JPH11309245A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a sense of fatigue of a player, to facilitate a rotation control state of a rotation member, and to steadily retain the rotation member in a game machine having a handle. SOLUTION: A device for launching game balls is provided at a lower section of a pachinko main body, and a handle 21 for controlling by a player is provided thereon. The handle 21 has a handle main body 22 fixed at a lower section of the pachinko main body 1, a shaft 23 relatively-rotatably provided to the handle main body 22, and a handle ring 24 for rotating the shaft 23 by a rotation control. The handle main body 22 and the handle ring 24 are interlocked by moving the handle ring 24 to an axis direction to retain a rotation control state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine such as a pachinko machine, and more particularly, to a game machine provided with a handle capable of adjusting a shooting speed of a game medium such as a game ball in accordance with a turning operation amount of a turning member. It relates to a gaming machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a kind of gaming machine, a pachinko machine equipped with an automatic hitting type handle has been known. A handle in this kind of pachinko machine has a handle body fixed to the lower part of the pachinko machine body, a shaft provided rotatably with respect to the handle body, and a handle ring for rotating the shaft by a rotating operation. have.

[0003] When the player rotates the handle ring by a predetermined amount, the shaft rotates, and a game ball is fired based on the rotation of the shaft. This firing is performed continuously as long as the rotating operation state is maintained (for example, firing every 0.6 seconds). The fired game balls are guided to the upper part of the game board surface through the passage between the inner rail and the outer rail. Then, the player can enjoy various behaviors (for example, winning in the winning opening, operation of the variable display device based on the starting winning opening, etc.) that occur when the game ball falls.

[0004] The handle ring can also adjust the shooting speed of the game ball, and thus the degree of flight of the game ball. That is, by appropriately adjusting the amount of rotation of the handle ring, the amount of rotation of the shaft is adjusted, and accordingly, the firing force of the game ball and, consequently, the firing speed are adjusted.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned pachinko machine, when the handle ring is released, the handle ring is returned to the original state (non-rotation state) by the tensile force of the spring. It has become. Therefore, in order to continuously fire the game ball, the player must maintain the turning state of the handle ring. For this reason, if the game lasts for a long time, the player must hold the handle ring with a constant rotation operation amount for the time, resulting in a remarkable feeling of fatigue.

On the other hand, a coin or the like is sometimes inserted between the handle ring and the handle body. That is, by inserting a relatively thin and close foreign object such as a coin between the handle ring and the handle body, a frictional force is generated between the handle ring and the coin and between the handle body and the coin. The frictional force allows the handle ring to be held and fixed in a predetermined rotation operation state. Therefore, in this case, the player can continuously fire the game ball simply by bringing the hand (or finger) into contact with any part of the handle.

[0007] However, the above-mentioned fitting of coins and the like merely holds and fixes the handle ring by frictional force. For this reason, with a long-time game, the amount of rotation may gradually decrease due to the pulling force of the spring, and it may be difficult to maintain a constant amount of rotation operation for a long time.

On the other hand, in order to increase the frictional force even slightly,
It is also conceivable to insert as thick a coin as possible. However, in this case, there is a risk that the handle may be damaged because a thick coin or the like is forcibly inserted between the handle ring and the handle body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a handle capable of adjusting a shooting speed of a game medium such as a game ball in accordance with a rotation operation amount of a rotation member. In the equipped gaming machine, it is possible to suppress the feeling of fatigue of the player, and easily change the rotating operation state of the rotating member,
Another object is to provide a gaming machine that can be stably held.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing member fixed to a game machine main body, and a rotatable relative to the fixing member. In a gaming machine having a handle having a rotating member, the firing speed of the game medium can be adjusted in accordance with the amount of rotation of the rotating member, based on moving the rotating member in the axial direction. The gist is that the fixed member and the rotating member are engaged with each other so that the engaged state can be maintained.

(Operation) According to the first aspect of the present invention, the turning member can turn relative to the fixing member fixed to the game machine main body by turning the turning member of the handle. Then, the firing speed of the game medium is adjusted according to the amount of rotation operation of the rotation member.

In the present invention, the fixed member and the rotating member are engaged with each other based on the movement of the rotating member in the axial direction, and the rotating operation state is maintained by the engagement.

Therefore, even when the game is played for a long time, the rotating operation state of the rotating member is maintained, and the continuous emission of the game medium is continued.

Further, since the rotating operation state is maintained by the engagement between the fixed member and the rotating member, the operating state is not released unless the engaged state is released. Further, since the meshing state can be ensured only by moving the rotating member in the axial direction, there is no difficulty or difficulty in maintaining the rotating operation state.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a game machine according to the present invention embodied in a pachinko machine will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view (with nails and the like omitted) showing the appearance of the pachinko machine according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine main body 1 includes:
An outer frame 2 and a front frame 3 are provided. A glass door frame 4 to which a transparent glass plate is attached is provided on the inner periphery of the front surface of the front frame 3 so as to be openable and closable. And the front frame 3
A game board 5 is detachably mounted on the rear surface of the game board 5.

At the front of the game board 5, a general winning opening 6,
A variable winning device 7, a starting winning opening 8, a variable display device 9, an inner rail 11, an outer rail 12, and the like are provided. here,
The inner rail 11 and the outer rail 12 are guide members for guiding the game balls B fired by the game ball firing device to the upper portion of the game board 5.

When a game ball B wins in the general winning opening 6, the variable winning device 7, and the starting winning opening 8, a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out to the player. Further, the variable winning device 7 is usually in a state in which the game ball B cannot win or is hard to win. More specifically, the symbol of the variable display device 9 disposed at the center of the game board 5 fluctuates at random based on the game ball B winning the start winning port 8. Then, the variable winning device 7 is opened for a predetermined time by the combination of the stopped symbols, so that the gaming ball B is in a state where it is easy to win.

Further, a game ball launching device is provided below the pachinko machine main body 1, and the launching device has a handle 21 operated by a player. As shown in FIG. 2, the handle 21 includes a handle body 22 as a fixing member fixed to a lower portion of the pachinko machine body 1, and a shaft 23 rotatably provided with respect to the handle body 22.
And a handle ring 24 as a rotating member for rotating the shaft 23 by a rotating operation.
The handle body 22 is made of a resin material such as ABS, and the shaft 23 is made of a conductive metal. The handle ring 24 is formed by plating a resin material with a conductive metal. When the player rotates the handle ring 24 by a predetermined amount, the shaft 23 rotates, and the game ball B is fired based on the rotation of the shaft 23. This firing is, for example, 0.6 as long as the rotation operation state is maintained.
It is performed continuously at a rate of once per second. The launched game ball B is guided to the upper portion of the game board 5 through the passage between the inner rail 11 and the outer rail 12 described above. Then, the player performs various actions (for example, winning in the general winning opening 6, operation of the variable display device 9 based on the starting winning opening 8, and winning in the variable winning device 7) when the game ball B falls. Etc.).

Next, the configuration of the handle 21 which is a characteristic part of the present embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the handle 21 is viewed from the back side, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view thereof. As shown in these figures and FIG. 8, an insertion hole 25 is formed in the center of the handle main body 22, and the shaft 23 is inserted into the insertion hole 25. Both ends of the shaft 23 are notched so as to have a substantially D-shaped cross section, and the front portion (the right portion in FIG. 4) is a handle ring 2.
4 is fitted in the substantially D-shaped fitting hole 26 and protrudes from the fitting hole 26 to the front side.
An annular groove 27 is formed in a portion of the shaft 23 protruding from the fitting hole 26, and an E-ring 28 is fitted in the annular groove 27.

A plurality of boss-shaped mounting holes 29 are formed around the insertion hole 25 of the handle body 22, and the mounting plate 31, the face cover 32, and the emblem 3 are formed therein.
3 is attached and fixed. More specifically, a boss 34 having a screw hole is formed on the mounting plate 31 so as to protrude so as to correspond to the mounting hole 29, and the boss 34 is screwed and fixed in a state fitted into the mounting hole 29. ing.

At a position different from the boss 34, a plurality of (three) holes 35 are formed in the mounting plate 31. Further, the face cover 32 is integrally formed with a plurality (three) of bosses 36 projecting to the back side (left side in FIG. 4), of which the lowermost boss 36 has a screw hole and the other upper boss 36 has a screw hole. Each of the bosses 36 has an insertion hole. In addition, the emblem 33 has a screw hole formed on the inner periphery, and a plurality of (two) bosses 37 protruding to the rear surface side are integrally formed. And emblem 3
The three bosses 37 are fitted into the two insertion holes of the boss 36 of the face cover 32, and
With the three bosses 36 fitted in the holes 35 of the mounting plate 31, screws are screwed into the screw holes of the bosses 37 and the lower bosses 36 from the back side of the holes 35. Thereby, the handle body 21 and the mounting plate 3
1, the face cover 32 and the emblem 33 are in a fixed state. The handle ring 24 is rotatable together with the shaft 23 between the fixed handle body 22 and the mounting plate 31, the face cover 32, and the emblem 33. The handle ring 24 has an arc-shaped long hole 38 formed therein, and the presence of the long hole 38 prevents the boss 34 of the mounting plate 31 from hindering the rotation of the handle ring 24. ing.

A coil spring 41 made of conductive metal is provided around the shaft 23 between the handle body 22 and the handle ring 24. Due to the presence of the coil spring 41, the handle ring 24 and the shaft 23 are always maintained at the positions shown in FIG. 5 (the basic position state where the rotation amount is zero). At the same time, the handle ring 24 and the like are constantly urged toward the front side in the axial direction by the urging force of the coil spring 41, and the handle ring 24 is in contact with the face cover 32.

Further, a contact plate 42, a stop button 43, a micro switch 44, and the like are disposed between the handle body 21 and the handle ring 24, behind the coil spring 41. The metal contact plate 42 is fixed to the handle main body 22 while being inserted through the shaft 23 in the central insertion hole, and
It is in a state of contact with the end of the coil spring 41. In the present embodiment, unless the handle ring 24 is touched by the hand (or finger) of the player, the launch of the game ball B is not allowed. That is, the handle ring 24, the shaft 23, the coil spring 4
1 and the contact plate 42 are in a state in which they can be electrically connected to each other. When the player's hand or the like touches the handle ring 24, the above-described electrical connection is ensured. This is an acceptable configuration.

The micro switch 44 includes a switch body 4
5 and a tongue-shaped contact 46, which is turned on when the contact 46 comes into contact with another contact provided on the switch body 45, and outputs a signal to stop the firing of the game ball B. It has become. Stop button 43
Has an operation unit 47, a pressing unit 48, and a claw 49,
It is rotatably supported in the shaft hole 50. Operation unit 4
7 is exposed to the outside, and the claw 49 is inserted into the hole 51 of the contact plate 42 so as to be able to contact the projection 24 a on the back side of the handle ring 24.

As a result, the (handle ring 24
Of the stop button 43)
9 is pressed by the protrusion 24 a, and the contact 46 of the microswitch 44 is pressed by the pressing portion 48. Therefore, in this case, the micro switch 44 is turned on, and the firing of the game ball B is prohibited. Further, when the handle ring 24 is rotated by the player, the protrusion 24a is separated from the claw 49,
The contact of the contact 46 with the switch body 45 is released.
Therefore, in this case, the micro switch 44 is turned off, and the launch of the game ball B is permitted. Furthermore, during the rotation operation of the handle ring 24, the stop button 43
When the operation unit 47 is pressed by the player, the pressing unit 48 presses the contact point 46, and also in this case, the microswitch 44 is turned on so that the firing of the game ball B is prohibited. Has become.

In the present embodiment, a washer 52 is provided on the outer periphery of the shaft 23 between the coil spring 41 and the handle ring 24, and is provided on the outer periphery of the shaft 23 between the contact plate 42 and the handle main body 22. Is provided with a collar 53.
Due to the presence of the washer 52 and the collar 53, the rotation of the shaft 23 is smoothly performed.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the handle ring 24 is provided between the handle body 22 and the mounting plate 31 (face cover 32).
Is disposed so as to be movable in the axial direction (the left-right direction in FIGS. 6 and 7). At the same time, the handle body 22 and the handle ring 24 are formed with teeth 54 and 55, respectively, in an annular shape so that they can mesh with each other. In the present embodiment, the teeth 54 and 55 are formed in a mountain shape at equal intervals, and the height thereof is, for example, “1 mm” to
It is set to “1.5 mm” and the width (pitch) is, for example, “5
゜ ”to“ 6 ゜ ”. However, the numerical values are not limited at all. Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

When the player enjoys playing a pachinko game, first, the player rotates the handle ring 24 of the handle 21. With this rotation operation, the shaft 23 is rotated, and the game ball B is fired based on the rotation. In addition, the amount of turning operation of the handle ring 24 and, consequently, the shaft 23
The firing speed of the game ball B is adjusted by appropriately adjusting the rotation amount of the game ball B, whereby the flying condition of the game ball B can be adjusted.

Further, there is a case where it is desired to maintain the turning operation state of the handle ring 24 at a predetermined adjustment position. In this case, the player fits a coin C or the like between the face cover 32 and the handle ring 24 in the rotating operation state, as shown in FIGS. Then, as shown in the figure, the handle ring 24 moves in the axial direction (back side direction), and the teeth 54 and 55 formed on the handle body 22 and the handle ring 24 respectively mesh with each other. Then, due to the meshing, even if the holding force at the time of the player performing the rotation operation is released, the rotation operation state of the handle ring 24 is maintained as it is. Therefore, even when the game is performed for a long time, the turning operation state of the handle ring 24 is reliably maintained, and the continuous firing of the game ball B can be continued. As a result, the feeling of fatigue of the player can be significantly suppressed.

Further, unlike the prior art in which the rotational operation state can be held by the frictional force, the rotational operation state of the handle ring 24 changes little by little as long as the teeth 54 and 55 are engaged with each other. I won't. As a result, the firing speed and flying condition of the game ball B can be stably maintained for a long period of time.

The above-mentioned meshing state is determined by the face cover 3
This is ensured by moving the handle ring 24 in the axial direction by inserting a coin C or the like between the handle ring 2 and the handle ring 24. Therefore, the handle ring 24
There is no difficulty or difficulty in maintaining the rotational operation state.

In particular, in the prior art in which holding and fixing is performed by a frictional force, a thick coin or the like is forcibly fitted in order to increase the frictional force even a little, so that the handle may be damaged. Was. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the engagement state can be secured by slightly moving the handle ring 24 in the axial direction. In other words, even if a thick foreign substance is not forcibly inserted between the handle body 22 and the handle ring 24 (even if the coin C is slightly loosely inserted), the axial direction of the handle ring 24 may be slightly increased. The meshing state can be easily ensured only by fitting a foreign substance that can secure the movement to the above. As a result, it is possible to prevent the handle 21 from being damaged due to the forcible insertion of a foreign substance.

The present invention is not limited to the description of the above-described embodiment, and may be implemented as follows without departing from the spirit of the invention.

(A) In the above embodiment, the handle main body 22 and the handle ring 24 are formed with the mountain-shaped teeth 54, 55. On the other hand, the shape of the teeth is not limited at all, and any shape may be used as long as it can be meshed. Therefore, for example, saw-like teeth 61 and 62 as shown in FIG.
It may be. With this configuration, when the handle ring rotates in the rotation operation direction, the rotation operation can be performed relatively smoothly even if the teeth 61 and 62 are in contact with each other. On the other hand, when the handle ring returns in the rotation release direction, it becomes relatively difficult to return.

Further, curved teeth 63 and 64 as shown in FIG. 7C may be used. With such a configuration, since the tip portions of the teeth 63 and 64 are not sharp,
It is less likely to be scraped or damaged. As a result, the durability can be improved, and the life can be extended.

(B) A backlash (gap) may be provided between the meshing teeth. By providing the backlash in this manner, it is possible to finely adjust the operation amount of the handle ring 24 by the player within the range of the backlash.

(C) In the above embodiment, the handle body 22 and the handle ring 24 are formed with the annular teeth 54, 55. On the other hand, at least one tooth may be partially provided.

(D) In the above embodiment, the teeth 54 and 55 are formed on the handle body 22 and the handle ring 24,
Although both are meshable, teeth may be formed between the handle ring 24 and the mounting plate 31, or between the handle ring 24 and the face cover 32, and these may be meshable.

(E) In the above embodiment, the coin C is fitted between the handle main body 22 and the handle ring 24 to move the handle ring 24 in the axial direction to maintain the meshing state. The meshing state may be maintained by a foreign substance (for example, a card, a key, a match, or the like).

(F) The present invention can be applied to a pachinko machine of a type different from the above-described embodiment (other than a pachinko machine with a first-type starting port). Therefore, the present invention can be applied to, for example, the second and third type pachinko machines. Further, the present invention can be applied to a game machine other than a pachinko machine, such as other arepachi, arrangement balls, smart balls, and the like. In addition, as the game medium, other balls, discs, and the like may be used in addition to the game balls B (pachinko balls).

(G) The emblem 33, collar 53, washer 52, contact plate 42,
The stop button 43, the micro switch 44 and the like may be omitted as appropriate.

The technical ideas that are not described in the claims but can be grasped from the above embodiment will be described below.

(1) A fixing member fixed to the game machine main body, a shaft provided rotatably with respect to the fixing member, and a turning member for turning the shaft by a turning operation. In a gaming machine having a handle and capable of adjusting a shooting speed of a game medium in accordance with a rotation operation amount of the rotation member, the fixing member and the rotation are performed based on moving the rotation member in an axial direction. The members are engaged with each other, and the rotational operation state can be maintained by the engagement.

(2) In the gaming machine according to the first aspect and the additional description (1), the meshing is performed based on fitting a foreign object between the fixed member and the rotating member. .

(3) Claim 1 and the supplementary note (1),
(2) In the gaming machine described in (2), the meshing is performed by meshing annular or arcuate teeth provided so as to face the fixed member and the rotating member.

[0047]

As described in detail above, according to the gaming machine of the present invention, a game provided with a handle capable of adjusting the shooting speed of a game medium such as a game ball in accordance with the amount of rotation of a rotating member. In the machine, the feeling of fatigue of the player can be suppressed, and
There is an excellent effect that the turning operation state of the turning member can be easily and stably held.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a pachinko machine according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the handle is viewed from the front side.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the handle is viewed from the back side.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a state where the handle is viewed from the back side.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the handle.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway side view of the handle.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are enlarged views showing teeth in one embodiment and another embodiment, in which FIG. 7A is an enlarged view showing a portion X in FIG. 6 in this embodiment, and FIG. (C) is an enlarged view of a tooth according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the handle showing a state in which a handle ring is rotated to insert a coin.

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway side view corresponding to FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Pachinko machine body, 5 ... Game board, 21 ... Handle, 2
2 Handle body, 23 Shaft, 24 Handle ring, 31 Mounting plate, 32 Face cover, 4
1: Coil spring, 54, 55, 61, 62, 6
3, 64 ... teeth.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A handle having a fixing member fixed to a game machine main body and a turning member rotatably provided with respect to the fixing member, wherein a handle is provided according to a turning operation amount of the turning member. A game machine capable of adjusting a firing speed of a game medium by moving the rotating member in an axial direction, meshing the fixed member and the rotating member with each other, and maintaining a rotating operation state by the meshing. A gaming machine characterized in that it can be played.