JP2005270232A - Game medium tray - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game medium tray in which game tokens and game balls can be separated. <P>SOLUTION: A tray 7 is provided in a slot machine SM and pays out at least either of game tokens and the game balls in accordance with a prescribed winning condition for holding the game tokens and the game balls paid out from a putout port 6. It is in a double bottom structure having an upper bottom and a lower bottom, at least one part of the upper bottom is separated from the lower bottom by a game ball separation part 3 provided with at least one opening smaller than the diameter of the game token and larger than the diameter of the game ball, and a game ball introducing port 7a for introducing the game balls into the slot machine SM is provided in a space on the lower bottom side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a game medium tray used in a gaming machine, and more particularly to a game medium tray used in a gaming machine that can be played using both game medals and game balls.

  There are roughly two types of gaming machines installed in the game hall: a type using a game medal and a type using a game ball. An example of a game machine using a game medal can be a slot machine. As an example of a gaming machine using a game ball, a pachinko machine can be given.

  Conventionally, these gaming machines can use only one of game medals and game balls. Therefore, for example, when a player who has played a game with a pachinko machine stops playing the game with a pachinko machine and tries to play with a slot machine, a new game medal must be borrowed.

  Thus, in the past, game medals and game balls held by players could not be used on other types of gaming machines, so in fact, most players only play with the type of gaming machine that they originally played. However, I never played with both types of machines. That is, conventionally, there are few choices of player models in the amusement hall.

As a prior art aiming at solving such a problem, there is a “slot machine using game balls” disclosed in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses a slot machine that plays using a game ball instead of a game medal.
According to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, since a game can be performed by a slot machine using a game ball, it is possible to expand the choices of the player's model in the game hall.
JP 2003-126349 A

However, in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, the rotation display unit has the same configuration as that of the conventional slot machine, but the payout opening of the winning ball and the tray receiving the same are the same as those of the conventional pachinko machine. It has become.
That is, since the structure of the slot machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 is greatly different from that of a conventional slot machine and a pachinko machine, it is difficult to assemble it in the same manufacturing process as that of a conventional slot machine or pachinko machine.

  Further, since the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to use a game ball instead of a game medal, it is not possible to play using a game medal contrary to the conventional technique. In other words, if a player possesses a game medal, there will be no choice of models.

  In the case where a game can be played using either game medals or game balls, both game medals and game balls are paid out from the gaming machine during the game. For this reason, in order to realize a slot machine that can be played using either a game medal or a game ball with a structure similar to that of the conventional machine (in other words, a structure with one plate) And game balls must be separated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game medium tray that can separate a game medal and a game ball.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided in a gaming machine in which at least one of a game medal and a game ball is paid out according to a predetermined winning condition, and holds the game medal and game ball paid out from a payout exit A gaming medium tray having a double bottom structure having an upper base and a lower base, wherein at least one opening on the upper base has at least one opening smaller than the diameter of the game medal and larger than the diameter of the game ball. Provided with a game medium tray characterized in that it is separated from the lower bottom by a plate-shaped member provided, and a hole for introducing a game ball into the gaming machine is provided in the space on the lower bottom side To do.

  In said structure, it is preferable that the location in which the plate-shaped member is installed is depressed.

  In any of the configurations described above, it is preferable that the plate-like member has openings formed in a lattice shape. Or it is preferable that the opening of a plate-shaped member is circular.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a game medium tray that can separate a game medal and a game ball.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the slot machine SM to which the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 1 shows an external perspective view of the slot machine SM. FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the slot machine SM when the front door is unlocked and opened.

The slot machine SM has a housing 1 including a cabinet box 2 and a front door (front mask) 3. The cabinet box 2 has a box shape having an opening on the front surface. The front door 3 is attached so as to cover the opening on the front surface of the cabinet box 2. Various game development devices are arranged in each part of the housing 1.
The front door 3 is attached so that it can be opened laterally by hinge mechanisms (not shown) provided at two positions on the side edges of both the cabinet box 2 and the front door 3. A locking device 4 is provided at a side edge opposite to the side where the hinge mechanism is provided, and the front door 3 is normally held in a fixed state with respect to the cabinet box 2.

The front door 3 is provided with a medal slot 5, a start lever 11, stop buttons 12, 13, and 14, upper speakers SL and SR, a lower speaker SW, and the like. The stop buttons 12, 13 and 14 are provided corresponding to the reels R1, R2 and R3 of the spinning reel device 200, respectively.
A transparent window 10 is provided in the middle panel at the center of the front surface of the front door 3 so as to align with the spinning reel device 200, and is drawn along the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of each of the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3. In addition, a predetermined range (for example, a range of three patterns) among the large number of patterns can be seen through from the front of the slot machine SM.
At the center lower portion of the front door 3, a payout opening 6 is provided, and a tray 7 is provided below the front door 3 so as to protrude forward. The game medals paid out from the hopper device HP pass through the payout opening 6 and are received by the tray 7 and stored.

As shown in FIG. 2, an effect display device 8 is provided between the speakers SR and SL on the upper back side of the front door 3. Furthermore, a sub-control board 300 formed of an electric circuit board is attached to the rear surface side of the effect display device 8.
The sub-control board 300 is a so-called electric circuit board by mounting and connecting an electronic component such as an integrated circuit device (IC), a transistor, a resistor, and a capacitor on an insulating resin substrate on which a conductive wiring pattern is formed. And is attached so as to overlap the back side of the effect display device 8.

  Here, the sub-control board 300 is a board that provides effects such as sound effects and music using lamps and speakers provided in the slot machine SM. The sub-control board 300 is connected to the production speakers SL, SR, and SW, the production lamp (not shown), and the production display device 8 via wiring cables (not shown). The electric circuit provided in the sub-control board 300 drives these effect speakers SL, SR and SW, an effect lamp (not shown) and the effect display device 8 in accordance with instructions from the main control board 700, It is designed to appeal to the visual and auditory sense of the player.

  Below the effect display device 8 and the sub-control board 300, a substantially rectangular frame 20 in which a see-through window 10 is formed is attached. Below the frame 20, a selection mechanism G0 and guide members G1, G2, and G3 are provided. The selection mechanism G0 hits the back side of the lower panel 9, and determines whether or not the inserted material from the medal insertion unit 5 is a regular game medal. The guide member G1 guides the game medals distributed by the selection mechanism G0 to the hopper device HP provided on the cabinet box 2 side. The guide member G2 guides the foreign matter distributed by the selection mechanism G0 to the medal payout opening 6. The guide member G3 guides the payout game medal output from the hopper device HP to the medal payout opening 6. Further, a speaker SW is attached in the vicinity of the medal payout exit 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the interior of the cabinet box 2 is roughly divided into two upper and lower stages by a shelf board 15 fixed by connecting left and right side plates.
A main control board 700 and a spinning reel device 200 are accommodated in the upper stage of the cabinet box 2. The main control board 700 is a circuit board that comprehensively controls the operation of the slot machine SM. The main control board 700 is housed in a transparent resin board case and is fixed to the upper portion of the back plate 16 with screws. The rotating reel device 200 is a device that rotates and stops three rotating reels R1, R2, and R3 on which a large number of patterns are drawn along the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder, and is supported and attached to the upper surface of the shelf board 15. It has been.
A hopper device HP, a power supply device substrate 500, an auxiliary storage unit SHP, and the like are attached to the lower stage of the cabinet box 2. The hopper device HP pays out game medals according to a winning state in response to a command from the main control board 700. The power supply device board 500 supplies power to various game development devices such as the main control board 700 and the spinning reel device 200. The auxiliary storage unit SHP stores game medals that have overflowed from the medal storage unit when a game medal is inserted when the medal storage unit (not shown) of the hopper device HP is full.
The power supply device substrate 500 converts a voltage of 100 V or 24 V input from the outside into a predetermined voltage and supplies it to each substrate.

As described above, the main control board 700 that controls the operation of the slot machine SM is placed in the upper part on the back side of the cabinet box 2 after being housed in a hard plastic housing case.
With the main control board 700 as the center, the sub control board 300, the central display board, the power supply device board 500, the spinning device board, and the external concentration terminal board are connected by wiring via cables (not shown).

  The main control board 700 is equipped with a semiconductor memory and a microprocessor (not shown), and the microprocessor executes a system program and a slot machine game program stored in advance in the semiconductor memory, and each of the boards described above. By controlling the operation state of the slot machine SM and the progress of the game. Specifically, the main lottery of the slot machine SM, control of each reel, management of input switches and the like are performed.

  As described above, game expansion devices (rotating reel device 200, power supply device substrate 500, main control substrate 700, hopper device HP, etc.) attached to cabinet box 2 and game expansion devices attached to front door 3 ( The medal slot 5, start lever 11, stop switches 12 to 14, speakers SL, SR, SW, etc.) are connected to each other by a wire harness (not shown), so that the slot machine SM is configured to be playable. The

The cabinet box 2 is provided with a ball storage and supply mechanism 40 that stores and supplies game balls (preliminary prize balls) and a prize ball payout mechanism 50 that performs prize ball payout processing.
Below the prize ball payout mechanism 50, a prize ball payout path 60 for discharging the paid game balls (prize balls) to the tray, and a game finished for discharging bet game balls to the collection bucket on the game hall side. A ball discharge path 70 is provided.

The ball storage and supply mechanism 40 includes a tank member 41 and an alignment rod member (not shown). The tank member 41 is a tank for preliminary prize balls. The alignment rod member aligns and supplies the preliminary prize balls stored in the tank member 41. That is, the alignment rod member accommodates the preliminary prize balls supplied from the tank member 41 in alignment with the two rows of preliminary prize ball paths, and sends them out to the deflection outlet below the inclination.
A ball stopper member (not shown) capable of stopping the flow of the aligned preliminary prize balls is attached to the deflection outlet portion. By setting the ball stopper member to the closed position, the deflection outlet can be connected to the prize ball dispensing device 50. The flow of the preliminary prize ball stops. Note that the ball stopper member is normally retracted outside the flow path of the preliminary prize ball, and the aligned preliminary prize balls are sent to the prize ball payout mechanism 50 from the deflection outlet.

  The prize ball payout mechanism 50 includes a prize ball standby passage 51 and a prize ball cassette 52. The prize ball standby passage 51 receives a preliminary prize ball sent from the deflection outlet and holds a predetermined number of game balls on standby. The prize ball cassette 52 is disposed at the lower end of the prize ball standby passage 51 and pays out the preliminary prize balls that are held on standby. The prize ball cassette 52 includes an impeller and a motor that rotates the impeller. The impeller is rotated in accordance with a payout command signal output from the prize ball control board 92 in accordance with the playing state of the spinning reels R1, R2, and R3, and a number of game balls in accordance with the payout command signal are used as prize balls. Payout to the payout route 60. Below the prize ball cassette 52, a prize ball detection sensor 53 that counts the prize balls sent out from the prize ball cassette 52 and feeds it back to the prize ball control board 92 is provided.

The prize ball payout path 60 guides the prize balls paid out from the prize ball cassette 52 to the tray 7 through the payout opening 6.
The game ball discharge path 70 is a game ball discharge path 75 that guides the game balls used for betting (setting the number of bets) to the lower part of the cabinet box 2 and the game balls are collected on the game hall side (not shown). A duct 76 leading to the bucket is provided.

The tray 7 is provided with a game ball introduction port 7a. The game ball placed on the tray 7 is guided to the game ball introduction port 7a and is introduced into the slot machine SM from here. The game balls introduced into the slot machine SM from the game ball introduction port 7 a are guided to the lower part of the cabinet box 2 by the game ball discharge path 75.
The shape of the tray 7 will be described in detail later.

In the slot machine SM configured as described above, the bet buttons B1, B2, and B3 are set in a state where a player inserts a game medal into the medal insertion slot 5 or a game ball is introduced into the game ball introduction slot 7a. When one of these is pressed and the start lever 11 is operated, the main control board 700 outputs a start command signal to the spinning reel device 200 based on the signal from the start lever 11, and the three spinning reels R1, R2 are output. And R3 are simultaneously rotated.
The player arbitrarily selects the spinning reel and operates the corresponding stop buttons 12, 13 and 14 in a desired order and timing, so that the main control board 700 responds to the operation signals from these stop buttons. A stop command signal is output to the spinning reel device 200, and the game proceeds by stopping the rotation of the spinning reel corresponding to the pressed stop button.

  In one game, a bet may be made using only one of a game medal and a game ball, or a bet may be made using both. If only one game medal or game ball is used for one game, a game medium selection button (not shown) is provided on the front door 3 so that the player can select which one to use as the game medium. Just do it. Further, if both game medals and game balls are used for one game, a bet button for game medals and a bet button for game balls (not shown) are separately provided on the entire surface door 3, and any line is provided. It is preferable to be able to distinguish which game medium is used for betting.

  An operation during the game of the slot machine SM according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a control system when a game is played using a game ball in the slot machine SM according to the present embodiment. The slot machine SM includes a control system including a main control board 710, a payout control unit 710, a prize ball cassette 52, and a ball lending command unit 720 as a game control system. A game using game medals is the same control system as a conventional slot machine. As shown in FIG. 4, the payout control unit 710 may be configured to be incorporated in the main control board 700.

[Distinction between game medals and game balls]
When a prize is won as a result of the game (the patterns of the reel reels R1, R2, and R3 are aligned in a predetermined pattern in the reel reel device 200), the main control board 700 has a game medium used for the game as a game. Check if it is a medal or a game ball.
When the game medium used for the game is a game medal, the main control board 700 sends an output control signal to the hopper device HP. In this case, as in the slot machine according to the prior art, a prescribed number of game medals corresponding to the role (pattern pattern) are paid out from the hopper device HP to the tray 7.
On the other hand, when the game medium used for the game is a game ball, the main control board 700 discharges the preliminary prize ball stored in the prize ball tank 41 to the tray 7 as follows.

[Game ball payout]
When winning as a result of the game, the main control board 700 outputs a winning ball payout signal to the payout control unit 710. The payout control unit 710 confirms whether or not there is a ball in the tank member 41 or the prize ball standby passage 51. The payout control unit 710 drives the prize ball cassette 52 in order to pay out a prescribed number of game balls according to the type of winning. The prize ball cassette 52 pays out a prize ball to the tray 7 via a prize ball payout path 60. The payout control unit 710 sends a completion signal to the main control board 700 after confirming that a predetermined number of prize balls have been paid out by the prize ball cassette 52.

[Ball lending]
The ball lending command means (CR unit or cash sand) requests the payout control unit 710 to lend a ball in accordance with the player's input operation.
The payout control unit 710 confirms whether or not there is a ball in the tank member 41 or the prize ball standby passage 51. The payout control unit drives the prize ball cassette 52 in order to pay out a prescribed number of game balls according to the type of winning. The prize ball cassette 52 pays out a prize ball to the tray 7 via a prize ball payout path 60. The payout control unit 710 sends a completion signal to the main control board 700 after confirming that a predetermined number of prize balls have been paid out by the prize ball cassette 52 (in other words, lent out).

[Betting with game balls (when credit function is disabled)]
The game balls taken into the slot machine SM from the game ball introduction port 7a are counted by a sensor (not shown). When the count value reaches a predetermined upper limit value (for example, 15), the supply of the game ball to the game ball passage 6 is stopped by a ball block means (blocker, ball feeder, etc.) (not shown).
After the game is over, the game balls in the game ball passage 6 are discharged to the outside of the slot machine SM (collection bucket installed on the game island of the game hall) via the game ball discharge path 75 and the discharge duct 76.

[Betting with game balls (when credit function is enabled)]
The game balls taken into the slot machine SM from the ball game ball inlet 7a are counted by a sensor (not shown). When the count value reaches a predetermined upper limit value (for example, 250), the game medium number storage means (credit means, the main control board 700 stores the count number. Then, a ball block means (blocker not shown) , The supply of game balls to the game-completed ball discharge path 70 is stopped by a ball feeding device or the like.
After the game is over, the game balls in the game ball passage 70 are discharged to the outside of the slot machine SM (collection buckets installed on the game island of the game hall) via the game ball exit path 75 and the discharge duct 76.

  Thus, the slot machine SM according to the present embodiment can be played using either a game medal or a game ball. That is, both game medals and game balls are paid out to the tray 7 during the game. Therefore, in the slot machine SM according to the present embodiment, the tray 7 is provided with a structure for separating game medals and game balls that are paid out during the game.

[Structure Example 1]
FIG. 5 shows a first structure example of the tray 7. As shown in the drawing, a guide groove 7 b is provided near the center of the tray 7 in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom surface of the tray 7 is inclined so that the center in the width direction is lowest. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7, the prize balls paid out on the tray 7 roll on the bottom surface of the tray 7 and are collected in the guide groove 7b. As shown in FIG. 6, since the guide groove 7b is formed so that the depth direction depth side of the tray 7 is lowered, the game balls collected in the guide groove 7b are guided to the game ball introduction port 7a, From here, it is introduced into the slot machine SM.

  In this structure, in order to prevent the paid game medals from clogging the guide groove, an inclination is provided on the bottom surface of the payout outlet as shown in FIG. It is preferable to discharge in an oblique direction rather than a direction.

[Structural example 2]
FIG. 9 shows a second structure example of the tray 7. As shown in the drawing, a plurality of guide grooves 7b for dividing the bottom surface of the tray 7 in the width direction are provided. Each guide groove 7 b is connected by a guide groove 7 c provided in the back of the tray 7.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the bottom surface of the tray 7 is formed with irregularities so that the portions where the respective guide grooves 7b are formed are lowered. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 11, the prize balls paid out on the tray 7 roll on the bottom surface of the tray 7 and are collected in any of the guide grooves 7b. Since the guide groove 7b is formed so that the depth side in the depth direction of the tray 7 is lowered, the game balls collected in the guide groove 7b move to the guide groove 7c. Since the guide groove 7c is formed so that the center in the width direction of the tray 7 is the lowest, the game ball on the guide groove 7c is guided to the game ball introduction port 7a, and from here into the slot machine SM be introduced.

[Structural Example 3]
In FIG. 12, the 3rd structural example of the saucer 7 is shown. As shown in the drawing, a guide groove 7 d is provided on the bottom edge of the tray 7. As shown in FIG. 13, the bottom surface of the tray 7 is the highest at the central portion and is formed lower as it approaches the peripheral portion. Further, the guide groove 7d is formed at the lowest portion of the game ball introduction port 7a.

The game medals paid out to the tray 7 are accumulated near the center of the tray 7. On the other hand, the prize ball paid out to the tray 7 rolls on the bottom surface of the tray 7 and falls into the guide groove 7d. The game ball that has fallen into the guide groove 7d is guided to the game ball introduction port 7a by the guide groove 7d and is introduced into the slot machine SM from here.
In this structure, the paid-out game medal stays in the vicinity of the central portion of the tray 7 and therefore does not clog the guide groove 7d.

[Structural Example 4]
FIG. 14 shows a fourth structure example of the tray 7. As shown in the drawing, a game ball separating portion 7 e is provided at the center of the bottom surface of the tray 7. The game ball separation unit 7e has a plurality of openings that are large enough to allow a game ball to pass though a game medal cannot pass. The shape of the opening is arbitrary, and may be a lattice shape as shown in FIG. 14 or a circular shape as shown in FIG. In addition, when the shape of the opening is circular, punching metal can be used. As shown in FIG. 16, there is a space 7f under which the game ball that has passed through the opening falls below the game ball separating portion 7e, and this space is connected to the game ball introduction port 7a. That is, in the present structural example, the tray 7 has a double bottom structure.

  In FIG. 17, the AA cross section of the saucer 7 in FIG. 16 is shown. The game medal paid out to the tray 7 cannot be passed through the opening of the game ball separating unit 7e, and is placed on the tray 7. On the other hand, the prize ball paid out to the tray 7 passes through the opening of the game ball separation unit 7e, falls into the space 7f, and is guided to the game ball introduction port 7a. Thereby, the game medals and the game balls that are paid out during the game are sorted without going through the player's hand.

  Here, a configuration in which the game ball separation unit 7e is provided only on a part of the bottom surface of the tray 7 is shown, but a configuration in which the game ball separation unit 7e is provided on the entire bottom surface may be used, or the game ball separation unit 7e. May be provided at two or more locations.

As described above, the slot machine SM according to the present embodiment has substantially the same structure as the conventional slot machine, and can use both game medals and game balls as game media.
Furthermore, since the player does not need to select the game medal and the game ball by himself, even if both the game medal and the game ball are used, the progress of the game is not hindered.

In addition, the said embodiment is an example of suitable implementation of this invention, and this invention is not limited to this.
For example, the above-described structure example of the tray is merely an example of implementation, and the structure of the tray is not limited to the illustrated structure.
As described above, the present invention can be variously modified.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a slot machine in which the present invention is preferably implemented. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a slot machine in which the present invention is preferably implemented. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control system when a game is played using a game ball in a slot machine in which the present invention is preferably implemented. It is a figure which shows another structure of the control system in the case of playing using a game ball in the slot machine which implemented this invention suitably. It is a figure which shows the 1st structural example of a saucer. It is a figure which shows the principle that game balls gather in a guide groove in the saucer concerning a 1st structural example. In a saucer concerning the 1st example of composition, it is a figure showing signs that game balls gather in a guide groove. It is a figure which shows the modification of the saucer concerning a 1st structural example. It is a figure which shows the 2nd structural example of a saucer. In the saucer concerning the 2nd example of composition, it is a figure showing the principle where game balls gather in a guide groove. In a saucer concerning the 2nd example of composition, it is a figure showing signs that game balls gather in a guide groove. It is a figure which shows the 3rd structural example of a saucer. In the saucer concerning the 3rd example of composition, it is a figure showing the principle where game balls gather in a guide groove. It is a figure which shows the 4th structural example of a saucer. It is a figure which shows the structural example at the time of making the opening shape of a game ball separation part circular. It is a figure which shows the structure of the bottom face of the saucer concerning a 4th structural example. In the saucer concerning the 4th example of composition, it is a figure showing the state where a game medal and a game ball are sorted.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing | casing 2 Cabinet box 3 Front door 5 Coin insertion slot 6 Discharge outlet 7 Dish 7a Game ball introduction port 7b, 7c, 7d Guide groove 7e Game ball separation part 7f Space 8 Effect display device 10 Light projection window 11 Start lever 12, 13, 14 Stop button 15 Shelf plate 16 Back plate 20 Frame body 40 Ball storage and supply mechanism 41 Tank member 50 Prize ball payout mechanism 51 Prize ball standby passage 52 Prize ball cassette 60 Prize ball discharge path 70 Game ball discharge path 75 Game ball Discharge path 76 Duct 200 Reel reel device 300 Sub control board 500 Power supply board 700 Main control board 710 Discharge control part 720 Ball lending command part B1, B2, B3 Bet button G0, G1, G2 Guide member HP Hopper device R1, R2 , R3 Revolving reel SHP Auxiliary storage part SL, SR, SW Speaker

Claims (4)

A game medium tray that holds the game metal and the game ball that are provided from a payout port provided in a gaming machine to which at least one of the game metal and the game ball is paid out in accordance with predetermined winning conditions;
A plate-like member having a double bottom structure having an upper base and a lower base, wherein at least one portion of the upper base is provided with at least one opening smaller than the diameter of the game medal and larger than the diameter of the game ball. Separated from the lower base by
A gaming medium tray, wherein a space for introducing the gaming ball into the gaming machine is provided in a space on the lower bottom side.   2. The game medium tray according to claim 1, wherein a portion where the plate-like member is installed is recessed.   The game medium tray according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the openings are formed in a lattice shape in the plate-like member.   The game medium tray according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening of the plate-like member is circular.

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