JP2003079830A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of enhancing workability during assembly or maintenance of the game machine and using a high-performance power amplifier by simplifying wiring between a variety of control means disposed in the game machine. SOLUTION: The game machine has a voice control means 21 for controlling a variety of effect sounds and voices outputted from a voice output device 27 to match a required playing state. The power amplifier 39 which is capable of amplifying electric signals transmitted from the voice control means 21 to the voice output device 27 is disposed in a hollow part 30a defined in an upper ball tray 30 storing game balls. Further, the voice output device 27 is disposed in the hollow part 30a of the upper ball tray 30 while being able to output a variety of effect sounds, voices, and the like to the outside.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine provided with a power amplifier capable of amplifying a sound signal transmitted from a voice control means in response to a required game state to a level that can be output by a voice output device. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a basic structure of a gaming machine represented by a pachinko machine and an arrange ball machine, as shown in FIG. 8 or 9, for example, in a pachinko machine P, an opening of an outer frame A as a rectangular frame body is provided. The middle frame B is attached to the front side so as to be attachable / detachable and openable / closable by using the connecting and supporting means and the locking means. And, in the front part of the middle frame B, the glass door D
The side-opening front frame C and the upper bowl 60 are assembled so as to be attachable / detachable and openable / closable, and an electric ball feeding device or the like is set on the rear side of the upper bowl 60. Also,
A sound output device 57 (speaker or the like) is arranged at a required position inside the middle frame B, and a lower bowl E, a hitting ball launching device F and the like are installed in a lower portion of the middle frame B. Further, a mechanism set board G and the like are provided on the back side of the middle frame B, and a game board J that forms a required game area I inside the front surface of a holding frame provided on the rear side of the middle frame B. It is set so as to be removable and replaceable, and a variable pattern display device K is arranged at a substantially central portion of the game area I. Further, in the mechanism set board G, main control means Q for controlling the entire pachinko machine is provided.
And various control means such as the symbol display control means R, the voice control means 51, the lamp control means, the payout control means, and the firing control means for controlling the variable symbol display device K are arranged at predetermined parts respectively, and the main control means Q is provided. On the other hand, various control means are electrically connected, and control is performed according to the control command transmitted from the main control means Q.

Then, a pachinko ball (game ball) stored in the upper ball plate 60 is shot in a game area I on the game board J by using the hitting ball launching device F, thereby playing a pachinko game. It is designed to be deployed. The middle frame for various game states (during the winning of a predetermined prize hole, when the variable display device K is activated, when special game conditions are established, when the winning device is activated, etc.) that are generated during the pachinko game. By outputting various sound effects and voices from the voice output device 57 arranged inside B, it is set to notify the player of the game state and to enhance the interest of the game.

Here, as shown in FIG. 10 or FIG. 11, the voice control means 51 for generating a sound signal for outputting various sound effects and voices from the voice output device 57.
Is a voice control CPU 52 that stores voice information and the like, a voice synthesis IC 53, various voice and control ROMs 54,
Volume controller 55 and power amplifier 56 for amplifying sound signals
Etc. and other various electronic components. That is, a sound signal corresponding to a required game state is generated by the voice synthesis IC 53 or the like, and the generated sound signal is amplified by the power amplifier 56 to a level that can be output by the voice output device 57. The output device 57 is configured to output various sound effects, sounds, and the like.

[0005]

However, if a game machine configured to output various sound effects, sounds, etc. is played for a long time, a power amplifier provided in the sound control means 51 is provided. The temperature of 56 gradually rises due to heat generation. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the power amplifier 56 is usually provided with a heat removal means 56a such as a heat dissipation plate for heat dissipation so that the power amplifier 56 is cooled by heat dissipation. Here, in order to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the power amplifier 56, a large heat removing means 56a is required. In this way, the heat removal means 56
The power amplifier 56, which needs to include a, takes up space in the voice control means 51, and
This causes a problem of increasing the size of the voice control unit 51 itself.

However, as described above, the mechanism set plate G of the pachinko machine P has the main control means Q and the symbol display control means R,
Since it is composed of a large number of other control means and the like and has a limited space, the large-sized voice control means 51 is assembled in a state of being overlapped with other control means and the like. It will be restricted by the mounting position.
Therefore, the wiring between the respective control means becomes complicated, and there is a problem that workability at the time of assembling and maintaining the gaming machine is deteriorated. Further, when the power amplifier 56 is provided in the voice control means 51, there is no space in the voice control means 51 and sufficient air circulation cannot be performed, so that the heat removal efficiency by the heat removal means 56a is high. There is a fear of decreasing. Further, it is pointed out that by disposing the power amplifier 56, which has a fear of generating noise, in the voice control means 51, the precision electronic parts such as the voice control CPU 52 are adversely affected by noise. Further, the high-performance power amplifier 56 may be large, and when a high-performance power amplifier is used, it may become a larger problem in terms of assembling, maintenance, etc. of the gaming machine. There is.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems inherent in the above-mentioned conventional techniques, and is proposed to suitably solve the problems. By simplifying the wiring of the game machine, it is possible to improve workability at the time of assembling and maintaining the game machine, and to provide a game machine that can use a high-performance power amplifier. .

[0008]

In order to overcome the above problems and achieve the intended purpose, the gaming machine according to the present invention has various effects output from a voice output device corresponding to a required gaming state. In a gaming machine equipped with voice control means for controlling sound, voice, etc., a power amplifier capable of amplifying an electric signal transmitted from the voice control means to the voice output device is provided in an upper bowl plate for storing game balls. It is characterized in that it is arranged in a hollow portion defined by.

[0009]

In the gaming machine according to the present invention, the power amplifier is arranged in the hollow portion defined in the upper ball plate for storing the game balls of the gaming machine, so that the voice control means can be provided with a space and the game can be played. Since the wiring between the various control means arranged in the machine can be simplified, the workability at the time of assembly and maintenance can be improved. Further, since the hollow portion has a space in terms of space, sufficient air circulation is possible, and the heat dissipation efficiency of the power amplifier can be improved. Further, since the voice control means and the power amplifier are provided separately from each other, the precision electronic parts such as the voice control CPU provided in the voice control means are affected by the noise generated from the power amplifier, It is possible to prevent the sound effect, the sound, and the like output from the sound output device from being deteriorated. Further, by effectively utilizing the hollow portion in the upper bowl, it is possible to use a large-sized and high-quality power amplifier.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to preferred embodiments. In addition, in the present embodiment, a case where the game machine is implemented in a general pachinko machine will be described. The basic configuration of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment is shown in FIGS.
Since it is the same as that described in the conventional technique with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the game board J is arranged at a slightly lower center in the center of a game area I surrounded by a rail 10 curved in a substantially circular shape, and a ball is detected by a switch. Starting winning a prize opening 11 and this starting winning a prize opening 1
1, a large decorative component L that is arranged immediately above 1 and is aligned with a variable design display device K that performs variable display of symbols, and a visible display window is formed by plating the inner wall surface, and a windmill. Also called an electric guide car 12 and a normal guide car 13 that turn the flow direction of the game ball, and a start winning opening 11
A large-sized electric winning device M installed immediately below, and an illumination device 1 in which the irradiation pattern is controlled to be changed according to the game state
It has 4 etc. It should be noted that reference numeral 16 in FIG. 1 indicates an outlet, and the game ball is ejected.

The switch (not shown) provided in the starting winning opening 11 is used as a starting input means for starting the variable variable display device K once for each detection of each game ball. Further, the prize winning device M is a large prize winning device M to which an opening operation condition is given as a special game state when the big hit of the variable symbol display device K is established, and as shown in FIG. The door-shaped opening / closing plate 18 provided opposite to the door is changed from the normal closed state to the open state based on the set driving condition of the electromagnetic solenoid on the rear side. It should be noted that ordinary winning openings 19, 19 are provided on both left and right sides of the winning device M.

Further, the mechanism set board G is provided with a ball storage and discharge path portion 41 and the like at the outer peripheral portion extending from the upper portion to the right side portion, and a cassette is provided below the ball storage and discharge path portion 41. The electrically controlled ball payout device 42 for renting balls and prize balls is installed in a front-rear relationship (see FIG. 8).
Below the ball payout device 42, a ball discharge path (not shown) for discharging the rental balls and the prize balls paid out from the device 42 to the upper ball plate 30 or the lower ball plate E mounted on the middle frame B.
And a predetermined number of pachinko balls (reserved spheres) stored in the sphere storage and discharge path portion 41 are formed by the respective ball dispensing devices 42.
By the operation of, the ball is paid out as a rental ball or a prize ball.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the voice control means 21 of the embodiment has a voice control CPU 22 for controlling the voice control means 21, various voice synthesizing ICs 23 for storing voice information and the like, a voice control IC 22 for voice control, and the like. It is composed of various ROMs 24 for control and the like, a volume controller 25, etc., and a sound signal generated in response to a voice output command transmitted from the main control means Q in correspondence with a required game state, an amplifier described later. Unit 37
It is designed to be sent to.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the upper bowl plate 30 mounted on the lower front side of the middle frame B has a basic structure of a box which is a basic constituent member formed of synthetic resin. A frame-shaped outer shell 31 and a synthetic resin-molded bowl main body 32 that is fitted and set inside the opening of the outer shell 31 are assembled and aligned with a screw or the like, and the entire lower surface is horizontal and both ends are curved. It is unitized into a streamlined shape, and both 3
An open / close support plate 33, which is formed of synthetic resin in a rectangular shape in the shape of a horizontal rectangle, is attached with screws or the like so as to be unified with the back surfaces of the reference numerals 1 and 32. The upper bowl plate 30 is entirely sized to match the left and right widths of the front surface of the middle frame B (see FIG. 1). Further, on the rear surface of the left end portion of the opening / closing support plate 33, connection support means 33a for opening and closing the upper bowl 30 is arranged, and the upper bowl 30 is attached to the middle frame B via the connection support means 33a. It is configured so that it can be opened and closed in a side-opening manner.

The outer shell 31 formed of synthetic resin is also used.
As shown in FIG. 2, a streamlined main body portion (front surface portion) 34 whose both ends are substantially symmetrically curved, and an upper plate portion 35 and a main body portion screwed onto the upper portion of the main body portion 34 are shown. It is composed of a bottom plate portion (bottom surface portion) 36 screwed to the lower portion of 34. In this way, the upper bowl 30 has a structure in which the hollow portion 30a is defined by the outer shell 31, the bowl body 32, and the opening / closing support plate 33. As shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. A voice output device 27 and an amplifier unit 37, which will be described later, capable of outputting various sound effects and voices are provided in the section 30a.
In addition, a slit-shaped vent hole 31a is formed in a substantially central portion of the main body portion 34 of the outer shell 31, and a size substantially equal to the output portion 27a of the audio output device 27 is provided in the vicinity of both left and right ends. The opening 31b is opened in the.

FIG. 3 shows a substantially central portion of the hollow portion 30a.
As shown in FIG. 3, an amplifier unit 37 capable of amplifying the sound signal (electrical signal) generated by the voice control means 21 is arranged and fixed by a required fixing means such as a screw. The amplifier unit 37 is composed of a bass amplification section 38 capable of amplifying the bass range of the sound signal and a power amplifier 39 capable of amplifying the sound signal generated by the audio control means 21. That is, the sound signal transmitted from the voice control means 21 is amplified and emphasized by the bass amplifying section 38 in the low sound range and then transmitted to the power amplifier, and the emphasized sound signal in the low sound range and other sounds are transmitted. The signal is amplified by the power amplifier 39 and transmitted to the audio output device 27. The power amplifier 39 is provided with heat removal means 39a such as a heat dissipation plate.

Further, as shown in FIG.
In the vicinity of the left and right ends of the hollow portion 30a defined in FIG. 2, a closed enclosure structure is provided, and when the audio output device 27 is disposed therein, the output part 27a of the audio output device 27 is placed outside. A box body 28 having an opening (not shown) that can be exposed is provided. In addition, when the box body 28 is arranged in the hollow portion 30a of the upper bowl dish 30, a state in which the opening 31b formed in the body portion 34 of the outer shell 31 and the through hole of the box body 28 are aligned with each other Fixed by. An audio output device 27 including a mid-high range speaker capable of outputting the mid-high range is provided so that the output portion 27a is brought into contact with the through hole of the box 28 and is exposed to the outside. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 or FIG.
Underneath 7, a bass reflex duct 40 having a required length and having a cylindrical shape is formed in the opening 31b of the main body 34 in the outer shell 31 so as to communicate the inside and the outside of the box 28 having the enclosure structure. It is formed on the lower side, and enhances a low sound range such as a sound effect output from the audio output device 27. A mesh-shaped protection member 45 is attached so as to cover the opening 31b of the outer shell 31, and protects the output portion 27a of the audio output device 27 exposed to the outside from damage. is there.

[0019]

Next, the operation of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment constructed as described above will be described. When the pachinko ball internally hit on the game board J by the hitting ball launching device F wins a desired game state by winning the prize holes 11, 17, 19 or the like, as shown in FIG. Two
1 generates a sound signal that causes the sound output device 27 to output various sound effects and sounds corresponding to the game state. Then, the generated sound signal is transmitted to the amplifier unit 37 arranged in the hollow portion 30a of the upper dish 30, and the low sound range of the sound signal is amplified by the low sound amplification unit 38, and then the sound signal is generated. The entire signal is amplified by the power amplifier 39, and various sound effects and voices are output from the voice output device 27. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the power amplifier 39 is connected to the upper bowl plate 30.
Since it is arranged in the hollow portion 30a defined inside, a space can be provided in the voice control means 21,
Since the voice control means 21 can be downsized, there is a space in the game machine. That is, wiring and the like when assembling various control means and the like to the gaming machine can be simplified, so that the assembling work and the maintenance work can be easily performed. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, since the bass amplification unit 38 capable of amplifying the bass range is provided as a pre-stage for amplifying the sound signal transmitted from the voice control means 21 by the power amplifier 39, the pachinko machine P Even when the sound volume is set to a low volume, it is possible to output a powerful sound effect or sound in which the low range is emphasized, and by disposing the sound volume in the hollow portion 30a of the upper bowl plate 30. The space of the hollow portion 30a can be effectively used.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the hollow portion 30
By arranging the voice output device 27 in a, a space can be provided in the main body of the gaming machine, and it becomes possible to simplify wiring when assembling various control means to the gaming machine. Workability during maintenance is improved. Before and after the output unit 27a of the audio output device 27, for example, when the output unit 27a moves forward, the air on the front surface is pushed and becomes "dense", while the air on the rear surface is thin. The opposite operation is performed with the output unit 27a as a boundary so as to be "sparse". That is, the output unit 2
Sounds of opposite phase will be output before and after 7a, and if the sounds of opposite phases output from before and after 7a interfere with each other,
Although they cancel each other out to make the sound unclear (especially the bass range is significantly affected), by disposing the sound output device 27 in the box 28 having a closed enclosure structure, The interference of the sounds output from the front and the rear of the output unit 27a is prevented, and it becomes possible to output a clear low-frequency sound effect or voice. By making the wall portion of the box body 28 thick, it is possible to effectively prevent sound interference, and to obtain clearer sound effects and voices, and to increase the volume of the box body 28. Limitation of bass range that can be output clearly by changing
It is possible to change the (limit frequency) (generally, increasing the volume lowers the limit frequency, so that it becomes possible to output sound effects and voice in the lower range).

Further, generally, when the sound output device is housed in a box having a duct to output sound, the sound output from the rear surface of the output part of the sound output device is the space in the box and the duct. It is known that a so-called Hertzholm resonance is generated and resonates at a specific frequency (called anti-resonance frequency) to radiate sound from the duct to the outside, and this radiated sound is higher at a frequency higher than the anti-resonance frequency. It is known that the phase of the sound output from the front surface of the output unit is the same. That is, as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, by providing the bass reflex duct 40 that communicates the inside and outside of the enclosure-structured box 28, the space inside the enclosure-structured box 28 and the bass reflex duct 40 are provided. The bass range is enhanced by the Hertzholm resonance phenomenon, and even when the audio output device 27 for the mid-to-high range is used, it is possible to output a powerful sound with enhanced bass range and a sound effect or voice with a realistic sensation. The anti-resonance frequency enhanced by the bass reflex duct 40 can be determined by the volume of the box 28 having the enclosure structure and the diameter / length of the bass reflex duct 40, and enhances the vicinity of the limit frequency. It is preferable to set so as to obtain.

Further, by separating the power amplifier 39 and the voice control means 21, various precision electronic parts such as a voice synthesis IC provided in the voice control means 21 are influenced by noise generated from the power amplifier 39. Never receive.
Further, by utilizing the hollow portion 30a having a sufficient space, it is possible to use a large-sized and high-quality power amplifier 39, and sufficient air circulation can be performed, so that the power amplifier 39 is effective. It is possible to perform efficient heat radiation cooling.

In the present embodiment, the case where the pachinko machine is used is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this.
It is also possible to implement it on an arrangement ball machine or the like. Further, the positions of the power amplifier 39, the audio output device 27, etc. arranged in the hollow portion 30a of the upper bowl dish 30 are not limited to those in the embodiment, and the hollow portion 30a is not limited thereto.
It suffices to dispose them respectively at the required positions inside. Further, in the present embodiment, the bass amplifying section 38 capable of amplifying the bass range of the sound signal is arranged in the hollow portion 30a defined by the upper bowl 30. However, for example, the sound control means 21 is arranged. It is also possible to do so.

Further, the sound output device 27 provided in the hollow portion 30a is not limited to a speaker, and conventionally known devices / members capable of outputting various sound effects and sounds can be adopted. Further, the hollow portion 30a of the upper bowl plate 30
A voice output device 27 capable of suitably outputting the mid-high range,
Although one is arranged near each of the left and right ends of the hollow portion 30a, the number and the arrangement position are not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed. Further, the audio output device 27 may be a device capable of outputting a whole sound range, a high sound range, a low sound range, or the like. For example, the sound output device 27 for middle and high sounds and the sound output device 27 for low sound are provided in the hollow portion. 30a
By arranging a plurality of them, it becomes possible to output a sound effect, voice, or the like having a more three-dimensional effect.

Further, in the present embodiment, the audio output device 27 is arranged in the box 28 having an enclosure structure. However, the hollow portion 30a has an enclosure structure and the output part 27a of the audio output device 27 is external. When it is placed in the hollow portion 30a while being exposed to the
If a sound wave output to the front of 7a and a sound wave output to the rear do not interfere with each other, it is possible to output a clear sound effect or sound. For example, a hollow portion 30a defined in the upper bowl plate 30 is formed by closing a gap generated when the outer shell 31 and the bowl plate body 32, which form the upper bowl plate 30, are assembled with a joint material or the like. It can be an enclosure structure. Also, the hollow portion 30 having an enclosure structure
In a, a configuration may be adopted in which the hollow portion 30a and the outside are communicated with each other by the bass reflex duct 40.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), the upper bowl 30
In the hollow portion 30a, two audio output devices 27 for middle and high frequencies are provided, one of which is provided in a sealed enclosure structure, and the other of which is provided in a sealed enclosure structure, and a bass reflex duct. It is also possible to adopt a structure in which 48 is provided. At this time, by providing the bass reflex duct 48 at substantially the center of the sound output devices 27, 27, the player can feel a powerful bass range closer. In addition, as shown in FIG.
One of the two middle- and high-pitched sound output devices 27 disposed in the hollow portion 30a is disposed in the sealed enclosure structure, and the other is disposed in the sealed enclosure structure. A bass reflex duct 49 can also be provided. By thus forming the bass reflex duct 49 in the bass reflex duct 49, the bass range can be further enhanced. Further, as in the case shown in FIG. 7A, if the outlet of the bass reflex duct 49 is provided in the substantially central portion of the sound output devices 27, 27, the player can feel a powerful low sound range closer. You can

[0027]

As described above, according to the gaming machine of the present invention, by disposing the power amplifier in the hollow portion defined in the upper bowl, various controls provided in the gaming machine are provided. Wiring between the means can be simplified, and assembling and maintenance of the game machine can be improved. Then, each of the precision electronic components arranged in the voice control means is not affected by the noise generated from the power amplifier, and is arranged in the hollow portion having a sufficient space,
It becomes possible to use a large-sized and high-performance power amplifier, and since sufficient air circulation can be performed, effective heat dissipation cooling of the power amplifier can be performed.

Further, by disposing the voice output device in the hollow portion defined in the upper bowl, a space can be provided in the main body of the gaming machine, and assembling of various members to the main body of the gaming machine. And the maintainability are improved, and by forming this hollow portion in an enclosure structure and disposing the output portion of the audio output device so as to be exposed to the outside, interference of sounds output from the front and the rear of the output portion is prevented. As a result, it is possible to output clear sound effects and sounds in the low frequency range. At this time, it is possible to output a sound effect or voice in which low-pitched sound is emphasized, which is powerful or realistic, even when using a sound output device for middle and high tones. Further, by providing the bass reflex duct that communicates the inside and the outside of the hollow portion having the enclosure structure, the bass range is enhanced by the resonance phenomenon of the space inside the hollow portion and the bass reflex duct, and the force from the sound output device is increased. It is highly realistic and can output sound effects and sounds with emphasized bass.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an upper bowl according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of the upper bowl according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing an upper bowl according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional side view at a position where an audio output device is arranged in the hollow portion of the upper bowl according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between a voice control unit, a power amplifier, and a voice output device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically showing an upper ball dish according to a modification, (a) shows a case where a bass reflex duct is provided in a substantially central portion of the upper ball dish, and (b) shows a bass reflex duct having a maze shape. The case is shown.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a pachinko machine according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 9 is a rear view showing a pachinko machine according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between a voice control unit and a voice output device according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of a voice control unit according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 Voice control means 27 Audio output device 27a output section 30 Upper bowl 30a hollow part 39 Power Amplifier 40 bass reflex duct

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A game machine having a voice control means (21) for controlling various sound effects and voices output from a voice output device (27) in accordance with a desired game state, wherein the voice control is provided. A power amplifier (39) capable of amplifying an electric signal transmitted from the means (21) to the audio output device (27) is defined in a hollow portion (30a) defined in an upper ball dish (30) for storing game balls. ) Is provided in the game machine. 2. The sound output device (27) is arranged inside the hollow portion (30a) of the upper bowl (30) in a state in which various sound effects and sounds can be output to the outside. The gaming machine described in 1. 3. The hollow portion (30a) of the upper bowl (30) is formed in an enclosure structure, and the output portion (27a) of the audio output device (27) disposed in the hollow portion (30a). ) Is exposed to the outside, the gaming machine according to claim 2. 4. The game machine according to claim 3, wherein a sound output device (27) for middle and high tones is used. 5. A bass reflex duct (40) capable of enhancing a low-pitched sound output from the audio output device (27) is provided at a required position of the upper bowl (30), and the hollow portion (30a) and the outside are provided. 5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said and said are communicated with each other through said bass reflex duct (40).
The game machine described.