JP7026931B2 - Pachinko machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

In a gaming machine provided with an opening / closing member that opens / closes a predetermined area, various attempts have been made to suppress the occurrence of so-called ball biting due to the operation of the opening / closing member (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-016141

An object to be solved by the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of suppressing the occurrence of ball biting due to the operation of an opening / closing member.

The gaming machine according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, has an opening / closing member that is displaceably provided between a closed position that closes an opening through which a game ball can pass and an open position that opens, and the opening / closing member. A gaming member arranged at a position where the opening / closing member approaches as the member is displaced from the open position to the closed position, and the tip portion of the opening / closing member in the displacement direction is linear. A singular portion having a shape different from that of the straight portion is formed, and the portion of the gaming member facing the singular portion is a convex portion provided at a position where the game ball can come into contact. It is characterized in that a portion is formed.

According to the gaming machine according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of ball biting due to the operation of the opening / closing member.

It is a schematic diagram which showed the whole of the gaming machine. It is a front view of a game board and a display device. It is a schematic view which showed the structure around the big prize opening, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a plan view (view from above), (c) is a sectional view (hatching is omitted). .. It is a figure for demonstrating the ball biting prevention action. It is a figure which showed the structure which provided the plurality of peculiar parts and the collision part corresponding to each of the plurality of peculiar parts. It is a figure for demonstrating that when the opening / closing member is located in an open position, the collision part exerts an action which guides a game ball toward a big prize opening. It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd specific example. It is a figure for demonstrating a 3rd specific example. It is a figure for demonstrating the 4th specific example. It is a figure for demonstrating the fifth concrete example. It is a figure for demonstrating the sixth concrete example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the gaming machine 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the gaming machine 1 will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

The gaming machine 1 includes a gaming board 90. The game board 90 is formed of a substantially square plywood, and the guide rail 903 constituting the passage for guiding the game ball launched by the operation of the launch device 908 (launch handle) to the game area 902 has a substantially arc shape. It is provided as follows.

The game area 902 is provided with a display device 91, a start winning opening 904, a large winning opening 10, an out opening, and the like. The display area 911 of the display device 91 is an area that can be visually recognized through the opening 901 formed in the game board 90. The shape of the display area 911 can be changed as appropriate (the shape and size of the display area 911 can be changed by changing the shape and size of the opening 901 and the shape and size of the display device 91 itself). ..

Further, in the game area 902, a plurality of game nails are provided as obstacles that change the flow mode of the game ball by colliding with the game ball flowing down. The game ball flowing down the game area 902 changes in various modes depending on the conditions when it collides with the game nail.

In such a gaming machine 1, the gaming ball is launched toward the gaming area 902 by operating the launching device 908. When a game ball flowing down the game area 902 wins a prize in a winning opening such as a starting winning opening 904 or a large winning opening 10, a predetermined number of winning balls are paid out by a payout device.

The jackpot lottery is executed by the winning / failing determination means provided on the control board (not shown) triggered by the winning of the game ball to the starting winning opening 904 (a plurality of such starting winning openings may be provided). Specifically, a numerical value (hereinafter, also referred to as hit / fail judgment information) is acquired from a random number source triggered by the winning of the game ball to the starting winning opening 904, and the numerical value is the same as the predetermined jackpot numerical value. If it is, it will be a big hit, and if it is different, it will be a miss.

In the present embodiment, similarly to the known gaming machine, the winning / failing determination result is notified to the player by the combination of the decorative symbols 50 (see FIG. 1 and the like) displayed in the display area 911 of the display device 91. The decorative symbol 50 starts to change at the same time as the notification of the hit / miss determination result is started. If the jackpot is won, the decorative symbol 50 finally stops at a predetermined combination (for example, a set of three of the same decorative symbol 50). If it is out of alignment, the decorative symbol 50 finally stops at a combination other than that (other than the combination that becomes a big hit).

The components of the gaming machine 1 that are not related to the present invention, such as the frame of the gaming machine 1, the lower plate and the upper plate for storing the gaming balls, will be omitted. As for these, those having the same structure as a known gaming machine can be applied.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the large winning opening 10, the opening / closing member 30 for opening and closing the large winning opening 10, and the gaming member 40 having a related configuration will be described in detail. In the present embodiment, the large winning opening 10 is provided on the right side of the game area (see FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, a large winning opening 101 different from the large winning opening 10 is provided on the lower center side (see FIG. 2), but it is directly related to the technical matters described in detail below. Therefore, the term "large winning opening 10" simply means the one provided on the right side of the game area.

When a big hit is won and a game is played so that the game ball enters the big winning opening 10, the player plays a game (so-called right-handed game) so that the game ball enters the right side of the game area. The entrance 11 of the grand prize opening 10 is formed in a passage (hereinafter, also referred to as a specific passage 20) inclined from the right toward the center side in the width direction (see FIG. 2). Specifically, the opening formed under the specific passage 20 (bottom surface) is the entrance 11 of the large winning opening 10. Strictly speaking, as will be described in detail later, at least a part of the bottom surface of the specific passage 20 is configured by the opening / closing member 30 located at the closed position. In the specific passage 20, the side wall on the rear side (back side) is formed by the front surface of the game board 90, and the side wall on the front side (front side) is formed by the game member 40 (see FIGS. 3 (b) and 3 (c)). The width (length in the front-rear direction) of the specific passage 20 is set to be more than one game ball and less than two (more than the diameter of the game ball and less than twice the diameter). That is, in the specific passage 20, two or more game balls are not lined up in the width direction.

The opening / closing member 30 is a member that opens / closes the entrance 11 of the large winning opening 10, and has an open position (position shown by a dotted line in FIG. 3) that opens the entrance 11 (so that the game ball can pass through). It reciprocates between the closed position (the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 3) that closes the entrance 11 (makes the game ball impassable). The opening / closing member 30 in the present embodiment is a flat plate-shaped member, and is a so-called slide attacker that reciprocates in the plane direction thereof. Specifically, the opening / closing member 30 is normally in the closed position, and during a big hit game (during a so-called big hit round), the opening / closing member 30 slides toward an open position behind the closed position to open the entrance 11 of the big winning opening 10. do. Since the drive source for operating the large winning opening 10 and the power transmission structure from the driving source to the large winning opening 10 may be any, the description thereof will be omitted.

The opening / closing member 30 is provided along the entrance 11 of the large winning opening 10 (a plane connecting the lower end edges of the rear and front side walls of the game ball passage). Therefore, the opening / closing member 30 located at the closed position constitutes at least a part of the bottom surface (the surface inclined along the flow of the game ball) of the specific passage 20. Specifically, when the opening / closing member 30 is located at the closed position, the game ball passes through the specific passage 20 while rolling on the upper surface of the opening / closing member 30. The specific passage 20 in the present embodiment has a part of a bottom surface (hereinafter referred to as a fixed bottom surface 21) that is not composed of the opening / closing member 30 on the upstream side of the opening / closing member 30 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). ). The game ball moving toward the big winning opening 10 comes into contact with the fixed bottom surface 21. That is, when the opening / closing member 30 is located at the closed position, it rolls on the surface composed of the fixed bottom surface 21 and the opening / closing member 30 and passes through the specific passage 20. In order to guide the game ball, the fixed bottom surface 21 and the opening / closing member 30 are slightly inclined so as to be displaced downward from right to left. Even when the opening / closing member 30 is in the open position, the game ball rolls on the fixed bottom surface 21 and heads toward the large winning opening 10. In other words, we will head to the big prize opening 10 with some momentum.

The entrance 11 of the large winning opening 10 has a substantially rectangular shape, and the planar shape of the opening / closing member 30 also has a substantially rectangular shape (see FIGS. 3A and 3B). A singular portion 31 is formed at the tip of the opening / closing member 30 (referring to the end portion in the operating direction of the opening / closing member 30, which is the front end in the present embodiment) (see FIG. 3). The singular portion 31 is a portion at the tip of the opening / closing member 30 that is different in shape from the portion where the singular portion 31 is not formed. Specifically, the portion where the singular portion 31 is not formed has a linear tip edge (hereinafter referred to as a straight portion 32), while the singular portion 31 is recessed toward the proximal end side from the straight portion 32. It is a recess (see FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b)). The singular portion 31 in this embodiment has an arc shape. The curvature of the arc shape is smaller than the curvature of the game ball (meaning the curvature of the circle of the cross section cut by the plane passing through the center of the game ball). Further, when the opening / closing member 30 is located at the closed position, the game ball cannot pass through the gap formed by the presence of the singular portion 31 (the gap including the recess which is the singular portion 31). ..

The game member 40 is a plate-shaped member provided in front of the game board 90 (a plate on which a game nail or the like is fixed) so as to face the game board 90 (see FIG. 3). It can be said that the game member 40 is a member constituting the side wall on the front side of the specific passage 20. In other words, it can be said that it is a member that regulates the game ball passing through the specific passage 20 so as not to jump forward. The game member 40 in the present embodiment is made of a material having light transmission so that the large winning opening 10 can be visually recognized.

A collision portion 41 is formed on the gaming member 40 (see FIG. 3). The collision portion 41 is a protrusion protruding rearward from the rear surface (wall surface of the specific passage 20) of the game member 40. That is, a protrusion protruding rearward is formed on the side wall on the front side of the specific passage 20. Based on the operation of the opening / closing member 30, the collision portion 41 is formed at a position where the opening / closing member 30 approaches as the opening / closing member 30 is displaced from the open position to the closed position.

The collision portion 41 in the present embodiment is a vertically elongated protrusion (see FIGS. 3A and 3C). Seen in cross section, the collision portion 41 preferably includes a portion that tapers toward the tip (see FIG. 3 (b)). The position of the collision portion 41 in the left-right direction (lateral direction) substantially coincides with the singular portion 31 formed on the opening / closing member 30. Specifically, the position of the center of the collision portion 41 in the left-right direction substantially coincides with the center of the singular portion 31 (the apex of the arc) which is a concave portion (see FIG. 3B). That is, the collision portion 41 is provided so as to face the singular portion 31 (the "opposite" here means a positional relationship in which the positions in the left-right direction match).

Further, in the vertical direction, the collision portion 41 is located above the singular portion 31 (opening / closing member 30) (see FIG. 3C). Specifically, the lower end edge of the collision portion 41 is located above the singular portion 31 (opening / closing member 30). Further, the distance D between the lower end edge of the collision portion 41 and the upper end edge of the opening / closing member 30 in the vertical direction is set to be smaller than the diameter of the game ball. Due to such a positional relationship, it can be said that when the opening / closing member 30 is located at the closed position, the game ball rolling on the opening / closing member 30 can collide with the collision portion 41.

The action of the opening / closing member 30 and the game member 40 being configured in this way is as follows. The game ball moving toward the large winning opening 10 enters the large winning opening 10 when the opening / closing member 30 is in the open position. On the other hand, when the opening / closing member 30 is located at the closed position, it rolls on the opening / closing member 30 and passes through the specific passage 20. That is, it does not enter the big winning opening 10. Here, when the game ball reaches the entrance 11 of the large winning opening 10 while the opening / closing member 30 is displaced from the open position to the closed position, the front end edge of the opening / closing member 30 and the entrance 11 of the large winning opening 10. There is a risk that the game ball will be caught between it and (hereinafter, simply referred to as the front edge) (so-called ball biting will occur). In the present embodiment, the opening / closing member 30 is provided with a peculiar portion 31 in order to suppress such ball biting. Even if the game ball is about to be caught between the singular portion 31 and the front edge, the portion of the singular portion 31 where the game ball comes into contact is not a flat portion, so it should be displaced to the upstream side or the downstream side. A force that displaces the game ball is applied to the game ball (see FIGS. 4 (c) and 4 (d)). As a result, it is possible to prevent the game ball from being pinched between the opening / closing member 30 and the front edge.

However, since such an action is not exerted at a place other than the place where the peculiar part 31 is formed in the opening / closing member 30, that is, the straight part 32, a game is played between the straight part 32 and the front end edge of the opening / closing member 30. The risk of the sphere being pinched is higher than that for the singularity 31. However, in the present embodiment, since the collision portion 41 is provided so as to face the singular portion 31, the momentum of the game ball is set at the position where the game ball collides with the collision portion 41 and the singular portion 31 is provided. There is an increased probability that the momentum generated by rolling on the fixed bottom surface 21 will decrease (see FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b)). Further, even if the game ball is sandwiched between the opening / closing member 30 (straight portion 32) and the front end edge on the upstream side of the singular portion 31, the game ball moves to the downstream side from the momentum and the collision portion. At 41, that momentum will drop. As described above, when a situation occurs in which the game ball is likely to be sandwiched between the opening / closing member 30 and the front edge, there is a possibility that the situation will occur at the place where the singular portion 31 is provided by the action of the collision portion 41. That is, the possibility that the game ball is pinched between the straight portion 32 of the opening / closing member 30 and the front end edge is reduced.

Although the opening / closing member 30 in the present embodiment is formed only by one singular portion 31, it may have a configuration in which a plurality of singular portions 31 are formed (see FIG. 5). In this case, the collision portion 41 corresponding to each of the plurality of singular portions 31 is provided. By doing so, the action of suppressing ball biting can be further improved. However, if the opening / closing member 30 is configured to have a plurality of singular portions 31 (concave portions) formed, there is a problem that the convex portions are easily damaged because the singular portions 31 are formed into convex portions. .. Therefore, it is not preferable to increase the number of singular portions 31 in the dark clouds. In the present embodiment, the momentum of the game ball is reduced by the action of the collision portion 41, so that the portion where the singular portion 31 is provided is designated as a "location where pinching is likely to occur". It can be said that it is excellent in that it does not need to be provided (it may be only one singular portion 31).

Further, the collision portion 41 in the present embodiment is provided above the singular portion 31 (opening / closing member 30). By doing so, when a situation occurs in which the game ball is likely to be sandwiched between the singular portion 31 and the collision portion 41, the singular portion 31 and the collision portion 41 are displaced vertically, so that the singular portion 31 and the collision portion are displaced. It is suppressed that the game ball is pinched between 41 (see the figure on the right side of FIGS. 4 (c) and 4 (d)). Specifically, a force that causes the game ball to escape upward (a force in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure on the right side of FIG. 4C) is applied to the game ball. Further, it is possible to prevent the singular portion 31 and the collision portion 41 from being damaged due to an excessive reaction force from the game ball received by the singular portion 31 and the collision portion 41.

Further, when the game ball collides with the collision portion 41, a force acting downward, that is, toward the entrance 11 of the large winning opening 10, acts on the game ball. Therefore, it can be said that the collision portion 41 also plays a role of guiding the game ball toward the large winning opening 10 (promoting the winning) when the opening / closing member 30 is in the open position (see FIG. 6).

Hereinafter, specific examples in which the gaming machine 1 according to the above embodiment has been improved, modified, and embodied will be described. In addition, a configuration may be configured in which a plurality of items described using the following specific examples are applied.

○ First Specific Example In the above embodiment, the opening / closing member 30 that opens / closes the large winning opening 10 and its entrance 11 is taken as an example, and it has been described that the occurrence of ball biting during the operation of the opening / closing member 30 is suppressed. The same technical idea can be applied not only to the winning opening 10 but also to the opening (entrance) through which the game ball can enter and the opening / closing member 30 that opens and closes the opening (entrance).

○ Second Specific Example Although it has been explained that the peculiar portion 31 in the above embodiment is a concave portion, it may have another shape. That is, the shape may be different from that of the straight portion 32. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to suppress ball biting even if the singular portion 31 is a convex portion. However, there is a problem that the convex portion, which is the singular portion 31, is easily damaged. That is, there is an advantage that the opening / closing member 30 is less likely to be damaged when the peculiar portion 31 is made a recess. Further, it is an example that the shape of the concave portion formed as the peculiar portion 31 is arcuate. As long as the concave portion allows the game ball to enter inside, the shape may be other than the arc shape.

○ Third Specific Example Although it has been explained that the opening / closing member 30 in the above embodiment is a so-called slide attacker, the same technical idea can be applied to the opening / closing member 30 having a different operation mode. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, even if the same structure as that of the above embodiment is applied to the opening / closing member 30 that performs an opening operation that tilts toward the front side with the lower end as a fulcrum, the ball biting suppressing effect can be obtained. However, with respect to the opening / closing member 30 which is a so-called slide attacker as in the above embodiment, since the opening / closing member 30 itself constitutes a passage (specific passage 20) at the closed position, ball biting is likely to occur. It can be said that it is significant to have a structure like the embodiment.

○ Fourth Specific Example The configuration is such that protrusions are formed on the rear side wall (game board 90 in this embodiment) and the front side wall (game member 40 in this embodiment) of the specific passage 20. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of protrusions formed on the rear side wall (hereinafter referred to as rear protrusion 402) and a plurality of protrusions formed on the front side wall (hereinafter referred to as front protrusion 401). It is assumed that the front protrusion 401 and the rear protrusion 402 are displaced from each other in the left-right direction (the direction in which the game ball moves). That is, the configuration is such that a plurality of protrusions are provided on both sides of the specific passage 20 in the width direction. With such a configuration, the game ball passes through the specific passage 20 while colliding with the protrusion, so that the momentum is weakened in the vicinity of the big winning opening 10, and the big winning opening 10 is not won. It is possible to reduce the number of game balls that pass through the specific passage 20.

Then, any one of the plurality of front protrusions 401 is set as the collision portion 41. That is, the singular portion 31 is formed on the opening / closing member 30 so as to face any of the front protrusions 401 . With such a configuration, the front projection 401 (collision portion 41) can function as an element that exerts two actions.

○ Fifth Specific Example As shown in FIG. 10, it is assumed that the end surface of the recess formed as the singular portion 31 in the opening / closing member 30 includes the inclined surface 311. Specifically, it is assumed that the end surface of the concave portion includes an inclined surface 311 that faces rearward from the lower end side to the upper end side thereof. With such a configuration, when the game ball is about to be pinched between the singular portion 31 and the collision portion 41, the action of the inclined surface 311 exerts an upward releasing force applied to the game ball ( The force in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 10B) becomes large. That is, it is possible to further reduce the possibility that ball biting will occur.

○ Sixth Specific Example In the above embodiment, it has been described that a concave portion is formed as a peculiar portion 31 in the opening / closing member 30, and a collision portion 41 which is a convex portion is formed at a position facing the concave portion 31. The relationship may be reversed. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, a convex portion is formed as the singular portion 31 on the opening / closing member 30 (the configuration is similar to that of the opening / closing member 30 shown in the second specific example described above), and the position facing the singular portion 31. The recess 42 is formed in the recess 42. Similar to the above embodiment, the singular portion 31 and the recess 42 may be in a positional relationship shifted up and down. With such a configuration, the momentum of the game ball is weakened by contacting the singular portion 31 which is a convex portion, and the probability that the game ball is likely to be pinched between the singular portion 31 and the concave portion 42 is increased. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of ball biting of the game ball due to the action on the peculiar portion 31 and the recess 42.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Specific means (game machines) obtained from the above embodiments are listed below.

・ Means 1
An opening / closing member that is freely displaced between the closed position that closes the opening through which the game ball can pass and the open position that opens it.
A gaming member arranged at a position where the opening / closing member approaches as the opening / closing member is displaced from the open position to the closed position.
Equipped with
A peculiar portion having a shape different from that of other portions is formed at the tip portion of the opening / closing member in the displacement direction.
A gaming machine characterized in that a collision portion, which is a convex portion provided at a position where a gaming ball can be contacted, is formed in a portion of the gaming member facing the singular portion.
In the above-mentioned gaming machine, the peculiar portion provided on the opening / closing member suppresses the game ball from being pinched (ball biting) between the opening / closing member and another member (a member constituting the end edge of the opening). .. Since the collision portion is formed in the game member at a position facing the singular portion, the momentum of the game ball decreases at the position where the singular portion is formed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the game ball from being pinched between the opening / closing member and another member at a place other than the place where the peculiar portion is formed.

・ Means 2
The gaming machine according to means 1, wherein the opening / closing member constitutes at least a part of the bottom surface of a passage through which the gaming ball passes when the opening / closing member is located at the closed position.
As described above, it is particularly effective in a structure in which the opening / closing member itself located at the closed position constitutes the bottom surface of the passage.

・ Means 3
The gaming machine according to means 1 or means 2, wherein the collision portion is provided above the singular portion.
With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the game ball from being pinched between the singular portion and the collision portion. In addition, when a situation occurs in which a game ball is likely to be caught between the singular part and the collision part, an excessive force acts on the singular part and the collision part, and the singular part and the collision part are prevented from being damaged. Will be done.
Furthermore, the game ball that collides with the collision portion heads toward the opening. That is, the collision portion also plays a role of guiding the game ball toward the opening when the opening / closing member is in the open position.

・ Means 4
The gaming machine according to any one of means 1 to 3, wherein the peculiar portion is a concave portion.
By doing so, it is more effectively suppressed that the game ball is sandwiched between the opening / closing member and another member (ball biting). In addition, it is possible to prevent the peculiar portion from being damaged.

・ Means 5
The gaming machine according to means 4, wherein the recess has an arc shape having a curvature smaller than that of a gaming ball.
By doing so, it is possible to prevent the game ball from entering the inside of the concave portion and being pinched between the opening / closing member (recess) and another member due to the action of the concave portion.

・ Means 6
4. The means 4 or means 5 is characterized in that, in a state where the opening / closing member is located at the closed position, the space formed by the recess and the gaming member has a size that the gaming ball cannot pass through. Gaming machine.
By doing so, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation in which the game ball passes through the opening even though the opening / closing member is located at the closed position.

1 Pachinko machine 10 Grand prize opening 11 Entrance (opening)
20 Specific passage 30 Opening / closing member 31 Singular part 32 Straight part 40 Game member 41 Collision part

Claims (1)

An opening / closing member that can be displaced between a closed position that closes an opening through which a game ball can pass and an open position that opens a game ball provided in a specific passage.
A gaming member arranged at a position such that the tip portion of the opening / closing member approaches in the displacement direction as the opening / closing member is displaced from the open position to the closed position.
Equipped with
A plurality of front sides are on the front side wall of the specific passage composed of the gaming members arranged at positions such that the tip portion of the opening / closing member approaches as the opening / closing member is displaced from the open position to the closed position. After the protrusion is arranged so as to face the side wall on the front side and the tip portion of the opening / closing member is separated as the opening / closing member is displaced from the open position to the closed position. On the side wall, a plurality of posterior projections having a positional relationship deviated from the plurality of anterior projections in the direction in which the game ball moves (hereinafter referred to as the X direction) are formed.
The tip portion of the opening / closing member is formed with a peculiar portion which is a recess recessed behind the portions on both sides in the X direction.
A gaming machine characterized in that a collision portion, which is one of a plurality of the front projections, is formed in a portion of the gaming member facing the singular portion.

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