JP2011004919A - Token feeder, and token game device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a token feeder, and a token game device, capable of increasing the degree of freedom in position selection of tokens charged to a game field so as to increase game performance.SOLUTION: The token feeder for charging tokens from the external into the game device includes an operation part, a token charging part, a guide to introduce the tokens charged from the token charging part to roll in the circumferential direction into the game device, a token discharge part formed at a distal end of the guide, a horizontal rotation means to hold the guide in such a way that the token discharge part is horizontally rotatable, and a vertical rotation means to hold the guide in such a way that the token discharge part is vertically rotatable. It also includes an installation part to install the guide onto the game device. In accordance with operation to the operation part, the token discharge part is displaceable horizontally and vertically.

Description

  The present invention relates to a medal insertion device for inserting a game medium such as a medal from the outside of a game device onto a game field in the game device, and a medal game device including the medal insertion device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been provided a game apparatus that directly uses a game medium such as a medal inserted into the game apparatus for a game. For example, a game device configured to pay out a predetermined number of medals as a prize (reward) when a medal inserted from a medal insertion device stops in a predetermined area set in the game field. The player operates a medal insertion device (also called medal shooter) to adjust the direction of medal insertion, and inserts a medal into the game device aiming at a predetermined hit area set in the game field. Is to do.

  In such a conventional medal game machine, a medal insertion device for a player to insert a medal from the outside of the game device into the game device is a medal insertion port for inserting the medal vertically outside the game device. It has. A rail-shaped guide portion that communicates with the medal insertion slot and guides the inserted medal to the inside of the game device is provided, and the medal is discharged (inserted) into the game device from the tip of the guide portion. It is configured. The guide portion includes a bottom plate portion that is inclined downward toward the inside of the game device so that the outer peripheral surface of the medal rolls, and a pair of side plate portions that are bent upward from both ends of the bottom plate portion. The inserted medal is guided into the game device without falling sideways while the front or back surface of the medal is in sliding contact with the side plate portion.

  Some of these medal insertion devices are configured so that the player can turn the medal insertion device left and right so that a player can select a medal insertion point within a predetermined range in the game device. In addition, a medal insertion device having a medal selection mechanism for eliminating a medal having a diameter smaller than that of a regular medal is proposed in the guide unit. Such a medal insertion device is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1. ing.

Japanese Patent No. 3801900

  However, in the conventional medal insertion device disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the medal insertion position that can be selected by the player is an arcuate shape with the left-right rotation axis of the medal insertion device as a fulcrum. Since the range is limited, there is a problem that it is difficult to widen the range of game characteristics.

  Although the dropped points of the inserted medals on the game field in the game device can be selected to some extent, the medals that have dropped vertically on the game field jump down on the game field and roll down sideways after rolling. Since it stops, there also existed the subject that it was difficult to predict the position where the finally inserted medal stops.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described conventional problems, and a medal insertion device capable of increasing the degree of freedom of position selection of medals inserted on the game field and widening the range of game characteristics. And it aims at providing a medal game device.

  In order to solve such a problem, the invention described in claim 1 is a medal insertion device for inserting a medal into the game device from the outside, and the medal insertion device includes an operation unit, a medal insertion unit, A guide portion that guides the disc-shaped medal inserted from the medal insertion portion into the game device while rolling the medal in the circumferential direction, a medal discharge portion formed at a tip portion of the guide portion, and the guide A left-right rotating means for holding the medals discharging part rotatably in the left-right direction and a vertical-rotating means for holding the guiding parts rotatably in the vertical direction by the medal discharging part. And an attachment part for attaching the part to the game device, wherein the medal discharge part is configured to be displaceable in the left-right direction and the up-down direction in accordance with an operation on the operation part.

  According to the medal insertion device of the first aspect, the attachment portion of the medal insertion device has the left-right rotation means for rotatably holding the guide portion in the left-right direction and the up-down rotation for holding in the up-down direction. Therefore, it is possible to displace the discharge portion formed at the tip of the guide portion in the left-right direction and the up-down direction in response to an operation on the operation portion, and a technique for inserting a medal into a medal game machine Intervention increases and the range of gameplay can be expanded.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the medal insertion device according to the first aspect, the medal posture change in which the medal discharge portion causes the guide portion to roll down in a vertical posture so that the posture of the medal is turned sideways. A portion is provided.

  According to the medal insertion device of the second aspect, the medal discharge unit is provided with the posture changing unit that causes the posture of the medal that rolls down the guide unit in the vertical posture to be in the horizontal direction. The medals discharged from the game unit are discharged into the game device in a sideways posture. Because of this action, medals that fall into the game device do not roll and move further from the fall point, but stop near the fall point. It can be further enhanced and a new game property can be imparted.

  The invention described in claim 3 is a medal game comprising the medal insertion device according to claim 1 or 2, and a game field for receiving the medal inserted from the medal insertion device. Device.

  According to the present invention, the attachment portion of the medal insertion device has the left / right rotation means for holding the guide portion so as to be rotatable in the left / right direction, and the up / down rotation means for holding the guide portion in the vertical direction. Since the discharge part formed at the tip of the guide part can be displaced in the left-right direction and the up-down direction according to the operation on the operation part, the technical intervention at the time of inserting the medal into the medal game machine is increased and the game performance is improved. An expanded medal insertion device and medal game device can be provided.

  In addition, since the medal discharge unit can be configured with a posture changing unit that causes the posture of the medal to roll down in a vertical posture to the medal discharge unit, the medal discharged from the medal discharge unit can be configured. A medal that has been discharged into the game device in a landscape orientation and dropped into the game device stops in the vicinity of the falling point without rolling and moving further from the falling point. It is possible to provide a medal insertion device and a medal game device that can further enhance the technical intervention of a player and have novel game characteristics.

It is a perspective view showing the whole game device composition concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a mimetic diagram showing the basic composition of the game device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the game device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the game of the game device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a typical top view of the game field of the game device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the image | video area | region of the infrared camera which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the image | video of the infrared camera which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the scanning by the 1st coincidence degree calculating means which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the scanning by the 2nd coincidence degree calculating means which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the position detection method of the medal based on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the concept which converts the position coordinate calculated | required by the orthogonal coordinate system into the positional data of a polar coordinate system. It is a perspective view which shows the medal insertion apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which removed the cover of the attachment part of the medal insertion apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view when it operates so that the medal discharge part of the medal insertion apparatus of FIG. 13 may be displaced upwards. It is a fragmentary perspective view which shows other embodiment of the medal insertion apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the game which can be applied to the game device which concerns on this invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of a game apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a basic configuration of a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2, the game apparatus 1 includes an upper casing 11 and a lower casing 16 as casings that cover the whole, and a disc-shaped turntable 20 having an upper surface serving as the game field 2 is shown inside the figure. It is provided to be able to rotate clockwise. The upper casing 11 and the lower casing 16 have a dodecahedron shape having an appearance in which the bases of the two quadrangular pyramids are combined. Transparent plastic partition plates 12 are provided on the four side surfaces of the upper casing 11 so that the circular game field 2 provided in the game apparatus 1 can be visually recognized through these partition plates 12. .

  Above the turntable 20, medal collection devices 17, which will be described later, arranged radially are fixedly arranged with respect to the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 16, and these adjacent medal collection devices are arranged. Four satellites 18 a to 18 d divided by 17 are formed. On the partition plate 12 of the upper housing 11, a medal insertion device 13 for inserting medals from the outside of the game device 1 onto the game field 2 in the game device 1 is provided for each satellite (game terminal device) 18a to 18d. A total of eight are attached. Therefore, in the game apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to play a game up to eight simultaneously.

  The medal insertion device 13 is provided with a medal insertion portion 13a located outside the game device 1, and a guide portion 13b that is connected to the medal insertion portion 13a and guides the medal inserted from the medal insertion portion 13a into the game device 1. And a discharge portion 13c that discharges the inserted medals formed at the tip of the guide portion onto the game field 2. The guide portion 13b of the medal insertion device 13 is composed of a guide rail that is inclined downward toward the game device 1, and the medal inserted into the medal insertion portion 13a is longitudinally accelerated while the guide portion 13b is accelerated by its own weight. It rolls down in the direction and is placed on the game field 2 from the discharge part 13c. In addition, a medal insertion sensor 13d that detects that a medal has been inserted is disposed in the guide portion 13b. As will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 12 to FIG. 15, after the medal inserted through the insertion port 13 a rolls down the guide unit 13 b in a vertical posture in the discharge unit 13 c in the present embodiment. A posture changing unit is provided for changing the posture of the medal to a horizontal posture.

  A dome-shaped canopy 14 is provided on the upper surface of the upper casing 11, and the center of the canopy 14 has a projector 3 serving as an image display means in the present embodiment, and a medal placed on the game field 2. Infrared cameras 4a and 4b for capturing images are provided. Further, the lower casing 16 is provided with a medal payout opening 15 to be paid out as a prize according to the determination result of the game for each of the satellites 18a to 18d.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a basic configuration of the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, the turntable 20 having the game field 2 formed on the upper surface is made of a material that transmits infrared light. A light emitting unit (light emitting unit) 5 that emits infrared light is provided below the turntable 20. As the light emitting means 5, various devices can be used. For example, a device in which infrared light emitting LEDs are arranged in a circular shape or a tube in which tubular infrared light emitters are arranged side by side is used. It is preferable to use a light source that can uniformly irradiate infrared light.

  The projector 3 disposed above the game field 2 of the turntable 20 is a display means (display unit) that projects and displays various game images on the game field 2, and hereinafter, in the present embodiment, An example of a game in which a target displayed on the game field 2 pays out the number of medals set for each target when the inserted medal stops on the target will be described. For example, in FIG. 2, the target 22a is a target from which 5 medals can be acquired, and similarly, the target 22b indicates 10 targets and the target 22c indicates a target from which 20 medals can be acquired. Further, a target whose size of the privilege is unknown may be provided until the medal hits (it is determined that the target is won) like the target 22d. In FIG. 2, the display examples of the targets 22a to 22d are shown only on the satellite 18b, but similar targets 22a and the like are also displayed on the other satellites 18a, 18c, and 18d. In addition to the targets 22a to 22d, the game field 2 is configured to display background still images and moving images.

  Two infrared cameras 4 a and 4 b are disposed above the game field 2 of the turntable 20. In the present embodiment, the two infrared cameras 4a and 4b are configured to be able to shoot the entire area of the game field 2. That is, one infrared camera 4a is arranged to photograph the areas of satellites 18a and 18b in the game field 2, and the other infrared camera 4b is arranged to photograph the areas of satellite 18c and satellite 18d. The arrangement of the infrared camera 4a and the like may be configured so that the entire area of the game field 2 can be photographed by one infrared camera, or one infrared camera is arranged for each of the satellites 18a to 18d. May be. In addition, when a light source that emits ultraviolet light is used as the light emitting means 5, it can be configured by using an imaging means capable of photographing ultraviolet light. When visible light having a specific wavelength is used as a light source, light of that wavelength is used. You may comprise using the imaging means which can image | photograph.

  In the present embodiment, the turntable 20 is configured to rotate at a constant speed in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by an arrow A in the figure by the game field drive motor 6. And the medal inserted into each satellite 18a-18d is collect | recovered when the latest medal collection | recovery apparatuses 17a-17d are reached with rotation of the turntable 20. FIG. Specifically, each medal recovery device 17a to 17d prevents the medal that has reached the recovery devices 17a to 17d with the rotation of the turntable 20 from entering the satellites 18a to 18d adjacent in the counterclockwise direction. Conveying means (for example, in the form of a belt conveyor) that includes an entry restricting portion and conveys medals whose movement in the rotation direction of the turntable 20 is restricted by the entry restricting portion toward the central portion 19 of the turntable 20. ) And is configured to collect medals from a medal collection port (not shown) provided below the center portion 19 of the turntable 20 (or the outer peripheral portion of the turntable 20). It is also possible to collect medals by rotating the medal collection device 17.

  In FIG. 2, one medal insertion device 13 is schematically shown. However, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, two medal insertion devices 13 are provided for each satellite 18a to 18d. It is arranged.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the control system of the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a game control system configuration of the game apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the control system in the present embodiment mainly includes a game control unit 7 and an image recognition control unit 8. In the present embodiment, the control device including the electronic circuits and the like constituting these control units 7, 8 and the like is housed in the lower housing 16.

  The game control unit (main control unit, main control means) 7 is a game control CPU 701 that controls and controls the progress of the game, a program ROM 702 that stores a game progress program and various image data, audio data, and the like, I / O interface I with RAM 703 used as a work area for a CPU for game control, data stored temporarily according to progress, a GPU 704 for generating a game image and a production image, an external device 9 and the like / O705 and the like. These game control CPU 701, program ROM 702, RAM 703, GPU 704, and input / output interface I / O 705 are connected via a bus 706. The GPU 704 is connected to the projector 3, and the input / output interface I / O 705 is connected to the input / output interface I / O 805 of the image recognition control unit and the external device 9.

  The image recognition control unit 8 is used as a work area for the image recognition CPU 801, image data analysis, a program ROM 802 storing an arithmetic program, temporary storage of image data taken by the infrared camera 4 a, and the image recognition CPU 801. It comprises a RAM 803, an input / output interface I / O 805, and the like. These image recognition CPU 801, program ROM 802, RAM 803, and input / output interface I / O 805 are connected via a bus 806. The input / output interface I / O 805 is connected to the input / output interface I / O 705 of the game control unit 7 and the infrared cameras 4a and 4b.

  The external device 9 connected to the input / output interface I / O 705 of the game control unit 7 includes a game field drive motor 6, a game field position detection sensor 10 and various markers 26 a to 26 d and 27, an infrared light source 5, a medal. An input sensor 13d and the like are included.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the procedure of the game progress process in the game device according to the present embodiment will be described. 4A shows a processing procedure by the game control CPU 701 and the image recognition CPU 801 in the advertisement mode, and FIG. 4B shows a processing procedure by the game control CPU 701 and the image recognition CPU 801 in the game mode. Show.

(Step S101) to (Step S104)
When the game apparatus 1 is powered on, the game control CPU 701 of the game control unit 7 and the image recognition CPU 801 of the image recognition control unit 8 perform processing for initializing predetermined storage areas of the RAM 703 and RAM 803, respectively. The advertisement mode (customer waiting mode) is set (step S101). In the advertisement mode, a demonstration image for waiting for a customer is displayed on the game field 2. Thereafter, the advertisement mode is continued until the player inserts a medal into the medal insertion unit 13a (No in step S102). When the medal insertion sensor 13d of the guide unit 13b detects a medal (Yes in step S102), image recognition is performed. The CPU 801 performs processing for enabling image recognition by the infrared cameras 4a and 4b (step S103). At the same time, the game control CPU 701 performs processing for clearing (resetting) the advertisement timer (step S104), and the game mode ( Step S201) is performed.

(Step S201) (Step S202)
In the state of shifting to the game mode (step S201), the image recognition by the infrared cameras 4a and 4b is validated by the processing of step S103 described above, and the game image projected from the projector 3 is displayed in the game field 2. Is displayed. Here, when the process proceeds from step S104 to step S201 to step S202 to reach step S202, the result of the determination process in step S202 is affirmative (Yes), similar to the determination result in step S102. Since the process in step S203 is also executed in step S104, the process proceeds to the next step S206.
On the other hand, during the game mode, after an affirmative determination (Yes) in step S208 described later, a negative determination (No) in step S210, or an affirmative determination (Yes) in step S210, the process proceeds to step S202 after the process of step S211 is completed. When it is reached, a process for determining whether or not a new medal has been inserted is performed in step S202. When it is determined that a new medal has been inserted, the process proceeds to step S203, and a new medal has not been inserted. When it is determined, the process proceeds to step S204.

(Step S203)
In step S203, the game control CPU 701 performs a process of clearing (resetting) the advertisement timer, and proceeds to step S206.

(Step S204) (Step S205)
When the determination result in the determination process of step S202 is negative (No), the game control CPU 701 performs a process of determining whether or not the count value of the advertisement timer exceeds 5 minutes (step S204). When it is determined that the count value of the advertisement timer exceeds 5 minutes, the process returns to step S101 and shifts to the advertisement mode. If it is determined that the count value of the advertisement timer does not exceed 5 minutes, a process of updating the count value of the advertisement timer (incrementing the count value of a predetermined unit) is performed (step S205), and the process proceeds to step S206.

(Step S206)
In step S206, the image recognition CPU 801 performs processing for obtaining the position of the medal on the game field 2 from the image data photographed by the infrared cameras 4a and 4b, and proceeds to step S207. Details of the processing in step S206 will be described later in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Step S207)
In step S207, the game control CPU 701 performs a process of determining whether or not the medal whose position has been detected in the process of step S206 is a medal that has already been subjected to the hit determination process, and the medal that has already been hit. If it is determined that the medal has not yet been hit, the process proceeds to step S209.

(Step S208)
In step S208, the game control CPU 701 performs a process of determining whether or not all the medals recognized in the process of step S206 have finished the hit determination process, and there is a medal that has not been hit yet. Returns to step S207, and when it is determined that all the medals have finished the hit determination process, the process returns to step S202.

(Step S209)
In the determination process of step S207 described above, when it is determined that the medal whose position has been detected by the process of step S206 has not been hit yet (No in step S207), the game control CPU 701 wins the medal. A process of storing in the predetermined storage area of the RAM 703 as having been determined is performed, and the process proceeds to step S210. However, as will be described later, in this step S209, the hit determination process is not yet executed.

(Step S210) (Step S211)
In step S210, the game control CPU 701 operates the hit determination program stored in the program ROM 702, and performs a medal hit determination process stored as a hit determination in step S209 described above. In the present embodiment, the data area of the image data of the medals photographed by the infrared cameras 42a and 42b at the stop position of the medals inserted into the game field 2 is the predetermined display area of the targets 22a to 22d shown in FIG. It is configured to determine “win” when the value is overlaid (for example, 80% or more). The hit determination program is a game result determination unit (game result determination unit) in the present embodiment. When it is determined as “winning” in the step 210, the process proceeds to step S211 to execute a winning effect execution process and a medal payout process as a prize, and returns to step S202. If it is determined, the process directly returns to step S202.
By proceeding with the above-described processing procedure, the game progress processing in this embodiment is performed.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing the game field 2 of the game apparatus 1 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the circular game field 2 is divided into four satellites 18a to 18d by four medal recovery devices 17a to 17d. The game field 2 is configured to rotate counterclockwise at a constant speed as indicated by an arrow A by a game field drive motor 6 shown in FIG. A game field position detection sensor 10 for detecting the position of the game field 2 is provided at a predetermined position in the vicinity of the game field 2, and the game field 2 is an infrared LED indicating the origin position of the game field 2. Origin identification means (origin identification section) 25 is provided. As described above, the medal recovery devices 17a to 17d and the central portion 19 are fixed to the lower housing 16 of the game apparatus 1, and the medals M1 to M4 inserted into the satellites 18a to 18d by the rotation of the game field 2 are medals. When it reaches the recovery devices 17a to 17d, it is recovered inside the game device 1.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a region where the first infrared camera 4a and the second infrared camera 4b can shoot in the present embodiment, and FIG. 6A shows a shootable region of the first infrared camera 4a. FIG. 6B shows a shootable area of the second infrared camera 4b. As shown in the figure, the first infrared camera 4a is arranged so that the entire area of the satellite 18a and the satellite 18b can be photographed. The second infrared camera 4b is arranged so that the entire area of the satellite 18c and the satellite 18d can be photographed.

  Markers 26a to 26d using infrared LEDs serving as image recognition identifiers are arranged at the outer ends of the respective medal collecting means 17a to 17d, and an infrared LED serving as an origin identifier is provided at the center of the center portion 19. A marker 27 is provided. In the figure, symbols M1 to M4 indicate medals inserted on the game field 2. In the present embodiment, the entire area of the game field 2 can be photographed by the two infrared cameras 4a and 4b, but the entire area of the game field 2 can be photographed by the single infrared camera 4a and the like. It may be configured as such, or may be configured by arranging a total of four infrared cameras 4a, etc., one for each satellite 18a to 18d.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an image taken by the first infrared camera 4a, and is an infrared photographed image obtained by photographing the shootable area of the first infrared camera 4a shown in FIG. 6 (a). . As shown in FIG. 2, infrared light is irradiated toward the turntable 20 from the infrared light source 5 disposed below the turntable 20 including the game field 2, and the turntable 20 transmits infrared light. Since it is made of a material, from the infrared camera 4a disposed above the game field 2, the game field 2 is white as shown in FIG. 7, and the other central portion 19, the medal recovery devices 17a to 17d, etc. are black. Image data to be photographed is acquired.

  Since the medals M1 to M4 are made of a member that does not transmit infrared light or is difficult to transmit infrared light (for example, metal), the medals M1 to M4 are captured as black circular images as indicated by reference numerals M1 to M4 in FIG. In addition, infrared light emitted from the markers 26a to 26d provided at the outer ends of the medal recovery devices 17a to 17d is photographed as white spots, and the origin marker 27 at the center 19 is photographed as white spots. The markers 26a to 26d and the origin marker 27 are provided for demarcating a range for detecting the positions of the medals M1 to M4 and correcting an attachment error or twist of the infrared camera 4a or the like to the upper casing 11. ing. The position coordinates (x, y) of the medal in the Cartesian coordinate system are obtained on the basis of the markers 26a to 26d and the origin marker 27 in the photographed image, and the origin coordinates 27 are used as the origin. Convert to position coordinates (r, θ) in the polar coordinate system.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a method of temporarily detecting medal insertion candidate positions by the first coincidence degree calculating means in the present embodiment. When a medal is inserted into the game apparatus 1 and the infrared cameras 4a and 4b of the game apparatus 1 are activated (step S103 in FIG. 4), the infrared cameras 4a and 4b are set every predetermined unit time (for example, 1/30 seconds). The game field 2 is shot at intervals of.

  The game control CPU 701 operates the edge detection program stored in the program ROM 702 to extract the edge (contour) of the medal image on the game field 2 based on the image data taken by the infrared cameras 4a and 4b. The image data of the game field 2 including the extracted edge image data is stored in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 703. That is, processing for generating image data Mage of the contour from the image data Mage of the medal as shown in FIG. Since this edge detection process can use a known image processing technique, a detailed description of the processing procedure is omitted.

  Subsequently, the game control CPU 701 activates the first coincidence degree calculation program stored in the program ROM 702 and extracts the edge of the above-described medal based on the first sample image data 44 stored in advance in the program ROM 702. The image data 45 of the game field 2 including the image data is scanned to perform a process of calculating the degree of coincidence between the first sample image data 44 and the edge extraction image of the medal by an arithmetic process. Specifically, the first sample image data 44 is superimposed on the image data 45 of the game field 2 including the medal edge extraction image data and collated while being shifted by one pixel (1 dot) to obtain the medal edge extraction image. The degree of coincidence between the data and the first sample image data 44 is calculated.

  In the present embodiment, for example, when 100 pixels are included in the circular outline of the first sample image data 44 shown in FIG. An eigenvalue of “0” is defined for each pixel. On the other hand, also in the image data 45 obtained from the infrared camera 4a, eigenvalues of “1” are defined for each pixel in the contour and “0” for each pixel outside the contour. Then, the game control CPU 701 collates the first sample image data 44 with the image data 45 of the game field 2 and individually multiplies the above-described eigenvalues defined for the overlapping pixels, and determines the multiplication value. An arithmetic process for obtaining the sum is performed. For example, if the total sum of multiplication values obtained by this arithmetic processing is “30” or more, the game control CPU 701 determines that the first sample image data 44 and the contour image data 45 of the medal on the game field 2 Is determined to be 30% or more.

  If the degree of coincidence is determined to be greater than or equal to a predetermined value (30% in the present embodiment) based on the calculation result by the first coincidence degree calculating means, the game control CPU 701 displays the position information and the degree of coincidence information. In association therewith, processing for storing medal insertion candidate position data in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 703 is performed. In this embodiment, the coordinate data of the upper left vertex 44a of the square contour data circumscribing the circular contour of the first sample image data 44 is stored as the medal insertion candidate position data. The storage area of the RAM 703 in which medal insertion candidate position data is stored is medal insertion candidate position storage means (medal insertion candidate position storage unit) in the present embodiment.

  Subsequently, the game control CPU 701 performs a process of obtaining the degree of coincidence with the second sample image data 46 in descending order of coincidence based on the medal insertion candidate position data obtained by the first coincidence degree calculating unit. Do. As shown in FIG. 9, the medal position detection program stored in the program ROM 702 has a function of generating image data 47 in which the inside of the contour extracted by the above-described contour extraction processing is painted black. The game control CPU 701 stores the second sample image data 46 stored in the program ROM 702 in advance in the medal insertion candidate position storage unit in the order in which the first matching degree calculation unit determines that the matching degree is high. The position data is collated and the degree of coincidence is calculated. This calculation process is also performed in the same manner as the first matching degree calculation program. That is, the degree of coincidence is obtained as the sum of the results obtained by multiplying the eigenvalues defined for each pixel of the second sample image data 46 and the eigenvalues for each pixel when the binarized image data 47 is superimposed, When position data having a degree of coincidence equal to or greater than a predetermined value (100% in the present embodiment) exists, the position data is determined as medal insertion position data, and processing for storing the position data in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 703 is performed. . In the present embodiment, the hatched portion in FIG. 9 of the second sample image data 46 is image data having an outer diameter that is about one turn (about 1 dot) smaller than the actual medal photographed image.

  Thereby, in this embodiment, the threshold value of coincidence is set to 100%. Therefore, when the degree of coincidence finally calculated by the second degree-of-matching calculating means is 100%, the position data is determined as medal insertion position data and stored in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 703. In this embodiment, when the coincidence degree is first determined to be 100% by the second coincidence degree calculating means and a point stored as medal insertion position data is detected, within a predetermined interval of the point of the position data (this book In the embodiment, if there is a point whose degree of coincidence is determined to be 100% by the second degree-of-matching calculation means at a position within 2 dots), the same medal as the position data that has been previously determined to be 100% coincidence It is comprised so that it may determine with the position data concerning. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the same medal from being mistaken as a plurality of medals due to a minute reading error or distortion of a lens of the infrared camera 4a which is an imaging means.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram conceptually showing a flow of processing by the first coincidence degree calculating means and the second coincidence degree calculating means. FIG. 10A is a plan view showing a state where five medals M5 to M9 are inserted on the game field 2. FIG. As shown in the drawing, the medal M6 inserted thereafter is overlapped with the medal M5, and on the other hand, after the medal M8 is overlapped with the medal M7, the medal M9 is further overlapped with the medal M8. The game control CPU 701 of the game control unit 7 analyzes the image obtained by capturing this situation with the infrared camera 4a or the like, and generates contour images Medge10 and Medge11 as shown in FIG.

  Subsequently, the game control CPU 701 operates the first coincidence calculation program stored in the program ROM 702, and is photographed by the infrared camera 4a or the like by the first sample image data 44 as shown in FIG. The degree of coincidence is calculated while scanning the image data of the game field 2 and the position data of the position where the degree of coincidence of 30% or more is calculated is stored in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 703 as medal insertion candidate position data. Shooting of the game field 2 by the infrared camera 4a or the like is performed every 1/30 seconds, and after the entire area of the captured image data is scanned with the first sample image data 44, the game control CPU 701 inserts a medal. The candidate position data rearrangement program is operated to perform processing for rearranging the medal insertion candidate position data stored in the predetermined storage area of the RAM 703 in descending order of the degree of coincidence calculated by the first coincidence degree arithmetic program.

  Subsequently, the game control CPU 701 operates the second coincidence degree calculation program, and sorts the games in the descending order of the degree of coincidence by the calculation of the first coincidence degree calculation program rearranged by the medal insertion candidate position data rearrangement program. The image data of field 2 and the second sample image data 46 are collated, and the position data having a coincidence of 100% is determined as the insertion position data of the medal and stored in a predetermined medal position data storage area of the RAM 703. Perform the process. At this time, if there is position data with 100% coincidence as a result of the calculation of the second coincidence degree calculation program, even if there is a position with 100% coincidence within 2 dots from the position, processing is performed as the same position data. Do. By performing the position detection process as described above, the insertion position data on the game field 2 including the overlap of the medals M5 to M9 can be accurately identified as indicated by black shadows in FIG. .

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a coordinate system for determining the position coordinates of medals M10 to M13 inserted in the game field 2 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 11 (a) is a medal in an orthogonal coordinate system. A coordinate system for specifying the position coordinates of M10 to M13 is shown, and FIG. 11B shows a polar coordinate system with the origin marker 27 as the origin. FIG. 11 shows only the image including the satellite 18a photographed by the infrared camera 4a and the medals M10 to M13 inserted into the satellite 18b, but the infrared camera 4b photographing the other satellite 18c and satellite 18d. The same applies to the image processing of the game field 2 and the position coordinate detection processing.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the line passing through the marker 26b and the marker 26d with the origin marker 27 as the origin is the x-axis, the marker 26a and the marker 26c (not shown in FIG. 11, but the medal recovery device 17c An orthogonal coordinate system is set with the line passing through the marker provided at the outer end) as the y axis, and the coordinates (xn, yn) of the medals M10 to M13 are obtained. And the process which calculates | requires the coordinate (rn, (theta) n) converted into the polar coordinate system shown in FIG.11 (b) from the coordinate (xn, yn) obtained in this process is performed. As shown in FIG. 11B, the polar coordinate system uses an origin marker 27 as an origin, a distance rn from the origin, an origin marker 27 and a marker 26d (or origin identification means by an infrared LED indicating the origin position of the game field 2). Let θn be the angle in the counterclockwise direction from the line passing through (origin identification part) 25). Therefore, it can be obtained from the position coordinates obtained in the orthogonal coordinate system by an arithmetic process of rn = √ (x ^ 2 + y ^ 2), θn = arctan (yn / xn).

  The game field position detection sensor 10 can detect the position (angle) with respect to the origin marker 27 by the origin identification means (origin identification section) 25 using an infrared LED indicating the origin position of the game field 2 to obtain the angle θn. Further, when the game field 2 is rotating in the counterclockwise direction at an angular velocity ω [radians / second], θn obtained from the above equation is synchronized with the time t [seconds] from θn = ωt to the medals M10 to M13. The position coordinates (rn, θn) can also be obtained.

  FIG. 12 is an external perspective view showing the medal insertion device 13 according to one embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the attachment portion 230 in FIG. 12, and FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state in which the discharge portion 13c of the medal insertion device 13 shown in FIG. 13 is displaced upward. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the medal insertion device 13 has an operation unit 131 and a medal insertion port 13 a located outside the game device 1, and a medal for guiding the medals inserted from the medal insertion port 13 a into the game device 1. A guide portion 13b provided continuously with the insertion slot 13a, an attachment portion 230 for holding the guide portion 13b and attaching the medal insertion device 13 to the game apparatus 1, and an inside of the game apparatus 1 provided at the tip of the guide portion 13b. , A discharge unit 13c for inserting medals on the game field 2 is provided.

  The medal slot 13a has a slot (vertical groove) shape slightly larger than the diameter and thickness of the regular medal so as not to accept an irregular medal having a diameter larger than that of the regular medal or thick. Is formed. Note that the medal slot 13a is not limited to the slot shape provided in the upper part of the medal slot device 13 as described above, and any one of the side plates 133a, which will be described later, of the guide unit 13b in the vicinity of the operation unit 131. Alternatively, it is also possible to form a circular hole having a diameter slightly larger than that of a regular medal in 133b, and use this hole as a medal insertion hole.

  The guide portion 13b provided continuously from the medal insertion slot 13a includes a bottom surface 133c having a width slightly wider than the thickness of the medal, and the upper surface from both sides of the bottom surface 133c. A pair of side plates 133a and 133b extending vertically is provided, and the medal flows down through a groove 133d formed between the bottom surface 133c and the pair of side plates 133a and 133b arranged to face each other.

  The guide portion 13b is held by the attachment portion 230 so as to be turnable in the left-right direction and the up-down direction according to an operation on the operation portion 131, and a plurality of through holes formed in the attachment plate 231 of the attachment portion 230, as will be described later. The game machine 1 is attached to the game machine 1 using fasteners such as bolts and nuts. A guide part left-right rotation holding member 235 is fixed to the mounting plate 231. In addition, a medal sorting device 330 that discharges an irregular medal having a diameter smaller than that of a regular medal to the irregular medal discharge box 335 is provided at an intermediate portion between the attachment portion 230 and the discharge portion 13c of the guide portion 13b. . Reference numeral 331 indicates a cover member that covers the internal structure of the medal sorting device 330. Further, a medal insertion sensor 13d for detecting the insertion of medals is provided in the downstream portion of the medal sorting device 330 of the guide unit 13b. As the medal insertion sensor 13d, a known detection element such as a contact contact type sensor or a non-contact type proximity sensor can be used.

  A medal discharge portion 13c is disposed at a tip portion of the guide portion 13b located in the game apparatus 1. The discharge portion 13c includes a bottom surface portion 135 and a pair of side plate portions 136a and 136b that extend upward from both side end portions of the bottom surface portion 135 and face each other. A substantially trapezoidal through hole 137 is formed in the vicinity of the distal end portion of the guide portion 13b of the bottom surface portion 135 of the discharge portion 13c. The downstream side of the through hole 137 in the medal flow path is formed as a hypotenuse 137a that obliquely intersects the medal flow path at a predetermined angle (approximately 45 degrees in the present embodiment).

  The through hole 137 formed in the discharge portion 13c is a medal posture changing portion in the present embodiment. That is, the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 13a rolls while accelerating the groove 133d of the guide portion 13b provided continuously to the medal insertion slot 13a toward the discharge portion 13c in the vertical orientation by the action of its own weight. , Flow down. And the medal (Ma state in FIG. 12) which reached the discharge part 13c from the front-end | tip part of the guide part 13b collides with the hypotenuse 137a of the through-hole 137 provided in the discharge part 13c, and the outer periphery lower part impacts it. (The state of Mb in FIG. 12). Immediately after that, the medal cannot maintain the vertical posture and becomes a horizontal posture (the state of Mc in FIG. 12), and is discharged onto the game field 2 in the horizontal posture (the state of Md in FIG. 12). Accordingly, since the medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 13a are discharged onto the game field 2 in a landscape orientation on the game field 2, the medals are stopped near the falling point without rolling away from the falling point. Therefore, the technical intervention related to the operation of the player's medal insertion device 13 can be enhanced, and the interest of the game can be enhanced.

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of the perspective view shown in FIG. 12 with a part of the attachment portion 230 and the cover member 331 of the medal sorting device 330 removed. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state where the medal insertion device 13 shown in FIG. 13 is operated so that the discharge portion 13c is displaced upward by the player's operation. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a guide portion left-right rotation holding member 235 is fixed to the attachment plate 231 of the attachment portion 230. The guide part left-right rotation holding member 235 is generally composed of a metal molded part formed in a hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a guide part up-down rotation holding member, which will be described later, is provided on the opposite upper and lower sides. Bearing portions 236a and 236b for pivotally supporting the guide portion 13b in the left-right direction (in the direction of arrow B in the drawing) with pivot shafts 237a and 237b provided integrally on the upper and lower surfaces of the shaft 237 as fulcrums are provided. ing.

  The guide portion vertical rotation holding member 237 is generally formed of a metal molded part having a square shape (in FIG. 13, the attachment portion 230 is shown in a cross section, and is U-shaped), and is opposed to it. Left and right pivot shafts 237a and 237b that extend vertically are integrally provided outside the opposite side portion. The left and right rotation shafts 237a and 237b are held by the bearing portions 236a and 236b formed on the guide portion left and right rotation holding member 235 so as to be rotatable in the left and right directions. And the guide part 13b integrated with the operation part 131 and the discharge part 13c is supported by the support pin 234a and the vertical rotation fulcrum pin 234b that are implanted laterally in the guide part vertical rotation support member 237, Corresponding to the operation of the operation unit 131, the discharge unit 13c is rotatably attached so as to be displaced in the vertical direction. That is, within the range of the long holes 134 formed in the side plates 133a and 133b of the guide portion 13b through which the support pin 234a is inserted, the guide portion 13b is moved in the vertical direction with the up / down rotation fulcrum pin 234b as a fulcrum (in the drawing). In the direction of arrow C).

  Further, between the support pin 234a planted on the guide portion vertical rotation support member 237 and the pin 132 planted on the lower portion of the guide portion 13b, the guide portion 13b is always in the state shown in FIG. A coil spring 233 is installed to hold the portion 13c in a state where the portion 13c is located at the lowest position. Furthermore, one side plate 133b of the guide portion 13b is formed with a square hole 133e for discharging an irregular small-diameter medal to the irregular medal discharge box 335, and the opposing side plate 133a has the small-diameter irregular regular one. A square hole 133f from which a blocker 239 for dropping a medal to the irregular medal discharge port 335 is formed is formed.

  According to the medal insertion device 13 according to the present invention, the medal discharge portion 13c is configured to be displaceable not only in the horizontal direction but also in the vertical direction. The medal game device 1 with enhanced interest can be provided by providing the medal insertion device 13.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the discharge unit 13c shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 of the medal insertion device 13 according to the present invention. 15, the same members and parts as those in FIGS. 12 to 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Of the members, parts, and the like described in FIGS. 12 to 14, portions not illustrated in FIG. 15 are the same as the configurations in FIGS. 12 to 14.

  In FIG. 15, the code | symbol 53 has shown an example of the discharge part in this embodiment. The discharge portion 53 attached to the distal end portion of the guide portion 13 b is bent upward from the bottom plate portion 531, the discharge plate portion 532 formed at the distal end portion of the bottom plate portion 531, and one side surface portion of the discharge plate portion 532. The formed swash plate part 533, the attitude | position change part 534 for changing the attitude | position of the medal | flow flowing down from the guide part 13b, and the attaching part 535 for attaching the discharge part 53 to the guide part 13b are provided.

  The posture changing unit 534 provided in the discharge unit 53 is a flow direction of the rolling medal for gradually changing the rolling direction of the medal flowing down the groove 133d of the guide unit 13b to the swash plate portion 533 side. Is provided with a hypotenuse portion 534a having a shape in which the distance between the posture changing portion 534 and the swash plate portion 533 is shortened. The swash plate portion 533 is bent upward from the discharge plate portion 532 so as to be positioned at an approximately equal distance with respect to the upper surface in the rolling direction of the medal rolling on the groove portion 133d of the guide portion 13b. Yes. For example, in the present embodiment, the angle between the discharge plate portion 532 and the swash plate portion 533 is configured to be about 135 degrees.

  In the present embodiment, a medal (Me in FIG. 15) that rolls and flows down the groove 133d of the guide portion 13b in a vertical posture and flows down to the discharge portion 53, and a medal on the oblique side portion 534a of the posture changing portion 534. One side is guided and obliquely collides with the slope 533a of the swash plate portion 533 and falls (state of Mf in FIG. 15), and slides down on the slope 533a of the swash plate portion 533 toward the discharge plate portion 532 (in FIG. 15). Mg state). Thereafter, the medals that have been slid down on the slope 533a and changed in the lateral direction (the state of Mh in FIG. 15) are discharged laterally onto the game field 2 from the discharge plate portion 532 (the state of Mi in FIG. 15). .

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14, the medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 13a are placed on the game field 2 in a horizontal orientation on the game field 2. Therefore, the player stops in the vicinity of the falling point without rolling away from the falling point, so that the technical intervention related to the operation of the medal throwing device 13 of the player can be enhanced, and the game can be enjoyed. Can be increased.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a specific example of a game that can be applied to the medal game device 1 including the medal insertion device 13 according to the present invention. Various games can be played on the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention, and some specific examples thereof will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 16A shows an example of the target game. As shown in the figure, the medal is inserted aiming at the target (5 points and 10 points in the example) projected on the game field 2 and projected by the projector 3, and the medal is targeted. An effect image is displayed when a hit is made, and a medal as a prize is paid out.

  FIG. 16B is a diagram illustrating an example of a game in which a target is surrounded by a plurality of medals. As shown in the figure, a medal as a prize is paid out when a target with a score display (in the example shown, a target of 10 points) is successfully enclosed with a line connecting three or more medals. It is.

  FIG. 16C is a diagram showing an example of a game in which a scaffold is formed with a plurality of medals and a character image projected by the projector 3 on the game field 2 is guided to the destination. In the example shown in the figure, the game is configured such that a character on one bank of the river is guided to the opposite bank while creating a scaffold with the inserted medals (black circles in the figure).

  FIG. 16 (d) shows a medal in which a pachinko ball (white circle in the figure) of an image flowing downward from above on the game field 2 projected from the projector 3 onto the game field 2 is placed on the game field 2 (FIG. 16). The game is configured to guide the user to any scoring area displayed below the game field 2 with the black circle in the middle as a nail.

  FIG. 16 (e) is a diagram showing an example of a game having game characteristics that simulates billiards or billiards. As shown in the figure, when a medal (black circle in the figure) inserted in the game field 2 hits a bead (white circle in the figure), the bead by the image of the projector 3 is played by the medal, and the bead is separated by the image. The ball (represented by No. 9 in the figure) is flipped in a predetermined direction, and the game result is determined by its final position.

  FIG. 16F is a diagram illustrating an example of a game having game characteristics simulating a so-called scratch game. In the game field 2, an image obtained by covering the original image with a screen image is projected from the projector 3, and when a medal is inserted into the game apparatus 1, the screen image near the locus of the inserted medal is scraped off. A part of the original image is displayed. And, for example, when the screen image is scraped so that 80% of the original picture is displayed, or when the player recognizes the original picture displayed after being scraped, the medal used so far The medal according to the number of items is paid out as a prize.

  FIG. 16G shows an example of a game imitating a so-called shooting game. It has a game characteristic in which flying objects or battleships flying on the game field 2 are shot by the trajectory of medals inserted into the game apparatus 1. When it is determined that a target is shot down by inserting a medal, the medal set for each target is paid out as an award.

  FIG. 16 (h) shows an example of a game in which the projector 3 displays on the game field 2 an image in which the position where the medal is inserted is regarded as the explosion position of the bomb and the blast bursts.

  FIG. 16 (i) is a diagram showing an example of a game in which a plurality of medals (black circles in the figure) are connected to pay out a medal as a prize by imitating a predetermined figure, for example, the shape of a constellation. It is. For example, one constellation or a plurality of constellations are given as questions, and award medals are paid out according to the degree of difficulty of completion.

  FIG. 16J is a diagram showing an example of combining conventional so-called pusher game mechanisms. In addition to the configuration of the conventional pusher game device, the game performance is enhanced by mixing prizes or the like by displaying images other than actual medals.

  The various games described above show examples of games that can be applied to the game apparatus 1 according to the present invention, and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the attachment portion of the medal insertion device includes the left and right rotation means for holding the guide portion so as to be rotatable in the left and right direction, and the vertical rotation means for holding the guide portion so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. The discharge part formed at the tip part of the guide part can be displaced in the left-right direction and the up-down direction according to the operation on the operation part, so that the technical intervention at the time of inserting the medal into the medal game machine Therefore, it is possible to provide a medal insertion device and a medal game device that have an increased game performance.

  For example, by operating the operation unit in the left / right direction, the discharge direction (angle) of the medal in the left / right direction can be selected, and by operating the operation unit in the up / down direction, the dropping position of the medal on the game field is determined in the front / rear direction. Can be selected. In addition, by inserting the medal with the discharge unit operated to the lowest position, the medal can obtain the maximum drop speed, and the discharge unit is directed upward when the medal approaches the tip of the discharge unit. By operating the operation unit as described above, the medal can be dropped farther, and conversely, by inserting the medal with the discharge unit being operated to the uppermost position, the medal can have a minimum drop speed. When the medal reaches the tip of the discharge unit, the operation part is operated so that the discharge unit faces downward, so that the medal can be dropped to the near side. A corresponding game can be executed.

  In addition, since the medal discharge unit can be configured with a posture changing unit that causes the posture of the medal to roll down in a vertical posture to the medal discharge unit, the medal discharged from the medal discharge unit can be configured. A medal that has been discharged into the game device in a landscape orientation and dropped into the game device stops in the vicinity of the falling point without rolling and moving further from the falling point. It is possible to provide a medal insertion device and a medal game device that can further enhance the technical intervention of a player and have novel game characteristics.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game device 2 Game field 3 Projector 4a, 4b Infrared camera (imaging means)
5 Infrared light source (light emitting means)
6 game field drive motor 7 game control unit 8 image recognition control unit 13 medal insertion device 13a medal insertion port 13b guide unit 13c, 53 discharge unit 17a to 17d medal recovery device 18a to 18d satellite 26a to 26d marker 27 origin marker 44 first Sample image data of 46 Second sample image data M1 to M13 Medals 131 Operation unit 137 Through hole (medal posture changing unit)
230 Attachment part 235 Guide part left-right rotation holding member 237 Guide part vertical rotation holding member 534 Posture change part (medal posture change part)

Claims (3)

A medal insertion device for inserting a medal into the game device from the outside,
The medal insertion device is
An operation unit;
A medal insertion part,
A guide unit that guides the disc-shaped medal inserted from the medal insertion unit into the game device while rolling in a circumferential direction;
A medal discharge portion formed at the tip of the guide portion;
A left-right rotation means for holding the guide portion rotatably in the left-right direction; and a vertical rotation means for holding the guide portion in the vertical direction. An attachment portion for attaching the guide portion to the game device;
With
The medal insertion device, wherein the medal discharge unit is configured to be displaceable in the left-right direction and the up-down direction in response to an operation on the operation unit.   The medal insertion unit according to claim 1, wherein the medal discharge unit is provided with a medal posture changing unit that causes the medal posture to roll down the guide portion in a vertical posture to make the medal posture horizontal. apparatus.   A medal game device comprising the medal insertion device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a game field for receiving the medal inserted from the medal insertion device.