JP2001062027A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine provided with a switch system for facilitating and smoothing activating and stopping operations without giving fatigue to a player. SOLUTION: In this slot machine for rotating plural symbol columns corresponding to activation signals, then stopping the rotation of the respective symbol columns and determining winning by the array of the symbols of the respective columns, a start switch 101 for inputting the activation signals and stop switches 102a, 102b and 102c for stopping the respective symbol columns are turned to the push button switches of the same form and they are arranged on an operation line (M).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slot machine that rotates a plurality of symbol arrays in response to an activation signal, then stops the rotation of each symbol array, and determines a winning based on the arrangement of symbols in each array. More specifically, the present invention relates to a slot machine with an improved switch system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The structure and operation of a conventional general slot machine will be described. As shown in an external perspective view of FIG. It is divided into an upper part 2a, a middle part 2b and a lower part 2c, and an operation indicator light 3 and a payout display panel 4 of the machine are mounted on the panel upper part 2a. A reel display section 5 is formed in the middle panel section 2b, and a medal number display lamp 6 and a display lamp group 7 for displaying a gaming state of the machine are provided on both sides thereof. An operation unit 8 provided with an operation switch, a medal insertion slot, and the like is located below the reel display unit 5, and a decorative panel 9 and a medal payout exit 10a having a medal payout exit 10a are provided in a lower panel portion 2c below the operation unit 8. 10 saucers, 1 ashtray
One or two speakers 12 are provided.

The reel display unit 5 has three parallel lines and X
Five winning lines L consisting of two lines crossing in a letter shape
Is provided, and in the window 51, there are three reels 52a, 52b, 52 that display a plurality of different symbols on the peripheral surface.
c is built-in. When each reel is stopped, a total of nine symbols in three rows and three stages are visually recognized from the window 51 along the pay line L. The above-mentioned five inserted medal number display lamps 6 are provided corresponding to the left end of each of the winning lines L, and indicate the range of the activated pay line corresponding to the inserted medal number.

A display 81 is mounted at the center of the upper surface of the operation unit 8, and displays various messages or information to a player. On the left side of the display 81, the number
And a medal input button switch 82a, 8 corresponding to three
2b and 82c are provided, and on the right side, an individual medal slot 83a
(Manual slot) and a collective medal slot 83b (stored medal slot for storing medal).

On the front of the operation unit 8, a medal clearing button switch 84, reel stop button switches 85a, 85b and 85c provided corresponding to the reels 52a, 52b and 52c, and a start lever 86 are mounted. .

[0006] The player manually inserts medals, or
By operating the stored medal insertion button switches 82a, 82b and 82c corresponding to the inserted numbers 1, 2 and 3, an effective pay line according to the number of medals is set. Then start lever
Input start signal by operating 86 (start operation). When the device is started, the reels 52a, 52b, 52c, which are arranged in a row and display various symbol arrays on the peripheral surface, rotate, and the player operates the stop button switches 85a, 85 corresponding to the respective reels 52a, 52b, 52c.
The reels are stopped by pressing b and 85c, and the symbols are stopped on the pay line L defined in the horizontal direction, the vertical direction, or the diagonal direction (stop operation). Here, depending on the combination of the symbols on the pay line L, winning and losing are determined, and in the case of a winning, a payout is received, one game ends, and thereafter, the medal insertion, reel start, reel stop operation are repeated, and the game proceeds. I do.

[0007]

However, in such a conventional slot machine, a start lever is operated at the time of starting, and a push button switch having a different operation method from the start lever is used at the time of a stop operation. A stop operation must be performed. Such an operation gives the player a feeling of fatigue, and since the start lever switch protrudes from the machine body, it is likely to be an obstacle to the operation. The present invention provides a slot machine that solves such a problem.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a slot machine which rotates a plurality of symbol arrays in response to an activation signal, then stops the rotation of each symbol array, and determines a winning by an arrangement of symbols in each column. A start switch for inputting a start signal and a stop switch for stopping each symbol row are push button switches of the same type, which are arranged on an operation line. Thus, the start operation and the stop operation can be smoothly performed as a series of operations, and the operation of the player can be facilitated and fatigue can be prevented. In addition, since no lever is used, there is no protruding portion, and the obstacle can be eliminated.

When the push button switch is a touch sensor type switch, the operation is further facilitated, and when the push button switch is an illuminated type switch, the operation of the player can be stimulated, Further, in the case where the push button switch is incorporated in the switch subassembly and the switch subassembly is attached to the machine body, the machine can be easily manufactured or assembled, and the cost can be reduced.

[0010]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a start switch and a stop switch of one embodiment of the slot machine according to the present invention. Other configurations of the slot machine of the present invention can employ, for example, the structure of a conventionally known slot machine shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a switch subassembly main body. The main body 100 is provided with a start switch 101 for starting and stop switches 102a, 102b and 102c. Start switch 101 and stop switch 102
a, 102b and 102c are all push button switches of the same type, and as shown in the drawing, an operation line of the player's thumb;
They are arranged on a line M indicated by a dashed line.

The start switch 101 is located at the left end of the sub-assembly main body 100 which is slightly curved and raised. The stop switches 102a, 102b and 102c are the start switch 101.
At a slight distance, they are mounted at equal intervals on the same plane toward the right end of the sub-assembly body 100, and the movement line M of the player's finger (when the finger or wrist is naturally moved right and left (Moving locus).

Therefore, in the start operation and the stop operation, if the player touches the switch while moving the thumb or other finger along the operation line M, the player starts and stops each reel in a series of operations. The operation can be performed easily, safely, without feeling tired, and without trouble.

Further, it is preferable that each push button switch is of the same type and the same shape, has a built-in touch sensor, and emits a signal when touched by a finger. This is because no burden is applied to the player's finger. In addition, due to the nature of the game of the slot machine, these button switches are illuminated, the progress of the game, or
By controlling the light emission according to the ON / OFF of the switch, a more attractive switch mechanism can be obtained. Further, it is preferable to visually distinguish the start switch and each stop switch by performing illumination with different colors. The touch sensor switch or the color illumination system can employ any known technology.

Further, in the embodiment, since each switch is assembled into a sub-assembly and this is attached to the machine main body, it is easy to manufacture and assemble, which leads to a reduction in cost. .

In the above-described embodiment, an interval is provided between the start switch 101 and the stop switch 102a, and at the same time, the star and the switch 101 are bent forward, and the timing of each switch operation is set. It was arranged so that the flow of operation would be smooth. By doing so, the switch operation is further facilitated. However, depending on the layout and other arrangement of the machine body, the arrangement is not necessarily limited to such an arrangement, and arrangement along other operation lines is also possible. Also, the operation and arrangement surface is exemplified by the front side surface (vertical surface) of the machine, but may be mounted on the machine operation upper surface (horizontal surface) in some cases.

Further, in order to smoothly perform the start operation and the stop operation, a groove (finger guide) for guiding the player's finger in the direction of the operation line M is formed by recessing the push button switch array along the operation line M. Alternatively, a guide groove may be provided in parallel with the operation line M, and a switch operation may be performed as a series of operations by moving a finger other than the operation finger along the guide groove, An operation line can also be defined by forming a guide groove.

[0018]

According to the present invention, the start switch for inputting the start signal and the stop switch for stopping each symbol row are formed as push-button switches of the same type, and these are arranged on the operation line. The operation can be smoothly performed as a series of operations, thereby facilitating the operation of the player and preventing fatigue. In addition, since no lever is used, there is no protruding portion, and the obstacle can be eliminated.

Further, when the push button switch is a touch sensor type switch, the operation is further facilitated, and when the push button switch is an illuminated type switch, the operation of the player can be stimulated. In addition, in the case where the push button switch is incorporated in the switch subassembly and the switch subassembly is attached to the machine body, the machine can be easily manufactured or assembled, and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a switch unit of an embodiment of the slot machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a conventional slot machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Switch subassembly body 101 Start switch (push button switch) 102a, 102b, 102c Stop switch (reel stop push button switch) M Operation line

Claims (4)

[Claims] A start switch for inputting a start signal in a slot machine for rotating a plurality of symbol rows in response to a start signal, then stopping rotation of each symbol row, and determining a winning based on an arrangement of symbols in each row; A slot machine characterized in that the stop switches for stopping each symbol row are the same type of push button switches, and these are arranged on the operation line. 2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein said push button switch is a touch sensor type switch. 3. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein said push button switch is of an illuminated type. 4. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein said push button switch is incorporated in a switch subassembly, and said switch subassembly is mounted on a machine body.