JP7833488B2 - Gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a gaming machine.

For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, there are known amusement machines equipped with a so-called "wing-type" attacker device that opens and closes a prize entry opening in accordance with the rotational movement of a movable piece around its axis.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-187150

In this type of gaming machine, when the prize entry opening changes from the open to the closed position, the recoil from the rotational movement of the movable piece returning from the open position to the closed position can cause the transition to the closed position to be incomplete. As a result, there is a risk of unintended prize entries occurring.

In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a gaming machine capable of suppressing unintended winnings in the design.

To solve the above problems, the gaming machine of the present invention is:
A game board in which a game area is formed through which game balls flow,
The aforementioned game area includes a prize entry point,
A movable member that can rotate around a rotation axis from a closed state in which the rolling surface on which the game ball can roll faces the wall, making it impossible or difficult for the game ball to enter the prize opening, to an open state in which the rolling surface is further away from the wall than in the closed state, making it possible for the game ball to enter the prize opening,
Equipped with,
The rolling surface is,
It extends from the tip furthest from the rotation axis to the base end on the rotation axis side,
Including the tip-side region on the tip side of the center position between the tip and the base end,
The wall surface is provided with a contact portion that contacts the tip-side region of the rolling surface when the movable member is in the closed state.
The width in the rotational axis direction at the contact portion is smaller than the width in the rotational axis direction at the tip side region of the rolling surface.

According to this invention, it becomes possible to suppress unintended award wins in the design.

This is a front view of the gaming machine. This is a front view of the game board. This is a front view of the grand prize winning slot unit. This is a perspective view of the grand prize winning unit. This is a cross-sectional view of the grand prize winning slot unit. This is a portion of the front view of the grand prize winning slot unit.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in these embodiments are merely illustrative to facilitate understanding of the invention and, unless otherwise specified, do not limit the present invention. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant explanations, and elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the illustration.

Figure 1 is a front view of the gaming machine 100. The gaming machine 100 comprises a housing 102. The housing 102 includes a main frame and a front door supported by the main frame so as to be openable and closable. The main frame holds the game board 104, and the front door holds the transparent plate 110. When the front door is closed relative to the main frame, the game board 104 and the transparent plate 110 face each other approximately parallel to maintain a predetermined distance, and the game board 104 is visible from the front of the gaming machine 100 through the transparent plate 110.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, an operating handle 112 is provided at the bottom of the front door, protruding from the front side of the gaming machine 100. This operating handle 112 is designed to be rotatable by the player. When the player rotates the operating handle 112 to perform a launch operation, a game ball is launched by a launching mechanism (not shown) with a force corresponding to the rotation angle of the operating handle 112.

Figure 2 is a front view of the game board 104. The front surface of the game board 104 is provided with an outer member 114, an inner member 116, and a rail 118. The outer member 114 is made of a thin metal plate and extends from the lower part of the game board 104 towards the upper left, near the periphery of the game board 104, and also extends from the left side of the game board 104 towards the upper part of the game board 104 and towards the center in the width direction.

Furthermore, the outer member 114 includes the uppermost part 114a of the game board 104, and extends from this uppermost part 114a further toward the right side of the game board 104 and vertically downward. The outer member 114 is gently curved overall, and the launched game balls are guided by the outer member 114 into the game area 120.

Furthermore, the game board 104 has a through-hole 104a, and an inner member 116 is provided above this through-hole 104a, standing upright on the front side of the game board 104. This inner member 116 is attached to the game board 104 and prevents game balls from falling into the through-hole 104a. The rail 118 is located on the left side of the game board 104, and is positioned inside the game area 120, beyond the outer member 114.

The game area 120 is a space surrounded by the game board 104, the perforated plate 110, the outer member 114, and the inner member 116, and is an area where game balls can flow or roll. The game board 104 is equipped with numerous nails and windmills, and game balls guided into the game area 120 collide with these nails and windmills, causing them to flow or roll in irregular directions.

The game area 120 comprises a first game area 120a and a second game area 120b, which differ in the degree to which game balls enter each area depending on the launch strength of the launching mechanism. The first game area 120a is located to the left of the game area 120 as viewed from a player facing the game machine 100, and the second game area 120b is located to the right of the game area 120 as viewed from a player facing the game machine 100. Therefore, game balls launched by the launching mechanism with a launch strength below a predetermined strength enter the first game area 120a, while game balls launched with a launch strength equal to or greater than the predetermined strength enter the second game area 120b.

Furthermore, the game area 120 is provided with a general prize entry point 130 and a starter entry point 140 into which game balls can be entered. When game balls enter these general prize entry points 130 and starter entry points 140, a predetermined number of prize balls are dispensed to the player. The number of prize balls dispensed can be one or more, and the number of prize balls dispensed from the general prize entry points 130 and starter entry points 140 may be different or the same.

Furthermore, a starting area is provided within the starting opening 140. When a game ball enters the starting opening 140 and moves into the starting area, a lottery is held to determine one of several pre-determined special symbols. Each special symbol is associated with various game benefits, such as whether or not a high-stakes game can be played for the player, and what the subsequent game state will be. Therefore, when a game ball enters the starting opening 140, the player not only wins a predetermined prize ball but also gains the opportunity to acquire the right to receive various game benefits.

Furthermore, the game area 120 is equipped with a large prize slot unit 200 and a regular symbol activation slot 150. When a game ball enters the regular symbol activation slot 150, a lottery is held to determine the regular symbol. Details of the large prize slot unit 200 will be described later with a diagram.

Furthermore, at the very bottom of the game area 120, there is an outlet 160 for discharging game balls that did not enter any of the general prize slots 130, the start slot 140, or the large prize slot 210, to the back side of the game board 104.

Next, the large prize winning slot unit 200 will be described. In this embodiment, when viewing the game machine 100 from the front, the front side (forward) and back side (rear) are defined as the forward direction. Also, when viewing the game machine 100 from the front, the right side and left side are defined as the right direction and left direction, respectively, respectively, respectively. Furthermore, the upper side and lower side are defined as the upward direction and downward direction, respectively, respectively, respectively, respectively, respectively.

Figure 3 is a front view of the large prize slot unit 200. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the large prize slot unit 200. As shown in Figure 3, the large prize slot unit 200 comprises a main body 201, a large prize slot 210, a movable member 220, a rotating shaft 230, a drive device 240, and a contact portion 250.

The large prize slot 210 opens and closes when the movable member 220 moves. Normally, the movable member 220 closes the large prize slot 210, making it impossible or difficult for game balls to enter it. However, when the aforementioned large prize game is performed, the movable member 220 moves, opening the large prize slot 210 to allow game balls to enter. Once a game ball enters the large prize slot 210, a predetermined number of prize balls are dispensed to the player.

The main body 201 is a component that constitutes the main part of the large prize slot unit 200. The main body 201 is located approximately in the center of the second game area 120b on the game board 104. The main body 201 has an internal space, within which various components of the large prize slot unit 200 are housed. For example, the main body 201 has a channel through which game balls flowing down from above the large prize slot unit 200 flow down below it. Furthermore, the main body 201 is made of a transparent or translucent resin material, allowing a player facing the game machine 100 to visually observe the trajectory of the game balls flowing down inside. Additionally, the front surface of the main body 201 may be adorned with decorations related to the game machine 100.

As described above, the movable member 220 opens and closes the large prize opening 210 by moving. The movable member 220 is pivotally supported on the main body 201 by a rotating shaft 230. The rotating shaft 230 is positioned to penetrate the movable member 220 in both the front and back directions. The movable member 220 is rotatable around the rotating shaft 230.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, the movable member 220 has a rolling surface 222 on which the game ball can roll. The width D of the rolling surface 222 in the front and back directions should be such that the game ball can roll without falling, for example, it should be greater than or equal to the diameter of the game ball. The rolling surface 222 extends from the tip 223 furthest from the rotation axis 230 to the base end 224 on the rotation axis side.

In Figure 3, the movable member 220 is in a closed state, preventing game balls from entering the large prize opening 210. At this time, the rolling surface 222 faces the wall surface 260 of the large prize opening unit 200. More specifically, the rolling surface 222 and the wall surface 260 face each other approximately parallel to each other, maintaining a predetermined distance. Here, the predetermined distance is smaller than the diameter of the game ball, and game balls flowing down from above the large prize opening unit 200 cannot enter the gap between the rolling surface 222 and the wall surface 260. Therefore, game balls flowing down from above the large prize opening unit 200 flow downwards, as indicated by the arrows in the figure, resulting in a closed state where entry into the large prize opening 210 is impossible.

Furthermore, the predetermined distance between the rolling surface 222 and the wall surface 260 is not limited to a distance smaller than the diameter of the game ball. For example, the predetermined distance between the rolling surface 222 and the wall surface 260 may be greater than or equal to the diameter of the game ball, as shown by the arrow in the figure, as long as it does not obstruct the flow of the game ball from above to below the large prize opening unit 200. In this case, the game ball flowing down from above the large prize opening unit 200 will be in a closed state where it is difficult for the game ball to enter the large prize opening 210. Hereafter, the closed state in which it is impossible for the game ball to enter the large prize opening 210 and the closed state in which it is difficult for the game ball to enter the large prize opening 210 will be collectively referred to simply as the "closed state."

In Figure 4, the movable member 220 is in an open state, allowing game balls to enter the large prize opening 210. At this time, the rolling surface 222 is further away from the wall surface 260 than when it is closed. More specifically, the tip 223 of the movable member 220 is separated from the wall surface 260 to the left. Furthermore, the rolling surface 222 is inclined from the upper left to the lower right. As a result, game balls flowing down from above the large prize opening unit 200 roll on the rolling surface 222, as indicated by the arrows in the figure, opening the opening to allow entry into the large prize opening 210.

Furthermore, in the open state described above, the movable member 220 only needs to be provided with an inclination such that the game balls flowing down from above the large prize opening unit 200 fall onto the rolling surface 222 and roll toward the large prize opening 210. The inclination angle of the rolling surface 222, the distance between the tip 223 and the wall surface 260, etc., are not particularly limited.

Furthermore, when the movable member 220 is in the open state, a gap V is formed between the tip portion 223 and the first flow path forming portion 202 of the main body 201, allowing game balls to flow down. Here, the first flow path forming portion 202 is a wall surface on the extension of the rolling surface 222. The first flow path forming portion 202 faces the tip portion 223 in the left-right (horizontal) direction. Furthermore, the first flow path forming portion 202 extends in the vertical direction and faces the wall surface 260 in the left-right (horizontal) direction. The gap V only needs to be large enough for game balls to flow down. For example, the size of the gap V should be at least the size of one game ball. This prevents game balls from getting stuck between the movable member 220 and the first flow path forming portion 202, or between the movable member 220 and other wall surfaces of the main body 201, during the open state of the movable member 220, or during transitions between the open and closed states of the movable member 220.

On the other hand, because there is a gap V between the movable member 220 and the first flow path forming section 202 that is at least the width of one game ball, players may feel uneasy that even though the large prize winning section unit 200 is open, the game balls will not enter the large prize winning section 210 but will instead flow down below the large prize winning section unit 200 through the gap V. Therefore, in the game machine 100 according to this embodiment, the movable member 220 is provided with a protruding portion 225 that extends from the tip 223 of the rolling surface 222 toward the gap V, that is, toward the first flow path forming section 202.

For example, the protrusion 225 is provided on the front surface of the movable member 220 and has a canopy or flange shape. The distance between the first flow path forming portion 202 and the tip of the protrusion 225 is formed to be less than the diameter of the game ball. Also, the width of the protrusion 225 in the front and rear directions is smaller than the width of the rolling surface 222. Furthermore, a second flow path forming portion 203 is provided on the rear side of the movable member 220. The second flow path forming portion 203 is a plane substantially perpendicular to the first flow path forming portion 202 and the wall surface 260, and faces the movable member 220 while maintaining a small gap. The gap between the rolling surface 222 of the movable member 220 and the second flow path forming portion 203 is less than the diameter of the game ball, and more specifically, smaller than the radius of the game ball. As a result, the game ball rolling on the rolling surface 222 is guided to the large prize opening 210 without falling off the rolling surface 222 to the rear side.

On the other hand, the distance between the second flow path forming portion 203 and the protruding portion 225, that is, the distance between the surface of the protruding portion 225 facing the second flow path forming portion 203 and the second flow path forming portion 203, is greater than or equal to the diameter of the game ball. The distance between the surface facing the second flow path forming portion 203 and the second flow path forming portion 203 is equivalent to the width of the gap V in the front and back directions. Therefore, game balls flowing down on the side of the first flow path forming portion 202 beyond the tip portion 223 of the rolling surface 222 can flow downward from the gap V beyond the protruding portion 225.

Here, the protruding portion 225 acts as a screen, preventing the player facing the game machine 100 from seeing the gap V through which the game ball can flow between the tip portion 223, the first flow path forming portion 202, and the second flow path forming portion 203. The player facing the game machine 100 will perceive that there is no gap V between the movable member 220 and the first flow path forming portion 202 through which the game ball can flow. Therefore, the game machine 100 can prevent ball jamming while providing the player with a sense of security regarding the entry of game balls into the large prize opening 210 when the large prize opening unit 200 is open.

The drive unit 240 is located inside the main body 201. The drive unit 240 rotates the movable member 220 by rotating the rotating shaft 230. For example, the drive unit 240 only needs to be able to rotate the movable member 220 from the closed state to the open state described above. As shown in Figure 3, the drive unit 240 has a drive source 240a and a connecting mechanism 240b that connects the drive source 240a and the movable member 220. In this embodiment, the drive source 240a is composed of a solenoid.

The contact portion 250 is a projection provided on the wall surface 260 of the large prize slot unit 200. When the movable member 220 is in the closed state, the rolling surface 222 comes into contact with the contact portion 250. The contact portion 250 is provided on the wall surface 260 at a position corresponding to the tip-side region R of the rolling surface 222. Here, the tip-side region R is the region on the rolling surface 222 that is closer to the tip than the center position between the tip portion 223 and the base portion 224.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the large prize slot unit 200. Specifically, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the line V-V in Figure 3, viewed from above. As shown in Figure 5, a portion of the contact portion 250 is in contact with the rolling surface 222 of the movable member 220. The width d of the portion of the contact portion 250 that is in contact with the movable member 220, in the front and back directions, is smaller than the width D of the rolling surface 222 in the front and back directions. Preferably, the width d of the contact portion is half or less of the width D of the rolling surface 222. By making the width d of the contact portion half or less of the width D of the rolling surface 222, the contact area between the rolling surface 222 and the contact portion 250 can be reduced, thereby suppressing powder buildup that occurs during contact.

Furthermore, let's assume that the contact width d between the contact portion 250 and the rolling surface 222 is the same as the width D of the rolling surface 222. That is, when the movable member 220 moves from the open state to the closed state, the contact portion 250 contacts the entire width D of the rolling surface 222. In this case, when the rolling surface 222 contacts the contact portion 250, the rolling surface 222 receives a reaction force from the contact portion 250. Since this reaction force coincides with the direction in which the movable member 220 moves from the closed state to the open state, the movable member 220 may bounce back due to the recoil, potentially causing a delay before the movable member 220 is completely closed. As a result, unintended winnings may occur in the large prize slot 210.

In contrast, in this embodiment, because the width d of the contact portion is smaller than the width D of the rolling surface 222, the movable member 220 tilts when it moves from an open state to a closed state and a part of the rolling surface 222 comes into contact with the contact portion 250. Specifically, when the movable member 220 moves from an open state to a closed state and the rolling surface 222 comes into contact with the contact portion 250, a force acting on the movable member 220 in the direction to the right in the figure is applied. On the other hand, a reaction force acting on the rear portion of the rolling surface 222 that comes into contact with the contact portion 250 is applied in the direction to the left in the figure. As a result, the movable member 220 tilts so that the portion of the movable member 220 that is closer to the wall surface 260 than the contact portion 250 is applied. This reduces the risk of the movable member 220 becoming partially open due to the recoil from contact with the contact portion 250, thereby preventing unintended ball entry into the large prize opening 210.

Figure 6 is a partial front view of the large prize slot unit 200. As shown in Figure 6, in the main body 201, a light-emitting element 270 is provided on the second flow path forming section 203, which is the wall surface in the rear direction of the movable member 220. The light-emitting element 270 is provided along the rolling surface 222 through which the game balls flow when the movable member 220 is in the open state. A light-diffusing structure (not shown) is provided on the front side of the light-emitting element 270 in the second flow path forming section 203, diffusing the light emitted from the light-emitting element 270 throughout the entire flow path through which the game balls flow in the movable member 220, causing it to emit light. At this time, the protruding part 225 may also be made to appear as if a flow path exists there as well. Furthermore, the movable member 220 may be made of a translucent resin material, making it appear as if the movable member 220 itself is also emitting light. This allows the player to be alerted to the ball entering the large prize slot 210 when the large prize slot unit 200 is in the open state.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and alterations can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these will naturally also fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

The gaming machine of the present invention is not limited to the gaming machine 100 described above,
A game board 104 in which a game area 120 is formed through which game balls flow,
A prize-winning opening (large prize-winning opening 210) is provided in the game area 120,
The device includes a movable member 220 that can rotate around a rotation axis 230, moving from a closed state where the rolling surface 222 on which the game ball can roll faces the wall surface 260, making it impossible or difficult for the game ball to enter the prize opening (large prize opening 210), to an open state where the rolling surface 222 is further away from the wall surface 260 than in the closed state, allowing the game ball to enter the prize opening (large prize opening 210),
The rolling surface 222 is
It extends from the tip 223, which is furthest from the rotating shaft 230, to the base end 224 on the rotating shaft 230 side.
The tip-side region R includes the tip-side region R on the tip-side 223 side of the center position between the tip-side 223 and the base-side 224.
The wall surface 260 is provided with a contact portion 250 that contacts the tip-side region R of the rolling surface 222 when the movable member 220 is in the closed position.
The width d in the rotational axis direction at the contact portion 250 should be smaller than the width D in the rotational axis direction at the tip side region R of the rolling surface 222.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the movable member 220 rotates around the rotation axis 230 to open and close the large prize opening 210, but the invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the movable member 220 may be provided at other prize openings such as the general prize opening 130, the start opening 140, and the general drawing operation opening 150, which are located in the game area 120. By moving the movable member 220, these other prize openings can be opened and closed. This configuration, where the movable member 220 functions as a so-called standard electric mechanism or electric chute, is also possible.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a portion of the contact portion 250 is configured to contact the rolling surface 222 of the movable member 220. However, the entire contact portion 250 may also be configured to contact the rolling surface 222 of the movable member 220. In this case, the width of the contact portion 250 in the front and rear directions is preferably smaller than the width D of the rolling surface 222, and less than or equal to half the width D of the rolling surface 222.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a projection is provided as a contact portion 250 on the wall surface 260 facing the rolling surface 222 of the movable member 220. However, the contact portion 250 may also be formed by cutting out the wall surface 260. In this case, the wall surface 260 is positioned parallel to the rolling surface 222 of the movable member 220 in its closed state, and the entire surface of the rolling surface 222 is in contact with the wall surface 260. The wall surface 260 is then cut out from the front to the back. Specifically, in the tip-side region R of the movable member 220, the cutout is made so that only less than half of the width D of the rolling surface 222 in the back direction is in contact with the wall surface 260. In addition, the movable member 220 may be further provided with a flange that protrudes on the cutout side and serves to conceal it from the view of a player facing the gaming machine 100.

100 Gaming machine 104 Game board 120 Game area 200 Large prize slot unit 201 Main body 202 First flow path forming section 203 Second flow path forming section 210 Large prize slot (prize slot)
220 Movable member 222 Rolling surface 223 Tip end 224 Base end 230 Rotating shaft 250 Contact part 260 Wall surface R Tip side region V Gap

Claims (1)

A game board in which a game area is formed through which game balls flow,
The aforementioned game area includes a prize entry point,
A movable member that can rotate around a rotation axis from a closed state in which the rolling surface on which the game ball can roll faces the wall, making it impossible or difficult for the game ball to enter the prize opening, to an open state in which the rolling surface is further away from the wall than in the closed state, making it possible for the game ball to enter the prize opening,
Equipped with,
The rolling surface is,
It extends from the tip furthest from the rotation axis to the base end on the rotation axis side,
Including the tip-side region on the tip side of the center position between the tip and the base end,
The wall surface is provided with a contact portion that contacts the tip-side region of the rolling surface when the movable member is in the closed state.
The width in the rotational axis direction of the contact portion is smaller than the width in the rotational axis direction of the tip-side region of the rolling surface.
A gaming machine characterized by the following: