JPH0123517Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a slot machine in which the rotation of the reel is stopped by operating a stop switch.

[Prior Art] In a conventional slot machine, a plurality of reels, for example, three reels, are each driven by a pulse motor. Further, a stop button is provided corresponding to each reel, and when these buttons are pressed, the corresponding pulse motor is stopped and the rotation of the reel is stopped. Then, when all the reels stop and the symbols stopped on the winning line form a predetermined combination, the number of medals corresponding to the difficulty level of the combination is ejected.

The driving and stopping of the pulse motor is controlled by a microcomputer. The microcomputer starts the pulse motor upon receiving a start signal from the operation of the start button or the like, and stops the pulse motor when it receives a stop signal from the operation of the stop button.

In order to generate this stop signal, conventionally a contact piece was provided behind the stop button, and when the stop button was pressed, this contact piece was closed, and this closing signal was input to the microcomputer as a stop signal. There is.

As mentioned above, the microcomputer receives a start signal and starts the pulse motor, but is programmed to accept a stop signal only after the pulse motor reaches a constant rotation speed. Therefore, while the rotational speed of the pulse motor is increasing, no matter how much the stop button is operated, the reel cannot be stopped.

[The problem that the idea aims to solve]

However, in conventional slot machines, players have no way of knowing that the pulse motor has not yet reached a constant rotation speed after it has been started, so they often operate the stop button in vain, causing the contact piece installed behind it to This may cause the unit to malfunction or be damaged. In addition, if the stop signal generated before the pulse motor reaches a constant speed is electrically held, even if the stop button is pressed while the pulse motor's rotation speed is increasing,
The reels are stopped after a predetermined period of time has passed and the pulse motor reaches constant speed rotation, and this time lag gives an unnatural impression to the player.

[Purpose of invention]

The present invention was made to solve the above problem, and by displaying the period during which the rotational speed of the pulse motor is increasing, it is possible to avoid needless operation of the stop button. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a slot machine in which the stop button itself is a touch-type switch, thereby reducing failures in the part that generates the stop signal.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention consists of a touch-type switch with a built-in light emitting element as a stop switch operated by the player when stopping the rotating reels, and the light emitting element is controlled by a microcomputer. The lighting is controlled by the signal to display that the pulse motor for driving the reel has reached a constant rotation speed and can now be stopped.

[Effect]

When the pulse motor is activated, the reels begin to rotate, and whether or not the rotation of the pulse motor has reached a constant speed is displayed by a light emitting body built into the touch switch. Then, when the player operates the stop switch after confirming the display, the reels are stopped at the timing of the operation. In addition, the operation can be done by simply touching the inner cylinder of the touch-type switch.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

〔Example〕

In FIG. 1, a slot machine 1 has an operating lever 2 on its side, and by pulling this operating lever 2, reels 3 to 5 rotate simultaneously. On the outer periphery of these reels 3 to 5 are "Cheery", "7",
It has a pattern such as a "lemon" on it and is driven by a pulse motor (not shown).

When the pulse motor is started, the reels 3 to 5 start rotating, and after the rotation reaches a constant speed, the corresponding reel can be stopped by operating the stop switches 6 to 8. As will be described in detail later, these stop switches 6 to 8 are comprised of touch sensor switches with built-in light emitters, and can be operated by just lightly touching them with a finger.

Windows 9 to 11 are provided in front of each of the reels 3 to 5, allowing the players to see three patterns on the outer periphery of each of the stopped reels 3 to 5. Then, when all of the reels 3 to 5 stop, medals are paid out to the saucer 12 according to the combination of symbols. Reference numeral 13 indicates the medal slot, and when one medal is inserted, the combination of symbols in the horizontal line in the center is valid for winning determination, when two medals are inserted, the two rows above and below it, and when three medals are inserted, the combinations diagonally. Two columns are also valid. Note that when four or more medals are inserted, the extra medals are returned to the tray 12. This is similar to inputting the signal from the microswitch that detects the insertion of medals into a counter, integrating the signal, and when the value reaches 4 or more, activating the solenoid and pressing the return button on the coin sorter. Just do it.

While the reels 3 to 5 are rotating, the stop position of each reel 3 to 5 is determined by detecting the reference position with a photodetector, resetting the counter, and then integrating the number of pulses supplied to the pulse motor. I understand. Since the relationship between the number of pulses from the reference position and the pattern is known in advance, the combination of the patterns appearing in the windows 9 to 11 can be known. By reading the memory with a coded signal of this combination and controlling the medal ejecting device with the contents, a predetermined number of medals are paid out according to the combination of symbols. If the stop switches 6 to 8 are not pressed, the reels 3 to 5 will stop sequentially after a random period of time has elapsed.

The stop switches 6 to 8 have a built-in light emitting body, and when the pulse motor is rotating at a constant speed and each device is ready, the stop switches 6 to 8 are lit by a signal from the microcomputer and can be pressed. is displayed. These light emitters are not turned on before the pulse motor reaches constant rotation speed, so even if stop switches 6 to 8 are operated during that period, the operation signals will not be accepted by the microcomputer. It is not possible to stop the reels. Since these stop switches 6 to 8 have the same structure, stop switch 6 will be explained.

In FIG. 2, a light emitting diode 1 is installed in the inner tube 15.
6 is stored. This light emitting diode 16 is located at the tip of an insulating holder 17, and its lead wire is inserted into a hole in the holder 17. This holder 17 is screwed into the inner cylinder 15 while holding the light emitting diode 16.

An insulating spacer 19 is fitted on the outer periphery of the tip of the inner cylinder 15, and this spacer 19
An outer cylinder 20 is fitted around the outer periphery of the cylinder. An insulating ring 21 is fitted into the stepped portion 20a of the outer cylinder 20. This ring 21 is fixed with a set screw 22 so that it will not come off.

The inner cylinder 15 is connected to a detection circuit 24 via a lead wire 23. When the inner tube 15 is touched with a finger after the light emitting diode 16 is turned on, a voltage drop occurs, and this voltage drop is detected by the detection circuit 14 and sent to the microcomputer. The microcomputer blocks the supply of pulses to the pulse motor to stop the corresponding reel.

By using touch sensor switches with the above structure as the stop switches 6 to 8 for stopping the reel, which are operated very frequently, the failure rate is extremely low compared to conventional stop switches that turn on and off movable contacts. become.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, according to the slot machine of the present invention, a touch-type switch with a built-in light emitter is used as the stop switch for stopping the reel.
When operated, it can be turned on and off with a light touch of the finger, and compared to conventional stop switches with movable contacts, they are less likely to malfunction and are also superior in terms of operability. Furthermore, the light emitting body built into it indicates that the pulse motor for driving the reels has reached a constant rotation speed, that is, that the stop switch operation can be effectively accepted. It also prevents you from operating the stop switch at any time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the stop switch used in the slot machine of FIG. 1. 2...Operation lever, 3-5...Reel, 6-8
... Stop switch, 16 ... Light emitting diode, 24 ... Detection circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A slot machine in which the drive of a pulse motor that rotates the reel is controlled by a microcomputer, and the pulse motor is not stopped until it reaches a constant rotation speed, and the reel is stopped while it is rotating. manipulated to make
The stop switch is equipped with a stop switch that outputs a stop signal to the microcomputer. an insulating spacer that fits around the outer periphery of the spacer; an outer cylinder that fits around the outer periphery of the spacer;
It is composed of a touch-type switch with a built-in light emitting body, which is comprised of a detection circuit that detects when a finger touches the inner cylinder and issues the stop signal, and the light emitting body is turned on by a signal from a microcomputer. A slot machine characterized in that the pulse motor is controlled to indicate when the pulse motor reaches constant rotation speed and a stop signal is activated.