JP2011024783A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device which detects wrongdoing on a token selector and does not cause a trouble of getting stuck of tokens or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The device detects the wrongdoing by monitoring the token selector in accordance with an operation of a blocker. Here, only a second token-counting sensor provided on a downstream side is monitored, so that the token thrown in during the blocker operation is not wrongly determined as the wrongdoing. A token-counting sensor on an upstream side is not monitored. Furthermore, an error determination is not performed within a fixed time after starting up of the blocker, thereby engulfing of the tokens is not wrongly determined as a wrongdoing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine that uses medals as gaming media.

  A gaming machine such as a slot machine allows a player to enjoy a game by inserting a predetermined number of medals into the gaming machine. The medals necessary for the game can be borrowed with a medal lending machine provided in the game hall, and the game can be started by inserting it into the medal slot of a desired gaming machine. The gaming machine is provided with a medal selector for discriminating inserted medals and counting the number of medals.

  This type of medal selector includes a medal entrance for receiving a medal inserted from the medal insertion slot, and a downwardly inclined medal passage where the received medal rolls. A sensor (for example, a photo interrupter) for counting medals is provided in the vicinity of the exit of the medal passage, and the number of medals inserted here is counted. The medal selector of the current gaming machine is provided with two sensors, and medals are detected according to the detection order of the two sensors. When the number of inserted medals reaches a predetermined number, the game can be started. Additional medals are treated as credits.

JP, 2006-175256, A When the mode monitoring system is activated so that the detection output of the medal insertion sensor can be obtained during rotation of the rotating drum, and there is a sensor output indicating the medal insertion (passing) from the medal insertion sensor. Is an error condition. Patent No. 3960925 gazette The detection of the inserted medal sensor is invalid for a period from when the flow path of the inserted medal is switched from the intake-side flow path to the discharge-side flow path until 500 ms determined as the detection invalid time elapses. Turn into. Although the medal is detected by the sensor, this detection result is ignored. JP, 2007-61334, A The blocker moves to the open position which permits passage of medals for a predetermined time after the upstream sensor provided near the entrance of the selector passage detects. The second sensor on the downstream side becomes effective after the blocker moves to the open position for a while.

  A small part of the players performed a dishonest act (so-called goto act). For example, there is a person who tries to play a game without inserting a regular medal by inserting a foreign object from the medal slot and causing the sensor to malfunction. Actually, a method is adopted in which the two sensors are reciprocated by a rod-shaped foreign object so as to be misidentified as if a medal is actually inserted. For example, when a wire with a plate attached to the tip of the wire is moved in the medal passage, a signal similar to that for medal insertion can be generated.

  As another misconduct, an instrument for cheating is inserted from the medal slot, and the medal counting function of the medal selector is improperly operated to cause a malfunction. There is a trick. An instrument with two light emitting elements such as infrared LEDs at the tip is inserted and blinks toward the two sensors to generate a signal similar to that for medal insertion, and it seems that unauthorized credit is obtained. . Although it is possible to play a game with credits obtained illegally, in many cases it seems that a medal is received by a cancel button. There are many cases where the discovery of fraud against medal selectors is often delayed, and there is concern about the spread of damage.

  Since the tool for cheating as described above causes only the sensor part that detects the passage of medals to malfunction, it can be prevented if it is configured to detect the passage of medals at a place other than the sensor. become. Therefore, in order to prevent fraud, a retractable moving member biased to close the medal passage in the medal passage and a sensor for detecting the moving member in the retracted position are provided, and the sensor is not less than a predetermined time. Although it is possible to make an error if it is continuously detected, such a configuration results in hindering the flow of medals by contact with the moving member. This method also has the problem that the flow of medals is physically hindered and causes medal clogging.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that does not cause a malfunction such as a clogged medal, does not give a profit due to the above-mentioned fraud, and can suppress the fraud as a result.

The gaming machine according to this invention is
A medal passage that rolls the inserted medal toward the medal exit, and a first medal count sensor and a second medal count that are provided on the medal exit side of the medal passage and detect medals rolling on the medal passage. A medal selector including a sensor and a blocker for blocking a medal rolling in the medal passage;
A medal counting unit for counting the number of medals inserted based on outputs of the first medal counting sensor and the second medal counting sensor;
A determination unit for determining fraud based on the output of the second medal counting sensor;
Determining whether or not a medal can be inserted according to a game, and when a medal cannot be inserted, outputs a blocker operation signal to operate the blocker, and a medal insertion enable / disable determining unit;
A first switch and a second switch for inputting the outputs of the first medal counting sensor and the second medal counting sensor to the medal counting unit, respectively, when the blocker is inactivated by the blocker operation signal;
A third switch for inputting the output of the second medal counting sensor to the determination unit when the blocker is activated by the blocker activation signal;
The first medal counting sensor and the second medal counting sensor are provided side by side along the direction of movement of medals rolling on the medal path closer to the medal exit side than the blocker, and the second medal counting sensor is The medal exit side of the first medal counting sensor is provided,
The determination unit determines an illegal act when receiving a detection signal of the second medal counting sensor.

  Delay means for causing the third switch to input the output of the second medal counting sensor to the determination unit after a predetermined time has elapsed since the blocker was activated by the blocker activation signal. You may make it prepare.

  According to the present invention, since the cheating is determined based on the output of the second medal counting sensor during the blocker operation, the cheating against the medal selector can be detected even during the game. Since the output of the first medal counting sensor is not used, when a medal is detected beyond the blocker, this is not erroneously determined as an illegal act. Thereby, it is possible to detect and deter fraudulent acts without hindering games played by general players.

It is a front view showing the appearance of the slot machine. It is a front view when the front door of the slot machine is opened. It is a functional block diagram of a slot machine. It is a perspective view of the medal selector used for a slot machine. It is sectional drawing of a medal selector. It is explanatory drawing of arrangement | positioning of the sensor and blocker of a medal selector. It is a functional block diagram of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the invention. It is a medal counting process flowchart which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is a processing flowchart for determining whether or not a medal can be inserted according to an embodiment of the invention. It is a flowchart which concerns on the game of a slot machine. It is an error determination processing flowchart concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a timing chart for operation explanation of a gaming machine concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the game machine which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is a timing chart for other operation | movement description of the gaming machine which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is other operation | movement explanatory drawing of the gaming machine which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is a timing chart for other operation | movement description of the gaming machine which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is other operation | movement explanatory drawing of the gaming machine which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is a timing chart for other operation | movement description of the gaming machine which concerns on embodiment of invention.

  A medal selector and a gaming machine (slot machine) including the medal selector according to an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a slot machine. As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 100 includes a slot machine main body 120 and a front door 130 attached to one side of the front surface of the slot machine main body 120 by a hinge or the like so as to be opened and closed. A game display unit 131 is provided in the front of the front door 130 at a substantially central position, and a medal insertion port 132 for a player to insert medals is provided at the lower right of the game display unit 131. On the lower side, there is provided a reject button 133 for forcibly discharging a clogged medal inserted from the medal slot 132 to the outside of the slot machine 100.

  A start switch 134 for starting a game is provided at the lower left of the game display unit 131, and a medal payout port 135 is provided at the center of the lower end of the front door. A bet switch 137 to replace medal insertion is provided above the start switch 134, and a cancel button 138 is provided on the left side of the start switch 134. When the cancel button 138 is pressed, the medal inserted from the medal slot 132 is returned to the payout slot 135.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine main body 120 is fixed to the inner bottom surface, stores a plurality of medals therein, and stores the stored medals at a payout port 135 provided on the front surface of the front door 130. A hopper device 121 for paying out the sheets one by one is installed. An upper portion of the hopper device 121 is provided with a hopper tank 122 that opens upward and stores a plurality of medals therein.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the medal (coin) selector 1 is attached to the back side of the front door 130 on the back side of the medal slot 132 provided on the front surface of the front door 130. This medal selector 1 rolls the medal toward the hopper device 121 while detecting the passage of the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 132, and has a different diameter medal or iron or iron whose outer diameter is different from the predetermined dimension. This is an apparatus for selecting and removing illegal medals made of an alloy and selecting and eliminating a predetermined number or more of medals that can be inserted per game.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a lead-out path 136 that covers the lower side and communicates with the payout port 135 of the front door 130 is provided below the medal selector 1. The medals distributed by the medal selector 1 are returned to the player from the payout port 135 via the derivation path 136.

  A player who wants to enjoy a game with a slot machine can first borrow a medal as a game medium from a medal lending machine (not shown) or the like, and insert a medal directly into the medal slot 132 of the medal slot device. A square window-like game display section (display window) 131 that faces toward the player is formed at the center and upper part of the slot machine housing. In the center of the central game display section, a window through which the symbols of the three rotating reels can be seen is formed. The start switch 134 is a lever located obliquely below the rotating reel, and starts driving the reel unit on condition that a game medal is inserted. The reel unit is stopped from being driven by a stop switch. The reel unit is composed of three rotating reels. Each rotating reel includes a rotating drum made of a synthetic resin and a tape-like reel tape attached around the rotating drum. A plurality of (for example, 21) symbols are displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the reel tape.

  FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the slot machine. Reference numerals 200 and 201 denote a main board and a sub board, each incorporating a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The main board 200 performs medal insertion, payout, reel control, winning process, and the like. The sub-board 201 performs processing such as effect display. An operation unit 202 includes switches such as a start switch 134, a stop switch, and a bet switch. A reel unit 203 includes three rotating reels. An effect display unit 204 includes a game display unit 131, internal illumination of a reel, a liquid crystal display device, a speaker, and the like. The effect display unit 204 notifies the winning combination and the pressing order.

  Output signals of medal counting sensors SEN 1 and SEN 2 for medal counting provided in the medal selector 1 are input to the main board 200. The main board 200 functions as a control unit that counts the number of medals inserted based on the outputs of the sensors SEN1 and SEN2.

  The medal selector 1 is provided with a blocker BL. The blocker BL blocks (blocks) inserted medals before they are counted by the medal counting sensors SEN1 and SEN2. For example, medals cannot be inserted while the reel is rotating, and the blocker BL is driven during such a period to block the insertion of medals. The blocked medal is not taken into the gaming machine (without exiting the medal selector 1 and falling into the hopper tank 122), but falls from the medal selector 1 and moves to the payout port 135 through the lead-out path 136. Returned to the player. The blocker BL is driven by the main board 200.

  FIG. 4 is a front view of the medal selector 1 provided in the slot machine according to the embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 4, 1 is a medal selector, 11 is a medal passage provided therein, 12 is a medal exit of the medal selector 1, and SEN1 and SEN2 are photointerrupters as medal counting sensors provided in the medal passage 11. 4, a part of the medal passage 11 is displayed (the medal passage 11 is shown with a plurality of lines provided along the medal flow. This line is formed on the surface of the medal passage 11. It is a linear protrusion provided, which reduces friction by reducing the contact area with the medal so that the medal flows smoothly). The remaining part of the medal passage 11 is hidden by a cover or the like (in FIG. 4, a part of the plate covering the lower part of the medal selector 1 is cut out and displayed). M1 to M3 indicate how one inserted medal moves in the medal passage 11. The medal M inserted from the upper part of the medal selector 1 falls along the medal passage 11, and the traveling direction is changed to a slant sideways in the middle, moving in the order of M1, M2, M3, and the medal exit (medal discharge) It is discharged from the outlet 12. M3 also indicates a state blocked by the blocker BL. In other words, if the blocker BL is activated, the medal is blocked at the position of M3 and does not advance further. Non-regular medals of different sizes fall in the middle of the medal passage and return to the medal return slot.

  In the vicinity of the medal outlet 12, two medal counting sensors SEN1 and SEN2 are provided side by side along the direction in which the medals travel. These are for counting the number of medals. The medal counting sensors SEN1 and SEN2 have, for example, a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion that face each other and are formed in a U-shaped cross section, and the photo interrupter is positioned with the detection optical axis facing the medal passage 11 from above. It is. The cross section may not be U-shaped, or only the light receiving part may be provided. Each photo interrupter detects the passage of a medal sent without being blocked on the way. The reason why two photo interrupters are adjacent is not only to detect the number of medals but also to monitor whether or not the passage of medals is normal. That is, by providing two photo interrupters adjacent to each other, it is possible to detect the passing speed and passing direction of medals, thereby detecting not only the number of medals but also an illegal act moving in the reverse direction. In addition, the medal counting sensors SEN1 and SEN2 are provided on the side far from the medal insertion slot, thereby making it difficult to perform an illegal act.

  When a medal flows through the medal passage, the blocker BL, the medal counting sensor SEN1, and the medal counting sensor SEN2 arrive in this order. In other words, the medal count sensor SEN2, the medal count sensor SEN1, and the blocker BL are located in the order from the medal exit 12.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4 (schematic diagram showing only elements necessary for explanation, and omitting other elements). FIG. 5A shows a state where the blocker BL is not operated (non-operating state), and FIG. 5B shows a state where the blocker BL is operated (operating state). In FIG. 5, the medal passage 11 is inclined so that its upper end is located on the left side of its lower end (inclined toward the open side of the medal passage 11). In other words, the normal vector (vector orthogonal to the medal passage surface of the medal passage 11) from the inside of the medal selector 1 (the hatched portion in FIG. 5) toward the open side of the medal passage 11 is lower than the horizontal. Suitable for. Therefore, if there is no guide (metal fitting) BL-U, the medal M that rolls along the medal passage 11 falls to the medal payout port 135 as shown by the arrow in FIG. In other words, when the component in the normal vector direction of the gravity w applied to the medal M is w1, w1> 0 in FIG. 5 (w2 is a component toward the tread surface of the medal).
The operation of the blocker BK will be described with reference to FIG.

  The blocker BK is, for example, a protrusion provided in the medal passage 11 and is advanced and retracted by a drive unit (not shown) such as a solenoid. As shown in FIG. 5A, the blocker BL is normally drawn in from the medal path, but when a driving unit (not shown) is driven based on the control of the main board 200, the blocker BL is drawn as shown in FIG. Then, it protrudes into the medal passage 11 and ejects the medal in the medal passage 11 from the medal passage 11. The blocker BL is provided on the upstream side of the medal counting sensors SEN1, SEN2, and when the blocker BL is operated, the medal is returned from the medal payout opening 135 without being detected by the medal counting sensors SEN1, SEN2.

  Further, when the blocker BL is not in operation, the guide (metal fitting) BL-U provided so as to cover the upper end of the medal passage 11 is near the upper end of the passing medal, particularly on the side opposite to the side facing the medal passage 11. The vicinity of the upper end of the surface is pressed and the medal is pressed against the medal passage 11 side. As a result, when the gaming machine is powered on and the blocker BL is inactive, the upper end of the regular medal that flows down is supported. When the blocker BL is in operation, the guide BL-U moves to open its tip (the portion located at the upper end of the medal passage 11), and the upper end of the flowing medal cannot be supported. If there is no support, the medal in front of the blocker BL falls to the medal payout port 135 as shown by the arrow in FIG. The same applies to medals blocked by Blocker BL. A medal that is passing through the blocker BL falls together with its own weight by being pushed out by the blocker BL.

  Since the blocker BL is activated, the outputs of the medal sensors SEN1 and SEN2 should not be generated after the operation, but in rare cases, the medal passing there depending on the operation timing of the blocker BL. May flow through the medal passage as it is (called medal swallowing).

  Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the positional relationship between the medal counting sensors SEN1, SEN2 and the blocker BL of the medal selector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the figure, M3 indicates the position of the medal when it hits the blocker BL. In the following description, SEN1 is referred to as the first medal counting sensor SEN2 as the second medal counting sensor. If the side close to the medal slot is called upstream and the side close to the medal outlet 12 is called downstream, the first medal counting sensor SEN1 is provided on the upstream side of the second medal counting sensor SEN2.

  As can be seen from FIG. 6, at the time of hitting the blocker BL, the medal M3 has not reached any of the first and second medal counting sensors SEN1 and SEN2. This means that neither of these two sensors SEN1 and SEN2 outputs a medal detection signal. However, since the edge of the medal M3 in FIG. 6 is located immediately before the first medal counting sensor SEN1, if the blocker BL moves even slightly, the blocked medal M3 is counted as the first medal count. It is detected by the sensor SEN1. In other words, the blocker BL is provided in the vicinity of the boundary where the first medal counting sensor SEN1 does not detect a medal and changes so as to detect it at the time of blocking.

  A straight line connecting the first and second medal counting sensors SEN 1 and SEN 2 is parallel to the medal path 11. The length of the portion of the straight line that overlaps the medal M3 is 2.96 times (about 3 times) the interval between the first and second medal counting sensors SEN1 and SEN2 (reference numerals a and 3a in FIG. 6). This signifies this, and the symbol b relates to swallowing medals, which will be described later). Further, the blocker BL is located almost directly below the first medal counting sensor SEN1. In other words, the blocker BL passes through the first medal counting sensor SEN1, and passes through the medal passage 11 immediately before the first medal counting sensor SEN1. On or near the movement vector (velocity vector) of the center (center of gravity) of the rolling medal and below the first medal counting sensor SEN1 (for example, near the lower end of the medal passage 11). Is provided. It can be said that the blocker BL is provided at a position where the first medal counting sensor SEN1 does not detect the medal when the rolling medal is blocked.

  FIG. 7 shows a functional block diagram of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the invention. The configuration of the gaming machine is as shown in FIG. 3, but FIG. 7 shows the interrelationship of the blocks for each function with respect to the parts related to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 does not necessarily match the actual hardware configuration of the gaming machine (of course, the gaming machine can be configured according to FIG. 7).

  The medal counting unit 200a counts the number of inserted medals based on the outputs of the first and second medal counting sensors SEN1 and SEN2.

  The medal insertion enable / disable determination unit 200b selects whether or not a medal can be inserted according to the gaming situation of the gaming machine, and outputs a blocker operation signal when the medal cannot be inserted, thereby operating the blocker BL. The blocker operation signal is also used for controlling operations of the medal counting unit 200a and the error determination unit 200c.

  The error determination unit 200c determines the presence / absence of fraud based only on the output of the second medal counting sensor SEN2, and performs error notification if it is determined to be fraud.

  The medal counting unit 200a, the medal insertion enable / disable determination unit 200b, and the error generation unit 200c are realized, for example, when the CPU of the main board 200 executes a program stored in the ROM of the main board 200.

  The switches (sensor valid / invalid switching units) SW1 and SW2 control whether or not the outputs of the first and second medal counting sensors SEN1 and SEN2 are propagated to the medal counting unit 200a, respectively. If the switch is off, the output is not input to the medal counting unit 200a. If the medal counting unit 200a determines whether to execute the processing based on the outputs of the first and second medal counting sensors SEN1 and SEN2 by the program (conditional branching), the program (conditional branching) is switched to the switches SW1 and SW2. It corresponds to.

  The switch (sensor valid / invalid switching unit) SW3 controls whether or not the output of the second medal counting sensor SEN2 is propagated to the error determination unit 200c. In the case of a program, the conditional branch corresponds to a switch as described above.

  Each of the switches SW1 to SW3 operates based on a blocker operation signal (or a signal corresponding thereto) output from the medal insertion enable / disable determination unit 200b (in conjunction with the blocker BL). However, the switches SW1 and SW2 are inputted with the logic of the blocker operation signal inverted by the inverter INV and are controlled by this. This means that the operation of the medal counting unit 200a and the operation of the error determination unit 200c are exclusive, and when one is operating, the other is not operating. That is, when the blocker operation signal is on (blocker operation), the switch SW3 is turned on, the error determination unit 200c operates in response to the output of the second medal counting sensor SEN2 (the medal counting unit 200a does not operate), Similarly, when the switch is off (blocker is not activated), it means that the switches SW1 and SW2 are turned on and the medal counting unit 200a operates (the error determination unit 200c does not operate).

  Note that a delay means DELAY is provided in the propagation path to the blocker operation signal to the switch SW3, so that even if the blocker is operated, error determination is not performed for a certain time. Note that it is not necessary to delay the signal when the blocker shifts from operation to non-operation. Therefore, the delay means DELAY should at least delay the blocker operation signal when the blocker changes from non-operation to operation. It ’s enough.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the medal counting process executed by the medal counting unit 200a. The medal counting process will be described with reference to this.

S1: It is determined whether the blocker BL is operating.
When the blocker BL is operating (YES in S1), the process in FIG. When the blocker BL is not operating (NO in S1), the processes after S2 are executed. Note that when the medal insertion enable / disable determination unit 200b transmits a blocker operation signal, YES is obtained in S1.
The conditions for operating the blocker BL will be described in detail later.

S2: First, the output of the first medal counting sensor SEN1 on the upstream side is monitored.
When a medal is detected by the first medal counting sensor SEN1 (YES in S3), the processes after S4 are executed. When no medal is detected (NO in S3), monitoring of the output of the first medal counting sensor SEN1 is continued.

S4: Monitor the output of the second medal counting sensor SEN2 on the downstream side.
When a medal is detected by the second medal counting sensor SEN2 (YES in S5), it is determined in S6 that one medal has been inserted. When no medal is detected (NO in S5), the monitoring of the output of the second medal counting sensor SEN2 is continued. It should be noted that the timer shown in FIG. 8 may be terminated when the second medal counting sensor SEN2 does not detect a medal before starting the timer immediately after S3 and before the timer times out (NO in S5). Good. Normally, after the detection by the first medal counting sensor SEN1, the second medal counting sensor SEN2 should detect it within a short time of 1 second or less. For example, if there is no detection by the second medal counting sensor SEN2 even after 1 second or more has elapsed, it is considered that there is an abnormality such as a clogged medal, and therefore the processing of FIG. At this time, error notification may be performed.

S6: It is determined that one medal has been inserted.
Since the detection in the order of the first and second medal counting sensors SEN1 and SEN2 means that the medal has normally flowed through the medal passage 11, it is assumed that one medal has been inserted.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of determination processing executed by the medal insertion enable / disable determination unit 200b. The blocker operation signal generation process will be described with reference to this, but before that, the flow of the entire game process in the gaming machine will be described with reference to FIG.

S21: Activate the medal insertion and bet buttons.
A blocker (not shown) in the medal selector moves backward to a position that does not prevent the medal from passing. Thereby, a medal is thrown into the gaming machine. When the blocker is popping out, the medal is dropped from the medal passage and returned to the payout port 135. The bet button is lit and the operation becomes possible.

S22: It is determined whether a medal is inserted or a bet button is operated.
Inserting the required number of medals (it can be replaced with medals by pressing the bet button), YES in S22. Generally, one, two, or three medal medals can be inserted. The number of valid winning lines changes according to the number of medals.

S23: A winning line is set and displayed.
The gaming machine has a function of displaying an effective winning line (for example, an LED provided on the effective winning line is lit). At this stage, a valid pay line is only displayed but not confirmed.

S24: The start switch 134 is validated.
After being validated, the game is started by pressing the start switch 134.

S25: It is determined whether or not the start switch 134 has been pressed. When pressed (YES), the processing from S26 is performed. If not (NO), it is monitored whether the cancel button has been operated (S33). When the cancel button is operated (YES in S33), the inserted medals are returned, the winning line setting and display are canceled in S35, the start switch 134 is invalidated, and the process returns to the first process S21.

S26: When the start switch 134 is turned on, a winning line is determined according to the number of inserted medals, and a lottery process is performed by a winning lottery means inside the gaming machine. Here, when a predetermined combination is won, a winning flag is set.

S27: When the start switch 134 is operated, the rotating drum (hereinafter referred to as a rotating reel or simply a reel) rotates.

S27b: The stop switch 140 is validated after the reel has made steady rotation. When the stop switch 140 is pressed after the activation, the reel stops. When activated, the stop switch 140 is lit.

S28: When the stop switch 140 is operated, the stop switch 140 is turned on.

S29: Then, the rotation of the corresponding rotary reel is stopped. When the stop switches corresponding to all the rotating reels are operated, all three reels are stopped.

S30: It is determined whether or not all the rotating reels are stopped. When all the reels are stopped (YES in S30), the processes after S31 are executed. When all the reels are not stopped (NO in S30), the process returns to S28.

S30b: When all the rotating reels are stopped, the stop switch 140 is invalidated.

S31: After the operation of the stop switches corresponding to all the rotating reels, whether or not the winning symbols corresponding to the winning flag are aligned on the effective winning line while the winning flag is established, that is, whether or not the winning is confirmed. It is determined whether or not. The number of valid winning lines here makes sense. When winning (YES in S32), the process of S33 is executed. When no winning is made (NO in S32), the process returns to S21.

S33: A winning process is executed. When it is determined that the winning is confirmed, a medal corresponding to the winning symbol is paid out. Instead of paying out medals, replay is possible (replay winning), and bonuses may be won.

  In FIG. 10, the blocker BL is not operated from S21 to S24. Therefore, the medal insertion enable / disable determination unit 200b executes a process as shown in FIG.

S7: It is determined whether or not the winning process has been completed.
In FIG. 10, S33: When the winning process is completed, or when S32: NO is determined in the winning determination, YES is determined in S7.

S8: The blocker operation signal is turned off and a medal can be inserted.
By turning off the blocker operation signal, the blocker BL is drawn into the inside and does not protrude into the medal passage 11. As a result, the medal passes through the medal passage 11 and falls from the medal outlet 12 into the gaming machine.

S9: It is determined whether the start switch has been pressed.
If the start switch 134 is pressed (YES in S9), the process of S10 is executed.

S10: The blocker operation signal is turned on and the medal cannot be inserted.
By turning off the blocker operation signal, the blocker BL protrudes into the medal passage 11.
Note that the process of S10 is executed almost simultaneously with the process of S26 of FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart of error determination processing executed by the error determination unit 200c. The error determination process according to the embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to this.

S11: It is determined whether the blocker is operating.
If the blocker is operating (YES in S11), the processes after S12 are executed. If the blocker is not operating (NO in S11), the process in FIG. 11 is terminated.
The blocker is in operation from the time when YES is obtained in S25 of FIG. 10 until the time when NO or S33 is completed in S32 (immediately before S21).

S12: Start a timer (not shown).
The timer is realized by the CPU of the main board 200 executing a predetermined program or hardware such as a dedicated IC.

S13: It is determined whether the timer has timed out.
A predetermined time is set in advance in the timer (symbol T in FIG. 18). When the time has elapsed, YES is obtained in S13.
Note that the processing in S12 and S13 corresponds to the processing performed by the delay means DELAY in FIG.

S14: The output of the second medal counting sensor is monitored.
The output of the first medal counting sensor is not monitored.

S15: It is determined whether the second medal counting sensor has detected it.
When it is detected (YES in S15), it is determined as an error in S16. If the blocker BL is operating, it is unlikely that at least the second medal counting sensor SEN2 will be detected (by the way, the first medal counting sensor SEN1 may be detected). Therefore, it can be considered that the detection means the presence of a jig (foreign matter) related to an illegal act.
If there is no detection (NO in S15), the process of S15 is repeated. If the blocker BL is deactivated in the loop, the error determination process in FIG. 11 is terminated.

  According to FIG. 11, the medal selector 1 is monitored even during a period in which medals cannot be inserted. In this period, the detection by the second medal counting sensor SEN2 is regarded as an error because it means foreign object detection.

  Moreover, according to FIG. 11, error determination is not performed within a fixed time after the blocker BL is activated (S12 and S13). Then, error determination is performed after the predetermined time has elapsed. This is a measure for avoiding detection of a medal or the like passing there as an error, which may occur immediately after the blocker BL is activated.

  For the same reason, of the two insertion sensors SEN1 and SEN2 in the medal selector 1, the front sensor SEN1 is invalidated and only the rear sensor SEN2 is valid during the operation of the blocker BL.

  According to the embodiment of the invention, an illegal act can be detected by monitoring the medal selector 1 in accordance with the operation of the blocker BL. At that time, by monitoring only the second medal counting sensor SEN2, a medal that is erroneously inserted during the blocker BL operation is not erroneously determined as an illegal act. Furthermore, the error determination is not performed within a certain time after the blocker BL is activated, so that the swallowing of medals is not erroneously determined as an illegal act.

  Next, a specific operation of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the invention will be described based on a timing chart.

  FIG. 12 is a timing chart when the blocker BL is not operating. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the movement of medals in FIG. T1 and t2 in FIG. 13 indicate the positions of medals at times t1 and t2 in FIG. 12, respectively. Since the blocker BL is not activated, the medal flows in the medal path 11 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 13 and is detected by the first and second medal counting sensors SEN1, SEN2.

  It is detected by the first medal counting sensor SEN1 at t1 in FIG. 12 (YES in S3 in FIG. 8), and further detected by the second medal counting sensor SEN2 in t2 (YES in S5 in FIG. 8). The number of medals (medal count number) becomes +1 (S6 in FIG. 8). In FIG. 12, the H level signal means a detection signal indicating that each sensor has detected some object. The L level signal means a non-detection signal in which no object is detected. The same applies to FIG.

  FIG. 14 is a timing chart when a medal is erroneously inserted when the blocker BL is operating. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the movement of medals at that time. 15 indicate the positions of medals at times t3 and t4 in FIG. 14, respectively. Since the blocker BL is in operation, medals that are accidentally inserted collide with the blocker BL and are prevented from moving. At that time, the medal rises with momentum and may be detected by the first medal counting sensor SEN1 (t3), but it is dropped and returned (t4). In FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, since the second medal counting sensor SEN2 is not detected, the processing of FIG. 11 is not performed and no error is generated.

  FIG. 16 is a timing chart when an illegal act is performed when the blocker BL is operating. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the movement of the cheating jig (foreign matter) X at that time. Although the blocker BL is operating, the fraudulent jig (foreign matter) X is narrower than the medal in terms of width, and therefore reaches the second medal counting sensor SEN2 beyond the blocker BL. At that time (t5), YES is determined in S15 of FIG. 11, and an error is determined. Since the first medal counting sensor SEN1 is not used in the process of FIG. 11, an error determination is performed regardless of the detection / non-detection of the sensor. The dotted line in FIG. 16 means that.

  FIG. 18 shows a timing chart before and after the blocker BL is activated. The blocker BL operates at time t6, but no error determination is performed until a predetermined time T has elapsed (see the delay means DELAY in FIG. 7 and S12 and S13 in FIG. 11). This is because medals may be swallowed immediately after the operation of the blocker BL, and this is not erroneously determined as an error. In the example of FIG. 18, a single medal is detected by overcoming the blocker BL immediately after the blocker BL is actuated (a signal between times t6 and t7), but is not determined to be an error due to the presence of the delay time T described above. . By the way, swallowed medals are not counted. If the second medal counting sensor SEN2 detects after time t7 after the elapse of time T, an error is determined (in the example of FIG. 18, at time t8, YES is determined in S15 of FIG. 11, and an error is determined). . As the time T, a time that is the same as or slightly longer than the time during which medals can be swallowed (the time until swallowing does not occur based on the operation start timing of the blocker BL) is selected. For example, when the blocker BL is activated and protrudes into the medal passage 11, if the blocker BL hits the side of the medal, it is considered that swallowing occurs, so the time required for one medal to pass through the blocker BL The time T may be set as a reference. In the example of FIG. 6, the time can be obtained by (the length of the cross section b when the medal is cut at the height of the blocker BL) / (moving speed of the medal).

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

1 medal selector 11 medal passage 12 medal exit 200a medal counting unit 200b medal insertion enable / disable determination unit 200c error determination unit BL blocker DELAY delay means INV logic negation circuit SEN1 first medal counting sensor SEN2 second medal counting sensor SW1 to SW3 switch (Sensor valid / invalid switching part)

Claims (2)

A medal passage that rolls the inserted medal toward the medal exit, and a first medal count sensor and a second medal count that are provided on the medal exit side of the medal passage and detect medals rolling on the medal passage. A medal selector including a sensor and a blocker for blocking a medal rolling in the medal passage;
A medal counting unit for counting the number of medals inserted based on outputs of the first medal counting sensor and the second medal counting sensor;
A determination unit for determining fraud based on the output of the second medal counting sensor;
Determining whether or not a medal can be inserted according to a game, and when a medal cannot be inserted, outputs a blocker operation signal to operate the blocker, and a medal insertion enable / disable determining unit;
A first switch and a second switch for inputting the outputs of the first medal counting sensor and the second medal counting sensor to the medal counting unit, respectively, when the blocker is inactivated by the blocker operation signal;
A third switch for inputting the output of the second medal counting sensor to the determination unit when the blocker is activated by the blocker activation signal;
The first medal counting sensor and the second medal counting sensor are provided side by side along the direction of movement of medals rolling on the medal path closer to the medal exit side than the blocker, and the second medal counting sensor is The medal exit side of the first medal counting sensor is provided,
The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines an illegal act when receiving a detection signal of the second medal counting sensor.   Delay means for causing the third switch to input the output of the second medal counting sensor to the determination unit after a predetermined time has elapsed since the blocker was activated by the blocker activation signal. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

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