JP6701744B2 - Amusement machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

  A gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine is provided with a production device such as a light emitting unit or a display unit which is arranged in a region visible from the front of the gaming machine and whose display mode changes as the game progresses. There is something. These effect devices are provided with the function of increasing the effect during the game by changing the display mode in various ways according to the progress of the game (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-24447 A

  However, even if an attempt is made to enhance the effect using the effect device described above, many of them are likely to be similar, and there is still room for improvement in increasing the degree of attention to the game by improving the appearance of the display effect. ..

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-exemplified circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine capable of appropriately increasing the degree of attention to a game.

  Hereinafter, means for solving the above problems will be described.

This onset Ming,
Equipped with a display effect device that performs display effect as the game progresses,
The display effect device,
A light guide portion formed by arranging a plurality of planar light guides having light transparency in the thickness direction of the light guide,
A light emitting portion that supplies light to the end surface of the light guide,
A light emission control means for controlling light emission of the light emitting unit,
E Bei and switching means for switching a target to which light is supplied from the light emitting portion in the light guide by changing the relative position between the light emitting portion and the light guide portion in the arrangement direction of the light guide ,
The light emission control means has means for maintaining the light emitting portion in a lighting state when the relative position between the light guide portion and the light emitting portion is changed by the switching means,
The switching means is configured to change the relative position of the light guide section and the light emitting section by switching the light supply target a plurality of times under the situation where the light emitting section is in the lighting state. It is characterized by

  It is possible to favorably increase the degree of attention to the game.

It is a front view showing a pachinko machine in a 1st embodiment. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the main composition of a pachinko machine. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the main composition of a pachinko machine. It is a front view which shows the structure of an inner frame. It is a front view showing a configuration of a game board. It is a rear view which shows the structure of an inner frame. It is a perspective view which shows the back surface structure of a game board. It is a front view which shows the structure of a back pack unit. It is a front perspective view of a front door frame. FIG. 10A is a partially enlarged view showing an operation button unit in the front door frame and its peripheral configuration, and FIG. 9B is a partial sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 9. It is a perspective view which shows the relationship between an operation button unit and an attachment frame. 10A is a partial sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 10A, and FIG. 10B is a partial sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 10A. It is a fragmentary sectional view showing the internal structure of an operation button unit. It is a schematic diagram showing movement of an operation button unit. It is a schematic diagram showing a light emitting display. It is a schematic diagram showing a mode of a display change in a light emitting display. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a pachinko machine. It is the schematic which shows the relationship between the operation corresponding production and the expectation of winning. It is a flow chart which shows operation corresponding production execution processing performed by MPU of an information / production control device. It is a flow chart which shows operation corresponding processing. It is the timing chart which shows the flow of the game in the game time which relates to the operation correspondence production. It is a schematic diagram showing an operation button unit in a 2nd embodiment. It is a schematic diagram showing a mode of a display change in a light emitting display. (A) Schematic which shows the light-emitting display apparatus in 3rd Embodiment, (b) Schematic which shows the image displayed. It is a timing chart which shows the flow of a moving image display. It is a schematic diagram showing a modification of a light emitting display. (A) It is the schematic which shows the upper side bulging part in 4th Embodiment, (b) The schematic which shows the relationship between an operation button unit and an upper plate. It is the schematic which shows the mode of light interference. It is a schematic diagram showing a light emitting display in a 5th embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a pachinko gaming machine, which is a type of gaming machine (hereinafter referred to as "pachinko machine"), will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine 10, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views showing a main configuration of the pachinko machine 10 in a developed manner. Note that, in FIG. 2, for convenience, the configuration in the game area of the pachinko machine 10 is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 has an outer frame 11 forming an outer shell of the pachinko machine 10 and a gaming machine main part 12 attached to the outer frame 11.

  The outer frame 11 is formed by connecting plate members to four sides and has a rectangular frame shape. The pachinko machine 10 is installed in the island facility of the game arcade by attaching and fixing the outer frame 11 to the island facility. The outer frame 11 is not an essential component of the pachinko machine 10, and the outer frame 11 may be provided in an island facility such as a game arcade.

  The main frame 12 of the gaming machine is supported by the outer frame 11 in an openable and closable state. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper support metal fitting 17 is fixed to the connecting portion of the upper frame portion and the left frame portion of the outer frame 11, and the lower frame portion and the left frame portion of the outer frame 11 are further fixed. The lower support metal fitting 18 is fixed to the connecting portion with. A support mechanism is configured by the upper support metal fitting 17 and the lower support metal fitting 18, and the main body 12 of the gaming machine turns the left side in a front view of the pachinko machine 10 with respect to the outer frame 11 by the support mechanism, the base end side, the right side. The front end of the pachinko machine can be rotated to the front of the pachinko machine 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the gaming machine main section 12 includes an inner frame 13 as a base body, a front door frame 14 arranged in front of the inner frame 13, and a back pack arranged behind the inner frame 13. Unit 15 (see FIG. 3). The inner frame 13 of the main body 12 of the gaming machine is rotatably supported with respect to the outer frame 11.

  A front door frame 14 is rotatably attached to an end portion of the inner frame 13 on the rotation base end side. The front door frame 14 has a left side as a rotation base side and a right side as a front view in a front view. The tip side is rotatable forward. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a back pack unit 15 is rotatably attached to an end of the inner frame 13 on the rotation base end side, and the back pack unit 15 rotates on the left side in a front view. The movable base end side and the right side can be turned rearward with the turning front end side.

  Next, the front door frame 14 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the front door frame 14 includes a frame body 20 made of a synthetic resin having an outer shape substantially the same as the outer frame 11, and a cover body mounted on the front surface of the frame body 20 and provided with various decorations. 21 and mainly covers the front surface side of the inner frame 13. A substantially elliptical window portion 22 (see FIG. 1) is formed in the center portion of the front door frame 14 so that almost the entire game area PE described later can be visually recognized from the front of the gaming machine. The portion 22 is covered with the glass unit 30 from the back side of the front door frame 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a glass unit installation portion 23 is formed in the frame body 20 so as to surround the window portion 22. Specifically, the glass unit installation portion 23 is arranged on the back side of the frame body 20 and is recessed toward the front of the pachinko machine 10, and the window portion 22 is provided at the bottom thereof. When the glass unit 30 is fitted in the glass unit installation portion 23, the displacement in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is restricted.

  The glass unit 30 includes a pair of transparent front and rear glass panels 31 and a glass holder 32 that holds the glass panels 31. The glass holder 32 has an annular frame portion formed along the window portion 22, and the glass panel 31 is housed in a region surrounded by the frame portion.

  Referring again to FIG. 1, a light emitting means such as various lamps is provided around the window 22. For example, an annular illumination portion 24 having a built-in light emitting means such as an LED is provided along the periphery of the window portion 22. In the annular illumination portion 24, lighting or blinking is performed according to a change in the game state at the time of a big hit or a predetermined reach. More specifically, at the center of the annular illumination section 24 and at the top of the pachinko machine 10, there is provided a top lamp section 25 provided with a function of turning on in the event of a predetermined error, and on the left and right sides of the window section 22 are prizes. A side lamp unit 26 is provided which has a function of turning on while the ball is being paid out. In addition, speaker units 27 are provided on the left and right sides of the top lamp unit 25 to output sound effects and the like according to the gaming state.

  Below the window portion 22 of the front door frame 14, an upper bulge portion 28 and a lower bulge portion 29 which bulge toward the front side are vertically arranged side by side. The upper bulging portion 28 is provided with an upper tray 33 which is open upward, and the lower bulging portion 29 is provided with a lower tray 34 which is also open upward. The upper plate 33 has a function of temporarily storing the game balls paid out from a payout device to be described later and guiding them to the game ball launching mechanism side to be described later while aligning them in a line. Further, the lower plate 34 has a function of storing the game balls that have become redundant in the upper plate 33.

  A return lever 42, which is manually operated by a player or the like, is provided at a portion of the upper bulging portion 28 which is located on the right side of the upper plate 33. By operating the return lever 42, the game balls stored in the upper plate 33 will be returned to the lower plate 34. For example, when the game ball is left on the upper plate 33 at the end of the game, by operating this return lever 42, the remaining ball (particularly remains in a difficult-to-access portion (alignment passage described later)). It is possible to collect the game balls that exist.

  An operation button unit 40 that is manually operated by a player or the like is provided in a portion of the upper bulging portion 28 that is on the front side of the upper plate 33 (game ball storage area). The operation button unit 40 is an operation device for the player to give a predetermined instruction in the course of progress of the game for the purpose of giving a predetermined effect on a display screen of a symbol display device described later. The specific configuration of the operation button unit 40 will be described later in detail.

  A game ball launching handle 45 is provided at a position side by side with the lower bulge 29 so as to project toward the front side. By operating the game ball launching handle 45, a game ball is launched from a game ball launching mechanism described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a passage forming unit 50 is attached to the back surface of the front door frame 14. The passage forming unit 50 is made of synthetic resin and has a front-door-side upper-plate passage that communicates with the upper plate 33 and a front-door-side lower-plate passage that communicates with the lower plate 34. At the upper corner of the passage forming unit 50, there is formed a receiving portion 53 that projects rearward and is opened upward. By partitioning the receiving portion 53 left and right by a partition wall 54, the front door side upper plate passage is formed. An entrance portion and an entrance portion of the lower door passage on the front door side are formed. The front door side upper plate passage and the front door side lower plate passage are connected to the game ball distribution section described later on the upstream side, and the game balls that enter the front door side upper plate passage are guided to the upper plate 33 to lower the front door side. The game ball that has entered the dish passage is guided to the lower dish 34.

  Next, the inner frame 13 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view of the inner frame 13. Note that, in FIG. 4, as in FIG. 2, the configuration in the game area of the pachinko machine 10 is omitted.

  The inner frame 13 is mainly composed of a resin base 60 whose outer shape is substantially the same as that of the outer frame 11. Inner frame fittings 71, 72 are attached to the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the front surface of the resin base 60 on the rotation base end side (left side in FIG. 4). Further, bearing fittings 57, 58 are provided on the rear side of the front door frame 14 on the side of the rotation base end (left side in FIG. 1) in correspondence with the inner frame fittings 71, 72. Shafts are formed in the inner frame fittings 71, 72, and the front door frame 14 is inserted into the bearing holes of the bearing fittings 57, 58 of the front door frame 14 so that the front door frame 14 is inserted into the inner frame 13. It is rotatably supported. That is, the inner frame fittings 71, 72 and the bearing fittings 57, 58 form an assembly mechanism for the inner frame 13.

  A locking device 75 is provided on the front surface of the inner frame 13. The locking device 75 has a plurality of front door hook members 76 extending toward the front door frame 14. Corresponding to the front door hook members 76, a plurality of hook receiving members 59 extending toward the inner frame 13 are provided on the back surface of the front door frame 14 (see FIG. 2 ). When the front door hook member 76 is hooked on the hook receiving member 59, the front door frame 14 is locked in the closed state. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the locking device 75 has an inner frame hook member 77 extending rearward of the inner frame 13. The inner frame hook member 77 is hooked on the hook receiving member 19 of the outer frame 11 to lock the gaming machine main portion 12 in a closed state with respect to the outer frame 11.

  At the lower right corner of the resin base 60, a cylinder lock 78 for unlocking the locking device 75 is installed. The cylinder lock 78 is integrated with the locking device 75, and the tip portion (key hole portion) thereof is exposed to the front of the pachinko machine 10 through a hole provided in the front door frame 14. Turning the key inserted into the keyhole of the cylinder lock 78 to the right unlocks the front door frame 14 from the inner frame 13, and turning the key to the left unlocks the inner frame 13 from the outer frame 11. ..

  A game board accommodating portion 61 for accommodating the game board 80 is formed in a substantially central portion on the front surface of the resin base 60. The game board housing portion 61 is recessed in the rear of the pachinko machine 10 to define a housing space for housing the game board 80, and the game board 80 attached to the resin base 60 is fitted in the housing space. Is becoming

  The game board 80 is formed of a transparent synthetic resin material, and its front surface is exposed to the front side of the resin base 60 through the open portion of the game board housing portion 61. On this exposed portion, that is, on the front surface of the game board 80, a game area PE in which the game balls flow down is formed. As described above, the game area PE is covered with the glass panel 31. The glass panel 31 on the rear side is arranged such that the gap between the front surface of the game board 80 and the diameter of the game ball is slightly larger, that is, the game ball flowing down the game area PE is at the same position in the same area PE. It is arranged not to line up. Thereby, the ball clogging in the game area PE is suppressed. The game board 80 is not limited to the synthetic resin, and can be made of wood.

  Hereinafter, the game board 80 (in particular, various configurations arranged in the game area PE) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view of the game board 80.

  The game board 80 is formed with a plurality of large and small openings that penetrate in the thickness direction (front-back direction) of the game board 80. A general winning opening 81, a variable winning device 82, operating openings 83a and 83b, a through gate 84, a variable display unit 85, and the like are provided in each opening. When game balls enter the general winning opening 81, the variable winning device 82, and the operation openings 83a and 83b, these gaming balls are detected by a detection switch described later, and a predetermined number of winning balls are paid out based on the detection result. It In addition, an out port 86 is provided at the bottom of the game board 80, and game balls that have not entered various winning ports are discharged from the game area PE through the out port 86.

  Further, on the game board 80, a large number of nails 87 are planted in order to appropriately disperse and adjust the flow path of the game balls, and various members (features) such as a wind turbine are arranged. The various paths such as the nail 87 and the windmill are used to divide the flow path of the game ball so that the above-described general winning opening 81 and the like can be won with an appropriate probability.

  The variable winning device 82 is normally in a closed state in which the game balls cannot be won, and can be switched to an open state in which the game balls can easily win when a big hit occurs. As an opening mode of the variable winning device 82, a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) or a predetermined number (for example, 10) of winnings are regarded as one round, and the variable winning device 82 is opened for a plurality of rounds (for example, 15 rounds). It is set to repeat as the upper limit.

  The variable display unit 85 is arranged near the center of the game board 80, and the operation ports 83a and 83b are arranged below it. More specifically, the operation ports 83a and 83b are vertically arranged side by side with the operation port 83a on the upper side and the operation port 83b on the lower side. The lower working port 83b is provided with an electric accessory as a guide piece (support piece) composed of a pair of left and right movable pieces. The electric accessory is in a closed state (non-support state or non-guide state) in which the ball cannot enter the actuating opening 83b, and an open state (support state or guide) in which it is easier for the game ball to enter than in the closed state. State), and when the lottery based on the winning of the through-gate 84 is won, the main controller controls to open. As an opening/closing mode of the electric accessory, a low frequency support mode is set so that the winning frequency to the lower operation port 83b is lower than that of the upper operation port 83a, and a lower frequency than the upper operation port 83a. The high-frequency support mode is set so that the winning frequency to the working opening 83b is high, and it is set to a low level when a predetermined winning result is obtained by a lottery based on a ball entering each working opening 83a, 83b. The configuration is such that the frequency support mode is shifted to the high frequency support mode.

  For the variable winning device 82 and the electric accessory, it is sufficient if the state can be switched between the first state and the second state in which it is more difficult to enter the ball. I do not deny it.

  The variable display unit 85 and the operation ports 83a and 83b are parts that control the playability, and the player's attention is likely to be collected. By arranging the variable display unit 85 and the operating ports 83a and 83b vertically in the center of the game machine, the amount of movement of the line of sight between the two is suppressed, which contributes to the reduction of the burden on the eyes of the player.

  The variable display unit 85 is provided with a symbol display device 94 that variably displays the symbols triggered by the winning of the operation openings 83a and 83b. The symbol display device 94 is configured as a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display (display screen 94a), and its display content is controlled by a display control device described later. Specifically, on the display screen 94a, the symbols are displayed side by side on the left, the center, and the right, and these symbols are variably displayed by scrolling vertically. Then, when a big hit occurs, symbols of a predetermined combination are stopped and displayed on a preset activated line, and a special game state is entered. The display mode on the display screen 94a may be changed as follows. That is, the symbols may be displayed side by side in the upper, middle, and lower stages, and these symbols may be scrolled in the left-right direction to be variably displayed.

  The variable display unit 85 also includes a center frame 95 formed so as to surround the symbol display device 94. Reserving lamp portions 98 and 99 are provided on the upper and lower portions of the center frame 95, respectively. The holding lamp section 98 on the lower side corresponds to the operating ports 83a and 83b, and the number of times the game ball passes through the operating ports 83a and 83b is held up to four times. It is supposed to be displayed. The upper holding lamp unit 99 corresponds to the through gate 84, and the number of times the game ball has passed through the through gate 84 is held up to four times, and the holding number is displayed by turning on the holding lamp unit 99. Is becoming

  Referring again to FIG. 4, below the game board housing portion 61 (game board 80) in the resin base 60, a game ball that launches a game ball to the game area PE based on the operation of the game ball launching handle 45. A firing mechanism 110 is provided. The game ball launching mechanism 110 is a solenoid 111 for launching a game ball located at a predetermined launch standby position, a launch rail 112 for defining the launch direction of the game ball launched by the solenoid 111, and a game at the launch standby position. A ball feeding device 113 for supplying spheres and a base plate 114 on which the various configurations 111 to 113 are mounted are provided as main components, and the base plate 114 is attached to the resin base 60.

  The firing rail 112 is fixed to the base plate 114 in an inclined state so as to be inclined upward toward the game board 80 side. A ball stopper that keeps the game ball supplied from the ball feeding device 113 at the above-described shooting standby position is provided at a position closer to the downstream end (that is, the lower end) of the launch rail 112. The solenoid 111 is arranged at a position further downstream than the ball stopper.

  The solenoid 111 is electrically connected to a power supply/firing control device described later. The output shaft of the solenoid 111 reciprocates in the expansion/contraction direction based on the output of an electric signal from the power supply/launch control device, so that the game ball placed in the firing standby position is on the game board 80 side, specifically, the game. It is launched toward the guide rail 100 mounted on the board 80.

  The guide rail 100 forms the game area PE together with the game area partitioning member 90 fixed to the game board 80 so that the outer shape of the game area PE is substantially circular. In addition, the guide rail 100 is composed of an inner rail 101 and an outer rail 102 which are arranged so as to face each other with a gap slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball, and one guide passage 103 is defined by these both rails 101 and 102. Has been formed. The guide passage 103 has an inlet portion 104 opened to the tip side (obliquely downward) of the launch rail 112 and an outlet portion 105 located above the game area PE. The game ball launched based on the operation of the solenoid 111 is guided to the game area PE by moving in the order of the launch rail 112→the guide rail 100 (the entrance portion 104→the exit portion 105). In addition, in the game board 80, on the front side of the exit portion 105, specifically, near the tip of the inner rail 101, a reversion preventing member 106 for preventing reversion of the game ball reaching the game area PE into the guide passage 103 is attached. Therefore, it is prevented that the launch of the succeeding game ball is hindered by the game ball reaching the game area PE in advance.

  The guide rail 100 and the launch rail 112 are arranged so that the inlet portion 104 of the guide rail 100 and the tip end portion of the launch rail 112 face each other with a gap therebetween. A foul ball passage 55 (see FIG. 3) is disposed below the gap formed in this way. The foul ball passage 55 is integrally formed with the passage forming unit 50 of the front door frame 14. If the game balls fired from the game ball firing mechanism 110 do not reach the game area PE and return in the guide passage 103 as foul balls, those foul balls enter the foul ball passage 55 through the gap. Becomes The foul ball passage 55 leads to the lower door passage on the front door side, and the game balls that have entered the foul ball passage 55 are discharged to the lower tray 34 shown in FIG. As a result, interference between the foul ball and the game ball to be subsequently launched is suppressed.

  A main display unit 91 for displaying a predetermined pattern or the like is provided in a portion of the game area partitioning member 90 facing the glass panel 31. In the main display unit 91, an upper working port display section that displays a lottery result based on a winning of the upper working port 83a and a lower display that displays a lottery result performed based on a winning of the lower working port 83b. A main display section D having a side working port display section is provided.

  In the upper working port display unit, the variable display of the pattern is performed with the winning of the upper working port 83a as a trigger, and as a result of the stop of the variable display, the internal lottery performed based on the winning of the upper working port 83a. The result is specified. When the result of the internal lottery based on the winning of the upper working opening 83a is the winning result corresponding to the shift to the opening/closing execution mode, the variable display is stopped on the upper working opening display unit, and the predetermined result is set as the stop result. After the picture is displayed, the opening/closing execution mode is entered.

  On the lower working port display portion, the variable display of the pattern is performed with the winning of the lower working port 83b as a trigger, and as a result of the stop of the variable display, it is performed based on the winning of the lower working port 83b. The result of the internal lottery will be specified. When the result of the internal lottery based on the winning of the lower working port 83b is the winning result corresponding to the shift to the opening/closing execution mode, the variable display is stopped on the lower working port display unit, and the stop result is displayed. After a predetermined pattern is displayed as, the opening/closing execution mode is entered.

  Here, based on the winning in one of the operation ports 83a and 83b, the variable display is started on the corresponding operation port display unit, a predetermined stop result is displayed, and the variable display is stopped (details Corresponds to one game game. However, one game play is not limited to the above-mentioned contents, and for example, a single display area is provided, and even if a winning is generated in any one of the operation openings 83a and 83b, the single play area is generated. In the configuration in which the variable display is performed in the display area, the variable display is started in the single display area, and the variable display is stopped once with a predetermined stop result being displayed once in the game. It is also possible to

  The resin base 60 is provided with a plurality of lock devices that can be switched between a locked state in which the game board 80 can be removed from the game board housing 61 and an unlocked state in which the game board 80 can be removed. There is. The lock device has an abutment portion that abuts the front surface of the game board 80 in the locked state, and the abutment portion abuts the front surface of the game board 80 to move the game board 80 to the front door frame 14 side. The displacement will be suppressed.

  On the left side of the firing rail 112 (more specifically, on the side supporting the front door frame 14) in the resin base 60, a through hole that penetrates the resin base 60 in the front-rear direction is formed. A passage forming member 121 is provided. The passage forming member 121 is screwed to the resin base 60, and has a main body side upper tray passage 122 and a main body side lower tray passage 123. The upstream sides of the main body side upper tray passage 122 and the main body side lower tray passage 123 communicate with a game ball distribution unit described later. Further, the receiving portion 53 (see FIG. 2) of the passage forming unit 50 attached to the front door frame 14 is inserted below the passage forming member 121, and the front door side is provided below the main body side upper tray passage 122. The upper plate passage is arranged, and the front door side upper plate passage is arranged below the main body side lower plate passage 123.

  Below the passage forming member 121 in the resin base 60, a shutter 124 for restricting the outflow of the game balls from the main body side upper tray passage 122 and the main body side lower tray passage 123 is provided. The shutter 124 is supported by the resin base 60 in a switchable state between a blocking position that narrows the outlet portions of both passages to block the outflow of the game balls and an allowable position that allows the outflow of the game balls. A biasing member that biases the shutter 124 toward the blocking position is attached to the resin base 60, and when the front door frame 14 is opened with respect to the inner frame 13, the shutter member is biased by the biasing member. The configuration is such that 124 remains in the blocking position. Thereby, when the front door frame 14 is opened in a state where the game balls are stored in the main body side upper tray passage 122 or the main body side lower tray passage 123, the inconvenience that the stored balls will fall off is avoided. .. On the other hand, when the front door frame 14 is closed, the shutter 124 is pushed back to the allowable position against the biasing force by the receiving portion 53 provided in the passage forming unit 50 of the front door frame 14. In this state, the main body side upper tray passage 122 and the front door side upper tray passage, the main body side lower tray passage 123 and the front door side lower tray passage respectively communicate with each other, and the movement of the game ball is allowed.

  Next, the back surface configuration of the inner frame 13 (resin base 60 and game board 80) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the inner frame 13.

  A bearing fitting 132 is attached to the rear side of the resin base 60 on the rotation base end side (right side in FIG. 6). A bearing portion 133 is formed on the bearing fitting 132 so as to be vertically separated from each other, and the back pack unit 15 is rotatably attached to the inner frame 13 by these bearing portions 133. A plurality of fixing levers 134 for fixing the back pack unit 15 to the inner frame 13 are provided on the back surface of the resin base 60.

  As described above, the bottom portion of the game board housing portion 61 of the resin base 60 is formed with the central opening 64 penetrating in the thickness direction of the resin base 60 and opened to the back side of the resin base 60. The central opening 64 is covered from the front side of the inner frame 13 by the game board 80 housed in the game board housing portion 61. Various configurations such as a control device are mounted on the back surface of the game board 80, and these various configurations are exposed to the back side of the inner frame 13 through the central opening 64. Here, the configuration of the back surface of the game board 80 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the game board 80 as viewed from the rear.

  On the back surface of the game board 80, a pedestal member 141 made of synthetic resin for mounting the variable display unit 85 (see FIG. 5) on the game board 80 is fixed. The pedestal member 141 has a substantially box shape opened to the game board 80 side and covers almost the entire rear surface of the game board 80. A part of the pedestal member 141 projects to the back side of the resin base 60 through the central opening 64 of the resin base 60, and the symbol display device 94 (see FIG. 5) described above with respect to the projecting portion, and its symbol display. A display controller for driving the device 94 is attached. The symbol display device 94 and the display control device are arranged in the front-rear direction (thickness direction of the resin base 60) so that the symbol display device is on the front side and the display control device is on the rear side. Further, the game board 80 is equipped with a notification/effect control device unit so as to be located behind the display control device. The notification/production control device unit is configured to include a notification/production control device 142 and a mounting base 144, and the notification/production control device 142 is mounted on the mounting base 144.

  The notification/effect control device 142 is provided with a notification/effect control board that controls the voice and lamp display and the display controller in accordance with an instruction from the main controller described later, and the notification/effect control board is made of a transparent resin material. It is housed in a substrate box 145 made of, for example, etc.

  Below the notification/effect control device unit, a main control device unit 160 is provided so as to cover the pedestal member 141 from the rear. The main control device unit 160 has a mounting base 161 made of synthetic resin fixed to the back surface of the game board 80, and a main control device 162 mounted on the mounting base 161. The main controller 162 has a main control board having a function of controlling the main game (main control circuit) and a function of monitoring the power supply (power failure monitoring circuit), and the main control board is made of a transparent resin material. It is configured to be housed in a substrate box 163 composed of, for example.

  The board box 163 includes a box base (front case body) having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and a box cover (back case body) that covers an opening of the box base. The box base and the box cover are connected in an unopenable manner by a box sealing portion 164 serving as a sealing means, whereby the substrate box 163 is sealed. A plurality of box sealing parts 164 are provided on the short side part of the substrate box 163, and at least one of them is used for the sealing process.

  The box sealing portion 164 may have any configuration as long as it can connect the box base and the box cover in an unopenable manner. However, by inserting a locking pin into the locking hole portion that constitutes the box sealing portion 164. The base and the box cover are designed so that they cannot be opened. The sealing processing by the box sealing unit 164 prevents unauthorized opening after the sealing and makes it possible to detect such a situation early and easily even if the unauthorized opening is performed. It is possible to perform the sealing process again even after opening. That is, the sealing process is performed by inserting the locking pin into at least one locking hole of the plurality of box sealing parts 164. When the board box 163 is unsealed when the accommodated main control board fails or when the main control board is inspected, a connecting portion between the box sealing portion in which the locking pin is inserted and the board box 163 main body. Disconnect. As a result, the box base and the box cover of the board box 163 are separated, and the main control board inside can be taken out. After that, when the sealing process is performed again, the locking pin is inserted into another locking hole. If a history indicating that the board box 163 has been opened is left in the board box 163, it can be easily found by looking at the board box 163 that an illegal opening has been made.

  The board box 163 and the mounting base 161 are connected by a base sealing portion 165 so as not to be opened. Specifically, the pedestal sealing portion 165 has a locking hole portion and a locking pin similarly to the box sealing portion 164, and by inserting the locking pin into the locking hole portion, the base box 163 and The mount 161 is inseparably coupled. This makes it easier to understand the fact that the board box 163 has been removed illegally.

  In the portion of the pedestal member 141 facing the back surface of the game board 80, corresponding to the game board openings of the general winning opening 81, the variable winning device 82, the upper working opening 83a and the lower working opening 83b, and the downstream side. A collection passage is formed at one location. As a result, the game balls that have won the general winning openings 81 and the like are all collected under the game board 80 via the collection passage. That is, the pedestal member 141 is provided with a function of collecting game balls that have won the various winning openings.

  A discharge passage, which will be described later, is arranged below the game board 80, and the game balls gathered below the game board 80 by the collection passage are led out into the discharge passage. In addition, the outlet 86 also leads to the discharge passage in the same manner, and the game balls that have not won any of the prize outlets are led out into the discharge passage through the outlet 86.

  Further, in the collection passage, a winning opening switch for detecting a game ball that has won a general winning opening 81 on the front side of the game board 80, a count switch for detecting a game ball that has won a variable winning device 82, and an operating opening 83a, An operation opening switch for detecting a game ball entered in 83b is mounted, and these various switches constitute a winning detection mechanism. Further, on the left and right sides of the variable display unit 85 in the base member 141, gate switches for detecting a game ball passing through the through gate 84 are provided. These various switches are electrically connected to the main control unit 162, and the detection information from each switch is output to the main control unit 162.

  Next, the back pack unit 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 8. FIG. 8 is a front view of the back pack unit 15.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the inner frame 13 is covered from the rear by the back pack unit 15. As shown in FIG. 8, the back pack unit 15 includes a back pack 201, and a payout mechanism section 202, a discharge passage board, and a control device assembly unit 204 are attached to the back pack 201.

  The back pack 201 is formed of a transparent synthetic resin, and has a base portion 211 to which the payout mechanism portion 202 and the like are attached, and a protective cover portion 212 that projects rearward of the pachinko machine 10 and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The protective cover portion 212 has a shape in which the left and right side surfaces and the upper surface are closed and only the lower surface is opened, and has a size sufficient to surround at least the variable display unit 85.

  An external terminal board (not shown) is provided on the upper right portion of the base portion 211. Various output terminals are provided on the external terminal board, and various signals are output to the management control device on the game hall side through these output terminals. Further, the base portion 211 is provided with a pair of upper and lower engaging pins 214 at the right end when viewed from the rear of the pachinko machine 10, and by inserting the engaging pins 214 into the bearing portion 133 provided in the inner frame 13. The back pack unit 15 is rotatably supported with respect to the inner frame 13. The base portion 211 is formed with a plurality of insertion portions 215 through which the fixing levers 134 provided on the inner frame 13 are inserted. The fixing levers 134 are inserted into the insertion portions 215 and are rearward to the base portion 211. The back pack unit 15 is fixed to the inner frame 13 by abutting on the inner frame 13.

  A payout mechanism section 202 is arranged on the base section 211 so as to bypass the protective cover section 212. The payout mechanism unit 202 is provided with a tank 221 arranged at the uppermost part of the back pack 201 and opening upward, and the game balls supplied from the island facility of the game hall are sequentially supplied to the tank 221. It Below the tank 221, a tank rail 222 that is gently inclined toward the downstream side is connected, and a case rail 223 that extends in the up-down direction is connected to the downstream side of the tank rail 222. A payout device 224 is provided at the most downstream portion of the case rail 223. The game balls paid out from the payout device 224 are supplied to the game ball distribution unit 225 provided on the base portion 211 of the back pack 201 through a payout passage (not shown) provided on the downstream side of the payout device 224.

  The game ball distribution unit 225 has a function of distributing the game balls paid out from the payout device 224 to any one of the upper plate 33, the lower plate 34, and a discharge passage described later, and the inside opening is the main body described above. It is formed so as to communicate with the upper tray 33 through the side upper tray passage 122 and the front door-side upper tray passage, and the outer opening portion communicates with the lower tray 34 through the main body-side lower tray passage 123 and the front door-side lower tray passage. Has been done.

  At the lower end of the base portion 211, the discharge passage board and the control device assembly unit 204 are attached so that the lower end is sandwiched in the front and rear. The discharge passage board is formed with a discharge passage opened rearward on a surface facing the control device gathering unit 204, and an opening portion of the discharge passage is closed by the control device gathering unit 204. The discharge passage is formed so as to discharge the game balls to the island facility or the like of the game hall, and the game balls led to the discharge passage from the above-mentioned recovery passage and the like pass to the outside of the pachinko machine 10 by passing through the discharge passage. Is discharged.

  The control device assembly unit 204 has a horizontally long mounting base 241, and the dispensing control device 242 and the power/firing control device 243 are mounted on the mounting base 241. The payout control device 242 and the power supply/launch control device 243 are arranged in front of and behind each other so that the payout control device 242 is behind the pachinko machine 10.

  In the payout control device 242, a payout control board for controlling the payout device 224 is housed in the board box 244, and a state return switch 245 provided on the payout control board projects outside the board box 244. For example, when the state return switch 245 is pressed when a dispensing error such as a ball clogging in the dispensing device 224 occurs, the ball clogging can be eliminated.

  The power source/launch control device 243 has a power source/launch control substrate housed in a substrate box 246. The substrate generates a predetermined power source required by various control devices and outputs the power source/launch control substrate. The control of launching the game ball is performed in accordance with the operation of the firing handle 45. Further, the power/launch control device 243 is provided with a power switch 247. By operating the power switch 247, the power of the pachinko machine 10 can be switched between the on state (on state) and the shut off state (off state).

  Here, the pachinko machine 10 has a function of storing and retaining various data, and retains the state at the time of power failure even if a power failure occurs, and returns to the state at the time of power failure at the time of recovery from the power failure. You can do it. For example, when the power is shut off in the normal procedure, such as when the game hall is closed, the state before the shutoff is stored. The main controller 162 is provided with a RAM erase switch 166. When the power is turned on while pressing the RAM erase switch 166, the RAM data is initialized.

(Operation button unit 40 and configuration related thereto)
The present embodiment is characterized by the operation button unit 40 provided on the upper bulging portion 28 of the front door frame 14 and the structure (eg, mounting structure) related thereto. Therefore, in the following description, first, an outline of the operation button unit 40 and its peripheral configuration will be supplementarily described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. 9 is a perspective view of the front door frame 14 seen from the front side, FIG. 10A is a partially enlarged view of the front door frame 14 showing the operation button unit 40 and its peripheral configuration, and FIG. It is an AA line partial end view.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the upper bulging portion 28 constitutes the cover member 21 as the front surface portion of the front door frame 14 together with the annular electric decoration portion 24, the cover member for the speaker portion 27, and various decorative members. A base end portion (rear end portion) of the upper bulging portion 28 is fixed to the frame body 20 and is in a so-called cantilever state. The securing strength is improved by securing the vertical width and the lateral width of the upper bulging portion 28 to some extent and then setting a plurality of fixing locations vertically and horizontally.

  The upper bulge portion 28 is formed by combining a pair of upper and lower bulge portion structures 301 and 302 (see FIG. 10A). Specifically, a substantially box-shaped lower bulging portion structure 302 (lower bulging portion structure 302) opened upward and a pair of left and right covering the lower bulging portion structure 302 from above. The upper bulging portion structure 301 (the upper bulging portion structure 301) is joined.

  The front-back width of the upper bulging portion structure 301 is set smaller than the front-back width of the lower bulging portion structure 302. In other words, the upper bulging part structure 301 is formed along the front side and the left and right edges of the lower bulging part structure 302, and the rear end edges of both the structures 301 and 302 are arranged in the front-back direction. There is a gap in. Due to the existence of such a gap, a housing recess 315 as an installation portion for the upper plate 33 is formed in the upper surface portion 311 of the upper bulging portion 28. It is opened upward in the accommodation recess 315, and the open portion is closed by fitting the upper plate 33 from the upper side.

  Although illustration is omitted, an engaging portion that engages with the upper plate 33 is provided on the back surface portion 314 of the upper bulging portion structure 301. When the upper plate 33 is pushed into the accommodation recess 315, the engaging portion is brought into an engaged state, and the upper plate 33 and the upper bulging portion 28 are integrated. Further, the frame body 20 is also provided with an engagement portion that engages with the upper plate 33 when the upper bulging portion 28 is fixed to the frame body 20. As a result, when the upper bulging portion 28 is fixed to the frame body 20, the engagement portion restricts the removal of the upper tray 33 from the frame body 20. That is, the upper plate 33 is sandwiched between the upper bulging portion 28 and the frame body 20, and when the upper plate 33 is removed for maintenance or the like, the upper bulging portion 28 (cover body 21) is removed from the frame body 20 in advance. ) Need to do. This is a device for strengthening the defense function against various illegal acts such as illegal removal of the upper plate 33.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, the upper plate 33 is arranged on the base end side of the upper bulging portion 28 and is open not only to the upper side but also to the rear side. The rear open portion is closed by the front surface of the frame body 20 (specifically, the front cover portion 36 fixed to the frame body 20), and a large number of game balls can be stored by the upper plate 33 and the front cover portion 36. The storage area SE is defined and formed. The bottom surface portion of the upper plate 33 is inclined downward to the right, and the portion of the front cover portion 36 located at the uppermost stream of the storage area SE is a supply port 37 as an inlet portion to which game balls are supplied from the above-mentioned payout device 224. Are formed.

  Further, a discharge port 38 for guiding the game ball to the game ball launching mechanism 110 is formed in a portion of the front cover portion 36 located on the most downstream side of the storage area SE. The outlet 38 is covered from above by the upper bulging portion structure 301, and unauthorized access to the outlet 38 is suppressed.

  From the midstream to the downstream (discharge port 38) of the storage area SE, an alignment passage 320 for guiding the game balls to the discharge port 38 in a state of being aligned in a line is formed. Regarding the alignment passage 320, its front-rear width (distance between the vertical wall of the upper plate 33 and the front cover portion 36) is suppressed to be slightly larger than the diameter dimension of the game ball, and a plurality of game balls are provided at the same location. Are not allowed to pass through at the same time. By guiding the game ball to the discharge port 38 via the alignment passage 320, the game ball is smoothly supplied to the game ball launching mechanism 110.

  Although not shown, a return passage continuing to the lower tray 34 communicates with the most downstream portion of the bottom of the alignment passage 320. The entrance portion of the return passage is normally closed by an openable movable plate. When the player ends the game, the return lever 42 is operated by the player, whereby the movable plate is displaced from the closed position to the open position. As a result, the entrance portion of the return passage is opened, and the game balls stored in the storage area SE are moved to the lower plate 34 through the alignment passage 320→return passage by their own weight.

  Here, the movement of the game ball when playing a game will be briefly described. When a game ball that has reached the game area PE based on a player's shooting operation enters various ball-storing parts such as the variable winning device 82, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out as a privilege. .. Specifically, when the payout device 224 operates, the game balls are supplied to the storage area SE through the supply port 37. The game ball that has reached the storage region SE moves to the downstream side by its own weight and is guided to the discharge port 38 while being rectified by the alignment passage 320. Then, it reaches the ball feeding device 113 of the game ball launching mechanism 110 through the outlet 38. When the game ball is being shot, the ball feeding device 113 supplies the game ball to the launch standby position at regular intervals, and accordingly, the game ball stored in the storage area SE , Will be moved to the downstream side in sequence.

  In addition to the upper plate 33 described above, an operation button unit 40 and a controller unit 41 are arranged in the upper bulging portion 28. The operation button unit 40 has a function of executing a predetermined game effect or the like in conjunction with the symbol display device 94 or the like, and the controller unit 41 has a function of selecting a game mode (for example, background or character customization). Has been granted. As is apparent from FIG. 10B, when the operation button unit 40 and the controller unit 41 are compared, the operation portion of the operation button unit 40 is formed to be much larger than the operation portion of the controller unit 41. In addition, while the operation button unit 40 is operated as part of the effect when the game progresses, the controller unit 41 is not used for the game effect, and is mainly on standby before the start of the game or after the end of the game. It is supposed to be operated in the state (standby mode).

  Considering the differences in the usage conditions/usage environment/shape, etc. detailed above, there are differences in the fixed objects. Specifically, although the controller unit 41 and the operation button unit 40 have a common arrangement target (the upper bulging portion 28 ), the fixing target of the controller unit 41 is the upper bulging portion 28 itself. On the other hand, the operation button unit 40 looks as if it is fixed to the upper bulging portion 28, and the actual condition is different.

  Here, the arrangement of the operation button unit 40 and its main configuration will be supplementarily described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12, and then the attachment structure of the operation button unit 40 will be described. FIG. 11 is a front view and a perspective view showing the operation button unit 40 and a configuration accompanying it, FIG. 12A is a partial sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 10A, and FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. Note that, in FIG. 12, the illustration of the internal structure of the operation button unit 40 is partially omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, the operation button unit 40 is arranged in front of the upper plate 33, specifically, in front of the alignment passage 320. On the upper surface portion 311 of the upper bulging portion 28 (specifically, the upper bulging portion constituting body 301), an opening opened to the upper side by arranging the pair of upper bulging portion constituting bodies 301 so as to be laterally separated from each other. 316 is formed. The opening 316 straddles the upper surface portion 311, the front surface portion 313, and the rear surface portion 314 of the upper bulging portion 28, and the operation button unit 40 is arranged so as to cover the opening 316.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the operation button unit 40 includes an operation button 401 that is pressed by a player, and a holder that holds the operation button 401 in a state where displacement (elevation) of the operation button 401 based on the pressing operation is allowed. The holder 402 is integrated with the front door frame 14 by being fixed to a mounting frame 450 described later. The mounting structure of the operation button unit 40 will be described below.

  Although the operation button unit 40 shown in the present embodiment is shown as if it is fixed to the upper bulging portion 28 as described above, the fixing target is not the upper bulging portion 28 but the frame. The body is 20. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, it is fixed to the frame body 20 via a metal mounting frame 450. That is, the fixing mode with respect to the frame body 20 is in the same relationship as the upper bulging portion 28.

  The mounting frame 450 has a horizontal frame 461 that functions as a mounting base for the operation button unit 40. The horizontal frame 461 has a substantially flat plate shape, and is arranged so that one plate surface faces upward (specifically, it is arranged so as to be slightly inclined downward toward the front of the gaming machine). The operation button unit 40 is mounted on the upper surface 462 of the horizontal frame 461. Specifically, the bottom portion of the holder 402 is installed so as to contact the upper surface of the horizontal frame 461. Then, the bottom portion of the holder 402 is fixed to the horizontal frame 461 by using a fixture 491 such as a screw, so that the operation button unit 40 and the attachment frame 450 are integrated as shown in FIG.

  The horizontal frame 461 extends to the left and right, and the operation button unit 40 is arranged at an intermediate position between them. Vertical frames 471, 481 extending downward from the horizontal frame 461 are arranged on the side of the horizontal frame 461 opposite to the side on which the operation button unit 40 is arranged. These vertical frames 471, 481 are formed such that the plate surfaces thereof face left and right, and mounting portions 472, 482 for attaching to the frame body 20 are formed at the rear ends thereof. The operation button unit 40 is attached to the frame body 20 by fixing the attachment portions 472 and 482 to the frame body 20 by using a fixture 492 such as a screw.

  By forming the vertical frames 471, 481 in a plate shape and orienting the plate surfaces to the left and right, the proof area of the mounting frame 450 against pressure from above is improved and the area occupied by the mounting frame 450 in a front view of the gaming machine is expanded. It is possible to suppress.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12A, etc., in the present embodiment, the operation button unit 40 is arranged offset from the front surface of the frame body 20 in front of the front surface of the frame body 20, and the operation button unit 40 and the frame body of the attachment frame 450 are arranged. The fixed position with respect to 20 is displaced forward and backward. Here, since the horizontal frame 461 is slightly inclined to the front of the gaming machine, the stress generated when the operation button unit 40 is pressed is easily transmitted to the frame body 20 through the horizontal frame 461 → the vertical frames 471, 481. ing. This facilitates dispersion of the stress transmitted from the mounting frame 450 to the frame body 20. Since the operation surface portion 413 of the operation button unit 40 is also slightly inclined to the front of the game machine due to the above inclination, access from the front of the game machine is facilitated, and the operability of the operation button unit 40 is also improved. Has been realized.

  The vertical frames 471, 481 are provided separately from each other on the left and right to stabilize the support balance of the operation button unit 40. For convenience of description, the left vertical frame 471 is referred to as a “left vertical frame 471” and the right vertical frame 481 is referred to as a “right vertical frame 481”.

  The left vertical frame 471 is arranged immediately below the operation button unit 40. This is a device for directly transmitting the force of the operation button unit 40 to the left vertical frame 471 when the operation button unit 40 is operated, and according to the device, it is possible to preferably suppress the lateral frame 461 from being bent by a pressing operation. You can The right vertical frame 481 is arranged at the right end of the horizontal frame 461. In other words, the two vertical frames 471, 481 are located on the left and right sides of the discharge port 38 of the storage area SE.

  As the operation portion of the operation button unit 40 shown in the present embodiment, a considerably large one (something that can be operated by the entire palm) is adopted as can be seen by comparing with the game ball launching handle 45. According to such a configuration, the pressing operation can be facilitated while the pressing position by the player can be varied. In other words, even if the left vertical frame 471 is arranged directly below the operation button unit 40, it is not possible to wipe out the possibility that a portion that is displaced to the left or right with respect to the left vertical frame 471 is operated. When such an operation is performed, not only the above-described lateral frame 461 is flexed, but also the left vertical frame 471 may be laterally flexed. In this respect, since the right vertical frame 481 is also used, the right vertical frame 481 acts to suppress such deformation.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the horizontal frame 461 is provided with an extending portion 465 extending rearward at a portion opposite to the right vertical frame 481 with the left vertical frame 471 interposed therebetween. A mounting portion 466 is formed at the front end portion (rear end portion portion) of the extending portion 465, and this mounting portion 466 is also fixed to the frame body 20 by using a fixing tool 492 such as a screw. As described above, the left vertical frame 471 is used as the center, and the fixing portions are arranged on both the left and right sides of the left vertical frame 471, whereby the support balance is further strengthened.

  The vertical frames 471, 481 project downward from the upper bulging portion 28, whereas the extending portion 465 is housed in the internal space IS of the upper bulging portion 28. That is, in the region below the extending portion 465 and above the lower plate 34, the presence of the extending portion 465 prevents the region from being pressed. That is, it is possible to prevent the lower tray 34 from being difficult to access due to the above-described strengthening of the mounting strength.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the relationship between the vertical frame 481 and the cover body 21 is characteristic. The accommodating structure of the vertical frame 481 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, a woofer 46 is provided between the lower plate 34 and the game ball launching handle 45 in the lower bulging portion 29, and the cover body 21 is surrounded by the woofer 46. A housing 47 for the woofer is formed. As described above, the speaker unit 27 corresponding to the middle/high range is arranged on the upper portion of the gaming machine, which is a device for easily delivering the sound of the speaker unit 27 to the player's ears, and the woofer corresponding to the low range. The arrangement of 46 at the lower part of the gaming machine is a device for making it easy to convey the vibration to the body (trunk) of the player by outputting a deep bass at a position close to the body of the player.

  The accommodation portion 47 for the woofer is in the shape of a box opened rearward, and bulges toward the front of the gaming machine like the upper bulge portion 28. As a result, a partition wall portion 331 that surrounds the woofer 46 is formed by the frame body 20 and the cover body 21, and the partition wall portion 331 functions as an enclosure.

  The partition wall portion 331 includes a front wall portion 332 formed with slits and left and right vertical wall portions 333 and 334, and the sound amplified in the housing portion 47 is output to the front of the gaming machine through the slits. To be done. Here, the left and right vertical wall portions 333 and 334 project to the front of the partition wall portion 331 and suppress the diffusion of the output sound.

  In particular, with respect to the left vertical wall portion 333, a function as a partition portion that partitions the lower bulging portion 29 into the lower tray 34 and the storage portion 47 is provided, and the game balls accumulated in the lower tray 34 are stored in the storage portion. It is restricted to move to the 47 side. The vertical wall portions 333 and 334 straddle the upper bulging portion 28 and the lower bulging portion 29, and the lower bulging portion 29 imparts a function as a support for the upper bulging portion 28. As a result, for example, even if a player plays a game with his/her hand placed on the upper bulging portion 28, the upper bulging portion 28 is distorted due to the bending such that the rear end is the base end. It is restrained from doing.

  As shown in FIG. 12, each of the vertical wall portions 333 and 334 is hollow, and while maintaining a certain width (while ensuring the supporting strength and the function as an enclosure), the increase in weight due to it is suppressed. Has been. The internal space of the vertical wall portions 333 and 334 is connected to the internal space IS of the upper bulging portion 28 through the slit 317 formed in the upper bulging portion 28 (specifically, the lower surface portion 312). The vertical frames 471 and 481 of the mounting frame 450 enter the vertical wall portions 333 and 334 through the slits 317. That is, the internal space of the vertical wall portions 333 and 334 functions as a storage space for the vertical frames 471 and 481.

  Particularly, as for the left vertical wall portion 333, as shown in FIG. 10A, in order to divide the lower bulging portion 29 into the lower tray 34 and the accommodating portion, the central position thereof, that is, immediately below the operation button unit 40. The positional relationship and shape of the operation button unit 40, the lower plate 34, the housing portion 47 (specifically, the left vertical wall portion 333), and the mounting frame that are positioned are such that the strength, the storage function, the rendering function, and the appearance are improved. There is a technical relevance in.

  As described above in detail, the operation button unit 40 in the present embodiment is directly attached to the frame body 20 by using the attachment frame 450 without the upper bulging portion 28. As a result, the load applied to the operation button unit 40 by the pressing operation or the like can be favorably distributed to the frame body 20. One of the features of the present embodiment is that the device is further devised in order to more suitably exhibit such a function. The device will be described below with reference to FIG.

  As described with reference to FIG. 12A, the upper bulging portion 28 and the operation button unit 40 (holder 402) have a relative displacement in the same direction as the above-described pressing operation direction (movement direction of the operation button). Is allowed. For example, with respect to the opening flange forming the front surface portion of the operation button unit 40 (holder 402), even if the operation button unit 40 is displaced downward, at least the above-mentioned gap is secured, and therefore the displacement is caused by this displacement. As long as it fits within the range of the gap, it does not collide with the upper bulging portion 28.

  Regarding the horizontal frame 461 housed in the upper bulging portion 28, a predetermined gap is secured between the lower surface 463 and the lower surface portion 312 of the upper bulging portion 28, and the horizontal frame 461 is displaced downward. Is allowed. Further, since the horizontal frame 461 and the upper plate 33 are independent, when the horizontal frame 461 is displaced downward, the displacement is not hindered by the upper plate 33.

  For the above reasons, the downward displacement of the operation button unit 40 and the horizontal frame 461 is allowed within a predetermined range (within a gap or the like). The mounting frame 450 shown in the present embodiment is made of metal, and is configured so as to be deformed in the elastic region without reaching the plasticity level when displaced within the above range. In this case, if the operation button unit 40 is displaced downward, the elastic force stored in the mounting frame 450 tries to return to the original position. Here, in the present embodiment, a gap equivalent to the above-mentioned gap is secured between the upper surface portion 311 of the upper bulging portion 28 (see FIG. 10) and the upper surface 462 of the horizontal frame 461. Further, since the operation button unit 40 (for example, the opening flange) and the upper bulging portion 28 are not connected, such displacement is not hindered. In particular, the opening flange of the operation button unit 40 and the front surface portion 313 of the upper bulging portion 28 have a certain overlap margin as shown in FIG. 12A, and the internal space IS of the upper bulging portion 28 is secured. Is never exposed. Further, the left and right side portions of the opening flange and the upper surface portion 311 of the upper bulging portion 28 are laterally covered by the unevenness formed on the upper surface portion 311, and there is a margin in the amount of protrusion of the protruding portion. The gap between the opening flange and the upper surface portion 311 is not exposed.

  That is, although the operation button unit 40 appears to be attached to the upper bulging portion 28 in appearance, it is actually independent of the upper bulging portion 28. Further, the horizontal frame 461 is accommodated in the internal space IS of the upper bulging portion 28, but is in a floating state inside, so that contact with the upper bulging portion 28 and the upper plate 33 is avoided. .. With such a configuration, even if a large load is applied to the operation button unit 40, the load can be suppressed from being transmitted to the upper bulging portion 28.

  Even when the operation button unit 40 is displaced downward and returns to the original position, the operation button unit 40 and the horizontal frame 461 do not collide with the upper bulging portion 28 and the upper plate 33. As a result, the protection function can be exhibited more preferably.

  Next, the structure of the operation button unit 40 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the operation button unit 40.

  As described above, the operation button unit 40 includes the operation button 401 and the holder 402 that holds the operation button 401 so that the operation button 401 can be moved up and down. The operation button 401 is formed by combining a button member 411 that is a target of a pressing operation and a base member 415 that functions as a mounting portion for the holder 402. The button member 411 has a tubular portion 412 extending in the direction of pressing operation (up and down), and an operation surface portion 413 formed so as to close an open portion on the upper side of the tubular portion 412. A flange portion 414 is formed on the opening edge of the tubular portion 412 opposite to the side on which the operation surface portion 413 is formed so as to project in the radial direction from the opening edge. On the other hand, the base member 415 is fixed from below.

  The holder 402 includes an outer structural body 431 that constitutes a part of the outer contour of the upper bulge portion 28, and an inner structural body 432 that constitutes the bottom portion and is an object to be mounted on the mounting frame 450. The inner structural body 432 is formed with a plurality of standing portions 436 standing upright from the body portion 435 of the inner structural body 432 to the base member 415 side, and these standing portions 436 are formed on the base member 415 and inserted into the insertion portion 417. Has been done. The upright portion 436 and the insertion portion 417 define the displacement direction (the pressing operation direction or the stroke direction) of the operation button 401.

  The upright portion 426 has a cylindrical shape, and the spring member 404 is arranged in the hollow portion thereof. A part of the spring member 404 projects toward the base member 415 side and is sandwiched in a compressed state by the inner structural body 432 (main body portion 435) and the base member 415. The spring member 404 biases the operation button 401 in the direction opposite to the pressing operation direction. Here, a stopper 434 protruding toward the inner structural body 432 is formed around the opening 433 for the operation button 401 in the outer structural body 431. When the flange portion 414 of the operation button 401 (button member 411) comes into contact with the stopper 434 from the side (lower side) opposite to the pressing direction, further displacement in the protruding direction is restricted. That is, the stopper 434 defines the protrusion amount of the operation button 401, that is, the maximum protrusion position (standby position) of the operation button 401.

  When the pressing operation is performed, the operating force applied to the operating button 401 exceeds the biasing force of the spring member 404, so that the operating button 401 is displaced from the standby position to the operating position against the biasing force. Become.

(Switching operation stroke)
A block piece 407a is disposed between the bottom portion (base member 415) of the operation button 401 and the main body portion 435 of the holder 402 (inner structural body 432). The block piece 407 a is placed on the upper surface of the main body 435. When the operation button 401 descends, the lower surface of the base member 415 contacts the upper surface of the block piece 407a. As a result, the block piece 407a is sandwiched between the operation button 401 and the holder 402, and further lowering of the operation button 401, that is, displacement of the operation button 401 to the maximum pressed position is restricted. In the following description, the pushing position of the operation button 401 defined by the block piece 407a is referred to as a limited pushing position.

  In the present embodiment, a stroke switching solenoid 407 is built in as stroke switching means for switching the operation stroke of the operation button 401 according to the game situation. The stroke switching solenoid 407 is connected to the notification/production control device 142, and is configured to switch from the excited state to the non-excitation state by inputting a drive signal from the notification/production control device 142, and its output shaft. The block piece 407a is fixed to. The block piece 407a is arranged at a limit position that limits the displacement to the maximum pressing position when the stroke switching solenoid 407 is in the non-excited state (see the schematic diagram of FIG. 14A), and the stroke switching is performed. When the solenoid 407 is excited, the solenoid 407 is placed in the retracted position where the above restriction is not performed (see the schematic view of FIG. 14B).

  The operation button unit 40 is provided with an operation detection sensor 406 for the operation button 401. The operation detection sensor 406 is connected to the notification/production control device 142, and when the operation button is located between the limited pressing position and the maximum pressing position, detection information (detection signal) is output to the notification/production control device 142. To be done. That is, in the present embodiment, the limited pressing position to the maximum pressing position are set as the operation receiving range (hereinafter, simply referred to as the operating position).

  In the notification/effect control device 142, when the detection information is input from the operation detection sensor 406 during the period when the operation is valid, the notification/effect control device 142 performs a process for executing the effect based on the operation. The effect is to display an image based on the operation on the display screen 94a of the symbol display device 94 and to display an image based on the operation on the light emitting display device 405 built in the operation button unit 40. Broadly divided. The light-emitting display device 405 has a configuration in which displayed images are switched according to the position of the operation button 401 (specifically, standby position/limit pressing position/maximum pressing position). The former of the button member 411 and the base member 415 forming the operation button 401 is made of a transparent synthetic resin material and is provided with light transparency. An image displayed on the light emitting display device 405 can be visually recognized through the operation button 401 (specifically, the operation surface portion 413). Hereinafter, the light emitting display device 405 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15. FIG. 15A is a schematic view showing the mechanism of light emission, and FIG. 15B is a plan view of the light emitting display device 405.

(Light emitting display device 405)
The light emitting display device 405 includes a light guide unit 441 as a “display unit” that displays an image when light is supplied from a predetermined direction, and a light emitting unit as a “light source” that supplies light to the light guide unit 441. 421, and the displayed image is visible from the front side (obliquely above) of the operation button unit 40 through the operation surface portion 413 of the operation button 401. One of the light guide unit 441 and the light emitting unit 421 is arranged on the operation button 401, and the other is arranged on the holder 402. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the light emitting unit 421 is arranged on the operation button 401, and the light guide unit 441 is arranged on the holder 402.

  The light guide unit 441 includes a plurality of (three in the present embodiment) light guide plates 442 arranged in parallel in the pressing operation direction, and is fixed to a pedestal 438 formed in the inner structure 432. .. The pedestal 438 is erected from the main body 435 to the operation surface 413 side, and the tip portion thereof reaches the inside of the central opening 416. By mounting the light guide unit 441 on this tip portion, the light guide unit 441 is exposed to the inside of the button member 411 (cylindrical portion 412) through the central opening 416. A display surface of the light guide unit 441 faces the operation surface portion 413, and a non-arranged area such as a shield is provided between the light guide unit 441 and the operation surface portion 413. The visibility of the display of the light guide unit 441 is improved by bringing the light guide unit 441 and the operation surface portion 413 closer to each other by using the pedestal 438.

  The light guide plate 442 has a disc shape coaxial with the tubular portion 412, and is laminated via an annular spacer 443 formed along the outer peripheral edge thereof. The light guide unit 441 (the light guide plate 442 and the spacer 443) has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular portion 412, and a gap is formed between the light guide unit 441 and the tubular portion 412. The light emitting unit 421 is arranged in this gap. The light emitting unit 421 has an annular shape that is coaxial with the light guide plate 442, and it can be said that a region surrounded by the light emitting unit 421 is an arrangement region of the light guide unit 441.

  As shown in FIG. 15A, the light emitting unit 421 is arranged so as to face the light emitting substrate 423 on which the light emitting body (full color LED) 422 is mounted, and reflects the light from the light emitting body 422. It has a reflection member 424 and a frame body 425 on which the light emitting substrate 423 and the reflection member 424 are mounted. The light emitter 422 is configured such that its optical axis is parallel to the plate surface 445 of the light guide plate 442, and is arranged so as to face the end surface 446 of the light guide plate 442. The light emitted from the light-emitting body 422 is provided with directivity, and is regulated so that the spread of the light guide plate 442 in the stacking direction is smaller than the thickness of the light guide plate 442 at least in the section up to the light guide unit 441. ing. The end surfaces 446 of the light guide plates 442 are all located on a virtual plane parallel to the direction in which the light guide plates 442 are arranged (the stroke direction of the operation button 401). Therefore, when the light emitting unit 421 and the light guide unit 441 face each other, the separation distance between the light emitting unit 421 and the light supply unit in the light guide unit 441 is constant in the direction orthogonal to the juxtaposed direction. ..

  The light guide plate 442 is made of a colorless and transparent synthetic resin and has optical transparency. The light guide plate 442 has a refractive index higher than that of air. When the light from the light emitting body 422 is applied to the end surface 446 of the light guide plate 442, the light is totally reflected by the plate surfaces 445 and travels in the light guide plate 442 while being repeatedly reflected between the plate surfaces 445. Fine concavities and convexities 447 functioning as “exit” of light are formed on a part of the upper plate surface 445 facing the operation surface portion 413 side of both plate surfaces 445 of the light guide plate 442. The light reaching the unevenness 447 is refracted by the unevenness 447 and is emitted from the light guide plate 442. On the other hand, the light that has avoided the unevenness 447 flows out from the end surface 446 of the light guide plate 442, but at least a part thereof returns to the inside of the light guide plate 442 by the reflection member 424 facing the end surface 446. .. This increases the chances of reaching the unevenness 447. This is a device to mitigate the loss of light quantity. In the following description, the area where the unevenness 447 is formed on the light guide plate 442 is referred to as a light emitting area LE (light emitting area LE).

  As shown in FIG. 15B, the light guide plate 442 according to the present embodiment has a circular shape like the operation surface portion 413, and the light emitting unit 421 surrounding the light guide plate 442 has an annular shape as described above. It is shaped like an eggplant. The light-emitting body 422 is arranged so as to face the inside of the light-emitting unit 421, but is tilted so that its optical axis passes through a position deviated from the central axis of the light guide plate 442. This is a device for avoiding the concentration of light near the center of the light guide plate 442.

  Further, the light emitting bodies 422 are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the light emitting unit 421, and the reflecting member 424 is arranged between the light emitting bodies 422. More specifically, the light emitters 422 and the reflecting members 424 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. This is a device for increasing the passage area of the light from the light emitters 422, and is an advantageous configuration for suppressing the variation in the light emission level in the unevenness 447 while reducing the number of the light emitters 422. The vertical width of the reflecting member 424 is equal to or smaller than the thickness of the light guide plate 442. This is a device for suppressing the reflected light from being applied to other light guide plates 442 that are not the supply target.

  The spacer 443 is formed so as to be colored and opaque so that transmission and reflection of light are suppressed (specifically, made of a light absorbing material). This is a device for avoiding irradiation of light to the other light guide plate 442 under the condition that one light guide plate 442 is irradiated with light. When the light guide plate 442 is arranged in the light supply area DE of the light surrounded by the light emitter 422 and the reflection member 424, the light emission area LE of the light guide plate 442 arranged in the light supply area DE emits light and an image is displayed. Will be displayed.

  The frame body 425 is made of a colored and opaque synthetic resin to suppress transmission and reflection of light. The frame body 425 extends vertically with respect to the light emitting body 422 (light emitting substrate 423) and the reflecting member 424. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the light escaping from the reflecting member 424 from being reflected by the frame body 425 and being applied to another light guide plate 442 which is not a light supply target.

  Next, the relationship between the position of the operation button 401 and the image displayed on the light emitting display device 405 will be supplementarily described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. The group (1) in FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the light emitting unit 421 and the light guide unit 441, and the group (2) in FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the displayed image. In the following description, regarding the light guide plates 442 arranged in three layers, the one closest to the operation surface 413 (the one located on the front side of the light guide unit 441) is sequentially referred to as “first light guide plate 442a”. ,"Second light guide plate 442b", and "third light guide plate 442c", and configurations related thereto are also distinguished by reference numerals "a" to "c".

  When the operation button 401 is arranged at the standby position, the first light guide plate 442a is arranged side by side with the light emitting unit 421, as shown in FIG. When the light emitting unit 421 is lit while the first light guide plate 442a is located in the light supply area DE, light is supplied to the first light guide plate 442a through the end surface 446a of the first light guide plate 442a. ..

  The light that has entered the first light guide plate 442a is reflected by the plate surface 445a of the first light guide plate 442a and is emitted upward through the light emission region LEa of the first light guide plate 442a. The light emitted from the light emitting area LEa of the first light guide plate 442a goes out of the operation button unit 40 through the operation button 401 (operation surface portion 413).

  As shown in FIG. 16(a2), the light emitting area LEa in the first light guide plate 442a corresponds to a message (specifically, the characters “PUSH”) prompting the operation of the operation button unit 40. In other words, by displaying the letters "PUSH" on the light emitting display device 405 (first light guide plate 442a), it is possible to indicate to the player that the operation button unit 40 should be operated. There is. When the light emitting unit 421 is turned off, the supply of light to the first light guide plate 442a is avoided even if the first light guide plate 442a is arranged in the light supply region DE. Therefore, the above message is hidden.

  When the operation button 401 is arranged at the operation position, more specifically, when the operation button 401 is arranged at the restricted pressing position restricted by the block piece 407a, the light emitting unit 421 descends together with the operation button 401, and the second guide unit 421 descends. The light plate 442b is arranged side by side with the light emitting unit 421 (see FIG. 16B). When the light emitting unit 421 is lit while the second light guide plate 442b is located in the light supply area DE, light is supplied to the second light guide plate 442b through the end surface 446b of the second light guide plate 442b. ..

  The light incident on the second light guide plate 442b is reflected by the plate surface 445b of the second light guide plate 442b and is emitted upward through the light emission region LEb of the second light guide plate 442b. As a result, the light emitting region LEb emits light. The light emitted from the light emitting region LEb of the second light guide plate 442b goes out of the operation button unit 40 through the first light guide plate 442a and the operation button 401 (operation surface portion 413).

  As shown in FIG. 16(b2), the light emitting region LEb in the second light guide plate 442b corresponds to a message (specifically, the letters "CHANCE") indicating the degree of expectation of a jackpot result. By displaying the letters "CANCE" on the second light guide plate 442b, the player is notified of the degree of expectation of a jackpot result. When the light emitting unit 421 is turned off, the supply of light to the second light guide plate 442b is avoided even if the second light guide plate 442b is arranged in the light supply region DE. Therefore, the above message is hidden.

  When the operation button 401 is operated under the condition that the stroke switching solenoid 407 is excited and the operation stroke is enlarged (see FIG. 14B), the operation button 401 reaches the maximum pressed position. In this way, when the operation button 401 is arranged in the operation position, more specifically, in the maximum pressing position where the restriction by the block piece 407a is released, the light emitting unit 421 descends together with the operation button 401. Then, the third light guide plate 442c is arranged side by side with the light emitting unit 421 (see FIG. 16C). When the light emitting unit 421 is turned on under the condition that the third light guide plate 442c is located in the light supply region DE, the light is supplied to the third light guide plate 442c through the end surface 446c of the third light guide plate 442c. ..

  The light that has entered the third light guide plate 442c is reflected by the plate surface 445c of the third light guide plate 442c, and is emitted upward through the light emission region LEc of the third light guide plate 442c. As a result, the light emitting region LEc emits light. The light emitted from the light emitting area LEc of the third light guide plate 442c goes out of the operation button unit 40 through the second light guide plate 442b, the first light guide plate 442a, and the operation button 401 (operation surface portion 413).

  As shown in FIG. 16(c3), the light emitting region LEc in the third light guide plate 442c corresponds to a message (specifically, "intense heat") indicating the degree of expectation of a jackpot result. By displaying the word "intense heat" on the third light guide plate 442c, the player is notified of the degree of expectation of a jackpot result. In addition, when the light emitting unit 421 is turned off, even if the third light guide plate 442c is arranged in the light supply region DE, the light supply to the third light guide plate 442c is avoided. Therefore, the above message is hidden.

  In this way, the displayed image changes as the positional relationship between the light emitting unit 421 and the light guide unit 441 changes due to the pressing operation of the operation button 401. Here, the operation button 401 arranged at the operation position (the limit pressing position and the maximum pressing position) tries to return to the standby position by releasing the hand from the operation button 401. In other words, even if the user tries to confirm the image by releasing the operation button 401, the confirmation may be difficult. The operation button unit 40 according to the present embodiment is devised so that even after the hand is released from the operation button 401, switching of displayed images is avoided and the display of a predetermined image is continued. Is one of the features. The device will be described below with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 again.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the holder 402 of the operation button unit 40 is provided with a return restriction solenoid 408 as restriction means for restricting the displacement (return) of the operation button 401 from the operation position to the standby position. The return regulating solenoid 408 is connected to the notification/effect control device 142, and is configured to switch from the non-excited state to the excited state when a drive signal is input from the notification/effect control device 142.

  When the return regulating solenoid 408 is switched from the non-excited state to the excited state, the plunger protrudes and acts to push down the operation button 401 (see the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 14). The pressing force of the plunger is set to exceed the biasing force of the spring member 404. Therefore, when the return regulating solenoid 408 is in the excited state under the condition that the operation button 401 is arranged at the operation position, the operation button 401 is irrespective of whether or not the pressing operation of the operation button 401 is continued. 401 will remain in place (held). Thereby, after releasing the operation button 401, there is a grace period for confirming the image displayed based on the operation.

  When the output of the drive signal from the notification/effect control device 142 is stopped, the plunger retracts by the biasing force of the coil spring built in the return regulating solenoid 408. As a result, the displacement restriction of the operation button 401 is released and the operation button 401 returns to the standby position. The light emitting unit 421 is also turned off when the restriction by the return restriction solenoid 408 is released. As a result, it is possible to avoid switching the image from "heat" to "CHANCE" or switching from "CHANCE" to "PUSH".

(Electrical configuration)
As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, the display mode of the image on the operation button unit 40 is changed by controlling the light emission of the light emitting display device 405 built in the operation button unit 40. ing. Hereinafter, with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 17, an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment will be described, and then a configuration related to an effect corresponding to an operation of the operation button unit 40 (operation corresponding effect) will be described. To do.

  The MPU 802 is mounted on the main control board 801 provided in the main controller 162. The MPU 802 includes a ROM 803 that stores various control programs executed by the MPU 802 and fixed value data, and a memory that temporarily stores various data when executing the control programs stored in the ROM 803. A RAM 804 and various circuits such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, and a data input/output circuit are incorporated.

  The MPU 802 is provided with an input port and an output port, respectively. The input side of the MPU 802 is connected to a power failure monitoring board 805 provided in the main control device 162, a payout control device 242, and other switch groups (not shown). A power supply/launch control device 243 is connected to the power failure monitoring board 805, and power is supplied to the MPU 802 via the power failure monitoring board 805. Further, as a part of the switch group, detection sensors corresponding to various ball entry parts such as the operation openings 83a and 83b and the variable winning device 82 are connected, and the MPU 802 of the main control unit 162 enters the ball entry part. A decision is made. Further, the MPU 802 executes a jackpot occurrence lottery based on the ball entering the operation ports 83a and 83b of the ball entering portion.

  Here, an electrical configuration for performing a jackpot occurrence lottery or the like in the MPU 802 will be described.

  The MPU 802 uses various counter information at the time of a game to perform jackpot occurrence lottery, setting of the emission color of the display portion for the operation opening of the main display unit 91, setting of the symbol display of the symbol display device 94, and the like. The jackpot random number counter C1 used for the jackpot occurrence lottery, the jackpot type counter C2 used when determining the jackpot type such as the probability variation jackpot state or the regular jackpot state, and the symbol display device 94 when they fluctuate The reach random number counter C3 used for the reach lottery, the random number initial value counter CINI used for setting the initial value of the jackpot random number counter C1, and the period for switching the color displayed on the working port display section of the main display unit 91 and A variation type counter CS for determining the variation display time of the symbol in the symbol display device 94 is used.

  Of these, the counters C1 to C3, CINI, and CS are loop counters that add 1 to the previous value each time they are updated and return to 0 after reaching the maximum value. Each counter is updated at short time intervals, and the updated value is appropriately stored in the counter buffer set in a predetermined area of the RAM 804. The RAM 804 is provided with a holding ball storage buffer composed of one execution area and four holding areas (holding first to fourth areas), and in each of these areas, a game to the operating ports 83a, 83b is played. The values of the jackpot random number counter C1, the jackpot type counter C2, and the reach random number counter C3 are stored in time series in accordance with the ball entry history.

  For details of each counter, the jackpot random number counter C1 is configured to be sequentially incremented by 1 in the range of 0 to 676, for example, and after reaching the maximum value (that is, 676), returns to 0. In particular, when the jackpot random number counter C1 makes one round, the value of the random number initial value counter CINI at that time is read as the initial value of the jackpot random number counter C1. The random number initial value counter CINI is a loop counter similar to the jackpot random number counter C1 (value=0 to 676). The big hit random number counter C1 is regularly updated and is stored in the reserve ball storage buffer of the RAM 804 at the timing when the game ball enters the operation ports 83a and 83b.

  The jackpot type counter C2 is configured to be incremented by 1 in order within the range of 0 to 49, and return to 0 after reaching the maximum value (that is, 49). Then, in the present embodiment, the jackpot type counter C2 determines whether the probability variation state (high probability state) or the normal state (low probability state) is set after the jackpot state is completed. The jackpot type counter C2 is regularly updated and is stored in the reserve ball storage buffer of the RAM 804 at the timing when the game ball enters the operation ports 83a and 83b.

  Here, the probability variation state refers to a gaming state in which the probability of occurrence of the jackpot state is higher than that in the normal state until a predetermined ending condition is satisfied after the jackpot state is finished. Specifically, in the normal state, the number of random number values that causes the jackpot state is 2, and the value is “337,673”, and in the probability variation state, the jackpot state occurs. The number of random number values is 10, and the value is “67, 131, 199, 269, 337, 401, 463, 523, 601, 661”.

  In the pachinko machine 10, a normal jackpot state (first special gaming state) that becomes a normal state after the jackpot state ends, and a probability variation jackpot state (a second special gaming state) that becomes a probability variation state after the jackpot state ends. In the display screen 94a of the symbol display device 94, the mode of symbols stopped and displayed after the variable display is different. Specifically, when the normal jackpot state occurs, a combination of normal jackpot symbols as the first special display result (more specifically, a combination of symbols with the same even number) is stopped and displayed, and the probability changes. When a big hit state occurs, a combination of probability-varied big hit symbols as the second special display result (more specifically, a combination of symbols with the same odd number) is stopped and displayed.

  The reach random number counter C3 is configured to be sequentially incremented by 1 within a range of 0 to 238, for example, and after reaching the maximum value (that is, 238), returns to 0. The reach random number counter C3 is regularly updated and is stored in the reserve ball storage buffer of the RAM 804 at the timing when the game ball enters the operation ports 83a and 83b.

  The variation type counter CS is configured to be incremented by 1 in order within the range of 0 to 198, for example, and after reaching the maximum value (that is, 198), returns to 0.

  The variation type counter CS determines the display mode of the symbol display device 94, such as the type of reach effect that occurs at the time of reach display and other rough pattern variation modes. That is, the pachinko machine 10 (specifically, the MPU 802) is provided with an effect type lottery means for randomly selecting the type of reach effect.

  Here, the reach display (reach state) is provided with a symbol display device 94 capable of performing variable display (or variable display) of symbols (patterns), and the stop display result after the variable display is the special display result. In this case, in the gaming machine in which the gaming state is a special gaming state that is advantageous to the player, the variable display (or variable display) of the symbol (symbol) on the symbol display device 94 is started and then the stop display result is derived and displayed. In the previous stage, it means a display state for making the player think that it is a variable display state in which the special display result is likely to occur.

  In other words, by stopping and displaying symbols for some of the symbol columns displayed on the display screen 94a of the symbol display device 94, a combination of jackpot symbols corresponding to the occurrence of the jackpot state is established. It is a display state in which a possible combination of reach symbols is displayed, and variable display of symbols is displayed in the remaining symbol columns in that state.

  More specifically, as a pre-stage for ending the variable display of the symbols, a combination of the jackpot symbols corresponding to the occurrence of the jackpot state is established on the preset effective line in the display screen 94a of the symbol display device 94. A reach line is formed by stopping and displaying a combination of possible reach symbols, and variable display of the symbols is performed by the final stop symbol row under the situation where the reach line is formed.

  Also, in the reach display, while the combination of reach symbols is displayed as described above, the variable display of the symbols is displayed in the remaining symbol columns, and the reach is displayed by displaying a predetermined character etc. as a moving image on the background screen. Examples include those that perform an effect and those that perform a reach effect by displaying a predetermined character or the like as a moving image on substantially the entire display screen 94a after reducing or displaying a combination of reach symbols. Incidentally, in this pachinko machine 10, as a part of various reach effects or reach announcement effects, operation-related effects that perform different operation-related effect displays depending on the operation of the operation button unit 40 (operation button 401) are set.

  Returning to the explanation of FIG. 17, the power outage monitoring board 805, the payout control device 242, and the notification/production control device 142 are connected to the output side of the MPU 802 in the main control device 162. To the payout control device 242, for example, a prize ball command is output based on the result of the determination of entering a ball into the ball entering portion.

  Various commands such as a fluctuation start command, a type command, a stop display command, a jackpot start command, and a jackpot end command are output to the notification/effect control device 142. Here, the variation start command and the type command are sent to the notification/effect control device 142 when the switching display on the working port display section of the main display section D is started based on the information stored in the holding ball storage buffer. Is output. In this case, the variation start command includes the variation display time of the symbol, information on whether or not a big hit has occurred, information on whether or not reach display, information on the reach type, etc., and the type command indicates the symbol to be stopped and displayed. Contains type information. In addition, the stop display command is output to the notification/effect control device 142 when the switching display on the operation port display unit of the main display unit D is terminated. In addition, the jackpot start command is output to the notification/effect control device 142 when the jackpot state is entered, and the jackpot end command is output to the notification/effect control device 142 when the jackpot state is ended.

  Further, the output side of the MPU 802 is connected to a drive unit or the like provided in the variable winning device 82, and in the jackpot state, drive control of the drive unit is executed and the variable winning device 82 is opened and closed. .. In this way, by opening and closing the variable winning device 82 in the jackpot state, a large number of game balls are paid out to the player. That is, the jackpot state as the special game state can be made more advantageous to the player than the normal game state.

  The power failure monitoring board 805 relays the main control board 801 and the power supply/launch control device 243, and also monitors the voltage of DC stable 24V which is the maximum voltage output from the power supply/launch control device 243.

  The payout control device 242 is for performing payout control of prize balls and loan balls by the payout device 224. When the prize ball command is input, the number of game balls corresponding to the prize ball command is paid out. The payout device 224 is driven and controlled. In other words, the payout control device 242 pays out the number of game balls corresponding to the prize ball command by executing the payout control process and drivingly controlling the payout device 224 when the prize ball command is input. .. That is, the pachinko machine 10 has a payout function for paying out game balls based on the game result.

  The power supply/launch control device 243 is connected to, for example, a commercial power supply (external power supply) in a game arcade or the like. Then, based on the external power supplied from the commercial power source, the operating power necessary for each of the main control board 801, the payout control device 242 and the like is generated, and the generated operating power is indicated by a double-line arrow. Supply through the route. Further, the power supply/launch control device 243 is responsible for the launch control of the game ball launch mechanism 110, and the game ball launch mechanism 110 is driven when a predetermined launch condition is satisfied.

  The notification/production control device 142 is provided with a notification/production control board 811 on which the speaker unit 27, the light emitting units 24 to 26, the operation button unit 40, and the MPU 812 that controls the display control device 143 are mounted. The MPU 812 includes a ROM 813 that stores various control programs executed by the MPU 812 and fixed value data, and a memory for temporarily storing various data when executing the control program stored in the ROM 813. A RAM 814 and various circuits such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, and a data input/output circuit are built in.

  The MPU 812 is provided with an input port and an output port, respectively. An operation detection sensor 406 provided in the main controller 162 and the operation button unit 40 is connected to the input side of the MPU 812. When the operation button unit 40 is pressed, information (signal) indicating that is input from the operation detection sensor 406 to the MPU 812 of the notification/effect control device 142.

  On the output side of the MPU 812, a display control device 143 for controlling the symbol display device 94, a light emitting display device 405 (light emitting unit 421) provided in the operation button unit 40, a stroke switching solenoid 407, and a return regulating solenoid 408 are connected. Has been done. Based on a signal from the MPU 812, light emission control for turning on/off the light emitting unit 421 and excitation/non-excitation drive control for the stroke switching solenoid 407 and the return regulation solenoid 408 are performed. That is, the MPU 812 of the notification/effect control device 142 functions as a light emission control unit that controls the light emission of the light emission unit 421 and a drive control unit that controls the drive of the solenoids 407 and 408.

  When the MPU 812 receives the production command (variation start command, type command, stop display command, jackpot start command, jackpot end command, etc.) output from the main controller 162, the command is analyzed or converted into the same command. Based on this, a predetermined calculation process is performed to determine the effect mode, and display control is executed so that the display effect is performed in that effect mode.

  As various areas provided in the ROM 813, for example, various table storage areas 815 are set. Various table storage areas 815 are operated in a table for determining the outline of variable display when starting variable display of symbols based on the variation start command input from the main controller 162, and in the variable display times (game times). A table for specifying details of the effect contents when performing the corresponding effect is stored. In the present embodiment, first-type operation corresponding effects to fifth-type operation corresponding effects are provided as the operation-related effects. The display modes of the light emitting display device 405 and the operation strokes of the operation buttons 401 are different for these various operation corresponding effects. Here, with reference to FIG. 18, the type of operation corresponding effect will be described. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the operation corresponding effect and the expected winning degree which is a jackpot result.

(Direction for operation)
In the first type operation corresponding effect, the light-emitting body (LED) 422 lights in red with the start of the first type operation corresponding effect, and this lighting state is continued until the end of the first type operation corresponding effect. If the operation button 401 is arranged at the standby position at the time when the first type operation corresponding effect is started, the letters “PUSH” indicating the operation are displayed in red on the light emitting display device 405. In the first-type operation-related effect, a branch is provided between a case where the operation stroke of the operation button 401 remains unchanged and a case where the operation stroke is expanded.

  When the operation stroke is maintained as it is, when the operation button 401 reaches the limited pressing position, further pressing cannot be performed. By reaching the limited pressing position, the second light guide plate 442b is arranged in the light supply region DE, and the letters "CHANCE" are displayed in red on the light emitting display device 405. When the operation stroke is expanded, the operation button 401 reaches the maximum pressed position. By reaching the maximum pressing position, the third light guide plate 442c is arranged in the light supply region DE, and the character "intense heat" is displayed in red on the light emitting display device 405.

  There are cases where the character "PUSH" is displayed as a trigger when the first type operation corresponding effect is performed, and cases where the character "PUSH" is displayed as part of a simple operation suggestion. For this reason, when the word "PUSH" is displayed, the expectation of winning, which is a jackpot result, is about 10%, and after that, the word "CHANCE" is displayed, and the expectation of winning is increased to 40%. By displaying the word "intense heat," the expectation for winning will increase to 80%.

  In the second type operation corresponding effect, the light-emitting body (LED) 422 lights up in blue with the start of the second type operation corresponding effect, and this lighting state is continued until the end of the second type operation corresponding effect. If the operation button 401 is arranged at the standby position at the time when the second-type operation corresponding effect is started, the letters “PUSH” indicating the operation are displayed in blue on the light emitting display device 405. In the second-type operation corresponding effect, a branch is provided when the operation stroke of the operation button 401 remains unchanged or when it is extended.

  When the operation stroke is maintained as it is, when the operation button 401 reaches the limited pressing position, further pressing cannot be performed. By reaching the limited pressing position, the second light guide plate 442b is arranged in the light supply region DE, and the letters "CHANCE" are displayed in blue on the light emitting display device 405. When the operation stroke is expanded, the operation button 401 reaches the maximum pressed position. By reaching the maximum pressing position, the third light guide plate 442c is arranged in the light supply region DE, and the character "intense heat" is displayed in blue on the light emitting display device 405.

  The character "PUSH" may be displayed as a trigger when the second type operation corresponding effect is performed, or the character "PUSH" may be displayed as part of a simple operation suggestion. For this reason, when the word "PUSH" is displayed in blue, the expected winning rate, which is a jackpot result, is about 5%, and after that, the word "CHANCE" is displayed and the expected winning rate is increased to 20%. However, the display of the word "Intense heat" raises the expectation of winning to 60%.

  In the third kind operation corresponding effect, the same as the first kind operation corresponding effect and the second kind operation corresponding effect in that a message indicating the degree of expectation as a winning result is displayed when the operation button 401 is arranged at the operation position. However, the process leading to that is different from the first-type operation corresponding effect and the second-type operation corresponding effect. Specifically, in the third type operation corresponding effect, the light emitting body (LED) 422 is not turned on with the start of the third type operation corresponding effect, but the operation button 401 is arranged at the operation position. Lights up. It should be noted that, when the third type operation corresponding effect is started, an icon simulating the operation button 401 is displayed on the display screen 94a of the symbol display device 94, similarly to the first type operation corresponding effect and the second type operation corresponding effect. By doing so, the operation is suggested.

  In the third-type operation corresponding effect, a branch is provided between the case where the operation stroke of the operation button 401 remains unchanged and the case where the operation stroke is expanded.

  When the operation stroke is maintained as it is, when the operation button 401 reaches the limited pressing position, further pressing cannot be performed. By reaching the limit pressing position, the second light guide plate 442b is arranged in the light supply region DE, and the light emitting body (LED) 422 is switched from off to on. As a result, the letters "CHANCE" are displayed in red on the light emitting display device 405. When the operation stroke is expanded, the operation button 401 reaches the maximum pressed position. Also in this case, the limit pressing position is passed before reaching the maximum pressing position, and at that time, the light emitting body (LED) 422 is switched from OFF to ON. When the operation button 401 reaches the maximum pressed position and the third light guide plate 442c is arranged in the light supply area DE, the characters “intense heat” are displayed in red on the light emitting display device 405.

  When the third-class operation-compatible effect is performed, the expectation of winning is 50% by displaying the character "CANCE", and the expectation of winning is 90% by displaying the character "Intense heat". Becomes

  In the fourth type operation corresponding effect, although the basic flow of the effect is similar to the third type operation corresponding effect, the emission color is different from the third type operation corresponding effect. Specifically, in the fourth-type operation corresponding effect, the light emitting body (LED) 422 is turned on based on the operation of the operation button 401. Also in the fourth-class operation corresponding effect, a branch is provided between the case where the operation stroke of the operation button 401 remains unchanged and the case where the operation stroke is expanded.

  When the operation stroke is maintained as it is, when the operation button 401 reaches the limited pressing position, further pressing cannot be performed. By reaching the limited pressing position, the second light guide plate 442b is arranged in the light supply region DE, and the light emitting body 422 is switched from off to on. As a result, the letters "CANCE" are displayed in blue on the light emitting display device 405. When the operation stroke is expanded, the operation button 401 reaches the maximum pressed position. Also in this case, the limit pressing position is passed before reaching the maximum pressing position, and the light emitting body 422 is switched from off to lighting at that time. When the operation button 401 reaches the maximum pressed position and the third light guide plate 442c is arranged in the light supply area DE, the characters “intense heat” are displayed in blue on the light emitting display device 405.

  When the 4th type operation-oriented production is performed, the expectation of winning is 30% by displaying the character "CANCE", and the probability of winning is 70% by displaying the character "Intense heat". Becomes

  In the fifth-type operation corresponding effect, the light-emitting body (LED) 422 remains off all the time, and the display effect using the light-emitting display device 405 is avoided. However, long and short branches are provided for the operation stroke. In the case where the type 5 operation-based production is performed, the expected winning degree is 5% when the operation stroke is normal, but the expected winning degree is up to 30% when the operation stroke is extended. Will rise.

  When the operation corresponding effect is executed in the game time corresponding to the deviation result, the third type operation corresponding effect <the first type operation corresponding effect <the fourth type operation corresponding effect <the second type operation corresponding effect <the fifth type It is easy to select in the order of production corresponding to seed operation. On the other hand, when the operation corresponding effect is executed in the game time corresponding to the jackpot result, the fifth kind operation corresponding effect <the second kind operation corresponding effect <the fourth kind operation corresponding effect <the first kind operation It is easy to select corresponding effects <third type operation corresponding effects. As a result, when the operation-responsive effect is generated, the expectation that is a jackpot result is the fifth-type operation-compatible effect <the second-type operation-specific effect <the fourth-type operation-specific effect <the first-type operation-specific effect <the third-class. It is differentiated so that it becomes higher in the order of operation-responsive performance.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 17 again, various flag storage areas 816 and counter areas 817 are set as various areas provided in the RAM 814. The various flag storage area 816 is an area for storing information for specifying the effect pattern in the variable display time when the variable display of the symbol is started based on the variable start command, for example. The counter area 817 is provided with a timing counter and the like for specifying the start timing, end timing, etc. of various effects.

  In the display control device 143, based on the variation start command input from the notification/production control device 142, the variation display of the symbol on the symbol display device 94 is started, and the symbol is in a mode corresponding to the information included in the variation start command. After performing the variable display of No., the variable display of the symbol is ended in a state where the stop result corresponding to the type command is displayed. As the variable display of the symbols in a mode corresponding to the information included in the variation start command, for example, the reach display or the reach effect described above is displayed on the symbol display device 94. Also, when displaying the stop result, the combination of normal jackpot symbols is displayed in the variable display times in which the normal jackpot state is generated, and in the variable display times in which the probability variation jackpot state is generated, Probably change the combination of jackpot designs.

  In the MPU 812 of the notification/effect control device 142, various processes for operation corresponding effects are executed as part of the regular process. The process for the operation corresponding effect is roughly classified into an operation corresponding effect setting process for determining which operation corresponding effect is to be executed and an operation corresponding effect execution process executed to advance the operation corresponding effect. The operation corresponding performance execution processing will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(Operation corresponding production execution process)
In the operation corresponding effect execution processing, first, in step S101, it is determined whether or not the game corresponding to the operation corresponding effect can be executed. When a negative determination is made in step S101, this operation-corresponding effect execution process is ended as it is. If an affirmative decision is made in step S101, the operation proceeds to step S102. In step S102, it is determined whether or not the operation of the operation button unit 40 is being accepted or the operation corresponding effect is in progress. If a negative decision is made in step S102, the operation proceeds to step S103.

  In step S103, it is determined whether or not it is the timing to start the operation corresponding effect. When a negative determination is made in step S103, this operation-corresponding effect execution process is ended as it is. If an affirmative decision is made in step S103, the operation proceeds to step S104. In step S104, it is determined whether or not the current operation corresponding effect corresponds to the expansion of the operation stroke. When a positive determination is made in step S104, the process proceeds to step S105, and a drive signal is output to the stroke switching solenoid 407. As a result, the stroke switching solenoid 407 switches from the non-excited state to the excited state, and the operation stroke of the operation button 401 is temporarily extended.

  After executing the process of step S105, or when a negative determination is made in step S104, the process proceeds to step S106. In step S106, an operation suggestion start command is output to the display control device 143. The display control device 143 displays an image (button icon) imitating the operation button unit 40 as an image for prompting the operation of the operation button unit 40 on the display screen 94a of the symbol display device 94 based on the reception of the operation suggestion start command. To do. At this time, a time gauge indicating the operation acceptance period (remaining time) is also displayed, so that the player can clearly see how much time is left.

  After performing the process of step S106, the process proceeds to step S107. In step S107, it is determined whether the current operation corresponding effect is the first type operation corresponding effect or the second type operation corresponding effect. If an affirmative decision is made in step S107, the operation proceeds to step S108. In step S108, lighting start processing of the light emitter 422 is performed. Specifically, when the current operation-based effect is the first-type operation-based effect, the light-emitting body 422 is turned on in red, and when the current operation-based effect is the second-type operation-based effect. Lights the light-emitting body 422 so that it becomes blue.

  After executing the process of step S108 or when a negative determination is made in step S107, the process proceeds to step S109. In step S109, the operation acceptance validation flag is set in the various flag storage area 816 of the RAM 814. As a result, thereafter, the operation of the operation button unit 40 is effectively accepted for a certain period.

  In the structure shown in this embodiment, the display mode changes depending on the position of the operation button 401. In such a configuration, it is undeniable that a display different from the original display may be displayed if the operation button 401 has already been arranged at the operation position when the operation corresponding effect is started. In view of such circumstances, at the start of the operation corresponding effect, it is confirmed whether the operation button 401 is arranged in the operation position, and if it is arranged in the operation position, the operation corresponding effect is not performed. It is also possible to replace it with another effect using the or symbol display device 94.

  Returning to the description of step S102, if an affirmative determination is made in step S102, that is, if the operation is being accepted or the operation-responsive effect is being performed, the operation-responsive process is executed in step S110, and then the operation-responsive effect is executed. The process ends. Here, the operation handling process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(Operation support process)
In the operation handling process, first, in step S201, it is determined whether or not the return of the operation button 401 to the standby position is being regulated. If a negative decision is made in step S201, the operation proceeds to step S202. In step S202, it is determined whether the operation acceptance period has elapsed. If it is determined that the operation acceptance period has not ended, the process proceeds to step S203. In step S203, it is determined based on the detection information (detection signal) from the operation detection sensor 406 whether the operation button unit 40 has been pressed. When a negative determination is made in step S203, this operation support process is ended as it is. If an affirmative decision is made in step S203, the operation proceeds to step S204.

  In step S204, the operation acceptance command is output to the display control device 143. The display control device 143 displays an image (for example, a cut-in image) corresponding to the operation on the display screen 94a of the symbol display device 94 based on the reception of this operation acceptance command. Along with this, the button icon for suggesting the operation and the time gauge for suggesting the remaining time that have been displayed until then are hidden. Incidentally, the speaker 27 also outputs a sound effect indicating that the operation has been accepted.

  After performing the process of step S204, the process proceeds to step S205. In step S205, whether or not the current operation corresponding effect is the third type operation corresponding effect or the fourth type operation corresponding effect, that is, the operation corresponding effect executed when the lighting of the light emitting body (LED) 422 is triggered by the operation reception. Is determined. If an affirmative decision is made in step S205, the operation proceeds to step S206. In step S206, lighting start processing of the light emitter 422 is executed. Specifically, when the current operation-based effect is the third-type operation-based effect, the light-emitting body 422 is turned on in red, and when the current operation-based effect is the fourth-type operation-based effect. Lights the light-emitting body 422 so that it becomes blue.

  After performing the process of step S206, the process proceeds to step S207. In step S207, a drive signal is output to the return regulating solenoid 408 to switch the return regulating solenoid 408 from the non-excited state to the excited state. As a result, the amount of protrusion of the plunger of the return regulating solenoid 408 increases, and the movement of the operation button 401 from the operating position is impeded. That is, the return of the operation button 401 to the standby position is hindered. After executing the processing of step S207, various flag storage areas 816 return regulation flags of the RAM 814 are set in step S208. After that, the return regulating solenoid 408 is kept in the excited state until the return regulating flag is erased.

  After executing the process of step S208, or if a negative determination is made in step S205, the process proceeds to step S209. In step S209, the operation acceptance validation flag stored in the various flag storage area 816 of the RAM 814 is erased, and then this operation support processing is ended.

  Returning to the explanation of step S202, if a positive determination is made in step S202, that is, if it is determined that the operation acceptance period has elapsed without operating the operation button unit 40, the process proceeds to step S210. In step S210, a reception period end command indicating that the reception period has ended is output to the display control device 143. In the display control device 143, the button icon and the time gauge that have been displayed on the display screen 94a of the symbol display device 94 until then are hidden based on the reception of the acceptance period end command. This suggests to the player that the operation acceptance period has ended.

  After executing the command output process of step S210, the process proceeds to step S211. In step S211, the operation acceptance validation flag stored in the various flag storage area 816 of the RAM 814 is erased. As a result, the effect based on the operation of the operation button unit 40 ends. After executing the process of step S211, the process proceeds to step S212. In step S212, the stroke switching solenoid is deenergized. That is, when the drive signal is output to the stroke switching solenoid, the output of this drive signal is stopped, and when the drive signal is not output, it is maintained.

  After performing the process of step S212, the process of extinguishing the light-emitting body (LED) 422 is performed in step S213, and the process corresponding to this operation ends. As a result, when the operation suggestion by the light emitting display device 405 has been made, the operation suggestion ends.

  Returning to the description of step S201, if a positive determination is made in step S201, that is, if it is determined that the return of the operation button 401 to the standby position is being restricted, the process proceeds to step S214. In step S214, it is determined whether it is the timing to cancel the switching of the operation stroke. If an affirmative decision is made in step S214, the operation proceeds to step S215. In step S215, processing for returning the stroke switching solenoid 407 to the non-excited state is executed. Specifically, when the stroke switching solenoid 407 is in the excited state, the output processing of the drive signal to the stroke switching solenoid 407 is ended, and the drive signal is not output to the stroke switching solenoid 407. In case, keep it. When the stroke switching solenoid 407 is in the non-excited state, the block piece 407a is returned from the retracted position to the restricted position by the biasing force of the coil spring built in the stroke switching solenoid 407. If the operation button 401 is located at the maximum pressing position at this point, the operation button 401 prevents the block piece 407a from being displaced. Therefore, the return to the limit position is delayed until the operation button 401 returns to the standby position.

  After executing the process of step S215, or when making a negative determination in step S214, the process proceeds to step S216. In step S216, it is determined whether it is time to release the return restriction of the operation button 401 to the standby position. Specifically, the regulation period (hold period) is set when the return regulation is performed in step S208. In step S216, it is determined whether or not it is the timing when this regulation period has elapsed. Here, in the present embodiment, the restriction period is set to match the remaining period when the pressing operation is performed during the operation reception period. For example, if the pressing operation is performed at the timing when the operation acceptance period is 5 seconds and 3 seconds have elapsed from the start of the operation acceptance, 2 seconds is set as the above-mentioned restriction period, and the depression is performed at the timing when 4 seconds have elapsed from the start of the operation acceptance. When the operation is performed, 1 sec is set as the above-mentioned regulation period.

  When the return of the operation button 401 is restricted, the operation button 401 does not move even if the operation button 401 is released. Therefore, the positional relationship between the light emitting unit 421 and the light guide unit 441 is maintained. As a result, the display on the light emitting display device 405 is continued. In order to confirm the displayed contents, it is advantageous to promptly press the operation button 401. Therefore, attention can be paid to the occurrence of the operation suggestion. Further, the configuration in which the length of the display continuation period changes depending on the timing of the pressing operation is also advantageous in suppressing the monotonous flow of the operation corresponding effect.

  It is sufficient if the operation button 401 can be held at the operated position, and how to set the regulation period is arbitrary. For example, the regulation period may be uniquely defined regardless of the operation timing, or the regulation period may be defined as a minimum fixed period and a variable period whose length changes based on the timing of the operation. The configuration may be determined by the sum of.

  When a negative determination is made in step S216, the operation handling process ends as it is. When an affirmative determination is made in step S216, the return regulation flag stored in the various flag storage area 816 of the RAM 814 is erased in step S217. In the subsequent step S218, the output of the drive signal to the return regulating solenoid is stopped to switch the return regulating solenoid 408 from the excited state to the non-excited state. As a result, the plunger of the return regulating solenoid 408 retracts to the retracted position by the biasing force of the coil spring built in the return regulating solenoid 408. At the same time, the operation button 401 is returned from the operation position to the standby position by the biasing force stored in the spring member 404. After performing the process of step S218, the process of extinguishing the light-emitting body (LED) 422 is performed in step S213, and the process corresponding to this operation ends.

  Here, the flow of the game when the operation-based effect is executed will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, in FIG. 21, the case where the first-type operation corresponding effect is executed is illustrated.

(Flow of operation-based production)
At the timing of ta1, the variable display of the symbols on the display screen 94a of the symbol display device 94 is started, so that the game times related to the operation corresponding effect (first type operation corresponding effect) are started. The reach display is started at a timing ta2 when a predetermined period has elapsed since the start of the variable display. When the operation-corresponding effect starts at the timing of ta3 during the reach display, a button icon and a time gauge are displayed on the display screen 94a of the symbol display device 94 to suggest the pressing operation of the operation button 401. Since the operation corresponding effect illustrated in FIG. 21 is the type 1 operation corresponding effect, the light emitting unit 421 of the operation button unit 40 is turned on in accordance with the display of the suggestion image on the symbol display device 94. As a result, the character “PUSH” indicating the operation is displayed on the light emitting display device 405 of the operation button 401, and the character is visible through the operation surface portion 413.

  Further, at the timing of ta3, the stroke switching solenoid 407 switches from the non-excited state to the excited state. As a result, the operation stroke is expanded, and the operation button 401 can be lowered to the maximum pressed position. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the operation stroke is changed (extended) at the start of the operation suggestion, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the operation stroke may be changed prior to the operation suggestion.

  When the operation button 401 is pressed at the timing of ta4 after the operation suggestion is started, the button icon and the time gauge displayed on the display screen 94a are hidden, and the operation is performed instead of these images. An image to be displayed is displayed (a cut-in display occurs in the present embodiment). When the operation button 401 is pushed to the maximum pressed position, the light emitting unit 421 also descends following the operation button 401. As a result, the third light guide plate 442c is located in the light supply area DE of the light emitting unit 421. Since the light emitting unit 421 is still lit at this point, the light supply target is moved from the first light guide plate 442a to the third light guide plate 442c, and the displayed characters are changed from “PUSH” to “intense heat”. To be done. However, at this point, the player's hand is on the operation surface 413. Therefore, visual confirmation of the changed character and its process is hindered by the player's own hand.

  At the timing ta4 when the pressing operation is performed, a drive signal is output to the return regulating solenoid 408, and the return regulating solenoid 408 switches from the non-excited state to the excited state. As a result, the return control solenoid 408 pushes the operation button 401 to the maximum pressing position. Even if the return regulating solenoid 408 is excited, the operation button 401 is not pushed beyond the maximum pressing position. In the present embodiment, even if the characters "PUSH" are displayed on the light emitting display device 405, the display does not necessarily switch to "intense heat" or "CHANCE". If it is exposed in advance whether or not such a display for indicating the degree of expectation is displayed, the enjoyment of confirming the presence or absence of the display is reduced. In this respect, if the return regulating solenoid 408 is operated on the condition that the operation button 401 has reached the operation position, it is difficult to identify the presence or absence of the operation, and the occurrence of the inconvenience can be suppressed appropriately.

  Even if the pressing operation of the operation button 401 is finished at the timing of ta5 and the player's hand is separated from the operation button 401, the operation button 401 will remain at the maximum pressing position by the return regulating solenoid 408. As a result, the supply of light to the third light guide plate 442c is maintained, and the characters "intense heat" are continuously displayed.

  The output of the drive signal to the stroke switching solenoid 407 is stopped at timing ta6 immediately after the pressing operation is performed (specifically, immediately after the return regulating solenoid 408 is excited). As a result, the stroke switching solenoid 407 switches from the excited state to the non-excited state. However, at this timing, since the operation button 401 is still in the maximum pressed position, the operation button 401 prevents the block piece 407a from being displaced to the restricted position. The stroke direction of the operation button 401 and the sliding direction of the block piece 407a are orthogonal to each other, and even if the operation button 401 is pressed by the block piece 407a, the position of the operation button 401 in the stroke direction changes accordingly. There is no such thing.

  The light emitting unit 421 is turned off at the timing of ta7 when the above-described restriction period has elapsed since the pressing operation was performed. As a result, the characters “intense heat” displayed by the light emitting display device 405 are hidden. Further, at the timing of ta7, the output of the drive signal to the return regulating solenoid 408 is stopped. As a result, the return regulating solenoid 408 switches from the excited state to the non-excited state. When the restriction by the return restriction solenoid 408 is released, the operation button 401 returns from the operation position (maximum pressing position) to the standby position by the biasing force stored in the spring member 404. The operation stroke is shortened by moving the block piece 407a to the restricted position in the returning process.

  After that, at the timing of ta8, the symbol combination corresponding to the result of this game time is stopped and displayed on the display screen 94a. The above-mentioned operation corresponding effect is configured to be completed during the corresponding game time, and interruption to the next game time is avoided. The start timing of the operation corresponding effect is not unique and is configured to occur before the transition to the reach display or immediately before the end of the reach display. By setting the regulation period as the remaining period of the operation reception period, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the degree of freedom of the start timing.

  According to the first embodiment detailed above, the following excellent effects are achieved.

  When the player presses the operation button 401, the operation button 401 is displaced to the operation position (the limit pressing position or the maximum pressing position), so that the positional relationship between the light emitting unit 421 and the light guide unit 441 is changed. Then, the light guide plate 442 located in the light supply area DE by the light emitting unit 421 is replaced with a predetermined light guide plate 442 (second light guide plate 442b or third light guide plate 442c). As a result, a predetermined message is displayed on the light emitting display device 405 located at the back of the operation button 401 (operation surface portion 413). When the operation button 401 reaches the operation position and the above message is displayed, the return restriction solenoid 408 restricts the return of the operation button 401 to the standby position, and the operation button 401 remains at the operation position. Become. As a result, the display of the predetermined message can be continued, and an opportunity to visually confirm the display can be suitably secured.

  Specifically, since the operation surface portion 413 of the operation button 401 is an object to be pressed by the player's hand, when the operation button 401 is placed in the operation position, it is hidden by the player's hand and the display content is confirmed. Becomes difficult. In this regard, as described above, the configuration is such that the display is continued even when the hand is released from the operation button 401, so that the player's attention is directed to confirming the display content by releasing the hand. Can be urged.

  Here, when the hand is released from the operation button 401, the return restriction of the operation button 401 is not necessarily restricted. When the above-mentioned message is displayed as the operation corresponding effect, the return regulation is performed, whereas the return regulation is avoided for the love that does not display the message. When the operation button 401 stays in place or returns to the original position when the hand is released, attention can be paid to the behavior of the operation button 401. By devising the effect related to the operation in this way, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the inconvenience that the operation button 401 is mechanically operated halfway and the function of improving the attention degree to the game by the operation button 401 is not exerted well. ..

  The movement of the operation button 401 (displacement start timing and displacement speed) depends on the operation of the player. Therefore, for example, if the return regulation is started when the maximum pressing position is reached, the return regulation may not be in time. Specifically, if it is attempted to start the return regulation at the timing when the maximum pressed position is reached, it is undeniable that the operation button 401 may be pushed back from the maximum pressed position to the limited pressed position due to the delay in the return regulation. In this respect, in the present embodiment, by starting the return regulation before the maximum pressing position is reached, it is possible to suitably suppress the occurrence of the above-mentioned inconvenience due to variations in operation.

  The operation position detected by the operation detection sensor 406 is set so as to include the limited operation position and the position immediately before it (the position immediately before contact with the stroke switching solenoid 407). This is a device for avoiding a delay when the above-mentioned return regulation is performed based on the detection information from the operation detection sensor 406, and a message that should be originally displayed, such as being late for the return from the restricted operation position. Is prevented from being displayed poorly.

  In the configuration in which the return control solenoid 408 pushes the operation button 401 in the pressing operation direction, if the operation button 401 is displaced in the pressing operation direction due to the pressing force, the subsequent displacement restriction may occur. It is exposed before you let go of 401. In this case, there is a concern that the impact of the above-mentioned presentation will be reduced. On the other hand, if the pressing force is to be generated after the operation button 401 reaches the maximum pressing position, the regulation may not be in time. In this respect, as shown in the present embodiment, the control is started when the operation button 401 reaches an intermediate position between the standby position and the maximum pressing position/the limit pressing position, so that the above various types can be achieved. It is possible to preferably suppress the occurrence of inconvenience.

  The operation button unit 40 built in the operation button unit 40 includes a light emitting unit 421 mounted on the operation button 401 and a light guide unit 441 mounted on the holder 402. When the positional relationship between the operation button 401 and the holder 402 changes as the operation button 401 is pressed, the positional relationship between the light emitting unit 421 and the light guide unit 441 also changes accordingly. The light guide unit 441 has a plurality of light guide plates 442 stacked in the stroke direction of the operation button 401, and the display mode (image) can be switched by switching the supply target of light from the light emitting unit 421. This realizes diversification of display modes.

  The operation stroke of the operation button 401 is defined by the stroke switching solenoid 407. That is, the stroke switching solenoid 407 prevents the display (erroneous display) different from the display that should be originally performed. Here, when the change in the operation stroke is known before the operation, it is possible to identify what kind of display is performed, and the impact of the display effect is reduced. In this respect, in the present embodiment, the standby position (initial position) of the operation button 401 is left unchanged, and the operation position is switched to the restricted pressing position/maximum pressing position. Therefore, it is difficult to identify from the appearance of the operation button 401 which position of the limit pressing position and the maximum pressing position can be reached, and it is difficult to detect the change in the operation stroke until at least the actual operation is performed. Is becoming

  In addition, when the light guide plate 442 is switched to which the light is to be supplied, if the stroke changes significantly, it is easy to detect before visually confirming what kind of display mode the display mode will be. Become. With this, it is feared that the impact will be reduced even if the display mode is diversified. In this respect, as shown in the present embodiment, by making the thickness of the spacer 443 arranged between the light guide plates 442 thinner than the thickness of the light guide plate 442, the difference in stroke can be made inconspicuous. .. This is a preferable configuration for suppressing the above-mentioned reduction in impact.

  When the stroke of the light guide plate 442 to which the light is to be supplied is changed, it is easy to detect what the display mode will be before visually checking. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the thickness of the spacer 443 is smaller than the displacement amount when the operation button 401 is displaced from the standby position to the operation position (limit pressing position/maximum pressing position). Therefore, the difference in stroke can be made inconspicuous. This is a preferable configuration for suppressing the above-mentioned reduction in impact.

  When the light guide plate 442 is of a multi-layer type, light leaks to the light guide plates 442 other than the light guide plate 442 to which light is to be supplied, so that a display that should not occur originally is displayed. Here, the spacer 443 in the present embodiment extends along the end surface 446 of the light guide plate 442 to which light from the light emitting unit 421 is supplied, and absorbs the light emitted to the spacer 443. Is functioning as. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress light leakage to other light guide plates 442 by the spacer 443, so that the display function can be appropriately exhibited.

  Further, when the light guide plate 442 is of a multi-layer type, the light is supplied by the restriction by the return restriction solenoid 408 being released after the predetermined display mode is continued and the operation button 401 being displaced. There is an undeniable possibility that light will be supplied to the light guide plate 442 that does not exist. This can be a factor that confuses the player due to the display that should not be displayed. Therefore, when the restriction is released as shown in the present embodiment, it is possible to avoid the erroneous display by turning off the light emitting unit 421 at the timing when the restriction is released or at a timing before that. it can.

  In a configuration in which the display content changes due to a change in stroke, particularly in a configuration in which the expectation for a jackpot result increases due to an increase in stroke, the operation button 401 may be pressed hard in the expectation that the stroke is expanded. Is higher, and the load caused by the operation is expected to be larger than that of a general operation button. In addition, if the operation button 401 is increased in size in order to improve the visibility of the display by the light emitting display device 405, it is feared that the above-mentioned influence becomes remarkable.

  Here, the upper plate 33 is arranged in the upper bulging portion 28 which bulges forward of the gaming machine, so that the access from the front of the gaming machine is facilitated. As a result, it is possible to improve the workability when replenishing the game balls, clearing the ball clogging, and facilitating confirmation of the remaining balls. By disposing the operation button unit 40 in the upper bulging portion 28, which is the object of disposing the upper plate 33, the operation button unit 40 can be easily accessed like the upper plate 33, and the convenience is improved. I can contribute.

  Although the operation button unit 40 is provided in the upper bulging portion 28, the fixing target is not the upper bulging portion 28 but the frame body 20. Therefore, even if a large load is generated due to the operation button unit 40 being strongly pressed as described above, the load is distributed to the frame body 20 via the mounting frame 450. Therefore, it is possible to preferably suppress the occurrence of strain in the upper bulging portion 28 (particularly, the upper plate 33 and the storage area SE) due to the influence of the load. In this way, by suppressing the influence on the upper plate 33 (storage area SE), the upper plate 33 and the operation button unit 40 can preferably coexist in the upper bulging portion 28.

  When the operation button unit 40 is arranged on the front side and the upper plate 33 is arranged on the back side in a configuration in which the upper bulging portion 28 is cantilevered, the operation button unit 40 can be easily accessed. It is possible to contribute to the suppression of ball spillage from the upper plate 33 while avoiding difficulty in operating the operation button unit 40. However, with such a configuration, the load (stress) generated in the base end portion due to the operation tends to increase. In this respect, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the operation button unit 40 is supported by the mounting frame 450 (the configuration that does not rely on the upper bulging portion 28) can favorably avoid the occurrence of the inconvenience.

  In the configuration in which the operation button unit 40 is mounted on the horizontal frame 461 of the mounting frame 450, it is not preferable that the horizontal frame 461 is exposed because it causes a deterioration in the appearance of the gaming machine. In this regard, if the horizontal frame 461 is housed in the internal space IS of the upper bulging portion 28 and the operation button unit 40 is configured to project through the opening 316 of the upper bulging portion 28, the horizontal frame 461 can be operated while suppressing exposure. The button unit 40 can be made to appear as if integrated with the upper bulge portion 28. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the appearance due to the strength guarantee.

  The operation button unit 40 varies depending on the player and the game situation. For example, it is undeniable that the operation button unit 40 may be struck by force when the game is not favorably advanced. In this way, when the operation button unit 40 is handled, it is assumed that the load is increased due to the impact, as compared with the case where the player is playing with the operation button unit 40 simply holding his/her hand. In this respect, in the present embodiment, since the displacement of the operation button unit 40 (the bending deformation of the mounting frame 450) is allowed, the impact can be mitigated. Even in the case of such bending deformation, since the operation button unit 40 and the upper bulging portion 28 are independent, it is possible to suitably suppress the upper bulging portion 28 from being deformed.

  When the deformation amount becomes too large, the horizontal frame 461 may hit the upper surface (inner surface) of the lower surface portion 312 of the upper bulging portion 28. However, in this case, a large momentary impact is dispersed to the frame body 20 side, and the impact is absorbed by the deformation of the mounting frame 450. Therefore, a large load is preferably avoided from being applied to the upper bulging portion 28.

  Incidentally, the above-described deformation pattern of the horizontal frame 461 is an event that can occur when a force that pulls the operation surface portion 413 toward the front side is applied, and in many cases, the following deformation pattern is obtained. That is, the horizontal frame 461 in the present embodiment is inclined obliquely forward, and the pressing operation direction of the operation button unit 40 is also oblique backward corresponding to it. In this case, when a large impact as described above is applied, the entire horizontal frame 461 bends with the fixing point of the mounting frame 450 fixed to the frame body 20 as a base end. At this time, the lower ends of the vertical frames 471, 481 hit the bottom surface of the lower bulging portion 29 (see FIG. 12), and the impact is dispersed to the lower bulging portion 29. Therefore, it is possible to preferably suppress the influence on the upper bulging portion 28 as described above.

  In the mounting frame 450, the horizontal frame 461 and the vertical frames 471, 481 are used together, and the plate surface of the horizontal frame 461 and the plate surface of the vertical frames 471, 481 are made to intersect. As a result, even when the operation button unit 40 is arranged at a position separated from the frame body 20 while suppressing the expansion of the occupied area of the mounting frame 450 (particularly the vertical frames 471, 481) in the front view of the gaming machine, The supporting strength can be improved suitably.

  A woofer 46 is arranged below the upper bulging portion 28. Since the woofer 46 is not a portion directly contacted by the player, even if it is arranged in this manner, there is no problem of convenience. Here, in order to improve the acoustic function of the woofer 46, the presence of the accommodating portion 47 (partitioning wall portion 331) that functions as an enclosure is beneficial. If the vertical frames 471 and 481 are housed in the vertical wall portions 333 and 334 that form the housing portion 47, the vertical frames 471 and 481 are prevented from being exposed, and the deterioration of the appearance due to the strength improvement is suitably suppressed. can do. In addition, since it is not necessary to separately form a storage unit dedicated to the vertical frames 471 and 481, it is possible to preferably avoid unnecessary increase of the occupied area for the vertical frame.

  In the present embodiment, even when the operation button 401 is pushed to the maximum pressing position, the operation surface portion 413 is maintained in a state of protruding above the upper surface portion 311 of the upper bulging portion 28. .. This prevents the hand from hitting the upper bulging portion 28 even when the player vigorously hits the operation button 401. As a result, it is possible to prevent the load generated due to the pressing operation from directly acting on the upper bulging portion 28.

  The operation button unit 40 is arranged on the front side portion of the upper bulging portion 28. Therefore, in many cases, it is assumed that the player performs the pressing operation from the front side. Here, in the present embodiment, the opening 316 for the operation button unit 40 provided in the upper bulging portion 28 is expanded to the front surface portion 313 and the rear surface portion 314 of the upper bulging portion 28 so that the front portion of the operation button unit 40 can be prevented. And the exposed part in the back was enlarged. This makes it possible to prevent the player's hand or finger from hitting the upper bulging portion 28 when trying to hit the operation button unit 40. As a result, it is possible to more preferably suppress the load generated due to the pressing operation from directly acting on the upper bulging portion 28.

  Particularly in the present embodiment, the storage area SE is formed by the upper plate 33 and the front cover portion 36 of the frame body 20. In this case, a boundary portion BP is formed between the rear edge of the upper plate 33 and the front cover portion 36. If the upper bulging portion 28 is deformed in such a configuration, it is feared that the storage function and the guiding function of the game balls provided on the upper plate 33 may be impaired. In this respect, according to the present embodiment, such inconveniences are preferably avoided. In the following, the conventional known structure will be compared with the structure shown in the present embodiment to explain how the inconvenience occurs and how to avoid such an inconvenience.

  First, a conventionally known structure will be described. In a conventionally known gaming machine, both the operation button unit and the upper plate are fixed to the upper bulging portion. In this case, if the button member reaches the maximum pressing position, the pressing force is transmitted to the upper bulging portion through the holder member of the operation button unit. If this pressing force becomes large, the upper bulging portion will bend downward with the fixing point for the frame body as the base end. In this case, the upper plate and the frame body are separated from each other, and the boundary portion between the upper plate and the front surface (front cover portion) of the frame body expands. As a result, the width of the alignment passage becomes large, and the possibility that the alignment function will not work well or that ball clogging will occur will increase. Further, there is a high possibility that the supply of the game balls to the game ball launching mechanism through the outlet will not be smoothly performed.

  On the other hand, in the configuration shown in the present embodiment, even if the operation button unit 40 is displaced, the mounting frame 450 is only deformed, and the influence does not reach the upper bulging portion 28 and the upper plate 33. Therefore, it is possible to preferably prevent the boundary portion from expanding and the width of the alignment passage from expanding. For the above reasons, the inconvenience that may have occurred in the conventionally known configuration can be preferably eliminated.

  Incidentally, as described above, the outlet 38 has a structure that is difficult for a player or the like to access for reasons of crime prevention. Therefore, it is assumed that it will be difficult to eliminate the influence of the above-mentioned deformation at such a portion. In this respect, in the present embodiment, by disposing the vertical frames 471, 481 on both the left and right sides of the discharge port 38, the horizontal frame 461 suppresses the bending, and the horizontal frame 461 causes the lower surface portion 312 of the upper bulging portion 28 to move. It is possible to preferably suppress the occurrence of the inconvenience caused by being pushed.

<Second Embodiment>
In the operation button unit 40 shown in the first embodiment, the light emitting display device 405 is configured by the light emitting unit 421 arranged on the operation button 401 and the light guide unit 441 arranged on the holder 402. In operation button unit 40A in the present embodiment, light emitting display device 405A is configured by light guide unit 441A provided on operation button 401A and light emitting unit 421A provided on holder 402A. That is, one of the features is that the light emitting unit 421A and the light guide unit 441A are arranged in the opposite direction to the operation button unit 40 shown in the first embodiment. The operation button unit 40A in the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the schematic diagrams of FIGS. 22 and 23.

  As shown in FIG. 22, a holding portion 418A for holding the light guide unit 441A is formed on the base member 415 of the operation button 401A. The holding portion 418A is formed along the opening edge of the central opening 416A, and has a cylindrical shape standing upright to the holder 402A side. The light guide unit 441A is housed inside the holding portion 418A.

  The body portion 435A of the holder 402A (inner structural body 432A) is formed with an insertion portion 439A into which the holding portion 418A is inserted. The insertion portion 429A penetrates in the thickness direction of the main body portion 435A, and when the operation button 401A is lowered by the pressing operation, the holding portion 418A passes through the insertion portion 439. As a result, the pressing operation avoids the interference between the operation button 401A and the holder 402A.

  A light emitting unit 421A is fixed to the main body 435A. The light emitting unit 421A has an annular shape and surrounds the holding portion 418A. The light emitting unit 421A faces the holding portion 418A, and light is emitted toward the holding portion 418A. Here, the holding portion 418A is made of colorless and transparent synthetic resin, and has a structure capable of transmitting light. That is, the light from the light emitting unit 421A is supplied to the light emitting unit 421A through the holding portion 418A.

  The arrangement of the first light guide plate 442aA to the third light guide plate 442cA forming the light guide unit 441A is opposite to that of the first embodiment. That is, the first light guide plate 442aA, the second light guide plate 442bA, and the third light guide plate 442cA are arranged in this order from the operation surface portion 413, and the first light guide plate 442aA is the third light guide plate 442c and the second light guide plate 442bA. Corresponds to the second light guide plate 442b and the third light guide plate 442cA corresponds to the first light guide plate 442a.

  Under the situation where the operation button 401A is arranged at the standby position, the third light guide plate 442cA of the lowermost layer is located at a position (light supply area DE) that is arranged side by side with the light emitting unit 421. When the operation button 401A descends, the light guide unit 441A also descends following the operation button 401A, the second light guide plate 442bA is located in the light supply area DE at the limited pressing position, and the first guiding plate is located at the maximum pressing position. The light plate 442aA is located in the light supply area DE.

  By disposing the light emitting unit 421 in the holder 402A instead of the operation button 401A operated according to the operation of the player, it becomes easy to handle the harness connecting the notification/effect control device 142 and the light emitting unit 421.

  Increasing the display range of the light-emitting display device 405A can favorably enhance the display function when performing the operation-responsive effect, and is also preferable in achieving diversification of display modes. However, considering that the light emitting display device 405A is visible through the operation surface portion 413 of the operation button 401A, the operation button 401A (operation surface portion 413) becomes large in order to realize the above configuration. Since the operation button 401A is configured to be pressed by the player, if the operation force increases, deformation such as distortion easily occurs.

  Here, the light guide plate 442A has a plate shape, and has a certain level of strength. By fixing the light guide unit 441 formed by overlapping the light guide plates 442A to the holding portion 418A, the base member 415 can be reinforced. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the operation button 401A from being deformed, such as a distortion, and to favorably increase the size of the operation button unit 40A.

  When arranging the first light guide plate 442aA to the third light guide plate 442cA in an overlapping manner, the light emitted from the third light guide plate 442cA closest to the operation surface portion 413 reaches the operation surface portion 413 as it is. On the other hand, the light emitted from the second light guide plate 442bA arranged therebelow reaches the operation surface portion 413 via the third light guide plate 442cA. In addition, the light emitted from the first light guide plate 442aA, which is the lowermost layer, reaches the operation surface unit 413 via the second light guide plate 442bA and the third light guide plate 442cA.

  Considering that the light emitting region LE is defined by the unevenness 447 formed on the plate surface, the light from the light guide plate 442A at the lower level is refracted by the unevenness 447 of the light guide plate 442A at the higher level. And can be spread. That is, the lower the light guide plate 442A, the more likely it is to be affected by other light guide plates before reaching the operation surface portion 413.

  For example, it cannot be denied that there is a possibility that a pattern that should not be displayed may emerge in the process in which light from the lower light guide plate 442A passes through the irregularities 447 of the upper light guide plate 442A.

  Here, in the gaming machine, a display with a higher winning expectation is more likely to be watched by the player than a display with a lower winning expectation. In the present embodiment, the light guide plate 442A corresponding to an effect with a higher expectation of winning is arranged so that the light guide plate 442A is closer to the operation surface unit 413 (upper layer). For this reason, it is possible to avoid the above-described deterioration of appearance in the display by the third light guide plate 442cA that the player may pay attention to.

  Further, even if a display with a higher expectation of winning than a display with a lower expectation of winning is slightly distracted, it is unlikely to cause a drop in the willingness to play. On the other hand, when a display with a lower winning expectation is mixed with a display with a higher winning expectation, it becomes conspicuous, which may be a factor that lowers the willingness to play. In this regard, by arranging the first light guide plate 442aA to the third light guide plate 442cA as described above, it is possible to preferably suppress the occurrence of such an inconvenience.

<Third Embodiment>
In this embodiment, the configuration for displaying an image such as a character or a pattern using a light emitting display device is different from that in each of the above embodiments. Specifically, in each of the above embodiments, the light emitting display device is used to display a still image, but in the present embodiment, the light emitting display device is used to display a moving image. A part of the configuration related to the light emitting display device is changed based on such a difference in display mode. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 24, the light emitting display device 405B in the present embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the light emitting display device 405 shown in the first embodiment. FIG. 24A is a schematic diagram showing the light emitting display device 405B, and FIG. 24B is a schematic diagram showing the difference in display content.

  As shown in FIG. 24A, the light emitting unit 421 forming the light emitting display device 405B has the same configuration as the light emitting unit 421 described in each of the above embodiments. On the other hand, with respect to the light guide unit 441B, a light guide plate 442B is added. These light guide plates 442B are a light guide plate 442B group for moving image display, which constitutes the first to thirteenth layers, and a light guide plate 442B group for still image display, which constitutes the fourteenth to fifteenth layers. And a large number of light guide plates 442B are laminated at equal intervals. In the following description, the first light guide plate 442aB, the second light guide plate 442bB, the third light guide plate 442cB,...

  The fourteenth light guide plate 442nB and the fifteenth light guide plate 442oB correspond to the second light guide plate 442b and the third light guide plate 442c shown in the first embodiment, and are selected by being supplied with light from the light emitting unit 421. An image showing the degree of expectation (specifically, “CANCE”, “intense heat”) is displayed. In addition, in the present embodiment, the light guide plate corresponding to the first light guide plate 442a shown in each of the above embodiments, that is, the light guide plate on which an image suggesting an operation (specifically, “PUSH”) is displayed is not provided. Has become.

  As shown in FIG. 24B, a character image simulating a girl is displayed on the first light guide plate 442aB to the thirteenth light guide plate mB. Specifically, the light emitting area LE is formed in accordance with the character image. Each light emission region LE is a common portion CP1 (a portion excluding the left arm) that is common to the first light guide plate 442aB to the thirteenth light guide plate 442mB, and is individually provided for each of the first light guide plate 442aB to the thirteenth light guide plate 442mB. It is roughly divided into an individual part CP2 (left arm).

  The common portion CP1 overlaps (matches) in the stacking direction of the light guide plates 442B. Therefore, regardless of which one of the first light guide plate 442aB to the thirteenth light guide plate 442mB is supplied with light, the image displayed by the common portion CP1 emitting light is common. On the other hand, the angle of the individual portion CP2 is gradually changed by switching the light supply target.

  Specifically, in the first light guide plate 442aB and the ninth light guide plate 442iB, the inclination of the individual portion CP2 with respect to the common portion CP1 is approximately 90 degrees, and the second light guide plate 442bB, the eighth light guide plate 442hB, and the tenth light guide plate In 442jB, the inclination of the individual portion with respect to the common portion CP1 is approximately 75 degrees, and in the third light guide plate 442cB, the seventh light guide plate 442gB, and the eleventh light guide plate 442kB, the inclination of the individual portion with respect to the common portion CP1 is approximately 60 degrees. In the fourth light guide plate 442 dB, the sixth light guide plate 442 fB, and the twelfth light guide plate 442 IB, the inclination of the individual portion with respect to the common portion CP1 is approximately 45 degrees, and the fifth light guide plate 442 eB and the thirteenth light guide plate 442 eB In the light guide plate 442mB, the inclination of the individual portion with respect to the common portion CP1 is approximately 30 degrees. Therefore, the height position of the light emitting unit 421 is changed and the light supply target is switched from the thirteenth light guide plate 442mB to the first light guide plate 442aB, so that a moving image in which the character is waving is displayed. Becomes

  Here, the light emitting unit 421 is attached to the operation button 401, and the moving speed after that is the same as the moving speed of the operation button 401. That is, the display switching speed and the display period of the moving image depend on the moving speed of the operation button 401. The moving speed of the operation button 401 depends on the operation mode of the player on the outward path, and depends on the biasing force of the spring member 404 on the return path. In consideration of such a situation, one feature of the present embodiment is that the moving image display function is stably exhibited. Hereinafter, with reference to the timing chart of FIG. 25, the flow of the device and the operation corresponding effect will be illustrated.

  When the operation button 401 is pressed at the timing of tb1 after the operation of the operation button 401 is suggested along with the operation corresponding effect, the operation button 401 descends from the standby position to the operation position. At the timing of tb2 when the operation button 401 reaches the detection range of the operation detection sensor 406, specifically, at the timing when the operation button 401 reaches the limit pressing position, a drive signal is output to the return regulating solenoid 408, and the return is performed. The restriction solenoid 408 switches from the non-excited state to the excited state. As a result, the return of the operation button 401 to the standby position is restricted. Along with this, a signal is output to the light emitting unit 421, and the light emitting body (LED) 422 is switched from off to on.

  At the timing of tb3 when the operation button 401 reaches the maximum pressed position, the light from the light emitting unit 421 is supplied to the fifteenth light guide plate 442oB, and the message “extreme heat” is displayed as a message indicating the expectation that a big hit result is given to the light emitting display device 405B. Is displayed.

  By releasing the hand from the operation button 401 at the timing of tb4, the above-mentioned "intense heat" character that was shielded by the hand during the pressing operation is exposed, and the visual confirmation is made. At this point, the return regulating solenoid 408 is kept in the excited state, so that the operation button 401 remains at the maximum pressed position even if the hand is released, and the display of the above-mentioned "intense heat" is maintained. .

  After that, at the timing of tb5, the output of the drive signal to the return regulating solenoid 408 is stopped. The operation button 401 is pushed back to the standby position by the urging force of the spring member 404. As a result, the light guide plate 442B to which the light from the light emitting unit 421 is supplied is continuously switched, and the moving image described above is displayed.

  At the timing of tb7 when the operation button 401 is out of the detection range of the operation detection sensor 406, the remaining period for keeping the light emitting unit 421 emitting light is set. Since the movement of the operation button 401 toward the standby position depends on the spring member 404, there is little variation in the period required for the operation button 401 outside the detection range to return to the standby position. Therefore, the delay period (the period corresponding to the period required for restoration) stored in the ROM 813 is set as the remaining period.

  At the timing of tb7 when the operation button 401 is returned to the standby position, the light emitting unit 421 is switched from light emission to light off. As a result, the moving image displayed on the light emitting display device 405B is hidden.

  If the light emitting unit 421 is moved by using the operation of the player, the drive mechanism for operating the light emitting unit 421 can be simplified. This is a preferable configuration in order to ease restrictions on the arrangement of the light emitting display device 405 and the like. However, in view of the point that the operation button 401 is pressed by the player's hand, and the light emitting display device 405B is visible through the operation surface portion 413 of the operation button 401, when displaying a moving image. , The hand during operation can get in the way.

  Here, after the reception of the pressing operation is completed, the player's hand is separated from the operation button 401. In other words, compared to the forward path, the hand is less likely to get in the way when the moving image is displayed on the return path (the process in which the operation button 401 returns to the standby position). Thereby, the visibility of a moving image can be improved suitably. In particular, the movement of the operation button 401 does not start immediately when the hand is released, but the return start timing is delayed by the return regulating solenoid 408. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the moving image display from being started before the player's hand is sufficiently separated from the operation button 401.

  When the light emitting period of the light emitting unit 421 when displaying a moving image is extended so as to be longer than the period required for actual recovery, the first light guide body 422aB remains in the light supply region DE of the light emitting unit 421. Becomes In this case, the moving image display is finally switched to the still image display. On the other hand, when the light emitting period of the light emitting unit 421 when displaying a moving image is shorter than the period required for the actual restoration, a part of the light guide plate 442 forming the upper layer is not used effectively. That is, in order to effectively display a moving image, it is preferable to suppress the variation in the movement of the operation button 401. In this respect, in the present embodiment, the operation button 401 is moved by the spring member 404 on the return path for displaying a moving image. Therefore, the variation in the movement period is reduced as compared with the outward path that is moved by the player's operation. As a result, it is possible to preferably alleviate the excess or deficiency of the light emitting period when displaying a moving image.

<Modification 1>
In the third embodiment, the character image is variably displayed at the predetermined display position, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to scroll display the character image in a predetermined direction. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 26A, the light emitting region LE may be formed in each of the light guide plates 442aC to 422oC such that the position of the character image is slightly shifted in a predetermined direction. By continuously switching the light supply target by the light emitting unit 421, the displayed image can be scroll-displayed in a predetermined direction.

  For example, even when using a single-layer light guide plate, the light supply region is moved in a predetermined direction (slide the light emitter in a predetermined direction or emit light among light emitters arranged in a predetermined direction). By switching), it is possible to make the image look as if it is scroll-displayed in the predetermined direction. However, with such a configuration, the range in which light can be emitted in a predetermined direction is limited for each time. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 26A, it is difficult to display an image as if it were moving on the entire plate surface of the light guide plate 442C. As described above, the configuration shown in the first modification has a technical significance that it is possible to relax the restrictions on the display location when performing scroll display.

<Modification 2>
In embodying the technical idea shown in the third embodiment, it is not necessarily limited to the light emitting display device 405B built in the operation button unit 40. As described above, the pachinko machine 10 is equipped with the multi-layer glass unit 30 that covers the game area PE. The glass panel 31 constituting the glass unit 30 can be used as a light guide plate. That is, it is possible to provide a light emitting unit that supplies light to the glass unit 30 and a drive mechanism that moves the light emitting unit based on the operation of the operation button 401, and to display a moving image on the glass unit 30. ..

<Modification 3>
In performing the above-described moving image display, it is sufficient if variation in operating speed when changing the relative position can be suppressed, and the relative movement between the light emitting unit 421 and the light guide unit 441B is necessarily linked to the operation of the player. It is not limited to the configuration in which the position changes. For example, a configuration in which a drive unit for the light emitting unit 421 or the light guide unit 441B is provided, and the relative position between the light emitting unit 421 and the light guide unit 441B is changed by controlling the drive of the drive unit by the notification/effect control device 142 or the like. May be In such a configuration, whether or not the change in the relative position is triggered by the operation of the player is arbitrary.

<Modification 4>
As shown in the third embodiment, when a moving image is displayed by the light emitting display device 405B, when the light supply target is switched from one light guide plate 442B to another adjacent light guide plate 442B, the light supply target is temporarily changed. A blank (dark) occurs due to the interruption of the light supply. That is, when stacking the light guide plates 442B using the spacers 443B, narrowing the light supply region is advantageous in clearly distinguishing the images to be displayed (advantageous in displaying a still image). However, roughness may be a conspicuous factor in displaying a moving image. In this regard, as shown in FIG. 26B, the light emitting display device 405D may be configured such that the irradiation range of the light from the light emitting unit 421D (light emitting body 422D) extends over the plurality of light guide plates 442D. That is, even when the light supply target is switched, at least one light guide plate is maintained in the state in which light is being supplied, so that the occurrence of the blank described above can be avoided.

  As shown in the third embodiment, when it is assumed that both the still image display and the moving image display are performed, the light guide plate located at the end (for example, the lowermost layer) is set to the still image display. Accordingly, the functions of the still image display and the moving image display can coexist suitably (see FIG. 26(b1)). When switching the display of a plurality of types of still images, it is advisable to devise the arrangement interval so that the arrangement interval of the light guide plates corresponding to the still image is larger than the arrangement interval of the light guide plates corresponding to the moving image. That is, when light is supplied to the light guide plate corresponding to a still image, light supply to other light guide plates is avoided, and when light is supplied to the light guide plate corresponding to a moving image, it is used for another adjacent moving image. The positional relationship of the light guide plate may be adjusted so that light is also supplied.

  Incidentally, in the above modification, the light supply target is the light guide plate A→the light guide plate A & the light guide plate B→the light guide plate B→the light guide plate B&the light guide plate C→the light guide plate C→the light guide plate C&the light guide plate D→the light guide plate D. Although the configuration in which the switching is performed in order is illustrated, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the configuration may be such that the light supply target is switched in the order of light guide plate A & light guide plate B→light guide plate B&light guide plate C→light guide plate C&light guide plate D.

<Modification 5>
In the third embodiment described above, the return speed of the operation button 401 is regulated by the spring member 404 regardless of whether or not the operation corresponding effect is performed. This may be changed to provide a resistance generator that reduces the return speed of the operation button 401. As a result, the restrictions on the operation stroke of the operation button 401 and the moving image display period can be relaxed.

  For such a resistance generating unit, when the operation corresponding effect is not performed (when the moving image display by the light emitting display device 405B is not performed), the resistance generating unit does not generate the resistance, and the operation corresponding effect is performed. Alternatively, it may be configured to switch whether or not resistance is generated so that the resistance is generated by the resistance generator. In this way, by adopting a configuration in which whether or not resistance is generated is switched depending on the situation, it is possible to suppress that the above-mentioned effects are exerted as a factor that deteriorates the responsiveness at the time of operation.

  Further, the resistance generated by the resistance generator may be variable. As a result, the image update speed (scrolling speed) at the time of displaying a moving image can be changed, which can contribute to diversification of moving image display.

<Modification 6>
In the third embodiment described above, the light guide plates 442B are arranged at a constant interval, but the interval between adjacent light guide plates 442B is arbitrary. For example, in the configuration in which the operation button 401 is returned to the standby position by the biasing force of the spring member 404 as shown in the above embodiment, the moving speed increases toward the standby position. Therefore, the interval between the light guide plates 442B may be gradually changed so as to increase toward the upper side in accordance with such a change in speed. In other words, a gap may be provided between the light guide plates 442B in accordance with the moving speed so that the frame feed speed at the time of displaying a moving image is constant.

<Modification 7>
In the case of displaying a moving image, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the emission color or luminous intensity (light amount) of the light emitting body (LED) 422 is changed in accordance with the movement of the light emitting unit 421.

<Fourth Embodiment>
With respect to the operation button unit 40 shown in each of the above-described embodiments, the operation corresponding effect is executed by the built-in light emitting display device 405. In such a configuration, by increasing the size of the operation button unit 40, it is possible to enhance the visibility and impact of the operation corresponding effect. As for the operation button unit 40, since it is attached to the upper bulging portion 28 together with the upper plate 33 as a storage part for storing the game balls, if the operation button unit 40 is simply increased in size, the effect thereof is the upper plate 33. It is feared that the amount of storage in Under such circumstances, there is still room for improvement in the structure in order to coexist the operation button unit 40 including the light emitting display device 405 in the upper bulge portion 28 and the upper plate 33.

  In the present embodiment, by taking advantage of the characteristic of the light emitting display device 405 that an image is displayed using the light guide plate 442, it is devised to alleviate the restrictions relating to the arrangement and size of the operation button unit 40E. Is one of the features. The operation button unit 40E and the configuration related thereto will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 27A is a schematic view showing the upper bulging portion 28E of the front door frame 14E in the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 28B is a partial sectional view taken along line EE of FIG. 27A.

  As shown in FIG. 27A, in the upper bulging portion 28E shown in the present embodiment, the operation button unit 40E is arranged so as to overlap the storage area SE of the upper plate 33E from above. That is, a part of the storage area SE is covered with the operation button unit 40E.

  The operation surface portion 413 of the operation button 401 and the light guide plate 442 of the light emitting display device 405 are formed to be transparent. The main body portion 435E of the holder 402E (inner structural body 432E) is formed so that at least a portion facing the light emitting display device 405 is transparent. A window portion 467E penetrating in the thickness direction of the horizontal frame 461E is formed at a portion of the horizontal frame 461E of the mounting frame 450E facing the transparent portion. Although not shown, the vertical frame of the mounting frame 450E is arranged on the downstream side in the storage region with an offset, so that the vertical frame and the storage region are prevented from overlapping.

  When the operation button unit 40E is looked into from above (on the front side of the operation button unit 40E), as indicated by the two-dot chain line arrow in FIG. 27B, the operation surface portion 413 of the operation button 401 → The storage area SE becomes visible through the light guide plate 442 of the light emitting display device 405, the main body portion 435E of the holder 402E, and the window portion 467E of the horizontal frame 461E.

  When an image is displayed on the light emitting display device 405, the storage area SE is hard to see, but the opportunity to exhibit the image display function of the light emitting display device 405 is limited. For example, no image is displayed when the game is not in progress or when the operation corresponding effect is not executed even when the game is in progress. Further, even if an image is displayed on the light emitting display device 405, the storage area SE is not completely shielded by this image, and the visibility of the storage area SE through the displayed image is secured. ..

  According to the configuration shown in the present embodiment, it is possible to visually confirm through the operation button unit 40E how many balls the player has when playing a game. This allows the operation button unit 40E and the upper plate 33E to coexist in the upper bulging portion 28E.

<Modification 1>
Although the fourth embodiment has shown the configuration in which the operation button unit 40E is provided in the upper bulging portion 28E, the present invention is not limited to this. When it is possible to secure the visibility of the game ball through the operation button unit 40E, when the operation button unit 40E is provided along with the passage forming the passage area of the game ball and another storage portion forming the storage area of the game ball, It is also possible to relocate the operation button unit 40E. For example, when arranging the operation button unit 40E in the lower bulging portion 29 provided with the lower plate 34, if the game balls stored in the lower plate 34 are visible through the operation button unit 40E. Good.

<Modification 2>
Although the fourth embodiment has a configuration including a plurality of light guide plates 442 in which the light emitting display device 405 built in the operation button unit 40E is stacked, the present invention is not limited to this. The number of light guide plates 442 is arbitrary as long as it is possible to confirm the presence or absence and movement of the game ball through the light emitting display device. For example, it does not deny that the number of light guide plates 442 is singular.

<Modification 3>
In the fourth embodiment described above, the visibility of the storage area SE through the image is ensured, but the invention is not limited to this. In view of the fact that the light emitting display device 405 is arranged at the back of the operation button unit 40E, it is preferable to increase the light emitting level or the like to make the image easy to see. However, if the emission level is increased, the visibility of the storage area SE through the image may be reduced accordingly. In such a configuration, for example, in the storage area SE, it is monitored whether or not a game ball is present in a portion overlapping the operation button unit 40E, and when the game ball is present, an operation corresponding effect is produced. By restricting the execution of the above, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the visibility of the storage area SE due to the enhancement of the display function. However, in the case of such a configuration, it is preferable to arrange the operation button unit 40E in the upstream portion of the storage area SE or the like so as to reduce the frequency with which the above regulation occurs.

<Fifth Embodiment>
As shown in each of the above embodiments, when the light emitting region LE is constructed by forming the unevenness 447 on the plate surface 445 of the light guide plate 442 (see FIG. 15A), illumination of the game hall, etc. There is a possibility that the ambient light from will be irregularly reflected by the unevenness 447. Thus, the irregularities 447 appear cloudy due to the irregular reflection of light on the plate surface 445. This becomes a factor that makes it easier to understand the difference between the portion of the plate surface 445 where the unevenness 447 is formed and the portion where it is not formed. As a result, an image such as a picture or a character displayed on the light guide plate 442 may be exposed under the condition where the light is not supplied from the light emitting unit 421, that is, under the condition that the operation corresponding effect is not performed. ..

  Further, when a plurality of light guide plates 442 are stacked to form a light guide unit, the light emitted from the lower light guide plate 442 passes through the upper light guide plate 442. As shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 28A, when light from the lower light guide plate 442 passes through a region other than the light emission region LE in the upper light guide plate 442, the influence of passage is small. On the other hand, when the light from the lower light guide plate 442 passes through the light emission region LE of the upper light guide plate 442, the light emission region LE is easily affected by refraction and reflection. As a result, the dispersion of light or the like can be a factor that deteriorates the appearance of the image, as illustrated in the schematic view of FIG.

  In particular, in the case of a multi-layer structure, there is a concern that the above-mentioned inconvenience becomes remarkable due to an increase in the number of light guide plates 442 through which light passes. One of the features of the present embodiment is that the structure of the light guide plate 442 is devised in view of these circumstances. The structure of the light guide unit 441F (light guide plate 442F) in the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. The light-emitting display device 405F described in this embodiment is similar to the light-emitting display device 405 described in the above-described first embodiment except the structure of the light guide plate 442F, and thus the description is incorporated.

  The light guide plate 442F shown in the present embodiment is a combination of two plate-shaped base materials 442aF and 442bF. One of the base materials 442aF and 442bF (specifically, the one on the lower side) is printed with ink (ink 447F) in which spherical powder (powder 447aF) is made into ink on the plate surface facing the other side. That is, the two base materials 442aF and 442bF face each other so that the printing surface faces inward, and the two base materials 442aF and 442bF are bonded by using an adhesive. In the following description, the layer made of an adhesive is referred to as an adhesive layer 442cF. Note that, in FIG. 29, the powder 447aF and the adhesive layer 442cF are illustrated so as to be greatly emphasized, but the size of the powder 447aF and the thickness of the adhesive layer 442cF are sufficiently larger than those of the base materials 442aF and 442bF. small.

  The base materials 442aF and 442bF, the adhesive layer 442cF, and the ink 447F (powder 447aF) are all colorless and transparent, and when viewed in the thickness direction, it is difficult to identify the ink 447F portion due to the difference in transparency and color. Is becoming

  The refractive index of light in the base material 442aF and the refractive index of light in the adhesive layer 442cF are equal to each other, and total reflection of light at the boundary portion between the base material 442aF and the adhesive layer 442cF is suppressed. Thereby, the light supplied to the light guide plate 442F through the end surface 446F is totally reflected by the outer surfaces of both the base materials 442aF and 442bF (the plate surface 445F of the light guide plate 442F), and the light passage area between the two outer surfaces. Is configured to function as.

  The powder 447aF is configured so that the refractive index of light is different from that of both the base material 442aF and the adhesive layer 442cF, that is, a sufficient difference in refractive index is generated between the powder 447aF and the surroundings in the state of being enclosed in the light guide plate 442F. ing. Due to such a difference in the refractive index, the light passing through the inside of the light guide plate 442F is refracted or reflected when reaching the powder 447aF and is emitted from the light guide plate 442F. That is, the region where the powder 447aF is arranged is the light emitting region LE (light emitting region LE) of the light guide plate 442F in the present embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the powder 447aF has a smaller refractive index than the base material 442aF and the adhesive layer 442cF. Considering the property that light can be totally reflected when moving from one with a large refractive index to one with a small refractive index, the refractive index of the refraction part is made smaller than that of the peripheral part thereof to reach the refraction part from the light emission part. The emitted light is easily reflected in the thickness direction (for example, the front side of the light emitting display device 405F). In this way, by utilizing the reflection to promote the light guide, the light from the light emitting unit 421 can be efficiently emitted.

  Further, as described above, the powder 447aF is formed into a spherical shape. According to this configuration, when the ambient light is reflected by the powder 447aF and reaches the powder 447aF, the ambient light easily passes through the powder 447aF. That is, it is possible to prevent the light from being repeatedly reflected by the ink 447F. This is a preferable configuration for alleviating the occurrence of diffused reflection when passing through the ink 447F.

  Note that the function of guiding light to the plate surface 445F side deteriorates because the difference between the refractive index of the powder 447aF and the refractive index of the base material 442aF and the adhesive layer 442cF becomes small. Therefore, it is preferable to make the difference between the refractive index of the powder 447aF and the refractive index of the base material 442aF and the adhesive layer 442cF large to some extent.

  The ink 447F (powder 447aF) is contained in the light guide plate 442F to suppress the exposure of the ink 447F, whereby the ink 447F can be protected. Further, the plate surface 445F of the light guide plate 442F is smoothed by arranging the light emitting region LE inside by containing the ink 447F (unevenness is omitted). By smoothing the plate surface 445F in this manner, the clearance when the light guide plates 442F are stacked is reduced, and the light guide unit 441F is made thinner.

  By making the plate surface 445F of the light guide plate 442F smooth, irregular reflection of ambient light on the plate surface 445F is suppressed. As a result, the occurrence of the white turbidity on the plate surface 445 is suppressed. As described above, the powder 447aF has a smaller refractive index than its surroundings. Therefore, external light (environmental light or light from the light guide plate 442F on the lower layer side) incident through the plate surface 445F of the light guide plate 442F is difficult to be reflected on the surface of the powder 447aF, and most of the external light is reflected by the powder 447aF. Will pass. This makes it possible to suppress irregular reflection of external light in the light emitting region LE. As a result, it is possible for the player to know in advance what kind of image is to be displayed, and to avoid a reduction in the impact of the operation corresponding effect.

  Further, by suppressing the diffusion of the light incident from the plate surface 445F of the light guide plate 442F, it is possible to reduce the appearance of an image of a lower layer of the stacked light guide plates 442F when an image is displayed. Can be suppressed. Thereby, even when a plurality of light guide plates 442F are used together, an image can be displayed appropriately.

  In the configuration in which the powder 447aF is used to emit light, the light is directed to both plate surfaces 445F, and thus the light amount is likely to decrease. In this regard, by disposing the light emitting display device 405F in a dark place in the operation button unit 40, it is possible to mitigate the influence of the decrease in the light amount.

<Modification 1>
In the fifth embodiment, the powder 447aF (ink 447F) has a smaller refractive index than the base materials 442aF, 442bF and the adhesive layer 442cF, but the powder 447aF (ink 447F) has a smaller refractive index. It is also possible to make it larger than the refractive indexes of the base materials 442aF, 442bF and the adhesive layer 442cF. Considering the characteristic that light can be totally reflected when moving from a material having a large refractive index to a material having a small refractive index, the powder 447aF (ink 447F) has a larger refractive index than the base materials 442aF, 442bF and the adhesive layer 442cF. This is advantageous in reducing irregular reflection of ambient light.

<Modification 2>
In the fifth embodiment, one of the two base materials 442aF and 442bF forming the light guide plate 442F is provided with the powder 447aF, but the present invention is not limited to this. The powder 447aF may be provided on the other base material 442aF (inner surface), or both base materials 442aF and 442bF (inner surface) may be provided on the powder material 447aF.

  When both the base materials 442aF and 442bF (inner surface) are to be provided with the powder 447aF, the region where the powder 447aF is provided on one base and the powder 447aF are provided on the other base. It is preferable that the above region is displaced in the plate surface direction. As described above, with the configuration in which the positions are displaced (the configuration in which the positions are displaced in both the plate surface direction and the thickness direction), it is possible to mitigate the grayscale difference caused by the distance from the light source (light emitter 422).

<Modification 3>
In the fifth embodiment, the light guide unit 441F is configured by stacking a plurality of light guide plates 442F, but the present invention is not limited to this. The light guide unit 441F may be composed of one light guide plate 442F.

<Modification 4>
The appearance of the light guide plate 442F shown in the fifth embodiment may change depending on how the light reaches the powder 447aF. For example, by adopting a configuration in which the direction of the optical axis is switched in the thickness direction of the light guide plate 442F, it is possible to diversify the image display mode using the same light guide plate 442F.

  Further, under the condition that light is supplied to one light guide plate 442F, the light source is swung or vibrated in the thickness direction of the light guide plate 442F (more specifically, within the thickness range of the light guide plate 442F). Therefore, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the appearance is changed.

<Other Embodiments>
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the contents described in each of the above-described embodiments, and may be implemented as follows, for example. By the way, each of the following configurations may be applied individually to each of the above embodiments, or a part or all of the configurations may be combined and applied to each of the above embodiments. Further, it is possible to arbitrarily combine all or part of the various configurations shown in the above embodiments. In this case, it is preferable to ensure the technical significance (effect to be exerted) of each configuration that is a combination target. Each of the following configurations may be applied individually to a new configuration formed by combining the embodiments, or a part or all of the configurations may be applied in combination.

  (1) When a plurality of light guide plates 442 are stacked as shown in each of the above-described embodiments, a plate shape or a sheet having light transparency is provided instead of forming an air layer between the light guide plates 442. The intermediate layer may be formed by interposing a sheet-shaped intermediate member. However, the light supplied to the light guide plate 442 travels inside the light guide plate 442 by being reflected by the plate surface 445 of the light guide plate 442. This utilizes a phenomenon (total reflection) in which incident light does not pass through the boundary surface but is reflected when light enters from a medium having a relatively large refractive index to a medium having a relatively small refractive index. For the above reason, when the intermediate member is interposed, it is preferable that the intermediate member has a refractive index smaller than that of the light guide plate 442.

  When a plurality of light guide plates 442 are stacked, even if the light guide plates 442 are thinned to reduce the size of the light guide unit 441, it is possible to preferably suppress the occurrence of inconveniences such as strength reduction.

  Further, particularly when used in combination with a structure in which no unevenness is formed on the surface, such as the light guide plate 442F shown in the fifth embodiment, the intermediate member can be used as an intermediate member without forming a recess or the like for avoiding unevenness. It is possible to avoid contact with unevenness (light emitting region). Therefore, by combining the technical idea shown in the present modification with the light guide plate 442F shown in the fifth embodiment, a practically preferable configuration can be realized.

  (2) In each of the above-described embodiments, the operation button unit 40 as the “operation means” is arranged in the upper bulging portion 28. However, if the player can operate the operation button unit 40, the arrangement position of the operation button unit 40 will be described. It is optional. For example, a structure corresponding to the operation button unit 40 can be arranged on the lower bulging portion of the front door frame 14.

  (3) In each of the above embodiments, the operation button 401 (button member 411) is transparent, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is sufficient as long as the light-transmitting property is provided so that the image displayed on the light-emitting display device 405 is visible, and it may be semitransparent or opaque. This makes it possible to make white turbidity or the like in the light emitting region LE of the light guide plate 442 inconspicuous. However, as illustrated in the fifth embodiment, by making the light guide plate 442 transparent so that the back of the light emitting display device 405 can be viewed, coexistence with other peripheral configurations can be suitably realized. In view of the above, it is technically significant to make the operation button 401 transparent as shown in the above embodiment.

  (4) In each of the above-described embodiments, by fixing either the light emitting unit 421 or the light guide unit 441 to the operation button 401, the light emitting unit 421 and the light guide unit 441 are moved together with the movement of the operation button 401. Although the positional relationship is changed, it suffices if the positional relationship between the light emitting unit 421 and the light guide unit 441 can be changed according to the operation (operating force) of the player. Is optional. At least one of the light emitting unit 421 and the light guide unit 441 may be connected to the operation button via a connection mechanism, and the connection mechanism may transmit the operation force applied to the operation button to change the positional relationship. ..

  (5) In each of the above-described embodiments, one of the light emitting unit 421 and the light guide unit 441 is configured to be displaced following the operation button 401. However, the other provided on the holder 402 corresponds to the stroke direction of the operation button 401. It may be configured to be displaced in the same direction. For example, under the situation where the operation button 401 is arranged at the maximum pressed position, by changing the position of the light guide unit 441, it is branched which character “CHANCE” or “heat” is displayed. Can be generated. Thereby, further diversification of the light emission effect (operation corresponding effect) can be realized.

  (6) In each of the above-described embodiments, when the operation button 401 is located at the operation position (the limit pressing position and the maximum pressing position), the operation button 401 is temporarily stopped at that operating position (hold). However, this function can be omitted.

  (7) In each of the above embodiments, the light guide plates 442 are arranged side by side so that the degree of expectation of the image displayed from the front side to the back side of the operation button unit 40 or from the back side to the front side is high. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the light guide plate 442 corresponding to the small expectation degree→the light guide plate 442 corresponding to the high expectation degree→the light guide plate 442 corresponding to the middle expectation degree may be arranged in this order.

  (8) In each of the above embodiments, the light guide plate 442 is arranged so that the degree of expectation of the displayed image is increased by increasing the operation stroke of the operation button 401, but the operation stroke is reduced. The light guide plate 442 may be arranged so that the degree of expectation of the image displayed at is low.

  (9) In each of the above embodiments, the stroke amount of the operation button 401 is changed, but the variable stroke amount function is not essential. In the case where the stroke amount is constant, it is preferable that the target (the light emitting unit 421 or the light guide unit 441) arranged in the holder 402 is displaced (elevated) in the stroke direction instead.

  (10) It is sufficient that the light guide plates 442 to be stacked are arranged so as to be parallel to each other, and the light guide plates 442 are not necessarily flat and may be curved.

  Further, the "light guide" may be formed in a sheet shape or a block shape instead of being formed in a plate shape.

  (11) In the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the unevenness 447 as the “light emitting portion” is formed on the plate surface 445 by the edging process, but how to form the unevenness 447 is optional. is there. For example, it may be formed by laser processing or molding, or may be formed by printing.

  (12) In each of the above-described embodiments, the operation button unit 40 has the light emitting display device 405 built-in (stored in a dark place) to suppress the influence of ambient light and the like, and an image displayed even with a small amount of light. Was devised to ensure the visibility of the. However, the arrangement of the light emitting display device 405 described above is arbitrary, and does not necessarily have to be built in the operation button unit 40. For example, the front door frame 14, the inner frame 13, and the game board 80 can be arranged. By configuring the light guide plate of the light emitting display device 405 by a panel material (for example, the glass panel 31) covering the game area PE of the game board 80 and the display screen 94a of the pattern display device 94, a game ball flowing down the game area PE or It is possible to realize the diversification of the effect function of the light emitting display device 405 while ensuring the visibility of the symbols variably displayed on the display screen 94a.

  (13) In each of the above-described embodiments, the return regulating solenoid 408 is provided as the “regulating means”, but other actuators such as a motor, a driving mechanism, or the like may be provided instead. If the height position where the return regulation is performed by the motor or the drive mechanism can be adjusted according to the height position of each light guide plate 442, it is possible to contribute to further diversification of the game. Specifically, for example, a state in which the movement of the operation button 401 from the maximum pressing position is restricted under the situation where the operation button 401 is arranged at the maximum pressing position, and the operation button 401 is arranged at the maximum pressing position. A branch is provided between the state in which the movement of the operation button 401 to the limited pressing position is permitted under the circumstances. Depending on the position where the operation button 401 is stopped after the operation button 401 is released, the case where the character “extreme heat” is displayed by the third light guide plate 442c and the character “CANCE” is displayed by the second light guide plate 442b. In some cases, it is possible to realize further diversification of the operation corresponding effect.

  (14) In each of the above embodiments, the operation button 401 (specifically, the operation surface portion 413) is transparent, but it is sufficient if the image displayed on the light emitting display device 405 can be visually recognized. That is, the operation button 401 can be semitransparent or opaque as long as it has light transmissivity.

  (15) Other types of pachinko machines different from the above embodiments, for example, pachinko machines in which the electric accessory opens a predetermined number of times when a game ball enters a specific area of a special device, or games in a specific area of the special device. The present invention can also be applied to a pachinko machine in which a right is generated when a ball enters and a big hit, a pachinko machine provided with another accessory, an arrangement ball machine, a game machine such as a sparrow ball.

  Further, a non-ball-ball type gaming machine, for example, a plurality of reels provided with a plurality of kinds of symbols in the circumferential direction is provided, the reel is started to rotate by inserting a medal and operating a start lever, and a stop switch is operated. After the reels stop after a predetermined time has passed, if a specific symbol or a combination of specific symbols is established on the effective line visible from the display window, a bonus such as payout of medals is given to the player. The present invention can be applied to a slot machine.

  Further, the gaming machine main body supported by the outer frame to be openable and closable includes a storage portion and a loading device, and the start lever is operated after a predetermined number of game balls stored in the storage portion are loaded by the loading device. The present invention can also be applied to a gaming machine in which a pachinko machine and a slot machine are combined so that the reels start to rotate.

<Regarding invention groups extracted from the above embodiments>
The features of the invention group extracted from each of the above-described embodiments will be described below, showing effects and the like as necessary. In the following, for ease of understanding, the corresponding configurations in the above-described embodiment are appropriately shown in parentheses, etc., but are not limited to the specific configurations shown in parentheses, etc.

<Feature A Group> Built-in Operation Buttons The invention described in the following feature A group is "a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine is known to be provided with an operating means operated by a player. For example, in the pachinko gaming machine shown in Patent Document 1, an operating means is provided on the front surface of the gaming machine, and in order to expect the player to generate a special gaming state or the like which is advantageous to the player, a special operation is performed according to the operation of the player. The effect is configured to be displayed on the screen, etc. In such a gaming machine that employs the operating means, it is important how to increase the attention of the player to the game by using the operating means. Regarding the background art of "Issues.", "If you just give a special effect according to the operation of the operation means, the operation becomes monotonous and the freshness fades, and the interest in the operation itself decreases. In other words, even if the player is prompted to do so, it is expected that it will be half-mechanically operated, and it will be difficult for the operating means to exert the function of improving attention to the game well. However, there is still room for improvement in order to improve the degree of attention to the game by using the operating means."

Features A1. An operation unit (operation button 401) having a pressing operation section (operation surface section 413) which is an object of a pressing operation by the player,
A display unit (light-emitting display device 405) disposed on the back side of the pressing operation unit in the pressing operation direction of the pressing operation unit;
A display control unit (of the notification/effect control device 142) that causes the display mode of the display unit to be in a predetermined display mode based on the operation unit being arranged at a predetermined pressing position (for example, the maximum pressing position). MPU812),
A game machine comprising: a restricting unit (return restricting solenoid 408) for restricting displacement from the predetermined pressing position when the operating unit is arranged at the predetermined pressing position.

  According to the characteristic A1, when the player pushes in the operating means, the operating means reaches a predetermined pressing position, so that the display mode of the display section located at the back of the pressing operation section becomes a predetermined display mode. Become. Then, by the displacement regulation by the regulation means, the operation means stays at the predetermined pressing position, so that the display in the predetermined display mode can be continued, for example. As a result, it is possible to suitably secure an opportunity to visually check the display. Specifically, since the operation surface is an object that is pressed by the player's hand, it is hidden by the player's hand when the operating means reaches a predetermined pressing position, making it difficult to confirm the display content. In this regard, as described above, the display is continued even when the hand is released from the operation means, and thus it is possible to urge the player to pay attention to confirm the display content by releasing the hand. it can. Further, when the hand is released, it is possible to raise the attention to the behavior of the operating means by causing a branch of whether the operating means stays in its place or returns to the original position. By devising the effect related to the operation in this way, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that the operation means is mechanically operated in the middle and the function of improving the attention degree to the game by the operation means is not exerted well.

Feature A2. The regulating means is configured to regulate the displacement of the operating means from the predetermined pressing position over a predetermined period when the operating means is arranged at the predetermined pressing position,
When the display mode of the display unit becomes the predetermined display mode, the display control means has means for continuing the display in the predetermined display mode for the predetermined period. The gaming machine described in Characteristic A1.

  According to the characteristic A2, after the display mode of the display unit in which the operation unit is arranged at the predetermined pressing position becomes the predetermined display mode, the predetermined display mode is maintained while the operation unit remains at the predetermined pressing position. Will continue to be displayed. Thus, the effect shown in the feature A1 can be suitably exerted by ensuring the continuation period.

  In addition, in the configuration shown in this feature, "when the display mode of the display unit is the predetermined display mode, the display control unit displays the display until the operation unit separates from the predetermined pressing position. The gaming machine according to the feature A1 characterized by having a means for continuing."

Features A3. Urging means (spring member 404) for urging the operating means to a standby position (for example, initial position or non-operating position),
The game according to the characteristic A1 or the characteristic A2, characterized in that the restricting means generates a resistance against the biasing force of the biasing means so that the operating means stays at the predetermined pressing position. Machine.

  As shown in the characteristic A3, the technical idea shown in the characteristic A1 can be preferably embodied by adopting a configuration in which the operating means is held at the predetermined pressing position by the resistance force against the urging force of the urging means.

Features A4. Urging means (spring member 404) for urging the operating means to a standby position (for example, initial position or non-operating position),
It is configured to return to the standby position by the urging force of the urging means after the operation means is arranged at the predetermined pressing position,
Any one of the characteristics A1 to A3 characterized in that the restriction means generates a resistance force against the biasing force of the biasing means so that the operation means stays at the predetermined pressing position. Gaming machine described in one.

  According to the feature A4, by releasing the hand from the operating means after the pressing operation, the urging force of the urging means returns to the original standby position. Here, since the restricting means is configured to generate a reaction force against the biasing force, the return function can be applied to the standby position by canceling the generation of the reaction force. With such a configuration, the technical idea shown in the characteristic A1 can be preferably embodied.

  Features A5. Features A1 to A4 characterized by including switching means (a MPU 812 of the notification/production control device 142) for switching the regulation means between a regulation state in which the displacement is regulated and a non-regulation state in which the displacement is not regulated. The gaming machine described in any one of 1.

  When the restricting means is in the restricted state when the hand is released from the operating means, the displacement of the operating means from the predetermined pressing position is restricted, and when the restricting means is in the non-restricted state, the operating means is in the predetermined pressing position. The displacement from is allowed. Therefore, when the hand is released from the operating means after the pressing operation, there are cases where a predetermined display mode is maintained and cases where the display is not continued. By providing a branch for whether or not the display is continued after the hand is released, it is possible to realize the diversification of effects corresponding to the operation of the operation means and contribute to the improvement of the degree of attention to the game.

  Features A6. The switching unit is configured to switch the restricting unit from the non-restricted state to the restricted state before the operation unit is arranged at the predetermined pressing position. Amusement machine.

  The movement of the operating means (displacement start timing or displacement speed) depends on the operation of the player. For this reason, if the configuration is such that the switching to the restricted state is performed when the predetermined pressing position is reached, the switching may not be in time. Therefore, as shown in this feature, by adopting a configuration in which the restricting means is switched to the restricting state before the predetermined pressing position is reached, it is possible to preferably suppress the occurrence of the above-described inconvenience due to variations in the operation.

Features A7. The restricting means is configured to generate a pressing force for pressing the operating means in the pressing operation direction in the restricted state, and restrict the displacement of the operating means by the pressing force,
The switching means, when the operating means reaches a predetermined intermediate position between the standby position before the pressing operation is performed and the predetermined pressing position, moves the restricting means from the non-restricted state to the The gaming machine according to feature A5 or feature A6, which is configured to switch to a restricted state.

  In the configuration in which the operating means is pushed in the pressing operation direction by the restricting means, if the operating force is displaced in the pressing operation direction by the pressing force, subsequent displacement restriction may occur before the hand is released from the operating means. Exposed to. In this case, there is a concern that the impact of the above-mentioned presentation will be reduced. On the other hand, if it is attempted to generate the pressing force after the operating means reaches the predetermined pressing position, the regulation may not be in time. In this respect, as shown in the present feature, by the configuration in which the switching to the restricted state is performed when the operating means reaches the predetermined intermediate position between the standby position and the predetermined pressing position, the above-mentioned various inconveniences occur. It can be suppressed appropriately.

Feature A8. A holding means (holder 402) for holding the operating means in a state of being displaceable in the pressing operation direction,
The display unit is
A light emitting portion (light emitting unit 421) disposed on one of the operating means and the holding means,
A light guide body (light guide unit 441) arranged on the other side of the operation means and the holding means, and configured to emit light from a predetermined portion (light emitting region LE) by light supplied from the light emitting portion. Then
The relative position of the light emitting portion and the light guide body is changed based on the displacement of the operating means,
When the operation unit is arranged at the predetermined pressing position, the light guide is located at a supply position (light supply region DE) where light is supplied from the light emitting unit. The gaming machine according to any one of features A1 to A7.

  According to the characteristic A8, the positional relationship between the operating means and the holding means is changed by pushing in the operating means. Following this, the positional relationship between the light emitting portion and the light guide body also changes. Display in a predetermined display mode is performed by arranging the operation means at a predetermined pressing position and supplying light from the light emitting unit to the light guide. In a configuration having this type of display unit, the display mode (for example, display availability) depends on the position of the operating means. Since the position of the operating means depends on the pressing operation, the display period in the predetermined display mode is affected by the pressing operation period. In this respect, by limiting the operation period to a predetermined pressing position in combination with the configuration shown in the feature A1 or the like, the restriction on the display period can be appropriately relaxed.

  Feature A9. The gaming machine according to feature A8, wherein the light emitting portion is attached to the holding means, and the light guide body is attached to the operation means.

  When the display is performed in a recessed position, visibility may be deteriorated due to the peripheral configuration and the like. In this respect, if the light emitting portion is attached to the holding means as shown in this feature, even if the operating means is pushed into a predetermined pressing position, displacement of the light emitting portion in the pressing operation direction is avoided. be able to. As a result, it is possible to preferably suppress the above-mentioned decrease in visibility.

  In addition, by providing the holding means with the light emitting portion, it becomes easy to handle the wiring and the like connected to the light emitting portion. Further, by forming the light guide body into a plate shape or a block shape, this light guide body can be used as a reinforcing means for the operating means.

Feature A10. When the stroke of the operating means is within a predetermined range, the operating means can be arranged at the predetermined pressing position,
The light guide has a planar shape facing the pressing operation portion side, and a plurality of light guides are arranged side by side in the pressing operation direction,
The gaming machine according to feature A8 or feature A9, in which a target to which light is supplied from the light emitting unit is switched by the plurality of light guides in the predetermined range according to a stroke of the operation unit.

  According to the characteristic A10, when the operating device is arranged at the predetermined pressing position, the light guide to which the light is supplied changes depending on the stroke of the operating device. It is possible to diversify the display mode by changing the display mode according to the stroke.

  Features A11. Stroke changing means (stroke switching solenoid 407) for changing the stroke of the operation means is provided, and the stroke changing means defines a target to which light is emitted from the light emitting unit by the plurality of light guides. The game machine according to feature A10, which is characterized by being.

  By defining the light guide body to which the light is supplied by switching the strokes as shown by the characteristic A11, the display content on the display unit can be appropriately controlled according to the situation of the game and the like.

Feature A12. The display control unit has a light emission control unit (a function of performing light emission control by the MPU 812 of the notification/effect control device 142) for performing light emission control of the light emitting unit,
The feature A11 is characterized in that the light emission control unit has a unit that controls the light emitting unit to be turned off at a timing when the regulation by the regulation unit is released or a timing before that. Game machine.

  When the light guide body is of a multi-layer type as shown in Feature A11, the regulation is released and the operation means is displaced after the predetermined display mode is continued, so that the light guide object which is not a light supply target is introduced. There is an undeniable possibility that light will be supplied to the light body. This may cause the player to be confused by the display (erroneous display) that should not be displayed. Therefore, when the restriction is released as shown in this feature, the erroneous display can be avoided by turning off the light emitting unit at the timing at which the restriction is released or at a timing before that.

Feature A13. The light guides are laminated such that a spacer (spacer 443) is interposed between the light guides,
The gaming machine according to any one of features A10 to A12, wherein the spacer is formed such that a thickness of the spacer is thinner than a thickness of the light guide.

  When the light guide is switched to which the light is to be supplied, if the stroke is significantly changed, it becomes easy to detect what the display mode will be, before visually confirming. With this, there is a concern that the impact will be reduced even if the display contents of the display unit are diversified. In this regard, by making the thickness of the spacer thinner than the thickness of the light guide as shown in this feature, it is possible to make the difference in stroke less noticeable. This is a preferable configuration for suppressing the above-mentioned reduction in impact.

Features A14. The light guides are laminated such that a spacer (spacer 443) is interposed between the light guides,
The spacer extends along an end face of the light guide body to which the light from the light emitting unit is supplied, and functions as a light absorbing unit that absorbs the light emitted to the spacer. The gaming machine according to any one of features A10 to A13.

  When the light guide body is of a multi-layer type, light leaks to the light guide bodies other than the light guide body to which the light is to be supplied, so that a display that should not be generated is displayed. Therefore, by forming the spacer as the light absorbing portion along the end surface that becomes the light supplying portion, it is possible to suppress light leakage to other light guides by the spacer. As a result, the display function can be exerted appropriately.

Feature A15. The light guides are laminated such that a spacer (spacer 443) is interposed between the light guides,
Features A10 to A14 are characterized in that the spacer is formed so that the thickness of the spacer is smaller than the displacement amount when the operating means is displaced from the standby position to the predetermined pressing position. The gaming machine described in any one of the above.

  When the light guide is switched to which the light is to be supplied, if the stroke is significantly changed, it becomes easy to detect what the display mode will be, before visually confirming. With this, there is a concern that the impact will be reduced even if the display contents of the display unit are diversified. In this respect, by making the thickness of the spacer smaller than the displacement amount of the operating means between the standby position and the predetermined pressing position as shown in this feature, it is possible to make the stroke difference inconspicuous. This is a preferable configuration for suppressing the above-mentioned reduction in impact.

Feature A16. An information acquisition unit (a random number acquisition function of the MPU 802 of the main controller 162) that acquires special information based on the satisfaction of a predetermined acquisition condition;
Acquisition information storage means (RAM 804 of main controller 162) for storing the special information acquired by the information acquisition means,
An award determination unit (a lottery function in the MPU 802 of the main control device 162) that determines whether or not the special information stored in the acquired information storage unit corresponds to predetermined award information.
Privilege granting means (main control) for granting a privilege to the player based on the result of the grant determination by the grant determining means being a grant corresponding result that the special information to be determined corresponds to the grant information. And a function of shifting to the open/close execution mode in the MPU 802 of the device 162).
The display mode by the light guide is configured to suggest the degree of expectation of the assignment correspondence result,
The display mode of the light guide located on the near side in the pressing operation direction is set to have a higher expectation than the display mode of the light guide located on the far side in the pressing operation direction. The gaming machine according to any one of features A10 to A15.

  When the light guide body is of a multi-layer type, the light emitted from the light guide body on the side far from the operation surface section passes through the light guide body on the side close to the operation surface section. As described above, the light passing through the other light guide is easily affected by the other light guide such as diffusion and refraction. Here, in the configuration in which the degree of expectation is suggested according to the display mode, the degree of interest in the one with higher expectation is higher than that with lower expectation. Under such circumstances, if the display is disturbed for an object that is likely to be noticed, it is noticeable. Therefore, as shown in this feature, if the light guides that display with high expectations are arranged closer to the operation surface section, the appearance will be degraded even when attention is paid to the display. Can be suitably suppressed. As a result, it is possible to preferably mitigate the adverse effects of the multi-layer system.

  Feature A17. The gaming machine according to feature A16, wherein the light emitting portion is attached to the operation means, and the light guide body is attached to the holding means.

  With the configuration shown in the feature A17, the effect shown in the feature A16 can be exhibited with a simple configuration.

Features A18. An operation unit (operation button 401) having a pressing operation section (operation surface section 413) which is an object of a pressing operation by the player,
Holding means (holder 402) for holding the operating means in a state of being displaceable in the pressing operation direction;
A display unit (light-emitting display device 405) disposed on the back side of the pressing operation unit in the pressing operation direction of the pressing operation unit,
The display unit is
A light emitting portion (light emitting unit 421) disposed on one of the operating means and the holding means,
A light guide body (light guide unit 441) arranged on the other side of the operation means and the holding means, and configured to emit light from a predetermined portion (light emitting region LE) by light supplied from the light emitting portion. Then
The light guide has a planar shape facing the pressing operation portion side, and a plurality of light guides are arranged side by side in the pressing operation direction,
The gaming machine is configured such that the objects to which light is supplied from the light emitting unit are switched by the plurality of light guides according to the stroke of the operating means.

  According to Feature A18, the positional relationship between the operating means and the holding means changes when the operating means is pushed in. Following this, the positional relationship between the light emitting portion and the light guide body also changes. Thereby, various light emission displays can be performed according to the operation. By making various displays visible through the operation surface portion, it is possible to contribute to an increase in the degree of attention to the operation means.

Features A19. When the pressing operation of the operating means is finished, a restricting means (return restricting solenoid 408) for restricting the displacement of the operating means from the predetermined restricting position to the standby position is provided.
As the predetermined regulation position, a first regulation position where any one of the light guides is a light supply target and a second regulation position where any of the other light guides is a light supply target are provided. The gaming machine according to feature A18, which is characterized by being.

  According to the configuration described in this feature, the display is continued even when the hand is released from the operation means, and the player is urged to pay attention to confirming the display content by releasing the hand. You can Further, when the hand is released, the light supply target differs depending on the position of the operating means. That is, the display content also changes. By generating such a branch, it is possible to increase the attention to the behavior of the operation unit and the display content.

<Characteristic group B> Animation display The invention described in the characteristic group B is as follows: "In gaming machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines, the gaming machines are arranged in a region visible from the front of the gaming machine, and as the game progresses. Some display devices such as a light emitting unit and a display unit whose display mode is changed are provided.These production devices have various display modes depending on the progress of the game, etc. Regarding the background art of "Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-24447", "However, even if an attempt is made to enhance the effect by using the effect device described above, most of them are It is likely to be similar, and there is still room for improvement in raising the degree of attention to the game by improving the appearance of the display effect, etc." The invention was made with the problem to be solved.

Feature B1. A display effect device (a light emitting display device 405B or a notification/effect control device 142) that performs a display effect as the game progresses is provided.
The display production device,
A light guide portion (light guide unit 441) formed by arranging a plurality of planar light guides (light guide plates 442B) having optical transparency in the thickness direction of the light guides;
A light emitting portion (light emitting unit 421) for supplying light to the end surface (end surface 446B) of the light guide,
A switching unit (operation button 401) that switches the target to which light is supplied from the light emitting unit in the light guide by changing the relative position of the light guiding unit and the light emitting unit in the juxtaposed direction of the light guide. , A holder 402 and a spring member 404) are provided.

  According to the feature B1, the aspect of the display effect can be changed by changing the relative positions of the light emitting unit and the light guide unit and switching the light supply target. By such a change, it is possible to give a movement to, for example, a pattern to be displayed, and it is possible to perform a novel display effect. Thereby, the degree of attention to the game can be improved.

Feature B2. The display effect device includes a light emission control unit (MPU 812 of the notification/effect control device 142) for controlling light emission of the light emitting unit,
The light emission control means has means for maintaining the light emitting portion in a lighting state when the relative position between the light guide portion and the light emitting portion is changed by the switching means,
The switching means is configured to change the relative position of the light guide section and the light emitting section by switching the light supply target a plurality of times under the situation where the light emitting section is in the lighting state. The gaming machine described in the feature B1.

  According to the feature B2, the displayed pattern or the like can be continuously changed. As a result, the display function shown in the feature B1 can be suitably exerted. In addition, when switching the lighting state/extinguishing state of the light emitting unit according to the position, not only the switching timing becomes severe, but also the configuration for performing the switching becomes complicated. With the configuration shown in this feature, it is possible to contribute to the suppression of complication of the structure due to the enhancement of the display function and the improvement of operation stability.

  Feature B3. At least a part of patterns (light emitting areas LE) displayed on the light guides when light from the light emitting units is supplied to the light guides is different, or the display position is different. The gaming machine described in the feature B1 or the feature B2.

  According to feature B3, a moving image can be displayed by changing the displayed pattern with time.

  Feature B4. The pattern displayed when light is supplied from the light emitting unit to the light guide body is a common portion (common portion CP1) that is the same in any of the light guide bodies, and an individual pattern that is individual for each light guide body. The gaming machine according to feature B1 or feature B2, which is configured by a portion (individual portion CP2).

  By providing a common portion and an individual portion in the pattern displayed by each light guide, the relationship between the patterns can be strengthened and the images can be displayed as a series of moving images.

  Feature B5. Each of the end faces to which the light from the light emitting section is supplied by the light guide is located on a plane parallel to the juxtaposed direction. The game machine described.

  If the distance between the end face and the light emitting portion is large, the light cannot be supplied well. On the other hand, when the movement path of the light emitting section or the light guide section is meandered so that the distance to each end face is constant, the movement becomes complicated and smooth display switching becomes difficult. Therefore, as shown in this feature, if the end faces that are the entrances of light are arranged so that they are located on the same plane, the movement path can be simplified, and the light supply to the light guide can be stabilized and displayed. It can contribute to smooth switching of contents.

Feature B6. The light guides are opposed to each other with a gap,
The gaming machine according to any one of features B1 to B5, wherein the gap is configured to be smaller than the thickness of the light guide.

  According to the feature B6, it is possible to prevent the switching of the displayed patterns from being delayed and to alleviate the deterioration of the appearance when the moving image is displayed.

Feature B7. The number of light guides is three or more,
The light guides are opposed to each other with a gap,
The game is described in any one of the features B1 to B6, characterized in that the gap is defined so that two adjacent light guides can be positioned in a light irradiation range of the light emitting unit. Machine.

  By simultaneously supplying light to a plurality of light guide portions as shown in this feature, a blank in which a pattern is temporarily hidden when the light supply target of one light guide body is switched to the next is conspicuous. Can be hardened.

Feature B8. An operation means (operation button 401) operated by the player,
Holding means (holder 402) for holding the operating means in a displaceable state,
Any one of features B1 to B7, wherein the switching means is configured to change the relative position of the light guide section and the light emitting section so as to follow the displacement of the operating means. Gaming machine described in one.

  By utilizing the operation force applied to the operation means as power for changing the relative position between the light emitting unit and the light guide unit, it is possible to contribute to simplification of the configuration related to the moving image display.

Feature B9. The operation means is configured to be displaced from the standby position to the operation position based on the operation of the player,
Urging means (spring member 404) for urging the operating means to the standby position,
The display effect device includes a light emission control unit (MPU 812 of the notification/effect control device 142) for controlling light emission of the light emitting unit,
The gaming machine according to Feature B8, wherein the light emission control unit has a unit that turns on the light emitting unit when the operation unit returns from the operation position to the standby position.

  As shown in Feature B8, when the operating force is used as the power for changing the relative position of the light guide section and the light emitting section, the appearance may change depending on the operating speed. This causes the appearance to vary. In this regard, when the operation is completed and the hand is released from the operation means, the return speed thereof depends on the urging force of the urging means. In other words, the speed variation on the return path is smaller than that on the outward path. Therefore, as shown in this feature, if the light emitting unit is turned on in the return path, the period during which the moving image is displayed becomes extremely short and the visibility deteriorates, or the period during which the moving image is displayed is extended and the moving image display looks good. It is possible to suppress the decrease.

  Feature B10. A delay that delays the start of the displacement toward the standby position by the biasing means when the operation means is arranged at the operation position and the light emission control means controls the light emitting portion to be in the lighting state. The gaming machine according to Feature B9, which is provided with a means (return regulating solenoid 408).

  When operating the operating means, the player's eyes may face the operating means. Therefore, if a change occurs immediately immediately after the user releases the operating means, the possibility that the display effect will be overlooked increases. Therefore, as shown in this feature, by ensuring a time period until a display change occurs, it is possible to prevent the display effect from being overlooked and to appropriately exhibit the effect of increasing the degree of attention.

Feature B11. The operation means has a pressing operation section (operation surface section 413) which is an object of a pressing operation by a player,
The feature B10 is characterized in that the light guide unit is arranged farther back in the pressing operation direction of the pressing operation unit than the pressing operation unit, and the display effect is visible through the operation surface unit. Amusement machine.

  When the display effect device is built in the operation means, the display effect device is hidden by the hand during the operation while the operation surface portion is being pressed. Further, even if the user releases his/her hand from the operating means, his/her hand will be an obstacle, so that the display effect cannot be immediately viewed. Therefore, as shown in the characteristic B10, if the configuration is such that the start of the return operation is delayed, it is possible to prevent the visual effect of the display effect from being hindered by the operated hand, and to appropriately exert the above-described attention level improving effect. You can

  Note that it is also possible to apply the technical idea shown in the characteristic group A to the characteristic group B described in detail above.

<Characteristic C group> Difference in display mode for each light guide plate The invention described in the following characteristic C group is "a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine is arranged at a portion visible from the front of the gaming machine. There are those that are provided with a production device such as a light emitting unit or a display unit whose display mode changes as the game progresses.These production devices can change the display mode variously according to the progress of the game and the like. With regard to the background art ", a function is added to enhance the effect during game play (for example, Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-24447)." However, let's enhance the effect by using the above-mentioned effect device. Even so, many of them tend to be similar, and there is still room for improvement in raising the attention of the game by improving the appearance of the display production.” The problem to be solved by the invention was made. Is.

Feature C1. A display effect device (a light emitting display device 405B or a notification/effect control device 142) that performs a display effect as the game progresses is provided.
The display effect device,
A light guide portion (first light guide member (for example, light guide plate 442b) and second light guide member (for example, light guide plate 442c) each having a light-transmitting surface are juxtaposed in the thickness direction of the light guide member ( A light guide unit 441),
A light emitting unit (light emitting unit 421) for supplying light to the end surface of the first light guide and the end surface of the second light guide;
Switching to switch between a first state in which light from the light emitting unit is supplied to the end surface of the first light guide body and a second state in which light from the light emitting unit is supplied to the end surface of the second light guide body And means,
A first display area formed on the first light guide to display a first pattern by the light from the light emitting portion, and a second display area formed on the second light guide by the light from the light emitting portion. At least a part of the second display region overlaps in the thickness direction,
The frequency of being in the first state is configured to be higher than the frequency of being in the second state,
The first light guide body and the second light guide body are arranged such that the second light guide body is located farther back in the display effect device than the first light guide body. Amusement machine.

  When a pattern is displayed on the second light guide located on the back side, the light is emitted to the front side of the display effect device through the first light guide. At this time, the light from the second light guide may be diffused by being refracted/reflected while passing through the first display area of the first light guide. This becomes a factor that reduces the appearance when performing the display effect. In other words, when trying to enhance the display performance function by using multiple light guides, the number of light guides increases and the appearance (the appearance of the pattern displayed by the light guides on the back side) deteriorates. You can Therefore, by arranging from the front side to the back side in descending order of occurrence frequency, it is possible to suppress the influence of the above-described deterioration in appearance as much as possible. This is a preferable structure in order to improve the degree of attention to the game by using the multi-layer type light guide.

Feature C2. A display effect device (a light emitting display device 405B or a notification/effect control device 142) that performs a display effect as the game progresses is provided.
The display effect device,
A light guide portion (first light guide member (for example, light guide plate 442b) and second light guide member (for example, light guide plate 442c) each having a light-transmitting surface are juxtaposed in the thickness direction of the light guide member ( A light guide unit 441),
A light emitting unit (light emitting unit 421) for supplying light to the end surface of the first light guide and the end surface of the second light guide,
The light supply target from the light emitting unit is configured to be switched to the end surface of the first light guide and the end surface of the second light guide,
As the light guide plate, a first light guide plate in which a first display area in which a first pattern is displayed by the light from the light emitting unit is formed, and a second display in which a second pattern is displayed by the light from the light emitting unit A second light guide plate in which a region is formed,
The degree of expectation that a predetermined privilege is given to the player when the second pattern is displayed in the second display area is determined by the player when the first pattern is displayed in the first display area. Is set to be higher than the degree of expectation that the predetermined privilege will be given to
The first light guide body and the second light guide body are arranged such that the first light guide body is on a rear side of the display effect device with respect to the second light guide body. Amusement machine.

  When a pattern is displayed on the first light guide located on the back side, the light is emitted to the front side of the display effect device through the second light guide. At this time, the light from the first light guide may be diffused by being refracted/reflected while passing through the second display area of the second light guide. This becomes a factor that reduces the appearance when performing the display effect. In other words, when trying to enhance the display performance function by using multiple light guides, the number of light guides increases and the appearance (the appearance of the pattern displayed by the light guides on the back side) deteriorates. You can Here, in the configuration in which the degree of expectation is suggested according to the displayed pattern, the degree of attention to the object having a higher degree of expectation is higher than the degree of expectation. Under such circumstances, if the display is disturbed for an object that is likely to be noticed, it is noticeable. Therefore, as shown in this feature, if the light guide for displaying a pattern with high expectations is arranged on the front side of the light guide for displaying a pattern with low expectations, the attention to the display is increased. Even in the case, it is possible to preferably suppress the deterioration of the appearance. As a result, it is possible to preferably mitigate the adverse effects of the multi-layer system.

  It is also possible to apply the technical ideas shown in the characteristic groups A to B to the characteristic group C described in detail above.

<Characteristic D group> Panel structure The invention described in the characteristic D group is as follows. "In gaming machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines, the gaming machines are arranged in a region visible from the front of the gaming machine, and as the game progresses. Some display devices such as a light emitting unit and a display unit whose display mode is changed are provided.These production devices have various display modes depending on the progress of the game, etc. Regarding the background art of "Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-24447", "However, even if an attempt is made to enhance the effect by using the effect device described above, most of them are It is likely to be similar, and there is still room for improvement in raising the degree of attention to the game by improving the appearance of the display effect, etc." The invention was made with the problem to be solved.

Feature D1. A display effect device (a light emitting display device 405F or a notification/effect control device 142) that performs a display effect as the game progresses,
The display effect device includes a light guide section (light guide unit 441F) in which a plurality of planar light guides (light guide plates 442F) having light transmittance are arranged side by side in the thickness direction of the light guide. A light emitting unit (light emitting unit 421) that supplies light to the end surface of the light guide, and the light supplied to the light guide is emitted to the front side of the light guide,
The light guide is
A pair of base materials (base materials 442aF and 442bF) facing each other,
An adhesive (adhesive 442cF) for adhering those base materials,
A refraction section (powder 447aF) disposed between the base materials and refracting light from the light emitting section so as to face the front side of the light guide,
The game machine characterized in that the refraction part has a light-transmitting property, and the refraction index of the refraction part is different from the refraction index of either the base material or the adhesive.

  By using a light guide to perform display effects, it is possible to make an image such as a picture stand out in a space, and its novelty contributes to increasing the attention to games. it can. Here, in the case of forming irregularities that become light outlets on the surface like a conventionally known light guide (light guide plate), it is undeniable that the irregularities may be damaged during manufacturing or maintenance. If such damage occurs, the light may not be emitted well and the appearance of the display effect (image) may deteriorate. In this respect, the light guide body has a refraction portion in the configuration shown in this feature. In this way, by suppressing the exposure of the refraction portion, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the above-mentioned damage and the like. As a result, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the appearance of the display effect (image). In addition, when a plurality of light guides are stacked and used, it is possible to prevent the gap between the light guides from becoming large from the viewpoint of protection of unevenness. Thereby, for example, it is possible to enhance the display function by using a plurality of light guides together and to prevent the display effect device from increasing in size due to the enhancement.

  According to the configuration in which the display performance is performed by using the light guide, coexistence with other game parts and the like can be suitably realized by making the back side visible through the light guide when the display performance is not performed. This is a preferable configuration for improving the degree of freedom of arrangement of the display effect device. Here, as described above, in the case of forming the unevenness that becomes the exit of light on the surface of the light guide (light guide plate), the unevenness is formed by irregular reflection of ambient light such as the illumination of the game hall. The part that appears may appear cloudy. When such an event occurs, the visibility is reduced. In this respect, according to the configuration of this feature, an image such as a design can be displayed by refracting the light from the light emitting unit by the refraction unit included in the light guide. In this way, since the unevenness of the surface can be eliminated, it is possible to preferably suppress the occurrence of the cloudiness on the surface of the light guide. This is a preferable configuration for realizing coexistence with other game parts.

  In addition, the configuration shown in this feature is provided with "a display effect device that performs a display effect as a game progresses, and the display effect device emits light that supplies light to an end face of the light guide plate and a light guide body having transparency. And a pattern is displayed in the display area by emitting light from the light emitting section from the display area formed in the light guide. Has a pair of base materials facing each other, an adhesive that bonds the base materials, and a transparent reflector that is disposed between the base materials and that reflects the light from the light emitting unit, The reflectance of the reflector is different from the reflectance of either the base material or the adhesive."

  Feature D2. The game machine according to Feature D1, wherein the refraction portion is colorless and transparent.

  If what kind of image is displayed before the display effect is exposed, the impact of the display effect is reduced. This can be a factor that hinders an increase in the degree of attention paid to the game. In this respect, according to the configuration of the present feature, by making the refracting portion colorless and transparent, it is difficult to visually confirm the presence of the refracting portion when the light is turned off. Further, since the refraction part is colorless and transparent, ambient light such as ambient light reaching the refraction part through the base material passes through the refraction part and escapes to the back side of the light guide (light guide part). As a result, the location where the refraction portion is provided (inside the light guide) can be made inconspicuous.

  Feature D3. The game machine according to the feature D1 or the feature D2, wherein the refractive index of the refraction portion is configured to be higher than the refractive index of either the base material or the adhesive.

  Considering the characteristics of light that can be totally reflected when moving from a high refractive index to a low refractive index, by making the refractive index of the refraction part smaller than that of the peripheral part, the base material (adhesive) It is possible to suppress total reflection of light that has reached the refraction portion. As a result, it is possible to alleviate irregular reflection of light in the refraction portion and more suitably suppress the occurrence of white turbidity.

  Feature D4. The game machine according to the feature D1 or the feature D2, wherein the refractive index of the refraction portion is configured to be smaller than the refractive index of either the base material or the adhesive.

  Considering the characteristics of light that can be totally reflected when moving from a large refractive index to a small refractive index, the refractive index of the refraction part is made smaller than that of the peripheral part thereof to reach the refraction part from the light emission part. The reflected light is easily reflected in the thickness direction (for example, the front side of the display effect device). In this way, by promoting the light guide using the reflection, the light from the light emitting portion can be efficiently emitted.

  Feature D5. The gaming machine according to any one of features D1 to D4, wherein the refraction portion is spherical powder.

  If the refraction part is made up of spherical powder (aggregate of powder), when external light such as ambient light is reflected by the powder and reaches another powder, the powder easily passes through the other powder. Become. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of irregular reflection when external light such as ambient light passes through the refraction portion.

  Feature D6. The refraction section is disposed on at least one plate surface of the pair of base materials, and an arrangement area in which the refraction section is disposed on the plate surface by an adhesive layer made of the adhesive and The gaming machine according to any one of features D1 to D5, characterized in that both the non-arranged region where the refraction portion is not disposed are covered.

  According to Feature D6, the adhesive (adhesive layer) can be used as a protective layer for powder, and it is possible to suppress the powder from being crushed or deformed when pressure is applied in the thickness direction of the base material. . Thereby, the function of the light guide by the refraction section can be suitably secured.

  In addition, if the configuration is such that "the adhesive is arranged in the entire area where the one set of base materials face each other", even in the area where the refraction portion is not provided, both base materials are adhered by the adhesive. The gap is filled and the protection function described above can be enhanced. Further, it is possible to prevent the appearance from changing depending on the presence or absence of the adhesive.

  Feature D7. The refraction portion is arranged on each plate surface facing each other on the base material, and at least a part of the arrangement region is configured to overlap in the thickness direction of the light guide. The gaming machine described in any one of the characteristics D1 to D6.

  The light guiding function can be enhanced by increasing the width of the region where the refraction portion is arranged in the thickness direction of the light guide. However, the diffuse reflection described above may be significant if such enhancement is simply performed. In this respect, by disposing refraction portions on the plate surfaces facing each other to increase the distance between the refraction portions in the thickness direction, the display function is enhanced and the diffuse reflection becomes remarkable due to that. Can be suppressed.

  Feature D8. The refraction section is disposed on each of the plate surfaces facing each other on the base material, and one of the base materials of the set has a region where the refraction section is disposed, and the other. The game machine according to any one of features D1 to D6, characterized in that the region in which the refraction portion is provided in the base material of is shifted in the surface spreading direction of the light guide body. ..

  According to the characteristic D8, it is possible to suppress an increase in the difference in the amount of light supplied depending on the distance from the light source due to the deviation of the light emitting portion in the thickness direction and the surface spread direction of the disposition region of the refraction portion. You can As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of an unintended shade difference in the displayed image.

  Feature D9. One of the characteristics D1 to D8, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises changing means for changing the direction or position of the light emitting portion in the thickness direction of the light guide when performing the display effect. Game machine.

  According to the feature D9, the optical path of the light passing through the light guide body is changed by changing the positional relationship between the light source and the light guide body in the thickness direction of the light guide body. By changing the approach of light to the refraction portion in this way, it is possible to cause a change in the displayed image. As a result, it is possible to realize a variety of display effects.

Feature D10. A plurality of the light guides are arranged side by side in the thickness direction of the light guide,
The gaming machine according to any one of features D1 to D9, wherein the light guide plates are held so that the light guides are separated from each other.

  When the light guides are stacked, by reducing the distance between the light guides, it is possible to make the display contents appear to be changing on the display surface of 1. Here, with respect to the light guide body indicated by the feature D1 or the like, the configuration for switching the optical path is not exposed on the surface, so that the distance between the light guide bodies can be shortened. That is, by applying the technical idea indicated by the feature D1 to the configuration indicated by the present feature, it becomes possible to more suitably perform the display effect.

Feature D11. The light emitting unit is displaceable in the thickness direction,
Based on the displacement of the light emitting unit, a light guide to which light is to be supplied from the light emitting unit is switched among the plurality of light guides is configured to be switched. Machine.

  According to the feature D11, the display content can be changed by the movement of the light source, and the display effect can be realized.

Feature D12. A light emission control means for controlling light emission of the light emitting unit,
The gaming machine according to Feature D11, wherein the light emission control unit has a unit that turns on the light emitting unit when the light emitting unit is displaced in the thickness direction.

  According to the feature D12, it is possible to sequentially change the light guide body to which the light is supplied as the light emitting unit is displaced. With such a configuration, it is possible to display a moving image or the like by removing the restrictions related to the display mode using the light guide. When displaying a moving image, smoothness can be improved by switching the images as finely as possible. As described above, when the light guides shown in the feature D1 or the like are stacked, the distance between the light guides can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to realize a preferable configuration for suppressing the expansion of the gap between the light guides and realizing smooth image switching.

  It is also possible to apply the technical ideas shown in the characteristic groups A to C to the characteristic group D described in detail above.

  The basic configuration of a gaming machine to which each of the above features can be applied is shown below.

  Pachinko gaming machine: operation means operated by the player (game ball launching handle 45), game ball launching means launching a game ball based on the operation of the operating means (game ball launching mechanism 110), and the shot. A ball passage (guide passage 103 of the guide rail 100) for guiding the game ball to a predetermined game area (game area PE), and game parts (such as nails 87) arranged in the game area are provided, and the respective game parts are provided. A gaming machine that gives a bonus to a player when a game ball passes through a predetermined passage portion (general winning opening 81 or the like).

  Rotating type gaming machines such as slot machines: Variable display means for displaying the final stop of the symbol row after variable display of the symbol row consisting of a plurality of symbols is provided, and the variation of the symbol starts due to the operation of the starting operation means. The fluctuation of the symbol is stopped due to the operation of the operating device for stop or after a lapse of a predetermined time, and a special game advantageous to the player on condition that the final symbol at the time of the stop is a specific symbol. A gaming machine that generates a state (bonus game, etc.).

  Belt-type gaming machine using a ball: Variable display means for displaying the final stop of the symbol row after variably displaying the symbol row consisting of a plurality of symbols, the fluctuation of the symbol is started due to the operation of the starting operation means, and stopped. Due to the operation of the operation means or after a lapse of a predetermined time, the fluctuation of the symbol is stopped, and the special game state advantageous to the player (bonus) is that the final stop symbol at the time of the stop is a specific symbol. A loading device that is configured to generate a game or the like) and further includes a ball tray to perform a loading process for loading a game ball from the ball tray, and a dispensing device that dispenses the game ball to the ball tray. A game machine configured such that the operation of the starting operation means is made effective by throwing in a game ball.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Pachinko machine as a game machine, 14... Front door frame which comprises the front part of a game machine, 40... Operation button unit, 142... Notification/production control device, 162... Main control device, 401... Operation button as operation means , 402... Holder as holding means, 404... Spring member as biasing means, 405... Light emitting display device as display effect device or light emitting effect device, 406... Operation detection sensor, 407... Stroke switching means as changing means, Reference numeral 408... Return-return solenoid as restriction means, 413... Operation surface part as pressing operation part, 421... Light emitting unit as light emitting part, 422... Light emitter, 441... Light guide unit as light guide part, 442... Light guide Light guide unit as body, 443... Spacer, 445... Plate surface, 446... End surface, 447... Concavo-convex, DE... Light supply area, LE... Light emitting area.

Claims (2)

Equipped with a display effect device that performs display effect as the game progresses,
The display effect device,
A light guide portion formed by arranging a plurality of planar light guides having light transparency in the thickness direction of the light guide,
A light emitting portion that supplies light to the end surface of the light guide,
A light emission control means for controlling light emission of the light emitting unit,
E Bei and switching means for switching a target to which light is supplied from the light emitting portion in the light guide by changing the relative position between the light emitting portion and the light guide portion in the arrangement direction of the light guide ,
The light emission control unit has a unit that maintains the light emitting unit in a lighted state when the relative position between the light guide unit and the light emitting unit is changed by the switching unit,
The switching unit is configured to change the relative position of the light guide unit and the light emitting unit by switching the light supply target a plurality of times while the light emitting unit is in the lighting state. A gaming machine characterized by being. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting unit has an LED as a light source .

Images