JP5103300B2 - Reel device and gaming machine having the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a reel device and a gaming machine equipped with the reel device, and more particularly to a reel device equipped in a pachislot gaming machine.

  Conventionally, a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols arranged on each surface, a game medal, a coin, etc. (hereinafter referred to as a medal, etc.) are inserted and a start lever is operated by a player, and a plurality of reels are detected. A start switch that requests the start of rotation of the reel and a stop button provided corresponding to each of the plurality of reels is detected by the player, and a signal that requests the stop of rotation of the corresponding reel is output. A step switch that is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of reels and transmits the driving force to each reel, and the operation of the stepping motor based on signals output from the start switch and the stop switch. A reel control unit that controls and rotates each reel and stops the operation of the start lever. When it comes out, lottery is performed based on the random number value, and the reel rotation is stopped based on the result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as “internal winning combination”) and the timing at which the stop button is detected. A game machine called pachislot is known.

  For example, a reel device provided in such a conventional pachislot machine is disclosed in Patent Document 1, in which the center of the reel drum and the reel are driven by the driving force of the motor provided in the center of the reel drum. A structure in which the reel drum is directly driven to rotate by using a rim connecting the peripheral surface portion of the drum is mainly employed.

  Here, the structure of the reel device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a long distance from the output shaft of the motor, which is a driving unit, to the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum. There is a problem that the response near the peripheral surface of the reel drum is poor. Therefore, in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, gear teeth are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the reel drum, and the small gear provided inside the reel drum so as to be meshed with the gear teeth is driven by the driving force of the motor. A reel device is disclosed in which a rotating small gear meshes with gear teeth and rotates a reel drum.

JP 11-47371 A JP 2002-191746 A JP 2004-222967 A

  However, since the reel devices disclosed in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 have a short distance from the motor output shaft to the peripheral surface of the reel drum, a conventional motor provided at the center of the reel drum is driven. As a result, there is a problem that the rotation speed of the reel drum is not higher than when the reel drum is directly rotated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and enables the reel drum to be driven to rotate with a small torque, and the reel has the same rotational speed as when the motor provided at the center of the reel drum is driven to rotate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a reel device capable of rotating a drum and a gaming machine including the reel device.

Means and effects for solving the problems

  In order to achieve the above object, a reel device and a gaming machine equipped with the reel device according to the present invention have the following features. That is, the reel device of the present invention and the gaming machine including the reel device include the following features alone or in combination as appropriate.

  In order to achieve the above object, a reel device according to the present invention is formed with a reel band formed with a plurality of symbols, a reel drum provided with a reel band on the outer peripheral surface, and a diameter smaller than the drum diameter of the reel drum. A drum gear that meshes with the peripheral surface of the reel drum to rotate the reel drum, a driving force output mechanism that outputs a driving force to rotate the drum gear, and a speed change mechanism that changes the relationship between the driving force and the rotational speed of the drum gear And a shift control device for controlling the transmission mechanism so that the rotation speed of the drum gear is set to a low speed region at the start of the rotation of the reel drum and the rotation speed of the drum gear is switched to the high speed region when the rotation of the reel drum reaches a predetermined speed. It is characterized by having.

  According to the above configuration, the drum gear is rotated by the driving force output mechanism, and the reel drum is rotated by meshing the rotated drum gear with the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum. As a result, the drum gear is formed with a diameter smaller than the drum diameter of the reel drum, so that the driving force output mechanism provided at the center of the reel drum as in the prior art is directly driven to the peripheral surface of the reel drum via the rim. The distance from the driving force output mechanism to the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum is shorter than the method of applying force. Therefore, the torque required for the driving force output mechanism can be reduced, and the response of the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum to the output of the driving force output mechanism can be improved. Further, the rotational speed of the drum gear is switched by the speed change mechanism controlled by the speed change control device. As a result, even when the distance from the driving force output mechanism to the peripheral surface of the reel drum is short, the rotational speed is the same as when the driving force output mechanism provided at the center of the reel drum is driven and rotated. The reel drum can be rotated.

  In the reel device according to the present invention, a plurality of drum gears may be provided and meshed with the inner peripheral surface of the reel drum, and the reel drum may be rotationally driven while holding the reel drum rotatably at a predetermined position. .

  According to the above configuration, the plurality of drum gears mesh with the inner peripheral surface of the reel drum, and rotate while holding the reel drum rotatably at a predetermined position. This eliminates the need for a rim that connects the central portion and the outer peripheral portion of the reel drum that has been provided to hold the reel drum in the related art, thereby reducing the weight of the reel drum. Therefore, the torque required for the driving force output mechanism can be further reduced. In addition, since a space is created near the center of the reel drum because the rim is no longer necessary, it is possible to easily devise a backlight using the space and to reduce the size of the reel drum.

  In the reel device according to the present invention, the drum gear may be meshed with the peripheral portion of the reel drum, and the driving force output mechanism may rotate the drum gear from the side surface side of the reel drum.

  According to the above configuration, the drum gear is engaged with the peripheral edge of the reel drum, and the drum drum is rotated by the drum gear that is rotationally driven by the driving force output mechanism from the side surface side of the reel drum. This makes it easier to attach and detach the driving force output mechanism than the conventional structure in which the driving force output mechanism is provided inside the reel drum. Further, since the driving force output mechanism is not provided inside the reel drum, the reel drum can be easily reduced in size, and the weight and cost can be reduced.

  The gaming machine according to the present invention includes the reel device according to the present invention described above.

  According to said structure, the game machine provided with the reel apparatus of this invention mentioned above can be provided.

  In the gaming machine according to the present invention, a stop button for stopping the rotation of the reel drum by a player's operation, a stop button control device for enabling the player to operate the stop button, and operation of the stop button are effective. And a reel drum stop control device that stops the rotation of the reel drum when the player operates the stop button, and the shift control device enables the stop button operation by the stop button control device. Before the rotation, the rotation speed of the drum gear may be switched from the low speed region to the high speed region.

  According to said structure, before the operation of the stop button by a player becomes effective, the rotational speed of a drum gear is switched from a low speed area | region to a high speed area | region. As a result, the operation of the stop button becomes effective, and before the stop button is pressed by the player and the rotation of the reel drum is stopped, the driving force output mechanism provided at the center of the reel drum as in the prior art. The reel drum can be rotated at the same rotational speed as when the is driven and rotated.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Embodiments relating to a reel device of the present invention and a gaming machine including the reel device will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, with reference to FIG. 1, the structure of the gaming machine (hereinafter, pachislot 1) in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows an external structure of a pachislot machine 1 in the present embodiment.

(Reel and display window)
The pachi-slot 1 includes a cabinet 2 that houses a reel device 3 (3L, 3C, 3R), a circuit board, and the like, and a front door 9 that is attached to the cabinet 2 so as to be openable and closable. Inside the cabinet 2, three reel devices 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) are provided side by side. Here, in FIG. 1, an enlarged view of the reel device 3 is shown by taking one of the three reel devices 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) as an example. As shown in FIG. 1, each reel device 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) has a reel band 5 on which a plurality of symbols 80 (for example, 21 pieces) are formed on the peripheral surface of a cylindrical reel drum 92. Configured.

  A liquid crystal display device 18 is provided at the center of the front door 9. The liquid crystal display device 18 includes a display screen including a symbol display area, and is provided so as to be positioned on the front side overlapping the three reel devices 3 (3L, 3C, and 3R) when viewed from the front. The symbol display area is provided corresponding to each of the three reel devices 3 (3L, 3C, 3R), and can pass through the reel device 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) provided behind the reel device 3 (3L, 3C, 3R). It has a simple configuration.

  In other words, the symbol display area functions as a display window, and the player can visually recognize the rotational drive and stop operation of the reel device 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) provided behind the display area. Become. In the present embodiment, the entire display screen including the symbol display area is used to display an image and execute an effect.

  The symbol display area (hereinafter referred to as display window 4 (4L, 4C, 4R)) is arranged so that the reel device 3 (3L, 3L, 3R, 3R, 3R, 3R, 3R, 3R Among a plurality of types of symbols 80 formed on the reel band 5 of 3C and 3R), one symbol 80 (three in total) is displayed in each of the upper, middle and lower regions within the frame. In addition, it is determined whether or not a pseudo line formed by combining any one of predetermined areas of the upper, middle, and lower areas of each display window 4 (4L, 4C, and 4R) is a prize. Is defined as a line (winning determination line 8) to be performed.

  In the present embodiment, a top line formed by combining the upper stages of the display windows 4 (4L, 4C, 4R), a center line formed by combining the middle stages of the display windows 4 (4L, 4C, 4R), and the display windows 4 (4L · 4C · 4R) bottom line combining the lower stage, upper display of the left display window 4L, cross down line combining the lower stage of the middle display window 4C and the lower display of the right display window 4R, lower stage of the left display window 4L Five cross-up lines formed by combining the middle stage of the middle display window 4C and the upper stage of the right display window 4R are provided as the winning determination lines 8.

  As shown in the enlarged view of the reel device 3 in FIG. 1, the reel device 3 of the present embodiment includes a reel band 5 in which a plurality of symbols 80 are formed, and a reel drum in which the reel band 5 is provided on the outer peripheral surface. 92, a rim 91 that holds the reel drum 92 so as to rotate at a predetermined position, a driven shaft 111 provided on an output shaft of a stepping motor 49, which will be described later, and a drum gear 110 provided on the tip of the driven shaft 111. And a transmission mechanism 100 to be described later. In the present embodiment, all three reel devices 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) have the same configuration.

  The reel drum 92 is provided with the reel band 5 on the outer peripheral surface, and a plurality of gear teeth are formed at the end of the inner peripheral surface. The drum gear 110 is formed to have a diameter smaller than the drum diameter of the reel drum 92, and is arranged so as to mesh with gear teeth formed on the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum 92, and is rotated by the rotational driving force of the stepping motor 49. It has become so. Here, since the drum gear 110 is meshed with gear teeth formed on the reel drum 92, the drum gear 110 rotates to drive the reel drum 92 to rotate. For example, when the drum gear 110 rotates in the rotation direction A, the reel drum 92 is rotated in the rotation direction B.

  Here, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional reel device 3A. As shown in FIG. 3, in the conventional reel device 3 </ b> A, a stepping motor 49 provided at the center of the reel drum 92 without gear teeth is directly applied to the peripheral surface of the reel drum 92 via the rim 91. Is used. For example, when the stepping motor 49 is driven, a rotational driving force is applied to the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum 92 via the rim 91, and the reel drum 92 is rotationally driven in the rotational direction B. In this case, since the distance from the output shaft of the stepping motor 49 to the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum 92 is long, the torque required by the stepping motor 49 increases, and the response near the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum 92 to the output of the stepping motor 49 Becomes worse. On the other hand, in the reel device 3 of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the distance from the output shaft of the stepping motor 49 to the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum 92 can be shorter than the conventional one by the length L. According to this configuration, since the drum gear 110 is formed with a diameter smaller than the drum diameter of the reel drum 92, the stepping motor 49 provided at the center of the reel drum 92 as in the prior art is connected to the reel drum via the rim 91. The distance from the stepping motor 49 to the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum 92 is shorter than the method in which the driving force is directly applied to the peripheral surface portion of the 92. Accordingly, the torque required by the stepping motor 49 can be reduced, and the response of the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum 92 to the output of the stepping motor 49 can be improved.

(Transmission mechanism)
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the speed change mechanism 100 of the present embodiment. Here, the speed change mechanism 100 has a role of changing the relationship between the driving force of the stepping motor 49 and the rotational speed of the drum gear 110. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the speed change mechanism 100 includes a moving unit 101, a driven unit 102, and a driving unit 103.

  The moving unit 101 includes a moving motor 160, a moving shaft 161, and a moving pulley 114. The moving shaft 161 is provided on the output shaft of the moving motor 160, and the outer peripheral surface is formed in a screw structure. The upper part of the moving pulley 114 has a nut structure, and is combined with a screw structure on the outer peripheral surface of the moving shaft 161 so that a relationship between a male screw and a female screw is obtained. That is, when the moving shaft 161 is rotated by the rotational driving force of the moving motor 160, the moving pulley 114 can move in the X-axis direction that is the axial direction of the moving shaft 161. Further, a low-speed driven member 113 described later is attached to the moving pulley 114 by a support member. For this reason, when the moving pulley 114 moves, the low-speed driven member 113 is also moved in the X-axis direction.

  The driven part 102 includes a driven shaft 111, a low speed driven member 113, a clutch 112, and a high speed driven gear 120. The rod-shaped driven shaft 111 is arranged in parallel with the moving shaft 161. A drum gear 110 is provided at the tip of the driven shaft 111. Further, the low-speed driven member 113 is provided so as to pass through the center of the driven shaft 111 with a slight gap in the X-axis direction from the position where the drum gear 110 is provided. As described above, the low-speed driven member 113 is attached to the moving pulley 114 by the support member.

  The low speed driven member 113 is a small-diameter cylinder having a hollow portion like a donut shape. Further, the low speed driven member 113 is rotatable about the driven shaft 111 as a rotation axis. The outer peripheral surface of the low speed driven member 113 is disposed so as to contact the outer peripheral surface of the low speed driving member 140 described later, and the low speed driven member 113 is also rotated by the rotation of the low speed driving member 140. The low speed driven member 113 is continuously variable as the low speed driving member 140 rotates. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the low speed driven member 113 has a coefficient of friction that can be continuously shifted, and further, the coefficient of friction that can stop the low speed driven member 113 when the low speed driving member 140 stops rotating. Have.

  Here, a cross-sectional view in the YZ direction (see the right figure) and a cross-sectional view in the XY direction (see the left figure) of the low-speed driven member 113 are shown above FIG. As shown in the sectional view in the YZ direction, the low speed driven member 113 has a hollow portion, and is formed so that a part of the hollow portion is convex. On the other hand, the cross section in the YZ direction of the driven shaft 111 has the same cross section as the hollow portion of the low speed driven member 113, and is formed to have a smaller diameter than the hollow portion of the low speed driven member 113. That is, the low-speed driven member 113 can freely move in the X-axis direction. However, when the driven shaft 111 rotates, the convex portion of the driven shaft 111 is caught by the convex portion of the low-speed driven member 113, and the low-speed driven member 113 The driven member 113 is also rotated. Further, as shown in the cross-sectional view in the XY direction, the hollow portion of the low speed driven member 113 has an oblique cut portion. As a result, the low-speed driven member 113 stands upright in the Y-axis direction when proceeding in the X-axis direction, and when proceeding in the −X-axis direction, the slanted incised portion has the driven shaft 111 as shown in the upper part of FIG. It is moved in a state of being inclined in the −X axis direction until it touches. Here, as will be described in detail later, when the reel drum 92 is stopped, the low-speed driven member 113 is controlled to move in the −X axis direction. In this case, since the low-speed driven member 113 moves while tilting in the −X-axis direction, the surface where the low-speed driven member 113 and the outer peripheral surface of the low-speed driving member 140 are in contact with each other becomes a part of the low-speed driving member. The influence of friction with the outer peripheral surface of 140 can be reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a clutch 112 is provided behind the low-speed driven member 113 along the X-axis direction, and further, a high-speed driven gear is rotatable behind the low-speed driven member 113 with the driven shaft 111 as a rotation axis. 120 is provided.

  The clutch 112 is electromagnetically coupled (ON state) to transmit the rotational force of the high speed driven gear 120 to the drum gear 110 via the driven shaft 111, while the clutch 112 is released (OFF state) to release the high speed driven gear. It has a role of blocking 120 rotational force.

  The high speed driven gear 120 is a cylinder having the same diameter as the low speed driven member 113. Gear teeth are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the high-speed driven gear 120 and are arranged so as to mesh with the outer peripheral surface of the high-speed drive gear 130 described later.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the drive unit 103 includes a stepping motor 49, a drive shaft 131, a low speed drive member 140, and a high speed drive gear 130.

  The drive shaft 131 is provided on the output shaft of the stepping motor 49, and the low speed drive member 140 is provided at the tip of the drive shaft 131 so as to contact the outer peripheral surface of the low speed driven member 113.

  The low-speed drive member 140 has a shape obtained by cutting the upper part of the cone, and the outer peripheral surface of the low-speed drive member 140 is disposed so as to contact the outer peripheral surface of the low-speed driven member 113. Further, as the low speed driving member 140 is positioned in the X-axis direction, the circumferential diameter gradually increases. As a result, the rotational speed of the low speed driven member 113 changes depending on the position where the low speed driven member 113 contacts the low speed driving member 140. Note that the outer peripheral surface of the low-speed drive member 140 has a coefficient of friction that can be continuously shifted with the low-speed driven member 113 and that the low-speed driven member 113 is also stopped when the rotation is stopped.

  Further, the high speed drive gear 130 is provided so as to penetrate the center of the drive shaft 131 with a slight gap in the X-axis direction from the position where the low speed drive member 140 is provided. The high-speed drive gear 130 has a shape like a lower part of a cone. Further, the diameter of the high speed drive gear 130 is larger than the diameter of the high speed driven gear 120 and the diameter of the low speed drive member 140. Gear teeth are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the high-speed drive gear 130 and are arranged so as to mesh with the outer peripheral surface of the high-speed driven gear 120. As a result, the drive shaft 131 is rotated by the rotational driving force of the stepping motor 49, whereby the high-speed drive gear 130 is rotated, and the high-speed driven gear 120 that meshes with the outer peripheral surface of the high-speed drive gear 130 is also rotated. Yes.

(Operating device)
Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the front door 9 is provided with various devices to be operated by the player. The medal slot 22 is provided to accept a medal dropped from the outside by the player. The medals accepted by the medal slot 22 are inserted into one game with a predetermined number (for example, three) as an upper limit, and the amount exceeding the predetermined number can be deposited inside the pachislot machine 1. (So-called credit function).

  The bet button 12 is provided to determine the number of coins to be inserted into one game from medals deposited inside the pachislot 1. The checkout button 14 is provided to pull out medals deposited inside the pachislot 1 to the outside.

  The start lever 6 is provided to start rotation of all the reel devices 3 (3L, 3C, 3R). Stop buttons 7 (7L, 7C, and 7R) are associated with the three reel devices 3 (3L, 3C, and 3R), respectively, and stop the rotational drive of the corresponding reel devices 3 (3L, 3C, and 3R). Is provided.

(Other equipment)
The 7-segment display 17 is composed of a 7-segment LED, and the number of medals inserted in the current game (hereinafter referred to as the number of inserted coins), the number of medals paid out to the player as a privilege (hereinafter referred to as the number of payouts), pachislot Information such as the number of medals deposited in 1 (hereinafter referred to as the number of credits) is digitally displayed to the player.

  The lamp 29 (LED or the like) outputs light in a pattern of turning on and off according to the production contents. The speaker 21 outputs sound such as sound effects and music according to the production contents. The medal payout port 15 guides medals discharged by driving a medal payout device 40 described later to the outside. The medals discharged from the medal payout opening 15 are stored in the medal tray 16.

  FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the pachislot machine 1 according to this embodiment. The state where the front door 9 is opened and the structure on the back surface side of the front door 9 and the structure inside the cabinet 2 appears is shown.

  A board (hereinafter referred to as a main board) constituting the main control circuit 71 is provided above the inside of the cabinet 2. The main control circuit 71 is a circuit that controls the main flow of the game in the pachi-slot 1 such as determination of an internal winning combination, rotation driving and stopping of the reel device 3, and determination of the presence or absence of winning. A specific configuration of the main control circuit 71 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Three reel devices 3 (3L, 3C, and 3R) are provided at the center inside the cabinet 2.

  On the left side of the three reel devices 3 (3L, 3C, 3R), a substrate (hereinafter referred to as a sub-substrate) constituting the sub-control circuit 72 is provided. The sub-control circuit 72 is a circuit that controls the execution of effects by displaying images.

  Below the inside of the cabinet 2, a medal payout device 40 (hereinafter referred to as a hopper) having a structure capable of storing a large amount of medals and discharging them one by one is provided. On the left side of the hopper 40, a power supply device 50 is provided for supplying necessary power to each device of the pachislot machine 1.

  A selector 60 is provided at the center of the back side of the front door 9 and below the display window 4 (4R, 4C, 4L). The selector 60 is a device for selecting whether or not a medal is appropriate in material, shape, and the like, and guides an appropriate medal received in the medal insertion slot 22 to the hopper 40. Note that a medal sensor 22S, which will be described later, is provided on the path through which the medal passes in the selector 60, and detects that an appropriate medal has passed.

[Circuit configuration of pachislot]
This completes the description of the mechanical structure of the pachislot machine 1. Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a configuration of a circuit included in the pachislot machine 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. The pachi-slot 1 in the present embodiment includes a main control circuit 71, a sub-control circuit 72, and peripheral devices (actuators) that are electrically connected thereto.

<Main control circuit>
FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the main control circuit 71 of the pachi-slot 1 in the present embodiment.

(Microcomputer)
The main control circuit 71 includes a microcomputer 30 installed on a circuit board as a main component. The microcomputer 30 includes a CPU (hereinafter, main CPU 31), a ROM (hereinafter, main ROM 32), and a RAM (hereinafter, main RAM 33).

  The main ROM 32 stores a control program executed by the main CPU 31, a data table such as an internal lottery table, data for transmitting various control commands (commands) to the sub control circuit 72, and the like. The main RAM 33 is provided with a storage area for storing various data such as an internal winning combination determined by execution of the control program.

(Random number generator etc.)
The main CPU 31 is connected to a clock pulse generation circuit 34, a frequency divider 35, a random number generator 36, and a sampling circuit 37. The clock pulse generation circuit 34 and the frequency divider 35 generate clock pulses. The main CPU 31 executes a control program based on the generated clock pulse. The random number generator 36 generates a random number within a predetermined range (for example, 0 to 65535). The sampling circuit 37 extracts one value from the generated random numbers.

(Switch etc.)
A switch or the like is connected to the input port of the microcomputer 30. The main CPU 31 receives an input from a switch or the like and controls the operation of peripheral devices such as a stepping motor 49 (49L / 49C / 49R). The stop switch 7S detects that each of the three stop buttons 7 (7L, 7C, 7R) has been pressed (stop operation) by the player. The start switch 6S detects that the start lever 6 has been operated by the player (start operation).

  The medal sensor 22S detects that a medal received at the medal insertion slot 22 has passed through the selector 60 described above. The bet switch 12S detects that the bet button 12 has been pressed by the player. The settlement switch 14S detects that the settlement button 14 has been pressed by the player.

(Peripheral devices and circuits)
Peripheral devices whose operations are controlled by the microcomputer 30 include a stepping motor 49 (49L / 49C / 49R), a transmission mechanism 100 (100L / 100C / 100R), a 7-segment display 17 and a hopper 40. A circuit for controlling the operation of each peripheral device is connected to the output port of the microcomputer 30.

  The motor drive circuit 39 drives the stepping motors 49 (49L, 49C, 49R) provided corresponding to the reel devices 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) via the speed change mechanism 100 (100L, 100C, 100R). Control. The reel position detection circuit 47 uses a light sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion to indicate a reel index indicating that the reel device 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) has been driven to rotate once by each reel device 3 (3L, 3C).・ Detect according to 3R).

  The stepping motor 49 has a configuration in which the momentum is proportional to the number of output pulses, and the rotation axis can be stopped at a specified angle. The driving force of the stepping motor 49 is transmitted to the reel device 3 via the speed change mechanism 100. Each time a pulse is output to the stepping motor 49, the reel device 3 is driven to rotate at a constant angle. In the present embodiment, the stepping motor 49 is controlled by the main CPU 31 and the motor drive circuit 39 so that the output becomes 100% after 3 seconds from the start of driving.

  The main CPU 31 manages the rotation angle of the reel (mainly how many symbols the reel has rotated) by counting the number of times the pulse is output to the stepping motor 49 after detecting the reel index. The positions of the symbols 80 formed on the reel band of the reel device 3 are managed.

  Further, the main CPU 31 enables operation of the stop button 7 (7L, 7C, 7R) by the player. The main CPU 31 rotates the reel drum 92 when the operation of the stop button 7 (7L, 7C, 7R) is enabled and the player operates the stop button 7 (7L, 7C, 7R). The motor drive circuit is controlled to stop the operation.

  The speed change mechanism 100 is controlled by the speed change control device 10 to be described later so that the speed change step is set to the low speed region when the stepping motor 49 starts to be driven and switched to the high speed region 3 seconds after the start of driving. That is, since the output of the stepping motor 49 becomes 100% after 3 seconds from the start of the driving of the stepping motor 49, the rotation of the reel drum 92 reaches a predetermined speed (hereinafter referred to as a low speed region limit speed) which is a limit point. The rotation speed will not increase beyond that. For this reason, after 3 seconds from the start of driving the reel device 3, the speed change stage of the speed change mechanism 100 is controlled to be switched from the low speed area to the high speed area. The low speed region and the high speed region will be described later.

  The display unit drive circuit 48 controls the operation of the 7-segment display 17. The hopper drive circuit 41 controls the operation of the hopper 40. The payout completion signal circuit 44 manages the detection of medals performed by the medal detection unit 40S provided in the hopper 40, and checks whether or not the medals discharged from the hopper 40 have reached the payout number.

  The sub control circuit 72 is electrically connected to the main control circuit 71 and performs processing such as determination and execution of effect contents based on a command transmitted from the main control circuit 71.

  The sub control circuit 72 is connected to the liquid crystal display device 18, the speaker 21, the lamp 29, and the transmission control device 10 as peripheral devices whose operations are controlled.

  A sub CPU, a rendering processor, a drawing RAM (including a frame buffer), and a driver (not shown) create a video according to animation data designated by the contents of the presentation, and display the created video on the liquid crystal display device 18.

  The sub CPU, DSP, audio RAM, A / D converter, and amplifier output sound such as BGM from the speaker 21 in accordance with the sound data specified by the contents of the presentation. Further, the sub CPU turns on and off the lamp 29 according to the lamp data designated by the contents of the effect.

  Further, the sub CPU causes the transmission control device 10 to switch the speed change stage of the speed change mechanism 100 from the low speed area to the high speed area when the rotation of the reel drum 92 reaches the low speed area limit speed.

[Transmission mechanism operation]
Next, the operation of the speed change mechanism 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Low speed area)
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the speed change mechanism 100 of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 shows a case where the speed change stage of the speed change mechanism 100 is in a low speed region. Here, the low speed region is a speed change state when the reel drum 92 starts to be driven from the stop state.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the speed change mechanism 100 in the low speed region, the clutch 112 is turned off, and only the rotational force of the low speed driven member 113 is transmitted to the drum gear 110. When the shift stage is in the low speed region, the moving motor 160 is rotationally driven in the rotational direction d, so that the moving shaft 161 is rotated in the same rotational direction d. As the moving shaft 161 rotates, the moving pulley 114 is moved along with the low-speed driven member 113 in the X-axis direction. On the other hand, when the stepping motor 49 is rotationally driven in the rotational direction b, the low speed driving member 140 is similarly rotated in the rotational direction b. Thereby, since the outer peripheral surface of the low speed driven member 113 and the outer peripheral surface of the low speed driving member 140 are in contact, the low speed driven member 113 is moved in the rotation direction a by the rotational force of the low speed driving member 140 while moving in the X-axis direction. Continuously variable speed rotation. Further, in the drum gear 110, the low-speed driven member 113 is continuously rotated and rotated, so that the drum gear 110 is also rotated and rotated in the rotation direction A, and the reel drum 92 is rotated and rotated. That is, at the start of driving the reel drum 92, the low-speed driven member 113 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface having the smallest diameter of the low-speed driving member 140 and rotates, so that the torque of the stepping motor 49 can be reduced although the rotation speed is low. It has become. Therefore, the speed change mechanism 100 makes it easy to rotate the reel drum 92 by setting the rotation speed of the drum gear 110 to a low speed region at the start of rotation of the reel drum 92.

  Further, when the low speed driven member 113 moves and rotates in the X-axis direction, the diameter of the low speed driving member 140 gradually increases. For this reason, when the rotational speed of the reel drum 92 is gradually increased and the low speed driven member 113 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface where the diameter of the low speed driving member 140 is maximum, the rotational speed is the fastest in the low speed region (low speed region limit Speed). However, in the state of the low speed region limit speed, the rotation speed of the reel drum 92 cannot be increased as compared with the conventional case where the stepping motor 49 provided at the center of the reel drum 92 is driven to rotate the reel drum 92 directly. Here, control is performed so as to switch the shift stage to a high-speed region described next.

(High speed area)
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the speed change mechanism 100 of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a case where the speed change stage of the speed change mechanism 100 is in a high speed region. Here, the high speed region is a state in which the rotation speed of the reel drum 92 is fastest. Switching from the low speed region to the high speed region is controlled by the sub CPU and the speed change control device 10 included in the sub control circuit 72 so as to be switched when the rotation of the reel drum 92 reaches the low speed region limit speed. Specifically, when the output of the stepping motor 49 becomes 100% and the reel rotation speed reaches the low speed limit speed (in this embodiment, 3 seconds after the start of driving of the reel device 3), the sub CPU and the shift control are performed. The apparatus 10 is controlled to switch from the low speed region to the high speed region.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the speed change mechanism 100 in the high speed region, the clutch 112 is turned on, and only the rotational force of the high speed driven gear 120 is transmitted to the drum gear 110. At this time, the low speed driven member 113 is moved to a position where it does not contact the outer peripheral surface of the low speed driving member 140 by the moving motor 160 and stopped. When the speed change step is in the high speed region, the stepping motor 49 is driven to rotate in the rotational direction b, so that the high speed drive gear 130 is similarly rotated in the rotational direction b. Thereby, since the outer peripheral surface of the high-speed driven gear 120 and the outer peripheral surface of the high-speed drive gear 130 are meshed, the high-speed driven gear 120 is rotated at a constant speed in the rotation direction c by the rotational force of the high-speed drive gear 130. Further, since the high-speed drive gear 130 is formed to have a larger diameter than the diameter of the low-speed drive member 140, the rotation speed of the reel drum 92 becomes higher than that in the low-speed region. Thus, even if the distance from the stepping motor 49 to the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum 92 is short by the speed change mechanism 100 controlled by the sub CPU and the speed change control device 10, it is provided at the center portion of the reel drum 92 as in the prior art. The reel drum 92 can be rotated at the same rotational speed as when the stepping motor 49 is driven and rotated.

(When reel is stopped)
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the speed change mechanism 100 of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 shows the state of the speed change mechanism 100 when the reel drum 92 is stopped.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the stop button 7 is operated by the player's operation, the moving motor 160 starts to rotate in the rotation direction e. As a result, the moving shaft 161 rotates in the rotation direction e, and the moving pulley 114 is moved in the −X-axis direction together with the low speed driven member 113. At this time, as shown in the cross-sectional view in the XY direction of the low-speed driven member 113 shown in FIG. 6, the low-speed driven member 113 is inclined in the −X-axis direction until the oblique cut portion of the hollow portion contacts the driven shaft 111. Move in state.

  Next, when the moved low-speed driven member 113 moves to a position where the diameter of the low-speed drive member 140 is the minimum diameter, the rotation direction of the moving motor 160 is instantaneously driven in the reverse rotation (rotation direction f), The low speed driven member 113 returns to an upright state again and stops. Thereafter, by stopping the rotating stepping motor 49, the rotation of the high-speed driving gear 130 and the high-speed driven gear 120 is stopped, and the reel drum 92 is stopped together with the drum gear 110. Here, since the high-speed driven gear 120 and the high-speed drive gear 130 are meshed with each other by the gear teeth, the reel drum 92 can be stopped at a desired position without slipping. In addition, since the low-speed driven member 113 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface where the low-speed driving member 140 has the minimum diameter, the response to stop the reel drum 92 can be made faster.

  The operation of the speed change mechanism 100 has been described above with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. Next, with reference to FIG. 8, the timing of the shift switching operation in the transmission mechanism 100 will be described.

[Operation timing chart of transmission mechanism]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a timing chart of the shift switching operation in the transmission mechanism 100 of the present embodiment. First, in FIG. 8, the time when the reel device 3 starts to be driven, that is, when the reel drum 92 starts to rotate is set to 0 sec. As shown in FIG. 8, in the reel device 3 of the present embodiment, the speed change stage of the speed change mechanism 100 is controlled to be in the low speed region for 0 to 3.0 seconds. Further, during this period, the output of the stepping motor 49 starts to increase from 0% and reaches 100% after 3.0 seconds. In this case, the rotation speed of the reel drum 92 is also saturated at a predetermined speed (low speed region limit speed). The reason why the rotation speed of the reel drum 92 is saturated at the low speed limit speed is that the output of the stepping motor 49 is 100%, and the distance from the output shaft of the stepping motor 49 to the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum 92 is larger than in the past. Is also due to the shortness.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the reel device 3 according to the present embodiment switches the speed change stage of the speed change mechanism 100 from the low speed region to the high speed region when 3.0 seconds have elapsed from the start of the rotation of the reel drum 92. As a result, the rotation speed of the reel drum 92 that has been saturated increases again, and reaches the maximum speed by 4.5 sec. In other words, the stepping motor 49 provided at the center of the reel drum 92 as in the prior art is driven by switching the speed change stage of the speed change mechanism 100 even if the distance from the stepping motor 49 to the peripheral surface of the reel drum 92 is short. Thus, the reel drum 92 is controlled to rotate at the same rotational speed as that of the rotation.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the pachislot machine 1 of this embodiment is controlled so that the operation of the stop button 7 becomes effective when 4.5 seconds have elapsed from the start of rotation of the reel drum 92. Here, as described above, the speed change stage of the speed change mechanism 100 is switched from the low speed area to the high speed area after 3.0 seconds from the start of the rotation of the reel drum 92, so that the operation of the stop button 7 by the player is effective. Before becoming, the shift stage of the transmission mechanism 100 has already been switched from the low speed region to the high speed region. As a result, the operation of the stop button 7 becomes effective, and before the stop button 7 is pushed by the player and the rotation of the reel drum 92 is stopped, it is provided at the center of the reel drum 92 as in the prior art. The reel drum 92 can be rotated at the same rotational speed as when the stepping motor 49 is driven and rotated.

  Thereafter, when the player operates the stop button 7, the pachi-slot 1 of the present embodiment switches the speed change stage of the speed change mechanism 100 from the high speed area to the low speed area and stops the rotation of the reel drum 92.

[Program flow executed in pachislot]
Next, contents of a program executed by the main CPU 31 of the main control circuit 71 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[Main flowchart by control of main CPU of main control circuit]
First, with reference to FIG. 9, the main flowchart by control of the main CPU31 is demonstrated. When power is turned on to the pachi-slot 1, first, the main CPU 31 performs an initialization process (S1). Next, the main CPU 31 clears the designated storage area in the main RAM 33 (S2). For example, data stored in a storage area that needs to be erased for each game, such as an internal winning combination storage area or a display combination storage area, is cleared.

  Next, the main CPU 31 performs medal acceptance / start check processing (S3). In this process, input checks of the medal sensor 22S and the start switch 6S are performed.

  Next, the main CPU 31 extracts a random value and stores it in a random value storage area provided in the main RAM 33 (S4). Next, the main CPU 31 performs an internal lottery process (S5). In this process, the internal winning combination is determined by lottery based on a random value. Next, the main CPU 31 transmits a start command to the sub-control circuit 72 (S6). The start command includes a parameter for specifying an internal winning combination.

  Next, the main CPU 31 requests the start of rotational driving of all reel devices 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) (S7). When the start of rotation of all reel devices 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) is requested, the stepping motor 49 is driven by an interrupt process (FIG. 11 described later) executed at a constant cycle (1.1173 msec). Controlled and rotation of each reel is started.

  Next, the main CPU 31 performs a reel stop control process which will be described later with reference to FIG. 10 (S8). In this process, the input of the stop switch 7S is checked, and the reel device 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) is checked based on the timing when the stop button 7 (7L, 7C, 7R) is pressed and the internal winning combination. The rotational drive is stopped.

  Next, the main CPU 31 searches for a combination of symbols displayed along the winning determination line 8, and determines a payout number and the like based on the result (S9). As a result of the search, when the combination of symbols 80 displayed along the winning determination line 8 matches the symbol 80 combination defined by the symbol combination table, the corresponding display combination and the number of payouts are determined. Next, the main CPU 31 transmits a display command to the sub control circuit 72 (S10). The display command includes parameters that specify the display combination, the number of payouts, and the like.

  Next, the main CPU 31 performs a medal payout process (S11). Based on the determined payout number, the hopper 40 is driven and the credit number is updated. Next, the main CPU 31 updates the bonus end number counter based on the payout number (S12). The numerical value determined as the payout number is subtracted from the bonus end number counter.

  Next, the main CPU 31 determines whether or not the bonus operating flag is on (S13). When determining that the bonus operating flag is on, the main CPU 31 performs a bonus end check process (S14). It is checked whether or not to end the bonus operation with reference to various counters for managing the bonus end timing.

  The main CPU 31 performs a bonus operation check process after S14 or when it is determined in S13 that the bonus operating flag is not on (S15). It is checked whether or not the bonus operation starts. When this process ends, the process proceeds to S2.

[Reel stop control process]
Next, the reel stop control process will be described with reference to FIG. First, the main CPU 31 determines whether 4.5 seconds have elapsed after the reel device 3 is driven to rotate (S21). When determining that 4.5 seconds have not elapsed, the main CPU 31 waits until it elapses.

  When the main CPU 31 determines that 4.5 seconds have elapsed since the reel device 3 is driven to rotate, the main CPU 31 enables the stop button 7 (S22).

  Next, the main CPU 31 determines whether or not a valid stop button 7 has been pressed (S23). When the main CPU determines that the effective stop button 7 is not pressed, it waits until it is pressed.

  When determining that the valid stop button 7 has been operated, the main CPU 31 invalidates the operation of the corresponding stop button 7 (S24). The valid and invalid states of each stop button 7 are managed in a predetermined storage area provided in the main RAM 33.

  Next, the main CPU 31 sets 5 as the number of checks (S25). In the present embodiment, since the maximum number of sliding pieces is “4”, when the stop button 7 (7L, 7C, 7R) is pressed, the middle stage of the corresponding display window 4 (4L, 4C, 4R) Including the position of the symbol 80 in the area up to the position of the symbol 80 that is four points ahead of the symbol 80, the check target is included. That is, any of the five numerical values “0”, “1”, “2”, “3”, and “4” is determined as the number of sliding frames.

  Next, based on the internal winning combination, the main CPU 31 moves the position of the symbol 80 in the middle of the corresponding display window 4 (4L, 4C, 4R) when the stop button 7 (7L, 7C, 7R) is operated ( Hereinafter, the position of the symbol 80 with the highest priority is searched from the positions of the symbols 80 within the range of the number of checks including the stop start position) (S26). In this process, the position of the symbol 80 that can display the combination of symbols 80 that are permitted to be displayed by the internal winning combination along the winning determination line 8 is the position of the symbol 80 having the highest priority. It is determined.

  Next, the main CPU 31 determines the number of sliding symbols based on the search result (S27). The number of symbols 80 from the stop start position to the symbol 80 with the highest priority is determined as the number of sliding symbols. Next, the main CPU 31 shifts to waiting for a scheduled stop position (S28). When a transition is made to waiting for the planned stop position, the driving of the stepping motor 49 (49L, 49C, 49R) is controlled by an interrupt process described later, and the position of the symbol 80 with the highest priority is displayed in the corresponding display window 4 (4L, 4C, 4R). The rotation of the reel device 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) is stopped after waiting for the middle stage.

  Next, the main CPU 31 transmits a reel stop command to the sub-control circuit 72 (S29). The reel stop command includes a parameter for specifying the type of the stopped reel.

  Next, the main CPU 31 determines whether or not there is a stop button 7 (7L, 7C, 7R) whose operation is valid (S30). That is, it is determined whether or not there is a reel device 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) that is still rotationally driven. When the main CPU 31 determines that there is a stop button 7 (7L, 7C, 7R) whose operation is valid, the main CPU 31 determines that there is no stop button 7 (7L, 7C, 7R) whose operation is valid while moving to S21. Sometimes, the reel stop control process is terminated.

[Interrupt processing under the control of the main CPU (1.1173 msec)]
Next, an interrupt process (1.1173 msec) under the control of the main CPU 31 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the main CPU 31 saves the register (S31). Next, the main CPU 31 performs an input port check process (S32). In this process, signals input from various switches such as the stop switch 7S are checked.

  Next, the main CPU 31 performs a reel control process (S33). In this process, when the start of the rotational drive of all reel devices 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) is requested, the rotational drive of each reel device 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) is started, and then at a constant speed. The driving of the stepping motor 49 (49L / 49C / 49R) is controlled so as to rotate. Note that the rotation speed of the reel drum 92 is changed based on a shift control process of FIG. 12 described later by the sub CPU of the sub control circuit 72. When the number of sliding pieces is determined, the driving of the stepping motor 49 is controlled so that the rotation of the corresponding reel is continued for the number of sliding pieces and the rotation is decelerated and stopped.

  Next, the main CPU 31 performs a lamp and 7-segment driving process (S34). Next, the main CPU 31 restores the register (S35). When this process ends, the interrupt process ends.

[Shift control process by sub CPU control]
Next, the shift control process by the control of the sub CPU will be described with reference to FIG. First, the sub CPU determines whether or not a start command is received from the main CPU 31 (S41). When determining that the start command has not been received, the sub CPU waits until it is received.

  When determining that the start command has been received from the main CPU 31, the sub CPU causes the shift control device 10 to perform shift control of the shift stage of the transmission mechanism 100 to the low speed region (S42).

  Next, the sub CPU determines whether or not 3.0 seconds have elapsed since the reel device 3 was rotationally driven (S43). When the sub CPU determines that 3.0 seconds have not elapsed, the sub CPU waits until it elapses.

  When the sub CPU determines that 3.0 seconds have elapsed since the reel device 3 is driven to rotate, the sub CPU causes the shift control device 10 to switch the shift stage of the transmission mechanism 100 from the low speed region to the high speed region (S44).

  Next, the sub CPU determines whether or not a reel stop command has been received from the main CPU 31 (S45). When determining that the reel stop command has not been received, the sub CPU waits until it is received.

  When the sub CPU determines that the reel stop command has been received from the main CPU 31, the sub CPU causes the shift control device 10 to switch the shift stage of the transmission mechanism 100 from the high speed region to the low speed region (S46). When this process ends, the shift control process ends.

  The present invention has been described based on the preferred first embodiment. Further, the present invention is not limited to this. Hereinafter, a reel device according to the present invention will be described based on a second embodiment and a third embodiment.

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment of the reel device according to the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member same as 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted. The description of the same configuration and operation as those of the first embodiment is also omitted.

(Overall configuration of the second embodiment)
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a reel device 30A according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 13, the reel device 30 </ b> A according to the second embodiment has two drum gears, a small drum gear 230 and a large drum gear 210. The drum diameter of the large drum gear 210 is formed larger than the drum diameter of the small drum gear 230. Further, both the drum gears are arranged so as to be diagonal to each other within the circumference of the reel drum 92 while being engaged with a plurality of gear teeth formed at the end portion of the inner circumferential surface of the reel drum 92. The large drum gear 210 and the small drum gear 230 have the role of the speed change mechanism 200 by alternately switching the rotational drive. Details will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13, an apparatus storage box 90 that stores a stepping motor 49 and the like that drives the large drum gear 210 and the small drum gear 230 is attached to the reel drum 92. The device storage box 90 stores the stepping motor 49 and the like, and also has a role of fixing the reel drum 92 at a predetermined position.

  13 is an enlarged view showing a state in which the reel drum 92 is fixed to the device storage box 90 by the large drum gear 210. As shown in FIG. 13, the large drum gear 210 fixes the reel drum 92 to the device storage box 90 using a holding member 250 provided in the device storage box 90 while meshing with the inner peripheral surface of the reel drum 92. ing. Specifically, the large drum gear 210 has a rotating shaft protruding from a holding member 250 provided in the device storage box 90 and can move up and down. Similarly, the small drum gear 230 also has a rotating shaft protruding from the device storage box 90. When the reel drum 92 is attached to the device storage box 90, the small drum gear 230 is first meshed with the inner peripheral surface of the reel drum 92. Thereafter, the large drum gear 210 is moved up and down to engage the inner peripheral surface of the reel drum 92, and the reel drum 92 is fixed so that the small drum gear 230 and the large drum gear 210 pull each other. As a result, the small drum gear 230 and the large drum gear 210 are engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the reel drum 92 and rotated while holding the reel drum 92 rotatably at a predetermined position. This eliminates the need for the rim 91 that connects the central portion and the outer peripheral portion of the reel drum 92 that is provided to hold the reel drum 92 in the related art, thereby reducing the weight of the reel drum 92. Therefore, the torque required for the stepping motor 49 can be further reduced. Further, since the rim 91 is no longer necessary, a space is formed near the center of the reel drum 92, so that the backlight using the space can be devised and the reel drum 92 can be easily downsized.

(Transmission mechanism of the second embodiment)
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the speed change mechanism 200 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 shows a case where the speed change stage of the speed change mechanism 200 is a low speed region (upper part of FIG. 14) and a high speed region (lower part of FIG. 14).

  As shown in FIG. 14, both the large drum gear 210 and the small drum gear 230 have rotating shafts 211 and 231, clutches 212 and 232, and stepping motors 49 and 49.

  In the speed change mechanism 200 in the low speed region, the stepping motor 49 on the large drum gear 210 side stops, the clutch 212 is turned off, the stepping motor 49 on the small drum gear 230 side is driven, and the clutch 232 is turned on. As a result, in the low speed region, the small drum gear 230 rotates at a constant speed to rotate the reel drum 92, and the large drum gear 210 idles due to the rotation of the reel drum 92.

  On the other hand, the speed change mechanism 200 in the high speed region operates in the reverse manner to the low speed region, the stepping motor 49 on the large drum gear 210 side is driven, the clutch 212 is turned on, and the stepping motor 49 on the small drum gear 230 side is stopped. Then, the clutch 232 is turned off. As a result, in the high speed region, the large drum gear 210 rotates at a constant speed to rotate the reel drum 92, and the small drum gear 230 rotates idle due to the rotation of the reel drum 92. As a result, when the reel drum 92 starts to be driven, the shift stage is set to the low speed region so that the reel drum 92 can be easily rotated. When the rotational speed is saturated, the reel drum 92 is switched to the high speed region and further rotated Can be raised. In the second embodiment, the number of drum gears is not limited to two, and a plurality of drum gears may be provided and meshed with the inner peripheral surface of the reel drum 92. In this case, the gear shift stage can be switched in a plurality of regions, and the reel drum 92 can be easily held rotatably at a predetermined position.

[Third Embodiment]
A third embodiment of the reel device according to the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member same as 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted. The description of the same configuration and operation as those of the first embodiment is also omitted.

(Overall configuration of the third embodiment)
FIG. 15 is an overall view of a reel device 300A according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 15, in the reel device 300 </ b> A according to the third embodiment, the stepping motor 49 rotates the two large and small drum gears 310 and 330 from the side surface side of the reel drum 92.

(Transmission mechanism of the third embodiment)
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a speed change mechanism 300 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, the speed change mechanism 300 according to the third embodiment is provided outside the side surface of the reel drum 92, and includes a stepping motor 49, a small drum gear 310, and a large drum gear 330. Yes.

  A small drum gear rotation shaft 311 serving as a rotation shaft of the small drum gear 310 is provided on the output shaft of the stepping motor 49, and the small drum gear rotation shaft 311 serves as a rotation shaft between the small drum gear 310 and the stepping motor 49. A gear 320 is provided. A small drum gear clutch 312 is provided at the tip of the small drum gear rotating shaft 311. The small drum gear clutch 312 transmits the rotational driving force of the stepping motor 49 to the small drum gear 310 in the ON state, and has a role of releasing in the OFF state.

  A drive gear 340 is meshed with the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate gear 320. A large drum gear clutch 332 and a large drum gear 330 are provided at the tip of the large drum gear rotation shaft 331 that serves as the rotation shaft of the drive gear 340. The large drum gear clutch 332 transmits the rotational driving force of the stepping motor 49 to the large drum gear 330 via the intermediate gear 320 and the driving gear 340 in the ON state, and has a role of releasing in the OFF state. Further, the small drum gear 310 and the large drum gear 330 are meshed with gear teeth 93 formed on the peripheral portion of the reel drum 92, and are rotated by the rotational driving force of the stepping motor 49 to rotate the reel drum 92. It has become.

  Here, when the speed change stage of the speed change mechanism 300 is in the low speed region, the small drum gear clutch 312 is turned on and the large drum gear clutch 332 is turned off. Thereby, the rotational driving force of the stepping motor 49 is transmitted only to the small drum gear 310, and the reel drum 92 is rotated by the rotation of the small drum gear 310. On the other hand, when the speed change stage of the speed change mechanism 300 is in the high speed region, the large drum gear clutch 332 is turned on and the small drum gear clutch 312 is turned off. Thereby, the rotational driving force of the stepping motor 49 is transmitted only to the large drum gear 330, and the reel drum 92 is rotated by the rotation of the large drum gear 330. As a result, the large drum gear 330 and the small drum gear 310 are engaged with the peripheral edge of the reel drum 92, and the reel drum 92 is rotated by the large drum gear 330 or the small drum gear 310 that is driven to rotate by the stepping motor 49 from the side surface side of the reel drum 92. Is done. Accordingly, the stepping motor 49 can be attached and detached more easily than the conventional structure in which the stepping motor 49 is provided inside the reel drum 92. Further, since the stepping motor 49 is not provided inside the reel drum 92, the reel drum 92 can be easily downsized, and the weight and cost can be reduced.

(Outline of the embodiment of the present invention)
As described above, the reel device 3 of the present embodiment includes the reel band 5 in which a plurality of symbols 80 are formed, the reel drum 92 having the reel band 5 provided on the outer peripheral surface, and the drum diameter of the reel drum 92. A drum gear 110 that is formed in a small diameter and meshes with the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum 92 to rotationally drive the reel drum 92; a stepping motor 49 (49L, 49C, and 49R) that outputs a driving force to rotationally drive the drum gear 110; The speed change mechanism 100 (100L, 100C, 100R) that changes the relationship between the driving force and the rotation speed of the drum gear 110, and the rotation speed of the drum gear 110 at the start of rotation of the reel drum 92, the rotation of the reel drum 92 is predetermined. Change the rotation speed of the drum gear 110 to the high speed range when the speed (low speed range limit speed) is reached. It has a shift control device 10 for controlling the mechanism 100, a.

  According to the above configuration, the drum gear 110 is rotated by the stepping motor 49, and the reel drum 92 is rotated by meshing the rotated drum gear 110 with the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum 92. As a result, the drum gear 110 is formed with a diameter smaller than the drum diameter of the reel drum 92, so that a stepping motor 49 provided at the center of the reel drum 92 as in the prior art is arranged around the reel drum 92 via the rim 91. The distance from the stepping motor 49 to the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum 92 is shorter than the method of directly applying the driving force to the surface portion. Accordingly, the torque required by the stepping motor 49 can be reduced, and the response of the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum 92 to the output of the stepping motor 49 can be improved. Further, the rotational speed of the drum gear 110 is switched by the speed change mechanism 100 controlled by the speed change control device 10. As a result, even when the distance from the stepping motor 49 to the peripheral surface portion of the reel drum 92 is short, the same rotational speed as when the stepping motor 49 provided at the center of the reel drum 92 as in the prior art is driven and rotated. Thus, the reel drum 92 can be rotated.

  In the reel device 30A of the present embodiment, a plurality of drum gears (large drum gear 210 and small drum gear 230) are provided and meshed with the inner peripheral surface of the reel drum 92, and the reel drum 92 is rotatably held at a predetermined position. However, the reel drum 92 may be driven to rotate.

  According to the above configuration, the plurality of drum gears (the large drum gear 210 and the small drum gear 230) are meshed with the inner peripheral surface of the reel drum 92 and rotated while holding the reel drum 92 rotatably at a predetermined position. This eliminates the need for the rim 91 that connects the central portion and the outer peripheral portion of the reel drum 92 that is provided to hold the reel drum 92 in the related art, thereby reducing the weight of the reel drum 92. Therefore, the torque required for the stepping motor 49 can be further reduced. Further, since the rim 91 is no longer necessary, a space is formed near the center of the reel drum 92, so that the backlight using the space can be devised and the reel drum 92 can be easily downsized.

  In the reel device 300A of the present embodiment, the drum gears (the large drum gear 330 and the small drum gear 310) are meshed with the peripheral edge of the reel drum 92, and the stepping motor 49 is connected to the drum gear (the large gear from the side of the reel drum 92). The drum gear 330 and the small drum gear 310) may be driven to rotate.

  According to the above configuration, the drum gear (the large drum gear 330 and the small drum gear 310) is meshed with the peripheral edge of the reel drum 92, and is rotationally driven from the side surface side of the reel drum 92 by the stepping motor 49 (49L, 49C, 49R). The reel drum 92 is rotated by the drum gear 110. Accordingly, the stepping motor 49 (49L, 49C, 49R) can be attached and detached more easily than the conventional structure in which the stepping motor 49 (49L, 49C, 49R) is provided inside the reel drum 92. Further, since the stepping motor 49 (49L, 49C, 49R) is not provided inside the reel drum 92, the reel drum 92 can be easily downsized, and the weight and cost can be reduced.

  The gaming machine of the present embodiment includes the reel device of the present embodiment described above.

  According to said structure, the game machine provided with the reel apparatus of this Embodiment mentioned above can be provided.

  Further, in the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the stop button 7 (7L, 7C, 7R) for stopping the rotation of the reel drum 92 and the stop for enabling the player to operate the stop button 7 by the player's operation. When the operation of the button control device (main CPU 31) and the stop button 7 is enabled and the player operates the stop button 7, the reel drum stop control device (main CPU 31) stops the rotation of the reel drum 92. ), The shift control device 10 before the stop button control device (main CPU 31) validates the operation of the stop button 7, the drum gear (drum gear 110, large drum gear 210 and small drum gear 230, large drum gear 330 and The rotational speed of the small drum gear 310) may be switched from the low speed region to the high speed region.

  According to the above configuration, the rotation speed of the drum gear (the drum gear 110, the large drum gear 210 and the small drum gear 230, the large drum gear 330 and the small drum gear 310) is in the low speed region before the operation of the stop button 7 by the player becomes effective. To high speed area. As a result, the operation of the stop button 7 becomes effective, and before the stop button 7 is pushed by the player and the rotation of the reel drum 92 is stopped, it is provided at the center of the reel drum 92 as in the prior art. The reel drum 92 can be rotated at the same rotational speed as when the stepping motor 49 is driven and rotated.

(Modification of this embodiment)
Although the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the speed change mechanism 100 of the reel device 3 in the first embodiment is a speed change mechanism 400 shown in FIG. Alternatively, a transmission mechanism 500 shown in FIG.

(First Modification of Transmission Mechanism in First Embodiment)
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a speed change mechanism 400 that is a first modification of the speed change mechanism 100 according to the first embodiment. The speed change mechanism 400 shown in FIG. 17 is the same as the structure and operation of the speed change mechanism 300 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. By changing the large drum gear clutch 432 and the small drum gear clutch 422 to the ON state or the OFF state, the rotational driving force of either the large drum gear 430 or the small drum gear 410 is applied to the reel drum 92 and rotated. is there. The difference from the third embodiment is that the large drum gear 430 and the small drum gear 410 are meshed with the inner peripheral surface of the reel drum 92 as in the transmission mechanism 100 in the first embodiment.

(Second Modification of Transmission Mechanism in First Embodiment)
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a speed change mechanism 500 that is a second modification of the speed change mechanism 100 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 18, the speed change mechanism 500 is provided with an intermediate gear 540 on the output shaft of the stepping motor 49. Further, the rotational driving force of the stepping motor 49 is transmitted to the driving force transmitting portion 542 having a clutch function of electromagnetically moving left and right through the intermediate gear 540. Further, when the driving force transmitting portion 542 moves to the reel drum 92 side, the large drum gear rotation shaft 532 starts rotating by the rotational driving force of the stepping motor 49, and the large drum gear 530 rotates. On the other hand, when the driving force transmission unit 542 moves away from the reel drum 92, the small drum gear rotating shaft 531 starts rotating by the rotational driving force of the stepping motor 49, and the small drum gear 510 rotates. Furthermore, in the case of the structure of the speed change mechanism 500, a small reel drum 92A is provided inside the reel drum 92. The large drum gear 530 meshes with the inner peripheral surface of the reel drum 92 to rotate the reel drum 92, and the small drum gear 510 meshes with the inner peripheral surface of the small reel drum 92A to engage with the small reel drum 92A and the reel drum 92. Is supposed to rotate. As a result, the driving force transmission unit 542 translates left and right, so that the drum gear for rotating the reel drum 92 can be switched, and the rotational speed of the reel drum 92 is switched.

  It should be noted that the effects described in the embodiments of the present invention only list the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. is not.

It is a perspective view of the external structure of a pachislot machine and a reel device in the present embodiment. It is the figure which showed the internal structure of the pachislot in this Embodiment. It is the perspective view which showed the structure of the conventional reel apparatus. It is the figure which showed the structure of the speed change mechanism in the case of the low speed area | region of this Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the structure of the transmission mechanism in the case of the high speed area | region of this Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the structure of the speed change mechanism in the case of the reel drum stop at the time of this Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the structure of the main control circuit of the pachislot in this Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the timing chart of the speed change operation in the speed change mechanism of this execution form. It is a main flowchart by control of main CPU of the main control circuit performed in the pachislot in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the reel stop control process of the main CPU of the main control circuit executed in the pachi-slot in the present embodiment. It is a flowchart of the interruption process by control of the main CPU of the main control circuit performed in the pachislot in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the shift control process by control of the sub CPU of the sub control circuit performed in the pachislot in this Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the reel apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the structure of the transmission mechanism of 2nd Embodiment. It is a whole figure of the reel device in a 3rd embodiment. It is the figure which showed the structure of the transmission mechanism of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the speed change mechanism which is the 1st modification of the speed change mechanism in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the speed change mechanism which is the 2nd modification of the speed change mechanism in 1st Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Pachislot 2 Cabinet 3 (3L, 3C, 3R) Reel device 4 (4L, 4C, 4R) Display window 5 Reel belt 6 Start lever 7 (7L, 7C, 7R) Stop button 8 Winning judgment line 9 Front door 12 Bet button DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Settlement button 15 Medal payout opening 16 Medal tray 17 7-segment display 18 Liquid crystal display device 21 Speaker 22 Medal insertion slot 29 Lamp 80 Design 91 Rim 92 Reel drum 100 Transmission mechanism 110 Drum gear 111 Driven shaft

Claims (5)

A reel band formed with a plurality of symbols;
A reel drum provided with an outer peripheral surface of the reel band;
A drum gear formed to have a diameter smaller than the drum diameter of the reel drum and meshed with a peripheral surface portion of the reel drum to rotate the reel drum;
A driving force output mechanism for outputting a driving force for rotationally driving the drum gear;
A speed change mechanism that changes the relationship between the driving force and the rotational speed of the drum gear;
Shifting for controlling the speed change mechanism so that the rotation speed of the drum gear is set to a low speed region at the start of rotation of the reel drum and the rotation speed of the drum gear is switched to a high speed region when the rotation of the reel drum reaches a predetermined speed. A control device;
A reel device comprising:   2. The drum drum according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the drum gears are meshed with an inner peripheral surface of the reel drum, and the reel drum is rotationally driven while the reel drum is rotatably held at a predetermined position. Reel device. The drum gear is meshed with the peripheral edge of the reel drum,
The reel device according to claim 1, wherein the driving force output mechanism rotationally drives the drum gear from a side surface side of the reel drum.   A gaming machine comprising the reel device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A stop button for stopping the rotation of the reel drum by the player's operation;
A stop button control device that enables operation of the stop button by a player;
A reel drum stop control device that stops the rotation of the reel drum when the operation of the stop button is enabled and the player operates the stop button;
The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the shift control device switches the rotation speed of the drum gear from a low speed region to a high speed region before the stop button control device validates the operation of the stop button. .

Images