JP4756693B2 - Game machine symbol display device - Google Patents

Description

  In the present invention, when a plurality of symbols continuously fluctuate in accordance with the arrangement order and fluctuate and stop according to a predetermined stop condition, if the symbol stopped at a predetermined display position is a predetermined hit symbol, the game proceeds. The present invention relates to a symbol display device for a gaming machine disposed in a gaming machine such as a gaming machine, a pachinko machine, or a slot machine.

  In the above-described gaming machines, after continuously circulating and changing a plurality of symbols arranged in a predetermined order, various conditions during the game are satisfied, or the change is stopped according to the timing of button operation by the player, etc. A device provided with a symbol display device for stopping and displaying symbols at a predetermined expression position is well known. And the game machine provided with this symbol display apparatus has the structure which provides a player with a profit according to the symbol displayed in the said display position, and has high interest property.

  As a symbol display device as described above, for example, in a slot machine, a configuration in which three drum-shaped rotary display elements each having a plurality of symbols arranged in parallel is well known. In this slot machine, a vertically long symbol display window is provided on the front surface of each rotary display body, and three symbols can be visually recognized for each symbol display window when the rotary display body is stopped. Then, after rotating the three rotation display bodies, the slot machine stops each rotation display body by the player pressing the stop button for each rotation display body, and displays each symbol display window. When a combination of nine displayed symbols in the horizontal direction or the diagonal direction is a predetermined hit combination, a coin or a ball for gaming is provided to the player.

  The three rotary display bodies of the slot machine have predetermined symbols arranged on the drum-shaped outer surface in a predetermined order, and rotate along the symbol arrangement direction. In this slot machine, the symbols set in advance change in a fixed order and only stop according to the ON operation of the stop switch. Therefore, when the player performs a number of games, the player can select the type of symbols for each rotary display. And the arrangement order of symbols can be grasped to some extent. And since each rotation display body always fluctuates and stops in the same pattern, there exists a tendency for rotation and stop operation | movement of a rotation display body to become uniform. Therefore, there is a limit in raising the player's interest in the symbol aspect of symbol variation and stop, and the player's interest tends to concentrate only on winning or losing. Similar problems exist in other slot machines, such as pachinko machines and game machines.

  By the way, as a symbol display device as described above, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose a configuration in which a spherical rotary display body is rotated in two different directions. In this configuration, the symbols arranged on the outer surface of the rotary display body cause various variation modes by the rotation of the rotary display body in two directions. Here, Patent Document 1 discloses a first axis that pivotally supports a spherical rotating display body in the radial direction thereof, and a second axis that pivotally supports a frame including the first axis in a direction different from the first axis. And the first shaft and the second shaft are each driven to rotate. As a result, the rotation display body rotates with the first drive axis as the rotation axis and the second drive axis as the rotation axis. On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, a spherical rotating display body is supported by rotating rollers arranged on two rotating shafts that are orthogonal to each other, and each rotating shaft is rotated, thereby rotating the display. In this configuration, the body is rotated in two directions orthogonal to the respective rotation axes.

JP 2001-112941 A JP 2005-130930 A

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1 described above, a spherical rotating display body that rotates around the first axis is rotated by the second axis, with the first axis also integrated. And by rotating this 1st axis | shaft and the 2nd axis | shaft simultaneously, since the fluctuation | variation aspect of a symbol becomes complicated, various fluctuation | variation aspects can be expressed. By the way, in a pachinko machine or a slot machine, it is necessary to stop control a predetermined symbol at a preset stop position, or to correct and control a symbol that stops according to game conditions. However, when the configuration of Patent Document 1 is used in a pachinko machine or a slot machine, the first axis and the second axis are used for control for stopping a predetermined symbol accurately at a preset stop position and for stop symbol correction control. And control must be linked to each other, and extremely complicated control processing is required. In particular, in general pachinko machines and slot machines, a symbol display window that displays a plurality of symbols in the vertical direction is provided, and processing to control a plurality of symbols that stop at the symbol display window is required. Symbol stop control and correction control become more complicated. Therefore, when this configuration is used for a pachinko machine or a slot machine, control to stop a plurality of symbols arranged along the circumferential direction rotated by the first axis is stopped and displayed on the symbol display window. Only processing is possible. In other words, in addition to the conventional symbol variation, this configuration only provides an operation of rotating the symbol variation direction, and exhibits only an effect that disturbs the player's vision. For this reason, if a player plays a game several times, he / she gets used to it immediately, and there is a limit to improving the interest of the game itself.

  On the other hand, even in the configuration of Patent Document 2 described above, since the spherical rotating display body can be rotated in two directions, a variety of symbol variation modes can be expressed by a plurality of symbols arranged on the rotating display body. is there. However, even in this configuration, as in the configuration of Patent Document 1 described above, complicated control processing is required for control for accurately stopping a predetermined symbol at a preset stop position and for stop symbol correction control. In short, even if it is used in a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine, a symbol that can be stopped at a predetermined stop position (symbol display window) is determined, and there is a limit to improving the fun of the game. In addition, since the configuration of Patent Document 2 rotates the spherical rotating display body by frictional contact of the rotating roller, it completely suppresses the slip generated at the contact portion between the rotating display body and the rotating roller. However, there is a limit to constantly rotating the rotation display body stably. Further, as the number of rotations increases, the rotation display body and the rotation roller are easily worn, and the rotation display body cannot be stably rotated over a long period of time. Similarly, when the rotation display body is stopped, if a slip occurs at a contact portion between the rotation display body and the rotation roller, the symbol cannot be stopped accurately at a predetermined expression position.

  The present invention solves such a problem, and can display various symbol variation modes and various symbol stop modes, and can stably circulate and change a rotating display body provided with a plurality of symbols, and A symbol display device for a gaming machine capable of stably and accurately stopping and controlling a rotary display body is proposed.

  The present invention provides a plurality of endless arc-shaped symbol arrays each having a plurality of symbols arranged along the circumferential direction so that each of the endless arc-shaped symbol strips intersects with each other at two opposite polar sites on the spherical surface, and A spherical rotating display body provided with a plurality of supported point pairs located at two intersections between the virtual rotation center line of each endless arc-shaped symbol row and the outer surface of the display body, and any supported point of the spherical rotating display body A pair of support shafts for selectively supporting the pair, and the support shaft selectively supports one of the supported point pairs and rotates the spherical rotation display body to rotate the virtual rotation center line. As a rotation axis, a display body rotating device that rotates a selected endless arc-shaped symbol array band on the spherical rotating display body along the arrangement direction of the symbols, and each endless arc-shaped symbol array band of the spherical rotation display body A pair of supports of the display body rotating device along the circumferential direction where the supported point pair corresponding to A support point conversion device for controlling the rotation of the display body rotation device so as to rotate the shaft portion, a symbol row selection means for selecting a specific endless arc-shaped symbol row band according to a predetermined selection condition, In order to select a supported point pair corresponding to the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band so as to rotate a specific endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band according to the symbol sequence selection means, a support point conversion device and a display body rotation device are provided. It is a symbol display device for a gaming machine, characterized by comprising control means for driving control.

  In such a configuration, any one of the endless arc-shaped symbol strips of the spherical rotating display is selected, and the spherical rotation display is performed so that the selected endless arc-shaped symbol strip is rotated along the symbol arrangement direction. Since the body is rotated, various symbol variations can be executed according to the number of endless arc-shaped symbol strips arranged on the spherical rotation display body, and the spherical rotation display body is stopped. Even in this case, various stop symbols can be displayed at a predetermined display position visible to the player. For example, it is possible to change the arrangement order of symbols and the type of symbols for each endless arc-shaped symbol train. Therefore, since the symbol variation mode and the symbol stop mode can be expressed abundantly, the player's interest can be maintained, and the fun of the game can be enhanced. In addition, for each selected endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band, it is possible to express a variety of symbol forms such as different symbols that stop at a predetermined expression position or different symbols that are likely to be expressed. Thus, it is possible to exhibit a new gameability that has not been achieved in the past, such as whether or not the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band is selected, and to maintain the interest of the game for a relatively long period of time.

  Further, in this configuration, the support shaft portion of the display body rotating device is driven by driving the support point converting device so as to rotate the specific endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band selected by the symbol sequence selecting means. However, the supported point pair corresponding to the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band can be reliably and accurately supported. Then, the spherical rotating display body is rotated by the support shaft portion of the display body rotating device, with the virtual rotation center line of the specific endless arc-shaped symbol array band as the rotation axis. Thereby, the selected specific endless arc-shaped symbol row can be stably rotated along the arrangement direction of the symbols. Furthermore, since this spherical rotation display body is adapted to rotate by the rotation drive of the pair of support shaft portions of the display body rotation device, the endless circle is controlled by controlling the rotation drive of the support shaft portion. It is possible to accurately control the variation mode, stop mode, and the like of the arc-shaped symbol train. Therefore, as described above, the present invention can be applied to a gaming machine such as a slot machine, and the stop correction control of the symbol displayed at the predetermined display position can be performed stably and accurately.

  Such a symbol display device of this configuration is arranged on a pachinko machine, a slot machine, or the like in place of a device that displays a plurality of symbols in a predetermined order. In addition, a variety of symbol variation modes and stop modes can be displayed, and a new effect can be achieved. In addition, even in a game machine having a device that variably displays a plurality of symbols, similar effects can be obtained by replacing the device with a symbol display device of this configuration. Thus, the symbol display device for gaming machines of the present invention can be suitably used for pachinko machines, slot machines, and game machines.

  In the above-described symbol display device for a gaming machine, when the support shaft portion of the display body rotation device supports the supported point pair of the spherical rotation display body, the drive shaft center of the support shaft portion and a specific endless A configuration including positioning means for matching the virtual rotation center line of the arc-shaped symbol sequence band is proposed.

  In such a configuration, when the display body rotation device supports the spherical rotation display body by the positioning means, the rotation axis of the support shaft and the virtual rotation center of the selected endless arc-shaped symbol array band Since the lines coincide with each other, the endless arc-shaped symbol row band can be rotated more accurately and stably along the symbol arrangement direction without the virtual rotation center being shaken during the rotation of the support shaft portion. . When the rotation of the spherical body rotation display body is stopped, it is possible to surely display any of the symbols in the endless arc-shaped symbol array band at a predetermined symbol expression position.

  As the positioning means, for example, each supported point pair of the spherical rotating display body and the support shaft portion of the display body rotating device are respectively formed with a recessed portion and a protruding portion that can be fitted to each other. A configuration in which the drive shaft center of the support shaft portion and the virtual rotation center line of each symbol row band of the spherical rotation display body are made to coincide with each other is preferable.

  In the above-described symbol display device for a gaming machine, the display body rotating device separates the pair of support shaft portions from the support position for supporting the supported point pair of the spherical rotation display body and the supported point pair. A shaft position conversion device that converts the position to the open position and a drive motor that drives the pair of support shafts to rotate, and the pair of support shafts are respectively supported on the outer surface of the spherical rotary display body at the support position. A configuration is proposed that includes a clamping portion that is pressed against and clamps the spherical rotating display.

  In such a configuration, by setting the pair of support shafts of the display body rotating device as the support position, the sandwiching part of the support shaft is pressed against the spherical rotation display body so that the spherical rotation display body is sandwiched. Thus, the rotation driving of the support shaft portion can be reliably transmitted to the spherical rotation display body. Therefore, by controlling the rotation driving of the support shaft portion, the rotation and stop of the spherical rotation display body can be controlled accurately and stably. Even in a configuration requiring stop correction control, such as a slot machine, the stop correction control can be performed more accurately and stably. Furthermore, this display body rotation apparatus can be rotated with respect to the spherical rotation display body along the circumferential direction where the supported point pair is located by setting the support shaft portion to the open position. Thereby, the display body rotating device selectively supports any endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band by the shaft position conversion device, and rotates the selected endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band. It can be done.

  In the above-described symbol display device of the gaming machine, the display body rotation device can hold the spherical rotation display body at a predetermined selection position where the supported point pair of the spherical rotation display body can be selected and supported. And a display body holding device for converting the position of the movable holding member into a holding position for holding the spherical rotation display body at the predetermined selection position and a non-holding position separated from the spherical rotation display body. A configuration is proposed.

  In such a configuration, by holding the spherical rotation display body by the movable holding member, the support shaft portion of the display body rotating device is held at the predetermined selection position even when the support of the spherical rotation display body is released. The support shaft portion of the display body rotating device can be rotated along the circumferential direction in which the supported point pair of the spherical rotation display body is located, and the selected specific endless arc-shaped symbol string can be supported. I am doing so. Here, the predetermined selection position held by the movable holding member is a position where the support shaft portion of the display body rotation device can rotate along the circumferential direction where the supported point pair of the spherical rotation display body is located. Thereby, the display body rotation apparatus can support the supported point pair corresponding to the selected endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band accurately and stably by the support shaft portion. Therefore, the control operation of driving the support point conversion device so that the display body rotating device selects a specific endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band, and the display body rotating device selects the specific endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band The control operation that rotates along the direction can be executed smoothly and continuously. On the other hand, the movable holding member does not hinder the operation of the spherical rotating display body at the non-holding position.

  In the above-described symbol display device of a gaming machine, a configuration is proposed that includes a symbol expression window that displays a predetermined number of symbols arranged in an endless arc-shaped symbol train of a spherical rotating display.

  In this symbol display window, when the spherical rotating display is stopped, a predetermined number of symbols are displayed, and the rotating endless arc-shaped symbol array band is sequentially and continuously displayed. It is possible to generate a game of guessing which endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band is selected by the symbol sequence selection means from the symbols displayed from the symbol display window. In addition, in this symbol display window, a variety of symbol variation modes and symbol stop modes will be displayed for each endless arc-shaped symbol sequence belt composed of a plurality of symbols, which will attract the player's interest. Can be.

  The symbol display window may be of a size that can display one symbol or a size that can display a plurality of symbols such as two or three. In addition, when the size is such that a plurality of portions can be expressed, if the selected endless arc-shaped symbol row is rotated along the longitudinal direction of this symbol display window, It becomes easy for the player to guess whether the symbol row band is selected, and the interest of the game can be further improved.

  The present invention provides a display object by selecting a specific symbol array band from a plurality of endless arc-shaped symbol array bands arranged on a spherical rotating display body by means of a symbol array selection means, and driving and controlling a support point conversion device. By selectively supporting a supported point pair corresponding to the endless arc-shaped symbol row band by a pair of support shaft portions of the rotating device and rotating the support shaft portion, the endless arc-shaped symbol row band is Since it is a symbol display device of a gaming machine in which a spherical rotation display body is rotated so as to rotate along the symbol arrangement direction, the type and arrangement order of symbols differ for each endless arc-shaped symbol array band. It is possible to express various patterns of variations and stops. Furthermore, since a new game characteristic of which endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band is selected is generated, it is possible to improve the game entertainment and maintain the game entertainment for a long time. Further, since the display body rotating device supports the supported point pair of the spherical rotation display body by the support shaft portion and is driven to rotate, the rotation of the support shaft portion is controlled. The spherical rotation display can be stably rotated, and the symbol variation mode and the symbol stop mode of the selected endless arc-shaped symbol train can be controlled accurately and stably.

  In addition, when the support shaft portion of the display body rotating device supports the supported point pair corresponding to the selected endless arc-shaped symbol train, the drive shaft center of the support shaft portion and the endless arc-shaped symbol By adopting a configuration including positioning means for matching the virtual rotation center line of the row band, the selected endless arc-shaped row pattern can be rotated more accurately and stably along the arrangement direction of the row. Can do.

  In addition, the display body rotating device is configured to convert the position of the pair of support shaft portions into a support position for supporting the supported point pair of the spherical rotation display body and an open position separated from the supported point pair. In the configuration provided with the conversion device, the pair of support shaft portions are in pressure contact with the outer surface of the spherical rotation display body at the support position, respectively, and have a sandwiching section for sandwiching the spherical rotation display body. By setting the shaft portion as the support position, it is possible to accurately and stably control the rotation and stop of the spherical rotation display body, and by setting the support shaft portion as the open position, a specific endless arc-shaped symbol array The belt can be selected appropriately.

  In addition, the display rotating device includes a movable holding member capable of holding the spherical rotating display body at a predetermined selection position where the supported point pair of the spherical rotating display body can be selected and supported. The display body is rotated in a configuration including a display body holding device that converts the holding position to hold the spherical rotation display body at the predetermined selection position and the non-holding position separated from the spherical rotation display body. The apparatus can accurately and stably perform the operation of supporting the supported point pair corresponding to the selected endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band by the support shaft portion.

  In addition, in the case of having a symbol display window for displaying a predetermined number of symbols of the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence selected by the symbol selection means of the spherical rotation display body, the symbol displayed from this symbol display window Further, depending on the variation mode, it is possible to have a gameability as to which endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band has been selected. Moreover, since various symbol variation modes and stop symbols are displayed on the symbol display window, the interest of the game can be maintained for a long time.

Embodiments of the present invention are described according to the following examples.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the symbol display device 2 according to the present invention is disposed inside the gaming machine 1. The symbol display device 2 is connected to a support point conversion device 3 fixed to the gaming machine 1 and a drive shaft 10 of the support point conversion device 3, and rotates a display body that rotates by rotation of the drive shaft 10. The apparatus 4 and the spherical rotating display body 5 that is supported and rotated by the display body rotating apparatus 4 on both sides in the radial direction facing each other are provided. Here, the spherical rotation display body 5 is supported by the gaming machine 1 via the display body rotation device 4 and the support point conversion device 3.

  The support point conversion device 3 described above is joined to a back fixing member 7 fixed to the machine base of the gaming machine 1 and includes a drive motor 12 to which a drive shaft 10 is connected. Then, by rotationally controlling the drive motor 12, the drive shaft 10 is driven to rotate about the rotation axis L as the rotation axis.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the display body rotating device 4 described above has a substantially rectangular plate-like base plate member 14 and can be moved forward and backward along the longitudinal direction on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the base plate member 14. It is provided with substantially L-shaped display body support members 15 and 15 provided. Here, on the back surface of the base plate member 14, the drive shaft 10 of the support point conversion device 3 described above is firmly fixed at the center position. Further, both side edges of the base plate member 14 are formed as side walls 20 and 20 projecting forward, so that the display body support members 15 and 15 cannot move outward from the side walls 20 and 20. Yes.

  The base plate member 14 is formed with long guide openings 21 and 21 along the longitudinal direction at both sides in the longitudinal direction of the center position. The rack gears 22, 22 having operating projections 26, 26 inserted through the long guide openings 21, 21 at the inner ends reciprocate along the guide openings 21, 21 on the back surface of the base plate 14. It is supported and arranged by gear support members 24 and 24 so as to be movable. Further, drive motors 25, 25 are fixed to the back surface of the base plate member 14 by motor support members 27, 27, and pinion gears 23, 23 connected to drive shafts (not shown) of the drive motors 25, 25. Are engaged with the rack gears 22 and 22, respectively. The drive motors 25 and 25 are stepping motors, and the rack gears 22 and 22 reciprocate in the longitudinal direction along the guide openings 21 and 21 with respect to the base plate member 14 by rotating forward and backward.

  Further, on the front side of the base plate member 14, short sliding plate portions 15a and 15a disposed along the base plate member 14, and a support plate portion 15b protruding forward from the sliding plate portions 15a and 15a. , 15b and substantially L-shaped display body support members 15, 15 are disposed. In the back surfaces of the sliding plate portions 15a and 15a of the display body support members 15 and 15, fitting holes (not shown) for fitting the tip portions of the operation convex portions 26 and 26 of the rack gears 22 and 22 are formed, respectively. ing. That is, the operating projections 26 and 26 of the rack gears 22 and 22 pass through the guide openings 21 and 21 from the back surface side to the front surface side of the base plate member 14, and the front end portions of the operating projection portions 26 and 26 are connected to the display body support member. The 15 and 15 sliding plate portions 15a and 15a are fitted into the fitting holes. Further, the display body support members 15 and 15 are slidably held on the front surface of the base plate material 14 by support members 28 and 28 that support the sliding plate portions 15a and 15a from above and below. Thereby, the display body support members 15 and 15 are configured to reciprocate along the longitudinal direction on the front surface of the base plate member 14 in accordance with the drive of the drive motors 25 and 25 (FIGS. 7 and 8). reference). In addition, both the display body support members 15 and 15 are mutually arrange | positioned by making the sliding plate parts 15a and 15a into an inner side.

  Drive motors 30 and 30 are respectively disposed on the front side portions of the support plate portions 15b and 15b of the display body support members 15 and 15 so as to face each other. Drive shafts 31, 31 are connected (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 7). The drive shafts 31 and 31 are respectively provided with clamping portions 32 and 32 formed integrally with a disk bottom portion and an annular portion at the respective front ends thereof, joined to the approximate center of the disk bottom portion. It is installed. The annular portions of the sandwiching portions 32, 32 are provided with press contact surfaces 32a, 32a having a ring width along the radial direction, and the press contact surfaces 32a, 32a of the sandwiching portions 32, 32 on both sides are substantially parallel to each other. It has become. In addition, conical positioning convex portions 32b and 32b are formed at the center of the inner side surfaces of the disc bottom portions of the sandwiching portions 32 and 32, respectively (see FIGS. 5 and 7). Here, the positioning convex portions 32b and 32b are projected along the axial direction of the drive shafts 31 and 31, and this axial direction is a drive shaft center on which the drive shafts 31 and 31 rotate.

  As described above, the support shaft portions 33 and 33 according to the present invention are formed by the drive shafts 31 and 31 and the sandwiching portions 32 and 32. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the support shaft portions 33 and 33 move with the reciprocation of the display body support members 15 and 15 described above (see FIG. 7). That is, the display support members 15 and 15, drive motors 25 and 25, rack gears 22 and 22, pinion gears 23 and 23, support members 28 and 28, gear support members 24 and 24, motor support members 27 and 27, and a base The shaft position conversion device 34 according to the present invention is configured by the guide openings 21 and 21 opened in the plate member 14. Here, the positions of the support shaft portions 33 and 33 when the display body support members 15 and 15 are most separated from each other are the open positions g1 and g1 of the present invention. Then, as will be described later, the positions where the respective pressure contact surfaces 32a, 32a of the sandwiching portions 32, 32 sandwich the spherical rotating display body 5 are support positions g2, g2 of the present invention.

  In addition, such a display body rotation apparatus 4 becomes a symmetrical form.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the spherical rotating display 5 described above has four endless arc shapes on the spherical surface along the circumference intersecting with the two bipolar portions P and P facing each other. Symbol row bands 40w, 40x, 40y, and 40z are formed. In the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence bands 40w to 40z, a plurality of types of symbols 11 are arranged at substantially constant intervals for each of the symbol sequence bands 40w to 40z. In the present embodiment, the four endless arc-shaped symbol rows 40w to 40z are arranged so as to intersect each other at an angle of about 45 degrees at the bipolar portions P and P. Here, in each endless arc-shaped symbol row band 40w to 40z, a plurality of types of symbols 11 are arranged in different arrangement orders for different numbers.

  Bands of the endless arc-shaped symbol array bands 40w to 40z on the circumference (hereinafter, this circumference is referred to as a support point circumference T) between the bipolar portions P and P of the spherical rotation display body 5 A positioning hole 41 is formed in the center of each width (see FIG. 3). Then, pressure contact seats 42a and 42a are formed on both sides of each endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40w to 40z with the positioning holes 41 as the center so that the pressure contact surfaces 32a of the support shaft portion 33 are pressed. Further, between the press contact seats 42a, 42a and both side ends of the endless arc-shaped symbol strips 40w to 40z, the inner fitting portions 42b, 42b having a circular shape centering on the positioning hole 41 project outward. Has been. The inner fitting parts 42b and 42b are fitted into the clamping part 32 when the pressing surface 32a of the clamping part 32 of the support shaft part 33 is pressed against the pressing seats 42a and 42a.

  The positioning hole 41, the pressure contact seats 42a and 42a, and the inner fitting portions 42b and 42b are arranged at two locations so as to face each other on the above-mentioned support point circumference T for each endless arc-shaped symbol strip 40w to 40z. Is formed. A straight line passing through the positioning holes 41 and 41 facing each other is a virtual rotation center line Ow, Ox, Oy, Oz that rotates each endless arc-shaped symbol row band 40w to 40z along the arrangement direction of the symbol 11; (See FIG. 4).

  The positioning holes 41 and 41 facing each other, and the pressure contact seats 42a and 42a and the inner fitting portions 42b and 42b provided for both of the positioning holes 41 are used as a pair of support shafts of the display body rotating device 4 described above. The parts 33 and 33 are supported (see FIGS. 8 to 11). That is, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the support shafts 33 and 33 are moved from the open positions g1 and g1 that are separated from each other to the support positions g2 and g2, so that the positioning protrusions of the support shafts 33 and 33 are positioned. The parts 32b and 32b are inserted into the positioning holes 41 and 41 of the spherical rotary display body 5. Here, since the positioning protrusions 32b and 32b have a conical shape, as they are inserted into the positioning holes 41 and 41, the drive shafts 31 and 31 of the support shafts 33 and 33 and the drive shaft centers 31 and 31 are gradually The virtual rotation center lines Ow to Oz thus made coincide with each other. The clamping portion 32 of the support shaft portion 33 presses the pressure contact surface 32a against the pressure contact seats 42a and 42a, and the internal fitting portions 42b and 42b are fitted inside the clamping portion 32. In this manner, the pair of support shaft portions 33 and 33 support the spherical rotating display body 5. As described above, the support shaft portions 33, 33 can support the spherical rotation display body 5, and the position of the spherical rotation display body 5 is the selected position (not shown, FIGS. 8 to 8) according to the present invention. 11).

  In such a spherical rotating display body 5, the pair of positioning holes 41, 41 arranged on the support point circumference T and facing each other almost accurately represents the pair of supported points according to the present invention. The spherical rotating display body 5 is sandwiched between the press contact seats 42a and 42a that are press-contacted by the press contact surfaces 32a of the sandwiching portions 32 of the pair of support shaft portions 33 and 33 described above. 5 is to be supported by a pair of supported points. A pair of support shafts 33 of the display body rotating device 4 is supported by the positioning holes 41 of the spherical rotating display body 5, the press contact seats 42a and 42a, and the inner fitting portions 42b and 42b. The supported pair portions 43w, 43x, 43y, and 43z are configured (see FIG. 7). For example, when the pair of support shaft portions 33 and 33 of the display body rotating device 4 support the supported pair portions 43x and 43x of the spherical rotation display body 5, the drive shaft centers of the support shaft portions 33 and 33 are supported. Coincides with the virtual rotation center line Ox, and the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40x can be rotated in the arrangement direction of the symbols 11. As described above, the pair of support shafts 33 and 33 of the display body rotating device 4 support the supported paired parts 43w, 43w to 43z and 43z of the spherical rotary display body 5 to each other in the present invention. The support shaft portions 33 and 33 support the spherical rotary display body 5 with the pair of supported points.

  Here, the pair of supported paired portions 43x and 43x corresponding to the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40x is formed into an endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40z orthogonal to the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40x at the two pole portions P and P. Is provided. Similarly, a pair of supported pair portions 43y, 43y corresponding to the endless arc-shaped symbol row band 40y is provided in the endless arc-shaped symbol row band 40w, and a pair of supported pairs corresponding to the endless arc-shaped symbol row band 40z. The portions 43z and 43z are provided in the endless arc-shaped symbol row band 40x, and the pair of supported pair portions 43w and 43w corresponding to the endless arc-shaped symbol row belt 40w are provided in the endless arc-shaped symbol row band 40y. .

  The positioning projections 32b and 32b disposed in the sandwiching portions 32 and 32 of the display body rotating device 4 described above and the positioning holes 41 disposed in the spherical rotation display body 5 according to the present invention. Positioning means is configured.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the spherical rotation display body 5 is provided with a sensor mark 35b at a position adjacent to one pressure contact seat 42a for each of the supported pair portions 43w to 43z. In the display body rotating device 4, the support shaft parts 33 and 33 support the supported pair parts 43 w to 43 z of the spherical rotary display body 5 on the support plate part 15 b of one display body support member 15. A photo sensor 35a is disposed at a position facing the sensor mark 35b. Here, each sensor mark 35b has a different form, and is separately detected by the photosensor 35a. Thereby, it can be judged which supported pair part 43w-43z is supported.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the gaming machine 1 described above is provided with fixed table members 8, 8 below the support point conversion device 3 disposed on the back fixing member 7. The fixed table members 8 and 8 are provided so as to be separated right and left immediately below the support point conversion device 3. And the display body holding | maintenance apparatus 6 is arrange | positioned at one fixed table member 8 like FIG. The display body holding device 6 includes a movable holding member 45 that supports the spherical rotating display body 5 from below, and a drive motor 46 that tilts the movable holding member 45 in the vertical direction. Here, the movable holding member 45 supports the spherical rotation display body 5 described above from below and supports the support collar 45a that bends according to the spherical shape of the spherical rotation display 5 and the support collar 45a. It is comprised from the movable holding member 45 which consists of the formed arm part 45b. The movable holding member 45 is pivotally supported on the lower surface of the fixed table member 8 at the end of the arm portion 45b, and can be tilted in the vertical direction. Further, the drive motor 46 is a stepping motor, and is disposed on the lower surface of the fixed table member 8, and tilts the movable holding member 45 in the vertical direction by driving thereof. Then, by driving the drive motor 46, the movable holding member 45 is tilt-converted into a holding position h1 that holds the spherical rotary display body 5 and a non-holding position h2 that is spaced downward (see FIG. 8). ).

  This display body holding device 6 can hold the spherical rotation display body 5 with the movable holding member 45 as the holding position h1 when the above-described display body rotation device 4 does not support the spherical rotation display body 5 (FIG. 8). (See (b)). Here, the holding position h1 of the movable holding member 45 is such that the rotation axis L of the support point conversion device described above is set when the spherical rotation display body 5 is positioned so that the bipolar portions P and P thereof are front and rear. It can be held at a position where it passes through the bipolar parts P and P. Thereby, when the movable holding member 45 of the display body holding device 6 holds the spherical rotation display body 5, the display point rotation device 4 is driven to rotate the display body rotation device 4, thereby rotating the display body. The pair of support shaft portions 33 of the body rotation device 4 can be rotated along the support point circumference T of the spherical rotation display body 5. And each supported pair part 43w, 43w-43z, 43z which rotates any one of the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence belts 40w-40z along the arrangement direction of the symbol can be selectively supported. That is, the display body holding device 6 assists the rotation operation of selecting any one of the endless arc-shaped symbol row bands 40w to 40z by the display body rotating device 4, and the selection of the symbol row band and the selection thereof. It plays a role in smoothly shifting the subsequent rotation of the spherical rotation display body 5. In addition, the position of the spherical rotation display body 5 supported by the movable holding member 45 at the holding position h1 is the selection position according to the present invention described above (not shown, see FIGS. 8 to 11).

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 12, a front panel 9 covering these front surfaces is arranged to be openable and closable on the front side of the support point conversion device 3, the display body rotation device 4 and the spherical rotation display body 5 described above. Yes. The front panel 9 is provided with a symbol display window 50 that displays three symbols of the spherical rotary display body 5 arranged in the vertical direction. When the spherical rotating display 5 is positioned so that the two polar parts P, P are located forward and backward, the symbol display window 50 has the front pole part P as the center, and each of the patterns 11 adjacent to the upper and lower sides thereof. Is expressed. That is, when the spherical rotation display body 5 is rotated about the virtual rotation center line O along the horizontal direction as an axis of rotation, the endless arc-shaped symbol string 40w to 40z that rotates along the arrangement direction of the symbols 11 However, in the symbol expression window 50, a variation aspect that fluctuates in the vertical direction is displayed, and when it is stopped, a stop condition of three consecutive symbols 11 is expressed.

  On the other hand, the gaming machine 1 is provided with a control circuit for controlling the gaming machine 1. As shown in FIG. 13, the control circuit includes a main control board 60 provided with a board circuit. Here, the board circuit is for controlling an operation related to a game. Further, a main control central control unit CPU 61 is disposed on the board circuit of the main control board 60. The main control central control unit CPU 61 constitutes a microcomputer and executes overall control related to games. Further, a storage device ROM 62 is connected to the main control central control unit CPU 61 via an address bus (not shown). Here, the address bus unilaterally transmits information for designating an address. Furthermore, a storage device RAM 63 is also connected to the main control central control unit CPU 61 via a data bus (not shown). Here, the data bus exchanges data.

  Here, the storage device ROM 62 stores and holds fixed data such as operation programs used in arithmetic processing and various random number tables. As this random number table, in this embodiment, a random number table for selecting any one of the four endless arc-shaped symbol sequence bands 40w to 40z disposed on the spherical rotation display body 5 described above, Or there is a random number table or the like for judging the loss. These random number tables are used for processing for extracting random values when a predetermined gaming condition is satisfied. On the other hand, the storage device RAM 63 is provided with a storage area, a register area constituting a soft timer, a work area, and the like.

  The board circuit of the main control board 60 is provided with a first I / O port 65a and a second I / O port 65b. The first I / O port 65a and the second I / O port 65b are for the central control CPU 61 for main control to perform data communication with peripheral devices.

  The first I / O port 65a includes a start switch S1 that is turned on in accordance with a pressing operation of a start button (not shown), a stop switch S2 that is turned on in accordance with a pressing operation of a stop button (not shown), and a coin insertion into a coin insertion slot (not shown). Accordingly, a closing switch S3 which is turned on is connected to each other, and a signal based on the turning on of each switch is input. Then, according to the signals input from the switches, the main control central control unit CPU 61 reads a predetermined operation program, a random number table, and the like, and executes a game operation control process.

  On the other hand, the support point conversion device 3, the display body rotation device 4, and the display body holding device 6 are connected to the second I / O port 65b, respectively, and the second I / O port 65b is connected to the second I / O port 65b. The central control CPU 61 for main control, the support point conversion device 3, the display body rotating device 4, and the display body holding device 6 exchange signals. More specifically, the second I / O port 65 b is configured to drive the drive motor 12 of the support point conversion device 3, the drive motors 25 and 25 of the display body rotation device 4, the drive motors 30 and 30, and the display body holding device 6. Each drive motor 12, 25, 30, 46 is drive-controlled according to the drive signal from the main control central control unit CPU61.

  The second I / O port 65b is also connected to a photosensor 35a disposed in the display body rotation device 4 described above. In accordance with a signal input from the photosensor 35a, the central control CPU 61 for main control drives and controls the drive motor 12 of the support point conversion device 3 and the drive motors 30 and 30 of the display body rotation device 4. Yes. That is, the drive motor 12 of the support point conversion device 3 is driven and controlled so that the signal detected by the photosensor 35a coincides with a signal for rotating the specific endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band 40w to 40z. Further, when any of the endless arc-shaped symbol strips 40w to 40z is rotated, a specific symbol is displayed at the symbol display window 50 from the rotational speed of the drive motors 30 and 30 and the signal detected by the photosensor 35a. The drive motors 30 and 30 are drive-controlled so that the correction control for stopping and displaying 11 can be performed.

  The main control board 60 described above performs a process of selecting any one of the endless arc-shaped symbol array bands 40w to 40z, constitutes the symbol array selection means according to the present invention, and also supports the support point conversion described above. The device 3, the display body rotating device 4, and the display body holding device 6 are also controlled in operation, and constitute a control means according to the present invention.

Next, in this embodiment, the operation control conditions of the symbol display device 2 of the gaming machine 1 will be described in detail.
In the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, a predetermined coin is inserted to start the game, and the start switch S1 is turned on when the player presses a start button (not shown) during the game. When activated, the symbol display device 2 is activated, and when the stop switch S2 is turned on by pressing a stop button (not shown), the symbol display device 2 is stopped. Then, coins are paid out as prizes according to the type of the symbols 11 stopped and displayed on the symbol display window 50.

  In addition, the gaming machine 1 selects any one of the endless arc-shaped symbol strips 40w to 40z and displays the endless arc-shaped symbol strips 40w to 40z so as to be displayed in the vertical direction on the symbol display window 50 described above. The spherical rotation display body 5 is rotated with the virtual rotation center lines Ow to Oz in the horizontal direction (see FIG. 12). This is because the support point converting device 3 is driven and the display body rotating device 4 supports the supported paired portions 43w to 43z corresponding to the endless arc-shaped symbol rows 40w to 40z, and then the supporting point converting device 3 is further supported. , So that the virtual rotation center lines Ow to Oz are along the horizontal direction. Thereby, the player can guess which symbol line band 40w-40z was selected by the symbol 11 expressed from the symbol expression window 50.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the spherical rotating display body 5 of the gaming machine 1 includes four endless arc-shaped symbol rows 40 w to 40 z having six different symbols 11 in different arrangement orders and numbers. It is distributed to each. Among these six types of symbols 11, “7”, “Bell”, and “Flag” are hit symbols 11a. The winning symbol 11a is hit when the symbol display window 50 is stopped and displayed at the upper position 50a, the central position 50b, and the lower position 50c. Specifically, when “7” of the winning symbol 11a is stopped and displayed at the central position 50b, 10 coins are paid out as a prize, and when “7” is stopped and displayed at the upper position 50a or the lower position 50c, the next time. The probability that the endless arc-shaped symbol array strips 40y, 40z, 40w having a large number of symbols 11a arranged in this game are selected is set to a high probability. In addition, when “BELL” is stopped at the central position 50b, five coins are paid out, and when “BELL” is stopped at the upper position 50a or the lower position 50c, the next game has the winning symbol 11a. The probability that the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence bands 40y, 40z, and 40w having a large number of arrangements are selected is defined as a high probability. Further, when the “flag” is stopped and displayed at the central position 50b, three coins are paid out, and when the “flag” is stopped and displayed at the upper position 50a or the lower position 50c, it is the same as “bell”. As described above, the symbol 11a is stopped and displayed at the respective parts 50a to 50c of the symbol display window 50, whereby a profit is provided to the player.

  The gaming machine 1 selects any of the four types of endless arc-shaped symbol strips 40w to 40z according to the number of coins inserted from a predetermined coin insertion slot (not shown), and changes the selection probability. I have to. In the endless arc-shaped symbol strips 40w to 40z, the one having the smallest arrangement number of each hit symbol 11a is defined as the symbol train strip 40x, and the “flag” of the hit symbol 11a is set to the symbol train strip 40x. A symbol string 40y that includes a relatively large amount is defined as a symbol string 40y. A symbol string that includes a relatively large number of "bells" of the hit symbol 11a and a large number of "bells" and "flags" is arranged for the symbol string band 40y. A band 40z is provided, and the symbol row band 40z includes a relatively large number of "7" of the hit symbol 11a and has a large number of arrangements of "7", "bell", and "flag" as the symbol row band 40w. . Therefore, there is a high possibility that the symbol 11a is exposed to the symbol display window 50 in the order of the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band 40x, the symbol sequence band 40y, the symbol sequence band 40z, and the symbol sequence band 40w, and is provided to the player. Profits are also increasing.

  The process of selecting the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence bands 40w to 40z is executed by the main control board 60 as described above (see FIG. 13). The central control device CPU 61 for main control extracts a random number value from a random number table for selecting the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence bands 40w to 40z stored and held in the storage device ROM 62. This random number value is set so as to increase the probability that the symbol sequence bands 40w, 40x, 40y, and 40z are selected in order in accordance with the increase in the number of signals input from the insertion switch S3 disposed at the coin insertion slot. Yes. Further, as described above, when the winning symbol 11a is displayed at the upper position 50a or 50c of the symbol display window 50, a selection probability up flag is set and “2” is added to the number of signals of the input switch S3. I am doing so. That is, the selection probability is the same as when three coins are inserted, and the same selection probability as when four coins are inserted when two coins are inserted. Then, according to the random number value extracted from the random number table, any one of the four endless arc-shaped symbol sequence bands 40w to 40z is selected.

  On the other hand, as described above, when a start button (not shown) is pressed by the player, the main control board 60 inputs an ON signal of the start switch S1, and drives the drive motors 30 and 30 of the display body rotation device 4. The spherical rotation display 5 is controlled to rotate until the photo sensor 35a detects the sensor mark 35b. And according to the process which selected any of the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence belts 40w-40z as mentioned above, each drive motor 12, 25, 25 of the support point conversion apparatus 3, the display body rotation apparatus 4, and the display body holding | maintenance apparatus 6 is carried out. 30 and 46 are driven and controlled, and the spherical rotating display 5 is rotated. Thereafter, when a stop button (not shown) is pressed by the player, an on signal of the stop switch S2 is input, and a random number value is extracted from a random number table for determining hit or lose according to the operation timing, In accordance with the random number value, the symbol 11 to be stopped and displayed on the symbol display window 50 is determined, and the drive motors 30 and 30 of the display body rotating device 4 are controlled to stop.

Next, the progress of the game by the symbol display device 2 of the gaming machine 1 will be described in order.
For example, when a player inserts two coins from a coin insertion slot (not shown), the insertion switch S3 outputs a signal to the main control board 60 each time a coin is detected. The central control CPU 61 for main control counts this signal to determine the number of coins inserted and temporarily stores it in the storage device RAM 63. Thereafter, when the player presses a start button (not shown), the start switch S1 is turned on, and this signal is output to the main control board 60. When this signal is input, the main control central control unit CPU 61 reads a predetermined operation program and starts control for driving the support point conversion device 3, the display body rotation device 4, and the display body holding device 6, respectively. First, a random number table for selecting any one of the endless arc-shaped symbol sequences 40w to 40z is read from the storage device ROM 62, and a random value is extracted. Then, from this random number value, one type is selected from the four types of endless arc-shaped symbol sequence bands 40w to 40z in accordance with the number of inserted coins stored in the storage device RAM 63. Here, it is assumed that the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40w having the largest number of arrangements of the winning symbols 11a is selected.

  When the central control CPU 61 for main control selects the endless arc-shaped symbol row band 40w, the support point conversion device 3 rotates the endless arc-shaped symbol row band 40w with its virtual rotation center line Ow as the horizontal direction. The display body rotating device 4 and the display body holding device 6 are driven and controlled. First, the drive motors 30 and 30 of the display body rotating device 4 that is displayed in the up and down direction by the symbol display window 50 are driven and controlled so that the photo sensor 35a of the display body rotating device 4 is a sensor mark of the spherical rotating display body 5. The spherical rotating display body 5 is rotated until 35b is detected, and one pole part P is held in a state facing the front (center position 50b of the symbol display window 50). That is, the spherical rotating display body 5 is in a state where the bipolar parts P and P are located at the front and rear ends, respectively.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), the display-body rotating device 4 uses the support shaft portions 33 and 33 to turn the spherical rotation display body 5 into the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40y and its virtual rotation center line Oy. Is held in a state along the horizontal direction. That is, the symbols 11 and 11a of the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band 40y are stopped and displayed on the symbol display window 50 (see FIG. 12). In this holding state, the support shaft portions 33 and 33 of the display body rotating device 4 are at the support positions g2 and g2, and the movable holding member 45 of the display body holding device 6 is at the non-holding position h2.

  As described above, the supported pair portions 43y and 43y currently supported by the support shaft portions 33 and 33 of the display body rotating device 4 are confirmed based on the signal from the photosensor 35a that has detected the sensor mark 35b. . In this case, since the virtual rotation center line Ow of the newly selected endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40w is in the vertical direction, in order to support the supported pair portions 43w and 43w, the display body rotating device 4 Each support shaft part 33, 33 must be arranged vertically. However, in the present embodiment, the display body holding device 6 supports the spherical rotation display body 5 from below by the movable holding member 45, so that the display body rotates as described above. The support shaft portions 33 and 33 of the device 4 cannot be arranged vertically. In such a case, the display body rotating device 4 is once rotated, and the spherical rotating display body 5 is supported at its supporting point circumference T so that the newly selected endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40w is inclined. Rotate along. After that, the display body rotation device 4 is rotated so as to support the supported pair portions 43w and 43w corresponding to the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40w.

  The process until the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40w described above is supported and rotated will be described in detail. When it is confirmed that the display body rotating device 4 supports the supported paired portions 43y and 43y corresponding to the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40y, as shown in FIG. The drive motor 12 is driven, and the display body rotation device 4 is rotated about 45 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the front so that the support shaft portion 33 rotates along the support point circumference T. As a result, the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40z can be exposed by the symbol display window 50. Thereafter, the drive motor 46 of the display body holding device 6 is driven to convert the position of the movable holding member 45 from the non-holding position h2 to the holding position h1, as shown in FIG. The spherical rotating display body 5 is supported and held from below.

  When the spherical rotating display body 5 is held by the movable holding member 45 of the display body holding device 6, as shown in FIG. 10 (d), the shaft position conversion device 34 (FIGS. 1 and 5) of the display body rotating device 4 is provided. Drive motors 25 and 25, and both display body support members 15 and 15 are moved so that the support shaft portions 33 and 33 are converted from the support positions g2 and g2 to the open positions g1 and g1. Move towards. Thereafter, the drive motor 12 of the support point conversion device 3 is driven so that the display body rotation device 4 rotates its support shaft portion 33 along the support point circumference T as shown in FIG. Then, it rotates about 90 degrees clockwise as viewed from the front. Then, the drive motors 25 and 25 of the shaft position conversion device 34 are driven, and the display support members 15 and 15 are moved to the open positions g1 and g1 as shown in FIG. To the support positions g2 and g2 to move inward. Thereby, the spherical rotating display body 5 is supported by the support shaft portions 33 and 33 of the display body rotating device 4 by the supported pair portions 43w and 43w corresponding to the selected endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40w. It will be.

  Here, there is a case where the support shaft portions 33, 33 of the display body rotating device 4 are moved from the open positions g1, g1 (see FIG. 7B) to the support positions g2, g2 (see FIG. 7A). First, the positioning convex portions 32b and 32b of the support shaft portions 33 and 33 are inserted into the positioning holes 41 and 41 of the supported pair portions 43w and 43w, respectively. Since the positioning protrusions 32b and 32b have a substantially conical shape as described above, as the positioning protrusions 32b and 32b are inserted into the positioning holes 41 and 41, the positioning holes 41 and 41 have endless arc-shaped symbol rows 40w. The virtual rotation center line Ow and the drive shafts 31 and 31 of the support shafts 33 and 33 are made to coincide with each other. Then, the pressure contact surfaces 32a and 32a of the clamping portions 32 and 32 of the support shaft portions 33 and 33 are pressed against the pressure contact seats 42a and 42a of the supported pair portions 43w and 43w, and the pair of support shaft portions 33 and 33 are formed. The supported pair parts 43w and 43w will be clamped. Thereby, the display body rotating device 4 sandwiches the supported pair portions 43w and 43w on the virtual rotation center line of the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40w by the support shaft portions 33 and 33, and displays the spherical rotation display. Support the body 5.

  When the display body rotation device 4 supports the spherical rotation display body 5 in this manner, as shown in FIG. 11G, the display body holding device 6 is driven to set the movable holding member 45 to the non-holding position h2. After that, as shown in FIG. 11 (h), the support point conversion device 3 is driven, and the display body rotation device 4 is viewed from the front so that the support shaft portion 33 rotates along the support point circumference T. Rotate approximately 45 degrees counterclockwise. As a result, the selected endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band 40w displays the symbol along the symbol expression window 50 (see FIG. 13). Then, by driving the drive motors 30 and 30 of the display body support members 15 and 15 of the display body rotating device 4 in synchronism with each other at the same rotational speed, the sandwiching portions 32 and 32 are rotated and endless arc-shaped symbols are rotated. The spherical rotating display 5 is rotated so that the row band 40w rotates along the arrangement direction of the symbols. In the symbol display window 50, the symbol 11 of the endless arc-shaped symbol string 40w is displayed in a variable manner.

  When this endless arc-shaped symbol row 40w is displayed in a variable manner on the symbol display window 50, the player presses a stop button (not shown) at an appropriate timing. As a result, a signal is output from the stop switch S2 to the main control board 60, and the central control CPU 61 for main control extracts a random number value from a random number table for determining hit or lose according to the input timing of this signal. In this random number table, a plurality of random values for determining the symbol 11 to be stopped at the symbol display window 50 are stored, and the winning or losing is determined according to the random value extracted therefrom. And according to this random number value, the drive motors 30 and 30 of the display body rotation device 4 are stopped so that the specific symbol 11 is stopped at any one of the upper position 50a, the central position 50b and the lower position 50c of the symbol display window 50. Stop control. Then, the rotation of the spherical rotation display body 5 is stopped. In addition, the above-described photosensor 35a detects the stop control of the drive motors 30 and 30 for stopping and displaying the specific symbol 11 at the upper position 50a, the center position 50b, and the lower position 50c of the symbol display window 50. This is done by detecting the circumferential position of the endless arc-shaped symbol array strip 40w during rotation based on the timing of the sensor mark 35b and the rotational speed of the drive motors 30 and 30.

  Then, the variation display of the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40w is finished, and the three symbols 11 are stopped and displayed on the symbol display window 50 in the vertical direction, and the upper position 50a, center position 50b, and lower position 50c of the symbol display window 50 are displayed. When the winning symbol 11a as described above is stopped and displayed (see FIG. 12), the above-described profit is provided to the player according to the result. Here, as the profit provision control process, when the spherical rotating display 5 stops rotating, the central control CPU 61 for main control performs predetermined profit provision according to the already extracted random number value. For example, when a predetermined number of coins are paid out as a prize, the main control central processing unit CPU 61 controls a payout device (not shown) for paying out coins, and executes coin payout. On the other hand, in the case of a profit to increase the number of coins inserted in the next game, the main control CPU 61 sets a flag for performing this process, and when the next game is started, the random number value is determined according to the flag. The extraction is executed.

  In this way, the game progresses in the gaming machine of this embodiment. Then, for each game, one of the endless arc-shaped symbol sequences 40w to 40z that changes and stops at the symbol display window 50 is selected. As a result, various variations and stops of the symbol are displayed on the symbol display window 50, and the player's interest can be maintained for a relatively long period of time. Furthermore, which endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band 40w-40z was selected by changing the number of arrangements of the per symbol 11a for providing the player with a benefit for each endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band 40w-40z. Thus, a new game property of inferring from the symbol displayed on the symbol display window 50 is exhibited, and the interest of the game can be improved.

  Further, the symbol display device 2 described above supports and rotates the spherical rotating display body 5 by the pair of support shaft portions 33 and 33 of the display body rotating device 4, and the display body rotating device 4. Since the support point conversion device 3 is rotated, the supported paired portions 43w to 43z corresponding to the selected endless arc-shaped symbol row bands 40w to 40z can be supported. By controlling the driving of each of the two driving motors, it can be controlled stably and accurately. In particular, one of the supported pair portions 43w to 43z corresponding to the endless arc-shaped symbol array bands 40w to 40z is sandwiched by the support shaft portions 33 and 33 of the display body rotating device 4, and the drive motors 30 and 30 Since the rotation drive is transmitted so as to rotate, the drive motors 30 and 30 are driven and controlled so that a predetermined number of symbols 11 stopped at the symbol display window 50 are advanced according to the game situation. Can be accurately performed. Further, the positioning projections 32b and 32b and the positioning holes 41 and 41 prevent the rotation axis from being shaken during rotation of the spherical rotation display body 5, and the drive shaft and the virtual rotation center of the support shafts 33 and 33 are not displaced. A state in which any of the lines Ow to Oz matches can be maintained. Also by this, the effect which can control stably rotation of the spherical rotation display body 5 is exhibited. Therefore, the present invention can be suitably used for a gaming machine configured to provide a prize according to the type of symbols stopped at a specific position, such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine.

  On the other hand, as another configuration of the above-described embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, each endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band may have a different arc surface shape. Here, the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 80y is disposed substantially along the spherical surface, and the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 80z is disposed along the substantially elliptical surface having the two pole portions P and P as the major axis. To be. Further, the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 80x is arranged for each predetermined number of symbols on the polygonal surface inscribed in the spherical surface. As described above, by using the spherical rotating display body 81 provided with the endless arc-shaped symbol row bands 80x, 80y, and 80z, the symbol display window 50 displays various variation modes and stop modes that are more varied. , The effect of maintaining the interest in the game in the long term increases. The spherical rotating display body may have a configuration in which all of the endless arc-shaped symbol sequences are arranged on the elliptical surface, or a configuration in which all of the endless arc-shaped symbol sequences are arranged on the polygonal surface. Also good. That is, in the spherical rotating display body, if the overall shape is substantially spherical, it is possible to set various arrangement forms of the endless arc-shaped symbol array band formed along the circumference.

  Further, in the embodiment described above, the gaming machine 1 in which a single spherical rotating display body 5 is rotated and profits may be provided to the player in accordance with the symbol stopped at the symbol display window 50. As a configuration, a configuration in which a plurality of the spherical rotary display bodies 5 described above are provided can be employed. Thereby, since the variation mode and the stop mode expressed by the respective symbol display windows 50 become more varied and varied, the above-described effects of the present invention can be exhibited more remarkably. For example, as in a pachinko machine or a slot machine, the symbol display device 2 according to the present embodiment is replaced with a device that displays the symbols in a variable manner using three symbol display windows. Can be applied. In a pachinko machine or a slot machine, a symbol display device provided with the spherical rotating display according to the present invention may be disposed on only one or two of the three symbol display windows. good.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, after the selected endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band 40w is variably displayed on the symbol display window 50, the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band 40w is controlled to start changing. However, as another configuration, as soon as the display body rotating device 4 supports the supported pair portions 43w and 43w, the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40w starts to fluctuate, and the endless arc-shaped symbol array band 40w is started. The support point conversion device 3 may be driven and controlled so that the symbol display window 50 is variably displayed while fluctuating. Further, the spherical rotation display body 5 can be rotated so that the selected endless arc-shaped symbol row 40w is not changed along the symbol display window 50.

  Moreover, although the symbol display window 50 of the Example mentioned above is made into the shape elongated in the up-down direction, it can also be made into the shape made long in the diagonal direction or a horizontal direction. Furthermore, it is good also as a shape which can express a some symbol in several different directions.

  In the above-described embodiment, the support shafts 33 and 33 are driven by inserting the positioning protrusions 32 b and 32 b of the display body rotation device 4 into the positioning holes 41 and 41 of the spherical rotation display body 5. The shaft center and any of the virtual rotation center lines Ow to Oz are made to coincide with each other, but in addition to this, a fitting projection is provided on one side and the fitting projection is fitted on the other side. Like the structure which provides a fitting part, it shall have the part which mutually fits. For example, a key portion that protrudes inward is provided in the ring-shaped portion of the sandwiching portion 32 of the display body rotating device 4, and the drive shaft is fitted into the pressure contact seat 42 a of the spherical rotating display body 5 by fitting with the key portion. It is also possible to employ a configuration in which a key groove that matches the center and any of the virtual rotation center lines Ow to Oz is provided. Further, by setting the fitting dimension between the inner fitting portions 42b and 42b of the supported pair portions 43w to 43z and the ring-shaped portions of the clamping portions 32 and 32, the driving shaft portions 33 and 33 are driven. A configuration may be adopted in which the axis and the virtual rotation center lines Ow to Oz are made to coincide. On the other hand, as another configuration in which each of such fitting portions is provided, a positioning sensor is provided, and the support shaft portions 33 and 33 sandwich any one of the supported pair portions 43w to 43z according to the sensor. You can also

  In the embodiment described above, the display body holding device 6 that holds the spherical rotation display body 5 from below is provided. In addition, the display body holding device holds the spherical rotation display body 5 upward. It can also be set as the structure hold | maintained from the front and back of the spherical rotation display body 5. Here, in the case of holding from above or in the front-rear direction, for example, a configuration in which a magnet or the like is arranged on the movable holding member and the spherical rotating display body 5 is held by a magnetic force can be adopted.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the present embodiment, control is performed so as to change the probability of selecting the endless arc-shaped symbol strips 40w to 40z according to the number of inserted coins, but as another control, for example, a display device that separately displays effects is provided, By displaying a specific effect on the display device, it is possible to select any of the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence bands 40w to 40z.

2 is a plan view of a symbol display device 2 disposed in the gaming machine 1. FIG. It is a front view of the symbol display apparatus 2 same as the above. It is a front view of the spherical rotation display body 5 when the bipolar parts P and P are located at the upper and lower ends. It is a front view of the spherical rotation display body 5 when the bipolar parts P and P are located at the front and rear ends. They are (a) the perspective view seen from the front of the display body rotation apparatus 4, and (b) the exploded perspective view seen from the back. It is a perspective view of the display body holding | maintenance apparatus 6. FIG. It is an enlarged view explaining the state in which the one support shaft part 33 of the display body rotation apparatus 4 exists in the (a) open position g1, and (b) the state in the support position g2. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing open positions g1 and g1 and support positions g2 and g2 of the holding portions 32 and 32 of the display body rotating device 4 and a holding position h1 and a non-holding position h2 of the movable holding member 45 of the display body holding device 6. is there. It is explanatory drawing showing the process of supporting the selected endless arc-shaped symbol sequence belt 40w. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of supporting the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band 40 w continued from FIG. 9. It is explanatory drawing showing the process of supporting the endless circular arc-shaped symbol sequence band 40w following FIG. It is explanatory drawing showing the symbol 11 of the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence belt 40w exposed by the symbol display window 50. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main control board 60 of the gaming machine 1. FIG. It is a top view showing the spherical rotation display body 81 of another structure in the state which made the bipolar part P and P the front-back direction.

Explanation of symbols

1 gaming machine 2 symbol display device (game machine symbol display device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Support point conversion apparatus 4 Display body rotation apparatus 5 Spherical rotation display body 6 Display body holding | maintenance apparatus 11, 11a Symbol 30 Drive motor 31 Drive shaft 32 Clamping part 32b Positioning convex part (positioning means)
34 Shaft position conversion device 40w to 40z Endless arc-shaped symbol array belt 41 Positioning hole (positioning means)
43w to 43z Supported pair (supported point pair)
45 Movable holding member 50 Symbol display window g1 Open position g2 Support position h1 Holding position h2 Non-holding position L Rotation axis Ow to Oz Virtual rotation center line P Pole part

Claims (5)

A plurality of endless arc-shaped design strips each having a plurality of symbols arranged therein are arranged along the circumferential direction so that each of the endless arc-shaped design strips intersects each other on the spherical surface, and each endless arc shape A spherical rotation display body provided with a plurality of supported point pairs located at two intersections between the virtual rotation center line of the pattern row belt and the outer surface of the display body;
A pair of support shafts for selectively supporting any of the supported point pairs of the spherical rotation display body, and the support shaft portion selectively supports any of the supported point pairs to form a spherical rotation display body. A display body rotating device that rotates the selected endless arc-shaped symbol array band on the spherical rotation display body along the arrangement direction of the symbols, with the virtual rotation center line as the rotation axis by rotating and rotating,
The display body is configured to rotate the pair of support shafts of the display body rotation device along a circumferential direction in which a pair of supported points corresponding to each endless arc-shaped symbol row of the spherical rotation display body is located. A support point conversion device for controlling rotation of the rotation device;
A symbol sequence selecting means for selecting a specific endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band according to a predetermined selection condition;
In order to select a supported point pair corresponding to the endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band so as to rotate a specific endless arc-shaped symbol sequence band according to the symbol sequence selection means, a support point conversion device and a display body rotation device are provided. A symbol display device for a gaming machine, comprising a control means for driving control.   When the support shaft portion of the display body rotation device supports a supported point pair corresponding to the spherical rotation display body, the drive shaft center of the support shaft portion and the virtual rotation center line of a specific endless arc-shaped symbol array band The game machine symbol display device according to claim 1, further comprising positioning means for matching the two. The display body rotating device
A shaft position conversion device for converting the position of the pair of support shaft portions into a support position for supporting the supported point pair of the spherical rotary display body and an open position spaced from the supported point pair;
A drive motor for rotating and driving the pair of support shafts,
3. The pair of support shaft portions, each having a holding portion for holding the spherical rotation display body in pressure contact with the outer surface of the spherical rotation display body at a support position. The game symbol display device according to claim 1. The display body rotating device includes a movable holding member capable of holding the spherical rotation display body at a predetermined selection position where the supported point pair of the spherical rotation display body can be selected and supported.
The movable holding member includes a display body holding device that converts a position of the spherical rotation display body to a holding position that holds the spherical rotation display body at the predetermined selection position and a non-holding position that is separated from the spherical rotation display body. The symbol display device for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a symbol display window for displaying a predetermined number of symbols arranged in an endless arc-shaped symbol row of the spherical rotating display body. Symbol display device.

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