JP4629087B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine provided with a movable body movable in the vertical direction.

  In recent years, pachinko machines and other gaming machines equipped with large-sized liquid crystal display means have become mainstream, and each company has been trying to differentiate it from other companies' products by means of staging images displayed on the liquid crystal display means. However, it has become difficult to sufficiently differentiate from other companies' products only by differentiation based on virtual effect images displayed on the liquid crystal display means. Therefore, in order to further enhance the effect by combining mechanical effects with image effects, for example, a device provided with a movable body in the vicinity of the liquid crystal display means has been developed (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

This type of gaming machine includes a drive unit that drives a movable body, a position detection unit that detects that the movable body is at a predetermined reference position, and a drive that controls the drive unit based on a detection signal from the position detection unit. For example, when the driving of the movable body is started based on the detection signal from the position detecting means, and the movable body is moved by the control of the drive control means. When the body is not at the reference position, the return to origin operation is first performed to return the movable body to the reference position.
JP 2007-268038 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-13628

  By the way, in recent game machines, there is a tendency that not only the liquid crystal display means but also the movable body is increased in size in order to improve performance. Therefore, especially in the case of a movable body that moves in the vertical direction, the movable body easily falls from the reference position due to some vibration or impact due to the weight of the movable body, and the return to origin operation of the movable body frequently occurs and the player feels uncomfortable. There was a fear of giving.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine in which the return-to-origin process does not occur frequently even if the movable body is slightly lowered due to vibration or impact. is there.

  The present invention relates to a movable body 25 supported on a base body 26 so as to be movable in a vertical direction within a predetermined movable range, a driving means 27 for driving the movable body 25, and the movable body 25 within the movable range. A gaming machine provided with position detection means 28 for detecting which side is above or below a predetermined reference position, and drive control means 51 for controlling the drive means 27 based on a detection signal from the position detection means 28 , The initial position of the movable body 25 is set to the upper limit side of the movable range with respect to the reference position, and the drive control unit 51 ends the movable effect that causes the movable body 25 to operate according to a predetermined operation pattern. The drive means 27 is operated until the movable body 25 exceeds the reference position and reaches the initial position, and the position detection means 28 allows the movable means 25 to operate when the drive means 27 is not operated. When the body 25 is detected to be on the lower side than the reference position, in which is configured to return at least to the reference position of the movable body 25 at a predetermined timing.

  According to the present invention, the origin return process is not executed only by moving the movable body 25 slightly due to vibration or impact, and there is an advantage that it is possible to prevent the player from feeling uncomfortable due to frequent occurrence of the origin return process.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1-10 has illustrated 1st Embodiment which employ | adopted this invention for the pachinko machine. In FIG. 1, a gaming machine main body 1 is an inner frame that is pivotally attached to a rectangular outer frame 2 and a left and right side of the outer frame 2, for example, a left hinge 3 so as to be openable and detachable around a longitudinal axis. And a frame 4.

  The game board 5 shown in FIG. 2 is arranged on the upper side of the inner frame 4 and the launching means (not shown) is arranged on the lower side. The game board 5 is located on the front side of the inner frame 4. A glass door 6 that covers the front side and a lower opening / closing door 7 that covers the front side of the launching unit and the like below the glass door 6 are pivotally mounted by a hinge 8 on the same side as the hinge 3 so as to be openable and detachable. The glass door 6 is provided with a glass window 9 corresponding to the game area 5a on the game board 5 side, and the lower opening / closing door 7 has a storage tray 10 for storing game balls to be supplied to the launching means, and launching means. A firing handle 11 or the like is provided for operating the.

  On the front side of the game board 5, a guide rail 12 for guiding a game ball fired by the launching means is mounted in a substantially annular shape, and the game case 5a in the guide rail 12 has a center case 13 at its substantially center. Is arranged, and a passing gate 14 is arranged on the left side of the center case 13, and an open / close winning means 15 and a large winning means 16 are arranged on the lower side, and various game parts such as a normal winning means 17 are mounted. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the center case 13 includes, for example, a display frame 20 constituting a display window 19 for a liquid crystal type or other image display means 18 mounted on the back side of the game board 5, and a lower portion of the display frame 20. In addition to the stage 21 arranged on the side, the warp entrance 22 provided on the side of the display frame 20, the warp passage 23 for guiding the game balls entering the warp entrance 22 to the stage 21, for example, display A movable effect means 24 is provided on the upper side of the window 19.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the movable effect means 24 includes a movable body 25, a support case (base body) 26 that supports the movable body 25 so as to be swingable around a horizontal axis, and the movable body 25. Drive means 27 for swinging driving and position detection means 28 for detecting the swinging position of the movable body 25 are provided.

  The movable body 25 includes a movable main body portion 31 composed of an upper case member 25a and a lower case member 25b, a driven gear 32 mounted on the rear end side of the movable main body portion 31, and the interior of the movable main body portion 31. And a light emitting lens 34 disposed on the front end side of the movable main body 31.

  The movable main body 31 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin with extremely low translucency, and has a base case 35 that is long in the left-right direction and one or more, for example, three forward protrusions provided on the front side of the base case 35 in the left-right direction. The upper half of the base case 35 and the three cylindrical portions 36 constitute the upper case member 25a, and the lower half constitutes the lower case member 25b.

  The base case 35 is provided with a pair of swing shafts 37 outwardly from both left and right ends, and an engaging protrusion 38 downwardly from the lower surface side. The driven gear 32 is provided, and a detected portion 39 for the position detecting means 28 is provided at one end in the left-right direction. The base case 35 accommodates an LED substrate 33 on which a plurality of LEDs 40 are mounted corresponding to the cylindrical portion 36.

  In addition, on the front end side of each cylindrical portion 36, for example, a light-emitting lens 34 made of synthetic resin having high translucency is mounted, for receiving light from the LED 40 and irregularly reflecting it.

  The support case 26 includes a pair of swing support plates 41 disposed on the left and right sides of the movable body 25, a swing restriction portion 42 disposed on the lower side between the left and right swing support plates 41, and the swings thereof. For example, the support plate 41 and the swing restricting portion 42 are integrally provided with a drive case portion 43 that supports the rear end side thereof.

  The swing support plate 41 supports the movable body 25 so as to be swingable about a horizontal axis in the left-right direction. The swing support plate 41 protrudes forward from the drive case section 43 side so as to sandwich the base case 35 of the movable body 25 from both the left and right sides. A bearing hole 44 is formed for rotatably holding the swing shaft 37 on the movable body 25 side.

  The swing restricting portion 42 restricts the swingable range (movable range) of the movable body 25 to a predetermined range. For example, a connecting plate 45 that connects the left and right swing support plates 41 on the lower end side thereof, and this connection The plate 45 is integrally provided with a restricting protrusion 46 that protrudes upward from the front end side of the plate 45. When the movable body 25 is lifted to raise the front end side, the restricting protrusion 46 is engaged with the restricting protrusion 46 on the movable body 25 side. The protrusion 38 abuts from the rear side to restrict the swing of the movable body 25 at a predetermined swing upper limit position (FIG. 7), and the restricting protrusion 46 during the downward swing where the movable body 25 moves down the front end side. When the lower surface side of the movable body 25 comes into contact with the upper side, the swing of the movable body 25 is restricted at a predetermined swing lower limit position (FIG. 7).

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the swingable range of the movable body 25 straddles both the upper and lower sides across the horizontal position, and the lower range with respect to the horizontal position is higher than the upper side. In order to increase the position, the position where the movable body 25 swings 10 degrees upward from the horizontal is set as the swing upper limit position, and the position swinged 50 degrees downward from the horizontal is set as the swing lower limit position.

  The drive case portion 43 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape, and is mounted with the drive means 27, the swing coupling gear 47, the position detection means 28, and the like. The drive means 27 is composed of, for example, a stepping motor. As shown in FIG. 6, the drive shaft 27a to which the drive gear 48 is fixed is disposed in the left-right direction toward the inside of the drive case portion 43, for example, The drive case 43 is detachably fixed to one side.

  The oscillating connecting gear 47 interlocks the driving gear 48 on the driving means 27 side and the driven gear 32 on the movable body 25 side, and can be rotated around the axis in the left-right direction on the front wall side of the driving case portion 43, for example. The drive gear 48 meshes with the rear side, and the driven gear 32 meshes with the front side. Thereby, if the drive means 27 operates in the forward direction or the reverse direction, the movable body 25 swings in the downward direction or the upward direction.

  The position detection means 28 detects whether the movable body 25 is located on the upper or lower side with respect to a predetermined reference position within the swingable range. The position detection means 28 is constituted by, for example, a transmission type photosensor. For example, the detected portion 39 on the movable body 25 side is detachably mounted on the front wall of the drive case portion 43 so that the detected portion 39 on the movable body 25 side passes between the light projecting portion 49a and the light receiving portion 49b. The position detection means 28 is in an OFF state when the detected part 39 blocks light from the light projecting part 49a to the light receiving part 49b, and in a state where the light receiving part 49b receives light from the light projecting part 49a. Turn on.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the horizontal position is set to the reference position of the movable body 25, and the position detection means 28 is used when the movable body 25 is between the swing lower limit position and the reference position. When the movable body 25 is between the reference position and the swing upper limit position, the switch is turned on, and ON / OFF is switched at the reference position when the movable body 25 swings. That is, the position detecting means 28 is arranged so that, for example, the detecting portion 49 is at substantially the same height as the swing shaft 37 on the movable body 25 side, and the detected portion 39 has the movable body 25 at the reference position. At the position of the detection unit 49 at the time, the position of the detection unit when the movable body 25 is at the swinging lower limit position, or the lower end portion below the position of the detection unit 49 It is provided in an arc shape centered on the swing shaft 37.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control system related to the movable effect means 24. The drive control means 51 controls the drive means 27 of the movable effect means 24 to swing the movable body 25. From the position detection means 28, the movable body drive command from the game control means 52 for controlling the game is received. Based on this detection signal, a drive control process (FIG. 9) described later is executed. The game control means 52 and the drive control means 51 are provided, for example, on different substrates, and the movable body drive command transmits, for example, a movable body drive command command in which information such as an operation pattern of the movable body 25 is incorporated. Is transmitted from the game control means 52 side to the drive control means 51 side. The game control means 52 and the drive control means 51 may be provided on the same board, or the game control means 52 may directly control the drive means 27.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the movable body 25 swings about 0.455 degrees with respect to the operation of the driving means 27 for one step, for example, the movable body 25 swings 50 degrees from the reference position to the swing lower limit position. For this purpose, it is necessary to operate the driving means 27 in the downward direction for 110 steps (FIG. 7).

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the initial position of the movable body 25 is set to the swing upper limit position side by a predetermined angle, for example, about 6 degrees (13 steps) from the reference position (horizontal position). The movable body 25 is assumed to be returned to the initial position beyond the reference position and held at the end of the movable effect in which a series of operations are performed according to a predetermined operation pattern. The initial position is desirably set to the upper limit side from the reference position by an amount corresponding to the error + α in consideration of the assembly error of each component constituting the movable effect means 24, backlash, and the like.

  The procedure of the drive control process (FIG. 9) by the drive control means 51 will be briefly described. In this drive control process, the drive control means 51 first monitors the presence or absence of a movable body drive command from the game control means 52 side (S1). When a movable body drive command is received from the game control means 52 (S1: Yes), it is determined whether or not the position detection means 28 is in an OFF state, that is, whether or not the movable body 25 is below the reference position. The determination is made (S2), and the movable body 25 is returned to the initial position only when the position detection means 28 is in the OFF state (S2: Yes), that is, only when the movable body 25 is lowered below the reference position. Origin return processing (S3) is executed.

  Here, as described above, since the movable body 25 is returned and held to the initial position about 6 degrees higher than the reference position after the end of the movable performance, the position of the movable body 25 is moved by vibration or impact. Even if it falls from the initial position, if it is within 6 degrees, the origin return process is not executed, and the origin return process can be suppressed as much as possible.

  The origin return process S3 is performed in the procedure as shown in FIG. 10, for example. That is, first, the drive means 27 is operated in the upward drive direction until the position detection means 28 is turned on, that is, until the movable body 25 reaches the reference position (horizontal position) (S11, S12). When the position detection means 28 is turned on (S12: Yes), the movable body 25 is raised to the initial position by operating the drive means 27 in the upward drive direction for a predetermined step (here, 13 steps) from that state. Then, the drive means 27 is stopped (S15). Thereby, the movable body 25 that has been lowered below the reference position can be returned to the initial position.

  When the position detection means 28 is in the ON state in S2 or the origin return process (S3) is completed, the movable effect process (S4) by the movable body 25 is performed based on the movable body drive command from the game control means 52 side. Is called. In this movable effect process, the movable body 25 is driven to swing up and down in accordance with a predetermined operation pattern under the control of the drive means 27 by the drive control means 51 and then returned to the initial position.

  Here, the drive control of the drive unit 27 in the movable effect process may be performed with reference to the position of the movable body 25 at the start time, or may be performed with reference to the reference position. When drive control of the drive unit 27 is performed based on the position of the movable body 25 at the start of the movable effect, the drive unit 27 is driven by a predetermined number of steps respectively in the downward drive direction and the upward drive direction according to a predetermined pattern from that point. What should I do? Further, when drive control of the drive unit 27 is performed based on the reference position, the drive unit 27 is first operated in the downward drive direction until the position detection unit 28 is turned off, and the position detection unit 28 is turned off. The driving means 27 may be driven by a predetermined number of steps in the downward driving direction and the upward driving direction according to a predetermined pattern from the time point.

  However, when the drive control of the driving means 27 is performed based on the position of the movable body 25 at the start of the movable effect, the swinging operation of the movable body 25 is made up and down with the angle between the reference position and the initial position as the upper limit. There is a possibility of shifting in the direction. In addition, the origin return process described above is not limited to when the operation of the movable body 25 is started, and regardless of whether or not an effect of driving the movable body 25 is performed. It can be performed at an arbitrary timing.

  As described above, in the pachinko machine according to the present invention, the initial position of the movable body 25 is set to the upper limit side of the swingable range from the reference position, and the drive control means 51 moves the movable body 25 to a predetermined operation pattern. At the end of the movable effect, the drive unit 27 is operated until the movable member 25 exceeds the reference position and reaches the initial position, and when the effect by the movable member 25 is started, the movable member 25 is moved by the position detecting unit 28. When the movable body 25 is detected to be below the reference position, the movable body 25 is returned to the initial position and then the movable effect is started by the movable body 25. Therefore, the movable body 25 is caused by vibration or impact. However, there is an advantage that it is possible to prevent the player from feeling uncomfortable as much as possible due to frequent occurrence of the origin return process.

  FIG. 11 illustrates the second embodiment of the present invention. For example, in the origin return process performed at the start of the operation of the movable body 25, S13 and S14 in the origin return process (FIG. 10) of the first embodiment are deleted. An example in which the movable body 25 is configured to return to the reference position instead of the initial position is shown.

  When the drive control of the drive means 27 at the time of the movable performance by the movable body 25 is performed based on the reference position, it is not necessary to return the movable body 25 to the initial position by the origin return process performed immediately before that, and can be returned to the reference position. This is sufficient, and it is possible to produce a quick and smooth production with less wasted motion.

  Note that, in the origin return process performed at a timing other than the start of the operation of the movable body 25, for example, at the start of symbol fluctuation, at power-on, or every elapse of a predetermined time, the movable body 25 is moved to the initial position as in the first embodiment. It is desirable to return to.

  FIG. 12 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention, and shows an example in which the movable body 25 is moved up and down substantially in the vertical direction by the driving means 27.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the movable body 25 constituting the movable effect means 24 of the present embodiment is within a movable range (movable range) between a predetermined lift upper limit position and a lift lower limit position by a guide means (not shown). It is supported so that it can move in the vertical direction. A vertical rack 53 is fixed to both the left and right ends of the movable body 25, and a drive gear 48 fixed to a drive shaft 27a of the drive means 27 is engaged with the rack 53, so that the drive means 27 is in the forward direction. Or the movable body 25 is comprised so that it may descend | fall or raise by act | operating to a reverse direction.

  Further, on one side of the movable body 25, for example, a position detection means 28 is arranged corresponding to the detected portion 39 arranged along the rack 53 of the movable body 25, and the position detection means 28 is movable. When the movable body 25 is between the reference position and the upper / lower limit position, the switch is turned on when the body 25 is between the lower limit position and the reference position. It is set so that ON / OFF is switched. The reference position is set to a predetermined position within the ascending / descending range, for example, on the upper and lower limit position side of the intermediate position.

  Thus, even in the movable effect unit 24 configured to move the movable body 25 up and down substantially in the vertical direction by driving the drive unit 27, the initial position is set between the reference position and the upper and lower limit position. By controlling the driving means 27 in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments, the origin return process is not executed only when the movable body 25 is slightly moved by vibration or impact, and the player is caused by frequent occurrence of the origin return process. It is possible to prevent a sense of incongruity as much as possible.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. For example, the position detection means 28 may be any means as long as it can detect whether the movable body 25 is located on the upper or lower side with respect to the reference position, and various detection means can be employed in addition to the transmission type photosensor.

  The reference position may be set to an arbitrary position within the movable range of the movable body 25. For example, the reference position in the case of the swinging movable body 25 does not need to be a horizontal position. Further, the initial position may be an upper limit side with respect to the reference position. For example, the initial position may be set as the upper limit position of the movable range.

  The movable effect by the movable body 25 may be one movable effect for one symbol variation, or one or a plurality of movable effects at an arbitrary timing for one symbol variation. You may make it perform. In the former case, origin return processing may be performed before the start of symbol variation in order to start the movable effect in accordance with the start of symbol variation, or origin return processing may be performed at the same time as or after the start of symbol variation, and the movable effect may be continued. You may make it perform. Further, the movable effect by the movable body 25 may be performed at a predetermined timing regardless of the symbol variation.

  In the embodiment, a pachinko machine has been exemplified. However, other ball game machines such as an arrangement ball machine and a sparrow ball game machine as well as various game machines other than a ball game machine such as a slot machine can be similarly implemented. Needless to say.

1 is an overall perspective view of a pachinko machine showing a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of a game board. It is a side view of a movable production | presentation means. It is side surface sectional drawing of a movable production | presentation means. It is side surface sectional drawing of a movable production | presentation means. It is a plane sectional view of a movable effect means. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the setting of the rockable range of a movable body, a reference position, and an initial position. It is a block diagram which shows the control system regarding a movable production | presentation means. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a drive control process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of an origin return process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the origin return process which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the setting of the raising / lowering possible range of the movable production | presentation means which shows the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, a reference position, and an initial position.

Explanation of symbols

25 Movable body 26 Support case (base body)
27 Drive means 28 Position detection means 51 Drive control means

Claims (4)

A movable body (25) supported on the base body (26) so as to be movable in the vertical direction within a predetermined movable range, a drive means (27) for driving the movable body (25), and the movable body (25) Position detecting means (28) for detecting whether the position is on the upper or lower side with respect to a predetermined reference position within the movable range, and the drive means (27) based on a detection signal from the position detecting means (28). In a gaming machine comprising a drive control means (51) for controlling, an initial position of the movable body (25) is set to an upper limit side of the movable range with respect to the reference position, and the drive control means (51) At the end of the movable effect that operates the movable body (25) according to a predetermined operation pattern, the drive means (27) is operated until the movable body (25) reaches the initial position beyond the reference position, and Said driving means ( 7) When the position detecting means (28) detects that the movable body (25) is below the reference position at the time of non-operation of 7), at least the movable body (25) is moved at a predetermined timing. A gaming machine configured to return to the reference position. When the position detecting means (28) detects that the movable body (25) is below the reference position when the driving means (27) is not in operation, the movable body ( The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein 25) is returned to the initial position. The drive control means (51) is configured to control the drive means (27) on the basis of the position of the movable body (25) at the start time when performing the movable effect. When the position detecting means (28) detects that the movable body (25) is below the reference position when starting the operation, the movable body (25) is returned to the initial position. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game machine is configured to start the movable effect after a while. The drive control means (51) is configured to control the drive means (27) based on the reference position when performing the movable effect, and the position detection means (51) when starting the movable effect. When it is detected by 28) that the movable body (25) is below the reference position, the movable effect is started after the movable body (25) is returned to the reference position. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is configured.

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