JP2005192607A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of discharging liquid from a token putout part while preventing the liquid intruding in the token putout part from wetting a device inside a casing without securing a space for a liquid storage tank. <P>SOLUTION: This game machine is provided with a casing incorporating a game medium putout mechanism and a game medium putout part provided in front of the casing and putting out game media from the game medium putout mechanism. The game medium putout part is provided with a game medium receiving tray extending from the front face of the casing to a casing inner part side, and an external wall extending upward surrounding the outer circumference of the game medium receiving tray. The game medium receiving tray is provided with a fold part formed by folding downward in its outer circumference; and the outer circumferential wall is provided with an extension part extending along the fold part of the game medium receiving tray, and a guide part extending from the tip of the extension part downward to the front face side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine, and more particularly to a gaming machine that pays out medals.

  Conventionally, there are gaming machines such as bingo gaming machines and slot machines in which a medal is inserted into a medal slot and a game is played, and medals are paid out as a result of the game.

  Such a gaming machine has a medal slot for inserting medals, a medal selector for determining the authenticity of medals inserted in the medal slot, and storing medals and paying out medals as prizes. A hopper as a payout mechanism, a medal payout unit for receiving medals paid out by the hopper, and a cancel chute for guiding a medal determined to be not authentic by the medal selector to the medal payout unit. .

  By the way, most of the game halls in which such game machines are installed have stores and vending machines in order to provide drinks such as coffee and juice to the players. For this reason, in a game hall, a player may play a game while drinking a beverage poured into a paper cup or the like. At this time, the beverage was accidentally spilled, and the spilled beverage sometimes flowed into the medal slot. In addition, for the reason that the game cannot be won, the player intentionally poured the drink into the medal slot.

In a gaming machine such as a bingo game machine or a slot machine, the medal slot is provided upward, and the liquid serving as a beverage easily flows into the medal slot. Here, in order to prevent the liquid flowing in from the medal slot from reaching the hopper, a drainage duct communicating from the medal guide is provided on the back side of the front door of the housing, and a gaming machine that discharges the liquid directly to the medal payout portion is provided. It has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-177445 A

  However, in the above-described gaming machine, although the liquid can be prevented from reaching the hopper, the liquid that has come out of the medal tray of the medal payout unit is accumulated on the spot. Therefore, the liquid discharged to the medal tray needs to be wiped off by the player or a game attendant. Further, if the liquid is stored in the liquid storage tank instead of the medal tray, it is necessary to secure a tank mounting space or install a liquid discharge pipe.

  An object of the present invention is to allow a liquid to be discharged from a medal payout portion while preventing liquid entering the medal payout portion from getting wet with equipment inside the housing without securing a space for the liquid storage tank. Is to provide a machine.

  More specifically, the present invention provides the following.

  (1) A housing (for example, a terminal housing 400) having a game medium payout mechanism (for example, a hopper 418, a medal guide portion 428, etc.), and a game from the game medium payout mechanism provided on the front surface of the housing A game medium payout section (for example, a medal payout section 434) for paying out a medium, wherein the game medium payout section extends from the front surface of the housing to the inside of the housing. (For example, a medal tray 438) and an outer peripheral wall (440) that surrounds the outer periphery of the game medium tray and extends upward, and the game medium tray is folded back and formed downward on the outer periphery. An extension portion (442) that extends along the folded portion of the game medium tray, and a guide portion (444) that extends downward from the front end of the extension portion to the front side. Gaming machine characterized in that it has a (310).

  According to the invention of (1), when a liquid that is a foreign substance other than a medal enters the medal payout portion, the liquid passes through a gap between the folded portion of the medal tray and the extension portion of the outer peripheral wall, and the medal It is discharged from the payout part, and then flows down after flowing through the guide part extending to the front side. That is, the liquid discharged from the medal payout unit flows down to a position in the front direction in the housing. In this way, the liquid that has entered the medal payout portion can be discharged with a simple configuration, and further, various devices in the housing can be prevented from getting wet by the discharged liquid.

  Here, the case is, for example, the terminal case 400 in the gaming machine 310 of the embodiment.

  (2) In the gaming machine according to (1), a door (402) is provided on the front surface of the housing, and a bowl-shaped member (436) is provided on the inside of the housing at the lower end of the door. The gaming machine is characterized in that the front end of the guide portion of the outer peripheral wall is located between the door and the extension line extending vertically upward including the edge inside the casing of the bowl-shaped member.

  According to the invention of (2), the liquid discharged from the medal payout portion and flowing through the guide portion falls on the bowl-shaped member from the tip of the guide portion. As a result, the liquid can be guided into the bowl-shaped member.

  (3) The gaming machine according to (2), wherein a part of a vertically upper extension line including an edge on the inner side of the casing is disposed near the door of the bottom surface portion (409) of the casing. A gaming machine characterized in that a contact portion (411) in contact therewith is provided higher vertically above the edge.

  According to the invention of (3), since the contact portion is provided higher than the end edge, it is possible to prevent the liquid falling from the guide portion from splashing. In addition, various devices in the housing can be prevented from getting wet by the discharged liquid.

  According to the present invention, when a liquid that is a foreign substance other than a medal enters the medal payout portion, the liquid passes through a gap between the turn-back portion of the medal tray and the extension portion of the outer peripheral wall from the medal payout portion. It is discharged and then flows down after flowing through the guide portion extending to the front side. That is, the liquid discharged from the medal payout unit flows down to a position in the front direction in the housing. In this way, the liquid that has entered the medal payout portion can be discharged with a simple configuration, and further, various devices in the housing can be prevented from getting wet by the discharged liquid.

  Hereinafter, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated with reference to FIGS. 1-4 with the example of a bingo game machine.

  The gaming machine 310 according to the present embodiment is a gaming machine that uses a game medium such as a medal, a coin, a game ball, or a token. In the following description, it is assumed that a medal is used.

[Composition of gaming machine]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overview of a gaming machine according to the present embodiment.

  The gaming machine 310 includes a lottery machine 312 and a plurality of gaming terminals 314. This gaming machine 310 can simultaneously provide a game to a plurality of game players by a plurality of gaming terminals 314A to 314J. In FIG. 1, the gaming terminals 314F to 314H hidden by the lottery machine 312 are not shown. The lottery machine 312 and the plurality of gaming terminals 314 are connected so as to communicate with each other. The gaming terminal 314 receives data of the result of the lottery performed by the lottery machine 312, determines the game result based on this data, and pays out a medal to the player.

  The lottery machine 312 is mainly composed of a lottery machine casing 313 simulating a ship, and is arranged in the center of the gaming machine 310. In addition, two lottery boards 338 and 339 are arranged in the center of the lottery machine 312. A total of 52 lottery holes are formed in these two lottery boards 338 and 339. The plurality of lottery holes are a combination of a first code composed of spades, clubs, hearts and diamonds and a second code composed of numbers 2 to 10 and symbols A, J, Q and K. Is associated with the identification information. This identification information is for determining the lottery result. That is, identification information for determining a lottery result is associated with each of the lottery holes in the lottery boards 338 and 339. A lottery is performed according to any of a plurality of lottery holes containing lottery balls, and a game result is determined. The lottery machine 312 is provided with a rocking device, and the lottery machine housing 313 can rock so that the bow 312A and the stern 312B are displaced in the vertical direction.

  A plurality of gaming terminals 314A to 314J are arranged on both sides of the lottery machine 312. In the present embodiment, ten gaming terminals 314A to 314J are provided. In each of the gaming terminals 314A to 314J, medal payout exits 382A to 382J are formed, respectively. FIG. 1 shows only the medal payout outlets 382A to 382E.

[Outline of the game]
The game of the gaming machine 310 in the present embodiment is a bingo game. Specifically, the lottery machine 312 throws a plurality of lottery balls toward the lottery boards 338 and 339 while swinging the lottery machine housing 313, and lottery is performed according to the plurality of lottery holes containing the lottery balls. Done. In the gaming terminals 314 </ b> A to 314 </ b> J, when a player inserts a medal, a string of identification signs corresponding to the type of lottery hole is created by lottery different from the lottery of the lottery machine 312. The gaming terminals 314A to 314J receive a lottery result in the lottery machine 312 and win a prize (bingo) when a combination of identification signs corresponding to the lottery result establishes a specific mode. Then, the number of medals according to the established mode is paid out to the player as a privilege.

[Game terminal]
The gaming terminal 314A will be described. Since the gaming terminals 314B to 314J have the same configuration, the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the door of the gaming terminal 314A is open. The gaming terminal 314A includes a terminal housing 400 that houses a gaming device necessary for the gaming machine 310 to provide a game, and a display device 404 provided on the terminal housing. A pedestal 410 is provided on the terminal housing 400 in front of the display device 404. On the pedestal portion 410, a dial 414 for operation by the player, switches 412 and 413, and a medal insertion slot 408 for inserting medals necessary for the game are arranged. Speakers 406 for outputting sound effects and music are provided on both sides of the display device 404.

  Inside the terminal housing 400, a medal selector 416 that determines whether or not a medal is valid and guides the medal to a different route according to the determination result is disposed below the medal slot 408. Below the medal selector 416, a hopper 418 is provided for storing medals and discharging a designated number of medals from the medal. The lower part of the hopper 418 is a hopper driving unit 422 for discharging medals, and the number of medals to be paid out is discharged from a medal discharge port 420 provided in the hopper driving unit 422. The front surface of the terminal housing 400 is configured by an openable / closable door 402, and a medal guide unit 428 for guiding a falling medal or the like to a predetermined position is attached to the door 402. The medal guide portion 428 formed by bending a metal plate is attached to be disposed adjacent to the hopper 418 under the medal selector 416 in a state where the door 402 is closed. On the side surface of the medal guide unit 428, a medal receiving port 430 for inserting a medal discharged from the medal discharge port 420 of the hopper 418 into the medal guide unit 428 is formed.

  The door 402 is formed with a medal payout outlet 432A, which is an opening for a player to take out a medal paid out from the gaming machine 310. The door 402 is provided with a medal payout portion 434 for receiving the payout medal at a position facing the medal payout exit 382A. Below the medal payout portion 434, a hook-like member 436 for receiving the liquid falling from the upper part and guiding it to both ends of the lower side of the door is disposed on the lower side of the door 402. The bowl-shaped member 436 has a guide surface 436A that is a vertical surface for guiding the flow of liquid. In the vicinity of the door of the bottom surface portion 409 of the terminal housing 400, a contact portion 411 that contacts the guide surface 436 </ b> A of the bowl-shaped member 436, that is, a part of the vertically upward extension line including the edge inside the housing. It has been. The contact portion 411 is formed higher than the end edge of the bowl-shaped member 436.

  The bottom surface portion 409 is provided with an abutting portion 411 that stands in the vicinity of the door so as to abut on the guide surface 436A of the bowl-shaped member 436 when the door 402 is closed. In the terminal housing 400, a control circuit board 424 for controlling each device of the gaming terminal 314A and a power supply device 426 for supplying power to these devices and the board are installed under the hopper 418. Yes. The hopper 418 and the medal guide 428 described above constitute a game medium payout mechanism.

[Medal payout department]
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the gaming terminal 314A taken along the line KK ′ as viewed from the direction of the arrow L with the door 402 closed in FIG. The medal tray 438 that serves as the bottom surface of the medal payout portion and receives the payout medal is provided so as to extend horizontally from the vicinity of the lower side of the medal payout opening 432A formed on the front surface of the terminal housing 400 to the inside of the terminal housing 400. . The medal tray 438 has a folded portion 439 in which a tip extending inside the terminal housing 400 is folded downward. An outer peripheral wall 440 is attached to the outer periphery of the medal tray 438 so as to surround the medal tray 438 and extend upward together with the medal payout opening 432A. In this embodiment, the outer peripheral wall 440 need not cover the opening of the medal payout opening 432A. Therefore, the outer peripheral wall 440 has three side surfaces excluding the surface with the door 402 provided with the medal payout opening 432A, that is, the left and right sides of the medal tray 438 when looking into the medal payout opening 432A from the outside of the terminal housing 400. It is installed to surround the side and back side. The outer peripheral wall 440 has an extension 442 extending downward from the medal tray 438 along the turn-up portion 439 of the medal tray 438, and further, from the tip of the extension 442 to the front side (that is, the side with the door), and A guide portion 444 extending downward is provided.

  Specifically, the guide part 444 is formed by bending a metal plate constituting the outer peripheral wall at the tip of the extension part 442. The guide portion is inclined downward from the bent position toward the tip, and the angle of this inclination is greater than 0 ° and less than 90 ° with respect to the horizontal plane. Further, the folded portion 439 of the medal tray 438 and the extension portion 442 of the outer peripheral wall 440 are joined by spot welding. However, spot welding performs partial joining, and the folded portion 439 and the extension portion 442 are not joined and have a gap in a portion that is not welded. The size of the gap is sufficiently smaller than the medal, and the liquid can pass therethrough. The distal end of the guide portion 444 of the outer peripheral wall 440 is formed so as to be positioned between the door 402 and the extension line extending vertically upward including the edge of the flange-like member 436 on the housing inner side.

[Medal flow]
The medal path from the medal insertion to the medal payout in the gaming terminal 314A will be described. A medal inserted from the medal slot 408 enters the medal selector 416. The medal selector 416 determines from the magnetism, size, and weight whether or not the inserted medal is valid as a medal used in the game. It discharges from the discharge port 415. For example, although not shown, the medal selector 416 has rails arranged at intervals slightly smaller than the diameter of an effective medal, and guides medal having an effective size to the effective medal discharge port 415 on the rail. It is good also as such a structure. In this case, foreign matter such as invalid medals, non-medal medals, and liquids such as beverages, which are smaller than the rail arrangement interval, pass between the rails and fall down from the foreign matter discharge port 417 due to gravity. Good.

  The medals exiting from the valid medal discharge port 415 are accumulated inside the hopper 418. As a result of the player playing a game, when medals are paid out to the player, first, a predetermined number of medals from the bottom of the medals accumulated in the hopper are received by the hopper driving unit 422 below the hopper 418. Pulled out. The hopper driving unit 422 discharges these medals from the medal discharge port 420. The discharged medals enter the medal guide unit 428 from the medal receiving port 430 adjacent to the medal discharge port 420. Then, the medals fall while being guided by the medal payout unit 434 arranged under the medal guide unit 428. In the medal payout unit 434, the medal tray 438 receives the received medals and accumulates them on the spot. The player can take out a medal on the medal tray 438 by placing a hand through the medal payout opening 382A.

[Liquid flow]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the flow of liquid inside the gaming terminal 314A when liquid spilled on the pedestal, that is, foreign matter enters from the medal slot 408. The liquid that has entered from the medal slot 408 enters the medal selector 416 as in the case of the medal. However, as described above, since the liquid is not an effective medal, the liquid cannot be guided to the effective medal discharge port 415 by the medal selector 416 and is directly discharged from the foreign matter discharge port 417. The liquid discharged from the foreign matter discharge port 417 enters the medal guide portion 428 from the upper opening thereof and flows down from the lower opening of the medal guide portion 428. Then, it enters the medal payout unit 434 arranged below the opening at the bottom of the medal guide unit 428. In this way, liquids such as beverages, which are foreign substances other than effective medals, enter the hopper 418 and wet the internal mechanisms and control circuits, as well as the mechanisms and devices located in the vicinity and the lower part of the hopper 418, thereby causing malfunctions and accidents. Can be prevented.

  As described above, the liquid that has entered the medal payout unit 434 falls onto the medal tray 438. This liquid is discharged to the outside of the medal payout portion 434 through a gap between the folded portion 439 of the medal tray 438 and the extension portion 442 of the outer peripheral wall 440. Due to this gap, the liquid can be discharged inside the terminal housing 400 without providing a special discharge device or the like. As a result, the liquid remains in the medal payout section 434 and the medal is immersed in the liquid, or the liquid overflows from the medal payout outlet 382A in the center of the door, In particular, it is possible to prevent the central portion of the conspicuous door from being soiled.

  The liquid discharged to the outside of the medal payout portion 434 flows on the upper surface of the guide portion 444 and falls from the tip of the guide portion 444 to the bowl-shaped member 436. The guide portion 444 extends obliquely from the tip of the extension portion 442 toward the front surface and the lower side of the terminal housing 400. For this reason, when viewed from the outside of the terminal housing 400 through the medal payout outlet 382A, the liquid that has fallen from the gap between the turn-up portion 439 and the extension portion 442 at the back of the medal payout portion 434 The mechanism such as the power supply device 426 inside the 400 and the substrate can be prevented from getting wet and causing a failure. In this manner, it is possible to prevent the liquid from being applied to the power supply device 426 and further improve safety. Moreover, since the contact part 411 provided in the bottom face part 409 of the terminal housing | casing 400 is higher than an edge, the splash of the liquid which fell from the guide part can be prevented.

  The liquid that has fallen into the hook-shaped member 436 from the tip of the guide portion 444 flows out from the end of the hook-shaped member 436. Here, both ends of the bowl-shaped member 436 are located at the lower end of the door. For this reason, the liquid flowing out from the end of the bowl-shaped member 436 flows out of the terminal casing 400 from the gap between both sides of the door 402 and the terminal casing 400, avoiding the front center of the terminal casing 400.

[Another embodiment]
FIG. 5 shows a medal payout unit according to another embodiment different from the above-described embodiment. This embodiment differs from the above-described embodiment in the length to the tip of the guide portion 544, and the other points are the same. The tip of the guide portion 544 in the medal payout portion of this embodiment is substantially in contact with the door 402. However, there is a gap between the guide portion 544 and the door 402, and the liquid discharged from the medal payout portion passes through this gap. Thereafter, the liquid flows along the inner surface of the door by surface tension and flows into the bowl-shaped member 436. Therefore, the liquid that has flowed through the guide portion 544 does not fall directly on the bowl-like member 436, and the splash of the liquid that has fallen on the bowl-like member can be reduced.

  As mentioned above, although the Example was described, this invention is not limited to this.

  In the embodiment, the gaming machine is described as being constituted by a lottery machine and a gaming terminal, but the present invention is not limited to this. As long as it has a medal payout port, it can be applied to a gaming machine such as a slot machine or a pachislot machine that can be played independently.

  Further, the folded portion 439 of the medal tray 438 and the extension portion 442 of the outer peripheral wall 440 are joined by spot welding, but the present invention maintains a gap for the liquid to flow out, as long as the medal does not fall from there, The folded portion 439 and the extended portion 442 are not limited to being directly joined. For example, the medal tray 438 and the outer peripheral wall 440 may be joined to the door 402, respectively.

  Furthermore, although it demonstrated as carrying out spot welding with the extension part 442 of the outer peripheral wall 440, it is not restricted to this. Any other state may be used as long as it is fixed while maintaining the gap. For example, a hole may be formed and fixed with a fastener such as a rivet, bolt, or nut. In this case, the size of the gap through which the liquid flows can be adjusted by inserting a washer, a spacer, or the like between the extended portion 442 of the outer peripheral wall 440.

  Further, although the medal tray 438 has been described as being mounted horizontally, the medal tray 438 may be mounted obliquely with the position of the folded portion 439 lowered in order to guide the liquid more efficiently.

  Although it has been described that the door has the hook-shaped member 436, the hook-shaped member 436 may not be installed. However, in order to reduce splashing, it is more preferable that the hook-shaped member 436 is set.

  Further, although the guide surface 436A of the bowl-shaped member 436 has been described as a vertical surface, the guide surface 436A is a surface that is inclined obliquely so that the edge is on the inside of the terminal housing 400, and the liquid is The guide part 444 may be arranged so as to fall from the tip of the guide part 444 to the inclined surface. This can further reduce the splashing of the liquid falling on the bowl-shaped member 436.

  It should be noted that the effects described in the embodiments of the present invention only list the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. is not.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the game machine of one Example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the game terminal of one Example of this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view showing the inside of the game terminal of one example of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the flow of the liquid which flows into the game terminal of one Example of this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the inside of the game terminal of another Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

310 gaming machine 312 lottery machine 314 gaming terminal 382A medal payout opening 400 terminal housing (housing)
402 Door 408 Medal insertion port 415 Effective medal discharge port 416 Medal selector 417 Foreign matter discharge port 418 Hopper 424 Control circuit board 426 Power supply device 428 Medal guide unit 434 Medal payout unit 436 Hook-shaped member 438 Medal tray 440 Folding unit 440 Outer wall 442 Extension Part 444 guide part 482A medal payout exit

Claims (3)

A gaming machine comprising: a housing having a game medium payout mechanism built therein; and a game medium payout portion provided on the front surface of the housing for paying out game media from the game medium payout mechanism,
The game medium payout section includes a game medium tray extending from the front surface of the casing to the inside of the casing, and an outer peripheral wall extending upward surrounding the outer periphery of the game medium tray.
The game medium tray has a folded portion formed by being folded downward on the outer periphery,
The gaming machine characterized in that the outer peripheral wall has an extension extending along a turn-up portion of the game medium tray and a guide portion extending frontward and downward from the tip of the extension. The gaming machine according to claim 1,
A door is provided in front of the housing,
A hook-shaped member is provided on the inside of the casing at the lower end of the door,
The tip of the guide portion of the outer peripheral wall is
A gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine is located between an extension line extending vertically upward including an edge on the inside of the housing of the bowl-shaped member and the door. A gaming machine according to claim 2,
In the vicinity of the door on the bottom surface of the housing, a contact portion that comes into contact with a part of a vertically extending line including an edge on the inside of the housing is provided higher on the vertically upper side than the edge. A gaming machine characterized by that.

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