JP2006314409A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine capable of detecting the presence of an object from a feeding port regardless of the state of a game medium sorting device and accurately preventing fraudulent actions. <P>SOLUTION: When a game medium sorting means is in a refusal state for refusing the acceptance of game media, detection signals indicating the presence of an object to be detected are detected and the presence/absence of the object to be detected is judged. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a slot machine having a slot into which a game medium is loaded.

  In the slot machine, the game media is sorted by a sorting device in order to determine whether the game media thrown from the slot is accepted as a target for betting of the game or rejected. This sorting device is provided with a passage sensor for detecting that the game medium has passed.

When receiving the inserted game medium, the passage sensor detects the passage of the game medium and issues a signal indicating that the game medium has passed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 2657353

  As described above, in the conventional slot machine, when the inserted game medium is received, the passage of the game medium is detected. However, when the game medium is rejected, the game medium is discharged to the outside. However, it is impossible to pass through the vicinity of the sensor.

  For this reason, when a foreign object other than the game medium is inserted from the slot when the game medium is rejected, it cannot be detected, so the slot machine is mistakenly recognized as if the game medium was inserted. Even when a fraudulent device to be inserted is inserted from the insertion port, it cannot be detected that such a device has been inserted, and the fraudulent act cannot be prevented accurately.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and its purpose is to detect the presence of an object from the slot regardless of the state of the game media sorting device and to accurately detect fraud. It is to provide a slot machine that can be prevented.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, when the game medium selecting means is in a reject state in which the game medium is rejected, the detection signal indicating the presence of the detected object is detected and the target is detected. The presence or absence of a detected object is determined.

Specifically, the slot machine according to the present invention is:
A slot machine including an insertion slot into which a game medium is inserted, wherein a game is played based on the input of the game medium;
A game medium selection means for selecting a game medium input from an input slot, wherein the game medium is selected to be in a permission state for permitting the acceptance of the input game medium or in a reject state for rejecting the input of the game medium. Means,
Detecting means for detecting the presence of an object to be detected including the game medium and emitting a detection signal according to the presence or absence of the object to be detected;
Selection control means for issuing a control signal to the game medium selection means for setting the game medium selection means to the permitted state or for setting the game medium selection means to the rejection state based on the progress of the game; Including, and
The selection control means includes object presence / absence determination means for detecting the detection signal and determining the presence / absence of the detected object when the game medium selection means is in the refusal state.

  The slot machine according to the present invention includes an insertion slot into which a game medium is inserted. A game in the slot machine is performed based on the game media being inserted into the slot. Here, the game medium reflects a game result in the slot machine or is a target for betting, and corresponds to a medal, a coin, or the like.

  The slot machine according to the present invention includes game media sorting means. The game medium sorting means sorts the game media thrown from the slot. Specifically, it is selected whether or not the game medium input from the input port is a regular one. Further, the game medium selection means is in a permitted state or a rejected state. Here, the permission state is a state in which acceptance of the inserted game medium is permitted. The accepted game media can be involved in the progress of the game. Further, the rejected state is a state in which the accepted game medium is rejected. A game medium that has been rejected cannot be involved in the progress of the game.

  It is preferable that the game medium selection means includes a movable member, and the permitted state or the rejected state is realized by the movable member. For example, it is preferable that when the movable member is located at the first position, the game medium sorting means is in the permitted state, and when the movable member is located at the second position, the game medium sorting means is in the rejected state. Furthermore, it is preferable that the movable member included in the game medium sorting unit is driven and controlled by the control unit so that the movable member can move to the first position and the second position.

  The slot machine according to the present invention includes a detection means. This detection means detects the presence of the detected object including the game medium. In particular, the detecting means detects not only the game medium but also whether or not an object to be detected exists. The detection means emits a detection signal according to the presence or absence of the detected object. This detection signal may be a signal that emits a signal when a detected object exists, and a signal that does not emit a signal when no detected object exists. Further, the first signal may be emitted when the detected object exists, and the second signal may be emitted when the detected object does not exist.

  Here, the presence includes not only staying in the detection range of the detection means but also passing through the detection range of the detection means. The detection range refers to a spatial range in which the detection means can detect the detected object.

  Further, depending on the detection signal emitted from the detection means, it may be processed by distinguishing whether the vehicle stayed or existed or passed. For example, when the detection signal is emitted from the detection means is shorter than a predetermined time, the detection signal is passed, and when the detection signal is generated for a longer time than the predetermined time, the detection signal is regarded as stay or presence. May be separated. These distinctions are determined by the control means supplied with the detection signal.

  Furthermore, the detection means may be any means that can detect the presence or absence of the object to be detected and emit a signal. The detection means is not only an optical type or a mechanical contact type, but an electromagnetic field that emits an electromagnetic field or the like. It may be anything.

  Furthermore, the slot machine according to the present invention includes sorting control means. The sorting control unit issues a control signal to the game medium sorting unit. This control signal is a signal for setting the game medium selection means to the permitted state or the game medium selection means to the rejection state. The game medium selection means supplied with the control signal is allowed or rejected according to the supplied control signal. The sorting control means issues a control signal to the game medium sorting means based on the progress of the game. That is, when it is determined from the progress of the game that the game medium selection means should be permitted, a control signal to be permitted is supplied to the game medium selection means. Further, when it is determined from the progress of the game that the game medium selecting means should be rejected, a control signal to be rejected is supplied to the game medium selecting means.

  The selection control means described above includes an object presence / absence judgment means. The object presence / absence determination means detects a detection signal generated from the detection means when the game medium selection means is in a refusal state, and determines the presence / absence of the detected object. That is, whether or not the detected object exists by detecting the detection signal emitted from the detecting means even if the game medium selecting means is in the rejected state and the detected object is not originally present. Judging.

By doing in this way, regardless of the state of the game media sorting device, it is possible to detect the presence of an object from the slot and to prevent illegal acts accurately. In particular, when the game medium is rejected, the game medium is discharged to the outside, and there should be no detected object including the game medium inside the game medium sorting device. Even in this case, the detection signal can be detected to determine whether or not the detected object exists.
For this reason, even when a foreign object other than the game medium is intentionally inserted into the sorting device from the slot when the game medium is rejected, it can be detected accurately, It can be prevented accurately.

Further, the object presence / absence determining means includes
A time elapse judging means for judging whether or not a predetermined time has passed since the game medium selecting means was changed from the permitted state to the rejected state; and
When it is determined that the time elapse determining means is before the predetermined time, the presence / absence of the detected object is not determined, and the time elapse determining means determines that the predetermined time has elapsed. It is preferable that the determination of the presence or absence of the detected object is started from time.

  The above-mentioned object presence / absence determination means includes time passage determination means. The time elapse determining means determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the time when the game medium selecting means was changed from the time when the game medium selecting means was changed from the permitted state to the rejected state. This predetermined time is preferably determined as appropriate according to the time from when the game medium is inserted into the slot machine until the game medium reaches the detection means. In particular, it is desirable to set the predetermined time to 0.5 to 2 seconds.

  As a result, even if there is a remaining game medium before reaching the detection means, the presence / absence of the detected object is not determined before the game medium reaches the detection means. It is not determined that an abnormality has occurred due to the remaining game media. However, even if the game medium remains, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the game medium should have already passed through the detection means, so the presence / absence of an object to be detected is determined. By doing in this way, when a to-be-detected object exists, it can be judged that some other foreign substance other than a game medium exists in the detection range of a detection means. By doing so, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not a foreign object exists, and it is possible to accurately prevent an illegal act.

  Further, it is preferable that the object presence / absence determination means detects a signal from the detection means and determines the presence / absence of the detected object when the game medium selection means is in the permission state.

  Even when the game medium selecting means is in the permitted state, the signal from the detecting means is naturally detected to determine the presence or absence of the detected object. In this way, the presence / absence of the detected object is determined regardless of whether the game medium sorting means is in the permitted state or the rejected state, so that there is a foreign object regardless of the state of the game medium sorting means. It is possible to accurately determine whether or not.

  Regardless of the state of the game media sorting device, it is possible to detect the presence of an object from the slot and to prevent illegal acts accurately.

  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. 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 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 operated stop switches are stopped.

  The functions of the 1 bet switch 62, the 2 bet switch 64, and the maximum bet switch 66 will be described later.

  A stay release button 43 is provided in the vicinity of the medal slot 46 on the front surface of the operation panel 41. As will be described later, when a medal inserted from the medal insertion port 46 stays inside, the stay release button 43 is pushed to return the retained medal to the tray 48 through the medal discharge port 49. be able to.

<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, the three reels 30 </ b> L to 30 </ b> R are rotatably accommodated in the reel unit 28. The reel unit 28 has a front surface 29 open, and the player can visually recognize the type of symbols located on the front surface 29 of the reel unit 28, as will be described later. 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 positioned in front of the front surface 29 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 covered with a transparent member. As shown in FIG. 1, five winning lines L <b> 1 to L <b> 5 are drawn on the reel display window 50. By doing in this way, the player can visually recognize the kind of symbol through the reel display window 50 and can also visually recognize the five winning lines L1 to L5 on the reel display window 50. .

  The winning line L1 is a middle straight line extending in the horizontal direction, the winning line L2 is an upper straight line extending in the horizontal direction, and the winning line L3 is a lower straight line extending in the horizontal direction. 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 five pay lines, for example, the pay line L1 is activated. When the 2-bet switch 64 is operated, three of the five pay lines, for example, the pay lines L1, L2, and L3 are activated. When the maximum bet switch 66 is operated, all five pay lines, that is, L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5 are activated. In this way, the three bet switches 62, 64 and 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 three bet switches 62, 64, and 66 function as a selection unit that activates 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.

  The combination of symbols stopped on the active line is subject to determination as to whether or not a prize has been won. For example, when the combination of “7”-“7”-“7” is aligned on the above-described effective 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 it is a winning line, when the winning line is not activated, even if a combination of “7”-“7”-“7” is aligned on the winning line, The winning line is not subject to the determination of whether or not a prize has been won.

<Error display device 45>
An error display device 45 is provided below the three reels 30L to 30R. In the slot machine 10, an error code is displayed according to the phenomenon that occurs when the player enters an inappropriate or difficult state to advance the game, or when an abnormality occurs. Displayed on the device 45.

  For example, when it is determined that a medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 46 has accumulated, a character string “CE” is displayed on the error display device 45 as an error code. In addition, when it is determined that the contents of a RAM (Random Access Memory) provided on the main control board 32 to be described later are not appropriate when the power is turned on, the character string “E1” is displayed as an error code in the error display device 45. Is displayed.

<Base part 20>
The base body portion 20 shown in FIG. 2 is assembled with wood or the like, and is formed in a box shape with 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. Further, the main control board 32 supplies a control signal for supplying a current to a coil (not shown) of a solenoid 95 of the medal sorting device 70 (to be described later) or cutting off the current supplied to the coil. To supply. Further, the main control board 32 detects detection signals from two photo sensors 96a and 96b, which will be described later, and determines whether or not a detected object such as a medal exists in the medal sorting device 70.

  The main control board 32 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) that performs arithmetic operations, a ROM (Read Only Memory) (not shown) that stores a game program, and a RAM that temporarily stores each data. (Random access memory) (not shown).

  For example, the ROM stores a program for executing a program shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 described later. 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. When a signal is issued from the start switch 42 to the main control board 32, the main control board 32 controls the rotation of the three reels 30L, 30C and 30R. When a signal is issued to the main control board 32 from the stop switch 44a, 44b or 44c, the main control board 32 stops the reel corresponding to the operated stop switch among the three reels 30L, 30C and 30R. Take control.

<Medal sorting device 70>
As shown in FIG. 2, a medal sorting device 70 is attached below the reel display window 50. The medal sorting device 70 is provided below the medal insertion port 46 so that an inlet 76 of the medal sorting device 70 shown in FIG. The medal sorting device 70 sorts the suitability of medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 46, as will be described later. Below the medal sorting device 70, a guide member 54 and a guide member 56 are provided. The guide member 54 guides regular medals received by the medal sorting device 70 to the hopper device 58. On the other hand, the guide member 56 guides medals (or foreign objects) rejected by the medal sorting device 70 to the medal discharge port 49.

  Hereinafter, the medal sorting device 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the structure of the medal sorting device 70. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of a cover 78, which will be described later, broken away. FIG. 4 is a front view for illustrating the movement of the medal that has entered the medal sorting device 70. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X ′ shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a plan view seen from above the medal sorting device 70 in order to show a state where the staying medals are removed by the stay release button 43.

  The medal sorting device 70 includes a case 71, a gate plate 74, and a cover 78. The case 71 is a rectangular case integrally formed of a synthetic resin such as hard plastic. The gate plate 74 is formed of a substantially trapezoidal metal plate, and is attached to the case 71 so as to be openable and closable so as to cover a substantially upper half of the case 71. The cover 78 is formed of a synthetic resin and is provided so as to cover the substantially lower half of the case 71 so as to be opened and closed.

[Gate plate 74, medal guide passage 77, entrance 76, exit 80]
The gate plate 74 is pivotally supported by a shaft portion 79 a provided at the right end portion of the case 71. A coil spring 79 is wound around the shaft portion 79a. The gate plate 74 is biased toward the back side of the case 71 by a coil spring 79. A guide surface 72 that guides the inserted medal is formed on the inner wall surface of the case 71. A support wall 67 is formed below the gate plate 74 to support the inserted medal movably. As shown in FIG. 5, when the gate plate 74 is urged toward the back side of the case 71, the guide surface 72 of the case 71 and the support wall 67 of the gate plate 74 face each other, and the guide surface 72. A gap 98 is formed by the support wall 67. An entrance 76 for guiding medals to the inside of the medal sorting device 70 is formed at the upper left end of the medal sorting device 70, and an outlet for discharging the medals out of the medal sorting device 70 at the lower right end of the medal sorting device 70. 80 is formed. A medal guide passage 77 from the entrance 76 to the exit 80 is formed by the gap 98 described above. As will be described later, the medals move along the medal guide path 77 inside the medal sorting device 70.

[Medal Exclusion Port 81]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the lower end portion of the gate plate 74 is bent toward the back side of the case 71. A linear guide rail portion 75 is formed by the bent portion. The case 71 is formed with a bent portion 73 that is bent toward the back side of the case 71. As shown in FIG. 5, the bent portion 73 is located slightly above the guide rail portion 75, and a gap 99 is formed by the bent portion 73 and the guide rail portion 75. A medal exclusion port 81 is formed by the gap 99.

[Select mechanism]
In the vicinity of the entrance 76, there is provided a selection mechanism for determining whether or not the inserted medal is genuine. This selection mechanism includes a maximum diameter restricting means, a minimum diameter restricting means, and a plate thickness restricting means. The maximum diameter regulating means is for excluding medals having a diameter larger than a prescribed diameter. The minimum diameter restricting means is for excluding medals having a diameter smaller than a prescribed diameter. The plate thickness regulating means is for excluding medals that are thicker than the prescribed thickness.

[Maximum diameter regulating means]
The maximum diameter restricting means includes a set of outer diameter restricting claws 85a and 85b. The outer diameter restricting claws 85 a and 85 b protrude from the gate plate 74 toward the back side of the case 71 in the vicinity of the inlet 76. The interval between the outer diameter restricting claws 85a and 85b is set to a width corresponding to the maximum outer diameter in consideration of the outer diameter of a regular medal and its dimensional tolerance. For this reason, when a medal having an outer diameter larger than a specified value is inserted from the entrance 76, the outer diameter restricting claws 85a and 85b prevent the medal guide passage 77 from falling.

[Thickness regulating means]
As shown by a broken line in FIG. 3, the plate thickness regulating means is composed of a screw 84 provided on the guide surface 72 of the case 71. The screw 84 is provided so as to protrude toward the gate plate 74 (toward the front side). The gap from the tip of the screw 84 to the back surface of the gate plate 74 is set to the maximum thickness of a regular medal. For this reason, when a medal having a thickness greater than the specified thickness is inserted into the plate thickness regulating means, the screw 84 prevents the medal guide passage 77 from falling.

[Minimum diameter regulating means]
The minimum diameter restricting means includes a pressing lever 87. The pressing lever 87 is urged toward the gate plate 74 (toward the front side) by a coil spring (not shown). An opening 91 is formed in the case 71, and the pressing lever 87 protrudes from the opening 91 toward the front side by the biasing force of the coil spring. When a medal having an outer shape smaller than the prescribed outer diameter is inserted from the entrance 76, the medal is brought down by the pressing lever 87 and dropped from the medal removal port 81.

[Speed relaxation mechanism]
In the vicinity of the inlet 76, a speed relaxation mechanism is provided. The speed relaxation mechanism includes a metal swing lever 97 and a coil spring (not shown). The swing lever 97 is rotatably supported along the wall surface of the gate plate 74. The coil spring is provided so as to always urge the swing lever 97 in the clockwise direction. The swing lever 97 relaxes the falling speed of the medals falling from the entrance 76 by the biasing force of the coil spring.

[Blocker 82]
The medal guide passage 77 is provided with a blocker 82 for dropping the medal moving through the medal guide passage 77 from the medal removal port 81 and forcibly removing it. The blocker 82 includes a blocker plate 92, a solenoid 95, and a guide lever 88.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a substantially L-shaped plate member 93 is fixed to the back side of the case 71. The upper part 93a of the plate member 93 is bent upward, and one end of the coil spring 94 is locked to the bent tip. The other end of the coil spring 94 is locked to the upper end portion of the blocker plate 92. The remaining upper portion 93 b of the plate member 93 protrudes forward and abuts against the blocker plate 92. The blocker plate 92 can be swung with the contacted portion as a fulcrum. The coil spring 94 biases the end 92 b of the blocker plate 92 so that the end 92 a of the blocker plate 92 protrudes toward the medal guide passage 77.

  A solenoid 95 is provided on the back surface of the blocker plate 92. A magnetic pole portion 95 a is provided on the front surface of the solenoid 95. The solenoid 95 is electrically connected to the main control board 32 and is turned on / off by a control signal from the main control board 32. A state in which current is supplied to a coil (not shown) of the solenoid 95 by a control signal from the main control board 32 is an ON state of the solenoid 95. The state in which the current to the coil is interrupted by the control signal from the main control board 32 and is not supplied to the coil of the solenoid 95 is the OFF state of the solenoid 95. When the solenoid 95 is turned on, a magnetic field is generated from the magnetic pole portion 95a by the current supplied to the solenoid 95. When the solenoid 95 is turned off, no magnetic field is generated from the magnetic pole portion 95a.

  When the solenoid 95 is turned on and a magnetic field is generated from the magnetic pole portion 95a, the blocker plate 92 is attracted to the magnetic pole portion 95a by the magnetic force against the biasing force of the coil spring 94, and the end portion 92a is retracted. Move to the position (the back position). On the other hand, when the solenoid 95 is turned off and no magnetic field can be generated from the magnetic pole portion 95a, the blocker plate 92 is separated from the magnetic pole portion 95a by the biasing force of the coil spring 94, and the end portion 92a is guided to the guide surface 72. Move to the position protruding from the front (front position). In the example shown in FIG. 5, the solenoid 95 is in an OFF state, and the end portion 92 a of the blocker plate 92 protrudes from the guide surface 72.

  The guide lever 88 is rotatably supported on the shaft portion 90 a of the coil spring 90. The guide lever 88 is biased toward the blocker plate 92 by the biasing force of the coil spring 90. On the back surface of the guide lever 88, a protruding piece 89a is formed so as to contact the blocker plate 92. Since the guide lever 88 is urged toward the blocker plate 92 by the urging force of the coil spring 90, the tip of the protruding piece 89a always abuts against the blocker plate 92. For this reason, when the solenoid 95 is turned on, the guide lever 88 moves toward the solenoid 95 (toward the back side) as the blocker plate 92 moves. When the solenoid 95 is turned off, the guide lever 88 moves away from the solenoid 95 (toward the front side) as the blocker plate 92 moves.

  On the back surface of the guide lever 88, another protruding piece 89b is formed so as to face the blocker plate 92. As described above, the tip of the protruding piece 89a always abuts on the blocker plate 92. A gap 68 is formed between the protruding piece 89b and the end 92a of the blocker plate 92 in a state where the tip of the protruding piece 89a is in contact with the blocker plate 92. The gap 68 is formed so that the medal can move.

  As described above, when the solenoid 95 is turned on, the blocker plate 92 and the guide lever 88 move to a position attracted by the solenoid 95. At this time, the medal is guided to the outlet 80 in the medal guide passage 77 through the gap 68 formed by the protruding piece 89 b and the end 92 a of the blocker plate 92. On the other hand, when the solenoid 95 is turned off, the blocker plate 92 and the guide lever 88 are moved away from the solenoid 95. At this time, the end portion 92 a of the blocker plate 92 protrudes from the medal guide passage 77, and serves to remove the medal from the medal guide passage 77 by the end portion 92 a and guide it to the medal removal port 81.

  The state in which the solenoid 95 is turned on and the blocker plate 92 and the guide lever 88 are moved to the position attracted by the solenoid 95 is a medal acceptance permission state. On the other hand, the state in which the solenoid 95 is turned off and the blocker plate 92 and the guide lever 88 are moved away from the solenoid 95 is a state in which the medal acceptance is rejected.

[Photosensors 96a and 96b]
Two photo sensors 96 a and 96 b are juxtaposed along the medal guide passage 77 in the vicinity of the outlet 80 downstream of the medal guide passage 77. Both of the two photosensors 96a and 96b are reflective sensors having a light emitting part and a light receiving part.

  When a detected object such as a medal passes or exists in front of the two photosensors 96a or 96b, the light emitted from the light emitting unit is reflected by the detected object, and the reflected light is received. The light is received by the unit. At this time, the two photosensors 96a or 96b emit a detection signal indicating that a detected object is present on the front surface of the sensor.

  On the other hand, when the object to be detected does not exist in front of the two photosensors 96a or 96b, the light emitted from the light emitting unit is not reflected, so that the light is not received by the light receiving unit. . In this case, no detection signal is emitted from the two photosensors 96a or 96b.

  The two photosensors 96a and 96b are electrically connected to the main control board 32, and a detection signal generated on the basis of the presence of the detected object in front of the two photosensors 96a or 96b is the main control board 32. To be supplied.

[Operation of Medal Sorting Device 70]
The operation of the medal sorting device 70 will be described below.

  As shown at M <b> 1 in FIG. 4, when a medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot 46, the medal is guided to the entrance 76 of the medal sorting device 70. The medal guided from the entrance 76 to the medal guide passage 77 of the medal sorting device 70 is only the medal having a predetermined outer diameter or less and a predetermined thickness by the maximum diameter restricting means and the plate thickness restricting means of the select mechanism. Guided by small diameter regulating means. At this time, the swing lever 97 reduces the speed of the falling medal. A medal that is determined not to be a regular medal by the maximum diameter restricting means, the plate thickness restricting means, or the minimum diameter restricting means of the select mechanism is excluded to the lower side of the medal sorting device 70 through the medal exclusion port 81.

  Next, the regular medal (see M2 in FIG. 4) that has passed through the select mechanism described above flows down along the guide rail portion 75 to the position of the blocker 82 (see M3 in FIG. 4). As described above, the blocker 82 is in either the permitted state or the rejected state in accordance with the control signal from the main control board 32. When the blocker 82 is in the permitted state, the medal flowing down the medal guide passage 77 is guided to the position of the medal detection unit 96. On the other hand, when the blocker 82 is in the rejected state, the medal is dropped from the medal guide passage 77 to the medal exclusion port 81.

  The medal that has passed through the blocker 82 crosses in front of the two photosensors 96a and 96b (see M4 in FIG. 4). At this time, detection signals are emitted from the two photosensors 96a or 96b. The main control board 32 receives the detection signals emitted from the two photosensors 96a and 96b as a medal acceptance signal indicating that a regular medal has been inserted, counts that it has been received, and credits the value. Add to the number.

  On the other hand, when the medal is guided from the medal guide passage 77 to the medal exclusion port 81, the medal does not cross the front of the two photosensors 96a and 96b, so that a detection signal is issued from the two photosensors 96a or 96b. I can't.

  The medal that crosses the front of the two photosensors 96a and 96b reaches the outlet 80 (see M5 in FIG. 4), and is guided and stored in the hopper device 58 described above.

[Medal retention and release]
As a general rule, medals entering the medal sorting device 70 from the entrance 76 are discharged from the exit 80 or removed from the medal exclusion port 81. However, the medal may stay in the medal sorting device 70 depending on the timing when the medal enters from the entrance 76 and the operation timing of each member described above. This stagnation means that the movement of medals is inhibited by dirt attached to the medals, or a plurality of medals overlap each other in the medal guide passage 77, so that the medals cannot move. When medals remain, it is necessary to forcibly remove medals from the medal sorting device 70.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a protrusion 69 protruding from the back surface is provided on the back surface of the gate plate 74. The leading end of the protrusion 69 is in contact with the leading end of the stay release button 43 described above. By pushing the stay release button 43 from the front surface of the slot machine 10 shown in FIG. 1, the gate plate 74 is opened with respect to the guide surface 72 of the case 71 as shown in FIG. Can be increased. When medals are retained, the gate plate 74 is opened so that the retained medals can be guided to the medal removal port 81 and removed from the medal sorting device 70.

<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. The combination is determined by a lottery process of the combination lottery means 120 described later. As will be described later, the lottery process determines winning or losing, and winning means that at least one type of combination is determined from a plurality of types of combinations.

  In addition, a game performed in the slot machine 10 is performed each time the player operates the start switch 42, and a game that can be repeated as a single process from the start of rotation to the stop of rotation of the plurality of reels 30L, 30C, or 30R. It is. This single-stroke game is called a unit game.

  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 combination) and a regular bonus (hereinafter referred to as RB combination).

  The above-mentioned BB combination is a combination to shift to a BB game which is one of special games. This BB game is a game that can be transferred to a privilege game a plurality of times. 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. In this BB game, the privilege 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.

  In addition, the RB combination is a combination to shift to the RB game that is one of the special games. This RB game is a game in which a game corresponding to a privilege game during the BB game is played, that is, a game in which a predetermined role is won with a high probability is performed a predetermined number of times under a certain condition.

  Further, the small combination is a combination for paying out a predetermined number of medals. A small role has a plurality of types of roles, and the name of the role is often used by using the types of symbols attached to the three reels 30L, 30C, or 30R. For example, the types of symbols include “watermelon”, “bell”, “cherry” and the like. For this reason, a small role in which the pattern “watermelon” is aligned on the effective line is referred to as a watermelon role, and a small role in which the pattern “bell” is aligned on the effective line is referred to as a bell role. Further, when the symbol “cherry” of the left reel 30L is stopped and displayed on the active line, it is assumed that a winning is made regardless of the types of symbols of the middle reel 30C and the right reel 30R. This role is called the cherry role.

  Furthermore, the re-game role is a role that allows a re-game (hereinafter referred to as “replay” or “RP”) that maintains the number of bets (the number of bets) in the currently played game.

<< Functions of Slot Machine 10 >>
FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of main control functions in the slot machine 10. As shown in FIG. 7, the slot machine 10 mainly includes an operation means 500, a selection means 600, a game medium sorting means 700, a main control means 100, and a symbol display means 400.

<Operating means 500>
The operation means 500 is operated by the player, and issues a signal indicating that the operation has been performed to the main control means 100 described later based on the player's operation. The operation means 500 preferably includes a start switch 42 and stop switches 44a to 44c. When the start switch 42 is operated by the player, the start switch 42 issues a signal indicating that the start switch 42 has been operated to the main control means 100 described later. Further, when each of the stop switches 44a to 44c is operated by the player, the stop switch 44a to 44c issues a signal indicating that it has been operated to the main control means 100 described later.

  As described above, a single process game that is performed after a plurality of reels 30L, 30C, or 30R is rotated and then stopped is referred to as a unit game. The signals issued from the start switch 42 to the main control means 100 start the rotation of the three reels 30L, 30C and 30R, thereby determining the start timing of the unit game. A signal issued from the start switch 42 to the main control means 100 is referred to as a start signal.

  In addition, the corresponding reels among the three reels 30L, 30C, and 30R are stopped by a signal issued from each of the stop switches 44a to 44c to the main control means 100, and a trigger for ending the unit game is determined. A signal issued from each of the stop switches 44a to 44c to the main control means 100 is referred to as an end signal. Accordingly, the unit game is started based on the start signal being issued, and the unit game is ended based on the end signal being issued.

<Selection means 600>
Similarly to the operation means 500, the selection means 600 is operated by the player, and issues a signal indicating that the selection means 600 has been operated based on the player's operation to the main control means 100 described later. Based on a signal issued from the operation means 500 to the main control means 100, it is determined which one of the plurality of pay lines L1 to L5 is to be activated.

  The selection means 600 may be anything that is operated by the player. The selection means 600 is preferably composed of the 1-bet switch 62, the 2-bet switch 64, and the maximum bet switch 66 described above.

  The number of medals to be bet on the game is determined by a signal issued from the 1-bet switch 62, 2-bet switch 64 or maximum bet switch 66 to the main control means 100. For example, one medal is targeted for a game bet by a signal issued from the 1 bet switch 62 to the main control unit 100, and two medals are received by a signal issued from the 2 bet switch 64 to the main control unit 100. Are bets for gaming, and three medals are targeted for gaming bets by a signal issued from the maximum bet switch 66 to the main control means 100.

<Game medium selection means 700>
The game medium sorting unit 700 is a game medium sorting unit that sorts game media such as medals inserted from the medal slot 46. The game medium selection means 700 is in either a permitted state or a rejected state. The permission state is a state in which acceptance of the inserted game medium is permitted. The refusal state is a state in which acceptance of the inserted game media is refused. The game medium sorting means 700 is preferably composed of the medal sorting device 70 described above.

  The game medium sorting unit 700 includes a drive unit 710 and a detection unit 720.

<Driving means 710>
The driving unit 710 drives the blocker 82 so that the game medium selecting unit 700 is in either the permitted state or the rejected state.

  The driving means 710 preferably includes the solenoid 95 described above. The driving unit 710 is electrically connected to the main control unit 100. A control signal from the main control means 100 supplies a current to a coil (not shown) of the solenoid 95 or cuts off a current to the coil.

  A state in which current is supplied to the solenoid 95 is a game medium acceptance permission state. On the other hand, a state in which no current is supplied to the solenoid 95 is a game medium refusal state.

<Detection means 720>
The detection means 720 detects the presence of a detected object including a game medium such as a medal, and issues a detection signal according to the presence or absence of the detected object. The detected objects include not only game media but also objects that can exist in the medal sorting device 70.

  The detection means 720 is preferably composed of the two photosensors 96a and 96b described above. When a detected object such as a medal passes or exists in front of the two photosensors 96a or 96b, the two photosensors 96a or 96b indicate that the detected object exists in front of the sensor. A detection signal is issued.

  When there is no object to be detected in front of the two photo sensors 96a or 96b, no detection signal is emitted from the two photo sensors 96a or 96b.

  The detection means 720 is electrically connected to the main control means 100 described later, and a detection signal generated as a detected object is present in front of the two photosensors 96a or 96b is supplied to the main control means 100. Is done.

<Main control means 100 (game control means, selection control means)>
In addition to the operation means 500, selection means 600, and game medium sorting means 700 described above, the symbol display means 400 is electrically connected to the main control means 100. The main control means 100 controls the whole game such as the progress of the game and controls the selection of inserted medals. The main control means 100 preferably comprises the main control board 32 described above.

  As described above, the operation means 500 is electrically connected to the main control means 100. An end signal is issued to the main control means 100 from each of the stop switches 44 a to 44 c of the operation means 500. By detecting the order and timing of the end signals generated from each of the stop switches 44a to 44c, the main control means 100 can obtain a plurality of types of operation modes of the three stop switches 44a to 44c.

  The main control means 100 is electrically connected to the selection means 600. A bet signal is issued to the main control means 100 from each of the 1 bet switch 62, the 2 bet switch 64 and the maximum bet switch 66 of the selection means 600. By detecting the issued bet signal, the number of medals to be bet and the setting of the effective line are controlled.

  Further, a driving unit 710 is electrically connected to the main control unit 100. The main control means 100 supplies the drive means 710 with a control signal for supplying current to the coil of the solenoid 95 of the drive means 710 or for cutting off the current. By controlling the current to be supplied to the solenoid 95, the game medium sorting means 700 is set in a game medium acceptance state. On the other hand, by controlling to cut off the current to the solenoid 95, the game medium selecting means 700 is made to be in a state of rejecting the game medium. The main control unit 100 sets the game medium selection unit 700 in a permitted state or a rejected state according to the progress of the game.

  Furthermore, a detection unit 720 is electrically connected to the main control unit 100. From the two photosensors 96a and 96b of the detection means 720, a detection signal indicating that a detected object exists is issued. By detecting the generated detection signal, it can be determined whether or not an object to be detected exists in the medal sorting device 70.

  Further, the main control means 100 includes a combination lottery means 120, a reel drive control means 130, a symbol detection means 150, and an object presence / absence determination means 160.

<Role lottery means 120 (lottery means)>
The role lottery means 120 performs a lottery of a predetermined role. As described above, the combination includes a special combination, a small combination, and a replay combination.

  The special role is a role that shifts from the normal game to the special game. A special game is a game that has a higher possibility of acquiring more medals than the number of medals that can be acquired in a normal game, and is a game that is advantageous to the player. In general, the special combination includes a BB combination (Big Bonus) and an RB combination (Regular Bonus). These BB combination or RB combination is a combination to shift to BB game or RB game, which is one of special games.

  The small combination is a combination in which a predetermined number of medals are paid out. As described above, there are a plurality of types of small roles such as a watermelon role, a bell role, and a cherry role. When a small combination is drawn by lottery processing, one type of small combination is determined. The number of medals to be paid out is preset in accordance with the type of the small role.

  Furthermore, the re-game player can play the current game while maintaining the number of medals inserted in the previous game (the number of bets), that is, a player who can play the game again. is there.

  The role lottery means 120 includes, for example, a random number generation means (not shown), a random number extraction means (not shown), and a random number determination means (not shown). The random number generation means generates a random number for a lottery (such as a hardware random number). The random number extraction unit extracts the random number generated by the random number generation unit. The random number determination means determines the presence / absence of a winning combination and the winning combination based on the random value extracted by the random number extracting means. The role lottery means 120 constitutes “lottery means”, and “lottery processing” is performed.

  The “lottery process” is a lottery process for determining whether a game is won or missed.

<Reel drive control means 130>
The reel drive control means 130 performs rotation control and stop control of the three reels 30L to 30R based on the start signal issued from the start switch 42 and the end signal issued from the stop switches 44a to 44c. . The reel drive control means 130 includes a reel rotation control means (not shown) and a reel stop control means (not shown). The reel drive control means 130 constitutes “reel drive control means”.

  The reel rotation control unit issues a rotation control signal to the motors 86a, 86b, and 86c when it detects a start signal issued from the operation unit 500, preferably the start switch 42 described above. As will be described later, the motor 86a drives the left reel 30L, the motor 86b drives the middle reel 30C, and the motor 86c drives the right reel 30R. When the reel rotation control means detects the start signal, it issues a rotation control signal to these three motors 86a, 86b and 86c. With the rotation control signal, the three reels 30L to 30R start to rotate.

  The reel stop control means issues a stop control signal to the motor 86a, 86b or 86c when it detects an end signal issued from the operation means 500 described above, preferably from the stop switches 44a to 44c. As described above, the left reel 30L corresponds to the stop switch 44a, the middle reel 30C corresponds to the stop switch 44b, and the right reel 30R corresponds to the stop switch 44c. That is, when the end signal is issued from the stop switch 44a, the reel stop control means issues a stop control signal to the motor 86a that drives the left reel 30L to stop the left reel 30L. When an end signal is issued from the stop switch 44b, a stop control signal is issued to the motor 86b that drives the middle reel 30C to stop the middle reel 30C. Further, when an end signal is issued from the stop switch 44c, a stop control signal is issued to the motor 86c that drives the right reel 30R to stop the right reel 30R.

  The reel stop control means is configured such that when the winning combination is determined by referring to the game probability table (not shown) based on the value of the random number by the random number determining means described above, the winning combination is won. Stop control of the three reels 30L, 30C and 30R is performed.

<Design detecting means 150>
The symbol detection means 150 detects a symbol that reaches or can reach a certain rotation reference position based on the end signal issued from the operation means 500. That is, in response to the player operating the operation unit 500, the reel drive control unit 130 starts stop control of the left reel 30L, the middle reel 30C, or the right reel 30R. The symbol detection means 150 detects a symbol that may stop at a certain rotation reference position when controlling the reels 30L to 30R by detecting the symbol located at the certain rotation reference position described above. That is, it is possible to detect a symbol that has reached or can reach a certain rotation reference position.

<Object presence / absence judging means 160>
The object presence / absence determination unit 160 detects the detection signal from the detection unit 720 and determines the presence / absence of the detected object when the game medium selection unit 700 is in a rejected state. For example, when the blocker 82 is in a state of removing a medal from the medal removal port 81, a detection signal emitted from the two photosensors 96a and 96b is detected to be in front of the two photosensors 96a and 96b. It is determined whether or not an object to be detected exists.

  The process of determining whether or not the game medium selecting unit 700 is in a rejected state is executed in step S11 of the flowchart of FIG. Further, the process of detecting the detection signal and determining the presence or absence of the detected object is determined in step S22 of the flowchart of FIG.

  The object presence / absence determination unit 160 includes a time passage determination unit 162.

<Time elapsed determination means 162>
The time elapse determining means 162 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the game medium selecting means 700 was changed from the permitted state to the rejected state. For example, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed with reference to the time when the blocker 82 is changed from a state in which an inserted medal is received to a state in which a medal is excluded from the medal exclusion port 81. This predetermined time is preferably determined as appropriate according to the time from when a medal is inserted through the medal insertion slot 46 until it reaches the two photosensors 96a and 96b. In particular, it is desirable to set the predetermined time to 0.5 to 2 seconds.

<Design display means 400>
The symbol display means 400 includes reels 30L, 30C and 30R. On each of the reels 30L, 30C, and 30R, a predetermined number, for example, 21 symbols are arranged along the rotation direction of the reel.

  The reel 30L includes a motor 86a for rotating the reel 30L and a rotation angle sensor 83a for detecting the rotation angle of the reel 30L. The reel 30C includes a motor 86b for rotationally driving the reel 30C and a rotation angle sensor 83b for detecting the rotation angle of the reel 30C. The reel 30R includes a motor 86c for rotationally driving the reel 30R and a rotation angle sensor 83c for detecting the rotation angle of the reel 30R.

  The rotation angle sensors 83a to 83c emit signals corresponding to the angles at which the reels 30L, 30C, and 30R are rotated. When the reels 30L to 30R are at a predetermined rotational position in the rotation direction, the rotation angle sensors 83a to 83c generate signals corresponding to the angles rotated from the origin. For example, the reels 30L, 30C, and 30R are divided into one rotation, that is, 360 degrees, equally divided into 400 steps. In this case, the rotation angle sensors 83a to 83c emit signals indicating steps from 0 to 399 according to the angles at which the reels 30L, 30C, and 30R are rotated. Specifically, when the reels 30L to 30R are located at the origin, a signal indicating the 0th step is issued, and when the reels 30L to 30R are at a rotational position rotated by 90 degrees from the origin, a signal indicating the 99th step. To emit. In this way, it is possible to obtain how much the reels 30L to 30R are rotated from the origin based on the signals generated from the rotation angle sensors 83a to 83c. The above description is for conceptually explaining the signals emitted from the rotation angle sensors 83a to 83c. In the slot machine 10, the rotation angle sensors 83a to 83r are used to obtain the positions of the reels 30L to 30R. Instead of detecting a signal emitted from 83c, detection is performed in order to obtain a symbol number or a symbol type or to specify a predetermined symbol position, as will be described later.

  As described above, the symbol detection means 150 stores a symbol correspondence table (not shown) that defines the correspondence between symbol numbers and symbol types corresponding to symbol numbers. Here, for example, when 21 symbols are attached to one reel along the circumferential direction, the symbol number is set to a reel reference position with a certain position on the reels 30L to 30R as a reel reference position. The arranged symbol is the symbol in frame 0. The first frame design, the second frame design,... In this order along the circumferential direction with reference to this origin, and the last 21st design as the 20th frame design. The symbol correspondence table stored in the symbol detection means 150 stores the correspondence between this symbol number and the symbol type corresponding to this symbol number. For example, for the left reel 30L, the symbol correspondence table shows that the 0th frame is the symbol “Plum”, the 8th frame is the symbol “Replay”, and the 16th frame is the symbol “Blue cherry”. Remember.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to search the symbol correspondence table based on signals emitted from the rotation angle sensors 83a to 83c and acquire the symbol type. For example, the symbol number of the reel 30L at the position of the winning line L3 is obtained based on the signal generated from the rotation angle sensor 83a, and the type of the symbol positioned at the winning line L3 can be obtained from the symbol number. . By doing in this way, regardless of whether the reels 30L to 30R are rotating or stopped, the types of symbols positioned on the effective lines L1 to L5 and the effective lines L1 to L5 It is possible to identify the types of symbols that can be stopped.

<< Control processing >>
Below, the control performed in the main control means 100 (main control board 32) mentioned above is demonstrated. 8 and 9 are subroutines for executing control processing in the main control means 100. FIG.

  In the following, the slot machine 10 is started in advance, and in the main control unit 100 described above, after starting processing such as initialization of various variables used for control, the slot machine 10 operates normally. It shall be. Further, the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 show only one example for executing the control process in the main control means 100, and are not limited to this process procedure.

<Blocker 82 state detection processing>
FIG. 8 is a subroutine for executing processing for detecting the state of the blocker 82. This subroutine is called and executed on the main control board 32 every predetermined time.

  First, it is determined whether or not it is immediately after the blocker 82 is turned off (step S11). As described above, the blocker 82 is driven by the solenoid 95. A state in which current is supplied to a coil (not shown) of the solenoid 95 by a control signal from the main control board 32 is an ON state of the solenoid 95. The state where the current to the coil is interrupted by the control signal from the main control board 32 and the current is not supplied to the coil of the solenoid 95 is the OFF state of the solenoid 95. The determination process of step S11 is a process of determining whether or not the solenoid 95 is immediately after being switched from the on state to the off state. That is, the process of step S11 is a process of determining whether or not the blocker 82 is immediately after being switched from the permitted state to the rejected state.

  When it is determined in step S11 that the blocker 82 has just been turned off, a timer (not shown) provided on the main control board 32 is started and immediately after the blocker 82 is turned off. The elapsed time is counted (step S12).

  Next, the abnormality detection execution flag is turned off (step S13), and this subroutine is terminated. This abnormality detection execution flag is a flag for determining whether or not to execute abnormality detection processing. When the abnormality detection execution flag is on, it means that abnormality detection processing is executed, and when it is off, abnormality detection processing is performed. This means that no processing is executed.

  If it is determined in step S11 described above that the blocker 82 is not immediately after being turned off, it is determined whether or not the blocker 82 is turned on (step S14). That is, it is determined whether or not the blocker 82 is in the permitted state. If it is determined that the blocker 82 is in the on state, the process proceeds to step S13 described above.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the blocker 82 is not in the ON state, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time counted by the timer activated in step S12 has passed a predetermined time (step S15). That is, the determination process of step S15 is a process of determining whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed with reference to the time when the blocker 82 is switched from the permitted state to the rejected state. The predetermined time is set to 0.5 to 2 seconds in consideration of the time until the medal entered from the entrance 76 of the medal sorting device 70 reaches the front of the two photo sensors 96a or 96b. preferable.

  When it is determined that the elapsed time counted by the timer has passed the predetermined time, the above-described abnormality detection execution flag is turned on (step S16), and this subroutine is terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the elapsed time counted by the timer has not passed the predetermined time, this subroutine is immediately terminated.

  By executing the subroutine shown in FIG. 8, when a predetermined time has elapsed with reference to the time when the blocker 82 is switched from the permitted state to the rejected state, abnormality detection is performed, and the predetermined time has elapsed. When not, abnormality detection can be prevented from being executed. In this way, immediately after the blocker 82 is turned off, abnormality detection is not performed. Therefore, even if medals remain in the medal guide passage 77, it is not determined that an abnormality has occurred, and an abnormality has occurred. It is possible to accurately determine whether or not this has occurred.

<Foreign matter detection processing>
FIG. 9 is a subroutine for executing processing for detecting whether or not a foreign object exists in the medal sorting device. This subroutine is also called and executed on the main control board 32 at predetermined intervals.

  First, it is determined whether or not an abnormality detection execution flag is on (step S21). As described above, when the abnormality detection execution flag is on, it means that abnormality detection processing is executed, and when it is off, it means that abnormality detection processing is not executed. The determination in step S21 is a process for determining whether or not the abnormality detection process should be executed.

  If it is determined that the abnormality detection execution flag is not on, this subroutine is immediately terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the abnormality detection execution flag is ON, it is determined whether or not a detection signal is issued from the two photosensors 96a or 96b (step S22). As described above, when an object to be detected exists in front of the two photosensors 96a or 96b, a detection signal is emitted from the two photosensors 96a or 96b, and when no object to be detected exists, No detection signal is emitted from the sensor 96a or 96b. That is, the determination process of step S22 is a process of determining whether or not an object to be detected exists in front of the two photosensors 96a or 96b.

  When it is determined that no detection signal is issued from the two photosensors 96a or 96b, this subroutine is immediately terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the detection signals are issued from the two photosensors 96a or 96b, the abnormality detection flag is turned on (step S23), and this subroutine is terminated. This abnormality detection flag is a flag for indicating whether or not an abnormality has occurred due to foreign matter entering the medal sorting device 70. When the abnormality detection execution flag is on, it means that an abnormality has occurred, Sometimes it means that no abnormality has occurred.

  When the blocker 82 is switched from the permitted state to the rejected state by executing the processing described above, the abnormality detection is not performed when the predetermined time has not elapsed, and the abnormality detection is performed when the predetermined time has elapsed. Execute. As a result, when a predetermined time has not elapsed, even if a medal that is moving toward the exit 80 remains in the medal guide passage 77, it is not determined that an abnormality has occurred. However, if it is determined that an abnormality has occurred when a predetermined time has elapsed, the abnormality cannot be attributed to a medal moving toward the exit 80 in the medal guide passage 77, and some foreign matter has It can be determined that it is in the sorting device 70, and in particular, it is accurately determined that an instrument for performing an illegal act such as changing the number of credits of medals has been placed in the medal sorting device 70. Can do.

<< Specific example >>
FIG. 10 is a time chart showing a specific example of the process for detecting the state of the blocker 82 and the process for detecting whether or not a foreign object is present in the medal sorting device.

  FIG. 10A is a time chart showing whether the blocker 82 is in a permitted state or a rejected state. FIG. 10B is a time chart showing a change in the detection signal emitted from the photosensor 96a. FIG. 10C is a time chart showing the change of the detection signal emitted from the photosensor 96b. FIG. 10D is a time chart showing a change in the state of the abnormality detection execution flag. FIG. 10E is a time chart showing a change in the state of the abnormality detection flag.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, it is assumed that the blocker 82 is allowed at time t1 and rejected at time t6. When a detected object such as a medal crosses the front of the photosensors 96a and 96b within the time t1 to t6, as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C, the detection signal is transmitted to the photosensors 96a and 96b. Emitted from each of 96b. In this case, since the blocker 82 is in the permitted state, the process of step S13 is executed by the determination process of step S14 of FIG. 8 described above, and the abnormality detection execution flag is turned off. For this reason, as shown in FIG.10 (d), the abnormality detection execution flag is OFF within the time of time t1-t6. Since the abnormality detection execution flag is off, the abnormality detection flag is also turned off by the determination process in step S21 of FIG. For this reason, as shown in FIG.10 (e), the abnormality detection flag is also OFF within the time of time t1-t6.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, at time t6, the blocker 82 is changed from the permitted state to the rejected state. The determination process in step S11 in FIG. 8 determines when this change has been made. By this determination process, the process in step S12 is executed and a timer is started.

  At time t7, since the predetermined time has been reached with reference to time t6, it is determined by the determination process in step S15 in FIG. 8 that the predetermined time has elapsed. Thereby, the process of step S16 is performed, and the abnormality detection execution flag is turned on as shown in FIG.

  After that, since the blocker 82 is in the permitted state at time t8, the process of step S13 is executed again by the determination process of step S14 of FIG. 8, and at time t8 as shown in FIG. The abnormality detection execution flag is turned off.

  Further, at time t9, the blocker 82 is in a rejected state. At this time t9, the blocker 82 is changed from the permitted state to the rejected state. The determination process in step S11 of FIG. 8 determines when this change is made, the process of step S12 is executed, and the timer is started again. At time t10 when a predetermined time has elapsed from time t9, step S16 in FIG. 8 is executed, and as shown in FIG. 10D, the abnormality detection execution flag is turned on from time t10.

  Thereafter, when a detection signal is issued from the photosensor 96a at time t11, step S23 in FIG. 9 is executed, and it is assumed that some foreign matter exists in front of the photosensor 96a, as shown in FIG. At time t11, the abnormality detection flag is turned on.

  As described above, when the blocker 82 is switched from the permitted state to the rejected state as a reference, the abnormality detection is not performed when the predetermined time has not elapsed, and the abnormality detection is performed when the predetermined time has elapsed. By processing in this way, even if medals remain in the medal guide passage 77, it is not determined that an abnormality has occurred due to the presence of medals. On the other hand, when it is determined that an abnormality has occurred after a predetermined time has elapsed, the abnormality cannot be attributed to a medal, and it can be determined that some foreign object exists in front of the sensor. By doing in this way, when the instrument for performing the fraud which changes the number of credits of a medal is put in the medal sorting device 70, it can discriminate | determine 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 figure which fractures | ruptures and shows a part of cover 78 mentioned later. It is a front view for showing the movement of medals that entered the medal sorting device. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line X-X ′ shown in FIG. 4. It is a top view for showing a mode that the staying medal is removed by stay stop button 43. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of main control functions in the slot machine 10. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine which performs the process which detects the state of the blocker 82. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine which performs the process for detecting whether a foreign material exists in a medal sorter. It is a time chart which shows the specific example of the process which detects the state of the blocker 82, and the process for detecting whether a foreign material exists in a medal sorting device.

Explanation of symbols

10 slot machine 30L, 30C, 30R reel 42 start switch 44a, 44b, 44c stop switch 100 main control means (game control means, sorting control means)
120 Role lottery means 160 Object presence / absence judgment means 162 Time elapsed judgment means 700 Game medium sorting means 720 Detection means

Claims (3)

A slot machine including an insertion slot into which a game medium is inserted, wherein a game is played based on the input of the game medium;
A game medium selection means for selecting a game medium input from an input slot, wherein the game medium is selected to be in a permission state for permitting the acceptance of the input game medium or in a reject state for rejecting the input of the game medium. Means,
Detecting means for detecting the presence of an object to be detected including the game medium and emitting a detection signal according to the presence or absence of the object to be detected;
Selection control means for issuing a control signal to the game medium selection means for setting the game medium selection means to the permitted state or for setting the game medium selection means to the rejection state based on the progress of the game; Including, and
The slot machine comprising: an object presence / absence determining unit that detects the presence / absence of the detected object by detecting the detection signal when the game medium selecting unit is in the rejected state. The object presence / absence determining means includes
A time elapse judging means for judging whether or not a predetermined time has passed since the game medium selecting means was changed from the permitted state to the rejected state; and
When it is determined that the time elapse determining means is before the predetermined time, the presence / absence of the detected object is not determined, and the time elapse determining means determines that the predetermined time has elapsed. 2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein determination of the presence / absence of the detected object is started from time.   2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein said object presence / absence judging means detects a signal from said detecting means and judges the presence / absence of said detected object when said game medium selecting means is in said permission state.

Images