JP3204780B2 - Slot machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slot machine, and more particularly, to a method of displaying a picture on a rotating reel, which is surprising and diversifies winning modes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a slot machine of this type, an inner reel on which a plurality of pictures are displayed on an outer periphery, and arranged on the outer periphery of the inner reel, are coaxial with the inner reel and independent of the inner reel. The outer reel having a display window capable of displaying at least one of the plurality of patterns displayed on the outer periphery of the inner reel, while displaying a plurality of patterns on the outer periphery. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 3-60681 discloses a driving device that drives a reel to rotate and rotates an outer reel independently of an inner reel, and a driving control unit that controls the driving device. ).

[0003] The conventional display window is formed by simply punching an outer reel into a square shape.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional slot machine, since the picture of the inner reel is always visible through the display window, there is a problem that the unexpectedness is poor. Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 has been made in view of the problems of the above-described conventional technology,
An object of the present invention is to provide an unexpected slot machine by keeping the picture of the inner reel invisible through the display window at all times.

[0005] In addition, the invention according to claim 2 provides a more unexpected slot machine by making the picture of the inner reel invisible through the display window even immediately after the outer reel stops. It is assumed that.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to achieve the above-mentioned object, and its contents will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. The invention according to claim 1 is a light-emitting source (60) that has at least a light-transmitting property on the outer periphery of the inner reel (30) and that can project a picture displayed on the outer periphery inside the inner reel (30). Built-in, outer reel (4
In the display window (41) of (0), an opaque screen portion (43) is formed, and the outer reel (40) is blocked except for the display window (41).
In addition to being formed to have optical properties,
Screen on the outer reel.
Projection display on the
The inner reel is formed so as not to be seen .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, while the outer reel (40) is rotating, the light emitting source (60) is turned off and the outer reel (4) is turned off.
A lighting control means (73) for lighting the light emitting source (60) after a predetermined time has elapsed after the stop of (0).

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the light emitting source (60) is turned off, the screen portion of the outer reel (40) is turned off.
Since (43) has a light-shielding property, the picture on the inner reel (30) cannot be seen through the screen part (43). On the other hand, when the light-emitting source (60) is turned on, the picture on the inner reel (30) is projected on the screen portion (43) of the outer reel (40) and looks like.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the outer reel (4
During the rotation of (0), the light emission source (60) is turned off by the illumination control means (73). For this reason, the screen part of the outer reel (40)
The picture of the inner reel (30) cannot be seen through (43). On the other hand, the light emission source (60) is turned on by the illumination control means (73) after a predetermined time elapses after the outer reel (40) stops.

For this reason, immediately after the outer reel (40) is stopped,
Through the screen part (43) of the outer reel (40), the inner reel (3
I cannot see the pattern of 0). But outside reel (40)
After a predetermined time elapses after the stop, the light emitting source (60) is turned on, and the picture on the inner reel (30) can be seen through the screen section (43) of the outer reel (40).

[0011]

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the structure of a rotary reel, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a slot machine, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the slot machine, FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the operation of the rotating reel, FIG. FIG. 6 shows the lighting states of the light emitting sources.

First, the appearance of the slot machine will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a slot machine. A rectangular window 11 is formed substantially at the center of the height of the slot machine 10, and a plurality of windows 11 are formed in the window 11. In the figure, three rotating reels 12 to 14 are respectively arranged. The three rotating reels 12 to 14 are, in order from the left side in FIG.
And a right rotating reel 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, a total of five lines 15 to 19 are displayed on the glass surface of the window 11 to indicate combinations of the patterns of the three rotating reels 12 to 14. Above line 15 ~
19 is a substantially horizontal center line 15, and upper and lower lines 16, 17 located above and below and parallel to the center line 15,
The upper and lower lines 16 and 17 are arranged diagonally, and are composed of a diagonally rising line 18 and a diagonally falling line 19 that cross each other at a cross point in the center.

As shown in FIG. 2, a medal slot 20 is provided diagonally below and to the right of the three rotating reels 12 to 14, and a medal slot is provided on the left side of the three rotating reels 12 to 14. A seven-segment, two-digit display unit 21 for displaying the number of credits of medals inserted from the mouth 20 is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the rotating reels 12 to 14 correspond to the rotating reels 12 to 14, respectively.
3 stop switches 22 to stop 14 individually
To 24 are provided. The three stop switches 22 to 24 include a left stop switch 22, a middle stop switch 23, and a right stop switch 24 in order from the left side in FIG.

On the left side of the three stop switches 22 to 24, as shown in FIG.
25 are provided. When the start switch 25 is operated, a start signal is output. On the left side of the start switch 25, two switches 26 and 27 are arranged vertically as shown in FIG. The upper side is a credit medal insertion switch 27 for inserting a credit medal as a game medal. When the switch 27 is operated, a credit insertion signal is output. The lower side of the credit medal insertion switch 27 is a settlement switch 26 for adjusting a credit medal.

On the other hand, below the front of the slot machine 10,
As shown in FIG. 2, a medal discharge port 28 for discharging medals to the outside is provided in a rectangular hole. Next, of the three rotating reels 12 to 14, the medium rotating reel 13
The structure will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the medium rotation reel 13 is roughly divided into an inner reel 30 having a plurality of pictures displayed on an outer periphery thereof, and an outer reel 30 located outside the inner reel 30 and being coaxial with the inner reel 30. And rotates independently of the inner reel 30, and a plurality of pictures are displayed on the outer circumference, and at least one of the plurality of pictures displayed on the outer circumference of the inner reel 30 can be displayed. The outer reel 40 having the display window 41 and the inner reel 30 are rotationally driven, and the outer reel 40 and the inner reel
A drive means 50 for independently rotating the inner reel 30 and a light emitting source 60 arranged inside the inner reel 30 and projecting a picture displayed on the outer periphery of the inner reel 30 are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the inner reel 30 has a hollow cylindrical shape with a bottom, and an inner reel shaft 31 extends laterally from an outer surface thereof. It is fixed to 50. The outer periphery of the inner reel 30 has translucency. Specifically, although not shown, a pattern is printed on the inner peripheral surface of the transparent celluloid plate, and a white mask layer is further printed on the entire inner peripheral surface so that the printed pattern can be seen through the outer peripheral surface. I have to.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the outer reel 40 is slightly larger than the inner reel 30 and has a hollow cylindrical shape with a bottom. 31
A hollow cylindrical outer reel shaft 42 extends laterally coaxially with and radially away from the inner reel shaft 31, and the outer reel shaft 42 is fixed to the driving means 50. In the display window 41, an opaque screen portion 43 is formed, and the outer periphery of the outer reel 40 has a light shielding property except for the display window 41.

More specifically, although not shown, a picture is printed on the inner peripheral surface of the transparent celluloid plate except for the display window 41, and a white mask layer is further printed on the entire inner peripheral surface. Then, the picture is seen through from the outer peripheral surface.
In this respect, the outer reel 40 is no different from the inner reel 30.
In addition, the celluloid plate of the outer reel 40 has an outer reel
Reference numeral 40 denotes a white mask layer, and a black mask layer is further printed on the entire mask layer except for the display window 41 on the mask layer.

Therefore, the light from the light emitting source 60 is shielded at the portion where the black mask layer exists. Further, at the position of the display window 41, the pattern printed on the outer periphery of the inner reel 30 cannot be seen through the white mask layer. In contrast, the light source 60
When is lit, the pattern printed on the outer periphery of the inner reel 30 is
The picture projected on the white mask layer and the pattern printed on the outer periphery of the inner reel 30 is projected on the outer peripheral surface of the outer reel 40. For this reason, the display window 41 is formed by the white mask
Function as

As shown in FIG. 3, the driving means 50 is connected to a stepping motor 51 and a driving shaft 52 of the motor 51 so that the driving force of the driving shaft 52 is transmitted to the inner reel shaft 31 of the inner reel 30.
And an external reel shaft 42 of the external reel 40. In the clutch 53,
For example, an electromagnetic clutch is used, and in its non-excited state,
The drive shaft 52 of the motor 51, the inner reel shaft 31 and the outer reel shaft 42
And are directly connected. Therefore, when the clutch 53 is not excited, the driving force of the driving shaft 52 causes the inner reel 30 and the outer reel 40 to rotate integrally. On the other hand, in the excited state of the clutch 53, only the outer reel shaft 42 is driven by the drive shaft of the motor 51.
Cut off from 52. Therefore, only the inner reel 30 rotates by the driving force of the drive shaft 52, and the outer reel 40 stops without rotating.

The light emitting source 60 is, as shown in FIGS.
It is arranged inside the hollow of the inner reel 30, and for example, a light bulb or the like is used. The light-emitting source 60 is disposed closer to the window 11 of the slot machine 10 than at the center of the axis of the inner reel 30 and substantially at the center of the height. Although not shown, the left rotating reel 12 and the right rotating reel 14 are also the medium rotating reels described above.
It has the same structure as 13.

Next, a control circuit of the slot machine 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the control circuit of the slot machine 10 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM.
Central control device 70 mainly composed of I / O ports, etc.
It is mainly configured. As shown in FIG. 4, a start switch 25 (FIG. 4) is provided on the input side of the central control unit 70.
And three stop switches 22 to 24 are connected to each other.

On the output side of the central control unit 70, as shown in FIG. 4, each motor 51 (FIG. 3) of three rotating reels 12 to 14 and each clutch of three rotating reels 12 to 14 are provided. 53 and 3
The light-emitting sources 60 of the rotating reels 12 to 14 are connected to each other. To explain the internal structure of the central control unit 70, as shown in FIG. 4, all the drives of the motors 51 of the three rotating reels 12 to 14 are started simultaneously on condition that a start signal is input from the start switch 25. Motor drive control means 71 for stopping the driving of the motor 51 of the corresponding rotary reels 12 to 14 based on the individual stop signals from the three stop switches 22 to 24, and the three stop switches 22 to The clutch operation timer means 72 which excites the clutches 53 of the corresponding rotary reels 12 to 14, sets a timer, and outputs a time-over signal after the set time of the timer has elapsed, on condition that the input of the individual stop signals from the input unit 24. The timer is set on condition that the time-over signal from the clutch operation timer means is input. An illumination control means 73 for turning on the light emitting source 60 corresponding to the produced stop switches 22 to 24 is provided.

Note that the time-over signal output from the clutch operation timer means 72 is
, The motor drive control means 71, the condition of the input of the time-over signal,
The driving of the motor 51 corresponding to 22 to 24 is stopped. Next, the operation of the slot machine 10 having the above configuration will be described.

First, when the player operates the start switch 25 as shown in FIG. 2, a start signal is output to the motor drive control means 71 as shown in FIG. When the start signal is input, the motor drive control means 71 simultaneously starts driving all the motors 51 of the three rotating reels 12 to 14. At this time, the clutch 53 is in a non-excited state, and the drive shaft 52 of the motor 51 is directly connected to the inner reel shaft 31 and the outer reel shaft 42. Therefore, the inner reel 30 and the outer reel 40 rotate integrally by the driving force of the driving shaft 52 of the motor 51.

Therefore, when the start switch 25 is operated, the three rotating reels 12 to 14 simultaneously start rotating. Thereafter, when the player operates one of the three stop switches 22 to 24, for example, the center middle stop switch 23 as shown in FIG.
The stop signal is output to the clutch operation timer means 72 as shown in FIG. Clutch activation timer means 72
When the stop signal is input, the clutch 53 of the medium rotation reel 13 is excited. Therefore, the outer reel shaft 42 is disconnected from the drive shaft 52 of the motor 51 by the excitation of the clutch 53. Therefore, the outer reel 40 stops because the driving force is cut off. At this time, the inner reel 30 continues to rotate by the driving force of the driving shaft 52 of the motor 51.

At the same time, the clutch operation timer means 72
Sets the timer when the stop signal is input. After that, when the set time of the timer elapses, FIG.
As shown in (1), a time-over signal is output from the clutch operation timer means 72 to the motor drive control means 71 and the illumination control means 73.

First, upon input of the time-over signal, the motor drive control means 71 stops driving the motor 51 of the middle rotation reel 13. For this reason, the rotating inner reel 30 stops, and at this time, since the outer reel 40 has stopped first, the middle rotating reel 13 stops as a whole. When the time-out signal is input, the lighting control unit 73 sets a timer. For this reason, even after the middle rotation reel 13 stops as a whole, as shown in FIG. 5, even if the display window 41 of the outer reel 40 is stopped and displayed, only the opaque screen portion 43 can be seen, Through 43, the stop picture of the inner reel 30 cannot be seen.

After that, when the set time of the timer elapses, the illumination control means 73 turns on the light emitting source 60 of the medium rotation reel 13. For this reason, the screen part that was stopped and displayed
In FIG. 43, as shown in FIG. 6, the stop pattern of the middle reel 30 is projected and visible. In this manner, when the remaining left stop switch 22 and right stop switch 24 are operated, the same operation is performed, and all the stop switches 22 to 24 are operated.
Is operated, all three rotating reels 12 to 14 stop.

Then, out of the five lines 15 to 19,
A winning determination is made based on a predetermined active line. In the example shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that all the five lines 15 to 19 are effective lines, and among these, the patterns of three bells BE are arranged on the diagonally lower right line 19. For this reason,
As a result, 15 medals are given.

On the other hand, in the state where the light emitting source 60 is turned off, as shown in FIG. 5, even if the rotating reels 12 to 14 are stopped, it is impossible to predict a hit loss. That is, the screen units are provided at the middle stage of the middle rotating reel 13 and the lower stage of the right rotating reel 14, respectively.
Since 43 is stop-displayed, a total of two pictures cannot be seen when the light emitting source 60 is off. For this reason, when the light-emitting source 60 is turned off, the player decides whether the pattern of the green apple AP is aligned with the center line 15, the pattern of three orange ORs is aligned with the lower line 17, or the diagonal line 18 that rises to the right. Three oranges
Whether the pattern of OR is aligned, the pattern of three bells BE is aligned on the lower right diagonal line 19, or the pattern is not aligned on the lower line 17, the upper right diagonal line 18 and the lower right diagonal line 19 I do not know what it will be.

Therefore, the player waits for the light-emitting source 60 to light up while feeling a sense of expectation and anxiety, thereby making the game rich and thrilling. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the screen section 43 is formed on all of the three rotating reels 12 to 14. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Only one or two rotating reels are provided. , A screen section 43 may be formed. In addition, each rotating reel 12
The number of screen portions 43 to 14 is not limited to one, and a large number may be formed for each of the rotating reels 12 to 14.

Further, the driving means 50 includes a motor 51 and a clutch.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the inner reel 30 and the outer reel 40 may be independently rotated using two motors.

[0035]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. Claim 1
According to the described invention, when the light emitting source is turned off, the pattern of the inner reel is made invisible through the screen portion of the outer reel, and the light emitting source turns on, so that the pattern of the inner reel appears on the screen portion of the outer reel. By doing so, a surprising slot machine can be provided.

According to the slot machine of the second aspect,
By making the pattern of the inner reel invisible through the screen portion of the outer reel immediately after the outer reel is stopped, a more unexpected slot machine can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the structure of a rotating reel.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the slot machine.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of a rotating reel.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the slot machine.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the rotating reel, and shows a state in which a light emitting source is turned off.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 5 and showing a lighting state of a light emitting source.

[Description of Signs] 10 Slot machine 11 Window 12-14 Spinning reel 15-19 Prize line 20 Medal slot 21 Display 22-22 Stop switch 25 Start switch 26 Settlement switch 27 Credit medal slot switch 28 Medal slot 30 Reel 31 Inner reel shaft 40 Outer reel 41 Display window 42 Outer reel shaft 43 Screen unit 50 Drive unit 51 Stepping motor 52 Motor shaft 53 Clutch 60 Light source 70 Central control unit 71 Motor drive control unit 72 Clutch operation timer unit 73 Lighting control unit

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An inner reel having a plurality of pictures displayed on an outer periphery thereof, the inner reel being disposed on the outer periphery of the inner reel, rotating coaxially with the inner reel and independently of the inner reel, and providing a plurality of pictures on the outer periphery. Is displayed, and an outer reel having a display window capable of displaying at least one of the plurality of patterns displayed on the outer periphery of the inner reel, the inner reel is driven to rotate, and the outer reel is rotated. In a slot machine provided with a drive unit for rotating independently of the inner reel and a drive control unit for controlling the drive unit, the outer periphery of the inner reel has at least a light-transmitting property and an inner portion of the inner reel. , the built-in light-emitting source capable of projecting a pattern displayed on the outer periphery of the display window of the outer reel, so as to form an opaque screen portions, light-shielding the outer reel except the display window
In addition to the pattern formed on the inner reel, the pattern drawn on the inner reel is
Projection display on the screen part of the screen, and turn off the light source to see the inner reel from the screen part
A slot machine characterized by being formed so that it cannot be performed . 2. An illumination control means for turning off the light emitting source while the outer reel is rotating, and turning on the light emitting source after a predetermined time has elapsed after the outer reel is stopped. Slot machine.