GB2446703A

GB2446703A - Coin pusher game with first and second special game mediums

Info

Publication number: GB2446703A
Application number: GB0802339A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shinya Niwa; Toyoji Kondou
Original assignee: Namco Bandai Games Inc
Current assignee: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc
Priority date: 2007-02-14
Filing date: 2008-02-08
Publication date: 2008-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 2028-02-08
Also published as: JP2008194275A; GB2446703B; JP4652354B2; GB0802339D0; CN101246617A; CN101246617B

Abstract

A coin pusher game 1000 having a token chute 4, a token placement section, a first special game medium 100 that is a rolling element and a second special game medium 200 that is a rolling element and is larger than the first special game medium are respectively supplied to a game space from a first special game medium supply section 66 and a second special game medium supply section 67 and first and second detection sections to detect if first or second special game mediums have fallen into the token chute and first and second benefit giving processes 50 which operate based on the output of the detection sections. Preferably, when the first special game medium has fallen into a token chute, the first special game medium is sorted out from tokens M by a special game medium capturing section, and a first lottery is performed and when the second special game medium has fallen into the token chute, the second special game medium is sorted out from tokens M by the special game medium capturing section, and a second lottery is performed.

Description

TOKEN GAME MACHINE

BACKGROUND OF TIlE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a token game machine which executes a game using a token as a game medium.

A pusher-type token game machine has been known.

The pusher-type token game machine has a game space inside a housing, and includes a stationary table having a front end which extends upward over a token chute, and a pusher table which moves forward and backward with respect to the token chute along the upper side of the stationary table so that the pusher table slides on the upper side of the stationary table and moves forward and backward through an insertion hole (entrance) formed in the housing at the rear of the stationary table. A number of tokens are placed on the upper side of the stationary table and the upper side of the pusher table to such an extent that the upper side of the stationary table and the upper side of the pusher table are almost entirely covered. The front end of the pusher table is formed so that no space is formed between the pusher table and the upper side of the stationary table, or the space formed between the pusher table and the upper side of the stationary table is nanower than the thickness of the token. Therefore, the token placed on the stationary table can be pushed by the front face of the pusher table.

When the player has inserted tokens into the game machine, tokens in the same number as the number of the inserted tokens are supplied to the game space and placed on the upper side of the pusher table. When the pusher table moves backward while sliding along the stationary table, the pusher table is withdrawn into the insertion hole (enirance) formed in the housing. When the pusher table is withdrawn into the insertion hole, the tokens placed at the rear of the upper side of the pusher table contact the edge of the insertion hole and are pushed relatively forward. This causes other tokens placed on the pusher table to be pushed forward one after the other so that the tokens positioned on the front end of the pusher table fall onto a space formed on the upper side of the stationary table due to the backward movement of the pusher table.

When the pusher table slides forward on the stationary table, the token which has fallen onto the stationary table is pushed forward by the front face of the pusher table.

The tokens which have been placed on the upper side of the stationary table are then pushed forward one afler the other. Some of the tokens which have been placed on the upper side of the stationary table fall into the token chute from the front end of the stationary table, and the tokens which have fallen are discharged from the token discharge port A slope is formed at the front end of the stationary table, and the token does not fall into the token chute if without getting over the slope. Specifically, the slope suppresses the movement of the token to prevent the token from easily 1.lIing into the token chute. Therefore, even if the player inserts one token so that a token falls onto the stationary table from the pusher table due to a token additionally supplied and the token from which has fallen onto the stationary table pushes the token which has been placed on the stationary table, the token may not fall from the stationary table so that the token may be accumulated on the slope, for example. However, the tokens can be accumulated to a limited extent. Therefore, depending on the position of the token which has fallen onto the stationary table, a portion in which the tokens are sufficient accumulated may be pushed by the pusher table, whereby a large number of tokens may be acquired by inserting only one token. Specifically, special luck can be obtained by accumulating the tokens.

In recent years, a token game machine has been known in which a ball is supplied to the stationary table as a game medium differing from the token (see JP-A-2002-253 842, for example). In such a token game machine, when a ball supplied to the stationary table is moved together with the tokens placed on the stationary table and falls into the token chute, the ball is sorted out from the tokens, transferred to a lottery device by a recover mechanism and a Iransfer mechanism, and used as a lottery medium. Specifically, a visual change is provided by adding a ball which differs in shape from the token.

Moreover, a lottery is executed using the ball as the lottery medium so that the player may obtain special luck which cannot be obtained by merely dropping the token from the

table.

In a related-art token game machine, only one type of game medium (special game medium) (e.g., ball) differing from the token is used, and only one type of lottery is executed based on the special game medium.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a token game machine comprising: a token chute; a token placement section that has a token placement side, a number of tokens, a first special game medium that is a rolling element that spontaneously rolls due to a slope, and a second special game medium that is a rolling element that spontaneously rolls due to a slope and is larger than the first special game medium being placed on the token placement side; a pusher section that reciprocates along the token placement side with respect to the token chute to push an object placed on the token placement side; a first detection section that detects the first special game medium that has fallen into the token chute; a second detection section that detects the second special game medium that has fallen into the token chute; a first benefit giving process section that performs a first benefit giving process based on detection by the first detection section; and a second benefit giving process section that performs a second benefit giving process based on detection by the second detection section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG 1 is a front external view showing an example of the configuration of a token game machine.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are schematic views illustrative of the external shape configuration of a special game medium.

FIG 3 is an oblique perspective view illustrative of an outline of a circulation mechanism for a first special game medium.

FIG 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrative of an outline of a circulation mechanism.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are partial cross-sectional views showing a cross section of a special game medium capturing section of a circulation mechanism along a forward/backward direction.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing configuration examples of a fall guide plate and a rolling motion guide plate.

FIG 7 is a schematic view illustrative of the movement of a first special game medium based on a special game medium guide siructure.

FIG 8 is a cross-sectional view along a line B-B shown in FIG 7.

FIGS. 9A to 9C are views showing modifications of a special game medium.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODiMENT

The invention may increase game playability relating to a token game machine using a special game medium which differs from a token and rolls.

According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a token game machine comprising: a token chute; a token placement section that has a token placement side, a number of tokens, a first special game medium that is a rolling element that spontaneously rolls due to a slope, and a second special game medium that is a roffing element that spontaneously rolls due to a slope and is larger than the first special game medium being placed on the token placement side; a pusher section that reciprocates along the token placement side with respect to the token chute to push an object placed on the token placement side; a first detection section that detects the first special game medium that has fallen into the token chute; a second detection section that detects the second special game medium that has fallen into the token chute; a first benefit giving process section that performs a first benefit giving process based on detection by the first detection section; and a second benefit giving process section that performs a second benefit giving process based on detection by the second detection section.

According to this configuration, the first special game medium differing from the token and the second special game medium differing from the token and larger than the first special game medium are used. The first benefit giving process is performed when the first special game medium has fallen into the token chute, and the second benefit giving process is performed when the second special game medium has fallen into the token chute. Therefore, the game process can be further provided with variety, whereby game playability can be improved.

The token game machine may further include: a special game medium capturing section that captures the first special game medium and the second special game medium among the tokens, the first special game medium, and the second special game medium that have fallen from the token placement side into the token chute.

According to this configuration, the first special game medium and the second special game medium can be sorted out from the token which has fallen into the token chute. Therefore, sine it suffices that the player cause an object placed on the token placement side to fall into the token chute, it is possible to deal with a demand for easily playing the game without performing a complicated operation.

In the token game machine, the first detection section may detect that the special game medium capturing section has captured the first special game medium; and the second detection section may detect that the special game medium capturing section has captured the second special game medium.

According to this configuration, it is possible to relatively quickly detect that the first special game medium or the second special game medium has fallen into the token chute to execute the benefit giving process. Therefore, the first or second benefit giving process can be executed within a short period after the first special game medium or the second special game medium has fallen into the token chute, whereby the game can progress speedily. This effect is further improved by providing a special game medium capturing section directly under the open end of the token chute so that the special game medium capturing section can capture the first special game medium or the second special game medium immediately after the first special game medium or the second special game medium has fallen into the token chute.

In the token game machine, the special game medium capturing section may have a space that does not allow the first special game medium and the second special game medium to pass through and fall from the special game medium capturing section, but allows the token to pass through and fall from the special game medium capturing section.

According to this configuration, since the sorting structure can be formed relatively inexpensively, the manufacturing cost of the entire machine can be reduced.

Moreover, since maintenance work can be reduced due to the simple structure, management of the machine is facilitated.

In the token game machine, the special game medium capturing section may include a plurality of linear elements, the plurality of linear elements being provided across the token chute almost in parallel.

According to this configuration, since the special game medium capturing section can be implemented by a simple structure, the manufacturing cost can be further reduced.

A number of tokens may fall from the stationary table at the same time. However, a number of tokens can be quickly allowed to pass through without causing a clogging phenomenon, even if a number of tokens fall at the same time, by forming a simple configuration in which linear elements are merely arranged in parallel.

Moreover, the contact area when the first or second special game medium rolls can be reduced by capturing the first or second special game medium using the linear element. Therefore, the captured special game medium is suitably recovered.

In the token game machine, the special game medium capturing section may include three or more linear elements, and an interval between two upper linear elements among the three or more linear elements may be set so that the first special game medium passes through a space between the two upper linear elements and the second special game medium does not pass through the space between the two upper linear elements.

According to this configuration, it is possible to sort the second special game medium from the first special game medium by capturing the second special game medium using two upper linear elements. Since the large second special game medium is captured on the front side when viewed from the upper side, the player has a good impression. Therefore, it is possible to emphasize the production effect of causing the second special game medium to fall into the token chute.

In the token game machine, the special game medium capturing section may include: two upper linear elements that are provided at almost an identical height, an interval between each of the two upper linear elements and a corresponding adjacent wall of the token chute being less than half of a dimension of the first special game medium; and one linear element that is provided under the two upper linear elements at a center between the two upper linear elements, an interval between the one linear element and each of the two upper linear elements being less than a dimension of the first special game medium.

According to this configuration, the second special game medium can be captured using the two upper linear elements, and the first special game medium can be captured by the space formed by the two upper linear elements and the linear element provided under the two upper linear elements at the center between the two upper linear elements.

Since the two upper linear elements are provided at almost an identical height and the interval between each of the two upper linear elements and a corresponding adjacent wall of the token chute is less than half of the dimension of the first special game medium, the first special game medium and the second special game medium can be positioned between the two upper linear elements. Moreover, the second special game medium can be captured using only the two upper linear elements as if to support the second special game medium using rails. Therefore, the capturing structure is extremely simplified.

Since the interval between each of the two upper linear elements and the linear element provided under the two upper linear elements at the center between the two upper linear elements is less than the dimension of the first special game medium, these elements form a gutter and capture the first special game medium, whereby the first special game medium having a small size can be reliably captured.

In the token game machine, the linear elements may be provided to incline in an identical direction; and the token game machine may further include a storage section that stores the first special game medium and the second special game medium that have been captured, the storage section being provided on a downstream end of the linear elements.

According to this configuration, since each linear element is provided so that the first special game medium and the second special game medium incline by an identical angle which allows the first special game medium and the second special game medium to roll spontaneously, the first special game medium and the second special game medium which have been captured can spontaneously enter a specific storage section. This makes it unnecessary to provide a special mechanism which sorts out the first special game medium and the second special game medium which have fallen onto the token chute, whereby the manufacturing cost can be reduced while facilitating maintenance work.

In the token game machine, the linear elements may be provided to incline in an identical direction; and the token game machine may further include a first storage section that stores the first special game medium that has fallen into the first storage section through recovery rails that are formed of one of the two upper linear elements and the one linear element, and a second storage section that stores the second special game medium that has fallen into the second storage section through recovery rails that are formed of the two upper linear elements.

According to this configuration, the captured first special game medium can be caused to roll using one of the two upper linear elements and the lower linear element as recovery rails, and spontaneously collected in the first storage section. Moreover, the captured second special game medium can be caused to roll using the two upper linear elements as recovery rails, and spontaneously collected in the second storage section.

This makes it unnecessary to provide a special mechanism which sorts out the first special game medium and the second special game medium which have fallen onto the token chute, whereby the manufacturing cost can be reduced while facilitating maintenance In the token game machine, the token game machine may further include a special game medium supply section that supplies the first special game medium and the second special game medium that have been stored in the storage section to a game space.

According to this configuration, the first special game medium and the second special game medium which have fallen into the token chute can be again supplied to the game space. Therefore, maintenance work such as supplying the special game medium during operation can be omitted.

In the token game machine may further include: a first special game medium supply section that supplies the first special game medium that has been stored in the first storage section to a game space; and a second special game medium supply section that supplies the second special game medium that has been stored in the second storage section to the game space.

Embodiments Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

Note that the embodiments described below do not in any way limit the scope of the invention defined by the claims laid out herein. Note that all elements of the embodiments described below should not necessarily be taken as essential requirements for the invention. The following embodiments are given taking an example of a pusher-type token game machine using a metal token as a game medium.

Configuration of machine FIG. 1 is a front external view showing an example of the configuration of a token game machine 1000 according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG I, the token game machine 1000 according to this embodiment has a basic configuration classified as a pusher-type token game machine. The token game machine 1000 has a game space GS enclosed by a iransparent cover glass 2, and includes a stationary table 6 having a front end which extends upward over a token chute 4, and a pusher table 8 which is provided along the upper side of the stationary table 6 and cyclically reciprocates along the upper side of the stationary table 6. A number of tokens M are usually placed in advance on the upper side of the stationary table 6 and the pusher table 8 by a person who takes charge of the game machine 1000 or the like.

In the following description, the terms "vertical direction" and "horizontal direction" respectively refer to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction with respect to FIG. 1. Specifically, the terms "vertical direction" and "horizontal direction" respectively refer to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction for a player who plays using the token game machine. The terms "forward direction" and "backward direction" respectively refer to the forward direction and the backward direction with respect to FIG. 1. Specifically, the direction toward the token chute 4 with respect to the stationary table 6 is referred to as the forward direction, and the direction opposite to the direction toward the token chute 4 with respect to the stationary table 6 is referred to as the backward direction.

When the player has inserted a token M into a token insertion slot 10, the inserted token M enters a token receiving section 12. A passage sensor 14 detects the token M when the token M enters the token receiving section 12. When the passage sensor 14 has detected the token M, tokens M corresponding to the number of tokens inserted into the token insertion slot 10 are transferred from the token receiving section 12 to a token storage section 16 provided at the top of the game space OS using a known transfer mechanism. Tokens in the same number as the number of the tokens M detected by the passage sensor 14 are discharged from the token storage section 16 using a token discharge device 18 almost at the same timing at which the passage sensor 14 has detected the tokens M. The token discharged using the token discharge device 18 falls into (enters) the game space GS through a new token insertion slot 20. The token M which has entered the game space GS falls downward while colliding against nails 26 provided upright between a game board 22 and the cover glass 24, for example, and then reaches the upper side of

the pusher table 8.

The pusher table 8 is slidably placed on the stationary table 6 so that the pusher table 8 moves forward and backward through an insertion opening 28 (entrance) provided at the lower end of the game board 22. The pusher table 8 is caused to cyclically reciprocate in the forward direction and the backward direction of the machine using a known reciprocation mechanism (not shown) provided on the back side of the game board 22.

When the pusher table 8 has slid backward on the stationary table 6, the tokens placed on the upper side of the pusher table 8 move backward together with the pusher table 8. When the pusher table 8 is withdrawn into the insertion hole 28, the length of the pusher table 8 extending from the insertion hole 28 is reduced by the amount of the backward movement. Therefore, the tokens placed at the rear of the upper side of the pusher table 8 contact the periphery of the insertion hole 28 and are pushed relatively forward. This causes other tokens placed on the pusher table 8 to be pushed forward one after the other so that the tokens M positioned on the front end of the pusher table 8 fail onto the stationary table 6.

The front end face of the pusher table 8 functions as a pushing section along with the forward movement (pushing operation). The tokens M which have fallen onto (placed on) the upper side of the stationary table 6 are pushed by the pusher table 8 and move forward. This causes the tokens placed on the stationary table 6 to be pushed forward one after the other.

A slope portion 9 which inclines upward over the token chute 4 is provided on the front end of the stationary table 6. The tokens pushed forward move upward along the slope portion 9. The tokens M incline with respect to the upper side of the stationary table 6 when moving upward. When the tokens M are further pushed forward, the tokens M get over the slope portion 9 and fall into the token chute 4.

The bottom of the token chute 4 communicates with a passage 82 provided with a passage sensor 84 similar to the passage sensor 14. The tokens M which have fallen into the token chute 4 pass through the passage 82 and enter the token receiving section 12.

The tokens placed in the token receiving section 12 are transferred to an acquired token discharge port 30 using a known transfer mechanism (not shown) in the same number as the number of tokens M detected when the tokens M pass through the passage 82, and discharged to a token tray 32.

The stationary table 6 is formed so that the width of the front end (i.e., token fall end) is larger than the width of the pusher table 8. The stationary table 6 is shaped so that the width of the stationary table 6 increases as the distance from the forward movement limit position of the pusher table S increases. A side token chute 11 which allows only the token M to enter is provided in each sidewall in the area in which the width of the stationary table 6 increases. The tokens M which have fallen into the side token chute 11 enter the token receiving section 12 (not shown), and are not discharged to the token tray 32.

The token game machine 1000 according to this embodiment has a lottery function. When the player has won a special bonus by lotteiy, a given number of tokens are discharged onto the pusher table 8 from a special discharge port 40 as a bonus. In this embodiment, a lottery execution timing is detennined using a first special game medium and a second special game medium 200 differing from the token M. In this embodiment, the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium have a similar external shape configuration. The second special game medium 200 is larger than the first special game medium 100, and the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200 differ in color.

The external shape configuration of the first special game medium 100 is described below as a representative of the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are views showing the external shape configuration of the first special game medium 100 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG 2k, the first special game medium 100 is an almost spherical polyhedron formed of an optically transparent resin. The first special game medium 100 is a rolling element of which the total height is twice or more of the thickness of the token M. The first special game medium 100 spontaneously rolls on an inclined surface. The entire surface of the special game medium according to this embodiment is covered with a number of triangular flat surfaces 102. The triangular flat surface 102 is formed so that the first special game medium 100 does not start rolling due to its weight when placed on a slope in an angle range from zero (horizontal) to a stationary limit angle 0 and maintains a stationary state.

Specifically, the angle range from zero (horizontal) to the stationary limit angle 0 is a non-roffing slope angle range in which the first special game medium 100 does not roll spontaneously.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG 2B, the stationary limit angle 0 is set to be larger than a slope angle Om by which the token M is inclined due to the slope portion 9 of the stationary table 6. Specifically, the stationary limit angle 0 is set so that the first special game medium 100 does not roll spontaneously even when the first special game medium 100 is placed on the tokens accumulated on the slope portion 9. When the surface on which the first special game medium 100 is placed inclines by an angle On which is larger than the stationary limit angle 0, the first special game medium 100 rolls spontaneously and moves downward on the slope.

The number of triangular flat surfaces 102 of the first special game medium 100 may be appropriately set. The planar shape is not limited to a triangle. The planar shape may be another polygon such as a pentagon or a hexagon, or may be circle.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG 1, the first special game medium 100 is discharged onto the upper side of the pusher table 8 from a first special game medium supply section 66 provided in the game space GS. The second special game medium 200 having an external shape configuration similar to that of the first special game medium 100 is discharged onto the upper side of the stationary table 6 from a second special game medium supply section 67 provided in the game space GS. The first special game medium 100 discharged from the first special

game medium supply section 66 is directly placed on the upper side of the pusher table 8, or placed on the token M placed on the upper side of the pusher table 8. The first special game medium 100 is pushed onto the stationary table 6 due to the forward/backward movement of the pusher table 8. Likewise, the second special game medium 200 discharged from the second special game medium supply section 67 is directly placed on the upper side of the stationary table 6, or placed on the token M placed on the upper side of the stationary table 6.

The first special game medium 100 on the pusher table 8 moves together with the token Mon the pusher table 8 due to the forward/backward movement of the pusher table 8, and the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200 on the stationary table 6 move together with the token M toward the token chute 4. When the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200 have fallen into the token chute 4, the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200 which have fallen are detected, and a control unit 50 executes a lottery process.

IS

The control unit 50 includes electronic/electric components such as a central processing unit (CPU) 52 and an IC memory 54. The CPU 52 executes various calculation processes according to a program stored in the IC memoty 54 to control each section of the token game machine 1000.

The control unit 50 executes a first lottery process and a second lottery process as the lottery process according to this embodiment. The first lottery process is a first benefit giving process which is executed on condition that the first special game medium which has fallen into the token chute 4 has been detected. For example, the control unit 50 displays an image in which a three-symbol slot machine 46 rotates on a liquid crystal display 44 provided in the game board 22, and displays the digits corresponding to the lottery result. When the player has won a special bonus as a result of lottery, the control unit 50 displays three identical symbols such as "777". When the player has won a special bonus, the control unit 50 causes the token discharge device 19 of the token storage section 16 to discharge a given number of tokens M onto the upper side of the pusher table 8 from the special discharge port 40 which communicates with the token discharge device 19.

The second lottery process is a second benefit giving process which is executed on condition that the second special game medium 200 which has fallen into the token chute 4 has been detected. For example, the control unit 50 displays a roulette 48 on the liquid crystal display 44, and displays the start of roulette and the roulette result corresponding to the lottery result.

In the example shown in FIG 1, the roulette 48 is formed of small circular marks and a star mark displayed circularly. The control unit 50 displays the roulette 48 so that one of the marks emits light when the roulette starts. The control unit 50 controls the display so that the light-on position moves clockwise until the roulette stops and the light-on position stops at a position corresponding to the lottery result. When the player has won a special bonus, the light-on position stops at the position of the star mark so that the game mode transitions to a probability change state (probability change mode) in which the probability that the player wins the first lottery is temporarily increased. If the player can cause the first special game medium 100 to fall into the token chute 4 in the probability change mode, the player can win a bonus with high probability in the first lottery. This increases interest to the player.

Circulation mechanism A circulation mechanism which recovers and sorts the first special game medium and the second special game medium 200 so that the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200 can be circulated is described below.

FIG 3 is an oblique perspective view illustrative of an outline of the circulation mechanism for the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium according to this embodiment. FIG 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrative of an outline of the circulation mechanism. FIG 4 shows the right side of the game machine 1000 from the front side. FIGS. 5A and 5B are partial cross-sectional views showing the cross section of a special game medium capturing section of the circulation mechanism along the forward/backward direction.

The token game machine 1000 according to this embodiment includes a special game medium capturing section 60, a first special game medium stock section 64 in which the first special game medium 100 which has been caught and sorted by the special game medium capturing section 60 is placed and stored through spontaneous rolling, and a first supplementation section 68 which supplies the first special game medium 100 stored in the first special game medium stock section 64 to the first special game medium supply section 66 as the circulation mechanism for the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200. The token game machine 1000 also includes a second special game medium stock section 65 in which the second special game medium which has been caught and sorted by the special game medium capturing section 60 is placed and stored through spontaneous rolling, and a second supplementation section 69 which supplies the second special game medium 200 stored in the second special game medium stock section 65 to the second special game medium supply section 67. A passage sensor 62 which detects passage of the first special game medium 100 is provided near the entrance of the first special game medium stock section 64. A passage sensor 63 which detects passage of the second special game medium 200 is provided near the entrance of the second special game medium stock section 65.

Each element of the circulation mechanism is described below.

The special game medium capturing section 60 sorts the first special game medium 100, the second special game medium 200, and the token M which have fallen into the token chute 4, and captures only the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium only 200. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5A, and 5B, the special game medium capturing section 60 includes three rods 60a, 60b, and 60c provided along the rightward/leftward direction directly under the opening of the token chute 4. The special game medium capturing section 60 inclines so that the left side is higher than the right side when viewed from the front face of the game machine 1000. The inclination angle of the special game medium capturing section 60 is larger than the stationaiy limit angle 0 of the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200.

The three rods of the special game medium capturing section 60 are disposed at the vertices of a downward triangle (cross section along the forward/backward direction).

The upper rods 60a and 60b (i.e., the upper vertices of the downward triangle) are disposed almost in parallel.

An interval Gi between the rod 60a and the wall of the token chute 4 and an interval G2 between the rod 60b and the wall of the token chute 4 are less than half of the diameter of the first special game medium 100. An interval (33 between the rod 60a and therod6Oc andan intervalG4betweenthe rod6Ob andthe rod60c are less thanhallof the diameter of the first special game medium 100. Therefore, the token M falls through the special game medium capturing section 60, but the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200 cannot fall through the special game medium capturing section 60.

An interval G5 between the rods 60a and 60b is larger to some extent than the diameter of the first special game medium 100 so that the first special game medium 100 can pass through the space between the rods 60a and 60b. The interval G5 is smaller than the diameter of the second special game medium 200 so that the second special game medium 200 cannot pass through the space between the rods 60a and 60b. Therefore, the second special game medium 200 captured by the special game medium capturing section remains on the upper rods 60a and 60b as if supported by rails. The first special game medium 100 passes through the space between the upper rods 60a and 60b, and enters a gutter formed by the upper rods 60a and 60b and the center rod 60c so that the first special game medium 100 is supported by one of the upper rods 60a and 60b and the center rod 60c as rails.

The right end of the center rod 60c has an inclination angle increase section 60d in which the downward inclination angle increases before an enirance 80 which opens in the right wall of the token insertion slot 4 toward the inside of the game machine 1000. The right end of the inclination angle increase section 60d is secured to the lower end of the entrance 80. The right ends of the upper rods 60a and 60b pass through the entrance 80 and further extend toward the right side of the game machine 1000.

The left ends of the rods 60a, 60b, and 60c pass through insertion holes which are sufficiently larger than the rod diameter and provided in the left inner wall of the token insertion slot 4, and are respectively connected to and supported by load sensors 61a, 61b, and 61c secured to the inside of the housing.

When a downward force is applied to the center rod 60c, the left end of the rod 60c is displaced downward with the right end as a fulcrum. The load sensor 61e is operated due to this displacement, and detects the force/load applied to the rod 60c. Likewise, the load sensors 61a and 61b detect the forces/loads applied to the rods 60a and 60b. Each load sensor outputs a detection signal to the control unit 50.

The load of the first special game medium 100 is applied to the center rod 60c, but the load of the second special game body 200 is not applied to the center rod 60c due to the intervals set for the rods 60a, 60b, and 60c as described above. On the other hand, the load of the second special game medium 200 is applied to the upper rods 60a and 60b, but the load of the first special game medium 100 is not applied to the upper rods 60a and 60b.

Each of the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200 has a predetermined weight.

Therefore, the control unit 50 can determine the number of second special game media 200 which are or have been placed on the special game medium capturing section based on the loads detected by the load sensors 61a and 61b and a change in load.

Likewise, the control unit 50 can determine the number of first special game media 100 which are or have been placed on the special game medium capturing section 60 based on the load detected by the load sensor 61c and a change in load.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first special game medium stock section 64 and the second special game medium stock section 65 are provided near the entrance 80.

Each of the first special game medium stock section 64 and the second special game medium stock section 65 forms a gutter which extends along the forward/backward direction and inclines backward (depth direction in FIG 4) by an angle larger than the stationary limit angle 0. The upstream side of the first special game medium stock section 64 is adjacent to the entrance 80 so that the first special game medium 100 can enter the first special game medium stock section 64. The right ends of the upper rods 60a and 60b pass over the first special game medium stock section 64 at a position higher than the first special game medium stock section 64 by a value larger than the diameter of the first special game medium 100, and are secured near the entrance 65a of the second special game medium stock section 65.

Therefore, when the token M, the first special game medium 100, and the second special game medium 200 have fallen into the token chute 4, the token M passes downward through the special game medium capturing section 60. The token M is guided through funnel passage 82 and enters the token receiving section 12. A passage sensor 84 similar to the passage sensor 14 is provided in the passage 82. The passage sensor 84 can detect passage of the token M which has fallen into the token chute 4 (see FIG 3). The passage sensor 84 outputs a detection signal to the control unit 50.

The first special game medium 100 which has fallen into the token chute 4 is captured by the downward triangular gutter of the special game medium capturing section 60. The first special game medium 100 enters the space between the upper rods 60a and 60b, rotates on the center rod 60c, and enters the right side of the game machine 1000 through the entrance 80. The distance from the upper side from the inner bottom surface of the first special game medium stock section 64 to the rods 60a and 60b is larger than the diameter of the first special game medium 100, the first special game medium 100 enters the first special game medium stock section 64 through the entrance 80, and is placed in the first special game medium stock section 64 while rolling under the rods 60a and 60b.

The second special game medium 200 which has fallen into the token chute 4 is captured by the downward triangular gutter of the special game medium capturing section 60. Since the space G5 between the upper rods 60a and 60b is smaller than the diameter of the second special game medium 200, the second special game medium 200 spontaneously rotates while contacting the rods 60a and 60b (rails) on the lower surface on each side, and enters the right side of the game machine 1000 through the entrance 80 in the same manner as the first special game medium 100. Since the right ends of the upper rods 60a and 60b pass over the first special game medium stock section 64, the second special game medium 200 extends over the first special game medium stock section 64 and enters the second special game medium stock section 65.

Specifically, the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200 captured by the special game medium capturing section 60 are sorted due to the arrangement relationship among the three rods of the special game medium capturing section 60 and the siructure of the right end of the special game medium capturing section so that the first special game medium 100 is placed in the first special game medium stock section 64 and the second special game medium 200 is placed in the second special game medium stock section 65.

The passage sensor 62 and the passage sensor 63 which respectively detect passage of the first special gamc medium 100 and the second special game medium body captured/sorted by the special game medium capturing section 60 and enter the first special game medium stock section 64 and the second special game medium stock section are provided upstream of the first special game medium stock section 64 and the second special game medium stock section 65.

The passage sensor 62 and the passage sensor 63 are means that detect passage of an object. For example, the passage sensor 62 and the passage sensor 63 may be implemented by a sensor which detects passage of an object by combining a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, a distance sensor which measures a distance based on an ultrasonic wave reflection time, or the like. The passage sensor 62 and the passage sensor 63 may also be implemented by a swing switch which swings due to the force of the first special game medium 100 or the second special game medium 200 which rolls. The detection signal of the passage sensor 62 is output to the control unit 50.

The control unit 50 receives the detection signal from the load sensor 61c or the passage sensor 62, and executes the first lottery process when the first special game medium 100 has fallen into the token chute 4 and has been captured by the special game medium capturing section 60, when the first special game medium 100 has been placed in the first special game medium stock section 64. Likewise, the control unit 50 receives the detection signal from the load sensors 61a and 6 lb or the passage sensor 63, and executes the second lottery process when the second special game medium 200 has fallen into the token chute 4 and has been captured by the special game medium capturing section 60, when the second special game medium 200 has been placed in the second special game medium stock section 65.

When the control unit 50 executes the lotteiy process based on the detection signals from the load sensors 61a, 61b, and 61c, since the lottery can be executed at the timing at which the first special game medium 100 or the second special game medium has fallen into the token chute 4, the game can progress speedily. On the other hand, when thc control unit 50 executes the lottery process based on the detection signal from the passage sensor 62 or the passage sensor 63, the lottery process is executed after the first special game medium 100 or the second special game medium 200 has been placed in each special game medium stock section. This allows the player to enjoy observing a state in which the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium captured by the special game medium capturing section 60 roll until the lottery is executed. Any of the above methods may be used. The first lottery process and the second lottery process may be executed using the detection signals from the load sensors 61a, 61b, and 61c as the lottery start timing and the detection signals from the passage sensors 62 and 63 as the lottery stop timing.

The first supplementation section 68 is disposed downstream of the first special game medium stock section 64. The first special game medium 100 stored in the first special game medium stock section 64 spontaneously rolls downward in the inclination direction so that the first special game medium 100 is constantly supplied to the first supplementation section 68.

The first supplementation section 68 includes an eccentric cam 68b driven by a motor 68a, a special game medium pusher 68d which is secured to a slider of a direct-acting element 68c disposed along the upward/downward direction and reciprocates along the upward/downward direction due to rotation of the eccentric cam 68b, and a fill prevention element 68e which maintains the position of the first special game medium 100.

The operation of the motor 68a is controlled by the control unit 50. For example, the motor 68a is operated each time a given number (e.g., 30) of tokens have been inserted (counted) through the token insertion slot 10, and causes the eccentric cam 68b to make one rotation.

When the eccentric cam 68b is in a minimum lift state, the upper side of the special game medium pusher 68d is located at a position almost equal to or lower than the bottom side of the first special game medium stock section 64 so that the first special game medium 100 which spontaneously rolls due to the inclination of the first special game medium stock section 64 is guided onto the special game medium pusher 68d.

The fall prevention elements 68e are elastic elements provided at right and left fixed positions on either side of the special game medium pusher 68d. The upper end of the fill prevention element 68e is bent toward the special game medium pusher 68d. The fall prevention elements 68e prevent the first special game medium 100 guided by the special game medium pusher 68d from falling downward. Specifically, when the amount of lift of the eccentric cam 68b increases, the special game medium pusher 68d slides upward toward the installation direction (upward/downward direction) of the direct-acting element 68c with the first special game medium 100 placed on the upper side to move the first special game medium 100 upward. In this case, each fall prevention element 68e is pushed outward when the first special game medium 100 is moved upward.

When the first special game medium 100 is further moved upward so that the end of the fall prevention element 68e is positioned under the bottom side of the first special game medium 100, the end of the fall prevention element 68e which has been pushed upward returns to the original position due to elasticity. The ends of the right and left fall prevention elements 68e are closed to face each other, and support the first special game medium 100 moved upward to prevent the first special game medium 100 from falling downward. The special game medium pusher 68d moves downward due to its weight when the amount of lift of the eccentric cam 68b decreases.

The lower end of a cylindrical passage 66a of the first special game medium supply section 66 is directly disposed on the special game medium pusher 68d. The first special game mediwn 100 moved upward by the special game medium pusher 68d is inserted into the cylindrical passage 66a. The inserted first special game medium 100 is prevented from falling downward by the fall prevention elements 68e.

Since only a given number of first special game media 100 are inserted into the cylindrical passage 66a, when another first special game medium 100 is inserted by the special game medium pusher 68d, the uppermost first special game medium 100 among the first special game media 100 which have been inserted into the cylindrical passage 66a is pushed outward from the upper open end.

The upper end of the first special game medium suppiy section 66, that is, the upper end of the cylindrical passage 66a protrudes toward the pusher table 8 in the game space US. A supply guide 66b is provided at the end which guides the first special game medium 100 which has been pushed upward from the open end of the cylindrical passage 66a so that the first special game medium 100 falls onto the pusher table 8. Therefore, when the first special game medium 100 which has been inserted into the cylindrical passage 66a is pushed outward from the upper open end, the first special game medium rolls downward while being guided by the supply guide 66b and is then supplied onto the pusher table 8. Therefore, the first special game medium 100 is additionally supplied onto the pusher table 8 each time a given number of tokens are inserted through the token insertion slot 10.

Likewise, the second supplementation section 69 is disposed downstream of the second special game medium stock section 65. The second special game medium 200 stored in the second special game medium stock section 65 spontaneously rolls downward in the inclination direction so that the second special game medium 200 is constantly supplied to the second supplementation section 69.

The second supplementation section 69 includes an eccentric cam 69b driven by a motor 69a, a special game medium pusher 69d which is secured to a slider of a direct-acting element 69c disposed along the upward/downward direction and reciprocates along the upward/downward direction due to rotation of the ecceniric cam 69b, and a fall prevention element 69e which maintains the position of the second special game medium 200.

The operation of the motor 69a is controlled by the control unit 50. For example, the motor 69a is operated each timc a given number (e.g., 50) of tokens have been inserted (counted) through the token insertion slot 10, and causes the eccentric cam 69b to make one rotation.

When the eccentric cam 69b is in a minimum lift state, the upper side of the special game medium pusher 69d is located at a position almost equal to or lower than the bottom side of the second special game medium stock section 65 so that the second special game medium 200 which spontaneously rolls due to the inclination of the second special game medium stock section 65 is guided onto the special game medium pusher 69d.

The fall prevention elements 69e are elastic elements provided at right and left fixed positions on either side of the special game medium pusher 69d in the same manner as the fall prevention elements 68e. The upper end of the fall prevention element 69e is bent toward the special game medium pusher 69d. The fall prevention elements 69e prevents the second special game medium 200 guided by the special game medium pusher 69d from falling downward.

The lower end of a cylindrical passage 67a of the second special game medium supply section 67 is directly disposed on the special game medium pusher 69d. The second special game medium 200 moved upward by the special game medium pusher 69d is inserted into the cylindrical passage 67a. The inserted second special game medium is prevented from failing downward by the fall prevention elements 69e.

Since only a given number of second special game media 200 are inserted into the cylindrical passage 67a,, when another second special game medium 200 is inserted by the special game medium pusher 69d, the uppermost second special game medium 200 among the second special game media 200 which have been inserted into the cylindrical passage 67a is pushed outward from the upper open end.

The upper end of the second special game medium supply section 67 (i.e., the upper end of the cylindrical passage 67a) protrudes toward the stationary table 6 in the game space GS. A supply guide 6Th is provided at the end which guides the second special game medium 200 which has been pushed upward from the open end of the cylindrical passage 67a so that the second special game medium 200 falls onto the stationary table 6. Therefore, when the second special game medium 200 which has been inserted into the cylindrical passage 67a is pushed outward from the upper open end, the second special game medium 200 rolls downward while being guided by the supply guide 6Th and is then supplied onto the stationary table 6. Therefore, the second special game medium 200 is additionally supplied onto the stationary table 6 each time a given number of tokens are inserted through the token insertion slot 10.

Special game medium guide structure The special game medium guide structure which is one of the features according to this embodiment is described below.

The pusher table 8 according to this embodiment includes a fall guide plate 70 which guides the first special game medium 100 which fills onto the upper side of the stationary table 6 toward the center of the stationary table 6, and a rolling motion guide plate 72 which pushes the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200 placed on the stationary table 6 to cause the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200 to roll toward the center of the stationary table 6.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views showing a configuration example of the fall guide plate 70 and the rolling motion guide plate 72 according to this embodiment. FIG 6A is a top view, and FIG 6B is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A. Since the stationary table 6 and the pusher table 8 are symmetrical, the top view of FIG 6A shows only the left portions of the stationary table 6 and the pusher table 8. FIG 6A shows a state in which the pusher table 8 is at a position at which the pusher table 8 has advanced to the greatest extent.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the fall guide plate 70 is a plate member provided on each end (right and left ends) of the pusher table 8. The fall guide plate 70 is triangular when viewed from the upper side. A first side (i.e., side along the upward/downward direction in FIG 6A) of the triangle is formed along the forward/backward direction, and is positioned near the side edge of the pusher table 8. A second side (i.e., side along the rightward/leftward direction in FIG 6A) is formed along the front face of the pusher table 8. A third side 70c faces diagonally forward. Specifically, the forward protrusion length from a front end 8a of the pusher table 8 is the largest on the right and left sides of the pusher table 8, and gradually decreases as the distance from the center decreases. As shown in FIG 6B (front view), the fall guide plate 70 is provided to face the center of the upper side of the stationary table 6. The fill guide plate 70 is provided so that the plate surface inclinesdownward toward the center of the upper side of the stationary table 6.

The fall guide plate 70 is provided so that an inclination angle a is larger than the stationary limit angle 0.

In this embodiment, the pusher table 8 has a thickness sufficiently larger than the thickness of the token M. The fall guide plate 70 is secured to the upper side of the front face 8a of the pusher table 8, and the rolling motion guide plate 72 is secured to the lower side of the front face 8a of the pusher table 8. The fall guide plate 70 is secured so that the plate surface gradually inclines toward the center of the upper side of the stationary table 6. The rolling motion guide plate 72 is secured so that the plate surface is almost horizontal.

The rolling motion guide plate 72 is a plate member provided on each end (right and left ends) of the front face 8a of the pusher table 8 under the fall guide plate 70. The rolling motion guide plate 72 is triangular when viewed from the upper side and is larger than the fall guide plate 70 to some extent. A first side (i.e., side along the upward/downward direction in FIG 6A) of the triangle is formed along the forward/backward direction, and is positioned near the side edge of the pusher table 8. A second side (i.e., side along the rightward/leftward direction in FIG 6A) is formed along the front face 8a of the pusher table 8. A third side 72c faces diagonally forward. A space S equal to or larger than the thickness of the token M is provided under the rolling motion guide plate 72. A token M placed on the upper side of the stationary table 6 passes through the space S and is pushed by the front face 8a of the pusher table 8.

In the stationary table 6 according to this embodiment, a screw 74 for forming an elevation on the upper side of the stationary table 6 is screwed into a hole 76 drilled in the upper side of the stationary table 6 so that the protrusion dimension can be adjusted.

The screw 74 is provided at a position near an interface 78 between a width increase portion 6a in which the width of the stationary table 6 increases and a predetermined width portion 6b in which the width is constant, and is provided forward of the position from the roiling motion guide plate 72 when the pusher table 8 has advanced to the greatest extent. Specifically, the screw 74 is positioned forward of the rolling motion guide plate 72, and is provided outward from the center of the rolling motion guide plate 72 in the rightward/leftward direction. The protrusion dimension of the screw 74 from the upper side of the stationary table 6may be appropriately set. It is desirable to set the protrusion dimension of the screw 74 so that the stationary limit angle 0 of the first special game medium 100 is not exceeded in a state in which the end of the token M runs onto the screw.

FIG 7 is a schematic view illustrative of the movement of the first special game medium 100 based on the special game medium guide structure according to this embodiment. FIG 7 corresponds to the top view around the stationary table 6 and the pusher table 8. In FIG 7, the lower side corresponds to the front side of the machine, and the upper side corresponds to the rear side of the machine. FlU 8 is a cross-sectional view along the line B-B shown in FIG 7. FIGS. 7 and 8 show a state in which the pusher table 8 is at a position at which the pusher table 8 has advanced to the greatest extent.

The first special game medium 100 supplied from the first special game medium supply section 66 onto the pusher table 8 is placed on the token M placed on the pusher table 8 or directly placed on the upper side of the pusher table 8. When the pusher table 8 moves backward in this state, the token M placed at the rear of the upper side of the pusher table 8 contacts the periphery of the insertion hole 28 and is relatively pushed forward so that other tokens M placed forward are pushed one after the other. The first special game medium 100 moves forward when the tokens M are pushed forward, and then falls from the front end onto the upper side of the stationary table 6.

In this case, a first special game medium lOOa which falls near the center of the front end 8a of the pusher table 8 falls forward. On the other hand, since the upper side of the fall guide plate 70 inclines by an angle larger than the stationary limit angle 0, a first special game medium 10Db which falls from the right or left end rolls on the fall guide plate 70 and is placed at a position near the center of the stationary table 6 as compared with the case when the fall guide plate 70 is not provided. Since the slope portion 9 is provided on the front end of the stationary table 6 and the slope portion 9 is not provided for the side token chute 11, the tokens placed on the stationary table 6 spread in the rightward/leftward direction while being pushed forward. However, since the first special game medium 10Db is placed near the center of the stationary table 6 due to the rolling motion/falling from the fall guide plate 70, the first special game medium lOOb is biased to the right or left side of the stationary table 6 to a small extent.

Even if the first special game medium 100 rolls toward the center of the stationary table 6 due to the presence of the fall guide plate 70, the first special game medium 100 is not necessarily positioned near the center of the stationary table 6 depending on the movement of the tokens M. Therefore, the first special game media may be biased to the right and left sides of the stationary table 6. The above description also applies to the second special game medium 200 supplied onto the upper side of the stationaiy table 6.

In this embodiment, the above problem is eliminated by allowing the rolling motion guide plate 72 to push the first special game medium (e.g., first special game medium lOOc shown in FIG 7) biased to the right or left side (end) toward the center of the stationary table 6 when the pusher table 8 moves forward. Specifically, when the pusher table 8 moves forward so that the front end face (corresponding to the third side 72c in FIGS. 6A and 6B) of the rolling motion guide plate 72 comes into contact with the first special game medium lOOc, the first special game medium lOOc rolls in the direction in which the front end face faces (i.e., toward the center of the stationary table 6), whereby the placement position can be corrected toward the center of the stationary table 6. This also applies to the second special game medium 200.

In this embodiment, since the head of the screw 74 protrudes from the upper side of the stationary table 6 in the height direction, the token M runs over the screw 74 when sliding on the screw 74. Therefore, the tokens M in a peripheral area 79 of the screw 74 are inclined and rise up to a small extent. In this embodiment, since the screw 74 is positioned in front of the rolling motion guide plate 72 and is provided outward from the center of the rolling motion guide plate 72 in the nghtward/leftward direction, the tokens rise up in the peripheral area 79 so that a slope which downwardly inclines toward the center of the stationary table 6 is rather widely formed. Therefore, when the first special game medium 1 OOc is pushed diagonally forward (toward the center of the stationary table 6) by the rolling motion guide plate 72, the first special game medium lOOc necessarily moves along the slope toward the center formed by the tokens which have risen up in the peripheral area 79. As a result, the first special game medium 1 OOc rolls on the slope. This makes it possible to more reliably cause the first special game medium lOOc to move toward the center of the stationary table 6. This also applies to the second special game medium 200.

The first special game medium lOOc pushed to the width increase area of the stationary table 6 is pushed to the token fail edge of the stationary table 6 so that a state indicated by a first special game medium lOOd shown in FIG 7 occurs. Since the slope portion 9 is formed at the token fall edge, the token M must get over the slope. The token M inclines due to the function of suppressing the token M from getting over the slope, whereby the token M are accumulated to be positioned one on top of the other.

However, the first special game medium lOOd has a number of planes on the rolling surface so that the first special game medium lOOd does not spontaneously roil until the inclination angle exceeds the stationary limit angle 0. In other words, a condition "inclination angle of token < stationary limit angle 0" is satisfied from the relationship between the width of the slope of the slope portion 9 in the forward/backward direction and the diameter of the token so that the angle of the upper side of the tokens accumulated near the slope portion 9 does not reach of the stationary limit angle 0.

Therefore, even if the tokens M are accumulated in the slope portion 9 in an inclined state, the first special game medium lOOd remains on the token M without moving backward due to spontaneous rolling. The first special game medium! OOd then falls into the token chute 4 together with the accumulated tokens, and is captured by the special game medium capturing section 60. This also applies to the second special game medium 200.

The tokens M which have fallen into the token chute 4 pass through the special game medium capturing section 60 and enter the token receiving section 12. Tokens in the same number as the number of tokens M which have entered the token receiving section 12 are discharged from the acquired token discharge port 30.

On the other hand, the first special game medium 100 which has fallen into the token chute 4 is captured and sorted by the special game medium capturing section 60, and is again circulated into the first special game medium supply section 66. The second special game medium 200 which has fallen into the token chute 4 is captured and sorted by the special game medium capturing section 60, and is again circulated into the second special game medium supply section 67.

The first special game medium 100 is detected by the load sensor 61c and/or the passage sensor 62, and the first lottery process is executed by the control unit 50.

Likewise, the second special game medium 200 is detected by the load sensor 61c and/or the passage sensor 63, and the second lottery process is executed by the control unit 50.

Specifically, since a plurality of lotteries can be executed using a plurality of special game media and different benefits can be given depending on each lottery, the game process can be provided with variety, whereby game playability can be improved.

The first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200 according to this embodiment have optical transparency and have a number of planes on the rolling surface. Therefore, since the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200 transmit external illumination light while subjecting the illumination light to diffused reflection, visually gorgeous effects can be achieved. This significantly improves the visual effect produced as compared with the case of merely disposing a ball.

Modification The embodiments to which the invention is applied have been described above.

Note that the invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The elements may be appropriately added, modified, or omitted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, the above embodiments illustrate an example in which the number of types of special game media is two. Note that the number of types of special game media may be three or more. The game process can be further provided with variety by increasing the number of types of lotteries correspondingly, whereby game playability can be improved. The special game media may have a different external shape.

The above embodiments illustrate an example in which the special game medium capturing section 60 includes three rods. Note that the special game medium capturing section 60 may include four or more rods. A net gutter or a gutter in which an insertion hole which allows the token M to pass through is formed may also be used. The above embodiments illustrate an example in which the special game medium capturing section can capture both of the first special game medium 100 and the second special game medium 200. Note that a capturing section which can capture only the first special game medium 100 and a capturing section which can capture only the second special game medium 200 may be provided in the token chute 4. In this case, the other special game medium is captured by the other mechanism.

The special game media may have a different external shape. The above embodiments illustrate an example in which the rolling surface of the special game medium is covered with a number of planes. Note that a number of depressions 104 (e.g., dimples) may be formed in the rolling surface (surface) (see first special game medium lOOf shown in FIG. 9A), for example. In this case, an area enclosed by the periphery of the depression 104 corresponds to the plane of the first special game medium 100 according to the above embodiments. The size of the depression is appropriately set so that a line perpendicularly drawn from the center of gravity when placing the first special game medium lOOf on a slope at the stationary limit angle 0 is positioned within the above area.

A number of protrusions 106 may be provided on the rolling surface (surface) (see first special game medium lOOg shown in FIG 9B). In this case, a plane defined by connecting the protrusions 106 which contact the ground corresponds to the plane of the first special game medium 100 according to the above embodiments. A plane defined by connecting the protrusion 106 which contacts the ground and the point on the roiling surface also corresponds to the plane of the first special game medium 100 according to the above embodiments. The protrusion 106 is not limited to a point-shaped protrusion.

The protrusion 106 may be formed in the shape of a ridge, and the entire rolling surface may be covered with the ridges in the shape of a net.

When forming the token M using a magnetic material, the magnetic material may be molded in the rolling surface (see first special game medium lOOh shown in FIG 9C).

In this case, since spontaneous rolling is prevented due to the magnetic force of the magnetic material 108 which causes the magnetic material 108 to be adsorbed on the token, the type (size and magnetism) of the magnetic material 108, the weight of the first special game medium lOOh, and the like are determined based on the stationary limit angleO.

The tokens given to the player as a result of a lottery may not be supplied to(oy) the pusher table 8. The tokens may also be supplied to the stationary table 6.

The above embodiments have been described taking an example in which the first lottery process and the second lottery process are independent lottery processes. Note that the first lottery process and the second lottery process may be integrated. For example, the number of special game media supplied is conirolled so that the number of second special game media 200 is smaller than the number of first special game media placed on the stationary table 6 and the pusher table 8. The control unit 50 counts the number of first special game media 100 detected by the load sensor 61c and/or the passage sensor 62, and executes the lottery process when a given number ki has been reached. The control unit 50 counts the number of second special game media 200 detected by the load sensors 6la and 61b and/or the passage sensor 63, and executes the lottery process when a given number k2 (<ki) has been reached. The lottery start condition can be diversified even if the number of lottery execution elements is reduced, whereby game playability can be improved.

Although only some embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art would readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the invention. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims: 1. A token game machine comprising: a token chute; a token

placement section that has a token placement side, a number of tokens, a first special game medium that is a rolling element that spontaneously rolls due to a slope, and a second special game medium that is a rolling element that spontaneously rolls due to a slope and is larger than the first special game medium being placed on the token placement side; a pusher section that reciprocates along the token placement side with respect to the token chute to push an object placed on the token placement side; a first detection section that detects the first special game medium that has fallen into the token chute; a second detection section that detects the second special game medium that has fallen into the token chute; a first benefit giving process section that performs a first benefit giving process based on detection by the first detection section; and a second benefit giving process section that performs a second benefit giving process based on detection by the second detection section.
2. The token game machine as defined in claim I, further including: a special game medium capturing section that captures the first special game medium and the second special game medium among the tokens, the first special game medium, and the second special game medium that have fallen from the token placement side into the token chute.
3. The token game machine as defined in claim 2, the first detection section detecting that the special game medium capturing section has captured the first special game medium; and the second detection section detecting that the special game medium capturing section has captured the second special game medium.
4. The token game machine as defined in claim 2 or 3, the special game medium capturing section having a space that does not allow the first special game medium and the second special game medium to pass through and fall from the special game medium capturing section, but allows the token to pass through and fall from the special game medium capturing section.
5. The token game machine as defined in any one of claims 2 to 4, the special game medium capturing section including a plurality of linear elements, the plurality of linear elements being provided across the token chute almost in parallel.
6. The token game machine as defined in claim 5, the special game medium capturing section including three or more linear elements, and an interval between two upper linear elements among the three or more linear elements being set so that the first special game medium passes through a space between the two upper linear elements and the second special game medium does not pass through the space between the two upper linear elements.
7. The token game machine as defined in claim 6, the special game medium capturing section including: two upper linear elements that are provided at almost an identical height, an interval between each of the two upper linear elements and a corresponding adjacent wall of the token chute being less than half of a dimension of the first special game medium; and one linear element that is provided under the two upper linear elements at a center between the two upper linear elements, an interval between the one linear element and each of the two upper linear elements being less than a dimension of the first special game medium.
8. The token game machine as defined in claim 6 or 7, the linear elements being provided to incline in an identical direction; and the token game machine further including a storage section that stores the first special game medium and the second special game medium that have been captured, the storage section being provided on a downstream end of the linear elements.
9. The token game machine as defined in claim 7, the linear elements being provided to incline in an identical direction; and the token game machine further including a first storage section that stores the first special game medium that has fallen into the first storage section through recoveiy rails that are formed of one of the two upper linear elements and the one linear element, and a second storage section that stores the second special game medium that has fallen into the second storage section through recoveiy rails that are formed of the two upper linear elements.
10. The token game machine as defined in claim 8, the token game machine further including a special game medium supply section that supplies the first special game medium and the second special game medium that have been stored in the storage section to a game space.
11. The token game machine as defined in claim 9, further including: a first special game medium supply section that supplies the first special game medium that has been stored in the first storage section to a game space; and a second special game medium supply section that supplies the second special game medium that has been stored in the second storage section to the game space.