JP2009017898A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine which prevents a game from being interrupted by alarming a player before the game is interrupted by the fact that a tray is filled with tokens. <P>SOLUTION: A slot machine includes: a hopper device 50 provided with a rotary disk 63 to be rotated when paying off the tokens, a count arm 70 to be abutted to the outer peripheral edge of the token pushed out by the rotation of the rotary disk 63 and swung to flip the tokens one by one to a discharge path every time of returning to an initial position after the swing of a prescribed angle, and a count sensor 75 for detecting the swing of the count arm 70 and outputting token putout signals; a tray 30 for receiving the tokens paying-off from the hopper device 50; a discharge path sensor 45 for detecting that an object is present in the discharge path and outputting full signals; and a speaker 47 for performing full alarming of reporting that too many tokens are accumulated in the tray 30 and abnormality alarming of reporting the occurrence of abnormality. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine including a hopper device that pays out game media (medals, coins) one by one.

  Slot machines (game machines) that are installed and used in game halls such as pachinko parlors are given a certain value to medals (game media) and exchange game media earned by playing games for various prizes. be able to. The slot machine is provided with various drive devices such as a lamp device and a sound generator that are operated based on supply of medals, and a control circuit device including a control circuit board that controls these drive devices. The game is filled with excitement by actuating them appropriately when performing. In addition, in order to enable these devices to operate safely and reliably and allow the player to enjoy the game, a device for issuing a warning when a failure occurs is also provided.

  The slot machine is provided with a receiving tray from which medals are paid out when winning, and the medals are paid out from a hopper device provided in the slot machine. The medals paid out from the hopper device are collected in the tray through the passage, but if there are too many medals on the tray due to a bonus, etc. If this happens, the slot machine determines that it is abnormal, stops paying out medals from the hopper device, and stops the continuation of the game. As a result, the player needs to call the store clerk to cancel the abnormality in order to resume the game. If the game is interrupted in this way, the player's interest in the game is diminished.

The medal payout portion of the hopper device is provided with a count arm, and the count arm pays out medals while counting one by one. If this count arm stops moving for some reason, medals will not be counted and more medals will be paid out. In addition to malfunctioning of the count arm due to dirt, etc., the count arm may become improper because it inserts a wire or the like from the payout opening provided in the tray and impedes the operation of the count arm and causes many medals to be paid out. May depend on action. In order to prevent such an illegal act, a gaming machine in which a shutter device is provided at a medal payout outlet of a hopper device and a medal passage is shielded by the shutter device except when a medal is paid out is described in Patent Document 1 below.
JP 2005-110848 A

  The shutter device described in the above-mentioned patent document is complicated as a device. Further, since the shutter device is opened when a medal is paid out, a wire or the like may be inserted from a payout opening provided in the tray during this time. It is not a complete measure. Furthermore, in order to have the player continue to enjoy the game, some countermeasures must be taken not only for preventing fraud but also for the interruption of the game due to the clogging of medals and the contamination of the count arm.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention warns a player before a game is interrupted due to clogged medals, prompts the player to remove the medals accumulated in the tray, and prevents the game from being interrupted. In addition, it is possible to warn that an illegal act of inserting a wire or the like has been performed. It is another object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine in which the continuation of a game is stopped when the count arm is inoperative due to a malfunction of the count arm due to dirt or the like.

  The gaming machine according to the present invention abuts against a rotary disk rotating at the time of paying out a medal and an outer peripheral edge of the medal pushed out by the rotation of the rotary disk, and swings from an initial position against a spring bias. After swinging at a predetermined angle corresponding to the outer diameter, a count arm that flips medals one by one toward the discharge path every time the spring is biased to return to the initial position, and the count arm swings to the predetermined angle. A hopper device is provided that includes a count sensor that detects movement and outputs a medal payout signal. A tray that receives medals that are connected to the discharge path and that is paid out from the hopper device, a discharge path sensor that detects that there is an object in the discharge path, and outputs a full signal, and medals have accumulated too much in the tray And a notifying means for performing a full warning for notifying that there is an abnormality and an abnormal warning for notifying that an abnormality has occurred.

  The gaming machine includes notification control means, measures a time width while the payout signal is output, and outputs a full signal from the discharge path sensor when the measured time width exceeds a set time. The full warning is notified when the full signal is output, and the abnormal warning is notified when the full signal is not output.

  When the full warning is issued from the notification means, the payout of the game medium by the hopper device is stopped for a predetermined time. When the payout signal is output beyond a second set time longer than the set time, an abnormality warning is notified by the notification means. When the abnormality warning is notified, the payout of the game medium by the hopper device is stopped, and the continuation of the game by the gaming machine is interrupted.

  If the player reduces the number of medals in the tray when the full warning is notified, the operation time of the count arm returns to normal, the full warning is automatically canceled, and the payout of the game medium by the hopper device is restored. The game continues. If the number of medals in the tray continues to increase despite the full warning, the payout of the game medium is automatically resumed after a predetermined time, so that the medal clogging occurs, the count arm stops and an abnormal warning is issued. At the same time, the continuation of the game is stopped.

  The gaming machine of the present invention warns the player before the game is interrupted due to clogged medals, prompts the player to remove the medals accumulated in the tray, prevents the game from being interrupted, and Also warn when a fraudulent act is inserted. In addition, when the count arm is inoperable due to dirt or the like, the continuation of the game is stopped, and the game is resumed after checking / inspecting the game hall employee. As a result, it is possible to minimize a decrease in the interest of the player due to the interruption of the game and to warn against illegal acts.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a slot machine (game machine) 10 includes a first reel 16, which will be described later, in a housing 11 including a storage box 12 and a front door 13 provided on the front surface of the storage box 12. The second reel 17, the third reel 18, the power supply device 40, the hopper device 50 and the like are arranged.

  The front door 13 includes an upper door 14 and a lower door 15. A display window 19 is provided on the upper door 14, and a first reel 16, a second reel 17, and a third reel 18 are disposed behind the display window 19. As is well known, a plurality of types of symbols, for example, are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of each reel. When each reel is stopped, three symbols printed on each reel are displayed on the display window 19. A total of nine symbols are displayed through the display window 19. In addition, a decoration lamp 46 and a speaker 47 are provided in the upper part, and the effect of the game is enhanced. The speaker 47 also serves as a notifying unit described later.

  Various operation buttons such as a single bet button 20, a MAX bet button 21, and a payout button 22 that are operated at the start of the game are provided on the lower door 15. The single bet button 20 is a button that is pressed when a game is played using one inserted medal. The MAX bet button 21 is pressed when a game is played using the maximum number of used medals (for example, three). The inserted medals include credited medals in addition to medals directly inserted from the insertion slot 23.

  In addition, a start lever 25, a first stop button 26, a second stop button 27, and a third stop button 28 are provided. The start lever 25 is operated when a game is executed. The first stop button 26 is a button that is pressed when stopping the rotating first reel 16, and the second stop button 27 and the third stop button 28 are used to move the rotating second reel 17 and third reel 18, respectively. It is a button to be pressed when stopping each.

  At the lower part of the lower door 15 is provided a tray 30 provided with a payout outlet 29 through which medals are paid out when winning.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the upper door 14 can open the upper part of the storage box 12 by the trillions 31 and 32. The first reel 16, the second reel 17, and the third reel 18 are stored in the upper portion of the storage box 12. The lower door 15 can open the lower part of the storage box 12 by the trillions 33 and 34. A power supply device 40 and a hopper device 50 are stored in the lower portion of the storage box 12.

  A selector 41, a cancel cover 42, and the like are attached to the inside of the lower door 15. The selector 41 determines whether a medal inserted into the insertion slot 23 is an appropriate medal or an improper medal when playing a game. If the medal is an appropriate medal, a cancel cover (medal discharge path) 42 to the tray 30 and discharged from the outlet 29 to the tray 30. The selector 41 receives the inserted medal when the medal is inserted at an inappropriate timing, for example, when it is inserted in the middle of a game or while various operation buttons are pressed. To discharge. Since the number of medals inserted prior to the start of the game is limited to 1 to 3, medals inserted after the fourth piece are discharged to the tray 30 when the credit function is not used.

  On the other hand, when the credit function is on, medals inserted after the fourth sheet are detected by a medal sensor (not shown) provided in the selector 41, and then stored in the hopper device 50, for example, up to 50 sheets. Is done. When this credit function is used, a medal insertion operation is performed by operating the one-bet button 20 or the MAX bet button 21 described above, and the bet number is sequentially subtracted from the credit number. Further, as a result of the game, when a winning is obtained, medals serving as a payout are also credited, and medals credited when the payout button 22 is operated are paid out to the tray 30.

  An opening 43 into which the dispensing rod 69 of the hopper device 50 is inserted is provided on the surface of the lower portion of the cancel cover 42 facing the hopper device 50. A discharge path sensor 45 is provided on a side surface below the opening 43 of the cancel cover 42, and when the medals are accumulated in the tray 30, become full, and accumulate in the cancel cover 42, the discharge path sensor 45 is Detect it. The discharge path sensor 45 is, for example, a transmissive photoelectric sensor, and a light projecting portion and a light receiving portion are provided on the inner wall surfaces of the cancel cover 42 facing each other. In the space between the light projecting portion and the light receiving portion, a medal or a foreign object is provided. When no object is present, the light emitted from the light projecting unit is received by the light receiving unit, and when an object such as a medal or a foreign object is present in the space, the light emitted from the light projecting unit is No light is received at the light receiving section. The discharge path sensor 45 outputs a full signal when light emitted from the light projecting unit is not received by the light receiving unit.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the hopper device 50 includes a storage tank 51 and a medal payout device 60. The storage tank 51 includes a storage unit 52 that stores a large number of medals, an opening 53 that is provided at the bottom of the storage unit 52 and supplies medals to the medal payout device 60, an apron portion 54 that fits into the medal payout device 60, and a medal. It is composed of a cover 55 of a dispensing basket 69 of the dispensing device 60. The medal payout device 61 is provided with an inclination to the medal payout mechanism 61.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the medal payout mechanism 61 has a rotary disk 63 provided on the upper surface of the inclined substrate 62, and an outer peripheral portion thereof is prevented from being removed by a disc cover 66 detachably attached to the substrate 62. Covered. Further, a motor 64 and a reduction gear train 65 for rotating the rotary disc 63 are provided on the lower surface. One end of the substrate 62 is provided with an inclined payout bar 69 for allowing medals to flow down, and a count arm 70 is disposed between the payout bar 69 and the rotary disk 63.

  The count arm 70 includes a shielding plate 71 that rotates integrally with the count arm 70 on the back side of the substrate 62. In the vicinity of the shielding plate 71, a count sensor 75 that is a transmissive photoelectric sensor is arranged. As will be described in detail later, the count arm 70 reciprocates once for each medal paid out. During the reciprocating motion in which the count arm 70 moves from the initial position and pays out medals and then returns to the initial position, when the count arm 70 is in a position other than the initial position, the shielding plate 71 blocks the light receiving portion of the count sensor 75. A medal payout signal is output from. The medal payout signal is sent to the timing circuit 91 and the count circuit 92 of the control unit 90. The timer circuit (measuring means) 91 measures the time for which the shielding plate 71 blocks the light receiving portion of the count sensor 75 and transmits the result to the control circuit 93. The count circuit 92 sends one pulse signal to the control circuit 93 every time the shielding plate 71 blocks the light receiving portion of the count sensor 75 once.

  The control unit 90 comprehensively controls the slot machine 10 by the control circuit (notification control means) 93 and drives the motor 64 by the driver 94 to cause the hopper device 50 to perform a medal payout operation. When the count circuit 92 counts a predetermined number, the driving of the motor 64 is stopped by the driver 94. The control circuit 93 checks whether or not a full signal is output from the discharge path sensor 45 when the time width measured by the time measuring circuit 91 exceeds the set time. When the full signal is output, the speaker (notification means) 47 is instructed to give a full warning when the full signal is not output, and the speaker 47 notifies the full warning according to the instruction of the control circuit 93. Anomaly warning is notified. When a full warning is notified from the speaker 47, the payout of medals by the hopper device 50 is stopped for a predetermined time. When an abnormality warning is notified from the speaker 47, the payout of the game medium by the hopper device is stopped, and the continuation of the game by the gaming machine is interrupted.

  The full warning or abnormal warning is warned / informed to the player through the speaker 47 and also transmitted to the manager through a hall computer (not shown) that manages the entire game hall. The full warning tells the player that there are too many medals in the tray 30 and that the game will stop unless the medals are immediately removed from the tray 30 so that the game can continue as smoothly as possible. The warning is a warning that informs that the game has been interrupted due to the occurrence of an abnormal condition such as a clogged medal or a malfunction of the gaming machine.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the count arm 70 is supported by a shaft 72 fixed to the substrate 62 and is urged counterclockwise by a spring 73. A roller 74 that contacts the medal is provided at one end of the count arm 70 to reduce friction when the medal is paid out. The rotary disk 63 is rotated in the direction A in the figure by the motor 64. On the upper surface of the rotary disk 63, openings 63a for receiving medals are provided at five locations equally dividing the circumference, and a medal receiving space 63b (see FIG. 4) is provided therebelow.

  Next, the operation of paying out medals by the rotary disc 63 will be described with reference to operation explanatory views (FIGS. 6 to 9) showing the medal receiving space 63b and the cam portion 63c of the rotary disc 63 below. As shown in FIG. 6, when the rotary disk 63 rotates in the direction A in the figure, the medal M housed in the medal housing space 63 b comes into contact with a pin 67 embedded in the substrate 62.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the rotary disk 63 further rotates, the medal M is pushed out to the outer peripheral side of the rotary disk 63 by the cam 63 c provided on the back surface of the rotary disk 63, and the pin 68 embedded in the substrate 62. Abut.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the rotary disk 63 further rotates, the medal M abuts on a roller 74 attached to one end of the count arm 70 and then abuts on a guide portion 62 a provided on the substrate 62.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the medal M abutting against the roller 74 and the guide portion 62a cannot move in the medal receiving space 63b, and rotates clockwise around the shaft 72 against the biasing force of the spring 73. The count arm 70 is moved in the direction of and moved in the direction of the dispensing basket 69. At this time, a shielding plate 71 that rotates integrally with the count arm 70 is provided below the count arm 70, and when the count arm 70 rotates, the shielding plate 71 blocks the light receiving portion of the count sensor 75. The count sensor 75 detects the insertion of the shielding plate 71 when the light receiving portion is blocked by the shielding plate 71, and transmits a medal payout signal while the shielding plate 71 is inserted. When the medal M is pushed slightly from the position shown in FIG. 9, the medal M jumps out to the payout basket 69 vigorously. At the same time, the count arm 70 and the shielding plate 71 return to the initial positions, and the count sensor 75 stops outputting the medal payout signal.

  Next, the operation of the gaming machine 10 according to the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, the medal M paid out to the payout basket 69 falls from the opening 43 to the inside of the cancel cover 42. The medal M that has fallen into the cancel cover 42 accumulates in the tray 30 from the payout opening 29. Many medals may temporarily accumulate in the tray due to bonuses or the like. Alternatively, the player may intentionally leave medals in the tray.

  In such a case, as shown in FIG. 11, medals accumulate in the cancel cover 42. When medals accumulate at the lower part of the cancel cover 42, the medals are jammed up to the payout bar 69 of the hopper device 50, and the counting arm 70 cannot quickly pay out medals. Therefore, the operation of the count arm 70 becomes slow, the insertion time of the shielding plate 71 into the count sensor 75 becomes long, and the time of the transmitted medal payout signal becomes long. For example, the output time of the medal payout signal, which was 0.1 seconds at normal time, becomes 0.5 seconds.

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, when the clogging of medals is in the initial stage, the medals are pushed into the payout rod 69 by the urging force of the spring 73 that urges the counting arm 70. It gradually gets longer. When the output time of the medal payout signal exceeds 0.3 seconds, for example, the time measuring circuit 91 notifies the control circuit 93 that the time exceeds 0.3 seconds. The control circuit 93 immediately checks the state of the discharge path sensor 45 and, when the discharge path sensor 45 detects an object such as a medal and is turned on, notifies the full warning from the speaker 47. At the same time, the motor 64 is stopped via the driver 94, and the payout of medals from the hopper device 50 is stopped.

  When the player voluntarily removes the medal from the tray 30 by the warning from the speaker 47, the discharge path sensor 45 is turned OFF and at the same time the operation time of the count arm 70 returns to normal. Thereby, the full warning by the speaker 47 is automatically canceled, and the player can continue to enjoy the game.

  However, when the medal removal in the tray 30 is not performed despite the full warning, the medal payout stop time of the hopper device 50 is as short as about 5 seconds, for example, and the payout of the medal is resumed immediately. The medal clogging occurs and the count arm 70 stops moving. When the medal payout signal exceeds, for example, 1 second, the time measuring circuit 91 determines that an abnormality has occurred and transmits it to the control circuit 93. The control circuit 93 instructs the speaker 47 to notify an abnormality warning at the same time that the hopper device 50 stops paying out medals. This prevents the player from continuing the game.

  Further, even when the player performs an illegal act such as inserting a wire, the discharge path sensor detects the wire, so that the same notification is frequently performed, so that an effect of suppressing the illegal activity is produced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the player 47 is used to warn the player. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a warning by a display panel may be used, the decorative lamp 46 may blink, Alternatively, another lamp may be attached in the vicinity of 30 and blinked.

  In the above embodiment, the hopper device is stopped at the time of the full warning and the medal payout is temporarily stopped. However, the hopper device may not be stopped at the full warning.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the slot machine which implemented this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the front door of the slot machine. It is a perspective view which shows the hopper apparatus of the state which isolate | separated the storage tank and the discharge device. It is a perspective view which shows a medal payout mechanism, and a block diagram of a control part. It is a top view which shows a medal payout mechanism. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a medal payout mechanism. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a medal payout mechanism. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a medal payout mechanism. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a medal payout mechanism. It is explanatory drawing of a medal clogging. It is explanatory drawing of a medal clogging. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of alerting | reporting.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Slot machine 29 Outlet 30 Receptacle 42 Cancel cover 45 Discharge path sensor 47 Speaker (notification means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 Hopper apparatus 51 Storage tank 52 Storage part 60 Dispensing apparatus 61 Medal paying mechanism 63 Rotary disk 69 Dispensing rod 70 Counter arm 71 Shielding plate 73 Spring 75 Count sensor 90 Control part 91 Timing circuit 93 Control circuit (notification control means)
M medal (game media)

Claims (3)

The rotary disk that rotates when the medal is paid out, and the oscillating from the initial position by abutting the outer peripheral edge of the medal pushed out by the rotation of the rotary disk, and after the predetermined angle according to the outer diameter of the medal, A count arm that returns to the position, and that causes the medal to be flipped one by one toward the discharge path, and a count sensor that detects that the count arm has moved from the initial position and outputs a medal payout signal A hopper device comprising:
A saucer for receiving medals from the hopper device connected to the discharge path;
A discharge path sensor that detects the presence of an object in the discharge path and outputs a full signal;
Informing means for performing a full warning for notifying that a medal is accumulated in the tray and an abnormal warning for notifying that an abnormality has occurred;
A time width during which the payout signal is output is measured, and when the measured time width exceeds a set time, it is identified whether or not a full signal is output from the discharge path sensor. Notification control means for notifying the full warning when it is output, and notifying the abnormality warning when the full signal is not output;
A gaming machine comprising:   2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein when the full warning is notified from the notification means, the payout of the game medium by the hopper device is stopped for a predetermined time.   When the payout signal is output over a second set time longer than the set time, an abnormality warning is notified by the notification means, and when the abnormality warning is notified, the game medium by the hopper device is notified. 3. A gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the payout is stopped and the continuation of the game by the gaming machine is interrupted.

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