JP2001224757A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a player to confirm a result with a lit on lamp that premium game media are smoothly carried out in a game machine which continuously executes feeding motion of premium game media to plural premium game media. SOLUTION: A premium lamp is kept lighting on during a continuous feeding period and lit off when the continuous feeding motion is finished. A seal which is printed of words 'Now feeding premium balls' is adhered on the surface of a feeding display lamp cover to make a player more easily confirm, or a lamp cover made of molding with uneven from of letters is used. It is also preferable that only letters 'feeding' are lit on with LEDs, or the like, for display and special symbols are displayed on an LCD screen.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine for continuously paying out prize game media, and more particularly to lighting control of a payout display lamp for notifying the payout of prize game media.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional gaming machines such as pachinko machines,
A prize is generated when a game ball enters a prize port provided on the game board, and the number of prize balls is set for each prize port. Then, a winning game ball, ie, a winning ball, is detected by the winning ball detecting means for each different number of winning balls, for example, when the number of winning balls is 5
In the case of the two types of prize balls, the prize ball information (the number of prize balls, etc.) of the five prize balls is stored in the table. Then, all the detected prize balls are collected at one place by the collecting gutter, sent to the prize ball processing device one by one, discharged from the prize ball processing device one by one, and the discharged prize balls 1 are discharged.
For each piece, the prize ball dispensing device uses, for example, five when there is data in a table with five prize balls, and fifteen when there is no data in five tables and there is data in fifteen tables. Prize balls are paid out by being divided for each winning ball.
In a gaming machine not provided with a prize ball processing device, a predetermined prize ball is paid out based on stored data, but in this case, each payout is also divided once. A payout display lamp (prize ball lamp) is provided as a means for notifying the payout of the prize ball. In a gaming machine having a prize ball processing device, every time a prize ball is discharged from the prize ball processing device one by one. Lamp control is performed so as to be turned on at the start or end of the payout operation of the prize ball payout device. In a gaming machine without a winning ball processing device, the start of the payout operation of the prize ball payout device is started. Alternatively, lamp control is performed so that the lamp is turned on at the time of termination.

[0003]

In the conventional prize ball payout control of a gaming machine, as described above, prize ball payout is performed once for each prize ball, so that a large number of prize balls are paid in a short time. There is a problem that it takes too much time to pay out in the case of a jackpot or the like in which is generated. Therefore, in order to shorten the prize ball payout time, without using the prize ball processing device, for example, the total prize ball number is calculated by cumulatively adding the prize ball number based on the prize ball, and the total prize ball number is sequentially calculated. By continuously paying out while updating, storing the number of winning balls in a table, and continuously setting the number of winning balls based on the stored data, the payout is made substantially continuous. It has also been proposed to continuously pay out prize balls. However, in such a case of continuous payout, the winning ball processing device is not used, so that it is impossible to apply the conventional method of turning on a lamp every time one winning ball is discharged. Further, the method of turning on the light at the start or end of the payout operation cannot be used because the player cannot confirm the continuous payout by turning on the lamp.

Accordingly, in a gaming machine which continuously performs a prize game medium payout operation for a plurality of winning game media, a player can confirm by a lamp lighting that a prize game medium is paid out smoothly. That is the challenge.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is to keep the payout display lamp turned on during the continuous payout of prize game media.

That is, the invention according to claim 1 is a prize game medium detecting means for detecting a prize game medium, a prize game medium payout device for paying out a prize game medium to the prize game medium, and a prize game relating to the prize game medium. Award game medium payout control means for controlling the award game medium payout device based on the medium information; a payout display lamp for notifying the payout of the award game medium by the award game medium payout device; and a lamp for controlling lighting of the payout display lamp. Control means for controlling the prize game medium payout control device so as to continuously pay out prize game media for a plurality of prize game media, the ramp control means comprising: A gaming machine characterized in that the payout display lamp is controlled to be turned on while the medium payout device continuously pays out the prize game media. By lighting the payout display lamp during the continuous payout of the prize game media in this manner, the player can confirm that the payout is being carried out smoothly.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine having the above structure, a character display is provided on the surface of the payout display lamp to indicate that the prize game medium is being paid out. According to the invention, characters are displayed on an LED, a liquid crystal display, or the like in order to make the player recognize that the prize game medium is being paid out. This makes it easier to confirm that the prize game medium is being paid out.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

The gaming machine (pachinko gaming machine) shown in FIG.
A game area is set on the front surface (game board surface) of the game board 1, and a special symbol display 2 for variably displaying a symbol based on a predetermined detection signal is provided substantially in the center thereof. At the top of the center, a prize winning opening 3 is provided. A first-type start port provided with a start switch (a first-type start port switch to be described later) that detects a start signal for starting a symbol change of the special symbol display section 2 almost directly below the special symbol display section 2. 4 is provided. Immediately below the first type starting port 4,
A special winning opening 5 which is opened when the symbol of the special display 2 is in a predetermined mode is provided. Further, a left sleeve winning opening 6 and a right sleeve winning opening 7 are provided on the left and right sides of the first type starting opening 4, and a lower left winning opening 8 and a lower right winning opening 9 are provided on both the left and right sides of the large winning opening 5. Is provided. Then, on the back of the game board 1, the above-mentioned winning openings on the game board surface flow (winning).
A winning ball detection switch (a first-class starting port switch, a large winning port switch, a left sleeve winning port switch, a right sleeve winning port switch, a lower left winning port switch, a lower right winning port switch, a lower right winning port switch for detecting a winning ball (winning game medium). , A winning prize opening switch), an electric device such as a winning prize opening solenoid, and a collecting plate provided with a passage through which a winning ball passes.

[0010] In addition, as an LED lamp which is turned on, blinks and turns off according to the game content, etc., a frame LE
D11 is provided, on the game board surface, left corner LED12, ball cut LED13, center upper left LED14, left windmill LED1
5, center back LED 16, the left gate LED 17, the left side LED 18, special symbol memory display _{LED19 -1, 19 -2, 19 -3} ,
19 _-4, left chucker LED 20, a special winning Prompt LED 21, winning opening left LED 22, a special winning mouth LED 23, a normal symbol storage display _{LED24 -1, 24 -2, 24 -3} , 24 -4, right corner LED
25, Dispense abnormal LED26, Center upper right LED27, Right windmill LED28, Center lower LED29, Right gate LED30, Right side LED31, Right chucker LED32, Big winning opening right L
ED33 and the like are provided. Among them, LED13
The other LED lamps are for notifying the prize ball payout, and correspond to the payout display lamps described in claims and the like.

All the winning balls that have won each winning opening, which is a winning area on the game board surface, are detected by any of the winning ball detection switches provided on the back of the game board 1. Of these detection switches, the special winning opening switch detects a winning prize ball of paying out 15 prize balls (prize game media), and detects other detection switches (first-type starting opening switch, left sleeve winning opening switch, right sleeve winning opening switch). Switch, lower left winning opening switch, lower right winning opening switch, natural winning opening switch) detects a winning ball of paying out 5 prize balls. That is, among the above winning ports, the large winning port 5 is set to have 15 prize balls, and the remaining natural winning port 3, the first kind starting port 4, the left sleeve winning port 6, the right sleeve winning port 7, the lower left winning port 7, and the lower left. The winning opening 8 and the lower right winning opening 9 are set with five prize balls.

The special winning opening 5 is opened by the special winning opening solenoid when the symbol of the special symbol display 2 is in a predetermined mode, and a game in which the special winning opening 5 is open. The state is called a jackpot, and the gaming state in which the special winning opening 5 is closed is called a normal gaming state.

The gaming machine includes a prize ball payout device (not shown) that pays out a game ball as a prize, ie, a prize ball, to a player when a game ball (game medium) enters a prize area. This prize ball payout device is constituted by a screw and a payout motor (stepping motor) as a driving source, is disposed on a back set mechanism plate (not shown), and has a discharge passage below the screw. Is provided with a prize ball payout sensor (prize game medium payout detecting means) (not shown).

Various control boards are also provided on the back set mechanism plate of the gaming machine. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system for these various substrates and the like. In the drawing, reference numeral 41 denotes a lamp control board for controlling lighting, blinking, and extinguishing of the LED lamp and the like according to the game content, reference numeral 42 denotes a voice control board for controlling sound effects and the like according to the game content, and reference numeral 43 denotes launch of the game medium A payout control board for controlling payout and payout, a symbol control board (special symbol control board) 44 for controlling symbol fluctuation, a main board 45 for controlling game contents on a game board surface, and a power supply 46 for each board. Is a power supply board for supplying the power.

The lamp control board 41, the voice control board 42, the payout control board 43, and the symbol control board 44 receive control commands from the main board 45 and output control signals according to various states. That is, the lamp control board 41 receives a control command from the main board 45, outputs a control signal to the lamp control distribution board 47, and controls lighting, blinking, and extinguishing of all lamps connected to the lamp control distribution board 47. . And the voice control board 42
Receives the control command from the main board 45, outputs a control signal to the speaker relay board 48, and controls the sound output of the speaker connected to the speaker relay board 48. Further, the payout control board 43 receives a control command from the main board 45, outputs a control signal to the payout relay board 49, and controls the prize ball payout device (prize game medium payout mechanism) connected to the payout relay board 49. While controlling, the launching device is controlled via the launching device drive board 40. Further, the symbol control board 44 receives a control command from the main board 45 and controls the symbol display.

In the winning ball payout device, a detection signal from each of the winning ball detection switches is input to the main board 45 via the board relay board 41, and a payout control command is output from the main board 45 to the payout control board 43. This is controlled via the payout relay board 49.

In the control of prize ball payout, for example, every time a prize ball is detected, cumulative addition is performed, the total number of prize balls to be paid out is calculated, and the total number of prize balls to be paid out is continuously paid out.
The details are as follows.

The game balls that have won each of the winning ports 3 to 9 are detected by the above-described winning ball detection switches, and the detection signals are sent to the main board 55 via the relay board (panel relay board 41).

Based on the detection signal from the prize ball detection switch, the main board 45 sets the prize ball number data set for each prize port detection switch in its own payout number storage area and corresponds to the number of prize balls. The 2-byte data award ball command is transmitted to the payout control board 43 together with the strobe signal.

The payout control board 43 determines whether or not the transmitted 2-byte data is normal data. If the data is normal data, the payout control board 43 writes the data into its own payout number storage area. , A drive signal is transmitted to the payout motor of the prize ball payout device.

The payout motor starts its operation after confirming that it is not in the state of the full abnormality or the out of prize ball abnormality, and pays out the game balls one by one to the discharge passage side. The paid out game balls are detected by a prize ball payout sensor installed in the discharge passage, and the detection signal is transmitted to the main board 45 and the payout control board 43.

In the main board 45 and the payout control board 43, each time a signal is transmitted from the prize ball payout sensor, the numerical value of the payout number storage area is decremented by one, and the payout motor is reduced until the numerical value of the storage area becomes zero. Continue sending drive signals.

When the value of the storage area becomes 0,
The transmission of the drive signal is stopped, whereby the payout motor is stopped, and the winning ball payout device enters a standby state.

When a prize ball occurs sporadically, the prize ball is paid out in such a manner as to be completed once each time. The control and operation when the winning balls are continuously generated are as follows.

If a new winning ball is generated before the numerical value of the number-of-payout storage area of the main board 45 and the payout control board 43 becomes 0, the number of prize balls for the new winning ball is added to the remaining numerical value. Then, calculate the required number (total prize balls) to be paid out,
The calculation result is overwritten in each payout number storage area. This process is similarly performed for the main board 45 and the payout control board 43.

When a new prize ball is generated, the number corresponding to the number of prize balls is added each time, while 1 is subtracted each time a signal is transmitted from the prize ball payout sensor until the numerical value in the storage area becomes 0. The drive of the payout motor is continued, and the payout motor is operated until the numerical value of the storage area becomes 0, and stopped when the numerical value of the storage area becomes 0. In this manner, the payout motor is continuously driven, and the payout of the prize balls is continuously performed, instead of dividing the prize balls by the number of prize balls corresponding to the respective prize balls.

In the lighting control of the prize ball lamp, that is, the payout display lamp (each of the LED lamps) in the gaming machine, the prize ball lamp, that is, the payout display lamp (each of the LED lamps) is turned on during the continuous prize ball payout period. Keep it lit. Then, when the continuous payout operation is completed, the light is turned off.

In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a sticker on which the character "Payout is being paid out" is pasted on the surface of the payout display lamp cover 10 so that the player can easily recognize the character. It is preferable to use a lamp cover made of a molded article having irregularities. In addition, the characters may be lit and displayed only during the dispensing using an LED or the like, or may be displayed on a liquid crystal screen such as a special symbol.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be carried out by appropriately changing the configuration without departing from the technical scope of the invention. . For example, in the above embodiment, the case of the pachinko gaming machine is illustrated and described, but the present invention is not limited to the pachinko gaming machine, but can be applied to other gaming machines such as slot machines. .

The prize ball continuous payout method is, for example, to store the number of prize balls for each prize ball number and, based on the stored data, to complete the one prize ball payout almost simultaneously with the next prize to be paid out. By setting the number of balls, the driving source of the prize ball payout may continue to operate, and the payout may be substantially continuous without apparent breaks.

In the above embodiment, the payout unit numbers of the prize game media are set to 5 and 15, but the present invention is not limited to the numbers.

[0032]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in a gaming machine for continuously performing a prize game medium payout operation for a plurality of prize game media, a continuous payout state is determined by a character on a lamp surface, an LED, or the like. The notification can be made on a liquid crystal screen or the like, so that the player can know that the payout is being performed smoothly. In the case of providing characters on the lamp surface indicating that continuous dispensing is being performed, for example, it can be handled simply by sticking a seal printed with the character `` distributing prize balls '', or use a molded lamp cover with irregularities in the shape of the characters That can be dealt with. In addition, in the case of notifying by the LED or the liquid crystal screen, characters which are not normally displayed on the LED or the liquid crystal screen are displayed only when the payout device is driven, so that the player can more easily recognize.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a gaming machine according to an embodiment,

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the gaming machine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a front view (a) of the game board according to the embodiment and an enlarged view of a portion A thereof (b).

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Game board 10 Payout display lamp cover 11 Frame LED 12 Left corner LED 14 Center left upper LED 15 Left windmill LED 16 Center depth LED 17 Left gate LED 18 Left side LED 19 _-1 , 19 _-2 , 19 _-3 , 19 _-4 special symbol memory display LED 20 left chucker LED 21 special winning Prompt LED 22 winning opening left LED 23 special winning mouth _{LED 24 -1, 24 -2, 24} -3, 24 -4 normal symbol storage display LED 25 right corner LED 26 Discharge abnormal LED 27 Center upper right LED 28 Right windmill LED 29 Center lower LED 30 Right gate LED 31 Right side LED 32 Right chucker LED 33 Big winning opening right LED 41 Lamp control board 43 Payout control board 45 Main board

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A prize game medium detecting means for detecting a prize game medium, a prize game medium payout device for paying out a prize game medium to the prize game medium, and the prize game based on the prize game medium information on the prize game medium. A prize game medium payout control means for controlling the medium payout apparatus, a payout display lamp for notifying the payout of the prize game medium by the prize game medium payout apparatus, and a lamp control means for controlling lighting of the payout display lamp, In the gaming machine, wherein the prize game medium payout control means controls the prize game medium payout control device so as to continuously pay out prize game media for a plurality of prize game media, the ramp control means comprises: A gaming machine, wherein the payout indicator lamp is controlled so as to light up during a period in which the apparatus continuously pays out award game media. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the payout display lamp has a character display on its surface indicating that a prize game medium is being paid out. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein during the operation of paying out the prize gaming medium, a character display is displayed to make the player recognize that the operation is being performed.