JP2007313025A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device capable of improving interesting property of a game machine with high visual effects. <P>SOLUTION: A display device 120 fitted in the game machine so as to display images for the game is provided with; a sheet-like display medium 121 having a flexibility and on which images are displayed; a support member 122 for supporting the display medium 121 being stretched; an action body 123 affecting the surface where the images of the display medium are not displayed so as to deform the display medium 121; and a driving source 124 for driving the action body 123. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device attached to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine, and more particularly to a display device that enables three-dimensional display.

  In a conventional gaming machine, a movable three-dimensional object called a movable accessory is installed around the liquid crystal display screen, and the two-dimensional image displayed on the liquid crystal display screen and the movement of the three-dimensional movable accessory are displayed. By linking, the game-related effects are raised and the player is not bored.

For example, as in the technique described in Patent Document 1, a driving source such as a solenoid is installed on the back side of the periphery of the liquid crystal display screen, and a movable accessory (a hammer-shaped object is disclosed in Patent Document 1 via a link mechanism or gear). 3D object) is driven. This movable accessory can move from a state where the liquid crystal display screen is not covered to a state where it covers the liquid crystal display screen, and an image displayed on the liquid crystal display screen is changed in accordance with the movement of the movable accessory. We are trying to improve.
JP 2001-25546 A

  However, if a drive source or a drive mechanism is arranged around the display screen, the game area is reduced accordingly, and the degree of freedom in designing the layout of the game board is reduced.

  In recent gaming machines, the size of the display screen has been increased, and it has become difficult to arrange a drive source and the like around the display screen.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a display device as a novel director that can easily cope with an increase in the size of a display screen without sacrificing the layout of the game board. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, a display device according to the present invention is a display device that is attached to a gaming machine and displays an image relating to a game, and is flexible and has a sheet-like display on which an image is displayed. A medium, a support member that supports the display medium in a stretched state, an action body that deforms the display medium by acting on a surface of the display medium on which an image is not displayed, and a drive source that drives the action body It is characterized by providing.

  Accordingly, since the display medium itself can be deformed by the operating body, a three-dimensional movable object can be provided to the player without providing a movable accessory in addition to the display device, and a space-saving and large-sized object can be provided. It is possible to provide a highly entertaining gaming machine that can also correspond to a display screen.

  The display medium is optically writable electronic paper, and the action body is a cylindrical member that presses and deforms the display medium, and is transferred to the electronic paper on a peripheral wall of the action body. A plurality of original images are provided side by side in the circumferential direction, and further include a light source for transferring the original images to the display medium, and a rotational drive source for rotating the operating body to select the image, The operating body may be pressed against the back surface of the electronic paper, and one of the original images may be transferred to the display medium by light from the light source.

  Thereby, the display mode peculiar to electronic paper can be applied to the effect, and a highly entertaining display device can be provided together with the three-dimensional deformation of the display medium.

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

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the pachinko machine 100 according to the present embodiment from the front direction.

  As shown in the figure, the pachinko machine 100 includes an outer frame 111, a front frame 112, and a window frame 113, and a game board 114 on which a game ball 105 falls on the back of the window frame 113. Yes.

  The outer frame 111 is a member that serves as a basis for holding each component of the pachinko machine 100, and is a rectangular frame. In addition, the outer frame 111 is a member that is directly fixed to the installed Taishima, such as a pachinko hall, and the pachinko machine 100 is installed on the Taijima by fixing the Taijima and the outer frame 111 only. Become.

  The front frame 112 is a member to which the game board 114, various control bases, and the like are attached directly or indirectly through attachment members. The front frame 112 is attached to the left side of the front end surface of the outer frame 111 and the hinge 101 so that the front frame 112 is rotatable with respect to the outer frame 111. That is, when the front frame 112 of the pachinko machine 100 installed on Taijima is rotated, the back of the pachinko machine 100 can be exposed.

  Further, an upper plate 116 and a lower plate 117 for storing the game balls 105 that can be operated by the player are provided at the lower front portion of the front frame 112, and a player rotates the right side of the lower plate 117 by rotating the player. A handle 118 is provided for selecting whether or not the game ball 105 can be ejected and for changing the injection speed of the game ball 105.

  The window frame 113 is a member attached to the front surface of the front frame 112 via the hinge 102. The window frame 113 has a circular hole-like window portion 103, and a transparent glass plate 104 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the window portion 103. The glass plate 104 of the window portion 103 is disposed in front of a game board 114 on which a game ball 105 that is being played falls, and a player can visually recognize the game ball 105 that is falling, and the game ball 105 is played by a game. Jumping out of the board 114 is prevented. Although the glass plate 104 is described in the present embodiment, the glass plate 104 of the present embodiment is transparent and has a strength that resists an impact when the game ball 105 falls. If this condition is satisfied, it may be made of resin, and may have both a resin plate and a glass plate.

  The game board 114 is a member made of wood or resin for forming a game area in which the game ball 105 falls, and a start for triggering a nail or a jackpot for judging the game ball 105 to fall in a complicated manner. It is a member to which a display medium 121 (display device 120) on which decorative symbols are displayed is attached, in addition to the mouth 115 and the big prize opening 119 that is opened to receive the game ball 105 during the big hit game.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the back surface of the pachinko machine 100.

  As shown in the figure, a ball tank 131 and a tank rail 132 are attached to the upper back portion of the pachinko machine 100.

  Further, the display device 120 according to the present embodiment is disposed below the tank rail 132.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the display device 120 is fixed to the game board 114 in a state where the unit case 125 of the display device 120 is inserted into a mounting hole provided in a penetrating manner in the game board 114. The rear portion of the pachinko machine 100 protrudes toward the back.

  In addition, on the back of the pachinko machine 100, the main operation of the pachinko machine 100 including the operation of the pachinko machine 100 at the time of winning, etc. Various bases such as a main base 134, a payout base 135 for controlling the payout operation of the game ball 105, and a power base 136 for supplying power to each base are mounted in a state of being accommodated in a case.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the display device 120 attached to the game board 114.

  As shown in the figure, the display device 120 includes a display medium 121, a support member 122, an action body 123, and a drive source 124. Moreover, these members are accommodated in the unit case 125.

  The unit case 125 stores a symbol to be displayed on the display medium 121, a display control board (not shown) for controlling the display of the symbol, and a driver board (for displaying the symbol on the display medium 121). (Not shown) and the like are also accommodated.

  In the case of this embodiment, the display medium 121 employs a flexible rectangular sheet-like organic EL (electroluminescence) display. This organic EL display is a display using a substance that emits light when a voltage is applied. Flexibility is realized by providing the light emitter on a flexible resin sheet. The organic EL display can display a moving image even in a bent state.

  The action body 123 is a member for deforming the display medium 121 into a predetermined shape, and has a semi-cylindrical shape in which a cylinder is cut along a plane including an axis. The action body 123 can push the intermediate portion of the display medium 121 from the rear to the front over the entire width direction to deform the display medium 121 into a curved shape. Note that both ends of the action body 123 are closed by wall surfaces.

  The action body 123 is joined to an end portion of the shaft 129 that can be moved back and forth by the driving source 124, and can be moved back and forth by the driving source 124 via the shaft 129.

  The drive source 124 is a linear actuator that can move the shaft 129 held inside the shaft 129 in and out along the axial direction of the shaft 129. The drive source 124 is controlled to freely move the shaft 129 based on a control signal from the outside. Therefore, the movement of the action body 123 can be controlled by controlling the drive source 124.

  The support member 122 is a member for constantly holding the display medium 121 in a tensioned state. As shown in FIG. 4, a long sandwich body 126 that sandwiches two opposing sides of the display medium 121, and a sandwich body 126 and a plurality of springs 127 that are attached side by side in the longitudinal direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the support member 122 is slidably held by a groove-shaped guide portion 128 provided at the front end portion of the unit case 125. The guide portion 128 includes a groove extending in the width direction of the display medium 121 and opening inward of the unit case 125, and the width of the groove corresponds to the width of the sandwiching body 126.

  The spring 127 is biased in the contracting direction, and one end thereof is attached to the bottom of the groove of the guide portion 128 and the other end is attached to the holding body 126.

  With the structure of the support member 122 and the guide portion 128 as described above, the display medium 121 is held on the front surface of the unit case 125 in a state of being stretched with a constant tension. Therefore, even if the display medium is deformed by the action body 123, the display medium 121 is stretched even in the deformed state. Further, when the action by the action body 123 is lost, the display medium 121 is displayed. Is restored to a flat state.

  Next, the operation state of the display device 120 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the action body 123 pushes the intermediate portion of the display medium 121 forward by controlling the drive source 124 and causing the shaft 129 to protrude. In this state, as shown in FIG. 6, the display medium 121 is deformed according to the curvature of the action body 123 and pulls the support member 122 in the inward direction of the unit case 125. In a state where the support member 122 is pulled, the holding body 126 slides on the guide portion 128, and the spring 127 pulls the display medium 121 in the vertical direction while extending along with the sliding.

  As described above, the display medium 121 is curved according to the shape of the action body 123 and is maintained on the front surface of the unit case 125 in a state where the display medium 121 is stretched by the biasing force of the spring 127.

  With the configuration of the display device 120 described above, the display medium 121 can be arbitrarily deformed between a flat state and a deformed state in which a part of the display medium 121 protrudes into a semicylindrical shape. Therefore, since the player can observe the deformed state of the display medium 121 together with the process, it is possible to improve the interest.

  Next, how the display device 120 is used in the operating state of the pachinko machine 100 will be described.

  In a state where the game ball is not won in the start opening 115, the display medium 121 is a unit case in a planar state where the action body 123 does not deform the display medium 121 as shown in FIGS. As in the case of a conventional pachinko machine, a symbol corresponding to the state is displayed.

  Next, when a game ball wins the start opening 115, it is determined whether or not the main board 134 is a big hit, and one of a plurality of types of symbols corresponding to the result of the main board 134 is selected with a predetermined establishment. There are two types of symbols to be displayed, one that deforms the display medium 121 and one that is displayed without being deformed. In the following description, it is assumed that a symbol for deforming the display medium 121 has been selected.

  When a game ball wins at the start opening 115, the symbol change display is started. The drive source 124 is controlled at a predetermined timing from the start of the symbol display, and as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the vertical intermediate portion of the display medium 121 protrudes in a curved state across the width direction. The action body 123 gradually pushes out the display medium 121.

  In this state, since the screen of the plane that the player was watching suddenly starts to deform, the player's attention concentrates on this deformation point, and the symbol displayed on the display medium 121 and the actual three-dimensional deformation The production effect can be enhanced by the synergistic effect.

  Then, in the state where the deformation of the display medium 121 is completed, as shown in FIG. 7, the display medium 121 is divided into three equal parts in the width direction, and the numbers differ from the upper part to the lower part of each of the divided strip-like parts. And the symbols such that symbols flow one after another are displayed on the display medium 121.

  As described above, when the above symbols are displayed on the surface of the display medium 121 that is actually three-dimensionally curved, the player seems as if the real rotating drum with characters and symbols on the surface is rotating. To see. This is more interesting than an image displayed as a pseudo three-dimensional image on a flat display, and has an appeal to attract players.

  Then, by adopting an effect in which the display medium 121 is deformed at the time of a reach action with a high probability of winning a jackpot (so-called intense game), a game that attracts the player's attention and does not get tired can be configured.

  Next, another embodiment will be described.

  The display device 120 according to this embodiment includes a display medium 121, a support member 122, an action body 123, and a drive source 124 in a unit case 125, as in the above embodiment. Further, in the case of the present embodiment, a light source is provided on the inner coaxial line of the action body 123, and a rotation drive source 138 for rotating the action body 123 is provided.

  Note that the support member 122, the drive source 124, and the unit case 125 that support the display medium 121 are the same as those in the above embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the display medium 121 employs a flexible rectangular sheet-like optically writable electronic paper. This optical writable electronic paper can instantly convert an optical signal received in a voltage applied state into an image, and can continue to hold the image on the medium surface even if the voltage is released thereafter. This is a display medium 121.

  In the present embodiment, the optically writable electronic paper is adopted as the display medium 121 because the electric configuration of the display medium 121 itself is easy and the image can be changed.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an action body 123 and the like according to another embodiment.

  The action body 123 is a member for deforming the display medium 121 into a predetermined shape, and has a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. Has been. The action body 123 can push the intermediate portion of the display medium 121 from the rear to the front over the entire width direction to deform the display medium 121 into a curved shape. Note that both ends of the action body 123 are closed by wall surfaces.

  The action body 123 is rotatably held by a U-shaped holder 139. The holder is joined to the end portion of the shaft 129 that can be moved back and forth by the drive source 124. Therefore, the action body 123 can rotate with respect to the holder 139 and can be moved out and withdrawn by the drive source 124 via the shaft 129.

  A rotation drive source 139 is further attached to the holder 139. The rotational drive source 139 includes a gear 140, and the working body 123 can be rotated at an arbitrary angle by engaging the gear 140 and the working body 123. Note that gear teeth are provided in corresponding portions of the gear 140 and the action body 123, but the description thereof is omitted in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, a light source 137 is provided coaxially with the action body 123 inside the action body 123. The light source 137 is a light source for transferring the pattern engraved on the peripheral wall of the working body 123 to the display medium 121 by emitting light inside the working body 123.

  Next, the operation state of the display device 120 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  Also in the present embodiment, the process until the display medium 121 is deformed is the same as that in the above-described embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. In addition, before the action body 123 presses the display medium 121, the action body 123 is rotated so that the pattern to be displayed on the display medium 121 is controlled by controlling the rotation drive source 138.

  Next, after deforming the display medium 121, a voltage is applied to the display medium 121 to cause the light source 137 to emit light. The light transmitted through the pattern engraved on the action body 123 acts on the display medium 121, and the image appearing on the display medium 121 is changed.

  After the image appearing on the display medium 121 is changed, the action body 123 may be retracted, or the action body 123 may be maintained in a protruding state and the display medium 121 may be maintained in a deformed state. .

  As described above, by adopting optical writable electronic paper for the display medium 121, when the image is changed, a slow change state peculiar to the electronic paper can be provided to the player together with the deformation of the display medium 121. The interest can be improved.

  In addition, the action body 123 according to the present invention is not limited to the above shape, and may be any complicated shape such as the shape of a human face.

  Further, the action body 123 may be moved in the direction of the surface of the display medium 121 as well as simply moving the action body 123 out and out. Furthermore, the display medium 121 may be deformed into a concave shape by bonding the action body 123 and a part of the back surface of the display medium 121 with an adhesive or the like, and moving the action body 123 in the retracting direction.

  The present invention can be used for gaming machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines.

The perspective view which shows the pachinko machine with which the display apparatus which concerns on this embodiment is provided from a direction. The perspective view which shows the same pachinko machine from the back. Sectional drawing which shows a display apparatus typically. The perspective view which shows a display medium and a supporting member. Sectional drawing which shows a display apparatus (protrusion state) typically. The perspective view which shows a display medium (projection state) and a supporting member. The perspective view which shows a pachinko machine provided with the display medium which protruded. The perspective view which shows the action body etc. which concern on other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 ... Display apparatus, 121 ... Display medium, 122 ... Support member, 123 ... Action body, 124 ... Drive source

Claims (2)

A display device that is attached to a gaming machine and displays an image related to the game,
A sheet-like display medium having flexibility and displaying an image;
A support member for supporting the display medium in a stretched state;
An action body that acts on a surface of the display medium on which an image is not displayed to deform the display medium;
And a drive source for driving the working body. The display medium is optically writable electronic paper,
The operating body is a cylindrical member that presses and deforms the display medium,
A plurality of original images to be transferred to the electronic paper are provided side by side in the circumferential direction on the peripheral wall of the working body,
further,
A light source for transferring the original image to the display medium;
A rotational drive source for rotating the working body to select the image,
The display device according to claim 1, wherein the action body is pressed against a back surface of the electronic paper, and one of the original images is transferred to the display medium by light from the light source.

Images