JP2003339936A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine in which patterns of a plurality of kinds arranged on peripheral surfaces of reels are respectively appropriately identified and spot-depressing is facilitated. <P>SOLUTION: The reel is provided with light transmissible portions formed on its peripheral surface in accordance with the respective patterns of at least two or more kinds to make their forming positions different in the breadthwise direction of the reel according to the kinds of the patterns. On the other hand, a reel illuminator is equipped with a plurality of light sources corresponding to the forming positions of the respective light transmissible portions, and in accordance with the kinds of the patterns, only the partial light sources are turned on. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention rotates and stops a reel in which a plurality of types of symbols are appropriately arranged along the circumferential direction of the peripheral surface, and if a specific combination of symbols is aligned on an effective line, a predetermined prize is won. Regarding the slot machine that holds.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1, a slot machine has a front panel 2 provided on the front surface of a housing 1 and a symbol display section 3 in which three vertically long reel display windows 4 are arranged side by side. At the same time, it is general that three reels 5 are arranged in the housing 1 so as to correspond to the formation positions of the reel display windows 4.

On the peripheral surface of each reel 5, there are a plurality of types of symbols such as letters, numbers, figures and characters (not shown).
The reel tape showing is attached to the reel 5,
While the reels are rotating, the symbols displayed on the respective circumferential surfaces appear one after another in the reel display window 4, while when the reels 5 are stopped, the symbols for each reel 5, for example, three frames, It is displayed in an aligned state on the upper, middle, lower, upward right and downward five stop lines L, ... Set on the symbol display portion 3.

The stop line L is sequentially activated according to the number of medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 6 to become an effective line. For example, when one medal is inserted, the central horizontal stop line L is effective, and when two medals are inserted, the upper, middle, and lower horizontal three stop lines L, ... become valid, and when three medals are inserted, all five stop lines L, ... Become valid.

Then, after operating the start lever 7 provided on the projecting surface below the front panel 2 to start the rotation of the three reels 5, ..., A stop button provided corresponding to each reel 5. When the push button 8 is operated, the three reels 5, ... Are sequentially stopped. At this time,
Stop line L that became effective depending on the number of medals inserted, ...
If a specific combination design is provided above, a winning is established according to the combination design, and a predetermined number of medals determined according to the winning is paid out.

The slot machine adopts a perfect probability method in which each time the start lever 7 is operated, a random number generator of a control section performs a lottery, and a combination of symbols to be lined up on an activated line is determined according to the lottery result. is doing. When a prize is won in the lottery process, an individual flag corresponding to the type of the prize is added (so-called "flag is set").

Actually, if the flag is not set, it is impossible to align the specific combination symbols even if the stop buttons 8, ... Are pressed at the correct timing. Conversely, if the flag is set (it can be seen), it is possible to align the specific combination symbols as long as the stop button 8, ... Is pressed at the correct timing. Therefore, a technique of pressing the stop buttons 8, ... (So-called “mesh pressing”) so that the symbol to be stopped is stopped at a desired position is important.

However, the timing of pressing the stop buttons 8, ... Can only be discriminated by an unskilled person, and a beginner who has difficulty in identifying the symbols on the reels rotating at high speed is
It is not possible to accurately aim for the target design. Therefore,
As a means for facilitating pressing, one pattern is made to be light-transmissive, or a light-transmitting portion is provided in the vicinity of the one pattern, and the transmitted light of the light source body arranged inside the reel is used as a mark. (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-327808, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-
No. 100241) or two different kinds of patterns are provided with light transmitting parts colored in different colors, and the colored transmitted light of the light source body disposed inside the reel is used as a mark (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-290856). No.) is proposed.

[0009]

However, in the case of the former means, since the transmitted light is limited to one color, it can be applied only to one kind of design, and plural kinds of designs are possible. It is not possible to identify each. Therefore, among multiple prepared prizes such as big bonus prize, regular bonus prize or small role prize, the prizes other than one kind of prize (usually the big bonus prize) composed of the symbols as the marks are fairly established. It is not possible to do so (so-called "missing" occurs in the small win prize because the flag cannot be carried over to the next time).

Further, in the case of the latter means, since the color of the transmitted light differs depending on the type of the design, it seems that the above problem of the former means is solved at first glance, but in reality, the reel operates at high speed. By rotating, the transmitted lights of the respective colors are mixed with each other to be observed by the player, and again the plural kinds of symbols cannot be properly discriminated from each other. And, this problem, as the number of types of symbols for providing the light transmitting portion increases, the interval between the light transmitting portions becomes narrower,
It becomes remarkable.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to properly identify each of a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the peripheral surface of the reel, thereby facilitating pressing. It is an object to provide a slot machine capable of performing.

[0012]

A slot machine according to the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a reel in which a plurality of types of symbols are appropriately arranged along the circumferential direction of the peripheral surface, and the reel. In a slot machine provided with a reel illuminating device that illuminates a part of the peripheral surface of the reel from the inside, the reel is formed on the peripheral surface corresponding to at least two or more kinds of symbols, respectively, and the formation position depends on the type of the symbol. While the reel illuminator is provided with different light transmitting portions in the width direction of the reel, the reel lighting device is provided with a plurality of light source bodies corresponding to the formation positions of the light transmitting portions in the width direction of the reel, and further, the light source bodies are independent of each other. It is characterized in that a control means for controlling lighting is provided.

According to the slot machine having the above structure, if only a part of the light source bodies in the width direction of the reel is turned on, only the light transmitting portion passing in front of the light source body emits light while the reel is rotating. Like The light transmitting portion that emits light corresponds to a part of the symbols of a plurality of types, and therefore, the player can clearly identify only the symbol of a specific type. The lighting pattern of the light source body can be changed by the control means, and by changing the lighting pattern, a plurality of types of symbols can be identified.

The light transmitting portion can be formed in the vicinity of the corresponding pattern, but as described in claim 2,
A part or all of the symbol portion on the peripheral surface of the reel may be formed transparent or semitransparent and used as a light transmitting portion. In this case, the design itself will emit light in part or in whole, and the player will be able to directly identify a particular type of design.

Then, as described in claim 3, the predetermined type of symbol is arranged so that a part thereof projects in the width direction of the reel from the width region of the other type of symbol, and the projecting portion has a light transmitting portion. With such a configuration, when the predetermined symbol is a symbol of a specific type, the high visibility at the protruding portion is also combined, and it is very easy to press.

Further, as described in claim 4, the light source body may employ a structure composed of a multicolor light emitting element. In such a case, for example, if the light source body is caused to emit light with the basic color of the design,
Part or all of the design emits light in the same color as the basic color, so that the design can be more clearly identified.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a slot machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The present invention is characterized by the design of the reel, the backlight (reel lighting device) arranged inside the reel, and the control related thereto, and other configurations are the same as those of the conventional art, and therefore, the reference numerals of FIG. It is used as it is and its description is omitted.

The three reels 5, ... Are incorporated in a reel unit 9 housed in a housing 1 as shown in FIG. 2 or 3. The reel unit 9 is fixed to the support plate 11, and a hollow box-shaped housing 10 having an open front surface, three support plates 11, ... Three motors 12 for controlling the rotation / stop of each reel 5 and the supporting plate 1 respectively.
It is provided with three backlights 13 fixed to 1 and arranged inside each reel 5.

The reel 5 is fixed to the drive shaft of the motor 12 and is rotated by the drive of the motor 12 and is a drum 5a.
And a strip-shaped reel tape 5b attached to the outer periphery of the drum 5a. And reel tape 5
On the surface of b, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of symbols (a total of twenty-one symbols, but only a part of them are shown) are arranged at equal intervals, and each reel display window 4 has Is designed to display symbols for three consecutive frames on the reel tape 5b.

The "7" symbol is a special prize symbol such as a so-called "Big Bonus", and the "vase" symbol, the "cherry" symbol and the "vine" symbol are small winning symbol symbols and the "scene of the pyramid". The motif pattern is a replay winning symbol, and each pattern is drawn by being printed with a light-transmitting colored ink on the back surface of the reel tape 5b which is the transparent film material. At this time, the "7" pattern is colored with the light-transmitting red ink, the "vase" pattern is colored with the light-transmitting yellow ink, and the "grape" pattern is the light-transmitting purple ink in the actual part and The leaves are colored with a light-transmitting green ink.

Then, the reel tape 5b is printed with each pattern by the light-transmissive coloring ink, the background is printed by the light-transmissive white ink, and finally, the "7" pattern, the left half of the "pot" pattern, Except for the leaves of the "grape" pattern, light-shielding silver ink is printed and masked.

Further, it is assumed that the reel tape 5b is divided into four laterally arranged regions along the circumferential direction by the center line L1, the side lines L2, L2 and the intermediate lines L3, L3 between the center line L1 and the side lines L2, L2. "7" symbol, "Cherry" symbol and replay symbol are between the middle lines L3 and L3 (center position)
The "pot" symbol is arranged such that the right half is arranged between the center line L1 and the left middle line L3 and the left half is arranged between the left side line L2 and the left middle line L3.
It is arranged between 1 and the left side line L2 (position near the left side),
The "grape" pattern is such that the real part is arranged between the center line L1 and the right middle line L3, and the leaf part is arranged between the right side line L2 and the right middle line L3.
And between the side lines L2 on the right side (position near the right side).

As shown in FIG. 5, the frame member 14 of the backlight 13 is provided with three reflectors 15a, 15b and 15c arranged in the rotation direction of the reel 5, and the frame member 14 is
Each of the reflectors 15 is attached to the support plate 11 so as to correspond to the positions where the three symbols displayed on the reel display window 4 are displayed. Further, a cutout hole 14 a is formed in the bottom surface of each reflector 15, and the frame member 14
A plurality of chip-type LEDs (light source bodies) 17, mounted on a circuit board 16 attached to the back surface of the
It becomes the form which it appears in the reflector 15 through a, .... In the circuit board 16, the distance from each LED 17 to the reel tape 5b is substantially uniform (the reel tape 5
b) so as to be in a state of being substantially concentric with b), and is attached to the back surface of the frame member 14 in a warped state using a flexible material.

The LED 17 is provided with red, green and blue LED chips, and by controlling the lighting of these LEDs, there are 7 colors of light emission modes of red, green, blue, light blue, yellow, purple and white. It is a light emitting element. These LE
The LEDs D17, ... Are individually controlled to be turned on / off individually, and are arranged in a matrix of 3 rows × 4 columns. Each LED 17 in one row is arranged in each of the above four divided areas of the reel tape 5b. Correspondingly, they are arranged side by side on the bottom surface of the reflector 15.

The reflector 15 has a partition plate 14b at a position corresponding to the center line L1 and the intermediate lines L3 and L3. The partition plate 14b, together with the partition plate 14c that partitions each reflector 15, defines a partition area for each LED 17, and blocks light from other partition areas so that the LEDs 17, 17 emit light. It has a function of suppressing interference.

However, unlike the partition plate 14c, the partition plate 14b does not extend to the opening of the reflector 15 and does not completely shield the light from the adjacent partition area. By doing so, when the entire pattern is illuminated, even if all the four LEDs 17, ... In the one reflector 15 are turned on, the shadow of the edge of the partition plate 14b is not reflected on the reel tape 5b. The appearance of the backlight 13 is secured. If you use an LED with strong directivity, the partition plate 1
4b may not be provided.

The light emission of the LED 17 is observed from the reel display window 4. That is, if the reel tape 5b rotates with the rotation of the reel 5, the light transmitting portion (“7” pattern, “pot”)
The left half of the pattern, the leaf part of the "grape" pattern, will periodically pass through the front surface of the backlight 13 (opening of the reflector 15), and the LE corresponding to this light transmitting portion.
If D17 is in the lighting state, the LED 17
The emitted light leaks, and the light transmitting portion emits light.

Therefore, if only the middle two LEDs 17, 17 are turned on in red, the "7" symbol is emitted in red in the central area of the reel tape 5b, and red emission is observed from the reel display window 4, and "7" is observed. The timing when the symbol passes through the reel display window 4 can be determined, and the left LED 17
If only the yellow lights, the left half of the "pot" design (the part that projects more to the left than other designs) in the left area of the reel tape 5b emits yellow light, and yellow emission is observed from the reel display window 4. The "pot" pattern is displayed on the reel display window 4
You can determine the timing to pass the
If only D17 lights up in green, the leaf portion of the "grape" pattern (the part that projects more to the right than the other patterns) in the right area of the reel tape 5b emits green light, and the reel display window 4 emits green light. Observed, it is possible to determine the timing when the “grape” symbol passes through the reel display window 4.

As described above, according to the slot machine of the present embodiment, by pushing the stop buttons 8, ... Aiming at the timing when a specific type of symbol passes through the reel display window 4, a beginner can operate it. Even if there is an effective line L
"7-7-7", "pot-pot-pot", "grape-
It becomes easy to arrange a specific combination pattern such as “grape-grape”.

The lighting control of the backlight 13 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 6. First, in the lottery process when the start lever 7 is operated, it is checked whether or not the "pot" winning is won (S10). If this is YES, the left area of the backlight 13 is turned on and the central area and the right area are turned off (S20). As a result, the "pot" symbol during the rotation of the reel 5 is emphasized, and it is easy to press the eye, and it is possible to suppress the failure to win the "pot".

If S10 is NO, it is checked whether or not the "grape" prize has been won (S30), and this is YES.
If so, the right side region of the backlight 13 is turned on, and the central region and the left side region are turned off (S40). As a result, the “grape” pattern during the rotation of the reel 5 is emphasized, and it is easy to press the eyes, and it is possible to prevent the “grape” winning from being missed.

If S30 is NO, it is checked whether or not the bonus prize has been won (S50). If this is YES, the central region of the backlight 13 is turned on and the right and left regions are turned off ( S60). As a result, the bonus symbol during the rotation of the reel 5 is emphasized, and it is easy to press the button, so that the bonus winning can be achieved early.

If S50 is NO, the player has won a small win or another small winning a prize, and in this case, no special assistance is provided for the pressing, so that the backlight 13 is entirely lit in white. Yes (S70).

Then, it is checked whether or not the game is over (until the payout process is completed if the winning is established) (S80), and if this is YES,
When the backlight 13 is returned to the initial state, all of the white light is turned on in white (S90).

In this example, the lighting pattern changing process of the backlight 13 is executed for all reels 5. However, for example, only the left reel 5 or the center reel 5 is processed. Alternatively, the lighting pattern changing process of the backlight 13 may be executed only for one of the reels 5 or 5.

In any case, the fact that the lighting pattern of the backlight 13 is changed functions as a notification of winning a prize, and in this sense, a complete notification (if a winning is won, it is inevitable. If not), it is necessary to execute a lottery process as to whether or not to execute the lighting pattern changing process of the backlight 13. Then, the reel 5 is stopped according to the changed lighting pattern, but if the corresponding winning is not established, so-called “gase” effect is performed, so that the slot machine can have a high taste.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the LED
, 17 are arranged in a matrix of 3 rows × 4 columns, but the number of rows and the number of columns are not particularly limited. The point is that the positions of the light transmitting portions are arranged on the reel 5 for each type of symbol so that two or more types of symbols can be clearly identified even while the reel 5 is rotating.
Are formed so as to be displaced in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the reel 5), and at least two light source bodies of the backlight 13 are provided corresponding to this position in the width direction of the reel 5. It's good.

In that sense, it is not necessary to execute the lighting pattern changing process for all of the three backlights 13, ... Which are vertically aligned with respect to one reel display window 4, and only one or two backlights 13 are used. May be there
As the light source body, in addition to the LED, a known light source body such as a lamp, a liquid crystal or an EL element can be adopted.

When monochromatic light such as a lamp or a monochromatic LED is used as a light source, it is more preferable to color the light transmitting portion of the reel 5 from the viewpoint of design distinction.
The light-transmitting portion is formed differently depending on the type of pattern and only the light source body corresponding to the formed portion emits light. Therefore, the light-transmitting portion is a monochromatic light source and the light-transmitting portion is colored. Even if not, two or more types of symbols are provided on the reel 5 depending on the lateral position difference of the light transmitting portion that emits light.
It becomes possible to clearly identify even during the rotation of.

Further, as in the above embodiment, the multicolor light emitting LE is used.
Even in the case of using D, the multi-color light emitting LED is caused to emit colored light without intentionally coloring the light transmitting portion, so that the light transmitting portion is caused to emit colored light and the pattern distinction can be enhanced.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the whole or a part of the design is used as the light transmitting part, but the light transmitting part such as a round shape, a square shape or an elliptical shape is formed in the design or in the vicinity of the design. May be.

Further, in the above embodiment, the reel 5
Is composed of a drum 5a and a reel tape 5b, but the specific configuration of the reel is not limited to this, and may be a reel that directly forms a design on the peripheral surface of the drum, for example. .

Further, in the above embodiment, the winning is achieved when three symbols of the same type are lined up, but the winning combination is not limited to this, and for example, "7-grape -Grape "and" Tsubo-Grape-
You may make it consist of different types of symbols such as "7". In this case, it goes without saying that the lighting pattern changes for each reel 5.

Further, the light transmitting portion does not need to be formed for all the symbols of the target type, and for example, a plurality of symbols of the same type are arranged on one reel 5 such as a "pot" symbol or a "vine" symbol. The light transmitting portion may be formed only for any one of the patterns. In this case, the light emission period of the light transmitting portion and the rotation period of the reel 5 are synchronized with each other, so that the symbol distinguishability is further enhanced.

Further, L corresponding to the light transmitting portion to be notified
When only the ED is turned on, the other light transmitting portions may be turned on white by the LED at the same time. Further, not only lighting, but blinking notification may be used. Furthermore, when announcing a combined winning combination, such as a small winning combination flag being set when the bonus flag is established, the symbols may be lit simultaneously or alternately for each symbol.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to cause only a part of the light transmitting portions of the plurality of light transmitting portions corresponding to the type of symbol to emit light. Since only the type of design (only the specific light transmitting portion) is visually emphasized, the player can easily push the design of the specific type and eliminate accidental omissions. Like

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an internal front view of the slot machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the reel unit according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a part of the symbol array of the reel according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a backlight according to the same embodiment,
(A) shows a side view and (b) shows a front view.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a backline lighting control according to the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols] 4 reel display window 5 reel 9 reel unit 13 Backlight 14 Frame member 14a Notched hole 14b Partition plate 14c Partition board 15 reflector 16 circuit board 17 LED

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takahiro Okabe             2-9-14 Minamisenba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka               Takasago Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A slot machine comprising a reel in which a plurality of types of symbols are appropriately arranged along a circumferential direction of a peripheral surface, and a reel lighting device for illuminating a part of the peripheral surface of the reel from the inside, wherein the reel is provided. Is provided on the peripheral surface corresponding to at least two or more types of symbols, respectively, and has a light transmitting portion whose formation position differs in the width direction of the reel depending on the type of the symbol, while the reel lighting device has a width direction of the reel. In the slot machine, a plurality of light source bodies are provided corresponding to the formation positions of the respective light transmitting portions in the above, and further control means for independently controlling lighting of each light source body is provided. 2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the light-transmitting portion is formed such that a part or all of the symbol portion on the peripheral surface of the reel is transparent or semi-transparent. 3. The predetermined type of symbol is arranged so that a part thereof projects in the width direction of the reel from the width region of the other type of symbol, and the projecting portion serves as a light transmitting portion. Slot machine. 4. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the light source body comprises a multicolor light emitting element.