JPH07124314A - Side indicator unit for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To add a winning entrance mechanism to a side part indication device installed on the side part of the playing area of a relatively narrow playing board. CONSTITUTION:Several light sources 29... are installed on the installation base board 28 which forms a storage room for the light sources, and the front opening of the storage room is shut by the 1st front board 32. And in the front side of this 1st front board 32, the 2nd front board 33 is separately attached. Thus, a space for balls to go down is formed between the 1st and the 2nd boards 32 and 33. And by locating the 2nd ball receiving projected part 38 inside this space, the 2nd winning entrance 35 which has a sensor 40 inside is formed there.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a side display device unit for a gaming machine in which a winning port function is added to the side display device in a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A game machine typified by a pachinko machine forms a game area on a game board that is actually used for games, and wins a prize in the process in which a game ball as a game medium flows down in this game area. When the player wins the area, the player can obtain a game profit. Then, in the game area, a variable winning device capable of converting a first state, which is disadvantageous to the player, and a second state, which is advantageous to the player, and a variable side which variably displays invisible a plurality of types of identification symbols. A game device such as a partial display device is provided, and the game contents are changed by appropriately setting the operating states and operating conditions of these game devices, thereby diversifying the game contents.

In recent game machines, a relatively large main game device (so-called center accessory) is provided in the approximate center of the game area, and this center accessory enhances the decorative effect of the entire game board. Or, it is designed to impress the player with the characteristics of the game content. A variable winning device, a variable side display device, and the like are mainly used as the center accessory, and the other game devices are formed relatively compactly and appropriately arranged in the game area. In addition, side display devices (so-called side lamps) that notify the player of the gaming state of the gaming machine and enhance the decorative effect are provided on the left and right sides of the gaming board where the game balls are relatively difficult to fly. It is provided.

[0004]

However, in recent game machines, the game device arranged in the center of the game area of the game board tends to be large, and various kinds of games can be played in a relatively small game board. A major design issue is how to efficiently arrange the devices. In particular, the side display device that enhances the visual effect in the game requires an appropriate size for the purpose of increasing the visibility to the player, but if it is too large, the game area that can actually be used for the game is executed. Since the area is reduced, it is limited to the extent that the visibility is improved by the light emitting display. In other words, as the main game device grows in size, other game devices and prizes need to be efficiently arranged in a limited area. This can result in a loss of playability.

In addition, the wirings drawn from the game medium detectors and the side display devices of the distributed prize devices are complicated, and the assembling work for connecting these wires is complicated, and these prize devices and When a failure occurs in the side display device, it is difficult to grasp the connection state of each wiring, and therefore repair work is not easy.

Therefore, the present invention can add an effective display function to a relatively small game board, and design and play the game board.
An object of the present invention is to provide a side display device unit of a gaming machine that can be easily manufactured and repaired.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is arranged in a side part of a game area (9a) formed on a game board (10) used for a game, and is in a game state. A side display device for displaying information related to the above with a light emitting source (29) and enhancing a decorative effect, and a winning opening capable of accepting a game medium flowing down a game board surface (for example, a second winning opening 3).
5) and the game medium detecting means (for example, the ball sensor 40) that detects the game medium that has won the winning opening are integrated into a single unit.

[0008]

[Function] By integrating the winning holes into the side display device in an integrated manner, the size of the side display device can be increased, and both functions can be added to the game board in a space much smaller than those provided individually. be able to. Moreover, the connection wiring is simplified by integrating the functions of the side display device and the winning opening.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which a gaming machine unit according to the present invention is provided in a gaming machine capable of playing pachinko will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 1 is composed of a main frame 2 and an auxiliary frame 3. The main frame 2 is added with various functions related to the game (detailed later), and the auxiliary frame is added. 3 is a card control function that enables the use of a prepaid card (a card for pachinko games that is sold in advance at a predetermined amount and stores valuable data equivalent to currency stored in a magnetic recording unit). It also has a ball lending control function.

The main frame 2 is constructed by rotatably providing a frame-shaped front frame 5 on the front side of a hollow box frame-shaped machine frame 4. A glass frame 6 and a front panel 7 are rotatably provided in a window portion 5a opened in the front frame 5, and a rear portion of the glass frame 6 in which transparent glass is arranged is surrounded by a guide rail 8. A game board 10 having a game area 9a and a non-game area 9b which is an outer side of the guide rail 8 is provided. The game board 10 is the main body of a pachinko game, and a ball emitted from a ball striking mechanism (not shown) that elastically expels a game ball by an electric drive source such as a solenoid is a game area 9a via the guide rail 8. When supplied to the player, the player wins a prize ball as a prize ball when he or she wins in any of the various prize areas (detailed later) provided in the game area 9a, and wins in any prize area. The balls that have not been played are collected as out-of-balls from the outlet 11.

On the other hand, on the front panel 7 located below the glass frame 6, prize balls (balls that the player obtains by winning in any prize area in the game area 9a) and ball rentals. A ball supply tray 12 for storing (a ball lent to the player from the game store) is provided, and the supplied ball is supplied from the ball supply tray 12 to a launch ball standby unit (not shown). Is struck by the hitting ball firing mechanism. Further, an operating handle 13 for operating the hitting ball firing mechanism, a ball receiving tray 14 for receiving balls that cannot be stored in the ball feeding tray 12, and the like are appropriately provided at appropriate places below the front frame 5.

The ball lending control device 15 housed in the auxiliary frame 3 reads valuable data of the prepaid card inserted from the card insertion / ejection slot 16 and, for example, a ball lending device provided at an appropriate position on the ball supply tray 12. In response to the player operating the button 17, a predetermined number of game balls are lent, the valuable data of the prepaid card is rewritten to a value obtained by subtracting the currency corresponding to the lent game ball, and the return button 18 is operated by the player. Alternatively, when the remaining number of valuable data of the prepaid card becomes "0", the prepaid card taken in is ejected from the card insertion / ejection slot 16. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the number of balls required to be lent out is adjusted by adjusting the number of times the single ball lending button 17 is operated. 1 is in a state where the ball lending operation is possible (state in which the ball lending button 17 and the return button 18 can be operated)
The ball lending button valid indicator 19 that lights and displays the ball supply tray 1
It is supposed to be provided in the proper place of 2.

In the vicinity of the card insertion / ejection slot 16 of the auxiliary frame 3 (immediately above in FIG. 1), the ball lending control device 15 is provided.
A card holding display unit 20 for displaying that the prepaid card has been inserted is provided inside the ball lending control device 15 at a position directly above the card holding display unit 20 and at an appropriate position of the ball supply tray 12. In addition, a card remaining number display 21 for displaying the remaining number of valuable data that can be used by the held prepaid card is provided. In addition, the card remaining number display 2
In addition to 1, if a frequency display for displaying the frequency when the prepaid card is inserted into the ball lending control device 15 is provided, how many balls the player borrows in the gaming machine 1 It can be used as a guide for the player and can be served on the player's flight.

Next, the structure of the game board 10 will be described in detail.
In the game area 9a of the game board 10 for the game machine 1, as shown in FIG. 2, a game nail (not shown) for changing the flow direction of the hit ball is planted at a required position, and auxiliary start is performed. Auxiliary start prize device 22 and the like having a prize area (described in detail later) are arranged at appropriate places. In addition, a relatively large size is formed approximately in the center of the game area 9a, which is disadvantageous to the player.
There is provided a main variable winning device 23 that can be converted into a state and a second state that is advantageous to the player. This main variable winning device 2
3 includes, for example, a pair of left and right movable pieces 24, 24. The movable pieces 24, 24 close the first flow path by closing the spherical flow path to the internal winning area. The second state is made to appear by rotating to and opening the spherical flow path to the internal winning area.

The first side display device unit 2 is provided on the side portions (lower left portion and lower right portion in FIG. 2) of the game area 9a.
5a and a second side display device unit 25b, and these first and second side display device units 25a,
25b, and an auxiliary variable winning device 26 is provided above the outlet 11. The first side display device unit 25a and the second side display device unit 25b are bilaterally symmetrical. In addition, the auxiliary variable winning device 26 tilts the pair of left and right wings 26, 26 in the first state in which it is difficult to receive the ball into the internal winning area by raising the pair of left and right wings 27, 27. The second state in which the sphere can be easily received is generated in the internal winning area, and the sphere can be received in the first state. In addition, the auxiliary variable winning device 26 is changed from the first state to the second state for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) on condition that the game ball is won in the auxiliary starting winning area of the auxiliary starting winning device 22, 22. Convert.

Here, the side display device unit 25 for a gaming machine according to the present invention is, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, one side of a mounting board 28 for mounting on the gaming board 10 (shown in the drawings). (On the left side in the first side display device unit 25a)
Is set to have a curved edge shape along the outer edge of the game area 9a. Further, it is assumed that the central portion of the mounting substrate 28 is in the form of a box frame having an open front surface so as to bulge rearward, and a light source storage cavity 30 for housing the light source 29 including a plurality of lamps is formed. is there. Each light source 2
9 are fixed to the light emitting source holding substrate 31 in a detachable manner (for example, with a mounting screw) in the light emitting source storage space 30.

The front side opening of the light source housing cavity 30 is shielded by a first front plate 32 made of translucent synthetic resin or the like to form a side display device and the first front plate 32. Second front plate 33 in a state of being appropriately separated from each other (at least with an interval such that one game ball can pass through)
Is arranged so that a game ball flowing down space is formed between the first front plate 32 and the second front plate 33. The first front plate 32 needs to be translucent, but the second front plate 33 may be non-translucent or translucent to enhance the side display function. You may make it draw a different pattern. Also, the first front plate 32 and the second front plate 3
Between 3 and 3, for example, a first winning opening 3 which is a winning opening capable of receiving a game ball which is a game medium flowing down the surface of the game board.
4 and the second winning opening 35 are formed.

The first winning port 34 has a substantially U-shaped first ball receiving projection wall portion 36 formed on the mounting substrate 28 and a first front plate 3.
2 is extended to the front side and the front side open portion is formed by shielding the second front plate 33 and the front shielding member 37.
It is led out to the back side of the game board through the ball flow path formed by, collected by the winning ball collecting gutter (not shown), and detected by the safe sensor. The front shielding member 37 is provided with a right ball receiving piece 37b and a left ball receiving piece 37c which are in a state of protruding from the left and right side portions of the first winning opening opening 37a, respectively, and cannot be received in the first winning opening 34. It is intended to disperse the sphere to the left or right. The right ball receiving piece 37b in the present embodiment has a curved surface shape that guides the falling ball that is in contact with the right ball receiving piece 37b to the second winning port 35 with a relatively high probability.

The second winning opening 35 is provided on the first front plate 32.
Is formed by extending the substantially U-shaped second ball receiving projection wall portion 38 formed to the back side of the second front plate 33, and the ball received in the second winning opening 35 is Approximately U-shaped spherical channel wall portion 3 formed on the mounting substrate 28
It is led out to the back side of the game board via 9, and is detected by a safe sensor like the winning ball to the first winning hole 34. By integrally molding the second ball receiving projecting wall portion 38 on the first front plate 32, the reinforcing effect of the first front plate 32 can be expected to a slight extent. Even if it collides with the front plate 32, it is less likely to be damaged.

A non-contact type ball sensor 40, for example, is provided in the second winning opening 35 as a game medium detecting means for detecting a game ball winning the second winning opening 35. The balls that have won the second winning opening 35 can be independently detected. The ball sensor 40 is provided with a ball passage opening 40a through which a winning ball can pass, and has a structure capable of magnetically detecting that a metallic game ball has passed. The detection means for detecting the winning ball into the second winning opening 35 is not limited to this, and a known existing contact sensor or the like may be used.

In the side display device unit 25 in which the side display device, the first and second winning openings 34 and 35, and the sphere sensor 40 are integrally formed as described above, each light emitting source 31 is included.
And the connection wiring from the ball sensor 40,
For example, once connected to a relay board 41 provided on the back side of the mounting board 28, an electrical control device (a device that performs overall game control and the like of the gaming machine 1) from the relay board 41 via a connector 42, etc. I am trying to connect.

As described above, in the side display device unit 25 according to the present invention, a plurality of light emitting sources 29 ... For example, since the first and second winning openings 34 and 35, which are two winning openings, are integrally formed, the external appearance of the side display device can be increased, and the side display device and the winning opening are provided. Game board 1 that has both functions in a much smaller space than installing separate prizes
It can be added to 0. Therefore, it is possible to enhance the decoration function and the display function of the side display device.

Furthermore, by integrating the functions of the side display device and the winning opening, the degree of freedom in the layout of the side display device and the winning opening on the game board surface is increased, and the connection wiring can be simplified. Therefore, a relatively small game board 1
The design for efficiently arranging various side display devices and winning openings to 0 becomes easy, and the manufacturing work and repair work of the game board 10 become easy.

If a game ball flow-down part, which is a game medium flow-down part, is formed between the first front plate 32 and the second front plate 33, the game area 9a of the game board 10 is relatively narrow.
On the other hand, even if the area occupied by the side display device unit 25 is enlarged, the effective area of the game area 9a (the area that can be substantially used for the game) is not significantly narrowed, so that the game area 9a is effectively used. It is possible to play the game that has been performed and to enhance the display function.

As in this embodiment, the light emitting sources 29 are embedded in the game board 10 so that the space from the front surface of the game board 10 to the back surface of the second front plate 33 becomes the space where the game balls flow down. In this case, since the light emitting sources 29 ... Do not project from the surface of the game board 10, even if the number of the light emitting sources 29 ... Is increased, the side display unit 25 becomes a great obstacle to the flow of the game balls. There is no such thing. Further, if the light emitting sources 29 ... Are embedded, a game ball flow lower part can be formed on the front side of the first front plate 32 without providing the second front plate 33.
By providing the front plate 33, the downflow force of the game ball that collides with the second front plate 33 before reaching the downflow part of the game ball formed in the side display device unit 25 is attenuated,
It is possible to favorably prevent the risk that the first front plate 32 and the like will be damaged by the downward force of the game ball.

Next, an example of game contents of the gaming machine 1 including the side display device unit 25 according to the present invention will be described.

The game ball that has reached the inside of the game area 9a of the game board 10 flows through the board surface while any winning hole (for example, the first
A winning ball 34) is won, or an out ball 11 located at the bottom of the game area 9a enters and becomes a miss ball. Here, when the game ball wins the auxiliary start winning area of the auxiliary starting winning device 22, 22, the auxiliary variable winning device 26 converts into the second state for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds), and it becomes easy to accept the game ball. Further, the auxiliary variable winning device 26 and the first and second
Second winning opening 3 of the side display unit 25a, 25b
A start winning area is formed inside 5, 35, and the game ball is the auxiliary variable winning apparatus 26 or the second winning opening 3
When the player wins in 5, 35, the main variation winning device 23 performs an auxiliary game in which the player-winning prize winning device 23 converts from a first state, which is disadvantageous to the player, to a second state, which is advantageous to the player, in accordance with the detection of the starting winning ball. In addition, when the second winning a prize is won, the main variable winning device 23 is assumed to perform, for example, 0.5 second release (conversion to the second state) once, and the second winning a prize 35, 35 is won. In this case, the main variation winning device 23 is to release the ball for 0.8 seconds twice, for example.

The main variable winning device 23 as described above is provided with a general winning opening and a special winning opening (not shown), and a ball received in the main variable winning device 23 is a general winning opening or a special winning prize. Win one of the mouths. Then, in the auxiliary game started as described above, if there is no ball that has won the special winning opening in the main variation winning device 23, the game returns to the normal game again and if even one wins in the special winning opening, , A special game with a high probability that the player can obtain a large game profit is started. In the special game, the main variable winning device 23 is intermittently converted to the second state to be able to receive a large number of game balls, and the main variable winning device 2
Either the number of times the second state is changed to 3 reaches a predetermined number (for example, 18 times), the number of balls received in the variable winning apparatus reaches a predetermined number (for example, 10 balls), or whichever of the earliest conditions is satisfied. One cycle is set, and if a game ball wins the special winning opening in the main variable winning device 23 by the time the cycle end condition is achieved, the cycle ends at that point and the next cycle starts again. Then, when the number of cycle updates in this special game reaches a predetermined number (for example, 16) or the cycle end condition is satisfied, the special game is ended and the normal game state is restored.

The game contents of the gaming machine 1 using the side display device unit 25 according to the present invention are not limited to the above, and any game using the second winning opening 35 having the ball sensor 40 can be used. ,anything is fine. Further, what is integrated with the side display device unit 25 is not limited to the winning opening provided with the game medium detecting means, and a necessary game device may be appropriately selected according to the game content.

For example, the side display device unit 43 shown in FIG. 6 has the same first and second winning openings 34, 3 as in the above embodiment.
A pair of left and right side display devices including 5 are integrated, and a variable winning device 44 having an opening / closing door and a variable display 45 capable of converting and displaying a plurality of identification symbols are provided between these side display devices. Is. In this way, the number of parts to be mounted on the game board 10 can be further reduced, the labor can be saved in the manufacturing process, and the connection of the variable winning device 44 and the variable display 45, which have a relatively large number of wires, can be integrated. As a result, not only the manufacturing work but also the maintenance work becomes easier. In this embodiment, a light source housing space (not shown) is provided at two positions on the left and right of the mounting substrate 28 'to be closed by a first front plate (not shown), and the second front plate 33a is further provided on the front side thereof. ，
33b is arranged respectively, but the light emitting source accommodating empty portion may be divided into one or three or more, and the number of light emitting source accommodating empty portions and the number of second front plates may be different (for example, It is also possible to provide one second front plate for each of the two light emitting source housing empty parts.

[0032]

As described above, in the side display device unit for a gaming machine according to the present invention, the prize holes are integrated into the side display device in an integrated manner. The appearance of can be enlarged, and both functions can be added to the game board in a space much smaller than those provided individually. Therefore, the decoration function and the display function of the side display device can be enhanced.

Furthermore, by integrating the functions of the side display device and the winning opening, the degree of freedom in the layout of the side display device and the winning opening on the game board surface is increased, and the connection wiring can be simplified. Therefore, the design for efficiently disposing various game devices on the relatively small game board becomes easy, and the manufacturing work and repair work of the game board become easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game machine.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a game area on a game board.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a side display device unit.

FIG. 4 is a rear side perspective view of the side display device unit.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a side display device unit.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a side display device unit according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9a game area 10 game board 29 light emission source 35 second winning opening 40 ball sensor

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A side display device, which is arranged on a side part of a game area formed on a game board used for playing a game, in which information relating to a game state is displayed by a light emitting source and a decorative effect is enhanced. A side portion for a gaming machine, characterized in that a winning opening capable of accepting a gaming medium flowing down the surface of a gaming board and a gaming medium detecting means for detecting a gaming medium winning the winning opening are integrally formed. Display unit. 2. The side display device unit for a gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a game medium flow-down empty space for allowing the game medium to flow down. 3. The side display device unit for a gaming machine according to claim 2, further comprising a light emitting source provided on the gaming board surface side of the game medium flowing down portion. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a relay board for concentrating wirings of the light emitting source and the game medium detecting means to relay signal transmission / reception. Side display unit.