JP2009017916A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect fraudulence even if the fraudulence can not be detected by an existing opening detector. <P>SOLUTION: The slot machine to be disclosed comprises a casing having a front opening and a front door attached openably/closably to the casing to close the front opening. The slot machine can securely detect the open state of the front door with the existing detection means and a photosensor if the front door is opened. The slot machine is configured to detect an error state as well as the open state by using a plurality of different detection means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a medal gaming machine such as a slot machine, a pachinko gaming machine or a sparrow ball gaming machine, or a ball gaming machine such as an arrangement ball installed in a gaming hall such as a pachinko parlor. The present invention relates to a gaming machine provided with fraud prevention means.

  Conventionally, a slot machine is known as a gaming machine installed in many game stores. A general slot machine includes a box-shaped housing having an opening on the front side, and a front door that closes the opening of the housing so as to be opened and closed. In addition to the locking device, the front door is provided with front door opening detection means for detecting that an unauthorized person has illegally opened the front door. For example, the front door opening detection means is provided with a detection unit at a position where the front door and the housing come into contact when the front door is closed, and the front door is detected by a pressing signal or a contact signal obtained by the detection unit. There is known one that detects the open state (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Hereinafter, it is referred to as a first conventional example.

  In addition, as a means for preventing fraud, there are the following gaming machines in order to prevent a so-called fraudulent act that causes a malfunction of an internal device by inserting a foreign object such as a wire through a gap between the front door and the housing. It was. That is, this gaming machine includes an opening / closing detection device for detecting opening / closing of the front door, a front door protruding plate (return plate), and the inside of the housing of the front door protruding plate along the front door protruding plate or What provided the housing | casing protrusion board (shielding board) formed so that it might be arranged in parallel with the housing | casing outer side is known. In this gaming machine, at least until the open / close detection device detects the opening of the front door, the front door protrusion plate and the case protrusion plate are formed so as to be able to shield the front-rear direction gap between the front surface of the housing and the back surface of the front door. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2). Hereinafter, it is referred to as a second conventional example.

JP 2004-293218 A JP 2004-261507 A

However, the opening detection means according to the first conventional example can be erroneously detected by pressing the detection unit using some device. In addition, with this opening detection means, there are cases where it cannot be detected until the front door is opened more than a predetermined amount, and even if the door is actually opened slightly, there is a situation where it is erroneously detected that the door is closed. It could happen. Even such a small gap where the opening detection means does not operate is sufficient for performing the goto action, and therefore, the effect of preventing fraud cannot be sufficiently obtained.
In addition, the fraud prevention device according to the second conventional example described above is able to prevent fraudulent acts performed through a gap formed at the seam between the front door and the housing, but has a complicated configuration and is optimal in terms of cost. However, there is a need for a simpler and more effective fraud prevention device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can detect fraud even when it cannot be detected by an existing opening detection device.

  In order to solve the above problems, a housing having a front opening, a front door attached so as to be openable and closable so as to close the front opening of the housing, and opening and closing of the front door for detecting the open / closed state of the front door A detection device, an illumination unit that is lit when the front door is in an open state, and at least one front door open detection that is provided in the vicinity of the illumination unit and detects the open state of the front door based on incident light Means.

  The invention according to claim 2 relates to the gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the front door opening detection means includes an optical sensor for detecting light, an accommodating portion for accommodating the optical sensor, and an external device. And a reflection portion that reflects the light to the optical sensor.

  The invention according to claim 3 relates to the gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a control unit for notifying an open state based on detection signals from the front door opening / closing detection device and the opening detection means. It is characterized by that.

  According to the gaming machine of the present invention, it is possible to detect fraud even if it cannot be detected by the existing opening detection device. Thereby, fraudulent acts such as payout of game media such as illegal medals can be prevented.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a front view showing an external configuration of a slot machine 1 that is one of the gaming machines according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the slot machine 1 shown in FIG. . 3 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the slot machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 with the front door 3 removed, and FIG. 4 shows a state in which the front door 3 of the slot machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is opened. It is the front door rear view and sectional drawing of the housing | casing 2 which are shown. 5 is a sectional view showing a state in which the front door 3 of the slot machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is closed, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the slot machine 1 shown in FIG. The slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment can be opened and closed by a casing 2 having a front opening and having an overall rectangular shape, and a hinge mechanism 4 so as to close the front opening of the casing 2. And a front door 3 attached to.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a rotating device 12 is fixedly provided on the upper surface of the shelf plate 11 laid between the side plate 2 a and the side plate 2 b, slightly near the lower end from the center in the housing 2. ing. The spinning device 12 includes a left reel 21a, a middle reel 21b, and a right reel 21c. The left reel 21a, the middle reel 21b, and the right reel 21c all have a substantially cylindrical shape, and are arranged side by side so that each of them can rotate and the rotation shafts are located on substantially the same straight line. On each outer peripheral surface of the left reel 21a, the middle reel 21b, and the right reel 21c, a plurality of types of symbols are drawn at substantially equal intervals, one or several, depending on the winning combination. However, the symbol arrangement differs between the left reel 21a, the middle reel 21b, and the right reel 21c.

  Stepping motors 22a, 22b, and 22c (see FIG. 6) are coupled to the rotation shafts of the left reel 21a, the middle reel 21b, and the right reel 21c shown in FIGS. The left reel 21a, middle reel 21b, and right reel 21c are driven and rotated by corresponding stepping motors 22a, 22b, and 22c, respectively. A spinning device substrate 23 is fixed on the upper surface of the spinning device 12.

  An opening detection unit 14 is fixed inside the side plate 2b in the vicinity of the right side of the spinning device 12 in the drawing. The opening detection unit 14 includes a main body 14a and an operation member 14b. The actuating member 14b has a substantially columnar shape, and can be buried in a bottomed hole 14aa drilled in the approximate center of the main body 14a, and can protrude from the front surface of the main body 14a.

  When the front door 3 is opened, the opening detection unit 14 protrudes from the front surface of the main body 14a and is turned off, and when the front door 3 is closed, the pressing member 14c fixed on the front door 3 side (FIG. 2). 4) and the tip 14ba of the actuating member 14b is pushed and buried in the main body 14a, it is turned on. The opening detection unit 14 supplies a first opening / closing detection signal related to opening / closing of the front door 3 to the main control board 18.

  A hopper device 15 is fixedly provided at the center of the upper surface of the bottom plate 2c of the housing 2 below the rotating drum device 12 shown in FIGS. The hopper device 15 stores medals (not shown) inserted from a medal insertion slot 31a (see FIG. 1) drilled in the console 3a of the front door 3, and pays out medals at the time of a prize payout or the like. . An overflow tank 16 is fixed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 2c on the right side of the hopper device 15 in the drawing. The overflow tank 16 accommodates medals overflowing from the hopper device 15. On the other hand, a power supply device 17 is fixed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 2c on the left side of the hopper device 15 in the drawing.

  A main control board 18 is fixed to the back plate 2 d of the housing 2 above the rotating device 12. The main control board 18 controls each part of the slot machine 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the main control board 18 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a central processing unit (CPU) 61, a ROM 62, a RAM 63, an interface (I / F) circuit 64, and the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, an illuminating unit 19 is fixed on the bottom surface of the upper plate 2 e of the housing 2 from the vicinity of the left end to the vicinity of the right end. The operation of the illumination unit 19 is controlled by a sub-control board 47 (see FIGS. 2, 4, and 6) described later based on the detection result of the opening detection unit 14. The illumination unit 19 includes, for example, a cold cathode fluorescent tube.

  Further, in front of the illumination unit 19 and in the vicinity of the left end of the lower surface of the upper plate 2e and the right end of the lower surface, an opening detection unit 20 is fixedly provided so that the longitudinal direction is parallel to the edge of the upper plate 2. ing. The open detection unit 20 includes storage units 20aa and 20ab, reflection units 20ba and 20bb, and optical sensors 20ca and 20cb. The accommodating portions 20aa and 20ab have a substantially rectangular tube shape and accommodate the optical sensors 20ca and 20cb. The accommodating portions 20aa and 20ab are opened forward and backward in the longitudinal direction. Further, the accommodating portions 20aa and 20ab are provided with reflective materials 20da and db on the entire inner surface. The reflecting portions 20ba and 20bb are integrally formed by extending upward at a predetermined angle from the lower ends of the front openings of the accommodating portions 20aa and 20ab. Further, the reflection portions 20ba and 20bb are provided with reflection materials 20da and db on the upper surface. The optical sensors 20ca and 20cb are fixed in the vicinity of the front opening on the upper surfaces of the lower plates of the housing portions 20aa and 20ab.

  When the front door 3 is opened, the opening detection unit 20 is turned on when the optical sensors 20ca and 20cb mainly detect external light incident from the front opening of the housing 2, and the front door 3 is closed when the front door 3 is closed. 3 blocks external light, and the optical sensors 20ca and 20cb do not detect the light and are turned off. The opening detection unit 20 supplies a second opening / closing detection signal related to opening / closing of the front door 3 to the main control board 18.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a console 3 a is formed integrally with the front door 3 so as to protrude toward the player side slightly from the front center of the front door 3 toward the lower end. The front door 3 is made of, for example, hard plastic. In the vicinity of the right end of the step 3aa of the console 3a in the figure, a medal insertion portion 31 is formed. In the approximate center of the medal insertion part 31, a medal insertion port 31a for a player to insert a medal is provided.

  On the other hand, a 1-bet button 32 and a Max-bet button 33 are fitted in two through holes (not shown) drilled at a predetermined distance in the vicinity of the left end of the step 3aa of the console 3a. The 1-bet button 32 and the max-bet button 33 are for instructing the number of medals to bet on one game of the slot machine 1. That is, when the player presses the 1-bet button 32, one medal is bet on the game from the medals stored internally. Similarly, when the player presses the max bet button 33, the maximum number (usually three) of medals is bet on the game from the medals stored internally.

  A settlement button 34 is fitted in a through hole (not shown) drilled near the left end of the console 3a. The settlement button 34 instructs to cancel and pay out medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 31a for use in the game, and the main control board 18 settles the medals stored internally. This is for instructing the payout.

  Further, on the console 3a, a start lever 35 is fixed on the right side of the settlement button 34 in the drawing. The start lever 35 is for instructing the start of simultaneous rotation of the left reel 21a, the middle reel 21b, and the right reel 21c constituting the above-described spinning device 12. The start lever 35 includes a swingable operating rod having an operation knob having a spherical shape at the tip. In a state where the start lever 35 is not operated by the player, the operating rod holds a posture perpendicular to the front of the console 3a (off state). When the player holds the operation knob and tilts the operation rod in any direction, up, down, left, or right, the start lever 35 is turned on. Thereafter, when the player releases his / her hand from the operating rod, the operating rod is returned to its original position by the biasing force of a built-in spring (not shown), and the start lever 35 is turned off again.

  Further, stop buttons 36a, 36b, and 36c are arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals in the approximate front center of the console 3a. Stop buttons 36a, 36b and 36c correspond to the arrangement of the left reel 21a, the middle reel 21b and the right reel 21c, respectively, and the corresponding left reel 21a, middle reel 21b or right reel 21c respectively. For instructing to stop the rotation of each.

  On the other hand, a key hole 37 into which a front door key (not shown) for unlocking the front door 3 is inserted is formed near the right end of the console 3a in the drawing. When an administrator of the slot machine 1 inserts a predetermined front door key into the keyhole 37 and performs an unlocking operation, the front door 3 attached to the housing 2 by the hinge mechanism 4 is moved forward with the hinge mechanism 4 as an axis. Can be opened. On the other hand, when an administrator of the slot machine 1 closes the front door 3 to the housing 2 side and presses the vicinity of the key hole 37 of the front door 3 to the housing 2 side, the slot machine 1 is automatically locked.

  A middle panel unit 41 is attached above the console 3a. In the middle of the middle panel unit 41, a transparent display window 41a having a substantially rectangular shape is formed corresponding to the rotary drum device 12 fixedly provided in the middle of the housing 2. Therefore, the player can use the display window 41a to move the outer peripheral surfaces of the reels 21a, 21b, and 21c from the display window 41a in a state where the left reel 21a, the middle reel 21b, and the right reel 21c that constitute the spinning device 12 are stopped. The design of 3 rows and 3 columns can be visually observed.

  Side lamps 42 a and 42 b are attached to the left and right of the middle panel unit 41. Further, an upper panel portion 43 is provided above the middle panel unit 41. The upper panel portion 43 is generally composed of an upper lamp 43a, sound emitting portions 43b and 43c, an image display portion 43d, and the like. The upper lamp 43 a is attached to the center of the upper end of the front door 3.

  The side lamps 42a and 42b and the upper lamp 43a each incorporate a high-intensity light emitting diode (LED) or the like. A sub-control board 47 (see FIGS. 2, 4 and 6), which will be described later, lights the side lamps 42a and 42b and the upper lamp 43a in order to produce an effect appealing to the player's vision in the event of a reach or jackpot. Or blink.

  The sound emitting parts 43 b and 43 c are attached to the upper part of the middle panel unit 41 in the vicinity of the left and right ends 3 b and 3 c of the front door 3. The sound emitting units 43b and 43c incorporate speakers 43ba and 43ca (see FIGS. 2 and 4), respectively. A sub-control board 47 (see FIGS. 2, 4 and 6), which will be described later, emits sound effects and musical sounds selected according to the progress of the game in order to produce an effect appealing to the player's hearing during the game. The sound is emitted from the sound parts 43b and 43c.

  An image display unit 43d is provided between the sound emitting unit 43b and the sound emitting unit 43c. The image display unit 43d includes a display such as a liquid crystal panel or a plasma display panel (PDP), for example. Sub-control board 47 (see FIGS. 2, 4 and 6), which will be described later, provides effects such as giving a story to the game, or inducing the player to expect an internal winning result. Therefore, the moving image or the still image selected according to the progress of the game is displayed on the image display unit 43d.

  On the other hand, a lower panel 44 is attached below the console 3a. On the lower panel 44, for example, a picture of an appearing character or the like is drawn in order for the player to recognize the model type or the like of the slot machine 1.

  Further, a tray unit 45 is formed integrally with the front door 3 below the lower panel 44, that is, at the lower end of the front door 3. A tray 45 a for storing medals is formed integrally with the front door 3 from the right end in FIG. 1 to the vicinity of the left end of the tray unit 45. Of the back plate 45b of the tray unit 45, sound emitting portions 45c and 45d are provided in the vicinity of the left and right ends of the tray 45a. The sound emitting units 45c and 45d incorporate speakers 45ca and 45da (see FIGS. 2 and 4), respectively. A sub-control board 47 (see FIGS. 2, 4 and 6), which will be described later, emits sound effects and musical sounds selected according to the progress of the game in order to produce an effect appealing to the player's hearing during the game. The sound is emitted from the sound parts 45c and 45d.

  Further, at the center of the back plate 45b of the tray unit 45 slightly to the left in the figure, medals are ejected at the time of winning a prize or dropped as inappropriate by a medal selector 50 (see FIGS. 2, 4 and 6) described later and dropped. A medal payout opening 45e through which the received medals and the like are discharged is formed. The medal payout opening 45e has a substantially rectangular shape. Near the left end of the tray unit 45, an ashtray 46 is provided for smoking by the player.

  Next, the configuration of the rear side of the front door 3 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are given to the portions corresponding to the respective portions in FIG. A sub control board 47 is fixed near the upper end of the back surface of the front door 3, that is, on the back side of the image display unit 43d shown in FIG. The sub control board 47 mainly controls each part attached to the front door 3 with respect to the effect of the game. As shown in FIG. 6, the sub-control board 47 is mainly configured by a microcomputer having a CPU 71, a ROM 72, a RAM 73, an interface (I / F) circuit 74, and the like. In the ROM 72, various effect patterns such as a normal effect content described later are stored in advance.

  In the vicinity of both ends of the sub control board 47, speakers 43ba and 43ca constituting the sound emitting portions 43b and 43c, respectively, are attached. A reel illumination unit 48 constituting the middle panel unit 41 is attached below the sub control board 47 and above the display window 41a. The reel illumination unit 48 includes, for example, a cold cathode fluorescent tube or the like, and illuminates the outer peripheral surfaces of the left reel 21a, the middle reel 21b, and the right reel 21c.

  On the other hand, a central display board 49 constituting the middle panel unit 41 is attached below the display window 41a. A medal selector 50 is attached near the left end of the central display substrate 49 in the drawing, that is, on the back side of the medal insertion portion 31 shown in FIG. The medal selector 50 is a device that determines and distributes the suitability of medals inserted from the medal insertion unit 31. When the medal selector 50 determines that the inserted medal is appropriate, the medal selector 50 supplies a medal acceptance signal to the main control board 18 via the central display board 49. Each time the main control board 18 receives a medal acceptance signal, it adds credits and internally stores medals.

  A medal guide 51 is provided on the right side of the medal selector 50 in the drawing. The medal guide unit 51 guides an appropriate medal selected and detected by the medal selector 50 to the hopper device 15 fixed to the housing 2. A flow chute 52 is provided below the medal selector 50. The flow chute 52 guides dropped medals or foreign matters that are excluded as inappropriate by the medal selector 50 to a medal payout opening 45e formed in the back plate 45b of the tray unit 45 of the front door 3. Further, a medal payout passage 53 is provided integrally with the flow chute 52. The medal payout passage 53 abuts on the medal discharge port 15a of the hopper device 15 fixed to the housing 2 in a state where the front door 3 is locked, and the medal paid out from the hopper device 15 is used as the medal. Guide to payout exit 45e. A speaker 45ca constituting the above-described sound emitting unit 45c is attached to the medal payout passage 53 on the right side in the figure. On the other hand, in the vicinity of the lower left end of the rear surface of the front door 3 in the drawing, a speaker 45da that constitutes the above-described sound emitting portion 45d is attached.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the slot machine 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, the side lamps 42a and 42b and the upper lamp 43a are simply indicated as “lamps” for convenience. In the main control board 18, the CPU 61 reads the system program and the slot machine game program stored in advance in the ROM 62, executes them using the RAM 63, etc., and executes the spinning device board 23, the sub control board 47, the central display. The whole slot machine 1 is centrally controlled by supplying a control signal including a predetermined command to the board 49 and the power supply board 81 to perform distributed control.

  Further, the main control board 18 indicates that the front door 3 is in an open state or a closed state based on the first and second opening / closing detection signals supplied from the opening detection unit 14 and the opening detection unit 20. recognize. Then, the main control board 18 supplies an illumination part lighting signal or an illumination part extinction signal to the sub control board 47 based on the first opening / closing detection signal. Further, even if a predetermined time elapses after the first and second opening / closing detection signals indicating that the front door 3 is in the open state, the predetermined operation (for example, the main control board 18 is attached). If the operation based on a predetermined procedure of the plurality of buttons is not performed, the main control board 18 recognizes that the open state has been illegally opened, and notifies the sub control board 47 of the opening of the front door 3. An open notification signal for instructing is supplied. When the open state changes to the closed state by a predetermined operation, a notification stop signal for instructing the sub control board 47 to stop notification is supplied.

  The I / F circuit 64 controls timing when signals are transmitted / received between the main control board 18, the spinning device board 23, the sub control board 47, the central display board 49, and the power supply board 81. I do. However, between the main control board 18 and the sub control board 47, transmission of signals from the main control board 18 to the sub control board 47 is performed, but transmission of signals from the sub control board 47 to the main control board 18 is not performed. Not done.

  In the central display board 49, the 1-bet button 32, the max-bet button 33, the settlement button 34, the start lever 35, the stop buttons 36a, 36b and 36c, etc., which are attached to the console 3a of the front door 3, are respectively operated. It functions as a relay board that receives various signals generated thereby and transfers them to the main control board 18. In addition, the central display board 49 receives the medal acceptance signal output from the medal selector 50 and transfers it to the main control board 18, so that the number of medals inserted into the medal insertion unit 31, the insertion of foreign objects, and the like. Notify the occurrence of clogging.

  In the sub control board 47, the CPU 71 reads a program, data, and the like stored in advance in the ROM 72, and controls each part of the front door 3, particularly for the player. The ROM 72 stores in advance a program, data, and the like necessary for an effect during a game (such as a notification effect indicating the possibility of winning a role). The data stored in the ROM 72 in advance includes moving image data such as characters, characters and backgrounds displayed on the image display unit 43d, and still image data. On the other hand, the RAM 63 is used when the CPU 71 or the like performs various controls or creates an image, and temporarily stores data and the like. The data stored in the RAM 73 includes image data to be displayed based on the data read from the ROM 72.

  Thereby, the sub control board 47 drives the side lamps 42a and 42b, the upper lamp 43a, and the sound emitting parts 43b, 43c, 45c and 45d, respectively, when the control signal related to the effect is supplied from the main control board 18. At the same time, by providing the image display unit 43d with moving image data or still image data related to the effect, an effect appealing to the visual and auditory sense of the player is performed. The sub control board 47 controls the lighting section 19 to be turned on and off when the lighting section lighting signal or the lighting section turn-off signal is supplied from the main control board 18. Then, when the release notification signal is supplied from the main control board 18, the sub control board 47 supplies the side lamps 42a and 42b, the upper lamp 43a, the illumination part 19, and the sound emitting parts 43b, 43c, 45c and 45d, respectively. An alarm is generated by driving.

  The spinning device substrate 23 is used to control rotation, braking, and stopping of the left reel 21a, the middle reel 21b, and the right reel 21c. Based on the above, four-phase drive pulse signals are supplied to the stepping motors 22a, 22b and 22c, respectively.

  A power distribution circuit (not shown) for distributing various power supply voltages generated by the power supply device 17 to the hopper device 15 and other parts is formed on the power supply substrate 81, and is necessary for the operation of the slot machine 1 from this power distribution circuit. Supply the correct power. In addition, when a control signal indicating that the medal payout should be paid out is supplied from the main control board 18, the power supply board 81 controls the hopper device 15 to pay out the medal.

  Next, an outline of a normal operation performed by the slot machine 1 having the above configuration will be described. This slot machine 1 enters a standby state when a prize is won in the previous game and the payout of medals is completed, or when a loss is confirmed in the previous game. In this state, when either the 1-bet button 32 or the max-bet button 33 is pressed by the player, a medal is bet on the game from the medal (credit) stored inside, and the game starts.

  When the main control board 18 detects the operation of the start lever 35 in the game start state, the main control board 18 starts to rotate the left reel 21a, the middle reel 21b, and the right reel 21c all at once. Simultaneously with this operation, the main control board 18 draws a winning combination by an internal process and stores the result in the RAM 63.

  Next, when the player presses the stop buttons 36a, 36b and 36c in an arbitrary order, the main control board 18 sequentially responds to the corresponding left reel 21a, middle reel 21b or right reel 21c. Stop. Thus, the player can make each of the reels 21a, 21b and 21c from the display window 41a of the middle panel unit 41 constituting the front door 3 in a state where the left reel 21a, the middle reel 21b and the right reel 21c are stopped. The design of 3 rows and 3 columns drawn on the outer peripheral surface of can be visually observed.

  On the other hand, when the main control board 18 detects that all the left reel 21a, the middle reel 21b, and the right reel 21c are stopped, the left reel 21a is in a state where the left reel 21a, the middle reel 21b, and the right reel 21c are stopped. Then, it is determined whether or not the combination of symbols drawn on the outer peripheral surfaces of the middle reel 21b and the right reel 21c matches any of the symbol combinations related to the winning combination stored in the RAM 63 described above.

  As a result of the determination, among the symbol combinations drawn on the outer peripheral surfaces of the left reel 21a, the middle reel 21b, and the right reel 21c, the symbol combination that matches any of the symbol combinations related to the winning combination is stopped. In some cases, the main control board 18 determines a winning corresponding to the combination of symbols, and adds a medal with the number of payouts corresponding to the type of winning combination to the credit. At this time, if the credit exceeds the upper limit due to the winning payout, the main control board 18 operates the hopper device 15 to pay out the excess medal from the medal payout opening 45e to the tray unit 45.

  As described above, the player of the slot machine 1 sequentially operates the 1 bet button 32 or the max bet button 33, the start lever 35, and the stop buttons 36a, 36b, and 36c, so that the left reel 21a, the middle reel 21b, A game operation for rotating and stopping the right reel 21c is performed. As a result, the player must make sure that none of the predetermined combinations among the three rows and three columns of symbols that can be viewed from the display window 41a matches any of the symbol combinations related to the winning combination. Lost bet medal. On the other hand, if any of the predetermined combinations among the three rows and three columns of the above symbols matches one of the symbol combinations related to the winning combination, the player has won a prize and bet You can earn more medals.

  Next, the operation when the front door 3 is opened and closed will be described in detail.

  In the first embodiment, when the front door 3 is opened, the operating member 14b of the opening detection unit 14 protrudes from the front surface of the main body 14a, and the opening detection unit 14 detects the opened state of the front door 3, and the first door 3 is opened. A front door opening signal is supplied to the CPU 61. Moreover, when the opening detection part 14 detects the open state of the front door 3, the illumination part 19 will be turned on.

  Further, in the first embodiment, when the front door 3 is opened, external light such as an illumination lamp in the hall is irradiated to the optical sensors 20ca and 20cb and the reflecting portions 20ba and 20bb from the front opening of the housing 2. Next, the light irradiated to the reflecting portions 20ba and 20bb is sequentially reflected by the reflecting materials 20da and db provided on the upper surfaces of the reflecting portions 20ba and 20bb and the inner surfaces of the accommodating portions 20aa and 20ab, and the like. The light receiving unit is reached, and thereby the second front door opening signal is supplied to the CPU 61.

  On the other hand, when the opening detection unit 14 detects the open state of the front door 3, the illumination unit 19 is turned on, so that the light of the illumination unit 19 is irradiated from the rear openings of the housing units 20aa and 20ab. That is, the opening detection unit 20 detects not only the external light but also the light of the illumination unit 19 almost simultaneously.

  Based on the above premise, the processing performed by the CPU 61 of the main control board 18 based on the detection results of the opening detection unit 14 and the opening detection unit 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the CPU 61 proceeds to the process of step S1 shown in FIG. 7, and determines whether or not the front door 3 is opened. This determination is made based on the detection result of the first opening / closing detection signal.
When the front door 3 is opened, the operating member 14b of the opening detection unit 14 protrudes from the front surface of the main body 14a, the opening detection unit 14 is turned off, and a first front door opening signal is supplied to the CPU 61. Thereby, the determination result of step S1 becomes “YES”, and the CPU 61 proceeds to the process of S2.

  In the process of step S2, after the CPU 61 supplies the illumination unit lighting signal to the sub-control board 47, the process proceeds to the process of step S3. Thereby, the sub-control board 47 turns on the illumination unit 19. If the determination result in step S1 is “NO”, the CPU 61 proceeds to the process in step S3.

  In the process of step S <b> 3, the CPU 61 confirms the detection results of the operating status of the opening detection unit 14 and the opening detection unit 20. The confirmation of the detection result is performed, for example, by always storing the detection results of the operating states of the opening detection unit 14 and the opening detection unit 20 in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 63 and referring to the storage area. The detection result is updated at a predetermined cycle. After confirming the detection result, the CPU 61 proceeds to the determination in step S3.

  In the determination in step S4, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the front door 3 has been opened based on the confirmation results of the opening detection unit 14 and the opening detection unit 20 in step S3. If the opening detection unit 14 is reacting or the opening detection unit 20 is detecting light, the determination result is “YES”, and the CPU 61 proceeds to the determination of step S5. On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S4 is “NO”, the CPU 61 determines that the front door 3 is not opened either legally or illegally, and ends the series of processes, for example, the main routine. Return to.

  In the determination in step S5, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the front door 3 has been opened illegally based on the confirmation results of the opening detection unit 14 and the opening detection unit 20 in step S3. As described above, when the front door 3 is opened by a normal operation, the detection results indicating the open state of the open detection unit 14 and the open detection unit 20 are the same. When there is a contradiction in the respective detection results (if the open detection unit 14 is crafted so that it does not react by the fraudster and only the open detection unit 20 reacts, the open detection unit 20 does not react by the fraudster In the case where only the open detection unit 14 is reacted and the light is blocked by an unauthorized person and only one of the optical sensor 20ca and the optical sensor 20cb is responding), the determination result is “YES”. Thus, the CPU 61 proceeds to the process of step S6.

  In the process of step S6, the CPU 61 supplies a fraud detection signal to the sub-control board 47 and a management device (not shown). After the CPU 61 supplies the fraud detection signal to the sub-control board 47 and the management device, the CPU 61 proceeds to the determination in step S7. Here, the supply of the fraud detection signal refers to a process of supplying the fraud signal to the management device or the like in addition to supplying the release notification signal to the sub-control board 47.

  In the determination in step S7, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the open state of the front door 3 has been canceled by the predetermined operation. If the person in charge cancels the unauthorized state by a predetermined operation and the determination result in step S7 is “YES”, the CPU 61 proceeds to the process of step S8. If the determination result in step S7 is “NO”, the CPU 61 repeats the determination.

  In step S8, the CPU 61 sequentially performs the fraud detection signal stop process and the lighting unit 19 extinguishing process, and then ends the series of processes, for example, returns to the main routine.

  On the other hand, when the result of the determination in step S5 is “NO”, the CPU 61 proceeds to the process of step S9. In the process of step S9, the CPU 61 determines that the front door 3 has been properly opened, supplies an opening notification signal to the sub control board 47, and proceeds to the determination of step S10.

  In step S10, the CPU 61 determines whether the open state of the front door 3 has changed to the closed state. If the person in charge cancels the open state of the front door 3 by a predetermined operation and the determination result in step S31 is “YES”, the CPU 61 proceeds to the process of step S11. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S10 is “NO”, the CPU 61 repeats the same determination.

  In step S11, the CPU 61 sequentially performs the opening notification signal stop process and the lighting unit 19 to be turned off, and then the CPU 61 determines that the front door 3 is legally locked and ends the series of processes, for example, in the main routine. Return.

  Thereby, when the administrator opens the front door, the illumination unit 19 is turned on, and the inside of the housing 2 can be easily visually confirmed. Therefore, the efficiency when the administrator opens the front door and works is increased. In addition, when an unauthorized person has illegally modified the housing 2, the administrator can easily find the unauthorized modification.

  Further, when the front door 3 is opened, external light such as an illumination lamp in the hall is irradiated to the optical sensors 20ca and 20cb from the front opening of the housing 2. Further, the illumination lamp 19 provided behind the optical sensors 20ca and 20cb is turned on based on the first open detection signal, so that the light reliably reaches the optical sensors 20ca and 20cb. Therefore, the open state of the front door 3 can be detected more reliably.

  Further, by performing processing based on the detection results of the first opening detection signal and the second opening detection signal, the front door is illegally crafted so that the unauthorized person does not react to the opening detection unit 14. The opening of the front door 3 can also be detected when opening the front door 3 or when the front door 3 is illegally opened by crafting or the like so as not to react the opening detection unit 20. At this time, in addition to the opening notification, an unauthorized signal is supplied to the management device, so that the administrator can detect not only the opened state of the front door 3 but also an unauthorized act.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a partially transparent plan view showing an external configuration of a slot machine 91 that is one of the gaming machines according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The configuration and operation of other parts of the slot machine 91 are substantially the same as the configuration and operation of the slot machine 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 in the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, portions corresponding to the respective portions in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, an illumination unit lighting detection unit 90 is fixedly provided in front of the illumination unit 19 and in the vicinity of the right end of the lower surface of the upper plate 2e. The illumination unit lighting detection unit 90 includes, for example, an optical sensor. The lighting unit lighting detection unit 90 receives light emitted from the lighting unit 19 and supplies a lighting unit lighting detection signal related to lighting of the lighting unit 19 to the main control board 18.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the slot machine 91 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 6 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted. In FIG. 9, the lighting unit lighting detection signal is supplied from the lighting unit lighting detection unit 90 described above.

  The main control board 18 is based on the first and second opening / closing detection signals supplied from the opening detection unit 14 and the opening detection unit 20 and the lighting unit lighting detection signal supplied from the lighting unit lighting detection unit 90. Recognizing that the door 3 is open or closed. Then, the main control board 18 supplies an illumination part lighting signal or an illumination part extinction signal to the sub control board 47 based on the first opening / closing detection signal. Further, even if a predetermined time elapses after the first and second opening / closing detection signals indicating that the front door 3 is in the open state, the predetermined operation (for example, the main control board 18 is attached). If the operation based on a predetermined procedure of the plurality of buttons is not performed, the main control board 18 recognizes that the open state has been illegally opened, and notifies the sub control board 47 of the opening of the front door 3. An open notification signal for instructing is supplied. When the open state changes to the closed state by a predetermined operation, a notification stop signal for instructing the sub control board 47 to stop notification is supplied.

  Next, the operation when the front door 3 is opened and closed will be described in detail. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a detection state of the opening detection unit 20 when the illumination unit 19 is not turned on.

  In the first embodiment described above, it is assumed that the illumination unit 19 is always turned on when the front door 3 is opened. However, the illumination unit 19 may not be lit for some reason. In that case, the optical sensor 20ca and the optical sensor 20cb detect light only with external light. Therefore, in the second embodiment, even when such a situation occurs, in order to achieve the intended purpose, the illumination unit lighting detection unit 90 is provided and the following operation is performed.

  In the second embodiment, it is determined whether or not the front door 3 has been opened illegally based on the detection results of the optical sensor 20ca and the optical sensor 20cb and the determination result of the lighting unit lighting detection unit 90. .

  When the front door 3 is opened, if the illumination unit 19 is lit, the detection timing of the optical sensor 20ca and the optical sensor 20cb is almost the same. On the other hand, when the illumination unit 19 is not turned on for some reason, because external light reaches the optical sensor 20ca earlier than the optical sensor 20cb due to the fixing position, as shown in FIG. After the optical sensor 20ca detects light, the optical sensor 20cb detects light. When the optical sensor 20ca and the optical sensor 20cb detect light, the detection result does not change unless the front door 3 is properly locked by the administrator. The lighting unit lighting detection unit 90 is configured to determine whether or not the lighting unit 19 is lit. Thus, the CPU 61 is configured to determine whether or not the front door 3 has been opened illegally based on the detection results of the optical sensor 20ca and the optical sensor 20cb and the determination result of the illumination unit lighting detection unit 90.

  Assuming the above, the CPU 61 of the main control board 18 performs processing based on the detection results of the opening detection unit 14 and the opening detection unit 20 and the lighting unit lighting detection signal supplied from the lighting unit lighting detection unit 90. This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the CPU 61 proceeds to the process of step S21 shown in FIG. 11, and determines whether or not the front door 3 is opened. This determination is made based on the detection result of the first opening / closing detection signal.
When the front door 3 is opened, the operating member 14b of the opening detection unit 14 protrudes from the front surface of the main body 14a, the opening detection unit 14 is turned off, and a first front door opening signal is supplied to the CPU 61. Thereby, the determination result of step S21 is “YES”, and the CPU 61 proceeds to the process of S22.

  In the process of step S22, after the CPU 61 supplies the illumination unit lighting signal to the sub control board 47, the process proceeds to the process of step S23. Thereby, the sub-control board 47 turns on the illumination unit 19. If the determination result in step S21 is “NO”, the CPU 61 proceeds to the process in step S23.

  In the process of step S <b> 23, the CPU 61 confirms the operation status and operation timing of the opening detection unit 20 and the detection result of the illumination unit lighting detection unit 90. The detection result is confirmed by, for example, always storing the operation status and operation timing of the opening detection unit 20 and the detection result of the lighting unit lighting detection unit 90 in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 63 and referring to the storage area. By doing. The detection result is updated at a predetermined cycle. After confirming the detection result, the CPU 61 proceeds to the determination in step S23.

  In the determination in step S24, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the front door 3 has been opened based on the confirmation result of the opening detection unit 20 in step S23. If the optical sensor 20ca or the optical sensor 20cb is detecting light, the determination result is “YES”, and the CPU 61 proceeds to determination in step S25. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S24 is “NO”, the CPU 61 determines that the front door 3 is not opened either legally or illegally, and ends the series of processes, for example, the main routine. Return to.

  In the determination in step S25, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the front door 3 has been opened illegally based on the operation status and operation timing of the opening detection unit 20 in step S23 and the detection result of the lighting unit lighting detection unit 90. . As described above, when the illumination unit 19 is lit, the detection timings of the optical sensor 20ca and the optical sensor 20cb are almost simultaneous. When the illumination unit 19 is not lit, the optical sensor 20ca emits light. After the detection, the optical sensor 20cb detects the light. When an operation other than such an operation is detected (for example, when the detection timing of the optical sensor is other than the above, when the light is blocked by an unauthorized person and only one of the optical sensor 20ca and the optical sensor 20cb reacts) If the detection results of the optical sensor 20ca and the optical sensor 20cb change due to light being blocked by a person), the determination result is “YES”, and the CPU 61 proceeds to the process of step S26.

  In the process of step S26, the CPU 61 supplies a fraud detection signal to the sub-control board 47 and a management device (not shown). After the CPU 61 supplies the fraud detection signal to the sub-control board 47 and the management device, the CPU 61 proceeds to the determination in step S27.

  In the determination in step S27, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the open state of the front door 3 has been canceled by a predetermined operation. When the person in charge cancels the unauthorized state by a predetermined operation and the determination result in step S27 is “YES”, the CPU 61 proceeds to the process of step S28. If the determination result in step S27 is “NO”, the CPU 61 repeats the determination.

  In step S28, the CPU 61 sequentially performs the fraud detection signal stop process and the illumination unit 19 to be turned off, and then ends a series of processes, for example, returns to the main routine.

  On the other hand, when the result of the determination in step S25 is “NO”, the CPU 61 proceeds to the process of step S29. In the process of step S29, the CPU 61 determines that the front door 3 is properly opened, supplies an opening notification signal to the sub control board 47, and proceeds to the determination of step S30.

  In the determination in step S30, the CPU 61 determines whether the open state of the front door 3 has changed to the closed state. If the person in charge cancels the open state of the front door 3 by a predetermined operation and the determination result in step S31 is “YES”, the CPU 61 proceeds to the process of step S31. On the other hand, when the determination result of step S30 is “NO”, the CPU 61 repeats the same determination.

  In step S31, the CPU 61 sequentially performs the opening notification signal stop process and the lighting unit 19 to be turned off, and then the CPU 61 determines that the front door 3 is legally locked and ends the series of processes, for example, in the main routine. Return.

  By performing processing based on the detection results of the first opening detection signal, the second opening detection signal, and the lighting unit lighting detection signal, even when the lighting unit 19 stops lighting due to long-term use, etc. It is possible to detect whether or not the front door 3 has been opened by a correct operation. At this time, in addition to the opening notification, an unauthorized signal is supplied to the management device, so that the administrator can detect not only the opened state of the front door 3 but also an unauthorized act.

As mentioned above, although the form of 1st Example and 2nd Example of this invention was explained in full detail with reference to drawings, specific structure is not restricted to these embodiment, The summary of this invention is shown. Any design change or the like without departing from the scope is included in the present invention.
For example, in the forms of the first and second embodiments described above, the opening detection unit 14 includes an example of a push switch that detects opening and closing, but is not limited thereto, and is not limited thereto. It is good also as a structure provided with detection apparatuses, such as an infrared sensor.

  In the above-described first and second embodiments, the illumination unit 19 is provided with a cold cathode fluorescent tube. However, the illumination unit 19 is not limited to this, and an LED or the like is used instead of the cold cathode fluorescent tube. The light emitting device may be provided.

  Moreover, although the illumination part 19 and the open | release detection part 20 showed the example provided in the lower surface of the upper board 2e in the form of the above-mentioned 1st Example and 2nd Example, it is not limited to this, The front door 3 is open | released. As long as the external light and the light of the illuminating unit 19 reach the open detection unit 20 at this time, they may be provided either in the housing 2 or on the back surface of the front door 3, respectively.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the optical sensor 20c has been shown as being accommodated in the tubular accommodating portions 20aa and 20ab. Any structure that can introduce external light such as a hole and light of the illumination unit 19 into the optical sensor 20c instead of light may be used.

  Moreover, although the form of the above-mentioned 1st Example and 2nd Example showed the example which outputs an open | release alerting | reporting signal and a fraud detection signal based on the detection result of the open | release detection part 14 and the open | release detection part 20, respectively, However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be configured such that only one of the open notification signals is output when any of the open states is detected.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the opening detection unit 14 is turned on when the front door 3 is opened, and is turned off when the front door 3 is closed. Although the example which will be in a state was shown, it is not limited to this, It is set as the structure which will be in an OFF state when the front door 3 is made into an open state, and will be in an ON state when the front door 3 is made into a closed state Also good.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an external configuration of a slot machine 1 which is one of the gaming machines according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing the internal configuration of the slot machine 1 according to the form of the first example. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the slot machine 1 which concerns on the form of 1st Example. It is sectional drawing which shows the state by which the front door of the slot machine 1 which concerns on the form of 1st Example was open | released. It is sectional drawing which shows the state by which the front door of the slot machine 1 which concerns on the form of 1st Example was closed. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical constitution of the slot machine 1 which concerns on the form of 1st Example. It is a flowchart showing the process based on the detection result of the open | release detection part of the slot machine 1 which concerns on the form of 1st Example. FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing an external configuration of the slot machine 91 shown in FIG. 1 according to the second embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical constitution of the slot machine 91 which concerns on the form of 2nd Example. It is a figure showing an example of the 2nd opening-and-closing detection signal of slot machine 91 concerning the form of the 2nd example. It is a flowchart showing the process based on the detection result of the open | release detection part of the slot machine 91 which concerns on the form of 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Slot machine, 2 ... Housing, 2a, 2b ... Side plate, 2c ... Bottom plate, 2d ... Back plate, 3 ... Front door, 3a ... Console, 3aa ... Step part, 3b, 3c ... End part, 4 ... Hinge Mechanism: 12 ... Spinning device, 14 ... Opening detection part, 14a ... Main body, 14aa ... Bottomed hole, 14b ... Actuating member, 14ba ... Tip, 14c ... Pressing member, 15 ... Hopper device, 15a ... Medal discharge port, 16 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Overflow tank, 17 ... Power supply device, 18 ... Main control board, 19 ... Illumination part, 20 ... Opening detection part, 20aa, 20ab ... Housing part, 20ba, 20bb ... Reflection part, 20ca, cb ... Optical sensor, 20da, db ... reflective material, 21a ... left reel, 21b ... middle reel, 21c ... right reel, 22a, 22b, 22c ... stepping motor, 23 ... spinner circuit board, 31 ... medal slot, 31a ... medal slot, 2 ... 1 bet button, 33 ... Max bet button, 34 ... Settlement button, 35 ... Start lever, 36a, 36b, 36c ... Stop button, 37 ... Key hole, 41 ... Middle panel unit, 41a ... Display window, 42a, 42b ... Side lamp, 43 ... upper panel portion, 43a ... upper lamp, 43b, 43c ... sound emitting portion, 43ba, 43ca ... speaker, 43d ... image display portion, 44 ... lower panel, 45 ... saucer unit, 45a ... saucer, 45b ... Back plate, 45c, 45d ... sound emitting part, 45ca, 45da ... speaker, 45e ... medal payout port, 46 ... ashtray, 47 ... sub-control board, 48 ... reel illumination part, 49 ... central display board, 50 ... medal selector, 51: Medal guide section, 52: Flow chute, 53: Medal payout passage, 61, 71 ... CPU, 62, 72 ... ROM, 6 , 73 ... RAM, 64,74 ... I / F circuit, 81 ... power supply board, 90 ... lighting unit lighting detection unit, 91 ... slot machine

Claims (3)

A housing having a front opening;
A front door attached so as to be openable and closable so as to close the front opening of the housing;
A front door opening / closing detection device for detecting an opening / closing state of the front door;
An illuminating section that lights when the front door is in an open state;
A gaming machine, comprising: at least one front door opening detection means provided in the vicinity of the illumination unit and detecting an open state of the front door based on incident light.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the front door opening detection unit includes an optical sensor that detects light and an introduction unit that introduces light from the outside or light from the illumination unit.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that notifies an open state based on detection signals of the front door opening / closing detection device and the opening detection means.

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