JP2008036166A - Game machine, error cancellation device and error cancellation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an error cancellation device capable of easily canceling an error while preventing a malfunction of a control device and a fraud. <P>SOLUTION: A motor 93 of this error cancellation device 81 reciprocates a shielding plate 92 between a first position and a second position. When the shielding plate 92 is in a first position, an index sensor 94 outputs a cancellation signal to an error control part 76. An error determination part 98 determines whether the error generated in a slot machine is an automatically resettable error or not based on the error signal received from the error control part 76. When an error cancellation control part 95 receives the error signal, a radio signal transmission/receiving part 96 or a receiving part 97 receives a cancellation command signal, and the error determination part 98 determines the generated error as the automatically resettable error, a drive control part 99 moves the shielding plate 92 from the second position to the first position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an error canceling device for a gaming machine that is installed and used in a game hall such as a pachinko parlor.

  Slot machines that are installed and used in amusement halls such as pachinko parlors are called pachislot machines, and given a certain value to the medal that is the game medium, various medals earned by playing games Can be replaced.

  Further, in the pachislot machine, when an error occurs during the game, the game is stopped, and the player cannot continue the game. In this case, the store clerk at the amusement hall opens the front door of the pachislot machine that is in a game stop state and performs work to eliminate the cause of the error, and then directly operates the switch provided on the pachislot machine to play the game A release signal instructing release of the stop state is output to the control device of the pachislot machine.

JP-A-10-137418

  By the way, among the errors that occur in pachislot machines, errors that do not require you to open the front door of the pachislot machine to eliminate the cause of the error (hereinafter, such errors can be automatically recovered) Called error). However, in the above-described conventional pachislot machine, even if an error is automatically recoverable, in order to cancel the error and return the pachislot machine to a playable state, the store clerk directly operates the pachislot machine to play a game. A release signal instructing release of the stop state must be output to the control device of the gaming machine.

  Here, a pachislot machine is provided with a receiver, and an error release signal is directly input to the control device of the pachislot machine from the outside, so that a store clerk goes to one pachislot machine installed in a plurality. It is also possible to return the pachislot machine to a playable state without directly operating it.

  However, in a configuration in which a signal is directly input from the outside to the control device of the pachislot machine, there is a possibility that the control device malfunctions due to an erroneous signal being input to the control device, or an intentional illegal signal is input. As a result, there is a possibility of an illegal act of arbitrarily operating the control device for the player.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a gaming machine, an error canceling device, and an error canceling device that can easily cancel an error while preventing malfunction and fraud of the control device. To provide an error clearing system.

  In order to achieve the above object, an error canceling device according to the present invention is provided for a gaming machine, and includes a moving member, a driving unit, a canceling signal output unit, an error receiving unit, a canceling receiving unit, a determining unit, and a driving control unit. And a release signal instructing release of the game stop state caused by the error generated in the gaming machine is output to the control device of the gaming machine.

  The moving member is movable between the first position and the second position, and the driving means moves the moving member between the first position and the second position. The release signal output means outputs a release signal to the control device when the moving member is at the first position, and does not output the release signal to the control device when the moving member is at the second position. The error receiving means receives from the gaming machine an error signal that can determine whether the error that has occurred in the gaming machine is an error that can be automatically restored or is impossible. The release receiving means receives a release instruction signal for instructing release of the game stop state from the remote control device.

  Based on the error signal received by the error receiving means, the determining means determines whether the error occurring in the gaming machine is an error that can be automatically recovered or an error that is impossible. The drive control means maintains the moving member in the second position in the initial state, and when the error receiving means receives the error signal and the release receiving means receives the release instruction signal, the error generated in the gaming machine is automatically recovered. When the determination means determines that the error is possible, the determination means determines that the error that occurred in the gaming machine is an error that cannot be automatically restored by moving the moving member from the second position to the first position. In this case, the driving means is controlled so as to maintain the moving member at the second position.

  An error canceling system according to the present invention includes the error canceling device and a remote control device. The remote control device is provided apart from the gaming machine and transmits a release instruction signal instructing release of the game stop state to the error release device.

  The error signal may indicate the type of error that has occurred in the gaming machine, and whether the error can be recovered automatically or not can be preset according to the type of error. In this case, the determination unit determines whether the error that has occurred in the gaming machine is an error that can be automatically recovered or an error that cannot be automatically performed, according to the type of error corresponding to the error signal received by the error reception unit.

  The release signal output means detects the moving member when the moving member is at one of the first position and the second position, and detects the moving member that does not detect the moving member when the moving member is at the other of the first position and the second position. You may have a means.

  In the above configuration, when an error occurs in the gaming machine, the gaming machine transmits an error signal. In addition, the remote control device transmits an error cancellation instruction signal in response to an input from, for example, a game shop clerk. In the error canceling device, the error receiving unit receives the error signal from the gaming machine, and the canceling receiving unit receives the cancel instruction signal from the remote control device. Then, the determination means determines whether the error that has occurred in the gaming machine is an error that can be automatically recovered or an error that is impossible based on the error signal received by the error reception means. The drive control means maintains the moving member in the second position in the initial state, and when the determining means determines that the error generated in the gaming machine is an error that can be automatically restored, the driving control means moves the moving member to the second position. If the determination means determines that the error generated in the gaming machine is an error that cannot be automatically restored, the drive means is controlled to maintain the moving member at the second position. To do. As a result, when the error that has occurred in the gaming machine is an error that can be automatically restored, a cancellation signal is output from the cancellation signal output means to the control device of the gaming machine, and the control device releases the gaming machine from the game stop state. Return processing is executed, and the gaming machine returns to a state in which it can be played.

  In this way, by transmitting an error release instruction signal from the remote control device to the error release device, the store clerk releases the gaming machine stop state and makes it possible to play a game without directly operating the gaming machine. Can be restored.

  In addition, since the error release instruction signal is not directly input from the outside to the control device of the gaming machine but is input through the error release device, the malfunction of the control device due to the error signal being input to the control device. It is possible to reliably prevent an illegal act of causing the control device to operate arbitrarily and advantageously for the player by the occurrence of the error or the intentional input of the illegal signal.

  Further, the determining means determines whether the error that has occurred in the gaming machine is an error that can or cannot be automatically restored, and when the error is an error that can be automatically restored, the drive control means moves the moving member from the second position. Since the drive means is controlled to move to the first position, the release signal is output from the release signal output means to the control device of the gaming machine only when the error that has occurred in the gaming machine is an error that can be automatically restored. The Therefore, when an error that cannot be automatically restored has occurred, the control device of the gaming machine does not execute an error canceling process for canceling the game stop state.

  Further, the drive control means may control the drive means so as to return the moving member to the second position after moving the moving member from the second position to the first position.

  In the above configuration, when an error that can be automatically restored occurs once, the moving member moves from the second position to the first position, and a release signal is output from the error release signal output means to the control device, and then further moves The member returns to the second position. For this reason, after the return processing by the control device is executed and the gaming machine is returned to a game-ready state, a release signal is output from the error release signal output means to the control device until an error that can be automatically returned again occurs. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the malfunction of the control device.

  The remote control device may include a remote release transmission unit, a remote error reception unit, and an error type notification unit. The remote release transmission means transmits a release instruction signal in response to an operation input from the user. The remote error receiving means receives an error signal from the gaming machine or the error canceling device. The error type notifying means notifies the error type corresponding to the error signal received by the remote error receiving means.

  In the above configuration, the store clerk can recognize the type of error that has occurred in the gaming machine by the error type notification means, so it is possible to determine whether or not the error that has occurred is an error that can be automatically recovered, and automatic recovery is possible. Only when it is determined that there is an error, the release instruction signal can be transmitted from the remote release transmission means.

  Furthermore, the gaming machine according to the present invention may include the error canceling device and an error notification unit. Based on the error signal, the error notification means notifies that an error has occurred in the gaming machine and whether the generated error is an error that can be automatically restored or an error that is impossible.

  In the above configuration, the store clerk can know whether or not the error generated in the gaming machine is an error that can be automatically recovered by the error notification means. Can be sent.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the cancellation | release of an error can be performed easily, preventing the malfunctioning and fraudulent act of a control apparatus.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, explanation will be given on the configuration and operation of an error canceling system of a gaming machine installed in a place such as a gaming machine installation store (game room) and allowing a player to play a game based on the supply of gaming media To do.

  In this embodiment, a swivel type game machine (pachislot machine / slot machine) using medals as a game medium will be described as an example. However, the present invention is applied to a ball game machine using a pachinko ball as a game medium. Is also applicable. Further, “inserting medals (game media)” includes betting a credited medal with a bet button or the like in addition to actually inserting a medal into the medal slot. Further, in the present embodiment, the winning combination that won the winning role by electronic lottery and the state that the reel picture corresponding to the winning winning portion can be aligned on the winning line is an internal winning, the winning winning combination A state where the corresponding reel pattern is aligned on the winning effective line will be described as winning.

  Hereinafter, the slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment and the error canceling system 80 used in the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The error cancellation system 80 includes an error cancellation device 81, a centralized management terminal device 82 as a remote operation device, and a wireless operation terminal device 83.

[External configuration of slot machine]
The slot machine 1 has a square box-shaped housing 10. The housing 10 includes a substantially rectangular main body 71 having an opening on the front surface side, and upper and lower front doors 72 that are connected to the main body 71 so as to be freely opened and closed and cover the front surface of the main body 71. A display window 11 is formed on the front face 10a of the front door 72 above the casing 10 on the player side, and a transparent cover 28 that covers the front area 12 in the casing 10 is attached to the display window 11. ing. A symbol display window 13 is formed in the front region 12 in the housing 10 covered with the cover 28 so that a symbol 64 of three rotary reels 61 to be described later is exposed and visually recognized by the player.

  On the front surface 10a of the housing 10, switches that receive input operations from the player, a medal slot 14, a medal payout port 15, a medal tray 16, a speaker 17, an image display device 18, a plurality of lamps 19, and a plurality of lamps LED20 grade | etc., Is provided. The switches include a bet switch 21, a settlement switch 22, a start switch 23, and a stop switch 24. The switches, the medal slot 14, the medal payout port 15, and the medal tray 16 are disposed below the display window 11. Further, the speaker 17 is disposed at the upper left and right corners of the front surface 10 a of the housing 10.

  The lower front door 72 is provided with a lock lock 73 that prevents the front door 72 from being opened while the upper and lower front doors 72 are closed. When the player plays a game, the upper and lower front doors 72 are provided. Is closed and the lock 73 is locked.

  The medal insertion slot 14 is located at a substantially central end portion of the front surface 10a of the housing 10, and an insertion switch 25 for detecting the inserted game medal is provided inside the medal insertion slot 14.

  The bet switch 21 is positioned below the rotary reel 61 and accepts a pressing input for reducing the number of stored medals and replacing them with medal insertion.

  The settlement switch 22 is positioned obliquely below the rotary reel 61 and accepts a pressing input for paying out the stored inserted medal.

  The start switch 23 is positioned obliquely below the rotary reel 61 and is rotated on condition that a game medal is inserted or the bet switch 21 is pressed or on the condition that a predetermined time elapses from the previous game at the time of “Replay”. An input for starting the reel 61 (starting driving of a reel unit 60 described later) is received. “Replay” means that the “replay” flag is set by the lottery of the winning lottery unit 39 and the symbols of “replay” are arranged on the winning line. Thus, in the next game, the game can be played again without newly inserting a game medal.

  The stop switch 24 receives an input for stopping the driving of the reel unit 60. Specifically, the stop switch 24 includes three switches corresponding to each rotary reel 61, and one stop switch 24 is arranged below each rotary reel 61. When the stop switch 24 corresponding to the rotating reel 61 is pressed, the rotation of the corresponding rotating reel 61 is stopped.

  The display screen of the image display device 18 is composed of liquid crystal, and various effect images for notifying the player of the gaming state such as winning are displayed on the display screen under the control of the effect control device 34 described later. . Note that a display screen of the image display device 18 may be other than a liquid crystal such as an LED or a dot matrix. Furthermore, in addition to or instead of the image display device 18, an effect rotating reel 61 may be provided, and the effect may be provided by the design of the reel, characters, or the like.

  The lamp 19 and the LED 20 notify the player of the gaming state by turning on or blinking the light emitter, and the speaker 17 notifies the player of the gaming state by generating sound. Further, a lamp 74 as an error notification unit is provided above the front surface of the housing 10. The lamp 74 notifies that an error has occurred in the slot machine 1 and whether the error that has occurred is an error that can be automatically recovered or an error that cannot be recovered.

[Internal configuration of slot machine]
A control device 30, a reel unit 60, and a hopper unit 70 for controlling the overall operation of the slot machine 1 are provided in the internal space on the rear side (opposite side of the player) of the front region 12 of the housing 10. ing.

  The reel unit 60 includes three motors (not shown) fixed or supported on a frame and three rotating reels 61 fixed to the output shaft of each motor. Each rotary reel 61 includes a rotary drum 62 made of synthetic resin, and a tape-like reel tape 63 attached around the rotary drum 62. A plurality of (for example, 21) symbols 64 are displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the reel tape 63. Of the symbols 64 of each rotary reel 61, the symbol 64 located on the front side is exposed from the symbol display window 13 and is visible to the player.

  The hopper unit 70 pays out medals to the player based on the game result.

  Further, on the rear side of the lock lock 73, when an error occurs in the slot machine 1 and the game is stopped, an error for releasing the game stop state by manual operation and returning it to a game-ready state. A manual release mechanism 75 is provided. Although not specifically illustrated, the error manual release mechanism 75 includes a shielding plate connected to the lock lock 73 by a link and a pair of index sensors that detect movement of the shielding plate and output a release signal. When a store clerk or the like inserts the key into the lock lock 73 and turns the key further in the locking direction than the locking position, or turns the key in the direction opposite to the locking direction, the shielding plate is inserted between the index sensors, and the index sensor A shielding plate is detected and a release signal is output to an error control unit 76 described later.

(Control device)
The control device 30 is configured around a CPU, and includes a ROM, a RAM, an I / O, and the like. The number of CPUs is not limited to one and may be plural. Further, the CPU, ROM, RAM, I / O, and the like may constitute an integrated one chip.

  The control device 30 includes a main control device 31 and a sub-control device 32 that operates by receiving a signal from the main control device 31, and the CPU executes each process by reading a program stored in the ROM. . The main control device 31 includes a game control device 33 and an error control unit 76, and the sub control device 32 includes an effect control device 34. The game control device 33 controls the rotation and stop of the rotary reel 61 when the start switch 23 and the stop switch 24 are pressed. The effect control device 34 controls the image display device 18, the lamp 19, the LED 20, and the speaker 17 according to the gaming state. Thus, by separately providing the game control device 33 that executes processing related to the progress of the game and the effect control device 34 that executes processing related to the effect, it is possible to greatly increase the memory used for effect control, and Only this aspect can be easily changed.

  The game control device 33 receives detection signals from the making switch 25, the bet switch 21, the settlement switch 22, the start switch 23, and the stop switch 24, and outputs a result of predetermined internal processing to the effect control device 34. The effect control device 34 outputs control signals to the reel unit 60, the hopper unit 70, the image display device 18, the lamp 19, the LED 20, and the speaker 17 based on the signal received from the game control device 33.

(Game control device)
The game control device 33 includes a normal game control unit 35, a special game control unit 36, a winning lottery unit 39, a recommended stop operation order determination unit 44, and a reel rotation stop control unit 45, and operates the start switch 23 and the stop switch 24. Thus, the rotation and stop of the rotary reel 61 are controlled.

  The normal game control unit 35 executes a process in the normal game, on condition that a medal is inserted or the bet switch 21 is pressed, or on the condition that a predetermined time elapses from the previous game at the time of “replay”. When the start switch 23 is pressed, the reel unit 60 is driven to start the rotation of the three rotating reels 61. When one of the stop switches 24 is pressed while the rotary reel 61 is rotating, the rotation of the corresponding rotary reel 61 is stopped. When all three stop switches 24 are pressed, three rotations are performed. All the rotation of the reel 61 is stopped. At this time, when a predetermined symbol 64 is stopped on the winning line of the symbol display window 13, a predetermined number of medals are paid out through the hopper unit 70. In addition, you may credit instead of paying out a medal.

  Winning is accompanied by paying out game medals by winning a prize, and there is no small medal winning that gives the player a profit, special winning that gives the player even more profit than the small role winning, and there is no paying out the game medal However, “replay” in which a game can be played again without newly inserting a game medal is included. When the lottery result is won for any combination, a winning flag corresponding to the winning is established. When the lottery result is a special winning flag, a special winning flag is established, and the combination of the stop symbol 64 of the rotating reel 61 of the reel unit 60 is determined in advance while the special winning flag is established. The game is configured to win a special game that is advantageous to the player under the condition that it matches the symbol 64 (for example, three “7” s on the winning line). On the other hand, if the special winning flag is established by lottery, but the combination of the stop symbol 64 of the rotating reel 61 does not match the special winning symbol 64, the right to establish the special winning flag is carried over to the subsequent games. Is set to Note that the winning flag of the small role is not carried over to the next game of the right to establish the winning flag when the winning flag is not awarded in the game in which the winning flag is established.

  Whether or not the corresponding winning symbol 64 can be aligned on the winning effective line while any of the winning flags is established depends on the timing of the stop switch 24 when the rotational speed of the rotary reel 61 is constant. It is. Specifically, since the rotary reel 61 is set to stop within 190 ms after operating the stop switch 24, it can be stopped as it is after operating the stop switch 24, or can be stopped within 190 ms. When the corresponding winning symbol 64 is included in the retractable symbols 64 on the circumference of the rotary reel 61, for example, four retractable symbols 64 continuous from the stop symbol, the time until the stop is stopped. Delaying the time, the rotary reel 61 draws the winning symbol 64 on the winning line and stops. On the other hand, in the case where the corresponding winning symbol 64 is not included in the four retractable symbols 64, the winning symbol 64 cannot be drawn on the winning line and stopped.

  The special game control unit 36 is for causing the player to perform a special game advantageous based on the lottery result of the winning lottery unit 39. The special game includes a specific introduction game (BB game), a specific game ( RB game) and specific winning game (JAC game).

  Note that a specific game, for example, an RB game, may be performed during a specific introduction game, for example, a BB game, or may be performed independently when not in a BB game. The specific winning game, so-called JAC game, is played during the RB game. Further, the special game is not limited to these BB games, RB games, and JAC games.

  The special game control unit 36 includes a specific introduction game control unit 37 and a specific game control unit 38.

  The specific introduction game control unit 37 executes processing in the BB game, and the specific game control unit 38 executes processing in the RB game. In addition, the description about the specific content of a BB game, RB game, and a JAC game is abbreviate | omitted.

  The winning lottery unit 39 performs a lottery concerning the winning combination based on a predetermined lottery probability. As a result of the lottery performed by the winning lottery unit 39, a winning flag is established when the predetermined winning combination is won, and a combination of the stop symbol 64 of the rotating reel 61 is determined in advance while the winning flag is established. It is set so that a prize is awarded on the condition that the two match, and the player is given a medal or a special game.

  The winning lottery unit 39 includes a random number generating unit 40, a random number extracting unit 41, a winning determination table 42, and a determining unit 43.

  The random number generator 40 generates a random number for winning lottery within a predetermined area (for example, 0 to 65535 in decimal number). The random number extraction unit 41 extracts a random number generated by the random number generation unit 40 under a predetermined condition (for example, operation of the start switch 23). This extracted random number is used as extracted random number data. Here, the “random number generator” may be configured by using a counter that adds a certain number of numbers one by one at a high speed, in addition to the one that generates a random number by an average sampling method as a soft random number. In such a configuration, the “random number generator” does not generate random numbers, but the numbers extracted by the “random number extractor” are distributed as if they were random numbers. Thus, what obtains numbers indicating a distribution such as random numbers as a result is included in the “random number generation unit” or “random number extraction unit” of the present embodiment.

  The winning determination table 42 has a winning area for each winning item in the entire random number area acquired by the random number generator 40. The determination unit 43 includes a winning area of each winning item in the entire random number area acquired by the random number generating unit 40 based on the extracted random number data extracted by the random number extracting unit 41 and the lottery probability data of the winning determination table 42. The winning determination area data is collated, and the winning corresponding to the winning area to which the extracted random number data belongs is determined.

  The recommended stop operation order determination unit 44 determines the recommended stop operation order of the stop switch 24 on the condition that a predetermined gaming state is reached. The recommended stop operation order determination signal is output to the reel rotation stop control unit 45 and the effect control device 34 described below.

  The reel rotation stop control unit 45 stops and stops the symbol 64 to be stopped at a predetermined position according to the lottery result of the winning lottery unit 39 and the stop operation situation in a predetermined case for the predetermined symbol 64 of the rotary reel 61. The control which does not stop the symbol 64 which should not be stopped in the position is performed. The reel rotation stop control unit 45 includes a stop operation confirmation unit 46 and a stop control change unit 47 for performing the above control. When the recommended stop operation order determination unit 44 determines the pressing order of the stop switches 24, the stop operation confirmation unit 46 determines whether or not the stop switch 24 is operated in accordance with the pressing order. The determination result of the stop operation confirmation unit 46 is output to the stop control change unit 47. The stop control change unit 47 changes the stop control based on the signal from the stop operation confirmation unit 46.

(Error control part)
The error control unit 76 receives detection signals from a plurality of error detection sensors 77 provided at predetermined positions of the slot machine 1. The place where the error detection sensor 77 is provided includes a medal insertion passage from the medal insertion opening 14 to the hopper unit 70, a medallion discharge passage from the hopper unit 70 to the medal payout outlet 15, a main body 71, and the like. The error control unit 76 determines the type of error that has occurred in the slot machine 1 based on detection signals from these error detection sensors 77.

  In this embodiment, there are eight types of errors E1 to E8 shown below. E1 is an error (medal backflow error) when a medal backflow is detected. E2 is an error (empty error) when a shortage of medals for payout is detected. E3 is an error (payout medal clogging error) when a clogging of medals in the medal payout passage is detected. E4 is an error (payout switch error) when a malfunction of the payout switch provided in the hopper unit 70 is detected. E5 is an error (overflow error) when an overflow of the medal tray 16 is detected. E6 is an error (inserted medal retention error) when the medal retention in the medal insertion passage is detected. E7 is an error (CPU error) when a CPU malfunction of the control device 30 is detected. E8 is an error (door opening error) when the opening of the front door 72 is detected.

  When the error control unit 76 determines the type of error based on the detection signal from the error detection sensor 77, an error signal indicating the type of error (E1 to E8) is sent to the game control device 33, the error cancellation device 81, and the concentration. The data is output to the management terminal device 82. The game control device 33 that has received the error signal executes a game stop process for stopping the progress of the game, and outputs the received error signal to the sub-control device 32. By executing such a game stop process, the slot machine 1 cannot play a game (the game is not started even if a medal is inserted and the start switch 23 is pressed), and enters a game stop state. In addition, when the error control unit 76 outputs an error signal to the error canceling device 81 and the centralized management terminal device 82, the error control unit 76 identifies itself from a plurality of slot machines 1 installed in the game store together with the error signal. An identification signal is output.

  Further, when receiving the release signal from the error manual release mechanism 75 or the error release device 81, the error control unit 76 outputs a return instruction signal instructing the game control device 33 to release the game stop state. The game control device 33 that has received the return instruction signal executes a game return process, whereby the slot machine 1 returns to a normal state in which a game is possible.

  When returning the gaming machine slot machine 1 to the normal gaming state, it is necessary to remove the cause of the error in advance. Here, the degree of difficulty in removing the cause of the error differs depending on the type of error that has occurred. Specifically, door opening error (E8), medal backflow error (E1), inserted medal retention error (E6), payout medal clogged error (E3), overflow error (E5), payout switch error (E4), empty error The difficulty increases in the order of (E2) and CPU error (E7).

  Among these errors, the door opening error (E8), the medal backflow error (E1), and the inserted medal retention error (E6), which are longitude errors, are errors caused by the store clerk opening the front door 72 of the slot machine 1. This is an error that does not require work to eliminate the cause of the error (an error that can be automatically restored). For example, the door opening error (E8) continues even after the front door 72 is closed unless the game return process is executed. Therefore, the error occurrence cause must be solved after the front door 72 is closed. There is no need to do it. Further, the medal backflow error (E1) and the inserted medal retention error (E6) are errors that occur when the flow-down behavior of medals is different from the normal, and therefore, the necessity of performing the work for eliminating the cause of the error is extremely low. On the contrary, in the case of a payout medal clogging error (E3), an overflow error (E5), a payout switch error (E4), an empty error (E2), and a CPU error (E7), the store clerk uses the front door 72 of the slot machine 1. This is an error (error that cannot be automatically restored) that needs to be opened to eliminate the cause of the error.

  As described above, errors occurring in the slot machine 1 can be classified into errors that can be automatically restored and errors that cannot be automatically restored, depending on the type (type indicated by the error signal). It should be noted that the type of error to be determined and which error is classified as an error that can be automatically restored are not limited to those described above.

(Production control device)
The effect control device 34 includes an image control unit 50, a light emission control unit 51, and an audio control unit 52, and receives various signals from the game control device 33 and performs an effect execution process during the game. The image control unit 50 performs display control of the image display device 18 by outputting effect data to the video display processor (VDP) 53. The light emission control unit 51 performs light emission control of the lamp 19 and the LED 20, and the sound control unit 52 performs sound output control from the speaker 17. The production control device 34 receives, for example, a winning flag establishment signal, BB, RB winning signal / end signal, etc. from the gaming control device 33, and the gaming state is such a state (while the winning flag is established, BB / RB). There may be provided a storage unit for storing that the game is in progress, a reception unit for receiving a detection signal from the switches such as the start switch 23, an operation signal for the rotary reel 61, and the like.

  The effect control device 34 notifies the player of information related to the lottery result of the winning lottery unit 39 and other information with a predetermined probability. Specifically, the fact that a predetermined winning combination has been won, information on which winning combination has been won, and the recommended stop operation order of the stop switch 24 are notified.

  Further, when an error occurs in the slot machine 1 and an error signal is received from the error control unit 76 (main control device 31), the light emission control unit 51 controls the lighting of the lamp 74 in order to notify the occurrence of the error. . In addition, it is determined whether the error corresponding to the error signal is an error that can be automatically restored or impossible, and the lighting state is different depending on whether the error that occurred is an error that can be automatically restored or an error that is impossible. Make different. For example, in the case of an error that can be automatically restored, the lighting state of the lamp 74 is continued, and in the case of an error that cannot be automatically restored, the lamp 74 is blinked. Further, the lamp 74 may be provided with two types of light sources having different emission colors, and the emission colors may be different depending on an error that can be automatically restored and an error that is impossible.

[Error clearing system configuration]
(Centralized management terminal)
The centralized management terminal device 82 is installed in a predetermined place such as a game room management room, and has an operation terminal having a transmission / reception unit 84 and a control unit 85 as remote release transmission means and remote error reception means, and operation of a keyboard and the like. An input unit 86 and a display unit 87 as error type notification means are provided. The control unit 85 is configured around a CPU and includes a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The display unit 87 is configured by a liquid crystal display, a CRT, or the like.

  Only the signal line (signal line 101 with the error canceling device 81) is shown in FIG. 4 respectively to the error control unit 76 (control device 30) of the slot machine 1 and the receiving unit 97 to be described later of the error canceling device 81. ). The transmission / reception unit 84, the operation input unit 86, and the display unit 87 are connected to the control unit 85, respectively.

  When the transmission / reception unit 84 receives the error signal and the machine identification signal from the error control unit 76, the control unit 85 determines the error type (E1 to E8) indicated by the received error signal and the machine number specified by the machine identification signal. The image is displayed on the display unit 87 as an image. By looking at this image, the store clerk can recognize which type of error has occurred in which slot machine 1. The control unit 85 has a function of determining whether or not the error type indicated by the received error signal is an error that can be automatically restored, and the display unit 87 displays whether or not the error can be automatically restored. May be.

  The operation input unit 86 outputs a transmission instruction signal to the control unit 85 when receiving a transmission instruction of a release instruction signal instructing release of the game stop state from a user (a store clerk or the like). Upon receiving the transmission instruction signal, the control unit 85 causes the transmission / reception unit 84 to transmit a cancellation instruction signal to the reception unit 97 of the error cancellation apparatus 81.

(Wireless operation terminal device)
The wireless operation terminal device 83 is a small terminal device that can be carried by a store clerk of a game shop, etc., and a transmission / reception unit 88 as a remote release transmission unit and a remote error reception unit, a control unit 89, and an operation input such as an input button Unit 90 and a display unit 91 as an error type notification unit. The control unit 89 is configured around a CPU and includes a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The display unit 91 is configured by a small liquid crystal display or the like, and the transmission / reception unit 88 is configured by an antenna.

  The transmission / reception unit 88 transmits / receives a signal wirelessly to / from a wireless signal transmission / reception unit 96 described later of the error canceling device 81. The transmission / reception unit 88, the operation input unit 90, and the display unit 91 are connected to the control unit 89, respectively.

  When the transmission / reception unit 88 receives the error signal and the machine identification signal from the wireless signal transmission / reception unit 96 of the error canceling device 81, the control unit 89 displays the error types (E1 to E8) and the machine identification signal indicated by the received error signal. The specified machine number is displayed on the display unit 91 as an image. By looking at this image, the store clerk can recognize which type of error has occurred in which slot machine 1. The control unit 89 has a function of determining whether or not the error type indicated by the received error signal is an error that can be automatically restored, and the display unit 87 displays whether or not the error can be automatically restored. May be.

  The operation input unit 90 outputs a transmission instruction signal to the control unit 89 when receiving a transmission instruction of a release instruction signal instructing release of the game stop state from a user (a store clerk or the like). The control unit 89 that has received the transmission instruction signal causes the transmission / reception unit 88 to transmit the cancellation instruction signal to the wireless signal transmission / reception unit 96 of the error cancellation apparatus 81.

(Error canceling device)
One error canceling device 81 is provided for each of the slot machines 1 installed in the game store. The error canceling device 81 includes a shielding plate 92 as a moving member, a motor 93 as a driving unit, a pair of index sensors 94 as a canceling signal output unit, an error canceling control unit 95 as an error receiving unit, A radio signal transmitting / receiving unit 96 and a receiving unit 97 are provided as receiving means. The error cancellation control unit 95 includes an error determination unit 98 as a determination unit and a drive control unit 99 as a drive control unit, and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The error cancellation control unit 95 is electrically connected to the wireless signal transmission / reception unit 96, the reception unit 97, and the motor 93.

  The motor 93, the error cancellation control unit 95, and the reception unit 97 are accommodated in the case 100. The case 100 is disposed on the rear surface (rear surface) 10b side of the housing 10 of the slot machine 1, and is fixed to a machine support member 104 of a game store that supports an outer surface (for example, a side surface or an upper surface) of the housing 10. . The radio signal transmitting / receiving unit 96 includes an antenna and is fixed to the machine support member 104 above the slot machine 1. Note that the case 100 and the wireless signal transmission / reception 96 may be directly fixed to the housing 10 of the slot machine 1.

The index sensor 94 and the error cancellation control unit 95 are the error control unit 76 (control device 30) of the slot machine 1 and the signal line (only the signal line 102 between the error cancellation control unit 95 and the error control unit 76 is shown in FIG. Are electrically connected to each other. The receiving unit 97 and the transmitting / receiving unit 84 of the centralized management terminal device 82 are electrically connected via the signal line 101. The wireless signal transmission / reception unit 96 and the error cancellation control unit 95 are electrically connected via the signal line 103. In addition, the wireless signal transmission / reception unit 96 performs wireless transmission / reception of signals with the transmission / reception unit 88 of the wireless operation terminal device 83.

  The pair of index sensors 94 extend from the rear surface 10b of the slot machine 1 and are opposed to each other with a predetermined interval. The shielding plate 92 is provided so as to be able to reciprocate between a first position inserted between the index sensors 94 and a second position removed from between the index sensors 94. The motor 93 moves the shielding plate 92 between the first position and the second position. The position inserted between the index sensors 94 may be the second position of the shielding plate 92, and the position away from between the index sensors 94 may be the first position of the shielding plate 92. Further, the motor 93, the index sensor 94, the error cancellation control unit 95, and the reception unit 97 may be provided inside the housing 10 of the slot machine 1.

  When the shielding plate 92 is in the first position, the index sensor 94 detects the presence of the shielding plate 92 and outputs a release signal to the error control unit 76 of the slot machine 1, and the shielding plate 92 is in the second position. At this time, the presence of the shielding plate 92 is not detected, and the release signal is not output to the error control unit 76.

  The error cancellation control unit 95 receives an error signal from the error control unit 76 of the slot machine 1. Further, the wireless signal transmission / reception unit 96 and the reception unit 97 receive a release instruction signal for instructing release of the game stop state from the transmission / reception unit 88 of the wireless operation terminal device 83 and the transmission / reception unit 84 of the centralized management terminal device 82, respectively. To do.

  The error determination unit 98 of the error cancellation control unit 95 is configured to detect errors (E1, E6, E8) that can automatically recover errors generated in the slot machine 1 according to the error types (E1 to E8) indicated by the received error signal. ) Or impossible error (E2 to E5, E7).

  The drive control unit 99 controls the motor 93 so as to maintain the shielding plate 92 at the second position in the initial state. Further, the error cancellation control unit 95 receives the error signal, the wireless signal transmission / reception unit 96 or the reception unit 97 receives the cancellation instruction signal, and it is determined that the error that has occurred in the slot machine 1 is an error that can be automatically recovered. When the unit 98 determines, the drive control unit 99 controls the motor 93 so that the shielding plate 92 moves from the second position to the first position. Then, the drive control unit 99 controls the motor 93 so as to return the shielding plate 92 to the second position immediately after moving from the second position to the first position. On the other hand, the error cancellation control unit 95 receives the error signal, the wireless signal transmission / reception unit 96 or the reception unit 97 receives the cancellation instruction signal, and the error that occurred in the slot machine 1 is an error that cannot be automatically recovered. When the determination unit 98 determines, the drive control unit 99 controls the motor 93 so that the shielding plate 92 is maintained at the second position (the motor 93 is not driven).

[Error canceling system operation]
When an error occurs in the slot machine 1 and a detection signal from the error detection sensor 77 is input to the error control unit 76, the error control unit 76 generates the error in the slot machine 1 based on the detection signal from the error detection sensor 77. The type of error is determined, and an error signal indicating the type of error (E1 to E8) is output to the game control device 33.

  The game control device 33 that has received the error signal executes a game stop process for stopping the progress of the game, and outputs the received error signal to the sub-control device 32. By executing such a game stop process, the slot machine 1 cannot play a game (the game is not started even if a medal is inserted and the start switch 23 is pressed), and enters a game stop state. Further, the light emission control unit 51 controls the lighting of the lamp 74. The lighting manner of the lamp 74 is different depending on whether the error that has occurred is an error that can be automatically restored or not, so that a store clerk or a player can see an error by looking at the lamp 74. It is possible to easily recognize that the error has occurred and whether the error that has occurred is an error that can or cannot be automatically restored.

  The error control unit 76 outputs an error signal to the game control device 33, and outputs an error signal and a machine identification signal to the error canceling device 81 and the centralized management terminal device 82. The error signal and the machine identification signal output to the error canceling device 81 are transmitted from the wireless signal transmission / reception 96 to the wireless operation terminal device 83 by radio.

  In the centralized management terminal device 82 installed in the amusement store, when the transmission / reception unit 84 receives the error signal and the machine identification signal from the error control unit 76, the error types (E1 to E8) indicated by the received error signal and the machine identification are displayed. The machine number specified by the signal is displayed on the display unit 87 as an image.

  In the wireless operation terminal device 83 carried by the store clerk, when the transmission / reception unit 88 receives the error signal and the machine identification signal from the wireless signal transmission / reception unit 96 of the error cancellation device 81, the error type (E1 to E8) indicated by the received error signal is received. ) And the machine number specified by the machine identification signal are displayed on the display unit 91 as images.

  The store clerk looks at the image on the lamp 74 of the slot machine 1, the image on the display unit 87 of the centralized management terminal device 82 installed in the amusement shop, or on the display unit 91 of the portable wireless operation terminal device 83. It is recognized whether an error has occurred in the slot machine 1 and whether or not the error type or error can be automatically recovered.

  When the generated error is an error that can be automatically restored, the store clerk operates the operation input units 86 and 90 of the centralized management terminal device 82 or the wireless operation terminal device 83 to cancel the error from the transmission / reception units 84 and 88 to the error canceling device 81. An instruction signal is transmitted.

  On the other hand, if the error that has occurred is an error that cannot be automatically restored, the store clerk opens the front door 72 of the slot machine 1 and performs an operation to eliminate the cause of the error, and then uses the error manual release mechanism 75. The cancel signal is input to the error control unit 76 by operating.

  Further, the error canceling device 81 executes the process shown in FIG.

  First, when receiving an error signal (step S1), the error cancellation control unit 95 waits for reception of a cancellation instruction signal from the centralized management terminal device 82 or the wireless operation terminal device 83 (step S2).

  When the cancel instruction signal is received, it is determined whether or not the error can be automatically recovered according to the type of error indicated by the received error signal (step S3). finish. In this case, to return from the game stop state to the normal state, as described above, the work for eliminating the cause of the error by the store clerk and the operation of the error manual release mechanism 75 are required.

  If it is determined in step S3 that the error can be automatically restored, the drive control unit 99 controls the motor 93 to reciprocate the shielding plate 92 (step S4). As a result, the index sensor 94 detects the shielding plate 92, the detection state of the index sensor 94 is turned on, and a release signal is output from the index sensor 94 to the error control unit 76 of the slot machine 1.

  When the error control unit 76 receives the release signal from the error manual release mechanism 75 or the error release device 81, the error control unit 76 outputs a return instruction signal that instructs the game control device 33 to release the game stop state. The game control device 33 that has received the return instruction signal executes a game return process, whereby the slot machine 1 returns to a normal state in which a game is possible.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, by operating the centralized management terminal device 82 or the wireless operation terminal device 83 provided away from the slot machine 1 and transmitting the error cancellation instruction signal to the error cancellation device 81, Without the store clerk going to the slot machine 1 and operating the error manual release mechanism 75, the game stop state of the slot machine 1 can be released and returned to a game-ready state. In particular, the store clerk carrying the wireless operation terminal device 83 can immediately recognize the occurrence of an error when traveling or waiting in the amusement store, and can easily cancel the error that can be automatically restored. And it can be done immediately.

  Further, since the error cancellation instruction signal is not directly input from the outside to the control device 30 of the slot machine 1 but is input via the error cancellation device 81, the control caused by the erroneous signal being input to the control device 30. It is possible to reliably prevent an illegal act of causing the control device 30 to operate arbitrarily and advantageously for the player by the occurrence of a malfunction of the device 30 or the intentional input of an illegal signal.

  In addition, when an error that can be automatically restored occurs once, when the shielding plate 92 moves from the second position to the first position and a release signal is output from the index sensor 94 to the error control unit 76, immediately thereafter. Then, the shielding plate 92 returns to the second position. For this reason, after the return processing by the error control unit 76 is executed and the slot machine 1 returns to the normal state where the game can be played, the index sensor 94 changes the error control unit 76 until an error that can be automatically returned again occurs. The release signal is not output, and the malfunction of the error control unit 76 (control device 30) can be reliably prevented.

  Further, in the error canceling device 81, the error determination unit 98 determines whether the error that has occurred in the slot machine 1 is an error that can be automatically recovered or an error that cannot be automatically recovered. Since the drive control unit 99 controls the motor 93 so that 92 moves from the second position to the first position, the index sensor 94 can only be used when the error that has occurred in the slot machine 1 is an error that can be automatically recovered. A release signal is output to the control device 30 of the slot machine 1. Therefore, even when the error cancellation device 81 receives a cancellation instruction signal from the central management terminal device 82 or the wireless operation terminal device 83 when the error that has occurred in the slot machine 1 is an error that cannot be automatically restored, The error control unit 76 of the slot machine 1 does not execute an error release process for releasing the game stop state. When the error canceling device 81 receives the canceling instruction signal even though the error that has occurred in the slot machine 1 is an error that cannot be automatically restored, the store clerk receives the centralized management terminal device 82 or the wireless operation terminal. In addition to a case where the operation input units 86 and 90 of the device 83 are operated by mistake, an error occurs at the same time in a plurality of adjacent slot machines 1, and an error that can be automatically recovered from one of the slot machines 1 The error that occurred in the other slot machine 1 is an error that cannot be automatically restored, and the store clerk operates the radio operation terminal device 83 to operate the radio signal transmitting / receiving unit 96 of the error canceling device 81 of the one slot machine 1. This includes a case where the cancellation instruction signal transmitted to is received by the wireless signal transmission / reception unit 96 of the error cancellation apparatus 81 of the other slot machine 1.

  In addition, the store clerk looks at the display units 87 and 91 of the central management terminal device 82 and the wireless operation terminal device 83 that are provided apart from the slot machine 1, so that any type of error occurs in any slot machine 1. You can recognize what happened. Therefore, the store clerk determines whether or not an error that has occurred in the slot machine 1 is an error that can be automatically recovered at a location away from the slot machine 1 and is concentrated only when it is determined that the error can be automatically recovered. A release instruction signal can be transmitted from the management terminal device 82 or the wireless operation terminal device 83.

  Furthermore, the store clerk can know whether or not the error that has occurred is an error that can be automatically restored by looking at the lamp 74 of the slot machine 1.

  As mentioned above, although the embodiment to which the invention made by the present inventor is applied has been described, the present invention is not limited by the description and the drawings that form part of the disclosure of the present invention according to this embodiment. That is, it should be added that other embodiments, examples, operation techniques, and the like made by those skilled in the art based on this embodiment are all included in the scope of the present invention.

1 is an external front view of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the gaming machine shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the error cancellation system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view schematically showing the gaming machine of FIG. 1 and the error canceling device of FIG. 3. It is a flowchart which shows the process which the error cancellation apparatus of FIG. 2 performs.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Slot machine (game machine), 10 ... Housing, 30 ... Control device, 31 ... Main control device, 32 ... Sub control device, 33 ... Game control device, 34 ... Production control device, 51 ... Light emission control part, 74 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Lamp (error notification means) 76 ... Error control part 77 ... Error detection sensor 80 ... Error release system 81 ... Error release device 82 ... Centralized management terminal device (remote operation device) 83 ... Wireless operation terminal device (Remote operation device), 84 ... transmission / reception unit (remote release transmission unit, remote error reception unit), 85 ... control unit, 86 ... operation input unit, 87 ... display unit (error type notification unit), 88 ... transmission / reception unit (remote) Release transmission means, remote error reception means), 89 ... control section, 90 ... operation input section, 91 ... display section (error type notification means), 92 ... shielding plate (moving member), 93 ... motor (drive means), 94 ... In Sensor (release signal output means), 95 ... error release control section (error reception means), 96 ... wireless signal transmission / reception section (release reception means), 97 ... reception section (release reception means), 98 ... error determination section (determination means) ), 99... Drive control unit (drive control means)

Claims (8)

An error canceling device that is provided for a gaming machine and outputs a canceling signal to the control device of the gaming machine for instructing the canceling of the game stop state caused by an error generated in the gaming machine,
A movable member movable between a first position and a second position;
Drive means for moving the moving member between the first position and the second position;
A release signal output means for outputting the release signal to the control device when the moving member is at the first position, and not outputting the release signal to the control device when the moving member is at the second position;
An error receiving means for receiving from the gaming machine an error signal capable of determining whether an error that has occurred in the gaming machine is an error that can or cannot be automatically restored;
Release receiving means for receiving a release instruction signal for instructing release of the game stop state from a remote control device;
Based on an error signal received by the error receiving means, a determination means for determining whether an error that has occurred in the gaming machine is an error that can be automatically restored or an error that cannot be automatically restored;
In an initial state, the moving member is maintained in the second position, and when the error receiving means receives an error signal and the release receiving means receives a release instruction signal, an error generated in the gaming machine is automatically recovered. When the determination means determines that the error is possible, the moving member is moved from the second position to the first position, and the error generated in the gaming machine is an error that cannot be automatically restored. When the determination means determines, the error canceling apparatus comprises: drive control means for controlling the drive means so as to maintain the moving member at the second position. The error canceling device according to claim 1,
The error signal indicates the type of error that has occurred in the gaming machine,
Whether the error that can be automatically restored or impossible is set in advance according to the type of the error,
The determining means determines whether an error that has occurred in the gaming machine is an error that can be automatically restored or an error that cannot be automatically performed, according to an error type corresponding to the error signal received by the error receiving means. An error canceling device. The error canceling device according to claim 1 or 2,
The drive control means controls the drive means so as to return the moving member to the second position after moving the moving member from the second position to the first position. apparatus. The error canceling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The release signal output means detects the moving member when the moving member is at one of the first position or the second position, and detects the moving member when the moving member is at the other of the first position or the second position. An error canceling device comprising a moving member detecting means that does not detect. A gaming machine comprising the error canceling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A gaming machine comprising: an error notification means for notifying that an error has occurred in the gaming machine based on the error signal, and whether the generated error is an error that can be automatically recovered or is not possible. An error canceling device that is provided for a gaming machine and outputs a canceling signal to the control device of the gaming machine for instructing the canceling of the game stop state caused by an error generated in the gaming machine;
A remote operation device that is provided apart from the gaming machine and that transmits a cancellation instruction signal that instructs the cancellation of the gaming stop state to the error cancellation device;
The error canceling device is:
A movable member movable between a first position and a second position;
Drive means for moving the moving member between the first position and the second position;
A release signal output means for outputting the release signal to the control device when the moving member is at the first position, and not outputting the release signal to the control device when the moving member is at the second position;
An error receiving means for receiving from the gaming machine an error signal capable of determining whether an error that has occurred in the gaming machine is an error that can or cannot be automatically restored;
Release receiving means for receiving a release instruction signal for instructing release of the game stop state from a remote control device;
Based on an error signal received by the error receiving means, a determination means for determining whether an error that has occurred in the gaming machine is an error that can be automatically restored or an error that cannot be automatically restored;
In an initial state, the moving member is maintained in the second position, and when the error receiving means receives an error signal and the release receiving means receives a release instruction signal, an error generated in the gaming machine is automatically recovered. When the determination means determines that the error is possible, the moving member is moved from the second position to the first position, and the error generated in the gaming machine is an error that cannot be automatically restored. And an error control system comprising: a drive control unit that controls the drive unit so as to maintain the moving member at the second position when the determination unit determines. The error cancellation system according to claim 6,
The error signal indicates the type of error that has occurred in the gaming machine,
Whether the error that can be automatically restored or impossible is set in advance according to the type of the error,
The determining means determines whether an error that has occurred in the gaming machine is an error that can be automatically restored or an error that cannot be automatically performed, according to an error type corresponding to the error signal received by the error receiving means. And error canceling system. The error cancellation system according to claim 7,
The remote control device is:
Remote release transmitting means for transmitting the release instruction signal in response to an operation input from a user;
Remote error receiving means for receiving the error signal from the gaming machine or the error canceling device;
And an error type notifying unit for notifying an error type corresponding to the error signal received by the remote error receiving unit.

Images