JP7468995B2 - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine that allows gaming.

Some gaming machines, such as pachinko machines and slot machines, are equipped with a performance element that can change between a performance standby state and a performance state.

Among gaming machines equipped with this type of presentation body, for example, there is one equipped with an illuminated signboard (presentation body) composed of an illuminated board (third member) on which an illumination light source is mounted, a signboard main body member (first member) that holds the illuminated board, a signboard cover member (second member) that is attached to the signboard main body member with an internal space between it and the signboard main body member, and a light diffusion unit (third member) that diffuses illumination light from the illumination light source mounted on the illuminated board (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-250067 A

In the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1, the illumination board and light diffusion unit (third member) that are arranged between the sign body member (first member) and the sign cover member (second member) that make up the illuminated signboard (performance body) are difficult to visually check from the outside because they are members that are covered by the illuminated signboard and the sign cover member. Therefore, for example, if the illuminated signboard is assembled to the gaming machine during the manufacturing stage without the illumination board and light diffusion unit being assembled, it is difficult to notice the missing parts before and after the gaming machine is shipped from the manufacturer, and there is a risk that the performance effect of the performance body will be reduced when the gaming machine is used.

The present invention was developed to address these problems, and aims to provide an amusement machine equipped with a presentation element that makes it easy to visually check for missing parts.

The gaming machine according to the first embodiment includes:
A gaming machine (e.g., a pachinko gaming machine 1) capable of playing a game,
The device includes a performance body (e.g., a movable body 611) that can be changed between a performance standby state and a performance state,
The director is
A light emitting means (e.g., a performance LED 623A, etc.);
A first member (e.g., a decorative frame 622 and an outer lens 627) and a second member (e.g., an LED board 625/rear lens member 551A),
A third member (e.g., an inner lens 626) that is disposed between the first member and the second member and is difficult to see at least in the performance state;
having
The first member and the second member can be combined so that a first predetermined portion of the third member is covered by the first member and the second member, and a second predetermined portion different from the first predetermined portion is not covered by the first member and the second member (for example, an inner lens 626 disposed between a front decorative frame 622 and an outer lens 627 (first member) and a rear LED board 625 (second member) is a member (third member) that is difficult to see from the worker T side at least in a performance state, and the decorative frame 622 and the outer lens A portion in which the decorative frame 622 and the outer lens 627 (first member) and the LED board 625 (second member) can be combined so that the periphery of the lens portion 626A and the attachment portion 626B (first specified portion) of the inner lens 626 (third member) are covered by the LED board 625 (second member) while the left and right sides and the back side of the protrusions 626L, 626R (second specified portion) different from the lens portion 626A and the attachment portion 626B (first specified portion) are not covered by the LED board 625 (second member). See Figures 28 to 30.
The second predetermined portion of the third member has an area smaller than that of the first predetermined portion, faces a cutout portion formed in a side wall of the first member, is larger than the second predetermined portion, and is smaller than the game medium, and is provided so as not to protrude from the cutout portion (for example, the surfaces (second predetermined portion) of the protrusions 626L, 626R which are part of the inner lens 626 have a smaller surface area than the surfaces (first predetermined portion) of the lens portion 626A and the attachment portion 626B).
The third member (e.g., inner lens 626) is a light diffusing member that is difficult to diffuse the light from the light emitting means provided at the rear of the third member in the direction of the second predetermined portion and can diffuse the light toward the front of the third member (e.g., inner lens 626 has lens portion 626A that diffuses the light from performance LED 623A and can emit it forward. See FIG. 34).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, the second specified part that is not covered by the first and second parts can be visually inspected, making it possible to check whether the third part is missing or not, and since the second specified part has a smaller area than the first specified part, it is possible to prevent the appearance of the presentation object from being impaired.

The gaming machine of the second aspect is the gaming machine of the first aspect,
The performance body (e.g., the movable body 611) has a light emitting means (e.g., a performance LED 623A, etc.),
The third member (e.g., the inner lens 626) is a light diffusing member capable of diffusing the light from the light emitting means (e.g., the inner lens 626 has a lens portion 626A that diffuses the light from the performance LED 623A and enables it to be emitted forward. See FIG. 34).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, it is possible to prevent the performance effect from being reduced due to a shortage of the third component.

The gaming machine of the third aspect is the gaming machine according to the second aspect,
The third member is capable of guiding the light from the light emitting means in a direction different from the second predetermined portion (for example, the protrusions 626L, 626R are not lens portions 626A that can diffuse the light from the performance LED 623A and emit it forward, and the light incident from the performance LED 623A is unlikely to be guided to the protrusions 626L, 626R. See FIG. 34B).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, it is possible to prevent the second predetermined portion from emitting light and becoming conspicuous.

The gaming machine of the fourth aspect is the gaming machine according to any one of the first to third aspects,
The second predetermined portion (e.g., the protruding portions 626L, 626R) is visible from a position other than the front of the gaming machine (e.g., the protruding portions 626L, 626R are visible from a position other than the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 (e.g., a position shifted to the left or right of the operator T shown in FIG. 35(B)). See FIG. 35).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, the second predetermined portion can be made less noticeable.

The gaming machine of the fifth aspect is the gaming machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects,
The second predetermined portion has at least a specific second predetermined portion (e.g., protrusion 626L) that is visible from a specific position (e.g., a left side position) and a special second predetermined portion (e.g., protrusion 626R) that is visible from a special position (e.g., a right side position) different from the specific position (see FIG. 28).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, the second predetermined portion can be quickly confirmed.

The gaming machine of the sixth aspect is the gaming machine according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
The performance body is configured so that the game medium cannot come into contact with the second predetermined portion (for example, the vertical dimension L11 of the cutout portions 632L, 632R is smaller than the diameter 2R of the game ball, and the protrusions 626L, 626R are arranged so as not to protrude from the cutout portions 632L, 632R. See Figures 32 to 34).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, it is possible to prevent the game medium from coming into contact with the second predetermined portion and being damaged.

The present invention may have only the invention-specific matters described in the claims of the present invention, or may have the invention-specific matters described in the claims of the present invention as well as configurations other than the invention-specific matters.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the pachinko gaming machine according to this embodiment. An exploded oblique view of the game board and prize ball unit. 1A is a front view showing a first state of the first performance device, and FIG. 1B is a front view showing a second state of the first performance device. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the first performance device as viewed diagonally from the front. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the first performance device as viewed diagonally from behind. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a center performance device as viewed diagonally from the front. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the center performance device as seen diagonally from behind. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a main part of the center performance device as viewed diagonally from the front. FIG. 1A is a plan view showing a main part of the center performance device, and FIG. 1B is a right side view showing the main part of the center performance device. 6A to 6D are diagrams showing an example of a joining operation between a first shaft member and a second shaft member. 13A to 13C are a plan view, a cross-sectional view taken along line AA, and a right side view showing an example of a joining operation between a first shaft member and a second shaft member. 4A to 4C are schematic diagrams showing an example of the operation of the center performance device. 1A is a front view showing a state in which the first link member and the second link member are in an inclined position, and FIG. 1B is a front view showing a state in which the first link member and the second link member are in an upright position. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the operating mode of the performance component. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the second performance device as viewed diagonally from the front. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the second performance device as viewed diagonally from behind. FIG. (A) is a front view showing a first state in which the first movable body and the second movable body are located at the origin position, (B) is a state in which only the first movable body has moved to the performance position, and (C) is a front view showing a state in which the first movable body and the second movable body have moved to the performance position. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a wiring structure of a first movable body. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a wiring structure of a second movable body. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a wiring structure of a cable. 1A is a diagram showing a main part of the rear surface of the second movable body, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in Figure 21(A). 13A and 13B are explanatory diagrams showing a state when the cable is tensioned, and FIG. 13C and 13D are explanatory diagrams showing a state when the second movable body falls when a specific part is provided on the cable. 11A to 11D are schematic explanatory diagrams showing specific parts of a cable as a modified example of the present embodiment. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the third performance device as viewed diagonally from the front. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the third performance device as viewed diagonally from behind. FIG. (A) is a front view showing the movable body in the origin position, and (B) is a front view showing the movable body in the performance position. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the movable body as viewed obliquely from the front. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the movable body as viewed obliquely from behind. 1A is a front view showing the movable body, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 30A is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 30A, and FIG. 30B is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 30A. FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the upper right side of the movable body. 1A is a perspective view showing the movable body as viewed diagonally from the front right, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the movable body as viewed diagonally from the rear left. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams showing the light guiding mode in the inner lens. 1A is an explanatory diagram showing a movable body as viewed from the front, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing a movable body as viewed from above. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the movable body.

(Configuration of Pachinko Game Machine 1, etc.)
FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko game machine 1, showing the layout of the main components. The pachinko game machine (game machine) 1 is roughly composed of a game board (gauge board) 2 that constitutes the game board surface, and a game machine frame (base frame) 3 that supports and fixes the game board 2. A game area 10 is formed on the game board 2, and game balls as game media are shot into the game area 10 by a predetermined ball shooting device. In addition, a glass door frame 50 having a glass window 50a is provided on the game machine frame 3 so as to be rotatable about the left side, and the game area 10 can be opened and closed by the glass door frame 50, and when the glass door frame 50 is closed, the game area 10 can be seen through the glass window 50a.

As shown in FIG. 1, the game board 2 is made of a synthetic resin material having translucency such as acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, or methacrylic resin, and is generally rectangular in shape when viewed from the front. It is composed of a board plate on which obstacle nails (not shown) and guide rails 2b are provided on the front surface of the game board, and a spacer member attached integrally to the rear side of the board plate. The game board 2 may also be made of a non-translucent material such as plywood, and is generally rectangular in shape when viewed from the front. It is composed of a board plate on which obstacle nails (not shown) and guide rails 2b are provided on the front surface of the game board.

At a predetermined position on the game board 2 (in the example shown in FIG. 1, to the right of the game area 10), a first special pattern display device 4A and a second special pattern display device 4B are provided, which perform a variable display (also called a special pattern game) of special patterns (also called special patterns) as multiple types of special identification information. These are made up of 7-segment LEDs (light emitting diodes) or the like, and the special patterns may be numbers indicating "0" to "9" or lighting patterns such as "-". The special patterns may also include a pattern in which all LEDs are turned off.

Note that the "variable display" of special symbols means, for example, a variable display of multiple types of special symbols (the same applies to other symbols described below). Variations include updating the display of multiple symbols, scrolling the display of multiple symbols, transforming one or more symbols, and enlarging/reducing one or more symbols. In the variation of special symbols and normal symbols described below, multiple types of special symbols or normal symbols are updated and displayed. In the variation of decorative symbols described below, multiple types of decorative symbols are scrolled or updated, or one or more decorative symbols are transformed or enlarged/reduced. Note that variations also include a mode in which a certain symbol is displayed flashing. At the end of the variable display, a specified special symbol is displayed stationary (also called derived or derived display) as the display result (the same applies to the variable display of other symbols described below). Note that the variable display may be expressed as a variable display or variation.

The special pattern variably displayed on the first special pattern display device 4A is also called the "first special pattern," and the special pattern variably displayed on the second special pattern display device 4B is also called the "second special pattern." A special pattern game using the first special pattern is also called the "first special pattern game," and a special pattern game using the second special pattern is also called the "second special pattern game." There may be only one type of special pattern display device that variably displays the special patterns.

An image display device 5 is provided near the center of the play area 10 on the game board 2. The image display device 5 is composed of, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display device) or an organic EL (electro luminescence) device, and displays various presentation images. The image display device 5 may also be composed of a projector and a screen. Various presentation images are displayed on the image display device 5. A frame-shaped center decorative frame 51 is provided in the opening 2c on the game board 2.

For example, on the screen of the image display device 5, in synchronization with the first special game or the second special game, multiple types of decorative patterns (such as patterns showing numbers, etc.) that are different from the special patterns are variably displayed as decorative identification information. Here, in synchronization with the first special game or the second special game, decorative patterns are variably displayed (for example, scrolled up and down or updated) in each of the "left", "middle", and "right" decorative pattern display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R. Note that the special game and the variable display of decorative patterns that are executed in synchronization are collectively referred to as simply variable display.

The screen of the image display device 5 may be provided with a display area 5H for displaying a pending display corresponding to a variable display whose execution is pending, and an active display corresponding to a variable display that is currently being executed. The pending display and active display are collectively referred to as a variable display-compatible display that corresponds to a variable display. In the display area 5H, a first pending display image (here, a circle image) corresponding to a first special game (variable display of decorative symbols) whose execution is pending is displayed right-justified, and a second pending display image (here, a circle image) corresponding to a second special game (variable display of decorative symbols) whose execution is pending is displayed left-justified.

The number of reserved variable displays is also called the reserved memory number. The reserved memory number corresponding to the first special game is also called the first reserved memory number, and the reserved memory number corresponding to the second special game is also called the second reserved memory number. The sum of the first reserved memory number and the second reserved memory number is also called the total reserved memory number.

In addition, a first hold indicator 25A and a second hold indicator 25B, each of which includes a plurality of LEDs, are provided at predetermined positions on the game board 2. The first hold indicator 25A displays the first hold memory number by the number of lit LEDs, and the second hold indicator 25B displays the second hold memory number by the number of lit LEDs.

Below the image display device 5, there is a normal winning ball device 6A and a normal variable winning ball device 6B.

The normal winning ball device 6A forms a first starting winning hole that is always kept in a constant open state so that game balls can enter, for example, by a specified ball receiving member. When a game ball enters the first starting winning hole, a specified number of prize balls (for example, three) are paid out and the first special game can be started.

The normal variable winning ball device 6B is equipped with a normal electric device having a movable plate that changes between a closed state, which is a first protruding position, and an open state, which is a retracted position, by a solenoid 81 (see FIG. 2) for the normal electric device, and forms a second start winning hole. For example, when the solenoid 81 is in the off state, the normal variable winning ball device 6B has a movable plate in the first protruding position, which causes the movable plate to protrude toward the game area 10, and the second start winning hole is in a closed state in which the game ball cannot enter (also referred to as the second start winning hole being in a closed state). On the other hand, when the solenoid 81 is in the on state, the normal variable winning ball device 6B has a movable plate in a retracted position to the game board 2 side, which causes the second start winning hole to be in an open state in which the game ball can enter (also referred to as the second start winning hole being in an open state). When a game ball enters the second start winning hole, a predetermined number of prize balls (e.g., three) are paid out and the second special game can begin.

Between the normal winning ball device 6A and the normal variable winning ball device 6B, a special variable winning ball device 7 having a large winning opening is provided. The special variable winning ball device 7 has a large winning opening door that is driven to open and close by a solenoid 82 (see Figure 2), and the large winning opening door forms the large winning opening as a specific area that changes between an open state and a closed state.

As an example, in the special variable winning ball device 7, when the solenoid 82 for the large prize opening door (for the special electric device) is in the OFF state, the large prize opening door closes the large prize opening, and game balls cannot enter (pass through) the large prize opening. On the other hand, in the special variable winning ball device 7, when the solenoid 82 for the large prize opening door is in the ON state, the large prize opening door opens the large prize opening, and game balls can easily enter the large prize opening.

When a game ball enters the large prize opening, a predetermined number of game balls (for example, 14 balls) are paid out as prize balls. When a game ball enters the large prize opening, more prize balls are paid out than when a game ball enters the first start prize opening, the second start prize opening, or the general prize opening, for example.

When a game ball enters each winning port, including the general winning port, it is also called a "winning". In particular, a winning ball entering a starting port (first starting winning port, second starting winning port) is also called a starting winning port.

A normal symbol display 20 is provided at a predetermined position on the game board 2 (on the left side of the game area 10 in the example shown in FIG. 1). As an example, the normal symbol display 20 is made up of a 7-segment LED or the like, and performs a variable display of normal symbols as multiple types of normal identification information different from the special symbols. The normal symbols are represented by numbers indicating "0" to "9" or lighting patterns such as "-". The normal symbols may include a pattern in which all LEDs are turned off. Such a variable display of normal symbols is also called a normal symbol game.

A pass gate 41 through which the game ball can pass is provided to the left of the image display device 5. When the game ball passes through the pass gate 41, a regular game is executed.

A regular symbol pending display 25C is provided to the right of the regular symbol display 20. The regular symbol pending display 25C is configured to include, for example, four LEDs, and displays the regular symbol pending memory number, which is the number of regular symbol games that are pending execution, by the number of lit LEDs.

In addition to the above features, the surface of the game board 2 is provided with windmills that change the direction and speed of the game balls, as well as numerous obstacle nails. At the bottom of the game area 10, there is an outlet that takes in game balls that do not enter any of the winning holes.

Speakers 8L and 8R for playing and outputting sound effects and the like are provided at the upper left and right positions of the gaming machine frame 3, and gaming effect lamps 9 for gaming effects are provided around the periphery of the gaming area 10. The gaming effect lamps 9 are composed of LEDs.

A first presentation device 400 and a second presentation device 500, which will be described later, are provided between the game board 2 and the image display device 5 provided on its rear side.

At the lower right position of the gaming machine frame 3, a ball-hitting operation handle (operation knob) 30 is provided, which is operated by a player or the like to launch a gaming ball toward the gaming area 10 using the ball-hitting device.

At a predetermined position of the gaming machine frame 3 below the gaming area 10, a ball supply tray (upper tray) is provided to hold (store) gaming balls dispensed as prize balls or gaming balls loaned from a predetermined ball loaning machine so that they can be supplied to the ball launching device. Below the upper tray, a ball supply tray (lower tray) is provided from which prize balls are dispensed when the upper tray is full.

A stick controller 31A that can be held and tilted by a player is attached to a predetermined position on the gaming machine frame 3 below the playing area 10. The stick controller 31A is provided with a trigger button that can be pressed by the player. Operations on the stick controller 31A are detected by the controller sensor unit 35A (see FIG. 2).

At a predetermined position on the gaming machine frame 3 below the gaming area 10, a push button 31B is provided that allows the player to perform a predetermined command operation by pressing it. The operation of the push button 31B is detected by a push sensor 35B (see FIG. 2).

In the pachinko gaming machine 1, a stick controller 31A and a push button 31B are provided as detection means for detecting the player's actions (operations, etc.), but other detection means may also be provided.

(Outline of game progress)
A game ball is launched toward the game area 10 by a player rotating a ball-hitting operation handle 30 provided on the pachinko game machine 1. When the game ball passes through a passing gate 41, a normal game is started by the normal symbol display 20. If a game ball passes through the passing gate 41 during the period when the previous normal game is being played (if the game ball passes through the passing gate 41 but the normal game based on the passing cannot be played immediately), the normal game based on the passing is reserved up to a predetermined upper limit number (for example, 4).

In this normal game, if a specific normal symbol (a normal winning symbol) is displayed as a fixed normal symbol, the display result of the normal symbol will be "normal winning". On the other hand, if a normal symbol other than a normal winning symbol (a normal losing symbol) is displayed as a fixed normal symbol, the display result of the normal symbol will be "normal losing". When a "normal winning" occurs, an opening control is performed to keep the normal variable winning ball device 6B in an open state for a predetermined period of time (the second starting winning port is opened).

When a game ball enters the first start winning hole formed in the normal winning ball device 6A, the first special symbol game is started by the first special symbol display device 4A.

When a game ball enters the second start winning hole formed in the normal variable winning ball device 6B, the second special symbol game is started by the second special symbol display device 4B.

In addition, if the game ball enters (wins) the start winning hole during the period when the special game is being played or during the period when the game is controlled to a big win game state or a small win game state (when a start winning occurs but the special game based on the start winning cannot be played immediately), the special game based on that entry will be put on hold until a specified upper limit number (for example, 4) is reached.

In special game, if a specific special symbol (a big win symbol, for example, "7"; the actual symbol varies depending on the type of big win, as described below) is displayed as the confirmed special symbol, it is a "big win", and if a specific special symbol different from the big win symbol (a small win symbol, for example, "2") is displayed as a "small win". Also, if a special symbol different from the big win or small win symbol (a losing symbol, for example, "-") is displayed as a "losing" symbol, it is a "losing".

After the display result in the special game becomes "big win", the game state is controlled to a big win game state, which is advantageous for the player. After the display result in the special game becomes "small win", the game state is controlled to a small win game state.

In the jackpot gaming state, the player can get prize balls by making the gaming ball enter the big prize opening. Therefore, the jackpot gaming state is an advantageous state for the player. The more rounds there are in the jackpot gaming state, and the longer the upper limit opening period, the more advantageous it is for the player.

The "jackpot" has a jackpot type set. For example, there are multiple types of opening modes of the jackpot opening (number of rounds or maximum opening period) and game states after the jackpot game state (normal state, time-saving state, special state, etc., as described below), and the jackpot type is set according to these. There may be jackpot types that allow many prize balls to be obtained, and jackpot types that allow few or no prize balls to be obtained.

In the small win game state, the large prize opening formed by the special variable winning ball device 7 is opened in a predetermined opening state. For example, in the small win game state, the large prize opening is opened in the same opening state as the large prize opening in the large prize game state for some large prize types (the number of times the large prize opening is opened is the same as the number of rounds, and the timing of closing the large prize opening is also the same, etc.). Note that, like the large prize types, small prize types may also be set for "small wins."

After the jackpot game state ends, the game may be controlled to a time-saving state or a special state depending on the type of jackpot mentioned above.

In the time-saving state, control (time-saving control) is executed to shorten the average special symbol fluctuation time (period during which the special symbol fluctuates) more than in the normal state. In the time-saving state, control (high opening control, high base control) is also executed to make it easier for the game ball to enter the second start winning hole by shortening the average regular symbol fluctuation time (period during which the regular symbol fluctuates) more than in the normal state and by improving the probability of a "regular symbol hit" in the regular symbol game more than in the normal state. The time-saving state is an advantageous state for the player because it is a state in which the fluctuation efficiency of special symbols (especially the second special symbol) is improved.

In the probability variable state (probability fluctuating state), in addition to time-saving control, probability variable control is executed, which increases the probability that the display result will be a "jackpot" compared to the normal state. The probability variable state is an even more advantageous state for the player, as it not only improves the efficiency of special symbol fluctuation, but also makes it easier to get a "jackpot."

The time-saving state or the probability of a special bonus state will continue until one of the end conditions is met first, such as the specified number of special games being played or the start of the next big win game state. The end condition of the state in which the specified number of special games have been played is also called a count-cut (count-cut time-saving state, count-cut probability of a special bonus state, etc.).

The normal state refers to a game state other than advantageous states such as a jackpot game state that is advantageous to the player, and special states such as a time-saving state and a probability-varying state, and is a state in which the pachinko game machine 1, such as the probability that the display result in the normal game will be a "normal hit" and the probability that the display result in the special game will be a "jackpot", is controlled in the same way as the initial setting state of the pachinko game machine 1 (for example, when a system reset is performed and the specified return process is not executed after the power is turned on).

The state in which probability variable control is being executed is also called a high probability state, and the state in which probability variable control is not being executed is also called a low probability state. The state in which time-saving control is being executed is also called a high base state, and the state in which time-saving control is not being executed is also called a low base state. Combining these, the time-saving state is also called a low probability high base state, the probability variable state is a high probability high base state, and the normal state is a low probability low base state. A high probability state and a low base state are also called a high probability low base state.

After the small win game state ends, the game state is not changed, and the game state before the display result of the special game becomes "small win" is continued (however, if the special game when the "small win" occurs is the special game of the specified number of times in the number cut, the game state will naturally change). Note that the display result of the special game does not have to be "small win".

The game state may change based on the game ball passing through a specific area (e.g., a specific area in a big prize opening) during a big win game state. For example, when the game ball passes through a specific area, the game state may be controlled to a high probability state after the big win game state.

(Progression of the performance, etc.)
In the pachinko game machine 1, various effects (effects to notify the progress of the game or to liven up the game) are executed according to the progress of the game. The effects are described below. The effects are executed by displaying various effect images on the image display device 5, but in addition to or instead of the display, the effects may be executed by sound output from the speakers 8L and 8R, and/or turning on/off the game effect lamp 9, or by operating the movable body of the first effect device 400 or the second effect device 500.

As an effect that is executed according to the progress of the game, in the "left", "middle" and "right" decorative pattern display areas 5L, 5C and 5R provided on the image display device 5, a variable display of decorative patterns begins in response to the start of the first or second special pattern game. At the timing when the display result (also called the determined special pattern) in the first or second special pattern game is displayed statically, the determined decorative pattern (a combination of three decorative patterns) which is the display result of the variable display of the decorative patterns is also displayed statically (derived).

During the period from when the variable display of the decorative symbols starts to when it ends, the state of the variable display of the decorative symbols may become a predetermined reach state (a reach is achieved). Here, a reach state refers to a state in which the decorative symbols that have not yet been stopped and displayed on the screen of the image display device 5 continue to be variable displayed when the decorative symbols that have not yet been stopped and displayed form part of a jackpot combination, which will be described later.

In addition, when the above-mentioned reach state occurs during the variable display of the decorative symbols, a reach effect is executed. In the pachinko gaming machine 1, multiple types of reach effects are executed with different rates (also called jackpot reliability or jackpot expectation) of the display result (the display result of the special game or the display result of the variable display of the decorative symbols) becoming a "jackpot" depending on the performance state. Reach effects include, for example, a normal reach and a super reach, which has a higher jackpot reliability than a normal reach.

When the display result of the special game is a "jackpot", a fixed decorative pattern that is a predetermined jackpot combination is derived as the display result of the variable display of decorative patterns on the screen of the image display device 5 (the display result of the variable display of decorative patterns is a "jackpot"). As an example, the same decorative patterns (for example, "7") are displayed stopped in line on a predetermined effective line in the "left", "center", and "right" decorative pattern display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R.

In the case of a "probability jackpot" that is controlled to a probability jackpot state after the end of the jackpot game state, odd decorative symbols (e.g., "7") are displayed in a line, and in the case of a "non-probability jackpot (normal jackpot)" that is not controlled to a probability jackpot state after the end of the jackpot game state, even decorative symbols (e.g., "6") may be displayed in a line. In this case, odd decorative symbols are also called probability jackpot symbols, and even decorative symbols are also called non-probability jackpot symbols (normal symbols). After a reach state is reached with non-probability jackpot symbols, a promotion effect may be executed that ultimately results in a "probability jackpot".

When the display result of the special game is a "small win", a fixed decorative pattern (for example, "1 3 5") that is a predetermined small win combination is derived on the screen of the image display device 5 as the display result of the variable display of the decorative pattern (the display result of the variable display of the decorative pattern is a "small win"). As an example, decorative patterns that constitute chance eyes are displayed stationary on a predetermined effective line in the "left", "middle", and "right" decorative pattern display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R. Note that a common fixed decorative pattern may be derived and displayed when the display result of the special game is a "big win" of some big win types (big win types in a big win game state that are the same as a small win game state) and when it is a "small win".

When the display result of the special game is a "miss," the state of the variable display of the decorative pattern does not become a reach state, and the display result of the variable display of the decorative pattern may display a fixed decorative pattern of a non-reach combination (also called a "non-reach miss") as a "non-reach miss" (the display result of the variable display of the decorative pattern may be a "non-reach miss"). Also, when the display result is a "miss," after the state of the variable display of the decorative pattern becomes a reach state, the display result of the variable display of the decorative pattern may display a fixed decorative pattern of a predetermined reach combination (also called a "reach miss") that is not a jackpot combination as a "reach miss" (the display result of the variable display of the decorative pattern may be a "reach miss").

The effects that the pachinko gaming machine 1 can execute include displaying the variable display compatible display (reserved display or active display) described above. In addition, as other effects, for example, a preview effect that predicts the jackpot reliability is executed during the variable display of the decorative pattern. Preview effects include a preview effect that predicts the jackpot reliability in the variable display currently being executed, and a look-ahead preview effect that predicts the jackpot reliability in the variable display before execution (variable display whose execution is on hold). As a look-ahead preview effect, an effect that changes the display mode of the variable display compatible display (reserved display or active display) to a mode different from normal may be executed.

In addition, in the image display device 5, a pseudo consecutive performance may be executed in which a single variable display appears to be multiple variable displays by temporarily pausing the decorative pattern during the variable display and then restarting the variable display.

During a jackpot game state, a jackpot performance is executed to notify the player of the jackpot game state. As a jackpot performance, a performance to notify the number of rounds or an upgrade performance to indicate that the value of the jackpot game state will increase may be executed. Also, during a small jackpot game state, a small jackpot performance to notify the player of the small jackpot game state is executed. In addition, a common performance may be executed during a small jackpot game state and a jackpot game state for some jackpot types (a jackpot type for a jackpot game state in the same manner as a small jackpot game state, for example, a jackpot type for which the game state after that is a high probability state), so that the player cannot tell whether he is currently in a small jackpot game state or a jackpot game state. In such a case, a common performance may be executed after the end of a small jackpot game state and after the end of a jackpot game state, so that it is not possible to distinguish whether the state is a high probability state or a low probability state.

In addition, for example, when a special game or the like is not being executed, a demo (demonstration) image is displayed on the image display device 5 (a customer waiting demo performance is executed).

(Board configuration)
2, a main board 11, a performance control board 12, a sound control board 13, a lamp control board 14, a relay board 15, etc. are mounted on the pachinko game machine 1. In addition, various boards such as a payout control board, an information terminal board, a launch control board, a power supply board, etc. are arranged on the back of the pachinko game machine 1.

The main board 11 is the main control board, and has the function of controlling the progress of the above-mentioned games in the pachinko game machine 1 (execution of the special game (including management of reserved balls), execution of the regular game (including management of reserved balls), big win game state, small win game state, game state, etc.). The main board 11 has a game control microcomputer 100, a switch circuit 110, a solenoid circuit 111, etc.

The game control microcomputer 100 mounted on the main board 11 is, for example, a one-chip microcomputer, and includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 101, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 102, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 103, a random number circuit 104, and an I/O (Input/Output port) 105.

The CPU 103 executes the programs stored in the ROM 101 to perform processes that control the progress of the game (processes that realize the functions of the main board 11). At this time, various data stored in the ROM 101 (such as data on fluctuation patterns, performance control commands, and tables referenced when making various decisions) are used, and the RAM 102 is used as the main memory. The RAM 102 serves as a backup RAM in which the stored contents are preserved for a predetermined period of time even if the power supply to the pachinko gaming machine 1 is stopped in part or in whole. Note that all or part of the programs stored in the ROM 101 may be deployed to the RAM 102 and executed on the RAM 102.

The CPU 103 also determines whether a first start winning or a second start winning has occurred, and if a winning has occurred, executes a start winning process in which random numbers are extracted for determining the special chart display result, the type of jackpot, the fluctuation pattern, etc., and stored (recorded) at the top of the free entries in the first special chart reserved memory section or the second special chart reserved memory section.

The CPU 103 also executes a normal special pattern process to determine whether or not to start a special pattern game based on the presence or absence of reserved data stored in the first special pattern reserved memory unit and the second special pattern reserved memory unit, and to determine (predetermine) whether or not to set the variable display result of the special pattern or performance pattern as a "jackpot" based on numerical data indicating a random number value for determining the special pattern display result, before the variable display result is derived and displayed. In other words, when starting the variable display of the special pattern game, the CPU 103 executes a process to determine (by lottery) whether or not to derive and display a jackpot display result as the display result of the variable display, based on the random number value stored when the start winning occurs.

The random number circuit 104 counts updatable numerical data indicating various random number values (gaming random numbers) used to control the progress of the game. The gaming random numbers may be updated by the CPU 103 executing a specific computer program (updated by software).

The I/O 105 is configured to include, for example, an input port to which various signals (detection signals described below) are input, and an output port for transmitting various signals (signals for controlling (driving) the first special pattern display device 4A, the second special pattern display device 4B, the normal pattern display device 20, the first hold display device 25A, the second hold display device 25B, the normal hold display device 25C, etc., solenoid drive signals).

The switch circuit 110 takes in detection signals (such as a detection signal indicating that a game ball has passed or entered and the switch has been turned on) from various switches for detecting game balls (gate switch 21, start port switch (first start port switch 22A and second start port switch 22B), count switch 23) and transmits them to the game control microcomputer 100. The transmission of the detection signal indicates that the game ball has passed or entered.

The solenoid circuit 111 transmits solenoid drive signals (such as signals to turn on solenoid 81 and solenoid 82) from the game control microcomputer 100 to the solenoid 81 for the normal electric device and the solenoid 82 for the large prize opening door.

As part of controlling the progress of the game, the main board 11 (game control microcomputer 100) supplies presentation control commands (commands that specify (notify) the progress of the game, etc.) to the presentation control board 12 according to the progress of the game. The presentation control commands output from the main board 11 are relayed by the relay board 15 and supplied to the presentation control board 12. The presentation control commands include, for example, commands that specify various determination results in the main board 11 (for example, the display results of the special game (including the type of jackpot), the variable pattern used when executing the special game (described in detail later)), the game status (for example, the start or end of the variable display, the opening status of the jackpot opening, the occurrence of a win, the number of reserved memories, the game status), the occurrence of an error, etc.

The performance control board 12 is a sub-control board independent of the main board 11, and has the function of receiving performance control commands and executing performances (various performances according to the progress of the game, including various notifications such as driving the movable bodies of the first performance device 400 and the second performance device 500, error notifications, and notifications of power outage recovery) based on the received performance control commands.

The performance control board 12 is equipped with a performance control CPU 120, a ROM 121, a RAM 122, a display control unit 123, a random number circuit 124, and an I/O 125.

The performance control CPU 120 executes the programs stored in the ROM 121 to perform processing for executing performances together with the display control unit 123 (processing for realizing the above-mentioned functions of the performance control board 12, including determining the performance to be executed). At this time, various data (data such as various tables) stored in the ROM 121 are used, and the RAM 122 is used as the main memory.

The presentation control CPU 120 may instruct the display control unit 123 to execute a presentation based on detection signals from the controller sensor unit 35A and the push sensor 35B (signals that are output when an operation by the player is detected and that appropriately indicate the content of the operation).

The display control unit 123 includes a VDP (Video Display Processor), CGROM (Character Generator ROM), VRAM (Video RAM), etc., and executes the performance based on instructions to execute the performance from the performance control CPU 120.

The display control unit 123 displays a performance image on the image display unit 5 by supplying a video signal corresponding to the performance to be executed to the image display unit 5 based on an instruction to execute the performance from the performance control CPU 120. The display control unit 123 further supplies a sound designation signal (a signal designating the sound to be output) to the sound control board 13 and a lamp signal (a signal designating the on/off state of the lamp) to the lamp control board 14 in order to output sound synchronized with the display of the performance image and to turn on/off the game effect lamp 9. The display control unit 123 also supplies signals to light various LEDs as light-emitting means built into the first performance device 400 and the second performance device 500, and supplies signals to the drive circuit to operate the movable bodies of the first performance device 400 and the second performance device 500.

The audio control board 13 is equipped with various circuits that drive the speakers 8L and 8R, and drives the speakers 8L and 8R based on the sound designation signal, causing the speakers 8L and 8R to output the sound designated by the sound designation signal.

The lamp control board 14 is equipped with various circuits that drive the game effect lamp 9, and drives the game effect lamp 9 based on the lamp signal, turning the game effect lamp 9 on and off in the manner specified by the lamp signal. In this way, the display control unit 123 controls the sound output and the turning on and off of the lamp.

The control of sound output, turning on/off of lamps (such as supplying sound designation signals and lamp signals), and control of the movable bodies of the first performance device 400 and the second performance device 500 (such as supplying signals to operate the movable bodies of the first performance device 400 and the second performance device 500) may be performed by the performance control CPU 120.

The random number circuit 124 counts updatable numerical data indicating various random number values (random numbers for performance) used to execute various performances. The random numbers for performance may be updated by the performance control CPU 120 executing a specific computer program (updated by software).

The I/O 125 mounted on the performance control board 12 includes an input port for taking in performance control commands transmitted from, for example, the main board 11, and an output port for transmitting various signals (video signals, sound designation signals, lamp signals).

The boards other than the main board 11, such as the performance control board 12, the sound control board 13, and the lamp control board 14, are also called sub-boards. As with the pachinko game machine 1, multiple sub-boards may be provided for different functions, or one sub-board may be configured to have multiple functions.

(Progress of the game and the performance, etc.)
When the player rotates a ball-hitting handle provided on the pachinko game machine 1, a game medium (game ball) is launched toward the game area 10.

(Progress of the game controlled by the main board 11)
When the game ball that has flowed down the game area 10 passes through the passing gate 41, the normal game (variable display of normal symbols) is started. When the normal game cannot be started (when the start conditions are not met), such as when another normal game is already being played or during the opening control described below, the execution of the normal game is suspended with an upper limit of four or the like. The suspended normal game is executed when the start conditions that allow the normal game to be started are met (when no other normal game is being played, when the opening control is not being performed, etc.). When the game ball passes through the passing gate 41 when the normal reserved memory count has reached the upper limit, the number of reserved memories does not increase and the passage is invalidated.

The variable display results that are stopped and displayed in a normal game include normal winning symbols (for example, a normal symbol such as "7") and normal losing symbols (for example, a normal symbol such as "-"). When a normal winning symbol is stopped and displayed (derived), the variable display result is "normal winning". When a normal losing symbol is stopped and displayed (derived), the variable display result is "normal losing".

When the ball hits the normal winning jackpot, the movable wing of the normal variable winning ball device 6B is tilted for a predetermined period of time (the second starting winning hole is opened). When the ball misses the normal winning jackpot, the opening control is not performed.

When a game ball that has flowed down the game area 10 enters the first start winning hole formed in the normal winning ball device 6A, the first special game is started. Also, when a game ball enters the second start winning hole formed in the normal variable winning ball device 6B, the second special game is started. Note that when a special game cannot be started (when the start conditions are not met), such as when another special game is already being played or when the game is controlled to a jackpot game state described below, the execution of the special game is put on hold, with an upper limit of four, for example. The put on hold special game is executed when the start conditions that allow the special game to be started are met (when no other special game is being played, the game is not in a jackpot game state, etc.).

When the number of reserved first special symbols has reached its upper limit and a game ball enters the first start winning hole, the number of reserved first special symbols does not increase and the entry is invalidated (there may be prize balls). When the number of reserved second special symbols has reached its upper limit and a game ball enters the second start winning hole, the number of reserved second special symbols does not increase and the entry is invalidated (there may be prize balls).

The entry (winning) of a game ball into the first start winning hole, which increases the number of reserved memories of the first special chart, is also called the first start winning. The entry (winning) of a game ball into the second start winning hole, which increases the number of reserved memories of the second special chart, is also called the second start winning. Collectively, these winnings are simply called start winning.

The variable display results that are stopped and displayed in a special symbol game include jackpot symbols (for example, special symbols such as "3" and "7") and losing symbols (for example, special symbols such as "-"). When a jackpot symbol is stopped and displayed (derived), the variable display result is a "jackpot." When a losing symbol is stopped and displayed (derived), the variable display result is a "losing."

When the variable display result of the first special game or the second special game is a "jackpot" (specific display result), the game is controlled to a jackpot game state, which is an advantageous state for the player. When the variable display result is a "miss," the game is not controlled to a jackpot game state.

In the jackpot game state, the large prize opening formed by the special variable prize ball device 7 is in an open state. This open state continues until either a predetermined period of time (e.g., 29 seconds) has elapsed, or the number of game balls that have entered the large prize opening reaches a predetermined number (e.g., 9 balls), whichever occurs first. This open state is called a round game (or simply a "round"). In the jackpot game state, the round game is repeatedly executed until a predetermined upper limit number of times (e.g., "15 times") is reached (the large prize opening is closed during periods other than round games).

There are two types of jackpots: "non-probability variable" and "probability variable." When the jackpot type is "non-probability variable," the jackpot symbol "3" is displayed as a static jackpot. When the jackpot type is "probability variable," the jackpot symbol "7" is displayed as a static jackpot.

In addition, a "jackpot" when the jackpot type is "probability variable" is sometimes called a "probability variable jackpot", and a "jackpot" when the jackpot type is "non-probability variable" is sometimes called a "non-probability variable jackpot". Also, a jackpot game state based on a "probability variable jackpot" is sometimes called a "probability variable jackpot game state". Also, a jackpot game state based on a "non-probability variable jackpot" is sometimes called a "non-probability variable jackpot game state".

After the high probability jackpot game state ends, the game is controlled to a high probability state in which the probability that the variable display result will be a "jackpot" (jackpot probability) is higher than in the normal state. The high probability state continues until the next jackpot game state begins.

After the guaranteed jackpot game state or non-guaranteed jackpot game state ends, the game is controlled to a time-saving state in which the average variable display time (period of variable display) is shorter than in the normal state. The time-saving state continues until one of the following ending conditions is met first: a specified number of special games have been played (100 times in this embodiment) or the next jackpot game state has started.

In addition, in the time-saving state, the normal variable winning ball device 6B may be changed between the open state and the closed state in a favorable change mode in which the game ball is more likely to enter the second start winning hole than in a non-time-saving state such as a normal state. For example, the normal variable winning ball device 6B may be changed between the open state and the closed state in a favorable change mode by controlling the normal pattern change time (the period during which the normal pattern is variable displayed, also called the normal pattern change time) in the normal pattern game to be shorter than in the normal state, or by controlling the probability that the variable display result in each normal pattern game will be a "normal pattern hit" to be higher than in the normal state. This type of control is called high opening control (also called "time-saving control" or "high base control"). By controlling to such a time-saving state, the time required for the next variable display result to be a "jackpot" is shortened, and the game state becomes more favorable for the player than in the normal state.

The normal state refers to a game state other than advantageous states such as a jackpot game state, a time-saving state, a probability-variable state, and other states that are advantageous to the player, and is a state in which the pachinko game machine 1, such as the probability that the variable display result in the normal game will be a "normal hit" and the probability that the variable display result in the special game will be a "jackpot", is controlled in the same way as the initial setting state of the pachinko game machine 1 (for example, when a system reset is performed and the specified return process is not executed after the power is turned on).

The time-saving state is also called "high base", and the game state that is not in the time-saving state is also called "low base" or "non-time-saving state". The probability of winning is also called "high probability", and the game state that is not in the probability of winning is also called "low probability" or "non-probability of winning".

(Progress of the game controlled by the performance control board 12)
In the "left", "middle" and "right" decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C and 5R provided on the image display device 5, variable display of decorative symbols (which is also a type of presentation) is started in response to the start of the first special symbol game or the second special symbol game. At the timing when the variable display result (also called the determined special symbol) is stopped and displayed in the first special symbol game or the second special symbol game, the determined decorative symbol (combination of three decorative symbols) which is the display result (variable display result) of the variable display of the decorative symbols is also stopped and displayed (derived display).

During the period from when the variable display of the decorative symbols starts to when it ends, the variable display mode of the decorative symbols may become a specified reach mode (a reach is achieved). Here, the reach mode refers to a display mode in which the decorative symbols that have not yet been stopped and displayed (also called "reach variable symbols") continue to change when the decorative symbols stopped and displayed on the screen of the image display device 5 form part of a jackpot combination, which will be described later.

In addition, in this embodiment, a reach effect is executed in response to the above-mentioned reach state occurring during variable display. As reach effects, normal reach, super reach A, and super reach B, each of which has a different presentation state, are available. In this embodiment, the probability of winning a jackpot increases in the order of super reach B > super reach A > normal reach.

The probability of a jackpot is, for example, the percentage of times that the variable display result of a special game will be a "jackpot", and in this case, it is also the percentage of times that the display result of the variable display of a decorative pattern will be a "jackpot".

When the variable display result of the special game is a "jackpot", a fixed decorative pattern that is a predetermined jackpot combination is derived and displayed on the screen of the image display device 5 as the display result of the variable display of decorative patterns (the display result of the variable display of decorative patterns is a "jackpot"). As an example, the same decorative patterns (for example, "7" for a sure jackpot, "6" for a non-sure jackpot, etc.) are displayed stopped in line on a predetermined effective line in the "left", "center", and "right" decorative pattern display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R.

When the variable display result is a "miss," the variable display mode of the decorative pattern does not become a reach mode, and a fixed decorative pattern of a non-reach combination may be displayed as a static display result of the variable display of the decorative pattern. Also, when the variable display result is a "miss," after the variable display mode of the decorative pattern becomes a reach mode, a fixed decorative pattern of a predetermined reach combination (also called a "reach miss combination") that is not a jackpot combination may be displayed as a static display result of the variable display of the decorative pattern.

The presentation control CPU 120 is capable of executing various presentations related to the game, such as controlling the display of changing decorative patterns and preview presentations, based on presentation control commands (control information) sent from the game control microcomputer 100.

The preview effects executed by the performance control CPU 120 during the variable display of decorative symbols include, for example, a jackpot preview effect that suggests the possibility of a jackpot, a reach preview that suggests whether or not a reach will occur, a stopping pattern preview that predicts the stopping pattern, and a latency preview that predicts whether or not the game state is in a probability variable state (latent or not), and include multiple previews that are executed when the variable display begins or when a reach is achieved.

In addition, in this embodiment, various effects including the above-mentioned preview can be executed, such as movable body effects using the movable bodies of the first effect device 400 and the second effect device 500, and composite effects using the speakers 8L, 8R, and the game effect lamp 9. These various effects are executed, for example, at a predetermined timing during the variable display, or when the player operates the stick controller 31A or the push button 31B.

(First performance device 400)
Next, the details of the first performance device 400 will be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 11. Fig. 3 (A) is a front view showing the first performance device in a first state, and (B) is a front view showing the first performance device in a second state. Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the first performance device as viewed from an oblique front. Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the first performance device as viewed from an oblique rear. Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the center performance device as viewed from an oblique front. Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the center performance device as viewed from an oblique rear. Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the main part of the center performance device as viewed from an oblique front. Fig. 9 (A) is a plan view showing the main part of the center performance device, and (B) is a right side view showing the main part of the center performance device. Figs. 10 (A) to (D) are diagrams showing an example of a joining operation between the first shaft member and the second shaft member. Figs. 11 (A) to (C) are a plan view, an A-A cross-sectional view, and a right side view showing an example of a joining operation between the first shaft member and the second shaft member.

In the following explanation, the direction in which the player is positioned is referred to as the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1, and the opposite direction is referred to as the rear. In addition, the explanation will be based on the up, down, left and right directions as seen from the player positioned in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the first performance device 400 is attached to a rear cover (not shown) provided on the rear side of the game board 2, and is disposed below the image display device 5 between the game board 2 and the image display device 5. The first performance device 400 has a base body 401 formed in a horizontally elongated rectangular shape when viewed from the front, a center performance device 402 attached to the approximate center of the front side of the base body 401, and left and right side performance devices 403L, 403R attached to the left and right sides of the center performance device 402 on the front side of the base body 401.

The center performance device 402 can be changed by the performance motor 410 between a first state (see FIG. 3A) in which each movable part (each performance component) is located at the origin position, and a second state (see FIG. 3B) in which each movable part is located at the performance position. On the other hand, the side performance devices 403L, 403R can be changed by the performance motors 411L, 411R between a first state (see FIG. 3A) in which each movable part is located at the origin position, and a second state (see FIG. 3B) in which each movable part is located at the performance position. In addition, the center performance device 402 is provided with multiple performance LEDs 495, and the side performance devices 403L, 403R are provided with multiple performance LEDs 496, so that each performance component described later can be illuminated from the back side.

(Center rendering device 402)
As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the center performance device 402 is mainly composed of a base member 420 fixed to the front surface of the base body 401, a movable part 421 arranged to be movable up and down relative to the base member 420, and a drive mechanism part 422 fixed to the base body 401 for driving the movable part 421.

The drive mechanism 422 includes a performance motor 410, a first gear 431 fixed to the drive shaft 410a of the performance motor 410, a second gear 432 meshing with the first gear 431, a third gear 433 meshing with the second gear 432, and a drive arm 434 whose left end is supported rotatably around a rotation axis Z facing the front-rear direction provided at a predetermined location on the base body 401, and a connecting shaft 433A protruding from the back of the third gear 433 is inserted into a long hole 434A formed in the drive arm 434. Therefore, when the performance motor 410 rotates the first gear 431, the second gear 432, and the third gear 433, the drive arm 434 rotates around the rotation axis facing the front-rear direction provided at a predetermined location on the base body 401.

The movable section 421 has a first slide member 441 provided on the front side of the base member 420 so as to be movable up and down, a second slide member 442 provided on the front side of the first slide member 441 so as to be movable up and down, a first link member 461 and a second link member 462 described later, and performance members 451, 452, 465, and 466 described later that are attached to each of these members. A connecting shaft 423 protrudes forward from the lower left corner of the first slide member 441, and the right end of the drive arm 434 is supported by the first slide member 441 when the connecting shaft 423 is inserted into a connecting long hole 434B formed on the right end of the drive arm 434.

A pinion gear 444 is rotatably provided on the lower back surface of the first slide member 441, which meshes with a rack gear 443 facing up and down and formed on the front surface of the base member 420, and a pinion gear 446 is rotatably provided on the upper front surface, which meshes with a rack gear 445 facing up and down and formed on the rear surface of the second slide member 442. These upper and lower pinion gears 444, 446 can be linked together via a number of idle gears 447 arranged in a vertical line.

The first slide member 441 is supported on the base member 420 via a guide rail (not shown) so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and the second slide member 442 is supported on the base member 441 via a guide rail (not shown) so as to be movable in the vertical direction. Thus, when the first slide member 441 moves in the vertical direction relative to the base member 420, the pinion gear 444 rotates, and this rotational force is transmitted to the pinion gear 446 via a plurality of idle gears 447, so that the second slide member 442 moves in the vertical direction relative to the first slide member 441.

A performance member 451 modeled after the torso of a first character (not shown) displayed on the image display device 5 is attached to the front side of the first slide member 441, and a performance member 452 modeled after the face of the first character (not shown) is attached to the front side of the second slide member 442. The performance member 451 is rotatably supported via an axis member (not shown) facing left and right relative to the first slide member 441, and is positioned in front of the first slide member 441 with the second slide member 442 and performance member 452 sandwiched between them.

A guide hole 453 extending in the vertical direction is formed on the left side of the second slide member 442. The guide hole 453 is composed of an upper guide portion 453A facing the vertical direction, a middle guide portion 453B that slopes downward to the left from the lower portion of the upper guide portion 453A, and a lower guide portion 453C that extends downward from the lower portion of the middle guide portion 453B.

A guide member 454 is attached to the front right side of the base member 420. The guide member 454 has a guide hole 455 extending in the vertical direction. The guide hole 455 is composed of an upper guide portion 455A facing the vertical direction, a middle guide portion 455B that slopes downward from the lower portion of the upper guide portion 455A toward the rear, and a lower guide portion 455C that extends downward from the lower portion of the middle guide portion 455B. This guide hole 455 is open on the left and right sides, and a guide shaft 456 protruding from the performance member 451 to the right side is inserted into it. Therefore, when the first slide member 441 moves upward relative to the base member 420, the lower portion of the performance member 451 rotates forward around a shaft member (not shown) facing left and right.

A bearing member 464 is fixed to the front left side of the first slide member 441, and the right ends of the first link member 461 and the second link member 462 are rotatably supported on this bearing member 464. The left ends of the first link member 461 and the second link member 462 are connected via a connecting member 463, and the first link member 461, the second link member 462, the connecting member 463, and the bearing member 464 form a parallel link mechanism.

In addition, a performance member 465 that resembles the upper arm of the first character (not shown) is attached to the first link member 461, and a performance member 466 that resembles the wrist and hand of the first character (not shown) is attached to the connecting member 463. In addition, a cutout recess 468 that can accommodate the pivot support portion 467 of the second link member 462 and the connecting member 463 is formed on the side edge of the first link member 461 (see FIG. 13 (A)).

Next, the details of the mounting structure of the first link member 461 and the second link member 462 to the first slide member 441 will be described with reference to Figures 8 to 11. Note that in Figure 9, some components (such as the bearing member 464 and the first slide member 441) are omitted from the illustration in order to make it easier to see the joint between the first shaft member 471 and the second shaft member 472.

8 and 9, a bearing hole 470 is formed in the upper left part of the front surface of the first slide member 441, and a first shaft member 471 constituting a rotation shaft of the first link member 461 is rotatably inserted from the front side into the bearing hole 470, and a base end of a cam member 473 is fixed to the rear part of the first shaft member 471 inserted into the bearing hole 470. In addition, the left part 442A of the second slide member 442 corresponding to the guide hole 453 is arranged rearward of the base part 442B, so that the left part 442A is arranged on the rear side through a groove part (not shown) formed in the first slide member 441. And, a connecting shaft 473A inserted into the guide hole 453 from the rear side is attached to the tip of the cam member 473 arranged between the left part 442A and the first slide member 441.

The bearing member 464 is attached at an angle downward and to the left with respect to the first slide member 441 so that a specified space is formed between the bearing member 464 and the front surface of the first slide member 441. A bearing hole 474 is formed in the upper part of the bearing member 464, and a second shaft member 472 attached to the right end rear surface of the first link member 461 is rotatably inserted into this bearing hole 474 from the rear surface side. In addition, the right end of the second link member 462 is rotatably supported on the lower rear surface of the bearing member 464.

The second shaft member 472 attached to the first link member 461 is rotatably joined (connected) from the front side in an inclined state to the first shaft member 471 journaled on the first slide member 441, and the first shaft member 471 and the second shaft member 472 are disposed between the first slide member 441 and the bearing member 464.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the first shaft member 471 is composed of a cylindrical shaft portion 480 that can be inserted into the bearing hole 470, and a cylindrical bearing portion 481 that is formed in front of the shaft portion 480 and has a larger outer diameter than the shaft portion 480. The bearing portion 481 is formed with a recess 482 that opens forward, and a pair of notches 483, 483 that are parallel to the axis T1 are formed at positions facing each other across the axis T1 at the front end of the peripheral wall.

On the other hand, the second shaft member 472 is composed of a cylindrical shaft portion 485 that can be inserted into the bearing hole 474, a flange portion 486 formed on the rear side of the shaft portion 485 and having a larger outer diameter than the shaft portion 485, and an insertion portion 487 that protrudes from the rear side of the flange portion 486, has a smaller outer diameter than the shaft portion 485, and can be inserted into the recess 482 of the first shaft member 471. In addition, a pair of cylindrical connecting shaft portions 488, 488 that are perpendicular to the axis T2 are protruded from positions facing each other on the outer circumferential surface of the insertion portion 487 across the axis T2.

The first shaft member 471 and the second shaft member 472 thus configured are joined by inserting the insertion portion 487 from the front side of the recess 482 with the connecting shaft portions 488, 488 of the second shaft member 472 corresponding to the notches 483, 483 of the first shaft member 471.

The first shaft member 471 is rotatably supported in a bearing hole 470 formed in the first slide member 441 and facing in the front-rear direction, while the second shaft member 472 is rotatably supported in a bearing hole 474 formed in the bearing member 464 and facing diagonally downward to the left. In other words, the axis T2 of the second shaft member 472 inserted in the bearing hole 474 is inclined downward to the left with respect to the axis T1 of the first shaft member 471 inserted in the bearing hole 470 and facing in the front-rear direction, and the first shaft member 471 and the second shaft member 472 are joined so as to be rotatable about their respective axes T1 and T2.

In more detail, from a state in which the connecting shafts 488, 488 are perpendicular to the notches 483, 483 (not shown), the connecting shafts 488, 488 can be tilted diagonally to the left with respect to the notches 483, 483 as shown in FIG. 10(A) or tilted diagonally to the right with respect to the notches 483, 483 as shown in FIG. 10(B). The connecting shafts 488, 488 can also be rotated to the left around the axis of the connecting shafts 488, 488 as shown in FIG. 10(C) or rotated to the right around the axis of the connecting shafts 488, 488 as shown in FIG. 10(D) (each can rotate in two axial directions).

In other words, the first shaft member 471 and the second shaft member 472 form a universal joint in which the angle at which the first shaft member 471 and the second shaft member 472 join can be freely changed when they rotate around the respective axes T1 and T2.

As shown in Figures 11(A) to (C), when the first shaft member 471 rotates around the axis T1, the second shaft member 472 rotates around the axis T2 while maintaining the connection with the first shaft member 471, so that the rotational force of the first shaft member 471, which can rotate around the axis T1, can be transmitted to the second shaft member 472, which can rotate around the axis T2 that intersects with the axis T1.

(Example of Operation of Center Performance Device 402)
Next, an example of the operation of the center performance device 402 will be described with reference to Figs. 12 to 14. Fig. 12 (A) to (C) are schematic diagrams showing an example of the operation of the center performance device. Fig. 13 (A) is a front view showing a state in which the first link member and the second link member are in an inclined position, and (B) is a front view showing a state in which the first link member and the second link member are in an upright position. Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation mode of the performance members.

As shown in FIG. 12(A), in the first state in which each of the performance members 451, 452, 465, and 466 constituting the movable part 421 is located at the origin position, the first slide member 441 and the second slide member 442 are arranged in an overlapping state on the front side of the base member 420, so that the performance member 451 overlaps in front of the performance member 452, making it difficult for the player to see the performance member 452. In addition, the first link member 461 and the second link member 462 are arranged in an inclined posture inclined diagonally downward to the left when viewed from the front and inclined backward toward the left side when viewed from above (see FIG. 9(A) and FIG. 13(A)), so that the specific part X2 of the performance member 466 is located lower than the specific part X1 of the performance member 465 (for example, a predetermined position away from the axis T2). In addition, the connecting shaft 473A of the cam member 473 is located diagonally downward to the right of the axis T1 of the first shaft member 471 at the upper end of the guide hole 453.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12(B), when the first gear 431, the second gear 432, and the third gear 433 are rotated by the performance motor 410, the drive arm 434 rotates upward counterclockwise as viewed from the front about a rotation axis Z that faces the front-rear direction and is provided at a predetermined location on the base body 401, and the first slide member 441 moves upward relative to the base member 420, and the pinion gear 444 rotates with this rise, and this rotational force is transmitted to the pinion gear 446 via multiple idle gears 447, causing the second slide member 442 to move upward relative to the first slide member 441. Therefore, the first slide member 441 and the second slide member 442 move upward relative to the base member 420.

In addition, when the second slide member 442 and the guide hole 453 rise relative to the first slide member 441 as the first slide member 441 rises, the connecting shaft 473A of the cam member 473 moves from the upper guide portion 453A to the middle guide portion 453B in the guide hole 453 and is pressed to the left, causing the cam member 473 to rotate clockwise when viewed from the front. As a result, the first shaft member 471 to which the cam member 473 is fixed rotates clockwise when viewed from the front about the axis T1.

When the first shaft member 471 rotates, the rotational force is transmitted to the second shaft member 472 joined to the first shaft member 471, causing the second shaft member 472 to rotate clockwise when viewed from the front, causing the first link member 461 to rotate clockwise when viewed from the front about the axis T2, and also causing the second link member 462 to rotate clockwise when viewed from the front.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12(C), the connecting shaft 473A of the cam member 473 moves to the bottom of the middle guide portion 453B in the guide hole 453, so that both the first link member 461 and the second link member 462 are in an upright position facing substantially vertically.

In more detail, as shown in FIG. 13(B), the first link member 461 and the second link member 462 are arranged at different positions in the front-to-rear direction, so that when changing from the inclined posture shown in FIG. 13(A) to the upright posture shown in FIG. 13(B), the second link member 462 can overlap the back side of the first link member 461, and the pivot support portion 467 of the second link member 462 and the connecting member 463 is housed in the notched recess 468, so that the two first link members 461 and the second link member 462 can be raised until they overlap in the front-to-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 12(A), when the first link member 461 and the second link member 462 are in an inclined position, the specific portion X2 of the performance member 466 is located lower than the specific portion X1 of the performance member 465, but as shown in FIG. 12(C), when the first link member 461 and the second link member 462 change from an inclined position to an upright position, the specific portion X2 of the performance member 466 is located higher than the specific portion X1 of the performance member 465. In this way, the positional relationship between the specific portions X1 and X2 of the two performance members 465 and the performance member 466 is reversed in response to the rotation of the first link member 461 and the second link member 462, creating an element of surprise.

When the performance member 466 rises from the origin position shown in FIG. 12(A) to the performance position shown in FIG. 12(C), the posture of the performance member 466 remains almost unchanged in front view due to the first link member 461 and the second link member 462 that constitute the parallel link mechanism. As shown in FIG. 14(A) and (B), the performance member 466 moves upward while also moving forward and to the right by rotating clockwise in front view about the axis T2 of the second shaft member 472 that is inclined relative to the axis T1 of the first shaft member 471. In other words, the performance member 466 moves in each of the Y-axis direction (up and down), Z-axis direction (front and back), and X-axis direction (left and right), and therefore by rotating upward from the origin position, it moves to a performance position that is higher than the origin position and to the front and right.

In this way, the second shaft member 472 of the performance member 466 is joined to the first shaft member 471 so as to be rotatable about the axis T2 which is inclined relative to the axis T1. Therefore, by simply rotating the performance motor 410, the performance member 466 moves not only in the up-down direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) between the origin position and the performance position, but also in the front-back direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) and left-right direction (e.g., the X-axis direction), so that the performance member 466 can be operated three-dimensionally without the need for complex mechanisms. In addition, the performance member 466 moves towards the player by moving to the performance position, so that it can have an impact on the player.

The performance members 451, 452 are provided facing the front side so that they can be seen by the player in front, so the first slide member 441 and the second slide member 442 are arranged along the base body 401 that is fixed parallel to the game board 2. In order to rotate the first link member 461 and the second link member 462 having the performance members 465, 466 around the axis T2 that faces in the diagonal direction relative to these members, the drive mechanism such as the gear for transmitting the power from the drive source must also be arranged diagonally. However, by joining the second shaft member 472, which is a part of the rotation axis of the first link member 461, at an angle to the first shaft member 471 as described above, the drive mechanism for transmitting the power of the performance motor 410 can be arranged along the base body 401, so that the performance motor 410, which is the drive source, can be arranged at a distance that does not interfere with the operation of the first link member 461 and the second link member 462.

In addition, the second shaft member 472 is removably joined to the first shaft member 471 so that it can be attached to and detached from the front side, so that the first link member 461 and the second link member 462 can be easily attached to and detached from the first slide member 441.

(Side effect devices 403L, 403R)
Next, the side performance devices 403L, 403R will be briefly described with reference to Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the side performance devices 403L, 403R are mainly composed of a drive mechanism unit (not shown) consisting of performance motors 411L, 411R and power transmission means for transmitting the power of the performance motors 411L, 411R, and a movable unit operable by the performance motors 411L, 411R.

The movable part has performance members 490L, 490R that imitate the face and torso of a second character (not shown) different from the first character displayed on the image display device 5, and performance members 491L, 491R that imitate the arms of the second character. As shown in FIG. 3(A), the movable part consisting of the performance members 490L, 490R and the performance members 491L, 491R can slide (change) between an origin position (first state) located on the left and right sides of the base body 401 and a performance position (second state) that is above the origin position and on the central center performance device 402 side. In addition, the lower ends of the performance members 491L, 491R are pivotally supported by the performance members 490L, 490R so as to be rotatable between the origin position shown in FIG. 3(A) and the performance position shown in FIG. 3(B).

As shown in FIG. 3, the side performance devices 403L, 403R can also change from the first state to the second state in response to the center performance device 402 changing from the first state to the second state. When the movable parts consisting of the performance members 490L, 490R and the performance members 491L, 491R of the side performance devices 403L, 403R move to the performance position and approach the center performance device 402, the performance members 491L, 491R tilt toward the center performance device 402, and in particular, the upper part of the performance member 491L of the left side performance device 403L overlaps with the rear side of the performance member 466 of the center performance device 402.

In more detail, in the first state shown in FIG. 3(A), the center performance device 402 and the side performance device 403L are separated, so that the performance member 466 of the center performance device 402 can be placed near the rear base body 401 in the space formed between the center performance device 402 and the side performance device 403L at the origin position. Therefore, it can be stored compactly between the game board 2 and the image display device 5, while in the second state, the performance member 466 moves forward and to the right while rising, so that the performance member 491L of the side performance device 403L can be placed in the space behind the performance member 466, so that the side performance device 403L can be brought close to the center performance device 402 to realize a performance with a sense of unity.

(Second performance device 500)
Next, the details of the second performance device 500 will be described with reference to Figs. 15 to 23. Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the second performance device as viewed diagonally from the front. Fig. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the second performance device as viewed diagonally from the rear. Fig. 17 is a front view showing (A) a first state in which the first movable body and the second movable body are located at the origin position, (B) a state in which only the first movable body has moved to the performance position, and (C) a state in which the first movable body and the second movable body have moved to the performance position.

As shown in Figures 15 to 17, the second performance device 500 is attached to a rear cover (not shown) provided on the rear side of the game board 2, and is disposed above the image display device 5 between the game board 2 and the image display device 5. The second performance device 500 has a base body 501 formed in a downward U-shape when viewed from the front by an upper edge portion 501A and side edge portions 501B, 501C extending downward from the left and right ends of the upper edge portion 501A, and a first movable body 511 and a second movable body 512 that are provided so as to be movable up and down relative to the base body 501.

The first movable body 511 is arranged to be movable in the vertical direction between an origin position (see FIG. 17(A)) located on the front side of the upper edge portion 501A of the base body 501 and a performance position lower than the origin position (see FIG. 17(B)(C)), and the second movable body 512 is arranged to be movable in the vertical direction between an origin position (see FIG. 17(A)(B)) located on the front side of the upper edge portion 501A of the base body 501 and the first movable body 511 and a performance position lower than the origin position (see FIG. 17(C)).

Guide rods 502L, 502R facing in the vertical direction are provided on the front of the side edges 501B, 501C of the base body 501, and guide the first movable body 511 and the second movable body 512 in the vertical direction separately. In addition, stopper sections 503L, 503R for stopping the second movable body 512 at the performance position are provided slightly above the lower ends of the guide rods 502L, 502R on the side edges 501B, 501C. The stopper sections 503L, 503R are provided with a cushioning material (e.g., rubber material) for cushioning the impact when the second movable body 512 is received.

Performance motors 504L, 504R for moving the first movable body 511 up and down are attached to the back side of the upper edge 501A of the base body 501, and drive arms 507L, 507R are provided on the front side, which can be rotated around pivot shafts 505L, 505R facing in the front-rear direction by gears 506L, 506R rotated by the performance motors 504L, 504R. In addition, mounting members 508L, 508R are attached to the tips of the drive arms 507L, 507R, and the first movable body 511 is attached to these mounting members 508L, 508R.

The upper edge portion 501A also has a regulating portion 509A for regulating (maintaining) the second movable body 512 from falling downward at the upper origin position, and performance solenoids 509L, 509R for operating the regulating portion 509A to release the regulation.

The first movable body 511 is composed of a performance section 515A formed in a horizontally elongated rectangular frame shape using a non-translucent component 550, and a support section 515B extending to the left and right sides from the performance section 515A, and an insertion hole 516 (guided section) through which the guide rods 502L, 502R are inserted is formed at the tip of the support section 515B. Therefore, when the drive arms 507L, 507R are rotated by the performance motors 504L, 504R, the mounting members 508L, 508R are raised and lowered, and the first movable body 511 is guided by the guide rods 502L, 502R to move vertically between the origin position and the performance position.

The portion of component 550 that corresponds to performance section 515A is formed in a generally U-shaped vertical cross section with an opening at the back, and attached to the back side are rear lens member 551A that can diffuse light from a performance LED (not shown) and irradiate it forward, and middle lens member 551B that is arranged in front of rear lens member 551A and can emit light from rear lens member 551A forward. In addition, multiple circular openings 552 that expose part of middle lens member 551B forward are formed in the longitudinal direction on the front surface at the upper edge of performance section 515A, and light from the performance LED (not shown) can be emitted forward through these openings 552.

In addition, cutouts 553L, 553R, 554L, and 554R are formed on the rear end edges of the left and right sides of component 550, respectively, and parts of rear lens member 551A can be seen from the outside through these cutouts 553L, 553R, 554L, and 554R.

More specifically, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 15, second predetermined portions 560BL, 560BR, which are formed by protruding upward from the upper edge of first predetermined portion 560A of rear lens member 551A, are disposed to correspond to notches 553L, 553R, and part of them protrude upward. Also, second predetermined portions 560CL, 560CR, which are part of the left and right side edges of first predetermined portion 560A of rear lens member 551A, are disposed to correspond to notches 554L, 554R.

In this way, rear lens member 551A and middle lens member 551B, which can diffuse light from the performance LED (not shown) and irradiate it forward, are positioned so that their front sides are covered by non-translucent component member 550, so that middle lens member 551B can be seen from the front through opening 552, but the part of rear lens member 551A on the front side that corresponds to opening 552 is covered by middle lens member 551B, so it cannot be seen from the front through opening 552.

Therefore, for example, if the game board 2 is assembled in a state where only the middle lens member 551B is assembled without the rear lens member 551A at the time of manufacture, there is a risk that the game board 2 may be shipped in a missing state, since the front side of the rear lens member 551A is covered by the component member 550 and it is difficult to notice that the rear lens member 551A is missing.

However, in this embodiment, even if the front side of the first specified portion 560A of the rear lens member 551A is covered by the component member 550, the second specified portions 560BL, 560BR, 560CL, and 560CR can be seen from the cutout portions 553L, 553R, 554L, and 554R. That is, the first movable body 511 comprises a component 550 and a rear lens member 551A that is arranged on the rear side of the component 550 so as to be difficult to see when the component 550 is moved to at least the performance position, and the component 550 is arranged so as to cover the first predetermined portion 560A of the rear lens member 551A from the front side, but not to cover the second predetermined portions 560BL, 560BR, 560CL, and 560CR that are different from the first predetermined portion 560A, and the second predetermined portions 560BL, 560BR, 560CL, and 560CR have smaller surface areas than the first predetermined portion 560A.

By doing this, even after the second performance device 500 is attached to the game board 2 with the rear lens member 551A missing, it is easy to notice that the rear lens member 551A is missing, so it is possible to prevent the pachinko game machine 1 from being shipped with the rear lens member 551A missing or being operated with the rear lens member 551A missing.

The second predetermined portions 560BL, 560BR, 560CL, 560CR are arranged on the top and sides of the component 550 so that when viewed from an angle other than the front in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in the performance position (for example, a position shifted to the left or right or upward from a position where the line of sight is perpendicular to the game board surface), they are easier to see than when viewed from the front, making them less noticeable when a performance is being performed, and easier to see when a performance is not being performed. Also, when positioned at the origin position above the image display device 5 as shown in FIG. 1, the game board 2 is positioned in front of the second predetermined portions 560BL, 560BR, 560CL, 560CR, making them less noticeable, making them less noticeable.

In the present embodiment, the second predetermined parts 560BL, 560BR, 560CL, and 560CR are arranged on the top and side surfaces of the component 550 so as to be difficult to see from the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in the performance position, but the present invention is not limited to this. The second predetermined parts 560BL, 560BR, 560CL, and 560CR may be arranged in a position that is easy to see from the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 (for example, the front surface) as long as the second predetermined parts 560BL, 560BR, 560CL, and 560CR are made difficult to see as the rear lens member 551A by emitting light in the performance position, or are made difficult to see due to light from other light-emitting parts, or are made difficult to see because they are hidden by other performance movable bodies.

In addition, in this embodiment, an example is given of a configuration for preventing shortage of rear lens member 551A, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the above-mentioned configuration of the second predetermined portion may be adopted to prevent shortage of middle lens member 551B or members other than lens members (for example, various decorative members, relay boards, etc.). Furthermore, it is preferable that the visible surface area of second predetermined portions 560BL, 560BR, 560CL, 560CR is smaller than the surface area of the game ball.

The second movable body 512 is composed of a performance part 517A formed in a horizontally elongated rectangular shape and a support part 517B extending to the left and right sides from the performance part 517A, and the tip of the support part 517B is formed with an insertion hole 518 (guided part) through which the guide rods 502L, 502R are inserted. When the left and right support parts 517B move (drop) to the performance position, predetermined points of the support parts 517B come into contact with the stopper parts 503L, 503R, thereby stopping at the performance position.

The left and right support parts 517B are configured in a generally L-shape in plan view by a first piece 517C extending rearward from the performance part 517A and a second piece 517D extending laterally from the rear end of the first piece 517C (see FIG. 19). Therefore, even when guided by the guide rods 502L and 502R that guide the movement of the first movable body 511, the performance part 517A can be positioned so as to overlap the performance part 515A of the first movable body 511 forward. The left and right support parts 517B are guided by the guide rods 502L and 502R while positioned above the left and right support parts 515B of the first movable body 511. Therefore, when the left and right support parts 515B of the first movable body 511 rise from the performance position, the support parts 515B come into contact with the support parts 517B from below and are pushed upward.

The second movable body 512 configured in this manner is restricted from falling at the origin position by the restricting portion 509A (see FIG. 17(A)). When the first movable body 511 has moved to the performance position (see FIG. 17(B)), the performance solenoids 509L, 509R are turned on to release the restriction by the restricting portion 509A, allowing the second movable body 512 to fall downward under its own weight to the performance position. When the second movable body 512 falls under its own weight to the performance position, a predetermined portion of the support portion 517B comes into contact with the stopper portions 503L, 503R, causing the second movable body 512 to stop at the performance position.

In addition, when the first movable body 511 rises in the performance position, the support portion 515B of the first movable body 511 abuts against the support portion 517B from below, and rises together with the first movable body 511 to the origin position, where the restricting portion 509A engages with the support portion 517B, thereby holding it in the origin position.

(Wiring Structure of First Movable Body 511 and Second Movable Body 512)
Next, the wiring structure of the first movable body 511 and the second movable body 512 will be described with reference to Figs. 18 to 23. Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing the wiring structure of the first movable body. Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing the wiring structure of the second movable body. Fig. 20 is a perspective view showing the wiring structure of the cable. Fig. 21 (A) is a view showing the main part of the back side of the second movable body, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of (A). Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of Fig. 21 (A). Fig. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing the state when the second movable body falls in a case where (A) and (B) are tensioned cables and in a case where (C) and (D) are provided with specific parts on the cable.

As shown in Figures 18 to 20, the performance section 515A of the first movable body 511 is provided with an LED board 522 on the front side of which are multiple performance LEDs 521 (see Figure 2) capable of emitting light forward. The performance section 517A of the second movable body 512 is provided with an LED board 524 on the front side of which are multiple performance LEDs 523 (see Figure 2) capable of emitting light forward, so that each performance section can be made to emit light from the back side. These LED boards 522, 524 are attached to the base body 501 with the front and back sides facing forward and backward, and are electrically connected to a relay board 526 provided on the back side of the upper edge section 501A of the base body 501 via flexible flat cables C1, C2 (hereinafter abbreviated as cables C1, C2). The relay board 526 is connected to the performance control board 12 via a cable (not shown), and relays the connection between the performance control board 12 and the LED boards 522 and 524, which are equipped with performance LEDs 521 and 523, which are electronic components.

The cables C1 and C2 are electric cables for supplying power and signals, and are flexible flat cables (FFCs) that are elastic (flexible) and deformable. For example, the cables C1 and C2 are composed of an insulating base sheet (not shown), a plurality of conductors (not shown) arranged in parallel on the insulating base sheet at the same constant pitch as the connection terminals on the board-side connectors KCN1 and KCN11, and an insulating cover film (not shown) attached to the insulating base sheet with the conductors in between, and the plurality of conductors correspond to the connection terminals of the board-side connectors KCN1 and KCN11. In addition, the cables C are provided at one end with connected parts CN1 and CN2 for electrically connecting to the board-side connectors KCN1 and KCN2, and at the other end with connected parts CN11 and CN12 for electrically connecting to the board-side connectors KCN11 and KCN12. The insulating cover film covering the connection parts CN1, CN2, CN11, and CN12 has been removed, exposing a certain length of the internal conductor.

The flexible flat cable may be a flat cable made by arranging multiple coated wires and fusing them together, or a flat cable made by arranging multiple flat conductors at equal intervals and sandwiching them from both sides with insulating sheets to cover them, or it may be a single wire, a twisted wire, or a twisted pair wire.

A board-side connector KCN1 is provided on the right rear side of the LED board 522, a board-side connector KCN2 is provided on the right rear side of the LED board 524, and board-side connectors KCN11 and KCN12 are provided on the right rear side of the relay board 526. One end of the cable C1 is connected to the board-side connector KCN1 at the connected portion CN1 and the other end is connected to the board-side connector KCN11, thereby connecting the LED board 522 and the relay board 526. One end of the cable C2 is connected to the board-side connector KCN2 at the connected portion CN12 and the other end is connected to the board-side connector KCN12, thereby connecting the LED board 524 and the relay board 526.

As shown in FIG. 18, a groove-shaped wiring section 531 of a predetermined length is formed on the back of the left support section 515B of the first movable body 511 toward the left side from the board-side connector KCN1, and a wiring cover 541 is detachably attached to this wiring section 531 from the back side with a screw N1. The cable C1, whose connected section CN1 is connected to the board-side connector KCN1, is routed along the wiring section 531 with one side facing each other, toward the right, then bent backward, and further bent downward and routed downward. By attaching the wiring cover 541 to the back side of the cable C1 routed along the wiring section 531, the part of the cable C1 corresponding to the support section 515B is held between the wiring section 531 and the wiring cover 541.

The cable C1 routed downward is turned upward and routed upward along the wiring sections 532, 533 formed on the back surface of the side portion 501B of the base body 501, then bent to the left and routed to the left along the wiring section 534 formed on the back surface of the upper side portion 501A, and the other end is connected to the board side connector KCN11 of the relay board 526. Note that wiring covers 542, 543, 544 are detachably attached to the wiring sections 532, 533, 534 from the back surface side by screws N2, N3, N4, respectively, so that the part of the cable C1 corresponding to the base body 501 is held between the wiring sections 532, 533, 534 and the wiring covers 542, 543, 544.

In addition, the deformation portion CA of the cable C1, which is roughly U-shaped when viewed from the rear, is a free portion that is not held by either the first movable body 511 or the base body 501, and is therefore capable of deformation in response to the up and down movement of the first movable body 511.

In this way, the cable C1 is fixed so as not to move in the longitudinal direction of the wiring section by being pressed toward the wiring section 531 side by the wiring cover 541 attached to the wiring section 531 formed in the vicinity of the board side connector KCN1 of the first movable body 511, and by being pressed toward the wiring section 531 side by the wiring cover 541, the cable C1 is fixed so as not to move in the longitudinal direction of the wiring section. Also, by being pressed toward the wiring sections 532, 533, 534 side by the wiring covers 542, 543, 544 attached to the wiring section 534 formed in the vicinity of the board side connector KCN11 of the base body 501 and the wiring sections 532, 533 of the side portion 501B by the wiring covers 542, 543, 544, the cable C1 is fixed so as not to move in the longitudinal direction of the wiring section.

The cable C1 is made long enough to prevent tension from being generated when the first movable body 511 moves up and down relative to the base body 501, causing it to be pulled out of the board side connectors KCN1 and KCN11. However, since each wiring section 531, 532, 533, and 534 is fixed by wiring covers 541, 542, 543, and 544, even if the deformation section CA is deformed in response to the up and down movement of the first movable body 511, loads such as bending or pulling are not applied to the connection section with the board side connectors KCN1 and KCN11. Therefore, it is prevented that the cable C1 moves in response to deformation, causing loads to be applied to the connection section with the board side connectors KCN1 and KCN11, causing it to be pulled out of the board side connectors KCN1 and KCN11.

As shown in FIG. 19, a groove-shaped wiring section 535 of a predetermined length is formed on the left rear side of the second movable body 512 from the board-side connector KCN2 toward the left side, and a wiring cover 545 is detachably attached to this wiring section 535 from the rear side with a screw N5. The cable C2, whose connected part CN2 is connected to the board-side connector KCN2, is routed toward the right along the wiring section 535 with one side facing each other, then bent backward and further bent to the left, and then bent downward and routed downward. By attaching the wiring cover 545 from the rear side of the cable C2 routed along the wiring section 535, the part of the cable C1 corresponding to the support part 517B is held between the wiring section 535 and the wiring cover 545.

The cable C2 routed downward is turned upward and routed upward along the wiring sections 532, 533 formed on the back surface of the side portion 501B of the base body 501, then bent to the left and routed to the left along the wiring section 534 formed on the back surface of the upper side portion 501A, and the other end is connected to the board side connector KCN12 of the relay board 526. Note that wiring covers 542, 543, 544 are detachably attached to the wiring sections 532, 533, 534 from the back surface side by screws N2, N3, N4, respectively, so that the part of the cable C2 corresponding to the base body 501 is held between the wiring sections 532, 533, 534 and the wiring covers 542, 543, 544.

A metallic reinforcing member 546 is attached to a part of the support section 517B and the performance section 517A by a plurality of screws N6, reinforcing the support section 517B formed in an approximately L-shape from a synthetic resin material. The reinforcing member 546 is formed in an approximately bifurcated shape by a first reinforcing piece 546A, 546B arranged along the upper and lower sides of the wiring section 535, and a second reinforcing piece 546C connecting one end side of the first reinforcing piece 546A, 546B. The second reinforcing piece 546C is arranged so as to cross the wiring section 535 from the back side of the recess 545A formed in the vicinity of the board side connector KCN2 in the wiring cover 545. Note that when the second reinforcing piece 546C is attached to the second movable body 512, the front surface of the second reinforcing piece 546C abuts against the back surface of the recess 545A in the wiring cover 545.

In addition, the deformation portion CB of the cable C2, which is roughly U-shaped when viewed from the rear, is a free portion that is not held by either the second movable body 512 or the base body 501, and is therefore capable of deformation in response to the up and down movement of the second movable body 512.

In this way, the cable C2 is fixed so as not to move in the longitudinal direction of the wiring section by being pressed against the wiring section 535 side by the wiring cover 545 attached to the wiring section 535 formed in the vicinity of the board side connector KCN2 of the second movable body 512, and by being pressed against the wiring section 535 side by the wiring cover 545 by the wiring cover 545 attached to the wiring section 534 formed in the vicinity of the board side connector KCN12 of the base body 501 and the wiring sections 532, 533 of the side portion 501B by the wiring covers 542, 543, 544, the cable C2 is fixed so as not to move in the longitudinal direction of the wiring section.

The cable C2 is also made long enough to prevent it from coming off the board side connectors KCN2 and KCN12 due to tension generated when the second movable body 512 moves up and down relative to the base body 501. However, since each wiring section 535, 532, 533, and 534 is fixed by wiring covers 545, 542, 543, and 544, even if the deformation section CB is deformed in response to the up and down movement of the second movable body 512, loads such as bending or pulling are not applied to the connection section with the board side connectors KCN2 and KCN12. Therefore, it is prevented that the cable C2 moves in response to the deformation and loads are applied to the connection section with the board side connectors KCN2 and KCN12, causing it to come off the board side connectors KCN2 and KCN12.

In addition, the wiring covers 541 to 545 are made of a translucent synthetic resin material, so that the cables C1 and C2 can be seen through the wiring covers 541 to 545 even when attached to each wiring section 531 to 535.

Next, the detailed structure of the wiring section 535 will be described with reference to Figures 21 to 23.

As shown in Figures 21 and 22, the wiring section 535, which is formed in a crank shape in plan view from the left side of the rear of the performance section 517A to the rear of the support section 517B, which is approximately L-shaped in plan view, is formed to extend in the left-right and front-rear directions that are approximately perpendicular to the up-down direction, which is the movement direction of the second movable body 512, and a wiring cover 545 is attached to the rear of the wiring section 535, forming an approximately square tubular wiring path that can hold cable C2 with the surface of cable C2 facing the wiring section 535. In addition, the wiring section 535 is formed in a groove shape that opens to the rear and right side, and the vertical dimension L3 is slightly larger than the vertical dimension L4 of cable C2, taking into account the wiring of cable C2.

In addition, in the wiring section 535, when the wiring cover 545 is attached to the portion corresponding to the first piece 517C and the second piece 517D constituting the support section 517B, the distance between the wiring section 535 and the wiring cover 545 is a distance L1 that is approximately the same as the thickness dimension of the cable C2, while in the portion corresponding to the portion between the support section 517B and the board side connector KCN2 provided in the performance section 517A, when the wiring cover 545 is attached, the distance L2 between the wiring section 535 and the wiring cover 545 is larger than the distance L1.

In other words, the portion of cable C2 that corresponds to support portion 517B is pressed and fixed against wiring portion 535 by wiring cover 545, while the portion in the vicinity of board-side connector KCN2 that corresponds to performance portion 517A is not pressed and fixed against wiring portion 535 by wiring cover 545. In other words, the portion in the vicinity of board-side connector KCN2 of the wiring path portion formed by wiring portion 535 and wiring cover 545 is a specific path portion S consisting of a space in which cable C2 can move back and forth and up and down.

In addition, in the cable C2, between the connected portion CN2 (connected portion) connected to the board-side connector KCN2 and the fixed portion CS fixed by the wiring portion 535 and the wiring cover 545 in the support portion 517B, that is, in the portion corresponding to the specific path portion S, a specific portion CZ (bent portion) is provided which is bent multiple times so that both sides of the fold that intersects with the wiring direction overlap front to back. In other words, since both sides of the portion corresponding to the specific path portion S in the cable C2 are fixed by the board-side connector KCN2, the wiring portion 535, and the wiring cover 545, there is an excess of the cable C2 so that the cable C2 is not stretched between them, and the excess portion is bent so that it overlaps front to back to provide the specific portion CZ.

Next, the state of cable C2 when the second movable body 512 falls from the origin position due to its own weight and stops at the performance position will be described with reference to FIG. 23.

For example, as shown in FIG. 23(A), if cable C2 is stretched with a predetermined tension between board-side connector KCN2 and support portion 517B, when second movable body 512 falls from the origin position under its own weight and stops at the performance position by abutting stopper portions 503L, 503R, a downward force F acts on cable C2 between board-side connector KCN2 and support portion 517B.

Although not specifically shown, the LED board 524 having the board-side connector KCN2 is provided on the performance section 517A, while the support section 517B serving as the fixed section is a plate-like member that is produced from the performance section 517A, and is therefore more fragile and more susceptible to deformation than the performance section 517A. Therefore, when the second movable body 512 stops at the performance position, the impact that causes the support section 517B to deform may cause the support section 517B serving as the fixed section to move slightly away from the board-side connector KCN2.

In this way, when a downward force F acts between the board side connector KCN2 and the support portion 517B of the cable C2, or when a force acts in a direction away from the board side connector KCN2, the connected portion CN of the cable C2 can become detached from the board side connector KCN2, as shown in FIG. 23(B). The reason why the connected portion CN of the cable C2 can easily become detached from the board side connector KCN2 is thought to be that the board side connector KCN2 has a connection structure that allows the connected portion CN2 to be detached, so the fixing force is smaller than that of the fixed portion CS side, and the fixed portion CS side of the cable C2 is long while the connected portion CN2 side is short.

In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 23(C), a specific portion CZ is provided in the approximate center between the connected portion CN2 and the fixed portion CS of the cable C2. When a downward force F acts between the connected portion CN2 and the fixed portion CS of the cable C2, or when a force acts in a direction away from the board-side connector KCN2, as shown in FIG. 23(D), the overlapping portion of the cable C2 that is bent at the specific portion CZ stretches, making it difficult for a force to act on the connected portion CN2 in a direction to remove it from the board-side connector KCN2. This effectively prevents the connected portion CN of the cable C2 from being removed from the board-side connector KCN2.

In addition, because the cable C2 is folded so that both sides of the fold overlap front to back at the specific section CZ, it can be stored compactly between the wiring section 535 and the wiring cover 545. Also, because the wiring is routed so as to fold back at the fold, the position of the specific section CZ of the cable C2 is less likely to change, so that excess cable C2 in the specific path section S is prevented from being twisted or held in an unintended bent position, which could easily cause breakage, etc.

In addition, in this embodiment, a specific portion CZA is provided in the portion of cable C2 corresponding to the specific path portion S, where both sides of a fold that intersects the wiring direction are folded so that they overlap front to back. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The specific portion may be a specific portion CZB formed by folding both sides of a fold that intersects the wiring direction in cable C2 so that they overlap left to right, as shown in FIG. 24 (see FIG. 24(A)), a folded portion CZC that is curved in plan view in cable C2 as shown in FIG. 24(B), or a folded portion CZC that is curved in plan view in only one place in cable C2 as shown in FIG. 24(C).

In addition, in this embodiment, the specific path section S is provided so that the cable C2 can be routed in the left-right direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 24(D), the specific path section S may be provided so that the cable C2 can be routed in the up-down direction. In this case, when the second movable body 512 falls from the origin position due to its own weight and stops at the performance position by abutting against the stopper sections 503L, 503R, the overlapping portion of the cable C2 that is bent at the specific section CZD extends downward, making it difficult for a force in the direction of removal from the board-side connector KCN2 to act on the connected portion CN2 above the specific section CZD, and therefore removal of the connected portion CN2 of the cable C2 from the board-side connector KCN2 is preferably prevented.

(Third performance device 600)
Next, the details of the third performance device 600 will be described with reference to Figs. 25 to 35. Fig. 25 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the third performance device as viewed obliquely from the front. Fig. 26 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the third performance device as viewed obliquely from the rear. Fig. 27 is a front view showing the movable body as viewed obliquely from the origin position (A) and as viewed obliquely from the performance position (B). Fig. 28 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the movable body as viewed obliquely from the front. Fig. 29 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the movable body as viewed obliquely from the rear. Fig. 30 is a front view showing the movable body as viewed obliquely from the front, and Fig. 31 is a B-B cross-sectional view of Fig. 30 (A), and Fig. 32 is a rear view showing the upper right part of the movable body. Fig. 33 is a perspective view showing the movable body as viewed obliquely from the front right, and Fig. 33 is a perspective view showing the movable body as viewed obliquely from the rear left. 34A and 34B are explanatory diagrams showing the light guiding state in the inner lens. Fig. 35A is an explanatory diagram showing the movable body as viewed from the front, and Fig. 35B is an explanatory diagram showing the movable body as viewed from above.

As shown in Figures 25 to 27, the third performance device 600 is attached to a rear cover (not shown) provided on the rear side of the game board 2, and is disposed below the image display device 5 between the game board 2 and the image display device 5. The third performance device 600 has a base body 601 formed into a downward U-shape when viewed from the front by an upper edge portion 601A and side edge portions 601B, 601C extending downward from the left and right ends of the upper edge portion 601A, and a movable body 611 provided so as to be movable up and down relative to the base body 601.

The movable body 611 is arranged to be movable in the vertical direction between an origin position (see FIG. 27(A)) located on the front side of the side portions 601B and 601C of the base body 601 and a performance position (see FIG. 27(B)) above the origin position.

Guide rods 602L, 602R facing in the vertical direction are provided on the front surface of side portions 601B, 601C of base body 601, and guide the movement of movable body 611 in the vertical direction between the lower and upper ends of guide rods 602L, 602R. In addition, a spiral groove portion 602A is formed on the circumferential surface of guide rods 602L, 602R.

Performance motors 604L, 604R for moving the movable body 611 up and down are attached to the back side of the upper edge 601A of the base body 601, and gears 605L, 605R fixed to the drive shafts of the performance motors 604L, 604R are meshed with gears 603L, 603R fixed to the upper ends of the guide rods 602L, 602R, allowing the performance motors 604L, 604R to rotate the guide rods 602L, 602R around axes facing in the vertical direction.

The movable body 611 is composed of a performance part 615A formed in a horizontally elongated rectangular frame and a support part 615B extending to the left and right sides from the performance part 615A, and an insertion hole 616 (guided part) through which the guide rods 602L, 602R are inserted is formed at the tip of the support part 615B. An engagement part (not shown) that can engage with the groove part 602A of the guide rods 602L, 602R is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 616. Therefore, as the performance motors 604L, 604R rotate forward and backward, the guide rods 602L, 602R rotate about their axes, and the left and right support parts 615B are supported by the guide rods 602L, 602R, restricting the movable body 611 from rotating about the vertical axis. The engagement part (not shown) moves along the groove 602A, and is guided by the guide rods 602L, 602R to move vertically between the origin position and the performance position.

As shown in Figures 28 and 29, the movable body 611 is made of a translucent synthetic resin material and has a horizontally elongated rectangular frame shape. It is composed of a base frame 621 with support parts 615B formed laterally from the left and right side edges, a decorative frame 622 arranged on the front side of the base frame 621, an LED board 625 with multiple performance LEDs 623A-623C, 624A, 624B on the front, and an inner lens 626 and outer lenses 627-629 for diffusing the light from each performance LED 623A-623C, 624A, 624B and emitting it mainly forward.

Of the multiple performance LEDs 623A-623C, 624A, 624B, performance LEDs 623A, 623B, 624A are LEDs that can radiate light forward, and performance LEDs 623C, 624B are angle LEDs that can radiate light along the front surface of LED board 625 in a specified direction.

The decorative frame 622 is made of a non-translucent synthetic resin material and has an upper edge 630A, left and right side edges 630B, 630C, and a lower edge 630D in the shape of a horizontally elongated rectangular frame. The upper edge 630A and the lower edge 630D each have a plurality of openings 631 that are hexagonal in front view and spaced apart at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction.

The LED board 625 is disposed between the base frame 621 and the decorative frame 622, and is made of a non-translucent synthetic resin material and is formed in an inverted U-shape when viewed from the front with an upper edge 625A, a left side edge 625B, and a lower edge 625C. A number of performance LEDs 623A-623C are provided on the upper edge 625A, and a number of performance LEDs 624A, 624B are provided on the lower edge 625C. A board-side connector KCN is provided on the back of the left side edge 625B for connecting wiring from each of the performance LEDs 623A-623C, 624A, 624B.

As shown in FIG. 31, the inner lens 626 is made of a translucent synthetic resin material and is formed into a horizontally elongated plate having a generally rearward U-shaped cross section. The inner lens 626 is disposed at the upper front surface of the upper edge 625A of the LED board 625, and is a lens member having a light diffusion section that can diffuse the light emitted forward from the performance LED 623A and received from the lower end surface, and emit it forward (see FIG. 34 (A)).

The outer lens 627 is made of a translucent synthetic resin material and is formed into a horizontally elongated plate with a roughly L-shaped cross section. It is positioned on the front side of the inner lens 626, above the upper edge portion 630A of the decorative frame 622, and is capable of diffusing light emitted forward from the inner lens 626 and emitting it from the front upwards (see FIG. 34(A)). In other words, the outer lens 627 forms the upper front portion of the upper edge portion of the performance portion 615A.

The outer lens 628 is made of a translucent synthetic resin material and is formed into a horizontally elongated plate with a roughly L-shaped vertical cross section. It is disposed on the front side of the LED board 625, below the upper edge 630A of the decorative frame 622, and is capable of diffusing the light emitted downward from the performance LED 623C and emitting it from the front downward. In other words, the outer lens 628 constitutes the lower front part of the upper edge of the performance part 615A. In addition, protrusions 628A that protrude forward are formed at multiple points in the longitudinal direction, and these protrusions 628A face forward by fitting into each opening 631 formed in the upper edge 630A of the decorative frame 622.

The outer lens 629 is made of a translucent synthetic resin material and is formed into a horizontally elongated plate with a roughly L-shaped vertical cross section. It is disposed mainly on the upper side of the lower edge 630D of the decorative frame 622 on the front side of the LED board 625, and is capable of diffusing the light emitted upward from the performance LED 624B and emitting it from above toward the front. In other words, the outer lens 629 constitutes the upper front surface of the lower edge of the performance section 615A. In addition, protrusions 629A that protrude forward are formed at multiple points in the longitudinal direction, and these protrusions 628A face forward by fitting into the respective openings 631 formed in the lower edge 630D of the decorative frame 622.

In this way, the outer lenses 628, 629 are attached to the decorative frame 622 from the back side, but some areas are exposed outside the decorative frame 622, and form light-emitting sections that emit light using the light from each of the performance LEDs 623A-623C, 624A, 624B, so they are visible from the front (player side) of the pachinko gaming machine 1 (see Figures 30 and 31).

In contrast, the inner lens 626 is assembled to the decorative frame 622 from the rear side, and is fixed between the decorative frame 622 and the LED board 625 by arranging the LED board 625 on the rear side. In other words, the LED board 625 made of a non-translucent synthetic resin material is arranged on the rear side, the outer lens 627 made of a translucent synthetic resin material and the decorative frame 622 made of a non-translucent synthetic resin material are arranged on the front side, and side walls of the decorative frame 622 are also arranged on the left and right side sides. Therefore, the inner lens 626 is difficult (or impossible) to see from the front (player side) of the pachinko game machine 1 (see Figures 30 and 31). Although there is a portion of the front side of the inner lens 626 where only the outer lens 627 made of a translucent synthetic resin material is arranged, the outer lens 627 has an uneven light diffusion portion formed to diffuse the light that enters the inside and emit it, so it is difficult to see the inner lens 626 through the outer lens 627 from the front (player side) of the pachinko gaming machine 1.

As shown in Fig. 28 and Fig. 32 to Fig. 34, the inner lens 626 is composed of a lens section 626A that diffuses the light from the LED 623A for performance and allows it to be emitted forward, and an attachment section 626B that extends laterally from a position slightly shifted downward from the left and right ends of the lens section 626A via a step and has positioning holes 633L, 633R into which positioning bosses 635L, 635R (see Fig. 32) protruding from the back surface of the decorative frame 622 are inserted. At the ends of each of the left and right attachment sections 626B, protrusions 626L, 626R that protrude outward are formed, and these left and right protrusions 626L, 626R are positioned in the notches 632L, 632R formed in the upper left and right side walls of the decorative frame 622 when the inner lens 626 is placed in the decorative frame 622 by inserting the positioning holes 633L, 633R into the positioning bosses 635L, 635R.

More specifically, as shown in Figs. 32 to 34, the cutouts 632L, 632R are formed as slits extending forward from the rear ends of the upper left and right side walls of the decorative frame 622. On the other hand, the protrusions 626L, 626R are formed as flat plates having a predetermined front-to-rear width and extend horizontally in the left-to-right direction, and can be inserted forward from the rear end openings of the cutouts 632L, 632R. As shown in Fig. 32, the vertical dimension L11 of the cutouts 632L, 632R is slightly larger than the vertical dimension L12 of the protrusions 626L, 626R, and is smaller than the diameter 2R of the game ball, which is the game medium (2R>L11>L12). As shown in Fig. 34, the vertical dimension L13 of the cutouts 632L, 632R is smaller than the vertical dimension L14 of the protrusions 626L, 626R (L13<L14).

When the inner lens 626 is attached to the decorative frame 622, the protrusions 626L, 626R are positioned so that the tips of the protrusions 626L, 626R face the outside through the cutouts 632L, 632R. As a result, they cannot be seen through the decorative frame 622 or the outer lens 627 from the player's side, which is the front of the pachinko game machine 1, but can be seen visually from the left and right sides and the back of the movable body 611 through the cutouts 632L, 632R.

On the other hand, the tip of the protrusion 626L, 626R is located a predetermined distance L15 inward from the outer surface of the side wall of the decorative frame 622, and the rear end is located a predetermined distance L16 forward from the rear end opening of the cutout 632L, 632R. In other words, the protrusion 626L, 626R is positioned in the cutout 632L, 632R so as not to protrude to the left or right side or rearward from the cutout 632L, 632R.

The movable body 611 of the third performance device 600 configured in this manner can move vertically between an origin position corresponding to the lower front side of the display area of the image display device 5 and a performance position located at the upper front side of the display area, as shown in FIG. 35(A). In other words, the movable body 611 can be changed between a performance standby state in which it is located at the origin position and none of the performance LEDs 623A to 623C, 624A, 624B emit light, and a performance state in which it moves from the origin position to the performance position or emits light at the performance position or the origin position.

In addition, the movable body 611 is formed by combining multiple components such as a base frame 621, a decorative frame 622, an LED board 625, an inner lens 626 and outer lenses 627 to 629. Of these, the inner lens 626 arranged between the decorative frame 622 and outer lens 627 (first member) on the front side and the LED board 625 (second member) on the rear side is a member (third member) that is difficult to see from the worker T side in either the performance standby state or the performance state, and the decorative frame 622 and outer lens 627 (first member) and LED board 625 (second member) can be combined with the LED board 625 (second member) so that the periphery of the lens part 626A and the attachment part 626B (first specified part) of the inner lens 626 (third member) is covered by the decorative frame 622 and the outer lens 627 (first member) and the LED board 625 (second member) and the left and right sides and the back side of the protrusions 626L, 626R (second specified part) different from the lens part 626A and the attachment part 626B (first specified part) are not covered.

In more detail, when the outer lens 627, the inner lens 626, and the LED board 625 are assembled to the decorative frame 622, the surfaces (first specified portion) of the lens portion 626A and the mounting portion 626B of the inner lens 626 are covered so as to be difficult to see from the outside, and the surfaces (second specified portion) of the protruding portions 626L, 626R of the inner lens 626 are not covered so as to be visible from the outside through the notches 632L, 632R formed in the decorative frame 622. The surfaces (second specified portion) of the protruding portions 626L, 626R, which are part of the inner lens 626, have a smaller surface area than the surfaces (first specified portion) of the lens portion 626A and the mounting portion 626B.

As shown in Figures 35(A) and (B), the lens portion 626A and the mounting portion 626B of the inner lens 626 are covered on the front side by the decorative frame 622 and the outer lens 627 arranged in front of them, so they are difficult for players in front of the pachinko game machine 1 to see, even when the movable body 611 is located in either the origin position or the performance position, or when the performance LED 623A is illuminated.

On the other hand, the protrusions 626L, 626R of the inner lens 626 are arranged on the left and right sides of the movable body 611, and the front side is covered by the decorative frame 622 and outer lens 627 arranged in front of it. Therefore, even when the movable body 611 is located in either the origin position or the performance position or when the performance LED 623A emits light, they are difficult to see from the eye level of a player seated facing the front side of the pachinko game machine 1 (the same as the eye level of operator T), as shown in Figure 35 (B). However, because the movable body 611 is exposed to the left and right sides through the cutouts 632L, 632R formed on the left and right sides, even when the movable body 611 is assembled to the pachinko gaming machine 1, it is possible for workers such as workers at the manufacturer or staff at the gaming parlor to view it from positions other than the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 (for example, positions shifted to the left or right of the player as shown in FIG. 35(B)), making it possible to check for missing inner lens 626.

On the other hand, although the protrusions 626L, 626R can be seen from a side position other than the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1, they are difficult to see from a player seated facing the front side of the pachinko gaming machine 1, and therefore the protrusions 626L, 626R are difficult to see not only in the performance state but also in the performance standby state, so that it is possible to make the protrusions 626L, 626R less noticeable at least when a performance that the player is paying attention to is being performed. Furthermore, since the vertical dimension L11 of the cutouts 632L, 632R is smaller than the diameter 2R of the game ball, they are less noticeable from a player seated facing the front side of the pachinko gaming machine 1, and therefore the decorativeness of the movable body 611 is prevented from being impaired by the protrusions 626L, 626R.

In other words, the protrusions 626L, 626R as the second predetermined portion of the inner lens 626 as the third member are located in positions (on the left and right sides of the movable body 611) that are difficult to see when viewed from the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1, which is the eye level of a player playing on the pachinko gaming machine 1.

Furthermore, the vertical dimension L11 of the cutouts 632L, 632R is smaller than the diameter 2R of the game ball, and the protrusions 626L, 626R are positioned so as not to protrude from the cutouts 632L, 632R, thereby preventing the game ball from coming into contact with the protrusions 626L, 626R and damaging the inner lens 626, thereby preventing adverse effects on the light emission mode.

In addition, during the manufacture of the movable body 611, even after the outer lens 627, the inner lens 626, and the LED board 625 are attached to the decorative frame 622, the protrusions 626L, 626R can be visually confirmed through the cutouts 632L, 632R, so it is possible to prevent a movable body 611 without the inner lens 626 attached (missing) from being attached to a pachinko gaming machine 1, or to prevent a pachinko gaming machine 1 from being shipped with a movable body 611 without the inner lens 626 attached.

As shown in FIG. 34, the protrusions 626L, 626R are not lens parts 626A that can diffuse light from the performance LED 623A and emit it forward, but are provided at a position away from the lens parts 626A via the attachment parts 626B for attaching the inner lens 626 to the decorative frame 622. This makes it difficult for the light incident from the performance LED 623A to be guided to the protrusions 626L, 626R. Also, a step 640 is formed between the lens parts 626A and the attachment parts 626B, so that the light incident from the performance LED 623A is reflected by the step 640 toward the lens part 626A and is difficult to be guided toward the attachment part 626B. This makes it difficult for the protrusions 626L, 626R to emit light when the performance LED 623A is illuminated, and therefore makes the protrusions 626L, 626R less noticeable in the performance state.

The protrusions 626L, 626R are provided on both the left and right ends of the inner lens 626, and are positioned so that when the inner lens 626 is attached to the decorative frame 622, the tips of the protrusions 626L, 626R face the outside through the notches 632L, 632R formed in the left and right side walls of the inner lens 626. In other words, the protrusions 626L, 626R have protrusion 626L visible from the left side position of the movable body 611 and protrusion 626R visible from the right side position, allowing workers such as the manufacturer or game store staff to quickly check whether the inner lens 626 is missing.

(First Invention)
This embodiment includes the first invention shown below. That is, in the past, in gaming machines equipped with movable parts that can be operated, such as pachinko gaming machines and slot machines, there were some that, for example, as described in JP 2014-233429 A, were equipped with a movable part that can move in a predetermined direction relative to a base part by a rack gear and a pinion gear, and can move in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction via a connecting member in response to the movement in the predetermined direction. The gaming machine described in the above patent publication had a problem that the structure was complicated because it had a gear member for moving the movable part in a predetermined direction and a connecting member for moving the movable part in a direction intersecting the predetermined member. Therefore, with the aim of providing a gaming machine that can operate a movable part with a simple structure,
The gaming machine according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises:
A gaming machine (e.g., a pachinko gaming machine 1) capable of playing a game,
A first shaft portion (e.g., a first shaft member 471) that can be rotated by a drive source (e.g., a performance motor 410);
a second shaft portion (e.g., a second shaft member 472) rotatable together with the first shaft portion;
A movable part (e.g., among the movable part 421, the performance members 465 and 466, the first link member 461, the second link member 462, the connecting member 463, etc.) that can rotate around the second axis part;
Equipped with
The second shaft portion is provided in a state inclined with respect to the first shaft portion (for example, an axis T2 of the second shaft member 472 inserted into the bearing hole 474 is inclined downward and leftward with respect to an axis T1 of the first shaft member 471 inserted into the bearing hole 470, which faces the front-rear direction, and the first shaft member 471 and the second shaft member 472 are joined so as to be rotatable about their respective axes T1 and T2. See FIGS. 10 and 11 ).
The movable part rotates about the second shaft between a first position and a second position different from the axial direction of the first shaft relative to the first position by rotating the first shaft and the second shaft by the driving source (for example, the performance member 466 is joined to the first shaft member 471 so that the second shaft member 472 can rotate about an axis T2 inclined with respect to the axis T1, and thus, by simply rotating the performance motor 410, the performance member 466 moves not only in the up-down direction (for example, the Y-axis direction) but also in the front-back direction (for example, the Z-axis direction) and the left-right direction (for example, the X-axis direction) between the origin position and the performance position. See FIG. 12 and FIG. 14).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, when the movable part rotates from the first position to the second position around the second shaft part, the movable part also moves in the axial direction of the first shaft part, thereby enabling the movable part to operate in three dimensions with a simple structure.

The gaming machine according to the first aspect of the present invention is the gaming machine according to the first aspect of the present invention,
The second shaft portion (e.g., the second shaft member 472) is joined to the first shaft portion (e.g., the first shaft member 471) via a universal joint (see FIG. 10).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, the movable part can be moved in three dimensions with a simple structure.

The gaming machine of the first aspect of the present invention is the gaming machine according to the first or second aspect of the present invention,
The second shaft portion (e.g., the second shaft member 472) is detachably joined to the first shaft portion (e.g., the first shaft member 471) (e.g., the second shaft member 472 is detachably joined to the first shaft member 471 so that it can be assembled to or removed from the front side of the first shaft member 471. See FIG. 10).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, the second shaft portion having the movable portion can be easily assembled to the first shaft portion.

The gaming machine according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is a gaming machine according to any one of the first to third aspects,
The first shaft portion (e.g., the first shaft member 471) is rotatably supported by a base portion (e.g., the first slide member 441),
The base portion is characterized in that it is capable of moving in a direction approximately perpendicular to the first axis portion (e.g., in the up-down direction) when the first axis portion is rotated by the drive source (e.g., the performance motor 410).
According to this feature, the base portion and the movable portion can be moved in different directions by a single driving source.

The gaming machine of the first aspect of the present invention is a gaming machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention,
The movable part (e.g., the movable part 421) has a first movable part (e.g., a performance member 465) and a second movable part (e.g., a performance member 466) arranged on the opposite side of the second shaft part with respect to the first movable part,
When the movable part is located at a first position (e.g., an origin position), a predetermined portion of the second movable part (e.g., a specific portion X2) is located below a predetermined portion of the first movable part (e.g., a specific portion X1), and when the movable part moves from the first position to a second position (e.g., a performance position), the predetermined portion of the second movable part (e.g., a specific portion X2) is located above the predetermined portion of the first movable part (e.g., a specific portion X1) (see FIG. 12).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, the positional relationship between the first movable portion and the second movable portion is reversed in response to the operation of the movable portion, thereby providing an element of surprise.

(Description of Modifications and Applications of the First Invention)
In the above embodiment, the first shaft member 471 is provided on the first slide member 441 that can move up and down, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the first shaft member 471 may be provided on an inoperable base body 401, etc.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the first shaft member 471 has its axis T1 horizontally oriented in the front-rear direction, and the second shaft member 472 has its axis T2 oriented diagonally downward to the left; however, the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as the axis T2 is inclined (intersecting) with respect to the axis T1, the orientation of the axes T1 and T2 is not limited to that described in the above embodiment. In addition, the angle of inclination is arbitrary and can be changed in various ways.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the first shaft member 471 and the second shaft member 472 are joined via a universal joint, but the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the second shaft member 472 is rotatably joined in a tilted state relative to the first shaft member 471, for example, the second shaft member 472 may be rotatably joined to the first shaft member 471 via a gear mechanism such as a bevel gear, or the second shaft member 472 may be rotatably joined to the first shaft member 471 via a tubular member made of a deformable material (e.g., rubber material, etc.).

In addition, in the above embodiment, the performance member 466 is rotatably arranged via a parallel link consisting of a first link member 461 and a second link member 462 that rotate around the second shaft member 472, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as it is rotatable around the second shaft member 472, it may be rotatable via only one link member.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the first shaft member 471 and the second shaft member 472 are rotatable by utilizing the force of the first slide member 441 and the second slide member 442 moving up and down by the performance motor 410, but the present invention is not limited to this, and they may be configured to operate directly by the power of the performance motor 410 without utilizing the operation of other members such as the first slide member 441 and the second slide member 442.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the second shaft member 472 is provided on the bearing member 464 of the first slide member 441 such that the orientation of the axis T2 cannot be changed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the inclination angle of the axis T2 relative to the axis T1 may be changed while maintaining a connection state in which the axis T2 intersects the axis T1. In this way, it becomes possible to rotate the performance member 466 in a more complex manner by rotating the second shaft member 472.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the performance member 466 is exemplified as being movable in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions by rotating the second axis member 472 when moving from the origin position to the performance position, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as it is movable in at least two axes, it does not necessarily have to be movable in three axes.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the second shaft member 472 is rotatably joined in an inclined state relative to the first shaft member 471, but the present invention is not limited to this, and multiple shaft members, such as a third shaft member, may be joined in a daisy chain to the second shaft member 472.

(Second Invention)
This embodiment also includes the second invention described below. That is, in the past, in gaming machines equipped with movable bodies such as pachinko gaming machines and slot machines, there were some in which a part of a flat cable connected to the movable body was fixed so as not to move, as described in, for example, JP 2016-154670 A and JP 2016-193012 A. The gaming machines described in the above patent publications had a problem in that they did not take into consideration defects that may occur in the flat cable due to impacts applied to the movable body. Therefore, with the aim of providing a gaming machine that can suppress the occurrence of defects in the flat cable,
The gaming machine according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises:
A gaming machine (e.g., a pachinko gaming machine 1) capable of playing a game,
An operable movable body (e.g., the second movable body 512);
a flat cable (e.g., a flexible flat cable C2) having a connected portion (e.g., a connected portion CN2) connected to the movable body;
Equipped with
The flat cable is
A fixed portion (e.g., a fixed portion CS) in the vicinity of the connected portion is fixed to the movable body,
A bent or curved specific portion (for example, specific portion CZ) is provided between the connected portion and the fixed portion (see FIGS. 20 to 22).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, even if vibrations or impacts occur in response to the operation of the movable body, the specific part prevents excessive tension from being generated in the flat cable between the connected part and the fixed part, thereby effectively preventing malfunctions of the flat cable.

In more detail, the fixed part CS is fixed to prevent the deformation of the cable C2 routed outside the second movable body 512 in response to the movement of the second movable body 512 from being transmitted to the connection part with the board side connector KCN2, while excessive tension is prevented from being generated between the connected part CN2 and the fixed part CS of the cable C2, thereby preventing the connected part CN2 from coming off the board side connector KCN2.

The gaming machine according to the second aspect of the present invention is the gaming machine according to the first aspect of the present invention,
The flat cable (e.g., the flexible flat cable C2) is folded at the specific portion (e.g., the specific portion CZ) so that both sides of the fold overlap (see FIG. 22).
It is characterized by the following.
This feature allows the flat cable to be laid out in a compact manner.

The gaming machine of the second aspect of the present invention is the gaming machine according to the first or second aspect of the present invention,
A reinforcing member (e.g., reinforcing member 546) is provided in a portion of the movable body (e.g., second movable body 512) between the connected portion (e.g., connected portion CN2) and the fixed portion (e.g., fixed portion CS) (e.g., specific path portion S, etc.) (see FIGS. 19 and 22).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, deformation of the members between the connected portion and the fixed portion is suppressed, thereby preventing excessive tension from being generated in the flat cable between the connected portion and the fixed portion.

The gaming machine according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is a gaming machine according to any one of the first to third aspects,
The movable body (e.g., the second movable body 512) is characterized in that it is capable of falling by its own weight from a first position (e.g., an origin position) to a second position (e.g., a performance position) lower than the first position.
According to this feature, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of excessive tension in the flat cable between the connected part and the fixed part due to the impact when the flat cable is dropped to the second position.

The gaming machine of the second aspect of the present invention is a gaming machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention,
The movable body (e.g., the second movable body 512) has a first member (e.g., an LED board 524) and a second member (e.g., a support portion 517B) different from the first member,
The flat cable has a connected portion (e.g., connected portion CN2) connected to the first member, and a fixed portion (e.g., fixed portion CS) fixed to the second member.
According to this feature, even if the fixed portion has a structure in which it is easy for it to move relative to the connected portion, the specific portion can prevent excessive tension from being generated in the flat cable between the connected portion and the fixed portion.

The gaming machine according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is a gaming machine according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
The flat cable (e.g., the flexible flat cable C2) is wired in a wiring path (e.g., a wiring path portion) formed between a base member (e.g., the wiring portion 535) and a cover member (e.g., the wiring cover 545),
the wiring path has a specific path portion (e.g., a specific path portion S) corresponding to the connected portion and the fixed portion and a non-specific path portion (e.g., a portion of the wiring path portion corresponding to the support portion 517B) not corresponding to the specific path portion between the connected portion and the fixed portion,
A distance between the base member and the cover member in the specific path portion (e.g., distance L2) is greater than a distance between the base member and the cover member in the non-specific path portion (e.g., L1) (see FIG. 22).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, the flat cable is easily stretched at the specific portion, so that the generation of excessive tension in the flat cable between the connected portion and the fixed portion is prevented.

(Description of Modifications and Applications of the Second Invention)
In the above embodiment, a form in which a flexible flat cable C2 that is elastic (flexible) and deformable is applied is exemplified as an example of a flat cable, but the present invention is not limited to this and may also be a flat cable that is difficult to deform, etc.

In addition, in the above embodiment, as an example of a movable body, a form in which the second movable body 512 that can fall by its own weight is applied is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the movable body may be a movable body that can move in at least one of the directions of up and down, left and right, and front and back by the power of a drive source, like the first movable body 511.

In addition, in the above embodiment, one end of the cable C2 is connected to the board-side connector KCN2, but the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the connected portion at one end of the cable C2 is connected to a movable body, it may be connected directly to a board or the like instead of a connector.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the specific portion CZ of the cable C2 is provided in a specific path portion S surrounded by the wiring portion 535 and the wiring cover 545, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the specific path portion S may be a path portion having at least one open side without a wiring cover 545, etc.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a specific portion CZ is provided on the cable C2 connected to the board-side connector KCN2 of the second movable body 512, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the specific portion CZ may be provided on the cable C1 connected to the board-side connector KCN1 of the first movable body 511, or on a cable connected to another movable body.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a configuration in which one specific part is provided between the connected part CN2 of the cable C2 and the fixed part CS closest to the connected part CN2 is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and two or more specific parts may be provided.

(Third Invention)
In addition, this embodiment includes the third invention shown below. In other words, in the past, in gaming machines such as papachinko gaming machines and slot machines, for example, as described in JP 2008-250067 A, there were those equipped with an illuminated signboard (performance body) composed of an illumination board (third member) on which an illumination light source is mounted, a signboard main body member (first member) that holds the illumination board, a signboard cover member (second member) that has an internal space between the signboard main body member and is attached to the signboard main body member, and a light diffusion unit (third member) that diffuses the illumination light from the illumination light source mounted on the illumination board. In the gaming machine described in the above patent publication, the illumination board and the light diffusion unit (third member) arranged between the signboard main body member (first member) and the signboard cover member (second member) that constitute the illuminated signboard (performance body) are members covered by the illuminated signboard and the signboard cover member, so that it is difficult to visually confirm them from the outside. Therefore, for example, if an illuminated signboard is assembled to a gaming machine without an illumination board or a light diffusion unit being assembled during the manufacturing stage, it is difficult to notice the lack of parts before and after the gaming machine is shipped from the manufacturer, and there is a risk that the presentation effect of the presentation body will be reduced when the gaming machine is used.
The gaming machine according to the third aspect of the present invention has the following features:
A gaming machine (e.g., a pachinko gaming machine 1) capable of playing a game,
The device includes a performance body (e.g., a movable body 611) that can be changed between a performance standby state and a performance state,
The director is
A first member (e.g., a decorative frame 622 and an outer lens 627) and a second member (e.g., an LED board 625);
A third member (e.g., an inner lens 626) that is disposed between the first member and the second member and is difficult to see at least in the performance state;
having
The first member and the second member can be combined such that a first predetermined portion of the third member is covered by the first member and the second member, and a second predetermined portion different from the first predetermined portion is not covered by the first member and the second member (for example, an inner lens 626 disposed between a front decorative frame 622 and an outer lens 627 (first member) and a rear LED board 625 (second member) is a member (third member) that is difficult to see from the worker T side at least in a performance state, and the decorative frame 622 and the outer lens A portion in which the decorative frame 622 and the outer lens 627 (first member) can be combined with the LED board 625 (second member) so that the periphery of the lens portion 626A and the attachment portion 626B (first specified portion) of the inner lens 626 (third member) is covered by the LED board 625 (second member) while not covering the left and right sides and the back side of the protrusions 626L, 626R (second specified portion) different from the lens portion 626A and the attachment portion 626B (first specified portion). See Figures 28 to 30.
The second predetermined portion of the third member has an area smaller than that of the first predetermined portion (for example, the surfaces (second predetermined portion) of the protruding portions 626L and 626R that are part of the inner lens 626 have a smaller surface area than the surfaces (first predetermined portion) of the lens portion 626A and the mounting portion 626B).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, the second specified part that is not covered by the first and second parts can be visually inspected, making it possible to check whether the third part is missing or not, and since the second specified part has a smaller area than the first specified part, it is possible to prevent the appearance of the presentation object from being impaired.

The gaming machine according to the third aspect of the present invention is the gaming machine according to the first aspect of the present invention,
The performance body (e.g., the movable body 611) has a light emitting means (e.g., a performance LED 623A, etc.),
The third member (e.g., the inner lens 626) is a light diffusing member capable of diffusing the light from the light emitting means (e.g., the inner lens 626 has a lens portion 626A that diffuses the light from the performance LED 623A and enables it to be emitted forward. See FIG. 34).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, it is possible to prevent the performance effect from being reduced due to a shortage of the third component.

The gaming machine of the third aspect of the present invention is the gaming machine according to the second aspect of the present invention,
The third member is capable of guiding the light from the light emitting means in a direction different from the second predetermined portion (for example, the protrusions 626L, 626R are not lens portions 626A that can diffuse the light from the performance LED 623A and emit it forward, and the light incident from the performance LED 623A is unlikely to be guided to the protrusions 626L, 626R. See FIG. 34B).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, it is possible to prevent the second predetermined portion from emitting light and becoming conspicuous.

The gaming machine according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is a gaming machine according to any one of the first to third aspects,
The second predetermined portion (e.g., the protruding portions 626L, 626R) is visible from a position other than the front of the gaming machine (e.g., the protruding portions 626L, 626R are visible from a position other than the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 (e.g., a position shifted to the left or right of the operator T shown in FIG. 35(B)). See FIG. 35).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, the second predetermined portion can be made less noticeable.

The gaming machine of the third aspect of the present invention is a gaming machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention,
The second predetermined portion has at least a specific second predetermined portion (e.g., protrusion 626L) that is visible from a specific position (e.g., a left side position) and a special second predetermined portion (e.g., protrusion 626R) that is visible from a special position (e.g., a right side position) different from the specific position (see FIG. 28).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, the second predetermined portion can be quickly confirmed.

The gaming machine according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is a gaming machine according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
The performance body is configured so that the game medium cannot come into contact with the second predetermined portion (for example, the vertical dimension L11 of the cutout portions 632L, 632R is smaller than the diameter 2R of the game ball, and the protrusions 626L, 626R are arranged so as not to protrude from the cutout portions 632L, 632R. See Figures 32 to 34).
It is characterized by the following.
According to this feature, it is possible to prevent the game medium from coming into contact with the second predetermined portion and being damaged.

(Explanation regarding modifications and applications of the third invention)
In the above embodiment, the inner lens 626 as the third member assembled to the pachinko gaming machine 1 has the protrusions 626L, 626R, which are the second specified portion, provided on the left and right side surfaces, so that it is visible from the left and right lateral positions of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in both the performance waiting state and the performance state, but is difficult to view from a position in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and so long as the third member is difficult to view at least in the performance state, the second specified portion may be easily visible to the player in the performance waiting state.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the protrusions 626L, 626R as the second predetermined portion are provided in positions (on the left and right sides of the movable body 611) that are difficult to see from the front position of the pachinko gaming machine 1, which is the eye level of a player playing on the pachinko gaming machine 1, and thus an embodiment has been given in which the inner lens 626 as the third member is difficult to see from the front position of the pachinko gaming machine 1 at least in the presentation state, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the third member being difficult to see does not only mean that the third member is difficult to see by being disposed in a position that is difficult to see from the front position of the pachinko gaming machine 1 as described above, but also means, for example, For example, the third member can be seen from the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 at least in the presentation state, but is difficult to see because another movable body or structure is superimposed on the front side of the second specified part of the third member, the third member is difficult to see because a transparent member arranged on the front side of the second specified part of the third member emits light from the light emitting means, the third member is difficult to see because a light diffusion part is formed on a transparent member arranged on the front side of the second specified part of the third member, and the third member is difficult to see because the light emitting bodies provided on the movable body 611 or other members are turned off and it becomes dark.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the protrusions 626L, 626R (second specified portion of the third member) of the inner lens 626 are illustrated as being externally visible through the notches 632L, 632R formed in the decorative frame 622 as the first member, but the present invention is not limited to this. They may be externally visible through a notch formed in the LED board 625 as the second member, or may be externally visible through a notch formed in both the decorative frame 622 as the first member and the LED board 625 as the second member.

In the above embodiment, the protrusions 626L, 626R of the inner lens 626 are provided so as to be visible from the outside through the notches 632L, 632R formed in the decorative frame 622 as the first member, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the protrusions 626L, 626R may be provided so as to be visible from the outside through a hole formed in at least one of the first member and the second member, or may be provided so as to be visible from the outside through a transparent portion (viewing window portion) provided in at least one of the first member and the second member.

In the above embodiment, the protrusions 626L, 626R of the inner lens 626 are provided so as to be visible from the outside through the notches 632L, 632R formed in the decorative frame 622 as the first member. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, without providing the above-mentioned notches, holes, transparent portions, etc., the ends (second specified portions) of the protrusions 626L, 626R may be made visible from the outside by assembling the decorative frame 622 and the base frame 621 so that the protrusions 626L, 626R are sandwiched between the edge of the decorative frame 622 as the first member and the edge of the base frame 621 as the second member, as shown in the movable body 611 as a modified example in FIG. 36.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a form in which the decorative frame 622 and the outer lens 627 are used as the first member, the LED board 625 is used as the second member, and the inner lens 626 is used as the third member is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and each of the first member, the second member, and the third member may be a member other than the above-mentioned members.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the protrusions 626L, 626R as the second predetermined portion of the inner lens 626 are arranged to face the sides through the notches 632L, 632R provided on the left and right sides of the movable body 611, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the position of the second predetermined portion can be changed as desired, and it may be provided on the front side or back side of the movable body 611, etc.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the protrusions 626L, 626R as the second predetermined portion of the inner lens 626 are exemplified as being visible from the front left and right sides of the pachinko gaming machine 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the second predetermined portion may be provided on the back surface of the movable body 611, which is difficult to see from the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1, and in the performance standby state, the second predetermined portion reflected by a reflective surface portion (for example, a plated portion applied to the surface of another member) provided on the gaming board 2 side, etc., may be visible from the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1.

The first, second and third members may be arbitrarily changed in material, shape, etc., as long as the third member disposed between the first and second members is difficult to see at least in the performance state. For example, the first and second members covering the first specified portion of the third member do not necessarily have to be made of a non-translucent material, and may be made of a translucent material if they are colored or have a light diffusing portion, making it possible to cover the third member so as to make it difficult to see. The third member does not necessarily have to be made of a translucent material that can transmit light, and may be made of a non-translucent material.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a form in which a movable body 611 is applied is exemplified as an example of a performance body that can be changed between a performance standby state and a performance state, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to movable bodies of the first performance device 400 and the second performance device 500, etc.

For example, in the above embodiment, as described in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, even in the first movable body 511 in the second performance device 500, the second predetermined parts 560BL, 560BR, 560CL, 560CR of the rear lens member 551A, the front side of which is covered by the non-translucent component member 550, are arranged to be difficult to see from the player side and visible from the outside and above through the cutout parts 553L, 553R, 554L, 554R, thereby making it possible to prevent shortages. In this way, the third member does not necessarily have to be one in which the first predetermined part is covered from both sides by the first member and the second member, and may be one in which the first predetermined part is covered by one of the first member and the second member so as to be difficult to see from the player side, as long as it is at least difficult to be noticeable from the worker T side when assembled to the pachinko gaming machine 1.

In the above embodiment, the movable body 611 is used as an example of a performance body that can be changed between a performance standby state and a performance state, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied not only to operable performance bodies such as the above-mentioned movable body 611 and the movable bodies of the first performance device 400 and the second performance device 500, but also to structures such as decorative members fixed in an inoperable state to the game board 2 or the glass door frame 50, winning devices such as the special variable winning ball device 7, passage forming units for forming game ball passages through which game balls can pass, intake devices that can take in game balls, and payout devices that can pay out game balls, etc.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes modifications and additions that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine 1 is used as an example of a gaming machine, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can also be applied to so-called sealed gaming machines in which a predetermined number of gaming balls are enclosed inside the gaming machine in a circulatory manner, and the number of loaned balls loaned in response to a loan request by a player and the number of prize balls awarded in response to winning are added, while the number of gaming balls used in the game is subtracted and stored. In these sealed gaming machines, scores or points are awarded to the player rather than gaming balls, and these awarded scores or points correspond to the gaming value.

In addition, in the above embodiment, spherical gaming balls (pachinko balls) were used as an example of gaming media, but the gaming media is not limited to spherical gaming media and may be non-spherical gaming media such as medals.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine was applied as an example of a gaming machine, but the present invention can also be applied to a slot machine in which, for example, a game can be started by setting a predetermined number of bets for one game using gaming value, one game ends when a variable display result is derived from a variable display device that can variably display multiple types of identifiable patterns, and a prize can be won depending on the variable display result derived from the variable display device.

The gaming machine of the present invention can also be applied to slot machines and other enclosed gaming machines that enclose gaming media and award points based on winning. In addition, a gaming machine capable of playing games is one that at least allows playing games, and is not limited to pachinko gaming machines or slot machines, and may be a general game machine.

1 Pachinko gaming machine 400 First performance device 500 Second performance device 600 Third performance device 611 Movable body 625 LED board 626 Inner lens 627 Outer lens 626L, 626R Protruding portion 632L, 632R Cutout portion

Claims (1)

A gaming machine capable of playing a game using a gaming medium,
A performance body that can be changed between a performance standby state and a performance state is provided,
The director is
A light emitting means;
A first member and a second member,
A third member that is disposed between the first member and the second member and is difficult to see at least in the performance state;
having
The first member and the second member can be combined such that a first predetermined portion of the third member is covered by the first member and the second member, and a second predetermined portion different from the first predetermined portion is not covered by the first member and the second member;
the second predetermined portion of the third member has an area smaller than that of the first predetermined portion, and is formed in a side wall of the first member, faces a notch that is larger than the second predetermined portion and smaller than the game medium, and is provided so as not to protrude from the notch;
the third member is a light diffusing member that is difficult to diffuse light from the light emitting means provided behind the third member in the direction of the second predetermined portion and is capable of diffusing light toward the front of the third member,
A gaming machine characterized by:

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