JPH09215853A - Game machine island - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine island which enables players to count balls using as near a ball-counting machine as possible to decrease the distance which the players have to move, so that the rate of operation of game machines is raised, that game media retained in the game machine island can be kept in a proper amount, that concentration of balls at one ballcounting machine is prevented, and that the players can be guided smoothly to other usable ball counting machines. SOLUTION: Prize-ball counting machines 15 are placed in approximately the center of each line of pachinko machines and at both ends of an island, a total of four positions, and are each controlled so that when balls are retained by a predetermined amount or more near the reject slots of a center tank 22 and a side tank 23 to which the machines 15 are communicated, their use is suspended; when the use of each prize ball counting machine 15 is suspended, guide information for showing the nearest usable prize ball counting machine 15 is displayed on its display part 18.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided with a plurality of gaming machines installed back to back in two rows, and a storage tank capable of holding a large amount of gaming media in a lower stage of an island below each gaming machine row. About game machine island. Here, the game machine is mainly a pachinko machine, and the game medium is a pachinko ball.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional game machine island, a prize ball counter (game medium counter) is usually arranged at both ends of the island, and a player receives a pachinko ball awarded from a pachinko machine from the two machines. It has been so arranged that it is thrown into one of the prize ball counting machines, receives a receipt or a card in which the counted number of balls is recorded, takes the receipt or the like to a prize exchange place, and exchanges it for a prize. The pachinko balls thrown into the prize ball counter are returned to the storage tank in the lower stage of the island, and the balls retained in the storage tank are appropriately pumped to the upper stage of the island by the polishing lifting device, and the distribution gutter is supplied. It flows down and is supplied to each pachinko machine.

[0003]

However, in the conventional gaming machine island as described above, since the prize ball counters are located at both ends of the island, the player who is playing near the center of the gaming machine row is There is a problem that it is necessary to move to the island edge when counting the number, which causes inconvenience to a player with a large moving distance and causes a decrease in the operation rate of the pachinko machine while the player is moving. .

Further, if the balls obtained by the player are thrown into the prize ball counting machine of the gaming machine island that has discharged the balls, the number of balls held in each gaming machine island installed in the gaming store is kept constant. However, if the amount of balls thrown into the prize ball counter of another gaming machine island increases, the balance of the amount of balls held among the gaming machine islands will collapse, so there will be insufficient balls on one gaming machine island. On another gaming machine island, there was a risk that there would be an excess of balls.

Further, when the balls are thrown into one prize ball counting machine on the same gaming machine island, the balls are accumulated too much at a specific portion of the storage tank with which the counting machine communicates and become dead balls, which remain for a long time. There was a risk that it would get rusted. On the other hand, if the prize ball counter is easily made unacceptable in order to prevent the occurrence of dead balls, it may confuse and confuse the players, leading to a drop in service.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and enables the player to count the balls with a counter as close as possible to reduce the moving distance of the player. The operating rate of the gaming machine can be increased, and the amount of gaming media stored in the gaming machine island can be maintained appropriately. Further, it is possible to prevent the situation where the balls are thrown into a single counting machine. , It is an object to provide a gaming machine island that can smoothly guide a player to another usable counting machine.

[0007]

The gist of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object lies in the following respective items. 1 A plurality of gaming machines (11) are installed so as to be lined up in two rows back to back, and a storage tank (22, 2) capable of holding a large amount of gaming media in the lower island (10C) below each gaming machine row
In the gaming machine island (10) provided with 3), the number of game media that have been input is counted and the counted gaming media are stored at the storage tank (22, 4) at approximately the center of each gaming machine row and at both ends of the island. Two
3) A game medium counter (15) for returning is provided in each game medium, and each game medium counter (15) has a game medium in the vicinity of each return inlet of the storage tank (22, 23) with which they communicate. When it stays above a predetermined amount, it is controlled to be in a use stop state, and each game medium counter (15) is the other usable game medium counter located closest to the game medium counter when the use state is stopped. A gaming machine island (10) having a display section (18) for visually displaying guidance information for guiding a player to (15).

2. The game machine island (10) according to item 1, wherein the guidance information includes at least an arrow (N1) indicating the left and right game medium counters (15).

Next, the operation based on the above-mentioned solving means will be described. According to the gaming machine island (10) of item 1, since the gaming medium counters (15) are arranged at a total of four positions at substantially the center of each gaming machine row and both ends of the island, the player does not necessarily have to play the island edge. It is possible to easily insert and count the game medium into any of the nearest counters (15) without moving to the counter. The game medium counted by the game medium counter (15) is Shimashita (1
(0C) is returned to the storage tank (22, 23).

Each of the game medium counters (15) is in a use stopped state when the game medium is accumulated in a predetermined amount or more in the vicinity of the respective return inlets of the storage tanks (22, 23) communicating with each other. It is possible to prevent the situation where the balls are thrown into the prize ball counter (15) only, and the storage tank (22,
Spheres do not accumulate too much at the specific location of 23) and remain for a long time.

When the game medium counter (15) is in the discontinued state, the display section (18) of the counter (15) displays
Other available game media counters located closest (1
Since guidance information for guiding 5) to the player is displayed, the player can move to another designated counter (15) without being confused.

If the gaming machine island (10) is as described above,
The game player uses the obtained game media to collect any of the prize ball counters (1) in the game machine island (10) that has discharged the game media.
It is normal to put most of them in 5), and the ball holding amount of each gaming machine island (10) installed in plural in the gaming shop is kept constant in island units.

According to the gaming machine island (10) of item 2, since the guidance information includes at least the arrow (N1) indicating the left and right gaming medium counters (15), the player can clearly understand without being confused. Can recognize other counters (15) that can be used for.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 10 show an embodiment representative of the present invention. The gaming machine island 10 according to the present embodiment includes an island upper tier 10A and an island lower tier 1 in which various related equipments of a pachinko machine (gaming machine) 11 are respectively housed.
Between 0C, each pachinko machine 11 is installed with an island middle tier 10B arranged in two rows back to back. At a total of four locations near the center of each pachinko machine row and at both ends of the island, the number of inserted pachinko balls (game medium) is counted and the counted balls are returned to a storage tank (described below). A medium counter) 15 is provided. In addition, the pachinko machine 11 and the premium ball counter 15
Are formed to have the same width and height.

Each pachinko machine row forming the middle stage 10B of the island includes three pachinko machines 11 on the left and right, and a ball lending machine and game-related equipment 12 with a prize ball counter 15 disposed substantially at the center thereof. They are arranged side by side alternately. Pachinko machine 1
1 is a game in which a pachinko ball is struck on the board by rotating the handle, and the player can enjoy winning a ball hitting various types of goods. The premium ball counter 15 counts the balls thrown into the ball receiving port 16 with an internal counting counter or a computer, and visually displays the counting result on the ball number display unit 17 or prints the counting result. This is a device for paying out receipts and cards from the exit 19.

Each of the prize ball counters 15 is stopped by the control means 70 when the pachinko balls are accumulated in a predetermined amount or more near each of the reducing inlets of the storage tanks in the lower island 10C with which they communicate. Controlled by. Here, the control means 70 centrally manages the replenishment / recovery of pachinko balls on the gaming machine island 10. Specifically, the control means 70 is composed of a microcomputer including an interface, a CPU, a RAM, a ROM and the like.

At the ball receiving port 16 of each premium ball counting machine 15,
A shutter (not shown) that can be opened and closed is provided,
When such a shutter is closed, the player cannot enter the ball and is in a use stopped state. A motor or the like, which is a driving means of the shutter, is connected to the control means 70 by a signal line, and when the motor or the like receives a use stop signal from the control means 70, it is programmed to operate so that the shutter is closed.

The details of the vicinity of the respective return inlets through which the prize ball counters 15 communicate with the storage tank will be described later, but in the prize ball counter 15 at the center of the pachinko machine row, the center ball 22 forming the storage tank is provided. It is a location along the upper part of the front and rear walls and indicates the vicinity where the proximity sensor 60 is located. In addition, in the prize ball counter 15 on the island edge, the side tank 23 which is also a storage tank
Proximity sensor 28D
Indicates the vicinity where is located.

When a sphere stays in the vicinity of each of these return inlets for a predetermined amount or more, the proximity sensors 28D and 60 are continuously turned on.
The control means 70 receiving the ON signal is set to output the use stop signal to the prize ball counter 15 corresponding to each of the sensors 28D and 60. In addition, each premium ball counter 15 can be used as another free gift ball counter 1 that is closest to the premium ball counter 1 when the above-mentioned use stop state is reached.
There is provided a display unit 18 for visually displaying guidance information for guiding the player 5 to the player.

That is, the control means 70 determines whether or not one prize ball counter 15 is in the discontinued state based on the presence or absence of an ON signal from the proximity sensors 28D, 60 corresponding to each prize ball counter 15. A counter 1 that has stopped using the guidance information that identifies the other available free ball counter 15 located closest to it and guides the other counter 15 to the player.
It also outputs a display control signal to be displayed on the display unit 18 of No. 5.

The guide information displayed on the display unit 18 is the arrow N1 indicating the left and right premium ball counters 15 as shown in FIG.
And, for example, it includes the character message N2 "This counter is discontinued. Please use the right (or left) counter." In addition, a separate stop indicator lamp 18
You may provide a.

In FIG. 3, for example, the prize ball counter 15A in front of the player is out of use, and the other counters 15B to 15C.
If any of these can be used, the display unit 1 of the counter 15A
Both of the counters 15B and 15D on the right and left sides of the counter 8 are guided to 8, and when the counter 15B is also discontinued, the counter 15D on the right side of the position of the counter 15A is guided. Has become. Detailed display mode on the display unit 18 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, an island lower step 10C, which is the base of the entire island, is covered with a waist plate 20 forming an outer wall thereof, and a top plate 21 on which the respective pachinko machine rows are mounted is mounted on the upper end of the waist plate 20. Is installed. A storage tank capable of holding a large amount of pachinko balls is equipped inside the lower island 10C. Such a storage tank is composed of a central tank 22 arranged below the polishing and lifting device 50 provided upright in the center of the island, and a pair of side tanks 23, 23 arranged on both sides thereof.

Each of the side tanks 23 is formed in a box-like frame shape which is inclined downward toward one end side close to the central tank 22, and a substantially horizontal upper surface side is largely opened, so that each pachinko machine 1
Out balls discharged from No. 1 can be accepted. The bottom surface 24 of the lateral tank 23 is supported by supporting legs 24a so as to incline downward toward one end side (center side of the island), and a ball outlet provided at the lower end of the front wall 25 on the one end side. Are connected to the lower end side of the central tank 22. That is, the pachinko balls in the side tank 23 naturally flow down on the bottom surface portion 24 due to gravity and gather on the side of the central tank 22.

At the upper part of the side tank 23, a collection gutter 30 for receiving and discharging the balls discharged from each pachinko machine 11
Is extended in the longitudinal direction and is arranged so as to incline downward toward one end side in accordance with the inclination of the side tank 23. The other end, which is the upstream end of the collection gutter 30, extends through the insertion hole of the rear wall 26 to the inside of the lower base 14 of the prize ball counter 15 at the island end. That is, the balls discharged from the prize ball counter 15 at the island end are delivered to the other end side of the collection gutter 30.

The collection gutter 30 is provided with a ball drop port 31 and collection gutter shutters 32A to 32D for opening and closing the drop port 31 at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction. The numbers of the drop port 31 and the shutters 32A to 32D for the collecting gutter are as shown in FIG.
In the above, four pairs of left and right collection gutters 30 are continuously provided, but this number may be appropriately set according to the length of the collection gutter 30. Further, the specific configuration of the lateral tank 23 is not limited to the configuration in which the illustrated plurality of divided tank blocks are connected in the longitudinal direction, but is integrally formed as a single tank having a predetermined size from the beginning. Good.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the recovery gutter shutter 32A located at the lowermost end will be described as a representative.
The collection gutter shutter 32A is the bottom part 30a of the collection gutter 30.
It is made of a plate material that is slidable along the bottom surface portion 30a between a closed position that closes the drop opening 31 provided in the open position and an open position that opens the drop opening 31. Racks 33 are formed on both end edges of the recovery gutter shutter 32, and the side walls 27 of the side tank 23 are formed.
A pinion 34, which meshes with the rack 33, is rotatably supported by the. An output shaft of a drive motor 35 is fixedly mounted on the pinion 34. In addition, collection gutter 30
The pinion 34 appearing inside may be provided with a cover 34a or the like so as not to obstruct the flow of the ball. Also, the pinion 34
May be configured to be rotationally driven from outside the island.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the side wall 27 of the side tank 23, the amount of pachinko balls stored sequentially from the deepest portion on one end side of the tank 23 to the shallowest portion on the other end side. Sphere detection means for detecting is provided. The sphere detecting means is composed of four proximity sensors 28A to 28D provided below and downstream of the collection gutter shutters 32A to 32D so as to correspond to the collection gutter shutters 32A to 32D. Each proximity sensor 28A, 2
8B ... O when the pachinko balls accumulate to their mounting position
It becomes N, and for example, when the ON state continues for 2 seconds or more, a signal is set to be output to the control means 70 described later.

As shown in FIG. 10, the collection gutter shutters 32A to 32D (correctly, their drive motors 35) and the proximity sensors 28A to 28D are connected to the control means 70 via signal lines, respectively. . Such control means 7
By 0, in response to the signals from the proximity sensors 28A to 28D, the recovery gutters are arranged so that the pachinko balls flowing down from the other end side of the recovery gutter 30 sequentially drop from one end side to the other end side of the side tank 23. The shutters 32A to 32D are set so as to be drive-controlled from a normal closed position that closes the drop opening 31 to an open position.

That is, when the number of balls in the side tank 23 is still small and all the proximity sensors 28A to 28D are OFF,
All the collection gutter shutters 32A to 32D are closed, and the balls on the collection gutter 30 drop from one end of the collection gutter 30 to one end of the side tank 23. Side tank 23 gradually
When the spheres are accumulated inside and the proximity sensors 28A to 28D are sequentially turned on, the collection gutter shutters 32A to 32D closer to one end side of the collection gutter 30 are sequentially opened accordingly, and finally the polishing lifting device 50 is opened. The spheres are controlled so as to be stored from one end side of the near side tank 23 toward the other end side.

A storage tank shutter 40 that can be opened and closed is provided at the ball outlet that connects the lower end of the front wall 25 in the side tank 23 and the central tank 22. The storage tank shutter 40 can be opened and closed by a rotary solenoid 41 that is a drive unit, and plays a role of preventing the balls in the side tank 23 from flowing into the central tank 22 when closed. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the storage tank shutter 40 is held by a holding bracket 42 fixed to the side tank 23 side so as to be vertically slidable (openable / closable). , A play groove 4 under the storage tank shutter 40
0a is drilled.

Play groove 40 of shutter 40 for storage tank
A pin portion 41b protruding from the eccentric portion of the rotary plate 41a of the rotary solenoid 41 is inserted through a, and the pin portion 41b is a guide formed in the holding bracket 42 and extending in an arc shape in the vertical direction. The groove 42a is also movably inserted. The driving means is the rotary solenoid 41.
However, it may be a simple solenoid or a motor. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface side of the central tank 22 is a ball discharging unit 16 provided at the lower end of the ball receiving port 16 of the prize ball counting machine 15 at the center of the pachinko machine row.
It is opened so that the ball falling from a can be received. A communication pipe 16b for guiding the balls into the central tank 22 is connected to the ball discharging portion 16a of the counter 15 which is located farther from the central tank 22.

On the front and rear inner walls of the central tank 22, sphere detection means for detecting the amount of retained pachinko balls is provided. The sphere detecting means is provided with the proximity sensors 60, 60, which are attached to the upper positions of the front and rear inner walls, respectively.
Consists of. Each proximity sensor 60 is set to be turned on when the pachinko balls are accumulated up to its mounting position, and output a signal to the control means 70 when the on state continues for 2 seconds or more, for example.

Further, in the central tank 22, a ball intake port 55 at the lower end of the polishing and lifting device 50 is arranged so as to face it. In addition, overflow ports 61 may be provided on both side walls of the central tank 22 for guiding extra balls overflowing from the central tank 22 to the lateral tanks 23, 23 located on the left and right.

As shown in FIG. 10, each storage tank shutter 40 (correctly, the rotary solenoid 41) and each proximity sensor 60 also have a control means 7 via a signal line.
It is connected to 0. According to the signals from the proximity sensors 60, the control means 70 closes the shutters 40 when the number of balls in the central tank 22 is larger than a predetermined amount (when one of the proximity sensors 60 is ON). While the balls in the central tank 22 are preferentially lifted by the polishing lifting device 50, and when the balls in the central tank 22 decrease below a predetermined amount (when both proximity sensors 60, 60 are OFF), It is set so that each shutter 40 is opened and the balls of each side tank 23 are introduced into the counted ball tank 23.

As shown in FIG. 4, the polishing and lifting device 50 includes
It is provided with a pair of polishing belts 51A and 51B arranged so as to extend vertically while being in contact with each other. One polishing belt 51A is stretched around a drive pulley 52a in addition to a plurality of pulleys 52, and is rotationally driven by a drive motor 52b. The other polishing belt 51B is also stretched around a plurality of pulleys 53 so as to extend vertically in a predetermined shape.

An intake port 55 located between the lower ends of the pair of polishing belts 51A and 51B is arranged near the bottom of the central tank 22. That is, the sphere held in the central tank 22 is taken in through the intake port 55 of the polishing and lifting device 50 at any time, and is held between the tight sides of the polishing belts 51A and 51B to be polished and moved upward. It is configured so that it is pumped and supplied from the discharge port 56 at the upper end onto the distribution gutter 80. In addition, in order to enhance the polishing efficiency, each polishing belt 51
On the tension side of A and 51B, a required portion is pressed by a plurality of spring members 54 continuously arranged in the vertical direction so as to extend while curving in a wave shape.

Further, the upper island 10A is covered with a curtain plate 70 forming the outer wall thereof, and in order to deliver the polished balls discharged from the discharge port 56 of the polishing and lifting device 50 to the respective pachinko machines 11. The pair of supply / drain gutters 71, 71 are arranged so as to extend from the center of the island to the left and right while inclining downward. Although not shown, a ball supply member called a distribution chute corresponding to a ball lending machine in each of the pachinko machines 11 and the game-related equipment 12 is attached to an intermediate portion of the supply / delivery trough 71.

Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, since the prize ball counters 15 are arranged at a total of four points at the island edge of the gaming machine island 10 and the center of each pachinko machine row, the player must always move to the island edge. Instead, it is possible to easily throw and count the balls in any of the nearest prize ball counters 15. In addition, since the player does not have to move much when counting balls, the operation rate of the pachinko machine 11 is improved. The ball counted by the prize ball counter 15 at the center of the pachinko machine row is returned along the front and rear walls of the central tank 22, and the ball counted by the prize ball counter 15 at the island end is the other end of the side tank 23. Is reduced to the side.

In FIG. 1, the balls discharged from each pachinko machine 11 do not fall directly on the bottom surface 24 of the side tank 23, but first fall on a recovery gutter 30 arranged in the side tank 23. To do. Since the collection gutter 30 extends in the longitudinal direction of the side tank 23, the balls returned from the prize ball counter 15 located at the other end of the side tank 23 also flow down on the collection gutter 30. It is usually introduced not from the other end side of the lateral tank 23 away from the center of the island but from the deepest part which is one end side.

Until the proximity sensor 28A for detecting the sphere is turned on for the first time because the amount of balls held in the side tank 23 is small, all the collection gutter shutters 32A connected to the collection gutter 30. 32D remains closed, and the ball falls from one end of the collecting gutter 30. Shimabata Premium Ball Counter 15
When the balls discharged from the pachinko machine 11 gradually accumulate at one end of the side tank 23, the proximity sensor 28A located at the bottom first turns on and outputs a signal to the control means 70 shown in FIG. To do.

Then, based on a command from the control means 70, the recovery gutter shutter 32A closest to the one end is opened, so that the ball comes from the drop port 31 at that position to the side tank 2.
3 to the bottom surface 24. Side tank 2 in the following order
As the sphere gradually accumulates from one end side in 3, the second proximity sensor 28B is turned on, the recovery gutter shutter 32B corresponding to this is opened based on a command from the control means 70, and similarly, the third proximity sensor 28B is opened. When the proximity sensor 28C is turned on, the collection gutter shutter 32C is opened, and when the fourth proximity sensor 28D is turned on, the last collection gutter shutter 3 is opened.
2D also opens.

When the proximity sensor 28D at the other end of the side tank 23 is turned on, the control means 70 outputs a use stop signal to the prize ball counter 15 at the island end near the proximity sensor 28D. When the prize ball counter 15 receives the use stop signal, the shutter (not shown) of the ball receiving port 16 is closed, and the use ball cannot be thrown into the use stop state. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the balls from being intensively returned to the other end of the side tank 23.

The spheres in the side tank 23 are sequentially taken into the central tank 22 as the storage tank shutter 40 is opened and closed. When the spheres in the side tank 23 gradually disappear, the proximity sensors 28A to 28A. 28D is sequentially turned OFF again, and corresponding collection gutter shutters 32A-
32D also returns to the normal closed state. In addition, the proximity sensor 2
When 8D is turned off, the prize ball counter 15 beside it returns to a usable state again.

In combination with the above-mentioned control of discontinuing use of the prize ball counter 15 at the island end, the balls flowing down on the collecting trough 30 are controlled by the opening / closing controls of the collecting trough shutters 32A to 32D in the collecting trough 30. Since the balls 23 sequentially drop from one end side to the other end side of 23, it is possible to prevent a situation in which extra balls are accumulated at the other end side of the side tank 23 and remain for a long time and become dead balls.

As shown in FIG. 4, proximity sensors 60, 60 are provided on the front and rear inner walls of the central tank 22, and the opening / closing of the storage tank shutter 40 is controlled according to the signal from the proximity sensor 60. To be done. That is, when the balls in the central tank 22 accumulate to a certain height position of the proximity sensor 60, the proximity sensor 60 is continuously turned on and outputs a signal to the control means 70 shown in FIG.

Then, the control means 70 outputs a drive signal to the rotary solenoid 41, and the storage tank shutter 4
0 is in a closed state in which the ball outlet 25a is closed. As a result, the balls in the side tank 23 do not excessively flow into the side of the central tank 22. The spheres in the central tank 22 are taken in from the intake 55 of the polishing and lifting device 50 as needed, and are held between the tensioning sides of the pair of polishing belts 51A and 51B of the polishing and lifting device 50 and polished. Meanwhile, the upper unit 10A
Be pumped to.

Further, when the control means 70 receives a signal from any one of the front and rear proximity sensors 60, the control means 70 outputs a use stop signal to the prize ball counter 15 in the center of the island near the proximity sensor 28D which is turned on. When the prize ball counter 15 at the center of the island receives the use stop signal, like the prize ball counter 15 at the end of the island,
The shutter (not shown) of the ball receiving port 16 is closed and the use is stopped. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the balls from being concentrated and accumulated only on one of the front and rear walls of the central tank 22.

When the number of balls in the central tank 22 has decreased below a predetermined amount, the proximity sensor 60 is turned off, and based on a command from the control means 70 which inputs this signal, the storage tank shutter 40 is opened this time to the side. The ball of the one-side tank 23 is introduced into the ball center tank 22. By such opening / closing control of the storage tank shutter 40, the counted balls discharged from the prize ball counter 15 in the center of the island are preferentially ground and lifted by the grinding and lifting device 50. When the proximity sensor 28D is turned off, the prize ball counter 15 in the center of the island closer to the proximity sensor 28D returns to the usable state again.

Further, the player who has finished the game throws the prize balls obtained from the pachinko machine 11 into one of the nearest prize ball counters 15 and counts them, and the result is the number-of-balls display section 17 At the same time, the receipt or the like on which the number of balls is printed can be received from the outlet 19. However, as described above, when the nearest prize ball counter 15 happens to be in the discontinued state, the display section 18 of the counter 15 will be the other one based on the display control signal from the control means 70. An arrow N1 and a text message N2 are displayed to guide the available prize ball counter 15 located nearby (see FIG. 5).

In FIG. 3, for example, a premium ball counter 15A
When the use is stopped and all the other counters 15B to 15C can be used, both the counters 15B and 15D on the left and right are guided to the display unit 18 of the counter 15A, and the counter 15B is also When the use is stopped, the counter 15D on the right side of the position of the counter 15A is guided. Further, if the counter 15D is also stopped, the counter 15C on the back side may be set to be guided only by the appropriate text message N2. It should be noted that a situation in which three or more counters 15 in one gaming machine island 10 are suspended at the same time cannot normally occur, and it is usually possible to guide either the left or right counter 15. ing.

As described above, when each of the prize ball counters 15 is in the use-discontinued state, the display section 18 of the counter 15 is stopped.
, The other available premium ball counter located closest to 1
Since guidance information for guiding 5 to the player is displayed, the player can smoothly move to another counter 15 that has been guided without confusion. In addition, by such guidance, it becomes normal for the player to put most of the acquired balls into one of the prize ball counters 15 in the gaming machine island 10 that has discharged the balls, and a plurality of them are installed in the game store. The amount of balls held in each gaming machine island 10 is kept substantially constant on an island-by-island basis.

The specific structure of the gaming machine island according to the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. For example, the game machine is not limited to the pachinko machine using a pachinko ball as a game medium, and may be a slot machine or the like having a coin or a medal as a game medium.

[0054]

According to the gaming machine island of the present invention, the gaming medium counters are arranged at a total of four places at both ends of the island and the center of each gaming machine row, and the gaming medium counters communicate with each other. When the game medium stays in the vicinity of each return inlet of the storage tank in a predetermined amount or more, the game medium is controlled to be in the discontinued state, and when each game medium counter is in the discontinued state, the display section thereof is displayed. Since the other closest available game media counter is guided, the player can count the balls with the nearest counter without necessarily moving to the island edge, and the distance traveled by the player The operating rate of the gaming machine is improved by a small amount, and it is possible to prevent long-term retention of the gaming medium in the local area of the storage tank without the balls being thrown into one counting machine. A game that can be smoothly guided to other possible counters and stored in the game machine island It is possible to maintain the holding amount of the body properly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a gaming machine island according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which only the lower stage of the island shows the internal structure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a gaming machine island according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a gaming machine island according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a polishing and lifting device installed inside a gaming machine island according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a display unit of the game medium counter installed on the game machine island according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an island lower stage of the gaming machine island according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part of a recovery gutter provided in the lower stage of the island of the gaming machine island according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view showing a storage tank shutter included in the gaming machine island according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged front view showing the shutter for the storage tank included in the gaming machine island according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control means included in the gaming machine island according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Game Machine Island 10A ... Island Top Stage 10B ... Island Middle Stage 10C ... Island Bottom Stage 11 ... Pachinko Machine (Game Machine) 15 ... Prize Ball Counter (Game Media Counter) 18 ... Display 22 ... Central Tank (Reservoir Tank) 23 … Side tank (storage tank)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A gaming machine island comprising a plurality of gaming machines arranged in two rows back to back, and a storage tank capable of holding a large amount of gaming media in a lower stage of an island below each gaming machine row, At a total of four locations on the center of each gaming machine row and at both ends of the island, a gaming media counter that counts the entered gaming media and returns the counted gaming media to the storage tank is provided. The counters are controlled to be in the discontinued state when the game medium stays in the vicinity of the respective return inlets of the storage tanks with which they communicate with each other, and each game medium counter is in the discontinued state. A gaming machine island, which has a display portion for visually displaying guidance information for guiding a player to another available gaming medium counter located closest to the gaming machine counter. 2. The game machine island according to claim 1, wherein the guidance information includes at least arrows indicating left and right game medium counters.