JP6872236B2 - Pachinko machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine having a launching device for launching a gaming ball into a gaming area.

This type of gaming machine has a configuration in which the gaming balls stored in the upper plate are sequentially taken into the launching device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-252219 (paragraph [0030], FIG. 5)

In the conventional gaming machine described above, a problem has often occurred in which the gaming ball is not properly taken into the launching device and the gaming ball cannot be launched.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of suppressing the occurrence of a problem that a gaming ball cannot be launched.

The invention of claim 1 made in order to achieve the above object is a launching device that takes in a gaming ball stored in a launching ball storage unit and launches it into a game area, and a launching device that can be operated by a player. A gaming machine including an operation handle for launching a gaming ball, which communicates between the launching ball storage unit and the launching device, and a connecting passage through which the gaming ball passes, and the connecting passage or the above. An electric guide member provided in the launch ball storage unit that receives electric power to guide the game ball into the launch device, and an elapsed time from the start of operation of the operation handle are set to a predetermined time having a predetermined length. only until it reaches, performs power supply to the electric induction member, after the predetermined time is a gaming machine having a a power supply means for stopping power supply to said electric induction member.

A second aspect of the present invention, the electric induction member is a belt conveyor, at least a portion of the lower surface of the communication passage by the belt conveyor is a gaming machine of claim 1 being configured.

[Invention of claim 1]
In the gaming machine of claim 1, an electric guide member that receives electric power to guide a game ball into a launching device through a communication passage or a launching ball storage section that passes when the gaming ball is taken into the launching device from the launching ball storage unit. Since the game balls are arranged, the game balls are more easily taken into the launching device from the launch ball storage unit, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a problem that the game balls are not launched.
Further, it is considered that the movement of the game ball from the launch ball storage unit to the launch device is stable once the game ball flows out. Therefore, by configuring the electric power to be supplied to the electric guide member only during the period from the start of the operation of the operation handle to the elapse of a predetermined predetermined time, the game ball can be supplied to the launching device. It is possible to reduce power consumption while stabilizing.

[Invention of claim 2]
The electric guide member may be, for example, a movable member or the like that moves so as to push the game ball toward the launching device side, or may be a belt conveyor as in the invention of claim 2.

Front view of a pachinko gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention Perspective view of pachinko machine Perspective view of a gaming machine with the glass frame door open An exploded perspective view of the launcher Front view of launcher (A) Partial enlarged view seen from the rear side of the glass frame door, (B) Partially enlarged view seen from the rear side of the glass frame door (A) Plan view around the upper plate and connecting passage, (B) Rear view around the belt conveyor (A) Plan view around the upper plate and connecting passage according to the modified example, (B) Plan view around the upper plate and connecting passage according to the modified example

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the pachinko gaming machine 10 (corresponding to the “gaming machine” of the present invention) to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. As shown in FIG. 1, a guide rail 12 is provided on the front surface of the game board 11 of the pachinko gaming machine 10 facing the player, and the gaming area R1 surrounded by the guide rail 12 is the pachinko game. It is visible through the window 31W on the front of the machine 10. The game ball launched from the launching device 34, which will be described later, passes through the left side portion of the game board 11 and enters the game area R1 from a position near the upper end.

A display device 13 is provided in the center of the game area R1. Below the display device 13, first and second starting winning openings 14A and 14B and large winning openings 15 are provided side by side at intervals from the top. A plurality of general winning openings 20 are provided along the guide rail 12 on the left side of the first starting winning opening 14A. All the game balls that have not won any of the winning openings 14A, 14B, 15 and 20 are taken into the out openings 16 arranged at the lower end of the gaming area R1. Further, a starting gate 18 and a wind turbine 19 are provided on the left side of the display device 13. Although not shown, a large number of obstacle nails are planted in the game area R1.

As shown in FIG. 2, an upper plate 27 and a lower plate 28 are provided in two upper and lower stages below the window 31W in the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine 10. The upper plate 27 and the lower plate 28 are formed on the bulging portions 31A and 31B, respectively, which bulge in front of the pachinko gaming machine 10. Various operation buttons including a ball removal button 22 are provided on the right side of the upper plate 27 of the upper bulging portion 31A. When the ball removal button 22 is pressed, the game ball moves from the upper plate 27 to the lower plate 28. Note that in FIGS. 2 and 3, the display device 13 and the like provided on the front surface of the game board 11 are not shown.

A ball discharge port (not shown) is formed through the bottom of the lower plate 28, and the ball discharge port is always closed by the shutter member 23. When the shutter member 23 is slid horizontally to open the ball discharge port, the game ball can be discharged below the lower plate 28.

An operation knob 24 is provided at the lower right corner of the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine 10. The operation knob 24 projects from the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine 10, and can be rotated around a horizontal rotation axis parallel to the projecting direction. When the operation knob 24 is rotated, the game balls stored in the upper plate 27 are supplied to the launching device 34, and the launching device 34 ejects the game balls one by one toward the game area R1. Then, when the game balls enter the above-mentioned winning openings 14A, 14B, 15, 20 (see FIG. 1) while flowing down the game area R1, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out to the upper plate 27 as prize balls. .. The upper plate 27 corresponds to the "launching ball storage unit" of the present invention.

Hereinafter, various parts arranged on the front surface of the game board 11 will be described in detail. First, the starting gate 18 has a gate-shaped structure through which a game ball can dive. Every time the game ball passes through the start gate 18, a normal symbol hit / miss judgment is performed, and the judgment result is displayed on the normal symbol display unit (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, both the first and second starting winning openings 14A and 14B have a pocket structure having an opening on the upper surface of a member protruding from the game plate 11. The first starting winning opening 14A arranged on the upper side has an opening width in which only one game ball can be inserted. The second starting winning opening 14B arranged on the lower side is arranged directly below the first starting winning opening 14A, and movable wing pieces 14C and 14C are provided on the left and right sides of the opening. Both of these movable wing pieces 14C and 14C are always in an upright state, and the space above the second starting winning opening 14B is always the member constituting the first starting winning opening 14A and the movable wing piece 14C. Surrounded by, 14C, the game ball is prevented from entering. Then, when a hit is made in the above-mentioned normal symbol hit / fail determination, the movable wing pieces 14C and 14C are tilted sideways for a predetermined period. Then, the space above the second starting winning opening 14B is opened to the side, and the game balls that have passed on both sides of the first starting winning opening 14A are received by the movable wing piece 14C, and the second starting winning opening 14B is received. Will be guided to (state in FIG. 1).

When a game ball wins in each of the starting winning openings 14A and 14B, a predetermined number of game balls (prize balls) are paid out to the upper plate 27, and a special symbol winning / failing determination is performed. The determination result is displayed on the display screen of the display device 13 as a combination of the special symbols 13A, 13B, and 13C.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, on the display screen of the display device 13, three special symbols 13A, 13B, and 13C, which are usually left, middle, and right, are stopped and displayed side by side. Each of these special symbols 13A, 13B, 13C is composed of, for example, a plurality of types in which the numbers "0" to "11" are indicated, and usually, each of the special symbols 13A, 13B, 13C is predetermined. Kind of things are stopped and displayed. Then, when the game ball wins the first and second starting winning openings 14A and 14B, these three special symbols 13A, 13B and 13C are scrolled and displayed in the vertical direction, and after a predetermined time, for example, the left, Each special symbol 13A, 13B, 13C is stopped and displayed in the order of right and middle. Then, when the determination result is a hit (hereinafter referred to as "big hit"), each special symbol 13A, 13B, 13C is stopped and displayed with the same symbol (doublet), and the game shifts to the "big hit game state". .. On the other hand, if the determination result is incorrect, the combination other than doublet is displayed as a stop, and the normal gaming state that is not the "big hit gaming state" continues.

The large winning opening 15 is open to the front surface of the game board 11 and has a horizontally long shape, and is always closed by the movable door 15T. Then, as described above, when the "big hit game state" is reached, the movable door 15T collapses to the front side and the big winning opening 15 opens (the state shown in FIG. 1), and the movable door 15T is used as a guide to play the big winning opening 15. The ball can be won. The above is the description of the front surface of the game board 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pachinko gaming machine 10 is provided with a glass frame door 31 on the front surface of the gaming machine main body 30 into which the gaming plate 11 is fitted. As shown in the figure, the glass frame door 31 is connected to one side portion (left side portion in the front view) of the gaming machine main body 30 via a hinge, and can be opened and closed with respect to the gaming machine main body 30. ..

The glass frame door 31 is provided with a substantially circular window 31W closed by the glass plate 31G, and the game area R1 can be visually recognized through the glass plate 31G. Further, in the front surface of the glass frame door 31, the above-mentioned bulging portions 31A and 31B are arranged below the window 31W.

By the way, a launching device 34 is provided below the game board 11 in the front surface of the game machine main body 30. The launching device 34 is arranged in a substantially central portion in the left-right direction of the front surface of the gaming machine main body 30, and takes in the gaming ball of the upper plate 27 and launches it toward the gaming area R1 as the operation knob 24 rotates. ..

As shown in FIG. 4, the launching device 34 is configured by assembling various parts such as a launch rail 62, a striking mallet 63, and a ball supply unit 40 to a horizontally long rectangular base 61.

The launch rail 62 is arranged on the left side of the front surface of the pedestal 61 when viewed from the front, and extends diagonally upward to the left at an angle of about 45 degrees. The launch rail 62 is configured to guide the game ball by a V-shaped groove formed on the upper surface thereof. A ball stop member 66 is attached above the lower end of the launch rail 62, and the game ball supplied onto the launch rail 62 from the ball supply unit 40, which will be described in detail later, is stopped at the lower end of the launch rail 62. It comes into contact with the member 66 and stops.

A striking mallet 63 is provided in the center of the front surface of the pedestal 61. The striking mallet 63 is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 63J penetrating the base plate 61 in the front-rear direction. At the lower tip of the batting mallet 63, a mallet tip 63C that bends in an L shape toward the launch rail 62 and can come into contact with a game ball stopped at the lower end of the launch rail 62 is provided. Further, behind the pedestal 61, a launch motor and a repulsion element (not shown) are provided. The firing motor is operated by operating the operation knob 24, and rotates the striking mallet 63 so as to launch a predetermined number (for example, 100 game balls per minute) per unit time. The elastic element is connected to the operation knob 24, and it is possible to change the striking strength of the game ball by the striking mallet 63 according to the amount of rotation with respect to the operation knob 24.

That is, when the operation knob 24 is rotated, the striking mallet 63 rotates (clockwise) from the retracted position shown in FIG. 4 toward the launch rail 62 side by receiving the driving force of the launch motor. Then, the game ball set at the lower end of the launch rail 62 is repelled by the mallet tip 63C and launched diagonally upward along the launch rail 62.

A ball supply unit 40 is attached to the front surface of the pedestal 61 so as to sandwich the launch rail 62, the striking mallet 63, and the like with the pedestal 61. The ball supply unit 40 has a resin case 41 having a flat box-shaped structure in the front-rear direction. The case 41 has a ball inlet 46D that opens in front of the case 41 and connects to the upper plate 27, and a launch ball supply port (not shown) that challenges the position near the lower end of the launch rail 62 at both ends. A ball passage 47 is formed (see FIG. 5). Then, the game ball stored in the upper plate 27 flows into the launch ball passage path 47 through the ball entrance 46D, moves in the launch ball passage path 47 toward the launch ball supply port, and hits the hammer 63. The ball supply unit 40 is configured to supply one game ball onto the launch rail 62 each time the ball reciprocates and launches one game ball.

A return ball recovery duct 33 is provided on the left side of the launching device 34 (see FIG. 3). The return ball recovery duct 33 is arranged between the launch rail 62 and the guide rail 12 provided in the launch device 34, and reaches the game ball that did not reach the guide rail 12 due to too weak momentum and the game area R1. A game ball that has not reached and has returned from the guide rail 12 is received and discharged to the lower plate 28.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the glass frame door 31 penetrates the right side of the upper plate 27 (left side in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the bulging portion 31A of the glass frame door 31. A connecting passage 70 is formed to connect the upper plate 27 and the ball entrance 46D of the launching device 34. The connecting passage 70 has a width equivalent to one game ball, extends from the inner part of the right end of the upper plate 27 along the glass frame door 31, then bends rearward and opens to the rear surface of the glass frame door 31. (See FIG. 7 (A)). When the glass frame door 31 is closed, the exit 70A of the connecting passage 70 hits the ball entrance 46D of the launching device 34, and the upper plate 27 and the launching device 34 are communicated with each other via the connecting passage 70. Further, the lower surface of the upper plate 27 is inclined so as to be lowered toward the inner part of the right end portion so that the game ball is easily guided to the launching device 34, and the lower surface of the connecting passage 70 is also inclined so as to be lowered toward the inner part of the right end portion. (See Fig. 7 (B)).

As shown in FIG. 6, a shutter member 71 is provided near the exit 70A of the connecting passage 70. The shutter member 71 has a horizontally long strip shape extending in parallel with the glass frame door 31, and is rotatable about a rotation shaft arranged on the side of the outlet 70A of the connecting passage 70. Then, the shutter member 71 opens and closes the outlet 70A of the connecting passage 70 in response to the operation of the operation knob 24, and when the operation knob 24 is not operated, the shutter member 71 is in the closed state shown in FIG. 6A for the game. It regulates the ball from entering the launcher 34, and when the operation knob 24 is operated, it becomes the open state shown in FIG. 6B and allows the game ball to enter the launcher 34. ..

Here, in the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, a belt conveyor 75 (corresponding to the "electric guidance member" of the present invention) is provided in the connecting passage 70. As shown in FIG. 7, a through hole 70K is formed in the lower constituent wall 70X constituting the lower surface of the connecting passage 70, and the upper surface of the belt conveyor 75 arranged below the lower constituent wall 70X is formed from the through hole 70K. It faces the connecting passage 70. As shown in FIG. 7B, the belt conveyor 75 has a rubber belt 75A stretched between the two pulleys 75P and 75P and extends along the connecting passage 70. In the example shown in FIG. 7A, the through hole 70K is formed so that a part thereof overlaps in the upper plate 27, and the start end of the belt conveyor 75 is arranged in the inner part of the right end portion of the upper plate 27. There is.

The belt conveyor 75 is driven by a motor (not shown). The motor is configured to drive the belt conveyor 75 by receiving power and control signals from a main control board (not shown, corresponding to the "power supply means" of the present invention). Specifically, when the operation knob 24 is not operated, that is, when the game is not performed, the main control board does not supply power to the motor, and the belt conveyor 75 is stopped. Then, when the operation knob 24 is operated, the main control board supplies electric power to the motor and outputs a control signal, and the belt conveyor 75 turns clockwise (counterclockwise in FIG. 7B) when viewed from the front. Rotate. As a result, the game ball in the connecting passage 70 moves from the upper plate 27 side to the launching device 34 side.

Further, in the present embodiment, the belt conveyor 75 is configured to stop when a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed from the start of operation of the operation knob 24. Even if the belt conveyor 75 is stopped, once the game ball starts to flow toward the launching device 34, it is considered that the game ball moves smoothly. The outer surface of the rubber belt 75A of the belt conveyor 75 preferably has slidability so that the flow of the game ball does not stop due to friction when the belt conveyor 75 is stopped.

The configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment is as described above. Next, the operation and the effect of the pachinko gaming machine 10 will be described. First, before the start of the game, the upper plate 27 and the launching device 34 are empty, and the game ball does not exist. At this time, the shutter member 71 is in the closed state, and the belt conveyor 75 is stopped.

When the game ball is thrown into the upper plate 27, the game ball flows into the connecting passage 70 and is filled with the game ball up to the position of the shutter member 71. Then, when the operation knob 24 is operated, the shutter member 71 is opened and the game ball can flow into the launching device 34. Then, the game ball that has flowed into the launching device 34 is launched by the batting mallet 63 toward the game area R1 one by one. At this time, the belt conveyor 75 rotates until a predetermined time elapses after the operation knob 24 is operated, and guides the game ball in the connecting passage 70 to the launching device 34 side.

Here, in the conventional gaming machine, the problem that the gaming ball is not smoothly moved in the connecting passage 70, the gaming ball is not taken into the launching device 34, and the gaming ball is not launched often occurs. It was. On the other hand, in the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, the belt conveyor 75 is provided in the connecting passage 70, and the gaming ball in the connecting passage 70 is guided to the launching device 34 side, so that the moving of the gaming ball is conventional. Is also smooth, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a problem that the game ball is not fired.

Further, it is conceivable that the game ball does not flow into the connecting passage 70 when the game ball is thrown into the upper plate 27, but in the present embodiment, the starting end of the belt conveyor 75 is arranged in the upper plate 27. Therefore, the inflow of the game ball into the connecting passage 70 can be smoothed.

Further, the belt conveyor 75 is stopped when the operation knob 24 is not operated (that is, when the game ball is not launched and it is not necessary to take the game ball into the launching device 34), and the operation knob 24 is stopped. Since it is configured to rotate due to being operated (that is, it becomes necessary to take the game ball into the launching device 34 in order to launch the game ball), power consumption can be suppressed.

Further, the movement of the game ball is most difficult when it starts to move from the stopped state, and once it starts to flow, it is considered that it flows stably after that. However, in the present embodiment, the rotation of the belt conveyor 75 Since the operation is performed only during the period from the start of the operation of the operation knob 24 to the elapse of a predetermined time, it is possible to suppress the load on the motor and reduce the power consumption while stabilizing the supply of the game balls.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and for example, embodiments as described below are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and various other than the following, as long as they do not deviate from the gist. It can be changed and implemented.

(1) In the above embodiment, the entire connecting passage 70 is the width of one game ball, but it may be configured to gradually narrow toward the inner part.

(2) In the above embodiment, the belt conveyor 75 is arranged so as to straddle both the upper plate 27 and the connecting passage 70, but it may be provided only in the connecting passage 70 or only in the upper plate 27. It may be provided.

(3) In the above embodiment, the belt conveyor 75 is arranged so as to form the lower surface of the connecting passage 70, but it may be arranged so as to form the side surface of the connecting passage 70. In this case, it is preferable that the lower surface of the connecting passage 70 is inclined so as to go down to the belt conveyor 75 side.

(4) In the above embodiment, the "electric guide member" of the present invention is the belt conveyor 75. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the game ball can be moved in the upper plate 27 and the game ball in the upper plate 27 can be moved. The game ball may be fluidized by pushing it toward the connecting passage 70.

(4) In the above embodiment, the rotation of the belt conveyor 75 is stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of operation of the operation knob 24, but the belt conveyor 75 is always operated while the operation knob 24 is being operated. It may be a rotating configuration.

10 Pachinko game machine 24 Operation knob 27 Upper plate 31 Glass frame door 31A Swelling part 34 Launcher 46D Ball entrance 70 Communication passage 70A Exit 70K Through hole 70X Lower configuration wall 71 Shutter member 75 Belt conveyor 75A Rubber belt 75P Pulley

Claims (2)

A launcher that takes in the game balls stored in the launch ball storage and launches them into the game area,
A gaming machine that can be operated by a player and includes an operation handle for launching a gaming ball into the launching device.
A communication passage that communicates between the launch ball storage unit and the launch device and allows the game ball to pass through.
An electric guide member provided in the connecting passage or the launch ball storage unit to receive electric power to guide the game ball into the launch device.
Elapsed time from the operation start of the operation handle, only until it reaches a predetermined stipulated beforehand length time, performs the power supply to the electric induction member, after the predetermined time is the electric induction member A gaming machine having a power supply means for stopping the power supply to the machine. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the electric guidance member is a belt conveyor, and at least a part of the lower surface of the connecting passage is formed by the belt conveyor.

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