JPH0324230B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a reel rerotating device for an electric slot machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device that can change the combination of symbols by re-rotating the reels that have been once stopped.

Conventional electric slot machines use a stepping motor that rotates multiple reels around which many symbols are displayed, a start switch,
When the stop switch and start switch provided for each reel receive operating signals, they generate pulses that excite all stepping motors.
When a stop switch activation signal is input, the reel rotation is stopped by a reel rotation device comprising a driver means that stops the generation of excitation pulses of the corresponding stepping motor.

In this way, conventional electric slot machines
Once the stop switch is activated to stop the reels, the reels cannot be rotated again, and even if, for example, the stop symbols on two reels line up, you have no choice but to give up.

The present invention enables at least one reel out of a plurality of reels to be stopped once and then rotated again and stopped again.
To construct a reel re-rotating device which enables changing of symbols without increasing the number of operation buttons.

The reel re-rotating device of the present invention includes (a) one stepping motor for each reel that rotates a plurality of reels around which many symbols are displayed, (b) a start switch, and (c) each reel. a plurality of stop switches, one for each reel; (d) means for outputting a signal that enables at least one of the stopped reels to be driven again; (e) a start switch activation signal (f) When a stop switch activation signal is input, the means for generating a pulse that excites all stepping motors is stopped; (g) means for detecting the number of operations of a stop switch of a reel that has become re-driveable due to the re-drive enable signal from the means (d); (h) a second actuation signal of the stop switch is input; (i) generation of a re-energizing pulse when the second actuation signal ceases to be input or a third actuation signal of the stop switch is input; It is characterized by consisting of a means to stop.

The outline of the apparatus of the present invention will be explained based on FIG.

a ₁ , a _{2 ,} and a ₃ are all stepping motors, and rotate the first reel, the second reel, and the third reel, respectively. Reference numeral b designates a start switch, the activation signal of which is input to the driver means e, which causes the driver means e to generate pulses that excite all stepping motors a ₁ , a ₂ , and a ₃ .
Stop switches c ₁ , c ₂ , and c ₃ are provided corresponding to stepping motors a ₁ , a ₂ , and a ₃ .

The device of the present invention has such stop switches c ₁ , c ₂ , c ₃
It is characterized by its multifunctional use.

That is, when the start switch b is operated, excitation pulses are sent from the driver means e to all stepping motors a ₁ , a ₂ , and a ₃ , and all reels are rotationally driven. The rotationally driven reel is stopped by stopping the generation of excitation pulses in the driver means e by the first actuation of each stop switch c ₁ , c ₂ , c ₃ . Each stop switch c ₁ ,
The first activation signals of c ₂ and c ₃ are sent to the driver means e, and the reel re-drive enable signal output means d
It will also be sent to In this output means d, when the first actuation signal of at least one stop switch c ₁ , c ₂ , c ₃ is input, at least one of the stopped reels
A signal is output to the driver means e that enables the book to be driven again, that is, to enable the driver means e to generate a re-excitation pulse for the stepping motor of the reel.

In accordance with the present invention, a signal causing a re-excitation pulse is generated on the second actuation of the stop switch. That is, the stop switches c ₁ , c ₂ , c ₃ of at least one reel designated by the reel re-drive enable signal output means d function as a start switch, and the second stop switch caused by the re-operation of the stop switch The actuation signal causes the stepping motors a ₁ , a ₂ , a ₃ of the specified reel to be actuated by the driver means e.
A re-excitation pulse is sent from the reel to re-spin the reel.

The re-rotating reel is stopped again when the input of the second actuation signal of the stop switch is stopped or when the third actuation signal is stopped.
This is done by inputting an activation signal. That is, when re-rotating the reel is to be performed only during the re-activation period of the stop switch, for example while the stop switch is pressed, the re-rotation is stopped by releasing the pressure on the stop switch. Also, when the second operation signal is input from the stop switch, the reel will rotate again and the stop switch will return to its original function, that is, the function of stopping the reel. It may be stopped.

In the present invention, at least one reel is made re-rotatable, but which reel is made re-rotatable may be determined as appropriate; for example, the following designation method is available.

(1) Decide in advance which reels can be rotated again.

(2) The first reel that stopped is a reel that can be rotated again.

(3) All reels can be rotated again.

Further, the point in time when the re-drive enable signal is output may be when any one stop switch is activated for the first time, or when all stop switches have stopped, or if the reels that can be re-rotated are determined in advance. It may also be when the stop switch of that reel is activated.

There is no particular restriction on the time during which the driver can re-rotate after the re-drive enable signal is input to the driver means e, but if the re-rotation time is set to be unlimited, the progress of the game will be delayed. In that case, for example, a timer may be used to limit the time during which the rotation can be performed again.
Additionally, a switch may be provided to remove the re-rotatable state. Furthermore, if the combination of stopped symbols on the reels is completed before the reels are re-rotated to a combination that allows medals to be paid out (hereinafter referred to as a hit combination), the medals are paid out and re-rotation of the reels is prohibited. You can do it like this.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of hardware corresponding to the blocks shown in FIG. 1.

(1), (2) and (3) are CPU, ROM and
These RAMs are connected to each other and to an input port 4 and an output port 5 by an address bus 6 and a data bus 7.

The input port 4 includes a start switch b, an input medal detector 8, a payout medal detector 9, stop switches c ₁ , c ₂ , c ₃ , and a reference position detector 1 for reel symbols.
Signals from 0, 11, 12, etc. are sent.
Stepping motors a ₁ , a ₂ ,
a ₃ , a signal is output to the medal payout hopper motor 13, and other display lamps.

The reel rerotator of the present invention can be incorporated into any conventional electric slot machine.
Therefore, devices and mechanisms other than the reel re-rotating device can be used as they are in conventional electric slot machines.

Next, a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of a program for operating the apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 3 to 6. FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of the program when the following conditions are set.

() Using three reels, only one predetermined reel (hereinafter referred to as the first reel) can be re-rotated.

() The order in which the stop switches are activated is not considered.

() Re-spinning can be done even if all reels are not stopped.

() If all reels are stopped before re-spinning, the reels will be allowed to re-spin for 5 seconds.

() Re-rotate with the second actuation of the stop switch,
The third operation stops the re-rotation.

Each symbol in FIG. 3 indicates the following processing and judgment, respectively.

100: Were the medals inserted? 101: Is the start switch ON? 102: Rotate all reels 103: Is the stop switch ON? 104: Is that ON the stop switch of the first reel? 105: Is that ON the first ON? 106: Stop the first reel 107: Enable the first reel to rotate again.

108: Is that ON the second time? 109: Re-rotate the first reel 110: Is that ON the third time? 111: Re-stop the first reel 112: Is that ON the first ON of that reel? 113: Stop that reel 114: Are all three reels stopped? 115: Has the first reel been restarted? 116: Timer setting (5 seconds) 117: Was the stop switch of the first reel turned on? 118: Is that ON the second time? 119: Within 5 seconds? 120: Re-rotate the first reel 121: Is the stop switch of the first reel ON? 122: Re-stop the first reel 123: Within 5 seconds? 124: Cancel the re-rotation state of the first reel 125: Cancel the re-rotation state of the first reel 126: Hit? 127: Payout of medals Also, among the conditions () to () above, ()
FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the program when and () are replaced by the following (ia) and (iia), respectively.

(ia) Three reels are used, and only one reel can be re-spun.

(a) The reel that can be rotated again is the reel that was stopped first (hereinafter referred to as the "specific reel").

Each symbol in FIG. 4 indicates the following processing and judgment, respectively.

200: Were the medals inserted? 201: Is the start switch ON? 202: Rotate all reels 203: Is the stop switch ON? 204: Is that ON the first ON on that reel? 205: That reel stops 206: That ON is the first ON on all reels
mosquito? 207: Enable the reel (specific reel) to rotate again 208: Is the ON of the specific reel? 209: Are all three reels stopped? 210: Is that ON the second time? 211: Re-rotate a specific reel 212: Is that ON the third time? 213: Stop specific reel again 214: Are all three reels stopped? 215: Has the specific reel been restarted? 216: Timer setting (5 seconds) 217: Was the stop switch of the specific reel turned on? 218: Is that ON the second time? 219: Within 5 seconds? 220: Re-rotate the specific reel 221: Is the stop switch of the specific reel ON? 222: Re-stop specific reel 223: Within 5 seconds? 224: Cancel the re-rotation state of a specific reel 225: Cancel the re-rotation state of a specific reel 226: Hit? 227: Payout of medals Next, among the conditions () to () above, ()
FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the program when the following changes are made.

(ib) Using three reels, only one arbitrary reel can be re-rotated.

Each symbol in FIG. 5 indicates the following processing and judgment, respectively.

300: Were the medals inserted? 301: Is the start switch ON? 302: Spin all reels 303: Is the stop switch ON? 304: Is that ON the first ON on that reel? 305: Stop that reel 306: Was re-rotation performed? 307: Enable the reel to spin again.

308: Have all three reels stopped? 309: Was re-rotation performed? 310: Re-rotate the reel 311: Release the re-rotable state of the remaining reels 312: Is the reel spinning? 313: Stop that reel 314: Are all three reels stopped? 315: Has re-rotation been stopped again? 316: Timer setting (5 seconds) 317: Is the stop switch ON? 318: Within 5 seconds? 319: Re-rotate the reel 320: Release the re-rotable state of the remaining reels 321: Stop switch for the re-rotating reel
Is it ON? 322: Re-stop that reel 323: Within 5 seconds? 324: Release the re-rotation state of all reels 325: Release the re-rotation state of all reels 326: Hit? 327: Payout of medals Next, among the conditions () to () above, ()
FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a program for changing .

(va) The rotation starts again with the second actuation of the stop switch, and stops again with the end of that actuation (e.g., when the pressure is released).

Each symbol in FIG. 6 indicates the following processing and judgment, respectively.

400: Were the medals inserted? 401: Is the start switch ON? 402: Rotate all reels 403: Is the stop switch ON? 404: Is that ON the stop switch of the first reel? 405: Is that ON the first ON? 406: Stop the first reel 407: Enable the first reel to rotate again.

408: Is that ON the second time? 409: Re-rotate the 1st reel 410: Is the stop switch of the 1st reel turned OFF? 410: Re-stop the first reel 412: Is that ON the first ON of that reel? 413: Stop that reel 414: Are all three reels stopped? 415: Has the first reel been restarted? 416: Timer setting (5 seconds) 417: Was the first reel stop switch turned on? 418: Is that ON the second time? 419: Within 5 seconds? 420: Re-rotate the 1st reel 421: Is the stop switch of the 1st reel turned OFF? 422: Re-stop the first reel 423: Within 5 seconds? 424: Cancel the re-rotation state of the first reel 425: Cancel the re-rotation state of the first reel 426: Hit? 427: Paying out medals In the device of the present invention, the stop switch provided for each reel is used as the restart switch for that reel, so it has the advantage of not requiring any extra switches and being easy to operate. be. Furthermore, depending on the operator's intention, the reels that are in a state where they can be rotated again are left as they are (when the symbols match at the first stop) or are rotated again (when the symbols are not aligned). ), which has the advantage of making the game even more interesting.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the function realizing means in the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an electronic circuit used to achieve the function realizing means shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3 to 6 These are flowcharts of examples of programs for operating an electric slot machine equipped with the device of the present invention. (Main symbols in the drawing), 1: CPU, 2: ROM,
3: RAM, 4: Input port, 5: Output port,
a ₁ , a ₂ , a ₃ : stepping motor, b : start switch, c ₁ , c ₂ , c ₃ : stop switch, d: reel re-drive enable signal output means, e: driver means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. (a) One stepping motor for each reel that rotates a plurality of reels around which a large number of symbols are displayed, (b) A start switch, (c) Each reel. a plurality of stop switches, one for each reel; (d) means for outputting a signal that enables at least one of the stopped reels to be driven again; (e) an actuation signal for the start switch is input. (f) means for stopping the operation of the means for generating excitation pulses for the stepping motors corresponding to the stop switch when a stop switch activation signal is input; (g) means for detecting the number of times a stop switch of a reel that has become re-driveable due to the re-drive enable signal from the means (d); (h) a second actuation signal of the stop switch is inputted; (i) means for generating a pulse for re-energizing a stepping motor corresponding to a stepper motor; A reel re-rotating device for an electric slot machine consisting of a stopping means.