JP2007082851A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To offer a game machine which can eliminate tedious work of slotting game mediums one by one and is excellent in convenience. <P>SOLUTION: The game machine has a game medium storing container having an opening which can receive a plurality of game mediums collectively and a slope base, a game medium stopping part on the downstream side of the sloping base, and an entrance slot provided on part of the base adjacent to the game medium stopping part for allowing the game medium held at the game medium stopping part to pass one by one in the direction intersecting with the sloping base, and a vibration generation means which vibrates the game medium storage container. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachislot gaming machine, a slot machine, a pachislot gaming machine, and a medal gaming machine.

As a conventional gaming machine, for example, a guide surface for guiding a plurality of coins and a receiving tray in which a plurality of coins are inserted all at once and a coin inserted from the insertion slot are aligned and accommodated. And a vibration generating means for vibrating the coin storage cylinder. The coin storage cylinder is inclined at a predetermined angle and has a coin stopper on the downstream side thereof. In the cylinder, there is a gaming machine in which a discharge port through which only one coin can be passed in a direction intersecting with the coin storage cylinder is formed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

There is also a gaming machine with a built-in device in which coins that have been batch-inserted into the slot are fed by the conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt is vibrated and separated one by one into the machine (see, for example, Patent Document 2). ). According to the gaming machines described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since coins can be inserted in a lump, the player does not feel bothered to insert coins one by one into the gaming machine.

JP 2005-160605 A JP 2003-245406 A

However, in the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1, the coin receiving cylinder that vibrates is provided in the gaming machine and cannot be reached by the player. In the case of getting stuck, there was a problem that the clogging could not be solved by the player alone. In particular, in the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1, the insertion slot is circular with the same diameter as the diameter of the coin, so there is a risk that gums, butts and the like may be thrown in by a malicious player. The gaming machine described in Patent Literature 1 has a reject function for discharging coins and foreign objects in the coin housing portion to the outside by a lever operation by a player, but when the lever operation is not performed properly. May worsen clogging or cause new clogging. In addition, if gum, butts, etc. are thrown in, there is a problem that they cannot be discharged by the reject function. After all, in such a case, the player's hand does not reach the inside, so the player himself could not solve the clogging. The same applies to the gaming machine described in Patent Document 2, and since the transport belt is provided in the gaming machine and the player's hand cannot reach, the coin is jammed only when the coin is jammed. There was a problem that could not be resolved. Moreover, if gums, butts, etc. are thrown in, not only cannot they be taken out, but they may be caught in the drive unit of the conveyor belt and break down.

In other words, in the gaming machines described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since coins are batch-inserted into the gaming machine, and the coins that are batch-inserted are separated one by one in the gaming machine, There is a problem that the clogging cannot be solved by itself. Therefore, when such a problem occurs, it has to be solved by calling a store clerk or the like of a game store (so-called pachinko hall), resulting in a lack of convenience.

In addition, in the gaming machines described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since coins inserted into the slot are separated and detected one by one in the gaming machine, the game is played after coins are batched into the slot. Even if you want to stop, you can not take out the coins that have been put in at once, so you can not stop the game immediately, and there is a problem that the convenience is lacking. The gaming machine described in Patent Document 1 has a reject function for discharging the coins in the coin storage portion to the outside by lever operation by the player, but if the lever operation is not performed properly, There is a risk that coins cannot be discharged smoothly or clogged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can eliminate the trouble of inserting game media one by one and is excellent in convenience. is there.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following.
(1) The bottom surface having an opening capable of collectively receiving a plurality of game media and an inclined bottom surface, wherein a game media stop portion is provided on the downstream side of the bottom surface and adjacent to the game media stop portion A game medium container having a slot for allowing passage of game media stopped by the game medium stop portion one by one in a direction intersecting the bottom surface;
A gaming machine comprising vibration generating means for vibrating the game medium container.

According to the invention of (1), the plurality of game media received collectively in the game media container are gradually aligned while flowing down the inclined bottom surface by the vibration generated by the vibration generating means, and the game media stop portion It is dammed above and is put into the gaming machine one by one from a slot formed in a part of the bottom surface adjacent to the game medium stopper. Therefore, the player can automatically put one game medium into the game machine one by one by putting a plurality of game media into the game medium container. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of throwing game media into the gaming machine one by one.

Also, even if a plurality of game media are put in the game media container at once, the player can take out the game media stored in the game media container when he / she wants to stop the game. Excellent in properties. In the unlikely event that clogging occurs in the process of inserting game media, the game media itself is not yet in the gaming machine and is within the reach of the player. Can eliminate clogging and is highly convenient.

Furthermore, since the shape of the slot itself can be the same as the thickness of the game medium, as with conventional gaming machines, it is possible to throw in foreign substances that are prone to clogging, such as gums and butts. Can be prevented.

Furthermore, the present invention provides the following.
(2) The gaming machine of (1) above,
Including an acceptance detection means for detecting a game medium received in the game medium accommodation unit;
The vibration generating means vibrates the game medium container based on the detection of the game medium by the acceptance detection means.

According to the invention of (2), when the game medium received in the game medium container is detected by the acceptance detection means, the vibration generating means vibrates the game medium container, so that the game medium is stored only when necessary. The container can be vibrated. Therefore, power consumption can be reduced, and wear caused by rubbing between the game medium container and the game medium and rubbing between the game media can be prevented.

Furthermore, the present invention provides the following.
(3) The gaming machine of (1) or (2) above,
Signal output means for outputting a request signal for requesting the generation of vibration in response to an operation by the player;
The vibration generating means vibrates the game medium container based on the output of the request signal from the signal output means.

According to the invention of (3), since the vibration generating means vibrates the game medium container in response to an operation by the player, for example, a player who is worried about the vibration or the sound generated by the vibration generating means The game media can be thrown into the gaming machine one by one by stopping the vibration.
In the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1, coins cannot be inserted when the vibration is stopped, and in the gaming machine described in Patent Document 2, coins cannot be inserted when the operation or vibration of the conveyor belt is stopped. When a coin is inserted, it is necessary to operate a device that generates vibration or a device that operates a conveyor belt. However, in the present invention, even if the vibration generating means is not operated, Therefore, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the player can select the presence or absence of vibration according to his / her preference.

According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of throwing game media one by one, which is excellent in convenience.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, a case where the present invention is applied to a pachislot gaming device will be described as a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of a pachislot gaming device.
This pachislot gaming apparatus 1 uses medals.

A main body casing 10 forming the entire pachislot gaming apparatus 1 is provided with a door body 2 on the front surface thereof. The door body 2 is supported by the main body housing 10 so that it can be opened and closed. A liquid crystal display device 5 is installed in front of the door body 2. The liquid crystal display device 5 includes a transparent liquid crystal panel, and a part or all of the liquid crystal display device 5 can be switched to a transparent / non-transparent state, and an effect image related to a game can be displayed.

Further, on the back side of the liquid crystal display device 5, three rotating reels 3L, 3C, and 3R are provided as variable display portions. Each of the three rotating reels 3L, 3C, and 3R has identification information such as a plurality of symbols displayed on its outer peripheral surface, and is provided in a horizontal row so as to be rotatable. The identification information of each rotary reel 3L, 3C, 3R becomes visible when the transparent liquid crystal panel becomes transparent. A pedestal portion 12 having a horizontal plane is formed below the liquid crystal display device 5, and a 1-BET switch 11 and a maximum BET switch 13 are provided on the left side of the pedestal portion 12. Further, a medal insertion device 30 is provided on the right side of the pedestal portion 12, and a medal container (game medium storage device) 40 provided in the medal insertion device 30 is exposed on the pedestal portion 12.
The medal insertion device 30 will be described in detail later.

A start lever 6 for rotating the rotary reels 3L, 3C, 3R by a player's operation is rotatably attached to the left side of the front surface of the pedestal portion 12 within a predetermined angle range. Three stop buttons 7L, 7C, and 7R for stopping the rotation of the three rotary reels 3L, 3R, and 3C are provided at the center of the front surface portion of the pedestal portion 12, respectively. A vibration request button 26 is provided on the right side of the front surface of the pedestal 12. The vibration request button 26 is a button for inputting an instruction for requesting vibration of the medal container 40, and a switch (for outputting a request signal for requesting generation of vibration in response to an operation by the player ( (Not shown).
The vibration request button 26 functions as a signal output means for outputting a request signal for requesting the generation of vibration in response to an operation by the player.

A lower panel 23 on which characters and the like are drawn is provided below the pedestal unit 12, and a medal payout opening 15 is provided below the lower panel 23. A tray 16 is provided below the payout opening 15 and on the front side of the main body housing 10.

Next, the medal insertion device 30 will be described in detail.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a medal insertion device 30 provided in the pachislot gaming device 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the medal insertion device 30 shown in FIG.

The medal insertion device 30 has an opening 41 capable of receiving a plurality of medals M at once and an inclined bottom surface 42, and a medal stopper 43 is provided on the downstream side of the bottom 42. A medal container 40 having a slot 44 through which a medal M stopped by the medal stopper 43 can be passed one by one in a direction intersecting the bottom surface 42 is provided in a part of the adjacent bottom surface 42. A vibration generating unit 48 is provided as vibration generating means for vibrating the container 40.

The medal container 40 has an opening 41 exposed on the pedestal portion 12, and a vibration-proof rubber packing 52 is attached to an edge 41 a of the opening 41. The medal container 40 is supported by the pedestal portion 12 via a packing 52 attached to the edge portion 41a. Since the medal container 40 is supported via the packing 52, even if the medal container 40 vibrates, noise or the like is hardly generated, and vibration is prevented from being transmitted to other devices included in the pachislot gaming device 1. can do. Further, by filling the gap between the two, it is possible to prevent an illegal act that inserts some substance from the gap and affects the device in the pachislot gaming device 1. If the pedestal 12 and the medal container 40 are simply separated so as not to transmit vibrations, there is a risk that the above-described fraudulent acts may be performed.

The opening 41 has a size capable of collectively receiving a plurality of medals that are not aligned, and the opening 41 has a size in which a player's hand enters the medal container 40. ing. In addition, the medal container 40 has a bottom surface 42 inclined at a predetermined angle at a position where the player's hand can reach. The inclination angle of the bottom surface 42 is, for example, 10 to 30 °, preferably 15 to 20 °. If the tilt angle is too small, it may take time for the medals to be aligned on the bottom surface 42. If it is too large, the frictional force between the medals aligned on the bottom surface 42 increases, and the medals can be smoothly inserted from the insertion slot 47. May not fall. In addition, the medal M can be smoothly guided to the insertion slot 44 by increasing the inclination angle as it approaches the downstream side of the bottom surface 42.

The shape of the bottom surface 42 is a bowl shape in which a cross section having an arc shape extends in the inclination direction, and the curvature of the arc is equal to or less than the curvature of the medal M. The depth of the bottom surface 42 is about 1/6 to 1/2 of the diameter of the medal M. A medal stopper 43 is provided on the downstream side of the bottom surface 42. The medal stopper 43 has substantially the same area as the medal M and is provided at an angle orthogonal to the inclined bottom surface 42. The medals M that flow down while being gradually aligned on the bottom surface 42 by the vibration generated by the vibration generating unit 48 are dammed by the medal stopper 43 and stacked on the medal stopper 43. Further, since the bottom surface 42 is at a position where the player's hand can reach, if the medal M is not aligned on the medal stopper 43, the player can change the direction of the medal M by hand, It can be moved. Moreover, even if foreign matter such as gum or butts are put in the medal container 40, it can be immediately taken out by hand.

A part of the bottom 42 adjacent to the medal stopper 43 is formed with an insertion port 44 through which the medals M dammed by the medal stopper 43 can pass one by one in a direction intersecting the bottom 42.
Specifically, the width of the insertion slot 44 in the short direction is wider than the thickness of one medal M, but smaller than the thickness of two medals M. Further, the insertion port 42 is located at a position where the player can reach.
According to the pachislot gaming device 1, the insertion port 44 has a shape that allows the medals M to pass one by one, so that foreign matters such as gums and butts are thrown into the pachislot gaming device 1 through the insertion port 44. Can be prevented.

The medal container 40 includes a light emitting element 45 and a light receiving element 46 for detecting the medal M that reaches the vicinity of the medal stopper 43. The light emitting element 45 is installed on the lower side of the medal container 40 (the back side of the bottom surface 42), and the light receiving element 46 is provided at a position facing the light emitting element 45 (behind the medal stopper 43). The light receiving element 46 outputs a detection signal to the control board 30 to be described later when the light output from the light emitting element 45 cannot be received. The light emitting element 45 and the light receiving element 46 function as an acceptance detecting unit that detects the medal M received in the medal container 40. The light-emitting element 45 and the light-receiving element 46 can also detect foreign matter put in the medal container 40.

In the present invention, when the light emitting element 45 and the light receiving element 46 are installed as the acceptance detecting means, the optical axis from the light emitting element 45 to the light receiving element 46 is the same as that of the bottom plate 42 from the point of reliably detecting the medal M and the foreign matter. It is desirable to install so as to intersect, and it is more desirable to install so that the optical axis from the light emitting element 45 to the light receiving element 46 intersects the bottom plate 42 and the medal stopper 43. In this case, it is desirable that the light emitting element 45 is installed below the medal storage unit 40 and the light receiving element 46 disposed facing the light emitting element 45 is installed above the light emitting element 45. This is because if the light receiving element 46 is on the lower side, the medal M may not be detected by light incident on the medal container 40 from the outside through the opening 41. In the present invention, the acceptance detection means is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include conventionally known sensors such as proximity sensors and mechanical contact sensors.

The vibration generating unit 48 is disposed in the vicinity of the medal stopper 43 of the medal container 40. The vibration generator 48 is attached integrally with the medal container 40. The vibration generating unit 48 includes a direct current type motor 49 and an eccentric roller 50 that is attached to the rotating shaft 49a of the motor 49 and generates vibration by the rotation of the rotating shaft 49a. The motor 49 is disposed such that the rotation shaft 49 a is perpendicular to the inclination direction of the bottom surface 42. The eccentric roller 50 has an elliptic cylinder shape, and is fixed to the rotation shaft 49a at a position shifted from the central axis of the elliptic cylinder. Thereby, it becomes possible to generate a vibration having an amplitude along the inclination direction of the bottom surface 42.

In the present embodiment, the case where the vibration generating unit includes the motor having the eccentric roller attached to the rotating shaft has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this example.
For example, the vibration generating unit may include an electromagnet and a leaf spring. In this case, it is possible to generate vibration by amplifying the force generated by ON / OFF of the electromagnet with the leaf spring, and it is possible to change the direction of vibration by adjusting the orientation of the leaf spring. The vibration generating unit may include a piezoelectric element. In this case, it is possible to generate vibration by repeating the application of voltage to the piezoelectric element and its stop, and the direction of vibration can be changed by adjusting the direction of the piezoelectric element.

The medal insertion device 30 includes a control board 50 that controls the vibration generator 48 below the vibration generator 48. The vibration generating unit 48 and the control board 50 function as vibration generating means for vibrating the medal container 40. The control board 50 is connected to each of the light receiving element 46 and the vibration request button 26 (see FIG. 1) by a cable (not shown).
The control board 50 drives the motor 49 of the vibration generating unit 48 when receiving the detection signal from the light receiving element 46. In addition, when receiving a request signal from the vibration request button 26, the control board 50 drives the motor 49 of the vibration generating unit 48. When the control board 50 receives the request signal from the vibration request button 26 while driving the motor 49 of the vibration generating unit 48 or receiving the detection signal from the light receiving element 46. Then, the motor 49 is stopped. In the present invention, the control board 50 may stop the motor 49 when a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) elapses after the driving of the motor 49 is started.

A passage 47 is provided below the insertion port 44, and a medal that has passed through the insertion port 44 falls in the passage 47. A proximity sensor (not shown) for detecting a medal inserted into the insertion slot 44 is provided below the passage 47. When a medal is detected by the proximity sensor, the number of credits is incremented by one. .

As described above, according to the pachislot gaming apparatus 1, the plurality of medals M received in the medal container 40 are gradually aligned while flowing down the bottom surface 42 due to the vibration generated by the vibration generating unit 48, and the medal stopping unit. 43, and the sheets are inserted one by one from the insertion port 44. Therefore, the player can automatically insert the medals M into the pachislot gaming apparatus 1 one by one by putting a plurality of medals M in the medal container 40 at a time. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of throwing medals M into the pachislot gaming device 1 one by one.

Further, even if a plurality of medals M are put in the medal container 40 in a lump, the player can take out the medals M placed in the medal container 40 as appropriate when he / she wants to stop the game. Excellent in properties. Also, even if clogging occurs in the process of inserting medals M, these medals M have not yet been inserted into the pachislot gaming device 1 and are within the reach of the player. The user can eliminate clogging by himself and is excellent in convenience.

Furthermore, since the shape of the insertion port 44 is similar to the thickness of the medal M, as in the conventional pachislot gaming device, it prevents the entry of foreign substances that tend to be clogged, such as gums and butts. Can do.

In the present embodiment, a case has been described in which the gaming machine is a pachislot gaming device and the gaming medium is a medal, but the present invention is not limited to this example. The gaming machine is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include coins, coins, tokens, game balls and the like in addition to medals. Examples of the gaming machines include not only pachislot gaming machines but also various gaming machines that use gaming media as described above, such as slot machines, pachinko gaming machines, and medal gaming machines.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but only specific examples are illustrated, and the present invention is not particularly limited. The specific configuration of each unit and the like can be appropriately changed. The effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are only the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. is not.

It is a perspective view showing typically an example of a pachislot gaming device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a medal insertion device provided in the pachislot gaming device shown in FIG. 1. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the medal insertion apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachislot gaming device 2 Door body 10 Main body housing | casing 12 Base part 26 Vibration request | requirement button 30 Medal insertion device 40 Medal container (game media container)
41 Opening 41a Edge portion 42 Bottom surface 43 Medal stopper portion 44 Slot 45 Light emitting element 46 Light receiving element 47 Passage 48 Vibration generating portion 49 Motor 49a Rotating shaft 50 Eccentric roller 51 Control board 52 Packing

Claims (3)

A part of the bottom surface adjacent to the game medium stop portion, having an opening capable of collectively receiving a plurality of game media and an inclined bottom surface, and having a game medium stop portion provided downstream of the bottom surface; In addition, a game medium container having an insertion port through which the game medium stopped by the game medium stopper can be passed one by one in a direction intersecting the bottom surface,
A gaming machine comprising vibration generating means for vibrating the game medium container. An acceptance detecting means for detecting a game medium received in the game medium accommodation unit;
2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generating means vibrates the game medium container based on detection of the game medium by the acceptance detection means. Signal output means for outputting a request signal for requesting the generation of vibration in response to an operation by the player;
The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vibration generating means vibrates the game medium container based on a request signal output from the signal output means.

Images