JP6739817B1 - Amusement machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gaming machine in which a symbol which should not be illuminated is not exposed to light even if a reel is displaced from a designed stop position and stopped, and a player does not mistakenly recognize it. SOLUTION: When the stepping motor stops the reel by shifting it in the forward rotation direction by one step angle with respect to a predetermined stop position on the design, the upper end of the symbol adjacent to the lower side of the predetermined lower symbol is stopped. Assuming that the position is the first position and the lower end position of the symbol adjacent to the upper side of the predetermined upper stage symbol is the second position, the lower tip portion connects the first light source and the lower tip portion to the straight line reaching the reel, The upper front end is formed so that the straight line connecting the second light source and the upper front end to the reel is lower than the second position. There is. [Selection diagram] Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a gaming machine, a slot machine having a plurality of reels around which a reel tape on which a plurality of symbols are displayed is wound is known. In this slot machine, a game can be started by inserting a medal as a game medium, and the game is performed based on the operation of a start lever or a stop button by the player.

In the slot machine, when the reels stop, three continuous symbol areas per reel (upper symbol area, middle symbol area, and lower symbol area) are displayed through the display window. One symbol is displayed within the range of each symbol area. A backlight device including a light source such as an LED is provided on the back side of the three symbol regions, and light is irradiated to each symbol region from the rear side.

Further, in a gaming machine such as a slot machine, a reel is rotatably driven by a stepping motor. The stepping motor is controlled to start rotation of the reel when the player operates the start lever, and is controlled to stop rotation of the reel when the player operates the stop button. The stepping motor includes, for example, a rotor and a stator having coils of four phases (first phase, second phase, third phase, and fourth phase), and coils of the first to fourth phases are sequentially arranged. There is a method in which the rotor is rotated by being excited and the reel is rotated by the rotation of the rotor. Specifically, a step of supplying a one-phase excitation pulse for turning on one coil and a step of supplying a two-phase excitation pulse for turning on one coil and another adjacent coil are alternately repeated 1- With two-phase excitation, the reel is displaced by one half step angle (one step angle by two step update) by one step update of the excitation pulse, and one reel is rotated by 504 step update (252 step angle displacement). (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 6149231

By the way, when the rotation of the reel is stopped, due to a mounting error of parts, a software problem, vibration from the outside, etc., the reel moves one step in the normal rotation direction of the reel with respect to the designed stop position. It may stop at a misaligned position. In this case, when the light of the light source hits a symbol other than the three symbols (upper symbol, middle symbol, lower symbol), that is, a symbol adjacent to the lower symbol of the lower symbol and a symbol adjacent to the upper symbol of the upper symbol, the player will There is a risk of mistakenly recognizing that those designs are valid.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even when the reel is stopped by being displaced from the designed stop position, the symbols that should not be illuminated are not illuminated by the player, The purpose is to provide a gaming machine that is not misidentified.

In order to achieve the above object, a gaming machine according to the present invention,
With a reel with multiple symbols attached to the outer peripheral surface,
A stepping motor that displaces the reel in the circumferential direction,
A plurality of light sources that are provided on the inside in the radial direction of the reel and emit light toward the outside in the radial direction of the reel;
A reflector that has a wall portion that extends from the light source side to the radial outside of the reel, divides the light emitted from the light source, and guides the stopped upper and middle symbols and the lower symbol in the reel. ,,
The wall portion includes an upper tip portion that regulates an upper end of a light irradiation range, and a lower tip portion that regulates a lower end of a light irradiation range,
Of the plurality of light sources, a predetermined light source provided in a range for illuminating the lower pattern is a first light source, and a predetermined light source provided in a range for illuminating the upper pattern is a second light source,
The stepping motor is a position of the upper end of the symbol adjacent to the lower side of the predetermined lower pattern when the reel is stopped by shifting in the forward rotation direction by one step angle from the predetermined stop position on the design. Is the first position, and the position of the lower end of the symbol adjacent to above the predetermined upper symbol is the second position,
The lower tip portion is formed such that a straight line connecting the first light source and the lower tip portion to reach the reel is located above the first position.
The upper tip portion is formed such that a straight line connecting the second light source and the upper tip portion to reach the reel is located below the second position.

With such a configuration, even when the reel is stopped by shifting in the forward rotation direction of the reel by one step angle of the stepping motor with respect to the predetermined stop position on the design, the three symbols (upper symbol, middle symbol) The pattern other than the design, the lower design), that is, the design adjacent to the lower design and the design adjacent to the upper design, is not illuminated. This can prevent the player from erroneously recognizing that those symbols are valid.

According to the gaming machine of the present invention, even when the reel is stopped with respect to the designed stop position, the pattern that should not be illuminated is not exposed to light, so the player is prevented from making a mistaken recognition. it can.

It is an example of the game machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is the perspective view seen from the front side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the reel unit, where (a) is a perspective view seen from the front side, (b) is a perspective view seen from the front side with the reel removed, and (c) shows the reel tape removed. It is the perspective view seen from the front side. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an excitation pattern of the same. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the details of the reel and seen from the front side. The same shows the details of the reel tape, (a) is a perspective view seen from the front side, (b) is an explanatory view of a symbol, and (c) is an explanatory diagram of a symbol region. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the backlight device attached to the reel as seen from the front side, and FIG. 6B is a view of the reflector as seen from the front side. FIG. 3 is an axial cross-sectional view of the reel with the backlight device attached thereto. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the reflector in the vertical direction attached to the reel, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view in the horizontal direction of the reflector attached to the reel. FIG. 3 is an axial cross-sectional view of the reel with the backlight device attached thereto. FIG. 3 is an axial cross-sectional view of the reel with the backlight device attached thereto. It is a figure which shows the reel unit of the gaming machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and was seen from the front side. FIG. 3 is an axial sectional view of the start lever unit of the same. FIG. 6 is an axial cross-sectional view of the start lever unit in a state in which the start lever is tilted downward. FIG. 6 is an axial cross-sectional view for explaining detection of operation of the start lever. FIG. 6 is an axial cross-sectional view for explaining characteristics of the operation of the start lever. FIG. 6 is an axial cross-sectional view for explaining characteristics of the operation of the start lever. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a tilting distance and a tilting angle of the operation unit. FIG. 3 is an axial sectional view of the MAX bet button of the same. FIG. 3 is an axial sectional view of the stop button of the same. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing operating loads on the start lever, the MAX bet button, and the stop button. FIG. 3 is a disassembled perspective view showing the medal shooting unit from the front left side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a medal shooting portion in the gaming machine of Embodiment 1 of the present invention, as viewed from the lower rear side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rail rear member and the sensor unit as seen from the front side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rail rear member and the sensor unit as seen from the rear side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the front member of the rail and seen from the rear side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the medal shooting portion, the rail rear member, the rail front member, and the sensor unit as seen from the lower front side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rail rear member, the rail front member, and the selector as seen from the rear side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view seen from the front side for explaining a state in which the large diameter medal is hooked on the medal insertion slot. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view seen from the side for explaining a state in which the large-diameter medal is hooked on the medal insertion slot. The reel of the gaming machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a part of axial direction sectional drawing, (b) is a figure which shows the state which attached the reel tape to the reel tape support part.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Although a slot machine, which is one of the gaming machines, will be described below, the gaming machine according to the present invention is not limited to the slot machine and may be another gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine. In the following description, "front and rear" basically means "front" on the player side and "rear" on the slot machine side, and "up and down" when the player is on the front side of the slot machine. The upper side of the slot machine means "upper", the lower side means "lower", the "left and right" means "left" on the left hand side of the player playing the slot machine, and the right hand side means "right". To do.

As shown in FIG. 1, a slot machine (gaming machine) 10 of the present invention has a box-shaped housing 11 having an opening on the front side which is a surface facing the player side, and opening and closing a front side opening of the housing 11. And a front door 12 that operates. The case 11 accommodates a reel unit 100 in which a rotatable first reel 60, a second reel 70, and a third reel 80 are unitized, a hopper device for paying out medals, and the like. The front door 12 is divided into an upper door 12a and a lower door 12b, and the upper door 12a and the lower door 12b can be opened and closed with respect to the housing 11.

The upper door 12a is provided with a liquid crystal display 13, a device such as a speaker 14 for presentation, and a display window 16. The liquid crystal display 13 displays images (moving images, still images) for various effects. Further, the speaker 14 outputs sounds for various effects (music, sound effects, voice, etc.). In addition to the liquid crystal display and the speaker, an electric decoration device such as a lamp (LED), a movable accessory that can be operated by an actuator, or the like may be provided as the device for effect.

The reel unit 100 is arranged behind the display window 16 so that a part of the reel unit 100 can be visually recognized from the outside of the display window 16. As will be described later in detail, a plurality of types of symbols are arranged in a line along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of each reel 60, 70, 80. When each reel 60, 70, 80 stops, the display window 16 Through, three consecutive symbol areas per reel (upper symbol area, middle symbol area and lower symbol area) are displayed. One symbol is displayed within the range of each symbol area. Further, the display window 16 is provided with an upper stage, a middle stage, and a lower stage as display positions for visually recognizing the symbols of the reels 60, 70, 80, depending on the combination of the display positions of the reels 60, 70, 80. A valid line is set. In the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the effective line is configured by the middle stage of the first reel 60, the middle stage of the second reel 70, and the middle stage of the third reel 80. Further, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, the number of medals required for one game (specified number) is set to three, and when the specified number of medals are inserted, the activated line is activated. It is supposed to be done.

In the slot machine 10, each reel 60, 70, 80 starts to rotate with the start of a game, and a winning combination lottery is executed to determine whether or not any winning combination is lost (missed). Next, when each reel 60, 70, 80 is stopped, when the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination won in the winning combination lottery is displayed on the activated line, this winning combination becomes the winning combination and corresponds to the winning winning combination. The process (winning process) is performed.

On the lower door 12b, a medal insertion slot 22 for inserting medals, a MAX bet button (bet button) 23 for betting credited medals, a start lever 990 operated when starting a game, and rotating. The stop button 26 (stop button 26a, stop button 26b, and stop button 26c) for stopping each reel 60, 70, 80, the payout opening 27 for paying out the medals by the hopper device, and the medal paid out through the payout opening 27 A medal tray 28 and the like for receiving medals are provided. Further, behind the medal insertion slot 22, a medal sensor for detecting passage of medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 22 is provided.

Inside the slot machine 10, a main control board (main control device) and a sub control board (sub control device) are provided. The main control board receives input signals from the input means such as the MAX bet button 23, the start lever 990, the stop buttons 26a to 26c, and the medal sensor, performs various calculations for executing the game, and based on the calculation results. The reel unit 100 and output means such as a hopper device are controlled. In addition, the sub control board receives signals sent from the main control board, performs various calculations for executing effects, and controls the effects devices such as the liquid crystal display 13 and the speaker 14 based on the operation results. I do.

Further, the main control board and the sub control board are electrically connected, and various information (signals) such as information indicating a game state can be transmitted from the main control board to the sub control board. Information cannot be transmitted from the control board to the main control board. The functions of each board such as the main control board and the sub-control board are stored in advance in various processors (CPU, DSP, etc.), IC, hardware such as an information storage medium such as ROM and RAM, and ROM. It is realized by software consisting of a predetermined program.

The main control board validates the operation of the start lever 990 when a medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot 22 or the MAX bet button 23 is operated to bet a predetermined number of medals. When the activated start lever 990 is operated, the game is started. When the activated start lever 990 is operated, the main control board drives the stepping motors SM1 to SM3 (see FIG. 2) to start the rotation of each reel 60, 70, 80, and to use the random number value. There was an internal lottery. In addition, the main control board controls the stop buttons 26a to 26c on condition that the rotation speed of each reel 60, 70, 80 has risen to a predetermined speed (about 80 rpm: a rotation speed of about 80 rotations per minute). Enable the pressing operation. When the stop buttons 26a to 26c are pressed, the stop switches incorporated in the stop buttons 26a to 26c are turned on, and the reel stop signal input to the main control board changes from the off state to the on state. When the pressing operation of the stop buttons 26a to 26c is released, the stop switch is turned off and the reel stop signal input to the main control board changes from the on state to the off state. The main control board determines, based on the change of the reel stop signal from the off state to the on state, the reel stop position corresponding to the pressing operation according to the result of the internal lottery (the setting state of the lottery flag). Control is performed to stop the reel at the stop position (predetermined stop position in design). At this time, each reel 60, 70, 80 is designed to stop at the designed stop position (that is, an appropriate stop position) unless the stop position is displaced due to a software problem or the like.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the reel unit 100 housed inside the housing 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2A, the reel unit 100 includes a first reel 60, a second reel 70, a third reel 80, a support frame 90, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2B, the support frame 90 includes an upper frame 91, a lower frame 92, a left frame 93, a right frame 94, motor frames 95a, 95b, 95c, a back cover 96, and the like.

The upper frame 91 and the lower frame 92 are formed in a long rod shape or a long plate shape, and are arranged inside the housing 11 in a state where the longitudinal direction is aligned with the left-right direction. The left frame 93 is formed in a rod shape, and connects the left end of the upper frame 91 and the left end of the lower frame 92. The right frame 94 is formed in a rod shape and connects the right end of the upper frame 91 and the right end of the lower frame 92.

The motor frames 95a to 95c are formed in a substantially circular plate shape, and are arranged side by side in a state where their axial directions are aligned with the left-right direction and are separated by a predetermined distance. The motor frames 95a to 95c have upper ends connected to the upper frame 91 and lower ends connected to the lower frame 92. The stepping motor SM1 is fixed to the central portion of the motor frame 95a. A stepping motor SM2 is fixed to the center of the motor frame 95b. A stepping motor SM3 is fixed to the center of the motor frame 95c. The back cover 96 has a shape that covers the back side of each reel 60, 70, 80, and has an upper end connected to the upper frame 91 and a lower end connected to the lower frame 92.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the shaft of the stepping motor SM1 is connected to the hub 61 which is the center of the first reel 60. As a result, the first reel 60 is rotationally driven by the stepping motor SM1. The shaft of the stepping motor SM2 is connected to the hub 71 which is the center of the second reel 70. As a result, the second reel 70 is rotationally driven by the stepping motor SM2. The shaft of the stepping motor SM3 is connected to the hub 81 which is the center of the third reel 80. As a result, the third reel 80 is rotationally driven by the stepping motor SM3.

The stepping motors SM1 to SM3 are four-phase stepping motors. Each of the stepping motors SM1 to SM3 includes a rotor and a stator having a first phase coil, a second phase coil, a third phase coil and a fourth phase coil. The stepping motors SM1 to SM3 alternately repeat a step of supplying a one-phase excitation pulse that turns on one coil and a step of supplying a two-phase excitation pulse that turns on one coil and another adjacent coil. By the 1-2 phase excitation, the excitation pulse is displaced by one step and is displaced by a half step angle (2 step by one step angle), and each reel 60, 70, 80 is updated by 504 steps (252 step angle displacement). It makes one rotation. The stepping motors SM1 to SM3 have a step angle of about 1.43° and an interrupt time t for updating the excitation pulse by one step is 1.49 ms.

By updating the excitation patterns of the stepping motors SM1 to SM3 in the order of the circles shown in FIG. 3, the reels 60, 70, 80 are normally rotated. When stopping each reel 60, 70, 80, all the coils of the first to fourth phases are excited (all phase excitation), and after the reels 60, 70, 80 are stopped, the first Stop excitation for all coils of phase 4th phase.

The excitation pattern may be updated in a sequence other than that shown in FIG. For example, the reels 60, 70, 80 can be reversed (reversed) by updating the excitation pattern in the order opposite to that shown in FIG. The excitation method, the number of phases of the stepping motor, and the number of steps are not limited to those in this embodiment. The present invention can be applied by appropriately reading the values according to the excitation method, the number of phases of the stepping motor, the number of steps, and the like.

Next, the details of each reel 60, 70, 80 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
The first reel 60 includes a hub 61 that is a central portion thereof, a rim 62 that is a peripheral (outer peripheral) portion, spokes 63 that radially extend from the hub 61 and connect the hub 61 and the rim 62, and are shown in FIG. And a reel tape 64. The rim 62 is provided with two rings 62a, 62a which are arranged at a predetermined distance in the left-right direction, and a connecting piece 62b which extends in the left-right direction and connects them to each other. A reel tape 64 shown in FIG. 5 is wound around the outer periphery of the rim 62.
The second reel 70 has a hub 71 that is a central portion thereof, a rim 72 that is a peripheral (outer peripheral) portion, a spoke 73 that extends radially from the hub 71 and connects the hub 71 and the rim 72, and is shown in FIG. And a reel tape 74. The rim 72 is provided with two rings 72a, 72a arranged at a predetermined distance in the left-right direction, and a connecting piece 72b extending in the left-right direction and connecting them. A reel tape 74 shown in FIG. 5 is wound around the outer periphery of the rim 72.
The third reel 80 includes a hub 81 that is a central portion thereof, a rim 82 that is a peripheral (outer peripheral) portion, a spoke 83 that extends radially from the hub 81 and connects the hub 81 and the rim 82, and is shown in FIG. And a reel tape 84. The rim 82 is provided with two rings 82a, 82a which are arranged at a predetermined distance in the left-right direction, and a connecting piece 82b which extends in the left-right direction and connects them. A reel tape 84 shown in FIG. 5 is wound around the outer periphery of the rim 82.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the reel tapes 64, 74, 84 are translucent strip-shaped sheet members, and a plurality of types of designs are printed or the like along the longitudinal direction (circumferential direction). ing. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5B, a case will be described where 21 symbols are marked on the reel tapes 64, 74, 84. The symbol area, which is an area including one symbol, is defined by dividing the peripheral surface of the reel tape by the number of symbols. 24 steps (12 step angles) of the stepping motors SM1 to SM3 are evenly assigned to each symbol area (one frame). As shown in FIG. 5C, when each reel 60, 70, 80 is stopped, three symbol regions are visually recognized for each reel through the display window 16. The symbol area appearing at the upper display position when each reel is stopped is called the upper symbol area, the symbol area appearing at the middle display position is called the middle symbol area, and the symbol area appearing at the lower display position is called the lower symbol area. In FIG. 5(c), blue 7 as an example of a predetermined upper pattern, replay, and bell are displayed in the upper design area, and red 7 as an example of a predetermined middle design is displayed in the middle design area, and the lower row In the symbol area, a watermelon, blue 7 as an example of a predetermined lower symbol is displayed.

The reel tapes 64, 74, 84 may be reels of 20 symbol areas (20-frame reels). In that case, a symbol area to which 26 steps (13 step angles) are allocated and a symbol area to which 24 steps (12 step angles) are allocated are provided.

Next, using FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, when each reel 60, 70, 80 is stopped, a back which irradiates light to the upper design area, middle design area and lower design area of each reel 60, 70, 80 The light device 150 will be described. The backlight device 150 is provided at a position on the inner side (back side) in the radial direction of three symbol areas (upper symbol area, middle symbol area, and lower symbol area) on each reel 60, 70, 80. Hereinafter, the backlight device 150 provided on the inner peripheral side of the first reel 60 will be described, but the same applies to the backlight device 150 provided on the inner peripheral sides of the second reel 70 and the third reel 80. The composition.

As shown in FIG. 6, the backlight device 150 includes an LED (light source) 200, an LED substrate (light source substrate) 210, and a reflector 220 that limits the range of light emitted from the LED 200. The LED 200 is mounted on the LED substrate 210. The LED substrate 210 is held by the reflector 220. This holding is realized, for example, by providing a claw portion on the back side of the reflector 220 and engaging the LED board 210 with the claw portion. Further, the reflector 220 (that is, the backlight device 150) holding the LED board 210 is connected to the motor frame 52a shown in FIG. 2B. For this connection, for example, as shown in FIG. 6A, a plate-like connecting portion 220a is provided on one side (right side) of the reflector 220, and the connecting portion 220a and the motor frame 52a are fixed by screwing. It is realized by doing.

The LED substrate 210 is a rectangular plate-shaped member, and is held by the reflector 220 in such a posture that its longitudinal direction substantially coincides with the vertical direction. The LED substrate 210 is arranged at a position radially inside the first reel 60 via the reflector 220. In other words, the reflector 220 is disposed between the LED substrate 210 and the outer peripheral side (reel tape 64) of the first reel 60. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, when the tangent line of the central portion of the middle symbol area on the outer periphery of the first reel 60 is the tangent line S and the straight line orthogonal to the tangent line S is the straight line T, the LED substrate 210 is mounted on the LED substrate 210. The surface U is arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to the straight line T. In other words, the tangent line S and the mounting surface U are substantially parallel to each other.

Returning to FIG. The LED 200 includes an upper LED (upper light source) 201 arranged at a position on the back side of the upper symbol area, a middle LED (middle light source) 202 arranged on a rear surface of the middle symbol area, and a lower symbol. There is a lower LED (lower light source) 203 arranged at a position on the back side of the area. In other words, the upper LED 201, the middle LED 202, and the lower LED 203 are arranged on the LED substrate 210 at predetermined intervals along the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the upper LED 201, the middle LED 202, and the lower LED 203 each have three LEDs arranged in a row in the left-right direction, but even if the number of LEDs is two or less, four LEDs are provided. It may be more than one. Further, the LEDs may be arranged in two or more rows. It can be said that the lower LED (first light source) 203 is provided in a range where the lower pattern is illuminated. It can also be said that the upper LED (second light source) 201 is provided in a range where the upper pattern is illuminated. It can also be said that the middle LED (third light source) 202 is provided in a range where the middle pattern is illuminated.

In the reflector 220, a room (space) 229 surrounded by a wall portion extending from a radially inner side (LED substrate 210 side) of the first reel 60 toward a radially outer side (outer peripheral surface side) of the first reel 60, The first reel 60 has a shape in which three consecutive reels are arranged along the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 6B, the reflector 220 is a wall portion that extends along the circumferential direction of the first reel 60, and is provided with a left wall portion 221 that is provided at a distance in the axial direction of the first reel 60. An upper wall portion 223, an upper partition wall portion 225, and a lower partition wall portion that extend along the axial direction (left-right direction) of the first reel 60 and are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the first reel 60. 226 and a lower wall portion 224. The reflector 220 has a rectangular outer shape when viewed from the front, and is arranged in such a posture that its longitudinal direction substantially coincides with the vertical direction. The edge of the reflector 220 on the outer peripheral side of the first reel 60 is arcuate along the outer periphery of the first reel 60.

The left side wall portion 221 and the right side wall portion 222 are formed such that their base end portions (radial inner side base end portions of the first reel 60) are parallel to each other, and the tip end side of the base end portion is the first end. The reels 60 are formed so as to be spaced apart from each other toward the radially outer side.

The upper partition wall portion 225 has a first partition wall portion 225a and a second partition wall portion 225b. In addition, the lower partition wall portion 226 has a third partition wall portion 226a and a fourth partition wall portion 226b. The upper wall portion 223 and the first partition wall portion 225a are formed such that their base end portions (radial inner side base end portions of the first reel 60) are parallel to each other, and the tip end side of the base end portion is the first end. The reels 60 are formed so as to be spaced apart from each other toward the radially outer side. The second partition wall portion 225b and the third partition wall portion 226a are formed such that their base end portions (radial inner side base end portions of the first reel 60) are parallel to each other. The first reels 60 are formed so as to be spaced apart from each other toward the radially outer side. The fourth partition wall portion 226b and the lower wall portion 224 are formed such that their base end portions (radial inner side base end portions of the first reel 60) are parallel to each other, and the tip end side of the base end portion is the first end. The reels 60 are formed so as to be spaced apart from each other toward the radially outer side. The base ends of the upper wall portion 223, the lower wall portion 224, the first partition wall portion 225a, the second partition wall portion 225b, the third partition wall portion 226a, and the fourth partition wall portion 226b are parallel to each other. In addition, the upper wall portion 223, the lower wall portion 224, the first partition wall portion 225a, the second partition wall portion 225b, the third partition wall portion 226a, and the fourth partition wall portion 226b have their tips parallel to each other.

The first partition wall portion 225a and the second partition wall portion 225b are closer in distance from the inner side of the first reel 60 in the radial direction to the outer side of the first reel 60 in the radial direction, and the upper partition wall on the outer peripheral side of the first reel 60. It forms the top of section 225. Further, the third partition wall portion 226a and the fourth partition wall portion 226b are closer in distance from the radially inner side of the first reel 60 toward the radially outer side of the first reel 60, and on the outer peripheral side of the first reel 60, The top of the lower partition 226 is formed.

In the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the left wall portion 221, the right wall portion 222, the upper wall portion 223, the lower wall portion 224, the first partition wall portion 225a, the second partition wall portion 225b, the third partition wall portion 226a. The fourth partition wall portion 226b has a shape that extends linearly from the radially inner side to the outer side of the first reel 60, but is not limited to such a shape. For example, each wall portion may have a shape such that the chamber 229 expands in stages in a plurality of steps from the radially inner side to the outer side of the first reel 60, or may have a curved surface. ..

As shown in FIG. 7, in each chamber 229, the openings (outer peripheral side upper stage opening 228a, outer peripheral side middle stage opening 228b, and outer peripheral side lower stage opening 228c) located radially outside of the first reel 60 are located in the first reel 60. It is larger than the openings located on the inner side in the radial direction (the inner peripheral side upper step opening 227a, the inner peripheral side middle step opening 227b, and the inner peripheral side lower step opening 227c). Further, the upper LED 201 is exposed from the inner circumference side upper opening 227a, the middle LED 202 is exposed from the inner circumference side middle opening 227b, and the lower LED 203 is exposed from the inner circumference side lower opening 227c.

The reflector 220 has three rooms 229, and divides the light emitted from the LEDs 200 (the upper LED 201, the middle LED 202, and the lower LED 203) into an upper irradiation range, a middle irradiation range, and a lower irradiation range. It has a function of guiding light to the inner peripheral surface (rear surface) of the reel tape 64.

In principle, the light in the upper irradiation range is designed to illuminate the upper pattern area. It should be noted that part of the light in the upper irradiation range (lower end side) may irradiate part of the middle pattern area (upper end side). In addition, the light in the middle irradiation range is, as a rule, to irradiate the middle pattern area. It should be noted that part of the light in the middle irradiation range (upper end side or lower end side) may irradiate a part of the upper design area (lower end side) or a part of the lower design area (upper end side). In addition, the light in the lower irradiation area is designed to illuminate the lower pattern area in principle. Note that part of the light in the lower irradiation range (upper end side) may irradiate a part of the middle pattern area (lower end side).

Returning to FIG. The room 229 located in the upper stage determines the range of the light emitted from the upper stage LED 201 (the upper stage irradiation range). The room 229 includes a left wall portion 221 that regulates the left end of the upper irradiation range, a right wall portion 222 that regulates the right end of the upper irradiation range, an upper wall portion 223 that regulates the upper end of the upper irradiation range, and the upper irradiation range. It is configured so as to be surrounded by the first partition wall portion 225a that regulates the lower end of the.

Further, the room 229 located in the middle stage determines the range of light emitted from the middle stage LED 202 (the middle stage irradiation range). The room 229a includes a left wall portion 221 that regulates the left end of the middle irradiation range, a right wall portion 222 that regulates the right end of the middle irradiation range, a second partition 225b that regulates the upper end of the middle irradiation range, and the middle irradiation. It is configured so as to be surrounded by the third partition wall portion 226a that regulates the lower end of the range.

Further, the room 229 located in the lower stage determines the range of the light emitted from the lower stage LED 203 (lower stage irradiation range). The room 229 includes a left wall portion 221 that regulates the left end of the lower irradiation range, a right wall portion 222 that regulates the right end of the lower irradiation range, a fourth partition 226b that regulates the upper end of the lower irradiation range, and the lower irradiation. It is configured so as to be surrounded by the lower wall portion 224 that regulates the lower end of the range.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the width in the vertical direction of the opening (reflector upper opening) on the radially outer side (front side) of the room 229 located in the upper stage is defined as the width D1 (spatial distance D1). Further, a width D2 (spatial distance D2) is the width in the up-down direction of the opening (front reflector opening) on the radially outer side (front side) of the room 229 located in the middle stage. Further, the width in the vertical direction of the opening (reflector lower opening) on the radially outer side (front side) of the room 229 located in the lower stage is defined as width D3 (spatial distance D3). The width D1 is, for example, about 29 mm. The width D2 is, for example, about 31 mm. The width D3 is, for example, about 29 mm. That is, the width D1 and the width D3 are equal, and are formed smaller (narrower) than the width D2. The width D1, the width D2, and the width D3 may be the same. Further, the width D2 may be formed smaller (narrower) than the width D1 and the width D3.

As shown in FIG. 7, the distance between the reel tape 64 and the radially outer end (top) of the reflector 220 is defined as a distance W. Although FIG. 7 shows only one distance W, there are four distances W because there are four ends (tops) of the reflector. This distance W is equal to each other at four locations, and is within the range of about 3 mm to about 5 mm.

As shown in FIG. 8A, a straight line that passes through the end portion on the base end side (LED board 210 side) of the left side wall portion 221 and that is orthogonal to the mounting surface of the LED board 210 is defined as a straight line L1. The left wall portion 221 is inclined leftward with respect to the straight line L1 from the radially inner side of the first reel 60 toward the radially outer side of the first reel 60. A straight line that passes through the end portion of the right side wall portion 222 on the base end side (LED board 210 side) and is orthogonal to the mounting surface of the LED board 210 is defined as a straight line L2. The right wall portion 222 is inclined rightward with respect to the straight line L2 from the radially inner side of the first reel 60 toward the radially outer side of the first reel 60.

The inclination angle θ1 of the left wall portion 221 with respect to the straight line L1 determines the left end of the upper irradiation range, the middle irradiation range, and the lower irradiation range. That is, the inclination angle θ1 is an angle at which the light emitted from the upper LED 201, the middle LED 202, and the lower LED 203 is guided to the left ends of the upper symbol area, the middle symbol area, and the lower symbol area of the first reel 60. In other words, the tilt angle θ1 is an angle that regulates the left end of the light emitted from the LED 200. For example, when the three LEDs are arranged in a line in the left-right direction, the tilt angle θ1 regulates the left end of the light emitted from the leftmost LED and the light emitted from the centrally located LED. It is an angle.

The inclination angle θ2 of the right wall portion 222 with respect to the straight line L2 determines the right end of the upper irradiation range, the middle irradiation range, and the lower irradiation range. That is, the inclination angle θ2 is an angle at which the light emitted from the upper LED 201, the middle LED 202, and the lower LED 203 is guided to the right ends of the upper symbol area, the middle symbol area, and the lower symbol area of the first reel 60. In other words, the inclination angle θ2 is an angle that regulates the right end of the light emitted from the LED 200. For example, when the three LEDs are arranged in a line in the left-right direction, the inclination angle θ2 regulates the right end of the light emitted from the LED located on the rightmost side and the light emitted from the LED located in the center. It is an angle.

As shown in FIG. 8B, a straight line that passes through the end portion of the upper wall portion 223 on the base end side (LED substrate 210 side) and is orthogonal to the mounting surface of the LED substrate 210 is a straight line L3. The upper wall portion 223 is inclined upward with respect to the straight line L3 from the radially inner side of the first reel 60 toward the radially outer side of the first reel 60. A straight line that passes through the end portion of the first partition wall portion 225a on the base end side (LED board 210 side) and is orthogonal to the LED board 210 is defined as a straight line L4. The first partition wall portion 225a is inclined downward with respect to the straight line L4 from the radially inner side of the first reel 60 toward the radially outer side of the first reel 60.

A straight line that passes through the end of the second partition wall portion 225b on the base end side (the LED substrate 210 side) and is orthogonal to the mounting surface of the LED substrate 210 is defined as a straight line L5. The second partition wall portion 225b is inclined upward with respect to the straight line L5 from the radially inner side of the first reel 60 toward the radially outer side of the first reel 60. Further, a straight line that passes through the end portion of the third partition wall portion 226a on the base end side (LED board 210 side) and is orthogonal to the mounting surface of the LED board 210 is a straight line L6. The third partition wall portion 226a is inclined downward with respect to the straight line L6 from the radially inner side of the first reel 60 toward the radially outer side of the first reel 60.

A straight line that passes through the end portion on the base end side (LED substrate 210 side) of the fourth partition wall portion 226b and is orthogonal to the mounting surface of the LED substrate 210 is a straight line L7. The fourth partition wall portion 226b is inclined upward with respect to the straight line L7 from the radially inner side of the first reel 60 toward the radially outer side of the first reel 60. A straight line that passes through the end portion of the lower wall portion 224 on the base end side (LED substrate 210 side) and is orthogonal to the mounting surface of the LED substrate 210 is defined as a straight line L8. The lower wall portion 224 is inclined downward with respect to the straight line L8 from the radially inner side of the first reel 60 toward the radially outer side of the first reel 60.

The inclination angle θ3 of the upper wall portion 223 with respect to the straight line L3 determines the upper end of the upper irradiation range. The inclination angle θ3 is the upper LED 201 even when the first reel 60 is stopped by shifting one step angle (about 1.43°) from the designed stop position in the reverse rotation direction of the first reel 60. The light emitted from is at an angle that is guided to the upper end of the upper pattern area. At this time, a straight line connecting the position of the upper LED 201 and the outer wall-side end of the upper wall portion 223 of the first reel 60 is defined as a straight line P1, and the first reel 60 is reversely rotated with respect to the designed stop position. When the position of the upper end of the upper pattern area when rotated by one step angle is Q1, Q1 is on the straight line P1 or below the straight line P1. In the above description, it is assumed that the light reaches the upper end of the upper symbol area, but the light may reach the upper end of a predetermined upper symbol that can be displayed in the upper symbol area. The predetermined upper-stage design is, for example, a design having the largest area (largest vertical dimension) among all the designs that can be displayed on the upper stage, but the light transmittance of all the designs that can be displayed on the upper stage. Is relatively high, and may be a pattern or the like that is conspicuous when a part is not shining.

The inclination angle θ4 of the first partition 225a with respect to the straight line L4 determines the lower end of the upper irradiation range. The inclination angle θ5 of the second partition wall portion 225b with respect to the straight line L5 determines the upper end of the middle irradiation range. The inclination angles θ4 and θ5 are set so that the lower end of the upper irradiation range and the upper end of the middle irradiation range coincide with each other, or the lower end of the upper irradiation range and the upper end of the middle irradiation range slightly overlap each other. The angle is such that the light emitted from the middle LED 202 is guided. This is to prevent the brightness from decreasing at the boundary between the upper pattern area and the middle pattern area.

The inclination angle θ6 of the third partition wall portion 226a with respect to the straight line L6 determines the lower end of the middle irradiation range. The inclination angle θ7 of the fourth partition wall 226b with respect to the straight line L7 determines the upper end of the lower irradiation range. The inclination angles θ6 and θ7 are set so that the lower end of the middle irradiation range and the upper end of the lower irradiation range coincide with each other, or the lower end of the middle irradiation range and the upper end of the lower irradiation range slightly overlap each other. The angle is such that the light emitted from the lower LED 203 is guided. This is to prevent the brightness from decreasing at the boundary between the middle pattern area and the lower pattern area.

The inclination angle θ8 of the lower wall portion 224 with respect to the straight line L8 determines the lower end of the lower irradiation range. This inclination angle θ8 is lower than that of the first reel 60 even when the first reel 60 is stopped by shifting one step angle (about 1.43°) from the designed stop position in the normal rotation direction of the first reel 60. The light emitted from the LED 203 has an angle that is guided to the lower end of the lower pattern area. At this time, a straight line that connects the position of the lower LED 203 and the end of the lower wall portion 224 on the outer peripheral side of the first reel 60 is defined as a straight line P2, and the first reel 60 is rotated in the forward direction with respect to the designed stop position. When the position of the lower end of the lower pattern area when rotated by one step angle is set to Q2, Q2 is on the straight line P2 or above the straight line P2. In the above description, it is assumed that the light reaches the lower end of the lower symbol area, but the light may reach the lower end of a predetermined lower symbol that can be displayed in the lower symbol area. The predetermined lower design is, for example, a design with the largest area (largest vertical dimension) of all the designs that can be displayed in the lower design, but the light transmittance of all the designs that can be displayed in the lower design. May be a pattern or the like that is conspicuous when a part is relatively high and one part is not shining.

Here, an end portion of the lower wall portion 224 on the radially outer side (outer peripheral side) is referred to as a lower tip portion 224a. The lower tip portion 224a regulates the lower end of the light irradiation range (lower irradiation range). Further, an end portion on the outer side (outer peripheral side) in the radial direction of the upper wall portion 223 is referred to as an upper tip portion 223a. The upper tip portion 223a regulates the upper end of the light irradiation range (upper irradiation range).
Even when the reel (the first reel 60) is stopped by shifting by one step angle from the designed stop position in the normal rotation direction, the lower LED 203 (light source) and the lower front end 224a are connected to each other, and the first reel 60 is connected. The light traveling on the straight line to reaches the lower end of the predetermined lower pattern. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the lower pattern from being lowered. In addition, at this time, the light that travels on the straight line that connects the upper LED 201 (light source) and the upper tip portion 223a and reaches the first reel 60 does not reach the lower end of the symbol adjacent above the upper symbol. As a result, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the lower design from decreasing, and to prevent the player from erroneously recognizing that the lower end of the design that should not be illuminated (that is, the design adjacent to the upper design) is illuminated with light. ..
Even when the reel (the first reel 60) is stopped by shifting in the reverse direction by one step angle from the designed stop position, the upper LED 201 (light source) is connected to the upper tip portion 223a, and the first reel is connected. Light traveling on a straight line up to 60 reaches the upper end of a predetermined upper pattern. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the upper pattern from being lowered. Further, at this time, the light that connects the lower LED 203 (light source) and the lower tip portion 224a and travels on a straight line that reaches the first reel 60 does not reach the upper end of the symbol adjacent to the lower portion of the lower symbol. As a result, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the upper design from decreasing, and to prevent the player from erroneously recognizing that the upper end of the design that should not be illuminated (that is, the design adjacent to the lower part of the lower design) is irradiated with light. it can.

Further, when the first reel 60 is configured to reach the lower end of the lower symbol area when the first reel 60 is displaced by one step angle from the designed stop position in the normal rotation direction, or If one reel 60 is configured to reach the upper end of the upper symbol area when the reel is stopped by shifting one step angle from the designed stop position in the reverse rotation direction, it is displayed in one symbol area. The area of the design can be made larger, and the visibility of the design can be improved.If the design is arranged so that it fits within the design area, the design will always be illuminated, so the design will be displayed on the reel tape. When drawing, it is possible to omit the trouble of studying how far the light reaches, which facilitates the design and improves the degree of freedom in design.

The angles θ3 and θ8 shown in FIG. 8B are larger than the angles θ4 to θ7. Further, when the tilt angle θ3 is shifted by 2 to 3 step angles with respect to the designed stop position in the reverse rotation direction of the first reel 60 and stopped, the upper LED 201 emits light. The angle may be such that the light is guided to the upper end of the upper pattern area. Further, when the tilt angle θ8 is stopped by shifting the first reel 60 by a few step angles with respect to the designed stop position with respect to the normal rotation direction of the first reel 60, the lower LED 203 emits the light. The light may be guided to the lower end of the lower pattern area.

Even when the reels 60, 70, 80 are stopped by shifting by N step angles (N is an integer from 1 to 3) to the normal rotation side (forward direction) or the reverse rotation side (reverse direction) with respect to the designed stop position. Since the light of the LED 200 illuminates the upper end of the upper design and the lower end of the lower design, the visibility of the design is reduced even when the reels 60, 70, 80 are displaced and stopped. It can be prevented.

Even when the reels 60, 70, 80 are stopped by shifting by one step angle in the forward direction, the visibility of the lower pattern can be prevented from decreasing by illuminating the lower end of the predetermined lower pattern. .. Also, at this time, the light does not reach the lower end of the symbol that is adjacent to the upper part of the upper symbol, so that the light does not reach the symbol that should not be originally illuminated, preventing the player from erroneously recognizing it. it can.
Further, even if the reels 60, 70, 80 are stopped by shifting by one step angle in the opposite direction, the visibility of the upper pattern is reduced by illuminating the upper end of the predetermined upper pattern. It can be prevented. At this time, the light does not reach the upper end of the symbol adjacent to the lower part of the lower symbol, so that the light does not reach the symbol that should not be illuminated and the player does not mistakenly recognize it. it can.

As described above, the effect of the present invention can be fully exerted if the lower end of the lower pattern is illuminated when the plate is stopped by shifting one step angle in the positive direction, but the reels 60, 70, 80 , Even when stopped by shifting by 2 step angles in the positive direction, by illuminating to the lower end of a predetermined lower pattern, in many cases where deviation occurs, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the lower pattern from decreasing. it can. Further, at this time, since light does not reach the lower end of the symbol adjacent to the upper part of the upper symbol, in many cases where deviation occurs, light reaches the symbol that should not be originally illuminated, It is possible to prevent the player from making a mistake.
In addition, when it stops by shifting by one step angle in the reverse direction, the effect of the present invention can be sufficiently exerted if the upper end of the upper pattern is illuminated, but the reels 60, 70, 80 are in the reverse direction. By illuminating up to the upper end of a predetermined upper pattern when stopped by shifting by 2 steps, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the upper pattern from being lowered in many cases in which the deviation occurs. Also, at this time, since light does not reach the upper end of the symbol adjacent to the lower part of the lower symbol, in many cases where deviation occurs, light reaches the symbol that should not be originally illuminated, It is possible to prevent the player from making a mistake.

Further, even when the reels 60, 70, and 80 are deviated by 3 step angles in the positive direction and stopped, the reels are illuminated to the lower end of the predetermined lower pattern, so that in almost all cases where the misalignment occurs, the lower stage It is possible to prevent the visibility of the design from decreasing.
Further, when the reels 60, 70, 80 are stopped in the opposite direction by shifting by three step angles, the reels are designed to illuminate up to the upper end of the predetermined upper pattern, so in many cases where the deviation occurs, the upper pattern Can be prevented from being reduced in visibility.
In addition, it is difficult to think that a case where a size larger than 3 step angles occurs is a range in which the slot machine 10 is operating normally, and if a too wide range is illuminated, a design above the upper design Since there is a risk of illuminating a pattern lower than the lower pattern, it is preferable to set it to a maximum of 3 step angles or less.

Further, when the stepping motor stops the reel by deviating from the predetermined stop position in the normal rotation direction by one step angle, the position of the upper end of the symbol adjacent to the lower side of the predetermined lower stage symbol is set. The first position, and the position of the lower end of the symbol adjacent to the upper side of the predetermined upper symbol is the second position. At this time, the lower front end portion 224a is formed such that the straight line connecting the lower LED 203 (first light source) and the lower front end portion 224a to the reel is located above the first position, and the upper front end portion 223a. Is formed so that the straight line connecting the upper LED 201 (second light source) and the upper tip portion 223a to the reel is below the second position. For this reason, even when the reel is stopped by shifting by one step angle in the forward rotation direction, the linear light from the light source is a symbol other than the three symbols (upper symbol, middle symbol, lower symbol), that is, below the lower symbol. Does not hit the design adjacent to and the design adjacent to above the upper design. As a result, it is possible to prevent the player from erroneously recognizing that the symbols which should not be illuminated are exposed to the light and the symbols are effective.
Further, when the stepping motor stops the reel by deviating from the predetermined stop position in the reverse rotation direction by one step angle, the position of the upper end of the symbol adjacent to the lower side of the predetermined lower symbol is set. The third position is set, and the position of the lower end of the symbol adjacent to the upper side of the predetermined upper symbol is set to the fourth position. At this time, the lower tip portion 224a is formed such that the straight line connecting the lower LED 203 (first light source) and the lower tip portion 224a to the reel is located above the third position, and the upper tip portion 223a. Is formed so that the straight line connecting the upper LED 201 (second light source) and the upper end portion 223a to the reel is below the fourth position. For this reason, even when the reel is stopped by deviating by one step angle in the reverse rotation direction, the linear light from the light source is a symbol other than the three symbols (upper symbol, middle symbol, lower symbol), that is, below the lower symbol. Does not hit the design adjacent to and the design adjacent to above the upper design. As a result, it is possible to prevent the player from erroneously recognizing that the symbols which should not be illuminated are exposed to the light and the symbols are effective.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the upper irradiation range, the middle irradiation range, and the lower irradiation range according to the present embodiment. When the reels 60, 70, 80 stop at the designed stop position, the upper irradiation range is β (β is a long length in addition to the entire upper pattern area in the circumferential direction of the reel tapes 64, 74, 84. The reel tapes 64, 74, 84 can be illuminated up to the range of (S). That is, in the upper irradiation range, in the circumferential direction of the reel tapes 64, 74, 84, the reel tapes 64, 74, 84 can be illuminated to a range of the circumferential length of one symbol region + β. Further, the lower irradiation range is, in the circumferential direction of the reel tapes 64, 74, 84, when the reels 60, 70, 80 are stopped at the designed stop position, in addition to the entire lower pattern area, β (β The reel tapes 64, 74, 84 can be illuminated up to the length range. That is, in the lower irradiation range, in the circumferential direction of the reel tapes 64, 74, 84, the reel tapes 64, 74, 84 can be illuminated to a range of the circumferential length of one symbol region + β. Further, the middle irradiation range is, in the circumferential direction of the reel tapes 64, 74, 84, when the reels 60, 70, 80 are stopped at the designed stop position, in addition to the entire middle pattern area, α/2 is added to the upper side. The reel tapes 64, 74, 84 can be illuminated downward to the range of α/2 (α is the length). That is, in the middle irradiation range, in the circumferential direction of the reel tapes 64, 74, 84, the reel tapes 64, 74, 84 can be illuminated up to the range of the circumferential length +α of one symbol area. Here, α is set to be less than β (α<β). In other words, the middle irradiation range is set narrower than the upper irradiation range and the lower irradiation range. As described above, since each irradiation range is set, at the lower end of the upper pattern area, the upper irradiation range and the middle irradiation range overlap by α/2, and at the upper end of the lower pattern area. , The lower irradiation range and the middle irradiation range overlap by α/2. However, since α is set smaller than β, the illumination becomes too bright (the brightness is high at the boundary between the upper design area and the middle design area and at the boundary between the middle design area and the lower design area). Too much) can be prevented. As is clear from the above description, β indicates that the reels 60, 70, and 80 have N step angles on the forward rotation side or the reverse rotation side with respect to the design stop position (N is an integer of 1 to 3). ) Even when it is shifted and stopped, the light of the LED 200 is set to a length that can illuminate the upper end of the upper design area and the lower end of the lower design area.

Next, the dimensional relationship of the first reel 60 will be described with reference to FIG. Since the second reel 70 and the third reel 80 are similar to the first reel 60, duplicated description will be omitted. The first reel 60 has a diameter of approximately 231 mm. The minimum distance from the center of the reel to the LED substrate 210 is about 66.1 mm.
In addition to the straight lines L3 to L8 described in FIG. 8B, a straight line passing through the center of the upper LED 201 and perpendicular to the mounting surface of the LED substrate 210 is defined as a straight line M1, and passing through the center of the middle LED 202 and the mounting surface of the LED substrate 210. A straight line perpendicular to the line is a straight line M2, and a straight line passing through the center of the lower LED 203 and perpendicular to the mounting surface of the LED substrate 210 is a straight line M3. The distance (dimension A) between the straight line M1 and the straight line L3 is larger than the distance (dimension) between the straight line M1 and the straight line L4. In other words, the upper LED 201 is arranged below the vertical center of the substrate-side opening of the reflector 220 (on the side of the middle LED 202). The distance (dimension) between the straight line M2 and the straight line L5 is substantially equal to the distance (dimension) between the straight line M2 and the straight line L6. In other words, the middle-stage LED 202 is located at the substantially vertical center of the substrate-side opening of the reflector 220. The distance (dimension) between the straight line M3 and the straight line L7 is smaller than the distance (dimension) between the straight line M4 and the straight line L8. In other words, the lower LED 203 is arranged above the center of the opening of the reflector 220 on the substrate side in the vertical direction (on the side of the middle LED 202).

In the present embodiment, the stepping motors SM1 to SM3 rotate each reel 60, 70, 80 once in 504 steps (252 step angles), but the number of steps of the stepping motors SM1 to SM3 (step angle The number) is not limited to this. For example, the reel may rotate once with a displacement of 336 steps (168 step angles). In this case, a 21-frame reel has 8 step angles per symbol. Further, the reel may be rotated once by a displacement of 420 steps (210 step angle). In this case, the 21-frame reel has 10 step angles per side of the drawing.

As shown in FIG. 30(a), the pair of rings 62a, 62a forming the first reel 60 has a pair of reel tape support portions 65, each having a shape protruding toward the opposing ring 62a side (that is, the inner side). Equipped with 65. Explaining with reference to FIG. 4, the hub 61, the rim 62 having the pair of rings 62a and 62a and the connecting piece 63b, and the spoke 63 constitute a reel drum (frame body), and a pair of The rings 62a, 62a include a pair of reel tape support parts 65, 65 shown in FIG. The pair of reel tape support portions 65, 65 has a predetermined width (about 5 mm) in the axial direction (left-right direction). The pair of reel tape support portions 65, 65 are provided to support both end portions (about 5 mm width) of the reel tape 64 in the left-right direction (width direction), and the reel tape 64 is attached to the reel tape 64, for example. It is fixed to the support portion 65. In other words, the left and right ends of the reel tape 64 on the back side are supported by the reel tape support portions 65, 65 (rings 62a, 62a). In other words, the reel tape support parts 65, 65 are interposed between the LED 200 (see FIG. 6A) and the left and right ends of the reel tape 64 on the back surface side. The second reel 70 and the third reel 80 are also provided with the same configuration.

FIG. 30B shows a state in which the reel tape 64 is attached to the reel tape support portion 65. The reel tape 64 is provided with a special symbol 301 (blue 7, white 7, BAR, etc.) that is longer in the left-right direction than other symbols (replay, bell, etc.). This special pattern 301 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the pattern, and is formed inside the non-translucent part 311 and the non-translucent part 311 (low translucent part) (high light-shielding part) having low light transmittance. And a light transmitting portion 312 (high light transmitting portion) (low light shielding portion) having a high transmittance. The non-translucent portion 311 is, for example, colored and opaque, and is black or the like. The translucent part 312 is, for example, colored and transparent, and is red or the like. It should be noted that the non-light-transmitting portion 311 may have a relatively low transmittance as compared with the light-transmitting portion 312, and may not necessarily completely block light. It is desirable that the transmittance be as low as it is perceived to have substantially no translucency.
Here, for the sake of explanation, a line approximately 5 mm inside (right side) from the left end of the reel tape 64 is a line V1, and a line approximately 5 mm inside (left side) from the right end of the reel tape 64 is a line V2.
The light transmitting portion 312 is provided such that its ends (left end and right end) (corners) are inside the lines V1 and V2. In other words, the light-transmitting part 312 is positioned such that its ends (left end and right end) (corners) do not overlap the reel tape support part 65 in the radial direction (that is, in the front-back direction when viewed from the player side). It is provided in. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the light from the LED 200 from being blocked by the reel tape support portion 65, the end portions (the left end and the right end) (corners) of the light transmitting portion 312 being shaded, and the visibility being lowered.
On the other hand, the non-translucent portion 311 is provided so that its end portions (left end and right end) (corner portions) are outside the lines V1 and V2. In other words, the non-translucent portion 311 is positioned such that its end portions (left end and right end) (corner portions) overlap the reel tape support portion 65 in the radial direction (that is, in the front-back direction when viewed from the player side). It is provided in. It should be noted that either one of the left and right ends (the left end and the right end) (corner) of the non-translucent portion 311 may be provided so as to overlap with the reel tape support portion 65.
With such a configuration, the special symbol 301 whose visibility is desired to be improved can be displayed as large as possible from the viewpoint of improving the game playability, and the special symbol 301 needs to be illuminated (that is, the light transmitting portion 312). The light surely arrives, and it is possible to prevent a reduction in the visibility of the special pattern 301.

The reel tape support portion 65 is formed of resin similarly to the reel drum that constitutes the first reel 60, that is, the hub 61 (see FIG. 4 ), the rim 62 (see FIG. 4 ), and the spoke 63 (see FIG. 4 ). .. When the resin is opaque (not translucent) such as black, the light from the inside is blocked by the reel tape support portion 65, so that the translucent portion 312 does not overlap the reel tape support portion 65. It is particularly effective to provide the above. Even when the resin is transparent (colorless transparent or colored transparent) (has a light-transmitting property), the amount of light transmitted is reduced by the reel tape support portion 65, so that the light-transmitting portion 312 is reeled. It is effective to provide it at a position where it does not overlap the tape support portion 65.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, an identification code 205 for identifying each LED 200 is provided on the LED board 210 in the vicinity of each LED 200 provided on the LED board 210. Hereinafter, description will be made using the LED substrate 210 provided on the first reel 60. A plurality of LEDs 200 are mounted on the LED board 210 so as to face the openings on the bottom side of the chambers 229 that are continuously arranged in the circumferential direction of the first reel 60. Each room 229 faces 2 to 9 LEDs 200, and one LED board 210 mounts 6 to 27 LEDs 200. Although FIG. 11 shows a case where nine LEDs 200 are mounted on one LED substrate 210, the number of LEDs 200 is not limited to this. For example, nine LEDs 200 may face the bottom opening of each room 229 of the reflector 220. In this case, 27 LEDs 200 are provided (mounted) on one LED substrate 210.

When nine LEDs 200 are mounted on one LED board 210, each LED 200 is assigned a serial number from 1 to 9. In the vicinity of each LED 200, characters “LED1” to “LED9” are written as an identification code 205. When n (natural number) LEDs 200 are mounted on one LED board 210, each LED 200 is assigned a serial number from 1 to n. Then, in the vicinity of each LED 200, characters "LED1" to "LEDn" are written as an identification code 205, respectively. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, vias (via holes, through holes) are not provided at positions inside the opening of the reflector 220 on the LED substrate 210. That is, when viewed from the front side, the via of the LED substrate 210 is not visible through the opening of the reflector 220. By doing so, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering from the front side (reel tape side) to the back side. However, a via (in-aperture via) may be provided in the LED substrate 210 at a position inside the opening of the reflector 220. In that case, air can pass through the vias in the opening, and a heat dissipation effect can be obtained. When the vias in the opening are provided, the vias in the opening are provided at positions not overlapping the identification code 205. That is, when viewed from the front side, the via in the opening and the identification code 205 are provided at positions that do not overlap each other.

The serial number is determined by the designer of the game machine (LED board 210), and, for example, when one LED 200 among the nine LEDs 200 is no longer illuminated, the identification code of the LED 200 that is no longer illuminated. By checking 205, it becomes possible to determine the serial number of the LED 200 that has stopped lighting, and by tracing the circuit diagram of the LED board 210 from the identification code 205 of the LED 200 that has stopped lighting, the failure of the LED board 210. It is possible to analyze points and the like.

Further, the identification code 205 is provided at a position where each LED 200 can be identified even when the reflector 220 is arranged on the front surface side of the LED substrate 210. That is, the reflector 220 is arranged in front of the LED substrate 210 so as to cover at least a part of the surface of the LED substrate 210 on which the LED 200 is mounted, but the bottom side opening of each room 229 of the reflector 220 is The identification code 205 is provided in the vicinity of the LED 200 so as to face the surface of the substrate 210 and face the opening on the bottom surface side. Therefore, even when the reflector 220 is arranged, it is possible to know what the serial number of each LED 200 is through the bottom opening (room 229) of the reflector 220. At this time, the identification code 205 does not have to be visible as a whole, as long as it can identify each LED 200. For example, even if a part of the characters “LED1” to “LEDn” is hidden by the reflector 220, if the numeral parts “1” to “n” are visible to the extent that they can be discriminated, each LED 200 is displayed. Can be identified.

The numbers "1" to "9" of the characters "LED1" to "LED9" as the identification code 205 are from the front side in the room when the reflector 220 is arranged on the front side of the LED substrate 210. All are visible through 229. Therefore, all the LEDs 200 provided on the front surface side of the LED substrate 210 are in a state in which they can be identified by the identification code 205.
Further, all the identification codes 205 provided on the front surface of the LED substrate 210 are provided on the same side as the LED 200 (the lower side of the LED 200 in FIG. 11). Further, all the identification codes 205 have the same marking direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, all the identification codes 205 are written to be read from left to right.
In addition, although the reflector 220 and the LED substrate 210 of the backlight device 150 are described here as an example, the reflector is similarly arranged for the reflector and the LED substrate used for another lighting device such as a lighting device for performance. The identification code 205 may be configured to be distinguishable in this state. Further, here, the case where the adjacent rooms 229 are partitioned from each other and the reflector 220 (for example, a white partition member) that reflects light is used as a partition member that blocks light from the adjacent rooms 229 has been described as an example. Instead of the reflector 220, a material that does not reflect light (for example, a black partition member) may be used.

Next, the start lever unit 900 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the start lever unit 900. The start lever unit 900 includes a start lever 990, a housing 901, a holder 902, a cap 903, a sleeve 904, a spring 905, a push nut 906, a mask 907, a sensor 908, and the like. Note that FIG. 12 shows a state in which the start lever 990 is not operated.

The start lever 990 includes a spherical operation portion 991 and a rod-shaped shaft 992 connected to the operation portion 991. The start lever 990 is arranged so that the shaft 992 is perpendicular to the installation surface F (see FIG. 1) of the start lever 990. The installation surface F is a surface perpendicular to the front-back direction. The operation unit 991 is made of resin, for example. The shaft 992 is made of stainless steel, for example. As shown in FIG. 12, the shaft 992 includes a large diameter portion 993 and a small diameter portion 994, and a step portion 995 is formed at the boundary between the large diameter portion 993 and the small diameter portion 994. .. The step portion 995 is a surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft 992.

The housing 901 is a member having a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and is made of, for example, resin. The bottom portion 901a of the housing 901 is provided with a through hole 901b through which the small diameter portion 994 of the shaft 992 is inserted. The holder 902 is a cylindrical member, and is made of resin, for example. A housing 901 is attached to one end side (front side) of the holder 902, and a cap 903 described later is attached to the other end side (rear side) of the holder 902. The attachment of the housing 901 and the cap 903 to the holder 902 is, for example, claw fitting.

The small diameter portion 994 of the shaft 992 is inserted into the through hole 901b, a part of the small diameter portion 994 projects rearward from the through hole 901b, and the projected portion is housed inside the holder 902. At this time, the stepped portion 995 comes into contact with the bottom portion 901a of the housing 901 (the surface on the front side of the bottom portion 901a). A sleeve 904, a spring 905, and a push nut 906, which will be described later, are inserted and attached to the portion of the small diameter portion 994 that projects rearward from the through hole 901b.

The sleeve 904 is a receiving member that receives the biasing force of the spring 905, and is made of, for example, resin. The sleeve 904 has a flat surface portion 904 a that is a surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft 992 on the side opposite to the surface that contacts the spring 905. The flat surface portion 904a of the sleeve 904 comes into contact with the rear surface of the bottom portion 901a (referred to as the back surface portion 901c of the bottom portion 901a). The spring 905 is a spring and is made of, for example, stainless steel. The push nut 906 is a receiving member that receives the biasing force of the spring 905, and is made of, for example, resin.

As shown in FIG. 12, the shaft 992 is formed with a retaining portion 996 that serves to prevent the push nut 906 from coming off. The retaining portion 996 is a portion having a larger diameter than the other portions of the small diameter portion 994. By contacting one end of the push nut 906 with the retaining portion 996, the sleeve 904, the spring 905 and the push nut 906 are held in a state of being inserted through the small diameter portion 994.

In the state shown in FIG. 12, the flat portion 904a of the sleeve 904 and the rear surface portion 901c of the bottom portion 901a are in surface contact with each other by the biasing force of the spring 905. As a result, the start lever 990 maintains a posture in which the shaft 992 is horizontal with respect to the front-rear direction, that is, a posture (neutral state) in which the shaft 992 is vertical to the installation surface F. When the installation surface F of the front door 12 is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, the posture that is perpendicular to the inclined surface may be the neutral state of the start lever 990. Further, when the front door 12 itself is inclined with respect to the vertical direction (vertical direction), the posture in which the front door 12 is perpendicular to the front door 12 may be the neutral state of the start lever 990.
Hereinafter, the posture when the start lever 990 is not operated is referred to as an initial position. Further, the axis of the shaft 992 at the initial position is the reference axis X. With the start lever 990 in the initial position, the player can tilt the start lever 990 in all directions. The start lever 990 may be operable in the front-back direction. That is, the start lever 990 may be operable in a pulling direction or a pushing direction.

Next, a case where the start lever 990 is operated and tilted will be described. FIG. 13 shows a sectional view of the start lever unit 900 in a state where the start lever 990 is tilted downward. In this state, one side (upper side) of the flat portion 904a of the sleeve 904 is in contact with the back surface portion 901c of the bottom portion 901a, and the other side (lower side) of the flat portion 904a is separated from the back surface portion 901c of the bottom portion 901a. In addition, the spring 905 is bent by a predetermined length. Further, the force required to bend the spring 905 when the start lever 990 is tilted is the force required to operate the start lever 990. In other words, the operating force of the start lever 990 is realized by the elastic force of the spring 905.

In the state shown in FIG. 13, when the player releases the finger or the like from the start lever 990, the flat portion 904a of the sleeve 904 comes into surface contact with the rear surface portion 901c of the bottom portion 901a again as the spring 905 deforms back. It is supposed to do. This causes the start lever 990 to return to the state (initial position) shown in FIG.

Next, detection of operation of the start lever 990 will be described. Note that the following description shows an example of detection of the operation of the start lever 990, and the detection method is not limited to this, and other methods may be used. As shown in FIG. 14A, the end surface of the small diameter portion 994 of the shaft 992 is a reflecting surface 997. The reflecting surface 997 is a surface capable of reflecting the light projected from the sensor 908 described later. The cap 903 is a lid-shaped member attached to the rear end side of the holder 902, and is made of resin. The cap 903 is attached to the holder 902 while holding the mask 907, the sensor 908, and the like.

The mask 907 is a plate-shaped member having a small-diameter hole 907a formed at a position substantially coaxial with the shaft 992 at the initial position. The hole 907a is provided to allow the light projected by the sensor 908 described below to pass through to the shaft 992 side. The sensor 908 includes a light emitting/receiving unit (not shown) formed in a position substantially coaxial with the shaft 992 in the initial position. The sensor 908 emits light from the light emitting/receiving unit based on a signal from a control unit (not shown), and a signal corresponding to the condition based on whether the reflected light of the emitted light is received. Is to be output.

In the present embodiment, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 14A, when the sensor 908 receives the reflected light reflected by the reflecting surface 997, a signal indicating that the start lever 990 is at the initial position, That is, a signal (OFF signal) indicating that the operation of the start lever 990 is not detected is output. Further, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 14B, when the sensor 908 does not receive the reflected light reflected by the reflecting surface 997, the signal indicating that the start lever 990 is not at the initial position, that is, the start A signal (ON signal) indicating that the operation of the lever 990 has been detected is output.

Next, the characteristics of the operation of the start lever 990 will be described in detail with reference to the sectional views of FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operating characteristics of the start lever 990 in a predetermined model (referred to as the first model). FIG. 15A shows a state in which the start lever 990 is in the initial position. FIG. 15B shows a state in which the start lever 990 is in the detection position. The detection position is a position where the operation of the start lever 990 is detected. In other words, the detected position is the position of the start lever 990 when the ON signal is output from the sensor 908. FIG. 15C shows a state in which the start lever 990 is at the maximum position. The maximum position is a position where the tilting distance or tilting angle of the operating portion 991 on the start lever 990 is maximum. The tilting distance and tilting angle of the operation unit 991 will be described later. The tilting of the start lever 990 is stopped by contacting an arbitrary portion of the start lever 990 with a mechanical end formed on the housing 901, the holder 902 and the like. The number of mechanical ends may be one or plural. When the start lever 990 contacts the mechanical end, the tilting distance or tilting angle of the operating portion 991 becomes maximum, that is, the position of the start lever 990 becomes maximum.

Next, the tilt distance of the operation unit 991 will be described. As shown in FIG. 15A, the apex of the end of the operation portion 991 on the side opposite to the shaft 992 connection side, that is, the apex of the start lever 990 is referred to as apex A. The tilting distance of the operation unit 991 is the minimum distance between the apex A of the start lever 990 and the reference axis X. At the initial position shown in FIG. 15A, the tilting distance of the operation unit 991 is 0 mm. On the other hand, at the detection position shown in FIG. 15B, the tilting distance of the operation unit 991 is about 4.0 mm.

Next, the tilt angle of the operation unit 991 will be described. When the axis of the shaft 992 is the axis Z, the tilt angle of the operation unit 991 is the angle formed by the axis Z and the reference axis X on the operation unit 391 side. At the initial position shown in FIG. 15A, since the reference axis X and the axis Z coincide with each other, the tilt angle of the operation unit 991 is 0°. On the other hand, at the detection position shown in FIG. 15B, the tilt angle of the operation unit 991 is approximately 3.9°.

As shown in FIG. 15A, in the first model, the distance from the fulcrum of the shaft 992 (the rotation center of the shaft 992) to the apex A is 60.2 mm. Further, the distance (distance S) from the fulcrum of the shaft 992 to the reflecting surface 997 is 21.3 mm. Further, the distance between the reflecting surface 997 and the mask 907 arranged on the light emitting/receiving surface side of the sensor 908 is 4.2 mm. Each dimension is a median value, and each has a predetermined tolerance.

As shown in FIG. 15B, when the start lever 990 is tilted from the initial position to the detection position, the tilting distance of the operating portion 991 is about 4.0 mm, and the tilting angle of the operating portion 991 is about 3.9. It has become °. At this time, assuming that the center point of the reflecting surface 997 is the vertex B, the tilting distance of the vertex B on the reflecting surface 997 when tilting the start lever 990 from the initial position to the detection position is about 1.7 mm. ing.

As shown in FIG. 15C, when the start lever 990 is tilted from the initial position to the maximum position, the tilting distance of the operating portion 991 is about 8.4 mm, and the tilting angle of the operating portion 991 is about 8.0. It has become °. At this time, when the start lever 990 is tilted from the initial position to the maximum position, the tilting distance of the apex B on the reflecting surface 997 is about 2.9 mm.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operating characteristics of the start lever 990 in a predetermined model (referred to as a second model). As shown in FIG. 16A, in the second model, the distance from the fulcrum of the shaft 992 to the apex A is 60.2 mm. The distance (distance S) from the fulcrum of the shaft 992 to the reflecting surface 997 is 31.3 mm. Further, the distance between the reflecting surface 997 and the mask 907 arranged on the light emitting/receiving surface side of the sensor 908 is 4.2 mm. Each dimension is a median value, and each has a predetermined tolerance.

FIG. 16A shows a state in which the start lever 990 is in the initial position. At the initial position, the tilting distance of the operating portion 391 is 0 mm, and the tilting angle of the operating portion 391 is 0°.

FIG. 16B shows a state in which the start lever 990 is in the detection position. When the start lever 990 is tilted from the initial position to the detection position, the tilting distance of the operating portion 991 is about 3.6 mm, and the tilting angle of the operating portion 991 is about 3.4°. At this time, when the start lever 990 is tilted from the initial position to the detection position, the tilting distance of the apex B on the reflecting surface 997 is about 1.7 mm.

FIG. 16C shows a state in which the start lever 990 is at the maximum position. When the start lever 990 is tilted from the initial position to the maximum position, the tilting distance of the operation unit 991 is about 8.4 mm, and the tilting angle of the operation unit 991 is about 8.0°. At this time, when the start lever 990 is tilted from the initial position to the maximum position, the tilting distance of the apex B on the reflecting surface 997 is about 4.3 mm.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a tilt distance and a tilt angle of the operation unit 991 for each model. In the first model, the tilting distance (about 4.0 mm) of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position is 50% or less of the tilting distance (about 8.4 mm) of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the maximum position. Is the value of. Further, in the first model, the tilt angle (about 3.9°) of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position is the tilt angle (about 8.0°) of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the maximum position. Is 50% or less. However, it is assumed that the tilting distance and the tilting angle of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position have values exceeding 0.

In the second model, the tilting distance (about 3.6 mm) of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position is 50% or less of the tilting distance (about 8.4 mm) of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the maximum position. Is the value of. Further, in the second model, the tilting angle (about 3.4°) of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position is the tilting angle (about 8.0°) of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the maximum position. Is 50% or less. However, it is assumed that the tilting distance and the tilting angle of the operation unit 391 from the initial position to the detection position have values exceeding 0.

Although the values of the tilting distance and the tilting angle of the operation unit 991 have variations, the tilting distance and the tilting angle of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position are not changed even if the values vary. The value is 50% or less of the tilting distance and the tilting angle of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the maximum position.

As described above, the gaming machine according to the present embodiment is a gaming machine including the tiltable start lever 990 having the shaft 992 having the operation portion 991 formed on the tip side, and the start lever 990 is not It is possible to tilt from an initial position, which is a position at the time of operation, to a maximum position, which is a position where the operation amount of the start lever 990 is maximum with respect to the initial position, via a detection position where the operation of the start lever 990 is detected. The tilting distance or tilting angle of the operating unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position is a value exceeding 0 with respect to the tilting distance or tilting angle of the operating unit 991 from the initial position to the maximum position, and The value is 50% or less. Therefore, the operation amount of the start lever 990 is detected with an operation amount of 50% or less of the operation amount required to tilt the operation portion 991 of the start lever 990 to the maximum position. As a result, the sensitivity with which the operation of the start lever 990 is detected can be improved. Further, it is possible to provide a gaming machine in which the response of the start lever 990 is improved. Further, according to the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, the operation is not detected due to insufficient tilting despite the operation of the start lever 990, and the trouble of having to operate the start lever 990 again is eliminated. .. Therefore, the playability of the gaming machine can be improved.

From the viewpoint of further improving the detection sensitivity, the tilting distance or tilting angle of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position is 50% with respect to the tilting distance or tilting angle of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the maximum position. A value of less than is preferred, a value of less than 48% is more preferred, and a value of less than 45% is even more preferred. Further, the tilting distance of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position is a value exceeding 0, and even when the tolerance becomes the maximum, it is 50 with respect to the tilting distance of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the maximum position. It is more preferable that the value is less than %. It should be noted that the maximum tolerance is varied so that the tilting distance of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position is maximized and the tilting distance of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the maximum position is minimized. Points to the case. In this way, by setting the tilting distance from the initial position to the detected position to be less than 50% of the tilting distance from the initial position to the maximum position, the tilting distance from the initial position to the maximum position is tilted from the initial position to the detected position. The distance is twice or more to improve the detection sensitivity of the operation of the start lever 990, and secure a sufficient range in which the start lever 990 can be further operated (tilted) after the operation of the start lever 990 is detected. can do. This makes it possible to achieve both the contradictory effects of improving the detection sensitivity and providing a sensible operation feeling.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 16, the second model is modified so that only the dimension of the distance S is larger than that of the first model. Thus, by increasing only the dimension of the distance S without changing the configuration of the start lever 990, the operation of the start lever 990 can be detected with a smaller operation amount, and the response of the start lever 990 is improves.

Although FIG. 16 shows the case where the diameter of the reflecting surface 997 is 3.6 mm, the sensitivity of detecting the operation of the start lever 990 can be improved by reducing the dimension of the diameter. .. For example, in FIG. 16B, when the diameter of the reflecting surface 997 is further reduced, the tilting distance of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position can be about 2.5 mm.

In the above, the case where the tilting distance and the tilting angle of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position are 50% or less of the tilting distance and the tilting angle of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the maximum position has been described. On the other hand, for example, the tilt distance and tilt angle of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position are set to values of 20% to 50% of the tilt distance and tilt angle of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the maximum position. In this case, in addition to the effects described above, it is possible to suppress erroneous detection of the operation of the start lever 990. The erroneous detection includes, for example, vibration caused by hitting the periphery of the start lever 990 in the slot machine.

Next, the operation load of the start lever 990, the MAX bet button 23, and the stop button 26 will be described. Hereinafter, the operation load required to tilt the start lever 990 from the initial position to the detection position will be referred to as the detection load of the start lever 990. The operation load required to tilt the start lever 990 from the initial position to the maximum position is called the maximum load of the start lever 990. The detected load of the start lever 990 is about 1.5N. The maximum load of the start lever 990 is about 3.0N.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the MAX bet button 23. The MAX bet button 23 is a button operated so as to be pushed downward from above. The MAX bet button 23 includes a pressing portion 981, a spring 982, a sensor 983, and the like. The pressing portion 981 is a component that is operated by a player's finger or the like, and is made of resin, for example. The spring 982 biases the pressing portion 981 upward, and when the pressing portion 981 is pushed in, the spring 982 elastically deforms and bends. The sensor 983 is, for example, a photo sensor. The sensor 983 outputs an ON signal when it detects that the light traveling from the light emitting element to the light receiving element is changed by a detection object that moves by pressing the pressing portion 981.

Here, it is necessary to push the pressing portion 981 to elastically deform the spring 982 and move the pressing portion 981 to a position where an ON signal (a signal indicating that the MAX bet button 23 has been operated) is output from the sensor 983. The load is the detected load of the MAX bet button 23. The detected load of the MAX bet button 23 is about 0.8N. The amount of movement (ON stroke) of the pressing portion 981 from the initial position to the detection position is about 1.0 mm.

The pressing portion 981 is further pushed in while elastically deforming the spring 982 when operated with a load larger than the detected load. Then, the pressing portion 981 comes into contact with a mechanical stopper (mechanical end) provided at an arbitrary position and stops. Here, the load required to push the pressing portion 981 to elastically deform the spring 982 and move the pressing portion 981 until it abuts the mechanical stopper is the maximum load of the MAX bet button 23. The maximum load of the MAX bet button 23 is about 1.6N. The amount of movement (full stroke) from the initial position of the pressing portion 981 to the contact with the mechanical stopper is about 2.0 mm. The MAX bet button 23 may have a full stroke of about 3.0 mm and an ON stroke of about 1.5 mm. However, it is preferable that the full stroke of the MAX bet button 23 is equal to or larger than the full stroke of the stop button 26 described later.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the stop button 26. The stop button 26 is a button operated so as to be pushed in from the front to the rear. The stop button 26 includes a pressing portion 984, a spring 985, a sensor 986, and the like. The pressing portion 984, the spring 985, and the sensor 986 have the same functions as those of the pressing portion 981, the spring 982, and the sensor 983 shown in FIG. 18, and thus redundant description will be omitted.

The detected load of the stop button 26 is about 0.7N. The ON stroke of the stop button 26 is about 1.0 mm. The maximum load of the stop button 26 is about 1.4N. The full stroke of the stop button 26 is about 2.0 mm. However, if the full stroke of the MAX bet button 23 is about 3.0 mm, the full stroke of the stop button 26 may be less than that, for example, about 3.0 mm. Further, in this case, the ON stroke of the stop button 26 may be about 1.5 mm which is less than the ON stroke of the MAX bet button 23.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing operation loads on the start lever 990, the MAX bet button 23, and the stop button 26. In the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, the operating load of each button is set so that the operating load is relatively suitable for the player. An operation load (detection load of the start lever 990: about 1.5 N) necessary to move the start lever 990 from an initial position, which is a non-operation position, to a detection position, which is a position where an operation is detected. 1 detection load) is larger than the operation load (detection load of the stop button 26: about 0.7 N) (third detection load) required to move the stop button 26 from the initial position to the detection position. .. In other words, the first detection load, which is the operation load required to move the start lever 990 from the initial position which is the non-operation position to the detection position which is the position where the operation is detected, is the stop button 26. It is larger than the third detection load, which is the operation load required to move from the initial position to the detection position. The third detection load is 50% or less of the first detection load.

Further, the operation load required to move the start lever 990 from the initial position which is the non-operation position to the maximum position where the operation amount with respect to the initial position is the maximum (the maximum load of the start lever 990: about 3.0N) (first maximum load) is from the operation load (maximum load of stop button 26: about 1.4N) (third maximum load) required to move the stop button 26 from the initial position to the maximum position. It is a large value. In other words, the first maximum load, which is the operation load required to move the start lever 990 from the initial position, which is the non-operation position, to the maximum position, which is the position where the operation amount with respect to the initial position is maximum, It is larger than the third maximum load, which is the operation load required to move the stop button 26 from the initial position to the maximum position. The third maximum load is 50% or less of the first maximum load.

The start lever 990 is operated when executing the winning combination lottery, and the player may operate strongly with anticipation. Therefore, by giving the start lever 990 a heavier operation feeling than the stop button 26, it is possible to provide the player with a comfortable operation feeling that is crisp. As a result, the operation feeling of the start lever 990 becomes suitable for the player, and the playability is improved. Further, when the stop button 26 is operated, a light and comfortable operation feeling can be provided to the player.

The detected load of the start lever 990 (about 1.5 N) is larger than the detected load of the MAX bet button 23 (about 0.8 N) (second detected load). The maximum load (about 3.0 N) of the start lever 990 is larger than the maximum load (about 1.6 N) (the second maximum load) of the MAX bet button 23. In this way, by giving the start lever 990 a heavier operation feeling than the MAX bet button 23, it is possible to provide the player with a comfortable operation feeling that is crisp. As a result, the operation feeling of the start lever 990 becomes suitable for the player, and the playability is improved.
The first detected load, the second detected load, and the third detected load are preset unchangeable operation loads. In addition, the first maximum load, the second maximum load, and the third maximum load are preset unchangeable operation loads.

As shown in FIG. 20, the operation load (detection load and maximum load) of the stop button 26 is smaller than the operation load (detection load and maximum load) of the MAX bet button 23. The stop button 26 is a button that must be operated in plurality according to the number of rotating reels for each game. Since the operation load of the stop button 26 is set to be smaller than the operation load of the MAX bet button 23, the player can obtain a light and comfortable operation feeling with respect to the operation of the stop button 26, and at the same time with good tempo. It becomes possible to press the stop button 26 of. As a result, the player can comfortably play the game, and the playability is improved. Further, since the operation load of the stop button 26 which is frequently used is set to be small, the accumulation of fatigue of the player is reduced and the playability is improved.

Further, the MAX bet button 23 is a button used for an operation for starting a game, and since it can be tapped from above, it is a button that is often operated with a strong force. Since the operation load of the MAX bet button 23 is set to be larger than the operation load of the stop button 26, the player can obtain an operation feeling that is moderately pressed, and the playability is improved.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, an effect button may be provided at an arbitrary position on the front door 12. The effect button is a button formed to be pushed in from the front to the rear. Is the operation load (detection load and maximum load) of the performance button larger than the operation load (detection load and maximum load) of the stop button 26 and also larger than the operation load (detection load and maximum load) of the MAX bet button 23? Or they are equivalent. The effect button has, for example, a detected load of about 3.0 N and a maximum load of about 6.0 N. The effect button is operated less frequently than the stop button 26 and the MAX bet button 23. Further, the effect button is in a state in which the pressing operation for changing the mode of the effect is effective when informing the player that the player is pleased, or when the player is in the game, etc. It tends to be operated with a strong force by a player in an elevated state. Therefore, since the operation load of the effect button is set to be larger than the operation load of the stop button 26 and equal to or more than the operation load of the MAX bet button 23, the player has a heavy and heavy operation feeling. It can be obtained, and the playability is improved. Further, the effect button may be a button (vertical effect button) formed so as to be pushed downward from above. The operation effect (detection load and maximum load) of the up-down direction effect button is set to be smaller than that of the MAX bet button 23 having the same operation direction, and the operation load is equal to that of the stop button 26 or the stop button. The value is smaller than 26. The vertical direction effect button has, for example, a detected load of about 0.6 N and a maximum load of about 1.2 N. The up/down direction effect button is set to have a small operation load so as to facilitate continuous hits, since it may be repeatedly hit by the player when it is an opportunity to improve interest. Further, since the continuous stroke is easier in the operation in the vertical direction than in the front-back direction, the operation is performed in the vertical direction.

In the start lever 990 according to the present embodiment, the tilt distance or tilt angle of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position is 50% or less of the tilt distance or tilt angle of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the maximum position. It is a value. The load detected by the start lever 990 is 50% or less of the maximum load. With such a configuration, it is possible to improve the sensitivity with which the operation is detected, and to provide the player with a sense of operational feeling when the operation is further performed after the operation is detected. That is, it is possible to achieve both the contradictory effects of improving the detection sensitivity and providing a sensible operation feeling. This improves the playability.
Further, from the viewpoint of suppressing false detection, the tilting distance and tilting angle of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position are set to 20% to 50% of the tilting distance and tilting angle of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the maximum position. More preferably, the load detected by the start lever 990 is 20% to 50% of the maximum load. In order to further improve the detection sensitivity, the tilt distance and tilt angle of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the detection position, and the start lever 990 with respect to the tilt distance and tilt angle of the operation unit 991 from the initial position to the maximum position. The detected load with respect to the maximum load may be set to a value of 20% to 48%, and further set to a value of 25% to 45%.

Further, in the stop button 26 according to the present embodiment, the ON stroke is 50% or less of the full stroke, and the detected load is 50% or less of the maximum load. Further, in the MAX bet button 23 according to the present embodiment, the ON stroke is 50% or less of the full stroke, and the detected load is 50% or less of the maximum load. Therefore, also in the stop button 26 and the MAX bet button 23, the sensitivity with which the operation is detected can be improved, and when the operation is further performed after the operation is detected, it is possible to provide the player with a responsive operation feeling. it can. This improves the playability.
From the viewpoint of suppressing false detection, it is more preferable to set the ON stroke of the stop button 26 to a value of 20% to 50% of the full stroke and set the detected load of the stop button 26 to a value of 20% to 50% of the maximum load. desirable. Further, when it is desired to further improve the detection sensitivity, the ON stroke with respect to the full stroke of the stop button 26 or the detected load with respect to the maximum load of the stop button 26 may be set to a value of 20% to 48%, and further 20% to 45%. It may be a value of %.
From the viewpoint of suppressing false detection, the ON stroke of the MAX bet button 23 is set to a value of 20% to 50% of the full stroke, and the detected load of the MAX bet button 23 is set to a value of 20% to 50% of the maximum load. Is more desirable. In order to further improve the detection sensitivity, the ON stroke with respect to the full stroke of the MAX bet button 23 or the detected load with respect to the maximum load of the MAX bet button 23 may be set to a value of 20% to 48%, further 20%. It may be a value of 45%.

In the slot machine of the present embodiment, a regular medal that can be used in the game is φ25 (diameter of about 25 mm) and thickness of about 1.6 mm. Further, in the following description, when simply saying “medal”, it basically means a regular medal. Further, as a medal that can be used in a game in another slot machine and has a larger diameter than a regular medal that can be used in the slot machine of the present embodiment, one having a diameter of 30 (about 30 mm) is assumed. .. In the following description, the term "large-diameter medal" basically means a medal having a diameter of 30 and a thickness of about 1.7 mm.
Note that, in the present invention, the regular medal and the large-diameter medal are not necessarily medals of φ25 and φ30, respectively, and the present invention can be applied as long as the large-diameter medal is larger than the regular medal. Is.

The medal insertion unit 800 including the medal insertion slot 821 (medal insertion slot) will be described. As shown in FIG. 21, the medal shooting unit 800 includes a medal shooting unit 811, a selector 813 for selecting medals, a medal passage 815 for guiding the medals inserted from the medal shooting unit 811 to the selector 813, and a sensor unit 817. , R chute 819.
The medals are inserted from the medal insertion slot 821 of the medal insertion unit 811, pass through the medal passage 815, and reach the selector 813. Then, the selector 813 selects medals. Specifically, when the medal is a regular medal, the medal is flown toward the R chute 819 and reaches the hopper unit through the R chute 819. On the other hand, a medal of a size different from the default size, for example, a medal smaller than the medal of a prescribed size, or a medal inserted at an improper timing is regarded as an irregular medal, and the medal tray from the medal payout opening. 38 to be discharged.

The medal shooting unit 811 includes a medal shooting port 821, a medal stop wall 822 (wall unit), and a medal guide unit 823, and is integrally formed of metal (for example, stainless steel). The medal guide portion 823 is a portion for guiding a medal to the medal insertion slot 821, and is a groove having an arcuate cross section that extends forward and backward toward the medal insertion slot 821. In addition, the medal stop wall 822 collides with the medal moved along the medal guide portion 823, stops the movement of the medal in the front-rear direction, and guides the medal to be inserted from the medal insertion slot 821. The wall surface is directed toward the medal slot 821. Further, the medal stop wall 822 is arranged at a distance from the rear end of the medal guide portion 823, which is slightly more than the thickness of one medal. The medal insertion slot 821 is a slit-shaped hole (hole) which is formed between the medal guide portion 823 and the medal stop wall 822 and is long in the left and right. Then, the player moves the medals to the medal stop wall 822 side along the medal guide portion 823, and releases the medals while the medals are in contact with the medal stop wall 822, so that the medals are inserted from the medal insertion slot 821. It is supposed to be done.

The medal insertion slot 821 has a rectangular shape in a plan view, and the length (depth) of the short side (front-back direction) is slightly longer than the thickness of one regular medal, and the long side ( The length (width) in the left-right direction is slightly longer than the diameter of a regular medal. The length of the short side of the medal insertion slot 821 is shorter than the thickness of two regular medals. Further, the medal slot 821 has a short side length slightly longer than the thickness of one large diameter medal, and a long side length shorter than the diameter of one large diameter medal. ing. Further, the length of the short side of the medal insertion slot 821 is shorter than the thickness of two large-diameter medals. In other words, the width of the medal insertion slot 821 is longer than the diameter of the regular medal and shorter than the diameter of the large medal. Specifically, for example, it is about 28 mm to 29 mm.

Further, the medal stop wall 822 constitutes the rear surface of the insertion opening side medal passage 825 for guiding the medals inserted from the medal insertion opening 821 to the medal passage 815 (see FIG. 3). The wall surface of the medal stop wall 822 and the rear surface of the insertion port side medal passage 825 are flush with each other. Further, the medal stop wall 822 has an upper part extending upward from the rear part of the medal slot 821. The upper edge of the medal stop wall 822 is located above the medal guide portion 823, and the wall surface of the medal stop wall 822 can be seen behind the medal guide portion 823 in a front view. Further, the upper edge of the medal stop wall 822 has a mountain shape in which the portion corresponding to the center of the medal slot 821 is convex upward in the left-right direction.
The wall surface of the medal stop wall 822 and the rear surface of the insertion opening side medal passage 825 may not be flush with each other. For example, the wall surface of the medal prevention wall 822 may be located behind the rear surface of the insertion opening side medal passage 825. It may be formed so as to be located at. Further, the medal stop wall 822 and the rear surface of the insertion port side medal passage 825 may be formed by separate members.

The medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 821 pass through the insertion slot side medal passage 825 and reach the medal passage 815.
In the following, for passages through which medals pass, such as the medal passage 815 and the insertion opening side medal passage 825, the length of the cross-section in the long side direction (direction corresponding to the radial direction of the medal) is referred to as “width”. , The length in the short side direction (direction corresponding to the medal thickness direction) is referred to as "height". Further, regarding the passage through which the medals pass, the surface facing the rear surface of the medal (the surface facing the rear side of the medal passing through the medal passage 815, the same applies hereinafter) is called the rear surface, and the front surface of the medal (the medal passing through the medal passage 815). In the front facing surface, the same below) is referred to as the front surface, and the surface facing the side surface of the medal (the surface that connects the front surface and the rear surface of the passage) is called the side surface.

As shown in FIG. 22 and FIG. 29, the insertion slot side medal passage 825 is a straight line from the upper side to the lower side, and the medals flow down straight from the upper side to the lower side. In addition, the insertion opening side medal passage 825 is narrower in width and lower in height from the upper entrance toward the lower exit. Specifically, since the entrance of the insertion opening side medal passage 825 corresponds to the medal insertion opening 821, its width is approximately 28 mm to 29 mm as described above. The width of the outlet of the insertion opening side medal passage 825 is about 26 mm. In addition, the insertion opening side medal passage 825 may be formed so that the width thereof narrows substantially linearly from the entrance to the exit. It may have a constant linear shape at 26 mm. Further, the height of the insertion port side medal passage 825 is longer than the thickness of one large-diameter medal and shorter than the thickness of two regular medals at any part from the highest part to the lowest part. ing.

The lower portion of the insertion slot side medal passage 825 is formed by a rectangular tubular projection portion 827 that projects downward from the lower surface of the medal insertion portion 811. Further, bosses 828, 828 are provided on the left front side and the right rear side of the rectangular tubular projecting portion 827 so as to project downward from the lower surface of the medal shooting portion 811. The bosses 828, 828 have screw holes. Further, a rectangular plate-shaped locking piece 829 is provided so as to project downward from the right front portion of the lower end surface of the rectangular tubular projecting portion 827.

The medal passage 815 is formed by a rail rear member 830 and a rail front member 831 (see FIGS. 21, 26 and 29). The rail rear member 830 constitutes the rear surface and both side surfaces of the medal passage 815. Further, the rail front member 831 constitutes the front surface of the medal passage 815.

The medal passage 815 has an entrance facing upward and an exit facing downward. As shown in FIG. 23, the medal passage 815 guides the medals coming from the entrance to the left as it goes downward, and the medals coming out from the first music 815a. It has a second curved portion 815b that guides downwardly toward the left side and a straight portion 815c that guides the medal coming out from the second curved portion 815b downward. As a result, the medal passage 815 has a crank shape. Further, the entrance and the exit of the medal passage 815 are arranged so as to be offset by one or more medals in the lateral direction of the medal passage 815. Since the medal passage 815 has a crank shape, foreign matters are prevented from being inserted into the deep portion of the medal passage 815 and the selector 813 from the medal insertion slot 821 to perform a goto action.

The rail front member 831 is made of transparent synthetic resin. As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the rail front member 831 has a plate shape, and its outer shape is substantially the same as the outer shape of the rail rear member 830 in a front view. Further, on the left side of the upper end of the rail front member 831, a protrusion 835 that protrudes forward is provided. The projecting portion 835 includes a cutout portion that is cut out from the front to the rear, and the cutout portion serves as a screw insertion portion 835a that allows a screw to be inserted from the lower side toward the upper side. Further, on the right side of the upper end portion of the rail front member 831, a cutout portion 836 is formed by cutting out from the front to the rear in a rectangular cross section. Further, screw insertion holes 837, 837 for inserting screws and projections 838, 838 projecting rearward are provided at both left and right ends of the lower end of the rail front member 831. Further, the back surface of the rail front member 831 is flat.

As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the rail rear member 830 has a back plate 840 forming the rear surface of the medal passage 815, a right side wall 841 forming the right side surface of the medal passage 815, and a left side surface of the medal passage 815. The left side wall 842 is formed, and the right side wall 841 or the left side wall 842 is provided with flange portions 844 and 844 that protrude outward in the left-right direction from the lower end portion. The rail rear member 830 is integrally formed of metal (for example, stainless steel or the like). The back plate 840 is plate-shaped and has a plate surface oriented in the front-rear direction. Further, the back plate 840 has a shape that follows the shape of the above-described medal passage 815 (first curved portion 815a, second curved portion 815b, straight portion 815c) in a front view. Further, the right side wall 841 and the left side wall 842 are formed so as to protrude forward along the right end edge or the left end edge of the back plate 840. The flange portions 844 and 844 are integrally formed with the lower end portion of the right side wall 841 or the left side wall 842. The front surfaces of the flange portions 844, 844, the front end surface of the right side wall 841 and the front end surface of the left side wall 842 are flush with each other. Further, the left and right flange portions 844, 844 are provided with screw insertion holes 845, 845 for inserting screws and projection insertion holes 846, 846 into which the projections 838 of the rail front member 831 are inserted. ..

The rear rail member 830 and the front rail member 831 contact the rear surface of the front rail member 831 with the front surfaces of the flange portions 844 and 844 of the rear rail member 830, the front end surface of the right side wall 841 and the front end surface of the left side wall 842. The projecting portions 838, 838 are integrated with each other by screwing, which will be described later, in a state of being inserted into the projecting portion insertion holes 846, 846. A medal passage 815 as a space surrounded by the back plate 840 of the rail rear member 830, the right side wall 841, the left side wall 842, and the rail front member 831 is formed.

Further, on both sides of the back plate 840, convex portions 850, 850 projecting forward are formed along the extending direction of the medal passage 815. The medals flowing down the medal passage 815 flow down along the medal passage 815 so as to be in contact with both the left and right convex portions 850 and 850 at all times. In other words, the medals flowing down the medal passage 815 do not come into contact with the concave portions formed between the left and right convex portions 850, 850.

The back plate 840 of the rail rear member 830 is provided with a rectangular opening 860 that is long in the left and right. A boss 864 projecting rearward is provided on the rear surface of the back plate 840 of the rail rear member 830 and above the opening 860. Further, the boss 864 has a screw hole. Further, on the right side of the upper end of the back surface of the back plate 840, a protrusion 866 protruding rearward is provided. The projecting portion 866 includes a cutout portion that is cut out from the rear to the front, and the cutout portion serves as a screw insertion portion 866a that allows a screw to be inserted from the lower side toward the upper side. Further, an L-shaped engagement portion 868 in a plan view is provided at the upper end portion of the left side wall 842 of the rail rear member 830 so as to project forward.

As shown in FIG. 26, the rail rear member 830 and the rail front member 831 have a screw inserted into the screw insertion portion 866a of the rail rear member 830 and a screw inserted into the screw insertion portion 835a of the rail front member 831. The medal shooting unit 811 is integrated with the medal shooting unit 811 by being screwed into the screw holes of the two bosses 828, 828. Further, the locking portion 868 of the rail rear member 830 is locked to the side surface of the rectangular tubular projecting portion 827 of the medal shooting portion 811, and the locking piece 829 of the medal shooting portion 811 cuts the rail front member 831. The rail rear member 830 and the rail front member 831 are positioned with respect to the medal shooting portion 811 by being locked by the notch portion 836. Further, the upper end surfaces of the rail rear member 830 and the rail front member 831 are in contact with the lower end surfaces of the rectangular tubular projecting portions 827 of the medal shooting portion 811. As a result, the insertion opening side medal passage 825 and the medal passage 815 are in communication with each other.
The upper end surfaces of the rail rear member 830 and the rail front member 831 and the lower end surface of the medal insertion portion 811 do not necessarily have to be in contact with each other, and a predetermined gap is provided between both end surfaces. May be close to each other.

The length from the outlet of the insertion opening side medal passage 825 to the upper end of the medal stop wall 822 is shorter than the diameter (25 mm) of one medal. In other words, the length from the boundary between the insertion opening side medal passage 825 formed in the medal insertion portion 811 and the medal passage 815 formed by another member to the upper end of the medal stop wall 822 is larger than the diameter of one medal. It's getting shorter. That is, in the gaming machine of the present embodiment, medals are prevented from being caught at the joint between the medal passage 815 and the insertion-side medal passage 825, but it is assumed that the medals may be caught at the joint. Even if the medal is caught at the joint, the upper end of the medal is located above the upper edge of the medal stop wall 822, and the player can touch the rear surface of the medal. .. Thus, when the medal is caught, the medal can be grasped and easily pulled out.
The rear surface or the front surface of the medal passage 815 does not necessarily have to be formed by a member separate from the medal insertion portion 811. That is, for example, the rail rear member 830 or the rail front member 831 is integrally formed with the medal insertion portion 811, and the rail front member 831 or the rail rear member 830 as a cover member is attached to this to insert the medal passage 815. May be formed. Further, the medal passage 815 (the rail rear member 830 and the rail front member 831) may not be present, and the insertion opening side medal passage 825 may be directly connected to the selector 813.

As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the sensor unit 817 includes a sensor 880 and a movable piece 881 (movable member) (see FIG. 21). The sensor 880 is an electronic circuit whose main element is a photo interrupter. The sensor 880 detects the operation of the movable piece 881 and outputs a detection signal.

The movable piece 881 is provided with a medal contact portion 882 with which a medal contacts, and is formed of black synthetic resin. The sensor 880 is fixed to the rail rear member 830 by screws, and the movable piece 881 is biased by a spring (elastic member) so that the medal contact portion 882 of the movable piece 881 projects into the medal passage 815 from the opening 860. Has been done. When the medal or the like passes through the medal passage 815, the movable piece 881 is pressed by the medal or the like that contacts the medal contact portion 882, and when the pressing by the medal or the like is released, the movable piece 881 is urged by the spring. The medal contact portion 882 returns to the state in which it protrudes into the medal passage 815. Further, the movable piece 881 is provided with a light shielding plate projecting rearward, and when the movable piece 881 is pressed down, the sensor 880 detects the movement of the light shielding plate, and the detection indicating that the movable piece 881 is pressed down. The sensor 880 emits a signal.

A detection signal from the sensor 880 is sent to the above-mentioned board unit (main control board) via a wiring connected to the sensor 880. Then, when the detection signal is continuously sent for a predetermined time (for example, about 1 second), the board unit determines that the goto action may be performed and emits a sound through the speaker or the like. It is designed to notify the abnormality. Note that the sensor unit 817 does not detect an abnormality such as a gotting action, but may be one that counts the number of medals passing through the medal passage 815, for example. Further, as the sensor 880, a sensor other than the photo interrupter may be used as long as it can detect the operation of the movable piece 881.

As shown in FIG. 27, the rail rear member 830, the rail front member 831 and the selector 813 are provided with the screw insertion holes 845 and 845 of the rail rear member 830 and the screw insertion holes 837 and 837 of the rail front member 831. 883 and 883 are integrated by being screwed into a screw hole (not shown) provided in the upper part of the selector.

The selector 813 includes a medal selecting section 885 for selecting medals, and a selector-side medal passage 886 for guiding medals to the medal selecting section 885. The selector-side medal passage 886 is a passage through which medals pass. The selector-side medal passage 886 is a passage curved in the height direction (thickness direction of the medal), but the height is slightly higher only in the entrance portion, and the height is higher in almost the entire passage except the entrance portion. Is constant. Further, the height of the selector-side medal passage 886 is less than the thickness of two medals at any part. Further, the height of the selector side medal passage 886 is higher than the height of the communicating medal passage 815. Specifically, the medal passage 815 has a height of about 2.3 mm, while the selector-side medal passage 886 has a height of about 3.1 mm. In addition, the width of the selector side medal passage 886 is slightly longer than the diameter of the regular medal in any part, and is shorter than the diameter of the large medal. In other words, the selector-side medal passage 886 has a width that prevents a large-diameter medal from flowing down. That is, the selector 813 cannot select and play the large-diameter medals.

The medal selecting section 885 includes a medal selecting mechanism 888 and a medal ejecting section 889 arranged on the rear side of the medal selecting mechanism 888. The medal selection mechanism 888 is a predetermined medal, and supports medals inserted at appropriate timing so as not to fall from the medal ejection portion 889 and guides them toward the hopper unit. On the other hand, the medal selecting mechanism 888 is designed to drop medals of a size different from the predetermined size and non-genuine medals such as medals inserted at improper timing toward the medal ejecting unit 889. .. Then, the medals dropped from the medal ejection portion 889 are ejected from the medal payout opening to the medal receiving tray 18. A conventional selector may be used as the medal selecting mechanism.

Next, in the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the case where a large-diameter medal M of φ30 is inserted into the medal insertion slot 821 will be described with reference to FIGS. 28 and 29. Note that FIG. 29 is a diagram in which the rail rear member 830 and the rail front member 831 are added to the cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 28.
Since the width of the medal insertion slot 821 is shorter than the diameter of the large diameter medal M, the large diameter medal M is caught in the medal insertion slot 821. Specifically, the left and right ends (portions indicated by points P and Q in FIG. 28) of the lower portion of the side surface of the large-diameter medal M are brought into contact with the edge (short side) of the medal insertion slot 821, whereby the large-diameter medal is inserted. The M is adapted to be caught in the medal insertion slot 821. In other words, the medal insertion slot 821 is formed in a size such that a medal of a size that cannot be sorted by the selector 813 is caught and does not flow into the game machine.

In addition, the lower end of the large-diameter medal M is inserted into the medal-inserting slot 821 when it is hooked on the medal-inserting slot 821. Is also located below. In other words, the lower end of the front surface of the large diameter medal M is located below the upper edge of the front surface of the insertion opening side medal passage 825, and the lower end portion of the front surface of the large diameter medal M is located in the insertion opening side medal passage 825. Is covered by the front of the. Specifically, the distance T1 from the lower end of the large diameter medal M to the front edge (medal guide portion 823) of the medal insertion slot 821 is 1.5 mm or more, and the lower end of the front surface of the large diameter medal M is: It is located 1.5 mm or more below the front edge of the medal slot 821. The area of 1.5 mm from the lower end of the large-diameter medal M is covered by the front surface of the insertion opening side medal passage 825.
Since the lower end of the large-diameter medal M is inserted into the medal insertion slot 821 in this way, it is possible to prevent the large-diameter medal M from hanging on the medal insertion slot 821 from falling. The large-diameter medal M is stably supported. Although T1 is set to 1.5 mm or more in the above example, it is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less.

Further, in the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the large-diameter medal M in the state of being hooked on the medal insertion slot 821 has its front surface in the vicinity of the portion indicated by points P and Q in FIG. Is in contact with the front surface of. That is, the side surface of the large-diameter medal M can come into contact with the medal insertion slot 821 at points P and Q, and the front surface can come into contact with the medal insertion slot 821 near the points P and Q. ing. In other words, the large-diameter medals M come into contact with the medal insertion slot 821 at two points which are separated from each other on the left and right sides (separated from each other in the plane direction of the medal), and the front surface of the large-sized medals M is inserted near the two points. It is in a state of being in contact with the mouth 821, or in a state of being in close contact with and capable of making contact. In other words, the large-diameter medal M is in a state in which two points that are separated from each other on the left and right sides are inserted into the cutouts having a U-shape when viewed from above, which are formed separately on the left and right sides of the medal insertion slot 821. There is. With such a configuration, the side surface and the front surface of the large diameter medal M inserted in the medal insertion slot 821 are stably supported, and the large diameter medal M can be more reliably prevented from falling.

In this manner, the lower end of the large-diameter medal M is inserted into the medal insertion slot 821, so that the large-diameter medal M is caught in the medal insertion slot 821 in an upright state. In other words, the large-diameter medal M is adapted to be hooked on the medal insertion slot 821 with its both sides facing forward and backward. At this time, the rear surface of the large-diameter medal M is in a state of being close to or in contact with the medal stop wall 822.

Further, the curvature of the rear end portion of the medal guide portion 823 is equal to or larger than the curvature of the large diameter medal M. Therefore, in the large-diameter medal M whose lower end is inserted in the medal insertion slot 821, the lower end on the front side is firmly supported along the circumferential direction of the large-diameter medal M, and the large-sized medal M is inserted into the medal insertion slot 821 in a stable state. It is designed to get caught.

Further, the lower end of the large-diameter medal M is positioned above the lower end of the insertion port side medal passage 825 when it is hooked on the medal insertion port 821. That is, the lower end of the large-diameter medal M does not reach the boundary (connection part) between the insertion opening side medal passage 825 formed in the medal insertion portion 811, and the medal passage 815 communicating therewith. In this way, the large-diameter medal M does not reach the boundary between the medal insertion portion 811 including the insertion-side medal passage 825 and the other members forming the medal passage 815. When the coins are inserted into the medal insertion slot 821, the large-diameter medal M does not hit the boundary and float, and is reliably caught on the edge of the medal insertion slot 821. Therefore, since the large-diameter medal M accidentally or intentionally inserted is stably supported, the large-diameter medal can be taken out easily.

Further, the large-diameter medal M is arranged such that the lower end thereof is positioned above the sensor for detecting a medal, such as the sensor 880 or the sensor provided in the selector 813, when the large-diameter medal M is hooked on the medal insertion slot 821. The large-diameter medal M does not reach these sensors. Therefore, when the large-diameter medal M is mistakenly inserted and hits the medal insertion slot 821, the sensor 880 reacts and it is erroneously determined that a goto action is performed, or a medal is inserted. It is possible to prevent accidental judgment.

As described above, the medal stop wall 822 extends upward from the rear part of the medal slot 821. Therefore, the large-diameter medal M is in a state in which at least a part of its rear surface is covered with the medal stop wall 822 in a state of being hooked on the medal insertion slot 821. Further, the upper end of the medal stop wall 822 is located above the center of the rear surface of the large-diameter medal M hanging in the medal insertion slot 821 (the center in the up-down direction: shown by the chain line C in FIG. 28). Has been formed. In other words, in the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the medal stop wall 822 is configured to cover an area 15 mm or more from the lower end of the rear surface of the large-diameter medal M. As described above, since the upper end of the medal stop wall 822 is formed so as to be located above the center of the large-diameter medal M in the vertical direction, when the large-diameter medal M tends to tilt backward. Since the medal stop wall 822 supports the large-diameter medal M above the center in the vertical direction, the large-diameter medal M is prevented from falling backward, and the large-diameter medal M is stably supported. Therefore, the attitude of the large diameter medal M is stable, and the large diameter medal M is easily taken out.
The upper end of the medal stop wall 822 may not be formed so as to be located strictly above the center of the rear surface of the large-diameter medal M. That is, for example, the upper end of the medal stop wall 822 in the vertical direction may be formed to be within ±1.5 mm from the vertical center of the large-diameter medal M. In other words, the position of the upper end of the medal stop wall 822 in the vertical direction may be the position of the central portion of the large-diameter medal M in the vertical direction. Even with such a configuration, the attitude of the large-diameter medal M can be stabilized.

Further, the medal stop wall 822 is formed so that the upper end of the medal stop wall 822 is located below the upper end of the large medal M when the large medal M is hooked on the medal slot 821. As a result, in this state, the player can touch the rear surface of the large-diameter medal M. In other words, the large-diameter medal M is in a state in which a part of the rear surface of the large-diameter medal M is exposed when viewed from the back side of the medal stop wall 822 in a state of being hooked on the medal insertion slot 821. As described above, since it is possible to touch the rear surface of the large-diameter medal M, the front surface and the rear surface of the large-diameter medal M hooked on the medal insertion slot 821 can be touched, and the large-diameter medal M can be pinched. , Can be taken out easily. If the rear surface of the large-diameter medal M can be touched even a little, the large-diameter medal M can be pinched. Therefore, the upper end of the medal stop wall 822 does not necessarily have the large-diameter medal slot 821. The medal M does not have to be formed below the upper end of the medal M. However, the protrusion amount T2 of the upper end of the large-diameter medal M hanging from the medal insertion slot 821 from the upper end of the medal stop wall 822 is preferably 3 mm or more, and preferably 6 mm or more. More preferable. With such a configuration, it becomes easy to pinch the large-diameter medal M, and the large-diameter medal M can be taken out more easily.
The positions of the upper end of the large-diameter medal M and the upper end of the medal stop wall 822 in the left-right direction do not have to match. Further, the positions in the left-right direction of the lower end of the large-diameter medal M and the lower end (the bottom of the groove) at the rear end of the medal guide portion 823 may not be the same.

60 First reel (reel)
70 Second reel (reel)
80 Third reel (reel)
SM1-SM3 Stepping motor 200 LED (light source)
220 Reflector 221 Left wall part (wall part)
222 Right wall (wall)
223 Upper wall (wall)
223a Upper tip 224 Lower wall (wall)
224a Lower tip 225 Upper partition (wall)
226 Lower partition wall (wall)

Claims (1)

With a reel with multiple symbols attached to the outer peripheral surface,
A stepping motor that displaces the reel in the circumferential direction,
A plurality of light sources that are provided on the inside in the radial direction of the reel and emit light toward the outside in the radial direction of the reel;
A reflector that has a wall portion that extends from the light source side to the radial outside of the reel, divides the light emitted from the light source, and guides the stopped upper and middle symbols and the lower symbol in the reel. ,,
The wall portion includes an upper tip portion that regulates an upper end of a light irradiation range, and a lower tip portion that regulates a lower end of a light irradiation range,
Of the plurality of light sources, a predetermined light source provided in a range for illuminating the lower pattern is a first light source, and a predetermined light source provided in a range for illuminating the upper pattern is a second light source,
The stepping motor is a position of the upper end of the symbol adjacent to the lower side of the predetermined lower pattern when the reel is stopped by shifting in the forward rotation direction by one step angle from the predetermined stop position on the design. Is the first position, and the position of the lower end of the symbol adjacent to above the predetermined upper symbol is the second position,
The lower tip portion is formed such that a straight line connecting the first light source and the lower tip portion to reach the reel is located above the first position.
The gaming machine, wherein the upper tip portion is formed such that a straight line connecting the second light source and the upper tip portion to reach the reel is below the second position.

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