JP2945662B1 - Game machine and its driving device - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a player with a sense of a jackpot by temporarily increasing the number of gaming bodies such as medals pushed by a pusher table and pushed down to a falling port. SOLUTION: This game machine includes a pusher table 20 movably provided in a predetermined direction on a board on which medals as game bodies are stored, and a driving device 30 for reciprocatingly driving the pusher table 20 in the predetermined direction. In addition, the driving amount of the pusher table 20 by the driving device 30 can be changed. The retreating operation of the pusher table 20 increases the number of medals scraped off from the upper surface of the pusher table 20, or increases the distance that medals accumulated on the board are pushed out by the pusher table 20, and pushes many medals off the board. To pay out a large amount of medals to the player at one time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine which pushes out a game body such as a medal accumulated on a board with a pusher table and pays out the game body pushed down from a predetermined drop to a player. The present invention relates to a driving device suitable for use in a machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A medal as a game body accumulated on a board is pushed out by a pusher table moving along the board, and some of the medals fall down by utilizing a ball-throwing phenomenon of the medals caused by the pushing operation. 2. Description of the Related Art A medal game machine that pays out to a player by dropping into a mouth is known.
In this type of medal game machine, the drive amount of the pusher table is constant.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned pusher game machine, the number of medals that can be obtained at one time is small, and it is difficult to give a so-called jackpot feeling to the player.
In order to solve such a drawback, a medal game machine which pays out a large amount of medals on the board when a certain condition is satisfied in the game and temporarily increases the number of medals pushed down to a medal fall opening has been developed. Has been put to practical use.
However, even if the medals are paid out on the pusher table, if the medals do not fall on the board, the number of medals pushed down from the medal drop opening does not increase so much.

An object of the present invention is to provide a game machine capable of temporarily increasing the number of game objects to be paid out such as medals by means different from the conventional one to give a player a sense of a jackpot, and a drive device suitable for the game machine. And

[0005]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are added in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pusher table (20) provided movably in a predetermined direction on a board on which game bodies are stored, and a driving device (30) for reciprocatingly driving the pusher table in the predetermined direction. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a game machine comprising: a driving device that can change a driving amount of the pusher table by the driving device.

When the drive amount of the pusher table is increased, the number of game bodies scraped off from the upper surface of the pusher table by the retreating operation of the pusher table increases, or the game bodies accumulated on the board are pushed out by the pusher table. The distance increases. Therefore, a large number of game bodies can be paid out to the player at once by pushing more game bodies from the board surface.

[0008] In the second aspect of the present invention, in the game machine according to the first aspect, the game body on the one side in the predetermined direction with respect to the pusher table falls for paying out the game body on the board to the player. A mouth (23) is provided on the other side with a scraper (22) for scraping the game body on the pusher table onto the board surface, and a drive amount of the pusher table to the scraper side can be changed. And Therefore, a large amount of the game bodies accumulated on the pusher table are scraped off on the board surface, and then when the pusher table approaches the drop hole of the game body, a large amount of the game bodies are pushed out through the scraped game bodies. Can be pushed down to the fall of the game.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the game machine of the second aspect, an illuminating means (43) for illuminating an area of the board surface covered with the pusher table from below is provided, and the scraper of the pusher table is provided. When the driving amount to the side is largely switched, the lighting by the lighting means is started in conjunction with the switching. According to the present invention, when the pusher table retreats largely toward the scraper, an effect is produced such that light gradually leaks onto the board surface as the pusher table retreats. Thereby, the player's interest can be strongly attracted to the pusher table.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the game machine according to the second or third aspect, the game body dropped from the collection port of the game body on the board is stored, and the stored game body is paid to the upper surface of the pusher table. A hopper (26) for dispensing, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the game, the hopper dispenses the game body to the upper surface of the pusher table and increases the driving amount of the pusher table to the scraper side. Let it. According to the present invention, since the pusher table is largely driven to the scraper side after the game bodies are paid out on the pusher table, a large number of game bodies are surely scraped off from the pusher table to the board to provide a large amount of game play to the player. You can pay out your body without fail.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the game machine according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the drive amount to the scraper (22) is increased to increase the pusher table (2).
When the pusher table is moved to the drop port (23) side of the game body after retracting the pusher table to the scraper side, the drive amount is returned to the state before the increase. Therefore, the drive amount of the pusher table is increased only when the game body is scraped off from the pusher table onto the board surface, and the extent to which the pusher table approaches the drop port of the game body is kept constant.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the game machine of any one of the first to third aspects, when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the game, the drive amount of the pusher table is increased. Here, the predetermined condition may be variously changed according to the content of the game. For example, in the invention according to claim 7, in the game machine according to any one of claims 4 to 6, between the game object insertion port (7) and the upper surface of the pusher table, the game object is inserted from the game object insertion port. A game object passing space (11) through which the game object passes is provided, and a plurality of check points (12) for detecting the passage of the game object are provided in the game object passing space.
a to 12g), and the predetermined condition is defined in association with the passage or non-passage of the game body to each of the plurality of check points.

The invention according to claim 8 is that the pusher table (20) is provided so as to be movable in a predetermined direction on a board on which the game bodies are stored, a motor (31) for generating a driving force of the pusher table, An arm (33) connected to an output shaft (31a) of the motor and driven to rotate around the output shaft; and connecting the arm and the pusher table to rotate the arm to the predetermined position. Transmission means (3)
The above-mentioned object is attained by a game machine comprising: 7) wherein the arm length between a connection position between each of the output shaft and the transmission means and the arm can be changed.

According to the present invention, when the arm length is changed, the radius of the circular movement around the motor output shaft generated at the connection position between the arm and the transmission means changes. By transmitting the displacement in the predetermined direction included in the circular motion to the pusher table, the drive amount of the pusher table changes according to the arm length.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the game machine of the eighth aspect, the arm is configured such that the arm length switches according to a rotation direction of the motor.
In this case, the drive amount of the pusher table can be changed only by switching the rotation direction of the motor.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the game machine of the eighth aspect, the first and second arm members (34A, 34B) are rotatably connected to each other at a predetermined connection point (35). ), The first arm member (34A) is rotationally driven by the motor (31) about a fulcrum away from the connection point, and the second arm member (34B) is separated from the connection point. The first arm member is engageable with the second arm member on one side (38) thereof.

According to the present invention, when the motor is rotated in one direction, one side of the first arm member is engaged with one side of the second arm member, and when the motor is rotated in the opposite direction, the first arm is rotated. The member rotates with respect to the second arm member such that one side engages the opposite side of the second arm member. As a result, the connecting point of the two arm members moves between the rotation center of the first arm member and the transmission means side and the opposite side, and accordingly, the transmission point moves from the rotation center of the first arm member to the transmission means. The arm length to the connection position with the second arm member changes.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the game machine of the tenth aspect, the arm (33) rotates in a posture in which the connecting point is located on the opposite side of the transmitting means with respect to the fulcrum, and the rotation thereof is performed. With the pusher table (2
An arm sensor (40) is provided for detecting the rotation of the first arm member while (0) is approaching the drop port (23) of the predetermined game body.

When the connecting point is located on the opposite side of the transmitting means with respect to the fulcrum, the arm length is short, and in this state, the arm sensor is turned to the first position while the arm is rotating. When the rotation direction of the first arm member is reversed when the first arm member is detected, the first arm member rotates relatively around the connection point with respect to the second arm member, and the arm length is reduced. To increase. When the rotation of the first arm member is further continued in this state, the pusher table is driven to be larger in the direction opposite to the moving direction up to that point, that is, in the direction away from the falling port of the game body. Therefore, a large amount of the game bodies on the pusher table can be scraped off on the board as in the second aspect.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the game machine of the eleventh aspect, the arm sensor (40) detects the first position immediately before the pusher table (20) comes closest to the drop port (23) of the game body. The arm member is detected. Therefore, it is possible to strongly impress the player that the pusher table is largely retreated from the fall port of the game body and the driving amount is increased. At the time when the arm length increases, the pusher table is approaching the drop port side of the game body, so pay out and store the game bodies on the upper surface, and store those game bodies by the expanded retreat operation of the pusher table. It can be reliably scraped off to the board surface.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the game machine according to the eleventh or twelfth aspect, when a predetermined condition is not satisfied in the game, the connection point (35) is connected to the fulcrum by the transmission means (37). The arm (33) is rotated in a posture located on the opposite side of the first arm member (34), and when the predetermined condition is satisfied, the arm (33) responds to rotation detection of the first arm member (34A) by the arm sensor (40). A control means (50) for controlling the rotation operation of the motor (31) so as to switch the rotation direction of the motor (31) is provided. Therefore,
As described above, the pusher table can be largely driven in a direction away from the falling port of the game body.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the game machine of the thirteenth aspect, the rotation direction of the motor (31) is changed in response to rotation detection of the first arm member (34A) by the arm sensor (40). A table sensor (46) for detecting the pusher table when the pusher table (20) moves by a predetermined amount in a direction away from the drop port (23) of the game body after the switching; ) Switches the rotation direction of the motor in response to the detection of the pusher table by the table sensor.

According to this invention, when the arm length increases and the pusher table retreats from the dropping hole of the game body more than usual, the pusher table is detected by the table sensor, and the rotation direction of the motor is accordingly adjusted. Is switched to shorten the arm length. Therefore, the next time the pusher table approaches the fall port of the game body, the pusher table does not approach the fall port of the game body more than necessary.

In the invention of claims 8 to 14, the transmission means is rotatably connected to the arm and movable with respect to the pusher table in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction. A combined slider (37) can be provided. The slider may be a roller, for example.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a driving device (30) for reciprocatingly driving a moving body (20) provided on a board of a game machine in a predetermined direction, and generates a driving force of the moving body. And a conversion mechanism (32) for converting the rotational motion of the motor into a reciprocating motion of the moving body in the predetermined direction, the conversion mechanism corresponding to the rotation direction of the motor. By a driving device of the game machine configured to be able to change the driving amount of the moving body in the predetermined direction,
The above-mentioned problem is solved.

According to the present invention, similarly to the ninth aspect, the driving amount of the moving body such as the pusher table can be switched only by switching the rotation direction of the motor.

An invention according to claim 18 is a driving device (30) for reciprocatingly driving a moving body (20) provided on a board of a game machine in a predetermined direction, wherein the driving device generates a driving force of the moving body. Motor (31), and an output shaft (31) of the motor.
an arm (33) connected to a) and driven to rotate about its output shaft, and connecting the arm and the moving body to reciprocate the rotating movement of the arm in the predetermined direction by the moving body. And a second arm member (34A, 3) rotatably connected to each other at a predetermined connection point (35).
4B), wherein the first arm member (34A) is rotationally driven by the motor around a fulcrum distant from the connection point, and the second arm member (34B) is distant from the connection point. And the first arm member is connected at one side (38) thereof to the second transmission means.
The above-mentioned problem is solved by a driving device of a game machine that can be engaged with the arm member of (1).

According to the present invention, as in the tenth aspect,
In accordance with the rotation direction of the motor, the connection point of the arm member moves between the transmission center side and the opposite side with respect to the rotation center of the first arm member, and accordingly, from the rotation center of the first arm member. The arm length to the connection position between the transmission means and the second arm member changes. This makes it possible to switch the driving amount of a moving body such as a pusher table.

[0029]

1 to 3 show a medal game machine to which the present invention is applied. The game machine 1 has a housing 2, and an opening 2 a is provided on a front surface of the housing 2. Inside the opening 2a, a game space GS partitioned by the bottom wall 3, the back wall 4, and the side walls 5, 5 is provided. A transparent front wall 6 that closes the game space GS is provided in the opening 2a. A pusher table 20 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom wall 3. On the upper surface of the bottom wall 3, a large number of medals as game bodies are placed in advance, whereby the upper surface of the bottom wall 3 functions as a board on which medals are stored.

Two medal slots 7, 7 are provided above the opening 2a. A medal (not shown) inserted from the insertion slot 7 is guided to a medal passing space 11 provided between the rear wall 4 and the transparent cover 10 via a chute 8 (see FIG. 3). The medal passing space 11 is provided with seven pockets 12a... 12g into which medals can enter. Out of these pockets 12a to 12g, the one in the lower center is named out pocket 12g. The remaining pockets 12a to 12f are numbered, and from the upper left, the first pocket 12a, the second pocket 12b, the third pocket 12c, the fourth pocket 12d, the lower left pocket 5e, and the lower right pocket 6 It is named the second pocket 12f. However, in the following, when it is not necessary to distinguish each pocket, it is described as a pocket 12.

A medal that has entered one of the pockets 12 is guided from the pocket 12 to the front of the cover 10, and the medal discharge space 1 between the cover 10 and the transparent cover 13.
4 and falls on the upper surface of the pusher table 20.
Therefore, medals that have passed through any one of the pockets 12 do not continue to enter the other pockets 12. Each pocket 1
2 includes a pocket sensor 51 for detecting the entry of a medal.
And an illumination lamp 52 (see FIG. 7). Accordingly, each pocket 12 functions as a medal check point. Various processes, such as payout of medals, are performed when the medals enter the pockets 12, which will be described later in detail. The medals that have not entered any of the pockets 12 fall onto the pusher table 20 from the medal passing space 11.

At the upper end of the rear wall 4, a plurality of guide plates 15... 15 swinging around a shaft 15a within a certain range are provided. The medal passing space 11 is provided with a number of pins 16... 16 for changing a medal falling path. The course of the medal changes irregularly due to the guide plate 15 and the pin 16, making it difficult to aim at a specific pocket 12. A monitor 17 using a liquid crystal panel is provided at the upper center of the rear wall 4 (see FIG. 2). Game space GS
An illumination lamp 18 for illuminating the rear wall 4 is provided at an upper end of the display unit, and a speaker unit 19 is provided above the illumination lamp 18.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the pusher table 20 is placed on the bottom wall 3 via a roller 21 attached to its lower part, and is driven in the front-rear direction (right and left in FIGS. Direction). Guide walls 5b, 5b for guiding the pusher table 20 in the front-rear direction are provided below the side walls 5, 5, whereby play of the pusher table 20 in the left-right direction is regulated. The upper surface of the pusher table 20 is in contact with a scraper plate 22 attached to the lower end of the rear wall 4. Pusher table 2
When 0 is drawn behind the scraper plate 22, the medals accumulated on the upper surface of the pusher table 20 are restrained by the scraper plate 22, and a part thereof is scraped off the front end of the pusher table 20 onto the upper surface of the bottom wall 3. When the pusher table 20 is fed forward of the scraper plate 22, the medals stored on the upper surface of the bottom wall 3 are pushed forward by the front end wall 20a of the pusher table 20.

A medal drop port 23 is provided in front of the bottom wall 3 (see FIG. 3). By repeating the dropping of the medals onto the pusher table 20 and the reciprocating movement of the pusher table 20, the number of medals stored on the upper surface of the bottom wall 3 gradually increases, and the medals approach above the medal drop opening 23. put out. Then, the medals that cannot be supported by the bottom wall 3 are pushed down to the medal drop port 23 and paid out to the medal tray 24. Although not shown in the figure, a medal collecting port is provided on both sides of the medal falling port 23.
A part of the medals pushed out by the pusher table 20 falls into the medal collecting port and is collected by the hopper 26 via the chutes 25A and 25B (see FIG. 2). Hopper 2
Reference numeral 6 denotes a well-known type in which medals are ejected one by one onto an escalator 27 by rotating motion of a built-in motor. The medals struck by the escalator 27 are guided via chutes 28 to medal payout ports 29 provided on the side walls 5, 5, and from the medal payout ports 29 to the pusher table 20.
(See FIG. 3). The medal collecting port is provided with a medal drop regulating member whose position can be adjusted. Depending on the position of the member, the ratio of the medals dropped from the medal dropping port 23 and the medals collected by the hopper 26 from the medal collecting port changes. It is desirable that the medal drop restricting member is driven by an actuator so that the ratio can be adjusted even during operation of the game machine 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the driving device 30 includes a motor 31 attached to the lower surface of the bottom wall 3 and a rotary motion of an output shaft 31a of the motor 31.
And a conversion mechanism 32 for converting the reciprocating motion into a reciprocating motion. The conversion mechanism 32 has an arm 33. The arm 33 has a pair of arm members 34A and 34B, and the pusher table 2 according to the rotation direction of the first arm member 34A.
The drive amount of 0 is switched.

FIGS. 5A to 5C show details of the arm 33, wherein FIG. 5A is a plan view, FIG. 5B is a front view, and FIG.
Is a left side view. A substantially intermediate portion of the first arm member 34A and a rear end of the second arm member 34B are connected to each other so as to be rotatable about a pin 35. A hollow cylindrical socket 36 is attached to the lower surface of the first arm member 34A. The output shaft 31 is located at the center of the socket 36.
The socket 36 and the output shaft 31a are integrally rotatably connected by a set screw (not shown) attached to the screw hole 36a. A roller 37 is rotatably attached to the distal end of the second arm member 34B. On one side of the first arm member 34A, there is provided an engagement wall 38 which can be engaged with a side edge of the second arm member 34B.
8 is provided with a detection arm 39. The detection arm 39 extends in the radial direction of the socket 36.

As shown in FIG. 4, the pusher table 2
0, a partition wall 20c parallel to the rear end wall 20b is provided. A groove 20d is provided between the partition wall 20c and the rear end wall 20b, and the roller 37 is fitted into the groove 20d. Thereby, the roller 37 functions as a transmission unit and a slider for transmitting the rotational movement of the arm 33 to the pusher table 20 as a reciprocating movement in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 5C, a downward bent portion 39 a is provided at the tip of the detection arm 39. An arm sensor 40 using a photo-interrupter-type optical sensor is provided on a turning path around the motor output shaft 31a of the bending portion 39a.
Is attached. When the arms 33 and 34 rotate, the bent portion 39a passes through the slit 40a of the sensor 40 once per rotation, and the sensor 40 outputs a signal indicating the detection of the rotation of the arm.

A lamp box 42 is mounted on the lower surface side of the bottom wall 3, and a bulb 4 as illumination means is provided inside the lamp box 42.
3 is attached. A light-transmitting panel 44 is provided on the bottom wall 3 on the upper surface of the lamp box 42. When the pusher table 20 retreats from the position in FIG. 4, that is, moves to the left in FIG. 4, the panel 44 covered by the pusher table 20 is exposed to the front of the front end wall 20a so that light from the lamp box 42 leaks upward. become.

FIG. 6 shows the operation of the conversion mechanism 32.
When the first arm member 34A is driven to rotate clockwise (direction of arrow A) in FIG. 6A by the motor output shaft 31a, the rotation is performed via the pin 35 to the second arm member 34A.
B is also transmitted. Due to this rotational movement, the second arm member 34B is pressed against the engaging wall 38 and the arms 33, 3
4 turns integrally around the output shaft 31a. Thereby, the pusher table 20 engaged with the roller 37 is driven in the front-rear direction. At this time, the momentum of the pusher table 20 is twice as long as the arm length from the output shaft 31a to the center of the roller 37, that is, from the output shaft 31a to the pin 35.
If the distance from the pin 35 to the center of the roller 37 is L2, the distance is 2 (L2−L1).

On the other hand, when the first arm member 34A rotates counterclockwise (direction of arrow B) from the position shown in FIG.
The first arm member 34A independently rotates such that the second arm member 34B is separated from the engagement wall 38 (FIG. 6).
(B)) The engagement wall 38 of the first arm member 34A is
6 is engaged with the opposite side edge of the arm member 34B of FIG.
(C)). In this state, the arm length, that is, the distance from the output shaft 31a to the center of the roller 37 is (L1 + L
2), and if the first arm member 34A is turned in this state, the momentum of the pusher table 20 becomes 2 (L1
+ L2). The momentum at this time is 4L compared to the momentum when the output shaft 31a rotates clockwise in FIG.
One bigger. In the following, the first arm member 34A shown in FIG.
The rotation in the clockwise direction of (a) is called forward rotation and the rotation in the counterclockwise direction is called reverse rotation. The state in which the pusher table 20 is driven by the forward rotation of the first arm member 34A is referred to as the forward rotation of the driving device 30. The rotation mode and a state in which the pusher table 20 is driven by the reverse rotation of the first arm member 34A are called a reverse rotation mode of the driving device 30.

As apparent from FIG. 6A, the sensor 4
0 indicates that the first arm member 34A is
Is arranged so as to detect the detection arm 39 at a position inclined obliquely by a predetermined angle θ in a reverse direction with respect to a direction parallel to the direction of movement (the direction of the center line CL). That is, when the driving device 30 is operating in the normal rotation mode,
The sensor 40 is arranged so that the arm 39 is detected slightly earlier than the time when the roller 37 is extended forward. When the sensor 40 detects the arm 39, the rotation direction of the motor 31 is switched to switch the first arm member 34.
When A is reversed, the pusher table 20 stops in the vicinity of its forward end, and in this state, the first arm member 34A rotates as shown in FIGS.
Switches to the reverse mode. Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, the first arm member 34A is
After engaging with 4B, the pusher table 20 is driven farther rearward than in the forward rotation mode with the reverse rotation of the first arm member 34A.

As shown in FIG. 6C, a table detection plate 45 is attached to the rear end of the pusher table 20, and a table sensor using a photo interrupter type optical sensor is provided on the bottom wall 3 behind the table detection plate. 46 are attached. When the pusher table 20 is driven in the reverse rotation mode, the table detection plate 45 enters the slit 46a of the sensor 46 when the table 20 moves to near the rear end of the movement range as shown by the imaginary line in the drawing. Accordingly, a signal indicating detection of the table 20 is output from the sensor 46. At the time when the signal is output from the sensor 46, the table 20 is retracted to the rear of the scraper plate 22 over substantially the entire length.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a control system of the game machine 1. The game machine 1 has a CPU 50 mainly composed of a microprocessor unit. CPU5
0, a pocket sensor 51... 51, an arm sensor 40, a table sensor 46, a medal-in sensor 54, and a hopper sensor 55 are connected via a bus 70 as input means for inputting information necessary for performing various controls and calculations. ing. As described above, the pocket sensor 51 detects the entry of a medal into each pocket 12, the arm sensor 40 detects the rotation of the arm 33, and the table sensor 46 detects the backward movement of the pusher table 20 in the reverse rotation mode. Different identification numbers are assigned to the pocket sensors 51 so that the CPU 50 can identify which pocket 12 has a medal.

The medal-in sensor 54 has a medal slot 7,
7 (see FIG. 1) to monitor the presence or absence of insertion of medals, and output a predetermined detection signal each time the insertion is detected. The hopper sensor 55 outputs a predetermined detection signal every time one medal is paid out from the hopper 26. During operation of the game machine 1, the CPU 50 determines the number of inserted medals from the medal insertion slot 7 based on a signal from the medal-in sensor 54 and, based on detection signals from the medal-in sensor 54, the hopper sensor 55, and the arm sensor 40. The number of medals paid out to the player from the medal drop opening 23 is determined. The number of medals dropped into the medal drop port 23 can be roughly estimated from the number of medals supplied to the upper surface of the pusher table 20 and the number of reciprocations of the pusher table 20, and the former is detected by the medal-in sensor 54 and the hopper sensor 55. The latter can be determined from the detection signal of the arm sensor 40. And CP
U50 calculates the payout rate (the ratio of the number of medals paid back to the player to the number of medals inserted) as needed based on the number of medals inserted and the number of payouts determined as described above.

The CPU 50 includes, as control objects, pocket illuminators 52... 52, monitor 17, speaker unit 19, illumination unit 56, table drive motor 31 and hopper drive motor 57, bus 70 and respective drive circuits 58. Through 62. The lighting unit 56 includes, in addition to the above-described lighting lamp 18 (see FIG. 3), various lighting lamps that decorate each part of the game machine 1.
The hopper drive motor 57 generates a driving force for sending the medals of the hopper 26 to the escalator 27.

Further, a RAM 65 and a ROM 66 are connected to the CPU 50 via a bus 70 as storage means. The ROM 66 stores programs and data for executing the game.

Next, a game executed on the game machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 show the CPU according to the program recorded in the ROM 66.
50 shows a procedure of a game management process executed by 50. In this process, the CPU 50 determines whether or not a medal has entered any of the pockets 12 based on a signal from the pocket sensor 51 (step S1). If the medal has not entered, the determination in step S1 is repeated. When the medal enters, the process proceeds to step S2, and the out pocket 12
It is determined whether a medal has entered g. If it is not an out-pocket, the process proceeds to step S3, and the number of the pocket 12 containing the medal is recorded in the RAM 65 as a winning history.
In a succeeding step S4, it is determined whether or not a medal has entered the six pockets 12 from the first pocket 12a to the sixth pocket 12f based on the record of the winning history in the RAM 65. If there is a pocket with no winning history, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, the hopper 26 is driven and a predetermined number (about several) of medals are
0, and then returns to step S1.

If it is determined in step S2 that a medal has entered the out-pocket 12g, the record of the winning history in the RAM 65 is cleared, and thereafter, the flow returns to step S1. As a result, the medals have not yet been entered in any of the first to sixth pockets 12a to 12f, and the game returns to the start, so to speak.

In step S4, the first to sixth pockets 12
When it is determined that medals have entered all of a to 12f, the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, the record of the winning history in the RAM 65 is cleared in preparation for the next game.
In the following step S11, the six pockets 12a to 12a
As a reward for inserting a medal into f, an operation for determining an event to be executed by the player is performed. That is, data defining a plurality of events having different degrees of difficulty is recorded in the ROM 66, and which of the events is to be executed by the player is determined in step S11.
Determined by In selecting an event, the payout rate of the game machine 1 is considered. For example, if the payout rate is lower than a predetermined reference value, an event with a lower difficulty level is selected, and if the payout rate is higher than the reference value, an event with a higher difficulty level is selected, so that the payout rate is higher. Is adjusted to approach the reference value. Note that the selection range in step S11 includes a so-called out-of-range that denies execution of an event.

After the determination of the event, the process proceeds to step S12, and the manner in which the event is selected is displayed on the monitor 17. For example, the monitor 1 displays a slot reel on which a plurality of patterns corresponding to each of a plurality of selectable events are drawn.
7 is rotated on the screen 7 to display on the monitor 17 a state in which the reel stops at the position of the picture corresponding to the event determined in step S11.

In a succeeding step S13, it is determined whether or not the lottery of the event is excluded based on the calculation result of the step S11. In the case of disengagement, a predetermined number of medals are paid out from the hopper 26 to the upper surface of the pusher table 20 (step S14), and thereafter, the process returns to step S1. The number of payouts at this time is larger than that in step S5, and is set to, for example, about ten.

If it is determined in step S13 that it is not a deviation, then it is determined in step S11 whether a super JP (jackpot) chance has been selected (step S15). The super JP chance is prepared as a special event among the events, and the probability that the event is selected is set sufficiently smaller than the probability that another event is selected.

If it is determined in step S15 that the event is not a super JP chance, the progress of the event is notified to the player through the monitor 17 (step S20), and a predetermined number of medals are paid out from the hopper 26 to the upper surface of the pusher table 20. (Step S21) Then, the process proceeds to Step S22 in FIG. The payout number at this time may be approximately the same as in step S14. In step S22, an event process is performed. In the event processing, the game machine 1 gives the player an instruction regarding the insertion of medals into the pocket 12, for example, giving an instruction to the player through the monitor 17 to put medals into the specific pocket 12. Then, when the player inserts a medal as instructed, the event succeeds, and when the medal cannot be inserted as instructed, the event fails. Specific examples of the event are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, and details thereof will be described later.

When the event processing is completed, the process proceeds to step S23, and it is determined whether or not the event has succeeded by referring to the record of the event processing written in the RAM 65. In the case of failure, the process returns to step S1 in FIG. If the event is determined to be successful in step S23, a predetermined number of medals are paid out from the hopper 26 to the upper surface of the pusher table 20 (step S24). The payout number at this time is determined in step S14.
And more than that of S21, for example, about 30 sheets. In a succeeding step S25, 1 is added to the JP (jackpot) point stored in the RAM 65. Subsequently, in a step S26, it is determined whether or not the JP point is 7. The value of the JP point is notified to the player by the number of lights of the seven indicator lights 48... 48 (see FIG. 2) attached to the back wall 4.

When the JP point is 7, the JP point is reset to 0 in order to initialize the subsequent game (step S27), and the medals of the number set as jackpot payout are transferred from the hopper 26 to the pusher table. 20 is paid out on the upper surface (step S28). The payout number at this time may be set to, for example, about the same as step S24. In a succeeding step S29, the CPU 50 is notified of the jackpot payout for the table drive management processing of FIG. After this, FIG.
Return to step S1. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S26 that the JP point is less than 7, the process proceeds to step S27
Steps 29 are omitted, and the process returns to step S1 in FIG.

If it is determined in step S15 of FIG. 8 that the game is a super JP chance, the process proceeds to step S30 to execute a super chance game. While the event executed in step S22 gives the player a plurality of medal insertion opportunities, the super chance game executed in step S30 is positioned as a game having a one-shot advantage. For example, a player is required to put a medal in a specific pocket 12 at one time. In addition,
Instead of or in addition to this super chance game,
A state in which a predetermined number of medals (for example, 10 medals) are paid out every time a medal passes through the pocket 12 may be continued for a certain period of time.

When the super chance game has been completed, it is determined whether or not the game has succeeded (step S31). If the game has succeeded, a predetermined number of medals are paid out from the hopper 26 to the upper surface of the pusher table 20 (step S32). The payout number at this time is set to, for example, about the same as step S24. When the payout of the medals is completed, step S25 in FIG.
Proceed to.

FIG. 10 shows a procedure of a table drive management process executed in parallel with the processes of FIGS. 8 and 9 while the game machine 1 is operating. This process is executed to manage the driving of the pusher table 20 by the driving device 30. First, in step S50, the motor 31 is driven so that the arm 33 rotates forward. In a succeeding step S51, it is determined whether or not the jackpot is notified in the step S29 in FIG. If there is no notification, step S5
Return to 0, and if there is a notification, go to step S52. In step S52, the bulb 4 built in the lamp box 42
3 is turned on. In response to this command, the drive circuit 60 turns on the bulb 43 continuously for a predetermined time, and thereafter, the bulb 4
3 is turned off.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the arm sensor 40 detects the rotation of the arm 33 (step S53). When the rotation is detected, the rotation direction of the motor 31 is reversed and the arm 33 is reversed (step S54). ). As a result, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, the arm members 34A and 34B operate from the state shown in FIG. 6A to put the driving device 30 in the reverse rotation mode, and the pusher table 20 is in the normal state (normal rotation). Mode)). As a result, most of the medals accumulated on the upper surface of the pusher table 20 fall from the front end of the table 20. At this time,
Since the bulb 43 is illuminated, the panel 44 is gradually exposed in front of the table 20 as the table 20 retreats, and light leaks, so that a high effect of drawing the attention of the player or the like to the table 20 can be obtained.

In a succeeding step S55, it is determined whether or not the table sensor 46 has detected the retreating operation of the table 20, and when this is detected, the process returns to the step S50 to rotate the arm 33 forward. Thereby, the arm members 34A and 34B are arranged in the order shown in FIGS. 6C to 6B and 6A.
Operates, and the driving device 30 returns to the normal rotation mode. When the table 20 first moves forward after step S55, a large amount of medals that have fallen to the front end of the table 20 in the reverse rotation mode are pushed forward by the table 20. Therefore, compared with the case where the table 20 reciprocates in the normal rotation mode, a large amount of medals fall from the medal drop opening 23 and are paid out to the medal tray 24. Table 20
Is driven almost to the front end, the lighting of the bulb 43 by the drive circuit 60 ends.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show examples of event processing executed as a subroutine of step S22 in FIG. 9 described above.

FIG. 11 shows a first event process. In this event, at least one of the first to sixth pockets 12a to 12f is designated as a winning pocket, and a predetermined number (5 in this example) is stored in the winning pocket without placing a medal in the out pocket 12g. This is to instruct the player to insert a medal. In this process, first, various parameters for specifying the state of the event and (achievement status and the like) are initialized (step S100), and the contents of the event are introduced to the player via the monitor 17 (step S101). continue,
The illumination lights of the winning pocket (for example, the first pocket 12a) and the out pocket 12g are turned on to make the player recognize these pockets (step S102), and the event start is notified to the player through the monitor 17 (step S103). Thereafter, the monitor 17 displays an image that informs the player of the achievement status of the event, in this case, the number of winnings up to the present. For example, each time one medal is inserted into the first pocket 12a, the character moves on the screen, and an image is displayed such that the character reaches a predetermined goal when five medals are inserted.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a medal has entered any of the pockets 12a to 12g based on a signal from the pocket sensor 51 (step S104). When a medal is inserted, the process proceeds to step S105, and it is determined whether or not the pocket 12 in which the medal is inserted is the out pocket 12g. If it is not the out pocket 12g, the process proceeds to step S106, and it is determined whether or not the pocket 12 containing the medal is a pocket designated as a winning pocket (step S106). If it is not a winning pocket, the process returns to step S104. If it is a winning pocket, 1 is added to the number of winnings stored in the RAM 65 (step S107). Subsequently, the image displayed on the monitor 17 is updated based on the current number of winnings (step S108).

Further, it is determined whether or not the number of winnings has reached 5 (step S109).
Return to 104. When the number of winnings reaches 5, the event success is recorded in the RAM 65 (step S110), and an image indicating the event success is displayed on the monitor 17 (step S111). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S105 that a medal has entered the out-pocket 12g, the event failure is recorded in the RAM 65 (step S112), and an image indicating the event failure is displayed on the monitor 17 (step S113). The event process ends at step S111 or S113, and proceeds to step S23 in FIG.

FIG. 12 shows a second event process. In this event, at least two of the first to sixth pockets 12a to 12f are designated as winning pockets, and a predetermined number (in this example, 60 seconds) is assigned to all of the winning pockets within a predetermined time (for example, 60 seconds). This is to instruct the player to insert one (1) medal. In this process, first, various parameters for specifying the state of the event (such as the achievement status) are initialized (step S12).
0), the content of the event is introduced to the player via the monitor 17 (step S121). Subsequently, the illumination lamps of the winning pockets (for example, the first to fourth pockets 12a to 12d) are turned on to make the player recognize these pockets (step S122), and the event start is notified to the player through the monitor 17 (step S12).
3). Thereafter, the timer starts counting a predetermined time (step S124). Thereafter, the monitor 17 displays an image that informs the player of the achievement status of the event, in this case, whether or not a medal has entered each winning pocket.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a medal has entered any of the pockets 12a to 12g based on a signal from the pocket sensor 51 (step S125). When a medal is inserted, the process proceeds to step S126, and it is determined whether or not the pocket 12 in which the medal is inserted is a pocket designated as a winning pocket. If it is a winning pocket, the number of the pocket is recorded in the winning history stored in the RAM 65 (step S12).
7). Subsequently, the image displayed on the monitor 17 is updated based on the current winning history (step S128). Further, based on the winning history stored in the RAM 65, it is determined whether or not medals have entered all the winning pockets (step S).
129). If all prize pockets have medals, the event success is recorded in the RAM 65 (step S13).
1) Subsequently, an image indicating the success of the event is displayed on the monitor 17 (step S132).

If it is determined in step S125 that no medal has been inserted, if it is determined in step S126 that it is not a winning pocket, or if it is determined in step S129 that there is a winning pocket in which no medal has yet been inserted, step S133 is performed. Then, it is determined whether or not the time activated in step S124 is up. If the time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S125. If the time is up, the event failure is recorded in the RAM 65 (step S134), and an image indicating the event failure is displayed on the monitor 17 (step S135). Step S
The event process ends after 132 or S135, and the process proceeds to step S23 in FIG.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the arm 33 is not limited to the one whose length is switched according to the rotation direction of the motor, and may be one whose length is switched using an actuator such as a solenoid. As the transmission means, instead of the roller 37, a second
May be provided to be rotatably connected to each of the arm member and the pusher table. The drive amount of the pusher table in the direction approaching the medal dropper may be changed.

The condition for increasing the driving amount of the pusher table is not limited to the above embodiment, but may be variously changed. The event is not limited to the example described above, and can be variously changed. For example, among a plurality of pockets, an event for placing a predetermined number of medals only in one or more specific pockets 12, an event for placing one or more medals in all pockets 12, and an odd number of medals in all pockets 12 are provided. Event to put medals in a predetermined order for some or all pockets 12;
In the event that a predetermined number of medals are inserted from the medal insertion slot without inserting medals, the illumination lamps 52 attached to the pockets 12 are turned on in a random order and at short time intervals, and the medals are put in the last lit pocket. The event to be inserted, the lighting lamp 52 is turned on in a random order and at a long time interval, and the monitor 17 is instructed to the player as to which pocket to turn on, and the pocket which is actually turned on in the indicated order. An event for putting a medal into the game can be considered. In addition, an event in which the illumination lamp 52 is turned on alternately for a fixed time in order from the first pocket 12a to the sixth pocket 12f, and the player is requested to put a medal in the currently lit pocket 12.
An illumination lamp 52 attached to each pocket 12 is turned on in a random order for a certain period of time, and the player is requested to put a medal in the pocket 12 that is currently turned on. An event in which a quiz is set and a medal is required to be placed in the pocket 12 having the number corresponding to the answer may be considered. Data defining these events is recorded in the ROM 66 in advance and supplied to the game machine 1.

The driving device of the present invention is not limited to driving a pusher table, but may be used to drive various moving bodies provided on a game machine. The game body is not limited to medals, and various things may be used.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the drive amount of the pusher table can be changed,
The number of game bodies pushed by the pusher table and pushed down into the fall opening can be temporarily increased to give the player a sense of a jackpot. When the drive amount is switched by changing the length of the arm according to the rotation direction of the motor, the drive amount of the pusher table can be changed quickly. Since a power source for switching the driving amount other than the motor is not required, the mechanism is simplified. When an arm is configured by rotatably combining a pair of arm members, the device can be particularly simply configured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medal game machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view in which a part of the medal game machine of FIG. 1 is cut away.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the medal game machine of FIG. 1 along the front-back direction.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view around a pusher table of the medal game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing details of an arm provided in the drive device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operation of the driving device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control system provided in the medal game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a game management process executed by the CPU of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart following FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary flowchart showing the procedure of a table drive management process executed by the CPU in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary flowchart showing a procedure in an example of event processing executed by the CPU in FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure in another example of the event processing executed by the CPU in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 3 Bottom wall 4 Back wall 5, 5 Side wall 5b, 5b Guide wall 6 Front wall 7 Medal slot 11 Medal passing space (game body passing space) 12a-12g Pocket (check point) 17 Monitor 20 Pusher table (moving) 22) Scraper plate 23 Medal drop port (fall port of game body) 26 Hopper 30 Drive device 31 Table drive motor 31a Motor output shaft 32 Conversion mechanism 33 Arm 34A First arm member 34B Second arm member 35 Pin (connection) Point) 37 Roller (transmission means, slider) 38 Engagement wall (one side of first arm member) 39 Detection arm 40 Arm sensor 43 Valve (lighting means) 46 Table sensor 50 CPU (control means) 51 Pocket sensor 52 Pocket Lighting

Claims (18)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pusher table movably provided in a predetermined direction on a board on which a game body is stored, and a drive device for reciprocatingly driving the pusher table in the predetermined direction, wherein the pusher is driven by the drive device. A game machine characterized in that a table drive amount can be changed. 2. A dropper for a game body for paying out a game body on the board to a player on one side of the predetermined direction with respect to the pusher table, and a dropper on the pusher table on the other side. 2. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein a scraper for scraping a game body onto the board is provided, and a driving amount of the pusher table to the scraper side can be changed. 3. An illuminating means for illuminating an area of the board surface covered with the pusher table from beneath, and interlocking with the pusher table when the driving amount of the pusher table to the scraper side is largely switched. The game machine according to claim 2, wherein lighting by the lighting means is started. 4. A hopper for storing a game body dropped from a recovery port of the game body on the board surface and dispensing the stored game body to an upper surface of the pusher table, wherein predetermined conditions are satisfied in a game. 4. The game machine according to claim 2, wherein the hopper dispenses a game body to an upper surface of the pusher table when the hopper is pushed, and increases a driving amount of the pusher table toward the scraper. 5. 5. The drive amount is increased when the pusher table is moved toward the falling port side of the game body after the pusher table is retracted toward the scraper side by increasing the drive amount toward the scraper side. The game machine according to claim 2, wherein the game machine returns to a previous state. 6. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the drive amount of the pusher table is increased when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the game. 7. A game body passing space through which a game body inserted from the insertion port passes is provided between a slot of the game body and an upper surface of the pusher table, and the game body passing space includes a game body passing space. A plurality of check points for detecting passage of a body are provided, and the predetermined condition is defined in association with passage or non-passage of the game body to each of the plurality of check points. ~
7. The game machine according to any one of 6. 8. A pusher table movably provided in a predetermined direction on a board on which game bodies are stored, a motor for generating a driving force for the pusher table, and an output shaft connected to an output shaft of the motor. An arm that is driven to rotate about the arm; and a transmitting unit that connects the arm and the pusher table to transmit the rotational motion of the arm to the pusher table as a reciprocating motion in the predetermined direction. A game machine wherein an arm length between a connection position between each of the shaft and the transmission means and the arm can be changed. 9. The game machine according to claim 8, wherein the arm is configured such that the arm length is switched according to a rotation direction of the motor. 10. The arm includes first and second arm members rotatably connected to each other at a predetermined connection point, wherein the first arm member is centered on a fulcrum away from the connection point. The second arm member is connected to the transmission means at a position distant from the connection point, and the first arm member is engaged with the second arm member on one side thereof. 9. The game machine according to claim 8, wherein the game machine can be used. 11. The arm rotates in a posture in which the connection point is located on the opposite side of the transmission means with respect to the fulcrum,
11. An arm sensor for detecting rotation of the first arm member while the pusher table is approaching a predetermined game body dropping port with the rotation of the pusher table. The game machine described in the above. 12. The arm sensor according to claim 11, wherein the arm sensor is provided so as to detect the first arm member immediately before the pusher table comes closest to a drop port of the game body. Game console. 13. In a state in which a predetermined condition is not satisfied in a game, the arm rotates in a posture in which the connection point is located on the opposite side of the fulcrum to the transmitting means, and the predetermined condition is satisfied. 12. A control means for controlling a rotation operation of the motor such that a rotation direction of the motor is switched in response to detection of rotation of the first arm member by the arm sensor.
Or the game machine according to 12. 14. A pusher table is moved by a predetermined amount in a direction away from a drop port of the game body after a rotation direction of the motor is switched in response to rotation detection of the first arm member by the arm sensor. 14. The game according to claim 13, further comprising a table sensor for detecting the pusher table at a point in time, wherein the control unit switches the rotation direction of the motor in response to the detection of the pusher table by the table sensor. Machine. 15. A slider as the transmission means, wherein the slider is rotatably connected to the arm and combined with the pusher table so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction. The game machine according to claim 8. 16. The game machine according to claim 15, wherein said slider is a roller. 17. A driving device for reciprocatingly driving a moving body provided on a board of a game machine in a predetermined direction, comprising: a motor for generating a driving force of the moving body; A conversion mechanism that converts the movement of the moving body into a reciprocating motion in the predetermined direction, wherein the conversion mechanism is configured to be capable of changing a driving amount of the moving body in the predetermined direction according to a rotation direction of the motor. A driving device for a game machine, comprising: 18. A driving device for reciprocating a moving body provided on a board of a game machine in a predetermined direction, the motor being configured to generate a driving force for the moving body, and being connected to an output shaft of the motor. An arm that is driven to rotate about its output shaft, and a transmission unit that connects the arm and the moving body to transmit the rotational movement of the arm to the moving body as a reciprocating movement in the predetermined direction. Wherein the arm comprises first and second arm members rotatably connected to each other at a predetermined connection point,
The arm member is rotationally driven by the motor around a fulcrum distant from the connection point, the second arm member is connected to the transmission means at a position distant from the connection point, and the first arm member is On one side the second
A driving device for a game machine, wherein the driving device is capable of engaging with the arm member.