JP5547955B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine provided with a movable panel surface part that can be operated in various ways by simply controlling on / off of energization and that exhibits a characteristic effect in the progress of the game.

In the pachinko machine, various board parts such as a prize opening, a windmill, a symbol display device, and an electrical decoration device are provided on the board surface of the game board in order to diversify the game contents. For example, the stage effect is enhanced by moving the movable surface parts in various directions triggered by winnings during the game or other changes in the situation.
For example, when a game ball wins a start winning opening provided on the game board, the symbol displayed on the symbol display device in the game board starts to change, and the symbol stopped after a predetermined time has passed is a predetermined jackpot symbol. When it becomes, it becomes a big hit state, and a player can acquire a lot of balls. In such a gaming machine, various display effects are performed in order to enhance the interest of the game.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which the movable panel surface component is moved left and right in conjunction with the display content of the symbol display device when the jackpot is reached. Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which a movable board surface component is moved in the front-rear direction of the game board when the symbols are in a predetermined combination.
Since these movable board surface parts use a motor and solenoid as a drive source, a relatively large space is required to arrange the drive source and the driving force transmission means, and the game board and other parts arranged in the vicinity thereof. This is a cause of reducing the degree of freedom in layout of parts.
On the other hand, Patent Document 3 discloses a configuration for operating a movable member using a thin line-shaped shape memory alloy whose hardness changes depending on the presence or absence of energization and deforms in the length direction. According to this, the drive source of the movable member can be made compact, and the installation space can be reduced.
However, in the drive source made of a thin line-shaped shape memory alloy described in Patent Document 3, it is cured by energizing one shape memory alloy to expand or contract its length, or turn off the energization. Therefore, the movable member is merely configured to be softened and stretched, and since the deformation operation is a linear simple operation, the movable member cannot be variously changed.

JP 2004-195084 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-007509 JP 2006-51111 A

In a conventional pachinko gaming machine, an accessory was operated using a single thin line-shaped shape memory alloy as a driving source, but the operation was simple, satisfying a discerning player. It did not lead to letting. Further, even if an actuator using a plurality of fine wire shape memory alloys is manufactured, it is difficult to give diversity to the operations obtained therefrom.
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is obtained by using a plurality of wires and controlling them individually with different lengths while using a shape memory alloy wire as a drive source. An object of the present invention is to provide a movable platen part that can add diversity and complexity to the operation of the accessory.

The gaming machine according to the first aspect of the present invention has a movable member whose base end is supported by a support portion and is elastically deformable, and is deformed by self-heating caused by energization attached along the movable member, and the energization is released. A gaming machine having a movable board surface component comprising a plurality of wires of different lengths having a shape memory effect that returns to an original shape, and a power source that supplies current to each of the wires, and at least from the power source A plurality of deformation patterns of the movable member are obtained by selectively energizing one wire, and one end portion of each wire is disposed at substantially the same position of the support portion or the movable member. The other end of the movable member is disposed at a different position of the movable member, and the long wire is provided along one surface of the movable member, while the other short wire is disposed on the other surface of the movable member. It was additionally provided along the And wherein the door.
In the present invention, a linear shape memory alloy, that is, an actuator using a plurality of wires, is constructed, and the length of each wire and the mounting state with respect to the movable member are varied to control the energization procedure in various ways. The member can be deformed in various patterns including a three-dimensional operation.
The gaming machine according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that each of the wires is made of a shape memory alloy that has flexibility when not energized, and that is toughened and contracts when energized.
A gaming machine according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that terminals are arranged at or near both ends of each wire.

Gaming machine according to the invention of claim 4, you wherein with different deformation direction, and the deformation amount at the time of energization of each wire.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to give diversity and complexity to the operation of the obtained accessory by using a plurality of wires made of shape memory alloy and controlling each length differently. it can. That is, in the present invention, an actuator using a plurality of wires made of shape memory alloy is constructed, the length of each wire and the mounting state with respect to the movable member are varied, and the energization procedure is controlled in various ways. Can be deformed in various patterns.

1 is an overall front view of a pachinko gaming machine as an example of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A-1) to (d-1) are external views for explaining the shape change of the movable platen surface parts, and (a-2) to (d-2) are actuators made of a shape memory alloy wire or the like. It is a figure explaining operation | movement by the correspondence with an external view. It is a perspective view of an actuator.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall front view of a pachinko gaming machine as an example of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
A pachinko gaming machine 1 shown in this figure has a rectangular frame 2, and a game board 3 is detachably attached to a window hole of the frame 2 from the front side.
The game board 3 is provided with a guide rail protruding forward along the outer peripheral edge of the game area. The guide rail is constituted by an outer rail R1 and an inner rail R2 that guide a game ball launched from the launching device to the upper part of the game area or guide the game ball to the out port 18 for collecting the out ball.
A glass frame (not shown) is attached to the front side of the game board 3 so as to be opened and closed. A lower part of the glass frame is provided with a tray part 4 for storing game balls, a launch lever 5 for launching game balls in the tray part 4 and the like. Further, for example, an operation unit 6 such as a chance button or a cross key for a game effect, a purchase button for a game ball, a purchase cancel button, or the like is provided on the upper part of the saucer unit 4.
A symbol display device 9 is disposed in the approximate center of the game board 3. The symbol display device 9 is constituted by a liquid crystal display panel such as a liquid crystal display device, for example, and displays a special symbol image (not shown) in a normal operation state. In the so-called reach state or special game state, an effect image or the like indicating each game state is displayed.

Below the symbol display device 9, a variable winning device 11 for variably displaying the special symbol of the symbol display device 9 is provided.
Further, on the left side of the symbol display device 9, a gate 12 is provided for operating a normal symbol displayed on the normal symbol display device 10 disposed in the lower right portion of the game board 3.
Further, below the variable winning device 11, there is provided a large winning opening 13 having an opening / closing door that is opened in a big hit state which is one of the special gaming states.
The variable winning device 11 includes an upper starting pocket 14 for variably displaying the symbol display device 9 and an electric tulip 17 having a pair of left and right open / close claws (movable pieces).
In addition, the game board 3 is provided with a normal winning opening 16, and a windmill 15 and a large number of game nails project. The game nail slows down the falling speed of the game ball and changes the falling direction in a complicated manner to enhance the interest in game progression.
The normal symbol displayed on the normal symbol display device 10 can variably display one or a plurality of symbols, and the symbol is a random number on the condition that the gate 12 as a normal symbol start port detects a game ball. It is variable and stopped for a predetermined time by control or the like.
As a normal symbol, a numerical symbol, an alphabet symbol, a character symbol, and other appropriate game symbols are used. Then, when the normal symbol becomes a predetermined mode by random number control on the condition that the game ball has passed through the gate 12, the movable piece made of the electric tulip provided in the variable winning device 11 is opened for a predetermined time. It is configured as follows.

The special symbol displayed on the symbol display device 9 is configured to be in a big hit state when the stop symbol is a predetermined symbol combination, for example, the same symbol combination. Also, the special symbol is that the winning of the game ball is detected at the upper starting pocket 14 of the variable winning device 11 or the lower starting port (not shown) where the gaming ball is guided by the opening operation of the electric tulip. For example, the display is scrolled by random number control or the like, and a predetermined fluctuation pattern is changed (variable) for a predetermined time to stop at the symbol. At that time, when two stop symbols become the same on the active line, a reach state occurs, and in this reach state, the last stop symbol on the active line is already stopped. A big hit state occurs when they are the same. In addition, as a special symbol, a numerical symbol, an alphabet symbol, a character symbol, etc. can be used.
On the upper part of the symbol display device 9, a movable panel surface component 20 that is shaped like a tree branch is arranged, and is configured to swing and deform according to the progress of the game.

FIGS. 2 (a-1) to (d-1) are external views for explaining the shape change of the movable platen surface parts, and FIGS. 2 (a-2) to (d-2) are wires made of shape memory alloy. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the actuator. FIG.
The movable platen surface component 20 is supported by a support unit 21 such as a game board or an accessory and has a base end that is deformed in the vertical direction by energization, and is detachably attached to the outer surface of the actuator 30 to attach a tree branch. And an outer skin 60 made of a flexible resin (for example, elastomer).
The actuator 30 is supported by a support portion 21 having a base end portion (left end portion in the figure) fixed to the game board side and is made of an elastically deformable material such as a resin, and the longitudinal direction of the movable member. A plurality of wires 40, 41, 42 having different lengths having a shape memory effect that is attached substantially in parallel with the direction and deforms by self-heating due to energization and returns to its original shape when the energization is released, A power supply 50 that supplies current and a control unit 55 that controls the power supply are provided.

The present invention is characterized in that a plurality of deformation patterns of the movable member 31 are obtained by selectively energizing at least one wire from the power supply 50 under the control of the control unit 55.
The support portion 21 may be a fixed member such as a game board or a role fixed to the game board, or may be a movable part.
In this example, the movable member 31 constituting the actuator 30 is a flat and narrow strip-like long body curved in a substantially S shape, and is configured to be elastically deformed in the vertical direction (thickness direction). By fixing the end portion to the support portion 21, the posture protruding in the lateral direction is maintained during the non-energization shown in FIGS. 2 (a-1) and (a-2).

The wires 40, 41, and 42 according to the present embodiment have a flexibility such as a nylon thread when not energized, and become tough and contract like a piano wire when energized, and soften and expand when deenergized. -Ni shape memory alloy (Biometal: registered trademark of Toki Corporation).
In this example, each of the wires 40, 41, 42 is fixed to the support portion 21 (or the base end portion of the movable member 31) with the respective base end portions 40a, 41a, 42a, and the tip end portion 40b of each wire. , 41b, 42b are fixed at corresponding positions of the movable member 31. Terminals 40a ', 40b', terminals 41a ', 41b', and terminals 42a ', 42b' are provided at the base ends 40a, 41a, 42a and distal ends 40b, 41b, 42b of the wires, respectively. A direct current is supplied to each wire from each lead wire 51 extending from 50. The control unit 55 can deform the movable member 31 in various modes by selecting and controlling at which timing the current is supplied from the power supply 50 to which wire. The energization of each of the three wires 40, 41, and 42 may be selective energization in units of one, energization in a selective combination of two units, or energization of three simultaneously. There may be. Furthermore, the energization timing for each wire may be shifted.
In the above embodiment, the base ends of all the wires 40, 41, 42 are fixed at the same position, but this is only an example, and the base end of at least one wire is positioned at the intermediate position of the movable member 31. It may be arranged.

In addition, the intermediate portion of each wire is moved by a plurality of locking members 45 so that the stress generated when each wire is deformed by energization can be transmitted to the movable member 31 with high responsiveness and the local portion of the movable member 31 can be deformed. It is fixed to 31.
In the present embodiment, the longest wire 40 is attached along one surface (upper surface) of the movable member 31, and the tip 40b of the wire 40 is fixed to the tip of the movable member, while the other short wires 41, 42 is attached along the other surface (lower surface) which a movable member opposes. The wires 41 and 42 arranged in parallel on the lower surface side of the movable member 31 are spaced apart or insulated so as not to contact (short-circuit).

In the above configuration, when only the upper wire 40 is energized, only the wire 40 contracts and hardens, so that the movable member 31 moves upward over the entire length as shown in FIGS. 2 (b-1) and 2 (b-2). Warps upward greatly in response to the pulling force. At this time, the other short wires 41, 42 that are not energized are maintained in a flexed state and have no influence on the movable member 31.
When only the lower wire 41 is energized, the portion of the movable member corresponding to the proximal end portion from the distal end portion 42b of the wire 42 faces downward as shown in FIGS. 2 (c-1) and 2 (c-2). Therefore, the movable member descends as a whole. At this time, the other wires 40 and 42 that are not energized have no influence on the movable member.
When only the wire 42 is energized, the portion of the movable member corresponding to the proximal end portion from the distal end portion 41b of the wire 41 is bent downward as shown in FIGS. 2 (d-1) and 2 (d-2). Therefore, the movable member is further lowered as a whole than in the case of (c-2).
In the example of FIG. 2, a deformed state in which only one of the wires is selectively energized is shown, but other deformation patterns can be realized by simultaneously energizing the two wires. For example, if energization is simultaneously applied to the wires 40 and 41, the wires 40 and 42, or the wires 41 and 42, the movable member 31 is deformed in a range where the energized wires are stretched. It becomes a deformed pattern.

In the above embodiment, an example in which a Ti—Ni-based shape memory alloy is used as a wire has been shown. However, a shape memory alloy having another composition, for example, an iron / manganese-silicon alloy (iron-based shape memory alloy) is used as a wire. May be. In short, the wires that can be used in the present invention include general alloys that have the property of recovering to their original shape when heated above that temperature even when deformed below the transformation point.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the shape memory alloy which hardens | cures and shrink | contracts by the heat_generation | fever by electricity supply was illustrated, you may make it deform | transform the movable member 31 in arbitrary directions using the shape memory alloy which deform | transforms to a predetermined direction at the time of electricity supply. Good.
Moreover, you may make it give a variation in the deformation | transformation amount at the time of electricity supply, and a deformation | transformation direction by varying the diameter dimension, cross-sectional shape, etc. of a some wire. That is, the wire in the present invention is not limited to the one having a circular cross-sectional shape, and the cross-sectional shape includes a polygon such as a triangle and a quadrangle, an ellipse, an oval, and other indefinite shapes.

In this way, the movable member 31 can be deformed in various patterns by variously devising and changing the number, length, composition, cross-sectional shape, assembling position, etc. of the movable member and selecting various energization patterns. Is possible. By adopting a movable member 31 that can be deformed not only in the vertical direction but also in the front-rear direction, it is possible to realize free, irregular, and three-dimensional operations. Moreover, in order to deform the movable member, it is only necessary to turn on / off the energization of each wire, so that the apparatus configuration can be simplified.
A game board unit composed of a movable board surface part and a game board according to the present invention, and a game machine (pachinko game machine, pachislot machine, etc.) using this game board as a game board unit belong to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pachinko machine 10 ... Normal symbol display device 11 ... Variable prize-winning device 12 ... Gate 13 , 18 ... Out port, 2 ... Frame, 3 ... Game board, 4 ... Dish part, 5 ... Launch lever, 6 ... Operation part, 20 ... Movable panel surface component, 21 ... Support part, 30 ... Actuator, 31 ... Movable member, 40, 41, 42 ... wire, 40a, 41a, 42a ... proximal end, 40b, 41b, 42b ... tip, 40a ', 40b', 41a ', 41b', 42a ', 42b' ... terminal, 45 ... engagement Stop member 50 ... Power source 51 ... Lead wire 55 ... Control unit 60 ... Skin

Claims (4)

A movable member whose base end is supported by a supporting portion and elastically deformable, and a shape memory effect that is attached along the movable member and deforms by self-heating due to energization and returns to its original shape when energization is released. A gaming machine having a movable surface component comprising a plurality of wires of different lengths and a power source for supplying current to each of the wires,
A plurality of deformation patterns of the movable member are obtained by selectively energizing at least one of the wires from the power source;
One end portion of each wire is disposed at substantially the same position of the support portion or the movable member, and the other end portion of each wire is disposed at a different position of the movable member,
A gaming machine, wherein the long wire is attached along one surface of the movable member, while the other short wire is attached along the opposite surface of the movable member. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein each of the wires is made of a shape memory alloy that has flexibility when de-energized and that is toughened and contracts when energized. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein terminals are disposed at both ends of each wire or in the vicinity of both ends. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the direction and amount of deformation of each wire when energized are varied.

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