JP2000189554A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of improving a displaying effect by avoiding display by a display device from giving an unnatural and imperfect image to a player. SOLUTION: Concerning the game machine A, a reel device 30 having plural rotation reels is arranged on the side of the rear surface of a front panel forming a reel display window and plural patterns drawn on the respective rotation reels 32 of this reel device is seen through the reel display window of the front panel. The display device 40 displaying information related with the contents of a game with the pattern of each rotation reel of the reel device is arranged between the reel display window of the front panel and the reel device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine, and more particularly to a game machine in which a plurality of symbols drawn on a rotating reel can be seen through a reel display window on a front panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a slot machine, a front door having a front panel formed with a reel display window is attached to a housing so as to be openable and closable. A reel device having three rotating reels is arranged, and three symbols drawn on each rotating reel of the reel device can be seen through a reel display window on a front panel. On the reel display window of the front panel, a total of five pay lines, three horizontal and two diagonal, are printed, and the five pay lines are activated according to the number of medals inserted and the like. A predetermined number of medals are paid out when the symbols of the respective rotating reels of the reel device are stopped in a predetermined combination along the line.

[0003] Some pachinko machines use a reel device as a variable display device. This reel device is smaller than that for slot machines and is mounted on the back side of the game board as a front panel, and a plurality of symbols drawn on each rotating reel of the reel device are displayed on the game board. It is visible through the window.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional gaming machine, since there is a certain distance between the outer peripheral surface of the rotating reel of the reel device and the reel display window of the front panel, especially the diagonal winning line is oblique. In the line, the deviation between the position where the symbols of the rotating reels of the reel device stopped side by side and the line position became large at both ends, and it was not possible to completely wipe out giving an unnatural and incomplete image to the player.

Also, in the case of a slot machine, the reel display window on the front panel of the front door is a place where the player's line of sight is most gathered. There have been various proposals for providing a variety of games. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-109977 discloses that an optical fiber constituting a pay line is provided in a reel display window of a front panel, and a pay line activated according to the number of inserted medals or the like is displayed. I have. Japanese Patent No. 2668067 discloses that a liquid crystal shutter constituting a reel display window is attached to a front panel.
At the start of the game, make the liquid crystal shutter transparent so that all three symbols on each rotating reel of the reel device can be seen through the liquid crystal shutter, and at the end of the game, make the display window part corresponding to the symbols irrelevant to winning combinations opaque. Is disclosed.

However, in all of these proposals, components such as an optical fiber and a liquid crystal shutter are mounted on the back surface of the front panel of the front door, and various displays and the like are already provided on the back surface of the front panel. There is a problem that components are attached and the structure becomes complicated due to the addition of the attached components. In addition, since the front panel of the front door is easily affected by an external force, there is a problem that components mounted on the rear surface of the front panel are more likely to be damaged.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a first object of the present invention is to bring a display device for displaying a winning line or the like closer to the rotating reel of the reel device than the front panel surface. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine which can prevent a display by a display device from giving an unnatural and incomplete image to a player, and thereby enhance a display effect.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a slot machine, in particular, in addition to the above-mentioned first object, by appropriately setting a mounting portion of a display device without complicating the structure. It is to make it easier.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reel device having a plurality of rotating reels disposed on the back side of a front panel having a reel display window. In a gaming machine configured such that a plurality of symbols drawn on each rotating reel of the reel device can be seen through a reel display window of the front panel, a game is provided between the reel display window of the front panel and the reel device. A display device for displaying information related to the contents together with the design of each rotating reel of the reel device through a reel display window is provided.

In this configuration, a display device for displaying information related to the game content together with the symbols of the respective rotating reels of the reel device through a reel display window is provided between the reel display window of the front panel and the reel device, that is, from the front panel surface. Also, since the display device is also arranged closer to the rotating reel of the reel device, the distance between the display surface of the display device and the symbol on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating reel is shortened, and the positional relationship between them is eliminated.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a front door having a front panel having a reel display window is attached to a housing so as to be openable and closable. A reel device having a plurality of rotating reels is arranged on the back side of the front panel of the front door in the above, and a plurality of symbols drawn on each rotating reel of the reel device are configured to be visible through the reel display window of the front panel. In a gaming machine or slot machine, between the reel display window of the front panel and the reel device, a display device that displays information related to the game content through the reel display window together with the design of each rotating reel of the reel device, In addition, the display device is configured to be attached to the holding unit of the reel device.

In this configuration, the display device is arranged closer to the rotating reel of the reel device than the front panel surface as in the case of the first aspect of the present invention. The distance between the outer peripheral surface and the design is shortened, and the mutual positional relationship is eliminated. Moreover, since the display device is attached to the holding portion of the reel device on the housing side, the number of components attached to the back surface of the front panel by this display device does not increase, and the structure is complicated. There is no. In addition, the front panel of the front door serves to protect the display device, and the influence of external force is avoided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first or second aspect, a preferable mode of the display device is provided. That is, the display device is configured by providing a linear light-emitting portion (for example, an EL element, an LED, or an optical fiber) on a transparent panel. In this configuration, while the design of each rotating reel of the reel device is transmitted through the transparent panel of the display device, the information related to the game content is illuminated and displayed by the linear light-emitting portion of the display device, so that each rotating reel is displayed. In a state where the symbol and the information related to the game content are combined, the user can see through the reel display window of the front panel. In addition, control and the like are easier than in a case where a display device is configured using a liquid crystal shutter, and the cost can be reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the first to third aspects, the display device comprises:
The rotating reel is formed into a curved surface along the outer peripheral surface. With this configuration, the distance between the outer peripheral surface of the rotating reel and the display surface of the display device can be made constant along the outer peripheral surface, and the mutual positional relationship can be more reliably prevented.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a slot machine A as a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention,
This slot machine A has a front door 2
Is mounted so that it can be opened and closed with its left side as the hinge side.

The front door 2 forms a frame body 5 by casting a metal such as aluminum or by resin molding. An upper panel 6, a center panel 7 and a lower panel 8 are respectively formed on the frame body 5 as front panels. Be attached. On the upper panel 6, a hit symbol or the like is printed. The center panel 7 is provided with a reel display window 10 in the center thereof, and around the reel display window 10, a credit number display 11, a payout number display 12, each of which is a digital display, and a winning item display. A number display 13 and the like are provided. A medal slot 1 as a game operation tool is provided between the central panel 7 and a lower panel 8 having a decorative pattern.
6. Start lever 17, 3 stop buttons 18, 1
8, 18, a 1-bet button 19, a 2-bet button 20 and a 3-bet button 21 are provided.
A medal payout port 26, a medal tray 27, a speaker 28, and the like are provided below.

On the back side of the front door 2, not shown, around the reel display window 10 of the central panel 7, electric parts such as various digital displays 11 to 13 and lead wires of game operation tools are provided. An electric component box to be housed is mounted, and a lighting box for housing the lighting is provided corresponding to the lower panel 8. In addition, a speaker box for accommodating the speaker 28 and a medal passage for paying out medals from the medal payout opening 26 are also provided.

On the other hand, a reel device 30 is disposed in the housing 1 so as to face the reel display window 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the reel device 30 includes three rotating reels 32, 3 in a holding box 31 opened forward.
The reels 2 and 32 are arranged on a horizontal axis and independently rotatably supported. A plurality of symbols (not shown) are provided on the outer peripheral surface of each rotating reel 32. Further, a step motor 33 for independently rotating each of the rotating reels 32 is arranged. When the front door 2 is closed, nine symbols, three for each rotating reel 32, can be seen through the reel display window 10 of the front door 2, and the three rotating reels are operated by operating the start lever 17 after the medal is inserted. 32, 32, 32 are rotated at the same time, and the corresponding reel 3
2 are individually stopped.

The holding box 31 of the reel device 30
Is fixed on a reel mounting shelf 35 provided in the housing 1. In the housing 1, in addition to the reel device 30, a main control board 36 and the like are disposed above the reel mounting shelf 35, and a hopper driving device 37 and a switchboard 38 are provided below the reel mounting shelf 35. Etc. are arranged.

A feature of the present invention is that, between the reel display window 10 of the front door 2 and the reel device 30, a nine-block frame as information relating to the game content is provided on each of the rotating reels of the reel device 30. A display device 40 for displaying through the reel display window 10 together with a total of nine symbols, three for each 32, is arranged. The display device 40 includes the EL element panel 4
1 and two front and rear panel frames 42 and 43 for holding the EL element panel 41 between the front side and the back side.

The EL element panel 41 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in detail in FIG. 9, nine block frames a1, a2, a corresponding to a total of nine symbols, three on each of the rotating reels 32 of the reel device 30, are formed on a rectangular transparent film 45.
3, b1, b2, b3, c1, c2, and c3, and each block frame a1 to a3, b1 to b3, c1 to c3
Is formed by forming an EL element as a linear light emitting portion in a rectangular frame. This EL element is provided on a film 45 on a back electrode 5.
1, an insulating layer 52, a light emitting layer 53, and a surface electrode 54 are sequentially laminated. When a predetermined voltage is applied between the back surface electrode 51 and the front surface electrode 54, the light emitting layer 53 emits light. The color changes to at least two colors, red and green. The back electrode 51, the front electrode 54, and the lead wires connected thereto are all transparent, and the lead wires connected to the electrodes 51, 54 of the respective block frames a1 to a3, b1 to b3, c1 to c3. Is the EL element panel 41
Is connected to a single strip-shaped cable 56 at the left end of the panel control board 4 of the display device 40.
4 (see FIG. 6).

The two front and rear panel frames 42, 43 are both made of a transparent synthetic resin such as ABS. Front panel frame 4
Numeral 2 is formed in a curved shape along the outer peripheral surface so as to cover the rotating reel 32 at the front side of the holding box 31 of the reel device 30, and the upper and lower portions respectively correspond to the front edge of the holding box 31. They are attached to each other by screws 58. The rear panel frame 43 is formed in a curved shape along the outer peripheral surface of the rotating reel 32 of the reel device 30, and is inserted into the front panel frame 42 via the EL element panel 41. Is fixed.
Therefore, the EL device panel 41 is held between the two front and rear panel frames 42 and 43 and held in the reel device 30.
Curved along the outer peripheral surface of the rotary reel 32, and the respective block frames a1 to a3, b1 to b3,
c1 to c3 surround the symbols of the corresponding rotating reel 32, respectively.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a control system of the slot machine A. In this figure, a main control board 36 is a CPU,
It has a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the reel device 30, the reel lighting device 61, and the various digital displays 11 to 13 while receiving a signal from a game operation tool such as the starting lever 17, and controls the speaker drive circuit 62. The speaker 28 is controlled via the speaker 28. Although not shown in detail in the drawing, the reel lighting device 61 illuminates a pattern on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating reel 32 of the reel device 30 from inside the rotating reel 32 or from outside (for example, from the back side of the front door 2). It has become.

The main control board 36 further controls the hopper driving device 37 via a hopper control board 63 and controls the EL element panel 41 via a panel control board 44. The hopper control board 63 has a sub CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the hopper driving device 37 based on a command signal from the main control board 36 and a detection signal from the hopper payout sensor 64. The panel control board 44 also includes a sub CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the EL element panel 41 based on a command signal from the main control board 36. The lighting process control of the EL element panel 41 is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Hereinafter, this flowchart will be described.

That is, in FIG.
After waiting for the first medal to be inserted into the medal insertion slot 16 in 1, the middle block frames a 2, b 2 and c 2 of the EL element panel 41 are lit in red in step S 2. Subsequently, in step S3, it is determined whether or not the start lever 17 has been operated, and if not, it is further determined in step S4 whether or not a second medal has been inserted. When the second medal is inserted without operating the start lever 17, at step S5, the upper block frames a1, b1, c1 and the lower block frames a3, b of the EL element panel 41 are set.
3 and c3 are lit in green.

Next, in step S6, the starting lever 17 is again activated.
Is determined, and if not, it is further determined in step S7 whether a third medal has been inserted. When the third medal is inserted without operating the start lever 17, the upper block frames a1, b1, c1 and the lower block frames a3, b3, c3 of the EL element panel 41 are changed from green to red in step S8. Switch to lighting. Thereafter, in step S9, the process waits until the start lever 17 is operated.

If the determination in any of steps S3, S6 and S9 is YES, that is, if the start lever 17 is operated after the medal is inserted, a lottery is performed in step S10, and the rotating reel of the reel device 30 is determined in step S11. After rotating 32, a game process is performed in step S12 based on the lottery result. In this game processing, the corresponding rotating reel 32 of the reel device 30 is stopped by pressing the stop button 18. Then, step S1
3, all the block frames a1 to a of the EL element panel 41
3, b1 to b3, c1 to c3 are turned off, and one game is ended.

Although the flowchart of FIG. 7 shows a case where a game is played by inserting medals into the medal insertion slot 16, credit buttons 19 to 2 are used instead of inserting medals.
When the game is performed by the operation 1, the lighting process of the EL element panel 41 is similarly performed. That is, when the 1-bet button 19 is pressed, the middle block frames a2, b2, and c2 of the EL element panel 41 light up in red, and the 2-bet button 20
Is pressed, the middle block frame a2 of the EL element panel 41 is pressed.
b2, c2 are red, and the upper and lower block frames a1,
When a3, b1, b3, c1, and c3 are lit in green, respectively, and the 3-bet button 21 is pressed, all the block frames a1 to a3, b1 to b3, and c1 to c3 of the EL element panel 41 are pressed.
Lights in red.

Therefore, in the slot machine A of the first embodiment, after one coin is inserted into the medal insertion slot 16 or the 1 bet button 19 is pressed, the start lever 17 is operated to play a game. When performing, the nine block frames a1 to a3, b1 to b of the EL element panel 41 of the display device 40 arranged on the rear side of the reel display window 10 of the front door 2
3, among three c1 to c3, three middle block frames a2,
Only b2 and c2 light up in red. Further, when two medals are inserted into the medal insertion slot 16 or the 2 bet button 20 is pressed and the start lever 17 is operated to play a game, the three middle block frames a2, b2, and c2 are In addition to lighting in red, the upper and lower six block frames a1, a3, b1, b3, c1, and c3 light in green. Further, when three medals are inserted into the medal insertion slot 16 or the 3 bet button 21 is pressed and the start lever 17 is operated to play a game, nine block frames a1 to a3, b1 to b3, c1 to c3 all light up in red.

Since the EL element panel 41 and the panel frames 42 and 43 of the display device 40 are all transparent, the three rotating reels 32 of the reel device 30 are lit in red or green through these. Block frame a1
~ A3, b1 ~ b3, c1 ~ c3 and reel display window 1
It will be visible from 0. In particular, when the rotating reel 32 is stopped, three symbols of each rotating reel 32 are respectively displayed in the block frames a1 to a3, b1 to b3, c1 to c3.
It can be seen surrounded by. For this reason, even when the pay line is not printed on the reel display window 10 of the center panel 7 as in the conventional case, the player can make a mutual exchange between the insertion of one medal, the insertion of two medals, and the insertion of three medals. Can be easily distinguished. It goes without saying that a pay line may be printed on the reel display window 10 of the central panel 7 in addition to the nine-block frame display as in the related art.

In addition, since the display device 40 is disposed closer to the rotating reel 32 of the reel device 30 in the housing 1 than the central panel 7 of the front door 2, the EL element of the display device 40 is provided. By shortening the distance between the panel 41 and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating reel 32, each of the block frames a1 to a3, b1 to b3, c1 to c3 of the EL element panel 41 and the corresponding pattern of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating reel 32 are changed. The displacement of the positional relationship can be minimized, and clear display can be performed. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the EL element panel 41 is formed in a curved shape along the outer peripheral surface of the rotating reel 32 in a state sandwiched between the panel frames 42 and 43, so that the outer peripheral surface of the rotating reel 32 Along with this, the distance between the outer peripheral surface and the EL element panel 41 can be made constant, and the display can be further clarified.

Further, since the display device 40 is mounted on the holding box 31 of the reel device 30 on the housing 1 side, the number of components mounted on the back surface of the front door 2 by the display device 40 increases. And the structure is not complicated. Also, the central panel 7 of the front door 2
Plays a role in protecting the display device 40 in front of the display device 40, so that the influence of external force such as when a player hits the central panel 7 can be avoided, and the display device 40 can be prevented from being damaged. .

FIG. 8 shows a slot machine B according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This slot machine B includes a slot machine A according to the first embodiment and an EL of a display device 40 arranged between the front door and the reel device 30 in the housing 1.
Only the element panel 71 is different, and the configuration will be described below. However, since the other configurations are completely the same, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. In the following description, members and components on the front door side are referred to with reference to FIG.

That is, as shown in detail in FIGS. 9 and 10, the EL element panel 71 has a total of five pay lines L, three horizontal and two diagonal, on a rectangular transparent film 72.
1, L2, L3, L4, and L5 are arranged. Each of the winning lines L1 to L5 is formed by linearly forming an EL element as a linear light emitting portion. This EL element is shown in FIG.
As in the slot machine A shown in FIG.
A back electrode (corresponding to 51 in FIG. 5) and an insulating layer (5
2) The light emitting layer (53) and the surface electrode (54) are sequentially laminated, and when a predetermined voltage is applied between the back electrode and the front electrode, the light emitting layer emits red (or green) light. The back electrode, the front electrode, and the lead wires connected thereto are all transparent, and each of the winning lines L1 to L1
The lead wire connected to the electrode of L5 is the EL element panel 71.
Is connected to a single band-shaped cable 73 at the left end, and a connector 74 is provided at the end of the cable 73.

The EL element panel 71 is sandwiched between two front and rear panel frames 42 and 43 and is attached to the front side of the holding box 31 of the reel device 30 via the two. The winning lines L1 to L5 of the EL element panel 41 are arranged in a curved state along the rotation reels 3 of the reel device 30.
It can be seen through the reel display window 10 of the front door 2 together with three symbols of two. When one medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot 16 or when the 1 bet button 19 is pressed, only the central winning line L1 is lit in red, and two medals are inserted into the medal insertion slot 16. Or when the 2 bet button 20 is pressed, three horizontal pay lines L1
L3 lights in red, and when three medals are inserted into the medal slot 16 or the 3bet button 21 is pressed, all five pay lines L1 to L5 are lit in red. ing.

In such a slot machine B,
As in the case of the slot machine A according to the first embodiment, the positional relationship between the winning lines L1 to L5 of the EL element panel 71 and the corresponding symbols on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating reel 32 is minimized. Of course, the display can be clarified, and the display device 40 can be prevented from being damaged by the influence of an external force.

In the first and second embodiments, the display contents of the display device 40 disposed between the reel display window 10 of the front door 2 and the reel device 30 on the housing 1 side are as follows.
In each case, block frames a1 to a3, b1 to b are used instead of the winning lines printed and displayed on the reel display window 10 as in the related art.
3, c1 to c3 are lighted and displayed, and the prize lines L1 to L
Although 5 is lit on, the present invention may display information related to game contents other than the pay line display. For example, block frames a1 to a3, b1 to b3,
At the same time as notifying the establishment of the flag by combining the number of lights of c1 to c3 and the color difference, changing the emission color of the winning lines L1 to L5, or performing a flashing shift so as to run on the line The reliability is identified. In addition, multicolor blinking or the like at the time of a big hit is performed to enhance the winning symbol, or block frames a1 to a3, b1 to b3,
All of c1 to c3 are blinked to appeal.

In each of the above embodiments, the EL element panel 41,
Although 71 is used, a panel in which linear LEDs or optical fibers are arranged on a transparent panel may be used instead of the EL element panels 41 and 71. Further, a liquid crystal shutter may be used as the display device 40.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the slot machine as in the above embodiments, and can be applied to a pachinko machine using a reel device as a variable display device. In this case, since the reel device is attached to the back side of the game board as a front panel, a display device disposed between the reel device and the reel display window of the game board may be attached to the game board.

[0040]

As described above, according to the gaming machine of the present invention, between the reel display window of the front panel and the reel device, information related to the game content is reeled together with the symbols of the respective rotating reels of the reel device. By arranging the display device for displaying through the display window, the distance between the display surface of the display device and the symbol on the outer surface of the rotating reel can be shortened, and the positional relationship between the two can be minimized. In addition, a clear display that does not give a sense of incongruity to the player can be performed, and the visibility can be improved.

In particular, in the invention according to claim 2, the display device is mounted on the holding portion of the reel device on the housing side of the slot machine, so that the number of mounting components on the back surface of the front panel of the front door is increased, and the structure is complicated. Can be easily implemented without inducing, and also has an effect that an influence of an external force can be avoided.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reliably display the information related to the game contents together with the symbols of each rotating reel of the reel device, and it is easy to control the display and the cost is low. This is very advantageous for practical implementation.

Further, in the invention according to the fourth aspect, the distance between the outer peripheral surface of the rotating reel and the display surface of the display device can be made constant along the outer peripheral surface, so that the display is further clarified. Can be planned.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a slot machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slot machine with a front door removed.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a display device attached to the reel device of the slot machine.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an EL element panel of the display device.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control system of the slot machine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of lighting control of an EL element panel.

FIG. 8 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

A, B slot machine (game machine) 1 housing 2 front door 7 center panel (front panel) 10 reel display window 30 reel device 31 holding box (holding unit) 32 rotating reel 40 display device 41, 71 EL element panel a1 a3, b1 to b3, c1 to c3 Block frame (light emitting unit) L1 to L5 Winning line (light emitting unit)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A reel device having a plurality of rotating reels is arranged on the back side of a front panel having a reel display window, and a plurality of symbols drawn on each rotating reel of the reel device are displayed on a reel on the front panel. In a gaming machine configured to be seen through a window, between the reel display window of the front panel and the reel device, information related to the game content is displayed through the reel display window together with the design of each rotating reel of the reel device. A gaming machine, comprising a display device. 2. A front door having a front panel formed with a reel display window is openably and closably attached to a housing, and the housing has a plurality of rotating reels on the back side of the front panel of the front door. In a gaming machine in which a reel device is arranged and a plurality of symbols drawn on each rotating reel of the reel device are configured to be seen through a reel display window of a front panel, the reel display window of the front panel and the reel device Between them, a display device for displaying information related to the game content together with the symbol of each rotating reel of the reel device through a reel display window is arranged, and this display device is attached to a holding portion of the reel device. A gaming machine. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a transparent panel provided with a linear light-emitting portion. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said display device is formed in a curved shape along an outer peripheral surface of a rotating reel.