gaming machines

Abstract

To provide a game machine having an electronic board on which surface-mounted electronic components are mounted, and capable of suppressing decline in reliability.SOLUTION: A game machine includes a main control board related to the progress of a game. Multiple insertion-mounted electronic components and surface-mounted electronic components are mounted on at least the front board surface out of the front board surface and the back board surface of the main control board. Specific surface-mounted electronic components and the insertion-mounted electronic components out of the surface-mounted electronic components mounted on the front board surface of the main control board are arranged adjacent to each other with an electronic component-unmountable area in between.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 129

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, There are gaming machines that draw a lottery to determine whether or not a jackpot will be awarded based on the fact that a game ball has entered the starting hole (the establishment of the starting condition), and if the lottery results in a jackpot, a jackpot symbol is displayed on a display device that displays a changing symbol, thereby generating a jackpot game. (For example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-26097 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] however, In the gaming machine described in the above patent document, the decrease in interest in gaming is suppressed. There is still room for improvement.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, Gaming interests The object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can suppress a decline in game speed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Effective solutions for achieving the above-mentioned object are shown below. The operation and other details will be explained as necessary. For ease of understanding, the corresponding configurations and other details will be shown in the embodiments of the invention as appropriate, but are not intended to be limiting.

[0007] According to the invention of claim 1, A gaming machine that can perform a lottery based on the establishment of a start condition and can award a benefit based on the result of the lottery, A plurality of light emitters; A performance control means capable of controlling the performance of a game including control of causing the plurality of light emitters to emit light in a predetermined manner; A specific detection means capable of outputting a detection signal in response to a detection state occurring based on a player's operation, The performance control means A first specific performance that can be performed over a first period, involving light emission in a first specific manner by a predetermined light emitter among the plurality of light emitters and display of a first special manner by a predetermined display means; A second specific performance that can be performed over a second period, involving the emission of light in a second specific manner by a predetermined light-emitting body among the plurality of light-emitting bodies and the display of a second special manner by the display means; and an abnormal light emission notification that causes a predetermined light emitter among the plurality of light emitters to emit light in an abnormal manner when a specific abnormality occurs. The first specific effect is an effect that can be executed over the first period when there is no possibility of granting the benefit, The second specific effect is an effect that can be executed over the second period when there is a possibility of granting the benefit, If the specific abnormality occurs during the first specific performance, the display means continues to display the first special mode while changing the light emission mode of a predetermined light emitter among the plurality of light emitters from the first specific mode to the abnormal mode, and executes the abnormal light emission alert; if the detection signal is output by the specific detection means during the abnormal light emission alert, the display means continues to display the first special mode even if the elapsed time since the start of the first specific performance has not yet reached the first period; When the specific abnormality occurs during the second specific performance, the display means continues to display the second special mode while changing the light emission mode of a predetermined light emitter among the plurality of light emitters from the second specific mode to the abnormal mode, thereby executing the abnormal light emission notification, and when the detection signal is output by the specific detection means during the abnormal light emission notification, the abnormal light emission notification and the display means' display of the second special mode are continued without ending, Furthermore, the display of the first special mode in the first specific performance and the display of the second special mode in the second specific performance are not the same or similar displays, but are different displays. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] In the gaming machine of the present invention, Gaming interests It is possible to prevent the decline in [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 4] 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 a front view of a pachinko machine when the pressing operation part of the performance operation unit is in the raised position. [Figure 9] This is an oblique view of the pachinko machine from the front right when the pressing operation part of the performance operation unit is in the raised position. [Figure 10] 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 11] 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 12] 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 13] FIG. 2 is a front view of the outer frame of the pachinko machine. [Figure 14] FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. [Figure 16] This is a perspective view of the outer frame from the front. [Figure 17] This is a perspective view of the outer frame from behind. [Figure 18] This is an exploded perspective view of the outer frame disassembled into its main components as seen from the front. [Figure 19] 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 20] This is an exploded oblique view of the lower outer frame assembly of the outer frame, viewed from the front. [Figure 21] 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 22] FIG. 2 is a front view of a door frame in a pachinko machine. [Figure 23] FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a left side view of the door frame. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a right side view of the door frame. [Figure 26] This is an oblique view of the door frame from the front right. [Figure 27] This is an oblique view of the door frame from the front left. [Figure 28] This is a perspective view of the door frame from behind. [Figure 29] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame, broken down into its main components, viewed from the front. [Figure 30] This is an exploded perspective view of the door frame, broken down into its main components, viewed from the rear. [Figure 31] 1A is a perspective view of a door frame base unit of a door frame as seen from the front, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the door frame base unit as seen from the back. [Figure 32] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame base unit, broken down into its main components, viewed from the front. [Figure 33] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame base unit disassembled into its main components and viewed from behind. [Figure 34] (a) is a perspective view of the cylinder lock of the door frame as seen from the front, (b) is a perspective view of the cylinder lock of (a) as seen from the rear-front, (c) is a perspective view of the cylinder lock of a conventional pachinko machine as seen from the front, and (d) is a perspective view of the cylinder lock of (a) as seen from the rear. [Figure 35] 34(a) is an exploded perspective view of the cylinder lock of FIG. 34(a) as seen from the front, and FIG. 34(b) is an exploded perspective view of the cylinder lock of FIG. 34(a) as seen from the rear. [Figure 36] (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the movable mechanism of the cylinder lock in Figure 34(a) from the front, (b) is an explanatory diagram of the cylinder lock shown in a state rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise from the state in (a), and (c) is an explanatory diagram of the cylinder lock shown in a state rotated 90 degrees clockwise from the state in (a). [Figure 37] (a) is a perspective view of the ball feeding unit of the door frame base unit from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the ball feeding unit from the back. [Figure 38] (a) is an exploded oblique view of the ball feeding unit seen from the front, and (b) is an exploded oblique view of the ball feeding unit seen from the rear with the rear case and anti-tamper member removed. [Figure 39] (a) is a perspective view of the fall cover unit of the door frame base unit as seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the fall cover unit as seen from the back. [Figure 40] FIG. 10 is a front view of the fall cover unit with the lid member removed. [Figure 41] 1A is an enlarged front view showing the handle unit and handle cover unit portions of the door frame, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged perspective view showing the handle unit and handle cover unit portions of the door frame. [Figure 42] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the handle cover unit as seen from the front. [Figure 43] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the handle cover unit as seen from behind. [Figure 44] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the handle unit as seen from the front. [Figure 45] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the handle unit as seen from behind. [Figure 46] FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I in FIG. [Figure 47] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. [Figure 48] This is an oblique view of the tray unit of the door frame. [Figure 49] This is a perspective view of the plate unit from behind. [Figure 50] (a) is a cross-sectional view of the door frame cut horizontally at the lower tray ball supply port, showing the key parts, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of a conventional door frame cut at the same location as (a), showing the key parts. [Figure 51] This is an enlarged plan view showing the ball lending operation unit portion in the tray unit of the door frame. [Figure 52] (a) is a perspective view of the performance operation unit seen from the front with the performance operation button facing upward, and (b) is a perspective view of the performance operation unit of (a) seen from the back. [Figure 53] This is an exploded oblique view of the performance operation unit, broken down into its main components, viewed from above and the front. [Figure 54] This is an exploded oblique view of the performance operation unit, broken down into its main components, viewed from below and in the front. [Figure 55] (a) is a cross-sectional view of the performance operation unit when the performance operation unit is in a lowered position and the lower holding member of the lifting spring is at the upper end of its travel, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the performance operation unit when the performance operation unit has moved from the (a) position to the raised position. [Figure 56] This is a cross-sectional view of the performance operation unit when the performance operation unit is in a lowered position and the lifting spring lower holding member is at the downward end of its travel position. [Figure 57] This is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the decorative board on the outer periphery of the performance operation unit, the decorative board on the outer side of the button, and the decorative board inside the button in a plan view of the performance operation unit viewed from the pressing direction of the pressing operation unit. [Figure 58] (a) is a front view of the dish unit in its normal state, and (b) is a front view of the dish unit when the performance control unit is in the raised position. [Figure 59] This is a plan view of a performance operation unit showing an example in which multiple contact detection bodies are provided in the performance operation unit. [Figure 60] (a) is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic example of an example in which multiple contact detection bodies are connected to one contact detection sensor main body, (b) is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic example in which a switching unit is provided between the contact detection sensor main body and multiple contact detection bodies in (a), and (c) is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the plate unit's left plate decoration unit, right plate decoration unit, and performance operation unit etc. can be moved forward and backward, and contact detection bodies are provided on the front and rear of the performance operation unit etc. [Figure 61] FIG. 10(a) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a decorative contact detection body, and FIG. 10(b) is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the performance operation unit. [Figure 62] (a) is a front view of the door frame left side unit of the door frame, (b) is a perspective view of the door frame left side unit from the front, and (c) is a perspective view of the door frame left side unit from the back. [Figure 63] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame left side unit as seen from the front. [Figure 64] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame left side unit as seen from behind. [Figure 65] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line U-U in Figure 62(a). [Figure 66] (a) is a front view of the door frame right side unit of the door frame, (b) is a right side view of the door frame right side unit, (c) is a perspective view of the door frame right side unit from the front, and (d) is a perspective view of the door frame right side unit from the back. [Figure 67] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame right side unit as seen from the front. [Figure 68] This is an exploded oblique view of the door frame right side unit as seen from behind. [Figure 69]This is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 66(a). [Figure 70] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line O-O in Figure 66(a). [Figure 71] (a) is a right side view of the door frame right side unit, showing the two-color molded outer layer of the door frame in an opaque state, and (b) is a right side view of the door frame right side unit in (a), showing the outer layer in a transparent state while leaving the inner layer intact. [Figure 72] A front view showing each decorative substrate of the door frame. [Figure 73] This is a plan view showing the decorative board in the part of the door frame's performance operation unit. [Figure 74] A rear view showing each decorative substrate provided around the door window of the door frame. [Figure 75] FIG. 2 is a front view of the main body frame of the pachinko machine. [Figure 76] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the main body frame of the pachinko machine. [Figure 77] This is an oblique view of the main body frame from the front right. [Figure 78] This is an oblique view of the main body frame from the front left. [Figure 79] This is an oblique view of the main body frame as seen from behind. [Figure 80] This is an exploded oblique view of the main body frame disassembled into its main components as seen from the front. [Figure 81] This is an exploded perspective view of the main body frame disassembled into its main components and viewed from the rear. [Figure 82] (a) is an enlarged oblique view showing the lower left corner of the front of the main frame, and (b) is an enlarged oblique view showing the lower left corner of the front of the main frame when the door frame is opened relative to the main frame. [Figure 83] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the connection cable guide member of the main body frame when the door frame is opened and closed relative to the main body frame. [Figure 84] (a) is a perspective view of the ball launcher in the main body frame as seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the ball launcher as seen from the back. [Figure 85](a) is a perspective view of the dispensing base unit of the main frame as seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the dispensing base unit as seen from the back. [Figure 86] 1A is a perspective view of the dispensing unit in the main body frame as seen from the front, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the dispensing unit as seen from the back. [Figure 87] 1A is an exploded perspective view of the dispensing unit disassembled into its main components as viewed from the front, and FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of the dispensing unit disassembled into its main components as viewed from the back. [Figure 88] This is a rear cross-sectional view of the dispensing device of the dispensing unit, cut at the center of the dispensing blade in the front-to-rear direction. [Figure 89] (a) is a rear cross-sectional view of the dispensing device cut at the center of the dispensing blade in the front-to-back direction when the ball removal movable piece is in the open state, and (b) is a cross-sectional view cut along line AA in (a). [Figure 90] An explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the door frame fall cover unit and the lower full ball path unit. [Figure 91] An explanatory diagram showing the flow of game balls in the main body frame. [Figure 92] 1A is a perspective view of the board unit of the main body frame as seen from the front, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the board unit as seen from the back. [Figure 93] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the board unit as seen from below and behind. [Figure 94] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the board unit, seen from the front, disassembled into its main components. [Figure 95] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the board unit disassembled into its main components and viewed from the rear. [Figure 96] This is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing the lower part of the pachinko machine cut in the center in the left-right direction. [Figure 97] 1A is a perspective view of the locking unit of the main body frame as seen from the front, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the locking unit as seen from the rear. [Figure 98] 1(a) is a plan view of the main body frame, and FIG. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 99]This is an enlarged view showing the upper part of the main body frame in a perspective view seen from behind. [Figure 100] 1(a) is a perspective view of the spherical tank assembled with tank rails, etc., as seen from above the front, and FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view of FIG. 1(a) as seen from below the front. [Figure 101] 100(a) is an exploded perspective view seen from the front. FIG. [Figure 102] An explanatory diagram showing the area where game balls that overflow from the ball tank at the top of the main body frame circulate. [Figure 103] An explanatory diagram showing the flow of game balls that have overflowed from the ball tank at the top of the main body frame. [Figure 104] An explanatory diagram showing the flow of game balls into the bypass passage at the top of the main body frame. [Figure 105] FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the main body frame as seen from behind the hinge side, showing the tank rail and its surroundings. [Figure 106] This is an oblique view showing an enlarged portion of the tank rail as viewed from behind of a pachinko machine equipped with a tank rail of another embodiment. [Figure 107] (a) is a plan view showing the tank rails etc. of Figure 106 assembled together with the spherical tank, (b) is a perspective view of the tank rails etc. of (a) seen from the front, and (c) is a perspective view of the tank rails etc. of (a) seen from the back. [Figure 108] 107, (a) is an exploded perspective view of the tank rails etc. in FIG. 107 as seen from the front, and (b) is an exploded perspective view of the tank rails etc. in FIG. 107 as seen from the rear. [Figure 109] FIG. 107(a) is a cross-sectional view of the tank rail etc. taken along the line K-K in FIG. [Figure 110] An explanatory diagram showing a cross section of the flow of game balls within the tank rail of Figure 107. [Figure 111] (a) is a front view of a board unit of another embodiment, (b) is an oblique view of the board unit of (a) seen from the front right, and (c) is an oblique view of the board unit of (a) seen from the front left. [Figure 112]111(a) is a perspective view of the board unit of FIG. 111(a) seen from the upper right rear, and FIG. 111(b) is a perspective view of the board unit of FIG. 111(a) seen from the lower right rear. [Figure 113] 111(a) is an exploded perspective view of the substrate unit as seen from the front. FIG. [Figure 114] 111(a) is an exploded perspective view of the substrate unit as seen from behind. FIG. [Figure 115] (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line KI in Figure 111(a), (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line COOK in (a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line KEKE in (a). [Figure 116] This is a bottom view showing the area behind the door frame in a pachinko machine equipped with the board unit of Figure 111(a). [Figure 117] An explanatory diagram showing an example in which a guide piece is provided at the out ball discharge outlet of the out ball passage. [Figure 118] FIG. 10A is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the out-sensor is detachable, and FIG. 10B is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the out-sensor in FIG. 10A has been detached. [Figure 119] (a) is an oblique view of the base unit of the third embodiment, showing the power supply unit, dispensing control unit, and interface unit omitted, as viewed from the front right, and (b) is an oblique view of the base unit of (a), as viewed from the front left. [Figure 120] 119 from the rear right and top right, and (b) is a perspective view of the board unit of (a) from the rear right and bottom right. [Figure 121] (a) is a plan view of the substrate unit of Figure 119, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in (a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line S-S in (a). [Figure 122] 121(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 121(a). [Figure 123] 120 is an exploded perspective view of the substrate unit of FIG. 119 as seen from the front. [Figure 124] 120 is an exploded perspective view of the board unit of FIG. 119 as seen from behind. [Figure 125] 119. (a) is a perspective view of the ball path member of the base plate unit of FIG. 119 seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the ball path member of the base plate unit of FIG. 119 seen from the back. [Figure 126] 120 is an explanatory diagram showing the elimination of ball clogging in the board unit of FIG. 119. FIG. [Figure 127] 120 is an explanatory diagram showing how the board unit of FIG. 119 prevents the intrusion of linear illegal tools. FIG. [Figure 128] 120 is an explanatory diagram showing how to remove dust from the board unit of FIG. 119. FIG. [Figure 129] This is a front view of a game board in a pachinko machine, with the center gimmicks and other parts made opaque. [Figure 130] This is an oblique view of the game board in Figure 129 as seen from the front right. [Figure 131] This is an oblique view of the game board of Figure 129 seen from the front left. [Figure 132] This is a perspective view of the game board from behind. [Figure 133] FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram of wiring from the function display unit on the main control board. [Figure 134] This is a front view of the game board with the center gimmicks and other parts made transparent. [Figure 135] This is an exploded perspective view of the game board disassembled into its main components and viewed from the front. [Figure 136] This is an exploded perspective view of the game board disassembled into its main components and viewed from behind. [Figure 137] This is a front view of the game board, showing the front unit cut parallel to the surface of the game panel to reveal the game area where game balls circulate and the obstacle pins. [Figure 138] FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view of the front components and game panel of the game board as seen from the front, and FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view of the front components and game panel as seen from the back. [Figure 139] (a) is a front view showing an enlarged view of the upper right corner of the front component and the game panel, (b) is a cross-sectional view cut along the soot line in (a), and (c) is an exploded oblique view of (a) broken down into its main components and viewed from the front. [Figure 140] FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view of the front unit of the gaming board as seen from the front, and FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view of the front unit of the gaming board as seen from the back. [Figure 141] (a) is an exploded oblique view of the lower right guide passage in the center gimmick as seen from the front, and (b) is a side cross-sectional view of the center gimmick cut left and right at the separation hole in the front member in front of the lower right guide passage, as seen from the right. [Figure 142] 1A is a perspective view of the gate member as seen from the front, FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of the gate member as seen from the front, and FIG. 1C is an exploded perspective view of the gate member as seen from the rear. [Figure 143] FIG. 1(a) is a front view of the gate member, and FIG. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line SEC in FIG. [Figure 144] An explanatory diagram showing the flow path of the game ball on the right side of the front unit. [Figure 145] 145 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of the first attacker unit and the second attacker unit in FIG. 144. FIG. [Figure 146] FIG. 10 is a front view of the game board showing the placement of magnetic sensors. [Figure 147] (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the orientation of a magnetic sensor that can detect magnetic field lines from a magnet, (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the orientation of a magnetic sensor that cannot detect magnetic field lines from a magnet, (c) is an explanatory diagram that shows a schematic perspective view of the detection range of a magnetic sensor, (d) is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between a magnetic sensor and a magnetic body that cannot detect magnetic field lines from a magnet, and (e) is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between a magnetic sensor and a magnetic body that can detect magnetic field lines from a magnet. [Figure 148] (a) is an oblique view showing the state in which the magnetic sensor is held by the holding member, (b) is an exploded oblique view showing the state in which the holding member and the magnetic sensor are separated, and (c) is an exploded view showing the holding member in cross section. [Figure 149] 1A is a perspective view of the back unit of the game board as seen from the front, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the back unit of the game board as seen from the back. [Figure 150]This is a front view of the back front performance unit in the back unit. [Figure 151] (a) is an oblique view of the back front performance unit in the back unit seen from the front, and (b) is an oblique view of the back front performance unit in the back unit seen from the back. [Figure 152] (a) is a cross-sectional view of the front performance unit cut near the center in the vertical direction and viewed from above, (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the left part of (a), and (c) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the right part of (a). [Figure 153] This is an exploded oblique view of the rear front left decorative unit of the rear front performance unit, viewed from the front together with the light guide plate. [Fig. 154] This is an exploded oblique view of the rear front left decorative unit, showing only the rear front left first decorative body, rear front left second decorative body, rear front left third decorative body, and rear front left decorative body base. [Figure 155] (a) is a front view of the first decorative body on the front left shown in a transparent state, (b) is a front view of the second decorative body on the front left shown in a transparent state, (c) is a front view of the third decorative body on the front left shown in a transparent state, and (c) is a front view of the base of the front left decorative body shown in a transparent state. [Figure 156] (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the light guide plate in the back front performance unit and the decorative substrate for illuminating and decorating the light guide plate and the back front left decorative unit from the front, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the light guide plate in the back front performance unit and the decorative substrate for illuminating and decorating the decorative body of the back front lower performance unit from the front. [Figure 157] A front view showing the back front left decorative unit illuminated and decorated. [Figure 158] 1A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a first pattern on the light guide plate is illuminated, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a second pattern on the light guide plate is illuminated. [Figure 159] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the light-emitting configuration of the second pattern of the light guide plate. FIG. [Figure 160] This is a front view of the back front performance unit showing the second image on the light guide plate illuminated. [Figure 161]This is a front view of the game board showing the state in which the rear upper first decorative part of the rear upper movable decorative body in the rear upper performance unit of the rear unit has been moved to a lowered position facing forward. [Figure 162] This is a front view of the game board showing the state in which the rear upper movable decorative body in the rear upper performance unit of the rear unit has been moved to a lowered position and the rear upper second decorative part is facing forward. [Figure 163] This is a front view of the game board showing the rear left movable decoration and the rear right movable decoration in the rear lower performance unit of the rear unit moved to their appearance positions. [Fig. 164] This is a front view of the game board showing the back front lower middle decorative body in the back front lower performance unit of the back unit's back front performance unit in the raised state. [Figure 165] This is a front view of the game board showing the state in which the back front left logo decoration, back front upper left logo decoration, back front left sub decoration, and back front left band decoration of the back front left decorative unit 3120 in the back front performance unit of the back unit are illuminated. [Figure 166] This is a front view of the game board showing the first image on the light guide plate in the back front performance unit of the back unit illuminated and decorated. [Figure 167] This is a front view of the game board showing the first image on the light guide plate in the back front performance unit of the back unit illuminated and the back left movable decorative body and the back right movable decorative body in the back lower performance unit moved to their appearance positions. [Figure 168] This is a front view of the game board showing the second image on the light guide plate in the back front performance unit of the back unit illuminated and decorated. [Figure 169] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the control configuration of a pachinko machine. [Figure 170] FIG. 2 is an exploded front perspective view of the peripheral control unit. [Figure 171] FIG. 2 is an exploded rear perspective view of the peripheral control unit. [Fig. 172] FIG. 2 is a front view of the peripheral control unit. [Figure 173]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a ROM socket having a conversion board, and FIG. 1B is a top view of a control ROM having a leadless package attached to the ROM socket. [Fig. 174] This is a view taken along arrow P in Figure 173(a). [Figure 175] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a through hole showing an outline of the positional relationship between a through hole formed in a peripheral control board and a through hole formed in a conversion board. FIG. [Figure 176] 1A is a perspective view of a control ROM having a leadless package and a ROM socket mounted on a conversion board, and FIG. 1B is a top view of the control ROM having a leadless package attached to the ROM socket. [Figure 177] 10A to 10C are schematic diagrams showing the board management numbers of the peripheral control boards. [Figure 178] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a power supply system of a pachinko gaming machine. [Figure 179] FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram showing the circuit of the main control board. [Figure 180] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a main control input circuit with an error detection function. [Figure 181] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a power outage monitoring circuit. [Figure 182] This is a schematic circuit diagram showing the circuit of the dispensing control board. [Figure 183] FIG. 1(a) is an oblique view of the main control board box showing the state before the main control board is attached to the cover body and the base body is slid to cover the opening side of the cover body, and FIG. 1(b) is an oblique view of the main control board box with the cover body and base body sealed by a sealing mechanism. [Figure 184] 1A is a perspective view of the setting key switch as seen from the diagonal front right, FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the setting key switch as seen from the diagonal front left, and FIG. 1C is a top view of the setting key switch. [Figure 185] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the setting key switch and the cover body of the main control board box. FIG. [Figure 186]FIG. 1(a) is a diagram showing the mounting surface (front surface) of the main control board on which the setting key switch is mounted; FIG. 1(b) is a diagram showing the mounting surface (front surface) of the main control board on which the setting key switch is mounted and the corresponding solder surface (back surface) of the main control board; and FIG. 1(c) is a diagram showing the mounting surface (front surface) of the main control board on which the setting key switch is mounted and the corresponding solder surface (back surface) of the main control board. [Figure 187] This is a continuation of Figure 186, and is Figure 3 (d) showing the mounting surface (front surface) of the main control board on which the setting key switch is mounted and the corresponding solder surface (back surface) of the main control board, and Figure 4 (e) showing the mounting surface (front surface) of the main control board on which the setting key switch is mounted and the corresponding solder surface (back surface) of the main control board. [Figure 188] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the layout of various electronic components mounted on the mounting surface (front surface) of the main control board. [Figure 189] This is a schematic diagram of the solder side (back side) of the main control board, explaining an overview of various wiring patterns to the main control MPU of the main control board. [Figure 190] FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration in which an insulating coating is applied to the land of a through-hole for an input signal wiring pattern according to the first embodiment formed on the mounting surface (front surface) of a main control board; FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of a cross section of line XX in FIG. 1A; and FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram of a modified example of FIG. 1B. [Figure 191] FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration in which an insulating coating is applied to the lands of the through holes for the input signal wiring pattern according to the second embodiment formed on the mounting surface (surface) 1310x of the main control board 1310; FIG. 10B is a schematic diagram of a cross section of line XX in FIG. 10A; and FIG. 10C is a schematic diagram of a modified example of FIG. [Figure 192] 10A is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration in which an insulating coating is applied to the land of a through-hole for an input signal wiring pattern according to a third embodiment formed on the mounting surface (front surface) of a main control board; FIG. 10B is a schematic diagram of a cross section of line XX in FIG. 10A; and FIG. 10C is a schematic diagram of a modified example of FIG. [Figure 193]10A is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration in which an insulating coating is applied to the land of a through-hole for an input signal wiring pattern according to a fourth embodiment formed on the mounting surface (front surface) of a main control board; FIG. 10B is a schematic diagram of a cross section of line XX in FIG. 10A; and FIG. 10C is a schematic diagram of a modified example of FIG. [Figure 194] 1A is a front view showing an enlarged portion of the game board of the first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a front view showing an enlarged portion of the game board of the second embodiment in the same area as in FIG. 1A. [Figure 195] (a) is a front view showing an enlarged portion of the game board of the second embodiment, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the back front left decorative unit of the back front performance unit in (a) in an illuminated state. [Figure 196] This is an explanatory diagram showing the panel board of the gaming panel in Figure 195(a) in a luminous decorated state. [Figure 197] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a game board according to a third embodiment, showing the panel board and cells disassembled and viewed from the front. [Figure 198] (a) is a front view of the function display unit of the second embodiment, (b) is a cross-sectional view along the line So-So in (a), (c) is an oblique view of the function display unit of (a) seen from the front, and (d) is an oblique view of the function display unit of (a) seen from the back. [Figure 199] FIG. 199 is an exploded perspective view of the function display unit of FIG. 198 as seen from the front. [Figure 200] This is an exploded perspective view of the function display unit of Figure 198, seen from behind. [Figure 201] FIG. 198 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the function display unit and the player in FIG. [Figure 202] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the relationship between the function display unit and the player in the third embodiment. [Figure 203] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a function display unit according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 204](a) is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the mounting of a magnetic sensor, (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the mounting of the magnetic sensor in (a) in a perspective view, (c) is an exploded perspective view showing the mounting of the magnetic sensor in (b) in an exploded manner, and (d) is an exploded perspective view of the mounting of the magnetic sensor shown with a holding member different from that in (c). [Figure 205] (a) is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section of an example in which the separation hole of the first member for removing the decorative body also serves as a positioning hole for the second member, (b) is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section of an example in which a closed space is formed by the second member behind the separation hole of the first member for removing the decorative body, (c) is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section of the state in (b) in which decorative bodies of different thicknesses are attached, and (d) is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section of an example in which the separation hole of the first member for removing the decorative body also serves as an attachment hole for the decorative body. [Figure 206] (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the first member from the front with a decorative body attached, (b) is a cross-sectional view of (a), and (c) is an explanatory diagram showing the first member from the front with a decorative body different from that of (a) attached. [Figure 207] (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between a horizontally elongated rectangular decorative body and a first member, (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between a circular decorative body and a first member, (c) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between a symmetrically arranged decorative body and a first member, and (d) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between a symmetrically arranged decorative body with a different shape from (c) and a first member. [Figure 208] (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the decorative body and the movable first member from the front, (b) is a cross-sectional view of (a) cut along line T-T-A, (c) is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the decorative body and the first member in (a) and (c), (d) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between a decorative body of a different form to (a) and the movable first member from the front, and (e) is a cross-sectional view of (d) cut along line T-T-A. [Figure 209] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a slot machine. [Figure 210] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a process when the main control side power is turned on. [Figure 211]This is a flowchart showing the continuation of the main control side power-on processing in Figure 210. [Figure 212] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of main control side timer interrupt processing. [Figure 213] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a setting change process. [Figure 214] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a setting value confirmation display process. [Figure 215] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an error display process. [Figure 216] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when the dispensing control unit is powered on. [Figure 217] This is a flowchart showing the continuation of the power-on processing of the dispensing control unit in Figure 216. [Figure 218] Following Figure 217, this is a flowchart showing the continuation of the processing when the dispensing control unit is powered on. [Figure 219] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a dispensing control unit timer interrupt process. [Figure 220] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a peripheral control unit power-on process; [Figure 221] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a peripheral control unit V blank interrupt process. [Figure 222] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a peripheral control unit 1 ms timer interrupt process. [Figure 223] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a peripheral control unit command reception interrupt process. [Figure 224] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a peripheral control unit power outage warning signal interrupt process. [Figure 225] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the special symbol and special electric accessory control process (step S114). [Figure 226] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first starting port passing process (step S232). [Figure 227] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the effect pre-determination process (step S245). [Figure 228] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the second starting port passing process (step S234). [Figure 229] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for first special symbol process processing (step S238). [Figure 230] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first special symbol normal process (step S280). [Figure 231] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for hit determination processing (step S305). [Figure 232] Various tables showing the hit determination table (A), the big hit pattern determination table (B), and the small hit pattern determination table (C). [Figure 233] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for a first special symbol stop symbol setting process (step S281). [Figure 234] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first variation pattern setting process (step S282). [Figure 235] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first special symbol variation process (step S283). [Figure 236] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first special symbol stop processing (step S284). [Figure 237] This is a flowchart showing the procedure for the big win control processing (step S235A). [Figure 238] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a rainbow-colored effect. [Figure 239] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the grouping of multiple LEDs mounted on various decorative boards provided on the game board. [Figure 240] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing groupings of multiple LEDs mounted on various decorative boards provided on the door frame. FIG. [Figure 241] FIG. 10 is a timing diagram showing an example of a rainbow effect. [Figure 242] FIG. 10 is a timing diagram showing an example of a rainbow effect during an abnormality. [Figure 243](A) is a front oblique view of the upper rear movable decorative body, and (B) is a cross-sectional view of the upper rear movable decorative body cut along line AA. [Figure 244] FIG. 10 is a timing diagram showing a first modified example of the rainbow effect. [Figure 245] FIG. 10 is a timing diagram showing a first modified example of the rainbow effect. [Figure 246] FIG. 10 is a timing diagram showing a second modified example of the rainbow effect. [Figure 247] FIG. 10 is a timing diagram showing a second modified example of the rainbow effect. [Figure 248] 1A is a schematic front view of a divided game board, and FIG. 1B is a schematic rear view of the divided game board. [Figure 249] (a) is a rear perspective view of the split gaming board as seen from the lower left rear before the right gaming board and left gaming board that make up the split gaming board are combined, and (b) is a rear perspective view of the split gaming board as seen from the lower left rear. [Figure 250] This is a schematic front view of the divided game board in Figure 248(a) after the decoration has been changed. [Figure 251] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of an ID output circuit. [Figure 252] FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a photosensor information serial output circuit. [Figure 253] FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a plurality of ID output circuits. [Figure 254] 10 is a list showing a matching (matching) / mismatching (mismatching) table of combinations. [Figure 255] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a peripheral control unit power-on process capable of performing ID determination. [Figure 256] 10 is a table showing how to handle various errors when power is turned on (specific example 1). [Figure 257] This is a table showing how to deal with various errors (specific example 1) that do not involve magnetic detection when a performance is in progress after the power is turned on or while waiting for customers. [Figure 258] This is a table showing how to deal with various errors (specific example 1) that involve magnetic detection when a performance is in progress after the power is turned on or while customers are waiting. [Figure 259] 10 is a table showing how to deal with various errors when power is turned on (specific example 2). [Figure 260] This is a table showing how to deal with various errors (specific example 2) that do not involve magnetic detection when a performance is in progress after the power is turned on or while waiting for customers. [Figure 261] This is a table showing how to deal with various errors (specific example 2) that involve magnetic detection when a performance is in progress after the power is turned on or while customers are waiting. [Figure 262] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of an ID comparison circuit. [Figure 263] 10 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a circuit of a relay board provided in a tray unit. FIG. [Figure 264] This is a circuit diagram showing an example of a modified example of FIG. 262. [Figure 265] This is a circuit diagram showing an example of replacing the LED driver that constitutes the ID comparison circuit provided on the frame side decorative board shown in Figure 262 with a serial-parallel conversion circuit. [Figure 266] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of allocation of each unit. [Figure 267] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an example of an ID output circuit in each unit. [Figure 268] FIG. 268 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a circuit that further includes a manufacturer identification code (manufacturer identification value) in the ID output circuit in each unit of FIG. 267. [Figure 269] 1A is a schematic front view of a divided game board on which an ID error determination switch is provided, and FIG. 1B is a schematic rear view of the divided game board on which an ID error determination switch is provided. [Figure 270] This is a schematic exploded oblique view of the right-side game board disassembled into the right-side game panel and the right-side back box, viewed from the front. [Figure 271] This is a schematic oblique view of a portion of the right rear box of the rear unit of the right-side game board, seen from the front. [Fig. 272] This is a schematic exploded oblique view of a portion of the right-side game board disassembled into a right-side game panel and a right-side back box, as viewed from the front. [Fig. 273]This is an example of behavior when changing the setting value in a state where the divided game board 5A, which is made up of a left game board 5AL and a right game board 5AR, is compatible (matched) as a combination of the divided game board 5A. [Fig. 274] This is an example of behavior when changing the setting value when the combination of the divided game board 5A is incompatible (inconsistent). [Figure 275] This is an example of behavior when an illegal magnetism occurs during the execution of the setting change process when the combination of the divided game board 5A is incompatible (inconsistent). [Figure 276] This is an example of behavior when an unauthorized magnetism occurs during the power-on operation check that is executed after the setting change process is completed when the combination of the split game board 5A is incompatible (inconsistent). [Figure 277] This is an example of behavior when changing the setting value when the right-side game board 5AR is not connected. [Fig. 278] This is an example of behavior when unauthorized magnetism occurs while the setting change process is being executed with the right-side game board 5AR not connected. [Figure 279] This is an example of behavior when unauthorized magnetism occurs during the power-on operation check that is performed after the setting change process is completed when the right-side game board 5AR is not connected. [Figure 280] This is an example of behavior when a confirmation display of the setting value is performed in a state where the divided game board 5A, which is made up of the left game board 5AL and the right game board 5AR, is compatible (matched) as a combination of the divided game board 5A. [Figure 281] This is an example of behavior when a setting value confirmation display is performed when the combination of the divided game board 5A is incompatible (inconsistent). [Figure 282] This is an example of behavior when an illegal magnetism occurs during execution of the setting value confirmation display process when the combination of the divided game board 5A is incompatible (inconsistent). [Figure 283] This is an example of behavior when an unauthorized magnetism occurs during the execution of the power-on operation check that is executed after the setting value confirmation display process is completed when the combination of the split game board 5A is incompatible (inconsistent). [Fig. 284] This is an example of behavior when the setting value confirmation display is performed when the right-side game board 5AR is not connected. [Figure 285] This is an example of behavior when an illegal magnetism occurs while the setting value confirmation display process is being executed when the right-side game board 5AR is not connected. [Figure 286] This is an example of behavior when unauthorized magnetism occurs during the power-on operation check that is executed after the setting value confirmation display process is completed when the right-side game board 5AR is not connected. [Figure 287] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the main control board. [Figure 288] This is an example of behavior when the divided game board 5A, which is made up of a left game board 5AL and a right game board 5AR, is in a state where the combination of the divided game boards 5A is compatible (matched), and control is performed to transition to the confirmation mode. [Figure 289] This is an example of behavior when the transition to the confirmation mode is controlled when the combination of the divided game board 5A is incompatible (mismatched). [Figure 290] This is an example of behavior when controlling the transition to confirmation mode when the right-side game board 5AR is not connected. [Figure 291] This is a time chart showing the start timing of a specific effect. [Figure 292] This is a time chart for ending a specific effect. [Figure 293] This is a time chart showing the start timing of a specific effect in an abnormal state. [Fig. 294] This is a time chart for ending a specific effect in an abnormal state. [Figure 295] 10 is a timing chart showing an example of a display mode of a performance display device. [Figure 296] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the display mode of a performance display device. [Figure 297] (A) is a timing chart showing an example of a presentation mode during the second specific presentation, and (B) is a timing chart showing an example of a presentation mode during the first specific presentation. [Figure 298] (C) is a timing chart showing an example of a presentation mode during the second specific presentation. [Figure 299](A) is a timing chart showing an example of a presentation mode during the second specific presentation, and (B) is a timing chart showing an example of a presentation mode during the first specific presentation. [Figure 300] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the display mode of a performance display device. [Figure 301] An explanatory diagram showing an example of the front mounting surface of a rear left movable decorative substrate provided on a rear left movable decorative body. [Figure 302] An explanatory diagram showing a modified example of a rear left movable decorative substrate provided on a rear left movable decorative body. [Figure 303] An explanatory diagram showing an example of the rear mounting surface of a rear left movable decorative substrate provided on a rear left movable decorative body. [Figure 304] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams showing a portion of a main control board in another example, where (A) is a schematic diagram showing the mounting state of electronic components on the mounting surface (surface) of the main control board, and (B) is a schematic diagram showing through holes and pads on the mounting surface (surface) of the main control board. [Figure 305] 305(A) is a schematic diagram showing a portion of a main control board in another example, (A) is a schematic diagram showing the wiring pattern on the mounting surface (front surface) of the main control board, and (B) is a schematic diagram showing the wiring pattern on the solder surface (back surface) y of the main control board. [Figure 306] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a part of the mounting surface (front surface) of a main control board in another example. [Figure 307] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a function display unit in another example. [Figure 308] 1(a) is a perspective view showing the front surface (surface) of the magnetic sensor substrate, and FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view showing the rear surface (back surface) of the magnetic sensor substrate. [Figure 309] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the mounting surface of a main control board in another example. [Figure 310] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a part of the mounting surface (front surface) of a main control board in another example. [Figure 311] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a through hole of a main control board in another example. [Figure 312]10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams showing a functional display substrate in another example, including (A) the front mounting surface, (B) the back mounting surface, (C) an enlarged view of a portion of the back mounting surface, and (D) an enlarged view of a portion of the back mounting surface. [Figure 313] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the mounting state of a main control board in another example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] [1. Overall structure of a pachinko machine] A pachinko machine 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the pachinko machine 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a right side view of the pachinko machine, FIG. 3 is a left side view of the pachinko machine, and FIG. 4 is a rear view of the pachinko machine. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine as seen from the right front, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine as seen from the left front, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine as seen from the rear. FIG. 8 is a front view of the pachinko machine when the pressing operation unit of the performance operation unit is in the raised position, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine as seen from the right front when the pressing operation unit of the performance operation unit is in the raised position. Furthermore, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the pachinko machine as seen from the front with the door frame opened from the main body frame and the main body frame opened from the outer frame. Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of a pachinko machine disassembled into a door frame, a game board, a main frame, and an outer frame, as seen from the front, and Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of a pachinko machine disassembled into a door frame, a game board, a main frame, and an outer frame, as seen from the back.

[0012] The pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment comprises a frame-shaped outer frame 2 installed in an island facility (not shown) of an amusement hall, a door frame 3 that closes the front of the outer frame 2 in an openable and closable manner, a main frame 4 that supports the door frame 3 in an openable and closable manner and is attached to the outer frame 2 in an openable and closable manner, and a game board 5 that is detachably attached to the main frame 4 from the front and is visible from the player side through the door frame 3, and has a game area 5a into which a game ball B (see Figure 89) is shot by the player.

[0013] The outer frame 2 has a rectangular shape extending vertically when viewed from the front. The outer frame 2 includes a left outer frame assembly 10 and a right outer frame assembly 20 that are spaced apart from each other and extend vertically, an upper outer frame member 30 that connects the upper ends of the left outer frame assembly 10 and the right outer frame assembly 20, a lower outer frame assembly 40 that connects the lower ends of the left outer frame assembly 10 and the right outer frame assembly 20, an upper outer frame hinge assembly 50 attached to the left end of the upper surface of the upper outer frame member 30, and a lower outer frame hinge member 60 attached to the lower right side of the left outer frame assembly 10 and the left end of the upper surface of the lower outer frame assembly 40.

[0014] The outer frame 2 is attached to the island equipment of the gaming 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 frame upper hinge member 510 and the main frame lower hinge assembly 520 of the main frame 4 so that they can rotate coaxially, thereby attaching the main frame 4 so that it can be opened and closed forward around the left side when viewed from the front.

[0015] In addition, when the main frame 4 is closed, the door frame 3 has the outer frame lower assembly 40 which cooperates with the speaker unit 620a of the board unit 620 in the main frame 4 to form part of the enclosure 624 of the main frame speaker 622, and by inverting the phase of the sound output to the rear of the main frame speaker 622 and radiating it forward, the player can hear a deeper bass sound.

[0016] The door frame 3 closes the game area 5a of the game board 5 into which the game balls B are shot so that it can be seen from the front, stores the game balls B to be shot into the game area 5a, and is equipped with a handle 195 that the player operates to shoot the stored game balls B into the game area 5a. The door frame 3 also decorates the entire front of the pachinko machine 1.

[0017] In addition, the door frame 3 is equipped with a performance operation unit 301 that can be operated by the player, separate from the handle 195, and when a player-participation performance is executed, the player can participate in the performance by operating the performance operation unit 301, allowing the player to enjoy not only playing with the game ball B, but also by operating the performance operation unit 301.

[0018] The main body frame 4 includes a frame-shaped main body frame base unit 500 whose rear portion can be inserted into the outer frame 2 and 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 reinforcing frame 530 that reinforces the main body frame base unit 500, a ball launching device 540 for shooting game balls B into the game area 5a of the game board 5, and a game ball supplied from the island equipment of the game hall. The pachinko machine is provided with a payout base unit 550 that receives game balls B, a payout unit 560 that pays out the game balls B received by the payout base unit 550 to the player, a board unit 620 that has a power supply board 630 equipped with a power switch 630a that can turn on the power to the pachinko machine 1 and a payout control board 633, a back cover 640 that covers the back side of the game board 5 attached to the main frame base 501, and a locking unit 650 that locks the spaces between the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4, and between the door frame 3 and the main frame 4.

[0019] The main body frame 4 holds a game board 5 having a game area 5a where a game is played by hitting a game ball B, and is also used to pay out the game ball B to the player and eject used game balls B to the rear of the pachinko machine 1 (towards the island equipment of the gaming hall). The main body frame 4 is formed in a box shape with an open front, and the game board 5 is detachably housed inside from the front. The main body frame 4 is openably attached to a frame-shaped outer frame 2 attached to the island equipment of the gaming hall at the top and bottom of the front end on the left side of the front face, and a door frame 3 is openably attached to close the open front side.

[0020] The game board 5 comprises a game area 5a in which a game ball B is thrown by a player's operation, a front component 1000 that defines the outer periphery of the game area 5a and has a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the front, a plate-like game panel 1100 that is attached to the rear side of the front component 1000 and defines the rear end of the game area 5a, a board holder 1200 that is attached to the rear lower part of the game panel 1100, and a main control unit that is attached to the rear surface of the board holder 1200 and has a main control board 1310 and a setting change board 1311. The game panel 1100 includes a peripheral control unit 1300, a function display unit 1400 that displays the game status based on a control signal from a main control board 1310, a peripheral control unit 1500 (see FIG. 12) that is arranged on the rear side of the game panel 1100, an effect display device 1600 that is arranged in the center of the game area 5a when viewed from the front and is capable of displaying a predetermined effect image, a front unit 2000 that is attached to the front of the game panel 1100, and a back unit 3000 that is attached to the rear of the game panel 1100. The back unit 3000 is equipped with various effect units that can perform movable effects and light-emitting effects according to the game status.

[0021] The game area 5a of the game board 5 is provided with a plurality of obstacle nails N that come into contact with the game ball B and are planted in a predetermined gauge arrangement, as well as a general prize opening 2001, a first start opening 2002, a gate 2003, a second start opening 2004, and a special prize opening 2005 that grant a player a predetermined benefit (for example, the payout of a predetermined number of game balls B) when the game ball B is received or passes through. The obstacle nails N are planted on the front surface of the game panel 1100. The general prize opening 2001, the first start opening 2002, the gate 2003, the second start opening 2004, and the special prize opening 2005 are provided in the front unit 2000.

[0022] A player can shoot a game ball B into the game area 5a of the game board 5 by operating the handle 195 of the handle unit 180. This allows the player to enjoy operating the handle 195 so that the game ball B is accepted into or passes through the general winning opening 2001, the first starting opening 2002, the gate 2003, the second starting opening 2004, the big winning opening 2005, and the like within the game area 5a.

[0023] In addition, the game board 5 can entertain the player by displaying a predetermined effect image on the effect display device 1600 in accordance with the game state that changes when the game ball B is hit into the game area 5a, and by performing light-emitting effects and moving effects using the back front effect unit 3100, back upper effect unit 3200, back lower effect unit 3300, etc.

[0024] [2. Overall structure of the outer frame] The outer frame 2 of the pachinko machine 1 will be described with reference to Figs. 13 to 18. Fig. 13 is a front view of the outer frame of the pachinko machine, Fig. 14 is a rear view of the outer frame, and Fig. 15 is a right side view of the outer frame. Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the outer frame seen from the front, and Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the outer frame seen from the rear. Fig. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the outer frame disassembled into its main components and seen from the front. The outer frame 2 is attached to an island facility (not shown) in an amusement hall or the like on which the pachinko machine 1 is installed. When viewed from the front, the outer frame 2 is formed into a rectangular frame that extends vertically.

[0025] As shown in the figure, the outer frame 2 comprises a left outer frame assembly 10 and a right outer frame assembly 20 that are spaced apart from each other and extend vertically, an upper outer frame member 30 that connects the upper ends of the left outer frame assembly 10 and the right outer frame assembly 20, a lower outer frame assembly 40 that connects the lower ends of the left outer frame assembly 10 and the right outer frame assembly 20, an upper outer frame hinge assembly 50 attached to the left end of the upper surface of the upper outer frame member 30, and a lower outer frame hinge member 60 attached to the lower right side of the left outer frame assembly 10 and the left end of the upper surface of the lower outer frame assembly 40.

[0026] When the main frame 4 is closed, the outer frame lower assembly 40 cooperates with the speaker unit 620a of the board unit 620 in the main frame 4 to form part of the enclosure 624 of the main frame speaker 622, and can invert the phase of sound output to the rear of the main frame speaker 622 and radiate it forward.

[0027] The outer frame 2 has an upper outer frame hinge assembly 50 that can detachably support an upper main body frame hinge member 510 of the main body frame 4. The outer frame 2 can coaxially support the upper main body frame hinge member 510 and the lower main body frame hinge assembly 520 of the main body frame 4 using the upper outer frame hinge assembly 50 and the lower outer frame hinge member 60, allowing the main body frame 4 to be attached so that it can be opened and closed forward around the left side when viewed from the front.

[0028] [2-1. Left outer frame assembly and right outer frame 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 Figure 19. Figure 19 is an exploded perspective view of the left outer frame assembly and the right outer frame assembly of the outer frame, respectively, as seen 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 spaced apart from each other on the left and right. The left outer frame assembly 10 and the right outer frame assembly 20 coaxially support the upper main frame hinge member 510 and the lower main frame hinge assembly 520 of the main frame 4 so that they can rotate about the same axis, thereby attaching the main frame 4 to the outer frame 2 so that it can be opened and closed.

[0029] First, the left outer frame assembly 10 comprises a left outer frame member 11 that extends vertically with a constant width (depth) in the front-to-back 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.

[0030] The left outer frame member 11 has a constant cross-sectional shape and extends vertically, and is formed from an extruded aluminum alloy. The left outer frame member 11 has a recess 11a that is flat and recessed to the right in the rear portion of the left side surface, which is one of three equal parts in the front-to-rear direction; a bulge 11b that bulges to the right from the portion of the right side surface opposite the recess 11a; and a hollow portion 11c that penetrates the bulge 11b vertically. The recess 11a and bulge 11b increase the strength and rigidity of the left outer frame member 11, and the hollow portion 11c reduces its weight.

[0031] Furthermore, multiple grooves extending vertically are formed on both the left and right side surfaces of the left outer frame member 11. The multiple grooves on the left side surface are V-shaped, and the multiple grooves on the right side surface are semicircular. The left outer frame member 11 is formed in a symmetrical shape to the right outer frame member 21 of the right outer frame assembly 20, which will be described later.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] The lower-left connecting member 13 is attached to the left outer frame member 11 by 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 with the rear surface of the abutting portion 13d abutting against the front surface of the bulging portion 11b of the left outer frame member 11, the left side surface of the upper horizontal fixing portion 13b abutting against the right side surface of the left outer frame member 11, and the lower surface of the horizontal fixing portion 13a being aligned with the lower end of the left outer frame member 11. The lower-left connecting member 13 is also attached to the lower outer frame member 41 with the horizontal fixing portion 13a abutting against the upper surface of the left end side of the lower outer frame member 41 and the lower horizontal fixing portion 13c inserted into the notch 41a on the left side surface of the lower outer frame member 41, and by screwing a screw into the lower outer frame member 41 through the horizontal fixing portion 13a and the lower horizontal fixing portion 13c.

[0036] Next, the right outer frame assembly 20 comprises a right outer frame member 21 that extends vertically with a constant width (depth) in the front-to-back 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.

[0037] The right outer frame member 21 has a constant cross-sectional shape and extends vertically, and is formed from an extruded aluminum alloy. The right outer frame member 21 has a recess 21a that is flat and recessed to the left in a rear portion of the right side surface, which is one of three equal parts in the front-to-rear direction; a bulge 21b that bulges leftward from a portion of the left side surface opposite the recess 21a; and a hollow portion 21c that penetrates the bulge 21b vertically. The recess 21a and bulge 21b increase the strength and rigidity of the right outer frame member 21, and the hollow portion 21c reduces its weight.

[0038] The right outer frame member 21 has multiple grooves extending vertically on both the left and right side surfaces. The multiple grooves on the right side surface are V-shaped, and the multiple grooves on the left side surface are semicircular. The right outer frame member 21 is formed in a symmetrical shape to the left outer frame member 11 of the left outer frame assembly 10.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] [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 18. 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 in the front-to-rear direction of the left outer frame member 11 and the right outer frame member 21, a constant thickness in the up-down direction, extends in the left-to-right direction, and is made of wood. The length in the left-to-right direction of the upper outer frame member 30 is formed to be the same as the length in the left-to-right direction of the lower outer frame member 41 of the lower outer frame assembly 40, which will be described later.

[0046] The upper outer frame member 30 has cutouts 30a at the center of the front-rear direction on both the left and right sides, which penetrate vertically and are recessed toward the center in the left-right direction. The upper horizontal fixing portion 12b of the upper left connecting member 12 and the upper horizontal fixing portion 22b of the upper right connecting member 22 are inserted into these cutouts 30a on both ends.

[0047] The upper frame member 30 also has a mounting step 30b at the left end, where the top and front surfaces are recessed from the general surface. The upper frame hinge assembly 50 (described later) is attached to this mounting step 30b.

[0048] [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 Figure 20. Figure 20 is an exploded perspective view of the lower outer frame assembly of the outer frame, viewed 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, which are spaced apart on the left and right, and is used to close off and decorate the area below the door frame 3 in the pachinko machine 1.

[0049] The lower outer frame assembly 40 comprises a lower outer frame member 41 that extends left and right and connects the lower ends of the left outer frame assembly 10 and the right outer frame assembly 20, which are spaced apart left and right; a box-shaped front panel member 42 that is positioned in front of the lower outer frame member 41, extends left and right along the lower outer frame member 41, and is open at the rear; a box-shaped rear panel member 43 that is attached to the rear side of the front panel member 42 and is attached to the top surface of the lower outer frame member 41, extends left and right, and is open at the front; and a ball-jamming prevention mechanism 44 formed at the left end of the top surface of the rear panel member 43.

[0050] The lower outer frame member 41 has a width in the front-to-rear direction substantially the same as that of the left outer frame member 11 and the right outer frame member 21, a constant thickness in the up-down direction, extends in the left-to-right direction, and is made of wood. The lower outer frame member 41 is formed with a length in the left-to-right direction that is the same as that of the upper outer frame member 30.

[0051] The lower outer frame member 41 has cutouts 41a at the center of the front-to-rear direction on both left and right sides, which penetrate vertically and are recessed toward the center in the left-to-right direction. The lower lateral fixing portion 13c of the lower left connecting member 13 and the lower lateral fixing portion 23c of the lower right connecting member 23 are inserted into these cutouts 41a at both ends. This allows the lower ends of the left outer frame member 11 and the right outer frame member 21 to be connected to each other.

[0052] The outer frame lower member 41 is recessed from the top surface and has a recess 41b into which the lower part of the header rear member 43 is inserted. The recess 41b extends left and right and extends from a position toward the rear of the center in the front-to-rear direction to the front end. This recess 41b maximizes the volume of the header internal space 40a formed by the header front member 42 and the header rear member 43.

[0053] The front panel member 42 has the same left-right length as the outer frame lower member 41, is formed in the shape of a horizontally elongated rectangular box with a short depth in the front-to-back direction relative to its height, and is open on the entire rear side. The open rear side of the front panel member 42 is closed by the rear panel member 43, thereby forming, in cooperation with the rear panel member 43, a front panel internal space 40a that becomes part of the enclosure 624 of the main frame speaker 622. The front panel member 42 has an elongated opening 42a on the front surface near the right end that penetrates from front to back and extends left to right.

[0054] The rear panel member 43 has a length in the left-right direction slightly shorter than that of the lower outer frame member 41 and is formed in a box shape with an open front. By attaching the front panel member 42 to the front surface of the rear panel member 43, the rear panel member 43 cooperates with the front panel member 42 to form the panel internal space 40a, which is part of the enclosure 624 of the main frame speaker 622. The rear panel member 43 has a cylindrical connecting tube portion 43a in the center of the left-right direction on its upper surface, which extends left and right and protrudes upward to communicate with the panel internal space 40a. The connecting tube portion 43a is inclined so that its upper end is positioned upward from the front end side, which is coincident with the general upper surface of the rear panel member 43, toward the rear. In this embodiment, the upper end of the connecting tube portion 43a is inclined at a 45-degree angle.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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.

[0062] 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.

[0063] The pair of guide members 45 are contacted by the lower end of the door frame 3 when the main frame 4 is closed relative to the outer frame 2. The guide members 45 are made of a low-friction material with low friction resistance, making the lower end of the main frame 4 slide easily, facilitating opening and closing.

[0064] Grille member 46 has a strip-like shape extending in the left-right direction and multiple blades 46b spaced apart in the up-down direction. Blades 46b are inclined so that their front ends are higher than their rear ends (see FIG. 47). Grille member 46 provides ventilation between the interior of front panel member 42 (front panel internal space 40a) and the outside through the gaps between blades 46b.

[0065] The port member 47 uses two cylinders to communicate the panel interior space 40a (enclosure 624) with the front of the outer frame 2 via the gap between the blade portions 46b of the grill member 46. The port member 47 is made up of two cylinders formed with a predetermined inner diameter and a predetermined length, and can resonate and amplify the bass sounds emitted rearward (inside the enclosure 624) from the main frame speaker 622 using the principle of Helmholtz resonance, thereby radiating rich bass sounds forward (toward the player) of the outer frame 2. In other words, in this embodiment, the enclosure 624 of the main frame speaker 622 is a bass reflex type, allowing the player to hear deep bass sounds.

[0066] When the main frame 4 is closed against the outer frame 2, the sealing member 48 is sandwiched and compressed between the upper end of the connecting tube portion 43a and the lower end of the connecting portion 621c of the speaker cover 621 on the main frame 4, and prevents sound from inside the enclosure 624 of the main frame speaker 622 from leaking between the connecting tube portion 43a and the connecting portion 621c.

[0067] 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 cylindrical 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 cylindrical portion 291a of the handle cover base 291) and rotates the handle 195 (the device for striking the game ball B), the main body frame speaker 622 is vibrated to send air into the front cylindrical portion 291a, surprising the player and providing an unprecedented performance.

[0068] 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.

[0069] 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.

[0070] [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 21. Figure 21(a) is an exploded perspective view of the outer frame upper hinge assembly of the outer frame, viewed from above and front, and Figure 21(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.

[0071] 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.

[0072] The locking member 52 includes a band-shaped locking body 52a extending forward and backward, 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 diagonally forward and leftward, and a mounting hole 52d penetrating vertically near the rear end of the locking body 52a. The locking member 52 is made of synthetic resin. The locking member 52 is rotatably attached with mounting screws 53 to the underside of the forward extending portion 51b of the outer frame upper hinge member 51 at a position rearward of the bearing groove 51c.

[0073] When the locking member 52 is attached to the outer frame upper hinge member 51, the locking body 52a can block the bearing groove 51c in a plan view, and extends forward so that the right side surface near the front end can abut against a portion of the edge wall portion 51e of the outer frame upper hinge member 51 that extends to the opening of the bearing groove 51c. The tip of the elastic portion 52c extending leftward from the rear end of the locking body 52a abuts against the inner circumferential surface of the edge wall portion 51e of the outer frame upper hinge member 51. The biasing force of the elastic portion 52c biases the locking member 52 in a direction that causes the front end to pivot leftward around the mounting hole 52d. Therefore, in the normal state, the right side surface near the front end of the locking body 52a of the locking member 52 abuts against the edge wall portion 51e. In this state, a space capable of accommodating upper main body frame hinge pin 512 of upper main body frame hinge member 510 is formed in a portion of bearing groove 51c that is forward of lock body 52a.

[0074] By operating the operating piece 52b of the locking member 52, the locking body 52a can be rotated against the biasing force of the elastic portion 52c. By operating the operating piece 52b, the locking body 52a can be rotated in a direction in which its front end moves leftward, thereby retracting the locking body 52a from the bearing groove 51c in a plan view, and the bearing groove 51c can be fully opened. This allows the main body frame upper hinge pin 512 to be inserted into or removed from the bearing groove 51c.

[0075] [2-5. Hinge part under the outer frame] The lower outer frame hinge member 60 of the outer frame 2 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figure 18. The lower outer frame hinge member 60 has a flat horizontal portion 60a extending horizontally, a flat rising portion 60b rising upward from a position on the left side of the horizontal portion 60a rearward of the center in the front-to-rear direction, a lower outer frame hinge pin 60c protruding upward from near the front end of the horizontal portion 60a, and a discharge hole 60d that passes vertically through the horizontal portion 60a and is large enough to allow only one game ball B to pass through. This lower outer frame hinge member 60 is formed by punching and bending a metal plate by press molding.

[0076] The horizontal portion 60a of the lower outer frame hinge member 60 is trapezoidal in plan view, with the left side as the base. The lower outer frame hinge pin 60c is cylindrical and has a truncated cone shape with a narrowed upper end above the vertical center. This lower outer frame hinge pin 60c is attached to the left near the front end of the horizontal portion 60a. The discharge hole 60d is formed in the horizontal portion 60a so as to contact the center of the rising portion 60b in the front-to-rear direction and extend in an inverted U shape from the left side of the horizontal portion 60a to the right. This discharge hole 60d is formed to be approximately the same size as the first discharge port 44b of the ball jamming prevention mechanism 44 in the lower outer frame assembly 40.

[0077] When assembled to the outer frame 2, the rear of the horizontal portion 60a of the outer frame lower hinge member 60 is placed on the mounting portion 44a of the header panel rear member 43 of the outer frame lower assembly 40, and is fixed to the header panel rear member 43 with screws (not shown). In addition, the rising portion 60b is attached with screws (not shown) to a position forward of the bulging portion 11b on the right side surface of the outer frame left member 11. This outer frame lower hinge member 60 can cooperate with the outer frame upper hinge member 51 to attach the main frame 4 so that it can be opened and closed by inserting the outer frame lower hinge pin 60c into the outer frame lower hinge hole 521a in the main frame lower hinge assembly 520 of the main frame 4.

[0078] 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.

[0079] [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 22 to 30. Figure 22 is a front view of the door frame in the pachinko machine, Figure 23 is a rear view of the door frame, Figure 24 is a left side view of the door frame, and Figure 25 is a right side view of the door frame. Figure 26 is a perspective view of the door frame seen from the front right, Figure 27 is a perspective view of the door frame seen from the front left, and Figure 28 is a perspective view of the door frame seen from the rear. Figure 29 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame disassembled into its main components as seen from the front, and Figure 30 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame disassembled into its main components as seen from the rear.

[0080] The door frame 3 is formed in a rectangular shape extending vertically in a front view, with approximately the same size as the interior of the outer frame 2, and is attached via the main frame 4 so that it can be opened and closed from the front side within the interior of the outer frame 2. The door frame 3 closes the game area 5a of the game board 5 into which game balls B are dropped so that it can be seen from the front side, stores game balls B to be dropped into the game area 5a, and is equipped with a handle 195 that is operated by the player to drop the stored game balls B into the game area 5a. The door frame 3 also decorates the entire front of the pachinko machine 1.

[0081] The door frame 3 includes a door frame base unit 100 having a rectangular frame-like shape with an outer shape extending vertically in a front view, a glass unit 160 that is detachably attached to the door frame base unit 100 and closes a playing area 5a of a playing board 5 attached to the main 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, a handle unit 180 that is attached to the front right corner of the door frame base unit 100, and a handle that covers the outer periphery of the handle unit 180. It comprises a cover unit 290, a tray unit 200 attached to the lower front of the door frame base unit 100, a left side door frame unit 420 attached to the left front of the door frame base unit 100 above the tray unit 200, a right side door frame unit 430 attached to the right front of the door frame base unit 100 above the tray unit, and a top door frame unit 450 attached to the upper front of the door frame base unit 100 above the left side door frame unit 420 and the right side door frame unit 430.

[0082] The door frame base unit 100 comprises a door frame base 101 whose outline when viewed from the front is formed in a square (rectangle) that extends vertically and has a door window 101a that penetrates from front to back, a speaker duct 103 attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 in the lower right corner when viewed from the rear, a door frame main relay board 104 attached to the lower rear side of the door frame base 101 near the right end when viewed from the rear, a door frame sub-relay board 105 attached to the left of the door frame main relay board 104 when viewed from the rear, a post-handle relay board 106 attached to the left of the door frame sub-relay board 105 when viewed from the rear, a door frame relay board cover 107 that covers the door frame main relay board 104 and part of the door frame sub-relay board 105 from the rear, a post-handle relay board cover 108 that covers the post-handle relay board 106 from the rear, and a cable cover 109 that covers the wiring cable.

[0083] The door frame base unit 100 also includes a frame-shaped door frame reinforcement unit 110 attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101, an upper door frame hinge assembly 120 and a lower door frame hinge member 125 attached to the door frame reinforcement unit 110, a cylinder lock 130 for opening and closing attached to the door frame reinforcement unit 110, a ball feeding unit 140 attached above the rear handle relay board 106 on the rear side of the door frame base 101, and a fall cover unit 150 attached to the right side of the lower rear side of the door frame base 101 when viewed from behind.

[0084] The door frame reinforcement unit 110 is attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 to reinforce and rigidify the door frame base 101. The upper door frame hinge assembly 120 and the lower door frame hinge member 125 are used to attach the door frame 3 to the main frame 4 so that it can be opened and closed. The cylinder lock 130 works in cooperation with the locking unit 650 of the main frame 4 to lock and open the door frame 3 and the main frame 4, and to open and close the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4.

[0085] The ball feeding unit 140 is for supplying the game balls B in the upper tray 201 one by one to the ball launching device 540 of the main frame 4. The foul cover unit 150 is for guiding the game balls B (foul balls) that have been launched by the ball launching device 540 but have not reached the game area 5a of the game board 5 to the lower tray 202, and for guiding the game balls B paid out from the payout device 580 to the upper tray 201 or the lower tray 202.

[0086] 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 has a handle 195 that can be rotated by the player, and the handle unit 180 is used to play a game in which the game ball B in the upper tray 201 is shot into the game area 5a of the game board 5 by the ball launcher 540 by operating the handle cover unit 290 that covers the outer periphery.

[0087] [3-1. Overall structure of the door frame base unit] The door frame base unit 100 of the door frame 3 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 31 to 33. Figure 31(a) is a perspective view of the door frame base unit of the door frame as seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the door frame base unit as seen from the rear. Figure 32 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame base unit disassembled into its main components as seen from the front, and Figure 33 is an exploded perspective view of the door frame base unit disassembled into its main components as seen from the rear.

[0088] The door frame base unit 100 is attached to the main body frame 4 on its left side when viewed from the front so that it can rotate on a hinge, closing the front of the main body frame 4 so that it can be opened and closed, and making it possible to view the playing area 5a of the playing board 5 attached to the main body frame 4 from the front. The door frame base unit 100 comprises a door frame base 101 which is a rectangular, flat plate-like door frame base that extends vertically, and a speaker duct 103 attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 in the lower right corner when viewed from behind.

[0089] The door frame base unit 100 also includes a door frame main relay board 104 attached to the lower rear side of the door frame base 101 near the right end when viewed from behind, a door frame sub-relay board 105 attached to the left of the door frame main relay board 104 when viewed from behind at the lower rear side of the door frame base 101, a post-handle relay board 106 attached to the left of the door frame sub-relay board 105 when viewed from behind at the lower 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 the main door frame relay board 104 and part of the sub-door frame relay board 105 from the rear side, a post-handle relay board cover 108 attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 and covering the post-handle relay board 106 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.

[0090] Furthermore, 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, an upper door frame hinge assembly 120 and a lower door frame hinge member 125 attached to the door frame reinforcement unit 110, a cylinder lock 130 for opening and closing attached to the door frame reinforcement unit 110, a ball feeding unit 140 attached above the rear handle relay board 106 on the rear side of the door frame base 101, and a fall cover unit 150 attached to the right side of the lower rear side of the door frame base 101 when viewed from behind.

[0091] This door frame base unit 100 has a handle unit 180 and a handle cover unit 290 attached to the lower front corners, a tray unit 200 attached to the lower front surface of the door window 101a, a door frame left side unit 420 attached to the left outer front surface of the door window 101a, a door frame right side unit 430 attached to the right outer front surface of the door window 101a, and a door frame top unit 450 attached to the upper outer front surface of the door window 101a.

[0092] In addition, 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 security cover 170 is attached so as to cover the lower part of the glass unit 160 from the rear.

[0093] [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 Figures 31 to 33. 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. The door frame base 101 is integrally molded from synthetic resin.

[0094] The door frame base 101 is provided with a handle mounting seat 101b (see Figure 42, etc.) formed in the lower right corner of the front surface when viewed from the front and inclined so that the left end protrudes slightly forward more than the right end, a cylinder insertion hole 101d that penetrates front to back between the handle mounting seat 101b 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 that penetrates front to back on the left side of the cylinder insertion hole 101d and the handle mounting seat 101b when viewed from the front, allowing the entrance 141a and ball removal opening 141b of the ball feeding unit 140 to be exposed forward.

[0095] 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 101b, 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 near the left end when viewed from the front, adjacent to the lower edge of the door window 101a, 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.

[0096] The door frame base 101 also has a plurality of vertically elongated slits 101i formed in the lower left corner (below the upper tray ball passage opening 101g) when viewed from the front, which penetrate from front to back. A speaker duct 103 is attached to the rear side of the plurality of slits 101i. When the pachinko machine 1 is assembled, the plurality of slits 101i have the speaker opening 211b of the tray unit base 211 in the tray unit 200 located in front thereof, and the main body frame speaker 622 in the speaker unit 620a of the main body frame 4 located in the rear thereof, so that sound from the main body frame speaker 622 can be emitted forward.

[0097] Furthermore, the door frame base 101 is provided with a through-hole 101j that penetrates from front to back below the door window 101a and above the handle mounting seat surface 101b. This through-hole 101j 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 match the through-hole 114b of the intermediate reinforcing frame 114 in the door frame reinforcing unit 110 described later.

[0098] [3-1b. Speaker duct] The speaker duct 103 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 31 to 33. This speaker duct 103 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is attached to a portion of the rear side of the door frame base 101 where multiple slits 101i are formed. When the pachinko machine 1 is assembled, the rear end of the cylindrical portion of the speaker duct 103 is located in front of the main body frame speaker 622 of the main body frame 4. This allows the sound radiated (output) from the main body frame speaker 622 of the main body frame 4 to be guided forward without being diffused, and can be well guided to the front of the pachinko machine 1 (towards the player) through the multiple slits 101i of the door frame base 101 and the speaker port 211b in the plate unit base 211 of the plate unit 200.

[0099] Furthermore, the speaker duct 103 is provided with a cable holder 103a on the rear surface below the cylindrical portion, which holds the connection cable 503. The cable holder 103a is disposed 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 that the connection cable 503 extends to the left end side of the door frame 3.

[0100] [3-1c. Door frame main relay board, door frame sub relay board, handle rear relay board] The door frame main relay board 104, door frame sub-relay board 105, and handle rear relay board 106 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described mainly with reference to Figures 32 and 33. The door frame main relay board 104 has a rectangular shape that extends vertically, and is attached to the lower right corner of the rear lower part of the door frame base 101 when viewed from behind. The door frame main relay board 104 relays the connection between the handle rear relay board 106 and the interface board 635 in the board unit 620 of the main body frame 4, and is connected to a portion of the connection cable 503 (see Figures 82 and 83) extending from the main body frame 4.

[0101] The door frame sub-relay board 105 has an inverted L-shaped exterior, with a vertically extending rectangle joined to the right of the upper part of the rectangle when viewed from the front, and is attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 so that the vertically extending portion is adjacent to the left of the door frame main relay board 104 when viewed from the rear. The door frame sub-relay board 105 relays connections between the interface board 635 of the main frame 4 and the handle decorative board 184 of the handle unit 180, the dish unit relay board 214 of the dish unit 200, the door frame left-side upper decorative board 422 and the door frame left-side lower decorative board 423 of the door frame left-side unit 420, the door frame right-side upper decorative board 432 and the door frame right-side lower decorative board 433 of the door frame right-side unit 430, the door frame top relay board of the door frame top unit 450, etc., and is connected to the remaining part of the connection cable 503 extending from the main frame 4.

[0102] The door frame main relay board 104 and the door frame sub-relay board 105 are attached to the door frame base 101 so that the connection terminals protrude rearward. When the door frame base unit 100 is assembled, the door frame main relay board 104 and the door frame sub-relay board 105 have their rear sides covered by the door frame relay board cover 107, and the remaining part of the door frame sub-relay board 105 has its rear side covered by the fall cover unit 150.

[0103] The handle rear relay board 106 has an outer shape formed in a rectangular shape that extends left and right, and is attached to the rear side of the handle mounting surface 101b below the ball feed opening 101e on the rear side of the door frame base 101. The handle rear relay board 106 serves to relay the connection between the door frame main relay board 104 and the handle rotation detection sensor 189, handle touch sensor 192, single button operation sensor 194 of the handle unit 180, and the ball feed solenoid 145 of the ball feed unit 140. When the door frame base unit 100 is assembled, the rear side of the handle rear relay board 106 is covered by the handle rear relay board cover 108.

[0104] [3-1d. Door frame relay board cover, handle rear relay board cover, cable cover] The frame relay board cover 107, the handle rear relay board cover 108, and the cable cover 109 of the frame base unit 100 will be described mainly with reference to Figures 31 to 33. The frame relay board cover 107 is attached to the rear side of the frame base 101 to cover the rear sides of the frame main relay board 104 and part of the frame sub-relay board 105 (the parts extending up and down in an inverted L shape). The frame relay board cover 107 is formed in a box shape that is open on the front and left side when viewed from the front. When assembled to the frame base unit 100, the connection terminals of the frame main relay board 104 and the frame sub-relay board 105 that cover the rear sides are exposed inside the frame relay board cover 107, and a connection cable 503 can be inserted into the open left side and connected to these terminals.

[0105] 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 106. The cable cover 109 is attached to the rear side of the intermediate reinforcement frame 114 in the door frame reinforcement unit 110, and is intended to cover the wiring cable (not shown) that connects the door frame main relay board 104 and the ball dispensing operation unit 220 of the dish unit 200. The cable cover 109 is formed in a box shape that extends left and right, and has openings near the left end of the front surface and in the center of the bottom surface in the left-right direction for passing the wiring cable through.

[0106] [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 Figures 31 to 33. 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 and provide rigidity to the door frame base unit 100. The door frame reinforcement unit 110 comprises a left reinforcement frame 111 and a right reinforcement frame 112 which extend vertically and are arranged at a distance from each other on the left and right, an upper reinforcement frame 113 which extends horizontally and connects the upper ends of the left reinforcement frame 111 and the right reinforcement frame 112, an intermediate reinforcement frame 114 whose left end is attached to a position above the lower end of the left reinforcement frame 111 and extends to the right to the vicinity of the right reinforcement frame 112, a cylinder mounting frame 115 which connects the right end of the intermediate reinforcement frame 114 to the right reinforcement frame 112, and multiple hook hook members 116 which are attached vertically and spaced apart on the rear side of the right reinforcement frame 112 and on which door frame hooks 652 of the locking unit 650 of the main frame 4 are hooked.

[0107] The left reinforcing frame 111 and the right reinforcing frame 112 have a constant width in the left-right direction and extend vertically for a length approximately equal to the vertical height of the door frame base 101. The right reinforcing frame 112 has multiple insertion holes that are spaced apart in the vertical direction and penetrate 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 against the main frame 4. The upper reinforcing frame 113 has a constant width in the up-down direction and extends horizontally for a length approximately equal to the left-to-right width of the door frame base 101.

[0108] The middle reinforcement frame 114 extends left and right with a width in the vertical direction that is wider than the width of the upper reinforcement frame 113. The middle reinforcement frame 114 has a square cutout 114a cut downward from the top end near the left end, and a through-hole 114b that penetrates from front to back near the right end. The cutout 114a is formed in a position that coincides with the upper tray ball passage opening 101g of the door frame base 101, and the through-hole 114b is formed in a position that coincides with the through-hole 101j of the door frame base 101.

[0109] The cylinder mounting frame 115 includes a pair of rear pieces spaced apart from each other and formed as rectangular flat plates extending vertically in a front view, a pair of side pieces extending forward from the opposing edges of the pair of rear pieces in a flat plate shape, and a flat front piece connecting the front end edges of the pair of forward extending pieces. The cylinder mounting frame 115 has a convex shape that protrudes forward in a plan view. The left rear piece of the cylinder mounting frame 115 is attached to the right end of the middle reinforcing frame 114, and the right rear piece is attached to the right reinforcing frame 112. The cylinder lock 130 is attached to the front piece of the cylinder mounting frame 115.

[0110] The hook members 116 are attached to the portions of the insertion holes that penetrate from front to back on the rear side of the right reinforcing frame 112. Door frame hooks 652 of the locking unit 650 are hooked onto these hook members 116.

[0111] The left reinforcing frame 111, right reinforcing frame 112, upper reinforcing frame 113, middle reinforcing frame 114, cylinder mounting frame 115, and hook member 116 that make up the door frame reinforcement unit 110 are formed by stamping and bending metal plates using press molding, and are assembled with rivets.

[0112] The door frame reinforcement unit 110 is composed of a left reinforcement frame 111, a right reinforcement frame 112, and an upper reinforcement frame 113 assembled along the left, right, and upper edges of the door frame base 101, and an intermediate reinforcement frame 114 assembled to be positioned below the door window 101a of the door frame base 101.

[0113] 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 notch 114a and the through-hole 114b of the intermediate reinforcement frame 114 are aligned with the upper tray ball passage opening 101g and the through-hole 101j of the door frame base 101, and the cylinder mounting frame 115 is inserted into the cylinder insertion hole 101d of the door frame base 101.

[0114] [3-1f. Door frame upper hinge assembly] The upper door-frame hinge assembly 120 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described mainly with reference to Figures 31 to 33. The upper door-frame hinge assembly 120 is attached to the upper left corner of the door-frame reinforcement unit 110 when viewed from the front. The upper door-frame hinge assembly 120 is used to attach the door frame 3 to the main frame 4 so that it can rotate about a hinge in cooperation with a lower door-frame hinge member 125. The upper door-frame hinge assembly 120 includes a hinge bracket 121 attached to the door-frame reinforcement unit 110, an upper door-frame hinge pin 122 attached to the hinge bracket 121 so as to be movable in the vertical direction, a flange member 123 attached to the upper door-frame hinge pin 122, and a lock spring 124 that biases the upper door-frame hinge pin 122 so as to move upward.

[0115] The hinge bracket 121 includes a flat mounting piece 121a that is rectangular when viewed from the front, and flat protruding pieces 121b that extend forward from the upper and lower sides of the mounting piece 121a. The mounting piece 121a of the hinge bracket 121 is attached to the door frame reinforcement unit 110. The hinge bracket 121 is formed by bending a metal plate.

[0116] The upper door-frame hinge pin 122 is a cylindrical metal rod bent into an L-shape. When assembled to the upper door-frame hinge assembly 120, the portion of the upper door-frame hinge pin 122 that extends vertically penetrates from below near the front ends of a pair of protruding pieces 121b of the hinge bracket 121, with the upper end extending upward beyond the upper protruding piece 121b, and the portion that extends horizontally abuts against the underside of the lower protruding piece 121b. The upper end of the upper door-frame hinge pin 122 is rotatably inserted into the upper door-frame hinge hole 511a of the upper hinge body 511 of the main-frame upper hinge member 510 of the main frame 4.

[0117] The flange member 123 is an E-ring, and is attached to a portion of the upper door-frame hinge pin 122 between the pair of protruding pieces 121b. The lock spring 124 is formed in a coil shape, and is fitted around the portion of the upper door-frame hinge pin 122 that extends vertically, between the flange member 123 and the lower protruding piece 121b of the hinge bracket 121. The lock spring 124 urges the upper door-frame hinge pin 122 upward via the flange member 123.

[0118] In the upper door-frame hinge assembly 120, the upper door-frame hinge pin 122 is biased upward by the lock spring 124, and the horizontally extending portion of the lower end of the upper door-frame hinge pin 122 abuts against the lower surface of the lower protruding piece 121b, thereby restricting further upward movement. In this state, the upper end of the upper door-frame hinge pin 122 protrudes a predetermined amount above the upper surface of the upper protruding piece 121b.

[0119] In the door-frame-upper hinge assembly 120, when the horizontally extending portion of the lower end of the door-frame-upper hinge pin 122 is moved downward against the biasing force of the lock spring 124, the entire door-frame-upper hinge pin 122 can be moved downward, and the upper end of the door-frame-upper hinge pin 122 can be retracted below the upper surface of the upper protruding piece 121b. Therefore, in the door-frame-upper hinge assembly 120, the upper end of the door-frame-upper hinge pin 122 can be inserted from below into the door-frame upper hinge hole 511a of the main-frame-upper hinge member 510 and removed downward. As a result, by inserting the upper end of the door-frame-upper hinge pin 122 into the door-frame upper hinge hole 511a of the main-frame-upper hinge member 510, the upper left end of the door frame 3 in a front view can be supported so as to be hinge-rotatable relative to the main frame 4.

[0120] Furthermore, in the upper door-frame hinge assembly 120, the portion of the upper door-frame hinge pin 122 that extends vertically is positioned coaxially with a lower door-frame hinge pin 126 of a lower door-frame hinge member 125, which will be described later. This allows the upper door-frame hinge pin 122 and the lower door-frame hinge pin 126 to hinge rotate the door frame 3 relative to the main frame 4 in a favorable state.

[0121] [3-1g. Door frame bottom hinge material] The lower door frame hinge member 125 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described mainly with reference to Figures 31 to 33. The lower door frame hinge member 125 is attached to the lower left corner of the door frame reinforcement unit 110 when viewed from the front. The lower door frame hinge member 125 cooperates with the upper door frame hinge assembly 120 to attach the door frame 3 to the main frame 4 so that it can rotate about the hinge.

[0122] The door frame lower hinge member 125 is attached to the door frame reinforcement unit 110 and comprises a flat mounting piece 125a that is rectangular when viewed from the front, a flat protruding piece 125b that extends forward from the lower edge of the mounting piece 125a, and a door frame lower hinge pin 126 (see Figure 22, etc.) that protrudes downward from the underside near the front end of the protruding piece 125b.

[0123] The mounting piece 125a and protruding piece 125b of the lower door-frame hinge member 125 are formed by bending a metal plate. The lower door-frame hinge pin 126 is a cylindrical metal rod with a tapered chamfer on the outer periphery of the lower end. When assembled to the door frame base unit 100, this lower door-frame hinge pin 126 is attached to a portion of the protruding piece 125b that is coaxial with the portion of the upper door-frame hinge pin 122 of the upper door-frame hinge assembly 120 that extends vertically.

[0124] This door frame lower hinge member 125 can support the door frame 3 relative to the main frame 4 so that it can rotate about the hinge by inserting the door frame lower hinge pin 126 into the door frame lower hinge hole 522a of the main frame lower hinge assembly 520.

[0125] [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 Figures 34 to 36. Figure 34(a) is a perspective view of the cylinder lock of the door frame as seen from the front, (b) is a perspective view of the cylinder lock of (a) as seen from the rear front, (c) is a perspective view of the cylinder lock in a conventional pachinko machine as seen from the front, and (d) is a perspective view of the cylinder lock of (a) as seen from the rear. Figure 35(a) is an exploded perspective view of the cylinder lock of Figure 34(a) as seen from the front, and (b) is an exploded perspective view of the cylinder lock of Figure 34(a) as seen from the rear. Figure 36(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the movable mechanism of the cylinder lock of Figure 34(a) from the front, (b) is an explanatory diagram of the cylinder lock rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise from the state in (a), and (c) is an explanatory diagram of the cylinder lock rotated 90 degrees clockwise from the state in (a).

[0126] The cylinder lock 130 is attached to the cylinder mounting frame 115 of the door frame reinforcement unit 110, and works in cooperation with the locking unit 650 of the main frame 4 to open and close the door frame 3 and the main frame 4, and to lock and open the outer frame 2 and the main frame 4. The cylinder lock 130 comprises a cylindrical cylinder body 131 that extends forward and backward, a keyhole 132 formed in the front end face of the cylinder body 131, and a rotation transmission member 133 that is provided at the rear of the cylinder body 131 and rotates together with the rotation of a regular key inserted in the keyhole 132.

[0127] The cylinder body 131 of the cylinder lock 130 penetrates the front piece of the cylinder mounting frame 115 from the rear, and its rear end is attached to the front piece. The rotation transmission member 133 is formed in a cylindrical shape (more specifically, a conical cylinder whose diameter increases toward the rear) that is open at the rear, and has a pair of notches cut out from the rear end toward the front at positions opposite each other across the central axis. The rotation transmission member 133 is formed so that a transmission cylinder 654 of a locking unit 650 in the main body frame 4 can be inserted from the rear, and by inserting a pair of protrusions of the transmission cylinder 654 into the pair of notches, the rotation of the rotation transmission member 133 (the key inserted in the keyhole 132) can be transmitted to the transmission cylinder 654, causing it to rotate.

[0128] In more detail, the cylinder lock 130 comprises a first cam member 134 provided at the rear end of the cylinder body 131 and which rotates together with the rotation of a genuine key inserted into the keyhole 132; a second cam member 135 which is rotatably attached around a longitudinal axis at a position below the cylinder body 131 on the cylinder mounting frame 115; a strip-shaped first arm 136 which has an upper end rotatably attached to a position to the right of the center of rotation of the first cam member 134 and a lower end rotatably attached to a position to the right of the center of rotation of the second cam member 135; and a strip-shaped second arm 137 which has an upper end rotatably attached to a position below the center of rotation of the first cam member 134 and a lower end rotatably attached to a position below the center of rotation of the second cam member 135.

[0129] The cylinder lock 130 also includes a rear cover 138 attached to the cylinder mounting frame 115 so as to cover 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), and rivets 139 that attach the upper and lower ends of each of the first arm 136 and the second arm 137 to the first cam member 134 and the second cam member 135, respectively, so that they can rotate.

[0130] The first cam member 134 has an upper end side of a first arm 136 attached to the rear side, and an upper end side of a second arm 137 attached to the front side. The second cam member 135 is rotatably attached from the rear side by the cylinder mounting frame 115, and a rotation transmission member 133 is attached to the rear side across the front side of the cylinder mounting frame 115 so as to be rotatable integrally with the second cam member 134. The second cam member 135 has a lower end side of the first arm 136 attached to the front side, and a lower end side of the second arm 137 attached to the front side and forward of the first arm 136.

[0131] In each of first cam member 134 and second cam member 135, the portion where first arm 136 is attached and the portion where second arm 137 is attached are spaced apart at an angle of 90 degrees around the respective rotation axes. In addition, in each of first cam member 134 and second cam member 135, the portion where first arm 136 is attached is located farther from the center of rotation than the portion where second arm 137 is attached.

[0132] The rear cover 138 is removably attached to the cylinder mounting frame 115 at its upper end with screws (not shown), with the cylindrical shafts 138a protruding outward from the lower ends of both the left and right sides engaged with L-shaped locking slits 115b in the cylinder mounting frame 115.

[0133] In this cylinder lock 130, the cylinder mounting frame 115, the cylinder body 131, the rotation transmission member 133, the first cam member 134, the second cam member 135, the first arm 136, and the second arm 137 are made of metal.

[0134] When the cylinder lock 130 is assembled to the door frame 3, the front end of the cylinder body 131 is substantially aligned with the front end of the cylinder insertion opening 440b of the door frame right side unit 430.

[0135] Here, we will explain the conventional cylinder lock 130A. As shown in Figures 34(c) and (d), the conventional cylinder lock 130A has a cylinder body 131 that penetrates the front piece of the cylinder mounting frame 115A from the rear and has its rear end attached to the front piece. In this cylinder lock 130A, a rotation transmission member 133 is provided on the axis of the cylinder body 131.

[0136] Next, the operation of the cylinder lock 130 of this embodiment will be described. In a conventional cylinder lock 130, as shown in Figures 34(c) and (d), the rotation transmission member 133 is provided on the axis of the cylinder body 131, whereas in the cylinder lock 130 of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 34(a) and (b), the rotation transmission member 133 is provided at a position spaced downward from the axis of the cylinder body 131.

[0137] 36(a), in the normal state of this cylinder lock 130, both upper and lower ends of the first arm 136 are attached to the right of the rotation centers of the first cam member 134 and the second cam member 135, respectively, and both upper and lower ends of the second arm 137 are attached to the lower of the rotation centers of the first cam member 134 and the second cam member 135. The cylinder body 131 can be rotated by 90 degrees in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions from the normal state using a regular key.

[0138] In this state, when the first cam member 134 is rotated counterclockwise via the cylinder of the cylinder body 131 using a key inserted in the keyhole 132, the first arm 136 and the second arm 137 move upward. At this time, because the upper end side of the first arm 136 is attached to the right of the rotation center of the first cam member 134, a large force acts from the first arm 136 to rotate the second cam member 135 counterclockwise, whereas because the upper end side of the second arm 137 is attached below the rotation center of the first cam member 134, almost no force acts from the second arm 137 to rotate the second cam member 135 counterclockwise.

[0139] In this way, when first cam member 134 rotates counterclockwise from the normal state, force is transmitted mainly via first arm 136, causing second cam member 135 to rotate counterclockwise, and rotation transmission member 133 to rotate together with second cam member 135. The upward force acting due to this counterclockwise rotation of first cam member 134 is proportional to the left-right distance between the positions where first arm 136 and second arm 137 are attached to first cam member 134 and the rotation center of first cam member 134. Therefore, as first cam member 134 rotates counterclockwise from the normal state, the upward force acting on first arm 136 decreases, while the upward force acting on second arm 137 increases.

[0140] Therefore, when first cam member 134 rotates counterclockwise beyond 45 degrees from the normal state, the force acting upward on second arm 137 becomes greater than that on first arm 136, and second cam member 135 rotates counterclockwise mainly via second arm 137. Then, the key inserted in keyhole 132 can be rotated counterclockwise up to an angle of 90 degrees from the normal state (see Figure 36(b)).

[0141] Furthermore, when the key is used to rotate the key counterclockwise 90 degrees from the normal state, and then rotate it clockwise 90 degrees to return it to the normal state, the operation is the reverse of the above.

[0142] On the other hand, when, from the normal state, first cam member 134 is rotated clockwise via the cylinder of cylinder body 131 with a key inserted in keyhole 132, first arm 136, whose upper end is attached to the right of the rotation center of first cam member 134, moves downward, and second arm 137, whose upper end is attached below the rotation center of first cam member 134, moves upward. At this time, because the upper end of first arm 136 is attached to the right of the rotation center of first cam member 134, a large force acts on first arm 136 to rotate second cam member 135 in the clockwise direction, whereas because the upper end of second arm 137 is attached below the rotation center of first cam member 134, almost no force acts on second arm 137 to rotate second cam member 135 in the clockwise direction.

[0143] In this way, when first cam member 134 rotates clockwise from the normal state, force is transmitted mainly via first arm 136, causing second cam member 135 to rotate clockwise, and rotating rotation transmission member 133 together with second cam member 135. The force transmitting the rotation of first cam member 134 by first arm 136 and second arm 137 to second cam member 135 is proportional to the left-right distance between the positions at which first arm 136 and second arm 137 are attached to first cam member 134 and the rotation center of first cam member 134. Therefore, as first cam member 134 rotates clockwise from the normal state, the force of first arm 136 attempting to rotate second cam member 135 decreases, whereas the force of second arm 137 attempting to rotate second cam member 135 increases.

[0144] Therefore, when first cam member 134 rotates clockwise beyond 45 degrees from the normal state, the force of second arm 137 tending to rotate second cam member 135 becomes stronger than that of first arm 136, and second cam member 135 rotates clockwise mainly via second arm 137. Then, the key inserted into keyhole 132 can be rotated clockwise up to an angle of 90 degrees from the normal state (see Figure 36(c)).

[0145] Furthermore, when the key is used to rotate the key 90 degrees clockwise from the normal state to return it to the normal state by rotating it 90 degrees clockwise, the operation is the reverse of the above.

[0146] Thus, according to the cylinder lock 130 of this 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 at a 90-degree angle from each other, and rotation is transmitted thereby. Therefore, regardless of the rotation position of the first cam member 134 (the key inserted in the keyhole 132), rotation can be transmitted by at least one of the first arm 136 and the second arm 137, causing the second cam member 135 (rotation transmission member 133) to rotate, thereby enabling good locking and unlocking of the door frame 3 and the main frame 4.

[0147] Furthermore, according to the cylinder lock 130 of this embodiment, by transmitting rotation using the first arm 136 and the second arm 137 as a rotation transmission mechanism, the axis of the rotation transmission member 133 (transmission cylinder 654 of the locking unit 650 in the main body frame 4) can be set at a different position relative to the axis of the cylinder body 131, so that the position of the cylinder body 131 in the door frame 3 can be changed to any position without changing the locking unit 650, and the cylinder body 131 (keyhole 132) can be set at a location that does not interfere with the decoration of the door frame 3, making it possible to provide a pachinko machine 1 with a highly decorative door frame 3.

[0148] Furthermore, as described above, even if the position of the cylinder body 131 is changed in the door frame 3, there is no need to change the locking unit 650 in the body frame 4, so the locking unit 650 can be reused, thereby suppressing any increase in costs associated with the pachinko machine 1.

[0149] Incidentally, in the conventional cylinder lock 130A, the rotation transmission member 133 is provided at the rear of the cylinder body 131, so there is a risk that a fraudster who knows this configuration could insert a tool from the front to the rear of the cylinder body 131 and use the tool to fraudulently rotate the rotation transmission member 133, thereby opening the door frame 3 and committing fraud. In contrast, the cylinder lock 130 of this embodiment has the rotation transmission member 133 provided at a position away from the axis (rear) of the cylinder body 131. Therefore, even if a tool is inserted at the rear of the cylinder body 131 to rotate the rotation transmission member 133, the rotation transmission member 133 cannot be rotated because the rotation transmission member 133 is not present at that position, and fraudulent acts such as opening the door frame 3, the main body frame 4, etc. can be prevented.

[0150] Furthermore, in cylinder lock 130, second arm 137 connects portions of first arm 136 that are spaced apart by a rotation angle of 90 degrees on first cam member 134 and second cam member 135. Therefore, even if the portions of either first arm 136 or second arm 137 attached to first cam member 134 and second cam member 135 are positioned on a line connecting the center of first cam member 134 and the center of second cam member 135, the other of first arm 136 or second arm 137 connects the portions that are furthest from the line connecting the center of first cam member 134 and the center of second cam member 135. Therefore, even if one of first arm 136 or second arm 137 is positioned at the dead center of first cam member 134 and second cam member 135 and therefore cannot transmit the rotation from first cam member 134 to second cam member 135, the other of first arm 136 or second arm 137 can transmit the rotation from first cam member 134 to second cam member 135, so there is no significant resistance to the rotation of first cam member 134 and the key inserted in keyhole 132 can be rotated smoothly, making it easy to lock and unlock, and also preventing the key inserted in the keyhole from being forced to rotate, preventing damage to the key.

[0151] Furthermore, the rotation of the key inserted into the keyhole 132 is transmitted to the rotation transmission member 133, which is located at an eccentric position, by two arms, the first arm 136 and the second arm 137. Therefore, even if one arm is damaged for some reason, the rotation can be transmitted by the remaining arm, and a pachinko machine 1 having a highly reliable cylinder lock 130 can be provided.

[0152] Furthermore, the rotation of the key inserted into the keyhole 132 is transmitted to the rotation transmission member 133, which is located at an eccentric position, by the smooth rod-shaped (strip-shaped) first arm 136 and second arm 137. If the rotation were transmitted by a gear, there is a risk that the gear would rotate and rotate the rotation transmission member 133 by hooking the tip of a tool onto the gear teeth. However, by making the first arm 136 and the second arm 137 rod-shaped with a smooth surface, it is possible to make it difficult for the tip of a tool to become caught on the first arm 136 or the second arm 137, and it is possible to prevent the rotation transmission member 133 from being rotated by moving the first arm 136 or the second arm 137. This makes it possible to reliably prevent the locking unit 650 from being operated improperly and causing the door frame 3 or the main frame 4 to be unlocked.

[0153] In addition, in the cylinder lock 130 of this embodiment, the first arm 136 and the second arm 137 are used as a rotation transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the first cam member 134 to the second cam member 135, but this is not limited to this and may be, for example, a rotation transmission mechanism using multiple 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.

[0154] [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 Figures 37 and 38. Figure 37(a) is a perspective view of the ball feeding unit of the door frame base unit as seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the ball feeding unit as seen from the rear. Figure 38(a) is an exploded perspective view of the ball feeding unit as seen from the front, and (b) is an exploded perspective view of the ball feeding unit as seen from the rear with the rear case and anti-tamper member removed. The ball feeding unit 140 can feed game balls B supplied from the upper tray 201 of the tray unit 200 one by one to the ball launcher 540 of the main frame 4, and can also extract game balls B stored in the upper tray 201 to the lower tray 202 by operating the upper tray ball extraction button 222.

[0155] The ball feeding unit 140 comprises a box-shaped front cover 141 having an entrance 141a penetrating in the front-to-rear direction through which the game balls B are supplied from the upper tray 201 of the tray unit 200 and a ball ejection port 141b opening below the entrance 141a, and an open rear end; a rear cover 142 that closes the rear end of the front cover 141 and is box-shaped and has an open front end, and has a ball supply port 142a for supplying the game balls B that enter from the entrance 141a of the front cover 141 penetrating in the front-to-rear direction to the ball launching device 540; The rear cover 142 is provided with a ball removal member 143 rotatably supported around an axis extending in the front-to-back direction between the front cover 141 and the front cover 141, and having a partition 143a that separates the entrance 141a and the ball removal opening 141b at the rear of the front cover 141, a ball feeding member 144 that is rotatably supported around an axis extending in the up-down direction between the front cover 141 and the rear cover 142 and sends the game balls B on the partition 143a of the ball removal member 143 one by one to the ball supply opening 142a of the rear cover 142, and a ball feeding solenoid 145 that rotates the ball feeding member 144.

[0156] As shown in the figure, when viewed from the front, this ball feeding unit 140 has a ball feeding member 144 located to the right of the entrance 141a, a ball removal member 143 located to the left of the ball feeding member 144, and a ball feeding solenoid 145 located to the right of the ball feeding member 144.

[0157] The front cover 141 of the ball feeding unit 140 has an arc-shaped slit 141c formed concentrically with the center of rotation of the ball removal member 143 to the left of the ball removal opening 141b when viewed from the front, and the operating rod 143c of the ball removal member 143, which will be described later, extends forward from this slit 141c. In addition, the upper side of the front cover 141 extends upward from the upper edge of the entrance 141a, and is formed so that when the door frame 3 is assembled, the rear side closes the rear-open portion of the ball feeding guide path 241b and ball removal guide path 241c on the upstream end side of the rear base 241 in the upper tray ball removal unit 240.

[0158] 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 37(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.

[0159] 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.

[0160] This ball feeding member 144 is configured to rotate between a supply position in which the blocking portion 144a faces the direction of the partition portion 143a and the ball holding portion 144b faces in a direction communicating with the ball supply port 142a, and a holding position in which the ball holding portion 144b faces the direction of the partition portion 143a. When the ball feeding member 144 is in the supply position, the game ball B held in the ball holding portion 144b is supplied from the ball supply port 142a to the ball launching device 540, and the game ball B that has entered the partition portion 143a from the entrance 141a is prevented from moving toward the ball holding portion 144b (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 of the ball holding portion 144b on the shaft portion 144c side closes the ball supply port 142a, and only one game ball B on the partition portion 143a is held in the ball holding portion 144b.

[0161] The ball feeding unit 140 also includes a ball feeding operating rod 146 whose tip swings up and down when driven (energized) by the ball feeding solenoid 145, and a ball feeding crank 147 which rotates around an axis extending in the front-to-back direction due to the movement of the tip of the ball feeding operating rod 146 swinging up and down, and which rotates the ball feeding member 144 around an axis extending in the up and down direction.

[0162] The ball feeding operating rod 146 is provided with an iron plate 146a below the ball feeding solenoid 145. The ball feeding operating rod 146 extends left and right, and its end opposite the ball feeding crank 147 (the right end) is attached to the front cover 141 and the rear cover 142 so that it can rotate around an axis extending forward and backward. When the ball feeding solenoid 145 is driven, the generated magnetic force pulls the iron plate 146a toward the ball feeding solenoid 145 (upward), causing the ball feeding operating rod 146 to rotate around the right end so that the left end closest to the ball feeding crank 147 moves upward. Thereafter, when the ball feeding solenoid 145 is deactivated, the magnetic force disappears, causing the weight of the iron plate 146a to rotate around the right end so that the left end closest to the ball feeding crank 147 moves downward, returning the rod to its original position. As a result, the ball feeding operating rod 146 is caused to swing up and down at its left end (tip) near the ball feeding crank 147 by the ball feeding solenoid 145.

[0163] The ball feeding crank 147 comprises an engagement portion 147a extending in the left-right direction and capable of engaging with the up-and-down moving tip of the ball feeding operating rod 146, an axle portion 147b positioned on the opposite side of the engagement portion 147a engaging with the ball feeding operating rod 146 and rotatably supported around an axis extending in the front-to-back direction between the front cover 141 and the rear cover 142, and a transmission portion 147c extending upward from the axle portion 147b and engaging with a rod-shaped rod portion 144c (see Figure 38(b)) protruding downward from a position eccentric to the rotation center of the ball feeding member 144.

[0164] This ball feeding unit 140 can rotate the ball feeding crank 147 around an axis extending forward and backward via the ball feeding operating rod 146 by moving the tip (left end) of the ball feeding operating rod 146 upward by driving the ball feeding solenoid 145.

[0165] When the ball feeding solenoid 145 is not driven (normally), the ball feeding unit 140 is in a state where the ball feeding operating rod 146 is separated from the lower end of the ball feeding solenoid 145 and its tip is positioned downward, and in this state the ball feeding member 144 is positioned in the feeding position. Also, when the ball feeding solenoid 145 is driven, the ball feeding operating rod 146 is attracted to the lower end of the ball feeding solenoid 145 and its tip (left end) is positioned upward, and the ball feeding member 144 rotates to the holding position. In other words, 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 launcher 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 firing solenoid 542 by the launch control unit 633b (see Figure 169) of the payout control board 633.

[0166] In addition, the ball feeding unit 140 is configured to be subjected to a moment of rotation counterclockwise when viewed from the front by the ball removal member 143, which is rotatably supported by a shaft, or by the weight portion 143d. However, the rotation is restricted by the operating rod 143c protruding forward of the ball removal member 143 abutting against the upper end of the operating transmission portion 242b of the upper tray ball removal slider 242, which is operated by pressing the upper tray ball removal button 222 of the tray unit 200. Therefore, under normal conditions, the partition portion 143a of the ball removal member 143 is positioned between the entrance 141a and the ball removal opening 141b to separate them, and game ball B does not enter the ball removal opening 141b side.

[0167] When the player presses the upper tray ball removal button 222 of the tray unit 200 downward, the upper tray ball removal slider 242 slides downward together with the operation transmission part 242b, and as the operation transmission part 242b moves downward, the operation rod 143c also moves downward relatively. When the operation rod 143c moves downward together with the operation transmission part 242b, the ball removal member 143 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the front, and the partition part 143a moves from between the entrance 141a and the ball removal opening 141b, releasing the partition. As a result, the game ball B that entered through the entrance 141a falls toward the ball removal opening 141b, and is discharged from the ball removal opening 141b into the ball removal guide path 241c of the upper tray ball removal unit 240 in the tray unit 200, and can be discharged (supplied) to the lower tray 202 via the lower tray ball supply opening 211c.

[0168] Furthermore, the upper tray ball removal slider 242, which has an operating transmission part 242b that contacts the operating rod 143c of the ball removal member 143, is biased upward by a spring, so that even if a game ball B is supplied forcefully onto the partition part 143a, the impact can be absorbed by the spring via the operating rod 143c, preventing damage to the ball removal member 143 etc. and preventing the game ball B from bouncing off the partition part 143a.

[0169] Furthermore, ball feeding unit 140 has a rectangular mounting recess 142b (see Figure 38(b), etc.) recessed forward at the upper right when viewed from behind ball supply port 142a in rear cover 142, and anti-tampering member 148 is attached to mounting recess 142b. Anti-tampering member 148 of ball feeding unit 140 is formed from a hard metal plate such as tool steel or stainless steel, and is attached to mounting recess 142b of rear cover 142 from the rear side so as to be detachable.

[0170] 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.

[0171] 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.

[0172] 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.

[0173] [3-1j. Foul Cover Unit] The foul cover unit 150 of the door frame base unit 100 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 39 and 40. Figure 39(a) is a perspective view of the foul cover unit of the door frame base unit as seen from the front, and (b) is a perspective view of the foul cover unit as seen from the back. Figure 40 is a front view of the foul cover unit with the cover member removed. The foul cover unit 150 is attached to the right side of the lower rear part of the door frame base 101 as seen from the rear. The foul cover unit 150 guides game balls B (foul balls) that are launched by the ball launching device 540 but do not reach the game area 5a of the game board 5 to the lower tray 202, and also guides game balls B paid out from the payout device 580 to the upper tray 201 or the lower tray 202. As shown in the figure, the fall cover unit 150 comprises a shallow box-shaped unit body 151 attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 and open at the front, and a flat lid member 152 attached to the front of the unit body 151.

[0174] The fall cover unit 150 is equipped with a through ball passage 150a that penetrates from front to back at the upper left corner when viewed from the front and connects the lower normal dispensing passage 610a of the lower full ball path unit 610 of the main frame 4 with the upper tray ball supply port 211a of the tray unit 200, and a full ball receiving port 150b that opens toward the rear on the lower right side when viewed from the front of the through ball passage 150a and can connect with the lower full dispensing passage 610b of the lower full ball path unit 610 of the main frame 4.

[0175] The foul cover unit 150 also has a foul ball receiving port 150c that opens upward on the right side of the full ball receiving port 150b when viewed from the front and receives game balls B (foul balls) that have been launched by the ball launching device 540 of the main frame 4 but have not reached the game area 5a, and a ball discharge port 150d that opens forward near the lower right corner when viewed from the front and discharges game balls B received in the full ball receiving port 150b and the foul ball receiving port 150c forward, and is connected to the lower tray ball supply port 211c of the tray unit 200.

[0176] Furthermore, the foul cover unit 150 is provided with a storage passage 150e formed by the unit body 151 and the lid member 152 between the full ball receiving port 150b, the foul ball receiving port 150c and the ball discharge port 150d, and having a width large enough to store a predetermined amount of game balls B.

[0177] The through ball passage 150a is formed across both the unit body 151 and the lid member 152. The full ball receiving port 150b and the foul ball receiving port 150c are formed in the unit body 151. The ball discharge port 150d is formed in the lid member 152. The storage passage 150e is formed by the unit body 151 and the lid member 152.

[0178] The fall cover unit 150 also includes a flat movable piece 153 that forms part of the inner wall of the storage passage 150e and whose lower end is rotatably attached to the unit body 151 and the cover member 152, a full tank 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 urges the movable piece 153 toward the storage passage 150e.

[0179] When the lower tray 202 of the tray unit 200 is filled with game balls B and game balls B are no longer released toward the lower tray 202 from the ball release port 150d, this foul cover unit 150 can store a certain number of game balls B in the storage passage 150e. Then, when a certain number of game balls B are stored in the storage passage 150e, the weight of the game balls B causes the movable piece 153 to rotate so that the upper end of the movable piece 153 moves away from the storage passage 150e against the biasing force of the spring 155, and this rotation is detected by the full tank detection sensor 154. This makes it possible to determine that the lower tray 202 is full of game balls B, so when the full tank detection sensor 154 detects that the lower tray 202 is full, the payout of any more game balls B is stopped and a notification to that effect is sent to the player, a game hall attendant, or the like, to urge them to unclog the lower tray 202.

[0180] The ball cover unit 150 is attached to the rear of the unit body 151, below the through-ball passage 150a, and is provided with a door opening / closing abutment 150f against which the operating protrusion 613a of the dispensing passage opening / closing door 613 of the lower full-ball path unit 610 in the dispensing unit 560 (described later) of the main body frame 4 can abut (see Figure 90). The door opening / closing abutment 150f is inclined so that it moves forward as its rear surface faces downward. When the operating protrusion 613a of the dispensing passage opening / closing door 613 abuts against this door opening / closing abutment 150f, the dispensing passage opening / closing door 613 can be rotated to open the downstream ends (front openings) of the lower normal dispensing passage 610a and the lower full-ball dispensing passage 610b.

[0181] [3-2. Glass unit] The glass unit 160 in the door frame 3 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 29 and 30. The glass unit 160 is inserted into the glass unit mounting portion 101h from the rear and removably mounted 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 relative to the main body frame 4, this glass unit 160 makes the playing area 5a of the playing board 5 mounted on the main body frame 4 visible from the player side (front), and also closes off the front of the playing area 5a.

[0182] The glass unit 160 comprises 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 mounting portion 101h, two transparent glass plates 162 that close the frame of the glass frame 161 and have their outer peripheries attached to the glass frame 161, and a pair of glass unit mounting members 163 that are rotatably attached to the rear side of the door frame base 101 in the door frame base unit 100 and are used to attach the glass frame 161 to the door frame base 101.

[0183] The glass frame 161 has a pair of mounting pieces 161a extending outward in a flat plate 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 bottom end and extending along the bottom 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 middle reinforcing frame 114 of the door frame reinforcement unit 110 (see Figure 96). 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 that a space is formed between them (see Figure 96).

[0184] 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.

[0185] To attach the glass unit 160 to the door frame base 101, first, rotate the glass unit mounting member 163 attached to the door frame base 101 so that the protrusion 163b is positioned above the base 163a. ​​Then, from the rear side of the door frame base 101, insert the locking piece 161b of the glass frame 161 of the glass unit 160 from above into the gap between the door frame base 101 and the intermediate reinforcing frame 114 of the door frame reinforcement unit 110, and then abut the front end of the glass frame 161 against the rear surface of the glass unit mounting portion 101h of the door frame base 101. Then, rotate the glass unit mounting member 163 so that the protrusion 163b is positioned below the base 163a, and abut the protrusion 163b against the rear surface of the mounting piece 161a of the glass frame 161. This completes the attachment of the glass unit 160 to the door frame base 101.

[0186] 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).

[0187] 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.

[0188] [3-3. Security cover] The security cover 170 for the door frame 3 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 29 and 30. The security cover 170 is attached to the rear side of the door frame base unit 100 so as to cover the lower rear surface of the glass unit 160, and is made of transparent synthetic resin. The security cover 170 comprises a flat main body 171 having an outer periphery formed into a predetermined shape, a flat rear projection 172 that projects rearward slightly along the outer periphery of the main body 171, and a pair of locking pieces 173 that are spaced apart on the left and right, project forward beyond the main body 171, and are capable of being locked to the rear side of the door frame base 101.

[0189] The main body 171 of the security cover 170 is formed so that its lower end protrudes downward below the lower end of the glass unit 160 when attached to the door frame base unit 100. The main body 171 also has an upper end formed in a shape that follows the lower end of the playing area 5a of the playing board 5 when assembled to the pachinko machine 1. More specifically, the upper end of the main body 171 is formed in a shape that follows a part of the inner rail 1002, the out guide part 1003, a part of the lower right rail 1004, and the right rail 1005 of the component member 1000 described below, and is formed so as not to protrude into the playing area 5a when assembled to the pachinko machine 1.

[0190] The rear protrusion 172 is formed around substantially the entire outer periphery of the main body 171. Therefore, the security cover 170 is formed by the main body 171 and the rear protrusion 172 in the shape of a shallow box that is open to the rear, and has high strength and rigidity. The rear protrusion 172 also protrudes rearward from a part of the rear surface of the main body 171 that is different from the outer periphery of the main body 171. The rear protrusion 172 protruding rearward from a part of the rear surface of the main body 171 is formed so as to fit along a part of the outer rail 1001 of the front component 1000 of the game board 5 when assembled into the pachinko machine 1.

[0191] 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.

[0192] 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.

[0193] 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.

[0194] [3-4. Handle unit and handle cover unit] The handle unit 180 and handle cover unit 290 in the door frame 3 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 41 to 47. Figure 41(a) is an enlarged front view showing the handle unit and handle cover unit portions in the door frame, and (b) is an enlarged perspective view showing the handle unit and handle cover unit portions in the door frame. Figure 42 is an exploded perspective view of the handle cover unit disassembled and seen from the front, and Figure 43 is an exploded perspective view of the handle cover unit disassembled and seen from the rear. Figure 44 is an exploded perspective view of the handle unit disassembled and seen from the front, and Figure 45 is an exploded perspective view of the handle unit disassembled and seen from the rear. Figure 46 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 41(a). Figure 47 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 1. Note that Figure 46 is a cross-sectional view of only the door frame 3, omitting the outer frame 2 and main frame 4.

[0195] The handle unit 180 of this embodiment is attached to the door frame base unit 100 and the tray unit 200 together with a handle cover unit 290 that covers the outer periphery, and when operated by a player, the game ball B in the upper tray 201 can be shot into the game area 5a of the game board 5.

[0196] First, we will explain the handle unit 180. The handle unit 180 includes a handle base 181, the rear end of which is attached to the handle mounting seat surface 101b of the door frame base 101 via a handle cover base 291 of a handle cover unit 290 (described later), a handle 195 rotatably attached to the front end of the handle base 181, a plurality of handle guides 196 attached to the rear side of the handle 195 and guided by the handle cover base 291 (described later), a disk-shaped cover base 183 attached to the handle base 181 so as to cover the center of the front end side of the handle 195, a handle decoration board 184 attached to the front side of the cover base 183 and having a plurality of LEDs 184a mounted on the front surface, 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.

[0197] The handle unit 180 also includes an inner base 186 attached to the front of the handle base 181 behind the handle 195, an axial member 187 having the handle 195 attached to its front end and rotatably attached by the inner base 186 and the handle base 181, and having a drive gear portion 187a on its outer periphery, a transmission gear 188 meshing with the drive gear portion 187a of the axial 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.

[0198] Furthermore, the handle unit 180 is provided with a handle return spring 190 having one end attached to the handle base 181 and the other end attached to the handle 195, which urges the handle 195 to return to its initial rotation position (the end of rotation in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the front), 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 urges the detection axis 189a of the handle rotation detection sensor 189 in the clockwise direction when viewed from the front via the transmission gear 188.

[0199] The handle unit 180 also includes a handle touch sensor 192 attached to the handle base 181 behind the inner base 186, a single button 193 whose tip end protrudes outward from the left side of the outer peripheral surface of the front end of the handle base 181 when viewed from the front and whose base end is attached to the handle base 181 behind the inner base 186 so as to be rotatable around an axis extending forward and backward, and a single button operation sensor 194 attached to the handle base 181 and detects the pressing operation of the single button 193.

[0200] 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 three grooves 181c recessed from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical base portion 181a, extending axially, and formed at uneven intervals in the circumferential direction. The outer diameter of the base portion 181a of the handle base 181 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of a rear cylindrical portion 291c of the handle cover base 291 in the handle cover unit 290. The three grooves 181c are formed at positions corresponding to three ridges 291d of the handle cover base 291, which will be described later. Therefore, with the three grooves 181c aligned with the three protrusions 291d, the base 181a can be inserted into the rear tubular portion 291c of the handle cover base 291, and by inserting the protrusions 291d into the three grooves 181c, respectively, the handle base 181 becomes unable to rotate relative to the handle cover base 291.

[0201] Handle 195 includes a disk-shaped central hub portion 195a, a plurality of (three in this example) spoke portions 195b extending radially outward at intervals in the circumferential direction from central hub portion 195a, an annular outer ring portion 195c connecting the tips of the plurality of spoke portions 195b, two slits 195d extending in an arc about the rotation axis (shaft member 187) and penetrating central hub portion 195a in the front-to-rear direction, and a locking protrusion 195e protruding rearward from a position more inward than slits 195d with respect to the center of rotation and for locking the other end of handle return spring 190. The outer diameter of central hub portion 195a is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the general outer surface of the handle of a conventional pachinko machine.

[0202] When the handle 195 is in a free state (not rotating), one spoke 195b extends horizontally to the left from the central hub portion 195a, and two spokes 195b extend clockwise and counterclockwise from positions at angles of 120 degrees each. The three spokes 195b extend to such lengths that a gap is formed between the central hub portion 195a and the outer peripheral ring portion 195c into which a player's fingers can be inserted.

[0203] The outer ring portion 195c of the handle 195 is provided coaxially with the center of the central hub portion 195a. The outer ring portion 195c is formed in an annular shape with a constant cross section with the U-shaped curved side facing forward.

[0204] The handle 195 is formed to be entirely translucent, and is partially plated with an electrically continuous plating from the central hub portion 195a to the outer circumferential ring portion 195c. This allows the handle touch sensor 192 to detect touches to the handle 195 even when only the outer circumferential ring portion 195c is touched. Therefore, the game ball B can be driven in by turning the outer circumferential ring portion 195c.

[0205] The handle guide 196 has a U-shaped guide portion 196a that opens toward the center of the handle 195, and a flat mounting stay 196b that extends toward the center from the front end of the guide portion 196a. The mounting stays 196b of the three handle guides 196 are attached to the rear side of the spoke portions 195b of the handle 195 so that the guide portions 196a are located behind the outer peripheral ring portion 195c of the handle 195. The handle guide 196 is restricted from moving in the front-to-rear direction by inserting a guide piece 291g of the handle cover base 291, which will be described later, into the inside of the guide portion 196a.

[0206] The cover base 183 is formed in a disk shape with a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the central hub portion 195a of the handle 195, and is provided with three mounting bosses 183a protruding rearward from the rear surface. The three mounting bosses 183a penetrate slits 195d of the handle 195 from the front and are attached to the front surface of the handle base 181. Because the mounting bosses 183a of the cover base 183 penetrate the slits 195d of the handle 195, the mounting bosses 183a come into contact with the circumferential ends of the slits 195d, thereby restricting the rotation angle of the handle 195. In this example, the handle 195 can be rotated within a rotation angle range of approximately 120 degrees.

[0207] The handle decoration board 184 is equipped with ten LEDs 184a (full-color LEDs) mounted in triple concentric circles: one in the center, three at regular intervals around the middle, and six at regular intervals around the outer periphery. These LEDs 184a are divided into five groups: one in the center, three in the middle, two at the top left of the outer periphery, two at the top right, and two at the bottom (see Figure 72). The handle decoration board 184 is equipped with a 24-bit LED driver 184b, each with its own address, for illuminating each LED 184a. This LED driver 184b can control up to 24 channels, controlling five groups of ten LEDs 184a, each with three channels for full-color illumination, for a total of 15 channels.

[0208] Although not shown, this handle decoration board 184 is connected to a wiring cable consisting of four electric wires: two power lines (one is a ground line) that supply power to drive the LEDs 184a and LED driver 184b, one control signal line for receiving signals such as commands and addresses from the peripheral control board 1510, and one clock line for synchronizing the LED driver 184b with the peripheral control board 1510. When the LED driver 184b of this handle decoration board 184 receives a command addressed to that address from the peripheral control board 1510 (performance control board) via the control signal line, it can make the 10 LEDs 184a, divided into five groups, emit light in an appropriate color and intensity for each group in accordance with the command.

[0209] As such, since this handle decorative board 184 has an LED driver 184b, it is possible to individually (here, by group) control the light emission of a greater number of LEDs 184a than the number of electric wires that make up the connected wiring cable, thereby reducing the number of electric wires and simplifying the configuration related to the electrical wiring.

[0210] The front surface of the handle front lens 185 bulges forward in a round shape and is translucent. Inside the handle front lens 185, a lens member formed three-dimensionally from a transparent material is provided. This handle front lens 185 is illuminated and decorated by appropriately illuminating the LED on the front surface of the handle decoration board 184.

[0211] The handle rotation detection sensor 189 is a variable resistor, and when the handle 195 is rotated, a detection shaft 189a of the handle rotation detection sensor 189 rotates via a shaft member 187 and a transmission gear 188. The internal resistance of the handle rotation detection sensor 189 changes depending on the rotation angle of this detection shaft 189a. Therefore, when the handle 195 is rotated to change the internal resistance of the handle rotation detection sensor 189, the driving force of a launch solenoid 542 in a ball launcher 540 (described later) changes depending on the internal resistance, and the game ball B can be shot into the game area 5a with a strength depending on the rotation angle of the handle 195.

[0212] The handle touch sensor 192 detects static electricity acting on the handle unit 180, and when the player touches the handle 195, it detects the static electricity acting from the player and detects the player's touch to the handle 195. Then, when the handle 195 is turned while the handle touch sensor 192 detects the player's touch, the detection of the handle rotation detection sensor 189 is accepted, and the drive of the launch solenoid 542 is controlled with a strength according to the rotation angle of the handle 195, allowing the game ball B to be shot in.

[0213] Therefore, even if a player tries to shoot game ball B into the game area 5a by rotating the handle 195 in some way without touching the handle 195, the handle touch sensor 192 does not detect the player's contact, so the launch solenoid 542 is not driven and game ball B cannot be shot in. This makes it possible to prevent a player from playing a game by rotating the handle 195 in a way that is different from the intended way, and reduces the burden (stress) on the game hall where the pachinko machine 1 is installed.

[0214] The single button operation sensor 194 detects the pressing of the single button 193 by the player. When this single button operation sensor 194 detects the operation of the single button 193, the firing control unit 633b of the payout control board 633 stops the drive of the firing solenoid 542. Therefore, when the player presses the single button 193 while rotating the handle 195, the firing of the game ball B can be temporarily stopped without returning the rotation of the handle 195, and by releasing the pressing of the single button 193, the game ball B can be again shot into the game area 5a with the same hitting strength as before the single button 193 was operated.

[0215] Next, we will explain the handle cover unit 290. The handle cover unit 290 comprises a handle cover base 291 that covers the outer periphery of the handle unit 180 behind the handle 195 and has its rear end attached to the handle mounting seat surface 101b of the door frame base 101, an inner 292 that covers the outer periphery of the handle cover base 291 and has its rear end attached to the dish unit main body 252 of the dish unit 200, a circular handle cover decorative board 293 that is provided in front of the inner 292 and has multiple LEDs 293a mounted on its front surface, a circular board cover 294 that covers the handle cover decorative board 293 from the front, and a handle cover 295 that covers the outer periphery of the inner 292 and has its rear end attached to the dish unit main body 252 of the dish unit 200.

[0216] The handle cover base 291 comprises a cylindrical front tube portion 291a extending forward and backward with an inner diameter approximately the same as the inner diameter of the outer ring portion 195c of the handle 195, a middle wall portion 291b extending from the rear end of the front tube portion 291a so that the inner diameter becomes smaller as it extends forward, a cylindrical rear tube portion 291c penetrating the middle wall portion 291b and extending forward and backward with an inner diameter that allows the base portion 181a of the handle base 181 to be inserted, and multiple (here, three) protrusions 291d protruding inward from the inner circumference of the rear tube portion 291c and extending forward and backward, and provided at positions corresponding to the groove portions 181c of the handle base 181 in the circumferential direction.

[0217] The handle cover base 291 also has a flange portion 291e extending outward from a portion rearward of the front end of the outer periphery of the front tube portion 291a, a cylindrical outer tube portion 291f protruding forward from the middle of the flange portion 291e to a position equal to the front end of the front tube portion 291a, a guide piece 291g protruding outward from the front tube portion 291a in a portion between the front end of the front tube portion 291a and the flange portion 291e, and an opening 291h penetrating the lower part of the front tube portion 291a.

[0218] The middle wall portion 291b of the handle cover base 291 extends from the rear end of the front tubular portion 291a to near the center in the front-to-rear direction, with its cross section bulging outward in an arc shape. The rear end of the rear tubular portion 291c is attached to the handle mounting seat surface 101b of the door frame base 101. This rear tubular portion 291c is formed to 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 into the rear tubular portion 291c. The three protrusions 291d correspond to the three grooves 181c of the handle base 181, and by inserting them into the grooves 181c, the handle base 181 can be made non-rotatable relative to the flange portion 291e. The outer tubular portion 291f extends forward from a position outside the center in the radial direction of the flange portion 291e. This handle cover base 291 is provided with a plurality of triangular ribs in the circumferential direction so as to connect the front surface of the flange portion 291e and the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 291f.

[0219] The guide piece 291g protrudes from the outer periphery of the front tubular portion 291a from the center between the outer periphery of the front tubular portion 291a and the inner periphery of the outer tubular portion 291f to a position close to the front tubular portion 291a. The guide piece 291g extends in the circumferential direction over a length within a range of approximately 110 degrees, and three guide pieces 291g are provided circumferentially at intervals of 10 degrees. By inserting the rear end side of the guide portion 196a of the handle guide 196 of the handle unit 180 between the guide pieces 291g and rearwardly beyond the guide piece 291g, and rotating the handle 195, the guide piece 291g can be positioned within the U-shaped guide portion 196a, thereby restricting the movement of the guide portion 196a (handle 195) in the front-to-rear direction.

[0220] The opening 291h penetrates the front tubular portion 291a with a length in the front-rear direction from the rear end of the front tubular portion 291a to the vicinity of the flange portion 291e and a size in the circumferential direction within an angle range of approximately 90 degrees.

[0221] The inner 292 has an annular base 292a with an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the front tubular portion 291a of the handle cover base 291 and an outer diameter larger than the flange portion 291e, leg portions 292b extending rearward from the outer peripheral edge of the base 292a, and multiple (here, four) notches 292c cut out from the rear ends of the leg portions 292b to near the base 292a and spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The front tubular portion 291a of the handle cover base 291 is inserted into the base 292a from the front, and the base 292a is positioned rearward of the flange portion 291e. The leg portions 292b extend in a curved shape that bulges outward, and their rear ends are attached to the dish unit main body 252 of the dish unit 200. The notches 292c are provided at the top, bottom, left, and right portions of the leg portions 292b.

[0222] The handle cover decorative board 293 is annular in shape with an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the front tubular portion 291a of the handle cover base 291 and the same outer diameter as the flange portion 291e. The handle cover decorative board 293 is equipped with 12 LEDs 293a and an LED driver 293b, each with a unique address for illuminating each LED 293a. The 12 LEDs 293a (full-color LEDs) are arranged in a row with intervals in the circumferential direction. These 12 LEDs 293a are divided into six groups: two at the lower left, two at the left, two at the upper left, two at the upper right, two at the right, and two at the lower right (see Figure 72). The LED driver 293b can control up to 24 systems, and controls the six groups of 10 LEDs 293a, each of which can emit full-color light, for a total of 18 systems, with three systems per group.

[0223] Although not shown, this handle cover decorative board 293 is connected to a wiring cable consisting of four electric wires: two power lines (one is a ground line) that supply power to drive the LEDs 293a and LED driver 293b, one control signal line that receives signals such as commands and addresses from the peripheral control board 1510, and one clock line that synchronizes the LED driver 293b with the peripheral control board 1510. When the LED driver 293b of this handle cover decorative board 293 receives a command addressed to that address from the peripheral control board 1510 (performance control board) via the control signal line, it can make the 12 LEDs 293a, which are divided into six groups, emit light in an appropriate color and intensity for each group in accordance with the command.

[0224] The board cover 294 has an annular front plate portion 294a with an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the front cylindrical portion 291a of the handle cover base 291 and an outer diameter approximately the same as the outer diameter of the base portion 292a of the inner casing 292, and a cylindrical side plate portion 294b with the outer peripheral edge of the front plate portion 294a extending rearward by a short distance. In this board cover 294, the front plate portion 294a is located between the flange portion 291e of the handle cover base 291 and the handle cover decorative board 293, and the side plate portion 294b extends to the base portion 292a of the inner casing 292.

[0225] The handle cover 295 has a front hole 295a at its front end with an inner shape the same as the outer diameter of the outer cylindrical portion 291f of the handle cover base 291, and is formed in a frustum-shaped (snow-hollow, bowl-shaped, etc.) cylindrical shape that bulges out toward the rear, and is provided with multiple (four in this case) cutout openings 295b cut out from the rear end toward the front in the circumferential direction. The handle cover 295 is formed to cover the outer periphery of the inner 292, and the multiple cutout openings 295b are formed to coincide with the cutouts 292c. The rear end of the handle cover 295 is attached to the dish unit main body 252 of the dish unit 200 via the inner 292.

[0226] The handle cover 295 is two-color molded using synthetic resins with different colors and translucencies (light transmittance). More specifically, the handle cover 295 is two-color molded using two types of resin, an inner layer 3a and an outer layer 3b, and a portion of the inner layer 3a penetrates the outer layer 3b and appears on the outer surface, forming the circular and radial patterns. In other words, the circular and radial patterns appearing on the surface of the handle cover 295 are the inner layer 3a, and the circular and radial patterns are connected on the back side of the outer layer 3b (see Figure 71(a)). Note that when molding the handle cover 295, either the inner layer 3a or the outer layer 3b may be injection molded first.

[0227] 46 and the like, when the handle unit 180 and the handle cover unit 290 of this embodiment are assembled to the pachinko machine 1, a portion of the handle unit 180 rearward of the handle 195 is inserted inside the front cylindrical portion 291a of the handle cover base 291, and the handle 195 and the handle front lens 185 are positioned forward of the handle cover unit 290. The rear end of the handle base 181 of the handle unit 180 is attached to the handle attachment seat surface 101b of the door frame base 101, with the portion that closes the rear end of the rear cylindrical portion 291c of the handle cover base 291 of the handle cover unit 290 sandwiched between them.

[0228] The handle 195 of the handle unit 180 has a central hub portion 195a rotatably supported by the handle base 181. The handle 195 has an outer peripheral ring portion 195c on the outside of the central hub portion 195a, which is rotatably supported by the handle cover unit 290 via a handle guide 196 attached to the rear side thereof. The rear end side of the guide portion 196a of the handle guide 196 is inserted (locked) between the front cylinder portion 291a and the outer cylinder portion 291f of the handle cover base 291, and between the flange portion 291e and the guide piece 291g, and is rotatably supported in a state where movement in the front-to-rear direction (axial direction) is restricted.

[0229] The handle 195, and the handle cover base 291, inner 292, substrate cover 294, and handle cover 295 in the handle cover unit 290 are formed to be translucent, and by illuminating the LED 293a of the handle cover decorative substrate 293, the outer ring portion 195c of the handle 195 can be illuminated and decorated, and the inside of the handle cover base 291 (front tube portion 291a), the handle cover 295, etc. can also be illuminated and decorated.

[0230] The handle cover unit 290 has the notched openings 295b and notched portions 292c that match each other in the handle cover 295 and the inner 292, so when viewed from the outside, it appears as if there are holes on both the left and right sides and on the bottom that communicate with the inside of the front tubular portion 291a of the handle cover base 291. This can ease the player's anxiety about sticking their hand (fingers) into the inside of the front tubular portion 291a of the handle cover base 291 through between the central hub portion 195a and the outer peripheral ring portion 195c of the handle 195.

[0231] The upper cutout opening 295b of the handle cover 295 (the upper cutout 292c of the inner cover 292) is closed by the right decorative unit 275 and the right side unit 430 of the door frame.

[0232] In the handle cover unit 290 of this embodiment, the interior of the front cylindrical portion 291a of the handle cover base 291, into which the rear side of the handle unit 180 is inserted, communicates with the lower notch portion 292c and notch opening 295b of the inner 292 and the handle cover 295 through the opening 291h (see FIG. 47). As a result, even if liquid such as a drink or game ball B enters the front cylindrical portion 291a of the handle cover base 291 through the gap between the central hub portion 195a and the outer peripheral ring portion 195c of the handle 195, it can be discharged downward of the handle cover unit 290 through the lower opening 291h, the notch portion 292c, and the notch opening 295b.

[0233] In addition, if liquid or game balls B enter the cutout openings 295b on both the left and right sides of the handle cover 295, they can pass through the gap between the front tube portion 291a and the leg portion 292b of the inner 292 and be discharged downward from the lower cutout opening 295b.

[0234] 47, the opening 291h of the handle cover base 291, the notch 292c on the lower side of the inner 292, and the notch opening 295b on the lower side of the handle cover 295 are provided on an extension line of the inclination direction of the blades 46b of the grill member 46 in the lower outer frame assembly 40 of the outer frame 2. This allows the wind (wind pressure) emitted diagonally upward and forward from the grill member 46 via the blades 46b due to vibration of the main body frame speaker 622 to enter the front tubular portion 291a through the opening 291h, the notch 292c, and the notch opening 295b. Therefore, when a player inserts his / her fingers inside the handle cover 295 (front tube portion 291a of the handle cover base 291) and rotates the handle 195 (the device for striking the game ball B), the main frame speaker 622 is vibrated to send air into the front tube portion 291a, surprising the player and providing an unprecedented effect.

[0235] Furthermore, since the handle cover 295 has a cutout opening 295b, when opening the door frame 3 or the main frame 4, the right cutout opening 295b can be hooked with a finger and pulled, and can be used as a handle when opening the door frame 3, etc.

[0236] In addition, the handle 195 is plated up to the outer ring portion 195c, so the handle touch sensor 192 can detect the touch of the handle 195, and the game ball B can be hit even when only the outer ring portion 195c is touched.

[0237] Furthermore, because the handle cover 295 has the notched opening 295b, the rotational position of the handle 195 can be easily fixed by gripping the outer ring portion 195c of the handle 195 and the notched opening 295b with one's fingers, and the game ball B can be continuously shot into the game area 5a with a constant force without continuously twisting one's hand. In this way, the handle 195 can be rotated in a variety of ways to shoot the game ball B, and a pachinko machine 1 can be provided that allows the player to select a shooting operation that suits them.

[0238] This handle unit 180 is attached to the handle attachment seat 101b of the door frame base 101 via a handle cover unit 290 (handle cover base 291). This handle attachment seat 101b of the door frame base 101 is inclined so that the right end is located further rearward than the left end in a plan view, and faces outward (toward the open side). Therefore, the handle unit 180 attached via the handle cover base 291 is also inclined outward in a plan view (in other words, its tip is inclined so that it faces toward the outside of the pachinko machine 1 with respect to a line perpendicular to the front surface of the pachinko machine 1). This makes it easy for a player to grip the handle 195 of the handle unit 180, allowing for a comfortable rotation operation.

[0239] As described above, according to the handle unit 180 and the handle cover unit 290 of this embodiment, the handle 195 is provided at the lower right corner of the door frame 3, which is provided so as to be openable and closable with the left side as the axis and closes the playing area 5a of the playing board 5 so as to be visible from the front, and which has a disk-shaped central hub portion 195a, a plurality of spoke portions 195b protruding radially from the central hub portion 195a, and an annular outer peripheral ring portion 195c connecting the tips of the plurality of spoke portions 195b, and a cylindrical handle cover unit 290 extending rearward from the outer peripheral ring portion 195c. Because the handle cover unit 290 is provided, a handle 195 and handle cover unit 290 of a never-before-seen form can be seen in the area where a handle is provided in conventional pachinko machines, which makes a strong impact on the player and can strongly attract the player's attention, as well as increase the player's motivation to play with this pachinko machine 1, making it easier for players wandering around the gaming hall where this pachinko machine 1 is installed to select this pachinko machine as the pachinko machine to play.

[0240] Furthermore, since the player's fingers can be inserted into the handle cover unit 290 (the front tube portion 291a of the handle cover base 291) through the gap between the central hub portion 195a and the outer peripheral ring portion 195c of the handle 195, when the player operates the handle 195 to shoot the game ball B into the game area 5a, if the player grasps the central hub portion 195a of the handle 195, the player's fingers will be inserted into the handle cover unit 290, and therefore the operation of the handle 195 can give the player a different feeling than that of the handles of conventional pachinko machines, and the player can be entertained by the new sensation of shooting the game ball B, thereby preventing a decline in interest.

[0241] When the player operates the handle 195 and causes the main frame speaker 622 mounted on the speaker unit 620a in the base unit 620A of the main frame 4 to output a sound effect, the vibration of the main frame speaker 622 causes the air in the enclosure 624 formed by the speaker box 623 to vibrate, and the vibration of the air in the enclosure 624 is released forward as sound pressure (sound wind) through the inner space 40a of the fascia board of the outer frame lower assembly 40 in the outer frame 2 which is connected to the enclosure 624 and the port member 47. At this time, the multiple blade portions 46b of the grill member 46 provided at the front end of the port member 47 can guide the sound pressure (sound wind) from the main frame speaker 622 into the handle cover unit 290 (inside the front tube portion 291a of the handle cover base 291) through the cutout opening 295b of the handle cover 295 and the opening 291h of the handle cover base 291, and the sound pressure can stimulate the fingers of the player who is operating the handle 195 with their fingers inserted into the handle cover unit 290 through the gap between the central hub portion 195a and the outer ring portion 195c. Therefore, depending on the game status within the game area 5a, sound pressure from the port member 47 is supplied to the player's fingers inserted into the handle cover unit 290 through the cutout opening 295b and the opening 291h, which can surprise the player, give them a sense of an upcoming opportunity, or change the amount of handle operation, thereby entertaining the player and preventing them from becoming bored and reducing their interest in the game.

[0242] In addition, sound pressure (sound wind) from the main frame speaker 622 can be supplied into the handle cover unit 290 (front tube portion 291a of the handle cover base 291) through the cutout opening 295b and opening 291h, making it possible to cool the inside of the handle cover unit 290 and making the environment around the player's fingers operating the handle 195 more comfortable, thereby alleviating stress on the player and preventing a decline in interest in the game.

[0243] Furthermore, as described above, the sound pressure (sound wind) emitted forward from the port member 47 provided in the lower outer frame assembly 40 of the outer frame 2, which is different from the door frame 3 in which the handle 195 and the handle cover unit 290 are provided, is guided by the multiple blade portions 46b of the grill member 46 to stimulate the fingers of the player who is operating the handle 195 with his or her fingers inserted into the handle cover unit 290 through the gap between the central hub portion 195a and the outer peripheral ring portion 195c. Therefore, compared to a case in which a vibration device is provided in the handle 195, there is no damage to the various sensors (handle rotation detection sensor 189, handle touch sensor 192, single button operation sensor 194, etc.) and bearing mechanism provided in the handle 195, and it is possible to make the handle unit 180 less likely to be damaged, and it is possible to avoid causing discomfort to the player due to damage to the handle unit 180 and suppress a decrease in the player's interest in the game.

[0244] Furthermore, because the handle 195 has a central hub portion 195a, spoke portions 195b, and outer peripheral ring portion 195c, the handle 195 has an appearance similar to that of a steering wheel of an automobile, and therefore, even though the appearance is significantly different from that of the handles of conventional pachinko machines, it is possible for a player to intuitively recognize that the operation of the handle 195 is the same as that of conventional pachinko machines. Therefore, even a player who has seen the pachinko machine 1 for the first time can operate the handle 195 of the pachinko machine 1 without any confusion, making it easier for the player to select the pachinko machine 1 as the pachinko machine to play without hesitation.

[0245] Furthermore, cutout opening 295b and opening 291h are provided on the downward-facing portion of the outer surface of the handle cover unit 290, where the player's fingers can be inserted between the central hub portion 195a and the outer ring portion 195c of the handle 195. Therefore, when looking inside the handle cover unit 290 (the front cylindrical portion 291a of the handle cover base 291) from the front, the area below the handle cover unit 290 can be seen through opening 291h and the lower cutout opening 295b, which gives the cylindrical handle cover unit 290 a sense of openness, thereby reducing the player's anxiety about inserting their fingers into the handle cover unit 290 and allowing the player to operate the handle 195 without hesitation.

[0246] Furthermore, through-hole cutout openings 295b and openings 291h are provided in the downward-facing portion of the outer peripheral surface of the handle cover unit 290, and the port member 47 of the outer frame 2 (outer frame lower assembly 40) is opened toward the front. Therefore, even if liquids such as drinks or game balls B enter the handle cover unit 290, they can be discharged downward from the lower cutout openings 295b and openings 291h, and it is possible to make it difficult for liquids etc. discharged downward from the cutout openings 295b and openings 291h to enter the port member 47.

[0247] Furthermore, the handle 195 has a central hub portion 195a, spoke portions 195b, and an outer peripheral ring portion 195c, and the handle cover 295 of the handle cover unit 290, which has the same diameter at the front end as the outer peripheral ring portion 195c, is provided with a plurality of cutout openings 295b. Therefore, the central hub portion 195a can be used to grip and operate the handle in the same way as the handle of a conventional pachinko machine, the spoke portions 195b can be used to operate the handle with just the fingers, the outer peripheral ring portion 195c can be used to operate the handle like the steering wheel of an automobile, the outer peripheral ring portion 195c can be used to grip the handle by hooking the fingers between the outer peripheral ring portion 195c and the cutout openings 295b, or the outer peripheral ring portion 195c can be used to pinch the inside and outside of the handle cover unit 290 with the fingers across it, thereby providing a pachinko machine 1 that allows a variety of operations to shoot in the game ball B (handle operations). Therefore, depending on the game status and the player's condition, the game ball B can be shot into the game area 5a in a manner that is easy for the player to operate, making it less likely for the player to get bored and allowing the player to enjoy the operation of shooting the game ball B, thereby preventing a decline in interest in the game.

[0248] Furthermore, it is possible to fix the operating position of the handle 195 by hooking and grabbing the outer peripheral ring portion 195c and the notched opening 295b of the handle 195 with fingers, or by straddling the outer peripheral ring portion 195c and pinching the inside and outside of the handle cover unit 290 with fingers. Therefore, in addition to handle operations similar to those of conventional pachinko machines, handle operations that are not possible with conventional pachinko machines can also be performed, so that a variety of handle operations can be provided to the player, making handle operation enjoyable and preventing the player from getting bored.

[0249] Furthermore, since the diameter of the front end of the handle cover unit 290 is the same as the diameter of the outer ring portion 195c of the handle 195, the handle cover unit 290 extends rearward from the outer ring portion 195c, giving the appearance that the handle cover unit 290 is integrated with the handle 195, resulting in a pachinko machine 1 that looks good and is able to attract the attention of players.

[0250] Furthermore, because the diameter of the front end of the handle cover unit 290 is the same as the diameter of the outer peripheral ring portion 195c, it is possible to prevent the vertical dimension of the handle cover unit 290 from becoming larger than necessary, and by preventing the handle cover unit 290 from compressing the play area 5a (door window 101a) upward, it is possible to prevent the play area 5a from becoming narrower, allowing the play area 5a to be relatively larger, and the large play area 5a makes the pachinko machine 1 stand out, resulting in a pachinko machine 1 that is highly appealing and strongly attracts the attention of players.

[0251] Furthermore, by appropriately illuminating the LED 293a of the handle cover decorative board 293, the handle cover unit 290 (the inside of the front tube portion 291a of the handle cover base 291 and the handle cover 295) and the outer ring portion 195c of the handle 195 can be illuminated and decorated. Therefore, even when a player is operating the handle 195, the illuminated decoration of the handle cover 295 and the outer ring portion 195c is not obstructed by the player's hand, making the handle cover 295 and the outer ring portion 195c stand out, and a highly appealing pachinko machine 1 can be provided that is capable of strongly attracting the player's attention.

[0252] Furthermore, handle 195 is provided in the lower right corner of door frame 3 on the side opposite to the hinge side, and cutout opening 295b is provided in the part of the outer peripheral surface of handle cover 295 of handle cover unit 290 facing right, so that cutout opening 295b can be used as a handle for opening and closing door frame 3. Therefore, there is no need to provide a handle that would unsightly the door frame 3, and the appearance of the door frame 3 can be improved.

[0253] Furthermore, the handle cover unit 290 (handle cover base 291) supports the outer ring portion 195c (handle guide 196) of the handle 195 so that it can rotate in the circumferential direction, and has flange portions 291e and guide pieces 291g that restrict movement in the front-to-rear direction. Even if the outer ring portion 195c of the handle 195 is pulled forward, the forward movement of the outer ring portion 195c can be restricted by the guide pieces 291g, etc., so that the outer ring portion 195c and the spoke portions 195b connecting the outer ring portion 195c and the central hub portion 195a will not be deformed, and damage to the handle 195 can be prevented.

[0254] Furthermore, the handle touch sensor 192 detects that the player is touching the handle 195, and then accepts the operation of the handle 195 to shoot the game ball B. Therefore, the game ball B can be shot in even if the handle 195 is operated while touching only the spoke portion 195b or the outer ring portion 195c, making it possible to make the pachinko machine 1 capable of a variety of shooting operations (handle operations) as described above, and also making it possible to prevent the game ball B from being shot in when the player is not touching the handle 195, preventing the handle from being operated using tools and reducing the burden on the game hall.

[0255] [3-5. Overall structure of the dish unit] The tray unit 200 in the door frame 3 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 48 and 49. Figure 48 is an oblique view of the tray unit of the door frame, and Figure 49 is an oblique view of the tray unit from behind. The tray 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 tray unit 200 comprises an upper tray 201 that stores game balls B to be shot into the game area 5a, and a lower tray 202 that is positioned below the upper tray 201 and can store game balls B supplied from the upper tray 201 and the foul cover unit 150.

[0256] The dish unit 200 comprises a dish base unit 210 having an upper dish 201 and attached to the front of the door frame base 101 of the door frame base unit 100, a dish decoration unit 250 having a lower dish 202 attached to the front of the dish base unit 210, and a performance operation unit 300 attached to the front of the dish decoration unit 250 and the dish base unit 210 and operable by the player.

[0257] The dish base unit 210 comprises a flat dish unit base 211 extending left and right, an upper dish main body 212 attached to the upper front of the dish unit base 211 and holding an upper dish 201, an attachment base (not shown) attached to the right of the upper dish main body 212 and protruding forward, a dish unit relay board (not shown) attached to the right of the attachment base, a ball lending operation unit 220 attached to the top surface of the attachment base, an upper dish pre-ball removal unit (not shown) attached below the attachment base, and an upper dish post-ball removal unit 240 attached to the rear of the upper dish pre-ball removal unit.

[0258] The plate decoration unit 250 comprises a lower plate body 251 attached to the lower front part of the plate unit base 211 and having a lower plate 202, a plate unit body 252 attached to the front part of the plate unit base 211 so as to cover the outer periphery of the lower plate body 251, a lower plate ball removal unit 260 attached to the underside of the lower plate body 251, and a left plate decoration unit 270 and a right plate decoration unit 275 attached to the upper front part of the plate unit body 252, spaced apart from each other on the left and right.

[0259] The performance operation unit 300 is equipped with a performance operation section 301 that can be operated by a player, which includes a touch operation section 302 that can be operated by a player by touch, and a press operation section 303 that can be operated by a player by pressing. The performance operation unit 300 is equipped with a performance operation section cover unit 310 having a spherical outer surface, an operation section base 315 that is housed within the performance operation section cover unit 310 and attached to the front of the plate decoration unit 250, a circular performance operation section outer periphery decoration board 320 attached to the upper surface of the operation section base 315, an outer periphery board cover 325 that covers the top of the performance operation section outer periphery decoration board 320, and an operation section relay board unit 330 attached to the rear side of the operation section base 315.

[0260] In addition, the performance operation unit 300 is equipped with a performance operation unit unit 350 that can protrude upward from the performance operation unit cover unit 310 and is provided with the performance operation unit 301, a performance operation unit lifting mechanism 360 that is attached to the operation unit base 315 and supports the performance operation unit unit 350 so that it can be raised and lowered, and a protrusion force adjustment mechanism 380 that adjusts the upward protrusion force of the performance operation unit unit 350 by the performance operation unit lifting mechanism 360.

[0261] The tray unit 200 bulges forward as a whole, and the performance operation unit 300 is positioned in the center left to right so that the top surface of the performance operation unit 301 faces diagonally upward and forward, with the upper tray 201 positioned to the left of the performance operation unit 300 on the top surface and the ball lending operation unit 220 positioned to the right of the performance operation unit 300, and the lower tray 202 positioned below the upper tray 201 and to the left of the performance operation unit 300.

[0262] [3-5a. Upper plate] The upper tray 201 of the tray unit 200 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 48 and 49. The upper tray 201 is formed by a tray unit base 211 and an upper tray main body 212. When viewed from the front, the left side bulges forward more than the center, forming an upwardly open container shape. The upper tray 201 (upper tray main body 212) bulges forward most from the left end to the right, approximately one-third of the width of the door frame 3. The front end of the upper tray 201 recedes backward from the most bulging part toward the right when viewed from the front, and it has a guide passage 201a (see Figure 73) whose depth in the front-to-back direction is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the game ball B. The entire bottom surface of the upper tray 201, including the guide passage 201a, is inclined so that the right end is lower, and the right end of the guide passage 201a when viewed from the front is recessed below the ball dispensing operation unit 220.

[0263] When assembled to the tray unit 200, the upper tray 201 has a bottom surface that slopes downward from a position below the upper tray ball supply port 211a of the tray unit base 211 to a position slightly below the outer diameter of the game ball B relative to the upper end of the upper tray ball feed port (not shown). This allows the game ball B released forward from the upper tray ball supply port 211a to be received and stored within the upper tray 201, and the received game ball B can be supplied from the right end of the guide passage portion 201a through the upper tray ball feed port to the ball feed unit 140 side.

[0264] In addition, the guide passage section 201a is equipped with a metal earth fitting that is electrically grounded (earthed) in the pachinko machine 1, and when the game ball B comes into contact (rolls) with it, the static electricity charged to the game ball B can be removed.

[0265] [3-5b. Lower plate] The lower tray 202 of the tray unit 200 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 48 and 50. Figure 50(a) is a cross-sectional view of the door frame cut horizontally at the lower tray ball supply port, showing the main parts, and Figure 50(b) is a cross-sectional view of a conventional door frame cut at the same location as Figure 50(a), showing the main parts. The lower tray 202 is located below the upper tray 201, to the left of the center of the tray unit 200 (door frame 3) in the left-right direction when viewed from the front. The lower tray 202 is formed by a lower tray main body 251 and a tray unit base 211. The lower tray 202 is formed in the shape of a container capable of storing game balls B, and is provided with a lower tray ball removal hole 202a that penetrates the bottom wall vertically and allows game balls B to be discharged. The lower tray ball removal hole 202a of the lower tray 202 is closed openably and closably by a lower tray ball removal cover 265 of the lower tray ball removal unit 260.

[0266] The lower tray 202 has a generally rectangular shape in plan view that extends left and right, with the front end on the left side protruding further forward than the right side from the center in the left-right direction. The lower tray 202 has a lower tray ball ejection hole 202a that penetrates from top to bottom, located near the front end near the right end. The bottom surface of the lower tray 202 is inclined so that it slopes lower toward the lower tray ball ejection hole 202a. When assembled into the tray unit 200, the lower tray ball ejection hole 202a of the lower tray 202 is located below the performance operation unit 300, to the left of the front of the lower tray ball supply port 211c.

[0267] When the lower tray ball removal hole 202a is closed, the lower tray 202 can store game balls B released forward from the lower tray ball supply port 211c, and by opening the lower tray ball removal hole 202a, the stored game balls B can be discharged below the tray unit 200 (for example, to a cash box). Also, when the lower tray ball removal hole 202a of the lower tray 202 is open, the lower tray ball removal hole 202a is positioned in front of the lower tray ball supply port 211c, so that the game balls B released forward from the lower tray ball supply port 211c can be quickly discharged downward from the lower tray ball removal hole 202a by moving the shortest distance.

[0268] In conventional pachinko machines, as shown in Figure 50(b), a lower tray ball ejection hole 202b of the lower tray 202 is provided in front of the central axis of the lower tray ball supply port 211j of the tray unit base 211 in the tray base unit 210, which is connected to the ball ejection port 150d of the far cover unit 150. The lower tray ball supply port 211j is cylindrical and extends straight forward so that a game ball B ejected forward from the ball ejection port 150d will move straight toward the lower tray ball ejection hole 202b. This allows a game ball B ejected forward from the lower tray ball supply port 211j to be quickly ejected downward from the lower tray ball ejection hole 202b by moving the shortest distance.

[0269] Incidentally, when the lower tray ball supply port 211j is configured to guide game balls B straight toward the lower tray ball removal hole 202b, if the lower tray ball removal hole 202b is closed by the lower tray ball removal cover 265, there is a risk that game balls B will accumulate in an area to the right of the center of the lower tray 202, since the lower tray ball removal hole 202b and the lower tray ball supply port 211j are located near the right end of the lower tray 202. If the game balls B that have accumulated in the right area of ​​the lower tray 202 block the front of the lower tray ball supply port 211j, game balls B will no longer be released from the storage passage 150e of the fall cover unit 150 toward the lower tray 202, which may activate the full tank detection sensor 154 and determine that the lower tray 202 is full, even though there is still space in the left area of ​​the lower tray 202.

[0270] In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 50(a), the left side wall of the lower tray ball supply port 211c is inclined so that it extends diagonally forward to the left. More specifically, the left side wall of the lower tray ball supply port 211c is inclined diagonally forward to the left at the location directly behind the lower tray ball removal hole 202a so that the distance between it and the front of the tray unit base 211 is long enough to allow at least one game ball B to circulate.

[0271] In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 50, the lower tray ball removal hole 202a is moved to the left of the central axis (line shown by the dotted line) of the rear end (ball discharge port 150d) of the lower tray ball supply port 211c.

[0272] As a result, by moving the lower tray ball removal hole 202a to the left, the lowest part of the lower tray 202 (the part of the lower tray ball removal hole 202a) moves to the left, thereby reducing the concentration and accumulation of game balls B on the right side of the lower tray 202 when the lower tray ball removal hole 202a is closed. Furthermore, even if multiple game balls B are stored in the lower tray 202 from the area of ​​the lower tray ball removal hole 202a and reach the rear end of the lower tray 202 (the front of the tray unit base 211), the left side wall of the lower tray ball supply port 211c extends diagonally, forming a gap between it and the rear end of the lower tray 202 through which game balls B can flow.Therefore, game balls B released from the foul cover unit 150 (ball release port 150d) or the upper tray ball removal unit 240 (ball removal guide path 241c) toward the lower tray ball supply port 211c can be guided along the diagonally extending left side wall to the left side of the lower tray 202 and released, allowing game balls B to be neatly stored throughout the entire lower tray 202.

[0273] Therefore, it is possible to prevent the full tank detection sensor 154 from activating and reporting a full tank even though there is sufficient space remaining in the lower tray 202 to store the game balls B.

[0274] [3-5c. Plate base unit] The dish base unit 210 in the dish unit 200 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 48 and 49. The dish base unit 210 comprises a flat dish unit base 211 attached to the lower front of the door frame base unit 100 and extending to the left and right, an upper tray body 212 attached to the upper front of the dish unit base 211 and holding the upper tray 201, and a dish unit relay board 214 attached to the rear of the dish unit base 211 near the lower right corner.

[0275] The tray base unit 210 also includes a ball lending operation unit 220 attached to the upper front part of the tray unit base 211, an upper tray pre-ball removal unit (not shown) attached to the front part of the tray unit base 211 below the ball lending operation unit 220, and an upper tray post-ball removal unit 240 attached to the rear side of the tray unit base 211 behind the upper tray pre-ball removal unit.

[0276] [3-5c-1. Dish unit base] The dish unit base 211 of the dish base unit 210 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 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 the shape of a flat plate (a shallow box shape with an open rear) extending left and right across the entire width of the door frame base 101.

[0277] The tray unit base 211 is equipped with an upper tray ball supply port 211a that penetrates from front to back near the upper left corner when viewed from the front and extends cylindrically to the rear, a speaker port 211b that penetrates from front to back below the upper tray ball supply port 211a and has punched metal attached to the front, a lower tray ball supply port 211c that penetrates from front to back at the lower part toward the left of the center when viewed from the front and extends cylindrically to the rear, a cutout 211d that is cut out in the right wall of the part that extends cylindrically to the rear of the lower tray ball supply port 211c to a size that allows game ball B to pass through, and an upper tray ball delivery port (not shown) that penetrates from front to front on the upper right side of the lower tray ball supply port 211c when viewed from the front and extends vertically, with its upper part located at the right end of the upper tray main body 212.

[0278] When assembled to the door frame 3, the upper tray ball supply port 211a of the tray unit base 211 has its front end opening into the rear wall of the upper tray 201, and its cylindrical rear end passes through the upper tray ball passage port 101g of the door frame base 101 from the front side and connects to the front end of the through ball passage 150a of the fall cover unit 150. As a result, the game ball B paid out from the payout device 580 of the payout unit 560 is supplied (paid out) into the upper tray 201 through the upper tray ball supply port 211a.

[0279] When assembled to the door frame 3, the lower tray ball supply port 211c has its front end opening into the rear wall of the lower tray 202, and its cylindrical rear end passes through the lower tray ball passage port 101f of the door frame base 101 from the front side and connects to the front end of the ball discharge port 150d of the fall cover unit 150. This allows game balls B circulating within the storage passage 150e of the fall cover unit 150 to be supplied into the lower tray 202 through the lower tray ball supply port 211c. In addition, the downstream end of the ball removal guide path 241c in the rear base 241 of the upper tray ball removal unit 240 is connected to the cutout portion 211d formed in the cylindrically extending portion of the lower tray ball supply port 211c. As a result, by operating the upper tray ball removal button 222, the game ball B stored in the upper tray 201 is discharged from the lower tray ball supply port 211c into the lower tray 202 through the upper tray ball supply port, the entrance 141a and ball removal port 141b of the ball supply unit 140, the ball supply guide path 241b and ball removal guide path 241c of the upper tray post-ball removal unit 240, and the cutout portion 211d.

[0280] When assembled to the tray base unit 210, the upper tray ball supply port is located in front of the ball receiving port (not shown) of the rear base 241 in the upper tray ball removal unit 240, and the game ball B in the upper tray 201 is supplied from the ball receiving port of the upper tray ball removal unit 240 to the ball supply guide path 241b.

[0281] [3-5c-2. Upper tray body] The upper tray body 212 of the tray base unit 210 will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 48 and 49. The upper tray body 212 is attached to the front of the tray unit base 211 and cooperates with the tray unit base 211 to form the upper tray 201. The upper tray body 212 is formed in a container-like (dish-shaped) shape with an open top and rear. The upper tray body 212 extends left and right, with the left side bulging forward more than the center when viewed from the front. The front end of the upper tray body 212 recedes rearward from the most forward-bulging part toward the right when viewed from the front, and the depth in the front-to-back direction is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the game ball B. The bottom surface of the upper tray body 212 is inclined so that the right end is lowest. The upper part of the upper tray body 212 near the right end is closed.

[0282] When the upper tray body 212 is assembled to the tray unit 200, the part that is closed at the top near the right end is attached so that it fits under the ball dispensing operation unit 220. In addition, the upper tray body 212 has a performance operation unit attachment part 212a formed in the middle part in the left-right direction at the top, and a part of the performance operation unit 300 is attached to this performance operation unit attachment part 212a.

[0283] [3-5c-3. Dish unit relay board] The dish unit relay board 214 of the dish base unit 210 is intended to relay the connection between the door frame sub-relay board 105 in the door frame base unit 100 and the left dish decorative board 273, the right dish decorative board 278, and the operation unit relay board 332. The dish unit relay board 214 is attached near the lower right corner of the rear surface of the dish unit base 211. When attached to the dish unit base 211, the rear surface of this dish unit relay board 214 faces the rear side of the dish unit base 211.

[0284] [3-5c-4. Ball lending operation unit] The ball dispensing operation unit 220 of the tray base unit 210 will be described mainly with reference to Figure 51. Figure 51 is an enlarged plan view showing a portion of the ball dispensing operation unit in the tray unit of the door frame. This ball dispensing operation unit 220 is used to discharge game balls B stored in the upper tray 201 onto the lower tray 202, to dispense a predetermined number of game balls B into the upper tray 201 of the tray unit 200 after inserting cash or a prepaid card into a ball dispensing machine (not shown) installed adjacent to the pachinko machine 1, to display the remaining amount of cash or a prepaid card inserted into the ball dispensing machine, to return the cash or a prepaid card inserted into the ball dispensing machine minus the amount of dispensed game balls B, to adjust the volume, and to adjust the amount of light.

[0285] The ball lending operation unit 220 comprises a base portion 221 attached to the upper front portion of the tray unit base 211, an upper tray ball removal button 222 located near the left end of the top surface of the base portion 221, a translucent, disc-shaped ball lending operation base 223 located to the right of the upper tray ball removal button 222 on the top surface of the base portion 221, a ball lending button 224 located on the front left side of the ball lending operation base 223, a return button 225 located on the front right side of the ball lending operation base 223, a ball lending display unit 226 located at the rear lower portion of the ball lending operation base 223, a volume adjustment button 227 located in front of the ball lending button 224 on the outside of the base portion 221, and a light intensity adjustment button 228 located to the left of the volume adjustment button 227.

[0286] The upper tray ball removal button 222 protrudes upward in a cylindrical shape from the top surface of the base portion 221, and can be moved downward by the player pressing it. The ball lending button 224 is formed in a circular shape, with the character "ball" (ball) printed on the top surface. The return button 225 is formed in a triangular shape. The ball lending display portion 226 is composed of three 7-segment LEDs and one bullet-shaped LED, and when illuminated, can be clearly seen by the player through the transparent ball lending operation base 223.

[0287] The ball lending operation unit 220 can eject game balls B stored in the upper tray 201 into the lower tray by pressing the upper tray ball removal button 222. Furthermore, when cash or a prepaid card with remaining balance is inserted into the ball lending machine and the ball lending button 224 is pressed, a predetermined number of game balls B are supplied to the upper tray 201. When the return button 225 is pressed, the amount of the loaned game balls B is deducted from the cash or prepaid card inserted into the ball lending machine and returned. The ball lending display unit 226 displays the remaining balance of the cash or prepaid card inserted into the ball lending machine. Furthermore, the ball lending display unit 226 displays an error code when the ball lending machine malfunctions.

[0288] The volume adjustment button 227 is used to adjust the volume of music, voice, sound effects, and other sound effects output from the top center speaker and top side speakers of the door frame 3 and the low-frequency main frame speaker 622 of the main frame 4. This volume adjustment button 227 is shaped like a gourd, with two circles combined. The volume adjustment button 227 has the letter "+" in the center of one (upper) circle and the letter "-" in the center of the other (lower) circle, and the area between the two circles has a design that resembles sound coming from a speaker. The diameter of the circle on the "+" side of the volume adjustment button 227 is larger than the diameter of the circle on the "-" side. Pressing the "+" side of this volume adjustment button 227 increases the volume, and pressing the "-" side decreases the volume.

[0289] The light intensity adjustment button 228 is used to adjust the light intensity (brightness) of the LEDs on the various decorative boards provided on the door frame 3 and the game board 5. This light intensity adjustment button 228 is shaped like a gourd, with two circles combined. The light intensity adjustment button 228 has the letter "+" at the center of one (upper) circle and the letter "-" at the center of the other (lower) circle, and a light bulb design is placed between the two circles. The light intensity adjustment button 228 is shaped so that the diameter of the circle on the "+" side is larger than the diameter of the circle on the "-" side. Pressing the "+" side of this light intensity adjustment button 228 makes it brighter, and pressing the "-" side makes it darker. Note that in addition to adjusting the brightness of the LEDs on the various decorative boards provided on the door frame 3 and the game board 5, the brightness of the display screen of the effect display device 1600 may also be adjusted.

[0290] The volume control button 227 and the light intensity control button 228 are different colors (for example, the volume control button 227 is white and the light intensity control button 228 is black) to make it difficult for the player to make a mistake.

[0291] Incidentally, when adjusting the volume or light intensity using the touch operation unit 302 or the pressing operation unit 303 of the effect operation unit 301, when a player-participation effect that requires the operation of the effect operation unit 301 is not being executed, the effect operation unit 301 is operated appropriately to display a setting menu for adjusting the volume, light intensity, etc. on the effect display device 1600, and the item to be adjusted is selected, and then the touch operation unit 302 is operated to change the volume level, the brightness of the light intensity, etc., which takes time and effort to adjust the volume or light intensity. In contrast, according to this embodiment, the volume adjustment button 227 or the light intensity adjustment button 228 can be operated to directly adjust the volume or light intensity, thereby providing a pachinko machine 1 that simplifies the effort required to adjust the volume or light intensity and enables adjustments to be made in a short time.

[0292] [3-5c-5. Upper tray ball removal unit] The upper tray pre-ball removal unit and upper tray post-ball removal unit 240 in the tray base unit 210 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figure 49. The upper tray post-ball removal unit 240 works in cooperation with the ball feeding unit 140 to discharge the game balls B stored in the upper tray 201 to the lower tray 202 when the upper tray ball removal button 222 of the ball lending operation unit 220 is pressed.

[0293] The upper tray ball removal unit 240 comprises a rear base 241 attached to the rear surface of the tray unit base 211 so as to close the upper tray ball supply port from the rear, an upper tray ball removal slider 242 attached to the front surface of the rear base 241 so as to be able to slide in the vertical direction, a spring (not shown) that urges the upper tray ball removal slider 242 upward, and a rear cover 244 attached to the rear side of the rear base 241.

[0294] The rear base 241 is equipped with a ball receiving port (not shown) that protrudes upward from the portion where the upper tray ball removal slider 242 is slidably attached and opens toward the front, allowing the game ball B to pass through, a ball feed guide path 241b that guides the game ball B received in the ball receiving port downward on the rear surface of the rear base 241 and then rearward, and a ball removal guide path 241c that guides the game ball B downward from a position lower than the ball feed guide path 241b on the rear surface of the rear base 241 and then to the right when viewed from behind.

[0295] When assembled to the tray base unit 210, the ball receiving port is formed at the downstream end (right end when viewed from the front) of the guide passage section 201a of the upper tray 201, in a position that opens forward through the upper tray ball supply port of the tray unit base 211. When assembled to the door frame 3, the ball supply guide path 241b is formed so that the entrance 141a of the ball supply unit 140 is located at the rear of the lower part. This allows the game ball B supplied to the upper tray 201 to enter the entrance 141a of the ball supply unit 140 through the ball receiving port and ball supply guide path 241b.

[0296] The portion of the ball removal guideway 241c extending to the left and right protrudes further to the right in rear view than the portion where the upper tray ball removal slider 242 is slidably mounted, is inclined so that the right end is lower in rear view, and opens to the right side in rear view. The rear side of the portion of the ball removal guideway 241c extending to the left and right is closed by a rear cover 244. When assembled to the door frame 3, the ball removal guideway 241c is formed so that the upper part of the portion extending up and down below the ball feeding guideway 241b is located in front of the ball removal opening 141b of the ball feeding unit 140, and the right end of the portion extending to the left and right in rear view is connected to the cutout portion 211d of the lower tray ball supply opening 211c in the tray unit base 211. As a result, the game ball B discharged from the ball ejection port 141b of the ball feeding unit 140 is released into the lower tray 202 from the lower tray ball supply port 211c via the ball ejection guide path 241c and the cutout portion 211d.

[0297] The upper tray ball removal slider 242 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and includes an actuation receiving part (not shown) that protrudes forward from the upper left corner, and an actuation transmitting part 242b that protrudes rearward from the rear surface behind the actuation receiving part. The actuation receiving part has a flat upper surface. The actuation transmitting part 242b has an upper surface that slopes downward as it extends rearward, and a lower surface that extends horizontally to connect with the rear end of the upper surface.

[0298] When the upper tray ball removal slider 242 is assembled to the door frame 3, the actuation receiving part protrudes forward through the tray unit base 211 from the rear side, and the lower end of the upper tray ball removal button 222 abuts against the upper surface of the actuation receiving part. Also, when the upper tray ball removal slider 242 is assembled to the door frame 3, the actuation transmission part 242b protrudes rearward from the rear base 241, and the actuation rod 143c of the ball removal member 143 of the ball feeding unit 140 abuts against the upper surface.

[0299] The spring has its upper end attached to the rear base 241 and its lower end attached to the upper tray ball removal slider 242, and urges the upper tray ball removal slider 242 upward. Therefore, the upper tray ball removal slider 242 is positioned at the upper limit of its upward movement due to the spring's urging force, and can move downward by resisting the spring's urging force.

[0300] The upper tray ball removal unit 240 positions the upper tray ball removal slider 242 at the upper end of its upward movement due to the spring force, and also positions the upper tray ball removal button 222 at the upper end of its upward movement via the actuation receiving part of the upper tray ball removal slider 242. In addition, because the upper tray ball removal slider 242 is positioned at the upper end of its upward movement due to the spring force, the actuation rod 143c abutting the upper surface of the actuation transmission part 242b is prevented from moving downward, and the partition part 143a of the ball removal member 143 is positioned between the entrance 141a and the ball removal opening 141b, separating the two.

[0301] Therefore, when the upper tray ball removal button 222 is not pressed, the ball feeding unit 140 has a partition between the entrance 141a and the ball removal port 141b, and the game ball B sent from the upper tray 201 to the ball receiving port can be sent from the entrance 141a and the ball feeding member 144 to the ball supply port 142a to the ball launching device 540 side.

[0302] On the other hand, when the upper tray ball removal button 222 is pressed downward against the spring force, the upper tray ball removal slider 242 moves downward, allowing the operating rod 143c of the ball removal member 143, which is in contact with the upper surface of the operating transmission part 242b of the upper tray ball removal slider 242, to move downward, and the ball removal member 143 rotates due to the load of the weight part 143d of the ball removal member 143, causing the partition part 143a to move back from between the entrance 141a and the ball removal opening 141b. As a result, the game ball B that has entered the entrance 141a from the upper tray 201 through the ball receiving opening and ball feed guide path 241b is ejected forward from the ball removal opening 141b, which opens below the entrance 141a. Then, the game ball B discharged forward from the ball discharge port 141b passes through the ball discharge guide path 241c and is guided from the cutout portion 211d into the lower tray ball supply port 211c, 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.

[0303] When the downward pressure on the upper tray ball removal button 222 is released, the upper tray ball removal slider 242 moves upward due to the spring force, the upper tray ball removal button 222 rises, and the ball removal member 143 rotates due to the operating rod 143c abutting the operating transmission part 242b, so that the partition part 143a is positioned between the entrance 141a and the ball removal opening 141b, returning to its original state.

[0304] In this way, the upper tray ball removal unit 240 can feed the game ball B in the upper tray 201 to the ball launching device 540 side via the ball feeding unit 140, or discharge it to the lower tray 202 side.

[0305] [3-5d. Plate decoration unit] The plate decoration unit 250 in the plate unit 200 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 22 to 48. The plate decoration unit 250 has a lower plate 202 and is attached to the front of the plate base unit 210, with a performance operation unit 300 attached from the front in the center in the left-right direction. The plate decoration unit 250 decorates almost the entire plate unit 200.

[0306] The plate decoration unit 250 comprises a lower plate body 251 attached to the lower front part of the plate unit base 211 and working together with the plate unit base 211 to form the lower plate 202, a plate unit body 252 attached to the front part of the plate unit base 211 so as to cover the outer periphery of the lower plate body 251, a lower plate ball removal unit 260 attached to the underside of the lower plate body 251, and a left plate decoration unit 270 and a right plate decoration unit 275 attached to the upper front part of the plate unit body 252, spaced apart from each other on the left and right.

[0307] [3-5d-1. Lower plate body] The lower tray body 251 in the tray display unit 250 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 48 and 50. The lower tray body 251 cooperates with the tray unit base 211 of the tray base unit 210 to form the lower tray 202. The lower tray body 251 extends left and right and is formed in a container shape (dish shape) that is open at the top and rear. This lower tray body 251 is attached to the lower front of the tray unit base 211 at a location to the left of the center in the left-right direction, so that the open rear is closed.

[0308] The lower tray body 251 has a generally rectangular shape extending left and right in plan view, with the front end on the left side protruding further forward than the right side from the center in the left-right direction. A lower tray ball removal hole 202a that penetrates vertically is formed in the lower tray body 251 near the front end on the right side in plan view. The bottom surface of the lower tray body 251 is inclined so that it becomes lower toward the lower tray ball removal hole 202a. The lower tray ball removal hole 202a is closed openably and closably by the lower tray ball removal cover 265 of the lower tray ball removal unit 260.

[0309] When the lower tray body 251 is assembled to the tray decoration unit 250, the outer periphery and part of the underside are covered by the tray unit body 252. Furthermore, when the lower tray body is assembled to the tray unit 200, the bottom surface is located below the lower tray ball supply port 211c of the tray unit base 211, and the lower tray ball removal hole 202a is located in front of the lower tray ball supply port 211c. This allows the game balls B released forward from the lower tray ball supply port 211c to be stored.

[0310] [3-5d-2. Dish unit body] The dish unit main body 252 in the dish decoration unit 250 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 48 and 49. The dish unit main body 252 is attached to the front of the dish unit base 211 in the dish base unit 210 and decorates the front of the dish unit 200. The dish unit main body 252 bulges out so that the center in the left-right direction protrudes forward on the upper side, and bulges out so that the left side in the left-right direction protrudes forward on the lower side. In addition, the top surface of the dish unit main body 252 is curved so that the center in the left-right direction is lowest. The dish unit main body 252 is formed in a box shape that is open to the rear.

[0311] The plate unit main body 252 has an upper side bulge portion 252a at the top that bulges forward from both the left and right ends toward the center in the left-right direction and extends downward, being spaced apart on the left and right, and a lower front decorative portion 252b at the bottom that bulges forward on the left side of the center in the left-right direction so as to cover the outer circumference of the lower plate main body 251.

[0312] The left and right upper side bulges 252a have a left dish decorative unit 270 and a right dish decorative unit 275 attached to their respective front surfaces.

[0313] The tray unit main body 252 has a lower tray opening 252d that penetrates from front to back between the upper side bulge 252a on the left side and the lower front decorative part 252b. The lower tray opening 252d is large enough to allow a player's fingers to be inserted, and is formed so that it becomes wider from top to bottom as it moves to the left. The lower tray opening 252d is formed into a cylindrical shape that extends from front to back by the lower tray main body 251 and the underside of the upper side bulge 252a on the left side.

[0314] Furthermore, although not shown in the figures, the dish unit main body 252 is provided with a performance operation unit mounting portion formed between a pair of upper side bulges 252a in the center in the left-right direction, to which the performance operation unit 300 is attached. The performance operation unit mounting portion is formed with a width that is approximately 1 / 3 of the width of the dish unit main body 252 in the left-right direction.

[0315] When assembled to the dish unit 200, the dish unit main body 252 is formed to entirely cover the front surface of the dish base unit 210, with the speaker port 211b facing forward through the lower dish opening 252d.

[0316] [3-5d-3. Bottom tray ball removal unit] The lower tray ball removal unit 260 in the tray decoration unit 250 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 27 and 50. The lower tray ball removal unit 260 is attached to the underside of the lower tray main body 251, and is used to store game balls B in the lower tray 202 and to discharge game balls B from the lower tray 202 by opening and closing the lower tray ball removal hole 202a.

[0317] The lower tray ball removal unit 260 is equipped with a lower tray ball removal button 263 and a lower tray ball removal lid 265 that opens and closes the through hole by operating the lower tray ball removal button 263.

[0318] When the lower tray ball removal unit 260 is assembled to the tray decoration unit 250, the lower tray ball removal button 263 is aligned with the front surface of the lower front decorative part 252b of the tray unit main body 252, and the lower tray ball removal lid 265 closes the lower tray ball removal hole 202a. In this normal state, the lower tray ball removal hole 202a is closed by the lower tray ball removal lid 265, and game balls B can be stored in the lower tray 202.

[0319] In the normal state, when the lower tray ball removal button 263 is pressed backward, the lower tray ball removal lid 265 moves, opening the lower tray ball removal hole 202a, allowing the game ball B in the lower tray 202 to be discharged below the tray unit 200 through the lower tray ball removal hole 202a.

[0320] Furthermore, when the lower tray ball removal lid 265 is moved by pressing the lower tray ball removal button 263, the lower tray ball removal lid 265 remains moved, the lower tray ball removal hole 202a is kept open, and the game balls B in the lower tray 202 can be continuously discharged downward.

[0321] To close the lower tray ball ejection hole 202a from this state, press the lower tray ball ejection button 263, which is set back from the front of the lower front decorative part 252b, backward and then release the pressure, and the lower tray ball ejection cover 265 returns to its normal position, closing the lower tray ball ejection hole 202a. This allows game balls B to be stored in the lower tray 202.

[0322] [3-5d-4. Left and right decorative units] The left dish decorative unit 270 and the right dish decorative unit 275 of the dish decorative unit 250 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figure 48 etc. The left dish decorative unit 270 and the right dish decorative unit 275 are attached to the upper front surface of the upper side bulge 252a of the dish unit main body 252. The left dish decorative unit 270 and the right dish decorative unit 275 are located at the top of the dish unit 200 and decorate both the left and right sides of the performance operation unit 300.

[0323] The left-side decorative unit 270 comprises a semi-cylindrical left-side decorative body 271 that is translucent and extends left and right, a translucent left-side decorative lens 272 that passes through the left-side decorative body 271, and a left-side decorative substrate 273 that is provided behind the left-side decorative lens 272 and has multiple LEDs mounted on the front surface.

[0324] The left decorative element 271 extends in a curved line, moving forward and downward as it moves from the left end to the right end, and is attached to the top of the left upper side bulge 252a. The left decorative element 271 bulges forward in a semicircular arc, with the central axis extending diagonally upward and left at the left end and the central axis extending left and right at the right end, forming a twisted semicylinder shape. The left decorative element 271 is milky white in color.

[0325] The left-side decorative lens 272 extends longitudinally while coinciding with the front surface of the left-side decorative body 271. The multiple LEDs mounted on the left-side decorative board 273 are full-color LEDs, and when illuminated, can illuminate and decorate the left-side decorative body 271.

[0326] When assembled to the door frame 3, the left end of the dish left decorative unit 270 is continuous with the lower end of the door frame left side unit 420. Since the dish left decorative unit 270 does not have ribs along the length of the dish left decorative body 271, when the multiple LEDs on the dish left decorative board 273 are illuminated, the entire front of the dish left decorative body 271 can be illuminated and decorated in a substantially uniform manner, giving the appearance of embedded fluorescent lights.

[0327] The right-side dish decorative unit 275 comprises a semi-cylindrical right-side dish decorative body 276 that is translucent and extends left and right, a translucent right-side dish decorative lens 277 that passes through the right-side dish decorative body 276, and a right-side dish decorative substrate 278 that is provided behind the right-side dish decorative lens 277 and has multiple LEDs mounted on the front surface.

[0328] The right decorative element 276 extends in a curved line, moving both forward and downward as it moves from the right end to the left end, and is attached to the top of the upper right-side bulge 252a. The right decorative element 276 is formed as a semicircular arc that bulges forward, with the central axis extending diagonally upward and to the right at the right end and the central axis extending left and right at the left end, resembling a twisted semicylinder. The right decorative element 276 is milky white in color.

[0329] The right-hand decorative lens 277 extends longitudinally and coincides with the front surface of the right-hand decorative body 276. The multiple LEDs mounted on the right-hand decorative board 278 are full-color LEDs, and when illuminated, can illuminate and decorate the right-hand decorative body 276.

[0330] When assembled to the door frame 3, the right end of the dish right decorative unit 275 is continuous with the lower end of the door frame right side unit 430. Since the dish right decorative unit 275 does not have ribs along the length of the dish right decorative body 276, when the multiple LEDs on the dish right decorative board 278 are illuminated, the entire front of the dish right decorative body 276 can be illuminated and decorated in a substantially uniform manner, giving the appearance of embedded fluorescent lights.

[0331] When assembled to the door frame 3, the left and right decorative units 270 and 275 protrude upward from the front end of the upper side bulge 252a of the main body 252 of the decorative unit 250, forming a step between the upper side bulge 252a and the left and right decorative units 270 and 275, making them higher. This allows players to use the step between the left and right decorative units 270 and 275 and the upper side bulge 252a to hook their fingers and provide a fingerhold when leveling the game balls B in the upper tray 201 or operating the performance control unit 301, which will be described later. Furthermore, the step between the left and right decorative units 270 and 275 and the upper side bulge 252a prevents the game balls B on the upper side bulge 252a from spilling forward.

[0332] [3-5e. Overall configuration of the production operation unit] The overall configuration of the performance operation unit 300 in the tray unit 200 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 52 to 56. Figure 52(a) is a perspective view of the performance operation unit seen from the front with the performance operation button facing upward, and (b) is a perspective view of the performance operation unit of (a) seen from the back. Figure 53 is an exploded perspective view of the performance operation unit disassembled into its main components and seen from above the front, and Figure 54 is an exploded perspective view of the performance operation unit disassembled into its main components and seen from below the front. Figure 55(a) is a cross-sectional view of the performance operation unit when the performance operation unit is in the lowered position and the lifting spring-under holding member is at the upper end of its movement, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the performance operation unit when the performance operation unit has moved from the state of (a) to the upper position. Figure 56 is a cross-sectional view of the performance operation unit when the performance operation unit is in the lowered position and the lifting spring-under holding member is at the lower end of its movement.

[0333] The performance operation unit 300 is provided in the center of the left-right direction of the dish unit 200, and not only decorates the dish unit 200 but also allows the player to operate it and participate in the performance when a player participation type performance is executed. The performance operation unit 300 is attached to the dish base unit 210 and the dish decoration unit 250.

[0334] The performance operation unit 300 is equipped with a performance operation section 301 that can be operated by a player. The performance operation section 301 is composed of a touch operation section 302 that can be operated by a player by touching it, and a press operation section 303 that can be operated by a player by pressing it, and can accept operations from the player and move (vibrate) the performance operation section 301, allowing the player to not only operate the game ball B but also to participate in the performance during play. The performance operation section 301 has the touch operation section 302 provided above the press operation section 303. The performance operation section 301 has the touch operation section 302 and the press operation section 303 formed in a circular shape with a diameter that is approximately 5 / 8 the outer diameter of the performance operation unit 300.

[0335] The performance operation unit 300 comprises a performance operation unit cover unit 310 with a spherical outer shape that is provided on the front of the dish unit 200 in the center of the left-right direction, an operation unit base 315 to which the performance operation unit cover unit 310 is attached on the outside and which is attached to the front of the dish decoration unit 250, a performance operation unit outer peripheral decorative board 320 that is provided on the upper surface of the operation unit base 315 and on which multiple LEDs 320a are mounted to illuminate and decorate the upper part of the performance operation unit cover unit 310 (unit upper cover 312), an outer peripheral board cover 325 that is attached to the operation unit base 315 so as to cover the performance operation unit outer peripheral decorative board 320 from above, and an operation unit relay board unit 330 that is attached to the rear surface of the operation unit base 315.

[0336] Furthermore, the performance operation unit 300 includes a performance operation unit 350 having a performance operation unit 301, a performance operation unit lifting mechanism 360 that raises and lowers the performance operation unit 350, and a protrusion force adjustment mechanism 380 that adjusts the protrusion force of the performance operation unit 350. The performance operation unit 350 is provided so that it can advance and retreat upward from the top surface of the performance operation unit cover unit 310 by the performance operation unit lifting mechanism 360.

[0337] [3-5e-1. Cover unit for production control] The performance operation unit cover unit 310 of the performance operation unit 300 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 53 to 56. The performance operation unit cover unit 310 is attached to the performance operation unit attachment portion of the dish unit main body 252 of the dish decoration unit 250 via the operation unit base 315. The performance operation unit cover unit 310 decorates the outer periphery of the performance operation unit 300 (around the performance operation unit 350) at the center of the dish unit 200 in the left-right direction.

[0338] The performance operation unit cover unit 310 comprises a hemispherical unit lower cover 311 that is open upward and backward, and a circular unit upper cover 312 that is provided above the unit lower cover 311 and has an insertion opening 312a through which the performance operation unit 301 is inserted. The unit lower cover 311 is formed in a hemispherical shape so as to cover the front and bottom of the operation unit base 315. The unit upper cover 312 is formed so as to be continuous with the outer surface of the unit lower cover 311. In other words, the outer surface of the performance operation unit cover unit 310 is formed in a substantially spherical shape. Incidentally, the performance operation unit cover unit 310 of this embodiment is spherical in shape with a diameter of 216 mm.

[0339] The performance operation unit cover unit 310 is attached in an inclined state so that the axis of the annular unit upper cover 312 is positioned forward as it goes upward. In this embodiment, it is inclined at an angle of approximately 18 degrees (18.65 degrees) with respect to the vertical line.

[0340] When the performance operation unit cover unit 310 is assembled to the door frame 3, its front end becomes the front end of the door frame 3, and the distance from the front of the door frame base 101 to the front end of the unit lower cover 311 is approximately 1 / 2 the total width of the door frame base 101 in the left-right direction.

[0341] At least the unit upper cover 312 of the performance operation unit cover unit 310 is translucent, and can be illuminated and decorated by the illumination of multiple LEDs on the performance operation unit outer periphery decorative board 320 described below.

[0342] When assembled to the tray unit 200, the front end of the performance operation unit cover unit 310 protrudes further forward than the upper tray 201 and the lower tray 202. The performance operation unit cover unit 310 is also connected so that the left tray decorative body 271 and the right tray decorative body 276 extend outward from both the left and right sides of the unit lower cover 311. This makes the performance operation unit 300 stand out, and the integrated decoration gives it a nice appearance.

[0343] [3-5e-2. Control base] The operation unit base 315 of the performance operation unit 300 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 53 to 56. The rear side of the operation unit base 315 is attached to the performance operation unit mounting portion 212a of the upper tray body 212 in the tray base unit 210. The front and bottom of the operation unit base 315 are covered by the unit lower cover 311, and the top is covered by the unit upper cover 312 and the performance operation unit 301. The operation unit base 315 is formed in the shape of a container with an open top.

[0344] The operation unit base 315 comprises a main body 315a, which is a roughly cubic box-shaped body with an open top, and a flange 315b, which extends outward from the top end of the main body and has a circular outer periphery. The main body 315a houses the performance operation unit 350. The main body 315a has a pair of guide shafts 362 and a central shaft 366 of a performance operation unit lifting mechanism 360 in the performance operation unit 350, which will be described later, attached to its bottom wall. The main body 315a also rotatably supports the lower end of an adjustment screw 384 of a protrusion force adjustment mechanism 380 on the upper surface of its bottom wall. Furthermore, a board base 331 of the operation unit relay board unit 330 is attached to the rear surface of the rear wall of the main body 315a.

[0345] The performance operation unit outer periphery decorative board 320 is placed on the upper surface of the flange portion 315b. In addition, a circular outer periphery board cover 325 is attached to the flange portion 315b so as to sandwich the performance operation unit outer periphery decorative board 320. The unit upper cover 312 is attached to the outer periphery board cover 325.

[0346] When the operation unit base 315 is assembled to the performance operation unit 300, the upper surface of the flange portion 315b is positioned approximately flush with the upper surface of the unit lower cover 311.

[0347] [3-5e-3. Operation unit relay board unit] The operation unit relay board unit 330 of the performance operation unit 300 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 53 to 56. The operation unit relay board unit 330 is attached to the rear surface of the operation unit base 315. The operation unit relay board unit 330 includes a board base 331 attached to the rear surface of the main body 315a of the operation unit base 315, an operation unit relay board 332 attached to the rear surface of the board base 331, and a board cover 333 attached to the board base 331 so as to cover the operation unit relay board 332 from behind.

[0348] The operation unit relay board 332 relays the connection between the performance operation unit outer decorative board 320 (front decorative board 321 and rear decorative board 322), button outer decorative board 355, vibration motor 356, contact detection sensor main body 358, button middle decorative board 364, operation button lifting drive motor 367, pressure detection sensor 373, lifting detection sensor 374, protrusion force detection sensor 375, and protrusion force adjustment drive motor 381 and the dish unit relay board 214 of the dish base unit 210.

[0349] [3-5e-4. Production Control Unit] The production operation unit 350 in the production operation unit 300 will be described in detail mainly with reference to Figures 53 to 56. The production operation unit 350 is provided so as to face outward from the insertion opening 312a of the unit upper cover 312 in the production operation unit cover unit 310, and can function as the touch operation unit 302 and the pressing operation unit 303.

[0350] The performance operation unit 350 comprises a cylindrical button body 351 with a bottom and a closed upper end, a disk-shaped contact detection body 352 attached to the upper part of the button body 351, a cylindrical button sleeve 353 inserted into the button body 351 from below, a disk-shaped button base 354 attached to the lower end of the button sleeve 353 and supported so that it can be raised and lowered by a performance operation unit lifting mechanism 360, and a circular outer button decorative board 355 arranged above the button base 354 and having multiple LEDs 355a mounted on its upper surface.

[0351] The performance operation unit 350 also includes a vibration motor 356 arranged between the button body 351 and the button sleeve 353, a motor cover 357 that attaches the vibration motor 356 to the button sleeve 353, and a contact detection sensor body 358 that is connected to the contact detection body 352 and attached to the outer periphery of the button sleeve 353.

[0352] The entire button body 351 is transparent. The button body 351 has a disk-shaped upper surface 351a that curves upward to bulge, a cylindrical portion 351b that extends downward from the outer periphery of the upper surface 351a, and a locking portion 351c that protrudes downward from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 351b. The upper surface 351a is shaped to form a portion of a sphere with the same diameter as the spherical surface of the performance operation unit cover unit 310. The upper surface 351a is decorated with a circular ornament that is approximately half the outer diameter. The outer diameter (diameter) of the upper surface 351a (cylindrical portion 351b) is approximately 5 / 8 the diameter of the performance operation unit cover unit 310. The length (height) of the cylindrical portion 351b is approximately 5 / 8 the diameter of the upper surface 351a. Four locking portions 351c are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 351b. The locking portions 351c are locked to the button base 354. The button body 351 of this embodiment has a diameter of approximately 127 mm.

[0353] The contact detection element 352 has a circular outer periphery and is formed in a dish-like shape with a certain width of inner bulge upward from the outer periphery. The contact detection element 352 is located below the circular decoration on the top surface 351a of the button body 351, and bulges upward at an angle with a flat inner surface. This makes the contact detection element 352 appear to be part of the decoration of the button body 351. The contact detection element 352 has flat downward extension pieces 352a that extend downward from both left and right ends of the outer periphery and the rear end. The contact detection element 352 is attached to the underside of the top surface 351a of the button body 351. The contact detection element 352 is made of punched metal. The multiple holes in the punched metal reduce the capacitance of the contact detection element 352 relative to the overall area, preventing false detection. Furthermore, since the contact detector 352 is made of punched metal, light from the LED 364a of the button center decorative substrate 364 provided below can be transmitted upward, allowing the central portion of the upper surface 351a of the button body 351 to be illuminated and decorated in good condition.

[0354] The contact detecting body 352 is connected to an external electrode terminal of a connector in the contact detection sensor body 358. This allows the contact detecting body 352 to function as a sensor electrode for detecting capacitance, and to detect contact or approach of a detection target (a player's hand) with the top or side surface of the button body 351. In other words, the contact detecting body 352 and the contact detection sensor body 358 allow the button body 351 to function as the contact operation unit 302.

[0355] The button sleeve 353 has a cylindrical sleeve body 353a that extends vertically and an annular flange portion 353b that extends outward from the lower end of the sleeve body 353a. The button sleeve 353 is formed to be entirely transparent. The outer diameter of the sleeve body 353a is approximately 4 / 7 of the inner diameter of the button body 351, and its length is approximately the same as the length of the cylindrical portion 351b of the button body 351. The button sleeve 353 allows light from the multiple LEDs 355a on the button outer decorative substrate 355 to pass upward through the flange portion 353b.

[0356] The button base 354 is disk-shaped with approximately the same diameter as the outer diameter of the button body 351, and is attached to the lower end of the button body 351 so as to close the open lower end of the button body 351. The button base 354 has a pair of guide holes 354a that penetrate vertically at positions symmetrical about the center, a central hole 354b that penetrates vertically at the center, and a pair of guide pins 354c that protrude from the inner surface of the central hole toward the center. Guide shafts 362 of the performance operation unit lifting mechanism 360 are slidably inserted into the pair of guide holes 354a, respectively. The central hole 354b has an inner diameter large enough to allow the lifting cam member 371 to pass through. The pair of guide pins 354c face each other on the same axis and are attached rotatably about the axis.

[0357] The button base 354 extends downward and further has a flat detection piece 354d that is detected by a pressure detection sensor 373 of the effect operation unit lifting / lowering mechanism 360. A locking portion 351c of the button body 351 is locked to the outer peripheral surface of the button base 354. A pair of guide shafts 362 is inserted into a pair of guide holes 354a, thereby guiding the button base 354 so that it can be lifted and lowered in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the button base 354 is moved in the vertical direction by a pair of guide pins 354c being guided by a cam portion 371a of the lifting cam member 371. The upper ends of a pair of lifting springs 365 of the effect operation unit lifting / lowering mechanism 360 abut against the underside of the button base 354, and the button base 354 is urged upward by the pair of lifting springs 365.

[0358] The button exterior decorative substrate 355 has multiple LEDs 355a mounted on its top surface. The multiple LEDs 355a are arranged in a row on two concentric circles. More specifically, the multiple LEDs 355a are provided in a region slightly outside the sleeve body 353a of the button sleeve 353 and in a region near the center of the width of the flange portion 353b. By appropriately illuminating the LEDs 355a of the button exterior decorative substrate 355, the region on the top surface of the button body 351 outside the contact detector 352 and the side (circumferential surface) of the button body 351 can be illuminated and decorated.

[0359] The vibration motor 356 has an eccentric weight attached to its rotation shaft, and can generate vibrations by rotating the weight. The vibration motor 356 is arranged so that its rotation shaft extends in the left-right direction. In other words, the vibration motor 356 is arranged so that its rotation shaft extends in a direction perpendicular to the forward / backward direction of the performance operation unit 301. The vibration motor 356 is also provided on a straight line passing through a pair of guide shafts 362 that guide the performance operation unit 301 (performance operation unit 350) in the up-down direction. This allows vibrations from the vibration motor 356 to be efficiently transmitted to the performance operation unit 301. The effect of vibrations from the vibration motor 356 on the pair of guide holes 354a (pair of guide shafts 362) can also be reduced.

[0360] The contact detection sensor main body 358 is a capacitance sensor. Although not shown in detail, the contact detection sensor main body 358 includes a sensor IC including a surge protection circuit, a transmitter circuit, a detector / smoothing circuit, and a comparator circuit, an output circuit, a constant-voltage circuit that supplies power to the sensor IC and the output circuit, sensor electrodes, and a connector. The contact detection sensor main body 358 can detect the capacitance of the sensor electrodes contained therein. The connector of the contact detection sensor main body 358 has external electrode terminals connected to the sensor electrodes, and these external electrode terminals are connected to the contact detection body 352. In other words, the contact detection sensor main body 358 allows the contact detection body 352 to function as an external sensor electrode. The contact detection sensor main body 358 detects capacitance with the sensor electrodes and outputs an ON signal when the capacitance exceeds a predetermined capacitance set by an external resistor. In this embodiment, the contact detection sensor main body 358 outputs an ON signal when the capacitance exceeds a predetermined capacitance. However, the contact detection sensor main body 358 may output multiple signals depending on the capacitance.

[0361] In the present embodiment, the effect operation unit 350 is provided with a contact detection element 352, which functions as a sensor electrode for detecting capacitance by the contact detection sensor main body 358, on the underside of the upper surface 351a of the button main body 351. This allows the effect operation unit 350 to detect contact or approach of a detection target (a player's hand) with the upper surface of the button main body 351 via the contact detection element 352. Furthermore, the contact detection element 352 of the effect operation unit 350 has a plurality of downward extension pieces 352a extending downward, so that it can detect contact or approach of a detection target (a player's hand) with the side of the button main body 351 with the effect operation unit 350 protruding upward. Thus, the effect operation unit 350, together with the contact detection element 352 and the contact detection sensor main body 358, allows the button main body 351 to function as the touch operation unit 302.

[0362] This performance operation unit 350 is supported so as to be able to move up and down in the vertical direction by a performance operation unit lifting mechanism 360. When performance operation unit 350 is moved to the lowest position (normal state), upper surface 351a of button body 351 is flush with the upper surface of unit upper cover 312 of performance operation unit cover unit 310, making performance operation unit 300 appear as a single sphere. When performance operation unit 350 is moved upward from the normal state by performance operation unit lifting mechanism 360, upper surface 351a of button body 351 protrudes above the upper surface of unit upper cover 312, and can function as pressing operation unit 303 by pressing downward against the biasing force of lifting spring 365.

[0363] More specifically, when the performance operation unit 350 is in its lowest position (normal state), it will not move further downward even if pressed, and a pressing operation cannot be performed. In this normal state, the detection piece 354d of the button base 354 is detected by the pressing detection sensor 373 of the performance operation unit lifting / lowering mechanism 360. When the performance operation unit 350 is moved upward by the performance operation unit lifting / lowering mechanism 360 from the normal position, the detection piece 354d of the button base 354 moves away from the pressing detection sensor 373 and becomes non-detectable. When the upper surface of the performance operation unit 350 is pressed downward and the performance operation unit 350 is lowered to the lower limit of movement against the biasing force of the lifting spring 365, the detection piece 354d of the button base 354 is detected by the pressing detection sensor 373. This detects a pressing operation of the performance operation unit 350 (pressing operation unit 303).

[0364] Furthermore, in the effect operation unit 350, the button body 351 covers the top of the contact detection body 352 made of perforated metal, so that when operating the contact operation unit 302, the player comes into contact with the smooth, spherical top surface of the button body 351, and the player does not directly touch the surface of the perforated metal with its unevenness caused by the multiple holes, allowing the player to smoothly operate the contact operation unit 302. Furthermore, because the contact detection body 352 is covered by the button body 351, it is possible to impart any desired tactile sensation to the contact operation unit 302 by forming minute unevenness or multiple ridges on the surface (top surface) of the button body 351, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in designing the contact operation unit 302 and providing a pachinko machine 1 that is more enjoyable for players.

[0365] In the above description, the button body 351 is transparent, but this is not limiting. The button body 351 may be opaque or translucent, so that the lower side is difficult to see through. This makes it difficult to see the to...

Claims

[Claim 1] A gaming machine that can draw a lottery based on the establishment of a starting condition and award a bonus based on the result of the lottery, A plurality of light emitters; A performance control means capable of controlling the performance of a game including control of causing the plurality of light emitters to emit light in a predetermined manner; A specific detection means capable of outputting a detection signal in response to a detection state occurring based on a player's operation, The performance control means A first specific performance that can be performed over a first period, involving light emission in a first specific manner by a predetermined light emitter among the plurality of light emitters and display of a first special manner by a predetermined display means; A second specific performance that can be performed over a second period, involving light emission in a second specific manner by a predetermined light emitter among the plurality of light emitters and display of a second special manner by the display means; and an abnormal light emission notification that causes a predetermined light emitter among the plurality of light emitters to emit light in an abnormal manner when a specific abnormality occurs. The first specific effect is an effect that can be executed over the first period when there is no possibility of granting the benefit, The second specific effect is an effect that may be executed over the second period when there is a possibility of granting the benefit, If the specific abnormality occurs during the first specific performance, the display means continues to display the first special mode while changing the light emission mode of a predetermined light emitter among the plurality of light emitters from the first specific mode to the abnormal mode, thereby executing the abnormal light emission alert; if the detection signal is output by the specific detection means during the abnormal light emission alert, the display means continues to display the first special mode even if the elapsed time since the start of the first specific performance has not yet reached the first period; When the specific abnormality occurs during the second specific performance, the display means continues to display the second special mode while changing the light emission mode of a predetermined light emitter among the plurality of light emitters from the second specific mode to the abnormal mode, thereby executing the abnormal light emission notification, and when the detection signal is output by the specific detection means during the abnormal light emission notification, the abnormal light emission notification and the display of the second special mode by the display means are continued without ending, Furthermore, the display of the first special mode in the first specific performance and the display of the second special mode in the second specific performance are not the same or similar displays, but are different displays. A gaming machine characterized by:

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