JP7224672B2 - game machine - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a game machine in which game balls flow down the front surface of a game board.

Conventionally, as this type of game machine, a game machine is known in which a front plate member is arranged to overlap the inner surface of the glass window in front of the game plate, and game balls flow down between the game plate and the front plate member. (See Patent Document 1, for example).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-37694 (see FIGS. 2 and 3)

By the way, in the above-described conventional game machine, there is a problem that the game ball rides on the upper edge of the front plate member and rolls. Therefore, the present disclosure provides a technique for suppressing such rolling.

In the gaming machine of the present disclosure, the space between the game board and the transparent translucent window that covers it from the front forms a downflow space in which game balls flow down, and the downflow space projects from the front surface of the game board. A gaming machine provided with a plurality of front protrusions that come into contact with a flowing game ball, and the plurality of front protrusions include a plurality of prize-winning accessories that provide a player with a profit when the game ball wins. a front plate member supported by the front end of the front protrusion to partially cover the game board from the front and having the flowing space between the game board and the rear surface of the translucent window; a front stepped portion formed by the upward facing surface of the front plate member and extending in a horizontal direction or an oblique horizontal direction; The front stepped portion includes a winning opening of the first winning accessory or a winning guide that guides a game ball to the winning opening, and a portion included in an easy winning range located above the winning guide. A portion located in a normal range other than the above is provided, and the plurality of front protrusions are provided with game balls that move from the easy winning range toward the normal range while riding on the front stepped portion. It is a game machine that includes a special front protrusion that abuts before reaching the normal range .

According to the gaming machine according to the present disclosure, even if a game ball rides on the front stepped portion of the front plate member, it is possible to suppress rolling of the game ball on the front stepped portion by the special front protrusion.

front view of gaming machine front view of game board Front view around the grand prize gate Side cross-sectional view of the front duct and normal prize opening Front view of front duct Side sectional view of front duct Front view of front duct according to modification Side cross-sectional view of a front duct according to a modification

An embodiment of a pachinko gaming machine 10 (corresponding to the "game machine" of the invention) to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko game machine 10 has a front surface covered with a front door 10Z that can be opened and closed centering on the left edge, and is shown in FIG. The game board 11 is visible. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, "right" and "left" refer to "right" and "left" when the gaming machine 10 is viewed from the front.

An upper tray 26 and a lower tray 27 are provided in two stages below the glass window 10W in the front frame 10Z, and an operation knob 28 is provided on the right side of the lower tray 27. As shown in FIG. When the operation knob 28 is rotated, the game balls housed in the upper tray 26 are flipped out toward the game board 11.例文帳に追加When a ball discharge button (not shown) provided on the upper tray 26 is pushed, the game balls stored in the upper tray 26 are moved to the lower tray 27 .

As shown in FIG. 2, a substantially circular guide rail 12 protrudes from the game board 11, and between the front surface of the game board 11 and the glass plate 10G of the glass window 10, there is a space where game balls can flow down. formed. Hereinafter, the area formed on the front surface of the game board 11 and in which the game balls can flow down is referred to as a game area R1.

A display opening 11H is formed through the center of the game area R1 of the game board 11, and a display screen 13G of the display device 13 faces forward through the display opening 11H. A display decoration frame 23 is attached to the opening edge of the display opening 11H. The display decoration frame 23 is fitted into the display opening 11H from the front side of the game board 11, protrudes inside the display opening 11H, protrudes from the front surface of the game board 11, and a game ball flowing down the game area R1 is displayed within the display decoration frame. 23 so as not to enter inside. In addition, the display decoration frame 23 is provided with a guide path 23R in its upper right part through which one game ball can pass. , or the flow area on the left side of the display decorative frame 23 to flow downward.

In the game area R1, a plurality of prize winning openings and a plurality of obstacle nails 17 (see FIG. 5) are distributed, and an out opening 22 is provided at the lower end of the game area R1. A game ball flowing down the game area R1 is taken into the rear side of the game board 11 through one of the winning openings or the out opening 22.例文帳に追加In addition, entering a game ball into a winning hole is called "winning", and when a game ball into each winning hole wins, a plurality of game balls (prize balls) are paid out to the upper tray 26 (see FIG. 1). be

The above-mentioned plurality of prize-winning ports include a plurality of normal prize-winning ports 21A to 21C which are pocket-shaped prize-winning ports, first and third starting prize-winning ports 14 and 16, and a second start-up prize-winning port which is a slide opening and closing type. It includes a winning opening 15 and a big winning opening 20 which is a horizontally rotating open/close type winning opening.

A plurality of pocket-shaped normal winning openings 21A to 21C and the first and third start winning openings 14 and 16 are opened on the upper surface of the winning protrusion (see reference numeral 21H in FIG. 4) projecting from the front surface of the game board 11. , each of which is large enough to win a prize. The first starting prize winning port 14 is arranged in the center of the horizontal direction of the region below the display decorative frame 23 in the game region R1, and the third starting prize winning port 16 is arranged in the lower right thereof. A pair of normal winning holes 21A and 21B are arranged on the left side of the first starting winning hole 14, and one normal winning hole 21C is arranged on the upper part of the area on the right side of the display decoration frame 23.例文帳に追加

The laterally rotating opening/closing type big prize winning opening 20 protrudes from the front surface of the game board 11, opens on the side surface of the front duct 20D adjacent to the right side surface of the display decoration frame 23, and is opened and closed by the rotating door 20T. The rotating door 20T rotates about a rotating shaft extending in the front-rear direction along the lower end opening edge of the big prize winning opening 20, and normally closes the big winning prize opening 20 in a standing posture, thereby preventing a big win. When a game or a small winning game is executed, it falls sideways to open the big winning hole 20 and guide the game ball to the big winning hole 20. - 特許庁

As shown in FIG. 2, the winning unit 30 is provided in the lower right part of the game area R1, and the second start winning opening 15 is formed in the rolling path R12 in the winning unit 30 and opens upward. are doing. In addition, the second starting winning opening 15 is provided with a sliding door 15T, which slides in the front-rear direction and is normally arranged at the front end position of the movable range to close the second starting winning opening 15. and constitutes a part of the rolling path R12. Then, when the normal figure determination described later is successful, the slide door 15T moves to the rear end position of the movable range to open the second start winning opening 15.例文帳に追加In addition, a starting gate 18 is provided at the entrance of the game ball to the winning unit 30, and the detection switch provided in the starting gate 18 detects that the game ball has passed through the starting gate 18.例文帳に追加. In addition, the above-described third start winning opening 16 is opened directly below the discharge opening 30H from which the game ball passing through the rolling path R12 of the winning unit 30 is discharged.

The game related to the winning/losing determination of the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment is set as follows. That is, the winning/losing determination of the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment includes a normal figure determination and a special figure determination. Normal pattern determination is performed due to the passage of the game ball through the starting gate 18, and the result of the determination is, for example, that the display screen 13G displays normal symbols 13D, which are one-digit numbers, alternately between odd and even numbers. , and then stopped, and if the normal symbol 13D at that time is, for example, an odd number, it is notified as a "hit", and if it is an even number, it is notified as a "loss". Then, when the normal figure determination is successful, the slide door 15T of the second start winning opening 15 opens over a certain period of time.

The special figure determination is performed due to the winning of the game ball to the first to third start winning openings 14 to 16, and the result of the determination is that three special symbols 13A, 13B, 13C are vertically displayed on the display screen 13G. After scrolling to and displaying the variable, the special symbols 13A, 13B, and 13C at that time are notified by the combination of special symbols 13A, 13B, and 13C. In addition, there are a "big hit" and a "small hit" in the hit of the special figure determination. When a "big win" occurs, a big win game is executed in which the big winning port 20 is opened for a specified time each time only a specified number of times. A small winning game is executed in which the big winning opening 20 is opened over a short prescribed time.

As shown in FIG. 3 , in the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, a front duct 40 is provided on the right side of the big winning opening 20 . The front duct 40 includes a rear plate member 42 superimposed on the front surface of the game board 11, a front plate member 41 facing the front of the rear plate member 42 with a gap therebetween, and connecting walls 43 and 44 communicating between them. 40R of internal flow paths are formed by these. Specifically, front duct 40 has connecting walls 43 and 44 projecting forward from rear plate member 42, and front plate member 41 is superimposed on the front ends of these connecting walls 43 and 44 and fixed with screws. Incidentally, the connecting walls 43, 44 of the front duct 40D correspond to the "front protrusion" in the claims. Here, the "front projection" in the scope of claims may project directly from the game board 11 as long as it projects forward from the front surface of the game board 11, for example, like an obstacle nail. , connecting walls 43 and 44, which are superimposed on the game board 11 and arranged in front of the front surface of the game board 11. - 特許庁

The internal flow path 40R extends while meandering in the left-right direction between an inlet 40A that opens upward and an outlet 40B that opens downward. It has a width of about one ball. Further, the front duct 40 has a communication port 45 that opens leftward at a position close to its upper end and communicates with the front duct 20D. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper ends of the front plate member 41 and the rear plate member 42 forming the entrance 40A of the front duct 40 form slopes 41K and 42K that slope downward as they approach each other. It's becoming

As shown in FIG. 2, a guide path 23R and an extension flow path 24R are provided above the front duct 40 in the game area R1. As shown in FIG. 5, the guide path 23R has the shape of a duct through which one game ball can flow down, and extends while curving along the edge of the opening of the entry control frame 23, and then vertically. The expanded channel 24R is formed by expanding the right side of the guideway 23R and constricting the expanded right portion toward the inlet 40A of the front duct 40. As shown in FIG. A normal prize winning opening 21C is arranged in the extended flow path 24R at a position that is in the center in the left-right direction and shifted to the right with respect to the exit of the guide path 23R. Obstacle nails 17 are planted in the extended channel 24R on both sides of the exit of the guide channel 23R, on both sides of the opening of the normal winning opening 21C, and in the upper right corner of the extended channel 24R. As a result, in the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, most of the game balls flowing down the guide path 23R collide with the obstructing nail arranged at the left opening edge of the normal winning opening 21C from the guide path 23R, and then enter the normal winning opening. It is designed to pass through the left side of 21C and head to the big prize opening 20. - 特許庁

As shown in FIG. 4 , the front duct 40 has a front stepped portion 40</b>D formed by the inner surface of the glass plate 10</b>G and the upper edge of the front plate member 41 . In the conventional game machine, there is a problem that a game ball (a game ball indicated by a two-dot chain line) rides on the front stepped portion 40D and rolls in the lateral direction. On the other hand, in the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the normal winning opening 21C is arranged with a gap of less than one game ball with respect to the front stepped portion 40D. When the game ball rides on, the normal winning hole 21C abuts on the game ball so that the game ball cannot pass through the gap between the front step part 40D and the normal winning hole 21C.

In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, in a state in which a game ball rides on the front stepped portion 40D and abuts on the normal prize winning opening 21C, the game ball flowing down from the upstream side or right side of the game ball can pass through.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5, in the large prize winning port 20, the leading end portion of the rotating door 20T when it is in a sideways posture is defined as a reference point P0, and the tip is extended from the reference point P0 to the large winning prize port 20 side. The imaginary reference line H is rotated upward around the reference point P0, and when the imaginary reference line H comes into contact with the normal prize winning opening 21C for the first time, the imaginary reference line H intersects with the entry control frame 23. A line segment connecting the intersection point P1 and the reference point P0 can be obtained as the winning line segment N of the big winning opening 20 . Then, the easy winning area K surrounded by the winning line segment N, the entry control frame 23 and the rotating door 20T has a size that allows one or more game balls to enter, and the area other than the winning line segment N passes through. Since there is no entrance path and no exit path for game balls other than the big winning hole 20, most of the game balls entering the easy winning area K win the big winning hole 20.例文帳に追加In other words, the winning line segment N can be regarded as a substantial winning entrance of the big winning opening 20 . The imaginary reference line H is a fictitious straight line that extends infinitely from the reference point P0.

That is, since the left side of the normal winning opening 21C is the easy winning area K, the game balls passing through the left side of the normal winning opening 21C are larger than the game balls passing through the right side of the normal winning opening 21C. It is easy to win a prize in the prize winning opening 20.例文帳に追加

In the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, the normal winning opening 21C is arranged so that the game ball that has climbed onto the front stepped portion 40D comes into contact with the normal winning opening 21C within the easy winning area K. As a result, even if the game ball that has climbed into the easy winning area K of the front stepped part 40D collides with the game ball flowing down from above and falls from the front stepped part 40D, the game ball remains within the easy winning area K. Since it falls, there is a high possibility that it will win a prize in the big prize opening 20.例文帳に追加

In this embodiment, the front stepped portion 40D extends horizontally, while the prize winning protrusion 21H of the normal prize winning opening 21C has an arcuate shape that bulges toward the front stepped portion 40D. In other words, the space between the front stepped portion 40D and the winning protrusion 21H is gradually narrowed so that the game ball on the front stepped portion 40D, which has no place to go, escapes to the game board 11 side. As a result, it is possible to prevent the game ball from riding on the front step portion 40D.

As shown in FIG. 3, the internal flow path 40R has a first flow path 46 and a second flow path 47. The first flow path 46 extends with a width of about three game balls, while the second The flow path 47 extends from the lower end of the first flow path 46 with a width of one game ball. Specifically, the first flow path 46 extends downward to the right, bends downward to the left, and further inclines downward to the right. The portion that slopes downward to the right forms a rolling surface 43M on the inner side surface of the connecting wall 43, and the rolling surface 43M extends to a position that approaches the connecting wall 44 by about one game ball. A second flow path 47 extends from between the lower end of and the connecting wall 44 . In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the front plate member 41 and the rear plate member 42 are provided with protrusions 41T and 42T that protrude toward the internal flow path 40R. The front and rear parts are displaced from each other.

As shown in FIG. 3, after entering the internal flow path 40R, the game ball flows down while meandering in the left-right direction, is received by the rolling surface 43M, rolls on the rolling surface 43M, and then forms a second flow. Enter road 47. At this time, since the width of the flow path is rapidly narrowed, the game balls are arranged in a row on the rolling surface 43M. At that time, if the game balls are arranged to be displaced in the front-rear direction, it is conceivable that the internal flow path 40R will be clogged with balls. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a long hole 48 is formed in the front plate member 41 along the rolling surface 43M. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the long hole 48 is arranged below the contact line L1 with which the game ball rolling on the rolling surface 43M of the front plate member 41 can come into contact. Ball clogging can be eliminated by inserting a tool and moving it along the long hole 48 .

The description of the configuration of the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment is as above. As described above, according to the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, since the normal winning opening 21C is arranged with a gap of less than one game ball from the front step portion 40D, the front step of the front plate member 41 Even if the game ball rides on the part 40D, it is possible to suppress the rolling of the game ball on the front stepped part 40D by the normal winning opening 21C.

[Other embodiments]
(1) In the above embodiment, the normal winning opening 21C was exemplified as the "special front protrusion" in the scope of claims. good.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, while the front stepped portion 40D extends horizontally, the lower surface of the special front projection (the winning projection 21H of the normal winning opening 21C) has an arcuate shape that swells toward the front stepped portion 40D. However, as long as the vertical distance between the front stepped portion 40D and the special front protrusion gradually decreases, the front stepped portion 40D and the lower surface of the special front protrusion may have any configuration. .

(2) In the above embodiment, the big winning opening 20 is provided below the front stepped portion 40D as the "first winning accessory" in the claims. , a starting prize opening, a normal winning opening, a starting gate, or the like.

In addition, the winning opening is, for example, a winning opening that opens in the front and is closed by a rotating door that tilts forward about the lower end of the opening, and a winning opening on the upper surface adjacent to the opening edge of the winning opening. A winning guide having an inclined guide surface for receiving the ball and guiding it to the winning opening may be provided.

(3) In the above embodiment, the elongated hole 48, which is the "tool insertion hole" in the claims, has an elongated hole shape, but may be, for example, circular.

(4) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, there is a gap between the front stepped portion 40D and the lower surface of the special front protrusion (ordinary winning opening 21C). As shown, the lower surface of the special front projection (in FIGS. 7 and 8, the normal winning opening 21C is shown as an example) is located below the front stepped portion 40D, and the front stepped portion 40D and the special front projection There is no gap between it and the lower surface of the part (ordinary prize winning opening 21C), and the game ball that has climbed onto the front stepped part 40D comes into contact with the side surface of the special front protrusion (the winning protrusion 21H of the normal winning prize opening 21C). It may be a configuration.

Also, in FIGS. 5 and 7, the example in which the front stepped portion 40D extends in the horizontal direction has been described, but the front stepped portion 40D may be configured to be slanted in the horizontal direction.

Although specific examples of the technology included in the claims are disclosed in the specification and drawings, the technology described in the claims is not limited to these specific examples. Various modifications and changes of the examples are included, and a part of specific examples is also included.

<Appendix>
Hereinafter, a group of inventions extracted from the above-described embodiments will be described while showing effects and the like as necessary. In the following description, for ease of understanding, configurations corresponding to the above-described embodiments are appropriately shown in parentheses or the like, but are not limited to the specific configurations shown in parentheses or the like.

[Invention 1]
The space between the game board (11) and the transparent translucent window (10G) covering it from the front forms a downflow space for the game balls to flow down, and the downflow space protrudes from the front surface of the game board and flows down. A gaming machine comprising a plurality of front protrusions that abut against a game ball, and the plurality of front protrusions include a plurality of prize-winning accessories that provide a player with a profit when the game ball wins,
a front plate member (41) supported by the front end of the front protrusion, partially covering the game board from the front, and having the flowing space between the game board and the game board;
a front stepped portion (40D) formed by the rear surface of the translucent window plate and the upward surface of the front plate member and extending in a lateral direction or an oblique lateral direction;
The plurality of front protrusions are arranged at positions where they contact a game ball moving along the front stepped portion while riding on the front stepped portion at a midway position in the longitudinal direction of the front stepped portion. A game machine that includes a special front projection (21C) that

According to the gaming machine of invention 1, even if a game ball rides on the front stepped portion of the front plate member, it is possible to suppress rolling of the game ball on the front stepped portion by the special front protrusion.

[Invention 2]
The plurality of prize-winning accessories include a first prize-winning accessory (20) located below the front stepped portion,
The front stepped portion includes a portion included in the winning easy range (K) located above the winning opening of the first winning accessory or the winning guide that guides the game ball to the winning opening, and the other normal and a portion located in the range,
The special front projecting portion is arranged at a position within the easy winning range that makes contact with a game ball moving along the front stepped portion while riding on the portion included in the easy winning range of the front stepped portion. The game machine according to claim 1.

According to the invention 2, it is possible to suppress the rolling of the game ball riding on the front stepped portion within the range of the part included in the winning easy range of the front stepped portion.

[Invention 3]
The gaming machine according to invention 1 or 2, wherein the lower surface of the special front projection has an arcuate shape that swells toward the front stepped portion and gradually approaches the front stepped portion.

According to the invention 3, the space between the front stepped portion and the special front projection portion is gradually narrowed so that the game balls on the front stepped portion that have no place to go can escape to the game board side, and the front stepped portion of the game balls. It is possible to eliminate the riding up of the part.

[Invention 4]
A rolling part (43M) is arranged in the downflow space between the front plate member and the game board and on which game balls roll,
A tool insertion hole (a tool insertion hole ( 48), the game machine according to any one of Inventions 1 to 3.

When the rolling path is arranged between the front plate member and the game board, it is necessary to remove the front plate member using a tool when the balls are clogged on the rolling path, which is cumbersome. According to the structure of invention 4, ball clogging can be easily eliminated by inserting a tool through the tool insertion hole without removing the front plate member.

[Invention 5]
The gaming machine according to invention 4, wherein the tool insertion hole has an elongated hole shape extending parallel to the contact line.

According to the invention 5, ball clogging can be easily eliminated simply by moving the tool along the tool insertion opening.

10 game machine 10G glass plate 11 game board 21C normal winning opening 40 front duct 41 front plate member 41D front stepped portion 48 long hole

Claims (2)

The space between the game board and the transparent translucent window covering it from the front forms a downflow space for the game balls to flow down, and the downflow space is in contact with the game balls that protrude from the front surface of the game board and flow down. In a gaming machine provided with a plurality of front protrusions, the plurality of front protrusions including a plurality of winning accessories that provide a player with a profit when a game ball wins,
a front plate member supported by the front end of the front protrusion, partially covering the game plate from the front, and having the flowing space between the game plate and the game plate;
a front stepped portion formed by the rear surface of the translucent window portion and the upward surface of the front plate member and extending in a lateral direction or an obliquely lateral direction;
The plurality of prize-winning accessories include a first prize-winning accessory located below the front stepped portion,
The front stepped portion includes a portion included in the easy winning range located above the winning opening of the first winning accessory or a winning guide that guides the game ball to the winning opening, and the other portion located in the normal range. and a part to
A game ball moving from the easy winning range toward the normal range while riding on the front stepped portion abuts on the plurality of front protrusions before reaching the normal range. A game machine that contains 2. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the special front projection has an arcuate shape that expands toward the front stepped portion and gradually approaches the front stepped portion.

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