Gaming machine

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of enhancing interest in a game.SOLUTION: An identification part corresponding to a stoppable range set to a determined movable pattern from among a plurality of identification parts in a movable body is stopped in a determined performance position. For the movable pattern, a movable pattern in which a stoppable range where the movable body is stopped next is preset is determined when the movable body is stopped. More specifically, a next stoppable range is determined in a state where the movable body is stopped. Thus, a degree of expectation regarding whether a specific identification part stops in a performance position from a position in which the position of the movable body is stopped according to a next stoppable range. Even if the specific identification part does not stop in the performance position, a player is allowed to become interested in the stop position. Thus, monotonicity in a game can be suppressed, thus suppressing inconvenience in which the player readily gets tired of the game.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine typified by a pachinko machine.

Background Art

[0002] In gaming machines such as pachinko machines In the case where it is based on the fulfillment of predetermined lottery conditions and lottery of results are sometimes shifts to a winning state that is advantageous to the player a win. In this conventional gaming machine, every time a lottery is executed, by executing a suggestive effect that suggests whether it is a winning or not, the interest in the game was improved.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However , the interest of further games of is improving required .

[0005] The present invention It was made to solve the above-exemplified problems and others, and for the player games with respect to aims to provide a gaming machine capable of improving the interest.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve this object, the gaming machine of the present invention includes a ball entry means through which a game ball can enter, an acquisition means capable of acquiring predetermined discrimination information based on the entry of the game ball into the ball entry means, a discrimination means that executes discrimination based on the establishment of discrimination conditions using the discrimination information acquired by the acquisition means, and a display means capable of displaying identification information. When the discrimination by the discrimination means is executed, the identification information for indicating the discrimination result of the discrimination means is configured to be stopped and displayed on the display means after dynamic display is performed. The gaming machine has a plurality of periods including at least a first period and a second period longer than the first period as the dynamic display period in the dynamic display. When the identification information for indicating a specific discrimination result is stopped and displayed on the display means, a privilege game advantageous to the player can be executed. In the dynamic display period, a specific effect that is an effect variable to one of a plurality of stages of effect modes and can suggest the specific discrimination result when the effect mode of a specific stage is changed is configured to be executable. and the specific effect that changes to an effect mode different from the effect mode manifested by the executed specific effect after the specific effect is executed in the dynamic display period corresponding to the one dynamic display among the dynamic displays started during the predetermined period can be executed in the dynamic display period corresponding to the dynamic display that starts after the one dynamic display among the dynamic displays started during the predetermined period. When a plurality of abnormal dynamic displays, which are dynamic displays corresponding to at least different abnormal discrimination results from the specific discrimination result, are started during the predetermined period, the execution of the specific effect that changes to the effect mode of the specific stage can be suppressed in the dynamic display period corresponding to each of the plurality of started abnormal dynamic displays. When at least one specific effect is executed in the dynamic display period set in the second period, the specific effect that changes to an effect mode different from the effect mode manifested by the one specific effect after the execution of the one specific effect can be executed in the remaining dynamic display period after the execution of the one specific effect. The execution of the specific effect that changes to the effect mode of the specific stage can be suppressed in the dynamic display period set in the second period and corresponding to the abnormal dynamic display. The gaming machine has at least the effect mode of the specific stage and the effect mode of a predetermined stage lower than the specific stage as the effect modes of the plurality of stages. The gaming machine is configured such that the specific effect that changes to the effect mode of the specific stage can be executed without the execution of the specific effect that changes to the effect mode of the predetermined stage. The gaming machine is configured such that one specific effect can also be executed in the dynamic display period set in the first period. When the specific effect is executed in the dynamic display period corresponding to the dynamic display that starts after the one dynamic display among the dynamic displays started during the predetermined period and is not continuous with the one dynamic display,The specific effect that varies to an effect mode different from the effect mode that appeared during the dynamic display period corresponding to the dynamic display of 1 is configured to be executable without executing the specific effect that varies to the same effect mode as the effect mode that appeared during the dynamic display period corresponding to the dynamic display of 1, is.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] According to the gaming machine of the present invention, it includes a ball entry means through which a game ball can enter, an acquisition means capable of acquiring predetermined discrimination information based on the entry of the game ball into the ball entry means, a discrimination means that executes discrimination based on the establishment of discrimination conditions using the discrimination information acquired by the acquisition means, and a display means capable of displaying identification information. When the discrimination by the discrimination means is executed, the identification information for indicating the discrimination result of the discrimination means is configured to be stopped and displayed on the display means after dynamic display is performed. The gaming machine has a plurality of periods including at least a first period and a second period longer than the first period as the dynamic display period in the dynamic display. When the identification information for indicating a specific discrimination result is stopped and displayed on the display means, a privilege game advantageous to the player can be executed. In the dynamic display period, a specific effect that is an effect variable to one of a plurality of stages of effect modes and can suggest the specific discrimination result when the effect mode of a specific stage is changed is configured to be executable.and, among the dynamic displays started during a predetermined period, the specific effect that changes to an effect mode different from the effect mode manifested by the executed specific effect after the specific effect is executed in the dynamic display period corresponding to the one dynamic display can be executed in the dynamic display period corresponding to the dynamic display that starts after the one dynamic display among the dynamic displays started during the predetermined period; when a plurality of abnormal dynamic displays, which are dynamic displays corresponding to at least different abnormal discrimination results different from the specific discrimination result, are started during the predetermined period, the execution of the specific effect that changes to the effect mode of the specific stage can be suppressed in the dynamic display period corresponding to each of the plurality of started abnormal dynamic displays; when at least one specific effect is executed in the dynamic display period set in the second period, the specific effect that changes to an effect mode different from the effect mode manifested by the one specific effect can be executed in the remaining dynamic display period after the one specific effect is executed; the execution of the specific effect that changes to the effect mode of the specific stage can be suppressed in the dynamic display period set in the second period and corresponding to the abnormal dynamic display; the gaming machine has at least the effect mode of the specific stage and the effect mode of a predetermined stage lower than the specific stage as the effect modes of the plurality of stages; the specific effect that changes to the effect mode of the specific stage can be executed without the execution of the specific effect that changes to the effect mode of the predetermined stage; the gaming machine is configured such that one specific effect can also be executed in the dynamic display period set in the first period; when the specific effect is executed in the dynamic display period corresponding to the dynamic display that starts after the one dynamic display and is not continuous with the one dynamic display among the dynamic displays started during the predetermined period,The specific effect that varies to an effect mode different from the effect mode that appeared during the dynamic display period corresponding to the dynamic display of 1 is configured to be executable without executing the specific effect that varies to the same effect mode as the effect mode that appeared during the dynamic display period corresponding to the dynamic display of 1, It is.

[0012] As a result, for the player Game with respect to Improve the interest to cause There is an effect that it can be achieved.

Brief Explanation of the Drawings

[0019]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] <First Embodiment> Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, referring to FIGS. 1 to 88, as a first embodiment, an embodiment in the case where the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine (hereinafter simply referred to as "pachinko machine") 10 will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view of the pachinko machine 10 in the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a front view of the game board 13 of the pachinko machine 10, and FIG. 3 is a rear view of the pachinko machine 10.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 includes an outer frame 11 whose outer shell is formed by a wooden frame combined in a substantially rectangular shape, and an inner frame 12 formed in substantially the same outer shape as the outer frame 11 and supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to the outer frame 11. On the outer frame 11, metal hinges 18 are attached at two upper and lower positions on the left side in the front view (see FIG. 1) to support the inner frame 12, and the inner frame 12 is supported so as to be openable and closable to the front side with the side provided with the hinge 18 as the axis of opening and closing.

[0022] On the inner frame 12, a game board 13 (see FIG. 2) having a large number of nails and winning holes 63, 64, etc. is detachably attached from the back side. A pinball game is performed by the flow of balls (game balls) on the front surface of the game board 13. Note that on the inner frame 12, a ball launching unit 112a (see FIG. 4) that launches balls into the front area of the game board 13 and a launching rail (not shown) that guides the balls launched from the ball launching unit 112a to the front area of the game board 13 are attached.

[0023] On the front side of the inner frame 12, a front frame 14 that covers the upper front surface thereof and a lower dish unit 15 that covers the lower side thereof are provided. In order to support the front frame 14 and the lower dish unit 15, metal hinges 19 are attached at two upper and lower positions on the left side in a front view (see Fig. 1), and the front frame 14 and the lower dish unit 15 are supported so as to be openable and closable to the front near side with the side where the hinge 19 is provided as the axis of opening and closing. Note that the locking of the inner frame 12 and the locking of the front frame 14 are each released by inserting a dedicated key into the keyhole 21 of the cylinder lock 20 and performing a predetermined operation.

[0024] The front frame 14 is assembled with resin parts for decoration, electrical parts, etc., and a window portion 14c having an opening formed in a substantially elliptical shape is provided at a substantially central portion thereof. A glass unit 16 having two plate glasses is disposed on the back side of the front frame 14, and the front surface of the game board 13 can be visually recognized on the front side of the pachinko machine 10 through the glass unit 16.

[0025] On the front frame 14, an upper dish 17 for storing balls is formed in a substantially box shape that protrudes forward and has an open upper surface, and prize balls, lent balls, etc. are discharged onto this upper dish 17. The bottom surface of the upper dish 17 is formed to be inclined downward on the right side in a front view (see Fig. 1), and the balls put into the upper dish 17 are guided to the ball launching unit 112a (see Fig. 4) by this inclination. Further, a frame button 22 is provided on the upper surface of the upper dish 17. This frame button 22 is operated by a player, for example, when changing the stage of an effect displayed by the third symbol display device 81 (see Fig. 2) or when changing the content of the super reach effect.

[0026] On the front frame 14, light-emitting means such as various lamps are provided around it (for example, at the corner portions). These light-emitting means are controlled to change their light-emitting modes by lighting up or flashing in response to changes in the gaming state during a big win or at a predetermined reach, etc., and play a role in enhancing the production effect during the game. At the periphery of the window portion 14c, decorative parts 29 to 33 incorporating light-emitting means such as LEDs are provided. In the pachinko machine 10, these decorative parts 29 to 33 function as production lamps such as big win lamps, and during a big win or a reach production, etc., each of the decorative parts 29 to 33 lights up or flashes by the lighting up or flashing of the built-in LEDs, and it is notified that it is during a big win or during a reach just before a big win. Also, at the upper left part in the front view (see FIG. 1) of the front frame 14, a display lamp 34 incorporating light-emitting means such as LEDs is provided, which can display during the payout of prize balls and when an error occurs.

[0027] Also, below the lower side of the decorative part 32 on the right side, a small window 35 is formed by attaching a transparent resin from the back side so that the back side of the front frame 14 can be visually recognized, and a certificate or the like attached to the sticking space K1 (see FIG. 2) in front of the game board 13 is made visible from the front of the pachinko machine 10. Also, in the pachinko machine 10, in order to create a more magnificent atmosphere, a plating member 36 made of ABS resin plated around the decorative parts 29 to 33 is attached.

[0028] Below the window portion 14c, a ball lending operation unit 40 is disposed. The ball lending operation unit 40 is provided with a frequency display unit 41, a ball lending button 42, and a return button 43. When the ball lending operation unit 40 is operated with a bill, a card, etc. inserted into a card unit (ball lending unit) (not shown) disposed on the side of the pachinko machine 10, balls are lent according to the operation. Specifically, the frequency display unit 41 is an area where balance information of a card or the like is displayed, and the built-in LED lights up and the balance is displayed numerically as the balance information. The ball lending button 42 is operated to obtain lent balls based on information recorded on a card or the like (recording medium), and lent balls are supplied to the upper tray 17 as long as there is a balance on the card or the like. The return button 43 is operated when requesting the return of a card or the like inserted into the card unit. In a pachinko machine in which balls are directly lent from a ball lending device or the like to the upper tray 17 without passing through the card unit, that is, a so-called cash machine, the ball lending operation unit 40 is not required. In this case, a decorative sticker or the like may be added to the installation portion of the ball lending operation unit 40 so that the component configuration is common. It is possible to make the pachinko machine using the card unit and the cash machine common.

[0029] In the lower tray unit 15 located below the upper tray 17, a lower tray 50 for storing balls that could not be completely stored in the upper tray 17 is formed in a substantially box shape with an open upper surface on the left side thereof. On the right side of the lower tray 50, an operation handle 51 operated by the player to drive the balls into the front surface of the game board 13 is disposed.

[0030] Inside the operation handle 51, there are a touch sensor 51a for permitting the driving of the ball launching unit 112a, a firing stop switch 51b for stopping the firing of the ball during the period of the pressing operation, a variable resistor (not shown) for detecting the amount of rotational operation (rotational position) of the operation handle 51 by the change in the electric resistance, and the like. When the operation handle 51 is rotationally operated clockwise by the player, the touch sensor 51a is turned on and the resistance value of the variable resistor changes corresponding to the amount of rotational operation, and the ball is launched with the intensity (launch intensity) corresponding to the resistance value of the variable resistor, and thus the ball is driven into the front surface of the game board 13 with the jumping amount corresponding to the operation of the player. Further, in a state where the operation handle 51 is not operated by the player, the touch sensor 51a and the firing stop switch 51b are turned off.

[0031] At the front lower part of the lower tray 50, a ball removal lever 52 for operating when discharging the balls stored in the lower tray 50 downward is provided. This ball removal lever 52 is constantly biased in the front direction, and by sliding it in the back direction against the bias, the bottom opening formed on the bottom surface of the lower tray 50 is opened, and the balls naturally fall and are discharged from the bottom opening. The operation of this ball removal lever 54b is usually performed with a box (generally called a "senryou box") for receiving the balls discharged from the lower tray 50 placed below the lower tray 50.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 13 is formed by assembling a base plate 60 machined into a substantially square shape in front view, with a number of pins for guiding balls (not shown), windmills, rails 61 and 62, a general winning opening 63, a first ball entry opening 64, a second ball entry opening 640a, a second variable winning device 65, a through gate 67, a variable display device unit 80, etc. on the base plate 60, and the peripheral portion thereof is attached to the back side of the inner frame 12 (see FIG. 1). The base plate 60 is made of a light-transmissive resin material and is formed so that various structures arranged on the back side of the base plate 60 can be visually recognized by the player from the front side of the base plate 60. The general winning opening 63, the first ball entry opening 64, the second ball entry opening 640a, the second variable winning device 65, and the variable display device unit 80 are arranged in through holes formed in the base plate 60 by routing and are fixed by tapping screws or the like from the front side of the game board 13.

[0033] The central portion of the front surface of the game board 13 can be visually recognized from the front side of the inner frame 12 through the window portion 14c (see FIG. 1) of the front frame 14. Hereinafter, the configuration of the game board 13 will be mainly described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0034] On the front surface of the game board 13, an outer rail 62 formed by bending a strip-shaped metal plate into a substantially arc shape is planted, and at an inner position of the outer rail 62, an arc-shaped inner rail 61 formed of a strip-shaped metal plate similar to the outer rail 62 is planted. The inner rail 61 and the outer rail 62 surround the outer periphery of the front surface of the game board 13, and the front and back are surrounded by the game board 13 and the glass unit 16 (see FIG. 1), so that a game area where the game is played by the behavior of the ball is formed on the front surface of the game board 13. The game area is an area (an area where a winning opening or the like is arranged and the launched ball flows down) partitioned by the front surface of the game board 13, two rails 61 and 62, and a resin outer edge member 73 connecting between the rails.

[0035] The two rails 61 and 62 are provided to guide the balls launched from the ball launching unit 112a (see FIG. 4) to the upper part of the game board 13. A return ball prevention member 68 is attached to the tip portion of the inner rail 61 (the upper left portion in FIG. 2), preventing a situation where a ball once guided to the upper part of the game board 13 returns into the ball guiding passage again. A return rubber 69 is attached to the tip portion of the outer rail 62 (the upper right portion in FIG. 2) at a position corresponding to the maximum flying portion of the ball. A ball launched with a momentum above a predetermined level hits the return rubber 69 and bounces back toward the central portion while its momentum is attenuated.

[0036] On the lower left part of the front view of the game area (the lower left part in FIG. 2), first symbol display devices 37A and 37B each having a plurality of LEDs as light emitting means and a 7-segment display are arranged. The first symbol display devices 37A and 37B are configured to display according to each control performed by the main control device 110 (see FIG. 4), and mainly display the game state of the pachinko machine 10. In this embodiment, the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B are configured to be selectively used according to whether a ball wins at the first ball entry port 64 or at the second ball entry port 640a. Specifically, when a ball wins at the first ball entry port 64, the first symbol display device 37A operates, while when a ball wins at the second ball entry port 640a, the first symbol display device 37B operates.

[0037] Also, the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B use the LEDs to indicate whether the pachinko machine 10 is in the probability variation state, time limit state, or normal state by the lighting state, indicate whether it is in the variation state or not by the lighting state, indicate whether the stop symbol corresponds to a probability variation big win symbol, a normal big win symbol, or a losing symbol by the lighting state, indicate the number of hold balls by the lighting state, and perform the display of the number of rounds during a big win and error display by the 7-segment display device. Note that the plurality of LEDs are configured such that the light emission colors of the respective LEDs (for example, red, green, blue) are different, and various game states of the pachinko machine 10 can be suggested with a small number of LEDs by the combination of the light emission colors.

[0038] In the pachinko machine 10, a lottery is conducted when a winning occurs at the first winning opening 64 and the second winning opening 640a. In the lottery of the pachinko machine 10, a determination of whether or not it is a big win (big win lottery) is made, and when it is determined to be a big win, the type of the big win is also determined. As the types of big wins determined here, sure change big wins A to K and normal big wins A and B are prepared. The first symbol display devices 37A and 37B show not only whether the result of the lottery is a big win as the stopped symbol after the variation ends, but also show a symbol corresponding to the type of big win when it is a big win.

[0039] Here, "sure change big wins A to K" are all big wins with a maximum number of rounds of 2 rounds, and after the big win ends, it shifts to a high probability state of the special symbol. On the other hand, when it becomes "normal big wins A and B", it shifts to a low probability state of the special symbol after a big win with a maximum number of rounds of 2 rounds.

[0040] Also, the "high probability state" refers to a state where the big win probability increases as an added value after the big win ends, that is, during the so-called probability variation (during sure change), in other words, it is a game state where it is easy to shift to a special game state. The high probability state (during sure change) in the present embodiment includes a game state where the hit probability of the second symbol described later increases and it is easy for the ball to win at the second winning opening 640a. The "low probability state" refers to a time when it is not during sure change, and it is a state where the big win probability is normal, that is, a state where the big win probability is lower than during sure change. Also, the short time state (during short time) among the "low probability states" refers to a game state where the big win probability is normal and the big win probability remains the same while only the hit probability of the second symbol increases and it is easy for the ball to win at the second winning opening 640a. On the other hand, when the pachinko machine 10 is in the normal state, it is a game state that is neither during sure change nor during short time (a state where neither the big win probability nor the hit probability of the second symbol increases).

[0041] During the probability change or time shortening, not only does the winning probability of the second symbol increase, but also the time when the electric accessory 640b associated with the second ball entrance 640a is opened is changed, and a longer time is set compared to normal. When the electric accessory 640b is in the open state (open state), the ball is more likely to win the second ball entrance 640a than when the electric accessory 640b is in the closed state (closed state). Therefore, during the probability change or time shortening, the ball is more likely to win the second ball entrance 640a, and the number of times the jackpot lottery is conducted can be increased.

[0042] In addition, during the probability change or time shortening, instead of changing the opening time of the electric accessory 640b associated with the second ball entrance 640a, or in addition to changing the opening time, a change may be made to increase the number of times the electric accessory 640b is opened per win compared to normal. Also, during the probability change or time shortening, the winning probability of the second symbol may not be changed, and at least one of the time when the electric accessory 640b associated with the second ball entrance 640a is opened and the number of times the electric accessory 640b is opened per win may be changed. Further, during the probability change or time shortening, the time when the electric accessory 640b associated with the second ball entrance 640a is opened and the number of times the electric accessory 640b is opened per win may not be changed, and only the winning probability of the second symbol may be changed to increase compared to normal.

[0043] In the game area, a plurality of general winning ports 63 are arranged where 5 to 15 balls are paid out as prize balls when the ball wins. Also, in the central part of the game area, a variable display device unit 80 is arranged. The variable display device unit 80 includes a third symbol display device 81 composed of a liquid crystal display (hereinafter simply abbreviated as "display device") that performs variable display of the third symbol while synchronizing with the variable display in the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B triggered by winning (starting winning) at the first ball entrance 64 and the second ball entrance 640a, and a second symbol display device 83 (not shown) composed of LEDs that perform variable display of the second symbol triggered by the passage of the ball through the through gate 67.

[0044] In addition, a center frame 86 is disposed around the outer periphery of the third symbol display device 81 in the variable display device unit 80. The third symbol display device 81 is visible through an opening formed in the center of the center frame 86.

[0045] The third symbol display device 81 is composed of a large 9-inch liquid crystal display, and the display content is controlled by a display control device 114 (see FIG. 4). For example, three symbol rows, namely, an upper row, a middle row, and a lower row, are displayed. Each symbol row is composed of a plurality of symbols (third symbols), and these third symbols scroll horizontally for each symbol row so that the third symbols are variably displayed on the display screen of the third symbol display device 81. The third symbol display device 81 of the present embodiment performs a decorative display corresponding to the display of the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B, while the display of the game state associated with the control of the main control device 110 (see FIG. 4) is performed by the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B. Note that, instead of the display device, the third symbol display device 81 may be configured using, for example, reels.

[0046] The second symbol display device 83 performs a variable display in which the symbols "○" and "×" as display symbols (second symbols (not shown)) are alternately lit for a predetermined time each time a ball passes through the through gate 67. In the pachinko machine 10, when it is detected that a ball has passed through the through gate 67, a winning lottery is conducted. As a result of the winning lottery, if it is a win, the symbol "○" is stopped and displayed on the second symbol display device 83 after the variable display of the normal symbol (second symbol). If it is a loss as a result of the winning lottery, the symbol "×" is stopped and displayed on the second symbol display device 83 after the variable display of the third symbol.

[0047] The pachinko machine 10 is configured such that when the variable display on the second symbol display device 83 stops at a predetermined symbol (the symbol "○" in the present embodiment), the electric accessory 640b associated with the second ball entry port 640a is in an operating state (opened) for a predetermined time.

[0048] The time taken for the variable display of the second symbol is set to be shorter during probability variation or time shortening than when the game state is normal. As a result, during probability variation and time shortening, since the variable display of the second symbol is performed in a shorter time, more winning lotteries can be conducted than during normal times. Therefore, since the chance of winning in the winning lottery increases, players can be given more opportunities for the electric accessory 640b of the second ball entry port 640a to be in an open state. Thus, during probability variation and time shortening, it is possible to make the state such that balls are likely to win the second ball entry port 640a.

[0049] In addition, during probability variation or time shortening, if the state is such that balls are likely to win the second ball entry port 640a by other methods such as increasing the winning probability, increasing the opening time or the number of opening times of the electric accessory 640b for each win, the time taken for the variable display of the second symbol may be made constant regardless of the game state. On the other hand, when setting the time taken for the variable display of the second symbol to be shorter during probability variation or time shortening than during normal times, the winning probability may be made constant regardless of the game state, or the opening time or the number of opening times of the electric accessory 640b for each win may be made constant regardless of the game state.

[0050] The through gate 67 is assembled to the game board on the right side in the lower region of the variable display device unit 80, and is configured such that a part of the balls flowing down the right side of the game board among the balls launched onto the game board can pass through. When a ball passes through the through gate 67, a winning lottery for the second symbol is conducted. After the winning lottery, variable display is performed on the second symbol display device 83. If the result of the winning lottery is a win, the symbol "○" is displayed as the stopped symbol of the variable display, and if the result of the winning lottery is a miss, the symbol "×" is displayed as the stopped symbol of the variable display.

[0051] The number of times the ball passes through the through gate 67 is reserved up to a maximum of 4 times in total. The number of reserved balls is displayed by the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B described above and is also lit and displayed on a second symbol reservation lamp (not shown). Four second symbol reservation lamps are provided for the maximum number of reservations and are arranged symmetrically left and right below the third symbol display device 81.

[0052] In addition, although the variable display of the second symbol is performed by switching the lighting and non - lighting of a plurality of lamps in the second symbol display device 83 as in this embodiment, it may also be performed using a part of the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B and the third symbol display device 81. Similarly, the lighting of the second symbol reservation lamp may be performed by a part of the third symbol display device 81. Also, the maximum number of reserved balls for the passage of the ball through the through gate 67 is not limited to 4 times, and may be set to 3 times or less, or 5 times or more (for example, 8 times). Also, the number of assembled through gates 67 is not limited to 1, and may be plural (for example, 2). Also, the assembly position of the through gate 67 is not limited to the right side of the variable display device unit 80, and may be, for example, the left side of the variable display device unit 80. Also, since the number of reserved balls is indicated by the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B, it may not be lit and displayed by the second symbol reservation lamp.

[0053] Below the variable display device unit 80, a first ball entry port 64 through which the ball can win a prize is arranged. When the ball wins a prize at this first ball entry port 64, a first prize port switch (not shown) provided on the back side of the game board 13 is turned on. Due to the turning on of the first prize port switch, a jackpot lottery is conducted by the main control device 110 (see FIG. 4), and the display according to the lottery result is shown on the first symbol display device 37A.

[0054] On one side, to the right of the front view of the first ball entry port 64, a second ball entry port 640a through which the ball can win a prize is provided. When the ball wins a prize through the second ball entry port 640a, a second ball entry port switch (not shown) provided on the back side of the game board 13 is turned on. Due to the turn-on of the second ball entry port switch, a jackpot lottery is conducted by the main control device 110 (see FIG. 4), and the display corresponding to the lottery result is shown on the first symbol display device 37B.

[0055] In addition, the first ball entry port 64 and the second ball entry port 640a each also serve as one of the winning ports from which 5 balls are paid out as prize balls when the ball wins a prize. In this embodiment, the number of prize balls paid out when the ball wins a prize through the first ball entry port 64 is configured to be the same as the number of prize balls paid out when the ball wins a prize through the second ball entry port 640a. However, the number of prize balls paid out when the ball wins a prize through the first ball entry port 64 and the number of prize balls paid out when the ball wins a prize through the second ball entry port 640a may be different numbers. For example, the number of prize balls paid out when the ball wins a prize through the first ball entry port 64 may be set to 3, and the number of prize balls paid out when the ball wins a prize through the second ball entry port 640a may be set to 5.

[0056] An electric accessory 640b is attached to the second ball entry port 640a. This electric accessory 640b is configured to be openable and closable. Normally, the electric accessory 640b is in a closed state (protruding state), making it difficult for the ball to win a prize through the second ball entry port 640a. On the other hand, when the symbol "○" is displayed on the second symbol display device 83 as a result of the variable display of the second symbol triggered by the passage of the ball through the through gate 67, the electric accessory 640b is in an open state (retracted state), making it easy for the ball to win a prize through the second ball entry port 640a.

[0057] As described above, during the probability change and time reduction periods, the winning probability of the second symbol is higher than that during the normal period, and the time taken for the variable display of the second symbol is also shorter. Therefore, in the variable display of the second symbol, the symbol "○" is more likely to be displayed, and the number of times the electric accessory 640b enters the open state (retracted state) increases. Furthermore, during the probability change and time reduction periods, the time during which the electric accessory 640b is open is also longer than during the normal period. Thus, during the probability change and time reduction periods, it is possible to create a state where it is easier for balls to win in the second ball entry port 640a compared to the normal time.

[0058] Here, whether a ball wins in the first ball entry port 64 or in the second ball entry port 640a, the probability of a big win is the same whether in the low-probability state or the high-probability state. However, as the type of big win selected when a big win occurs, the selection ratio of the big win type where it is possible to obtain a relatively large number of prize balls is set higher when a ball wins in the second ball entry port 640a. On the other hand, the first ball entry port 64 does not have an electric accessory like the second ball entry port 640a, and balls can always win.

[0059] Therefore, during the normal period, since the electric accessory associated with the second ball entry port 640a is often in the closed state and it is difficult for balls to win in the second ball entry port 640a, it is more advantageous for the player to aim for a big win by shooting the ball so that it passes through the left side of the variable display device unit 80 towards the first ball entry port 64 without an electric accessory (so-called "left shot") and obtaining more opportunities for the big win lottery by winning in the first ball entry port 64.

[0060] On the other hand, during the probability change or time reduction periods, by passing the ball through the through gate 67, the electric accessory 640b associated with the second ball entry port 640a is likely to enter the open state, and it is a state where it is easy for balls to win in the second ball entry port 640a. Therefore, it is more advantageous for the player to aim for a big win by shooting the ball so that it passes through the right side of the variable display 80 towards the second ball entry port 640a (so-called "right shot"), passing the ball through the through gate 67 to open the electric accessory, and aiming for a big win by winning in the second ball entry port 640a.

[0061] In this way, the pachinko machine 10 of the present embodiment can change the way of shooting the balls for the player between "left shooting" and "right shooting" according to the game state of the pachinko machine 10 (whether it is in the state of certain probability variation, time shortening, or normal). Therefore, the way of shooting the balls can be changed for the player, so that the game can be made enjoyable.

[0062] A first variable winning device 82a is disposed above the upper left of the first ball entrance 64, and a first specific winning opening 82 is provided in the vicinity thereof. Normally, the first variable winning device 82a is in a closed state (shrunk state), and balls cannot win the first specific winning opening 82. On the other hand, during a specific jackpot (for example, certain probability variation jackpot A), the first variable winning device 82a is opened and closed according to a predetermined opening pattern corresponding to the jackpot type. As the predetermined opening pattern, an opening pattern (opening pattern A) that repeats the opening for 0.6 seconds and the closing for 0.9 seconds 20 times, and an opening pattern (opening pattern B) that performs the opening only once for 0.052 seconds are provided.

[0063] The opening and closing operation according to the predetermined opening pattern by this first variable winning device 82a can be repeated up to, for example, 2 times (2 rounds) at most. The state in which this opening and closing operation is being performed is a form of a special game state advantageous to the player, and a larger number of prize balls are paid out to the player as an imparting of game value (game value) than in the normal time. In addition, in each round, even if the opening pattern has not been completed, when it is detected that a predetermined number (for example, 10) or more balls have won the first specific winning opening 82, the first variable winning device 82a is forcibly closed and the end of the round is set.

[0064] On the right side of the first ball entry port 64, a second variable winning device 65 is arranged, and a horizontally long rectangular second specific winning port (large opening port) 65a is provided in the approximate center thereof. In the pachinko machine 10, when the jackpot lottery conducted due to winning at the first ball entry port 64 or the second ball entry port 640a results in a jackpot, after a predetermined time (fluctuation time) has elapsed, the first symbol display device 37A or the first symbol display device 37B is lit so as to become the jackpot stop symbol, and the stop symbol corresponding to the jackpot is displayed on the third symbol display device 81 to indicate the occurrence of a jackpot. When the jackpot type corresponds to the type corresponding to the second specific winning port 65a, the game state transitions to a special game state (jackpot) in which balls are likely to win at the second specific winning port 65a. In this special game state, the second specific winning port 65a, which is normally closed, is opened for a predetermined time (for example, until 30 seconds elapse or until 10 balls win). That is, a longer opening time is set compared to the jackpot type in which the first variable winning device 82a is opened. Therefore, in the jackpot type in which the second specific winning port 65a is opened, in many cases, the upper limit number (for example, 10) of balls can win at the second specific winning port 65a, so that the player can obtain more prize balls. Therefore, when a jackpot occurs, it is possible to make the player wish that it is the jackpot type in which the second specific winning port 65a is opened, so that the player can be made to pay attention to the second specific winning port 65a when a jackpot occurs.

[0065] This second specific winning port 65a is closed when a predetermined time has elapsed, and after the closure, the second specific winning port 65a is opened again for a predetermined time. The opening and closing operation of this second specific winning port 65a can be repeated up to, for example, 2 times (2 rounds) at most. The state in which this opening and closing operation is being performed is a form of a special game state advantageous to the player, and a larger number of prize balls are paid out to the player as an impartation of game value (game value) than in the normal state.

[0066] Specifically, the second variable winning device 65 includes a horizontally long rectangular opening / closing plate that covers the second specific winning opening 65a, and a large opening solenoid (not shown) for driving the opening / closing plate to open and close forward around the lower side of the opening / closing plate. The second specific winning opening 65a is normally in a closed state where balls cannot enter or it is difficult for balls to enter. During a jackpot, the large opening solenoid is driven to tilt the opening / closing plate downward in the front, temporarily forming an open state in which balls can easily enter the second specific winning opening 65a, and it operates to alternately repeat the open state and the normal closed state.

[0067] A sticking space K1 for sticking certificates, identification labels, etc. is provided at the lower right corner on the lower side of the game board 13, and the certificates, etc. stuck in the sticking space K1 can be visually recognized through the small window 35 (see FIG. 1) of the front frame 14.

[0068] The game board 13 is provided with a first out port 71. Balls flowing down in the game area that do not win in any of the winning openings 63, 64, 65a, 640 are guided through the first out port 71 to a ball discharge path (not shown). The first out port 71 is disposed below the first ball entry port 64.

[0069] A large number of nails are implanted in the game board 13 to appropriately disperse and adjust the falling direction of the balls, and various members (effect devices) such as windmills are disposed.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 3, on the back side of the pachinko machine 10, there are mainly provided control board units 90, 91 and a back pack unit 94. The control board unit 90 is unitized with a main board (main control device 110), an audio lamp control board (audio lamp control device 113), and a display control board (display control device 114) mounted thereon. The control board unit 91 is unitized with a payout control board (payout control device 111), a launch control board (launch control device 112), a power supply board (power supply device 115), and a card unit connection board 116 mounted thereon.

[0071] The back pack unit 94 is a unit formed by integrating the back pack 92 that forms the protection cover part and the payout unit 93. Also, on each control board, an MPU as a one-chip microcomputer that controls each function, a port for communicating with various devices, a random number generator used for various lotteries, a clock pulse generation circuit used for time counting and synchronization, etc. are mounted as necessary.

[0072] In addition, the main control device 110, the voice lamp control device 113, the display control device 114, the payout control device 111, the emission control device 112, the power supply device 115, and the card unit connection board 116 are respectively housed in the board boxes 100 to 104. The board boxes 100 to 104 include a box base and a box cover that covers the opening of the box base, and the box base and the box cover are connected to each other to house each control device and each board.

[0073] Also, the board box 100 (main control device 110) and the board box 102 (payout control device 111 and emission control device 112) are connected in a non-openable manner (connected by a caulking structure) by a sealing unit (not shown) between the box base and the box cover. Also, a sealing tape (not shown) is attached across the connection part between the box base and the box cover. This sealing tape is made of a brittle material, and if an attempt is made to peel off the sealing tape to open the board boxes 100, 102, or if an attempt is made to forcibly open the board boxes 100, 102, it will be cut between the box base side and the box cover side. Therefore, by checking the sealing unit or the sealing tape, it is possible to know whether the board boxes 100, 102 have been opened.

[0074] The payout unit 93 includes a tank 130 that is located at the top of the back pack unit 94 and opens upward, a tank rail 131 that is connected below the tank 130 and gently slopes downward, a case rail 132 that is vertically connected to the downstream side of the tank rail 131, and a payout device 133 that is provided at the most downstream part of the case rail 132 and pays out balls according to a predetermined electrical configuration of the payout motor 216 (see FIG. 4). Balls supplied from the island facilities in the game hall are sequentially replenished in the tank 130, and the payout device 133 appropriately pays out the required number of balls. A vibrator 134 for applying vibration to the tank rail 131 is attached to the tank rail 131.

[0075] In addition, the payout control device 111 is provided with a state return switch 120, the launch control device 112 is provided with an operation knob 121 of a variable resistor, and the power supply device 115 is provided with a RAM erase switch 122. The state return switch 120 is operated, for example, to eliminate a ball jam (return to the normal state) when a payout error occurs, such as a ball jam in the payout motor 216 (see FIG. 4) section. The operation knob 121 is operated to adjust the launch force of the launch solenoid. The RAM erase switch 122 is operated when the power is turned on when it is desired to return the pachinko machine 10 to the initial state.

[0076] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10.

[0077] The main control device 110 is equipped with an MPU 201 as a one-chip microcomputer which is an arithmetic unit. The MPU 201 is provided with a ROM 202 that stores various control programs and fixed-value data executed by the MPU 201, a RAM 203 which is a memory for temporarily storing various data etc. when executing the control programs stored in the ROM 202, and in addition, various circuits such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, and a data transmission / reception circuit are built in. In the main control device 110, the MPU 201 executes main processes of the pachinko machine 10 such as jackpot lottery, setting of displays in the first symbol display devices 37A, 37B and the third symbol display device 81, and lottery of the display result in the second symbol display device 83.

[0078] In addition, in order to instruct operations to sub-control devices such as the payout control device 111 and the voice lamp control device 113, various commands are transmitted from the main control device 110 to the sub-control device by the data transmission / reception circuit, and such commands are transmitted only in one direction from the main control device 110 to the sub-control device.

[0079] The RAM 203 has, in addition to various areas, counters, and flags, a stack area that stores the contents of the internal registers of the MPU 201 and the return destination addresses of the control programs executed by the MPU 201, and a work area (working area) that stores various flags, counters, values of I / O, etc. Note that the RAM 203 is configured to be able to hold (backup) data by receiving a backup voltage from the power supply device 115 even after the power of the pachinko machine 10 is cut off, and all the data stored in the RAM 203 is backed up.

[0080] When the power supply is cut off due to a power failure or the like, the values of the stack pointer and each register at the time of power cut-off (including the occurrence of a power failure; the same applies hereinafter) are stored in the RAM 203. On the other hand, when the power is turned on (including the power-on due to the resolution of a power failure; the same applies hereinafter), based on the information stored in the RAM 203, the state of the pachinko machine 10 is restored to the state before the power cut-off. Writing to the RAM 203 is executed at the time of power cut-off by the main process (not shown), and the restoration of each value written to the RAM 203 is executed in the startup process (not shown) at the time of power-on. Note that the NMI terminal (non-maskable interrupt terminal) of the MPU 201 is configured such that a power failure signal SG1 from the power failure monitoring circuit 252 is input at the time of power cut-off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. When the power failure signal SG1 is input to the MPU 201, the NMI interrupt process (not shown) as the process at the time of power failure is immediately executed.

[0081] An input / output port 205 is connected to the MPU 201 of the main control device 110 via a bus line 204 composed of an address bus and a data bus. Connected to the input / output port 205 are a payout control device 111, an audio lamp control device 113, first symbol display devices 37A and 37B, a second symbol display device 83, a second symbol hold lamp, a solenoid 209 including a solenoid for driving the large opening solenoid for opening and closing the front side about the lower side of the opening / closing plate of the second specific winning port 65a and solenoids for driving electric accessories, etc. The MPU 201 transmits various commands and control signals to these via the input / output port 205.

[0082] Also, connected to the input / output port 205 are various switches 208 including a switch group (not shown) and a sensor group including a slide position detection sensor S and a rotation position detection sensor R, and a RAM erase switch circuit 253 provided in the power supply device 115, which will be described later. The MPU 201 executes various processes based on the signals output from the various switches 208 and the RAM erase signal SG2 output from the RAM erase switch circuit 253.

[0083] The payout control device 111 drives the payout motor 216 to perform payout control of prize balls and lent balls. The MPU 211, which is an arithmetic unit, has a ROM 212 that stores control programs, fixed-value data, etc. executed by the MPU 211, and a RAM 213 used as a work memory, etc.

[0084] Similar to the RAM 203 of the main control device 110, the RAM 213 of the payout control device 111 has a stack area that stores the contents of the internal registers of the MPU 211, the return destination addresses of the control programs executed by the MPU 211, etc., and a work area (working area) that stores various flags, counters, values of I / O, etc. The RAM 213 is configured to be able to hold (backup) data by receiving a backup voltage from the power supply device 115 even after the power of the pachinko machine 10 is turned off, and all the data stored in the RAM 213 is backed up. Note that, similar to the MPU 201 of the main control device 110, the NMI terminal of the MPU 211 is also configured such that a power failure signal SG1 is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 252 when a power failure or the like occurs and the power supply is cut off. When the power failure signal SG1 is input to the MPU 211, an NMI interrupt process (not shown) as a power failure time process is immediately executed.

[0085] An input / output port 215 is connected to the MPU 211 of the payout control device 111 via a bus line 214 composed of an address bus and a data bus. The main control device 110, the payout motor 216, the launch control device 112, etc. are respectively connected to the input / output port 215. Also, although not shown, a prize ball detection switch for detecting the paid-out prize balls is connected to the payout control device 111. Note that the prize ball detection switch is connected to the payout control device 111 but not to the main control device 110.

[0086] When the main control device 110 gives an instruction to launch the ball, the launch control device 112 controls the ball launch unit 112a so that the hitting strength of the ball corresponds to the amount of rotation operation of the operation handle 51. The ball launch unit 112a includes a launch solenoid and an electromagnet (not shown), and the launch solenoid and the electromagnet are permitted to be driven when predetermined conditions are met. Specifically, the touch sensor 51a detects that the player is touching the operation handle 51, and on the condition that the launch stop switch 51b for stopping the launch of the ball is off (not operated), the launch solenoid is excited corresponding to the amount of rotation operation (rotation position) of the operation handle 51, and the ball is launched with a strength corresponding to the operation amount of the operation handle 51.

[0087] The voice lamp control device 113 controls the output of voice in the voice output device (such as a speaker not shown) 226, the output of lighting and extinguishing in the lamp display device (the electric decoration parts 29 to 33, the display lamp 34, etc.) 227, and the setting of the display mode of the third symbol display device 81 performed by the display control device 114 such as variable effects (variable display) and preview effects. The MPU 221, which is an arithmetic device, has a ROM 222 that stores control programs, fixed value data, etc. executed by the MPU 221, and a RAM 223 used as a work memory, etc.

[0088] An input / output port 225 is connected to the MPU 221 of the voice lamp control device 113 via a bus line 224 composed of an address bus and a data bus. The main control device 110, the display control device 114, the voice output device 226, the lamp display device 227, other devices 228, various sensors 230, the frame button 22, etc. are respectively connected to the input / output port 225.

[0089] The voice lamp control device 113 determines the display mode of the third symbol display device 81 based on various commands (variation pattern commands, stop type commands, etc.) received from the main control device 110, and notifies the display control device 114 of the determined display mode by commands (display variation pattern commands, display stop type commands, etc.). Further, the voice lamp control device 113 monitors the input from the frame button 22, and when the frame button 22 is operated by the player, it instructs the display control device 114 to change the stage displayed on the third symbol display device 81 or to change the production content during super reach. When the stage is changed, a background image change command including information regarding the changed stage is transmitted to the display control device 114 so as to display a background image corresponding to the changed stage on the third symbol display device 81. Here, the background image is an image displayed on the back side of the third symbol which is the main image to be displayed on the third symbol display device 81. The display control device 114 displays various images on the third symbol display device 81 in accordance with the commands transmitted from this voice lamp control device 113.

[0090] Further, the voice lamp control device 113 receives a command (display command) representing the display content of the third symbol display device 81 from the display control device 114. Based on the display command received from the display control device 114, the voice lamp control device 113 outputs, from the voice output device 226, a voice corresponding to the display content in accordance with the display content of the third symbol display device 81, and also controls the lighting and extinguishing of the lamp display device 227 corresponding to the display content.

[0091] The display control device 114 is connected to the voice lamp control device 113 and the third symbol display device 81, and controls the display such as the variable effect of the third symbol on the third symbol display device 81 based on the command received from the voice lamp control device 113. Further, the display control device 114 appropriately transmits a display command for notifying the display content of the third symbol display device 81 to the voice lamp control device 113. The voice lamp control device 113 can match the display on the third symbol display device 81 with the voice output from the voice output device 226 by outputting voice from the voice output device 226 in accordance with the display content indicated by this display command.

[0092] The power supply device 115 includes a power supply unit 251 for supplying power to each part of the pachinko machine 10, a power failure monitoring circuit 252 for monitoring power interruption due to a power failure or the like, and a RAM erase switch circuit 253 provided with a RAM erase switch 122 (see FIG. 3). The power supply unit 251 is a device that supplies the necessary operating voltage to each of the control devices 110 to 114 and the like through a power supply path (not shown). As an overview, the power supply unit 251 takes in an AC 24-volt voltage supplied from the outside, generates a 12-volt voltage for driving various switches such as various switches 208, solenoids such as solenoid 209, motors, etc., a 5-volt voltage for logic, a backup voltage for RAM backup, etc., and supplies these 12-volt voltage, 5-volt voltage, and backup voltage to the control devices 110 to 114 and the like as necessary voltages.

[0093] The power failure monitoring circuit 252 is a circuit for outputting a power failure signal SG1 to each NMI terminal of the MPU 201 of the main control device 110 and the MPU 211 of the payout control device 111 when the power supply is cut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. The power failure monitoring circuit 252 monitors the voltage of 24 volts of DC stabilization, which is the maximum voltage output from the power supply unit 251. When this voltage becomes less than 22 volts, it determines that a power failure (power cut, power supply cut-off) has occurred, and outputs the power failure signal SG1 to the main control device 110 and the payout control device 111. By the output of the power failure signal SG1, the main control device 110 and the payout control device 111 recognize the occurrence of a power failure and execute NMI interrupt processing. Note that the power supply unit 251 is configured to maintain the output of the 5-volt voltage, which is the drive voltage of the control system, at a normal value for a sufficient time for the execution of the NMI interrupt processing even after the voltage of 24 volts of DC stabilization becomes less than 22 volts. Therefore, the main control device 110 and the payout control device 111 can normally execute and complete the NMI interrupt processing (not shown).

[0094] The RAM erase switch circuit 253 is a circuit for outputting a RAM erase signal SG2 for clearing backup data to the main control device 110 when the RAM erase switch 122 (see FIG. 3) is pressed. When the main control device 110 inputs the RAM erase signal SG2 at the time of power-on of the pachinko machine 10, it clears the backup data and transmits a payout initialization command for clearing the backup data in the payout control device 111 to the payout control device 111.

[0095] Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10, the schematic configuration of the operation unit 200 will be described. FIG. 5 is an exploded front perspective view of the operation unit 200, and FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the game board 13 and the operation unit 200. Further, FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the operation unit 200, and FIGS. 8 to 10 are front views of the operation unit 200.

[0096] Note that in FIGS. 6 and 7, the state where the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 is disposed at the lowered position, in FIG. 9, the state where the second passage forming member 422 of the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 is connected to the first passage forming member 520 of the left swing unit 500, and in FIG. 10, the state where the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 is disposed at the raised position are respectively illustrated. Further, in FIGS. 6 to 10, the state where the upper lifting unit 300 is disposed at the raised position is illustrated.

[0097] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 10, the operation unit 200 includes a rear case 210 formed in a box shape, and the upper lifting unit 300, the liquid crystal lifting unit 400, the left swing unit 500, the rotation unit 600, and the light emitting decorative member 700 are respectively accommodated in the internal space of the rear case 210.

[0098] The rear case 210 includes a bottom wall portion 211 that is substantially rectangular in a front view, and outer wall portions 212 that are erected from the outer edges of the four sides of the bottom wall portion 211 toward the front, and is formed in a box shape with one side open by these wall portions 211 and 212. A recess that is substantially circular in a front view is recessed in the center of the bottom wall portion 211 of the rear case 210, and the rotation unit 600 is accommodated in the recess. The liquid crystal lifting unit 400 is disposed on the front side of the rotation unit 600, and the upper lifting unit 300, the left swing unit 500, and the decorative light emitting member 700 are respectively disposed on the upper edge portion, the left edge portion, and the lower edge portion of the liquid crystal lifting unit 400.

[0099] The upper lifting unit 300 includes lifting bodies 330 (four in this embodiment) arranged in parallel in the width direction (the left - right direction in FIG. 8), and these lifting bodies 330 are each independently formed to be able to move up and down in the height direction (the up - down direction in FIG. 8) (see FIGS. 12 and 13). When the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 is disposed at the lowered position and the lifting bodies 330 are disposed at the raised position, substantially the entire surface of the third symbol display device 81 is visible (see FIG. 8). On the other hand, when the lifting bodies 330 are disposed at the lowered position (see FIG. 12), a part of the third symbol display device 81 is made invisible by such lifting bodies 330.

[0100] The liquid crystal lifting unit 400 includes a pair of guide rods 451 arranged in a vertical posture with the axis along the vertical direction and spaced apart by a predetermined interval in the width direction, a driving side slide member 420 and a driven side slide member 430 whose both ends in the width direction are slidably supported by the guide rods 451, and a driving motor 441 for driving the driving side slide member 420 to move up and down. When the driving motor 441 drives the driving side slide member 420 to move up and down, the driven side slide member 430 is driven to move up and down accordingly.

[0101] That is, when the driving side slide member 420 rises, the driving side slide member 420 pushes the driven side slide member 430 upward against the action of gravity, while when the driving side slide member 420 descends, the driven side slide member 430 descends due to its own weight as the driving side slide member 420 descends.

[0102] Note that a second passage forming member 422 is arranged on the driving side slide member 420, and a third figure display device 81 is arranged on the driven side slide member 430. When the driving side slide member 420 is arranged at a connection position between the ascending position and the descending position, the second passage forming member 422 can be connected to the first passage forming member 520 of the left swing unit 500 (see FIG. 9). Also, when the driving side slide member 420 is arranged at the ascending position, the upper region of the third figure display device 81 is arranged on the back side of the upper lifting unit 300 (see FIG. 10).

[0103] The left swing unit 500 includes a first passage forming member 520 that swings in a direction to move the tip side up and down around the base end side. When the first passage forming member 520 swings in a direction to lift the tip side, it is arranged at the connection position (see FIG. 9), and the tip side is connected to the second passage forming member 422 of the liquid crystal lifting unit 400. On the other hand, when the first passage forming member 520 swings in a direction to swing the tip side downward, it is arranged at the release position (see FIG. 10), and the connection with the second passage forming member 422 of the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 is released.

[0104] The balls flowing down in the gaming area can flow into the left swing unit 500. When the first passage forming member 520 is arranged at the connection position (see FIG. 9), the left swing unit 500 sends the inflowing balls to the second passage forming member 422 of the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 through the first passage forming member 520. On the other hand, when the first passage forming member 520 is arranged at the release position (see FIG. 10), the inflowing balls are sent back to the gaming area through a passage (to be described later) provided separately from the first passage forming member 520.

[0105] The rotating unit 600 is an effect device configured to imitate a roulette. That is, it includes a member (rotating member 640) corresponding to a wheel (rotating disk) that can rotate, and portions (display board 646 and partition board 647) corresponding to pockets that are formed by partitioning the wheel in the circumferential direction, are colored red or black, and have different numbers displayed thereon. The ball B thrown from a device (ball throwing device 650) on the inner peripheral side of the wheel is formed to fall into one of the portions corresponding to the plurality of pockets.

[0106] When the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 is arranged at the lowered position (see FIG. 8), almost the entire rotating unit 600 is shielded from the player's view by the liquid crystal lifting unit 400. On the other hand, when the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 is arranged at the connection position (see FIG. 9), a part (lower part) of the member corresponding to the wheel is exposed. When the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 is arranged at the raised position (see FIG. 10), in addition to a part (lower part) of the member corresponding to the wheel, the ball B held on the inner peripheral side of the member corresponding to the wheel and the path from when the ball B is thrown until it falls into the portion corresponding to the pocket are exposed and are made visible to the player.

[0107] The light-emitting decorative member 700 includes a case body formed of a light-transmissive material and a plurality of LEDs disposed inside the case body, and performs an effect by light emission by changing the mode of light emitted from the LEDs (for example, the number of LEDs emitting light and the light emission time).

[0108] Next, referring to FIGS. 11 to 20, the detailed configurations of the upper lifting unit 300, the liquid crystal lifting unit 400, the left swing unit 500, the rotating unit 600, and the light-emitting decorative member 700 will be described. First, referring to FIGS. 11 to 20, the upper lifting unit 300 will be described.

[0109] FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the upper lifting unit 300, and FIGS. 12 and 13 are front views of the upper lifting unit 300. In FIGS. 11 and 12, a state in which all the lifting bodies 330 arranged side by side in the width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 12) are arranged at the upper position is shown, and in FIG. 13, a state in which all the lifting bodies 330 are arranged at the lower position is shown.

[0110] As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, in the upper lifting unit 300, a plurality (four in this embodiment) of lifting bodies 330 are arranged in the width direction of a horizontally long rectangular plate-shaped base member 310, and each lifting body 330 is configured to be able to move up and down between an upper position (see FIG. 12) and a lower position (see FIG. 13). Next, referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the configuration of the drive mechanism of each lifting body 330 will be described.

[0111] FIG. 14 is a front exploded perspective view of the upper lifting unit 300, and FIG. 15 is a rear exploded perspective view of the upper lifting unit 300.

[0112] As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the upper lifting unit 300 mainly includes a horizontally long rectangular plate-shaped base member 310, a rear cover 320 that is fastened and fixed to the rear side of the base member 310 while providing a space for accommodating a transmission device 350 between the base member 310, a lifting body 330 in which a rack 332 is accommodated between the base member 310 and the rear cover 320 and a circular effect portion 331 is arranged on the front side of the base member 310, a drive device 340 that is fastened and fixed to the rear cover member 320 and generates a driving force necessary for the lifting operation of the lifting body, and a transmission device 350 that transmits the driving force generated by the drive device 340 to the lifting body 330.

[0113] The cover member 310 includes a semi-circular recessed portion 311 that is semi-circular in shape with the center of the circle arranged at the lower end and recessed from the front side surface toward the back side, and a guide rib 312 that protrudes in a rib shape from the back side surface toward a position slightly spaced in the left-right direction from the rack 332 of the elevating body 330.

[0114] The semi-circular recessed portion 311 is configured with a radius slightly larger than the outer diameter of the effect portion 331 of the elevating body 330, and is arranged at a position where the center of the circle of the semi-circular recessed portion 311 and the center of the effect portion 331 coincide in a vertical line. Thereby, when the effect portion 331 moves upward, it can move to a position in front of the position where it interferes with the semi-circular recessed portion 311 on the front side of the base member 310. While ensuring the vertical width of the base member 310, the upward movement width of the effect portion 331 can also be ensured to be large.

[0115] The guide rib portion 312 is a rib-shaped portion extending in the vertical direction, and in the assembled state (see FIG. 11), it protrudes to a position where it can contact the left and right side surfaces of the rack 332 of the elevating body 330. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the elevating body 330 from moving in the left-right direction (parallel movement or tilting operation) during the up and down movement.

[0116] Also, by configuring the semi-circular recessed portion 311 as a recess recessed from the front side toward the back side, the area where the back side can be made invisible can be expanded compared to the case of forming a space penetrating in the front-rear direction. Therefore, a large area can be ensured for arranging the mechanism parts (parts not intended to be visually recognized by the player, such as gears and motors).

[0117] The back cover 320 includes a main body portion 321 configured in a case shape with the front side and the lower side open, a cylindrical shaft support portion 322 protruding from the main body portion 321 to the front side, a guide hole 323 which is a long hole drilled in a state where the extending direction coincides with the vertical direction at a position displaced in the left-right direction in the front view from the shaft support portion 322, and a locking portion 324 formed in a rib shape extending along the radial direction of the shaft support portion 322 from the bottom around the upper shaft support portion 322 is convex.

[0118] The shaft support portion 322 is a portion that pivotally supports a pair of gear members 351 and 352 of the transmission device 350, and the guide hole 323 is a hole that guides the lifting and lowering operation of the lifting body 330.

[0119] The locking portion 324 is disposed on the upper and lower sides in the vertical direction with respect to the shaft of the upper shaft support portion 322. In a state where the lifting body 330 is disposed at the upper or lower position, the end portion of the locking arc portion 351c of the first gear 351 can abut in the rotational direction.

[0120] The lifting body 330 includes a production portion 331 configured in a circular plate shape, and a rack 332 fixed to the back surface of the production portion 331 and extending vertically at a position where a gap is provided from the side surface on the back side of the production portion 331.

[0121] The production portion 331 is a portion where a circular liquid crystal panel is disposed inside a circular outer frame, and performs production by displaying patterns and figures on the liquid crystal panel.

[0122] The rack 332 includes a slide shaft 332a that protrudes on the back side and protrudes to a position where it is inserted into the guide hole 323 of the back cover 320.

[0123] The slide shaft 332a is configured such that one protrudes instead of a plurality protruding. Therefore, the number of guide holes 323 can be reduced to 1, and the movement distance of the rack 332 can be ensured to be large while suppressing the arrangement space of the guide holes 323 in the vertical direction. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the rack 332 can abut against the guide rib portion 312 in the left-right direction, even if the connection position of the rack 332 with the guide hole 323 is at one location, the rack 332 can be prevented from tilting in the left-right direction. As a result, it is possible to prevent the production portion 331 from swaying in the left-right direction when the lifting body 330 moves up and down, and it is possible to prevent the distance between the second gear 352 and the rack 332 from fluctuating and the meshing relationship from deteriorating.

[0124] The drive device 340 includes a drive motor 341 that is a drive source fastened and fixed to the rear cover 320, and a drive gear 342 that is rotated by the rotation of the drive shaft of the drive motor 341 and transmits a driving force to the transmission device 350.

[0125] The transmission device 350 includes a first gear 351 that is pivotally supported by the shaft support portion 322 and meshed with the drive gear 342, and a second gear 352 that is meshed with the first gear 351 and the rack 332 and pivotally supported by the shaft support portion 322.

[0126] Thus, since the plurality (four in this embodiment) of elevating bodies 330 each include an independent drive motor 341, in addition to the operation in which all the elevating bodies 330 move up and down in conjunction, each elevating body 330 can be moved up and down individually. Since the technical concept of each elevating body 330 is common, hereinafter, the elevating body 330 disposed at the left end of FIG. 11 will be described, and the description of the other elevating bodies 330 will be omitted.

[0127] Next, with reference to FIG. 16, the first gear 351 and the second gear 352 will be described. FIG. 16(a) is a front view of the first gear 351, FIG. 16(b) is a rear view of the first gear 351, FIG. 16(c) is a front view of the second gear 352, and FIG. 16(d) is a rear view of the second gear 352.

[0128] As shown in FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b), the first gear 351 includes a main body portion 351a having a through hole through which the shaft support portion 322 (see FIG. 14) is inserted and gear teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface, an abutting portion 351b that is formed to project radially at an overhang length approximately half the tooth thickness of the gear teeth at a portion where the formation of the gear teeth is omitted on the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 351a (the overhang length that projects to the pitch circle C1 connecting the contact points of the meshing teeth), and a locking arc portion 351c that projects in an arc shape centered on the shaft along a direction parallel to the shaft from the side surface on the rear side of the main body portion 351a.

[0129] The engaging portion 351b has a radially outer end face formed in an arc shape with a radius r centered on the central axis of the main body portion 351a, and is formed with a tooth thickness approximately equal to that of two to three gear teeth formed on the main body portion 351a (tooth thickness in a range where the angle formed by the center of the arc is approximately 45 degrees to 60 degrees). That is, since the formed length in the circumferential direction of the main body portion 351a is longer than the tooth thickness of one gear tooth, the circumferential strength can be ensured as compared with the gear teeth of the main body portion 351a.

[0130] The locking arc portion 351c is a portion where the circumferential tip can be circumferentially abutted against the locking portion 324 (see FIG. 14) of the rear cover 320, and has a role of restricting the rotation angle of the first gear 351.

[0131] As shown in FIGS. 16(c) and 16(d), the second gear 352 is composed of two layers of gears with different tooth profiles on the front side and the rear side, and includes an intermediate plate 353 formed in a donut plate shape, a deformed gear portion 354 formed on the front side of the intermediate plate 353 with a partially deformed tooth profile, and a transmission gear portion 355 formed in a spur gear shape on the rear side of the intermediate plate 353 and meshed with a rack 332 (see FIG. 15).

[0132] The intermediate plate 352 is formed to project radially outward beyond the tips of the gear teeth of the deformed gear portion 354 and the transmission gear portion 355. Therefore, it can be made to be in contact by overlapping in a direction parallel to the tooth surface with an engaging mating member (the first gear 351 or the rack 332 (see FIG. 15)) (see FIG. 17), and it is possible to suppress the mating member from moving in a direction parallel to the tooth surface during the lifting and lowering operation of the lifting body 330.

[0133] The deformed gear portion 354 is a portion meshed with the first gear 351 in the assembled state (see FIG. 11), and includes a main body portion 354a provided with a through hole through which the shaft support portion 322 (see FIG. 14) is inserted and having gear teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface, a receiving portion 354b formed to project from a portion where the formation of gear teeth is omitted on the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 354a, and an adjacent gear tooth 354c adjacently provided at one end (the right end portion in FIG. 16(c)) of the receiving portion 354b.

[0134] The receiving portion 354b is a portion formed at an arrangement angle of about two gear teeth (about 30 degrees to 50 degrees) counterclockwise from the adjacent gear teeth 354c in the front view along the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 354a (the side where the first gear 351 meshes with the adjacent gear portion 354c when the lifting body 330 moves upward). In a state where the transmission device 350 is pivotally supported by the shaft support portion 322, it includes a curved wall portion 354b1 that is curved along an arc shape with a radius r formed by the tip surface of the contact portion 351b, and a connecting wall portion 354b2 formed with a tooth width that is about half of the tooth width of the adjacent gear teeth 354c (the tooth width that projects to the pitch circle C2 connecting the contact points of the meshing teeth) between the curved wall portion 354b1 and the circumferential tooth surface of the adjacent gear teeth 354c. Therefore, the side surface on the connecting wall portion 354b2 side of the adjacent gear teeth 354c projects radially from the connecting wall portion 354b2 in a state of being integrally formed with the connecting wall portion 354b2 with a projection length that is about half of the radial projection length of the side surface on the opposite side of the connecting wall portion 354b2 of the adjacent gear teeth 354c.

[0135] As shown in FIG. 16(c), when the transmission device 350 is pivotally supported by the shaft support portion 322 and the curved wall portion 354b1 is arranged along the arc shape with a radius r formed by the tip surface of the contact portion 351b, the adjacent gear teeth 354c are arranged on the outer side of the arc with a radius r (the side of the second gear 352) (the formation is limited to a position where the adjacent gear teeth 354c do not interfere with the circle with a radius r).

[0136] Next, with reference to FIGS. 17 to 20, the lifting operation of the lifting body 330 will be described. Since the operation paths of the upward movement and the downward movement are common, the upward movement will be described here, and the description of the downward movement will be omitted.

[0137] Figures 17 to 20 are front views of the lifting body 330 and the transmission device 350 in which the ascending operation of the lifting body 330 is illustrated in time series. In Fig. 17, a state in which the lifting body 330 is disposed at the descending position is illustrated. In Fig. 18, from the state illustrated in Fig. 17, the second gear 352 is rotated clockwise in a front view, the lifting body 330 ascends by a predetermined distance, and a state in which the circumferential end of the contact portion 351b of the first gear 351 starts to mesh with the adjacent gear teeth 354c of the second gear 352 is illustrated. In Fig. 19, from the state illustrated in Fig. 18, the first gear 351 is rotated counterclockwise in a front view and the second gear 352 is rotated clockwise in a front view, and a state immediately after the contact between the circumferential end face of the contact portion 351b and the adjacent gear teeth 354c is disengaged is illustrated. In Fig. 20, a state in which only the first gear 351 is rotated by a predetermined amount clockwise in a front view from the state illustrated in Fig. 19 is illustrated.

[0138] As illustrated in Figs. 17 to 20, the lifting body 330 is lifted and lowered by the driving force of the driving motor 341 (see Fig. 14) being transmitted to the rack 332 via the driving gear 342 and the transmission device 350. More specifically, the driving force of the driving gear 342 is transmitted from the first gear 351 meshed with the driving gear 342 to the non-standard gear portion 354 of the second gear 352 meshed with the first gear 351, and the rotation of the second gear 352 is transmitted to the rack meshed with the transmission gear portion 355 (see Fig. 16(d)) of the second gear 352, whereby the lifting body 330 is lifted and lowered.

[0139] At the descending position illustrated in Fig. 17, the slide shaft 332a (see Fig. 15) of the rack 332 is disposed at the lower end of the guide hole 323 (see Fig. 15) of the rear cover 320. Therefore, the rack 332 can be mechanically prevented from moving further downward.

[0140] Also, in the state illustrated in Fig. 17, the circumferential end of the locking arc portion 351c of the first gear 351 and the lower locking portion 324 of the rear cover 320 come into contact with each other, thereby mechanically preventing the first gear 351 from rotating in the clockwise direction in a front view (the direction in which the rack 332 is lowered).

[0141] Thus, even if a load occurs such that the drive gear 342 rotates excessively due to a control failure of the drive motor 341 and attempts to rotate the first gear 351 further clockwise in the front view from the state shown in FIG. 17, the rotation of the first gear 351 is mechanically prevented, so that the load can be prevented from being transmitted to the second gear 352, and the situation where the rack 332 moves downward can be avoided. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the slide shaft 322a (see FIG. 15) from being pressed against the lower surface of the guide hole 323 (see FIG. 15) and the slide shaft 322a or the guide hole 323 from being damaged.

[0142] As shown in FIG. 18, in the process of the lifting body 330 moving upward, the circumferential end face of the contact portion 351b whose circumferential tooth thickness is larger than that of other gear teeth meshes with the adjacent gear tooth 354c. Therefore, the load transmitted in the reverse direction from the second gear 352 to the first gear 351 (the load due to the weight of the lifting body 330) can be received by the contact portion 351b having a higher strength compared to other gear teeth, and the durability of the first gear 351 can be improved.

[0143] Since the contact portion 351b of the first gear 351 projects to the pitch circle C1 and the connecting wall portion 354b2 of the second gear 352 projects to the pitch circle C2, in the state of FIG. 18, the contact portion 351b approaches the position where it rubs against the connecting wall portion 354b2. Therefore, the contact portion 351b and the adjacent gear tooth 354c can be brought into contact with each other at a portion close to the tooth root of the adjacent gear tooth 354c, and the durability of the adjacent gear tooth 354c can be improved.

[0144] In addition, since the adjacent gear tooth 354c is connected to one side surface in the circumferential direction of the connecting wall portion 354b2, the strength against the load received from the circumferential direction is improved as compared with other gear teeth. In other words, since the radial overhang length of the side surface on the connecting wall portion 354b2 side is shortened, the resistance to deformation in the direction perpendicular to the tooth width direction of the adjacent gear tooth 354c increases. At the same time, since the connecting wall portion 354b2 is integrally formed with the adjacent gear tooth 354c, the total tooth thickness of the adjacent gear tooth 354c and the connecting wall portion 354b2 as the portion receiving the force applied to the adjacent gear tooth 354c increases. Therefore, the resistance to deformation in the circumferential direction of the adjacent gear tooth 354c increases. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the adjacent gear tooth 354c from being damaged when receiving the contact portion 351b of the first gear 351.

[0145] As shown in FIG. 19, in a state immediately after the lifting body 330 is disposed at the raised position, the arc-shaped tip of the contact portion 351b contacts the adjacent gear tooth 354c. In this state, since the first gear 351 and the second gear 352 are not in contact with each other in the circumferential direction of the first gear 351, the transmission of the driving force in the rotation direction of the first gear 351 to the second gear 352 is released.

[0146] Therefore, the force supporting the weight of the lifting body 330 meshed with the second gear 352 is no longer transmitted from the first gear 351, and the lifting body 330 starts to move in the falling direction. Therefore, the second gear 352 starts to rotate in the direction of lowering the rack 332 (counterclockwise in FIG. 19).

[0147] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 19, since the contact portion 351b is disposed within the range in the direction in which the adjacent gear tooth 354c rotates (inside the circle formed by the tip of the adjacent gear tooth 354c), when rotating the second gear 352, it is necessary to push the contact portion 351b outside the movement locus of the adjacent gear tooth 354c by the adjacent gear tooth 354c.

[0148] Since the outer peripheral shape of the contact portion 351b is an arc shape centered on the central axis of the main body portion 351a, the load applied to the outer peripheral surface of the contact portion 351b is decomposed into an axial component Fa directed toward the shaft side of the first gear 351 and a circumferential component Fb along the tangential direction of the contact portion 351b of the first gear 351.

[0149] The axial component Fa is not in the direction in which the first gear 351 can rotate, and in a state where the rigidity of the first gear 351 is ensured (in a structure that does not expand or contract in the radial direction), it is difficult to push the contact portion 351b outside the movement locus of the adjacent gear tooth 354c by the axial component Fa.

[0150] The circumferential component Fb is directed in the rotation direction of the first gear 351. However, since the adjacent gear tooth 354c and the contact portion 351b are in point contact, slippage occurs between the adjacent gear tooth 354c and the contact portion 351b, making it difficult to rotate the first gear 351. Therefore, it is difficult to push the contact portion 351b outside the movement locus of the adjacent gear tooth 354c by the circumferential component Fb.

[0151] Therefore, since the adjacent gear tooth 354c prevents the contact portion 351b from being pushed outside the movement locus of the adjacent gear tooth 354c, the rotation of the second gear 352 is prevented, and the states of the second gear 352 and the lifting body 330 are maintained.

[0152] The contact portion 351b and the curved wall portion 354b1 of the receiving portion 354b are both formed from an arc shape with a radius r centered on the first gear 351, and as shown in FIG. 19, they are in surface contact along the circumferential direction of the first rotating gear 351. Therefore, the rotation of the first gear 351 can be firmly received using the entire area of the curved wall portion 354b1. As a result, even if the stop of the drive motor 341 (see FIG. 14) is delayed after the lifting body 330 reaches the upper position, it is possible to prevent the first gear 351 from over-rotating, and it is possible to prevent the delay in the stop of the drive motor 341 from affecting the operation mode of the lifting body 330.

[0153] As shown in Fig. 20, the first gear 351 rotates until the locking arc portion 351c abuts against the upper locking portion 324 and then stops. Between Figs. 18 and 20, since the circumferential end face of the abutting portion 351b of the first gear 351 pushes the side face of the adjacent gear tooth 354c, the second gear 352 is rotated, so that the adjacent gear tooth 354c is aligned with the second gear 352, and in the state shown in Fig. 20, it is possible to surely form a state in which the adjacent gear tooth 354c abuts against the tooth tip face of the abutting portion 351b.

[0154] From the state shown in Fig. 19 to the state shown in Fig. 20, since the lifting body 330 is arranged at the ascending position, the rotation of the second gear 352 in the direction of lifting the rack 332 (clockwise in Fig. 20) is restricted. Therefore, even if the first gear 351 rotates counterclockwise with respect to the second gear 352, the second gear 352 will not be rotated along. Accordingly, it is possible to surely form a state in which the tooth tip face of the abutting portion 351b faces the adjacent gear tooth 354c.

[0155] As shown in Fig. 20, in the state where the lifting body 330 is arranged at the ascending position, the curved wall portion 354b1 is arranged along the arc shape of the radius r formed by the tip end face of the abutting portion 351b of the second gear 352, and the adjacent gear tooth 354c is arranged outside the arc of the radius r (on the side of the second gear 352). Therefore, from the state shown in Fig. 19, only the first gear 351 can be rotated in the same rotation direction (counterclockwise direction in Fig. 19).

[0156] At this time, since the tooth thickness of the abutting portion 351b is thicker than that of other gear teeth (about the thickness of two to three gear teeth), the accuracy of the stop position of the first gear 351 can be relaxed. That is, for example, even if the first gear 351 stops at an intermediate phase between the state shown in Fig. 19 and the state shown in Fig. 20, the relationship at the abutting position between the adjacent gear tooth 354c and the abutting portion 351b is similarly ensured, and the rotation of the second gear 352 can be restricted.

[0157] Also, while loosening the accuracy of the stop position of the first gear 351, the rotation of the second gear 352 in both directions can be restricted. That is, even if the second gear 352 starts to rotate clockwise in FIG. 20, the curved wall portion 354b1 of the receiving portion 354b contacts the tooth tip surface of the contact portion 351b, and the direction of the load is the same as when the adjacent gear tooth 354c contacts the contact portion 351b as described in detail above, and the rotation of the second gear 352 is restricted. Therefore, since the movement of the rack 332 in both the up and down directions is restricted in the state where the lifting body 330 is disposed at the upper position, it is possible to suppress rattling of the lifting body 330. Restricting in both the up and down directions (particularly, restricting in the upward direction) is difficult to achieve with a conventional crank mechanism, and is achieved for the first time by the gear shapes of the first gear 351 and the second gear 352 as in the present embodiment.

[0158] Thus, due to the relationship between the shapes of the first gear 351 and the second gear 352, it is possible to prevent the second gear 352 from rotating in the state where the lifting body 330 is disposed at the upper position. Therefore, it is not necessary to continuously apply the driving force of the drive motor 341 (see FIG. 14) with a magnitude greater than its own weight to maintain the lifting body 330 at the upper position, and the energy consumption can be suppressed.

[0159] Also, although it is possible to maintain the lifting body 330 at the upper position by using the dead point of the crank mechanism, in that case, there is a problem that the crank mechanism becomes large in size corresponding to the moving distance of the lifting body 330. In the present embodiment, since the crank mechanism is not required and the rotation of the second gear 352 can be restricted by the relationship between the shapes of the first gear 351 and the second gear 352, the size reduction of the transmission part can be achieved.

[0160] A method for releasing the restriction on the rotation of the second gear 352 will be described. In the states shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, since there is no other member that interferes with the contact portion 351b in the rotation direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 20) when the contact portion 351b of the first gear 351 is rotated in the reverse direction, the rotation operation of the first gear 351 in the direction of lowering the lifting body 330 (clockwise direction in FIG. 20) is allowed.

[0161] Rotate the first gear 351 from the state shown in FIG. 20 to the state shown in FIG. 19, and further rotate it in the same direction, then the restriction on the rotation direction of the second gear 352 is released (the tip surface of the contact portion 351b is separated from the adjacent gear tooth 354c), and the lifting body 330 can perform a descending operation. That is, by the rotation operation of the first gear 351, the rotation restriction of the second gear 352 can be released, and it is not necessary to cause the first gear 351 to perform a separate operation for releasing the rotation restriction of the second gear 352, so the structure of the first gear 351 can be simplified.

[0162] Next, with reference to FIGS. 21 to 33, the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 will be described. FIG. 21 is a front perspective view of the liquid crystal lifting unit 400. As shown in FIG. 21, the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 includes a driving side slide member 420 that has an effect portion 422a having a circular liquid crystal portion and performs a lifting operation, and a driven side slide member 430 that is a member that rises following the driving side slide member 420 and includes the third symbol display device 81. The driving side slide member 420 and the driven side slide member 430 are communicated with a common guide rod 451 and are configured in a manner of operating in the same direction.

[0163] FIG. 22 is a front exploded perspective view of the liquid crystal lifting unit 400. As shown in FIG. 22, the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 includes a base member 410 composed of a pair of long plate-like members, a driving side slide member 420 configured to be able to perform a lifting operation in the vertical direction, a driven side slide member 430 disposed above the driving side slide member 420 and configured to be able to perform a lifting operation in the vertical direction, a driving device 440 that generates a driving force for the driving side slide member 420 to perform a lifting operation, a transmission device 450 that transmits the driving force generated from the driving device 440 to the driving side slide member 420 and guides the operations of the driving side slide member 420 and the driven side slide member 430 and has a pair of guide rods 451, a lower front plate member 460 that connects the lower ends of the pair of base members 410 to each other and is connected to the driving side slide member 420, and a cover member 470 disposed on the left and right and upper front sides of the liquid crystal lifting unit 400.

[0164] The base member 410 includes a main body member 411 configured as a vertically long plate-like member, guide rod support portions 412 configured as U-shaped recesses that are arranged at upper and lower end portions of the main body member 411 at positions that coincide with each other in the vertical direction and are open to the front, locking portions 413 that are arranged inside (the side closer to the other base member 410) of the vertical line drawn from the guide rod support portions 412 and extend on the front side of the main body member 411, first shaft support portions 414 that are cylindrically protruded on the front side of the main body member 411 on the opposite side of the locking portions 413 with the vertical line drawn from the guide rod support portions 412 interposed therebetween, a lowering restriction member 415 that is pivotally supported by the first shaft support portions 414 and restricts the lowering operation of the drive-side slide member 420, second shaft support portions 416 that are cylindrically protruded on the front side of the main body member 411 below the first shaft support portions 414, and a raising restriction member 417 that is pivotally supported by the second shaft support portions 416 and restricts the raising operation of the driven-side slide member 430.

[0165] The guide rod support portions 412 are portions that support both ends of the guide rod 451 of the transmission device 450 and are formed with an opening width capable of accommodating the guide rod 451. In the present embodiment, when the cover member 470 is fastened and fixed to the base member 410, the opening on the front side of the guide rod support portion 412 is closed, and the guide rod 451 is fixed to the guide rod support portion 412.

[0166] The locking portion 413 is a portion that abuts against the lower side surface of the fall prevention portion 435 of the driven-side slide member 430 in the vertical direction, and restricts the driven-side slide member 430 from further descending from this abutting state.

[0167] The lowering restriction member 415 and the raising restriction member 417 are members that rotate in accordance with the raising and lowering operation of the drive-side slide member 420 and have a role of restricting the movement of the driven-side slide member 430. Details will be described later.

[0168] The drive-side slide member 420 is a member whose left and right end portions are fastened and fixed to the rack 452 of the transmission device 450 and is raised and lowered by the sliding operation of the rack 452.

[0169] The driven-side slide member 430 has no independent driving device, and both the left and right ends thereof are slidably supported by guide rods 451, and it moves up and down following the up and down movement of the driving-side slide member 420. The driven-side slide member 430 mainly includes a main body member 431 that has the third pattern display device 81 and is configured to be long in the left-right direction, functional portions 432 disposed at both left and right ends of the main body member 431 in the left-right direction, guide holes 433 that are holes drilled vertically in the functional portions 432 and through which the guide rods 451 are inserted, hook-shaped portions 434 that extend upward and obliquely in the left and right outer directions at the lower end portions of the functional portions 432, and a fall prevention portion 435 that extends on the back side inside the guide holes 433 at the upper end portions of the functional portions 432 (the side close to the other guide hole 433).

[0170]

[0171]

[0172]

[0173] The driving device 440 includes a driving motor 441 fastened and fixed to the main body member 411 of the base member 410, and a driving gear 442 rotated by the driving force of the driving motor.

[0173] The transmission device 450 mainly includes a pair of guide rods 451 fixed to the guide rod support portion 412 of the base member 410, a rack 452 that is slidably supported by the guide rods 451 and to which the drive side slide member 420 is fastened and fixed, and that meshes with the drive gear 442 from the inside (the inside of the pair of drive gears 442), and a vertically long plate-shaped contact wall 453 extending forward from near the tooth base of the rack 452.

[0174] The contact wall 453 has the role of rotating the lifting restriction member 417 to the release side and the role of pulling the rack 452 in a direction away from the drive gear 442 under the biasing force of the lifting restriction member 417. Details will be described later.

[0175] The lower front plate member 460 mainly includes a main body member 461 whose left and right ends are fastened and fixed to the front side of the main body member 411 of the base member 410 and whose central portion is bent in a manner offset by a predetermined amount to the rear side compared to the left and right ends, a guide hole 462 formed along the left - right direction (in a manner of rising and inclining outward) in the left half of the main body member 461, and a cylindrical passage portion 463 that is a cylindrical member extending above the main body member 461 and whose upper end is open to the front side.

[0176] The guide hole 462 is an elongated hole through which the slide shaft 423b of the wiring storage member 423 is slidably guided.

[0177] The cylindrical passage portion 463 is a cylindrical member through which a ball can pass. In a state where the drive side slide member 420 is disposed at the connection position (see FIG. 31), it is a member through which the ball flowing down through the second passage forming member 422 of the drive side slide member 420 passes.

[0178] With reference to FIGS. 23 to 25, the detailed configuration of the drive side slide member 420 will be described. FIG. 23 is an exploded front perspective view of the drive side slide member 420, FIG. 24 is an exploded rear perspective view of the drive side slide member 420, and FIG. 25 is a rear view of the drive side slide member 420.

[0179] As shown in FIGS. 23 to 25, the drive-side slide member 420 mainly includes a main body member 421 configured as a plate-shaped member elongated in the left-right direction, a second passage forming member 422 having a disk portion with a production portion 422a composed of circular liquid crystal fastened and fixed to the center portion of the main body member 421 from the front side, and a groove through which a ball can pass leftward in a front view extending from the disk portion, a wiring storage member 423 having one end pivotally supported at the lower left end portion in a front view of the second flow path forming member 422 and the other end supported by a guide hole 462 of the lower front plate member 460, and a connecting member 424 pivotally supported by the second flow path forming member 422 and serving as a portion for introducing the ball into the groove portion 422b of the second flow path forming member 422 and having a passage portion penetrating along the circumferential direction of the shaft.

[0180] The main body member 421 mainly includes a guide portion 421a constituting a part of a cylindrical portion through which a guide rod 451 (see FIG. 22) is inserted, a groove portion 421b disposed in a leftward descending inclined manner with an opening on the front side in a portion extending leftward from the central portion in a front view, and a discharge opening portion 421c formed to penetrate in the front-rear direction with a size equal to or larger than the diameter of the ball at the lower left end portion of the groove portion 421b.

[0181] The guide portion 421a is a groove portion having a circular arc-shaped cross section that is open on the back side and extends in the vertical direction. By closing the open portion with a rack 452 (see FIG. 22) of the transmission device 450, a cylindrical portion through which the guide rod 451 (see FIG. 22) is inserted is formed.

[0182] The groove portion 421b is a member that forms a passage for the ball in cooperation with the second passage forming member 422. The ball flowing down along the groove portion 421b is discharged to the back side of the main body member 421 through the discharge opening portion 421c.

[0183] The second passage forming member 422 mainly includes an effect portion 422a composed of circular liquid crystal, a shaft support portion 422b that protrudes in a cylindrical shape from the back side of the circular disk portion disposed on the back side of the circular liquid crystal, a sensor member 422c that is disposed below the shaft support portion 422b and detects the passage of a ball, a groove portion 422d that is a groove that is open to the back side with a width that allows the ball that has passed through the sensor member 422c to flow down and has a shape that matches the groove portion 421b in the front-rear direction, a guide portion 422e that constitutes a cylindrical portion through which a guide rod 451 (see FIG. 22) is inserted, and a housing recess 422f that is recessed in a shape that can house a connecting member 424 between the shaft support portion 422b and the sensor member 422c.

[0184] The shaft support portion 422b is a portion where the connecting member 424 is pivotally supported. In a state where the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 is disposed at the connection position, after the ball that has flowed down the left swing unit 500 passes through the sensor member 422c via the connecting member 424, the ball passes through the passage formed by the groove portions 422d and 421b.

[0185] The wiring housing member 423 is a member that houses wiring extending from the lower front side member 460 or the like and connected to the effect portion 422a or the like, and mainly includes a main body portion 423a that is a long bar-shaped portion with a U-shaped cross-section pivotally supported at the lower left end portion of the second passage forming member 422 when viewed from the front, and a cylindrical slide shaft 423b that protrudes from the lower end portion of the main body portion 423a to the back side.

[0186] The main body portion 423a is a member that houses wiring in an inner portion formed in a U-shaped cross-section, and is configured in a shape that curves in a manner that protrudes in a direction away from the second passage forming member 422 in the longitudinal direction. Thereby, in the vicinity of the pivot support position with the second passage forming member 422, the wiring can be slackened along the curved shape, and it is possible to suppress the wiring from being bent and disconnected.

[0187] The slide shaft 423b is a rod-shaped portion that is inserted into a guide hole 462 of the lower front plate member 460.

[0188] Next, with reference to FIG. 26, the configuration of the connecting member 424 will be described. FIG. 26(a) is a front perspective view of the connecting member 424, FIG. 26(b) is a front view of the connecting member 424 as viewed in the direction of arrow XXVIb in FIG. 26(a), and FIG. 26(c) is a rear view of the connecting member 424 as viewed in the direction of arrow XXVIc in FIG. 26(a).

[0189] As shown in FIGS. 26(a) to 26(c), the connecting member 424 mainly includes a cylindrical portion 424a formed in a cylindrical shape and pivotally supported by the shaft support portion 422b, a plate-like upper wall portion 424b extending in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 424a, a curved plate-like lower wall portion 424c disposed opposite to the upper wall portion 424b with a length greater than the diameter of the ball below the upper wall portion 424b in a front view, a connecting cover 424d that connects the rear end portions of the upper wall portion 424b and the lower wall portion 424c and is covered between the upper wall portion 424b and the lower wall portion 424c, and a torsion spring 424e wound around the cylindrical portion 424a and applying a downward (counterclockwise in FIG. 25(b)) biasing force to the connecting member 424.

[0190] The upper wall portion 424b is a plate-like portion formed in such a manner that the width increases as it approaches the axis of the cylindrical portion 424a from the radial end of the cylindrical portion 424a, and the side surface is formed along a straight line in FIG. 25(b).

[0191] The lower wall portion 424c is a plate-like portion curved along an arc centered on the axis of the cylindrical portion 424a, and is disposed with a space having a length through which the ball can pass between it and the upper wall portion 424b.

[0192] The connecting cover 424d is a plate member that suppresses the ball passing through the connecting member 424 from spilling to the rear side. The open portion of the connecting member 424 formed on the opposite side (front side) of the connecting cover 424d is blocked by the bottom of the housing recess 422f of the second passage forming member 422 coming into contact from the front side. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the ball from spilling from the open portion of the connecting member 424.

[0193] Referring to FIGS. 27 and 28, the operation of the connecting member 424 with respect to the second passage forming member 422 will be described. FIGS. 27 and 28 are rear views of the second passage forming member 422 and the connecting member 424. In FIG. 27, an inclined state is illustrated in which an open portion formed by the upper side wall portion 424b and the lower side wall portion 424c of the connecting member 424 faces in the left-right direction and slopes downward. In FIG. 28, an inclined state is illustrated in which the open portion formed by the upper side wall portion 424b and the lower side wall portion 424c of the connecting member 424 faces obliquely upward as compared with the state of FIG. 27. FIG. 27 corresponds to a separated state (see FIG. 41) described later, and FIG. 28 corresponds to a communicating state (see FIG. 42) described later.

[0194] As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the connecting member 424 is rotatably operable about the shaft support portion 422b in a state of being accommodated in the accommodation recess 422f of the second passage forming member 422, and the front end surfaces of the upper side wall portion 424b and the lower side wall portion 424c are in contact with the bottom of the accommodation recess 422f of the second passage forming member 422.

[0195] The accommodation recess 422f includes a curved wall portion 422f1 formed in an arc shape centered on the shaft support portion 422b along the outer diameter of the lower side wall portion 424c at a portion facing the lower side wall portion 424c of the connecting member 424 in the state shown in FIG. 27, and an opposing wall portion 422f2 having a curved surface whose surface facing the curved wall portion 422f1 is recessed in a direction away from the curved wall portion 422f1 and is smoothly connected to the upper side wall portion 424b of the connecting member 424 in an upwardly inclined state (see FIG. 42).

[0196] Since the curved wall portion 422f1 is in surface contact with the lower side wall portion 424c in the downwardly inclined state of the connecting member 424, displacement in the axial diameter direction of the connecting member 424 can be suppressed.

[0197] Therefore, even if the fitting between the shaft support portion 422b and the cylindrical portion 424a of the connecting member 424 is loosened (a state with a large gap, for example, a state having a gap between 0.5 mm and 1 mm in dimension), when the connecting member 424 is in the downwardly inclined state, the posture of the connecting member 424 can be maintained with high precision by the contact between the lower side wall portion 424c and the curved wall portion 422f1.

[0198] On the other hand, when the fitting between the shaft support portion 422b and the cylindrical portion 424a of the connection member 424 is loosened, the operating resistance generated in the shaft support portion is reduced. Therefore, as long as no load is generated from other members, the connection member 424 can be reliably maintained in the downwardly inclined state by the action of gravity and the biasing force of the torsion spring 424e. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the connection member 424 is maintained in the upwardly inclined state even though no load is generated from other members.

[0199] The opposing wall portion 422f2 is a portion that guides the ball from the connection member 424 to the sensor member 422c. In the present embodiment, by curving the surface that is disposed opposite to the curved wall portion 422f1, the ball can be smoothly guided to the sensor member 422c.

[0200] The upwardly inclined state is formed in a communicating state in which the first passage forming member 520 of the left swing unit 500 and the connection member 424 communicate with each other. In this state, since the lower side wall portion 424c is separated from the opening of the sensor member 422c, the ball that has rolled through the lower side wall portion 424c of the connection member 424 rolls through the curved wall portion 422f1, passes through the opening of the sensor member 422c, and flows down through the groove portion 422d.

[0201] On the other hand, the downwardly inclined state is formed in a separated state in which the first passage forming member 520 of the left swing unit 500 and the connection member 424 are separated from each other. In this state, the lower side wall portion 424c projects to the inside of the opening of the sensor member 422c, and the dimension between the lower end portion of the lower side wall portion 422c and the wall surface of the receiving recess 422f (the wall surface extending vertically upward from the sensor member 422c) disposed opposite to the lower end portion is made to be equal to or less than the diameter of the ball, thereby preventing the ball from passing through the connection member 424 (the ball from being discharged from the lower end portion).

[0202] Therefore, as will be described later, even if the ball reaches the connection member 424 in the separated state, the flow of the ball can be stopped by the connection member 424.

[0203] Next, with reference to FIGS. 29 to 33, the lifting operation of the driving-side slide member 420 and the driven-side slide member 430 will be described. First, with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30, the positional relationship among the driving-side slide member 420, the driven-side slide member 430, and the base member 410 will be described.

[0204] FIG. 29 is a front view of the liquid crystal lifting unit 400, and FIG. 30 is a side view of the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 as viewed in the direction of arrow XXX in FIG. 29. In FIGS. 29 and 30, a state in which the driving-side slide member 420 and the driven-side slide member 430 are disposed at the lowered position is illustrated, and the illustration of the pair of left and right cover members inside the cover member 470 is omitted and the transmission member 450 is made visible. Further, in FIG. 29, the lowering restriction member 415 and the rising restriction member 417 on the right side in the front view are partially enlarged, and the outer shape of the rack 452 immediately before the contact wall 453 comes into contact with the release convex portion 417c of the rising restriction member 417 is illustrated by an imaginary line.

[0205] As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, in the lowered position, the fall prevention portion 435 of the driven-side slide member 430 is brought into contact with the locking portion 413 of the base member 410 from below, and the hook-shaped portion 434 is brought into contact with the rising restriction member 417 from above. Thus, since the driven-side slide member 430 is configured to be restricted from moving in both the upward and downward directions, it is possible to suppress rattling of the driven-side slide member 430 in the vertical direction in the lowered position.

[0206] Further, the rising restriction member 417 and the locking portion 413 are disposed with the guide rod 451 inserted through the guide hole 433 therebetween, and they can come into contact with the functional portion 432 of the driven-side slide member 430. Therefore, it is possible to suppress rattling of the functional portion 432 in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the guide rod 451 (the left-right direction in FIG. 29). Accordingly, even if a disturbance occurs in the driven-side slide member 430 when the pachinko machine 10 (see FIG. 1) is struck by a player or at the moment when it is disposed at the lowered position, it is possible to suppress rattling of the driven-side slide member 430, and the effect of the third symbol display device 81 can be improved.

[0207] Furthermore, since the ascending regulation member 417 and the locking portion 413 are arranged with a vertical displacement therebetween, rattling of the functional portion 432 in an oblique direction (e.g., the direction connecting the locking portion 413 and the ascending regulation member 417) can be suppressed. Therefore, even if disturbance occurs in the driven-side slide member 430, such as at the moment when it is disposed at the descending position or when the pachinko machine 10 (see FIG. 1) is struck by a player, rattling of the driven-side slide member 430 can be suppressed, and the effect of the third symbol display device 81 can be improved.

[0208] In addition, since the locking portion 413 is vertically displaced upward compared with the ascending regulation member 417, the locking portion 413 is disposed at a position far from the driving-side slide member 420, and it can be made difficult for the locking portion 413 to hinder the ascending and descending operation of the driving-side slide member 420. Therefore, the degree of freedom in the design of the driving-side slide member 420 can be improved.

[0209] As shown in FIG. 30, the descending regulation member 415 is disposed in front of the ascending regulation member 417, and the formation height of the contact wall 453 of the transmission device 450 (the overhanging length from the vicinity of the tooth base of the rack 452) is set to the height before reaching the descending regulation member 415. Therefore, in the rotational direction of the descending regulation member 415, the descending regulation member 415 and the contact wall 453 do not contact each other. Further, since the hook-shaped portion 434 is disposed at a position equivalent to that of the ascending regulation member 417 in the front-rear direction, the hook-shaped portion 434 and the descending regulation member 415 do not contact each other in the vertical direction.

[0210] On the other hand, the rack 452 includes a protruding plate 453a protruding from the upper end portion of the contact wall 453 toward the front side, and the protruding plate 453a is enabled to contact the descending regulation member 415 in the rotational direction.

[0211] FIG. 31 is a front view of the liquid crystal ascending and descending unit 400. In FIG. 31, the state where the driving-side slide member 420 is moved upward from the descending position and disposed at the connection position is illustrated, and the illustration of the pair of left and right cover members inside the cover member 470 is omitted. Further, in FIG. 31, the descending regulation member 415 and the ascending regulation member 417 on the right side in the front view are partially enlarged.

[0212] In a state where the driving-side slide member 420 is disposed at the connection position, a ball can be introduced into the connection member 424 via the left swing unit 500 (see FIG. 42).

[0213] As shown in FIGS. 29 and 31, the ascending regulation member 417 is a member that covers the hook-shaped portion 434 from above in a state before the upper end portion of the contact wall 453 comes into contact with the ascending regulation member 417, and is capable of rotating between the engaged state shown in FIG. 29 and the released state shown in FIG. 31. Note that the released state is not limited to the state shown in FIG. 31, and means a state in which the ascending regulation member 417 is rotated until it is retracted from directly above the hook-shaped portion 434 to a posture where it is retracted.

[0214] The ascending regulation member 417 mainly includes a cylindrical portion 417a pivotally supported by the second shaft support portion 416, an extension plate 417b extending linearly in the tangential direction of the cylindrical portion 417a, a release convex portion 417c protruding vertically from one end portion (the lower end portion) of the extension plate 417b, an engagement convex portion 417d protruding vertically from the other end portion of the extension plate 417b, an engagement claw portion 417e extending in parallel with the extension direction of the hook-shaped portion 434 at the protruding end portion of the engagement convex portion 417d and disposed above and inward (upper left in the enlarged view of FIG. 29) from the tip end portion of the hook-shaped portion 434, a separation inclined portion 417f inclined downward on the upper side surface of the protruding end portion of the engagement convex portion 417d, and a torsion spring 417g wound around the cylindrical portion 417a and having one end locked to the main body member 411 of the base member 410 to urge the ascending regulation member 417 in the inward winding direction (counterclockwise direction in the enlarged view of FIG. 29).

[0215] The extension plate 417b extends above the axis of the cylindrical portion 417a. Thereby, when the release convex portion 417c is pushed upward, the other end portion of the extension plate 417b can be moved in a direction away from the driven-side slide member 430, and a release operation can be performed.

[0216] The engaging claw portion 417e, in the engaged state, even if the driven-side slide member 430 is about to move upward, engages with the hook portion 434 (by the engaging claw portion 417e entering between the hook portion 434 and the functional portion 432), strongly suppressing the movement of the driven-side slide member 430.

[0217] The release operation of the upward movement restricting member 417 will be described. First, in the state shown in FIG. 29, while the upper end of the contact wall 453 abuts against the release convex portion 417c, the upward movement restricting member 417 is maintained in the engaged state. From this state, when the rack 452 is moved upward to the state shown in FIG. 31, the end portion of the contact wall 453 pushes up the release convex portion 413c, causing the upward movement restricting member 417 to rotate in the outer winding direction (clockwise direction in the enlarged view of FIG. 31), and the engaging convex portion 417d to retract from above the hook portion 434 (release state).

[0218] That is, the release operation of the upward movement restricting member 417 can be performed only by the upward movement of the rack 452. Therefore, for example, compared with the case where a separate solenoid member for performing the release operation of the upward movement restricting member 417 is provided, the drive motor 441 (see FIG. 22) can be used as the drive device for performing the release operation of the upward movement restricting member 417, reducing the number of drive devices to be arranged (reducing the product cost). Also, it is possible to prevent the upward movement restricting member 417 from operating inadvertently.

[0219] In other words, according to the present embodiment, since the upward movement restricting member 417 operates according to the arrangement of the rack 452, compared with the case where the upward movement restricting member 417 is operated by another drive source (such as a solenoid), it is possible to prevent a malfunction from occurring due to the operating timings of the rack 452 and the upward movement restricting member 417 not matching, and when the driven-side slide member 430 moves upward, it is possible to surely shift the upward movement restricting member 417 to the released state. For example, it is possible to prevent an excessive load from being applied to the hook portion 434 and the engaging convex portion 417d of the upward movement restricting member 417 when the rack 452 moves upward while the upward movement restricting member 417 remains in the engaged state.

[0220] Furthermore, since the rack 452 is moved upward and the upward regulation member 417 is shifted to the released state immediately before the upper end of the rack 452 comes into contact with the lower end of the driven-side slide member 430, just by continuing the upward movement of the rack 452, an engaged state (see FIG. 29) is formed while the driven-side slide member 430 and the driving-side slide member 420 are separated, preventing rattling of the driven-side slide member 430. On the other hand, in a state where the driven-side slide member 430 and the driving-side slide member 420 are in contact, a released state (see FIG. 31) is formed, and the driving force required when moving the driven-side slide member 430 upward can be suppressed.

[0221] Here, in the case of a configuration in which the driving-side slide member 420 pushes up the driven-side slide member 430 during the upward movement of the driving-side slide member 420 as in the present embodiment, the release of the engagement between the driven-side slide member 430 and the engaging portion can be performed by the operation of pushing up the driven-side slide member 430. However, in this case, it is necessary to set the engagement state to such an extent that it can be released by the pushing force of the driven-side slide member 430, making it difficult to achieve a strong engagement. Also, in this case, there is a problem that the driven-side slide member 430 vibrates due to the reaction generated when releasing the engagement between the driven-side slide member 430 and the engaging portion, and the posture becomes unstable.

[0222] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the upward regulation member 417 is rotated, and the engagement is released by retracting the upward regulation member 417 from above the hook-shaped portion 434 of the driven-side slide member 430. Therefore, the force that can be applied to the driven-side slide member 430 in the engaged state and the force for rotating the upward regulation member 417 can be made different. Accordingly, while suppressing the force required for release, the force for suppressing the upward movement of the driven-side slide member 430 in the engaged state can be increased.

[0223] Also, since the driving-side slide member 420 and the driven-side slide member 430 do not come into contact when performing the release operation of the upward regulation member 417, it is less likely for a reaction to occur in the driven-side slide member 430, and the posture of the driven-side slide member 430 at the time of release can be stabilized.

[0224] In the connected state shown in FIG. 31, the discharge opening 421c of the drive-side slide member 420 communicates with the cylindrical passage portion 463 of the lower front plate member 460. Thereby, the balls flowing down the second passage forming member 422 can be discharged into the cylindrical passage portion 463.

[0225] FIGS. 32 and 33 are front views of the liquid crystal lifting unit 400. In FIG. 32, a state is shown in which the drive-side slide member 420 has moved upward from the state shown in FIG. 31 and the protruding plate 453a of the transmission device 450 is about to contact the lowering restriction member 415. In FIG. 33, a state is shown in which the drive-side slide member 420 has moved upward from the state shown in FIG. 32 and the protruding plate 453a is disposed at an upward position where it has climbed over the upper side of the lowering restriction member 415. Further, in FIG. 33, the vicinity of the lowering restriction member 415 is partially shown in an enlarged view.

[0226] In the state shown in FIG. 32, the release convex portion 417c of the upward restriction member 417 contacts the contact wall 453 of the transmission device 450. In the present embodiment, a pair of transmission devices 450 are arranged symmetrically left and right, and the directions in which the release convex portions 417c contact the contact wall 453 are also symmetrically left and right. Therefore, the release convex portion 417c functions as a guide for guiding the drive-side slide member 420, and it is possible to suppress rattling of the drive-side slide member 420 in the left-right direction during the lifting and lowering operation.

[0227] Since the upward restriction member 417 is biased in the left-right inward direction of the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 by the torsion spring 417g, a load in the left-right inward direction of the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 is applied from the release convex portion 417c to the contact wall 453. Thereby, since the drive-side slide member 420 is biased in a certain direction along the left-right direction, the posture of the drive-side slide member 420 during the lifting and lowering operation can be stabilized.

[0228] Furthermore, the elastic force applied from the release convex portion 417c to the contact wall 453 when the drive-side slide member 420 is displaced in the left-right direction is asymmetric left and right in the pair of left and right upward restriction members 417 in a manner of returning the drive-side slide member 420 to the central position.

[0229] That is, on the side where the contact wall 453 moves in the direction approaching the release convex portion 417c, the lifting restriction member 417 is further rotated to the release side, so that the deformation amount of the torsion spring 417g increases, the biasing force increases, and the force pushing back the contact wall 453 increases. On the other hand, on the side where the contact wall 453 moves in the direction away from the release convex portion 417c, the lifting restriction member 417 is rotated in the direction opposite to the release side, so that the deformation amount of the torsion spring 417g decreases, the biasing force is reduced, and the force pushing the contact wall 453 is reduced. Thereby, it is possible to suppress rattling in the left - right direction when the drive - side slide member 420 moves up and down.

[0230] Since the drive gear 442 and the lifting restriction member 417 are arranged on the same side with respect to the rack 452, the biasing force of the torsion spring 417g acts in the direction of separating the rack 452 from the drive gear 442. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the drive - side slide member 420 from rattling in the left - right direction, the rack 452 approaching the drive gear 442, and the drive resistance from increasing (it is possible to stabilize the distance between the tooth surfaces of the rack 452 and the drive gear 442).

[0231] That is, when the drive - side slide member 420 rattles in the left - right direction and the rack 452 moves in the direction approaching the drive gear 442, the lifting restriction member 417 is rotated outward (the rotation direction in which the engaging convex portion 417d moves in the left - right outer direction of the liquid crystal lifting unit 400). As a result, the deformation amount of the torsion spring 417g increases, and the biasing force increases, so that the biasing force pushing back the drive - side slide member 420 increases. On the other hand, when the rack 452 moves in the direction away from the drive gear 442, the guide rod 451 supports the rack 452, and the rack 452 is restricted from separating from the drive gear 442 by more than the clearance provided in the support structure between the guide rod 451 and the rack 452. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the distance between the tooth surfaces of the rack 452 and the drive gear 422 from becoming narrow and the meshing resistance from becoming excessive, and it is also possible to suppress the distance between the tooth surfaces of the rack 452 and the drive gear 422 from becoming wide and tooth misalignment from occurring.

[0232] As shown in FIG. 33, in a state where the driving-side slide member 420 and the driven-side slide member 430 are arranged at the raised position, the lower surface of the protruding plate 453a of the transmission device 450 abuts on the upper surface of the release protrusion 415c of the lowering restriction member 415 (locking state).

[0233] The protruding plate 453a includes an inclined side surface 453a1 whose lower surface rises and inclines toward the left and right outer sides.

[0234] The lowering inclined member 415 mainly includes a cylindrical portion 415a pivotally supported by the first shaft support portion 414, an extending plate 415b extending linearly in the tangential direction of the cylindrical portion 415a, a release protrusion 415c protruding vertically from one end (upper end) of the extending plate 415b and having a semi-circular tip, and a torsion spring 415d wound around the cylindrical portion 415a and having one end locked to the main body member 411 of the base member 410 to urge the lowering restriction member 415 in the inward winding direction (counterclockwise direction in the enlarged view of FIG. 33).

[0235] As shown in FIG. 33, the rack 452 of the transmission device 450 is locked by the lowering restriction member 415. Therefore, the supply of the driving force of the drive motor 441 (see FIG. 22) can be stopped while the rack 452 is held in the raised position, and the power consumption of the drive motor 441 can be reduced.

[0236] Also, the rotational operation of the lowering restriction member 415 to the locking state shown in FIG. 33 is performed by the rack 452 being raised and the protruding plate 453a overcoming the release protrusion 415c of the lowering restriction member 415. Therefore, both the driving force for raising the rack 452 and the driving force for forming the locking state of the lowering restriction member 415 can be generated by the drive motor 441 (see FIG. 2). That is, the drive motor 441 can be used in common, and the product cost can be reduced accordingly.

[0237] Returning to FIG. 30, the positional relationship in the front-rear direction among the lowering restricting member 415, the raising restricting member 417, and the abutting wall 453 will be described. As shown in FIG. 30, the lowering restricting member 415 is disposed on the front side (left side in FIG. 30) compared with the raising restricting member 417, and the abutting wall 453 is disposed at a position where it can abut on the raising restricting member 417 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 30, and the side surface on the back side of the lowering restricting member 415 is in a state where it can be in surface contact with the side surface on the front side of the abutting wall 453.

[0238] Returning to FIG. 33 for description. The lowering restricting member 415 and the abutting wall 453 are abutted in the front-rear direction. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 33, the abutting wall 453 and the raising restricting member 417 are abutted in the left-right direction (left-right direction in FIG. 33), and the abutting wall 453 and the lowering restricting member 415 are abutted in the front-rear direction (direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 33). Thereby, the lateral play of the driving side slide member 420 can be suppressed by the raising restricting member 417, and the play in the front-rear direction (direction parallel to the tooth surfaces of the rack 452 and the driving gear 442) can be suppressed by the lowering restricting member 415.

[0239] Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the area of the meshing surface due to the relative movement of the rack 452 and the driving gear 442 in a direction parallel to the tooth surfaces, and it is possible to prevent the rack 452 from falling forward in a state where the rack 452 is disposed at the raised position.

[0240] When the driving gear 442 is rotated in the direction of lowering the rack 452 from the state shown in FIG. 33 and the rack 452 starts to lower, the protruding plate 453a applies a load to the releasing convex portion 415c, so that the lowering restricting member 415 is rotated outward (clockwise direction in the enlarged view of FIG. 33). Thereby, the locking by the lowering restricting member 415 is released, and the driving side slide member 420 can be moved downward. That is, since the release of the locking by the lowering restricting member 415 can be performed by the driving force of the driving motor 441 (the driving source can be shared), the product cost can be reduced.

[0241] In addition, since the locking of the lowering restriction member 415 is released by the lowering operation of the driving-side slide member 420, it is possible to prevent an overload from occurring in the drive source or the lowering restriction member 415, such as when the rotation operation of the lowering restriction member 415 is caused by another drive source and the drive-side slide member 420 is lowered before the restriction of the lowering restriction member 415 is released due to a deviation in the operation timing.

[0242] Note that, as in the present embodiment, in a structure in which both the driving-side slide member 420 and the driven-side slide member 430 are maintained at the raised position at the raised position, it is possible to lock each member at the raised position by locking the driven-side slide member 430. However, in that case, the structure for connecting and separating the driven-side slide member 430 and the driving-side slide member 420 becomes complicated and the cost increases.

[0243] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the driven-side slide member 430 is maintained at the raised position by locking the driving-side slide member 420, the configuration necessary to maintain the driven-side slide member 430 and the driving-side slide member 420 at the raised position can be reduced (it can be made only the drive device 450 and the driving-side slide member 420). Further, by making the interlocking of the driven-side slide member 430 with the driving-side slide member 420 solely due to the action of gravity, the structure between the driven-side slide member 430 and the driving-side slide member 420 can be simplified.

[0244] When the rack 452 is lowered from the state shown in FIG. 33, the driven-side slide member 430 rides on the rack 452 and descends. However, for example, if the guide rod 451 becomes dirty or the like and the resistance between the guide rod 451 and the guide hole 433 (see FIG. 22) is large, the descent speed of the driven-side slide member 430 may become smaller than the descent speed of the rack 452. Even in this case, when the driven-side slide member 430 abuts on the upward movement restricting member 417, the hook-shaped portion 434 acts on the separation inclined portion 417f of the upward movement restricting member 417, and the upward movement restricting member 417 can be rotated. Therefore, due to the own weight of the driven-side slide member 430, the upward movement restricting member 417 and the hook-shaped portion 434 can be engaged with each other.

[0245] Next, referring to FIGS. 34 to 42, the left swing unit 500 will be described. FIG. 34 is a front perspective view of the game board 13 and the left swing unit 500. As shown in FIG. 34, the left swing unit 500 is disposed on the back side of the first variable winning device 82a and the first specific winning port 82 of the game board 13, and has a flow path inside for allowing the balls that have won the first specific winning port 82 to pass through. In the present embodiment, a sensor member 82b for detecting that a ball has passed between the first variable winning device 82a and the first specific winning port 82 is disposed. Note that the sensor member 82b is a part of various switches 208 (see FIG. 4).

[0246] FIG. 35 is a front perspective view of the left swing unit 500. As shown in FIG. 35, the left swing unit 500 is configured in a manner of hanging the first passage forming member 520 downward to the lower right in a front view, and is a unit that performs an effect by swinging the first passage forming member 520.

[0247] FIG. 36 is an exploded front perspective view of the left swing unit 500, and FIG. 37 is an exploded rear perspective view of the left swing unit 500. As shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, the left swing unit 500 mainly includes a base member 510 that forms a skeleton, a first passage forming member 520 that is pivotally supported by the base member 510 and swings, a driving device 530 that is fastened and fixed to the base member 510 and generates a driving force for the first passage forming member 520, a transmission device 540 that transmits the driving force of the driving device 530 to the first passage forming member 520, and a cover member 550 that is covered on the front side and fastened and fixed to the base member 510 and has an introduction cylinder portion 552 connected to the first specific winning port 82 of the game board 13.

[0248] The base member 510 mainly includes a main body member 511 composed of a plate-like body in an L shape when viewed from the front, a shaft support hole 512 formed in a circular shape in the front-rear direction at the right end of the main body member when viewed from the front, a first wall portion 513 disposed vertically above the shaft support hole 512 and configured as a flat plate-like body with its surface facing the front-rear direction, a second wall portion 514 disposed at the left lower end of the first wall portion 513 at an interval of more than one ball from the left in the front view and configured as a curved plate-like body with its surface facing the left-right direction, a flow-down passage 515 disposed on the back side of the second wall portion 514 through which the balls reaching the second wall portion 514 flow down, a shaft support portion 516 disposed at the left lower part of the shaft support hole 512 when viewed from the front and protruding cylindrically toward the front side, a locking wall portion 517 disposed around the axis of the shaft support portion 516, and a detection sensor 518 disposed above the shaft support portion 516 for detecting the phase of the transmission device.

[0249] The shaft support hole 512 is a hole through which the shaft support portion 521c of the first passage forming member 520 is inserted, and the first passage forming member 520 is swung around the shaft support hole 512.

[0250] The first wall portion 513 includes a pair of guide wall portions 513a extending from both ends in the left-right direction to the front side.

[0251] The locking wall portion 517 includes an arc wall portion 517a configured in an arc shape centered on the shaft support portion 516 above the shaft support portion 516, and an inclined wall portion 517b extending to the lower right in the front view.

[0252] The arc wall portion 517a is the end face of the detection sensor 518 and extends to the circumferential end face of the shaft support portion 516.

[0253] The first passage forming member 520 mainly includes a long rod-shaped distribution base member 521 which is a member pivotally supported by the shaft support hole 512, and a passage cover member 522 disposed on the front side of the distribution base member 521 and fastened and fixed to the distribution base member 521 to form a passage through which balls can flow down between the distribution base member 521 and the passage cover member 522.

[0254] The sorting base member 521 mainly includes a long hanging plate portion 521a that forms one side of the ball flow-down passage, an intermediate plate portion 521b disposed at a position separated by a gap V1 for one ball along the extending direction of the hanging plate portion 521a from the upper end portion of the hanging plate portion 521a, a shaft support portion 521c that protrudes in a columnar shape on the back side near the upper end portion of the hanging plate portion 521a and is inserted into the shaft support hole 512, a long hole 521d formed along the extending direction in a plate-like portion extending in the radial direction of the shaft support portion 521c, a sorting convex portion 521e that protrudes from the end portion of the intermediate plate portion 521b on the hanging plate portion 521a side to the back side and is configured in a manner such that the width is shortened toward the outside in the radial direction of the shaft support portion 521c, and a curved wall portion 521f that extends to the front side of the gap V1 along the left side surface in the rear view of the sorting convex portion 521e and curves along an arc shape having the center at the upper end portion of the hanging plate portion 521a.

[0255] The hanging plate portion 521a is configured in a shape where the lower side is bent downward compared to the upper side from the middle portion, and includes a ball feeding portion 521a1 where the plate thickness portion on the front side is shaved at the lower end portion to be thinned.

[0256] The gap V1 is a space that allows the ball that has reached the right side in the front view of the sorting convex portion 521e to pass through in the front direction.

[0257] The passage cover member 522 mainly includes a plate-like plate portion 522a that is covered on the front side of the sorting base member 521, and upper and lower wall portions 522b that extend in a plate-like manner from both end portions in the short direction of the plate portion 522a to the back side.

[0258] The plate portion 522a is formed of a resin material with light transmission, and includes a ball receiving portion 522a1 that is bent to the back side at a portion disposed on the front side of the ball feeding portion 521a1 of the sorting base member 521 at the lower end portion.

[0259] The upper and lower wall portions 522b are portions that roll the ball that has passed through the gap V1, and since the inclination angle changes with the middle portion as a boundary, similar to the hanging plate portion 521a, the flow-down speed of the ball can be changed at the middle portion.

[0260] Inside the upper and lower wall portions 522b, a step is provided on the inner side of the lower wall portion at the tip portion. The step serves to displace the rolling ball in the direction of facing of the upper and lower wall portions 522b (the direction from one wall portion to the other wall portion) and decelerate the ball.

[0261] Also, the ball that has reached the lower end portion of the first passage forming member 520 is directed toward the back side by the ball feed portion 521a1 and the ball receiving portion 522a1. Thereby, the speed of the ball before discharge can be decelerated, and the discharge of the ball can be stabilized.

[0262] The drive device 530 includes a drive motor 531 and a drive gear 532 pivotally supported and rotated on the rotation shaft of the drive motor 531, and the drive gear 532 is meshed with the main body gear portion 541 of the transmission device 540.

[0263] The transmission device 540 mainly includes a main body gear portion 541 pivotally supported by the pivot portion 516 and meshed with the drive gear 532, an eccentric convex portion 542 protruding cylindrically from an eccentric position of the main body gear portion 541 toward the front side and inserted into the long hole 521d of the first passage forming member 520, and an extension portion 543 configured to be able to contact the locking wall portion 517 extending radially from the main body gear portion 541 and to be able to pass through the gap of the detection sensor 518.

[0264] The cover member 550 mainly includes a plate-shaped main body member 551 covered on the base member 510, a cylindrical introduction cylinder portion 552 connected to the first specific winning port 82 at the right end portion in the front view of the main body member 551 and having the back side end portion abutted against the first wall portion 513, and a pair of guide wall portions 553 extending downward from the left and right direction end portions of the introduction cylinder portion 552 on the back side side surface of the main body member 551.

[0265] The guide wall portion 553 is a portion that overlaps with the guide wall portion 513a of the base member 510 in the front-rear direction. The ball that has passed through the introduction cylinder portion 552 flows downward through between the guide wall portions 513a and 553.

[0266] Referring to FIGS. 38 to 40, the swinging operation of the first passage forming member 520 will be described. FIGS. 38 to 40 are front views of the swinging operation unit 500. In FIGS. 38 to 40, the cover member 550 is not shown, the outer shape of the first passage forming member 520 as viewed in cross section at the intermediate position in the front-rear direction of the hanging plate portion 521a is shown, and the outer shape of the passage cover member is shown by an imaginary line.

[0267] Also, in FIG. 38, the state where the first passage forming member 520 is disposed at the release position, in FIG. 39(a), the state where the first passage forming member 520 is swung by a predetermined amount from the state shown in FIG. 38 and the distribution convex portion 521e is disposed at the intermediate position between the pair of guide wall portions 513a, in FIG. 39(b), the state where the first passage forming member 520 is swung by a predetermined amount from the state shown in FIG. 39(a) and is immediately before contacting the connecting member 424, and in FIG. 40, the state where the first passage forming member 520 is swung by a predetermined amount from the state shown in FIG. 39(b) and is disposed at the connection position are respectively shown.

[0268] As shown in FIGS. 38 to 40, the swinging operation of the first passage forming member 520 is caused by the transmission device 540 being rotated and the position of the long hole 521d being moved as the eccentric convex portion 542 moves.

[0269] As shown in FIG. 38, at the release position, the direction X1 connecting the shaft support portion 516 and the eccentric convex portion 542 and the direction X2 extending in the extending direction of the long hole 521d (radial direction of the shaft support portion 521c) intersect perpendicularly. Therefore, since the load applied to the eccentric convex portion 542 when the first passage forming member 520 starts to rotate is directed toward the shaft support portion 516, it is possible to suppress the generation of a load for rotating the transmission device 540. Thereby, even if the driving force is not continuously applied to the driving gear 532, the posture of the transmission device 540 can be maintained, and the power consumption of the driving motor 531 (see FIG. 36) can be reduced.

[0270] Also, at the release position, the extended portion 543 of the transmission device 540 is disposed in the gap of the detection sensor 518 and abuts against the end portion of the arc wall portion 517a. That is, the extended portion 543 has both a role as a portion used for detecting the phase of the transmission device 540 and a role as a rotation prevention member.

[0271] As shown in FIG. 38, at the release position, the distribution convex portion 521e is disposed opposite to the guide wall portion 513a on the right side in the front view of the base member 510. Therefore, the ball that has reached the first wall portion 513 and passed between the guide wall portions 513a and 553 is deflected to the path on the left side in the front view by the distribution convex portion 521e and is discharged out of the game area through the flow-down passage 515.

[0272] As shown in FIG. 39(a), at an intermediate position between the release position and the connection position, the distribution convex portion 521e is disposed at the intermediate position between the pair of guide wall portions 513a of the base member 510. Therefore, the ball that has reached the first wall portion 513 and passed between the guide wall portions 513a and 553 is stopped from flowing down by the distribution convex portion 521e (stays on the tip of the distribution convex portion 521e).

[0273] As shown in FIG. 39(b), in a state immediately before the first passage forming member 520 abuts against the connecting member 424, the distribution convex portion 521e is disposed between the pair of guide wall portions 513a of the base member 510. Therefore, the ball that has reached the first wall portion 513 and passed between the guide wall portions 513a and 553 is stopped from flowing down by the distribution convex portion 521e (stays on the tip of the distribution convex portion 521e). Thereby, in the state of FIG. 39(b), it is possible to prevent the ball from passing through the first passage forming member 520, being fed to the connecting member 424, and reaching the opposing wall portion 422f2.

[0274] Here, since the opposing wall portion 422f2 is smoothly connected to the upper wall portion 424b of the connecting member 424 in the upwardly inclined state (see FIG. 42), in the downwardly inclined state (see FIG. 41), the upper end portion is configured to project leftward in the front view from the lower end portion of the upper wall portion 424b of the connecting member 424. Therefore, when a ball is fed to the connecting member 424 in the downwardly inclined state and the ball collides with the upper end portion of the opposing wall portion 422f2, the opposing wall portion 422f2 may be damaged.

[0275] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in the state shown in FIG. 39(b), since the introduction of the ball into the first passage forming member 520 is prevented, it is possible to prevent the ball from colliding with the opposing wall portion 422f2, and it is possible to prevent the opposing wall portion 422f2 from being damaged.

[0276] As shown in FIG. 40, at the connection position, the direction X1 connecting the shaft support portion 516 and the eccentric convex portion 542 and the direction X2 (the radial direction of the shaft support portion 521c) extending in the long hole 521d intersect perpendicularly. Therefore, since the load applied to the eccentric convex portion 542 when the first passage forming member 520 starts to rotate is directed toward the shaft support portion 516, it is possible to suppress the generation of a load for rotating the transmission device 540. Thereby, even if the driving force is not continuously applied to the driving gear 532, the posture of the transmission device 540 can be maintained, and the power consumption of the driving motor 531 (see FIG. 36) can be reduced.

[0277] Also, at the connection position, the extended portion 543 of the transmission device 540 abuts against the inclined wall portion 517b. Thereby, while stabilizing the phase for stopping the transmission device 540 by abutting the extended portion 543 against the inclined wall portion 517b, the durability of the extended portion 543 can be improved as compared with the case where a load is locally applied to the extended portion 543.

[0278] As shown in FIG. 40, in the connected state, the distribution convex portion 521e is disposed opposite to the guide wall portion 513a on the left side in the front view of the base member 510. Therefore, the ball that has reached the first wall portion 513 and passed between the guide wall portions 513a and 553 is distributed by the distribution convex portion 521e to the path on the right side in the front view, moves to the front side through the gap V1, and then rolls along the lower wall portion of the upper and lower wall portions 522b (see FIG. 37) of the passage cover member 522.

[0279] The flow of the ball in the connected state will be described. First, the ball that has won a prize through the first variable prize device 82a from the game area and entered the first specific prize opening 82 moves back and forth toward the back side through the introduction cylinder portion 552 (see FIG. 36), abuts against the first wall portion 513, then flows down through the passage formed by the guide wall portions 513a and 553, moves back and forth toward the front side through the gap V1 of the first passage forming member 520, and rolls on the upper side of the lower wall portion of the upper and lower wall portions 522b of the passage cover member 522.

[0280] That is, before the ball flows down inside the first passage forming member 520, the ball is sent in the front-rear direction. Therefore, even if the balls are supplied to the first specific prize opening 82 in a row, it is possible to suppress the bouncing of the balls and smoothly introduce the balls into the first passage forming member 520. Further, by flowing down the ball sent in the front-rear direction along the curved wall portion 521f (see FIG. 37), the direction of the speed of the ball can be changed, and the ball can be smoothly introduced into the first passage forming member 520.

[0281] In the first passage forming member 520, the extending direction of the distribution base member 521 and the passage cover member 522 changes with the intermediate portion as a boundary. That is, the distribution base member 521 and the passage cover member 522 extend along the straight line Y1 from the intermediate portion to the base end side (shaft support portion 521c side), and extend along the straight line Y2 that is inclined downward from the straight line Y1 from the intermediate portion to the tip side (the opposite side of the base end side).

[0282] Therefore, the speed of the ball rolling inside the first passage forming member 520 is slower from the proximal end side to the intermediate portion than from the intermediate portion to the distal end portion. Therefore, it is possible to make it easier for the player to visually recognize the ball immediately after the ball is introduced into the first passage forming member 520.

[0283] Also, compared with the case where the first passage forming member 520 is configured in a straight shape along the straight line Y1, at the connection position (see FIG. 42), the angle between the direction in which the ball is fed from the first passage forming member 520 and the direction (vertical direction) in which the ball is introduced into the sensor member 422c can be reduced. Thereby, the feeding of the ball from the first passage forming member 520 to the second passage forming member 422 can be stabilized.

[0284] As shown in FIGS. 38 to 40, the first passage forming member 520 is swung by the rotation of the transmission device 540, and the path through which the ball flows down is switched by the arrangement of the distribution convex portion 521e.

[0285] Here, when a wall member is arranged opposite to the distribution convex portion 521e in the rotational direction of the distribution convex portion 521e, if a configuration is adopted in which the distribution convex portion 521e approaches the wall member to be less than or equal to the diameter of the ball, when the ball stays in the rotational direction of the distribution convex portion 521e, the ball may be caught between the distribution convex portion 521e and the wall member, causing a malfunction.

[0286] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, at the connection position shown in FIG. 40, a space equal to or larger than the diameter of the ball is provided between the distribution convex portion 521e and the second wall portion 514, and no wall member is arranged on the opposite side of the second wall portion 514 across the distribution convex portion 521e, and it is open. Therefore, a situation where the ball is caught in the rotational direction of the distribution convex portion 521e does not occur, and a malfunction can be prevented.

[0287] Referring to FIGS. 41 and 42, the connection of the flow path between the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 and the left swing unit 500 will be described. FIGS. 41 and 42 are partial front views of the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 and the left swing unit 500. In FIGS. 41 and 42, the second passage forming member 422 is shown in cross section and the connecting member 424 is visible, and the first passage forming member 520 is shown in the outer shape at the intermediate position in the front-rear direction of the hanging plate portion 521a, and the distribution convex portion 521e is visible.

[0288] Also, in FIGS. 41 and 42, the state in which the liquid crystal lifting unit 400 is arranged at the connection position (see FIG. 31) is shown. In FIG. 41, the state in which the left swing unit 500 is arranged at the release position (see FIG. 38) is shown. In FIG. 42, the state in which the left swing unit 500 is arranged at the connection position (see FIG. 40) is shown.

[0289] When the first passage forming member 520 is swung from the state shown in FIG. 41 to the state shown in FIG. 42, its tip contacts the lower side surface of the upper side wall portion 424b of the connecting member 424 and swings the connecting member 424. That is, since the connecting member 424 is moved along with the moving direction of the first passage forming member 520, for example, even when the stop position of the driving side slide member 420 is slightly deviated from the ideal position, a gap between the tip of the first passage forming member 520 and the connecting member 424 can be suppressed from occurring. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the ball from falling between the tip of the first passage forming member 520 and the connecting member 424, and to stabilize the feeding of the ball from the first passage forming member 520 to the second passage forming member 422.

[0290] When the connecting member 424 is swung, the lower side wall portion 424c on which the ball flowing down from the first passage forming member 520 rolls is moved in a direction approaching the tip of the first passage forming member 520. Therefore, the gap between the rolling surfaces of the first passage forming member 520 and the connecting member 424 can be narrowed, and it is possible to suppress the ball from falling from the gap between the rolling surfaces of the first passage forming member 520 and the connecting member 424. Therefore, the feeding of the ball can be stabilized.

[0291] Also, in the state shown in FIG. 42, the lower wall portion 424c is inclined downward toward the sensor member 422c that communicates with the groove portion 422d (see FIG. 27). Thereby, the ball can roll along the downward inclination, and the feeding of the ball to the second passage forming member 422 can be stabilized.

[0292] Note that the swinging operation of the first passage forming member 520 is performed by detecting the passage of the ball through the sensor member 82b (see FIG. 34) and the sensor member 422c. For example, in a state where the first passage forming member 520 is disposed at the connection position shown in FIG. 42, the first passage forming member 520 is caused to start swinging toward the release position (see FIG. 41) at a timing when the number of detected balls of the sensor member 82b and the sensor member 422c matches (no ball remains in the first passage forming member 520), whereby it is possible to prevent the ball from being discharged outside the game area from the tip of the first passage forming member 520.

[0293] As shown in FIGS. 41 and 42, the driving force required for the distribution of the balls by the movement of the distribution convex portion 521e and the operation of forming the flow-down path of the balls by bringing the first passage forming member 520 into contact with the connecting member 424 by swinging the first passage forming member 520 is shared (borne by the driving force of the driving motor 531 (see FIG. 36) that operates the first passage forming member 520). Also, since the states of both are synchronized, for example, it is possible to avoid a situation where the ball is introduced into the first passage forming member 520 in a state where the first passage forming member 520 is disposed at the release position. As a result, it is possible to surely prevent the ball from being discharged outside the game area from the tip of the first passage forming member 520.

[0294] Also, the distribution convex portion 521e is disposed at the upper end portion of the distribution base member 521 and also serves as a wall portion (forming the upper end) that partitions the passage of the balls flowing down the front side of the hanging plate portion 521a (see FIG. 36). Thereby, it is possible to reduce the component cost as compared with the case where distribution is performed by other components, and it is possible to surely introduce the balls distributed to the first passage forming member 520 side into the passage between the hanging plate portion 521a and the passage cover member 522.

[0295] Next, referring to FIGS. 43 to 77, the rotating unit 600 will be described. FIG. 43 is a front view of the rotating unit 600, and FIG. 44 is a front perspective view of the rotating unit 600. FIG. 45 is a front view of the rotating unit 600 with the guide member 680 removed, and FIG. 46 is a front perspective view of the rotating unit 600 with the guide member 680 removed. Further, FIG. 47 is an exploded front perspective view of the rotating unit 600, and FIG. 48 is an exploded rear perspective view of the rotating unit 600.

[0296] As shown in FIGS. 43 to 48, the rotating unit 600 mainly includes a case member 610 formed in a container shape with one side open, a guide member 620 covering one side of the case member 610, a drive mechanism 630 disposed between the opposing surfaces of the case member 610 and the guide member 620, a rotating member 640 rotationally driven by the driving force of the drive mechanism 630, a ball throwing device 650 disposed on the inner peripheral side of the rotating member 640, and a guide member 680 disposed on the outer peripheral side of the rotating member 640.

[0297] The case member 610 includes a bottom wall portion 611 that is substantially circular in a front view and a substantially cylindrical outer wall portion 612 that stands upright from the bottom wall portion 611 toward the front. These wall portions 611 and 612 form a container shape with one side open. The guide member 620 is formed in a disk shape of an annular ring in a front view and is disposed (fixed) at the erected tip of the outer wall portion 612 of the case member 610. Thereby, an internal space is formed between the bottom wall portion 611 of the case member 610 and the guide member 620, and the drive mechanism 630 is disposed in the internal space.

[0298] The guide member 620 is a member for holding the rotating member 640 displaceably, and a connecting link action groove 621 and a undulating link action groove 622 are recessed in the front thereof. These connecting link action groove 621 and undulating link action groove 622 are U-shaped concave grooves extending along the circumferential direction of the guide member 620, and insertion portions 644a and 648a of a connecting link member 644 and an undulating link member 648, which will be described later, of the rotating member 640 are inserted therethrough, respectively.

[0299] Note that the groove widths of the connecting link working groove 621 and the undulating link working groove 622 are set to dimensions equal to or slightly larger than the diameters of the insertion portions 644a and 648a of the connecting link member 644 and the undulating link member 648. Therefore, the insertion portions 644a and 648a of the connecting link member 644 and the undulating link member 648 are slidable (guided) along the extending direction of the connecting link working groove 621 and the undulating link working groove 622.

[0300] When the rotating member 640 is rotationally driven, the connecting link working groove 621 acts on the connecting link member 644 to increase or decrease the distance between the dividing members DV (see FIG. 73), while the undulating link working groove 622 acts on the undulating link member 648 to undulate the display plate 646 and the partition plate 647 (see FIGS. 59 and 60). Here, with reference to FIGS. 49 and 50, the connecting link working groove 621 and the undulating link working groove 622 of the guide member 620 will be described.

[0301] FIG. 49 is a front view of the rotating unit 600 in a state where the rotating member 640, a part of the ball-throwing device 650, and the guide member 680 are removed, and FIG. 50 is a front schematic view of the guide member 620. In FIG. 50, the shapes of the connecting link working groove 621 and the undulating link working groove 622 are schematically illustrated using a two-dot chain line. Such a two-dot chain line is illustrated as a line passing through the center of the groove width of each working groove 621, 622.

[0302] As shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, the connecting link working groove 621 includes a large-diameter portion 621a that curves in an arc shape with a radius R1 centered on the axis O, a small-diameter portion 621b that curves in an arc shape with a radius R2 centered on the axis O, and a pair of connecting portions 621c that connect between the large-diameter portion 621a and the small-diameter portion 621b. Note that the radius R1 of the large-diameter portion 621a is set to a dimension larger than the radius R2 of the small-diameter portion 621b (R2 < R1).

[0303] The undulating link working groove 622 includes a large-diameter portion 622a that curves in an arc shape with a radius R3 centered on the axis O, a small-diameter portion 622b that curves in an arc shape with a radius R4 centered on the axis O, and a pair of connecting portions 622c that connect between the large-diameter portion 622a and the small-diameter portion 622b. Note that the radius R3 of the large-diameter portion 622a is set to a dimension larger than the radius R4 of the small-diameter portion 622b (R4 < R3).

[0304] In this embodiment, the large-diameter portion 621a and the small-diameter portion 621b of the connecting link working groove 621 and the large-diameter portion 622a and the small-diameter portion 622b of the undulating link working groove 622 are arranged concentrically with the axis O as the center. In this case, the axis O coincides with the rotation center when the rotating member 640 is rotated. Therefore, when the rotating member 640 is rotated, the forces acting from the large-diameter portions 621a, 622a and the small-diameter portions 622a, 622b of the connecting link working groove 621 and the undulating link working groove 622 to the connecting link member 644 and the undulating link member 648 are suppressed, and the output required for the drive motor 631 of the drive mechanism 630 can be reduced.

[0305] Also, the pair of connecting portions 621c of the connecting link working groove 621 are arranged at positions with a 180-degree different phase. Similarly, the pair of connecting portions 622c of the undulating link working groove 622 are arranged at positions with a 180-degree different phase. Therefore, when the rotating member 640 is rotationally driven, the force acting from one connecting portion 621c of the connecting link working groove 621 to the connecting link member 644 and the force acting from the other connecting portion 621c to the connecting link member 644 can be offset. Similarly, the force acting from one connecting portion 622c of the undulating link working groove 622 to the undulating link member 648 and the force acting from the other connecting portion 622c to the undulating link member 648 can be offset. As a result, the force acting on the rotating member 640 can be made uniform as a whole, so that the rotation of the rotating member 640 can be stabilized and the output required for the drive motor 631 of the drive mechanism 630 can be reduced.

[0306] In this embodiment, the connection portion 621c of the connecting link working groove 621 and the connection portion 622c of the undulating link working groove 622 are formed to have different phases. That is, when the insertion portion 644a of the connecting link member 644 is inserted into the connection portion 621c of the connecting link working groove 621, the insertion portion 648a of the undulating link member 648 is inserted into either the large-diameter portion 622a or the small-diameter portion 622b of the undulating link working groove 622. When the insertion portion 648a of the undulating link member 648 is inserted into the connection portion 622c of the undulating link working groove 622, the insertion portion 644a of the connecting link member 644 is inserted into either the large-diameter portion 621a or the small-diameter portion 621b of the connecting link working groove 621.

[0307] Since the connection portions 621c and 622c are portions for changing the interval of the dividing member DV or displacing the display plate 646 and the partition plate 647, and thus receive a relatively large reaction force from such connection portions 621c and 622c, by preventing the insertion portions 644a and 648a from being simultaneously inserted into the connection portions 621c and 622c, the required driving force can be dispersed. As a result, the output required for the drive motor 631 of the drive mechanism 630 can be reduced.

[0308] Returning to FIGS. 43 to 48, the drive mechanism 630 will be described. The drive mechanism 630 is a mechanism for rotationally driving the rotating member 640, and mainly includes a drive motor 631, a pinion gear 632 fixed to the drive shaft of the drive motor 631, a transmission gear train in which the leading gear (first transmission gear 633a) is meshed with the pinion gear 632, a central transmission member 634 having a gear 634a meshed with the trailing gear (second transmission gear 633b) of the transmission gear train, one-side distribution gear trains and the other-side distribution gear trains in which the leading gears (first distribution gears 635a, 636a) are meshed with the gear 634a of the central transmission member 634, and one-side rotation drive members 637 and the other-side rotation drive members 638 having gears 637a, 638a meshed with the trailing gears (third distribution gears 635c, 636c) of the one-side distribution gear trains and the other-side gear trains. Note that second distribution gears 635b and 636b are respectively interposed between the first distribution gears 635a, 636a and the third distribution gears 635c, 636c.

[0309] The one-side rotation drive member 637 and the other-side rotation drive member 638 are members that form the end of the transmission path (the output end in the drive mechanism 630) for transmitting the rotational drive force generated by the drive motor 631. When rotated by the rotational drive force of the drive motor 631, they rotate the rotation member 640 by their own rotation. Here, the one-side rotation drive member 637 and the other-side rotation drive member 638 will be described with reference to FIG. 51.

[0310] FIG. 51(a) is a front view of the one-side rotation drive member 637 and the other-side rotation member 638, and FIG. 51(b) is a cross-sectional view of the one-side rotation member 637 and the other-side rotation member 638 taken along the line LIb-LIb in FIG. 51(a).

[0311] Since the one-side rotation drive member 637 and the other-side rotation drive member 638 are formed in the same shape as each other, only the one-side rotation drive member 637 will be described, and for the other-side rotation drive member 638, only reference numerals are given in the figure of FIG. 51, and its description is omitted.

[0312] As shown in FIG. 47, the one-side rotation drive member 637 is formed in a disc shape, and engagement portions 637b are recessed and formed at a plurality of locations (three locations in this embodiment) at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of its outer edge portion.

[0313] The engagement portion 637b is a portion that engages with the engaged portion 641 (see FIG. 56) in the split member DV of the rotation member 640, and is formed in a substantially V shape in a front view (axial direction view) in which the width (the interval between opposing surfaces) becomes narrower from the open side toward the recessed back side. As will be described later, by rotating the one-side rotation drive member 637, its rotation can be transmitted to the rotation member 640 through the engagement of the engagement portion 637b and the engaged portion 641, and the rotation member 640 can be rotated.

[0314] On one - side rotation drive member 637, a connecting wall 637c is formed to partially connect the opposing inner surfaces of the engaging portion 637b. The connecting wall 637c is formed in a shape that curves in an arc shape in a front view (axial direction view) around the axis of the one - side rotation drive member 637, and connects only the inner surfaces of the open side (outer edge side of the one - side rotation drive member 637) of the engaging portion 637b, and the inner surfaces of the recessed back side of the engaging portion 637b are not connected.

[0315] Here, when the rotation member 640 is driven by the one - side rotation drive member 637, the engagement and disengagement between the engaging portion 637b and the engaged portion 641 are intermittently repeated (see FIG. 74). Therefore, when the engaged portion 641 starts to engage with the engaging portion 637b, an impact load is input, and there is a risk that the one - side rotation drive member 637 may be damaged. On the other hand, if the weight of the one - side rotation drive member 637 increases, a large output is required for the drive motor 631 of the drive mechanism 630.

[0316] In this case, according to the present embodiment, since the connecting wall 637c is formed only on the open side of the engaging portion 637b, it is possible to effectively achieve both reinforcement against the impact load when the engaging portion 637b and the engaged portion 641 start to engage and weight reduction. As a result, while improving the durability of the one - side drive member 637, the output required for the drive motor 631 of the drive mechanism 630 can be reduced.

[0317] Returning to FIGS. 43 to 48 for explanation. Each component of the drive mechanism 630 is disposed in the case member 610 except for the central transmission member 634 (see FIG. 53). On the other hand, the central transmission member 634 is rotatably held on the back side of the guide member 620. Here, the holding structure of the central transmission member 634 to the guide member 620 will be described with reference to FIG. 52.

[0318] FIG. 52 is a cross - sectional view of the rotation unit 600 cut along a plane including the rotation axis of the central transmission member 634. As shown in FIG. 52, the central transmission body 634 is formed in a hat shape that is circular in a front view and has a recessed central portion. A gear 634a is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the central recessed portion, and a protruding portion 634b protrudes in a flange shape radially outward from the outermost edge portion.

[0319] On the back side of the guide member 620, a pair of holding collars 623 and 624 (see FIGS. 47 and 48) are respectively arranged in a state where they are overlapped at three positions equally spaced in the circumferential direction (i.e., positions spaced at 120-degree intervals), and the overhanging portion 634b of the central transmission member 634 is slidably inserted between the opposing surfaces of the pair of holding collars 623 and 624. Thereby, the central transmission member 634 can be rotatably held by the guide member 620 via the pair of holding collars 623 and 624.

[0320] That is, the displacement of the central transmission member 634 in the radial direction (vertical direction in FIG. 52) with respect to the guide member 620 can be restricted by bringing the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of holding collars 623 and 624 into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the central transmission member 634, and the displacement of the central transmission member 634 in the axial direction (left-right direction in FIG. 52) with respect to the guide member 620 can be restricted by bringing the overhanging portion 634b of the central transmission member 634 into contact with the opposing surfaces of the pair of holding collars 623 and 624.

[0321] In this case, the pair of holding collars 623 and 624 are formed in a circular shape when viewed from the front (in the direction of the rotation axis of the central transmission member 634). Therefore, the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of holding collars 623 and 624 and the outer peripheral surface of the central transmission member 634 can be in a relationship where their arc shapes are circumscribed (i.e., in point contact), so that their contact area can be reduced and the frictional resistance when the central transmission member 634 rotates can be reduced. As a result, the output required for the drive motor 631 of the drive mechanism 630 can be reduced.

[0322] Furthermore, by adopting such a structure that holds the outer edge side (overhanging portion 634b) of the central transmission member 634, it is not necessary to pivotally support the recessed portion in the center of the central transmission member 634 on the bottom wall portion 611 of the case member 610, and the space for arranging the parts for such pivotal support is not required. Thus, the space for arranging the pitching device 650 described later can be secured accordingly.

[0323] Next, the operation of the drive mechanism 630 will be described with reference to FIG. 53. FIG. 53 is a front view of the case member 610 and the drive mechanism 630, and shows a state in which the central transmission member 634 is shown in a cross-sectional view.

[0324] As shown in FIG. 53, the drive mechanism 630 is arranged such that the central transmission member 634 is disposed at a position concentric with the axis O which is the rotation center of the rotating member 640, and the gear 634a of the central transmission member 634 is engaged with the second transmission gear 633b and the third distribution gears 635c, 636c. The third distribution gears 635c, 636c are arranged at positions with a 180-degree phase difference (i.e., positions facing each other with the axis O interposed therebetween).

[0325] Therefore, when the drive motor 631 is rotationally driven, the rotation is transmitted to the second transmission gear 633b via the pinion gear 632 and the first transmission gear 633a, and the central transmission member 634 is rotated as the second transmission gear 633b rotates.

[0326] When the central transmission member 634 is rotated, a pair of first distribution gears 635a, 636a are respectively rotated as the central transmission member 634 rotates, and the rotation is transmitted to the gears 637a, 638a (see FIG. 48) of the one-side rotation drive member 637 and the other-side rotation drive member 638 via the second distribution gears 635b, 636b and the third distribution gears 635c, 636c, and the one-side rotation drive member 637 and the other-side rotation drive member 638 are rotated.

[0327] In this way, since the central transmission gear 634 is engaged with the first distribution gear 635a and the second distribution gear 636a, by rotating the central transmission gear 634 with the rotational driving force of the drive motor 631, the one-side rotation drive member 637 and the other-side rotation drive member 638 can be rotated in a synchronized state. As a result, the driving of the rotating member 640 can be stabilized.

[0328] In this case, since the central transmission gear 634 is arranged concentrically with the axis O of the rotating member 640, the central transmission gear 634, the one-side and the other-side rotation driving members 637 and 638 can be arranged inward (on the axis O direction side) of the outer edge portion of the rotating member 640 in the view of the axis O direction. That is, since the central transmission gear 634, the one-side and the other-side rotation driving members 637 and 638 do not protrude outward from the outer shape of the rotating member 640, the size can be reduced accordingly.

[0329] In addition, in a state where the guide member 620 is arranged on the case member 610, the engaging portions 637b and 638b of the one-side rotation driving member 637 and the other-side rotation driving member 638 are exposed radially outward of the outer edge portion of the guide member 620 (see FIG. 49), and the engaged portion 641 in the divided member DV of the rotating member 640 can be engaged with such engaging portions 637b and 638b. Therefore, by rotating the one-side rotation driving member 637 and the other-side rotation driving member 638, the rotation can be transmitted to the rotating member 640 through the engagement of the engaging portions 637b and 638b and the engaged portion 641, and the rotating member 640 can be rotated.

[0330] In this case, the one-side rotation driving member 637 and the other-side rotation driving member 638 are arranged at positions with a 180-degree different phase (that is, positions facing each other across the axis O). Therefore, as will be described later, the positions (engaging positions) for applying a driving force to the rotating member 640 can be maximally separated, and the rotation of the rotating member 640 can be stabilized.

[0331] Further, the one-side rotation driving member 637 and the other-side rotation driving member 638 are arranged in postures (rotating positions) where the phases of their engaging portions 637b and 638b are different from each other. That is, in a state where one of the engaging portions 637b or 638b is disengaged from the engaged portion 641, the other of the engaging portions 637b or 638b is engaged with the engaged portion 641 (it is avoided that one and the other are simultaneously disengaged). Therefore, as will be described later, it is possible to suppress the intermittent transmission of the driving force from the one-side rotation driving member 637 and the other-side rotation driving member 638 to the rotating member 640, and the rotation of the rotating member 640 can be stabilized.

[0332] Returning to FIGS. 43 to 48 for explanation. As described above, the rotating member 640 is a front-view annular member that is rotated by receiving the driving force of the rotation mechanism 630. It is arranged on the front side of the guide member 620 in a concentric posture with the central transmission member 634 and the guide member 620. In this embodiment, the rotating member 640 is rotated counterclockwise (leftward) in a front view. Here, the rotating member 640 will be described with reference to FIGS. 54 to 60.

[0333] FIG. 54(a) is a front view of the rotating member 640, and FIG. 54(b) is a side view of the rotating member 640 viewed in the direction of arrow LIVb in FIG. 54(a). FIG. 55 is a rear view of the rotating member 640 viewed in the direction of arrow LV in FIG. 54(b).

[0334] As shown in FIGS. 54 and 55, the rotating member 640 includes a plurality (30 in this embodiment) of divided members DV, and the plurality of divided members DV are connected to each other in an endless manner along the circumferential direction, thereby forming an annular shape in a front view.

[0335] In this case, the plurality of divided members DV are formed so that the interval between adjacent divided members DV can be changed. That is, in the rotating member 640, there are a first section S1 in which the divided members DV are connected in the circumferential direction at a first interval, and a second section S2 in which the divided members DV are connected in the circumferential direction at a second interval that is narrower than the first interval. Note that between the first section S1 and the second section S2, there is a section in which the interval between the divided members DV transitions from the first interval in the first section S1 to the second interval in the second section S2 (or vice versa).

[0336] FIG. 56(a) is a front perspective view of the divided member DV, and FIG. 56(b) is a rear perspective view of the divided member DV. FIG. 57 is an exploded front perspective view of the divided member DV, and FIG. 58 is an exploded rear perspective view of the divided member DV. In FIGS. 56 to 58, for the purpose of understanding the connection structure between the divided members DV, the connection link members 644 of adjacent divided members DV are schematically illustrated using a two-dot chain line.

[0337] Here, in the present embodiment, among a plurality of divided members DV, a part of the divided members DV (15 in the present embodiment) are formed with the detected portion 641c, while in the remaining divided members DV, the formation of the detected portion 641c is omitted. The divided members DV in which the detected portion 641c is formed and the divided members DV in which the formation of the detected portion 641c is omitted are identical in other configurations except for the presence or absence of the detected portion 641c. Therefore, hereinafter, the divided members DV in which the detected portion 641c is formed will be described, and the description of the divided members DV in which the formation of the detected portion 641c is omitted will be omitted.

[0338] As shown in FIGS. 56 to 58, the divided member DV mainly includes an engaged portion 641, a back-side main body 642 on which the engaged portion 641 is disposed on the back side, a front-side main body 643 disposed on the front side of the back-side main body 642, a connecting link member 644 whose proximal end side is rotatably supported between the back-side main body 642 and the front-side main body 643, a plate holding member 645 disposed on the front side of the front-side main body 643, a display plate 646 and a partition plate 647 displaceably held by the plate holding member 645, and a undulating link member 648 slidably displaceably disposed between the front-side main body 643 and the plate holding member 645.

[0339] As described above, the engaged portion 641 is a portion engaged with the engaging portions 637b, 638b of the respective rotational drive members 637, 638 of the drive mechanism 630, is formed in a substantially isosceles triangle shape when viewed from the front, and is disposed in a posture protruding from the back of one side (lower side in FIG. 56(b)) in the longitudinal direction of the back-side main body 642.

[0340] On the mounting surface side of the engaged portion 641 to the back-side main body 642, a facing portion 641a facing the back of the back-side main body 642 with a predetermined interval therebetween is formed, and the outer edge portion of the guide member 620 is slidably sandwiched between the facing surfaces of the facing portion 641a and the back-side main body 642. Thereby, the lifting of the divided member DV (one side in the longitudinal direction of the back-side main body 642) from the front of the guide member 620 can be suppressed.

[0341] On the mounting surface side of the rear side main body 642 of the engaged portion 641, a pair of sliding rollers 641b formed in a columnar shape are rotatably supported. The sliding rollers 641b are arranged such that their rotation axes are orthogonal to the rear surface of the rear side main body 642 (i.e., the moving plane of the divided member DV) and their outer peripheral surfaces can contact the outer peripheral surface of the outer edge portion of the guide member 620. Thereby, the sliding resistance when the divided member DV is displaced along the circumferential direction of the guide member 620 can be reduced.

[0342] On the side opposite to the mounting surface of the rear side main body 642 of the engaged portion 641, a plate-shaped detected portion 641c is formed to protrude. The detected portion 641c is a plate-shaped portion detected by a detection sensor 684 disposed on the guide member 680, and is in a horizontal posture with respect to the rear surface of the rear side main body 642 (i.e., the moving plane of the divided member DV).

[0343] The rear side main body 642 has its rear surface placed on the front surface of the guide member 620 and is a portion that slides on the front surface of the guide member 620 when the rotating member 640 rotates, and is formed in a plate shape that is rectangular when viewed from the front. In a state where the rotating member 640 is disposed on the guide member 620, the rear side main body 642 is arranged in a posture with its longitudinal direction along the radial direction of the guide member 620. That is, each rear side main body portion 642 is arranged in a radial straight line shape centered on the axis O (see FIG. 54).

[0344] The rear side main body 642 includes a connection link opening 642a and a undulating link opening 642b which are groove-shaped openings linearly extending along the longitudinal direction, a shaft support portion 642c for pivotally supporting the proximal end side of the connection link member 644 between the front surface on one side in the longitudinal direction (lower side in FIG. 57) and the front side main body 643 (shaft support portion 643b), and a bent portion 642d protruding from the rear surface on the other side in the longitudinal direction (upper side in FIG. 58).

[0345] The opening 642a for the connecting link is an opening through which the insertion portion 644a in the connecting link member 644 of the adjacent divided member DV is slidably inserted. By inserting the insertion portion 644a into this opening 642a for the connecting link, the divided member DV can be connected to the adjacent divided member DV via the connecting link member 644. Further, the connecting link member 644 inserts the tip of the insertion portion 644a inserted into the opening 642a for the connecting link into the connecting link action groove 621 of the guide member 620.

[0346] Note that the opening width of the opening 642a for the connecting link is set to a dimension equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the insertion portion 644a of the connecting link member 644. Therefore, the insertion portion 644a of the connecting link 644 can slide (be guided) along the extending direction of the opening 642a for the connecting link.

[0347] When the divided member DV is displaced in the circumferential direction of the guide member 620, if the insertion portion 644a of the connecting link member 644 receives an action from the connecting link action groove 621 of the guide member 620, the insertion portion 644a slides along the opening 642a for the connecting link, allowing the posture of the connecting link member 644 to change with the action from the connecting link action groove 621. As a result, the posture of the connecting link member 644 with respect to the back side main body 642 can be produced, and the distance between the divided members DV can be increased or decreased.

[0348] The opening 642b for the undulating link is an opening through which the insertion portion 648a of the undulating link member 648 is slidably inserted. The undulating link member 648 inserts the tip of the insertion portion 648a inserted into the opening 642b for the undulating link into the undulating link action groove 622 of the guide member 620.

[0349] Note that the opening width of the opening 642b for the undulating link is set to a dimension equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the insertion portion 648a of the undulating link member 648. Therefore, the insertion portion 648a of the undulating link 648 can slide (be guided) along the extending direction of the opening 642b for the undulating link.

[0350] When the dividing member DV is displaced in the circumferential direction of the guide member 620, when the insertion portion 648a of the undulating link member 648 receives an action from the undulating link action groove 622 of the guide member 620, the insertion portion 648a is slid along the undulating link opening 642b, so that the display plate 646 and the partition plate 647 can be undulated.

[0351] As described above, since the shaft support portion 642c is formed on one side in the longitudinal direction (the lower side in FIG. 57) of the back side main body 642, the proximal end side of the connecting link member 644 can be pivotally supported at a position overlapping the engaged portion 641 in a front view. Therefore, when the engaged portion 641 is driven by the engaging portions 637b and 638b of the respective rotational drive members 637 and 638 and the dividing member DV is displaced along the circumferential direction of the guide member 620, the displacement can be easily transmitted to the adjacent dividing member DV via the connecting link member 644.

[0352] The bent portion 642d is a portion that protrudes from the back surface of the other side in the longitudinal direction (the upper side in FIG. 58) of the back side main body 642 and is bent so that the protruding tip is opposed to the back surface of the back side main body 642 with a predetermined interval therebetween. The inner edge portion of the guide member 620 is slidably sandwiched between the opposed surfaces of the bent portion of the protruding tip and the back side main body 642. Thereby, the lifting of the dividing member DV (the other side in the longitudinal direction of the back side main body 642) from the front surface of the guide member 620 can be suppressed.

[0353] Further, the bent portion 642d is disposed in a posture in which its base portion can abut against the inner peripheral surface of the inner edge portion of the guide member 620, and the facing interval between the base portion of the bent portion 642d and the above-described sliding roller 641b is set to a dimension equal to or slightly larger than the radial width of the guide member 620. Thereby, the displacement of the dividing member DV in the radial direction of the guide member 620 can be regulated, so that the main body member DV (the back side main body 642) can be displaced in the circumferential direction of the guide member 620 while keeping its longitudinal direction along the radial direction of the guide member 620.

[0354] The front-side main body 643 is a member formed in a plate shape of a rectangle in a front view with substantially the same size as the back-side main body 642, and includes a undulation link slide groove 643a which is a groove-shaped opening linearly extending along the longitudinal direction, a shaft support portion 643b formed on the back surface on one side (the lower side in FIG. 58) in the longitudinal direction for pivotally supporting the proximal end side of the connection link member 644 between the back-side main body 642 (shaft support portion 642c), and a support plate 643c protruding from the front and rotatably supporting the partition plate 647.

[0355] The undulation link slide groove 643a is a groove on a straight line where the undulation link member 648 is slidably disposed, and extends in parallel with the undulation link opening 642b. That is, the undulation link member 648 slides along the undulation link slide groove 643a, thereby sliding its insertion portion 648a along the undulation link opening 642b.

[0356] In a front view, the back-side main body 642 and the front-side main body 643 are formed in a wedge shape in a front view such that the width dimension on the other side in the longitudinal direction is smaller than the width dimension on one side in the longitudinal direction. That is, the width dimension of the portion located on the inner peripheral side is smaller than the width dimension of the portion located on the outer peripheral side of the rotating member 640. Therefore, the second interval in the second section S2 can be made smaller, the dividing members DV can be brought closer to each other, and the space required for disposing the rotating member 640 can be suppressed. In the present embodiment, in the second section S2, the back-side main body 642 and the front-side main body 643 are in contact with the adjacent back-side main body 642 and front-side main body 643 in the circumferential direction (see FIGS. 54 and 73).

[0357] The connection link member 644 is a long member, the proximal end side of which is rotatably supported by the shaft support portions 642c and 643b of the back-side main body 642 and the front-side main body 643, and a columnar insertion portion 644a is formed at the distal end side. The insertion portion 644a protrudes in a posture parallel to the rotation axis of the connection link member 644, and is inserted into the connection link working groove 621 of the guide member 620 through the connection link opening 642a of the back-side main body 642 in the adjacent dividing member DV as described above.

[0358] The insertion portion 644a is set to have a diameter that is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the groove width of the connecting link opening 642a and the connecting link working groove 621. Therefore, during the rotation of the rotating member 640, the displacement of the dividing member DV with respect to the insertion portion 644a of the connecting link 644 can be minimized, and it is easy to maintain a constant interval between the dividing members DV. As a result, the variation in the position of the detected portion 641c can be suppressed, and the detection accuracy by the detection sensor 684 (see FIG. 71) can be improved.

[0359] Note that the base end sides (i.e., the shaft support portions 642c and 643b of the respective main bodies 642 and 643) rotatably supported by the rear main body 642 and the front main body 643 of the connecting link member 644 are disposed at positions closer to the engaged portion 641 than the connecting link opening 642a. In the present embodiment, the base end side of the connecting link member 644 is disposed at a position overlapping the engaged portion 641 in a front view (viewing direction of the axis O of the rotating member 640).

[0360] As a result, the engaging portions 637b and 638b of the one-side and the other-side rotation drive members 637 and 638 are engaged with the engaged portion 641 of the dividing member DV, and when the dividing member DV is moved along the circumferential direction of the guide member 620 by the rotation of the one-side and the other-side rotation drive members 637 and 638, the displacement of the dividing member DV can be easily transmitted to the adjacent dividing member DV via the connecting link member 644. As a result, the displacement (rotation) of the rotating member 640 can be stabilized.

[0361] The undulating link member 648 is a member slidably held in the undulating link slide groove 643a of the front main body 643. A cylindrical insertion portion 648a is formed on the rear side, and a working groove 648b is formed on the front side. The insertion portion 648a protrudes in a posture parallel to the insertion portion 644a of the connecting link member 644, and is inserted into the undulating link working groove 622 of the guide member 620 through the undulating link opening 642b of the rear main body 642 as described above.

[0362] The action groove 648b acts on the acted-on portion 646d of the display plate 646 when the undulating link member 648 is slid and displaced, and is a part for undulating the display plate 646 and the partition plate 647. It is formed in a groove shape extending linearly along the sliding direction of the undulating link member 648, and the acted-on portion 646d of the display plate 646 is slidably inserted between the opposing surfaces of the groove portion.

[0363] The display plate 646 includes a plate portion 646a formed in a rectangular plate shape when viewed from the front, a shaft portion 646b and a connecting shaft 646c formed on one side of the plate portion 646a, and a plate-shaped acted-on portion 646d inserted between the opposing surfaces of the action groove 648b of the undulating link member 648. Since the acted-on portion 646d is formed by being bent in a substantially S shape when viewed from the front, when the undulating link member 648 is slid and displaced, the acted-on portion 646d is displaced in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the sliding displacement, and the display plate 646 can be rotated with the shaft portion 646b as the rotation center.

[0364] The partition plate 647 includes a plate-shaped plate portion 647a formed in a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front, a pair of shaft portions 647b formed on one side of the plate portion 647a, and a shaft support portion 647c formed on the same one side as the pair of shaft portions 647b and rotatably supporting the connecting shaft 646c of the display plate 646.

[0365] Here, as described above, the rotation unit 600 is an effect device configured to simulate a roulette that rotates a wheel in which a plurality of pockets are continuously arranged in the circumferential direction and drops the thrown ball into one of the pockets. The space surrounded by the display plate 646 and the partition plate 647 of one divided member DV and the partition plate 647 of the adjacent divided member DV is used as a pocket. The display plate 646 (plate portion 646a) is colored red or black and different numbers (1 to 29) are displayed on each of them.

[0366] In this embodiment, the display plate 646 is colored green and has a predetermined mark (star shape) displayed thereon. Also, only the display plate 646 located in the first section S1 is visible to the player from the rotating member 640. That is, the display plate 646 located in the second section S2 is shielded by other members disposed on the front side thereof and is made invisible to the player.

[0367] The plate holding member 645 includes a shaft support portion 645a that rotatably supports the shaft portion 646b of the display plate 646 and a shaft support portion 645b that rotatably supports the shaft portion 647b of the partition plate 647. By the shaft support by these respective shaft support portions 645a and 645b, the display plate 646 and the partition plate 647 are rotatably supported on the upper surface side (front side) of the front side main body 643.

[0368] In this case, since the display plate 646 and the partition plate 647 are connected by the connecting shaft 646c and the shaft support portion 647c, when the display plate 646 is rotated about the shaft portion 646b as the rotation center along with the slide displacement of the undulating link member 648, the rotation is transmitted to the partition plate 647 via the connecting shaft 646c and the shaft support portion 647c, and the partition plate 647 is rotated about the shaft portion 647b as the rotation center. The rotation of the display plate 646 and the partition plate 647 will be described with reference to FIGS. 59 and 60.

[0369] FIGS. 59(a) and 59(b) are upper perspective views and lower perspective views of the divided member DV in a state where it is disposed in the first section S1, and FIGS. 60(a) and 60(b) are upper perspective views and lower perspective views of the divided member DV in a state where it is disposed in the second section S2. Note that FIGS. 59 and 60 are illustrated in a state where a part of the configuration is in a perspective view for easy understanding, and the illustration of the connecting link member 644, the detected portion 641c, and the bent portion 642d is omitted.

[0370] As shown in FIG. 59, when the dividing member DV is disposed in the first section S1, the insertion portion 648a of the undulating link member 648 is inserted into the small-diameter portion 622b (see FIG. 50) of the undulating link action groove 622 of the guide member 620. Therefore, the undulating link member 648 is in a state of being slid and displaced in the longitudinal direction of the back-side main body 642 and the front-side main body 643 to the other side (i.e., the inner peripheral side of the guide member 620 and the rotating member 640, the side of the axis O). As a result, while the plate portion 646a of the display plate 646 is arranged in a horizontal posture, the plate portion 647a of the partition plate 647 is arranged in an upright posture.

[0371] Note that the horizontal posture means a posture in which the plate portion 646a of the display plate 646 is parallel to the back surface of the back-side main body 642 (i.e., the moving plane of the dividing member DV), and the upright posture means a posture in which the plate portion 647a of the partition plate 647 is orthogonal and parallel to the back surface of the back-side main body 642 (i.e., the moving plane of the dividing member DV).

[0372] As shown in FIG. 60, when the dividing member DV is disposed in the second section S2, the insertion portion 648a of the undulating link member 648 is inserted into the large-diameter portion 622a (see FIG. 50) of the undulating link action groove 622 of the guide member 620. Therefore, the undulating link member 648 is in a state of being slid and displaced in the longitudinal direction of the back-side main body 642 and the front-side main body 643 to one side (i.e., the outer peripheral side of the guide member 620 and the rotating member 640, the side opposite to the axis O). As a result, the plate portion 646a of the display plate 646 is lifted from the horizontal posture toward the plate portion 647a of the partition plate 647 and arranged in an inclined posture, and the plate portion 647a of the partition plate 647 is tilted from the upright posture toward the plate portion 646a of the display plate 646 and arranged in an inclined posture.

[0373] Thus, in this embodiment, since the display plate 646 and the partition plate 647 are connected by the connecting shaft 646c and the shaft support portion 647c, as the undulating link member 648 slides and displaces, by rotating the display plate 646, the partition plate 647 can also be rotated via the connecting shaft 646c and the shaft support portion 647c.

[0374] As a result, there is no need to separately provide the undulating link action groove and the undulating link member for each of the mechanism for rotating the display plate 646 and the mechanism for rotating the partition plate 647, and the undulating link action groove and the undulating link member can be shared in both mechanisms. As a result, the number of components can be reduced, the structure can be simplified, and the product cost can be reduced.

[0375] Here, in the present embodiment, the plate portion 646a of the display plate 646 is made heavier than the plate portion 647a of the partition plate 647. Therefore, from the state shown in FIG. 60 (that is, the state in which the plate portion 646a of the display plate 646 is lifted upward and the plate portion 647a of the partition plate 647 is tilted downward) to the state shown in FIG. 59 (that is, the state in which the plate portion 646a of the display plate 646 is in a horizontal posture and the plate portion 647a of the partition plate 647 is in an upright posture), the rotation action due to the own weight of the display plate 646 (plate portion 646a) can be utilized to surely and promptly form the state shown in FIG. 59.

[0376] That is, since the plate portion 646a of the display plate 646 is lifted upward, it can be rotated by its own weight in the direction of tilting downward to form a horizontal posture, and the rotation (own weight) of the display plate 646 is transmitted to the partition plate 647 via the connecting shaft 646c and the shaft support portion 647c, so that the partition plate 647 can be lifted to form an upright posture. Therefore, even when the rotation is inhibited due to the adhesion of dirt, dust, etc., the state shown in FIG. 59 can be surely and promptly formed.

[0377] In particular, in the present embodiment, the display plate 646 is set to have a dimension in which the overhanging length from the shaft portion 646b of the plate portion 646a is larger than the overhanging length from the shaft portion 647b of the plate portion 647a in the partition plate 647. Therefore, the center of gravity of the plate portion 646a of the display plate 646 can be separated from the shaft portion 646b, and the center of gravity of the plate portion 647a of the partition plate 647 can be brought close to the shaft portion 647b. As a result, the state shown in FIG. 59 can be formed more surely and promptly by utilizing the own weight of the display plate 646.

[0378] Returning to FIGS. 43 to 48 for description. The ball throwing device 650 is a device for throwing the ball B onto the rotating member 640. It is housed in the central depression in the central transmission member 634 of the drive mechanism 630 and is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the rotating member 640. Here, the ball throwing device 650 will be described with reference to FIGS. 61 to 69.

[0379] FIGS. 61 and 62 are exploded front perspective views of the ball throwing device 650. In FIG. 62, the state where the holding piece retracting / extending mechanism 670 is attached to the case body 651 is shown, and the illustration of the passage member 655 is omitted.

[0380] As shown in FIGS. 61 and 62, the ball throwing device 650 mainly includes a case body 651 formed in a container shape with an open front side, an arm rotating mechanism 660 and a holding piece retracting / extending mechanism 670 disposed inside the case body 651, a passage member 655 disposed on the front side of the case body 651, and a ball B formed in a spherical shape from a light-transmitting material.

[0381] The case body 651 includes a bottom wall portion 651a that is substantially circular in a front view, a substantially cylindrical outer wall portion 651b that stands upright from the bottom wall portion 651a toward the front, and an overhanging wall portion 651c that is formed to overhang in a flange shape radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the outer wall portion 651b. By fastening and fixing the overhanging wall portion 651c to the back side of the guide member 620, the standing tip (opening portion) of the outer wall portion 651b is disposed at a position substantially coinciding with the front of the rotating member 640 (the plate portion 646a of the display plate 646).

[0382] On the front of the bottom wall portion 651a, a ball holding portion 652 is disposed. On the ball holding portion 652, a spherical depression having a size corresponding to the outer diameter of the ball B is formed on the front, and this depression is the holding position (initial position) of the ball B. That is, when the ball B is placed on the ball holding portion 652, the ball B is held between the inner peripheral surface of the outer wall portion 651b and the arm member 664 of the arm rotating mechanism 660 (see FIG. 44).

[0383] In this case, the ball-throwing device 650 is arranged in a posture where the holding piece 677 of the holding piece retracting mechanism 670 is located at the lowest position. When the arm member 664 of the arm rotating mechanism 660 is rotated, the ball B rolls on the inner peripheral surface (inner peripheral passage 651c1) of the outer wall portion 651b and is held on the holding piece 677 at the protruding position of the holding piece retracting mechanism 670 (see Fig. 68). Here, the arm rotating mechanism 660 will be described with reference to Figs. 63 to 65.

[0384] Fig. 63 is an exploded front perspective view of the arm rotating mechanism 660. Fig. 64 is a front view of the ball-throwing device 660 in a state where the arm member 664 of the arm rotating mechanism 660 is arranged at the holding position, and Fig. 65 is a front view of the ball-throwing device 660 in a state where the arm member 664 of the arm rotating mechanism 660 is arranged at the separated position. In Figs. 64 and 65, for easy understanding, a state where the front case 662 of the arm rotating mechanism 660 is removed is shown.

[0385] As shown in Figs. 63 to 65, the arm rotating mechanism 660 includes a rear case 661 arranged on the bottom wall portion 651a of the case body 651, a front case 662 arranged in front of the rear case 661, a crank member 663 and an arm member 664 rotatably held between the opposing surfaces of the rear case 661 and the front case 662, and a drive motor 665 and a pinion gear 666 for driving the crank member 663 and the arm member 664.

[0386] Shafts 661a and 661b project from the rear case 661. The crank member 663 is rotatably supported on the shaft 661a, and the arm member 664 is rotatably supported on the shaft 661b. A gear 663a meshed with the pinion gear 676 is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the crank member 663, and a pin portion 663b projects at a position eccentric from the rotation center (shaft 661a). A sliding groove 664a into which the pin portion 663b of the crank member 663 is slidably inserted extends linearly in the arm member 664, and a curved portion 664b having a semi-circular shape in the front view is formed at a position on the opposite side of the sliding groove 664a with respect to the rotation center (shaft 661b).

[0387] Therefore, the drive motor 665 is rotationally driven in the forward or reverse direction, and the crank member 663 is rotated through the rotation of the pinion gear 666 fixed to the drive shaft of the drive motor 655. By causing the pin portion 663b of the crank member 663 to act on the sliding groove 664a of the arm member 664, the arm member 664 can be rotated in one direction or the other about the axis 661b as the rotation center.

[0388] That is, the arm member 664 is rotatable (oscillatable) between a holding position (see FIG. 64) where the ball B is held in the ball holding portion 652 with the curved shape of the curved portion 664b along the outer peripheral portion of the ball holding portion 652 and a separated position (see FIG. 65) where the curved portion 664b is separated from the ball holding portion 652 and the ball B is dropped from the ball holding portion 652 into the inner peripheral passage 651c1.

[0389] In the present embodiment, a part of the inner peripheral surface of the curved portion 664b (a range of a central angle of approximately 90 degrees on the side separated from the axis 661b (lower side)) is formed by the cantilever plate 664c. The cantilever plate 664c is a plate-like body that curves along the inner peripheral surface of the curved portion 664b. A shaft 664c1 provided on the base end side thereof is rotatably supported by the curved portion 664b, and is maintained in a posture lifted upward (radially inward side) by the elastic force of the leaf spring 667a of the limit switch 667 disposed on the back side (outer peripheral surface side) of the tip end side.

[0390] Therefore, when the ball B is held in the ball holding portion 652 in a state where the arm member 664 is disposed at the holding position, the cantilever plate 664c is pushed down about the shaft 664c1 by the weight of the ball B, turning on the limit switch 667. On the other hand, when the ball B is not held in the ball holding portion 652, the cantilever plate 664c is in the lifted posture as described above, turning off the limit switch 667. As a result, the presence or absence of the ball B in the ball holding portion 652 can be detected.

[0391] In this case, the curved portion 664b of the arm member 664 and the recess of the ball holding portion 652 are formed to have a size that allows the ball B to be displaced when the arm member 664 is disposed at the holding position. That is, the inner diameter of the curved portion 664b and the inner diameter of the recess of the ball holding portion 652 are made larger than the diameter of the ball. Therefore, when the pachinko machine 10 is struck or shaken by a player and an external force (vibration) is input, the ball B can be displaced along with the input of the vibration. That is, when the ball B is displaced (vibrated), the cantilever plate 664c can be displaced along with the vibration, and the limit switch 667 can be turned on and off. As a result, by monitoring the state of the limit switch 667, it is possible to detect the input of an external force to the pachinko machine 10 using the arm rotation mechanism 660.

[0392] Returning to FIGS. 61 and 62 for description. As described above, when the arm member 664 of the arm rotation mechanism 660 is rotated to the separated position, the ball B rolls on the inner peripheral surface (inner peripheral passage 651c1) of the outer wall portion 651b and is held on the holding piece 677 at the protruding position of the holding piece protruding and retracting mechanism 670 (see FIG. 68). The holding piece protruding and retracting mechanism 670 is formed such that the holding piece 677 can protrude and retract between the protruding position and the retracted position. When the holding piece 677 is retracted to the retracted position, the ball B is thrown onto any one of the plurality of divided members DV (display plate 646) of the rotating member 640. Here, the holding piece protruding and retracting mechanism 670 will be described with reference to FIGS. 66 to 69.

[0393] FIG. 66 is an exploded front perspective view of the holding piece protruding and retracting mechanism 670 in a state where the holding piece 677 is disposed at the protruding position, and FIG. 67 is an exploded front perspective view of the holding piece protruding and retracting mechanism 670 in a state where the holding piece 677 is disposed at the retracted position.

[0394] FIG. 68(a) is a front perspective view of the holding piece retracting and extending mechanism 670 in a state where the holding piece 677 is disposed at the protruding position, and FIG. 68(b) is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the holding piece retracting and extending mechanism 670 taken along line LXVIIIb-LXVIIIb in FIG. 68(a). Further, FIG. 69(a) is a front perspective view of the holding piece retracting and extending mechanism 670 in a state where the holding piece 677 is disposed at the retracted position, and FIG. 69(b) is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the holding piece retracting and extending mechanism 670 taken along line LXIXb-LXIXb in FIG. 69(a).

[0395] As shown in FIGS. 66 to 69, the holding piece retracting and extending mechanism 670 includes a rear case 671 that is formed to be curved in an arc shape along the inner peripheral surface of the outer wall portion 651b of the case body 651 and is disposed on the bottom wall portion 651a of the case body 651, a front case 672 disposed in front of the rear case 671, a slide member 673 slidably held between the opposing surfaces of the rear case 671 and the front case 672, a drive motor 675 and a pinion gear 676 for driving the slide member 673, and a holding piece 677 that retracts and extends in accordance with the sliding displacement of the slide member 673.

[0396] The rear case 671 includes two sets of a pair of roller members 674 disposed opposite to each other with a predetermined interval therebetween, and slidably holds the slide member 673 between the opposing surfaces of each set of the roller members 674. Further, the rear case 671 includes a sliding base 671a in the shape of a rectangular plate as viewed from above that protrudes from one end side (lower portion) in the circumferential direction thereof toward the front side, and guides the sliding displacement (protrusion toward the front side and retraction toward the rear side) of the holding piece 677 between the upper surface of the sliding base 671a and the lower surface (outer peripheral surface) of the front base 672.

[0397] On the slide member 673, a pin portion 673a protrudes from one end side in the circumferential direction (lower portion), and on the other end side in the circumferential direction (information portion), a rack gear 673b meshed with a pinion gear 676 is engraved along the inner circumferential surface. Further, on the holding piece 677, a sliding groove 677a through which the pin portion 673a of the slide member 673 is slidably inserted extends in a substantially Z-shaped bend. That is, one end side (right side in FIG. 66) of the sliding groove 677a is offset to the front side with respect to the other end side (left side in FIG. 66).

[0398] Therefore, by rotationally driving the drive motor 675 in the forward or reverse direction and rotating the pinion gear 676 fixed to the drive shaft of the drive motor 675, the slide member 673 is slidably displaced via the rack gear 673b, and by causing the pin portion 673a of the slide member 673 to act on the sliding groove 677a of the holding piece 677, the holding piece 677 can be projected to the front side or retracted into the back side. That is, the holding piece 677 is capable of sliding displacement between a projecting position (see FIG. 68) where it projects to the front side and a retracting position (see FIG. 69) where it retracts into the back side.

[0399] Here, on the upper surface of the holding piece 677, there are formed a curved surface 677b that is located on the back side (right side in FIGS. 68(b) and 69(b)), is curved concentrically with the inner circumferential surface of the outer wall portion 651b of the case body 651 (i.e., the inner circumferential passage 651c1), and is smoothly continuous with the inner circumferential passage 651c1 in the circumferential direction, a rising inclined surface 677c that is continuous with the edge of the curved surface 677b and rises as it goes toward the front side (left side in FIGS. 68(b) and 69(b)), and a falling inclined surface 677d that is continuous with the edge of the rising inclined surface 677c and falls as it goes toward the front side.

[0400] Therefore, in a state where the holding piece 677 is disposed at the projecting position (see FIGS. 68(a) and 68(b)), the ball B that has fallen from the ball holding portion 652, rolled through the inner circumferential passage 651c1, and reached the curved surface 677b of the holding piece 677 is restricted from rolling to the front side (left side in FIG. 68(b)) by the rising inclination of the rising inclined surface 677c, and can be held on the holding piece 677 (curved surface 677b).

[0401] On the other hand, when the holding piece 677 is immersed from this protruding position to the back side and arranged at the immersion position (see FIGS. 69(a) and 69(b)), the ball B whose movement to the back side (the right side in FIG. 69(b)) is restricted by the front surface of the front case 672 moves along with the displacement of the holding piece 677 in the immersion direction (the back side), climbs over the ascending inclined surface 677c, and is positioned on the descending inclined surface 677d. Thereby, the ball B can be rolled along the descending inclination of the descending inclined surface 677d, and the ball B can be pitched toward the front side (the divided member DV of the rotating member 640).

[0402] Note that since both circumferential sides of the curved surface 677b are smoothly continuous with the inner circumferential passage 651c1, the ball B that has fallen from the ball holding portion 652 and rolled through one inner circumferential passage 651c1 can pass over the curved surface 677b of the holding piece 677 and roll to the other inner circumferential passage 651c1. That is, the ball B can be reciprocated between the inner circumferential passage 651c1 on one circumferential side and the inner circumferential passage 651c1 on the other circumferential side via the curved surface 677b. Further, since the curved surface 677b of the holding piece 677 is located below the inner circumferential passage 651c1, when the momentum of the ball B is lost and its rolling converges, the ball B can be positioned on the curved surface 677b.

[0403] Returning to FIG. 61 for explanation. As described above, the passage member 655 is disposed on the front side of the case body 651. The passage member 655 includes a ball feeding passage 655a that serves as a passage when feeding the ball B pitched by the immersion operation (immersion into the immersion position) of the holding piece 677 of the holding piece immersion mechanism 670 onto the divided member DV (display plate 646) of the rotating member 640, and a return passage 655b that serves as a passage when returning the ball B fed from the divided member DV of the rotating member 640 to the ball holding portion 652.

[0404] The ball feeding passage 655a includes a groove portion 655a1 having a substantially U-shaped cross-section that extends forward with a width dimension substantially the same as that of the descending inclined surface 677d of the holding piece 677 of the holding piece retracting mechanism 670, a front portion 655a2 that is continuous from the groove portion 655a1 to the front edge portion and is substantially flush with the display plate 646 in the divided member DV of the rotating member 640, and a pair of opposing portions 655a3 that stand upright from both sides in the width direction of the front portion 655a2 and oppose each other at substantially the same interval as the opposing interval of the partition plate 647 in the divided member DV of the rotating member 640.

[0405] Therefore, when the holding piece 677 of the holding piece retracting mechanism 670 is immersed in the immersion position, the ball B that rolls on the descending inclined surface 677d of the holding piece 677 is received by the groove portion 655a1 and rolled along the extending direction of the groove portion 655a1, so that the ball B can be pitched while suppressing rattling.

[0406] Further, since the front portion 655a2 is flush with the display plate 646 of the divided member DV and the opposing interval of the pair of opposing portions 655a3 is substantially the same as the opposing interval of the partition plate 647 of the divided member DV, the pitched ball B can be smoothly arranged on the display plate 646 of the divided member DV. The rotating member 640 is stopped at a phase (rotating position) where the partition plate 647 of the divided member DV coincides with the opposing portion 655a3 based on the detection result by the detection sensor 684 described later when the ball B is pitched.

[0407] The return passage 655b includes a rolling portion 655b1 as a rolling surface that receives the ball B fed from the divided member DV of the rotating member 640 on the upstream side and rolls it to the downstream side, and an upright portion 655b2 that stands upright on the downstream side of the rolling portion 655b1 and is curved to direct the rolling direction of the ball B toward the back side.

[0408] The rolling portion 655b1 is arranged such that the upstream side is at the inner peripheral edge portion of the rotating member 640 and the downstream side is at the front side of the ball holding portion 652b in a front view of the pitching device 650. The rolling portion 655b1 is inclined downward from the upstream side to the downstream side and is formed to be inclined downward toward the ball holding portion 652 on the downstream side.

[0409] The balls B placed on the divided member DV of the rotating member 640 and conveyed circumferentially as the rotating member 640 rotates are pushed radially inward by the action of the partition plate 647 and the return guide 681b of the guide member 680 described later, and when they are fed back to the upstream side of the return passage 655b, the balls B roll downstream on the rolling portion 655b1 and fall onto the ball holding portion 652 while being guided by the standing portion 655b2.

[0410] Returning to FIGS. 43 to 48 for explanation. As described above, the guide member 680 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the rotating member 640. The guide member 680 is a member disposed along the lower portion of the rotating member 640, guides the balls B on the divided member DV of the rotating member 640 during conveyance as the rotating member 640 rotates (that is, supports the balls B from below), and holds a detection sensor 684 for detecting the phase (rotation position) of the rotating member 640. Here, the guide member 680 will be described with reference to FIGS. 70 and 71.

[0411] FIG. 70 is a front perspective view of the guide member 680, and FIG. 71 is a rear perspective view of the guide member 680. As shown in FIG. 70, the guide member 680 mainly includes a base portion 681 disposed in the case member 610, a plate-shaped transmissive plate 682 disposed on the front side of the base portion 681, a cantilever plate 683 disposed on the rear side of the transmissive plate 682, and a plurality (six in this embodiment) of detection sensors 684 disposed on the base portion 681.

[0412] The base portion 681 is a member formed in a shape obtained by dividing an annular shape at a central angle of approximately 120 degrees (that is, a shape that curves in an arc shape when viewed from the front), and a guide surface 681a is formed on the inner peripheral surface side thereof. The guide surface 681a is disposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the rotating member 640 and faces the balls B disposed on the divided member DV (that is, the space surrounded by the display plate 646 and the partition plate 647). That is, it supports the balls B disposed on the divided member DV of the rotating member 640 from below as the rotating member 640 rotates.

[0413] On the inner peripheral surface side of the base portion 681, a return guide 681b that is continuous with the downstream side (right side in FIG. 70) of the guide surface 681a is formed. The return guide 681b is a part for sending the balls B conveyed as the rotating member 640 rotates to the return passage 655b of the passage member 655. The return guide 681b is formed to have a smaller width dimension than the guide surface 681a and is formed in a shape protruding radially inward, and thus is disposed facing the dividing member DV (display plate 646) of the rotating member 640 (see FIGS. 43 and 44).

[0414] Therefore, when the balls B placed on the dividing member DV of the rotating member 640 are conveyed in the circumferential direction as the rotating member 640 rotates, the balls B are pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the return guide 681b by the partition plate 647 (plate portion 647a) of the dividing member DV. Therefore, when the rotating member 640 further rotates, the balls B are pushed radially inward by the action of the partition plate 647 and the return guide 681b and are conveyed to the upstream side of the return passage 655b.

[0415] Here, even when the formation of the return guide 681b is omitted, if the rotating member 640 is rotated to a position where the partition plate 647 (plate portion 647a) is inclined downward toward the return passage 655b, the balls B can be dropped onto the return passage 655b along the downward inclination of the partition plate 647. However, in this case, since the balls B are conveyed upward before they start rolling by their own weight, the dropping position when the balls B are dropped becomes higher, and since the balls B are dropped after rolling along the downward inclination of the partition plate 647, the momentum when the balls B are dropped is large. Therefore, there is a risk of damaging the return passage 655b.

[0416] On the contrary, in the present embodiment, as described above, by providing the return guide 681b, the dropping position when the balls B are dropped onto the return passage 655b can be lowered, and since the balls B are sent to the return passage 655b while sliding on the return guide 681b, the sending speed can be weakened. As a result, damage to the return passage 655b can be suppressed.

[0417] The transparent plate 682 is a part that faces the divided member DV (display plate 646) of the rotating member 640 at a predetermined interval (an interval capable of holding the ball B), and a part of the upper edge side portion at the center in the width direction extends upward to a position facing the ball feeding passage 655a (front portion 655a2) of the passage member 655. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the ball B thrown from the ball throwing device 650 to the divided member DV of the rotating member 640 from flying out to the outside.

[0418] Further, the transparent plate 682 is formed to have a size (width dimension) that can partially face not only the divided member DV (that is, the divided member DV in the same phase as the front portion 655a2 of the ball feeding passage 655a) where the ball B is thrown, but also the divided member DV adjacent to the downstream side (downstream side in the conveying direction of the ball B) of the divided member DV. Therefore, it is easy to converge the flurry of the ball B thrown from the ball feeding passage 655a between the transparent plate 682, and such a ball B can be stably conveyed to the return guide 681b.

[0419] On the other hand, the transparent plate 682 has a size (width dimension) that can face the divided member DV where the ball B is thrown and the divided member DV adjacent to the downstream side of the divided member DV, and does not face the divided member DV located more downstream than the divided member DV where the ball B is thrown and the adjacent divided member DV. That is, between the edge portion on the downstream side (right side in FIG. 70) in the conveying direction of the ball B in the transparent plate 682 and the return guide 681b, the ball B can be exposed, and it is easy for the player to visually recognize the conveyance of such a ball B.

[0420] Note that since the entire transparent plate 682 is formed of a light-transmissive material, members and the ball B located on the back side thereof can be seen through by the player. Therefore, the player can visually recognize a series of modes in which the thrown ball B passes through the ball feeding passage 655a, falls between the display plate 647 of the divided member DV and the facing transparent plate 682, and is conveyed by the rotation of the rotating member 640 while being supported by the guide surface 681a.

[0421] The cantilever plate 683 is a member that forms the inner peripheral surface of the base 681 together with the guide surface 681a, and is formed as a plate-like body that curves along the guide surface 681a (that is, the inner peripheral surface of the base 681). One end side in the circumferential direction of the cantilever plate 683 is rotatably supported by the shaft 685 on the base 681, and the other end side in the circumferential direction is maintained in a posture of being lifted upward (radially inward) by the elastic force of a leaf spring of a limit switch (not shown) disposed on the base 681.

[0422] In the posture where the other end side in the circumferential direction of the cantilever plate 683 is lifted upward, the limit switch is off. When the ball B is thrown from the ball-throwing device 650 to the divided member DV of the rotating member 640, the cantilever plate 683 is pushed down around the shaft 685 by the weight of the ball B, and the limit switch is turned on. Thereby, it can be detected that the ball B thrown from the ball-throwing device 650 is arranged at an appropriate position (the divided member DV of the rotating member 640).

[0423] On the other hand, as the ball B is conveyed along with the rotation of the rotating member 640, when the weight of the ball B acting on the cantilever plate 683 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the cantilever plate 683 returns to the lifted posture as described above, and the limit switch is turned off.

[0424] The detection sensor 684 is a sensor device for detecting the phase (rotation position) of the rotating member 640, and is formed as a non-contact sensor in which a light emitting part and a light receiving part are arranged opposite to each other. While positioning its detection area (the opposing space between the light emitting part and the light receiving part) on the movement locus of the detected part 641c of the divided member DV in the first section S1 (see FIG. 54), it is arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Note that the interval between the detection sensors 684 is set to be the same as the interval (the first interval) between the divided members DV (the detected parts 641c) in the first section S1.

[0425] Therefore, a plurality of (six in this embodiment) divided members DV adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction can be arranged at positions corresponding to the detection sensors 684, and each time the rotating member 640 is rotated by a predetermined amount (i.e., the amount of rotation corresponding to the first interval), the divided members DV detected by the respective detection sensors 684 can be shifted in the circumferential direction.

[0426] In this case, as described above, among the plurality of divided members DV, a part of the divided members DV (15 in this embodiment) are formed with the detected portions 641c, while in the remaining divided members DV, the formation of the detected portions 641c is omitted. Therefore, in the detection sensor 684 where the divided member DV formed with the detected portion 641c is arranged, the light received by the light receiving portion irradiated from the light emitting portion is blocked by the detected portion 641c, and the detection signal is turned on. On the other hand, in the detection sensor 684 where the divided member DV not formed with the detected portion 641c is arranged, the light receiving portion irradiated from the light emitting portion can receive the light, and the detection signal is turned off (see FIG. 76). As a result, as will be described later, based on the combination of the detection results of each detection sensor 684, the phase (rotation position) of the rotating member 640 can be detected.

[0427] In this embodiment, since two types (on / off) of detection results based on the presence or absence of the detected portion 641c of the divided member DV are respectively obtained by the six detection sensors 684, 64 (= 2 to the power of 6) combinations can be formed. In this case, since the number of arranged divided members DV is 30, as will be described later, it is always possible to determine which of these plurality of divided members DV is located at the reference position based on the detection results of the detection sensors 684.

[0428] Next, with reference to FIGS. 72 to 77, the operation of the rotating unit 200 will be described. First, the operation in which the interval between the divided members DV when the rotating member 640 is rotated is changed will be described with reference to FIGS. 72 and 73.

[0429] FIG. 72 is a front view of the guide member 620 and the rotating member 640. Further, FIG. 73(a) is a partially enlarged front view of the guide member 620 and the rotating member 640 in the first section S1, and FIG. 73(b) is a partially enlarged front view of the guide member 620 and the rotating member 640 in the second section S2.

[0430] Note that, in order to simplify the drawings and facilitate understanding, in FIGS. 72 and 73, only the rear-side main body 642, the connecting link member 644, and the undulating link member 648 among the components of the dividing member DV are shown, and in FIG. 73, a state in which the connecting link action groove 621 and the undulating link action groove 622 are hatched is shown.

[0431] As shown in FIG. 72, the rotating member 640 is a member formed to be rotatable about the axis O (i.e., along the circumferential direction of the guide member 620), and is formed in an endless shape by connecting a plurality of dividing members DV in the circumferential direction. That is, for each dividing member DV, the proximal end side of the connecting link member 644 is rotatably supported by the rear-side main body 642, while the insertion portion 644a at the distal end side of the connecting link member 644 is inserted into the connecting link action groove 621 through the connecting link opening 642a in the rear-side main body 642 of the adjacent dividing member DV.

[0432] As described above, since the rear-side main body 642 of the dividing member DV has the sliding roller 641b on one side in the longitudinal direction and the bent portion 642 on the other side in the longitudinal direction abutting against the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the guide member 620, when the guide member 620 is moved in the circumferential direction, the posture with respect to the guide member 620 is maintained in a posture in which the axis O is located on the extension line in the longitudinal direction of the rear-side main body 642 (i.e., a posture that is radially linear about the axis O). That is, only the movement in the state of maintaining that posture is allowed.

[0433] In this case, since the large-diameter portion 621a of the connecting link action groove 621 is formed closer to the proximal end side (the side rotatably supported) of the connecting link member 644 than the small-diameter portion 621b, with the insertion portion 644a of the connecting link member 644 inserted into the large-diameter portion 621a of the connecting link action groove 621 (see Fig. 73(a)), the connecting link member 644 can be tilted with respect to the longitudinal direction of the back-side main body 642, and the back-side main bodies 642 can be separated from each other. That is, the distance between the divided members DV (back-side main bodies 642) in the first section S1 can be made a large distance (the first distance).

[0434] On the other hand, since the small-diameter portion 621b of the connecting link action groove 621 is formed farther from the proximal end side (the side rotatably supported) of the connecting link member 644 than the large-diameter portion 621a, with the insertion portion 644a of the connecting link member 644 inserted into the small-diameter portion 621b of the connecting link action groove 621 (see Fig. 73(b)), the connecting link member 644 can be arranged along the longitudinal direction of the back-side main body 642, and the back-side main bodies 642 can be brought closer to each other. That is, the distance between the divided members DV (back-side main bodies 642) in the second section S2 can be made a small distance (the second distance).

[0435] Here, as described above, the rotating member 640 is an effect device formed to imitate a roulette, and identification information such as numbers and marks is displayed on the display board 646 (plate portion 646a). That is, an effect is performed by allowing the player to visually recognize the identification information displayed on the display board 646. Therefore, considering the visibility of the player, it is preferable that the display board 646 (display of identification information) is large, and in order to ensure variations in the effect, it is preferable that the number of display boards 646 (types of identification information) is large.

[0436] In this case, considering the visibility of the player, it is necessary to ensure that the display of the identification information (i.e., the plate portion 646a of the display board 646) has a size equal to or greater than a certain value. However, if the number of displays of the identification information (the number of display boards 646) is increased while maintaining that size, the rotating member 640 will have a larger diameter and will no longer fit within the predetermined installation space. On the other hand, if the rotating member 640 is made smaller in diameter so as to fit within the predetermined space, the number of displays of the identification information (the number of display boards 646) will decrease, and the variations in the production effects cannot be ensured.

[0437] In contrast, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to form on the rotating member 640 a first section S1 in which the dividing members DV are circumferentially connected at a first interval, and a second section S2 in which the dividing members DV are circumferentially connected at a second interval that is narrower than the first interval in the first section S1. As described above, the display board 646 (plate portion 646a) located in the first section S1 is made visible to the player (the display board 646 located in the second section S2 is shielded by other members).

[0438] Therefore, compared with the case where all the plurality of dividing members DV are connected at the first interval, the circumferential length of the rotating member 640 can be shortened, the space required for installing the rotating member 640 can be suppressed, and while ensuring that the display of the identification information (i.e., the display board 646) has a size equal to or greater than a certain value, the number of displays of the identification information (the number of display boards 646) can be increased. As a result, the visibility of the player and the variations in the production effects can be ensured.

[0439] Here, in the first section S1, as described above, since the plate portion 646a of the display board 646 is arranged in a horizontal posture (a posture parallel to the moving plane of the dividing member DV), the identification information displayed on such a display board 646 can be made easily visible to the player.

[0440] On the other hand, in the second section S2, as described above, the plate portion 646a of the display plate 646 is in a posture in which the tip side is lifted more than the horizontal posture in the first section S1. Therefore, interference with adjacent dividing members DV can be suppressed, and accordingly, the dividing members DV can be brought closer to each other. That is, the interval (second interval) between the dividing members DV in the second section S2 can be narrowed. As a result, the circumferential length of the rotating member 640 can be shortened, and the space required for its arrangement can be suppressed.

[0441] In particular, according to the present embodiment, the display plate 646 is displaceably (rotatably) arranged on the upper surface of the front-side main body 643. In the second section S2, the plate portion 646a can be lifted above the upper surface of the adjacent dividing member DV (plate holding member 645) (i.e., a position where there is no interference) (see FIG. 54). Therefore, the dividing members DV can be brought closer to each other until the back-side main body 642 and the front-side main body 643 come into contact with each other. That is, the second interval in the second section S2 can be made narrower. As a result, the circumferential length of the rotating member 640 can be shortened, and the space required for arranging the rotating member can be suppressed.

[0442] Next, the driving operation of the rotating member 640 by the drive mechanism 630 will be described with reference to FIGS. 74 and 75. FIGS. 74(a) to 74(d) are state transition diagrams each time the one-side rotation drive member 637 is rotated by 30 degrees, and the one-side rotation drive member 637 is shown as viewed from the front.

[0443] Note that FIGS. 74(b), 74(c), and 74(d) correspond to the states rotated by 30 degrees, 60 degrees, and 90 degrees, respectively, from FIG. 74(a). Further, in FIGS. 74(a) to 74(d), the engaged portion 641 of the dividing member DV is shown in a cross-sectional view, and the movement locus of the engaged portion 641 is shown using a two-dot chain line.

[0444] Here, as described above, the one-side rotation drive member 637 and the other-side rotation drive member 638 are formed in the same shape as each other. In the driving operation of the rotating member 640 by these, for the same driving operation, only the driving operation by the one-side rotation drive member 637 will be described, and the description of the driving operation by the other-side rotation drive member 638 will be omitted.

[0445] As shown in FIGS. 74(a) to 74(d), the one-side rotation drive member 637 is disposed at a position where the movement locus of its engaging portion 637b partially overlaps with the movement locus of the engaged portion 641 of the dividing member DV. In the overlapping portion, it is made rotatable with the engaging portion 637b engaged with the engaged portion 641. Note that the circle of the movement locus of the engaging portion 637b is an inscribed circle with a smaller diameter than the circle of the movement locus of the engaged portion 641.

[0446] When the one-side rotation drive member 637 is rotated by the driving force of the drive motor 631 (see FIG. 53), the rotation is transmitted to the dividing member DV through the engagement between the engaging portion 637b and the engaged portion 641, and the dividing member DV is moved along the circumferential direction of the guide member 620. The movement is transmitted to the adjacent dividing members DV through the respective connecting link members 644, whereby the rotating member 640 is rotated in the circumferential direction.

[0447] In this case, as described above, the engaged portion 641 of the dividing member DV is formed on one longitudinal side of the back-side main body 642 (see FIGS. 57 and 58). That is, the engaged portion 641 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the rotating member 640 formed in an annular shape. Therefore, the rotation amount of the rotating member 640 with respect to the unit rotation amount of the one-side rotation drive member 637 can be reduced (the rotation amount of the one-side rotation drive member 637 required to rotate the rotating member 640 by a unit rotation amount can be increased). Accordingly, the apparent reduction ratio can be reduced accordingly. In other words, since the driving force is applied at a position far from the axis O of the rotating member 640, the rotational torque acting on the rotating member 640 can be increased. As a result, the rotational drive of the rotating member 640 (particularly, the rotational drive from a stopped state) can be stabilized, and the output required for the drive motor 631 of the drive mechanism 630 can be reduced.

[0448] Here, the drive mechanism 630 includes a one-side rotation drive member 637 and an other-side rotation drive member 638, and since they are disposed at different positions along the circumferential direction of the rotating member 640 (see FIG. 53), the driving force applied from the drive mechanism 630 to the rotating member 640 can be dispersed to different positions in the circumferential direction of the rotating member 640, and it is possible to suppress the bias in the application of the driving force to a part of the plurality of divided members DV. That is, even when the rotating member 640 is formed by connecting the plurality of divided members DV in an endless manner in the circumferential direction as described above, the displacement (rotation) of such a rotating member 640 can be stabilized.

[0449] In particular, according to the present embodiment, since the one-side rotation drive member 637 and the other-side rotation drive member 638 are disposed at positions where the phases are different by 180 degrees in the circumferential direction of the rotating member 640 (see FIG. 53), the driving force from each of the rotation drive members 637, 638 can be applied to the two most separated locations among the rotating member 640 (the plurality of divided members DV). As a result, the displacement (rotation) of the rotating member 640 can be stabilized.

[0450] In this case, regarding the state of the divided member DV, there are three types: a first state in which the insertion portion 644a of the connection link member 644 pivotally supported by the divided member DV is inserted into the large-diameter portion 621a in the connection link action groove 621 of the guide member 620, a second state in which it is inserted into the small-diameter portion 621b, and a third state in which it is inserted into the connection portion 621c. In the present embodiment, the one-side rotation drive member 637 and the other-side rotation drive member 638 are disposed at positions where they can apply a driving force to the divided member DV in the third state (that is, the engaging portions 637b, 638b can be engaged with the engaged portion 641 of the divided member DV in the third state).

[0451] Accordingly, a driving force can be applied to the dividing member DV in a state where the distance from the adjacent dividing member DV is changed from the first distance to the second distance (or vice versa). Since such a dividing member DV receives a relatively large reaction force from the connecting portion 621c, it is likely to be a portion that inhi...

Claims

[Claim 1] A ball entry means capable of entering the game ball; An acquisition means capable of acquiring predetermined discrimination information based on the game ball entering the ball entry means; a determination means for performing a determination based on the establishment of a determination condition using the determination information acquired by the acquisition means; A display means capable of displaying the identification information, In a gaming machine configured such that, when the determination of the determining means is executed, the identification information for indicating the determination result of the determining means is displayed statically on the display means after a dynamic display is performed, The gaming machine includes: The dynamic display has a plurality of periods including at least a first period and a second period longer than the first period, When the identification information for indicating a specific determination result is displayed on the display means, a special bonus game advantageous to the player can be executed, During the dynamic display period, a specific performance is executed, which is a performance that can be changed to one of a plurality of performance modes and can suggest the specific discrimination result when the performance mode is changed to a specific stage, the specific performance, which is changed to a performance mode different from the performance mode exhibited by the specific performance executed after the specific performance is executed in the dynamic display period corresponding to one of the dynamic displays started during a predetermined period, is configured to be executed in the dynamic display period corresponding to the dynamic display started after the one of the dynamic displays among the dynamic displays started during the predetermined period, When a plurality of loss dynamic displays, which are the dynamic displays corresponding to loss determination results at least different from the specific determination result, are started during the predetermined period, execution of the specific performance that changes to the performance mode of the specific stage during the dynamic display period corresponding to each of the plurality of loss dynamic displays that are started can be suppressed; When one of the specific effects is executed during the dynamic display period set in at least the second period, the specific effect that changes to a different effect mode from the effect mode displayed by the one of the specific effects can be executed during the remaining dynamic display period after the one of the specific effects is executed, The dynamic display period is set in the second period, and the dynamic display period corresponds to the failure dynamic display, and the execution of the specific effect that changes to the effect mode of the specific stage is suppressed, The gaming machine includes: The multiple stages of performance modes include at least a performance mode of the specific stage and a performance mode of a predetermined stage lower than the specific stage, The specific performance that changes to the performance mode of the predetermined stage is not executed, and the specific performance that changes to the performance mode of the specific stage is executed, The gaming machine is configured to execute one of the specific effects even during the dynamic display period set in the first period, The gaming machine is configured such that, when the specific effect is executed in the dynamic display period corresponding to a dynamic display that starts after the one dynamic display and is not consecutive to the one dynamic display among the dynamic displays started during the specified period, the specific effect that changes to the same presentation mode as the presentation mode appeared in the dynamic display period corresponding to the one dynamic display is not executed, but the specific effect that changes to a presentation mode different from the presentation mode appeared in the dynamic display period corresponding to the one dynamic display is executed.

Images