JP2005046467A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To normalize the rotation of a display rotation body in a game machine provided with the display rotation body having a display surface for making a display to a player, as a rotating surface. <P>SOLUTION: In this game machine, not only a pressure roller but a driving roller 66 can be displaced in a direction intersecting each contact surface with a wheel 32 during the rotation of the wheel 32 which is the display rotation body. Consequently, even if the position of each part varies in the radial direction, the driving roller 66 can follow the variation, and even if a radial error of the wheel 32 occurs, an unexpected clearance is not formed between the wheel 32 and the driving roller 66. As a result, motion transmission between the wheel 32 and the driving roller 66 is normally maintained to facilitate constant normalization of rotation of the wheel 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine of a type provided with a display rotating body having a display surface for displaying to a player as a rotation surface.

  There are game machines for players to play games, such as pachinko machines, arrange ball machines, slot machines, etc., for example, display rotation with a display surface for displaying to the player as a rotation surface A gaming machine of a type having a body has already been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  This type of gaming machine has (a) a display surface for displaying to a player as a rotation surface, a rigid display rotation body, (b) a motor, and (c) display rotation. A transmission rotator that transmits rotation of the motor to the display rotator by contact with the body; and (d) a pressing tool that presses the display rotator against the transmission rotator by contact with the display rotator. And (e) a guide device for guiding the display rotator so as to rotate about substantially the same rotation axis.

  The gaming machine described in Patent Document 1 is a pachinko machine in which a player plays a game in a gaming area using a pachinko ball. In this pachinko machine, the rotating body of the display extends in the lateral direction (horizontal direction) of the pachinko machine. Further, the display rotating body is configured as a rigid drum having a cylindrical surface coaxial with the rotation axis thereof as a rotating surface.

Further, in this conventional pachinko machine, the pressing tool is configured as a pressing roller having a smooth outer peripheral surface and rotating around its rotation axis, and in a direction intersecting the contact surface with the drum. Displaceable.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-328372

  In this conventional pachinko machine, it is ideal that the drum is manufactured so as to faithfully reproduce the target shape. However, in reality, the target shape is distorted in the radial direction due to manufacturing variations and the like. Or the size in the radial direction may be different from the target shape. That is, in reality, a radial error may occur in the drum.

  However, in this conventional pachinko machine, the position of the rotation axis of the transmission rotator is fixed, and as a result, the transmission rotator rotates around the same rotation axis.

  Therefore, in this conventional pachinko machine, when a radial error occurs in the drum, the pressure roller can follow the positional variation in the radial direction of the drum due to the radial error. The body could not follow.

  As a result, in this conventional pachinko machine, an unscheduled gap is generated between the drum and the transmission rotating body due to the radial error of the drum. In the meantime, normal motion transmission was hindered, and the rotation of the drum could become irregular.

  Therefore, for example, when controlling the gaming condition of a gaming machine in association with an arbitrary stopping position of the drum, it becomes impossible to accurately control the stopping position of the drum in the gaming machine, and as a result, the gaming condition is scheduled. There was a possibility that it would become impossible to control the street.

  Specifically, for example, a plurality of types of symbols are displayed side by side along the rotation direction on the rotation surface of the drum, and the drum is arbitrarily stopped to select one of the plurality of types of symbols. However, in a gaming machine that controls the game conditions according to the selected symbol, it is not possible to accurately control the selection of symbols, and as a result, the game conditions may not be controlled as planned. There was sex.

  Against this background, the present invention normalizes the rotation of the display rotator in a gaming machine having a display rotator having a display surface as a rotation surface for displaying to the player. It was made as an issue to do.

  The following aspects are obtained by the present invention. Each aspect is divided into sections, each section is given a number, and is described in a form that cites other section numbers as necessary. This is to facilitate understanding of some of the technical features that the present invention can employ and combinations thereof, and the technical features that can be employed by the present invention and combinations thereof are limited to the following embodiments. Should not be interpreted. That is, although not described in the following embodiments, it should be construed that it is not impeded to appropriately extract and employ the technical features described in the present specification as the technical features of the present invention.

  Further, describing each section in the form of quoting the numbers of the other sections does not necessarily prevent the technical features described in each section from being separated from the technical features described in the other sections. It should not be construed as meaning, but it should be construed that the technical features described in each section can be appropriately made independent depending on their properties.

(1) A gaming machine for a player to play a game,
A rotating surface for display to the player as a rotating surface, and a display rotating body that is a rigid body;
A motor,
A transmission rotator for transmitting rotation of the motor to the display rotator by contact with the display rotator;
A pressing tool that presses the display rotator against the transmission rotator by contact with the display rotator;
A guide device for guiding the display rotating body to rotate about the same rotational axis, and
A gaming machine in which the transmission rotator and the pressing tool are both displaceable in a direction intersecting each contact surface with the display rotator.

  In this gaming machine, not only the pressing tool but also the transmission rotator can be displaced in a direction intersecting each contact surface with the display rotator.

  Therefore, according to this gaming machine, even when the position of each part of the display rotating body varies in the radial direction during the rotation of the display rotating body, the transmission rotating body can follow the variation.

  Therefore, according to this gaming machine, even if an error in the radial direction of the display rotator occurs, an unplanned gap does not occur between it and the transmission rotator. As a result, the motion transmission between the display rotator and the transmission rotator is normally maintained, and it becomes easy to always normalize the rotation of the display rotator.

  As a result, according to this gaming machine, for example, when the game machine is controlled in a manner in which the gaming conditions are controlled in association with an arbitrary stop position of the display rotating body, the display rotating body is stopped in the gaming machine. It becomes easy to accurately control the position, and as a result, it becomes easy to control the game conditions as scheduled.

  Examples of the usage of the “rotating body for display” in this section include, for example, a usage for decorating the gaming machine and a usage for determining or changing a game condition by a player using the gaming machine. There is. That is, there are decorative uses and functional uses.

  The “rotating body for display” in this section can be a drum type having a rotation surface coaxial with the rotation axis thereof, or a wheel type having a rotation surface in a plane intersecting the rotation axis. is there.

  In this section, “a display rotator that is a rigid body” means a display rotator configured to have a rigidity sufficient to maintain its shape without being supported by another object. The degree of rigidity may mean a degree that is not deformed at all or hardly deformed by an external force, or may mean that the amount of deformation is small but is deformed by an external force. Therefore, for example, a display rotator that exhibits a unique shape when no force is applied, and deforms somewhat when a force is applied, also corresponds to the “display rotator that is a rigid body”.

  The “pressing tool” in this section can be configured as a rotating body that rotates together with the display rotating body, or can be configured as a non-rotating body that does not rotate together with the display rotating body.

  When the “pressing tool” is configured as a rotating body, the “pressing tool” can be configured as a roller having a substantially smooth surface or a gear having a plurality of teeth.

  On the other hand, when the “pressing tool” is configured as a non-rotating body, the “pressing tool” can be configured as, for example, an elastic body (for example, a leaf spring) that elastically contacts the display rotating body. is there.

(2) The game according to item (1), wherein the transmission rotating body and the pressing tool are swingable around at least one swing axis that is parallel to the rotation axis of the transmission rotating body. Machine.

  In the gaming machine according to the item (1), the transmission rotating body and the pressing tool can each be reciprocally linearly movable. That is, it is possible to draw a linear locus during displacement.

  On the other hand, in the gaming machine according to this item, the transmission rotating body and the pressing tool can swing. That is, an arcuate locus is drawn during the displacement.

  Here, when the transmission rotator and the pressing tool are each drawn with a linear trajectory, and when the arcuate trajectory is drawn with each other, the transmission rotator and the pressing tool are respectively supported. In general, the structure of the mechanism is more complicated in the former case than in the latter case.

  Therefore, according to the gaming machine according to this section, compared to the case where the transmission rotator and the pressing tool each draw a linear trajectory during displacement, the transmission rotator and the pressing tool are respectively It becomes easy to simplify the structure of the mechanism that supports the displacement.

  The “at least one swing axis” in this section is, for example, one swing axis common to the transmission rotator and the pressing tool, or 2 provided separately for the transmission rotator and the pressing tool. It is possible to have two swing axes.

(3) The gaming machine according to (1) or (2), further including a single support unit that supports the transmission rotating body and the pressing tool so as to be displaceable by a common frame.

  According to this gaming machine, the number of parts including the frame can be easily reduced as compared with the case where the transmission rotating body and the pressing tool are displaceably supported by separate frames, and the transmission rotating body and the pressing tool are reduced. Simplification and miniaturization of the overall structure of the mechanism for supporting the tool are also facilitated.

(4) The gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the guide device includes a plurality of guides that jointly guide the display rotating body by contact.

  According to this gaming machine, the trajectory drawn while the display rotator is rotating is stabilized by the cooperative action of the plurality of guides.

  The “guide tool” in this section can be configured as a rotating body or a non-rotating body, similar to the “pressing tool” described above.

  The “plurality of guides” in this section are, for example, arranged together on the inner circumference of the circumferential surface coaxial with the rotating body for display, arranged together on the outside, partly on the inside, and the rest on the outside It is possible to arrange in

(5) The plurality of guides are arranged in contact with the cylindrical surface along a cylindrical surface coaxial with the display rotating body, and the plurality of guides are
A fixed guide having a substantially fixed position;
(4) a pressing guide that is substantially opposite to the fixed guide with respect to the rotation axis of the display rotating body, and that presses the display rotating body against the fixed guide. The gaming machine described in the item).

  According to this gaming machine, the display rotating body is pressed by the pressing guide tool onto the fixed guide tool positioned on the opposite side of the pressing guide tool with respect to the rotation axis thereof. Since the position of the fixed guide is substantially fixed, even if a radial error of the display rotator occurs in a state where the display rotator is pressed against such a fixed guide, The portion of the rotating display body that contacts the fixed guide is stabilized in position.

  Accordingly, when the gaming machine is designed so that, for example, a portion of the display rotator that contacts the fixed guide is a portion that should be particularly watched by the player during the game, the display rotator Even if a radial error occurs, the position of the gazing point by the player is stabilized, thereby reducing the eyestrain of the player during the game.

  The “pressing guide” in this section is, for example, a guide rotator that can be displaced in a direction intersecting the contact surface with the display rotator, and the guide rotator toward the display rotator. An urging means for urging may be included.

  Here, the “guide rotating body” can be configured as a roller having a substantially smooth surface, or can be configured as a gear having a plurality of teeth.

  The “biasing means” is configured as an elastic member that applies an elastic force to the guide rotator, or presses the guide rotator against the display rotator using gravity acting on the guide rotator. It is possible to configure as a means, or as a means to press the guide rotating body against the display rotating body by applying a magnetic force to the guiding rotating body.

  The “pressing guide” in this section is a guide rotator that does not displace in a direction intersecting the contact surface with the display rotator, and the display rotator is fixedly guided by its own elasticity. It can also be configured to be pressed against the tool.

(6) The rotation axis of the display rotating body extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the front surface of the gaming machine, and the display surface is rotated in a plane generally perpendicular to the rotation axis. The gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (5).

  According to this gaming machine, the display surface of the display rotator is rotated in a plane generally parallel to the front surface of the gaming machine, and as a result, the entire display surface is viewed by the player at a time. It is possible to design the gaming machine.

(7) The display rotator has a cylindrical flange extending coaxially therewith, and the transmission rotator is brought into contact with the flange at a position eccentric from the display rotator (6). The gaming machine according to the item.

  In the gaming machine according to the item (6), the display rotator is rotated by rotating the transmission rotator in contact with the display rotator around an axis intersecting the rotation axis of the display rotator. It is possible to implement in a rotating manner.

  On the other hand, in the gaming machine according to this aspect, by using a cylindrical flange extending coaxially with the display rotator, a transmission rotator around an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the display rotator. Is rotated in contact with the flange, whereby the display rotating body is rotated.

(8) The display rotating body has a space in the center thereof, and the gaming machine further provides a game area for a player to play a game using a game ball. The gaming machine according to (6) or (7), which is provided inside the game machine.

  According to this gaming machine, it is possible to arrange the gaming area inside the display rotating body.

(9) Further, any one of items (6) to (8), further including a passage that allows the game ball to enter the game area from the outside of the display rotator behind the display rotator. The gaming machine described in Crab.

  In the gaming machine according to any of the above (6) to (8), since the game area is located inside the display rotating body, the game ball passes through the display rotating body and enters the game area. It is necessary.

  As a path through which the game ball passes through the display rotator, there are a path that passes through the front side of the display rotator and a path that passes through the rear side, but when using a path that passes through the front side, The display rotating body may be temporarily hidden by the game ball, which may be uncomfortable for the player.

  On the other hand, in the gaming machine according to this aspect, a passage is provided behind the display rotator that allows a game ball to enter the game area from the outside of the display rotator.

  Therefore, according to this gaming machine, when the game ball passes through the display rotator, the display rotator is not hidden by the game sphere.

(10) Further, the rotation of the display rotating body with respect to the gaming machine is performed by using the reflected light from the back surface of the display rotating body, which changes according to the rotational direction position of the display rotating body. The gaming machine according to any one of (6) to (9), including a position sensor that detects a directional position.

  In this gaming machine, since the position of the display rotating body in the rotational direction is detected using the back surface of the display rotating body (hereinafter simply referred to as “position detection”), the front surface of the display rotating body is used. Unlike the case where position detection is performed, for example, the front surface of the display rotating body does not need to be hidden for position detection.

  Furthermore, in this gaming machine, since the position detection is performed using the reflected light, the optical path for the position detection can be shortened compared to the case where the position detection is performed using the transmitted light. Since the handling is not complicated, it is easy to simplify the configuration of the apparatus for position detection.

(11) A gaming machine having a game area on the front surface for a player to play a game using a game ball,
A display rotator having a space in the center and rotating around the rotation axis intersecting the front surface on the front surface, wherein the game area is disposed inside the rotation surface; ,
A first variable display unit that variably displays the first information by using the rotation surface as a first display surface;
And a control unit that controls the gaming conditions of the gaming machine based on the first information displayed on the first variable display unit.

  According to this gaming machine, the gaming conditions of the gaming machine are controlled by the action of the first display surface provided as a rotating surface surrounding the gaming area.

  Therefore, according to this gaming machine, the rotation surface surrounding the game area can be physically rotated with a larger trajectory than the game area, thereby improving the feeling of scale and dynamic that the player can feel during the game. Becomes easy.

  The gaming machine according to this section can be implemented in appropriate combination with the features described in the above sections.

(12) Furthermore,
A second variable display unit that variably displays the second information on a second display surface provided in the game area; and
The gaming machine according to (11), wherein the control unit controls a gaming condition of the gaming machine based on a combination of first and second information displayed on the first and second variable display units, respectively. .

  According to this gaming machine, the gaming conditions of the gaming machine are controlled by the joint action of the first display surface provided as a rotating surface surrounding the gaming area and the second display surface provided in the gaming area. Is done.

  Therefore, according to this gaming machine, the degree of freedom to change the gaming condition is improved as compared with the case where the gaming condition of the gaming machine is controlled using only one of the first and second display surfaces. It becomes easy.

  Hereinafter, some of the best modes for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pachinko machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The pachinko machine includes a main body frame 10, a glass door 12, a front plate door 14, and a launcher 16. That is, in this embodiment, the pachinko machine constitutes an example of the “gaming machine” in the present invention. This pachinko machine is installed and used in the pachinko hall.

  A game board 20 is detachably attached to the main body frame 10 by an operator on the front side thereof. The game board 20 is mounted on the main body frame 10 in a posture parallel to the portion of the main body frame 10 that faces the game board 20.

  A game area 22 is set in the center of the game board 20. In the game area 22, a plurality of nails (not shown) are erected in order to influence the course of the game by collision with a pachinko ball as a game ball.

  On the outer periphery of the game area 22, a generally arc-shaped rail 24 is provided to guide the pachinko ball fired by the launcher 16 to the game area 22. The launching device 16 launches a pachinko ball toward the game area 22 at an intensity (speed) according to the operation of the operation handle 26 by the player.

  The pachinko machine further includes a payout device (not shown) that pays out the pachinko ball as a prize in response to the pachinko ball launched by the launching device 16 entering the winning opening of the game board 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the glass door 12 and the front plate door 14 are designed to cover the front surface of the main body frame 10 in a state of being adjacent to each other in the height direction of the main body frame 10. Both the glass door 12 and the front plate door 14 can be opened and closed with respect to the main body frame 10 by rotation about a rotation axis extending in the height direction of the main body frame 10. In this embodiment, the rotation axis is set to coincide with the one located on the left side of the pair of side sides of the pachinko machine.

  The glass door 12 is designed to cover the game area 22 of the game board 20 mounted on the main body frame 10 so as to be seen through from the front side in the closed state.

  On the other hand, the front plate portion door 14 is designed to have a front plate portion 28 that exhibits a storage function of storing the pachinko balls paid out by the payout device. The front plate portion 28 is projected forward from the front surface of the front plate portion door 14.

  In the present embodiment, only the glass door 12 out of the glass door 12 and the front plate door 14 is designed to cover the front surface of the game board 20 mounted on the main body frame 10 in the closed state. .

  Hereinafter, the game board 20 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 20 is provided with a first variable display unit 30 for displaying symbols such as characters and figures for the game.

  The game board 20 is provided with a disk-like wheel 32 having a space in the center at a position surrounding the game area 22. The wheel 32 is a component of the first variable display unit 30. The player can visually recognize the game area 22 through the space in the wheel 32, and the player can play a game using both the wheel 32 and the game area 22.

  The wheel 32 has a rotation axis that intersects the game board 20 at a right angle, and is rotated between the game board 20 and the glass door 12 around the rotation axis. That is, the wheel 32 is rotated in a plane parallel to the game board 20. The wheel 32 is a rigid body, and is designed so that its basic shape does not easily change due to an external force.

  In FIG. 4, the upper part of the wheel 32 is shown in a longitudinal sectional view. As is apparent from this figure, the wheel 32 is configured to include a disk portion 34 parallel to the game board 20 and a flange portion 36 extending rearward from the inner periphery thereof. Specifically, the wheel 32 is composed of a hard synthetic resin as a main material.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the disk portion 34 is formed with a plurality of cutouts 38 that are open on the outer peripheral side thereof and arranged in the circumferential direction. A rib 40 for reinforcement is formed in a portion of the disc portion 34 where the notch 38 is not formed.

  A film 42 extending in a plane with a certain width is attached to the front surface of the disk portion 34 configured as described above along one circumference coaxial with the disk portion 34. The film 42 is formed so as to have a thinner thickness and a wider width than the disk portion 34 by a material through which light is transmitted. The front surface of the film 42 is a display surface 44 for displaying the above-described design. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, 26 English alphabets are equally spaced along the circumferential direction thereof. Is printed on the film 42.

  In short, in the present embodiment, the notch 38 and the rib 40 are provided in the disc portion 34, and the disc portion 34 has a narrower width than the film 42, so that the high rigidity of the wheel 32 is achieved. The area of the display surface 44 is ensured while reducing the size and weight.

  In the present embodiment, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5, a display area 46 is set at a position corresponding to the wheel 32 and corresponding to 12:00 on the dial of the watch. The position of the display area 46 is fixed to the game board 20, so that the relative positional relationship between the wheel 32 and the display area 46 changes as the wheel 32 rotates.

  When a stop request is issued during the rotation of the wheel 32, the wheel 32 is stopped so that one of the plurality of symbols 48 on the wheel 32 is located in the display area 46. In the stop state, the symbol displayed in the display area 46 is the symbol selected this time. If the stop angle of the wheel 32 is different, the symbol displayed in the display area 46 is also different.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of LEDs 50 as light sources are arranged behind the film 42 in the circumferential direction of the film 42. The film 42 is caused to emit light by the LEDs 50, whereby the symbols on the film 42 are clearly displayed to the player.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the wheel 32 and the display area 46 cooperate with each other to form the first variable display section 30 described above, and the wheel 32 is the “display rotator” in the item (1). "Is an example.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a second variable display unit 54 for displaying symbols such as characters and figures for games is also provided inside the game area 22. An example of the second variable display unit 54 is a liquid crystal display. The symbol is variably displayed on the display surface 56 of the second variable display section 54.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the player can display the symbol displayed on the first variable display unit 30 located outside the game area 22 and the second variable display unit 54 located inside the game area 22. It is possible to play a game while simultaneously viewing the displayed symbols.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the wheel 32 is rotated by a motor 58. The motor 58 is arranged at a position eccentric with respect to the wheel 32. A rigid rotor 62 is coaxially fixed to a rotating shaft 60 (see FIG. 8) of the motor 58, and a rubber ring 64 is attached to the rotor 62. The rotor 62 and the ring 64 constitute a driving roller 66. The driving roller 66 is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface 70 of the flange portion 36 of the wheel 32, and the rotational force of the driving roller 66 is transmitted to the wheel 32 by this contact. That is, the motor 58 uses the flange portion 36 to transmit the rotational force to the wheel 32 to rotate the wheel 32.

  In short, in the present embodiment, the drive roller 66 constitutes an example of the “rotating body for transmission” in the item (1).

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the wheel 32 and the drive roller 66 are accommodated in a housing 74 together with guide rollers 72a, 72b, 72c, 72d, 72e, and 72f, which will be described in detail later. As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 74 is mounted on the front surface 75 of the game board 20 so as to be positioned between the game board 20 and the glass door 12. A portion of the housing 74 facing the front surface of the wheel 32 is formed with a window 76 having a certain width and extending in a plane along one circumference. Surface 44 is viewed by the player. As shown in FIG. 2, the drive roller 66 and the guide rollers 72a, 72b, 72c, 72d, 72e, and 72f are covered with the housing 74 so that they cannot be seen by the player, even though they exist inside the wheel 32. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the wheel 32 is disposed on the game board 20 so as to surround the game area 22 as described above. On the other hand, the pachinko ball is made to enter the game area 22 from the outer area 78 of the wheel 32 after being launched by the launching device 16. Therefore, in this pachinko machine, a path for guiding the pachinko balls launched by the launching device 16 from the outer region 78 of the wheel 32 through the wheel 32 into the game region 22 is necessary.

  2 and 4, the passage 80 is shown in a front view and a side sectional view, respectively. As is clear from these figures, in this embodiment, the passage 80 passes the pachinko ball fired by the launcher 16 from the outer region 78 of the wheel 32 to the back of the wheel 32 and into the game region 22. Provided to guide.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a portion of the passage 80 that is just behind the wheel 32 is formed using a path forming hole 82 that penetrates the game board 20 in the thickness direction. An opening on the back side of the game board 20 in the path forming hole 82 is not shown, but is blocked by mounting a main control board to be described later on the back side of the game board 20.

  Here, the flow of pachinko balls in the pachinko machine will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG.

  When the pachinko ball is launched from the launching device 16, it first collides with a nail 84 standing on the top of the game board 20 outside the wheel 32, thereby changing the course of the pachinko ball. Thereafter, the pachinko ball falls and eventually collides with the upward inclined surface 86 of the housing 74 as shown in FIG. 4, where the course is changed and enters the passage 80. Further, the pachinko ball falls in the passage 80 and collides with the upward inclined surface 90 in the path forming hole 82, where the course is changed and enters the game area 22.

  Thus, the pachinko ball is located on the front surface 75 of the game board 20 outside the wheel 32, and is located in the path forming hole 82 of the game board 20 when passing through the wheel 32. A path returning to the front surface 75 of the game board 20 is traced.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, the pachinko ball does not pass in front of the wheel 32, and the display surface 44 of the wheel 32 can be prevented from being temporarily hidden by the pachinko ball.

  In the present embodiment, the housing 74 that accommodates the wheel 32 and the LED 50 prevents the pachinko ball from colliding with the wheel 32 and the LED 50, thereby preventing the rotation of the wheel 32 by the pachinko ball or damaging the LED 50. It has a function to avoid the situation. Further, it has a function of guiding the pachinko ball to the passage 80 when the pachinko ball collides with the housing 74.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of guide rollers 72 a, 72 b, 72 c, 72 d, 72 e, 72 f that guide the wheel 32 so as to rotate about the same rotation axis are installed inside the wheel 32. Each guide roller 72 a, 72 b, 72 c, 72 d, 72 e, 72 f is rotated together with the wheel 32 by contact with the inner peripheral surface 70 of the flange portion 36 around each rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel 32.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the plurality of guide rollers 72a, 72b, 72c, 72d, 72e, 72f constitute one example of the “guide device” in the above section (1), and each guide roller 72a, 72b, 72c. , 72d, 72e, 72f constitute an example of the “guide tool” in the above item (4).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of guide rollers 72 a, 72 b, 72 c, 72 d, 72 e, 72 f are distributed along the wheel 32. Two of the plurality of guide rollers 72a, 72b, 72c, 72d, 72e, 72f are arranged close to the upper part of the wheel 32 as upper guide rollers 72a, 72f, and the other two are lower The side guide rollers 72c and 72d are disposed close to the lower portion of the wheel 32.

  Specifically, the two upper guide rollers 72a and 72f are respectively arranged at two positions sandwiching the display area 46 in cooperation with each other. On the other hand, the two lower guide rollers 72c and 72d are generally disposed on the opposite side of the two upper guide rollers 72a and 72f with respect to the rotation axis of the wheel 32.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even if a dimensional error occurs in the radial direction due to manufacturing variation of the wheel 32, the locus drawn while the wheel 32 is rotating is stabilized at least in the display region 46. It becomes easy.

  FIG. 6 representatively shows one lower guide roller 72c. The configuration of the lower guide roller 72c is common to the other guide rollers 72a, 72b, 72d, 72e, 72f.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the flange portion 36 that comes into contact with the guide roller 72 c has a rail portion 100 on the inner peripheral surface 70. The guide roller 72c is formed as a pulley having a groove 102 into which the rail portion 100 is fitted. Since the guide roller 72c engages with the rail portion 100 in the groove 102, the position of the guide roller 72c is suppressed from being displaced in the direction of the rotation axis during the rotation of the wheel 32.

  Next, the rotation mechanism of the wheel 32 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the game board 20, the drive roller 66 is installed in contact with the flange portion 36, and the pressing roller 104 sandwiches the flange portion 36 in the thickness direction in cooperation with the drive roller 66. Is installed. The pressing roller 104 is installed to press the flange portion 36 against the driving roller 66.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the pressing roller 104 constitutes an example of the “pressing tool” in the item (1).

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the pressing roller 104, the motor 58, and the driving roller 66 are supported by a common frame 106, thereby forming a support unit 110. In the game board 20, an accommodation hole 112 for accommodating the support unit 110 is formed as a through hole penetrating the game board 20 in the thickness direction.

  An extension member 114 extending from the game board 20 toward the accommodation hole 112 is attached to the game board 20 in a cantilever manner. The support unit 110 is attached to the free end 116 of the extension member 114 in a state where it is accommodated in the accommodation hole 112. In the present embodiment, by adopting a method of attaching the support unit 110 to the game board 20 in a state of being accommodated in the accommodation hole 112, the support unit is placed in a limited space between the glass door 12 and the game board 20. 110 can be accommodated compactly.

  The frame 106 is provided with a first swing shaft 118 having a first swing axis extending at a right angle to the game board 20. The first swing shaft 118 is supported by a boss member 120 fixed to the frame 106. The frame 106 is swingably connected to the extending member 114 via the first swing shaft 118, whereby the entire support unit 110 including the drive roller 66 swings around the first swing shaft 118. It is possible.

  The frame 106 is provided with a second swing shaft 122 having a second swing axis at a position spaced in parallel from the first swing shaft 118. The pressing roller 104 is swung around the second rocking shaft 122.

  Specifically, the pressing roller 104 is connected to the second swing shaft 122 by an arm 124. Sleeves 132 and 134 are formed on the base end portion 126 and the free end portion 130 of the arm 124, respectively, the second swing shaft 122 is provided on the sleeve 132 on the base end side, and the sleeve 134 on the free end side is provided. The roller shaft 136 that is rotatably inserted in the pressing roller 104 is inserted.

  The pressing roller 104 is constantly urged in a direction to press the flange portion 36 against the driving roller 66 by a spring member 138 as urging means. In this embodiment, the spring member 138 is configured as a torsion coil spring. Specifically, the spring member 138 is configured to include a coil portion 140 and both terminals 142 and 144 extending outward therefrom. The coil portion 140 is inserted into the sleeve 132, one end 142 is engaged with the boss member 120 as a fixing member, and the other end 144 is engaged with the sleeve 134.

  As is apparent from the above description, in the present embodiment, both the drive roller 66 and the pressing roller 104 can swing around the first swing axis common to them, so that the driving roller 66 and the pressing roller 104 are pressed. Both rollers 104 draw an arcuate locus when swinging. Further, the pressing roller 104 can swing around the second swing axis. Therefore, the pressing roller 104 can perform both swinging around the first swing axis and swinging around the second swing axis simultaneously or selectively.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, a method of pressing the drive roller 66 against the flange portion 36 using the gravity acting on the support unit 110 is employed. Specifically, the support unit 110 is positioned on the game board 20 so that a moment in the direction of pressing the driving roller 66 against the flange portion 36 is generated around the first swing axis due to gravity acting on the support unit 110. ing.

  More specifically, in a state where the driving roller 66 is in contact with the lower part of the flange portion 36, the vertical line passing through the center of gravity of the support unit 110 and the vertical line passing through the first swing axis do not match each other. The support unit 110 is attached to the game board 20 so as to have a layout.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, it is not indispensable to use a part for positively pressing the drive roller 66 against the flange portion 36. However, this does not mean to exclude the use of such components to practice the present invention.

  As is apparent from the above description, in the present embodiment, the support unit 110 swings following the change in the radial position of the wheel 32, so that each of the drive roller 66 and the pressure roller 104 and the wheel 32 is There is no gap between them. Further, since the pressing roller 104 can swing independently of the driving roller 66, this also eliminates the occurrence of a gap between the driving roller 66 and the pressing roller 104 and the wheel 32.

  As a result, according to the present embodiment, the motion transmission between the wheel 32 and the driving roller 66 is normally maintained, and it becomes easy to always normalize the rotation of the wheel 32.

  The mechanical part of the pachinko machine has been mainly described above. Next, the electrical part will be described.

  FIG. 9 conceptually shows an electrical part of the pachinko machine in a block diagram. This pachinko machine includes a main control board 150 and a sub-control board 152. Although not shown, both the main control board 150 and the sub control board 152 are attached to the back of the game board 20.

  The main control board 150 executes processing related to the second variable display section 54, while the sub control board 152 executes processing related to the first variable display section 30. The main control board 150 further takes in information related to the symbol selected by the first variable display unit 30 from the sub control board 152, and a combination thereof with information related to the symbol selected by the second variable display unit 54. Based on this, the game conditions of this pachinko machine are controlled. Therefore, the main control board 150 is electrically connected to the sub control board 152.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the information related to the symbol selected by the first variable display unit 30 constitutes an example of “first information” in the item (11), and is selected by the second variable display unit 54. The information relating to the symbol constitutes an example of the “second information” in the item (12), and the main control board 150 and the sub control board 152 cooperate with each other in the item (11) or (12). It constitutes an example of a “control unit”.

  FIG. 10 conceptually shows the hardware configuration of the sub-control board 152 in a block diagram. The sub-control board 152 is mainly configured by a computer 160 having a CPU 154, a ROM 156, and a RAM 158. This configuration is basically the same as the configuration of the main control board 150. The ROM 156 stores various programs including a wheel rotation control program and a wheel position detection program, which will be described later, and these programs are executed by the CPU 154 using the RAM 158 to execute predetermined processing. Is done.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the sub-control board 152 is electrically connected to the motor 58 described above, and is also electrically connected to the LED board 162 on which the plurality of LEDs 50 are mounted. Yes. That is, the sub control board 152 is designed to control the lighting state of the LED 50.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the sub control board 152 is further electrically connected to the first sensor 164 and the second sensor 166. The first sensor 164 and the second sensor 166 are provided to detect the rotational position at which the wheel 32 is stopped, and thereby specify information about the selected symbol.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the first sensor 164 and the second sensor 166 are accommodated in the housing 74 so as to face the back surface 170 of the portion of the film 42 located in the display region 46. The first sensor 164 is disposed outside in the radial direction of the wheel 32, while the second sensor 166 is disposed inside. The first sensor 164 and the second sensor 166 are mounted on the sensor base 172. Each of the first sensor 164 and the second sensor 166 emits light toward the back surface 170 of the film 42 and the back surface of the film 42 out of the light emitted from the light emitting devices 174 and 176. And light receiving elements 178 and 180 for receiving the light reflected by the light.

  As shown in FIG. 12, marks 182 and 184 to be detected by the sensors 164 and 166 are printed on the back surface 170 of the film 42. A plurality of marks 182 are arranged at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the film 42 that faces the first sensor 164. The position of each mark 182 is matched with the position of each symbol printed on the front surface of the film 42. Therefore, the interval between the two marks 182 adjacent to each other corresponds to one rotation pitch of the wheel 32.

  On the other hand, one mark 184 is printed on the inner periphery of the film 42 that faces the second sensor 166 at a position defined as the origin position of the wheel 32. Any one of the plurality of marks 182 is defined in advance as an origin position. Therefore, the period from the time when the mark 184 is detected to the time when the same mark 184 is detected again corresponds to one rotation of the wheel 32.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the first sensor 164 functions to detect the number of rotation pitches of the wheel 32 from an arbitrary rotation position, while the second sensor 166 functions to detect the origin position of the wheel 32. As a result, the rotational pitch number from the origin position, that is, the phase, of the wheel 32 is detected by the joint action of the two.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the first sensor 164 and the second sensor 166 each constitute an example of the “position sensor” in the item (10).

  FIG. 13 conceptually shows the contents of the wheel rotation control program in a flowchart.

  This wheel rotation control program is repeatedly executed by the computer 160. At the time of each execution, first, in step S1 (hereinafter, simply represented by “S1”, the same applies to other steps), it is determined whether or not a rotation command for rotating the wheel 32 is issued from the main control board 150. Determined. If it is assumed that it has been issued this time, the determination is YES, and the wheel speed at which the wheel 32 should be rotated is determined in S2. Subsequently, in S3, a driving signal for realizing the determined wheel speed is supplied to the motor 58, whereby the motor 58 is rotated and the wheel 32 is also rotated.

  In the present embodiment, as indicated by arrows in FIG. 3, the alphabet displayed in the display area 46 (see FIG. 5) as “A” is sequentially displayed toward “Z” as the wheel 32 rotates. The wheel 32 is rotated in one direction.

  However, it is possible to implement the present invention in such a mode that the wheel 32 is rotated in the opposite direction or has a period in which the rotation direction of the wheel 32 changes alternately. For example, when the wheel 32 is stopped at an arbitrary position, the wheel 32 is vibrated so that the rotation direction thereof is alternately changed between the forward direction and the reverse direction, and the amplitude of the vibration (the wheel 32 is changed). It is possible to implement the present invention in such a manner that the amount of rotation in each direction is gradually attenuated and eventually stops.

  This completes one execution of the wheel rotation control program.

  On the other hand, this time, if it is assumed that a rotation command is not issued from the main control board 150, the determination of S1 is NO, and in S4, the motor 58 is stopped and the wheel 32 is also stopped.

  This completes one execution of the wheel rotation control program.

  FIG. 14 conceptually shows the contents of the aforementioned wheel position detection program in a flowchart.

  This wheel position detection program is also repeatedly executed by the computer 160. At each execution, first, in S101, whether the output signal of the first sensor 164 has changed from a mark non-detection signal indicating that the mark 182 is not detected to a mark detection signal indicating that the mark 182 is detected. It is determined whether or not. That is, it is determined whether or not the first sensor 164 is immediately after detecting the mark 182.

  This time, if it is assumed that the first sensor 164 is not immediately after detecting the mark 182 (mark indicating the position of a certain symbol), the determination of S101 is NO, and one execution of this wheel position detection program is immediately executed. finish. In contrast, if it is assumed that the first sensor 164 has just detected the mark 182 this time, the determination in S101 is YES, and the process proceeds to S102.

  In S102, it is determined whether or not the output signal of the second sensor 166 has changed from a mark non-detection signal indicating that the mark 184 is not detected to a mark detection signal indicating that the mark 186 is detected. . That is, it is determined whether or not it is immediately after the second sensor 166 detects the mark 184 (mark indicating the origin position).

  If it is assumed that the second sensor 166 has not detected the mark 184 this time, the determination in S102 is NO, and in S107, it is determined whether or not a specific flag is set.

  This wheel position detection program is executed each time the computer 160 is turned on. In each execution, the initial setting is performed from the time the power is turned on until the wheel 32 first reaches the home position. Is called.

  In this initial setting, the wheel 32 waits for the first time to reach the origin position, and until the origin position is reached, the counter value indicating the rotation pitch number from the origin position of the wheel 32 is invalidated. If the position is reached, the counter value is reset and thereafter the counter value is incremented as the wheel 32 rotates.

  However, if the wheel 32 reaches the origin position again in the same execution of the wheel position detection program, the counter value is reset to 0 again. That is, the counter value represents what is displayed in the display area 46 among a plurality of symbols on the wheel 32 regardless of the total number of rotations of the wheel 32.

  In the wheel position detection program, the above-described flag is used to store whether or not the wheel 32 first reaches the origin position and the initial setting is completed. This flag indicates that it is not determined that the wheel 32 has initially reached the origin position in the reset state, and is set as a flag indicating that the determination has been performed in the set state. . This flag is set to the reset state when the computer 160 is turned on.

  If it is assumed that the computer 160 has just been turned on this time, the flag is not in the set state, so the determination in S107 is NO, and one execution of this wheel position detection program is immediately terminated.

  Thereafter, as a result of the wheel position detection program being executed several times, if the mark 182 is detected by the first sensor 164 and immediately after the mark 184 is detected by the second sensor 166, S101 is executed. Both the determination of S102 and the determination of S102 are YES, and it is determined in S103 that the wheel 32 is currently at the origin position.

  Subsequently, in S104, the above-described flag is set. Thereafter, in S105, the above-described counter indicating the number of rotation pitches of the wheel 32 is reset. Subsequently, in S106, the counter value is output to the main control board 150. As a result, the main control board 150 can grasp the currently displayed position in the display area 46 among the plurality of symbols on the wheel 32, that is, the current rotational position of the wheel 32.

  This completes one execution of the wheel position detection program.

  After that, as a result of the wheel position detection program being executed several times, if the first sensor 164 has just detected the next mark 182, the determination in S101 is YES. At this time, since the second sensor 166 should not have detected the mark 184 for the origin position, the determination in S102 is NO.

  Since the flag is set this time, the determination in S107 is YES, and the counter value is incremented by 1 in S108. Thereafter, in S106, the counter value is output to the main control board 150. The main control board 150 can recognize from the counter value that the wheel 32 is currently in the rotation position next to the origin position.

  This completes one execution of the wheel position detection program.

  Thereafter, until the second sensor 166 detects the mark 184 for the origin position, every time the next mark 182 is detected by the first sensor 164, the counter value is incremented by 1 in S108.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the wheel 32 is stopped, the stop position is detected, and the symbol existing in the display area 46 is specified accordingly.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. However, since this embodiment has many elements in common with the first embodiment and the only different elements are the lower guide rollers 72c and 72d, only the different elements will be described in detail, and the common elements are the same. The detailed description is omitted by quoting with reference numerals or names.

  In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, two lower guide rollers 72c and 72d are attached to the game board 20 so that the position of each rotation axis does not change.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the positions of the rotation axes of the two lower guide rollers 210 a and 210 b intersect with the inner peripheral surface 70 of the flange portion 36 at right angles. It can be displaced in the direction.

  Specifically, in this embodiment, the rotating shaft 212 of the lower guide rollers 210a and 210b is supported by a movable member 214, and the movable member 214 is slidable by a support member 216 fixed to the game board 20. It is supported.

  Further, the lower guide rollers 210a and 210b are directed to press the lower guide rollers 210a and 210b themselves against the wheel 32 by the spring member 218 as urging means, that is, the directions to press the wheel 32 against the upper guide rollers 72a and 72f. Is always energized. In this embodiment, the spring member 218 is configured as a compression coil spring disposed between the movable member 214 and the support member 216.

  Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the two lower guide rollers 210a and 210b function as movable guide rollers, while the two upper guide rollers 72a and 72f still function as fixed guide rollers. Therefore, even if there is distortion in the radial direction of the wheel 32, it is ensured that each part of the wheel 32 passes the display region 46 along the same locus.

  As described above, some of the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, these are merely examples, and those skilled in the art, including the aspect described in the above-mentioned section of [Means for Solving the Problems] It is possible to implement the present invention in other forms in which various modifications and improvements are made based on the knowledge.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a pachinko machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the front view which takes out and expands and shows the game board 20 in FIG. It is the perspective view which takes out and expands the wheel 32 in FIG. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the channel | path 80 in FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view for explaining a layout of a wheel 32, a driving roller 66, a motor 58, a pressing roller 104, and a plurality of guide rollers 72a, 72b, 72c, 72d, 72e, 72f on the game board 20 in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the one guide roller 72c in FIG. It is a front view which takes out and shows the support unit 110 in FIG. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the support unit 110 of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram conceptually showing an electrical part of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a block diagram conceptually showing a hardware configuration of a sub control board 152 in FIG. 9. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the 1st sensor 164 and the 2nd sensor 166 in FIG. FIG. 10 is a front view for explaining marks 182 and 184 detected by the first sensor 164 and the second sensor 166 in FIG. 9. 11 is a flowchart conceptually showing the contents of a wheel rotation control program executed by a computer 160 of the sub-control board 152 of FIG. It is a flowchart which represents notionally the content of the wheel position detection program performed by the computer 160 of the sub control board | substrate 152 of FIG. It is a front view for demonstrating the lower guide rollers 210a and 210b of the pachinko machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 22 Game area | region 30 1st variable display part 32 Wheel 36 Flange part 44 Display surface 54 2nd variable display part 58 Motor 66 Driving roller 72a, 72b, 72c, 72d, 72e, 72f Guide roller 80 Passage 104 Pressing roller 106 Frame 110 Support Unit 118 First Oscillating Shaft 122 Second Oscillating Shaft 150 Main Control Base 152 Sub Control Base 164 First Sensor 166 Second Sensor 210a, 210b Lower Guide Roller

Claims (10)

A gaming machine for a player to play a game,
A rotating surface for display to the player as a rotating surface, and a display rotating body that is a rigid body;
A motor,
A transmission rotator for transmitting rotation of the motor to the display rotator by contact with the display rotator;
A pressing tool that presses the display rotator against the transmission rotator by contact with the display rotator;
A guide device for guiding the display rotating body to rotate about the same rotational axis, and
A gaming machine in which the transmission rotator and the pressing tool are both displaceable in a direction intersecting each contact surface with the display rotator.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the transmission rotating body and the pressing tool are swingable around at least one swing axis that is parallel to the rotation axis of the transmission rotating body.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a single support unit that supports the transmission rotating body and the pressing tool so as to be displaceable by a common frame.   The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guide device includes a plurality of guide tools that cooperate with each other to guide the display rotating body by contact. The plurality of guide tools are arranged in contact with the cylindrical surface along a cylindrical surface coaxial with the display rotating body, and the plurality of guide tools are
A fixed guide having a substantially fixed position;
A pressing guide that is positioned substantially opposite to the fixed guide with respect to the rotation axis of the display rotating body, the pressing guide pressing the display rotating body against the fixed guide. 4. The gaming machine according to 4.   The rotation axis of the display rotating body extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the front surface of the gaming machine, and the display surface is rotated in a plane generally perpendicular to the rotation axis. A gaming machine according to any one of 5 to 5.   The display rotating body has a cylindrical flange extending coaxially therewith, and the transmission rotating body is brought into contact with the flange at a position eccentric from the display rotating body. Gaming machine.   The display rotator has a space in the center thereof, and the gaming machine further has a game area for a player to play a game using a game ball inside the display rotator. The gaming machine according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising:   The game machine according to any one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising a passage that allows the game ball to enter the game area from the outside of the display rotator behind the display rotator. .   Further, by using the reflected light from the back surface of the display rotating body, which changes according to the rotation direction position of the display rotating body, the rotational direction position of the display rotating body relative to the gaming machine is determined. The gaming machine according to claim 6, comprising a position sensor for detection.

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