JPH08299547A - Pattern display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent a stain due to dust, etc., from being detected erroneously as a pattern mark, to accurately stop a belt and to display a desired pattern correctly in a belt type pattern display device. CONSTITUTION: An interval along the turning surface of a display belt 52 between an optical sensor 30 and an optical sensor 31 is set at a value equivalent to four pitches of the pattern mark 60, and when one of the optical sensors 30 and 31 detects the pattern mark 60, another sensor detects the pattern mark 60 located at a position separated by four pitches. Since the output level of the optical sensor 31 on the other side is set at a high level even when the stain R exists on the edge of the display belt 52 and the output level of the optical sensor 310 goes to a low level, no pattern mark signal is outputted from a detecting part, therefore, the stain R is prevented from being detected erroneously as the pattern mark 60.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Industrial application] Some gaming machines such as pachinko machines are provided with a symbol display device for variably displaying a plurality of symbols. As this symbol display device, one having a liquid crystal display panel, one having an LED display panel, etc. which performs an electric display operation, for example, a symbol is described as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-277328. A belt rotating type is known. The present invention relates to a belt type pattern display device for rotating a belt.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a symbol display device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-277328, a reference mark and a symbol mark are provided on a belt as information for determining a stop position of the belt, and the reference position is set. The belt is stopped at a predetermined position by stopping the drive pulley when a predetermined number of symbol marks are detected by the symbol position sensor after the reference mark is detected by the sensor.

[0003]

However, in the conventional belt type pattern display device, if dust such as dust or tar contained in cigarette smoke adheres to the display belt, these are erroneously regarded as symbol marks. There was something to detect. In such a case, it is impossible to accurately stop the belt, that is, the desired pattern cannot be displayed correctly.

The present invention, which has been made to solve such a problem, prevents a belt type symbol display device from erroneously detecting dirt due to dust or the like as a symbol mark and stops the belt accurately, The purpose is to display the desired pattern correctly.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] As means for solving the above problems, the symbol display device according to claim 1 is a symbol display device mounted on a gaming machine, and corresponds to a plurality of symbols and each symbol. An endless display belt having a pattern mark arranged as a reference mark and a reference mark serving as a reference for the arrangement order of the pattern marks, a drive pulley for rotating the display belt, and a motor for rotationally driving the drive pulley, A display unit including a reference position sensor that detects the reference mark and a symbol position detection unit that detects the symbol mark, and a stop that indicates the arrangement order of the symbol marks corresponding to the symbol selected from the plurality of symbols After the reference mark is detected by the position indicating means and the reference position sensor, the number of times the symbol position is detected by the symbol position detecting means is determined by the stop position indicating means. In the symbol display device including a motor control unit that controls the operation of the motor to stop the drive pulley when the number of times according to the instructed arrangement order is reached, as the symbol position detection unit, the symbol mark The plurality of symbol position sensors arranged at intervals along the rotation surface of the display belt, which is determined according to the pitch between them, and the motor control when the detection states of the plurality of symbol position sensors match. The means is provided with a signal output means for outputting a symbol mark signal.

The symbol display device according to claim 2 is the claim 1
In the symbol display device according to the description, a plurality of the display units are provided, and the stop position instructing means instructs the motor control means for the arrangement order of the symbol marks corresponding to the target symbol for each of the display units, The motor control means controls the motor of each display unit according to the instructed arrangement order.

[0007]

In the symbol display device according to claim 1, which has the above-mentioned structure, the plurality of symbol position sensors are arranged at intervals along the rotating surface of the display belt, which are determined according to the pitch between the symbol marks. It is distributed. The space between the symbol position sensors is a space along the rotating surface of the display belt, so to speak, and is not necessarily a spatial distance (straight line distance).

The signal output means outputs a symbol mark signal to the motor control means when the detection states of the plurality of symbol position sensors match. It should be noted that here that the detection states coincide with each other means that a plurality of symbol position sensors simultaneously detect the presence of symbol marks. For example, a pair of symbol position sensors A,
Assuming that B is arranged at an interval of 3 pitches of the symbol mark, when the symbol position sensor A detects the symbol mark a, the symbol position sensor B is 3 symbols away from the symbol mark a. The mark b will be detected.

Then, when the detected states of the symbol marks A and B coincide with each other (both detected), the signal output means outputs the symbol mark signal. On the other hand, if dirt or the like is attached to the display belt and the symbol position sensor A detects this dirt or the like as a symbol mark, the symbol position sensor B does not detect anything, so the signal output means is the symbol. Does not output the mark signal.

Therefore, even if there is dirt or the like attached to a portion that rotates on the same locus as the locus of the symbol mark, erroneous detection of detecting this as a symbol mark is prevented. Therefore, it is possible to accurately stop the display belt and correctly display a desired symbol. In the pattern display device according to claim 2, a plurality of display units are provided. The stop position instructing means instructs the motor control means for the arrangement order of the symbol marks corresponding to the target symbol for each of the display units.
The motor control means controls the motor of each display unit according to the instructed arrangement order.

Therefore, it is possible to display different symbols for each display unit. Therefore, for example, it is suitable for an application in which it is required to display a plurality of symbols at the same time, such as a jackpot display with the same three symbols displayed in a horizontal row.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the symbol display device 10 of this embodiment is attached to the center of a game board 14 of a pachinko machine 12 as a game machine of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the symbol display device 10 has a structure in which three display units 16 are arranged side by side, and each display unit 16 is housed in a case 18 and attached to the game board 14.
In the symbol display device 10, if the symbols of each display unit 16 are the same in a horizontal line or along a diagonal line, a big hit is displayed.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, each display unit 16 includes a substrate 2 having a printed circuit.
It has 0. This substrate 20 is also used for the display unit 1.
6 also serves as a support member for supporting each part. A rectangular cone-shaped illumination frame 22 is attached to the substrate 20,
Each illumination frame 22 holds a pair of light bulbs 24.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, a stepping motor 26 and optical sensors 29 and 30 having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion are attached to the substrate 20. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the optical sensors 29, 30
An optical sensor 31 similar to the above is attached to the substrate 20.

As shown in FIG. 4, the substrate 20 includes a stepping motor 26, a light bulb 24, and optical sensors 29 and 30,
Wirings 32, 34, 36 for 31 are printed.
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
Is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, each wiring 32, 3
4, 36 are connected to a terminal plate 38. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the terminal plate 38 is connected to the control board 42 by a flat cable 40.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a drive pulley 44 is attached to the stepping motor 26. Specifically, the output shaft 26a of the stepping motor 26
The connecting plate 26b fixed to the hub 4 of the drive pulley 44.
6 is attached with a screw 48. Further, an idler pulley 50 is attached to the substrate 20 so as to be rotatable around its axis, and the axis of the idler pulley 50 and the drive pulley 4 are attached.
It is substantially parallel to the axis of 4.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, an endless display belt 52 made of plastic is wound around the drive pulley 44 and the idler pulley 50. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of types of designs 54 are printed on the surface of the display belt 52. On one edge 56 of the display belt 52, one reference mark 58 and a plurality of symbol marks 60 corresponding to each symbol 54 are provided, and the reference mark 58 is almost twice as long as the symbol mark 60. (The length of the display belt 52 in the winding direction). Also, the display belt 52
The reference mark 58 and the design mark 60 hardly allow light to pass through although the light itself is sufficiently transmitted.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, inside the display belt 52, a tension part 64 having a rotating shaft 62 supported by the substrate 20 is arranged. A pair of tension rollers 66 is attached to the tension part 64 at the end opposite to the rotary shaft 62. These tension rollers 66 are rotatable around their axes. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the tension parts 6
A torsion spring 68 is externally fitted to the rotating shaft portion 62 of No. 4. One end of the torsion spring 68 is fixed to the substrate 20, and the other end of the torsion spring 68 is provided with the rotary shaft 62 and the tension roller 66.
It is in contact with the arm portion 70 disposed between and. Due to the biasing force of the torsion spring 68, the tension parts 64 press the display belt 52 from the inner side to the outer side as shown in FIG. 4 to prevent the slack of the display belt 52.

As shown in FIG. 4, the display belt 52 is supported by the drive pulley 44, the idler pulley 50, and the tension roller 66. Also, the display belt 5
When 2 moves between the drive pulley 44 and the idler pulley 50, the reference mark 58 and the symbol mark 60 cross the detection areas of the optical sensors 29, 30, 31. Therefore, the output levels of the optical sensors 29, 30, and 31 change to high / low each time the reference mark 58 and the symbol mark 60 pass. As shown in FIG. 6, which is an explanatory view in which the rotating surface of the display belt 52 is two-dimensionally developed, the distance between the optical sensor 30 and the optical sensor 31 along the rotating surface of the display belt 52 is It corresponds to 4 pitches of the symbol mark 60, and when one of the optical sensors 30 and 31 detects the symbol mark 60, the other one is also 4
The pattern mark 60 located at a pitch distance will be detected.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the optical sensor 2
The output signals of 9, 30, and 31 are input to the detection unit 80. As shown in FIG. 8, the detection unit 80 includes a pair of 2in-NOR circuits 80a and 80b,
When the output levels of the optical sensor 29 and the optical sensor 30 are both low levels, it is determined that the reference mark 58 is detected, and the reference mark signal is output, and when the outputs of the optical sensors 30 and 31 are both low level. Is detected as the symbol mark 60 and a symbol mark signal is output. The reference mark signal and the symbol mark signal are used by the symbol control unit 82.
Is input to

As shown in FIG. 7, the symbol control section 82 includes
A drive circuit 84 that sends a drive pulse to the stepping motor 26 is connected, and the symbol control unit 82 can control the operation and stop of the stepping motor 26 via the drive circuit 84. Further, the symbol control unit 82 includes a symbol determination unit 86.
The design command is input from the design control unit 8
2 controls each stepping motor 26 according to the symbol command instructed from the symbol determination unit 86, thereby controlling the symbol display in each display unit 16. In addition,
The detection unit 80, the design control unit 82, the drive circuit 84, and the design determination unit 86 are incorporated in the control board 42 shown in FIG.

The symbol determination unit 86 has a built-in random counter (not shown), and every time a winning signal is input from the starting winning port provided in the game board 14, the count value of the random counter is regarded as a winning value. Determine if they match. Here, if the count value matches the hit value, the symbol determination unit 86 sends the symbol command of the array corresponding to the hit value to the symbol control unit 82. This symbol command is not the display symbol itself of each display unit 16, but after the reference mark signal is input (after the reference mark 58 is detected by the detection unit 80), how many times the symbol mark signal is input ( (How many times the detection unit 80 detects the symbol mark 60),
Rotation of the display belt 52 (more precisely, the stepping motor 2
6) is transmitted as an instruction to stop (operation 6). That is, this symbol command corresponds to the arrangement order of the symbol marks described in claim 1, and the symbol determination unit 86 corresponds to the stop position instructing means.

Further, at this time, the symbol determination unit 82 transmits the result (that is, hit) to the main control unit (not shown). The main control unit executes a jackpot process such as opening the special winning opening. On the other hand, if the count value does not match the hit value, the symbol determination unit 86 sends a symbol command of an array corresponding to the count value to the symbol control unit 82.

The symbol control unit 82 stops the stepping motor 26 of the display unit 16 when the symbol mark signal of the number of times corresponding to the symbol command is input from the detection unit 80 after the reference mark signal. As a result, the rotation of the display belt 52 is stopped. All display units 16
When the display belt 52 of is stopped, the symbol 54 is fixedly displayed.

As described above, in the symbol display device 10, the symbol is detected by the reference mark detected based on the signals of the optical sensors 29 and 30 and the symbol mark detected based on the signals of the optical sensors 30 and 31. The rotation position of 54 is detected and the display belt 52 is stopped.

In this pattern display device 10, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), there is dirt R due to dust or the like on the edge portion 56 of the display belt 52, which causes the output level of the optical sensor 30 to become a low level. Also, the other optical sensor 31
Since the output level of is a high level, the pattern mark signal is not output from the detection unit 80. That is, the stain R is not erroneously detected as the symbol mark 60.

Therefore, even if the dirt R adheres to a portion of the display belt 52 that rotates on the same locus as the locus of the symbol mark 60, the symbol mark 60 can be accurately detected. As a result, the display belt 52 is accurately stopped and the desired pattern 54
Can be displayed correctly.

In this embodiment, the optical sensors 29, 3 are used.
0 works together as a reference position sensor, and the optical sensor 3
0 and 31 work together as a symbol position sensor. Further, the detection unit 80 corresponding to the signal output unit functions as the symbol position detection unit in cooperation with the optical sensors 30 and 31. Furthermore, the symbol control unit 82 and the drive circuit 84
Function as motor control means in cooperation with each other, and the symbol determination unit 8
6 functions as a stop position indicating means.

Although the present invention has been described above according to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment, the number of pattern mark detecting sensors is two, but the number of sensors may be three or more. In addition, the reference mark and the pattern mark are configured so as not to transmit light, and mark detection is performed when the output level of the optical sensor becomes low, but this structure is reversed and the output level of the optical sensor becomes high. Sometimes mark detection is also possible.

[0030]

As described above, according to the symbol display device of the first aspect, even if dirt adheres to a portion of the display belt that rotates on the substantially same locus as the locus of the symbol mark, it can be removed. There is no false detection as a design mark. Therefore, it is possible to accurately stop the display belt and correctly display a desired symbol.

The symbol display device according to the second aspect is suitable for applications in which a plurality of symbols are required to be displayed at the same time, such as a jackpot display with the same three symbols displayed in a horizontal row.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a display unit of the symbol display device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a display unit of the symbol display device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a display unit of the symbol display device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the symbol display device of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view in which the rotating surface of the display belt of the symbol display device of the embodiment is developed in a plane.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control mechanism of the symbol display device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a detection unit included in the control mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 ... Pachinko machine (gaming machine), 14 ... Gaming board, 16 ... Display unit, 26 ... Stepping motor, 29 ... Optical sensor (reference position sensor), 30 ... Optical sensor (Reference position sensor, symbol position sensor, symbol position detecting means), 31 ... Optical sensor (symbol position sensor, symbol position detecting means), 42 ... Control board, 44 ... Drive pulley, 50 ... Idler pulley, 52 ... Display belt, 56 ... Edge, 58 ... Reference mark, 60 ... Design mark, 80 ... Detection unit (signal output means, design position detection means), 82. .. Design control section (motor control means), 84 ... Drive circuit (motor control means), 86 ... Design determination section (stop position instruction means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A symbol display device to be mounted on a gaming machine, which has a plurality of symbols, a symbol mark arranged corresponding to each symbol, and a reference mark serving as a reference for the arrangement order of the symbol marks. Of the display belt, a drive pulley for rotating the display belt, a motor for rotationally driving the drive pulley, a reference position sensor for detecting the reference mark, and a symbol position detecting means for detecting the symbol mark. Display unit, stop position designating means for designating the arrangement order of the symbol marks corresponding to the target symbol selected from the plurality of symbols, and the symbol position detection after the reference mark is detected by the reference position sensor The drive pulleys should be stopped when the number of detections of the pattern marks by the means reaches the number according to the arrangement order designated by the stop position designating means. In a symbol display device including a motor control unit for controlling the operation of the motor, as the symbol position detection unit, an interval along the rotation surface of the display belt, which is determined according to the pitch between the symbol marks, A plurality of symbol position sensors arranged in keeping, and a signal output means for outputting a symbol mark signal to the motor control means when the detection states of the plurality of symbol position sensors match, Display device. 2. The symbol display device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the display units are provided, and the stop position instructing unit sets the arrangement order of the symbol marks corresponding to the target symbol for each of the display units. An instruction to the motor control means, wherein the motor control means controls the motors of the display units according to the instructed arrangement order.