JP7779496B2 - Pachinko machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pachinko gaming machine with a replaceable presentation unit, and in particular to a pachinko gaming machine in which the entire presentation unit that displays the characteristics of an individual gaming machine can be replaced.

In response to societal demands for environmental conservation, pachinko machines are also being designed with reuse and recycling in mind. To address this, gaming machines have been proposed that allow for the replacement of the display elements (including LEDs and other decorative elements, LCD display devices, etc.; the same applies hereinafter) that characterize each individual gaming machine, allowing players to upgrade to a new gaming machine and reusing parts of them.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a gaming machine that can be upgraded to a new model by simply replacing the gaming board, without replacing the gaming machine frame. The gaming board is mounted on the gaming machine frame, and an openable front door is attached to the front of the gaming board. This front door is equipped with performance components (LEDs, speakers, etc.) that are part of the performance section. By attaching a drive control circuit board that operates the performance components to the back of the gaming board, the document states that even if the gaming board is replaced, the drive circuit board can be reused as a drive circuit board for the performance components of the new model.

Patent Document 2 also discloses a gaming machine in which the entire decoration, including the sheet material attached to the gaming board, is replaceable, allowing the front body of the gaming board to be reused. Here, with gaming machines that have a gaming board with a front body that is provided with both a sheet material that represents the gaming machine's characteristics and a decoration, when changing the gaming machine model, the sheet material and the decoration must be replaced together. Therefore, the invention proposes that only the decoration can be removed from the gaming board, allowing the front body to be reused.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-68628 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-42567

As mentioned above, pachinko gaming machines have been proposed that allow for the replacement of parts of the presentation section that characterize each individual machine, but replacing the entire machine would be large-scale and the mechanical structure would be extremely complex. It would also be desirable to be able to replace the control board that controls the electrical components of the presentation section at the same time.

The present invention was made in light of the above situation, and its purpose is to provide a pachinko gaming machine in which the entire presentation section, which represents the characteristics of each individual gaming machine, can be replaced.

The pachinko gaming machine of the present invention includes a gaming board attached to the inside of a frame that is attached to an amusement facility and has a playing area in which gaming balls roll along its surface; a presentation unit that is arranged around the gaming board so as to fill the gap between the frame and the gaming board; and a mounting frame to which the presentation unit is fixed, the mounting frame being detachably attached to the gaming board.

This feature allows for the use of a mounting frame equipped with a presentation element, making it possible to easily replace presentation elements that reflect the characteristics of individual gaming machines.

The above invention may be characterized in that it includes a main frame to which the game board, provided with a main board, is fixed, and the mounting frame can be detachably combined with the main frame. It may also be characterized in that the mounting frame is attached to the back of the main frame. This feature makes it easier to replace the presentation unit.

In the above invention, the gaming board may include a display window made of a transparent or translucent plate material through which the backside of the gaming board can be seen, and the mounting frame may be fitted with a variable display device that is combined with the main frame so that the display surface of the variable display device faces the backside of the display window. This feature makes it possible to easily replace the presentation unit that shows the characteristics of individual gaming machines.

The above invention may be characterized in that a presentation board that controls the operation of the presentation unit is provided on the mounting frame. This feature makes it possible to easily replace presentation units that reflect the characteristics of individual gaming machines.

In the above invention, the performance board may include a CPU and a memory unit that stores a program that provides the CPU's operation, and the program in the memory unit may be rewritable. It may also be characterized in that the program in the memory unit can be rewritten while the mounting frame remains attached to the main frame. It may also be characterized in that the program in the memory unit can be rewritten from a remote location via communications means. This feature allows for an increased variety of performances using replaced performance units.

1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine in one embodiment according to the present invention. 1 is a top view of a pachinko gaming machine in one embodiment according to the present invention. 1 is a side view of a pachinko gaming machine in one embodiment according to the present invention. 1 is an exploded side view of a pachinko gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a front view of (a) a separation section and (b) a main body section of a pachinko game machine. 1 is a block diagram of the main parts of a pachinko gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a side view of a pachinko gaming machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

A pachinko gaming machine as one embodiment of the present invention will be described using Figures 1 to 5.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, gaming machine 1, which is a pachinko gaming machine, is attached inside outer frame 2, which is a framework installed in an island facility within an amusement parlor (not shown). Gaming machine 1 has a main frame 5 attached to outer frame 2 so as to be able to open and close, and a door frame 3 with an opening 3a attached to main frame 5 so as to be able to open and close. Door frame 3 is further equipped with a transparent plate 6 that closes opening 3a, a handle 7 that is operated to launch gaming balls, and an upper tray 8 and a lower tray 9 that store gaming balls. Note that when directions are indicated hereinafter, they will be those seen from the perspective of a player facing gaming machine 1, as shown in the figure.

The main frame 5 is a frame body with a roughly rectangular cross section that fits along the outer frame 2. A game board 10 is fixed inside the main frame 5, forming a play area 19 between it and a transparent plate 6 fitted into the door frame 3, along whose surface game balls roll. Approximately in the center of the game board 10 is a first effect device 12 that displays the results of the jackpot lottery process with accompanying effects to notify the player. The first effect device 12 may be, for example, an LCD panel display device, but it may also be an LED dot matrix or a rotating belt display device. The game board 10 is further provided with prize openings such as a start chucker 13 and an attacker 14, as well as other prize openings, pegs, and other devices (not shown), which can redirect the path of the game balls as they roll and fall within the play area 19.

The door frame 3 is separate from the second effect device 4 located at the top, and can be opened and closed by rotating around the rotation axis between the middle hinge 11b and the lower hinge 11c. The upper hinge 11a, together with the lower hinge 11c, is used to obtain the rotation axis for rotating the main frame 5 relative to the outer frame 2. The second effect device 4 is arranged to protrude forward from the periphery of the transparent plate 6 when the door frame 3 is closed, and can provide effects in accordance with the progress of the game using the built-in lighting and speakers. The second effect device 4 is a so-called decorative element made of LEDs, and together with the first effect device 12, it is a performance unit whose performance operation is controlled by the performance board 30.

Referring also to Figure 3, the gaming machine 1 is provided with a main board 20 that performs lottery processing and controls game operations, located at the back of the gaming board 10 and below the first presentation device 12. The main board 20 is enclosed in a board case (not shown) and attached to the back of the gaming board 10. Furthermore, provided at the back of the first presentation device 12 is a presentation board 30 that mainly controls presentation operations to notify the results of the lottery processing.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 together, the gaming machine 1 can be separated into a main body portion 1a and a separate portion 1b. The separate portion 1b includes an attachment frame 5a and a first effect device 12 and a second effect device 4 as an effect device 4' fixed thereto. The attachment frame 5a can be detachably combined with the main body frame 5 of the main body portion 1a. By combining the attachment frame 5a with the main body portion 1a, the second effect device 4 is positioned so as to fill the space 5c between the gaming board 10 and the upper part of the main body frame 5. In other words, the second effect device 4 of the effect device 4' is positioned around the left, right, and upper periphery of the gaming board 10.

The separation unit 1b also supports the first effect device 12 so that it protrudes from the back to the front via an auxiliary frame 5b connected to the back side of the mounting frame 5a. It also supports the effect board 30, which is positioned behind the first effect device 12, and the second relay port 50, which will be described later. The separation unit 1b then inserts the second effect device 4 from the back into the space 5c along the top of the main frame 5, fixing the mounting frame 5a to the main frame 5 from the back. As a result, the separation unit 1b also fixes the second effect device 4 to the main unit 1a, causing it to protrude toward the front. At this time, the first effect device 12 is positioned so that it faces forward from behind the through-hole 10a in the center of the game board 10. The mounting frame 5a and auxiliary frame 5b thus serve to unite multiple effect devices into one unit, and may be configured like a cabinet.

As shown in FIG. 6, the main board 20 is equipped with a CPU 21, ROM 22, RAM 23, and input/output ports 24. On the main board 20, the CPU 21 executes processing related to game operations in accordance with a program recorded in the ROM 22. The CPU 21 also proceeds with processing while rewritably recording data generated during processing in the RAM 23 as necessary. Through these operations, the main board 20 primarily controls game operations.

The main board 20 receives, for example, via the input/output port 24, a signal detecting the entry of a game ball from a sensor provided in a prize opening such as the start chucker 13, and performs lottery processing for winning jackpots and the like. The main board 20 also sends a signal to a separately provided payout control board to pay out prize balls in response to a win. Furthermore, the main board 20 sends signals to operate solenoids such as the electric devices and attacker 14 involved in the progression of the game. In this way, the main board 20 can control game operations such as winning detection, lottery processing, and payouts. Furthermore, the main board 20 sends a game signal to the performance board 30 that includes information about the lottery processing, such as the results of the lottery processing. The game signal includes, for example, information such as whether the jackpot lottery was won or not, and the time required for the performance to display the lottery results.

A payout control board 60 is connected to the main board 20 and includes a CPU 61, ROM 62, RAM 63, and an input/output port 64. The payout control board 60 can control the gaming operations performed by the main board 20, primarily those related to payouts, based on signals from the main board 20. It can also control the payout of prize balls and payouts in response to requests to borrow game balls.

Like the payout control board described above, performance boards that receive signals from the main board are generally electrically connected directly to the main board via wiring. In contrast, in this embodiment, game signals from the main board 20 can be transmitted to the performance board 30 non-contactly via two relay ports.

In detail, the first relay port 40 connected to the main board 20 is capable of receiving game signals transmitted unidirectionally from the main board 20. Furthermore, the second relay port 50 is connected to the performance board 30, allowing game signals or corresponding signals to be transmitted unidirectionally from the second relay port 50 to the performance board 30. A signal transmission means for non-contact transmission of game signals is provided between the first relay port 40 and the second relay port 50, allowing game signals to be transmitted unidirectionally from the first relay port 40 to the second relay port 50. The signal transmission means includes an emitter 41 that emits game signals to the first relay port 40, and a reader 51 that reads game signals emitted from the emitter 41 is provided in the second relay port 50.

For example, an image display device capable of displaying two-dimensional codes is used as the emitter 41, and a camera capable of recognizing two-dimensional codes through image processing is used as the reader 51. This converts the gaming signal into a two-dimensional code, allowing the gaming signal to be transmitted without contact. Alternatively, by using optical transmission means as appropriate, gaming signals can be transmitted at high speed and with high stability. Instead of optical transmission means, other transmission means capable of transmitting gaming signals without contact, such as sound waves or magnetic waves, can also be used.

In this way, the performance board 30 can receive game signals from the second relay port 50. The performance board 30 is equipped with a CPU 31, ROM 32, RAM 33, input port 34, and output port 35. On the performance board 30, the CPU 31 executes processing related to performance operations in accordance with the program recorded in ROM 32. The CPU 31 also proceeds with processing while rewritably recording data generated during processing in RAM 33 as necessary. These operations allow the performance board 30 to control performance operations.

The presentation board 30 extracts the result of the jackpot lottery from the game signal received via the input port 34, as well as the time required for the presentation to display the lottery results, and controls presentation operations to notify the player of the results of the lottery process accordingly. For example, presentation operations involve varying a multi-digit number on the first presentation device 12, and stopping the multi-digit number at a repeating number if the result of the lottery process is a jackpot, or at a different number (number) if the result is a loss. This series of operations, from the number variation to the number stopping, is performed in accordance with the time required for the presentation described above. Furthermore, presentation operations can involve using light and sound from the lighting and speakers mounted on the second presentation device 4 in accordance with the progress of the game.

In detail, the performance board 30 can select one pattern corresponding to the game signal from multiple predetermined performance patterns and send a signal indicating this pattern via the output port 35. This signal is input to the respective sub-sub-boards (not shown) for image performance, LED performance, and audio performance. Each sub-sub-board operates the lighting and speakers of the first performance device 12 and second performance device 4 in a pattern corresponding to the input signal, thereby producing the performance pattern selected by the performance board 30.

As mentioned above, the main board 20 is located at the rear of the game board 10, below the first presentation device 12. In other words, the main board 20 is attached to the game board 10 of the main body 1a. On the other hand, the presentation board 30 is located at the rear of the first presentation device 12, and is attached to the separation part 1b. Then, by removing the separation part 1b from the main body 1a, the main board 20 and the presentation board 30 can be separated.

For this reason, the first relay port 40 connected to the main board 20 is placed in the main body section 1a, and the second relay port 50 connected to the performance board 30 is placed in the separation section 1b. When the main body section 1a and separation section 1b are combined, the first relay port 40 and the second relay port 50 are positioned so that they can transmit game signals to each other without contact. For example, when the optical transmission means described above is used, the emission device 41 of the first relay port 40 and the reading device 51 of the second relay port 50 are positioned opposite each other.

As described above, the gaming machine 1 detachably combines a separate section 1b including an attachment frame 5a with a presentation board 30 and a main body section 1a including a game board 10 with a main board 20, and is equipped with an emitter 41 and a reader 51 as signal transmission means for contactlessly transmitting game signals from the main board 20 to the presentation board 30. This makes it possible to easily replace the separate section 1b and the presentation section 4' provided therein. The presentation section 4' consists of a first presentation device 12 and a second presentation device 4 and is manufactured to reflect the characteristics of an individual gaming machine, and by simply replacing the presentation section 4' on the gaming machine 1, it can be used as a different model without replacing the main body section 1a.

In the above example, the game signal is transmitted from the issuing device 41 to the reading device 51 using a two-dimensional code, but this can also be done using a code. For example, the game signal is encrypted at the first relay port 40, an image corresponding to the code is displayed on the image display device used as the issuing device 41, this image is captured by the reading device 51, and the image is decrypted at the second relay port 50 to obtain the game signal.

Predetermined codes can also be used as game signals. A correspondence table that defines codes corresponding to each set of information, such as whether a jackpot has been won or not, and the time required for the effects to display the lottery results, is stored in the main board 20, and this code is extracted when the main board 20 creates a game signal. The extracted code is then transmitted as a game signal to the effect board 30, which stores the same correspondence table, and the effect corresponding to the code can be selected on the effect board 30 to perform the effect. A second correspondence table that defines effect patterns corresponding to the codes can also be stored in the effect board 30, and the effects can be performed based on this table.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, a gaming machine 1' as another embodiment is the gaming machine 1 described above, further comprising a display window 60 on the gaming board 10. The display window 60 is formed, for example, by fitting a transparent or translucent plate 61 into an opening 62 provided in the gaming board 10, allowing the back (rear side) to be seen. A variable display 63 is provided facing the back of the display window 60. Similar to the first effect device 12, the variable display device 63 is supported by the auxiliary frame 5b on the separation unit 1b so as to protrude from the rear side to the front side, and the image displayed on the display surface of the variable display 63 is controlled by the effect board 30. In other words, the variable display 63 is also provided as part of the effect unit 4' and is detachable from the main body unit 1a together with the separation unit 1b.

As a result, the image displayed in the display window 60, either transmitted through the board 61 or projected onto the board 61, can be controlled by the effect board 30 via the variable display device 63. As described above, the variable display device 63 is attached to the separation unit 1b, and the effect unit 4', which can be replaced as the separation unit 1b, can be used to add images such as characters or patterns that represent the characteristics of individual gaming machines to the gaming machine 1, including the image displayed in the display window 60. The gaming board 10 may also be made of a transparent or translucent material, with the gaming board 10 itself serving as the board 61 to provide the display window 60.

The performance board 30 may be configured to be rewritable with the program for processing the performance operations. In this case, at least a portion of the program can be stored in RAM 33, which serves as the storage unit, and the performance operations are processed by referencing the program stored in RAM 33 in accordance with the program recorded in ROM 32. This increases the variety of performances. It is also preferable that the program stored in RAM be rewritable while the separation unit 1b remains combined with the main unit 1a. For example, it is advisable to use a communication means to access RAM 33 from a remote location and rewrite the stored program.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to examples and variations thereof, the present invention is not necessarily limited to these examples. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will be able to identify various alternative embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of the appended claims.

1 Gaming machine 1a Main body 1b Separation part 5 Main body frame 5a Mounting frame 10 Gaming board 20 Main board 30 Performance board 60 Display window

Claims (7)

An outer frame which is a frame body installed in the island equipment in the amusement park;
a main frame that is a frame body that is provided along the outer frame and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape when viewed from the front, and is attached to the outer frame so as to be able to be opened and closed;
A game board portion is attached to fill a part of the space inside the frame of the main frame and has a game area for rolling game balls along the surface;
An attachment frame is attached to the main frame so as to fill the gap between the game board unit and the space inside the frame of the main frame, and is a frame body for arranging a performance unit around the game board unit,
The mounting frame is attached to the rear surface of the main frame and is detachably combined with the main frame. A pachinko gaming machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that the gaming board section has a main board on its back surface. The game board includes a display window made of a transparent or translucent plate material through which the back surface of the game board can be seen,
3. The pachinko gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the mounting frame is fitted with a variable display device, and is combined with the main frame so that the display surface of the variable display device faces the back surface of the display window. A pachinko gaming machine as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a performance board that controls the operation of the performance unit is provided on the mounting frame. A pachinko gaming machine as described in claim 4, characterized in that the performance board includes a CPU and a memory unit that stores a program that provides this operation, and the program in the memory unit is rewritable. A pachinko gaming machine as described in claim 5, characterized in that the program in the memory unit can be rewritten while the mounting frame remains attached to the main frame. A pachinko gaming machine as described in claim 6, characterized in that the program in the memory unit can be rewritten from a remote location via communication means.