JP2023101737A - game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a game machine in which a prize-wining part and a discharge ball passage can be favorably arranged in a game area.SOLUTION: A variable winning port 303 is provided at a central lowest part of a game area 23a, and an out port 304 is provided at a position horizontally displaced with respect to the variable winning port 303. Vertical operation port passages 331, 332, a variable winning port passage 333, and an out port passage 334 are provided as a plurality of rear passages through which game balls that goes through the game area 23a from a front side toward a rear side of a game board 23b pass. Among the passages, the variable winning passage 333 is arranged at a lowermost side, and the out port passage 334 is arranged at a position higher than the variable winning port passage 333.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

The present invention relates to a game machine such as a pachinko machine.

A pachinko machine, which is a type of game machine, is provided with a game board having a game area formed on the front side, and the game board is provided with a plurality of prize winning openings into which the game balls shot to the game area can win, and an out opening into which the game balls which have not won any of the plurality of winning openings flow in.例文帳に追加After passing through the game area, the game ball shot to the game area is guided to the back side of the game board through the winning opening or the out opening. A collection path and a discharge port are provided on the back side of the game board, and the game balls guided to the back side of the game board are collected by the collection path to the entrance part of the path leading to the discharge port and discharged from the discharge port to the island facility on the hall side.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-334022

However, there is a possibility that there is room for improvement in the arrangement of the winning portion and the discharge ball passage within the game area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine capable of favorably arranging a winning portion and a discharge ball passage within a game area.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1,
A game machine comprising: a game member forming a game area on the front side, through which game balls flow down; and a plurality of rear passages through which the game balls pass through the game area toward the rear side of the game member,
In the plurality of rear passages, one or a plurality of winning ball passages through which winning game balls pass to a winning portion where winning balls are paid out when the game balls enter;
One or a plurality of discharge ball passages through which game balls pass through the discharge portion that is discharged outside the game area without winning in the winning portion are provided,
The lowest winning ball passage located on the lowest side among the plurality of winning ball passages is the lowest winning ball passage,
On the front side of the game member, a visual recognition portion with a flat front side covering the game area so that the player can visually recognize it, and an outer frame portion that protrudes forward with respect to the visual recognition portion and constitutes a portion surrounding the visual recognition portion.
The viewing portion is formed by a window member attached so as to cover the window portion having an opening surrounded by the outer frame portion from the rear side,
A front side member is configured by attaching the window member to a frame member having the outer frame portion, an operation portion for performing a predetermined operation by a player, and a ball storage portion for storing game balls,
The front side member is provided to be movable relative to the game member so as to open the front side of the game member,
The lowermost winning ball passage is arranged at a height position where at least a portion thereof overlaps a rear side of a portion of the frame member,
The one or more discharge ball passages are arranged at a height position at least a part of which is visible from the front side of the gaming machine through the visual recognition portion.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suitably arrange the prize winning portion and the discharge ball passage within the game area.

1 is a front view of a pachinko machine; FIG. It is a perspective view of the pachinko machine seen from the front. 1 is a perspective view showing the main configuration of a pachinko machine in an expanded state; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the main configuration of a pachinko machine in an expanded state; FIG. It is a front view of an intermediate unit. It is a front view of a game board. It is a rear view of an intermediate unit. It is a rear view of a back pack unit. It is a rear view of the pachinko machine. It is a front view showing the vicinity of the winning device of the game board. It is a perspective view of the winning device seen from the front side. It is a perspective view of the winning device seen from the rear side. It is an exploded perspective view of the winning device as seen from the front side. It is a perspective view of the front side unit seen from the rear side. It is an exploded perspective view of the front side unit seen from the rear side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the winning device showing a closed state; It is a perspective view of the winning device showing an open state. (a) is a cross-sectional view of a variable winning opening peripheral portion showing a closed state, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of a variable winning opening peripheral portion showing an open state. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relative position of a winning device and a front door frame.

A pachinko game machine (hereinafter referred to as a "pachinko machine"), which is one type of game machine, will be described in detail below as an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front view of the pachinko machine 10, FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the pachinko machine 10, FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the main components of the pachinko machine 10, and FIG. 3 and 5, the configuration inside the game area 23a of the pachinko machine 10 is omitted for the sake of convenience.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pachinko machine 10 has an outer frame 11 forming the outer shell of the pachinko machine 10 and a game machine main body 12 attached to the outer frame 11 so as to be rotatable forward. The outer frame 11 is formed in the shape of a frame whose upper and lower sides are made of wooden plate material and whose left and right sides are made of aluminum plate material and whose four sides are fixed. A pachinko machine 10 is installed in a game hall by fixing an outer frame 11 to an island facility. In addition, the outer frame 11 is not an essential structure in the pachinko machine 10, and a member having the same inner shape as the outer frame 11 or the outer frame 11 and having a structure for supporting the game machine main body 12 and a locking structure for the outer frame 11 may be provided in the game hall.

The game machine body 12 includes an intermediate unit 13, a front door frame 14 arranged in front of the intermediate unit 13, and a back pack unit 15 arranged behind the intermediate unit 13, as shown in FIG. An intermediate unit 13 of the game machine main body 12 is rotatably supported with respect to the outer frame 11 .

As shown in FIG. 3 , the front door frame 14 is rotatably supported by the intermediate unit 13, and is rotatable forward with the left side as the rotation base end (opening/closing base end) and the right side as the rotation tip side (opening/closing tip side) in a front view. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the back pack unit 15 is rotatably supported by the intermediate unit 13, and is rotatable backward with the left side as the rotation base end (opening/closing base end) and the right side as the rotation tip side (opening/closing tip side) in a front view.

As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate unit 13 is provided with a locking mechanism 16 at its tip of rotation, and has a function of locking the game machine main body 12 with respect to the outer frame 11 so that it cannot be opened, and a function of locking the front door frame 14 with respect to the intermediate unit 13 so that it cannot be opened. Each of these locked states is released by unlocking the key cylinder of the locking mechanism 16 exposed on the front of the pachinko machine 10 as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate unit 13 is mainly composed of a frame-shaped frame unit 21 whose outer shape is substantially the same as that of the outer frame 11 . The frame unit 21 has a function as an inner frame to which the game board 23 is detachably attached from the front side, and a game area 23a formed on the game board 23 is attached to the front side of the intermediate unit 13 so as to be exposed. The inside of the game area 23a can be viewed from the front of the pachinko machine 10 through a window panel unit 30 provided on the back side of the front door frame 14, as shown in FIG.

The front door frame 14 is rotatably attached to the front side of the intermediate unit 13 . As shown in FIG. 2, front door mounting brackets 57 and 58 are provided on the rotation proximal end side of the front door frame 14. By engaging the front door mounting brackets 57 and 58 with the intermediate unit 13, the front door frame 14 is rotatably supported with respect to the intermediate unit 13.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front door frame 14 is formed in a rectangular shape having substantially the same outer shape as the intermediate unit 13 . The front door frame 14 is provided with a window portion 14a having an opening smaller than that of the window panel unit 30 so that the outer peripheral edge of the window panel unit 30 is not exposed when viewed from the front (see FIG. 2). Since the window portion 14a is covered from the back side by the window panel unit 30, the front door frame 14 to which the window panel unit 30 is attached covers substantially the entire front side of the intermediate unit 13. - 特許庁

As shown in FIG. 3, the window panel unit 30 includes a pair of front and rear transparent glasses 31, 32 having an outer shape larger than the window portion 14a and having transparency, and a fixing frame 33 integrating the transparent glasses 31, 32 together. The fixed frame 33 is made of synthetic resin and formed into an annular shape that is one size larger than the transparent glasses 31 and 32, and the window panel unit 30 is integrated with the double glazing by bonding the outer peripheral edges of the transparent glasses 31 and 32 to the fixed frame 33. - 特許庁

Although the window panel unit 30 is made of transparent glass 31 and 32 to be colorless and transparent, it is not limited to this, and may be made of synthetic resin to be colorless and transparent.

Around the window portion 14a of the front door frame 14, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of electric decoration portions 24 containing light emitting diodes (LEDs) or the like as light emitting means are provided. These illumination parts 24 light up or flash in response to changes in the game state such as when a big win is made or when a predetermined reach is reached. In addition, an LED that lights up when a predetermined error such as a shortage of balls to be paid out and an LED that lights up during the payout of prize balls are built in the electric decoration part 24 on the upper side of the window part 14a. A sound output part 27 made of a metal plate or the like having a large number of holes is provided on the upper right side and the upper left side of the window part 14a, and a speaker for outputting an effect sound according to the game state is built in the back side of the sound output part 27. - 特許庁

Below the window portion 14a of the front door frame 14, as shown in FIG. 2, an upper bulging portion 28 and a lower bulging portion 29, which bulge forward, are vertically arranged side by side. The upper bulging portion 28 is provided with an upper plate 28a that opens upward, and the lower bulging portion 29 is provided with a lower plate 29a that similarly opens upward. The upper tray 28a has a function of temporarily storing the game balls paid out from the payout device 224 and guiding them toward the game ball launching mechanism 110 side while aligning them in a line. In addition, the lower tray 29a has a function of storing the surplus game balls in the upper tray 28a. It is not necessary to separate the upper tray 28a and the lower tray 29a to provide a plurality of portions for storing game balls, and the lower tray 29a may be eliminated and only the upper tray 28a may be provided with only one storage section.

An input device 41 manually operated by the players is attached to the front side of the upper plate 28a (game ball storage area) in the upper bulging portion 28 . The input device 41 is an operation device used when an effect corresponding to the operation of the player is performed on the display screen 94a of the pattern display device 94, etc., and has an operation unit capable of performing multiple types of operations such as pressing and rotating operations.

The lower plate 29a is installed in the lower part of the front door frame 14 so as to be shifted to the left in front view, and on the right side of the lower plate 29a in front view, there is provided a speaker housing portion 29c which is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape and has a planar sound output portion 29b formed toward the front side. The speaker housing portion 29c is formed continuously with the lower plate 29a as a part of the lower bulging portion 29. A speaker for outputting sound effects according to the game state is housed inside the speaker housing portion 29c. In the front door frame 14, sound effects and the like are output from a total of three locations, that is, the sound output units 27 installed in the upper two locations and the sound output units 29b installed in the lower portion.

As shown in FIG. 2, a firing operation device 45 is provided on the right side of the lower bulging portion 29 of the front door frame 14 so as to protrude forward. The shooting operation device 45 is a device that is operated to shoot game balls into the game area 23a. As shown in FIG. 2, an annular operation handle 47 is rotatably supported on an operation base 46, and the operation handle 47 is rotated by the player when shooting game balls. In this case, the amount of rotational operation of the operating handle 47 is detected by a variable resistor as an operation amount detection means incorporated in the operation base 46 . Further, the shooting operation device 45 is provided with a touch sensor built in the operation base 46 for detecting that the player touches the operation handle 47, and a stop operation lever 48 that is operated to stop the shooting of the game balls while the operation handle 47 is rotated.

A passage forming unit 50 is attached to the rear side of the front door frame 14 as shown in FIG. The passage forming unit 50 is molded of synthetic resin and has a front door side upper tray passage portion 51 leading to the upper tray 28a, a front door side lower tray passage portion 52 leading to the lower tray 29a, and a foul ball passage portion 55. A put-out ball receptacle part 53 projecting rearward and open upward is formed in an upper corner of the passage forming unit 50, and the receptacle part 53 is partitioned left and right by a partition wall 54 to form a passage entrance of a front door side upper tray passage part 51 and a passage entrance of a front door side lower tray passage part 52. - 特許庁

The foul ball passage portion 55 is a portion that forms a passage for discharging game balls that have not reached the game area 23a among the game balls shot from the game ball shooting mechanism 110 as foul balls to the lower tray 29a. As shown in FIG. 3, the foul ball passage portion 55 is provided with a foul ball receptacle portion 56 that opens upward. A foul ball is received from the foul ball receiving portion 56 and guided to the front door side lower tray passage portion 52, whereby the game ball entering the foul ball passage portion 55 is discharged to the lower tray 29a. It should be noted that the foul ball passage portion 55 may be connected to the upper plate 28a instead of the lower plate 29a so that the foul ball is discharged to the upper plate 28a.

The game ball shooting mechanism 110 is a component that is exposed on the front side when the front door frame 14 is opened, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the game ball shooting mechanism 110 includes an electromagnetic shooting solenoid 111 provided as a shooting device, a shooting rail 112, and a ball feeding device 113. As shown in FIG. The ball feeder 113 feeds the game balls stored in the upper tray 28a onto the launch rail 112 one by one. In this case, the supplied game ball is arranged on the projecting path of the plunger 114 provided as the hitting portion in the shooting solenoid 111 . By inputting an electrical signal to the firing solenoid 111, the plunger 114 moves toward the game ball on the firing rail 112, and the game ball is launched toward the game area 23a. The electric actuator of the game ball shooting mechanism 110 is not limited to the shooting solenoid 111, and a shooting motor or the like may be used.

On the left side of the intermediate unit 13 and on the left side of the firing rail 112, a disc passage forming member 121 is arranged as shown in FIG. The frame unit 21 is provided with a through hole penetrating in the front-rear direction through the part where the disc passage forming member 121 is provided, and the disc passage forming member 121 is screwed to the frame unit 21 so as to cover the through hole from the front side.

The plate passage forming member 121 has a main body side upper plate passage portion 122 and a main body side lower plate passage portion 123, as shown in FIG. When the front door frame 14 is closed, the dispensed ball receptacle 53 (see FIG. 3) of the passage forming unit 50 provided on the front door frame 14 enters the lower portion of the dish passage forming member 121 . The front door side upper tray passage portion 51 is arranged below the main body side upper tray passage portion 122 , and the front door side lower tray passage portion 52 is arranged below the main body side lower tray passage portion 123 .

As shown in FIG. 5, the lower portion of the dish passage forming member 121 is provided with a shutter 124 for restricting outflow of game balls from the main body side upper dish passage portion 122 and the main body side lower dish passage portion 123 . The shutter 124 is provided so as to be switchable between a blocking position for narrowing the exit portions of both passages to block outflow of the game balls and a permitting position for permitting the outflow of the game balls. An urging member for urging the shutter 124 toward the blocked position is attached to the frame unit 21, and when the front door frame 14 is opened with respect to the intermediate unit 13, the shutter 124 stays at the blocked position by the urging force of the urging member. Thus, when the front door frame 14 is opened while the game balls are stored in the main body side upper tray passage part 122 or the main body side lower tray passage part 123, the inconvenience of the stored balls falling down is avoided. On the other hand, when the front door frame 14 is closed, the shutter 124 is pushed back to the allowable position by the outer peripheral portion of the put-out ball receiving portion 53 provided in the passage forming unit 50 of the front door frame 14 against the biasing force. In this state, the main body side upper tray passage portion 122 and the front door side upper tray passage portion 51 communicate with each other, and the main body side lower tray passage portion 123 and the front door side lower tray passage portion 52 communicate with each other to allow the game ball to flow down.

Next, the configuration of the game board 23 forming the game area 23a will be described with reference to FIG. 6 is a front view of the game board 23. FIG.

The game board 23 has a game board 23b having a transparent synthetic resin board material and a sheet material covering the front side or rear side board surface of the same board material, and the entire surface thereof is exposed to the front side of the frame unit 21.例文帳に追加The exposed portion, that is, the front surface of the game board 23, is formed with a game area 23a in which game balls flow down. Since the front side of the game area 23a is covered with the transparent glasses 31 and 32 as described above, the front side of the game area 23a is defined by the transparent glass 32 on the rear side. The back side of the game area 23a is defined by the front side of the game board 23b. The board material constituting the game board 23b may be formed of a wooden plywood board or a single board.

The game area 23a is set to have vertical and horizontal dimensions covering substantially the entire area of the game board 23 when viewed from the front, and is formed in a substantially circular shape in which only the lower right portion protrudes to the lower right side. The play area 23 a is partitioned by the guide rail 100 and the partition member 107 on its outer periphery. The guide rail 100 is composed of an arc-shaped inner rail 101 and an outer rail 102 fixed to the front left portion of the game board 23, and the inner rail 101 and the outer rail 102 form an arc-shaped guide passage 103 on the left side of the game area 23a.

An entrance portion 104 of the guide passage 103 is formed at the lower end portion of the guide passage 103, and the entrance portion 104 and the launch rail 112 are provided apart (see FIG. 5). An exit portion 105 of the guide passage 103 is formed at the upper end portion of the guide passage 103, and a return prevention member 106 is attached to the exit portion 105 to prevent the game ball reaching the game area 23a from returning into the guide passage 103.

When the operation handle 47 of the shooting operation device 45 (see FIG. 1) is manually operated by the player, the game ball shot from the game ball shooting mechanism 110 (see FIG. 5) provided in the lower right part of the intermediate unit 13 passes through the guide passage 103, pushes the entrance of the game area 23a closed by the return prevention member 106 at the exit 105 of the guide passage 103, and enters the game area 23a. When the shooting force of the game ball is too weak, the game ball does not reach the game area 23a and begins to fall within the guide passage 103, and falls between the entrance portion 104 of the guide passage 103 and the launch rail 112.例文帳に追加In the closed state of the front door frame 14, a foul ball receiving port 56 is arranged between the entrance part 104 and the launch rail 112, and the game balls that have not reached the game area 23a are discharged to the lower tray 29a via the foul ball passage part 55. - 特許庁

The partition member 107 partitions the right side of the game area 23a, is formed vertically by molding synthetic resin, and is screwed to the front surface of the game board 23b. The partitioning member 107 is sized to extend from the upper right end of the outer rail 102 to the lower right end of the inner rail 101 .

A certificate stamp 107a printed with a model name or the like is attached to the upper end of the partitioning member 107, and a pedestal part is fixed to the lower end of the partitioning member 107 with a certificate stamp 107b printed with the manufacturer's name, serial number, etc. attached. These certificate stamps 107a and 107b are arranged at positions visible from the front of the pachinko machine 10 through the transparent glasses 31 and 32. As shown in FIG.

The game board 23b is router-processed to form a plurality of large and small through-holes penetrating in the front-rear direction. Each through-hole is attached with each member forming a part where a game ball enters, such as the general winning opening 81, the variable winning opening 303, the upper working opening 301, the lower working opening 302, and the through gate 84. Also, the center frame 85, the main display device 96, etc. are attached.

When a ball enters the general winning opening 81, the variable winning opening 303, the upper working opening 301, and the lower working opening 302, it is detected by a sensor (not shown) as a detecting means arranged on the back side of the game board 23, etc., and a predetermined number of winning balls are paid out based on the detection result. In this case, three prize balls are put out when the ball enters the upper working port 301 and the lower working port 302, ten prize balls are put out when the ball enters the general winning port 81, and fifteen prize balls are put out when the ball enters the variable winning port 303. However, the number of these prize balls is arbitrary, and the number of prize balls of both operation ports 301 and 302 may be different, for example, the number of prize balls related to the lower operation port 302 is larger than the number of prize balls related to the upper operation port 301. In addition, the number of prize balls related to the variable winning opening 303 is not limited to a configuration that is larger than the number of other winning balls, and for example, the configuration may be the same as the number of winning balls related to the general winning opening 81, or may be a configuration that is smaller.

A center frame 85 is provided in the central portion of the game area 23a, and a pattern display device 94 is arranged behind the center frame 85. As shown in FIG. The pattern display device 94 is a device that variably displays (or variably displays or switches) a pattern, which is one type of pattern, on the display screen 94a, and is attached to the back side of the game board 23b. The center frame 85 is provided so as to surround the display screen 94a of the pattern display device 94 in a front view, and is attached to the game board 23b from the front side. A transparent protective plate made of a transparent synthetic resin material such as polycarbonate is provided on the front side of the pattern display device 94 and on the rear side of the center frame 85, and the display screen 94a of the pattern display device 94 is visible from the front side through the transparent protective plate.

A center frame 85 is provided in the central portion of the game area 23a, so that the game ball is divided into left and right sides of the center frame 85, and a game ball shot to the game area 23a flows down either the left side or the right side of the center frame 85.例文帳に追加In the game area 23a, a large number of nails 87 as game nails are planted in order to appropriately distribute and adjust the falling direction of the game balls, and various members (accessories) such as windmills are arranged.

Below the center frame 85 , the game area 23 a continues in the left-right direction, and a path for game balls is formed so as to surround the center frame 85 . A game ball that has flowed down either left or right of the center frame 85 passes through the lower side of the center frame 85 and is discharged from the game area 23a.

An out port 304 is provided at a position corresponding to the bottom of the game board 23 under the game area 23a. The game balls that flow down the game area 23a and finally do not enter various winning openings are ejected from the game area 23a through the out opening 304. - 特許庁The out-ports 304 are provided at two locations separated from each other to the left and right sides with respect to the center of the lower side of the game area 23a.

Here, entering a ball means that a game ball passes through a predetermined opening, and includes not only a mode in which the game ball is discharged from the game area 23a after passing through the opening, but also a mode in which the game ball is not discharged from the game area 23a after passing through the opening. However, in the following description, in order to clearly distinguish the game ball from entering the out hole 304, the entry of the game ball into the general winning hole 81, the variable winning hole 303, the upper operating hole 301, the lower operating hole 302, or the through gate 84 is also expressed as winning.

The upper operating port 301 , the lower operating port 302 and the variable winning port 303 are configured as part of the winning device 300 provided below the center frame 85 . The through gates 84 are provided on the left and right sides of the center frame 85, respectively.

The upper working port 301, the lower working port 302 and the variable winning port 303 are all opened upward. Further, the upper working port 301 is located at the uppermost position, and the lower working port 302 and the variable winning port 303 are arranged in the vertical direction in this order.

The lower operating port 302 is normally in a closed state (non-supported state or non-guided state), and is opened (supported state or guided state) when winning a lottery based on the passage of the game ball through the through gate 84.例文帳に追加When the lower operation port 302 is closed, the game ball cannot enter the lower operation port 302, and when the lower operation port 302 is opened, the game ball can enter the lower operation port 302. - 特許庁

The variable prize winning port 303 is normally in a closed state in which game balls cannot win prizes, and is switched to a predetermined open state in which game balls can easily win prizes when a shift to an opening/closing execution mode (special game state) such as a jackpot win is won. As for the mode of opening the variable winning opening 303, the variable winning opening 303 is repeatedly opened with the lapse of a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) or the winning of a predetermined number (for example, 10) as one round, and a plurality of rounds (for example, 15 rounds) as the upper limit.

The upper and lower actuation openings 301, 302, the variable winning opening 303, the out opening 304, and the details of their peripheral configurations will be described later with reference to FIG. 10 and subsequent figures.

In the symbol display device 94, the variable display of symbols is started based on the winning of the upper operation port 301 or the lower operation port 302. FIG. The variable display in the pattern display device 94 is performed in a visible area visible in the front view, for example, the patterns are displayed side by side on the top, middle and bottom, and these patterns are scrolled in the left-right direction so as to be variably displayed. Then, when a predetermined combination of symbols is stopped and displayed on a preset active line, the opening/closing execution mode is generated. The variable display on the pattern display device 94 is performed in accordance with the variable display performed on the main display section of the main display device 96 .

A main display device 96 for displaying a game state is provided on the lower left side of the center frame 85 . The main display device 96 has a display device in which a plurality of light emitting units are arranged side by side, and is provided outside the outer rail 102 corresponding to the outside of the game area 23a.

In the main display part, the variable display of the pattern is performed with the winning to the upper working port 301 or the lower working port 302 as a trigger, and as a result of stopping the variable display, the result of the internal lottery performed based on the winning to the upper working port 301 or the lower working port 302 is clearly displayed. In this pachinko machine 10, the winning to the upper working port 301 and the winning to the lower working port 302 are distinguished in the internal lottery, and the result of the internal lottery performed based on the winning of the upper working port 301 or the lower working port 302 is clearly indicated on the main display part. When the result of the internal lottery based on the winning of the upper operation port 301 or the lower operation port 302 is the winning result corresponding to the shift to the opening/closing execution mode, the predetermined stop result corresponding to the winning result in each of the operation ports 301 and 302 is displayed to stop the variable display, and then the opening/closing execution mode is shifted. Winning at the upper operating port 301 and winning at the lower operating port 302 are provided with different benefits obtained by winning, and the opening mode of the variable winning port 303 (the number of rounds and the opening time in one round), the probability of shifting to the time-saving game state, etc., are set so that the game state to be changed after winning may differ depending on the winning operating port, thereby complicating the game. Here, based on the winning of any of the operation ports 301 and 302, the main display unit and the pattern display device 94 start variable display, display a predetermined stop result, and stop the variable display correspond to one game cycle.

When a plurality of operation ports 301 and 302 are provided, it is not always necessary to change the game state to be changed after winning depending on the operation port, and the lottery may be executed under the same lottery condition and the game state may be shifted to each game state with the same probability. Moreover, it is not always necessary to provide a plurality of operating ports, and a configuration having only one operating port may be employed.

In the display part for the character, the variable display of the pattern is performed with the winning to the through gate 84 as a trigger, and the result of the internal lottery performed based on the winning to the through gate 84 is clearly displayed as the result of stopping the variable display. When the lottery result based on the prize winning to the through gate 84 is the winning corresponding to the transition to the electric role open state, the electric role open state is shifted to after the predetermined stop result is displayed in the display part for the accessory and the variable display is stopped. In the electric work open state, the lower working port 302 is opened in a predetermined manner.

The state display portion is a portion where display corresponding to changes in the game state is performed. In the state display part, when the game state shifts to the opening/closing execution mode due to the display of the predetermined stop result on the main display part, or when the game state shifts to the normal state before the opening/closing execution mode because the number of game rounds after the display of the predetermined stop result reaches a predetermined number, the change in the game state is clearly displayed. In addition, in the state display part, the number of rounds in which transition is won out of the number of rounds set in a plurality of types as the opening mode of the variable winning port 303 is clearly displayed when the opening/closing execution mode transition is won.

The reservation display part clearly indicates the number of game balls winning in the upper operation port 301 or the lower operation port 302 and the number of games in the reservation state in which the game is not yet executed among the number of times the game balls pass through the through gate 84 by display. The number of winning game balls in the upper operating port 301 or the lower operating port 302 and the number of times the game balls pass through the through gate 84 are respectively retained up to four at maximum, and each retention number is displayed by the retention display section. Information corresponding to the number of reservations in the reservation display section is also displayed on the display screen of the pattern display device 94, and the number of reservations is displayed as numbers or the number of characters.

The main display unit, character display unit, status display unit, pending display unit, and the like are configured by a display device in which a plurality of light emitting units are arranged in a predetermined manner, but are not limited to this, and some or all of the display units may be configured by other types of display devices such as a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display device, a CRT, a segment display device, or a dot matrix display device. In addition, as a mode of variably displaying on the main display unit and the character object display unit, there may be other modes such as a configuration in which multiple types of characters as patterns are variably displayed, a configuration in which multiple types of symbols are variably displayed, a configuration in which multiple types of characters are variably displayed, or a configuration in which multiple types of colors are switched and displayed.

Next, the configuration of the back side of the gaming machine body 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9 in addition to FIG. 7 is a rear view of the intermediate unit 13, FIG. 8 is a rear view of the back pack unit 15, and FIG. 9 is a rear view of the pachinko machine 10. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate unit 13 is provided with a game board accommodating portion 21a penetrating in the front and rear directions and formed with an opening formed by the frame unit 21. Various parts mounted on the back side of the game board 23 are exposed on the back side of the intermediate unit 13 through the game board accommodating portion 21a.

As shown in FIG. 4, a box-shaped board back cover 141 made of synthetic resin is provided on the back side of the intermediate unit 13 . The board back cover 141 is provided over almost the entire back surface of the game board 23, and has a function of protecting various parts provided on the back side of the game board 23 from entry of dust, collision of game balls, or collision with peripheral parts when the game board 23 is transported, and also has a function of preventing fraud targeting a sensor or the like for detecting winning of a game ball.

As shown in FIG. 4, a display control device 142 and an audio light emission control device 143 are arranged side by side in the central portion of the back side of the intermediate unit 13, and a main control device 160 that controls the main control of the game is provided below them. The display control device 142 controls the display of the pattern display device 94, and the sound emission control device 143 controls the display of sounds, LEDs, lamps, etc. and the display control device 142 in accordance with instructions from the main control device 160.

As shown in FIG. 7, the main control device 160 includes a main control board having a function (main control circuit) for main control of the game and a function (power failure monitoring circuit) for monitoring the power supply, and a transparent resin board box 163 provided for housing the board. In addition, the main controller 160 is provided with an opening sealing section 164 as trace means for leaving traces when the substrate box 163 is opened. The opening and sealing unit 164 cannot be reconnected once the release operation is performed, and as a result, once the circuit board box 163 of the main controller 160 is opened, it cannot be sealed again.

As shown in FIG. 7, an attachment sealing portion 165 is provided at the left end of the main controller 160 in rear view. The attachment sealing portion 165 fixes the support member provided on the game board 23b side and the main controller 160, and functions as trace means for leaving traces when the main controller 160 is removed. In addition to the fixing parts for first mounting the main controller 160, the mounting seal part 165 is provided with three sets of spare fixing parts, so that the main controller 160 can be temporarily removed during inspection work or replaced with a maximum of three times without leaving traces.

A RAM erase switch 166 is provided on the left side of the main controller 160 when viewed from the rear. This pachinko machine 10 has a memory holding function of various data, and even if a power failure should occur, the state at the time of the power failure is retained, and the state at the time of the power failure can be restored when recovering from the power failure. For example, when the power is cut off according to the normal procedure at the end of business hours of the game arcade, the state before the cutoff is memorized and held, and when the power is turned on while pushing the RAM erasing switch 166, the RAM data is initialized.

Support metal fittings 132 are provided vertically apart from each other on the rotation base end side (right side in FIG. 7) of the back surface of the frame unit 21, and the back pack unit 15 is rotatably attached to the intermediate unit 13 by bearing portions 133 provided with through holes at the upper ends of the respective support metal fittings 132. In addition, a plurality of fixing levers 134 for fixing the back pack unit 15 to the intermediate unit 13 are provided on the rear surface of the frame unit 21 on the tip side of rotation (on the left side in FIG. 7).

Next, the back pack unit 15 will be explained. The back pack unit 15 includes, as shown in FIG. 8, a back pack 201 made of transparent synthetic resin, a dispensing unit 202, and an external terminal plate 203. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, the back pack 201 has a back base portion 211 forming the peripheral portion of the back pack 201, and a protective cover portion 212 formed to cover the rear opening portion of the back base portion 211. The back pack 201 forms an accommodation space with all of the left and right side surfaces, the upper surface and the upper part of the back surface closed and the front side opened by the back base part 211 and the protective cover part 212, and accommodates a pattern display device 94, control devices 142, 143, etc. as various parts mounted on the back side of the game board 23 in this accommodation space. An opening 212a is formed in the lower portion of the protective cover portion 212 so as to penetrate therethrough in the front-rear direction. The back pack 201 does not need to be configured as a separate part from the frame unit 21, and may be integrally formed with the frame unit 21, for example, as a part of a component that is integrally molded with the frame unit 21 from resin and has an opening on the front side.

As shown in FIG. 8, the external terminal plate 203 is provided at the upper right end of the back pack unit 15 viewed from the rear. The external terminal board 203 is a board for outputting a predetermined signal so that the management computer of the game hall recognizes the state of the pachinko machine 10 . The external terminal plate 203 has, as output terminals, an output terminal for outputting a signal during the opening/closing execution mode, an output terminal for outputting a signal during the electric open state in which the lower operation port 302 is frequently opened, an output terminal for outputting a signal when game balls are insufficient in the payout unit 202, an output terminal for outputting a signal each time a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out, an output terminal for outputting a signal each time a predetermined number of game balls are lent out, and an output terminal for outputting a signal each time a predetermined number of game balls are lent out. An output terminal for outputting a signal, an output terminal for outputting a signal when the front door frame 14 is opened with respect to the intermediate unit 13, and the like are provided.

As shown in FIG. 8, a pair of upper and lower locking pins 204 are attached to the right end of the back pack unit 15 when viewed from the rear. By inserting the locking pin 204 into the bearing portion 133 on the intermediate unit 13 side, the back pack unit 15 is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the intermediate unit 13 around the locking pin 204 . At the opposite end of the rear base portion 211 where the locking pin 204 is not arranged, an insertion portion 211a through which the fixing lever 134 provided on the intermediate unit 13 is inserted is formed vertically. When the fixed lever 134 is inserted through the insertion portion 211 a and rotated 90 degrees, a portion of the fixed lever 134 abuts the back base portion 211 from behind, and the back pack unit 15 is fixed to the intermediate unit 13 . A fixing lever 135 (see FIG. 4) is also provided in the central portion of the lower front surface of the back pack unit 15, and is rotated after being inserted into the insertion portion 21b (see FIG. 5) provided on the intermediate unit 13 side, thereby fixing the lower central portion of the back pack unit 15 to the intermediate unit 13.

The back pack unit 15 is rotatably supported on the rear surface of the intermediate unit 13 as described above. When the back pack unit 15 is overlaid on the intermediate unit 13 from the back side, as shown in FIG. 9, most of the main controller 160 is exposed on the back side through the opening 212a, and a part of the main controller 160 is covered by the protective cover part 212. Connectors and wiring for electrical connection with other control devices are provided at the upper end of the main control device 160, and the portion related to this wiring and part of the opening sealing portion 164 and mounting sealing portion 165 are covered with the protective cover portion 212. Therefore, while improving the visibility of the main control device 160, it is possible to suppress cheating and prevent damage due to collision of game balls. The sound emission control device 143 and the like arranged above the main control device 160 are entirely covered with a protective cover portion 212 .

The back pack unit 15 includes a dispensing unit 202 attached to the back base portion 211 so as to bypass the protective cover portion 212, as shown in FIG. The payout unit 202 has a tank 221 which is provided at the top of the back pack 201 and opens upward to store game balls, a tank rail 222 which is gently inclined so as to guide the game balls in the tank 221 toward the downstream side, a case rail 223 which guides the game balls in the vertical direction downstream of the tank rail 222, and a payout device 224 which is provided at the most downstream part of the case rail 223. These are connected to the tank. The required number of game balls supplied to 221 can be paid out to the downstream side of a payout device 224.例文帳に追加The game balls paid out by the payout device 224 are supplied to the back passage portion 225 provided downstream of the payout device 224 (see FIG. 4).

The back side passage portion 225 is formed with three passages for distributing the game balls put out from the putting out device 224 to either the upper tray 28a, the lower tray 29a or the tank ball discharge passage. Of these passages, the passage located on the center side of the back pack 201 communicates with the upper tray 28a via the main body side upper tray passage portion 122 and the front door side upper tray passage portion 51, the outer passage communicates with the lower tray 29a via the main body side lower tray passage portion 123 and the front door side lower tray passage portion 52, and the outer passage serves as a tank ball discharge passage. The game balls put out by the put-out device 224 are preferentially guided to the passage of the upper tray 28a, and when the passage is filled with the game balls, the game balls are guided to the passage leading to the lower tray 29a branched from the passage. In the tank ball discharge passage, the game balls stored between the tank 221 and the middle of the case rail 223 are discharged from the discharge port provided at the lower end of the back pack unit 15 without passing through the discharge device 224 by performing discharge operation on the operation part 223a of the case rail 223.

As shown in FIG. 8, a power supply device 241 for generating and outputting predetermined electric power required by various control devices and the payout control device 242 and a payout control device 242 are attached to the lower end portion of the back side of the back base portion 211 so as to overlap each other. The power supply device 241 is provided over the entire width of the rear base portion 211 . A power switch 245 is provided at the lower right end of the rear base portion 211 when viewed from the rear. A main power supply of, for example, 24 volts AC is supplied to the pachinko machine 10 via a voltage converter, and the power supply of the pachinko machine 10 is turned on or off by switching operation of the power switch 245 .

The payout control device 242 is a device for controlling the payout of game balls through the payout unit 202 . The payout control device 242 is configured by housing the payout control board in a transparent board box 243 provided for housing the board, and is provided with an open sealing part 244 as a trace means for leaving a trace when the board is opened. The open sealing part 244 cannot be reconnected once the releasing operation is performed, and as a result, once the board box 243 of the payout control device 242 is opened, it cannot be sealed again.

As shown in FIG. 4, on the front side of the back base portion 211, i.e., on the lower portion of the intermediate unit 13 side, there is provided a shot ball discharge passage whose upstream end is a horizontally long ball inlet 213 that opens upward and a ball inlet 214 that opens to the side. A game ball that flows down the game area 23a and is led to the back surface of the game board 23 through one of the openings passes through one of the two ball entrances 213 and 214 and enters the shot ball discharge passage. The exit part of the shot ball discharge passage is formed by opening the lower end face of the back pack unit 15 with the width of one game ball, and all the game balls shot into the game area 23a are discharged to the island facility of the game parlor through the shot ball discharge passage. A detection sensor for detecting game balls is provided in the middle of the shot ball discharge passage, and a signal corresponding to the number of game balls shot into the game area 23a is output via the external terminal plate 203.

Next, the configuration details of the variable prize winning opening 303, the out opening 304, and their surroundings will be described mainly with reference to FIG. 10 onward. FIG. 10 is a front view showing the vicinity of the winning device 300 of the game board 23. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, the plate-like portion covering the front side of the winning device 300 is omitted, and the shapes of the walls and the like that form the path for the game balls are schematically shown. In FIG. 10, the part that affects the flow direction of the game ball and the outer shape of the passage of the game ball leading to the back side of the game board 23 are indicated by thick lines, and the outer shape, screws, etc. of the winning device 300 that hardly affect the flow direction of the game ball are indicated by thin lines for reference.

The prize winning device 300 is arranged in the lower part of the game area 23a and attached to the game board 23b. The prize winning device 300 includes an upper working port wall portion 321 and a lower working port wall portion 322 that form an upper working port 301 and a lower working port 302, a guide wall portion 323 provided on both left and right sides of the lower working port 302, left and right partition wall portions 324, an upper wall portion 325 and a guide wall portion 326 related to the variable winning port 303, and an out port wall portion 327 that guides a game ball to the out port 304. I have it. Each of the wall portions 321 to 327 is formed of synthetic resin as a part of the prize winning device 300, is provided so as to protrude forward from the front surface of the game board 23b, and is located forward from the front surface of the game board 23b and is capable of coming into contact with a game ball flowing down the game area 23a.

The wall portion 321 for the upper operation opening is formed in a box shape which is slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball and is opened upward, and is configured so that each game ball can enter the upper operation opening 301 one by one. Corresponding to the height position of the upper working port 301, a passage 331 for the upper working port is continued on the back side (rear side) thereof, and the game ball winning the upper working port 301 is guided to the rear side of the game plate 23b via the passage 331 for the upper working port.

The lower operation opening 302 is formed by a pair of movable bodies 341 capable of opening left and right with respect to the lower side, and part of a lower operation opening wall portion 322 forming a fixed wall portion on the lower side of the movable bodies 341. The upper end portions of the pair of movable bodies 341 are close to the lower end portion of the wall portion 321 for the upper operation opening in the closed state, and the game ball cannot enter the lower operation opening 302 . The pair of movable bodies 341 have planar inner surfaces facing each other in the closed state, and each movable body 341 has a sharp upper end portion and an arcuate outer surface that widens downward.

A pivot pin 312 that rotatably supports the movable body 341 is inserted through the lower side of the movable body 341 . The pair of movable bodies 341 are rotatably attached to the left and right sides with the lower side as a reference, and are rotated to be separated from each other to form the open state of the lower operation opening 302 . Corresponding to the height position of the lower operation port 302, a passage 332 for the lower operation port is continued on the back side thereof, and the game ball entering the lower operation port 302 is guided to the rear side of the game board 23b via the passage 332 for the lower operation port.

Guide wall portions 323 inclined downward toward the lower working port 302 are provided on both the left and right sides of the lower working port 302 . The guiding wall part 323 has a function of guiding the game balls toward the lower operating port 302 and the variable winning port 303 positioned below it, and is configured to easily win a large number of game balls when the lower operating port 302 and the variable winning port 303 are opened.

The outer shape of the prize winning device 300 is formed to be wide in the horizontal direction at the height position where the guide wall portion 323 and the variable prize winning port 303 are provided, and the width in the portion between the guide wall portion 323 and the variable prize winning port 303 is narrower than the upper and lower sides. Therefore, the game board 23b is exposed to the front side between the guide wall portion 323 and the variable winning opening 303, and the nail 87 is installed in that area. Due to the arrangement configuration of the prize winning device 300 and the nail 87, the guide wall portion 323 molded of synthetic resin and whose orientation cannot be adjusted is located on the upstream side, and the nail 87 can be placed on the downstream side of the guide wall portion 323 and in front of the variable prize opening 303. As a result, it is possible to set the winning ratio of the game ball in the process of guiding the game ball to the variable winning opening 303 by adjusting the angles of the small number of nails 87 as targets.

The variable winning opening 303 is formed to open upward below the lower operating opening 302 . The variable prize winning opening 303 is formed as a space vertically penetrating between left and right partition wall portions 324 spaced apart in the horizontal direction, and an operating body 342 having a plate-like portion having a thickness in the vertical direction is arranged so as to divide the space in the vertical direction.

Below the variable winning opening 303, a variable winning opening passage 333 leading from the front side of the game board 23b to the rear is continuous. A passage 333 for a variable prize-winning port is a large passage on the front side which allows the game balls to line up and advance to the rear side, and is partitioned into two passages on the left and right sides on the back side, and the passage through which the game balls can pass in a row is continuous on the rear side. A non-contact type sensor 313 for detecting the passage of a game ball is provided in each variable winning port passage 333, and the winning of the game ball can be detected. Since a plurality of passages are provided as the variable winning opening passage 333, the variable winning opening 303 can be quickly closed when the number of game balls winning in the variable winning opening 303 reaches a specified number.

The lower end portion 101a of the inner rail 101 is located on the front side of the variable winning hole passage 333 and on the lower side (downstream side) of the variable winning hole 303 . The lower end portion 101a of the inner rail 101 is formed in an arc shape in front view with both left and right sides inclined downward toward the lowermost end portion, and is also formed in a band plate shape inclined downward toward the rear side. The game balls that flow down along the front surface of the game board 23b and enter the variable prize winning port 303 are collected at the lowest end side while the lower side part is supported by the inner rail 101, and guided to the variable winning port passage 333 side by the rear side inclined part of the inner rail 101. - 特許庁

A lower portion of the winning device 300 projecting downward in a substantially rectangular shape that is one size larger than the variable winning port passage 333 is located on the back side of the lower end portion 101a of the inner rail 101 . A through hole 23c having a shape along the outer edge 300a of the prize winning device 300 and being one size larger than the outer edge 300a is provided through the lower end of the game plate 23b in the front-rear direction.

The operating body 342 is provided so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and forms a closed state in which the entrance portion of the variable prize winning port 303 is blocked in a state positioned on the front side. The operating body 342 has a shape inclined in the shape of a mountain so that the central portion is the highest and the left and right ends are lower. In the closed state of the variable winning opening 303, the game ball that has reached the upper surface of the operating body 342 is guided to either the left or the right along the inclination direction of the upper surface.

Left and right end portions of the action body 342 are provided with action body side wall portions 342a that protrude downward in a hook shape when viewed from the front with the pachinko machine 10 and the game board 23 as a reference. The left and right partition wall portions 324 are formed in a stepped shape in which the lower portion from the upper portion continues to the center side so as to face the lower end surface of the action body side wall portion 342a downward, and the action body side wall portion 342a is supported from below by the left and right partition wall portions 324. By providing the left and right partition walls 324, the lower side of the action body 342 is supported on the front side of the front surface of the game board 23b, and even if a large load is applied to the upper surface of the action body 342, the bending moment generated in the action body 342 is reduced and the action body 342 is less likely to be damaged.

An upper side wall portion 325 is provided on the upper side of the operating body 342 so as to be able to come into contact with the game balls flowing down toward the variable winning opening 303 . The upper wall portion 325 is a portion that forms a passage for a game ball from both left and right sides above the variable winning hole 303 toward the central side of the variable winning hole 303 together with the nail 87 . The upper wall portion 325 has a top plate portion 325a whose outer surface portion on the lower side facing the operating body 342 is positioned above the operating body 342 with a gap slightly larger than one game ball and is continuous in the left and right direction. Between the top plate portion 325 a and the action body 342 , a top passage 335 is formed as a passage toward the upper central side of the action body 342 above the variable winning opening 303 .

The upper wall portion 325 has a vertically elongated obstruction portion 325c that continues downward from the top plate portion 325a. The obstacle part 325c is formed by a plate-like wall part having a thickness in the left-right direction, and abuts the game ball supported on the upper surface of the operating body 342 from the side to obstruct the passage of the game ball in the left-right direction. The upper and lower gaps between the action body 342 and the obstruction portion 325c are so close that the game ball cannot pass left and right.

The obstacle part 325c is provided above the central portion corresponding to the topmost portion of the operating body 342, and the topmost portion of the operating body 342 is configured so that the game ball does not come into contact with it in the closed state. The central portion of the action body 342 is separated from the position where the lower side is supported on the front side of the game board 23b compared to the both end sides thereof. By making the central portion of the action body 342 difficult to contact with a game ball, it is possible to easily prevent damage to the action body 342 even if the thickness in the vertical direction of the action body 342 is set thin. Therefore, it is possible to expand the display area visible to the player in the display screen 94a formed above the action body 342. FIG.

A guide wall portion 326 continuous from the lower end portion of the partition wall portion 324 to the central side is provided on the center side where the variable winning opening 303 is formed with respect to the left and right partition wall portions 324 . The guide wall portion 326 forms a support surface on the upstream side, which has a level difference on the outer side in the left-right direction with respect to the support surface for the game ball formed by the inner surface of the inner rail 101 . The vertical distance between the upper surface of the guide wall portion 326 and the action body 342 is slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball and is set to approximately 1.2 times smaller than 1.5 times the diameter of the game ball.

Here, if the vertical distance between the upper surface of the guide wall portion 326 and the action body 342 is set to 1.5 times the diameter of the game ball, the game ball is easily caught when the action body 342 shifts to the closed state. This is because when two game balls are aligned vertically on the guide wall portion 326, the operating body 342 is positioned at the center position of the upper game ball. For this reason, a step is provided between the upper surface of the guide wall portion 326 and the upper surface of the inner rail 101 so that the distance is not such that it is easy to get caught. The vertical distance between the upper surface of the inner rail 101 and the action body 342 is set to be sufficiently larger than 1.5 times the diameter of the game ball, substantially twice or more, and by setting this distance, it is possible to make it difficult for the game ball to be caught by the action of the action body 342 even on the upper side of the inner rail 101.例文帳に追加

The upper surfaces of the left and right partition wall parts 324 are inclined downward in the direction opposite to the operating body 342 and away from the variable winning opening 303, and the game ball reaching the upper surfaces of the left and right partitioning wall parts 324 via the upper surface of the operating body 342 flows downward away from the variable winning opening 303. In addition, the upper surfaces of the left and right partition wall portions 324 are arranged at a height position one step lower than the upper surface of the action body 342 so as to form a step so that the game ball passing through the upper surface of the action body 342 is difficult to stop at the gap between the action body 342 and the left and right partition wall portions 324. - 特許庁

Out ports 304 are provided on both outer sides of the left and right partition wall portions 324 on the opposite side to the action body 342 . Each out port 304 has a bottom surface lower than the upper surface of each partition wall portion 324 positioned adjacent thereto, and is formed to open forward.

On the front side of each out port 304, an out port wall portion 327 inclined downward to the rear side is provided so that the game ball reaching the position of the out port 304 can be guided backward from the front side of the game board 23b, and the game ball reaching the front side of the out port 304 is guided backward by the out port wall portion 327 and flows into the out port 304.例文帳に追加

A plurality of thin grooves 327a continuous in the front-rear direction are provided on the bottom surface of the outlet wall portion 327 . Dust or the like that has entered the game area 23a falls into the grooves, making it difficult for the game balls to stay in the flow path, so that the game balls can be smoothly advanced.

On both outer sides corresponding to the side opposite to the partition wall portion 324 positioned next to the out-port wall portion 327 as a reference, an out-port outer bottom wall portion 328 and an out-port guide bottom wall portion 329a inclined downward toward the out port 304 side so as to guide the game ball to the out port 304 are continuously provided. The out-port outside bottom wall portion 328 is formed as part of the winning device 300, and the out-port guiding bottom wall portion 329a is formed as part of a decoration member 329 that is formed separately from the prize winning device 300 and decorates the lower side of the game area 23a. The decorative member 329 is integrally formed with a general prize winning opening wall portion 329 b that forms the general winning opening 81 .

A downstream end of the upper surface of the out-port outside bottom wall portion 328 and continuing to the out port 304 is set at a height position lower than a downstream end of the upper surface of the partition wall portion 324 continuing to the out port 304, and the game balls passing through the upper surface side of the operating body 342 are preferentially guided to the out port 304 over the game balls passing through the upper surface side of the out-port outside bottom wall portion 328. Therefore, it is possible to prevent ball clogging in which a plurality of game balls collide and stay around the upper surface of the operating body 342 and around the variable prize winning port 303, and reduce the possibility of overloading the upper surface of the operating body 342.例文帳に追加

In addition, in the passage for the game ball formed on the upper surface of the outer bottom wall portion 328 of the out port, vertically elongated ridges are formed on the front and rear wall surfaces of the passage so that the game ball meanders back and forth and is guided to the out port 304 side. Thereby, the game ball passing through the upper surface side of the operating body 342 can be more easily guided to the out port 304 .

On the rear side of the out port 304, an out port passage 334 that guides game balls backward from the front side of the game board 23b continues downwardly to the rear side. A game ball entering the out port 304 is discharged out of the game area 23a via the out port passage 334. - 特許庁

Here, in the pachinko machine, there is a tendency to increase the installation area of the pattern display device and the decoration device located at the center side of the game machine, which are visible to the player, so that free design can be easily applied, the player can easily be amazed at the rapidly changing structure operation and display contents, and the original game property different from other manufacturers can be easily provided. In addition, it is preferable that the areas that attract the player's attention, such as the operation opening and the variable winning opening, and the out opening are arranged at positions that are easily visible to the player. Generally, in the center of the game board 23, the display and decoration area, the operating opening, the variable winning opening, and the out opening are arranged in this order from the top. However, with such an arrangement order, it is difficult to secure an installation area for the display device and the decoration device while securing an area necessary for winning and discharging game balls.

In the present embodiment, a variable winning opening 303 is provided at the bottom center of the game area 23a, and an out opening 304 is provided at a position shifted in the left-right direction with respect to the variable winning opening 303. As shown in FIG. Therefore, the entrance part of the variable prize winning port 303 at the center lowermost part of the game region 23a can be easily installed on the lower side, and the display region of the pattern display device 94 and the installation region of the center frame 85 can be easily secured above the variable winning port 303.例文帳に追加

In addition, as a plurality of rear passages through which game balls pass through the game area 23a from the front side to the rear side of the game plate 23b as a game member, there are provided passages 331 and 332 for operation ports, a passage 333 for a variable prize winning port, and a passage 334 for an out port. are placed. In other words, the variable winning port passage 333 is positioned at the lowest side in the passage through which the game balls passing through the game area 23a are discharged, and when the game balls pass through the variable winning port passage 333 positioned at the bottom, the player is provided with a profit. Therefore, the game ball flowing into the out-port passage 334 from the out-port 304 is guided to the rear side of the game board 23b at a position higher than the variable winning-port passage 333, so that the game ball (losing ball) flowing into the out-port passage 334 without winning any of the winning ports 81, 301 to 303 can be quickly transferred to a position where the player cannot visually recognize.

Next, the details of the configuration of the winning device 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 15. FIG. 11 and 12 are perspective views of the winning device 300 viewed from the front and rear, and FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the winning device 300 viewed from the front. 14 and 15 are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view of a front side unit 351 corresponding to a part of the prize winning device 300 viewed from the rear side.

The prize winning device 300 is constituted by combining a plurality of units attached to the game board 23b from the front side and the rear side, and has a front side unit 351 constituting a front side part and a rear side unit 352 constituting a rear side part. As for the game board 23b, the front unit 351 is first positioned and fixed to the game board 23b, and then the rear unit 352 is aligned with the front unit 351 in the horizontal and vertical directions, and then fixed to the game board 23b.

As shown in FIG. 13, the front unit 351 includes a base unit 361 having a flat plate-like base portion 361a whose outer peripheral portion overlaps the front surface of the game board 23b, and a front cover 362 having a flat plate-like front cover portion 362a. The base part 361a and the front cover part 362a are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction with an interval slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball, and are configured to appropriately guide the game ball into passages 331 to 334 located behind the front cover part 362a and continuing to the back side of the game board 23.

The base unit 361 has a synthetic resin front base member 363 forming a base portion 361 a , a movable body 341 , and a solenoid 364 as driving means for operating the movable body 341 . A guide wall portion 323 projecting forward from the base portion 361a and a pivot pin 312 are integrally formed on the front side of the front base member 363 (see FIG. 13).

On the back side of the front base member 363, the induced passage portion 365 to 367, which guides the upper and lower operating mouth 301,302 and the gaming ball entering the out -of -mouth 304 to the back side of the gaming board 23b, is formed from the upper side to the back side from the base part 361a in an open side. Each passage 331, 332, 334, which guides the gaming ball to the back side of the gaming board 23b, is formed.

The front cover 362 is a member made of transparent synthetic resin and mainly includes a front cover portion 362a. As shown in FIG. 15, the rear side of the front cover 362 is integrally formed with a plurality of wall portions that protrude rearward from the rear surface of the flat plate-shaped front cover portion 362a and have upper surfaces inclined rearward. Specifically, the upper working port wall portion 321, the lower working port wall portion 322, the dividing wall portion 324, the upper wall portion 325, the guide wall portion 326, the out port wall portion 327, and the out port outer bottom wall portion 328 are formed as part of the front cover 362. The variable prize winning opening 303 is formed by left and right wall portions formed by the left and right partition wall portions 324 and front and rear wall portions formed by the front cover portion 362a and the base portion 361a so as to open upward so that a game ball can enter.

An inlet front protrusion 371 , a passage front protrusion 372 , and a passage branch front protrusion 373 are provided at the central lower portion on the rear side of the front cover 362 and between the left and right partition wall portions 324 . The configurations of the entrance front protrusion 371 and the passage front protrusion 372 will be described later with reference to FIG. 18 .

The passage branching front projection 373 projects rearward to a greater extent than the entrance front projection 371 and the passage front projection 372, and is steeply inclined from portions such as the upper working port wall 321, the lower working port wall 322, and the out port wall 327 that guide the game ball to the rear entrance. The passage branch front protrusion 373 is provided at a position facing the front side of a passage partition wall 368 that divides the variable winning port passage 333 in the lateral direction at the entrance portion, not only guides the game ball to the rear side, but also transfers the game ball that has won in the central portion of the variable winning port 303 and collides with the passage partition wall 368 at high speed. As a result, the game balls winning the variable winning opening 303 can be efficiently guided into the variable winning opening passage 333, and the variation in the number of winning balls with respect to the prescribed number for one opening of the variable winning opening 303 can be reduced.

Between the passage dividing wall 368 and the passage branching portion front protrusion 373 in the front-rear direction, a gap larger than the diameter of the game ball is provided. The front end portion of the passage partition wall 368 is located on the rear side from the entrance portion of the variable prize winning passage 333, and the front end portion has a sharp shape. At the entrance part of the variable winning port passage 333, one passage is formed by combining the two variable winning port passages 333 in the horizontal direction, and the variable winning port passage 333 divided in the horizontal direction is formed on the rear side. As a result, the game ball guided by the passage branching front protrusion 373 can be efficiently guided into the two variable winning opening passages 333 .

A gap S is provided between the left and right partition wall portions 324 at the lower end portion on the rear side of the front cover 362 . At the position corresponding to the gap S, as described above, the lower end portion 101a of the inner rail 101 is positioned so as to be overlapped on the lower side, and most of the game balls that have won the variable winning opening 303 are guided to the variable winning opening passage 333 by the lower end portion 101a of the inner rail 101. Since the inner rail 101 is used to guide the game ball to the rear side, the variable prize winning opening 303 can be arranged on the lower side compared with the case where the guiding function is added to the front cover 362, and the display area or the like of the pattern display device 94 formed on the upper side can be easily enlarged.

The rear unit 352 is a device that is attached to the back side of the game board 23b and moves back and forth an operating body 342 that protrudes forward from the front surface of the game board 23b through the through hole 23c provided in the game board 23b. The through-hole 23c of the game board 23b is mostly covered with the base portion 361a of the front unit 351 so that the through-hole 23c of the game board 23b is not exposed in the game area 23a.

The rear unit 352 includes a synthetic resin rear base member 381 screwed to the back side of the game board 23b, an operating body 342 supported by the rear base member 381 so as to be operable in the front-back direction, a solenoid 382 (see FIG. 12) as driving means for operating the operating body 342, and a solenoid cover 383 covering the rear side of the solenoid 382.

The operating body 342 has a synthetic resin plate portion 342b having a thickness in the vertical direction at its front end, and the rear portion thereof is supported by a rear base member 381 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The plate portion 342b is a portion that closes the variable winning opening 303, and the front end shape of the plate portion 342b is a shape that is recessed at the center side from both left and right direction sides and inclined toward the back side (rear side). When the operating body 342 advances from the open state to the position corresponding to the closed state, the game ball may be stuck between the operating body 342 and the front cover 362 (front cover portion 362a). is prevented.

The front surface of the rear unit 352 is provided with a positioning pin 384 as a positioning portion projecting forward where the front unit 351 is positioned. The positioning pins 384 are provided in a substantially cylindrical shape projecting forward at a plurality of locations spaced apart in the left-right direction. As a portion for alignment corresponding to the arrangement position of the positioning pin 384, a tubular alignment portion 374 into which the tip portion of the positioning pin 384 can be inserted is provided on the back surface of the front unit 351. The positioning pin 384 is fitted into the alignment portion 374 so that the relative positions of the front unit 351 and the rear unit 352 in the horizontal and vertical directions are accurately aligned. Therefore, the relative positions of the operating body 342 and the variable winning port passage 333 provided in the rear unit 352 and the variable winning port 303, the entrance front protrusion 371, the passage front protrusion 372, etc. formed in the front unit 351 are appropriate, and the effect of the interaction with each functional part can be reliably exhibited.

The rear base member 381 is provided with fixing portions 385 for fixing the rear unit 352 to the game board 23b at a plurality of locations spaced apart in the horizontal and vertical directions. Each fixing portion 385 is provided with a through hole penetrating in the front-rear direction, and a fixing screw (not shown) is inserted into the fixing portion 385 from the rear side and fixed to the game board 23b, whereby the rear unit 352 is fixed to the game board 23b.

The solenoid 382 is controlled by the main controller 160 to be energized corresponding to the game state described above, and moves to a position corresponding to the closed state in which the operating body 342 protrudes forward of the rear unit 352 and to a position corresponding to the open state in which the operating body 342 is positioned rearward compared to the closed state. Corresponding to the operation of the solenoid 382, the operating body 342 protrudes forward from the front surface of the game board 23b in the closed state to close the variable winning port 303, and in the open state, it is positioned behind the front surface of the game board 23b to open the variable winning port 303.

The solenoid 382 is arranged at a position that overlaps the rear side of the variable winning port passage 333, and is provided so as to protrude below the game area 23a as a relative height position with respect to the game area 23a. The arrangement of the solenoid 382 can be realized by configuring the rear unit 352 to be attached from the rear side of the game board 23b, and the operating body 342 to protrude forward from the game board 23b through the through-hole of the game board 23b.

It is preferable that the solenoid 382 is mounted vertically along the longitudinal direction of the solenoid 382 and along the direction in which the movable portion moves due to the switching of the energized state. As a result, the length of the solenoid 382 in the vertical direction can be used to increase the amount of front-to-rear movement of the upper end portion relative to the amount of rotation of the rotating member, so that the rear unit 352 having the rotating member and the solenoid 382 can be formed in a small size, and a sufficient amount of front-to-rear movement of the operating body 342 can be ensured.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, operations of the lower operation opening 302 and the variable winning opening 303 provided in the winning device 300 will be described. 16 and 17 are perspective views of the front portion of the prize winning device 300, FIG. 16 shows the closed state of the lower operating port 302 and the variable winning port 303, and FIG. 17 shows the open state of the lower operating port 302 and the variable winning port 303. 16 and 17, the front portion of the front unit 351 is cut away to show only the main components of the prize winning device 300 and a part thereof is shown in an enlarged view, the game balls near the entrance of the variable prize winning port 303 are shown by thick solid lines, and the lower part of the inner rail 101 is schematically shown by a dashed line. In addition, in FIG. 17, only the tip portion of the operating body 342 (plate portion 342b) is schematically shown by a dashed line.

As shown in FIG. 16, the lower operation opening 302 and the variable winning opening 303 do not form a gap through which the game ball can pass in the closed state, and the game ball cannot win. A game ball passing through both left and right sides of the upper operation port 301 and a game ball guided downward along the slope by the guide wall portion 323 advance to the entrance side of the lower operation port 302 . A game ball reaching the inlet portion of the lower operating port 302 collides with the outer surface of the movable body 341 in the closed state and flows downward via the side corresponding to either the left or right of the upper wall portion 325 located on the bottom side of the lower operating port 302.

A game ball passing through the side of the lower operation opening 302 or a game ball guided to the lower operation opening 302 side by a nail 87 or the like from above the out opening 304 advances to the side where the variable winning opening 303 is located. A game ball that has reached the entrance portion of the variable winning port 303 is supported in contact with the upper surface of the operating body 342 (plate portion 342b) in the closed state, and guided to either the left or the right along the inclination direction of the upper surface. The game ball guided by the upper surface of the operating body 342 (plate portion 342b) is guided to the out port 304 via the partition wall portion 324 and the upper side of the wall portion 327 for the out port.

When the lower working port 302 is open, as shown in FIG. 17, the entrance portion of the lower working port 302 opens obliquely upward to the left and right, forming a gap through which the game ball can pass through the lower working port 302 . The game ball that has reached the entrance portion of the lower working opening 302 is guided by the inner surface of the movable body 341 to advance to the inner side of the lower working opening 302 and enter the lower working opening 302 .

When the variable winning opening 303 is in an open state, the entrance portion of the variable winning opening 303 opens upward, forming a gap through which the game ball can pass. A game ball that has reached the entrance portion of the variable winning opening 303 advances between the left and right partition wall portions 324 and enters the variable winning opening 303 .

Here, the central lower part of the game board 23 corresponds to the most downstream part of the game area 23a, and most of the game balls shot to the game area 23a are guided. At that position, an out port is generally located, and a large number of game balls that have not won in any of the winning ports are guided to the out port.

In this embodiment, the variable prize winning port 303 is positioned at the central lower portion of the game board 23, and the variable prize winning port 303 is always closed by the action body 342. FIG. Nails 87, wall portions 323, 325, etc. are arranged so that a large number of game balls flowing down the game area 23a are guided to the variable winning port 303, and when the variable winning port 303 is open, the player can easily win the game balls. Therefore, in the closed state, a large number of game balls advance toward the operating body 342 and collide with the operating body 342 . Also, if game balls are clogged near the out port 304 corresponding to the downstream side of the variable winning port 303, a state in which a large number of staying game balls are supported on the upper surface of the operating body 342 may occur. That is, there is a high possibility that the action body 342 that moves in the front-rear direction will be repeatedly impacted by the game ball and a considerable load will be applied, and it is necessary to have a structure that can withstand such impacts and loads.

The winning device 300 of the present embodiment is provided with a support structure for the front portion of the action body 342 by the left and right partition wall portions 324 at the left and right end portions of the action body 342 . As a support structure for the action body 342, as described above, the rear unit 352 having the action body 342, the solenoid 382 that operates the action body 342, and the rear base member 381 that supports the action body 342 so as to be movable back and forth is attached to the game board 23b from the rear side, and the game board 23b is provided with the through hole 23c through which the action body 342 can be inserted from the rear side. In addition, on the front side of the game board 23b, a partition wall 324 is provided to support the lower side of the action body 342 in front of the front face of the game board 23b when the action body 342 is arranged at a position corresponding to the closed state.

According to the supporting structure of the operating body 342, the operating body 342 is arranged to protrude into the game area 23a through the through hole 23c of the game board 23b, and the solenoid 382 necessary for the operation of the operating body 342 can be attached so as to overlap behind the game board 23b. Therefore, the installation space of the operation body 342 on the front side of the game board 23b can be easily set to be short in the vertical direction, the lower operation opening 302 can be arranged close to the variable winning opening 303, and the variable winning opening passage 333 can be easily arranged under the variable winning opening 303, so that the installation space for other parts can be easily set wide around the variable winning opening 303. Therefore, it is possible to easily arrange the functional parts such as the area where the game ball flows, the area where the nail 87 can be driven in the front surface of the game board 23b, the display area of the pattern display device 94, and the frame portion as decoration of the center frame 85.

Further, when the operating body 342 is arranged at a position corresponding to the closed state, the plate portion 342b of the operating body 342 is supported from below by the left and right partition wall portions 324 . Therefore, even when a large load is applied to the upper side of the plate portion 342b of the action body 342, the bending and torsional stress generated in the action body 342 can be suppressed to a low level, and damage to the action body 342 can be prevented.

In particular, due to the configuration in which the variable winning port passage 333 is installed below any of the out port passages 334, the operating body 342 forms a passage for game balls heading toward the out port 304, and although there is a possibility that a large number of game balls stay above the operating body 342 in a row, the structure in which the lower side of the operating body 342 is supported causes bending of the operating body 342 and the rear base member 381 due to retention of game balls. Since the torsional stress can be kept low, damage to each member can be prevented.

Further, the operating body 342 has a plate portion 342b that is formed continuously in the left-right direction and is contacted by a game ball flowing down from above, and an operating body side wall portion 342a that continues below the end portion in the left-right direction of the plate portion 342b. It has a front side support portion 324b which is continuous to the inner side of the winning portion below 4a and is formed to protrude to the lower side of the side portion. According to this configuration, the side facing portion 324a and the front support portion 324b of the partition wall portion 324 are positioned on the outer side and the lower side of the action body side wall portion 342a, respectively, and the movement of the action body side wall portion 342a to the outside and the lower side is restricted. Therefore, since the lower side of the plate portion 342b of the operating body 342 is supported, and the laterally central portion of the operating body 342 can be prevented from being deformed downward by the side facing portion 324a, deformation of the operating body 342 can be suppressed and each portion of the operating body 342 can be appropriately arranged at a predetermined position even if the game ball stagnates.

Further, an obstruction portion 325c is provided on the upper side of the operating body 342 as a means for preventing game balls from coming into contact with the central portion of the upper surface of the plate portion 342b of the operating body 342 in the closed state. Therefore, since the game ball does not come into contact with the plate part 342b of the operating body 342 at the farthest position from the position where the lower side is supported from the partition wall part 324, the bending force applied to the operating body 342 can be kept low and the damage of the operating body 342 can be prevented.

A top passage 335 into which one or more game balls can enter is formed between the plate portion 342b of the action body 342 and the bottom surface of the upper wall portion 325 (the top plate portion 325a) in a central part of the upper side of the plate portion 342b of the action body 342. In the closed state of the variable winning port 303, the game ball that collides with the plate portion 342b with momentum toward the center side of the plate portion 342b of the action body 342 advances into the upper passage 335 toward the center side of the plate portion 342b, then folds back along the downward slope of the plate portion 342b of the action body 342 and moves to the end side of the plate portion 342b. Due to the behavior of the game ball, when the operation body 342 is temporarily closed and then opened, the game ball tends to stay on the upper surface of the plate part 342b in the closed state, and a plurality of game balls are likely to be placed on the upper surface of the operation body 342, so that the game ball can easily enter the variable winning port 303 immediately in the subsequent open state. Therefore, the number of game balls guided to the out port 304 can be reduced in a situation where the variable winning port 303 is repeatedly opened and closed, and the game balls can efficiently enter the variable winning port 303 in the special game state.

It should be noted that the upper surface of the plate portion 342b of the operating body 342 is preferably configured so that the game ball can advance upward and the game ball meanders and flows downward. For example, a shallow groove having a depth of 1 mm or less, which is sufficiently smaller than the radius of the game ball, may be formed on the upper surface of the plate portion 342b of the action body 342 so as to meander and continue in the horizontal direction in plan view, so that the game ball may flow down to the out port 304 side while moving back and forth on the upper surface of the plate portion 342b. Thereby, the game ball can be made to enter the variable winning hole 303 more efficiently.

Moreover, the upper passage 335 is preferably set to a height and width of 1.5 times or less of the diameter of the game balls that are not piled up. The height width of the upper surface passage 335 in this embodiment is set to a slightly large height width of 1.2 times or less with respect to the diameter of the game ball. Therefore, the upper and lower actuation openings 301 and 302 are arranged closer to the upper side of the variable prize winning opening 303, and it is possible to easily set a wide installation space for other parts. In addition, it is possible to prevent the damage of the operating body 342 more surely by preventing the occurrence of a situation where the game balls are placed in an overlapping state in a place away from the position where the lower side is supported from the partition wall part 324.例文帳に追加

The nail 87 as a ball guide member for guiding the game ball to the entrance portion of the variable winning port 303 and the upper wall portion 325 are installed so that the game ball advances with a movement component from both left and right sides of the plate portion 342b to the center side. Specifically, the nail 87 is installed so that the path of the game ball formed between the nails 87 (the direction of the path formed between the two nails 87 on the downstream side) faces the upstream side of the upper surface of the plate portion 342b (that is, the central side of the plate portion 342b). In addition, the nail 87 is installed and the upper wall portion 325 is formed so that the wall surface, which is formed by the plurality of nails 87 and the upper wall portion 325, as a passage for the game ball, faces the upstream side of the upper surface of the plate portion 342b (that is, the center side of the plate portion 342b) (see FIG. 10). Therefore, the game ball can be easily moved toward the upstream side of the plate part 342b, so that the game ball can be easily retained on the upper surface of the plate part 342b, and the game ball can be efficiently entered into the variable winning hole 303.例文帳に追加In addition, it is preferable to provide the obstruction portion 325c at a position corresponding to the topmost portion of the plate portion 342b corresponding to the center side on the upper side of the plate portion 342b in order to cause the game ball to stay.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 18(a) and 18(b), a configuration for preventing a game ball from being caught by the action of the operating body 342 will be described. 18(a) and 18(b) are cross-sectional views schematically showing the vicinity of the variable winning opening 303 of the winning device 300 as seen from the right side, FIG. 18(a) showing the open state of the variable winning opening 303, and FIG. 18(b) showing the closed state of the variable winning opening 303. 18(a) and 18(b), for reference, the front position of the game board 23b is indicated by a dashed line, and game balls are also indicated.

As shown in FIGS. 18(a) and 18(b), the back side of the front cover 362 is provided with an inlet front protrusion 371 formed to protrude rearward. The entrance front protrusion 371 has a substantially triangular cross section with a sharp tip, and protrudes from the rear surface of the planar front cover 362a at a height of approximately 1 mm, which is sufficiently smaller than the diameter of the game ball.

The entrance front protrusion 371 is provided at a position facing the front end of the action body 342 , and more specifically, is formed at substantially the same height as the front end portion of the action body 342 . In addition, since the operating body 342 is inclined such that the central portion in the horizontal direction is high and the left and right side portions are lowered, the entrance front protrusion 371 is also inclined and continuous in the horizontal direction so that the substantially central portion corresponding to the highest position in the operating body 342 is high and the left and right side portions are low (see FIG. 15).

When the operating body 342 is switched from the open state to the closed state, the operating body 342 moves from the rear side to the front side so as to approach the front cover 362 . At this time, the game ball may be caught between the front end of the operating body 342 and the front cover 362 . In this case, since the entrance front protrusion 371 is continuously provided in the lateral direction on the back side of the front cover 362, the game ball sandwiched between the front end of the operating body 342 and the entrance front protrusion 371 of the front cover 362 collides with the entrance front protrusion 371 and is pushed upward or downward.

When the game ball moves upward with respect to the operating body 342, as shown in FIG. 18A, the game ball moves above the upper surface of the operating body 342 and is guided toward the out port 304 side according to the inclination of the upper surface of the operating body 342. When the game ball moves downward with respect to the action body 342 , it becomes a prize to the variable prize winning port 303 and is guided to the variable winning port path 333 .

Here, the entrance front protrusion 371 is provided at substantially the same height position with respect to the front end of the operating body 342, and the opposing tip portion is sharpened, so that the game ball can easily move upward or downward when the operating body 342 or the entrance front protrusion 371 contacts the ball-shaped surface of the game ball. Therefore, the game ball is less likely to be caught between the operating body 342 and the entrance front protrusion 371, and the function of preventing the game ball from being caught can be exhibited more reliably. Further, the front end of the operating body 342 varies in height position in the left-right direction, and furthermore, the front end of the operating body 342 is inclined so that the central side is located on the rear side in the front-rear direction, so that a game ball sandwiched between the operating body 342 and the entrance front projection 371 is easily subjected to an oblique force along the inclination direction of the front end of the operating body 342, and the pinch prevention function can be further exhibited.

As shown in FIG. 18(b), the front cover 362 has a passage front projection 372 formed to protrude rearward at the height of the variable prize winning passage 333. As shown in FIG. The passage front protrusion 372 is a part for guiding the game ball that enters the variable winning opening 303 and falls downward to the rear side where the variable winning opening passage 333 is located.

The passage front protrusion 372 has an upper surface shape that slopes downward toward the rear side. The height of the passage front protrusion 372 protrudes from the rear surface of the planar front cover portion 362a at a height of approximately 3 mm which is sufficiently smaller than the diameter of the game ball. The height of the passage front side protrusion 372 projects rearward to a greater extent than the entrance front side protrusion 371 provided above the passage front side protrusion 372, so that even a game ball contacting the entrance front side protrusion 371 can contact the passage front side protrusion 372.例文帳に追加

At the entrance portion of the variable prize winning opening 303, an entrance rear projection 363a is provided so as to overlap with the upper side of the operating body 342 in the closed state. The entrance rear protrusion 363a is formed as a part of the front surface of the front base member 363, protrudes forward from a front-rear position corresponding to the front surface of the game board 23b, and protrudes forward from a plate-like portion having a thickness in the front-rear direction of the front base member 363 and forming a path for game balls.

Of the game balls winning the variable winning port 303, some of the game balls flowing down from the rear along the front surface of the front base member 363 are guided toward the front cover 362 by the entrance rear protrusion 363a. For this reason, the front portion of the game ball is likely to collide with the passage front protrusion 372 located below the entrance rear protrusion 363a. The distance in the longitudinal direction between the front end of the entrance rear projection 363a and the rear end of the passage front projection 372 is set shorter than the diameter of the game ball, so that the game ball collides with the passage front projection 372 and is easily guided to the variable winning port passage 333.

The entrance rear projection 363a protrudes forward from the upper side of the entrance outer peripheral portion of the accommodation space for the action body 342 where the action body 342 is located. In addition, the entrance rear projection 363a projects forward across the entire range in which the action body 342 is positioned in the left-right direction (see FIG. 16), and is configured to make it difficult for the game ball to advance toward the accommodation space side of the action body 342 in the open state. Therefore, the game ball hardly collides against the front end part of the operating body 342 and the lower side of the entrance outer peripheral part of the housing space of the operating body 342, and once the game ball enters the variable winning hole 303, the game ball smoothly flows down around the operating body 342 without colliding.

Here, in the present embodiment, the game ball is guided to the variable winning hole passage 333 by the lower end portion 101a of the inner rail 101 . The inner rail 101 is a member that can also be used in other models in which the parts arrangement in the game area is changed, and the lower end part 101a of the inner rail 101 has a shape suitable for guiding the game ball to an out port that is generally provided on the rear side of the part, and has an upper surface shape gently inclined to the rear side. It is not necessary to guide the game ball to the out port at such a high speed, and the game ball is guided into the out port while rolling left and right by the lower end portion of the inner rail 101.例文帳に追加

On the other hand, inside the variable winning hole 303, the sensor 313 located downstream from the lower end 101a of the inner rail 101 detects the winning of the game ball into the variable winning hole 303, and the variable winning hole 303 is closed in response to this detection timing. Therefore, it is preferable to guide the game balls to the variable winning port passage 333 at high speed, and by providing the passage front side projecting part 372, while maintaining the versatility to other models of the inner rail 101, it is difficult for the game balls to stay in the variable winning port 303, and the smooth discharge of the game balls can be realized. Further, the function of the passage front protrusion 372 can be exhibited more reliably by providing the entrance rear protrusion 363a.

Next, referring to FIG. 19, the relative positions of the front door frame 14 and the winning device 300 will be described. FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the relative positions of the window portion 14a of the front door frame 14 and the winning device 300. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 19, the winning device 300 is shown schematically, and the outline of the lower end portion of the window portion 14a of the front door frame 14 with respect to the winning device 300 is indicated by a dashed line.

The winning device 300 is visually recognized by a player from the front side of the pachinko machine 10 through the window portion 14a provided in the front door frame 14, and as shown in FIG. A window panel unit 30 having a flat front side having two transparent glasses 31 and 32 is positioned on the inner side of the window part 14a, and a viewing part 30a with a flat front side covering a game area 23a so as to be visually recognized by a player is positioned inside the window part 14a. The electric decoration part 24 of the front door frame 14 protrudes forward with respect to the visual recognition part 30a and functions as a frame part surrounding the visual recognition part 30a. The front door frame 14 is a member that can move relative to the game board 23 so that the front surface of the game board 23 can be opened.

19 is visible to the player, and the front cover 362 is made of translucent synthetic resin, so that the upper and lower operation port passages 331, 332, etc. located on the back side thereof are configured to be visible to the player. The region below the dashed-dotted line in FIG. 19 is made invisible to the player by the frame portion (electrical decoration portion 24) of the front door frame 14. As shown in FIG. The variable winning opening passage 333 is arranged at a height position overlapping the frame portion of the front door frame 14 on the rear side, and the out-opening passage 304 and the out-opening passage 334 are arranged at positions deviated upward from the frame portion of the front door frame 14, i.e., at positions overlapping the visual recognition portion 30a. Therefore, at least a part of the game balls passing through the variable prize-winning passage 333 are invisible to the player, and the game balls passing through the out-port passage 334 are completely visible to the player.

In this way, the variable winning port passage 333 is arranged to be displaced downward with respect to the visual recognition portion 30a and arranged in a position overlapping with the frame portion (electrical decoration portion 24), so there is no need to set an area corresponding to the lower part of the variable winning port passage 333 in the space overlapping the rear side of the visual recognition portion 30a. Therefore, it is possible to easily secure an area where game balls flow down and an installation area for the symbol display device 94 and the like. In addition, the upper end portion of the frame portion corresponding to the lower side of the visual recognition portion 30a of the front door frame 14 can be easily set relatively high, and as the functional parts provided on the lower side of the visual recognition portion 30a of the front door frame 14, the game ball storage portion (upper tray 28a and lower tray 29a), the shooting operation device 45, the input device 41 as the selection operation portion, the illumination portion 24 as the decoration portion, etc. can be easily arranged in relatively large sizes.

Here, when the inside of the variable winning opening 303 or its peripheral portion is made to emit light, a substrate having an LED or the like as a light emitting body may be installed in the winning device 300, and the wall portion forming the variable winning opening passage 333 may be formed of a transparent or semi-transparent translucent material so that light is emitted from the outside of the passage into the passage. There is a possibility that the inside or the like cannot be made to emit light. In this case, the LED may be installed backward so that the light emitter provided in the frame portion (electrical decoration portion 24) of the front door frame 14 located below the visual recognition portion 30a emits light toward the rear side or obliquely upward to the rear, or a part of the light emitted toward the front side may be guided or reflected so that the light emitter emits light toward the rear side. As a result, the variable winning opening 303 can be irradiated with light from the front side, and the inside of the variable winning opening 303 and its peripheral portion can be sufficiently illuminated. In particular, when the game ball is guided to the variable winning opening path 333 by the inner rail 101 (guidance rail 100) that shares parts with other models, it is difficult to install the light emitter below the variable winning opening 303. In this case, the light emitting body of the frame portion (electrical decoration portion 24) of the front door frame 14 is used to light the inside of the variable winning opening 303 or its peripheral portion. It is preferable that the winning game ball can be easily visually recognized by the player.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and may be modified and implemented as described below, for example. In this case, each configuration described below may be applied to the above embodiment, or a plurality of configurations described below may be combined and applied to the above embodiment.

The arrangement positions and numbers of the upper and lower operation ports 301 and 302, the variable winning port 303 and the out port 304 in the above embodiment do not necessarily have to be the configurations in the above embodiment. For example, the outlet 304 may be provided only on one of the two sides instead of the left and right, and the plate portion of the operating body 342 for opening and closing the variable prize winning outlet 303 may be inclined downward toward the one side where the outlet 304 is located. In such a case, it is preferable to arrange the action body 342 corresponding to the entrance of the variable winning opening 303 at a position near the lower end of the visual recognition part 30a of the front door frame 14 and overlapping the rear side of the visual recognition part 30a. As a result, it is possible to easily arrange a functional component of a relatively large size under the visual recognition portion 30a of the front door frame 14 .

At least a portion including the downstream portion of the operating body 342 may be arranged at a lower height position than the upper end of the opening of the out port 304. This allows the variable winning port 303 to be placed relatively lower in the game area 23a. It is preferable to dispose at the upper end of the opening of the out port 304 or at a lower height than the center of the opening.

The operating body 342 does not necessarily need to be placed at a position overlapping the rear side of the visual recognition portion 30a, and may be placed at a height position that matches the window portion 14a of the front door frame 14. The operating body 342 is positioned to the extent that the game ball placed on the upper surface of the motion body 342 overlaps the rear side of the visual recognition portion 30a, that is, so that the motion body 342 is positioned below the outline of the window portion 14a of the front door frame 14 by a distance smaller than the diameter of the game ball. 42 may overlap with the rear side of the frame portion of the front door frame 14 . Even in this case, the winning of the variable winning opening 303 can be made visible to the player by moving the game ball downward.

The variable winning port 303 does not necessarily have to be configured to be discharged from the pachinko machine 10 so that the game balls are guided toward the rear side of the game board 23b, but may be configured to be discharged downward from the lower side of the game area 23a. For example, the inner rail 101 may be partially cut off so that the game ball is discharged from the game area 23a toward the bottom of the game area 23a. Even in this case, the entrance part of the variable prize winning port 303 is installed at a position slightly higher than the out port 304, and the space where the game ball flows down after entering the variable winning port 303 is positioned below the out port 304, so that the display area of the pattern display device 94 can be easily installed in the game area 23a. Even in such a case, it is preferable to dispose the operating body 342 corresponding to the entrance of the variable winning opening 303 at a position near the lower end of the visual recognition portion 30a of the front door frame 14 and overlapping the rear side of the visual recognition portion 30a.

At least some of the upper and lower operation ports 301 and 302, the variable winning port 303, and the out port 304 in the above embodiment need not necessarily be integrated with the winning device 300, and may be attached to the game board 23b as separate parts. Also, at least one of the lower operating port 302 and the variable winning port 303 does not necessarily have to be configured such that the game ball cannot win in the closed state, and may be configured to allow the game ball to win, although the amount of opening of the inlet is smaller in the closed state than in the open state and it is difficult to win.

The variable prize winning path 333 may be arranged at a position where the entirety overlaps with the rear side of the visual recognition portion 30a so as to be completely visible to the player from the front side. In this case, the game ball can be visually recognized for a long period of time until it reaches the lowermost variable prize winning passage 333 for the player, and it is possible to easily set a long section in which the game ball behaves in the game area 23a whose size is limited.

A sensor as a winning detection unit may be installed in front of the front surface of the game board 23b so as to overlap with the lower side of the plate portion 342b corresponding to the front side of the action body 342. FIG. Since the inflow of game balls into the variable winning port 303 can be detected at an early stage, the easiness of winning can be quickly switched at the timing when the game balls corresponding to the preset winning number enter the variable winning port 303.例文帳に追加In addition, since the sensor as a detection means for detecting the prize winning to the variable prize winning port 303 is covered by the frame portion of the front door frame 14, the sensor does not need to be decorated, and the prize winning portion can be low cost and good in appearance. Furthermore, the front cover may be shaped so that the back surface of the front door frame 14 faces the front side of the sensor as the detection means so that the front cover does not overlap the front side of the sensor. In this case, the sensor for detecting the winning of the variable winning port 303 is exposed to the front side of the game board 23 by opening the front door frame 14 with respect to the gaming machine main body 12 having the game board 23, so that the sensor can be easily inspected and replaced.

The prize winning device 300 does not necessarily have to be constructed such that the operation body 342 protrudes forward from the rear side of the game plate 23b through the through hole 23c of the game plate 23b. preferably configured.

The winning device 300 does not necessarily have to be attached to the game board 23b from both the front side and the rear side, and may be attached from only one of the front side and the rear side. In such a case, it is preferable to install the winning device from the rear side so that at least a part of the action body that constitutes the variable winning opening, the supporting member that movably supports the action body, and the drive means that operates the action body is attached so as to overlap a part of the game board 23b on the rear side, thereby facilitating the arrangement of the functional parts on the upper side of the prize winning device.

It is not always necessary to arrange the variable winning opening passage 333 corresponding to the variable winning opening 303 so as to be located below the out opening passage 334 corresponding to the out opening 304, and the variable winning opening passage 333 may be arranged so as to be located above the out opening passage 334. In this case as well, the operating body 342 that opens and closes the variable winning opening 303 in the winning device 300 is preferably configured to be attached from the rear side of the game board 23b in order to facilitate the arrangement of the functional parts. It is preferable to be able to win efficiently.

In the above embodiment, the lower surface of the upper surface passage 335 is formed by the upper surface of the operating body 342. However, it is not necessary to form the lower surface of the upper surface passage 335 by the upper surface of the operating body 342. The portion of the plate portion 342b corresponding to the lower side of the upper surface passage 335 may be a fixed wall portion, and only the portion corresponding to the downstream side of the upper surface passage 335 may be configured to be operable. Even in such a case, the game ball can be efficiently entered into the variable winning hole 303 in the special game state.

In the above-described embodiment, the upper surface passage 335 is provided on both the left and right sides with the vicinity of the central portion separated from the left and right ends of the plate portion 342b of the operating body 342 as the upstream end, but the upper surface passage 335 may be provided only on one side in the left and right direction. In addition, the upper surface passage 335 may be configured to have a clearance that allows a game ball to pass in the left-right direction at the highest top portion of the upper surface of the operating body 342 (plate portion 342b). In this case, even if there is a gap in the left-right direction near the top of the upper passage 335 through which the game balls can pass, the obstruction portion contacts at least some of the game balls, and the passage of the game balls is inhibited. That is, the obstructing part may contact the front side or the rear side of the game ball near the top corresponding to the upstream end of the upper passage 335 to change the course of the game ball to decelerate it, or may contact the game ball at a position facing the traveling direction of the game ball in the vicinity of the top and turn the traveling direction of the game ball 180 degrees at the upstream end of the upper passage 335 and return it. You can get good prizes.

In the above-described embodiment, the obstruction 325c has a shape that protrudes downward from the ceiling surface side of the upper surface passage 335 by the front cover 362, but the obstruction may be formed in another shape, may be formed by another member that forms the upper surface passage 335, or may be formed by a plurality of members that form the upper surface passage 335. For example, an obstruction having a shape that protrudes toward the upper surface passage 335 from one or both sides of the base portion 361a and the front cover portion 362a may be provided, or an obstruction that protrudes upward may be provided on the upper surface of the plate portion 342b of the operating body 342 that forms the lower surface of the upper surface passage 335.

The present invention may be applied to a pachinko machine or the like of a type different from the above embodiment. For example, it may be implemented as a pachinko machine in which the expected value of a big win is increased until a big win state occurs a plurality of times (for example, two or three times) including the one big win. Further, after the big winning symbols are displayed, the game may be implemented as a pachinko machine that enters a special game state under the condition that the ball wins in a predetermined area. Also, it may be adopted as a so-called ordinary machine without a lottery function such as a big win. It may be implemented as a pachinko machine that enters a special game state when a ball enters a predetermined winning hole. It may also be applied to an enclosed pachinko machine in which balls circulate. Furthermore, in addition to the pachinko machine, it may be implemented as various game machines such as an arrange ball type pachinko and a mammoth ball.

<Invention extracted from the above embodiment>
Hereinafter, the features of the group of inventions extracted from the above-described embodiments will be described while showing effects and the like as necessary. In the following description, for ease of understanding, configurations corresponding to the above-described embodiments are appropriately shown in parentheses or the like, but are not limited to the specific configurations shown in parentheses or the like. Also, the meanings and examples of terms described in each feature may be applied as the meanings and examples of terms described in other features described with the same wording.

A pachinko machine, which is a type of game machine, is provided with a game board having a game area formed on the front side, and the game board is provided with a plurality of prize winning openings into which the game balls shot to the game area can win, and an out opening into which the game balls which have not won any of the plurality of winning openings flow in.例文帳に追加After passing through the game area, the game ball shot to the game area is guided to the back side of the game board through the winning opening or the out opening. A collection path and a discharge port are provided on the back side of the game board, and the game balls guided to the back side of the game board are collected by the collection path to the entrance part of the path leading to the discharge port and discharged from the discharge port to the island facility on the hall side.

In this type of pachinko machine, there is a tendency to increase the installation area of a pattern display device, a decoration device, etc. located in the center side of the game machine, which is visible to the player, thereby facilitating free design, making it easy for the player to marvel at the operation and display contents of the structure, and facilitating the provision of original game characteristics different from those of other manufacturers. In addition, it is preferable that the area that attracts the player's attention such as the operation opening that starts the variable display of the pattern and the variable winning opening that opens and closes, and the out opening are preferably arranged in a position that is easy for the player to visually recognize.

However, with such an arrangement order, it is difficult to secure an installation area for the display device and the decoration device while securing an area necessary for winning and discharging game balls, and there is a possibility that there is room for improvement in the configuration of arranging the winning section and the discharge ball passage within the game area.

<Feature A1>
A game machine (pachinko machine 10) comprising a game member (game plate 23b) forming a game area on the front side where game balls flow down, and a plurality of rear passages through which game balls pass through the game area toward the rear side of the game member,
In the plurality of rear passages, one or a plurality of winning ball passages (upper and lower working opening passages 331, 332, variable winning opening passage 333) through which a game ball that has won a prize passes a winning portion (upper and lower operation openings 301, 302, variable winning opening 303) through which winning balls are paid out when a game ball enters;
One or a plurality of discharge ball passages (out exit passage 334) through which the game balls pass through the discharge portion (out exit 304) that is discharged outside the game area without winning to the winning portion is provided,
Among the plurality of rear passages, the lowest rear passage located on the lowest side is the lowest winning ball passage (variable winning opening passage 333) constituting the winning ball passage,
A gaming machine characterized in that the one or more discharge ball passages are arranged at a position higher than the lowest winning ball passage.

According to the gaming machine having the feature A1, the prize winning section and the discharge ball passage can be preferably arranged within the game area. In other words, the lowest winning ball passage is located at the lowest side in the passage through which the game balls passing through the game area are discharged, and when the game balls pass through this lowest winning ball passage, the player is provided with a profit. As a result, the game balls flowing into the discharge ball passage are guided to the rear side of the game member at a position higher than the lowermost winning ball passage, so that the lost balls can be quickly transferred to a position where the player cannot visually recognize them.

In addition, when a game ball entering the lowermost winning ball passage can be visually recognized by the player, the player can visually recognize the falling of the game ball for a long period of time until reaching the lowermost rear passage, and the section in which the game ball behaves can be easily set long in the game area having a limited size.

Furthermore, by arranging the discharged ball passages in at least one of lateral directions with respect to the entrance of the prize winning portion corresponding to the bottom winning ball passage, the winning portion corresponding to the bottom winning ball passage can be set at a low position and a large space can be easily secured above it. As a result, it is possible to easily secure an installation area for a display device or decoration device that is easy for a player to pay attention to.

<Feature A2>
An operating member (operating body 342) that displaces between a first position (position corresponding to an open state) in which game balls can flow into the lowest winning ball passage and a second position (position corresponding to a closed state) in which game balls are difficult to flow into the lowest winning ball passage from the first position or cannot flow into the lowest winning ball passage is provided upstream from the entrance of the lowest winning ball passage.
The operating member has a game ball contact portion (plate portion 342b) that projects forward from the front surface of the game member at the first position, is capable of coming into contact with a game ball flowing down the game area, and guides the contacted game ball to the discharge ball passage side,
The game ball contact portion is formed longer in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction,
The gaming machine according to feature A1, wherein the action member is displaced between the first position and the second position by moving to the second position where the game ball contact portion is located on the rear side of the first position.

According to the gaming machine described in feature A2, since the movement range of the game ball contact portion in the motion member can be shortened in the vertical direction, it is possible to set a wide installation space for other components above the lowest prize winning ball passage, and it is possible to easily arrange functional components such as a game ball flow down area, a display part, and a decoration part.

<Feature A3>
The game machine according to feature A2, wherein a rear structure (rear unit 352) having the operation member, a driving means (solenoid 382) for operating the operation member, and a support member (rear base member 381) for movably supporting the operation member is attached to the game member from the rear side.

According to the game machine described in feature A3, the action member as a part of the rear structure attached from the rear side of the game member is arranged so as to protrude into the game area, and the driving means and support members required for the action of the action member can be attached so as to overlap the rear side of the game member. Therefore, it is easy to set the installation space of the operation member on the front side of the game member to be short in the vertical direction, and it is possible to set the installation space of other components wide around the winning part corresponding to the predetermined winning ball path. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate arrangement of functional parts such as a game ball flow-down area, a display section, and a decoration section.

<Feature A4>
The upper surface of the game ball contact portion is shaped to slope downward toward at least one side in the left-right direction,
The game machine according to feature A2 or A3, wherein at least one of the discharged ball passages is formed with an opening at the tip side in the direction of the downward inclination when viewed from the front of the game machine.

According to the gaming machine described in feature A4, the game ball that has reached the game ball abutting portion can be efficiently guided to the discharge ball passage, and the game ball that has not won a prize in the game area can be quickly discharged from the game area.

<Feature A5>
The gaming machine according to any one of features A1 to A4, characterized in that a bottom winning portion (variable winning port 303) corresponding to the bottom winning ball passage and a discharge ball passage into which game balls that reach the bottom winning portion but do not flow into the bottom winning ball passage are integrally formed by a passage forming body (front unit 351) attached to the front side of the game member.

According to the game machine described in feature A5, the lowest winning part and the discharged ball passage into which game balls that reach the lowest winning part but do not win a prize flow are integrally formed by a common passage forming body attached to the front side of the game member. Thus, the winning part corresponding to the lowermost winning ball passage is set at a low position to secure a wide area above the winning part, while making it easy to avoid the problem that the game balls stay in the connection part with other members around the discharged ball passage.

<Feature A6>
A front side member (front door frame 14) that is arranged on the front side of the game member and has a flat front side (visual recognition portion 30a) that covers the game area so that the player can visually recognize it, and an outer frame portion (lower electrical decoration portion 24) that projects forward from the visual recognition portion and surrounds the visual recognition portion.
The lowermost winning ball passage is arranged at a height position at least partially overlapping the rear side of the outer frame portion of the front side member,
The game machine according to any one of features A1 to A5, wherein the one or more discharged ball passages are arranged at a height position at least partly visible through the visual recognition portion from the front side of the game machine.

According to the game machine described in feature A6, since the lowermost winning ball passage is arranged at a position shifted from the visual recognition part, it is possible to easily secure a wide space overlapping with the rear side of the visual recognition part, and to facilitate the arrangement of the downflow area of the game balls, the functional parts, and the like. In addition, it becomes easy to set the upper end portion of the outer frame portion on the lower side of the visual recognition portion of the front side member relatively high, and it is possible to easily arrange the game ball storage portion, the shooting operation portion, the selection operation portion such as the push button, the decoration portion, etc. as functional parts provided on the lower side of the visual recognition portion of the front side member.

<Feature B1>
A game machine (pachinko machine 10) comprising a game member (game plate 23b) forming a game area on the front side where game balls flow down, and a plurality of guide passages for guiding game balls passing through the game area to outside the game area,
The plurality of guide passages include one or a plurality of winning ball passages (upper and lower operating opening passages 331 and 332, variable winning opening passage 333) through which a game ball that has won a winning portion (upper and lower operation openings 301, 302, variable winning opening 303) through which winning balls are paid out when a game ball enters,
One or a plurality of discharged ball passages (outlet passage 334) through which game balls discharged outside the game area pass without winning in the winning portion are provided,
On the upstream side from the entrance of a predetermined winning ball passage (variable winning ball passage 333) constituting the winning ball passage among the plurality of guide passages, there is an operation of displacing between a first position (position corresponding to an open state) in which game balls can flow into the predetermined winning ball passage (position corresponding to an open state) and a second position (position corresponding to a closed state) located behind the first position and in which it is difficult or impossible for game balls to flow into the predetermined winning ball passage from the first position. A member (operating body 342) is provided,
The operating member has a game ball contact portion (plate portion 342b) that projects forward from the front surface of the game member at the first position, is capable of coming into contact with a game ball flowing down the game area, and guides the contacted game ball to the discharge ball passage side,
A rear side structure (rear side unit 352) having the operation member, a driving means (solenoid 382) for operating the operation member, and a support member (rear side base member 381) for movably supporting the operation member is attached to the game member from the rear side,
A gaming machine characterized in that a front side support portion (front side support portion 324b) is provided on the front side of the game member to support the lower side of the game ball contact portion on the front side of the front side of the game member when the action member is arranged at the second position.

According to the game machine described in feature B1, the action member as a part of the rear structure attached from the rear side of the game member is arranged so as to protrude into the game area, and the drive means and support members necessary for the action of the action member can be attached so as to overlap the rear side of the game member. Therefore, it is easy to set the installation space of the operation member on the front side of the game member to be short in the vertical direction, and it is possible to set the installation space of other components wide around the winning part corresponding to the predetermined winning ball path. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate arrangement of functional parts such as a game ball flow-down area, a display section, and a decoration section.

Further, when the operating member is arranged at the second position, the lower side of the game ball contacting portion is supported by the front supporting portion. Therefore, even if a large load is applied to the game ball contact portion due to the contact of the game ball, the operating member can be configured to be less likely to be damaged. In particular, when the predetermined winning ball passage is the lowest winning ball passage installed below any of the discharge ball passages, there is a possibility that a large number of game balls will gather in the vicinity of the predetermined winning ball passage and cause ball clogging.

<Feature B2>
A partition portion (partition wall portion 324) that partitions the winning portion (variable winning port 303) corresponding to the predetermined winning ball passage and the entrance portion (out port 304) of the discharged ball passage to the left and right,
The operating member has an upper surface portion (plate portion 342b) that forms the game ball contact portion and continues in the left-right direction, and a side surface portion (operating body side wall portion 342a) that continues downward from the end portion in the left-right direction of the upper surface portion.
The gaming machine according to feature B1, wherein the partition portion has a side facing portion (side facing portion 324a) that is positioned outside the winning portion with respect to the side portion and faces the side portion (side facing portion 324a), and the front support portion that is continuous to the inside of the winning portion below the side facing portion and is formed to protrude below the side portion.

According to the gaming machine described in feature B2, the side facing portion and the front support portion of the partitioning portion are positioned on the outer side and the lower side of the side portion of the action member, respectively, and the movement of the action member to the outside and the lower side of the side portion is restricted. As a result, the structure supports the lower side of the game ball abutting part and prevents the downward deformation of the central portion of the action member in the left-right direction, so that each part of the action member can be properly arranged at a predetermined position even if the game ball is stagnated.

<Feature B3>
The gaming machine according to feature B1 or B2, further comprising an obstruction portion (obstruction portion 325c) provided at a position above the game ball contact portion and deviated from a position corresponding to the upper side of the partition portion so that a game ball flowing down the game area cannot contact a part of the game ball contact portion.

According to the game machine described in feature B3, in the game ball abutting part, it is possible to reduce the chances of the game ball coming into contact with the part away from the position where the lower side is supported from the partition part, so that the bending force applied to the operating member can be kept low, and the operating member can be prevented from being damaged.

<Characteristic group C>
A pachinko machine, which is a type of game machine, has a game board on which a game area in which game balls flow down is formed on the front side. The game board is provided with a variable prize winning device (a prize winning device) capable of allowing a game ball flowing down a game area to enter the prize winning port as required, and the prize winning device includes a prize winning port (a prize winning portion) which is an opening into which the game ball can enter, an operation member for displacing the winning port between a closed position and an open position, and a sensor for detecting the game ball entering the winning port. In a normal game state, the operating member is arranged in a closed position where game balls cannot win prizes, and when the game state becomes advantageous for the player (for example, a jackpot state), it is repeatedly displaced between an open position where game balls can easily win prizes and a normal closed position (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-239015).

However, when the winning hole is opened repeatedly, a state in which the operation member is temporarily arranged at the closed position occurs, and in this situation, the game ball reaching the winning hole passes through the front side of the winning hole and cannot enter the winning hole. In a game state advantageous to the player, the more the opening and closing of the prize winning port are repeated, the more the number of game balls that do not win a prize even when reaching the installation position of the prize winning port increases, and there is a possibility that the amount of useless game balls thrown in by the player increases.

<Feature C1>
A game machine comprising a game member (game plate 23b) forming a game area on the front side where game balls flow down, and a plurality of guide passages for guiding game balls passing through the game area to the outside of the game area,
The plurality of guide passages include one or a plurality of winning ball passages (upper and lower operating opening passages 331 and 332, variable winning opening passage 333) through which a game ball that has won a winning portion (upper and lower operation openings 301, 302, variable winning opening 303) through which winning balls are paid out when a game ball enters,
One or a plurality of discharged ball passages (outlet passage 334) through which game balls discharged outside the game area pass without winning in the winning portion are provided,
An operating member (operating body 342) is provided on the upstream side of the entrance of a predetermined winning ball passage that constitutes the winning ball passage among the plurality of guide passages and displaces between a first position (position corresponding to an open state) in which game balls can flow into the predetermined winning ball passage and a second position (position corresponding to a closed state) located behind the first position and in which it is difficult or impossible for game balls to flow into the predetermined winning ball passage from the first position. ,
The operating member has a game ball contact portion (plate portion 342b) that projects forward from the front surface of the game member at the first position, is capable of coming into contact with a game ball flowing down the game area, and guides the contacted game ball to the discharge ball passage side,
One or a plurality of ball guide members (nails 87, guide wall portion 323, upper wall portion 325) that form a passage for game balls are provided upstream of the game ball contact portion in the game area,
The game machine is characterized in that the ball guide member forms a path for a game ball capable of guiding the game ball in a direction in which the upper surface of the game ball contact portion is inclined upward with respect to the game ball contact portion.

According to the gaming machine described in the feature C1, it is possible to provide a gaming machine capable of efficiently winning a game ball to the winning portion. That is, at least part of the game ball guided to the game ball contact portion by the ball guide member, after contacting the game ball contact portion, once moves toward the upstream side of the game ball contact portion, then turns back and can be guided to the discharge ball passage. Therefore, the game balls are easily retained on the upper surface of the game ball abutting part of the operation member arranged at the first position, and a plurality of game balls are easily placed, so that the game balls are easily won in the winning part immediately after the operation member is moved to the second position. Therefore, in a game state (special game state) in which the number of game balls guided to the discharge ball passage side can be reduced and the game balls can be awarded to the prize winning portion, the game balls can be made to enter the prize winning portion efficiently.

The game ball passage capable of guiding the game ball in the direction in which the upper surface of the game ball contact portion rises and slopes may be configured so that at least a part of the game ball to be guided is guided in the direction in which the upper surface of the game ball contact portion rises and slopes.

<Feature C2>
At a position higher than the game ball contact portion, an upper surface passage portion (upper surface passage 335) that opens on the end side of the game ball contact portion and continues to the upstream side along the upper surface of the game ball contact portion is provided.
The game machine according to the feature C1, wherein the upper passage portion is configured so that a game ball passing through the game ball passage formed by the ball guide member can enter.

According to the game machine having the feature C2, since the game ball can enter the upper surface passage portion opened at the end portion side of the game ball contact portion, when the game ball once enters the upper surface passage portion and the game ball comes into contact with the game ball from the opening side of the upper surface passage portion, the game ball is pushed into the inner side of the upper surface passage portion. For this reason, it is possible to make it easier for the game ball to stay in the upper surface passage part, and to make it easier for the game ball to immediately win the winning part when the operation member moves to the second position.

It should be noted that the height width of the upper passage portion in the feature C2 is preferably set to a height width that does not allow the game balls to be piled up, specifically, it is set to a height width slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball. It is possible to easily widen the installation space of other parts in the vertical direction while ensuring that the game ball can easily enter the winning part.

<Feature C3>
The gaming machine according to feature C1 or C2, wherein the upper surface passage portion opens only on one side in the left-right direction and in the direction in which the upper surface of the game ball contact portion slopes downward, and the upstream portion of the upper surface passage portion is closed.

According to the game machine of feature C3, since the upstream part of the upper passage is closed, the game ball can be pushed into the upper passage and stay there by contacting the game ball from the opening side of the upper passage. Therefore, it is possible to make it easy for the game ball to stay in the upper surface passage part, and it is possible to make it easy for the game ball to immediately win the winning part when the operation member moves to the second position.

Note that "the upstream part of the upper passage is blocked" means a state in which a game ball cannot pass through, and includes a case where the space is completely partitioned, and a case where the space is partially open but the game ball cannot pass through the open part.

<Feature D1>
A game member (game plate 23b) that forms a game area on the front side where game balls flow down, and a front side member (front door frame 14) that is relatively movable with respect to the game member so that the front side of the game member can be opened. In a gaming machine having an enclosing outer frame portion (electrical decoration portion 24),
A predetermined prize winning portion (variable prize winning port 303) from which prize balls are paid out when a game ball enters;
an operating member (operating body 342) that changes the ease with which a game ball enters the predetermined winning portion;
One or a plurality of discharged ball passages (outlet passage 334) through which game balls discharged outside the game area pass without winning in the predetermined winning portion,
The operating member has a game ball contact portion (plate portion 342b) that projects forward from the front surface of the game member, is capable of coming into contact with a game ball flowing down the game area, and guides the contacted game ball to the discharge ball passage side,
The game ball contact portion is provided at a height position corresponding to the lower portion of the visual recognition portion, and is continuous in the direction along the outer shape of the visual recognition portion,
A gaming machine, wherein the predetermined prize-winning portion is arranged at a position where a downstream side of the entrance portion thereof overlaps a rear side of the outer frame portion of the front side member.

<Feature D2>
A winning detection unit that detects the winning of the game ball to the predetermined winning unit,
The game machine according to feature D1, wherein the win detection unit is provided on the front side of the front surface of the game member and on the rear side of the outer frame portion of the front side member.

According to the game machine described in the feature D2, since the inflow of the game balls into the predetermined winning part can be detected at an early stage, the ease of winning can be quickly switched at the timing when the game balls corresponding to the preset number of winning wins to the predetermined winning part. In addition, since the prize detection part is covered with the outer frame part of the front side member, the prize detection part does not need to be decorated, so that the prize part can be obtained at a low cost and with a good appearance. Furthermore, by moving the front side member with respect to the game member, the prize detection unit is exposed on the front side of the game member, so that inspection and replacement of the prize detection unit can be easily performed.

At least one of the features A1 to A6, features B1 to B3, C1 to C3, and features D1 and D2 may be applied in combination with any other feature or a plurality of features. The basic configuration of a gaming machine to which each of the features described above can be applied is shown below.

Pachinko game machine: A game machine comprising a shooting operation means operated by a player, a game ball shooting means for shooting a game ball based on the operation of the shooting operation means, a passage part for guiding the shot game ball to a predetermined game area, and each game part arranged in the game area, and giving a privilege to the player when the game ball passes through a predetermined passage part of these game parts.

As described above, the present invention is suitable for game machines such as pachinko machines.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Pachinko machine 14... Front door frame 23b... Game board 24... Electric decoration part 30a... Visual recognition part 87... Nail 301, 302... Upper and lower operation openings 303... Variable winning opening 304... Out opening 323... Guide wall part 324... Partition wall part 325... Upper wall part 324a... Side facing part 324b... Front support part 325c... Obstacle part , 331, 332... Upper and lower working opening passages 333... Variable winning opening passages 334... Out opening passages 335... Upper surface passages 342... Operating body 342a... Operating body side wall portion 342b... Plate portion 351... Front side unit 352... Rear side unit 381... Rear side base member 382... Solenoid

Claims (1)

A game machine comprising: a game member forming a game area on the front side, through which game balls flow down; and a plurality of rear passages through which the game balls pass through the game area toward the rear side of the game member,
In the plurality of rear passages, one or a plurality of winning ball passages through which winning game balls pass to a winning portion where winning balls are paid out when the game balls enter;
One or a plurality of discharge ball passages through which game balls pass through the discharge portion that is discharged outside the game area without winning in the winning portion are provided,
The lowest winning ball passage located on the lowest side among the plurality of winning ball passages is the lowest winning ball passage,
On the front side of the game member, a visual recognition portion with a flat front side covering the game area so that the player can visually recognize it, and an outer frame portion protruding forward with respect to the visual recognition portion and constituting a portion surrounding the visual recognition portion.
The viewing portion is formed by a window member attached so as to cover from the rear side a window portion having an opening surrounded by the outer frame portion,
A front side member is configured by attaching the window member to a frame member having the outer frame portion, an operation portion for performing a predetermined operation by a player, and a ball storage portion for storing game balls,
The front side member is provided to be movable relative to the game member so as to open the front side of the game member,
The lowermost winning ball passage is arranged at a height position where at least a portion thereof overlaps a rear side of a portion of the frame member,
A game machine, wherein the one or more discharged ball passages are arranged at a height position at least a part of which is visible from the front side of the game machine through the visual recognition portion.

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