JPH07108325B2 - Slot machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a slot machine, and more particularly, to a slot machine for business use used for entertainment business.

[Conventional technology]

Recently, a lot of slot machines have been installed in pachinko parlors and so on, and the number of enthusiasts is increasing. The slot machine for business use used in such a case is a so-called entertainment business game machine like a pachinko game machine, and it is desirable to avoid constructing a structure that extremely agitates. In this respect, the number of pachinko balls to be fired per fixed time is limited to 100 or less per minute in the pachinko game machine due to demands of customs business.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, the conventional slot machines for business use do not take effective measures to limit the number of coins (including medals and tokens) that can be inserted per unit time. For example, if you try to limit the number of coins that can be used in one minute to 24, after the number of coins reaches 24 within 1 minute, 1 minute from the time when 1 minute clocking starts During this period, it is easiest to make the structure that prohibits the operation of the slot machine. However, in this case, the player has to have the time remaining after the slot machine is prohibited from operating, which may greatly reduce the interest of the game. Further, if the time required for one game is set to be long, the above-mentioned adverse effects can be avoided, but when such measures are taken, the game interval for each game becomes unreasonably long, which is also interesting for the player. It will be a negative factor in sustaining.

Against this background, for example, the shortest required time for one game, that is, the required time for a lost game without payout of payout coins is set to 7 seconds, and when this lost game has continued seven times, the next eighth game To generate a prize,
It is proposed to extend the coin insertion time for the next game by the subsequent payout coin payout process. According to this, it takes 49 seconds for the 7 lost games, 7 seconds for the winning decision in the 8th game, and 4 seconds for payout of the payout coins. Only a maximum of 8 games can be played in 1 minute. Then, in the case where a maximum of three coins can be inserted per game, this makes it possible to limit the number of coins usable per minute to 24 coins or less.

However, in the slot machine configured as described above, the minimum required time per game is set to 7 seconds on the assumption that the player inserts three coins in each game. Therefore, 1 per game
When targeting a player who uses two coins, the number of games is limited to eight even though there is a margin in the number of coins inserted per unit time. As a result, when one coin is used for one game, only eight coins are used within a unit time of one minute, which deteriorates the operating efficiency of the slot machine from a business point of view. The harmful effect will come out.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and limits the number of coins inserted per unit time to an appropriate number or less, and when the number of inserted coins per game is small, the required amount of the game is An object of the present invention is to provide a slot machine in which the operating efficiency in business is not reduced by shortening the time.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a display of symbols from the start of the game after the coin is inserted until the coin can be inserted for the next game, after the symbols are moved and displayed. The first time until the moving display stops, the second time after the symbol moving display stops when the winning is obtained in the game, and the coin payout is completed, the winning is obtained in the game. If not, the game time adjusting means is used for adjusting at least one of the third times from the stop of the moving display of the symbols to the stop of the operation of the display drive circuit for the notification of the loss. Then, the number of coins inserted prior to the start of the game is counted by a coin counter. When the number of coins counted by this coin counter is large, the time required for one game is extended and the number of coins is small. in case of,
The control means controls the operation of the game time adjusting means,
At least one of the first to third times is adjusted to reduce the required time.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

〔Example〕

In FIG. 5 showing the appearance of a slot machine using the present invention, a front panel 2 of a main body 1 is provided with three vertically long windows 3. The symbols of the first reel 5, the second reel 6, and the third reel 7 rotated in the main body 1 can be observed through the window 3.

Prior to starting the game, 1 to 1 from the coin slot 8
By inserting three coins and operating the start lever 10, the first to third reels 5 to 7 are rotated. After the reels 5 to 7 have reached the steady rotation, the stop buttons 11 to 13 provided for each reel are pressed to stop the rotation of each reel. When each reel is stopped in this way, the winning is determined by the combination of the symbols stopped on the winning line displayed on the window 3. As a result of this winning determination, when a winning is obtained, the number of payout coins according to the type of winning is paid out from the coin payout opening 14.

In addition, as shown in the figure, in this slot machine, the horizontal 3
A total of five pay lines of two coins and two diagonal lines are set, and the number of pay lines activated for the game is determined according to the number of coins to be inserted. That is, when the number of inserted coins is 1, one horizontal pay line at the center, when two coins, three horizontal pay lines, and when three coins, two diagonal lines are added, for a total of five pay lines. Is enabled.

In FIG. 1 showing the configuration for controlling the operation of the slot machine, the first to third reels 5 to 7 are stepping motors 17 and 18 whose drive is controlled by a microprocessor unit 15 (hereinafter referred to as MPU 15). , 19 rotated. That is, from the clock pulse generator 20 to MP
Driver 22,2 by clock pulse supplied to U15
3, 24 operate, and each stepping motor 17-19 rotates corresponding to the number of clock pulses.

The numbers of clock pulses for rotating the stepping motors 17 to 19 are counted by the counters 25, 26 and 27, respectively. Further, each of the reels 5 to 7 is provided with protrusions 5a, 6a and 7a for generating a reset signal, and the passage thereof is detected by the photo sensors 5b, 6b and 7b. Then, a reset signal is obtained from the photosensors 5b, 6b, and 7b each time each reel makes one rotation, whereby the count values of the counters 25 to 27 are reset to "0". Therefore, the count value of each of the counters 25 to 27 shows a value corresponding to the rotation angle of each of the reels 5 to 7 within one rotation range. Since the reference positions of the reels 5 to 7, the number of arranged symbols and the arrangement pitch of the symbols are known in advance, the symbols of the respective reels 5 to 7 on the pay line are referred to by referring to the count values of the counters 25 to 27. You will be able to determine. A portion A surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 1 is configured as a microcomputer.

The normal game progress of this slot machine, the second
A description will be given according to the flowchart in the figure. The player is
First, insert 1 to 3 coins. The number of coins inserted is counted by the 1-game coin counter 30, and then the start lever 10 is operated to determine the number of coins in 1 game. Further, the counted value of the 1-game coin counter 30 is the accumulated coin. The counter 31 adds up.

Coin insertion prohibition device 32 by operating the start lever 10
Is activated, and subsequent coin insertions are prohibited until one game ends. In addition, as the coin insertion prohibition device 32,
As is well known, the solenoid is composed of a pin or the like driven in and out near the entrance of the coin slot 8. After the coin insertion prohibiting device 32 operates, the count value of the one-game coin counter 30 is referred to. Then, one of the first delay program, the second delay program, and the third delay program is selected according to the count value. The first to third delay programs operate to adjust the respective delay times when the processes of delay (I), delay (II) and delay (III) described later are executed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, 5 seconds, 3
1st regulation time delay circuit with 2 seconds and 2 seconds regulation time stored in memory
37, a second regulation time delay circuit 38, and a third regulation time delay circuit 39 are provided. Then, depending on which of the first to third delay programs is selected, the delays (I) to (III)
It is determined how the first to third regulation time delay circuits 37 to 39 are accessed during the processing of. That is, the first to third restriction time delay circuits 37 to 39 and the MPU 15 that executes any of the first to third delay programs function as game time adjusting means for adjusting the time required for one game,
Further, the MPU 15 also functions as a control means for reading the number of inserted coins based on the count value of the 1-game coin counter 30 and selecting one of the first to third delay programs in accordance with the number.

By operating the start lever 10, the first to third reels 5
~ 7 are rotated all at once. Then, the reels 5 to 7 reach steady rotation by the time the delay (I) process is completed,
Until then, the operation of the stop buttons 11 to 13 is disabled. During this period, the scattered value sampling circuit 34 operates in response to a command from the MPU 15, and an arbitrary random number value is sampled from a random number sequence within a predetermined numerical range. The random number values sampled in this way are compared with each other in the probability table 35, and it is determined which winning or winning the random number value corresponds to. That is,
The probability table 35 divides the random number sequence within the predetermined numerical range in consideration of the winning rate or payout rate, and associates the sampled random number value with either the winning type or the loss. The types of prizes are large, medium, and small hits in descending order of the number of payout coins.

In this way, the type of winning (including loss) is determined, and the stop buttons 11 to 13 are operated after the processing of the delay (I) is completed, whereby the stop control of the stepping motors 17 to 19 is performed. This stop control is executed with reference to the count values of the counters 25 to 27, that is, the kinds of symbols passing on the pay line, and stepping is performed so that the kind of win determined as described above is satisfied. Motors 17-19 are stopped. At this time, stop button 11-
If the operation timing of 13 and the stop timing of the reels 5 to 7 deviate too much, it becomes unnatural. To avoid this, a stop symbol determination circuit 36 is provided. The stop symbol determination circuit 36 is provided with the count values of the counters 25 to 27, the type of winning determined in the probability table 35, and the stop button.
Considering the timing of 11 to 13, the final reel stop position, so that the above timing deviation does not become large,
That is, the type of symbols stopped on the pay line is determined. Of course, in this case, each pay line set corresponding to the number of coins inserted is considered.

When all the reels 5 to 7 are stopped in this way, the symbol determination circuit 38 confirms the symbol combination on the activated pay line. After the symbols are confirmed, the winning table 39 is referred to and it is determined whether or not this corresponds to winning. In the confirmation processing, if a plurality of pay lines are activated and it is premised that the timing deviation is reduced, the win may not be as determined by the probability table 35. Is needed. Therefore, when the operation timing of the stop buttons 11 to 13 can be largely allowed to deviate from the stop timing of the reels 5 to 7, or when the stop buttons 11 to 13 are not provided and the stop symbol determination circuit 36 outputs. Each reel 5 automatically corresponding to the signal
It is also possible to omit this in the auto-stop type slot machine which is configured to stop 7 to 7.

After it is determined whether or not there is a prize, the display drive circuit 40 is activated, and if there is a loss, the buzzer 41 displays a sound. This pronunciation display is continued for a certain period of time by the processing of delay (II). Therefore, even in the case of loss, the delay (I
Until the process of I) is completed, the coin insertion prohibition device 32
Is activated and coins for the next game are blocked. This delay (II) process also secures the time required for one game, but the sound display is performed during this time, so that the delay (I
There is also an advantage that the process of I) is not felt for a long time.

As a result of winning judgment 6, if this corresponds to winning,
The LED 43 lights up via the display drive circuit 40. In this winning display, it is preferable that a predetermined one of a plurality of LED rows arranged along each winning line is turned on or blinked so that the winning line from which the winning is obtained can be recognized.
When this winning display is performed, the process of delay (II) is also followed by the process of delay (III). Then, after the processing of the delay (III) is completed, the coin payout device 45 is driven, and payout of the number of payout coins according to the type of winning is performed. When the payout of the payout coins is completed in this way, the operation of the coin insertion prohibiting device 32 is released, whereby one game is completed and the insertion of coins for the next game is accepted. In addition, coin dispenser
Instead of delaying the drive timing of 45, the operation of coin dispenser 45 can be slowed down or intermittently operated to obtain the same effect as delay (III). In addition, the above-described game progress program and the hit game mode execution program described later are
It is stored in M47.

By the way, each of the delay (I), (II), and (III) processes in the flowchart of FIG. 2 is provided so that the number of coins inserted does not increase indefinitely within a unit time of one minute. Is. Ie 1
By intentionally extending the time required for the game, the maximum number of coins that can be used within a unit time of 1 minute is limited to 24 coins. Therefore, considering that a maximum of three coins can be inserted in one game, the maximum number of games that can be played in one minute is limited to eight. Therefore, when the number of coins inserted is 3, the third delay program is selected.

When the third delay program is selected, the delay (I),
In the delay (II) processing, the first regulation time delay circuit 37,
The third regulation time delay circuit 39 is activated so that delays of 5 seconds and 2 seconds are made. As a result, even in the case of a lost game that does not involve payout processing of payout coins,
The time required for one game (the time from the operation of the start lever 10 to the deactivation of the coin insertion prohibiting device 32) requires at least 7 seconds.

However, when the minimum required time per game when three coins are inserted is set to 7 seconds as described above, when all games are lost games, it is still 56 at the time when 8 games are consumed. Only seconds have passed, and more coins can be inserted, and the number of coins that can be inserted in one minute may exceed 25. Therefore, in addition to the one-game timing counter 48 that counts the required time T ₀ of each game, the cumulative counting counter 50 that accumulates the timing time T of the one-game timing counter 48 and the game that is continuously played. A game number counter 52 for calculating the number N and a hit symbol determination circuit 53 are provided. Then, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 3, the accumulated required time T at the time when the seventh game is exhausted is confirmed, and when it is less than 53 seconds, the program ROM 47
The hit game program stored in advance is executed,
The normal game mode until then is changed to the hit game mode.

When the hit game program is executed, a signal is input from the hit symbol determination circuit 53 to the stop symbol determination circuit 36 regardless of the random number value sampled by the random value sampling circuit 34. That is, the hit symbol determination circuit 53 stores data corresponding to a combination of predetermined symbols constituting the winning, and the stop control of the stepping motors 17 to 19 is executed so that this winning can be obtained. is there. It should be noted that since the winnings generated in the hit game mode do not take the payout rate into consideration, it is preferable that the winning type is a small hit or a medium hit.

According to the above processing, the winning is inevitably obtained after the minimum required time 49 seconds of the seven games in which the winning is not won. In this case, the process of delay (III) is performed when paying out the payout coin, and the third regulation time delay circuit 39 operates twice to delay by 4 seconds. As a result, the time required for the eighth game in the hit game mode is 11 seconds, and the total time required for the eight games is 1 minute or more. Even if three coins are inserted into all eight games, the maximum number of coins that can be used in one minute is limited to 24 coins.

Of course, if a prize is obtained during the 7th game, it takes 4 seconds to pay out the payout coins at that time due to the processing of delay (III) as described above, and the 7th game is consumed. At this point, the total time counter 50
Since the number of seconds has passed, the eighth game is started in the normal game mode. It should be noted that the count value of the 1-game coin counter 30 and the 1-game clock counter 48 is reset to "0" each time one game is finished, and
Total coin counter 31 when the second game ends
And the integrated time counter 50 is reset to "0".

By the way, in the above process, it is premised that the number of coins inserted at the start of each game is three, which is the maximum number, but the game can be executed by inserting one or two coins. It often starts. In such a case, limiting the number of games played per minute to eight is not preferable in terms of business. Ie 1
If the total number of coins inserted in the unit time of a minute is small, within the range of 24 coins per minute,
Allowing a large number of coins to be inserted is advantageous in improving operating efficiency.

Therefore, in the slot machine of the present invention, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the time required for one game is adjusted according to the number of coins inserted at the start of each game, and depending on the number, The game can be played more than 9 times a minute. This action is achieved when the first and second delay programs are selected, and the first to third regulation time delay circuits are activated when the delay (I), the delay (II) and the delay (III) are processed. This is achieved by setting the combinations of operations 37 to 39 as shown in the table below.

According to this, as the coin dispenser 45, one having a payout capacity of about 20 msec is used, and if the payout processing time is ignored, the time required for the game when one or two coins are inserted is With or without winning
They are 4 seconds and 6 seconds, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to increase the number of games that can be played within a unit time of one minute and increase the number of coins that can be inserted within this unit time within a range not exceeding 24 coins. of course,
Even if you arbitrarily combine the number of coins inserted each time of the game, the number of coins that can be used per unit time will be limited to 24 coins or less.

Furthermore, when trying to improve the operating efficiency of the slot machine, the one-minute clock timer 55 (FIG. 1) and the cumulative coin counter 31 are used, and the processing shown in FIG. 4 is also executed in parallel. According to this, in the course of the game being repeated by the above-mentioned process, when the count value of the cumulative coin counter 31 is less than 24 coins at the time when the one-minute clock timer 55 counts up, For a given game, the time required for the game is determined by the first delay program regardless of the number of coins inserted. Therefore, while satisfying the condition of 24 coins or less per unit time, it is possible to shorten the time required for one game, for example, when three coins are inserted, and further improve the operation efficiency.

This state is released when the number of coins inserted after the first operation of the start lever 10 reaches 24, and the accumulated coin counter 31 is reset to "0" at the same time. Then, when the next operation of the start lever 10 causes the 1-minute timer 55 to start counting again, the first to third delay programs are selected in correspondence with the number of coins inserted until the timer counts up. become.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the illustrated embodiment. However, instead of setting the timing for starting the timing of the one-game timing counter 48 to the time when the start lever 10 is operated, it may be set to the time when a coin is inserted. Is. Further, by changing the delay times set in the first to third regulation time delay circuits 37 to 39 and changing the first to third delay programs, the delay times due to the delays (I) to (III) can be changed to other values. May be set to the value of. Further, it goes without saying that the game required time may be adjusted only by the processing of delay (I) or delay (II).

It should be noted that the present invention is not intended only for the slot machine that stops the reels by operating the stop button as described above, but the symbol display is performed on the CRT screen by the automatic stop type slot machine or graphic data. The same can be applied to a video type slot machine.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above in detail, according to the slot machine of the present invention, according to the number of inserted coins for each game, the first movement from the start of the movement display of the symbols to the stop of the movement display of the symbols is Time, the second time from when the symbol movement display is stopped when the prize is obtained in the game to the completion of coin payout, the symbol movement display is stopped when the prize is not obtained in the game At least one of the third times from the start of the operation of the display drive circuit for the notification of loss to the stop is adjusted, and the minimum required time of the game is adjusted. Thus, when the number of coins inserted is large, the number of games per unit time is limited by extending the game time, and when the number of coins inserted is small, the limit on the number of games per unit time is relaxed. become. Therefore, while limiting the number of coins that can be inserted in a unit time to an appropriate number,
It is possible to provide a very excellent slot machine for business use without lowering the operating efficiency of the slot machine.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration used in the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the flow of game processing by the slot machine of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the flow of the process of limiting the number of games within a unit time. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the restriction time shortening process. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a slot machine using the present invention. 5-7 ... 1st-3rd reel 10 ... Start lever 11-13 ... 1st-3rd stop button 15 ... MPU 17-19 ... Stepping motor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A slot machine in which a game is started after one or more coins have been inserted, and one game ends when the insertion of coins for the next game is permitted. The coin counter that counts the number of coins inserted prior to the first and the first from the start of the moving display of symbols to the stop of these moving displays.
The second time from when the symbol movement display is stopped when the prize is obtained in the game to when the coin payout is completed, the symbol movement display is stopped when the prize is not obtained in the game Game time adjusting means for adjusting at least one of the third times from the end of the operation of the display drive circuit for the notification of loss, and the game time adjusting means corresponding to the count value of the coin counter. A slot machine, which controls the operation of the game, and adjusts at least one of the first to third times to change the time required for one game.