JP2005137474A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine constituted so as to maintain high safety by appropriately recognizing and managing temperature change due to heat generation at the time of drive. <P>SOLUTION: A slot machine 100 is constituted so as to control a drum reel device 200 for displaying patterns and execute put-out by the drawing result of a ROM provided on a main board 700. Then, the slot machine 100 is provided with a temperature detection means composed of a thermistor 122 and a temperature calculation means 112 for detecting a temperature near heating elements (103a, 104a, 104b, 106, 107 and 118, or the like) of a member constituting the machine 100, and is also provided with a determination means 113 for determining whether or not a detected temperature (t) by the temperature detection means reaches a stipulated value, and a signal output means 114 and alarm lamps 121a and 121b as processing execution means for executing a prescribed safety shifting processing when it is determined by the determination means 113 that the detected temperature (t) reaches the stipulated value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine, and more particularly to a gaming machine configured to be able to take appropriate measures against abnormal heat generation or the like of a part that is likely to become high temperature due to driving.

  In general, as a gaming machine, for example, a slot machine, after rotating a rotating reel of three horizontal rows having a plurality of symbol marks composed of a plurality of patterns in the circumferential direction based on a start lever operation, three stop buttons By pressing each of the buttons, the reel reels corresponding to each button are stopped in sequence, and when a predetermined pattern of the symbol marks provided on each reel reel is matched, a large number of coins are received as coin trays. A structure having a structure that is released to the surface is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

In general, slot machines including those described in Patent Document 1 perform symbol lottery by a lottery function of a ROM mounted on a main board, and stop the reel reel according to the result of the corresponding symbol, thereby performing symbol marking. Visual production is performed when aligning. In addition, an image effect display device such as a liquid crystal is provided in order to increase the player's interest and improve the game performance.
In addition, such a structure for improving game play is similarly adopted in a pachinko machine that is a game machine.

JP 2003-275372 A (see FIGS. 1 to 3)

By the way, in the slot machine and the pachinko machine as described above, there is a CPU mounted on the main board, a power supply box for supplying power to the gaming machine, or a liquid crystal unit or lighting device provided in the gaming machine body. Both are likely to generate high temperatures.
Any of these members may fail if the temperature is excessively high, and appropriately managing the generation of the heat is important for maintaining higher safety.

  Therefore, the present invention is configured so that higher safety can be maintained by appropriately grasping and managing the temperature change caused by the heat generated by the heat generating elements of the members constituting the gaming machine, and has been described above. An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that solves the problem.

The invention according to claim 1 is a gaming machine that performs payout by controlling a variable display device that displays symbols according to a result of a lottery means provided on a main board.
A temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the heat generating element of the member constituting the gaming machine;
Determination means for determining whether the temperature detected by the temperature detection means has reached a specified value;
And a process execution unit that executes a predetermined safety transition process when the determination unit determines that the detected temperature has reached the specified value.

  Note that the “heat generating element” in the present invention is a lighting device including an effect lamp or LED (Light Emitting Diode) in a gaming machine such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine, and a main board in the slot machine (particularly mounted on the main board). Electronic components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a back lamp provided inside the spinning reel, an electric motor for rotating the spinning reel, and a power supply unit (power box). It is a concept that means something that generates heat.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the gaming machine invention according to claim 1, the process execution means is configured to issue a warning as the safety transition process.

  A third aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the gaming machine invention of the second aspect, the processing execution means issues a warning by illumination.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine invention according to the third aspect, the determination means comprises a plurality of values having different temperatures as the prescribed value,
The process execution means issues a warning step by step with illuminations of different colors each time the detected temperature sequentially reaches the plurality of values.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine invention according to the second aspect, the processing execution means issues a warning by sound.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine invention according to the first aspect, the process execution means automatically shuts off power supply to the heat generating element as the safety transition process. Yes.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the determination means determines whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature detection means has reached a specified value, and when the determination means determines that the detected temperature has reached the specified value, Since the process execution means executes the prescribed safety transition process, even if the temperature rises due to the heat generated by the heating element, the appropriate safety transition process will be performed when the specified value is reached, and thus the specified value will be greatly exceeded. Therefore, it is possible to reliably avoid the occurrence of a problem that would cause an abnormal heat generation state. Thereby, the adverse effect at the time of temperature rise with respect to the electronic component etc. which were mounted in the game machine can be avoided reliably. Here, for example, when the temperature detecting means is configured to include a thermistor, if a thermistor is a film, the thermistor is brought into direct contact with an electronic component such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or electronic Temperature detection information from multiple locations that may generate heat by applying to the heat sink that is in contact with the component or by applying it to the inner wall of the sheet metal cover that covers various electronic components. Based on this, it becomes possible to implement appropriate temperature management. And if it is configured to perform the safety transition process when the detected temperature at any one location exceeds the specified value, the most important location is picked up from a plurality of locations, and the safety transition is performed accordingly. It becomes possible to perform processing appropriately. It is also possible to install a film-like thermistor only at one preselected heat generating element and perform the safety transition process based only on the temperature rise at that location.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the process execution means is configured to issue a warning as the safety transition process, even if the predetermined part of the gaming machine is about to become hot due to the heat generated by the heat generating element. , So that players and amusement hall staff can quickly know the facts, and can take appropriate measures, such as temporarily suspending the game, and thus avoid abnormal heat generation and maintain higher safety. can do.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, since the processing execution means issues a warning by lighting, a player or a game hall attendant visually recognizes a visual change by blinking or lighting of a lighting device such as a lamp. It becomes possible to quickly recognize the fact of temperature rise due to heat generation and take appropriate measures.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the determination means includes a plurality of values having different temperatures as prescribed values, and the processing execution means performs illumination with a different color tone each time the detected temperature reaches the plurality of values. Since the warning is issued step by step, the game hall staff or the like who has recognized the temperature rise can accurately recognize the degree. Therefore, according to the degree of temperature rise, for example, it is possible to take appropriate measures such as temporarily suspending the game to lower the temperature, or forcibly suppressing heat generation by turning off the power. When the illumination means is constituted by a lamp or LED, for example, yellow is detected when the detected temperature exceeds 70 ° C. as a specified value, and pink is set as a specified value when the detected temperature exceeds 80 ° C. as a specified value. It can be configured to emit a red color when the temperature exceeds 90 ° C.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the process execution means issues a warning by sound, so that the player or the game hall staff can quickly recognize the fact of the temperature rise by the generated warning sound.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, since the process execution means automatically shuts off the power supply to the heat generating element as the safety transition process, even if the gaming machine main body is about to become high temperature due to heat generation. In addition, it is possible to reliably avoid abnormal heat generation and maintain safety, and to reduce power consumption associated therewith.

  Hereinafter, as an embodiment of the gaming machine of the present invention, a slot machine installed in a game hall or the like will be described with reference to FIGS. Of course, the present invention is applicable not only to the slot machine but also to a pachinko machine.

  1 is a front view showing the external structure of the slot machine 100, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external structure of the slot machine 100, and FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the internal structure of the slot machine 100 with the front door opened. 4 is a circuit diagram schematically showing the entire control system including the main board mounted on the slot machine 100, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a specific example of control in the slot machine 100, and FIG. It is a flowchart which shows another specific example of control in a form. In FIG. 2, the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3, the transmission window WD, and the sound emitting unit 105c shown in FIG. 1 are not shown.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slot machine 100 includes a substantially box-shaped housing 102 and a front door 101 that is attached to one side of the housing 102 so as to be opened and closed and faces the player. It is prepared for.

  The front door 101 includes an upper panel portion 103, a middle panel portion 104, and a lower panel portion 105, and is formed by a metal frame (not shown) and a front panel formed of hard plastic as a whole. It has a mechanically strong structure.

  The upper panel portion 103 is provided with an effect lamp 103a called an upper lamp, sound emitting portions 103b and 103c to which speakers are attached, and an effect display device 103d formed of a liquid crystal display or the like.

  The middle panel unit 104 is provided with a spinning reel device (variable display device) 200 including a plurality (three in this embodiment) of spinning reels R1, R2, and R3, and a spinning reel device. Producing lamps 104a and 104b are provided on the side of 200. A side lamp 106 is provided at a position adjacent to the spinning reel R1 of the middle panel portion 104, and a dot unit 108 is provided at a position adjacent to the spinning reel R3 of the middle panel portion 104. Further, warning lamps 121a and 121b are provided on the upper side of the side lamp 106 and the upper part of the dot unit 108 in the middle panel portion 104, respectively.

  In front of the reel reels R1, R2, and R3, a substantially rectangular transmission window WD made of a transparent hard plastic plate is provided, thereby protecting the reel reel device 200 from the outside and a player. Can visually recognize the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3 through the transmission window WD.

  Further, an operation unit 104c for a player to operate is provided at the lower end of the middle panel unit 104. The operation unit 104c includes a medal insertion unit MD for inserting game medals and medals per game. Bet buttons B1, B2, and B3 for presenting numbers, a start lever ST for instructing the start of one game, and three for rotating the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3 individually Stop buttons SP1, SP2 and SP3 are provided.

  An image (not shown) related to the game contents of the slot machine 100 is drawn on the lower panel unit 105, and a discharge port 105a and a tray 105b for paying out a medal acquired by the player, and a speaker are provided. An attached sound emitting unit 105c is provided.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the rear surface structure of the front door 101 and the internal structure of the housing 102 will be outlined. FIG. 3 shows a state where the front door 101 is unlocked and opened from the housing 102.

  In the figure, speakers SR and SL constituting the sound emitting units 103b and 103c described above are provided on the upper rear surface of the front door 101, and an effect display device 103d is provided between the speakers SR and SL, and an effect display device. The sub-control board 300 is attached to the back side of 103d.

  Below the effect display device 103 d and the sub-control board 300, a substantially rectangular frame body 104 d in which the transmission window WD and the panel surface of the middle panel unit 104 are formed is attached. Below the frame body 104d, a sorting mechanism (selector) G0 that sorts and sorts the thrown-in input from the medal throwing part MD according to whether it is a regular game medal or a foreign object, and the sorting mechanism G0 is used for sorting. A guide member G1 that guides gaming medals to the hopper device HP provided on the housing 102 side, a guide member G2 that guides and discharges foreign matter distributed by the sorting mechanism G0 to the discharge port 105a, and a hopper device A guide member G3 for guiding and outputting a payout medal outputted from the HP to the discharge port 105a is provided, and a speaker SW is attached in the vicinity of the discharge port 105a in correspondence with the sound emitting unit 105c.

  Further, a long central display substrate 400 is attached to the region between the frame body 104d and the distribution mechanism G0, and a setting switching button CS and a numerical value are connected to one end on the back side of the central display substrate 400. A setting display element CT formed of a light emitting diode that performs segment display from 0 to 6 is provided.

  The housing 102 includes a power supply unit PWU, an auxiliary storage portion SHP for storing game medals overflowing from the hopper device HP, and a spinning reel R1, R2, R3 facing the transmission window WD. The power supply unit PWU is provided with a power supply device substrate 500 on the side surface of the power supply unit PWU, the revolving device substrate 600 on the upper end of the revolving reel device 200, the main substrate 700 and the housing above the revolving reel device 200. An external concentration terminal board 800 as an external concentration terminal device is attached to one end of the inner wall of the body 102. Note that electronic components such as a CPU and a ROM having a lottery function are mounted on the main board 700.

  A power switch BQ, a hopper device HP, and a power unit PWU are connected to the power supply board 500 by wiring, and an on / off signal output from the power switch BQ is transferred to the microprocessor in the main board 700. A setting switch BO is provided on the upper front side of the power supply substrate 500 to change the setting of the payout rate.

  A rotating reel device 200 having rotating reels R1, R2, and R3 that are rotationally driven by an electric motor 118 (see FIG. 4) is connected to the rotating device substrate 600 by wiring. The spinning device substrate 600 controls the rotation, braking, and stopping of the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3 by controlling the electric motor 118 according to the reel control signal supplied from the microprocessor in the main substrate 700. Do.

  The external concentrated terminal board 800 has a plurality of input terminals (not shown) capable of inputting a plurality of types of signals output from the microprocessor in the main board 700 in parallel, and the signals as management electronic devices. In addition to a plurality of output terminals (not shown) capable of parallel transfer to the hall computer side, an input terminal (not shown) for inputting a signal supplied from the hall computer side and the microprocessor ( A signal transfer circuit configured to include an output terminal (not shown) for transferring to a not-shown signal and further transferring the plurality of types of signals only in one direction is provided.

  The main substrate 700, the sub control substrate 300, the spinning device substrate 600, the central display substrate 400, the power supply device substrate 500, and the external concentrated terminal substrate 800 are all formed on an insulating resin substrate on which a conductive wiring pattern is formed. Are formed as so-called electric circuit boards in which electronic components such as integrated circuit devices (ICs), transistors, resistors, capacitors, etc. are mounted and connected by wiring, and in particular, main board 700, sub-control board 300, external concentrated terminal board 800, Each has a unit structure individually housed in a hard plastic housing case.

  Next, the configuration of the control system in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 3, the power supply device substrate 500, the spinning device substrate 600, and the external concentrated terminal substrate 800 shown in FIG. 3 are not shown.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the main board 700 includes a sub control board 300, a central control board 400, a power supply unit PWU, and three electric motors 118 for individually rotating and driving the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3. And the thermistor 122 is connected. A start lever ST, stop buttons SP (SP1, SP2, SP3), and a distribution mechanism (selector) GO are connected to the central display board 400, and a medal hopper HP is connected to the power supply unit PWU.

  The thermistor 122 constitutes a temperature detecting means with a temperature calculating means 112 to be described later. The effect lamps 103a, 104a, 104b, the side lamp 106, the main board 700 ( In particular, electronic components such as a CPU, a back lamp 107 provided inside the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3, an electric motor 118 for rotating the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3, and the power supply unit PWU It is provided in each vicinity (or directly), and changes an electrical resistance according to the temperature change in the installation place. For example, when the thermistor 122 is a film, the thermistor 122 is brought into direct contact with an electronic component (not shown) such as a CPU or a heat sink (not shown) in contact with the electronic component. Attaching or attaching to the inner wall surface of a sheet metal cover (not shown) covering various electronic components becomes easy, and based on temperature detection information from a plurality of places where heat generation is possible A configuration capable of performing appropriate temperature management is easily realized. FIG. 3 shows a thermistor 122 that is directly attached to the main board 700 and a thermistor 122 that is attached directly to the power supply unit PWU (power supply apparatus substrate 500).

  Although not shown in FIG. 4, in addition to the start lever ST and the like, the central display board 400 includes bet buttons B1, B2, and B3 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), a setting display element CT, and a setting switching button CS ( Are connected). The central display board 400 mainly receives a medal detection signal output from the sorting mechanism G0 and on / off signals output from the bet buttons B1, B2, B3, the start lever ST, and the stop buttons SP1, SP2, SP3, respectively. In addition to transferring to the microprocessor in the substrate 700, the setting display element CT has a function of displaying numbers from 0 to 6 based on a segment display signal supplied from the microprocessor.

  Further, the sub-control board 300 includes a back lamp 107, production lamps 103a, 104a, and 104b, side lamps 106, a liquid crystal display device 103d, and a dot unit, which are respectively incorporated in the reel reels R1, R2, and R3. 108, speakers SR, SL, and SW, warning lamps 121a and 121b, and an EL (electroluminescence) substrate 109 are connected to each other via a wiring cable.

  The main board 700 includes a storage unit (not shown) composed of a semiconductor memory or the like in which a system program for managing the entire operation of the slot machine 100 and an execution program for a slot machine game are stored in advance, and a program for executing these programs. The illustrated microprocessor (MPU) is provided. An input port and an output port provided in the microprocessor and the remaining boards 300, 400, 500, 600, and 800 are connected by a wiring cable.

  The main substrate 700 includes a temperature calculation unit 112 and a determination unit 113. The temperature calculation means 112 calculates a temperature that changes due to heat generation when the effect lamps 103a, 104a, and 104b are driven based on the change in the electrical resistance of the thermistor 122. Further, the determination unit 113 determines whether or not the temperature (detected temperature t) calculated (detected) by the temperature calculating unit 112 is equal to or higher than a preset specified value (see 70 ° C. in step S2 in FIG. 5) ( That is, it is determined whether or not the specified value has been reached, and the determination result is output to the signal output means 114 of the sub-control board 300.

  In the sub control board 300, the mounted electric circuits are produced by the production speakers SR, SL, SW and the production lamps 103a, 104a, 104b according to the production control signal supplied from the microprocessor in the main board 700, Each of the effect display devices 103d is driven to function to perform an effect display appealing to the player's vision.

  The sub control board 300 includes the signal output means 114. The signal output means 114 performs a predetermined safety transition process set in advance when the determination means 113 on the main board 700 side determines that the detected temperature t (see FIG. 5) has reached the specified value. A predetermined signal is output to the warning lamps 121a and 121b. The signal output means 114 constitutes a process execution means with the warning lamps 121a and 121b.

  Examples of the safety transition process include a process for issuing a warning. Examples of the warning include a visual notification of a temperature increase by illumination, a notification of a temperature increase by sound, and at least a heating element. Automatically shutting off the power supply to the sleep state. In the present embodiment, an example in which the process of visually issuing a warning by the warning lamps 121a and 121b is adopted as the safety transition process will be described, and the safety that the power supply is automatically shut off to enter the sleep state. The migration process will be described in detail later as another specific example.

  Here, the operation of the slot machine 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the power is turned on by the game hall staff, power supply from the power supply unit PWU to the corresponding part is started (step S1), the electric motor 118, the effect lamps 103a, 104a, 104b, and the side A comparison / determination process is started between the temperature (detected temperature t) that changes due to the heat generated by the heat generating element such as the lamp 106 and a preset specified value (70 ° C.) (step S2).

  In other words, in step S2, the temperature calculation means 112 of the main board 700 performs the effect lamps 103a, 104a, 104b and the side lamps 106 based on temperature detection information from each part where the thermistor 122 is installed, that is, changes in electrical resistance. The temperature that changes due to such driving is calculated (detected). Thereby, the determination means 113 of the main substrate 700 compares each of the plurality of detected temperatures t with a specified value, and determines that any of these reaches the specified value (becomes the specified value or more). Then, the result is output to the signal output means 114. As described above, when the safety transition process is performed when the detected temperature t at any one of the locations reaches the specified value, the most important portion of the plurality of locations is picked up and the response is made accordingly. Therefore, the safe transition process can be implemented appropriately. Alternatively, the film-like thermistor 122 may be installed only at one selected heating element, and the safety transition process may be performed based on only the temperature rise at that location.

  The specified value is data stored in advance in the determination unit 113 and is set as a low 70 ° C. in the present embodiment. Instead, for example, 80 ° C. or 90 ° C. is set to a slightly higher value. It is also possible to do.

  In step S2, the temperature has not increased so much since the start of operation, so the determination result by the determination means 113 is determined to be less than the specified value, and the process proceeds to step S4.

  Then, when the player inserts a game medal from the medal insertion unit MD (step S4) and depresses the start lever ST to turn it on (step S5), the three electric motors 118 of the reel reel device 200 are turned on. Driving is started all at once, and the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3 start to rotate in one direction (step S6). In this state, when the player presses the stop buttons SP1, SP2 and SP3 respectively to turn them on (step S7), the rotation stops in order from the corresponding one of the spinning reels R1, R2 and R3 (step S7). S8).

  At this point, the player decides whether or not to play the next game. At this time, since the temperature has not increased so much since the start of the game, there is no problem and the game The person moves to the next game. In that case, first, in step S2, the detected temperature t of each part detected by the thermistor 122 and the temperature calculating means 112 is compared again with the specified value of 70 ° C. As a result, the detected temperature t is kept below 70 ° C. If so, no warning is issued, and the player repeats the processing from step S4 to step S8 (that is, a game).

  On the other hand, when the determination unit 113 of the main substrate 700 determines that the detected temperature t has reached the specified value 70 ° C. or higher in step S2, the determination unit 113 outputs a signal to that effect to the signal output of the sub-control substrate 300. By outputting to the means 114, a predetermined signal is output from the signal output means 114 to the warning lamps 121a and 121b. As a result, the warning lamps 121a and 121b repeatedly blink at predetermined intervals to notify a warning (step S3). By the way, the specified value of 70 ° C. in the present embodiment is a relatively low temperature to be determined, and is considered to be suitable for prompting a temporary attention due to heat generation. Therefore, even after the player and the game hall staff in the vicinity notice the warning by flashing the warning lamps 121a and 121b, it is possible to proceed with the game while watching the situation.

  When it is determined that it is better to suspend the game after a certain number of games (step S9), the game hall staff performs a predetermined procedure on the power supply unit PWU to cut off the power. (Step S10). This power cut-off is a transition to a sleep state in which power supply to a predetermined part that is not a heat generating element is continued as it is, for example, credits that store the number of medals acquired by the player are cancelled. It is executed so that there is nothing.

  Then, when an appropriate time required for cooling the portion that has risen due to heat generation has elapsed, the game hall staff manually opens the front door 101 and manually operates the power supply unit PWU to turn on the power again. The player can use the same slot machine 100 to continue the game.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the slot machine 100 is configured in the slot machine 100 that performs payout by controlling the spinning reel device 200 that displays a symbol based on the result of the ROM provided on the main board 700. Temperature detecting means (112, 122) for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the heat generating element of the member is provided, and determining means 113 for determining whether or not the temperature t detected by the temperature detecting means has reached a specified value, and this determining means 113 When it is determined that the detected temperature t has reached the specified value, a processing execution means for executing a predetermined safety transition process is provided. Therefore, even when the temperature rises due to heat generation of the heating element, it is appropriate when the temperature reaches the specified value. Therefore, it is possible to reliably avoid the occurrence of problems that would cause abnormal heat generation exceeding the specified value. Adverse effects at elevated temperatures for the electronic components and the like mounted on the machine 100 can be reliably avoided.

  In addition, since it is configured to issue a warning as the safety transition process, even if a predetermined part of the slot machine 100 is to become high temperature due to heat generation of the heat generating element, the player or the game hall staff promptly notifies the fact. Knowing it, it is possible to take appropriate measures such as temporarily suspending the game, and therefore, it is possible to reliably avoid abnormal heat generation and maintain higher safety. Further, since warnings are issued using the warning lamps 121a and 121b, visual changes caused by the flashing of the warning lamps 121a and 121b can be made without affecting the broadcast (announcement or music broadcast) in the game hall. By visual recognition of the game hall staff, the fact of the temperature rise can be recognized quickly and appropriate measures can be taken.

  In addition, it can replace with blinking of the warning lamps 121a and 121b, and it can also be comprised so that it may light only, and the same effect can be acquired also by this structure. In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the warning lamps 121a and 121b dedicated to the warning are provided as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the existing production lamps 103a, 104a, and 104b, the side lamps 106, Any one of them can be configured to emit a warning by turning on or blinking at an interval different from that during normal performance. In this case, since the warning lamps 121a and 121b dedicated to warning can be omitted, the number of parts does not increase and cost reduction can be expected.

  In addition, a plurality of values having different temperatures are stored as predetermined values in the determination unit 113, and a plurality of LEDs that can emit light in a plurality of colors are installed in place of the warning lamps 121a and 121b. The signal output means 114 may be configured to output a signal for informing step by step using different color tones each time each value is reached. In this case, for example, three LEDs corresponding to the three primary colors (RGB) that emit light according to the input signal are adopted, and yellow is detected when the detected temperature t exceeds 70 ° C., and when the detected temperature t exceeds 80 ° C. Thus, it can be configured to emit a pink color and a red color when the temperature exceeds 90 ° C. Thereby, a game hall attendant who has recognized the temperature rise can accurately recognize the degree, and depending on the temperature rise degree, for example, the game is temporarily suspended to lower the temperature, or the game hall staff It is possible to take an appropriate measure such as dropping the heat and forcibly suppressing heat generation.

  In the present embodiment, the warning lamps 121a and 121b are configured to visually issue a warning. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a warning buzzer (not shown) is newly provided to audibly. It can also be configured to issue a warning. In this case, a player or a game hall staff around the slot machine 100 can quickly recognize the fact of the temperature rise by the warning sound. Moreover, it replaces with the structure which installs a warning buzzer newly, and can also use the existing speakers SR, SL, and SW. In this case, cost reduction can be expected without increasing the number of parts.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the temperature calculation unit 112 and the determination unit 113 are provided on the main board 700 and the signal output unit 114 is provided on the sub-control board 300 is described as an example. The calculation means 112 and the determination means 113 may be provided together with the signal output means 114 on the sub-control board 300 side instead of on the main board 700 side, and accordingly, the thermistor 122 may be connected to the sub-control board 300. it can. Even in the case of such a configuration, it is needless to say that the same effects as described above can be obtained.

  Next, referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 together, another embodiment configured to automatically shut off (turn off) the power supply instead of the alarm to enter the sleep state when a temperature rise state is detected will be described. explain. In this embodiment, the signal output means 114 on the main board 700 side in FIG. 4 referred to in the previous embodiment is deleted, and instead, the signal output means 114a is provided on the main board 700 side, and the determination is made. Although the specified value stored in the means 113 is set to a slightly high value of 80 ° C., the points other than these are the same as those described in the previous embodiment. Is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the signal output unit 114a shown in FIG. 4 automatically detects when the detection unit 113 determines that the detected temperature t has reached or exceeded the specified value 80 ° C. (has reached the specified value 80 ° C.). It functions to output a signal to the power supply unit PWU (power supply device substrate 500) to automatically shut off (turn off) the power supply and shift the slot machine 100 to the sleep state. In the present embodiment, the signal execution unit 114a and the power supply unit PWU constitute a process execution unit.

  That is, in the slot machine 100 according to the present embodiment, when power is first turned on, power supply from the power supply unit PWU to the corresponding part is started (step S21), and the electric motor 118 and the like generate heat. A comparison / determination process is started between the detected temperature t, which changes due to the heat generation of the element, and a preset specified value (80 ° C.) (step S22). At this point in time, since the operation has not yet started, so much temperature rise is not seen. Therefore, the determination result by the determination unit 113 is determined to be less than the specified value, and the process proceeds to step S24.

  When the player inserts a game medal (step S24) and depresses the start lever ST to turn it on (step S25), the electric motor 118 starts driving all at once, and the reels R1, R2 , R3 starts to rotate in one direction (step S26). In this state, when the player presses the stop buttons SP1, SP2 and SP3 to turn them on (step S27), the rotation stops in order from the corresponding one of the spinning reels R1, R2 and R3 (step S27). S28).

  At this point, the player decides whether or not to play the next game. At this time, since the temperature has not increased so much since the start of the game, there is no problem and the game The person moves to the next game. In that case, first, in step S22, the detected temperature t of each part is compared again with the specified value 80 ° C. As a result, if the detected temperature t is kept below 80 ° C., the player starts from step S24. The game of step S28 can be repeated.

  On the other hand, when the determination means 113 determines in step S22 that the detected temperature t has reached or exceeded the specified value 80 ° C. (has reached the specified value 80 ° C.), the determination means 113 sends a signal indicating that fact. The signal is output to the signal output means 114 a provided on the substrate 700. As a result, the signal output means 114a automatically outputs a signal to the power supply unit PWU to automatically shut off (turn off) the power, and shift the slot machine 100 to the sleep state. Thereby, power supply to at least the effect lamps 103a, 104a, 104b, the side lamp 106, the back lamp 107, and the electric motor 118 is stopped. The sleep state is a state in which power is continuously supplied to a predetermined part that is not a heat generating element, and is executed so that credits or the like storing the number of medals acquired by the player are not canceled. .

  After that, when it is determined that a certain amount of time has passed, the game hall staff opens the front door 101 and manually operates the power supply unit PWU to turn on the power again, and continues the game to the player. Tell them that it ’s okay. Thereby, the player can continue the game using the same slot machine 100.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the process execution means including the signal output means 114a and the power supply unit PWU can automatically shut off the power supply to the heat generating element as the safety transition process. Even if a predetermined part of the slot machine 100 becomes high temperature due to the above, abnormal heat generation can be surely avoided and safety can be maintained, and a reduction in power consumption associated therewith can be expected.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the present invention has been described by taking the slot machine 100 including the relatively small liquid crystal display device 103d on the front upper portion of the front door 101 as an example. Of course, the present invention may be applied to a slot machine provided with a so-called donut-shaped large-sized liquid crystal display device that covers substantially the entire front central portion of the front door 101 and has the central portion made transparent in a substantially rectangular shape. It is.

  The gaming machine according to the present invention is useful for a gaming machine having a structure that may generate heat and increase in temperature during driving, and in particular, it is necessary to avoid problems that are likely to occur due to temperature increase. Suitable for gaming machines.

It is a front view which shows the external structure of the slot machine which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows this slot machine external structure. It is a rear view which shows the internal structure of this slot machine in the state which open | released the front door. 3 is a circuit diagram schematically showing an entire control system including a main board mounted in the slot machine. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the specific example of control in this slot machine. It is a flowchart which shows another specific example of control.

Explanation of symbols

100 ... slot machine (game machine)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Front door 102 ... Housing 103a, 104a, 104b ... Production lamp (heat generating element)
106 ... Side lamp (heating element)
107: Back lamp (heating element)
112 ... Temperature calculation means 113 ... Determination means 114, 114a ... Signal output means (processing execution means)
118 ... Electric motor (heating element)
121a, 121b ... warning lamp (processing execution means)
122 ... Thermistor 200 ... Rotating reel device (variable display device)
300 ... Sub-control board 700 ... Main board PWU ... Power supply unit (processing execution means)

Claims (6)

According to the result of the lottery means provided on the main board, in the gaming machine that controls the variable display device that displays the symbols,
A temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the heat generating element of the member constituting the gaming machine;
Determination means for determining whether the temperature detected by the temperature detection means has reached a specified value;
A game machine, comprising: a process execution unit that executes a predetermined safety transition process when the determination unit determines that the detected temperature has reached the specified value.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the process execution unit is configured to issue a warning as the safety transition process.   The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the processing execution unit issues a warning by illumination. The determination means includes a plurality of values having different temperatures as the specified value,
4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein each time the detected temperature reaches the plurality of values sequentially, the processing execution unit issues a warning step by step with illumination of different colors.   The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the processing execution unit issues a warning by sound.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the process execution unit automatically shuts off power supply to the heat generating element as the safety transition process.

Images