JP2020089626A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a game machine which solves the problem of a partition member made of resin.SOLUTION: A game machine comprises a middle panel having translucent areas r1 and r2, LEDs 8a to 8j for irradiating the translucent areas with light, and partition members disposed between the middle panel and the LEDs. The translucent areas include a first translucent area r11 and a second translucent area r12. The LEDs include first light emitting means 8a to 8e for emitting light to the first light translucent area and second light emitting means 8f to 8j for emitting light to the second light translucent area. The partition members include first partition members made of sheet metal and second partition members made of resin, each of them having a plate thickness larger than that of the first partition members. The first partition members are configured to be disposed in the first region, and the second partition members are configured to be disposed in the first region or in the second region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a game machine provided with a panel capable of displaying light emission.

In gaming machines such as slot machines and pachinko machines, a panel which is a translucent member is provided, and a pattern applied to the panel is displayed in a luminescent manner.
Specifically, such a light emission display can be implemented by arranging an LED behind the translucent region of the panel and irradiating light from this LED.
By performing such a light-emitting display according to the game situation, it is possible to inform the player of the game situation and enhance the interest in the game.
By the way, in such a light emitting display, by arranging a partition member made of a synthetic resin between the translucent region and the other region, the light from the LED corresponding to the translucent region leaks to the other region. Measures may be taken to prevent it.
For example, in Patent Document 1, a display window having translucency is formed on a panel, a partition member is provided between the display window and a light source, and a light source corresponding to a region partitioned by the partition member is caused to emit light. A game machine capable of emitting light by displaying a part of an area in a display window is disclosed.

JP, 2007-117400, A

However, such a conventional game machine has room for improvement.

In order to achieve the above object, a gaming machine of the present invention is a translucent member having a translucent region which is a translucent region, a light emitting means for irradiating the translucent region with light, and A translucent member and a partition member arranged between the light emitting means, wherein the translucent region includes a first translucent region and a second translucent region different from the first translucent region. The light emitting means includes a first light emitting means for irradiating the first light transmitting area with light and a second light emitting means for irradiating the second light transmitting area with light. The partition member includes a first partition member made of sheet metal and a second partition member made of resin and having a plate thickness larger than that of the first partition member. The member is one of a first region for partitioning the first light transmissive region and the second light transmissive region, and a second region for partitioning at least a part of the light transmissive region and another region. The second partition member is arranged in either one of the first region and the second region.

It is a schematic front view showing the external appearance of the gaming machine. It is a schematic perspective view showing an internal configuration of the gaming machine. It is a block diagram showing an example of a control configuration of a gaming machine. It is an exploded view of a notification unit. It is a figure which shows the arrangement|positioning relationship of each translucent area|region which comprises a notification part, and LED. It is a figure of the 1st partition member, (a) is a front view, (b) is a rear view, (c) is a left side view, (d) is a right side view, (e) is a plan view, (f) is It is a bottom view. It is a figure of a 2nd partition member, (a) is a front view, (b) is a rear view, (c) is a left side view, (d) is a right side view, (e) is a plan view, (f) is a figure. It is a bottom view. It is a front view of the partition member which combined the 1st partition member and the 2nd partition member. It is a figure which shows the installation mode of a partition member. It is a figure which shows the arrangement|positioning relationship of a translucent area|region, a partition member, and LED. It is a figure which shows the state which has arrange|positioned the partition member in a 1st area|region, (a) is a resin partition member, (b) is a sheet metal partition member. (A) is the figure which looked at the partition member and the middle panel from the side, and (b) is the principal part enlarged view of (a). (A) is a rear perspective view of the partition member in a state of being brought close to the middle panel, (b) is a rear perspective view of the partition member in a state of being separated from the middle panel, and (c) is an enlarged schematic view of Cijimi printing. It is a figure for demonstrating the shape of a 2nd partition member, (a) is the same jagged shape as a jagged pattern, (b) is a large angle of the single area|region of each triangular shape which comprises a jagged shape. This is the case of a curved shape.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

There are various types of gaming machines such as slot machines and pachinko machines, but a case where the present invention is applied to a slot machine will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment constitutes a spinning-roller type gaming machine capable of winning a medal as a game medium by rotating a plurality of reels 41a, 41b, 41c. ing.

The slot machine 1 is composed of a microcomputer, etc., and has a main controller 10 for controlling a slot machine game, a sub controller 20 for performing production control, and a front-side housing for storing necessary machines and devices. 1b and a front door 1a that covers the front side of the housing 1b so as to be openable and closable.

The front door 1a has a medal insertion slot 2 into which medals are inserted, a start lever 3 for starting rotation of the reels 41a, 41b, 41c, and three rotating reels 41a, 41b, 41c for stopping. Stop buttons 5a, 5b, 5c are provided.
The housing 1b is provided with reels 41a, 41b, 41c, a drum unit 4 including a motor (not shown) for rotating each reel 41a, 41b, 41c, a sensor for detecting a rotation position, and the like.

An intermediate panel 6 is attached to the center of the front door 1a. The middle panel 6 is made of a translucent material such as acrylic, and has a display window W at the center thereof for visually recognizing the symbols displayed on the reels 41a, 41b, 41c.
Further, since the middle panel 6 is a translucent member, it is provided with a translucent region r in which a pattern or the like is luminescently displayed by irradiating light from behind.
For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a jagged pattern or GOO! A first light-transmitting region r1 provided with a pattern such as characters is provided.
Further, below the first light-transmitting region r1, a second light-transmitting region r2 with CECECE characters is provided.
In this embodiment, GOO! The letters are given to the lower left corner of the middle panel 6, and the CECEC letters are GOO! Although it is applied to the lower side of the character, the present invention is not limited to this, and a pattern can be applied to any position of the middle panel 6.
Further, in this embodiment, GOO! The region with characters and the like is the first light-transmitting region r1 and the region with CECECE characters is the second light-transmitting region r2. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, GOO! It is also possible to set the area where characters are applied as the second transparent area r2 and the area where CECECE characters are applied as the first transparent area r1.

A medal payout device 7 for storing and paying out medals is provided below the housing 1b. The medal payout device 7 is provided with a hopper 7a for storing medals, and the medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 2 are detected by the medal selector 2b and guided to the hopper 7a.

In the slot machine having such a configuration, a slot machine game is played by the following method.
When a player inserts a medal through the medal insertion slot 2 and operates the start lever 3, a start signal is input to the main control unit 10.
When the start signal is input, the main control unit 10 drives the drum unit 4 according to a predetermined game program to control the reels 41a, 41b, 41c to rotate.
The main control unit 10 performs internal lottery for lottery of bonuses, small wins, etc., and rotates so as to stop with a combination of symbols according to the lottery result, based on the timing at which each stop button 5a, 5b, 5c is pressed. The stop control of each reel 41a, 41b, 41c is performed.
When the main control unit 10 stops the reels 41a, 41b, 41c with a predetermined combination of symbols, the medal payout device 7 controls to pay out a predetermined number of medals, and pays out the medals from the medal payout outlet 7b.

In such a slot machine game, effects such as outputting a predetermined sound from the speaker SP or displaying a pattern of the middle panel 6 in a light emitting manner are performed according to the game situation.
For example, winning the bonus combination is GOO! in the first transparent area r1 of the middle panel 6. A notification operation is performed by displaying the characters in a light emitting manner.
Specifically, when the bonus combination is won in the internal lottery, the main control unit 10 transmits a signal indicating the winning result to the sub-control unit 20, and the sub-control unit 20 receiving this lottery result signal has a predetermined result. The GOO! Make the characters illuminate.
The notification unit 6a that bears such bonus notification will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the notification unit 6a.
As shown in FIG. 4, the notification unit 6a includes the middle panel 6, the panel frame 61, the LED board 81, the partition member 9, and the like.
The middle panel 6 is attached to the front side of the panel frame 61.
An LED substrate 81 is provided at the lower left corner of the panel frame 61.
The LED board 81 includes a plurality of LEDs 8 arranged on the surface of the board and a control chip (not shown) that controls the light emitting operation of the LEDs 8, and the control chip is predetermined according to an instruction from the sub-control unit 20. The LED 8 is controlled to emit light in a predetermined light emission pattern.

The LEDs 8 are arranged in association with the rear of each light-transmitting region r of the middle panel 6, and when a predetermined LED 8 is caused to emit light, the light-transmitting region r in front of the LED 8 is irradiated with light and the light-transmitting region r is emitted. The region r displays light.
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, LEDs 8a to 8e are arranged in association with each other in the first light transmissive region r1, and by causing the LEDs 8a to 8e to emit light, the first light transmissive region r1 is caused to emit and display. You can
Further, the LEDs 8f to 8j are arranged in association with each other in the second light transmissive region r2, and by causing the LEDs 8f to 8j to emit light, the second light transmissive region r2 can be caused to emit and display.
That is, the first light emitting means (LEDs 8a to 8e) for irradiating the first light transmitting area r1 with light and the second light emitting means (8f to 8f to the second light transmitting area r2 for emitting light). 8j), the first light emitting means (LEDs 8a to 8e) is caused to emit light to cause the first light transmitting region r1 to emit light, and the second light emitting means (8f to 8j) is caused to emit light to cause the second light transmitting. The region r2 is made to emit light.

In the translucent area r, a pattern is printed on the front surface or the back surface of the middle panel 6, or a sheet on which the pattern is printed is adhered. By irradiating the translucent area r with light, the translucent area r The pattern given to r can be made to emit light.
For example, patterns such as predetermined characters (GOO!) and jagged patterns are applied to the first light-transmitting region r1, and by irradiating the first light-transmitting region r1 with light, these patterns are luminescently displayed. be able to.
Further, a pattern such as a predetermined character (CECECE) is provided on the second light-transmissive region r2, and by irradiating the second light-transmissive region r2 with light, the pattern can be luminescently displayed.
A region other than the light-transmitting region r (non-light-transmitting region) is subjected to a light-shielding process such as applying a silver coating on the back side of the panel.
By performing the light-shielding process, the brightness of the light-transmitting region r and the non-light-transmitting region can be made to have a contrast, and the pattern applied to the light-transmitting region r can be displayed more conspicuously and emitted.

<About partition members>
The partition member 9 is a member for partitioning the translucent region r and another region (refers to a region other than the translucent region r), and a region (also referred to as a boundary region) that separates the translucent region r and the other region. ) Is placed.
The boundary region includes not only a region having a certain area but also a linear region.
The partition member 9 can block light that travels (leaks) from the light-transmissive region r to another region, out of the light emitted to the light-transmissive region r, so that so-called light leakage can be prevented. ..

The partition member 9 of this embodiment is configured by a combination of a first partition member 91 made of sheet metal and a second partition member 92 made of resin.

FIG. 6 is a view of the first partition member.
As shown in FIG. 6, the first partition member 91 includes a narrow plate-shaped horizontal partition portion 911 that extends mainly in the horizontal direction, and support portions 912 that extend downward from the left and right ends of the horizontal partition portion 911. It is also a deformed U-shaped member.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the second partition member 92.
As shown in FIG. 7, the second partition member 92 is provided with a serrated upper partition portion 921 corresponding to the serrated shape of the first light transmissive region r1 and downwardly from the left and right lower end portions of the upper partition portion 921, respectively. And a lower partition portion 922 extending.

The partition member 9 of the present invention is completed by screwing the second partition member 92 having such a shape to the first partition member 91.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, a first partition member 91 (horizontal partition section 911) is provided between the lower end portion on the left side and the lower end portion on the right side in the upper partition portion 921 of the second partition member 92. The partition member 9 is completed.

As shown in FIG. 9, the partition member 9 is arranged on the LED board 81 by screwing. That is, it is arranged between the middle panel 6 and the LED 8 (see FIG. 4).
Further, as a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the first partitioning member 91 (horizontal partitioning section 911) has a region between the first light transmitting region r1 and the second light transmitting region r2 (hereinafter, the first region r11). Called).
Therefore, the first partition member 91 partitions the first light transmitting region r1 and the second light transmitting region r2.
In the second partition member 92, the upper partition part 921 is arranged in a region between the first light-transmitting region r1 and another region (excluding the second light-transmitting region r2), and the lower partition part 922 is the first partition member 922. It is arranged in a region between the transparent region r1 and regions on the left and right sides of the first transparent region r1.
Therefore, the upper partition part 921 partitions the first light-transmissive region r1 from other regions, and the lower partition part 922 partitions the second light-transmissive region r2 from other regions.
The second partition member 92 as a whole is arranged in a region between the first light-transmitting region r1 and the second light-transmitting region r2 and another region (hereinafter referred to as the second region r12). The area r1 and the second light-transmitting area r2 are partitioned from other areas.

By the way, as the partition member of this kind, a member made of resin is generally used from the viewpoint of moldability, cost, and the like, but a member having a certain plate thickness or more (for example, 1.0 mm or more) is often used.
This is because the partitioning member 9 is a member for preventing light leakage and therefore is required to have a light-shielding property. However, the resin has a relatively low light-shielding property, and the plate thickness needs to be thick to some extent. Is.
However, when a partition member having such a thickness is used, the partition member may appear as a shadow when the width of the arranged region is narrow.
For example, the first area r11 is GOO! It is a narrow boundary area of about 0.5 mm existing between the jagged pattern on the lower side of the character and the CECECE character.
It is assumed that the resin partition member 9a having a plate thickness of 1.0 mm is temporarily arranged in the narrow first region r11.
Then, as shown in FIG. 11A, since the plate thickness (1.0 mm) of the partition member 9a is larger than the region width (0.5 mm) of the first region r11, the partition member 9a protrudes outward from the first region r11. (See the shaded area).
Then, the portion of the translucent region r corresponding to this protruding portion becomes a shadow and is easily visible.
In particular, when light is emitted from the corresponding LEDs 8a to 8e or 8f to 8j to the first light transmissive region r1 or the second light transmissive region r2 partitioned by the partition member 9a, this protruding portion becomes an obstacle. As a result of the light being blocked, the light-transmitting region r corresponding to the portion becomes dark.
For this reason, an unnaturally dark area exists in the light-transmitting area r, and the brightness and darkness of the area may become clearer, so that the shadow of the partition member 9a becomes more conspicuous.
For example, CECECE characters are displayed brightly as a whole, but only the upper end of the characters are shaded, and the aesthetic appearance is significantly impaired.

Further, the resin has poor rigidity and is easily deformed.
In particular, the partition member arranged in the first region r11 is attached so as to bridge both ends of the plate material as shown in the shape/attachment mode of the horizontal partition portion 911, by the weight of the member, or by the reel 41 or the like. It is easy to bend around the central portion due to vibrations associated with the operation of the drive unit and button operation.
For this reason, the partition member 9a easily protrudes from the boundary region, and the same problem as described above is likely to occur.

In the present embodiment, in order to deal with such a problem, a partition member (first partition member 91) made of sheet metal is arranged in the first region r11 which is a narrow boundary region.
This is because the sheet metal has an excellent light-shielding property and can sufficiently block light even if the sheet thickness is thin.
For example, a case where a partition member made of a metal plate having a plate thickness of 0.3 mm is adopted as the first partition member 91 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 11B, in this case, since the plate thickness (0.3 mm) of the first partition member 91 is smaller than the region width (0.5 mm) of the first region r11, the first partition member 91 Falls within the first region r11 and does not extend outside the region.
Therefore, when the corresponding light is emitted from the corresponding LED 8 to the first light-transmitting region r1 or the second light-transmitting region r2, there is no obstacle that blocks the light, and thus the entire light-transmitting region r is light-emitted and displayed. be able to.
Therefore, unlike the case of a resin product, a shadow is not projected, and it is possible to perform a beautiful light emission display without impairing the aesthetic appearance of CECECE characters.
For this reason, the partition member (first partition member 91) made of sheet metal is arranged in the narrow first region r11.

As described above, the partition member is required to be easy to mold, cost effective, and the like. Therefore, it is preferable to use a resin member as much as possible.
For this reason, in this embodiment, the sheet metal member and the resin member are used together.
Specifically, when the first translucent region r1 requires a partition member having a complicated shape such as a jagged pattern or when the boundary region is not narrow, the resin partition is used in consideration of ease of molding. The member is used.

<About Cijimi printing on the middle panel>
The partition member 9 is arranged in a region between the one light-transmitting region r and the other light-transmitting region r to prevent light leakage between the one light-transmitting region r and the other light-transmitting region r. However, it is arranged between the LED 8 and the rear of the middle panel 6 in the depth direction.
Due to such a configuration, the partition member 9 is preferably provided in a state of being in contact with the middle panel 6.
This is because if the partition member 9 is provided apart from the middle panel 6, light is likely to leak from the gap between the partition member 9 and the middle panel 6.
However, when the partition member 9 is provided in contact with the middle panel 6, when the player looks at the middle panel 6, the partition member 9 is easily seen through the middle panel 6 which is a translucent member, and the appearance is poor. ..
For this reason, the partition member 9 of the present embodiment is provided at a position that is distant to the extent that light leakage does not occur and that is invisible to the middle panel 6 and that is close to the middle panel 6.

However, when the partition member 9 is provided in the state of being close to the middle panel 6 as described above, the partition member 9 moves to the side of the middle panel 6 in accordance with the operation of the drive unit such as the reel 41 or the button operation. May come into contact with each other or may vibrate in the contacted state, which causes the partition member 9 to remove a coating film (coating film in the non-light-transmitting region) applied to the middle panel 6 from the surface. May hurt.
Particularly, since the first partition member 91 is made of metal and is hard and has rigidity, such a problem is likely to occur.

In order to deal with such a problem, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in the second partition member 92 made of resin, a protrusion 923 that protrudes toward the middle panel 6 is provided, and in the middle panel 6, the protrusion is formed. Cijimi printing P1 was applied to the area where 923 abuts.
As a result, even if the partition member 9 moves to the side of the middle panel 6, the second partition member 92 does not contact and the first partition member 91 (holding portion 912) does not contact the middle panel 6.
Further, of the second partitioning member 92, the portion that comes into contact with the middle panel 6 is only the protruding portion 923, and the area corresponding to the protruding portion 923 (the area where the protruding portion 923 comes into contact) is subjected to the Cijimi printing P1. ing.
Therefore, even if the protrusion 923 abuts on the surface of the middle panel 6 or vibrates in the abutting state, the surface is protected by the Cijimi printing P1.
By the way, in the Cijimi printing P1, as shown in FIG. 13C, a dedicated UV ink is irradiated with UV having different wavelengths to form a wavy (crepe-like) unevenness (wrinkle) three-dimensional pattern on the surface of the object. This is a printing technique that can be performed.
The Cijimi printing P1 is generally used for decorative purposes because it can obtain a visual effect due to a three-dimensional pattern or light diffusion.
The present invention uses the Cijimi printing P1 used for such a decoration purpose as a protection means for the middle panel 6.
According to the Cijimi printing P1 as described above, the impact due to the contact or vibration of the protrusion 923 can be dispersed or absorbed by the unevenness (especially the convex) of the Cijimi printing P1.
Thereby, the impact on the middle panel 6 is mitigated, and the middle panel 6 can be effectively protected.
Further, as a result, the impact on the Cijimi printing P1 is also mitigated, so that the Cijimi printing P1 can be made difficult to peel off.
Therefore, the middle panel 6 can be protected for a long term.

<Regarding the shape of the second partition member>
The second partition member 92 (upper partition portion 921) is originally a member for partitioning the inner region of the jagged pattern protruding at an acute angle and the outer region thereof.
Therefore, originally, as shown in FIG. 14A, the second partitioning member 92 is formed in a notched shape projecting at an acute angle similarly to the notched pattern, and the second partitioning member 92 is provided so as to match the peripheral edge of the notched pattern.
However, with such a second partition member 92, an area where the light emitted from the LED is not sufficiently irradiated may occur in the inner area of the jagged pattern.
For example, in FIG. 14A, the area portion protruding in the lower right direction (lower right area) is illuminated by the light from the LEDs 8a and 8d.
However, the light emitted from the LED 8a is partially blocked by a predetermined portion (*1) of the partition member, and a part of the light emitted from the LED 8d is blocked by a predetermined portion (*2) of the partition member. Blocked.
As a result, the shaded area in FIG. 14A becomes dark because the light from the LED 8 is not sufficient. As a result, a bright area and a dark area are mixed in the inner area of the jagged pattern, which impairs the appearance.
For such a problem, there is a method of changing the arrangement and number of the LEDs 8. For example, when the pattern of the notification unit 6a represents the brand of the model, the same pattern can be displayed for a long time regardless of the model change of the model. It may continue to be used over a long period of time, and accordingly, it may not be possible to easily change the arrangement and number of LEDs, such as following the way the LEDs (light source) look.

Therefore, in the second partition member 92 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14B, the shape of the second partition member 92 is such that the protruding shape is gentler than that of the jagged pattern.
With this configuration, the paths of the light from the LEDs 8a and the LEDs 8d to the lower right area are not blocked by the partition member.
As a result, the entire jagged area is uniformly illuminated, and a jagged pattern can be displayed neatly (see FIG. 14B).

As described above, in the gaming machine of the present invention, the partition member made of sheet metal is used as the light leakage preventing member.
According to such a partition member 9, since the plate thickness can be reduced, the partition member 9 can be made inconspicuous.
In particular, even when the width of the boundary area between the light-transmissive area r and another area is narrow, the light-transmissive area r can be placed within the boundary area, so that the light-transmissive area r is not spoiled.
On the other hand, the conventional gaming machine uses a partition member made of resin as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, so that the partition member has no choice but to be thick.
Then, the partition member does not fit in the boundary area and protrudes, and as a result, there arises a problem that a portion corresponding to the protruding portion becomes dark in the light-transmissive area r.
According to the gaming machine of the present invention, it is possible to solve all or some of the problems to be solved by the conventional gaming machine.

Although the preferred embodiments of the slot machine of the present invention have been described above, the slot machine of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the partition member 9 having the configuration in which the first partition member 91 is arranged in the first region r11 and the second partition member 92 is arranged in the second region r12 has been described. The first partition member 91 may be arranged in the second region r12, and the second partition member 92 may be arranged in the first region r11.

1 slot machine 1a front door 6 middle panel 61 panel frame 8 LED (light emitting means)
8a-8e 1st light emission means 8f-8j 2nd light emission means 81 LED board 9 Partition member 91 1st partition member 92 2nd partition member P1 Cijimi printing

Claims (4)

A translucent member having a translucent region which is a translucent region;
A light emitting means for irradiating the transparent region with light,
A partition member arranged between the light transmitting member and the light emitting means,
Equipped with
The transparent region is
A first translucent region,
A second transparent region different from the first transparent region;
Including,
The light emitting means is
First light emitting means for irradiating the first light transmitting region with light;
Second light emitting means for irradiating the second light transmitting region with light;
Including,
The partition member is
A first partition member made of sheet metal;
A second partition member that is thicker than the first partition member and is made of resin;
Including,
The first partition member,
Any one of a first area for partitioning the first transparent area and the second transparent area, and a second area for partitioning at least a part of the transparent area and another area Placed,
The second partition member,
A gaming machine arranged in the other one of the first area and the second area. The second area is
A region for partitioning the first light-transmitting region and the second light-transmitting region from another region,
The first partition member,
Disposed in the first region,
The second partition member,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is arranged in the second area. The second partition member,
A protruding portion protruding toward the light transmitting member side with respect to the first partition member,
The transparent member,
The game machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the area that comes into contact with the projecting portion is printed with a stripe pattern. The second partition member,
A partition member for partitioning at least a part of the light-transmitting area and another area,
Light radiated from the light emitting means to at least one of the light-transmitting region and one of the other regions has a shape not blocked by the second partition member. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.