JP2007236687A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To diminish the desire to cast a foreign matter illegally wrought through a game medium slot port. <P>SOLUTION: When the foreign matter cast through a token slot 23 is tried to be returned to the token slot 23, it is caught with a catching body 302 mounted on the inner wall of a medal passage 301 while the catching of the foreign matter is reported by an image or in a voice. As a result, once any foreign matter is cast into the medal passage 301 through the medal slot 23, attempts to return it is blocked by the catching body 302 and fails to return the foreign matter. This can diminish the desire to cast the foreign matter illegally wrought through the token slot 23. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine, and is particularly suitable for use in preventing unauthorized acts.

  In a gaming machine such as a slot machine, a player plays a game by inserting a medal, which is an example of a game medium, into a medal slot. The medals inserted from the medal slot are stored through a passage communicating with the medal slot. In a conventional gaming machine, when a medal is detected by a sensor that detects a medal passing through a predetermined position in the passage, it is determined that a medal has been inserted.

  However, in such a gaming machine, a medal suspended by a thread or the like is inserted from a medal insertion slot, and the medal is detected by a sensor and then pulled back, so that a game can be performed without actually inserting the medal. Was possible. Therefore, in order to prevent such an illegal act from being performed, it is determined whether or not an illegal medal is inserted according to the detection order of the two sensors provided in the passage with an interval in the vertical direction. A technique for determining is disclosed (see Patent Document 1). In such a technique, after a sensor provided on the lower side detects a medal, if the sensor provided on the upper side detects a medal, it is determined that an illegal medal has been inserted.

JP 2002-342814 A

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, whether or not an illegal medal is inserted is only detected by a sensor, so that a foreign material that has been illegally crafted, such as a medal suspended by a thread or the like, is used. It can be inserted freely from the medal slot. Therefore, there is a possibility that a foreign object that has been crafted to induce erroneous detection of the sensor may be conceived, and it is difficult to lose the willingness to perform an illegal act.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the willingness to insert a foreign material that has been illegally crafted through a game medium insertion slot.

In order to achieve this object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that an inside of the passage is captured in order to capture a foreign object that is drawn back from the game medium insertion port into the passage and then pulled back toward the game medium insertion port. It has a capture member attached to a wall surface, and a sensor that is provided deeper in the passage than the capture member and detects the passage of the game medium input from the game medium input port.
In such a configuration, when a foreign object is inserted into the passage from the game medium input port, even if the foreign object is to be pulled back, the capturing unit becomes an obstacle and the foreign object cannot be pulled back. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the willingness to insert a foreign material that has been illegally crafted from the game medium insertion port.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the capturing member has a portion inclined in the direction of the deep portion of the passage, and foreign matter drawn back in the direction of the game medium insertion port is directed in the direction of the deep portion of the passage. It is characterized by being captured at an inclined portion.
In such a configuration, an object moving in the direction of the deep part of the passage from the game medium insertion port can pass through the capturing member by the portion inclined in the direction of the deep part of the passage, and the game medium insertion port from the deep part of the passage. It is possible to make it difficult for an object moving in the direction to pass through the capturing member.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the capturing member is in a direction along the inner wall surface of the passage, and the passing direction is a direction perpendicular to the passing direction of the game medium. Is attached to the inner wall surface of the game medium, rotates in contact with an object moving in the direction of the deep portion of the passage from the game medium insertion port, and the length of the portion inclined in the direction of the deep portion of the passage is determined by the capture portion It is longer than the length between the inner wall surface of the attached passage and the inner wall surface of the passage facing the surface.
In such a configuration, the capturing member has a portion inclined in the direction of the deep portion of the passage, and when an object moving in the direction of the deep portion of the passage comes into contact with the inclined portion, the capturing member rotates as the object moves. Here, since the length of the inclined portion is longer than the length between the mounting surface of the capturing portion and the surface facing the surface, the object moved from the deep portion of the passage toward the game medium insertion port is Even if it touches the inclined portion, the inclined portion is prevented from rotating because the surface facing the mounting surface becomes an obstacle. This makes it more difficult for an object that moves from the deep part of the passage toward the game medium insertion port to pass through the capturing member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a space is formed in the back direction of the capture member, and the capture member is an object that moves from the game medium insertion port toward the deep portion of the passage. When contacting a portion inclined in the direction of the deep part of the passage, it rotates in the back direction and at least a part of the region exits from the passage, and rotates so as to return to the original position when the object passes. To do.
In such a configuration, the capture member rotates so as to retreat from the passage when an object moving in the direction of the deep part of the passage contacts from the game medium insertion port, so that the game medium thrown from the game medium insertion port is captured by the capture member. Will pass more easily.

In addition, the part inclined in the direction of the deep part of the said channel | path can be made into a wedge shape, as described in Claim 5.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detecting means for detecting that the capturing member captures the foreign matter drawn back in the direction of the game medium insertion port, and the foreign matter drawn back in the direction of the game medium insertion port. When it is detected by the detecting means that the capturing member has captured, it has an informing means for informing the fact.
In such a configuration, since it is detected and notified that a foreign object has been inserted into the game medium insertion slot, it is possible to further reduce the willingness to input a foreign object that has been illegally crafted from the game medium insertion slot. .

  According to the present invention, when a foreign object is inserted into the passage from the game medium input port, the capturing unit becomes an obstacle even if the foreign object is to be pulled back, and the foreign object cannot be pulled back. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the willingness to insert a foreign material that has been illegally crafted from the game medium insertion port.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In the following, a so-called slot machine will be described as an example of a gaming machine.
(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
(Slot machine 1)
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of the appearance of the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment. In the following description, “game” refers to a series of operations from the insertion of a medal to the operation of a stop switch before the next medal is inserted.

  In FIG. 1, a front panel 20 is provided on the front surface of the housing of the slot machine 1. The front panel 20 is provided with a transparent display window 21. On the other hand, three reels (rotating drums) are arranged inside the housing and behind the display window 21. A left reel 31L, a middle reel 31C, and a right reel 31R are arranged from the left as viewed from the player. The reels 31L, 31C, and 31R are ring-shaped bodies, and a reel tape on which a plurality of winning symbols (designs constituting a winning combination) are printed is affixed to the outer peripheral surface thereof. For example, 21 types of symbols are arranged at equal intervals on one reel. However, the arrangement of symbols differs for each reel. From the inside of the display window 21, three symbols that are continuous in the vertical direction of the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R can be seen.

  A stepping motor (not shown) is connected to the center of the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R, and the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R are rotated by driving the stepping motor. Therefore, from the standpoint of the player, the symbols of the reels 31L, 31C and 31R appear to move up and down within the display window 21. Further, a back lamp (not shown) is provided inside the reels 31L, 31C and 31R. Three back lamps are arranged for each reel, and can be arranged inside the reels 31L, 31C and 31R so as to correspond to each of the nine symbols in total that can be seen from the display window 21 when the reels are stopped. ing. The reels 31L, 31C, and 31R are made of a light-transmitting material, and are configured so that the symbols attached to the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R are illuminated when the back lamp is turned on.

  In a portion including the display window 21 of the front panel 20, a symbol combination line group 22 including symbol combination lines 22a, 22b and 22c is set. The symbol combination line group 22 includes a middle symbol combination line 22a in the horizontal direction, two symbol combination lines 22b in the upper and lower horizontal directions, and two symbol combination lines 22c in the diagonally downward and leftward directions. It consists of and. The symbols attached to the reels 31L, 31C and 31R are such that all nine symbols visible from the display window 21 are located on these symbol combination line groups 22 when the reels 31L, 31C and 31R are stopped. Arranged at intervals.

A medal insertion slot 23 is provided on the lower right side of the front panel 20. When three medals are inserted by the player from here, the symbol combination lines 22a, 22b and 22c according to the number of inserted medals. Is set as the effective line, and the effective line lamp 24 is turned on. Here, the “effective line” is a line that is a target of determination as to whether or not a combination of symbols corresponding to any of the combinations when the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R are stopped.
In the present embodiment, the number of medals (the number of bets) inserted by the player in one game is set to three uniformly, and the game cannot be performed with one or two medals. Like that. Therefore, the symbol combination line lines 22a, 22b and 22c are set as effective lines by inserting three medals. When a combination of specific symbols is stopped on at least one symbol combination line 22a to 22c set as an effective line when the reels 31L, 31C and 31R are stopped, a winning combination corresponding to the combination is won. Become.

However, it may be possible to play a game even when the number of medals is one or two. In this case, an effective line and an invalid line may be set from the plurality of symbol combination lines 22a, 22b, and 22c in accordance with the number of inserted medals.
The “invalid line” is a symbol combination line line 22a, 22b, and 22c that is not set as a valid line, and is a line that is not a target of symbol combination.

  Further, a credit number display unit 25, a game number display unit 26, and a payout number display unit 27 are provided below the display window 21 of the front panel 20. The number of credited medals is displayed on the credit number display unit 25. The number-of-games display section 26 displays the number of remaining predetermined games and the number of games already played in special games and the like. The number-of-payout display unit 27 displays the number of medals when the medals are paid out.

  On the upper side of the display window 21 of the front panel 20, for example, an effect display device 40 having a liquid crystal display panel for displaying a color image is provided so as to be visible to the player. The effect display device 40 displays various images when performing an effect during the game. In addition, various operation switches that are operated by the player to advance the game are provided on the front surface of the housing. For example, in this embodiment, a start switch 41, a stop switch group 42, and a bet switch 43 are provided. Furthermore, speakers 71 are provided on the left and right of the effect display device 40 and on the lower part of the front panel 20 (near the medal payout opening 45).

  The start switch 41 is a switch operated by the player when starting the rotation of the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R, and is a lever, for example. The stop switch group 42 includes a left stop switch 42L that is operated when stopping the left reel 31L, a middle stop switch 42C that is operated when stopping the middle reel 31C, and a right stop that is operated when stopping the right reel 31R. Switch 42R. These stop switches 42L, 42C and 42R are arranged as buttons, for example. The bet switch 43 is a switch that designates the number of bets (the number of bets) when a player inserts a medal in a credit, and is, for example, a button. When the bet switch 43 is operated, the number of bets is three.

  In the normal game, when the player inserts a medal from the medal insertion slot 23 or operates the bet switch 43, the symbol combination lines 22a, 22b and 22c are set as effective lines. Thereafter, when the player operates the start switch 41, the lottery for the winning combination is performed, and the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R start to rotate. When the player operates the stop switches 42L, 42C, and 42R, the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R stop rotating according to the operated buttons, and are lined up on the symbol combination lines 22a to 22c set as effective lines. When the symbol combination matches a predetermined symbol combination, a winning combination is made, and medals are paid out according to the winning combination. However, when the rotation of the reels 31L, 31C and 31R is stopped, control based on the lottery result of the winning combination is performed.

  Further, during the game (game), various effects such as lighting of the back lamp, image display using the effect display device 40, output of sound from the speaker 71, and the like are performed. Further, as such an effect, a notification effect of the possibility of winning a role may be performed.

  In the present embodiment, a predetermined number (for example, a maximum of 50) of medals to be paid out by winning a winning combination can be stored (credited) inside the slot machine 1. The return switch 44 is a switch operated by the player in order to pay out medals stored (credited) in the slot machine 1 from the medal payout opening 45 in this way.

Now, in the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, when a foreign object inserted from the medal insertion slot 23 is pulled back to the medal insertion slot 23, the foreign object is captured and the fact that the foreign object has been captured is reported. I have to. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration for supplementing foreign matter inserted from the medal insertion slot 23.
In FIG. 2, a wedge-shaped capturing body 302 for capturing a foreign matter inserted from the medal insertion slot 23 is attached to the inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 connected to the medal insertion slot 23 as an example of a capturing member. The catcher 302 has three inclined portions that are inclined in the direction of the deep portion of the medal passage 301 (the lower direction in FIG. 2), and among these three inclined portions, the top of the uppermost inclined portion is It is attached to the inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 using a bearing 303 or the like. As a result, the capturing body 302 rotates in the direction along the inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 and is perpendicular to the moving direction of the medal 304 inserted from the medal slot 23 (vertical direction in FIG. 2). Rotate as

  The length of the three inclined portions of the catching body 302 is based on the length L between the inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 to which the catching body 302 is attached and the inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 at a position facing the inner wall surface. Is also getting longer. In the following description, if necessary, the inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 to which the capturing body 302 is attached is referred to as one inner wall surface of the medal passage 301, and the medal passage 301 to which the capturing body 302 is attached. The inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 at a position facing the inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 is referred to as the other inner wall surface of the medal passage 301.

  In addition, a space 305 is formed in the back surface direction of the capturing body 302 so that the capturing body 302 can rotate in the back surface direction (counterclockwise direction toward FIG. 2). The capturing body 302 is formed using, for example, a metal.

  Above the catching body 302, a portion 306 of the inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 protrudes inward. As a result, it is possible to prevent as much as possible an illegal act of inserting a foreign object from the medal slot 23 and holding the capturing body 302 rotated in the back direction so as not to return to the front direction. it can.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of how the medal 304 inserted from the medal insertion slot 23 passes through the capturing body 302.
As shown in FIG. 3A, when the medal 304 inserted from the medal insertion slot 23 comes into contact with the uppermost inclined portion of the capturing body 302, the capturing body 302 rotates in the back direction, and the capturing body 302. A part of the exit from the medal passage 301. Thereafter, when the medal 304 moves in the direction of the deep part of the medal path 301, the capturing body 302 is further rotated in the back direction as shown in FIG. Exit.
When the medal 304 passes through the capturing body 302, the capturing body 302 rotates in the front direction (clockwise direction toward FIG. 2) and returns to the original position as shown in FIG. 3C. .

  Returning to FIG. 2, three capture detection sensors 95 a, 95 b, and 95 c are attached to positions facing the inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 to which the capture body 302 that performs such an operation is attached. These three capture detection sensors 95a, 95b, and 95c are for detecting whether or not the foreign matter inserted through the medal insertion port 23 through the capture body 302 and inserted into the deep portion of the medal passage 301 is pulled back.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the length of the three inclined portions of the capturing body 302 is longer than the length L between one inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 and the other inner wall surface. Therefore, when the catcher 302 tries to rotate in the front direction (clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2), the catcher 302 (three inclined portions thereof) comes into contact with the other inner wall surface of the medal passage 301, The inner wall surface prevents the capturing body 302 from rotating. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the force that presses the other inner wall surface of the medal path 301 is detected by the pressure sensor 302 when the capturing body 302 tries to rotate in the front direction by receiving a force from the direction of the deep part of the medal path 301. Are detected by the three capture detection sensors 95a, 95b, and 95c. As described above, in the present embodiment, by detecting the force with which the capturing body 302 presses the other inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 with the pressure sensor, it is detected whether or not the foreign body has been captured by the capturing body 302. .

  In the present embodiment, the three inclined portions of the catcher 302 are portions that are pressed by receiving a force from the direction of the deep portion of the medal passage 301 and trying to rotate in the front direction. Concave portions 307a to 307c are formed in a part of the wall surface. Accordingly, the three capture detection sensors 95a, 95b, and 95c are likely to receive a force from the capture body 302.

  Two passage detection sensors 96 a and 96 b are provided in a deeper portion than the position where the capturing body 302 is attached as described above with a longer interval than the size of the medal 304. These two passage detection sensors 96 a and 96 b are, for example, infrared sensors, and transmit infrared rays into the medal path 301. When the transmitted infrared rays are reflected by the inner wall surface of the opposing medal passage 301, the passage detection sensors 96a and 96b receive the reflected infrared rays. The two passage detection sensors 96a and 96b detect that the object has passed when the time from when infrared rays are transmitted until when they are received is shorter than a predetermined time.

  As described above, since the two passage detection sensors 96a and 96b are attached with a longer interval than the size of the medal 304, the regular medal 304 is inserted into the medal passage 301 from the medal insertion slot 301. In this case, the passage detection sensor 96a on the upper side detects that the object has passed, and then the passage detection sensor 96b on the lower side detects that the object has passed. In the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, when such a detection is detected, it is determined that the medal 304 has been inserted.

  On the other hand, when an object larger than the regular medal 304 passes through the passage detection sensors 96a and 96b and the passage detection sensors 96a and 96b detect that the object has passed simultaneously, it is determined that a foreign object has passed. . Further, when it is detected that the object has been passed by the upper passage detection sensor 96a after the lower passage detection sensor 96b has detected the object, the foreign matter is pulled back toward the medal slot 23. It is determined that

  A blocker is provided between the capturing body 302 and the passage detection sensors 96a and 96b for discharging foreign matter having a size and thickness different from those of the regular medal 304 to a passage different from the medal passage 301. . Further, the configurations of the passage detection sensors 96a and 96b are not limited to those described above. For example, a transmission unit that transmits infrared rays and a reception unit that is provided at a position opposite to the transmission unit and receives infrared rays transmitted from the transmission unit, and when the infrared rays are not received by the reception unit, It is good also as a passage detection sensor of composition which detects passage.

Next, a system configuration such as an internal configuration of the slot machine 1 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the system configuration of the slot machine 1. Inside the casing of the slot machine 1, a main control board 50 and a sub control board 60, a reel board 11, a central display board 12, a power supply board 13, and a sensor board 14 connected to the main control board 50 are arranged. It is installed.

(Main control board 50)
The main control board 50 is provided with a main CPU 51, ROM 52, RAM 53, and interface circuit (I / F circuit) 54, which are connected to each other via a bus 55.

  The main CPU 51 reads (fetches), interprets (decodes), and executes instructions constituting the program. The main CPU 51 reads out programs, data, and the like stored in the ROM 52, and controls the entire slot machine 1 based on these.

  The ROM 52 stores programs and data necessary for processing to be described later and control of other games. The RAM 53 is used when the main CPU 51 performs various controls, and temporarily stores data and the like.

  The I / F circuit 54 performs timing when signals are transmitted and received between the main control board 50, the sub control board 60, the reel board 11, the central display board 12, the power supply board 13, and the sensor board 14. Control. However, transmission of signals from the main control board 50 to the sub control board 60 is performed between the main control board 50 and the sub control board 60, but transmission of signals from the sub control board 60 to the main control board 50 is not performed. Not done.

(Sub-control board 60)
The sub control board 60 is provided with a sub CPU 61, a flash memory 62, a RAM 63, an image control processor 64, an image data ROM 65, a video RAM 66, a sound source circuit 67, an amplifier 68, and an interface circuit (I / F circuit) 69. The sub CPU 61, flash memory 62, control RAM 63, image control processor 64, sound source circuit 67 and I / F circuit 69 are connected to each other via a bus 70. The image data ROM 65 and the video RAM 66 are connected to an image control processor 64, and the amplifier 68 is connected to a sound source circuit 67.

  The sub CPU 61 reads (fetches), interprets (decodes) and executes instructions constituting the program. Then, the sub CPU 61 reads a program, data, and the like stored in the flash memory 62, and controls the sub control board 60 as a whole, particularly controls the effects for the player. Note that there are no restrictions on the processing capability or development language of the sub CPU 61.

  The flash memory 62 stores programs and data necessary for processing described later and other effects during the game. The RAM 63 is used when the sub CPU 61 performs various controls, and temporarily stores data and the like.

  These sub CPU 61, flash memory 62, and RAM 63 have the same functions as the main CPU 51, ROM 52, and RAM 53 provided on the main control board 50, respectively. Note that the flash memory 62 and the RAM 63 may be the same as the ROM 52 and the RAM 53, respectively, but those having a larger capacity may be used.

  The effect display device 40 is connected to the image control processor 64. The image data ROM 65 stores image data such as objects and backgrounds displayed on the effect display device 40. The video RAM 66 is used when the image control processor 64 creates an image to be displayed on the effect display device 40, and image data to be displayed is developed in the video RAM 66 based on data read from the image data ROM 65. .

  Further, in the present embodiment, a speaker 71, the above-described back lamp, and the like are provided in addition to the effect display device 40 as effect peripheral devices. The speaker 71 is connected to the amplifier 68. These effect peripheral devices output effects during the game (such as a notification effect of the possibility of winning a role), and are connected only to the sub-control board 60 and connected to the main control board 50. Not.

  The I / F circuit 69 is connected to the main control board 50 and performs timing control when receiving a signal from the main control board 50. As described above, signals are transmitted from the main control board 50 to the sub control board 60, but signals are not transmitted from the sub control board 60 to the main control board 50. That is, only one-way transmission is possible.

(Reel board 11)
A stepping motor (not shown) for driving the left reel 31L, the middle reel 31C, and the right reel 31R is connected to the reel substrate 11. Control of the operations of the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R is performed by the main CPU 51 through the reel substrate 11.

(Central display board 12)
The central display substrate 12 is attached to, for example, a central portion on the back side of the front panel 20. The central display board 12 includes a selector 81, a bet switch 43, a start switch (lever) 41, a left stop switch (button) 42L, a middle stop switch (button) 42C, a right stop switch (button) 42R, a setting display section 82, A setting change switch 83 is connected.

  The setting display unit 82 is arranged so as to be visible from the back side of the front panel 20, and displays settings relating to probability and payout. The setting change switch 83 is a switch operated when changing the setting related to the probability and the payout. In the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, any one of “setting 1” to “setting 6” is set by, for example, an administrator (a store clerk) of a game store. The higher the value of this setting, the higher the chance of winning the special role. Specifically, the lottery table for the combination is made different depending on the set value. However, it goes without saying that the setting method is not limited to this.

(Power supply board 13)
A setting change enabling switch 91, a power switch 92, a hopper device 93, and a power device 94 are connected to the power device board 13. The setting change enable switch 91 is a switch that is operated when a setting change using the setting change switch 83 is enabled. That is, the setting change using the setting change switch 83 can be performed only when the setting change enable switch 91 is in the ON state. The power switch 92 is a switch for switching the power supply device 94 on / off. The hopper device 93 is a device for storing and paying out medals, and pays out a predetermined number of medals from the stored medals to the player based on an instruction from the main CPU 51 via the power supply device board 13. .

(Sensor board 14)
A capture detection sensor 95 and a passage detection sensor 96 are connected to the sensor substrate 14. As described above, the capture detection sensor 95 is for detecting whether or not the foreign matter inserted from the medal insertion slot 23 has been captured by the capture body 302 when it is pulled back in the direction of the medal insertion slot 23. . The passage detection sensor 96 is for detecting whether or not the regular medal 304 has passed.

Next, a functional configuration of the main control board 50 will be described.
FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the main control board 50. In the present embodiment, for example, the following units 101, 103, 104, 106, 107, 108, and 109 are configured using programs recorded in the main CPU 51 and the ROM 52. For example, the following flag information is stored in the RAM 53. A storage unit 105 is provided, and data of the following lottery table 102 is stored in the ROM 52, for example.

(Role drawing part 101)
The role lottery unit 101 draws a role (special role, small role, replay (replaying role), etc.). Here, the special combination is a combination that is a game different from the normal game and is shifted to a plurality of special games advantageous to the player. A small role is a role of paying out to a player a number of medals according to the type of the small role. Replay is a role that gives a player the right to replay while maintaining the number of medals inserted in the previous game.

  For each game, the lottery unit 101 obtains one random number after generating a random number internally, refers to the lottery table 102 stored in the ROM 52, and based on the area to which the obtained random number belongs, Judge the presence of winning and the winning combination.

  More specifically, the role lottery unit 101 generates a random number in a predetermined area (0 to 65535 in decimal notation), for example, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, for example, when the start switch 41 is operated. Get one random value. In the lottery table 102, as shown in FIG. 6, for the random value that can be acquired by the role lottery unit 101, a special role winning area, a small role winning area, a re-rottery winning (RP) replay area, A winning area is set at a predetermined rate. That is, the lottery table defines the relationship between random numbers and each combination. For example, a random number (a + α) from a random value (a) is assigned to a big bonus (BB) that is a special combination. From the next random value (a + α + 1), another random value (a + α + 1 + β) is assigned to the regular bonus (RB) which is a special role, and a small role (watermelon, cherry, bell) winning area, a re-lottery winning (RP) winning area Similarly, random numbers are assigned to non-winning areas. Then, the winning combination in the area including the random value acquired by the winning lottery unit 101 becomes the winning winning combination as a result of the winning lottery.

  Then, the combination lottery unit 101 compares the acquired random number value with the lottery table 102 to determine an area to which the random value belongs, and determines a combination corresponding to the area to which the random value belongs. For example, when the extracted random number value belongs to the special combination winning area, it is determined that the special combination is won, and when it belongs to the non-winning area, it is determined to be lost. If any combination is won, the flag for the combination is turned on.

(Control unit 103)
The control unit 103 monitors the operation of the bet switch 43 and the insertion of medals from the medal insertion slot 23, and controls the operation timing of the winning lottery unit 101, the reel control unit 106 and the winning determination unit 107, which will be described later. For example, the control unit 103 detects the output of the passage detection sensor 96 and counts the number of medals. Further, the control unit 103 detects an operation of the bet switch 43. Then, the control unit 103 confirms that the start switch 41 has been operated after the sum of the number of medals detected by the passage detection sensor 96 and the number of medals bedded by the operation of the bed switch 43 becomes three. As a condition, the role lottery unit 101 is made to draw a role. When the role lottery unit 101 performs lottery of the role in this way, the control unit 103 causes the reel control unit 106 to start rotating the reel group 31. Further, the control unit 103 causes the reel control unit 106 to perform stop control of the reel group 31 on condition that the stop switch group 42 is operated. Further, the control unit 103 causes the winning determination unit 107 to make a winning determination on the condition that the reel group 31 has stopped. And the control part 103 transmits the production | presentation command according to the state of the above games to the sub control board 60. FIG.
Needless to say, the operation of the control unit 103 is not limited to the above.

(Flag information storage unit 105)
The flag information storage unit 105 stores the type of the winning combination and the fact that the flag is turned on when a flag for a certain combination is turned on by the lottery result of the combination lottery unit 101. Of the information stored in the flag information storage unit 105, the flags of the roles other than the special role are erased (turned off) at the end of the game and carried over to the next game regardless of whether or not the winning of the role has been won. There is no. On the other hand, the special combination flag is erased (turned off) only when a special combination is won as a result of determination by the winning determination unit 107 described later.

(Abnormality determination unit 104)
The abnormality determination unit 104 determines whether or not a foreign object has been captured at an inclined portion of the capturing body 302 based on detection signals output from the capture detection sensors 95a, 95b, and 95c. In the present embodiment, the abnormality determination unit 104 detects a foreign object at an inclined portion of the capturing body 302 when a detection signal indicating that the foreign object has been captured is output from all of the three capture detection sensors 95a, 95b, and 95c. Is determined to have been captured. And the abnormality determination part 104 transmits the foreign material capture command which shows that the foreign material was captured to the sub-control board 60 as an effect command.

  Further, the abnormality determination unit 104 determines whether or not a regular medal 304 has been inserted based on the detection signals output from the passage detection sensors 96a and 96b. As described above, after a detection signal indicating that an object has passed is output from the passage detection sensor 96a on the upper side, a detection signal indicating that an object has passed from the medal 304 by the passage detection sensor 96b on the lower side. When output, the abnormality determination unit 104 determines that a regular medal 304 has been inserted. On the other hand, when a detection signal indicating that an object has passed is simultaneously transmitted from the passage detection sensors 96a and 96b, or after a detection signal indicating that an object has passed is transmitted from the lower passage detection sensor 96b, When a detection signal indicating that an object has passed is transmitted from the upper passage detection sensor 96a, the abnormality determination unit 104 determines that a regular medal 304 has not been inserted. And the abnormality determination part 104 transmits the foreign material passage command which shows that the regular medal | token 304 has not been inserted into the sub control board 60 as an effect command.

(Reel control unit 106)
The reel control unit 106 controls rotation and stop of the reel group 31 (reels 31L, 31C, and 31R) based on an instruction from the control unit 103. More specifically, the reel control unit 106 includes a game state (for example, a normal game state, a special game state, etc.), a result of a lottery by the role lottery unit 101, and a stop switch group 42 (stop switches 42L, 42C, and 42R). Based on the operated timing or the like, the stop positions of the reels 31L, 31C and 31R are determined, and the driving of the stepping motor is controlled to stop the rotation of the reels 31L, 31C and 31R at the determined positions.

  For example, as a result of the lottery by the combination lottery unit 101, when no combination is won, the combination of symbols of any combination is not stopped on the symbol combination lines 22a, 22b and 22c set as effective lines. The stop positions of the reels 31L, 31C and 31R are determined. On the other hand, when any winning combination is won, the reels 31L, 31C and 31R are stopped such that the winning combination of symbols on the symbol combination lines 22a, 22b and 22c set as the effective line is stopped. Determine the stop position.

  In particular, when the special combination is won in the game, the reels 31L, 31C, and 31C are arranged so that the combination of the special combination symbols on the symbol combination lines 22a, 22b, and 22c set as the effective lines is stopped. The pull-in control is performed so that the symbols related to the special role are arranged as much as possible within the range of 31R stop control (for example, within 4 symbols). However, even if the special combination is won, when the small combination or replay is won, the combination of the special combination symbols on the symbol combination lines 22a, 22b, and 22c set as the active lines does not stop. Thus, the stop positions of the reels 31L, 31C and 31R are determined. Such control when stopping the reels 31L, 31C and 31R may be performed using a reel control table.

(Winning determination unit 107)
The winning determination unit 107 determines whether or not there is a combination of symbols in any of the symbol combination lines 22a, 22b, and 22c set as an effective line. It is determined that the winning combination has been won. At this time, the winning determination unit 107 determines, for example, the symbol positioned on the effective line by detecting the angle, the number of steps, or the like when the stepping motor is stopped, and based on this, determines the presence / absence of a winning combination. . When a table is used for control when stopping the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R, the winning determination unit 107 does not determine the combination of symbols after the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R actually stop. Instead, when the stop position of the reel group 31 is determined by the reel control unit 106 using a table, the combination of symbols that stop on the effective line may be determined.

(Game state control unit 108)
As a result of the determination by the winning determination unit 107, the gaming state control unit 108 controls the special game from the next game until a predetermined end condition is satisfied. For example, the game state control unit 108 causes the reel control unit 106 to perform reel control for special games according to the lottery result of the role lottery unit 101 during the special game, or causes the sub control board 60 to perform special game effects. Or let it be done.

(Payout control unit 109)
The payout control unit 109 causes the hopper device 93 to pay out medals according to the winning combination as a result of the determination by the winning determination unit 107.

Next, a functional configuration of the sub control board 60 will be described.
FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the sub control board 60. In the present embodiment, for example, the effect pattern selection unit 201 is configured using a program recorded in the sub CPU 61 and the flash memory 62. In addition, the effect control unit 202 is configured by using the sub CPU 61, the program recorded in the flash memory 62, the image control processor 64, and the program recorded in the image data ROM 65.

(Production pattern selection unit 201)
The effect pattern selection unit 201 selects an effect pattern according to the gaming state. Specifically, the effect pattern selection unit 201 receives a signal from the role lottery unit 101 of the main control board 50 and selects an effect pattern according to the winning combination or the like, or a winning determination unit 107 of the main control board 50. In response to a signal from the gaming state control unit 108, an effect pattern corresponding to a winning combination or a gaming state is selected. Further, as described above, in the present embodiment, a foreign object capturing command indicating that a foreign object has been captured and a foreign object passing command indicating that a regular medal 304 has not been inserted from the main control board 50 as an effect command. Sent. When such a foreign object capture command or foreign object passage command is transmitted from the main control board 50, the effect pattern selection unit 201 selects an effect pattern according to the contents of the foreign object capture command or foreign object passage command.

(Production control unit 202)
The effect control unit 202 causes the effect display device 40 to display an effect image corresponding to the effect pattern selected by the effect pattern selection unit 201. Further, the effect control unit 202 controls the sound source circuit 67 so that a sound signal is generated by the sound source circuit 67, amplified by the amplifier 68, and then output as sound from the speaker 71.

Next, an example of the operation of the main control board 50 of the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
First, in step S <b> 1, the abnormality determination unit 104 determines whether or not foreign matter has been captured at the inclined portion of the capturing body 302 based on the detection signals output from the capture detection sensors 95 a, 95 b, and 95 c. As a result of this determination, if a foreign object is captured at the inclined portion of the capturing body 302, the process proceeds to step S2, and the abnormality determination unit 104 uses a foreign object capture command indicating that the foreign object has been captured as a production command. Transmit to the control board 60.

  On the other hand, if no foreign matter is captured by the inclined portion of the capturing body 302, the process proceeds to step S3, where the abnormality determination unit 104 detects the detection signals output from the passage detection sensors 96a and 96b, and operates the bet switch 43. Based on this, it is determined whether or not a regular medal 304 has been inserted. In the present embodiment, as described above, after the passage detection sensor 96a on the upper side detects that the object has passed, the passage detection sensor 96b on the lower side detects that the object has passed, When the bet switch 43 is operated in a state where there is a credited medal, it is determined that a regular medal 304 has been inserted.

As a result of this determination, if it is not determined that a regular medal 304 has been inserted, the process proceeds to step S15 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined that the regular medal 304 has been inserted, the process proceeds to step S4, and the control unit 103 obtains the number of inserted medals.
Next, in step S5, the control unit 103 determines whether or not the number of inserted medals is less than three (one or two), and if the number of inserted medals is less than three. Then, the process returns to step S1.

When the number of inserted medals becomes three or more, the process proceeds to step S6, and the control unit 103 determines whether or not the start switch 41 is turned on. If the result of this determination is that the start switch 41 is not turned on, processing returns to step S1.
When the start switch 41 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S7, where the combination lottery unit 101 acquires a random number, and compares the acquired random number with the lottery table 102 to perform a combination lottery. As a result of the lottery of the combination, if any combination is won, the flag information storage unit 105 is referred to and the flag of the winning combination is turned on. The lottery result by the combination lottery unit 101 is transmitted to the sub-control board 60 as winning combination information.

Next, in step S8, the reel control unit 106 rotates the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R.
Next, in step S9 of FIG. 8B, the control unit 103 determines whether any one of the stop switch groups 42 is turned on. If any one of the stop switches is turned on as a result of the determination, the process proceeds to step S10, and the reel control unit 106 stops the rotation of the reel corresponding to the operated stop switch.

  At this time, when the flag stored in the flag information storage unit 105 is turned on, the symbol combination line corresponding to the combination indicated by the turned-on flag is set as an effective line. Pull-in control is performed so as to stop at 22a to 22c. On the other hand, if none of the flags are turned on, the winning combination has not been won, so that the combination of symbols corresponding to the winning combination is kicked so as not to stop at the symbol combination lines 22a to 22c set as effective lines. Take control.

  Next, in step S11, the control unit 103 determines whether all the stop switches 42L, 42C, and 42R are operated and all the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R are stopped. If all the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R are not stopped as a result of this determination, the process returns to step S9, and steps S9 to S11 are repeated until all the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R are stopped.

  When all the reels 31L, 31C, and 31R are stopped in this way, the process proceeds to step S12, and the winning determination unit 107 is based on the combination of symbols displayed on the symbol combination lines 22a, 22b, and 22c set as effective lines. To determine whether or not the winning combination has been won. As a result of this determination, if it is determined that no winning combination has been won, step S13 is omitted and the process proceeds to step S14 described later.

On the other hand, if it is determined that a winning combination has been won, the process proceeds to step S13, and the payout control unit 109 instructs the hopper device 93 to pay out the number of medals corresponding to the winning combination. The hopper device 93 pays out the number of medals instructed from the payout control unit 109. When a re-game player (replay) is won, in step S13, the control unit 103 performs processing for carrying over the number of bets (the number of bets) in the game to the next game.
Next, in step S <b> 14, the control unit 103 transmits an effect command according to the current gaming state to the sub control board 60.

  If it is not determined in step S3 in FIG. 8-1 that the regular medal 304 has been inserted, the process proceeds to step S15, where the abnormality determination unit 104 is based on the detection signals output from the passage detection sensors 96a and 96b. Then, it is determined whether or not a foreign object has passed. In this embodiment, as described above, when the passage detection sensors 96a and 96b detect that an object has passed at the same time, and after the object is detected by the passage detection sensor 96b on the lower side, the passage on the upper side. When the detection sensor 96a detects that an object has passed, it is determined that a foreign object has passed.

  If the result of this determination is that a foreign object has passed, the process proceeds to step S16, and the abnormality determination unit 104 transmits a foreign object capturing command indicating that the foreign object has passed to the sub-control board 60 as an effect command. On the other hand, when the foreign object has not passed, it progresses to step S5 mentioned above.

Next, an example of the operation of the sub control board 60 of the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, in step S <b> 21, the effect pattern selection unit 201 determines whether an effect command has been received from the main control board 50. If the result of this determination is that an effect command has not been received from the main control board 50, steps S22 to S25 are omitted, and processing proceeds to step S26 described later.

  On the other hand, when an effect command is received from the main control board 50, the process proceeds to step S22, where the effect pattern selection unit 201 determines whether the received effect command is a foreign object capture command indicating that a foreign object has been captured. Determine. If the result of this determination is that the received effect command is a foreign object capture command, the process proceeds to step S23, where the effect pattern selection unit 201 selects an effect pattern according to the content of the foreign object capture command. Then, the effect control unit 202 causes the effect display device 40 to display an effect image corresponding to the effect pattern selected by the effect pattern selection unit 201. In addition, the effect control unit 202 controls the sound source circuit 67 to generate a sound corresponding to the effect pattern selected by the effect pattern selection unit 201, and generate a sound from the speaker 71.

  Specifically, in this step S23, an effect image indicating that a foreign object has been captured is displayed on the effect display device 40, or a warning sound is generated from the speaker 71. Here, the display and sound are output to notify that a foreign object has been captured, but only one of the display and sound is output to notify that a foreign object has been captured. Also good. Then, the process returns to step S21.

  In step S22, when the received effect command is not a foreign object capture command, the process proceeds to step S24, where the effect pattern selection unit 201 determines whether the received effect command is a foreign object passage command indicating that a foreign object has passed. Determine. As a result of this determination, if the received effect command is a foreign object passage command, the process proceeds to step S25, where the effect pattern selection unit 201 selects an effect pattern according to the content of the foreign object passage command. Then, the effect control unit 202 causes the effect display device 40 to display an effect image corresponding to the effect pattern selected by the effect pattern selection unit 201. In addition, the effect control unit 202 controls the sound source circuit 67 to generate a sound corresponding to the effect pattern selected by the effect pattern selection unit 201 and output the sound from the speaker 71.

Specifically, in this step S25, an effect image indicating that a foreign object has passed is displayed on the effect display device 40, or a warning sound is output from the speaker 71. Here, the display and sound are output to notify that a foreign object has passed, but only one of the display and sound may be output to notify that a foreign object has passed. . Then, the process returns to step S21.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S24 that the received effect command is not a foreign object passage command, the process proceeds to step S26 to perform other processing and then returns to step S21.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when a foreign object inserted from the medal insertion slot 23 is pulled back to the medal insertion slot 23, the foreign object is captured by the capturing body 302 attached to the inner wall surface of the medal passage 301. At the same time, the fact that the foreign object has been captured is notified by an image or sound. Therefore, if a foreign object is inserted into the medal passage 301 from the medal insertion slot 23, the capturing body 302 will fail even if the foreign object is pulled back. Thus, the foreign object cannot be pulled back. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the willingness to insert a foreign material that has been tampered with through the medal slot 23.

  Further, in this embodiment, when an object moving in the direction of the deep part of the medal passage 301 from the medal insertion port 23 comes into contact, the capturing body 302 is rotated so as to retreat from the medal passage 301. The medal inserted from the mouth 23 can pass through the capturing body 302 more easily.

  In the present embodiment, since the capturing body 302 is attached to the inner wall surface of the medal passage 301, it is difficult to determine from the appearance whether or not the capturing body 302 is attached to the slot machine 1. Therefore, for example, it is possible to make an unauthorized person feel that the capturing body 302 may be attached to all the slot machines, and for a slot machine to which the capturing body 302 is not attached, It is possible to reduce the willingness to insert a crafted foreign object through the medal slot 23.

In the present embodiment, when a detection signal indicating that a foreign object has been captured is output from all of the three capture detection sensors 95a, 95b, and 95c, the foreign object is captured at an inclined portion of the captured body 302. Although it is determined, it is not always necessary to do so. For example, when a detection signal indicating that a foreign object has been captured is output from one or two of the three capture detection sensors 95a, 95b, and 95c, it is determined that the foreign object has been captured by the inclined portion of the captured body 302. You may make it do.
In the present embodiment, the case where there are three inclined portions of the capturing body 302 has been described as an example, but the number of inclined portions of the capturing body 302 is not limited to three.

Further, for example, the capturing body may be configured as shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of the configuration of the capturing body.
As shown in FIG. 10, the capturing body 1001 has a thin plate shape, and its upper end is rotatably attached to the inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 using a spring 1002 or the like. Similar to the capturing body 302 shown in FIG. 2, the rotation axis of the capturing body 1001 is a direction along the inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 and is perpendicular to the moving direction of the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 23. Direction.
The catcher 1001 is held in a state of being inclined toward the deep part of the medal passage 301 when no medal passes. The length of the inclined portion is longer than the length L between the inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 to which the medal catcher 302 is attached and the inner wall surface of the medal passage 301 at a position facing the inner wall surface. It has become. Further, a space 305 is formed in the back direction of the capturing body 1001 so that the capturing body 1001 can rotate in the back direction (counterclockwise direction toward FIG. 10).

  By doing in this way, when the object thrown in from the medal slot 23 contacts the catching body 1001, the catching body 1001 rotates in the back direction (counterclockwise direction toward FIG. 10). When the object passes through the capturing body 1001, the capturing body 1001 returns to the original state. Thereafter, when the object is pulled back toward the medal slot 23 and comes into contact with the capturing body 1001, the capturing body 1001 tries to rotate in the front direction (the clockwise direction in FIG. 10). The other inner wall surface of this is contacted and rotation is prevented. Thereby, the capturing body 1001 can capture foreign matter. Note that the capturing body 1001 is also formed using metal, for example, in the same manner as the capturing body 302 shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the slot machine has been described as an example. However, any gaming machine other than the slot machine may be used in the present embodiment as long as it is a gaming machine in which a game medium such as a medal is inserted into the slot. Can be applied. For example, in order to capture a foreign object thrown into a so-called sparrow ball game machine in which a game ball given by a medal is thrown into a game area by hitting a hand is played, the method of this embodiment is used. You may make it apply.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, in addition to the capturing body 302 that captures foreign matter inserted from the medal insertion slot 23, a blocking body that blocks foreign matter inserted from the medal payout port 45 is provided in the slot machine. Thus, this embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above only in the presence or absence of a configuration that blocks foreign matter inserted from the medal payout opening 45. Therefore, the same parts as those of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals as those shown in FIGS.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration for blocking foreign matter inserted from the medal payout opening 45.
In FIG. 11, a wedge-shaped blocking body 1102 for blocking foreign matter inserted from the medal payout outlet 45 is attached to the inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101 connected to the medal payout outlet 45. The blocking body 1102 has three inclined portions that are inclined in the direction of the medal payout opening 45, and the top of the inclined portion at the right end of these three inclined portions uses a bearing 1103 or the like. It is attached to the inner wall surface of the passage 1101. As a result, the blocking body 1102 rotates around a rotation axis in a direction along the inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101 and perpendicular to the moving direction of the medal 1104 flowing out from the hopper device 93.

  The lengths of the three inclined portions of the blocking body 1102 are based on the length L between the inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101 to which the blocking body 1102 is attached and the inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101 at a position facing the inner wall surface. Is also getting longer. In the following description, if necessary, the inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101 to which the blocking body 1102 is attached is referred to as one inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101 and the medal passage 1101 to which the blocking body 1102 is attached. The inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101 at a position facing the inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101 is referred to as the other inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101.

  In addition, a space 1105 is formed on the back surface side of the blocking body 1102 so that the blocking body 1102 can rotate in the back surface direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 11). The blocking body 1102 is formed using, for example, metal.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which the medal 1104 that has flowed out from the hopper device 93 in the direction of the medal payout opening 45 passes through the blocking body 1102.
As shown in FIG. 12A, when the medal 1104 that has flowed out from the hopper device 93 comes into contact with the inclined portion at the right end of the blocking body 1102, the blocking body 1102 rotates in the back direction, and a part of the blocking body 1102. Exits from the medal passage 1101. Thereafter, when the medal 1104 moves in the direction of the medal payout opening 45, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the blocking body 302 further rotates in the back direction, and the entire blocking body 1102 exits from the medal passage 1101. To do.
Then, when the medal 1104 passes through the blocking body 1102, as shown in FIG. 12C, the blocking body 1102 rotates in the front direction (counterclockwise direction toward FIG. 11) and returns to the original position. Return.

  Returning to FIG. 11, three foreign object detection sensors 1106 a, 1106 b, and 1106 c are attached at positions facing the inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101 to which the blocking body 1102 that performs such an operation is attached. These three foreign matter detection sensors 1106a, 1106b, and 1106c are for detecting whether or not the foreign matter inserted from the medal payout opening 45 is blocked by the blocking body 1102. That is, the three foreign object detection sensors 1106a, 1106b, and 1106c detect whether or not the foreign object inserted from the medal payout opening 45 is pressing the blocking body 1102. As described above, in this embodiment, the length of the three inclined portions of the blocking body 1102 is longer than the length L between one inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101 and the other inner wall surface.

  Therefore, when the blocking body 1102 tries to rotate in the front direction (counterclockwise direction toward FIG. 11), the blocking body 1102 (three inclined portions thereof) comes into contact with the other inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101. The inner wall surface prevents the blocking body 1102 from rotating. Therefore, in this embodiment, the blocking body 1102 receives a force from the direction of the medal payout outlet 45 and tries to rotate in the front direction, whereby the force pressing the other inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101 is detected by the pressure sensor. Three foreign object detection sensors 1106a, 1106b, and 1106c are configured to detect. In the present embodiment, in this way, whether or not the foreign matter is blocked at the inclined portion of the blocking body 1102 by detecting the force with which the blocking body 1102 presses the other inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101 with the pressure sensor (that is, Whether or not the inclined portion of the blocking body 1102 receives a force from a foreign object) is detected.

  In the present embodiment, the three inclined portions of the blocking body 1102 are portions that are pressed by receiving a force from the direction of the medal payout outlet 45 and trying to rotate in the front direction, and the inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101 Concave portions 1107a to 1107c are formed in a part of this. Accordingly, the three foreign object detection sensors 1106a, 1106b, and 1106c are likely to receive a force from the blocking body 1102.

  The foreign object detection sensor 1106 as described above is connected to the sensor substrate 14 shown in FIG. Then, the abnormality determination unit 104 shown in FIG. 5 determines whether or not the foreign body is blocked by the blocking body 1102 based on the detection signals output from these three foreign body detection sensors 1106a, 1106b, and 1106c (that is, the blocking body). 1102 is determined). In the present embodiment, the abnormality determination unit 104 detects a foreign object at an inclined portion of the blocking body 1102 when a detection signal indicating that the foreign object has been blocked is output from all the three foreign object detection sensors 1106a, 1106b, and 1106c. Is determined to have been blocked.

  And the abnormality determination part 104 transmits the foreign material detection command which shows that the foreign material inserted from the medal payout exit 45 was interrupted | blocked to the sub control board 60 as an effect command. The effect pattern selection unit 201 of the sub-control board 60 selects an effect pattern according to the content of the transmitted foreign object detection command. Then, the effect control unit 202 causes the effect display device 40 to display an effect image corresponding to the effect pattern selected by the effect pattern selection unit 201, or generates a sound corresponding to the effect pattern selected by the effect pattern selection unit 201. Or output from the speaker 71.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the foreign matter inserted from the medal payout opening 45 is blocked by the blocking body 1102 attached to the inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101, and the fact that the foreign matter has been blocked is imaged or sounded. Since the notification is made, it is possible to reduce the willingness to insert a foreign object that has been tampered with through the medal payout opening 45.

  In this embodiment, when an object moving in the direction of the medal payout opening 45 from the hopper device 93 comes into contact, the blocking body 1102 rotates so as to retreat from the medal passage 1101. The inserted medal can pass through the blocking body 1102 more easily.

  In the present embodiment, since the blocking body 1102 is attached to the inner wall surface of the medal passage 1101, it is difficult to determine from the appearance whether the blocking body 1102 is attached to the slot machine 1. Thus, for example, it is possible to make an unauthorized person feel that all the slot machines may have the blocking body 1102 attached. It is possible to reduce the willingness to insert a crafted foreign object from the medal payout opening 45.

  In the present embodiment, when the detection signal indicating that the foreign matter has been blocked is output from all three foreign matter detection sensors 1106a, 1106b, and 1106c, the foreign matter is blocked at the inclined portion of the blocking body 1102. Although it is determined, it is not always necessary to do so. For example, when one or two of the three foreign object detection sensors 1106a, 1106b, and 1106c output a detection signal indicating that the foreign object has been blocked, it is determined that the foreign object has been blocked at the inclined portion of the blocking body 1102 You may make it do.

In the present embodiment, the case where there are three inclined portions of the blocking body 1102 has been described as an example, but the number of inclined portions of the blocking body 1102 is not limited to three.
Further, for example, the blocking body may be configured like the capturing body shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, the slot machine has been described as an example. However, any gaming machine other than the slot machine may be used as long as the gaming machine is configured to pay out a game medium such as a medal according to the game result. The operation of the embodiment can be applied.

The embodiment of the present invention described above can be realized by a computer executing a program. Further, a means for supplying the program to the computer, for example, a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM recording such a program, or a transmission medium for transmitting such a program may be applied as an embodiment of the present invention. it can. A program product such as a computer-readable recording medium in which the program is recorded can also be applied as an embodiment of the present invention. The above programs, computer-readable recording media, transmission media, and program products are included in the scope of the present invention.
In addition, the above-described embodiments are merely examples of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating an example of the appearance of the slot machine according to the first embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the 1st Embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the structure for supplementing the foreign material thrown in from the medal slot. It is the figure which showed the 1st Embodiment of this invention and showed an example of a mode that the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot passes a capturing body. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a slot machine according to the first embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of a functional structure of a main control board. It is the figure which showed the 1st Embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the lottery table. It is a functional block diagram which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of a functional structure of a sub control board. It is a main flowchart which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of the processing operation in a main control board. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and continues to FIGS. It is a main flowchart which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of the processing operation in a sub control board. It is a figure which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows the other example of a structure of a capturing body. It is the figure which showed the 2nd Embodiment of this invention and showed an example of the structure for interrupting | blocking the foreign material inserted from the medal payout exit. It is the figure which showed the 2nd Embodiment of this invention and showed an example of a mode that the medal | flow which flowed out from the hopper apparatus in the direction of the medal payout exit passes a blocker.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Slot machine 23 Medal insertion slot 45 Medal payout opening 93 Hopper device 95 Capture detection sensor 96 Passing detection sensor 301 Medal path 302 Captured body 304 Medal 1101 Medal path 1102 Shutter 1104 Medal 1106 Foreign object detection sensor

Claims (6)

A capture member attached to the inner wall surface of the passage in order to capture foreign matter drawn back in the direction of the game medium insertion port after being inserted into the passage from the game medium insertion port;
A game machine comprising: a sensor provided deeper in the passage than the capturing member and detecting passage of a game medium input from the game medium input port. The capture member has a portion inclined in the direction of the deep portion of the passage,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a foreign object drawn back in the direction of the game medium insertion port is captured by a portion inclined in a direction of a deep portion of the passage. The capture member is attached to the inner wall surface of the passage so that a direction along the inner wall surface of the passage and a direction perpendicular to the passage direction of the game medium is a rotation axis.
The capture member rotates when an object moving in the direction of the deep portion of the passage from the game medium insertion port contacts a portion inclined in the direction of the deep portion of the passage,
The length of the portion inclined in the direction of the deep portion of the passage is longer than the length between the inner wall surface of the passage to which the capturing portion is attached and the inner wall surface of the passage facing the surface. The gaming machine according to claim 2. A space is formed in the back direction of the capturing member,
When the object moving in the direction of the deep portion of the passage from the game medium insertion port contacts a portion inclined in the direction of the deep portion of the passage, the capturing member rotates in the back direction and at least a part of the region is 4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the game machine is rotated so as to return from the passage and return to its original position when the object passes.   The gaming machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a portion inclined in the direction of a deep portion of the passage has a wedge shape. Detection means for detecting that the capturing member has captured a foreign object drawn back in the direction of the game medium insertion port;
6. An informing means for informing that when the detecting means detects that the capturing member has captured the foreign matter drawn back in the direction of the game medium insertion port, the informing means is provided. The gaming machine according to any one of the above.

Images