JP2006055208A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine allowing a player to know the progress of a game by executing a performance generating by the player's positive participation in the game. <P>SOLUTION: If a win drawn by a combination lottery means is a predetermined win when an operation switch is tilted, an operation movable part is retained in a tilt position tilted by a predetermined angle from a reference position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a slot machine provided with operation buttons that can be operated by a player.

  Conventionally, a slot machine is provided with various switches that can be operated by a player, such as a start switch for starting a slot game and a stop switch for ending the slot game.

  A game in this slot machine is a combination of symbols corresponding to a combination of a plurality of types of combinations, in which one combination is drawn in advance by a lottery process, and the player operates a stop switch at a predetermined timing. Thus, the reel is stopped. Since the above-described lottery role is performed by an internal process such as a calculation process, the player cannot make a decision in principle.

However, in recent slot machines, there are an increasing number of players who indirectly inform the player of what kind of role has been won by the effect means such as a liquid crystal display device or the type of the role. Further, there is a slot machine that notifies that a player has won a role by using a start switch or a stop switch that the player always touches, assuming that the player misses the notification by the production means such as a liquid crystal display device ( For example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-310826 A

  The conventional slot machine described above is such that the advance of the game is notified by vibrating the start switch.

  However, the start switch of this conventional slot machine can feel vibration if the player touches it, and the player can know the progress of the game before actually operating the start switch. It was. For this reason, the conventional slot machine may reduce the expectation of the game before the player operates the start switch.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the purpose of the present invention is to produce an effect produced by actively participating in a game, while maintaining the expectation of the game, It is to provide a slot machine that can know the progress.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, when the operation switch is tilted, when the winning combination selected by the winning lottery means is a predetermined winning combination, the operating switch is tilted by a predetermined angle from the reference position. The operation movable part is held at the tilted position.

Specifically, the present invention is based on the display mode of the symbols when rotating or stopping based on the player's operation and when a plurality of rotatable reels each having a plurality of types of symbols stopped. A slot machine where the progress of the game is determined,
An operation switch including an operation movable unit that can be tilted from a reference position serving as a reference in accordance with the tilting operation of the player and that returns to the reference position when there is no tilting operation by the player. An operation switch for emitting an operation signal based on the
Reel drive control means for controlling the rotation or stop of the reel by emitting a drive signal to the reel based on the operation signal issued from the operation switch;
Role lottery means for determining the game role by lottery processing;
When the operation switch is tilted, a movable portion that holds the operation movable portion at a tilted position tilted by a predetermined angle from the reference position when the role lottered by the role lottery means is a predetermined role. And holding means.

  According to the above-described invention, when the operation switch is tilted, when the winning combination lottered by the winning combination lottery means is a predetermined winning combination, the operation movable portion is moved from the reference position by a predetermined angle by the movable portion holding means. Since the player is held at the tilted position, the player can know the progress of the game by actively participating in the game. In addition, since it is held at a tilted position tilted by a predetermined angle from the reference position, it can give the player a sense of incongruity, and the player feels that there will be some change in the progress of the game. Can be communicated to the player.

  Here, “holding” means to keep holding, to support in a certain state, or to keep the supported state. That is, the present invention includes any device that intentionally keeps the state in which the operation movable portion of the tilted operation switch is tilted at the tilt position.

  Further, it is preferable to include a return means for releasing the tilted state and returning the operation switch to the normal state before the next game is started. The return means is preferably an urging means described later. The tilted state is preferably one that clearly indicates to the player that the tilted state is maintained. By doing so, it is possible to clearly indicate that the tilted state is intentionally maintained and to indicate to the player that there is no malfunction such as a failure.

And a biasing means for biasing the tilted operation movable portion toward the reference position when there is no tilting operation of the player,
It is preferable to include a holding drive unit that drives the movable unit holding unit when the operation movable unit is displaced to the tilt position.

  According to the above-described invention, since the movable portion holding means is driven after the operation movable portion is displaced to the tilt position, the movable portion holding means is not driven until it is displaced to the tilt position. For this reason, the operation of tilting the operation switch by the player is not hindered, and the operation can be made smooth.

  In addition, since the operation movable portion tilted by the player's operation is biased toward the reference position by the biasing means, when the player releases the operation switch, the tilted state is released, The operation switch can be returned to the reference position.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the holding unit includes a locking unit that locks the operation movable unit when the operation movable unit is displaced to the tilted position.

Furthermore, the holding means includes a magnetic force generating means for generating a magnetic force that resists the urging force of the urging means when the operation movable part is displaced to the tilted position.
It is also preferable that the operation movable portion includes a magnetic sensitive means that can be sensitive to the magnetic force.

  The player can produce an effect produced by actively participating in the game, and the player can know the progress of the game through participation in the game.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<< Configuration of Slot Machine 10 >>
FIG. 1 is a front view showing the front surface of the slot machine 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the slot machine 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slot machine 10 includes a box-shaped base portion 20 and a front door 40. The front door 40 is pivotally supported on the left side portion of the base portion 20 and is provided to be openable and closable on the front side of the base portion 20. FIG. 1 shows a state where the front door 40 is closed with respect to the base portion 20, and FIG. 2 shows a state where the front door 40 is opened approximately 180 degrees with respect to the base portion 20.

<Front side of front door 40>
The front door 40 is attached to the base unit 20 so as to be openable and closable so as to cover the front surface of the base unit 20 when closed. As shown in FIG. 1, a member related to operation and a member related to display are mainly provided on the front surface of the front door 40. A control circuit board is mainly provided on the back surface of the front door 40.

<Operational parts>
As shown in FIG. 1, an operation panel 41 extending in the horizontal direction is provided at the approximate center of the front side (player side) of the front door 40. On the front side of the operation panel 41, a start switch 42 and three stop switches 44a, 44b and 44c are provided. Further, on the upper surface side of the operation panel 41, a 1-bet switch 62, a 2-bet switch 64, a maximum bet switch 66, and a medal insertion slot 46 are provided. A tray 48 for receiving medals paid out based on the game result is also provided at the lower part of the front door 40.

  The start switch 42 and the three stop switches 44a, 44b, and 44c are switches that are operated by the player to advance the game. When the player operates the start switch 42, rotation of three reels 30L, 30C, and 30R described later is started. Further, when the player operates the three stop switches 44a, 44b and 44c, the reels 30L to 30R corresponding to the stop switches operated as described later are stopped.

  The structure of the start switch 42 will be described with reference to FIGS. The functions of the 1 bet switch 62, the 2 bet switch 64, and the maximum bet switch 66 will be described later.

<Reel display window 50 and reels 30L, 30C, 30R>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a reel display window 50 is formed at a substantially central portion of the front surface of the front door 40. As shown in FIG. 2, three reels 30 </ b> L to 30 </ b> R are rotatably accommodated in a reel unit 28 whose front side is open. The reel unit 28 is supported by a support plate 26 fixed to the base portion 20. When the front door 40 is closed, the reel display window 50 is located at a part of the opened front surface of the reel unit 28. The reel display window 50 is covered with a transparent member, and when the front door 40 is closed, the player visually recognizes the types of symbols drawn on the reels 30L to 30R via the reel display window 50. be able to.

  A plurality of types of symbols are attached to each of the three reels 30L to 30R. The types of symbols are those that can be identified by the player, such as the number “7” or the fruit “cherry”. As will be described later, when the three reels 30L to 30R are stopped, nine symbols are stopped and displayed in the reel display window 50 so as to be visible.

<Reels 30L, 30C, 30R and stop switches 44a, 44b, 44c>
The left reel 30L corresponds to the left stop switch 44a, the middle reel 30C corresponds to the center stop switch 44b, and the right reel 30R corresponds to the right stop switch 44c. Thus, when the player operates the left stop switch 44a, the left reel 30L stops, when the player operates the center stop switch 44b, the middle reel 30C stops, and the player presses the right stop switch 44c. When operated, the right reel 30R stops.

<Reel display window 50 and winning lines L1 to L5>
As described above, the reel display window 50 is made of a transparent member, and as shown in FIG. 1, five winning lines L1 to L5 are drawn on the reel display window 50. The winning line L1 is a straight line extending horizontally in the middle stage, the winning line L2 is a straight line extending horizontally in the upper stage, and the winning line L3 is a straight line extending horizontally in the lower stage. The winning line L4 is a straight line extending from the upper left to the lower right, and the winning line L5 is a straight line extending from the lower left to the upper right.

<Bet switches 62, 64 and 66 and winning lines L1 to L5>
When a predetermined number or more medals are inserted into the medal insertion slot 46 of the operation panel 41 described above, the number of medals inserted by a medal counter (not shown) is counted, and the number is stored as the number of credits. The 1-bet switch 62 described above is a switch for setting one medal out of the stored credits to be a game bet. Further, the 2-bet switch 64 is a switch for targeting two medals out of the number of credits for game betting, and the maximum bet switch 66 is a game betting for three medals out of the credit number. It is a switch for making it an object of.

  As described above, the five reel lines L1 to L5 are drawn on the reel display window 50. When the player operates the 1-bet switch 62, one of the 5 winning lines, for example, the winning line L1 is activated, and when the 2bet switch 64 is operated, 3 of the 5 winning lines. For example, when the winning lines L1, L2, and L3 are activated and the maximum bet switch 66 is operated, all five winning lines, that is, L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5 are activated. In this manner, the bet switches 62 to 66 function as selection means for determining the number of medals to be a game bet and validating the pay lines L1 to L5.

<Effective line>
As described above, the bet switches 62 to 66 function as selection means for activating the pay lines L1 to L5 when operated by the player. When the player operates the 1 bet switch 62, the pay line L1 is activated, when the 2 bet switch 64 is operated, the pay lines L1, L2, and L3 are activated, and when the maximum bet switch 66 is operated, All of the pay lines L1 to L5 are activated. As described above, the activated winning line is referred to as an activated line. It is determined whether or not a prize is won by a combination of symbols stopped on the active line.

  For example, when a combination of “7”-“7”-“7” is placed on the above-described active line L1, it is determined that the winning combination of big bonus has been won. The type of combination will be described later. Further, when the combination of symbols that do not constitute a combination on the active line L1 is stopped, it is determined that no winning is made. On the other hand, even if the winning line is not activated, even if it is a combination of “7”-“7”-“7” on the winning line, It is not considered for judging whether or not a prize has been won.

<Base part 20>
The base portion 20 shown in FIG. 2 is assembled in a wood shape or the like, and is formed in a box shape having an open front surface. A power supply unit 22 for supplying power to various devices mounted on the slot machine 10 and a medal payout device 24 including a hopper for storing medals are provided in the lower portion inside the base body portion 20. A support plate 26 is provided above the power supply unit 22 and the medal payout device 24. The support plate 26 supports a reel unit 28 that rotatably accommodates the reels 30L, 30C, and 30R. Furthermore, a main control board 32 that controls the game played in the slot machine 10 as a whole is provided in the upper part inside the base body 20.

<Main control board 32>
The main control board 32 is a control board for controlling the start and stop of the rotation of the three reels 30L, 30C and 30R and for controlling the entire game such as the progress of the game performed in the slot machine 10. The main control board 32 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) for performing arithmetic operations, a ROM (Read Only Memory) (not shown) that stores a game program, and a RAM (Temporarily storing each data). Random access memory) (not shown). For example, the ROM stores a program for executing processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. The RAM also stores variable values used in this program. These CPU, ROM, and RAM are electrically connected by an input / output bus so that data signals and address signals can be input / output.

  The main control board 32 is electrically connected to the bet switches 62, 64 and 66 described above. When the player operates the bet switches 62, 64 and 66, a bet instruction signal is issued from each of the bet switches 62, 64 and 66 to the main control board 32.

  Further, the main control board 32 is electrically connected to the above-described start switch 42 and the three stop switches 44a, 44b and 44c. When the player operates the start switch 42 or the three stop switches 44a, 44b and 44c, an operation signal is issued from the start switch 42 or the three stop switches 44a, 44b and 44c to the main control board 32.

<Sub control board 52>
As shown in FIG. 2, the sub control board 52 is disposed on the upper part of the back surface of the front door 40. The sub-control board 52 is a board that mainly controls the effects during the game, and controls sound output and lighting of lamps. In addition to these, the sub control board 52 also performs control to hold the start switch 42 at a tilted position tilted by a predetermined angle from the reference position when the start switch 42 is tilted, as will be described later. The sub-control board 52 includes a CPU (not shown) that performs calculations, a ROM (not shown) that stores effect programs and effect data, and a RAM (not shown) that temporarily stores each data. Including. For example, the ROM stores a program for executing processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. The RAM also stores variable values used in this program. These CPU, ROM, and RAM are electrically connected by an input / output bus so that data signals and address signals can be input / output.

  The sub control board 52 is electrically connected to the main control board 32 by a harness (not shown). The main control board 32 transmits commands, information, and the like to the sub control board 52. The above-described main control board 32 controls the entire game in an integrated manner, while the sub control board 52 belongs to the lower level of the main control board 32 and is based on commands, information, etc. sent from the main control board 32. To control the entire production. Further, the sub-control board 52 is connected to a solenoid included in a driving body 176 described later, and also performs control for driving the driving body 176 and holding the locking member 172.

<Games in the slot machine 10>
A game in the slot machine 10 is a game in which a game result is determined by a combination of symbols determined by stop positions of the plurality of stopped reels 30L, 30C, or 30R. The player operates the three stop switches 44a, 44b and 44c so that the combination of symbols to be stopped on the active line becomes a combination of symbols constituting a predetermined role, and turns the reels 30L, 30C or 30R. Stop. Further, this game is a game that is performed every time the player operates the start switch 42 and can be repeated as a single stroke from the start of rotation to the stop of rotation of the plurality of reels 30L, 30C, or 30R.

  The types of the above-described combinations include, for example, special combinations, small combinations, and replay combinations. The special role is a role that can shift from a normal game to a special game (a game advantageous to the player). The special combination includes a big bonus (hereinafter referred to as BB) and a regular bonus (hereinafter referred to as RB).

  BB mentioned above is the role which transfers to BB game which is one of the special games. This BB game is a game in which a general game can be performed and a transition to a special game can be made. This privilege game is a game that performs a game in which a predetermined role is won with high probability, and is a game that can give a player a privilege that increases the possibility that the player will acquire more medals. The BB game is a game in which a general game and a bonus game can be repeated until a predetermined end condition is satisfied, for example, until the number of medals to be paid out exceeds a predetermined number.

  The RB is a role for shifting to an RB game which is one of special games. This RB game is a game in which a game corresponding to a privilege game in the BB game is played a predetermined number of times under a certain condition, that is, a game in which a predetermined role is won with a high probability.

  The small combination is a combination for paying out a predetermined number of medals. Furthermore, the re-game is a role that allows a re-game (hereinafter referred to as RP) that maintains the number of bets (the number of bets) in the currently played game.

<< Configuration of Start Switch 42 >>
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the start switch 42. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line II shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the configuration of the start switch 42 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 3 and 4, the direction indicated by the arrow X is the front side of the operation panel 41, and the direction indicated by the arrow Y is the depth side of the operation panel 41.

<Base 100>
A start switch 42 for starting a game is attached to the operation panel 41 via the base 100. The base 100 includes a head portion 102, a male screw forming portion 104 and a shaft portion 106 having a diameter smaller than that of the head portion 102. A through hole 70 for fixing the base 100 is formed in the operation panel 41. The through hole 70 has a substantially circular shape, and is formed in a size that allows both the male screw forming portion 104 and the shaft portion 106 to be inserted.

  A male screw is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the male screw forming portion 104 of the base 100. The base 100 is inserted into the through hole 70 formed in the operation panel 41 from the front side of the operation panel 41, and the nut 130 is screwed into the male screw forming portion 104 from the depth side of the operation panel 41, as shown in FIG. As described above, the base 100 can be fixed to the operation panel 41.

  The head portion 102 of the base 100 has a substantially disc shape, and an opening 108 is formed in the approximate center thereof. The male screw forming portion 104 and the shaft portion 106 are formed with through holes 110 and 112 along the axial direction, and the male screw forming portion 104 and the shaft portion 106 have a substantially cylindrical shape. A connection hole 114 is formed between the opening 108 of the head 102 and the through hole 110 of the male screw forming portion 104. A shaft body 140 (to be described later) can be inserted into the base 100 through the opening 108, the connection hole 114, the through hole 110 of the male screw forming portion 104, and the through hole 112 of the shaft portion 106.

  As shown in FIG. 3, two through holes 116 are formed on the side surface of the male screw forming portion 104 so as to face each other. FIG. 3 shows only one through hole 116. A support rod mounting body 118 is attached to each of these through holes 116. The support bar mounting body 118 has a substantially disk shape, and a mounting hole 120 for mounting the support bar 122 is formed in the approximate center. When the support rod attachment body 118 is attached to each of the through holes 116, the attachment holes 120 formed in each of the two support rod attachment bodies 118 face each other. Between the two mounting holes 120, a support rod 122 for swingably supporting a shaft body 140 described later is provided.

<Shaft body 140>
The shaft body 140 has a long shape and includes a head portion 142, a connecting portion 144, a support portion 146, and a shaft portion 148. Each of the head portion 142, the connecting portion 144, the support portion 146, and the shaft portion 148 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is formed coaxially.

  A sphere 150 is attached to the head 142. An insertion hole 152 is formed in the sphere 150, and the head 142 is inserted into the insertion hole 152 of the sphere 150. The sphere 150 facilitates operation when the player operates the start switch 42.

  A through hole 154 is formed in the diameter direction in the support portion 146 of the shaft body 140. The through hole 154 is formed in a size that allows the above-described support rod 122 to be loosely inserted. In order to attach the shaft body 140 to the base 100, first, the shaft body 140 is inserted into the base 100 from the opening 108, and then positioned so that the through hole 154 of the shaft body 140 and the through hole 116 of the base 100 are in a straight line. Match. In this state, the support rod 122 is inserted into the through hole 154 of the shaft body 140, and each of the two ends of the support rod 122 is attached to the attachment hole 120 of the support rod attachment body 118, and the two support rod attachment bodies 118 are attached. Is attached to the through hole 116 of the base 100. By doing in this way, the shaft body 140 can be attached to the base 100 so as to be swingable around the support rod 122. Specifically, when the sphere 150 is moved by the player in the direction of the arrow a shown in FIG. 3 or 4, the tip of the shaft body 140 is displaced in the direction of the arrow A. When the ball 150 is moved by the player in the direction of the arrow b, the tip of the shaft body 140 is displaced in the direction of the arrow B. Thus, the shaft body 140 can swing in the direction of the arrow A or the direction of the arrow B by the player's operation.

<Spring 160 and spring holder 162>
As will be described later, the shaft body 140 attached to the base 100 by the support rod 122 is urged by a spring 160. The spring 160 has a spiral shape, and one end has a large diameter and the other end has a thin diameter. A spring holding projection 124 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the male screw forming portion 104 of the base 100. The spring holding protrusion 124 supports the end of the spring 160 on the thick diameter side.

  A spring holding body 162 is fixed to the shaft portion 148 of the shaft body 140. As shown in FIG. 3, the spring holder 162 has a substantially disk shape. The spring holder 162 supports the end of the spring 160 on the narrow diameter side.

  When the shaft body 140 is displaced in the direction of the arrow A or the direction of the arrow B by the player's operation and then the operator releases the hand from the shaft body 140, the shaft body 140 is centered by the biasing force of the spring 160. Return to axis L.

  The spring 160 constitutes “biasing means”. The “biasing means” biases the tilted shaft body 140 toward the central axis L, which is the reference position, when there is no tilting operation of the start switch 42 by the player. That is, after the start switch 42 is tilted by the player, when the player releases his hand from the start switch 42, the shaft body 140 is moved toward the reference position by the spring 160 which is one example of the urging means. Means that By this urging means, when the start switch 42 is not tilted by the player, the start switch 42 can be positioned at the reference position.

<Moving part holding body 170>
The movable part holding body 170 is disposed on the depth side of the shaft part 106 of the base 100. The movable part holding body 170 holds the shaft body 140 when the shaft body 140 is displaced by swinging.

  The movable part holding body 170 includes a cylindrical locking member 172 in which a through hole 174 is formed. The through hole 174 is formed in the axial direction, and the shaft portion 148 of the shaft body 140 is inserted therethrough. The locking member 172 is provided on the driving body 176. The length of the locking member 172 and the length of the diameter of the through hole 174 of the locking member 172 are appropriately determined according to the position where the shaft body 140 is to be held.

  The driver 176 includes a spring (not shown) and a solenoid (not shown). The solenoid is provided with a movable body (not shown) that can move along the groove 178 by the magnetic force of the solenoid. The groove 178 is formed on the side surface of the driving body 176 along the central axis L. The above-described locking member 172 is connected to the movable body, and the locking member 172 can move along the central axis L by the magnetic force of the solenoid of the driving body 176.

  The spring biases the locking member 172 toward the central axis L. A power supply circuit (not shown) is connected to the solenoid, and when current is supplied to the solenoid, the locking member 172 is separated from the central axis L by a predetermined length against the biasing force of the spring. (See FIG. 5 described later). When the current to the solenoid is cut off, the locking member 172 is moved toward the central axis L by the biasing force of the spring (see FIG. 4 described later). By driving the solenoid as described above, the locking member 172 can be held at a position away from the central axis L by a predetermined length.

  A power supply circuit that supplies current to the solenoid is controlled by the sub-control board 52 described above. Specifically, a sub-control board 52 executes a subroutine shown in FIG. 8 to be described later, so that a control signal is issued from the sub-control board 52 to a solenoid power supply circuit (not shown), and based on this control signal. Whether to supply current to the solenoid is determined.

  As will be described later, the position at which the shaft body 140 is held can be determined by the length of the locking member 172, the diameter of the through hole 174 of the locking member 172, and the movement distance of the locking member 172.

  The above-described shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148 of the shaft body 140 constitutes an “operation movable portion”. Further, the movable part holding body 170 constitutes a “movable part holding means”. The movable part holding body 170 which is one embodiment of the “movable part holding means” is a shaft body at a tilted position tilted by a predetermined angle from the central axis L which is the reference position when the start switch 42 is tilted. 140 or the shaft portion 148 is held.

  The drive body 176 constitutes a “holding drive unit”. The solenoid of the driving body 176 which is one embodiment of the “holding driving means” drives the movable part holding body 170 when the start switch 42 is displaced to the tilt position described above. Here, the tilted position is a position tilted by an angle α from the central axis L which is a reference position. When a current is supplied to the solenoid, the shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148 is held at the tilted position. A reference position of the shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148 is shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a tilt position where the shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148 is tilted by the angle α.

<Sensor 180>
A sensor 180 is disposed on the depth side of the movable part holder 170. The sensor 180 detects that the tip of the shaft portion 148 of the shaft body 140 has been displaced in the direction of arrow A or B. In the sensor 180, a detection hole 188 is formed along the central axis L. The detection hole 188 is formed in a size corresponding to the range in which the tip of the shaft portion 148 of the shaft body 140 is displaced. Sensor 180 includes a light emitting unit (not shown) and a light receiving unit 186 that receives light emitted from the light emitting unit. The light emitting unit and the light receiving unit 186 are arranged in the detection hole 188 so as to face each other. Two sets of the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion 186 are provided in the detection hole 188 so that the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion 186 can be detected when the shaft portion 148 of the shaft body 140 is displaced in the direction of arrow A or when displaced in the direction of arrow B. ing. A power supply cable 182 and a signal cable 184 are connected to the sensor 180. The power supply cable 182 supplies power for light emission to the light emitting unit. A detection signal supplied from the light receiving unit 186 to the sub-control board 52 is emitted to the signal cable 184.

  When the shaft body 140 is positioned on the central axis L, the light emitted from the light emitting portion is not blocked by the shaft portion 148 of the shaft body 140 and can be received by the light receiving portion 186. On the other hand, when the shaft body 140 is displaced in the direction of the arrow A or B, the light emitted from the light emitting unit is blocked by the shaft portion 148 of the shaft body 140 and cannot be received by the light receiving unit 186. . Depending on whether or not the light emitted from the light emitting unit can be received by the light receiving unit 186, an on state or an off state as a switch of the start switch 42 is determined. In the present embodiment, the off state is when the shaft 140 is positioned on the central axis L, that is, when the light from the light emitting unit can be received. On the other hand, when the shaft 140 is displaced in the direction of the arrow A or the direction of the arrow B, that is, when the light from the light emitting unit cannot be received, the on state is set.

<< Operation of start switch 42 >>
<When shaft body 140 is located on center axis L>
4 is a cross-sectional view of the start switch 42 when the shaft body 140 is positioned on the central axis L. FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along the line II shown in FIG. 3 as described above.

  In this case, no current is supplied to the solenoid of the driving body 176, and the shaft body 140 is positioned on the central axis L by the biasing force of the spring. The spring urges the shaft body 140 toward the central axis L regardless of whether the shaft body 140 is tilted in the direction of arrow A or tilted in the direction of arrow B. For this reason, when the player releases his hand from the sphere 150 of the start switch 42, the shaft body 140 is positioned on the central axis L.

  In the present embodiment, a position where the shaft body 140 is positioned on the central axis L is referred to as a “reference position serving as a reference”.

<When shaft body 140 is tilted and held>
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the start switch 42 when the shaft body 140 is tilted by the angle α and this state is maintained. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along the line I-I shown in FIG. 3, similarly to FIG.

  In this case, a predetermined value of current is supplied to the solenoid of the driving body 176, and the locking member 172 is held at an angle α by balancing the electromagnetic force by the solenoid and the biasing force by the spring. . Note that the magnitude of the current supplied to the solenoid can be appropriately determined according to the biasing force of the spring and the angle α.

  The shaft body 140 is locked at the end 179 of the locking member 172 and is held at a position inclined by the angle α from the central axis L by the locking member 172. By this locking member 172, when the shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148 which is the “operation movable portion” is displaced to the tilted position, the operation movable portion is locked.

<Other embodiments>
In the above-described embodiment, the movable locking member 172 is positioned at a predetermined tilt position, and the shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148 is locked by the locking member 172, thereby holding the shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148. Shown when to do. As another embodiment, the shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148 may be held by directly using the magnetic force generated by the solenoid. In this case, the magnetic pole of the solenoid is positioned at a position tilted from the central axis L by the angle α, and magnetic sensitive means such as iron or permanent magnet is provided on the shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148 corresponding to the position. When the shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148 is tilted and the iron or permanent magnet fixed to the shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148 comes closest to the magnetic pole of the solenoid, a current is supplied to the solenoid to generate a magnetic force. Thus, the shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148 can be held by a magnetic force. In such a configuration, since the locking member is not used, there is no member in contact with the shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148, and the durability of the shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148 can be improved.

  In this case, the solenoid constitutes “a magnetic force generating means that generates a magnetic force that resists the urging force of the urging means”, and iron, a permanent magnet, etc. constitutes “a magnetic sensitive means that can respond to the magnetic force”. .

<< Functions of Slot Machine 10 >>
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of main control functions in the slot machine 10. As shown in FIG. 6, the slot machine 10 mainly includes an operation unit 500, a main control unit 200, a sub control unit 300, and a symbol display unit 400.

<Operating means 500>
The operation means 500 is operated by the player, and issues a signal indicating that the operation means 500 has been operated based on the player's operation to the main control means 200 described later. The start or end timing of the game is determined by a signal issued from the operation means 500 to the main control means 200. The operation means 500 includes an operation switch 510. The operation switch 510 preferably includes the start switch 42 described above. The operation means 500 also includes three stop switches 44a, 44b and 44c. The start of the game is determined by the signal issued from the start switch 42, and the end of the game is determined by the signal issued from the stop switch 44a, 44b or 44c.

  The start switch 42 includes an operation movable portion that can be tilted from a reference position serving as a reference to a first tilt position tilted by a predetermined first angle in accordance with the tilt operation of the player. Here, the operation movable part is preferably the above-described shaft body 140. Further, the start switch 42 generates an operation signal based on the displacement of the operation movable part. For example, the sensor 180 described above generates a detection signal as an operation signal.

<Holding drive means 520>
The operation unit 500 includes a holding drive unit 520. The holding drive unit 520 drives the movable unit holding unit when the operation movable unit is displaced to the tilt position. For example, when the shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148 is displaced to the tilt position of the angle α, the movable portion holding body 170 is driven. In particular, the holding drive unit 520 is preferably a solenoid of the movable part holding body 170. Furthermore, as described above, the operation movable portion is preferably the shaft body 140 or the shaft portion 148.

<Main control means 200>
In addition to the operation means 500 described above, a symbol display means 400 described later is connected to the main control means 200. The main control means 200 controls the entire game such as the progress of the game and issues a control signal to the symbol display means 400. The main control means 200 preferably comprises the main control board 32 described above.

<Role lottery means 220>
The role lottery means 220 performs a lottery of a predetermined role. Here, the combination includes a special combination, a small combination, and a replay.

  The special role is a role that shifts from a normal game to a special game (a game that can be expected to win medals more than a normal game and is advantageous to the player). Special roles generally include BB (Big Bonus) and RB (Regular Bonus). Note that BB and RB are roles for shifting to a BB game and an RB game, respectively, which are one of special games. The small combination is a combination in which a predetermined number of medals are paid out. The number of medals to be paid out is set differently depending on the type of the small role. Furthermore, the replay is a replaying role that enables a replaying with the number of medals inserted in the game (the number of bets) maintained.

  The role lottery means 220 includes, for example, a random number generator 222 (hardware random number, etc.) for the role lottery, a random number extractor 224 that extracts a random number generated by the random number generator 222, and a random number extracted by the random number extractor 224. And random number determination means 226 for determining whether or not the winning combination is won based on the numerical value.

  The random number generation means 222 of the role lottery means 220 generates random numbers in a predetermined positive integer range (for example, 0 to 65535 in decimal notation). The random number extraction means 224 extracts the random number generated by the random number generation means 222 at a predetermined timing when the start switch 42 is operated by the player in this embodiment. The random number determination means 226 determines the combination corresponding to the area to which the random number value belongs by comparing the random value extracted by the random number extraction means 224 with a lottery table (not shown). For example, when the extracted random number value belongs to the winning area of the small watermelon, it is determined that the small watermelon has been won, and when it belongs to the non-winning area, it is determined to be non-winning. The winning probability of the winning combination in the winning lottery process is set to a value as shown in FIG. 9, and the lottery table used by the random number extraction means 214 is set to have a probability as shown in FIG. Yes.

  This combination lottery process is executed in step S12 of FIG.

<Reel drive control means 230>
The reel drive control unit 230 performs rotation control and stop control of the three reels 30L to 30R, and includes a reel rotation control unit 232 and a reel stop control unit 234.

<Reel rotation control means 232>
When the reel rotation control means 232 detects a start operation signal issued from the operation means 500 described above, preferably from the start switch 42, a drive signal is sent to the motors 86a, 86b and 86c for rotating the three reels 30L to 30R. To emit. By this drive signal, the three reels 30L to 30R start to rotate. This process is executed in step S14 of FIG.

<Reel stop control means 234>
The reel stop control means 234 causes the motors 86a, 86b and 86c to stop the three reels 30R to 30L when detecting the stop operation signal issued from the operation means 500 described above, preferably the stop switches 44a to 44c. Issue a drive signal. This process is executed in step S17 of FIG.

<Sub-control means 300>
Sub-control means 300 is connected to the main control means 200 described above, and various commands and information issued from the main control means 200, for example, the result lottery result drawn by the role lottery means 220, and the stop switch Information indicating that is operated is supplied to the sub-control means 300. The sub-control means 300 is preferably composed of the sub-control board 52 described above.

  The sub-control unit 300 includes a holding lottery unit 310.

<Holding lottery means 310>
The holding lottery means 310 determines, by lottery processing, whether or not to drive the holding driving means 520 described above when the winning combination drawn by the winning lottery means 220 is a predetermined winning combination. For example, the holding lottery means 310 determines whether or not to drive the movable part holder 170 of the start switch 42 by lottery processing.

  The holding lottery means 310 includes a random number generating means 312 (hardware random number or the like) for determining whether to drive the holding driving means 520 by lottery processing, and a random number extracting means for extracting random numbers generated by the random number generating means 312. 314 and random number determination means 316 for determining whether or not to hold and drive means 520 based on the random number value extracted by random number extraction means 314.

  The random number generation means 312 of the holding lottery means 310 generates a random number within a predetermined positive integer range (for example, 0 to 65535 in decimal notation). The random number extraction unit 314 extracts the random number generated by the random number generation unit 312 at a predetermined timing when step S34 of FIG. 8 described later in this embodiment is executed. The random number determination unit 316 determines whether or not to drive the holding drive unit 520 by comparing the random value extracted by the random number extraction unit 314 with a lottery table (not shown).

  Note that the probability of whether to drive the holding drive means 520 is set to a value as shown in FIG. 10, and the lottery table used by the random number extraction means 314 has a probability as shown in FIG. It has been established.

<< Control processing >>
Below, the control performed in the main control means 200 (main control board 32) and the sub control means 300 (sub control board 52) mentioned above is demonstrated. FIG. 7 is a subroutine for executing control processing in the main control means 200. FIG. 8 is a subroutine for executing control processing in the sub-control means 300.

  In the following description, the slot machine 10 is activated in advance, and the above-described main control means 200 and sub-control means 300 finish the activation process such as initialization of various variables used for the control, and the slot machine 10 10 is assumed to be in steady operation. Also, the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 shows only one example for executing the control process in the main control unit 200, and the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 also executes the control process in the sub-control unit 300. This example is only shown and is not limited to this processing procedure.

<Control in main control means 200>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control in the main control means 200.

  First, it is determined whether or not the start switch 42 has been turned on by the player (step S11). When it is determined that the start switch 42 is not turned on, the process of step S11 is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the start switch 42 is turned on, the winning lottery process is executed by the winning lottery means 220 described above. When winning a winning combination, the value of the winning combination flag indicating that the winning combination is won is set to 1. Set (step S12). This role lottery process is a process in which a role such as a special role, a small role, and a replay is drawn by the role lottery means 220 as described above. Specifically, the probability that one of a plurality of roles “BB”, “RB”, “Watermelon”, “Bell”, “Cherry”, “Replay”, or “Out” is drawn is shown in FIG. The lottery table used by the random number determination means 226 described above is determined so that the values shown in FIG.

  The winning combination flag described above is determined for each type of winning combination, and the value of the flag corresponding to the type of the winning combination is set to 1 according to the type of winning combination. Next, role lottery result information indicating a result lottery result by the role lottery process is transmitted to the sub-control means 300 (step S13).

  Next, according to the winning lottery result of the winning lottery process in step S12, a stop control table (not shown) to be referred to when stopping control of the three reels 30L, 30C and 30R is selected, and the three reels 30L are selected. , 30C and 30R rotation control is started (step S14).

  Further, it is determined whether any of the three stop switches 44a to 44c is turned on by the player (step S15). When it is determined that any of the three stop switches 44a to 44c is not turned on, this determination process is repeated. When it is determined that any of the three stop switches 44a to 44c is turned on, operation information indicating the turned on stop switch is transmitted to the sub-control unit 300 (step S16). Next, stop control is performed on any one of the reels 30L to 30R corresponding to the turned-on stop switch (step S17).

  Next, it is determined whether or not all of the three reels 30L to 30R are stopped (step S18). When it is determined that all the reels 30L to 30R are not stopped, the process returns to step S15 described above. On the other hand, when it is determined that all the reels 30L to 30R are stopped, it is determined whether or not the combination of symbols corresponding to any combination has stopped on the active line, that is, whether or not any combination has been won. Judgment is made (step S19). When it is determined that a winning combination is won, a process corresponding to the winning combination is executed (step S20). For example, when winning a small role or the like, the payout process of the number of medals corresponding to the winning combination is performed, and when winning a replay, the same number of medals inserted in the game is automatically inserted. .

  When it is determined in step S19 that no winning combination has been won, or when the process of step S20 is executed, this subroutine is terminated.

<Control in sub-control unit 300>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control in the sub-control means 300.

  First, it is determined whether or not the combination lottery result information issued from the main control means 200 is received in step S13 of FIG. 8 described above (step S31). When it is determined that the combination lottery result information has not been received, the process of step S31 is repeated.

  When it is determined that the combination lottery result information issued from the main control means 200 has been received, the control of the start switch 42 is released (step S32). Next, it is determined whether or not the winning lottery result received in step S31 is a winning combination such as BB or a small combination (step S33). When it is determined that the winning combination is not achieved, that is, when it is determined that the winning combination is missed, this subroutine is immediately terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the received winning lottery result is any winning combination, holding lottery processing for determining whether to hold the start switch 42 in the tilted position by driving the movable part holding body 170 of the start switch 42 is performed. Based on the type of winning combination (step S34). Specifically, the start switch 42 is held in the tilted position in accordance with each of a plurality of roles “BB”, “RB”, “watermelon”, “bell”, “cherry”, “replay”, or “off”. The lottery table used by the random number determination means 316 described above is determined so that the probability of whether or not the lottery will be lottery becomes the value shown in FIG.

  When the start switch 42 is held in the tilted position by the holding lottery process in step S34, current is supplied to the solenoid of the driving body 176 that drives the movable part holding body 170 of the start switch 42 to control the solenoid (step S36). This subroutine is terminated. If the start switch 42 is not held in the tilted position by the holding lottery process in step S34, this subroutine is immediately ended.

  When the process of step S36 described above is not executed and no current is supplied to the solenoid of the driving body 176 that holds the start switch 42 in the tilted position, the locking member 172 is connected to the driving body 176 as shown in FIG. Due to the biasing force of the spring, it is located at the center, that is, on the central axis L. In this case, the shaft portion 148 of the shaft body 140 returns to the center axis L by the biasing force of the spring when the player releases the hand after tilting the start switch 42.

  On the other hand, when the process of step S36 described above is executed and current is supplied to the solenoid of the driving body 176 that holds the start switch 42 in the tilted position, the locking member 172 is moved to the driving body as shown in FIG. It is positioned at a position inclined by an angle α from the central axis L by the electromagnetic force of the solenoid 176. In this case, the shaft portion 148 of the shaft body 140 is held at a position inclined by the angle α.

  By controlling in this way, normally, the operation switch returns immediately to the central axis L when the player releases his / her hand after tilting. On the other hand, when the winning combination selected by the winning combination lottery means is a predetermined winning combination, the operation switch tilted by the movable portion holding body 170, specifically, the locking member 172, is held at the tilted position.

  The control shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 described above performs control for holding the start switch 42 immediately after the start switch 42 is operated by the player. That is, it is necessary to detect that the start switch 42 has been operated and to perform control to hold the start switch 42 being operated by the player. However, when the start switch 42 is operated, other control processes such as reel rotation control for starting a game must be performed simultaneously. For this reason, it is assumed that there is insufficient time for controlling the start switch 42, that is, the control is not in time. From this point of view, when it is determined that the start switch 42 is held in the lottery process in step S34 in FIG. 8, this is stored using a flag or the like, and at the next game, that is, this time. After the game is finished, the solenoid control in step S36 may be performed. By doing in this way, the control which hold | maintains the start switch 42 in a tilting position can be changed exactly.

2 is a front view showing a front surface of the slot machine 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. FIG. 3 shows an internal structure of the slot machine 10. It is a three-dimensional exploded view of the start switch in the embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the cross section of the start switch 42 along the II line | wire shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the start switch 42 when the shaft body 140 is hold | maintained in the tilting position. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of main control functions in the slot machine 10. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing control in main control means 200. 3 is a flowchart showing control in sub-control means 300. It is a table | surface which shows the probability of the hand drawn by the hand lottery means 220. It is a table | surface which shows the lottery probability in the holding | maintenance lottery means 310.

Explanation of symbols

10 Slot machine 30L, 30C, 30R Reel 42 Start switch (operation switch)
44a, 44b, 44c Stop switch 140 Shaft body (operation movable part)
148 Shaft (operating movable part)
160 Spring (biasing means)
170 Movable part holder (movable part holding means)
172 Locking member (locking means)
176 Driving body (holding driving means)
200 Main control means 220 Role lottery means 230 Reel control means 232 Reel rotation control means 234 Reel stop control means 300 Sub control means 310 Holding lottery means 500 Operation means 510 Operation switch 520 Holding means driving means L Central axis (reference position)

Claims (4)

It is a slot machine in which the progress of a game is determined by the display mode when a plurality of rotatable reels to which a plurality of types of symbols are attached are stopped based on the player's operation. And
An operation switch including an operation movable unit that can be tilted from a reference position serving as a reference in accordance with the tilting operation of the player and that returns to the reference position when there is no tilting operation by the player. An operation switch for emitting an operation signal based on the
Reel drive control means for controlling the rotation or stop of the reel by emitting a drive signal to the reel based on the operation signal issued from the operation switch;
Role lottery means for determining the game role by lottery processing;
When the operation switch is tilted, a movable portion that holds the operation movable portion at a tilted position tilted by a predetermined angle from the reference position when the role lottered by the role lottery means is a predetermined role. And a holding means. Biasing means for biasing the tilted operation movable portion toward the reference position when there is no tilting operation of the player;
The slot machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a holding drive unit that drives the movable unit holding unit when the operation movable unit is displaced to the tilt position.   The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit includes a locking unit that locks the operation movable unit when the operation movable unit is displaced to the tilted position. The holding means includes magnetic force generation means for generating a magnetic force that resists the urging force of the urging means when the operation movable portion is displaced to the tilt position.
The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the operation movable unit includes a magnetic sensing means capable of sensing the magnetic force.

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