JP2019213602A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce a risk of an occurrence of ball jamming in a game machine equipped with a plurality of sensors for detecting a game ball entering a certain area.SOLUTION: A game machine 1 includes: a specific area 11 that is an area in which a game ball can enter, and is formed with a plurality of exits 121 and 122; and a plurality of guide paths 21 and 22, which are passages extending from the plurality of exits 121 and 122 respectively, and guide game balls passing through each exit. The plurality of guide paths 21 and 22 are partitioned from each other so that a game ball cannot move from one guide path to the other guide path.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

  2. Description of the Related Art A gaming machine equipped with a sensor for detecting that a game ball has entered a winning area or the like is known (for example, see Patent Document 1 below). In order to advance the detection timing of a game ball, there has been known a sensor in which a plurality of sensors of this type are provided.

JP-A-2005-100678

  Since a plurality of sensors are installed, there is a high possibility that ball clogging or the like occurs.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to reduce the risk of ball clogging in a gaming machine having a plurality of sensors for detecting a game ball that has entered a certain area.

  A gaming machine according to the present invention made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem is a region where a game ball can enter, a specific region in which a plurality of outlets are formed, and a passage extending from each of the plurality of outlets. A plurality of taxiways for guiding game balls passing through each exit, wherein the plurality of taxiways are separated from each other so that game balls cannot move from one of the taxiways to another. Characterized in that:

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the gaming machine concerning this invention, it is possible to reduce the possibility that ball clogging may occur due to a game ball that has entered a specific area.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the gaming machine according to the embodiment. It is a figure showing an identification symbol and a reserved symbol displayed on a display device (display area). (A) is a figure for demonstrating the inside of a big winning opening and the structure of the thing related to it, and (b) is a figure which showed the surplus space. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a privilege area is opened (the reference numerals are the same as those shown in FIG. 3 and are omitted). It is a figure for demonstrating that an end part functions as a space of "escape" of a game ball (a code | symbol is the same as that shown in FIG. 3 and is abbreviate | omitted).

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the gaming machine 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the gaming machine 1 will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

  The gaming machine 1 includes a gaming board 90. The game board 90 is formed of a substantially square plywood, and a guide rail 903 forming a passage for guiding a game ball fired by operating a firing device 908 (a firing handle) to a game area 902 has a substantially arc shape. It is provided as follows.

  In the game area 902, a display device 91, a start winning port 904, a big winning port 10, an out port 907, and the like are provided. The display area 911 of the display device 91 is an area that can be visually recognized through an opening 901 formed in the game board 90. Note that the shape and the like of the display region 911 can be changed as appropriate (the shape and the size of the display region 911 can be changed by changing the shape and size of the opening 901 and the shape and size of the display device 91 itself). .

  Further, in the game area 902, a plurality of game nails are provided as obstacles that change the flow state of the game balls when the game balls flow down. The game ball flowing down the game area 902 changes in various modes according to the conditions at the time of collision with the game nail.

  In such a gaming machine 1, a game ball is fired toward the game area 902 by operating the firing device 908. When a game ball flowing down the game area 902 wins a winning opening such as the starting winning opening 904 or the big winning opening 10, a predetermined number of winning balls are paid out by the payout device.

  The jackpot lottery is executed by the winning / failing determination means provided on a control board (not shown) triggered by the winning of a game ball to the starting winning port 904 (a plurality of such starting winning ports may be provided). More specifically, when a game ball is awarded to the starting winning opening 904, a numerical value (acceptance determination information) is acquired from a random number source, and if the numerical value is the same as a predetermined jackpot, a jackpot is determined. If they are different, they will be missed. In the present embodiment, the notification of the result of the determination of the validity is started in the order in which the numerical values are obtained (so-called fluctuation is started), but when a certain numerical value is obtained, it is obtained earlier than that. When the result of the judgment is notified based on a numerical value, the result is stored in a storage means provided on a control board (not shown) until the result of the judgment is determined. The maximum storage number (maximum hold number) of numerical values for which notification of the validity determination has not yet been started (hereinafter may be simply referred to as hold) can be set as appropriate. The maximum number of suspensions that can be stored in the storage unit in the present embodiment is four for one type of start winning port 904. The fact that the above numerical value (acceptance determination information) is stored in the storage means is displayed as a reserved symbol 80 (see FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, at the point in time when the notification of the hit determination is started, it is determined whether or not the obtained numerical value is a big hit value, but when the numerical value is obtained, the hit determination is performed. Alternatively, the configuration may be such that the determination result itself is stored (in this case, the determination result itself corresponds to the determination information). In addition, the obtained numerical value is also used as a numerical value for determining the specific content of the effect for notifying the result of the determination.

  In addition, the description of the components of the gaming machine 1 irrelevant to the present invention, such as the frame of the gaming machine 1 and the lower plate and the upper plate for storing game balls, is omitted. With respect to these, those having the same structure as a known game machine can be applied.

  In the present embodiment, similarly to a known gaming machine, the result of the determination as to whether or not the game is successful is notified to the player by a combination of the identification symbols 70 (see FIG. 2) displayed in the display area 911 of the display device 91. Specifically, an identification symbol group 70g (a left identification symbol group 70gL, a middle identification symbol group 70gC, a right identification symbol group 70gR) including a plurality of types of identification symbol 70 starts to change, and finally each identification symbol group 70g One identification symbol 70 is selected and stops. When the jackpot has been won, the combination of the identification symbols 70 selected and stopped from each of the identification symbol groups 70g is a predetermined combination (for example, three identical identification symbols 70). In the case of a miss, a combination other than that (other than the combination that makes a big hit) is made. In each drawing, only “numbers (characters)” constituting the identification symbol 70 are illustrated, but a symbol in which the numeral and a character are combined can be set as the identification symbol 70.

  Hereinafter, the inside of the special winning opening 10 and the structure of the related ones will be described in detail. In addition, the structure as shown below may be constructed by only one member, or may be constructed by combining a plurality of members. Further, in the present embodiment, the special winning opening 10 and the bonus area 40 described later are provided so as to be visible to the player, but other elements may be provided so as to be visible to the player. . The special winning opening 10 in the present embodiment is provided on the right side of the game area 902 (see FIG. 1). That is, it is provided at a position where a game ball can enter when a player performs a so-called right-handed game.

  A winning area 11 (corresponding to a specific area in the present invention), which is a space into which a game ball can enter, is provided inside the special winning opening 10 (see FIG. 3A). The big winning opening 10 is an entrance of a game ball entering the winning area 11. A winning opening / closing member 10a that reciprocates between the closed position and the open position is provided in front of the big winning opening 10. When the winning opening / closing member 10a is located at the closed position, the big winning opening 10 is closed, so that the gaming ball cannot enter the winning area 11. When the prize opening / closing member 10a is located at the open position, the large prize opening 10 is opened, and the game ball can enter the prize area 11. The prize opening / closing member 10a located at the open position also has a function of guiding a game ball flowing down toward the special winning opening 10 to the prize area 11.

  In the jackpot game executed when the result of the hit determination is a jackpot, the game ball is paid out when the game ball wins in the special winning opening 10, that is, when the game ball enters the winning area 11 ( So-called prize balls are paid out). Therefore, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes a sensor for detecting a game ball that has entered the winning area 11. The sensor is provided at the exit of the winning area 11. The exit is a hole formed on the lower wall surface facing the winning area 11. Since a game ball that has entered the winning area 11 always passes through the exit, detecting a game ball by a sensor provided at the exit is synonymous with that the game ball has entered the winning area 11.

  A plurality of exits of the winning area 11 are provided. In the present embodiment, there are provided a first outlet 121 located on the right side and a second outlet 122 located on the left side when viewed from the front (see FIG. 3A). A game ball that has entered the winning area 11 must pass through one of the first exit 121 and the second exit 122. The size of each exit is set to a size that allows only one game ball to pass. That is, the size is set such that two or more game balls cannot pass through the exit side by side in the width direction. Since a plurality of outlets are provided as described above, a sensor for detecting a game ball is provided so as to be associated with each outlet. In the present embodiment, the first outlet 121 is provided with the first sensor 121s, and the second outlet 122 is provided with the second sensor 122s (see FIG. 3A). A game ball that has entered the winning area 11 is always detected by one of the first sensor 121s and the second sensor 122s. The type of the sensor and the like may be of any type, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  The advantages of providing a plurality of sensors in this manner are as follows. If there is only one sensor, the number of game balls detected at a time is only one, and the position where the one sensor is provided is far from the special winning opening 10. There is a possibility that the detection of a game ball that has entered the game may be delayed. In a general jackpot game, a unit game (round), which ends when a predetermined number of game balls has entered the prize area 11, is repeated one or more times. If the detection of entry into the game is delayed, there is a possibility that game balls exceeding a predetermined number enter the prize area 11 frequently. That is, the specifications of the gaming machine 1 may not be as expected. In order to reduce such a risk, a plurality of sensors are provided so that a game ball can be smoothly detected. In addition, if the detection of the game ball is performed smoothly, there is an advantage that the big hit game (unit game) proceeds at a good tempo.

  The game ball that has passed through the exit enters the taxiway. In the present embodiment, a first taxiway 21 into which game balls passing through the first exit 121 enter, and a second taxiway 22 through which game balls passing through the second exit 122 enter (FIG. 3 ( a)). Each taxiway is independent of each other. That is, the game balls that have entered one of the taxiways are separated from each other so that they cannot move to the other taxiway (the partition wall is located between the first taxiway 21 and the second taxiway 22). 23). In other words, a game ball that has entered a certain taxiway reaches the exit of the certain taxiway without moving to another taxiway. Each guide path of the present embodiment guides the game ball substantially downward.

  The exit of each taxiway is connected to the junction space 30 (see FIG. 3A). That is, each guide path guides the game ball to the merging space 30. Even a game ball guided by another taxiway reaches the merge space 30 and enters the same space. It can also be considered that the first guiding path 21 and the second guiding path 22 that are separated from each other become one in the merging space 30.

  The first taxiway 21 is a direction in which the game sphere is orthogonal to the width direction (the guidance direction (vertical direction in the present embodiment)) from the first exit 121 (the entrance in the case of the first taxiway 21) to the merging space 30. ) So that they cannot pass side by side. That is, although two or more game balls may be arranged in the guiding direction, the size is such that two or more game balls are not arranged in the width direction.

  The second guide path 22 has a guide portion 221 and a terminal portion 222 (see FIG. 3A). The end portion 222 is a portion connected to the joining space 30, and the guiding portion 221 is a portion farther from the joining space 30 than the end portion 222, that is, a portion upstream of the end portion 222 in the direction in which the game ball moves. It is. The guide portion 221 is also a portion connected to the second outlet 122. The guide portion 221 is formed in a size that does not allow game balls to pass side by side in the width direction. That is, although two or more game balls may be arranged in the guiding direction, the size is such that two or more game balls are not arranged in the width direction. It can be said that it is a part to send game balls one by one in order. On the other hand, the end portion 222 has a size such that two or more game balls can be arranged in the width direction (see FIG. 3B). It can be said that the size of the cross section of the end portion 222 is larger than the size of the cross section of the guide portion 221 (a cross section cut along a plane perpendicular to the guide direction). A portion of the end portion 222 is a space that overlaps the guide portion 221 in the up-down direction (a space that is on an extension of the guide portion 221), and another portion is a space that does not overlap the guide portion 221 in the up-down direction (hereinafter referred to as extra This may be referred to as a space 222a) (see FIG. 3B). The surplus space 222a is a space into which at least one game ball can enter.

  The merging space 30 is a space provided below the first taxiway 21 and the second taxiway 22, and is a space large enough for a plurality of game balls to enter at the same time (FIG. 3). (A)). The exit of the first taxiway 21 and the exit of the second taxiway 22 (end portion 222) face the confluence space 30. The merge space 30 is a space that is gently inclined from one side (the right side in the present embodiment) in the left-right direction to the other side (the left side in the present embodiment). Specifically, the bottom wall surface 31 of the junction space 30 (the wall facing the lower side of the junction space 30) is formed so as to be inclined in this manner. Therefore, basically (except when the privilege opening / closing member 41 described later is in an open state), the game ball that has entered the merging space 30 is guided along the bottom wall surface 31. The game balls guided in this manner are taken into the gaming machine without entering the privilege area 40 described later. If one side (the right side in the present embodiment) of the merging space 30 is the upstream side and the other side (the left side in the present embodiment) is the downstream side based on the guiding direction (the moving direction of the game ball) by the bottom wall 31, the second It can be said that the taxiway 22 is connected to the downstream side (the left side in the present embodiment) of the junction space 30 from the first taxiway 21 (see FIG. 3A).

  A privilege area 40 is provided below the junction space 30 (see FIG. 3A). The bottom wall surface 31 is located between the junction space 30 and the privilege area 40. The whole or a part of the bottom wall 31 is constructed by a privilege opening / closing member 41. The privilege opening / closing member 41 reciprocates between an open position that opens a path connecting the merging space 30 and the privilege area 40 and a closed position (normal state) that closes the path. When the privilege opening / closing member 41 is located at the open position, a game ball that has entered the merging space 30 can enter the privilege area 40 through the above route (see FIG. 4). When the privilege opening / closing member 41 is located at the closed position, even if a game ball enters the merging space 30, the game ball does not enter the privilege region 40.

  In the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the game state after the end of the big hit game is determined according to whether or not a gaming ball enters the privilege area 40 during the big hit game (unit game). It is. Specifically, in the present embodiment, a normal state and a high-probability state (probability variation state) (corresponding to a specific game state in the present invention) are set as the game states in which the game is played for the purpose of winning the jackpot. If an event in which a game ball enters the privilege area 40 during the jackpot game occurs, the gaming state after the end of the jackpot game becomes a high-probability state, and if the event does not occur, the gaming state after the jackpot game becomes a normal state. . As the types of jackpots, a normal jackpot and a probable variable jackpot are set, and when the normal jackpot is reached, the privilege opening / closing member 41 is not located at the open position during the jackpot game, or the time of being located at the open position is extremely short. Therefore, it is impossible or extremely difficult for the game ball to enter the privilege area 40. When the probability change jackpot is reached, the bonus opening / closing member 41 is in the open position for a relatively long time during the jackpot game (during the predetermined unit game), so that it is relatively easy for the game ball to enter the privilege area 40. (As long as the game balls are continuously fired toward the special winning opening 10, the game balls enter the privilege area 40 with a probability of almost 100%). That is, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment is a so-called “V-like change machine”. Since the “V probable transformer” itself is known, further detailed description is omitted.

  The operation of the inside of the special winning opening 10 and those related thereto as described above is as follows. When the game ball that has entered the prize area 11 passes through any of the plurality of exits, a guide path for guiding the game ball that has passed the exit is provided in association with each of the exits. Even if the game balls pass through the two or more exits almost simultaneously because they are partitioned, it is possible to reduce the risk of ball clogging due to contact between the game balls passing through the exits. Is possible.

  The plurality of taxiways are connected to the junction space 30 and guide game balls toward the junction space 30. At least one of the plurality of taxiways (the second taxiway in the present embodiment). 22), the cross-sectional size of the end portion 222 connected to the junction space 30 is larger than the cross-sectional size of the guide portion 221 farther from the junction space 30 than the end portion 222. Therefore, when many game balls enter the confluence space 30, the end portion 222 functions as a space for the game balls to “escape” (see FIG. 5A), so that the ball is formed in or near the confluence space 30. It is possible to reduce the risk of clogging.

  As in the present embodiment, if the end portion 222 has a size that allows two or more game balls to be arranged in the width direction, a ball clogging reduction effect in or near the junction space 30 is high. Specifically, the guide path (second guide path 22) in which the end portion 222 is formed can be a guide section 221 to which game balls are sent one by one, and two or more game balls can be arranged in the width direction. Since the surplus space 222a in the end portion 222 does not overlap with the guide portion 221 in the up-down direction when the game ball has the end portion 222, when a game ball in the merging space 30 tries to escape to the end portion 222, It is suppressed that the game ball that has entered the guiding portion 221 is in the way and the game ball cannot escape to the end portion 222. That is, regardless of whether a game ball is present in the guiding portion 221, a surplus space 222 a is formed in the end portion 222 as a space into which at least one game ball can easily enter (FIG. 5B )), The effect of reducing ball clogging is high.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the second guide path 22 having the terminal portion 222 is connected to the downstream side of the junction space 30 from the first guide path 21 (having no terminal portion 222) (FIG. 3 ( a)). Since the game balls that have entered the merge space 30 tend to move toward the downstream side, a large number of game balls gather on the downstream side, so that ball clogging is likely to occur. Therefore, it can be said that it is preferable that the end portion 222, which is the space for the game ball to escape, is connected to the downstream side of the merging space 30 (the space for the escape of the game ball exists downstream).

  In addition, the merging space 30 of the present embodiment is a space through which game balls heading to the privilege area 40 pass. Therefore, the ball clogging in or near the merging space 30 causes an event (irregular event) that the game ball does not enter the privilege area 40 even though the privilege opening / closing member 41 is located at the open position. Invite. Since the occurrence of such an event is disadvantageous for the player, it can be said that it is highly significant to reduce clogging of the ball in the merging space 30 or in the vicinity thereof.

  Hereinafter, specific examples in which the gaming machine 1 according to the embodiment is improved, modified, embodied, and the like will be described. Note that a configuration in which a plurality of technical items described using the following specific examples are combined and applied may be adopted.

O First specific example In the above embodiment, two exits (first exit 121 and second exit 122) are provided as exits of the prize area 11, and taxiways (first taxiway 21, Although it has been described that the second guide path 22) is provided, a configuration in which three or more outlets and a guide path associated with each outlet are provided may be employed.

  In this case, it is assumed that at least one of the three or more guide paths has the end portion 222. In other words, since at least one guide path has the end portion 222, the end portion 222 functions as an “escape” for the game ball, so that the ball clogging in or near the merging space 30 can be prevented. It becomes possible to reduce.

O Second specific example In the embodiment described above, while the second guide path 22 has the end portion 222, the first guide path 21 does not have a portion corresponding to the end portion 222. The first taxiway 21 may have the end portion 222. That is, the terminal portion 222 may be provided in all of the plurality of taxiways.

  However, in consideration of the fact that each guiding path has a basic role of guiding game balls toward the merging space 30, it is preferable that the guiding function is not impaired. In other words, since the terminal portion 222 has a size in which two or more game balls are arranged in the width direction, the guide path on which the terminal portion 222 is formed does not have the terminal portion 222 and the game balls are sent one by one. It can be said that the guidance function is inferior to that of the taxiway (a taxiway in which two or more game balls do not line up in the width direction throughout). Therefore, as in the above-described embodiment, it is preferable that the terminal portion 222 is provided in a part of the plurality of guide paths, but the terminal portion 222 is not provided in the other part.

○ Third Specific Example In the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the above-described structure is constructed as a path of a game ball continuing from inside the special winning opening 10 (winning area 11) or a space into which the game ball enters. Alternatively, the above-described structure may be constructed for an area other than the special winning opening 10. That is, in a region where a large number of game balls may enter, it can be said that it is meaningful to construct the above-described structure to reduce the risk of ball clogging.

  As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  Specific means (gaming machines) obtained from the above embodiment are listed below.

・ Means 1
A specific area where a plurality of exits are formed, which are areas where game balls can enter,
A plurality of sensors provided in association with each of the plurality of exits, for detecting a game ball passing through each exit;
A plurality of guidance paths that guide game balls that have passed through each of the plurality of exits,
With
A gaming machine, wherein the plurality of taxiways are partitioned from each other so that game balls cannot move from any taxiway to another taxiway.
In the above-mentioned gaming machine, the guide paths for guiding the game balls passing through the respective exits are separated from each other, so that even if the game balls pass through the two or more exits substantially simultaneously, they pass through the exits. It is possible to reduce the risk that ball clogging occurs due to contact between the game balls that have occurred.

・ Means 2
The plurality of taxiways are connected to a merging space where game balls that have passed through each taxiway merge,
At least one of the plurality of guide paths is formed such that the cross-sectional size of the end portion on the merging space side is larger than the cross-sectional size of the guiding portion further away from the merging space. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein
In this way, when a large number of game balls enter the merging space, the end portion functions as a space for “escape” of the game balls, so that the risk of ball clogging can be reduced.

・ Means 3
The guide portion has a size in which two or more game balls cannot be arranged in the width direction, while the terminal portion has a size in which two or more game balls can be arranged in the width direction. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein
By doing so, a space in which at least one game ball can easily enter is formed at the end portion, so that the ball clogging reduction effect is excellent.

・ Means 4
As the taxiway,
A first taxiway formed in a size that two or more game balls cannot be arranged in the width direction from the exit to the merge space,
A second taxiway having the terminal portion,
The gaming machine according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising:
It can be said that the guide path with the end portion formed is inferior in the guiding function of the game ball as compared with the guide path in which the end portion is not formed and the game balls are sent one by one. Therefore, it is assumed that the game balls are sent one by one on one guide path and the other end is formed on the other guide path to balance the guiding function of the game balls and the effect of reducing ball clogging. be able to.

・ Means 5
The merging space is a space in which the entered game ball moves from the upstream side to the downstream side,
The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the second taxiway is connected to the downstream side of the merge space from the first taxiway.
Since the game balls that have entered the merging space tend to move toward the downstream side, a large number of game balls gather on the downstream side, so that ball clogging is likely to occur. Therefore, it can be said that it is preferable that the end portion, which is the space for the escape of the game ball, is connected to the downstream side of the confluence space (the space for the escape of the game ball exists on the downstream side).

・ Means 6
The said specific area | region is a prize area | region open | released by the hit game performed when the result of determination of a hit becomes a hit triggered by the satisfaction of a predetermined condition. The gaming machine described in Crab.
As the specific area, a winning area that is opened when the result of the hit determination is a hit can be exemplified.

・ Means 7
A bonus area is provided in which a game ball enters during the hit game, and a condition in which a game state after the end of the hit game is a specific game state more advantageous to the player than the normal game state,
The gaming machine according to claim 6, wherein the privilege area is provided at a position where a game ball that has entered the merging space can enter.
As described above, if the configuration is such that the player enters the privilege area via the merging space, an unreasonable situation may occur for the player such that the game ball does not enter the privilege area due to the occurrence of ball clogging. Thus, it can be said that the configuration as described above has a great significance in reducing the risk of ball clogging.

1 gaming machine 10 big winning opening 11 winning area 121 first exit 121s first sensor 122 second exit 122s second sensor 21 first guideway 22 second guideway 221 guide portion 222 end portion 222a surplus space
23 Partition wall
30 merging space 40 privilege area

Claims (1)

A specific area where a plurality of exits are formed, which are areas where game balls can enter,
A plurality of guidance paths that guide game balls that have passed through each of the plurality of exits,
With
A gaming machine, wherein the plurality of taxiways are partitioned from each other so that game balls cannot move from any taxiway to another taxiway.

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