JPH09266979A - Pachinko machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain smooth motion in low speed operation of a rotary reel member even by using a small size low cost stepping motor. SOLUTION: A gear member 89 engaging with a shaft gear 102 to be attached to an output shaft 101 of a stepping motor and having an inner periphery gear part 96 with a number of teeth more than that of a shaft gear 102 is integrally formed on a rotary reel member 52a. Thereby, the step angle of the shaft gear 102 becomes smaller to a ratio of the number of teeth of the shaft gear divided by the number of teeth of the gear member 89 and it cause to enable to obtain smooth rotary motion in a low speed operation of the rotary reel member 52a integrally, formed with the gear member 89 and to use a conventional low cost stepping motor 100.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball game machine equipped with a variable display device having a rotating reel member (for example, a rotating drum) that variably displays a plurality of types of identification information by rotating a stepping motor. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a variable display device having a mechanical rotating reel member (for example, a rotating drum) that variably displays a plurality of types of identification information, in many cases, the rotating reel member is directly attached to the output shaft of a stepping motor. The center of the structure was fixed. By the way, since the stepping motor rotates the rotating reel member by continuously moving a predetermined step angle based on the pulse signal, a slight temporary stop at the step position is conspicuous at low speed rotation. However, there is a drawback that it is not possible to perform smooth low speed rotation. On the contrary, in order to perform a smooth low-speed rotation operation, the number of steps in one cycle may be increased. However, in order to increase the number of steps, the N pole of the rotor of the stepping motor or S
It has been necessary to reduce the size of permanent magnets magnetized to the poles and increase the number of magnetic pole plates on the stator side.

[0003]

However, reducing the size of the permanent magnet of the rotor is extremely expensive, and increasing the number of magnetic pole plates on the stator side increases the size of the stepping motor. There was a drawback. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball game machine which can obtain a smooth rotation operation of a rotary reel member at a low speed even with a small and inexpensive stepping motor.

[0004]

Means for solving the above problems will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 10, in a ball game machine equipped with a variable display device 30 having a rotary reel member 52a that variably displays a plurality of types of identification information by rotation of a stepping motor 100, a rotary reel. The output shaft 101 of the stepping motor 100 is provided on the member 52a.
Is engaged with a shaft gear 102 attached to the shaft gear 1 and
The gear member 89 is integrally formed with the inner peripheral gear portion 96 having the number of teeth larger than that of No. 02. With this configuration, FIG.
As shown in, the step angle T2 of the shaft gear 102 is a step angle T3 (T2> T3) obtained by multiplying the number of teeth of the shaft gear 102 by the number of teeth of the gear member 89. It is possible to obtain a smooth rotation operation of the integrally formed rotary reel member 52a at low speed, and it is possible to use the conventional low-cost stepping motor 100.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the gear member 8
9 is a gear portion 96 that is located around the rotary shaft 86 of the rotary reel member 52a and that meshes with the shaft gear 102 on its inner peripheral surface.
By using the cylindrical member 89 in which
The overall dimension L2 can be made smaller as shown in FIG. 10 than the overall dimension L3 when the gear portion 96a is formed on the outer side of the cylindrical member 89 and meshes with the shaft gear 102. Therefore, since the diameter of the rotary reel member 52a can be reduced, many rotary reel members 5 can be used.
This is convenient when the variable display device 30 is configured using 2a.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the gear member 8
The rotation of the gear member 89 and the rotation reel member are formed by integrally forming on the outer periphery of the gear member 89 a position detection unit 95 for operating the detection means 76 for determining the type of identification information displayed on the rotation reel member 52a. Since it rotates in synchronization with 52a, the identification information displayed on the rotating reel member 52a can be reliably determined.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of a game board 1 of a ball game machine (a pachinko game machine in the figure) according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the game board 1. In FIG. 1, on the surface of the game board 1, a guide rail 2 for guiding a shot hit is planted in a substantially circular shape, and a region defined by the guide rail 2 constitutes a game area 3. ing. A variable display operation of identification information (hereinafter, may be referred to as a special decorative pattern) in a plurality of rotating drums 52a to 52i arranged in a matrix of vertical and horizontal three columns, which will be described later, in substantially the center of the game area 3 (hereinafter, A variable display device 30 that realizes (variable) is arranged. The variable display device 30 has three pieces of identification information (hereinafter,
Special symbol display devices 40a to 4 for displaying)
Special symbol display device 39 consisting of 0c, and normal symbol display device 4 for displaying one piece of identification information (hereinafter, referred to as ordinary symbol)
1 is included. The detailed structure of the variable display device 30 will be described later.

In the game area 3 of the game board 1, a start winning device 11 is arranged below the variable display device 30, a variable winning ball device 15 is arranged below the starting prize device 11, and a variable display device. Windmill lamps 4 on the left and right sides of the upper part of 30
However, the wind turbine 5 is arranged on the left and right sides, and the passage mouth device 9 is arranged on one side (left side) lower side, respectively, and further, the side lamps 6 are arranged on the left and right sides of the central portion of the game area 3, and the entrance portion of the game area 3. The backflow prevention member 7 and the out port 8 are formed at the lowermost end of the game area 3, respectively.

Of the above-mentioned configurations, the starting winning device 11
Is configured as a so-called tulip-shaped accessory having a pair of movable wing pieces 12 that are movably controlled between a vertical (normally open) position and a tilting (enlarged open) position by a solenoid 13, and inside thereof is a prize. A special symbol starting ball detector 14 for detecting a hit ball is provided. Even when the movable wing piece 12 is in the vertical (normally open) position, a ball can be won in the starting winning device 11. Further, the variation of the special decorative pattern based on the winning of the starting winning device 11 is stored a predetermined number of times (four times in the present embodiment) except during the variation,
This is displayed by the special symbol storage display LED 38 described later.

Further, the variable winning ball device 15 is configured by being integrated into a mounting board 23 mounted on the surface of the game board 1. At the center of the mounting board 23, an opening / closing for controlling opening / closing of a winning area by a solenoid 17 is provided. A plate 16 is provided. In the winning area inside the opening / closing plate 16, the opening / closing plate 16 is reopened by the detection of a winning ball (establishment of a continuation right described later).
A specific ball detector 18 for detecting the establishment of a condition that can be performed is provided, and the winning ball detector 1 for detecting the allowable number of winning balls during one opening operation of the opening / closing plate 16
9 is also provided. Further, below the opening / closing plate 16, a number indicator 20 for displaying the number of times the opening / closing plate 16 has been opened in a jackpot game state (also referred to as a specific game state) described later,
A number display 21 for displaying the number of winning coins received during one opening of the opening / closing plate 16 is provided, and a normal winning opening 23 is provided on the left and right of the opening / closing plate 16.

The variable winning ball device 15 constructed as described above operates as follows. That is, when the ball hits the starting winning device 11 and the starting ball detector 14 is turned on, the special symbol displays 40a-4 of the variable display device 30 are displayed.
0c and the rotating drums 52a to 52i start to change, and after a certain period of time, the special symbol and the special decorative symbol are fixed, and the combination of the determined special symbol and the special decorative symbol is a predetermined combination of the jackpot display modes. When you hit the big jackpot game state. In this jackpot gaming state, the opening / closing plate 16 of the variable winning ball device 15 is opened until a predetermined period (for example, 29 seconds) or a predetermined number (for example, 10) of winning balls are generated (hereinafter, this open state). Is called an opening cycle), and the ball hitting the surface of the game board 1 falling during the opening is received. Then, when the received hitting ball turns on the specific ball detector 18, the above-mentioned opening cycle is repeated again after the end of the previous opening cycle, and the specific ball detector 18
The continuation right is established under the condition that is turned ON, and the opening cycle can be repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, 16 times).

The jackpot gaming state of the present invention is not limited to the above, and may be a state in which any one of the following controls (1) to (4) or a combined control is executed. A variable winning ball apparatus that can be changed between a first state in which it is easy to win a ball and a second state in which it is difficult or difficult to win a ball is continuously or intermittently for a predetermined time in a first state. Control, the first state that facilitates the winning of the ball, and the second state that the ball cannot be won or is difficult to win, the variable winning ball device that can be changed to a specific winning or passing area. Control to continuously or intermittently put the first state for a predetermined time through the detection of ball hits, control to directly discharge a predetermined number of prize balls regardless of winning of ball hits, storage medium having valuable value (card Or receipt)
Control for adding a valuable number to, and control for giving a score to a game machine that can be played based on the fact that there is a score.

Further, the relationship between the special symbol and the special decorative symbol in this embodiment has the same function in that the fact that the big hit game state is displayed is displayed, and the special symbol shows the big hit game state. In contrast to the simple display method, the special decorative pattern displays and notifies the occurrence of the big hit game state in a more complicated display method so as to attract the interest of the player. Then, the reason for providing the special design and the special decorative design is due to the manufacturing rules of the gaming machine,
The types and combinations of symbols are determined within a certain range or less, but within such a determined range, the symbol aspect and the combination aspect that can attract the interest of the player are limited, In order to attract the player's interest by letting the special design handle the display method relating to such a limited range as a special design, and making the display method relating to the free design mode or combination mode the special design. It is the one. In this sense, the display of the special decorative pattern is formed large so as to stand out to the player. If there is no rule as described above, only a combination of special decorative patterns may be used.

Returning to the explanation of the structure of the game device arranged in the game area 3 of the game board 1, the passage mouth device 9 passes the hitting ball received from the upper part thereof downward as it is. In the process of passing, the ball hitting is normally detected by the starting ball detector 10 for the symbol, and when the starting ball detector 10 detects the passing ball, the fluctuation of the ordinary symbol displayed on the normal symbol display 41 is allowed. It has become. In addition,
The normal symbol display 41 controls the opening of the movable wing piece 12 of the starting winning device 11 until a predetermined time elapses when the normal symbol becomes a winning symbol. Further, the fluctuation of the normal symbol is a predetermined number of times (in the present embodiment, 4
Memory), and a memory display L for ordinary symbols, which will be described later
It is designed to be displayed by the ED 42, and its fluctuation time is shorter than that in the normal time in the probability fluctuation state (a gaming state in which the hit determination probability is changed to a high probability different from the normal time) accompanying the establishment of a predetermined condition described later. It is supposed to be done. In addition, the variable memory of the normal symbol is always constant (for example, 4
It is not necessary to set the number of times to one), and for example, it is possible to set the number of times to one in the normal time, and to set four times during the probability fluctuation.

In addition to the above-mentioned structure, on the surface of the game board 1, a sticker sticking portion 25 for sticking seals for certifying various organizations to the outside of the playing area 3 and on both lower sides is provided.
26 is attached.

Next, the structure of the variable display device 30 which constitutes the main part of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is as described above, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the front decorative mounting plate 31 and the drive unit storage box 50 that constitute the variable display device 30, and FIG. The rotary drum 52a housed in the box 50-
52i is an exploded perspective view of the unit 52i shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of one rotating drum 52a.

The variable display device 30, as shown in FIG.
Front decorative mounting plate 3 mounted on the surface of the game board 1
1 and a plurality of rotating drums 52a to 5 mounted on the back surface of the front decorative mounting plate 31 and arranged in a matrix.
The drive unit storage box 50 stores 2i. Therefore, the front decorative mounting plate 31 and the drive unit storage box 50 will be separately described below.

A substantially square display window opening 34 is formed in the front decorative mounting plate 31. Then, the rotating drums 52a to 52i arranged in a matrix form behind the display window opening 34 via the transparent see-through plate 43 are visible. Further, the display window opening 34 is surrounded by a frame portion 44 surrounding the upper half of the front surface side so that hit balls falling in the game area do not enter the inside of the display window opening 34. Also, the front decorative mounting plate 31
A normal winning opening 32 is formed in the center of the upper part of the above, and an opening is formed in the front decorative mounting plate 31 below the winning opening 32 to form a warp entrance 33. The warp entrance 33 receives a part of the ball placed on the upper surface of the upper side of the enclosure frame 44 and is formed along both sides of the display window opening 34 on the back side of the front decorative mounting plate 31 (not shown). ) Through the guide path 3 formed inside the lower edge of the display window opening 34
5, the discharge port 37 formed in the center of the guide path 35.
Is again released to the game area 3. A warp outlet 36 is formed on both sides of the guide path 35.

Therefore, a part of the ball hitting the upper center of the variable display device 30 in the game area 3 of the game board 1 is taken into the warp entrance 33 and is again displayed on the variable display device 3.
It is discharged from a discharge port 37 formed in the center of the lower part of 0, falls toward the movable wing piece 12 of the starting winning device 11 located below the discharge port 37, and is positioned above the movable wing piece 12. Depending on the degree of adjustment of a pair of nails (not shown), the starting prize winning device 11 is won or not won to attract the player's interest.

Further, a special symbol display device 39 and a normal symbol display device 41 are provided at the lower left and right ends of the surrounding frame portion 44, respectively. The special symbol display device 39 includes special symbol indicators 40a to 40c composed of three digital indicators arranged in a horizontal direction, and the special symbol indicator 40.
When the symbols displayed in a to 40c are a combination of predetermined symbols (in the present embodiment, double-eyes of the same symbol), the big hit game state is set. Although not shown in detail, the symbols displayed on the special symbol display devices 40a to 40c are 15 types of numbers and English letters, respectively. Also,
Around the normal symbol display 41, a normal symbol memory display LED 42 for storing a predetermined number of detections by the starting ball detector 10 of the passage opening device 9 is provided. Although not shown in detail, the symbols normally displayed on the symbol display device 41 are six kinds of numbers and English letters, and when a predetermined symbol (in this embodiment, “7”) is displayed, The movable wing piece 12 of the starting winning device 11 is opened for a predetermined time. The special symbol memory display LED 38 corresponding to the special symbol indicators 40a to 40c is provided behind the guide path 35 (see FIG. 1).

Further, a peripheral frame 45 extending rearward from the opening edge of the display window opening 34 is integrally formed on the rear surface of the front decorative mounting plate 31, and a pair of mounting frames are mounted on the rear portion of the upper surface of the peripheral frame 45. The boss 46 is integrally formed, and the mounting boss 46 is brought into contact with the mounting hole 50a formed in the upper portion of the drive unit storage box 50 and fixed by the screw 47, so that the drive unit is provided behind the front decorative mounting plate 31. The storage box 50 is fixed. In addition, a mounting hole 48 for fixing the front decorative mounting plate 31 to the surface of the game board 1 is formed around the front decorative mounting plate 31.

On the other hand, the structure of the drive unit storage box 50 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In the drive unit storage box 50, a total of nine rotary drums 52a to 52i arranged in three rows and three columns. Is stored, but Fig. 3
, Three rotary drums 52a to 52c in a column,
52d to 52f and 52g to 52i are collectively attached to an attachment substrate 53 on which one printed wiring is integrally formed, to form rotary drum units 51a to 51c. Then, the drive unit storage box 50 has three
The front is open so that the three rotary drum units 51a to 51c can be inserted from the front, and the three rotary drums in the column are arranged in an inclined shape so as to overlap the adjacent rotary drums at their ends, so that the front open The surface is inclined. Then, in order to fix the rotary drum units 51a to 51c configured as described above at predetermined positions, the rotary drum units 51a are provided in the drive unit storage box 50.
The mounting holes 54 formed in the upper front part of the mounting substrate 53 of ~ 51c, the mounting portion 58 and the engaging groove 59 which are aligned with the engaging pieces 55 formed in the lower front part of the mounting substrate 53 have predetermined intervals on the upper front surface and the lower front surface, respectively. It is placed and formed. Of these, the engagement piece 55 and the engagement groove 59 are merely fitted and engaged with each other, but the mounting hole 54 and the mounting portion 58 are screwed with the screw 58a in a state of being in contact with each other. Therefore, it is fixed and fixed completely.

The mounting board 53 is mounted on the drive unit storage box 50 in addition to the above-described structure.
The engaging groove 60 formed before and after the slit groove 62 formed for penetrating the connector terminal portion 63 formed on the lower end side of the No. 3 from the bottom surface of the drive unit storage box 50 to the back surface side.
Also in a and 60b, the central portion of the lower end side and the lower portion of the rear end side of the mounting substrate 53 are guided and supported.

Further, each rotary drum unit 51a-51
In a state where the mounting substrate 53 of c is stored and supported by the drive unit storage box 50, the mounting piece 56 formed on the rear end side of the mounting substrate 53 has a rectangular opening formed on the back side of the drive unit storage box 50. A metal radiator plate (not shown) is brought into contact with the mounting piece 56 so as to be attached to the mounting hole 57 formed in the mounting piece 56 with a screw. As a result, the heat accumulated in the mounting substrate 53 is released to the outside. Similarly, the warm air accumulated inside the drive unit storage box 50 is discharged from the heat dissipation holes 70 formed on the rear upper surface of the drive unit storage box 50. Further, the connector 65 provided on the relay board 64 is connected to the connector terminal portion 63 protruding from the bottom surface of the drive unit storage box 50 to the back side through the slit groove 62. The relay board 64 is the rotary drum 5.
A control circuit board (not shown, which is generally attached to the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine) for controlling the operations of 2a to 52i, and electric parts of the rotating drums 52a to 52i (a sensor 76 described later, a stepping motor 100, a lamp). 98
Etc.) and the relay board 64
The mounting of the relay board 64 is performed by sandwiching the relay board 64 with a mounting boss 68 projecting from the back surface of the drive unit storage box 50 and a mounting boss 67 projecting from the cover box 66 covering the relay board 64. This is performed by screwing a screw 69 from the back surface and connecting the mounting bosses 67 and 68.

By the way, each of the rotary drum units 51a ...
Since 51c has exactly the same structure, one rotary drum unit 51a will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The mounting substrate 53 is a metal plate member integrally formed with the printed wiring board as described above. That is, the mounting hole 54, the engaging piece 55, the mounting piece 56, and the connector terminal portion 6 described above.
3 are respectively formed, and a drive mechanism for rotationally driving the three rotary drums 52a, 52b, 52c provided on the mounting substrate 53 has rotary drums 52a, 5c.
It is provided corresponding to 2b and 52c. Since all the drive mechanisms are the same, the drive mechanism for one rotary drum 52a will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The drive mechanism of the rotary drum 52a meshes with the stepping motor 100 and the gear 102 fixed to the tip of the output shaft 101 of the stepping motor 100, and the rotary bearing member 8 constituting the central shaft portion of the rotary drum 52a.
9 and a drum support member 82 which has a rotary support shaft 86 which penetrates and supports the rotary bearing member 89 and serves as a rotation center of the rotary drum 52a.

In the stepping motor 100, a motor mounting plate 71 integrally mounted on the base side of the stepping motor 100 is brought into contact with the mounting substrate 53, and a screw 73 screwed from the back side of the mounting substrate 53 is formed on the motor mounting plate 71. It is attached to the attachment substrate 53 by being fixed to the attachment hole 72. At the time of this attachment, the drum support member 82
Is also attached by integrally fastening the attachment boss 83. Also, the stepping motor 1
Wiring pins (not shown) to which coils 105 and 106 to be described later are connected are protruded from the side surface of 00, and the wiring pins are soldered to the motor board 75, while the tip end side of the stepping motor 100 is provided with a motor. A front substrate 74 that contacts the substrate 75 is fixed so that the distance between the motor substrate 75 and the stepping motor 100 is accurately maintained when the motor substrate 75 is soldered to the wiring pins. Then, the wiring for supplying the step signal from the control circuit is printed on the motor board 75, the wiring of the sensor 76 as the detection means is printed, and the sensor 76 itself is mounted. The sensor 76 is a light emitting and receiving sensor and is for determining a special decorative pattern formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum 52a, and serves as a position detecting portion provided on the outer periphery of the rotary bearing member 89. The sensor shielding convex portion 95 of FIG.

A flexible wiring is connected to the motor board 75, and a connector terminal portion 77 formed at the end of the flexible wiring is connected to a connector 78 mounted on the mounting board 53. Further, the motor board 75 is not supported only by the front board 74, but the engaging portion 81 at the upper end of the motor board 75 is engaged with the engaging groove portion 87 that is formed so as to project from the upper front side of the drum supporting member 82. ,
A mounting hole 79 formed at the lower end of the tip is provided with a screw 8 at a stopper portion 88 projectingly formed at the lower part on the front surface side of the drum support member 82.
By fixing it at 0, it is securely fixed and supported.

A drum support member 82 mounted integrally with the mounting substrate 53 together with the above stepping motor 100.
Is a rectangular reflector plate 84 on one side of the circular plate member.
Are integrally formed, and further, the mounting boss 83 (a part of the mounting boss 83 is formed on the back surface of the reflection plate portion 84) is provided on the back surface side thereof, and the engagement is provided on the front surface side thereof. The groove 87, the stopper 88, and the rotation support shaft 86 are provided in a protruding manner. The reflection plate portion 84 efficiently reflects the light from a lamp 98, which will be described later, forward, and the rotation support shaft 86 serves as the rotation center of the rotary drum 52a. Further, the drum supporting member 82 is provided with a through hole 85 through which the pinion gear 102 as a shaft gear fixed to the tip of the output shaft 101 of the stepping motor 100 penetrates.

The rotary bearing member 89, which serves as a gear member rotatably supported by the rotary support shaft 86 projecting from the drum support member 82, is a double cylindrical cylindrical portion 89a, 8a.
9b is a structure connected at the center of the inside, and as shown in FIG. 4, the rotation support shaft 86 is inserted into the inner cylindrical portion 89a and the E-ring 94 is fixed to the tip of the rotation support shaft 86. The rotary bearing member 89 is loosely fitted on the rotary support shaft 86. In the loosely fitted state, the rotary bearing member 8
The inner peripheral gear 96, which is a gear part formed on the inner periphery of the rear end of the outer cylindrical part 89b of 9, and the pinion gear 102, which is a shaft gear of the stepping motor 100, are in mesh with each other. Further, the front end of the inner cylindrical portion 89a is an engaging elastic piece 93 which has an engaging claw on the outer periphery and is elastically deformable, and the front end of the outer cylindrical portion 89b has a rotary drum 52a.
A pair of abutting flange pieces 90 that come into contact with the side walls of the above are provided in a protruding manner, and an engaging protrusion 91 is provided in a front surface of one of the abutting flange pieces 90.

Thus, with the rotary bearing member 89 axially supported by the rotary support shaft 86 of the drum supporting member 82, the rotary bearing member 89 is provided so as to project rearward from the front of the rotary bearing member 89 to the center inside the side wall of the rotary drum 52a. When the engaging piece 97 is pressed so as to be inserted into the gap between the inner cylindrical portion 89a and the outer cylindrical portion 89b of the rotary bearing member 89, the engaging elastic piece 93 elastically deforms inward and the engaging piece 97 of the engaging piece 97 moves. Allow intrusion. Then, when the engaging projection 91 is aligned with the engaging hole 92 formed in the side wall of the rotary drum 52a and pressed so as to be further inserted, the tip end of the engaging piece 97 becomes a claw portion of the engaging elastic piece 93. In the engaged state, the rotary drum 52a is completely attached to the rotary bearing member 89. In the state where the rotary drum 52a is rotatably mounted on the rotary support shaft 86 of the drum support member 82, as shown in FIG. 4, not only the stepping motor 100 and the drum support member 82 are completely surrounded but also the drawing The lamp 98 mounted on the mounting substrate 53 shown in FIG. 3 and the lamp cover 99 that covers the back surface of the lamp 98 are also enclosed while being completely housed inside.

Here, the configuration of the stepping motor 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a perspective view and an exploded schematic view of the stepping motor 100.
FIG. 6 is a list showing the state of magnetic poles when the magnetic pole plate 108 is excited, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operating principle, and FIG. 8 is the coils 105, 106 at each step.
FIG. 9 is a list showing a signal supply state to the stepping motor, and FIG. 9 is a time chart of the stepping motor. First, the structure thereof will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the rotor 104 includes a pair of rotors 104 and a stator 107 surrounding the rotor 104. The output shaft 101 is fixed to the center of the rotor 104 and faces the rotor 104 of the stator 107. Magnetic pole plates 108 are alternately formed on the inner peripheral surface like saw teeth, and the stator 1
Coils 105 and 106 are wound inside 07. At the tip of the output shaft 101, the pinion pinion gear 1
02 is fixed and the rear end of the output shaft 101 projects outward from the stator 107, so that an escape hole 103 (see FIG. 4) is formed in the mounting substrate 53.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the rotor 104 is composed of a plurality of N-pole and S-pole magnetized ferrite magnets alternately arranged around each other.
The number of the magnetic pole plates 108 is the same. The number of magnetic pole plates 108 is a factor that determines the rotation angle. For example, in the case of a four-phase motor, the number of magnetic pole plates 108 is one.
The rotation angle θ is 360 / N, where N is the number of

The operating principle of the stepping motor 100 constructed as above will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. In step 0, the magnetic poles a and b are N poles and the magnetic poles c and d are In this state, the S pole 104a, in which the rotor (rotor 104) is shaded, is stopped in the state shown in FIG.
Based on the next step 1 signal, the direction of the current flowing through the coil 105 is reversed and the direction of the current flowing through the coil 106 does not change, so that the magnetic pole a changes to the S pole and the magnetic pole c changes to the N pole. Then, the S pole 104a of the rotor is repelled by the magnetic pole B and attracted by the magnetic pole C, so that it moves by the distance L1. Furthermore, although the direction of the current flowing through the coil 105 remains unchanged based on the step 2 signal,
Since the direction of the current flowing through the coil 106 is reversed, the magnetic pole B changes to the S pole and the magnetic pole D changes to the N pole. Then
Since the S pole 104a of the rotor is repelled by the magnetic pole B and attracted by the magnetic pole D, the S pole 104a moves further by the distance L1. Then, based on the step 3 signal, the coil 105
Since the direction of the current flowing through the coil is reversed and the direction of the current flowing through the coil 106 does not change, the magnetic pole a changes to the N pole and the magnetic pole c changes to the S pole. Then, the S pole 1 of the rotor
Since 04a is repelled by the magnetic pole C and attracted by the magnetic pole D, it is further moved by the distance L1. And
By repeating steps 0 to 3, the rotor 104
Will move by the distance L1.

FIG. 9 shows such an operation as a time chart, and the reference pulse is derived at step 0. Further, even when the sensor shielding convex portion 95 is detected by the sensor 76 (reference position detection), it is controlled so as to coincide with step 0, and when the reference position is detected, a reference position recognition detection signal is derived. It is supposed to be done.

The structure and operation of the stepping motor 100 have been briefly described above. As is clear from the description, since the stepping motor 100 continuously moves at a predetermined angle, the rotary drum 52a.
If you look closely at the rotation of, you can see that it moves continuously by small angles. Especially at low speed rotation, the operation becomes remarkable, and it seems that the rotary drum 52a repeatedly stops and moves, and there is a drawback that smooth low speed rotation cannot be obtained. However, in the present embodiment, since the pinion gear 102 fixed to the output shaft 101 of the stepping motor 100 is meshed with the inner peripheral gear 96 of the rotary bearing member 89, the output of the stepping motor 100 as shown in FIG. The rotation angle T2 of the shaft 101 is reduced to the rotation angle T3 of the rotary bearing member 89.
The reduction ratio in this case is (the number of teeth of the pinion gear 102 / the number of teeth of the inner peripheral gear 96). In the illustrated case, since the ratio is 1: 5, the rotation angle T2 per step of the stepping motor 100 is reduced to one fifth.

When this is displayed in an easy-to-understand manner, it becomes as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. That is, the point P on the rotary drum 52a
When the moving distance of the stepping motor 100 is represented in a graph as shown in FIG.
Since the rotary drum 52a is directly fixed to the position No. 1, the position change in each step is the rotation angle T2 in each step.
Is a line connecting points obtained by substituting a multiple of the angle into “θ” of sin θ, and the line appears in a stepped shape with a step, whereas in the case of the present embodiment, the rotation angle at each step Since T3 is reduced to ⅕, the height of the stairs is reduced to ⅕, so that it becomes an extremely small stepwise continuous line as shown in FIG. 14, and it seems as if it matches the sine curve. The position changes to. Therefore, there is an excellent effect that a smooth rotating state can be obtained even when the rotating drum 52a is rotated at a low speed.

In this embodiment, the output shaft 10
The pinion gear 102 fixed to the rotary bearing member 89.
Since it is meshed with the inner peripheral gear 96 formed on the inner periphery of the bearing, as shown in FIG. 11, compared with the height dimension L3 when it is meshed with the outer peripheral gear 96a formed on the outer periphery of the rotary bearing member 89, Since the height dimension L2 can be reduced, it is possible to form the rotary drum 52a having a small diameter. Of course, if there is a margin in size, it may be formed so as to mesh with the outer peripheral gear 96a as shown in FIG. Further, as in the conventional case, the rotary drum 52a is directly attached to the output shaft 101 of the stepping motor 100.
In order to obtain the same rotation angle T3 as in the present embodiment with the method of fixing the magnets, the number of ferrite magnets of the magnetic pole plate 108 and the rotor 104 must be significantly increased. Therefore, as shown in FIG. Since the stepping motor 100 has a large diameter, it cannot be used in the variable display device 30 in which a large number of rotating drums 52a to 52i are arranged in a matrix as in the present embodiment.

The configuration of the variable display device 30 according to the embodiment has been described above. However, in the present embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the rotary drums 52a to 52i that variably display a plurality of types of identification information are rotated by the horizontal rotation support shaft 86 when viewed from the front, and the rotary drums that are vertically adjacent to each other when viewed from the front. Since the end portions of 52a to 52i are arranged so as to overlap each other, the dimension L3 in the vertical direction should be smaller than the dimension L2 of the conventional variable display device 30A as compared with the conventional variable display device 30A shown in FIG. Therefore, the area occupied by the variable display device 30 when arranged on the game board 1 is reduced, and the degree of freedom in the layout design of other game devices and the layout design of nails can be improved accordingly.

In this embodiment, the three rotary drums 52a to 52c arranged in the vertical direction are arranged so as to have an inclined shape, but they do not necessarily have to have an inclined shape. It is also possible to arrange only the drum 52b in front of or behind the other rotary drums 52a, 52c so that the ends thereof overlap. Further, in the present embodiment, the rotation center of the rotary drums 52a to 52i is rotated about the horizontal rotation axis. However, the rotation axis may be provided in the vertical direction to rotate the rotary drum in the left-right direction. good. Also in this case, the rotary drums may be arranged so as to be inclined from the left to the right or from the right to the left so that the ends of the rotary drums overlap each other, or may be arranged in a stepped shape.

Further, in this embodiment, the pinion gear 102 fixed to the output shaft 101 of the stepping motor 100 is formed on the rotary drum 52a side so as to have a number of teeth larger than that of the pinion gear 102. Since it is meshed with the peripheral gear 96, it is possible to reduce the moving distance of the stepping motor 100 by a predetermined angle, so that a smooth rotating state can be obtained even when the rotating drum 52a is rotated at a low speed.

Next, with reference to FIG. 17 to FIG. 37, an example of a specific game operation of the game device on the game board 1 including the variable display device 30 constituting the essential part of this embodiment will be described. 17 is a list of random numbers used when controlled by a control circuit (not shown).
FIG. 19 is a simple flow chart for explaining the operation when determining whether or not to be a big hit, FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram for explaining the stop order of the special decorative design, and FIG. 20 is
21 to 24 are time charts showing variations in the special decorative pattern, and FIG. 25 is a time chart when the special decorative pattern is a big hit. FIG. 27 is a list chart showing a correspondence relationship between an array of identification information and a random number, FIG. 26 is a time chart showing an operation of the variable winning ball device 15 after a big hit, and FIG. Is a time chart showing the operation of the special decorative symbol when returning to the normal game state, FIG. 28 is a time chart showing the variation start timing of the special decorative symbol and the special symbol when there is a start memory, 29 is a list chart showing the correspondence between the special symbol and the random number, FIG. 30 is a time chart showing the variation timing of the special decorative symbol and the special symbol, and FIG.
FIG. 33 is a list chart showing the correspondence between the special symbol arrangement and the random number when it is a big hit, and FIG. 32 is a list chart showing the correspondence between the normal symbol and the random number, and FIG. Is a simple flow chart for explaining the operation when determining whether or not a normal symbol is a hit, and FIG. 34 is
FIG. 35 is a time chart for explaining the occurrence of the probability variation operation, FIG. 35 is a list of random numbers used for ordinary symbols, and FIG. 36 is a time chart showing variation of ordinary symbols. FIG. 37 is a time chart showing the operation of the starting winning device 11 at the normal time and the probability fluctuation.

As described above, the variable display device 30 according to the present embodiment.
In the present embodiment, the pinion gear 102 as the shaft gear fixed to the output shaft 101 of the stepping motor 100 is rotated so as to have a number of teeth larger than that of the pinion gear 102. Since it is meshed with the inner peripheral gear 96 as a gear portion formed on the drum 52a side, the stepping motor 100
It is possible to reduce the moving distance by a predetermined angle, and thereby a smooth rotating state can be obtained even when the rotating drum 52a is rotated at a low speed.

[0044]

As is apparent from the above description, in the present invention, the rotating reel member is engaged with the shaft gear mounted on the output shaft of the stepping motor and has more teeth than the number of teeth of the shaft gear. Since the gear member having a number of inner peripheral gear portions is integrally formed, the step angle of the shaft gear is a small step angle obtained by multiplying the number of teeth of the shaft gear by the number of teeth of the gear member. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a smooth rotation operation of the rotating reel member integrally formed with the gear member at low speed, and it is possible to use the conventional low-cost stepping motor.

Further, by forming the gear member into a cylindrical member which is located around the rotation axis of the rotary reel member and has the gear portion formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof, the gear portion is provided outside the cylindrical member. Since the overall size can be made smaller than the overall size when the gear is formed and meshed with the shaft gear, the diameter of the rotary reel member can be made small, so that many rotary reels can be made. This is convenient when a variable display device is constructed using members.

Further, by integrally forming on the outer periphery of the gear member a position detecting section for activating detection means for determining the type of identification information displayed on the rotary reel member, rotation of the gear member can be prevented. Since the rotating reel member rotates in synchronization with the rotating reel member, the identification information displayed on the rotating reel member can be reliably determined.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a game board of a ball game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an exploded view of a front decorative mounting plate and a drive unit storage box that constitute a variable display device provided on a game board.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary drum unit housed in a drive unit housing box.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of one rotating drum.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view and an exploded schematic view of a stepping motor.

FIG. 6 is a table showing a magnetic pole state when a magnetic pole plate of a stepping motor is excited.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation principle of the stepping motor.

FIG. 8 is a list chart showing a signal supply state to a coil in each step of a stepping motor.

FIG. 9 is a time chart of a stepping motor.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the step angle of the stepping motor and the step angle of the rotary drum according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between a stepping motor and a rotation center of a rotary drum according to another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a step angle of a conventional stepping motor.

FIG. 13 is a graph for explaining a moving state of a rotary drum by a conventional stepping motor.

FIG. 14 is a graph for explaining a moving state of the rotating drum by the stepping motor according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a variable display device in which conventional rotating drums are arranged in a matrix.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a variable display device in which rotary drums according to the present embodiment are arranged in a matrix.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Game Board 30 Variable Display Device 31 Front Decorative Mounting Plate 34 Display Window Opening 50 Drive Unit Storage Boxes 51a to 51c Rotating Drum Unit 52a to 52i Rotating Drum (Rotating Reel Member) 53 Mounting Board 71 Motor Mounting Plate 75 Motor Board 76 Sensor 82 Drum Support device 86 Rotation support shaft 89 Rotation bearing member 95 Sensor shielding convex portion 96 Inner peripheral gear 100 Stepping motor 101 Output shaft 102 Gear 104 Rotor 105, 106 Coil 107 Stator 108 Magnetic pole plate

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A ball-ball game machine including a variable display device having a rotating reel member for variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information by rotation of a stepping motor, wherein the rotating reel member has an output shaft of the stepping motor. A ball-ball game machine, characterized in that a gear member that meshes with a shaft gear to be mounted and that is equipped with a gear portion having a number of teeth larger than the number of teeth of the shaft gear is integrally formed. 2. The gear member is a cylindrical member that is positioned around the rotation axis of the rotary reel member and has the gear portion formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof. Ball game machine. 3. A position detection unit for operating a detection unit for determining the type of identification information displayed on the rotating reel member is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the gear member. The ball game machine according to claim 1 or 2.