JP2012125435A - Reel rotation speed detector for slot game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reel rotation speed detector for a slot game machine that can shorten a player's stand-by time.SOLUTION: The reel rotation speed detector for the slot game machine includes: a reel (R) rotationally driven by a stepping motor (11); light shielding plate pieces (19a)-(19d) for indicating the rotation original position of the reel; and a transmission type photo sensor (16) for detecting the passing of the light shielding plate pieces. The reel rotation speed detector detects the rotation speed of the reel by counting the number of steps of the motor (11) from the time when the photo sensor detects the passing of the light shielding plate pieces. A plurality of light shielding plate pieces are distributed interspersed on fixed P.C.D. (Pitch Circle Diameter) (D) of the reel and provided continuously and integrally projecting by a fixed length (L) into the reel from the intermediate parts of radial arms (9) in the reel. Only one of the light shielding plate pieces is assigned as the light shielding plate piece (19a) for detecting the rotation original position of the reel, and its width (W1) is set to be different from the width (W2) of the remaining light shielding plate pieces (19b)-(19d).

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotation speed detecting device for a rotation type gaming machine.

  In a rotating game machine that uses a stepping motor as a rotation drive source of the rotating drum, in order to shorten the waiting time of the player, two light shielding portions are provided on the rotating body side such as the rotating drum, Techniques devised so that an output signal (index signal) that has detected the passage of the light-shielding portion can be quickly acquired by the transmission type photosensor held on the fixed body side are disclosed in the following Patent Documents 1 to 3, It is already known.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-74200 Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-32194 JP 2003-339953 A

  However, the configuration described in Patent Document 1 requires a signal disk (17a) that is independent from the reel (5a), and is integrated on the output shaft (drive shaft) (18) of the stepping motor (13a). It must be fixed so that it can rotate.

  In addition, a large number of slits (27a) scattered in the outer position near the periphery of the plate surface of the special signal disk (17a), and the reference position (origin) to the inner position adjacent to the slit (27a). One slit (reset) (28) for detection is formed, two photosensors (14a) (15a) and detection corresponding to the slit (27a) and the slit (reset) (28a). Since it is necessary to provide a circuit, the circuit becomes extremely complicated, which tends to cause an increase in manufacturing cost and operational trouble.

  Further, it is necessary to affix a strip-shaped reel sheet (5x) on which symbols (symbols) (S) are printed on the reel (5a). However, the reel (5a) and the signal disk (17a) that are independent from each other are provided. In the state before the combination, the reference position (origin) of the reel (5a) is undecided, so that the alignment operation between the reference position (origin) and the symbol (symbol) (S) cannot be easily performed correctly.

  Next, in the configuration described in Patent Document 2, the front edge (17f) and the rear edge (17r) of the light shielding band (17a) cut out in the reel body (12) straddle the light shielding band (17a). Since the photo sensor (20a) detects each half rotation (two rises and falls of the electrical signal per revolution), it is impossible to obtain an index signal faster than this. It is.

  In addition, since the semicircular portion of the reel body (12) is largely cut out as a light shielding band (17a), the circumferential mass of the reel body (12) becomes non-uniform, which adversely affects the smooth rotating action. There is a risk of giving.

  Further, since the light shielding band (17a) for the semicircular portion is in an inward projecting state relative to the remaining semicircular portion, the entire reel body (12) can be integrally formed from synthetic resin at low cost. Since the photo sensor (20a) straddles the shading band (17a) of the reel body (12) and projects outward, the adjacent reel bodies (12) are arranged without gaps. It is difficult to do this, and it is subject to restrictions on the installation of one set of three.

  Further, paragraph [0017] of Patent Document 3 states that “at least one protruding piece protruding toward the inside of the cylindrical shape of the rotating reel (40) and the protruding piece as the rotating reel (40) rotates. Is configured to include a U-shaped photo-interrupter that is formed so as to be able to pass through the interior and that can be detected by an optical sensor that incorporates the passage. " The specific shape and size of the pieces, the total number, the installation method, and other configurations are completely unknown and cannot be specified at all.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to improve such a problem, and in order to achieve the object, according to claim 1, a rotating drum driven to rotate by a stepping motor and a light shielding plate piece for indicating the rotation origin position of the rotating drum. And a transmissive photosensor that detects the passage of the light shielding plate piece,

  In the rotating speed detecting device of the rotating type gaming machine that detects the rotating speed of the rotating cylinder by counting the number of steps of the stepping motor from when the photo sensor detects the passage of the light shielding plate piece,

  As a plurality of the light shielding plate pieces scattered and distributed on a constant pitch circle diameter of the rotator, and projecting from the middle part of the radial arm in the rotator to the inside of the rotator continuously and integrally for a certain length,

  Only one of them is a light shielding plate piece for detecting the rotation origin position of the rotating drum, and the width thereof is set to a size different from the width of the remaining light shielding plate piece.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the width of the light shielding plate piece for detecting the rotation origin position of the rotating drum is set to be wider than the width of the remaining light shielding plate piece.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the widths of the plurality of light shielding plate pieces including the light shielding plate pieces for detecting the rotation origin position of the rotating cylinder are all set to different dimensions.

  According to the above configuration of the first aspect, the plurality of light shielding plate pieces distributed as the overall radial symmetry type on the constant pitch circle diameter of the rotator are arranged from the middle part of the radial arm of the rotator to the rotator. The width of the light-shielding plate piece that is continuously projecting by a certain length toward the inside, and that only one of them remains as a light-shielding plate piece for detecting the rotation reference position (origin) of the rotating cylinder. Therefore, the time required to measure the timing of the transition from the end of acceleration of the rotating cylinder to the constant speed can be greatly reduced as a time that does not reach even one rotation of the rotating cylinder. Also, step-out motor-specific step-out occurrence detection and return detection can be shortened as well, so that it is possible to reach a state where the rotation can be stopped at an early stage, and as a result, unnecessary waiting time for the player can be shortened. Decrease Can be reduced.

  Further, the plurality of light shielding plate pieces are in an overall radial symmetrical distribution type, which is scattered on the constant pitch circle diameter in the rotating cylinder, and further, from the middle part of the radial arm toward the inside of the rotating cylinder, Projected by a certain length parallel to the rotation axis of the stepping motor, and because it is a continuous integrated product with the rotating cylinder, there is no risk of incorrect movement such as misalignment, and under a good weight balance, There is also an effect that a smooth and stable rotating action can be obtained.

  Furthermore, only by changing the width dimension of the light shielding plate piece, not only the rotation speed detection function of the rotating cylinder but also one of them can be provided with the origin position detecting function of the rotating cylinder. It is not necessary to improve the performance and function of the machine, and it is not necessary to increase the number of rotation position sensors (transmission type photosensors) and detection circuits, so that it can be easily applied to existing rotation type game machines, Helps reduce manufacturing costs.

  In particular, if the structure of claim 2 is adopted, even if an error or rattling occurs in the mounting state of the rotating drum, its rotation driving stepping motor, and the rotational position detection photosensor, etc. There is an advantage that it is useful to increase the distance of the measurement section by the control device of the gaming machine by ensuring a wide interval between the index signals corresponding to the adjacent intervals between the board pieces, and obtaining a highly accurate measurement result.

  Furthermore, if the structure of Claim 3 is employ | adopted, since all the several light-shielding plate pieces are set to the different width dimension, by the measurement of the light-shielding time corresponding to the width dimension of each light-shielding plate piece, a rotating cylinder is carried out. The origin position can be detected earliest from the first time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an external front view of a rotary type gaming machine according to the present invention. It is a front view which extracts and shows a rotating cylinder rotation unit. FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a right side view of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a left side view of FIG. 2. It is a perspective view which shows the rotating drum of the state attached to the stepping motor. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the rotator removed from the stepping motor of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a front view of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8. It is a timing chart which shows the output waveform of a transmission type photosensor, and its partial expansion state. It is a front view which shows the deformation | transformation embodiment of the rotating drum corresponding to FIG.

  Hereinafter, the specific configuration of the present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiment shown in the drawings. As shown in the external view of FIG. 1, the rotary type gaming machine of the present invention is a front glass in the gaming machine main body (B). A rotating window display window (2) formed at substantially the center of the plate (1), a start lever (3) and a stop button (4) for rotating the rotating apparatus, a game medal slot (5) and a game medal payout slot (6) etc. are provided.

  The gaming machine main body (B) incorporates a rotating cylinder rotating unit (U) as shown in FIGS. (R) is a total of three cylinders arranged in parallel in the frame of the unit frame (7), all of which are made of ABS resin or other hard synthetic resin, as shown in FIGS. ) And a plurality of radial shapes (a total of four cross-shaped characters in the illustrated example) are integrally formed into a substantially U-shaped cross section having an arm (9) and a circular rim (10). R is fitted to the output shaft (rotation drive shaft) (12) of the stepping motor (11) located inside R) so that it can rotate integrally.

  A total of three stepping motors (11) as corresponding rotational drive sources of the rotating drum (R) are respectively connected to the middle plate (13) of the unit frame (7) via a plurality of bolts (15). Mounting is fixed. (14) is the bottom of the stepping motor (11).

  Furthermore, symbol stickers (not shown) on which a maximum of 21 various symbols are printed are attached to and integrated with the rim (10) of each cylinder (R), and the symbols on the symbol stickers are attached to the above-mentioned gaming machine main body ( B) can be seen through the front display plate (2) of the front glass plate (1).

  In use of the above-mentioned spinning-reel type gaming machine, if the player inserts a medal into the gaming medal slot (5) of the gaming machine main body (B) and switches on the start lever (3), 3 The rotating cylinders (R) are rotationally driven all at once by the corresponding stepping motor (11), and are sequentially stopped by pressing the stop button (4). When all of the spinning cylinders (R) are stopped, the combination of symbols appearing on the activated winning line of the above-mentioned spinning cylinder display window (2) becomes a predetermined winning combination. If so, a predetermined number of medals corresponding to the combination are paid out to the player from the game medal payout slot (6).

  However, in the technical standards based on the laws and regulations of the spinning cylinder game machine, the game is continued until the rotational speed of all the spinning cylinders (R) forming the rotating cylinder rotation unit (U) is constant (for example, 80 rpm). The rotation of the rotating drum (R) by the person's stop button (4) is not accepted.

  Therefore, it is necessary to detect the timing of shifting from the end of the acceleration period to the constant speed by measuring the rotational speed of the rotating cylinder (R), and the rotation of the rotating cylinder (R) shifts from acceleration to constant speed. Unless the time required to complete the timing measurement is shortened, the waiting time of the player cannot be shortened, and the step-out detection and return detection of the stepping motor (11) cannot be detected quickly.

  The above spinning machine has a control device (not shown) composed of a microprocessor (MPU), RAM, ROM, I / O, etc. outside the rotating unit (U). The index signal is acquired by detecting the rotation speed and the rotation origin position of (R). Further, the relative relationship between the design on the rotating cylinder (R) and the rotation angle of the stepping motor (11) for rotating the rotating cylinder (that is, what pattern is located in the rotating display window). Is always grasped).

  (16) is attached to the middle plate (13) of the unit frame (7) forming the above-mentioned rotating cylinder rotating unit (U) for this purpose through a substantially U-shaped holder (17) and a plurality of bolts (18). A non-contact type rotating cylinder rotation position sensor (transmission type photosensor) that is fixed and consists of a pair of light emitting elements (LEDs) and light receiving elements (phototransistors) facing each other, in the U-shaped groove (G) The light shielding plate pieces (19a), (19b), (19c), and (19d) on the rotating drum (R) side that pass through are detected, and the output signals are transmitted to the control device.

  In addition, the light shielding plate pieces (19a) to (19d) on the side of the rotator (R) are radially symmetric on a constant pitch circle diameter (PCD) (D) in the rotator (R) as shown in FIGS. In parallel with the rotation axis of the stepping motor (11) from the middle part of the radial arm (9) toward the inside of the rotating drum (R), as a plurality of lines (4 in total in the example shown in FIG. It protrudes continuously by a certain length (L), and any of them can pass through the U-shaped groove (G) of the transmission photosensor (16) for detecting the rotational position of the rotating cylinder without any trouble.

  In that case, the plurality of light-shielding plate pieces (19a) to (19d) are all formed into a quadrangle having the same protruding length (L), preferably a rectangle having the protruding length (L) as a long side. However, only one of them is a special rotation origin position detecting light shielding plate piece (19a) of the rotating drum (R), and the constant width (short side) (W1) is the remaining three constant widths (short). Side) (W2) is preferably wider and intentionally changed. The remaining three light shielding plate pieces (19b), (19c) and (19d) function only for detecting the rotational speed of the rotating drum (R), and do not function for detecting the rotational origin position.

  A plurality of light shielding plate pieces (19a) to (19d) on the rotating drum (R) side, and the wide difference given to the widths (W1) and (W2) is output by the photosensor (16) as shown in FIG. As a result of being detected as a time difference between the index signal widths (T1) and (T2), the control device measures the time, so that the light shielding plate piece that has passed through the U-shaped groove (G) of the photosensor (16). It is possible to reliably determine whether (19a) to (19d) are the rotation origin position of the rotating drum (R).

  The width difference between the widths (W1) and (W2) of the light shielding plate pieces (19a) to (19d) is not determined until after passing through the U-shaped groove (G) of the photosensor (16). Output from the photosensor (16) when the light shielding plate pieces (19a) to (19d) on the rotating drum (R) side shifts from the U-shaped groove (G) of the photosensor (16) to the undetected state. For the first time, it is known whether the width (W1) (W2) of the light-shielding plate pieces (19a) to (19d) that have just passed is wide or narrow at the timing when the voltage level of the index signal to be shifted from the H level to the L level. Will get.

  If the index signal width (T1) (T2) detected at that time is the wider one, the current position is the origin, and at the same time, the control device of the revolving game machine sets the value of the origin recording counter to zero. Reset. Further, as a result of adding the number of steps to the origin recording counter simultaneously with the output of the number of steps in the stepping motor (11), the control device becomes the relative position of the current position with respect to the rotation origin position.

  Further, at the transition timing from the H level to the L level, in addition to the above-described origin position detection, the rotational speed of the rotating drum (R) is simultaneously measured. By checking the value of the counter for measurement between the index signals, the control device can measure the passing time of the measurement section (A) (see FIG. 10). This can be measured regardless of whether the light-shielding plate piece that has passed is the origin-recording light-shielding plate piece (19a) or the other rotational speed measuring light-shielding plate pieces (19b) to (19d). The reason is that, as shown in the enlarged portion of FIG. 10, all the light shielding plate pieces (19a) to (19d) are shaped so that the distance from the falling edge of the light shielding plate piece to the next falling edge is the same. is there. The controller is programmed to reset the measurement counter value to zero in preparation for the next measurement after reading the rotational speed measurement.

  In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the detection result of such a rotational speed has a total of four light-shielding plate pieces (19a) to (19d). Therefore, at the time when the rotating drum (R) rotates by a quarter (90 degrees). For example, if there are a total of six of them, they can be obtained early when they are rotated by 1/6 (60 degrees).

  Furthermore, since the stop position of the rotating drum (R) is different each time, the rotation of the rotating drum (R) starts to accelerate from a different position each time as well. If the first index signal is acquired immediately after the transition to the constant speed, the measurement in the shortest time is completed, but the position where acceleration starts and the light-shielding part are not correlated with each other. Not necessarily. From this, generally, the time required to measure the timing of shifting to the constant speed rotation is one rotation of the constant speed rotation in the rotating drum (R) at the shortest, and the same is two rotations at the longest.

  In this respect, in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the total number of the light shielding plate pieces (19a) to (19d) is four, and the entire radial symmetrical distribution type is provided on a constant PCD (D) in the rotating drum (R). Therefore, as is apparent from FIG. 10, the first to fourth index signals (S1) (S2) (S3) output from the photosensor (16) corresponding to the light shielding plate pieces (19a) to (19d). ) In (S4), the timing until the fourth index signal (S4) and the next first index signal (S1) are acquired is measured from the acceleration of the rotating cylinder (R) to the constant speed. The required time (Z) until this can be greatly shortened, and a long time corresponding to one rotation of constant speed rotation is not required.

  In the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, one of the four light shielding plate pieces (19a) to (19d) is used as one of the light shielding plate pieces (19a) for detecting the rotation origin position of the rotating drum (R). The remaining three are sized as the rotation speed detecting light-shielding plate pieces (19b) to (19d) having no origin position detecting function, while having the same dimensions (for example, 3 mm). ), The width (W1) of the light shielding plate piece for origin position detection (19a) is about 5 mm, for example, as shown in the modified embodiment of FIG. 11 corresponding to FIG. The width (W2) of the next rotational speed detection light shielding plate piece (19b) from the light shielding plate piece (19a) is 4 mm, and the next second rotational speed detection light shielding plate piece (19c). ) Width (W3) is 3 mm, and the third rotation speed detecting light-shielding plate piece (1 The plurality of light-shielding plate pieces (19a) to (19d) are dimensioned as different widths such that the width (W4) of 9d) is 2 mm. Conceivable. Then, there is an effect that the rotation origin position of the rotating drum (R) can be detected earliest from the first rotation by measuring the time during which the transmission type photosensor (16) is shielded from light.

  Previously, it has been described that it is desirable to make the width (W1) of the rotation origin position detection light shielding plate piece (19a) wider than the width (W2) of the remaining light shielding plate pieces (19b) to (19d). The reason for this is that the index signals (S1 to (S4) are adjacent to each other in view of the fact that some errors or rattles occur in the mounting of the rotating drum (R), stepping motor (11), photosensor (16), etc. This is because securing a wide interval helps to increase the distance of the measurement section (A) (see FIG. 10) by the control device, and a highly accurate measurement result with few errors can be obtained.

  Note that the width (W1) of the light shielding plate piece for origin position detection (19a) is different from the width (W2) of the other light shielding plate pieces (19b) to (19d), or the light shielding plate piece (19a). About the nonuniformity of the mass of the rotating drum (R) due to all the widths (W1) to (W4) of (19d) being different, the method of adjusting the plate thickness to be thicker or thinner The mass of the rotating drum (R) may be kept uniform throughout.

(1) ・ Front glass plate (2) ・ Rotating wheel display window (3) ・ Start lever (4) ・ Stop button (5) ・ Game medal slot (6) ・ Game medal slot (7) ・ Unit frame ( 8) ・ Hub (9) ・ Arm (10) ・ Rim (11) ・ Stepping motor (12) ・ Output shaft (13) ・ Medium plate (14) ・ Motor bottom (15) (18) ・ Bolt (16) ・Transmission type photo sensor (17), holder (19a) (19b) (19c) (19d), shading plate (B), game machine main body (R), rotating drum (G), U-shaped groove (U), times Body rotation unit (D) ・ Pitch Circle Diameter (PCD)
(L) · Projection length of light shielding plate piece (S1) (S2) (S3) (S4) · Index signal (W1) (W2) (W3) (W4) · Light shielding plate piece width (T1) (T2)・ Signal width (Z) ・ Time required (A) ・ Measurement section

Claims (3)

A rotating cylinder driven to rotate by a stepping motor, a light shielding plate piece that indicates the rotation origin position of the rotating cylinder, and a transmission type photosensor that detects the passage of the light shielding plate piece,
In the rotating speed detecting device of the rotating type gaming machine that detects the rotating speed of the rotating cylinder by counting the number of steps of the stepping motor from when the photo sensor detects the passage of the light shielding plate piece,
As a plurality of the light shielding plate pieces scattered and distributed on a constant pitch circle diameter of the rotator, and projecting from the middle part of the radial arm in the rotator to the inside of the rotator continuously and integrally for a certain length,
Detecting the rotation speed of a rotating game machine characterized in that only one of them is used as a light shielding plate piece for detecting the rotation origin position of the rotating drum, and its width is set to a size different from the width of the remaining light shielding plate piece. apparatus.   2. A rotating speed detecting device for a rotating type gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the width of the light shielding plate piece for detecting the rotation origin position of the rotating drum is set to be larger than the width of the remaining light shielding plate piece. .   2. The rotation speed detection of a rotating type gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the widths of the plurality of light shielding plate pieces including the light shielding plate pieces for detecting the rotation origin position of the rotating drum are all set to different dimensions. apparatus.

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