JP5534467B2 - Slot unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an insertion slot for medals (coins).

  It is preferable that the user can smoothly insert the medal into the slot. In particular, in gaming machines represented by slot machines, many medals may be continuously inserted into the insertion slot, and it is strongly desired that they can be inserted smoothly. Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a groove provided on the front side of the insertion slot for guiding insertion of medals.

Japanese Patent No. 4340409

  However, in Patent Document 1, the groove is inclined upward with respect to the insertion direction, and each time a medal is inserted, it is necessary to push the medal along the groove to the insertion port side by hand. For this reason, when many medals are continuously inserted, there are cases where it cannot be smoothly inserted.

  An object of the present invention is to enable continuous insertion of medals more smoothly.

According to the present invention, the rear side wall portion and the front side wall portion that form a medal insertion port for dropping a medal in a vertical posture, and the medal insertion port are extended from the front side of the medal insertion port, and the medal is placed thereon. And a guide groove that guides a medal to the medal slot, wherein the front side wall is separated from the back side by a lower side wall and the lower side wall. and the side wall portion has a, and the step portion connecting said lower sidewall portions with the upper sidewall portion, the guide groove is greater part than the contour shape of the contour of the longitudinal section before Symbol medal, the Continuing from the upper wall portion, it is formed from the upper wall portion toward the front side of the medal slot, and the width in the left-right direction is gradually narrowed downward from a width larger than the diameter of the medal to a smaller width. The width in the left-right direction is Dal diameter the same as the site, continuously inclined downwardly toward said medal insertion slot, said guide groove includes a pair of side surfaces including the portion is inclined downwardly toward said medal slot A slot having a bottom surface, and the slope of the portion that is inclined downward toward the medal slot on the side surface and is continuous is greater than the slope of the bottom surface. Units are provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to smoothly and continuously insert medals.

1 is an external perspective view of a slot machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a circuit block diagram of a control unit of the slot machine 100. FIG. (A) is a diagram showing the arrangement of symbols applied to each reel (left reel 110, middle reel 111, right reel 112) in a plan view, and (b) is the type of winning combination of the slot machine 100. Illustration. The flowchart which shows the flow of a main control part main process. The exploded perspective view of the slot unit A. FIG. (A) is the figure which looked at the insertion port formation member 1 from the near side, (b) is a top view, (c) is a side view, (d) is a perspective view. (A) is the figure which looked at the insertion port formation member 2 from the back side, (b) is a top view, (c) is a side view. (A) is a top view of the slot unit A, (b) is a sectional view. (A) And (b) is sectional drawing of the slot unit A. FIG. (A) is a top view of the slot unit A, (b) thru | or (d) are sectional drawings. (A) is a top view of the slot unit A, (b) is a sectional view. (A) is a side view of the slot unit A, (b) to (d) are sectional views. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the example of an insertion aspect of a medal. The figure which shows the example of the continuous insertion aspect of a medal. (A) And (c) is a top view of the slot unit A, (b) And (d) is sectional drawing. (A) thru | or (c) is explanatory drawing of the behavior of a medal. (A) thru | or (d) is explanatory drawing of the behavior of a medal which changes with inclination relations of the guide groove 21. FIG. (A) And (b) is explanatory drawing of the behavior of a medal which changes with the inclination relationship of the guide groove 21. FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of the distance from the edge part of the side surface 211 to the back side wall part 10. FIG. (A) thru | or (c) is explanatory drawing of the behavior of a medal which changes with the presence or absence of the level | step-difference part 203. FIG. (A) thru | or (c) is explanatory drawing of the depth and inclination of the level | step-difference part 203. FIG. (A) thru | or (c) is explanatory drawing of the depth of the level | step difference part 203. FIG. (A) And (b) is explanatory drawing of the behavior of a medal which changes with the presence or absence of the chamfer 203b. (A) thru | or (c) is explanatory drawing of the cancellation | release of clogging of medals by the notch part 1a. (A) And (b) is explanatory drawing of the behavior of a medal which changes with the presence or absence of the center convex part 11. FIG. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows a test result. (A) thru | or (c) is a figure which shows a test result.

  Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to a game machine will be described. The game table of this embodiment is provided with a plurality of types of symbols, a plurality of reels that are rotationally driven, a start lever for instructing the rotation of the reels, and each reel, and the rotation of the reels. A stop button for individually stopping the game, lottery means for determining whether or not an internal winning of a plurality of types of winnings is won by lottery, and reel stop control for performing stop control related to the stop of reel rotation based on the lottery result of the lottery means Determining means for determining whether the symbol combination displayed by the reels stopped based on the lottery result of the lottery means is a symbol combination determined in advance corresponding to the winning combination internally; When the stop mode is a predetermined winning mode, the payout control means performs a payout process for paying out medals corresponding to the predetermined winning mode.

<Overall configuration>
A slot machine 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a main body 101 and a front door 102 that is attached to the front surface of the main body 101 and can be opened and closed with respect to the main body 101. Inside the center of the main body 101 (not shown), three reels (left reel 110, middle reel 111, right reel 112) having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the outer peripheral surface are stored and rotated inside the slot machine 100. It is configured to be able to. These reels 110 to 112 are rotationally driven by a driving device such as a stepping motor.

  In the present embodiment, an appropriate number of symbols are printed on the belt-like member at equal intervals, and the reels 110 to 112 are configured by affixing the belt-like member to a predetermined circular cylindrical frame member. When viewed from the player, the symbols on the reels 110 to 112 are generally displayed three in the vertical direction from the symbol display window 113 so that a total of nine symbols can be seen. Then, by rotating the reels 110 to 112, the combination of symbols that can be seen by the player varies. That is, each of the reels 110 to 112 functions as a display device that displays a plurality of combinations of symbols in a variable manner. In addition to the reel, an electronic image display device such as a liquid crystal display device can also be used as such a display device. In this embodiment, three reels are provided in the center of the slot machine 100. However, the number of reels and the installation position of the reels are not limited to this.

  A backlight (not shown) for illuminating the individual symbols displayed on the symbol display window 113 is disposed on the back of each of the reels 110 to 112. It is desirable that the backlight is shielded for each symbol so that the individual symbols can be illuminated evenly. In the slot machine 100, an optical sensor (not shown) including a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit is provided in the vicinity of each of the reels 110 to 112. The light projecting unit and the light receiving unit of the optical sensor are provided. A light shielding piece of a certain length provided on the reel passes between the two. Based on the detection result of the sensor, the position of the symbol on the reel in the rotation direction is determined, and the reels 110 to 112 are stopped so that the target symbol is displayed on the winning line.

  The winning line display lamp 120 is a lamp indicating the winning line 114 that is valid. The effective pay line is determined in advance by the number of medals bet as a game medium. There are five pay lines 114. For example, when one medal is bet, the middle horizontal pay line is valid, and when two medals are betted, the upper horizontal win line and the lower horizontal pay line are added. If three are valid and three medals are bet, five lines including a right-down winning line and an upper-right winning line are valid as winning lines. The number of winning lines 114 is not limited to five. For example, when one medal is bet, the middle horizontal winning line, the upper horizontal winning line, the lower horizontal winning line, the right Five lines, the down line and the upper right line, may be valid as the winning lines.

  The notification lamp 123 is, for example, a lamp that informs the player that a specific winning combination (specifically, a bonus) has been won internally in an internal lottery to be described later or that a bonus game is in progress. The game medal insertable lamp 124 is a lamp for notifying that the player can insert a game medal. The replay lamp 122 informs the player that the current game can be replayed (the medal need not be inserted) when winning a replay which is one of the winning combinations in the previous game. It is a lamp. The reel panel lamp 128 is an effect lamp.

  The bet buttons 130 to 132 are buttons for inserting a predetermined number of medals (referred to as credits) stored electronically in the slot machine 100. In this embodiment, each time the bet button 130 is pressed, a maximum of 3 cards are inserted, 2 when the bet button 131 is pressed, and 3 when the bet button 132 is pressed. It has become so. Hereinafter, the bet button 132 is also referred to as a MAX bet button. The game medal insertion lamp 129 lights up the number of lamps corresponding to the number of inserted medals, and when a prescribed number of medals are inserted, the game start is informed that the game can be started. The lamp 121 is turned on.

  The slot unit A has a medal slot 141 for a player to insert a medal when starting a game. That is, the medal can be inserted electronically by the bet buttons 130 to 132, or an actual medal can be inserted (insertion operation) from the medal insertion slot 141. is there. The medals inserted into the medal insertion slot 141 pass through a medal selector (described later) provided in the slot machine 100, and regular medals are selected and the passage is detected.

  The stored number display 125 is a display for displaying the number of medals stored electronically in the slot machine 100. The game information display 126 is a display for displaying various types of internal information (for example, the number of medals paid out during a bonus game) as numerical values. The payout number display 127 is a display for displaying the number of medals to be paid out to the player as a result of winning a winning combination. The stored number display 125, the game information display 126, and the payout number display 127 are 7-segment (SEG) displays.

  The start lever 135 is a lever type switch for starting the rotation of the reels 110 to 112. That is, when a desired medal number is inserted into the medal insertion slot 141 or when the bet buttons 130 to 132 are operated and the start lever 135 is operated, the reels 110 to 112 start to rotate. The operation on the start lever 135 is referred to as a game start operation.

  The stop button unit 136 is provided with stop buttons 137 to 139. The stop buttons 137 to 139 are button-type switches for individually stopping the reels 110 to 112 that have started rotating by operating the start lever 135, and are associated with the reels 110 to 112. Hereinafter, the operation on the stop buttons 137 to 139 is referred to as a stop operation, the first stop operation is referred to as a first stop operation, the next stop operation is referred to as a second stop operation, and the last stop operation is referred to as a third stop operation. Note that a light emitter may be provided inside each stop button 137 to 139, and when the stop button 137 to 139 can be operated, the light emitter may be turned on to notify the player.

  The medal return button 133 is a button for pressing and removing a medal when the inserted medal is jammed by a medal selector or the like. The payment button 134 is a button for adjusting the medals electronically stored in the slot machine 100 and the bet medals and discharging them from the medal payout exit 155. The door key hole 140 is a hole into which a key for unlocking the front door 102 of the slot machine 100 is inserted.

  Below the stop button unit 136 is provided a title panel 162 for displaying the model name and pasting various types of certificate. At the lower part of the title panel 162, a medal payout opening 155 and a medal tray 161 are provided.

  The sound hole 180 is a hole for outputting the sound of a speaker provided inside the slot machine 100 to the outside. The side lamps 144 provided on the left and right portions of the front door 102 are decorative lamps for exciting games. An effect device 160 is disposed above the front door 102, and a sound hole 143 is provided above the effect device 160.

  The effect device 160 includes a shutter (shielding device) 163 including two right shutters 163a and a left shutter 163b that can be opened and closed in a horizontal direction, and a liquid crystal display device 157 (effect image) disposed on the back side of the shutter 163. And a display screen of the liquid crystal display device 157 appears on the front side (player side) of the slot machine 100 when the right shutter 163a and the left shutter 163b are opened horizontally outward in front of the liquid crystal display device 157. It has become.

  In addition, even if it is not a liquid crystal display device, it should just be comprised so that various effect images and various game information can be displayed, for example, a multi-segment display (7-segment display), a dot matrix display, an organic EL display, a plasma display , A reel (drum), or a display device including a projector and a screen. Further, the display screen has a rectangular shape and is configured so that the player can visually recognize the entire display screen. In the case of this embodiment, the display screen is rectangular, but may be square. In addition, a decorative object (not shown) may be provided on the periphery of the display screen, and a part of the peripheral edge of the display screen may be hidden by the decorative object, so that the display screen looks irregular. In the present embodiment, the display screen is a flat surface, but may be a curved surface.

<Control unit>
FIG. 2 describes in detail the circuit configuration of the control unit of the control unit of the slot machine 100. This figure shows a circuit block diagram of the control unit. The control unit of the slot machine 100 is broadly classified according to a main control unit 300 that controls the progress of the game and a command signal (hereinafter simply referred to as “command”) transmitted by the main control unit 300. The first sub-control unit 400 that controls the production and the second sub-control unit 500 that controls various devices based on the command transmitted from the first sub-control unit 400 are configured.

<Main control unit>
First, the main control unit 300 of the slot machine 100 will be described. The main control unit 300 includes a basic circuit 302 that controls the entire main control unit 300. The basic circuit 302 includes a CPU 304, control program data, lottery data used in the internal lottery of a winning combination, and reel stop. A ROM 306 for storing a position, a RAM 308 for temporarily storing data, an I / O 310 for controlling input / output of various devices, and a counter timer 312 for measuring time and frequency It is installed. Note that another storage device may be used for the ROM 306 and the RAM 308, and this is the same for the first sub-control unit 400 described later.

  The CPU 304 of the basic circuit 302 operates by inputting a clock signal of a predetermined period output from the crystal oscillator 314 as a system clock. Further, when the power is turned on, the CPU 304 transmits the frequency division data stored in the predetermined area of the ROM 306 to the counter timer 312. The counter timer 312 sets the interrupt time based on the received frequency division data. An interrupt request is transmitted to the CPU 304 at every interrupt time. In response to this interrupt request, the CPU 304 executes interrupt processing such as monitoring of each sensor and transmission of drive pulses. For example, when the clock signal output from the crystal oscillator 314 is set to 8 MHz, the frequency division value of the counter timer 312 is set to 1/256, and the data for frequency division of the ROM 306 is set to 47, the interrupt reference time is 256 × 47 ÷ 8 MHz. = 1.504 ms. WDT 313 is a watchdog timer.

  The basic circuit 302 includes a random number generation circuit 316 that is used as a hardware random number counter that changes a numerical value in a range of 0 to 65535, and a start signal output circuit 338 that outputs a start signal (reset signal) when the power is turned on. When the activation signal is input from the activation signal output circuit 338, the CPU 304 starts game control (starts a main control unit main process described later).

  The basic circuit 302 is provided with a sensor circuit 320, and the CPU 304 performs various sensors 318 (a bet button 130 sensor, a bet button 131 sensor, a bet button 132 sensor, a stop button 137 sensor, and a stop button 138 for each interrupt time. Sensor, stop button 139 sensor, checkout button 134 sensor, medal payout sensor for medals paid out from the medal payout device 180, index sensor for reel 110, index sensor for reel 111, index sensor for reel 112, etc.) ing. When the sensor circuit 320 detects the H level of the start lever sensor, a signal indicating this detection is output to the random number generation circuit 316. Receiving this signal, the random number generation circuit 316 latches the value at that timing and stores it in a register that stores the random value used for the lottery.

  Two start lever 135 sensors are installed inside the start lever 135 and detect a start operation by the player. The stop button 137 sensor, the stop button 138 sensor, and the stop button 139 are installed in each of the stop buttons 137 to 139, and detect the operation of the stop button by the player.

  The bet button 130 sensor, the bet button 131 sensor, and the bet button 132 sensor are installed in each of the medal insertion buttons 130 to 132, and the medals stored electronically in the RAM 308 are inserted as inserted medals into the game. Detecting the input operation when The settlement button 134 sensor is provided on the settlement button 134. When the settlement button 134 is pressed once, the medals stored electronically are settled. The medal payout sensor is a sensor for detecting a medal paid out by the medal payout device 180. Each of the above sensors may be a non-contact type sensor or a contact type sensor.

  The index sensor of the reel 110, the index sensor of the reel 111, and the index sensor of the reel 112 are installed at predetermined positions on the mounting bases of the reels 110 to 112, and each time a light shielding piece provided on the reel frame passes. Becomes L level. When detecting this signal, the CPU 304 determines that the reel has made one rotation, and resets the rotational position information of the reel to zero.

  The main controller 300 drives a drive circuit 321 for driving a stepping motor provided in the reel devices 110 to 112, a drive circuit 322 for driving an electric actuator provided in the medal selector 170, and a motor provided in the medal payout device 180. Drive circuit 324, various lamps 338 (winning line display lamp 120, notification lamp 123, game medal insertion possible lamp 124, regame lamp 122, game medal insertion lamp 129, game start lamp 121, stored number display 125, game information A drive circuit 326 for driving the display 126 and the payout number display 127) is provided.

  Further, an information output circuit 334 (external concentration terminal board) is connected to the basic circuit 302, and the main control unit 300 is provided with an external hall computer (not shown) or the like via the information output circuit 334. The gaming information (for example, gaming state) of the slot machine 100 is output to the information input circuit 652.

  In addition, the main control unit 300 includes an output interface for transmitting a command to the first sub control unit 400 and enables communication with the first sub control unit 400. Note that information communication between the main control unit 300 and the first sub control unit 400 is one-way communication, and the main control unit 300 is configured to be able to transmit signals such as commands to the first sub control unit 400. However, the first sub-control unit 400 is configured not to transmit a signal such as a command to the main control unit 300.

<Sub control unit>
Next, the first sub control unit 400 of the slot machine 100 will be described. The first sub-control unit 400 includes a basic circuit 402 that receives a control command transmitted from the main control unit 300 via an input interface and controls the entire first sub-control unit 400 based on the control command. The basic circuit 402 includes a CPU 404, a RAM 408 for temporarily storing data, an I / O 410 for controlling input / output of various devices, and a counter timer 412 for measuring time and frequency. It is installed. The CPU 404 of the basic circuit 402 operates by inputting a clock signal of a predetermined period output from the crystal oscillator 414 as a system clock, and controls the control program and data for controlling the entire first sub-control unit 400, lighting of the backlight A ROM 406 in which data for controlling patterns and various displays is stored is provided.

  The CPU 404 transmits the frequency division data stored in the predetermined area of the ROM 406 to the counter timer 412 via the data bus at a predetermined timing. The counter timer 412 determines an interrupt time based on the received frequency dividing data, and transmits an interrupt request to the CPU 404 at each interrupt time. The CPU 404 controls each IC and each circuit based on the interrupt request timing.

  The first sub-control unit 400 is provided with a sound source IC 418, and the sound source IC 418 is provided with speakers 272 and 277 via an output interface. The sound source IC 418 controls sound output from the amplifiers and speakers 272 and 277 in accordance with a command from the CPU 404. The sound source IC 418 is connected to an S-ROM (sound ROM) in which audio data is stored. The audio data acquired from the ROM is amplified by an amplifier and output from the speakers 272 and 277.

  The first sub-control unit 400 is provided with a drive circuit 422, and various lamps 420 (upper lamp, lower lamp, side lamp 144, title panel 162, etc.) are connected to the drive circuit 422 via an input / output interface. Provided.

  In addition, the CPU 404 transmits and receives signals to the second sub control unit 500 via the output interface. The second sub control unit 500 of the slot machine 100 controls the liquid crystal display device 157 and various effect driving devices 160 (for example, the driving device of the shutter 163). In this way, the performance is executed as the game progresses.

<Pattern arrangement>
A symbol arrangement applied to each of the reels 110 to 112 will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a diagram in which the arrangement of symbols applied to each reel (left reel 110, middle reel 111, right reel 112) is developed in a plane.

  In each reel 110 to 112, a plurality of types (eight types in this embodiment) of symbols shown on the right side of the figure are arranged in a predetermined number of frames (21 frames of numbers 0 to 20 in this embodiment). Also, numbers 0 to 20 shown at the left end of the figure are numbers indicating the arrangement positions of symbols on the reels 110 to 112. For example, in the present embodiment, the “replay” symbol for the number 1 frame on the left reel 110, the “bell” symbol for the number 0 frame on the middle reel 111, and the “bell” symbol for the number 2 frame on the right reel 112. "Watermelon" design is arranged respectively.

<Type of winning prize>
Next, the types of winning combinations of the slot machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG. This figure shows the types of winning combinations (including actuating combinations), symbol combinations corresponding to each winning combination, and the operation or payout of each winning combination.

  Of the winning combinations in the present embodiment, the big bonuses (BB1, BB2) and the regular bonus (RB) are used as a combination for shifting to the bonus game, and the replay (replay) is a replay without newly inserting a medal. Each winning combination is sometimes distinguished from a winning combination and sometimes called an “acting combination”. However, in the “winning combination” in this embodiment, a big bonus, a regular bonus, and a replay that are operating combinations are included. included. In addition, “winning” in the present embodiment includes a case where a symbol combination of an actuator not accompanied by a medal payout (without medal payout) is displayed on an active line, for example, a big bonus, regular Includes bonuses and replay wins.

  The winning combination of the slot machine 100 includes a big bonus (BB1, BB2), a regular bonus (RB), a small combination (cherry, watermelon, bell), and replay (replay). Needless to say, the type of winning combination is not limited to this and can be arbitrarily adopted.

  “Big Bonus (BB1, BB2)” (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “BB”) is a special combination (operating combination) in which a big bonus game (BB game), which is a special game, is started by winning a prize. . As for the corresponding symbol combinations, BB1 is “BB1-BB1-BB1” and BB2 is “BB2-BB2-BB2”. Further, flag carryover is performed for BB1 and BB2. That is, when BB1 and BB2 are won internally, a flag indicating this is set (stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 308 of the main control unit 300), but even if BB1 and BB2 are not won in the game, a prize is won. Until then, the flag indicating the internal winning is maintained, and even after the next game, BB1 and BB2 are being internally selected, and the symbol combination corresponding to BB1 “BB1-BB1-BB1”, the symbol combination corresponding to BB2 “BB2” -BB2-BB2 "are in a state where all the prizes are won.

  The “regular bonus (RB)” is a special combination (operating combination) in which a regular bonus game (RB game) is started by winning. The corresponding symbol combination is “bonus-bonus-bonus”. Note that the RB carries over the flag as well as the above-mentioned BB. However, in the big bonus game (BB game), the start of the big bonus game without having the start condition that the regular bonus game (RB game) is won internally or the symbol combination is displayed on the winning line. A regular bonus game may be set to automatically start such that when a regular bonus game is started later and one regular bonus game is completed, the next regular bonus game is immediately started.

  “Short (cherry, watermelon, bell)” (hereinafter, simply referred to as “cherry”, “watermelon”, “bell”) is a winning combination in which a predetermined number of medals are paid out by winning. The symbol combinations are “cherry-ANY-ANY” for cherry, “watermelon-watermelon-watermelon” for watermelon, and “bell-bell-bell” for bell. The corresponding payout number is as shown in FIG. In the case of “cherry-ANY-ANY”, the symbol of the left reel 110 may be “cherry”, and the symbol of the middle reel 111 and the right reel 112 may be any symbol.

  “Replay” is a winning combination (operating combination) in which a game can be performed without inserting a medal (game medium) in the next game by winning, and no medal is paid out. The corresponding symbol combination is “replay-replay-replay” for replay.

<Type of gaming state>
Next, the types of gaming state of the slot machine 100 will be described. In this embodiment, the gaming state of the slot machine 100 is roughly divided into a normal game, a BB game, an RB game, and an internal winning game of a big bonus (BB) and a regular bonus (RB). However, it may be divided into a general game, a BB game, and an RB game.

<Normal game>
The winning combinations that are internally won for normal games include a big bonus (BB), regular bonus (RB), replay (replay), and small roles (cherry, watermelon, bell). “Big Bonus (BB)” is a special combination (operating combination) in which a big bonus game (BB game), which is a special game, is started by winning. “Regular Bonus (RB)” is a special combination (operating combination) that starts a regular bonus game (RB game) upon winning. The “replay” (replay) is a winning combination (operating combination) in which a game can be performed without a medal being inserted in the next game by winning, and no medal is paid out. The “small role” is a winning combination in which a predetermined number of medals are paid out by winning.

  In addition, the internal winning probability of each combination is a range of random values obtained at the time of internal lottery from numerical data corresponding to the range of lottery data associated with each combination from lottery data prepared for normal games. It is calculated by the value divided by the numerical data (for example, 65535). The lottery data prepared for the normal game is divided into several numerical ranges in advance, and each combination and lose is associated with each numerical range. It is determined whether the random number value obtained as a result of executing the internal lottery is a value corresponding to the lottery data corresponding to which combination, and the internal lottery combination is determined. This lottery data is provided with settings 1 to 6 in which the winning probabilities of at least one combination are different, and a game shop clerk can arbitrarily select and set any set value.

  In normal games, the result of the internal lottery is set to be largely lost (big bonus (BB), regular bonus (RB), replay (replay) and small role won), and the medal to be won The total number is less than the total number of medals inserted. Therefore, it is a gaming state that is disadvantageous for the player. However, when a predetermined condition is satisfied (for example, when a specific symbol combination is displayed), it is a gaming state that may be changed to increase the probability of internal winning of replaying. In this case, When a predetermined number of medals are paid out by winning a small role, there are cases where the total number of medals to be acquired exceeds the total number of medals inserted, resulting in a gaming state that is beneficial to the player.

<BB game>
The BB game is set to be in a gaming state that is beneficial to the player. That is, the BB game is in a gaming state in which the total number of medals to be acquired exceeds the total number of medals inserted. In this embodiment, the BB game is started by winning a big bonus (BB), and an RB game (described later) can be continuously executed repeatedly, and a predetermined number (for example, during the game) The process ends when more than 465 medals are obtained. However, the BB game does not allow the RB game to be executed continuously and repeatedly, and sets the role to start the RB game (the symbol combination is, for example, replay-replay-replay), and if this role is won internally, or The RB game may be set to start when winning. Furthermore, in the BB game, when the BB general game excluding the RB game during the BB game is executed a predetermined number of times (for example, 30 times), or the number of the RB games executed during the BB game is a predetermined number of times. It may be made to end when it reaches (for example, three times).

<RB game>
The RB game is set so as to be in a gaming state that is beneficial to the player. That is, the RB game is in a gaming state in which the total number of medals to be acquired exceeds the total number of medals inserted. In this embodiment, the RB game is started by winning a regular bonus (RB), and one predetermined role is set to a variation that increases the probability of internal winning (for example, “setting 1” “normal game”). Increase the internal winning probability 1/15 of “small role 1” to an internal winning probability 1 / 1.2 which is a predetermined value) and win a predetermined number (for example, 8 times) It ends when there is. A BB game ends when a predetermined number of wins are made (for example, 8 times) or when the number of RB games executed during the RB game reaches a predetermined number of times (for example, 8 times). You may make it do.

<Big winning (BB) and regular bonus (RB) internal winning games>
The winning combination that is internally won for the internal winning game of the big bonus (BB) and the regular bonus (RB) includes a replay and a small role. The big bonus (BB) and the regular bonus (RB) are not won internally, and are game states in which a symbol combination corresponding to the big bonus (BB) or the regular bonus (RB) can be won.

  However, the probability of the internal winning of the replay may be changed from the next game that has been internally won to the big bonus (BB) and the regular bonus (RB), for example, the probability of increasing the internal winning probability of the replay is changed. Until the symbol combination corresponding to the big bonus (BB) and regular bonus (RB) wins, the total number of medals to be acquired is almost the same as the total number of inserted medals, and is compared with the normal game. The gaming state may be beneficial to the player.

<Main control unit main processing>
A main control unit main process executed by the CPU 304 of the main control unit 300 will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the flow of main processing of the main control unit. As described above, the main control unit 300 is provided with the start signal output circuit (reset signal output circuit) 338 that outputs the start signal (reset signal) when the power is turned on. The CPU 304 of the basic circuit 302 to which this activation signal has been input starts reset by a reset interrupt and executes the main process of the main control unit shown in FIG.

  When the power is turned on, first, various initial settings are performed in S1. In this initial setting, setting of the stack initial value to the stack pointer (SP) of the CPU 304, setting of interrupt inhibition, initial setting of the I / O 310, initial setting of various variables stored in the RAM 308, operation permission to the WDT 313, and initial setting Set the value.

  In S2, a medal insertion / start operation acceptance process is executed. In this process, whether or not a medal has been inserted is checked, and the winning line display lamp 120 is turned on in response to the insertion of the medal. Note that when a re-win is won in the previous game, a process of inserting the same number of medals as the number of medals inserted in the previous game is performed, so that it is not necessary for the player to insert medals. Further, it is checked whether or not the start lever 135 has been operated. If there is an operation of the start lever 135, the process proceeds to S3.

  In S3, the number of inserted medals is determined and an effective winning line is determined. In S4, the random number generated by the random number generation circuit 316 is acquired. In S5, the winning combination lottery table stored in the ROM 306 is read according to the current gaming state, and an internal lottery is performed using this and the random value acquired in S4. As a result of the internal lottery, when any winning combination is won internally, the internal winning flag of the winning combination is turned ON. In S6, reel stop data is selected based on the internal lottery result.

  In S7, rotation of all reels 110 to 112 is started. In S8, the stop buttons 137 to 139 can be received. When any of the stop buttons is pressed, any of the reels 110 to 112 corresponding to the pressed stop button is selected as the reel stop control data selected in S6. Stop based on. The reel stop control basically allows the combination of symbols corresponding to the winning combination to be displayed when there is an internal winning winning combination, and the symbol corresponding to any combination in the case of a loss, etc. Reel stop control such as so-called pull-in and kick-out is performed so that combinations are not displayed.

  When all the reels 110 to 112 are stopped, the process proceeds to S9. In S9, a winning determination is performed. Here, when a picture combination corresponding to some winning combination is displayed on the activated winning line 114, it is determined that the winning combination is won. For example, if “bell-bell-bell” is aligned on the activated winning line, it is determined that the player has won the bell. Also, the internal winning flag is reset unless the flag is carried over.

  In S10, if any winning combination with payout is won, the number of medals corresponding to the winning combination is paid out according to the number of winning lines. In S11, a game state control process is performed. In the game state control process, a process related to transition of each game state of normal game, BB game, RB game, and internal winning game is performed, and the game state is shifted when those start conditions and end conditions are satisfied. Thus, in this embodiment, a privilege is given to the player based on the combination of symbols that are stopped and displayed. Thus, one game is completed. Thereafter, the game proceeds by returning to S2 and repeating the above-described processing.

<Inlet unit>
The slot unit A will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the outline of the inlet unit A will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 14, and then the specific configuration of the inlet unit A will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, in each figure, the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the back side-front side direction (depth direction) are based on the time when the insertion port unit A is used (see FIG. 1).

<Outline of input port unit>
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the slot unit A. FIG. The slot unit A is configured by fastening the slot forming member 1 and the slot forming member 2 with screws 3 to form the medal slot 141 shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the input port unit A has a two-member configuration, but may be a single material. First, the configuration of the insertion port forming member 1 will be described. 6A is a view of the insertion port forming member 1 viewed from the front side, FIG. 6B is a plan view of the insertion port forming member 1, FIG. 6C is a side view of the insertion port forming member 1, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the insertion port forming member 1.

  The insertion slot forming member 1 has a back side wall portion 10 forming a medal insertion slot 141 on the front side thereof. The back side wall part 10 is extended in the up-down direction, and the normal line direction is the back side-front side direction. The width direction is the left-right direction.

  A plurality of convex portions 11 and 12 extending in the up-down direction are formed in the back side wall portion 10 in the left-right direction. A concave portion 13 is formed between the convex portions 11 and 12. Among the plurality of convex portions 11 and 12, the width of the central convex portion 11 located at the center in the left-right direction is larger than the width of the other convex portions 12, and has a flat front surface 11a. In the case of this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the center convex part 11 is trapezoidal, and the cross-sectional shape of the convex part 12 is a mountain shape with a round top. Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of the recessed part 13 is also a mountain shape with a round top. For this reason, the outline of the cross-sectional shape of the back side wall portion 10 has a wavefront shape except for the central convex portion 11. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the convex parts 11 and 12 is not restricted to this, Various shapes are employable.

  The insertion port forming member 1 has a cutout portion 1 a at the upper end portion of the back side wall portion 10. In the present embodiment, the cutout portion 1a has an arc shape or an elliptical arc shape, but is not limited thereto, and may be a square shape, a trapezoid shape, or a V shape.

  Next, the structure of the insertion port forming member 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A is a view of the insertion port forming member 2 viewed from the back side, FIG. 7B is a plan view of the insertion port forming member 2, and FIG. 7C is a side view of the insertion port forming member 2. . FIG. 8A is a plan view of the insertion port unit A, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 8A and an end view of the cut surface. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. FIG. 10A is a plan view of the insertion port unit A, and FIGS. 10B to 10D are cross sections taken along the lines DD, EE, and FF in FIG. 10A, respectively. It is a figure and a cut surface end view. FIG. 11A is a plan view of the insertion port unit A, and FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view taken along line GG of FIG. 12A is a plan view of the insertion port unit A, and FIGS. 12B to 12D are cross sections taken along lines HH, II, and JJ, respectively, of FIG. 12A. It is a figure and a cut surface end view.

  Referring mainly to FIGS. 7A, 8, 9, 11, and 12, the insertion port forming member 2 has a front side wall portion 20 that forms a medal insertion port 141 on the back side. The front side wall portion 20 is formed so as to face the back side wall portion 10 and forms a medal insertion port 141 through which a medal is dropped in a vertical posture (a posture in which the surface direction of the medal end surface is directed in the vertical direction).

  The front side wall part 20 includes a lower side wall part 201, an upper side wall part 202 that is farther from the back side wall part 10 than the lower side wall part 201, and a step part 203 that connects the upper side wall part 202 and the lower side wall part 201. . For this reason, the width in the depth direction of the medal slot 141 is large on the upper side and small on the lower side. Both the lower wall portion 201 and the upper wall portion 202 are flat surfaces parallel to the front surface 11a of the central convex portion 11. A gap between the upper side wall portion 202 and the rear side wall portion 10 (a separation distance between the upper side wall portion 202 and the front surface 11a of the central convex portion 11) is a gap through which several medals can pass. The gap with the side wall 10 (the separation distance between the lower side wall 201 and the front surface 11a of the central protrusion 11) is a gap through which only one medal can pass. A medal that passes through the gap between the lower wall portion 201 and the back wall portion 10 and falls from the medal slot 141 enters the medal selector.

  The stepped portion 203 may be horizontal, but in the case of the present embodiment, the stepped portion 203 is inclined downward toward the lower wall portion 201. Further, in the case of the present embodiment, the stepped portion 203 has a downward convex shape, and in particular, has an arc shape, but other than the arc shape, it may be trapezoidal or V-shaped and convex downward. . The lower edge of the stepped portion 203 (boundary with the lower wall portion 201) is chamfered except for the central portion 203a to form a chamfered portion 203b. Instead of the chamfered portion 203b, roundness (so-called R: curved surface) may be added.

  Referring mainly to FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b) and FIGS. 8 to 10, the insertion port forming member 2 has a guide groove 21 in the upper part thereof. The guide groove 21 extends from the front side of the medal insertion slot 141 to the medal insertion slot 141 and is inclined downward toward the medal insertion slot 141 so that the medal is placed and the medal insertion slot 141 is guided. ing.

  The guide groove 21 has a pair of left and right side surfaces 211 and a bottom surface 212. The side surface 211 has a cross-sectional shape of an arc or an elliptical arc, and the width in the left-right direction (the distance between the side surface 211 and the side surface 211) is formed to gradually narrow downward. The bottom surface 212 is a flat surface. Therefore, the longitudinal cross-sectional shape of the guide groove 21 (see FIGS. 10B to 10D) is a bowl shape or a dish shape. However, the side surface 211 may be trapezoidal with a flat surface. Alternatively, the longitudinal cross-sectional shape of the guide groove 21 may be a U-shape or an inverted mountain shape with a round top, with the bottom surface 212 as a curved surface. Furthermore, it is good also as a V shape without the bottom face 212. In any case, the guide groove 21 may have any shape as long as the width in the left-right direction gradually decreases downward and is inclined downward toward the medal insertion slot 141.

  The guide groove 21 has a widened portion 213 whose width in the left-right direction is widened at the end on the medal slot 141 side. The widening portion 213 facilitates the rotation of the medal from the sleeping posture to the vertical posture.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, the behavior of medals when a plurality of medals are continuously inserted will be described. FIGS. 13A and 13B are views showing examples of medal insertion modes. In either case, the player picks up a plurality of medals M and places them on the guide groove 21. In the example of FIG. 13A, the top side of the plurality of medals M is located above the medal insertion slot 141. In the example of FIG. 13B, all medals M are placed on the guide groove 21 in front of the medal insertion slot 141. Hereinafter, the behavior of medals in the case of the insertion mode of FIG. 13A will be described, but in the case of the insertion mode of FIG.

  State 1 in FIG. 14 shows a state in which a plurality of medals M are inserted according to the insertion mode of FIG. When the player releases his hands from the plurality of medals M from this state, first, as shown in state 2, a plurality of medals M (four medals M in this case) above the medal slot 141 are gathered together. It becomes a block and falls simultaneously between the back side wall part 10 and the upper side wall part 202. Further, since the guide groove 21 is inclined, the medal M on the guide groove 21 starts to change back to the sleeping position and tries to move to the back side as a whole.

  Subsequently, as shown in the state 3, among the plurality of medals M dropped in a block shape between the back side wall 10 and the upper side wall 202, the top medal M is the back side wall 10 and the lower side wall 201. It begins to fall between. At that time, since the plurality of medals M fall in a block shape and are energized, the leading medal M is easily dropped with ease.

  When the first medal passes between the back side wall part 10 and the lower side wall part 201 and falls completely, as shown in the state 4, the medal M on the step part 203 moves to the back side, and on the guide groove 21 The first medal M starts to enter between the back side wall part 10 and the upper side wall part 202. At this time, since the second and subsequent medals M on the guide groove 21 press the leading medal M toward the back side, the leading medal M on the guiding groove 21 is located between the back side wall portion 10 and the upper side wall portion 202. It is promoted to enter.

  Thereafter, as shown in states 5 to 7, the medals M between the back side wall part 10 and the upper side wall part 202 sequentially pass between the back side wall part 10 and the lower side wall part 201, and on the guide groove 21. Medals M sequentially enter between the rear wall portion 10 and the lower wall portion 201. In this way, the last medal M also passes between the back side wall part 10 and the lower side wall part 201.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the guide groove 21 is inclined downward toward the medal insertion slot 141, so that the medal M on the guide groove 21 is guided to the medal insertion slot 141, and the step portion 203 is provided. This makes it easier for the medal M to drop from the guide groove 21 to the medal slot 141. As a result, a plurality of medals M can be inserted automatically and continuously, and medals can be continuously inserted more smoothly.

<Specific configuration of inlet unit>
<Induction groove>
When the medal M moves on the guide groove 21 toward the medal slot 141, it is difficult to move in the vertical posture (standing posture), and the medal M is placed in the guide groove 21 in the vertical posture. In this case, it is preferable to fall down to a sleeping posture. In the present embodiment, the contour shape of the longitudinal section of the guide groove 21 is set to be larger than the contour shape of the medal M. 15A is a plan view of the insertion slot unit A in which the medal M is placed on the guide groove 21, and FIG. 15B is a line D′-D ′ and a line E′-E in FIG. It is each sectional drawing (cut surface end view) along line ', F'-F'.

  In FIG. 15B, the outline shape OL of the longitudinal section of the guide groove 21 is indicated by a bold line. As shown in the figure, the contour shape OL is larger than the contour shape of the medal at an arbitrary position in the depth direction of the guide groove 21. For this reason, when the medal M is placed at the center in the left-right direction of the bottom surface 212, the contact point between the medal M and the guide groove 21 becomes one point with the bottom surface 212, which is unstable for maintaining the vertical posture. Thus, the medal M is easy to fall down. Even when the medal M is placed on one side 211, the contact point between the medal M and the guide groove 21 is two points, that is, the bottom 212 and the one side 211. It becomes unstable and the medal M easily falls.

  In order to smoothly move to the medal insertion slot 141 assuming that the medal M falls on the guide groove 21 and falls asleep, it is preferable to reduce the friction between the medal M and the guide groove 21 as much as possible. .

  Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, the width of the guide groove 21 in the left-right direction is formed to gradually narrow downward from a width larger than the diameter of the medal M to a smaller width. In FIG. 15B, a part P indicates a part where the width in the left-right direction of the guide groove 21 is the same as the diameter X of the medal M. The width of the guide groove 21 in the left-right direction is wider than the diameter X above the portion P and narrower than the diameter X below.

  For this reason, when the medal M is in a sleeping posture, the contact points between the medal M and the guide groove 21 are two points of the side surfaces 211. FIG. 15C is a plan view showing a mode in which one medal M moves on the guide groove 21 in a lying posture, and FIG. 15D shows a line D ″ -D in FIG. 15C. It is each sectional drawing (cut surface end view) along line '', line E ''-E '', and line F ''-F ''. As shown in FIG. 15 (d), at an arbitrary position in the depth direction of the guide groove 21, the medal M is in contact with only two points in total with each side surface 211.

  And the site | part P inclines below toward the medal insertion port 141, and is continuing. FIG. 16A is an explanatory diagram showing the behavior of one medal M continuously. As shown in the state 1, the part P is inclined downward toward the medal insertion slot 141 and is continuous. This is synonymous with a case in which a cylindrical body or an elliptical cylindrical body including a pair of side surfaces 211 is hypothesized that its axial direction is inclined downward toward the medal slot 141.

  As shown in state 1, when the medal M is placed on the guide groove 21 in a vertical posture, the posture immediately falls down and falls asleep. Then, as shown in state 2, the robot slides toward the medal insertion slot 141 while being separated from the bottom surface 212 in a forward inclined posture along the part P. And as shown in the state 3, it enters between the back side wall part 10 and the upper side wall part 202, rotating.

  When a plurality of medals M are placed on the guide groove 21 as shown in FIG. 14, the posture of the medals M is set to the part P as shown in FIG. It will not be a forward leaning posture. However, also in this case, as shown in FIGS. 16 (b) and 16 (c), the medal M has a strong forward inclination, and the contact point with the guide groove 21 is the bottom surface 212 and the pair of side surfaces 211. Further, the medal M wants to return to the posture along the portion P, and therefore the frictional force with the bottom surface 212 is small, so that the friction between the medal M and the guide groove 21 is extremely high. Get smaller.

  In this way, in this embodiment, the medal on the guide groove 21 is easy to fall down, and goes to the medal insertion slot 141 in a lying posture. At that time, the contact point between the medal M and the guide groove 21 becomes two or three points, and it is promoted that the medal M slides on the guide groove 21. As a result, medals can be continuously inserted more smoothly. The shape of the guide groove 21 is not limited to that of the present embodiment, and various shapes can be adopted as described above.

  Next, in the present embodiment, the bottom surface 212 is also inclined downward toward the medal insertion slot 141. For this reason, the medal M (see FIGS. 16B and 16C) existing on the guide groove 21 in contact with the bottom surface 212 presses the medal M on the step portion 203 toward the back side wall portion 10, and from the step portion 203. The fall of the medal M can be promoted.

  Further, the degree of inclination of the part P is larger than the degree of inclination of the bottom surface 212. In FIG. 16A, the angle θ1 is an angle formed by the continuous direction of the portion P and the horizontal plane, and the angle θ2 is an angle formed by the bottom surface 212 and the horizontal plane, and the relationship of angle θ1> angle θ2 is satisfied. In the case of this inclination relationship, the continuous drop of medals M is further promoted. This point will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 17A and 17B and FIG. 18A show the case of this embodiment (angle θ1> θ2), and FIGS. 17C and 17D and FIG. (Angle θ1 <θ2) are shown respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 17C and 17D, in the case of the guide groove 21 ′ having a pair of side surfaces 211 ′ and bottom surface 212 ′ in which the inclination relationship is reversed (angle θ1 <θ2), on the guide groove 21. Among the plurality of medals M, the medal M on the medal insertion slot 141 side takes a more upright posture. In the example of the figure, the angle with respect to the bottom surface 212 ′ of the medal M on the medal insertion slot 141 side is β1, and the angle with respect to the bottom surface 212 ′ of the medal M at a position far from the medal insertion slot 141 is β2 (<β1). ing. This is because the distance between the part P and the bottom surface 212 ′ is longer on the medal insertion slot 141 side, and the distance between the part P and the bottom surface 212 ′ is shorter on the front side on the opposite side.

  When the medals M on the medal insertion slot 141 side are in a more upright posture, more medals M are present on the medal insertion slot 141 side as shown in FIG. Then, the case where these medals M press the medal M between the back side wall part 10 and the upper side wall part 202 becomes too strong. As a result, among the medals M between the back side wall part 10 and the upper side wall part 202, the top medal M in contact with the back side wall part 10 may not easily fall.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, in the case of the present embodiment (angle θ1> θ2), the medal M on the medal insertion slot 141 side among the plurality of medals M on the guide groove 21 is A more sleeping posture. In the example of the figure, the angle with respect to the bottom surface 212 of the medal M on the medal insertion slot 141 side is α1, and the angle with respect to the bottom surface 212 of the medal M at a position far from the medal insertion slot 141 is α2 (> α1). . This is because the distance between the part P and the bottom surface 212 is short on the medal insertion slot 141 side, and the distance between the part P and the bottom surface 212 is long on the near side on the opposite side.

  When the medal M on the medal insertion slot 141 side is in a more sleeping position, as shown in FIG. 18A, the medal M existing on the medal insertion slot 141 side becomes smaller than in the case of FIG. For this reason, the case where the medal M on the guide groove 21 presses the medal M between the back side wall part 10 and the upper side wall part 202 becomes too strong can be avoided. As a result, the medal M between the back side wall part 10 and the upper side wall part 202 is appropriately pressed, and the fall is promoted.

  Further, when the angle θ1> θ2) as in the present embodiment, the posture changes from the standing state of the medal M to the sleeping state when the inserting method shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B is used. It takes a relatively long time until the medal M on the guide groove 21 reaches the medal slot 141 sequentially. As a result, it is avoided that the medal M on the guide groove M strongly presses the medal M between the back side wall part 10 and the upper side wall part 202, and between the back side wall part 10 and the upper side wall part 202. It is possible to prevent the medal M from jumping suddenly and causing medal clogging.

  Next, the function of the widened portion 213 will be described. When moving the guide groove 21, it is advantageous to lay the medal M, but when entering the medal insertion slot 141, it is necessary to rotate the medal M to a vertical posture. By providing the widened portion 213, the contact point between the medal M and the side surface 211 is lost. That is, in FIG. 16C, the contact points CP1 and CP1 are suddenly lost, and as shown in the state 3 in FIG. 16A, the forward tilt of the medal M that has moved in the forward tilt posture becomes strong. Thus, it is facilitated to enter the stepped portion 203 while rotating to a vertical posture.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the widened portion 213 not only widens the width of the guide groove 21 in the left-right direction, but also has an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the medal slot 141 (see FIG. 7 and the like). Therefore, when the medal M rotates, it can slide on the widened portion 213 and rotate stably.

  It is not preferable that the rotation of the medal M is hindered by the existence of the back side wall portion 10. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 19, when viewed on the continuous direction line of the part P, the distance W from the starting position of the widened portion 213 to the back side wall portion 10 is not less than half (that is, the radius) of the diameter X of the medal M. Preferably there is. With this configuration, the rotation space of the medal M can be reliably ensured.

<Front side wall>
In this embodiment, the front side wall part 20 has a lower side wall part 201, an upper side wall part 202, and a step part 203, and the width in the depth direction of the medal insertion slot 141 is large on the upper side, and the lower side thereof. I made it smaller on the side. As a result, the plurality of medals M first drop to the medal insertion slot 141, and one of the medals M falls next. This makes it easier for the medal M to fall continuously than when the entire medal slot 141 has a width for inserting one medal M.

  FIG. 20A illustrates a case where the entire medal insertion slot 141 has a width for inserting one medal M. In the example of the figure, the first medal M1 is pressed against the back side wall portion 10 by another medal M, and the frictional force F1 from the back side wall portion 10 and the frictional force F2 between the medals from the front medal M1. , Have received each. When the frictional force F1 + F2> weight is satisfied, the medal M1 does not fall.

  FIG. 20B shows the case of this embodiment. Four medals M can enter between the upper side wall portion 202 and the rear side wall portion 10. These four medals M can be regarded as one in a situation where they are pressed by the remaining medals. Therefore, even when the frictional force F1 + F2> the own weight, if the frictional force F1 + F2> the own weight × 4 situations, the four medals M are placed between the upper side wall 202 and the rear side wall 10. Fall. Since the momentum of this fall is also added, thereafter, the leading medal M1 falls between the lower side wall portion 201 and the rear side wall portion 10 and falls from the insertion port unit A as it is.

  The gap between the upper wall portion 202 and the back wall portion 10 is designed so that an unexpected number of medals M may not enter at the same time and cause clogging of medals in consideration of variations in the thickness of the medals M. Is preferred. 26 and 27 show the results of tests performed when setting a gap between the upper wall portion 202 and the back wall portion 10.

  FIGS. 26A and 26B show the results of collecting medals commercially available with a diameter of 25 mm and a thickness of 1.6 mm (4027 pieces) and examining the variation in thickness. As shown in the figure, the main range of thickness (98% or more of the whole) was 1.5 mm to 1.8 mm.

  Next, when the thickness of medals was 1.5 mm to 1.8 mm, the cumulative thickness when a plurality of medals were stacked was calculated. FIGS. 27A and 27B show the results. In FIG. 27A, the vertical axis represents the individual thicknesses of medals, and the horizontal axis represents the number of sheets to be overlapped. For example, when three medals having a thickness of 1.5 mm are stacked, the cumulative thickness is 4.5 mm, and when four medals are stacked, the total thickness is 6.0 mm.

  In FIG. 27B, the vertical axis represents the number of sheets to be overlapped, and the horizontal axis represents the cumulative thickness. For example, when three sheets are stacked, the cumulative thickness is in the range of 4.5 to 5.4 mm. It should be noted that the cumulative thickness may be the same even though the number of stacked sheets is different. For example, the number of sheets having a cumulative thickness of 12 mm to 12.6 mm can be both 7 and 8 sheets.

  Therefore, for example, assuming that a maximum of 7 medals are inserted between the upper side wall portion 202 and the back side wall portion 10 and these gaps are set to 12.0 mm, 8 medals can be inserted without a gap. There is a possibility that medals will be clogged. The larger the gap, the greater the variation in cumulative thickness due to the variation in medal thickness. If it is set to be less than 7.5 mm, only four medals can be inserted between the upper side wall 202 and the rear side wall 10 at the maximum. Therefore, in this test example, it is preferable that the distance between the upper wall portion 202 and the back wall portion 10 is less than 7.5 mm.

  On the other hand, it is preferable that the number of medals that can be dropped at the same time is larger in order for the medals to reliably fall with respect to the frictional force from the back side wall portion 10 and the frictional force between medals. FIG. 27 (c) shows whether or not a medal has fallen due to the relationship between the number of medals (horizontal axis) in close contact with the back side wall 10 and the number of medals on the guide groove 21 that presses the medal. The test results are shown. For example, when there are two medals in close contact with the back side wall 10 side and there are three medals on the guide groove 21, two medals in close contact with the back side wall part 10 have fallen (○ ) When there were five medals on the guide groove 21 (strong pressing force), it did not fall (×). In the test example of FIG. 27C, it is preferable that the gap be set between the upper side wall portion 202 and the rear side wall portion 10 so that three or more medals can exist. In the test example of FIG. 26 and FIG. 27, it is desirable that a gap be set between the upper side wall portion 202 and the rear side wall portion 10 so that a maximum of three or four medals can exist. Therefore, in this test example, it is preferable that the distance between the upper wall portion 202 and the rear wall portion 10 is 5.4 mm or more.

  Next, by widening the gap between the upper side wall portion 202 and the back side wall portion 10, a plurality of medals M can be dropped at the same time, while the medals M fall violently when entering the gap. Takes a long time and may cause clogging of medals when continuously inserted. FIG. 21A illustrates how the medal M is rampant. However, when the medal M on the guide groove 21 presses the medal M existing between the upper side wall portion 202 and the inner side wall portion 10 against the inner side wall portion 10, it is possible to prevent the medal M from being exposed.

  Therefore, it is desirable to set the depth of the stepped portion 203 so that the medal M on the stepped portion 203 is exposed from the end of the guide groove 21 on the medal insertion port 141 side. FIG. 21B shows an example of setting the depth of the stepped portion 203. In the present embodiment, since the step portion 203 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane (angle θ3), the medal M can always be exposed if the maximum depth Ymax is less than the diameter X of the medal M.

  If the medal M on the step portion 203 is exposed from the end of the guide groove 21 on the medal slot 141 side, it can be pressed against the back side wall portion 10 by the medal M on the guide groove 21. FIG. 21C is an explanatory diagram thereof. Since the medal M1 on the step portion 203 is exposed upward from the end portion of the guide groove 21, it is pressed against the back side wall portion 10 by the medal M2 on the guide groove 21. At this time, since the stepped portion 203 is inclined downward toward the lower wall portion 201, the medal M1 on the stepped portion 203 moves more smoothly to the back side. And it falls between the lower side wall part 201 and the back side wall part 10. FIG.

  In this way, it is possible to smoothly and continuously insert medals. Further, since the medal M is exposed when the medal is jammed around the stepped portion 203, there is an advantage that it is easy to find the jam. Furthermore, the medal on the stepped portion 203 can easily move to the back side wall portion 10 side, and the medal M can be dropped continuously.

  Next, it is preferable that the medal M on the stepped portion 203 is pressed against the medal M on the guide groove 21 followed by the portion above the lower half. This is because when the lower half is pressed, the posture may return to a sleeping posture instead of a vertical posture. FIG. 22B shows an example thereof, and the medal M1 is urged from the vertical posture to the sleeping posture because the lower half is pushed by the succeeding medal M2.

  Therefore, it is preferable that the depth of the stepped portion 203 is set so that a portion above the lower half of the medal on the stepped portion 203 is exposed from the end of the guide groove 21 on the medal insertion port 141 side. FIG. 22B shows an example of setting the depth of the step portion 203. In the present embodiment, since the step portion 203 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, if the minimum depth Ymin is not less than the radius X / 2 of the medal M, it is above the lower half of the medal on the step portion 203. The part can always be pressed.

  FIG. 22 (c) shows a case where the depth of the stepped portion 203 is set as shown in FIG. 22 (a), and the medal M1 is pushed by the succeeding medal M2 at a portion above its lower half. Therefore, it is biased to a vertical posture. In this way, only the upper part of the medal M on the step portion 203 is pushed from the medal M on the guide groove 21, so that the medal M can be easily placed in a vertical posture at the medal insertion slot 141, and the fall of the medal M can be promoted.

  Next, the function of the chamfered portion 203b at the lower edge of the stepped portion 203 will be described. The chamfered portion 203b has an effect of promoting the fall of the medal M by reducing the contact area with the lower edge of the stepped portion 203 when the medal M falls from the stepped portion 203. That is, by providing the chamfered portion 203b, the contact point between the medal M and the lower edge of the stepped portion 203 becomes a limited range of the central portion 203a. To prevent clogging of medals. As described above, the chamfered portion 203b may be rounded.

  Such a chamfered portion 203b (or roundness) is particularly effective in preventing clogging of medals due to the relationship with the shape of the stepped portion 203 of the present embodiment. This point will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 23A shows the case of the stepped portion 203 ′ not having the chamfered portion 203 b, and FIG. 23B shows the case of the present embodiment in which the chamfered portion 203 b is provided.

  Here, in the case of the present embodiment, the stepped portion 203 is convex downward. This shape makes it easier for the medal M to move closer to the center of the stepped portion 203, and the medal is unintentionally displayed and unintentional behavior can be avoided, so that the medal clogging can be avoided. Fit the shape of the circular medal M to increase this effect. However, by projecting downward, the lower edge of the stepped portion 203 extends from the center to the lower end and the left and right ends extend upward. In the present embodiment, since the stepped portion 203 has an arc shape, the lower edge thereof is also on the arc.

  As shown in FIG. 23A, when the chamfer 203b is not provided, when the medal M falls from the step 203, the contact CP11 at the lower edge of the step 203, the bottom 212, and the upper side wall 202 These are in contact with the boundary contact CP12.

  Also in the case of this embodiment shown in FIG. 23B, when the medal M falls from the stepped portion 203, the contact CP11 at the lower edge of the stepped portion 203 and the contact CP12 at the boundary between the bottom surface 212 and the upper side wall portion 202. In this case, the contact CP11 is positioned on the central portion 203a by providing the chamfered portion 203b, and the contact position is compared with the case where the chamfered portion 203b shown in FIG. The posture of the medal M is relatively close to the vertical posture. For this reason, it is possible to prevent occurrence of clogging of medals as compared with the case where the chamfered portion 203b is not provided. In particular, the effect of preventing clogging of medals when the remaining one medal M falls, which is not expected to be pressed from the subsequent medal M, is high.

<Back side wall>
As described above, the insertion port forming member 1 has the cutout portion 1 a at the upper end portion of the back side wall portion 10. This notch 1a facilitates the removal of medals when medals are jammed. FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram thereof.

  FIG. 24A shows an example of a mode in which medals are clogged. At this time, the medal M <b> 1 is in close contact with the back side wall portion 10. Due to the presence of the notch 1a, a space for inserting a finger is formed here. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 24B and FIG. 24C, the player can remove the medal clogging by picking and extracting the medal M1.

  Next, the function of the convex parts 11 and 12 is demonstrated. By providing the convex portions 11 and 12, the frictional force with the medal M that is in close contact with the back side wall portion 10 can be reduced. In particular, in the present embodiment, as described above, since the cross-sectional shape of the convex portion 12 has a mountain shape with a round top, the medal can be smoothly dropped. Further, since dust easily escapes into the recess 13, it is possible to prevent dust from accumulating on the surface of the back side wall portion 10.

  The central convex portion 11 can prevent the medal from being exposed when the medal collides with the back side wall portion 10, and has a function of preventing the medal clogging. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 25A shows a case where the central convex portion 11 is provided, and FIG. 25B shows a case where all the convex portions are convex portions 12 having a mountain shape in cross section.

  In the example of FIG. 25B, when the medal M collides with the back side wall portion 10, a reaction force can be generated in the left-right direction depending on the angle of collision with the convex portion 12. As a result, there is a risk that the medal M may enter the medal insertion slot 141 while swinging from side to side. This can be a factor in clogging medals.

  On the other hand, in the case of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 25A, since the central convex portion 11 is located at the center in the left-right direction, the medal M reliably collides with the central convex portion 11 and the central convex portion 11 Since the front surface 11a is a flat surface, the reaction force received by the medal M is substantially in the depth direction. Therefore, the medal M can be prevented from rampaging.

  In the present embodiment, by allowing the relatively wide central convex portion 11 and the narrow convex portion 12 to coexist, it is possible to promote smooth fall of medals and prevention of medal rampage. In particular, the convex portion 12 has a mountain-shaped cross-sectional shape with a round top, thereby reducing the contact area with the medal M at the time of dropping (line contact) and reducing friction, and the central convex portion 11 having a trapezoidal cross section. By adopting the shape, the width of the front surface 11a can be easily secured (surface contact), and medal rampage can be prevented.

  The larger the central convex portion 11 is, the higher the medal rampage suppression effect is, but the contact area with the medal M at the time of dropping increases and the friction increases. Therefore, although depending on the balance between the diameter of the medal M and the width of the guide groove 21, when the diameter of the medal M is 25 mm, it is preferably 4 to 8 mm, more preferably 5 to 7 mm, and particularly preferably 6 mm.

<Other embodiments>
In the above embodiment, an example in which the slot unit of the present invention is applied to a slot machine has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to other types of game machines (for example, medal game machines). In addition, medals include coins, and also include medals and coins as coins in addition to game media. Therefore, the slot unit of the present invention can be applied as a unit that forms a slot for coins in, for example, beverage and ticket vending machines. Further, when it is allowed to use medals with different diameters in combination, the above-described relationships may be established for all medals.

<Summary of Embodiment>
1. The insertion slot unit (for example, A) includes a rear side wall (for example, 10) and a front side wall (for example, 20) that form a medal insertion slot (for example, 141) for dropping a medal in a vertical posture, and the medal An insertion slot unit that extends from the front side of the insertion slot to the medal insertion slot, and has a guide groove (for example, 21) on which a medal is placed and guides the medal into the medal insertion slot, The front side wall part includes a lower side wall part (for example, 201), an upper side wall part (for example, 202) that is farther from the back side wall part than the lower side wall part, and the upper side wall part and the lower side wall part. A step portion (for example, 203) to be connected, and the guide groove has a longitudinal cross-sectional contour shape (for example, OL) larger than the medal contour shape, and a lateral width thereof is the medal. From a width larger than the diameter of A portion (for example, P), which is formed so as to be gradually narrowed downward toward the die width and whose width in the left-right direction is the same as the diameter of the medal, is continuously inclined to the medal slot. It is characterized by that.

  According to this configuration, the medal on the guide groove easily falls down and goes to the medal insertion slot in a sleeping posture. At that time, the contact point between the medal and the guide groove becomes two or three points, and it is promoted that the medal slides on the guide groove. As a result, medals can be continuously inserted more smoothly.

  2. In the insertion port unit according to 1 above, the guide groove has a pair of side surfaces (for example, 211) including the portion, and a bottom surface (for example, 212) that is inclined downward toward the medal insertion port. And the degree of inclination (for example, θ1) of the portion that continues to be inclined downward toward the medal slot on the side surface is greater than the degree of inclination of the bottom surface (for example, θ2). Features.

  According to this configuration, the medal on the guide groove is easy to sleep on the medal insertion slot side, and it is possible to avoid a state where many medals exist on the medal insertion slot side, and the medal on the step portion is moderately pressed to the back side wall. Can be pressed. Thereby, the continuous fall of medals is promoted.

  3. 3. The slot unit according to 1 or 2, wherein the guide groove has a widened portion (for example, 213) whose width in the left-right direction is widened at an end portion on the medal slot side.

  According to this configuration, a medal that slides in a posture in which the guide groove is laid down is promoted to enter the step portion while rotating to a vertical posture.

  4). The game table (for example, 100) includes a rear side wall (for example, 10) and a front side wall (for example, 20) that form a medal insertion slot (for example, 141) for dropping medals in a vertical posture, and the medal insertion A gaming table that is extended from the front side of the mouth to the medal insertion slot and includes a guide groove (for example, 21) for placing a medal and guiding the medal into the medal insertion slot. The side wall includes a lower side wall (for example, 201), an upper side wall (for example, 202) that is further away from the back side wall than the lower side wall, and a step that connects the upper side wall and the lower side wall. The guide groove has a vertical cross-sectional contour shape (for example, OL) larger than the medal contour shape, and a lateral width thereof is the diameter of the medal. From larger to smaller width, A portion (for example, P) that is formed so as to gradually narrow toward the medal and whose width in the left-right direction is the same as the diameter of the medal is inclined downward toward the medal slot and is continuous. It is characterized by.

  According to this configuration, the medal on the guide groove easily falls down, and heads toward the medal slot in a sleeping posture. At that time, the contact point between the medal and the guide groove becomes two or three points, and it is promoted that the medal slides on the guide groove. As a result, medals can be continuously inserted more smoothly.

Claims (1)

A back side wall part and a front side wall part that form a medal slot for dropping the medal in a vertical posture;
A guide groove extending from the front side of the medal insertion slot to the medal insertion slot, for placing a medal and guiding the medal to the medal insertion slot;
A slot unit with
The front side wall portion is
A lower wall,
An upper side wall portion that is separated from the back side wall portion than the lower side wall portion; and
A step portion connecting the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion,
The guide groove is
Its contour is greater part than the contour shape before Symbol medals longitudinal section is formed toward the front side of the medal slot from the upper side wall portion continuous with the upper side wall portion,
The width in the left-right direction is formed to gradually narrow downward from a width larger than the diameter of the medal to a smaller width,
A portion where the width in the left-right direction is the same as the diameter of the medal is continuously inclined downward toward the medal slot ,
The guide groove is
A pair of side surfaces including the portion;
A bottom surface inclined downward toward the medal slot,
The insertion port unit , wherein the slope of the portion that is continuously inclined downward toward the medal insertion port on the side surface is greater than the inclination of the bottom surface .

Images