JP2005245595A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To keep the display screen of a liquid crystal display device mounted on a game board of a game machine clean without needing any labor. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid crystal display device 7 is mounted on a frame member 17 on the game board. A cleaning member 27 with a brush 29 is mounted on the frame member 17. A stain detector 25 comprises a light emitting element 25a and a light receiving element 25b for detecting the stain on the liquid crystal display screen 7a. When the stain is detected, the cleaning member 27 is rotated around a turning shaft 28 by the driving of a motor. The brush 29 slides on the liquid crystal display screen 7a and removes the stain adhering to the liquid crystal display screen 7a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine in which a display device is provided on a gaming board.

  In a pachinko machine known as one of the gaming machines installed in a game store, a pachinko ball (game ball) used as a game medium is launched and the pachinko ball is dropped on the board surface of the game board. Is done. The game board has a winning opening and an out opening. When the pachinko ball enters the winning opening, a win is awarded, a predetermined number of pachinko balls are paid out as winning balls, and the pachinko balls that have entered the out opening are collected.

  A pachinko gaming machine having a display device in the center of a gaming board is widely known. As this display device, there are a display device having a reel on which symbols are arranged and a display device using a liquid crystal display device. Based on the information displayed on the display device, the player can identify, for example, a normal gaming state and a special gaming state where many prize balls can be obtained. Therefore, the display device has a high level of player attention, and if dirt such as dust adheres to the display surface of the display device, the displayed information may be difficult to see or may cause discomfort to the player. The surface should always be clean.

  However, conventionally, when the display surface of the display device is cleaned, it is troublesome because an employee of the amusement hall has to clean it manually using a cloth or a brush outside of business hours. was there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine that can clean the display surface of a display device without taking time and effort.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a gaming machine equipped with a display device, wherein the gaming machine equipped with the display device has a cleaning unit that contacts the display surface of the display device to clean the display surface. A cleaning member and driving means for driving the cleaning member and moving the cleaning unit along the display surface are provided. The movement includes linear movement such as movement by rotation and reciprocation.

  Further, the present invention is characterized by comprising detection means for detecting dirt on the display surface and first control means for driving the driving means when the detection means detects dirt.

  The cleaning member has a rotation shaft, and is provided with a rotation transmission means for rotating the cleaning member by transmitting a driving force of the driving means to the rotation shaft. To do.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that slide transmission means for transmitting the driving force of the drive means in the direction in which the cleaning member slides is provided.

  Further, the present invention is characterized by comprising: an attaching means for attaching an adherent to the display surface; and a second control means for driving the driving means after the attached matter is attached to the display surface.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the cleaning unit that contacts the display surface of the display device is moved along the display surface by the driving means, dirt attached to the display surface can be removed. The display surface can be automatically cleaned without being applied, and the display surface of the display device can always be kept clean.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the cleanliness of the display surface of the display device can be monitored, and the cleaning member can be reliably operated when dirt exceeding a predetermined standard adheres to the display surface. The display surface can be cleaned before the display surface notices dirt.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, since the cleaning member rotates about the rotation shaft and cleans the display surface of the display device, the driving force of the driving means need only be transmitted to the rotation shaft. The structure of the transmission means is simplified, and the structure around the display device can be prevented from becoming complicated.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the cleaning unit uniformly cleans the display surface in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cleaning member slides by sliding the cleaning member, the display surface is clean. It is possible to prevent unevenness from occurring.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the information displayed by the display device can be intentionally concealed using the deposit, so that, for example, the player can see that the displayed information becomes invisible due to the deposit. It can be used as an effect to notify that there is a high possibility that the game state will be advantageous to the player, and the information displayed when the deposit is removed using the cleaning member can be confirmed. You can have a feeling and can eliminate the monotony of the game.

  In FIG. 1, a pachinko gaming machine 2 is provided with a game board 4 on a main body frame 3. The main body frame 3 is provided with a front door 5 that can be opened and closed. The front door 5 is formed with a window 5a provided with a transparent plate made of glass or the like so that the game board 4 can be seen. The game board 4 is provided with a liquid crystal display device (display device) 7, a start winning port 8, a normal winning port 9, a passing winning port 10, an attacker 11, and an out port 12. The board surface of the game board 4 is configured as a game area where a pachinko ball is dropped by spending an appropriate amount of time while changing its course in various ways due to a number of obstacle nails. The pachinko gaming machine 2 is assembled with a launching device for launching a pachinko ball, a payout device for paying out a prize ball, a power supply circuit, a lamp, a speaker, and the like.

  Below the front door 5, a supply tray 15 for supplying pachinko balls and an operation handle 16 for adjusting the launch strength of the pachinko balls are provided. The pachinko balls thrown into the supply tray 15 are guided to the launching device and are launched one by one toward the game board 4 by operating the operation handle 16. The hit pachinko ball falls on the board surface of the game board 4 and enters one of the start winning port 8, the normal winning port 9, and the out port 12. When pachinko balls win the start winning opening 8 and the normal winning opening 9, a predetermined number of pachinko balls are paid out as winning balls, respectively. Pachinko balls that have entered the out mouth 12 are collected as having been out of the prize. Further, when a pachinko ball wins at the start winning opening 8, an electronic lottery is performed and the result is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 7.

  The liquid crystal display device 7 is attached to a frame member 17 provided substantially at the center of the game board 4. The liquid crystal display device 7 performs variable display of identification information such as symbols, and displays whether or not it is a hit depending on the type and combination of identification information displayed when the variable display is completed. When the winning is obtained, the game shifts to an advantageous special game where more prize balls can be obtained than the normal game, and the attacker 11 is released. When the attacker 11 is opened, a large winning opening that makes it easier for the pachinko ball to win than other winning openings appears. The attacker 11 is closed on condition that it is opened for a predetermined time or a predetermined number of pachinko balls are won in the big winning opening, and the opening / closing operation is repeated a plurality of times based on the same conditions. Thereby, a lot of pachinko balls win during the special game, and the player can obtain a lot of prize balls.

  In FIG. 2, the frame member 17 includes a roof portion 20 at an upper portion thereof and a stage portion 21 at a lower portion thereof. The roof portion 20 prevents the pachinko ball from falling from above the liquid crystal display device 7 toward the liquid crystal display device 7. The stage portion 21 is where, for example, a pachinko ball that has collided with a nail provided under the frame member 17 and bounced upward with that momentum is placed. The pachinko ball riding on the stage portion 21 exhibits a movement such as rolling to the left and right, stays on the stage portion 21 for a short time, and then falls below the frame member 17.

  The frame member 17 is provided with a dirt detector (detecting means) 25 having a light emitting element 25a and a light receiving element 25b under the roof portion 20. The light emitting element 25a irradiates inspection light for inspecting dirt on the surface of the liquid crystal screen 7a. The inspection light is emitted toward the upper end portion of the liquid crystal screen 7a. The light receiving element 25b photoelectrically detects the inspection light reflected from the liquid crystal screen 7a, and outputs an electric signal having a voltage level corresponding to the detected intensity of the inspection light. A cleaning member 27 is provided at a position below the liquid crystal screen 7a. The cleaning member 27 is provided with a rotating shaft 28 to which a driving force is transmitted from the outside, and a brush (cleaning unit) 29 that comes into contact with the liquid crystal screen (display surface) 7a.

  In FIG. 3, the dirt detector 25 is connected to a control device (first control means) 30 that manages the electrical operation of the pachinko gaming machine 2. The control device 30 controls the dirt detector 25 to turn on the light emitting element 25a and determine whether or not to irradiate the liquid crystal screen 7a with the inspection light. When an electrical signal representing the amount of inspection light detected by the light receiving element 25b is input, the control device 30 determines whether or not the level of the electrical signal satisfies a predetermined reference value.

  The motor 31 is controlled by a control signal from the control device 30. When the motor 31 is driven, the driving force is transmitted to the gear mechanism (rotation transmission means) 32. The gear mechanism 32 is connected to the rotation shaft 28 of the cleaning member 27, and transmits the driving force of the motor 31 to the rotation shaft 28. When the electrical signal input from the light receiving element 25b does not satisfy the predetermined reference value, the control device 30 determines that the liquid crystal screen 7a is dirty and sends a drive start signal to the motor 31. The motor 31 is driven in response to the drive start signal, and the driving force is transmitted to the rotating shaft 28. The cleaning member 27 rotates in a direction in which the distal end portion 27a of the cleaning member 27 rises around the rotation shaft 28 from a position where the cleaning member 27 is stationary below the liquid crystal screen 7a. As the cleaning member 27 rotates, the brush 29 slides on the liquid crystal screen 7a to remove dirt such as dust adhering to the liquid crystal screen 7a.

  The motor drive amount measuring device 33 measures the drive amount of the motor 31 from the number of rotations of a specific gear of the gear mechanism 32 and sends the measurement result to the control device 30. The control device 30 determines the position of the cleaning member 27 from the driving amount of the motor 31. When the cleaning member 27 is substantially parallel to the vertical direction and the brush 29 has moved to a position outside the liquid crystal screen 7a, the control device 20 sends a reverse drive signal to the motor 31. When the motor 31 is driven in reverse, the cleaning member 27 rotates in the reverse direction, that is, in the direction in which the distal end portion 27a of the cleaning member 27 is lowered. The brush 29 slides on the liquid crystal screen 7a again to clean the liquid crystal screen 7a.

  The operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The control device 30 counts a predetermined time, for example, 2 hours, and sends a control signal to the dirt detector 25 when 2 hours have passed. The light emitting element 25a is turned on and the inspection light is irradiated onto the liquid crystal screen 7a. The light receiving element 25b receives the inspection light reflected from the liquid crystal screen 7a. The dirt detector 25 outputs information indicating the amount of inspection light detected by the light receiving element 25b to the control device 30. If the liquid crystal screen 7a is clean, the detected light amount of the inspection light is almost unchanged, and if the liquid crystal screen 7a is dirty, the detected light amount of the inspection light is attenuated. The control device 30 compares the detected light quantity information of the inspection light with a preset threshold value, and when this exceeds the threshold value, the control device 30 determines that the liquid crystal screen 7a is clean, and restarts counting for 2 hours.

  On the other hand, when the detected light amount of the inspection light falls below the threshold value, it is determined that the liquid crystal screen 7 a is dirty, and the control device 30 sends a drive start signal to the motor 31. The motor 31 starts driving, and the driving force of the motor 31 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 28 via the gear mechanism 32. The cleaning member 27 rotates in the direction in which the tip end portion 27a is raised, and the brush 29 slides on the liquid crystal screen 7a, so that the liquid crystal screen 7a is cleaned. The motor drive amount measuring device 33 measures the drive amount of the motor 31, and when this reaches a certain amount, the control device 30 sends a reverse drive signal to the motor 31. The motor 31 is driven in the reverse direction, the cleaning member 27 is rotated in the direction in which the front end portion 27a is lowered, and the brush 29 cleans the liquid crystal screen 7a. When the cleaning member 27 rotates twice along the liquid crystal screen 7a, dirt such as dust attached to the liquid crystal screen 7a is removed.

  When the driving amount of the motor 31 reaches a certain amount after the motor 31 starts reverse rotation driving, the cleaning member 27 returns to the initial position below the liquid crystal screen 7a. The control device 30 sends a stop signal to the motor 31, and the motor 31 stops. If a command for prohibiting cleaning of the liquid crystal screen 7a is not input, the control device 30 restarts counting for 2 hours and repeats the same processing after 2 hours have elapsed.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In FIG. 5, a bar-shaped guide shaft 40 extending in the vertical direction and a feed screw shaft (slide transmission means) 41 formed with a lead screw are provided on both sides of the liquid crystal screen 7a. A cleaning member 42 extending in the horizontal direction is provided between the guide shaft 40 and the feed screw shaft 41. At both ends of the cleaning member 42, a slide hole 42 a that slides on the guide shaft 40 and a screw hole 42 b that engages with the feed screw shaft 41 are formed. The cleaning member 42 is guided by the guide shaft 40 to move in the vertical direction, and slides in the vertical direction when the motor 43 is driven to rotate the feed screw shaft 41. Further, the guide shaft 40 acts as a rotation stopper that prevents the cleaning member 42 from rotating due to the rotation of the feed screw shaft 41.

  The cleaning member 42 is provided with a wiper portion (cleaning portion) 44 on a side surface facing the liquid crystal screen 7a. The wiper portion 44 is made of a flexible material such as a sponge, is in close contact with the liquid crystal screen 7a, and wipes off dirt and the like attached to the liquid crystal screen 7a as the cleaning member 42 slides. Three bubble releasing devices 45 are provided above the liquid crystal screen 7a. A cleaning agent is set in the foam discharge device 45, and a nozzle 45a is provided for discharging the cleaning agent into a predetermined position on the liquid crystal screen 7a. The cleaning member 42 is normally stationary at a predetermined position above the liquid crystal screen 7a.

  In FIG. 6, on the liquid crystal screen 7a, for example, three numbers of symbols S1, S2, S3 arranged in the horizontal direction are displayed, and for example, the numbers of the numbers “0” to “9” are switched in order. The symbol is variably displayed. The symbols S1 to S3 end in variable display in the order of symbols S1 to S2, symbols S2, and symbols S3 located on the left side. Informed. After the jackpot is notified, the game proceeds to a special gaming state where a large number of prize balls can be obtained.

  During the game, the foam discharge device 45 is activated when certain conditions are met. For example, while the variable display of the symbols S1 and S2 displayed on the liquid crystal screen 7a is stopped and the variable display of the symbol S3 is being performed, the foam discharge device 45 causes the foam (attachment) of the cleaning agent from the nozzle 45a. B1 is discharged toward the liquid crystal screen 7a. The bubble B1 covers and hides the symbols S1 to S3 so that the player cannot visually recognize each symbol (FIG. 6B). After the bubble B1 is released, the symbols S1 to S3 displayed on the liquid crystal screen 7a are switched to symbols of other numbers.

  The motor 43 is driven, the feed screw shaft 41 is rotated, and the cleaning member 42 is lowered while being guided by the guide shaft 40. The wiper unit 44 slides on the liquid crystal screen 7a and cleans the liquid crystal screen 7a while wiping off the bubbles B1. When the bubble B1 is wiped off by the wiper unit 44, for example, symbols S1 to S3, which are combinations representing jackpots, appear, and an unexpected notification is given to the player. In addition, after the bubble B1 is wiped off, the jackpot is not always notified, and there is a case that the player loses, and the player expects that the combination of symbols hidden in the bubble B1 is a winning combination. Attention is paid to the liquid crystal screen 7a.

  The present invention is not limited to a display device using a liquid crystal display device, and can be applied to a gaming machine including a symbol display device having a plurality of reels. In this case, a cleaning member for directly cleaning the surface of the reel, or a cleaning member for cleaning a transparent plate provided in a planar shape or a curved surface in front of the reel may be provided in order to avoid collision between the reel and the pachinko ball. . Further, not only a dot matrix display type display device but also a 7-segment display type display device, a display device using a light emitting diode or the like for one pixel, or the like may be used. Further, when the cleaning member is slid, it may be slid not only in the vertical direction but also in the horizontal direction or in an oblique direction. The transmission means for transmitting the driving force is not limited to using the feed screw shaft 41, and is endless. A belt transmission device including a belt and a pulley may be used.

  Specific examples of the contact portion that cleans the display surface of the display device are not limited to brushes and sponges, and a flexible material that does not damage the display surface of the display device can be used as appropriate. In addition, the cleaning member is not limited to being activated when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the game, such as the passage of a predetermined time, detection of dirt using an optical sensor, etc., but it is also activated by operating an operation member such as a button. You may make it do. Further, the drive means is not limited to a motor, and other drive sources such as a solenoid may be used. The detection means for detecting dirt is not limited to a reflective optical sensor that detects light reflected from the display surface, but a transmission type in which a light receiving element and a light emitting element are provided facing each other with the display surface interposed therebetween. The optical sensor may be used. The adhering material adhering to the display surface of the display device is not limited to the foam of the cleaning agent as long as it is light and easily removable like a piece of paper.

  When cleaning the display surface, the cleaning member is not limited to reciprocating once, but may be operated until the display surface is cleaned of dirt and deposits. Moreover, the period which permits the operation | movement of a cleaning member, and the period which prohibits the operation | movement of a cleaning member are set, for example, a cleaning member operates only when the information displayed on a display apparatus is information with low attention degree. You may do it. The present invention is not limited to pachinko gaming machines, and may be applied to gaming machines that use other gaming media different from gaming balls.

It is an external appearance perspective view of a pachinko gaming machine. It is a front side perspective view of a frame member. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematically the structure of a cleaning member and its periphery. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of a control apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the cleaning member in 2nd Embodiment, and its periphery. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode when the cleaning member which is 2nd Embodiment act | operates.

Explanation of symbols

2 Pachinko machines 4 Game boards 7 Liquid crystal display devices (display devices)
7a LCD screen (display surface)
25 Dirt detector (dirt detection means)
27, 42 Cleaning member 28 Rotating shaft 29 Brush (cleaning part)
30 Control device 31, 43 Motor (drive means)
32 Gear mechanism (rotation transmission means)
41 Feed screw shaft (slide transmission means)
44 Wiper part (cleaning part)
45 Foam release device (attachment means)
B1 Foam (attachment)

Claims (5)

In a gaming machine equipped with a display device,
A cleaning member having a cleaning unit that contacts the display surface of the display device and cleans the display surface, and a driving unit that drives the cleaning member and moves the cleaning unit along the display surface. A gaming machine characterized by   The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a detecting unit that detects dirt on the display surface; and a first control unit that drives the driving unit when the detecting unit detects the dirt.   The cleaning member has a rotation shaft, and is provided with a rotation transmission means for rotating the cleaning member by transmitting a driving force of the driving means to the rotation shaft. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a slide transmission unit configured to transmit a driving force of the driving unit in a direction in which the cleaning member is slid.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an attaching unit that attaches an attached substance to the display surface; and a second control unit that drives the driving unit after the attached matter is attached to the display surface. 4. Any one of the gaming machines according to 4.

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