JP4133720B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine that is installed and used in a game hall such as a pachinko parlor.

  Slot machines that are installed and used in amusement halls such as pachinko parlors are called pachislot machines. In the case of such a pachislot machine, when playing a game, it becomes possible to play a game by inserting a predetermined number of medals that are value added in the game. The hopper device provided in the inside is driven so that medals corresponding to the number of payouts for the winning are paid out to the tray. The added value is not limited to medals, but includes game media such as game balls or useful credit information as appropriate.

  There has been a case in which a foreign object such as a wire is inserted from the outside of the pachislot machine through a payout port of the hopper device, and the hopper device is erroneously operated to illegally pay out medals. In contrast to such an act of illegally paying out medals, it is conceivable to prevent the illegal action by providing a shutter device that opens only when paying out medals from the hopper device at the payout port of the hopper device.

  However, even if the shutter device is provided at the outlet of the hopper device as described above, there is a problem that the shutter device is forcibly opened from the outside using a special tool or the like.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine that can prevent foreign matters from being mixed into the payout device and illegal acts.

The gaming machine of the present invention is provided with a payout device having a payout port for paying out the added value in the game, and is movable between a closed position for closing the payout port and an open position for opening the payout port. A closing member, a driving device that moves the closing member, and a control device that controls the driving device to selectively move the closing member to the closed position or the open position in conjunction with the operation of the dispensing device. when the detection of the closure the senses closure member in a position, and you output closure detection apparatus detection information, and said closure member from said closure detection device detects when the granted value is paid out An abnormality notification means for receiving an output of information and notifying abnormality is provided.

Another gaming machine of the present invention is provided with a payout device having a payout port for paying out the added value at the time of the game, and has a closed position for closing the payout port and an open position for opening the payout port. A closing member that is movable, a driving device that moves the closing member, and the driving device that selectively moves the closing member to the closed position or the open position in conjunction with the operation of the dispensing device. A control device for controlling, an opening detecting device for detecting the closing member in the opening position and outputting detection information; and the closing member is detected from the opening detecting device when payout of the added value is stopped. It is characterized by comprising an abnormality notifying means for receiving an output of detection information and notifying an abnormality.

  The gaming machine according to the present invention prevents a foreign object such as a wire from being inserted into the payout port from the outside of the slot machine by the shutter device including the closing member and the drive device, and the operation of the payout device and the shutter device are prevented. Since it can be confirmed by detecting the moving state of the closing member whether or not it is interlocked, it is possible to prevent foreign matters from being mixed into the dispensing device and illegal acts.

  In addition, when the detection information that the closing member is detected is transmitted from the closing detection device when the assigned value is paid out, the control device pays out by notifying the abnormality using the abnormality notifying means. It is possible to make the game hall manager recognize that foreign matter has been mixed into the device and that an illegal act has been performed.

  Further, by providing an opening detection device that detects the closing member in the open position and transmits detection information to the control device, it is determined whether or not the shutter device is operating according to the operation of the dispensing device. Therefore, it is possible to increase the reliability of detecting whether or not the operation of the dispensing device and the operation of the shutter device are interlocked.

  In addition, when the detection information that the closing member is detected is transmitted from the opening detection device when the assigned value is paid out, the control device notifies the abnormality by using the abnormality notifying means, thereby paying out. It is possible to make the game hall manager recognize that foreign matter has been mixed into the device and that an illegal act has been performed.

  In addition, by using a solenoid or a motor for the driving device, it is possible to electrically easily control the selective movement of the closing member to the closed position or the open position, and the closing member can be directly controlled by the solenoid or the motor. By driving, the configuration of the shutter device can be simplified.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine (game machine) 2 has two front doors (hereinafter referred to as an upper front door 4 and a lower front door 5) provided on the front surface of the housing 3. . Among these front doors, a display window 6 is provided in the upper front door 4, and a first reel 7 a, a second reel 7 b, and a third reel 7 c are disposed behind the display window 6. As is well known, various symbols are arranged at a constant pitch on the outer periphery of the first to third reels 7a to 7c, and three symbols per reel are observed through the corresponding display window 6 when the reels are stopped. The As a result, a total of five straight winning lines, each of which has a combination of the symbols of each reel, are set, with three horizontal lines and two diagonal lines. A liquid crystal display device 8 is provided on the side of the first to third reels 7a to 7c, and performs an effect using, for example, animation display. The number of display windows 6 need not be limited to one. For example, a display window may be provided for each reel.

  Various operation buttons such as a single bet button 10, a MAX bet button 11, and a payout button 12 that are operated at the start of the game are provided on the upper portion of the lower front door 5. Since the functions of these operation buttons are well known, details thereof are omitted. Also, below these operation buttons, there are provided a start lever 15 that is operated after a medal bet is placed, first to third stop buttons 16 to 18 that stop a reel that is rotated by the operation of the start lever 15, and the like. It is done.

  The lower front door 5 is provided with a medal slot 20 for inserting a medal (value added) 30 (see FIG. 2) when playing a game. A selector 21 is incorporated in the medal path from the medal insertion slot 20, and if the inserted medal is an inappropriate medal, it is discharged to the medal tray 23 through the medal payout slot 22. In addition, the selector 21 selects the inserted medal 30 when the medal 30 is inserted at an inappropriate timing, for example, when it is inserted in the middle of a game or while various operation buttons are pressed. It is discharged to the medal tray 23. In addition, since the number of medals 30 to be inserted prior to the start of the game is limited to 1 to 3, when the credit function is not used or when the upper limit number in the credit function has been reached, the fourth and subsequent medals The inserted medal 30 is discharged to the medal tray 23.

  On the other hand, when the credit function is in the on state, medals 30 inserted after the fourth sheet are detected by a medal sensor (not shown) and stored in the slot machine 2 up to 50 sheets. The number of stored medals 30 is digitally displayed on the credit number display unit 25. When this credit function is used, a signal for inserting a medal 30 corresponding to the operation of the one-bet button 10 or the MAX bet button 11 described above is generated, and the bet number is sequentially subtracted from the credit number. Further, as a result of the game, the symbols constituting the winning combination are stopped, and when a winning is obtained, the medal 30 as a payout is also credited until the upper limit number in the credit function is reached, and is credited when the payout button 12 is operated. The existing medal 30 is paid out to the medal tray 23.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a hopper device (dispensing device) 31 and an overflow storage box 32 are provided at the lower portion of the housing 3. The hopper device 31 operates when a game is obtained in the slot machine 2 and a winning is obtained, and one medal 30 corresponding to the winning combination won by the payout port 33 provided on the front surface of the hopper device 31 is obtained. Pay out one by one. A storage tank 34 for storing the payout medal 30 is provided on the upper portion of the hopper device 31. The storage tank 34 stores regular medals 30 inserted from the medal insertion slot 20. The overflow storage box 32 stores the medals 30 discharged from the storage tank 34 when the medals 30 stored in the storage tank 34 of the hopper device 31 exceed a predetermined amount. In front of the payout port 33 of the hopper device 31, a substantially L-shaped discharge path 40 that guides medals paid out from the payout port 33 to the medal payout port 22 is provided. A closing member 45 that slides up and down along two slits 44 provided on the front surface of the hopper device 31 is provided in front of the payout port 33.

  FIGS. 3 and 4 show a shutter device 49 including a closing member 45 and a solenoid 46. 3 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the closing member 45, the solenoid 46, and the photosensors 50, 51. FIG. 4 is a top view showing the relationship between the closing member 45, the solenoid 46, and the photosensors 50, 51. is there. The closing member 45 includes a left piece 45a, a right piece 45b, and a front piece 45c, and the shape viewed from above is substantially U-shaped. The left piece 45a and the right piece 45b are inserted through the slits 44, respectively. When the left piece 45a and the right piece 45b slide in the slit 44, the closing member 45 is movable in the vertical direction. The left piece 45a and the right piece 45b are provided with two slidable contact pieces 45d before and after the slit 44, respectively. The sliding member 45 d limits the movement of the closing member 45 in the front-rear direction with respect to the slit 44, so that it does not fall off from the slit 44.

  A plunger 47 of a solenoid (drive device) 46 provided inside the hopper device 31 and behind the slit 44 is connected to the left piece 45a by a pin 48 penetrating the tip of the plunger 47 and the left piece 45a. ing. The plunger 47 of the solenoid 46 is driven in the vertical direction. The solenoid 46 selectively lowers the movable range of the closing member 45 and closes or closes the front of the discharge port 33 by selectively making the plunger 47 project or retract. The closing member 45 is selectively moved to an open position where the payout port 33 is exposed to the front and opened. In FIG. 3, the position of the closing member 45 indicated by a solid line is the closed position, and the position of the closing member 45 indicated by a two-dot chain line is the open position.

  Inside the hopper device 31 and behind the right side piece 45b, a photosensor (closing detection device) 50 for detecting the lower end of the right side piece 45b when the closing member 45 is in the closed position, and the closing member 45 open. A photosensor (open detection device) 51 is provided for detecting the upper end of the right side piece 45b when in the position. Whether or not the closing member 45 is in the closed position and whether or not the closing member 45 is in the open position are detected depending on whether or not the photosensors 50 and 51 each detect the end of the right piece 45b.

  The driving of the solenoid 46 is controlled by receiving a driving signal from a control circuit board (control device) 55 provided in the slot machine 2. In addition, a detection signal (detection information) that informs that each of the photosensors 50 and 51 detects the end of the right piece 45b is input to the control circuit board 55 via a wiring or the like. The control circuit board 55 also controls the drive of the hopper device 31, and the drive of the solenoid 46 is controlled in conjunction with the medal payout operation of the hopper device 31. The closing member 45 is moved to the open position when the hopper device 31 has a medal payout operation, and moved to the closed position when the medal payout is prohibited.

  When the photo sensor 50 detects that the closing member 45 is not in the closed position or when the photo sensor 51 detects that the closing member 45 is in the open position when the hopper device 31 is not performing the medal payout operation. The control circuit board 55 performs error processing according to an error processing program (abnormality notification means) provided in advance as a control program. The error processing includes prohibiting the operation of the devices constituting the slot machine 2 and stopping the medal payout operation. For example, the warning sound is reproduced by the speaker 57 or the like, or the warning display is performed by the liquid crystal display device 8. . By performing error processing, the manager of the game hall or another player is notified that an abnormality has occurred in the shutter device 49. When the hopper device 31 starts the medal payout operation, the photo sensor 50 detects that the closing member 45 is in the closed position or when the hopper device 31 finishes the medal payout operation, When the photo sensor 51 detects that the open position is longer than the predetermined time, the control circuit board 55 prohibits the operation of the devices constituting the slot machine 2 and stops the medal payout operation. Error processing such as reproduction of warning sounds and warning display by the liquid crystal display device 8 is performed. The control circuit board 55 generates a main control command in the game of the slot machine 2 such as determining a winning combination for drawing and winning based on the game operation, or according to the main control command. A function such as controlling a predetermined device of the slot machine 2 may be added as appropriate.

  Next, the operation of the slot machine 2 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the slot machine 2 in which the case where the hopper device 31 performs the medal payout operation is omitted, and FIG. 6 shows the slot machine 2 when the hopper device 31 performs the medal payout operation based on the game. It is a flowchart which shows this operation | movement.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the slot machine 2 is operating, the control circuit board 55 constantly monitors the detection signals from the photosensors 50 and 51. When the detection signal indicating that the closing member 45 in the closed position is detected is not input from the photosensor 50 when the hopper device 31 is not performing the medal payout operation, the control circuit board 55 warns the speaker 57. The sound is reproduced to notify the manager of the game hall or another player that an abnormality has occurred with respect to the shutter device 49. Further, even when the detection signal indicating that the closing member 45 in the closed position is detected when the hopper device 31 is not performing the medal payout operation is input from the photosensor 50, the open position When the detection signal indicating that the closing member 45 is being detected is input from the photosensor 51, the control circuit board 55 reproduces a warning sound from the speaker 57, and an abnormality occurs in the shutter device 49. To the game hall manager or other players. In this manner, when the hopper device 31 is not performing the medal payout operation, the closing member 45 prevents the foreign material such as the wire from being inserted into the payout port 33 from the outside of the slot machine 2 and the shutter device 49. Is detected by the photosensors 50 and 51 and a warning sound is uttered from the speaker 57, so that it is possible to prevent foreign matters from being mixed into the payout device and illegal acts.

  FIG. 6 shows a case where the hopper device 31 performs a medal payout operation based on the game. When a medal is inserted and the start lever 15 is operated, the game is started and the first to third reels 7a to 7c are rotated. Then, when the player operates the first to third stop buttons 16 to 18, the reel corresponding to the operated stop button among the first to third reels 7a to 7c stops. Then, the first to third reels 7a to 7c are stopped, and when the symbols constituting the winning combination determined by lottery are arranged on a predetermined pay line, or a specific symbol is stopped at a predetermined position. Win a prize.

  When the game results in winning, the control circuit board 55 energizes the solenoid 46 to activate the solenoid 46. When the solenoid 46 is operated, the plunger 47 is pulled upward, the closing member 45 is moved to the open position, and the payout port 33 is opened. When a detection signal indicating that the closing member 45 is in the open position is input from the photosensor 51, the control circuit board 55 activates the hopper device 31 and starts paying out the medal 30. If the detection signal is not input from the photosensor 51 after the time set as the abnormal time exceeding the allowable time when the closing member 45 is opened after the solenoid 46 is operated, the control circuit board 55 The alarm sound from the speaker 57 is reproduced to notify the game hall manager or other players that an abnormality has occurred in the shutter device 49. When the medal for winning is paid out from the hopper device 31, the control circuit board 55 stops energizing the solenoid 46, and the closing member 45 moves to the closed position. If the detection signal is not input from the photosensor 50 after the time set as the abnormal time exceeding the allowable time for closing the closing member 45 after the solenoid 46 is stopped, the control circuit board 55 The alarm sound from the speaker 57 is reproduced to notify the game hall manager or other players that an abnormality has occurred in the shutter device 49. In this way, when the hopper device 31 is performing a medal payout operation, the photosensors 50 and 51 detect whether or not the moving state of the closing member is normal along with the operation of the shutter device 49 and generate a warning sound. Since the speaker 57 is uttered, it is possible to reliably prevent foreign matters from being mixed into the payout device and illegal acts.

  In the above embodiment, the solenoid 46 is used as a driving device for opening and closing the closing member 45, but a motor may be used. FIG. 7 shows an example in which the closing member 45 is opened and closed using a motor. In FIG. 7, only a different part from the form shown in FIG. 3 is demonstrated. On the left side of the rear end portion of the left piece 45a of the closing member 45, a rack (toothed hook) 45e is provided over the top and bottom. A motor 60 is provided inside the hopper device 31 and behind the slit 44, and a pinion (gear) 61 is fixed to the tip of the drive shaft 60 a of the motor 60. The rack 45e and the pinion 61 are engaged with each other, and the motor 60 moves the rack 45e in the vertical direction by rotating the drive shaft 60a and the pinion 61, that is, the closing member 45 is selectively set to the open position or the closed position. Move to.

  The driving of the motor 60 is controlled by a control circuit board (control device) 62 provided inside the slot machine 2. In addition, a detection signal that informs that each of the photosensors 50 and 51 has detected the end of the right piece 45b is input to the control circuit board 62 via a wiring or the like. The control circuit board 62 controls the driving of the hopper device 31 similarly to the control circuit board 55, and the driving of the motor 60 is controlled to rotate the pinion 61 in conjunction with the medal payout operation of the hopper device 31. . Thereby, the closing member 45 moves up and down via the rack 45e, and opens and closes in conjunction with the medal payout operation of the hopper device 31. When the photo sensor 50 detects that the closing member 45 is not in the closed position or when the photo sensor 51 detects that the closing member 45 is in the open position when the hopper device 31 is not performing the medal payout operation. The control circuit board 62 prohibits the operation of the devices constituting the slot machine 2 and stops the medal payout operation. For example, the control circuit board 62 reproduces a warning sound by the speaker 57 or the like and displays a warning by the liquid crystal display device 8. When the hopper device 31 starts the medal payout operation, the photo sensor 50 detects that the closing member 45 is in the closed position or when the hopper device 31 finishes the medal payout operation, When the photo sensor 51 detects that the open position is longer than the predetermined time, the control circuit board 62 prohibits the operation of the devices constituting the slot machine 2 and stops the medal payout operation, for example, by the speaker 57 or the like. A warning sound is reproduced and a warning is displayed by the liquid crystal display device 8.

  In the above embodiment, the photo sensors 50 and 51 are used as the closing detection device and the opening detection device, respectively. However, the closing detection device only needs to detect whether or not the closing member 45 is in the closed position. Since it suffices to detect whether or not the closing member 45 is in the open position, each form of the closing detection device and the opening detection device may use an appropriate form such as a mechanical switch. Moreover, the number of each of the closing detection device and the opening detection device provided is not limited to the above-mentioned one, and may be an appropriate number.

  In the above-described embodiment, the closing member 45 is configured to move in the vertical direction. However, if the closing member 45 is movable between the closed position for closing the payout port 33 and the open position for opening, the movable member 45 is movable in the left-right direction, for example. For example, the form of the closing member may be an appropriate form.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of a slot machine. It is a perspective view which shows the inside of the lower part of a slot machine. It is a perspective view which shows a shutter apparatus. It is a top view which shows a shutter apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the slot machine which abbreviate | omitted the case where a hopper apparatus performs medal payout operation | movement. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the slot machine when the hopper device performs a medal payout operation. It is a perspective view which shows the shutter apparatus using the drive device of the form different from FIG.

Explanation of symbols

2 Slot machines (game machines)
31 Hopper device (dispensing device)
33 Dispensing port 45 Closing member 46 Solenoid (drive device)
49 Shutter device 50 Photo sensor (closing detection device)
51 Photosensor (open detection device)
55 Control circuit board (control device)
60 Motor (drive device)
62 Control circuit board (control device)

Claims (2)

In a gaming machine equipped with a payout device having a payout port for paying out the added value in the game,
A closing member which is movable to a closing position for closing the payout port and an opening position for opening the outlet;
A drive for moving the closure member;
A control device that controls the drive device to selectively move the closing member to the closed position or the open position in conjunction with the operation of the payout device;
Detecting said closure member in said closed position, a closure detector you outputs detection information,
A gaming machine comprising: an abnormality notification means for receiving an output of detection information indicating that the closing member has been detected from the closing detection device when the assigned value is paid out, and notifying an abnormality . In a gaming machine equipped with a payout device having a payout port for paying out the added value in the game,
A closing member which is movable to a closing position for closing the payout port and an opening position for opening the outlet;
A drive for moving the closure member;
A control device that controls the drive device to selectively move the closing member to the closed position or the open position in conjunction with the operation of the payout device;
An opening detection device that detects the closing member in the open position and outputs detection information;
  A gaming machine comprising: an abnormality notification means for receiving an output of detection information indicating that the closing member has been detected from the opening detection device when paying out the added value is stopped, and notifying an abnormality.

Images