JP5208464B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game ball launcher in which a player adjusts the launch force of a game ball in a pachinko game machine or the like, and a pachinko game machine equipped with such a game ball launcher.

The pachinko gaming machine is provided with a game ball launcher that launches a game ball toward the game area of the game board, and the player can use the game ball handle provided in the game ball launcher to I was trying to play the game while adjusting. Such a game ball launching device is configured to gradually increase the firing force in proportion to the game ball handle being rotated to the right.
In addition, some recent pachinko machines require an operation to fly a game ball to the rightmost region of the game board. For this reason, a game ball launcher has been proposed that has improved operability when hitting a game ball to the right.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a ball jump strength control circuit for a pachinko game ball launching device that can increase the jump strength of a pachinko ball at a small rotation angle without rotating the operation handle fully. . Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a stepping motor as a driving source for driving a ball into a game area as an elastic gaming machine that can hit a ball according to user needs, and a variable that changes a resistance value by operating an operation handle. And a firing control circuit that controls the ball jump strength by the stepping motor based on the resistance value of the variable resistor, and the variable resistor has a predetermined resistance value with a change rate of the resistance value with respect to the operation amount of the operation handle. A technique for making them different from each other is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-141153 JP-A-11-33171

However, in the conventional game ball launching apparatus as described above, in order to adjust the game ball to be launched at the most suitable launch point, that is, the so-called “bump” position, the firing force is gradually increased. There is a drawback that you have to aim at a position unintended by the player, even if it is not wasteful until reaching it, while aiming while strengthening there were.
In view of such a situation, the present invention provides a game ball launching device capable of easily adjusting a game ball to a launch point suitable for a game even for a beginner, and a pachinko equipped with the game ball launching device. An object is to provide a gaming machine.

In order to achieve the above object, a gaming machine according to claim 1 is movably supported by a handle body, and adjusts a launching force of a game ball launched into a game area of a game board , and a handle ring of the handle ring. Firing force control means for controlling the launching force of the game ball according to the operation amount; and launching means for launching the game ball to the game area with the launching force controlled by the launching force control means, the firing force The control means controls the firing force to increase according to the operation amount of the handle ring during a period from when the handle ring is not operated until the operation amount of the handle ring reaches a predetermined amount, A game ball launching device is provided that controls the firing force to become weaker in accordance with the amount of operation of the handle ring during a period in which the amount of operation of the handle ring is maximized from a predetermined amount.
The gaming machine according to claim 2 , wherein the firing force control means controls the firing force so that the launch position of the game ball becomes an optimum position in the left region of the game board when the operation amount of the handle ring is maximum. It is characterized by doing.
The gaming machine according to claim 3 is characterized in that the firing force control means controls the firing force so that the launching strength of the game ball is maximized with a small amount of operation of the handle ring .

  In the present invention, the firing force control means controls the firing force to increase according to the operation amount of the handle ring during a period from when the handle ring is not operated until the operation amount of the handle ring reaches a predetermined amount. During the period when the handle ring operation amount is the maximum from the predetermined amount, control is performed so that the firing force is weakened according to the handle ring operation amount. Even if you are a beginner, you can get a position where the launching power of the game ball is optimal in the period until reaching the fixed amount and the period when the operation amount of the handle ring is the maximum from the predetermined amount. It becomes possible to easily adjust the firing force.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the pachinko gaming machine of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of a pachinko gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
A pachinko gaming machine 1 shown in this figure has a rectangular frame 2, and a game board 3 is detachably attached to a window hole of the frame 2 from the back side.
The game board 3 is provided with a guide rail protruding forward along the outer peripheral edge of the game area. The guide rail is composed of an outer rail R1 and an inner rail R2 that guide the game ball launched from the game ball launching device to the upper part of the game area or guide it to the out port 19 for collecting the out ball.
A glass frame (not shown) is attached to the front side of the game board 3 so as to be opened and closed. Also, a lower part of the game board 3 is provided with a tray part 4 for storing game balls, a handle 5 for firing the game balls of the tray part 4 and the like. The front lower plate 6 between the tray 4 and the handle 5 has a chance button, a purchase button for a game ball, a purchase cancel button, and a ball remover for removing the game ball in the tray 4 from below. A button is provided.
A center member 7 having an opening at the center is disposed at a substantially central portion of the game board 3. A symbol display device 9 is disposed inside the center member 7. In the symbol display device 9, a display screen is constituted by a liquid crystal display panel such as a liquid crystal display device, for example, and a special symbol image (not shown) is displayed in a normal operation state. Also, during the big hit game, a big hit game state moving image or the like is displayed.

Below the symbol display device 9, a variable winning device 11 for changing the special symbol of the symbol display device 9 is provided. On the left side of the symbol display device 9, a gate 14 is provided for operating the normal symbols displayed on the normal symbol display device 10.
Below the variable winning device 11, there is provided a large winning opening 15 having an open / close door that is opened when a big hit state, which is one of the special gaming states.
The variable winning device 11 includes an upper start pocket (upper start port forming member) 13 for variably displaying the symbol display device 9 and an electric tulip 17 having a pair of left and right open / close claws (movable pieces). .
In addition, the game board 3 is provided with a normal winning port 18, an out port 19, and the like, and a windmill and a large number of game nails (not shown) project. The game nail slows down the falling speed of the game ball and changes the falling direction in a complicated manner to enhance the interest in game progression.

The normal symbol displayed on the normal symbol display device 10 can variably display one or more symbols, and the symbol is a random number on condition that the gate 14 as a normal symbol start port detects a game ball. It is variable and stopped for a predetermined time by control or the like.
As a normal symbol, a numerical symbol, an alphabet symbol, a character symbol, and other appropriate game symbols are used. Then, when the normal symbol is in a predetermined mode by random number control on the condition that the game ball has passed through the gate 14, the movable piece made of the electric tulip 17 provided in the variable winning device 11 is opened for a predetermined time. Is configured to do.
The special symbol displayed on the symbol display device 9 is configured to be in a big hit state when the stop symbol is a predetermined symbol combination, for example, the same symbol combination. The special symbol is displayed by random number control or the like on condition that the game ball is detected at the lower start port (not shown) through which the game ball is guided by the opening operation of the upper start pocket 13 or the electric tulip 17 of the variable winning device 11. Is scrolled for a predetermined time (variable) with a predetermined fluctuation pattern, such as scrolling, and stops at a symbol. At that time, when two stop symbols become the same on the active line, a reach state occurs, and in this reach state, the last stop symbol on the active line is already stopped. A jackpot condition occurs when they are the same. In addition, as a special symbol, a numerical symbol, an alphabet symbol, a character symbol, etc. can be used.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the configuration of the handle of the game ball launcher provided in the pachinko gaming machine of the present embodiment, where (a) is an external perspective view, and (b) is a front view thereof.
In the handle 5 shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the cylindrical portion 21a of the handle base 21 serving as the handle body is supported on the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1. In addition, the handle base 21 is provided with a handle ring 22 that adjusts the firing force by which a player launches a game ball into the game area of the game board 3. A plurality of finger hooks 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22e are formed on the outer periphery of the handle ring 22 with an interval of approximately one finger. A handle cap 23 formed in a substantially hemispherical shell shape is attached to the front surface of the handle ring 22.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a game control device that performs game control of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present embodiment.
In the game control device shown in FIG. 3, a game control board 111 for controlling the progress of the game is provided as a main control board. The game control board 111 includes a CPU 112, a ROM 113, a RAM 114, and input / output interfaces (hereinafter referred to as “I / O”) 115, 116, and performs main control of the pachinko gaming machine. The I / O 115 of the game control board 111 includes an upper start SW 13a provided in the upper start pocket 13 of the variable winning device 11, a lower start SW 13b provided in a lower start port (not shown), and a start gate SW 14a on the game board 3. It is connected. Also, the regular winning opening SW18a, 18b provided in the normal winning opening 18 of the game board 3, the large winning opening SW15a provided in the large winning opening 15, and the large winning opening solenoid for opening and closing the opening / closing door of the large winning opening 15. 15b, a start-up solenoid 17a for opening and closing the electric tulip 17 provided in the variable winning device 11 is connected.

On the other hand, the I / O 116 of the game control board 111 is connected to the game ball launcher 20 of the present embodiment and the symbol control board 121.
The game ball launching device 20 plays a game ball based on a launch stop signal transmitted via the game control board 111 when it is detected on a prize ball control board (not shown) that the game ball of the dish part 4 is full. Or stop firing.
The symbol control board 121 performs display control of the symbol display device 9 and the normal symbol display device 10 based on a control signal from the game control board 111. The symbol control board 121 also controls various lamps and voices via a lamp control board and voice control board (not shown).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the game ball launching apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing output waveforms of each part of the game ball launching apparatus shown in FIG.
The game ball launching device 20 shown in FIG. 4 includes a variable resistor 30, a firing force control unit 34 including a voltage comparison circuit 31, a level amplification circuit 32, and a level subtraction circuit 33, a solenoid drive circuit 35, a firing solenoid 36, and The game ball launching unit 38 is composed of a timing signal generating circuit 37.
The variable resistor 30 is built in the handle 5 and is configured such that the resistance value changes according to the rotation amount (operation amount) of the handle ring 22. A reference voltage (for example, 5V) is applied to one terminal of the variable resistor 30, and the other terminal is grounded. Therefore, the variable resistor 30 outputs an output voltage A proportional to the operation amount of the handling 22 as shown in FIG. This output voltage A is supplied to the voltage comparison circuit 31 and the level subtraction circuit 33 of the firing force control unit 34.

The voltage comparison circuit 31 compares the output voltage A from the variable resistor 30 with a predetermined voltage A ′ (for example, 2.5 V), and a differential voltage B (B = A−A) as shown in FIG. ') Is output.
The level amplification circuit 32 amplifies the voltage level of the output voltage B from the voltage comparison circuit 31, for example, by a factor of 2, and outputs an output voltage C (C = 2B) as shown in FIG.
The level subtraction circuit 33 subtracts the output voltage C of the level amplifier 32 from the output voltage A of the variable resistor 30 and outputs an output voltage D (D = A−C) as shown in FIG.
The solenoid drive circuit 35 drives the firing solenoid 36 based on the timing signal input from the timing signal generation circuit 37. At this time, the solenoid drive circuit 35 drives the firing solenoid 36 with an intensity corresponding to the output voltage D supplied from the level subtraction circuit 33 of the firing force control unit 34.
The timing signal generation circuit 37 generates and outputs a timing signal corresponding to the game ball firing timing (for example, 100 shots / minute).
Therefore, in the gaming ball launching apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above, when the handle ring 22 of the handle 5 is rotated in the clockwise direction (the direction indicated by the arrow A), the firing force control unit 34 is During the period until the amount of operation reaches the predetermined amount P, control is performed so that the firing force (launch strength) of the game ball gradually increases according to the amount of operation of the handle ring 22 in the clockwise direction. On the other hand, during a period in which the operation amount of the handle ring 22 is maximum from the predetermined amount P, control is performed so that the firing force gradually decreases in accordance with the operation amount of the handle ring 22.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the operation amount of the handle and the launch intensity of the game ball in the game ball launching apparatus according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 6, in the game ball launching apparatus 20 of the first embodiment, the firing strength for firing the game ball is gradually increased until the handle ring 22 of the handle 5 is tilted 60 degrees from the initial position. Thus, the launch intensity is maximized at a position where the handle ring 22 is tilted 60 degrees. Thereafter, the firing strength gradually decreases, and the firing strength is stopped at a position inclined 120 degrees from the initial position, which is the maximum operating position of the handle ring 22. In this case, the minimum firing strength for launching the game ball into the game area of the game board is a position where the handle ring 22 is inclined 30 degrees or 90 degrees from the initial position.
Therefore, when the game ball launching device is configured as in the first embodiment, for example, in the conventional game ball launching device, an operation position at which the optimal launch intensity for launching the game ball at the most suitable position in the game area is obtained. However, in the game ball launching device as in the present embodiment, it is possible to have two operation positions at which the optimum launching intensity can be obtained. As a result, even a beginner can easily make adjustments at the time of launching a game ball at a position most suitable for the game in the game area.
Some players feel that it is easier to operate if the handle ring 22 of the handle 5 is not rotated much, and conversely, some players feel that it is easier to operate if the handle ring 22 is greatly rotated. Therefore, it is possible to realize a game ball launching device that meets the needs of such players.

Next, a game ball launching apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the operation amount of the handle and the launch intensity of the game ball in the game ball launching apparatus according to the second embodiment.
The gaming ball launching apparatus 20 according to the second embodiment is different from the gaming ball launching apparatus shown in FIG. 6 in that the launching intensity is the optimum launching intensity at the maximum operating position of the handle ring 22. Is.
When the game ball launching device 20 is configured in this way, the launch intensity is adjusted so that the launch position of the game ball is the optimum position with the handle ring 22 of the handle 5 fully rotated in the clockwise direction. Therefore, even a beginner can easily launch a game ball at an optimal position, and the game ball launching device 20 with excellent operability can be realized.
Note that the game ball launching device 20 of the second embodiment can be realized by changing the amplification factor of the level amplification circuit 32 shown in FIG.

Next, a game ball launcher according to a third embodiment of the present invention is described.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the operation amount of the handle and the launch intensity of the game ball in the game ball launching apparatus 20 according to the third embodiment.
In order to launch a game ball into the game area of the game board 3 by the game ball launching device 20, it is necessary to set the launch strength when launching the game ball to be equal to or higher than the minimum launch strength.
Therefore, the game ball launching device 20 of the third embodiment is configured such that the launch intensity is maximized with a small operation amount from the initial position. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, it differs from the game ball launching apparatus shown in FIG. 7 in that the position where the firing intensity is maximum is located in front of the position where the handle ring 22 is inclined 60 degrees. Is. With this configuration, the operation range of the handle ring 22 that can launch a game ball into the game area of the game board 3 can be expanded as compared with the game ball launching device shown in FIG. The operability can be improved.
Note that the game ball launching apparatus 20 of the third embodiment can be realized by changing the resistance value of the variable resistance circuit 30 shown in FIG.

1 is an overall front view showing an example of a pachinko gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed the structure of the handle | steering_wheel of the game ball | bowl launcher with which the pachinko game machine of this embodiment is equipped, (a) is the external appearance perspective view, (b) is the front view. It is the block diagram which showed the main structures of the game control apparatus which performs game control of the pachinko gaming machine concerning this embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the game ball | bowl launching apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the output waveform of each part of the game ball | bowl launching apparatus shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the operation amount of the handle | steering_wheel of the game ball | bowl launching apparatus of 1st Embodiment, and the launch intensity | strength of a game sphere. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the operation amount of a handle | steering-wheel in the game ball | bowl launching apparatus of 2nd Embodiment, and the launch intensity | strength of a game sphere. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the operation amount of a handle | steering-wheel in the game ball | bowl launching apparatus of 3rd Embodiment, and the launch intensity | strength of a game sphere.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pachinko machine, 2 ... Frame, 3 ... Game board, 4 ... Dish part, 5 ... Handle, 6 ... Lower front plate, 7 ... Center member, 9 ... Symbol display device, 10 ... Normal symbol display device, 11 ... Variable winning device, 13 ... Upper start pocket, 13a ... Upper start SW, 14 ... Gate, 14a ... Start gate SW, 15 ... Large winning port, 15a ... Large winning port SW, 15b ... Large winning port solenoid, 17 ... Electric type Tulip, 17a ... Start-up solenoid, 18 ... Normal winning port, 18a, 18b ... Normal winning port SW, 19 ... Out port, 20 ... Game ball launcher, 21 ... Handle base, 22 ... Handle ring, 22a, 22b, 22c 22d, 22e ... finger hooks, 23 ... handle cap, 30 ... variable resistor, 31 ... voltage comparison circuit, 32 ... level amplification circuit, 33 ... level subtraction circuit, 34 ... firing force control unit, 3 ... Solenoid drive circuit, 36 ... Launch solenoid, 37 ... Timing signal generation circuit, 38 ... Game ball launcher, 111 ... Game control board, 112 ... CPU, 113 ... ROM, 114 ... RAM, 115, 116 ... I / O, 121 ... design control board

Claims (3)

A handle ring that is movably supported by the handle body and adjusts the launch force of the game ball that is launched into the game area of the game board , and a firing force control means that controls the launch force of the game ball according to the amount of operation of the handle ring And a launching means for launching a game ball to the game area with a launch force controlled by the launch force control means,
The firing force control means controls the firing force to increase according to the operation amount of the handle ring during a period from when the handle ring is not operated until the operation amount of the handle ring reaches a predetermined amount. And a game ball launching device that controls the firing force to be weakened according to the amount of operation of the handle ring during a period in which the amount of operation of the handle ring is maximized from a predetermined amount . The firing force control means controls the firing force such that when the operation amount of the handle ring is maximum, the launch position of the game ball becomes an optimum position in a left region of the game board. The gaming machine described . 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the firing force control unit controls the firing force so that the firing intensity of the game ball is maximized with a small amount of operation of the handle ring .

Images