JP2008229147A - Decorative unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light emitting decorative unit which can be installed even in a place where it is difficult to provide a base and a lead wire in the vicinity. <P>SOLUTION: On the front surface side of a special winning port 6d, a planar light emitting part 52 is arranged through a game ball passing space 56. Support parts 51a and 51b are provided at both ends of the light emitting part 52, and light emitting diodes 54a and 54b are housed inside. The light emitting part 52 and the support parts 51a and 51b are integrally formed of a transparent material, the light of the light emitting diodes 54a and 54b is guided to the light emitting part 52 by covering materials 53a and 53b provided on the outer side of the support parts 51a and 51b, and the light emitting part 52 is made to emit light. The special winning port 6 is decorated by the light from the left and right support parts 51a and 51b and the light emitting part 52. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a decorative unit, and more particularly, to a decorative unit having a light source and a light emitting unit separately.

As is well known, in a pachinko game, when a pachinko ball wins in various winning holes provided in the game area of the gaming board surface provided in the gaming machine, a predetermined number of prize balls set in the winning hole. Is to be paid out. Further, in recent gaming machines, light emitting devices and sound devices for the purpose of production and notification are arranged in each part, and production that appeals to sight and hearing is performed at a predetermined timing.
Here, an effect device using a light emitting diode, a liquid crystal display device, or the like is used for an effect appealing to the eye. Since these devices are configured to be electrically driven, the element serving as the light source is provided on a wiring board or the like, and when disposed in a gaming machine, it is integrated with the board or lead wire or the like. Will be placed.
Therefore, the place where the light-emitting element can be provided is limited to the position where the base and the lead wire can be provided in a place where the light-emitting element cannot be visually recognized. As shown in Patent Document 2, the LED is provided inside the special prize opening.
JP 2003-117089 A JP2003-19296

However, in the conventional method described above, there is no place to hide the lead wire or the base on the decorative member through which the game ball passes on the back side or the side surface of the gate, and it is not possible to directly provide a light emitting element. There existed a problem that a part could not be used as an alerting | reporting part or a production member.
An object of the present invention is to provide a decorative unit that emits light that can be installed even in a place where it is difficult to provide a base or a lead wire in the vicinity.

The present invention for solving the above problems has the following configuration.
(1) A plate-shaped light-emitting portion made of a translucent material provided on the game board surface with a passing space through which the game ball can pass between the game board surface of the ball game machine,
At the end of the light emitting unit, a support unit that is located between the game board surface and the light emitting unit and supports the light emitting unit on the game board surface;
A light source provided in the support;
A decoration unit comprising: a reflection part that covers an outer surface of the support part, reflects light from a light source, and guides the light to the light emitting part.

  (2) The decoration unit according to (1), wherein the support portion is integrally formed of the same material as the light-emitting portion and is solid.

  (3) The decoration unit according to (1) or (2), wherein a diffusion agent that diffuses light is mixed in the light emitting unit.

  (4) The decoration unit according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the light emitting unit includes a decoration part configured by unevenness formed on a surface.

(5) Furthermore, an open state in which the opening / closing member supported so as to be swingable protrudes on the surface of the game board and opens the winning opening,
The opening / closing member swings between a closed state that closes the winning opening, and has an open / close type winning opening unit that guides a game ball dropped on the opening / closing member to the winning opening in the open state,
The decoration unit according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the winning opening is located on a game board surface facing the light emitting unit.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the light from the light source is reflected by the reflecting portion, guided from the inside of the support portion to the light emitting portion, and emitted by the light guided by the plate-like light emitting portion. The decorative piece that emits light can be arranged in the game area while ensuring a space for passing the game ball between the game board surface.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the support portion is integrally formed of the same material as the light emitting portion and is solid, the photoconductive medium of the light emitting portion and the support portion is the same, and the light from the light source Can be efficiently guided to the light emitting section.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the light emitting part includes the diffusing agent, the guided light is diffused in the light emitting part, and the light emitting state on the surface of the light emitting part can be brought close to a uniform state.
According to the invention of claim 4, by forming irregularities on the surface of the light emitting part, the decoration of the decorative part formed by the irregularities can be raised more clearly by the light guided to the light emitting part. it can.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the winning opening provided with the opening / closing member can be illuminated with the light from the light emitting portion, and can be raised more clearly, and the winning opening can be opened and closed via the light emitting portion. , It is possible to visually recognize the falling of the game ball into the winning opening. Thereby, a winning opening and a game ball are visually recognized through the light emitting unit that emits light, and the effect of the light from the light source can be more effectively exhibited.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a gaming machine according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, in this specification, the side on which the player of the gaming machine is arranged is expressed as the front, the front, or the front side, and the opposite side to the arrangement position of the player is the back, the rear, or the rear side, and is shown in FIG. In the front view, the left-right direction is defined as the Y-axis direction, the front-rear direction is defined as the X-axis direction, the vertical direction is defined as the Z-axis direction, the right direction is the positive direction of the Y-axis direction, and the direction from the front side to the rear side Is defined as the positive direction of the X axis, and the direction downward in the vertical direction is defined as the positive direction of the Z axis.

In FIG. 1, a ball game machine 100 is for opening and closing mounted on a front surface of an outer frame 1 that is formed in an outer rectangular frame size and constitutes a vertically long fixed holding frame, and is formed in a rectangular frame size in accordance with the outer frame 1. The front frame 2 is provided.
The front frame 2 is attached to the outer frame 1 so as to be openable and closable by hinge fittings 3A and 3B attached to the front left and upper sides of the outer frame 1, and further, by a locking device 12 provided on the front right side of the outer frame 1. It is held in a closed state.

In the upper area of the front frame 2, a game board 3 is arranged. The game board 3 is a base plate made of a decorative board obtained by processing cells (bonding holes) by attaching cells to the back side of a laminated plywood having a predetermined thickness. Although not shown in the figure, a circular game area 6 defined by being surrounded by an annular guide rail is provided on the front side.
The game area 6 is provided with a display unit 6a formed of a window portion in which a symbol variation display device 6j is installed as a display device at a substantially central portion. Around the display portion 6a, a decorative member 6B, a start winning port 6c, a special winning port 6d, and other winning ports 6k, 6m, 6n are arranged. An out port 6e for collecting the out ball is also provided at the lower part of the game area, and the out ball that has fallen without winning in the start winning port 6c and the special winning port 6d can be discharged from the back side of the game board 3 to the outside of the machine. It is like that.

In addition, a glass frame 70 having a transparent glass board so that the game board 3 can be visually recognized is provided on the upper front side of the front frame 2 so as to be openable and detachable in the horizontal direction. It is held in a closed state and covers the front surface of the game board 3.
A dish unit 701 is provided on a lower side of the front surface of the front frame 2 and below the glass frame 70 by being attached to a back plate (not shown) supported to be opened and closed by the front frame 2. The dish unit 701 is normally held in a closed state by a locking device (not shown). The dish unit 701 includes a ball storage unit 701a constituting a ball receiving tray, an ashtray 701b provided at the lower left front portion of the ball storage unit 701a, and a firing handle 701c provided at the lower right front part of the ball storage unit 701a. And a button 701d as an operation device.

Next, the special winning opening 6d and the decoration unit attached to the special winning opening 6d will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing the prize opening unit 4 having an opening / closing mechanism for the special prize opening 6d and the decoration unit 5, FIG. 3 is a plan view, and FIG. 4 is a front view.
The special winning opening 6d includes a passage opening 42 formed in the base plate 40 fixed to the board surface of the game board 3, and an opening / closing member 43 supported swingably on the lower end side of the passage opening 42. A housing 41 containing a drive device that opens and closes the member 43 is provided on the back side.

The opening / closing member 43 falls to the front side and protrudes on the game board surface, and swings between an open state in which the passage port 42 is opened and a closed state in which the passage port 42 is closed in a posture parallel to the game board surface. The swinging of the opening / closing member 43 is performed by a solenoid provided in the driving device 41.
In the open state of the opening / closing member 43, when a game ball falls on the opening / closing member 43, the game ball is guided into the passing port 42 by the opening / closing member 43, and a prize is received by the special winning port sensor 6 ds provided in the housing 41. Is detected.
At both ends of the base plate 40, a normal symbol variation display device 264d and a special symbol display device 401 are provided. Further, a notch 402 is formed at the lower edge of the base plate 40 so as to overlap the out port 6e.

  FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the decoration unit 5. A decoration unit 5 is provided on the front side of the special winning opening 6d. The decoration unit 5 covers a pair of support portions 51a and 51b provided outside both ends of the special prize opening 6d, a light emitting portion 52 laid between the support portions 51a and 51b, and outside the support portions 51a and 51b. Covering materials 53a and 53b to be covered and light emitting diodes 54a and 54b as light sources are provided. The pair of support parts 51a and 51b and the light emitting part 52 are integrally formed of the same material, and the constituent material is a material that can transmit light, and is preferably a transparent or translucent material. Examples of the constituent material include resins such as polycarbonate, acrylic, and polyamide, or tempered glass. The integrally formed support portions 51a and 51b and the light emitting portion 52 constitute a light guide member that guides light and emits light.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional plan view of the support portion 51b. The base ends of the support portions 51a and 51b are fixed to the base plate 40 by screws 55a and 55b that are inserted through the base plate 40 from the back side.
The light emitting diodes 54a and 54b are inserted and fixed from the back side of the base plate 40, the light emitting portions are exposed on the front side of the base plate 40, and the driving power of the light emitting diodes 54a and 54b is on the back side of the base plate 40. Supplied by the installed electronic board.

  Further, the support portions 51 a and 51 b are accommodated in the support portions 51 a and 51 b in a state where the support portions 51 a and 51 b are fixed to the base plate 40. As shown in FIG. 6, a housing portion 512b for housing the light emitting diodes 54a and 54b is formed on the base end surface of the support portion 51b. In addition, about the support part 51a, since the same structure is arrange | positioned centering on the median line of the light emission part 52 and the support part 51b, and the line symmetrical position, illustration is abbreviate | omitted. The light-emitting diodes 54a and 54b may be capable of changing the color or may be monochromatic. The light source is not limited to a light emitting diode, and may be a light bulb, EL (electroluminescence), or the like.

  The covering materials 53 a and 53 b covering the support portions 51 a and 51 b have a reflection surface 531 b on the inside, and are configured to reflect the light from the light emitting diode 54 b and guide it to the light emitting portion 52. For example, the reflective surface 531b is preferably a color with high brightness (a color close to white) or a mirror surface because the amount of light guided to the light-emitting portion 52 is large, and particularly preferably white. The reflection surface 531b is inclined, and the inclination angle α with respect to a line perpendicular to the game board surface is 40 to 50 degrees, more preferably 44 to 46 degrees. By tilting the reflecting surface, the amount of light guided to the light emitting unit 52 is further increased.

  Further, the light from the light-emitting diode 54b also leaks from the opposing surface 511b of the support portion 51a and the support portion 51b facing each other, and the special winning opening 6d can be illuminated from both the left and right sides. Thereby, the special winning opening 6d can be illuminated from the three directions of the left and right support portions 51a and 51b and the light emitting portion 52. Note that a coating material may be provided on the facing surface 511b. In this case, the brightness of the light emitting unit 52 can be increased.

  The light emitting part 52 positioned between the support parts 51a and 51b is formed in a plate shape, and light is introduced from both ends. Since the light emitting part 52 and the support parts 51a and 51b are made of the same material, light is transmitted efficiently. The upper and lower end surfaces of the light emitting unit 52 are chamfered to form inclined surfaces 521. Since the light emitting unit 52 to which light is guided has the best end surface, the end surface is inclined, so that it can be easily viewed by the player located on the front side of the light emitting unit 52. In addition, since the light emitting end face is directed toward the game board surface, the light from the light emitting unit 52 can easily reach the game board surface and the special winning opening 6d.

Furthermore, the decoration part 522 is comprised by providing a recessed part or a convex part in the light emission part 52, and forming a desired shape in this concave part or convex part. In the example shown in FIG. 2 or 5, the decorative portion 522 is formed by the concave portion. Since the edge of this concave part (or convex part) is an end face and the end face part is brighter than the other faces, the contour part is emphasized and the decorative shape can be clearly expressed.
In addition, by including a diffusing agent in the material of the light emitting unit 52, the amount of light that escapes from the front and back surfaces of the light emitting unit 52 can be increased.

A passing space 56 through which a game ball can pass is formed between the light emitting portion 52 of the decoration unit 5 configured as described above and the special winning opening 6d. According to the decoration unit 5 described above, the light emitting unit 52 can be arranged in a very narrow space between the glass plate of the glass frame 70 located on the front side of the passage space 56 and the game area 6, and the An area where the decorative member can be arranged can be expanded.
FIG. 7 is a plan cross-sectional view of a support portion 510b showing another configuration example. The support part 510b is comprised by the coating | coated material 53b and 532b by the side of an opposing surface, and the inside is comprised hollow. By making it hollow, the diffusion of heat from the light source can be promoted, and the temperature of the member can be suppressed.

Next, game control means for performing game control in this gaming machine will be described.
In FIG. 8, a game control means 200 is a means for overall control of the entire ball and ball game machine 100 including the progress and effects of the game. The game control means 200 includes a CPU that performs calculations, a ROM that stores programs necessary for the progress of the game, data for production, and the like, and data that is captured when the CPU performs various controls. RAM and the like that are temporarily stored. The game control means 200 is provided on a control board provided on the back side of the game board 3. Here, the game control means 200 is not limited to one control board, and may be provided over a plurality of control boards. In the present embodiment, the game control means 200 includes the following means.

(Winning ball detection means)
The winning ball detection means 21 detects a winning when a game ball wins the start winning port 6c and the special winning port 6d. The start winning opening 6c and the special winning opening 6d are respectively provided with a starting winning opening sensor 6cs and a special winning opening sensor 6ds, which are electrically connected to the winning ball detecting means 21, respectively.
(Lottery means)
The lottery means 22 performs a lottery regarding the stop symbol displayed on the symbol variation display device 6j which is a variable display means, on condition that the winning ball detecting means 21 detects the winning of the game ball to the start winning opening 6c. In this embodiment, (1) presence / absence of winning, (2) stop symbol after symbol variation display of symbol variation display device 6j, and (3) variation pattern during symbol variation display Make a lottery. The lottery means 22 includes a winning lottery means 22a, a stop symbol lottery means 22b, and a variation pattern lottery means 22c in order to perform these lotteries (1) to (3).

(Winning lottery means)
In this embodiment, the winning lottery means 22a includes a winning determination random number generating means, a winning determination random number acquiring means, and a winning determination means.
The hit determination random number generating means generates a hit determination random number having a predetermined cycle (for example, a cycle of 0 to 65535 by a 16-bit random number) by a control program or the like. The hit determination random number obtaining means detects one hit determination random number among the hit determination random numbers generated by the hit determination random number generation means, at a predetermined time, in the present embodiment, a detection signal transmitted from the start winning opening sensor 6cs. Is acquired when the winning ball detecting means 21 receives the.
The winning determination means determines whether the winning is determined or not based on the winning determination random number acquired by the winning determination random number acquiring means.
When it is determined that the game is won, a command is sent to effect image control means 27 described later.

(Stop symbol lottery means)
The stop symbol lottery means 22b draws a stop symbol to be stopped and displayed on the symbol variation display device 6j based on the determination result of the hit determination means of the hit lottery means 22a.
(Variation pattern lottery means)
The fluctuation pattern lottery means 22c draws a fluctuation pattern of symbols to be displayed on the symbol fluctuation display device 6j.
Based on the determination result by the determination means of the winning determination means of the winning lottery means 22a, one of the variation patterns is selected with reference to the data table storing the variation patterns of a plurality of types of symbols.

(Design display control means)
The symbol display control means 23 performs symbol variation display and stop display of the symbol variation display device 6j on condition that the winning ball detection means 21 has received a detection signal due to the winning of a game ball in the start winning opening 6c. Is to control.
(Special game control means)
In the special game control means 24, the symbol in which the winning determination random number acquired by the winning determination random number acquiring means of the winning lottery means 22a is stopped and displayed by the winning symbol variation display device 6j becomes the winning symbol (for example, “777”). In the case of the game, the game is shifted to a special game, and the special game is executed until the end condition is satisfied. Here, “special game” means that a state in which a game ball is more likely to win than a normal game is created. Specifically, the special game port 6d is opened and a game ball can be easily received. This is a game that can be expected to win prize balls. When the special winning opening 6d is opened, the decoration pattern of the decoration unit 5 can be changed from the normal game state pattern. For example, the color of the light source is changed or the blinking interval is changed.

(Ball carry-out control means)
The ball carry-out control means 25 controls the drive of the ball carry-out device 25d for paying out a prize ball. As described above, when the winning ball detecting means 21 receives the detection signals from the start winning port sensor 57 and the special winning port sensor 6ds, the ball unloading device pays out the number of winning balls corresponding to the winning ball. 25d is controlled. When driven, the ball carry-out device 25d pays out the ball to the tray 701a of the ball game machine 1.
(Normal design control means)
The normal symbol control means 26 is for controlling the fluctuation display and stop display of the above-described normal symbol fluctuation display device 264d, and includes the following means.

(Entry detection means)
The incoming ball detecting means 262 detects when a game ball passes through the activated normal symbol starting port 6i.
When the game ball passes through the normal symbol start port 6i, a detection signal at that time is transmitted from the normal symbol start port sensor 6is to the ball detection means 262. When this detection signal is received, the incoming ball detecting means 262 detects that the game ball has passed through the normal symbol starting port 6i.
(Normal symbol lottery means)
The normal symbol lottery means 263 determines a symbol to be stopped and displayed on the normal symbol variation display device 264d by lottery on the condition that the game ball has passed through the valid normal symbol start port 6i.
The normal symbol lottery means 263 includes a hit determination random number generation means, a hit determination random value acquisition means, and a hit determination means, in the same manner as the above-described winning lottery means 22a.

(Normal design fluctuation control means)
When the game ball passes through the normal symbol variation port 6i, the normal symbol variation control means 264 performs the symbol variation display and stop display of the normal symbol variation display device 264d based on the lottery result of the normal symbol variation lottery means 263. Is to control.
The normal symbol variation control means 264 changes the symbol of the normal symbol variation display device 264d for a predetermined time, and finally stops the symbol determined by the normal symbol lottery means 263 on the normal symbol variation display device 264d.

(Sphere guidance device control means)
The ball guidance device control means 265 controls the operation of the ball guidance device 265d based on the lottery result of the normal symbol lottery means 263. Specifically, when winning is made by lottery by the normal symbol lottery means 263, the ball guiding device 265d is controlled to operate. On the contrary, when the normal symbol lottery means 263 is not selected in the lottery, the ball guiding device 265 is not operated.

(Production image control means)
The effect image control means 27 controls the effect image displayed on the symbol variation display device 6j.
When the winning image selection means 22a receives a win-winning command, the effect image control means 27 selects and displays an effect image displayed on the symbol variation display device 6j.
The light emission pattern of the decoration unit 5 may be changed according to the selected effect image, and a color can be selected according to the effect image. For example, when the effect image is unified with a blue color, the color of the light emitting unit 52 is also changed to the same blue color.

It is the whole bullet ball game machine which has a decoration unit of the present invention. It is a whole perspective view of the decoration unit of this invention. It is a whole top view of the decoration unit of this invention. It is the whole decoration unit front view of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the decoration unit of this invention. It is a cross-sectional top view of a support part. It is a cross-sectional top view of a support part which shows the other structural example. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a game control means.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Ball game machine 1 Outer frame 12 Locking device 2 Front frame 3 Game board 3A, 3B Hinge bracket 5 Decoration unit 51 Support part 52 Color development part 53 Covering material 54 Light emitting diode 56 Passing space 6 Game area 6a Display part 6c Start prize opening 6d Special prize opening 70 Glass frame

Claims (5)

A plate-like light-emitting portion made of a translucent material provided on the game board surface, with a passing space through which the game ball can pass between the game board surface of the ball game machine,
At the end of the light emitting unit, a support unit that is located between the game board surface and the light emitting unit and supports the light emitting unit on the game board surface;
A light source provided in the support;
A decoration unit comprising: a reflection part that covers an outer surface of the support part, reflects light from a light source, and guides the light to the light emitting part. The decoration unit according to claim 1, wherein the support portion is integrally formed of the same material as the light emitting portion and is solid. The decoration unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a diffusion agent that diffuses light is mixed in the light emitting portion. The decoration unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the light emitting part has a decoration part configured by unevenness formed on a surface. Furthermore, the open / close member supported so as to be swingable projects to the game board surface and opens the winning opening,
The opening / closing member swings between a closed state that closes the winning opening, and has an open / close-type passing port unit that guides a game ball dropped on the opening / closing member to the winning opening in the open state,
The decoration unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the winning opening is located on a game board surface facing the light emitting portion.

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