JP2537103B2 - Amusement machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a game device in which a game is played using a game medium, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the game medium is paid out as a reward, for example.

(Problems of the prior art) Recently, in this type of game device, a device in which a special game state in which the amount of game media to be paid out is concentrated and becomes large at a time has become mainstream, so this special game state When the game starts or is expected to start, the player himself runs for a ball box as a so-called game medium storage container for storing the game medium, or a store clerk of the game store brings it. Was there.

However, such an order for a game medium storage container, that is, a ball box, during the game cannot be absorbed in the game because of the arrangement, and the special game state may be missed. There was the inconvenience that the continuation of the gaming state was cut off.

For this reason, some amusement stores have a special watchman for the appearance of a special game state, and a special staff member for handing out a ball box to the lucky player who caused it. .

The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving such a problem.

(Structure of the invention) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is a game device in which a game is played using a game medium, and the game medium is paid out when a predetermined condition is satisfied. Game medium storing means (15A) capable of storing the above-mentioned game medium
And a storage container accommodating portion (22) capable of accommodating a game medium stored in the game medium storage means or a game medium storage container (22) capable of storing a game medium overflowed when the game medium storage means is full ( 20), a storage container detection means (40) capable of detecting the storage state of the game medium storage container in the storage container storage portion, and the storage state of the game medium storage container by a detection signal from the storage container detection means. A notification means (15D) for notifying the player is provided, and the notification means notifies the player of the presence / absence of the game medium storage container.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings showing an example of the embodiment.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 is a machine frame that surrounds the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the machine body of the game machine in a rectangular shape, and 11 is a front plate attached so as to cover the front opening side of the machine frame 10. is there. The outer shell of the gaming device 10 is composed of the machine frame 10 and the front plate 11. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the back side of the machine frame 10 is a back plate 10E.
The outer shell may be covered with.

The front plate 11 of the embodiment is detachably attached to the left frame 10A of the machine frame 10 via a hinge so that the right side of the machine frame 10 can be opened as an open end.

The size of the machine frame 10 excluding the depth width and the hinged means of the front plate 11 with respect to the machine frame 10 are substantially the same as those of the pachinko machine.

The front plate 11 of this embodiment covers the front open side of the machine frame 10. At the lower part of the front plate 11, a substantially rectangular window portion 21 is opened.

The window portion 21 is a window for inserting a ball box 22 as a game medium storage container that receives a ball as a game medium into the container portion 20 as a storage container storage portion provided on the machine frame 10 side.

The ball box 22 shown in the embodiment as a game medium storage container has a large capacity capable of sufficiently storing the number of balls discharged in a single time, for example, about 3000 balls discharged with the maximum bonus. The ball box 22 will be described later.

In the embodiment, the mouth of the window portion 21 provided on the machine casing 10 side has a width of about half the width of the machine casing 10 and a width of the machine casing 10 in the embodiment.
It is approximately a quarter of the vertical width of 10, and is formed in a rectangular shape in which the lower side of the front plate 11 is cut out.

However, this is an example, and the width and the height of the ball box 22 are set according to the capacity of the box 22.

In particular, the lateral width may be formed to be the inner width of the machine frame 10 or the full width of the front plate 11.

On the surface of the front plate 11, there are an information display unit 12 for displaying game information, a game display unit 13 that is the main body of the game, an operation unit 14 for playing a game, a ball supply unit 15, etc.
It is arranged intensively on the upper side.

In this way, the windows 21 are arranged intensively so that the window 21 of the storage portion 20 as a storage container storage portion described later can be largely opened on the lower side of the front plate 11.

This game device includes an information display unit 12, a game display unit 13, and an operation unit.
By consolidating 14 and the supply tray 15 and the like on the upper side of the front plate 11, a large space is secured on the lower side of the front frame 11 and the lower part of the machine frame 10.

According to the embodiment, first, the game information section 12 is arranged on the uppermost side of the surface of the front plate 11 and occupies a horizontally long area having a width of about 1/7 of the vertical width of the front plate 11.

Various information displays, for example, a pilot lamp, a stop lamp, a bonus lamp, a large bonus lamp, etc. are arranged in this area.

Next, the game display section 13 is arranged below the game information section 12, and occupies a horizontally long area having a width of about one fourth of the vertical width of the front plate 11.

In this area, a display portion 51 of the variable display means 50 and related devices of the variable display means 50 are arranged, and necessary displays are provided.

The variable display means 50 of the embodiment has a configuration in which a plurality of rotating drums (three in the embodiment) having symbols on the outer peripheral surface are arranged in the lateral direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the variable display means 50 is attached to the front plate 11 from the rear side thereof, and a part of the peripheral surface of each rotary drum (hereinafter, this part is referred to as a display part 51) is formed in the front plate 11. The window is exposed to the front side of the front plate 11.

It is desirable that this display portion correspond to the position of the eyes of the player.

Reference numeral 53 in the figure is a betting line drawn on a visible window 52 (see FIG. 2) that covers the rotating drums, and determines a combination of symbols displayed on each rotating drum, that is, a combination direction to be bet. It is shown.

At the end of the betting line 53, letters of 1 mode, 2 mode and 3 mode indicating grades are given.

Further, reference numeral 54 in the figure is a display lamp showing a line for which a bet has been made.

Next, the operation unit 14 is arranged below the game display unit 13,
It occupies a horizontally long region having a width of about one seventh of the vertical width of the front plate 11.

In this area, grade selection means for selecting the number of betting units, start means for simultaneously starting the rotary drums, stop means for stopping the rotary drums, and the like are provided.

In the figure, reference numerals 14A to 14C are grade selection buttons as grade selection means, 14D are start levers as start means, and 14E to G are stop buttons as stop means.

The stop buttons 14E to 14G are provided so as to correspond to the rotating drums so as to individually stop the rotating drums.

In the embodiment, the grade selection buttons 14A to 14C include a button 14A for selecting the number of 1 unit balls (for example, 5) which is the minimum unit of the number of balls to be bet, and a number of 2 unit balls (one unit number is 5). There are three types of buttons, 14B for selecting 10 pieces) and 14C for selecting 3 unit spheres (15 if 1 unit sphere is 5).

The selection of the button 14A means that the number of balls to be bet is one unit and the betting line 53 for judging whether or not the prize mode is established is one horizontal line in the center shown in one mode.

Similarly, when the button 14B is selected, the number of balls to be bet is 2 units, and the betting line 53 for determining whether or not the prize mode is established is a horizontal line in the center shown in 1 mode and 2 modes and horizontal lines above and below the total of 3 lines. It means that it is a book, and the selection of the button 14C means that the number of balls to be bet is 3 units, and the betting line 53 for judging whether or not the prize mode is established is the three horizontal lines shown in 1 mode, 2 mode and 3 mode. And 2 diagonal lines means a total of 5 lines.

Next, the ball supply unit 15 is arranged below the operation unit 14,
It occupies a horizontally long region having a width of about one seventh of the vertical width of the front plate 11.

In this area, a supply plate 15A is provided as a game medium storing means for receiving the game medium to be paid out to the player and storing the game medium to be supplied into the game device.

Reference numeral 15A in the figure is a supply plate projecting from the front plate 11, and 15B is a front plate for guiding prize balls from inside the machine to the supply plate 15A.
11 is a prize ball discharge port, and 15C is the number of balls for at least one unit (5) which is taken in from the supply tray 15A into the ball taking-in device 35 (see FIG. 2) attached to the back surface of the front plate 11. It is a visible window that is opened so that you can see

Further, reference numeral 15D detects the presence / absence state of the storage container installed in the storage container storage portion when the ball box 22 as the game medium storage container is not set in a predetermined position, that is, the storage container storage portion. It is a notification means for notifying the player that there is no storage container based on the detection signal from the storage container detection means, and is a warning lamp that lights up in the embodiment. This warning lamp will also be described later.

As described above, the various devices arranged on the surface of the front plate 11 are brought close to the upper side of the front plate 11 so that the window portion 21 as described above can be largely opened under the front plate 11.

Next, various devices arranged on the back surface of the front plate 11 will be described.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, on the back surface of the front plate 11, a set of rotary drums as the variable display means 50 is attached at the center slightly above the back surface.

Reference numeral 34 in the figure is a case accommodating the variable display means 50.

The storage tank 30 is attached to the upper side of the back surface of the front plate 11, that is, above the case 34.

The storage tank 30 is for storing the pachinko balls paid out as prize balls.

On the back surface of the front plate 11 between the storage tank 30 and the case 34, a guide gutter 31 for guiding the prize balls from the storage tank 30 is arranged in the lateral direction, and the prize balls are discharged to the lower end of the discharge gutter 31. The device 32 is installed.

The prize ball discharging device 32 normally closes the lower end of the derived gutter 31 and opens the lower end of the derived gutter 31 in accordance with the combination of the symbols of the variable display means 50 appearing according to the game result, and the predetermined number. The prize ball of the player is passed through the prize ball discharge gutter 33A (supply plate 1
Pay out to 5A).

Also, when removing the balls in the game device (balls remaining in the storage tank 30 or the outflow gutter 31) when the store is closed, open the lower end of the outflow gutter 31, and through the ball outflow gutter 38 to the island. Collect it to the collection mechanism.

Such an operation of the prize ball discharging device 32 is performed by the back plate 10 of the machine casing 10.
This is performed by a command from the central control unit 37 mounted on E (Fig. 3).

The prize ball discharge gutter 33A bypasses the prize ball discharge device 32 to the side of the case 34 to the supply plate 15A, more specifically, the prize ball discharge port 15B formed in the front plate 11 to pass the prize ball to the supply plate 15A. (Opening on the back side of the front plate 11 of the prize ball discharge tray 15B).

The upstream end of the overflow gutter 33B is connected to the discharge gutter 33A via an overflow device near the opening on the rear surface side of the front plate 11 of the prize ball discharge port 15B.

This overflow gutter 33B, when the supply plate 15A is full of prize balls as a game medium, the prize balls flowing down from the prize ball discharge gutter 33A are placed in the storage unit 20 described below, that is, a storage container storage unit. It is for leading to the medium container 22.

The ball drop trough 38 extends downward from the prize ball discharging device 32 along the back surface of the front plate 11, and the lower end of the flow is the front plate 11.
When is closed, it faces the recovery port 61 provided inside the machine frame so as to lead to the island recovery mechanism 60.

The recovery port 61 is located between the frame body 24 of the storage unit 20 and the left frame 10B of the machine frame 10, which will be described later, and is opened in the lower frame 10A.

On the rear surface of the front plate 11 below the case 34, a ball capturing device 35
Is attached. The ball capturing device 35 is for capturing the number of pachinko balls flowing down into the machine from the supply tray 15A on the surface of the front plate 11 into the machine by the number of unit balls selected by the grade selecting means. The balls captured by the capturing device 35 are collected gutters.
After passing through 36, it is flowed to the above-mentioned ball-removing trough 38, and is recovered from the recovery port 61 to the island recovery mechanism 60.

In this embodiment, the variable display means 50 and the storage tank 30 are arranged on the back surface of the front plate 11, but the invention is not limited to this.
It may be arranged on the inner side of 10.

Next, the storage section 20 as the storage container storage section will be described.

The storage unit 20 as the storage container storage unit of the present embodiment is provided so that the ball box 22 as the game medium storage container can be inserted into the machine frame 10 through the window 21 of the front plate 11.

Therefore, the storage unit 20 of the embodiment is a ball box set therein (when the ball box portion is inserted into the machine, the portion to be inserted, and when the ball box 22 is entirely inserted, Is a box that covers the entire ball box).
It divides the space occupied by and the other cabin space.

Such a storage unit 20 is effective for eliminating various misconducts against various devices inside the aircraft through the window portion 21 that leads to the outside of the aircraft, in addition to securing a storage place for the ball box 22. Not only this, but also to prevent balls or the like spilled from the ball box 22 housed in the storage section 20 from falling into the clearance space in the machine frame 10.

The storage section 20 is provided with an overflow outlet 39 for dropping the prize balls flowing down from the overflow gutter 33B into the ball box 22 set in the storage section 20.

The storage unit 20 of the embodiment uses the inner bottom surface of the lower frame 10A constituting the machine frame 10 as a bottom surface for mounting the ball box 22.
A frame 24 is provided on the bottom surface to surround the upper, left, right and back surfaces of the ball box 22 to form the storage section 20.

The overflow outlet 39 is provided on the upper surface of the frame 24.
Is provided. The overflow discharge port 39 must be opened at a position facing the lower end of the overflow gutter 33B disposed on the back surface of the front plate 11 when the front plate 11 is closed.

The opening edge of the frame body 24 facing the rear surface side of the front plate 11 is the same size as the mouth of the window portion 21 or other size, and the opening edge is
In order to prevent cheating, it is desirable that the front plate 11 is formed so as to be in close contact with the back surface or the edge of the window 21 when the front plate 11 is closed.

By configuring the storage portion 20 in this manner, the front plate
With the box 11 closed, the ball box 22 can be taken in and out of the storage section 20 through the window section 21.

The width of the lower frame 10A shown in the embodiment is expanded in the front direction, that is, in the direction in which the player is located, over a region corresponding to the length of the window 21 in the left-right direction.

This is because by expanding the bottom surface of the storage portion 20 (in this case, a part of the inner bottom surface of the lower frame 10A) to the front of the window portion 21, a spherical box 22 having a large bottom area and therefore a large capacity can be placed. This is because

Thereby, the ball box 22 having a larger capacity can be placed.

In the embodiment, the lower frame 10 is used as the bottom surface of the storage unit 20.
Although A is used, it is not limited to this and the frame body 2 has a bottom surface.
The 4 may be provided above the lower frame 10A.

Next, the ball box 22 as a game medium storage container will be described.

The ball box 22 shown in the embodiment has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open upper side, and an opening edge portion thereof has a flange portion 22A for facilitating transportation.

Further, an elastic member 22B such as rubber or sponge is laid on the inner bottom surface of the elastic member 22B, thereby alleviating the impact and noise of the ball at the time of inflow.

It is desirable that the ball box 22 is formed of a transparent material so that the amount of stored balls can be visually recognized at a glance.

3 and 9 are ball boxes as game media storage containers.
The state where 22 is stored in the storage unit 20 as a storage container storage unit is shown.

The ball box 22 shown in this example is from the window 21 of the storage section 20 to the ball box 22.
The size of a part of the is projected.

When forming a ball box 22 of such a size, the window
The size of the ball box 22 protruding from the opening 21 should be such that the player's hand can easily insert it into the ball box 22.

This is because the player can grasp the ball from the ball box 22 without pulling out the ball box 22 with the ball box 22 stored in the storage section 20.

Further, when the ball box 22 is formed to have a size protruding from the window 21, it is desirable that the left and right lengths of the ball box 22 be slightly shorter than the left and right lengths of the storage section 20.

If the left and right lengths of the ball box 22 are substantially equal to the left and right lengths of the storage section 20, the front plate 11 with the ball box 22 stored is 11
Because it will be impossible to open.

The front plate 11 is opened and closed relatively frequently not only at the time of maintenance and inspection before the opening of the store or after the closing of the store, but also during the game in order to eliminate ball clogging and malfunction of the game device.

In such a case, the front panel must be opened without removing the ball box 22 one by one.
If 11 cannot be opened and closed, the work is extremely complicated.

In order to eliminate such inconvenience, in the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the left and right lengths of the ball box 22 are made slightly shorter than those of the storage section 20, and the ball box 22 is attached to the front plate 11. A gap L is provided between the right outer edge of the ball box 22 and the inner edge of the window 21 against the center of rotation (on the left side in the figure) so as not to interfere with the opening and closing of the front plate 11. There is.

The front plate 11 is not provided until the gap L is provided.
Can be opened and closed.

The larger the outer edge of the ball box 22 projects from the window portion 21, the larger the gap L needs to be secured.

This point can be easily understood from the locus drawn by the left outer edge of the window portion 21 during the opening operation shown in FIG.

In order to ensure such a gap L at all times, it is desirable to provide a positioning member 23 on the bottom surface of the storage portion 20 as shown in FIG.

In the embodiment shown in the same figure, the positioning member 24 is further provided on the front edge side of the bottom surface to define the position of the ball box 22 in the depth direction, and the ball box 22 cooperates with the positioning member 23.
The mounting position of is surely determined.

By this positioning, collision with the front plate 11 due to the positional deviation of the ball box 22 is avoided, and the front plate 11 can be smoothly opened and closed.

In addition, the above-mentioned gap L is so large that the ball box 22 is formed so as to protrude from the window portion 21, and the front plate 11 can be opened with the ball box 22 housed. is there.

Therefore, when the spherical box 22 having a size that does not protrude from the window portion 21 is used, it is not necessary to provide the gap L as described above.

In this case, the height of the window 21 is set higher than the height of the ball box 22 so that the ball can be moved in and out with the ball box 22 stored. The player's hand may be inserted from between the edge of the ball box 22 and the edge of the ball box 22.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the storage unit is used as the storage container storage unit.
Although 20 is formed integrally with the game device 10, it is not limited to this, and may be separately provided as long as it has a place where a game medium storage container capable of storing a game medium can be placed. good.

Next, a storage container detecting means for detecting the presence / absence state of the game medium storage container (ball box) 22 in the storage container storage portion (storage portion) 20 will be described.

If the prize balls overflow and are discharged when the ball box 22 is not set in the storage unit 20, the prize balls discharged into the storage unit 20 will fly out from the window 21 and be scattered in the store.

In order to avoid such an inconvenience, the embodiment is provided with a storage container detecting means for detecting whether or not the ball box 22 is set in the storage section 20, that is, the presence / absence state of the ball box 22.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which a micro switch is used as the container detecting means. This is because the actuator 40 of the micro switch is faced to the bottom of the storage section 20,
The switch is operated depending on the presence or absence of the load of 22.

For example, if the actuator 40 is not loaded, the switch will close.

2 and 5 show an example in which an optical sensor is used as the storage container detecting means.

This is provided with a reflection type sensor 41A composed of a light emitting and receiving element on the side of the frame 24 which is a storage part, and a ball box 22 corresponding to the opposite side.
A reflective plate 41B corresponding to the reflective sensor 41A is provided on the side surface of the.

In the embodiment, the storage container detecting means as described above is provided to detect the presence / absence state of the storage container (ball box) 22.

It should be noted that the storage container detection means does not necessarily have to be arranged in the game device 10, and the arrangement position thereof does not matter as long as it can detect whether or not the game medium storage container is in the storage container storage portion.

Further, when the ball box 22 is not in a predetermined position, a warning lamp 15D as a notification means provided on the surface of the front plate 11 is provided.
By illuminating, the player is visually informed that the ball box is not placed.

Further, in the device of the embodiment, when the central control device 37 receives the output signal (detection signal) judged to be undetected from the container detecting means without the ball box 22, the prize ball discharging operation of the prize ball discharging device 32. Is provided with a control means for controlling so as to stop the progress state of the game.

In this way, by stopping the operation of the prize ball discharging device 32, it is possible to reliably prevent the inconvenience such as the scattering of prize balls caused by the discharge of prize balls.

Next, a game on the gaming machine shown in the embodiment will be briefly described.

First, the player selects an arbitrary grade selection button, such as 14B
When is pressed, the balls of the supply tray 15A are automatically taken into the machine by the ball take-in device 35, and when the start lever 14D is pushed down, the rotary drums are simultaneously rotated to start the game.

Next, the stop buttons 14E to 14G are pressed in any order to stop the respective rotary drums.

When all the rotating drums are stopped and the game ends, the central control unit 37 (second
If it is established, the number of prize balls according to the prize mode is paid out to the player.

The prize balls are derived from the storage tank 30, the gutter 31, the prize ball discharging device 3
2, through the prize ball discharge gutter 33A, first discharged to the supply plate 15A,
When the supply tray 15A becomes full, it is discharged from the overflow discharge port 39 of the storage section 20 to the ball box 22 through the overflow gutter 33B.

Therefore, as in the conventional case, with the occurrence of a right such as a large bonus as a special game state, the player can run for a ball box to receive prize balls obtained from this, or overflow to receive a saucer (in the embodiment, supply While taking out the prize balls accumulated one by one (which also serves as the plate 15A), it is possible to solve the inconvenience of having to proceed with the game of generating a large bonus right, etc., while the player is satisfied with the generation of a large bonus right. , You can concentrate on the game while fully enjoying the joy of the profit obtained by this right generation without the troublesome ball transfer work, and you can challenge the maximum profit.

(Effects of the Invention) In the present invention, a game medium storage means is provided to allow the storage of the game medium to be dispensed, and the balls are automatically taken into the game device from the storage means. The game can be smoothly advanced using the game media stored here without touching the hand.

Moreover, when the game medium stored in the game medium storing means overflows or when the game medium stored therein is returned to the player, the game medium is stored in the game medium storage container. There is no need to separately bring the storage container at hand like.

Therefore, when the excitement of the game has reached its climax due to the appearance of a special game state, etc., the player temporarily suspends the game and runs extra to collect the game medium storage container (ball box). There is no need to do it, and the player can concentrate on special games without hesitation.

On the other hand, on the side of the game store, it is not necessary to keep watch of the appearance of the special game state and to arrange a special person to distribute the game medium storage container (ball box) to the player who has generated the special game state.

Further, in the present invention, since the notification means for notifying the player of the presence or absence of the game medium storage container is provided, the player can easily know the presence or absence thereof, and the arrangement of the game medium storage container before the game can be arranged. It can be done smoothly.

Therefore, there is almost no possibility that the game will be started without preparing the game medium storage container, and even if the game medium is started, the game medium storing means can temporarily cope with the game medium to be paid out. It is possible to prevent scandals from spilling out of the device and being scattered inside the game store.

Further, in the present invention, the control means for stopping the game progress state can stop the progress of the game itself when there is no game medium storage container.

Furthermore, in the present invention, when the player carries the game medium to the prize exchange, or when the game apparatus is moved while carrying a large amount of game medium, the player can carry the game medium storage container. It is extremely convenient.

[Brief description of drawings]

Drawing shows one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front side perspective view of a gaming machine, FIG. 2 is a perspective view with a front plate opened, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the gaming machine. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a mounting state of a ball box, and FIG. 5 is a front side perspective view of a gaming machine as another embodiment. 10 …… Machine frame, 11 …… Front plate 12 …… Information display part, 13 …… Game display part, 14 …… Operating part 15 …… Ball supply part 15A …… Supply tray (game medium storage means) 15B …… Prize ball discharge port, 15C …… Visible window 15D …… Warning lamp (informing means) 20 …… Storage part (storage container storage part) 22 …… Ball box (game medium storage container), 23 …… Positioning member 37… ... Central control unit (control means) 39 ... Overflow outlet 40 ... Micro switch (storage container detection means) 41A ... Reflective sensor (storage container detection means) 41B ... Reflector plate (storage container detection means) L ... …gap

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A game device for playing a game using a game medium and paying out the game medium when a predetermined condition is met, wherein a game medium storing means capable of storing the game medium in a predetermined portion of the game device. And a storage container accommodating portion capable of accommodating a game medium stored in the game medium storage means or a game medium storage container capable of storing a game medium overflowed when the game medium storage means is full, and the storage A storage container detection means capable of detecting the storage state of the game medium storage container in the container storage portion, and an informing means for notifying the player of the storage state of the game medium storage container by a detection signal from the storage container detection means. A gaming device having the notifying means for notifying the player of the presence / absence of the game medium storage container. 2. The game device according to claim 1, further comprising control means for stopping the game progress state when the storage container detection means detects a non-state of the game medium storage container. .