Gaming machine

Abstract

To provide a game machine enabling improvement of the degree of freedom in designing a gaming board.SOLUTION: It is so configured that game balls can be guided by an upper connection member 270 connecting a base plate 60 and a center frame 86. Therefore, for the range where the upper connection member 270 is disposed, it becomes unnecessary to hammer nails into the base plate 60. Accordingly, within the range where the upper connection member 270 is disposed, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in designing the shape of the base plate 60, particularly in the designing in the thickness direction. For example, it is possible to reduce the material cost by reducing the volume of the members required for the entire game board by forming the thickness thin where the thickness can be designed arbitrarily. And it is also possible to perform various light emitting presentations by disposing a presentation member (such as an illumination board) in a space that becomes empty as the result of making the thickness thin.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 26

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine.

Background Art

[0002] In gaming machines such as pachinko machines, The displacement member is configured to be displaceable. there is a gaming machine (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the above-described conventional gaming machines, There is room for improvement regarding the displacement member. there were problems as described above. The present invention has been made to solve the above-exemplified problems, Improve the displacement member. and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine that can

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To achieve this objective, the gaming machine according to claim 1 comprises a game board, a first displacement member, a second displacement member, and a driving means, wherein the first displacement member is configured to be displaced relative to the second displacement member in accordance with the displacement of the second displacement member, the surface visible in a predetermined region in a predetermined direction of view is configured to change between a first surface and a second surface due to the relative displacement of the first displacement member, the driving means is configured to generate a driving force to displace the second displacement member, the first displacement member can be positioned at a first position and a second position different from the first position, the second position is a position where the visibility of the first displacement member is lower than that of the first position, and the relative displacement and the change in the visible surface are configured to be caused by the driving force, and the first displacement member The material is positioned such that at least a portion of it is located forward of a predetermined position on the front side of the game board at the first position, the game machine is configured such that when the first displacement member is positioned at the first position, a predetermined portion of the first surface is located forward of the game machine than a specific portion of the second surface, and when the first displacement member is positioned at the second position, the specific portion is located forward of the game machine than the predetermined portion, the driving means is configured to change state from a specific state that generates the driving force to a predetermined state, the visible surface is configured to change state when the driving means changes state from the specific state to the predetermined state, and the game machine is configured such that when the visible surface is changed, the changed state of the visible surface is maintained. The first displacement member is configured such that, when positioned at the first position, the first surface is visible in the predetermined direction and the second surface is visible in a specific direction different from the predetermined direction; when positioned at the second position, the second surface is configured to be visible in the predetermined direction and the second surface is also visible in the specific direction; and even when the first displacement member is displaced relative to the first displacement member, the second surface is configured to be visible in the specific direction. .

[0006]

[0007] [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the gaming machine described in claim 1, The first displacement member will be improved. It is possible.

[0009]

[0010]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] [Figure 1] It is a front view of the pachinko machine in the first embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a front view of the game board of the pachinko machine. [Figure 3] It is a rear view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 4] It is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine. [Figure 5] It is an exploded perspective front view of the game board. [Figure 6] It is a cross-sectional view of the game board along the line VI-VI in FIG. 2. [Figure 7] (a) is a front view of the ball-feeding unit, and (b) is a side view of the ball-feeding unit. [Figure 8] (a) is an exploded perspective front view of the ball-feeding unit, and (b) is an exploded perspective rear view of the ball-feeding unit. [Figure 9] (a) is a front view of the distributing unit, and (b) is a side view of the distributing unit. [Figure 10] It is an exploded perspective front view of the distributing unit. [Figure 11] It is an exploded perspective rear view of the distributing unit. [Figure 12] (a) is a cross-sectional view of the distributing unit along the line XIIa-XIIa in FIG. 9(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the distributing unit along the line XIIb-XIIb in FIG. 12(a). [Figure 13] (a) and (b) are partial enlarged cross-sectional views of the distributing unit in the range XIIIa in FIG. 12(b). [Figure 14] (a) is a front view of the passage unit, and (b) is a side view of the passage unit. [Figure 15] It is an exploded perspective front view of the passage unit. [Figure 16] It is an exploded perspective rear view of the passage unit. [Figure 17]It is a front exploded perspective view of a game board and an operation unit in the second embodiment. [Figure 18] It is a front view of the game board. [Figure 19] It is a rear view of the game board. [Figure 20] It is a front perspective view of the game board. [Figure 21] It is a rear perspective view of the game board. [Figure 22] It is an exploded front perspective view of the game board. [Figure 23] It is an exploded rear perspective view of the game board. [Figure 24] It is an exploded front perspective view of the central configuration unit. [Figure 25] It is an exploded rear perspective view of the central configuration unit. [Figure 26] It is an enlarged front view of the game board in the range XXVI of FIG. 18. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is a partial cross-sectional view of the game board taken along the line XXVII-XXVII of FIG. 26. [Figure 28] It is a partial cross-sectional view of the game board taken along the line XXVIII-XXVIII of FIG. 26. [Figure 29] It is an exploded front perspective view of the game board. [Figure 30] It is an exploded rear perspective view of the game board. [Figure 31] It is an enlarged front view of the game board in the range XXXI of FIG. 18. [Figure 32] FIG. 31 is a partial cross-sectional view of the game board taken along the line XXXII-XXXII of FIG. 31. [Figure 33] It is an exploded front perspective view of the distribution unit. [Figure 34] It is an exploded rear perspective view of the distribution unit. [Figure 35] It is a partially enlarged front view of the game board in the range XXXV of FIG. 18. [Figure 36] It is a front view of the operation unit. [Figure 37] It is a front view of the operation unit. [Figure 38] It is a front view of the operation unit. [Figure 39] This is a front view of the operating unit. [Figure 40] This is a front perspective view of the disassembled operating unit. [Figure 41] This is a rear perspective view of the disassembled operating unit. [Figure 42] This is a front perspective view of the disassembled operating unit. [Figure 43] This is a rear perspective view of the disassembled operating unit. [Figure 44] Figure 36 is a cross-sectional view of the operating unit on the XLIV-XLIV line. [Figure 45] Figure 44 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the operating unit in range XLV. [Figure 46] Figure 36 is a cross-sectional view of the operating unit on the XLIV-XLIV line. [Figure 47] This is a front perspective view of the disassembled operating unit. [Figure 48] This is a rear perspective view of the disassembled operating unit. [Figure 49] (a) is an exploded front perspective view of the outer member, lifting plate member, and resistance generator in area XLIXa of Figure 47, and (b) is a front perspective view of the outer member in area XLIXb of Figure 47. [Figure 50] (a) is an exploded front perspective view of the lifting plate member, inner member, displacement member, and rotational posture assist member in area La of Figure 47, and (b) is an exploded front perspective view of the displacement member and rotational posture assist member in area Lb of Figure 47. [Figure 51] This is a front perspective view of the disassembled light-up animation unit. [Figure 52] This is a rear view of the disassembled light-up animation unit. [Figure 53] This is a front perspective view of the disassembled light-up animation unit. [Figure 54](a) is a front view of the right-side intermediate connecting member, (b) is a side view of the intermediate connecting member in the direction of arrow LIVb in Figure 54(a), (c) is a side view of the intermediate connecting member in the direction of arrow LIVc in Figure 54(a), and (d) is a cross-sectional view of the intermediate connecting member along the LIVd-LIVd line in Figure 54(a). [Figure 55] Figure 36 is a cross-sectional view of the game board and operating unit along the LV-LV line. [Figure 56] Figure 36 is a cross-sectional view of the game board and operating unit along the LV-LV line. [Figure 57] Figure 36 is a cross-sectional view of the game board and operating unit along the LV-LV line. [Figure 58] (a) to (c) are schematic side views of the first elongated hole, the second elongated hole, and the curved elongated hole, illustrating the first elongated hole, the second elongated hole, and the curved elongated hole. [Figure 59] This is a front view of the operating unit. [Figure 60] This is a front view of the operating unit. [Figure 61] This is a front view of the operating unit. [Figure 62] This is a front view of the operating unit. [Figure 63] (a) to (c) are schematic front views of the fastening portion of the displacement member, the elongated hole of the connecting hole, and the support hole. [Figure 64] Figure 36 is a cross-sectional view of the operating unit on the LXIV-LXIV line. [Figure 65] Figure 36 is a cross-sectional view of the operating unit on the LXIV-LXIV line. [Figure 66] Figure 36 is a cross-sectional view of the operating unit on the LXIV-LXIV line. [Figure 67] Figure 36 is a cross-sectional view of the game board and operating unit along the LXVII-LXVII line. [Figure 68] Figure 36 is a cross-sectional view of the game board and operating unit along the LXVII-LXVII line. [Figure 69] Figure 36 is a cross-sectional view of the game board and operating unit along the LXVII-LXVII line. [Figure 70] (a) is a front view of the distribution unit in the third embodiment, and (b) is a rear view of the distribution unit. [Figure 71] (a) is a front view of the distribution unit in the fourth embodiment, and (b) is a rear view of the distribution unit. [Figure 72] This is a partially enlarged front view of the game board in the fifth embodiment. [Figure 73] Figure 72 is a partial cross-sectional view of the game board along the line LXXIII-LXXIII. [Figure 74] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the pachinko machine in the sixth embodiment along the line corresponding to the LV-LV line in Figure 36. [Figure 75] This is a partial cross-sectional view of a pachinko machine along the line corresponding to the LV-LV line in Figure 36. [Figure 76] (a) to (c) are schematic side views of the guide portion and the L-shaped slot in the seventh embodiment. [Figure 77] (a) to (c) are schematic side views of the second elongated hole, curved elongated hole, third elongated hole, upper part of the first elongated hole, and lower part of the first elongated hole, respectively, illustrating the second elongated hole, curved elongated hole, third elongated hole, upper part of the first elongated hole, and lower part of the first elongated hole in the eighth embodiment. [Figure 78] (a) and (b) are partial cross-sectional views of the displacement member and light-emitting motion display unit in the ninth embodiment along the line corresponding to the LXXVIIIa-LXXVIIIa line in Figure 37. [Figure 79] (a) and (b) are front views of the rotating member and attitude detection means in the tenth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, with reference to Figures 1 to 16, one embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko game machine (hereinafter simply referred to as "pachinko machine") 10 will be described as the first embodiment. Figure 1 is a front view of the pachinko machine 10 in the first embodiment, Figure 2 is a front view of the game board 13 of the pachinko machine 10, and Figure 3 is a rear view of the pachinko machine 10.

[0013] In the following explanation, the front of the page will be referred to as the front (front) side and the back of the page as the rear (back) side, with respect to the pachinko machine 10 in the state shown in Figure 1. Also, the top of the pachinko machine 10 in the state shown in Figure 1 will be referred to as the upper (up) side, the bottom as the lower (down) side, the right side as the right (right) side, and the left side as the left (left) side. Furthermore, the arrows UD, LR, and FB in the figures (see, for example, Figure 2) indicate the vertical, horizontal, and front-to-back directions of the pachinko machine 10, respectively.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the pachinko machine 10 comprises an outer frame 11 formed by a roughly rectangular wooden frame, and an inner frame 12 formed to be approximately the same external shape as the outer frame 11 and supported by the outer frame 11 so as to be openable and closable. Metal hinges 18 are attached to the outer frame 11 at two locations, upper and lower, on the left side in a front view (see Figure 1) to support the inner frame 12, and the inner frame 12 is supported so as to be openable and closable towards the front, with the side on which the hinges 18 are provided as the axis of opening and closing.

[0015] A game board 13 (see Figure 2), which has numerous nails and prize slots 63, 64, etc., is attached to the inner frame 12 in a way that it can be detachably mounted from the back side. The ball game is played by balls (game balls) flowing down the front of this game board 13. The inner frame 12 is also fitted with a ball launching unit 112a (see Figure 4) that launches balls into the front area of ​​the game board 13, and a launching rail (not shown) that guides the balls launched from the ball launching unit 112a to the front area of ​​the game board 13.

[0016] The front side of the inner frame 12 is provided with a front frame 14 that covers its upper front side and a lower tray unit 15 that covers its lower side. To support the front frame 14 and the lower tray unit 15, metal hinges 19 are attached to two locations, upper and lower, on the left side in a front view (see Figure 1). The side on which the hinges 19 are provided is used as the axis of opening and closing, allowing the front frame 14 and the lower tray unit 15 to open and close towards the front. The locking of the inner frame 12 and the locking of the front frame 14 are released by inserting a special key into the keyhole 21 of the cylinder lock 20 and performing a predetermined operation.

[0017] The front frame 14 is assembled with decorative resin parts and electrical components, and a roughly elliptical window section 14c is provided in its approximate center. A glass unit 16 having two glass plates is arranged on the back side of the front frame 14, and the front of the game board 13 is visible from the front side of the pachinko machine 10 through the glass unit 16.

[0018] The front frame 14 has a roughly box-like structure with an upper tray 17 that extends forward and has an open top surface for storing balls. Prize balls and loaned balls are dispensed into this upper tray 17. The bottom surface of the upper tray 17 slopes downward to the right when viewed from the front (see Figure 1), and this slope guides the balls placed in the upper tray 17 to the ball launching unit 112a (see Figure 4). A frame button 22 is also provided on the top surface of the upper tray 17. This frame button 22 is operated by the player, for example, to change the stage of the animation displayed on the third symbol display device 81 (see Figure 2) or to change the content of the super reach animation.

[0019] The front frame 14 is equipped with various light-emitting means such as lamps around its periphery (for example, the corners). These light-emitting means are controlled to change their illumination pattern by lighting up or flashing in response to changes in the game state, such as during a jackpot or a predetermined reach, thereby enhancing the visual effects during gameplay. The periphery of the window section 14c is provided with illuminated sections 29-33, each containing a light-emitting means such as an LED. In the pachinko machine 10, these illuminated sections 29-33 function as display lamps such as jackpot lamps, and during jackpots or reach sequences, the built-in LEDs light up or flash, indicating that a jackpot is in progress or that the player is one step away from a jackpot. In addition, the upper left of the front frame 14 (see Figure 1) is equipped with an indicator lamp 34 that contains a light-emitting means such as an LED and can display whether a prize ball is being dispensed or an error has occurred.

[0020] Furthermore, a small window 35 is formed on the lower side of the right-side illuminated section 32 by attaching transparent resin from the back side so that the back side of the front frame 14 can be seen, and the stickers etc. that are attached to the attachment space K1 (see Figure 2) on the front of the game board 13 can be seen from the front of the pachinko machine 10. In addition, in the pachinko machine 10, plated members 36 made of chrome-plated ABS resin are attached to the area around the illuminated sections 29 to 33 to create a more dazzling appearance.

[0021] Below the window section 14c, a ball dispensing operation unit 40 is provided. The ball dispensing operation unit 40 is equipped with a balance display unit 41, a ball dispensing button 42, and a return button 43. When the ball dispensing operation unit 40 is operated with banknotes or cards inserted into the card unit (ball dispensing unit) (not shown) located on the side of the pachinko machine 10, balls are dispensed according to the operation. Specifically, the balance display unit 41 is an area where the remaining balance information of the card, etc. is displayed, and a built-in LED lights up to display the remaining balance as a number. The ball dispensing button 42 is operated to obtain dispensed balls based on the information recorded on the card, etc. (recording medium), and dispensed balls are supplied to the upper tray 17 as long as there is a balance on the card, etc. The return button 43 is operated when requesting the return of the card, etc. inserted into the card unit. In pachinko machines where balls are dispensed directly to the upper tray 17 from a ball dispensing device without the use of a card unit, so-called cash machines, the ball dispensing operation unit 40 is unnecessary. In this case, the component configuration can be made common by adding decorative stickers or the like to the installation area of ​​the ball dispensing operation unit 40. This allows for the commonality of pachinko machines using a card unit and cash machines.

[0022] The lower tray unit 15, located below the upper tray 17, has a roughly box-shaped lower tray 50 on its left side, which is used to store balls that could not be stored in the upper tray 17. An operating handle 51 is provided on the right side of the lower tray 50, which is operated by the player to launch the balls into the front of the game board 13.

[0023] The operating handle 51 contains a touch sensor 51a for allowing the ball launching unit 112a to be driven, a launch stop switch 51b for stopping ball launching while the handle is being pressed, and a variable resistor (not shown) for detecting the amount of rotation (rotation position) of the operating handle 51 by a change in electrical resistance. When the operating handle 51 is rotated clockwise by the player, the touch sensor 51a is turned on and the resistance value of the variable resistor changes in accordance with the amount of rotation. The ball is then launched with a strength (launch intensity) corresponding to the resistance value of the variable resistor, and the ball is driven towards the front of the game board 13 with a distance corresponding to the player's operation. When the operating handle 51 is not being operated by the player, the touch sensor 51a and the launch stop switch 51b are turned off.

[0024] A ball release lever 52 is provided on the lower front of the lower tray 50 for operating when discharging the balls stored in the lower tray 50 downwards. This ball release lever 52 is always biased to the right, and by sliding it to the left against this bias, a bottom opening formed on the bottom surface of the lower tray 50 opens, and the balls fall out naturally from this bottom opening and are discharged. This ball release lever 52 is usually operated with a box (commonly called a "senryobako") placed below the lower tray 50 to receive the balls discharged from the lower tray 50. An operating handle 51 is provided to the right of the lower tray 50 as described above, and an ashtray (not shown) is attached to the left of the lower tray 50.

[0025] As shown in Figure 2, the game board 13 is constructed by assembling numerous pins for guiding the ball (shown below the center frame 86 and not shown in the upper half of the game area), a windmill (not shown), rails 61, 62, a general prize slot 63, a first prize slot 64, a second prize slot 140, a variable prize device 65, a through gate 67, a variable display unit 80, etc., onto a base plate 60 that is cut into a roughly square shape when viewed from the front, and its periphery is attached to the back side of the inner frame 12 (see Figure 1).

[0026] The base plate 60 is made of a light-transmitting resin material, allowing players to see the various structures arranged on the back side of the base plate 60 from its front side. The general prize slot 63, the first prize slot 64, the second prize slot 140, and the variable prize device 65 are arranged in through holes formed in the base plate 60 by router processing and are fixed from the front side of the game board 13 with tapping screws or the like.

[0027] The base plate 60 may also be made from a wooden board. In this case, it becomes possible to shield the various structures arranged on the outside of the center frame 86, from the front side to the back side of the base plate 60, so that they cannot be seen by the player.

[0028] The central front portion of the game board 13 can be viewed from the front side of the inner frame 12 through the window portion 14c (see Figure 1) of the front frame 14. The configuration of the game board 13 will be described below, mainly with reference to Figure 2.

[0029] An outer rail 62, formed by bending a strip of metal plate into a roughly arc shape, is installed on the front of the game board 13, and an arc-shaped inner rail 61, also formed from a strip of metal plate, is installed inside the outer rail 62. The outer rail 61 and outer rail 62 surround the outer perimeter of the front of the game board 13, and the front and back are surrounded by the game board 13 and the glass unit 16 (see Figure 1), thus forming a game area on the front of the game board 13 where the game is played by the movement of balls. The game area is the area on the front of the game board 13 that is demarcated by the two rails 61 and 62 and the resin outer edge member 73 that connects the rails (an area where prize slots are provided and the launched balls flow down).

[0030] The two rails 61 and 62 are provided to guide the balls launched from the ball launching unit 112a (see Figure 4) to the top of the game board 13. A ball return prevention member 68 is attached to the tip of the inner rail 61 (upper left in Figure 2) to prevent the balls that have been guided to the top of the game board 13 from returning to the ball guidance passage. A return rubber 69 is attached to the tip of the outer rail 62 (upper right in Figure 2) at a position corresponding to the maximum flight distance of the ball. Balls launched with a force exceeding a predetermined amount will hit the return rubber 69, have their force reduced, and be bounced back towards the center.

[0031] In the lower left side of the game area (lower left side in Figure 2), there are two first symbol display devices 37A and 37B, each equipped with multiple LEDs and a 7-segment display, which serve as light-emitting means. The first symbol display devices 37A and 37B display information according to the various controls performed by the main control device 110 (see Figure 4), and primarily display the game status of the pachinko machine 10. In this embodiment, the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B are configured to be used differently depending on whether the ball enters the first prize slot 64 or the second prize slot 140. Specifically, when the ball enters the first prize slot 64, the first symbol display device 37A is activated, while when the ball enters the second prize slot 140, the first symbol display device 37B is activated.

[0032] Furthermore, the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B use LEDs to indicate whether the pachinko machine 10 is in a probability variation mode, a time reduction mode, or a normal mode, whether or not it is in a variation mode, whether or not the stopped symbol corresponds to a probability variation jackpot, a normal jackpot, or a losing symbol, and the number of reserved balls. In addition, a 7-segment display device is used to show the number of rounds during a jackpot and to display errors. Multiple LEDs are configured so that each LED emits a different color (for example, red, green, and blue), and by combining these colors, various game states of the pachinko machine 10 can be indicated with a small number of LEDs.

[0033] In this pachinko machine 10, a lottery is held when a ball enters the first prize slot 64 or the second prize slot 140. In this lottery, the pachinko machine 10 determines whether or not it is a jackpot (jackpot lottery), and if it is determined to be a jackpot, it also determines the type of jackpot. The types of jackpots that can be determined here are 15R probability variation jackpot, 4R probability variation jackpot, and 4R normal jackpot. The first symbol display devices 37A and 37B not only show whether or not the result of the lottery is a jackpot as the stopping symbols after the spin ends, but also show symbols corresponding to the type of jackpot if it is a jackpot.

[0034] Here, "15R probability variation jackpot" refers to a probability variation jackpot where the game transitions to a high probability state after a jackpot with a maximum of 15 rounds, and "4R probability variation jackpot" refers to a probability variation jackpot where the game transitions to a high probability state after a jackpot with a maximum of 4 rounds. Furthermore, "4R normal jackpot" refers to a jackpot where the game transitions to a low probability state after a jackpot with a maximum of 4 rounds, and enters a time-saving state for a predetermined number of spins (for example, 100 spins).

[0035] Furthermore, "high probability state" refers to the state in which the probability of subsequent jackpots is increased as an added value after a jackpot has ended, also known as probability variation (probability variation), or in other words, a state of play in which it is easy to transition to a special game state. In this embodiment, the high probability state (probability variation) includes a state of play in which the jackpot probability is increased for a predetermined number of spins (100 spins in this embodiment), and the probability of hitting the second symbol, as described later, is increased, making it easier for balls to enter the second prize slot 140. "Low probability state" refers to the time when it is not a probability variation, and the jackpot probability is in the normal state, that is, a state in which the jackpot probability is lower than when it is a probability variation. Furthermore, the time-saving state (time-saving) within the "low probability state" refers to a state of play in which the jackpot probability is in the normal state, and the jackpot probability remains the same, but only the probability of hitting the second symbol is increased, making it easier for balls to enter the second prize slot 140. On the other hand, when pachinko machine 10 is in "normal mode," it means it is neither in a bonus round nor a time-saving mode (neither the probability of hitting a jackpot nor the probability of hitting the second symbol has increased).

[0036] In this embodiment, when it is determined that a game ball has passed through the through-hole of the probability variation detection sensor SE11 of the distribution device 300 (described later) during the first round of a jackpot game, the game state after the jackpot game ends will be in a high probability state for 100 spins. If it is not determined that a game ball has passed through the through-hole of the probability variation detection sensor SE11, the game state after the jackpot game ends will be in a time-saving state for 100 spins.

[0037] During the bonus round or time-saving mode, not only is the probability of hitting the second symbol increased, but the time for which the electric mechanism 140a (electric mechanism) attached to the second prize slot 140 is open is also changed, and it is set to a longer time compared to normal mode. When the electric mechanism 140a is open (open state), it is easier for balls to enter the second prize slot 140 compared to when the electric mechanism 140a is closed (closed state). Therefore, during the bonus round or time-saving mode, it is easier for balls to enter the second prize slot 140, and the number of times the jackpot lottery is held can be increased.

[0038] Furthermore, during the probability variation or time reduction mode, instead of changing the opening time of the electric mechanism 140a attached to the second prize slot 140, or in addition to changing the opening time, the number of times the electric mechanism 140a opens per win may be increased compared to normal mode. Alternatively, during the probability variation or time reduction mode, the probability of winning with the second symbol may not be changed, but at least one of the opening time of the electric mechanism 140a attached to the second prize slot 140 and the number of times the electric mechanism 140a opens per win may be changed. Alternatively, during the probability variation or time reduction mode, neither the opening time of the electric mechanism 140a attached to the second prize slot 140 nor the number of times the electric mechanism 140a opens per win may be changed, and only the probability of winning with the second symbol may be increased compared to normal mode.

[0039] The game area is equipped with multiple general prize slots 63 from which 5 to 15 balls are dispensed as prize balls when a ball enters. A variable display unit 80 is also provided in the central part of the game area. The variable display unit 80 is equipped with a third symbol display device 81, which is composed of a liquid crystal display (hereinafter simply abbreviated as "display device") that displays the changing pattern of the third symbol in synchronization with the changing pattern of the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B, triggered by a ball entering the first prize slot 64 and the second prize slot 140 (start prize), and a second symbol display device (not shown) composed of LEDs that displays the changing pattern of the second symbol, triggered by a ball passing through the through gate 67. In addition, a center frame 86 is provided so as to surround the outer periphery of the third symbol display device 81 of the variable display unit 80 when viewed from the front.

[0040] In this embodiment, the third symbol display device 81 is fastened to a rear case fixed to the back of the game board 13, and the center frame 86 is arranged to frame the window portion (central opening 60b) of the base plate 60. That is, in a front view, it appears that the center frame 86 is arranged to surround the outer periphery of the third symbol display device 81, but in reality, the third symbol display device 81 and the center frame 86 are positioned apart front to back.

[0041] The third symbol display device 81 is composed of, for example, a large 9-inch liquid crystal display, and its display content is controlled by the display control device 114 (see Figure 4), so that, for example, three rows of symbols are displayed: top, middle, and bottom. Each row of symbols is composed of multiple symbols (third symbols), and these third symbols scroll horizontally for each row of symbols so that the third symbols are variably displayed on the display screen of the third symbol display device 81. In this embodiment, the third symbol display device 81 displays decorative information corresponding to the display of the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B, while the display of the game state in accordance with the control of the main control device 110 (see Figure 4) is performed by the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B. Alternatively, the third symbol display device 81 may be configured using, for example, reels instead of a display device.

[0042] The second symbol display device performs a variable display by alternately lighting up the "○" symbol and the "×" symbol (second symbol (not shown)) for a predetermined time each time a ball passes through the through gate 67. In the pachinko machine 10, when it is detected that a ball has passed through the through gate 67, a winning lottery is held. If the winning lottery is successful, the second symbol display device will stop displaying the "○" symbol after the variable display of the second symbol. If the winning lottery is unsuccessful, the second symbol display device will stop displaying the "×" symbol after the variable display of the third symbol.

[0043] The pachinko machine 10 is configured such that when the variable display on the second symbol display device stops at a predetermined symbol (in this embodiment, the symbol "○"), the electric mechanism 140a attached to the second prize entry opening 140 becomes operational (opens) for a predetermined time.

[0044] The time required for the second symbol to change is set to be shorter during the probability variation or time reduction modes than during the normal game state. As a result, during the probability variation and time reduction modes, the second symbol changes in a shorter time, allowing for more winning draws than during normal gameplay. Therefore, the chances of winning in the winning draw increase, giving the player more opportunities to open the electric mechanism 140a of the second prize slot 140. Thus, during the probability variation and time reduction modes, it is possible to make it easier for balls to enter the second prize slot 140.

[0045] Furthermore, if, during a bonus round or time-saving mode, the probability of winning is increased, or if the opening time or number of times the electric mechanism 140a opens per win is increased, or if other methods are used to make it easier for balls to enter the second prize slot 140 during a bonus round or time-saving mode, the time required for the second symbol to change may be kept constant regardless of the game state. On the other hand, if the time required for the second symbol to change is set shorter during a bonus round or time-saving mode than during normal play, the probability of winning may be kept constant regardless of the game state, and the opening time or number of times the electric mechanism 140a opens per win may also be kept constant regardless of the game state.

[0046] The through gate 67 is assembled to the game board 13 in the left and right regions of the variable display unit 80, and is configured to allow some of the balls launched onto the game board 13 to pass through. When a ball passes through the through gate 67, a lottery for the second symbol win is held. After the lottery, the second symbol display device performs a variable display. If the result of the lottery is a win, the symbol "○" is displayed as the stopping symbol on the variable display. If the result of the lottery is a loss, the symbol "×" is displayed as the stopping symbol on the variable display.

[0047] The number of times a ball passes through the through gate 67 is limited to a maximum of four times in total. The number of balls held is displayed by the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B described above, and is also indicated by the illumination of the second symbol hold lamps (not shown). Four second symbol hold lamps are provided, corresponding to the maximum number of balls held, and are arranged symmetrically below the third symbol display device 81.

[0048] Furthermore, the display of the second symbol variation may be performed not only by switching the illumination and de-illumination of multiple lamps in the second symbol display device, as in this embodiment, but also by using the first symbol display devices 37A, 37B and a part of the third symbol display device 81. Similarly, the illumination of the second symbol hold lamp may be performed by a part of the third symbol display device 81. In addition, the maximum number of hold balls for balls passing through the through gate 67 is not limited to 4, but may be set to 3 or less, or 5 or more (for example, 8). Also, the number of through gates 67 assembled is not limited to 2, but may be 1, for example. In addition, the assembly position of the through gate 67 is not limited to the left or right of the variable display device unit 80, but may be below the variable display device unit 80, for example. Also, since the number of hold balls is indicated by the first symbol display devices 37A, 37B, the second symbol hold lamp may not be illuminated to indicate this.

[0049] Below the variable display unit 80, there is a first prize slot 64 into which a ball can enter. When a ball enters this first prize slot 64, a first prize slot switch (not shown) located on the back side of the game board 13 is turned on. This activation of the first prize slot switch triggers a jackpot lottery in the main control device 110 (see Figure 4), and the result of the lottery is displayed on the first symbol display device 37A.

[0050] On the other hand, a second prize slot 140 into which a ball can enter is located below the first prize slot 64 when viewed from the front. When a ball enters this second prize slot 140, a second prize slot switch (not shown) located on the back side of the game board 13 is turned on. This activation of the second prize slot switch triggers a jackpot lottery in the main control device 110 (see Figure 4), and the result of the lottery is displayed on the first symbol display device 37B.

[0051] Furthermore, the first prize slot 64 and the second prize slot 140 are also prize slots from which five balls are dispensed as prize balls when a ball enters them. In this embodiment, the number of prize balls dispensed when a ball enters the first prize slot 64 and the number of prize balls dispensed when a ball enters the second prize slot 140 are set to be the same. However, the number of prize balls dispensed when a ball enters the first prize slot 64 and the number of prize balls dispensed when a ball enters the second prize slot 140 may be set to be different numbers. For example, the number of prize balls dispensed when a ball enters the first prize slot 64 may be set to three, and the number of prize balls dispensed when a ball enters the second prize slot 140 may be set to five.

[0052] The second prize slot 140 is equipped with an electric mechanism 140a. This electric mechanism 140a is configured to open and close, and normally the electric mechanism 140a is in a closed state (reduced state), making it difficult for the ball to enter the second prize slot 140. On the other hand, if the second symbol is displayed on the second symbol display device as a result of the second symbol change display triggered by the ball passing through the through gate 67, the electric mechanism 140a opens (expands), making it easier for the ball to enter the second prize slot 140.

[0053] As mentioned above, during the bonus round and time-saving mode, the probability of hitting the second symbol is higher than during normal play, and the time required for the second symbol's variation display is also shorter. As a result, the "○" symbol is more likely to be displayed during the variation display of the second symbol, increasing the number of times the electric mechanism 140a opens (expands). Furthermore, during the bonus round and time-saving mode, the time for which the electric mechanism 140a is open is also longer than during normal play. Therefore, during the bonus round and time-saving mode, it is possible to create a condition where it is easier for balls to enter the second prize entry point 140 compared to normal play.

[0054] Here, the probability of hitting the jackpot is the same whether the ball enters the first prize slot 64 or the second prize slot 140, regardless of whether the state is low or high probability. However, the probability of selecting a 15R probability variation jackpot is set higher when the ball enters the second prize slot 140 than when the ball enters the first prize slot 64. On the other hand, the first prize slot 64 does not have an electric mechanism like the second prize slot 140, and the ball can enter it at all times.

[0055] Therefore, under normal circumstances, the electric mechanism attached to the second prize slot 140 is often closed, making it difficult to enter the second prize slot 140. For this reason, it is more advantageous for the player to aim for the first prize slot 64, which does not have an electric mechanism, by launching the ball so that it passes to the left of the variable display unit 80 (so-called "left-handed shooting"), thereby increasing the chances of winning the jackpot by entering the first prize slot 64.

[0056] On the other hand, during the probability variation mode or the time reduction mode, passing the ball through the through gate 67 makes it easier for the electric mechanism 140a attached to the second prize opening 140 to open, making it easier for the ball to enter the second prize opening 140. Therefore, it is advantageous for the player to aim for the second prize opening 140 by shooting the ball so that it passes to the right of the variable display device 80 (so-called "right-handed shooting"), passing through the through gate 67 to open the electric mechanism, and aiming for a 15R probability variation jackpot by entering the second prize opening 140.

[0057] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the pachinko machine 10 has a symmetrical game board 13, allowing players to aim for the first prize slot 64 with "right-handed" shots or the second prize slot 140 with "left-handed" shots. Therefore, in this embodiment, the pachinko machine 10 eliminates the need for players to change their shooting method between "left-handed" and "right-handed" shots depending on the game state of the pachinko machine 10 (whether it is in a bonus round, a time-saving mode, or normal mode). Thus, the hassle of changing the way the ball is shot can be eliminated.

[0058] Below the first prize slot 64 is a variable prize slot 65 (see Figure 2), and a specific prize slot 65a is provided in its approximate center. In the pachinko machine 10, when a jackpot is won in a jackpot lottery conducted due to a ball entering the first prize slot 64 or the second prize slot 140, after a predetermined time (variation time) has elapsed, the first symbol display device 37A or the first symbol display device 37B is lit up to show the jackpot stop symbol, and the stop symbol corresponding to that jackpot is displayed on the third symbol display device 81 to indicate that a jackpot has occurred. After that, the game state transitions to a special game state (jackpot) in which balls are more likely to enter. In this special game state, the specific prize slot 65a, which is normally closed, is opened for a predetermined time (for example, until 30 seconds have elapsed, or until 10 balls have entered).

[0059] This specific prize slot 65a closes after a predetermined time has elapsed, and after closing, it is opened again for a predetermined time. This opening and closing operation of the specific prize slot 65a can be repeated up to, for example, 15 times (15 rounds). This state in which the opening and closing operation is performed is a form of special game state that is advantageous to the player, and the player receives a larger payout of prize balls than usual as a grant of game value.

[0060] Furthermore, the special game state is not limited to the configuration described above. A large opening that opens and closes separately from the specific prize entry point 65a may be provided in the game area, and when the LED corresponding to a jackpot lights up on the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B, the specific prize entry point 65a will be opened for a predetermined time, and when a ball enters the specific prize entry point 65a while it is open, the large opening provided separately from the specific prize entry point 65a will be opened for a predetermined time and a predetermined number of times, forming a special game state. In addition, the specific prize entry point 65a is not limited to one, and one or more (for example, three) may be provided, and the placement is not limited to the lower right side of the first prize entry point 64 or the lower left side of the first prize entry point 64, but may be, for example, to the left of the variable display device unit 80.

[0061] An attachment space K1 for attaching certificates, identification labels, etc., is provided in the lower right corner of the game board 13, and the certificates, etc., attached to the attachment space K1 can be viewed through the small window 35 (see Figure 1) of the front frame 14.

[0062] The game board 13 is provided with an out-out port 71. Balls that flow down the game area and do not enter any of the prize-winning ports 63, 64, 65a, or 140 are guided through the out-out port 71 to a ball discharge path (not shown).

[0063] The game board 13 has numerous nails embedded in it to appropriately distribute and adjust the direction in which the balls fall, and is also equipped with various components (mechanisms) such as windmills (not shown in Figure 2).

[0064] As shown in Figure 3, the rear side of the pachinko machine 10 is mainly equipped with control board units 90 and 91 and a back pack unit 94. The control board unit 90 is a unit in which a main board (main control device 110), an audio lamp control board (audio lamp control device 113), and a display control board (display control device 114) are mounted. The control board unit 91 is a unit in which a payout control board (payout control device 111), a launch control board (launch control device 112), a power supply board (power supply unit 115), and a card unit connection board 116 are mounted.

[0065] The back pack unit 94 is a unitized unit consisting of the back pack 92, which forms the protective cover, and the dispensing unit 93. In addition, each control board is equipped with an MPU as a single-chip microcontroller that manages each control, ports for communication with various devices, a random number generator used during various lotteries, a clock pulse generation circuit used for time counting and synchronization, etc., as needed.

[0066] The main control unit 110, the sound lamp control unit 113 and the display control unit 114, the payout control unit 111 and the launch control unit 112, the power supply unit 115, and the card unit connection board 116 are each housed in board boxes 100 to 104. Each board box 100 to 104 comprises a box base and a box cover that covers the opening of the box base, and the box base and box cover are connected to each other to house each control unit and each board.

[0067] Furthermore, the circuit board box 100 (main control device 110) and the circuit board box 102 (dispensing control device 111 and launch control device 112) are indestructibly connected (connected by a crimping structure) to the box base and box cover by a sealing unit (not shown). In addition, a sealing sticker (not shown) is attached to the connection between the box base and the box cover, spanning both the box base and the box cover. This sealing sticker is made of a brittle material, and if someone tries to peel off the sealing sticker to open the circuit board boxes 100 and 102, or tries to forcibly open the circuit board boxes 100 and 102, it will be cut on the box base side and the box cover side. Therefore, by checking the sealing unit or sealing sticker, it is possible to know whether the circuit board boxes 100 and 102 have been opened.

[0068] The dispensing unit 93 includes a tank 130 located at the top of the back pack unit 94 and opening upwards, a tank rail 131 connected below the tank 130 and gently sloping downstream, a case rail 132 connected vertically downstream of the tank rail 131, and a dispensing device 133 provided at the downstream end of the case rail 132, which dispenses balls by a predetermined electrical configuration of the dispensing motor 216 (see Figure 4). Balls supplied from the island equipment of the gaming hall are continuously replenished to the tank 130, and the required number of balls are dispensed as needed by the dispensing device 133. A vibrator 134 is attached to the tank rail 131 to add vibration to the tank rail 131.

[0069] Furthermore, the payout control device 111 is provided with a state reset switch 120, the firing control device 112 is provided with a variable resistor operating knob 121, and the power supply unit 115 is provided with a RAM erase switch 122. The state reset switch 120 is operated to clear a ball jam (return to a normal state) when a payout error occurs, such as a ball jam in the payout motor 216 (see Figure 4). The operating knob 121 is operated to adjust the firing force of the firing solenoid. The RAM erase switch 122 is operated when the power is turned on to return the pachinko machine 10 to its initial state.

[0070] Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 will be described with reference to Figure 4. Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10.

[0071] The main control unit 110 is equipped with an MPU 201, which is a single-chip microcontroller that acts as an arithmetic unit. The MPU 201 contains a ROM 202 that stores various control programs and fixed value data executed by the MPU 201, a RAM 203 which is a memory for temporarily storing various data when executing the control programs stored in the ROM 202, and various other circuits such as interrupt circuits, timer circuits, and data transmission and reception circuits. The main control unit 110 uses the MPU 201 to perform the main processes of the pachinko machine 10, such as the jackpot lottery, the setting of the display on the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B and the third symbol display device 81, and the lottery for the display result on the second symbol display device.

[0072] In addition, various commands are transmitted from the main control unit 110 to sub-control devices such as the payout control device 111 and the sound lamp control device 113 via a data transmission circuit in order to instruct them to operate. However, these commands are transmitted only in one direction from the main control unit 110 to the sub-control devices.

[0073] RAM203 has a stack area that stores various areas, counters, flags, the contents of the MPU201's internal registers, and the return address of the control program executed by the MPU201, as well as a work area (work region) that stores various flags, counters, I / O values, etc. Furthermore, RAM203 is configured to retain (back up) data even after the power to the pachinko machine 10 is cut off by a backup voltage supplied from the power supply unit 115, and all data stored in RAM203 is backed up.

[0074] When the power is cut off due to a power outage or other reason, the stack pointer and the values ​​of each register at the time of the power cutoff (including the time of the power outage; the same applies hereinafter) are stored in RAM203. On the other hand, when the power is turned on (including when the power is turned on after the power outage is resolved; the same applies hereinafter), the state of the pachinko machine 10 is restored to the state before the power cutoff based on the information stored in RAM203. Writing to RAM203 is performed by the main process (not shown) when the power is cut off, and the restoration of each value written to RAM203 is performed in the startup process (not shown) when the power is turned on. The NMI terminal (non-maskable interrupt terminal) of the MPU201 is configured to receive a power outage signal SG1 from the power outage monitoring circuit 252 when the power is cut off due to a power outage or other reason. When this power outage signal SG1 is input to the MPU201, the NMI interrupt process (not shown) as a power outage process is immediately executed.

[0075] The MPU 201 of the main control unit 110 is connected to an input / output port 205 via a bus line 204 consisting of an address bus and a data bus. The input / output port 205 is connected to solenoids 209, which include the payout control device 111, the sound lamp control device 113, the first symbol display devices 37A and 37B, the second symbol display device, the second symbol hold lamp, a large opening solenoid for opening and closing the opening / closing plate 65b (see Figure 2) of the specific prize winning slot 65a on the front side with the lower edge as the axis, and solenoids for driving electric mechanisms. The MPU 201 transmits various commands and control signals to these via the input / output port 205.

[0076] Furthermore, the input / output port 205 is connected to various switches 208, which include a group of switches (not shown) and a group of sensors including a slide position detection sensor S and a rotation position detection sensor R, as well as a RAM erase switch circuit 253 provided on the power supply unit 115 (described later). The MPU 201 performs various processes based on the signals output from the various switches 208 and the RAM erase signal SG2 output from the RAM erase switch circuit 253.

[0077] The payout control device 111 drives the payout motor 216 to control the payout of prize balls and loaned balls. The MPU 211, which is an arithmetic unit, has a ROM 212 that stores control programs and fixed value data executed by the MPU 211, and a RAM 213 that is used as work memory, etc.

[0078] The RAM 213 of the payout control device 111, like the RAM 203 of the main control device 110, has a stack area where the contents of the internal registers of the MPU 211 and the return address of the control program executed by the MPU 211 are stored, and a work area (work region) where various flags, counters, I / O values, etc. are stored. The RAM 213 is configured to retain (back up) data even after the power to the pachinko machine 10 is cut off by a backup voltage supplied from the power supply unit 115, and all data stored in the RAM 213 is backed up. In addition, similar to the MPU 201 of the main control device 110, the NMI terminal of the MPU 211 is configured to receive a power outage signal SG1 from the power outage monitoring circuit 252 when the power is cut off due to a power outage, etc. When the power outage signal SG1 is input to the MPU 211, an NMI interrupt process (not shown) as power outage processing is immediately executed.

[0079] The MPU 211 of the payout control device 111 is connected to an input / output port 215 via a bus line 214 consisting of an address bus and a data bus. The main control device 110, the payout motor 216, the launch control device 112, etc., are connected to the input / output port 215. Although not shown in the diagram, the payout control device 111 is also connected to a prize ball detection switch for detecting the prize balls that have been dispensed. Note that this prize ball detection switch is connected to the payout control device 111 but not to the main control device 110.

[0080] When the main control device 110 gives an instruction to launch the ball, the launch control device 112 controls the ball launch unit 112a so that the hitting strength of the ball corresponds to the amount of rotation operation of the operation handle 51. The ball launch unit 112a includes a launch solenoid and an electromagnet (not shown), and the launch solenoid and the electromagnet are permitted to be driven when predetermined conditions are met. Specifically, the touch sensor 51a detects that the player is touching the operation handle 51, and on the condition that the launch stop switch 51b for stopping the launch of the ball is off (not operated), the launch solenoid is excited corresponding to the amount of rotation operation (rotation position) of the operation handle 51, and the ball is launched with a strength corresponding to the operation amount of the operation handle 51.

[0081] The voice lamp control device 113 controls the output of voice in the voice output device (such as a speaker not shown) 226, the output of lighting and extinguishing in the lamp display device (the electric decoration parts 29 to 33, the display lamp 34, etc.) 227, and the setting of the display mode of the third symbol display device 81 performed by the display control device 114 such as variable effects (variable display) and preview effects. The MPU 221 which is an arithmetic device has a ROM 222 storing the control program, fixed value data, etc. executed by the MPU 221, and a RAM 223 used as a work memory, etc.

[0082] An input / output port 225 is connected to the MPU 221 of the voice lamp control device 113 via a bus line 224 composed of an address bus and a data bus. The main control device 110, the display control device 114, the voice output device 226, the lamp display device 227, other devices 228, the frame button 22, etc. are respectively connected to the input / output port 225. The other devices 228 include drive motors 648, 820, solenoids 651, etc.

[0083] The sound lamp control device 113 determines the display mode of the third symbol display device 81 based on various commands (variation pattern commands, stop type commands, etc.) received from the main control device 110, and notifies the display control device 114 of the determined display mode by command (display variation pattern command, display stop type command, etc.). The sound lamp control device 113 also monitors input from the frame button 22, and if the frame button 22 is operated by the player, it instructs the display control device 114 to change the stage displayed on the third symbol display device 81 or change the content of the super reach animation. If the stage is changed, it sends a back image change command, including information about the changed stage, to the display control device 114 in order to display a back image corresponding to the changed stage on the third symbol display device 81. Here, the back image is the image displayed on the back of the third symbol, which is the main image to be displayed on the third symbol display device 81. The display control device 114 displays various images on the third symbol display device 81 according to the commands sent from the sound lamp control device 113.

[0084] Furthermore, the audio lamp control device 113 receives a command (display command) from the display control device 114 that represents the display content of the third symbol display device 81. Based on the display command received from the display control device 114, the audio lamp control device 113 outputs sound corresponding to the display content of the third symbol display device 81 from the audio output device 226, and also controls the lighting and extinguishing of the lamp display device 227 in accordance with that display content.

[0085] The display control device 114 is connected to the sound lamp control device 113 and the third symbol display device 81, and controls the display of the third symbol on the third symbol display device 81, such as the variation effect of the third symbol, based on commands received from the sound lamp control device 113. The display control device 114 also sends display commands to the sound lamp control device 113 as appropriate to notify the display content of the third symbol display device 81. The sound lamp control device 113 outputs sound from the sound output device 226 in accordance with the display content indicated by this display command, thereby synchronizing the display of the third symbol display device 81 with the sound output from the sound output device 226.

[0086] The power supply unit 115 includes a power supply unit 251 for supplying power to each part of the pachinko machine 10, a power outage monitoring circuit 252 for monitoring power interruptions due to power outages, etc., and a RAM erase switch circuit 253 equipped with a RAM erase switch 122 (see Figure 3). The power supply unit 251 is a device that supplies the necessary operating voltage to each control device 110 to 114, etc., through a power supply path not shown. In general, the power supply unit 251 takes in a 24-volt AC voltage supplied from an external source and generates a 12-volt voltage for driving various switches such as various switches 208, solenoids such as solenoid 209, motors, etc., a 5-volt voltage for logic, a backup voltage for RAM backup, etc., and supplies these 12-volt voltage, 5-volt voltage and backup voltage to each control device 110 to 114, etc., as needed.

[0087] The power outage monitoring circuit 252 is a circuit that outputs a power outage signal SG1 to the NMI terminals of the MPU 201 of the main control unit 110 and the MPU 211 of the payout control unit 111 when the power supply is interrupted due to a power outage or the like. The power outage monitoring circuit 252 monitors the DC stable voltage of 24 volts, which is the maximum voltage output from the power supply unit 251, and determines that a power outage (power interruption, power cutoff) has occurred when this voltage falls below 22 volts, and outputs the power outage signal SG1 to the main control unit 110 and the payout control unit 111. Upon output of the power outage signal SG1, the main control unit 110 and the payout control unit 111 recognize the occurrence of a power outage and execute NMI interrupt processing. The power supply unit 251 is configured to maintain the output of the control system's drive voltage of 5 volts at a normal value for a sufficient amount of time for the execution of NMI interrupt processing, even after the DC stable voltage of 24 volts falls below 22 volts. Therefore, the main control unit 110 and the payout control unit 111 can successfully execute and complete the NMI interrupt processing (not shown).

[0088] The RAM erase switch circuit 253 is a circuit that outputs a RAM erase signal SG2 to the main control unit 110 to clear the backup data when the RAM erase switch 122 (see Figure 3) is pressed. When the main control unit 110 receives the RAM erase signal SG2 when the pachinko machine 10 is powered on, it clears the backup data and also sends a payout initialization command to the payout control unit 111 to clear the backup data.

[0089] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the prize entry unit 930 and the ball delivery unit 970, which are arranged on the base plate of the game board 13 in the first embodiment, will be described. Figure 2 will be referred to as appropriate in the description of Figures 5 and 6.

[0090] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective front view of the game board 13. Note that in Figure 5, units other than the prize entry unit 930 and the ball delivery unit 970 arranged on the base plate 60 (for example, the center frame 86 (see Figure 2)) are not shown.

[0091] As shown in Figure 5, a through hole 60a is formed in the base plate 60 by router processing, on the lower side in the direction of gravity of the central opening to which the center frame 86 (see Figure 2) is attached (lower side in Figure 5), and the hole penetrates through the thickness direction of the base plate 60.

[0092] The through-hole 60a is formed to be slightly smaller than the outer shape of the front unit 940 as seen from the front, and the drive unit 960 and the specific prize-winning slot unit 950, which are installed in the front unit 940, are inserted into the inside.

[0093] The base plate 60 has a prize entry unit 930 mounted on the game area (front) side and a ball delivery unit 970 mounted on the opposite side (rear) of the game area, and both are fastened and secured with tapping screws or the like. The detailed configuration of the prize entry unit 930 and the ball delivery unit 970 will be described later.

[0094] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the game board 13 along the line VI-VI in Figure 2. Figure 6 illustrates the arrangement of the prize entry unit 930 and the ball delivery unit 970 in the assembled state.

[0095] As shown in Figure 6, the passages of the front unit 940 and the ball-throwing unit 970 are connected in a state where they abut in the front-to-back direction (left-to-right direction in Figure 6), and the protrusions formed on the ball-throwing unit 970 are inserted into the projections formed on the front unit 940.

[0096] More specifically, the first ball-throwing section 942g and the inlet 982d are such that the second projection 982d1 formed on the inlet 982d is positioned inside the first recessed portion 942g1 formed on the first ball-throwing section 942g. Similarly, the second ball-throwing section 942c and the side wall portion 981b are such that the projection 981b1 formed on the side wall portion 981b is positioned inside the second recessed portion 942c1 formed on the second ball-throwing section 942c. This makes it easy to align the front unit 940 and the ball-throwing unit 970 when assembling them to the base plate 60.

[0097] Next, the overall configuration of the throwing unit 970 will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Figure 7(a) is a front view of the throwing unit 970, and Figure 7(b) is a side view of the throwing unit 970. Figure 8(a) is an exploded perspective front view of the throwing unit 970, and Figure 8(b) is an exploded perspective rear view of the throwing unit 970.

[0098] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the ball-feeding unit 970 is formed by a distribution unit 980 located on the player side (game area side) and having a space inside through which game balls can be inserted, and a passage unit 990 located on the opposite side of the distribution unit 980 from the game area.

[0099] The distribution unit 980 is equipped with an opening (inlet 982d and side wall portion 981b) connected to the first prize opening 64 and the second prize opening 140 of the prize opening unit 930 described above, and can receive game balls that are sent to the opposite side of the game area through the first prize opening 64 and the second prize opening 140 from this opening (inlet 982d and side wall portion 981b). A detailed explanation of the distribution unit 980 will be given later.

[0100] The passage unit 990 is positioned on one side of the distribution unit 980 in the direction of gravity (downward in the direction of gravity). The passage unit 990 has multiple openings (first insertion holes 991a to second insertion holes 991d) on the surface facing the distribution unit 980, and can receive game balls being sent through the inside of the distribution unit 980 through these openings. A detailed explanation of the passage unit 990 will be given later.

[0101] Next, the configuration of the distribution unit 980 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 9 to 12. Figure 9(a) is a front view of the distribution unit 980, and Figure 9(b) is a side view of the distribution unit 980. Figure 10 is an exploded perspective front view of the distribution unit 980, and Figure 11 is an exploded perspective rear view of the distribution unit 980. Figure 12(a) is a cross-sectional view of the distribution unit 980 along the line XIIa-XIIa in Figure 9(a), and Figure 12(b) is a cross-sectional view of the distribution unit 980 along the line XIIb-XIIb in Figure 12(a).

[0102] As shown in Figures 9 to 12, the distribution unit 980 is mainly formed by comprising a rear base 985, a front base 981 disposed on the player side of the rear base 985, a distribution section 983 rotatably disposed between the front base 981 and the rear base, and a cover member 987 disposed on the rear side of the rear base 985 at a position corresponding to the distribution section 983.

[0103] The rear base 985 is formed from a colored translucent (blue in this embodiment) resin material and mainly comprises a plate-shaped base portion 985a, a plurality of openings (openings 985b to 985g) penetrating the thickness direction of the base portion 985a, recesses 985h recessed on the opposite side (upward side in the direction of gravity) of the plurality of openings, and a housing portion 986b and a protruding portion 986e projecting from the opposite side of the recesses 985h.

[0104] The base portion 985a is formed in a vertically elongated rectangle when viewed from the front, and is provided with a plurality of circular fastening holes 986c and 986d that penetrate through its outer edge, and an inclined surface 986a on the opposite side from the front base 981 that slopes toward one side in the direction of gravity. The fastening holes 986c are holes through which screws that pass through the front base 981 (described later) are screwed. This allows the front base 981 and the rear base 985 to be fastened and fixed. The fastening holes 986d are holes through which screws that pass through the passage unit 990 (described later) are screwed. This allows the rear base 985 (distribution unit 980) and the passage unit 990 to be fastened and fixed.

[0105] The inclined surface 986a is formed in a position that overlaps with a portion of the other side of the openings 985b to 985f, which will be described later, in the direction of gravity. Furthermore, when the front base 981 and the rear base 985 are assembled, the inclined surface 986a is formed in a position opposite to the inclined portion 982b of the front base 981. This allows the direction in which the game balls flowing downward in the direction of gravity are guided toward the openings 985b to 985f. As a result, it becomes easier to get the game balls into the openings 985b to 985f.

[0106] The recess 985h is recessed toward the opposite side of the front base 981 (towards the viewer in Figure 9(b)) and is formed approximately in the center of the base portion 985a in the short direction (left-right direction in Figure 9(b)). The recess 985h is also formed to a size that can accommodate a part of the distribution portion 983, which will be described later, and has a bearing portion 985j that protrudes in an annular shape from its bottom surface. The bearing portion 985j is a hole into which one end of the shaft member 988a that supports the distribution portion 983 is inserted, and is formed with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member 988a.

[0107] The openings 985b and 985c are formed at both ends of the base portion 985a in the shorter direction, and the inner edge dimensions are set to be larger than the diameter of the game ball. In addition, the inner surfaces of the openings 985b and 985c on one side in the direction of gravity (downward side in the direction of gravity) are formed to slope downward as they move toward the opposite side from the front base 981. This allows game balls flowing in from the front base 981 to roll toward the opposite side from the front base 981.

[0108] The opening 985d is formed approximately in the center of the base portion 985a in the short-side direction (left-right direction in Figure 9(b)), and its position in the direction of gravity (up-down direction in Figure 9(b)) is set to be approximately the same as that of the openings 985b and 985c. Furthermore, similar to the openings 985b and 985c, the inner surface of the opening 985d on one side in the direction of gravity (downward side in the direction of gravity) is formed to slope downward as it moves toward the opposite side from the front base 981. This allows game balls flowing in from the front base 981 to roll toward the opposite side from the front base 981.

[0109] Opening 985e is formed between openings 985b and 985d, and opening 985f is formed between openings 985c and 985d. Openings 985e and 985f are mainly formed by inflow passages 985e1 and 985f1 of the space that open towards the front base 981, discharge passages 985e3 and 985f3 of the space that open towards the opposite side of the front base 981, and intermediate passages 985e2 and 985f2 that extend in the direction of gravity and connect the inflow passages 985e1 and 985f1 and the discharge passages 985e3 and 985f3.

[0110] The inflow passages 985e1 and 985f1 are connected to the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2, which are formed between the front base 981 and the rear base 985, as described later, and are formed to a size that allows game balls to pass through. This allows game balls flowing down the first passage TR1 and the second passage to flow into the inflow passages 985e1 and 985f1.

[0111] The intermediate passages 985e2 and 985f2 are formed extending in the direction of gravity, with the other side in the direction of gravity (upper side in the direction of gravity) communicating with the inflow passages 985e1 and 985f1, and are formed to a size that allows game balls to pass through. This allows game balls passing through the inflow passages 985e1 and 985f1 to flow into the intermediate passages 985e2 and 985f2.

[0112] Furthermore, recessed portions 985f4 are formed in the intermediate passages 985e2 and 985f2, in a direction approximately perpendicular to the direction of ball delivery (direction of gravity). The recessed portions 985f4 are notches for arranging the detection device SE3, which will be described later, inside, and are set to be approximately identical in shape to the outer shape of the detection device SE3 when viewed from the rear. This allows the detection device SE3 to be inserted and installed from the rear side of the base portion 985a (opposite side from the front base 981).

[0113] The detection device SE3 is a device that detects the passage of a game ball, and a detection hole SE1a with an inner diameter slightly larger than that of the game ball is formed through it in the thickness direction. The detection hole SE1a is formed off-center to one or the other side in the longitudinal direction of the detection device SE3, which is arranged in a horizontally elongated rectangular shape when viewed from the rear, and the detection substrate SE1b that controls the detection device SE3 is arranged on the other or one side in the longitudinal direction where the detection hole SE1a is not formed.

[0114] In this embodiment, when the detection device SE3 detects the passage of a game ball, five prize balls are dispensed and a lottery for the first symbol is performed. In response to this lottery, the third symbol display device 81 displays the variation of the third symbol.

[0115] Furthermore, the detection device SE3 is positioned such that the axial direction of the detection hole SE1a is parallel to the extension direction of the intermediate passages 985e2 and 985f2, and the internal space of the detection hole SE1a and the space of the intermediate passages 985e2 and 985f2 substantially coincide. This allows game balls to pass through the detection hole SE1a of the detection device SE3 when they flow down the intermediate passages 985e2 and 985f2 from the other side in the direction of gravity (upper side in the direction of gravity) to the one side in the direction of gravity (lower side in the direction of gravity). This makes it possible to detect game balls passing through the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2.

[0116] Furthermore, since the detection device SE3 is formed with the axial direction of the detection hole SE1a parallel to the direction of gravity, it is possible to easily utilize the weight of the game ball when sending it to the detection hole SE1a. As a result, it is possible to suppress the game ball from getting caught in the connection between the intermediate passages 985e2, 985f2 and the detection hole SE1a.

[0117] The recessed sections 985e4 and 985f4 are formed in conjunction with the spaces of the inflow passages 985e1 and 985f1 and the discharge passages 985e3 and 985f3. That is, the intermediate passages 985e2 and 985f2 are formed using the detection device SE3. This prevents the length dimension of the intermediate passages 985e2 and 985f2 in the direction of gravity from increasing. As a result, the enlargement of the rear base 985 in the direction of gravity can be prevented.

[0118] The discharge passages 985e3 and 985f3 are connected to one side (downward in the direction of gravity) of the intermediate passages 985e2 and 985f2, and are formed to a size that allows game balls to pass through. Furthermore, when the distribution unit 980 and the passage unit 990 are combined, the discharge passages 985e3 and 985f3 are connected to the third insertion hole 991c and the fourth insertion hole 991d of the passage unit 990, which will be described later. This allows game balls passing through the intermediate passages 985e2 and 985f2 to flow into the discharge passages 985e3 and 985f3, and to be sent through that space to the passage unit 990.

[0119] The opening 985g is formed on one side of the opening 985d in the direction of gravity (downward in the direction of gravity). Also, similar to the opening 985d, the inner surface of the opening 985g on one side in the direction of gravity (downward in the direction of gravity) slopes downward towards the opposite side from the front base 981. This allows game balls flowing in from the front base 981 to roll toward the opposite side from the front base 981.

[0120] The inflow passages 985e1 and 985f1 are connected to the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2, which are formed between the front base 981 and the rear base 985, as described later, and are formed to a size that allows game balls to pass through. This allows game balls flowing down the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2 to flow into the inflow passages 985e1 and 985f1.

[0121] The housing section 986b is formed from a pair of semi-circular rings. The housing section 986b is the part that houses the magnetic material 988b, which will be described later, and its inner diameter is set to be approximately the same as the outer diameter of the magnetic material 988b which is formed as a cylinder. The protruding dimension of the housing section 986b is set to be larger than the axial dimension of the magnetic material 988b. This allows the magnetic material 988b to be housed inside the housing section 986b. Furthermore, since the housing section 986b is formed from a pair of semi-circular rings, even if the outer diameter of the magnetic material 988b is formed to be slightly larger due to manufacturing tolerances, the pair of semi-circular rings can be elastically deformed to accommodate the magnetic material 988b.

[0122] The protruding portion 986e is cylindrical and protrudes from a position opposite the bearing portion 985j and the base portion 985a described above. The protruding portion 986e also has a fastening hole recessed in a circular shape on its axis. The fastening hole is a hole into which the tip of a screw that will pass through the cover member 987 (described later) is screwed in. By screwing in the screw with the cover member 987 in contact with the base, the cover member 987 can be fastened and fixed to the rear base 985.

[0123] The magnetic material 988b is made from a magnet and, when placed in the housing section 986b, can generate a magnetic field on the front base 981 side via the base section 985a. This repels the magnetic material 988c, which will be placed in the distribution section 983 described later, making it easier to displace the distribution section 983.

[0124] The front base 981 is formed from a colored, translucent (blue in this embodiment) resin material. The front base 981 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is larger than the rear base 985 when viewed from the front, and mainly comprises a base plate 981a and a bulge portion 982 that bulges out from the base plate 981a toward the player side (opposite side from the rear base 986).

[0125] The base plate 981a is formed as a plate member that is roughly rectangular in front view, and is mainly formed by a plurality of through holes 981g that penetrate in the thickness direction at its outer peripheral edge, a first guide wall 981f and a second guide wall 981d that protrude toward the rear base 985 side, a second through hole 981e that penetrates near the first guide wall 981f and the second guide wall 981d, and a through hole 981c that penetrates in the thickness direction on one side (downward in the direction of gravity) of the bulging portion 982.

[0126] The insertion hole 981g is a hole through which a screw (not shown) is inserted to fasten the assembled ball-feeding unit 970 to the base plate 60 (see Figure 5), and its inner diameter is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the tip of the screw.

[0127] The first guide wall 981f is formed in a semicircular annular shape and is formed in pairs in the short direction with a bulging portion 982 (described later) sandwiched in between. The first guide wall 981f is also formed with the semicircular open portion facing approximately the center in the short direction of the base plate 981a.

[0128] The second guide wall 981d is formed in an annular shape and is formed at two locations in the short direction of the base plate 981a. The second guide wall 981d is also formed on the lower side in the direction of gravity of the bulge 982, which will be described later, and a through hole 981c is formed between the two locations.

[0129] The first guide wall 981f and the second guide wall 981d are formed so that their inner edge shapes are substantially the same as the outer shape around the fastening hole 986c of the rear base 985 described above. As a result, when the front base 981 and the rear base 985 are combined, the wall portions around the fastening hole 986c can be inserted inside the first guide wall 981f and the second guide wall 981d, thereby positioning the first guide wall 981f and the second guide wall 981d.

[0130] The second insertion hole 981e is formed at the center of the semicircle of the first guide wall 981f and at the center of the second guide wall 981d. When the front base 981 and the rear base 985 are assembled, the second insertion hole 981e is formed coaxially with the fastening hole 986c, and the front base 981 and the rear base 985 can be fastened together by inserting a screw from the front base 981 side and screwing it into the fastening hole 986d.

[0131] The through-hole 981c is formed as a square with one side larger than the diameter of the game ball. The through-hole 981c is also formed with a side wall portion 981b erected along its edge on the side opposite to the rear base 985 (the front side of the page in Figure 9(a)). The through-hole 981c is a portion that communicates with the second prize opening 140 of the prize opening unit 930 described above, and is formed in a position that coincides with the rolling direction of the game ball that flows into the second prize opening 140 when the prize opening unit 930 and the ball feeding unit 970 are mounted on the base plate 60.

[0132] The side wall portion 981b is formed such that, when the prize-winning unit 930 and the ball-feeding unit 970 are mounted on the base plate 60, its upright tip surface contacts the second ball-feeding portion 942c of the prize-winning unit 930. Furthermore, the rolling surface 981c1 on the inner surface of the side wall portion 981b on one side in the direction of gravity (downward side in the direction of gravity) is positioned on one side in the direction of gravity than the end face 943a1 of the rolling portion 943a, and is formed with a downward slope toward the rear base 985 (see Figure 6).

[0133] Furthermore, the side wall portion 981b is provided with a projection 981b1 that protrudes from the upright end surface. The projection 981b1 is formed at a position radially separated from the rolling surface 981c1 in the direction of gravity from the rolling surface 981c1. This makes it less likely for the game ball to get stuck between the rolling portion 943a and the through hole 981c when the game ball is sent from the end surface 943a1 of the rolling portion 943a to the rolling surface 981c1 of the through hole 981c. A detailed explanation of the case when the game ball is sent from the end surface 943a1 of the rolling portion 943a to the rolling surface 981c1 of the through hole 981c will be given later.

[0134] The bulging portion 982 is formed in a dome shape that bulges out from the base plate 981a, and is sized to allow game balls to pass through its interior. Inside, it comprises a ball-feeding passage TR0 through which game balls flowing in from the inlet 982d pass, and a first passage TR1 and a second passage TR2 branching off from the ball-feeding passage TR0. The bulging portion 982 is formed in a vertically elongated rectangle when viewed from the front, and mainly comprises an inlet 982d formed by cutting out the upper end in the direction of gravity, an upright wall 982a that is bent and erected towards the rear base 985 at approximately the middle position when viewed from the front, and recesses 982e to 982j recessed at multiple locations on the other side in the direction of gravity.

[0135] The inlet 982d is formed by cutting out a roughly U-shape when viewed from the front. Furthermore, when the prize-winning unit 930 and the ball-feeding unit 970 are mounted on the base plate 60, the inner edge of the inlet 982d is formed in a position that coincides with the direction of movement of the game balls that have flowed into the first prize-winning opening 64 of the prize-winning unit 930.

[0136] Furthermore, the inlet 982d is provided with a second projection 982d1 on the edge on the other side in the direction of gravity (upward side in the direction of gravity) that protrudes away from the back base 985 side. The second projection 982d1 is formed in the shape of the inner edge of the first recessed portion 942g1 of the prize-winning unit 930 described above, and when the prize-winning unit 930 and the ball-feeding unit 970 are arranged on the base plate 60, the second projection 982d1 comes into contact with the inner edge of the first recessed portion 942g1.

[0137] Furthermore, the distance L14 (see Figure 9(a)) from the second projection 982d1 to the end face on one side in the direction of gravity (downward side in the direction of gravity) of the inlet 982d is set to be larger than the distance L35 (see Figure 87(b)) from the inner edge of the first recessed portion 942g1 to the inner edge on one side in the direction of gravity of the first ball-feeding portion 942g. This makes it less likely for game balls that have been sent to the first ball-feeding portion 942g via the first prize-winning opening 64 to get stuck between the inlet 982d (bulging portion 982) and the first ball-feeding portion 942g when they flow into the inlet 982d.

[0138] The vertical wall 982a is formed in a rectangular shape that, in a front view, is separated from the outer edge shape of the bulging portion 982 by a predetermined distance. Furthermore, the vertical wall 982a is formed on the lower side in the direction of gravity of the inlet 982d and is also formed with a contact portion 982a1 that is formed on the upper side in the direction of gravity and is triangular in shape when viewed in the vertical direction.

[0139] The vertical wall 982a has a horizontal separation distance L16 (see Figure 12(b)) between the inner edge of the outer circumference of the bulging portion 982 and the wall, which is set to be larger than the diameter of the game ball. Between these two walls, a first passage TR1 and a second passage TR2 are formed, through which the game ball can pass.

[0140] The first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2 are formed downstream of the distribution unit 983, which will be described later, and game balls passing through the distribution unit 983 are sent to one of them. The distribution unit 983 is configured to alternately send game balls flowing into the inlet 982d to the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2. This prevents the distribution of game balls flowing into the first prize winning opening 64 from becoming monotonous. As a result, it is possible to prevent the enjoyment of the game from being diminished.

[0141] On the other side of the vertical wall 982a in the direction of gravity (upward side in the direction of gravity), a bearing portion 982c is formed that protrudes in an annular shape from the inner surface of the bulging portion 982 toward the rear base 985. The bearing portion 982c is the part that supports the other end of the shaft member 988a that pivotally supports the distribution portion 983, which will be described later, and its inner diameter is set to be approximately the same as the outer diameter of the shaft member 988a. Therefore, by inserting the shaft member 988a into the bearing portion 982c, the other end of the shaft member 988a can be supported.

[0142] Furthermore, as described above, one end of the shaft member 988a is inserted into the bearing portion 985j of the rear base 985. Therefore, when combining the front base 981 and the rear base 985, the shaft member 988a can be supported between the front base 981 and the rear base 985 by inserting one end of the shaft member 988a into the bearing portion 985j and the other end of the shaft member 988a into the bearing portion 982c.

[0143] The contact portion 982a1 is formed on the rotational trajectory of the distribution portion 983, which will be described later. The amount of rotational displacement of the distribution portion 983 is restricted when the working portion 983a of the distribution portion 983 comes into contact with the contact portion 982a1. A detailed explanation of the contact state between the contact portion 982a1 and the distribution portion 983 will be given later.

[0144] The recesses 982e and 982f are recessed from the inner surface of the bulging portion 982 on one side in the direction of gravity (downward side in the direction of gravity) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2. In addition, a first branch passage BK1 or a second branch passage BK2, which is a space communicating with the first passage TR1 or the second passage TR2, is formed inside the recesses 982e and 982f.

[0145] The first branching passage BK1 communicates with the opening 985b of the rear base 985 when the front base 981 and the rear base 985 are assembled. Therefore, the first branching passage BK1 is formed to be able to receive game balls flowing down the first passage TR1, and to allow the received game balls to flow into the opening 985b of the rear base 985.

[0146] The second branching passage BK2 communicates with the opening 985c of the rear base 985 when the front base 981 and the rear base 985 are assembled. Therefore, the second branching passage BK2 is formed to be able to receive game balls flowing down the second passage TR2, and to allow the received game balls to flow into the opening 985c of the rear base 985.

[0147] The recesses 982h and 982j are recessed in the direction of extension of the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2 from the inner surface of the bulging portion 982 on one side in the direction of gravity (downward side in the direction of gravity). That is, the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2 extend on one side in the direction of gravity by the amount of the recesses 982h and 982j.

[0148] The first passage TR1 communicates with the opening 985e of the rear base 985 when the front base 981 and the rear base 985 are assembled. Therefore, the first passage TR1 allows game balls that have flowed into the inlet 982d to flow in, and also allows those game balls to flow into the opening 985e of the rear base 985.

[0149] The second passage TR2 is connected to the opening 985f of the rear base 985 when the front base 981 and the rear base 985 are assembled. Therefore, the second passage TR2 allows game balls that have flowed into the inlet 982d to flow into it, and also allows those game balls to flow into the opening 985f of the rear base 985.

[0150] The recess 982g is formed between the recess 982h and the recess 982j, and its recess direction is set parallel to the extension direction of the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2. Furthermore, a third branch passage BK3 is formed inside the recess 982g, which is a space that communicates with the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2. Therefore, since the third branch passage BK3, which communicates with the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2, is formed between the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2, the distribution unit 980 can be made smaller.

[0151] The third branching passage BK3 communicates with the opening 985d of the rear base 985 when the front base 981 and the rear base 985 are assembled. Therefore, the third branching passage BK3 is formed to be able to receive game balls flowing down the first passage TR1 or the second passage TR2, and to allow the received game balls to flow into the opening 985d of the rear base 985.

[0152] The inclined portion 982b is formed on one side of the bulging portion 982 in the direction of gravity (downward in the direction of gravity) and extends inclined toward the rear base 985 toward the same side in the direction of gravity. Furthermore, when the front base 981 and the rear base 985 are combined, the inclined portion 982b is formed at a position opposite the opening 985b to the opening 985f. This allows the game balls flowing down the first passage TR1, the second passage TR2, the first branch passage BK1, the second branch passage BK2, and the third branch passage BK3 to come into contact with the inclined portion 982b, guiding the flowing game balls toward the openings 985b to 985f and making it easier for them to flow into the openings 985b to 985f.

[0153] The guide sections 982h1 and 982j1 are connected to the recesses 982h and 982j and the inclined section 982b, and their upright tip surfaces are inclined downward toward the rear base 985 side (the front side of the page in Figure 9(b)). This allows the game balls flowing down the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2 to come into contact with the upright tip surfaces of the guide sections 982h1 and 982j1, guiding them toward the openings 985e and 985f, making it easier for them to flow into the openings 985e and 985f.

[0154] Furthermore, the guide sections 982h1 and 982j1 are formed in connection with the inclined section 982b. This allows the game balls flowing down the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2 to come into contact with the inclined section 982b and be guided towards the rear base 985, while simultaneously colliding with the guide sections 982h1 and 982j1, thereby facilitating the flow of the game balls into the openings 985e and 985f. Moreover, the inclination of the inclined section 982b allows for a reduction in the vertical distance of the guide sections 982h1 and 982j1, thereby increasing the rigidity of the guide sections 982h1 and 982j1 and improving their durability.

[0155] As mentioned above, the distribution unit 980 (ball sending unit 970) is visible to the player via the front unit 940 (prize entry unit 930) located on the player's side. Therefore, the game balls flowing down the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2 become difficult to see from the player's side due to passing through the front unit 940. Furthermore, when guide sections 982h1 and 982j1 are erected on the front side of the openings 985e and 985f, there is a problem that the game balls flowing down the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2 become difficult to see from the player due to the thickness of these guide sections 982h1 and 982j1.

[0156] In contrast, in this embodiment, the guide sections 982h1 and 982j1 are formed in connection with the inclined section 982b, so the vertical dimension of the inclined section 982b can be reduced. Therefore, the game balls being sent to the openings 985e and 985f (game balls flowing down the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2) can be easily seen even through the front unit 940. That is, in this embodiment, the inclined section 982b is inclined so that it is positioned towards the rear base 985 as it moves in the direction of the flow of the game balls, thereby ensuring rigidity and guiding the game balls, while reducing the thickness of the guide sections 982h1 and 982j1 in the front-rear direction, thus ensuring the visibility of the game balls.

[0157] The distribution section 983 is set to a thickness slightly smaller than the distance between the opposing front base 981 and the rear base 985, and is formed in a roughly T-shape when viewed from the front. The distribution section 983 is mainly formed by comprising an action section 983a on one side of the T-shape, an intermediate plate 983b protruding from approximately the center of the extension direction of the action section 983a, a through hole 983c that penetrates the connecting portion of the action section 983a and the intermediate plate 983b, a contact section 983d that bulges out in a circular shape around the axis of the through hole 983c, and a wall section 983e that is formed by connecting the action section 983a and the intermediate plate 983b to the rear base 985 side.

[0158] The through-hole 983c is a hole into which the shaft member 988a, which is supported between the opposing front base 981 and the rear base 985, is inserted, and is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member 988a. As a result, when assembling the front base 981 and the rear base 985, the shaft member 988a is inserted into the through-hole 983c of the distribution section 983, so that the distribution section 983 is positioned between the opposing front base 981 and the rear base 985 in a rotatable state.

[0159] The intermediate plate 983b is formed extending radially outward from the through hole 983c, and when the displacement of the distribution section 983 is restricted by rotation to one or the other, the distance L17 (see Figure 12(b)) from its tip to the inside of the intermediate plate 983b is smaller than the diameter of the game ball. This restricts the delivery of the game ball to either the first passage TR1 or the second passage TR2. Furthermore, the intermediate plate 983b can be switched from a state in which the delivery of the game ball is restricted to one side of the first passage TR1 to a state in which the delivery of the game ball is restricted to the other side of the second passage TR2 by the rotation of the distribution section 983 around the through hole 983c.

[0160] The working portion 983a is formed to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the intermediate plate 983b when viewed from the front. Furthermore, the connection position of the working portion 983a with the contact portion 983d is set to be one side (downward in the direction of gravity) in the direction of gravity than the connection position of the intermediate plate 983b with the contact portion 983d. As a result, the game balls sent to the distribution portion 983 via the inlet 982d are subjected to a load on the working portion 983a side. Consequently, the distribution portion 983 is rotated around the through hole 983c.

[0161] The wall portion 983e is connected to the working portion 983a and the intermediate plate 983b, and is formed in a substantially semicircular plate shape when viewed in the axial direction of the through hole 983c. The wall portion 983e is formed to protrude outward from the working portion 983a and the intermediate plate 983b in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the through hole 983c, and its thickness is set to be smaller than the recessed dimension of the recess 985h of the rear base 985 described above. Therefore, when the distribution portion 983 is arranged between the rear base 985 and the front base 981, the wall portion 983e can be placed inside the recess 985h. This prevents the game balls sent from the inlet 982d into the distribution unit 980 from getting caught inside the recess 985h, thereby preventing the flow of the game balls from being obstructed.

[0162] Furthermore, the wall portion 983e is located on the back side of the intermediate plate 983b and includes a housing portion 983e1 recessed radially outward from the through hole 983c toward the intermediate plate 983b side. The housing portion 983e1 is a portion that houses the cylindrical magnetic material 988c inside and is recessed in a circular shape with an inner diameter approximately the same as the outer diameter of the magnetic material 988c. The housing portion 983e1 is recessed from the back base 985 side toward the front base 981 side, and the magnetic material 988c is housed inside from the back base 985 side.

[0163] The magnetic material 988c is formed from a magnet and is positioned to repel the magnetic material 988b disposed on the rear base 985. As a result, the distribution unit 983 is subjected to magnetic force from the magnetic material 988b disposed on the rear base 985, causing it to rotate around the through hole 983c as an axis, thereby tilting the extension direction of the working unit 983a to one side or the other.

[0164] Furthermore, since the magnetic material 988c and magnetic material 988b are arranged in a state of repulsion, and the housing portion 983e1 is recessed toward the front, it is possible to prevent the magnetic material 988c inserted into the housing portion 983e1 from coming out of the housing portion 983e1. In other words, since there is no need for a part to lock the magnetic material 988c inserted into the housing portion 983e1, the structure of the distribution portion 983 can be simplified, and the arrangement of the magnetic material 988c to the distribution portion 983 can be simplified.

[0165] Furthermore, the magnetic force of magnetic materials 988b and 988c is set to a magnetic force smaller than the load of the game balls. This prevents the game balls being sent inside the distribution unit 980 from magnetically attaching to magnetic materials 988b and 988c and becoming stagnant inside the distribution unit 980.

[0166] The cover member 987 is formed in a vertically elongated rectangle when viewed from above, and is positioned on the side of the recess 985h of the rear base 985 that is opposite to the front base 981 side. The cover member 987 is also formed with two first recesses 987a and second recesses 987b that are recessed in a circular shape when viewed from the front, aligned in the direction of gravity.

[0167] The first recess 987a is a portion that accommodates the housing portion 986b of the rear base 985 described above, and is set to have an inner diameter that is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the housing portion 986b. Therefore, with the magnetic material 988b housed inside the housing portion 986b as described above, housing the tip of the housing portion 986b in the first recess 987a prevents the magnetic material 988b housed inside the housing portion 986b from coming out of the housing portion 986b.

[0168] The second recess 987b has a through hole 987b1 on its recessed bottom surface for fastening and fixing to the rear base 985. Furthermore, the inner shape of the recessed portion of the second recess 987b is formed to be approximately the same as the outer diameter of the protruding portion 986e of the rear base 985. As a result, the cover member 987 can be positioned and placed by housing the second recess 987b in the protruding portion 986e of the rear base 985, and a screw can be fastened through the through hole 987b1 to the fastening hole of the protruding portion 986e while in position.

[0169] Next, referring to Figure 13, the operation of the distribution unit 983 when game balls flow into the distribution unit 980 from the inlet 982d will be explained. Figures 13(a) and 13(b) are partially enlarged cross-sectional views of the distribution unit 980 in area XIIIa of Figure 12(b). In the following, only the case in which the operating part 983a of the distribution unit 983 is displaced from a state in which it restricts the delivery of game balls to one side of the first passage TR1 to a state in which it restricts the delivery of game balls to the other side of the second passage TR2 will be explained, and the explanation in which it restricts the delivery of game balls from a state in which it restricts the delivery of game balls to the other side of the second passage TR2 to one side of the first passage TR1 will be omitted.

[0170] As shown in Figures 13(a) and 13(b), before the game ball is sent to the distribution unit 983 (before the game ball comes into contact with the action unit 983a), as described above, the magnetic material 988c disposed in the distribution unit 983 repels the magnetic material 988b (see Figure 10), causing the intermediate plate 983b radially outward from the through hole 983c to be tilted toward the second passage TR2 side. Furthermore, the amount of rotation of the action unit 983a on the second passage TR2 side is restricted by contact with the contact unit 982a1 of the front base 981 (see Figure 13(a)).

[0171] In this state, when the game ball is sent to the distribution unit 983, the game ball is sent between the intermediate plate 983b and the working part 983a on the first passage TR1 side. As described above, the connection position of the working part 983a with the contact part 983d is set to be one side in the direction of gravity (downward in the direction of gravity) than the connection position of the intermediate plate 983b with the contact part 983d, so that the load of the game ball can be applied to the working part 983a on the first passage TR1 side.

[0172] As a result, the distribution unit 983 is rotated around the through hole 983c as shown in Figure 13(b), causing the intermediate plate 983b radially outward from the through hole 983c to be tilted toward the first passage TR1. The amount of rotation is restricted when the acting part 983a on the first passage TR1 side comes into contact with the contact part 982a1 of the front base 981. In this case, the repulsive direction of the magnetic material 988c is switched from acting toward the second passage TR2 side to acting toward the first passage TR1 side of the intermediate plate 983b radially outward from the through hole 983c.

[0173] Therefore, the distribution unit 983 can be rotated and displaced around the through hole 983c by utilizing the load of the game balls and the repulsive force of the magnetic material 988c. Furthermore, since the direction of the repulsive force of the magnetic material 988c is switched, the distribution unit 983 can maintain its rotated state. Consequently, each time a game ball is sent, the distribution unit 983 can displace the inclination direction of the intermediate plate 983b, sending one game ball at a time to the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2.

[0174] Next, the configuration of the passage unit 990 will be described with reference to Figures 14 to 16. Figure 14(a) is a front view of the passage unit 990, and Figure 14(b) is a side view of the passage unit 990. Figure 15 is an exploded perspective front view of the passage unit 990, and Figure 16 is an exploded perspective rear view of the passage unit 990.

[0175] As shown in Figures 14 to 16, the passage unit 990 is mainly formed by comprising: a first passage member 991 having a plurality of openings that open on the distribution unit 980 side; a second passage member 992 disposed in the first passage member 991 for sending game balls that pass through the first passage member 991; a third passage member 993 disposed in the second passage member 992 for sending game balls that have passed through the second passage member 992; and a detection device SE4 disposed between the second passage member 992 and the third passage member 993.

[0176] The first passage member 991 is formed in the shape of a horizontally elongated rectangle when viewed from the front, and has a predetermined width on the side facing the second passage member 992. The first passage member 991 is mainly formed by a first through hole 991a formed through the other side in the direction of gravity (upward side in the direction of gravity) on the distribution unit 980 side, a second through hole 991b formed through the one side in the direction of gravity (downward side in the direction of gravity) of the first through hole 991a, a third through hole 991c and a fourth through hole 991d formed through the horizontally adjacent to the second through hole 991b, and a plurality of through holes 991f formed in a circular shape around the outer circumference when viewed from the front.

[0177] The first insertion hole 991a is formed as a square with sides larger than the diameter of the game ball when viewed from the front. Furthermore, when the distribution unit 980 and the passage unit 990 are combined, the first insertion hole 991a is formed in a position where the opening 985d of the distribution unit 980 and its internal space are connected. This allows game balls that flow down inside the distribution unit 980 and pass through the opening 985d to be received into the first insertion hole 991a.

[0178] Furthermore, the first insertion hole 991a is formed such that the inner surface on one side in the direction of gravity (the downward side in the direction of gravity) slopes downward toward the second passage member 992. This allows the game ball sent into the first insertion hole 991a to roll toward the second passage member 992.

[0179] Furthermore, an annular projection 991g is formed on the outer circumference of the first insertion hole 991a, and has a fastening hole 991g1 for screwing in a screw that inserts the second passage member 992. This allows the first passage member 991 and the second passage member 992 to be fastened and fixed together.

[0180] The second insertion hole 991b is formed as a vertically elongated rectangle in a front view, and its width in the shorter direction is set to be larger than the diameter of the game ball. Furthermore, when the distribution unit 980 and the passage unit 990 are combined, the second insertion hole 991b is formed at a position where the opening 985g of the distribution unit 980 and the internal space are connected. This allows game balls that flow down inside the distribution unit 980 and pass through the opening 985g to be received into the second insertion hole 991b.

[0181] Furthermore, the inner surface of the second insertion hole 991b on one side in the direction of gravity (downward side in the direction of gravity) is formed to slope downward toward the second passage member 992. This allows the game ball sent into the second insertion hole 991b to roll toward the second passage member 992.

[0182] The third insertion hole 991c is formed as a vertically elongated rectangle in a front view, and its width in the shorter direction is set to be larger than the diameter of the game ball. Furthermore, when the distribution unit 980 and the passage unit 990 are combined, the third insertion hole 991c is formed at a position where the internal space of the opening 985e of the distribution unit 980 is continuous. This allows game balls that flow down the inside of the distribution unit 980 (first passage TR1) and pass through the opening 985e to be received into the third insertion hole 991c.

[0183] Furthermore, the third insertion hole 991c is provided with recessed portions 991c1 on both sides in the horizontal direction on the side opposite to the direction of gravity (upward in the direction of gravity). The recessed portions 991c1 are the parts that house the detection substrate SE1b of the detection device SE3, which is disposed in the distribution unit 980, and are formed to be approximately the same size as the outer shape of the detection device SE3. This allows the detection substrate SE1b side of the detection device SE3 to be protected by the recessed portions 991c1, and also prevents unauthorized operation of the detection device SE3 from the outside when the distribution unit 980 and the passage unit 990 are combined.

[0184] Furthermore, when the distribution unit 980 and the passage unit 990 are combined, the detection substrate SE1b of the detection device SE3, which is installed in the distribution unit 980, can be received inside the recessed portion 991c1 of the passage unit 990, thereby enabling the positioning of the distribution unit 980 and the passage unit 990. This suppresses the part of the detection device SE3 from protruding outwards, thereby enabling the overall miniaturization of the ball-feeding unit 970.

[0185] The third insertion hole 991c is provided with a protruding portion 991c2 on the inner edge on the side of the second passage member 992 that protrudes from the side of the second insertion hole 991b, and the inner surface on one side in the direction of gravity (downward side in the direction of gravity) is formed to slope downward in a direction that separates it from the adjacent second insertion hole 991b in the horizontal direction. This causes the game balls that flow into the third insertion hole 991c to collide with the protruding portion 991c2 and to roll in a direction that separates them from the second insertion hole 991b (leftward direction in Figure 14(a)).

[0186] The fourth insertion hole 991d is formed as a vertically elongated rectangle in a front view, and its width in the shorter direction is set to be larger than the diameter of the game ball. Furthermore, when the distribution unit 980 and the passage unit 990 are combined, the fourth insertion hole 991d is formed at a position where the internal space of the opening 985f of the distribution unit 980 is continuous. This allows game balls that flow down the inside of the distribution unit 980 (second passage TR2) and pass through the opening 985f to be received into the fourth insertion hole 991d.

[0187] Furthermore, the fourth insertion hole 991d is provided with recessed portions 991d1 on both sides in the horizontal direction on the other side in the direction of gravity (upward side in the direction of gravity). The recessed portions 991d1 are the parts that house the detection substrate SE1b of the detection device SE3, which is disposed in the distribution unit 980, and are formed to be approximately the same size as the outer shape of the detection device SE3. This allows the detection substrate SE1b side of the detection device SE3 to be protected by the recessed portions 991d1, and also prevents unauthorized operation of the detection device SE3 from the outside when the distribution unit 980 and the passage unit 990 are combined.

[0188] Furthermore, the fourth insertion hole 991d is provided with a protruding portion 991d2 on the inner edge on the second passage member 992 side that protrudes from the second insertion hole 991b side, and the inner surface on one side in the direction of gravity (downward side in the direction of gravity) is formed to slope downward in a direction that separates it from the adjacent second insertion hole 991b in the horizontal direction. This causes the game balls that flow into the fourth insertion hole 991d to collide with the protruding portion 991d2 and to roll in a direction that separates them from the second insertion hole 991b (rightward direction in Figure 14(a)).

[0189] The second passage member 992 is formed in a roughly T-shaped plate form that is upside down in a front view, and mainly comprises a fifth insertion hole 992b that penetrates to the other side in the direction of gravity (upward in the direction of gravity), a sixth insertion hole 992c that penetrates to one side in the direction of gravity (downward in the direction of gravity) of the fifth insertion hole 992b, and an upright wall 992a erected on the inner peripheral edge of the fifth insertion hole 992b.

[0190] The fifth insertion hole 992b is formed as a vertically elongated rectangle in a front view, and its width in the shorter direction is set to be larger than the diameter of the game ball. Furthermore, when the first passage member 991 and the second passage member 992 are combined, the fifth insertion hole 992b is formed at a position where the internal space of the first insertion hole 991a of the first passage member 991 is continuous. This allows the game ball passing through the first insertion hole 991a of the first passage member 991 to be received into the fifth insertion hole 992b.

[0191] The upright wall 992a is erected from the entire edge of the fifth insertion hole 992b toward the third passage member 993. Furthermore, the inner surface of the upright wall 992a on one side in the direction of gravity (the downward side in the direction of gravity) is formed to slope downward toward the third passage member 993. This allows the game ball that has been sent into the fifth insertion hole 992b to roll toward the third passage member 993 (right side in Figure 14(b)).

[0192] The outer circumferential surface of the upright wall 992a is formed with an engaging portion 992d that protrudes horizontally and a protruding wall 992e that protrudes horizontally from the end on the side of the first passage member 991. The engaging portion 992d protrudes horizontally and is formed in an L-shape with its tip bent toward the third passage member 993. The wiring of the detection device SE3, which will be installed in the distribution unit 980 and the detection device SE4 described later, is inserted between the engaging portion 992d and the upright wall 992a. This locks the wiring of the detection devices SE3 and SE4, thereby preventing the detection devices SE3 and SE4 from coming out of the distribution unit 980 and the passage unit 990.

[0193] The protruding wall 992e is formed to protrude in a semicircular shape when viewed from the front from both sides of the vertical wall 992a in the horizontal direction, and is provided with a through hole 992e1 that penetrates through the axis of the semicircle. Furthermore, when the first passage member 991 and the second passage member 992 are assembled, the protruding wall 992e is formed at a position opposite to the annular projection 991g of the first passage member 991, and the through hole 992e1 is located coaxially with the fastening hole 991g1. As a result, the first passage member 991 and the second passage member 992 can be fastened and fixed by inserting a screw through the through hole 992e1 from the second passage member 992 side and screwing the screw into the fastening hole 991g1.

[0194] The sixth insertion hole 992c is formed as a square with sides larger than the diameter of the game ball when viewed from the front. Furthermore, when the first passage member 991 and the second passage member 992 are combined, the sixth insertion hole 992c is formed in a position where its internal space is connected to the internal space of the second insertion hole 991b of the first passage member 991. This allows the game ball passing through the second insertion hole 991b of the first passage member 991 to be received by the sixth insertion hole 992c.

[0195] Furthermore, a guide wall 992c1 is formed around the sixth insertion hole 992c, erected toward the third passage member 993. The guide wall 992c1 is formed from a first wall portion 992c2 erected on one side of the sixth insertion hole 992c in the direction of gravity (downward in the direction of gravity), and a second wall portion 992c3 that is connected to the end of the first wall portion 992c2 in the direction of extension and extends in the direction of gravity.

[0196] The first wall portion 992c2 and the second wall portion 992c3 are wall surfaces that serve as positioning points for the detection device SE4, and the distance between them and the upright wall 993e and the engaging portion 993d formed on the third passage member 993 is set to be approximately the same as the distance between them and the detection device SE4.

[0197] Furthermore, the detection device SE4 is positioned so that the internal space of the detection hole SE1a is connected to the internal space of the sixth insertion hole 992c. As a result, game balls passing through the sixth insertion hole 992c pass through the detection hole SE1a and are detected by the detection device SE4, and are also sent to the third passage member 993.

[0198] Furthermore, the second passage member 992 is provided with an annular projection 992f that protrudes toward the third passage member 993 at a position spaced horizontally (left-right direction in Figure 14(a)) from the sixth insertion hole 992c. The annular projection 992f has a circular fastening hole 992f1 on its axis. The fastening hole 992f1 is a hole through which a screw inserted through the third passage member 993 is screwed, thereby fastening and fixing the second passage member 992 and the third passage member 993 together.

[0199] The first insertion hole 991a is formed as a square with sides larger than the diameter of the game ball when viewed from the front. Furthermore, when the distribution unit 980 and the passage unit 990 are combined, the first insertion hole 991a is formed in a position where the opening 985d of the distribution unit 980 and its internal space are connected. This allows game balls that flow down inside the distribution unit 980 and pass through the opening 985d to be received into the first insertion hole 991a.

[0200] Furthermore, the first insertion hole 991a is formed such that the inner surface on one side in the direction of gravity (the downward side in the direction of gravity) slopes downward toward the second passage member 992. This allows the game ball sent into the first insertion hole 991a to roll toward the second passage member 992.

[0201] Furthermore, an annular projection 991g is formed on the outer circumference of the first insertion hole 991a, and has a fastening hole 991g1 for screwing in a screw that inserts the second passage member 992. This allows the first passage member 991 and the second passage member 992 to be fastened and fixed together.

[0202] The second insertion hole 991b is formed as a vertically elongated rectangle in a front view, and its width in the shorter direction is set to be larger than the diameter of the game ball. Furthermore, when the distribution unit 980 and the passage unit 990 are combined, the second insertion hole 991b is formed at a position where the opening 985g of the distribution unit 980 and the internal space are connected. This allows game balls that flow down inside the distribution unit 980 and pass through the opening 985g to be received into the second insertion hole 991b.

[0203] Furthermore, the inner surface of the second insertion hole 991b on one side in the direction of gravity (downward side in the direction of gravity) is formed to slope downward toward the second passage member 992. This allows the game ball sent into the second insertion hole 991b to roll toward the second passage member 992.

[0204] The third passage member 993 is formed in the shape of a horizontally elongated rectangular plate when viewed from the front. The third passage member 993 is mainly formed by a seventh insertion hole 993a formed through the third passage member 993a at approximately the middle of its longitudinal direction, a guide wall 993b erected from the edge of the seventh insertion hole 993a, an upright wall 993e erected from the edge on the other side in the direction of gravity toward the second passage member 992, an engaging portion 993d projecting in the longitudinal direction, and a recess 993c recessed in the side surface toward the second passage member 992.

[0205] The seventh insertion hole 993a is formed as a square with sides larger than the diameter of a game ball when viewed from the front. Furthermore, when the second passage member 992 and the third passage member 993 are combined, the seventh insertion hole 993a is formed in a position that is connected to the internal space of the detection device SE4 disposed in the second passage member 992. This allows game balls that have passed through the seventh insertion hole 993a of the second passage member 992 and the detection hole SE1a of the detection device SE4 to be received into the seventh insertion hole 993a.

[0206] The guide wall 993b is erected from the edges of the seventh insertion hole 993a in three directions, excluding the other side in the direction of gravity (upward side in the direction of gravity), toward the side opposite to the second passage member 992. Furthermore, the inner surface of the guide wall 993b on one side in the direction of gravity (downward side in the direction of gravity) is formed to be inclined upward toward the second passage member 992 (and downward toward the side opposite to the second passage member 992). This allows the game ball sent into the seventh insertion hole 993a to roll toward the side opposite to the second passage member 992 (right side in Figure 14(b)).

[0207] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 14(b), the third passage member 993 is positioned on one side in the direction of gravity (lower side in Figure 14(b)) of the vertical wall 992a of the second passage member 992. As described above, since the other side in the direction of gravity (upper side in Figure 14(b)) of the third passage member 993 is open, the third passage member 993 can be positioned closer to the vertical wall 992a. As a result, the openings 985d and 985g of the distribution unit 980 can be brought closer together, and the external dimensions of the distribution unit 980 and the passage unit 990 in the direction of gravity can be reduced.

[0208] In the state in which the second passage member 992 and the third passage member 993 are combined, the distance dimension between the second passage member 992 and the first wall portion 992c2 is set to be approximately the same as the distance dimension on the shorter side in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the detection hole SE1a of the detection device SE4. This allows the detection device SE4 to be positioned in the direction of gravity.

[0209] Furthermore, a first wall portion 992c2 is formed on the upstream side (second passage member 992 side) from which the game balls are sent, which positions the detection device SE4 downward in the direction of gravity. This makes it easier to insert the game balls passing through the sixth insertion hole 992c into the detection hole SE1a of the detection device SE4.

[0210] In other words, since the detection hole SE1a is formed to be slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball in order to prevent cheating by the player, even a slight misalignment in the height of the rolling surface of the game ball can prevent the game ball from being inserted into it. However, in this embodiment, a first wall portion 992c2 is formed on the upstream side (second passage member 992 side) from which the game ball is fed, which positions the detection device SE4 downward in the direction of gravity. This suppresses misalignment in the height of the sixth insertion hole 992c, the detection hole SE1a, and the rolling surface. As a result, it becomes easier to insert the game ball that is inserted into the sixth insertion hole 992c into the detection hole SE1a.

[0211] The engaging portion 993d is formed to protrude in the longitudinal direction of the third passage member 993, and its protruding tip is provided with a bent portion 993d1 that bends toward the second passage member 992. When the second passage member 992 and the third passage member 993 are assembled, the distance dimension between the second wall portion 992c3 of the second passage member 992 and the bent portion 993d1 is set to be approximately the same as the longitudinal distance dimension in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the detection hole SE1a of the detection device SE4. This allows the detection device SE4 to be positioned in the horizontal direction.

[0212] The recess 993c is formed in a position opposite to the annular projection 992f of the second passage member 992 when the second passage member 992 and the third passage member 993 are assembled, and is formed with an inner edge shape larger than the outer diameter of the annular projection 992f. The recess 993c also has a through hole 993c1 formed coaxially through the fastening hole 992f1 of the annular projection 992f on its recessed bottom surface. As a result, the second passage member 992 and the third passage member 993 can be fastened and fixed together by inserting the annular projection 992f of the second passage member 992 into the recess 993c and inserting a screw through the through hole 993c1 from the third passage member 993 side and screwing it into the fastening hole 992f1.

[0213] With the ball-throwing unit 970 configured as described above, the ball-throwing unit 970 is formed from a different unit from the first prize-winning opening 64 and the second prize-winning opening 140, and is located on the rear side (opposite side from the game area) of the front unit 940 which has the first prize-winning opening 64 and the second prize-winning opening 140. Therefore, by replacing the ball-throwing unit 970 (distribution unit 980) with another unit, a different game mode can be created without affecting the flow of game balls flowing down the game area.

[0214] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 17 to 69. In the first embodiment, the first passage TR1 and the second passage TR2 of the distribution unit 980 were described as being formed as passages that guide the ball backward without allowing it to move forward. However, in the distribution unit 300 of the second embodiment, the ball is configured to allow it to move forward. The same reference numerals are used for parts that are the same as in the embodiments described above, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0215] First, the details of the configuration of the game board 13 will be explained with reference to Figures 17 to 35, and then the details of the configuration of the operating unit 500 will be explained with reference to Figures 36 to 69.

[0216] Figure 17 is a front exploded perspective view of the game board 13 and the operating unit 500 in the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 17, the center frame 86 disposed inside the game board 13 has an internal opening, allowing the player to see the operating unit 500 through this internal opening of the center frame 86.

[0217] In addition, in this embodiment, since the base plate 60 of the game board 13 is made of a light-transmitting resin material, the viewing method is not limited to viewing through the internal opening of the center frame 86, and the operating unit 500 can be viewed through the base plate 60 located on the outside of the center frame 86.

[0218] Figure 18 is a front view of the game board 13, Figure 19 is a rear view of the game board 13, Figure 20 is a front perspective view of the game board 13, and Figure 21 is a rear perspective view of the game board 13. In Figure 18, the windmill FS1 and nails KG1, which were omitted from the illustration in Figure 2, are also shown.

[0219] In this embodiment, as will be described later, an upper connecting member 270 is provided that replaces the function of a nail in distributing the flow path of the ball, and no nails KG1 are placed in the area where the upper connecting member 270 is installed.

[0220] This avoids the drawback of the opacity of the nail KG1. In other words, by removing the nail KG1 from the position above the center frame 86 where the upper connecting member 270 is installed (a position above the center frame 86 and below the outer rail 62), it is possible to avoid the light passing through the upper position of the center frame 86 being reflected or blocked in various directions by the nail KG1, thereby improving the visibility of the lighting effects above the center frame 86. The manner of lighting effects above the center frame 86 will be described later.

[0221] Figure 19 shows that the shape of the central opening 60b of the base plate 60 is formed by a recess at the left-right center position, and also illustrates the sensor cover 254 which is used to hold the electrical wiring DH1 connected to the illuminated circuit board 251 located in the recessed area.

[0222] As shown in Figure 19, below the center frame 86, a collection trough 480, which constitutes the flow path for balls that enter the general prize-winning opening 63, and a wide decorative member 490, which is positioned above the collection trough 480 and is formed in a shape that straddles the rear side of the first prize-winning opening 64, are fastened and fixed to the back side of the base plate 60.

[0223] The collection trough 480 is formed from a colorless, transparent resin material. This prevents the collection trough 480 from blocking the incidence of light from the rear side. In addition, it improves the visibility of balls that enter the general prize opening 63 and flow down the collection trough 480 when viewed from the front.

[0224] The wide decorative member 490 is formed from a colored transparent (blue in this embodiment) resin material. This makes the wide decorative member 490 conspicuous to players who view the game area from the front.

[0225] The wide decorative member 490 is provided with fastening screw insertion holes 491 at its left and right ends. Fastening screws, which are screwed into the manifold 480, are inserted through these insertion holes 491, and the wide decorative member 490 is fastened and fixed to the manifold 480 by these fastening screws. This allows attention to be shifted from the wide decorative member 490 to the sphere flowing down the manifold 480.

[0226] The wide decorative member 490 comprises a pair of left and right inclined forming portions 492 formed at the same inclination angle as the plate-like portion (ceiling plate portion 455) on which the ball rolls above the general prize winning opening 63, and a central forming portion 493 extending in the left-right direction on the left and right inner sides of the inclined forming portions 492.

[0227] The inclined forming section 492 is positioned such that, in a front view, the upper surface of the member follows the plate-shaped section (ceiling plate section 455) on which the ball rolls above the general prize opening 63. Therefore, even if the plate-shaped section on which the ball rolls is made of a colorless, transparent resin material, in a front view, it can be made to appear as if the ball is rolling along the inclined forming section 492, making it easier to understand the ball's flow path.

[0228] The central forming section 493 constitutes the ceiling of the flow path (inclined extension section 315, described later) for the ball that enters the first prize opening 64. This prevents the ball from falling out of the flow path, and even if the flow path for the ball that enters the first prize opening 64 is formed from a colorless transparent resin material, the central forming section 493, which is formed from a colored transparent resin material, makes it easier to grasp the flow path of the ball from a front view.

[0229] Figure 20 shows resin components such as the upper connecting member 270 and the prize entry component 400, which are made of a light-transmitting resin material and have portions that protrude into the game area above and below the center frame 86. These resin components have the effect of stably maintaining the flow pattern of the balls, but the details will be described later. Note that the nails KG1 and windmill FS1 are not shown in Figure 20.

[0230] To briefly explain the overview, a common advantage of resin components such as the upper connecting member 270 and the prize entry slot component 400 is that they are easy to repair if they crack or chip. This is an advantage that is not achieved when using conventionally used metal nails.

[0231] In the case of nails planted in the base plate 60, there is a possibility that the nails may bend or break if they are struck by a ball or if an operator accidentally overloads the nail. If a nail is bent, it may be possible to straighten it by bending it back the same amount in the opposite direction, but if it breaks, it is difficult to straighten it back to its original state.

[0232] In the first place, nails are driven into the base plate 60 by an automated machine, and it is common practice to drive them all at once into the entire game board rather than driving them in individually. Therefore, even if only one nail is missing, it is difficult to replace the missing nail while the other nails are still in place, and it may be necessary to replace the entire base plate 60.

[0233] In this case, since rails 61, 62 and outer edge members 73 are assembled to the base plate 60, it is necessary to either reassemble these assembled members onto the replacement base plate 60 or replace all of these members together, which in either case tends to increase repair costs.

[0234] In contrast, if a part of the resin component, such as the upper connecting member 270 or the prize entry slot component 400, is cracked or chipped, the repair can be completed by replacing it with a new component, eliminating the need to replace the base plate 60. Furthermore, since the resin component is independent of the rails 61, 62 and the outer edge component 73, no costs related to the rails 61, 62 or the outer edge component 73 are incurred when replacing the resin component, thus reducing repair costs.

[0235] Figure 21 shows that the illuminated circuit board 251 and the circuit board holder plate 252, which are positioned on the upper part of the center frame 86, are arranged such that the circuit board holder plate 252 fits within the thickness dimension of the base plate 60, and the illuminated circuit board 251, which is positioned in front of the circuit board holder plate 252, is positioned to fit inside the thickness dimension of the base plate 60. Further details will be described later.

[0236] As shown in Figure 21, the base plate 60 is provided with a plurality of fitting portions 60c that are formed to protrude in a cylindrical shape from the back surface toward the rear side, with the outer shape tapering towards the back. The fitting portions 60c have female threads formed on the inner diameter side and function as parts into which fastening screws are screwed when fastening and fixing the operating unit 500 to the base plate 60.

[0237] Figure 22 is an exploded front perspective view of the game board 13, and Figure 23 is an exploded rear perspective view of the game board 13. As shown in Figures 22 and 23, the game board 13 comprises a base plate 60, a central component unit 240 disposed inside the base plate 60 and having a center frame 86, an upper connecting member 270 that connects the upper part of the central component unit 240 to the base plate 60 and restricts the direction of flow of balls flowing down the game area, and a thin plate member 290 disposed between the upper connecting member 270 and the central component unit 240.

[0238] Details of the central component unit 240 will be described later. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 22, a fixing portion 244 used for positioning and fixing the thin plate member 290 is formed in the central component unit 240.

[0239] FIG. 24 is an exploded front perspective view of the central component unit 240, and FIG. 25 is an exploded rear perspective view of the central component unit 240. The central component unit 240 is a unit that is assembled in a ring shape when disposed in the central opening 60b of the base plate 60, has a center frame 86, and guides the flow of the sphere.

[0240] The central component unit 240 includes an upper component member 241 that constitutes the upper portion of the center frame 86 and a lower component member 261 that constitutes the lower portion of the center frame 86. The upper component member 241 and the lower component member 261 are made of a light-transmissive resin material and respectively form the upper and lower halves of an annular shape, thereby constituting the center frame 86 that surrounds the third symbol display device in a front view in the assembled state (see FIG. 18).

[0241] Thus, instead of forming the center frame 86 in an annular shape as a single piece, by combining a plurality of members to form an annular shape, the size of the resin mold required for molding the resin member can be reduced. Thereby, the manufacturing cost of the resin mold can be suppressed.

[0242] For example, when the shape of the upper edge portion of the central opening 60b of the base plate 60 is not formed in a shape that is recessed upward corresponding to the shape of the thin plate portion 242 at the left and right central portions as in the present embodiment, but is formed in a substantially arc shape, and the design of the base plate 60 is changed, since the center frame 86 can be assembled to the base plate 60 by only corresponding to and changing the design of the upper half (upper component member 241), for the lower half (lower component member 261), the members designed corresponding to the present embodiment can be diverted and used.

[0243] This eliminates the need to manufacture a new, large mold that encompasses the entire center frame 86 for minor changes such as redesigning the base plate 60 or altering the shape of the center frame 86 to change its appearance, thus reducing mold costs.

[0244] The upper component 241 comprises a thin plate portion 242 that is flush with the front surface of the base plate 60 in the assembled state (see Figure 18), a strip-shaped frame portion 245 that extends in a strip shape on the front side of the thin plate portion 242 and is formed with dimensions that prevent a ball from passing between it and the glass unit 16 (see Figure 1) during gameplay, while also being able to guide the flow of the ball, and a decorative portion 247 that is disposed below and on the left and right inner sides of the strip-shaped frame portion 245 and forms a substantially arc shape.

[0245] The thin plate portion 242 includes extension portions 243 that extend to the rear side for reinforcement at the left, right, and upper edges, and fixing portions 244 that are used for positioning and fixing with the upper connecting member 270 (see Figures 22 and 23).

[0246] The extension 243 is designed so that its front-to-back width is approximately the same length as the thickness of the base plate 60. That is, the front-to-back thickness of the thin plate section 242, which has a shorter front-to-back width than the extension 243, is designed to be thinner than the thickness of the base plate 60. This makes it easier to secure space on the back side of the thin plate section 242.

[0247] The fixing portion 244 has a recessed portion 244a for positioning with the upper connecting member 270 (see Figures 22 and 23), a protruding portion 244b positioned close to the recessed portion 244a and protruding from the front, and a fastening portion 244c into which a fastening screw inserted from the front into the upper connecting member 271 is screwed, all positioned symmetrically on the left and right sides.

[0248] The thin plate portion 242 is positioned flush with the base plate 60, and the protruding portion 244b can be formed from any position on the front side. Therefore, the design flexibility for positioning with respect to the upper connecting member 270 (see Figures 22 and 23) can be improved. The assembly of the upper connecting member 270 using the fixing portion 244 will be described later.

[0249] The decorative section 247 has multiple three-dimensional patterns and shapes formed on it, and is designed to have lower light transmittance compared to the thin plate section 242. This allows the decorative section 247 to be used as a part that divides the field of view while retaining some light transmittance.

[0250] Up to this point, the configuration of the front side of the upper component 241 has been mainly described. Next, the configuration disposed on the back side of the upper component 241 will be described. The upper component 241 includes an illuminated circuit board 251 fastened to a fastening portion formed on the back side of the thin plate portion 242, a circuit board holding plate 252 fastened together with the fastening screws that fasten and fix the illuminated circuit board 251, a dish-shaped member 253 sandwiched between the illuminated circuit board 251 and the thin plate portion 242 and formed in a dish shape that widens towards the front, and a sensor cover 254 fastened to one side of the upper component 241 (the right side in this embodiment) at a position that is on the back side of the decorative portion 247.

[0251] The substrate holder plate 252 is not symmetrical; the lower right portion is omitted compared to the left portion. This facilitates the connection of the electrical wiring DH1 (see Figure 19) routed from the sensor cover 254 side. Specifically, the connection terminal 251a of the illuminated circuit board 251 is located on the back of the plate on the lower right side of the board, and the shape of the substrate holder plate 252 is designed to facilitate the connection of the electrical wiring DH1 to this position.

[0252] Furthermore, the substrate holding plate 252 is provided with a recessed portion 252a formed in an upwardly convex curved shape at the left-right center position. The recessed portion 252a is formed to improve the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the operating unit 500, but the details will be described later.

[0253] The sensor cover 254 houses a capacitive sensor (for example, a sensor capable of detecting when a player places their hand over the front of the glass unit 16) and is a fixing member for securing the capacitive sensor. In this embodiment, it is used not only to secure the capacitive sensor but also as a relay point for the electrical wiring DH1 connected to the illuminated circuit board 251.

[0254] Specifically, by fixing the electrical wiring DH1 to the hook-shaped portion formed on the illuminated circuit board 251 with a cable tie or the like, the electrical wiring DH1 can be held in a position behind the decorative part 247. This makes it possible to hide the electrical wiring DH1 so that it is difficult for the player to see. In this way, by using the sensor cover 254 to maintain the position of the electrical wiring DH1, it is possible to reduce assembly man-hours and material costs compared to preparing a dedicated component to maintain the position of the electrical wiring DH1.

[0255] The lower component 261 includes a thin plate portion 262 fastened and fixed to the front surface of the base plate 60 in the assembled state (see Figure 18), a strip-shaped extension portion 263 extending in a strip shape from the thin plate portion 262 to the rear side, a rear covering portion 264 fastened and fixed to a fastening portion formed at the extension end of the strip-shaped extension portion 263 and covering the rear side of the strip-shaped extension portion 263, a pair of left and right pre-flow channel components 265 fastened and fixed to the front side of the left and right lower ends of the thin plate portion 262 and forming a flow path for the sphere to flow to the rear side between them and the thin plate portion 262, and a pair of left and right post-flow channel components 266 fastened and fixed to the rear side of the left and right lower ends of the thin plate portion 262 and combining with the half-components of the pre-flow channel components 265 that protrude inward on the left and right from the thin plate portion 262 to form a flow path that guides the sphere to the upper surface of the strip-shaped extension portion 263.

[0256] The strip-shaped extension 263 has an upper surface that slopes downward toward the left and right center, and functions to return the rolling ball to the front side of the base plate 60. The left and right center of the strip-shaped extension 263 is provided with a central rear-sloping section 263a that slopes downward toward the rear side to facilitate the flow of the ball, whose lateral velocity has subsided, toward the rear side; a pair of left and right front-sloping sections 263b located slightly below the central rear-sloping section 263a on both the left and right sides of the central rear-sloping section 263a and slope downward toward the front side to facilitate the flow of the ball, whose lateral velocity has subsided, toward the front side; and a ball discharge hole 263c formed through which the ball, after being flowed toward the rear side by the central rear-sloping section 263a and then guided toward the front side by the rear covering section 264, can be discharged toward the front side of the base plate 60.

[0257] In relation to the strip-shaped extension 263, the rear covering 264 basically closes off the rear end of the strip-shaped extension 263 to prevent the ball from falling out. However, behind the central rear-sloping portion 263a, it forms a gap between itself and the strip-shaped extension 263 that allows the ball to flow downward. The ball, guided to the front side through this gap, is discharged from the ball discharge hole 263c.

[0258] The ball discharge hole 263c is positioned in the center left and right, and the first prize entry opening 64 is located below it (see Figure 18). Therefore, balls discharged from the ball discharge hole 263c have a high probability of entering the first prize entry opening 64 (higher probability than balls that are deflected by the nail KG1 as they approach the first prize entry opening 64). As a result, when a ball is guided to the strip-shaped extension 263, attention to that ball can be increased.

[0259] The pre-flow channel component 265 forms a guide path that guides spheres flowing down the front side of the thin plate portion 262 to the back side, and the post-flow channel component 266 forms the rear end surface of the guide path, thereby guiding the spheres to the upper surface of the strip-shaped extension portion 263. In other words, the pre-flow channel component 265 and the post-flow channel component 266 form a tunnel-like section that discharges spheres flowing in from the front side of the base plate 60 to the upper surface of the strip-shaped extension portion 263.

[0260] Returning to FIGS. 22 and 23 for description. The upper connecting member 270 is a member formed of a light-transmissive resin material, and includes a thin plate-like portion 271, projecting portions 272 to 277 that project from the back side to the front side with the plate-like portion 271 as the base end, a thin portion 278 that is partially formed thin on the back side of the plate-like portion 271, and a projecting portion 279 that is formed to project on the back side in the thin portion 278.

[0261] The plate-like portion 271 is formed in a bilaterally symmetric bow shape that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from the front, and the shape of the lower edge portion is adapted to the shape of the upper edge portion of the center frame 86. Further, the upper edge portion of the plate-like portion 271 is formed in a curved shape. Specifically, the tangent line at a specific point on the upper edge portion of the plate-like portion 271 is parallel to the tangent line at the corresponding point of the outer rail 62 disposed close to the specific point.

[0262] A gap of about the diameter of a sphere (game ball) is provided between the outer rail 62 and the plate-like portion 271 (see FIG. 18). This makes it easy to avoid a situation where a ball rolling along the outer rail 62 collides with the plate-like portion 271 and its momentum is attenuated.

[0263] That is, before the ball introduced into the game area collides with the plate-like portion 271, the ball is configured to move away from the outer rail 62. In other words, as long as the ball is in contact with the outer rail 62, the ball will not collide with the plate-like portion 271. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation where a ball launched with the maximum launch intensity (for example, a ball that rolls in contact with the outer rail 62 until it collides with the return rubber 69) collides with the plate-like portion 271 and its momentum is attenuated.

[0264] This can avoid unnecessary attenuation of the ball and also avoid the plate-like portion 271 from cracking or chipping due to the collision of a ball with the maximum launch intensity with the plate-like portion 271.

[0265] Furthermore, the distance between the outer rail 62 and the plate-like portion 271 is not limited to a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the sphere, and various configurations are exemplified. For example, taking into account the shape of the sphere, the distance may be varied in the front-to-back direction (the distance widens as it moves away from the base plate 60) to avoid collisions between the sphere and the plate-like portion 271. In this case, the distance between the plate-like portion 271 and the outer rail 62 can be narrowed on the side closer to the base plate 60, so that the area for forming decorations on the plate-like portion 271 can be increased.

[0266] The protruding portions 272 to 277 are parts that extend from the back side to the front side of the plate-like portion 271, with a symmetrical shape with respect to the left-right center of the plate-like portion 271, and each of them substitutes for the function of a nail.

[0267] Starting from the left and right center sides, these will be referred to as the first protruding section 272, the second protruding section 273, the third protruding section 274, the fourth protruding section 275, the fifth protruding section 276, and the sixth protruding section 277.

[0268] The first protruding portion 272 and the second protruding portion 273 are positioned on the front of the central component unit 240 via the thin plate member 290. The third protruding portion 274 is positioned to straddle the central component unit 240 and the base plate 60. The fourth protruding portion 275, the fifth protruding portion 276, and the sixth protruding portion 277 are positioned on the front of the base plate 60.

[0269] As described above, the placement of each protruding section 272-277 on the front side of the member differs, which may result in differences in their function and design philosophy, but the details will be described later.

[0270] The thin-walled portion 278 is formed by shifting the back surface of the plate towards the front surface by the thickness of the thin-walled member 290 or slightly exceeding that thickness, in order to accommodate the thin-walled member 290. In this embodiment, the thin-walled member 290 is not held by a pressing force applied to it from the thin-walled portion 278, but rather by a fixing portion 244 (see Figure 22).

[0271] Furthermore, the displacement dimension of the back surface of the plate toward the front surface in the thin-walled portion 278 is not limited to cases where it is formed to be greater than or equal to the thickness dimension of the thin plate member 290, and various embodiments are exemplified. For example, the displacement dimension of the back surface of the plate toward the front surface may be designed to be less than the thickness dimension of the thin plate member 290. In this case, by forming the thin plate member 290 to be expandable and contractible (compressible) in the thickness direction, it is possible to avoid applying excessive pressure to the thin plate member 290 while making it easier to fix the position of the thin plate member 290.

[0272] Alternatively, for example, the displacement of the back surface of the thin-walled portion 278 toward the front surface may be reduced only in the portion corresponding to the edge of the thin-walled member 290. In this case, the area in which pressure is applied to the thin-walled member 290 can be limited to the edge of the thin-walled member 290.

[0273] The protruding portion 279 is a part that is inserted into a positioning hole 291 drilled in the thin plate member 290, and is a protruding portion for positioning the thin plate member 290. Since a recess (indentation) corresponding to the shape of the protruding portions 272 and 273 is formed on the back side of the position where the first protruding portion 272 or the second protruding portion 273 is located in the thin-walled portion 278, the protruding portion 279 cannot be made to protrude from this position. In other words, the protruding portion 279 is made to protrude from a position in the thin-walled portion 278 that avoids the placement of the first protruding portion 272 and the second protruding portion 273.

[0274] The thin plate member 290 is a member formed in the shape of a thin plate (sheet) from a light-transmitting resin material, and includes a plurality of positioning holes 291 drilled for positioning during assembly, and a plurality of insertion holes 292 drilled as holes for inserting fastening screws that fasten and fix the upper connecting member 270 to the central component unit 240.

[0275] The positioning hole 291 comprises a hole 291a drilled on the left and right outer sides through which the protruding portion 244b of the central component unit 240 is inserted, and a hole 291b drilled on the left and right inner sides through which the protruding portion 279 of the upper connecting member 270 is inserted. In other words, the thin plate member 290 is used for positioning with respect to both the central component unit 240 and the upper connecting member 270.

[0276] In this embodiment, the left and right outer sides refer to the left and right edges of the game board 13 or the operating unit 500 when viewed from the front, and the left and right inner sides refer to the left and right central parts of the game board 13 or the operating unit 500 when viewed from the front.

[0277] As shown in Figures 22 and 23, the protruding portion 244b is formed in a position opposite to the recessed portion on the rear side of the second overhang portion 273. Therefore, in a front view, the protruding portion 244b is obscured by the second overhang portion 273. This reduces the visibility of the protruding portion 244b while still allowing the protruding portion 244b to provide a positioning (position stabilization) effect on the thin plate member 290.

[0278] As shown in Figures 22 and 23, by making the portion formed on the upper connecting member 270 a protruding portion 279 instead of a hole, a positioning portion can be formed without problems even in the narrow range of the boundary between the protruding portions 272 and 273. In other words, when forming through holes or recesses in a narrow range, there is a possibility that the thickness of the member will become excessively thin, resulting in insufficient strength, but this situation can be avoided.

[0279] In other words, it is possible to avoid the restriction of the placement of the protruding portions 272 and 273 or the reduction in strength due to the positioning portion of the thin plate member 290. That is, when positioning holes are formed at the boundary positions of the protruding portions 272 and 273, it becomes necessary to make the width length of the boundary position of the protruding portions 272 and 273 greater than or equal to the width length of the hole (or greater than or equal to the diameter if the hole is circular), and the strength of the protruding portions 272 and 273 may decrease as material is removed by the hole. According to this embodiment, these problems can be easily resolved.

[0280] On the other hand, as mentioned above, the back surfaces of the protruding portions 272 and 273 are recessed, making it impossible to form the projection portion 279. However, this can be addressed by extending a projection portion 244b from the central component unit 240, as shown in Figure 22. This allows for the positioning portion (projection portions 244b, 279) of the thin plate member 290 to be positioned without being restricted by the arrangement of the protruding portions 272 and 273.

[0281] Thus, according to this embodiment, by forming the positioning projections 244b and 279 for the thin plate member 290 on both the central component unit 240 and the upper connecting member 270, it is possible to maintain a high degree of design freedom and strength of the upper connecting member 270 while avoiding restrictions on the arrangement of the positioning portion of the thin plate member 290, thereby stabilizing the position of the thin plate member 290.

[0282] Furthermore, by designing the protruding portion 279 inserted through the thin plate member 290 to be able to be inserted into the recessed portion 244a of the central component unit 240, it is possible to position the thin plate member 290 relative to the central component unit 240 and the upper connecting member 270, while simultaneously positioning the upper connecting member 270 relative to the central component unit 240.

[0283] The thin plate member 290 is a component that can be seen by the player via the upper connecting member 270. Although not shown in the illustration, in this embodiment, a pattern, figure, character, or other colorful image is drawn on the front surface of the thin plate member 290, and the color and brightness visible through the thin plate member 290 change in various ways depending on the differences in the light emission patterns (differences in color and brightness) of the light emitted from the LEDs arranged on the illuminated circuit board 251 of the central component unit 240.

[0284] Unlike the case where patterns, figures, letters, or characters are drawn directly on the base plate 60, according to this embodiment, by removing the thin plate member 290, the patterns, figures, letters, or characters drawn on the thin plate member 290 can be removed from the game board 13, making it easy to change the appearance of the game board 13.

[0285] For example, when the shape of the game board 13 is the same but the gameplay is changed (so-called different specifications), the patterns, shapes, letters or characters, or colors depicted on the game board 13 may be changed to make it easier for players to understand the gameplay.

[0286] If patterns, shapes, letters, or characters are drawn directly onto the base plate 60, it becomes necessary to replace the entire base plate 60, which in effect often results in replacing the entire game board 13, making changes to the gameplay costly.

[0287] On the other hand, according to this embodiment, it is sufficient to replace the thin plate member 290 with another thin plate member 290 that has a different pattern, figure, character, or color, etc., so there is no need to replace the entire game board 13. Therefore, it is possible to easily suppress the cost of changing the gameplay.

[0288] Figure 26 is an enlarged front view of the game board 13 in range XXVI of Figure 18, Figure 27 is a partial cross-sectional view of the game board 13 along the line XXVII-XXVII in Figure 26, and Figure 28 is a partial cross-sectional view of the game board 13 along the line XXVIII-XXVIII in Figure 26.

[0289] As shown in Figure 26, the protruding portions 272 to 277 are each formed with individual shapes, but they share the common purpose of reducing the momentum of a ball that collides with them when it enters the game area, and directing the ball downwards to the left and right sides of the center frame 86.

[0290] The protruding sections 272-277 are formed as a substitute for nails that have traditionally been planted in a similar arrangement. In other words, each of the protruding sections 272-277 is designed to surround multiple nails when viewed from the front.

[0291] As seen in the first protruding section 272, the second protruding section 273, and the third protruding section 274, the upper surface is formed to be wider than the other surfaces. This allows the ball to flow in the same direction along the slope of the upper surface, regardless of where it lands. As a result, even if the adjustment of the launch force is slightly off, it becomes easier to make the ball flow down along a similar path, thus reducing stress for players who want the ball to flow down along a similar path during gameplay.

[0292] Since the third protrusion 274 and the fourth protrusion 275 are arranged next to each other, even a slight deviation in adjusting the ball's launch force will change which direction the ball lands, but the inclination of their upper surfaces is significantly different. Specifically, the upper surface of the third protrusion 274 is a downward sloping surface that slopes gently inward to the left and right, while the upper surface of the fourth protrusion 275 is formed as a downward sloping surface that slopes sharply inward to the left and right.

[0293] Therefore, when a ball reaches the upper surface of the fourth protrusion 275 and flows down, it bounces upward sharply upon collision with the center frame 86, and easily loses momentum. As a result, it is easy for the ball to flow down towards the out opening 71 or the general prize opening 63 without reaching the first prize opening 64 on the downstream side of the game area.

[0294] On the other hand, balls that reach the upper surface of the third protruding section 274 and flow downward collide with the center frame 86 in the left-right direction, and the rebound load can also be used as momentum for the downward flow, making it easier for them to reach the first prize entry opening 64 downstream of the game area.

[0295] In other words, the shape of the protruding sections 272 to 276 is designed so that the way the ball flows downstream of the game area changes depending on which protruding section 272 to 276 the ball reaches. This allows the player to actively adjust the force with which the ball is launched.

[0296] As shown in Figures 27 and 28, the base plate 60 and the extended portion 243 of the central component unit 240 are designed to be positioned with gaps CL1 and CL2 between them, approximately the thickness of the thin plate portion 242 of the central component unit 240.

[0297] In other words, the design is not based on the idea that the central component unit 240 is positioned in the central opening 60b of the base plate 60, but rather on the idea that a gap is left between the central opening 60b of the base plate 60 and the central component unit 240, and that the alignment of the central component unit 240 with respect to the base plate 60 is performed simultaneously when fastening and fixing (connecting) with the upper connecting member 270.

[0298] As shown in Figures 27 and 28, a thin plate member 290 and a central component unit 240 are arranged on the back of the first protruding portion 272, while a base plate 60 is arranged on the back of the third protruding portion 274. Thus, the members arranged on the backs of the protruding portions 272 to 277 are not all the same and may differ.

[0299] As shown in Figure 27, since the thin plate portion 242 of the central component unit 240 is formed with thin walls, for example, if a load is applied to the first protruding portion 272 and the first protruding portion 272 undergoes bending deformation, the thin plate portion 242 of the central component unit 240 can also undergo bending deformation, thereby absorbing the load applied to the first protruding portion 272. This reduces the possibility of the first protruding portion 272 cracking or chipping.

[0300] Therefore, for example, even if the ball has a very large momentum when it collides with the first protruding portion 272, the bending deformation of the first protruding portion 272 and the bending deformation of the thin plate portion 242 caused by the influence of that bending deformation can sufficiently reduce the momentum of the ball, thereby allowing the ball to settle down after colliding with the first protruding portion 272.

[0301] The bending deformation of the thin plate portion 242 is more likely to occur because, as described above, the thin plate portion 242 and the base plate 60 are not fitted together, but rather a configuration is adopted in which gaps CL1 and CL2 are provided between them. In other words, in this embodiment, by providing gaps CL1 and CL2 between the thin plate portion 242 and the base plate 60, the central component unit 240 can be bent and deformed, thereby releasing the load applied to the first protruding portion 272.

[0302] Similar effects can be expected from the second protruding section 273. The loads applied to the first protruding section 272 are expected to include loads from collisions with game balls, loads applied by staff at the gaming arcade when clearing ball jams in the game area, and loads applied by workers performing maintenance work.

[0303] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 28, the base plate 60 is formed with sufficient thickness to prevent bending. Therefore, for example, when a load is applied to the third protrusion 274, it is not possible to expect the base plate 60 to relieve the load through bending deformation. However, since the height of the third protrusion 274 is lower than that of the protrusions 272 and 273, the force of the colliding ball is relatively small. For this reason, even with a configuration in which the third protrusion 274 is positioned in front of the base plate 60, the possibility of the third protrusion 274 cracking or chipping can be reduced.

[0304] Furthermore, considering that excessively reducing the momentum of a ball upon impact with the third protrusion 274 at a point where the momentum of the colliding ball is relatively small could potentially stop the ball from flowing down, this embodiment employs a configuration in which the third protrusion 274 is positioned in front of the base plate 60.

[0305] Furthermore, since the deflection of the third protruding portion 274 is suppressed and its state is stable, the ball guidance can be stabilized in the left and right sides of the center frame 86, and in the areas close to the left and right sides and lower areas of the center frame 86, which are the game areas where the nails are planted. This stabilizes the correspondence between the ball launch strength and the ball's descent pattern.

[0306] Furthermore, in order to reliably prevent the third protrusion 274 from cracking or chipping, it is preferable to design the collision angle with the ball and the shape of the third protrusion 274 such that the load applied to the third protrusion 274 is small (so that the load can be easily relieved). It is also preferable to adopt the same design philosophy for the fourth protrusion 275 to the sixth protrusion 277.

[0307] The advantages of using the protruding parts 272-277 as substitutes for the nails KG1 planted in the base plate 60 will be explained. In particular, it is possible to improve the visual effect. Specifically, in the case of the protruding parts 272-277 which are formed from a light-transmitting resin material, there is less of a blind spot for the player compared to the metal nails KG1.

[0308] For example, even in a configuration where the illuminated circuit board 251 and the thin plate member 290 are arranged on the back side of the protruding portions 272 and 273, as in this embodiment (see Figure 27), the protruding portions 272 and 273 transmit light, making it easier for the player to see the light emitted from light-emitting means such as LEDs arranged on the illuminated circuit board 251, as well as the patterns, figures, characters, or characters drawn on the thin plate member 290.

[0309] The illuminated circuit board 251 comprises a central light-emitting means 251b consisting of four LEDs positioned in the center of the lower part, a peripheral light-emitting means 251c consisting of seven LEDs arranged to surround the left, right, and upper sides of the central light-emitting means 251b, and a far-field light-emitting means 251d consisting of two LEDs each arranged near both the left and right ends. In Figure 26, the arrangement in this embodiment is illustrated by hidden lines. The direction of light irradiation of each light-emitting means 251b, 251c, and 251d is not necessarily uniform, and each is intended to illuminate a different object.

[0310] The central light-emitting means 251b has its light irradiation direction forward (optical axis in the front-to-back direction) and illuminates the symbol mark (shown as white in Figure 26) in the left-right center of the decorative part 247 of the central component unit 240. In order to make the entire symbol mark glow softly, the width angle of the irradiation direction relative to the optical axis of the light emitted from the central light-emitting means 251b is designed to be large.

[0311] The ambient light-emitting means 251c has its light irradiation direction forward (optical axis in the front-to-back direction) and is positioned to introduce light into areas that have width in the front-to-back direction, such as the strip-shaped frame portion 245 and the edges of the protruding portions 272 and 273. In order to concentrate the light energy toward the optical axis so that the light visible to the player does not become weaker after passing through areas with a long width in the front-to-back direction, the width angle of the irradiation direction of the light emitted from the ambient light-emitting means 251c is designed to be small, relative to the optical axis of the light.

[0312] This allows for the direct highlighting of light paths (light paths passing through the strip-shaped frame section 245 and protruding sections 272, 273) and the creation of effects that differentiate the degree to which these paths are highlighted, through variations in brightness and color. For example, by creating a difference in brightness between the left and right sides, it is possible to perform a luminous effect that subtly suggests the direction in which the spheres are launched.

[0313] For example, the LED of the ambient light-emitting means 251c, which is positioned behind the lower edge 272a of the first protruding portion 272, is positioned to guide light from the lower edge 272a of the first protruding portion 272 to the left and right outer edges 272b. This makes it easier for the player to reach the left and right outer edges 272b of the first protruding portion 272 by using the light of the first protruding portion 272 as a guide when launching the ball. The optical axis of the light passes through a position where the front-to-back width of the first protruding portion 272 is long, making it easier for the light to undergo total internal reflection inside the first protruding portion 272.

[0314] Furthermore, the internal shape of the first protruding portion 272 is curved so that the rear end protrudes inward. This allows light that has traveled inside the first protruding portion 272 to be repeatedly reflected within the first protruding portion 272, making it easier to concentrate light inside the first protruding portion 272. As a result, the first protruding portion 272 can be made to emit light brighter than its surroundings when viewed from the front.

[0315] As shown in Figure 27, the illuminated circuit board 251 is positioned on the back side of the thin plate portion 242 of the central component unit 240. In this embodiment, the illuminated circuit board 251 is positioned on the back side of the upper connecting member 270 in the area where the sphere is guided on the front side, within the thickness dimension (front-to-back dimension) of the thick portion of the base plate 60 (the thickness required to drive in the nail KG1). That is, the front-to-back position of the illuminated circuit board 251 is set on the front side, rather than the front-to-back position of the back side of the thick portion of the base plate 60.

[0316] This is an impossible circuit board arrangement in the area where the nail KG1, which serves as a component for guiding the ball, is driven into the base plate 60. In other words, in the area where the nail KG1 is driven in, the base plate 60 must be formed to be sufficiently thick, so it is not possible to secure space to place the illuminated circuit board 251 within the thickness dimension of the base plate 60 (on the front side of the back side of the thick portion of the base plate 60, rather than the front-to-back position).

[0317] In contrast, in this embodiment, a thin-walled upper connecting member 270 is used as a component for guiding the sphere instead of a nail KG1, and the central opening 60b of the base plate 60 is placed on its back side, with the thin plate portion 242 of the central component unit 240 placed in place of the base plate 60, thereby securing space for arranging the illuminated circuit board 251 on the back side of the area in which the sphere is guided.

[0318] This improves the design flexibility for the placement of the lighting circuit board 251 compared to the case where the lighting circuit board 251 must be placed on the back side of the base plate 60, and also allows the lighting circuit board 251 to be placed closer to the front.

[0319] By positioning the illuminated circuit board 251 towards the front, it becomes easier to position the rotating performance device 800 (see Figure 17) of the operating unit 500, which is located on the back side of the game board 13, towards the front. Furthermore, the central light-emitting means 251b and ambient light-emitting means 251c on the illuminated circuit board 251, as well as the light sources on the rotating performance device 800, are positioned towards the front, making the light visible to the player brighter.

[0320] The far-field light emission means 251d has its light irradiation direction (optical axis direction) intersecting the front-to-back direction (direction shown by the arrow in Figure 26), and is positioned to irradiate light onto the protruding parts 274-276 located on the left and right outer sides, the strip-shaped frame part 245, the outer rail 62, etc.

[0321] As a result, even with a configuration like this embodiment, in which a plate thickness portion is formed on the base plate 60 to ensure strength and protruding portions 274-276 are arranged on the front of the plate thickness portion, the protruding portions 274-276 can be sufficiently illuminated by light irradiation from the distant light-emitting means 251d.

[0322] In particular, in this embodiment, since the illuminated circuit board 251 is positioned closer to the front end than the rear end of the thickness of the base plate 60 (it is arranged within the thickness dimension), it is possible to easily make the light emitted from the distant light-emitting means 251d in a direction intersecting the front-rear direction reach the fifth protruding portion 276 which is separated to the left and right outwards.

[0323] The shape of the protruding portions 274-276 that receive light from the distant light-emitting means 251d is designed to facilitate securing the amount of light. Specifically, for example, in the third protruding portion 274, the side surface 274a (left and right inner and upper side surfaces) on the side facing the distant light-emitting means 251d is formed to be wide, so as to receive light from the distant light-emitting means 251d over a surface.

[0324] Furthermore, on the opposite side (left and right outer and lower sides) of the far-light emitting means 251d, a corner portion 274b is formed at the connection point between the surfaces, and the cut formed in the protruding portion 274 is shaped to concentrate light at this corner portion 274b. This ensures that light emission intensity can be secured even at the corner portion 274b, which is far from the far-light emitting means 251d.

[0325] Furthermore, the illumination of the sixth protruding portion 277 is not performed by light from the illuminated circuit board 251, but by light transmitted to the front side through the thin plate portions 242 (the thin plate portions 242 on the left and right outer sides, not the center) located on the inside of the left and right sides of the sixth protruding portion 277 when viewed from the front.

[0326] Furthermore, the illumination effect of the sixth protruding section 277 is also performed by light emitted from the rotating member 810 of the rotating display device 800, which will be described later. The configuration for directing the light emitted from the rotating member 810 toward the front, and the setting of its intensity, will be described later.

[0327] Let's return to Figure 20 for explanation. As shown in Figure 20, the prize entry openings 63, 64, etc., located below the center frame 86 are formed as part of the prize entry opening component 400, which is made of a light-transmitting resin material.

[0328] Figure 29 is an exploded front perspective view of the game board 13, and Figure 30 is an exploded rear perspective view of the game board 13. Figures 29 and 30 illustrate the disassembled state of the prize entry slot component 400.

[0329] The prize entry slot component 400 comprises a central component 410 fastened to the base plate 60 in the left-right center of the game board 13, a covering component 430 shaped to cover the lower part of the central component 410 from the front, a left component 450 positioned to the left of the central component 410 and fastened to the base plate 60, and a right component 470 positioned to the right of the central component 410 and fastened to the base plate 60. The right component 470 is formed in a shape that is generally symmetrical to the left component 450.

[0330] The central component 410 comprises a flat main plate portion 411 fastened and fixed to the base plate 60 in surface contact, a horizontally elongated opening 412 formed as an opening constituting a specific prize entry opening 65a, a pair of left and right distribution portions 413 formed extending upward from the left and right sides of the horizontally elongated opening 412 so as to distribute the flow path of the balls, a pair of left and right curved projection portions 414 formed above the distribution portions 413 with their upper surfaces curved like plates and projecting toward the front so as to distribute the flow path of the balls, and a pair of left and right outlet openings 415 drilled at positions away from the left and right ends of the horizontally elongated opening 412 to the left and right, and sized to allow the balls to be discharged.

[0331] The main body plate portion 411 is provided with sheet placement recesses 411a on both the left and right sides, which are recessed from the back side to reduce the thickness of the plate. The sheet placement recesses 411a are recessed in a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the decorative sheet member (thin plate member 380), and are formed with a recess depth approximately equal to the thickness of the sheet member.

[0332] The gap between the distribution section 413 and the curved projection section 414 is formed to be larger than the diameter of the sphere. This allows the sphere to flow down through the gap between the distribution section 413 and the curved projection section 414, thereby increasing the randomness of the sphere's flow and improving the ability to focus attention on the sphere.

[0333] The distribution section 413 is provided with a plurality of protruding ridges 413a that protrude from the left and right inner sides (the side facing the second prize-winning opening 140). The protruding ridges 413a are shaped to decelerate the flow velocity of the balls by contacting them as they flow down. The deceleration effect of the protruding ridges 413a reduces the impact force exerted by the balls on the opening / closing plate 65b of the specific prize-winning opening 65a. This prevents damage to the opening / closing plate 65b.

[0334] The tangent line HL1 (see Figure 31) to the curved surface passing through the lower end of the curved surface of the curved projection 414 is designed to pass through the left and right inner sides of the distribution section 413 (the sides on the first prize-winning opening 64 side). As a result, it is likely that a ball that has rolled down the curved surface of the curved projection 414 will reach the left and right inner sides of the distribution section 413.

[0335] The covering member 430 is made of a light-transmitting resin material and comprises a main plate portion 431 formed in the shape of a thin plate, a pair of left and right strip-shaped portions 432 extending to the rear side in a strip shape from the left and right side ends of the main plate portion 431 toward the left and right inner sides, a pair of left and right vertical plate portions 433 connected to the left and right inner ends of the strip-shaped portions 432 and extending to the rear side in a long plate shape in the vertical direction, a pair of left and right inclined plate portions 434 extending to the rear side in a long plate shape that slopes upward toward the left and right inner sides from the upper ends of the vertical plate portions 433, and an upright portion 435 formed on the rear side from the main plate portion 431 below the electric component 140a so as to restrict the rotation angle of the electric component 140a.

[0336] The strip-shaped portion 432, the vertical plate portion 433, the inclined plate portion 434, and the upright portion 435 are formed to a length such that their tips can contact the main plate portion 411 of the central component 410 when the covering member 430 is fastened and fixed to the central component 410. In other words, the strip-shaped portion 432, the vertical plate portion 433, the inclined plate portion 434, and the upright portion 435 change the sphere's flow path and distribute the sphere's flow path.

[0337] The strip-shaped portion 432 is positioned along the left, right outer sides and bottom of the out opening 415. Balls that roll down the strip-shaped portion 432 are guided to the out opening 415 and discharged from the game area.

[0338] Although the inclined plate section 434 is positioned closer to the specific prize entry opening 65a than the out opening 415, the inclination direction of the upper side slopes downward toward the out opening 415. Therefore, balls that roll down on the inclined plate section 434 are also guided toward the out opening 415 and discharged from the game area.

[0339] The upright portion 435 is positioned on the left and right inner sides of the distribution portion 413 of the central component 410, with a gap larger than the diameter of the sphere, when the central component 410 and the covering member 430 are assembled (see Figure 17). This allows the sphere to flow down between the distribution portion 413 and the upright portion 435.

[0340] The left component 450 is made of a colorless, transparent resin material and comprises a flat main plate portion 451 that is fastened and fixed to the base plate 60 in surface contact, an overhang portion 453 that extends outwards to the front over a wide area on the left side of the main plate portion 451, a ceiling plate portion 455 which is a plate-like portion whose left end is positioned with a gap large enough for a ball to pass through between it and the overhang portion 453 and is formed in a shape that slopes downward towards the right, and a plurality of ball guide portions 457, 459 which are formed below the ceiling plate portion 455 in a shape that can guide a ball to the general prize opening 63.

[0341] The ceiling panel section 455 is formed in a continuous, undivided shape so that only spheres that have passed through the gap between the overhanging section 453 and the ceiling panel section 455 can flow down the sphere guide sections 457 and 459.

[0342] On the back side of the left component 450 and the back side of the right component 470, recesses 451b and 471b for sheet placement are formed, recessed from the back side to reduce the thickness of the sheet. The sheet placement recesses 451b and 471b are recessed in a shape corresponding to the outer shape of a decorative sheet member (not shown), and are formed to a recess depth approximately equal to the thickness of the sheet member. An example of the decoration of this sheet member will be substituted by the explanation for the thin plate member 380.

[0343] Figure 31 is an enlarged front view of the game board 13 in range XXXI of Figure 18. Balls that do not pass through the gap between the protruding portion 453 and the ceiling plate portion 455, but roll down the upper surface of the ceiling plate portion 455, are not guided to the guide portions 457 and 459, but instead flow down towards the central component 410. The flow path of balls from the upstream side of the left component 450 and the central component 410 will be explained below.

[0344] As shown in Figure 31, the multiple nails KG1 planted in the base plate 60 are arranged along a straight line that slopes downwards towards the inside in the left-right direction, with gaps smaller than the diameter of the sphere between them. This forms a path for the spheres to flow down toward the left-right center (main path FL1), while gaps larger than the diameter of the sphere are left in some places, forming detachment paths FL2 and FL3 for the spheres that pass through these gaps and deviate from the main path.

[0345] The ceiling plate portion 455 is formed so that the ball can roll on its upper surface, but the rolling speed of the ball rolling on the ceiling plate portion 455 differs depending on the timing of its detachment downward from the main path FL1. More specifically, when the ball's path changes from the main path FL1 to the detachment path FL2, the ball's downward velocity switches from being mainly oriented in the left-right direction to being mainly oriented in the up-down direction.

[0346] Then, once the ball reaches the ceiling plate section 455, its speed is switched back to a left-right direction. Therefore, the earlier the ball reaches the ceiling plate section 455 (the further upstream it is in the flow path), the greater the rolling speed (momentum) of the ball as it flows down the ceiling plate section 455, making it easier for it to reach the inside left and right sides of the game area (the side of the specific prize entry opening 65a).

[0347] Furthermore, since the left and right inner ends (lower ends) of the upper surface of the ceiling panel 455 are positioned above the upper ends of the adjacent curved projections 414, it is easier to avoid the ball rolling along the ceiling panel 455 and passing inward on the left and right sides being blocked by the left and right outer sides of the curved projections 414.

[0348] If the rolling speed of the ball as it flows down the ceiling plate section 455 is increased, and it reaches the specific prize-winning opening 65a at that speed, there is a concern that the opening / closing plate 65b may be damaged due to a large impact force transmitted from the ball to the opening / closing plate 65b. However, in this embodiment, a protruding section 413a is provided in the ball's flow path to the opening / closing plate 65b, which reduces the ball's flow speed.

[0349] In addition, upright sections 435 are positioned opposite each other on the left and right inner sides of the protruding section 413a, preventing multiple balls from flowing down side by side. This prevents ball jamming between the protruding section 413a and the upright sections 435 (flow straightening effect), and also makes it easier to prevent the balls from landing on the opening / closing plate 65b simultaneously, thus making it easier to prevent damage to the opening / closing plate 65b (improved durability).

[0350] In this way, the sphere's flow velocity is reduced, and its flow path is restricted. This reduces the impact force generated when the sphere collides with the opening / closing plate 65b, thereby suppressing the occurrence of malfunctions that cause damage to the opening / closing plate 65b.

[0351] In this embodiment, since the protruding portion 413a is positioned symmetrically with respect to the upright portion 435, if balls flow down simultaneously in the pair of flow paths formed by the left and right pair of protruding portions 413a and the upright portion 435, it is possible that multiple balls may land on the opening / closing plate 65b at the same time.

[0352] Therefore, in the special game state, by shooting the balls to the left and right, it becomes easier to get multiple balls into the specific prize pocket 65a simultaneously. This makes it easier to avoid situations where the progress of the special game state becomes too slow.

[0353] Since the upper surface of the ceiling panel 455 is formed as a wide sloping surface on both sides, the ceiling panel 455 can receive multiple balls at the same time, and these balls can be aligned and flowed vigorously inward on both sides (towards the specific prize winning opening 65a).

[0354] Then, the balls that are directed to the left and right inwards pass sequentially through the left and right inwards of the distribution section 413 (the sides where the protruding section 413a is formed) and reach the open / closed plate 65b in sequence. In this way, according to this embodiment, since the paths of the balls that reach the open / closed plate 65b are consolidated to pass through the left and right inwards of the distribution section 413, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of situations where balls collide with each other upstream of the open / closed plate 65b and deviate from the specific prize-winning opening 65a.

[0355] Furthermore, by designing the specific prize-winning opening 65a and the left and right ends of the opening / closing plate 65b to be located further outward from the point where the balls flow down while contacting the protruding portion 413a of the distribution section 413 and reach the opening / closing plate 65b, even if the balls collide with each other on the opening / closing plate 65b and bounce from side to side, the balls can still remain on the upper surface of the opening / closing plate 65b. Therefore, the occurrence of balls spilling out of the opening / closing plate 65b can be suppressed.

[0356] Furthermore, even if multiple balls accumulate densely at the left and right ends of the opening / closing plate 65b, in this embodiment, a space is formed below the inclined plate portion 434, allowing the balls to flow to the left and right outer sides of the opening / closing plate 65b. Therefore, the ball paths passing through the left and right inner sides of the distribution portion 413 can be avoided.

[0357] In this embodiment, a gap exceeding the diameter of the sphere is provided between the ceiling plate portion 455 and the curved projection portion 414, thereby allowing the sphere to flow down through this gap. For example, if a sphere rolling down the ceiling plate portion 455 collides with a sphere flowing down through the inner detachment path FL3, the sphere that has been rolling down the ceiling plate portion 455 will have its lateral velocity reduced, making it easier for it to enter the gap between the ceiling plate portion 455 and the curved projection portion 414.

[0358] The frequency with which balls flowing down the main path FL1 also flow down the outer drop-off path FL2 and the inner drop-off path FL3 can vary depending on the condition of the pin KG1 (dirt buildup, production lot). Therefore, without countermeasures, the condition of the pin KG1 will affect game efficiency and profit, making it impossible to provide a game under equal conditions.

[0359] In contrast, in this embodiment, if balls that pass through the outer detachment path FL2 and roll along the ceiling plate portion 455 occur more frequently than balls that flow down through the inner detachment path FL3, fewer balls will reach the first prize entry opening 64. This is disadvantageous in game states where the goal is to win a jackpot through a lottery (normal state, time-saving state, high probability state, etc.). However, in the jackpot game state where the specific prize entry opening 65a opens and closes, the possibility of balls getting stuck in the gap between the ceiling plate portion 455 and the curved projection portion 414 can be reduced, and most of the balls that reach the ceiling plate portion 455 can be guided to the specific prize entry opening 65a, thus improving game efficiency (for example, the time required for a jackpot game can be shortened).

[0360] On the other hand, if balls flowing down the inner detachment path FL3 occur more frequently than balls passing through the outer detachment path FL2 and rolling along the ceiling plate section 455, then more balls will reach the first prize opening 64. This is advantageous in game states where the goal is to win a jackpot through a lottery (normal state, time-saving state, high probability state, etc.). However, in jackpot game states where the specific prize opening 65a opens and closes, balls flowing down from the inner detachment path FL3 collide with the path of balls rolling down the ceiling plate section 455, resulting in frequent balls falling into the gap between the ceiling plate section 455 and the curved projection section 414, or balls passing through the gap between the distribution section 413 and the curved projection section 414 and flowing towards the out opening 415. As a result, more balls deviate from the specific prize opening 65a, reducing the efficiency of jackpot gameplay.

[0361] Thus, in this embodiment, when the relationship between the frequency of balls rolling along the ceiling plate section 455 via the outer detachment path FL2 and the frequency of balls flowing down the inner detachment path FL3 switches, the game state switches between an advantageous state and an unfavorable state, and the design ensures that the player is not unilaterally at an advantage or disadvantage.

[0362] In other words, while allowing for variations in the state of the nails KG1, the aim is to provide a fair playing environment by maintaining a relationship where, regardless of the state of the nails KG1, certain conditions are advantageous to the player and other conditions are disadvantageous to the player.

[0363] The flow path of a sphere that flows down the outer detachment path FL2 and flows between the extended plate portion 455a, which extends upward at the left end of the ceiling plate portion 455, and the side wall portions 453a, which are curved downward and outward on the left and right inner sides of the overhang portion 453, which is positioned opposite the extended plate portion 455a, will be described.

[0364] The proportion of balls guided along this flow path varies depending on the condition of the adjacent nails KG2 (the distance between them at the point where the balls flow). The condition of the nails KG2 may change due to collisions with balls, touching by employees of the amusement arcade, etc.

[0365] Furthermore, the proportion of times a ball reaches just before the nail KG2 varies depending on whether the ball rolls along the upper surface of the side wall 453. Whether the ball reaches the upper surface of the side wall 453 varies depending on the state of the windmill FS1 located above the side wall 453. The windmill FS1 also has its rotation axis driven into the base plate 60, just like the nail KG2, so its state may change due to collisions with balls or contact by employees of the amusement arcade.

[0366] Since the first ball guide section 457 is located directly below the flow path between the extended plate section 455a and the side wall section 453a, normally the flowing balls pass through the first ball guide section 457 and are discharged from the game area. The first ball guide section 457 constitutes the general prize entry opening 63, and when a ball is guided to the first ball guide section 457, a prize ball is paid out to the player.

[0367] In this embodiment, when a ball flows straight down between the extended plate portion 455a and the side wall portion 453a, the ball is configured to enter the first ball guide portion 457 with an 80% probability, deviate to the left with a 10% probability, and deviate to the right with a 10% probability. Note that these proportions can be designed to differ depending on the shape (slope, spacing, etc.) of the extended plate portion 455a and the side wall portion 453a, and the arrangement of the first ball guide portion 457.

[0368] In contrast, for example, if a ball that has reached the first ball guide section 457 is still remaining there when the next ball reaches the first ball guide section 457, the next ball is more likely to deviate to the left or right of the first ball guide section 457 and flow downstream. Also, for example, if multiple balls are flowing together toward the first ball guide section 457, some of those balls are more likely to deviate to the left or right of the first ball guide section 457 and flow downstream.

[0369] If a ball deviates to the left or right outward from the first ball guide section 457, there is no prize entry point downstream, and the ball is discharged from the out entry point 415. On the other hand, if a ball deviates to the left or right inward from the first ball guide section 457, it can roll along the inclined guide sections 458 that protrude inward from the first ball guide section 457 and reach the second ball guide section 459. The second ball guide section 459 constitutes a general prize entry point 63, and when a ball is guided to the second ball guide section 459, a prize ball is paid out to the player.

[0370] The number of prize balls dispensed when a ball is guided to the first ball guide unit 457 and the number of prize balls dispensed when a ball is guided to the second ball guide unit 459 can be set arbitrarily, but in this embodiment, the number of prize balls dispensed is set to be greater when the ball is guided to the downstream side.

[0371] In other words, the number of prize balls dispensed when a ball is guided to the second ball guide unit 459 is set to be greater than the number of prize balls dispensed when a ball is guided to the first ball guide unit 457.

[0372] This allows for gameplay that players will desire, where if a ball flows down to the left of the left end of the ceiling slope 455, it will not enter the first ball guide section 457 but will instead deviate to the right (towards the second ball guide section 459), thereby increasing attention to the left component 450.

[0373] For example, if the game is set so that one prize ball is dispensed when a ball is guided to the first ball guide unit 457, then if a ball heading towards the first ball guide unit 457 deviates to the left or right (left side of Figure 31), the number of balls held by the player decreases. If the ball is guided to the first ball guide unit 457, the number of balls remains the same (one prize ball for each ball launched). If the ball deviates to the left or right inward (right side of Figure 31), the ball is guided to the second ball guide unit 459, where prize balls (more than one, generally 2 to 15) are dispensed, potentially increasing the number of balls held by the player.

[0374] This makes it easier to understand the relationship between the flow of balls near the first guide section 457 and the magnitude of the profits the player can obtain, thereby improving the player's attention to the flow of balls near the first guide section 457.

[0375] The inclined guide section 458, which extends to the right of the first guide section 457, is made of resin material, so it easily breaks if it is bent or subjected to other stresses. Therefore, unlike the nail KG1, it is easy to detect changes in its condition. If the broken state can be detected, the pachinko machine 10 can be shut down until the part is replaced, thereby preventing players from suffering unforeseen disadvantages.

[0376] In this embodiment, various structural modifications have been made so that the ball rolling along the inclined guide section 458 is guided to the second ball guide section 459 with a high probability. Firstly, a bulge 456 is formed at the upper left position of the second ball guide section 459, bulging outwards on the lower side of the ceiling plate section 455.

[0377] When a ball begins rolling on the upper surface of the inclined guide section 458, any ball that has not yet fully settled down from its vertical bounce will come into contact with the bulging section 456 in the lateral direction, and the direction of the ball's velocity will be changed to a downward direction. This prevents the ball, which has rolled on the upper surface of the inclined guide section 458, from veering off to the right of the second ball guide section 459 due to its momentum.

[0378] Secondly, the inclined guide portion 458 protrudes toward the second ball guide portion 459 to a position where the lateral distance between it and the second ball guide portion 459 is shorter than the radius of the ball, and the vertical distance between it and the second ball guide portion 459 is shorter than the diameter of the ball (it is formed with dimensions that do not allow the ball to pass between the inclined guide portion 458 and the second ball guide portion 459). Therefore, the inclined guide portion 458 makes it easier to prevent the ball from deviating to the left of the second ball guide portion 459.

[0379] The prize entry slot component 400 is a resin molded component, and since it is assembled to the base plate 60 by fastening screws, replacement in case of a defect is easier compared to replacing (re-driving in) nails KG1.

[0380] For example, if a nail KG1 breaks, it is highly likely that the gaming machine will have to be shut down for a long period of time. Normally, nails KG1 are not driven in one by one, but rather in large numbers using an automated machine. Therefore, it is not easy to replace the nails KG1 if some of them break.

[0381] Therefore, repairs often require replacing the entire game board, but if it is determined that the replacement costs cannot be covered, the machine may be stored in warehouse without being put back into service, even if there are no other malfunctions besides the KG1 pins. In other words, there was room for improvement in terms of maintainability and extending the operating life of the game machine.

[0382] In this embodiment, in order to minimize defects in the nail KG1, the protruding portion 453 of the left component member 450 catches the ball falling in the vertical direction, and the ball is rolled from side to side on the upper surface of the protruding portion 453 to reduce its vertical momentum before it comes into contact with the nail KG1 downstream. This reduces the load applied from the ball to the nail KG1, thereby suppressing the occurrence of defects in the nail KG1.

[0383] Furthermore, focusing on the nails KG1 positioned on the left and right outer sides of the outer detachment path FL2, their left and right outer sides are covered by the protruding portions 453, so the ball will not collide with these nails KG1 from the left or right outer sides. Therefore, the time until the nails KG1 break can be extended compared to when the nails KG1 are subjected to load from random directions.

[0384] The ball that flows down the front side of the left component 450 is discharged through the outlet 415 to the back side of the base plate 60. At this time, the vertical plate portion 433 restricts the passage of the ball to the left and right inner sides (the side closer to the opening / closing plate 65b), thus preventing the ball from flowing towards the opening / closing plate 65b without passing through the outlet 415.

[0385] Therefore, the pivot axis of the opening / closing plate 65b prevents balls from flowing in from the left component member 450 side. As a countermeasure against ball jamming, it is not necessary to always leave a gap between the opening / closing plate 65b and the inner rail 61 that allows balls to pass through, and the vertical distance between the inner rail 61 and the pivot axis (lower edge) of the opening / closing plate 65b can be set to less than the diameter of the ball.

[0386] Furthermore, even with such a configuration, if a ball that was resting on the opening / closing plate 65b spills to the left or right, it can be temporarily placed between the vertical plate section 433 and the opening / closing plate 65b. When the opening / closing plate 65b is closed, the opening / closing plate 65b, which was obstructing the ball's flow path, moves out of the ball's flow path, and the temporarily placed ball will flow down towards the outlet 71. Therefore, the possibility of ball jamming can be reduced.

[0387] Figure 32 is a partial cross-sectional view of the game board 13 along the line XXXII-XXXII in Figure 31. The main plate portion 451 of the left component 450 has an extended portion 451a that extends in a thin plate shape (thinner than the thickness of the main plate portion 451) from the left and right inner edges along the front surface of the base plate 60, and the main plate portion 411 of the central component 410 has a covering extended portion 411b that extends from the left and right outer edges along the front side surface.

[0388] In this embodiment, the extension portion 451a is sandwiched between the covering extension portion 411b and the base plate 60. This eliminates the need for fastening screws from the left and right inner ends of the left component 450, which is the sandwiched side. This makes it easier to avoid the problem of the fastening screws being conspicuous when decorating the left component 450, thereby reducing the visual effect. In addition, the number of fastening screws used to fasten and fix the components can be reduced, thus reducing assembly man-hours and material costs.

[0389] When the extension portion 451a is sandwiched between the base plate 60, the front-to-back position of the front end of the covering extension portion 411b is located on the rear side of the front end of the main plate portion 451. This prevents the sphere flowing down the front side of the main plate portion 451 from colliding with the front end of the covering extension portion 411b as it flows toward the front side of the main plate portion 411, causing the sphere to bounce off to the left or right.

[0390] Figure 33 is an exploded front perspective view of the distribution unit 300, and Figure 34 is an exploded rear perspective view of the distribution unit 300. As shown in Figures 33 and 34, the distribution section 983 described above is rotatably arranged inside the distribution unit 300, and the balls that are guided into the distribution unit 300 through the first prize entry opening 64 are alternately distributed to the left and right.

[0391] The distribution unit 300 is a member that is arranged from the rear side so that the distribution section 983 can rotate and comprises a first component member 310 that constitutes a flow path for distributing balls that have passed through the first prize opening 64 to the left and right and flowing down, a ceiling component member 330 that constitutes the ceiling of the path through which balls that have passed through the first prize opening 64 flow backward, and a first auxiliary member 340 that together with the first component member 310 supports the shaft member 988a of the distribution section 983 in a double-support manner and contacts the distribution section 983 to restrict the balls from falling to the rear side as they flow, and the first The device comprises a second component 350 that constitutes a discharge path for spheres discharged from the downstream side of component 310 to the rear, a pair of left and right second auxiliary members 370 to which the second component 350 is fastened and fixed, and which are arranged to cover the rear and above the discharge path formed by the second component 350 and are fastened and fixed to the first component 310, and a pair of left and right thin plate members 380 which are arranged on the front side of the first component 310 and between the first component 310 and the main plate portion 411 of the central component 410.

[0392] The first component 310 is made of a colorless, translucent resin material and comprises a plate-shaped central plate portion 311 formed along a plane perpendicular to the front-to-back direction, an extended plate portion 313 extending from the upper end of the central plate portion 311 toward the front, a pair of inclined extended portions 315 extending toward the back side of the central plate portion 311 and extending in a band shape in a direction that slopes downward toward the left and right outwards, a pair of direction switching portions 317 connected to the left and right outer ends of the inclined extended portions 315 that switch the direction of the sphere's flow (in this embodiment, switching by 90 degrees from the left-to-right direction to the front-to-back direction), and a pair of left and right opening forming portions 320 on the front side of the central plate portion 311, through which multiple openings of a size that a sphere can pass are arranged on the left and right.

[0393] The central plate portion 311 includes a substantially cylindrical bearing portion 312 located directly below the rear end of the extended plate portion 313, into which one end of the shaft member 988a that pivotally supports the distribution portion 983 is inserted. The bearing portion 312 is formed with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member 988a.

[0394] The extended plate portion 313 includes a ridge portion 313a formed along the left and right central portions, the upper end surface of which slopes downward as it approaches the rear, forming a rolling path for the ball, and a pair of left and right wall-like portions 314 erected from the left and right edges to guide the ball backward.

[0395] The spheres flowing down the inclined extension 315 are prevented from falling to the rear side by the front plate portion 371 of the second auxiliary member 370, and flow outwards to the left and right. The second auxiliary member 370 is also used as a retaining member for the detection device SE3.

[0396] The direction switching section 317 includes an inclined surface section 318 formed as a plate surface on which a ball can roll at a position one step lower than the inclined extension section 315 on the left and right outer sides of the left and right ends of the inclined extension section 315, and which slopes downward toward the front, and an upright curved section 319 erected from the rear edge and left and right outer edges of the inclined surface section 318, which is curved toward the front in a shape that can guide the ball toward the front.

[0397] The opening forming section 320 includes a sensor placement opening 321 through which the detection device SE3 is inserted from the rear side; a pair of left and right support extensions 322 that extend to the front side along the left and right sides of the sensor placement opening 321 and support the left and right ends of the detection sensor SE3; a prize entry opening 323 formed between the support extensions 322 so that a ball can pass through; a pair of discharge openings 325 formed on the left and right sides opposite the prize entry opening 323 with respect to the support extensions 322 so that a ball can pass through; a bottom surface component 327 whose bottom surface is curved toward the rear in a shape that can receive the ball that has passed through the prize entry opening 323 and the discharge openings 325 and guide it toward the rear side; and a pair of partition wall components 328 that extend from the lower edge of the support extensions 322 toward the bottom surface component 327 so as to partition the upper side of the bottom surface component 327.

[0398] When inserting the detection device SE3 into the sensor placement opening 321, the detection hole SE1a is designed to be positioned inside the prize-winning opening 323. The front-to-back position of the detection device SE3 can be easily positioned by the contact between the positioning projection 322a, which protrudes from the front edge of the support extension 322, and the front end of the detection device SE3.

[0399] After passing through the direction switching section 317 and reaching the opening forming section 320, the balls pass through either the prize-winning opening 323 or the discharge opening 325, and are guided to the rear side by rolling along the upper surface of the bottom component 327. Since each rolling path is separated by the partition wall section 328, the possibility of balls crossing or colliding on the upper surface of the bottom component 327 can be reduced. This straightens the flow of balls, preventing ball jams and ball stagnation.

[0400] Of the balls rolling on the upper surface of the bottom component 327, those that pass through the prize-winning opening 323 are detected by the detection device SE3. On the other hand, balls that pass through the discharge opening 325 are not detected by the detection device SE3. In any case, after the balls rolling on the upper surface of the bottom component 327 are detected by a detection device (not shown) that detects the discharge of balls, they are guided to a ball discharge path (not shown).

[0401] To reach the ball discharge channel (not shown), the balls are prevented from falling to the rear side by the second auxiliary member 370, and roll with the rolling surface 351 of the second component member 350 facing inward to the left and right, and are guided through the common drop channels 352 provided on the left and right sides.

[0402] The second auxiliary member 370 includes a front plate portion 371 that covers the space open on the rear side of the inclined extension portion 315 to prevent the ball from falling out, a rear plate portion 372 that blocks the upper and rear sides of the flow path of the ball as it flows down along the rolling surface 351 and common drop channel 352 of the second component member 350 to prevent the ball from falling out, an insertion hole 373 drilled in the front plate portion 371 so that a fastening screw that is screwed into the fastening portion 329 of the first component member 310 can be inserted through, and an insertion hole 374 drilled in the rear plate portion 372 so that a fastening screw that is screwed into the fastening portion 353 of the second component member 350 can be inserted through.

[0403] The materials used to form the second component 350 and the second auxiliary member 370 can be arbitrarily selected, but in this embodiment, the second component 350 is formed from a colored, opaque resin material, and the second auxiliary member 370 is formed from a colorless, transparent resin material.

[0404] This reduces the visibility of the spheres flowing through the common drop channel 352, thereby decreasing attention to the discharged spheres. Furthermore, since light can be taken in from the back side of the second auxiliary member 370, the first component member 310, which is located on the front side, can be brightly illuminated by the incoming light, thereby improving the visibility of the spheres flowing down the first component member 310.

[0405] The thin plate member 380 is positioned by being housed in the sheet placement recess 411a (see Figure 30) of the main plate portion 411. With the thin plate member 380 positioned in this way, the game board 13 is assembled, and the thin plate member 380 is sandwiched in the front-rear direction between the main plate portion 411 and the first component member 310.

[0406] The forward, backward, left, and right displacements (changes in arrangement) of the ball as it flows down the first prize-winning opening 64 will now be explained. First, the ball that enters the first prize-winning opening 64 is displaced backward along the extended plate section 313. Then, it is distributed to the left and right by the rotational displacement of the distribution section 983 described in the first embodiment, and displaced outward to the left and right along the inclined extended section 315.

[0407] Subsequently, the direction of flow is switched to the front side by the direction switching section 317, and the sphere is displaced forward. If the guide section, which has a curved surface for switching the direction of flow of the sphere, is located on the front side of the flowing sphere, the guide section may easily obstruct the line of sight to the sphere, potentially reducing visibility. However, in this embodiment, the upright curved section 319, which serves as the guide section, is located on the back side of the sphere, so the possibility of the upright curved section 319 obstructing the line of sight to the sphere is low. This makes it easier to ensure the visibility of the sphere.

[0408] Subsequently, the balls flowing straight down through the prize-winning opening 323 are detected by the detection device SE3 and then displaced backward along the bottom component 327. Also, balls that are displaced to the left or right above the prize-winning opening 323 and reach directly above the discharge opening 325 pass through the discharge opening 325 and are displaced backward along the bottom component 327.

[0409] Thus, in this embodiment, the arrangement of balls that enter the first prize slot 64 is such that they are initially moved towards the rear, then flowed to the left and right, and then moved towards the front just before passing through the detection device SE3. As a result, compared to the configuration of the first embodiment, the arrangement of the distribution unit 983 can be moved towards the rear, and space can be created below the extended plate unit 313.

[0410] This vacant space can be used to arrange the drive mechanism for operating the electric mechanism 140a of the second prize slot 140. As a result, in this embodiment, the second prize slot 140 can be positioned closer to the first prize slot 64 compared to the first embodiment.

[0411] Furthermore, by configuring the path through which the sorted balls flow down to switch between front and rear directions, the vertical width of the flow path in a front view can be shortened compared to the case where the flow paths are consistently arranged in the vertical direction (for example, the configuration described above for the sorting unit 980). This improves the design flexibility of the relative vertical arrangement of the detection device SE3 with respect to the first prize entry opening 64.

[0412] Figure 35 is a partially enlarged front view of the game board 13 within range XXXV of Figure 18. In Figure 35, the central component 410 and the thin plate member 380 are shown semi-transparently, and the distribution unit 300 is visible. Also, for the sake of explanation, Figure 35 shows the external shape of the electric mechanism 140a in both the closed and open states. For the explanation of Figure 35, please refer to Figures 33 and 34 as appropriate.

[0413] The thin plate member 380 is a member formed in the shape of a thin plate (sheet) from a light-transmitting resin material, and is a member that can be seen by the player through the central component member 410. Although not shown in the illustration, in this embodiment, a pattern, figure, character, or other colorful image is drawn on the front surface of the thin plate member 380, and the color and brightness seen through the thin plate member 380 change in various ways depending on the difference in the manner of the light illuminating it (differences in the manner of color and brightness).

[0414] Unlike the case where patterns, figures, letters, or characters are drawn directly on the base plate 60, according to this embodiment, by removing the thin plate member 380, the patterns, figures, letters, or characters drawn on the thin plate member 380 can be removed from the game board 13, making it easy to change the appearance of the game board 13.

[0415] For example, when the shape of the game board 13 is the same but the gameplay is changed (so-called different specifications), the patterns, shapes, letters or characters, or colors depicted on the game board 13 may be changed to make it easier for players to understand the gameplay.

[0416] If patterns, shapes, letters, or characters are drawn directly onto the base plate 60, it becomes necessary to replace the entire base plate 60, which in effect often results in replacing the entire game board 13, making changes to the gameplay costly.

[0417] On the other hand, according to this embodiment, it is sufficient to replace the thin plate member 380 with another thin plate member 380 that has a different pattern, figure, character, or color, etc., so there is no need to replace the entire game board 13. Therefore, it is possible to easily suppress the cost of changing the gameplay.

[0418] The decoration applied to the thin plate member 380 is not limited in any way, and various forms are exemplified. For example, a colorless and transparent area may be formed above the detection device SE3 to improve the visibility of the ball rolling on the inclined surface 318, while other parts may be densely decorated with figures or patterns to improve their decorative appeal. Alternatively, for example, numbers or other markers may be drawn at locations corresponding to the prize-winning opening 323 and the discharge opening 325 in a front view, making it easier for the player to understand the potential gains based on which marker the ball flows near.

[0419] The thin plate member 380 is designed to be large enough to protrude outward to the left and right of the through hole 60a, and is positioned between the base plate 60 and the main plate portion 411 of the central component member 410.

[0420] In this embodiment, the rear end surface of the thin plate member 380 and the front end of the first component member 310 (for example, the front end of the support extension 322) are arranged to be in contact with each other. That is, since the detection device SE3 is positioned close to the thin plate member 380, the detection hole SE1a of the detection device SE3 can be moved closer to the player. This improves the visibility of the ball passing through the detection device SE3 and makes it easier to avoid situations where a ball passing through the detection device SE3 is missed.

[0421] Furthermore, the detection device SE3 is positioned to the left and right of the motorized mechanism 140a when viewed from the front, and is not obscured by the motorized mechanism 140a. As a result, compared to the case where the ball's flow path is obscured by the motorized mechanism 140a (see Figure 5), the visibility of the ball passing through the detection device SE3 can be improved regardless of the state of the motorized mechanism 140a (open or closed).

[0422] Furthermore, since the detection device SE3 is positioned behind the main plate portion 411 of the central component 410, it does not affect the flow pattern of the balls on the front side of the main plate portion 411. In other words, compared to the case where the detection device SE3 is positioned protruding forward of the main plate portion 411 (forward of the front end surface of the base plate 60), the design freedom of the game area can be improved.

[0423] Due to strength considerations, nails are not placed in the main plate portion 411. However, in this embodiment, the ball's path is divided by the distribution portion 413 and the curved projection portion 414 as substitutes for nails. This prevents the ball's flow path on the front side of the main plate portion 411 from becoming monotonous.

[0424] Balls detected by the detection device SE3 through the detection hole SE1a (balls passing through the prize-winning opening 323) and balls passing through the discharge opening 325 both follow a path that rolls along the inclined surface 318 and is displaced towards the front. Therefore, there may be a difference between the number of balls that reach the inclined surface 318 and the number of balls detected by the detection device SE3.

[0425] Although the inclined surface 318 can improve the visibility of the ball by displacing it towards the player, the configuration makes it difficult to distinguish whether the ball has passed through the prize-winning opening 323 or the discharge opening 325. This makes it impossible to determine whether the ball has actually not passed through the detection device SE3 or whether it has passed through the detection device SE3 but a detection failure has occurred, which could lead to player dissatisfaction.

[0426] In contrast, in this embodiment, balls passing from the inclined surface 318 through the prize-winning opening 323 appear to flow downwards in a front view along the prize-winning flow path FL31, whereas balls passing from the inclined surface 318 through the discharge opening 325 flow along the non-prize-winning flow path FL32, with the direction of flow in a front view being switched by 90 degrees from downward to left-right.

[0427] In other words, by determining whether or not there is a lateral component in the direction of the sphere's flow, it is possible to determine whether or not the sphere will pass through the detection device SE3, thus reducing the possibility of misjudging the sphere's passage. This makes it easier to determine whether or not the sphere has passed through the detection hole SE1a of the detection device SE3.

[0428] Both the game balls flowing down along the flow path FL31 when a prize is won, and the game balls flowing down along the flow path FL32 when a prize is not won, flow near the distribution section 413 and the curved projection section 414 when viewed from the front. Therefore, their flow paths appear to overlap with the flow paths of the game balls flowing towards the specific prize opening 65a.

[0429] Therefore, the game balls flowing down via the inclined surface 318 can be made to appear to the player as if they are flowing towards the specific prize-winning opening 65a. Players often determine the number of game balls that reached above the opening / closing plate 65b but did not enter the specific prize-winning opening 65a (game balls that passed by when the opening / closing plate 65b was closed) by visually observing the game balls rolling along the inner rail 61 towards the out-opening opening 71. However, after the game balls flowing down via the inclined surface 318 flow down the prize-winning flow path FL31 or the non-prize-winning flow path FL32, they are carried backward along the bottom surface component 327 (see Figure 34), so the game balls do not appear in front of the out-opening opening 71.

[0430] This allows the number of game balls that enter the first prize slot 64 during a jackpot game to be added to the number of game balls that appear to be flowing down toward the specific prize slot 65a. Therefore, regardless of the number of game balls that enter the first prize slot 64, it is possible to create the illusion that almost all of the launched game balls are entering the specific prize slot 65a.

[0431] Furthermore, since the game balls flowing down via the inclined surface 318 and the game balls actually flowing down towards the specific prize-winning opening 65a are separated front and back by the thin plate member 380, they do not collide with each other. This makes it possible to create the aforementioned illusion without hindering the flow of the game balls heading towards the specific prize-winning opening 65a.

[0432] In this embodiment, the case in which the non-winning flow path FL32 is formed as a flow path in the left-right direction has been described, but it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, in the path through which the ball flows down the inclined surface portion 318 toward the detection device SE3, openings may be drilled in the front-rear direction in the main plate portion 411 and the thin plate member 380, and by passing through these openings, the non-winning flow path FL32 may be formed as a flow path through which the ball flows toward the front.

[0433] In other words, the balls that flow down the non-winning path FL32 may return to the front side of the main body plate 411 and flow down towards the out opening 71. In this case, if the opening / closing plate 65b is in the open state, the balls that flowed down the non-winning path FL32 may be picked up by the opening / closing plate 65b and enter the specific winning opening 65a.

[0434] In other words, since the game can be structured such that a ball that enters the first prize slot 64 returns to the front side of the main body plate 411 and can then enter the specific prize slot 65a, the attention given to the ball that enters the first prize slot 64 (especially the attention given during a jackpot game when the opening / closing plate 65b is opening and closing) can be improved.

[0435] Next, the structure of the operating unit 500 (see Figure 17), which is fastened and fixed to the back side of the game board 13, will be described. The operating unit 500 is fastened and fixed to the base plate 60 (see Figure 2) of the game board 13 from the back side.

[0436] Figures 36, 37, 38, and 39 are front views of the operating unit 500. Figure 36 shows the retracted state of the internal operating unit 600 of the operating unit 500, Figure 37 shows the intermediate state of the internal operating unit 600, Figure 38 shows the extended state of the internal operating unit 600, and Figure 39 shows one operating error limit state of the internal operating unit 600.

[0437] In this embodiment, the retracted state is when the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 of the internal operation unit 600 is positioned at the upper end of the vertical movement range, the intermediate state is when the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 is positioned at the lower end of the range in which it can operate while maintaining a forward and backward tilting posture from the retracted state, and the extended state is when the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 is positioned at the lower end of the vertical movement range and the rotation axis RJ1 of the rotation effect device 800 is facing in the forward and backward direction.

[0438] During the transition from the intermediate state to the extended state, the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 undergoes a change in its forward and backward orientation (tilting motion). This change in orientation is performed as a rotational motion around a predetermined rotation axis (the central axis J1, described later).

[0439] In this embodiment, the first operational error limit state is one of the states in which the left-right tilt of the light-emitting operation unit 700 reaches its design limit. In Figure 39, for convenience, the right side of the light-emitting operation unit 700 is shown in the same position as the retracted state, while the left side is shown shifted downwards. In this embodiment, the operation unit 500 is configured to allow the light-emitting operation unit 700 to move vertically while maintaining the tilt angle of the first operational error limit state, but the details will be described later.

[0440] As shown in Figure 36, when the internal operating unit 600 is retracted, the rotating member 810 of the rotating display device 800 is positioned so that the decorative plate 811 on which decorative figures and patterns are formed faces forward.

[0441] The figures and patterns formed on the decorative plate 811 are formed in a manner related to the figures and patterns formed on the bottom wall portion 511 of the rear case 510, as shown in Figure 37, and are visible as a whole in the intermediate state of the internal operating unit 600 (including the linear shapes among the radially extending linear shapes and wave patterns formed on the left and right outer sides, as they are visible when formed on the rotating member 810).

[0442] In other words, the figures and patterns formed on the decorative plate 811 can be designed as part of a figure that is viewed integrally with the bottom wall portion 511, thus avoiding the size of the rotating member 810 limiting the figures and patterns that can be formed on the rotating member 810.

[0443] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 38, when the internal operating unit 600 is extended, the light-emitting motion display unit 700 tilts forward, and the shapes and patterns formed on the main body member 710 of the light-emitting motion display unit 700 are visible from the front.

[0444] These figures and patterns are also formed in a manner related to the figures and patterns formed on the bottom wall portion 511 of the rear case 510, and are visible as a whole when the internal operating unit 600 is in its protruding state (of the radially extending straight lines and wave patterns formed on the left and right outer sides, the straight lines are formed only on the bottom wall portion 511, and the main body member 710 is visible with the wave patterns formed thereon).

[0445] In other words, the shapes and patterns formed on the main body member 710 can be designed as part of a shape that is visually perceived integrally with the bottom wall portion 511, thus avoiding the size of the main body member 710 limiting the shapes and patterns that can be formed on it.

[0446] As the light-emitting motion display unit 700 is displaced vertically from the retracted state to the extended state, in relation to the fixed bottom wall portion 511, the figures and patterns formed on the bottom wall portion 511 and the figures and patterns formed on the rotating member 810 begin to diverge from a state in which the figures and patterns are viewed as a single unit in the retracted state.

[0447] This misalignment becomes more noticeable as the amount of vertical displacement increases. In contrast, in this embodiment, the light-emitting motion display unit 700 tilts and displaces when extended, switching the surface visible to the player, and allowing the player to see new figures and patterns that are visible integrally with the bottom wall portion 511. Therefore, the figures and patterns formed on the bottom wall portion 511 and the figures and patterns formed on the light-emitting motion display unit 700 (main body member 710, rotating member 810) that displaces in the vertical direction can be configured to be visible integrally in both the retracted and extended states.

[0448] During the vertical displacement of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 described here, the external shape of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 as viewed from the front changes. This makes it possible to create the illusion that a single effect unit is multiple different effect units, thereby improving the design flexibility of the motion effect.

[0449] Figure 40 is an exploded front perspective view of the operating unit 500, and Figure 41 is an exploded rear perspective view of the operating unit 500. Note that in Figures 40 and 41, the liquid crystal display device (third pattern display device 81) disposed in the opening 511a of the rear case 510 is not shown, and the back side is shown so that it can be seen through the opening 511a.

[0450] The operating unit 500 includes a rear case 510 that is box-shaped with its front side open from a bottom wall 511 and an outer wall 512 erected from the outer edge of the bottom wall 511. The rear case 510 is formed in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the front by forming a rectangular opening 511a in the center of the bottom wall 511. The opening 511a is formed to a size that corresponds to the outer shape (outer edge) of the display area of ​​the third pattern display device 81 (i.e., a size that allows the display area of ​​the third pattern display device 81 to be demarcated when viewed from the front).

[0451] The rear case 510 is provided with a support plate portion 513 that extends from the front end of the outer wall portion 512 as a flat plate that runs along the back of the game board 13 (for example, arranged parallel to it), and provides surface support for the game board 13 in the assembled state (see Figure 2).

[0452] The support plate portion 513 includes a plurality of positioning protrusions 513a that are annularly projected toward the front side and are shaped to fit into a fitting recess (not shown) formed in the base plate 60 of the game board 13, and a plurality of insertion holes 513b that are drilled in the center of the positioning protrusions 513a so that fastening screws that fasten to the base plate 60 can be inserted.

[0453] By fitting the positioning projection 513a into the fitting portion 60c (see Figure 21) of the base plate 60, the back case 510 is positioned relative to the base plate 60. By inserting the fastening screws into the insertion holes 513b and screwing them into the female threads of the fitting portion 60c, the game board 13 and the operating unit 500 can be fixed together, thereby improving the overall rigidity of the game board 13 and the operating unit 500.

[0454] The shape of the positioning projection 513a is not limited in any way, and various embodiments are exemplified. For example, it may be an annular projection with an outer shape slightly smaller than the outer shape of the fitting portion 60c of the base plate 60 (circular in this embodiment), or it may be a projection with a shape that increases the fitting gap (large-diameter ring shape) considering the workability during assembly. Also, if the outer shape of the fitting portion 60c is formed in a rectangular shape, it is naturally assumed that the shape of the positioning projection 513a will also be rectangular.

[0455] The operating unit 500 is located on the rear side of the game board 13, and contains a light-emitting means and an operating unit inside. Specifically, the operating unit 500 comprises a rear case 510, a decorative fixing member 520 that is inserted into the rear case 510 from the front and fastened and fixed, an internal operating unit 600 located on the upper inside of the rear case 510, and a light-emitting effect unit 518 located on the lower inside of the rear case 510.

[0456] The light-emitting effect unit 518 is a unit that emits light from behind the distribution unit 300 and the prize-winning slot component 400 (see Figure 29) toward the front, and functions to brightly illuminate the path through which the balls pass, which is formed by the distribution unit 300 and the prize-winning slot component 400.

[0457] The decorative fixing member 520 is made of a light-transmitting resin material and consists of a plurality of thin plate-like members that are symmetrically arranged on both the left and right sides and can be divided vertically. It comprises a first fixing member 530 located on the upper left side, a second fixing member 540 located on the lower left side, a third fixing member 550 located on the upper right side, a fourth fixing member 560 located on the lower right side, a left-side illuminated circuit board 570 disposed on the back side of the first fixing member 530 and the second fixing member 540, and a right-side illuminated circuit board 580 disposed on the back side of the third fixing member 550 and the fourth fixing member 560. The configuration and role of each part will be explained with reference to Figures 42 and 43.

[0458] Figure 42 is an exploded front perspective view of the operating unit 500, and Figure 43 is an exploded rear perspective view of the operating unit 500. Figures 42 and 43 illustrate the state in which the decorative fixing member 520 is disassembled from the rear case 510 and positioned at the front, and the internal operating unit 600 is disassembled from the rear case 510 and positioned between the rear case 510 and the decorative fixing member 520.

[0459] The first fixing member 530 comprises a thin plate-shaped insertion plate portion 531 extending in the front-rear direction, a front plate portion 534 extending to the right from the front side of the insertion plate portion 531, and an outer plate portion 537 extending to the left from the front side of the insertion plate portion 531.

[0460] The insertion plate portion 531 is shaped and arranged to be inserted into the receiving hole 623 of the internal operating unit 600, and includes a plurality of insertion protrusions 532 that protrude from the extended tip towards the rear side, serving to prevent outward tilting displacement of the outer member 610 of the internal operating unit 600. The relative functions of the insertion plate portion 531 and the outer member 610 will be described later.

[0461] The front plate portion 534 is a plate-like portion positioned in front of the left-side illuminated circuit board 570 and formed in a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the left-side illuminated circuit board 570 (formed to cover the left-side illuminated circuit board 570). Light diffusion processing is formed on the back side to diffuse the light from light-emitting means such as LEDs arranged on the front side of the left-side illuminated circuit board 570. Furthermore, it is provided with through holes 535 through which fastening screws that are fastened and fixed to the outer member 610 of the internal operating unit 600 can be inserted.

[0462] The outer plate portion 537 is a portion that can abut against the front surface of the outer wall portion 512 of the rear case 510, and is provided with an insertion hole 538 through which fastening screws that are screwed into the fastening portion 512a formed in the outer wall portion 512 can be inserted.

[0463] In other words, the first fixing member 530 connects and fixes the outer wall portion 512 of the rear case 510 and the outer member 610 of the internal operating unit 600 in the assembled state of the operating unit 500 (see Figure 36).

[0464] The second fixing member 540 comprises a plate-shaped portion positioned at the same front-to-back position as the front plate portion 534 of the first fixing member 530, a front plate portion 541 positioned slightly apart from the lower end of the front plate portion 534, a fastening extension portion 544 extending to the right from the lower right side of the front plate portion 541, and an outer plate portion 547 extending to the left from the left end of the front plate portion 541.

[0465] The front plate portion 541 is a plate-like portion positioned in front of the left-side illuminated circuit board 570 and formed in a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the left-side illuminated circuit board 570 (formed to cover the left-side illuminated circuit board 570). Light diffusion processing is formed on the back side to diffuse the light from light-emitting means such as LEDs arranged on the front side of the left-side illuminated circuit board 570.

[0466] Furthermore, it includes an insertion hole 542 through which fastening screws for fastening and fixing in the outer member 610 of the internal operating unit 600 can be inserted, and an insertion hole 543 through which fastening screws for fastening and fixing in the inner member 670 of the internal operating unit 600 can be inserted. That is, the outer member 610 and the inner member 670 of the internal operating unit 600 can be connected and fixed by fastening and fixing via the front plate portion 541.

[0467] The connecting extension 544 is provided with an insertion hole 545 through which a fastening screw, which is screwed into the fastening portion 518a of the light-emitting effect unit 518, can be inserted. The outer plate portion 547 is a portion that can abut against the front surface of the outer wall portion 512 of the rear case 510, and is provided with an insertion hole 548 through which a fastening screw, which is screwed into the fastening portion 512b formed in the outer wall portion 512, can be inserted.

[0468] In other words, the second fixing member 540 connects and fixes the outer wall portion 512 of the rear case 510, the outer member 610 and inner member 670 of the internal operating unit 600, and the light-emitting effect unit 518 in the assembled state of the operating unit 500 (see Figure 36).

[0469] The third fixing member 550, the fourth fixing member 560, and the right-side lighting circuit board 580 differ slightly in shape from the first fixing member 530, the second fixing member 540, and the left-side lighting circuit board 570 due to differences in the shape of the inner member 670 of the internal operating unit 600 that is positioned on the rear side and covered by them. However, they are basically formed symmetrically with the first fixing member 530 and the second fixing member 540, and their configurations and the roles of each component are the same. Therefore, explanations of overlapping parts are omitted, and the reference numerals mentioned above in the explanations of the first fixing member 530 and the second fixing member 540 are shown for convenience.

[0470] The assembly sequence of the internal operating unit 600 and the decorative fixing member 520 to the rear case 510 will be described below. To assemble to the rear case 510, first assemble the internal operating unit 600 to the rear case 510 (see Figure 40), and then assemble the decorative fixing member 520 to the rear case 510.

[0471] In summary, the assembly process of the internal operating unit 600 to the rear case 510 involves first fastening and fixing the left and right outer members 610 and the inner member 670 to the rear case 510, then inserting the light-emitting operation unit 700 into the inside of the rear case 510 from the front side and positioning it between the left and right outer members 610 and the inner member 670, positioning the light-emitting operation unit 700 at the assembly position with the displacement member 680, and finally attaching the components to prevent detachment (screws, collars, etc.) to the fastening part 682 from the front side.

[0472] In this embodiment, when assembling the light-emitting motion effect unit 700, it is not necessary to attach the decorative fixing member 520 to the rear case 510. Therefore, the front side of the rear case 510 can be left wide open, and the decorative fixing member 520 can avoid obstructing the worker's hand movement. This improves work efficiency.

[0473] Furthermore, the process of inserting fastening screws into the insertion holes 535, 538, 542, 543, 545, and 548 of the decorative fixing member 520 and fastening them can be performed from the front side of the rear case 510. Therefore, after the work of assembling the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 to the displacement member 680 is completed, the work of fastening the decorative fixing member 520 can be performed immediately afterward without changing the orientation of the rear case 510. This further improves work efficiency. Next, the details of the assembly work will be explained.

[0474] Figure 44 is a cross-sectional view of the operating unit 500 along the line XLIV-XLIV in Figure 36, Figure 45 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the operating unit 500 in the range XLV of Figure 44, and Figure 46 is a cross-sectional view of the operating unit 500 along the line XLIV-XLIV in Figure 36.

[0475] In Figures 44 and 45, the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 is disassembled from the rear case 510, and the decorative fixing member 520 is not shown as it is in a state before assembly. On the other hand, Figure 46 shows the state in which the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 and the decorative fixing member 520 are assembled to the rear case 510 (see Figure 36).

[0476] In this embodiment, the fastening positions are designed such that fixing the internal operating unit 600 to the rear case 510 alone does not provide sufficient rigidity (for example, the fastening positions are located only at one end, upper or lower), and the internal operating unit 600 is configured to be able to flex and deform outward to the left and right relative to the rear case 510 (allowing for changes in posture) (see dashed lines in Figure 45).

[0477] This bending deformation makes it possible to quickly assemble the light-emitting motion effect unit 700. Specifically, the assembly of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 is performed by inserting the fastening part 682 into the connecting hole 764 of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 and then screwing a fastening screw into the fastening part 682. As the internal motion unit 600 bends outward to the left and right, the dimensions of the path through which the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 enters the fastening part 682 can be widened from the fixed width dimension W1 to the bent width dimension W2, thereby improving the workability of the assembly process.

[0478] In this case, the internal operating unit 600 deforms by bending outwards to the left and right, causing the direction in which the fastening screws enter the fastening portion 682 to tilt inwards to the left and right as it approaches the rear side (a tilt direction in which the front side spreads outwards to the left and right).

[0479] In this case, compared to when the fastening screw is driven in the front-to-back direction, the screwdriver used to drive the fastening screw can be driven into the rear case 510 while keeping it away from (avoiding) the decorative member 750 of the light-emitting motion display unit 700 (in a direction inclined relative to the front-to-back direction).

[0480] Therefore, the fastening process can be made easier, and the design freedom of the decorative member 750 of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700, whose shape is designed with the aim of avoiding contact with the driver, can be improved. In other words, the work efficiency of the assembly of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 can be improved, and the design freedom of the decorative member 750 can be improved.

[0481] In order to achieve this effect, in this embodiment, the left-right dimension of the elongated hole 764a of the connecting hole 764 through which the fastening screw is inserted is designed to accommodate the displacement of the fastening portion 682 due to the bending deformation of the internal operating unit 600 (sufficient left-right length).

[0482] Furthermore, the internal operating unit 600 is configured to be less prone to bending deformation inward on the left and right sides compared to bending deformation outward on the left and right sides, because the cylindrical member 695 contacts the bottom wall portion 511 of the rear case 510, creating resistance.

[0483] In this embodiment, the decorative fixing member 520 is assembled to suppress the bending deformation of the internal operating unit 600 to the left and right outwards. This is due to the fact that there are more fastening positions between the internal operating unit 600, the decorative fixing member 520, and the rear case 510 (fastening positions on the outer wall portion 512 of the rear case 510 and on the front side of the internal operating unit 600, and fastening positions on the front side) than fastening positions between the internal operating unit 600 and the rear case 510 (fastening positions located on the bottom wall portion 511 of the rear case 510 and fastening positions located closer to the rear side), as well as the design of the decorative fixing member 520.

[0484] Firstly, the decorative fixing member 520 includes an outer plate portion 547 that is fastened and fixed to the outer wall portion 512 or the support plate portion 513, and the support plate portion 513, which is integrally formed with the outer wall portion 512, is fastened and fixed to the base plate 60 (see Figure 42). That is, the displacement of the decorative fixing member 520 is restricted by the base plate 60 via the support plate portion 513. As a result, the rigidity of the decorative fixing member 520 and the internal operating unit 600 can be improved by utilizing the rigidity of the base plate 60, thereby suppressing the bending deformation of the internal operating unit 600 to the left and right outwards.

[0485] Secondly, the insertion plate portion 531 of the decorative fixing member 520 is positioned in contact with the left and right outer sides of the internal operating unit 600. That is, the insertion plate portion 531 can suppress the bending deformation of the internal operating unit 600 to the left and right outer sides.

[0486] These first and second configurations make it possible to prevent the internal operating unit 600 from bending and deforming outwards to the left and right when the decorative fixing member 520 is assembled.

[0487] In addition, the decorative fixing member 520 is configured to be assembled to the rear case 510 from the front side, and the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 is configured to be assembled to the rear case 510 from the front side. Therefore, the assembly work can be performed in a series of steps, such as assembling the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 followed by assembling the decorative fixing member 520, without changing the orientation of the rear case 510. Thus, the efficiency of the assembly work can be improved.

[0488] On the other hand, if the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 can be removed from the fastening part 682 for maintenance, etc., without removing the decorative fixing member 520, the amount of work required for maintenance can be reduced, making it more efficient.

[0489] Here, the illuminated circuit boards 570 and 580 are arranged on the back side of the decorative fixing member 520 (see Figure 42). Configuring the illuminated circuit boards 570 and 580 to protrude inward on the left and right sides expands the range of the light-emitting effect and improves the effect.

[0490] In contrast, if the illuminated circuit boards 570 and 580 are arranged to protrude inward on the left and right sides, as in this embodiment, when a maintenance worker moves the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 to the front, the connecting plate portions 765 formed at the left and right ends of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 may collide with the illuminated circuit boards 570 and 580, potentially damaging the illuminated circuit boards 570 and 580.

[0491] In contrast, in this embodiment, a protective extension portion 677b is extended from the front side edge of the extended wall portion 677 of the inner member 670, which will be described later, toward the left and right inwards, in a shape sufficient to cover the back surfaces of the illuminated circuit boards 570 and 580 (see Figure 42).

[0492] The protective extension portion 677b has left and right inner ends formed in the same shape as the shape lines S51 (see Figure 42) corresponding to the shape of the left and right inner edges of the upper parts of the illuminated circuit boards 570 and 580, and extends to the position corresponding to the shape lines S51.

[0493] This increases the area that supports the illuminated circuit boards 570 and 580 from the rear, and also protects the back of the upper part of the illuminated circuit boards 570 and 580 with the protective extension 677b, thereby preventing contact between the illuminated circuit boards 570 and 580 and the light-emitting operation unit 700 during maintenance work.

[0494] On the other hand, below the lower end of the shape line S51, regardless of the shape of the lighting circuit boards 570 and 580, the formation of the extensions to the left and right inwards is omitted. Therefore, when removing the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 at this position, there remains a possibility that the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 and the lighting circuit boards 570 and 580 may come into contact.

[0495] In contrast, in this embodiment, the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 is configured to undergo a downward displacement and change in orientation (see Figures 37 and 38). Due to the change in orientation, the orientation of the fastening portion 682 changes from the front-to-back direction to the up-and-down direction, making it impossible to insert a screwdriver into the fastening screw. Therefore, the operation to remove the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 is configured to be performed before the orientation of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 changes. Accordingly, it is sufficient for the protective extension portion 677b to be formed at a position where it is located before the orientation of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 changes, and in this embodiment, it is designed in this manner (see Figure 37).

[0496] In this way, instead of forming the protective extension portion 677b over the entire vertical range, by limiting its formation to the minimum necessary range to avoid contact between the light-emitting operation unit 700 and the illuminated circuit boards 570 and 580, the formation range of the protective extension portion 677b can be narrowed.

[0497] In other words, in this embodiment, the configuration is such that the arrangement of the light-emitting operation performance unit 700, which can be removed, is limited to an arrangement between the retracted state and the intermediate state of the internal operation unit 600, thereby reducing the range of formation of the protective extension portion 677b.

[0498] In this embodiment, it is also possible to remove the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 after removing the decorative fixing member 520 from the rear case 510. In this case, as with the assembly process, the internal motion unit 600 can be bent outward to the left and right to widen the width of the path for removing the light-emitting motion effect unit 700, thereby preventing the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 from coming into contact with the protective extension portion 677b.

[0499] Figure 47 is an exploded front perspective view of the operating unit 500, and Figure 48 is an exploded rear perspective view of the operating unit 500. Figures 47 and 48 mainly illustrate the disassembled state of the internal operating unit 600, and the decorative fixing member 520 is not shown.

[0500] As shown in Figures 47 and 48, the internal operating unit 600 comprises an outer member 610 fastened and fixed to the bottom plate portion 511 of the rear case 510, a lifting plate member 630 supported by the outer member 610 so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction and positioned inward in the left-right direction, a drive motor 648 fastened and fixed to the outer member 610 and a device for generating a driving force to raise and lower the lifting plate member 630, a transmission gear 649 fixed to the drive shaft of the drive motor 648 and transmitting the driving force to the lifting plate member 630, and a coil spring SP1 that applies an upward biasing force (tensioning load) to the lifting plate member 630.

[0501] Furthermore, the internal operating unit 600 includes a resistance generating device 650 configured to generate resistance to the movement of the lifting plate member 630; an inner member 670 positioned inward in the left-right direction so as to position the lifting plate member 630 between itself and the outer member 610, and fastened to the outer member 610 by fastening screws inserted through the outer member 610 in the left-right direction; a displacement member 680 supported by the inner member 670 so as to be displaceable and positioned inward in the left-right direction; a rotational posture assisting member 690 fastened to the rear side of the upper end of the inner member 670 from the left and right inward; and a light-emitting operation performance unit 700 connected to both ends of the displacement member 680.

[0502] The internal operating unit 600 is a unit configured in a generally symmetrical manner, with the light-emitting operation and performance unit 700 positioned in the center left and right, and the light-emitting operation and performance unit 700 is supported in an operable manner by a substantially common configuration fixed to the rear case 510 on both the left and right sides of the light-emitting operation and performance unit 700.

[0503] The details of each component of the internal operating unit 600 will be explained below with reference to Figures 49 and 50, which are enlarged versions of the areas shown in Figure 47. Figures 47 and 48 will be referenced as appropriate in the explanation of Figures 49 and 50.

[0504] Figure 49(a) is an exploded front perspective view of the outer member 610, the lifting plate member 630, and the resistance generator 650 in area XLIXa of Figure 47; Figure 49(b) is a front perspective view of the outer member 610 in area XLIXb of Figure 47; Figure 50(a) is an exploded front perspective view of the lifting plate member 630, the inner member 670, the displacement member 680, and the rotational posture assist member 690 in area La of Figure 47; and Figure 50(b) is an exploded front perspective view of the displacement member 680 and the rotational posture assist member 690 in area Lb of Figure 47.

[0505] As shown in Figures 49(a) and 49(b), the outer member 610 comprises a plate-like portion 611 formed in the vertical direction as a long plate, and extended wall portions 621 that extend in a wall-like manner to the left and right outer sides of the plate-like portion 611 (towards the outer wall portion 512 of the rear case 510 that is adjacent in the assembled state) and are formed to demarcate the left and right outer regions of the plate-like portion 611.

[0506] The plate-shaped portion 611 includes a pair of upper and lower elongated holes 612 drilled in the vertical direction as long ovals, a wiring pass-through hole 613 drilled behind the upper elongated hole 612 as an elongated oval that is long in the vertical direction and wide (wider than the elongated hole 612), and a pair of upper and lower guide protrusions 614 that protrude outwards to the left and right in a cylindrical shape behind the lower elongated hole 612.

[0507] The elongated holes 612 are designed to restrict the displacement direction of the lifting plate member 630, and a pair of them are positioned on the upper and lower sides. The front-to-back width of the elongated holes 612 is formed to be slightly wider than the diameters of the upper fastening portion 632 and lower fastening portion 633 of the lifting plate member 630 through which it is inserted, thus reducing the front-to-back displacement of the lifting plate member 630. These pairs of elongated holes 612 are formed with a deliberate offset in their front-to-back arrangement. That is, the lower elongated hole 612 is positioned further forward than the upper elongated hole 612.

[0508] As a result, the support position of the upper part of the lifting plate member 630 is located further back than the support position of the lower part of the lifting plate member 630, so the lower part of the lifting plate member 630, which is suspended from the upper part of the lifting plate member 630, is biased to the rear by gravity.

[0509] This allows the rack gear portion 634 of the lifting plate member 630 to be moved closer to the transmission gear 649, thereby preventing the rack gear portion 634 from falling off the transmission gear 649 and optimizing the gear relationship.

[0510] The wiring pass-through hole 613 is an opening for electrical wiring connected inside the light-emitting motion effect unit 700, passing through the irregularly shaped opening 685a of the fall-prevention color member 685, through the electrical wiring located on the left and right outer sides of the inner member 670, and out to the left and right outer sides of the outer member 610.

[0511] The guide projection 614 functions as a part that guides the displacement of the front-rear displacement member 653 of the resistance generating device 650. That is, it guides the front-rear displacement member 653 so that it can be displaced in the front-rear direction, and also functions to prevent the front-rear displacement member 653 from tilting forward or backward and changing its posture, but the details will be described later.

[0512] The extended wall portion 621 includes a plurality of fastening portions 622 located at the front end and configured to allow fastening screws to be screwed into the decorative fixing member 520, and a pair of upper and lower receiving holes 623 located on the rear side and formed to allow insertion projections 532 (see Figure 43) of the insertion plate portion 531 of the decorative fixing member 520 to be inserted. The fastening portions other than the fastening portions 622 located at the front end are mainly for fastening and fixing the illuminated circuit boards 570 and 580 (see Figure 40).

[0513] The lifting plate member 630 comprises a long main body portion 631 whose elongated direction is oriented vertically, a pair of upper fastening portions 632 formed projecting outwards to the left and right from the long main body portion 631 and inserted into the upper elongated holes 612 of the outer member 610, and formed so that fastening screws can be screwed in, a pair of lower fastening portions 633 formed projecting outwards to the left and right from the long main body portion 631 and inserted into the lower elongated holes 612 of the outer member 610, and formed so that fastening screws can be screwed in, and a rack gear portion 634 formed in a gear-tooth shape on the back side of the long main body portion 631 and meshing with the transmission gear 649.

[0514] Furthermore, the lifting plate member 630 includes a detectable portion 635 that extends from the lower end of the elongated main body portion 631 toward the rear and is positioned in a detection groove of a position detection device (not shown) so as to be able to detect the position of the elongated main body portion 631; a front and rear elongated hole 636 drilled in the elongated main body portion 631 as an elongated hole in the front-rear direction at an intermediate position between a pair of upper fastening portions 632; a fall prevention plate 637 that is positioned on the left and right outer sides of the plate-shaped portion 611 and fastened and fixed to the upper fastening portion 632 by fastening screws inserted through it; a contact plate 638 that is positioned on the left and right outer sides of the plate-shaped portion 611 and fastened and fixed to the lower fastening portion 633 by fastening screws inserted through it; and a ring member C1 that is assembled to the upper fastening portion 632 and the lower fastening portion 633 to reduce frictional resistance during operation.

[0515] The upper fastening portion 632 and the lower fastening portion 633 are positioned in accordance with the front-to-back arrangement of the elongated holes 612 in the outer member 610. Therefore, the lower fastening portion 633 is positioned in front of the upper fastening portion 632.

[0516] The front and rear elongated holes 636 are elongated holes that guide the front and rear movement of the metal rod-shaped member 686, which is inserted through the second elongated hole 673 and the curved elongated hole 674 of the inner member 670, and are formed with a front and rear length that is greater than or equal to the front and rear width of the area in which the second elongated hole 673 and the curved elongated hole 674 are formed.

[0517] With the upper fastening portion 632 of the lifting plate member 630 inserted into the upper elongated hole 612, the fall prevention plate 637 is fastened and fixed to the tip side of the upper fastening portion 632, and with the lower fastening portion 633 inserted into the lower elongated hole 612, the contact plate 638 is fastened and fixed to the tip side of the lower fastening portion 633, thereby making it easier to prevent the lifting plate member 630, which is supported by the outer member 610 so as to be able to move up and down, from falling off the outer member 610.

[0518] The contact plate 638 is provided with locking portions on its left and right outer sides for locking the lower end of the coil spring SP1. The upper end of the coil spring SP1 is locked to the locking portions 638a formed on the left and right outer sides of the plate-shaped portion 611 of the outer member 610. In other words, the coil spring SP1 generates a biasing force (tensile force) that biases the contact plate 638 upward.

[0519] While the fall prevention plate 637 is formed in an oval shape, the contact plate 638 is formed in a rectangular shape. This allows for a larger contact area with the resistance generating device 650, thereby reducing the amount of load per unit area generated during collision, but further details will be described later.

[0520] The resistance generating device 650 includes a solenoid 651 that directs the direction of the plunger's extension and retraction in the front-rear direction, a fixing cover 652 that houses the solenoid 651 and fixes it to the left and right outer sides of the outer member 610, and a front-rear displacement member 653 that is engaged with the plunger of the solenoid 651 and is configured to be displaceable in the front-rear direction by being guided by the guide projection 614 of the outer member 610.

[0521] The fixed cover 652 includes a plurality of through holes 652a drilled at both the upper and lower positions of the solenoid 651 as through holes through which fastening screws screwed into the outer member 610 can be inserted, and a pair of upper and lower fitting portions 652b recessed to accommodate the tip of the guide projection 614 of the outer member 610.

[0522] The front-to-back displacement member 653 is provided with a pair of guided elongated holes 653a drilled in the front-to-back length as elongated holes through which the guide projections 614 are inserted on both the upper and lower sides. When the guided elongated holes 653a are inserted through the guide projections 614, the fitting portion 652b of the fixing cover 652 is fitted onto the tip of the guide projections 614, thereby preventing the front-to-back displacement member 653 from falling off the guide projections 614.

[0523] As shown in Figures 50(a) and 50(b), the inner member 670 comprises a plate-shaped portion 671 that is positioned opposite the plate-shaped portion 611 of the outer member 610 in the left-right direction, an extended wall portion 677 that extends in a wall-like manner to the left and right outer sides of the plate-shaped portion 671, and a rectangular protrusion portion 678 that is formed to protrude in a rectangular shape to the left and right inward at the upper rear end of the plate-shaped portion 671.

[0524] The plate-shaped portion 671 includes a first elongated hole 672 drilled as a vertically elongated hole on the rear side of the lifting plate member 630, a second elongated hole 673 drilled as a hole extending parallel to the first elongated hole 672 from an upper end that is offset above the upper end of the first elongated hole 672 and on the front side of the first elongated hole 672, and a curved elongated hole 674 drilled as a curved elongated hole connected to the lower end of the second elongated hole 673.

[0525] In Figure 48, the fastening portion of the plate-shaped portion 671 to the rear case 510 is shown only on the rear side of the upper end of the left inner member 670, and no other fastening portions are shown on the rear side of the inner member 670. As can be seen from this, the position of the plate-shaped portion 671 is mainly fixed not by direct fastening to the rear case 510, but by fastening to the rear case 510 via the outer member 610 and decorative fixing member 520 (see Figure 40). In other words, the fixing force between the plate-shaped portion 671 and the rear case 510 is generated by indirect fastening to the rear case 510.

[0526] The plate-shaped portion 671 is provided with a plurality of fastening portions 671a into which fastening screws are screwed in from the left and right outer sides in a left-right direction into the plate-shaped portion 611 of the outer member 610, and the inner member 670 is fastened and fixed to the outer member 610 by screwing in the fastening screws.

[0527] The first elongated hole 672 is formed to be wider than the width of the second elongated hole 673 and the curved elongated hole 674. In this embodiment, the first elongated hole 672 can be used as a through-hole for electrical wiring, and it is possible to prevent the electrical wiring connected to the light-emitting operation performance unit 700 from being exposed in the left and right inner regions of the left and right inner members 670, but the details will be described later.

[0528] The second elongated hole 673 and the curved elongated hole 674 are formed with the same width. The curved shape of the curved elongated hole 674 is formed as an arc with the center of the cylindrical portion 684 as the axis, when the cylindrical portion 684 of the displacement member 680, which is guided into the first elongated hole 672, is located at the lower end of the first elongated hole 672.

[0529] The extended wall portion 677 comprises a partition wall portion 677a formed to surround the first elongated hole 672 extending outward from the plate-shaped portion 671 to the left and right, and a protective extended portion 677b that extends inward from the front side edge to the left and right in a shape sufficient to cover the back surfaces of the illuminated circuit boards 570 and 580.

[0530] The displacement member 680 comprises a box-shaped main body 681 formed in a substantially rectangular box shape with the left and right inner sides open, a pair of fastening parts 682 formed projecting outward from the short-side walls of the box-shaped main body 681, an extension part 683 extending along the left and right outer sides of the box-shaped main body 681, a cylindrical part 684 protruding outward from the corners of the box-shaped main body 681, and a fall prevention collar member 685 fastened and fixed to the tip side of the cylindrical part 684, and an extension The unit comprises a metal rod-shaped member 686 that is fitted and fixed into a fitting recess 683a formed as a circular recess at the base end of part 683; a plurality of ring members 687 arranged in the gap between members that are displaced relative to each other, through which the metal rod-shaped member 686 is inserted; a large-diameter ring member 688 through which the cylindrical part 684 is inserted; and front and rear ring members 689 that are inserted into the fastening part 682 when arranged to sandwich the light-emitting motion performance unit 700 from the front and rear (see Figure 46).

[0531] The fastening portion 682 has a female threaded portion into which a fastening screw is screwed, which is inserted through the connecting hole 764 of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700. This fastening screw connects the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 to the displacement member 680.

[0532] The extension portion 683 functions as a protective part that prevents the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 from coming into contact with the inner member 670 when the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 is assembled to the displacement member 680 (see Figures 45 and 46 for the arrangement of the extension portion 683 and the light-emitting motion effect unit 700).

[0533] The cylindrical portion 684 includes an irregularly shaped opening 684b formed on its inner circumference so as to penetrate the box-shaped single portion 681 in the left-right direction, and fastening portions 684a formed at both positions on either side of the central axis passing through the irregularly shaped opening 684a so as to be able to screw in fastening screws that are inserted through the fall prevention collar member 685.

[0534] The cylindrical portion 684 is inserted through the first elongated hole 672 of the inner member 670, and the fall-prevention collar member 685 is fastened and fixed to it. In the center of the fall-prevention collar member 685, an irregularly shaped opening 685a is formed, which is approximately the same size as the irregularly shaped opening 684b of the cylindrical portion 684.

[0535] In other words, when the fall prevention collar member 685 is fastened and fixed to the cylindrical portion 684, an opening is formed on the inner circumference of both the cylindrical portion 684 and the fall prevention collar member 685, penetrating in the left-right direction. This opening functions as a pass-through hole for electrical wiring connected to the light-emitting motion effect unit 700. This will be explained here.

[0536] The other end of the electrical wiring, one end of which is connected to the light-emitting motion effect unit 700, is routed outwards through the wiring hole 762 (see Figure 48) of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700, passes through the irregularly shaped opening 684b of the cylindrical portion 684 of the displacement member 680 and the irregularly shaped opening 685a of the fall-prevention collar member 685, and is routed outwards to the left and right of the first elongated hole 672 of the inner member 670, and further passes through the wiring hole 613 of the outer member 610, and is routed outwards to the left and right of the plate-shaped portion 611.

[0537] The irregularly shaped opening 685a is not a simple circular opening, but has a protruding portion (a portion through which a fastening screw is inserted) that extends inward from the circular diameter position. When the irregularly shaped opening 685a rotates in the circumferential direction, the protruding portion catches the electrical wiring, causing the electrical wiring to displace in the circumferential direction. This suppresses friction between the irregularly shaped opening 685a and the electrical wiring, making it easier to prevent the electrical wiring from breaking.

[0538] The other end of the electrical wiring is routed from the left and right outer edges of the plate-shaped portion 611 to the back side of the rear case 510 and connected to individual relay boards. The areas on the left and right outer edges of the plate-shaped portion 611 are hidden by at least the decorative fixing member 520 (see Figure 40).

[0539] While there is a possibility that the electrical wiring may be exposed at one end between the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 and the displacement member 680, in this embodiment, the box-shaped main body 681 extends inward on both sides to cover the electrical wiring, and the extended plate portion 763 of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 extends in front of the wiring pass-through hole 762 to cover the electrical wiring in a front view (see Figure 48). This makes it easier to prevent the electrical wiring from being exposed at the position between the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 and the displacement member 680.

[0540] By routing the electrical wiring in this manner, it is possible to avoid the situation where the electrical wiring is exposed in the left and right inner regions of the pair of left and right inner members 670. Therefore, problems that often occur when the electrical wiring is visible to the player, such as the electrical wiring being positioned in front of the third symbol display device 81 and obscuring the display, thereby reducing visibility, and the electrical wiring being haphazardly arranged, making it look messy and reducing the effect of the presentation, can be resolved. In other words, the visibility of the third symbol display device 81 can be improved, and the electrical wiring can be hidden from the player.

[0541] At this time, the partition wall 677a restricts the arrangement of electrical wiring in the gap between the outer member 610 and the inner member 670, thereby preventing the lifting plate member 630, which is positioned on the front side of the partition wall 677a, from coming into contact with the electrical wiring.

[0542] The metal rod-shaped member 686 is given a flanged rod shape by fitting E-rings to the left and right outer ends, which prevents the member from falling off from the left and right outer ends. The insertion sequence for the metal rod-shaped member 686 is as follows: the left and right inner ends are inserted in the order of ring member 687, front and rear elongated holes 636 of the lifting plate member 630, ring member 687, second elongated hole 673 (curved elongated hole 674) of the inner member 670, ring member 687, and fitting recess 683a of the displacement member 680, and are fitted and fixed into the fitting recess 683a of the extended portion 683.

[0543] As described above, the metal rod-shaped member 686 is a member inserted through the lifting plate member 630 and the inner member 670. Its vertical arrangement depends on the change in arrangement due to the lifting and lowering movement of the lifting plate member 630, and its front-to-back arrangement depends on the arrangement of the second elongated hole 673 and the curved elongated hole 674. The arrangement of the metal rod-shaped member 686 is configured to change the arrangement and posture of the displacement member 680 and the light-emitting motion display unit 700, to which the metal rod-shaped member 686 is fitted and fixed. The changes in the arrangement and posture of the displacement member 680 and the light-emitting motion display unit 700 will be described later.

[0544] The front and rear ring members 689 include a plate-shaped ring member 689a positioned on the box-shaped main body 681 side, and a flanged ring member 689b having a flange that widens outward at the end of the cylinder.

[0545] The plate-shaped ring member 689a and the flanged ring member 689b are configured to sandwich the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 between their respective plate-shaped portions, which are arranged front to back. The cylindrical portion 689b1 of the flanged ring member 689b is positioned on the inner circumference side of the connecting hole 764 of the intermediate connecting member 760, which will be described later.

[0546] The rotational posture assist member 690 is positioned on the left and right inner sides of the rectangular protrusion 678 of the inner member 670, and is fastened and fixed to the rectangular protrusion 678 by fastening screws inserted from the left and right inner sides and screwed into the fastening portion of the rectangular protrusion 678.

[0547] The rotational posture assist member 690 comprises a box-shaped main body 691 formed in a box shape with open inner sides on the left and right, and fastened and fixed to the rectangular protruding portion 678, and a cylindrical member 695 positioned on the left and right inner sides of the box-shaped main body 691 and rotatably pivoted on the box-shaped main body 691.

[0548] The box-shaped main body 691 includes extensions 692 that extend downward from the left and right inner ends on the rear side, and a cylindrical member 695 is supported by a rotating shaft that extends in the left-right direction on the left and right inner sides of the extensions 692. In other words, the cylindrical member 695 is positioned at the rear end and lower position of the box-shaped main body 691, and is positioned away from the player, so that the cylindrical member 695 does not stand out excessively.

[0549] The light-emitting motion effect unit 700 is a unit connected to the fastening portion 682 of the displacement members 680 arranged on both the left and right sides, and its position and orientation change as the arrangement and orientation of the displacement members 680 on both the left and right sides change.

[0550] Figure 51 is an exploded front perspective view of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700, Figure 52 is an exploded rear perspective view of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700, and Figure 53 is an exploded front perspective view of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700. Figure 53 shows an exploded view of the light-emitting motion effect unit 700 as seen from above. In addition to the light-emitting motion effect unit 700, Figure 53 also shows the displacement member 680 in a corresponding arrangement.

[0551] The light-emitting motion effect unit 700 comprises a main body member 710 on which a rotating effect device 800 is installed, a lower plate member 730 positioned below the main body member 710 and fastened to the main body member 710, an intermediate plate member 740 positioned between the main body member 710 and the lower plate member 730 and closing the front side of the space, a plurality of decorative members 750 fixed to the front side of the intermediate plate member 740, and a pair of left and right intermediate connecting members 760 positioned on both the left and right sides of the main body member 710 and fastened to the main body member 710 by fastening screws inserted from the left and right outer sides.

[0552] The main body member 710 is formed in a box shape with its bottom and front sides open and includes a plurality of fastening parts 711 into which fastening screws inserted from below into the lower plate member 730 can be screwed; a front edge portion 712 extending downward from the front side edge of the top plate; a plurality of clamping parts 713 positioned opposite the front edge portion 712 with dimensions that allow the intermediate plate member 740 to be sandwiched between them; and a pair of left and right fixed plate portions 720 formed to connect the top plate and the rear side wall portion on both the left and right sides.

[0553] The fixed plate portion 720 is formed in a flat plate shape along a plane intersecting the left-right axis so that the intermediate connecting member 760 can be supported by its surface, and includes a plurality of fastening portions 721 into which fastening screws inserted from the left and right outer sides of the intermediate connecting member 760 can be screwed in and used for fastening and fixing the intermediate member 760, and a recessed portion 722 which is recessed in a substantially semicircular shape at the lower end on the back side.

[0554] The recessed portion 722 is formed such that its semicircular central axis aligns with the central axis of the wiring hole 762 drilled in the intermediate connecting member 760. This allows the opening formed by the recessed portion 722 and the lower plate member 730 and the wiring hole 762 to be aligned in a straight line from left to right, making it easier to pass electrical wiring through the wiring hole 762.

[0555] The lower plate member 730 includes a plurality of through holes 731 for inserting fastening screws that are screwed into the fastening portion 711 of the main body member 710, and a plurality of protrusions 732 arranged facing each other in the front and rear directions near the front edge.

[0556] The lower plate member 730 has a light-diffusing treatment applied to the left and right outer sides of its lower surface, and is formed in such a way that visibility is reduced when looking towards the back through the member. As a result, even when viewing the light-emitting motion display unit 700 from the lower plate member 730 side in an upward-looking direction (see Figure 53), it is difficult to see the electrical wiring, drive mechanism, etc., located inside it.

[0557] Furthermore, patterns or figures may be drawn on the left and right inner parts of the lower surface of the lower plate member 730 (the roughly circular white painted areas in Figure 53). This allows the player to see the patterns or figures on the light-emitting motion display unit 700, even when the internal motion unit 600 is retracted (see Figure 36) and the lower surface is visible to the player, thus maintaining the effect of the performance.

[0558] The protruding portion 732 is formed to perform the same function as the front edge portion 712 and the clamping portion 713 of the main body member 710. That is, it is arranged front to back with dimensions that allow it to clamp the intermediate plate member 740.

[0559] The intermediate plate member 740 is formed in a thin plate shape that curves in line with the shape of the front edge of the lower plate member 730, with the left and right central portions protruding towards the front, and multiple illuminated circuit boards 741 are fastened and fixed to the back side.

[0560] The intermediate plate member 740 is held in place by being sandwiched between the main body member 710 and the lower plate member 730. Specifically, the upper edge of the intermediate plate member 740 is sandwiched between the front edge 712 and the clamping portion 713 of the main body member 710, and the lower edge of the intermediate plate member 740 is held in place by being sandwiched between the protruding portion 732 of the lower plate member 730. Therefore, the number of fastening screws required for assembly can be reduced compared to when the intermediate plate member 740 is fastened to the main body member 710 or the lower plate member 730.

[0561] The illuminated circuit board 741 is positioned in the center and on both the left and right sides, and is configured to emit light from light-emitting means such as LEDs located on the front side. This allows for the execution of a lighting effect that illuminates the decorative member 750.

[0562] Light is only emitted from the light-emitting means on the illuminated circuit board 741 toward the front, and there are no light-emitting means arranged to emit light toward the bottom (towards the lower plate member 730). However, when the player views the lower pl...

Claims

[Claim 1] A gaming machine comprising a game board, a first displacement member, a second displacement member, and a driving means, wherein the first displacement member is configured to be displaced relative to the second displacement member in accordance with the displacement of the second displacement member, The surface visible in a predetermined region when viewed in a predetermined direction is configured to change between the first surface and the second surface by the relative displacement of the first displacement member. The driving means is configured to generate a driving force that displaces the second displacement member, The first displacement member can be positioned at a first position and a second position different from the first position. The second position is a position where the visibility of the first displacement member is lower than that of the first position. The relative displacement and the visible surface change are configured to be caused by the driving force. The first displacement member is positioned such that at least a portion of it is located forward of a predetermined position on the front side of the game board at the first position. The gaming machine is configured such that, when the first displacement member is in the first position, a predetermined portion of the first surface is located further forward than a specific portion of the second surface, and when the first displacement member is in the second position, the specific portion is located further forward than the predetermined portion. The driving means is configured to be able to change state from a specific state that generates the driving force to a predetermined state, The visible surface is configured to change as the driving means changes state from the specific state to the predetermined state, The gaming machine is, When the visible surface is changed, the system is configured to maintain the changed state of the visible surface. In a situation where the first displacement member is positioned at the first position, the first surface is configured to be visible in a predetermined direction, and the second surface is configured to be visible in a specific direction different from the predetermined direction. In a situation where the first displacement member is positioned at the second position, the second surface is configured to be visible in the predetermined direction and also visible in the specific direction. A gaming machine characterized in that the second surface can be seen in the specific direction view even when the first displacement member is subjected to the relative displacement.

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