JP2008237637A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine which can effectively prevent fraudulence to both a token selector and a token put-out machine by inserting an instrument or the like from a token outlet without enlarging and complicating a token return chute at higher costs and the like. <P>SOLUTION: The slot machine includes: a token put-out machine which stores tokens for put-out, ejects a predetermined number of the tokens, and puts them out of the slot machine through a token outlet based on a game result; a token selector which detects the tokens inserted through a token slot, stores them in the token put-out machine as reserved tokens, or distributes them so that the tokens are paid out of the slot machine through the token outlet as return tokens; and a token return chute 50 forming a token passage in which the return tokens distributed by the token selector fall and move to the token outlet. The token return chute 50 has two or more crank sections which change a moving direction of the token in the token passage between the token selector and the token outlet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, a plurality of reels (rotating cylinders), which are rotated by a start operation after a game medal is inserted, are stopped by a stop operation, and a pattern such as a pattern or a character attached to each reel is displayed on a winning line. With regard to slot machines (rotating game machines) in which medals are paid out according to the winning symbols by arranging them so that the predetermined winning symbols are aligned, in particular, from a medal payout outlet from which medals are paid out, in the form of bars, lines, plates The present invention relates to a slot machine that can effectively prevent fraudulent acts that are carried out by inserting instruments, tools and the like.

In general, in a slot machine, when a player inserts a game medal (coin) as a game medium from a medal slot and presses a start lever, a predetermined pattern, number, character, or the like is displayed on the outer peripheral surface. The displayed reels (usually three reels) start rotating, and after rotating at a constant speed, the reels are stopped by pressing a stop button at an arbitrary timing, and predetermined according to the arrangement of the symbols of the stopped reels. This is a gaming machine in which a number of medals are paid out from a medal payout exit.
In recent years, fraudulent acts performed on such slot machines have become a problem, and in particular, fraudulent acts through a medal payout exit from which medals are paid out have become serious.

The medal payout opening is an opening for paying out medals from inside the slot machine. Inside the slot machine behind the medal payout opening, a medal payout device storing a large number of payout medals and a medal insertion slot are used. A medal selector or the like is arranged that detects and counts the received medals and distributes them as stored medals or return medals.
A medal path is formed between the medal payout exit and the medal selector by a hook-like or tubular member called a medal return chute (medal return guide) so that the medal can be dropped and distributed. The returned return medal passes through the medal return chute and moves down to the medal payout exit and is paid out to the outside of the slot machine.
Further, medals discharged from the medal payout device also pass through the medal return chute and fall to the medal payout outlet and are paid out to the outside of the slot machine.

Thus, in the slot machine, a medal movement space that communicates from the medal payout exit to the medal selector and the medal payout device is formed by the medal return chute. Therefore, it is possible to access the medal selector and medal payout device inside the slot machine via the medal return chute by inserting an unauthorized tool or tool from the medal payout exit, There is a case where an illegal act such as playing a game without inserting a medal is performed.
Specifically, fraud performed through the medal payout opening is to insert a wire, bar, or long plate-like instrument such as a piano wire, wire, or synthetic resin cell board from the medal payout exit, The tip of the instrument is made to reach the medal selector and medal dispensing device.
Then, the medal that has passed through the medal selector is paid out directly from the medal payout exit without being stored in the hopper, and the game is actually started without medal insertion, or the medal credit number is increased, or the medal A payout device is caused to malfunction so that a large number of medals are paid out regardless of the game content.

In this way, fraud through the medal payout port can be performed simply by inserting a thin line, rod, plate or the like into the medal payout port, and a large number of medals can be paid in a short time. It was a serious problem that caused serious damage to the management of amusement halls in particular, because it was difficult to find out that fraudulent acts had been issued.
Also, such illegal medal payouts are crimes in the first place, and they are serious antisocial illegal acts, and such criminal acts are not allowed to be neglected.
Accordingly, it is an urgent issue for the gaming machine industry to take measures to effectively prevent such malicious fraud through the medal payout opening, and various proposals have been made so far.

For example, in Patent Document 1, a straight illegal device inserted from a medal payout opening is formed by bending the shape of a medal return chute connecting the medal payout opening to the medal selector into a “U” shape. Slot machines that have been difficult to reach have been proposed.
Further, Patent Document 2 includes a rotating door-type shielding rotating body that shields and closes the medal movement space in the medal return chute, so that an illegal instrument inserted from the medal payout opening is shielded by the shielding rotating body. Slot machines that prevent reaching the medal selector have been proposed.
Furthermore, Patent Document 3 includes a shutter (blocking plate) that can be opened and closed in the vicinity of a medal payout outlet and a medal payout device in the medal return chute, and a sensor (detection unit) that detects an object passing through the chute. When a foreign object other than a medal is detected, the obstruction plate is closed to protect the foreign object (illegal instrument) inserted from the medal payout opening with the obstruction plate, making it difficult to access the medal selector and medal payout device. Slot machines have been proposed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-168629 (page 3, FIG. 5) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-198089 (pages 8-10 and 6-9) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-28881 (page 7, FIG. 9)

However, the conventional techniques as described above have various problems in order to reliably prevent an illegal act from the medal payout exit.
First, if the illegal tool is like a straight hard metal rod that does not bend at all, the “U” shaped medal return chute described in Patent Document 1 will prevent entry to the medal selector. Although it was possible, if it is a member with a certain degree of flexibility, it is possible to easily insert and reach unauthorized tools from the medal payout opening to the medal selector with a chute formed in a “U” shape. Can be done.
In fact, fraudulent instruments are generally made of flexible members such as wires, piano wires, and cell plates. Could not prevent fraud effectively.

Further, in the medal return chute disclosed in Patent Document 1, a communication port for guiding a medal discharged from the medal payout device into the chute is provided in the vicinity of the upper portion of the medal payout port. It was placed on a straight line before turning, and was not a target for fraud prevention measures with a “chunk” shaped chute.
That is, Patent Document 1 does not take into account fraudulent acts performed from the medal payout opening to the medal payout device, and cannot prevent this.

Moreover, in the medal return chute provided with the shielding rotating body described in Patent Document 2, a large member called a shielding rotating body, a large chute for storing the rotating member, a drive control means for driving the shielding rotating body, Furthermore, a complicated and large member or means that is not provided for a medal return chute of a normal slot machine, such as a sensor that detects the rotation of the shield rotating body, is required, and the medal return chute itself is increased in size, complexity, and height. There was a problem of cost.
Generally, a medal return chute is manufactured with a hard plastic resin, etc., which is small, light, and inexpensive, and since many devices and parts are installed without gaps inside the slot machine housing, The medal return chute is formed so as to have a shape and size that interfere with other devices and components, and is designed to be disposed inside the slot machine together with other devices and components without any gaps.

Therefore, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 2 provided with a large shield rotating body and means for driving and controlling the same, the medal return chute becomes large, complicated, and expensive, and this is added to the existing slot machine. If it is going to be applied, there is a problem that the internal structure and the like must be fundamentally changed, and it has been impossible to apply it to an existing slot machine as it is.
The medal return chute disclosed in Patent Document 2 is also a target for preventing illegal acts by a shield rotating body at the communication port that leads the medal discharged from the medal payout device into the chute, as in Patent Document 1 described above. In other words, it has been impossible to prevent any illegal acts performed on the medal payout device from the medal payout exit.

Furthermore, the medal return chute provided with the closing plate described in Patent Document 3 includes a plurality of closing plates configured to be freely closed, a detection means for distinguishing a medal passing through the chute and a foreign substance other than the medal, According to the detection result by the detection means, it is necessary to include a drive control means for opening and closing a plurality of closing plates, and like the patent document 2, the medal return chute is increased in size, complexity, and cost. There was a problem. Therefore, if it is intended to be applied to the current slot machine, a great design change or the like is required, and it is impossible to apply it to an existing slot machine as it is.
Patent Document 3 describes that an intruder can be prevented from entering by opening and closing the closing plate, but what specifically is an obstructing plate that can be opened and closed and effectively prevent intrusion of an unauthorized device? There is no clear description as to how such a structure is configured and how such a closing plate is driven to be freely closed. In practice, this is applied to and realized in an actual slot machine. It was not clear.

  The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the problems of the conventional techniques as described above, and the medal return chute itself can be removed from the medal payout opening without increasing the size, complexity, and cost. The purpose is to provide a slot machine equipped with a medal return chute that can be effectively applied to an existing slot machine, which can effectively prevent an illegal act on both a medal selector and a medal payout device performed by inserting And

  In order to achieve this object, as described in claim 1, the slot machine of the present invention inserts a medal for gaming, performs a predetermined game, and pays out a predetermined number of medals according to the game result. A slot machine that stores medals into the slot machine, a medal payout slot for paying medals out of the slot machine, and a medal for payout. A medal payout device that discharges medals and pays them out of the slot machine from the medal payout exit, and detects medals inserted from the medal slot and stores them as stored medals in the medal payout device or as return medals. A medal selector that distributes the medal payout exit to the outside of the slot machine, and the medal selector A medal return chute that forms a medal path in which the returned return medal drops and moves from the medal selector to the medal payout port, and the medal return chute is between the medal selector and the medal payout port, At least two crank portions that change the medal movement direction of the medal path are provided.

  In particular, it is preferable that the medal path of the medal return chute is substantially S-shaped or Z-shaped between the medal selector and the medal payout exit.

According to the slot machine of the present invention configured as described above, by providing two or more crank portions in the medal return chute, the medal path space in which the medal drops and moves from the medal selector to the medal payout exit can be reduced. It can be changed in different directions more than once. Specifically, the overall shape of the medal path can be configured to be substantially S-shaped or Z-shaped, for example.
In this way, with a medal return chute that has a plurality of crank portions and the movement direction of the medal changes to two or more, even if an illegal instrument is inserted from the medal payout port, the illegal instrument reaches the intended medal selector. Must be allowed to penetrate the medal return chute by folding the cheating device itself more than once. Such a thing is extremely difficult even if it is a fraudulent instrument such as a flexible wire or cell plate, and in addition, in the work of inserting the instrument by fumbling inside the slot machine that cannot be seen from the outside, An instrument has entered in a different direction / part from the original or has been caught in the middle of the medal path, making it almost impossible to reach the target medal selector.

Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent an illegal act against the medal selector only by changing the advancing direction of the medal path at least twice without providing a special mechanism or device in the medal return chute. Can be applied immediately to existing slot machines.
In order to change the advancing direction of the medal path in the medal return chute more than once, it is only necessary to provide a plurality of crank parts in the medal path. Such a crank part has a plurality of different inclination directions in the medal path. It can be configured by projecting a wall portion or the like, and can be realized without affecting the size and shape of the medal return chute itself.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the medal return chute itself does not increase in size, complexity, and cost, and can be directly applied to an existing slot machine.

In the slot machine of the present invention, as described in claim 3, the crank portion changes the medal movement direction of the medal path to the front left and right direction of the slot machine.
In the slot machine of the present invention, as described in claim 4, the crank portion may be configured to change the medal movement direction of the medal path in the depth direction of the slot machine.

According to the slot machine of the present invention having such a configuration, the advancing direction of the medal path in the medal return chute can be changed in the front left / right direction of the slot machine, and can be changed in the depth direction of the slot machine. You can also
In other words, the advancing direction of the medal path in the medal return chute can be changed to any of the front, rear, left and right directions in the slot machine, and by combining these, the advancing direction of the medal path is three-dimensionally changed. be able to.
In this way, by changing the direction of movement of the medal path in various ways, it is possible to make fraudulent acts performed by groping more difficult. In particular, in a medal return chute where the medal path proceeds in a three-dimensional direction, the medal path is so-called With a labyrinth structure, it is virtually impossible to reach a medal selector with a rigid illegal device because the direction of the medal path is completely unknown by groping.
Thereby, only the inner wall structure of the medal path can surely prevent an illegal act from the medal payout exit to the medal selector.

Further, in the slot machine of the present invention, as described in claim 5, the medal return chute is alternately protruded from the facing surface of the medal path toward the inner side of the path in the vicinity of the upper part of the medal payout opening. Or it is set as a structure provided with two or more protrusion parts.
In particular, as described in claim 6, the medal return chute includes a communication port that guides the discharged medal discharged from the medal payout device into the medal path and moves it down to the medal payout outlet. It is preferable that the two or more protrusions are provided between the communication port and the medal payout port.

According to the slot machine of the present invention having such a configuration, in the vicinity of the inside of the medal payout outlet, one or more protrusions protruding from the inner wall of the medal path are provided, and when a plurality of protrusions are provided, By alternately projecting from the inner wall of the medal path, the projecting part can be projected three-dimensionally into the medal path so that the tip of the unauthorized device can be brought into contact with or interfere with the projecting part in any direction. It is possible to effectively prevent and prevent the intrusion of unauthorized equipment.
In this way, by preventing and blocking the intrusion of unauthorized equipment immediately after entering the medal payout exit, it is possible to further prevent illegal acts.

Further, intrusion of unauthorized equipment in the vicinity of the medal payout opening in this way is a fraudulent act against the medal payout apparatus when a communication port for receiving the discharged medal from the medal payout apparatus is provided above the medal payout exit. Can also be effectively prevented.
Generally, the medal payout device has a hopper that stores a large amount of medals at the top, and the discharge outlet for the discharge medals discharged from the hopper is provided at a relatively low position. For this reason, when a communication port for guiding the discharged medals to the medal return chute is provided, the communication port is also provided at a relatively low position of the medal return chute and is usually provided near the upper part of the medal payout port. It has become. For this reason, the conventional medal return chute cannot effectively prevent an illegal act against the medal payout device performed through the communication port located near the medal payout port.

In the present invention, a plurality of protrusions alternately projecting inside the medal path are formed between the medal payout opening and the communication opening, thereby preventing or interfering with the intrusion of unauthorized equipment immediately after entering the medal payout opening. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the unauthorized device from reaching the communication port.
As a result, it is possible to effectively and reliably prevent an illegal act against the medal payout device performed through the communication port, which has been difficult in the past, and to further prevent the illegal act.
Thus, in the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent fraudulent acts on both the medal selector and the medal payout device performed by inserting instruments from the medal payout exit, and a slot machine with high safety and reliability can be obtained. Can be provided.

  Furthermore, in the slot machine of the present invention, as described in claim 7, the medal return chute opens an opening in the medal path, and guides an illegal instrument inserted into the medal return chute to the outside of the chute. Or it can be set as the structure provided with two or more induction openings.

According to the slot machine of the present invention having such a configuration, by providing a guide port through which the instrument can enter on the medal path wall portion located in the intrusion direction of the unauthorized instrument entering the medal path, The tip of the instrument can enter the guide port.
As a result, it is possible to guide and intrude the illegal instrument in the direction different from the original or outside the chute, and more reliably prevent the illegal instrument from reaching the medal selector or medal payout device that is the object of the illegal act. It can be made safer against fraud.

  According to the present invention, the medal return chute itself does not increase in size, complexity, cost, etc., and the fraudulent act on both the medal selector and the medal payout device performed by inserting an instrument etc. from the medal payout exit is effective. In addition, it is possible to provide an anti-tamper medal return chute excellent in versatility and expandability that can be applied to existing slot machines immediately.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a slot machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of a slot machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an internal configuration of the slot machine according to the embodiment.
3A and 3B are views showing details of the inside of the front door of the slot machine according to the present embodiment, wherein FIG. 3A is a rear view of the front door, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. .
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the inside of the front door shown in FIG. 3 and shows details of the medal return chute and the medal selector.

As shown in these drawings, the slot machine of the present embodiment acquires a winning game medium by rotating a plurality of reels 21a, 21b, 21c provided in the slot machine 1, as in the conventional slot machine. It constitutes a swing type game machine that can be used.
And in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the medal return chute 50 which forms the medal movement path | route which makes the medal used as a game medium fall from the medal selector 40 to the medal payout exit 8 is provided with a plurality of crank portions 51. It is possible to effectively prevent an illegal act on both the medal selector 40 and the medal payout device 30 performed by inserting an instrument or the like from the medal payout exit 8.

Specifically, the slot machine 1 is configured in a casing shape that can accommodate a control unit 10 configured by a microcomputer or the like and necessary machines and devices therein, and the front side of the casing is the front door 1a. It can be opened and closed.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front door 1a is a door body that can be freely opened and closed to the casing of the slot machine 1 via a hinge or the like. The front door 1a has a front panel on the front side of the slot machine. 2 and other parts are provided and constitute the front part of the slot machine 1.
In addition, a medal selector 40 and a medal return chute 50 are provided on the back side of the front door 1a so that inserted medals and payout medals are stored, paid out, and returned to and from the medal payout device 30 in the housing. It has become.

A display L is provided at the top of the front door 1a. The indicator L is a display means consisting of a lamp that lights and flashes, a liquid crystal display device, etc., and the lamp is lit when winning a bonus game, winning various prizes, winning a prize, or paying out game media. A predetermined effect is performed by blinking or displaying an effect image or the like on the liquid crystal display device.
The front panel 2 is provided with a display window 3 at a substantially central portion so that the reels 21a to 21c in the housing can be visually recognized from the outside.

The display window 3 is a window for visual recognition of three reels (left) 21a, reel (middle) 21b, and reel (right) 21c (see FIG. 2) disposed in the slot machine 1, and is usually colorless and transparent. Or it consists of a colored transparent resin panel, etc., and among a plurality of symbols drawn around each of the three reels 21, a plurality of (usually three) symbols that are adjacent in the vertical direction can be visually recognized and identified. It is like that.
A winning line is set for the combination of symbols of the three reels 21 visually recognized from the display window 3, and a predetermined winning line is determined according to the number of bets of medals, and is stopped and arranged along the winning line. The winning of the game is determined by the combination of symbols of the reels 21a to 21c.

Below the display window 3 of the front panel 2, display units such as an internal winning notification unit, a credit display unit, a status display unit, and a payout display unit are provided.
The internal hit notification unit includes a lamp that lights or flashes when a predetermined big hit is made as a result of the internal lottery in the control unit 10 of the slot machine 1, and a translucent display unit that displays a pattern or the like by the light of the lamp. have.
Each of the credit display unit, the status display unit, and the payout display unit is composed of a 7-segment LED or the like, and a predetermined numerical value is displayed.
Specifically, the credit display unit displays the number of stored medals, the state display unit displays the total number of paid-out medals and the number of digested games in the specific game state, and the payout display unit displays the normal game or the specific game. The number of payouts at the time of each payout is displayed.

Buttons for the player to operate, such as a start lever 4, a stop button 5, a medal slot 6, a checkout button 6b, and a BET button 7, are provided in the substantially central portion of the front door 1a on the lower side of the front panel 2. It has been.
The start lever 4 is a game start means for starting the rotation of each of the three reels 21. When the start lever 4 is pressed by a player's operation, a start signal is output to the control unit 10, and the inside of the main body The reels 21a to 21c rotate all at once (or sequentially).
Further, when a start signal is input by depressing the start lever 4, a predetermined internal lottery is performed in the control unit 10.

The stop button 5 is a stop means for stopping the rotating reel 21 and includes three stop buttons (left) provided corresponding to the three reels (left) 21a, the reel (middle) 21b, and the reel (right) 21c. 5a, a stop button (middle) 5b, and a stop button (right) 5c. By pressing each of the stop buttons 5a, 5b, 5c at any timing of the player, a stop signal is output to the control unit 10 so that the rotation of the corresponding reels 21a, 21b, 21c is stopped. It has become.
Therefore, when the player operates the start lever 4 and the stop button 5, the three reels 21a to 21c are rotated and stopped, and the symbols attached to the reels 21a to 21c are arranged in a predetermined winning arrangement. You can play slot machine games.

The medal slot 6 is an accepting slot through which a medal as a game medium used in the game is inserted into the slot machine, and the game can be performed according to the number of medals inserted from the medal slot 6. .
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a medal selector 40 is provided on the inside of the main body of the medal insertion slot 6. The medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 6 moves and passes through the medal selector 40, and is inserted into the slot. Captured inside the machine.
The medals passing through the medal selector 40 are detected and counted by a predetermined sensor, and a medal signal indicating the number of medals is output to the control unit 10 inside the main body. As a result, if one medal is inserted from the medal slot 6, a one-bet game can be played, a two-bet game can be played if two can be inserted, and a three-bet (MAXBET) game can be performed if three can be inserted. It becomes like this.

Also, medals inserted from the medal slot 6 are stored in the medal payout device 30 as stored medals, and the number of stored medals is stored in the RAM in the control unit 10, and prior to the start of the game. Thus, a plurality of medals can be inserted in advance and stored and stored as stored medals.
Specifically, when three medals are inserted and further medals are inserted from the medal insertion slot 6, the fourth and subsequent medals are stored medals and a predetermined number (for example, a maximum of 50) is obtained. Stored and memorized. The inserted medals that have become the stored medals are stored in the hopper 31 of the medal payout device 30 by the distribution of the medal selector 40.
Further, when there is a payout in the game, up to the maximum number of stored medals, the winning medals are counted up as stored medals, and the number of stored medals is displayed as a numerical value on the credit display section of the front panel 2. .

The adjustment button 6b is a switch for adjusting the stored medal at the end of the game.
When the settlement button 6b is pressed, medals for the stored medals are discharged from the medal payout device 30 to the game medal payout port 8, and the stored medal count data stored in the RAM in the control unit 10 is also deleted. .
Moreover, the numerical value of a credit display part also becomes a zero display by accumulating a storage medal.

The medal BET button (insert button) 7 is used to insert a medal to be used (bet) to bet (BET) from the stored medals when the stored medals are stored and stored as described above. It is a switch.
Specifically, the BET button 7 includes a MAXBET button 7a for betting three cards for inserting the maximum number of medals (usually three) that can be inserted into a game by one press from a stored medal, and a single press. 1BET button 7b for betting one piece from a stored medal is provided, and 1BET button 7b bets one bet, two bets, three bets and the number of BETs each time it is pressed. Has come to increase.
When the BET button 7 is pressed, a medal signal is output to the control unit 10 and the same number of medals are inserted into the game from the stored medals stored in the RAM in the control unit 10. Become. When a stored medal is inserted, the number of stored medals in the memory is subtracted by the inserted number, and the display value on the credit display unit is also decreased by the inserted number.

A gaming medal payout opening 8 and a medal tray 8 a are provided at the lowermost part of the slot machine 1, and a speaker 9 is provided near the left and right of the medal payout opening 8.
In the game medal payout opening 8, when the reels 21 stopped by pressing the stop button 5 are in a predetermined winning arrangement, the number of winning medals according to the winning arrangement discharged from the medal payout device 30 in the housing is obtained. It is to be paid out.
The medals paid out from the medal payout opening 8 are discharged to the medal tray 8a, and the number of medals paid out is displayed on the payout display part constituting the state display part below the reel display window 3. The

The speaker 9 generates various sounds such as a melody sound and a message sound to the player. Through the speaker 9, together with the display L described above or separately from the display L. A predetermined effect by sound is performed.
For example, when an internal lottery is performed by the control unit 10 and a predetermined jackpot or small role is won, or when a winning symbol is aligned and a big winning or small role is won, a predetermined effect sound or internal hit from the speaker 9 is obtained. The voice etc. which announces will come out.

As shown in FIG. 2, a drum unit 20 that rotates and stops the three reels 21a to 21c, a medal payout device 30 that pays out medals, and a medal slot are inserted into the housing of the slot machine 1. There are provided a medal selector 40 that detects medals and distributes them as stored medals / return medals, a medal return chute 50 that forms a medal path through which the medals fall from the medal selector 40 to the medal payout port 8, and other machines and devices. Yes.
The drum unit 20 holds the three reels 21a, 21b, and 21c in a freely rotatable manner, and controls the start of rotation, constant speed rotation, and stop of the reels 21a to 21c based on a signal from the control unit 10, and is stopped. The stop positions of the reels 21 a to 21 c are detected and a position signal is output to the control unit 10.

Specifically, in the drum unit 20, the three reels 21a to 21c are rotatably held by the corresponding three stepping motors, respectively, and the start lever 4 and the stop buttons 5a to 5c are pressed to operate the motor. The drive circuit inputs a pulse (drive) signal from the control unit 10 to drive the stepping motor, thereby controlling the start, constant speed rotation, and stop of the rotation of the corresponding reels 21a to 21c.
Then, the stop position of the reel 21 is controlled according to the result of the internal lottery performed by the control unit 10, regardless of the timing at which the player presses the stop button 5, that is, the pressing timing of each of the stop buttons 5 a to 5 c. Even if there is a deviation, the reel 21 is controlled to stop so that the corresponding symbol stops on the winning line within a certain stop control range (usually within a range of five symbols).
As a result, the control unit 10 performs an internal drawing in response to the start signal from the start lever 4, and the drum unit 20 is controlled by the control signal from the control unit 10, so that the stop button 5 is pressed. First, the reels 21a, 21b, and 21c are stopped so that symbols corresponding to the lottery result are arranged on the winning line within a predetermined stop control range.

The medal payout device 30 is a medal payout device disposed on the lower side of the drum unit 20 in the housing. The medal payout device 30 stores payout medals and discharges a predetermined number of medals according to game results and the like. The payout port 8 is configured to pay out the slot machine.
Specifically, the medal payout device 30 includes a hopper 31 that stores payout medals, a hopper drive circuit that discharges a predetermined number of medals from the hopper 31 through the medal discharge port 31a, and the number of medals discharged. And a medal detection unit that outputs a payout number signal to the control unit 10.
The medals discharged from the medal discharge port 31a of the medal payout device 30 are paid out to the front of the slot machine from the game medal payout port 8 of the front door 1a via a medal return chute 50 described later and provided to the player. Will be.

The medal selector 40 is a means for detecting a medal inserted from a medal slot and storing the medal as a stored medal in the medal payout device or as a return medal from the medal payout exit to the outside of the slot machine. .
Specifically, the medal selector 40 forms a medal path that communicates with the medal insertion slot 6 and is arranged with a predetermined inclination so that the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 6 can move while rolling. ing. The tip of the medal selector 40 on the inclined downstream side protrudes above the hopper 31 of the medal payout device 30, and the inclined middle portion of the medal selector 40 has an upper surface opening 50a described later of the medal return chute 50 (see FIG. 5). Is located.
The medal selector 40 includes a sensor that detects and identifies a medal that is inserted from the medal insertion slot 6 and moves on the inclined surface on the upstream side of the inclination.

Then, according to the identification result of the sensor, the medal is stored in the medal payout device 30 as a stored medal, or can be distributed so as to be paid out from the medal payout exit 8 as a return medal to the outside of the slot machine. It has become.
First, when the medal is a regular medal and the number of credit medals is not the maximum value, the medal selector 40 counts up the medal and moves the path so as to roll to the tip on the inclined downstream side. The medal is dropped from the tip of the selector and distributed to the hopper 31 side of the medal payout device 30.
On the other hand, when the medal is not a regular medal, or when the number of credit medals is the maximum value, the medal selector 40 controls the route so that it is discharged from the middle of the route without counting the medal. Then, the medal is dropped from the middle part of the selector and distributed to the top opening side of the medal return chute 50.
Then, the medals are distributed as return medals from the medal selector 40, fall on the medal return chute 50, move down in the space inside the medal return chute 50, and are paid out from the medal payout opening 8 to the outside of the slot machine. .

The medal return chute 50 forms a medal path along which the return medal distributed by the medal selector 40 falls and moves from the medal selector to the medal payout port 8.
Specifically, the medal return chute 50 is composed of a hook-like member or a cylindrical member that is fixed to the back side of the front door 1a and forms a space in which the medal can move with the wall surface of the front door 1a. An upper surface opening 50 a for receiving a medal falling from the middle of the medal selector 40 is provided, and a lower opening 50 b communicating with the medal payout port 8 is provided on the lower end side. The medal return chute 50 has a communication port 50 c in the middle portion of the medal path that communicates with the medal discharge port 31 a of the medal payout device 30.
As a result, the medals distributed as the return medals by the medal selector 40 and the medals discharged as the payout medals from the hopper 31 of the medal payout device 30 fall and move in the medal return chute 50, respectively. Are paid out to the medal tray 8a on the front side of the slot machine.

In this embodiment, the medal return chute 50 includes at least two crank portions 51 that change the medal movement direction of the medal path as described above between the medal selector 40 and the medal payout opening 8. It is like that.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of crank portions 51 are arranged so that the medal path of the medal return chute 50 is substantially S-shaped or Z-shaped between the medal selector 40 and the medal payout port 8. I have.
FIG. 5 is a view showing details of the medal return chute 50 provided in the slot machine according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5A is a rear view of the medal return chute 50 viewed from the front door 1a side, and FIG. It is a BB line sectional view shown in a).

As shown in FIG. 1A, the medal return chute 50 of the present embodiment first forms a medal path in which the space communicating with the upper surface opening 50a is inclined parallel to the medal selector 40 to the lower left of the front of the slot machine. This downward slope is changed to a downward slope by the crank portion 51a.
Further, the downward slope is changed again to the downward slope by the crank portion 51b. A communication port 50c that communicates with the medal discharge port 31a of the medal payout device 30 is formed substantially in the middle of the downwardly inclined space.
A lower opening 50b that communicates with the medal payout port 8 is formed at the lower end side of the downwardly inclined space.
As described above, the plurality of crank portions 51a and 51b change the medal movement direction of the medal path in the left-right direction toward the front of the slot machine.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, in the medal return chute 50 of the present embodiment, the space communicating with the upper surface opening 50a forms a medal path that inclines toward the back side of the slot machine. However, the crank portion 51c changes the vertical direction.
Further, the vertical space is changed into an inclined space inclined toward the front side of the slot machine by the crank portion 51d. A communication port 50 c that communicates with the medal discharge port 31 a of the medal payout device 30 is formed in the side wall portion of the slot machine in the inclined space toward the front side.
The inclined space toward the front side changes so as to incline again toward the back side of the slot machine by the crank portion 51e, and further changes to incline toward the front side of the slot machine again by the crank portion 51f. A lower opening 50b communicating with the medal payout opening 8 is formed at the lower end of the inclined space toward the last front side.
As described above, the plurality of crank portions 51c to 51f change the medal movement direction of the medal path in the depth direction toward the front and back of the slot machine.

As described above, in the present embodiment, by providing the plurality of crank portions 51, the traveling direction of the medal path in the medal return chute 50 can be changed to the front left and right direction of the slot machine. It can also be changed in the depth direction. That is, the advancing direction of the medal path in the medal return chute 50 can be changed to any of the front, rear, left and right directions in the slot machine, and by combining them, the advancing direction of the medal path is changed in three dimensions. It can be made to.
In this way, by changing the direction of movement of the medal path in various ways, it is possible to make fraudulent acts performed by groping more difficult. In particular, in a medal return chute in which the medal path proceeds in a three-dimensional direction, With a labyrinth structure, it is virtually impossible to reach the medal selector with a fraudulent instrument because the direction of the medal path is completely unknown by groping.
Moreover, such a crank portion 51 can be configured by projecting a plurality of wall portions with different inclination directions in the medal path, and has no influence on the size and shape of the medal return chute 50 itself. Can be realized.
Thereby, in this embodiment, only the inner wall structure of the medal path can reliably prevent an illegal act from the medal payout exit to the medal selector.

In addition, the medal return chute 50 includes a plurality of projecting portions 52 that project alternately from the opposite surface of the medal path toward the inner side of the path in the vicinity of the top of the medal payout exit.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the medal return chute 50 has a medal between a communication port 50 c communicating with the medal discharge port 31 a of the medal payout device 30 and a lower opening 50 b communicating with the medal payout port 8. A plurality of projecting portions 52a to 52d projecting alternately in the path space are provided.
The protrusions 52a and 52b alternately protrude from the slot machine left-right direction (width direction) into the medal path space between the communication port 50c and the lower opening 50b, and the width of the medal path space is determined by the protrusions 52a and 52b. Will be restricted to a minimum of W1.
The protrusions 52c and 52d protrude between the communication port 50c and the lower opening 50b alternately in the medal path space from the longitudinal direction (depth direction) of the slot machine, and the protrusions 52c and 52d allow the medal path space. The depth will be limited to a minimum of W2.

Here, the dimensions of W1 and W2 shown in FIG. 5 are preferably smaller than the diameter of the medal, and it is preferable to effectively restrict and prevent the intrusion of unauthorized devices such as cell plates.
Even if the dimensions of W1 and W2 are smaller than the diameter of the medal, medals that fall and move on the slope of the medal path can sufficiently pass the W1 and W2 portions, while the dimensions of W1 and W2 are reduced. By doing so, it is possible to make it more difficult for the unauthorized device to enter in the vertical direction, and it is possible to reliably prevent the unauthorized device from reaching the medal selector 40 and the medal payout device 30.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a plurality of protrusions 52 that alternately protrude from the inner wall of the medal path are formed in the vicinity of the inside of the medal payout opening 8 so that the protrusions 52 are three-dimensionally within the medal path. Can be protruded.
In addition, by providing such a protruding portion 52 that protrudes in the three-dimensional direction, in combination with the change in the medal path direction due to the crank portion 51 described above, the tip of the illegal instrument can be applied to the protruding portion regardless of which direction it enters. It is possible to contact and interfere with each other, and to effectively prevent and prevent the intrusion of unauthorized equipment.

In particular, the prevention of unauthorized devices from entering in the vicinity of the medal payout outlet 8 in this way is a medal performed through the communication port 50c that receives the discharged medal from the medal payout device 30 provided above the medal payout outlet 8. It is also possible to effectively prevent fraudulent acts on the payout device 30.
Since the medal payout device 30 includes a hopper 31 that stores a large amount of medals in the upper part, the discharge port 31a of the discharge medal discharged from the hopper 31 is provided at a relatively low position. For this reason, when the communication port 50 c for guiding the discharged medal to the medal return chute 50 is provided, the communication port 50 c is also provided at a relatively low position of the medal return chute 50.
Also in this embodiment, the communication port 50 c communicating with the medal discharge port 31 a is provided in the vicinity of the upper portion of the lower opening 50 b communicating with the medal payout port 8.
Therefore, there is a possibility that an illegal act on the medal payout device 30 may be performed through the communication port 50c located in the vicinity of the medal payout port 8.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a plurality of protrusions 52 that alternately protrude inside the medal path are formed between the medal payout opening 8 and the communication opening 50c, thereby preventing the intrusion of unauthorized equipment into the medal payout opening. Immediately after that, it is possible to prevent and block the device, and to prevent the unauthorized device from reaching the communication port 50c.
Moreover, like the crank portion 51 described above, such a protruding portion 52 can be configured by protrudingly forming the inner wall of the medal path, and has no influence on the size and shape of the medal return chute 50 itself. Can be realized.
Thereby, in this embodiment, the fraudulent act performed with respect to the medal payout device 30 from the medal payout opening can be reliably prevented only by the inner wall structure of the medal path.
In this way, in this embodiment, it is possible to effectively prevent fraudulent acts on both the medal selector and the medal payout device that are performed by inserting an instrument or the like from the medal payout exit, and a slot with high safety and reliability. Machine can be provided.

Next, in the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above, an operation when an unauthorized instrument is inserted through the medal payout opening 8 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the operation when an unauthorized instrument is inserted into the medal return chute 50 according to the present embodiment, where (a) is a rear view of the medal return chute and (b) is a cross-sectional side view. is there.
As shown in FIG. 6A, when an illegal instrument such as a wire or a cell is inserted into the medal return chute 50 from the medal payout opening 8 at the lower front of the slot machine 1, the tip of the illegal instrument is The tip comes into contact with and interferes with the plurality of projecting portions 52a to 52d projecting between the opening 50b and the communication port 50c.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), in the medal path section that continues upward from the lower opening 50b, the protruding portions 52a and 52b protrude alternately from the left and right directions of the slot machine, so that the unauthorized device can be inserted between the minimum width W1. Unless the tool is moved vertically, the illegal device interferes with or abuts one of the protrusions 52b and 52a, and the intrusion is prevented.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, in the medal path space that continues upward from the lower opening 50b, the traveling direction is repeatedly changed in the slot machine depth direction by the crank portions 51f, 51e, and 51d. The protrusions 52d and 52c protrude alternately from the longitudinal direction of the machine, and unless the unauthorized device is moved vertically between the minimum width W2, the unauthorized device interferes with or abuts one of the protrusions 52c and 52d. Further intrusion is blocked.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, when an unauthorized device further enters beyond the protruding portion 52a, the medal path space that continues above the protruding portion 52a is moved in the direction of travel by the crank portions 51b and 51a. The slot machine has changed a plurality of times in the left-right direction, and the folded portion of each crank portion 51 protrudes from the inner wall of the path. Interference and contact with the crank parts 51a and 51b, and further intrusion is prevented.
Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6B, when an unauthorized device further penetrates beyond the protruding portion 52c, the medal path space that continues above the protruding portion 52c is moved in the direction of the slot by the crank portions 51d and 51c. It has changed a plurality of times in the longitudinal direction of the machine, and the unauthorized device interferes with or comes into contact with one of the crank portions 51c and 51d.

Moreover, the change in the course direction in the left and right direction of the slot machine shown in FIG. 6A and the protrusion of the protrusions 52a and 52b, and the change in the course of the slot machine in the front and rear direction in the slot machine shown in FIG. , 52d are combined in a superimposed manner, the medal path space changes three-dimensionally, and the plurality of protrusions 52a to 52d protrude three-dimensionally.
Therefore, the space into which the unauthorized device enters has a three-dimensional labyrinth structure, and it is impossible to reach the medal selector 40 and the medal payout device 30 unless the unauthorized device enters in a three-dimensional direction in a zigzag state. .

Moreover, since the illegal tool is allowed to enter in a groping state, the direction of movement of the medal path space that bends in the three-dimensional direction is completely unknown, and it is practically possible for the illegal tool to reach the medal selector 40 and the medal payout device 30. It becomes impossible.
On the other hand, medals that move in the medal path space move in the medal path due to natural fall due to their own weight, and sufficient space is secured for the medal to pass (see W1 and W2 shown in FIG. 6). ) There is no effect on the insertion and withdrawal of medals, and smooth medal conveyance is performed.
Thereby, only the inner wall structure of the medal path can surely prevent an illegal act from the medal payout exit to the medal selector.

As described above, according to the slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment, by providing two or more crank portions 51 in the medal return chute 50, medals in which medals fall from the medal selector 40 to the medal payout opening 8 are moved. The space of the path is formed so as to be substantially S-shaped or Z-shaped, and the dropping direction of medals can be changed in two or more different directions.
In this way, in the medal return chute 50 that includes a plurality of crank portions 51 and whose medal movement direction changes to two or more, even if an unauthorized instrument is inserted from the medal payout port 8, the medal selector 40 intended for the unauthorized instrument is used. In order to reach this point, it is necessary to bend the illegal instrument itself twice or more and enter the medal return chute. Such a thing is extremely difficult even if it is a fraudulent instrument such as a flexible wire or cell plate, and in addition, in the work of inserting the instrument by fumbling inside the slot machine that cannot be seen from the outside, An instrument has entered in a different direction / part from the original or has been caught in the middle of the medal path, making it almost impossible to reach the target medal selector.

Thereby, according to this embodiment, without providing a special mechanism or device in the medal return chute 50, it is possible to effectively prevent an illegal act against the medal selector only by changing the advancing direction of the medal path twice or more. And can be applied immediately to existing slot machines.
In order to change the advancing direction of the medal path in the medal return chute 50 two or more times, it is only necessary to provide a plurality of crank parts 51 in the medal path. It can be configured by projecting a plurality of different wall portions, and can be realized without affecting the size and shape of the medal return chute 50 itself.
Therefore, according to this embodiment, the medal return chute 50 itself does not increase in size, complexity, and cost, and can be applied to an existing slot machine as it is.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the slot machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a rear view showing details of the medal return chute provided in the slot machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in the figure, the slot machine according to the present embodiment is a modified embodiment of the first embodiment described above, and is provided with a guide port 53 for guiding an illegal instrument to the medal return chute 50. .
Therefore, other components are the same as those of the slot machine shown in the first embodiment, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment in the drawing, and detailed description thereof is omitted. To do.

That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the medal return chute 50 includes one or more guide ports 55 that open in the medal path.
Specifically, the medal return chute 50 penetrates the inner wall of the medal path positioned in front of the inward direction of the intruder in the vicinity of the bent portion of each crank portion 51a, 51b so that the tip of the intruder can enter. A guide port 55 made up of a hole, a recess or the like is formed.
Here, it is preferable that the unauthorized tool guide port 55 has a size and a shape that allow the tip of the unauthorized tool to enter and that the medal moving in the medal path space cannot pass.

Thus, by providing a guide port 55 through which the instrument can enter in the medal path wall portion corresponding to the intrusion direction of the unauthorized instrument that enters the medal path, the tip of the unauthorized instrument is allowed to enter the guide port 55, The tip of the instrument can be guided outside the chute.
As a result, it is possible to guide and intrude the illegal instrument in the direction different from the original or outside the chute, and more reliably prevent the illegal instrument from reaching the medal selector 40 and the medal payout device 30 that are the object of the illegal act. Can be made safer against fraud.

The preferred embodiment of the slot machine of the present invention has been described above. However, the slot machine according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.
For example, in the slot machine of the above-described embodiment, the case where the game medium to be used is a medal (coin) is shown, but the game medium that can be used in the slot machine according to the present invention is not limited to a medal, for example, a pachinko ball and Similar game balls can also be used as game media. A slot machine that can be played using such a game ball is also called a pachilot or the like, and can be applied as the slot machine of the present invention.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a slot machine (cylinder-type game machine) in which a game is mainly performed using medals (coins) as game media, and is particularly suitable for a slot machine that performs internal lottery for each game. Can be used.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the internal structure of the slot machine which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the detail inside the front door of the slot machine which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention, (a) is a rear view of a front door, (b) is the sectional view on the AA line shown to (a). . It is an enlarged view of the inside of the front door showing the medal return chute and medal selector provided in the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the detail of the medal return chute with which the slot machine which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention is equipped, (a) is a rear view of a medal return chute, (b) is a BB sectional view shown to (a). FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement when a fraudulent instrument is inserted in the medal return chute with which the slot machine which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention is equipped, (a) is a rear view of a medal return chute, (b) is a cross section. It is a side view. It is a rear view which shows the detail of the medal return chute with which the slot machine which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention is equipped.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Slot machine 2 Front panel 3 Display window 4 Start lever 5 (5a, 5b, 5c) Stop button 6 Medal insertion slot 7 BET button 8 Game medal payout exit 9 Speaker 10 Control part 20 Drum unit 21 (21a, 21b, 21c) Reel 30 medal payout device 40 medal selector 50 medal return chute

Claims (7)

A slot machine in which a medal for gaming is inserted and a predetermined game is performed, and a predetermined number of medals are paid out according to the game result,
A medal slot for inserting medals into the slot machine,
A medal payout exit for paying out medals from the inside of the slot machine, and
A medal payout device for storing medals for payout, discharging a predetermined number of medals according to the game result, and paying out from the medal payout port to the outside of the slot machine;
A medal selector that detects a medal inserted from the medal slot and stores the medal as a stored medal in the medal payout device, or distributes it as a return medal from the medal payout port to the outside of the slot machine;
A medal return chute that forms a medal path in which return medals distributed by the medal selector move from the medal selector to the medal payout exit,
The slot machine, wherein the medal return chute includes at least two crank portions that change a medal movement direction of the medal path between the medal selector and the medal payout exit.   The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the medal path of the medal return chute is substantially S-shaped or Z-shaped between the medal selector and the medal payout exit.   The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the crank portion changes a medal movement direction of the medal path to a front left / right direction of the slot machine.   The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the crank portion changes a medal movement direction of the medal path in a depth direction of the slot machine.   5. The medal return chute is provided with one or two or more projecting portions alternately projecting from the opposing surface of the medal path toward the inner side of the path in the vicinity of the upper portion of the medal payout opening. The described slot machine. The medal return chute includes a communication port that guides the discharge medal discharged from the medal payout device into the medal path and moves it down to the medal payout exit.
The slot machine according to claim 5, wherein the two or more protrusions are provided between the communication port and the medal payout port.   The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the medal return chute includes one or more guide ports that open in the medal path and guide an illegal instrument inserted into the medal return chute to the outside of the chute.

Images