JP7224611B2 - game machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to gaming machines.

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of game machines are known that have decorative members that are illuminated by light emitted from a light source (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

JP 2016-73474 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to enhance the decorativeness of a decorative member in a game machine provided with a light source and a decorative member illuminated by the light of the light source.

A gaming machine according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, comprises a light source arranged so that the optical axis is substantially along a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction, and a light source arranged so as to intersect the optical axis of the light source. The decorative member is provided on the light emitting side and has a light transmitting portion that transmits light emitted from the light source and a light reflecting portion that reflects the light.

According to the gaming machine of the present invention, it is possible to enhance the decorativeness of the decorative member illuminated by the light of the light source.

1 is an overall view of a gaming machine according to this embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is a view of the decorative unit viewed from the front (a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA is shown in the frame); (a) is a diagram of the decoration unit viewed from below, and (b) is a diagram for explaining the operation of the decoration unit. It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd specific example. It is a figure for demonstrating the 3rd specific example. It is a figure for demonstrating the 4th specific example. FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a fifth specific example; FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a sixth specific example;

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

The game machine 1 is equipped with a game board 90 . The game board 90 is made of a substantially square plywood board, and a guide rail 903 forming a passage for guiding a game ball fired by operating a shooting device 908 (shooting handle) to the game area 902 has a substantially arc shape. is provided as follows.

The game area 902 is provided with a display device 91, a starting prize winning port 904, a big winning prize port 906, an out port, and the like. A display area 911 of the display device 91 is an area that can be visually recognized through an opening 901 formed in the game board 90 . Note that the shape and the like of the display area 911 can be changed as appropriate (the shape and the like 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). .

In addition, in the game area 902, a plurality of game nails are provided as obstacles that change the flowing state of the game balls when the falling game balls collide with each other. The game ball flowing down the game area 902 changes in various modes according to the conditions when it collides with the game nail.

In such a game machine 1 , game balls are shot toward the game area 902 by operating the shooting device 908 . When a game ball flowing down the game area 902 wins a winning opening such as a starting winning opening 904 or a big winning opening 906, a predetermined number of winning balls are paid out by a payout device.

The lottery for the jackpot is executed by winning/failure determining means provided on the control board 21 (not shown) triggered by the entry of a game ball into the starting winning opening 904 (a plurality of such starting winning openings may be provided). Specifically, a numerical value (hereinafter also referred to as win/fail determination information) is acquired from a random number source triggered by the winning of a game ball into the starting winning opening 904, and the numerical value is the same as the predetermined jackpot numerical value. If it is, it is a big hit, and if it is different, it is a loss.

In this embodiment, similar to a known game machine, the player is notified of the win/loss determination result by combining the decorative symbols 50 (see FIG. 1, etc.) displayed in the display area 911 of the display device 91 . The decorative pattern 50 starts to fluctuate with the start of notification of the success/failure determination result. When the jackpot is won, the decorative patterns 50 finally stop at a predetermined combination (for example, three sets of the same decorative patterns 50). In the case of losing, the decorative symbols 50 are finally stopped in a combination other than that (other than the combination that results in a big win).

Descriptions of components of the gaming machine 1 that are not related to the present invention, such as the frame of the gaming machine 1 and the lower and upper trays for storing game balls, will be omitted. For these, those having the same structure as known gaming machines can be applied.

The decoration unit 10 included in the gaming machine 1 according to this embodiment will be described in detail below. In the following description, the direction orthogonal to the game board surface is the front-back direction (the player side is the front), the direction of gravity is the vertical direction, and the direction orthogonal to the front-back direction and the vertical direction is the horizontal direction (left-right direction, left-right direction, vertical direction). width direction). In each drawing, the front-rear direction is the Y-axis, the vertical direction is the Z-axis, and the horizontal direction is the direction along the X-axis.

The decoration unit 10 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 3A) in this embodiment is fixed to the main body of the game machine 1, and includes a light source 20, a decoration member 30, and a reflection member 40. Prepare. The decoration unit 10 in this embodiment is provided on the left side of the game area 902 (Note that FIG. etc. are omitted).

The light source 20 in this embodiment is an LED, and is mounted on a board (hereinafter referred to as a control board 21) on which at least part of a circuit for controlling the light source 20 is constructed (FIGS. 2 and 3A). reference). The control board 21 is arranged along a plane (YZ plane) perpendicular to the lateral direction. The control board 21 in this embodiment has a vertically elongated shape. A plurality of light sources 20 are mounted on the control board 21 so as to be aligned in the vertical direction. The positions in the front-rear direction of the plurality of light sources 20 are the same. Each light source 20 is arranged so that its optical axis L extends in the horizontal direction. As described above, the decoration unit 10 in this embodiment is provided on the left side of the game area, while the light source 20 is provided so as to emit light rightward, that is, toward the center in the width direction.

The decorative member 30 is a member that actually exhibits a decorative function, and is provided on the light emitting side of the light source 20 (see FIGS. 2 and 3A). That is, in this embodiment, it is arranged on the right side of the light source 20 . The decorative member 30 has a light transmission portion 31 and a light reflection portion 32 . Specifically, the decorative member 30 has a mesh-like structure in which elongated linear portions are intricate. The surface of the linear portion functions as the light reflecting portion 32 , and the space between the linear portions functions as the light transmitting portion 31 . The surface of the light reflecting portion 32 is a mirror surface. Any technique may be used to construct the mirror surface. For example, the specular surface can be constructed by depositing metal by vapor deposition. A space is provided between the light transmitting portions 31 (linear portions). Therefore, the light reaching the light transmitting portion 31 passes through the light transmitting portion 31 as it is. The light transmitting portion 31 may be a portion formed of a light-transmitting material (preferably colorless and transparent) instead of a space.

The light reflecting portion 32 (linear portion) functions as a front side light reflecting portion 321 on the front side and as a rear side light reflecting portion 322 on the rear side. It can be said that the front side light reflecting portion 321 is a portion that is directly visually recognized by the player. It can be said that the rear side light reflecting portion 322 is a portion that is indirectly visually recognized by the player by being reflected by the reflecting member 40 whose details will be described later. The aspects of the mirror finishing of the front light reflecting portion 321 and the rear light reflecting portion 322 may be the same or different. If they are different, the front light reflecting part 321 is a part that is directly visible to the player and can be said to be "conspicuous" compared to the rear light reflecting part 322. Therefore, the front light reflecting part 321 should have a higher glossiness than the rear light reflecting portion 322 . Looking at the cross section of the light reflecting portion 32 (linear portion), the front side light reflecting portion 321 has a curved surface convex forward, and the rear side light reflecting portion 322 has a nearly flat surface. (See the boxed portion in FIG. 2).

The decorative member 30 in the present embodiment as a whole presents a shape that faces rearward as the distance from the light source 20 increases (see FIG. 3(a)). In other words, when considered in a cross section cut along a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, the side (left end) closer to the light source 20 is positioned forward, and the side (right end) farther from the light source 20 is positioned rearward. A part of the decorative member 30, not all of it, may have such a shape. The optical axis L of the light source 20 is positioned rearward of the left end of the decorative member 30 and forward of the right end of the decorative member 30 . That is, the decorative member 30 is arranged so as to intersect the optical axis L of the light source 20 .

The reflecting member 40 is a member having a reflecting surface 41 (mirror surface) formed on its front surface (see FIGS. 2 and 3A). The reflecting surface 41 extends along a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The reflecting member 40 is arranged so that at least a portion of the reflecting member 40 overlaps the decorative member 30 in the front-rear direction. Since the decorative member 30 arranged in front of the reflecting member 40 has the light transmitting portion 31, the player can visually recognize the image projected on the reflecting surface 41 of the reflecting member 40 through the light transmitting portion 31. . Moreover, the reflecting member 40 (reflecting surface 41 ) is located behind the optical axis L of the light source 20 . Therefore, when viewed from the side where the light source 20 is provided (the left side of the decoration unit 10), the decoration member 30, the light source 20, and the reflecting member 40 are positioned in this order from the front.

The operation of the decoration unit 10 configured in this manner is as follows. When the light source 20 is driven, the light source 20 emits light toward the right direction, that is, toward the decorative member 30 . Of the light that reaches the decorative member 30, part of the light that has passed through the light transmitting portion 31 is reflected by the front side light reflecting portion 321 (see FIG. 3B). In other words, the front side light reflecting portion 321, which is directly visible to the player, is illuminated by the light, making the decoration gorgeous.

On the other hand, the light reaching the rear light reflecting portion 322 is reflected by the rear light reflecting portion 322, and the light is further reflected by the reflecting surface 41 of the reflecting member 40 (see FIG. 3B). ). That is, the rear light reflecting portion 322 is also illuminated by the light from the light source 20 and reflected by the reflecting member 40 to be visually recognized by the player (visible through the light transmitting portion 31).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the light reflecting portion 32 of the decorative member 30 is illuminated by the light from the light source 20 , and part of the light from the front light reflecting portion 321 passes through the light transmitting portion 31 . While the illuminated object is directly visible to the player, the object illuminated by part of the light from the rear light reflecting part 322 is indirectly visible to the player through the reflecting member 40. will be Together, these allow the glittering decorative member 30 to be viewed stereoscopically (three-dimensionally).

In particular, the front side light reflecting portion 321 in this embodiment has a surface that protrudes forward. Therefore, most of the light emitted from the light source 20 whose optical axis L is horizontal is reflected by the front light reflecting portion 321 and travels forward. In other words, by forming the front side light reflecting portion 321 into the shape described above, the amount of light directed toward the player side is increased, so that the decorative member 30 appears to shine brighter. Note that the rear light reflecting portion 322 is basically a portion that is visually recognized by being reflected by the reflecting member 40 (a portion that assists the directly visible front light reflecting portion 321). It is not shaped like the light reflecting portion 321 . In this embodiment, the decorative member 30 as a whole has a shape that faces backward as it moves away from the light source 20, so most of the light that reaches the rear light reflecting portion 322 is reflected toward the reflecting member 40. become. In other words, by making the overall shape of the decorative member 30 as described above, the rear side light reflecting portion 322 that is visually recognized through the reflecting member 40 also appears to shine brightly.

Also, the decoration unit 10 in this embodiment is provided on the side (left side in this embodiment) of the game machine 1, and the decoration member 30 has a shape extending rearward from the outside in the width direction toward the center. . Moreover, the reflecting member 40 (reflecting surface 41) extends along a planar direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction. Therefore, from the player's point of view (the point of view when it is assumed that the player is facing the center of the gaming machine 1), a part of the front side light reflecting portion 321 is reflected by the reflecting member 40, so that the light is reflected indirectly. will be visually recognized by the player. In other words, not only the rear light reflecting portion 322 but also the front light reflecting portion 321 are reflected by the reflecting member 40 and are visually recognized. is visible to

Specific examples of improvement, modification, embodiment, etc. of the gaming machine 1 according to the above-described embodiment will be described below. In addition, it is good also as a structure which applied multiple items demonstrated using the following specific examples.

(First Specific Example) A configuration in which the reflecting member 40 is not provided may be employed. As described above, the reflecting member 40 has the effect of reflecting the rear side light reflecting portion 322 of the decorative member 30. However, even without such a reflecting member 40, a novel and unprecedented decoration mode is realized. can do. That is, the decorative member 30 formed with the light transmitting portion 31 and the light reflecting portion 32 (the front side light reflecting portion 321) is provided so as to intersect the optical axis L of the light source 20 that emits light in the lateral direction. Therefore, the front side light reflecting portion 321 located on the side of the player is illuminated by the light passing through the light transmitting portion 31, which is an unprecedented decorative aspect.

Second Specific Example Although it has been described that the decoration unit 10 in the above embodiment is provided with a plurality of light sources 20 arranged in the vertical direction (the positions in the front-rear direction are the same), the positions in the front-rear direction are different. A light source 20 is arranged at the end (see FIG. 4). For example, one or more first light sources 201 and one or more second light sources 202 located behind the first light sources 201 are provided. When providing the several 1st light source 201, the said 1st light source 201 shall be located in a line along the up-down direction. Similarly, when a plurality of second light sources 202 are provided, the second light sources 202 are arranged along the vertical direction. A decorative member 30 is provided so as to cross both the optical axis L1 of the first light source 201 and the optical axis L2 of the second light source 202 .

By doing so, the light reaching the decorative member 30 travels in various directions, so that the decorativeness of the decorative member 30 is further enhanced. In addition, it is possible to reduce unevenness in the amount of light that illuminates the decorative member 30 .

In addition, a configuration in which three or more types of light sources 20 with different positions in the front-rear direction are provided (in addition to the first light source 201 and the second light source 202, a configuration in which another light source with a different position in the front-rear direction from both light sources may be provided) may be used. . Even in such a configuration, it is preferable that the optical axes L of all the light sources 20 overlap the decorative member 30 .

(Third Specific Example) Although the optical axis L of the light source 20 in the above embodiment has been described as extending in the horizontal direction, the optical axis L may be set to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. However, even in such a configuration, the optical axis L should intersect the decorative member 30 . Note that when the light source 20 is arranged such that the angle at which the optical axis L is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction (X axis) (the angle formed by the optical axis L and the X axis) is less than 45 degrees, the It is assumed that the optical axis L of the light source 20 extends substantially laterally.

Assuming that the optical axis L is tilted forward (toward the player) with respect to the horizontal direction (see FIG. 5A), the amount of light reaching the front light reflecting portion 321 is reduced. become more. In other words, the brilliance of the front light reflecting portion 321 (decoration that is directly visible) is emphasized. On the other hand, if the optical axis L is set to be tilted rearward with respect to the horizontal direction (see FIG. 5B), the amount of light reaching the rear light reflecting portion 322 increases. In other words, the brilliance of the rear light reflecting portion 322 (decoration that is indirectly visible through the reflecting member 40) becomes more emphasized. By tilting the optical axis L of the light source 20 in this way, it is possible to realize a decorative mode in which one of the front light reflecting portion 321 and the rear light reflecting portion 322 is emphasized more than the other. The degree of emphasis increases as the tilt of the optical axis L increases.

Note that the configuration in which the optical axis L of the light source 20 extends substantially in the horizontal direction is merely an example. The optical axis L of the light source 20 may be substantially along the surface direction (XZ plane) perpendicular to the front-rear direction. In other words, if the optical axis L is set so that the angle of inclination with respect to the surface (the angle formed by the surface and the optical axis) is less than 45 degrees when viewed along the direction of the surface. good. In the configuration in which the light source 20 is arranged in this manner, the optical axis L is assumed to be substantially along the plane direction. The decorative member 30 may be arranged on the light emitting side of the light source 20 so as to intersect the optical axis L. As shown in FIG.

○Fourth Specific Example The decorative member 30 in the above embodiment has been described as having a shape that faces backward as it moves away from the light source 20, but it has a shape that faces forward as it moves away from the light source 20. (see FIG. 6). Even with such a configuration, a part of the light is reflected by the front side light reflecting portion 321 and the other part of the light is reflected by the rear side light reflecting portion 322, so that a three-dimensional decoration mode can be realized. can.

However, in the configuration of this example, the front light reflecting portion 321 is positioned on the light source 20 side, so the amount of light reflected by the front light reflecting portion 321 increases compared to the above embodiment. As a result, the amount of light reflected by the rear light reflecting portion 322 is reduced. That is, it can be said that the brilliance of the front side light reflecting portion 321 is emphasized as compared with the above-described embodiment.

Fifth Specific Example In the decorative member 30 in the above embodiment, the light reflecting portion 32 includes a front light reflecting portion 321 and a rear light reflecting portion 322, that is, a linear portion (excluding the light transmitting portion 31). Although it has been described that the entire surface of the tangible object) is the light reflecting portion 32 (mirror surface), only a portion thereof may be the light reflecting portion 32 .

For example, the front side of the linear portion is the mirror-finished light reflecting portion 32 (front side light reflecting portion 321), but the rear side is not the light reflecting portion 32 (no mirror surface processing). (see FIG. 7(a)). Even with such a configuration, the front light reflecting portion 321 is illuminated by the light that has passed through the light transmitting portion 31 . Also, the rear side of the linear portion is reflected by the reflecting member 40 and is visually recognized by the player.

Conversely, the rear side of the linear portion is the light reflecting portion 32 (rear side light reflecting portion 322) to which the mirror surface treatment is applied, but the front side is not the light reflecting portion 32 (the mirror surface treatment is applied). not) (see FIG. 7(b)). Even with such a configuration, the rear side light reflecting portion 322 illuminated by the light from the light source 20 is visually recognized by the player through the reflecting member 40 . Also, the front side of the linear portion is visually recognized by the player as it is.

○ Sixth Specific Example One or a plurality of optical lenses 22 may be interposed between the light source 20 and the decorative member 30 (see FIG. 8). In other words, the optical lens 22 may act to change the traveling direction of light rays that constitute the light emitted from the light source 20 before reaching the decorative member 30 . Depending on the mode (kind) of the lens employed as the optical lens 22, the mode of decoration by the decorative member 30 varies.

○ Seventh Specific Example The decoration unit 10 in the above embodiment is fixed to the main body side of the game machine 1 so as not to move. You may apply the technique similar to the technique which was used.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is by no means limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

The gaming machine 1 according to the above-described embodiment is a so-called pachinko gaming machine, but the same technical concept can be applied to other gaming machines such as rotary gaming machines.

Specific means (gaming machines) obtained from the above embodiment are listed below.

・ Means 1
a light source whose optical axis is arranged substantially along the lateral direction;
A member disposed on the light emitting side of the light source so as to intersect the optical axis of the light source, the member including a light transmitting portion for transmitting light emitted from the light source and a light reflecting portion for reflecting the light. a decorative member;
A game machine characterized by comprising:
According to the gaming machine, the decorative member has a light transmitting portion that transmits light emitted from the light source in the lateral direction and a light reflecting portion that reflects the light. become a thing.

・ Means 2
The game machine according to means 1, wherein a reflecting member is provided behind the decorative member so that at least a part of the decorative member overlaps the decorative member in the front-rear direction.
With this configuration, part of the light reflected by the light reflecting portion of the decorative member is reflected by the reflecting member, so that the decoration by the decorative member has a three-dimensional effect.

・Method 3
A means characterized in that a front side light reflecting portion, which is at least a part of the light reflecting portion for reflecting light emitted from the light source and transmitted through the light transmitting portion, is formed on the front side of the decorative member. 1. The gaming machine according to 1 or means 2.
In this way, in order to improve the decorativeness of the decorative member, it is preferable to provide the front side light reflecting portion for reflecting the light transmitted through the light transmitting portion.

・ Means 4
According to any of means 1 to 3, a rear side light reflecting portion, which is at least a part of the light reflecting portion for reflecting the light emitted from the light source, is formed on the rear side of the decorative member. The gaming machine according to any one of the above.
In this way, in order to improve the decorativeness of the decorative member, it is preferable to provide the rear side light reflecting portion for reflecting the light emitted from the light source. When the above-described reflecting member is provided, part of the light reflected by the rear light reflecting portion is reflected by the reflecting member, thereby further enhancing the three-dimensional effect of the decoration.

・ Means 5
As the light source, a first light source and a second light source located behind the first light source are provided,
4. The game machine according to any one of means 1 to 4, wherein the decorative member is provided so as to intersect both the optical axis of the first light source and the optical axis of the second light source.
By doing so, the light reaching the decorative member travels in various directions, so that the decorativeness of the decorative member is further enhanced. In addition, it is possible to reduce unevenness in the amount of light that illuminates the decorative member.

・ Means 6
6. The game machine according to any one of means 1 to 5, wherein the decorative member includes a portion having a shape that faces backward as the distance from the light source increases.
By adopting such a configuration, the light irradiation mode is such that there is light passing through the light transmitting portion and reaching the front surface of the decorative member and light reaching the rear surface of the decorative member. The decorative member to be attached has a more three-dimensional effect.

1 gaming machine 10 decoration unit 20 light source L optical axis 30 decoration member 31 light transmission part 32 light reflection part 321 front side light reflection part 322 rear side light reflection part 40 reflection member 41 reflection surface

Claims (5)

a light source whose optical axis is arranged substantially along a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction;
a decorative member fixed to the light emitting side of the light source so as to intersect the optical axis of the light source;
with
The decorative member is
a first portion having a light reflecting surface formed on the surface for reflecting light emitted from the light source;
a second portion that is a portion that transmits light emitted from the light source and that is a space existing between the first portions or a portion formed of a material having light transmission properties;
A game machine characterized by having 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a reflecting member is provided behind the decorative member, the reflecting member at least partially overlapping the decorative member in the front-rear direction. A front side light reflecting surface, which is at least part of the light reflecting surface for reflecting light emitted from the light source and transmitted through the light transmitting portion, is formed on the front side of the first portion of the decorative member. 3. The game machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A rear light reflecting surface, which is at least part of the light reflecting surface for reflecting light emitted from the light source , is formed on the rear side of the first portion of the decorative member. The game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3. As the light source, a first light source and a second light source located behind the first light source are provided,
5. The decorative member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the decorative member is provided so as to intersect both the optical axis of the first light source and the optical axis of the second light source. game machine.

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