JP2005066108A - Pinball machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To raise the interest of the players in the ball path in the playing area even if the size of a pattern variable display device is increased. <P>SOLUTION: When the prescribed conditions are met by playing a game, the pattern variable display device 8 is moved backward. With the backward movement of the pattern variable display device 8, the ball path 27 appears. The pachinko balls passing through an opening 4d for ball guidance are guided to the ball path 27. As the pachinko balls 60 pass through the ball path 27, the pachinko balls 60 can win the prize winning slot 4e. The pachinko balls 60 winning the prize winning slot 4e drop through a high winning probability slot 4h. The high winning probability slot 4h is disposed near the starter winning slot 13 and above the starter winning slot 13. So, this lets the game balls win the prize winning slot 4e and as compared with the case of keeping the game balls from winning the prize winning slot 4e, the attempt to allow the winning of the prize winning slot 4e facilitates the winning of the starter winning slot 10 with the pachinko balls. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine that is installed and used in a game hall such as a pachinko shop.

  In this specification, a pachinko machine is described as an example of a bullet ball game machine. Therefore, a pachinko ball will be used as a game medium, but other media such as medals may be used as the game medium. Including. In addition, it is assumed that a pachinko ball enters a winning opening provided in the game area of the game board.

  A pachinko machine is generally provided with a game board having a game area in which a game medium is launched and a frame-like main body base on which the game board is mounted. Then, various driving devices such as a lamp device and a sound generating device that are operated based on the gaming state and various control devices (circuit boards) for controlling these driving devices are provided in the main body base so that the player can play games. When performed, the game is executed by appropriately operating various drive devices.

  Also, in recent years, a variable symbol display device has been built in that when a pachinko ball wins a winning winning opening, the symbol variable display device is built in, and after the symbol is changed, the symbol is variable so that it can be stopped and displayed to notify the game state transition. The thing which operates a display apparatus has become mainstream. Generally, the symbol variable display device is stored in a storage case, and a support plate having a ball passage is attached to the back of the game board. And the storage case which accommodated the symbol variable display apparatus is assembled | attached to the support plate.

  The symbol variable display device is driven by the control device described above. When the pachinko ball wins the start winning opening, the control device draws the type (combination) of the symbols to be stopped, and if the winner is won by the lottery result, the movable door called the attacker is placed at the back of the attacker. It moves repeatedly within a certain number of times, between a position where the big prize opening provided in is opened and a position where it closes. For example, an attacker can continue to be released until a big winning opening is opened for 30 seconds per round or until 10 pachinko balls are won in the big winning opening. It becomes possible.

  For this reason, whether or not a pachinko ball is easy to win at the start winning opening is an important factor in attracting players to the pachinko machine, and depending on the pachinko machine, it is easy to win the pachinko ball at the start winning opening. Some ball passages are provided in the game area to increase the player's expectation of winning a prize at the start winning opening.

  By the way, although the size of the recent symbol variable display device is increasing, the game area of the game board is a predetermined space, so that the symbol variable display device can be visually recognized on the game board. If devices and members necessary for playing a game such as an opening, a pachinko ball winning opening, a winning attacker, etc. are provided, there is a problem that there is no space for providing other devices or members in the game area of the game board. For this reason, in order to provide a ball path in the game area where a pachinko ball can easily win at the start winning opening, a ball path must be provided at a position away from the symbol variable display device. Since the game is played while paying attention to the apparatus, even if the ball passage is provided, the player's degree of interest in the ball passage cannot be increased.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a ball game machine capable of increasing the player's interest in the ball passage in the game area even when the size of the symbol variable display device is increased.

  In order to achieve the above object, the ball and ball game machine of the present invention displays a plurality of types of symbols in a variable manner, and then stops and displays whether or not it is a win depending on the mode of the stop display. In a ball game machine comprising: a position movement device that moves the symbol variable display device; a position control unit that controls the operation of the position movement device; and the position variable device moves the symbol variable display device. A ball passage through which game media can pass is provided.

  As described above, according to the ball game machine of the present invention, the position moving device for moving the variable display device, the position control means for controlling the operation of the position moving device, and the variable display device by the position moving device. Since the ball passage through which the game medium can pass is provided, the size of the game area of the game board 4 can be changed to allow the ball passage to appear, and the size of the variable symbol display device can be reduced. Even if the size is increased, the player's interest in the ball passage in the game area can be increased.

  FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the pachinko machine of the present invention. A game board 4 is disposed inside a main body frame 3 that is a main body base of the pachinko machine 2, and a front frame 5 is provided on the front surface of the game board 4 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the main body frame 3. Below the front frame 5, there are provided a supply tray 6 for supplying a hit ball and an operation handle 7 for adjusting the launch strength of the pachinko ball (game medium).

  An opening 4c (see FIG. 3) is provided in the approximate center of the game area 4a where the pachinko ball of the game board 4 is launched. In the opening 4c, there is a symbol variable display device (variable display device) 8 that displays a plurality of types of symbols on a liquid crystal screen for a predetermined period of time and then stops and displays them when a pachinko ball wins the start winning opening 10 A start winning opening 10, a normal winning opening 11, an attacker 12, and an out opening 13 are provided around the opening. A winning ball detection sensor 14 (see FIG. 4) for detecting a pachinko ball that has entered each of the winning ports 10-12 is provided in each of the winning ports 10-12.

  The player inserts a pachinko ball into the supply tray 6, guides the pachinko ball to the launching device through a guide path provided in the supply tray 6, and rotates the rotary operation handle 7 by a predetermined amount. By controlling the drive of the launching device, a pachinko ball is launched toward the upper side of the game area 4a of the game board 4. The hit pachinko ball enters one of the winning ports 10 to 12 or is collected from the out port 13 while flowing down from above the game area 4 a. Note that a plurality of structures such as nails and windmills provided in the game area 4a of the pachinko machine 2 are well-known and will not be described.

  When the front frame 5 is in a locked state, the player or the game hall operator can play the game area of the game board 4 through the glass window 9 formed by attaching a plate-like glass to the front frame 5. The pachinko balls falling through 4a can be seen, but the game board 4 cannot be touched inside the main body frame 3 as well.

  FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the back side of the pachinko machine. In addition to a main control circuit device (main control circuit board) 15 that performs control for executing a game via a support member provided inside the main body frame 3, the main frame 3 of the pachinko machine 2 is connected to the subframe 2. A control circuit device (sub control circuit board) 16, a ball launching device 17, a ball dispensing device 18 and the like are assembled. The control circuit device and the drive device are electrically connected via a cable or the like (not shown). Inside the main body frame 3, a sound generating device 21 (see FIG. 4) such as a speaker, and lamps 22 (see FIG. 4) are provided at various positions on the main body frame 3 and the game board 4, and the sound generating device. For example, a sound with a production effect is generated from 21, or a production effect is produced by lighting control of the lamp 22.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the main body frame 3 is provided with a game board mounting part 3a for mounting the game board 4, and the game board 4 is detachably attached to the game board mounting part 3a by a mounting member (not shown). It can be installed interchangeably. The symbol variable display device 8 is accommodated in a symbol variable display device storage case 29 described later, and the symbol variable display device storage case 29 is incorporated in the position moving device 30.

  On the front surface of the game board 4, a decoration frame 4b for decorating the game board 4 is provided. An opening 4c, a ball guiding opening 4d, and a winning opening 4e are formed in the decoration frame 4b. The winning opening 4e is provided on the lower surface of the opening 4c. The winning opening 4 e is normally hidden by the lower end surface of the symbol variable display device 8.

  A ball passage 4f (see FIG. 7) communicating with the winning opening 4e is formed in the decorative frame 4b and the game board 4, and is bent toward the back of the game board 4. A cylindrical ball guide member 25 (see FIG. 7) is attached to the back of the game board 4. The ball guide member 25 is formed in a substantially U shape, and one is attached so as to cover the outlet of the ball passage 4f. The other of the ball guide members 25 is attached so as to cover the decorative frame 4b and the ball passage 4g (see FIG. 7) formed in the game board 4. The winning high probability port 4h, which is the exit of the ball passage 4g, is disposed in the vicinity of the starting winning port 13 and above the starting winning port 13. The pachinko ball that has won the winning opening 4e of the game board 4 passes in the order of the ball passage 4f → the ball guiding member 25 → the ball passage 4g, and falls from the winning high probability opening 4h.

  A passage wall 26 is provided on the front surface of the decorative frame 4b. The passage wall 26 protrudes upward from the lower side of the opening 4c and is attached so as not to cover the display surface of the symbol variable display device 8, and accommodates the passage wall 26 and a symbol variable display device described later. A region covered with the front cover 46 and the decorative frame 4 b of the case 29 is a spherical passage (spherical passage) 27. The ball passage 27 is normally hidden by the symbol variable display device 8.

  The spherical guiding opening 4d is formed on the side surface of the opening 4c. When the pachinko ball passes through the ball guiding opening 4d from the outside of the decorative frame 4b, the pachinko ball that has passed is guided to the ball passage 27.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the operation of the pachinko machine 2 is basically controlled by the main control circuit device 15 and the sub control circuit device 16.

  The main control circuit device 15 includes a main CPU (central processing unit) 15a, a main ROM (read only memory) 15b, and a main RAM (random access memory) 15c. The main CPU 15a reads a game control program stored in the main ROM 15b to generate a command for controlling the gaming state of the pachinko machine, and transmits command information to the sub-control circuit device 16 so as to enter a predetermined gaming state. To run. In the main ROM 15b, a game control program, a random number generation processing program, a random number table, and the like are stored in predetermined areas, and these are read out by the main CPU 15a and appropriately used so as to be processed. The main RAM 15c is a working area and is used for temporary storage or rewriting of data used in the game. In the present embodiment, the main CPU 15a also functions as a position control unit that controls driving of a position moving device 30 described later.

  The sub control circuit device 16 includes a sub CPU 16a, a sub ROM 16b, and a sub RAM 16c. The sub CPU 16a appropriately reads out the sub control program stored in the sub ROM 16b, and in accordance with the control signal input as command information from the main control circuit device 15, the symbol variable display device 8 and the sound generator 21 according to the sub control program A control signal is output to the lamp 22 to control the driving of each driving device. The sub-RAM 16c serves as a working area, and is used for temporary storage or rewriting of data used in the control of the symbol variable display device 8, the sound generator 21, and the lamp 22. The device for controlling the driving by the sub CPU 16a is not limited to the symbol variable display device 8, the sound generating device 21, and the lamp 22, and includes a movable winning device provided in the game area 4a.

  When a pachinko ball launch signal is input from the operation handle 7, the ball launcher 17 starts driving, and launches a game ball onto the game board 4 with a launch strength corresponding to the amount of rotation of the operation handle 7. Take control. When the signal from the winning ball detection sensor 14 is input, the main CPU 15a drives the ball payout device 18 based on the game control program stored in the main ROM 15b to supply a predetermined number of winning balls on the supply tray 6 Pay out. Note that the number of winning balls may be set as appropriate according to the type of each of the winning openings 10 to 12 containing gaming balls. The main CPU 15a monitors the gaming state and stops the operation of the ball launcher 17 when an error occurs. The front / rear motor 31 is driven and controlled by the main CPU 15 a via the motor driver 33.

  FIG. 5 is a front perspective view, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view, FIG. 7 is a side sectional view, and FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of the position moving device 30 that moves the variable symbol display device 8. The position moving device 30 includes a symbol variable display device storage case 29 for storing the symbol variable display device 8, a shaft 41 attached to the symbol variable display device storage case 29, and the shaft 41 inserted back and forth. It is composed of a front / rear position moving box 42 incorporating a gear, a motor and the like for moving the symbol variable display device storage case 29 back and forth. As will be described later, the position moving device 30 is assembled to a mounting portion 3b provided in the main body frame 3. Therefore, four screw fastening holes 3c are formed in the attachment portion 3b (see FIG. 3).

  The symbol variable display device storage case 29 includes a front cover 46 and a rear cover 47. The front cover 46 has an opening 46a for exposing the display surface of the symbol variable display device 8 on the front surface thereof, and protects the display surface. A convex portion 46b provided for positioning the protective panel 48 is formed. The rear cover 47 has an opening 47a for inserting the shaft 41, and a flange 49 for stably holding the shaft 41 is attached to the rear surface. The shaft 41 is formed with a stopper portion 41a having a diameter larger than that of the opening 47a at the front end portion. When the shaft 41 is inserted through the opening 47a, the stopper portion 41a is locked to the rear cover 47 and the shaft 41 is moved to the rear. The cover 47 does not fall off. The stopper portion 41a is covered with a cover 47b. The cover 47 b is attached to the inner wall surface of the rear cover 47 by claw engagement, and is integrated with the rear cover 47.

  The front / rear position moving box 42 includes an upper cover 51 and a lower cover 52. The upper cover 51 and the lower cover 52 are formed in a substantially U shape, and notches 51c, 51d, 52c, and 52d are provided in a part of the joining surface of the front walls 51a and 52a and the rear walls 51b and 52b. ing. When the upper cover 51 and the lower cover 52 are joined, the notches 51c, 51d, 52c, and 52d serve as bearings for the shaft 41.

  Screw fastening holes 51e and 52e for removably fixing the upper cover 51 and the lower cover 52 to the main body frame 3 with screws 53 are formed on the left and right sides of the front walls 51a and 52a of the upper cover 51 and the lower cover 52, respectively. Has been.

  A motor mounting rib 51f for mounting the front / rear motor 31 is formed inside the upper cover 51, and the front / rear motor 31 is mounted to the motor mounting rib 51f by a screw 59.

  A rack 54 is inserted through the shaft 41. A pinion 58 attached to the drive shaft 31 a of the front / rear motor 31 meshes with the rack 54. Driving of the front / rear motor 31 is controlled by the main CPU 15 a via a motor driver 33. The position of the upper cover 51 and the lower cover 52 is moved by screwing the screw fastening holes 51e, 52e of the front walls 51a, 52a and the screw fastening holes 3c formed in the mounting portion 3b of the main body frame 3 with the screws 53. The apparatus 30 is assembled | attached to the main body frame 3 (refer FIG. 3).

  The operation of the pachinko machine configured as described above will be described. When the operation handle 7 is rotated and the pachinko ball 60 launched by the ball launcher 17 wins the start winning opening 10, the random number generating means (not shown) adds one random number according to the timing at which the pachinko ball wins. Extract. The extracted random number is compared with a predetermined comparison random number to determine whether or not it is correct.

  When a game is performed and a predetermined condition is satisfied, the main CPU 15a reads a game control program stored in the main ROM 15b, transmits command information to the motor driver 33 to drive the front / rear motor 31, and the pinion 58, rack 54, The symbol variable display device 8 is moved backward through the shaft 41.

  The predetermined conditions that trigger the movement of the symbol variable display device 8 include, for example, the number of winnings to the start winning opening 10 until the big hit, the number of fluctuations of the symbol variable display device 8, and the ball launcher 17 This is performed when a game history such as the number of pachinko balls 60 fired, the number of pachinko balls 60 paid out, the number of pachinko balls 60 collected at the out port 13 is achieved, or when the pachinko ball wins the start winning opening 10. When the jackpot is won in the determination of success / failure, a predetermined period after the jackpot ends (the probability that the jackpot probability until the next time fluctuates in comparison with the jackpot probability in the normal state or in the variable symbol display device 8 (Variable display time and stop display time are shortened compared to the normal state), and a lottery to determine whether or not to move the variable symbol display device 8 When an execution lottery means is provided to win a lottery by the movement execution lottery means, when a specific fluctuation pattern (for example, reach state) is extracted by a fluctuation pattern lottery of the symbol variable display device 8, or a start winning opening When the random number generation quantity extracted by the random number generating means based on the winning of the pachinko ball 60 to 10 becomes the holding upper limit (for example, 4) and the random number extraction becomes invalid, or the movable accessory (for example, opening and closing) A movable winning award for tulips, etc.) is provided, and when this movable accessory is activated (in conjunction with the movement of the movable accessory), a winning opening for moving the symbol variable display device 8 is provided. Appropriate conditions may be set, such as when the pachinko ball 60 wins (the movement execution period is, for example, from the start of change to the stop display of the symbol variable display device 8). A plurality of conditions may be set in combination.

  FIG. 9A is a diagram at the normal time, and FIG. 9B is a diagram when the symbol variable display device 8 is moved backward. As shown in FIG. 9B, when the symbol variable display device 8 moves in the backward direction, the ball passage 27 appears, so the pachinko sphere 60 that has passed through the ball guiding opening 4d is guided to the ball passage 27. When the pachinko ball 60 guided from the ball guiding opening 4d passes through the ball passage 27, the pachinko ball 60 can be awarded to the winning opening 4e. The pachinko ball 60 that has won the winning opening 4e passes in the order of the ball passage 4f → the ball guiding member 25 → the ball passage 4g, and falls from the winning high probability opening 4h. Since the winning high probability opening 4h is arranged in the vicinity of the starting winning opening 13 and above the starting winning opening 13, the pachinko ball 60 in the winning opening 4e is compared with the case where the pachinko ball 60 is not won in the winning opening 4e. It is easier to win the pachinko ball 60 in the start winning opening 10 when winning.

  As described above, when the symbol variable display device 8 moves in the backward direction, the size of the game area 4a of the game board 4 is changed, and the ball passage 27 appears, and is normally hidden by the symbol variable display device 8. Since it is possible to win the pachinko ball 60 in the winning opening 4e that cannot be won, even if the size of the symbol variable display device 8 is increased, the player's ball passage without shifting the line of sight of the player. The degree of interest in 27 can be increased.

  In the above embodiment, the front / rear motor 31 is driven and controlled, and the symbol variable display device 8 is moved backward. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the left / right motor, the up / down motor, the rotation motor and the like Alternatively, the variable symbol display device 8 may be moved or rotated in the left-right and up-down directions using various gears. In this case, the position corresponding to the direction in which the symbol variable display device 8 is moved, for example, when the symbol variable display device 8 is moved in the vertical direction, the symbol variable display device 8 is moved upward. The position of the ball passage is set so that the ball passage appears.

  In the above embodiment, the rack 54 for moving the symbol variable display device 8 in the front-rear direction and the pinion 58 attached to the drive shaft 31a of the front-rear motor 31 are directly meshed, but the present invention is not limited to this. Several gears may be sandwiched between them, and it is preferable to determine the number of teeth of the motor to be used and the gear.

  In the above embodiment, when the pachinko ball passes through the ball passage 27, the pachinko ball 60 is awarded to the winning opening 4e so that the pachinko ball can easily win the start winning opening 10. The change in the game state when the pachinko ball passes through the ball passage that appears when the vehicle moves may be changed as appropriate.

  In addition to being applied to a pachinko machine, the present invention can also be applied to a game machine using a symbol variable display device such as a liquid crystal panel.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the pachinko machine which implemented this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance from the back side of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows a main body frame and a game board. It is a functional block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a pachinko machine. It is a perspective view which shows a position moving apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a position moving apparatus. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows a position moving apparatus. It is front sectional drawing which shows a position moving apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the state at the time of the normal time of a symbol variable display apparatus, and the state after moving back.

Explanation of symbols

2 Pachinko machine 3 Main frame 4 Game board 4b Decoration frame 4d Opening for ball guidance 4e Prize opening 4f Ball passage 4g Ball passage 4h Prize high probability opening 8 Variable design display device (variable display device)
10 start winning opening 15 main control circuit device 15a main CPU (position control means)
15b Main ROM
25 Sphere guiding member 26 Passage wall 27 Sphere passage (sphere passage)
29 Design variable display device storage case 30 Position moving device 31 Front / rear motor 41 Shaft 42 Front / rear position moving box 51 Upper cover 52 Lower cover 54 Front / rear gear 58 Front / rear gear 60 Pachinko ball (game medium)

Claims (1)

In a ball game machine equipped with a symbol variable display device that displays a plurality of symbols variably and then stops and displays whether or not it is a win according to the mode of the stop display,
A position moving device for moving the symbol variable display device;
Position control means for controlling the operation of the position moving device;
A ball game machine comprising a ball passage through which a game medium can pass when the variable symbol display device is moved by the position moving device.

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