JP2009082221A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine allowing a person to easily grasp the number of game balls enclosed in a game machine body with a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: A mah-jong game machine 1 is provided with a shooting device that shoots game balls, a ball forwarding device 77 that supplies game balls shot by the shooting device, a circulation unit 73 that retains the game balls shot while keeping the retained game balls standing by, and a seal 101 positioned at a standby route forming member 73b of the circulation unit 73. The seal 101 shows that a prescribed number 7 game balls are kept standby at the circulation unit 73 based on the game balls kept standby at the position where the seal 101 is positioned. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game machine such as a sparrow ball game machine or an arrange ball machine in which game balls are enclosed and circulated, and more particularly to a game machine having a configuration capable of improving maintainability for a circulation unit.

  Conventionally, a sparrow ball game machine, which is an enclosed circulation type game machine, generally has one game ball for the launching means in response to a predetermined medal being inserted into the medal slot on the front side of the game machine body. The feeding means is configured to supply in a timely manner. The sparrow ball game machine has a predetermined number of entrances with a mahjong tile pattern at the bottom of the game board on which various game parts are arranged. For example, 14 game balls per game are placed on the game board. When the game balls are sequentially launched and each game ball enters one of the entrances, the mahjong tile design corresponding to the entrance is displayed on the image display device arranged on the operation panel on the front of the game machine body. Function (manual serving function).

  In recent years, a game medal inserted in the medal slot is detected based on a detection switch, and then a function of automatically displaying a mahjong tile pattern in an appropriate combination on the image display device (automatic distribution function) is provided. A sparrow ball game machine is also known (see Patent Document 1). In this sparrow ball game machine, when unnecessary spears (unnecessary spears) are discarded from the hand spears displayed on the image display device, one game ball can be re-launched. The scoring operation) and the re-launching operation are repeatedly performed within a predetermined number of times, and when a predetermined rising combination is completed, a score is calculated, and a number of game medals corresponding to the score are paid out.

  Arrange ball machines, which are enclosed circulation type game machines, generally have a game ball enclosed in a circulation path including a game board side and a launching means side, and a predetermined medal slot on the front side of the game machine body. When one medal is inserted, game balls are supplied one by one on the firing rail by the feeding means in conjunction with the launching operation of the launching means. The game balls launched from the launching means to the game board side enter the entrance hole in the game area, etc., are guided to the back side of the game board and returned to the launching means side, and the next firing order arrives Until the launching means is waiting in the waiting passage.

  Such an enclosed circulation type gaming machine is provided with an enclosed ball circulation mechanism through which a game ball is circulated, and the enclosed ball circulation mechanism has a game ball enclosed in the enclosed ball circulation mechanism. A device has been proposed that includes a means for detecting the number of encapsulated balls for detecting the number (see Patent Document 2). This is because when the launched game ball is returned to the enclosing ball circulation mechanism, the enclosing ball number detection means (photosensor) detects the number of game balls encapsulated by detecting the game ball at a predetermined position. It can be detected.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-3735 JP-A-7-185067

  However, in the enclosed circulation type gaming machine described in Patent Document 1, since the number of enclosed game balls is measured by a sensor device such as a photosensor, the structure of the gaming machine becomes complicated and the increase in the number of members increases. In addition to incurring high costs, there was a problem that a corresponding space area in the main body of the gaming machine was occupied.

  In addition, when the number of enclosed game balls is less (or less) than a predetermined number, the operating rate of each game ball is increased, and dust is generated due to wear of the game balls. Dust and dirt accumulated in other ball passages may cause the game ball to adhere. When such dust or dirt is circulated while adhering to the game ball, it also adheres to the sensor device arranged near the flow path through which the game ball passes, and this reduces the detection accuracy of the sensor device. There is a risk of inviting.

  Therefore, the present invention has an object to provide a gaming machine that is configured so that the number of game balls enclosed in a gaming machine main body can be easily grasped with a simple structure, and thus solves the above-described problems. is there.

According to the first aspect of the present invention (see, for example, FIGS. 1 to 11), a predetermined number of game balls (Ba) are enclosed in the main body, and the game balls (Ba) are formed on the game board (2a). ) In gaming machines that are played and
A launcher (51) for launching a game ball (Ba) into the game area (2a);
A game ball supply unit (77) for supplying a game ball (Ba) launched by the launching device (51);
A game ball standby unit that stores the game ball (Ba) launched by the launching device (51) and waits in a state where the stored game ball (Ba) can be supplied to the game ball supply unit (77). 73)
In the game ball standby section (73), there are provided marking means (101, 102, 103) arranged to indicate a position where the predetermined number of game balls (Ba) are standby,
The marking means (101, 102, 103) is configured such that the predetermined number of gaming balls (Ba) is based on the waiting of the gaming ball (Ba) at the position where the marking means (101, 102, 103) is arranged. Indicates that the game ball standby unit 73 is in a standby state.
The gaming machine (1) is characterized by this.

The present invention according to claim 2 (see, for example, FIG. 8 and FIG. 11), the game ball standby section (73) has a standby passage (83) for waiting the stored game balls in a line,
The standby passage (83) is formed of a member having a permeable side wall forming the standby passage (83),
The marking means (101, 102, 103) is disposed on the transparent side wall,
A gaming machine (1) according to claim 1.

In the present invention according to claim 3 (see, for example, FIGS. 8 and 11), the marking means (101, 102, 103) is a seal member.
A gaming machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

  Note that the reference numerals in the parentheses are for comparison with the drawings, but this is for convenience to facilitate understanding of the invention and has no influence on the description of the claims. It is not a thing.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the gaming machine accommodates the launching device that launches the game ball, the game ball supply unit that supplies the game ball launched by the launching device, and the launched game ball. A game ball standby unit for waiting the game ball; and a marking means arranged to indicate a position where a predetermined number of enclosed game balls are waited. The marking means is disposed on the marking means. Based on the fact that the game ball is waiting at the position, a predetermined number of game balls are indicated in the game ball standby unit. Thereby, a predetermined number of game balls can be played by placing sign means having a function of only indicating the position in the game ball standby section without using a complicated structure using electrical devices such as sensors. It is possible to grasp the state waiting in the ball standby unit.

  In addition, it is possible to visually check the position where the marking means is arranged without using a device such as a sensor that can reduce the detection accuracy due to dirt or the like to determine whether or not a predetermined number of game balls are waiting in the game ball standby unit. You can easily grasp it.

  Further, it is only necessary to visually check the position where the marking means is arranged without taking out the game balls from the game ball standby unit and counting whether or not the number of game balls waiting in the game ball standby unit is a predetermined number. Can be easily grasped.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the game ball standby portion has the standby passage for waiting the received game balls in a line, and the standby passage is formed of a member having a permeable side wall forming the standby passage. The marking means is disposed on the transparent side wall. As a result, the game ball waiting in the game ball standby section and the marking means can be visually recognized in a state where the side wall forming the standby passage is permeated, so that the game ball standby section can be opened simply by opening the front door of the game machine. It is possible to visually recognize and grasp that a predetermined number of game balls are in a standby state.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the marking means is a seal member, the marking means can be formed with a member that can be easily procured at low cost and can be easily attached. Therefore, even when the predetermined number of game balls enclosed in the gaming machine is changed, the mounting position can be flexibly changed according to each predetermined number.

  Hereinafter, as an embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention, a sparrow ball gaming machine installed in a game hall or the like will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a perspective view showing a sparrow ball game machine according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an excerpt of the game board surface portion in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a view showing the whole front door of the sparrow ball game machine being opened. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the overall positional relationship of the circulation unit with respect to the front door, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the overall positional relationship of the circulation unit, the launching device, and the launching portion. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the circulation unit with the standby passage forming member removed, FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the ball feeding device, and FIG. FIG. 8B is a view showing a state after the ball is fed, FIG. 8 is a side view of the circulation unit, FIG. 9 is a front view showing the configuration of the operation panel, and FIG. 10 is a screen example displayed on the image display unit in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating.

  In the present embodiment, an explanation will be given by taking as an example the sparrow ball game machine 1 in which a game is performed using a total of 108 spears, each of 27 kinds of spear symbols. For example, the 27 types of cocoon symbols are: 9 types of lions from “Ichigo” to “Jiu”, 9 types of “Ichitsu” to “Nine”, There are 2 types of “Kujo”, and 7 types of character are “Eastern”, “South”, “West”, “North”, “White”, “Amber”, and “Middle”. Therefore, the eggplant and the tube are several, and the chords “Ichigo” and “Jukuko” are not included in the character font because they cannot form the Junko. Thereby, the cocoon seed | species in this embodiment shows three types of said "lion", "tuber", and "character". Note that the above-mentioned two types of pods may be any two of lion, tube, and cord. For example, when a lion and cord are formed, A sparrow ball game machine selected so that the “one-cylinder” and “nine-cylinder” can be used as the character.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire sparrow ball game machine 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the sparrow ball gaming machine 1 is provided with a gaming machine main body 1a, and the front part of the gaming machine main body 1a is basically a gaming board surface (game area) 2a, an operation panel 3, A game ball launch lever 4 provided below the operation panel 3, a medal tray 5, a speaker 6 that is a sound output device that outputs sound and sound effects (hereinafter collectively referred to as sound), a lamp device 7, and the like. The The game board surface portion 2a is a game area provided in the game board 2 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 1b in FIG. 1 indicates a front door supported to be openable and closable with respect to the gaming machine main body 1a. A glass member 41 is disposed on the front door 1b, and the glass member 41 is closed when the front door 1b is closed. Is positioned so as to face the game board 2. The front door 1b includes a first opening / closing door 1c that is supported so that it can be opened and closed with respect to the gaming machine main body 1a in a state where the frame portion that supports the glass member 41 and the operation panel 3 are integrated vertically. It has the 2nd opening / closing door 1d supported so that it could open and close with respect to the game machine main body 1a in the back side of the 1 opening / closing door 1c. In addition, the code | symbol 85 in FIG. 1 has shown the guide rail which guides the game ball struck by the launcher not shown to the game board surface part 2a side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a center decoration 12 in a state where an image display device 38 such as a liquid crystal panel for performing a desired effect display is exposed from the opening 13 is arranged at a substantially central portion of the game board surface portion 2 a. Yes. The center ornament 12 has an effect device 40 at the upper part of the opening 13, and has a stage S for distributing the course of the game ball at the lower part of the opening 13.

  An attacker operating passage 10 through which a game ball can pass is disposed on the right side of the center ornament 12, and a horizontally long rectangular attacker 9 is disposed directly below the attacker operating passage 10. This attacker 9 is a variable entrance that changes the state of allowing or disallowing the entrance of a game ball by opening and closing, and specifically, a rising role at the time of completion is a special role (for example, a big role) ), A variable entrance is provided to open and allow the player to freely select himself / herself during the subsequent game.

  In addition, a display unit 37 is disposed at the upper part of the center ornament 12, and the entrances 11 a and 11 b are disposed below the center ornament 12, and the entrances 11 c to 11 c are disposed below the center ornament 12. 11e,... Are arranged. Although not shown, a number of obstacle nails are placed below the center ornament 12 and immediately above the entrances 11c to 11e,... To restrict the entrance width of each entrance. Yes. The game board surface portion 2a is provided with a windmill (not shown) and an obstacle nail (not shown) different from the above.

  Below the stage S in the center ornament 12, a ball entrance unit 53 having a plurality (25 in this embodiment) of ball entrances 11c, 11d, 11e,. 25 of these entrances 11c, 11d, 11e,... Are provided corresponding to 25 kinds of symbols (designs are not shown) of the kites excluding the cord cords. In addition, “Ichigo” and “Kyuugo” are displayed at the entrances 11a and 11b, respectively, “Ichigo” is entered at the entrance 11c, “2” is entered at the entrance 11d, Necessary mahjong tiles are sequentially displayed at the ball outlet 11e, such as “Three bases”. In addition, the code | symbol 53a in a figure has shown the front cover of the ball entering unit 53. FIG.

  Further, inside the gaming machine main body 1a, as shown in FIG. 3, the power supply board 55, the main control board 56, the hopper unit 57, the medal payout device 48, and the receiving box 60 with the entire front door 1b opened. Are arranged from the upper part to the lower part. In addition, the code | symbol 51 in the figure has shown the launching device 51 mentioned later, and the code | symbol 73 located in the upper right of the launching device 51 in the front view of FIG. 3 shows the circulation unit (game ball standby part) mentioned later. ing.

  Next, detailed configurations of the circulation unit 73 and the launching device 51 including the features of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the circulation unit 73 is detachably mounted on the back surface of the second opening / closing door 1d of the front door 1b at a predetermined position 58 obliquely above the launching device 51 via the base member 73a. The When viewed through the front door 1b from the front side of the front door 1b, as shown in FIG. 5, the launching device 51, the launching portion 53, and the circulation unit 73 are arranged in that order from the front side. .

  The firing device 51 includes a firing lever 32, a firing spring portion 70, a striking lever 71, and a striking member 71a. The launching portion 53 includes a rail member 72 having a firing rail 72a in a state where the front plate is removed. The hitting member 71 a hits the game ball Ba sequentially supplied from the ball feeder (game ball supply unit) 77 to the launch side end of the launch rail 72 a onto the game board surface 2 a by the instantaneous rotation of the hit lever 71. Configured as follows.

  The ball feeding device 77 has a function of supplying the game balls accommodated in the standby passage 83 one by one onto the firing rail 72a in conjunction with the launching operation of the launching device 51 described above. It is integrally coupled to the base member 73a so as to correspond to the launch side end. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the ball feeding device 77 includes a solenoid 91 arranged in the vertical direction, a plunger 92 that moves forward and backward when the solenoid 91 is actuated, A pivot lever 95 that is connected to the distal end portion and can pivot about the pivot fulcrum 93, and a pivot fulcrum 98 by pivotably engaging with an engagement notch 95a at the distal end portion of the pivot lever 95. And a ball delivery member 97 that can be rotated around the center.

  The circulation unit 73 is long in the left-right direction (width direction) of the front door 1b so that it can be understood by referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 together (both figures are viewed from opposite directions). A base member 73a formed in a scale and a standby passage forming member 73b that can be connected to and separated from each other while facing the base member 73a are provided. The standby passage forming member 73b is made of a transparent resin member, and forms a part (specifically, a side wall) of the standby passage 83.

  In FIG. 6, in order to facilitate understanding of the configuration, the surface that should originally face the base member 73 a side of the standby passage forming member 73 b is illustrated in a state facing the front side of the sheet. Further, reference numeral 79 in FIG. 6 designates a protruding member projecting to the rear side of the front door 1b, and reference numeral 87 designates one game ball waiting in the standby passage 83 one by one to the firing rail 72a (see FIG. 5). A ball feed detection sensor for detecting each game ball is shown.

  The base member 73a is configured to be mounted at a predetermined position 58 (see FIG. 4) on the back surface side of the front door 1b. One end of a ball feeding device 77 for feeding game balls one by one to the launching device 51 is provided. And a standby passage 83 extending in the left-right direction as a whole. The base member 73a further includes foul ball return passages 75 and 76 for returning the game balls (foul balls) that are launched from the launching device 51 and return without being able to reach the game board surface portion 2a to the standby passage 83, and A foul ball detection sensor 86a for detecting a foul ball returning to the standby passage 83 through the foul ball return passages 75 and 76 is provided. The foul ball detection sensor 86a transmits the information to the control device (for example, the main control board 56 in FIG. 3) every time one foul ball is detected. In addition, the code | symbol 86 in FIG. 6 has shown the support part of the foul ball | bowl detection sensor 86a.

  The base member 73 a includes a return passage forming member 88 disposed in a U shape above the standby passage 83. The return passage forming member 88 is inclined so that when the game ball launched from the launching device 51 onto the game board surface portion 2a returns to the circulation unit 73 through the entrance 11c or the like, the accommodation hole 74 is provided. The game balls accommodated from are guided to the standby passage 83. The base member 73a has two hook-like protrusions that protrude from the gap between the return passage forming member 88 and the vicinity of the foul passage 76 toward the outer side (that is, the standby passage forming member 73b side). 82. These hook-shaped projections 82 are respectively inserted into and engaged with the two openings 89 formed in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the standby passage forming member 73b. As a result, the base member 73a and the standby passage forming member 73b are integrally coupled.

  Further, two rotation support portions 81 are formed projecting downward on the lower edge of the base member 73a so as to be located in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction. Each of the rotation support portions 81 includes a rotation support shaft 81a that constitutes a rotation center that coincides with an axis h that extends in the left-right direction (that is, the horizontal direction) in FIG.

  On the other hand, the standby passage forming member 73b is located in the vicinity of both end portions in the longitudinal direction, and the rotation support portion 80 formed to protrude downward in FIG. 6 so as to correspond to the two rotation support shafts 81a. It has. These rotation support portions 80 have a shape in which the lower side from the intermediate portion in the vertical direction is slightly bent in a direction away from the main body side of the standby passage forming member 73b (left direction in FIG. 6) and then hangs down. The bent portion is configured as a curved portion 80a that engages with the rotation support shaft 81a to form a hinge portion.

  Accordingly, the curved passage 80a and the rotation support shaft are formed by facing the standby passage forming member 73b in a normal state with respect to the base member 73a and engaging the two rotation support portions 80 with the rotation support shaft 81a, respectively. The hinge part which can provide smooth rotation operation | movement can be obtained by making the contact part with 81a mutually slidably contact. By this hinge portion, the standby passage forming member 73b can be rotated with respect to the base member 73a about the horizontal axis h.

  As described above, when the standby passage forming member 73b faces the base member 73a in a normal state, the standby passage 83 in the circulation unit 73 is visually recognized through the transparent standby passage forming member 73b as shown in FIG. be able to. Then, a black seal (marking means) 101 imitating an annular shape, a letter 7 and a letter U as shown in the figure is affixed to the position forming the side wall of the standby path 83 in the standby path forming member 73b. Has been. In particular, in the ring-shaped seal 101, a predetermined number (for example, seven) of all game balls enclosed in the sparrow ball game machine 1 are returned to the return passage forming member 88 or the foul ball return passages 75 and 76. In the standby state accommodated in the standby passage 83, the game ball positioned at the rearmost portion is positioned beside the game ball. Thereby, the center part of the side surface of the game ball located at the rearmost part is visually recognized from the annular transparent hole.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, the operation panel 3 is provided with an image display unit 14 including a liquid crystal display device, a medal slot 15, and various operation buttons. As these various operation buttons, 13 buttons 13a, 16b,..., 16m arranged side by side, self-throwing button 17, reach button 18, bag selection right shift button 19, bag selection left A shift button 20, a self-determination determination button 21, a payout button 22, a game end button 23, a game start button 24, and a reject (REJECT) button 25 are arranged. When the player operates each of these buttons, for example, the self-determination button 21, a self-determination determination signal is generated, and this signal is input to a game control device (not shown) constituted by a microcomputer or the like. Various software (programs) installed in the game control device executes a process set in advance for each input signal to advance the game.

  Various display units are set on the display surface of the image display unit 14, and information data, images, and effect images necessary for the player as the game progresses are displayed. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, in the upper horizontal direction of the display surface, a game medal storage number display unit 26, a remaining game ball number display unit 27, a wind screen display unit 28, a front drum display unit 29, and a back drum display unit 30, a rising game display unit 31, a big game rising game display unit 32 that indicates a winning game that can obtain the right of a big game among special games, and a chance that indicates a rising game that can acquire the right of a chance game A game winning combination display portion 33 and a throwing-up spear display portion 34 for displaying a throwing spear symbol are provided, and a spear symbol, a rendering image, a numerical value, and the like are displayed as the game progresses. The above-mentioned winning combination that can obtain the right of the big game and the rising combination that can acquire the right of the chance game are hereinafter referred to as “special role”, and the rising role other than the special role is referred to as the “normal role”. ".

  Further, in the lower horizontal direction of the display surface of the image display unit 14, there are provided a hand bag display unit 35 for displaying 13 hand bag symbols, and a self screen display unit 36 for displaying self-portrait symbols. Yes. It should be noted that button names (A, B, C, D, E, etc.) corresponding to the throwing away buttons 16a, 16b,... Are displayed at the bottom of each symbol displayed on the hand display unit 35 and the self display unit 36. ...) is displayed. The displayed mahjong tiles are displayed in color.

  Next, the game procedure of the above-described sparrow ball gaming machine 1 and each process associated with this procedure will be described.

  One game starts when a player inserts a medal into the medal insertion slot 15, presses the game start button 24, and 14 hands are arranged. Then, the player operates various operation buttons such as the discard buttons 16a, 16b,..., And one game progresses based on input signals and control signals generated from various sensors based on the operations. It will be.

  In other words, when a player inserts a medal into the medal slot 15 and presses the game start button 24, the game can be started in one game, and the 14 arrangements necessary for starting the game are continued. The symbol is automatically determined, and the image of the cocoon symbol as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the hand symbol display unit 35 and the self-portrait display unit 36 of the image display unit 14. Further, an image of the front draper symbol as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the front dra display unit 29 of the image display unit 14, and the big combination and the chance combination are displayed in the big game rising combination display unit 32 and the chance game rising combination. Displayed on the display unit 33. Then, the player is notified by screen display or voice that the game start conditions are satisfied.

  In this state, the player performs an operation of selecting a discarded basket from symbols of the basket displayed on the hand basket display unit 35 and the self-portrait display unit 36. When the player decides the design of the throwing bag, the player selects (turns on) one of the throwing button 16a, 16b, 16c,. Throw away the spear. Then, one game ball is sent to the game ball launch position, and the game ball launch lever 4 can be operated to launch the game ball into the game board surface portion 2a.

  The process of sending the game ball to the game ball launch position as described above is performed by the ball feeding device 77. In the standby state shown in FIG. 7A, the ball feeding device 77 moves the game ball Ba fed from the standby passage 83 side based on the detection by the ball feeding detection sensor 87 shown in FIG. With the retracted plunger 92, it is received by the receiving surface 97a of the ball delivery member 97 at the ball receiving position in FIG. Then, when the solenoid 91 is actuated at a predetermined timing and the plunger 92 protrudes downward as shown in FIG. 7B, the turning lever 95 turns in the clockwise direction in FIG. As a result, the ball delivery member 97 rotates counterclockwise in the drawing, and operates so that the game ball Ba held on the receiving surface 97a is delivered onto the firing rail 72a through the ball delivery opening 68. .

  When a player launches a game ball sent to the game ball launch position and this game ball enters any of the entrances 11a, 11b, 11c,... Are displayed on the self-displaying portion 36. If the player does not end the game by self-determination, the player performs a throw-away operation to throw away one of the 14 traps that seems unnecessary. Then, the player sequentially executes such operations, and at the time when it is determined that the desired rising role has been heard (tempered), the reach button 18 is operated to reach or not reach. Continue the operation of raising the ball until the number of game balls that can be launched in one game is exhausted. In addition, when the reach button 18 is operated and the reach is applied, an image of the back-draft symbol as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the back-dra display unit 30 of the image display unit 14.

  In the above game, the game balls launched by the player enter the entrances such as the entrances 11a, 11b, 11c,... It is returned to the circulation unit 73 through the illustrated ball passage. At this time, the game ball is accommodated into the circulation unit 73 from the accommodation hole 74 formed in the circulation unit 73, reaches the standby passage 83 via the return passage forming member 88, and enters a standby state.

  In addition, if the player mistakenly operates the game ball launch lever 4 or the launch operation is too weak, the launched game ball does not reach the game board surface portion 2a and returns inside the guide rail 85. come. The game ball (foul ball) returned in this way is accommodated on the foul ball return passage 75, and a foul ball detection sensor located slightly in front of the foul ball return passage 76 via the foul ball return passages 75 and 76. It falls into the standby passage 83 through 86a and enters a standby state.

  In a normal game state, the game balls launched by the player are accommodated again in the circulation unit 73 through the respective paths as described above, and circulate in the sparrow ball game machine 1 main body. However, due to an unexpected failure, etc., when the game ball launched into the game board surface 2a causes a clogging or the like in the game board surface 2a or the ball path in the sparrow ball game machine 1 main body, etc. Therefore, a predetermined number of seven game balls are not accommodated in the circulation unit 73. As described above, when the number of game balls in the standby state decreases from a predetermined number, it is difficult to grasp the decrease, so that the player continues to continue the game and the continuation of the game is also an obstacle. Often does not occur. In addition, even if the person in charge notices that a malfunction has occurred in the sparrow ball game machine due to a decrease in the game balls, a measure such as resetting the power supply of the sparrow ball game machine is taken. In many cases, the game is continued without being aware of the decrease in game balls.

  In this sparrow ball game machine 1, the front door 1b is opened, the standby passage 83 is visually confirmed, and it is only confirmed whether the game ball is positioned at the position of the seal 101 attached to the side wall of the standby passage 83. It is possible to grasp whether or not seven game balls are waiting in the standby passage 83 by the operation. As a result, it is possible to easily check whether there is an abnormality in the number of the seven game balls, which is the predetermined number circulated in the main body of the sparrow ball game machine 1, so that it has taken a long time until now. It becomes possible to quickly divide the contents.

  Next, another example different from the seal 101 as shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIG. 11A and 11B are diagrams showing another example of the seal 101, in which FIG. 11A is a front view showing the first example, and FIG. 11B is a front view showing the second example. In addition, the thing of the same code | symbol as FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 10 used in the figure assumes that a structure and an effect | action are the same, and abbreviate | omits the description.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the seal (indicating means) 102 is, for example, a black seal formed in a triangular shape having a side length approximately equal to the radius of the game ball. The seal 102 is affixed to the standby passage forming member 73b with one corner portion facing downward. As a result, when a predetermined number of all the game balls enclosed in the sparrow ball game machine 1 are accommodated in the standby passage 83 and enter the standby state, the corners directed downward are as shown in FIG. The game ball located at the rearmost part can be visually recognized as pointing to the upper center part in a side view.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, the seal (marking means) 103 is a horizontally long U-shaped, for example, black seal in a front view. The seal 103 is attached so that a U-shaped opening is positioned in the direction of the ball feeding device 77 downstream of the standby passage 83 and the horizontal lines above and below the U-shape are along the standby passage 83. As a result, when a predetermined number of game balls enclosed in the sparrow ball game machine 1 are accommodated in the standby passage 83 and enter a standby state, the game ball located at the rearmost portion is closed in the U-shape of the seal 103. It can visually recognize in the state located in the side.

  By arranging such a seal 102 or seal 103 in the standby passage 83, a predetermined number of balls are placed in the standby passage 83 based on the fact that the game ball is in a standby state at the position where the seal 102 or the seal 103 is disposed. It becomes possible to easily grasp that the game ball is waiting.

  In the present embodiment described above, the seals 101 to 103 have been described as sticking seal members. However, the seals 101 to 103 are applied after manufacturing such that printing is directly performed on the side wall of the standby passage 83 in the standby passage forming member 73b. Even if it exists, you may form integrally, such as shape | molding a applicable location (for example, laser marking or a hot stamp).

  Moreover, in this Embodiment demonstrated above, although the predetermined number of the game balls enclosed with the sparrow ball game machine 1 was demonstrated as seven, it is needless to say that the number is not specifically limited. And the stickers 101-103 will be affixed on the position of the side wall of the waiting path 83 according to the predetermined number.

  As described above, the sparrow ball gaming machine 1 accommodates the launching device 51 for launching the game ball, the ball feeding device 77 for supplying the game ball launched by the launching device 51, and the game ball thus launched. A circulation unit 73 that waits for the game ball, and a seal 101 (or seals 102 and 103) disposed on a standby passage forming member 73b in the circulation unit 73. The seal 101 is disposed on the seal 101. Based on the fact that the game ball is waiting at the position, a predetermined number of seven game balls are indicated in the circulation unit 73 in a standby state. Thus, a predetermined number of seals 101 having a function of only indicating the position are arranged on the standby passage forming member 73b without using a complicated structure using an electric device such as a sensor, thereby obtaining a predetermined number. It is possible to grasp the state in which the game ball is waiting in the circulation unit 73.

  Further, the seal 101 (or the seals 102 and 103) is arranged without taking out the game balls from the circulation unit 73 and counting whether or not the number of game balls waiting in the circulation unit 73 is a predetermined number. It is possible to easily grasp the position just by visually recognizing.

  In addition, the circulation unit 73 has a standby passage 83 for waiting the stored game balls in a line, and the standby passage 83 is formed of a member whose side wall forming the standby passage 83 is transparent, and the seal 101 (or seal) 102, 103) are arranged on the side wall. As a result, the game ball Ba waiting on the circulation unit 73 and the seal 101 (or the seals 102 and 103) can be visually recognized in a state where the side wall forming the standby passage 83 is transmitted. It is possible to visually recognize and grasp that a predetermined number of game balls are in a standby state in the circulation unit 73 simply by opening the front door 1b.

  Further, since the seal 101 (or the seals 102 and 103) can be formed with a seal member that can be easily procured at a low cost, it can be easily attached. Therefore, even when the predetermined number (for example, 7) of game balls enclosed in the sparrow ball game machine 1 is changed, the mounting position thereof can be flexibly changed according to each predetermined number (for example, 8 or 11). can do.

  The present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiment, but the sparrow ball game machine of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made from the configuration of the above embodiment. And the sparrow ball game machine which gave the change is also included in the scope of the present invention.

It is a perspective view which shows the sparrow ball game machine in this embodiment. It is a perspective view which extracts and shows the game board surface part in FIG. It is a front view which shows the internal structure of a back frame by opening the whole front door of this sparrow ball game machine. It is a perspective view which shows the whole positional relationship with respect to the front door of a circulation unit. It is a perspective view which shows the whole positional relationship of a circulation unit, a launching device, and a launching part. It is a perspective view shown in the state where the standby passage formation member of the circulation unit was removed and the internal structure was shown. It is side surface sectional drawing of a ball feeding apparatus, (a) is a figure which shows the state before ball feeding, (b) is a figure which shows the state after ball feeding. It is a side view of a circulation unit. It is a front view which shows the structure of an operation panel. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a screen displayed on the image display part in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of a seal | sticker, (a) is a front view which shows a 1st example, (b) is a front view which shows a 2nd example.

Explanation of symbols

1 gaming machine (sparrow ball gaming machine)
2a Game area (game board surface)
51 Launching device 73 Game ball standby section (circulation unit)
77 Game ball supply unit (ball feeder)
83 Standby passage 101 Marking means (seal)
102 Marking means (seal)
103 Marking means (seal)
Ba game ball

Claims (3)

In a gaming machine in which a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed in the main body, and the game balls are launched into the game area formed on the game board,
A launcher that launches a game ball into the game area;
A game ball supply unit for supplying a game ball launched by the launching device;
A game ball standby unit that stores the game ball launched by the launching device and waits in a state where the stored game ball can be supplied to the game ball supply unit;
In the game ball standby unit, comprising: marking means arranged to indicate a position where the predetermined number of game balls are waiting;
The sign means indicates that the predetermined number of game balls are in a waiting state in the game ball standby unit based on the fact that the game balls are waited at the position where the sign means is disposed.
A gaming machine characterized by that. The game ball standby section has a standby passage for waiting the stored game balls in a line,
The standby passage is formed of a member having a permeable side wall forming the standby passage.
The marking means is disposed on the transparent side wall,
The gaming machine according to claim 1. The marking means is a seal member;
The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2.

Images