JP2001353317A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve more accurate prevention of fraudulent work in a game machine such as pachinko machine with a variable winning device having a shutter and an electric drive means. SOLUTION: This pachinko machine is provided with an outer frame 1 and a front frame 2 and a game board 3, a glass door frame 4, an upper tray 5, a lower tray 6, a handle 7 and the like are mounted on the front frame 2. The game board 3 is provided with a starting hole 12, a pattern display device 13 and a variable winning device 21 having a jackpot hole 11 and the like. A controller 50 generates a jackpot state with the necessary condition that the results of varying display at the pattern display device 13 present a specified stop display figure. The jackpot hole 11 of the variable winning device 21 gets opened or closed based on a solenoid 10 for the jackpot hole. The solenoid 10 for the jackpot hole is covered with a cover body to make fraudulent operation hard to attempt from the outside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shutter for setting a winning opening in a first state and a second state in which winning is easier than in the first state, and an electric drive means for operating the shutter. The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine provided with a variable winning device having the following.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as one type of gaming machine, a pachinko machine equipped with a special symbol display device for displaying a plurality of symbols in a predetermined arrangement in a variable manner has been known.

[0003] In this kind of pachinko machine, according to the display symbol (stop symbol) when the variable display is stopped on the display device, a "special game state", which becomes a state advantageous to the player after the reach state, and a reach state. , "Reach state" that does not become a special game state after passing through, or does not go through the reach state, and
A “disengagement state” that does not become a special game state is generated. The stop symbols include a special game symbol (big hit symbol) for generating a special game state, a detachable reach symbol for generating a detached reach, and a detached symbol for generating a detached state.

[0004] In the above-mentioned pachinko machine, a special symbol is set based on that a game situation that changes according to a player's operation satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, a game ball wins an operating port). On the display device, the variable display of the symbol is started. In addition, the above special game design, off reach design,
Then, a stop symbol corresponding to the game situation is selected from the off symbols, and the variable display is stopped at the selected stop symbol. Then, when stopping at the big hit symbol, the special variable winning device (variable winning device) is switched so as to be in an advantageous state (big hit state) for the player. More specifically, the player can acquire a large amount of premium balls by tilting the shutter to open a large winning opening and allowing many gaming balls to win there.

[0005] Such a variable winning device generally has a large winning port, and a shutter is provided in front of the large winning port. The shutter is operated by a special winning opening solenoid provided on the side of the special winning opening, and opens and closes the special winning opening. Specifically, when the solenoid is excited, the shutter tilts substantially horizontally, thereby opening a special winning opening. When the solenoid is in a non-excited state, the shutter is in a substantially vertical state,
This closes the special winning opening.

[0006]

However, in recent years, various irregularities have been reported with respect to the variable winning device. As a typical example of cheating, a thin long resin plate called a “cell” is inserted into the pachinko machine from the game ball passage of the upper plate of the pachinko machine, the shutter is forcibly tilted, and a large prize is won. With the mouth open,
An act of illegally winning a large number of game balls into the open winning opening in the open state is exemplified. Due to such misconduct,
In some cases, a large amount of prize balls were illegally derived, resulting in a great deal of damage to the game arcade.

As a method of opening the special winning opening by using the above-mentioned "cell", a method of directly tilting the shutter by hooking the tip of the "cell" to the shutter, and a method of operating a solenoid plunger (when the plunger is a coil spring) Immersed against the urging force) to tilt the shutter. The former fraud can be avoided to some extent by making the shutter and the winning opening (opening) as flat as possible and minimizing the gap between them, but the latter fraud is still not possible. In fact, no adequate measures were taken.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a shutter for setting a winning opening in a first state and a second state in which winning is easier than in the first state. And a game machine such as a pachinko machine equipped with a variable winning device having an electric drive means for operating the shutter, and capable of more reliably preventing cheating. It is in.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, in the first invention, a prize port in which game media can be won is set in a first state and a second state which is easier to win than the first state.
In a gaming machine equipped with a variable winning device having a shutter for bringing the shutter into a state and an electric driving means for operating the shutter, it is difficult to perform an unauthorized operation of the electric driving means from outside. The gist is that they are covered with a covering as much as possible.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the gist is that the shutter is capable of setting the winning port to a closed state and an open state by tilting.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first or second aspect, the electric drive means comprises a solenoid, and at least a plunger of the solenoid and a member operable with the plunger are provided. The gist of the invention is to cover with a coating.

(Operation) According to the gaming machine of the first aspect, the shutter is operated by the electric drive means of the variable winning device. By the shutter, the winning opening is the first
And the second state in which the game medium can be more easily won than the first state.
It is in the state of.

According to the above-mentioned gaming machine, the electric drive means is covered with the cover, which makes unauthorized operation from outside difficult. For this reason, using a jig such as a "cell"
Even if the winning mechanism is set to the second state by illegally operating the electric driving means, such illegal operation becomes difficult to perform due to the presence of the cover.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the function of the gaming machine according to the first aspect of the invention, the winning opening can be closed and opened by tilting the shutter. In addition, due to the presence of the cover, an improper tilting of the shutter due to the operation of the electric driving means can be suppressed.

Further, according to the third invention, the first,
In addition to the functions of the gaming machine according to the second aspect of the invention, the electric drive means includes a solenoid, and the plunger of the solenoid protrudes and retracts to operate the shutter.
Deactivation is switched. In this gaming machine, at least the plunger of the solenoid and a member operable with the plunger are covered with the covering, so that the above-described operation is reliably performed.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a pachinko machine as a gaming machine will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a front frame 2 is mounted on the outer frame 1 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis. In the figure, the front frame 2 is in a closed state. A game board 3 (see FIG. 2), a glass door frame 4 having a glass plate, an upper plate 5, a lower plate 6, a handle 7, and the like are mounted on the front frame 2. A speaker 8 is embedded in the front frame 2 on the side of the upper plate 5. The speaker 8 emits various sound effects as the game progresses, and notifies the player of the game state by voice. Various mechanisms are disposed inside the front frame 2.

Next, the configuration of the game board 3 on the game surface will be described. As shown in FIG.
2, a symbol display device 13, a variable winning device 21 provided with the special winning opening 11, and the like are provided.

The operating port 12 is provided at the center lower portion of the game board 3 and has a passage for the game ball B. At the entrance of the passage, the blade 9 is supported so as to be openable and closable. A winning passage is provided in the back of the special winning opening 11, and the game ball B that has won the special winning opening 11 is guided through the winning ball passage toward a winning ball collecting unit (not shown). Also, before the big winning opening 11,
A shutter 22 is provided. This shutter 22
It is operated by a special winning opening solenoid 10 provided on a side of the special winning opening 11, and opens and closes the special winning opening 11.

The symbol display device 13 is provided at an upper portion in the center of the game board 3 and includes a display section 13a composed of an LCD (liquid crystal display), on which a plurality of symbol rows are displayed. For example, three symbol columns (not shown) of a left symbol column, a middle symbol column, and a right symbol column are displayed as these symbol columns (other symbol columns may be displayed).

Each symbol row is basically composed of a plurality of types of symbols, and these symbols can be any of a big hit symbol, a missing reach symbol, and a missing symbol as a special game symbol. The display unit 13 of the symbol display device 13
In a, the symbol fluctuation (rotation fluctuation) of each symbol row is a game ball B
Is started on the basis of the winning of the operating port 12 of. In addition, one of a big hit symbol, a missing reach symbol, and a missing symbol is selected, and this is set as a stop symbol. The stop symbol is a symbol that is displayed when each symbol row stops changing symbols. In the present embodiment, the symbol change is stopped in the order of the left symbol row, the right symbol row, the middle symbol row,
This is only an example, and the stopping may be performed in another order.

The big hit symbol is a symbol for generating a big hit state as a special game state advantageous to the player after the reach state. Specifically, when the fluctuation of all the symbol columns is stopped, the combination of the displayed symbols is a predetermined jackpot combination, that is, when the same type of symbols are arranged along the jackpot line. There may be a combination of the symbols (for example, the symbol of “7”, “7”, “7”). The symbol constituting this combination is a "big hit symbol". When the winning combination is established, the special electric accessory is activated (the special winning opening 11 is opened),
The arrival of a jackpot situation that is advantageous to the player,
More prize balls can be obtained.

The reach state refers to a state immediately before a big hit. The reach state includes a state in which the symbol change in the right symbol row stops on the big hit line with the same type of symbol as the stop symbol in the left symbol row. In this reach state, the symbol variation of the middle symbol row finally stops at the same type of symbol (big jackpot symbol) as the stopped symbol of both the left and right symbol rows and becomes a big hit state. (Hereinafter, referred to as a “missing reach pattern”), which does not enter the jackpot state (hereinafter, referred to as a “missing reach state”).

Although it has already been described that the symbol change of each symbol row is started based on the winning of the game ball B to the operation port 12, the game ball B is further moved during the change display.
Is displayed after the end of the currently performed variable display. That is, the variable display is on standby (held). The maximum number of the variable display to be suspended is determined for each model of the pachinko machine. In the present embodiment, the maximum number of suspensions is set to four, but this is not a limitation.

Further, in the present embodiment, the game board 3 is provided with various detection switches in order to detect a game state of the pachinko machine which changes according to the operation of the player. Examples of the detection switch include an operating port switch 41 provided corresponding to the operating port 12 and a special winning opening switch 42 provided corresponding to the special winning opening 11. The operating port switch 41 is connected to the operating port 12 of the game ball B.
Is detected, and the special winning opening switch 42 is
The winning of the game ball B into the special winning opening 11 is detected.

In the present embodiment, the working port switch 4
1. Based on the detection result of each switch including the special winning opening switch 42, the special winning opening solenoid 10, the symbol display device 1
A control device 50 is provided for driving and controlling each of the third and the like. The control device 50 includes a read-only memory (R
OM), a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), and the like. The ROM previously stores a predetermined control program and initial data.
Various arithmetic processes are executed in accordance with an OM control program or the like. The RAM temporarily stores the calculation result of the CPU in various symbol random number buffers, symbol random number areas, stopped symbol areas, and the like.

A description will now be given of a characteristic portion in the present embodiment. Variable winning device 2 in the present embodiment
1 includes the special winning opening 11, the shutter 22, and the special winning opening solenoid 10, as described above. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the special winning opening 11 is formed at the substantially center of an attachment member 23 attached to the game board 3. The shutter 22 is pivotally supported at its lower part so as to be tiltable with respect to the mounting member 23.

The large winning opening solenoid 10 is a main body 2
4. It has a plunger 25 and a coil spring 26,
The plunger 25 can be protruded and retracted from the main body 24. The coil spring 26 is provided between the flange portion at the tip of the plunger 25 and the main body portion 24.
By the biasing force of 6, the plunger 25 is in a state of protruding from the main body 24 in the normal state (in the non-excited state (off state: inactive state) of the special winning opening solenoid 10).
On the other hand, when the solenoid 10 is in the excited state (on state: operating state), the plunger 25 is
6 so as to be immersed in the main body 24.

Further, an arm 27 is engaged (or attached and fixed) with the flange portion at the tip of the plunger 25,
It moves up and down together with the plunger 25.
The arm 27 is integrally formed with a projection 28 extending toward the shutter 22 (player side). On the other hand, the shutter 22
The operated portion 31, the concave portion 32, and the support portion 3
3 are continuously and integrally formed. In normal times (when the shutter 22 is in the vertical state), the projection 28 is housed in the recess 32. Also, the solenoid 10 becomes excited, and the plunger 25
Is immersed in the main body 24, the arm 27 (projection 28) moves upward, the operated portion 31 is pushed forward by the upwardly moved projection 28, and the shutter 22 tilts. As a result, the special winning opening 11 is in an open state (second state), and it is easy for the game ball B to win the special winning opening 11.

After that, when the solenoid 10 is energized and the plunger 25 protrudes from the main body 24, the arm 27 (projection 28) moves down and the support 33
Is pressed by the lowered projection 28, the shutter 22 returns to the vertical state, and the projection 28 is housed in the recess 32 as described above. As a result, the special winning opening 11 is closed (first state), and it is difficult (impossible) for the game ball B to win the special winning opening 11.

Further, a housing 29 constituting a winning ball passage or the like is fixedly attached to the attaching member 23 so as to extend to the back of the special winning opening 11. A control board (not shown) is attached to the housing 29 in addition to the special winning opening solenoid 10 and the special winning opening switch 42.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, a metal cover 34 as a cover is fixedly mounted on the housing 29 so as to cover the large winning opening solenoid 10. Most of the large winning opening solenoid 10 (particularly the tip side portion of the plunger 25) is covered by the cover 34.
It is difficult (or impossible) to perform an illegal operation on the plunger 25 from outside.

Further, magnets 35 and 36 as holding means are fixed to the arm 27 and the housing 29. The two magnets 35 and 36 face each other when the shutter 22 is in the vertical state (when the arm 27 is not moving upward), and are in a state where they are stuck to each other by magnetic force. However, when the large winning opening solenoid 10 is in the excited state, as shown in FIGS.
7 is not inhibited (both magnets 35 and 36 are separated).

Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

According to the present embodiment, the special winning opening solenoid 10 is covered with the cover 34, which makes it difficult for an unauthorized operation from outside. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to operate the solenoid 10 illegally (submerge the plunger 25) using a jig such as a "cell", the presence of the cover 34 makes such an illegal operation difficult. As a result, fraudulent acts can be more reliably prevented, and the occurrence of damage to the game arcade can be suppressed.

In this embodiment, the magnets 35 and 36 are attached and fixed to the arm 27 and the housing 29, and the magnets 35 and 36 are attached to each other when the shutter 22 is in the vertical state. I decided that. For this reason, even if an illegal act using a “cell” or the like is attempted, a flexible jig such as a “cell” moves the arm 27 attached by magnetic force upward from the housing 29. It is very difficult to do so. Therefore,
In combination with the presence of the cover 34, the effect of more surely preventing impropriety can be achieved.

On the other hand, when the special winning opening solenoid 10 is excited without increasing the magnetic force of the magnets 35 and 36 so much, the plunger 25 is securely immersed in the main body 24 (the arm 27 is not moved). Move up). Therefore, by providing the magnets 35 and 36, the shutter 22
As a result, the opening and closing operation of the special winning opening 11 can be performed smoothly.

Further, in the present embodiment, the magnet 36 is provided on the arm 27 near the lower end of the plunger 25. For this reason, when an unauthorized operation is attempted from outside using a “cell” or the like, more stress is required,
Fraud is even less likely to occur. As a result, the above operation and effect can be further ensured.

It is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to the contents described in the above embodiment, but may be carried out, for example, as follows.

(A) In the above embodiment, the present invention is embodied as a pachinko machine having one variable winning device 21, but may be embodied as a pachinko machine having two or more variable winning devices.

(B) In the above embodiment, the variable winning device 21 is opened when a big hit condition occurs. However, in other cases (so-called small hits and medium hits where the number of obtainable prize balls is relatively small). The present invention can also be embodied in a variable winning device that is opened in the case of a winning or a case where a winning right is acquired, and a big win is generated if a player wins the game.

(C) In the above embodiment, the housing 2
9 and the arm 27 are provided with the magnets 35 and 36, but other parts (for example, the housing 29 and the shutter 2.
2, or a magnet may be provided on the mounting member 23 and the shutter 22. When the shutter 22 is provided with a magnet, it is desirable to provide the magnet at a position close to a fulcrum (for example, an upper portion on the back side of the shutter 22) when an unauthorized operation is attempted.

One of the magnets 35 and 36 may be made of a metal that can be attached to the other magnet.

(D) Although not specifically mentioned in the above embodiment, the present invention can be embodied in a pachinko machine of a type having a so-called V zone behind the special winning opening 11. In this case, when the winning opening 11 of a plurality of rounds is opened, in order to perform the next opening, the game ball B is set to V
A continuation condition of winning the zone is added.

(E) In the above-described embodiment, the game ball B is configured to be able to win the symbol operating port 12, but the game ball B may simply pass.

(F) As the symbol display device 13, besides the above-mentioned liquid crystal display, an LED, CRT, dot matrix, electroluminescence (EL), fluorescent display tube, drum or the like may be used. Also, the number of symbol rows may be one or two. Also, the symbol display device 1
It can also be embodied in a type of pachinko machine having no 3. For example, the present invention can be applied to a pachinko machine in which a variable winning device is opened when a game ball B wins a specific winning opening.

(G) The present invention can be applied to a pachinko machine of a different type from the above embodiment. For example, once a jackpot has been hit, multiple times (eg, twice, 3
The present invention can be applied to a pachinko machine in which the jackpot probability is increased until the jackpot state occurs. In addition, the present invention, besides pachinko machines, sparrow balls,
It can also be applied to various types of gaming machines such as arepachi.

(H) In the above embodiment, the special winning opening solenoid 10 is employed as the electric driving means, but another actuator (for example, a pneumatic cylinder or the like) may be used.

(I) In the above embodiment, the shutter 22
Used the variable winning device 21 which can take a vertical state and a tilting state, but has a type having another structure (for example, a type in which a pair of blades are opened and closed, a shutter slides, and a guide portion is in a protruding state). And the like, in which a large winning opening can be won.

The technical ideas that can be grasped from the above embodiment will be described below.

(1) A shutter for setting the winning opening to the first state and the second state where winning is easier than the first state;
In a gaming machine having a variable winning device having an electric drive unit for operating the shutter, at least one of an operation unit of the electric drive unit and the shutter, and a fixed unit in an immobile state. At least one of the game machines is provided with a holding means so that the shutter is maintained in a non-operating state in a normal state and the winning opening is maintained in a first state.

(2) In the gaming machine described in the above supplementary note (1), the holding member is constituted by at least a magnet, and when the electric driving means is driven, the holding member resists the magnetic force of the holding member. A gaming machine wherein the operation of the shutter is allowed.

(3) In the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, at least one of the operating portion of the electric drive means and the shutter and at least one of the fixed portion in an immobile state are provided with: A gaming machine characterized in that the shutter is maintained in a non-operating state in a normal state and a holding means is provided so that the winning opening is maintained in a first state.

(4) In the gaming machine according to the above supplementary note (3), the holding member is constituted by at least a magnet, and when the electric driving means is driven, the holding member resists the magnetic force of the holding member. A gaming machine wherein the operation of the shutter is allowed.

(5) In the gaming machine according to any one of the appendices (1) to (4), the holding member is provided near a fulcrum in a case where an illegal operation is performed from the outside. A gaming machine.

[0056]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
A variable winning device including a shutter for setting the winning opening in a first state and a second state in which winning is easier than in the first state; and an electric driving means for operating the shutter. In a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or the like, an excellent effect is provided that fraudulent acts can be more reliably prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pachinko machine according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a game board and the like of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state where the variable winning device is viewed from the front side.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line JJ of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the variable winning device.

FIG. 6 is a partial rear view of the variable winning device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the variable winning device showing a state where a shutter is tilted.

FIG. 8 is a partial rear view of the variable winning device showing a state where the shutter is tilted.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 3: gaming board, 10: large winning opening solenoid, 11: large winning opening, 21: variable winning device, 22: shutter, 23: mounting member, 24: main body, 25: plunger, 27: arm, 28: projection , 34 ... cover as a cover, 35,
36: magnet, 50: control device, B: game ball.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 15, 2001 (2001.5.1)
5)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A shutter for setting a winning port of a game medium to a first state and a second state that is easier to win than the first state, and an electric drive for operating the shutter. A game machine provided with a variable prize device comprising: a game machine, wherein the electric driving means is covered with a cover so that unauthorized operation from outside is difficult. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the shutter is capable of closing and opening the winning opening by tilting. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the electric drive means comprises a solenoid, and at least a plunger of the solenoid and a member operable with the plunger are covered with the cover. A gaming machine characterized by the following.