JP3182092B2 - Medal game machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0000]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medal game machine which competes for medal acquisition by guiding a medal placed on a fixed table through a medal acquisition opening by a pushing member to a medal takeout opening.

[0000]

2. Description of the Related Art A medal game machine of this type is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Hei 7-13392 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-11633.
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-205. These medal game machines are provided with an upright game board surface and a horizontal board surface arranged below the game board surface, and a pusher portion sliding on the horizontal board surface pushes medals on the horizontal board surface toward a payout port to push out medals. To win. When a player inserts a medal into the game board through the medal insertion slot, the medal passes through the game board and falls on the horizontal board. At this time,
The manner of pushing out the medals by the pusher section differs depending on the medal falling position, the medal falling timing, and the medal position on the horizontal board, so that the player can drop the medal on the horizontal board so as to obtain as many medals as possible. Adjust the timing.

Each time a medal passes through the medal insertion slot or the game board, the display of the roulette or the numeric display changes, and a large number of medals are inserted into the game board according to the stop position. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-116335 discloses that every time the roulette stops at a predetermined position, a medal is supplied to a medal pool arranged at a position that can be visually recognized by a player, and the medal supply is performed a predetermined number of times. The medals in the medal pool are thrown into the game board at a stretch.

Among the same type of medal game machines having a medal pool, there is a type in which the medals stored in the medal pool are discharged at a stroke onto a horizontal board (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-285238).

[0000]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional medal game machines, the medal pools are usually in a stationary state, or only run on a predetermined track on a bogie. By displaying a large number of medals at all times and paying them out in a state that can be easily viewed by the player, the visual effect that motivates the players to acquire medals is poor.

Further, in the conventional medal game machine, the medal supply to the game board surface or the medal pool is difficult to be visually recognized by the player. By supplying a large amount of medals in a state that can be easily recognized by the player, Similarly, it lacked the visual effects that motivated players to earn medals.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and an object thereof is to inspire a player to acquire medals by presenting the supply or transfer of medals to a player in an unconventional state. An object of the present invention is to provide a medal game machine capable of providing such a visual effect.

[0000]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixed table on which medals can be placed, and a medal acquisition which is provided on the fixed table and communicates with a medal take-out opening which opens to a player. The present invention is applied to a medal game machine provided with a mouth, an extruding means for pushing medals on a fixed table toward a medal acquisition mouth, and a supply means for supplying medals on the fixed table.

The above-mentioned problems are solved by a rotatable rotary table on which medals can be placed, a driving means for rotating the rotary table, a rotary table supply means for supplying medals on the rotary table, This is attained by providing the supply means with a transfer means for transferring medals placed on the rotary table toward the fixed table.

An example of the rotary table supply means includes a medal storage section in which medals are temporarily stored and a medal supply section having a medal supply port near the rotary table. If the medal storage unit is located at a position higher than the rotary table, the medal supply unit may include a gutter-shaped or rail-shaped member through which medals can flow down. It is preferable to provide a transport mechanism for transporting the sheet to a position higher than the rotary table.

The transfer of medals to the fixed table by the transfer means includes not only transferring a large number of medals to the fixed table at once, but also transferring a predetermined number of medals to the fixed table sequentially. In short, the transfer means only needs to be able to move medals from the rotary table to the fixed table, and examples of the transfer mode include a method using gravity (difference in height), and a method using transfer means such as a belt conveyor and a crane. In addition, not only means for actively transferring medals, but also means for passively transferring medals by using the rotating force of a turntable are included. Specific examples of such passive transfer means include those that fly medals outward using centrifugal force when rotating a rotary table, and those that dams medals on a rotary table and guides them outward. and so on.

According to the above arrangement, the medals to be transferred to the fixed table are always displayed on the rotary table driven to rotate by the driving means, and are transferred to the fixed table by the transfer means as appropriate. Become.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a player has a medal insertion slot for inserting medals, and is provided with an insertion means for guiding medals inserted into the medal insertion slot onto a fixed table.

It is preferable that the number of the medal slot is determined according to the number of players who can play simultaneously. The position of the medal insertion slot may be any position as long as the player can easily insert a medal,
If there is a medal slot higher than the fixed table,
The loading means may include a mechanism utilizing gravity, for example, a mechanism for rolling and sliding medals by grooves, rails or the like to guide them on a fixed table. Alternatively, a configuration in which a game board capable of passing medals in a vertical direction is provided on a fixed table and a medal insertion slot is formed in an upper portion of the game board is also included in the insertion means. As another example of the injection means,
This includes those that shoot medals inserted from the medal insertion slot toward the fixed table.

When a medal is inserted by the player by the insertion means, the manner in which the medals are placed on the fixed table changes, and as a result, the manner in which the medals are pushed out to the medal acquisition opening also changes each time. Accordingly, the number of medals that can be obtained from the medal take-out port by the medal insertion from the player changes, and the number of medals obtained can be competed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transfer means, wherein a determination means for determining an execution result of an event executed when the medal has passed a predetermined position is provided, and the medal is transferred based on the determination result of the determination means. Is performed.

The judging means has a function of executing an event when the medal passes the predetermined position and making a judgment based on the execution result of the event. Therefore, preferably, the judging means judges that the medal has passed the predetermined position. Detecting means for detecting;
An event execution unit that executes an event based on the detection result of the detection unit, and an event determination unit that performs a determination based on the execution result of the event execution unit.

The predetermined position for detecting the passage of the medals may be any of the medals distribution routes, such as the medal introduction route from the medal slot to the fixed table, the medal transfer route from the rotary table to the fixed table, and the fixed table. And a medal moving route from the to the medal acquisition opening. Of course, medal passing may be detected at a plurality of positions.

The event executed by the event executing means may be executed in a random manner or in advance, in order to provide the player with a more interesting game. It is preferably of the type given in accordance with established rules. As an example of such an event, a roulette is turned (or a roulette display is displayed on the display screen) when a medal passes a specific position to give an unconditional “hit” execution result or when a medal passes a predetermined position. And a method that gives a "hit" or "missing" execution result depending on the stop position of the roulette. In addition, the event execution result may include not only “hit” and “miss” but also a plurality of “hit” levels. That is, the number of medals transferred may be determined in the “hit”.

There are various methods for reflecting the judgment result by the judging means on the medal transfer. For example, the medal transfer may be performed only when a specific judgment result is obtained, or the medal transfer number may be determined based on the judgment result. May be increased or decreased.

When the medal has passed the predetermined position, an event is executed, the execution result of the event is judged by the judging means, and the transferring means carries out the medal based on the judgment result of the judging means. Therefore, the event execution result can be reflected in the medal transfer mode.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided at least a medal passing detecting means provided in the middle of a medal moving path from the fixed table to the medal obtaining opening for detecting the passing of a medal, and a display unit capable of displaying a plurality of symbols. A symbol display unit for changing the display of the display unit by a detection signal output from the medal passage detection unit and stopping the display change at a timing set at random, provided in the transfer unit, and the display change is stopped. The determination unit determines whether the display unit of the symbol display unit in the state has displayed a predetermined symbol.

Since the medal passage detecting means has a function of detecting that the medal has passed a predetermined position, specifically, an optical passage sensor in which a light projecting portion and a light receiving portion are arranged so as to sandwich the predetermined position. And an ultrasonic proximity sensor that transmits an ultrasonic wave toward a predetermined position and receives a reflected ultrasonic wave, a sensor such as a microswitch having a movable contact at a predetermined position, a detector including a switch, and the like. Further, if the medal is a magnetic substance, a detector having a magnetic flux change detection sensor such as a Hall element may be used.

Since the display section of the symbol display means has a function of displaying a plurality of symbols, specifically, a display capable of displaying at least one digit such as a so-called 7-digit LED display. And a display capable of displaying two-dimensional information such as a liquid crystal display and a CRT. Alternatively, as in a general slot machine, a display device in which numerals, symbols, and the like are described on the surface of a belt-shaped endless reel and the reel is rotated in a predetermined direction is also included.

The symbols displayed on the display include, for example, numbers, pictograms, and specific symbols.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a medal passage detecting means is provided at a position protruding from the end of the fixed table facing the medal acquisition opening toward the medal acquisition opening.
Claim 6 is an example of such a medal passing detection means.
As shown in FIG. 3, a projecting member extending from the end facing the medal acquisition opening toward the medal acquisition opening is provided on the fixed table, and the medal passage detecting means is provided on the protruding member. .

The projecting member has a first inclined surface extending obliquely upward from the end portion, and a second inclined surface extending obliquely downward following the first inclined surface. The means may detect medals passing on the second inclined surface. When the pushing means pushes the medals toward the medal acquisition opening, some of the medals located at the end of the fixed table reach the first inclined surface of the projecting member, and the medals located behind push up the first inclined surface. . And
After reaching the boundary between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface, if the medal slides further down the second inclined surface when pressed by a medal further behind, the medal passes when the medal slides down the second inclined surface in this way. The detecting means detects a medal passing.

The invention according to an eighth aspect is provided with a notifying means for notifying the player of the passage detection when the passage of the medal is detected by the medal passage detecting means. Since the notifying unit has a function of notifying the player of the medal passing detection, specifically, a light emitting device such as a lamp that is turned on or blinks in conjunction with a detection signal from the medal passing detecting unit, a predetermined fanfare, or the like. An audio output device such as a sounding speaker may be used. Also, the notifying means can be configured by swinging the panel on which the notifying information is displayed in conjunction with the passage of the medal. Therefore, the player can easily know that the medal has passed the predetermined position by the notification from the notification means.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a medal supply port located above the rotary table is provided in the rotary table supply means. Therefore, the medals are discharged to the turntable from above the turntable.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hollow cylindrical member having one end located above the rotary table and extending in a height direction;
The rotary table supply means is provided with a pipe supply means for supplying medals into the tubular member. Therefore,
The medals are supplied into the tubular member by the pipe supply means,
It falls inside the cylindrical member and is discharged from above the rotary table to the rotary table.

The eleventh aspect of the present invention is such that the cylindrical member is formed of a material having translucency. Therefore, when the medal falls within the tubular member, the state of the medal is presented in a state that can be visually recognized by the player.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a shaft member rotatably supported around a shaft in a cylindrical member and one end of which is coaxially connected to a rotary table, and a plate member fixed to the shaft member. It is as if provided on a rotary table supply means. Therefore, when the medal falls in the cylindrical member, the medal abuts against the rotating plate-shaped body and falls while colliding.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the transfer means is provided with a selection means for selectively transferring medals placed on the outer periphery of the rotary table. Since the selection means has a function of selectively transferring medals placed on the outer periphery of the rotary table, specifically, an arm member that scrapes out only medals placed on the outer periphery of the rotary table to the outside And the like.

In this case, a selection member provided on the outer peripheral portion of the turntable for suppressing the movement of the medals on the turntable may be provided in the selection means. Examples of the suppressing member include a ring-shaped plate body concentrically arranged on the rotary table, and a step portion formed one step higher on the outer peripheral portion of the rotary table. Alternatively, a projection in which a projection such as a nut head is planted on a rotary table along a circumference of a predetermined radius is also included in the suppression member.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a surrounding wall surrounding a peripheral portion of the rotary table, a notch formed in at least one portion of the surrounding wall, through which a medal placed on the rotating table can pass, and a notch. It is as if a transfer member is provided with a gate member that can be opened and closed freely. Therefore, when the notch is opened by opening the gate member while rotating the rotary table,
The medals are ejected outward from the cutouts by the centrifugal force applied to the medals as the turntable rotates.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wall member erected on a fixed table, a slit formed on the wall member, through which only one medal in contact with the fixed table can pass, and a medal having the slit as a medal collection port. It is like having a collection unit. Therefore, when the medals are placed on the fixed table in a plurality of layers, only the medals in the lowermost layer pass through the slit, and the medals passing through the slit are collected by the medal collecting unit.

In this case, an opening formed in the wall member and extending upward from a corner formed by the fixed table and the wall member, and a covering member covering at least an upper portion of the opening are provided. Alternatively, a slit may be formed by an opening of a portion not covered by the covering member.

The invention according to claim 18 is such that the slit is arranged at a position where the slit is hidden by the cover member with the player's gaze pointed at the slit. Therefore, the player cannot see the medal passing through the slit.

The nineteenth aspect of the present invention is such that a restraining member is provided on the fixed table near the slit and suppresses the medal from sliding on the fixed table. When the medal sliding on the fixed table is suppressed by the suppressing member, the medals behind the medals whose sliding is suppressed are:
When the pushing force of the pushing member is received, the medals whose sliding is suppressed are stacked on the medals in an attempt to get over the medals. When this is repeated, medals are stacked in multiple layers near the suppression member.

Since the suppression member has a function of suppressing the sliding of the medals, a simple projection such as a projection provided on the fixed table 5 can be mentioned. It is preferable that the protrusion length is adjustable so that the medal stacking state can be adjusted.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixed table on which medals can be placed, a medal obtaining port provided on the fixed table and communicating with a medal take-out opening which opens to a player, and the fixed table. The present invention is applied to a medal game machine that includes a pushing unit that pushes medals toward a medal acquisition opening and a supply unit that supplies medals onto a fixed table, and the above-described problem is that one end is located above the fixed table. This is achieved by providing a hollow translucent cylindrical member extending in the height direction and a pipe supply unit for supplying medals into the cylindrical member in the supply unit.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, the rotary table supply means includes a shaft member rotatable around an axis in a cylindrical member, and a plate member fixed to the shaft member.

[000]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view showing a medal game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.
3 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 2, and FIG.
It is arrow sectional drawing which follows the D line.

In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a game machine main body, a base 1a formed in a hollow box shape, an operation portion 1b formed on the base 1a and having a rectangular frame shape as viewed from above, and an operation portion 1b. A supporting portion 1c which is bridged over the upper portion of the portion 1b;
and a gate-shaped decorative portion 1d that rises from the left and right sides of FIG. c, and the inside of the operation portion 1b is a game portion 2 on which a game for acquiring medals described later is executed. Operation part 1b and support part 1c
A cover 3 made of a material having a light-transmitting property is provided therebetween.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 6, reference numeral 4 denotes a disk-shaped rotary table arranged at the center of the game section 2, and 5 denotes a front and a rear of the rotary table 4 (up and down in FIGS. 3 and 6). The fixed table 6 that is arranged slides on the upper surface of the fixed table 5,
Alternatively, it is a plate-shaped moving table 6 which moves horizontally on the upper surface at a small interval. The rotary table 4 is mounted on a platform 7 one step higher than the moving table 6.

As shown in FIG. 4, the turntable 4 is rotatably supported via a bearing 11 on a support shaft 10 projecting from the base 1a. Reference numeral 12 denotes a driving motor provided in the base 1a, 13 denotes a timing pulley fixed to the drive shaft 12a of the motor 12, and 14 denotes a timing pulley fixed to the rotary table 4.
A timing belt 15 is wound between 3 and 14. Accordingly, the rotational driving force of the motor 12 is
4 and transmitted to the turntable 4 via the belt 15,
The rotary table 4 is driven to rotate by the motor 12. A large number of medals are supplied to the turntable 4 as described later.

As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of screws N are planted on the rotary table 4 at positions on the circumference at a predetermined radius from the center of rotation. The number of the screws N and the number of medals supplied to the turntable 4 so that the medals in the range surrounded by the head of the screw N do not move outside beyond the screws N and project from the turntable 4. The amount has been set. Preferably, medals having a thickness of one medal directly in contact with the turntable 4 do not move out,
The medals located above it are set to be able to move out.

At both ends (the left and right ends in FIGS. 3 and 4) of the fixed table 5, a medal drop port 8 is formed, and this medal drop port 8 communicates with a medal take-out port 31 described later.

As shown in FIG. 5, the moving table 6 is formed integrally with the moving table 6 so as to penetrate the lower part of the above-mentioned table 7. As shown in FIG. 4, the moving table 6 is formed to have a substantially U-shaped cross section with walls that fall downward from both ends of the flat plate portion, and the lower end of the wall is in sliding contact with the upper surface of the fixed table 5 or slightly. It is placed on the fixed table 5 so as to be horizontally movable while maintaining an interval (preferably an interval through which medals cannot pass).

That is, in FIG. 5, reference numeral 20 denotes a horizontal guide member which is accommodated in a lower portion of the base 7 and extends in a direction penetrating the paper surface of FIG.
0 supports the base 1a (that is, the fixed table 5) so as to be movable along the horizontal direction. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a roller 21 that rolls on the fixed table 5 is provided in the moving table 6 to smooth the horizontal movement of the moving table 6 and reduce the frictional resistance accompanying the movement. Has been reduced. The mounting position of the horizontal guide member 20 and the roller 21 is adjusted so that the end of the wall of the moving table 6 slides on the upper surface of the fixed table 5 or keeps a small interval.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, reference numeral 22 denotes the base 1.
a driving motor 23 provided in the motor 22; a rotating arm 23 fixedly mounted on a driving shaft 22a of the motor 22; 24 a roller rotatably supported at the tip of the rotating arm 23; The movable table 6 is movable along a guide member 25 extending in the longitudinal direction of the movable table 6 (the left-right direction in FIG. 5). Accordingly, the rotation of the roller 2
When the rotary table 4 is driven to rotate, the roller 24 reciprocates along the guide member 25 to move the moving table 6 (see FIG. 3,
It is driven to reciprocate (in the left-right direction in FIG. 4). Thus, the moving table 6 is driven to reciprocate in a direction in which the moving table 6 approaches the medal drop port 8 and moves away from the medal drop port 8. Note that the reciprocating stroke of the moving table 6 is determined by the mounting position of the roller 24.

As shown in FIG. 6, four gate mechanisms 60 for discharging medals placed on the table 4 onto the fixed table 5 are provided at the periphery of the rotary table 4.

More specifically, the peripheral edge of the rotary table 4 has an annular shape to prevent the medal from jumping out of the rotary table 4 when centrifugal force is applied to the medal by the rotation of the rotary table 4. Although the wall 61 is provided upright, the wall 61 is cut out only at four locations where the gate mechanism 60 is provided, and medals are discharged from the turntable 4 by opening the gate mechanism 60 as described later. You.

FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 show details of the gate mechanism 60. FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a main part of the gate mechanism 60, and FIG. 9 is a side view of the same. In these figures, reference numeral 62 denotes a gate plate provided so as to cover a notch (not shown) of the wall 61 and supported by a hinge 63 so as to be freely opened and closed. Reference numeral 64 denotes a motor for driving the gate plate 62 to open and close, and a crank 65 is fixedly provided at the tip of a drive shaft 64a. The distal end of the crank 65 is pin-connected to the outer peripheral portion of the gate plate 62, so that the motor 64
When the crank 65 is rotated by a predetermined angle by driving the
As shown by the imaginary line, the gate plate 62 opens around the hinge 63 to open the above-mentioned notch.

As shown in FIG. 8, the gate plate 62 is provided with a shielding plate 66 extending from the center thereof toward the inside of the turntable 4, and the gate plate 62 is closed. An optical passage sensor 67 is provided at a position where the optical path sensor interrupts the detection optical path in the state (solid line position in FIG. 8). This sensor 67 is a sensor for detecting opening and closing of the gate plate 62. Reference numeral 68 denotes a stopper disposed at a position where the tip of the gate plate 62 contacts when the gate plate 62 is at the closed position.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a pair of gate mechanisms 60 are provided on the left and right sides of the turntable 4 such that their hinges 63 are adjacent to each other (in a vertically symmetric manner in FIG. 6). The base end of the gate plate 62 of the adjacent gate mechanism 60 is connected by a spring 69 (see FIG. 8). Therefore, when the rotational driving force from the motor 64 is not applied to the crank 65, the gate plate 62 is urged to the closed position by the urging force of the spring 69,
The stopper 68 stops at this closed position by contacting the stopper 68.

As shown in FIG. 6, the gate plate 62 and the like are covered with a cover C so that they cannot be seen directly by the player.

Returning to FIGS. 1 to 7, reference numeral 30 denotes a medal shooting mechanism. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. It is provided in places. Each medal shooting mechanism 30 is provided corresponding to each player. Therefore, in the medal game machine of the present embodiment, four players can simultaneously enjoy the game.

This type of medal shooting mechanism 30 is well known.
A detailed description thereof will be omitted, but a guide member is provided generally penetrating the operation unit 1b of the game machine main body 1 and has one end exposed to the outside and the other end extended above the fixed table 5. 30a and a swing support portion 30b that supports the guide member 30a so as to be swingable in the horizontal direction. A groove (not shown) through which medals can pass is formed in the guide member 30a.
It is supported by the swing support portion 30b so as to be inclined downward from one end to the other end. Therefore, when the player inserts a medal into the groove from one end of the guide member 30a,
The medal rolls in the groove from one end of the guide member 30a toward the other end by the action of gravity, and is thrown into the fixed table 5 from the other end of the guide member 30a.

A medal selection mechanism such as a medal selection device (see Japanese Patent Application No. 6-252761) already proposed by the present applicant is attached to the medal insertion mechanism 30, and other than a medal having a predetermined size and shape. Medals and the like (actual coins and medals with different models) may be returned to the medal outlet 31 by a medal selection mechanism. Further, a medal passing sensor may be attached to the medal shooting mechanism 30 to count the number of medals inserted by the player. The counted number of inserted medals can be used as management data of the game machine installer along with the number of supplied medals to be described later.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a medal take-out opening provided in the game machine base 1a below the medal shooting mechanism 30. The medals dropped from the fixed table 5 to the medal drop port 8 are guided to the medal take-out port 31 via the medal shooter 32 having the upper opening serving as the above-described medal drop port 8, and can be taken out of the game machine 1. Becomes That is, when a medal is dropped from the fixed table 5 to the medal drop opening 8, the dropped medal is guided to the medal take-out port 31 and a medal can be obtained.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, a checker mechanism 70 for starting a jackpot operation described later is provided. The details are shown in FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6, 10, and 11.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing the structure of a main part of the checker mechanism 70, and FIG. 11 is a plan view of the same. In these figures, reference numeral 71 denotes a medal shooter 32 from the fixed table 5.
(In other words, above the medal drop opening 8). The cantilever member 71 includes an upwardly inclined plate portion 71a that is inclined upward from the upper surface of the fixed table 5 toward the front end, and a downwardly inclined plate portion 71b that is inclined downward toward the front end following the upwardly inclined plate portion 71a. , The side plate portion 71 which falls downward from the side end of the up and down inclined plate portions 71a, 71b.
c.

As shown in FIG. 11, a large cutout is formed from the center to the tip of the downward inclined plate portion 71b, and a movable plate portion 72 is provided so as to cover the cutout portion. The movable plate portion 72 includes a medal placing portion 72a extending in parallel with the downward inclined plate portion 71b, a vertical plate portion 72b falling downward from a rear end of the medal placing portion 72a, and a lower end of the vertical plate portion 72b. And a rear plate portion 72c extending rearward from the cantilever member 7 by a swing shaft (not shown).
1 is swingably supported.

As shown in FIG. 10, a shielding plate 73 extends rearward and protrudes from the vertical plate portion 72b, and the optical path detected by the swinging movement of the movable plate portion 72 is blocked by the shielding plate 73. An optical passage sensor 74 is provided at a position where the optical passage sensor 74 is located. The optical passage sensor 74 is attached to a U-shaped mounting member (see FIG. 11) 75 in a plan view, and the mounting member 75 is fixed to the side plate 71 c of the cantilever member 71. This sensor 74 is a sensor for instructing the start of the jackpot operation.

A flag plate 76 is provided on the medal placing portion 72a so as to rise vertically from the side end thereof. The flag plate 76 is for notifying the player of the start of the jackpot when the medal reaches the medal mounting portion 72a and the movable plate portion 72 swings due to the own weight of the medal, and a side portion thereof. Is decorated to inform that it is the jackpot start position.

Returning to FIGS. 1 to 7, reference numeral 32 denotes a display unit.
Four points are provided in the game unit 2 corresponding to the respective medal shooting mechanisms 30. The display unit 33 is configured to display a three-digit number. In the present embodiment, three so-called 7-digit LED displays (not shown) are arranged side by side to form a display unit 3.
3 and each LED display is configured to be independently display controllable. The details of the display control of the display unit 33 will be described later.

A slit for collecting medals stacked on the fixed table 5 is formed on the side of the fixed table 5. In the game machine 1 of the present embodiment, four corners (indicated by arrows S1 in FIG. 3) between the table 7 and the fixed table 5 and four corners between the operation unit 1b and the fixed table 5
(Indicated by an arrow S2 in FIG. 3), and a total of eight locations are provided.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing a slit forming portion, FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a slit forming portion in a state where a medal is placed on the fixed table 5, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a slit forming portion. In these figures, a notch 81 is formed upward from a corner with the fixed table 5 on the side of the table 7 or the operation portion 1b of the slit forming portion (S1, S2). Alternatively, a panel 82 is attached to a side portion of the operation portion 1b so as to cover the cutout portion 81 except for the lowermost end of the cutout portion 81. Then, the notch 81 not covered by the panel 82 is used as the slit 80. This slit 80
Is formed at a height at which one medal can barely pass. A nut 83 is implanted in the fixed table 5 near the slit 80, and its head is fixed to the fixed table 5.
From a predetermined height.

Therefore, because the head of the nut 83 projects, a plurality of medals M are vertically overlapped near the nut 83, and a plurality of medals M are vertically overlapped near the slit 80. In this state, only the medal M in the lowermost layer passes through the slit 80, so that the medal on the fixed table 5 can be collected without the player noticing the existence of the slit 80.

The slit 80 is formed to have a very narrow width through which a single medal can barely pass, and the slit 80 is formed relatively low from the viewpoint of the player. The state in which the slit 80 is substantially covered by 82 is obtained. This also allows the player to collect medals on the fixed table 5 without noticing the presence of the slit 80. In particular, when the panel 82 is also used as the title display panel of the game machine, the player can use the panel 8 for forming the slit 80.
2 is less likely to be noticed, and also from this aspect, the player can collect medals on the fixed table 5 without noticing the presence of the slit 80.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, reference numeral 40 denotes a first medal shooter provided in the game machine main body base 1a. In the present embodiment, one first medal shooter 40 is provided on each of the left and right sides of each fixed table 5, that is, a total of four first medal shooters. Each medal shooter 40 is a game machine 1
Extend in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 5) of the game machine 1 so as to be inclined downward toward the center of the game machine 1, and
It is arranged to be located below the slit 80 so that medals falling from the above-mentioned slit 80 can be accommodated. Reference numeral 41 denotes a second medal shooter disposed below a lower end of the first medal shooter 40, and the game machine 1
The game machine 1 is disposed so as to extend in the left-right direction so as to incline downward toward the side of the game machine 1 (to the left as shown in FIG. 4 in the present embodiment).

Reference numeral 42 denotes a medal hopper located at the bottom of the game machine main body base 1 and arranged below the lower end of the second medal shooter. The medal hopper 42 temporarily stores the medals flowing through the second medal shooter 41, and releases a predetermined number of medals from the stored medals based on a signal from a control device (not shown). Has functions. This kind of medal hopper 42 is well-known and its detailed description is omitted. For example, as an example, a medal storage box in which medals are stored, a disk member provided below the medal storage box, and a disk And a drive motor that rotationally drives the member. A plurality of medal receiving holes that can accommodate one medal are formed in the disc member,
The medals are accommodated in the medal receiving holes in accordance with the rotational drive of the disk member by the drive motor, and the medals accommodated in the medal receiving holes are forcibly pushed into an elevator rail 43 described later. By repeating this, a predetermined number of medals are discharged.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 43 denotes an elevator rail extending vertically from the hopper 42 to the upper portion of the main body decoration portion 1d. In the elevator rail 43, a passage is formed in which medals are arranged in a line in the width direction. As an example of such an elevator rail 43,
A rectangular pipe having an internal passage having a width slightly larger than the diameter of the medal and a height slightly larger than the thickness of the medal may be used.

A through hole 44 is formed in the upper center of the decorative portion 1d, and the upper end of the elevator rail 43 and the through hole 44 are formed.
Between them, a medal rail 45 inclined downward toward the through hole 44 is provided. Medal rail 4
5 is a groove (not shown) that can roll while the medal is standing.
Are formed.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a pipe which communicates with the through hole 44 and extends vertically from the upper center of the decorative portion 1d, through the support portion 1c, and above the turntable 6. The pipe 46 is formed of a hollow cylindrical member formed of a translucent material, and is supported by the decorative portion 1d and the support portion 1c. A pole 47 extending vertically is accommodated in the pipe 46, and the lower end of the pole 47 is fixed to the upper surface of the turntable 6. A plurality of elliptical plate bodies (elliptical plates) 48 are fixed to the pole 47. More specifically, the plate surface of the elliptical plate 48 is attached obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the pole 47 so that each elliptical plate 48 has a circular shape when viewed from above. In the present embodiment, the plate surface of the elliptical plate 48 is formed in a mirror finish, and is configured to provide an illumination effect by being illuminated by a lamp 50 (see FIG. 4).

Next, the operation of the medal game machine of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

When a power switch (not shown) of the medal game machine is turned on, a predetermined number of medals are placed on the rotary table 4 and the fixed table 5. When the power is turned on, the motors 12 and 22 of the rotary table 4 and the moving table 6 are driven to rotate, and the rotary table 4 is driven to rotate at a low speed in a predetermined direction.
The moving table 6 is reciprocated on the fixed table 5.

In this state, the player enters the medal shooting mechanism 30.
When a medal is inserted into a predetermined position on the fixed table 5 according to the above, the medal loading state on the fixed table 5 at that time, the position of the moving table 6, and the medal inserting position by the medal inserting mechanism 30 cause the moving table 6 The medals are pushed out toward the medal drop opening 8.

The medal located at the end of the fixed table 5
By the pushing operation of the moving table 6, a part of the medal falls into the medal drop opening 8, reaches the medal take-out port 31 via the medal shooter 32, and becomes a medal obtained by the player.

A part of the medal located at the end of the fixed table 5 reaches the climbing inclined plate portion 71a of the cantilever member 71 of the checker mechanism 70 by the pushing operation by the moving table 6, and is pushed up by the medal located behind. It rises on the lever-inclined inclined plate portion 71a.

When this medal is pushed out by a medal that is further rearward in a state where the medal reaches the boundary between the up-slope plate portion 71a and the down-slope plate portion 71b, that is, the top, the medal is lowered by its own weight. When the movable plate 72 falls on the medal placing portion 72a of the movable plate 72 while sliding on the movable plate 71b, the movable plate 72 is swung (downward in FIG. 10) by its own weight. The medal is placed on the medal placing portion 72 because the downward inclination becomes further steep due to the swing of the movable plate portion 72.
The slider 74 slides down along the arrow a, falls into the medal drop opening 8 and reaches the medal take-out port 31, and the swinging of the movable plate 72 causes the sensor 74 to transmit a jackpot start command signal.

The control unit (not shown) of the medal game machine that has received the jackpot start command signal includes
A command is sent to the display to display a numerical value that increases or decreases in predetermined time units. Alternatively, a display may be provided in software such that a reel on which a number is displayed moves in the vertical direction like a so-called slot machine. Next, the control unit randomly stops the numerical change display by each LED display, and detects the number displayed on each LED display when the display is stopped. And each LE
When it is detected that all the numbers displayed on the D display are complete (that is, the state of the slotted eyes), it is determined that the jackpot is established, and the jackpot operation is started.

The jackpot operation is as follows. First, the motor 12 is driven to rotate at a high speed, and the rotary table 4 is rotated at a higher speed than usual. After the rotation speed of the turntable 4 reaches a certain speed, the motor 64 of the gate mechanism 60 is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction by a predetermined angle, the gate plate 72 is opened, and the cutout of the wall 61 is opened. Therefore, the medals placed on the turntable 4 are discharged out of the cutout portion by the centrifugal force of the turntable 4 and are paid out on the fixed table 5. However, due to the presence of the screw N, medals in an area surrounded by the screw N among medals on the turntable 4 are not paid out.

Since a large number of medals are paid out on the fixed table 5, when the moving table 6 is pushed out, a large number of medals are dropped into the medal drop opening 8, thereby increasing the possibility that the number of acquired medals is increased at a stretch.

In this embodiment, since the adjacent gate mechanisms 60 are formed vertically symmetric in FIG. 6, the rotation direction of the turntable 4 is reversed depending on the position of the checker mechanism 70 instructed to start the jackpot. It should be noted that

Thereafter, the control unit drives the motor 12 to rotate the motor 12 at a low speed to set the turntable 4 to a normal rotation speed (reverse the rotation direction if necessary).
Is instructed to supply a predetermined number of medals. The medal hopper 42 supplies a predetermined number of medals into the pipe 46 via the elevator rail 43 and the medal rail 45. The medals supplied into the pipe 46 come into contact with the elliptical plate 48 of the pawl 47 rotating along with the rotary table 4, fall down in the pipe 46 while colliding, and are discharged onto the rotary table 4. The sound effect is obtained by the collision between the medals and the elliptical plate 48, giving an impression that a large amount of medals are discharged onto the turntable 4. This further increases the player's willingness to acquire medals.

In the jackpot establishment determination, when a specific number is completed (for example, three "7" s are completed), a predetermined number of medals are supplied on the turntable 4 first, and then the above-mentioned medals are supplied. A jackpot operation may be performed.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the rotary table 4 is rotated at a high speed to release the medals to the fixed table 5 by the centrifugal force of the medals. Medals are supplied to the game machine, so that it is possible to present a medal supply and release mode that is not present in the conventional medal game machine, and it is possible to provide a visual effect that motivates the player to acquire medals.

[000]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, medals are supplied to a rotary table which is driven to rotate by a driving means, and medals placed on the rotary table are transferred. As a result, the medals to be transferred to the fixed table are displayed on the rotating table. This allows
It is possible to present a transfer form of medals that is not present in a conventional medal game machine, and it is possible to provide a visual effect that motivates a player to acquire medals.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, medals can be inserted on the fixed table through the medal insertion slot, thereby competing for the number of obtained medals by changing the medal pushing mode by the pushing means. Can provide interesting games.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the event execution result can be reflected in the medal transfer mode, various medal transfer modes can be realized, and as a result, various game progresses can be performed. We can provide rich games.

According to the invention of claim 7, the medal pushed out by the pushing means gradually rises on the first inclined surface,
When the vehicle crosses the top of the first inclined surface, which is the boundary with the second inclined surface, the display change of the symbol display means is started by sliding down the second inclined surface. Can be brought. In other words, the medal gradually rises with the possibility of the medal falling from the protruding member while the medal is rising on the climbing slope of the first inclined surface, thereby giving a thrill as if the medal crosses a suspension bridge. Further, once the vehicle goes over the top, the medal moving mode with a sense of speed can be realized by sliding down the second inclined surface at once.

Further, according to the invention of claim 8, since the medal passing detection by the medal passing detecting means can be notified to the player by the notifying means, the player can easily know that the medal has passed the predetermined position. Can be provided, and the player can be provided with a sense of expectation for event execution following the change in display of the symbol display means, thereby providing an interesting game.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, medals can be supplied onto the turntable from above the turntable, so that a medal supply mode not available in the conventional medal game machine can be presented. This can provide a visual effect that invites the player to acquire medals.
In other words, the medals are dropped and ejected from above, thereby providing a visual effect as if a larger number of medals were supplied on the turntable than the actual number of supplied medals, which motivated the players to acquire medals. We can provide interesting games.

In addition, according to the eleventh and twenty-first aspects, the state in which the medal falls in the tubular member is presented to the player in a visible state, so that a substantial part of the medal falling path is provided to the player. Can be presented, further enhancing the visual effects described above.

According to the twelfth and twelfth aspects of the present invention, when the medal falls in the cylindrical member, the medal comes into contact with the rotating plate-shaped body and falls while colliding.
The medal supply state is also presented to the player by the collision sound, and the player's willingness to acquire medals is further inspired, so that an interesting game can be provided.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the medals placed on the outer periphery of the rotary table are selectively transferred, so that the number of medals placed and displayed on the rotary table is actually transferred. There is a difference between the number of medals transferred and the actual number of medals transferred can be restricted while maintaining the player's expectation of acquiring medals.

According to the fifteenth aspect, when the notch is opened by opening the gate member with the rotary table being rotated, the medal is notched by the centrifugal force applied to the medal with the rotation of the rotary table. Medals can be transferred to the fixed table, thereby providing a visual effect as if a larger number of medals than the actual number of transferred medals were transferred to the fixed table. In addition, the player's willingness to acquire medals can be further inspired to provide an interesting game.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, when the medals are placed on the fixed table in a plurality of layers, only the medals in the lowermost layer pass through the slit, and the medals passing through the slit are collected by the medal collecting unit. Since it is possible to collect medals, a fixed number of medals on the fixed table can be collected without the player noticing, and the actual number of obtained medals can be limited while maintaining the player's expectation of obtaining medals.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a medal game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the medal game machine of one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the medal game machine of one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a main part of the gate mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the gate mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a main configuration of the checker mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the checker mechanism.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing a slit forming portion.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a slit forming portion in a state where medals are placed on a fixed table.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a slit forming portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine main body 2 Game part 4 Rotary table 5 Fixed table 6 Moving table 8 Medal drop port 12, 22, 64 Drive motor 30 Medal insertion mechanism 31 Medal take-out 33 Display section 40, 41 Medal shooter 42 Medal hopper 46 Pipe 47 Pole 48 Elliptical plate 60 Gate mechanism 61 Wall 62 Gate plate 70 Checker mechanism 71 Cantilever member 71a Ascending inclined plate 71b Downward inclined plate 74 Optical passage sensor 76 Flag plate 80 Slit 81 Notch 82 Panel

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-8-215422 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A63F 9/00-11/00

Claims (23)

(57) [Claims] A fixed table on which medals can be placed; a medal acquisition port provided on the fixed table and communicating with a medal take-out opening opening toward a player; In a medal game machine comprising: pushing means for pushing out toward an acquisition port; and supplying means for supplying the medals on the fixed table, the supplying means is provided rotatably, and the medals can be placed thereon. A rotating table; a driving means for rotatingly driving the rotating table; a rotating table supplying means for supplying the medals on the rotating table; and a rotating table for rotating the medals mounted on the rotating table.
And a transfer means for releasing toward the fixed table. 2. A medal game machine according to claim 1, wherein said medal game machine has: a medal insertion slot into which the player inserts the medal, and an insertion means for guiding the medal inserted into the medal insertion slot onto the fixed table. A medal game machine comprising: 3. The medal game machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine an execution result of an event executed when the medal passes a predetermined position, A medal game machine wherein the medal is transferred based on a result of the determination by the determining means. 4. The medal game machine according to claim 3, wherein the transfer means is provided in the middle of a medal movement path from the fixed table to the medal acquisition opening, and detects medal passing. Means; and at least one display unit capable of displaying a plurality of symbols, wherein the display of the display unit is changed by a detection signal output from the medal passage detection unit, and the display change is stopped at a randomly set timing. A symbol display unit; wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the display unit of the symbol display unit has displayed a predetermined symbol in a state where the display change is stopped. 5. The medal game machine according to claim 4, wherein the medal passing detection means is provided at a position protruding from the end of the fixed table facing the medal acquisition opening toward the medal acquisition opening. A medal game machine characterized by being. 6. The medal game machine according to claim 5, wherein the fixed table is provided with a projecting member projecting from the end facing the medal acquisition opening toward the medal acquisition opening, and A medal game machine wherein a medal passage detection means is provided on the projecting member. 7. The medal game machine according to claim 6, wherein: the projecting member has a first inclined surface extending obliquely upward from the end portion; and a second inclined surface extending obliquely downward following the first inclined surface. A medal game machine, wherein the medal passage detection means detects the medal passing on the second inclined surface. 8. The medal game machine according to claim 4, further comprising: a notifying means for notifying a player of the detection of the passing of the medal when the passing of the medal is detected by the medal passing detecting means. A medal game machine characterized by the following. 9. The medal game machine according to claim 1, wherein said turntable supply means includes a medal supply port located above said turntable. 10. The medal game machine according to claim 9, wherein the rotary table supply means has a hollow cylindrical member having one end located above the rotary table and extending in a height direction; A pipe supply means for supplying the medals into the shape member. 11. The medal game machine according to claim 10, wherein: said tubular member is formed of a light-transmitting material. 12. The medal game machine according to claim 10, wherein the rotating table supply means is rotatably supported around the axis in the cylindrical member, and one end is coaxially connected to the rotating table. A medal game machine comprising: a shaft member; and a plate-shaped body fixed to the shaft member. 13. The medal game machine according to claim 1, wherein said transfer means includes a selection means for selectively transferring medals placed on an outer peripheral portion of said rotary table. A medal game machine. 14. The medal game machine according to claim 13, wherein the selecting means includes a suppressing member provided on an outer peripheral portion of the turntable to suppress the movement of the medal on the turntable. A medal game machine. 15. The medal game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein: the transfer means is formed at a surrounding wall surrounding a peripheral portion of the turntable; A medal game machine comprising: a notch through which a medal placed on the rotary table can pass; and a gate member that covers the notch so that the medal can be opened and closed. 16. The medal game machine according to claim 1, wherein: a wall member erected on the fixed table; and one medal formed on the wall member and in contact with the fixed table. A medal game machine comprising: a slit that can only pass through; and a medal collecting unit that uses the slit as a medal collecting port. 17. The medal game machine according to claim 16, wherein: an opening formed in the wall member and extending upward from a corner formed by the fixed table and the wall member; A cover member; and the slit is formed by an opening of a portion not covered by the cover member. 18. The medal game machine according to claim 17, wherein the slit is disposed at a position where the slit is hidden by the covering member when the player looks at the slit. A medal game machine. 19. The medal game machine according to claim 16, further comprising: a suppressing member provided on the fixed table in the vicinity of the slit, for suppressing the medal from sliding on the fixed table. A medal game machine comprising: 20. The medal game machine according to claim 19, wherein: said suppressing member is a protrusion having a length adjustable from a top surface of said fixed table. 21. A fixed table on which medals can be placed;
A medal acquisition opening provided on the fixed table and communicating with a medal take-out opening facing a player; pushing means for pushing out the medals on the fixed table toward the medal acquisition opening; A supply unit for supplying the medals; and a hollow translucent cylindrical member having one end located above the fixed table and extending in the height direction. A pipe supply means for supplying the medals into the tubular member; 22. A medal game machine according to claim 21
The supply means for supplying the medals further comprises
A rotatable member on which the medal can be placed and rotatably provided.
Table and drive means for rotating the rotary table
And a rotary table for supplying the medal on the rotary table.
Cable supply means,
Machine. 23. A medal game machine according to claim 22 , wherein: said rotary table supply means comprises: a shaft member rotating around an axis in said tubular member; and a plate-like body fixed to said shaft member. A medal game machine comprising: