JP6286761B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine having a movable member that is normally arranged at a standby position and is moved by being driven by a drive source when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

  Conventionally, as this type of gaming machine, for example, one in which a movable member moves and abuts against a contact member during a fluctuating effect is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-188660 (paragraph [0040], FIG. 4)

  In the conventional gaming machine described above, for example, the movable member may collide with the contact member vigorously, or a gap may be generated between the movable member and the contact member. It is done.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of suppressing the occurrence of a malfunction of a movable member as compared with the conventional art.

A first invention made to achieve the above object includes a pair of movable members that move toward and away from each other, a pair of stepping motors that respectively drive the pair of movable members, and the 1 provided on at least one of the pair of movable members, a detecting sensor that operates when it is within a specified range in which the distance is predetermined between the pair of movable members, and the pair of the movable member to move, respectively wherein when brought close from the outside of the specified range, a gaming machine and a drive control means for controlling said pair of stepping motor to reduce the approach speed and the detection by the detection sensor caused.

In the first invention, the distance between the pair of movable members is relatively detected by the detection sensor, and the stepping motor is controlled according to the detection result of the detection sensor. At this time, when approaching the specified range, the approach speed is reduced due to the detection by the detection sensor, so that it is possible to prevent the pair of movable members from colliding with force.

The second invention is the gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of positions at which the pair of movable members approach each other are set .

A third invention is one in said pair of movable members, the one with a photo sensor as a detecting sensor, on the other, claim 1 Shako portion of the photosensor comprises a light shielding portion for shielding light emitted or 2. The gaming machine according to 2 .

The detection sensor may be a distance measuring sensor, for example, or may be a photo sensor as in the third invention.

According to the present invention, the distance between the pair of movable members is relatively detected by the detection sensor, and the stepping motor is controlled according to the detection result of the detection sensor. Thus, the distance between the pair of movable members in each of the motion of the pair of movable members is reflected, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems of each of the movable members than the conventional.

Front view of the pachinko gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention Front view of game board (A) Front view, (B) Plan view of movable effect member arranged at standby position (A) Front view, (B) Plan view of movable effect member in medium effect (A) Front view, (B) Plan view of movable effect member in left effect (A) Front view, (B) Plan view of movable effect member in right effect Graph for explaining control of pulse speed of drive motor (A) Front view, (B) Plan view of movable effect member in medium effect Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a pachinko machine

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko gaming machine will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, a pachinko gaming machine 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as a gaming machine 10) according to the present embodiment is capable of opening and closing a gaming board 11 having a gaming area R 1 on the front surface of the gaming machine 10. The entire game area R1 is visible through the glass window 10W formed on the front frame 10Z. The game area R1 is formed by being surrounded on all sides by a guide rail 12 (see FIG. 2) protruding from the front surface of the game board 11.

  An upper plate 26 and a lower plate 27 are provided in two upper and lower stages below the glass window 10W in the front frame 10Z, and an operation handle 28 is provided on the right side of the lower plate 27. Then, when the operation handle 28 is rotated, the game ball accommodated in the upper plate 26 is ejected toward the game area R1. When a ball discharge button (not shown) provided on the upper plate 26 is pressed, the game ball accommodated in the upper plate 26 moves to the lower plate 27.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a game board display window 11H is formed through the center of the game area R1 in the game board 11, and the liquid crystal display device 30 is inserted into the game board display window 11H from the back side of the game board 11. The display screen 30G is opposed.

  A display decoration frame 23 is attached to the front center of the game board 11 so as to surround the display screen 30G. Specifically, the display decoration frame 23 is fitted into the game board display window 11H from the front side of the game board 11, protrudes inside the game board display window 11H, and protrudes from the front surface of the game board 11. The game balls flowing down the game area R1 are configured not to enter the inside of the display decoration frame 23.

  In the game area R1, a first start winning opening 14A, a big winning opening 15 and an out opening 16 are arranged in a row in order from the top in the center in the left-right direction below the display decoration frame 23. . A plurality of general winning ports 20 are provided along the guide rail 12 on both the left and right sides of the first start winning port 14A. Further, on the right side of the display decoration frame 23 in the game area R1, the start gate 18 and the second start winning opening 14B are arranged in order from the top with an interval therebetween. A number of obstacle nails are planted in the game area R1.

  The big prize opening 15 is always closed by the movable door 15T. The movable door 15T falls to the front side for a predetermined period when the gaming machine 10 is in the “big hit gaming state”. As a result, the special winning opening 15 is opened, and a game ball can enter the special winning opening 15 by using the movable door 15T as a guide.

  In addition, the second start winning opening 14B opens forward with a size that allows one game ball to enter one by one. Normally, the front is closed by the rotating door 14T, so that the game ball Entrance is regulated. The turning door 14T is brought down to the front side for a predetermined time when the result of the normal symbol success / failure determination performed when the game ball passes through the start gate 18 is a hit. At this time, the turning door 14T can receive the game ball flowing down from the side of the second start winning opening 14B on the upper surface and be guided to the second starting winning opening 14B.

  When game balls enter the first and second start winning openings 14A, 14B and the general winning opening 20, for example, four game balls are paid out to the upper plate 26 per entry, and the big winning opening When a game ball enters 15 (wins), for example, 15 game balls are paid out to the upper plate 26 for each entered ball. Note that all the game balls that have not won any of the above-described winning openings 14A, 14B, 15, and 20 are taken into the out opening 16 arranged at the lower end of the gaming area R1.

  When a game ball enters the first and second start winning ports 14A and 14B, whether or not the special symbol is successful is determined. The determination result is displayed on the special symbol display device 14X (see FIG. 9) and also on the display screen 30G of the liquid crystal display device 30.

  Specifically, three special symbols are normally displayed side by side and stopped on the display screen 30G. Each of these special symbols is composed of, for example, a plurality of types representing numbers “0” to “11”, and usually, a predetermined type of each special symbol is stopped and displayed ( In the example of FIG. 2, “7” is stopped and displayed as each special symbol. Then, when a game ball wins in the start winning opening 14A, 14B, these three special symbols are scrolled up and down and stopped after a predetermined time. If the result of the special symbol win / fail determination is a win (hereinafter, referred to as “big hit”), all the special symbols are stopped and displayed with the same symbol (sloppy), and the game shifts to the “hit game state”. On the other hand, if the result of the determination is not good, the game is stopped and displayed in a combination other than the doublet, and the normal game state that is not the “hit game state” continues.

  In addition, on the display screen 30G, in the process of displaying the result of the special symbol success / failure determination, after the announcement effect performed during the fluctuation of the three special symbols and after two of the three special symbols are stopped and displayed with the same symbol, Production such as reach production is performed. In addition, on the display screen 30G, during the jackpot game, an effect may be performed as to whether or not a bonus after the jackpot game (for example, a probability change state or a short time state) is granted.

  By the way, in the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal display device 30 is provided with a pair of movable effect members 40, 40 on both the left and right sides. A liquid crystal drive effect using the effect members 40, 40 is performed. Hereinafter, the details of the movable effect members 40 and 40 and the liquid crystal drive effect will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, each movable effect member 40 has a vertically long rectangular shape, and includes a sub liquid crystal display device 41 having a sub liquid crystal screen 41G on a movable stage 41S. The movable stage 41S of each movable effect member 40 receives a driving force from the driving motor 43 (corresponding to the “driving source” of the present invention) and extends in the left-right direction in front of the liquid crystal display device 30. By moving linearly along 42, it is possible to move in the left-right direction.

  Each movable effect member 40 is normally disposed at a standby position (see FIG. 3A) disposed obliquely in front of the liquid crystal screen 30G when viewed from the front. The pair of movable effect members 40, 40 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center line in the left-right direction of the display screen 30G at the standby position.

  When a specific effect condition is established and the liquid crystal drive effect is started, each movable effect member 40 is arranged at a position corresponding to the effect, and an effect image is displayed on each sub liquid crystal screen 41G. In the present embodiment, as the liquid crystal drive effect, the positions where the movable effect members 40, 40 are arranged are three types of effects different from the left effect position, the middle effect position, and the right effect position (hereinafter, “left effect” as appropriate). , “Middle effect” and “right effect”).

  In the “medium effect”, as shown in FIG. 4, the left and right movable effect members 40, 40 move so as to approach each other, and are in a state of being parallel (butted) with each other. In addition, the boundary part of the movable effect members 40 and 40 at this time is arrange | positioned in the center front of the left-right direction in the display screen 30G. In the “left effect”, as shown in FIG. 5, the right movable effect member 40 moves to the left while the left movable effect member 40 is placed at the standby position, and next to the left movable effect member 40. Paralleled (abutted against the left movable effect member 40). In the “right effect”, as shown in FIG. 6, the left movable effect member 40 moves to the right while the right movable effect member 40 is placed at the standby position, and next to the right movable effect member 40. They are arranged in parallel (abutted against the movable effect member 40 on the right side). When the liquid crystal drive effect ends, each movable effect member 40 returns to the standby position.

As described above, in the liquid crystal drive effect, both or one of the pair of movable effect members 40 and 40 are moved to be in a parallel state (abutting state) .

  Here, in the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, the proximity detection mechanism 45 is attached to the movable effect members 40 and 40. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a photosensor 46 (corresponding to the “detection sensor” of the present invention) having a light projecting portion 46A and a light receiving portion 46B facing each other is attached to the right movable effect member 40, An entrance member (light shielding plate) 47 (corresponding to the “light shielding portion” of the present invention) that can enter between the light emitting portion 46A and the light receiving portion 46B of the photosensor 46 is attached to the left movable effect member 40. .

  The photo sensor 46 and the entry member 47 are attached to the rear surfaces of the movable stages 41S and 41S in the movable effect members 40 and 40, respectively, so that they are difficult to see from the front. The entry member 47 extends rightward from a support member 48 provided at the right end of the rear surface of the movable stage 41S in the left movable effect member 40, and has a length of about 10 mm. As a result, the photosensor 46 operates when the left and right movable effect members 40, 40 approach a distance of about 10 mm (see FIG. 8), and transmits a signal to a drive control circuit 59 described later.

  As described above, each of the movable effect members 40 and 40 is driven by the drive motors 43 and 43. The drive motors 43 and 43 are stepping motors, and the rotational outputs of the drive motors 43 and 43 are controlled by a drive control circuit 59 (see FIG. 9).

  Next, various circuits (see FIG. 9) of the gaming machine 10 including the drive control circuit 59 will be described.

  In FIG. 9, reference numeral 50 denotes a main control circuit 50, which has a CPU 51A, a RAM 51B, and a ROM 51C, and performs main control related to the game. The CPU 51A includes a determination unit, a control unit, a calculation unit, various counters, various registers, various flags, etc., and performs calculation control, and also generates random numbers for each special symbol and each normal symbol, and sub-controls the control signal. It is configured to be able to output (transmit) to the circuit 52 and the like.

  Similar to the main control circuit 50, the sub control circuit 52 includes a CPU 52A, a RAM 52B, and a ROM 52C, and is connected to the main control circuit 50, the display control circuit 54, the drive control circuit 59, and the like. The CPU 52A includes a control unit, a calculation unit, various counters, various registers, various flags, etc., receives control signals output from the main control circuit 50, performs control related to effects, and controls display of control signals related to effects. The circuit 54, the drive control circuit 59, and the like can be output (transmitted).

  The drive control circuit 59 controls the drive motors 43 and 43 based on the control signal from the sub control circuit 52. In particular, the drive motors 43 and 43 are controlled in order to realize the operation of the movable effect members 40 and 40 in the liquid crystal drive effect described above.

When the liquid crystal drive effect is started, the drive control circuit 59 keeps the pulse speed of the drive motor 43 constant (for example, 500 pps) so as to move both or one of the pair of movable effect members 40 and 40 at a constant speed. (Pulse per second) (see FIG. 7). In the present embodiment, for example, a rack and pinion mechanism is used as a power transmission mechanism between the drive motors 43 and 43 and the movable effect members 40 and 40, so that the moving speed of the movable effect members 40 and 40 is increased. Is configured to be substantially proportional to the pulse speed of the drive motors 43 and 43.

Then, when the photosensor 46 detects the entry of the entry member 47 (when the light emitting portion 46A of the photosensor 46 is blocked) (t1 in FIG. 7), the drive control circuit 59 gradually reduces the pulse speed of the drive motor 43. (See FIG. 7). Specifically, the drive control circuit 59, a predetermined time after the photo sensor 46 is activated (e.g., 2 seconds) until after slows the pulse rate of the driving motor 43 for example in 100Pp s until a predetermined The pulse speed is set to be constant after the elapse of time .

  Specifically, when executing the “medium effect”, for example, the drive control circuit 59 sets the drive motors 43 and 43 so that the left and right movable effect members 40 and 40 are close to each other, and the pulse speed thereof becomes, for example, 500 pps. To control. When the signal from the photosensor 46 is received, the pulse speed is gradually decreased so that the pulse speed becomes 100 pps after 2 seconds, and thereafter, control is performed so as to maintain 100 pps.

  In the “left effect”, the drive motor 43 for the left movable effect member 40 is driven without driving the drive motor 43 for the left movable effect member 40. The drive motor 43 for the right movable effect member 40 is controlled in the same manner as the drive motors 43 and 43 in the “medium effect”, and the pulse speed is controlled to be 500 pps until the photosensor 46 is activated. After the photosensor 46 is activated, the pulse speed is controlled to be 100 pps. In the “right effect”, the drive motor 43 for the left movable effect member 40 is similarly controlled without driving the drive motor 43 for the right movable effect member 40. In addition, the drive torque and pulse speed of each drive motor 43, 43 are appropriately changed according to the gaming state. In the present embodiment, the drive control circuit 59 corresponds to “drive control means” of the present invention.

  In the “middle effect” in which both the pair of movable effect members 40 and 40 move and the “left effect” and “right effect” in which only one of them moves, the pair of movable effect members after the movement starts. Although the time required until 40 and 40 are abutted is different, the pair of movable effect members 40 and 40 are driven so as to press each other until the effect is finished and separated, so that the movement is performed before the abutment. It never comes to an end.

  This completes the description of the configuration of the gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment. Next, the effect of the gaming machine 10 will be described.

  In the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, when a specific effect condition is satisfied, a liquid crystal drive effect using the movable effect members 40 and 40 is executed. For example, when the “medium effect” is executed, the pair of movable effect members 40 and 40 arranged on the left and right sides of the display screen 30G of the liquid crystal display device 30 approach each other and are in parallel with each other in front of the display screen 30G. (Abutting state). At this time, when the movable effect members 40, 40 approach to a distance of about 10 mm, the moving speed of at least one of the movable effect members 40, 40 is reduced, so that the movable effect members 40, 40 may collide vigorously. This prevents the occurrence of the malfunction of the movable effect member 40.

  Furthermore, since the drive motors 43 and 43 are kept at a constant pulse speed even after the pair of movable effect members 40 and 40 are brought into contact with each other, the pair of movable effect members 40 and 40 are pressed against each other. Driven to fit (press), it is possible to suppress a gap from being generated between the pair of movable effect members 40, 40. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the player from feeling uncomfortable.

  By the way, in this embodiment, as a liquid crystal drive effect, the position where the movable effect members 40 and 40 are abutted is different, that is, three types of effects (“medium effect”, “ Left production ”and“ Right production ”) are provided. For these three types of effects, if control data such as a pulse speed chart that takes deceleration into account is created for each effect, it takes time for development, or the amount of data increases, which compresses the storage capacity of ROM, etc. Problems can arise.

  On the other hand, in the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, by providing the proximity detection mechanism 45 in the pair of movable effect members 40, 40, the movable effect member 40 is provided in the drive control circuit 59 by executing the liquid crystal drive effect. Until the photosensor 46 is detected (actuated) after being moved, the pulse speed of the drive motor 43 for the movable effect member 40 to be moved is set to the original (normal) moving speed (for example, 500 pps), and is detected by the photosensor 46. After (actuated), the deceleration process described above can be performed only by setting deceleration to 100 pps after 2 seconds and then maintaining 100 pps. Thereby, it is not necessary to individually create a speed chart, and it is possible to reduce the time and effort required to create a pulse speed chart and also reduce the amount of data.

  Also, for example, if the position of the movable effect members 40, 40 deviates from the schedule due to a drive error during mass production, a failure of one drive motor 43, etc., control data such as a pulse speed chart considering deceleration is created. In this configuration, there may be a problem that the pair of movable effect members 40, 40 collide vigorously or the pair of movable effect members 40, 40 are not abutted, but as in the present embodiment. If the approach detection mechanism 45 is provided and the moving speed (pulse speed) is controlled according to the detection (operation) status, the above-described problems are less likely to occur.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the embodiments described below are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention other than the following. It can be changed and implemented.

  (1) In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko gaming machine has been shown, but it may be applied to a slot machine.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the liquid crystal drive effect is executed by the two control circuits of the display control circuit 54 for displaying the display screens 30G and 41G and the drive control circuit 59 for controlling the drive motor 43. However, it may be configured to be executed by one control circuit. According to this configuration, when an image such as a character is displayed across the display screen 30G and the display screen 41G, the display on the display screens 30G and 41G and the position of the sub liquid crystal display device 41 are matched. It becomes easy. In this configuration, one control circuit corresponds to the “drive control means” of the present invention.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the “movable member” of the present invention includes the display device (sub liquid crystal display device 41), but may be an accessory that does not include the display device.

( 4 ) Although the movement of the movable effect member 40 is linear in the above embodiment, it may be rotated.

( 5 ) In the above embodiment, an example in which a rack and pinion mechanism is used to connect each drive motor 43 to the sub liquid crystal display device 41 and the display change member 45 has been described. Alternatively, a configuration using a plurality of gears may be used.

( 6 ) In the above embodiment, when the pair of movable effect members 40, 40 are abutted, when they are abutted in a state of moving with each other, when they are abutted with one of them being stopped, However, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which the positions are always matched while moving to each other, for example, by making the positions to be matched different by shifting the timing of starting movement. Moreover, the structure which is always faced | matched in the state which one side has stopped may be sufficient.

  In the case of a configuration in which the abutting is always performed in a state where they are moving with each other, or a configuration in which the abutment is always performed in a state where one is stopped, the drive motor 43 is stopped after a predetermined time after the photosensor 46 is activated. There may be. In this case, the load on the drive motor 43 is reduced.

( 7 ) In the above embodiment, after the pair of movable effect members 40, 40 are in a parallel state (abutting state), they are driven so as to press (press) each other. There may be no configuration.

( 8 ) In the above embodiment, the movable effect members 40, 40 are in contact with each other in the parallel state, but may be configured not to contact. In this case, after the photosensor 46 detects (actuates), the drive motors 43 and 43 are controlled so as to stop the movable effect members 40 and 40 at positions where they do not contact each other.

( 9 ) In the above embodiment, the “detection sensor” of the present invention is a photo sensor, but may be a distance measurement sensor or the like.

10 gaming machines
4 0 movable member 43 driving motor (stepping motor)
59 Drive control circuit (drive control means)

Claims (3)

A pair of movable members that move toward and away from each other;
A pair of stepping motors for respectively driving the pair of movable members;
A detection sensor that is provided on at least one of the pair of movable members and that operates when a distance between the pair of movable contact members is within a predetermined range;
When brought close from the outside regulated range by moving each movable member of said pair, a drive control means for controlling said pair of stepping motor to reduce the approach speed and the detection by the detection sensor due Equipped gaming machine. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of positions at which the pair of movable members approach each other are set . 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein one of the pair of movable members is provided with a photosensor as the detection sensor, and the other is provided with a light shielding portion that blocks light emitted from a light emitting portion of the photosensor. .

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