JP2022100575A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To make it easy to determine the timing of replacement or inspection of various parts.SOLUTION: In a game machine 10V, a ball feeding device provided between a shooting device for shooting a game ball toward a game area R1 and a ball storage unit includes a polishing sheet for polishing a game ball. In addition, the game machine 10V can set any numerical value as "specific number of balls". When the number of game balls (that is, the number of shots) detected by a shot ball sensor exceeds the "specific number of balls", a display device 13 displays a message 13M prompting the replacement of the polishing sheet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

This disclosure relates to a gaming machine.

As a conventional gaming machine, there is known a machine in which a plurality of gaming balls are enclosed inside and the plurality of gaming balls are circulated and used for a game (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2020-014953 (paragraphs [0040], [0041], FIG. 2)

In the above-mentioned conventional gaming machine, it is required that the operator can easily determine the timing of replacement or inspection of various parts.

The invention of claim 1 made to solve the above-mentioned problems is in an enclosed gaming machine in which a gaming ball is enclosed and provided, and the gaming ball launched into the gaming area is circulated so as to be able to be launched again into the gaming area. It is a gaming machine including a specific number setting means capable of setting an arbitrary value as a specific number, and a notification means for notifying that the number of special balls based on the number of launched game balls exceeds the specific number.

According to the above invention, since it is notified that the number of special balls based on the number of fired game balls exceeds an arbitrarily set specific number, the timing of replacement or inspection of various parts can be determined by the fired game. It is possible to judge by the number of special balls based on the number of balls.

Front view of the gaming machine according to the first embodiment Front view of the game board Image of the area around the ball reservoir Image of the area around the ball reservoir Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a gaming machine Enlarged view of ball feeder Enlarged view of ball feeder Front view of the game board according to the second embodiment

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the gaming machine 10 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment is a pachinko gaming machine, the front door 10Z is provided on the front surface, and the front surface of the gaming plate 11 is provided through a glass window 10W formed on the front door 10Z. The gaming area R1 formed in is visible.

As shown in FIG. 2, the game area R1 is formed by being surrounded on all sides by a guide rail 12 protruding from the front surface of the game plate 11. The guide rail 12 is formed by the first rail 12A and the second rail 12B curved in an arc shape, and the cushioning member 12C. The first rail 12A is arranged along the portion of the peripheral edge portion of the game area R1 excluding the uppermost 1/4 circumference. A part of the second rail 12B (the upper part of the second rail 12B) extends along the upper approximately 1/4 circumference of the peripheral portion of the game area R1, and the remaining part (the upper part of the second rail 12B). The left side portion) is arranged so as to face the left side portion of the first rail 12A from the outside. One end of the second rail 12B is arranged on the left side with respect to the lowermost portion of the first rail 12A, and the other end of the second rail 12B is a game ball 1 to the right end of the first rail 12A. It is placed at a position offset upward by two pieces.

The space between the right end of the first rail 12A and the right end of the second rail 12B is closed by the cushioning portion 12C. Further, between the left end portion of the first rail 12A and the intermediate portion of the second rail 12B, one or two game balls are separated, and this is the entrance 12K of the game ball.

The game area R1 is provided with a start winning opening 14 and a large winning opening 16, and when a game ball enters the starting winning opening 14, a winning / failing determination is made. The result of the hit / fail determination is displayed on the display device 13 provided in the game area R1 together with the effect based on the result. The large winning opening 16 is normally blocked by the movable door 16T, making it difficult for the game ball to enter. It becomes a state. Further, a plurality of general winning openings 17 are arranged in the game area R1. The game balls that do not win any of the above-mentioned winning openings 14, 16 and 17 are all taken into the out openings 20 provided at the lower end of the gaming area R1.

The gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment is a so-called enclosed pachinko machine in which a predetermined number of gaming balls are enclosed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the gaming machine 10 has a ball storage unit 30 in which gaming balls are stored. Above the ball storage unit 30, a launching device 31 is provided in which the game balls in the ball storage unit 30 are fed one by one via the ball feeding device 45. The launching device 31 launches a game ball one by one when the launching handle 28 (see FIG. 1) arranged in the lower right corner of the front door 10Z is rotated. The game ball launched by the launcher 31 passes through the launch passage 11H including the passage between the left side portion of the first rail 12A and the left side portion of the second rail 12B, and enters the game area R1 from the entrance 12K. .. The ball feeding device 45 will be described in detail later.

On the back side of the game board 11 of the game machine 10, the game area R1 flows down, and the game balls that have entered the winning openings 14, 16 and 17 and the game balls taken into the out openings 20 all pass through. A discharge path 21 is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge path 21 communicates with the ball storage unit 30, whereby the game ball flowing down the game area R1 returns to the ball storage unit 30 and is launched again toward the game area R1. .. Further, the discharge path 21 is provided with a discharge ball sensor 22 that detects a passing game ball.

As shown in FIG. 3, a return passage 11R branched downward is provided at a position near the launcher 31 side end of the launch passage 11H. The return passage 11R communicates with the ball storage unit 30. A game ball launched by the launching device 31 but having a weak momentum and cannot enter the game area R1 passes through the return passage 11R and is returned to the ball storage unit 30.

A backflow prevention member 27 is provided at a branch portion of the launch passage 11H with the return passage 11R. The backflow prevention member 27 has a plate shape, and one end thereof is arranged at the end on the launching device 31 side of the entrance of the return passage 11R. The backflow prevention member 27 is always urged to extend in the vertical direction, and the game ball launched by the launching device 31 pushes down the backflow prevention member 27 and passes through the launch passage 11H (FIG. 4 (A). )reference). Then, the game ball that has weak momentum and has returned from the launch passage 11H is prevented from returning to the launch device 31 by the backflow prevention member 27 extending in the vertical direction, and is guided to the return passage 11R (FIG. 4 (B). )reference).

As shown in FIG. 3, a launch ball sensor 35 for detecting a game ball launched by the launch passage 11H is provided on the launch device 31 side of the launch passage 11H from the backflow prevention member 27, and the return passage 11R has a launch ball sensor 35. A return ball sensor 36 for detecting a game ball passing through the return passage 11R is provided at the upper end portion.

As shown in FIG. 1, a card unit 60 is arranged next to the gaming machine 10. The card unit 60 performs information processing such as reading and writing to the card 60C inserted in the card insertion slot 61. Specifically, the card unit 60 writes the number of balls held by the player (game balls owned by the player) on the card 60C as the number of stored balls in the card. Further, the card unit 60 reads the number of stored balls in the card written on the card 60C. The card unit 60 is provided with a bill insertion slot 62 for lending a game ball with cash, and the card unit 60 can also write information on the balance on the card 60C.

The gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment is provided with a ball management unit 40 in the lower center of the front door 10Z. In the ball management unit 40, the number of balls stored in the card is displayed as the number of balls owned by the player, and the remaining cash inserted in the bill insertion slot 62 that has not been used for lending the game balls. The amount etc. is displayed. Then, the player operates on the ball management unit 40 to set a part of the ball storage in the card as a game machine side storage ball that can be consumed in the game machine 10, or inserts it into the bill insertion slot 62. You can rent out game balls from cash. Since the game balls enclosed in the machine console of the present embodiment circulate, the actual game balls are not rented, but the number of game balls according to the amount of rent is used as the number of stored balls on the game machine side. It will be remembered.

Then, when the game ball is detected by the launch ball sensor 35 (see FIG. 3), the number of detected game balls is subtracted from the number of stored balls on the game machine side, and the game ball returns to the return ball sensor 36 (see FIG. 3). ), The number of detected game balls is added to the game machine side storage ball. Further, when a game ball wins in each of the winning openings 14, 16 and 17, the game ball is detected by each prize ball sensor 37 (see FIG. 5), and the number of game balls for the prize balls according to the winning is the game machine. It is added to the number of side balls.

FIG. 5 shows the electrical configuration of the gaming machine 10. Reference numeral 50 shown in the figure is the main control board 50. The main control board 50 includes a one-chip microcomputer 51 in which a CPU 51A, a RAM 51B, and a ROM 51C are packaged together as a main part. The one-chip microcomputer 51 receives detection signals from various sensors and switches for detecting winning balls via an input / output circuit, and executes a main control board main program. Then, the control data is output to the sub control board 52, the game ball management board 54, and the like according to the processing result.

Similar to the main control board 50, the sub control board 52 includes a one-chip microcomputer 53 in which a CPU 53A, a RAM 53B, and a ROM 53C are packaged. In the one-chip microcomputer 53, the CPU 53A takes out the sub control board main program from the ROM 53C and runs the one-chip microcomputer 53. Further, the one-chip microcomputer 53 outputs control data to the display device 13 according to the control data output from the main control board 50.

The game ball management board 54 manages the game ball side storage ball and the in-card storage ball. Specifically, the game ball management board 54 receives detection signals from the launch ball sensor 35, the return ball sensor 36, and the prize ball sensor 37 to increase or decrease the number of balls stored on the game machine side. Further, the game ball management board 54 receives the information read from the card 60C by the card unit 60, and transmits the information to be written to the card 60C to the card unit 60. Further, the game ball management board 54 is connected to the ball management unit 40, and based on the signal received from the ball management unit 40, the game ball is transferred from the in-card storage ball to the game machine side storage ball, or the game machine side storage is performed. The game ball is transferred from the ball to the storage ball in the card, and the information of the possessed ball displayed on the display unit 40H of the ball management unit 40 is output to the ball management unit 40.

By the way, in the conventional gaming machine in which the actual gaming ball is lent to the player, the gaming ball is discharged to the outside of the gaming machine, so that the gaming ball can be polished outside the gaming machine. In this case, since it takes time and effort to take the gaming ball out of the gaming machine and polish it, a mechanism for polishing the gaming ball is incorporated in the gaming machine 10. In the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, a mechanism for polishing the gaming ball is applied to the ball feeding device 45.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the ball feeding device 45 is arranged in a passage connecting between the ball storage unit 30 and the launching device 31, and has a gutter unit 46 extending in the vertical direction and a game ball upward. It has a screw 47 and a screw 47 for moving to. The hi section 46 has a pair of facing walls 46A facing each other in the first horizontal direction and a screw facing wall 46B facing the screw 47 in the second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first horizontal direction. It is possible to pass one ball at a time. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a polishing sheet 46C is fixed to the inner surface of the screw facing wall 46B. The screw facing wall 46B is removable so that the polishing sheet 46C can be replaced.

The screw 47 has a rotary shaft 47A, a spiral overhanging portion 47B spirally projecting from the rotary shaft 47A, and a motor 47C for rotationally driving the spiral overhanging portion 47B together with the rotary shaft 47A. The spiral overhanging portion 47B of the screw 47 projects into the gutter portion 46 and supports the game ball surrounded by the pair of facing walls 46A and the screw facing wall 46B from below.

Then, when the screw 47 rotates, the game ball surrounded by the pair of facing walls 46A and the screw facing wall 46B is pushed up by the spiral overhanging portion 47B, moves upward in the gutter portion 46, and is sent to the launching device 31. Be done. At this time, since the polishing sheet 46C is arranged on the surface of the screw facing wall 46B, the game ball pushed up by the spiral overhanging portion 47B of the screw 47 is pressed against the polishing sheet 46C and polished. In addition, since the game ball is polished just before it is fired, a beautiful game ball can be shown to the player. In the ball feeding device 45 of the present embodiment, one game ball is fed to the launching device 31 when the screw 47 makes one rotation.

As described above, in the gaming machine 10, the gaming ball is polished by the polishing sheet 46C installed in the gaming machine 10. Here, if the same polishing sheet 46C is used all the time, the polishing sheet 46C is worn or soiled, so that the staff of the game hall needs to replace the polishing sheet 46C. However, it is difficult to determine when the polishing sheet 46C needs to be replaced because it depends on the operating rate of the gaming machine 10 and the like.

On the other hand, in the game machine 10 of the present embodiment, the game ball management board 54 cumulatively stores the number of game balls (that is, the number of shots) detected by the launch ball sensor 35, and is provided on the front door 10Z. It is configured to be displayed on the number of shots display unit 41 (see FIG. 1). The count of the number of shots display unit 41 is reset (counted from 0 again) by operating the reset button (not shown). The firing number display unit 41 may be a liquid crystal display or a 7-segment display.

As a result, the staff of the game hall can change the polishing sheet 46C at the firing number display unit 41, for example, when the firing number display unit 41 confirms that the firing number exceeds 10 million, the polishing sheet 46C is replaced. It becomes possible to judge. Further, by displaying the number of shots, the displayed number of game balls can be substantially matched with the game balls passing through the polishing sheet 46C.

[Modification example]
(1) In the above embodiment, the number of shots is displayed, but the number of game balls detected by the discharge ball sensor 22 (number of discharges) may be displayed. In this case, there is a discrepancy between the displayed number of balls and the game ball passing through the polishing sheet 46C by the amount of the returning balls, but the ratio of the returning balls to the number of shots is extremely small, so it is a sufficient guideline for replacing the polishing sheet 46C. Can be.

(2) In the above embodiment, the firing number display unit 41 is provided on the front door 10Z, but it may be arranged on the game ball management board 54 and cannot be visually recognized unless the front door 10Z is opened.

(3) The number of shots display unit 41 may also be used as a display unit that displays the number of balls held and the error number when an error occurs. In this case, the number of shots, the number of balls held, and the like may be displayed in order, or may be displayed when the operation of a specific switch is triggered.

(4) The number of shots may be counted up one by one, or may be counted up by one for every plurality of balls (for example, 10 balls).

(5) The timing of replacement or inspection of parts other than the polishing sheet 46C may be determined based on the displayed number of shots.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the gaming machine 10V according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The gaming machine 10V of the present embodiment does not have the firing number display unit 41 as compared with the gaming machine 10 of the second embodiment, and has a different configuration for notifying the replacement timing of the polishing sheet 46C. The details will be described below.

In the gaming machine 10V of the present embodiment, an arbitrary numerical value (for example, 10 million) can be set as a "specific number of balls" in the CPU of the gaming ball management board 54. Then, when the number of game balls (that is, the number of shots) detected by the launch ball sensor 35 exceeds the "specific number of balls", the game ball management board 54 is transferred to the sub control board 52 via the main control board 50. Send a signal. Upon receiving this signal, the sub-control board 52 displays a message 13M prompting the replacement of the polishing sheet 46C on the display device 13 (see FIG. 8). As a result, the staff of the game hall can know the replacement timing of the polishing sheet 46C by the message 13M. The message 13M is deleted by operating the reset button (not shown).

[Modification example]
(1) In the above embodiment, the display timing of the message 13M is determined by the number of shots, but it may be determined by the number of game balls (number of ejected balls) detected by the ejected ball sensor 22. In this case, there is a discrepancy between the displayed number of balls and the game ball passing through the polishing sheet 46C by the amount of the returning balls, but the ratio of the returning balls to the number of shots is extremely small, so it is a sufficient guideline for replacing the polishing sheet 46C. Can be.

(2) In the above embodiment, the specific number of balls is set on the game ball management board 54, but it may be set on the sub control board 52. In this case, the game ball management board 54 outputs a signal having information on the number of shots to the sub control board 52, and this output may be performed for each ball or a predetermined plurality of balls (for example, 1000 balls). ) May be done every time. In the latter case, the burden on the game ball management board 54 and the sub control board 52 can be suppressed.

(3) Instead of the message 13M, a mark identifiable by the staff of the game hall may be displayed on the display device 13. Further, instead of the display on the display device 13, the lamp may be turned on, or the warning sound or voice may be output from the speaker.

(4) A specific number of balls may be set in order to determine the timing of replacement or inspection of parts other than the polishing sheet 46C.

[Other embodiments]
(1) The game ball may be polished with a polishing brush, a polishing cloth, or the like instead of the polishing sheet 46C. Even in this case, it is possible to inform the staff of the game hall of the replacement timing of the polishing brush and the polishing cloth.

(2) In the above embodiment, the polishing sheet 46C is arranged between the ball storage unit 30 and the launching device 31, but is arranged in the launching device 31, the ball storage unit 30, the launch passage 11H, and the like. May be. Further, the polishing sheet 46C may be arranged in the discharge path 21. In this case, it is preferable to display the number of emissions instead of the number of shots (in the case of the first embodiment), or to display the message 13M when the number of emissions exceeds a specific number.

Although specific examples of the techniques included in the claims are disclosed in the present specification and the drawings, the techniques described in the claims are not limited to these specific examples, and are specific. It includes various modifications and changes of the examples, and also includes those obtained by extracting a part of the specific examples independently.

<Additional Notes>
Hereinafter, the invention groups A to B extracted from the above-described embodiments will be described while showing the effects and the like as necessary. In the following, for the sake of easy understanding, the corresponding configurations in the above-described embodiment are appropriately shown in parentheses or the like, but the present invention is not limited to the specific configurations shown in the parentheses or the like.

(Invention group A)
The invention group A relates to a gaming machine, "as a conventional gaming machine, a plurality of gaming balls are enclosed inside, and the plurality of gaming balls are circulated and used for a game (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Regarding the background technique of 2020-014953 (see paragraphs [0040], [0041], FIG. 2)), "the above-mentioned conventional gaming machine is provided with a polishing means for polishing the enclosed gaming ball. Therefore, it is required that the operator can easily determine the timing of replacement of the polishing means. "

[Invention A1]
In an enclosed gaming machine in which a gaming ball is enclosed and prepared, and the gaming ball launched into the gaming area is circulated so as to be able to be launched again into the gaming area.
Polishing means for polishing the enclosed game ball,
A gaming machine comprising a special ball number display means for displaying the number of special balls related to the number of polished gaming balls.

According to the game machine of the invention A1, since the special number of balls related to the number of game balls polished by the polishing means is displayed, the timing of replacement of the polishing means is set to the number of game balls polished by the polishing means. It is possible to judge by the related special number of balls.

[Invention A2]
Equipped with a launcher that launches a game ball into the game area
The polishing means is arranged in a polishing passage through which the game balls can pass one by one among the paths that the game balls that have been launched by the launcher and flowed down the game area always take until they reach the launcher again. The gaming machine according to the invention A1.

[Invention A3]
The gaming machine according to the invention A2, wherein the special ball number display means displays the number of gaming balls launched into the launching device as the special ball number.

[Invention A4]
A ball storage unit in which game balls that have flowed down the game area are stored,
A communication unit that communicates between the ball storage unit and the launcher,
A launch passage that guides the game ball launched by the launcher to the game area, and
It is provided with a return passage for returning a game ball that has branched from the middle of the launch passage to contact the ball storage unit and has been launched into the launch device but has not entered the game area. ,
The gaming machine according to the invention A3, wherein the polishing means is arranged in the communication unit.

(Invention group B)
The invention group B is related to a gaming machine, "as a conventional gaming machine, a plurality of gaming balls are enclosed inside, and the plurality of gaming balls are circulated and used for a game (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Regarding the background technique of 2020-014953 (see paragraphs [0040], [0041], FIG. 2)), "the above-mentioned conventional gaming machine is provided with a polishing means for polishing the enclosed gaming ball. Therefore, it is required that the operator can easily determine the timing of replacement of the polishing means. "

[Invention B1]
In an enclosed gaming machine in which a gaming ball is enclosed and prepared, and the gaming ball launched into the gaming area is circulated so as to be able to be launched again into the gaming area.
Polishing means for polishing the enclosed game ball,
A specific number setting means that can set an arbitrary value as a specific number,
A gaming machine including a notification means for notifying that the number of special balls related to the number of gaming balls polished by the polishing means exceeds the specific number.

According to the gaming machine of the invention B1, it is notified that the number of special balls related to the number of gaming balls polished by the polishing means exceeds an arbitrarily set specific number, so that the timing of replacement of the polishing means is determined. , It becomes possible to judge by the number of special balls related to the number of game balls polished by the polishing means.

[Invention B2]
Equipped with a launcher that launches a game ball into the game area
The polishing means is arranged in a polishing passage through which the game balls can pass one by one among the paths that the game balls that have been launched by the launcher and flowed down the game area always take until they reach the launcher again. The gaming machine according to the invention B1.

[Invention B3]
The gaming machine according to the invention B2, wherein the special number of balls is the number of gaming balls launched into the launching device.

[Invention B4]
A ball storage unit in which game balls that have flowed down the game area are stored,
A communication unit that communicates between the ball storage unit and the launcher,
A launch passage that guides the game ball launched by the launcher to the game area, and
It is provided with a return passage for returning a game ball that has branched from the middle of the launch passage to contact the ball storage unit and has been launched into the launch device but has not entered the game area. ,
The gaming machine according to the invention B3, wherein the polishing means is arranged in the communication unit.

[Invention B5]
A special ball number storage means for cumulatively storing the special ball number and outputting a signal having information on the special ball number to the notification means is provided.
The gaming machine according to any one of the inventions B1 to B4, wherein the special ball number storage means outputs the signal to the notification means for each predetermined plurality of balls.

10,10V gaming machine 11H Launch passage 11R Return passage 13 Display device 21 Discharge path 22 Discharge ball sensor 30 Ball storage unit 31 Launch device 35 Launch ball sensor 36 Return ball sensor 36 Front door 41 Launch number display unit 45 Ball feed device 46 Gutter Part 46C Polished sheet 47 Screw 50 Main control board 52 Sub control board 54 Game ball management board

Claims (1)

In an enclosed gaming machine in which a gaming ball is enclosed and prepared, and the gaming ball launched into the gaming area is circulated so as to be able to be launched again into the gaming area.
A specific number setting means that can set an arbitrary value as a specific number,
A gaming machine including a notification means for notifying that the number of special balls based on the number of launched gaming balls exceeds the specific number.

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