JP2011004957A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely transmit voice from a speaker to a game player.SOLUTION: A receiving tray is disposed in the lower part of a front of a slot machine. The speaker is disposed behind the receiving tray. The speaker is configured to turn to four directions, forward, toward the left, upward, and toward the right. The back wall of the receiving tray is provided with first to fourth detecting sensors for detecting an obstacle in front of the speaker turned to the respective directions. In the slot machine, the speaker direction adjustment processing is conducted to turn the speaker to the direction where any obstacle does not exist in front. Thus, the voice from the speaker can be surely transmitted to the game player.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine used in a game hall such as a pachinko parlor.

  In the slot machine, a game is started when a medal is inserted into the medal slot and a start lever is operated. When the game is started, a winning combination lottery is performed to determine one of a plurality of types of winning combinations or a loss, and the reel starts to rotate. The reel is stopped by operating the stop button. When the winning symbol (the symbol corresponding to the winning combination determined in the winning combination lottery) is displayed when the reel stops, it is provided at the lower front of the slot machine body. The medal is paid out to the tray.

  The slot machine also includes a speaker. Generally, the speaker is disposed behind the saucer or at the top of the slot machine main body for the convenience of installation space. And from the speaker, various effect sounds for effecting the game and notification sounds for notifying errors and the like are output. In this way, the sound from the speaker plays an important role in stimulating the player's interest and transmitting necessary information to the player. The position of the specific part (face, etc.) of the player and the distance from the speaker to the specific part are detected by an infrared sensor or a digital camera so that the information is transmitted to the player. There is also one that adjusts (see Patent Document 1 below).

JP2008-154689

  However, when a game medium is stored in front of the speaker, the sound from the speaker arranged behind the tray has a problem that it is difficult to listen to the sound by being blocked by the stored game medium.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a gaming machine that can reliably transmit sound from a speaker to a player even when a game medium is stored in a tray. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, a gaming machine according to the present invention is provided in a front surface of a gaming machine main body and includes a tray for storing gaming media paid out from the gaming machine main body. A detection sensor that detects a game medium stored in front of the speaker and outputs a detection signal among the game media stored in the tray, and the speaker based on the detection signal Speaker driving means for changing the orientation of the speaker.

  The detection sensor is provided integrally with the speaker, and the speaker driving means transmits the sound from the speaker to the player based on the output state of the detection signal while changing the direction of the speaker. It is also possible to execute a speaker orientation adjustment process for determining a suitable orientation for the speaker and directing the speaker in the determined orientation at predetermined time intervals.

  According to the present invention, since the direction of the speaker is changed when a game medium is detected in front of the speaker, the sound from the speaker can be reliably transmitted to the player.

It is an external view of a slot machine. It is an enlarged view of a speaker periphery. It is sectional drawing of a speaker periphery. It is a block diagram of the mechanism which changes direction of a speaker. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure in which a speaker direction adjustment process is performed. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a speaker direction adjustment process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure in which a speaker direction adjustment process is performed. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure in which a speaker direction adjustment process is performed. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a speaker direction adjustment process. It is sectional drawing of a speaker periphery. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a speaker direction adjustment process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a speaker direction adjustment process.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine (game machine) 10 includes a slot machine main body (game machine main body) 12 and a front door 14 pivotally attached to the front surface of the slot machine main body 12. . The front door 14 includes an upper door 14a and a lower door 14b, which can be opened individually.

  A display window 16 is provided on the upper door 14a. Behind the display window 16, a first reel 18a, a second reel 18b, and a third reel 18c are arranged. A plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surfaces of the first to third reels 18a to 18c, and three symbols per reel are displayed from the display window 16 when the reels 18a to 18c are stopped. . In the slot machine 10, the result of the winning combination lottery is notified by the combination of symbols displayed from the display window 16, and when the winning combination is won after the symbols are aligned, a prescribed number of medals are paid out.

  On the upper part of the lower door 14b, there are a medal slot 20 for inserting medals, a start lever 22 for starting rotation of each reel 18a to 18c, and a first stop button 24a for stopping rotation of each reel 18a to 18c. A second stop button 24b and a third stop button 24c are provided. At the lower part of the lower door 14b, a payout opening 26 for paying out medals and a tray 28 for storing medals paid out from the payout opening 26 are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a speaker 30 is disposed behind the tray 28. The speaker 30 outputs a production sound for producing a game, a notification sound for reporting an error, and the like. The sound output from the speaker 30 is transmitted forward along the central axis 30 a of the speaker 30.

  The speaker 30 is driven by a speaker driving mechanism (speaker driving means) 36 having a shaft 32 and a motor 34. The shaft 32 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and is provided so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 32a. A speaker 30 is attached to the tip of the shaft 32 in a state where the central axis 30a is inclined with respect to the rotation axis 32a. Thereby, the direction of the speaker 30 changes with the rotation of the shaft 32.

  A tooth row 32b is formed on the rear end side of the shaft 32 along the outer periphery. A gear 38 that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the motor 34 is engaged with the tooth row 32b. Thereby, the shaft 32 rotates with rotation of the motor 34, and the direction of the speaker 30 changes. As the motor 34, a stepping motor that rotates by an amount corresponding to the number of supplied drive pulses is used, and the direction of the speaker 30 can be controlled by controlling the number of drive pulses supplied to the motor 34. It has become.

  Although the direction of the speaker 30 can be changed steplessly, in the present embodiment, the description will be made with an example in which the direction of the speaker 30 is changed to four directions of forward, leftward, upward, and rightward. The forward direction is a direction in which the central axis 30a of the speaker 30 faces the front of the slot machine 10 as shown in FIG. The left direction is a direction in which the shaft 32 is rotated 90 degrees clockwise when the speaker 30 is observed from the front of the slot machine 10 and the central axis 30a is inclined slightly upward on the left side of the front of the slot machine 10. . As shown in FIG. 3B, the upward direction is a direction in which the shaft 32 is rotated 90 ° clockwise from the left and the central axis 30 a is inclined upward from the front of the slot machine 10. The right direction is a direction in which the shaft 32 is rotated 90 ° clockwise from above, and the central axis 30 a is inclined slightly upward on the right side of the front of the slot machine 10.

  A first detection sensor 40, a second detection sensor 42, a third detection sensor 44, and a fourth detection sensor 46 are provided in front of the speaker 30. Each of the first to fourth detection sensors 40 to 46 is composed of a known infrared sensor or proximity sensor, and is arranged in a circle at 90 ° intervals on the back wall 48 of the tray 28 (see FIG. 2).

  The first detection sensor 40 detects an obstacle in front of the forward-facing speaker 30 (a stored medal, a cigarette or a wallet placed by the player, etc.) and outputs a detection signal. The second detection sensor 42 detects an obstacle ahead of the left-facing speaker 30 and outputs a detection signal. The third detection sensor 44 detects an obstacle ahead of the upward speaker 30 and outputs a detection signal. The fourth detection sensor 46 detects an obstacle ahead of the right speaker 30 and outputs a detection signal.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a control unit (speaker driving means) 50 is provided in the slot machine 10 to comprehensively drive and control each unit of the slot machine 10. The control unit 50 is connected to the motor 34, the detection sensors 40 to 46, and the timer 52 described above. The control unit 50 drives and controls the motor 34 based on information obtained from the detection sensors 40 to 46 and the timer 52 to change the direction of the speaker 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the control unit 50 performs speaker orientation adjustment processing as the slot machine 10 is powered on. In the speaker orientation adjustment process, the control unit 50 checks whether or not a detection signal is output from each of the detection sensors 40 to 46 in the first to fourth order, and corresponds to a detection sensor that does not output the detection signal. The speaker 30 is directed toward. Further, when detection signals are output from all the first to fourth detection sensors 40 to 46, the speaker 30 is turned forward.

  Furthermore, in the speaker orientation adjustment process, the control unit 50 repeatedly executes the speaker orientation adjustment process when there is a detection sensor that does not output a detection signal. On the other hand, in the speaker orientation adjustment process, when there is no detection sensor to which no detection signal is output, the control unit 50 waits for a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) to elapse, and then performs the speaker orientation adjustment process. I do.

  As described above, in the slot machine 10, the speaker orientation adjustment process is performed so that the speaker is directed in a direction free of obstacles, so that the sound from the speaker can be reliably transmitted to the player. Further, since only the direction is changed without changing the position of the speaker, for example, the size can be reduced as compared with the case where the speaker is slid left and right or up and down.

  Note that the present invention only needs to be able to point the speaker in a direction in which no obstacle is present, so the detailed configuration is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be changed as appropriate. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which one speaker is provided and this speaker is directed in a direction in which there is no obstacle ahead. However, a plurality of speakers are provided, and the orientation of each speaker is controlled independently. You may comprise each so that it may face in the direction where an obstruction does not exist ahead.

  In the above embodiment, when there is a detection sensor that does not output a detection signal, the speaker orientation adjustment process is repeatedly executed. When there is no detection sensor that does not output a detection signal, a predetermined time elapses. Although an example in which the speaker orientation adjustment process is performed after waiting to be performed has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the speaker orientation adjustment process may be repeated every predetermined time regardless of the presence or absence of a detection sensor that does not output a detection signal. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the speaker orientation adjustment process may be repeated regardless of the presence or absence of a detection sensor that does not output a detection signal. In the explanation using Drawings after Drawing 7, the same numerals are attached about the same member as an embodiment mentioned above, and explanation is omitted.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, it is the example which investigates whether the detection signal is output from each detection sensor in the 1st-4th order, and directs a speaker to the direction corresponding to the detection sensor in which the detection signal is not output. Although described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, it is checked whether or not a detection signal is output from each detection sensor in the first, fourth, third, and second order, and corresponds to a detection sensor that does not output a detection signal. You may point a speaker to the direction to do. Of course, it may be examined whether or not a detection signal is output from each detection sensor in an order other than this, and the speaker may be directed in a direction corresponding to the detection sensor that does not output the detection signal.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated by the example which orient | assigns a speaker to four directions, this invention is not limited to this. Since two or more directions can be set for directing the speaker, for example, the speaker may be directed in the two directions of the right direction and the left direction described in the above embodiment. In this case, only the second and fourth detection sensors described in the above embodiment are provided (the first detection sensor and the third detection sensor are abolished), and the speaker may be directed in a direction in which no obstacle is detected. . Of course, the speaker may be directed in three directions or in five or more directions. In this case as well, the position and number of detection sensors may be adjusted as appropriate so that obstacles in front of the speakers facing each direction can be detected.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although demonstrated by the example which provides a detection sensor in the back wall of a saucer, this invention is not limited to this. Since the detection sensor only needs to detect an obstacle in front of the speaker in each direction, the installation position can be changed as appropriate. For example, you may provide a detection sensor inside the front wall (side wall facing the said back wall) of a saucer.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the detection sensor was provided by the number of the direction which a speaker faces, and it demonstrated by the example which detects the obstruction ahead of the speaker which faced each direction separately by each detection sensor, this invention is described. It is not limited to this. One detection sensor may be fixed to the speaker, and an obstacle in front of the speaker facing each direction may be detected by this detection sensor.

  In this case, for example, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the detection sensor 70 is fixed to the center of the front surface of the speaker 60 so as to detect an obstacle on the central axis 60a. Further, an opening 72 is provided in the back wall 48 so that the detection sensor 70 does not detect the back wall 48 of the tray 28. In this example, the central axis 60a of the speaker 60 and the rotation axis 32a of the shaft 32 intersect at the center of the thickness direction of the back wall 48, that is, the direction of the speaker 60 is the thickness direction of the back wall 48. The speaker 60 is attached to the shaft 32 so as to change the central part of the shaft to a fulcrum. In this way, for example, in comparison with the case where the direction of the speaker is changed with the rear end of the speaker as a fulcrum (when the center axis of the speaker and the rotation axis of the shaft intersect at the rear end of the speaker), The size of the opening 72 can be reduced, and problems such as a medal falling from the opening 72 to the back of the tray 28 can be prevented.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 11, in the speaker orientation adjustment processing of this example, the speaker 60 is turned forward, and it is checked whether or not a detection signal is output from the detection sensor 70 in this state. When the detection signal is output, the shaft 32 is rotated to change the direction of the speaker 60 until the detection signal is not output or the speaker 60 rotates once and returns to the front.

  In the example of FIG. 11, the speaker orientation adjustment process is described as being completed when the detection signal is not output when the speaker is facing forward. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 12, when a detection signal is not output when the speaker is facing forward, the monitoring sensor continues to monitor whether or not the detection signal is output with the speaker facing forward (speaker orientation adjustment). The processing may be continued), and the rotation of the shaft may be started when the detection signal is output.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the above embodiment and each example described above, and the above embodiment and each example described above may be combined.

10 Slot machines (gaming machines)
12 Slot machine body (Machine machine body)
28 saucer 30, 60 speaker 30a, 60a central axis 32 shaft 32a rotation axis 36 speaker driving mechanism (speaker driving means)
40, 42, 44, 46, 70 Detection sensor 50 Control unit (speaker driving means)
52 timer

Claims (2)

In a gaming machine provided with a tray that is provided on a front surface of a gaming machine main body and stores gaming media paid out from the gaming machine main body,
A speaker provided in the vicinity of the tray;
A detection sensor that detects a game medium stored in front of the speaker among the game media stored in the tray and outputs a detection signal;
A gaming machine comprising: speaker driving means for changing the direction of the speaker based on the detection signal. The detection sensor is provided integrally with the speaker,
The speaker driving means determines a suitable direction when transmitting the sound from the speaker to the player based on the output state of the detection signal while changing the direction of the speaker, and the speaker is moved to the determined direction. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the speaker orientation adjustment process is directed at predetermined time intervals.

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