GB2445708A

GB2445708A - Game machine

Info

Publication number: GB2445708A
Application number: GB0808450A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Masato Okuaki; Shoki Kogure
Original assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co Ltd
Current assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-10-13
Filing date: 2006-09-07
Publication date: 2008-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-07
Also published as: TWI324943B; WO2007043258A1; GB0808450D0; TW200730226A; GB2445708B; HK1123238A1; JP2007105219A; JP3939332B2

Abstract

A game machine in which the sate of game can be switched using a mechanical arrangement. Especially the station section (ST) in a pusher game machine (1) comprises a main table (501) for storing metals (M), a pusher section (510) for generating a flow of metals (M) on the main table (501) by sliding on the main table (501) and pushing the metals (M), especially a metal guide plate (533) of guide sections (530R, 530L) for controlling the flow of metals (M) on the main table (501), and a guide section moving mechanism (540) for protruding the metal guide plate (533) of the guide sections (530R, 530L) from the main table (501) or retracting the metal guide plate (533) to below the upper surface of a predetermined table.

Description

Specification

Game Device

[Field of the Invention]

1] The present invention relates to a game device, and especially to a game device using an approximately disk shaped game medium such as a medal.

[Background Art]

2] A game device using an approximately spherical shaped game medium (e.g..

a ball) and an approximately disk shaped game medium (e.g., a medal) has been generally known. In the present explanation, a game device using these types of game media is referred to as a medal game device. Note that the term "game medium" in the present application means a tangible entity to be used when a game is performed.

3] A pusher game device has been widely known as a typical example of the medal game device. In general, the pusher game is configured to include a slot into which a game player inserts a game medium, a playing field on which the game medium inserted into the slot is temporarily accumulated, an outlet for discharging the game medium inserted into the slot to the playing field, and a pusher part for pushing the game medium on the playing field at a predetermined cycle. Note that a single or plurality of game medium/media of the game media pushed by the pusher part fall(s) from the playing field, and then paid out to a game player or are stored in the interior of the game device.

4] The medal game device as typified by the above pusher game device is configured that a game player plays a game by shooting a game medium. Result of the game is influenced by a timing when the game medium is shot, a direction in which the game medium is shot, or the amount of game media to be shot.

[Disclosure of the Invention]

[Problems the Invention Is to Solve] [0005] Meanwhile, a higher-impact game property and/or a more complicated game property has/have been recently demanded. For example, a plurality of game statuses, such as an advantageous game status, a normal game status, or a disadvantageous game status for a game player are prepared in order to realize the complicated game property. It is possible to realize the complicated game property by switching these statuses. Here, the inventors of the present invention found that it is possible to enhance a game property with a configuration that the game statuses are allowed to be switched by a mechanical element.

6] In response to this, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game device that is capable of switching game statuses with a mechanical element.

[Means to Solve the Problem] [0007] In order to achieve the object, a game device of a first invention includes a predetermined table for accumulating a first game medium thereon, pusher means for generating flow of the first game medium on the predetermined table by pushing the first game medium when the pusher means slides on the predetermined table, first flow control means for controlling flow of the first game medium on the predetermined table, and moving means for causing the first flow control means to protrude from the predetermined table or to be retracted below the upper surface of the predetermined

table.

8] It is possible to control flow of the first game medium, for example, to be advantageous for a game player with the first flow control means by providing the first flow control means for changing flow of the first game medium to a game device for pushing the first game medium, which is a tangible entity (e.g., medal), accumulated on the predetermined table. In addition, in a similar way to the above, it is possible to control flow of the first game medium, for example, to be disadvantageous for a game player with the first flow control means. Also, it is possible to change flow of the game medium by providing the moving means for causing the first flow control means to protrude above the predetermined table or to be retracted below the predetermined table. As a result, it is possible to switch the game statuses including a game status advantageous for a game player, a game status disadvantageous for a game player, and a game status neutral for a game player, with a mechanical element.

9] Also, a game device of a second invention is the game device of the first invention, and the first flow control means includes a first guide plate protruded from the predetermined table, and flow of the first game medium on the predetermined table is restricted by the first guide plate.

0] It is possible to make up the first flow control means for controlling flow of the first game medium, which is a tangible entity, with the first guide plate that is a plate member When the plate member is used. it is possible to realize flow of the first game medium with a simple configuration that the plate member is caused to protrude above the predetermined table or to be retracted below the predetermined table. As a result, it is possible to realize a game device for switching game statuses with a mechanical element at a low cost.

1] Also, a game device of a third invention is the game device of the second invention, and the first flow control means includes two first guide plates combined to be disposed in parallel to each other or in a V-shape.

2] It is possible to reliably guide the first game medium in a desired direction by using the first guide plates that are combined to be disposed in parallel to each other or in a V-shape. In other words, it is possible to accurately and reliably restrict flow of the first game medium with a configuration that the first game medium flows between the first guide plates combined to be disposed in parallel to each other or in a V-shape.

3] Also, a game device of a fourth invention is the game device of one of the first to third inventions, and further includes paying-out means for paying out the first game medium fallen from a predetermined end of the predetermined table to a game player. in addition, the first flow control means controls flow of the first game medium on the predetermined table so that the first game medium flows toward the predetermined end.

[00141 It is possible to configure the game status to be advantageous for a game player when flow is controlled by the first flow control means, by providing the paying-out means to be controlled by the first flow control means.

5] Also, a game device of a fifth invention is the game device of one of the first to third inventions, and further includes second flow control means for controlling flow of a second game medium accumulated on the predetermined table. in addition, the pusher means generates flow of the second game medium on the predetermined table by pushing the first game medium or the second game medium when the pusher means slides on the predetermined table.

6] It is possible to combine a game (e.g., a pusher game using the first game medium) and another type of game (e.g., a ball drawing game to be used in a bingo game) by providing the second flow control means for controlling flow of the second game medium that is formed in a shape different from that of the first game medium.

in other words. it is possible to combine plural kinds of games, and it is possible to realize a more complex game property.

7] Also, a game device of a sixth invention is the game device of the second invention, and further includes second flow control means for controlling flow of a second game medium accumulated on the predetermined table. In addition, the pusher means generates flow of the second game medium on the predetermined table by pushing the first game medium or the second game medium when the pusher means slides on the predetermined table. In addition, the second flow control means includes a second guide plate disposed above the first guide plate so to be separated from the first guide plate at a predetermined gap, and the predetermined gap is greater than or equal to thickness of the first game medium.

8] It is possible to form the second flow control means for controlling flow of the second game medium that is a tangible entity, for instance, with the second guide plate that is a plate member. In addition, it is possible to reduce the area on the predetermined table, which is occupied by elements (first and second flow control means) for controlling flow of the first game medium and the second game medium by providing the second guide plate above the first guide plate. Here, it is also possible to control flow of the second game medium without restricting flow of the first game medium with a configuration that a gap greater than or equal to thickness of the first game medium is formed between the first guide plate and the second guide plate.

9] A game device of a seventh invention is the game device of the sixth invention, and the second flow control means includes two guide plates combined to be disposed in parallel to each other or in a V-shape.

0] It is possible to reliably guide the second game medium in a desired direction by using the second guide plates that are combined to be disposed in parallel to each other or in a V-shape. In other words, it is possible to accurately and reliably restrict flow of the second game medium with a configuration that the second game medium flows between the second guide plates that are combined to be disposed in parallel to each other or in a V-shape.

[Effects of the Invention] [0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a game device that is capable of switching game statuses with a mechanical element.

[Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]

2] The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be hereinafter explained in detail with reference to the figures.

3] (1) Embodiment First, an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to figures. Note that respective figures only roughly illustrate shape, dimension, and positional relationship to the extent that the content of the present invention is understandable. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the shape, the dimension, and the positional relationship, which are exemplified in the respective figures. Also, a part of hatching to be illustrated in cross-sections is omitted in the respective figures for clear illustration of the configuration.

Furthermore, numeric values to be exemplified in the following paragraphs are only preferred examples of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the exemplified numeric values. This is also true for the respective embodiments to be described.

4] (1-1) Entire Configuration In the present embodiment, a medal is exemplified as the above described approximately disk shaped game medium, and a pusher game device is exemplified as a game device using the medal.

5] Fig. I is a partial perspective view for illustrating a configuration of a pusher game device 1 of an embodiment of the present invention. Note that Fig. 1 selectively illustrates a basic configuration of the pusher game device 1 for the purpose of giving a simple explanation.

6] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the pusher game device 1 is made up of a satellite SA and a station ST. Note that the figure illustrates an example that a single station ST is provided with a single satellite SA, but it is actually possible to combine a single satellite SA with a plurality of stations ST. In this case, a plurality of stations ST are disposed to surround the satellite SA.

[00271 (1-1-1) Configuration of Station Also, Fig. 2 selectively illustrates a configuration of the station ST illustrated in Fig. 1, and its overall configuration will be explained with reference to Figs. I and 2.

The station ST is an element for providing a game player with a variety of games such as a pusher game, a bingo game. and a digital drawing game.

8] As illustrated in Fig. 2, the station ST includes a medal shooting mechanism (shooting unit) 100, a medal transporting path 200, a lifting-up hopper 300, a medal discharging path 400, a playing field 500, a control unit 600, a display unit 700, and a chassis 800.

9] The chassis 800 is configured to be a framework of the station ST. The medal shooting mechanism 100 is disposed on the upper front side of the chassis 800.

The display unit 700 is disposed on the upper rear side of the chassis 800. The playing field 500 is disposed on the upper center of the chassis 800. In addition, the medal transporting path 200, the lifting-up hopper 300, the control unit 600, and the like are accommodated in the interior of chassis 800. Here, the term "front side" means the side on which a game player is positioned when he/she plays a game. The term "rear side" means the opposite side from the side on which a game player is positioned when he/she plays a game. The term "center" means an area disposed between the above described "front side" and "rear side." [0030] The medal shooting mechanism 100 is a mechanism for shooting a medal M (i.e., game medium) into the pusher game device when a game player plays a game.

The medal M shot from the medal shooting mechanism 100 is transported to the lifting-up hopper 300 via the medal transporting path 200, and is temporarily stored in the lifting-up hopper 300. As described above, the medal transporting path 200 and the lifting-up hopper 300 are disposed in the interior of the chassis 800. Note that the medal transporting path 200 mechanically and physically connects the medal shooting mechanism 100 and the lifting-up hopper 300, and has a function of transporting the medal M shot from the medal shooting mechanism 100 to the lifting-up hopper 300.

1] The lifting-up hopper 300 includes a medal accumulating part 310 for accumulating the medal M, a lifting-up part 320 for lifting up the medal M to a predetermined height, and a medal discharging part (discharging part) 330 for discharging the lifted-up medal M at a predetermined timing. In addition, a medal discharging path 400 for guiding the discharged medal M to the playing field 500 is disposed at an outlet of medal discharging part 330 so as to be capable of swinging from side to side.

2] The upper end of the lifting-up part 320 is disposed above the playing field 500. Accordingly, the medal discharging part 330, which is disposed at the upper end of the lifting-up part 320, is also disposed above the playing field 500. Therefore, the medal M temporarily accumulated in the medal accumulating part 310 provided below the playing field 500 is lifted up to a position higher than the playing field 500 by the lifting-up part 320, and then it is shot from the medal discharging part 330 to the playing field 500 via the medal discharging path 400.

3] The playing field 500 is mainly made up of a main table 501 for accumulating a medal that is in an effective condition, and a pusher part 510 that is disposed on the main table 501. Note that the effective condition means a condition that a medal is currently involved in a game. Also, the playing field 500 will be explained in detail in the following paragraphs.

4] The pusher part 510 includes an upper surface (hereinafter referred to as a sub-table 511) for accumulating the medal M that is in the effective condition, a sloped table 512 on which the medal M falling from the sub-table 511 slides, and a pushing wall 513 for pushing the medal Maccumulated on the main table 501.

5] In addition, the pusher part 510 is slidably provided on the main table 501 of the playing field 500, and slides back and forth at a constant cycle or at an arbitrary cycle. A part (rear side) of the pusher part 510 is accommodated in a housing part 720 to be described, which is provided below the display unit 700. The pusher part 510 slides in/out the housing part 720 and thus reciprocates back and forth.

6] Note that a framework member 710 of a display 701 in the display unit 700 is slidably made contact with the sub-table 511. Therefore, when the pusher part 510 is moved in a direction that it is accommodated in the housing part 720, the medal M on the sub-table 511 is pushed by the framework member 710. A part of medals M on the sub-table 511 falls on the sloped table 512 by the pushing movement.

7] A part of the medals M falling from the sub-table 511 enters apertures (these are referred to as award-winning apertures 515-1, 515-2, 515-3) provided in the sloped table 512. On the other hand, the rest of the medals M directly falls to the main table 501 and is accumulated on the main table 501.

8] In a similar way to the medal M on the sub-table 511, the medal M on the main table 501 is pushed by the sliding movement of the pusher part 510. In other words, the pusher part 510 is disposed on the main table 501 without any gap, and accordingly, the medal M on the main table 501 is pushed by the pushing wall 513 that forms the front surface of the pusher part 510 when the pusher part 510 is moved in a direction that it is carried out of the housing part 720. A part of the medals M on the main table 501 falls down by the pushing movement. The medal M falling from a game player's side (referred to as "front end 501a" (see Fig. 1)) is paid out to a game player, and the other medal M, for example, the medal M falling from the both sides (referred to as "side ends 501b") of the main table 501 is stored in a predetermined accumulating part in the interior of the station ST.

9] Also, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the station ST of the present embodiment includes a medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 in addition to the above described elements. As described in the following paragraphs, the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 includes a plurality of light-emitting parts (i.e., LEDs 920 to be described) that are arranged from the vicinity of the medal shooting mechanism 100 to the vicinity of the medal discharging part 330. A scene that the medal M inserted into the medal shooting mechanism 100 moves is rendered in a simulated way by causing the light-emitting parts to light up sequentially from the medal shooting mechanism 100 side to the medal discharging part 330 side. In this case, a path in which the medal M actually moves and a simulated path by rendering are not necessarily the same, and are not necessarily adjacent to each other.

0] Also, the medal M inserted in the medal shooting mechanism 100 is temporarily stored in the medal accumulating part 310 of the lifting-up hopper 300.

The medal M stored in the medal accumulating part 310 is lifted up by the lifting-up part 320, and is thus preliminarily set in the medal discharging part 330 of the lifting-up hopper 300. When the medal M is inserted into the medal shooting mechanism 100, the lifting-up hopper 300 discharges the medal M preliminarily set in the medal discharging part 330 to the playing field 500 based on the control by the control unit 600. As described above, in the present embodiment, the medal NI inserted by a game player and the medal M to be actually shot to the playing field 500 are different from each other.

1] Also, when the medal M is inserted into the medal shooting mechanism 100, the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 causes the arranged LEDs 920 to sequentially light up from the medal shooting mechanism 100 side to the medal discharging part 330 side based on the control by the control unit 600. Here, it is possible to render a scene that the medal M inserted into the medal shooting mechanism 100 moves in a simulated way by the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 by controlling the timing of causing the LED 920 disposed in the vicinity of the medal discharging part 330 to light up and the timing of discharging the medal M from the medal discharging part 330.

2] As illustrated in Fig. 1, in addition to the above elements, the station ST includes a ball shooting mechanism 1 800 at least on its one side.

The ball shooting mechanism 1800 is a mechanism for shooting a ball Bl or B2 (to be described) to the playing field 500, and includes a ball shooting slope 1801 and a ball shooting position drawing mechanism 1810. Note that the ball BI and the ball B2 are game media for performing a bingo game to be described.

3] The ball shooting slope 1801 is an element for guiding the ball Bi or the ball B2 shot from a ball carrier 1600 (to be described) to the ball shooting position drawing mechanism 1810 under the gravity. Therefore, the ball shooting slope 1801 is a down slope. Also, the ball shooting position drawing mechanism 1810 is an element for selecting a position on the playing field 500 to which the ball BI or the ball B2 is shot by a drawing. Thus, the ball BI or the ball B2 shot to the station ST from the ball carrier 1600 (to be described) is shot to the playing ground 500 via the ball shooting slope 1801 and the ball shooting position drawing mechanism 1810.

4] Also, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the station ST includes a ball transporting mechanism 1900 at least on its one side. The ball transporting mechanism 1900 is an element for transporting the ball B! or tha ball B2 fallen from the main table 501 of the playing field 500 to the satellite SA side, and includes a ball transporting path 1040, a ball transporting part 1910, and a ball transporting part traveling slope 1901, which are to be described. The ball transporting path 1040 is provided below a front end 5Ola, and guides the ball BI or the ball B2 fallen from the front end 501a to the ball transporting part 1910. The ball transporting part 1910 is an element for transporting the ball B 1 or the ball B2 received through the ball transporting path 1040 to the satellite SA, and travels the ball transporting part traveling slope 1901 based on the control by the control unit 600. Note that the ball B 1 or the ball B2 transported to the satellite SA side is transferred to the ball carrier 1600 to be described (see Fig. 3).

5] Furthermore, another game (e.g., bingo game and digital drawing game), which is displayed in the display unit 700 of the station ST, is provided for a game player.

6] The bingo game is a drawing game progressed with a drawing using a plurality of kinds (two kinds in the present embodiment) of balls BI and B2 (to be described) and the satellite SA, and is progressed by a control unit to be described (not illustrated in the figure) in the satellite SA and the control unit 600 in the station ST.

Note that the control unit to be described (not illustrated in the figure) in the satellite SA mainly controls the progression of the entire bingo game, and the control unit 600 in the station ST mainly takes charge of the control of each game player's side in the bingo game. In addition, a matrix type bingo table to be used in the bingo game is generated by the control unit 600 in the station ST, for instance, and is displayed in the display unit 700. Note that in the bongo game, depending on the status of winning, the ball BI and/or the ball B2, the medal M, and the like are shot to the playing field 500 of the corresponding station ST, and the right to join in another game in addition to the bingo game is obtained. Also, in addition to this, a variety of benefits (e.g., directly paying-out the medal M to a game player) may be configured to be given to a game player.

7] Also, the digital drawing game is a drawing game in which the control unit 600 of the station ST mainly digitally performs a drawing. The digital drawing game is displayed in the display unit 700 and is performed while the bingo game is not progressed, for instance. For example, the digital drawing game is started when the medal M enters any of the award-winning apertures 515-1, 515-2, and 515-3, which are provided in the slope table 512 of the pusher part 510. Note that in the digital drawing game, depending on the statusof winning, the ball Bi and/or the ball B2, the medal M, and the like are shot to the playing field 500 of the corresponding station ST and probability of the drawing becomes advantageous for a game player. Also, in addition to this, a variety of benefits (e.g., directly paying-out the medal M and the like to a game player) may be configured to be given to a game player.

8] Also, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the station ST includes a medal paying-out mechanism that has a lifting-up hopper 1020 and a medal paying-out part 1030.

When the medal paying-out mechanism is driven, the medal(s) M, the number of which is the same as that of the medal(s) M fallen from the front end 501 a, and the medal(s) M directly paid put to a game player, are paid out to an accumulating part 101 of the medal shooting mechanism 100.

9] (1-1-2) Configuration of Satellite Next, Fig. 3 selectively illustrates a configuration of the satellite SA illustrated in Fig. I, and its overall configuration will be explained with reference to Figs. I and 3. The satellite SA of the present embodiment is an element for performing a drawing in a bingo game. I'

[00501 As illustrated in Fig. 3, the satellite SA includes an outer bingo stage 1100, an inner bingo stage 1200, a ball supply mechanisms 1300 and 1400, a ball transporting path 1500, a ball shooting mechanism 1600, and a support base 1700.

[00511 The support base 1700 is an element functioning as a framework of the satellite SA, and supports other elements. The inner bingo stage 1200 is disposed on the upper center of the support base 1700, and the outer bingo stage 1100 is disposed to circularly surround the inner bingo stage 1200. Furthermore, the ball transporting path 1500 is disposed to circularly surround the outer bingo stage 1100. The ball supply mechanisms 1300 and 1400 are provided on the side of the ball transporting path 1500.

2] The ball supply mechanisms 1300 is an element for supplying a kind of ball, for example, the ball Bi that is made of non-metal. On the other hand, the ball supply mechanisms 1400 is an element for supplying a ball, the kind of which is different from that of the ball Bi, for instance, the ball B2 that is made of metal. Note that the difference between the ball B I and the ball B2 may be defined based on other factors (e.g., ball color) regardless of whether the balls are made of metal or non-metal.

3] The ball supply mechanisms 1300 includes a ball supply part 1301, a lifting-up part 1302, and a ball returning path 1303. The ball supply part 1301 is an element for supplying the ball B 1 to a ball carrier 1520 to be described. The lifting-up part 1302 is an element for lifting up the ball Bl to the ball supply part 1301.

The ball returning path 1303 is an element functioning as a path for returning the ball Bi supplied to the outer bingo stage 1100 (to be described) to the lifting-up part 1302 of the ball supply mechanisms 1300.

[00541 In the similar way to the above, the ball supply mechanism 1400 includes a ball supply part 1401, a lifting-up part 1402, and a ball returning path (not illustrated in the figure). The ball supply part 1401 is an element for supplying the ball B2 to the ball carrier 1520 to be described. The lifting-up part 1402 is an element for lifting up the ball B2 to the ball supply part 1401. The ball returning path (not illustrated in the figure) is an element functioning as a path for returning the bail B2 supplied to thc I2 inner bingo stage 1200 (to be described) to the lifting-up part 1402 of the ball of the second kind supply mechanisms 1400.

5] The ball carrier 1520 is an element for transporting the ball B I or the ball B2 along the outer periphery of the annular ball transporting path 1500. The ball carrier 1520 includes a receiving part that is made of two stick-shaped members that are bent in a V shape, and hold the ball BI or the ball B2 by the receiving part. In addition, the ball carrier 1520 is fixed to a ring shaped member 1550 provided along the ball transporting path 1500. Therefore, when the ring shaped member rotates along the ball transporting path 1500, the ball carrier 1520 moves along the ball transporting path 1500.

6] The ball transporting path 1500 includes a plurality of sensorunits 1510 on its outer peripheral surface. The sensor unit 1510 is an element for detecting whether or not the ball carrier 1520 exists in a position adjacent to this. Information detected by the sensor unit 1510 is inputted into a control unit (not illustrated in the figure), for instance, arbitrarily or in a real time. The control unit specifies a position of the ball carrier 1520 based on the information transmitted from the sensor unit 1510, and controls movement and stoppage of the ball carrier 1520 based on this. For example, when the ball B I is supplied to the station ST illustrated in Fig. 1, the control unit causes the ball carrier 1520 to stop in a position of a sensor unit 1510-1 based on the information transmitted from the sensor units 1510. Accordingly, the ball carrier 1520 is located in a position extended from the ball shooting slope 1801. When the V-shaped receiving part of the ball carrier 1520 is tilted downward to the ball shooting slope 1801 by the control unit (not illustrated in the figure) under the condition, the ball B 1 or the ball B2 held by the ball carrier 1520 is releases into the ball shooting slope 1801 (see Fig. 1). Note that the sensor units 1510 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the ball transporting path 1500, specifically, in a position in which the ball shooting slope 1801 of each of the stations ST is disposed and a position in which the ball transporting part traveling slope 1901 is disposed, respectively.

7] The ball BI or the ball B2 released into the ball shooting slope 1801 is shot to the playing field 500 via the ball shooting position drawing mechanism 1810. In a similar way to the medal M, the ball BI or the ball B2 shot to the playing field 500 drops from the front end 501a of the main table 501 in the progression of a game. As described above, the dropped ball 81 or the ball B2 is set in the ball transporting part 1910 via the ball transporting path 1040 to be described. Note that the ball transporting path 1040 includes a ball receiving part 1041 for receiving only the ball BI or the ball B2 and for passing the medal M. Also, the ball transporting part 1910 stands by at a ball outlet 1043 of the ball transporting path 1040 in a normal condition.

8] As described above, the ball transporting part 1910 is an element for transporting the ball BI or the ball B2 to the satellite SA. When the ball BI or the ball B2 is set, the ball transporting part 1910 moves up the ball transporting part traveling slope 1901 based on the control by the control unit (not illustrated in the figure), and moves to the upper end of the ball transporting part traveling slope 1901.

The ball carrier 1520 stands by in the vicinity of the upper end of the ball transporting part traveling slope 1901. The ball transporting part 1910 moves to the upper end of the ball transporting part traveling slope 1901, and then transfers the ball B I or the ball B2 carried thereby to the ball carrier 1520. Note that the ball carrier 1520 takes a posture of holding the ball 81 or the ball B2 when the ball Bi or the ball B2 is transferred to the ball carrier 1520.

9] In addition, the ball carrier 1520 moves to a position opposed to the ball shooting mechanism 1600 based on the control by the control unit (not illustrated in the figure) when the ball carrier 1520 receives the ball BI or the ball B2. The ball shooting mechanism 1600 includes a saucer 1610 for shooting the ball B I to the outer bingo stage 1100 and a saucer 1620 for shooting the ball B2 to the inner bingo stage 1200. The ball carrier 1520 moves to a position opposed to the saucer 1610 or the saucer 1620 based on the control by the above described control unit (not illustrated in the figure) depending on a kind of ball (B I or B2) held by the ball carrier 1520. The saucers 1610 and 1620 move down to a position opposed to the ball carrier 1520 when they receive the ball from the ball carrier 1520, and move up to a position opposed to ball shooting paths 1110 and 1210 when they receive the ball from the ball carrier 1520. Then, they hold the ball until a ball release timing comes. 1*

[00601 For example, when the ball carrier 1520 receives the ball BI from the ball transporting part 1910, the ball carrier 1520 travels along the ball transporting path 1500, and then transfers the ball BI to the saucer 1610 of the ball shooting mechanism 1600. After the saucer 1610 receives the ball Bi, the saucer 1610 releases the ball BI that it holds into the bail shooting path 1110, for example, at the timing of following a game player's instruction. The released ball BI is shot to the outer bingo stage 1100 after acceleration is obtained depending on the slope and the length of the ball shooting path 1110. Also, when the ball carrier 1520 receives the ball B2 from the ball transporting part 1910, for instance, the ball carrier 1520 travels along the ball transporting path 1500, and transfers the ball B2 to the saucer 1620 of the ball shooting mechanism 1600. After the saucer 1620 receives the ball B2, the saucer 1620 releases the ball B2 that it holds to the ball shooting path 1210, for instance, at the timing of following a game player's instruction. The released ball B2 is shot to the inner bingo stage 1200 after acceleration is obtained depending on the slope and the length of the ball shooting path 1210. Note that it is possible to detect whether a kind of the ball transferred to the bail carrier 1520 is BI or B2 by providing a metal sensor to the ball carrier 1520 when the ball Bl is made of non-metal and the ball B2 is made of metal. In addition, when color of the ball BI is set to be different from that of the ball B2, it is possible to detect a kind of the transferred ball by providing a color sensor to the ball carrier 1520. Also, a detected kind of the ball is transmitted to the control unit (not illustrated in the figure). Therefore, the ball carrier 1520 is controlled based on a kind of the ball informed to the control unit.

1] The outer bingo stage 1100 includes a single or plurality of holes (referred to as "prize-winning spot(s) 1101") with a certain degree of diameter through which the ball Bi is capable of passing, and rotates at a predetermined cycle. A number or a drawing pattern, which is used in the bingo game, is allocated to each of the prize-winning spots 1101. The ball BI shot to the outer bingo stage 1100 goes around the outer bingo stage 1100 by acceleration obtained in the ball shooting path 1110 and rotation of the outer bingo stage 1100 itself and then enters any of the prize-winning spot 1101. The information of the prize-winning spot 1101 that the ball Bi enters is arbitrarily transmitted to the control unit (not illustrated in the figure).

Note that the control unit sets the number or the drawing pattern, which is allocated to the prize-winning spot 1101 that the ball BI enters, to be prize-winning, and progresses the bingo game.

2] In a similar way to the above, the inner bingo stage 1200 includes a single or plurality of prize-winning spots 1201 with a certain degree of diameter through which the ball B2 is capable of passing, and rotates at a predetermined cycle. A number or a drawing pattern in the bingo game is allocated to each of the prize-winning spots 1201.

The ball B2 shot to the inner bingo stage 1200 goes around the inner bingo stage 1200 by acceleration obtained in the ball shooting path 1210 and rotation of the inner bingo stage 1200 itself, and enters any of the prize-winning spots 1201. The information of the prize-winning spot 1201 that the ball B2 enters is arbitrarily transmitted to the control unit (not illustrated in the figure). Note that the control unit sets the number or the drawing pattern, which is allocated to the prize-winning spot 1201 that the ball B2 enters, to be the prize-winning, and progresses the bingo game.

3] The ball B 1 that entered the prize-winning spot 1101 is temporarily held at the entrance of the prize-winning spot 1101 so that a game player is capable of viewing it, and is then released to the ball returning path 1303 that is provided below the outer bingo stage 1100. In a similar way to the above, the ball B2 that entered the prize-winning spot 1201 is temporarily held at the entrance of the prize-winning spot 1201 so that the game player is capable of viewing it, and is then released to a ball returning path (not illustrated in the figure) that is provided below the inner bingo stage 1200.

[00641 (1-2) Playing Field

Next, a configuration of the playing field 500 of the above described pusher game device 1 will be explained in detail with reference to the figures. Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view extracting configurations of the playing field 500 and its peripheral part. In addition, Fig. 5 is a diagram for illustrating reciprocation of the

pusher part 510 in the playing field 500.

5] As illustrated above, the playing field 500 is made up of the main table (predetermined table) 501 and the pusher part (pusher means) 510 that is disposed on the main table 501 so as to be capable of sliding.

6] As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the pusher part 510 slides back and forth on the main table 501 so as to move in/out the housing part 720 disposed below the display 701 of the display unit 700. Note that Fig. 5(a) is a top view of the pusher part 510 that is retracted to the interior of the housing part 720 to the maximum extent, and Fig. 5(b) is a top view of the pusher part 510 that is protruded from the housing part 720 to the maximum extent.

7] As described above, the framework member 710 of the display unit 700 herein is abutted on the sub-table 511, which is the upper surface of the pusher part 510. Therefore, when the pusher part 510 moves in a direction that it moves in the housing part 720 (see (b) -3 (a) in Fig. 5), the medal(s) accumulated on the sub-table 511 that is the upper surface of the pusher part 510 is pushed on the sub-table 51 1 in a direction of the sloped table 512 by the framework member 710, and the medal(s) M on the sub-table 511 flow(s) in a direction that itlthey head(s) to the sloped table 512 as a whole. As a result, a part of the medal(s) M on the sub-table 511, which exist(s) in the vicinity of the sloped table 512, drop(s) on the sloped table 512. Note that a part of the dropped medal(s) M enter(s) any of the award-winning apertures 515-Ito 515-3, which are formed in the sloped table 512, and the rest of the dropped medal(s) M drop(s) on the main table 501. Also, drop prevention walls 521 are provided on the both sides of an area within which the pusher part 510 slides, and the medal(s) M is/are prevented from dropping from the both sides of the sub-table 511.

[00681 Also, the pusher part 510 is disposed on the main table 501 without any gap.

Note that the expression without any gap" herein means that a gap greater than or equal to the width of the medal M does not exist. Therefore, when the pusher part 510 moves in a direction that it moves out of the housing part 720 (see a state of (a) -a state of(b) in Fig. 5), the medal(s) M accumulated on the main table 501 is/are pushed on the main table 501 in a direction of the front end 501a by the pushing wall 513 that makes up the front surface of the pusher part 510, and the medal(s) M on the fl main table 501, as a whole, flow(s) in a direction that it/they head to the front end 501a.

As a result, a part of the medal(s) M on the main table 501, which exist(s) in the vicinity of the front end 501a drop(s) from the front end 501a. Also, a part of the medal(s) Mon the main table 501, which exist(s) in the vicinity of the both side ends (side ends SOlb) of the main table 501, drop(s) from the side ends 501b by the flow of the medal(s) M generated here. Note that the medal(s) M dropped form the side ends 501 b is/are accumulated in a predetermined accumulating part (may be hopper) in the interior of the station ST.

9] Also, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the medal(s) M dropped from the front end 501a is/are received by a medal receiver 1001 that is provided below the front end 501a.

The medal receiver 1001 is connected to a medal transporting path 1002 for transporting the medal M to the lifting-up hopper 1020 in the medal paying-out mechanism. In addition, the medal receiver 1001 is sloped toward a coupling part between the medal receiver 1001 and the medal transporting path 1002. Because of this, the medal(s) M received by the medal receiver 1001 flow(s) into the medal transporting path 1002. Also, the medal transporting path 1002 is sloped toward an accumulating part 1021 of the lifting-up hopper 1020 in the medal paying-out mechanism. Because of this, the medal(s) M flowed into the medal transporting path 1002 is/are continuously guided to the medal paying-out mechanism.

Note that a separation bar 1010 (to be described) for stemming the ball B I or the ball B2 is provided in the coupling part between the medal receiver 1001 and the medal transporting path 1002, and is configured to preventing the ball B l/B2 from entering the medal paying-out mechanism.

0] The medal paying-out mechanism is also provided with a medal counter (not illustrated in the figure) for counting the number of the medal M in addition to the above described lifting-up hopper 1020 and the medal paying-out part 1030. For example, the medal counter is provided at the entrance of the accumulating part 1021 in the lifting-up hopper 1020, and counts the number of the medal M to be released from the medal transporting path 1002 to the accumulating part 1021. The control unit 600 illustrated in Fig. 2 is informed of the number of the medal M counted by the medal counter. The control unit 600 pushes the medal(s) M, the number of which is the same as the number of the medal informed to the control unit 600, from the medal paying-out part 1030 to the accumulating part 101 of the medal shooting mechanism by driving the lifting-up hopper 1020 based on the number of the medal informed to the control unit 600. Note that the lifting-up hopper 1020 includes a hopper driving part 1022 and a lifting-up part 1023, and the medal(s) M to be paid out is/are paid out from the medal paying-out part 1030 that is provided on the end of the lifting-up part 1023 when the hopper driving part 1022 performs an operation based on the control by the control unit 600. Note that the medal receiver 1001, the medal transporting path 1002, and the medal paying-out mechanism including the lifting-up hopper 1020, the medal paying-out part 1030, and the medal counter, function as paying-out means for paying out the medal(s) M fallen from the front end 501a of the main table 501 to a game player.

1] Also, the ball B! and/or the ball B2 supplied from the satellite SA also exist(s) on the main table 501. The ball B 1 or the ball B2 moves on the main table 501 in accordance with the flow of the medal(s) M, which is generated by reciprocation of the pusher part 510, and then drop(s) from the front end 50 Ia. As described above, the ball transporting path 1040 is provided below the front end 501a.

The ball transporting path 1040 includes the ball receiver 1041 for receiving only the fallen ball Bi or the fallen ball B2 and for passing the medal M, a ball stopper 1042 for halting the movement of the ball received by the ball receiver 1041 until a predetermined condition is satisfied, and the ball outlet 1043. Therefore, the ball BI or the ball B2 received by the ball receiver 1041 is discharged from the ball outlet 1043 after its movement is halted by the ball stopper 1042 until a predetermined timing comes. Accordingly, the ball Bi or the ball B2 is set in the ball transporting part 1910 (see Fig. 1) that stands by at the ball outlet 1043. Note that the station ST illustrated in Fig. I and the station ST illustrated in Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 are illustrated to be horizontally reversed for convenience of explanation, but their configurations are almost the same as each other.

2] (1-3) Guide Part and Guide Part Moving Mechanism Note that as illustrated in Fig. 4, the main table 501 is provided with the guide parts (first and second flow control means) 530R and 530L for controlling the flow of the medal M, the ball BI, and the ball B2. In addition, guide part moving mechanism (moving means) 540 for moving up and down the guide parts 530R and 530L with respect to the main table 501 is provided below the main table 501.

Configurations of the guides 530R and 530L and the guide part moving mechanism 540 will be hereinafter explained in detail with reference to the figures.

3] (1-3-1) Guide Part First, configurations of the guide parts 530R and 530L of the present embodiment will be explained in detail with reference to the figures. Fig. 6 is a front view of the playing field 500 that is seen from the front side (i.e., game player's side).

Note that in Fig. 6, Fig. 6(a) is a diagram for illustrating the guide parts 530R and 530L that are retracted in a lowest predetermined position, and Fig. 6(b) is a diagram for illustrating the guide parts 530R and 530L that are protruded in a highest predetermined position. In addition, Fig. 7 is a diagram for illustrating the flow of the medal M and the ball B1/B2 on the main table 501. Note that in Fig. 7, Fig. 7(a) is a top view for illustrating the flow of the medal M and the ball Bl/B2 when the guide parts 530R and 530L are retracted in the lowest predetermined position (see Fig. 6(a)), and Fig. 7(b) is a top view for illustrating the flow of the medal M and the ball Bl/B2 when the guide parts 530R and 530L are protruded in the highest predetermined position (see Fig. 6(b)).

4] As illustrated in Figs. 4-7, each of the guide parts 530R and 530L includes a ball guide plate 531 for controlling the flow of the ball Bi and the ball B2, a medal guide plate (first guide plate) 533 for controlling the flow of the medal M, and a support portion 534 for supporting the ball guide plate (second guide plate) 531 and the medal guide plate 533. In addition, the ball guide plate 531 and the medal guide plate 533 are supported in upper and lower positions by the support portion 534 so that a through-hole 532 with a predetermined shape is formed between the ball guide plate 531 and the medal guide plate 533.

5] The guide parts 530R and 530L with the above configurations are provided to be arranged in a V shape, for instance. Note that arrangement of the guide parts 530R and 530L is not limited to this, and the guide parts 530R and 530L may be arranged in any shape as long as width of a gap formed between ends of the guide parts 530R and 530L on a game player's side is at least greater than the diameter of the medal M, the ball BI and the ball B2. Therefore, the guide part 530R and the guide part 530L may be arranged in parallel to each other, for instance.

6] Also, the rear end of the guide part 530R (i.e., opposite end from the game player's side) is disposed to be adjacent to the side end 501b of the main table 501 on the right side of the figure through a gap less than the radius of the ball Bi and the radius of the ball B2. In a similar way to this, for example, the rear end of the guide part 530L is disposed to be adjacent to the side end 501b of the main table 501 on the left side of the figure through a gap less than the radius of the ball Bi and the radius of the ball B2. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the ball BI or the ball B2 flowing from the rear side of the main table 501 from entering an area excluding the area located between the guide parts 530R and 530L, and it is possible to produce a configuration of preventing the ball B! or the ball B2 from dropping from the side ends 501b of the main table 501. In other words, it is possible to set the front end 501a as the only side from which the ball BI and the ball B2 drop.

7] Also, the guide parts 530R and 530L are provided to be capable of moving up and down with respect to the upper surface of the main table 501. Note that the guide part moving mechanism 540, which is an element for moving up and down the guide parts 530R and 530L with respect to the upper surface of the main table 501, will be explained in the following paragraphs.

8] As illustrated in Fig. 6(a), when the guide parts 530R and 530L are moved in the lowest position, the upper ends of the medal guide plates 533 of the guide parts 530R and 530L are positioned in a height position equal to or less than that of the upper surface of the main table 501. In other words, when the guide parts 530R and 530L are moved in the lowest position, the medal guide plate 533 is accommodated below the main table 501. Note that even in this case, the entire through-hole 532 formed between the medal guide plate 533 and the ball guide plate 531 is not blocked by the main table 501.

9] Under the condition that the medal guide plate 533 is thus retracted below the main table 501, the flow of the medal M on the main table 501 is not blocked by the medal guide plate 533. Therefore, as illustrated in Fig. 7(a), the medal M is allowed to pass through the through-hole 532 and flow in an arbitrary direction. In other words. the medal M is allowed to flow to the side ends 501b side of the main table 501.

As a result, the number of the medal M fallen from the side ends 501b is more than that in a case that the guide parts 530R and 530L are moved in the highest position, for instance. Note that the blockage of the flow of the medal M by the support portion 534 is ignored for convenience of explanation.

0] Also, as illustrated in Fig. 7(a), when the guide parts 530R and 530L are moved in the lowest position, the flow of the ball BI or the ball B2 is restricted by the ball guide plate 531 because the ball guide plate 531 is protruded above the main table 501. In other words, the ball B I and the ball B2 are guided in the direction of the front end SOlaso as not to drop from the side ends 501b of the main table 501.

1] On the other hand, as illustrated in Fig. 6(b), when the guide parts 530R and 530L are moved in the highest position, the upper ends of the medal guide plates 533 of the guide parts 530R and 530L are protruded from the upper surface of the main

table 501

2] Under the condition, the flow of the medal(s) M on the main table 501 is blocked by the medal guide plate 533. Therefore, as illustrated in Fig. 7(b), the direction in which the medal M flows is restricted to the direction toward the front end 501a. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of the medal M fallen from the side ends 501b compared to a case that the guide parts 530R and 530L are moved in the lowest position, for instance. Note that the blockage of the flow of the medal M by the support portion 534 is ignored for convenience of explanation.

3] Also, as illustrated in Fig. 7(b), even when the guide parts 530R and 530L are moved in the highest position, the flow of the ball Bi or the ball B2 is restricted by the ball guide plate 531 because the ball guide plate 531 is protruded above the main table 501. In other words, the ball Bi and the ball B2 are guided in the direction of the front end 501a so as not to drop from the side ends 501b of the main table 501.

[00841 As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to set the direction in which the medal(s) M flow(s) to be relatively free while the flow of the ball Bl is restricted to the direction of the front end 501a by moving the guide parts 530R and 530L to the lowest position, in other words, by accommodating the medal guide plates 533 of the guide parts 530R and 530L below the main table 501.

Consequently, it is possible to increase ratio of the medal(s) M fallen from the side ends 501b in the medal(s) M fallen from the main table 501. On the other hand, it is possible to restrict the flow of the medal(s) M together with the flow of the ball B 1 to the direction of the front end 501a by moving the guide parts 530R and 530L to the highest position, in other words, by protruding the medal guide plates 533 of the guide parts 530R and 530L above the main table 501. As a result, it is possible to concentrate the flow of the medal(s) M to the direction of the front end 501 a, and it is possible to cause a lot of medals M to drop from the front end 501 a. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce ratio of the medal(s) M fallen from the side ends 50 lb. [0085] Based on the above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to control ratio of the medal(s) M to be paid out to a game player and the medal(s) M to be recovered by the station ST (this situation is referred to as "dropping on the dealer's side"), which is referred to as "paid-out ratio," by controlling the position of the guide parts 530R and 530L with respect to the main table 501. Also, in the present embodiment, it is possible to restrict an end, from which the other game medium (here, the ball B 1 and the ball B2) to be used when a game is progressed drop, to be the front end 501a without depending on the positions of the guide parts 530R and 530L with respect to the main table 501. Therefore, it is also possible to prevent an element for recovering this from being formed in a large size and from being complicated.

6] (1-3-2) Guide Part Moving Mechanism Next, a configuration of the guide part moving mechanism 540, which is an element for moving up and down the above described guide parts 530R and 530L with respect to the main table 501, will be explained in detail with reference to the figures.

Fig. 8 is a diagram for illustrating a configuration of the guide part moving mechanism 540. Note that Fig. 8 also illustrates configurations of the guide parts 530R and 530L.

Also, in Fig. 8, Fig. 8(a) is a front view and Fig. 8(b) is a cross-sectional view in line A-A of Fig. 8(a).

7] As illustrated in Figs. 8(a) and 8(b), the guide part moving mechanism 540 includes a container 541, a motor 542, a coupling part 545, a rotary shaft part 546, an eccentric cam 548, and a sliding base 549.

8] In the above elements, the container 541 is a box shaped container for accommodating the main elements of the guide part moving mechanism 540. For example, the container 541 is embedded immediately below the main table 501. In addition, a motor fixing part 541a (to be described) for fixing the motor 542, and a guide rail 541 b for supporting the sliding base 549 (to be described) so that the sliding base 549 is capable of sliding in the vertical direction, are formed on the inner lateral surface of the container 541. Note that the term "vertical direction" means a vertical direction to be defined under the.condition that the main table 501 is defined to be horizontally positioned.

9] The sliding base 549 is a base to which the support portions 534 of the guide parts 530R and 530L are fixed. Therefore, when the sliding base 549 slides up and down in the vertical direction so as to be along the guide rail 541b, the amount of portions of the guide parts 530R and 530L protruded from the main table 501 is increased/decreased.

0] The motor 542, the coupling part 545, the rotary shaft part 546, and the eccentric cam 548 make up driving means for sliding the sliding base 549 along the guide rail 541b.

1] For example, in the driving means, the motor 542 generates rotation based on the control by the control unit 600 (see Fig. 2). The rotary shaft part 546 is coupled to the rotary shaft 542a of the motor 542 through the coupling part 545. Therefore, rotation generated in the motor 542 is transmitted to the rotary shaft part 546 through the coupling part 545. Note that the coupling part 545 is a member for directly transmitting rotation generated in the motor 542 to the rotary shaft part 546, and is also a member for absorbing mechanical stress between the rotary shaft 542a of the motor 542 and the rotary shaft part 546. It is possible to form the coupling part 545 by an elastic body such as rubber.

2] The eccentric cam 548 is fixed to the rotary shaft part 546 to which rotation of the motor 542 is transmitted. The eccentric cam 548 is formed in a colunmar shape, for instance, and is fixed to the rotary shaftpart 546 while the rotary shaft part 546 is inserted into and engaged with the eccentric cam 548 in a position, which is not the center. on the top/bottom surfaces of the eccentric cam 548. Note that "the top/bottom surfaces of the eccentric cam 548" indicate circular-shaped surfaces, respectively, when the eccentric cam 548 is formed in a cylindrical shaped, for instance.

[0093J In addition, a lateral surface of the eccentric cam 548 is abutted on a part of the sliding base 549 so as to be capable of sliding. For example, in an example illustrated in Fig. 8, an opening 549a is provided in the lateral wall of the sliding base 549, and the brim of the opening 549a is abutted on the lateral surface of the eccentric cam 548. Therefore, as is clear from Figs. 8(a) and 8(b), when the eccentric cam 548 rotates around the rotary shaft part 546, the sliding base 549 abutted on the lateral surface of the eccentric cam 548 slides up and down along the guide rail 54 lb. Accordingly, the amount of the portions of the guide parts 530R and 530L protruded from the main table 501 is increased/decreased.

4] For example, as illustrated in Fig. 9(a), when a part of the lateral surface of the eccentric cam 548, which is located closest to the rotary shaft part 546, is abutted on the upper brim of the opening 549a, the guide parts 530R and 530L are positioned in the lowest position. Under the condition, the upper ends of the medal guide plates 533 of the guide parts 530R and 530L are located in the height position less than or equal to that of the upper surface of main table 501. As a result, the medal M is capable of passing through the through-hole 532.

5] Also, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 9(b), when a part of the lateral surface of the eccentric cam 548, which is located farthest from the rotary shaft part 546, is abutted on the upper brim of the opening 549a, the guide parts 530R and 530L are positioned in the highest position. Under the condition, the upper ends of the medal guide plates 533 of the guide parts 530R and 530L are sufficiently protruded from the upper surface of the main table 501. As a result, the flow of the medal(s) M passing through the through-holes 532 is sufficiently blocked by the medal guide plates 533, and the number of the medal M fallen from the side ends 501b of the main table 501 is reduced.

6] Also, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 9(c), when a part of the lateral surface of the eccentric cam 548, which is positioned between the part of its lateral surface closest to the rotary shaft part 546 and the part of its the lateral surface farthest to the rotary shaft part 546, is abutted on the upper brim of the opening 549a, the guide parts 530R and 530L are positioned in an intermediate position between the lowest positions and the lowest position. Under the condition, the upper ends of the medal guide plates 533 of the guide parts 530R and 530L are slightly protruded from the upper surface of the main table 501. As a result, the flow of the medal(s) M passing through the through-hole 532 is restricted by the medal guide plate 533 to some extent, and the number of the medal M fallen from the side ends 501b of the main table 501 is reduced.

7] Also, a position detection sensor 550, for instance, is provided in the sliding base 549. For example, the position detection sensor 550 is a resistance-value detection type sensor with variable resistance. The value detected by the position detection sensor 550 is inputted into the control unit 600 (see Fig. 2), for instance.

Therefore, the control unit 600 specifies the protruded amount of the portions of the guide parts 530R ad 530L by specifying distance from the bottom surface of the container 541 based on the inputted resistance value, or directly specifies the protruded amount of the portions of the guide parts 530R and 530L, for instance. Note that the control unit 600 controls the protruded amount of the portions of the guide parts 530R and 530L by driving the motor 542 based on the specified protruded amount of the portions of the guide parts 530R and 530L. Also, in the present example, the position detection sensor 550 is configured to be the resistance-value detection type sensor.

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be an optical sensor, for instance. Furthermore, in the present invention, the paid-out ratio may be configured to be periodically changed by causing the motor 542 to rotate at a low speed without providing the above described position detection sensor. In this case, it is also possible to configure the paid-out ratio to periodically change depending on the progress of a game, for example, by using a stepping motor as the motor 542 and by causing the motor 542 to gradually rotate depending on steps to be proceeded in accordance with the predetermined number of paid out medals, the predetermined number of fallen medals, or the predetermined sum of the both.

8] (1-3-3) Working Effect As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to control the flow of the medal(s) M, for instance, to be advantageous for a game player with the guide parts 530R and 530L by providing the guide parts 530R and 530L (especially the medal guide plates 533) for changing the flow of the medal(s) M, a tangible game mediumlmedia, in the pusher game device 1 for pushing and moving the medal(s) M accumulated on the main table 501. Note that according to the present embodiment, it is also possible to control the flow of the medal(s) M to be disadvantageous for a game player with the guide parts 530R and 530L.

9] Also, it is possible to change the flow of the medal(s) M by further providing the guide part moving mechanism 540 for causing the guide parts 530R and 530L to protrude from the main table 501 and to retract below the predetermined table. As a result, it is possible to switch among a game status advantageous for a game player, a game status disadvantageous for a game player, and a normal game status with a mechanical element.

[0l00J Also, it is possible to make up the medal guide plates 533 of the guide parts 530R and 530L for controlling the flow of the medal(s) M with a plate member, for instance. When the plate member is used, it is possible to realize the flow of the medal(s) M with a simple configuration of causing the plate member to protrude above the main table 501 and to retract below the main table 501. As a result, it is possible to realize the pusher game device 1 for switching the game statuses with a mechanical element at low cost.

1] Also, it is possible to reliably guide the medal(s) M in a desired direction with the combination of the medal guide plates 533 that are disposed in parallel to each other or in a V-shape. In other words, it is possible to accurately and reliably guide the flow of the medal(s) M to the direction of 501a with a configuration that the medal(s) M is/are flowed between the medal guide plates 533 that are combined to be disposed in parallel to each other or in a V-shape.

2] Also, it is possible to configure a game status to be advantageous for a game player when the flow of the medal(s) M is controlled by the guide parts 530R and 530L by providing the medal receiver 1001, the medal transporting path 1002, and the medal paying-out mechanism including the lifting-up hopper 1020, the medal paying-out part 1030, and the medal counter, at the front end 501 a that is positioned in a direction that the medal(s) M is/are guided by the guide parts 530R and 530L.

3] Also, it is possible to combine a game (e.g., a pusher game using the medal(s) M) and another kind of game (e.g., a bingo game) by providing the ball guide plates 531 for controlling the flow of the ball BI and the ball B2, which are formed in a different shape from the medal M and are tangible game media, in the guide parts 530R and 530L. In other words, it is possible to combine plural kinds of games, and thus it is possible to realize a more complex game property.

4] Also, it is possible to make up the ball guide plate 531 for controlling the flow of the ball B I and the ball B2 with a plate member, for instance. In addition, it is possible to reduce the area on the main table 501, which is occupied by elements for controlling the flow of the medal(s) M, and the ball B1/B2 (i.e., the medal guide plate 533 and the ball guide plate 531) by providing the ball guide plate on the medal guide plate 533. Here, it is possible to prevent the flow of the medal(s) M from being restricted by the ball guide plate 531 by forming the through-hole 532 with a gap, which is greater than or equal to the thickness of the medal M, between the medal guide plate 533 and the ball guide plate 531.

5] Also, it is possible to realizably guide the ball BI and the ball B2 in a desired direction with the combination of the ball guide plates 531 that are disposed in parallel to each other or in a V shape. In other words, it is possible to accurately and reliably restrict the flow of the ball B] and the ball B2 with a configuration that the ball BI and the ball B2 are flowed between the ball guide plates 531 that are combined to be disposed in parallel to each other or in a V shape.

6] Note that in the above described embodiment, the ball B1/B2 or the medal(s) M is/are configured to be guided to the front end 501a of the main table 501 while the guide parts 530L and 530R are protruded from the main table 501 by the combination of the guide parts 530L and 530R that are disposed in a V shape as illustrated in the figure. However, the present invention is not limited to this. With the combination of the guide parts 530L and 530R that are disposed in reversed-V shape in the figure, the ball BIIB2 or the medal(s) M may be configured to be guided to the side ends 501b of the main table 501 while the guide parts 530L and 530R are protruded from the main table 501. It is also possible to manipulate the paid-out ratio in the station ST with the above configuration. Also, in the above described embodiment, the case that both of the medal guide plate 533 and the ball guide plate 531 are provided in the guide parts 530L and 530R is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A configuration may be provided that the medal guide plate 533 and the ball guide plate 531 are provided to be independent from each other. Furthermore, a configuration without the ball guide plate may be provided. In this case, it is possible to vary the paid-out ratio with a configuration that at least the medal guide plate 533 is protruded/retracted from the playing field 501.

7] (1-4) Medal Shooting Mechanism Also, a configuration of a medal shooting mechanism 100 of the present embodiment will be hereinafter explained in detail with reference to the figures.

8] (1-4-1) Medal Shooting Mechanism 100 Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 11 is a front view of the medal shooting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a top view of the medal shooting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is a back view of the medal shooting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 10.

9] The medal shooting mechanism 100 includes a flat area 21, a first sloped area 22 and a second sloped area 23 that are located on the both sides of the flat area 21, a first lateral structure 117 that is located external to the first sloped area 22, and a second lateral structure 118 that is located external to the second sloped area 23. The medal shooting mechanism 100 includes an accumulating part 101 on which a plurality of medals are accumulated. The accumulating part 101 makes up the flat area 21 of the medal shooting mechanism 100.

[01101 The medal shooting mechanism 100 further includes a first sloped wall that is continuously sloped up and extended from a first boundary area 102 adjacent to a first lateral portion of the accumulating part 101. The first sloped wall makes up the first sloped area 22. The first sloped wall is formed by the first sloped wall lower area 104 and the first sloped wall upper area 106. The first boundary area 102 is formed by a curved surface.

1] The medal shooting mechanism 100 further includes a second sloped wall that is continuously sloped up and extended from a second boundary area 103 adjacent to a second lateral portion of the accumulating part 101, which is located on the opposite side from the above described first lateral portion. The second sloped wall makes up the second sloped area 23. The second sloped wall is formed by the second sloped wall lower area 105 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. The second boundary area 103 is formed by a curved surface.

2] The medal shooting mechanism 100 further includes a first medal shooter 108 that includes a first medal slot 108-1 on a position adjacent to the first sloped wall, and a second medal shooter 109 that includes a second medal slot 109-1 on a position adjacent to the second sloped wall. The first boundary area 102, the first sloped wall lower area 104, the first sloped wall upper area 106, and the first medal shooter 108 make up the first sloped area 22 of the medal shooting mechanism 100. The second boundary area 103, the second sloped wall lower area 105, the second sloped wall upper area 107, and the second medal shooter 109 make up the second sloped area 23 of the medal shooting mechanism 100.

3] The first medal shooter 108 further includes a first attached flange 110. The first attached flange 110 is extended from a part of the first boundary area 102 to a part of the accumulating part 101. The second medal shooter 109 further includes a second attached flange 111. The second attached flange Ill is extended from a part of the second boundary area 103 to a part of the accumulating part 101. As illustrated in Fig. 12, the first attached flange 110 and the second attached flange 111 that are extended on the accumulating part 101 respectively have a largely-rounded corner.

The first attached flange 110 and the second attached flange 111 delimit a medal accumulating area on which a medal M is accumulated on the accumulating part 101.

The first attached flange 110 and the second attached flange 111 are separately disposed from each other, and the medal M is supplied from a medal supplying side 119 between the two flanges 110 and 111. Movement of the supplied medal M is restricted by the largely-rounded corners of the first attached flange 110 and the second attached flange 111. A first medal constraining plate 112 prevents the medal M from falling that is supplied from the accumulating part 101 to the front side on which a player stands, and is disposed on an opposite lateral side from the medal supplying side 119 of the accumulating part 101.

4] A first guide 113 is formed on the boundary between the first sloped wall lower area 104 and the first sloped wall upper area 106. The first guide 113 is configured to catch the medal slidingly falling along the first sloped wall upper area 106 and is also configured to make the medal slidingly roll into the first medal slot 108-1 along the first guide. The first guide 113 is formed by a first step 113 formed on the boundary between the first sloped wall lower area 104 and the first sloped wall upper area 106. The first step 113 is linearly sloped down and extended to the first medal slot 108-1. The first sloped wall upper area 106 includes at least one protrusion that is formed to reduce friction to be generated between the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the medal M slidingly rolling along the first guide 113. In other words, the first sloped wall upper area 106 includes at least one ridge-shaped protrusion 115 that is separated upward from the first guide 113 at distance less than diameter of the medal M and is extended approximately in parallel with a direction in which the first guide 113 is extended. Specifically, a plurality of ridge-shaped protrusions 11 5 are formed as illustrated in the figure.

5] A second guide 114 is formed on the boundary between the second sloped wall lower area 105 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. The second guide 114 is configured to catch the medal slidingly falling along the second sloped wall upper area 107 and is also configured to make the medal slidingly roll into the second medal slot 109-1 along the second guide. The second guide 114 is formed by a second step 114 formed on the boundary between the second sloped wall lower area and the second sloped wall upper area 107. The second step 114 is linearly sloped down and extended to the second medal slot 109-1. The second sloped wall upper area 107 includes at least one protrusion that is formed to reduce friction to be genaretd between the second sloped wall upper are 135 and the medal M slidingly rolling along the second guide 114. In other words, the second sloped wall upper area 107 includes at least one ridge-shaped protrusion 116 that is separated upward from the second guide 114 at distance less than diameter of the medal M and is extended approximately in parallel with a direction in which the second guide 114 is extended.

Specifically, a plurality of ridge-shaped protrusions 116 are formed as illustrated in the figure.

6] The external upper end of the first sloped wall upper area 106 is combined with the first lateral structure 117. The first lateral structure 117 is formed to have a deformed L-shaped cross section, and includes a flat top, a perpendicular wall, and a flat bottom. The flat top is continuously extended outward from the external upper end of the first sloped wall upper area 106. The perpendicular wall is perpendicularly extended downward from the external end of the flat top. The flat bottom is inwardly extended from the bottom end of the perpendicular wall. An operating handle of a control system for controlling a position and a direction of a discharging end of the medal discharging path 400 is attached to the flat top. A player controls the position and the direction of the discharging end of the medal discharging path 400 by manipulating the operating handle. The flat bottom serves as an attached flange for attaching the medal shooting mechanism 100 to the chassis 800 of the station ST.

7] The external upper end of the second sloped wall upper area 107 is combined with the second lateral structure 118. The second lateral structure 118 is formed to have a deformed L-shaped cross section, and includes a flat top, a perpendicular wall, and a flat bottom. The flat top is continuously extended outward from the external upper end of the second sloped wall upper area 107. The perpendicular wall is perpendicularly extended downward from the external end of the flat top. The flat bottom is inwardly extended from the bottom end of the perpendicular wall. An operating handle of a control system for controlling a position and a direction of a discharging end of the medal discharging path 400 is attached to the flat top. A player controls the position and the direction of the discharging end of the medal discharging path 400 by manipulating the operating handle. The flat bottom serves as an attached flange for attaching the medal shooting mechanism 100 to the chassis 800 of the station ST.

8] When the accumulating part 101, the first boundary area 102, the second boundary area 103, the first sloped wall lower area 104, the second sloped wall lower area 105, the first sloped wall upper area 106, and the second sloped wall upper area 107 are formed in one member, seams are not formed in the area on which the medal -M is movable. Accordingly, it becomes possible to reduce the resistance.

9] Also, the first medal slot 108-1 of the first medal shooter 108 and the second medal slot 109-1 of the second medal shooter 109 have dimensions that only one medal M is allowed to be inserted thereinto at a time. The configuration serves to reliably prevent a situation that a plurality of medals M are stucked in the first medal shooter 108 or the second medal shooter 109 when the medals M are simultaneously inserted into the first medal slot 108-I or the second medal slot 109-1.

0] The above described medal shooting mechanism 100 has an approximately symmetrical shape and structure with reference to the middle position between the first and second lateral portions.

{0121] Fig. 14 is a partial exploded view of the medal shooting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 10. The first medal shooter 108 and the second medal shooter 109 are formed in the same structure. Therefore, the internal structure of the second medal shooter 109 will be hereinafter explained with reference to Fig. 14.

2] The second medal shooter 109 includes a second medal slot 109-I adjacent to the first guide 113, that is, an abutment portion of the first step 113, a medal shooting path 109-7 in communication with the abutment portion of the first step 113, a medal falling hole 109-8 in communication with the medal shooting path 109-7, and a first medal guide plate 109-5 and a second medal guide plate 109-6, both of which delimit the medal shooting path 109-7 and the both lateral portions of the medal shooting path 109-7. The medal shooting path 109-7 is formed to guide the medal M that is shot through the second medal slot 109-ito the medal falling hole 109-8.

3] Furthermore, the second medal slot 109 includes a first intermediate plate 109-3 having a first roller 109-4. The first intermediate plate 109-3 is attached to the first medal guide plate 109-5 and the second medal guide plate 109-6. The first roller 109 is positioned on the medal falling hole 109-8. Therefore, when the medal M passing through the medal shooting path 109-7 heads to a position on the medal falling hole 109-8, the medal M comes into contact with the first roller 109 and is slightly pressed down, and thus it falls through the medal falling hole 109-8. The fallen medal M is transported to the lifting-up hopper 300 through the medal transporting path 200 illustrated in Fig. 1. Then, the medal M is lifted up to the supplying end of the medal discharging path 400 by the lifting-up hopper 300, and is supplied on the playing field 500 from the discharging end through the medal discharging path 400.

Furthermore, the second medal slot 109 includes a first medal shooter cover 109-2.

The first medal shooter cover 109-2 covers the first intermediate plate 109-3. In addition, the first medal shooter cover 109- 2 is integrally formed with the second attached flange Ill. When the second attached flange 111 is fixed to the accumulating part 101, the first medal shooter cover 109-2 is indirectly fixed to a position on the intermediate plate 109-3 is indirectly fixed.

4] When a game player slides the medal M accumulated on the accumulating part 101 upward along the first sloped wall lower area 104 and the first sloped wall upper area 106, and the second sloped wall lower area 105 and the second sloped wall upper area 107, all of which are continuously sloped up and extended from the accumulating part 101, and then releases the medal M, the medal M slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 3LI under the gravity and is caught by the first step 113 forming the first guide 113 and the second step 114 forming the second guide 114. Also, the first step 113 and the second step 114 are configured to make the medal M slidingly roll into the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1 under the gravity.

5] In other words, if a game player slides the medal M upward along the first sloped wall lower area 104 and the first sloped wall upper area 106, and the second sloped wall lower area 105 and the second sloped wall upper area 107, all of which are continuously sloped up and extended from the accumulating part 101, and then releases the medal M, the medal M slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 under the gravity and is caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114. Then, the medal M slidingly rolls into the first medal slot 108-1 of the first shooter and the second medal slot 109-1 along the first step 113 and the second step 114 under the gravity. When the medal M rolls along the first step 113 and the second step 114, the medal M is going to slide with respect to the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. In other words, it is only necessary for a game player to slide the medal M upward from the accumulating part 101 to the upper areas of the first sloped wall lower area 104 and the first sloped wall upper area 106, and the second sloped wall lower area 105 and the second sloped wall upper area 107, and then release the medal M. Therefore, it is not required for a game player to manually carry the medal M from the accumulating part 101 to the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1 as is conventionally performed. In other words, this makes a game player comfortably move one's hand by making use of the gravity.

6] Accordingly, even when a game player continuously shoots medals M for a long time, it is possible to largely reduce game player's tiredness. In addition, a game player does not wear out ones nerves too much for shooting the medal M, and thus the game player is capable of concentrating on the game itself arid really enjoying the game.

7] Also, if a game player slides the medal M upward along the first sloped wall lower area 104 and the first sloped wall upper area 106, and the second sloped wall lower area 105 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 and then releases the medal M, the medal M sliding!)' falls along the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 under the gravity and is caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114. Then, the medal M slidingly rolls into the first medal slot 108-1 of the first shooter and the second medal slot 109-1 along the first step 113 and the second step 114 under the gravity. In other words, it becomes possible to largely reduce game player's tiredness even when the game player continuously shoots the medal M for a long time without automating shooting of the medal M. Accordingly, it becomes possible to really fascinate a game player for a long time while the game player feels that the game player oneself actively plays the game.

8] It is only necessary for the first step 113 and the second step 114 to have a function of catching the medal M that slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 under the gravity, and a function of making the medal M slidingly roll into the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-I along the first step 113 and the second step 114 under the gravity.

However, it is required to slidingly move the medal M to a position higher than the first guide 113 (i.e., the first step 113) and the second guide 114 (i.e., the second step 114). Therefore, when the medal M is slidingly moved upward, it is preferable that the first guide 113 (i.e., the first step 113) and the second guide 114 (i.e., the second step 114) does not block movement of the medal M. In consideration of this, it is meaningful that the first guide 113 is formed by the first step 113 and the second guide 114 is formed by the second step 114. Note that an impotant point is that the step surfaces of the first and second steps 113 and 114 face upward. With the configuration, it becomes easy to slidingly move the medal M upward across the first step 113 and the second step 114. In addition, it becomes possible to catch the medal M on the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114, when the medal M once slidingly moved upward is released from a hand of a game player and slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. When the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 face downward, it is impossible to block the medal M that slidingly moves upward along the first sloped wall lower area 104and the first sloped wall upper areas 106, and the second sloped wall lower area 105 and the second sloped wall upper area 107, and it is also impossible to make the medal M slidingly roll into the first medal slot 108-I and the second medal slot 109-1 under the gravity while the medal M is caught.

9] It is possible to achieve the first step 113 by configuring the first sloped wall lower area 104 to have thickness greater than that of the first sloped wall upper area 106. In addition, it is possible to achieve the second step 114 by forming the second sloped wall lower area 105 to have thickness greater than the second sloped wall upper area 107. For example, the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall may be formed by combining a first flat plate that is extended in both of the upper and lower areas and a second flat plate that is extended only in the lower area. In addition, the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall may be formed such that only the lower area of the first flat plate that is extended in both of the upper and lower areas is thinly processed. In both cases, it is possible to achieve the first step 113 and the second step 114 with an existing technique.

0] Also, it is possible to configure the first step 113 and the second step 114 to be extended to the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1. In this case, it is required to make the medal M caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114 roll toward the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1 under the gravity.

Accordingly, the first step 113 and the second step 114 are sloped down and extended to the first medal slot 108-I and the second medal slot 109-1. Specifically, the first step 113 and the second step 114 are formed to be linearly sloped down to the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-I. However, as a modified example, it is possible to form the first step 113 and the second step 114 to be curvilinearly sloped down to the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1.

Furthermore, it is also possible to form the first step 113 and the second step 114 by the combination of linear and curvilinear shapes. However, regardless of a position in the first step 113 and the second step 114 where the medal M is caught, the first step 113 and the second step 114, respectively, have the minimum-required slope angle for making the medal M roll toward the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot fl 109-1 under the gravity.

[01311 Furthermore, it is required to form the abutment portions of the first step 113 and the second step 114 for making the medal M slidingly roll into the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1 under the gravity. The abutment portions of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are disposed adjacent to the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1. It is possible to provide a modified example that the abutment portions of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are not disposed to be adjacent to the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1, that is, gaps are generated between the first step 113 and the first medal slot 108-1, and between the second step 114 and the second medal slot 109-1. However, this is not a matter as long as the medal M rolling the first step 113 and the second step 114 finally rolls into the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1. For this purpose, the first medal slot 108-1 of the first shooter 108 and the second medal slot 109-1 of the second shooter 109 are disposed adjacent to the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall.

2] In addition, width of the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114, in other words, dimensions of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are determined such that the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are capable of catch the medal M that slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. The minimum-required dimension of the first step 113 and the second step 114 depend on slope angles of the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall and the thickness of the medal M. For example, when the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall are formed to have large slope angles, the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are supposed to be formed to have widths greater than those of a case that the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall are formed to have small slope angles.

3] Furthermore, when widths of the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are formed to be much less than thickness of the medal M, it is impossible to catch the medal M that slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107, and thus the medal M sligingly falls to the accumulating part 101 across the first step 113 and the second step 114.

As a result, it is impossible to insert the medal M into the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1. Therefore, in consideration of thickness of the medal M and the slope angles of the fitst sloped wall and the second sloped wall, it is required for the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 to have the minimum-required widths for catching the medal M that slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. When the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are formed to have widths greater than thickness of the medal M, it is possible to increase the likelihood of catching the medal M that slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. In addition, when the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are formed to have greater than twice the thickness of the medal M, it becomes possible to simultaneously catch two overlapping medals M that slidingly fall along the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. It should be note that when widths of the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are formed to be too large, the medal M may flop on the first step 113 and the second step 114 while the medal M is slidingly moved upward across the first step 113 and the second step 114, and thus there is a possibility that the medal M does not smoothly roll across the first step 113 and the second step 114.

4] Fig. 29 is a diagram for illustrating a relation between thickness of the medal M and widths of the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114. In a case that the peripheral portion of the medal M is formed to have a non-rectangular cross-section so that the corners of the cross-section are formed to have rounds R, the medal M may be caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114 when the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are formed to have widths W2 greater than or equal to thickness R of the round shaped portions. However, in a practical simation. the medal M that slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 may not be caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114 as a result of impact andlor vibration to be generated when 3c the medal M makes contact with the first step 113 and the second step 114. Therefore, the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are designed to have widths greater than the theoretically minimum-required width W2. Furthermore, as illustrated in Fig. 29, for the purpose of simultaneously catching the two overlapping medals M thai slidingly fall along the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107, the two overlapping medals M may be theoretically caught when the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are formed to have widths WI greater than or equal to the sum of thickness of the single medal M and thickness R of the round shaped portion. However, in a practical situation, impact and/or vibration are/is generated when two overlapping medals M slidingly fall along the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 and make contact with the first step 113 and the second step 114. Accordingly, one of the two medals M, which is overlapped on the other, may not be caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114. Therefore, for the purpose of catching both of the two overlapping medals M, the step surfaces of the first step -113 and the second step 114 are designed to have widths greater than the theoretically minimum-required width Wi.

5] From the perspective, in order to catch the single medal M, it is preferable to design the step surface of the first step to have width approximately corresponding to thickness of the single game medium. Here, "approximately" corresponding to thickness of the single game medium means that the width includes error corresponding to the thickness R of the round shaped portion.

6] Furthermore, angle of the step surface of the first step is preferably right angle or acute angle with respect to the first sloped wall. When the angle of the step surface of the first step is set to be obtuse angle with respect to the first sloped wall, there is a high possibility that the game medium that slidingly falls along the first sloped wall slidingly falls without being caught by the first step.

7] When the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall are formed to have large slope angles, in other words, when the first sloped wall lower area 104 and the first sloped wall upper area 106, and the second sloped wall lower area 105 and the

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second sloped wall upper areas 107, are formed to be nearly perpendicular, it becomes difficult to slidingly move the medal M upward from the accumulating part 101 to the sloped wall lower area 104 and the first sloped wall upper area 106, and the second sloped wall lower area 105 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. On the other hand, when the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall are formed to have small slope angles, in other words, when the first sloped wall lower area 104 and the first sloped wall upper area 106, and the second sloped wall lower area 105 and the second sloped wall upper area 105 are set to be nearly flat, it becomes easy to slidingly move the medal M upward from the accumulating part 101 to the first sloped wall lower area 104 and the first sloped wall upper area 106, and the second sloped wall lower area and the second sloped wall upper area 107. However, after a game player releases the medal M, the frictional force to be generated between the medal M and the first and second sloped walls will be increased. Therefore, the medal M becomes less easily slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. In addition, the frictional force will be large, which is generated when the medal M slidingly moves on the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 while rolling along the first step 113 and the second step 114. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the medal M stops moving on the way to the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1 and thus cannot reach the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1. Therefore, in consideration of the above, it is required for the first sloped wall lower area 104 and the first sloped wall upper area 106, and the second sloped wall lower area 105 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 to have slope angle that is neither nearly perpendicular nor nearly flat. For example, it is preferable to set the first sloped wall lower area 104 and the first sloped wall upper area 106, and the second sloped wall lower area 105 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 to have the slope angle of 20-70 degrees. Furthermore, it is more preferable to set them to have the slope angle of 30-60 degrees. The first sloped wall lower area 104 and the first sloped wall upper area 106, and the second sloped wall lower area 105 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 may be typically set to have the slope angles of approximately 45 degrees. L4(

8] Furthermore, for the purpose of slidingly moving the medal M upward from the accumulating part 101 to the first sloped wall lower area 104 and the second sloped wall lower area 105 with the minimum resistance, it is preferable to form the first boundary area 102 and the second boundary area 103 to be curved surfaces. The preferable curvature of the curved surfaces depends on diameter dimension of the medal M, but it is only necessary for the curved surfaces to have curvature radius sufficiently greater than diameter dimension of the medal M. It is possible to easily empirically decide the preferable curvature.

9] Furthermore, as described above, it is preferable to reduce the frictional resistance to be generated between the first and second sloped walls and the medal M as much as possible. A plurality of first ridge-shaped protrusions 115 and a plurality of second ridge-shaped protrusions 116 effectively work for reducing the frictional force. The medal M is formed in an approximately disk shape. Furthermore, when the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 are formed to have flat surfaces, the entire area of the lateral surface of the medal M makes contact with the flat surfaces of the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. Reducing the contact area between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 effectively works for reducing the frictional force to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. In order to reduce the contact area, the plurality of first ridge-shaped protrusions 115 and the plurality of second ridge-shaped protrusions 116 are formed in the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. With the configuration, the medal M that rolls on the first guide 113 (i.e., the first step 113) and the second guide 114 (i.e., the second step 114) slidingly makes contact with the plurality of first ridge-shaped protrusions 115 and the plurality of second ridge-shaped protrusions 116.

Accordingly, the contact area between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 is reduced, and thus it is possible to effectively reduce the frictional force.

0] In order to reduce the frictional force, it is preferable to form at least the surfaces of the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 with material having self-lubricating property. Only the surfaces may be formed with the material having the self-lubricating property, or the entirety of the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 may be formed with the material having the self-lubricating property. Furthermore, in addition to the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107, the surfaces of or the entirety of the first sloped wall lower area 104, the second sloped wall lower area 105, the first boundary area 102, the second boundary area 103, and the accumulating part 101 may be formed with the material having the self-lubricating property. It is possible to take engineering plastic such as Teflon (registered trademark) and oil-impregnated sintered metal (example of commercial product: oilless metal plate) as a typical example of the material having the self-lubricating property. However, the material is not necessarily limited to this. Instead of forming at least the surfaces of the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped -wall upper area 107 with the material having the self-lubricating property, it is possible to remove the plurality of first ridge-shaped protrusions 115 and the plurality of second ridge-sahped protrusions 116, both of which are provided for reducing the frictional resistance.

1] As described above, the medal shooting mechanism 100 of the present embodiment includes the first sloped wall that is continuously sloped up and extended from the first boundary area 102 adjacent to the first lateral portion of the accumulating part 101. The first sloped wall makes up the first sloped area 22. The first sloped wall is formed by the first sloped wall lower area 104 and the first sloped wall upper area 106. The medal shooting mechanism 100 further includes the second sloped wall that is continuously sloped up and extended from the second boundary area 103 adjacent to the second lateral portion of the accumulating part 101, which is located on the opposite side from the above described first lateral portion. The second sloped wall makes up the second sloped area 23. The second sloped wall is formed by the second sloped wall lower area 105 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. It is only necessary for the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall to be formed for allowing the game medium to slidingly move upward and slidingly fall along the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall. Therefore, it is not necessarily required for the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall, respectively, to be formed by a sloped plane with predetermined slope angle. For example, the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall may be formed by a sloped-curved surface with non-uniform slope angle, respectively.

2] As described above, the guides for making the medal functioning as the game medium slidingly roll into the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1 are formed by the first step 113 and the second step 114 that are respectively sloped down and extended to the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1.

However, it is not necessarily required for the first step 113 and the second step 114 to be formed linearly sloped down and extended for the purpose of allowing the medal caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114 to slidingly roll into the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1 under the gravity. In other words, for the purpose of allowing the medal caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114 to slidingly roll into the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1 under the gravity, it is only necessary for the first step 113 and the second step 114 to be entirely sloped down to the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1. In short, it is only necessary for the potential energy of the medal M caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114 to be entirely greater than the potential energy of the medal M located in positions of the first medal slot 108-1 and of the second medal slot 109-1.

For example, even if a rising portion is formed in the intermediate portion of the first step 113 and the second step 114, when the kinetic energy of the medal M is greater than the sum of the potential energy and the frictional energy of the rising portion, the medal M climbs the rising portion with the momentum of the rotational movement performed so far and then rolls into the first slot. In addition, when a rising portion is formed in the intermediate portion of the first step 113 and the second step 114 and the kinetic energy of the medal M is less than the sum of the potential energy and the frictional energy of the rising portion, this is not a matter as long as the medal M is capable of climbing the rising portion and then rolling into the first slot by being pushed by another medal M rotationally moving from behind. Also, the first step 113 and the second step 114 may be sloped down and extended in a stepped pattern toward the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1.

3] According to the medal shooting mechanism 100 of the above described first embodiment of the present invention, even when a game player continuously shoots the game medium for a long time, it becomes possible to largely reduce game player's tiredness. In addition, a game player does not wear out ones nerves for shooting the game medium, and thus the game player is capable of concentrating on the game itself and really enjoying the game.

4] (1-4-2) Modified Example 1 of Medal Shooting Mechanism 100 A modified example 1 of the above described embodiment will be hereinafter explained with reference to a figure. Fig. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of the present modified example. Only differences between the medal shooting mechanism of the present example and the above described medal shooting mechanism 100 are hereinafter explained, and the overlapping explanation will be hereinafter omitted.

5] A configuration that a plurality of scattered protrusions 120 are formed in the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 instead of forming the plurality of first ridge-shaped protrusions 115 and the plurality of second ridge-shaped protrusions 116 effectively works for reducing the contact area between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107, and furthermore works for reducing the frictional resistance to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. Here, it is preferable to set intervals between adjacent protrusions 120 to be sufficiently less than diameter dimension of the medal M. Furthermore, it is preferable to form the plurality of protrusions 120 to be regularly scattered at predetermined intervals. With the configuration, the medal M that rolls on the first step 113 and the second step 114 slidingly makes contact with the plurality of scattered protrusions 120. Accordingly, the contact area between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 is reduced, and thus it is possible to effectively reduce the frictional force. From the perspective of reduction of the frictional force, it is preferable to form the plurality of protrusions 120 such that the top thereof is processed to be in a round shape.

[0146) (1-4-3) Modified Example 2 of Medal Shooting Mechanism 100 A modified example 2 of the above described embodiment will be hereinafter explained with reference to a figure. Fig. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of the present modified example. Only differences between the medal shooting mechanism of the present example and the above described medal shooting mechanism 100 are hereinafter explained, and the overlapping explanation will be hereinafter omitted.

7] The medal M and the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall are prevented from closely making contact with each other by applying minute vibration to the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall. As a result, it becomes possible to reduce the effective contact area between the medal M and the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall, and thus it becomes possible to effectively reduce the frictional force. It should be paid attention for avoiding a situation that the medal M instably rolls along the first step 113 and the second step 114 when too much vibration is applied to the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall. In addition, too much vibration is not preferable because it may make a game player discomfort.

8] (1-4-4) Modified Example 3 of Medal Shooting Mechanism 100 A modified example 3 of the above described embodiment will be hereinafter explained with reference to a figure. Fig. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of the present modified example. Only differences between the medal shooting mechanism of the present example and the above described medal shooting mechanism 100 are hereinafter explained, and the overlapping explanation will be hereinafter omitted.

9] In order to reduce the frictional force to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall, the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 have a plurality of scattered vent holes 122, respectively, and a ventilation fan 123 is provided on the back sides of the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107, respectively.

0] Buoyancy for floating the medal M from the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 is applied to the medal M by ventilation through the plurality of vent holes 122. Accordingly, the contact force to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 is reduced. As a result, the frictional force to be generated between the medal and the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 is reduced. Here, it is preferable to set intervals between adjacent vent holes 122 to be sufficiently less than diameter dimension of the medal M. Furthermore, it is preferable to form the plurality of vent holes 122 to be regularly scattered at predetermined intervals. In addition, it is possible to achieve the ventilation fan 123 by disposing it on the back sides of the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107, respectively. With the configuration, it becomes possible to efficiently reduce the frictional resistance because the medal M rolls along the first step 113 and the second step 114 in a state that the contact force to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 is reduced by buoyancy applied by the ventilation through the plurality of scattered vent holes 122.

1] (1-4-5) Modified Example 4 of Medal Shooting Mechanism 100 A modified example 4 of the above described embodiment will be hereinafter explained with reference to a figure. Fig. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of the present modified example. Only differences between the medal shooting mechanism of the present example and the above described the medal shooting mechanism 100 are hereinafter explained, and the overlapping explanation will be hereinafter omitted.

2] It is possible to provide a configuration that the first sloped walJ upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 are made up of a reticulate sloped wall 124, respectively, as another effective method for reducing the frictional force to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall.

Here, reticulated grid intervals are set to be sufficiently less than diameter dimension of the medal M. When the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 are made up of the reticulate sloped wall 124, respectively, the contact area between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 106 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 is reduced. Thus it becomes possible to effectively reduce the frictional resistance.

3] (1-4-6) Modified Example 5 of Medal Shooting Mechanism 100 A modified example 5 of the above described embodiment will be hereinafter explained with reference to a figure. Fig. 19 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of the present modified example. Only differences between the medal shooting mechanism of the present example and the above described the medal shooting mechanism 100 are hereinafter explained, and the overlapping explanation will be hereinafter omitted.

4] in the above described embodiment, each sloped wall is made up of a sloped wall upper area and a sloped wall lower area, and a step making up a guide is formed along a boundary between the sloped wall upper area and the sloped wall lower area.

The step is configured to be extended to a medal slot from a lateral portion of the sloped wall upper area that is located on the opposite side from the medal slot. In other words, the step is configured to be extended on the entire area of the sloped wall.

On the other hand, according to the modified example 5, it is possibleto configure the step to be extended to the medal slot from an inner position that is separated from the lateral portion of the sloped wall upper area located on the opposite side from the medal slot at distance greater than or equal to diameter dimension of the single medal.

When the step is extended from the inner position that is separated from the lateral portion of the sloped wall upper area at distance of the diameter dimension of the single medal, it becomes possible to move the medal to the sloped wall upper area through a sloped plane on which a step is not formed.

[01551 The above configuration will be hereinafter explained in detail with reference to Fig. 19. The second sloped wall is formed by a second sloped wall upper area 107, a third sloped wall lower area 125, and a fourth sloped wall lower area 126. The second step 114 that makes up the second guide is formed along the boundary between the third sloped wall lower area 125 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. The fourth sloped wall lower area 126 and the second sloped wall upper area 107 form a plain, and no step is formed on the boundary between the fourth sloped wail lower area 126 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. It is possible to form the third sloped wall lower area 125 by an approximately wedge-shaped flat plate that is provided on the single plane formed by the fourth sloped wall lower area 126 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. In this case, thickness of the approximately wedge-shaped flat plate corresponds to width of the step of the above described step 114. Therefore, the thickness is determined based on the step width of the above described second step 114.

Furthermore, it is required for the fourth sloped wall lower area 126 to have horizontal dimension greater than diameter dimension of the medal M in order to make the medal M move to the second sloped wall upper area 107 through the fourth sloped wall lower area 126.

6] With the configuration, a game player moves the medal M from the accumulating part 101 to the second sloped wall upper area 107 through the fourth sloped wall lower area 126, and further moves it to an upper position of the third sloped wall lower area 125, while the game player presses the medal M with one's finger. When the game player releases the medal M on the position, the medal M slidingly falls along the second sloped wall upper area 107, and is then caught by the second step 114 that is made up of the upper side of the approximately wedge-shaped flat p1ae. Then, as described above, the medal M slidingly rolls into the second medal slot 109-1 along the second step 114. According to the configuration, no step is formed on the boundary between the fourth sloped wall lower area 126 and the second sloped wall upper area 107. Therefore, it becomes possible to move the medal M to the second sloped wall upper area 107 without crossing over the second step 114.

7] It is possible to form the third sloped wall lower area 125 by an approximately wedge-shaped plate with non-uniform thickness, instead of the approximately wedge-shaped flat plate. Specifically, it is possible to form the upper side of the approximately wedge-shaped plate to have thickness corresponding to the step width of the second step 114. On the other hand, it is possible to form the lower side of the approximately wedge-shaped plate to have thickness of substantially zero by forming the approximately wedge-shaped plate to have thickness gradually reducing from the upper side to the lower side. With the configuration, it is not required to form a step on the lower side of the third sloped wall lower area 125.

8] With the configuration, a game player may move the medal M from the accumulating part 101 to the second sloped wall upper area 107 through the fourth sloped wall lower area 126 while the game player presses the medal M with one's finger. Also, the game player may move the medal M to the second sloped wall upper area 107 through the third sloped wall lower area 125 while the game player presses the medal M with one's finger, because no step is formed on the lower side of the third sloped wall lower area 125. When the game player moves the medal M to an upper position of the third sloped wall lower area 125 and then releases the medal M on the position, the medal M slidingly falls along the second sloped wall upper area 107, and is caught by the second step 114 that is made up of the upper side of the approximately wedge-shaped flat plate. Then, as described above, the medal M slidingly rolls into the second medal slot 109-I along the second step 114.

9] (1-4-7) Medal Shooting Mechanism 200 Next, another medal shooting mechanism of the present embodiment will be explained in detail with reference to figures. Fig. 21 is a front view of a medal shooting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 20. Fig. 22 is a top view of the medal shooting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 20. Fig. 23 is a back view of the medal shooting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 20.

0] A medal shooting mechanism 130 includes a flat area 24, a first sloped area 25 and a second sloped area 26 that are located on the both sides of the flat area 24, a first lower flat area 27 that is located external to the first sloped area 25, and a second lower flat area 28 that is located external to the second sloped area 26. The medal shooting mechanism 130 includes an upper accumulating part 131 on which a plurality of medals are accumulated. The upper accumulating part 131 makes up the upper flat area 24 of the medal shooting mechanism 130. The medal shooting mechanism 130 includes the lower accumulating part 144 on which a plurality of medals are so accumulated. The first lower accumulating part 144 makes up the first lower flat area 27 of the medal shooting mechanism 130. The medal shooting mechanism 130 includes the second lower accumulating part 145 on which a plurality of medals are accumulated. The second lower accumulating part 145 makes up the second lower flat area 28 of the medal shooting mechanism 130.

1] The medal shooting mechanism 130 further includes a first sloped wall that is continuously sloped down and extended from a first boundary area 132 adjacent to a first lateral portion of the upper accumulating part 131. The first sloped wall makes up the first sloped area 25. The first sloped wall is formed by the first sloped wall lower area 136 and the first sloped wall upper area 134. The first boundary area 132 is formed by a curved surface.

2] The medal shooting mechanism 130 further includes a second sloped wall that is continuously sloped down and extended from a second boundary area 133 adjacent to a second lateral portion of the upper accumulating part 131, which is located on the opposite side from the above described first lateral portion. The second sloped wall makes up the second sloped area 26. The second sloped wall is formed by the second sloped wall lower area 137 and the second sloped wall upper area 135. The second boundary area 133 is formed by a curved surface.

3] The medal shooting mechanism 130 further includes a first lower accumulating part 144 that is continuously and horizontally extended through the third boundary area 142 adjacent to the outer portion of the first sloped wall lower area 136.

The first lower accumulating part 144 makes up the first lower flat area 27.

4] The medal shooting mechanism 130 further includes a second lower accumulating part 145 that is continuously and horizontally extended through the fourth boundary area 143 adjacent to the outer portion of the second sloped wall lower area 137. The second lower accumulating part 145 makes up the second lower flat area 28.

5] The medal shooting mechanism 130 further includes a first medal shooter 138 that includes a first medal sJot 138-1 on a position adjacent to the first sloped wall, and a second medal shooter 139 that includes a second medal slot 139-1 on a position adjacent to the second sloped wall. The first boundary area 132, the first sloped wall lower area 136, the first sloped wall upper area 134, the first medal shooter 138, and the third boundary area 142 from the first sloped area 25 of the medal shooting mechanism 130. The second boundary area 133, the second sloped wall lower area 137, the second sloped wail upper area 135, the second medal shooter 139, and the fourth boundary area 143 form the second sloped area 26 of the medal shooting mechanism 130.

6] The first medal shooter 138 further includes a first attached flange 146. The first attached flange 146 is extended from a part of the third boundary area 142 to a part of the first lower accumulating part 144. The second medal shooter 139 further includes a second attached flange 147. The second attached flange 147 is extended from a part of the fourth boundary area 143 to a part of the second lower accumulating part 145. As illustrated in Fig. 22, the first attached flange 146 extended on the first lower accumulating part 144, and the second attached flange 147 extended on the second lower accumulating part 145 respectively have a largely-rounded corner. The first attached flange 146 and the second attached flange 147 delimit a medal accumulating area on which a medal M is accumulated on the first lower accumulating part 144 and the second lower accumulating part 145. The medal is supplied from a medal supplying side 152 of the upper accumulating part 131. A first medal constraining plate 148 for preventing the medal M from fallingfrom the first lower accumulating part 144, and a first lower accumulating part partition 150 for separating the medal M to be accumulated on the first lower accumulating part 144 from the medal M to be accumulated in an adjacent medal shooting mechanism, are provided for the first lower accumulating part 144. A second medal constraining plate 149 for preventing the medal M from falling from the second lower accumulating part 145, and a second lower accumulating part partition 151 for separating the medal M to be accumulated on the second lower accumulating part 145 from the other medal M to be accumulated in an adjacent medal shooting mechanism, are provided for the second lower accumulating part 145. Furthermore, a medal constraining plate for preventing the medal M from falling from the front side of the upper accumulating part 131 may be provided, although not illustrated in the figure.

7] A first guide 113 is formed on the boundary between the first sloped wall lower area 136 and the first sloped wall upper area 134. The first guide 113 is configured to catch the medal slidingly falling along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and is also configured to make the medal slidingly roll into the first medal slot 138-1 along the first guide. The first guide 113 is formed by a first step 113 formed on the boundary between the first sloped wall lower area 136 and the first sloped wall upper area 134. The first step 113 is linearly sloped down and extended to the first medal slot 138-1. The first sloped wall upper area 134 includes at least one protrusion that is formed to reduce friction to be generated between the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the medal M slidingly rolling along the first guide 113. In other words, the first sloped wall upper area 134 includes at least one ridge-shaped protrusion 140 that is separated upward from the first guide 113 at distance less than diameter of the medal M and is extended approximately in parallel with a direction in which the first guide 113 is extended. Specifically, a plurality of ridge-shaped protrusions 140 are formed as illustrated in the figure.

8] A second guide 114 is formed on the boundary between the second sloped wall lower area 137 and the second sloped wall upper area 135. The second guide 114 is configured to catch the medal slidingly falling along the second sloped wall upper area 135 and is also configured to make the medal slidingly roll into the second medal slot 139-1 along the second guide. The second guide 114 is formed by a second step 114 formed on the boundary between the second sloped wall lower area 137 and the second sloped wall upper area 135. The second step 114 is linearly sloped down and extended to the second medal slot 139-1. The second sloped wall upper area 135 includes at least one protrusion that is formed to reduce friction to be generated between the second sloped wall upper are 135 and the medal M slidingly rolling along the second guide 114. In other words, the second sloped wall upper area includes at least one ridge-shaped protrusion 141 that is separated upward from the second guide 114 at distance less than diameter of the medal M and is extended approximately in parallel with a direction in which the second guide 114 is extended.

Specifically, a plurality of ridge-shaped protrusions 141 are formed as illustrated in the figure.

9] When the upper accumulating part 131, the first boundary area 132, the second boundary area 133, the first sloped wall lower area 136, the second sloped wall lower area 137, the first sloped wall upper area 134, the second sloped wall upper area 135, the third boundary area 142, the fourth boundary area 143, the first lower accumulating part 144, and the second lower accumulating part 145 are formed in one member, no seam is formed in the area on which the medal M is movable.

Accordingly, it becomes possible to reduce the resistance.

0] Also, the first medal slot 138-1 of the first medal shooter 138 and the second medal slot 139-1 of the second medal shooter 139 have dimensions that only one medal M is allowed to be inserted thereinto at a time. The configuration serves to reliably prevent a situation that a plurality of medals M are stuck in the first medal shooter 138 or the second medal shooter 139 when the medals M are simultaneously inserted into the first medal slot 138-1 or the second medal slot 139-i.

1] The above described medal shooting mechanism 130 has an approximately symmetrical shape and structure with reference to the middle position between the first and second lateral portions.

2] The first medal shooter 138 and the second medal shooter 139 are formed in the same structure as the above described first medal shooter 108 and second medal shooter 109, which are explained with reference to Fig. 14. Therefore, the internal structure thereof will be hereinafter omitted.

3] When a game player slides the medal M accumulated on the upper accumulating part 131 to the upper area of the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the upper area of the second sloped wall upper area 135, which are continuously sloped down extended from the upper accumulating part 131, and then releases the medal M, the medal M slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 under the gravity and is caught by the first step 113 making up the first guide 113 and by the second step 114 maldng up the second guide 114.

Also, the first step 113 and the second step 114 are configured to make the medal M slidingly roll into the first medal slot 138-i and the second medal slot 139-1 under the gravity.

4] in other words, if a game player moves the medal M to the upper area of the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the upper area of the second sloped wall upper area 135. which are continuously sloped down and extended from the upper accumulating part 131 and then releases the medal M, the medal M slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 under the gravity and is caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114. Then, the medal M slidingly rolls into the first medal slot 138-1 of the first shooter and the second medal slot 139-I along the first step 113 and the second step 114 under the gravity. When the medal M rolls along the first step 113 and the second step 114, the medal M is going to slide with respect to the first sloped wall lower area 136 and the first sloped wall upper area 134. In other words, it is only necessary for a game player to move the medal M to the upper area of the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the upper area of the second sloped wall upper area 135 and then release the medal M. Therefore, it is not required for a game player to manually carry the medal M from the upper accumulating part 131 to the first medal slot 138I and the second medal slot 139-1 as is conventionally performed. In other words, this makes a game player comfortably move one's hand by making use of the gravity.

5] Furthermore, there is a possibility that the medal M is not caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114. In this case, the medal M slidingly falls along the first and second sloped walls across the first step 113 and the second step 114, and reaches the first and second lower accumulating parts 144 and 145. Thus the medal M is accumulated thereon. It is possible to directly use the game medium accumulated on the first and second lower accumulating parts 144 and 145. If a game player slides the medal M that are accumulated on the first and second lower accumulating parts 144 and 145 upward along the first and second sloped walls and then releases the medal M, the medal M slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 under the gravity arid is caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114. Then, the medal M slidingly rolls into the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1 along the first step 113 and the second step 114 under the gravity. The mechanism is the same as that explained in the above described first embodiment.

6] Accordingly. even when a game player continuously shoots the medal M for a long time, it is possible to largely reduce game player's tiredness. In addition, a game player does not wear out ones nerves too much for shooting the medal M, and thus the game player is capable of concentrating on the game itself and really enjoying the game.

7] Also, if a game player moves the medal M to the upper area of the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the upper area of the second sloped wall upper area 135, which are continuously sloped down and extended from the upper accumulating part 131 and then releases the medal M, the medal M slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 under the gravity and is caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114. Then, the medal M slidingly rolls into the first medal slot 138-I and the second medal slot 139-1 along the first step 113 and the second step 114 under the gravity. Furthermore, If a game player slides the medal M, which falls along the first sloped wall lower area 136 and the second sloped wall lower area 137 without being caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114 and is then accumulated on the first lower accumulating part 144 and the second lower accumulating part 145, upward along the first and second sloped walls and then releases the medal, the medal falls along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 under the gravity, and is caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114. Then, the medal M slidingly rolls into the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1 along the first step 113 and the second step 114 under the gravity. In other words, it becomes possible to largely reduce game player's tiredness even when the game player continuously shoots the medal M for a long time without automating shooting of the medal M. Accordingly, it becomes possible to really fascinate a game player for a long time while the game player feels that the game player oneself actively plays the game.

8] It is only necessary for the first step 113 and the second step 114 to have a Sk function of catching the medal M that slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 under the gravity, and a function of making the medal M slidingly roll into the first medal slot 138-I and the second medal slot 139-1 along the first step 113 and the second step 114 under the gravity.

However, it is required to slidingly move the medal M accumulated on the first and second lower accumulating parts 144 and 145 to a position higher than the first guide 113 (i.e., the first step) and the second guide 114 (i.e., the second step 114).

Therefore, it is preferable that the first guide 113 (i.e., the first step 113) and the second guide 114(i.e.. the second step 114) do not block movement of the medal M, when the medal M is slidingly moved upward. In consideration of this, it is meaningful that the first guide 113 is formed by the first step 113 and the second guide 114 is formed by the second step 114. Note that an important point is that the step surfaces of the first and second steps 113 and 114 face upward. With the configuration, it becomes easy to slidingly move the medal M upward across the first step 113 and the second step 114.

In addition, it becomes possible to catch the medal M on the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114, when the medal M once slidingly moved upward is released from a hand of a game player and slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135. When the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 face downward, it is impossible to block the medal M that slidingly moves upward along the first sloped wall lower area 136 and the first sloped wall upper areas 134, and the second sloped wall lower area 137 and the second sloped wall upper area 135, and it is also impossible to make the medal M slidingly roll into the first medal slot 138-I and the second medal slot 139-1 under the gravity while the medal M is caught.

9] It is possible to achieve the first step 113 by forming the first sloped wall lower area 136 to have thickness greater than the first sloped wall upper area 134. In addition, it is possible to achieve the second step 114 by forming the second sloped wall lower area 137 to have thickness greater than the second sloped wall upper area 135. For example, the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall may be formed by combining a first flat plate that is extended in both of the upper and lower areas and a second flat plate that is extended only in the lower area. in addition, the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall may be formed such that only the lower area of the first flat plate that is extended in both of the upper and lower areas is thinly processed.

in both cases, it is possible to achieve the first step 113 and the second step 114 with an existing technique.

0] Also, it is possible to form the first step 113 and the second step 114 to be extended to the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1. In this case, it is required to make the medal M caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114 roll toward the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1 under the gravity.

Accordingly, the first step 113 and the second step 114 are sloped down and extended to the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1. Specifically, the first step 113 and the second step 114 are formed to be linearly sloped down to the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1. However, as a modified example, it is possible to form the first step 113 and the second step 114 to be curvilinearly sloped down to the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1.

Furthermore, it is also possible to form the first step 113 and the second step 114 by the combination of linear and curvilinear shapes. However, regardless of a position in the first step 113 and the second step 114 where the medal M is caught, the first step 113 and the second step 114, respectively, have the minimum-required slope angle for making the medal M roll toward the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1 under the gravity.

1] Furthermore, it is required to form the abutment portions of the first step 113 and the second step 114 for making the medal M slidingly roll into the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-I under the gravity. The abutment portions of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are disposed adjacent to the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1. It is possible to provide a modified example that the abutment portions of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are not adjacently disposed to the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1 and thus gaps are generated between the first step 113 and the first medal slot 138-1, and between the second step 114 and the second medal slot 139-1. This is not a matter as long as the medal M rolling along the first step 113 and the second step 114 finally rolls into the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1. For this purpose, the first medal slot 138-1 of the first shooter 108 and the second medal slot 139-1 of the second shooter 109 are disposed adjacent to the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall.

2] In addition, widths of the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114, in other words, dimensions of the first step 113 and the second step 114, are determined such that the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are capable of catching the medal M that slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135. The minimum-required dimension of the first step 113 and the second step 114 depend on slope angles of the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall and the thickness of the medal M. For example, when the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall are formed to have large slope angles, the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are supposed to be formed to have widths greater than those of a case that the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall are formed to have small slope angles.

3] Furthermore, when the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are formed to have widths much less than thickness of the medal M, it is impossible to catch the medal M that slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135, and then the medal M sligingly falls to the first lower accumulating part 144 and the second lower accumulating part across the first step 113 and the second step 114. As a result, it is impossible to insert the medal M into the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1.

Therefore, in consideration of thickness of the medal M and the slope angles of the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall, it is required for the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 to have the minimum-required widths for catching the medal M that slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135. When the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are formed to have widths greater than thickness of the medal M, it is possible to increase the likelihood of catching the medal M that slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135.

In addition, when the step surfaces of the first step 113 arid the second step 114 are formed to have greater than twice the thickness of the medal M, it becomes possible to simultaneously catch two overlapping medals M that slidingly fall along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135. It should be note that when widths of the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are formed to be too large, the medal M may flop on the first step 113 and the second step 114 while the medal M is slidingly moved upward across the first step 113 and the second step 1 14, and thus there is a possibility that the medal M does not smoothly roll across the first step 113 and the second step 114.

4] As illustrated in Fig. 29, in a case that the peripheral portion of the medal M is formed to have a non-rectangular cross-section so thatthe corners of the cross-section are formed to have rounds R, the medal M may be caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114 when the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are formed to have widths W2 greater than or equal to thickness R of the round shaped portions. However, in a practical situation, the medal M that slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 may not be caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114 as a result of impact and/or vibration to be generated when the medal M makes contact with the first step 113 and the second step 114. Therefore, the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are designed to have widths greater than the theoretically minimum-required width W2. Furthermore, as illustrated in Fig. 29, for the purpose of simultaneously catching the two overlapping medals M that slidingly fall along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135, the two overlapping medals M may be theoretically caught when the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are formed to have widths WI greater than or equal to the sum of thickness of the single medal M and thickness R of the round shaped portion.

However, in a practical situation, impact and/or vibration are/is generated when two overlapping medals M slidingly fall along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 and make contact with the first step 113 and the (O second step 114. Accordingly, one of the two medals M, which is overlapped on the other, may not be caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114. Therefore, for the purpose of catching both of the two overlapping medals M, the step surfaces of the first step 113 and the second step 114 are designed to have widths greater than the theoretically minimum-required width WI.

7] When the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall are formed to have large slope angles, in other words, when the first sloped wall lower area 136 and the first sloped wall upper area 134, and the second sloped wall lower area 137 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 are formed to be nearly perpendicular, it becomes difficult to slidingly move the medal M upward from the lower accumulating part 144 to the first sloped wall lower area 136 and the first sloped wall upper area 134, and it is also becomes difficult to slidingly move the medal M upward from the second lower accumulating part 145 to the second sloped wall lower area 137 and the second sloped wall upper area 135. On the other hand, when the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall are formed to have small slope angles, in other words, when the first sloped wall lower area 136 and the first sloped wall upper area 134, and the second sloped wall lower area 137 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 are formed to be nearly flat, it is easy to slide the medal M upward from the first lower accumulating part 144 to the first sloped wall lower area 136 and the first sloped wall upper area 134, and it is also easy to slide the medal M upward from the second lower accumulating part 145 to the second sloped wall lower area 136 and the second sloped wall upper area 135. However, when a game player releases the medal, the frictional force to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall will be increased. Accordingly, it becomes difficult for the medal M to slidingly fall along the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135.

In addition, the large frictional force is generated when the medal M slides on the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 while it rolls along the first step 113 arid the second step 114 under the gravity. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the medal M stops moving on the way to the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 138-2 and thus cannot reach the first medal slot 13 8-1 and the second medal slot 139-1. Therefore, in consideration of the above, it is required for the first sloped wall lower area 136 and the first sloped wall upper area 134, and the second sloped wall lower area 137 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 to have slope angle that is neither nearly perpendicular nor nearly flat. For example, it is preferable to set the first sloped wall lower area 136 and the first sloped wall upper area 134, and the second sloped wall lower area 137 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 to have the slope angle of 20-70 degrees. Furthermore, it is more preferable to set them to have the slope angle of 30-60 degrees. The first sloped wall lower area 136 and the first sloped wall upper area 134, and the second sloped wall lower area 137 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 may be typically set to have the slope angles of approximately 45 degrees.

8] Furthermore, for the purpose of slidingly moving the medal M to be accumulated on the first lower accumulating part 144 and the second lower accumulating part 145 upward to the first sloped wall lower area 136 and the second sloped wall lower area 137 with the minimum resistance, it is preferable to form the third boundary area 142 and the fourth boundary area 143 to be curved surfaces. The preferable curvature of the curved surfaces depends on diameter dimension of the medal M, but it is only necessary for the curved surfaces to have curvature radius sufficiently greater than diameter dimension of the medal M. It is possible to easily empirically decide the preferable curvature.

9] As described above, it is preferable to reduce the frictional resistance to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall as much as possible. A plurality of first ridge-shaped protrusions 140 and a plurality of second ridge-shaped protrusions 141 effectively work for reducing the frictional force.

The medal M is formed in an approximately disk shape. Furthermore, when the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 are formed to have flat surfaces, the entire area of the lateral surface of the medal M makes contact with the flat surfaces of the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135. Reducing the contact area between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 effectively works for reducing the frictional force to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135. In order to reduce the contact area, the plurality of first ridge-shaped protrusions 140 and the plurality of second ridge-shaped protrusions 141 are formed in the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area *135. With the configuration, the medal M that rolls on the first guide 113 (i.e., the first step 113) and the second guide 114 (i.e., the second step 114) slidingly makes contact with the plurality of first ridge-shaped protrusions 140 and the plurality of second ridge-shaped protrusions 141.

Accordingly, the contact area between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 is reduced, and thus it is possible to effectively reduce the frictional force.

0] in order to reduce the frictional resistance, it is preferable to form at least surfaces of the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area with material having self-lubricating property. Only the surfaces may be formed with the material having the self-lubricating property, or the entirety of the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 may be formed with the material having the self-lubricating property. Furthermore, in addition to the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135, the surfaces of or the entirety of the first sloped wall lower area 136, the second sloped wall lower area 137, the first boundary area 132, the second boundary area 133, the third boundary area 142, the fourth boundary area 143, the upper accumulating part 131, the first lower accumulating part 144, and the second lower accumulating part 145 may be formed with the material having the self-lubricating property. it is possible to take engineering plastic such as Teflon (registered trademark) and oil-impregnated sintered metal (example of commercial product: oilless metal plate) as a typical example of the material having the self-lubricating property. However, the material is not necessarily limited to this. Instead of forming at least the surfaces of the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 with the material having the self-lubricating property, it is possible to remove the plurality of first ridge-shaped protrusions 140 and the plurality of second ridge-shaped protrusions 141, both of which are provided for reducing the frictional resistance.

1] As described above, the medal shooting mechanism 130 of the present embodiment includes the upper accumulating part 131 on which a plurality of medals are accumulated. The upper accumulating part 131 makes up the upper flat area 24 of the medal shooting mechanism 130. The medal shooting mechanism 130 includes the lower accumulating part 144 on which a plurality of medals are accumulated. The first lower accumulating part 144 makes up the first lower flat area 27 of the medal shooting mechanism 130. The medal shooting mechanism 130 includes the second lower accumulating part 145 on which a plurality of medals are accumulated. The second lower accumulating part 145 makes up the second lower flat area 28 of the medal shooting mechanism 130.

2] The medal shooting mechanism 130 further includes the first sloped wall that is continuously sloped down and extended from the first boundary area 132 adjacent to the first lateral portion of the upper accumulating part 131. The first sloped wall makes up the first sloped area 25. The first sloped wall is formed by the first sloped wall lower area 136 and the first sloped wall upper area 134. It is only necessary for the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall to be formed for allowing the game medium to slidingly move upward and slidingly fall along the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall. Therefore, it is not necessarily required for the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall, respectively, to be formed by a sloped plane with predetermined slope angle. For example, the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall may be formed by a sloped-curved surface with non-uniform slope angle, respectively.

3] As described above, the guides for making the medal as the game medium slidingly roll into the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1 are formed by the first step 113 and the second step 114 that are linearly sloped down and extended to the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1, respectively.

However, it is not necessarily required for the first step 113 and the second step 114 to be formed linearly sloped down and extended for the purpose of allowing the medal caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114 to slidingly roll into the first medal slot 108-1 and the second medal slot 109-1 under the gravity. In other words, for the purpose of allowing the medal caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114 to slidingly roll into the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1 under the gravity, it is only necessary for the first step 113 and the second step 114 to be entirely sloped down to the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1. In short, it is only necessary for the potential energy of the medal M caught by the first step 113 and the second step 114 to be entirely greater than the potential energy of the medal M located in positions of the first medal slot 138-1 and of the second medal slot 139-1.

For example, even if a rising portion is formed in the intermediate portion of the first step 113 and the second step 114, when the kinetic energy of the medal M is greater than the sum of the potential energy and the frictional energy of the rising portion, the medal M climbs the rising portion with the momentum of the rotational movement performed so far and then rolls into the first slot. In addition, when a rising portion is formed in the intermediate portion of the first step 113 and the second step 114 and the kinetic energy of the medal M is less than the sum of the potential energy and the frictional energy of the rising portion, this is not a matter as long as the medal M is capable of climbing the rising portion and then rolling into the first slot by being pushed by another medal M rotationally moving from behind. Also, the first step 113 and the second step 114 may be sloped down and extended in a stepped pattern toward the first medal slot 138-1 and the second medal slot 139-1.

4] According to the medal shooting mechanism 130 of the above described embodiment of the present invention, even when a game player continuously shoots the game medium for a long time, it becomes possible to largely reduce game player's tiredness. In addition, a game player does not wear out ones nerves for shooting the game medium, and thus the game player is capable of concentrating on the game itself and really enjoying the game.

5] (1-4-8) Modified Example I of Medal Shooting Mechanism 200 A modified example 1 of the above described medal shooting mechanism 200 will be hereinafter explained with reference to a figure. Fig. 24 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of the present modified example. Only differences between the medal shooting mechanism of the present example and the above described medal shooting mechanism 200 are hereinafter explained, and the overlapping explanation will be hereinafter omitted.

6] A configuration that a plurality of scattered protrusions 153 are formed in the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 instead of forming the above described plurality of first ridge-shaped protrusions 115 and the above described plurality of second ridge-shaped protrusions 116 effectively works for reducing the contact area with the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135, and furthermore works for reducing the frictional resistance to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135. Here, it is preferable to set intervals between adjacent protrusions 153 to be sufficiently less than diameter dimension of the medal M. Furthermore, it is preferable to form the plurality of protrusions 15310 be regularly scattered at predetermined intervals. With the configuration, the medal M that rolls on the first step 113 and the second step 114 slidingly makes contact with the plurality of scattered protrusions 153. Accordingly, the contact area between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 is reduced, and thus it is possible to effectively reduce the frictional force. From the perspective of reduction of the frictional force, it is preferable to form the plurality of protrusions 153 such that the top thereof is processed to be in a round shape.

7] (1-4-9) Modified Example 2 of Medal Shooting Mechanism 200 A modified example 2 of the above described medal shooting mechanism 200 will be hereinafter explained with reference to a figure. Fig. 25 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of the present modified example. Only differences between the medal shooting mechanism of the present example and the above described medal shooting mechanism 200 are hereinafter explained, and the overlapping explanation will be hereinafter omitted.

8] A configuration for applying minute vibration to the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall by providing a vibration motor 154 on the back sides of the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall, respectively, effectively works for reducing the frictional force to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall. The medal M and the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall are prevented from closely making contact with each other by applying minute vibration to the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall. As a result, it becomes possible to reduce the effective contact area between the medal M and the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall. and thus it becomes possible to effectively reduce the frictional force. It should be paid attention for avoiding a situation that the medal M instably rolls along the first step 113 and the second step 114 when too much vibration is applied to the first sloped wall arid the second sloped wall. In addition, too much vibration is not preferable because it may make a game player discomfort.

9] (1-4-10) Modified Example 3 of Medal Shooting Mechanism 200 A modified example 3 of the above described medal shooting mechanism 200 will be hereinafter explained with reference to a figure. Fig. 26 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of the present modified example. Only differences between the medal shooting mechanism of the present example and the above described medal shooting mechanism 200 are hereinafter explained, and the overlapping explanation will be hereinafter omitted.

0] lii order to reduce the frictional force to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall, the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 have a plurality of scattered vent holes 155, respectively, and a ventilation fan 156 is provided on the back sides of the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135, respectively.

1] Buoyancy for floating the medal M from the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 is applied to the medal M by ventilation through the plurality of vent holes 155. Accordingly, the contact force to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 is reduced. As a result, the frictional force to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 is reduced. Here, it is preferable to set intervals between adjacent vent holes 155 to be sufficiently less than diameter dimension of the medal M. Furthermore, it is preferable to form the plurality of vent holes 155 to be regularly scattered at predetermined intervals. In addition, it is possible to achieve the ventilation fan 156 by disposing it on the back sides of the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped.wall upper area 135, respectively. \Vith the -configuration, it becomes possible to efficiently reduce the frictional resistance because the medal M rolls along the first step 113 and the second step 114 in a state that the contact force to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 is reduced by buoyancy applied by the ventilation through the plurality of scattered vent holes 155.

2] (1-4-11) Modified Example 4 of Medal Shooting Mechanism 200 A modified example 4 of the above described medal shooting mechanism 200 will be hereinafter explained with reference to a figure. Fig. 27 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of the present modified example. Only differences between the medal shooting mechanism of the present example and the above described medal shooting mechanism 200 are hereinafter explained, and the overlapping explanation will be hereinafter omitted.

3] It is possible to provide a configuration that the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 are made up of a reticulate sloped wall 157, respectively, as another effective method for reducing the frictional force to be generated between the medal M and the first sloped wall and the second sloped wall.

Here, reticulated grid intervals are set to be sufficiently less than diameter dimension of the medal M. When the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 are made up of the reticulate sloped wall 157, respectively, the contact area between the medal M and the first sloped wall upper area 134 and the second sloped wall upper area 135 is reduced. Thus it becomes possible to effectively reduce the frictional resistance.

4] (1-4-12) Modified Example 5 of Medal Shooting Mechanism 200 A modified example 5 of the above described medal shooting mechanism 200 will be hereinafter explained with reference to a figure. Fig. 28 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of the present modified example. Only differences between the medal shooting mechanism of the present example and the above described medal shooting mechanism 200 are hereinafter explained, and the overlapping explanation will be hereinafter omitted.

5] -In the above described embodiment, each sloped wall is made up of a sloped wall upper area and a sloped wall lower area, and a step making up a guide is formed along a boundary between the sloped wall upper area and the sloped wall lower area.

On the other hand, according to the modified example 5, it is possible to configure the step to be extended to the medal slot from an inner position that is separated from the lateral portion of the sloped wall upper area located on the opposite side from the medal slot at distance greater than or equal to diameter dimension of the single medal.

6] The above configuration will be hereinafter explained in detail with reference to Fig. 28. The first sloped wall is formed by a first sloped wall upper area 134, a b9 third sloped wall lower area 125, and a fourth sloped wall lower area 126. A first step 113 that makes up the second guide is formed along the boundary between the third sloped wall lower area 125 and the first sloped wall upper area 134. The fourth sloped wall lower area 126 and the first sloped wall upper area 134 form a plane, and no step is formed on the boundary between the fourth sloped wall lower area 126 and the first sloped wall upper area 134. It is possible to form the third sloped wall lower area 125 by an approximately wedge-shaped flat plate that is provided on the single plane formed by the fourth sloped wall lower area 126 and the first sloped wall upper area 134. In this case, thickness of the approximately wedge-shaped flat plate corresponds to the step width of the above described step 113. Therefore, the thickness is determined based on the step width of the above described first step 113.

Furthermore, it is required for the fourth sloped wall lower area 126 to have horizontal dimension greater than diameter dimension of the medal M for the purpose of making the medal M move to the first sloped wall upper area 134 through the fourth sloped wall lower area 126.

7] With the configuration, a game player moves the medal from the first lower accumulating part 144 to the first sloped wall upper area 134 through the fourth sloped wall lower area 126, and further moves it to an upper position of the third sloped wall lower area 125 while the game player presses the medal M with one's finger. When the game player releases the medal M on the position, the medal M slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 134, and is caught by the first step 113 that is made up of the upper side of the approximately wedge-shaped flat plate. Then, as described above, the medal M slidingly rolls into the first medal slot I 38-1 along the first step 113. According to the configuration, no step is formed on the boundary between the fourth sloped wall lower area 126 and the first sloped wall upper area 134.

Therefore, it becomes possible to move the medal M to the first sloped wall upper area I 34 without making the first step 113 cross over the first step 113.

8] It is possible to form the third sloped wall lower area 125 by an approximately wedge-shaped plate with non-uniform thickness, instead of the approximately wedge-shaped flat plate. Specifically, it is possible to form the upper side of the 7o approximately wedge-shaped plate to have thickness corresponding to the step width of the above described first step 113. On the other hand, it is possible to form the lower side of the approximately wedge-shaped plate to have thickness of substantially zero by forming the approximately wedge-shaped plate to have thickness gradually reducing from the upper side to the lower side. With the configuration, it is not required to form a step on the lower side of the third sloped wall lower area 125.

9] With the configuration, a game player may move the medal M from the first accumulating part 144 to the second sloped wall upper area 107 through the fourth sloped wall lower area 126 while the game player presses the medal M with one's finger, and may move it to the second sloped wall upper area 107 through the third sloped wall lower area 125 because no step is formed on the lower side of the third sloped wall lower area 125. When the game player moves the medal M to an upper position of the third sloped wall lower area 125 and then releases the medal M on the position, the medal M slidingly falls along the first sloped wall upper area 134, and is caught by the first step 113 that is made up of the upper side of the approximately wedge-shaped flat plate. Then, as described above, the medal M slidingly rolls into the first medal slot 138-1 along the first step 113.

1] (1-5-1) Configuration of Medal Movement Simulation Rendering Unit Fig. 30 is a perspective view for illustrating a configuration of the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 of an embodiment. On the other hand, Fig. 31 is a block diagram for illustrating relation of electrical connection between the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 and the peripheral part thereof.

2] First, as illustrated in Fig. 30, the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 includes an elongated stick shaped support member 910, a plurality of LEDs (light-emitting parts) 920a-920n (note that an arbitrary LED is hereinafter referred to as a LED 920) that are arranged to be separated from each other at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the support member 910, and a LED driving circuit 930 for driving the LEDs. Note that it is possible to use other light-emitting means instead of the LED 920.

3] For example, the support member 910 is a stick shaped memberthat is made of steel and includes a hollow space in the interior thereof. With the stick shaped member, it becomes possible to easily arrange the LEDs from the vicinity of the medal shooting mechanism 100 to the vicinity of the medal discharging part 330. In the present example, the support member 910 is configured to be a linear stick shaped member. Note that the cross-section of the support member 910 may be formed in a square shape, a rectangular shape, a polygonal shape other than the square shape and the rectangular shape, or a rounded shape such as a circular shape and an oval shape.

In the present example, the cross-section of the support member 910 is configured to be formed in a rectangular shape, and each of the lateral surfaces of the support member 910 is configured to be a flat surface approximately without torsion. In addition, in the present example, the above described plurality of LEDs 920 are configured to be linearly arranged to be separated from each other at predetermined intervals on any of the lateral surfaces of the support member 910. Note that the side on which the plurality of LEDs 920 are provided is the surface that is disposed to be viewable for a game player while a game is played.

4] As described above, with a configuration that the LEDs 920 are disposed to be arranged on the support member 910 that is a linear stick shaped member, a linear light trajectory is traced by the consecutively lighting-up LEDs 920. Accordingly, it is possible to render the simulated movement of the medal, which gives a game player a sense of speed. Note that all the LEDs 920 to be arranged may be configured to emit light of the same color (e.g., red, blue, and green). Also, the LEDs emitting light of a variety of colors may be regularly or randomly selected and arranged in combination with each other.

5] The support member 910 is bridged between the vicinity of the medal shooting mechanism 100 (especially, first medal slot 108-1) and the vicinity of the medal discharging part 330 while the arranged LEDs 920 and the LED driving circuit 930 are disposed on the support member 910. Here, it is preferable that an end of the support member 910 is disposed to be adjacent to, especially, the medal slot 108-1 to be described (see Fig. 33) of the medal shooting mechanism 100, and the other end of the support member 910 is disposed to be adjacent to the medal discharging part 330.

Accordingly, it is possible to arrange the LEDs 920 as if the LEDs 920 connect the vicinity of the medal shooting mechanism 100 and the vicinity of the medal discharging part 330. Also, it is possible to visually render a simulated scene that the medal moves from the medal shooting mechanism 100 to the medal discharging part 330 by sequentially lighting up the arranged LEDs 920. Note that the wiring for electrically connecting the LED driving circuit 930 and the LEDs 920 is accommodated in the hollow space formed in the support member 910.

6] Also, as illustrated in Fig. 31, the LED driving circuit 930 is electrically connected to the control unit 600. The control unit 600 is also electrically connected to a medal insertion sensor (sensor) 108-9 provided in the medal shooting mechanism 100, the lifting-up hopper 300, and a medal discharge sensor 332 provided in the medal discharging part 330, respectively. Note that wiring such as a cable harness may be used for a respective connection [0217] The medal insertion sensor 108-9 is a sensor for detecting a medal that is inserted into the medal slot 108-I of the medal shooting mechanism 100. The medal insertion sensor 108-9 may be a non-contact type sensor using magnetism and/or light, and a contact type sensor using an on/off switch. A configuration of the medal insertion sensor 108-9 and its periphery is hereinafter explained with reference to Fig. 32.

8] As illustrated in Fig. 32, a medal M, which is lifted up to a first sloped wall upper area 106 by a game player, is inserted into the medal slot 108-I while the medal M slidingly rotates on a first guide 113 that is formed by a step between a plate member making up a first sloped lower area 106 and a plate member making up the first sloped wall upper area 106 under the gravity. Then, the medal M passes through a medal insertion path 108-7 that is made up of a first medal guide plate 108-5, a second medal guide plate 108-6, and the plate member making up the first sloped wall upper area 106, and is transported to a medal transporting path 200 (see Fig. 2). The medal insertion sensor 108-9 is provided in the intermediate portion of the medal insertion path 108-7 that connects the medal slot 108-1 and the medal transporting path 200, and detects that the medal M passes through the portion based on contact or non-contact of the medal M with respect to the portion. Also, when the medal insertion sensor 108-9 detects insertion of the medal M, it generates a medal insertion detection signal Si, and inputs the medal insertion detection signal SI into the control unit 600 (see Fig. 2).

9] The control unit 600 generates a LED driving circuit control signal S2 for driving the LED driving circuit 930 based on the timing when the medal insertion detection signal Si is inputted into the control unit 600, and inputs the LED driving circuit control signal S2 into the LED driving circuit 930. Also, the LED driving circuit 930 causes the LEDs 920a-920n to sequentially light up based on the timing when the LED driving circuit control signal S2 is inputted into the LED driving circuit 930.

0] The lifting-up hopper 300 discharges the medal M that is set in the medal discharging part 330 to the medal discharging path 400 based on the control by the control unit 600 (see Fig. 2). Note that a lifting-up hopper control signal S3 outputted from the control unit 600 is used for controlling the lifting-up hopper 300. Also, after the medal discharge, the next medal is promptly set in the medal discharging part 330.

1] The medal discharge sensor 332 is a sensor for detecting whether the medal M is discharged from the medal discharging part 330. In the similar way to the medal insertion sensor 108-9, the medal discharge sensor 332 may be a non-contact type sensor using magnetism andlor light, or a contact type sensor with an on/off switch.

The medal discharge sensor 332 is provided at the outlet (not illustrated in the figure) of the medal discharging part 330, and detects the medal M discharged from the outlet based on contact or non-contact of the medal M with respect to the outlet. Also, when the medal discharge sensor 332 detects discharge of the medal M, it generates a medal discharge detection signal S4, and inputs the medal discharge detection signal S4 into the control unit 600 (see Fig. 2).

2] (1-5-2) Operation of Medal Movement Simulation Rendering Unit and Peripheral Part Thereof Next, an operation of the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 and its peripheral part will be explained in detail with reference to Figs. 3 1-35. Fig. 33 is a diagram for illustrating movement of a medal from medal insertion to medal discharge. Fig. 34 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation of the control unit 600 from medal insertion to medal discharge. Fig. 35 is a waveform diagram of a signal inputted/outputted among the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900, its peripheral part, and the control unit 600 from medal insertion to medal discharge.

Note that the peripheral part includes the control unit 600, the medal insertion sensor 108-9, the lifting-up hopper 300, and the medal discharge sensor 332.

[02231 As illustrated in Fig. 33, first, a medal Ml inserted in the medal slot 108-1 enters the medal transporting path 200 via the medal insertion path 108-7 as explained with reference to Fig. 32. Note that at this time, a medal M2, which has been accumulated in the medal accumulating part 310 of the lifting-up hopper 300, is set in the medal discharging part 330. With an accumulating part 310 for accumulating a medal to be discharged from the medal discharging part 330, it is possible to discharge the medal M2, which is different from the medal MI inserted into the medal shooting mechanism 100, from the medal discharging part 330. As a result, it is possible to arbitrarily set the positional relation between the medal shooting mechanism 100 and the medal discharging part 330. Accordingly, flexibility of designing the game device (especially, the station SI) is enhanced. In addition, with a configuration that the medal Ml inserted into the medal shooting mechanism 100 is accumulated in the accumulating part 310 for accumulating the medal M2 to be discharged, it is possible to balance the number of incoming medal and the number of outgoing medal in the accumulating part 310. As a result, it is possible to save a step for supplying the medal in the accumulating part 310 while the game is played.

4] When the medal Ml passes through the medal insertion path 108-7, the medal insertion sensor 108-9 detects this. In addition, the medal insertion sensor 108-9 generates the medal insertion detection signal S 1 at the timing when it detects the medal Ml as illustrated in Fig. 35,, and outputs the medal insertion detection signal SI to the control unit 600 as illustrated in Fig. 31. Note that as illustrated in Fig. 33, the medal M 1 inserted into the medal shooting mechanism 100 is transported to the medal accumulating part 310 of the lifting-up hopper 300 via the medal transporting path 200, and is then accumulated in the medal accumulating part 310.

[02251 Also, as illustrated in Fig. 34, the control unit 600 stands by until the medal insertion detection signal SI is inputted into the control unit 600 from the medal insertion sensor 108-9 (Step Sb!). When the medal insertion detection signal SI is inputted into the control unit 600 from the medal insertion sensor 108-9 (Yes in Step S 101), the control unit 600 stands by until a first predetermined period of time (first lighting-up offset time period ii in Fig. 35) is elapsed as illustrated in Fig. 35 (Yes in Step S 102). Then, the control unit 600 generates a LED driving circuit control signal S2 for driving the LED driving circuit 930 (Step S 103), and outputs the LED driving circuit control signal S2 to the LED driving circuit 930 as illustrated in Fig. 31 (Step S 104). Note that the first lighting-up offset time period ti is a period of time that is elapsed when the medal MI virtually moves from the medal slot 108-1 to the LED 920a.

6] Also, as illustrated in Fig. 34, the control unit 600 stands by until a second predetermined period of time (standby time period t5 in Fig. 35) is elapsed after the control unit 600 starts outputting the LED driving circuit control signal S2 (Step S 105).

It is possible to determine the standby time period t5 based on the following equation (equation 1) under the condition: a time period when each of the LEDs 920 is lighted up is set to be a LED lighting-up time period t2; a period of time that is elapsed until a subsequent LED 920 is lighted up after a previously lighted LED 920 is lighted out is set to be a LED in-between offset time period t3; and a period of time that is elapsed until the medal M2 is discharged after the last LED 920n is lighted up is set to be a medal discharge offset time period t4.

t5=tl-nxt2+(n-1)xt3+t4...(Equation1) [0227] Note that in a real situation, there is a somewhat time-lag until a first LED driving signal S920a is outputted after the LED driving circuit control signal S2 is outputted. However, the first lighting-up offset time period ti and the LED lighting-up time period t2 are sufficiently greater than the processing speed of the control unit 600 and the operation speed of the LED driving circuit 930. Therefore, the time-lag is negligible.

8] When the LED driving circuit control signal S2 is inputted into the LED driving Circuit 930, as illustrated in Fig. 35, first, the LED driving circuit 930 generates a LED driving signal S920a for driving a LED 920a that is closest to the medal shooting mechanism 100, and applies the LED driving signal S920a to the wiring that is connected to the LED 920a. Accordingly, the LED 920a is firstly lighted up.

Note that the LED driving signal S920a and LED driving signals S920b-S920n to be described are rectangular signals having width of a predetermined period of time (LED lighting-up time period t2). Therefore, the LEDs 920a-920n, to which the above signals are respectively applied, are respectively lighted up for a period of time corresponding to the width of the predetermined period of time (LED lighting-up time period t2).

9] Next, as illustrated in Fig. 35, the LED driving circuit 930 generates a LED driving signal S920b for driving a LED 920b that is located in the second-closest position to the medal shooting mechanism 100, and applies the LED driving signal S920b to the wiring that is connected to the LED 920b. Accordingly, the LED 920b is subsequently lighted up. Note that as illustrated in Fig. 35, it is possible to set the timing when the LED driving signal S920b is generated to be a timing after a predetermined period of time (LED in-between offset time period t3) is elapsed since the signal fall timing of the LED driving signal S920a, for instance. In the similar to the above, it is possible to set the timing for generating each of the subsequent LED driving signals S920c-S920n to be a timing after a predetermined period of time (LED in-between offset time period t3) is elapsed since each of the signal fall timings of the previous LED driving signals S920b-S920n-l. Accordingly, each of the LEDs 920a-920n is lighted up so that the lighting-up time periods of the LEDs 920a-920n do not co-occur. With a configuration that the lighting-up time periods of the LEDs 920 do not co-occur, it is possible to further clearly express the simulated movement of the medal.

0] As illustrated in Fig. 35, subsequently, the LED driving circuit 930 sequentially generates the LED driving signals S920c-S920n, and causes the LED 920c-920n to light up with the LED driving signals S920c-S920n. Accordingly, it is possible to cause each of the LED 920a-920n to light up sequentially from the medal shooting mechanism 100 side to the medal discharging part 330 side. Note that the control unit 600 and the LED driving circuit 930 function as light-emitting part driving means for driving the LEDs.

[02311 On the other hand, the control unit 600 stands by for the second predetermined period of time (standby time period t5) as illustrated in Fig. 34 (Yes in Step SI 05), then generates a lifting-up hopper driving signal S3 as illustrated in Fig. 35 (Step Si 06), and outputs the lighting-up hopper driving signal S3 to the lifting-up hopper 300 as illustrated in Fig. 31 (Step S 107). Note that the timing of outputting the lighting-up hopper control signal S3 after the LED driving circuit control signal S2 is outputted is set to be a timing after a predetermined period of time is elapsed since the last LED 920n is lighted out. In other words, the end of the second predetermined period of time (standby time period t5) is set to be a time after the last LED 920n is lighted out.

2] Also, as illustrated in Fig. 34, after the lifting-up hopper control signal S3 is outputted (Step SI 07), the control unit 600 judges whether or not the medal discharge detection signal S4 is inputted into the control unit 600 from the medal discharge sensor 332 during a third predetermined period of time (Steps S108-S109). When the third predetermined period of time is elapsed without input of the medal discharge detection signal S4 into the control unit 600 (No in Step S108 and Yes in Step S 109), the control unit 600 performs an error processing that is configured to be performed when the medal M2 is not normally discharged (Step SI 10), arid then ends the processing. On the other hand, when the medal discharge detection signal S4 is inputted into the control unit 600 within the third predetermined period of time (Yes in Step S 108), the current processing step returns to Step S 101. Note that the error processing includes a processing for informing that an error caused by a jammed medal(s) occurs in other element(s), and a processing for displaying occurrence of an error in the display unit 700, for instance.

[02331 On the other hand, as illustrated in Fig. 33, when the lifting-up hopper driving signal S3 is inputted into the lifting-up hopper 300, the lifting-up hopper 300 outputs the medal M2 that is preliminarily set in the medal discharging part 330 to the medal discharging path 400. Accordingly, the medal M2. which is herein discharged, is different from the medal Ml inserted by a game player. Note that the control unit 600 functions as discharging part driving means for causing the medal discharging part 330 of the lifting-up hopper 300 to discharge the medal M2 to the playing field 500 by driving the medal discharging part 330. However, the lifting-up hopper 300 may be included in the discharging part driving means.

4] The medal M2 discharged from the medal discharging part 330 of the lifting-up hopper 300 is discharged to the sub-table 511 on the pusher part 510 of the playing field 500 via the medal discharging path 400. The medal M2 discharged on the sub-table 511 hits the display unit 700 and/or its chassis lower part 710 and is then accumulated on the sub-table 511, or drops from the sub-table 511. Note that as described above, the medal discharge sensor 332 is provided at the outlet of the medal discharging part 330, and the medal discharge sensor 332 detects whether or not the medal M2 is normally discharged. When the medal discharge sensor 332 detects discharge of the medal M2, it generates the medal discharge detection signal S4 and inputs the medal discharge detection signal S4 into the control unit 600.

5] As described above, it is possible to realize rendering as if the inserted medal Ml is actually discharged from the medal discharging path 400 with a configuration that each of the LEDs 920a-920n is lighted up sequentially from the medal shooting mechanism 100 side to the medal discharging part 330 side when the medal Ml is inserted by a game player and then another medal, that is, the medal M2, is discharged from the medal discharging part 330.

6] Also, in the present embodiment, if a subsequent medal MI is inserted until a medal M2 is discharged since a previous medal Ml is inserted, it is also possible to provide, for instance, a counter (not illustrated in the figure) for constantly monitoring -lc generation of the medal insertion detection signal SI and generation of the medal discharge detection signal S4 for the purpose of preventing the generated medal insertion detection signal Si from being ignored as a result of detection of the subsequent medal MI. In this case, the counter counts up when the medal insertion detection signal SI is generated, and counts down when the medal discharge detection signal S4 is generated. Then, the control unit 600 performs an operation for consecutively output the lifting-up hopper control signal S3 until the counter reaches zero. Accordingly, even when the subsequent medal Ml is consecutively inserted until the medal M2 is discharged, it is possible to reliably discharge a medal(s) with the same number as the inserted medal(s) after delay of a predetermined period of time.

Also, the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 illustrated in Fig. 33 starts performing an operation every time when the medal insertion detection signal SI is generated. When a new medal insertion detection signal SI is generated before a series of operation is completed, the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 starts performing a new operation while the current operation is continuously performed.

7] (1-5-3) Working Effects As described above, the game device (the station ST) of the present embodiment includes the medal shooting mechanism 100 into which the medal M, which is a game medium, is inserted, the medal insertion sensor 108-9 for detecting the medal M inserted into the medal shooting mechanism 100, the medal discharging part 330 for discharging the medal to the playing field 500, the plurality of LEDs 920 arranged from the vicinity of the medal shooting mechanism 100 to the vicinity of the medal discharging part 330, and the control unit 600 and the LED driving circuit 930, which serve for causing the plurality of arranged LEDs 920 to light up sequentially from the medal shooting mechanism 100 side to the medal discharging part 330 side when insertion of the medal M into the medal shooting mechanism 100 is detected by the medal insertion sensor 108-9. Also, the control unit 600 causes the medal discharging part 330 to discharge a medal by driving medal discharging part 330 after a predetermined period of time (first lighting-up offset time period ti + standby time period t5) is elapsed since insertion of the medal M into the medal shooting mechanism is detected by the medal insertion sensor 108-9.

8] With a configuration that the plurality of LEDs 920, which are arranged from the vicinity of the medal shooting mechanism 100 to the vicinity of the medal discharging part 330, are caused to light up sequentially from the medal shooting mechanism 100 side to the medal discharging part 330 side when a medal is inserted, it is possible to visually express a scene that the inserted medal moves from the medal shooting mechanism 100 to the medal discharging part 330. Accordingly, it is possible to render the simulated movement of the medal object from the medal shooting mechanism 100 to medal discharging part 330, for example, when the medal inserted into the medal shooting mechanism 100 and the medal to be discharged from the medal discharging part 330 are different from each other. As a result, when a medal is shot to the playing field 500, a game player is not given a feeling that there is something wrong with the game regardless of whether or not the inserted medal and the medal to*be discharged are the same. Also, when the medal inserted into the medal shooting mechanism 100 and the medal discharged from the medal discharging part 330 are the same, it is possible to render this with light, aside from the actual movement of the medal.

9] (1-5-4) Modified Example of Operation of Medal Movement Simulation Rendering Unit and Peripheral Part thereof Next, a modified example of an operation of the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 and its peripheral part will be explained. Fig. 36 is a waveform diagram of a signal to be inputtedloutputted among the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900, its peripheral part, and the control unit 600 from insertion of the medal to discharge of the medal. Note that as described above, the peripheral part includes the control unit 600, the medal insertion sensor 108-9, the lifting-up hopper 300, and the medal discharge sensor 332.

0] As is clear from comparison between Fig. 36 and Fig. 35, according to the present modified example, for example, it is possible to set the timing when the LED driving signal S920b is generated to precede the signal fall timing of the LED driving signal S920a by a predetermined period of time (co-occurring lighting-up time period t6). in the similar way to this, it is possible to set the timing of generating each of the subsequent LED driving signals S920c-S920n to precede the signal fall timing of each of the preceding LED driving signals S920b-S920n-1 by a predetermined period of time (LED in-between offset time period t3). Accordingly, each of the LEDs 920a-920n operates to light up concurrently with the other LED 920. In other words, each of the LEDs 920a-920n operates so that a subsequent LED 920 is lighted up before an immediately previously lighted-up LED 920 is lighted out. It is possible to express the simulated movement of the medal more smoothly by overlapping a lighting-up time period of each of the LEDs 920 with that of the other.

[02411 Note that the other configurations and the other operations of the present example are almost the same as the above described embodiment. Therefore a detailed explanation thereof will be hereinafter omitted.

2] (1-5-5) Modified Examples of Configuration of Medal Movement Simulation Rendering Unit Next, modified examples of a configuration of the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 of the present embodiment will be explained with some

examples.

3] (1-5-5-1) Modified example 1 of Configuration of Medal Movement Simulation Rendering Unit First, a modified example I of a configuration of the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 will be explained in detail with reference to the figures.

Fig. 37 is a perspective view for illustrating a configuration of a medal movement simulation rendering unit 901 of the present modified example.

4] As illustrated in Fig. 37, compared to the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 illustrated in Fig. 30, the medal movement simulation rendering unit 901 has a structure in which the support member 910 is replaced by a support member 911.

5] The support member 910 illustrated in Fig. 30 is made up of a linear elongated stick shaped member. On the other hand, the support member 911 of the present modified example is made up of a twisted elongated stick shaped member.

6] In the similar way to the support member 910, the support member 911 is, for instance, a stick shaped member that is made of steel and includes a hollow space in the interior thereof. Note that the cross-section of the support member 911 may be formed in a square shape, a rectangular shape, other polygonal shape, and a rounded shape such as a circular shape and an oval shape. In the present example, the support member 911 is configured to have a rectangular cross-section. In addition, in the present example, the above described plurality of LEDs 920 are configured to be arranged at predetermined intervals on any of the lateral surfaces of the support member 911. Note that the lateral surface on which the plurality of LEDs 920 are disposed is the surface that is disposed to be viewable for a game player when a game is played.

7] As described above, with a configuration that the LEDs 920 are disposed to be arranged on the support member 911 that is a twisted stick shaped member, a distorted light trajectory is traced by the consecutively lighting-up LEDs 920. Thus, it is possible to dynamically render the simulated movement of the medal.

8] Note that the other configurations and the other operations of the present example are almost the same as the above described embodiment. Therefore a detailed explanation thereof will be hereinafter omitted.

9] (1-5-5-2) Modified example 2 of Configuration of Medal Movement Simulation Rendering Unit Next, the modified example 2 of a configuration of the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 will be explained in detail with reference to the figures.

Fig. 38(a) is a perspective view for illustrating a configuration of a medal movement simulation rendering unit 902 of the present modified example, and Fig. 38(b) is a diagram for illustrating arrangement of the LEDs 921a-921n, 922a-922n, 923a-923n, and 924a-924n, which are provided on the lateral surfaces 9 12-1 to 912-4 in Fig. 38(a), respectively. Note that as described above: an arbitrarily LED is explained as a LED 920.

0] As illustrated in Fig. 3 8(a), compared to the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 illustrated in Fig. 30, the medal movement simulation rendering unit 902 is configured that the support member 910 is replaced by a support member 912 and the LEDs 920 are provided to be arranged on all the lateral surfaces of the support member 912. In other words, as illustrated in Fig. 38(b), the LEDs 921a-921n are provided to be arranged on the lateral surface 912-1, and the LEDs 922a-922n are provided to be arranged on the lateral surface 912-2, and the LEDs 923a-923n are provided to be arranged on the lateral surface 912-3, and the LEDs 924a-924n are provided to be arranged on the lateral surface 912-4. Notethat the number of the LEDs 920 provided on each of the lateral surfaces 912-1 to 912-4 is the same.

[02511 In the similar way to the support member 910, the support member 912 is, for instance, a stick shaped member that is made of steel and includes a hollow space in the interior thereof. Note that the cross-section of the support member 912 may be formed in a square shape, a rectangular shape, and other polygonal shape. Also, the cross-section of the support member 912 may be formed in a rounded shape such as a circular shape and an oval shape. In this case, it is possible to produce a configuration that is equivalent to the present modified example by providing a plurality of lines of arranged LEDs 920 along the lateral surface.

2] Also, in the similar way to the above described embodiment, the LEDs 920, which are arranged on each of the lateral surfaces 912-1 to 9 12-4 of the support member 912, are consecutively lighted up and lighted out on each of the surfaces. In other words, when the medal is inserted into the medal shooting mechanism 100, the LED 921 a disposed on the medal shooting mechanism 100 side of the lateral surface 912-1, the LED 922a disposed on the medal shooting mechanism 100 side of the lateral surface 912-2, the LED 923a disposed on the medal shooting mechanism 100 side of the lateral surface 912-3, and the LED 924a disposed on the medal shooting mechanism 100 side of the lateral surface 912-4 are simultaneously lighted up and lighted out, and the subsequent LEDs 920 are consecutively lighted up and lighted out toward the medal discharging part 330.

3] It is possible to realize the above operation by distributing the LED driving signals S920a-S920n of the above described embodiment to all of four corresponding LEDs (e.g., LEDs 921a, 922a, 923a, and 924a).

4] As described above, it is possible to increase the number of light trajectories traced by the consecutively lighting LEDs 920 by providing a plurality of lines of LEDs 920 arranged on the lateral surfaces of the support member 912. Thus, it is possible to render the simulated movement of the medal in a high-impact way.

5] Note that the other configurations and the other operations of the present example are almost the same as the above described embodiment. Therefore a detailed explanation thereof will be hereinafter omitted.

6] (1 -5-5-3) Modified Example 3 of Configuration of Medal Movement Simulation Rendering Unit Next, a modified example 3 of a configuration of the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 will be explained in detail with reference to the figures.

Fig. 39(a) is a perspective view for illustrating a configuration of a medal movement simulation rendering unit 903 of the present modified example, and Fig. 39(b) is a diagram for illustrating arrangement of the LEDs 921a-921n, 922a-922n, 923a-923n, and 924a-924n, which are disposed on the lateral surfaces 913-1 to 9 13-4 in Fig. 39(a), respectively. Note that as described above, an arbitrary LED is explained as a LED 920.

7] As illustrated in Fig. 39(a), compared to the medal movement simulation rendering unit 900 illustrated in Fig. 30, the medal movement simulation rendering unit 903 is configured that the support member 910 is replaced by a support member 913 and the LEDs 920 are provided to be arranged on all the lateral surfaces of the support member 913. In other words, the support member 913 of the present modified example has a structure produced by twisting the support member 912 of the modified example 2. Accordingly, arrangement of the LEDs 920 disposed on each of the lateral surfaces 913-1 to 9 13-4 of the twisted support member 913 is also twisted along each of the lateral surfaces.

8] In the similar way to the support member 910, the support member 913 is, for instance, a stick shaped member that is made of steel and includes a hollow space in the interior thereof. Note that the cross-section of the support member 913 may be formed in a square shape, a rectangular shape, and other polygonal shape. Also, the cross-section of the support member 913 may be formed in a rounded shape such as a circular shape and an oval shape. In this case, it is possible to produce a configuration that is equivalent to the present modified example by providing a plurality of lines of arranged LEDs 920 along the lateral surfaces and by arranging each of the lines of arranged LEDs 920 in a spiral shape.

9] Also, in the similar way to the above described embodiment, the LEDs 920, which are arranged on each of the lateral surfaces 913-1 to 913-4 of the support member 913, are consecutively lighted up and lighted out on each of the surfaces. in other words, when the medal is inserted into the medal shooting mechanism 100, the LED 921 a disposed on the medal shooting mechanism 100 side of the lateral surface 913-1, the LED 922a disposed on the medal shooting mechanism 100 side of the lateral surface 913-2, the LED 923a disposed on the medal shooting mechanism 100 side of the lateral surface 913-3, and the LED 924a disposed on the medal shooting mechanism 100 side of the lateral surface 9 13-4 are simultaneously lighted up and lighted out, and the subsequent LEDs 920 are consecutively lighted up and lighted out toward the medal discharging part 330.

0] It is possible to realize this type of operation by distributing the LED driving signals S920a-S920n of the above described embodiment to all of four corresponding LEDs (e.g., LEDs 92 Ia, 922a, 923a, and 924a).

1] As described above, it is possible to increase the number of light trajectories traced by the consecutively lighting LEDs 920 by providing a plurality of lines of LEDs 920 arranged on the lateral surfaces of the support member 913. Accordingly, it is possible to render the simulated movement of the medal in a high-impact way.

Furthermore, it is possible to further dynamically render the simulated movement of the medal by arranging the lines of the LEDs 920 in spirally crossing shape, for instance.

2] Note that the other configurations and the other operations of the present example are almost the same as the above described embodiment. Therefore, a detailed explanation thereof will be hereinafter omitted.

3] (1-5-6) Modified Example of Rendering of Simulated Medal Movement Also, as described above, a configuration that the simulated medal movement is rendered with light is produced. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the similar way to the above described embodiment, it is possible to render the simulated medal movement only by providing a delay time (time-lag) from medal insertion to medal discharge. In this case, the control unit 600 is configured to function as delay means for delaying a period of time, which is elapsed until the control unit 600 causes the medal discharging part 330 of the lifting-up hopper 300 to discharge the medal M2 to the playing field 500 by driving the lighting-up hopper 300 after the medal MI is inserted into the medal shooting mechanism 100 and the medal insertion detection signal Si is generated, by a predetermined period of time.

4] As described above, it is possible to give a game player a sense that the medal moves from the medal slot 108-Ito the medal discharging part 330, for example, by discharging a medal from the medal discharging part 330 that is located in a separated position from the medal slot 108-1 after a predetermined period of time is elapsed. Accordingly, it is possible to render the simulated medal movement from the medal slot 108-1 to the medal discharging part 330, for example, when the medal MI inserted into the medal slot 108-1 and the medal M2 to be discharged from the medal discharging part 330 are different from each other. As a result, a game player is not given a feeling that there is something wrong with the game regardless of whether the inserted medal Ml and the medal M2 to be discharged are the same when the medal is shot to the playing field 500. Here, it is possible to further effectively perform rendering of the simulated medal movement, for example, by producing changing sounds in a period of time that is elapsed from medal insertion to medal discharge by the medal discharging part 330. In this case, sounds may be produced continuously or intermittently. However, it is preferable that the sound pitch and/or the sound quality are/is gradually changed. With the configuration, a game player is given an impression that a situation changes, and thus it becomes easy to make the game player imagine the medal movement.

5] Also, in the present embodiment, it is possible to configure the control unit 600, which is the delay means, to change and control the delay time.

6] It is possible to change rendering of medal movement and control the maximum number of medals that a single game player is allowed to consume per unit time, for instance, depending on a condition or a game status, by changing and controlling a predetermined period of time (delay time) that is elapsed from insertion of the medal Ml to discharge of the medal M2. In addition, when the simulated movement of the medal is further effectively performed, for example, by producing changing sounds in addition to the delay time, it is possible to change the moving speed of the medal to be rendered by controlling the playback speed (changing speed) of the sounds or the intervals at which the sounds are generated. As a result, it is possible to make a game player predict the time to be delayed. For example, when the delay time is prolonged, a game player is capable of predicting that the delay time is long by decreasing the playback speed of the sounds and by extending the intervals at which the sounds are produced. On the other hand, for example, when the delay time is shortened, a game player is capable of predicting that the delay time is short by increasing the playback speed of the sounds and by reducing the intervals at which the sounds are produced.

[Brief Description of the Drawings]

7] [Figure 1] Fig. I is a perspective view illustrating a part of the entire configuration of a game device of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a station ST illustrated in Fig. I. [Figure 3] Fig.3 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a satellite SA illustrated in Fig. 1.

[Figure 4] Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view selectively illustrating a playing field 500 and its peripheral part of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 5] Fig. S is a diagram for illustrating reciprocation of a pusher part 510

on the playing field 500 illustrated in Fig. 4.

[Figure 6] Fig. 6 is a front view of the playing field 500 of an embodiment of the present invention, which is seen from the front side (game player's side).

[Figure 7] Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating flow of a medal M and a ball B1IB2 on a main table 501 of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 8] Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a guide part moving mechanism 540 of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 9] Fig. 9 is a diagram for illustrating protruding/retracting movement of guide parts 530L and 530R of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 10] Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure Ii] Fig. 11 is a front view of the medal shooting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 10.

[Figure 12] Fig. 12 is a top view of the medal shooting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 10.

[Figure 13] Fig. 13 is a back view of the medal shooting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 10.

[Figure 14] Fig. 14 is a partial exploded view of the medal shooting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 10.

[Figure 15] Fig. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of a modified example I of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 16] Fig. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of a modified example 2 of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 17] Fig. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of a modified example 3 of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 18] Fig. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of a modified example 4 of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 19] Fig. 19 is a perspective view illustrating a medal shooting mechanism of a modified example 5 of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 20] Fig. 20 is a perspective view illustrating another medal shooting mechanism of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 21] Fig. 21 is a front view of the medal shooting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 20.

[Figure 22] Fig. 22 is a top view of the medal shooting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 20.

[Figure 23] Fig. 23 is a back view of the medal shooting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 20.

[Figure 24] Fig. 24 is a perspective view illustrating a modified example 1 of another medal shooting mechanism of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 25] Fig. 25 is a perspective view illustrating a modified example 2 of another medal shooting mechanism of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 26] Fig. 26 is a perspective view illustrating a modified example 3 of another medal shooting mechanism of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 27] Fig. 27 is a perspective view illustrating a modified example 4 of another medal shooting mechanism of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 28] Fig. 28 is a perspective view illustrating a modified example 5 of another medal shooting mechanism of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 29] Fig. 29 is a diagram illustrating relation between thickness of a medal and width of step surfaces of the first and second steps.

[Figure 301 Fig. 30 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a medal movement simulation rendering unit of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 31] Fig. 31 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the medal movement simulation rendering unit and its peripheral part of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 32] Fig. 32 is an exploded view illustrating a configuration of a medal shooting sensor and its periphery in a medal shooting mechanism of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 33] Fig. 33 is a diagram for illustrating movement of a medal in a station of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 34] Fig. 34 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a control unit when simulated movement of a medal is rendered in an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 35] Fig. 35 is a waveform diagram of a signal to be inputtedloutputted among the medal movement simulation rendering unit, its peripheral part, and a control unit of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 36] Fig. 36 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of an operation of the medal movement simulation rendering unit and its peripheral part of an embodiment of the present invention, and is a waveform diagram of a signal to be inputted/outputted among the medal movement simulation rendering unit, its peripheral part, and the control unit in the present modified example.

[Figure 37] Fig. 3 7(a) is a perspective view illustrating a modified example I of a configuration of the medal movement simulation rendering unit of an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 7(b) is a diagram illustrating arrangement of LEDs disposed on each of the lateral surfaces in Fig. 37(a).

[Figure 38] Fig. 3 8(a) is a perspective view illustrating a modified example 2 of a configuration of the medal movement simulation rendering unit of an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 38(b) is a diagram illustrating arrangement of LEDs disposed on each of the lateral surfaces in Fig. 38(a).

[Figure 39] Fig. 39(a) is a perspective view illustrating a modified example 3 of a configuration of the medal movement simulation rendering unit of an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 39(b) is a diagram illustrating arrangement of LEDs disposed on each of the lateral surfaces in Fig. 39(a).

Claims

Claims 1 A game device, comprising: a predetermined table for

accumulating a first game medium thereon; pusher means for generating flow of the first game medium on the predetermined table by pushing the first game medium when the pusher means slides on the predetermined table; first flow control means for controlling flow of the first game medium on the predetermined table; and moving means for causing the first flow control means to protrude from the predetermined table or to be retracted below the upper surface of the predetermined

table.
2 The game device of claim 1, wherein the first flow control means includes a first guide plate protruded from the predetermined table, and wherein flow of the first game medium on the predetermined table is restricted by the first guide plate.
3 The game device of claim 2, wherein the first flow control means includes two first guide plates combined to be disposed in parallel to each other or in a V-shape.
4 The game device of one of claims 1-3, further comprising paying-out means for paying out the first game medium fallen from a predetermined end of the predetermined table to a game player, and wherein the first flow control means controls flow of the first game medium on the predetermined table so that the first game medium flows toward the predetermined end.
The game device of one of claims 1-3, further comprising second flow control means for controlling flow of a second game medium accumulated on the predetermined table; and wherein the pusher means generates flow of the second game medium on the predetermined table by pushing the first game medium or the second game medium when the pusher means slides on the predetermined table.
6 The game medium of claim 2, further comprising second flow control means for controlling flow of a second game medium accumulated on the predetermined table, and wherein the pusher means generates flow of the second game medium on the predetermined table by pushing the first game medium or the second game medium when the pusher means slides on the predetermined table, wherein the second flow control means includes a second guide plate disposed above the first guide plate so as to be separated from the first guide plate at a predetermined gap, and wherein the predetermined gap is greater than or equal to thickness of the first game medium.
7 The game device of claim 6, wherein the second flow control means includes two second guide plates combined to be disposed in parallel to each other or in a V-shape.