JP2006141471A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine which can arbitrarily set an intake unit quantity of game balls by the unit of one piece within a range from one piece to a maximum unit quantity (e.g., 15 pieces), and can take in game balls of the set intake unit quantity in a short period of time in the slot machine of which the game medium is the game ball. <P>SOLUTION: A taking-in rotary body 51 is equipped with a housing recess section 52 of a specified length which can house game balls under a single string form, is turnably provided, houses game balls which stream down from a casting port 43 in the housing recess section 52 under the single string form under the state that the housing recess section 52 has turned to an accepting position which faces the casting port 43. Also, the intake rotary body 51 discharges the game balls being housed in the housing recess section 52 under the state that the housing recess section 52 has turned to a discharging position which enables the game balls to stream down. A intake unit quantity adjusting means 81 adjusts the intake unit game ball quantity by changing the opening area of a casting path 54 with which the casting slot 43 and the housing recess section 52 are communicated by a specified game ball quantity unit. This slot machine is equipped with the intake rotary body 51 and an intake unit quantity adjusting means 81. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a slot machine that uses a game ball for a pachinko machine as a game medium.

  Slot machines that use game balls for pachinko machines as game media can play games using game balls instead of medals that are used as game media in general slot machines. By installing the game room, the player can enjoy both pachinko machines and slot machines with one kind of game medium. In addition, this slot machine can be installed on a game island for pachinko machines and can use ball supply / recovery equipment for pachinko machines. There is also an advantage of becoming.

  By the way, the current game ball and medal lending rate in the game hall is 4 yen for one game ball, while it is 20 yen for one medal, and its value ratio is 1: 5. . Therefore, in order to give a slot machine that uses game balls the same game performance as a medal-type slot machine, the number of bets (1 to 3 BET) is set with 5 game balls corresponding to the value of one medal as one unit. It needs to be configurable. For this reason, in a slot machine using a conventional game ball, it is communicated with an intake storage tray for storing game balls released from a prize ball payout unit or a ball lending unit, and the number of unit balls is 1 A take-in device for taking in a game ball with a bet of ˜3 BET is provided, and the take-in device is operated in response to the player's BET button operation, and a game with a unit number of balls with the bet number set by the player The ball is taken inside the gaming machine.

Conventional take-in devices are roughly classified into two types according to the method of taking game balls. One of them is a type that collects game balls of the unit number of balls in a lump. The game balls of one bet number are arranged in a row on the downstream side of the ball guide passage that communicates with the intake storage tray. A take-in rotating body in which a plurality of unit ball storage parts that can be stored are formed on the outer periphery, and an outer peripheral direction of the take-in rotating body that takes in all the game balls stored in the unit ball storing part by rotating the take-in rotating body A predetermined number of game balls flowing down from the ball guide passage in the unit sphere storage unit, and rotating the take-in rotating body to collect the unit number of game balls in a lump. It is the one that takes in the gaming machine (see, for example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2), and the other one is a type that takes in one gaming ball of one unit ball at a time, On the downstream side of the ball supply passage communicating with the intake storage tray, there is a recess for receiving one game ball at a peripheral surface portion. A sprocket is arranged so as to be rotationally driven, and the game ball received in the recess through the rotational drive of the sprocket is guided to the intake port formed on the rotation locus of the recess, so that the game ball having the number of unit balls can be obtained. Each one is taken into the gaming machine one by one (for example, see Patent Document 3).
JP 2003-93592 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-62885 JP 2002-65953 A

  The above-mentioned type of take-in device that takes in game balls of the number of unit balls at a time has the advantage of being able to take in a plurality of game balls in a short time, but it is stored depending on the length of the unit ball storage part. Since the number of game balls to be played is defined, it is possible to take in game balls of unit balls (for example, 5 balls) only in units of 1 to 3 BET bets set by the player. By the way, in a slot machine using a game ball in recent years, a slot machine in which a player can arbitrarily set a bet amount within a range of, for example, 1 to 15 (for example, the applicant's). Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-250636) has been developed, but the slot machine is adapted to the above-mentioned type of taking-in device that takes in the game balls of the number of unit balls (for example, 5) at a time. There is a problem that it is not possible. On the other hand, in a take-in device that takes in one game ball of each unit number by rotating the sprocket, the amount of sprocket rotation is controlled in units of one game ball, and one game ball is taken in one unit. However, there is a problem that the time taken in becomes longer as the number of game balls taken in at a time approaches the maximum unit number (for example, 15).

  In the present invention, the number of game balls taken in can be arbitrarily set in units of 1 in the range from 1 to the maximum number of units (for example, 15), and the game balls of the set number of take-in units can be set. It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot machine that can take in a short time.

  The present invention is a slot machine that uses game balls as game media, the game balls for taking in are stored, an alignment unit that aligns the stored game balls in a line, and formed in the alignment unit. A take-in storage tray having an insertion slot having a length corresponding to a row of the maximum unit number of game balls to be taken in at least at one time, and a storage recess having a predetermined length capable of storing the game balls in a row, The game balls that are provided so as to be rotatable and the storage recesses are rotated to the receiving position facing the input port, and the game balls flowing down from the input port are stored in a row in the storage recesses, and the storage recesses are game balls A take-in rotator for releasing the game ball accommodated in the accommodating recess in a state of being rotated to a release position that allows the flow of the spill, a rotation drive device for rotationally driving the take-in rotator, and the insertion port; Change the opening area of the insertion path that communicates with the housing recess in units of a predetermined number of game balls So it is a slot machine which is characterized by comprising a taking unit speed adjusting means for adjusting the number of units taking the game ball (claim 1).

  Here, the opening area of the insertion path to be changed in units of a predetermined number of game balls is arbitrarily set in units of at least one in the range from one game ball to the maximum unit number (for example, 15). That is, the predetermined game ball number unit is a predetermined number of game ball units that are increased or decreased by one in a range from one game ball to the maximum unit number (for example, 15).

  The take-in rotator is controlled to stop at a rotational position where the housing recess does not face the input port, and in the stopped state, the opening area of the input path is changed by the intake unit number adjusting means (claim) 2) is proposed.

  The take-in unit number adjusting means includes an opening / closing plate provided so as to be able to advance and retract along a direction crossing the charging path, and a moving operation member connected to the opening / closing plate to move the opening / closing plate forward and backward. A configuration (claim 3) is proposed in which the number of take-in units is adjusted by taking a game ball from the opening area of the throw-in path that changes as the opening / closing plate moves forward and backward.

  In addition, a configuration is proposed in which a plurality of partition walls are formed at intervals of one game ball along the storage direction of the game ball at the bottom of the storage recess (claim 4).

  In addition, a loading port is formed at the bottom of the alignment portion of the storage reservoir, and the loading rotating body is disposed so that the receiving recess is opposed to a position directly below the loading port, and the loading port and the receiving portion are accommodated. A configuration (claim 5) is proposed in which an opening / closing plate of the taking-in unit number adjusting means is arranged in the charging path communicating with the recess.

  In addition, a configuration is proposed in which an indicator portion for informing the number of unit game balls adjusted by the taking-in unit number adjusting means is provided on the front surface of the gaming machine main body (Claim 6).

  As described above, the present invention stores the game balls for taking in, aligns the stored game balls in a line, and the maximum unit number formed at least once at the alignment portion. A storage tray for taking in with a slot corresponding to the number of rows of game balls, a storage recess with a predetermined length that can store the game balls in a row, and provided rotatably. A discharge position in which the game balls flowing down from the insertion port are stored in a row in the storage recess in a state where the storage recess is rotated to the receiving position facing the input port, and the storage recess allows the game ball to flow down. A take-in rotator for releasing the game ball accommodated in the accommodating recess, a rotational drive device for rotationally driving the take-in rotator, and an input in which the inlet and the accommodating recess are communicated with each other. Adjust the number of unit game balls to be captured by changing the opening area of the route in units of a predetermined number of game balls. (1), the opening area of the insertion path is changed by a predetermined number of game balls by the intake unit number adjusting means. The unit to be taken into the housing recess at a time by accommodating the game ball flowing down from the insertion port in the housing recess with the opening area adjusted to the opening area corresponding to the number of unit game balls to be taken in The number of game balls is accommodated. Here, the game balls of the number of unit game balls are accommodated substantially simultaneously in a line from the opening direction of the accommodation recesses in a state where the accommodation recesses are rotated to the receiving position facing the insertion port. In a state where the game ball is rotated to a release position that allows the game ball to flow down, the game ball is released almost simultaneously in the opening direction of the housing recess and is taken into the game machine. As a result, the number of game balls taken in can be arbitrarily set in units of 1 in the range from 1 to the maximum number of units (for example, 15). It can be taken in a short time.

  The take-in rotating body is controlled to stop at a rotational position where the housing recess does not face the charging port, and in the stopped state, the opening area of the charging path is changed by the loading unit number adjusting means (claim) In 2), if there is a game ball in the housing recess at the time of changing the opening area of the throwing path, there is no problem in increasing the opening area of the throwing path. In the case of decreasing the number, the number of taken-in units set by the taking-in unit number adjusting means and the number of game balls actually taken in that time may not match. The take-in rotating body is stopped at a rotation position not facing the input port so that the game ball does not flow into the receiving recess from the input route, and the opening area of the input route is changed by the intake unit number adjusting means. By means of Uptake units number of game balls that are configured Te can the capture accurately.

  The taking-in unit number adjusting means is composed of an opening / closing plate provided so as to be able to advance and retract along a direction crossing the charging path, and a moving operation member connected to the opening / closing plate to move the opening / closing plate forward and backward. In the configuration in which the number of units to be taken in is adjusted by taking a game ball from the opening area of the insertion path that changes due to the forward / backward movement of the opening / closing plate (Claim 3), the opening / closing plate is moved by the moving operation member. By moving forward and backward, the opening area of the input path changes, so that the number of take-in units can be easily adjusted via the moving operation of the moving operation member.

  Further, in the configuration in which a plurality of partition walls are formed at intervals of one game ball along the storage direction of the game ball on the bottom of the storage recess (claim 4), the number of take-in units in the storage recess In the state where the game balls are taken in, if the pressing force by the succeeding game balls becomes excessive, there is a possibility that the game balls in the housing recesses move and more game balls than the number of take-in units are taken in. However, in such a case, the partition wall can prevent movement of the game ball in the receiving recess, and entry of game balls exceeding the number of take-in units is prevented.

  In addition, a loading port is formed at the bottom of the alignment portion of the storage reservoir, and the loading rotating body is disposed so that the receiving recess is opposed to a position directly below the loading port, and the loading port and the receiving portion are accommodated. In the configuration (Claim 5) in which the opening / closing plate of the taking-in unit number adjusting means is disposed in the charging path communicating with the recess, the charging path can be made as short as possible, and the game ball Is housed in the housing recess due to free fall, so that the take-in time is shortened.

  Further, in the configuration (Claim 6) in which an indicator portion for informing the number of unit game balls adjusted by the taking-in unit number adjusting means is provided on the front surface of the gaming machine main body (Claim 6), the adjusted number of unit game balls is The player can easily know.

Below, the 1st Example of the slot machine 1 concerning this invention is described based on FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 1 includes a rectangular outer frame 2 fixed to a game island (not shown) and a gaming machine main body 3 that covers a front opening portion of the outer frame 2.

  The gaming machine body 3 includes a front frame 5 (see FIG. 3) in which a substantially square opening 6 is formed at the center upper portion, and one side edge of the front frame 5 is connected to the outer frame via hinge members 4 and 4. It is pivotally attached to 2 so that it can be opened and closed. A game board 7 is attached to the opening 6 of the front frame 5 in a fitted state, and a symbol P (see FIG. 2) of the rotary reels 63a to 63c is placed in front of the game board 7 at a substantially central portion. Display windows 8a to 8c that can be visually recognized are formed. Here, the rotating reels 63a to 63c are assembled to a reel unit (not shown) disposed on the back side of the game board 7, and are rotated by a reel driving motor (see FIG. 10). . A winning line lamp 9 (see FIG. 2) for notifying the player of an effective winning line is provided on the left side of the display window 8a located on the left side of the gaming board 7. Below the display windows 8a to 8c, various indicators 10 to 13 for displaying the number of winnings in the regular bonus, the number of winning balls obtained by one winning and other necessary information, respectively (see FIG. 2). Are arranged in a horizontal row. Further, a surplus sphere storage tray 14 is disposed at the front lower portion of the front frame 5, and a sphere discharge port 15 is formed in the front frame 5 so as to face the surplus sphere storage tray 14. In the surplus ball storage tray 14, game balls overflowing from a ball passage leading to an intake storage tray 16 to be described later and game balls returned by a cancel operation flow from the ball discharge port 15 and are stored.

  A front door 17 having one side edge pivoted by a hinge member (not shown) is attached to the front side of the front frame 5 so as to be openable and closable. The front door 17 includes a window 18 in which a transparent cover plate made of glass or synthetic resin is fitted, and the rotary reels 63a to 63c that are exposed from the window 18 to the display windows 8a to 8c described above. The design P and various displays 10-13 can be visually recognized. Decorative lamps 19 are disposed on the left and right sides of the window 18, and speakers 20 are disposed on the left and right sides of the upper portion thereof. The decoration lamp 19 and the speaker 20 are used to produce an effect with a predetermined blinking light or sound effect according to the gaming state. A card operation unit 21 (see FIG. 2) is disposed at the lower left portion of the window 18. The card operation unit 21 receives a card return button 25 used for an instruction to return a prepaid card inserted in a prepaid card unit (not shown) attached to the side of the slot machine 1 to a player, and a predetermined number of game balls. A ball lending button 26 used for an instruction to pay out as a ball lending and a frequency display 27 for displaying the balance of the prepaid card inserted into the card unit. Further, an operation piece 58 of a moving operation member 56 constituting a take-in unit number adjusting means 81 to be described later is protruded forward at a lower position of the front door 17 at a right position of the card operation unit 21. The operating port 28 is formed with a predetermined length in the left-right direction, and an indicator unit 29 for notifying the number of game ball take-in units in units is provided on the upper side of the operating port 28.

  In addition, a game operation unit 30 in which the intake storage tray 16 is integrally formed is disposed below the front door 17. The game operation unit 30 is provided with a start lever 31, stop buttons 32-34, a cancel button 35, a ball removal button 36, and a settlement button 37 on the front wall surface, and a BET button 38 on the right side of the upper wall surface. Is provided. And a game is performed by operation of these buttons and levers. Here, the BET button 38 constitutes a making switch for putting a game ball in the number of taking-in units set by the player and, as will be described later, the storing for taking-in is performed by pressing this button. The game balls in the tray 16 are automatically taken to the back side of the front frame 5, and the bet number is set according to the number of game balls taken. When the start lever 31 is pushed down in a state where the game ball can be taken in by taking in the game balls, the rotary reels 63a to 63c are rotated to start the game. The stop buttons 32 to 34 are used for the stop operation of the rotary reels 63a to 63c. When these buttons are pressed while the rotary reels 63a to 63c are rotating, the game control device described later is based on the operation timing. The rotary reels 63a to 63c corresponding to the stop buttons 32 to 34 are stopped. The cancel button 35 is for canceling the game before starting the game and returning the game ball taken to the back side of the front frame 5. When the player presses the cancel button 35, the cancel button 35 is used. The taken game ball is discharged to the surplus ball storage tray 14. The ball removal button 36 is for discharging the game balls of the take-in storage tray 16 to the surplus ball storage tray 14. A game ball flows down to the storage tray 14. The checkout button 37 is for paying out game balls stored as unpaid-out number data. By pressing the checkout button 37, the number of game balls corresponding to the unpaid-out number data is stored. It is paid out to the dish 16. Here, the unpaid-out number data is stored and held as electronic data up to a predetermined number (for example, 250) without actually paying out the winning balls generated by winning a prize. As a result, the number of game balls corresponding to the unpaid-out number data can be paid out to the storing reservoir 16. The start lever 31, the stop buttons 32-34, and the BET button 38 are each provided with a switch and a lamp, and the operation of each lever and button constitutes a game control device to be described later by the ON operation of each switch. The information is transmitted to the control board 100 (see FIG. 10), and the player is notified that the lever or button operation is effective by lighting each lamp.

  The take-in storage dish 16 has a storage area 40 for storing game balls inside, and the game balls are received from a ball supply port 41 opened on the left side of the front door 17 so as to face the storage area 40. Inflow. As shown in FIG. 4, the storage area 40 is provided with an elongated groove-like alignment portion 42 for aligning the game balls x in a line, and the front door 17 constituting the rear wall surface of the alignment portion 42 is provided on the storage region 40. A slot 43 (see FIG. 3) having a length corresponding to a row of the maximum number of unit balls (for example, 15 balls) to be taken in at least once is opened. As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom surface of the alignment portion 42 is inclined downward toward the insertion port 43, and the game balls in the alignment portion 42 roll toward the insertion port 43. Further, the bottom surface of the storage area 40 is inclined downward toward the alignment portion 42 so that the game balls in the storage area 40 can flow into the alignment portion 42 sequentially. Then, the game balls in the storage area 40 flow downward and rearward from the insertion port 43 and are taken into the game machine by a take-in device 50 described later with a predetermined unit number (for example, 1 to 15) as one unit. Here, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment to be described later, it is possible to select the bet number by the number of take-in units of 1 to 15 game balls for each game. A game control device, which will be described later, includes game control content for executing a game with game content corresponding to the selected bet number.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a take-in device 50 is arranged in the vicinity of the insertion port 43 at the rear position of the insertion port 43. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the take-in device 50 has two storage recesses 52 and 52 (see FIG. 5) that can store game balls in a line in the axial direction at positions different from the outer peripheral surface by 180 °. And a rotary drive device including a take-in motor 53 that rotationally drives the take-in rotary body 51. The take-in motor 53 is a game control to be described later. It is rotationally driven based on the control of the apparatus, and the take-in rotating body 51 is rotated at a predetermined angle. Then, in a state where any one of the receiving recesses 52 is rotated to the receiving position facing the input port 43 by the rotation of the take-in rotating body 51 (see FIG. The game balls flowing down from the insertion path 54 communicating with the concave portion 52 are accommodated in the accommodating concave portion 52 substantially simultaneously in a line from the opening direction, and the accommodating concave portion 52 is rotated to a discharge position that allows the gaming ball to flow down. In this state (see FIG. 11D), the game balls accommodated in the accommodation recess 52 are discharged almost simultaneously in the opening direction. In addition, a plurality of partition walls 57 are formed at intervals of one game ball along the storage direction of the game balls at the bottom of the storage recesses 52, 52. The movement of the game ball can be prevented. In addition, as shown in FIG. 11 (a), the take-in rotating body 51 is driven and controlled so as to stop at a rotational position where the receiving recess 52 does not face the charging port 43, as shown in FIG. The charging path 54 is provided to be shielded.

  A strip-shaped opening / closing plate 55 having a length capable of shielding the insertion port 43 is disposed at the insertion port 43. The opening / closing plate 55 is slidably supported by a rail member having a groove shape (not shown) formed on the back side of the front door 17 so as to face the vicinity of the upper and lower opening edges of the insertion port 43 in the vertical direction. Thereby, the opening / closing plate 55 is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat along a direction crossing the charging path 54. One end of a moving operation member 56 for moving the opening / closing plate 55 forward and backward is connected to the opening / closing plate 55, and an operation piece 58 provided at the other end of the moving operation member 56 is connected to the front door 17 described above. It protrudes forward from the operating port 28. When the moving operation member 56 is moved in the left-right direction by manual operation on the operation piece 58, the opening / closing plate 55 moves back and forth in the left-right direction, and the opening area of the input path 54 changes accordingly. ing. Then, the opening / closing plate 55 and the moving operation member 56 described above constitute a taking-in unit number adjusting means 81 that changes the opening area of the insertion path 54 in units of a predetermined number of game balls and adjusts the number of unit game balls to be taken in. Has been.

  Further, the take-in device 50 includes a cover member 60 that covers the outer peripheral surface of the take-in rotating body 51, and the peripheral surface of the cover member 60 is at least once at a position where it can communicate with the charging path 54. A communication port 61 having a length corresponding to a row of maximum number of unit balls (for example, 15) to be taken in is opened. In addition, a lower part of the cover member 60 is integrally formed with a take-in bar 62 for receiving a game ball released from the receiving recess 52 of the take-in rotary body 51 rotated to the release position (see FIG. 11D). A take-in passage 64 is provided at one end of the take-in cage 62 and extends in the rear direction so that a row of game balls flow down one by one and take into the game machine. The take-in passage 64 is provided with a take-in ball detection switch 65 (see FIG. 8). The number of game balls detected by the take-in ball detection switch 65 is calculated as the number of bets for each game. The number of capture units to be set is transmitted to a main control board 100 (see FIG. 10) described later.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the leading end of the intake passage 64 is bifurcated via a distribution device 67. One branch path 68a is communicated with a ball passage 74 (see FIG. 9) for allowing the game ball to flow down to the ball discharge port 15 of the surplus ball storage tray 14 described above, and the other branch path 68b is a ball collection device for the game island. It is open to face (not shown). Then, the game balls flowing in and flowing down from the take-in cage 62 are discharged to either the ball discharge port 15 of the surplus ball storage tray 14 or the ball collection device of the game island by the sorting device 67.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), the distribution device 67 includes a sprocket 69 capable of blocking the intake passage 64, a distribution motor 70 for selectively rotating the sprocket 69 in both forward and reverse directions, The stationary ball detection switch 71 is provided immediately above the sprocket 69. Here, the sprocket 69 is provided with three recesses 72 that can accommodate game balls one by one in the peripheral portion thereof, and between the recesses 72 is a stopping portion 73 that stops the game balls on the outer peripheral surface thereof. . The distribution motor 70 is a stepping motor, is connected to the main control board 100 (see FIG. 10), is driven to rotate in either the forward or reverse direction by a control signal from the main control board 100, and Control is performed so that one of the stopping portions 73 stops in a state of facing upward. Then, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), the game balls in units of bets taken into the take-in passage 64 from the take-in basket 62 are temporarily stopped by the stop 73 of the sprocket 69, and in this state When the above-described start lever 31 is pushed down, the distribution motor 70 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in the drawing based on a control signal from the main control board 100 (see FIG. 10), and the sprocket 69 rotates in the same direction. As shown in FIG. 9B, the game ball is discharged to the ball collection device side of the game island through the branch path 68b. At this time, the rotation of the sorting motor 70 is continued until the game ball is not detected by the stationary ball detection switch 71 disposed immediately above the sprocket 69, that is, in units of bets taken into the take-in passage 64. Continue until there are no more game balls. In addition, when the cancel button 35 is pressed in a state where the game balls in units of bets are stopped by the stopping portion 73 of the sprocket 69, based on a control signal from the main control board 100 (see FIG. 10), The distribution motor 70 is driven to rotate clockwise in the figure, and the sprocket 69 rotates in the same direction, so that the game ball moves to the end portion side of the ball passage 74 via the branch path 68a as shown in FIG. Sent. Thereby, the game ball once taken into the take-in passage 64 is returned to the surplus ball storage tray 14 from the ball discharge port 15.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control circuit constituting the game control device of the slot machine 1 according to the present invention.
A main control board 100 constituted by a microcomputer is provided with a board circuit including a central control device (CPU) for main control for comprehensively controlling the game operation of the slot machine 1. The board circuit of the main control board 100 is provided with an input port and an output port (not shown) for performing data communication with peripheral devices, and a control signal from the main control board 100 is issued through the output port. The signals are output toward the input ports of the control board 101, the display control board 102, the lamp control board 103, and the information terminal board 105. Further, the above-mentioned switches of the start lever 31, BET button 38, stop buttons 32 to 34, cancel button 35, ball removal button 36, and settlement button 37 are connected to the input port of the main control board 100. The control board 100 checks the ON operation state of these switches every predetermined time (for example, every 2 ms), and controls the game state according to the ON operation. The main control board 100 is connected to a take-in motor 53, a take-in ball detection switch 65, a sorting motor 70, and a stationary ball detection switch 71.

  The payout control board 101 is provided with a board circuit for controlling the payout operation of the game ball. This board circuit is connected to the payout device, and operates the payout device in accordance with a command sent from the main control board 100 to execute the payout of the rented or winning balls. Also, the payout control board 101 is connected to a card unit, which is an accessory device that reads and writes a prepaid card storing the number of rented balls, via a CR connection board 104 that relays the data processing of this prepaid card. Exchanges the remaining sphere data of the sphere. Further, the payout control board 101 is provided with a ball break switch for detecting the ball break in the ball tank, or behind the ball discharge port 15, and the surplus ball storage tray 14 is filled with game balls. A full tank switch is connected to detect this.

  The display control board 102 is provided with a board circuit for performing stop control of the rotary reels 63a to 63c. The substrate circuit is connected to a reel drive motor that rotationally drives each of the rotary reels 63 a to 63 c and a reference position sensor that detects the rotation angle of the rotary reels 63 a to 63 c, and in accordance with a command sent from the main control substrate 100. The reel drive motor is operated to rotate each of the rotary reels 63a to 63c and stop at a predetermined rotation angle. The display control board 102 is connected to the various displays 10 to 13 provided below the rotary reels 63a to 63c, and is connected to the speaker 20 via the voice control board 106 that controls output of sound effects and voices. It is connected.

  The lamp control board 103 is connected with a winning line lamp 9, a start lamp of a start lever provided in the game operation unit 30, and button lamps incorporated in the BET button 38 and stop buttons 32 to 34. Each lamp is controlled to be turned on in accordance with a command sent from the control board 100 to notify the player that the winning line or the button operation is valid. Further, a decoration lamp 19 is connected to the lamp control board 103, and the decoration lamp 19 is lit and blinks in a predetermined manner according to the gaming state in accordance with a command sent from the main control board 100.

  The information terminal board 105 is for connecting to a centralized management device installed on the amusement island, and information such as the number of winning balls and the number of jackpots sent from the main control board 100 and the payout control board 101 is received. The information is transmitted to the centralized management apparatus via the information terminal board 105.

Next, the manner in which game balls are taken in by the take-in device 50 will be described with reference to FIGS.
When the take-in rotator 51 is not in operation, the housing recess 52 on the upper side is stopped at a standby position facing upward as shown in FIG. In this standby state, the insertion path 54 is blocked by the outer peripheral portion of the take-in rotator 51, and the game ball does not enter the accommodation recess 52. The area can be adjusted without any problem. In this standby state, when the player moves the moving operation member 56 in the left-right direction by a manual operation on the operation piece 58 of the moving operation member 56 constituting the taking-in unit number adjusting means 81, FIG. As shown in (b), the opening / closing plate 55 moves back and forth in the left-right direction in accordance with the moving operation. As a result, the opening area of the insertion path 54 can be changed in units of a predetermined number of game balls (for example, one unit). In this way, by adjusting the area corresponding to the number of unit game balls to take in the opening area of the insertion path 54, the game balls of the number of unit game balls flow down from the adjusted opening area of the insertion path 54 and take in The rotating body 51 is stopped in a state of being aligned in a line on the outer peripheral portion. Then, after the number of unit game balls to be taken in is adjusted as described above, when the player presses the BET button 38, the take-in motor 53 is driven by the control of the main control board 100 that has received the output signal. The take-in rotating body 51 rotates in the forward direction (counterclockwise direction in the illustrated example). Then, when the receiving recess 52 of the take-in rotating body 51 is rotated to the receiving position facing the insertion port 43, the game balls that are aligned and stopped in a line on the outer peripheral portion are shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12 (c), it is accommodated in the accommodating recess 52 substantially simultaneously from the opening direction. Here, a plurality of partition walls 57 are formed in the storage recess 52 at intervals of one game ball along the storage direction of the game balls, so that the game balls in the storage recess 52 are formed by the partition walls 57. Movement is prevented, and no more game balls enter the housing recess 52. Thus, after the game balls of the number of unit game balls are stored in the storage recess 52, the take-in rotating body 51 is further driven to rotate. Thereby, the game ball accommodated in the accommodation recess 52 is transferred downward along with the rotation of the take-in rotating body 51 as shown in FIG. Further, in this transfer process, the insertion path 54 is again blocked by the outer periphery of the take-in rotator 51, and the subsequent game balls are stopped on the outer periphery of the take-in rotator 51. Then, as shown in FIG. 11 (d), when the game ball stored with the storage recess 52 facing downward is rotated to a release position (position rotated 180 ° from the initial standby position) by its own weight, The rotational drive of the take-in rotator 51 is stopped, and the game balls in the housing recess 52 are released substantially simultaneously in the opening direction and flow into the take-in cage 62. The game ball that has flowed into the take-in bowl 62 flows down the take-in passage 64 and is taken into the game machine. At this time, the number of unit game balls to be taken in is detected by the take-in ball detection switch 65 disposed in the take-in passage 64, and the number of bets for each game is set based on the detected number of unit game balls. .

  In this configuration, the opening area of the insertion path 54 through which the insertion port 43 and the accommodation recess 52 are communicated with each other by the taking-in unit number adjusting means 81 is changed by a predetermined number of game balls, so that the opening area of the insertion path 54 is increased. Is adjusted to an area corresponding to the number of unit game balls to be taken in, and a game ball flowing down from the insertion port 43 is accommodated in the accommodation recess 52, so that unit game balls to be taken into the accommodation recess 52 at a time A number of game balls are accommodated. Thereby, the number of game balls taken in can be arbitrarily set in units of 1 within a range from 1 to the maximum number of units (for example, 15). Further, the take-in unit number adjusting means 81 is connected to the opening / closing plate 55 so as to be able to advance and retract along the direction crossing the charging path 54, and the movement for moving the opening / closing plate 55 forward and backward. The operation member 56 is configured to adjust the number of units to be taken in by taking a game ball from the opening area of the insertion path 54 that changes due to the forward / backward movement of the opening / closing plate 55. The number of acquisition units can be easily adjusted through the moving operation.

  Further, the game balls of the number of unit game balls are accommodated substantially simultaneously in a line from the opening direction of the accommodation recess 52 in a state where the accommodation recess 52 is rotated to the receiving position facing the insertion port 43, and the accommodation recess In a state where 52 is rotated to a release position that allows the game ball to flow down, it is released almost simultaneously in the opening direction of the housing recess 52 and taken into the game machine. Thereby, it is possible to take in the game balls of the number of taking-in units set by the taking-in unit number adjusting means 81 in a short time.

  In the first embodiment, a plurality of partition walls 57 are formed at the bottom of the storage recesses 52, 52 at intervals of one game ball along the storage direction of the game balls, and the storage recesses 52 are formed by the partition walls 57. , 52 is prevented from moving, but instead, the take-in rotating body 51 is disposed at a slight inclination, and the movement of the game ball within the accommodating recesses 52, 52 is caused by the inclination. It is also possible to prevent this.

  FIG. 13 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this second embodiment, a loading port 43 is formed at the bottom of the aligning portion 42 of the take-in storage tray 16 and accommodated at a position directly below the loading port 43. The take-in rotating body 51 is arranged so that the concave portion 52 faces, and the opening / closing plate 55 of the take-in unit number adjusting means 81 is arranged in the input path 54 that connects the input port 43 and the accommodating concave portion 52. It is. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, and the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted.

  In this configuration, the insertion path 54 can be shortened as much as possible, and the game ball is stored in the storage recess 52 by free fall, so that the take-in time can be further shortened.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the movement operation member 56 is configured to be manually operated. However, instead of this, it is possible to set the number data of the unit game balls to be captured. The number-of-entry-ball setting means and the linear transfer means for automatically moving the moving operation member 56 are provided. When the player sets the number of unit gaming balls with the number-of-balls setting means and presses the BET button 38, the setting is made. It is also possible for the linear transfer means to move the moving operation member 56 to a predetermined position on the basis of the ball number data. In this case, the linear transfer means includes a screw rod and an electric motor that rotates the screw rod, and a known linear transfer that causes a moving action to occur on the transfer target member screwed on the screw rod by the rotation of the screw rod. An apparatus can be suitably used.

  Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, when the game balls that have flowed into the take-in basket 62 flow down in the take-up passage 64 in a single row state, the single balls disposed in the take-in passage 64 are arranged. However, instead of this, a single row of game balls that have flowed into the take-in cage 62 are caused to flow down in a direction perpendicular to the row direction, and a plurality of game balls are detected. Each game ball may be detected by a take-in ball detection switch. In this case, the detection time of the taken game ball is shortened, and the game can be started quickly. Further, other configurations can be appropriately changed within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

1 is an external perspective view of a slot machine 1 according to the present invention. It is a front view of the slot machine 1 same as the above. FIG. 3 is a separated perspective view of the front frame 5 and the front door 17. It is a top view of the storage tray 16 for intake. It is a vertical side view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between the storage tray 16 for taking-in, and the taking-in apparatus 50. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a capture device 50. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the capture device 50. FIG. (A) is a perspective view showing the configuration of the intake passage 64 provided with the distribution device 67, and (B) is an exploded perspective view of the distribution device 67. It is an operation explanatory view of a distribution device 67 provided in the intake passage 64. It is a block circuit diagram of the control circuit which comprises a game control apparatus. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a main part showing an aspect of taking a game ball by the take-in device 50. It is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the manner of taking in game balls by the take-in device 50. It is a vertical side view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between the storage tray 16 for taking-in and the taking-in apparatus 50 in 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Slot machine 3 Game machine main body 16 Reservoir tray 29 for taking-in Indices part 42 Alignment part 43 Input port 51 Take-in rotary body 52 Containing recessed part 53 Take-in motor (rotation drive device)
54 throwing path 55 opening / closing plate 56 moving operation member 57 partition wall 81 take-in unit number adjusting means x game ball

Claims (6)

A slot machine using a game ball as a game medium,
Storing game balls for taking in, aligning the stored game balls in a line, and a length corresponding to the maximum unit number of game balls to be taken at least once formed in the alignment part An intake storage tray having a thickness of inlet,
An accommodation recess having a predetermined length capable of accommodating game balls in a line is provided, and is provided rotatably. The accommodation recess rotates to a receiving position opposite to the insertion port, and flows down from the insertion port. A take-in rotator that stores the game balls in a row in the storage recess, and that releases the game balls stored in the storage recess in a state where the storage recess is rotated to a discharge position that allows the game balls to flow down;
A rotational drive device for rotationally driving the take-in rotating body;
It is provided with a take-in unit number adjusting means for adjusting the number of unit game balls to be taken in by changing an opening area of the throw-in path through which the input port and the accommodation recess communicate with each other in a predetermined number of game balls. And slot machine.   The take-in rotating body is controlled to stop at a rotation position where the housing recess does not face the charging port, and in the stopped state, the opening area of the charging path is changed by the loading unit number adjusting means. The slot machine according to claim 1.   The take-in unit number adjusting means is composed of an opening / closing plate provided so as to be able to advance and retract along a direction crossing the charging path, and a moving operation member connected to the opening / closing plate to move the opening / closing plate forward and backward. 3. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the number of taking-in units is adjusted by taking in a game ball from an opening area of a throw-in path that changes due to advancing and retreating of the plate.   The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of partition walls are formed at intervals of one game ball along a storage direction of the game ball at a bottom portion of the storage recess. .   An inlet is formed at the bottom of the alignment portion of the intake storage tray, the intake rotor is disposed so that the receiving recess faces the position immediately below the inlet, and the inlet and the receiving recess are The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an opening / closing plate of a taking-in unit number adjusting means is disposed in the input path that communicates. The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an index portion for informing the number of unit game balls adjusted by the taking-in unit number adjusting means is provided on a front surface of the gaming machine main body. .

Images