JP3004404B2 - Variable prize ball device for ball game machines - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball receiving member which is changeable between a first state advantageous to a player and a second state disadvantageous to the player, and a winning ball received by the ball receiving member. The present invention relates to a variable prize ball device for a ball game machine having a prize space in which a prize is guided, and a specific prize area and a normal prize area formed in the prize space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a game state is a predetermined specific game state (hereinafter, also referred to as a jackpot game state), a ball provided with a variable winning ball device that opens a ball receiving member for a predetermined period. Many gaming machines were offered to the market. In such a ball game machine, a prize space inside the variable prize ball device is divided into a plurality (generally three), one of which is a specific prize area, and a prize ball is in the specific prize area. Is established, the continuation right is established, and the ball receiving member is opened again for a predetermined period. The opening of the ball receiving member for a predetermined period is performed a predetermined number of times (for example, 16 times) on condition that the continuation right is established.

[0003]

In the ball game machine provided with the above-mentioned variable winning ball device, when the big hitting game state is reached, the winning ball received by the opened ball receiving member is a specific winning ball. The player's attention is concentrated on whether or not the player is guided to the area. However, in the conventional variable prize ball device, since only a specific prize port and a normal prize port in which a prize ball falls on the bottom of the prize space of the variable prize ball device are simply opened inattentively, If not, it is difficult to determine which winning area (winning opening) the winning ball has been guided to. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and a ball game machine in which it is easy to understand whether a winning ball received by a ball receiving member has been guided to a specific winning area or a normal winning area. A variable winning ball device is provided.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a first advantageous player is provided.
Ball receiving member that can be changed between the state described above and the second state that is disadvantageous to the player, a winning space in which a winning ball received by the ball receiving member is guided, and a specific winning formed in the winning space. In the variable prize ball device of a ball game machine having a region and a normal prize region, in the prize space, the specific prize region is formed behind the prize region, and a prize region corresponding to the specific prize region in front of the specific prize region. A ball passage for guiding a winning ball is formed, and a ball passage corresponding to the specific winning area is formed in a step-like shape higher than other portions in front of the winning space,
The end on the upstream side of the ball passage corresponding to the specific winning area
It is characterized in that it is formed higher than the center , and the end is formed lower than the center on the downstream side .
Also, with partitions and forms a specific winning region and the normal winning regions, whereas the specific winning region providing a specific winning ball detection means for detecting a winning ball which has passed through the specific winning region, wherein said generally normal winning region A normal winning ball detecting means for detecting a winning ball passing through the winning area may be provided.

[0005]

And forming a high step-like compared to other parts of the front of the winning space balls passages corresponding to specific winning region [act],
The end on the upstream side of the ball passage corresponding to the specific winning area
If it is formed higher than the center and the end is formed lower than the center on the downstream side, there is a considerable possibility that the winning ball will fall from the ball path corresponding to the specific winning area to the normal winning area side. By doing so, it is possible to give the player the thrill of whether the winning ball is guided to the specific winning area or the normal winning area, and since the winning ball is not biased to the specific winning area, An appropriate winning rate in the winning area can be secured.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a configuration of a game board 1 of a pachinko game machine as an example of a ball game machine according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, a game board 1 has a guide rail 2 for guiding a shot hit, and the guide rail 2.
And a section rail 3 which is set up in a substantially circular shape on the inside of the inside, and a range mainly surrounded by the section rail 3 constitutes the game area 4. In the approximate center of the game area 4, a variable display device 10 for generating a jackpot game state is arranged,
Below this variable display device 10, a variable winning prize ball device 30 which constitutes a main part in the present embodiment and is driven in a big hit game state is arranged. Detailed configurations and operations of the variable display device 10 and the variable winning ball device 30 will be described later in detail.

In the game area 4, a variable display device 10 is provided.
Winning openings 5a and 5b are provided on the left and right sides of the vehicle, and winning openings 6a and 6b with windmills are provided on the upper right and left sides of the variable winning ball device 30. When a hit ball wins in these winning ports 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, a predetermined number (for example, 15) of prize balls are discharged. At both ends of the center of the game area 4, side lamps 7a, which are turned on or off according to the game state,
7b is provided, and an out port 8 for collecting out balls which did not win any of the winning ports or the winning ball devices provided in the game area 4 is provided at the lowermost portion thereof.
Further, a rail decoration lamp 9 which blinks or lights up according to the game state is provided outside the guide rail 2 and the division rail 3 so as to surround the outer periphery of the game area 4.

Further, a plurality of starting winning ports 25, 32a and 32b are provided in the game area 4 in order to cause the variable display device 10 to perform a variable display operation. The starting winning port 25 is arranged on the center line of the game board 1 below the variable display device 10, and the starting winning ports 32a and 32b are
At both ends of the variable winning ball device 30, the variable winning ball device 30 is formed integrally and arranged. Then, the starting winning ball detectors 26, 33a, 3 which detect the winning of the hit ball, respectively.
3b is built in.

Next, referring to FIG. 6, a variable display device 10 will be described.
Will be described. In FIG. 6, the variable display device 10 has a mounting board 11 mounted on the surface of the game board 1, and a plurality of variable displays 12, 13, 14a to 14c is provided. The illustrated variable displays 12, 13, 14a to 14c
Is constituted by a dot LED display, and displays a plurality of symbols. For example, "0"
10 numbers from "A" to "9" and 5 numbers from "A" to "E"
A total of 15 kinds of symbols of one English character are scroll-displayed sequentially and continuously.

By the way, the variable display units 12, 13, 14a
The variable display starts when a predetermined time elapses when a winning ball wins in the starting winning port 25, 32a, 32b and the starting winning ball detector 26, 33a, 33b is turned on. The display is controlled so as to be sequentially stopped. When the symbols displayed on the three variable indicators 12, 14b, and 13 in the horizontal direction are all the same as the symbol combination position at the time of the stop, In the big hit game state, the variable winning ball device 30 is driven in a predetermined mode described later. Then, the left variable display 12 which stops first
Is constituted by one dot LED display, and the right variable display 13 to be stopped next is also constituted by one dot LED display. That is, the left and right variable displays 12 and 13 independently constitute a variable display member.
However, the variable indicators 14a to 14c that stop at the end are:
Each of the variable displays 14a to 1 is composed of three dot LED displays, each of which is independently driven and displayed.
The continuity of the symbol displayed in 4c is maintained. In other words, the central variable displays 14a to 14c constitute one variable display member with three displays. In the reach state in which the same symbol (the symbol is referred to as a specific symbol) is displayed on the left and right variable indicators 12 and 13, the specific symbol (in the illustrated example, “7” is the specific symbol) is the variable indicators 14 a to 14. 1
The display is controlled so as to reciprocate 4c.

Also, the above-mentioned variable display units 12, 13, 1
Decorative LEDs 15a to 15c are provided on the left, right, up and down of 4a to 14c.
d, 16a to 16d, 17a, and 17b are provided. These decorative LEDs are provided on the left and right variable indicators 12, 1
When the symbols displayed on the display 3 coincide with each other, that is, when the reach state is reached, the decorative LEDs 15a to 15d and 16a to 1
6d blinks to notify the user of this, and a decorative LED is displayed when a specific symbol displayed on the variable displays 14a to 14c is moved and displayed on the variable display 14a in the reach state.
The decorative LED 17b blinks when the specific symbol 17a blinks and the specific symbol is moved and displayed on the variable display 14c. When the number of the specific symbols is determined to be one or two, the decorative LEDs 15a to 15d or 16 are displayed when the specific symbols are stopped and displayed on the variable display 12 or the variable display 13.
a to 16d may be displayed blinking.

Further, the mounting substrate 11 is provided in a circle surrounding all of the variable displays 12, 13, 14a to 14c arranged in a "cross" shape and between the variable displays 12, 13, 14a to 14c. Are provided with decorative LEDs 18a to 18d, and furthermore, decorative lamps 21a, 21
1b, decorative LEDs 22a, 22b, decorative lamp 23a,
23b is provided. On the upper part of the mounting board 11, decoration LEDs 19a and 19b and a start prize memory display 2 are provided.
0 is provided. In the above-described configuration, the start winning storage display 20 includes four LEDs, and during the variable display operation of the variable displays 12, 13, 14a to 14c,
Or during the big hit game state, the starting winning prize port 25, 32a,
It notifies that the number of balls won in the 32b has been stored up to a maximum of four, and reserves the right to variably display the variable display device 10 by the stored value. In addition, decoration LED
18a to 18d, 19a, 19b, 22a, 22b and decorative lamps 21a, 21b, 23a, 23b are lit or flashed in a predetermined manner during a variable display operation or a big hit game state.
Alternatively, the variable display device 10
Is decorated with light. Since the surface of the mounting board 11 is subjected to a metallic luster treatment, the decoration L
The whole of the variable display device 10 gives the player a luxurious feeling while reflecting the light emitted from the ED, the decorative lamp and the like to make the entire display more vivid.

The structure of the variable winning ball device 30 driven when a big hit game state is generated by the variable display device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a front view of the variable winning ball device 30, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a central portion of the variable winning ball device 30, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the winning space 47 of the variable winning ball device 30, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views showing the shape of a ball passage which is the bottom surface of the winning space 47. In the drawing, the variable winning ball device 30 has a horizontally long mounting board 31 mounted on the surface of the gaming board 1 and the starting winning port 3 is provided at both ends thereof.
2a and 32b are provided integrally. The start winning ports 32a and 32b incorporate the start winning ball detectors 33a and 33b as described above. In addition, starting winning opening 32
Decorative lamps (not shown) are also built in the side portions of a and 32b.

A pair of ball receiving members 34a and 34b are provided at the center of the mounting substrate 31 so as to be freely opened and closed by rotating shafts 35a and 35b. Rotating shafts 35a, 35b
As shown in FIG. 2, the rear end reaches the back surface of the game board 1 and the link members 36a and 36b (36b is not shown) are fixed, and the link members 36a and 36b Plunger 39 of solenoid 38 through
It is connected to. A return spring 40 is provided around the plunger 39 of the solenoid 38, and constantly biases the plunger 39 downward.

When the solenoid 38 is turned on, the plunger 39 is sucked and rises, and this rising operation is changed by the operating member 37 and the link members 36a and 36b into the rotating operation of the rotating shafts 35a and 35b. Then, the ball receiving members 34a and 34b are rotated in the horizontal direction to bring the first state advantageous to the player. On the other hand, the solenoid 38
Is turned off, the plunger 39 is pushed down by the urging force of the return spring 40, and this lowering operation is changed by the operating member 37 and the link members 36a and 36b into the rotating operation of the rotating shafts 35a and 35b, and the ball is moved. The receiving members 34a and 34b are rotated in the vertical direction to bring the second state disadvantageous to the player. However, in this rotating operation, guide pins 45a and 45b projecting from the rear surfaces of the ball receiving members 34a and 34b in guide elongated holes 44a and 44b formed in an arc shape in the transparent plate 42 described later are guided. By doing so, the rotation range is regulated. When the ball receiving members 34a, 34b are in the second state, the distal ends of the ball receiving members 34a, 34b and the upper obstacle member 41
Although the distance between both ends of a is such that the hit ball passes and does not win, it may be set as an interval through which the hit ball can pass and it is difficult to win.

Although not shown in the drawing, in the present embodiment, a part (or all) of the members forming the ball receiving members 34a and 34b is made of a transparent member (synthetic resin). Light emitted from behind the ball receiving members 34a and 34b (for example, light emitted from a lamp or the like disposed on the rear surface of the rear wall of the winning space 47 described later) passes through the ball receiving members 34a and 34b, and Also, it is possible to give the player an impression as if the ball receiving members 34a and 34b in which the light emitting members are incorporated are opening and closing.

An upper obstruction member 41a is provided on the upper portion of the mounting board 31 so as not to win a ball when the ball receiving members 34a and 34b are upright. On the rear surface of the upper obstacle member 41a, as shown in FIG.
b is provided, and the upper obstruction member 41a is decorated with light from inside. A substantially square opening is formed in the mounting board 31 between the upper decorative member 41a and a prize receiving frame 46, which will be described later.
Is installed. The guide slots 44a and 44b are formed in the transparent plate 42, and the front ends of the rotating shafts 35a and 35b are supported. In addition, on the rear upper portion of the transparent plate 42, a winning number indicator 43 (L) that displays the number of winning balls winning during one opening / closing cycle described later.
ED) is provided.

On the other hand, the rotating shaft 3 of the ball receiving members 34a, 34b
At the lower part of 5a, 35b, a prize receiving frame 46 for receiving a prize ball received by the ball receiving members 34a, 34b is protruded. Thus, the game area 4 and the winning space 47 of the variable winning ball device 30 are defined by the winning receiving frame 46, the above-described upper obstacle member 41a, and the ball receiving members 34a, 34b, and the ball receiving members 34a, 34b are separated. Only when the ball is opened, the ball hitting the game area 4 is received by the winning space 47 of the variable winning ball device 30 and becomes a winning ball. The winning ball received by the variable winning ball device 30 is guided backward along the bottom surface of the winning space 47, and is placed in one of the specific winning region 50 and the normal winning regions 51a, 51b opened on the rear surface of the winning space 47. Be guided. The winning space 47 is provided on the mounting board 3.
1, on the rear side, transparent decorative plates 42a, 42 to be described later.
It is formed up to the position corresponding to b.

By the way, the bottom of the winning space 47 has a central portion formed in a stepped shape higher than the left and right and is inclined rearward. The portions constitute the normal ball passages 49a and 49b. The specific winning area 50 is formed behind the specific ball path 48, and the normal ball paths 49a and 49b are formed.
Are formed behind the normal winning regions 51a and 51b. In the specific winning area 50, a specific winning ball detector 52 is provided to detect a guided winning ball,
Winning number detectors 53a and 53b are provided in the normal winning areas 51a and 51b to detect a guided winning ball. As shown in FIG. 4, the specific ball passage 48 has a dish-shaped concave ball passage portion 48a as shown in FIG. 4, and a downstream cross section as shown in FIG. It is a ball passage portion 48b.

In addition, the variable winning ball device 30 has a starting winning port 32a, 32b as shown in FIG.
The transparent decorative plates 42a and 42b are mounted on a mounting substrate between the ball receiving members 34a and 34b. This transparent decorative plate 4
2a and 42b are formed integrally with (not necessarily integrated with) the transparent plate 42, and the normal winning area 5 is formed.
It is possible to see from the side the appearance of the winning balls in 1a and 51b. In FIG. 2, a winning ball set cover 54 is provided behind the game board 1, and glass plates 55 a and 55 b are arranged in front of the game board 1. The winning ball set cover body 54 may be directly attached to the back surface of the gaming board 1 alone, or may be formed on a mechanism plate disposed on the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine. It is a thing to collect balls. Although not shown, the pachinko gaming machine is provided with a speaker that generates a sound effect corresponding to the gaming state of the variable display device 10 and the variable winning ball device 30 described above.

The general operation of the variable winning ball apparatus 30 described above in the big hit game state will be described. First, in the big hit game state, the ball receiving members 34a and 34b are kept until a predetermined time (for example, 25 seconds) elapses. Alternatively, the ball is released until the predetermined number (for example, 10) of the winning balls received by the ball receiving members 34a and 34b is reached within the predetermined time. Such opening is called an opening and closing cycle. Thus, when the winning ball wins the specific winning area 50 during the opening / closing cycle and the specific winning ball detector 52 is turned on,
A continuation right is generated and execution of the next opening / closing cycle is reserved. The repetition of such an opening and closing cycle is allowed a predetermined number of times (for example, 16 times) on condition that the continuation right is established in each opening and closing cycle. Therefore, when the big hitting game state is reached, a chance to obtain a large number of winning balls in a short time is provided. In addition,
The number of winning balls allowed during the opening / closing cycle is calculated based on the sum of the detection signals of the winning balls detected by the winning number detectors 53a and 53b and the specific winning ball detector 52.

In the above operation, whether or not the continuation right has been established is determined by whether or not the winning ball has flown down the specific ball passage 48 and has won the specific winning region 50. In the embodiment, since the specific ball passage 48 is located at a position higher than the normal ball passages 49a and 49b, it is determined whether the winning ball is flowing down the specific ball passage 48.
It is easy to distinguish whether it is flowing down 9a, 49b,
The player can visually and clearly check whether the continuation right has been established. In the illustrated embodiment, the distance between the base ends of the ball receiving members 34a and 34b and the specific ball passage 48 are set.
Are almost the same size, as shown in FIG. 3, most of the winning balls received by the ball receiving members 34a and 34b once have a concave ball passage portion 48a on the upstream side of the specific ball passage 48. In the process of falling down, and then flowing downward, the convex ball passage portion 48b causes the left and right normal ball passages 49b to flow.
a, falls to 49b. Therefore, the ball receiving members 34a, 3
The game can be performed while enjoying the thrill of determining whether the winning ball accepted by the player 4b is guided to the specific winning area 50 or the normal winning area 51a or 51b. Also this
According to the configuration, the player enters the winning space 47 of the variable winning ball device 30.
Winning prize ball is sent to the specific prize area 50
There is no appropriate V prize rate (specify prize area 50
Probabilities).

Although the specific ball passage 48 is formed higher than the normal ball passages 49a and 49b in the above embodiment, the normal ball passages 49a and 49b are formed higher than the specific ball passage 48. May be formed to be higher. Further, although the cross-sectional shape of the specific ball passage 48 is made different in the middle, the same shape from the upstream end to the downstream end, for example, only one of the concave ball passage portion 48a or the convex ball passage portion 48b is formed. May be. Further, the ball receiving members 34a and 34b of the variable winning ball device 30 may not only open and close as in the embodiment but also may be of a type that slides in the left-right direction.

[0024]

Effect of the Invention] Thus, as it is apparent from the description, in the present invention, thereby forming a high step-like compared to other parts of the front of the winning space ball passages corresponding to specific winning region , Upstream of the ball passage corresponding to the specific winning area
The end is formed higher than its center, and
When the end is formed lower than the center part, the winning prize ball has a possibility of dropping from the ball passage corresponding to the specific prize area to the normal prize area side, so that the prize ball can be specified prize. It is possible to give the player the thrill of being guided to the area or the normal prize area, and since the prize balls are not biased to the specific prize area, an appropriate prize rate to the specific prize area can be provided. Can be secured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a variable winning ball device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a central portion of the variable winning ball device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a winning space portion of the variable winning ball device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of the ball passage upstream, which is the bottom surface of the winning space.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of the ball passage downstream, which is the bottom surface of the winning space.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the variable display device.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a configuration of a game board of a ball game machine to which the variable winning ball device according to the embodiment is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

30 Variable winning ball device 34a, 34b Ball receiving member 47 Winning space 48 Specific ball passage (ball passage) 49a, 49b Normal ball passage (ball passage) 50 Specific winning region 51a, 51b Normal winning region 52 Specific winning ball detector (specific) Winning Ball Detection Means) 53a, 53b Winning Number Detector (Normal Winning Ball Detector
Stage)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A ball receiving member that can be changed between a first state advantageous to a player and a second state unfavorable to the player, and a winning space in which a winning ball received by the ball receiving member is guided. And a variable prize ball device for a ball game machine having a specific prize area and a normal prize area formed in the prize space, wherein the specific prize area is formed behind the prize space in the prize space. A ball passage for guiding a prize ball to a prize area corresponding to the specific prize area is formed in front of the ball path, and the ball path corresponding to the specific prize area has a step higher than other parts in front of the prize space. And an end on the upstream side of the ball passage corresponding to the specific winning area.
A variable winning prize ball device for a ball game machine, wherein a portion is formed higher than its center and an end portion is formed lower than its center portion on the downstream side . 2. A ball receiving member which can be changed between a first state advantageous to the player and a second state disadvantageous to the player, and a winning space in which a winning ball received by the ball receiving member is guided. And a variable prize ball device for a ball game machine having a specific prize area and a normal prize area formed in the prize space, wherein the specific prize area and the normal prize area are defined and defined. The winning area is provided with specific winning ball detecting means for detecting a winning ball passing through the specific winning area, while the normal winning area is provided with a normal winning ball detecting means for detecting a winning ball passing through the normal winning area, In the prize space, the specific prize area is formed behind the prize area, and a ball passage for guiding a prize ball to the prize area corresponding to the specific prize area is formed in front of the specific prize area, and the ball corresponding to the specific prize area is formed. Passages and winning spaces Variable winning ball apparatus pinball game machine, characterized in that to form the other part of the front stepwise.