Gaming machine

Abstract

To provide a game machine having a center frame capable of increasing appeal to a player.SOLUTION: A Pachinko machine 1 includes a game board 5 having a center frame 2510 attached to an opening edge of a game panel 1100. The center frame 2510 includes an upper wall portion 2523b and a front protrusion 2511 protruding forward from a front surface of the game panel 1100. A demolding trace unit 2519 is provided on a front end surface of the upper wall portion 2523b and the front protrusion 2511.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 118

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Pachinko-like gaming machine The winning device is an attacker unit having a movable piece that can move between an easy-to-win state where a game ball can easily enter a winning hole and an impossible-to-win state where a game ball cannot enter a winning hole. There is known a method for doing this (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] however, In the technology of the patent document, an LED board is provided behind the winning slot, and the player can be entertained by the light emission mode of the LED on the LED board. However, in the conventional technology such as the patent document, since the LED simply lights up, some players may quickly tire of looking at it, lose interest in the winning slot, and lose interest in the game. there were. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-118989 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] So, In view of the above circumstances, the following means can attract the player's attention to the winning slot, thereby entertaining the player and preventing a decline in interest. The objective is to provide gaming machines. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Means of the present invention: In the gaming machine, "Game ball on the front side A gaming machine equipped with a gaming board on which a gaming area is provided where balls flow down, A specific flow path portion provided on the game board, which is formed by combining a rear member and a front member to form a flow path for game balls; A predetermined stage portion provided on the game board, The front member of the specific flow path portion has a convex portion formed so as to protrude rearward from the rear surface so as to be able to affect the flow-down behavior of the game balls, and a concave portion formed on the front surface opposite to the rear surface on which the convex portion is formed, A predetermined front decorative portion is arranged so as to overlap the recessed portion and the protruding portion in a front view, A predetermined light emitting unit is arranged behind the specific flow path unit, and light from the light emitting unit can illuminate the convex portion, the concave portion, and the front decorative portion, The stage portion has a demolding trace portion formed during the molding process, The stage portion includes a bottom wall member that forms a bottom surface and causes the game ball to roll in the left-right direction, and a rear wall member that forms a rear wall surface, The bottom wall member is provided with a ball release section that allows the rolling game ball to fall toward a specific area, The bottom wall member is provided with demolding trace portions that are substantially symmetrical with respect to the imaginary center line of the ball discharging portion, The demolding trace portion of the bottom wall member is provided at a position where it does not come into contact with the rolling game ball, The demolding trace portion of the rear wall member is provided at a position where it will not come into contact with the rolling game balls. 」 It is characterized by the following. And, as an invention different from the present invention, the following means are exemplified. Means 1: In a gaming machine, A gaming machine in which a game board having a game area where game balls flow down is housed in a main body frame, The gaming machine includes a game window through which the game area can be visually recognized, The main body frame is pivotally supported by an outer frame, The game is played by hitting a game ball into the game area by the operation of the player, A lottery is conducted when a game ball wins a prize in a predetermined winning port provided in the game area, and a privilege is given to the player according to the result of the lottery, Furthermore, an operation unit that affects the effect by the operation of the player is provided on the front surface of the gaming machine, The game board includes a game board having an opening, and a center frame is provided in the opening, The center frame, Is provided with a protruding wall portion that protrudes forward from the front surface of the game board, A demolding trace portion is provided on the front end surface of the protruding wall portion [[ID=3l]]It is characterized by the following.

[0007] Here, the "center frame" may be a frame-shaped one that constitutes the center accessory and extends along the edge of the opening of the game board, or may be divided into a plurality in the direction along the edge of the opening of the game board. Also, the "center frame" may be composed of one member or a plurality of members.

[0008] In addition, examples of the "protruding wall portion" include "one that protrudes forward from the front surface of the game board by a length longer than the radius (or diameter) of the game ball", "one that protrudes forward by the same length as from the front surface of the game board to the front end of the obstacle pins implanted in the game board", and the like.

[0009] Furthermore, the "demolding trace portion" refers to the trace left on the molded product by a mechanism (such as an ejector pin, a push-up core, a straight-up core, a protruding core, etc.) for taking out the molded product from the mold (die). Compared with other parts, it is slightly concave, convex, or inclined. Examples of the shape of this "demolding trace portion" include "a shape of a part of a circle such as a semicircle", "a circle", "a triangle", "a quadrilateral", "a pentagon", "a hexagon", "a polygon", "an irregular shape", "a star shape", "a heart shape", etc.

[0010] According to the configuration of Means 1, a gaming machine is provided with a gaming board having a center frame attached to the opening edge of the gaming board. The center frame includes a protruding wall portion that protrudes forward from the front surface of the gaming board, and a demolding trace portion is provided on the front end surface of the protruding wall portion (in [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention], refer to the chapter of [5-8c-2c. Demolding Trace Portion of the Forward Protruding Portion], the demolding trace portion 2519, the center frame 2510, the forward protruding portion 2511, and the descriptions in FIGS. 113 and 118, etc.).

[0011] As a result, since the center frame attached to the opening edge of the gaming board is provided with a protruding wall portion that protrudes forward, the protruding wall portion can prevent the game balls from dropping (invading) into the opening of the gaming board. At the same time, in a region outside the center frame on the front surface of the gaming board, a region (gaming area) where the game balls flow down can be formed, and the player can be entertained by the movement of the game balls flowing down in this region. And because a demolding trace portion formed during the molding of the center frame (molded product) is provided on the front end surface of the protruding wall portion of the center frame, the center frame can be made prominent by the visible demolding trace portion, and the player's interest can be attracted to the center frame. Therefore, the demolding trace portion provided on the front end surface of the protruding wall portion of the center frame can make the player recognize that a center frame completely different from the conventional one is provided, strongly attract the player's interest, and provide a gaming machine with a high appeal to the player.

[0012] In addition, since the shape of the demolding trace portion is different from that of other portions in the center frame, when light from a liquid crystal display device, an LED, etc. provided at the rear hits it, it will emit light differently from other portions. As a result, on the front end face of the protruding wall portion in the center frame, the demolding trace portion emits light differently from other portions, making it stand out, strongly attracting the attention of the player, and at the same time, the center frame can be made to look nice by the demolding trace portion glowing.

[0013] In addition, after providing the protruding wall portion with a partitioning portion that divides the game area through which the game balls flow into two, the front end face of the partitioning portion may not be provided with the demolding trace portion. As a result, on the front end face of the partitioning portion that divides the game area into two in the protruding wall portion of the center frame, since the demolding trace portion is not provided, it is possible to make the player recognize that the partitioning portion is a different portion from the portion where the demolding trace portion is provided in the protruding wall portion, and it is possible to make the player recognize that the partitioning portion is not a portion that constitutes the frame, and it is possible to make the player recognize that the game area 5a is divided into left and right.

[0014] Also, when the front end face of the partitioning portion is not provided with the demolding trace portion as described above, since the partitioning portion becomes less prominent than the portion where the demolding trace portion is provided in the protruding wall portion, it is possible to make it difficult for the player to notice the existence of the partitioning portion, and it is possible to make the player have the illusion that the game balls can move back and forth across the portion of the partitioning portion.

[0015] Also, it is desirable to make the forms of the adjacent demolding trace portions uniform. As a result, the demolding trace portions provided on the front end face of the protruding wall portion in the center frame can be made to look like a pattern, and the appearance of the center frame can be improved.

[0016] Means 2: In the configuration of Means 1, "The protruding wall portion has a partitioning portion that divides the game area through which the game balls flow into two, and the front end face of the partitioning portion is not provided with the demolding trace portion" It is characterized by being such.

[0017] Here, as the "partition part", there can be mentioned "the part extending vertically provided at the end (for example, the right end) of the stage provided within the frame of the center frame", "the part extending downward from the center frame", "the part partitioning a plurality of ball passages on the left side or the right side of the center frame", and the like.

[0018] According to the configuration of means 2, the protruding wall part has a partition part that divides the game area through which the game balls flow into two, and no demolding trace part is provided on the front end face of the partition part (refer to the description of the partition part 2511a of the front protruding part 2511 in [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]).

[0019] As a result, since no demolding trace part is provided on the front end face of the partition part of the protruding wall part of the center frame that divides the game area into two, it becomes possible to make the player recognize that the partition part is a different part from the part where the demolding trace part is provided on the protruding wall part, and it can be made to be recognized that the partition part is not a part constituting the frame, and it can be made to be recognized that the game area 5a is divided into left and right.

[0020] Alternatively, since no demolding trace part is provided on the front end face of the partition part, the partition part becomes less conspicuous than the part where the demolding trace part is provided on the protruding wall part, and it can be made difficult to notice the existence of the partition part, and it can be made to give the player an illusion that the game balls can go back and forth across the part of the partition part.

[0021] Means 3: In the configuration of means 1 or means 2, the gaming machine, has a game area where game balls flow down in front of the game board, and a winning port into which game balls can enter is provided in the game area, and it is characterized by being a pachinko machine that gives a predetermined privilege when game balls enter the winning port.

[0022] Here, the term "winning port" refers to a "general winning port that is always open within the game area," "a starting winning port (starting port) that is always open within the game area and in which a lottery is held to determine whether a special pattern will be drawn to determine whether a game ball entering the game area will create a favorable game state in which the player is at an advantage as a predetermined benefit," "a variable winning port (variable starting port, accessory winning port, etc.) that allows a game ball to enter the game area as a predetermined benefit when the game ball enters a specific receiving port (chucker) within the game area," and "a variable winning port (variable starting port, accessory winning port, etc.) that allows a game ball to enter the game area as a predetermined benefit depending on the result of a lottery to determine a normal pattern when the game ball passes through a specific area (gate, through chucker, etc.) within the game area." Examples include "a special prize opening, a bonus prize opening, etc.)," "a variable start prize opening (variable start prize opening) in which a game ball can enter as a specified bonus depending on the result of a lottery for a normal pattern drawn when a game ball passes through a specific area (for example, a gate, a chucker, etc.) within the game area, and a lottery for a special pattern is held to determine whether or not the entry of the game ball will create an advantageous game state in which the player is at an advantage as a specified bonus," "a V prize opening in which, when a game ball that has entered a special prize opening is sorted by a sorting means and enters, creates an advantageous game state in which the player is at an advantage as a specified bonus," and "a large prize opening or special prize opening that opens and closes in a specified pattern to allow the entry of a game ball, creating an advantageous game state in which the player is at an advantage as a specified bonus."

[0023] In addition, as a "pachinko machine", it is a machine that has "a lottery means for conducting a special symbol lottery to generate an advantageous gaming state in which a player benefits as a predetermined privilege when a gaming ball enters a start port, and a special symbol lottery result is obtained by the lottery means. After the special symbol is variably displayed according to the lottery result and then stopped and displayed, a special lottery result display means for displaying the special lottery result selected by the combination of the stopped and displayed special symbols, and when the special lottery result that generates an advantageous gaming state is displayed by the special lottery result display means, an advantageous gaming state generation means for opening and closing a big winning port in a predetermined pattern to generate an advantageous gaming state" (so-called digital pachinko machine), "a distribution means for distributing the gaming balls that have entered the accessory winning port, and an advantageous gaming state generation means for opening and closing the accessory winning port in a predetermined pattern as a predetermined privilege when the gaming balls distributed by the distribution means enter the V winning port to generate an advantageous gaming state in which the player benefits" (so-called spring machine), "a machine having a big winning port and an accessory winning port, and opening and closing the big winning port or the accessory winning port in a predetermined pattern according to the lottery result of the special symbol lottery selected by the entry of the gaming ball into the start port (start entry), and when the gaming balls that have entered the accessory winning port are distributed to the V winning port, an advantageous gaming state generation means for opening and closing the accessory winning port or the big winning port in a predetermined pattern as a predetermined privilege to generate an advantageous gaming state in which the player benefits" (so-called composite machine), etc. can be mentioned.

[0024] According to the configuration of means 3, the gaming machine has a gaming area where gaming balls flow down in front of the game board, and a winning port is provided in the gaming area where gaming balls can enter. It is a pachinko machine that gives a predetermined privilege when a gaming ball enters the winning port. As a result, in the pachinko machine, any of the above-described means can exhibit its operational effects.

Effects of the Invention

[0025] Thus, according to the present invention, a player It is possible to provide a gaming machine that can entertain players and prevent their interest from declining by attracting their attention to the winning slots, A gaming machine capable of enhancing the appeal to the player Stage Section can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 5] This is an oblique view of a pachinko machine seen from the front right. [Figure 6] This is an oblique view of a pachinko machine seen from the front left. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view of a pachinko machine seen from behind. [Figure 8] This is an oblique view of a pachinko machine seen from the front with the door frame open from the main frame and the main frame open from the outer frame. [Figure 9] This is an exploded oblique view of a pachinko machine disassembled into a door frame, a game board, a main body frame, and an outer frame, as seen from the front. [Figure 10] This is an exploded oblique view of a pachinko machine disassembled into a door frame, a game board, a main body frame, and an outer frame, viewed from the rear. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a front view of the outer frame of the pachinko machine. [Figure 12] FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. [Figure 14] This is a perspective view of the outer frame from the front. [Figure 15] This is a perspective view of the outer frame from behind. [Figure 16] This is an exploded perspective view of the outer frame disassembled into its main components as seen from the front. [Figure 17] This is an exploded oblique view of the left outer frame assembly and the right outer frame assembly of the outer frame, viewed from the front. [Figure 18] This is an exploded oblique view of the lower outer frame assembly of the outer frame, viewed from the front. [Figure 19] 1A is an exploded perspective view of the outer frame upper hinge assembly of the outer frame as seen from above the front, and FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1A as seen from below the front. [Figure 20] It is a perspective view of the door frame seen from the front. [Figure 21] It is a perspective view of the door frame seen from the back. [Figure 22] It is an exploded perspective view of the door frame top decoration body and the upper door frame decoration body disassembled from the door frame and seen from the front. [Figure 23] It is an exploded perspective view of the door frame top decoration body and the upper door frame decoration body disassembled from the door frame and seen from the back. [Figure 24] It is a front view of the door frame shown in a state where the upper door frame decoration body is removed. [Figure 25] It is a rear view of the door frame shown in a state where the upper door frame decoration body is removed. [Figure 26] It is a left side view of the door frame shown in a state where the upper door frame decoration body is removed.

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0027] [1. Overall Structure of Pachinko Machine] The pachinko machine 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. FIG. 1 is a front view of the pachinko machine which is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a right side view of the pachinko machine, FIG. 3 is a left side view of the pachinko machine, and FIG. 4 is a rear view of the pachinko machine. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine seen from the right front, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine seen from the left front, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine seen from the rear. Further, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine seen from the front with the door frame opened from the main body frame and the main body frame opened from the outer frame. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the pachinko machine disassembled into the door frame, the game board, the main body frame, and the outer frame and seen from the front, and FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the pachinko machine disassembled into the door frame, the game board, the main body frame, and the outer frame and seen from the rear.

[0028] The pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment includes a frame-shaped outer frame 2 installed in an island facility (not shown) in a game hall, a door frame 3 that closes the front surface of the outer frame 2 in an openable and closable manner, a main body frame 4 that supports the door frame 3 in an openable and closable manner and is attached to the outer frame 2 in an openable and closable manner, and a game board 5 that is detachably attached to the main body frame 4 from the front side and has a game area 5a that is visible to the player through the door frame 3 and into which a game ball B (see FIGS. 78 etc.) is driven by the player.

[0029] The outer frame 2 is formed in a quadrangular frame shape that extends vertically when viewed from the front. The outer frame 2 includes an outer frame left assembly 10 and an outer frame right assembly 20 that are spaced apart left and right and extend vertically, an outer frame upper member 30 that connects the upper ends of the outer frame left assembly 10 and the outer frame right assembly 20, an outer frame lower assembly 40 that connects the lower ends of the outer frame left assembly 10 and the outer frame right assembly 20, an outer frame upper hinge assembly 50 attached to the left end of the upper surface of the outer frame upper member 30, and an outer frame lower hinge member 60 attached to the lower right side of the outer frame left assembly 10 and the left end of the upper surface of the outer frame lower assembly 40.

[0030] The outer frame 2 is attached to an island facility in a game hall where the pachinko machine 1 is installed, and the outer frame upper hinge assembly 50 and the outer frame lower hinge member 60 support the main body frame upper hinge member 510 and the main body frame lower hinge assembly 520 of the main body frame 4 to be rotatable coaxially, for attaching the main body frame 4 to be openable and closable forward with the left side as the center when viewed from the front.

[0031] Further, when the main body frame 4 is closed, the outer frame lower assembly 40 cooperates with the speaker unit 620a of the substrate unit 620 in the main body frame 4 to form a part of the enclosure 624 of the main body frame speaker 622, and by phase-inverting the sound output to the rear of the main body frame speaker 622 and radiating it forward, a player can be made to hear a more bassy sound.

[0032] The door frame 3 closes the game area 5a of the game board 5 into which the game balls B are launched so as to be visible from the front side, stores the game balls B for launching into the game area 5a, and includes a handle 197 that a player operates to launch the stored game balls B into the game area 5a. Further, the door frame 3 decorates the entire front surface of the pachinko machine 1.

[0033] In addition to the handle 197, the door frame 3 includes an effect operation unit 301 that can be operated by the player. When a player-participation type effect is executed, the player can participate in the effect by operating the effect operation unit 301, and in addition to the game using the game balls B, the player can be entertained by operating the effect operation unit 301.

[0034] The main body frame 4 includes a frame-shaped main body frame base unit 500 whose rear part can be inserted into the frame of the outer frame 2 and that can support the outer periphery of the game board 5, a main body frame upper hinge member 510 and a main body frame lower hinge assembly 520 for attaching the main body frame 4 to the outer frame 2 so as to be openable and closable and for attaching the door frame 3 so as to be openable and closable, a main body frame reinforcement frame 530 that reinforces the main body frame base unit 500, a ball launching device 540 for launching the game balls B into the game area 5a of the game board 5, a payout base unit 550 for receiving the game balls B supplied from the island equipment in the game hall, a payout unit 560 for paying out the game balls B received by the payout base unit 550 to the player side, a board unit 620 having a payout control board 633 in addition to a power supply board 630 having a power switch 630a capable of turning on the power of the pachinko machine 1, a back cover 640 that covers the rear side of the game board 5 attached to the main body frame base 501, and a locking unit 650 for locking between the outer frame 2 and the main body frame 4 and between the door frame 3 and the main body frame 4.

[0035] The main body frame 4 holds the game board 5 having a game area 5a where a game is played by hitting the pachinko ball B, and is also for paying out the pachinko ball B to the player side or discharging the pachinko ball B used in the game to the rear of the pachinko machine 1 (the side of the island facility in the game hall). The main body frame 4 is formed in a box shape with an open front, and the game board 5 is detachably accommodated inside from the front. Further, the main body frame 4 is openably attached to a frame-shaped outer frame 2 attached to the island facility in the game hall above and below the front left side end, and a door frame 3 is openably attached so that the open front side is closed.

[0036] The game board 5 includes a game area 5a where the pachinko ball B is played by the operation of the player, a front component member 1000 that partitions the outer periphery of the game area 5a and has a substantially rectangular shape in a front view, a plate-shaped game panel 1100 attached to the rear side of the front component member 1000 and partitioning the rear end of the game area 5a, a main control unit 1300 attached to the rear surface of the rear box 3010 of the back unit 3000 and having a main control board 1310, a function display unit 1400 that displays the game situation based on a control signal from the main control board 1310, a peripheral control unit 1500 (see FIG. 10) disposed on the rear side of the game panel 1100, an effect display device 1600 disposed at the center of the game area 5a in a front view and capable of displaying a predetermined effect image, a front unit 2000 attached to the front surface of the game panel 1100, and a back unit 3000 attached to the rear surface of the game panel 1100. The back unit 3000 is provided with various effect units capable of performing movable effects and light emission effects according to the game state.

[0037] In the game area 5a of the game board 5, there are a plurality of obstacle pins N that are in contact with the game ball B and implanted in a predetermined gauge arrangement, and a general winning opening 2001, a first start opening 2002, a gate 2003, a second start opening 2004, a normal winning opening 2011, a first big winning opening 2005, and a second big winning opening 2006 that give a predetermined privilege (for example, payout of a predetermined number of game balls B) to the player when the game ball B is received or passed through. The obstacle pins N are implanted on the front surface of the game panel 1100. The general winning opening 2001, the first start opening 2002, the gate 2003, the second start opening 2004, the normal winning opening 2011, the first big winning opening 2005, and the second big winning opening 2006 are provided in the front unit 2000.

[0038] Within the game area 5a of the game board 5, the player can drive the game ball B by operating the handle 197 of the handle unit 180. As a result, the player can enjoy the driving operation of the handle 197 so that the game ball B is received or passed through the general winning opening 2001, the first start opening 2002, the gate 2003, the second start opening 2004, the normal winning opening 2011, the first big winning opening 2005, the second big winning opening 2006, etc. within the game area 5a.

[0039] Also, according to the game state that changes when the game ball B is driven into the game area 5a of the game board 5, the game board 5 can cause the effect display device 1600 to display a predetermined effect image, or cause the back first effect unit 3300, the back second effect unit 3400, etc. to perform a light emission effect or a movable effect, thereby entertaining the player.

[0040] [2. Overall Structure of the Outer Frame] The outer frame 2 of the pachinko machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 16. FIG. 11 is a front view of the outer frame of the pachinko machine, FIG. 12 is a rear view of the outer frame, and FIG. 13 is a right side view of the outer frame. Further, FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the outer frame seen from the front, and FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the outer frame seen from the rear. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the outer frame disassembled by each main member and seen from the front. The outer frame 2 is attached to an island facility (not shown) where the pachinko machine 1 such as a game hall is installed. The outer frame 2 is formed in a rectangular frame shape that extends vertically in a front view.

[0041] As shown in the figure, the outer frame 2 includes an outer frame left assembly 10 and an outer frame right assembly 20 that are spaced apart from each other left and right and extend vertically, an outer frame upper member 30 that connects the upper ends of the outer frame left assembly 10 and the outer frame right assembly 20, an outer frame lower assembly 40 that connects the lower ends of the outer frame left assembly 10 and the outer frame right assembly 20, an outer frame upper hinge assembly 50 attached to the left end of the upper surface of the outer frame upper member 30, and an outer frame lower hinge member 60 attached to the lower part of the right side surface of the outer frame left assembly 10 and the left end of the upper surface of the outer frame lower assembly 40.

[0042] When the main body frame 4 is closed, the outer frame lower assembly 40 of the outer frame 2 cooperates with the speaker unit 620a of the substrate unit 620 in the main body frame 4 to form a part of the enclosure 624 of the main body frame speaker 622, and the sound output to the rear of the main body frame speaker 622 can be phase-inverted and radiated forward.

[0043] The outer frame 2 can detachably support the main body frame upper hinge member 510 of the main body frame 4 by the outer frame upper hinge assembly 50. The outer frame 2 can rotatably support the main body frame upper hinge member 510 and the main body frame lower hinge assembly 520 of the main body frame 4 coaxially by the outer frame upper hinge assembly 50 and the outer frame lower hinge member 60, and can attach the main body frame 4 so as to be openable and closable forward around the left side in a front view.

[0044] [2-1. Outer Frame Left Assembly and Outer Frame Right Assembly] The left outer frame assembly 10 and the right outer frame assembly 20 of the outer frame 2 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIG. 17. FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the left outer frame assembly and the right outer frame assembly of the outer frame, respectively, as viewed from the front. The left outer frame assembly 10 and the right outer frame assembly 20 of the outer frame 2 each extend vertically and are arranged spaced apart from each other left and right. The left outer frame assembly 10 and the right outer frame assembly 20 are for rotatably supporting the upper hinge member 510 and the lower hinge assembly 520 of the main body frame 4 of the main body frame coaxially, and for attachably mounting the main body frame 4 to the outer frame 2 so as to be openable and closable.

[0045] First, the left outer frame assembly 10 includes a left outer frame member 11 that extends vertically with a constant width (depth) in the front-rear direction, an upper left connecting member 12 attached to the upper end of the right side surface of the left outer frame member 11, and a lower left connecting member 13 attached to the lower end of the right side surface of the left outer frame member 11.

[0046] The left outer frame member 11 extends vertically with a constant cross-sectional shape and is formed of an extruded aluminum alloy profile. The left outer frame member 11 has a concave portion 11a that is flat and recessed to the right at a rear portion that trisects the left side surface in the front-rear direction, a bulging portion 11b that bulges to the right from a portion on the right side surface opposite to the concave portion 11a, and a cavity portion 11c that penetrates the bulging portion 11b vertically. The left outer frame member 11 has enhanced strength and rigidity due to the concave portion 11a and the bulging portion 11b, and has a reduced weight due to the cavity portion 11c.

[0047] In addition, the left outer frame member 11 has a plurality of grooves formed vertically on both the left and right side surfaces. The plurality of grooves on the left side surface are formed in a V shape, and the plurality of grooves on the right side surface are formed in a semi-circular shape. The left outer frame member 11 is formed in a shape symmetrical to the right outer frame member 21 of the right outer frame assembly 20 described later.

[0048] The upper-left connecting member 12 connects the upper end of the left outer frame member 11 and the left end of the upper outer frame member 30. The upper-left connecting member 12 includes a flat horizontal fixing portion 12a extending horizontally, a flat upper lateral fixing portion 12b extending upward from the center in the front-to-rear direction on the left side of the horizontal fixing portion 12a, and a pair of flat lower lateral fixing portions 12c extending downward from both the front and rear sides of the upper lateral fixing portion 12b on the left side of the horizontal fixing portion 12a. The upper-left connecting member 12 is formed by bending a flat metal plate.

[0049] The upper-left connecting member 12 is attached to the left outer frame member 11 by inserting the rear lower horizontal fixing portion 12c into the hollow portion 11c of the left outer frame member 11, abutting the horizontal fixing portion 12a against the upper end of the left outer frame member 11, and abutting the front and rear lower horizontal fixing portions 12c against the right side surface of the left outer frame member 11, and then screwing a screw into the lower horizontal fixing portion 12c from the outside of the left side surface of the left outer frame member 11. The upper-left connecting member 12 is also attached to the upper outer frame member 30 by abutting the horizontal fixing portion 12a against the underside of the left end of the upper outer frame member 30, and inserting the upper horizontal fixing portion 12b into the notch 30a on the left side surface of the upper outer frame member 30, and then screwing a screw into the upper outer frame member 30 through the horizontal fixing portion 12a and the upper horizontal fixing portion 12b.

[0050] The lower-left connecting member 13 connects the lower end of the left outer frame member 11 to the left end of the lower outer frame assembly 40 (lower outer frame member 41). The lower-left connecting member 13 includes a horizontally extending, flat horizontal fixing portion 13a, a flat upper lateral fixing portion 13b that extends upward from the left edge of the horizontal fixing portion 13a and further rearward than the horizontal fixing portion 13a, a flat lower lateral fixing portion 13c that extends downward from a position on the lower edge of the upper lateral fixing portion 13b rearward of the horizontal fixing portion 13a, and a flat abutment portion 13d that extends a short distance to the right from the rear edge of the upper lateral fixing portion 13b. The lower-left connecting member 13 is formed by bending a flat metal plate.

[0051] The lower left connecting member 13 is attached to the left outer frame member 11 by abutting the rear surface of the abutting portion 13d against the front surface of the bulging portion 11b of the left outer frame member 11, abutting the left side surface of the upper horizontal fixing portion 13b against the right side surface of the left outer frame member 11, aligning the lower surface of the horizontal fixing portion 13a with the lower end of the left outer frame member 11, and screwing a screw into the upper horizontal fixing portion 13b from the outside of the left side surface of the left outer frame member 11. Further, the lower left connecting member 13 is attached to the lower outer frame member 41 by abutting the horizontal fixing portion 13a against the upper surface of the left end side of the lower outer frame member 41, inserting the lower horizontal fixing portion 13c into the notch 41a on the left side surface of the lower outer frame member 41, and screwing a screw into the lower outer frame member 41 through the horizontal fixing portion 13a and the lower horizontal fixing portion 13c.

[0052] Next, the right outer frame assembly 20 includes a right outer frame member 21 that extends vertically with a constant width (depth) in the front-rear direction, an upper right connecting member 22 attached to the upper end of the left side surface of the right outer frame member 21, a lower right connecting member 23 attached to the lower end of the left side surface of the right outer frame member 21, an upper hook member 24 attached to the upper part of the left side surface of the right outer frame member 21, and a lower hook member 25 attached to the lower part of the left side surface of the right outer frame member 21.

[0053] The right outer frame member 21 extends vertically with a constant cross-sectional shape and is formed of an extruded aluminum alloy profile. The right outer frame member 21 has a concave portion 21a that is flat and recessed to the left at the rear part of the right side surface that is trisected in the front-rear direction, a bulging portion 21b that bulges to the left from the part on the left side surface opposite to the concave portion 21a, and a cavity portion 21c that penetrates the bulging portion 21b vertically. The right outer frame member 21 has enhanced strength and rigidity due to the concave portion 21a and the bulging portion 21b, and has a reduced weight due to the cavity portion 21c.

[0054] Also, the right outer frame member 21 has a plurality of grooves formed vertically on both the left and right side surfaces. The plurality of grooves on the right side surface are formed in a V shape, and the plurality of grooves on the left side surface are formed in a semi-circular shape. The right outer frame member 21 is formed in a shape symmetrical to the left outer frame member 11 of the left outer frame assembly 10.

[0055] The upper right connecting member 22 connects the upper end of the outer frame right member 21 and the right end of the outer frame upper member 30. The upper right connecting member 22 includes a flat horizontal fixing portion 22a extending horizontally, a flat upper lateral fixing portion 22b extending upward from the middle in the front-to-rear direction on the right side of the horizontal fixing portion 22a, and a pair of flat lower lateral fixing portions 22c extending downward from both the front and rear of the upper lateral fixing portion 22b on the right side of the horizontal fixing portion 22a. The upper right connecting member 22 is formed by bending a flat metal plate.

[0056] The upper right connecting member 22 is attached to the outer frame right member 21 by inserting the rear lower horizontal fixing portion 22c into the hollow portion 21c of the outer frame right member 21, abutting the horizontal fixing portion 22a against the upper end of the outer frame right member 21, and abutting the front and rear lower horizontal fixing portions 22c against the left side surface of the outer frame right member 21, and then screwing a screw into the lower horizontal fixing portion 22c from the outside of the right side surface of the outer frame right member 21. The upper right connecting member 22 is also attached to the outer frame upper member 30 by abutting the horizontal fixing portion 22a against the lower surface of the right end side of the outer frame upper member 30, and inserting the upper horizontal fixing portion 22b into the notch 30a on the right side surface of the outer frame upper member 30, and then screwing a screw into the outer frame upper member 30 through the horizontal fixing portion 22a and the upper horizontal fixing portion 22b.

[0057] The lower right connecting member 23 connects the lower end of the right outer frame member 21 to the right end of the lower outer frame assembly 40 (lower outer frame member 41). The lower right connecting member 23 includes a flat horizontal fixing portion 23a extending horizontally, a flat upper lateral fixing portion 23b extending upward from the right edge of the horizontal fixing portion 23a and extending rearward beyond the horizontal fixing portion 23a, a flat lower lateral fixing portion 23c extending downward from a position on the lower edge of the upper lateral fixing portion 23b rearward beyond the horizontal fixing portion 23a, and a flat abutment portion 23d extending a short distance to the left from the rear edge of the upper lateral fixing portion 23b. The lower right connecting member 23 is formed by bending a flat metal plate.

[0058] The lower right connecting member 23 is attached to the right outer frame member 21 by screwing a screw into the upper horizontal fixing portion 23b from the outside of the right side of the right outer frame member 21, with the rear surface of the abutting portion 23d abutting against the front surface of the bulging portion 21b of the right outer frame member 21, the right side of the upper horizontal fixing portion 23b abutting against the left side of the right outer frame member 21, and the lower surface of the horizontal fixing portion 23a being aligned with the lower end of the right outer frame member 21. The lower right connecting member 23 is also attached to the lower outer frame member 41 by screwing a screw into the lower outer frame member 41 through the horizontal fixing portion 23a and the lower horizontal fixing portion 23c with the horizontal fixing portion 23a abutting against the upper surface of the right end of the lower outer frame member 41 and the lower horizontal fixing portion 23c inserted into the notch 41a on the right side of the lower outer frame member 41.

[0059] An outer frame hook 653 of a locking unit 650 in the main frame 4, which will be described later, is hooked onto the upper hook member 24 and the lower hook member 25. The upper hook member 24 includes a flat mounting portion 24a that extends vertically with a constant width in the front-to-rear direction and is attached to the left side surface of the outer frame right member 21, and a flat mounting piece 24b that extends leftward from the front edge of the mounting portion 24a and onto which the upper outer frame hook 653 is hooked.

[0060] The lower hook hook member 25 includes a flat mounting portion 25a that extends vertically with a constant width in the front-to-rear direction and is attached to the left side surface of the outer frame right member 21, a flat hooking piece portion 25b that extends leftward from the front edge of the mounting portion 25a and into which the lower outer frame hook 653 is hooked, and an insertion opening 25c that penetrates the hooking piece portion 25b in the front-to-rear direction and through which the lower outer frame hook 653 can be inserted.

[0061] [2-2. Upper outer frame member] The upper outer frame member 30 of the outer frame 2 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figure 16. The upper outer frame member 30 is used to connect the upper ends of the left outer frame assembly 10 and the right outer frame assembly 20, which are spaced apart laterally. The upper outer frame member 30 has a width in the front-to-rear direction that is approximately the same as the width of the left outer frame member 11 and the right outer frame member 21 in the front-to-rear direction, a constant thickness in the up-down direction, extends in the left-to-right direction, and is made of wood. The left-to-right length of the upper outer frame member 30 is formed to be the same as the left-to-right length of the lower outer frame member 41 of the lower outer frame assembly 40, which will be described later.

[0062] The upper outer frame member 30 is provided with cutout portions 30a that are recessed toward the center in the left - right direction in a vertically penetrating state at the center in the front - rear direction on both left and right side surfaces. The upper horizontal fixing portions 12b of the upper left connecting member 12 and the upper horizontal fixing portions 22b of the upper right connecting member 22 are respectively attached to the cutout portions 30a at both left and right ends in a state of being inserted therein.

[0063] Also, the upper outer frame member 30 is provided with a mounting step portion 30b at the left - hand end portion, where the upper surface and the front surface are recessed more than the general surface. The outer frame upper hinge assembly 50, which will be described later, is attached to this mounting step portion 30b.

[0064] [2 - 3. Lower Outer Frame Assembly] The lower outer frame assembly 40 of the outer frame 2 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIG. 18. FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the lower outer frame assembly of the outer frame as seen from the front. The lower outer frame assembly 40 connects the lower ends of the left outer frame assembly 10 and the right outer frame assembly 20 that are spaced apart from each other left and right, and is for closing and decorating the lower side of the door frame 3 in the pachinko machine 1.

[0065] The lower outer frame assembly 40 includes an outer frame lower member 41 that connects the lower ends of the left outer frame assembly 10 and the right outer frame assembly 20 that are spaced apart from each other left and right and extends left and right, a box - shaped front curtain member 42 that is disposed in front of the outer frame lower member 41, extends left and right along the outer frame lower member 41, and has an open rear side, a box - shaped rear curtain member 43 that is attached to the rear side of the front curtain member 42, is attached to the upper surface of the outer frame lower member 41, extends left and right, and has an open front side, and a ball - biting prevention mechanism 44 formed at the left end on the upper surface of the rear curtain member 43.

[0066] The outer frame lower member 41 has a width in the front - rear direction that is substantially the same as the front - rear direction of the left outer frame member 11 and the right outer frame member 21, has a constant thickness in the up - down direction, extends in the left - right direction, and is formed of wood. The length of the outer frame lower member 41 in the left - right direction is formed to be the same as the length of the upper outer frame member 30 in the left - right direction.

[0067] The lower outer frame member 41 is provided with cutout portions 41a that are recessed toward the center in the left-right direction in a vertically penetrating state at the center in the front-rear direction on both the left and right side surfaces. The lower horizontal fixing portions 13c of the lower left connecting member 13 and the lower horizontal fixing portions 23c of the lower right connecting member 23 are respectively attached to the cutout portions 41a at both the left and right ends in a state where they are inserted. Thereby, the lower ends of the left outer frame member 11 and the right outer frame member 21 can be connected to each other.

[0068] Further, the lower outer frame member 41 is recessed from the upper surface and is provided with a recess 41b into which the lower part of the curtain plate rear member 43 is inserted. The recess 41b extends in the left-right direction and runs out from a position closer to the rear in the center in the front-rear direction toward the front end side. This recess 41b makes the volume of the curtain plate internal space 40a formed by the curtain plate front member 42 and the curtain plate rear member 43 as wide as possible.

[0069] The curtain plate front member 42 extends in the left-right direction to the same length as the lower outer frame member 41 and is formed in a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped box shape with a short depth in the front-rear direction with respect to the height, and the entire rear surface is open. The curtain plate front member 42 closes the open rear side with the curtain plate rear member 43, and cooperates with the curtain plate rear member 43 to form a curtain plate internal space 40a that is part of the enclosure 624 of the main body frame speaker 622. The curtain plate front member 42 is provided with an elongated hole-shaped opening 42a that penetrates in the front-rear direction and extends in the left-right direction on the front surface near the right end.

[0070] The curtain plate rear member 43 extends in the left-right direction slightly shorter than the lower outer frame member 41 and is formed in a box shape with an open front. The curtain plate rear member 43 attaches the curtain plate front member 42 to the front surface, and cooperates with the curtain plate front member 42 to form a curtain plate internal space 40a that is part of the enclosure 624 of the main body frame speaker 622. The curtain plate rear member 43 has a cylindrical connection tube portion 43a that extends in the left-right direction and protrudes upward at the center in the left-right direction on the upper surface and communicates with the curtain plate internal space 40a. The upper end of the connection tube portion 43a is inclined so that it is positioned upward more toward the rear from the front end side where it coincides with the general upper surface of the curtain plate rear member 43. In the present embodiment, the upper end of the connection tube portion 43a is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees.

[0071] The connecting tube portion 43a has a length in the left-right direction that is approximately one-third the length of the entire rear header panel member 43, and a depth in the front-to-rear direction that is slightly shorter than the depth of the entire rear header panel member 43. A plurality of ribs 43b that connect the front and rear ends are provided inside the connecting tube portion 43a. When the main body frame 4 is closed on the outer frame 2, the upper end of the connecting tube portion 43a is connected to a connecting portion 621c of a speaker cover 621 of a speaker unit 620a of a board unit 620 in the main body frame 4, thereby communicating with the internal space of the speaker unit 620a and forming an enclosure 624.

[0072] The ball jamming prevention mechanism 44 is designed to prevent the game ball B from being pinched between the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4 by causing the game ball B to remain at the left end of the upper surface of the rear panel member 43, at the location of the outer frame lower hinge member 60.

[0073] The ball jamming prevention mechanism 44 is formed at the left end of the upper surface of the rear panel member 43, and comprises a flat mounting portion 44a that is formed to allow the outer frame lower hinge member 60 described later to be attached, a first discharge outlet 44b that opens upward at the left end of the mounting portion 44a, a second discharge outlet 44c that opens upward to the right of the first discharge outlet 44b in the mounting portion 44a, a standing wall portion 44d that extends upward from the rear and right sides of the mounting portion 44a, and an upper end protrusion 44e that protrudes forward from the upper end of the standing wall portion 44d and is inclined so that the upper surface is positioned upward as it extends toward the rear.

[0074] The first discharge opening 44b is formed at a position that coincides with a discharge hole 60d of the outer frame lower hinge member 60, which will be described later. The first discharge opening 44b and the second discharge opening 44c are formed to a size that allows the game ball B to pass through. The first discharge opening 44b and the second discharge opening 44c do not communicate with the panel internal space 40a, but open to the rear surface of the panel rear member 43. Therefore, the game ball B that enters the first discharge opening 44b and the second discharge opening 44c can be discharged to the rear of the panel rear member 43.

[0075] If an unauthorized tool such as a piano wire is inserted through the gap between the outer frame lower hinge member 60 and the main frame lower hinge assembly 520 (described later), the ball-biting prevention mechanism 44 can prevent the unauthorized tool from entering by using the upright wall portion 44d rising from the rear end of the mounting portion 44a. Even if the tip of the unauthorized tool abuts against the upright wall portion 44d and bends upward, it will abut against the upper end protrusion 44e that protrudes forward from the upper end of the upright wall portion 44d, preventing further entry. Therefore, unauthorized acts can be prevented from being committed through the outer frame lower hinge member 60.

[0076] Incidentally, if the rear end of the placement portion 44a is provided with a standing wall portion 44d, when the main frame 4 is opened relative to the outer frame 2, if a game ball B falls onto the placement portion 44a for some reason, the standing wall portion 44d will prevent the game ball B from moving rearward relative to the outer frame 2, making it easier for the game ball B to remain on the placement portion 44a. If the game ball B remains on the placement portion 44a, when the main frame 4 is closed relative to the outer frame 2, the game ball B will be caught between the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4, causing a problem that the main frame 4 cannot be closed.

[0077] In contrast, in the ball jamming prevention mechanism 44 of this embodiment, game balls B that have fallen onto the outer frame lower hinge member 60 or onto the mounting portion 44a can be discharged to the rear of the curtain board rear member 43 (rear of the outer frame 2) through the discharge hole 60d of the outer frame lower hinge member 60 and the first discharge outlet 44b, or through the second discharge outlet 44c, thereby preventing game balls B from getting caught between the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4.

[0078] The lower outer frame assembly 40 comprises a pair of guide members 45 arranged spaced apart on the left and right sides of the upper surfaces of the front panel member 42 and the rear panel member 43, a flat grill member 46 that closes the opening 42a of the front panel member 42 from the rear, a port member 47 having two cylinders extending forward and backward and attached inside the front panel member 42 so as to sandwich the grill member 46 and close the opening 42a, and a frame-shaped sealing member 48 that is arranged at the upper end of the connecting tube portion 43a of the rear panel member 43.

[0079] When the main body frame 4 is closed with respect to the outer frame 2, the lower end of the door frame 3 abuts against the pair of guide members 45. The guide members 45 are formed of a low-friction material with low frictional resistance, facilitating the sliding of the lower end of the main body frame 4 and making opening and closing easier.

[0080] The grill member 46 is in a strip shape extending in the left-right direction and has a plurality of blade portions 46b provided at intervals in the vertical direction. The blade portions 46b are provided in an inclined state such that the front end side is higher than the rear end side. Through the gaps between the blade portions 46b of the grill member 46, the inside (the curtain plate internal space 40a) and the outside of the front curtain plate member 42 are communicatively connected so as to be ventilable.

[0081] The port member 47 communicatively connects the curtain plate internal space 40a (enclosure 624) and the front of the outer frame 2 through the gaps between the blade portions 46b of the grill member 46 by two cylinders. The two cylinders of the port member 47 are formed with a predetermined inner diameter and a predetermined length, and resonate and amplify the bass sound emitted from the main body frame speaker 622 to the rear (inside the enclosure 624) according to the principle of Helmholtz resonance, enabling rich bass to be radiated to the front of the outer frame 2 (the player side). That is, in the present embodiment, the enclosure 624 of the main body frame speaker 622 is of the bass reflex type, and can make the player hear heavy bass.

[0082] When the main body frame 4 is closed with respect to the outer frame 2, the seal member 48 is sandwiched and compressed between the upper end of the connection cylinder portion 43a and the lower end of the connection portion 621c of the speaker cover 621 in the main body frame 4, preventing the sound inside the enclosure 624 of the main body frame speaker 622 from leaking from between the connection cylinder portion 43a and the connection portion 621c.

[0083] According to the grill member 46 of this embodiment, the air vibrations emitted to the outside from the header internal space 40a by the main body frame speaker 622 can be directed by the inclined blade portions 46b through the notched opening 295b on the lower side of the handle cover 295 of the handle cover unit 290 located diagonally upward and forward, into the front cylinder portion 291a of the handle cover base 291 that houses the handle unit 180. As a result, when a player inserts his or her fingers inside the handle cover 295 (the front cylinder portion 291a of the handle cover base 291) and rotates the handle 197 (the device for striking the game ball B), the main body frame speaker 622 is vibrated to send air into the front cylinder portion 291a, surprising the player and providing an unprecedented performance.

[0084] Furthermore, since the port member 47 is open toward the front, a portion of the sound pressure emitted from the port member 47 through the multiple blade portions 46b of the grill member 46 is emitted forward, so that the sound effects emitted from the port member 47 can be heard by players seated in front of the pachinko machine 1 and other players wandering around the gaming hall where the pachinko machine 1 is installed, and the sound effects can also attract the attention of players, making it possible to provide a pachinko machine 1 that is highly appealing to players.

[0085] Furthermore, since the port member 47 is provided in the lower outer frame assembly 40 of the outer frame 2, the volume of the enclosure 624 of the main frame speaker 622 provided in the main frame 4 can be increased, making it possible to output a more deep bass sound, which entertains the player and prevents a decline in interest.

[0086] [2-4. Outer frame upper hinge assembly] The outer frame upper hinge assembly 50 of the outer frame 2 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figure 19. Figure 19(a) is an exploded perspective view of the outer frame upper hinge assembly of the outer frame, viewed from above and front, and Figure 19(b) is an exploded perspective view of (a), viewed from below and front. The outer frame upper hinge assembly 50 is attached to the upper end of the left outer frame assembly 10 and the left end of the upper outer frame member 30, and is used to attach the main frame 4 to the outer frame 2 so that it can rotate about a hinge. The upper outer frame hinge assembly 50 includes an upper outer frame hinge member 51 attached to the upper end of the recess 11a of the left outer frame member 11 and the mounting step 30b of the upper outer frame member 30, a locking member 52 attached to the upper outer frame hinge member 51, and a mounting screw 53 that attaches the locking member 52 to the upper outer frame hinge member 51.

[0087] The outer frame upper hinge member 51 includes an upper fixing portion 51a having a horizontally extending, flat plate shape and attached to the upper surface of the mounting step portion 30b of the outer frame upper member 30, a flat forward extending portion 51b extending forward from the front edge of the upper fixing portion 51a, a bearing groove 51c extending forward from the middle of the right edge of the forward extending portion 51b to the left-right center of the forward extending portion 51b and penetrating it vertically, a flat lateral fixing portion 51d extending downward from the left edge of the upper fixing portion 51a, and a flat edge wall portion 51e extending downward from the edge of the forward extending portion 51b from the left edge around the front edge to the position where the bearing groove 51c opens and continuing with the lateral fixing portion 51d. The outer frame upper hinge member 51 is formed by stamping and bending a metal plate by press molding. The outer frame upper hinge member 51 can rotatably support a main body frame upper hinge pin 512 (described later) of the main body frame upper hinge member 510 in the bearing groove 51c.

[0088] The locking member 52 includes a strip-shaped locking body 52a extending in the front-rear direction, an operating piece 52b protruding rightward from the rear end of the locking body 52a, an elastically deformable rod-shaped elastic portion 52c extending leftward from the rear end of the locking body 52a and then obliquely forward-leftward, and a mounting hole 52d penetrating vertically near the rear end of the locking body 52a. The locking member 52 is formed of synthetic resin. The locking member 52 is rotatably mounted by a mounting screw 53 on the lower surface of the front extending portion 51b of the outer frame upper hinge member 51 at a position behind the bearing groove 51c.

[0089] When the locking member 52 is mounted on the outer frame upper hinge member 51, the locking body 52a can block the bearing groove 51c in plan view, and the right side surface near the front end extends forward so as to be able to contact a portion extending to the opening of the bearing groove 51c in the edge wall portion 51e of the outer frame upper hinge member 51. Also, the tip of the elastic portion 52c extending leftward from the rear end of the locking body 52a is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the edge wall portion 51e of the outer frame upper hinge member 51. This locking member 52 is biased in the direction in which the front end rotates leftward about the mounting hole 52d by the biasing force of the elastic portion 52c. Therefore, in the normal state, the right side surface near the front end of the locking body 52a of the locking member 52 is in contact with the edge wall portion 51e. In this state, a space capable of accommodating the main body frame upper hinge pin 512 of the main body frame upper hinge member 510 is formed in the portion of the bearing groove 51c in front of the locking body 52a.

[0090] By operating the operating piece 52b, this locking member 52 can rotate the locking body 52a against the biasing force of the elastic portion 52c. Then, by operating the operating piece 52b to rotate the locking body 52a in the direction in which its front end moves leftward, the locking body 52a can be retracted from the bearing groove 51c in plan view, and the bearing groove 51c can be made to be completely open. Thereby, the main body frame upper hinge pin 512 can be inserted into the bearing groove 51c or removed from the bearing groove 51c.

[0091] [2-5. Lower hinge member of the outer frame] The lower hinge member 60 of the outer frame 2 of the outer frame will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIG. 16. The lower hinge member 60 of the outer frame includes a horizontally extending flat plate-shaped horizontal portion 60a, a flat plate-shaped upright portion 60b that rises upward from a portion on the left side of the horizontal portion 60a that is behind the center in the front-rear direction, an outer frame lower hinge pin 60c that protrudes upward near the front end of the horizontal portion 60a, and a discharge hole 60d that penetrates the horizontal portion 60a vertically and has a size that allows only one game ball B to pass through. This lower hinge member 60 of the outer frame is formed by punching and bending a metal plate by press forming.

[0092] The horizontal portion 60a of the lower hinge member 60 of the outer frame is formed in a trapezoid shape with the left side as the base in a plan view. The outer frame lower hinge pin 60c is cylindrical, and the upper part above the center in the vertical direction is formed in a frustum of a cone shape with a narrowed upper end. This outer frame lower hinge pin 60c is attached at a position on the left side near the front end of the horizontal portion 60a. The discharge hole 60d is formed in the horizontal portion 60a so as to be in contact with the central portion in the front-rear direction of the upright portion 60b and extend in an inverted U shape from the left side to the right side of the horizontal portion 60a. This discharge hole 60d is formed to have substantially the same size as the first discharge port 44b of the ball biting prevention mechanism 44 in the outer frame lower assembly 40.

[0093] When the lower hinge member 60 of the outer frame is assembled to the outer frame 2, the rear portion of the horizontal portion 60a is placed on the placement portion 44a of the curtain plate rear member 43 in the outer frame lower assembly 40 and fixed to the curtain plate rear member 43 with screws (not shown). Also, the upright portion 60b is attached to a portion in front of the bulging portion 11b on the right side surface of the outer frame left member 11 with screws (not shown). This lower hinge member 60 of the outer frame can be attached to the main body frame 4 so as to be openable and closable in cooperation with the upper hinge member 51 of the outer frame by inserting the outer frame lower hinge pin 60c into the outer frame lower hinge hole 521a in the main body frame lower hinge assembly 520 of the main body frame 4.

[0094] Furthermore, when the outer frame 2 is assembled, the discharge hole 60d coincides with the first discharge opening 44b of the ball jamming prevention mechanism 44 in the outer frame lower assembly 40. This allows the game ball B on the horizontal portion 60a to fall (discharge) to the rear of the outer frame 2 through the discharge hole 60d and the first discharge opening 44b. In more detail, when the main frame 4 is closed to the outer frame 2, the game ball B that has fallen between the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4 rolls toward the rear where the gap is wider because the gap between the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4 gradually narrows as the main frame 4 is closed, and can be discharged from the discharge hole 60d. In this case, the discharge hole 60d is formed at a position that is approximately the same as the rear end of the main frame 4 when the main frame 4 is closed against the outer frame 2 when assembled to the pachinko machine 1, so that game balls B that fall between the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4 can be easily prevented from rolling rearward beyond the main frame 4 by being discharged through the discharge hole 60d, making it less likely for game balls B to remain in the area of the outer frame lower hinge member 60.

[0095] [3. Overall structure of the door frame] The door frame 3 of the pachinko machine 1 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 20 to 33. Figure 20 is a perspective view of the door frame as seen from the front, and Figure 21 is a perspective view of the door frame as seen from the back. Figure 22 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame with the door frame top decorative body and the door frame upper decorative body disassembled from the front, and Figure 23 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame with the door frame top decorative body and the door frame upper decorative body disassembled from the rear. Figure 24 is a front view of the door frame with the door frame upper decorative body removed, Figure 25 is a rear view of the door frame with the door frame upper decorative body removed, Figure 26 is a left side view of the door frame with the door frame upper decorative body removed, and Figure 27 is a right side view of the door frame with the door frame upper decorative body removed. Figure 28 is a perspective view of the door frame with the upper decorative body removed, viewed from the front right, Figure 29 is a perspective view of the door frame with the upper decorative body removed, viewed from the front left, and Figure 30 is a perspective view of the door frame with the upper decorative body removed, viewed from the rear. Figure 31 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame with the upper decorative body removed, disassembled into its main components, viewed from the front, and Figure 32 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame with the upper decorative body removed, disassembled into its main components, viewed from the rear. Figure 33 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the door frame with the upper decorative body removed.

[0096] The door frame 3 is formed in a rectangular shape that is approximately the same size as the inside of the outer frame 2 and extends vertically in a front view, and is attached to be openable and closable from the front side within the frame of the outer frame 2 via the main body frame 4. The door frame 3 closes the game area 5a of the game board 5 into which the pachinko balls B are driven so as to be visible from the front side, stores the pachinko balls B for driving into the game area 5a, and includes a handle 197 that is operated by the player to drive the stored pachinko balls B into the game area 5a. Further, the door frame 3 decorates the entire front surface of the pachinko machine 1.

[0097] The door frame 3 includes a frame-shaped door frame base unit 100 whose outer shape in a front view is a rectangle extending vertically, a glass unit 160 that is detachably attached to the door frame base unit 100 and closes the game area 5a of the game board 5 attached to the main body frame 4 so as to be visible from the front, a security cover 170 that is attached to the door frame base unit 100 so as to cover the lower part of the glass unit 160 from the rear side, a handle unit 180 that is attached to the lower right corner of the front surface of the door frame base unit 100, a handle cover unit 290 that covers the outer periphery of the handle unit 180, a dish unit 200 that is attached to the lower part of the front surface of the door frame base unit 100, a door frame left side unit 420 that is attached to the left part of the front surface of the door frame base unit 100 above the dish unit 200, a door frame right side unit 430 that is attached to the right part of the front surface of the door frame base unit 100 above the dish unit, a door frame top unit 450 that is attached to the upper part of the front surface of the door frame base unit 100 above the door frame left side unit 420 and the door frame right side unit 430, and a door frame upper decorative body 480 that is attached to the door frame top unit 450.

[0098] The door frame base unit 100 includes a door frame base 101 having a door window 101a that penetrates front to back and is formed in a rectangular shape (rectangle) whose outer shape in front view extends vertically, a speaker duct 103 attached to the lower right corner in rear view on the rear side of the door frame base 101, a main door frame relay board 104 attached near the right end in rear view at the lower part on the rear side of the door frame base 101, a sub door frame relay board 105 attached to the left of the main door frame relay board 104 in rear view, a handle rear relay board attached to the left of the sub door frame relay board 105 in rear view, a door frame relay board cover 107 that covers a part of the main door frame relay board 104 and the sub door frame relay board 105 from the rear side, a handle rear relay board cover 108 that covers the handle rear relay board from the rear side, and a cable cover 109 that covers a wiring cable.

[0099] Further, the door frame base unit 100 includes a frame-shaped door frame reinforcement unit 110 attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101, a door frame upper hinge assembly 120 and a door frame lower hinge member 125 attached to the door frame reinforcement unit 110, an opening / closing cylinder lock 130 attached to the door frame reinforcement unit 110, a ball feeding unit 140 attached above the handle rear relay board on the rear side of the door frame base 101, and a far cover unit 150 attached to the right side in rear view at the lower part on the rear side of the door frame base 101.

[0100] The door frame reinforcement unit 110 reinforces the door frame base 101 and imparts rigidity by being attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101. The door frame upper hinge assembly 120 and the door frame lower hinge member 125 are for attachably opening and closing the door frame 3 with respect to the main body frame 4. The cylinder lock 130 is used for opening and closing the door frame 3 and the main body frame 4, and for locking and unlocking the opening and closing of the outer frame 2 and the main body frame 4 in cooperation with the locking unit 650 of the main body frame 4.

[0101] In addition, the ball feeding unit 140 is for feeding the game balls B in the upper tray 201 one by one to the ball launching device 540 of the main body frame 4. The far ball cover unit 150 guides the game balls B (far balls) that have been launched by the ball launching device 540 and have not reached the game area 5a of the game board 5 to the lower tray 202, and also guides the game balls B paid out from the payout device 580 to the upper tray 201 or the lower tray 202.

[0102] The glass unit 160 has a transparent glass plate 162 and closes the door window 101a of the door frame base 101. The security cover 170 is attached to the door frame base 101 so as to cover the lower part of the glass unit 160 from the rear. The handle unit 180 includes a handle 197 that can be rotated by the player, and the handle unit 180 performs a game of driving the game balls B in the upper tray 201 into the game area 5a of the game board 5 by the ball launching device 540 by operating the handle cover unit 290 that covers the outer periphery.

[0103] The handle 197 operated by the player is provided on the handle unit 180. The handle 197 of the handle unit 180 protrudes forward from the handle cover unit 290.

[0104] The door frame right side unit 430 has a right side left panel 442 detachably provided on the left side surface and a right side right panel 443 detachably provided on the right side surface. Therefore, when replacing the game board 5 due to a specification change or model change in the pachinko machine 1, by replacing the right side left panel 442 and the right side right panel 443 with decorations and patterns corresponding to the decoration (concept) of the game board 5, it is possible to easily cope with model changes and the like, and it is easy to provide a pachinko machine 1 with a high appeal to players.

[0105] The door frame top unit 450 is provided such that the door frame top decorative body 453 is detachably attached to the door frame top base 451. The door frame top decorative body 453 can be removed forward by loosening the hand screw 469 screwed in from the rear of the door frame base unit 100. Therefore, when replacing the game board 5 due to a specification change or model change in the pachinko machine 1, by replacing it with the door frame top decorative body 453 with a decoration corresponding to the decoration (concept) of the game board 5, it is possible to easily respond to a model change or the like, and it is easy to provide a pachinko machine 1 with a high appeal to players.

[0106] [3-1. Overall Structure of Door Frame Base Unit] The door frame base unit 100 of the door frame 3 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIG. 34. FIG. 34(a) is a perspective view of the door frame base unit of the door frame in the second embodiment as seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the door frame base unit as seen from the rear.

[0107] The door frame base unit 100 is attached to the left side of the front view so as to be hinge-rotatable with respect to the main body frame 4, closes the front surface of the main body frame 4 so as to be openable and closable, and enables the game area 5a of the game board 5 attached to the main body frame 4 to be visible from the front. The door frame base unit 100 includes a door frame base 101 having a rectangular and flat plate shape whose outer shape extends vertically, and a speaker duct 103 attached to the lower right corner of the rear side of the door frame base 101 when viewed from the rear.

[0108] Further, the door frame base unit 100 includes a door frame main relay board 104 attached near the right end in the rear view at the lower part on the rear side of the door frame base 101, a door frame sub-relay board 105 attached to the left of the door frame main relay board 104 in the rear view at the lower part on the rear side of the door frame base 101, a handle rear relay board attached to the left of the door frame sub-relay board 105 in the rear view at the lower part on the rear side of the door frame base 101, a door frame relay board cover 107 attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 and covering a part of the door frame main relay board 104 and the door frame sub-relay board 105 from the rear side, a handle rear relay board cover 108 attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 and covering the handle rear relay board from the rear side, and a cable cover 109 attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 and covering the wiring cable.

[0109] Furthermore, the door frame base unit 100 mainly includes a frame-shaped door frame reinforcement unit 110 attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101, a door frame upper hinge assembly 120 and a door frame lower hinge member 125 attached to the door frame reinforcement unit 110, an opening / closing cylinder lock 130 attached to the door frame reinforcement unit 110, a ball feeding unit 140 attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101, and a far cover unit 150 attached to the right side in the rear view at the lower part on the rear side of the door frame base 101.

[0110] A handle unit 180 and a handle cover unit 290 are attached to the front lower corner of this door frame base unit 100, a dish unit 200 is attached to the lower front side of the door window 101a, a door frame left side unit 420 is attached to the left outer front side of the door window 101a, a door frame right side unit 430 is attached to the right outer front side of the door window 101a, and a door frame top unit 450 is attached to the upper outer front side of the door window 101a, respectively.

[0111] Also, a glass unit 160 is attached to the door frame base unit 100 so as to close the door window 101a from the rear, and a transparent anti-theft cover 170 is attached so as to cover the lower part of the glass unit 160 from the rear.

[0112] [3-1a. Door frame base] The door frame base 101 of the door frame base unit 100 in the door frame 3 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figure 34 etc. The door frame base 101 has an outer shape formed into a square (rectangle) extending vertically when viewed from the front. The door frame base 101 penetrates from front to back and is provided with a door window 101a whose inner periphery when viewed from the front is formed into a substantially square shape extending vertically. The upper and left and right sides forming the inner periphery of the door window 101a are respectively close to the outer periphery of the door frame base 101, and the lower side forming the inner periphery is located approximately one-third of the height in the vertical direction from the bottom end of the door frame base 101. In this way, the door frame base 101 is formed into a frame shape as a whole by the door window 101a penetrating from front to back. This door frame base 101 is integrally molded from synthetic resin.

[0113] The door frame base 101 has a handle mounting seat formed in the lower right corner of the front surface when viewed from the front, which is inclined so that the left end protrudes slightly forward more than the right end, a cylinder insertion hole 101d which penetrates front to back between the handle mounting seat surface and the door window 101a and into which the cylinder mounting frame 115 of the door frame reinforcement unit 110 is inserted, and a ball feeding opening 101e which penetrates front to back on the left side of the cylinder insertion hole 101d and the handle mounting seat surface when viewed from the front, allowing the entrance 141a and ball removal opening 141b of the ball feeding unit 140 to be exposed forward.

[0114] The door frame base 101 also has a lower tray ball passage port 101f that penetrates front to back at a position to the left of the center in the left-right direction and at approximately the same height as the handle mounting seat surface, allowing the ball discharge port 150d of the fall cover unit 150 to face forward, an upper tray ball passage port 101g that penetrates front to front adjacent to the lower edge of the door window 101a near the left end when viewed from the front, allowing the through ball passage 150a of the fall cover unit 150 to face forward, and a glass unit mounting portion 101h that is recessed from the rear surface toward the front along the inner circumference of the door window 101a, and into which the glass frame 161 of the glass unit 160 is inserted.

[0115] Further, the door frame base 101 is provided with a plurality of vertically long slits 101i that are formed at the lower left corner in the front view (below the ball passage port 101g for the upper tray) and penetrate through in the front-rear direction. A speaker duct 103 is attached to the rear side of the plurality of slits 101i. Also, in the state where the pachinko machine 1 is assembled, the speaker port 211b of the tray unit base 211 in the tray unit 200 is positioned in the front in the plurality of slits 101i, and the main body frame speaker 622 in the speaker unit 620a of the main body frame 4 is positioned in the rear, and the sound from the main body frame speaker 622 can be radiated forward.

[0116] Furthermore, the door frame base 101 is provided with a through hole that penetrates through in the front-rear direction below the door window 101a and above the handle mounting seat surface. This through hole is for inserting a wiring cable (not shown) that connects the door frame base unit 100 side and the tray unit 200 side, and is formed to coincide with the through portion 117f of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 in the door frame reinforcement unit 110 described later.

[0117] [3-1b. Speaker Duct] The speaker duct 103 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIG. 34. This speaker duct 103 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is attached to a portion where a plurality of slits 101i are formed on the rear side of the door frame base 101. In the state where the pachinko machine 1 is assembled, the rear end of the cylindrical portion of the speaker duct 103 is positioned in front of the main body frame speaker 622 of the main body frame 4. Thereby, the sound (sound) radiated (output) from the main body frame speaker 622 of the main body frame 4 can be guided forward without being diffused, and can be favorably guided to the front (player side) of the pachinko machine 1 through the plurality of slits 101i of the door frame base 101 and the speaker port 211b in the tray unit base 211 of the tray unit 200.

[0118] Further, the speaker duct 103 is provided with a cable holder 103a for holding the connection cable 503 on the rear surface below the cylindrical portion. The cable holder 103a is arranged to the left of the door frame relay board cover 107 when viewed from the front, and holds the connection cable 503 connected to the door frame main relay board 104 and the door frame sub-relay board 105 so as to extend to the left end side of the door frame 3.

[0119] [3-1c. Door Frame Main Relay Board, Door Frame Sub-Relay Board, Handle Rear Relay Board] The door frame main relay board 104, the door frame sub-relay board 105, and the handle rear relay board of the door frame base unit 100 will be described. The door frame main relay board 104 is formed in a rectangular shape with an outer shape extending vertically, and is attached to the lower right corner of the rear side of the door frame base 101 when viewed from the rear. The door frame main relay board 104 is for relaying the connection between the handle rear relay board and the interface board 635 in the board unit 620 of the main body frame 4, and a part of the connection cable 503 (see FIGS. 71 and 72) extending from the main body frame 4 is connected thereto.

[0120] The door frame sub-relay board 105 is formed in an inverted L shape in which a rectangular shape extending horizontally is combined with the upper part of a rectangular shape extending vertically on the right side when viewed from the front. The part extending vertically is attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 so as to be adjacent to the left side of the door frame main relay board 104 when viewed from the rear. The door frame sub-relay board 105 is for relaying the connection between the handle decorative board 184 of the handle unit 180, the dish unit relay board 214 of the dish unit 200, the upper decorative board 422 and the lower decorative board of the left side of the door frame of the left side unit 420 of the door frame, the upper decorative board and the lower decorative board of the right side of the door frame of the right side unit 430 of the door frame, the door frame top relay board of the door frame top unit 450, etc. and the interface board 635 of the main body frame 4, and the rest of the connection cable 503 extending from the main body frame 4 is connected thereto.

[0121] The door frame main relay board 104 and the door frame sub-relay board 105 are attached to the door frame base 101 such that the connection terminals protrude rearward. In the state where the door frame base unit 100 is assembled, the portions of the door frame main relay board 104 and the door frame sub-relay board 105 that extend vertically are covered on the rear side by the door frame relay board cover 107, and the remaining portion of the door frame sub-relay board 105 is covered on the rear side by the fairing cover unit 150.

[0122] The handle rear relay board is formed in a rectangular shape with an outer shape extending left and right, and is attached to the rear side of the handle mounting seat surface below the ball feeding opening 101e on the rear side of the door frame base 101. The handle rear relay board is for relaying the connection between the door frame main relay board 104 and the handle rotation detection sensor 189, the handle touch sensor 192, the single-shot button operation sensor 194 of the handle unit 180, and the ball feeding solenoid 145 of the ball feeding unit 140. In the state where the door frame base unit 100 is assembled, the rear side of the handle rear relay board is covered by the handle rear relay board cover 108.

[0123] [3-1d. Door Frame Relay Board Cover · Handle Rear Relay Board Cover · Cable Cover] The door frame relay board cover 107, the handle rear relay board cover 108, and the cable cover 109 of the door frame base unit 100 will be mainly described with reference to FIG. 25. The door frame relay board cover 107 covers the rear side of a part (the vertically extending inverted L-shaped part) of the door frame main relay board 104 and the door frame sub-relay board 105 by being attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101. The door frame relay board cover 107 is formed in a box shape with the front and the left side when viewed from the front being open. In the state assembled to the door frame base unit 100, the connection terminals of the door frame main relay board 104 and the door frame sub-relay board 105 that are covered on the rear side are exposed inside the door frame relay board cover 107, and the connection cable 503 (see FIG. 71) can be inserted inside from the open left side and connected to those terminals.

[0124] The handle rear relay board cover 108 is attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 so as to cover the rear side of the handle rear relay board. The cable cover 109 is attached to the rear side of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 in the door frame reinforcement unit 110 and is for covering a wiring cable (not shown) that connects the door frame main relay board 104 and the ball lending operation unit 220 of the dish unit 200. The cable cover 109 is formed in a box shape extending left and right, and openings for passing the wiring cable are formed near the left end of the front surface and at the center in the left-right direction of the lower surface.

[0125] [3-1e. Door Frame Reinforcement Unit] The door frame reinforcement unit 110 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 35 to 38. FIG. 35(a) is a perspective view of the door frame reinforcement unit in the door frame seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the door frame reinforcement unit in the door frame seen from the rear. FIG. 36(a) is a perspective view of the intermediate reinforcement frame of the door frame reinforcement unit seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the intermediate reinforcement frame of the door frame reinforcement unit seen from the rear. FIG. 37 is an explanatory view showing an enlarged part of the intermediate reinforcement frame in the longitudinal section of the door frame. FIG. 38 is an explanatory view showing the dimensional relationship of the upper part of the intermediate reinforcement frame.

[0126] The door frame reinforcement unit 110 is attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 to reinforce the flat door frame base 101 made of synthetic resin and impart rigidity to the door frame base unit 100. The door frame reinforcement unit 110 includes a left reinforcement frame 111 and a right reinforcement frame 112 that extend vertically and are spaced apart left and right, an upper reinforcement frame 113 that extends left and right and connects the upper ends of the left reinforcement frame 111 and the right reinforcement frame 112, an intermediate reinforcement frame 117 that connects the upper-ward parts of the lower ends of the left reinforcement frame 111 and the right reinforcement frame 112, a cylinder attachment frame 115 attached to the right reinforcement frame 112 (see FIG. 34, etc.), and a hook member 116 to which the door frame hook 652 of the locking unit 650 of the main body frame 4 is attached and which is attached to the rear side of the right reinforcement frame 112 at a plurality of vertically spaced positions.

[0127] The left reinforcing frame 111 has a substantially constant width and extends vertically for a length substantially equal to the height of the door frame base 101, and has a bulge 111a that protrudes rightward from the bottom end toward the top. The left end of the middle reinforcing frame 117 is attached to the bulge 111a of the left reinforcing frame 111.

[0128] The right reinforcing frame 112 extends vertically with a substantially constant width and a length substantially equal to the height of the door frame base 101, and has a bulge 112a that protrudes leftward from its lower end toward the top. The right end of the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 is attached to the bulge 112a of the right reinforcing frame 112. A cylinder mounting frame 115 is attached to the front of the bulge 112a. The right reinforcing frame 112 has multiple insertion holes that are spaced apart vertically and penetrate the frame in the front-to-rear direction. The tips of the door frame hooks 652 of the locking unit 650 are inserted into these insertion holes when the door frame 3 is closed relative to the main frame 4.

[0129] The upper reinforcing frame 113 has a constant width in the vertical direction and extends left and right with a length approximately equal to the left and right width of the door frame base 101.

[0130] The door frame reinforcement unit 110 is attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 with a plurality of screws (not shown). When this door frame reinforcement unit 110 is attached to the door frame base 101, the through-holes 117f of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 are aligned with the through-holes of the door frame base 101, and the cylinder mounting frame 115 is inserted into the cylinder insertion holes 101d of the door frame base 101.

[0131] [3-1e-1. Intermediate reinforcement frame] Next, the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 in the door frame reinforcement unit 110 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 36, the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 is attached so as to connect the bulging portion 111a of the left reinforcement frame 111 and the bulging portion 112a of the right reinforcement frame 112. The intermediate reinforcement frame 117 extends horizontally with a width in the vertical direction wider than the vertical width of the upper reinforcement frame 113. The lower end side of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 is linear and extends horizontally, while the left and right ends of the upper end side are higher as they extend outward in the horizontal direction. The intermediate reinforcement frame 117 has a through portion 117f that penetrates front and back near the right end, and an opening 117g that penetrates front and back in a square shape near the left end. The through portion 117f is formed at a position that coincides with the through hole of the door frame base 101. The opening 117g is formed so as to coincide with the upper plate ball passage port 101g of the door frame base 101.

[0132] The intermediate reinforcement frame 117 has a strip-shaped substrate portion 117a with its plate surface facing in the front-rear direction, an upper flange portion 117b extending rearward from the upper edge of the substrate portion 117a, a rear flange portion 117c extending upward from the rear edge of the upper flange portion 117b, and a lower flange portion 117d extending forward from the lower edge of the substrate portion 117a.

[0133] In addition, the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 is provided with a plurality of bead portions 117e that protrude forward and are long in the left-right direction on the substrate portion 117a. The strength and rigidity of the substrate portion 117a (intermediate reinforcement frame 117) are enhanced by these plurality of bead portions 117e.

[0134] As shown in Fig. 36(b), the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 is composed of a first sheet metal part 118a having the same thickness as the sheet metal forming the left reinforcement frame 111 and the right reinforcement frame 112, and a second sheet metal part 118b having a greater thickness than the first sheet metal part 118a. The first sheet metal part 118a has a substrate part 117a, an upper flange part 117b, and a lower flange part 117d. The second sheet metal part 118b has a substrate part 117a, an upper flange part 117b, and a rear flange part 117c. The upper flange part 117b, the rear flange part 117c, and the lower flange part 117d are formed by bending the sheet metal. The first sheet metal part 118a and the second sheet metal part 118b are attached by a plurality of rivets at the part of their respective substrate parts 117a with the first sheet metal part 118a facing forward.

[0135] The length of the first sheet metal part 118a in the left - right direction is the same as the length of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 in the left - right direction. The length of the second sheet metal part 118b in the left - right direction is shorter than that of the first sheet metal part 118a. The second sheet metal part 118b is attached so as to cover the central part of the first sheet metal part 118a in the left - right direction. Incidentally, the thickness tc of the second sheet metal part 118b is about 1.7 times the thickness of the first sheet metal part 118a.

[0136] In the state of being assembled to the door frame 3, this intermediate reinforcement frame 117 is located below the door window 101a and behind the dish unit 200 (the production operation unit 300 to be described later) (see Figs. 33 and 37). Also, as shown in the figure, the lower end of the glass frame 161 (locking piece 161b) in 160 abuts on the upper surface of the upper flange part 117b of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117. That is, the glass unit 160 is placed on the upper flange part 117b. Further, the lower rear surface (the rear surface of the locking piece 161b) of the glass frame 161 in the glass unit 160 abuts on the front surface of the rear flange part 117c of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117. Thereby, the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 restricts the downward movement of the glass unit 160 and the rearward movement of the lower part of the glass unit 160. In this embodiment, the rear surface of the rear flange part 117c is located in front of the rear surface of the glass unit 160 and does not protrude rearward.

[0137] In the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 of this embodiment, the upper and lower widths at both ends in the left - right direction are larger than the upper and lower widths at the center in the left - right direction, and since the portions with large upper and lower widths are attached to the left reinforcement frame 111 and the right reinforcement frame 112, it is attached more firmly than the intermediate reinforcement frame in the conventional door frame.

[0138] Further, the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 has an upper flange portion 117b, a rear flange portion 117c, and a lower flange portion 117d, and is formed in a cross - sectional shape like a combination of two crank shapes. Also, the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 is composed of two sheet metals, a first sheet metal portion 118a and a second sheet metal portion 118b. For this reason, the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 has higher strength and rigidity than the intermediate reinforcement frame 114 of the door frame 3 in the first embodiment. Therefore, the door frame reinforcement unit 110 itself also has higher strength and rigidity than the door frame reinforcement unit of the conventional door frame.

[0139] In this way, since the strength and rigidity of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 (door frame reinforcement unit 110) are enhanced, even if a player grabs and strongly pulls the upper plate 201 or the lower plate 202, or strongly pulls the lever operation portion 304 of the effect operation unit 300 described later, the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 (door frame reinforcement unit 110) will not be distorted (plastically deformed). Therefore, it is possible to prevent a gap from being formed between the door frame 3 and the main body frame 4 due to the distortion of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117.

[0140] Also, even if an attempt is made to perform an illegal act by forming a gap between the door frame 3 and the main body frame 4 by strongly pulling the upper plate 201 or the lever operation portion 304 forward, as described above, the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 (door frame reinforcement unit 110) with enhanced strength and rigidity prevents the door frame 3 from being plastically deformed and a gap from being formed between it and the main body frame 4, and it is possible to provide a pachinko machine 1 with a high deterrent force against illegal acts.

[0141] Further, since the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 has an upper flange portion 117b on which the glass unit 160 is placed and a rear flange portion 117c extending upward from the upper flange portion 117b, it can support the load of the glass unit 160. Also, even if an unauthorized tool attempts to enter through the space between the upper flange portion 117b and the lower end of the glass unit 160, the intrusion of the unauthorized tool can be blocked by the rear flange portion 117c extending upward, and a pachinko machine 1 with a high deterrent force against unauthorized acts can be provided.

[0142] Note that, as shown in FIG. 38, the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 is configured such that the distance L1 from the rear surface of the substrate portion 117a to the rear end of the upper flange portion 117b is slightly shorter than the distance L2 from the upper surface of the upper flange portion 117b to the upper end of the rear flange portion 117c. Also, the distance L0 obtained by adding the distance L1 and the distance L2 is configured to be longer than the distance (not shown) from the rear surface of the substrate portion 117a to the rear end of the door frame 3. Therefore, if the rear flange portion 117c is extended rearward in the same manner as the upper flange portion 117b without being bent upward, its rear end is configured to protrude rearward beyond the rear end of the door frame 3. That is, the length at which the rear end can enter into the rear game board 5 is set according to the angle at which the rear flange portion 117c is extended (bent) with respect to the upper flange portion 117b.

[0143] [3-1e-2. Modification Examples of Intermediate Reinforcing Frame] Subsequently, modification examples (modification examples 1 to 5) of the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 39 and 40. FIG. 39(a) is an explanatory view showing modification example 1 of the intermediate reinforcing frame in the door frame, (b) is an explanatory view showing modification example 2 of the intermediate reinforcing frame, and (c) is an explanatory view showing modification example 3 of the intermediate reinforcing frame. FIG. 40(a) is an explanatory view showing modification example 4 of the intermediate reinforcing frame in the door frame, and (b) is an explanatory view showing modification example 5 of the intermediate reinforcing frame. Here, parts having the same configuration as the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 will be described with the same reference numerals.

[0144] (Modification Example 1 of Intermediate Reinforcing Frame) The intermediate reinforcement frame 117A shown in Fig. 39(a) is composed of a single thick metal plate (sheet metal). The intermediate reinforcement frame 117A also has the same function and effect as described above. Further, according to this intermediate reinforcement frame 117A, since it is composed of a single sheet metal, compared with the case of being composed of a plurality of sheet metals, there is no need to assemble with rivets or the like, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, a bead portion 117e may also be provided on this intermediate reinforcement frame 117A.

[0145] (Modification Example 2 of Intermediate Reinforcement Frame) The intermediate reinforcement frame 117B shown in Fig. 39(b) is such that the lower flange portion 117d extends rearward from the lower end of the substrate portion 117a. The strength and rigidity of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117B can also be enhanced by the lower flange portion 117d that extends rearward, and the same function and effect as described above can be achieved. Note that the intermediate reinforcement frame 117B may be composed of a single sheet metal as shown in the figure, or may be composed of a plurality of sheet metals in the same manner as the above intermediate reinforcement frame 117. In addition, a bead portion 117e may also be provided on the intermediate reinforcement frame 117B.

[0146] (Modification Example 3 of Intermediate Reinforcement Frame) In the intermediate reinforcement frame 117C shown in Fig. 39(c), the rear end of the upper flange portion 117b extends to the rear surface of the glass unit 160, and the rear flange portion 117c that extends upward from the rear end of the upper flange portion 117b is located behind the glass unit 160. The intermediate reinforcement frame 117C also has the same function and effect as described above. Further, in this intermediate reinforcement frame 117C, since the width (depth) of the upper flange portion 117b in the front-rear direction is wider than that of the upper flange portion 117b of the above intermediate reinforcement frame 117, the glass unit 160 can be received in a wide range. Note that the intermediate reinforcement frame 117C may be composed of a single sheet metal as shown in the figure, or may be composed of a plurality of sheet metals in the same manner as the above intermediate reinforcement frame 117. In addition, a bead portion 117e may also be provided on the intermediate reinforcement frame 117C. Also, a locking piece 161b similar to the above may be provided on the glass frame 161 of the glass unit 160.

[0147] (Modification 4 of the intermediate reinforcement frame) The intermediate reinforcement frame 117D shown in FIG. 40(a) has a rear flange portion 117c extending downward from the rear end of the upper flange portion 117b. Specifically, the rear flange portion 117c hangs down from the rear end of the upper flange portion 117b. This configuration also increases the strength and rigidity of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117D, preventing distortion (plastic deformation) even when the upper tray 201 or the lever operating portion 304 of the door frame 3 is pulled forward strongly. Furthermore, the glass unit 160 can be placed on the upper flange portion 117b of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117D. While FIG. 40(a) shows a frame in which the rear surface of the rear flange portion 117c does not protrude rearward beyond the rear surface of the glass unit 160, the rear flange portion 117c may protrude rearward beyond the glass unit 160. The intermediate reinforcement frame 117D may be constructed from a single sheet metal as shown, or may be constructed from multiple sheets metal, as with the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 described above. The intermediate reinforcing frame 117D may also be provided with a bead portion 117e. The glass frame 161 of the glass unit 160 may also be provided with a locking piece 161b similar to that described above.

[0148] (Modification 5 of intermediate reinforcement frame) The intermediate reinforcement frame 117E shown in FIG. 40(b) has a rear flange portion 117c extending downward from the rear end of the upper flange portion 117b. Specifically, the rear flange portion 117c extends diagonally downward from the rear end of the upper flange portion 117b. This configuration also increases the strength and rigidity of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117E, preventing distortion (plastic deformation) even when the upper tray 201 or the lever operation portion 304 of the door frame 3 is pulled forward strongly. When the door frame 3 is closed, the rear end of the rear flange portion 117c of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117E is inserted into the gaming board 5 (here, into the front component 1000). Insertion of the rear flange portion 117c forms a serpentine gap, which prevents the rear flange portion 117c from blocking any attempt to insert an illegal tool along the front of the gaming board 5, thereby enhancing deterrence against illegal activity.

[0149] Incidentally, the rear flange portion 117c of the intermediate reinforcing frame 117E may be brought into contact with the game board 5. Thereby, it becomes possible to position the door frame 3 and the game board 5 via the rear flange portion 117c, or to support the game board 5 by the rear flange portion 117c. Further, when the rear flange portion 117c is brought into contact with the game board 5, it may be connected to the ground. Furthermore, the intermediate reinforcing frame 117E may be formed of a single sheet metal as shown in the figure, or may be formed of a plurality of sheet metals in the same manner as the above-described intermediate reinforcing frame 117. Also, a bead portion 117e may be provided on the intermediate reinforcing frame 117E. Also, a locking piece 161b similar to the above may be provided on the glass frame 161 of the glass unit 160.

[0150] [3-1e-3. Other countermeasure examples] Next, a countermeasure against the formation of a gap between the door frame 3 and the main body frame 4 by pulling the upper plate 201 or the like forward will be described. As a specific example 1, for example, a distance sensor (for example, a simple switch, an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, a proximity sensor, a displacement sensor, etc.) that detects the distance (change in distance) between the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 and the game board 5 is provided, and when the signal from the distance sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a notification to that effect may be made. At this time, the distance sensor may be provided on the main body frame 4, the game board 5, or the door frame 3.

[0151] In Example 1, as described above, the strength and rigidity of the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 (door frame reinforcing unit 110) are increased, so that the door frame 3 will not undergo plastic deformation even if it is pulled forward with great force. However, pulling it too hard may cause elastic deformation, changing the distance between the door frame 3 and the game board 5 and creating a gap, so a gap sensor is provided to detect this distance. This allows the distance sensor to detect changes in the distance due to elastic deformation, making it possible to notify the player that the door frame 3 has been pulled too hard in response to a detection signal from the distance sensor. This prevents players from pulling the door frame 3 unnecessarily hard or from pulling it too hard in an attempt to commit fraud, making it possible to provide a pachinko machine 1 with high crime prevention effects.

[0152] As a second specific example, for example, the door frame opening switch (not shown) provided near the right end on the front side of the main frame 4 may be provided at the rear near the center in the left-right direction of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117. As a result, when the upper tray 201 of the door frame 3 or the like is pulled strongly and the center in the left-right direction of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 is elastically deformed so as to move forward, the door frame opening switch detects the opening of the door frame 3 and issues an alert to that effect. In this case, the door frame opening switch may be provided both near the right end of the main frame 4 and near the center in the left-right direction. Also, the door opening switch near the center in the left-right direction may be provided on the game board 5.

[0153] Furthermore, as a third specific example, for example, a strain sensor may be provided on the intermediate reinforcing frame 117, and when a signal from the strain sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold, a warning to that effect may be issued.

[0154] As a fourth specific example, for example, a hook-shaped intermediate hook (not shown) that moves in conjunction with the door frame hook 652 of the locking unit 650 may be provided at a rear portion near the center in the left-right direction of the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 in the main frame 4, so that when the door frame 3 is closed relative to the main frame 4, the intermediate hook engages with the intermediate reinforcing frame 117. In this way, even if the upper tray 201, etc., is pulled forward, the engagement of the intermediate hook prevents the center in the left-right direction of the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 from being distorted (plastically or elastically deformed) so as to bulge forward.

[0155] [3-1e-4.Summary] The door frame reinforcement unit 110 has the following technical features.

[0156] (Background of technical features) A pachinko machine as a gaming machine comprises a main frame that supports a game board so that it can be attached and detached from the front, and a door frame that is attached to the main frame so that it can be opened and closed from the front. The door frame is hinged and rotatable on one of the left and right front edges of the main frame, and is provided with a window section closed by a glass plate, through which the playing area of the game board can be seen from the front.

[0157] In this type of gaming machine, a frame-shaped reinforcing metal plate made up of multiple metal plates is attached to the door frame, and multiple hooks are engaged from the main frame side to the edge of the reinforcing metal plate on the open side opposite the hinge side, preventing the door frame from opening even when pulled forward (for example, patent document: JP 2008-110159 A).

[0158] However, with the technology of the above-mentioned patent document, for example, if a spherical dish (e.g., an upper dish, a lower dish, etc.) provided on the front of the door frame is put under a hand and pulled forward, the door frame (reinforcing metal plate) may be distorted so that the center of the door frame in the left-right direction bulges forward. When the door frame is distorted, a gap is formed between the door frame and the main frame, and there is a risk that an illegal tool may be inserted into the gaming machine through the gap.

[0159] Therefore, in the following means, in view of the above situation, it is an object to provide a gaming machine capable of preventing illegal acts using the gap by making it difficult to form a gap between the main body frame even when the door frame is pulled.

[0160] (Means for Solving Technical Features) Means 1: In a gaming machine, a main body frame that detachably supports a game board having a game area where games are played by game balls from the front, a door frame having a window portion that allows the game area to be visible from the front and is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the main body frame from the front A gaming machine comprising: The door frame is provided with a reinforcing sheet metal unit having a first reinforcing portion extending left and right along the lower side of the window portion, The first reinforcing portion is a substrate portion parallel to the opening surface of the window portion, an upper flange portion extending rearward from the upper edge of the substrate portion, a rear flange portion extending upward or downward from the rear edge of the upper flange portion and is characterized by "including".

[0161] Here, examples of the "first reinforcing portion" include "constituted by a single metal plate (sheet metal)", "constituted by a plurality of metal plates (sheet metal)", and the like.

[0162] According to the configuration of means 1, a main body frame that detachably supports a game board having a game area where a game is played by game balls from the front, and a door frame having a window portion that allows the game area to be visible from the front and is provided to be openable and closable with respect to the main body frame from the front. The door frame includes a reinforced sheet metal unit having a first reinforcing portion extending left and right along the lower side of the window portion. The first reinforcing portion includes a substrate portion parallel to the opening surface of the window portion, an upper flange portion extending rearward from the upper edge of the substrate portion, and a rear flange portion extending upward or downward from the rear edge of the upper flange portion. (Refer to the chapter of [3-1. Overall configuration of the door frame base unit], the door frame reinforcing unit 110, and the descriptions in FIGS. 35 to 40, etc. in [Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention].

[0163] As a result, since the reinforced sheet metal unit is provided on the door frame that is provided to be openable and closable with respect to the main body frame from the front, the strength and rigidity of the door frame are enhanced by the reinforced sheet metal unit. This reinforced sheet metal unit has a first reinforcing portion extending in the left-right direction along the lower side of the window portion of the door frame. The first reinforcing portion is provided with a flat substrate portion, an upper flange portion extending rearward from the upper edge of the substrate portion, and a rear flange portion extending upward or downward from the upper flange portion. When the rear flange portion extends upward from the rear edge of the upper flange portion, the cross-sectional shape of the first reinforcing portion becomes a crank shape, and when the rear flange portion extends downward from the rear edge of the upper flange portion, the cross-sectional shape of the first reinforcing portion becomes a U shape. Therefore, the strength and rigidity can be made higher than those of a conventional reinforcing portion (reinforced sheet metal) having a linear shape or an L-shaped cross-sectional shape. That is, since the strength and rigidity of the first reinforcing portion of the reinforced sheet metal unit are enhanced compared to the conventional ones, even if the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the door frame is strongly pulled forward, the first reinforcing portion will not be distorted (plastically deformed), and no gap will be formed between the door frame and the main body frame. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to form a gap between the door frame and the main body frame by pulling the door frame forward to perform an illegal act, the door frame will not be distorted by the first reinforcing portion (reinforced sheet metal unit) with enhanced strength and rigidity, and a game machine with a high deterrent force against illegal acts can be provided.

[0164] Also, as described above, since the first reinforcing portion (reinforcing sheet metal unit) does not distort even when the vicinity of the center in the left - right direction of the door frame is strongly pulled forward, it is possible to provide a shape that is easy for the player to pull forward (for example, an upper plate, a lower plate, a lever - shaped effect operation portion, a protruding or protruding push - button - shaped effect operation portion, a protruding decorative body, a recessed decorative body, etc.), and it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can make the player more enjoyable.

[0165] Note that a glass unit for closing the window portion may be placed on the upper flange portion. Thereby, since the weight of the glass unit can be supported by the upper flange portion (reinforcing sheet metal unit), compared with the case of supporting the glass unit by a resin member (for example, a door frame base) made of synthetic resin that constitutes the door frame, the load applied to the resin member can be reduced, and early deterioration due to over - load in the resin member can be suppressed.

[0166] Also, when the glass unit is placed on the upper flange portion, if the front surface of the rear flange portion extending upward from the rear edge of the upper flange portion abuts against the rear surface of the glass unit, the rearward movement of the lower end side of the glass unit can be blocked by the rear flange portion. Thereby, if the upper end side of the glass unit is fixed, it can be attached to the door frame, so that the attachment (detachment) of the glass unit can be made easy.

[0167] Furthermore, in the first reinforcing portion, it is desirable that the sum of the lengths in the direction along the respective surfaces of the upper flange portion and the rear flange portion is longer than the length from the substrate portion to the front surface of the game board. Thereby, since the sum of the lengths in the extending directions of the upper flange portion and the rear flange portion is longer than the distance (length) from the substrate portion to the front surface of the game board, compared with the case where the length is short, the strength and rigidity of the first reinforcing portion can be increased, and the door frame can be made less likely to distort even when pulled forward.

[0168] Also, as described above, when the sum of the length of the upper flange portion and the length of the rear flange portion is made longer than the length from the substrate portion to the front surface of the game board, the tip of the rear flange portion can be positioned behind the front surface of the game board. That is, the rear flange portion can be inserted into the game board from the front. Thereby, even if an illegal tool tries to intrude along the front surface of the game board, the intrusion of the illegal tool can be blocked by the rear flange portion inserted into the game board, and a gaming machine with a high deterrent force against illegal acts can be provided.

[0169] Also, it is desirable to provide the first reinforcing portion with a lower flange portion extending forward or backward from the lower edge of the substrate portion. Thereby, in the first reinforcing portion, in addition to providing an upper flange portion extending backward from the upper edge of the substrate portion, a lower flange portion extending forward or backward from the lower edge of the substrate portion is provided. Therefore, the strength and rigidity of the first reinforcing portion can be further increased, and a gaming machine capable of surely achieving the above-described operational effects can be provided.

[0170] Furthermore, it is desirable to make the thickness of the first reinforcing portion thicker than the thickness of the sheet metal of the other reinforcing portions in the reinforcing sheet metal unit. Thereby, since the thickness of the first reinforcing portion is made thicker than the thickness of the other reinforcing portions, the strength and rigidity of the first reinforcing portion can also be increased by this, and a gaming machine capable of achieving the same operational effects as described above can be provided.

[0171] The gaming machine may also be provided with a gap sensor that detects the gap between the first reinforcing portion and the gaming board. As described above, the first reinforcing portion (reinforcing sheet metal unit) has increased strength and rigidity, so the door frame will not undergo plastic deformation even if pulled forward with great force. However, pulling too hard can cause elastic deformation, changing the gap between the door frame and the gaming board and creating a gap. Therefore, a gap sensor may be provided to detect this gap. This allows the gap sensor to detect changes in the gap due to elastic deformation, making it possible to notify the player that the door frame has been pulled too hard in response to a detection signal from the gap sensor. This can prevent players from pulling the door frame unnecessarily hard or from pulling it too hard to commit fraud, thereby providing a gaming machine with high security.

[0172] Means 2: In the configuration of Means 1, "The upper flange portion is A glass unit that closes the window is placed on it. It is characterized by:

[0173] According to the configuration of the second aspect, a glass unit that closes the window is placed on the upper flange. (See the description of upper flange 117b and Figure 37 in the "Mode for Carrying Out the Invention").

[0174] This allows the weight of the glass unit to be supported by the upper flange portion (reinforcing sheet metal unit), thereby reducing the load on the resin member (e.g., the door frame base) made of synthetic resin that makes up the door frame, and preventing early deterioration of the resin member due to excessive load.

[0175] Further, since the glass unit is placed on the upper flange portion, when the front surface of the rear flange portion extending upward from the rear edge of the upper flange portion abuts against the rear surface of the glass unit, the rear flange portion can prevent the glass unit from moving backward on the lower end side. Thus, if the upper end side of the glass unit is fixed, it can be attached to the door frame, so that the attachment (detachment) of the glass unit can be made easy.

[0176] Means 3: In the configuration of Means 1 or Means 2, "The first reinforcing portion is the sum of the lengths in the direction along the respective surfaces of the upper flange portion and the rear flange portion is longer than the length from the substrate portion to the front surface of the game board" is characterized in that.

[0177] According to the configuration of Means 3, in the first reinforcing portion, the sum of the lengths in the direction along the respective surfaces of the upper flange portion and the rear flange portion is made longer than the length from the substrate portion to the front surface of the game board. (Refer to the description of the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 and FIG. 38 etc. in [Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention])

[0178] Thereby, since the sum of the lengths in the extending directions of the upper flange portion and the rear flange portion is made longer than the distance (length) from the substrate portion to the front surface of the game board, the strength and rigidity of the first reinforcing portion can be increased as compared with the case where the length is short, and it is possible to make it difficult to be distorted even when the door frame is pulled forward.

[0179] Also, since the sum of the length of the upper flange portion and the length of the rear flange portion is made longer than the length from the substrate portion to the front surface of the game board, the tip of the rear flange portion can be positioned behind the front surface of the game board. That is, it becomes possible to insert the rear flange portion into the game board from the front. Thereby, even if an unauthorized tool tries to intrude along the front surface of the game board, the intrusion of the unauthorized tool can be blocked by the rear flange portion inserted into the game board, and a gaming machine with a high deterrent force against unauthorized acts can be provided.

[0180] Means 4: In any one of the configurations from Means 1 to Means 3, "The first reinforcing portion is provided with a lower flange portion extending forward or backward from the lower edge of the substrate portion." It is characterized by this.

[0181] According to the configuration of Means 4, the first reinforcing portion is provided with a lower flange portion extending forward or backward from the lower edge of the substrate portion. (Refer to the description of the lower flange portion 117d and FIG. 36, etc. in [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention])

[0182] Thereby, in the first reinforcing portion, in addition to providing an upper flange portion extending backward from the upper edge of the substrate portion, a lower flange portion extending forward or backward from the lower edge of the substrate portion is provided. Therefore, the strength and rigidity of the first reinforcing portion can be further increased, and a gaming machine capable of surely achieving the above-described operational effects can be provided.

[0183] Means 5: In any one of the configurations from Means 1 to Means 4, "The first reinforcing portion has a greater plate thickness than the sheet metal of other reinforcing portions in the reinforcing sheet metal unit." It is characterized by this.

[0184] According to the configuration of Means 5, the first reinforcing portion has a greater plate thickness than the sheet metal of other reinforcing portions in the reinforcing sheet metal unit. (Refer to the description of the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 and FIG. 36, etc. in [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention])

[0185] Thereby, since the plate thickness of the first reinforcing portion is made greater than the plate thickness of other reinforcing portions, the strength and rigidity of the first reinforcing portion can also be increased by this, and a gaming machine capable of achieving the same operational effects as described above can be provided.

[0186] Note that the first reinforcing portion may have a thick plate thickness over the entire length in the left - right direction, or may have a thick plate thickness in a part of the entire length in the left - right direction (for example, a predetermined range from the center in the left - right direction).

[0187] Means 6: In any one of the configurations from Means 1 to Means 5, "further comprising a distance sensor for detecting the distance between the first reinforcing portion and the game board". It is characterized by this.

[0188] Here, examples of the "distance sensor" include a "switch", an "optical sensor", a "magnetic sensor", a "proximity sensor", a "displacement sensor", etc. The distance sensor may be provided on the first reinforcing portion (door frame), may be provided on the game board, or may be provided on the main body frame. As a switch as the distance sensor, for example, a switch (door opening switch) used for a door opening sensor may be used. By using a switch similar to the door opening sensor, the input circuit can be designed in the same way as the input circuit of a door opening sensor or the like. Also, since it is a simple contact, depending on the connection method, it is possible to easily combine a plurality of inputs by connection such as wired OR.

[0189] According to the configuration of Means 6, the gaming machine further comprises a distance sensor for detecting the distance between the first reinforcing portion and the game board. (Refer to the chapter of [3 - 1e - 3. Other countermeasure examples] in [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention])

[0190] In this configuration, as described above, since the strength and rigidity of the first reinforcing portion (reinforcing sheet metal unit) are enhanced, the door frame does not plastically deform even when pulled forward with a strong force. However, if it is strongly pulled, it may elastically deform and the distance between the door frame and the game board may change, creating a gap. Therefore, a distance sensor for detecting this distance is provided. As a result, since the change in the distance due to elastic deformation can be detected by the distance sensor, it becomes possible to notify that the door frame has been forcibly pulled according to the detection signal from the distance sensor, preventing the player from pulling the door frame too strongly unnecessarily or pulling the door frame strongly for illegal acts, and providing a gaming machine with a high anti-theft effect.

[0191] Thus, according to the above-described solution means, it is possible to provide a gaming machine capable of preventing illegal acts using the gap by making it difficult for a gap to be formed between the door frame and the main body frame even when the door frame is pulled.

[0192] (Relationship between the solution means of the technical features and the embodiments) In the door window 101a of the door frame base 101 in the door frame base unit 100 of the door frame 3 of the present embodiment, it corresponds to the window portion of the above solution means. The door frame reinforcement unit 110 of the door frame base unit 100 in the present embodiment corresponds to the reinforcing sheet metal unit of the above solution means. The intermediate reinforcement frame 117 (intermediate reinforcement frames 117A to 117E) of the door frame reinforcement unit 110 in the present embodiment corresponds to the first reinforcement portion of the above solution means, respectively.

[0193] (Characteristic operational effects of the present embodiment) According to the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment, since a door frame reinforcement unit 110 combining a plurality of metal plates is provided on a door frame 3 that is openable and closable from the front with respect to a main body frame 4, the strength and rigidity of the door frame 3 are enhanced by the door frame reinforcement unit 110. The door frame reinforcement unit 110 has an intermediate reinforcement frame 117 extending in the left-right direction along the lower side of a door window 101a of the door frame 3. The intermediate reinforcement frame 117 is provided with a flat substrate portion 117a, an upper flange portion 117b extending rearward from the upper edge of the substrate portion 117a, and a rear flange portion 117c extending upward or downward from the upper flange portion 117b. When the rear flange portion 117c extends upward from the rear edge of the upper flange portion 117b, the cross-sectional shape of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 (intermediate reinforcement frames 117A, 117B, 117C) becomes a crank shape. When the rear flange portion 117c extends downward from the rear edge of the upper flange portion 117b, the cross-sectional shape of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117D (intermediate reinforcement frame 117E) becomes a U shape. Therefore, the strength and rigidity can be made higher than those of a conventional reinforcement portion (intermediate reinforcement frame) having a linear shape or an L-shaped cross-sectional shape. That is, since the strength and rigidity of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 of the door frame reinforcement unit 110 are enhanced compared to the conventional case, even if the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the door frame 3 is strongly pulled forward, the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 will not be distorted (plastically deformed), and a gap will not be formed between the door frame 3 and the main body frame 4. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to form a gap between the door frame 3 and the main body frame 4 by pulling the door frame 3 forward to perform an illegal act, the door frame 3 will not be distorted to form a gap with the main body frame 4 due to the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 (door frame reinforcement unit 110) having enhanced strength and rigidity, and a pachinko machine 1 with a high deterrent force against illegal acts can be provided.

[0194] Also, as described above, since the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 (door frame reinforcing unit 110) does not distort even when the vicinity of the center in the left - right direction of the door frame 3 is strongly pulled forward, it is possible to provide a shape that is easy for the player to pull forward (for example, the upper plate 201, the lower plate 202, the lever - shaped effect operation part (lever operation part 304), the protruding or protruding push - button - shaped effect operation part (pressing operation part 303), the protruding decorative body, the recessed decorative body, etc.). Thus, it is possible to provide a pachinko machine 1 that can make the player enjoy more.

[0195] Furthermore, since the glass unit 160 for closing the door window 101a is placed on the upper flange part 117b, the weight of the glass unit 160 can be supported by the upper flange part 117b (door frame reinforcing unit 110). Therefore, compared with the case where the glass unit 160 is supported by the resin member (for example, the door frame base 101) made of synthetic resin that constitutes the door frame 3, the load on the resin member can be reduced, and early deterioration due to over - load in the resin member can be suppressed.

[0196] Also, the glass unit 160 is placed on the upper flange part 117b, and the rear surface of the glass unit 160 abuts on the front surface of the rear flange part 117c that extends upward from the rear - end edge of the upper flange part 117b. Therefore, the rearward movement of the lower - end side of the glass unit 160 can be blocked by the rear flange part 117c. As a result, if only the upper - end side of the glass unit 160 is fixed, it can be attached to the door frame 3, so that the attachment (detachment) of the glass unit 160 can be made easy.

[0197] Furthermore, in the intermediate reinforcing frame 117, since the sum (L0) of the lengths (L1 and L2) in the direction along the respective surfaces of the upper flange part 117b and the rear flange part 117c is made longer than the length from the substrate part 117a to the front surface of the game board 5, the strength and rigidity of the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 can be increased compared with the case where the length is short, and the door frame 3 can be made less likely to distort even when pulled forward.

[0198] Furthermore, because the sum (L0) of the length L1 of the upper flange portion 117b and the length L2 of the rear flange portion 117c is longer than the length from the base portion 117a to the front surface of the gaming board 5, it is possible to position the tip of the rear flange portion 117c behind the front surface of the gaming board 5. In other words, it is possible to insert the rear flange portion 117c into the gaming board 5 from the front, as with the intermediate reinforcing frame 117E. As a result, even if an illegal tool is attempted to be inserted along the front surface of the gaming board 5, the insertion of the illegal tool can be prevented by the rear flange portion 117c inserted into the gaming board 5, and it is possible to provide a pachinko machine 1 that is highly deterrent to illegal activities.

[0199] Furthermore, since the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 is provided with a lower flange portion 117d extending forward or backward from the lower edge of the base portion 117a in addition to the upper flange portion 117b, the strength and rigidity of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 can be further increased, and a pachinko machine 1 can be provided that can reliably achieve the above-mentioned effects.

[0200] Furthermore, the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 is made thicker than the metal sheets of the other reinforcement parts in the door frame reinforcement unit 110 (left reinforcement frame 111, right reinforcement frame 112, upper reinforcement frame 113), which also increases the strength and rigidity of the intermediate reinforcement frame 117 (door frame reinforcement unit 110), making it possible to provide a pachinko machine 1 that can achieve the same effects as those described above.

[0201] Further, an interval sensor for detecting the interval between the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 and the game board 5 may be provided. That is, as described above, since the strength and rigidity of the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 (door frame reinforcing unit 110) are enhanced, the door frame 3 will not plastically deform even when pulled forward with a strong force. However, when pulled strongly, it may elastically deform and the interval between the door frame 3 and the game board 5 may change to create a gap. Therefore, an interval sensor for detecting that interval is provided. As a result, since the interval change due to elastic deformation can be detected by the interval sensor, it becomes possible to notify that the door frame 3 has been forcibly pulled according to the detection signal from the interval sensor, preventing the player from pulling the door frame 3 too strongly unnecessarily or pulling the door frame 3 strongly for the purpose of committing an illegal act, and a pachinko machine 1 with a high crime prevention effect can be provided.

[0202] [3-1f. Upper hinge assembly on door frame] The upper hinge assembly 120 on the door frame of the door frame base unit 100 will be mainly described with reference to FIGS. 34 and 35. The upper hinge assembly 120 on the door frame is attached to the upper left corner in the front view of the door frame reinforcing unit 110. The upper hinge assembly 120 on the door frame is for attaching the door frame 3 to the main body frame 4 so as to be hinge-rotatable in cooperation with the lower hinge member 125 on the door frame. The upper hinge assembly 120 on the door frame includes a hinge bracket 121 attached to the door frame reinforcing unit 110, an upper hinge pin 122 on the door frame movably attached to the hinge bracket 121 in the vertical direction, a flange member 123 attached to the upper hinge pin 122 on the door frame, and a lock spring 124 biasing the upper hinge pin 122 on the door frame to move upward.

[0203] The hinge bracket 121 includes a flat mounting piece 121a having a rectangular shape in the front view and flat protruding pieces 121b extending forward from the upper and lower sides of the mounting piece 121a. The hinge bracket 121 has the mounting piece 121a attached to the door frame reinforcing unit 110. The hinge bracket 121 is formed by bending a metal plate.

[0204] The hinge pin 122 on the door frame is a cylindrical metal bar bent into an L shape. When the hinge pin 122 on the door frame is assembled to the hinge assembly 120 on the door frame, the part extending vertically penetrates from below near the front ends of the pair of protruding pieces 121b in the hinge bracket 121, and the upper end extends upward beyond the upper protruding piece 121b. At the same time, the part extending horizontally abuts against the lower surface of the lower protruding piece 121b. The upper end of the hinge pin 122 on the door frame is rotatably inserted into the hinge hole 511a for the door frame on the upper hinge body 511 of the hinge member 510 on the main body frame of the main body frame 4.

[0205] The collar member 123 is an E-ring and is attached to the part between the pair of protruding pieces 121b of the hinge pin 122 on the door frame. The lock spring 124 is formed in a coil shape and is placed around the part of the hinge pin 122 on the door frame that extends vertically between the collar member 123 and the lower protruding piece 121b of the hinge bracket 121. Due to this lock spring 124, the hinge pin 122 on the door frame is biased upward through the collar member 123.

[0206] The hinge assembly 120 on the door frame is in a state where the hinge pin 122 on the door frame is biased upward by the lock spring 124. The horizontal part at the lower end of the hinge pin 122 on the door frame abuts against the lower surface of the lower protruding piece 121b, thereby restricting further upward movement. In this state, the upper end of the hinge pin 122 on the door frame protrudes upward by a predetermined amount from the upper surface of the upper protruding piece 121b.

[0207] The door frame upper hinge assembly 120 can move the horizontally extending part at the lower end of the door frame upper hinge pin 122 downward against the biasing force of the lock spring 124, thereby moving the entire door frame upper hinge pin 122 downward, and the upper end of the door frame upper hinge pin 122 can be immersed below the upper surface of the upper protruding piece 121b. Therefore, the door frame upper hinge assembly 120 can insert or remove the upper end of the door frame upper hinge pin 122 into or from the door frame upper hinge hole 511a of the main body frame upper hinge member 510 from below. By inserting the upper end of the door frame upper hinge pin 122 into the door frame upper hinge hole 511a of the main body frame upper hinge member 510, the upper left end of the door frame 3 in the front view can be supported by the main body frame 4 so as to be hinge-rotatable.

[0208] Also, in the door frame upper hinge assembly 120, the vertically extending part of the door frame upper hinge pin 122 is coaxial with the door frame lower hinge pin 126 of the door frame lower hinge member 125 described later. Thus, the door frame 3 can be hinge-rotated with respect to the main body frame 4 in a good state by the door frame upper hinge pin 122 and the door frame lower hinge pin 126.

[0209] [3-1g. Door Frame Lower Hinge Member] The door frame lower hinge member 125 of the door frame base unit 100 will be mainly described with reference to FIGS. 34 and 35. The door frame lower hinge member 125 is attached to the lower left corner in the front view of the door frame reinforcement unit 110. The door frame lower hinge member 125 is for attaching the door frame 3 to the main body frame 4 so as to be hinge-rotatable in cooperation with the door frame upper hinge assembly 120.

[0210] The door frame lower hinge member 125 includes a mounting piece 125a that is attached to the door frame reinforcement unit 110 and is rectangular and flat in the front view, a flat protruding piece 125b that extends forward from the lower side of the mounting piece 125a, and a door frame lower hinge pin 126 (see FIG. 35 etc.) that protrudes downward from the lower surface near the front end of the protruding piece 125b.

[0211] The mounting piece 125a and the protruding piece 125b of the lower hinge member 125 of the door frame are formed by bending a metal plate. The lower hinge pin 126 of the door frame is a columnar metal rod, and a tapered chamfer is provided on the outer periphery of the lower end portion. This lower hinge pin 126 of the door frame is attached to a portion that is coaxial with the portion extending above and below the upper hinge pin 122 of the upper hinge assembly 120 of the door frame on the protruding piece 125b in a state where it is assembled to the door frame base unit 100.

[0212] By inserting this lower hinge pin 126 of the door frame into the lower hinge hole 522a for the door frame of the main body frame lower hinge assembly 520, the door frame 3 can be supported so as to be hinge-rotatable with respect to the main body frame 4.

[0213] [3-1h. Cylinder lock] The cylinder lock 130 in the door frame base unit 100 of the door frame 3 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 41 to 43. FIG. 41(a) is a perspective view of the cylinder lock of the door frame seen from the front, (b) is a perspective view of the cylinder lock of (a) seen from the back to the front, (c) is a perspective view of the cylinder lock in a conventional pachinko machine seen from the front, and (d) is a perspective view of the cylinder lock of (a) seen from the back. FIG. 42(a) is an exploded perspective view of the cylinder lock of FIG. 41(a) seen from the front, and (b) is an exploded perspective view of the cylinder lock of FIG. 41(a) seen from the back. FIG. 43(a) is an explanatory view showing the movable mechanism of the cylinder lock of FIG. 41(a) from the front, (b) is an explanatory view of the cylinder lock shown in a state rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise from the state of (a), and (c) is an explanatory view of the cylinder lock shown in a state rotated 90 degrees clockwise from the state of (a).

[0214] The cylinder lock 130 is attached to the cylinder mounting frame 115 of the door frame reinforcement unit 110 and is used in cooperation with the locking unit 650 of the main body frame 4 to open and close the door frame 3 and the main body frame 4, and to lock and unlock the outer frame 2 and the main body frame 4. The cylinder lock 130 includes a columnar cylinder body 131 extending in the front-rear direction, a keyhole 132 formed on the front end face of the cylinder body 131, and a rotation transmission member 133 provided behind the cylinder body 131 and rotating together when a regular key inserted into the keyhole 132 is rotated.

[0215] The cylinder body 131 of the cylinder lock 130 penetrates the front part of the cylinder mounting frame 115 from the rear, and the rear end is attached to the front part. The rotation transmission member 133 is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open rear (specifically, a conical cylindrical shape with a diameter increasing toward the rear), and has a pair of notches cut from the rear end toward the front at positions facing each other across the central axis. The rotation transmission member 133 is formed such that the transmission cylinder 654 of the locking unit 650 in the main body frame 4 is inserted from the rear, and when a pair of protrusions of the transmission cylinder 654 are inserted into the pair of notches, the rotation of the rotation transmission member 133 (the key inserted into the keyhole 132) can be transmitted to the transmission cylinder 654 to cause it to rotate.

[0216] More specifically, the cylinder lock 130 includes a first cam member 134 provided on the rear end side of the cylinder body 131 and rotating together when a regular key inserted into the keyhole 132 is rotated, a second cam member 135 rotatably attached around an axis in the front-rear direction at a position below the cylinder body 131 in the cylinder mounting frame 115, a strip-shaped first arm 136 having an upper end rotatably attached at a position to the right of the rotation center of the first cam member 134 and a lower end rotatably attached at a position to the right of the rotation center of the second cam member 135, and a strip-shaped second arm 137 having an upper end rotatably attached at a position below the rotation center of the first cam member 134 and a lower end rotatably attached at a position below the rotation center of the second cam member 135.

[0217] Further, the cylinder tablet 130 is attached to the cylinder mounting frame 115 with a rear cover 138 that covers the cylinder body 131, the first cam member 134, the first arm 136, and the second arm 137 from the rear, excluding the second cam member 135 (rotation transmission member 133). The rear cover 138 is provided with rivets 139 that rotatably attach the upper and lower ends of the first arm 136 and the second arm 137 to the first cam member 134 and the second cam member 135, respectively.

[0218] The upper end of the first arm 136 is attached to the rear surface side of the first cam member 134, and the upper end of the second arm 137 is attached to the front surface side. The second cam member 135 is rotatably attached to the cylinder mounting frame 115 from the rear side, and a rotation transmission member 133 is integrally and rotatably attached to the rear side with the front surface of the cylinder mounting frame 115 interposed therebetween. The lower end of the first arm 136 is attached to the front surface side of the second cam member 135, and the lower end of the second arm 137 is attached to the front surface side in front of the first arm 136.

[0219] In the first cam member 134 and the second cam member 135, the portion where the first arm 136 is attached and the portion where the second arm 137 is attached are separated by an angle of 90 degrees around their respective rotation axes. Also, in the first cam member 134 and the second cam member 135, the portion where the first arm 136 is attached is provided at a position farther from the rotation center than the portion where the second arm 137 is attached.

[0220] The rear cover 138 is detachably attached to the cylinder mounting frame 115 with screws (not shown) at the upper end side while the shaft portions 138a protruding cylindrically outward from the lower ends of the left and right side surfaces are locked to the L-shaped locking slits 115b of the cylinder mounting frame 115.

[0221] This cylinder lock 130 is formed of metal, including a cylinder mounting frame 115, a cylinder body 131, a rotation transmission member 133, a first cam member 134, a second cam member 135, a first arm 136, and a second arm 137.

[0222] When the cylinder lock 130 is assembled to the door frame 3, the front end of the cylinder body 131 substantially coincides with the front end of the cylinder insertion port 440b of the door frame right side unit 430.

[0223] Here, the conventional cylinder lock 130A will be described. As shown in FIGS. 41(c) and (d), in the conventional cylinder lock 130A, the cylinder body 131 penetrates the front piece of the cylinder mounting frame 115A from the rear, and the rear end is attached to the front piece. A rotation transmission member 133 is provided on the axis of the cylinder body 131 of this cylinder lock 130A.

[0224] Subsequently, the operation of the cylinder lock 130 of the present embodiment will be described. In the conventional cylinder lock 130, as shown in FIGS. 41(c) and (d), a rotation transmission member 133 is provided on the axis of the cylinder body 131, while in the cylinder lock 130 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 41(a) and (b), etc., the rotation transmission member 133 is provided at a position separated downward from the axis of the cylinder body 131.

[0225] In the normal state of this cylinder lock 130, as shown in FIG. 43(a), both the upper and lower ends of the first arm 136 are attached to the respective right-side parts of the rotation centers of the first cam member 134 and the second cam member 135, and both the upper and lower ends of the second arm 137 are attached to the respective lower-side parts of the rotation centers of the first cam member 134 and the second cam member 135 in each of them. In the cylinder body 131, it can be rotated 90 degrees in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions respectively from the normal state by a regular key.

[0226] In this state, when the key inserted into the keyhole 132 rotates the first cam member 134 counterclockwise through the cylinder of the cylinder body 131, the first arm 136 and the second arm 137 will move upward. At this time, in the first arm 136, since the upper end side is attached to the right of the rotation center of the first cam member 134, a large force acts on the first arm 136 to rotate the second cam member 135 counterclockwise. On the other hand, in the second arm 137, since the upper end side is attached below the rotation center of the first cam member 134, almost no force acts on the second arm 137 to rotate the second cam member 135 counterclockwise.

[0227] In this way, when the first cam member 134 rotates counterclockwise from the normal state, force is mainly transmitted through the first arm 136, the second cam member 135 rotates counterclockwise, and the rotation transmission member 133 rotates together with the second cam member 135. The upward force generated by the counterclockwise rotation of the first cam member 134 is proportional to the horizontal distance between the parts where the first arm 136 and the second arm 137 are attached to the first cam member 134 and the rotation center of the first cam member 134. Therefore, as the first cam member 134 rotates counterclockwise from the normal state, the upward force acting on the first arm 136 decreases, while the upward force acting on the second arm 137 increases.

[0228] Therefore, when the counterclockwise rotation angle of the first cam member 134 from the normal state exceeds 45 degrees, the upward force acting on the second arm 137 is greater than that acting on the first arm 136, and mainly through the second arm 137, the second cam member 135 rotates counterclockwise. And the key inserted into the keyhole 132 can be rotated counterclockwise from the normal state up to an angle of 90 degrees (see Fig. 43(b)).

[0229] Note that when returning to the normal state by rotating 90 degrees in the clockwise direction from the state where it is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise by the key, it will operate by the reverse action of the above.

[0230] On the other hand, when the first cam member 134 is rotated in the clockwise direction through the cylinder of the cylinder body 131 by the key inserted into the keyhole 132 from the normal state, the first arm 136 with its upper end attached to the right of the rotation center of the first cam member 134 moves downward, and the second arm 137 with its upper end attached below the rotation center of the first cam member 134 moves upward. At this time, in the first arm 136, since the upper end is attached to the right of the rotation center of the first cam member 134, a large force acts to rotate the second cam member 135 in the clockwise direction by the first arm 136. In contrast, in the second arm 137, since the upper end is attached below the rotation center of the first cam member 134, almost no force acts to rotate the second cam member 135 in the clockwise direction from the second arm 137.

[0231] In this way, when the first cam member 134 rotates in the clockwise direction from the normal state, the force is mainly transmitted through the first arm 136, the second cam member 135 rotates in the clockwise direction, and the rotation transmission member 133 rotates together with the second cam member 135. The force transmitted from the first cam member 134 to the second cam member 135 by the first arm 136 and the second arm 137 is proportional to the horizontal distance between the parts where the first arm 136 and the second arm 137 are attached to the first cam member 134 and the rotation center of the first cam member 134. Therefore, as the first cam member 134 rotates in the clockwise direction from the normal state, the force to rotate the second cam member 135 becomes smaller in the first arm 136, while the force to rotate the second cam member 135 becomes larger in the second arm 137.

[0232] Therefore, when the rotation angle of the first cam member 134 from the normal state in the clockwise direction exceeds 45 degrees, the second arm 137 has a greater force to rotate the second cam member 135 than the first arm 136. Mainly through the second arm 137, the second cam member 135 rotates in the clockwise direction. And the key inserted into the keyhole 132 can be rotated from the normal state up to an angle of 90 degrees in the clockwise direction (see Fig. 43(c)).

[0233] Note that when the key is rotated 90 degrees in the clockwise direction from the state where it is rotated 90 degrees in the clockwise direction from the normal state and then returned to the normal state, it will operate by the reverse action of the above.

[0234] Thus, according to the cylinder lock 130 of the present embodiment, the first cam member 134 and the second cam member 135 are connected by the first arm 136 and the second arm 137 which are attached with a phase difference of 90 degrees from each other to transmit rotation. Therefore, no matter what rotational position the first cam member 134 (the key inserted into the keyhole 132) is in, rotation can be transmitted by at least one of the first arm 136 and the second arm 137 to rotate the second cam member 135 (the rotation transmission member 133), and the locking and unlocking of the door frame 3 and the main body frame 4 can be made good.

[0235] Also, according to the cylinder lock 130 of the present embodiment, by transmitting rotation by the first arm 136 and the second arm 137 as the rotation transmission mechanism, the axis of the rotation transmission member 133 (the transmission cylinder 654 of the locking unit 650 in the main body frame 4) can be provided at different positions with respect to the axis of the cylinder main body 131. Therefore, without changing the locking unit 650, the position of the cylinder main body 131 in the door frame 3 can be changed to an arbitrary position, and the cylinder main body 131 (the keyhole 132) can be provided at a position that does not interfere with the decoration of the door frame 3, and a pachinko machine 1 with high decorativeness of the door frame 3 can be provided.

[0236] Also, as described above, even if the position of the cylinder main body 131 is changed in the door frame 3, it is not necessary to change the locking unit 650 in the main body frame 4. Therefore, the locking unit 650 can be diverted, and an increase in the cost of the pachinko machine 1 can be suppressed.

[0237] By the way, in the conventional cylinder lock 130A, since the rotation transmission member 133 is provided behind the cylinder main body 131, a person who knows the configuration may insert a tool from the front to the rear of the cylinder main body 131 and illegally rotate the rotation transmission member 133 with the tool, There is a risk of opening the door frame 3 and committing an illegal act. On the other hand, in the cylinder lock 130 of the present embodiment, since the rotation transmission member 133 is provided at a position away from the axis (rear) of the cylinder main body 131, even if an attempt is made to insert a tool behind the cylinder main body 131 and rotate the rotation transmission member 133, Since the rotation transmission member 133 does not exist at that part, the rotation transmission member 133 cannot be rotated, and it is possible to prevent an illegal act of opening the door frame 3, the main body frame 4, etc.

[0238] Furthermore, in the cylinder lock 130, since the second arm 137 connects portions of the first cam member 134 and the second cam member 135 that are separated by a rotation angle of 90 degrees with respect to the first arm 136, even if the portion of either the first arm 136 or the second arm 137 attached to the first cam member 134 and the second cam member 135 is located on the straight line connecting the centers of the first cam member 134 and the second cam member 135, the other of the first arm 136 or the second arm 137 is in a state of connecting the portions that are farthest from the straight line connecting the centers of the first cam member 134 and the second cam member 135. Therefore, even if one of the first arm 136 or the second arm 137 is located at the dead center of the first cam member 134 and the second cam member 135 and cannot transmit the rotation from the first cam member 134 to the second cam member 135, the other of the first arm 136 or the second arm 137 can transmit the rotation from the first cam member 134 to the second cam member 135. Thus, no large resistance is applied to the rotation of the first cam member 134, the key inserted into the keyhole 132 can be smoothly rotated, unlocking and locking can be easily performed, the key inserted into the keyhole can be prevented from being forcibly rotated, and breakage of the key can be prevented.

[0239] Also, since the rotation of the key inserted into the keyhole 132 is transmitted to the rotation transmission member 133 provided at an eccentric position by the two arms of the first arm 136 and the second arm 137, even if one arm is damaged for some reason, the remaining arm can transmit the rotation, and a pachinko machine 1 having a highly reliable cylinder lock 130 can be provided.

[0240] In addition, since the smooth rod-shaped (strip-shaped) first arm 136 and second arm 137 are configured to transmit the rotation of the key inserted into the keyhole 132 to the rotation transmission member 133 provided at an eccentric position, when the rotation is transmitted by a gear, there is a risk that the gear may rotate by hooking the tip of the tool on the teeth of the gear and the rotation transmission member 133 may be rotated. However, since the first arm 136 and the second arm 137 are rod-shaped with smooth surfaces, it is difficult for the tip of the tool to catch on the first arm 136 or the second arm 137, and it is possible to avoid the rotation transmission member 133 being rotated by the movement of the first arm 136 or the second arm 137, and it is possible to surely prevent the locking unit 650 from being illegally operated and the door frame 3 and the main body frame 4 from being unlocked.

[0241] In the cylinder lock 130 of the present embodiment, although the first arm 136 and the second arm 137 are used as the rotation transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the first cam member 134 to the second cam member 135, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a rotation transmission mechanism using a plurality of gears, a rotation transmission mechanism using a gear and a rack gear, a rotation transmission mechanism using a sprocket and a chain, a rotation transmission mechanism using a pulley and a belt, etc. may be used.

[0242] [3-1i. Ball Feeding Unit] The ball feeding unit 140 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 44 and 45. FIG. 44(a) is a perspective view of the ball feeding unit of the door frame base unit seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the ball feeding unit seen from the rear. FIG. 45(a) is an exploded perspective view of the ball feeding unit seen from the front, and (b) is an exploded perspective view of the ball feeding unit with the rear case and the anti-tampering member removed and seen from the rear. The ball feeding unit 140 can supply the game balls B supplied one by one from the upper plate 201 of the plate unit 200 to the ball launching device 540 of the main body frame 4, and can also remove the game balls B stored in the upper plate 201 to the lower plate 202 by operating the upper plate ball extraction button 222.

[0243] The ball feeding unit 140 has a front cover 141 which is box-shaped with an open rear end, and has an inlet 141a through which the game ball B is supplied from the upper plate 201 of the dish unit 200 and penetrates in the front-rear direction, and a ball outlet 141b which opens below the inlet 141a; a rear cover 142 which is box-shaped with a closed rear end of the front cover 141 and an open front, and has a hitting ball supply port 142a for supplying the game ball B that has entered from the inlet 141a of the front cover 141 which penetrates in the front-rear direction to the ball launching device 540; a ball discharging member 143 which is pivotally supported around an axis extending in the front-rear direction between the rear cover 142 and the front cover 141 and has a partition portion 143a which partitions between the inlet 141a and the ball outlet 141b on the rear side of the front cover 141; a ball feeding member 144 which is supported rotatably around an axis extending in the vertical direction between the front cover 141 and the rear cover 142 and feeds the game balls B on the partition portion 143a of the ball discharging member 143 one by one to the hitting ball supply port 142a of the rear cover 142; and a ball feeding solenoid 145 which rotates the ball feeding member 144.

[0244] As shown in the drawing, in this ball feeding unit 140, when viewed from the front, the ball feeding member 144 is disposed on the right side of the inlet 141a, the ball discharging member 143 is disposed on the left side of the ball feeding member 144, and the ball feeding solenoid 145 is disposed on the right side of the ball feeding member 144.

[0245] The front cover 141 of the ball feeding unit 140 is provided, on the left side of the ball outlet 141b when viewed from the front, with an arc-shaped slit 141c formed concentrically with respect to the rotation center of the ball discharging member 143, and the operating rod 143c of the ball discharging member 143 described later extends forward from this slit 141c. Further, the upper edge of the front cover 141 extends upward from the upper edge of the inlet 141a, and when the door frame 3 is assembled, it is formed so as to close, from the rear side, the portion that is open to the rear of the upstream end side of the ball feeding guide path and the ball discharging guide path 241c of the rear base 241 in the upper plate ball discharging rear unit 240.

[0246] The ball removal member 143 comprises a partition section 143a that is located below the entrance 141a and acts as a partition between the entrance 141a and the ball removal opening 141b, and whose upper surface becomes lower toward the ball feeding member 144; a pivoting rod section 143b that extends downward from the end of the partition section 143a opposite the ball feeding member 144 and bends in an L-shape from near the middle in the vertical direction toward the lower center of the ball removal opening 141b, with its lower end supported rotatably around an axis extending in the front-to-back direction; a rod-shaped operating rod 143c that protrudes forward from the upper end of the rotating rod section 143b; and a weight section 143d that protrudes below the operating rod 143c from the side of the rotating rod section 143b on the opposite side from the partition section 143a. The operating rod 143c of the ball removal member 143 is formed so as to protrude forward through an arc-shaped slit 141c formed in the front cover 141 (see Figure 44(a)). The operating rod 143c abuts against the upper end (upper surface) of the operating transmission part 242b of the upper tray ball removal slider 242, which moves downward by pressing the upper tray ball removal button 222 of the tray unit 200, through the ball feed opening 101e of the door frame base 101.

[0247] The ball feeding member 144 includes a blocking portion 144a that is fan-shaped in plan view and is centered on the rotation axis, facing the entrance 141a and the partition portion 143a of the ball extracting member 143 and extending vertically toward the entrance 141a and the partition portion 143a of the ball extracting member 143; a ball holding portion 144b that is recessed in an arc shape from the rear end of the blocking portion 144a toward the rotation axis; and a rod-shaped shaft portion 144c that extends downward from the rear end of the ball holding portion 144b. The blocking portion 144a and the ball holding portion 144b of the ball feeding member 144 are adjacently formed within an angular range of approximately 180° centered on the rotation axis. Furthermore, the ball holding portion 144b of the ball feeding member 144 is sized to hold one game ball B. The ball feeding member 144 rotates around the rotation axis when the shaft portion 144c, which is positioned eccentrically from the rotation axis, is moved left and right by the drive of the ball feeding solenoid 145.

[0248] This ball feeding member 144 is configured to rotate between a supply position where the blocking portion 144a faces the partition portion 143a and at the same time the ball holding portion 144b faces the direction communicating with the hitting ball supply port 142a, and a holding position where the ball holding portion 144b faces the partition portion 143a. When the ball feeding member 144 is at the supply position, the game ball B held by the ball holding portion 144b is supplied from the hitting ball supply port 142a to the ball launching device 540, and the game ball B that has entered onto the partition portion 143a from the entrance 141a is blocked from moving toward the ball holding portion 144b (hitting ball supply port 142a) by the blocking portion 144a and remains on the partition portion 143a. On the other hand, when the ball feeding member 144 rotates to the holding position, the ball holding portion 144b faces the partition portion 143a, and the end portion on the paddle portion 144c side of the ball holding portion 144b closes the hitting ball supply port 142a, and only one game ball B on the partition portion 143a is held inside the ball holding portion 144b.

[0249] Also, the ball feeding unit 140 includes a ball feeding operation paddle 146 whose tip swings in the vertical direction by driving (energizing) the ball feeding solenoid 145, and a ball feeding crank 147 that rotates around an axis extending in the front-rear direction by the movement of the tip of the ball feeding operation paddle 146 that swings in the vertical direction and rotates the ball feeding member 144 around an axis extending in the vertical direction.

[0250] The ball feeding actuating lever 146 is provided with an iron plate 146a at a position below the ball feeding solenoid 145. The ball feeding actuating lever 146 extends horizontally, and the end portion (right end portion) on the side opposite to the ball feeding crank 147 is rotatably attached to the front cover 141 and the rear cover 142 around an axis extending in the front-rear direction. When the ball feeding solenoid 145 is driven, the iron plate 146a is attracted upward toward the ball feeding solenoid 145 by the generated magnetic force, and the ball feeding actuating lever 146 rotates such that the left end portion closer to the ball feeding crank 147 moves upward around the right end portion as the center. Then, when the drive of the ball feeding solenoid 145 is released, the self-weight of the iron plate 146a acts due to the disappearance of the magnetic force, and the ball feeding actuating lever 146 rotates such that the left end portion closer to the ball feeding crank 147 moves downward around the right end portion as the center and returns to the initial state. As a result, the ball feeding actuating lever 146 causes the left end portion (tip) closer to the ball feeding crank 147 to swing in the vertical direction by the ball feeding solenoid 145.

[0251] The ball feeding crank 147 includes an engaging portion 147a that can engage with the tip of the ball feeding actuating lever 146 that moves up and down and extends in the left-right direction, a shaft portion 147b that is disposed on the side opposite to the side where the engaging portion 147a engages with the ball feeding actuating lever 146 and is pivotally supported around an axis extending in the front-rear direction between the front cover 141 and the rear cover 142, and a transmission portion 147c that extends upward from the shaft portion 147b and engages with a rod-shaped lever portion 144c (see FIG. 45(b)) that protrudes downward from a position eccentric with respect to the rotation center of the ball feeding member 144.

[0252] By moving the tip (left end) of the ball feeding actuating lever 146 upward by driving the ball feeding solenoid 145, this ball feeding unit 140 can rotate the ball feeding crank 147 around an axis extending in the front-rear direction via the ball feeding actuating lever 146.

[0253] When the ball feeding unit 140 is not driven by the ball feeding solenoid 145 (in the normal state), the ball feeding operating lever 146 is separated from the lower end of the ball feeding solenoid 145 and the tip is positioned downward. In this state, the ball feeding member 144 is in the supply position. Also, when the ball feeding solenoid 145 is driven, the ball feeding operating lever 146 is attracted to the lower end of the ball feeding solenoid 145 and the tip (left end) is positioned upward, and the ball feeding member 144 rotates to the holding position. That is, when the ball feeding solenoid 145 is driven (ON state), the ball feeding member 144 receives one game ball B, and when the drive of the ball feeding solenoid 145 is released (OFF state), the game ball B received by the ball feeding member 144 can be sent (supplied) to the ball launching device 540 side. The drive of the ball feeding solenoid 145 in this ball feeding unit 140 is controlled in synchronization with the drive control of the launching solenoid 542 by the launching control unit 633b (see FIG. 126) of the payout control board 633.

[0254] Also, the ball feeding unit 140 is pivotally supported so that a moment is applied to the ball removal member 143 or the weight portion 143d to rotate in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the front. However, since the rotation of the ball feeding unit 140 is restricted by the fact that the operating lever 143c protruding forward of the ball removal member 143 abuts against the upper end of the operation transmission portion 242b of the upper plate ball removal slider 242 that operates by pressing the upper plate ball removal button 222 of the plate unit 200, in the normal state, the partition portion 143a of the ball removal member 143 is positioned between the inlet 141a and the ball removal port 141b to partition, and the game ball B does not enter the ball removal port 141b side.

[0255] When the player presses the upper plate ball extraction button 222 of the plate unit 200 downward, the upper plate ball extraction slider 242 slides downward together with the operation transmission part 242b, and as the operation transmission part 242b moves downward, the operation lever 143c also moves relatively downward. When the operation lever 143c moves downward together with the operation transmission part 242b, the ball extraction member 143 rotates counterclockwise in the front view direction, and the partition part 143a moves from between the entry port 141a and the ball extraction port 141b, and the partition is released. As a result, the game ball B that has entered from the entry port 141a falls to the side of the ball extraction port 141b and is discharged from the ball extraction port 141b to the ball extraction guide path 241c of the upper plate ball extraction rear unit 240 in the plate unit 200, and can be discharged (supplied) to the lower plate 202 through the lower plate ball supply port 211c.

[0256] Note that the upper plate ball extraction slider 242 in which the operation transmission part 242b with which the operation lever 143c of the ball extraction member 143 abuts is formed is biased upward by a spring. Therefore, even if the game ball B is vigorously supplied onto the partition part 143a, the impact can be absorbed by the spring via the operation lever 143c, the ball extraction member 143 and the like can be prevented from being damaged, and the game ball B can be prevented from rebounding at the partition part 143a.

[0257] In addition, the ball feeding unit 140 is formed with a rectangular mounting recess 142b (see Fig. 45(b) etc.) that is recessed forward and upward in the rear view of the hitting ball supply port 142a in the rear cover 142, and an anti-tampering member 148 is mounted in the mounting recess 142b. The anti-tampering member 148 of the ball feeding unit 140 is formed of a hard metal plate such as tool steel or stainless steel, and is detachably mounted from the rear side in the mounting recess 142b of the rear cover 142.

[0258] The anti-tamper element 148 has a rectangular shape extending laterally in front view. It includes an upper piece 148a and a lower piece 148b, which are separated vertically at approximately the center in the vertical direction a predetermined distance to the left of the right edge, and inclined portions 148c, each formed in a C-chamfered shape at the tip end (right end in front view) of the opposing edges of the upper piece 148a and the lower piece 148b. The upper piece 148a of the anti-tamper element 148 is bent relative to the general surface of the anti-tamper element 148 so that its right end in front view protrudes rearward. The lower piece 148b extends on the same plane as the general surface of the anti-tamper element 148. As a result, the upper piece 148a and the lower piece 148b form a V-shaped groove that widens toward the right in plan view.

[0259] When the tamper-proof member 148 is attached to the attachment recess 142b of the rear cover 142, the V-shaped groove formed by the upper piece 148a and the lower piece 148b is in communication with the inside of the ball supply port 142a.

[0260] According to this fraud prevention member 148, when a fraudulent game ball B with a string attached is shot into the game area 5a from the upper tray via the ball feeding unit 140 by the ball launching device 540, and the string attached to the fraudulent game ball B is manipulated to move the fraudulent game ball B into or out of the first starting hole 2002 or the like, the momentum of the fraudulent game ball B shot (shot) by the ball launching device 540 causes the string attached to the fraudulent game ball B to be inserted between the upper piece 148a and the lower piece 148b, and then the string can be cut by the narrow V-shaped portion formed by the upper piece 148a and the lower piece 148b, thereby preventing fraudulent activities using fraudulent game balls B with a string attached.

[0261] [3-1j. Foul Cover Unit] The fur cover unit 150 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 46 and 47. FIG. 46(a) is a perspective view of the fur cover unit of the door frame base unit seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the fur cover unit seen from the back. Further, FIG. 47 is a front view of the fur cover unit with the lid member removed. The fur cover unit 150 is attached to the right side in the rear view at the lower part on the rear side of the door frame base 101. The fur cover unit 150 guides the game ball B (fur ball) that has been launched by the ball launching device 540 and has not reached the game area 5a of the game board 5 to the lower dish 202, and also guides the game ball B paid out from the payout device 580 to the upper dish 201 or the lower dish 202. As shown in the figure, the fur cover unit 150 includes a shallow box-shaped unit body 151 attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 with the front side open, and a flat lid member 152 attached to the front surface of the unit body 151.

[0262] The fur cover unit 150 has a through ball passage 150a that penetrates front-rear at the upper left corner in the front view and communicates the lower normal payout passage 610a of the lower full ball path unit 610 of the main body frame 4 with the upper dish ball supply port 211a of the dish unit 200, and a full ball receiving port 150b that opens rearward on the lower right side in the front view of the through ball passage 150a and can communicate with the lower full ball payout passage 610b of the lower full ball path unit 610 of the main body frame 4.

[0263] In addition, the fur cover unit 150 has a fur ball receiving port 150c that opens upward on the right side in the front view of the full ball receiving port 150b and receives the game ball B (fur ball) that has not reached the game area 5a despite being launched by the ball launching device 540 of the main body frame 4, and a ball discharge port 150d that opens forward near the lower right corner in the front view, discharges the game ball B received by the full ball receiving port 150b and the fur ball receiving port 150c forward, and communicates with the lower dish ball supply port 211c of the dish unit 200.

[0264] Furthermore, the fur cover unit 150 includes a storage passage 150e formed between the full ball receiving port 150b, the fur ball receiving port 150c, and the ball discharge port 150d by the unit main body 151 and the lid member 152, and having a size capable of storing a predetermined amount of game balls B.

[0265] The through ball passage 150a is formed across both the unit main body 151 and the lid member 152. The full ball receiving port 150b and the fur ball receiving port 150c are formed in the unit main body 151. The ball discharge port 150d is formed in the lid member 152. The storage passage 150e is formed by the unit main body 151 and the lid member 152.

[0266] Also, the fur cover unit 150 includes a flat movable piece 153 that forms a part of the inner wall of the storage passage 150e and is rotatably attached to the unit main body 151 and the lid member 152 at its lower end, a full detection sensor 154 that detects the rotation of the movable piece 153 in a direction away from the storage passage 150e, and a spring 155 that biases the movable piece 153 toward the storage passage 150e.

[0267] When the lower plate 202 of the dish unit 200 is filled with game balls B and the game balls B are no longer discharged from the ball discharge port 150d to the lower plate 202 side, the fur cover unit 150 can store a certain number of game balls B in the storage passage 150e. When a certain number of game balls B are stored in the storage passage 150e, the upper end of the movable piece 153 moves in a direction away from the storage passage 150e against the biasing force of the spring 155 due to the weight of the game balls B, and the movable piece 153 rotates. This rotation is detected by the full detection sensor 154. As a result, it can be determined that the lower plate 202 is full of game balls B. Therefore, when the full detection sensor 154 detects a full state, the payout of further game balls B can be stopped, and the fact can be notified to the player, the staff of the game hall, etc., to prompt the elimination of the full state of the lower plate 202.

[0268] Further, the fur cover unit 150 is attached below the through ball passage 150a on the rear side of the unit main body 151, and is provided with a door opening / closing contact portion 150f that can contact the operating protrusion 613a of the discharge passage opening / closing door 613 of the lower full ball path unit 610 in the discharge unit 560 (to be described later) of the main body frame 4 (see FIG. 79). The door opening / closing contact portion 150f is inclined so as to move forward as the rear surface goes downward. When the operating protrusion 613a of the discharge passage opening / closing door 613 contacts the door opening / closing contact portion 150f, the discharge passage opening / closing door 613 can be rotated to open the downstream ends (front openings) of the lower normal discharge passage 610a and the lower full ball discharge passage 610b.

[0269] [3-2. Glass Unit] The glass unit 160 in the door frame 3 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 31 and 32 and the like. The glass unit 160 is detachably attached by being inserted into the glass unit attachment portion 101h from the rear so as to close the door window 101a of the door frame base 101 in the door frame base unit 100. When the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 4, the glass unit 160 allows the game area 5a of the game board 5 attached to the main body frame 4 to be visible from the player side (front), and closes the front of the game area 5a.

[0270] The glass unit 160 includes a frame-shaped glass frame 161 that is larger than the inner peripheral shape of the door window 101a of the door frame base 101 and can be attached to the glass unit attachment portion 101h, two transparent glass plates 162 that close the inside of the glass frame 161 and have an outer periphery attached to the glass frame 161, and a pair of glass unit attachment members 163 that are rotatably attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 in the door frame base unit 100 and attach the glass frame 161 to the door frame base 101.

[0271] The glass frame 161 has a pair of mounting pieces 161a extending outward in a flat plate-like shape from positions below the upper left and right corners in a front view, and a band-like locking piece 161b protruding downward from the lower end and extending along the lower edge. The mounting pieces 161a of the glass frame 161 are adapted to abut against the protrusions 163b of the glass unit mounting member 163. The locking piece 161b is adapted to be inserted into the space between the door frame base 101 and the rear flange portion 117c of the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 of the door frame reinforcement unit 110 so as to be placed on the upper flange portion 117b of the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 (see Figures 37 and 85). In this embodiment, the rear surface of the locking piece 161b abuts against the front surface of the rear flange portion 117c. Two glass plates 162 are attached to the front and rear ends of the glass frame 161, respectively, and are spaced apart from each other in the front and rear directions so as to form a space between them.

[0272] The glass unit mounting member 163 has a disk-shaped base 163a that is rotatably attached around an axis extending forward and backward on the rear side of the door frame base 101, and a rod-shaped protrusion 163b that protrudes from the base 163a in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The glass unit mounting member 163 is rotatably attached to the outside of each of the two upper corners of the four corners of the door window 101a on the rear surface of the door frame base 101.

[0273] To attach the glass unit 160 to the door frame base 101, first, the glass unit attachment member 163 attached to the door frame base 101 is rotated so that the protrusion 163b is positioned above the base 163a. Then, from the rear side of the door frame base 101, the locking piece 161b of the glass frame 161 of the glass unit 160 is inserted from above into the gap between the door frame base 101 and the rear flange portion 117c of the intermediate reinforcing frame 117 of the door frame reinforcement unit 110 and placed on the upper flange portion 117b, and the front end of the glass frame 161 is brought into contact with the rear surface of the glass unit attachment portion 101h of the door frame base 101. Then, the glass unit attachment member 163 is rotated so that the protrusion 163b is positioned below the base 163a, and the protrusion 163b is brought into contact with the rear surface of the attachment piece 161a of the glass frame 161. This attaches the glass unit 160 to the door frame base 101.

[0274] When removing the glass unit 160 from the door frame base 101, the above procedure can be reversed to remove it. This makes the glass unit 160 detachable from the door frame base 101 (door frame base unit 100).

[0275] In addition, in glass unit 160, when protrusion 163b of glass unit mounting member 163 is in a rotation position positioned below base 163a, protrusion 163b restricts rearward movement of glass frame 161, so even if vibration or the like acts on glass unit mounting member 163, protrusion 163b will not rotate to a position where protrusion 163b is above base 163a. Therefore, the restriction on rearward movement of glass frame 161 will not be released naturally, and glass unit 160 will not naturally come off door frame base 101.

[0276] [3-3. Security cover] Regarding the security cover 170 in the door frame 3, it will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 31 and 32 and the like. The security cover 170 is attached to the rear side of the door frame base unit 100 so as to cover the lower rear part of the glass unit 160 and is formed of a transparent synthetic resin. The security cover 170 includes a flat main body portion 171 having an outer periphery formed in a predetermined shape, a flat rear protruding piece 172 protruding rearward along the outer peripheral edge of the main body portion 171, and a pair of locking pieces 173 arranged apart from each other left and right and protruding forward from the main body portion 171 and capable of being locked to the rear side of the door frame base 101.

[0277] The main body portion 171 of the security cover 170 is formed such that the lower end protrudes downward from the lower end of the glass unit 160 in a state of being attached to the door frame base unit 100. Further, the upper end of the main body portion 171 is formed in a shape along the lower end of the game area 5a in the game board 5 in a state of being assembled to the pachinko machine 1. More specifically, the upper end of the main body portion 171 is formed in a shape along a part of the inner rail 1002 of the front component 1000 described later, the out guide portion 1003, a part of the lower right rail 1004, and the right rail 1005, and is formed so as not to protrude into the game area 5a in a state of being assembled to the pachinko machine 1.

[0278] The rear protruding piece 172 is formed over substantially the entire circumference of the outer peripheral edge of the main body portion 171. Therefore, the security cover 170 is formed in a shallow box shape opened to the rear by the main body portion 171 and the rear protruding piece 172, and has high strength and rigidity. Further, the rear protruding piece 172 also protrudes rearward from a part of the rear surface of the main body portion 171 different from the outer peripheral edge of the main body portion 171. The rear protruding piece 172 protruding rearward from a part of the rear surface of the main body portion 171 is formed so as to be along a part of the outer rail 1001 in the front component 1000 of the game board 5 in a state of being assembled to the pachinko machine 1.

[0279] It should be noted that the rear protrusion 172 is not formed in a portion of the game board 5 that is located between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002 when assembled into the pachinko machine 1. As a result, the game ball B (game ball B launched by the ball launcher 540) that passes between the outer rail 1001 and the inner rail 1002 does not come into contact with the rear protrusion 172 of the security cover 170, and does not hinder the game ball B from being shot into the game area 5a.

[0280] The pair of locking pieces 173 are elastically locked to the rear side of the door frame base unit 100 (speaker duct 103 and cable cover 109). This allows the security cover 170 to be easily attached to and detached from the door frame base unit 100.

[0281] When the security cover 170 is assembled to the pachinko machine 1, the front surface of the main body 171 abuts against the rear surface of the glass unit 160 (the rear end of the glass frame 161), and the rear projection 172, excluding the portion that projects rearward from the bottom edge of the main body 171, is inserted into the security recess 1009 of the front component 1000. In addition, the security cover 170 is in a state where the rear projection 172 that projects rearward from the bottom edge of the main body 171 projects rearward beyond the front surface of the front component 1000 so as to contact the bottom surface of the front component 1000. As a result, the area between the security cover 170 and the game board 5 (front component 1000) is bent in a complex manner by the rear protrusion 172 of the security cover 170 and the security recess 1009 of the front component 1000, so that even if an attempt is made to insert an illegal tool such as a piano wire into the game area 5a through the gap between the security cover 170 and the front component 1000 from below the front of the game board 5, the attempt will be blocked by the rear protrusion 172 and the security recess 1009, preventing the illegal tool from entering the game area 5a.

[0282] [3-4a.Handle unit] Next, the handle unit 180 in the door frame 3 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 48 to 52. Figure 48 is an exploded perspective view of the handle unit, the tray unit, and the performance operation unit in the door frame as seen from the front, and Figure 49 is an exploded perspective view of the handle unit, the tray unit, and the performance operation unit in the door frame as seen from the rear. Figure 50 is an exploded perspective view of the handle unit in the door frame as seen from the front, and Figure 51 is an exploded perspective view of the handle unit in the door frame as seen from the rear. Figure 52(a) is an explanatory diagram showing a perspective view of the relationship between the handle base, handle, handle return spring, and handle touch sensor in the handle unit, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing an exploded perspective view of (a). Figure 53 is an explanatory diagram showing a perspective view of the relationship between the handle base, handle, handle return spring, handle touch sensor, and inner base in the handle unit as seen from the rear. Note that in Figure 53, the position of the first mounting portion 190a in the handle return spring 190 has been changed for ease of understanding.

[0283] The handle unit 180 in this embodiment is attached to the door frame base unit 100 from the front within the cylindrical handle cover unit 290, and when operated by the player, the game ball B in the upper tray 201 can be shot into the game area 5a of the game board 5.

[0284] The handle unit 180 comprises a handle base 181 whose rear end is attached to the handle mounting surface of the door frame base 101, a handle 197 rotatably attached to the front end of the handle base 181, a disc-shaped cover base 183 attached to the handle base 181 so as to cover the center of the front end side of the handle 197, a handle decoration board 184 attached to the front side of the cover base 183 and having multiple LEDs 184a mounted on the front side, and a handle front lens 185 attached to the cover base 183 so as to cover the front side of the handle decoration board 184.

[0285] Further, the handle unit 180 includes an inner base 186 attached to the front surface of the handle base 181 on the rear side of the handle 197, a shaft member 187 having a drive gear portion 187a on the outer periphery thereof, with the handle 197 attached to the front end and rotatably attached by the inner base 186 and the handle base 181, a transmission gear 188 meshing with the drive gear portion 187a of the shaft member 187, and a handle rotation detection sensor 189 having a detection shaft 189a that rotates integrally with the transmission gear 188 and is sandwiched between the handle base 181 and the inner base 186.

[0286] Furthermore, the handle unit 180 includes a handle return spring 190 having one end attached to the handle base 181 and the other end attached to the handle 197, which biases the handle 197 to return to the initial rotation position (the rotation end in the counterclockwise direction in a front view), and an auxiliary spring 191 having one end attached to the inner base 186 and the other end attached to the transmission gear 188, which biases the detection shaft 189a of the handle rotation detection sensor 189 in the clockwise direction in a front view via the transmission gear 188.

[0287] In addition, the handle unit 180 includes a handle touch sensor 192 attached to the handle base 181 behind the inner base 186, a single-shot button 193 having a tip protruding outward from the left side in a front view of the outer peripheral surface of the front end of the handle base 181 and rotatably attached around a shaft extending back and forth on the handle base 181 behind the inner base 186, and a single-shot button operation sensor 194 attached to the handle base 181 for detecting a pressing operation of the single-shot button 193.

[0288] The handle base 181 of the handle unit 180 includes a cylindrical base portion 181a extending in the front-rear direction, a disk-shaped front end portion 181b protruding radially from the front end of the base portion 181a, and groove portions 181c that are recessed from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical base portion 181a, extend in the axial direction, and are formed in three at unequal intervals in the circumferential direction. The outer diameter of the base portion 181a of the handle base 181 is formed to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the rear cylindrical portion of the handle cover base 291 in the handle cover unit 290. Also, the three groove portions 181c are formed at positions corresponding to the three ridges of the handle cover base 291. Therefore, with the three groove portions 181c aligned with the three ridges, the base portion 181a can be inserted into the rear cylindrical portion of the handle cover base 291, and by inserting the ridges into the three groove portions 181c respectively, the handle base 181 becomes non-rotatable relative to the handle cover base 291.

[0289] Further, the handle base 181 includes a sensor housing recess 181d in which a handle touch sensor 192 is housed from the front, a tab contact portion 181e against which a tab-shaped terminal 192a of the handle touch sensor 192 abuts, and a mounting hole 181f provided in the tab contact portion 181e (see FIG. 52). The handle touch sensor 192 is housed in the sensor housing recess 181d, and the tab-shaped terminal 192a of the handle touch sensor 192 is brought into contact with the tab contact portion 181e. Then, the rear portion of the inner base 186 is inserted into the handle base 181 from the front, and the mounting piece 186a of the inner base 186 (see FIG. 53) is positioned in front of the tab-shaped terminal 192a. Then, by screwing a mounting screw (not shown) into the mounting hole 181f from in front of the mounting piece 186a of the inner base 186 and tightening it, the handle touch sensor 192 can be mounted on the handle base 181 together with the inner base 186. At this time, by screwing the mounting screw so that the U-shaped second mounting portion 190b provided on the rear end side of the handle return spring 190 is sandwiched between the mounting piece 186a of the inner base 186 and the tab-shaped terminal 192a of the handle touch sensor 192, the rear end side of the handle return spring 190 can be mounted on the handle base 181, and the handle return spring 190 and the handle touch sensor 192 can be electrically connected. The portion of the tab contact portion 181e in the handle base 181 can face forward through a slit 197e (described later) in the handle 197, and a driver as a tool can be approached from the front through the slit 197e.

[0290] The handle 197 is provided with a plating layer having conductivity on its surface. The handle 197 includes four first protrusions 197a, second protrusions 197b, third protrusions 197c, and fourth protrusions 197d that protrude outward away from the outer peripheral surface in the circumferential direction, two slits 197e that extend in an arc around the rotation axis (shaft member 187) and penetrate in the front-rear direction, a spring attachment piece 197f provided at one end side of one slit 197e and facing forward at a portion recessed toward the center side of the handle 197, and an attachment hole 197g that penetrates the spring attachment piece 197f in the front-rear direction.

[0291] With the annular first attachment portion 190a provided at the front end of the handle return spring 190 being in contact with the upper surface of the spring attachment piece 197f on the handle 197, by screwing and tightening a mounting screw (not shown) into the attachment hole 197g from the front, the front end side of the handle return spring 190 can be mounted from the front, and the plating layer on the surface of the handle 197 and the handle return spring 190 can be electrically connected. As a result, the handle touch sensor 192 and the handle 197 are electrically connected via the metal handle return spring 190, and it becomes possible to detect contact of the handle 197 by the player.

[0292] Note that the four first protrusions 197a, second protrusions 197b, third protrusions 197c, and fourth protrusions 197d on the handle 197 are provided in order in the counterclockwise direction in a front view.

[0293] As described above, according to the handle unit 180 of the present embodiment, since both ends of the metal handle return spring 190 that electrically connects the handle touch sensor 192 and the handle 197 are respectively attached by mounting screws, compared to the case where both ends of the handle return spring 190 are merely in contact, it is possible to surely make an electrical connection and surely prevent a contact failure (detection failure of the handle touch sensor 192). Therefore, in the game hall where the pachinko machine 1 is installed, even if chemicals such as alcohol or sodium hypochlorite used during cleaning enter the handle unit 180, or gas or the like is generated from the chemicals and adheres to the handle return spring 190 or the like, causing the surface to corrode or oxidize, no contact failure will occur, and the handle touch sensor 192 can surely detect the contact of the player.

[0294] Further, in the handle unit 180 of the present embodiment, since a driver for turning a mounting screw can be approached from the front through the slit 197e of the handle 197 with respect to the first attachment portion 190a and the second attachment portion 190b which are both ends of the handle return spring 190, the handle unit 180 can be easily assembled and maintenance is easy.

[0295] This handle unit 180 is attached to the handle mounting seat surface of the door frame base 101 via the handle cover unit 290. The handle mounting seat surface of this door frame base 101 is inclined so that the right end side is located behind the left end side in a plan view and faces the outside (open side). Therefore, the handle unit 180 is also inclined outward in a plan view (in other words, it is inclined so that its tip portion faces the outside of the pachinko machine 1 with respect to the line orthogonal to the front surface of the pachinko machine 1.) and is attached and fixed to the door frame 3. Thereby, it is easy for the player to grip the handle 197 of the handle unit 180, and a rotation operation can be performed without a sense of discomfort.

[0296] [3-4a-1. Modification example of handle unit] Next, a modified example of the handle unit will be described. Note that only one of the following plurality of modified examples may be used, or a plurality of modified examples may be appropriately combined and used together with the above-described embodiment.

[0297] (Modified Example 1) In the above embodiment, it has been shown that the tab-shaped terminal 192a of the handle touch sensor 192 and the second attachment portion 190b of the handle return spring 190 are attached together with a mounting screw, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a protrusion may be provided on the handle 197, and the shape of the front end side (first attachment portion 190a) of the handle return spring 190 may be made to conform to a part of the outer periphery of the protrusion of the handle 197 so that the front end of the handle return spring 190 is locked to the protrusion. As a result, the front end side of the handle return spring 190 comes into line contact with the protrusion, and by increasing the contact portion as compared with point contact, the occurrence of poor contact can be prevented. In this case, it is desirable to provide the protrusion of the handle 197 at a location where it is difficult for chemical solutions such as alcohol or sodium hypochlorite used for cleaning to come into contact. Alternatively, a cover may be provided at the relevant location so that chemical solutions such as alcohol do not come into contact.

[0298] (Modified Example 2) Also, for example, the configuration shown in FIG. 54 may be adopted. FIG. 54 is an explanatory diagram showing a perspective view of the relationship between a handle base, a handle, a handle return spring, a handle touch sensor, and an inner base, which is a modified example of the handle unit, as viewed from behind. In this modified example, the handle 197 is composed of a main body portion 197A and an annular ring portion 197B, and the ring portion 197B is formed of metal or resin having a plating layer on its surface. The ring portion 197B of the handle 197 is provided such that its outer peripheral surface is exposed to the outside at the rear end of the handle 197 (the front end of the handle base 181). Then, the ring portion 197B and the handle touch sensor 192 may be electrically connected by an electric wire 198.

[0299] Specifically, one round terminal 198a of the electric wire 198 provided with round terminals 198a at both ends is sandwiched between the attachment piece 186a of the inner base 186 and the tab-shaped terminal 192a of the handle touch sensor 192, and they are screwed together with a mounting screw. The other round terminal 198a of the electric wire 198 is screwed to the attachment portion 197h of the ring portion 197B in the handle 197. Thus, when the player grips the handle 197, his / her finger will contact the ring portion 197B, and the contact can be detected via the ring portion 197B and the electric wire 198. Therefore, similar to the above, poor contact (detection failure of the handle touch sensor 192) can be surely prevented. So, even when chemical solutions such as alcohol or sodium hypochlorite are used during cleaning in the game hall where the pachinko machine 1 is installed, poor contact will not occur, and the handle touch sensor 192 can surely detect the contact of the player.

[0300] Note that the ring portion 197B of the handle 197 may be fixed to the main body portion 197A and provided so as to be integrally rotatable, or may be guided by the main body portion 197A or the handle base 181 and provided so as to be relatively rotatable. Also, in the above, an annular ring portion 197B is shown, but a non-annular ring portion 197B that does not go around like a C shape may also be used.

[0301] Also, in the above, the handle 197 is shown as being composed of the main body portion 197A and the ring portion 197B, but it is not limited thereto, and the ring portion 197B may be an independent structure separate from the handle 197.

[0302] (Modification Example 3) Further, for example, the handle touch sensor 192 may be provided at another position, and using an electric wire 198 provided with round terminals 198a at both ends, one round terminal 198a may be screwed to the tab-shaped terminal 192a with a mounting screw, and the other round terminal 198a may be screwed to the second mounting portion 190b of the handle return spring 190 with a mounting screw. Also in this case, similar to the above, it is possible to reliably prevent a contact failure (detection failure of the handle touch sensor 192). Therefore, even if a chemical solution such as alcohol or sodium hypochlorite is used during cleaning in the game hall where the pachinko machine 1 is installed, no contact failure will occur, and the handle touch sensor 192 can reliably detect the contact of the player. In this case, the front end side (first mounting portion 190a) of the handle return spring 190 may be attached to the handle 197 with a mounting screw, or may be locked to a protrusion provided on the handle 197.

[0303] (Modification Example 4) Further, for example, a mounting hole may be provided on the back surface of the handle 197, and one round terminal 198a of the electric wire 198 provided with round terminals 198a at both ends may be screwed to the tab-shaped terminal 192a of the handle touch sensor 192 with a mounting screw, and the other round terminal 198a may be screwed with a mounting screw screwed into the mounting hole of the handle 197. At this time, the length of the electric wire 198 is set to a length that allows the handle 197 to rotate. As the portion of the handle 197 where the round terminal 198a of the electric wire 198 is screwed, for example, when the handle 197 has a ring portion 197B as shown in FIG. 54, the ring portion 197B is provided so as to rotate integrally with the main body portion 197A, and the round terminal 198a may be screwed to the mounting portion 197h of the ring portion 197B. Also in this case, similar to the above, it is possible to reliably prevent a contact failure (detection failure of the handle touch sensor 192). Therefore, even if a chemical solution such as alcohol or sodium hypochlorite is used during cleaning in the game hall where the pachinko machine 1 is installed, no contact failure will occur, and the handle touch sensor 192 can reliably detect the contact of the player.

[0304] (Other Modification Examples) In the above description, it is shown that the handle 197 is screwed to the plated layer provided thereon. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, when a metal part is provided on the handle 197, it may be screwed to the metal part so as to be electrically connected to the handle touch sensor 192. As this metal part, for example, the above-described ring part 197B may be made of metal.

[0305] Also, in the above description, the handle touch sensor 192 is shown as having the tab-shaped terminal 192a. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the handle touch sensor may have a connector. In this case, the tip side of the electric wire connected to the connector may be directly or electrically connected to the handle 197 via the handle return spring 190.

[0306] [3-4a-2. Small Bracket] The above-described handle unit 180 has the following technical features. (Background of Technical Features) In a pachinko machine as a gaming machine, a handle that a player operates to launch a game ball into a game area and a touch sensor for detecting that the player is touching the handle are provided (for example, Patent Document: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-137794). In a conventional gaming machine as described in the above patent document, the touch sensor and the handle are electrically connected via a spring for returning the handle to its original position, and contact of the handle by the player is detected. In this type of conventional gaming machine, in the spring for returning the handle, the end on the touch sensor side and the end on the handle side are brought into contact with each other using the biasing force of the spring.

[0307] By the way, in a game hall where gaming machines are installed, when cleaning and disinfecting the gaming machines, chemical solutions such as alcohol or sodium hypochlorite may be used. And if the chemical solution used for cleaning etc. enters the handle or gas etc. is generated and adheres to a spring etc., the surface of the spring etc. may corrode or oxidize, resulting in an electrical contact failure. Due to such a contact failure, the firing of the game balls may become unstable or it may become impossible to fire the game balls, which may reduce the interest of the players.

[0308] Therefore, in the following means, in view of the above situation, the problem is to provide a gaming machine that can surely detect contact with the handle by the player.

[0309] (Means for solving technical features) Means 1: In a gaming machine, 「A gaming machine equipped with a handle unit for firing game balls into the game area, The handle unit includes A rotatable handle, A handle base that rotatably supports the handle, A touch sensor provided on the handle base, One end side is screwed together with the electrode tab of the touch sensor, or the tip of the electric wire connected to the electrode tab or the connector of the touch sensor, and the other end side is in contact with the plated part or the metal part of the handle, and it is provided with a linear metal wire body」.

[0310] Here, examples of the 「wire body」 include 「spring」, 「electric wire」, etc.

[0311] According to the configuration of means 1, a gaming machine is provided with a handle unit for launching a game ball into a game area. The handle unit includes a rotatable handle, a handle base that rotatably supports the handle, a touch sensor provided on the handle base, and an electrode tab of the touch sensor, or the tip of an electric wire connected to the electrode tab or the connector of the touch sensor. One end side is screwed, and the other end side is in contact with the plated portion or the metal portion of the handle, and it includes a linear metal wire. (Refer to the description in the chapter of [3-4a. Handle Unit] and FIGS. 50 to 54, etc. in [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention])

[0312] In this configuration, in the handle unit for launching a game ball into a game area, one end side of the metal wire whose other end side is in contact with the plated portion or the metal portion of the handle is screwed together with the electrode tab of the touch sensor provided on the handle base, or the tip of the electric wire connected to the electrode tab or the connector of the touch sensor. That is, one end side of the wire is screwed to the electrode tab of the touch sensor, or the tip of the electric wire that is electrically connected to the touch sensor via the electrode tab or the connector. Thereby, compared with the case where it is simply brought into contact without screwing one end side of the wire, when chemicals such as alcohol or sodium hypochlorite used during cleaning of the gaming machine enter the handle, or gases are generated and adhere to springs or the like, even if the surface corrodes or oxidizes, no contact failure will occur, and the touch sensor can surely detect the player's contact with the handle via the wire. Therefore, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can prevent the launch of the game ball from becoming unstable or the game ball from not being able to be launched due to a detection failure of the touch sensor, allowing the player to enjoy the game in a good state and suppressing a decrease in the player's interest.

[0313] Note that when the electrode tab of the touch sensor is screwed, it is desirable to attach the touch sensor to the handle base. This enables simultaneous attachment of one end side of the linear body and the touch sensor, reducing the labor involved in assembly and disassembly.

[0314] Also, the other end side of the linear body may be locked to the protruding portion protruding from the handle. This electrically connects the other end side of the linear body to the protruding portion of the handle, reducing the labor (man-hours) involved in assembling and disassembling the handle unit and suppressing an increase in the cost of the gaming machine.

[0315] Furthermore, the other end side of the linear body may be screwed to the handle. This makes it less likely for poor contact to occur not only on one end side but also on the other end side because the other end side of the linear body is also screwed to the handle. Therefore, even if the linear body or the like corrodes or oxidizes due to chemicals such as alcohol or sodium hypochlorite during cleaning of the gaming machine, poor contact will not occur, and the touch sensor can surely detect the player's contact with the handle via the linear body.

[0316] Also, when the other end side of the linear body is also screwed as described above, it is desirable to be able to approach tools such as a driver from the same direction for the respective screws (mounting screws) on one end side and the other end side of the linear body. This allows screwing from the same direction for both ends of the linear body, reducing the labor involved in assembling the handle unit and suppressing an increase in the cost of the gaming machine.

[0317] Also, it is desirable that the linear body be a spring that biases the handle around the axis. As a result, since the linear body that electrically connects the handle and the touch sensor is used as the spring that biases the handle, the number of parts of the handle unit can be reduced compared to the case where the linear body is a member separate from the spring (for example, an electric wire), and an increase in the cost of the gaming machine can be suppressed.

[0318] Means 2: In the configuration of Means 1, "The other end side of the linear body is locked to a protrusion protruding from the handle" is characterized by being such.

[0319] Here, examples of the "protrusion" include "one integrally formed with the handle", "one insert-molded with respect to the handle (for example, a metal pin)", "one attached to the handle separately from the handle (for example, a metal pin, a screw, etc.)", and the like.

[0320] According to the configuration of Means 2, the other end side of the linear body is locked to a protrusion protruding from the handle. (Refer to the chapter of [3-4a. Handle unit] in [Embodiments of the Invention])

[0321] As a result, since the other end side of the linear body is locked to the protrusion of the handle and thus electrically connected, the labor (man-hours) required for assembling and disassembling the handle unit can be reduced, and an increase in the cost of the gaming machine can be suppressed.

[0322] Note that after locking the other end side of the linear body to the protrusion of the handle, it may be screwed. As a result, in the linear body, it is possible to make it difficult for a poor contact to occur not only on one end side but also on the other end side, and it is possible to surely detect the contact of the handle by the player by the touch sensor.

[0323] Means 3: In the configuration of Means 1 or Means 2, "The other end side of the linear body is screwed to the handle." It is characterized by this.

[0324] According to the configuration of means 3, the other end side of the linear body is screwed to the handle. (Refer to the description of the handle return spring 190 and FIG. 52 in [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention])

[0325] As a result, since the other end side of the linear body is also screwed to the handle, it is possible to make it difficult for poor contact to occur not only on one end side but also on the other end side. Therefore, when cleaning the gaming machine, even if the linear body and the like are corroded or oxidized by chemical solutions such as alcohol and sodium hypochlorite, poor contact will not occur, and it is possible to surely detect the player's contact with the handle by the touch sensor via the linear body.

[0326] In addition, since one end side and the other end side of the linear body are each screwed, it is desirable to be able to approach a tool such as a driver from the same direction for each screw (mounting screw). As a result, since the both ends of the linear body can be screwed from the same direction, the labor required for assembling the handle unit can be reduced, and an increase in the cost of the gaming machine can be suppressed.

[0327] Means 4: In any one of the configurations from means 1 to means 3, "The linear body is a spring that biases the handle around the axis." It is characterized by this.

[0328] According to the configuration of means 4, the linear body is a spring that biases the handle around the axis. (Refer to the description of the handle return spring 190 in [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention])

[0329] As a result, the linear body electrically connecting the handle and the touch sensor is made to be a spring that biases the handle, so the number of parts in the handle unit can be reduced compared to when the linear body is a separate member from the spring (for example, an electrical wire), and the increase in costs associated with the gaming machine can be suppressed.

[0330] In this way, according to the above solution, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can reliably detect contact of the handle by the player.

[0331] (Relationship between the solution of technical features and embodiments) The handle unit 180 in the door frame 3 of this embodiment corresponds to the handle unit of the above-mentioned solution, the handle base 181 of the handle unit 180 in this embodiment corresponds to the handle base of the above-mentioned solution, the handle return spring 190 of the handle unit 180 in this embodiment corresponds to the linear body and spring of the above-mentioned solution, the handle touch sensor 192 of the handle unit 180 in this embodiment corresponds to the touch sensor of the above-mentioned solution, the tab-shaped terminal 192a of the handle touch sensor 192 in this embodiment corresponds to the electrode tab of the above-mentioned solution, and the handle 197 of the handle unit 180 in this embodiment corresponds to the handle of the above-mentioned solution.

[0332] (Characteristic effects of this embodiment) According to the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment, in the handle unit 180 for firing the game ball B in the door frame 3 into the game area 5a, one end side (second attachment portion 190b side) of the handle return spring 190 as a metal linear body whose other end side (first attachment portion 190a side) is in contact with the plated portion of the handle 197 is screwed together with the tab-shaped terminal 192a of the handle touch sensor 192 provided on the handle base 181. That is, one end side of the handle return spring 190 is screwed to the tab-shaped terminal 192a of the handle touch sensor 192. As a result, compared with the case where one end side of the handle return spring 190 is merely brought into contact without being screwed, even if chemicals such as alcohol or sodium hypochlorite used during cleaning of the pachinko machine 1 enter the handle unit 180, or gas or the like is generated and adheres to the spring or the like, causing the surface to corrode or oxidize, no contact failure will occur, and the handle touch sensor 192 can surely detect the contact of the player with the handle 197 via the handle return spring 190. Therefore, the firing of the game ball B will not become unstable or impossible to fire due to a detection failure of the handle touch sensor 192, and it is possible to provide the pachinko machine 1 that can allow the player to enjoy the game in a good state and suppress a decrease in the player's interest.

[0333] Also, when the tab-shaped terminal 192a of the handle touch sensor 192 is screwed, since the handle touch sensor 192 is attached to the handle base 181, the attachment of one end side (second attachment portion 190b side) of the handle return spring 190 and the attachment of the handle touch sensor 192 can be performed simultaneously, reducing the labor involved in assembly and disassembly.

[0334] Furthermore, since the other end side (first attachment portion 190a side) of the handle return spring 190 is screwed to the handle 197, poor contact is unlikely to occur not only at the one end side (second attachment portion 190b side) but also at the other end side (first attachment portion 190a). Therefore, even if the handle return spring 190 and the like are corroded or oxidized by chemicals such as alcohol or sodium hypochlorite when cleaning the pachinko machine 1, poor contact will not occur, and the handle touch sensor 192 can reliably detect the player's contact with the handle 197 via the handle return spring 190.

[0335] Furthermore, at one end side (second mounting portion 190b side) and the other end side (first mounting portion 190a side) of the handle return spring 190, a tool such as a screwdriver can be approached from the same direction (the front in this case) for each screw (mounting screw), and since both ends of the handle return spring 190 can be screwed from the same direction, the effort required to assemble the handle unit 180 can be reduced and the increase in costs associated with the pachinko machine 1 can be suppressed.

[0336] Furthermore, since the linear body electrically connecting the handle 197 and the handle touch sensor 192 is the handle return spring 190 that biases the handle 197, the number of parts in the handle unit 180 can be reduced compared to when the linear body is a separate member (for example, an electric wire) from the handle return spring 190, and the increase in costs associated with the pachinko machine 1 can be suppressed.

[0337] The other end side (first attachment portion 190a side) of the handle return spring 190 may be engaged with a protrusion protruding rearward from the handle 197. In this way, the other end side of the handle return spring 190 is electrically connected by engaging it with the protrusion of the handle 197, so that the effort (man-hours) required for assembling and disassembling the handle unit 180 can be reduced, and an increase in the cost of the pachinko machine 1 can be suppressed.

[0338] [3-4b. Handle Cover Unit] The handle cover unit 290 in the door frame 3 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 48 and 49 and the like. The handle cover unit 290 includes a handle cover base 291 that covers the outer periphery on the rear side of the handle 197 in the handle unit 180 and has its rear end attached to the handle mounting seat surface of the door frame base 101, and a handle cover 295 that covers the outer periphery with a space therebetween and has its rear end attached to the dish unit main body 252 of the dish unit 200.

[0339] The handle cover base 291 includes a cylindrical rear cylinder portion that extends back and forth with an inner diameter into which the base portion 181a of the handle base 181 can be inserted, and a plurality (here, three) of ridges that project inward from the inner periphery of the rear cylinder portion, extend back and forth, and are provided at positions corresponding to the groove portions 181c of the handle base 181 in the circumferential direction.

[0340] The rear end of the rear cylinder portion is attached to the handle mounting seat surface of the door frame base 101. This rear cylinder portion is formed to have the same length as the base portion 181a of the handle base 181, and the base portion 181a of the handle base 181 is inserted therein. The three ridges correspond to the three groove portions 181c of the handle base 181, and by being inserted into the groove portions 181c, the handle base 181 can be made non-rotatable relative to each other.

[0341] The handle cover 295 has a front hole 295a with a larger diameter than the handle 197 at the front end, and is formed in a spindle-shaped (kamakura type, or bowl type, etc.) cylindrical shape that bulges rearward, and a plurality (here, four) of notch openings 295b that are notched from the rear end toward the front are provided in the circumferential direction. The rear end of the handle cover 295 is attached to the dish unit main body 252 of the dish unit 200.

[0342] The handle cover unit 290 of the present embodiment can discharge liquids such as drinks and game balls B into the cylinder through the lower notch opening 295b even if they enter the cylinder, to the lower side of the handle cover unit 290.

[0343] Also, the lower notch opening 295b of the handle cover 295 is provided on the extension line in the inclination direction of the blade part 46b of the grill member 46 in the outer frame lower assembly 40 of the outer frame 2. Thereby, the wind (wind pressure) discharged obliquely upward and forward from the grill member 46 through the blade part 46b due to the vibration of the main body frame speaker 622 can enter the cylinder through the notch opening 295b. Therefore, when the player inserts a finger into the cylinder of the handle cover 295 and rotates the handle 197 (the game ball B driving device), by vibrating the main body frame speaker 622 and sending wind into the front cylinder part 291a, the player can be surprised and a novel effect can be achieved. That is, since a stimulus by sound pressure can be applied to the finger of the player operating the handle 197, the player can be surprised, made to anticipate the arrival of a chance, or have the operation amount of the handle operation changed, etc., making the player enjoy the game and making it difficult for the player to get bored, and suppressing a decrease in the interest in the game.

[0344] Furthermore, since the sound pressure (sound wind) from the main body frame speaker 622 can be supplied into the handle cover unit 290 through the notch opening 295b, the inside of the handle cover unit 290 can be cooled, and by making the environment around the fingers of the player operating the handle 197 comfortable, the stress on the player can be alleviated and a decrease in the interest in the game can be suppressed.

[0345] Also, as described above, for the fingers of a player who is operating the handle 197 with a finger inserted into the handle cover unit 290, the sound pressure (sound wind) emitted forward from the port member 47 provided on the outer frame lower assembly 40 of the outer frame 2, which is different from the door frame 3 where the handle 197 and the handle cover unit 290 are provided, is induced by the plurality of blade portions 46b of the grill member 46 to apply a stimulus. Therefore, compared with the case where a vibration device is provided on the handle 197, it does not damage various sensors (handle rotation detection sensor 189, handle touch sensor 192, single-shot button operation sensor 194, etc.) and bearing mechanisms provided on the handle 197, and it is possible to make the handle unit 180 difficult to be damaged, avoiding giving discomfort to the player due to the damage of the handle unit 180, and suppressing the decline of the player's interest in the game.

[0346] Furthermore, since the handle cover 295 has the notch opening 295b, when opening the door frame 3 or the main body frame 4, a finger can be hooked on the right notch opening 295b and pulled, and it can be used as a handle when opening the door frame 3 or the like.

[0347] Also, since the handle cover 295 has the notch opening 295b, by hooking a finger on the handle 197 and the notch opening 295b and grasping them, the rotational position of the handle 197 can be easily fixed, and the game ball B can be continuously driven into the game area 5a with a certain strength without continuously twisting the hand. In this way, since the handle 197 can be rotated in various ways to drive the game ball B, it is possible to provide the pachinko machine 1 that can select a driving operation suitable for the player.

[0348] In addition, a handle 197 is provided at the lower right corner of the door frame 3 on the side opposite to the hinge side, and a notch opening 295b is provided at a portion facing the right side of the outer peripheral surface of the handle cover 295 of the handle cover unit 290. Therefore, the notch opening 295b can be used as a handle when opening and closing the door frame 3. Accordingly, there is no need to provide a handle that deteriorates the appearance of the door frame 3, and the appearance of the door frame 3 can be improved.

[0349] [3-5. Overall Configuration of Dish Unit] Regarding the dish unit 200 in the door frame 3, it will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 48 and 49. The dish unit 200 is attached to a portion below the door window 101a on the front surface of the door frame base 101 of the door frame base unit 100. The dish unit 200 includes an upper dish 201 for storing the game balls B to be driven into the game area 5a, and a lower dish 202 disposed below the upper dish 201 and capable of storing the game balls B supplied from the upper dish 201 and the far cover unit 150.

[0350] The dish unit 200 includes a dish base unit 210 having an upper dish 201 and attached to the front surface of the door frame base 101 of the door frame base unit 100, a dish decoration unit 250 having a lower dish 202 and attached to the front surface of the dish base unit 210, and an effect operation unit 300 attached to the front surfaces of the dish decoration unit 250 and the dish base unit 210 and operable by a player.

[0351] The dish base unit 210 includes a flat plate-shaped dish unit base 211 extending left and right, an upper dish body 212 attached to the upper front portion of the dish unit base 211 and having an upper dish 201, a mounting base (not shown) attached to the right side of the upper dish body 212 and protruding forward, a dish unit relay circuit board (not shown) attached to the right side of the mounting base, a ball lending operation unit 220 attached to the upper surface of the mounting base, an upper dish ball extraction front unit (not shown) attached below the mounting base, and an upper dish ball extraction rear unit 240 attached to the rear of the upper dish ball extraction front unit.

[0352] The dish decoration unit 250 includes a lower dish body 251 that is attached to the lower front part of the dish unit base 211 and has a lower dish 202, a dish unit main body 252 that is attached to the front surface of the dish unit base 211 so as to cover the outer periphery of the lower dish body 251, a lower dish ball removal unit 260 that is attached to the lower surface of the lower dish body 251, and a left dish decoration unit 270 and a right dish decoration unit 275 that are respectively attached to the upper front part of the dish unit main body 252 with a space therebetween in the left - right direction.

[0353] The effect operation unit 300 includes an effect operation part 301 operable by a player, a pressing operation part 303 that can be pressed by the player, a lever operation part 304 that allows the player to perform a lever operation in the front - rear direction, and an effect operation part 301 operable by the player. The effect operation unit 300 includes a base unit 400 attached to the dish base unit 210 and a lever operation unit 410 rotatably attached to the base unit 400 around an axis extending in the left - right direction. The pressing operation part 303 is provided on the upper surface of the base unit 400.

[0354] The dish unit 200 bulges forward as a whole, and the effect operation unit 300 is arranged such that the upper surface of the effect operation part 301 faces obliquely upward and forward at the center in the left - right direction. An upper dish 201 is arranged on the left side of the effect operation unit 300 on the upper surface, a ball lending operation unit 220 is arranged on the right side of the effect operation unit 300, and a lower dish 202 is arranged on the left side of the effect operation unit 300 below the upper dish 201.

[0355] [3 - 5a. Upper dish] The upper plate 201 of the dish unit 200 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 48 and 49 and the like. The upper plate 201 is formed by a dish unit base 211 and an upper plate main body 212, and is formed in a container shape that bulges forward larger on the left side than the center on the left and right in a front view and is open upward. The upper plate 201 (upper plate main body 212) has a portion about 1 / 3 from the left end to the right in the left-right direction of the door frame 3 bulging most forward. The upper plate 201 has a guiding passage portion 201a (see FIG. 37) whose front end retreats rearward as it goes rightward from the most bulging portion in a front view, and the depth in the front-rear direction is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pachinko ball B. The entire bottom surface of the upper plate 201 including the guiding passage portion 201a is inclined so that the right end side is lower, and the right end side of the guiding passage portion 201a in a front view dives below the ball lending operation unit 220.

[0356] When the upper plate 201 is assembled to the dish unit 200, its bottom surface is inclined so as to become lower from a position below the upper plate ball supply port 211a of the dish unit base 211 toward a position slightly below the outer diameter of the pachinko ball B with respect to the upper end of the upper plate ball feeding port (not shown). Thereby, the pachinko ball B discharged forward from the upper plate ball supply port 211a can be received and stored in the upper plate 201, and the received pachinko ball B can be supplied from the right end side of the guiding passage portion 201a through the upper plate ball feeding port to the ball feeding unit 140 side.

[0357] Note that the guiding passage portion 201a is provided with a metal grounding fitting that is electrically grounded (earthed) in the pachinko machine 1, and when the pachinko ball B comes into contact (rolls), the static electricity charged on the pachinko ball B can be removed.

[0358] [3-5b. Lower dish] The lower dish 202 of the dish unit 200 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIG. 48 and the like. The lower dish 202 is disposed below the upper dish 201 and to the left of the center in the left-right direction of the dish unit 200 (door frame 3) in a front view. The lower dish 202 is formed by a lower dish body 251 and a dish unit base 211. The lower dish 202 is formed in a container shape capable of storing the game balls B, and is provided with a lower dish ball discharge hole 202a that penetrates vertically through the bottom wall and allows the game balls B to be discharged (see FIG. 29). The lower dish ball discharge hole 202a of the lower dish 202 is closably closed by a lower dish ball discharge lid of the lower dish ball discharge unit 260.

[0359] The lower dish 202 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that extends left and right in a plan view, and the front end on the left side of the center in the left-right direction protrudes forward more than the right side. The lower dish 202 has a lower dish ball discharge hole 202a that penetrates vertically, and is disposed near the front end near the right end. The bottom surface of this lower dish 202 is inclined so as to be lower toward the lower dish ball discharge hole 202a. The lower dish ball discharge hole 202a of the lower dish 202 is located to the left of and below the effect operation unit 300 in front of the lower dish ball supply port 211c in a state where it is assembled to the dish unit 200.

[0360] The lower dish 202 can store the game balls B discharged forward from the lower dish ball supply port 211c while closing the lower dish ball discharge hole 202a, and can discharge the stored game balls B to below the dish unit 200 (for example, the dollar box) by opening the lower dish ball discharge hole 202a. Further, in a state where the lower dish ball discharge hole 202a of the lower dish 202 is open, since the lower dish ball discharge hole 202a is disposed in front of the lower dish ball supply port 211c, the game balls B discharged forward from the lower dish ball supply port 211c can be quickly discharged downward from the lower dish ball discharge hole 202a by moving the shortest distance.

[0361] [3-5c. Dish base unit] Regarding the dish base unit 210 in the dish unit 200, it will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 48 and 49. The dish base unit 210 includes a flat plate-shaped dish unit base 211 that is attached to the lower front part of the door frame base unit 100 and extends horizontally, an upper dish main body 212 that has an upper dish 201 and is attached to the upper front part of the dish unit base 211, and a dish unit relay substrate 214 that is attached near the lower right corner on the rear surface of the dish unit base 211.

[0362] In addition, the dish base unit 210 includes a ball lending operation unit 220 that is attached to the upper part of the front surface of the dish unit base 211, an upper dish ball removal front unit (not shown) that is attached to the front surface of the dish unit base 211 below the ball lending operation unit 220, and an upper dish ball removal rear unit 240 that is attached to the rear side of the dish unit base 211 behind the upper dish ball removal front unit.

[0363] [3-5c-1. Dish Unit Base] Regarding the dish unit base 211 of the dish base unit 210, it will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 48 and 49. The dish unit base 211 is attached below the door window 101a on the front surface of the door frame base 101 of the door frame base unit 100, and is formed in a flat plate shape (a shallow box shape with an open rear) that extends horizontally across the entire width of the door frame base 101.

[0364] The dish unit base 211 includes an upper dish ball supply port 211a that penetrates front and back near the upper left corner in a front view and extends cylindrically backward, a speaker port 211b that penetrates front and back below the upper dish ball supply port 211a and has a punching metal attached to the front side, a lower dish ball supply port 211c that penetrates front and back in the lower part to the left of the center in a front view and extends cylindrically backward, a notch 211d that is cut out to a size that allows the game ball B to pass through on the right side wall of the part that extends cylindrically backward from the lower dish ball supply port 211c, and an upper dish ball feeding port (not shown) that penetrates front and back in the upper right side in a front view of the lower dish ball supply port 211c, extends vertically, and has its upper part located at the right end of the upper dish main body 212.

[0365] In the state where the upper plate ball supply port 211a of the dish unit base 211 is assembled to the door frame 3, the front end opens to the rear wall of the upper plate 201, and the cylindrical rear end penetrates the upper plate ball passage port 101g of the door frame base 101 from the front side and is connected to the front end of the through ball passage 150a of the far cover unit 150. Thereby, the game ball B discharged from the discharging device 580 of the discharging unit 560 is supplied (discharged) into the upper plate 201 through the upper plate ball supply port 211a.

[0366] In the state where the lower plate ball supply port 211c is assembled to the door frame 3, the front end opens to the rear wall of the lower plate 202, and the cylindrical rear end penetrates the lower plate ball passage port 101f of the door frame base 101 from the front side and is connected to the front end of the ball discharge port 150d of the far cover unit 150. Thereby, the game ball B flowing through the storage passage 150e of the far cover unit 150 is supplied into the lower plate 202 through the lower plate ball supply port 211c. Further, the downstream end of the ball discharge guide path 241c in the rear base 241 of the upper plate ball discharge rear unit 240 is connected to the notch 211d formed in the portion of the lower plate ball supply port 211c extending in a cylindrical shape. Thereby, the game ball B stored in the upper plate 201 is discharged into the lower plate 202 from the lower plate ball supply port 211c through the upper plate ball discharge button 222, the upper plate ball supply port, the inlet 141a and the ball discharge port 141b of the ball supply unit 140, the ball supply guide path and the ball discharge guide path 241c of the upper plate ball discharge rear unit 240, and the notch 211d.

[0367] The upper plate ball supply port is located in front of the ball receiving port (not shown in the figure) of the rear base 241 in the upper plate ball discharge rear unit 240 in the state of being assembled to the dish base unit 210, and the game ball B in the upper plate 201 is supplied from the ball receiving port of the upper plate ball discharge rear unit 240 to the ball supply guide path.

[0368] [3-5c-2. Upper plate body] The upper plate body 212 of the dish base unit 210 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 48 and 49 and the like. The upper plate body 212 is attached to the front surface of the dish unit base 211 and cooperates with the dish unit base 211 to form the upper dish 201. The upper plate body 212 is formed in a container shape (dish shape) with the upper and rear sides open. The upper plate body 212 extends left and right, and when viewed from the front, the left side is larger and bulges forward more than the center on the left and right. From the most forward-bulging part of the upper plate body 212 toward the right when viewed from the front, the front end retreats backward, and the depth in the front-rear direction is formed to have a width slightly larger than the outer diameter of the game ball B. The bottom surface of the upper plate body 212 is inclined so that the right end is the lowest. The upper part near the right end of the upper plate body 212 is closed.

[0369] In a state where the upper plate body 212 is assembled to the dish unit 200, the part where the upper part near the right end is closed is attached so as to dive under the ball lending operation unit 220. Further, the upper plate body 212 has an effect operation unit attachment part 212a formed at the intermediate part in the left-right direction at the upper part, and a part of the effect operation unit 300 is attached to the effect operation unit attachment part 212a.

[0370] [3-5c-3. Dish Unit Relay Substrate] The dish unit relay substrate 214 of the dish base unit 210 is for relaying the connection between the door frame sub-relay substrate 105 (see FIG. 72) in the door frame base unit 100, the left dish decorative substrate, the right dish decorative substrate, the rotating body decorative substrate 416, and the like. The dish unit relay substrate .

[0371] [3-5c-4. Ball Lending Operation Unit] The ball lending operation unit 220 of the dish base unit 210 will be mainly described with reference to FIGS. 48 and 49. This ball lending operation unit 220 discharges the game balls B stored in the upper dish 201 to the lower dish 202, or after inserting cash or a prepaid card into a ball lending machine (not shown) provided adjacent to the pachinko machine 1, it lends a predetermined number of game balls B into the upper dish 201 of the dish unit 200, displays the remaining amount of cash or prepaid card inserted into the ball lending machine, returns the cash or prepaid card inserted into the ball lending machine after deducting the amount corresponding to the lent game balls B, adjusts the volume, and adjusts the light amount.

[0372] The ball lending operation unit 220 includes an upper dish ball extraction button 222, a ball lending button 224, a return button 225, a ball lending display unit 226, and an adjustment button 229 composed of four buttons arranged in a cross shape.

[0373] The upper dish ball extraction button 222 protrudes upward in a cylindrical shape and can move downward when pressed by the player. The ball lending button 224 is formed in a circular shape with the character "ball" on its upper surface. The return button 225 is formed in a triangular shape. The ball lending display unit 226 is composed of three 7-segment LEDs and one bullet-shaped LED, and can be clearly visible from the player's side when emitting light.

[0374] By pressing the upper dish ball extraction button 222 of the ball lending operation unit 220, the game balls B stored in the upper dish 201 can be discharged to the lower dish. Also, after inserting cash or a prepaid card with a remaining amount into the ball lending machine and pressing the ball lending button 224, a predetermined number of game balls B will be supplied to the upper dish 201. When the return button 225 is pressed, the cash or prepaid card inserted into the ball lending machine will be returned after deducting the amount corresponding to the lent game balls B. The remaining amount of cash or prepaid card inserted into the ball lending machine is displayed on the ball lending display unit 226. Also, an error code is displayed on the ball lending display unit 226 when the ball lending machine malfunctions.

[0375] The adjustment button 229 is used to adjust the volume of the sound effects such as music, voices, and sound effects output from the top center speaker and the top side speaker of the door frame 3 and the main body frame speaker 622 for bass in the main body frame 4, or to adjust the light quantity (brightness) of the LEDs of various decorative substrates provided on the door frame 3 and the game board 5, the brightness of the display screen of the effect display device 1600, and the like.

[0376] By the way, when adjusting the volume or light quantity using the pressing operation part 303 etc. of the effect operation part 301, when a player participation type effect in which the operation of the effect operation part 301 is required is not being executed, a setting menu for adjusting the volume or light quantity etc. by appropriately operating the effect operation part 301 is displayed on the effect display device 1600, and after selecting an item to be adjusted, the pressing operation part 303 or the lever operation part 304 is operated to change the volume level or the light brightness etc., which takes time (effort) to adjust the volume and light quantity. On the other hand, according to this embodiment, by operating the adjustment button 229, the volume and light quantity can be directly adjusted, and it is possible to provide a pachinko machine 1 that simplifies the effort required for adjusting the volume and light quantity and enables adjustment in a short time.

[0377] [3-5c-5. Unit after the upper tray ball discharge] Regarding the unit before the upper tray ball discharge and the unit 240 after the upper tray ball discharge in the tray base unit 210, it will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIG. 49. The unit 240 after the upper tray ball discharge is for discharging the game balls B stored in the upper tray 201 to the lower tray 202 in cooperation with the ball feeding unit 140 when the upper tray ball discharge button 222 of the ball lending operation unit 220 is pressed.

[0378] The unit 240 after the upper tray ball discharge includes a rear base 241 attached to the rear surface of the tray unit base 211 so as to close the upper tray ball feeding port from the rear, an upper tray ball discharge slider 242 slidably attached in the vertical direction to the front surface of the rear base 241, a spring (not shown) biasing the upper tray ball discharge slider 242 upward, and a rear cover 244 attached to the rear side of the rear base 241.

[0379] The rear base 241 protrudes upward from the part where the upper dish ball removal slider 242 is slidably attached and opens forward, and has a ball receiving port (not shown) through which the game ball B can pass, a ball feeding guide path that guides the game ball B received in the ball receiving port downward on the rear surface of the rear base 241 and then guides it rearward, and a ball removal guide path 241c that guides the game ball B downward from a position below the ball feeding guide path on the rear surface of the rear base 241 and then guides it rightward in a rear view.

[0380] The ball receiving port is formed at a position that opens forward through the upper dish ball feeding port of the dish unit base 211 at the downstream end (right end in a front view) of the guiding passage portion 201a of the upper dish 201 in a state of being assembled to the dish base unit 210. The ball feeding guide path is formed in a state of being assembled to the door frame 3 such that the inlet 141a of the ball feeding unit 140 is located at the rear of the lower part. Thereby, the game ball B supplied to the upper dish 201 enters the inlet 141a of the ball feeding unit 140 through the ball receiving port and the ball feeding guide path.

[0381] The part of the ball removal guide path 241c that extends left and right protrudes rightward in a rear view from the part where the upper dish ball removal slider 242 is slidably attached, and is inclined such that the right end side in a rear view is lower, and opens to the right side surface in a rear view. The part of the ball removal guide path 241c that extends left and right is closed by the rear cover 244 at the rear side. The ball removal guide path 241c is formed such that in a state of being assembled to the door frame 3, the upper part of the part that extends vertically below the ball feeding guide path is located in front of the ball removal port 141b of the ball feeding unit 140, and the right end in a rear view of the part that extends left and right is connected to the notch portion 211d of the lower dish ball supply port 211c in the dish unit base 211. Thereby, the game ball B discharged from the ball removal port 141b of the ball feeding unit 140 is discharged into the lower dish 202 from the lower dish ball supply port 211c through the ball removal guide path 241c and the notch portion 211d.

[0382] The upper plate ball removal slider 242 is formed in a quadrilateral shape when viewed from the front, and includes an operation receiving portion (not shown) protruding forward from the upper left corner and an operation transmission portion 242b protruding rearward from the rear surface on the rear side of the operation receiving portion. The upper surface of the operation receiving portion is formed flat. Further, the upper surface of the operation transmission portion 242b is inclined so as to be positioned downward as it goes rearward, and the lower surface extends horizontally so as to be connected to the rear end of the upper surface.

[0383] In the state where the upper plate ball removal slider 242 is assembled to the door frame 3, the operation receiving portion penetrates the dish unit base 211 from the rear side and protrudes forward, and the lower end of the upper plate ball removal button 222 abuts on the upper surface of the operation receiving portion. Further, in the state where the upper plate ball removal slider 242 is assembled to the door frame 3, the operation transmission portion 242b protrudes rearward of the rear base 241, and the operation lever 143c of the ball removal member 143 of the ball feeding unit 140 abuts on the upper surface.

[0384] One end of the spring is attached to the rear base 241, and the other end is attached to the upper plate ball removal slider 242, biasing the upper plate ball removal slider 242 upward. Accordingly, the upper plate ball removal slider 242 is positioned at the upward movement end by the biasing force of the spring, and can move downward by resisting the biasing force of the spring.

[0385] Due to the biasing force of the spring, the upper plate ball removal slider 242 is positioned at the upward movement end, and the upper plate ball removal button 222 is positioned at the upward movement end via the operation receiving portion of the upper plate ball removal slider 242. Further, since the upper plate ball removal slider 242 is positioned at the upward movement end by the biasing force of the spring, the downward movement of the operation lever 143c abutting on the upper surface of the operation transmission portion 242b is blocked, and the partition portion 143a of the ball removal member 143 is positioned between the inlet 141a and the ball removal port 141b, partitioning between the two.

[0386] Therefore, when the upper tray ball removal button 222 is not pressed, the inlet 141a and the ball removal port 141b in the ball feeding unit 140 are partitioned, and the game ball B sent from the upper tray 201 to the ball receiving port can be sent from the hitting ball supply port 142a to the ball launcher 540 side through the inlet 141a and the ball feeding member 144.

[0387] On the other hand, when the upper tray ball removal button 222 is pressed downward against the biasing force of the spring, the upper tray ball removal slider 242 moves downward, and the operating lever 143c of the ball removal member 143 that is in contact with the upper surface of the operation transmission portion 242b of the upper tray ball removal slider 242 can move downward. Due to the load of the weight portion 143d of the ball removal member 143, the ball removal member 143 rotates and the partition portion 143a retreats from between the inlet 141a and the ball removal port 141b. As a result, the game ball B that has entered the inlet 141a from the upper tray 201 through the ball receiving port and the ball feeding guide path is discharged forward from the ball removal port 141b that is open below the inlet 141a. Then, the game ball B discharged forward from the ball removal port 141b is guided into the lower tray ball supply port 211c from the notch portion 211d through the ball removal guide path 241c, and then is released from the lower tray ball supply port 211c into the lower tray 202, and the game ball B in the upper tray 201 is discharged into the lower tray 202.

[0388] When the downward pressing of the upper tray ball removal button 222 is released, the upper tray ball removal slider 242 moves upward by the biasing force of the spring, the upper tray ball removal button 222 rises, and the ball removal member 143 rotates by the operating lever 143c that is in contact with the operation transmission portion 242b, and the partition portion 143a is positioned between the inlet 141a and the ball removal port 141b and returns to the original state.

[0389] In this way, the upper tray ball removal unit 240 can feed the game ball B in the upper tray 201 to the ball launcher 540 side through the ball feeding unit 140 or discharge it to the lower tray 202 side.

[0390] [3-5d. Dish decoration unit] Regarding the dish decoration unit 250 in the dish unit 200, it will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIG. 48 and the like. The dish decoration unit 250 has a lower dish 202 and is attached to the front surface of the dish base unit 210. An effect operation unit 300 is attached to the center in the left - right direction from the front. The dish decoration unit 250 decorates substantially the entire dish unit 200.

[0391] The dish decoration unit 250 includes a lower - dish main body 251 that is attached to the lower - front part of the front surface of the dish - unit base 211 and cooperates with the dish - unit base 211 to form the lower dish 202, a dish - unit main body 252 that is attached to the front surface of the dish - unit base 211 so as to cover the outer periphery of the lower - dish main body 251, a lower - dish ball - drain unit 260 that is attached to the lower surface of the lower - dish main body 251, and a left - dish decoration unit 270 and a right - dish decoration unit 275 that are respectively attached to the upper - front part of the front surface of the dish - unit main body 252 at left - right intervals.

[0392] [3 - 5d - 1. Lower - dish main body] Regarding the lower - dish main body 251 in the dish decoration unit 250, it will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIG. 48 and the like. The lower - dish main body 251 cooperates with the dish - unit base 211 of the dish base unit 210 to form the lower dish 202. The lower - dish main body 251 extends left - right and is formed in a container - like (dish - like) shape with the upper and rear parts open. This lower - dish main body 251 is attached to a part on the left side of the center in the left - right direction at the lower - front part of the front surface of the dish - unit base 211 so that the open rear part is closed.

[0393] The lower - dish main body 251 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that extends left - right in plan view, and the front end on the left side of the center in the left - right direction protrudes forward more than the right side. In the lower - dish main body 251, a lower - dish ball - drain hole 202a that penetrates vertically is formed near the front end of the right end in plan view. The bottom surface of the lower - dish main body 251 is inclined so as to become lower toward the lower - dish ball - drain hole 202a. The lower - dish ball - drain hole 202a is closable in an openable manner by the lower - dish ball - drain lid of the lower - dish ball - drain unit 260.

[0394] In the state where the lower dish body 251 is assembled to the dish decoration unit 250, the outer periphery and a part of the lower surface are covered by the dish unit main body 252. Also, in the state where the lower dish body is assembled to the dish unit 200, the bottom surface is positioned below the lower dish ball supply port 211c of the dish unit base 211, and the lower dish ball extraction hole 202a is positioned in front of the lower dish ball supply port 211c. Thereby, the game ball B discharged forward from the lower dish ball supply port 211c can be stored.

[0395] [3-5d-2. Dish unit main body] The dish unit main body 252 in the dish decoration unit 250 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. 48 and 49 and the like. The dish unit main body 252 is attached to the front surface of the dish unit base 211 in the dish base unit 210 and decorates the front surface of the dish unit 200. The dish unit main body 252 bulges so that the center in the left-right direction protrudes forward on the upper side, and bulges so that the left side in the left-right direction protrudes forward on the lower side. Also, the upper surface of the dish unit main body 252 is curved so that the center in the left-right direction is the lowest. The dish unit main body 252 is formed in a box shape that is open to the rear.

[0396] The dish unit main body 252 includes upper side bulging portions 252a that bulge forward and extend downward and are spaced apart left and right as they go from both left and right ends to the center in the left-right direction at the upper part, a lower front decoration portion that bulges forward so that the left side from the center in the left-right direction at the lower part covers the outer periphery of the lower dish body 251, and a lower dish opening 252d that penetrates back and forth between the left upper side bulging portion 252a and the lower front decoration portion on the left side. Dish left decoration units 270 and dish right decoration units 275 are attached to the front surfaces of the left and right upper side bulging portions 252a, respectively.

[0397] Furthermore, although not shown, the dish unit main body 252 includes an effect operation unit attachment portion that is formed between a pair of upper side bulging portions 252a that are in the center in the left-right direction and to which the effect operation unit 300 is attached. The effect operation unit attachment portion is formed to have a width of about 1 / 3 of the width of the dish unit main body 252 in the left-right direction.

[0398] The dish unit main body 252 is formed so as to entirely cover the front surface of the dish base unit 210 when assembled to the dish unit 200, and the speaker opening 211b faces forward through the lower dish opening 252d.

[0399] [3-5d-3. Lower Dish Ball Drain Unit] The lower dish ball drain unit 260 in the dish decoration unit 250 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIG. 48 and the like. The lower dish ball drain unit 260 is attached to the lower surface of the lower dish main body 251, and is for storing the game balls B in the lower dish 202 or discharging the game balls B from the lower dish 202 by opening and closing the lower dish ball drain hole 202a.

[0400] The lower dish ball drain unit 260 includes a lower dish ball drain button 263 and a lower dish ball drain lid that opens and closes a through hole by operating the lower dish ball drain button 263.

[0401] When the lower dish ball drain unit 260 is assembled to the dish decoration unit 250, the lower dish ball drain button 263 coincides with the front surface of the lower front decoration part of the dish unit main body 252, and the lower dish ball drain lid closes the lower dish ball drain hole 202a. In this normal state, the lower dish ball drain hole 202a is closed by the lower dish ball drain lid, and the game balls B can be stored in the lower dish 202.

[0402] In the normal state, when the lower dish ball drain button 263 is pressed backward, the lower dish ball drain lid moves, the lower dish ball drain hole 202a opens, and the game balls B in the lower dish 202 can be discharged downward from the dish unit 200 through the lower dish ball drain hole 202a.

[0403] Note that when the lower dish ball drain lid is moved by pressing the lower dish ball drain button 263, the lower dish ball drain lid remains in the moved state, the lower dish ball drain hole 202a remains open, and the game balls B in the lower dish 202 can be continuously discharged downward.

[0404] To close the lower plate ball extraction hole 202a from this state, when the lower plate ball extraction button 263, which is recessed behind the front surface of the lower front decorative part, is pressed backward and then the pressing is released, the lower plate ball extraction lid returns to the position in the normal state, and the lower plate ball extraction hole 202a is in a closed state. Thereby, the game balls B can be stored in the lower plate 202.

[0405] [3-5d-4. Left Dish Decoration Unit and Right Dish Decoration Unit] The left dish decoration unit 270 and the right dish decoration unit 275 in the dish decoration unit 250 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIG. 48 and the like. The left dish decoration unit 270 and the right dish decoration unit 275 are attached to the upper part of the front surface of the upper side bulging part 252a of the dish unit main body 252. The left dish decoration unit 270 and the right dish decoration unit 275 decorate the left and right sides of the effect operation unit 300 at the upper part of the dish unit 200.

[0406] The left dish decoration unit 270 includes a left dish decoration body 271 that is semi-cylindrical and extends horizontally with translucency, and a left dish decoration substrate provided on the rear side of the left dish decoration body 271 with a plurality of LEDs mounted on the front surface. The plurality of LEDs mounted on the left dish decoration substrate are full-color LEDs, and by emitting light, the left dish decoration body 271 can be decorated with light emission.

[0407] The left dish decoration body 271 extends in a curved shape so as to move forward and downward as it goes from the left end to the right end, and is attached to the upper part of the upper side bulging part 252a on the left side. The left dish decoration body 271 is formed in a shape where the semi-circular arc bulging forward has a central axis extending obliquely upward to the left at the left end and a central axis extending horizontally at the right end, as if the semi-cylinder is twisted. This left dish decoration body 271 is formed in a milky white color.

[0408] The left dish decoration unit 270 is continuous with the lower end of the left side unit 420 of the door frame 3 at the left end when assembled to the door frame 3. Since the left dish decoration unit 270 does not have ribs in the middle of the longitudinal direction in the left dish decoration body 271,...

Claims

【Claim 1】 A gaming machine comprising a game board provided with a game area where game balls flow down on the front side, a specific flow path portion provided on the game board and formed by combining a rear member and a front member to form a flow path for game balls, and a predetermined stage portion provided on the game board, wherein the front member of the specific flow path portion is provided with a convex portion formed to protrude rearward from the rear surface so as to be able to affect the flowing state of the game balls, and a concave portion formed on the front surface opposite to the rear surface where the convex portion is formed, a predetermined front decorative portion is arranged so as to overlap the concave portion and the convex portion in a front view, a predetermined light emitting portion is arranged behind the specific flow path portion, and the convex portion, the concave portion and the front decorative portion can be irradiated with the light of the light emitting portion, the stage portion has a demolding trace portion generated in the molding process, the stage portion includes a bottom wall member that forms a bottom surface and allows game balls to roll in the left - right direction, and a rear wall member that forms a rear wall surface, the bottom wall member is provided with a ball discharge portion that allows the rolling game balls to fall toward a specific area, the bottom wall member is provided with a demolding trace portion that is substantially symmetric about the virtual center line of the ball discharge portion, the demolding trace portion of the bottom wall member is provided at a position where the rolling game balls do not contact, the demolding trace portion of the rear wall member is provided at a position where the rolling game balls do not contact A gaming machine characterized by the above.

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