ball B from the ball launch unit 550 may not be stopped. Alternatively, when the main body frame 4 is opened, the same processing as when the above-mentioned door frame 3 is opened may be performed.

[0200] When the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 4, the rear surface of the door frame 3 contacts the front ends of the two front protruding portions 571b of the fur shutter 571, and the fur shutter 571 is in a state of sliding backward against the biasing force of the spring 575 (see Fig. 36(b)). In this state, the shutter portion 571a of the fur shutter 571 is located behind the front surface of the unit base 572, and the fur upper opening 570a is opened so that the game ball B can pass through. That is, the fur shutter 571 is in the open position.

[0201] When the game ball B is launched from the ball launching unit 550 with the far shutter 571 in the open position, the launched game ball B enters the far unit 570 through the far right opening 570b, and then is launched upward toward the game board 5 side (between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002) through the far upper opening 570a. Then, when the launched game ball B crosses the backflow prevention member 1007 provided at the upper end of the inner rail 1002, the game ball B is driven into the game area 5a.

[0202] In addition, the game ball B that was launched from the ball launching unit 550 but did not cross the backflow prevention member 1007 at the upper end of the inner rail 1002 (the game ball B that was not driven into the game area) flows down between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002, enters the far unit 570 as a far ball through the far upper opening 570a, and is recovered by the far unit 570. The game ball B recovered through the far upper opening 570a is guided by the lower wall portion 573c, the ball guiding portion 572b, the cylindrical portion 572c, etc., and is discharged (supplied) from the rear far ball outlet 570c to the circulating ball path unit 600.

[0203] Also, in the far unit 570, the game ball B discharged from the ball discharge port 550c of the ball launching unit 550 is received at the lower part of the far right opening 570b. The game ball B that has entered the far unit 570 from the lower part of the far right opening 570b flows down onto the receiving portion 572d, and is guided rearward by the inclination of the receiving portion 572d and discharged from the far ball outlet 570c to the circulating ball path unit 600.

[0204] In this way, according to the fur unit 570, it is possible to collect the game balls B that were not driven into the game area 5a of the game board 5 despite being launched from the ball launch unit 550, without leaking them to the outside, and supply them to the circulating ball path unit 600. And although details will be described later, in the circulating ball path unit 600, the game balls B supplied from the fur ball outlet 570c are detected by the fur ball sensor 607. When the game balls B are detected by this fur ball sensor 607, the number of balls held by the player is incremented by one.

[0205] Also, in the fur unit 570, since the unit base 572, the front cover 573, etc. are formed of a transparent synthetic resin, the inside can be visually recognized from the outside, and it is easy to discover ball jams inside.

[0206] [4-3a. Fur Unit of the Second Embodiment] Next, the fur unit 570A of the second embodiment will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 34 to 36. FIG. 34(a) is a perspective view of the fur unit of the second embodiment seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the fur unit of the second embodiment seen from the rear. FIG. 35(a) is an exploded perspective view of the fur unit of the second embodiment seen from the front after being disassembled, and (b) is an exploded perspective view of the fur unit of the second embodiment seen from the rear after being disassembled. FIG. 36(a) is an explanatory view showing a state in which the fur shutter is closed in the side cross-section of the fur unit of the second embodiment, and (b) is an explanatory view showing a state in which the fur shutter is open in the side cross-section of the fur unit of the second embodiment.

[0207] The fur unit 570A is for collecting game balls B that were launched by the ball launching unit 550 and driven between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002 on the game board 5 but not into the game area 5a, game balls B that were launched by the ball launching unit 550 but whose launching intensity was too weak to reach the game board 5 (between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002), and the like. The fur unit 570A has a fur upper opening 570a that is open on the upper surface, a fur right opening 570b that is open on the right side surface, and a fur ball outlet 570c that communicates with the fur upper opening 570a and the fur right opening 570b and is open rearward at the lower end.

[0208] The fur unit 570A is attached to a fur unit attachment portion 501h provided in the middle in the left - right direction at the upper front of the base wall portion 501b of the main body frame base 501. In a state where the fur unit 570A is assembled to the main body frame 4, the upper end is substantially at the same height as the upper end of the base wall portion 501b, and the fur right opening 570b is closed by the ball launching port 550b and the ball discharge port 550c of the ball launching unit 550. That is, in a state where it is assembled to the main body frame 4, the fur right opening 570b communicates with the ball launching port 550b and the ball discharge port 550c. The fur upper opening 570a and the fur right opening 570b are formed by a unit base 572 and a front cover 573 described later, and the ball discharge port 550c is formed in the unit base 572.

[0209] The fur unit 570A includes a fur shutter 571 that can open and close the fur upper opening 570a so that the game ball B cannot pass through, a unit base 572 attached to the base wall portion 501b of the main body frame base 501, a front cover 573 attached to the front side of the unit base 572, a rear cover 574 attached to the rear side of the unit base 572 so as to cover the rear portion of the fur shutter 571, a spring 575 that biases the fur shutter 571 forward, and a fur ball grounding sheet metal 576 provided between the unit base 572 and the front cover 573.

[0210] The far shutter 571 is supported so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction by the cooperation of the unit base 572 and the front cover 573. The far shutter 571 has a shutter portion 571a in the shape of a long strip plate extending left and right, two front protruding portions 571b protruding forward from both left and right ends of the shutter portion 571a, respectively, and a flat rear wall portion 571c extending downward from the rear end side of the shutter portion 571a.

[0211] The far shutter 571 can close the far upper opening 570a so that the game ball B cannot pass through it by the shutter portion 571a. The two front protruding portions 571b are provided such that the front ends protrude forward from the front cover 573, and the rear surface of the door frame body 100 in the door frame 3 can be abutted. The front end of the spring 575 abuts on the rear surface of the rear wall portion 571c.

[0212] The unit base 572 has a flat main body portion 572f in the shape of a partial T extending left and right and having a portion extending downward near the right end, a shutter insertion port 572g penetrating front and rear and extending left and right near the upper end of the main body portion 572f, and a plurality of rear support ports 572h provided along the lower end edge on the left side of the portion extending downward in the main body portion 572f and penetrating front and rear.

[0213] In the unit base 572, near the lower end of the portion extending downward in the main body portion 572f, a far ball outlet 570c penetrating front and rear and extending rearward in a square tube shape is provided. The tubular far ball outlet 570c is inclined so as to be lower rearward.

[0214] The lower edge of the part on the left side of the main body part 572f, which extends downward, is inclined so as to be lower toward the right. The shutter insertion port 572g is provided with a size that allows the shutter part 571a and the front protruding part 571b of the flange shutter 571 to be inserted therethrough. The plurality of rear support ports 572h are each provided to be long in the left-right direction so as to be lower toward the right, and are arranged in a row along the inclined lower edge of the main body part 572f. The rear support ports 572h are provided so that the support pieces 576a of the flange ball earthing sheet metal 576 can be inserted with a gap therebetween.

[0215] The front cover 573 includes a flat front plate 573a having a shape of a partial T-shape with a part extending downward near the right end and being long in the left-right direction, a left wall part 573b extending rearward from the left end edge of the front plate 573a, a lower wall part 573c extending rightward and rearward along the lower end edge of the front plate 573a from the lower end of the left wall part 573b, a hanging wall part 573d extending downward and rearward along the left end edge of the part extending downward in the front plate 573a from the right end of the lower wall part 573c, a bottom wall part 573e extending rightward and rearward along the lower end edge of the part extending downward in the front plate 573a from the lower end of the hanging wall part 573d, and a right wall part 573f extending rearward from the upper right end of the front plate 573a.

[0216] The upper edge and the right edge of the front plate 573a constitute the front edge of the flange upper opening 570a and the flange right opening 570b. The right end edge of the upper end of the left wall part 573b constitutes the left end edge of the flange upper opening 570a, and the left end edge of the upper end of the right wall part 573f constitutes the right end edge of the flange upper opening 570a, respectively. The lower edge of the right wall part 573f constitutes the upper edge of the flange right opening 570b, and the right end edge of the bottom wall part 573e constitutes the lower edge of the flange right opening 570b, respectively.

[0217] The front cover 573 has a lower wall portion 573c positioned below the upper far opening 570a. After guiding the game ball B flowing down through the upper far opening 570a to the right, it can be made to flow down onto the bottom wall portion 573e along the hanging wall portion 573d. This bottom wall portion 573e is inclined such that the portion in front of the far ball outlet 570c becomes lower towards the rear, and the portion on the right side of this portion is inclined to become higher towards the right. Therefore, the game ball B flowing down onto the bottom wall portion 573e is guided rearward and discharged rearward from the far ball outlet 570c. Also, since the right end edge of the bottom wall portion 573e constitutes the lower end edge of the far right opening 570b, the game ball B entering from the far right opening 570b flows down onto the bottom wall portion 573e, is guided by the bottom wall portion 573e, and is discharged rearward from the far ball outlet 570c.

[0218] Further, the front cover 573 includes, in the front plate 573a, a plurality of front support openings 573g arranged in a row left and right along the lower wall portion 573c and penetrating through in the front-rear direction. The plurality of front support openings 573g are provided so as to face the rear support openings 572h of the unit base 572. Also, the front support openings 573g are provided such that the support pieces 576a of the far ball grounding sheet metal 576 are inserted with a gap.

[0219] The rear cover 574 is formed in a box shape with the front being open. Inside the rear cover 574, the rear portion of the far shutter 571 is inserted, and the spring 575 is arranged. The rear end of the spring 575 abuts against the front surface of the rear wall of the rear cover 574.

[0220] Two springs 575 are provided spaced apart left and right and are arranged inside the box-shaped rear cover 574. The front end of the spring 575 abuts against the rear surface of the rear wall portion 571c of the far shutter 571, and the rear end abuts against the front surface of the rear wall of the rear cover 574. The spring 575 biases the far shutter 571 forward.

[0221] The far ball grounding sheet metal 576 is formed of a metal sheet such as an iron plate and is finally connected to the ground of the game hall via a ground wire (not shown). The far ball grounding sheet metal 576 is formed in a long strip shape extending left and right, and a plurality of support pieces 576a extend outward from the front and rear long sides. The far ball grounding sheet metal 576 is placed on the upper surface of the lower wall portion 573c of the front cover 573, and the plurality of support pieces 576a are inserted into the rear support port 572h of the unit base 572 and the front support port 573g of the front cover 573 with play.

[0222] As a result, the game ball B flowing down toward the lower wall portion 573c through the far upper opening 570a is guided to the right in a state where the static electricity charged by contacting the far ball grounding sheet metal 576 is removed. At this time, since the support pieces 576a are loosely fitted in the rear support port 572h and the front support port 573g, when the game ball B contacts, the far ball grounding sheet metal 576 vibrates, and dust and dirt on the far ball grounding sheet metal 576 are discharged to the outside through the gaps of the loosely fitted rear support port 572h and front support port 573g. Incidentally, this far ball grounding sheet metal 576 also serves to reinforce the falling game ball B.

[0223] This far unit 570A is attached to a far unit attachment portion 501h provided near the upper part in the center in the left-right direction on the front surface of the base wall portion 501b of the main body frame 4 in a state of being assembled to the pachinko machine 1. In this state, the ball launch unit 550 is attached adjacent to the right side of the far unit 570A.

[0224] And, similar to the far unit 570 of the first embodiment, the far upper opening 570a of the far unit 570A is located near the upper end of the base wall portion 501b and on the axis of the launch direction of the game ball B in the ball launch unit 550. In other words, the far upper opening 570a is provided at a position between the lower end opening portion between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002 on the game board 5 and the ball launch port 550b of the ball launch unit 550.

[0225] On the one hand, the upper part of the far right opening 570b of the far unit 570A communicates with the ball launch port 550b of the ball launch unit 550, and the lower part communicates with the ball discharge port 550c of the ball launch unit 550. Therefore, between the lower end opening part between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002 on the game board 5 and the ball launch port 550b of the ball launch unit 550, the far upper opening 570a and the far right opening 570b are provided. Thus, the game ball B launched from the ball launch port 550b of the ball launch unit 550 enters the far unit 570A from the far right opening 570b, and then enters between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002 on the game board 5 through the far upper opening 570a.

[0226] When the door frame 3 is opened forward with respect to the main body frame 4 in the far unit 570A of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 36(a), the far shutter 571 slides forward by the biasing force of the spring 575, and the shutter part 571a of the far shutter 571 protrudes between the front surface of the unit base 572 and the front plate 573a of the front cover 573, closing the far upper opening 570a so that the game ball B cannot pass through. That is, the far shutter 571 is in the closed position. In this state, the rear wall part 571c of the far shutter 571 abuts against the rear surface of the main body part 572f of the unit base 572 and does not slide forward any further.

[0227] When the faro shutter 571 is in the closed position and the game ball B is launched from the ball launch unit 550, the launched game ball B enters the faro unit 570A from the faro right opening 570b, then abuts against the lower surface of the shutter portion 571a of the faro shutter 571, and flows down inside the faro unit 570A without being launched upward through the faro upper opening 570a. The game ball B that has flowed down inside the faro unit 570A is guided by the lower wall portion 573c (faro ball grounding sheet metal 576), the hanging wall portion 573d, the bottom wall portion 573e, etc., and is supplied from the rear faro ball outlet 570c to the circulating ball path unit 600. Thereby, even when the game ball B is launched while the door frame 3 is open, the game ball B does not leak to the outside from the faro unit 570A.

[0228] In addition, when the door frame 3 is opened with respect to the main body frame 4, the door open switch 507 is turned off. Therefore, the launch of the game ball B from the ball launch unit 550 may be stopped due to the turn-off of the door open switch 507. Alternatively, when the door frame 3 is opened, instead of stopping the launch of the game ball B, the game may be temporarily stopped by the main control board 1310, and when the door frame 3 is closed, the game may be resumed.

[0229] Also, when the main body frame 4 is opened with respect to the outer frame 2 (the frame open switch 508 is off), since the door frame 3 is closed and the game ball B does not leak to the outside, the launch of the game ball B from the ball launch unit 550 may not be stopped. Alternatively, when the main body frame 4 is opened, the same processing as when the above-mentioned door frame 3 is opened may be performed.

[0230] When the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 4, the rear surface of the door frame 3 abuts against the front ends of the two front protruding portions 571b of the far shutter 571, and the far shutter 571 is in a state of sliding backward against the biasing force of the spring 575 (see Fig. 36(b)). In this state, the shutter portion 571a of the far shutter 571 is located behind the front surface of the unit base 572, and the far upper opening 570a is open so that the game ball B can pass through. That is, the far shutter 571 is in the open position state.

[0231] When the game ball B is launched from the ball launch unit 550 in the state where the far shutter 571 is in the open position, the launched game ball B enters the far unit 570A from the far right opening 570b, and then is launched upward to the game board 5 side (between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002) through the far upper opening 570a. Then, when the launched game ball B crosses the backflow prevention member 1007 provided at the upper end of the inner rail 1002, the game ball B is driven into the game area 5a.

[0232] In addition, the game ball B that was launched from the ball launch unit 550 but did not cross the backflow prevention member 1007 at the upper end of the inner rail 1002 (the game ball B that was not driven into the game area) flows down between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002, enters from the far upper opening 570a as a far ball, and is recovered by the far unit 570A. The game ball B recovered through the far upper opening 570a flows down onto the far ball grounding sheet metal 576 placed on the upper surface of the lower wall portion 573c, and the static electricity is removed by the far ball grounding sheet metal 576. At this time, since the far ball grounding sheet metal 576 is loosely fitted, it vibrates when the game ball B abuts, and dust, dirt, etc. on the far ball grounding sheet metal 576 are discharged outside the far unit 570A from the rear support port 572h and the front support port 573g due to the vibration.

[0233] The game ball B that has flowed down onto the far ball earth sheet metal 576 (lower wall portion 573c) is guided to the right by its inclination, flows down onto the bottom wall portion 573e along the hanging wall portion 573d, and is guided rearward by the inclination of the bottom wall portion 573e and discharged from the far ball outlet 570c to the circulating ball path unit 600.

[0234] Also, in the far unit 570A, the game ball B discharged from the ball discharge port 550c of the ball launching unit 550 is received at the lower part of the far right opening 570b. The game ball B that has entered the far unit 570A from the lower part of the far right opening 570b flows down onto the bottom wall portion 573e and is guided rearward by the inclination of the bottom wall portion 573e and discharged from the far ball outlet 570c to the circulating ball path unit 600.

[0235] Thus, according to the far unit 570A, even though the game ball B was launched from the ball launching unit 550, it can be recovered without leaking to the outside and supplied to the circulating ball path unit 600 without being driven into the game area 5a of the game board 5. And although details will be described later, in the circulating ball path unit 600, the game ball B supplied from the far ball outlet 570c is detected by the far ball sensor 607. When the game ball B is detected by this far ball sensor 607, the number of balls held by the player is incremented by one.

[0236] Also, in the far unit 570A, since the unit base 572, the front cover 573, the rear cover 574, etc. are formed of a transparent synthetic resin, the inside can be visually recognized from the outside, and it is easy to discover ball jams inside.

[0237] [4-3b. Far Unit of the Third Embodiment] Next, the fur unit 570 of the third embodiment will be described. The fur unit 570 of the third embodiment is the same as the above-described fur unit 570 except that the opening / closing mechanism of the fur shutter 571 is different. Although not shown, the fur unit 570 of the third embodiment is provided with an electric actuator such as a motor or a solenoid for opening and closing the fur shutter 571. In this case, it is desirable to employ a solenoid as the electric actuator from the viewpoints of short required operation time, high-speed response, and cost.

[0238] In this embodiment, when the door opening switch 507 is turned off by opening the door frame 3 with respect to the main body frame 4, the fur shutter 571 slides to the closed position by the electric actuator. As a result, even if the game ball B is launched from the ball launch unit 550 with the door frame 3 open, the game ball B does not fly out to the outside through the upper fur opening 570a.

[0239] Then, when the door frame 3 is closed and the door opening switch 507 is turned on, the fur shutter 571 slides to the open position by the electric actuator, and the game ball B launched from the ball launch unit 550 can be driven into the game board 5 side through the upper fur opening 570a.

[0240] Note that even when the frame opening switch 508 is turned off by opening the main body frame 4 with respect to the outer frame 2, the fur shutter 571 may be slid to the closed position by the electric actuator. In this case, if the opening / closing process of the fur shutter 571 by the frame opening switch 508 is made the same as the opening / closing process by the above-described door opening switch 507, the configuration related to the software can be simplified.

[0241] Further, an opening switch (not shown) capable of detecting both the opening of the door frame 3 and the opening of the main body frame 4 may be provided to open and close the fur shutter 571 by an electric actuator, and the mechanism related to the opening and closing can be made simple.

[0242] Furthermore, the far unit 570 of this third embodiment also operates during settlement. Although it will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 75 and the timing chart of FIG. 77, here, a general overview will be provided.

[0243] When the player finishes the game and performs the settlement of the held balls, the counting button switch 180 is pressed. When this button is pressed, the frame control board 740 starts the settlement process. The main process of the settlement process is to transfer the data of the held balls of the player to the game ball lending device 8, etc. However, when the ball feeding unit of the second embodiment and the ball launching unit 550A of the second embodiment are used, since the subtraction of the held balls is performed regardless of whether or not a launch occurs when the game ball B is fed into the launch rail (ball launch table 552b) by the ball feeding unit, it is necessary to process the game ball B on the launch rail (ball launch table 552b).

[0244] Specifically, when the counting button switch 180 is pressed, the frame control emission permission flag is turned OFF and the frame control forced emission flag is turned ON by the settlement process of the frame control board 740. When the frame control emission permission flag is ON, the ball feeding solenoid 706 and the launch solenoid 553 are driven in order to launch the game ball. However, when the frame control forced emission flag is ON, the ball feeding solenoid 706 is not driven. Instead, the far shutter drive solenoid 571d (see FIG. 69) is driven, causing the far shutter 571 to move to the closed position, and the launch solenoid 553 is driven with a weakened excitation voltage for a weak launch. Note that this forced launch operation is executed only once when the frame control forced emission flag is ON.

[0245] When fired weakly with the far shutter 571 in the closed position as described above, only one game ball B may be placed on the firing rail (ball firing base 552b). The game ball B on the firing rail will surely become a far ball and be detected by the far ball sensor 607. When the far ball sensor 607 detects the game ball B, it is added to the held balls as shown in Fig. 73. Of course, even if the settlement process is performed and forced firing is carried out after the game ball B is normally fired, no far ball will occur because the game ball B is not originally placed on the firing rail (ball firing base 552b), and it will not be added to the held balls either.

[0246] Regarding the intensity when firing weakly, the lower limit of the firing intensity is such that the game ball B falls off from the ball firing base 552b (firing rail). More ideally, the firing intensity is such that the game ball B that has fallen off from the firing base 552b (firing rail) rolls as it is and is quickly detected by the far ball sensor 607. Also, the upper limit of the firing intensity of forced firing when the far shutter 571 is not provided should be set so that the game ball B of forced firing does not reach the outer rail 1001, which is a part of the game board 5, so as not to be visible to the player and cause misunderstanding.

[0247] [4-4. Circulating Ball Path Unit] Regarding the circulating ball path unit 600 in the main body frame 4, it will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 37 to 44 and the like. FIG. 37(a) is a perspective view of the circulating ball path unit in the main body frame seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the circulating ball path unit in the main body frame seen from the rear. FIG. 38 is an exploded perspective view of the circulating ball path unit seen from the front, and FIG. 39 is an exploded perspective view of the circulating ball path unit seen from the rear. FIG. 40(a) is a plan view showing only the ball meandering member and the ball removal shutter in the circulating ball path unit, and (b) is a perspective view of the ball meandering member and the ball removal shutter in the circulating ball path unit seen from the front. FIG. 41(a1) is an explanatory view showing the ball removal shutter and the ball meandering member in the closed position together with the ball receiving tray in a side cross section, (a2) is an explanatory view showing only the part of the ball removal shutter in (a1) from the bottom surface, (b1) is an explanatory view showing the ball removal shutter and the ball meandering member in the open position together with the ball receiving tray in a side cross section, and (b2) is an explanatory view showing only the part of the ball removal shutter in (b1) from the bottom surface.

[0248] Also, FIG. 42(a) is an explanatory view showing a front cross section of the circulating ball path unit cut at the position of the out ball sensor, and (b) is an explanatory view showing a front cross section of the circulating ball path unit cut at the position of the safe ball sensor. FIG. 43(a) is a perspective view of the lower part of the main body frame together with the outer frame with the meandering cover of the circulating ball path unit removed, seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the lower part of the main body frame together with the outer frame with the meandering cover of the circulating ball path unit removed, seen from the rear. FIG. 44 is a plan view showing the ball meandering member, the meandering cover, the ball removal shutter, and the gauge part in the circulating ball path unit.

[0249] The circulating ball path unit 600 is for storing a plurality of game balls B discharged from the game board 5 and game balls B recovered by the far unit 570, and sending the stored game balls B to the ball launch unit 550 side via the ball lifting unit 650. The circulating ball path unit 600 is attached to the circulating ball path unit attachment part 501l provided on the rear surface of the base wall part 501b of the main body frame base 501.

[0250] The circulating ball path unit 600 has an out ball receiving port 600a that is long in the left - right direction and open upward, a safe ball receiving port 600b that is provided behind the out ball receiving port 600a, long in the left - right direction and open upward, a foul ball receiving port 600c that is open at the front, and a ball discharge port 600d that is open rightward near the lower end. The out ball receiving port 600a and the safe ball receiving port 600b are formed such that the depth in the front - rear direction is slightly wider than the diameter of the game ball B, and in the left - right direction, a plurality of game balls B can pass through. The foul ball receiving port 600c and the ball discharge port 600d are formed to have a size through which one game ball B can pass at a time.

[0251] The out ball receiving port 600a receives the game ball B (out ball) received at the out port of the game board 5. The safe ball receiving port 600b receives the game ball B (safe ball) received at the winning ports such as the general winning port, start port, big winning port, etc. of the game board 5. The foul ball receiving port 600c receives the game ball B (foul ball) discharged from the foul ball outlet 570c of the foul unit 570. The ball discharge port 600d discharges the game balls B received at the out ball receiving port 600a, safe ball receiving port 600b, and foul ball receiving port 600c, stored inside, and delivers them to the ball lifting unit 650.

[0252] Also, the circulating ball path unit 600 has an out ball passage 601 through which the game ball B received at the out ball receiving port 600a circulates, a safe ball passage 602 through which the game ball B received at the safe ball receiving port 600b circulates, a foul ball passage 603 through which the game ball B received at the foul ball receiving port 600c circulates, and a ball meandering passage 604 that communicates with the downstream ends of the out ball passage 601, safe ball passage 602, and foul ball passage 603 respectively, and the downstream end of which is the ball discharge port 600d and can store a large number of game balls B.

[0253] Furthermore, the circulating ball path unit 600 includes an out-ball sensor 605 that detects each game ball B (out ball) flowing through the out-ball passage 601, a safe-ball sensor 606 that detects each game ball B (safe ball) flowing through the safe-ball passage 602, and a foul-ball sensor 607 that detects each game ball B (foul ball) flowing through the foul-ball passage 603. The safe-ball sensor 606 is equivalent to the total winning-port sensor in a conventional pachinko machine and can be used to determine cheating by comparing it with the total number of winning balls in all winning ports.

[0254] The circulating ball path unit 600 includes a flat ball receiving front plate 610, a ball receiving front member 611 attached to the rear side of the ball receiving front plate 610, and a ball receiving rear member 612 attached to the rear side of the ball receiving front member 611. A ball meandering passage 604 is provided below the ball receiving front plate 610, the ball receiving front member 611, and the ball receiving rear member 612.

[0255] In addition, the circulating ball path unit 600 includes a ball meandering member 613 that is provided below the ball receiving front plate 610, the ball receiving front member 611, and the ball receiving rear member 612 and is open upward, a meandering cover 614 that covers the upper part of the ball meandering member 613, a ball extraction shutter 615 for discharging the game ball B from the ball meandering member 613, a magnet 616 attached to the ball extraction shutter 615, a circulating ball path relay board 617 attached to the rear side of the ball receiving front member 611, and a gauge portion 620 provided on the meandering cover 614.

[0256] The ball receiving front plate 610 extends horizontally and is provided with a foul-ball receiving port 600c that penetrates through in the front-rear direction near the lower part at the center in the left-right direction.

[0257] The ball receiving front member 611 forms an out ball receiving port 600a in cooperation with the ball receiving front plate 610 on the upper surface. The ball receiving front member 611 is formed with an out ball passage 601 and a foul ball passage 603 in a state of being open forward, and the front sides thereof are closed by attaching the ball receiving front plate 610. The downstream end of the out ball passage 601 opens downward at the lower left end of the ball receiving front member 611. The opening of the downstream end of the out ball passage 601 is located in front of the opening of the downstream end of the safe ball passage 602. The downstream end of the foul ball passage 603 opens downward at a position in the ball receiving front member 611 that is lower right than the downstream end of the out ball passage 601.

[0258] The ball receiving front member 611 has an upper out ball receiving plate portion 611a that inclines downward to the right from the middle of the vertical wall forming the left end edge of the out ball receiving port 600a to near the center in the left-right direction, a lower out ball receiving plate portion 611b that inclines downward to the left from a position below the upper out ball receiving plate portion 611a in the vertical wall forming the right end edge of the out ball receiving port 600a to near the lower part of the left end edge of the out ball receiving port 600a, and a crank portion 611c that extends in a crank shape downward to the lower left with a width through which the game balls B can flow in a row from the left end of the lower out ball receiving plate portion 611b.

[0259] The height between the right end of the upper out ball receiving plate portion 611a and the lower out ball receiving plate portion 611b is about twice the diameter of the game ball B, and thereby the height of the lower out ball receiving plate portion 611b on the left side is formed to be lower toward the left. Thereby, the game balls B received in the out ball receiving port 600a can be aligned in one row.

[0260] An out ball sensor 605 is attached to a portion that extends vertically directly below the downstream end of the lower out ball receiving plate portion 611b in the crank portion 611c.

[0261] In the ball receiving front member 611, an out ball passage 601 is constituted by an upper out ball receiving plate portion 611a, a lower out ball receiving plate portion 611b, a crank portion 611c, etc. Therefore, the upstream side of the out ball passage 601 is widely formed so as to be able to receive a large number of game balls B, and the received game balls B are aligned in a row and delivered to the downstream ball meandering passage 604 (ball meandering member 613).

[0262] Also, in the ball receiving front member 611, the foul ball passage 603 is inclined downward from a position behind the foul ball receiving port 600c to a position on the right side of the left end of the lower out ball receiving plate portion 611b at a position below the upper out ball receiving plate portion 611a and below the lower out ball receiving plate portion 611b, and then extends downward for a short distance. In the ball receiving front member 611, a foul ball sensor 607 is attached to a portion extending leftward in the foul ball passage 603. This foul ball passage 603 is formed so that the game balls b flow in a row, and the game balls B that have flowed through the foul ball passage 603 are delivered to a position downstream of the position where they are delivered from the out ball passage 601 in the ball meandering passage 604 (ball meandering member 613).

[0263] The ball receiving front member 611 is provided with a recess 611d that is recessed at a size that does not obstruct the flow of the game balls B at the front edge of the upper out ball receiving plate portion 611a, the front edge of the lower out ball receiving plate portion 611b, and the front edge of the bottom wall that forms the foul ball passage 603 and extends left and right. This recess 611d enables dust, dirt, etc. inside the out ball passage 601 and the foul ball passage 603 to be discharged to the outside.

[0264] Also, a circulation ball path relay substrate 617 is attached to a portion behind the foul ball passage 603 on the rear surface of the ball receiving front member 611.

[0265] The ball receiving rear member 612 forms a safe ball receiving port 600b in cooperation with the ball receiving front member 611 on the upper surface. A safe ball passage 602 is formed in the ball receiving rear member 612 in a state of being open forward, and the front side of the safe ball passage 602 is closed by attaching the ball receiving front member 611. The downstream end of the safe ball passage 602 opens downward at the lower left end of the ball receiving rear member 612. The opening of the downstream end of the safe ball passage 602 is located behind the opening of the downstream end of the out ball passage 601. That is, the opening of the downstream end of the out ball passage 601 and the opening of the downstream end of the safe ball passage 602 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction.

[0266] The ball receiving rear member 612 has an upper safe ball receiving plate portion 612a that is inclined downward to the right from the middle of the vertical wall forming the left end edge of the safe ball receiving port 600b to near the center in the left-right direction, a lower safe ball receiving plate portion 612b that is inclined downward to the left from a portion below the upper safe ball receiving plate portion 612a in the vertical wall forming the right end edge of the safe ball receiving port 600b to near the lower part of the left end edge of the safe ball receiving port 600b, and a crank portion 612c that extends in a crank shape downward to the left from the left end of the lower safe ball receiving plate portion 612b with a width through which the game balls B can flow in a row.

[0267] The height between the right end of the upper safe ball receiving plate portion 612a and the lower safe ball receiving plate portion 612b is approximately twice the diameter of the game ball B, and thus the height of the lower safe ball receiving plate portion 612b on the left side is formed to be lower toward the left. Thereby, the game balls B received in the safe ball receiving port 600b can be aligned in one row.

[0268] A safe ball sensor 606 is attached to a portion that extends vertically directly below the downstream end of the lower safe ball receiving plate portion 612b in the crank portion 612c.

[0269] In the ball receiving rear member 612, a safe ball passage 602 is formed by the upper safe ball receiving plate portion 612a, the lower safe ball receiving plate portion 612b, the crank portion 612c, and the like. Therefore, the safe ball passage 602 is widely formed so that the upstream side can receive a large number of game balls B, and the received game balls B are aligned in a row and delivered to the most upstream portion of the downstream ball meandering passage 604 (ball meandering member 613).

[0270] The ball receiving rear member 612 is provided with recessed portions 612d that are recessed at the front end edges of the upper safe ball receiving plate portion 612a and the lower safe ball receiving plate portion 612b with a size that does not obstruct the flow of the game balls B. These recessed portions 612d enable the discharge of dust, dirt, etc. inside the safe ball passage 602 to the outside.

[0271] The ball meandering member 613 extends in the left - right direction such that its right - end side is lower while meandering back and forth, and forms a ball meandering passage 604 capable of storing a large number of game balls B. As shown in FIG. 40 and the like, the ball meandering member 613 includes a first straight portion 613a that slopes downward forward with its rear portion as the upstream end, a first turning portion 613b that bends rightward from the downstream end (front end) of the first straight portion 613a and then bends further downward backward, a second straight portion 613c that extends from the downstream end (rear end) of the first turning portion 613b to a position near the rear end of the first straight portion 613a so as to be lower backward, a second turning portion 613d that bends rightward from the downstream end (rear end) of the second straight portion 613c and then bends further downward forward, a third straight portion 613e that extends from the downstream end (front end) of the second turning portion 613d to the same position as the front end of the second straight portion 613c so as to be lower forward, a third turning portion 613f that bends rightward from the downstream end (front end) of the third straight portion 613e and then bends further downward backward, a fourth straight portion 613g that extends from the downstream end (rear end) of the third turning portion 613f to the same position as the rear end of the third straight portion 613e so as to be lower backward, a fourth turning portion 613h that bends rightward from the downstream end (rear end) of the fourth straight portion 613g and then bends further downward forward, a fifth straight portion 613i that extends from the downstream end (front end) of the fourth turning portion 613h to the same position as the front end of the fourth straight portion 613g so as to be lower forward, a first bending portion 613j that bends rightward from the downstream end (front end) of the fifth straight portion 613i, a first horizontal portion 613k that extends rightward from the downstream end (right end) of the first bending portion 613j so as to be lower, a second bending portion 613l that bends backward from the downstream end (right end) of the first horizontal portion 613k so as to be lower, a sixth straight portion 613m that extends from the downstream end (rear end) of the second bending portion 613l to a position near the downstream end of the fifth straight portion 613i so as to be lower backward, a third bending portion 613n that bends rightward from the downstream end (rear end) of the sixth straight portion 613m, and a second horizontal portion 613o that extends rightward from the downstream end (right end) of the third bending portion 613n so as to be lower. The opening at the downstream end of the second horizontal portion 613o forms a ball discharge port 600d that opens rightward.

[0272] In the ball meandering member 613 (ball meandering passage 604), above the rear end of the first straight portion 613a, the opening of the downstream end of the safe ball passage 602 is located, and in front of it, the opening of the downstream end of the out ball passage 601 is located. Also, above the rear end of the second straight portion 613c, the opening of the downstream end of the foul ball passage 603 is located.

[0273] Further, the ball meandering member 613 includes a ball discharge opening 613p that penetrates vertically in the first horizontal portion 613k, a pair of rail portions 613q that extend forward and backward along the left and right end edges of the ball discharge opening 613p on the lower surface of the first horizontal portion 613k and project downward, support pieces 613r that project so as to approach each other from the lower ends of the pair of rail portions 613q, locking portions 613s provided on the side surfaces facing each other in the pair of rail portions 613q, and a plurality of slits 613t that are provided through the rolling surface (bottom surface) on which the game ball B rolls.

[0274] The ball discharge opening 613p of the ball meandering member 613 is closed so as to be openable and closable by a ball discharge shutter 615, although details will be described later. The pair of rail portions 613q extend rearward from the ball discharge opening 613p. The pair of rail portions 613q slidably support the ball discharge shutter 615 in the front-rear direction. The two support pieces 613r prevent the ball discharge shutter 615 from falling. Also, the two support pieces 613r project from the respective rail portions 613q at the portion of the ball discharge opening 613p. Thereby, even if the load of the game ball B acts on the ball discharge shutter 615 through the ball discharge opening 613p, the ball discharge shutter 615 can be sufficiently supported, and the ball discharge shutter 615 is prevented from falling off. The locking portion 613s can hold the ball discharge shutter 615 in the open position by locking the locking projection 615f of the ball discharge shutter 615.

[0275] The slit 613t of the ball meandering member 613 penetrates downward with a size that does not obstruct the flow of the game ball B, and can discharge dust, dirt, etc. in the ball meandering passage 604. The slits 613t provided at the portions of the turning portions and the bent portions are provided at the outer portions of the curves.

[0276] Note that the ball meandering member 613 is provided with a circulation ball shortage sensor 621 and a circulation ball excess sensor 622 that can detect the circulating game balls B, the details of which will be described later.

[0277] According to this ball meandering member 613, a ball meandering passage 604 that meanders back and forth and extends in the left - right direction so as to be lower on the right side can be formed. Further, since the ball meandering member 613 is provided with a plurality of turning parts (first turning part 613b, second turning part 613d, third turning part 613f, fourth turning part 613h) and a plurality of bending parts (first bending part 613j, second bending part 613l, third bending part 613n), the flow rate of the game ball B can be suppressed at those parts, and the impact applied to the inlet side of the ball lifting unit 650 can be alleviated.

[0278] The meandering cover 614 is attached to the ball meandering member 613 so as to cover the open upper end of the ball meandering member 613. By attaching the meandering cover 614 to the ball meandering member 613, it is possible to prevent the game ball B from leaking out of the ball meandering member 613 (ball meandering passage 604), and to prevent non - compliant game balls B or illegal game balls B from outside from entering the pachinko machine 1.

[0279] The length of the part of the meandering cover 614 that extends in the front - rear direction at the left end is formed shorter than the first straight part 613a of the ball meandering member 613 toward the rear. As a result, when the meandering cover 614 is attached to the ball meandering member 613, the rear part of the first straight part 613a of the ball meandering member 613 is in an open state upward, and it becomes possible to communicate with the out - ball passage 601 and the safe - ball passage 602 through that part.

[0280] Further, the meandering cover 614 has an opening 614a that penetrates vertically at a position above the vicinity of the rear end of the second straight part 613c in the ball meandering member 613. Through this opening 614a, the far - ball passage 603 can communicate with the ball meandering passage 604.

[0281] The ball extraction shutter 615 is for extracting (discharging) the game ball B (circulating game ball) from the circulating ball path unit 600 or the like, and is slidably attached to the lower surface of the ball meandering member 613 in the front-rear direction. The ball extraction shutter 615 includes a flat plate-shaped door portion 615a capable of closing the ball extraction opening 613p, a knob portion 615b extending vertically, horizontally, and laterally from the front edge of the door portion 615a, a pair of paddle portions 615c respectively extending rearward from the rear ends of both left and right sides of the door portion 615a, a connecting portion 615e forming an opening 615d penetrating vertically by connecting the pair of paddle portions 615c behind the door portion 615a, locking protrusions 615f bulging from the outer surfaces of the pair of paddle portions 615c between the connecting portion 615e and the rear end, hook portions 615g extending outward from each other from the rear ends of the pair of paddle portions 615c, and a magnet support portion 615h protruding cylindrically from the lower surface of the door portion 615a.

[0282] The magnet support portion 615h of the ball extraction shutter 615 can support the cylindrical magnet 616 by inserting the cylindrical magnet 616 into the cylinder. The magnet support portion 615h is provided on the upstream side of the opening 615d. The magnet support portion 615h has a portion protruding into the cylinder at the lower end and is open to the rear. By inserting the magnet 616 from the rear, the portion protruding below the magnet 616 is positioned, and the magnet 616 does not fall from the magnet support portion 615h.

[0283] When the ball extraction shutter 615 is attached to the ball meandering member 613, a pair of rail portions 613q of the ball meandering member 613 are located on both left and right outer sides of the door portion 615a and the pair of paddle portions 615c, and the lower surface of the first horizontal portion 613k and the upper surfaces of the pair of support pieces 613r are located on both upper and lower sides of the door portion 615a and the pair of paddle portions 615c. Thereby, the ball extraction shutter 615 is slidable in the front-rear direction between a closed position and an open position described later.

[0284] In its normal state, as shown in FIGS. 41(a1) and (a2), the ball discharge shutter 615 is in a closed position where the ball discharge opening 613p is blocked by the door portion 615a so that the game ball B cannot pass through. In this state, the rear surface of the knob portion 615b abuts against the front surface of the first horizontal portion 613k, and the pair of locking protrusions 615f are in contact with the respective rear end surfaces of the pair of rail portions 613q. As a result, the ball discharge shutter 615 is restricted from moving in the front-rear direction and is held in the closed position. Therefore, when the ball discharge shutter 615 is in the closed position, the game ball B is not discharged from the ball discharge opening 613p to the lower ball receiving tray 720 (see FIG. 20).

[0285] Also, when the ball discharge shutter 615 is in the closed position, the magnet support portion 615h (magnet 616) is located below the vicinity of the upstream end of the ball discharge opening 613p. Although details will be described later, when the iron ball SB (see FIG. 46) flows through the ball meandering passage 604, the iron ball SB is magnetically attached to the door portion 615a by the magnetic force of the magnet 616, resulting in a ball jam, and it becomes possible to detect the mixing of the iron ball SB.

[0286] In the ball discharge shutter 615 in the closed position, when the knob portion 615b is grasped and pulled forward, the locking protrusion 615f provided on the lever portion 615c strongly abuts against the rear end surface of the rail portion 613q. At this time, due to the force applied to the locking protrusion 615f, the lever portion 615c is elastically deformed inward, and the locking protrusion 615f moves to the inner side surface side of the rail portion 613q, causing the ball discharge shutter 615 to slide forward from the closed position. Then, when the locking protrusion 615f reaches the locking portion 613s, the locking protrusion 615f is locked to the locking portion 613s by the elastic force of the lever portion 615c, and the hook portion 615g provided at the rear end of the lever portion 615c approaches the rear end surface of the rail portion 613q. As a result, the ball discharge shutter 615 is in a state where further forward sliding is restricted.

[0287] In this state, as shown in FIGS. 41(b1) and (b2), the opening 615d of the ball-discharging shutter 615 coincides with the ball-discharging port 613p, and the game ball B can pass through the ball-discharging port 613p. That is, the ball-discharging shutter 615 is in the open position. When the ball-discharging shutter 615 is in the open position, the game ball B upstream of the ball-discharging port 613p in the ball meandering passage 604 is discharged through the ball-discharging port 613p and the opening 615d to the lower ball receiving tray 720. As a result, it becomes possible to extract the circulating game ball B to the outside.

[0288] Then, when the game balls B accumulate in the ball receiving tray 720 and become heavy, the ball receiving tray 720 is placed on the bottom wall of the tray insertion recess 501f that is inclined so that the front end side is lower. Due to the inclination of the bottom wall, it tries to slide forward, but the sliding forward is blocked by the locking of the locking claw 501n. In this state, when the locking of the locking claw 501n is released, the ball receiving tray 720 automatically slides forward due to the weight of the stored game balls B, and the ball receiving tray 720 can be easily taken out from the tray insertion recess 501f.

[0289] Note that in the state where the ball-discharging shutter 615 is assembled to the pachinko machine 1, the rear surface of the door frame 3 is close to the front surface of the knob portion 615b. Even if the ball-discharging shutter 615 tries to slide forward for some reason, the knob portion 615b abuts against the door frame 3, and the sliding to the open position is blocked. As a result, the circulating game ball B will not accidentally escape, and no illegal game ball B will be mixed in through the ball-discharging port 613p.

[0290] The magnet 616 is formed in a cylindrical shape that can be inserted into the magnet support portion 615h of the ball-discharging shutter 615. This magnet 616 is for attracting the iron ball SB. A magnet 616 with a strong magnetic force such as a neodymium magnet is used.

[0291] Incidentally, in a game hall or the like, when the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment is mixed with a conventional pachinko machine that allows a player to touch a game ball (steel ball SB), there is a risk that the steel ball SB may be mixed in when the game ball B is replenished or replaced due to maintenance or the like of the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment.

[0292] On the other hand, in this pachinko machine 1, when the steel ball SB is mixed in, since the magnet 616 is provided on the ball discharge shutter 615, when the steel ball SB flows through the ball meandering passage 604, on the upper surface of the door portion 615a of the ball discharge shutter 615 in the closed position, the steel ball SB is magnetically attracted and stopped by the magnetic force of the magnet 616. At this time, since the magnet 616 with a strong magnetic force is used, even if a force that presses downstream acts due to a large number of game balls B accumulating on the upstream side of the magnetically attracted steel ball SB, the steel ball SB does not move from the upper surface of the door portion 615a.

[0293] Then, when the firing of the game ball B from the ball firing unit 550 continues with the steel ball SB magnetically attached to the door portion 615a (magnet 616) of the ball discharge shutter 615 in the ball meandering passage 604, the game balls B on the downstream side of the magnetically attached steel ball SB are sequentially consumed, and the consumed (fired) game balls B are sequentially supplied to the upstream side of the steel ball SB. Therefore, detection of the game ball B by the circulation ball shortage sensor 621, the lifting entrance sensor 653, etc., provided downstream of the ball discharge shutter 615 becomes OFF, and detection of the game ball B by the circulation ball excess sensor 622, the out ball sensor 605, the safe ball sensor 606, the foul ball sensor 607, etc., provided upstream of the ball discharge shutter 615 becomes ON. Thereby, it is possible to detect and notify that a ball jam has occurred between the circulation ball shortage sensor 621 etc. and the circulation ball excess sensor 622 etc. That is, it is possible to detect that the steel ball SB is magnetically attached to the door portion 615a.

[0294] With the iron ball SB magnetically attached to the upper surface of the door portion 615a of the ball extraction shutter 615 by the magnetic force of the magnet 616, when the ball extraction shutter 615 is slid from the closed position to the forward open position, the front end of the iron ball SB magnetically attached to the upper surface of the door portion 615a abuts against the front wall of the first horizontal portion 613k, and only the iron ball SB is blocked from moving forward. Then, when the magnet 616 moves forward beyond the front wall of the first horizontal portion 613k, the magnetic force acting on the iron ball SB weakens and the iron ball SB starts to roll downstream. At this time, the opening 615d of the ball extraction shutter 615 coincides with the ball extraction port 613p, and since the game ball B can pass through the ball extraction port 613p, the iron ball SB can be discharged from the ball extraction port 613p to the lower ball receiving tray 720 and can be taken out from the ball meandering passage 604.

[0295] The circulating ball path relay board 617 is attached at a position behind the ball receiving front member 611, behind the far ball passage 603, and below the out ball receiving plate portion 611b of the ball receiving rear member 612. The circulating ball path relay board 617 is for relaying the connection between the out ball sensor 605, the safe ball sensor 606, the far ball sensor 607, the circulating ball shortage sensor 621, the circulating ball excess sensor 622, and the frame control board 740 described later.

[0296] The gauge portion 620 indicates an appropriate amount region of a predetermined length with respect to the flow direction of the ball meandering passage 604 in the ball meandering member 613. Here, the state where the rear end of the row of game balls B stored in a lined-up state is applied to the gauge portion 620 is regarded as the appropriate amount. The gauge portion 620 enables visual confirmation of the appropriate amount of the game balls B (circulating balls) and is formed by a partially colored transparent seal. This gauge portion 620 is attached to the upper surface of the meandering cover 614. More specifically, it is attached to a position on the upper surface of the meandering cover 614, upstream of the first horizontal portion 613k of the ball meandering member 613. As shown in FIG. 44, characters and symbols (arrows) indicating the appropriate range (appropriate amount region) of the storage amount of the game balls B are described on this gauge portion 620.

[0297] The gauge unit 620 is composed of three seals: an upper gauge seal 620a attached to a portion above the third straight portion 613e and the third turning portion 613f in the ball meandering member 613, a middle gauge seal 620b attached to a portion above the fourth straight portion 613g, and a lower gauge seal 620c attached to a portion above the fifth straight portion 613i and the first bending portion 613j.

[0298] On the upper gauge seal 620a, a line extending horizontally is described (displayed) near the center in the front-rear direction in the third straight portion 613e, an arrow in which the tip of the arrowhead portion extends along the passage toward the line and reaches the downstream end of the third turning portion 613f on the downstream side (front side) of the line, and the characters "UP TO HERE" on the right side downstream of the arrowhead portion of the arrow.

[0299] On the middle gauge seal 620b, a rod-shaped portion extending rearward (downstream) so as to continue with the rod portion of the arrow described on the upper gauge seal 620a, and the characters "APPROPRIATE RANGE" near the upstream end corresponding to the rod-shaped portion are described.

[0300] On the lower gauge seal 620c, a line extending in the front-rear direction at the downstream end of the first bending portion 613j, an arrow in which the tip of the arrowhead portion extends along the passage toward the line and reaches the upstream end of the fifth straight portion 613i on the upstream side of the line, and the characters "FROM HERE" on the right side upstream of the arrowhead portion of the arrow are described (displayed).

[0301] When looking at the gauge unit 620 during maintenance or the like, if the game ball B cannot be seen in the portion of the gauge unit 620 (appropriate amount area), that is, in the range from the line of the upper gauge seal 620a to the line of the lower gauge seal 620c, it can be determined that the game ball B is too few, less than the appropriate amount. When replenishing the game ball B, the game ball B is inserted from the out port 1008 of the game board 5, or from the out ball receiving port 600a or the safe ball receiving port 600b until it reaches the appropriate amount.

[0302] On the other hand, when looking at the gauge section 620, if the game ball B can be seen at all parts of the gauge section 620, that is, if the rear end of the row of game balls B is upstream of the "up to here" part (the line of the upper gauge seal 620a), it can be determined that there are too many game balls B compared to the appropriate amount. When there are too many game balls B, the ball discharge shutter 615 is pulled forward and slid to the open position to discharge the game balls B in the ball meandering passage 604 from the ball discharge port 613p to make the amount appropriate.

[0303] As described above, according to the gauge section 620 of the present embodiment, it is possible to visually determine whether the stored game balls B are appropriate (appropriate amount), and it is easy to make the amount of the stored game balls B appropriate.

[0304] In the above embodiment, as the gauge section 620, a seal is attached to the meandering cover 614, but the appropriate amount area may be colored in a different color from other parts, or the molded color of the parts of the gauge section 620 may be made different, or the gauge section 620 with colored lines drawn at the downstream end and upstream end of the appropriate amount area may also be used.

[0305] Also, in the above embodiment, the gauge section 620 is shown to be provided on the upstream side of the ball discharge shutter 615, but it is not limited to this. As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 67, the downstream end of the gauge section 620 may be provided near the upstream of the circulation ball shortage sensor 621 downstream of the ball discharge shutter 615.

[0306] The circulation ball path unit 600 of the present embodiment is formed of a transparent synthetic resin including a ball receiving front plate 610, a ball receiving front member 611, a ball receiving rear member 612, a ball meandering member 613, and a meandering cover 614. Therefore, it is possible to visually recognize the internal state from the outside.

[0307] In the circulating ball path unit 600, an out ball sensor 605 and a foul ball sensor 607 are attached in a state where they are sandwiched between a ball receiving front plate 610 and a ball receiving front member 611, and a safe ball sensor 606 is attached in a state where it is sandwiched between a ball receiving front member 611 and a ball receiving rear member 612. The out ball sensor 605 and the safe ball sensor 606 are arranged side by side in the front and rear.

[0308] The out ball sensor 605, the safe ball sensor 606, the foul ball sensor 607, the too few circulating balls sensor 621, and the too many circulating balls sensor 622 detect the game ball B in a non-contact manner, for example, by detecting a change in induced current.

[0309] The circulating ball path unit 600 is attached from the rear to the base wall portion 501b of the main body frame base 501. When the circulating ball path unit 600 is assembled to the main body frame 4, the out ball receiving port 600a and the safe ball receiving port 600b are attached at the same height as the upper surface of the base wall portion 501b and in contact with the rear edge of the upper surface of the base wall portion 501b.

[0310] In addition, when the circulating ball path unit 600 is assembled to the main body frame 4, the ball sending unit 700 is attached so as to be positioned between it and the base wall portion 501b.

[0311] Furthermore, when the circulating ball path unit 600 is assembled to the main body frame 4, the portions of the ball meandering member 613 and the meandering cover 614 that are forward of the center in the front-to-rear direction penetrate the ball storage path insertion port 501g provided in the base wall portion 501b from the rear and protrude forward. As a result, when the door frame 3 is opened relative to the main body frame 4, the game ball B in the ball meandering member 613 (ball meandering path 604) can be seen from the front (outside).

[0312] In addition, when the frame substrate unit 730 is opened rearward in the state where the circulating ball path unit 600 is assembled to the main body frame 4, the inside of each of the parts behind the base wall portion 501b in the out ball passage 601, the safe ball passage 602, the foul ball passage 603, and the ball meandering passage 604 can be visually recognized from the rear. Thereby, when a ball jam occurs, by opening the frame substrate unit 730, the inside of the out ball passage 601 or the like can be confirmed, and the location where the ball jam occurs can be easily specified.

[0313] In addition, in the state where the circulating ball path unit 600 is assembled to the main body frame 4, the second horizontal portion 613o of the ball meandering member 613 is located at a position behind the base wall portion 501b and below the ball launching unit 550. That is, in the circulating ball path unit 600, the ball discharge port 600d opens rearward of the base wall portion 501b, at a position lower than the ball launching unit 550, and toward the right. This ball discharge port 600d communicates with the ball lifting inlet passage 651 of the ball lifting unit 650 described later.

[0314] The circulating ball path unit 600 of the present embodiment includes a circulating ball shortage sensor 621 for detecting that the stored game balls B (circulating balls) are too few, and a circulating ball excess sensor 622 for detecting that the stored game balls B (circulating balls) are too many (see FIG. 67).

[0315] The circulating ball shortage sensor 621 is provided downstream of the gauge portion 620 in the ball meandering passage 604. Note that the circulating ball shortage sensor 621 may be provided near the upstream side of the ball removal shutter 615. The circulating ball excess sensor 622 is provided near the upstream end of the gauge portion 620 in the ball meandering passage 604. The circulating ball shortage sensor 621 and the circulating ball excess sensor 622 are connected to the frame control substrate 740 via the circulating ball path relay substrate 617.

[0316] As will be described later, when the number of game balls B is appropriate, the circulating ball shortage sensor 621 detects the game ball B for a predetermined time (e.g., 80 ms) or more, and the circulating ball excess sensor 622 does not detect the game ball B for a predetermined time (e.g., 80 ms) or more. When the number of game balls B is insufficient, neither the circulating ball shortage sensor 621 nor the circulating ball excess sensor 622 detects the game ball B for a predetermined time (e.g., 80 ms) or more. On the other hand, when the number of game balls B is excessive, both the circulating ball shortage sensor 621 and the circulating ball excess sensor 622 detect the game ball B for a predetermined time (e.g., 80 ms) or more. In addition, when the circulating ball shortage sensor 621 does not detect the game ball B for a predetermined time (e.g., 80 ms) or more and the circulating ball excess sensor 622 detects the game ball B for a predetermined time (e.g., 80 ms) or more, a ball jam including the mixing of steel balls SB has occurred between the circulating ball shortage sensor 621 and the circulating ball excess sensor 622.

[0317] Here, the reason for the predetermined time k80 ms as the threshold for detecting the presence or absence of the game ball B will be explained. For example, on the circulation path R, the positions where sensors such as the circulating ball excess sensor 622, the circulating ball shortage sensor 621, the lifting inlet sensor 653, the lifting outlet sensor 654, and the shooter front sensor 704 are placed are the positions where the game ball B stops when the ball lifting unit 650, the ball feeding unit 700, etc. are stopped. This position is the position where the next game ball B is located every time one game ball B is sent. Therefore, the detection of the game ball B here is based on the detection method of whether it has been detected for 80 ms or more. This is because the time when the game ball B rolling on an inclined plane with an inclination of about 5 degrees is detected is about 50 ms. Therefore, a margin is added to ensure that the game ball B is surely detected at that position, and the detection is performed at 80 ms. That is, the value of 80 ms is a practical value obtained through experiments.

[0318] In this way, based on the combination of the detection states of the game ball B by the circulating ball shortage sensor 621 and the circulating ball excess sensor 622, it is possible to automatically determine and notify the amount of the game ball B, ball jams, etc. on the frame control board 740.

[0319] In the above-described embodiment, the circulation ball shortage sensor 621 and the circulation ball excess sensor 622 are provided. However, the circulation ball shortage sensor 621 may be substituted with a lifting inlet sensor described later, and the circulation ball excess sensor 622 may be substituted with the out ball sensor 605, the safe ball sensor 606, and the foul ball sensor 607.

[0320] [4-4a. Ball clogging elimination mechanism] Next, in the circulation ball path unit 600, a ball clogging elimination mechanism 630 may be provided to facilitate elimination of ball clogging at the out ball sensor 605 or the safe ball sensor 606 as shown in FIG. 45. FIG. 45(a) is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged main part of a rear cross section cut at the position of the out ball sensor with the lid member of the ball clogging elimination mechanism closed in the circulation ball path unit attached to the main body frame, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state with the lid member opened in (a).

[0321] The ball clogging elimination mechanism 630 is configured such that the upper wall portions of the out ball sensor 605 and the safe ball sensor 606 in the ball receiving front member 611 and the ball receiving rear member 612 in the circulation ball path unit 600 are formed as an openable and closable lid member 631. As shown in FIG. 45(a), the lid member 631 is closed in a normal state. The lid member 631 is held in a closed state by being locked by a locking claw (not shown).

[0322] This ball clogging elimination mechanism 630 is used to eliminate ball clogging that occurs in the out ball passage 601 or the safe ball passage 602, or when an illegal ball B' having a diameter larger than that of the game ball B is inserted as an illegal act and the out ball sensor 605 or the like is blocked.

[0323] For example, when an illegal ball B' with a larger diameter than the game ball B is inserted from the out port 1008 or the like of the game board 5 and the out ball sensor 605 is blocked, when the frame substrate unit 730 is opened after opening the main body frame 4 with respect to the outer frame 2, the rear part of the circulating ball path unit 600 appears. And in this embodiment, since a gap into which a finger can be inserted is formed between the part where the ball jamming elimination mechanism 630 in the circulating ball path unit 600 is provided and the box main body part 504b of the main body frame speaker box 504, the locking claw of the lid member 631 is released through the gap, and the lid member 631 can be opened by rotating it so that the lower end of the lid member 631 moves upward (see Fig. 45(b)).

[0324] And by setting the lid member 631 in an open state, a finger can be inserted into the upper part of the out ball sensor 605 in the out ball passage 601, and the illegal ball B' blocking the out ball sensor 605 can be easily taken out. In this way, the illegal ball B' can be easily taken out without removing the circulating ball path unit 600 that is screwed using a driver.

[0325] In addition, even when the safe ball sensor 606 is blocked by the illegal ball B', the illegal ball B' can be taken out by the same procedure as above.

[0326] In the above description, a lid member 631 that can be opened and closed is provided as the ball jamming elimination mechanism 630. However, for example, elastic claws may be provided on the rear ball receiving member 612 and the front ball receiving member 611 so that the rear ball receiving member 612 and the front ball receiving member 611 can be detachably attached rearward by locking the elastic claws. In this case, in the normal state, the frame substrate unit 730 is located behind the circulating ball path unit 600, and even if the locking of the elastic claws is loosened, the rear ball receiving member 612 and the front ball receiving member 611 will not come off rearward. And when the out ball sensor 605 is blocked by the illegal ball B', when the main body frame 4 is opened with respect to the outer frame 2 and then the frame substrate unit 730 is opened, the rear part of the circulating ball path unit 600 appears. Therefore, by releasing the locking of the elastic claws that attach the rear ball receiving member 612 and the front ball receiving member 611, the rear ball receiving member 612 and the front ball receiving member 611 can be easily removed, and the illegal ball B' blocking the out ball sensor 605 can be easily taken out.

[0327] Alternatively, as the ball jamming elimination mechanism 630, in the front ball receiving member 611 sandwiched between the front ball receiving plate 610 and the rear ball receiving member 612, the portion above the out ball sensor 605 may be slid upward and removed. In this case, in the normal state, the game board 5 is located above the circulating ball path unit 600, and due to the action of gravity, the slidable portion of the front ball receiving member 611 will not come off upward. And when the out ball sensor 605 is blocked by the illegal ball B', when the door frame 3 is opened with respect to the main body frame 4 and the game board 5 is removed from the main body frame 4, the upper part of the circulating ball path unit 600 appears. Therefore, by sliding the slidable portion of the front ball receiving member 611 upward and removing it, the illegal ball B' blocking the out ball sensor 605 can be easily taken out.

[0328] [4-4b. Ball Extraction Shutter of the Second Embodiment] Next, in the circulating ball path unit 600, as shown in FIG. 46, in the ball removal shutter 615, the magnet 616 may be attached to a portion in front of the opening 615d. FIG. 46(a) is an explanatory side cross-sectional view showing the ball meandering member and the ball removal tray together with the iron ball magnetically attached to the ball removal shutter in the closed position, (b) is an explanatory side cross-sectional view showing the ball meandering member and the ball removal tray together with the iron ball magnetically attached to the ball removal shutter in the open position, and (c) is an explanatory side cross-sectional view showing the ball meandering member and the ball removal tray together with the iron ball magnetically attached to the lower surface after sliding the ball removal shutter from the state of (b) to the closed position. This ball removal shutter 615 is configured such that the rear end side of the outer peripheral surface of the magnet 616 supported by the magnet support portion 615h coincides with the front inner peripheral surface in the opening 615d.

[0329] According to the ball removal shutter 615 of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 46(a), with the iron ball SB magnetically attached to the upper surface of the door portion 615a of the ball removal shutter 615 by the magnetic force of the magnet 616, when the ball removal shutter 615 is slid from the closed position to the forward open position, the front end of the iron ball SB magnetically attached to the upper surface of the door portion 615a abuts against the front wall of the first horizontal portion 613k, and only the iron ball SB is prevented from moving forward. Then, when the ball removal shutter 615 slides further forward, the door portion 615a that supported the lower end of the iron ball SB disappears, and the iron ball SB moves into the lower opening 615d due to gravity. At this time, since the rear end side of the outer peripheral surface of the magnet 616 coincides with the front inner surface of the opening 615d, the iron ball SB is magnetically attached to the outer peripheral surface of the magnet 616 (see FIG. 46(b)).

[0330] Note that the iron ball SB tries to move from the outer peripheral surface of the magnet 616 to the pole side with strong magnetic force (here, the lower end surface side), but when the ball removal shutter 615 is in the open position, the upper end surface of the ball receiving tray 720 is located below the magnet 616, and the iron ball SB does not move downward. Therefore, when the ball removal shutter 615 is slid to the open position, the iron ball B is located at a position overlapping the opening 615d, and the game ball B upstream of the iron ball SB does not pass through the opening 615d, that is, the ball removal port 613p and is not discharged downward.

[0331] After sliding the ball-removing shutter 615 to the open position and then sliding the ball-removing shutter 615 to the rear closed position, while the door portion 615a of the ball-removing shutter 615 blocks the game balls B on the upstream side of the iron ball SB from passing through the ball-removing port 613p, the iron ball SB that was magnetized to the outer peripheral surface of the magnet 616 moves to the lower surface side of the magnet 616, and the iron ball SB is magnetically attached to the lower surface of the magnet 616 (see Fig. 46(c)). Then, the ball receiving tray 720 is pulled out and removed from the tray insertion recess 501f, and the iron ball SB magnetically attached to the lower surface of the magnet 616 is removed.

[0332] In this way, when the ball-removing shutter 615 is slid back and forth with the iron ball SB magnetically attached to the door portion 615a of the ball-removing shutter 615 by the magnet 616, only the magnetically attached iron ball SB can be taken out from the ball meandering passage 604 to the outside.

[0333] [4-4c. Ball Meandering Member of the Second Embodiment] Next, in the circulating ball path unit 600, the ball meandering member 613A of the second embodiment will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figs. 47 to 49. Fig. 47(a) is a plan view of the ball meandering member of the second embodiment, and (b) is a perspective view of the ball meandering member of the second embodiment seen from the front. Fig. 48(a) is a perspective view showing an enlarged view of the surplus ball discharge mechanism portion in the ball meandering member of the second embodiment, and (b) is a plan view showing an enlarged view of the surplus ball discharge mechanism portion in the ball meandering member of the second embodiment. Fig. 49(a) is a cross-sectional view taken at the midpoint in the front-rear direction of the surplus ball discharge mechanism portion in the ball meandering member of the second embodiment, and (b) is a right side cross-sectional view taken at a portion to the right of the installation portion of the surplus ball discharge mechanism in the ball meandering member of the second embodiment.

[0334] The ball meandering member 613A of the second embodiment has the same configuration as the ball meandering member 613 of the first embodiment, except that it is provided with an excess ball discharging mechanism 640. For the parts having the same configuration as those of the ball meandering member 613 of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals will be used for description. Similar to the ball meandering member 613 of the first embodiment, a ball extraction shutter 615 for extracting the game ball B from the ball meandering passage 604 and a meandering cover 614 for covering the ball meandering member 613A from above are attached to the ball meandering member 613A. And a gauge portion 620 including an upper gauge seal 620a, a middle gauge seal 620b, and a lower gauge seal 620c is provided on the upper surface of the meandering cover 614 (see FIG. 44).

[0335] The ball meandering member 613A extends in the left-right direction so that the right end side is lower while meandering back and forth, and forms a ball meandering passage 604 capable of storing a large number of game balls B. As shown in FIG. 47 and the like, the ball meandering member 613A includes a first straight portion 613a that is inclined so as to be lower toward the front with the rear portion as the upstream end, a first turning portion 613b that bends to the right from the downstream end (front end) of the first straight portion 613a and then bends further downward toward the rear, and a second straight portion 613c that extends from the downstream end (rear end) of the first turning portion 613b to a position near the rear end of the first straight portion 613a so as to be lower toward the rear, a second turning portion 613d that bends to the right from the downstream end (rear end) of the second straight portion 613c and then bends further downward toward the front, and a third straight portion 613e that extends from the downstream end (front end) of the second turning portion 613d to the same position as the front end of the second straight portion 613c so as to be lower toward the front.

[0336] Further, the ball meandering member 613A includes a third turning portion 613f that bends rightward from the downstream end (front end) of the third straight portion 613e and then further bends downward to the rear; a fourth straight portion 613g that extends from the downstream end (rear end) of the third turning portion 613f to the same position as the rear end of the third straight portion 613e so as to be lower toward the rear; a fourth turning portion 613h that bends rightward from the downstream end (rear end) of the fourth straight portion 613g and then further bends downward to the front; and a fifth straight portion 613i that extends from the downstream end (front end) of the fourth turning portion 613h to the same position as the front end of the fourth straight portion 613g so as to be lower toward the front.

[0337] Furthermore, the ball meandering member 613A includes a first bending portion 613j that bends rightward from the downstream end (front end) of the fifth straight portion 613i so as to be lower; a first horizontal portion 613k that extends rightward from the downstream end (right end) of the first bending portion 613j so as to be lower; a second bending portion 613l that bends rearward from the downstream end (right end) of the first horizontal portion 613k so as to be lower; a sixth straight portion 613m that extends from the downstream end (rear end) of the second bending portion 613l to a position near the downstream end of the fifth straight portion 613i so as to be lower toward the rear; a third bending portion 613n that bends rightward from the downstream end (rear end) of the sixth straight portion 613m so as to be lower; and a second horizontal portion 613o that extends rightward from the downstream end (right end) of the third bending portion 613n so as to be lower. The opening at the downstream end of the second horizontal portion 613o forms a ball discharge port 600d that opens rightward.

[0338] In the ball meandering member 613A, the opening of the downstream end of the safe ball passage 602 is located above the rear end of the first straight portion 613a, and the opening of the downstream end of the out ball passage 601 is located in front of it. Also, the opening of the downstream end of the foul ball passage 603 is located above the rear end of the second straight portion 613c. That is, an out ball sensor 605, a safe ball sensor 606, and a foul ball sensor 607 are provided upstream of the ball meandering member 613A.

[0339] Further, the ball meandering member 613A includes a ball outlet 613p that vertically penetrates the first horizontal portion 613k, and a plurality of slits 613t that are provided so as to penetrate a rolling surface (bottom surface) on which the game ball B rolls. Further, although detailed illustration is omitted, the ball meandering member 613A includes a pair of rail portions 613q that extend forward and backward along the left and right end edges of the ball outlet 613p on the lower surface of the first horizontal portion 613k and protrude downward, and support pieces 613r that protrude so as to approach each other from the lower ends of the pair of rail portions 613q, and locking portions 613s that are provided on the side surfaces of the pair of rail portions 613q that face each other (see FIG. 41).

[0340] The ball outlet 613p of the ball meandering member 613A is closed so as to be openable and closable by a ball outlet shutter 615, similarly to the ball meandering member 613 of the first embodiment. The pair of rail portions 613q extend rearward from the ball outlet 613p. The pair of rail portions 613q slidably support the ball outlet shutter 615 in the front-rear direction. The two support pieces 613r prevent the ball outlet shutter 615 from falling. Further, the two support pieces 613r protrude from the respective rail portions 613q at the portion of the ball outlet 613p. Thereby, even when a load of the game ball B acts on the ball outlet shutter 615 through the ball outlet 613p, the ball outlet shutter 615 can be sufficiently supported, and the ball outlet shutter 615 can be prevented from falling off. The locking portion 613s can hold the ball outlet shutter 615 in the open position by locking the locking projection 615f of the ball outlet shutter 615.

[0341] The slit 613t of the ball meandering member 613A penetrates downward with a size that does not obstruct the flow of the game ball B, and can discharge dust, dirt, etc. in the ball meandering passage 604. The slits 613t provided at the portions of the turning portions and the bending portions are provided at the outer portions of the curves.

[0342] As shown in FIG. 47 and the like, the ball meandering member 613A is provided with a surplus ball discharging mechanism 640 at a portion of the third straight portion 613e from the middle of the second turning portion 613d. The surplus ball discharging mechanism 640 is for automatically discharging the excessive surplus game balls B to the lower ball receiving tray 720 when the game balls B are supplied (refilled) to the circulating ball path unit 600 in an amount exceeding an appropriate amount, so as to make the amount (number of balls) of the game balls B an appropriate amount.

[0343] Specifically, the surplus ball discharging mechanism 640 includes a passage dividing portion 641 that divides the ball meandering passage 604 into a downstream first passage portion 604a and an upstream second passage portion 604b, a bridging portion 642 that connects the first passage portion 604a and the second passage portion 604b so as to straddle the passage dividing portion 641, a widening portion 643 provided near the bridging portion 642 in the first passage portion 604a, and an alignment portion 644 provided at a portion near the bridging portion 642 in the second passage portion 604b.

[0344] The passage dividing portion 641 is provided at a portion of the third straight portion 613e in the ball meandering passage 604, and divides the ball meandering passage 604 at a distance longer than the diameter D of the game ball B (for example, a distance 1 to 2 times the diameter D of the game ball B) with respect to the flow direction of the game ball B. At this portion of the passage dividing portion 641, it is open downward, and the side walls on both sides are constituted by the side walls of the second straight portion 613c and the fourth straight portion 613g. That is, this passage dividing portion 641 is in a form that penetrates the bottom wall of the ball meandering passage 604 downward. Also, at the portion of the passage dividing portion 641, the upper part is covered by the meandering cover 614. Therefore, at the passage dividing portion 641, the game ball B can be discharged only downward.

[0345] Although detailed illustration is omitted, above the downstream end of the passage dividing portion 641 (the upstream end of the first passage portion 604a), there is a position of a line extending to the left and right on the upstream side of the characters "up to here" of the upper gauge seal 620a. That is, the upstream end of the first passage portion 604a is set as the upper limit of the appropriate amount of the game balls B to be stored.

[0346] The bridging section 642 bridges the first passage section 604a and the second passage section 604b in a bridge-like manner across the passage dividing section 641, and the upper surface is provided so that the game ball B can roll thereon. The bridging section 642 extends with a width smaller than the diameter D of the game ball B (for example, a width of 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 of the diameter D). A guide groove 642a extending so as to connect the first passage section 604a and the second passage section 604b is provided on the upper surface (rolling surface) of this bridging section 642. The guide groove 642a is formed in a V shape with the center slightly recessed. Thereby, the game balls B can gather at the center in the width direction of the bridging section 642, making it difficult for the game balls B to spill from the single-bridge-like bridging section 642.

[0347] As shown in FIG. 48 and the like, the upstream end side of the guide groove 642a extends from the bridging section 642 to the inside of the second passage section 604b. More specifically, the guide groove 642a extends upstream from the bridging section 642 to near the boundary between the third straight section 613e and the second turning section 613d, and partially overlaps with an alignment section 644 described later. This guide groove 642a is provided at a position higher than the bottom surface of the third straight section 613e (second passage section 604b), and is smoothly connected with an inclination above the bottom surface of the third straight section 613e so that the game ball B does not bounce due to the step at the upstream end and gradually becomes higher from the bottom surface.

[0348] The widened section 643 of the first passage section 604a is formed wider than the width on the downstream side in the first passage section 604a (for example, 1.1 to 1.2 times the width on the downstream side). Note that the width of the widened section 643 is set to be 2 times or less, preferably 1.5 times or less, the diameter D of the game ball B. Thereby, it becomes possible to avoid the occurrence of ball jams in the portion of the widened section 643. Further, the length of the widened section 643 in the flow direction of the game ball B is approximately the length of one game ball B. This widened section 643 makes it easier for the game ball B that has rolled on the bridging section 642 to be received into the first passage section 604a.

[0349] The part at the downstream end of the widened portion 643 in the first passage portion 604a (the part at the boundary between the widened portion 643 and the downstream side) is connected by a smooth curve so as not to have sharp corners. This can prevent the game ball B that has entered the first passage portion 604a through the installation portion 642 from bouncing back to the installation portion 642 side, and can avoid a decrease in the amount (number of balls) of the game balls B that have bounced back and fallen from the passage dividing portion 641 and are circulating (stored).

[0350] The alignment portion 644 of the second passage portion 604b is provided in the range of the length from near the center of the second turning portion 613d to the middle of the third straight portion 613e, and can align the game balls B in a row. This alignment portion 644 is formed in a V-shaped cross section (an inverted trapezoid that narrows downward) so as to be in contact with the game balls B at two points at a portion below the center of the game balls B. Thereby, in the alignment portion 644, the movement of the game balls B in the width direction of the second passage portion 604b is restricted, and they can be aligned in a row and flow down (flow through).

[0351] The alignment portion 644 overlaps with the linear portion from the passage dividing portion 641 in the third straight portion 613e to the portion extending upstream from the upper surface of the installation portion 642 in the guide groove 642a. At the upstream end side of this alignment portion 644, as shown in FIG. 48 etc., it smoothly rises from the bottom surface of the first passage portion 604a so that there is no step (edge) at the boundary portion. Also, at the downstream end side of the alignment portion 644, the part from where it starts to overlap with the guide groove 642a to the downstream end is bent downward (toward the bottom surface side of the third straight portion 613e) so that the game balls B in contact with the V-shaped inclined surface of the cross section gradually approach the guide groove 642a. Thereby, the game balls B can be transferred from the alignment portion 644 where they can bounce to the guide groove 642a, and the flow-down speed (flow rate) of the game balls B does not decrease in the alignment portion 644 and the guide groove 642a.

[0352] Here, although details will be described later, the ball receiving tray 720 provided below the ball meandering member 613A will be briefly explained. The ball receiving tray 720 is provided below the circulating ball path unit 600 and is for receiving the game balls B discharged from the ball outlet 613p of the circulating ball path unit 600. It can also receive the game balls B that have fallen from the installation part 642 of the surplus ball discharging mechanism 640 and are discharged from the passage dividing part 641.

[0353] As shown in FIG. 48, the bottom wall of the ball receiving tray 720 provided below the ball meandering member 613A is inclined such that the left front end side is the lowest. The passage dividing part 641 of the surplus ball discharging mechanism 640 is provided on the left side with respect to the center in the left-right direction of the ball receiving tray 720 and at a position behind with respect to the center in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the game balls B discharged from the passage dividing part 641 and falling onto the bottom wall of the ball receiving tray 720 will roll toward the left front end side due to the inclination of the bottom wall and move from directly below the passage dividing part 641.

[0354] The bottom wall of this ball receiving tray 720 is formed in an upper-bottom shape and does not come into contact with the bottom surface of the tray insertion recess 501f. Thus, when the game ball B falls and abuts on the bottom wall of the ball receiving tray 720, the bottom wall acts like a drum and makes a sound, making it possible to notify the fall of the game ball B.

[0355] Next, the operation of the surplus ball discharging mechanism 640 will be described. This surplus ball discharging mechanism 640 is for automatically discharging the game balls B replenished in excess of the appropriate amount to the lower ball receiving tray 720 when replenishing the game balls B during maintenance or the like, so that the stored game balls B do not become excessive.

[0356] First, regarding the flow of the game balls B circulating inside the pachinko machine 1, the flow at the part of the surplus ball discharging mechanism 640 within the circulating ball path unit 600 will be described. The game balls B stored in the ball meandering passage 604 (first passage part 604a) of the circulating ball path unit 600 pass through the ball lifting inlet passage 651 of the ball lifting unit 650, and then are lifted by the ball lifting mechanism 660 and sent from the ball lifting outlet passage 652 to the ball feeding unit 700. Then, the game balls B are sent from the ball feeding unit 700 to the ball launching unit 550, and are launched from the ball launching unit 550 toward the game area 5a of the game board 5 by the operation of the player's handle 160.

[0357] The game balls B launched from the ball launching unit 550 that reach the game area 5a and win in the winning holes provided in the game area 5a are discharged from the game board 5 as safe balls. Then, the safe balls are received at the safe ball receiving port 600b of the circulating ball path unit 600, and after being detected by the safe ball sensor 606 in the safe ball passage 602, are sent to the ball meandering passage 604. On the other hand, the game balls B that reach the game area 5a but are not received by the winning holes are discharged from the game board 5 as out balls. Then, the out balls are received at the out ball receiving port 600a of the circulating ball path unit 600, and after being detected by the out ball sensor 605 in the out ball passage 601, are sent to the ball meandering passage 604. Further, the game balls B launched from the ball launching unit 550 that do not reach the game area 5a are discharged from the foul unit 570 as foul balls. Then, the foul balls are received at the foul ball receiving port 600c of the circulating ball path unit 600, and after being detected by the foul ball sensor 607 in the foul ball passage 603, are sent to the ball meandering passage 604.

[0358] The game balls B sent to the ball meandering passage 604 constituted by the ball meandering member 613A first flow through the second passage part 604b. Then, the game balls B flowing down the second passage part 604b are restricted in their movement (oscillation) in the width direction of the second passage part 604b by the alignment part 644 of the surplus ball discharging mechanism 640 provided near the downstream end of the second passage part 604b, and flow down along the central axis of the second passage part 604b.

[0359] When the game ball B enters the alignment part 644 of the surplus ball discharging mechanism 640, the alignment part 644 formed by a V-shaped groove is raised so that no step is formed from the bottom surface of the second turning part 613d. Therefore, the game ball B does not bounce at the boundary part with the alignment part 644, and can smoothly enter the alignment part 644 without reducing the flow rate of the game ball B.

[0360] When the game ball B enters the alignment part 644, the game ball B flows down while being in contact with a pair of inclined surfaces of the V-shaped groove. At the part of the third straight part 613e in the alignment part 644, the traveling direction of the game ball B is corrected straight toward the laying part 642. Then, the game ball B is delivered from the alignment part 644 to the guide groove 642a, and due to its straightness, it flows straight down along the central axis of the laying part 642 without falling from the laying part 642, and is delivered from the second passage part 604b across the passage dividing part 641 to the first passage part 604a. Thereby, the game ball B can be circulated without reducing the quantity of the game balls B stored (enclosed) in the pachinko machine 1.

[0361] Next, the operation of the surplus ball discharging mechanism 640 when replenishing the game balls B to the pachinko machine 1 (circulating ball path unit 600) due to maintenance or the like will be described. When replenishing the game balls B, for example, while opening the door frame 3 and removing the game board 5 from the main body frame 4 and stopping the ball lifting mechanism 660 of the ball lifting unit 650, the game balls B to be replenished are put into the out ball receiving port 600a or the safe ball receiving port 600b that is open upward at the bottom surface of the game board insertion part 502. Note that when the game board 5 is attached to the main body frame 4, when the game balls B to be replenished are put into the out port 1008 of the game board 5, the game balls B are received by the out ball receiving port 600a. Also, when the game balls B to be replenished are put into a winning port such as the general winning port 2001 or the first starting port 2003, the game balls B are received by the safe ball receiving port 600b.

[0362] When replenishing the game balls B as described above, turn off the power supply (power switch 751) and replenish the game balls B through the out port 1008, winning ports, etc. of the game board 5. As a result, since the power supply is turned off, even if the replenished game balls B pass through the out ball sensor 605, safe ball sensor 606, etc., the game balls B will not be detected and will not affect the calculation of the base monitor 1311. Note that a ball replenishing port for supplying the game balls B to the second passage portion 604a of the ball meandering passage 604 may be provided. Thereby, even if the game balls B are replenished from the ball replenishing port with the power supply forgotten to be turned off, they will not be detected by the out ball sensor 605, safe ball sensor 606, etc.

[0363] The game balls B put into the out ball receiving port 600a or the safe ball receiving port 600b pass through the out ball passage 601 and the safe ball passage 602 and enter the second passage portion 604b of the ball meandering passage 604 constituted by the ball meandering member 613A. The game balls B that have entered the second passage portion 604b will flow down to the first passage portion 604a across the passage dividing portion 641 by the erection portion 642 as described above. And since the ball lifting mechanism 660 is stopped, the game balls B will accumulate in the first passage portion 604a.

[0364] Since the width of this first passage portion 604a (ball meandering passage 604) is slightly wider than the diameter D of the game ball B, a plurality of stored game balls B are pushed downstream, and the plurality of game balls B are arranged in a staggered pattern so as to alternately contact the side walls on both sides, and the plurality of game balls B do not line up straight. Thereby, the ball pressure by the plurality of stored game balls B can be dispersed to the side walls, and the ball pressure by the plurality of game balls B on the downstream side can be reduced.

[0365] When the first passage portion 604a is filled with a plurality of game balls B, that is, when the upper limit of the "appropriate range" indicated by the line upstream of the "up to here" character of the upper gauge seal 620a is reached, the last game ball B stored in the first passage portion 604a, as shown in FIG. 48(b), is in contact with the side wall of the widened portion 643, so its center is away from the central axis of the bridging portion 642. In this state, when the game balls B aligned in a row by the alignment portion 644 of the upstream second passage portion 604b flow down across the bridging portion 642, the game balls B will contact a portion behind the last game ball B. Since the tangent line of the portion behind the game ball B is not perpendicular but inclined with respect to the flow direction of the game ball B, the flow direction (advancing direction) of the game ball B passing through the bridging portion 642 is directed obliquely, and it will fall from the bridging portion 642. In this way, since the widened portion 643 is provided in the first passage portion 604a, compared with the case where the widened portion 643 is not provided, it is possible to make it easier for the game balls B exceeding the upper limit of the appropriate range of the storage amount to fall from the bridging portion 643.

[0366] Even if the game ball B does not fall from the bridging portion 642, since the game balls B rolling in from the upstream side are arranged linearly by the guide groove 642a and the alignment portion 644, the ball pressure pressing the game balls B on the bridging portion 642 downstream becomes stronger. At this time, since the first passage portion 604a is filled with the game balls B, the game balls B on the bridging portion 642 cannot move downstream, so the game balls B will be pushed out in the width direction of the bridging portion 642 by the ball pressure, and the game balls B will fall from the bridging portion 642. The game balls B that have fallen (dropped) from the bridging portion 642 are discharged downward through the passage dividing portion 641 and collected in the lower ball receiving tray 720.

[0367] In the ball receiving tray 720, since the bottom wall is used as the upper bottom, when the game balls B discharged from the surplus ball discharging mechanism 640 come into contact, a sound like that of a drum will be emitted, which can notify the operator that the first passage portion 604a is full (the upper limit of the "appropriate range"), and the input of further game balls B can be stopped.

[0368] From the above, according to the surplus ball discharging mechanism 640 of the present embodiment, since the extra game balls B can be automatically discharged with respect to the storage amount in the first passage portion 604a, the game balls B will not be stored in excess of the upper limit of the "appropriate range", and the game balls B will not be in an excessive state. Therefore, when discharging the surplus game balls B, it is possible to keep the number of circulating game balls B (circulating balls) that circulate without requiring any power for detecting or discharging the game balls B to an appropriate number.

[0369] In addition, when reaching the upper limit of the "appropriate range", since the extra game balls B can be automatically discharged, it becomes possible to omit the circulating ball excess sensor 622 described later, and an increase in the cost of the pachinko machine 1 can be suppressed. Note that it may be used in combination with the circulating ball excess sensor 622.

[0370] By the way, during the game in which the game balls B are circulating, an illegal act of dropping the game balls B from the laying portion 642 to the passage dividing portion 641 by docking the pachinko machine 1 to reduce the stored game balls B is assumed, but in the present embodiment, countermeasures against docking are taken. Specifically, since the alignment portion 644 is a V-shaped groove and is in contact with the game balls B obliquely, when the ball meandering member 613A (the side wall of the ball meandering passage 604) sways due to docking, the external force from the side wall can be released obliquely upward with respect to the traveling direction of the game balls B, and it becomes difficult for the game balls B to deviate from the center of the V-shaped groove, thereby reducing the docking effect.

[0371] In addition, in the guide grooves 642a of the alignment portion 644 and the laying portion 642, the ends thereof are smoothly connected from the bottom surface or the like so that the speed of the game balls B does not decrease by not exposing the edges. Therefore, the game balls B can quickly pass through the passage dividing portion 641 (pass through the laying portion 642), and the timing at which docking can be performed can be made as short as possible. Furthermore, since the widening portion 643 is provided at the upstream end of the first passage portion 604a (the portion at the boundary with the laying portion 642), even if the game balls B deviate from the central axis of the laying portion 642 due to docking, the game balls B can be received, and the docking effect can be reduced.

[0372] Also, since the passage blocking portion 641 is provided on the downstream side of the out ball sensor 605, the safe ball sensor 606, and the foul ball sensor 607, even if the game ball B falls from the installation portion 642 due to a do tsuki and is discharged by the passage blocking portion 641, the game ball B is detected by the out ball sensor 605, the safe ball sensor 606, the foul ball sensor 607, etc., so it has no effect on the number of balls held by the player.

[0373] Furthermore, since the ball receiving tray 720 with the upper base is provided below the ball meandering member 613A, when the game ball B falls from the installation portion 642 due to a do tsuki or the like and is discharged to the ball receiving tray 720, a sound like that of a drum is produced by the contact of the game ball B, so it is possible to notify the staff in the game hall or the like that an improper act is being committed.

[0374] In the above embodiment, the passage blocking portion 641 is shown in a form that penetrates downward through the bottom wall of the ball meandering passage 604, but it is not limited to this, and the passage blocking portion 641 may be in a form that penetrates by notching at least one side wall of the ball meandering passage 604.

[0375] Also, in the above embodiment, the installation portion 642 is shown to have a width smaller than the diameter D of the game ball B, but it is not limited to this, and the installation portion 642 may have a width larger than the diameter D of the game ball B.

[0376] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the guide groove 642a of the installation portion 642 is shown to be a groove with a V-shaped cross section, but it is not limited to this, and it may be a trapezoidal groove with a cross section narrowing downward or a concave groove with a width smaller than the diameter of the game ball.

[0377] In the above-described embodiment, the alignment portion 644 is shown as having a trapezoidal shape with a cross-section narrowing downward so as to contact at two points in a portion below the center of the game ball. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be in the form of "a V-shaped cross-section so as to contact at two points in a portion below the center of the game ball", "a concave cross-section so as to contact at two points in a portion below the center of the game ball", "a form consisting of a pair of ridges separated in the width direction so as to contact at two points in a portion below the center of the game ball", and the like.

[0378] [4-5. Ball Lifting Unit] Regarding the ball lifting unit 650 in the main body frame 4, it will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 50 to 59 and the like. FIG. 50(a) is a perspective view of the ball lifting unit in the main body frame as viewed from the left front, (b) is a perspective view of the ball lifting unit in the main body frame as viewed from the right front, and (c) is a perspective view of the ball lifting unit in the main body frame as viewed from the rear. FIG. 51 is an exploded perspective view of the ball lifting unit showing a state in which the ball polishing cassette is removed by opening the ball polishing motor base and the cassette pressing piece. FIG. 52(a) is a plan view of the ball lifting unit shown in a state where the ball polishing cassette is not attached, (b) is a plan view of the ball lifting unit shown together with the ball polishing cassette in a state where the ball polishing motor base and the cassette pressing piece are opened, and (c) is a plan view of the ball lifting unit shown in a state where the ball polishing cassette is attached.

[0379] Further, FIG. 53(a) is an explanatory view showing a state in which the door frame is closed with the lock of the ball polishing cassette being incomplete, (b) is an explanatory view showing a state in which the protrusion of the door frame abuts against the tip of the ball polishing motor base by moving in the direction in which the door frame closes from the state of (a), and (c) is an explanatory view showing a state in which the door frame is closed and the ball cut is locked from the state of (b). FIG. 54 is a front view showing an enlarged main part in a state where the ball polishing cassette is removed from the ball lifting unit attached to the main body frame. FIG. 55(a) is a right side view showing the main parts of the ball polishing mechanism and the ball lifting mechanism in the ball lifting unit, (b) is a rear view showing the main part of the ball lifting mechanism, and (c) is a plan view of the main part of the ball lifting mechanism as viewed from the arrow A in (b).

[0380] Furthermore, FIG. 56 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the lifting spiral shaft and the polishing cloth in the ball lifting unit. FIG. 57(a) is a perspective view showing an enlarged view of the positions of the lifting inlet sensor and the lifting outlet sensor and the ball lifting unit as seen from the left rear, and (b) is a plan sectional view of the ball lifting unit cut at the position of the lifting inlet sensor. FIG. 58 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the positions before and after the ball sensor composed of a photosensor in the ball passage. FIG. 59(a) is a perspective view of the ball polishing cassette of the ball lifting unit as seen from the left front, (b) is a perspective view of the ball polishing cassette as seen from the right rear, and (c) is a right side sectional view of the ball polishing cassette cut at the center in the left-right direction.

[0381] The ball lifting unit 650 is for sending the game ball B discharged from the game board 5 and the fare unit 570 and flowing through the circulating ball path unit 600 to the ball launching unit 550 via the ball feeding unit 700. The ball lifting unit 650 is attached to a ball lifting unit attachment portion 501j provided on the rear surface of the base wall portion 501b in the main body frame base 501.

[0382] The ball lifting unit 650 includes a ball lifting mechanism 660 for lifting the game ball B, a ball lifting inlet passage 651 for supplying the game ball B sent from the circulating ball path unit 600 to the ball lifting mechanism 660, a ball lifting outlet passage 652 for supplying the game ball B lifted by the ball lifting mechanism 660 to the ball feeding unit 700, a lifting inlet sensor 653 provided in the ball lifting inlet passage 651 for detecting the flowing game ball B, and a lifting outlet sensor 654 provided in the ball lifting outlet passage 652 for detecting the flowing game ball B.

[0383] In addition, the ball lifting unit 650 includes a ball lifting inlet grounding sheet metal 655 provided in the ball lifting inlet passage 651 so as to be in contact with the game ball B, a ball lifting outlet grounding sheet metal 656 provided in the ball lifting outlet passage 652 so as to be in contact with the game ball B, a ball lifting relay substrate 657 for relaying the connection with the frame control substrate 740, and the ball lifting unit 650 includes a ball polishing mechanism 680 for polishing the game ball B lifted by the ball lifting mechanism 660.

[0384] First, the ball lifting mechanism 660 of the ball lifting unit 650 includes a lifting spiral shaft 661 that extends vertically and has a spiral lifting groove 661a on its outer peripheral surface, a shaft gear 662 attached to the lower end of the lifting spiral shaft 661, a motor gear 663 that meshes with the shaft gear 662 and is rotatable about an axis orthogonal to the axis of the lifting spiral shaft 661, a lifting motor 664 with the motor gear 663 attached to its rotating shaft for rotating the lifting spiral shaft 661, a lifting motor index 665 having a detection portion 665a provided so as to be notched in a part of the circumferential direction extending flange-like from the lower end of the shaft gear 662, and a lifting motor index sensor 666 capable of detecting the detection portion 665a of the lifting motor index 665.

[0385] In addition, the ball lifting mechanism 660 includes a motor base sheet metal 667 to which the lifting motor 664 is attached and which rotatably supports the motor gear 663, and a lifting mechanism base 668 and a lifting mechanism cover 669 that are attached to the motor base sheet metal 667, rotatably support the lifting spiral shaft 661, and are attached to the ball lifting unit attachment portion 501j of the base wall portion 501b in the main body frame base 501.

[0386] The lifting spiral shaft 661 is provided with a spiral lifting groove 661a having a depth capable of accommodating the game balls B in a row on the outer peripheral surface. When viewed from above in the axial direction thereof (see Fig. 55(c)), the lifting spiral shaft 661 is formed with the lifting groove 661a so that the game balls B can be lifted by rotating in the clockwise direction. The pitch of the spiral of the lifting groove 661a is formed such that the vicinity of both the upper and lower ends is longer than that between them. The lifting spiral shaft 661 is rotatably supported by a lifting mechanism base 668 and a lifting mechanism cover 669. The rotation axis of this lifting spiral shaft 661 is inclined with respect to the vertical so that the upper end is located to the right of the lower end in a front view. Thereby, the upper end side of the lifting spiral shaft 661 can be moved farther to the right from the ball feeding unit, and the length of the ball lifting outlet passage 652 can be relatively increased to increase the storage amount of the game balls B. In the present embodiment, the rotation axis of the lifting spiral shaft 661 is inclined at an angle of 12 degrees with respect to the vertical.

[0387] Furthermore, the lifting spiral shaft 661 will be described in more detail. As shown in Fig. 56, this lifting spiral shaft 661 has a small diameter portion 661b having the diameter of the bottom (bottom diameter) in the lifting groove 661a as the bottom diameter D1, and a large diameter portion 661c having a bottom diameter D2 larger than that of the small diameter portion 661b, and the large diameter portion 661c is provided at an intermediate portion in the axial direction overlapping the polishing cloth 682 of the ball polishing cassette 681. Note that between the small diameter portion 661b and the large diameter portion 661c of the lifting spiral shaft 661, the diameter is configured to gradually change.

[0388] Also, the lifting spiral shaft 661 makes the pitch P2 of the spiral at the large diameter portion 661c smaller than the pitch P1 of the spiral at the small diameter portion 661b. The smaller the pitch of the spiral, the slower the lifting speed of the game balls B.

[0389] This lifting spiral shaft 661 is arranged so that a gap S1 smaller than the diameter D of the game balls B is formed between the large diameter portion 661c and the surface of the polishing cloth 682 in the ball polishing cassette 681.

[0390] Incidentally, in the lifting spiral shaft 661, if the diameter of the bottom of the lifting groove 661a is configured as the bottom diameter D1 of the small diameter portion 661b over the entire length, since the bottom diameter D1 is smaller than the bottom diameter D2 of the large diameter portion 661c, the gap between the bottom of the lifting groove 661a and the abrasive cloth 682 becomes large. Therefore, even if the lifting spiral shaft 661 is rotated and the game ball B lifted by the lifting groove 661a is to be polished by the abrasive cloth 682, the game ball B escapes to the bottom side of the lifting groove 661a due to the large gap with the abrasive cloth 682, and the contact area of the game ball B with the abrasive cloth 682 becomes small, resulting in a decrease in the polishing efficiency.

[0391] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, at the portion of the lifting spiral shaft 661 in the axial intermediate portion that overlaps with the abrasive cloth 682 of the ball polishing cassette 681, since the bottom diameter D2 of the lifting groove 661a is set as the large diameter portion 661c that is larger than the bottom diameter D1 of the small diameter portion 661b, the gap from the bottom of the lifting groove 661a to the surface of the abrasive cloth 682 in the large diameter portion 661c can be made smaller than the gap at the portion of the small diameter portion 661b. Further, in the present embodiment, the gap S1 from the large diameter portion 661c to the abrasive cloth 682 is made smaller than the diameter D of the game ball B. For these reasons, at the portion of the large diameter portion 661c, the game ball B cannot escape to the bottom side of the lifting groove 661a, the game ball B can be pressed against the abrasive cloth 682 by the bottom of the lifting groove 661a, and the abrasive cloth 682 can be recessed together with the ball polishing sponge 683 provided on the back side of the abrasive cloth 682. Thereby, the contact area of the abrasive cloth 682 with respect to the game ball B can be increased, and the polishing efficiency of the game ball B can be enhanced.

[0392] Further, in the lifting spiral shaft 661 of the present embodiment, since the pitch P2 of the spiral in the large diameter portion 661c that overlaps with the abrasive cloth 682 is made smaller than the pitch P1 of the spiral at the portion of the small diameter portion 661b, the lifting speed of the game ball B in the large diameter portion 661c can be slowed down. Thereby, since the contact time of the game ball B with the abrasive cloth 682 can be lengthened, the game ball B can be polished more carefully.

[0393] Furthermore, since the diameter of the lifting spiral shaft 661 of the present embodiment gradually changes between the small-diameter portion 661b and the large-diameter portion 661c, it is possible to avoid a sudden change in the load applied when lifting the game ball B, and the load in the lifting operation can be reduced.

[0394] In addition, as shown in FIG. 55(b), the lifting spiral shaft 661 of the present embodiment is inclined at an angle of 12 degrees with respect to the vertical, so that it intersects obliquely with the polishing cloth 682. Therefore, the entire width of the polishing cloth 682 can be used to polish the game ball B, and the polishing cloth 682 can be used efficiently for polishing.

[0395] Although the large-diameter portion 661c is provided in the middle in the axial direction as the lifting spiral shaft 661, the present invention is not limited to this. The small-diameter portion 661b may be provided only on the lower end side, and the large-diameter portion 661c may be provided up to the upper end on the upper side thereof.

[0396] The shaft gear 662 is a spur gear (worm wheel gear). The motor gear 663 is a worm gear. As a result, even if the lifting spiral shaft 661 tries to rotate due to the load acting by accommodating a large number of game balls B in the lifting groove 661a of the lifting spiral shaft 661, the rotation can be blocked by the motor gear 663 composed of a worm gear meshing with the shaft gear 662. Further, since the motor gear 663 is a worm gear, even if the lifting spiral shaft 661 tries to rotate due to the inertia when the drive of the lifting motor 664 stops, the rotation can be stopped immediately, and an overshoot of the game ball B can be prevented.

[0397] In the present embodiment, the shaft gear 662 is formed of POM (polyacetal resin), and the motor gear 663 is formed of a fiber-reinforced plastic containing polyamide carbon fiber. As a result, the motor gear 663 composed of a worm gear is made less likely to break. Note that the motor gear 663 may be made of metal.

[0398] The hoisting motor 664 is a DC motor. The hoisting motor index 665 is integrally formed with the shaft gear 662 in a flange shape. The detection part 665a of the hoisting motor index 665 is provided so that a range of an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the entire circumference is cut out. The hoisting motor index sensor 666 is a photosensor. The hoisting motor index sensor 666 is in a light-receiving state at the part of the detection part 665a in the hoisting motor index 665, and is shielded from light and in a non-light-receiving state at parts other than the detection part 665a. Thereby, it is possible to detect the rotational position of the hoisting spiral shaft 661 via the hoisting motor index 665.

[0399] Although details will be described later, when the rotation axis of the hoisting motor 664 rotates 32 times by the shaft gear 662 and the motor gear 663, the hoisting spiral shaft 661 rotates once. And in the hoisting motor index sensor 666, when the hoisting motor 664 rotates 28 times after being located at a part other than the detection part 665a and being in a non-light-receiving state, it reaches the detection part 665a and becomes in a light-receiving state, and when the hoisting motor 664 rotates 4 more times after becoming in the light-receiving state, it leaves the detection part 665a and becomes in a non-light-receiving state. In the present embodiment, the position where the hoisting motor 664 has rotated 2 times after reaching the detection part 665a and becoming in the light-receiving state is set as the origin. That is, the center of the detection part 665a is set as the origin of the rotation of the hoisting spiral shaft 661.

[0400] The motor base sheet metal 667 mounts the hoisting motor 664 on the left end side in a front view, and rotatably supports the right end of the motor gear 663 on the right end side. The upper end side of the motor base sheet metal 667 is attached to the hoisting mechanism base 668, and the lower end side is attached to the hoisting mechanism cover 669.

[0401] The hoisting mechanism base 668 houses the hoisting spiral shaft 661 in cooperation with the hoisting mechanism cover 669 and rotatably supports the hoisting spiral shaft 661. The hoisting mechanism base 668 has a ball grinding port 668a that penetrates through in the front-rear direction so that the hoisting spiral shaft 661 faces forward with a size through which the game ball B cannot pass, and a cassette mounting recess 668b that is recessed from the front to the rear and has the ball grinding port 668a opening at the bottom surface and can accommodate the rear end side of the ball grinding cassette 681. The ball grinding port 668a extends vertically with a width narrower than the diameter of the game ball B. This ball grinding port 668a is provided so that a part of the game ball B hoisted by the hoisting spiral shaft 661 protrudes forward, and the part of the game ball B that protrudes forward from the ball grinding port 668a contacts the abrasive cloth 682 of the ball grinding cassette 681 in the ball grinding mechanism 680 attached (mounted) to the cassette mounting recess 668b, thereby grinding the game ball B.

[0402] In the hoisting mechanism base 668, a downstream portion of the ball hoisting inlet passage 651 is provided at a position to the right of the hoisting spiral shaft 661 in the front view near the lower end. The portion of the ball hoisting inlet passage 651 provided in the hoisting mechanism base 668 is inclined such that the upstream end opens rearward and becomes lower toward the lower end of the left hoisting spiral shaft 661. Further, a hoisting inlet sensor 653 is attached to the hoisting mechanism base 668 at a position to the right of the lower end of the hoisting spiral shaft 661 in the front view.

[0403] In addition, in the hoisting mechanism base 668, an upstream portion of the ball hoisting outlet passage 652 is provided near the upper end. The portion of the ball hoisting outlet passage 652 provided in the hoisting mechanism base 668 is inclined downward from the front of the upper end portion of the hoisting spiral shaft 661 to the left in a front view and then inclined downward to the rear, and the downstream end is open rearward. For the ball hoisting outlet passage 652, after being inclined downward from the portion opening rearward in the hoisting mechanism base 668 to the left, it is inclined downward toward the front and opens forward at the front end. The portion of the ball hoisting outlet passage 652 is formed by the cooperation of the hoisting mechanism base 668 and the hoisting mechanism cover 669.

[0404] In addition, a ball milling motor base 686 to which a ball milling motor 688 of the ball milling mechanism 680 is attached is rotatably attached to the hoisting mechanism base 668 about an axis extending vertically.

[0405] The hoisting mechanism cover 669 cooperates with the hoisting mechanism base 668 to accommodate the hoisting spiral shaft 661 and rotatably supports the hoisting spiral shaft 661, and is attached to the ball hoisting unit attachment portion 501j of the base wall portion 501b of the main body frame base 501 from the rear. A ball hoisting relay substrate 657 is attached to the rear surface of the hoisting mechanism cover 669.

[0406] The hoisting mechanism cover 669 is provided with a portion upstream of the portion provided in the hoisting mechanism base 668 in the ball hoisting inlet passage 651. The portion of the ball hoisting inlet passage 651 provided in the hoisting mechanism base 668 has a downstream end opening forward at a position to the right in a front view near the lower end of the hoisting spiral shaft 661, extends rearward, then bends to the left, passes behind the hoisting spiral shaft 661, and then extends obliquely forward with the upstream end opening to the left. A ball hoisting inlet grounding sheet metal 655 is attached to the hoisting mechanism cover 669 at the rear of the lower end of the hoisting spiral shaft 661 so as to be in contact with the game ball B flowing through the ball hoisting inlet passage 651.

[0407] Further, the lifting mechanism cover 669 is provided with a portion downstream of the portion provided on the lifting mechanism base 668 in the ball lifting outlet passage 652. The portion provided on the lifting mechanism cover 669 in the ball lifting outlet passage 652 has an upstream end opening rearward, bending leftward in a front view, extending leftward to the left end, then bending forward, and having a downstream end opening forward at the front end of the lifting mechanism cover 669.

[0408] Also, a lifting outlet sensor 654 is attached to the vicinity of the left end of the portion extending leftward in a front view in the ball lifting outlet passage 652 on the lifting mechanism cover 669. Further, on the lifting mechanism cover 669, a ball lifting outlet grounding sheet metal 656 is attached at a portion upstream of the lifting outlet sensor 654 in the portion extending leftward in the ball lifting outlet passage 652 so as to be capable of contacting the game ball B flowing through the ball lifting outlet passage 652.

[0409] Furthermore, the lifting mechanism cover 669 has a support protrusion 669a protruding forward from the lifting mechanism base 668 from a position near the center lower in the vertical direction at the right end, and a locking hole 669b penetrating through the front surface of the support protrusion 669a and to which the nylon latch 694 is locked. When the ball lifting unit 650 is attached to the ball lifting unit attachment portion 501j of the main body frame 4 from the rear, the support protrusion 669a protrudes to the front surface side of the base wall portion 501b through an opening 501o penetrating the base wall portion 501b.

[0410] Subsequently, the ball lifting inlet passage 651 of the ball lifting unit 650 has an opening at its upstream end (inlet) facing leftward near the lower part of the left side surface of the ball lifting unit 650. This opening is provided so as to face the ball discharge port 600d of the circulating ball path unit 600 when assembled to the main body frame 4. The ball lifting inlet passage 651 is inclined downward from the left end inlet toward the right, extends rightward of the lifting spiral shaft 661 so as to bypass the rear of the lifting spiral shaft 661, then turns back toward the front side and extends to near the lower end of the lifting spiral shaft 661 toward the left. And in the vicinity of the lifting spiral shaft 661, it is bent in a crank shape so as to turn into the front side of the lifting spiral shaft 661 and communicates with the lifting groove 661a of the lifting spiral shaft 661 near the front side of the lower end of the lifting spiral shaft 661.

[0411] The ball lifting inlet passage 651 is provided so that the opening at its upstream end faces the ball discharge port 600d that forms the opening at the downstream end of the ball meandering passage 604 in the circulating ball path unit 600, and the game ball B that has flowed through the ball meandering passage 604 is transferred and flows through.

[0412] The ball lifting inlet passage 651 is provided with a lifting inlet sensor 653 at a position to the right of the lifting spiral shaft 661, and a ball lifting inlet ground sheet metal 655 is attached to a position behind the lifting spiral shaft 661.

[0413] The ball lifting outlet passage 652 has its upstream end communicating with the lifting groove 661a near the upper end of the lifting spiral shaft 661 at the front side near the upper end of the ball lifting unit 650, extends leftward of the lifting spiral shaft 661 and then bends rearward, extends to the same position as the rear end of the lifting spiral shaft 661 and then bends leftward. And from there, it extends leftward near the left end of the ball lifting unit 650 and then bends forward, and its downstream end opens forward on the front surface of the ball lifting unit 650 (lifting mechanism cover 669).

[0414] The ball lifting upper exit passage 652 is provided such that the opening at the downstream end faces the ball supply port of the ball feeding unit described later, and can supply the game ball B to the ball feeding unit 700.

[0415] The ball lifting upper exit passage 652 is provided with a lifting exit sensor 654 near the left end of the part extending leftward near the rear end of the ball lifting unit 650, and a ball lifting upper exit earthing sheet metal 656 is attached to the upstream side (right side) thereof. Note that an opening is provided in the bottom wall of the part where the ball lifting upper exit earthing sheet metal 656 is provided in the ball lifting upper exit passage 652, the opening being sized so as not to obstruct the flow of the game ball B, and dust, dirt, etc. can be discharged to the outside through the opening.

[0416] The lifting entrance sensor 653 detects the presence or absence of the game ball B to be lifted when the lifting spiral shaft 661 is rotated by driving the lifting motor 664 to lift the game ball B. Although details will be described later, when the game ball B is not detected by the lifting entrance sensor 653, the lifting motor 664 is not driven.

[0417] The lifting exit sensor 654 detects the presence or absence of the game ball B supplied to the ball feeding unit. Although details will be described later, when the lifting entrance sensor 653 detects the game ball B and the game ball B is not detected by the lifting exit sensor 654, and a predetermined condition is satisfied (here, subtraction of a predetermined number (for example, 3) of game balls B by the emission subtraction sensor 554), the lifting spiral shaft 661 is rotated by driving the lifting motor 664 to lift a predetermined number of game balls B.

[0418] The lifting entrance sensor 653 and the lifting exit sensor 654 are photo sensors having a light emitting part and a light receiving part, and detect the presence or absence of the game ball B non - contact by the light from the light emitting part being blocked by the game ball B.

[0419] Here, the relationship between the ball lifting inlet passage 651 and the ball lifting outlet passage 652, and the lifting inlet sensor 653 and the lifting outlet sensor 654 will be described. Here, the relationship between the ball lifting inlet passage 651 and the lifting inlet sensor 653 will be described, and since the relationship between the ball lifting outlet passage 652 and the lifting outlet sensor 654 is the same, it will be omitted. As shown in FIGS. 57 and 58, the portion of the ball lifting inlet passage 651 where the lifting inlet sensor 653 is provided is a V-shaped passage portion 651a having a V-shaped cross section (an inverted trapezoid narrowed downward). Note that the portion of the ball lifting inlet passage 651 other than the V-shaped passage portion 651a is a U-shaped passage portion 651b having a U-shaped cross section opened upward.

[0420] Note that the same applies to the ball lifting outlet passage 652, the portion of the lifting outlet sensor 654 is a V-shaped passage portion 652a having a V-shaped cross section (an inverted trapezoid narrowed downward), and the other portion is a U-shaped passage portion 652b having a U-shaped cross section opened upward.

[0421] In other words, the V-shaped passage portion 651a and the V-shaped passage portion 652a each have a pair of inclined surfaces that are in contact with the game ball B and are inclined so that the interval widens as they go upward. Further, the U-shaped passage portion 651b and the U-shaped passage portion 652b have a flat bottom surface that is in contact with the game ball B and has a width larger than the diameter of the game ball B, and a pair of side wall surfaces standing upright from both ends in the width direction of the bottom surface. Note that the ball feeding passage 703 of the ball feeding unit 700 on the downstream side of the ball lifting outlet passage 652 is also formed in the same shape as the U-shaped passage portion 651b and the U-shaped passage portion 652b.

[0422] By the way, if the cross section of the passage at the portion of the lifting inlet sensor 653 composed of a photosensor is a U-shaped passage opened upward, the flowing game ball B contacts the side wall, so scratches, dirt, etc. generated on the side wall of the passage due to the contact of the game ball B may inhibit the light emission and reception of the photosensor, and there is a risk of false detection. Further, in a U-shaped passage, the position of the game ball B in the width direction of the passage is not constant and is not stable, so the detection positions by the sensor vary, and there is a risk of false detection.

[0423] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the part of the lifting-inlet sensor 653 (lifting-outlet sensor 654) is formed as a V-shaped passage part 651a (V-shaped passage part 652a) with a V-shaped cross-section, the game ball B is held at two points by the parts on both diagonal sides of the V-shape, so that the movement in the width direction of the passage can be restricted, and the position of the game ball B can be made constant and stabilized with respect to the width direction of the passage. As a result, at the part of the lifting-inlet sensor 653 (lifting-outlet sensor 654), the game ball B does not contact the side wall of the passage, so that the occurrence of scratches and dirt due to the contact of the game ball B can be prevented, false detection can be eliminated, and the game ball can be reliably detected.

[0424] In the above, as the shape of the passage for making the position of the game ball B constant and stable with respect to the sensor, the V-shaped passage part 651a (V-shaped passage part 652a) with a V-shaped cross-section (inverted trapezoidal shape) is shown, but it may also be a pair of protrusions provided at an interval narrower than the diameter of the game ball B and extending in the flow direction of the game ball B.

[0425] The ball lifting-inlet passage 651 is provided with a lifting spiral shaft 661 at its downstream end. Therefore, in the ball lifting-inlet passage 651 upstream of the lifting spiral shaft 661, since the game balls B are picked up one by one into the lifting grooves 661a of the lifting spiral shaft 661, they move intermittently, and the game balls B stay in the ball lifting-inlet passage 651. On the other hand, the ball lifting-outlet passage 652 is provided with a ball feeding unit 700 to be described later at its downstream end. Therefore, in the ball lifting-outlet passage 652 upstream of the ball feeding unit 700, since the game balls B move intermittently one by one by the ball feeding operation of the ball feeding unit 700, the game balls B stay in the ball lifting-outlet passage 652.

[0426] Then, in the ball lifting inlet passage 651 (ball lifting outlet passage 652), as shown in FIG. 58, only the portion of the lifting inlet sensor 653 (lifting outlet sensor 654) is formed as a V-shaped passage portion 651a (V-shaped passage portion 652a) with a V-shaped cross section, and the other portions are formed as a U-shaped passage portion 651b (U-shaped passage portion 652b) with a U-shaped cross section. Therefore, even if a plurality of game balls B are stagnated in the ...

Claims

【Claim 1】 A gaming machine capable of granting a privilege to a player based on the result of a lottery, a specific effect unit electrically connectable to the gaming machine, control means capable of performing predetermined error control, comprising: The specific effect unit is not something that the player attaches and detaches, and is a specific decorative part having a predetermined light-emitting part and constituting a part of the gaming machine. The control means is capable of performing specific error control corresponding to a specific abnormality when the specific abnormality occurs. Even if the specific effect unit becomes disconnected while the specific error control is being executed, the specific error control can be continued without generating an error corresponding to the disconnection of the specific effect unit. When the specific error control is being executed when the specific effect unit is connected, it is allowed to perform a light-emitting operation based on the specific error control using the light-emitting part of the connected specific effect unit. When the specific effect unit is connected during the execution of the specific error control, it is possible to reflect the light-emitting operation based on the specific error control on the light-emitting part of the specific effect unit at the moment when the specific effect unit is connected without any operation required. Further, it is possible to perform a light-emitting operation based on the specific error control even with a separate light-emitting part different from the light-emitting part. Even if the specific effect unit becomes disconnected during the execution of the specific error control, the light-emitting operation based on the specific error control using the separate light-emitting part can be continued. A gaming machine characterized by the above.

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