Game apparatus

Abstract

To provide a game device allowing a player to enter a casing at a position different from a falling space of a prize or the like, and reducing or eliminating the risk of carelessly opening the entering space.SOLUTION: In the game device, a game space 100 is set above an intermediate wall 11, a falling space 101 communicates with the lower part of the game space 100 through a falling port 101a, an opening / closing part for opening / closing a case body 2 is provided at a position different from the discharge port 101b of prizes or the like, and an entering space 102 for entering the case body 2 is set below the intermediate wall 11 and on the back side of the opening / closing part. A movable part 50 for opening and closing a communication port 102a for communicating the game space 100 with the entering space 102 is provided at a position adjacent to the back side when viewed from the side of the opening / closing part, and an inner wall part 60 for opening and closing the entering space 102 at a position on the back side of the opening / closing part when viewed from the side of the opening / closing part is provided in the housing 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming device that provides a game in which players can acquire prizes or other items housed within a cabinet. [Background technology]

[0002] One type of gaming device known in the art has a game space defined above a partition wall that vertically divides the interior of the gaming machine. Prizes placed in the game space are acquired by operating a prize acquisition mechanism, such as a crane mechanism. The acquired prizes are dropped into the drop space through a drop port provided in the partition wall, and the dropped prizes can be removed from the gaming machine through a payout port. This type of gaming machine employs a structure that opens the game space to the outside of the gaming machine for maintenance work, such as replenishing prizes, adjusting the placement of prizes, or adjusting equipment inside the gaming machine. One example of a gaming machine employing such a structure is a gaming machine that has a door on the front side of the gaming machine that can be opened to create an opening that spans the game space and the drop space, allowing a manager or other personnel to enter the drop space through the opening (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6562384 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Instead of using the drop space as an access space for entering the cabinet, a configuration has been considered in which an opening / closing door is provided at a position different from the payout opening of the cabinet, and the area behind the opening / closing door is used as the access space for entering the cabinet. However, various devices and items related to the game device may be located below the partition wall separating the game space. Therefore, a configuration in which the access space is opened simply by opening and closing the opening / closing door may cause some inconvenience. For example, if the opening / closing door is careless, items placed behind the opening / closing door may fall out of the cabinet. Alternatively, the opening of the access space may occur even when work that only requires access to the game space or maintenance work on the opening / closing door itself does not necessarily require opening the access space, allowing unwanted access to the devices and various items, which may raise security concerns.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a game device that allows entry into the housing at a position different from the space into which prizes and other items fall, and that reduces or eliminates the risk of the entry space being inadvertently opened. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A game device according to one embodiment of the present invention has a first partition that divides the interior of a cabinet in an up-down direction, wherein a game space is defined in an area above the first partition, and below the game space is defined a drop space that communicates with the game space via a drop opening in the first partition and communicates with the outside of the cabinet via a payout opening provided in a wall of the cabinet, and the area below the first partition is separated from the drop space by a second partition, and the game device provides a game in which items placed in the game space are retrieved and dropped into the drop space, wherein the cabinet is provided with an opening / closing section that opens and closes the cabinet in a range that extends in an up-down direction across the first partition at a position different from the payout opening, and a movable section that opens and closes a communication opening that communicates the game space with an access space defined in the area below is provided at a position adjacent to the first partition and further back than the opening / closing section when viewed from the opening / closing section, and the cabinet is provided with an inner wall that opens and closes the access space at a position further back than the opening / closing section when viewed from the opening / closing section. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an opening / closing section on the front side of the casing of a game device according to one embodiment of the present invention is closed; [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view of a lower structure provided on the housing of the game device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2 is a perspective view of the game device of FIG. 1 with the opening / closing section on the front side of the casing open, as viewed from the right side of the casing. [Figure 4] 2 is a perspective view showing the game device of FIG. 1 in a state where a movable part has been moved to an open position. [Figure 5] 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lower opening / closing part of the housing is opened from the state shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing the state in which the inner wall portion for opening and closing the access space is in the closed position. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 illustrates the inner wall portion being lifted as a step in removing the inner wall portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows the procedure following FIG. 7. [Figure 9]9 is a diagram showing the inner wall portion of FIG. 8 as viewed from above. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a configuration in which the inner wall portion is rotatably attached. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a configuration in which an inner wall portion is provided so as to be movable integrally with a movable portion. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a configuration in which the inner wall portion is open to the lower surface side of the housing. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration in which a cabinet is arranged in a housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A gaming device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The gaming device according to this embodiment belongs to the so-called commercial gaming machines that provide games in which the objective is to obtain a predetermined prize in exchange for the payment of a predetermined price. As shown in Figure 1, the gaming device 1 according to this embodiment includes a cabinet 2.

[0009] The housing 2 defines the appearance of the game device 1 and is a structural element that houses or serves as a base for mounting various interior accessories to be installed in the game device 1. The housing 2, for example, is formed in a roughly rectangular box shape having four walls 3A-3D, a bottom 4, and a ceiling 5. The housing 2 has a set orientation. In the illustrated example, the side toward which wall 3A faces is the front side. The front side is defined as the side on which a player is positioned when playing a game. Viewed from the front side, wall 3B is the left side, wall 3C is the right side, and wall 3D is the rear side. The up-down direction in FIG. 1 corresponds to the height direction of the housing 2, with the top of FIG. 1 corresponding to the top of the housing 2 and the bottom of FIG. 1 corresponding to the bottom of the housing 2. Furthermore, the front-rear and left-right directions when viewing the housing 2 from the front side correspond to the front-rear and left-right directions of the housing 2, respectively.

[0010] A control panel 6 is provided on the front wall 3A. The control panel 6 is provided with various devices such as an operation unit 7 that accepts player operations, a monitor 8 that displays and outputs game information, a coin slot 9 that accepts coins or medals as payment for games, and a card reader 10 that is used to exchange player authentication information and information for electronic payments. The operation unit 7 may be configured to include push button or lever type operation members, a touch panel type operation unit disposed on the monitor 8, or the like, as appropriate.

[0011] An intermediate wall 11 extending generally horizontally is provided inside the housing 2. The intermediate wall 11 functions as an example of a first partition wall that vertically divides the interior of the housing 2. The intermediate wall 11 divides the interior of the housing 2 into an upper region 12 and a lower region 13. Note that in FIG. 1, the lower region 13 is hidden below the intermediate wall 11. The term "middle" in relation to the intermediate wall 11 means that it is located midway along the height of the housing 2, and does not mean that the intermediate wall 11 is located at the center of the height of the housing 2. In the illustrated example, the intermediate wall 11 is located slightly downwardly from the center of the height of the housing 2. The terms "upper" and "lower" in relation to the upper region 12 and the lower region 13 also refer to the relative vertical relationship between the regions 12 and 13. It is also acceptable for the upper region 12 to extend below the center of the height of the housing 2, or for the lower region 13 to extend above the center of the height of the housing 2.

[0012] A game space 100 is defined in the upper area 12. As an example, almost the entire area of ​​the upper area 12 is defined as the game space 100. However, a portion of the upper area 12 may be defined as the game space 100, and another portion of the upper area 12 may be used for another purpose. For example, a storage section for storing spare prizes may be provided on the rear side of the cabinet 2, separated from the game space 100. The game space 100 is used as a space for placing prizes. As an example, the upper surface of the intermediate wall 11 is defined as a placement surface 11a, and prizes are placed on the placement surface 11a. A prize is an example of an item that a player may acquire. Multiple prizes may be placed on the placement surface 11a. Multiple types of prizes may be placed on the placement surface 11a. The multiple types of prizes are differentiated in shape and size depending on the type. The monetary value of the prizes may also be differentiated depending on the type. On the placement surface 11a, balls and other items may be placed as items other than prizes (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as non-prize items). Non-prize items are items that are not intended to be acquired by players. For example, non-prize items may be placed on the placement surface 11a for operational reasons of the game device 1. The non-prize items may be placed, for example, in a spread pattern on the placement surface 11a, and prizes may be placed on top of them. Hereinafter, prizes and non-prize items may be collectively referred to as prizes, etc.

[0013] To enable the game space 100 to be viewed from outside the cabinet, the area adjacent to the upper area 12 of the front wall 3A is configured as a transparent wall 14. In FIG. 1, the internal configuration that can be viewed through the transparent wall 14 is shown by solid lines. The area below the wall 3A excluding the transparent wall 14 and the other walls 3B to 3C are all opaque. However, the areas adjacent to the upper area 12 of the left and right walls 3B and 3C may also be configured as transparent walls. The game space 100 also includes an arm unit 20 as an example of a prize acquisition mechanism. The arm unit 20 is disposed in the game space 100 by being suspended from the ceiling 5 of the cabinet 2, for example.

[0014] The arm unit 20 moves in three dimensions within the game space 100, i.e., in the front-to-back, left-to-right, and height directions of the cabinet 2, in response to a player's operation of the operation unit 7, and operates to open and close the multiple arms 20a. The operation of the arm unit 20 allows the player to grab a prize, carry it to a predetermined position within the game space 100, and release the prize at that position. Various types of arm units 20 are available, and the arm unit 20 in the game device 1 may be configured in accordance with a known configuration. When non-prize items such as balls are spread across the placement surface 11a, the arm 20a can relatively easily push aside the items and enter underneath the prize. The target item may be a substitute prize stored in the game space 100 as a substitute for the prize. When a substitute prize is provided as the target item, the player operates the arm unit 20 to acquire the substitute prize and exchange it for the predetermined prize. The acquisition mechanism is not limited to the arm unit 20, and may be modified as appropriate as long as it can acquire prizes within the game space 100 and transport them to an appropriate location.

[0015] A drop space 101 is provided below the game space 100. A portion of the intermediate wall 11, in the illustrated example, is cut out in a generally rectangular shape in the left front area of ​​the intermediate wall 11 to provide a drop opening 101a, which communicates with the game space 100. The drop space 101 is configured as a space into which prizes grasped by the arm 20a of the arm unit 20 are released and dropped. The drop space 101 also communicates with the outside of the cabinet 2 through a payout opening 101b that opens on the front wall 3A of the cabinet 2. Prizes that fall into the drop space 101 are paid out from the payout opening 101b to the outside of the cabinet. Fall prevention walls 22A and 22B are further provided around the periphery of the drop opening 101a. The fall prevention walls 22A and 22B are provided to eliminate or reduce the risk of prizes spilling over the placement surface 11a and falling into the drop space 101. The fall prevention walls 22A and 22B are configured as transparent or semi-transparent wall panels so as not to impede the visibility of the prizes and the like on the placement surface 11a from the front side of the cabinet 2. However, at least one of the fall prevention walls 22A and 22B may be configured to be opaque if it does not impede visibility.

[0016] FIG. 2 shows the lower structure 30 disposed below the intermediate wall 11 of the housing 2. The lower structure 30 is a basic structure for constructing the housing 2 and is formed by appropriately combining structural members such as plate materials. The walls 3A to 3D (FIG. 1) of the housing 2 are formed by appropriately attaching structural members such as an upper frame and decorative panels to the sides around the lower structure 30. The lower structure 30 is provided with the above-mentioned drop space 101. The portion excluding the drop space 101 corresponds to the lower region 13, which is covered from above by the intermediate wall 11. The drop space 101 is separated from the lower region 13 by vertical walls 31A and 31B disposed on the right and rear sides thereof. Therefore, the vertical walls 31A and 31B function as an example of a second partition wall separating the drop space 101 from the lower region 13. Because the drop space 101 is separated from the lower region 13, it is impossible to access the lower region 13 from the dispensing opening 101b via the drop space 101. The vertical walls 31A and 31B are not provided with opening / closing parts such as doors. However, the vertical walls 31A and 31B may be provided with appropriate openings such as ventilation holes and inspection hatches, as long as they can prevent access to the lower region 13 via the fall space 101.

[0017] The lower area 13 is provided with an equipment area 32 and a storage area 33, which are partitioned in the left-right direction by a vertical wall 31C that is generally parallel to the vertical wall 31A. The equipment area 32 is located adjacent to the right side of the drop space 101 when viewed from the front side of the cabinet 2. The equipment area 32 is provided as an area in which various devices attached to the game device 1 are arranged. In the illustrated example, the equipment area 32 is divided in the front-rear direction into a front chamber 34 and a rear chamber 35 by a vertical wall 31D that is arranged perpendicular to the vertical walls 31A and 31C. The front chamber 34 is further divided into an upper chamber 34a and a lower chamber 34b by a horizontal lateral wall 31E. The upper chamber 34a and the lower chamber 34b open toward the front of the lower structure 30.

[0018] The equipment placed in the equipment area 32 may be set as appropriate. As an example, a coin selector that determines the type and number of coins inserted through the coin slot 9 of the game device 1 is placed in the upper chamber 34a, and a coin box that stores coins that pass through the coin selector is placed in the lower chamber 34b. A control board for the game device 1 is placed in the rear chamber 35. As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 2 is provided with small doors 36A and 36B for opening and closing the upper chamber 34a and the lower chamber 34b from the outside of the housing. These small doors 36A and 36B are lockable. In FIG. 2, an opening is depicted in the vertical wall 31C, but the opening is closed by a lid (not shown). Therefore, the rear chamber 35 cannot be accessed from the storage area 33 unless the lid is removed.

[0019] The storage area 33 is provided at a position away from the equipment area 32 on the opposite side from the payout outlet 101b. The storage area 33 functions as an area where various items related to the game device 1 can be stored. The storage area 33 opens on the front side of the lower structure 30. A certain range from the opening is set as an access space 102 for an administrator or the like to enter the inside of the cabinet 2. In other words, in this embodiment, at least a part of the storage area 33 is used as the access space 102. In FIG. 2, the access space 102 is schematically shown by imaginary lines, and the actual shape and size of the access space 102 are not limited to the example shown by the imaginary lines in FIG. 2.

[0020] The lower region 13 of the lower structure 30 further includes a rear region 38 located rearward of the drop space 101 and partitioned by vertical walls 31A and 31B. The rear region 38 may also be used as an additional region for accommodating equipment, etc., or may be an unused closed space. The entire underside of the lower structure 30 is covered by the bottom 4 of the housing 2. Therefore, the drop space 101 and the access space 102 are closed off from the underside of the housing 2, and the undersides of the other regions 32, 33, and 38 are all closed off as well.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, an opening / closing unit 40 is provided on the front side of the housing 2, capable of opening and closing the housing 2 in a range extending in the vertical direction across the intermediate wall 11. The opening / closing unit 40 includes an upper opening / closing unit 41 that opens and closes the housing 2 above the intermediate wall 11, and a lower opening / closing unit 42 that opens and closes the housing 2 in a range below the intermediate wall 11. The upper opening / closing unit 41 and the lower opening / closing unit 42 are each provided on the same wall 3A on the front side where the dispensing outlet 101b of the housing 2 is provided. As an example, the upper opening / closing unit 41 is configured as a sliding door that can be slid left and right, as shown by arrow A in FIG. 1. As an example, the lower opening / closing unit 42 is configured as an opening / closing door that can be opened around its right end as an axis, as shown by arrow B in FIG. 1. The upper opening / closing unit 41 forms part of the transparent wall 14, and is substantially entirely transparent.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3 , by operating the upper opening / closing unit 41 and the lower opening / closing unit 42 in the opening direction, the front wall 3A can be opened in a range extending vertically across the intermediate wall 11 at a position different from the payout opening 101b. Note that in FIG. 3 and subsequent figures, structural members such as pillars on the right side of the front of the cabinet 2 are omitted for clarity of illustrating the internal configuration of the cabinet 2. The upper opening / closing unit 41 closes the game space 100 when positioned to the right of the transparent wall 14, and opens the game space 100 to the outside of the cabinet when slid leftward. The game space 100 can be conceptually divided into an area directly above the drop space 101 and other areas, and the upper opening / closing unit 41 opens and closes the game space 100 within a range corresponding to the latter area of ​​the game space 100. The lower opening / closing unit 42 opens and closes the cabinet 2 within a range corresponding to the access space 102 when viewed from the front of the cabinet 2. However, the lower opening / closing unit 42 itself does not open or close the access space 102. Even when the lower opening / closing part 42 is opened, the access space 102 is not open when viewed from the front side of the housing 2. In order to open the access space 102 to the front side of the housing 2, it is necessary to operate the inner wall part 60 (see FIG. 5), which will be described later.

[0023] The lower end of the upper opening / closing unit 41 and the upper end of the lower opening / closing unit 42 partially overlap in the front-to-rear direction of the housing 2. As an example, the upper end of the lower opening / closing unit 42 is provided with a rail-like guide portion that engages with the lower end of the upper opening / closing unit 41 in the front-to-rear direction to guide the upper opening / closing unit 41 in the left-to-right direction. Therefore, the lower opening / closing unit 42 cannot be opened until the upper opening / closing unit 41 is slid leftward to disengage from the guide portion on the lower opening / closing unit 42. When the upper opening / closing unit 41 and the lower opening / closing unit 42 are closed, no gap is formed between them. Furthermore, the housing 2 does not have any additional structural components, such as a door frame, that receive the upper end of the lower opening / closing unit 42. Therefore, by opening both the upper opening / closing unit 41 and the lower opening / closing unit 42, an opening can be created in the wall 3A of the housing 2 in a range that extends continuously in the vertical direction across the intermediate wall 11. However, the upper opening / closing unit 41 and the lower opening / closing unit 42 may be opened and closed independently of each other. For example, by positioning the lower end of the upper opening / closing part 41 more inward than the upper end of the lower opening / closing part 42, the lower end of the upper opening / closing part 41 may function as a door receiver that receives the upper end of the lower opening / closing part 42, thereby making it possible to open and close both opening / closing parts 41 and 42 independently of each other. In this case, it becomes possible to open and close only the upper opening / closing part 41 or only the lower opening / closing part 42.

[0024] 1, the housing 2 is further provided with locking devices 44, 45 as an example of a locking means for locking the upper opening / closing unit 41 and the lower opening / closing unit 42 in the closed state. Various types of locking devices may be used as the locking devices 44, 45, such as a type that is unlocked using a physical key or a type that inputs an unlock code using an input unit such as a numeric key. The control panel 6 is positioned to the left of the opening / closing unit 40 so as not to interfere with the opening / closing unit 40.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 and 3 to 5, a movable section 50 that can be slid back and forth is provided at a position adjacent to the back side of the opening / closing section 40 on the intermediate wall 11 when viewed from the opening / closing section 40 side. Figure 3 shows the movable section 50 in a state where it is operated to the front, that is, the closed position P1 on the front side when viewed from the opening / closing section 40 side, and Figure 4 shows the movable section 50 in a state where it is operated to the open position P2 on the back side. Note that Figure 4 shows a state where a flap 101c is attached to the payout opening 101b to prevent prizes and the like from flying out of the housing. The same applies to Figure 5.

[0026] The movable part 50 is arranged to cover the access space 102 from above when in the closed position P1. When the movable part 50 is moved to the open position P2, the game space 100 and the access space 102 communicate with each other through the communication opening 102a. In other words, the movable part 50 can be operated to open and close the communication opening 102a. The movable part 50 is arranged to fit under the intermediate wall 11 when moved to the open position P2. Therefore, in the closed position P1, the upper surface of the movable part 50 is slightly recessed downward relative to the placement surface 11a, but even in this state, it still functions substantially as part of the placement surface 11a of the intermediate wall 11.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3 , an inclined plate 51 is attached to the front end of the movable unit 50. When viewed from the front side of the cabinet 2, the inclined plate 51 is inclined downward toward the rear of the movable unit 50. The inclined plate 51 overlaps the movable unit 50 across its entire width in the left-right direction of the cabinet 2. Furthermore, the left side of the inclined plate 51 (the rear side in FIG. 3 ) extends above the placement surface 11a of the intermediate wall 11, and its left end reaches the vicinity of the fall prevention wall 22A. When the movable unit 50 is moved to the open position P2, the inclined plate 51 moves integrally with the movable unit 50, functioning to push prizes and the like positioned on the placement surface 11a or the movable unit 50 toward the rear side of the placement surface 11a. The inclined plate 51 functions to move prizes toward the center of the placement surface 11a. This reduces or eliminates the risk of prizes rolling near the corners of the game space 100 and becoming difficult to obtain. Furthermore, when the movable part 50 is moved to the rear side, an upward force is applied to the prize, etc., so that the prize, etc. can be moved as if scooped up by the inclined plate 51. This eliminates the risk that the prize, etc. will be caught between the intermediate wall 11 and the movable part 50, or caught between the rear surface of the housing 2 and the movable part 50 and crushed, and the movable part 50 can be moved to the rear side with a relatively light force.

[0028] A handle 52 is provided on the inclined plate 51, serving as a grip for operating the movable unit 50 in the forward and backward directions. The provision of the handle 52 allows for easy operation of the movable unit 50 in the forward and backward directions. If the handle 52 were omitted, it would be impossible or difficult to operate the movable unit 50 toward the rear unless the lower opening / closing unit 42 was opened. In contrast, if the handle 52 is provided, the upper opening / closing unit 41 can be opened to operate the movable unit 50 toward the rear even with the lower opening / closing unit 42 closed. This allows access to the storage area 33 from above with the lower opening / closing unit 42 closed. The handle 52 is advantageously provided on the inclined plate 51, making it difficult for the player at the front of the cabinet 2 to see the handle 52. The handle 52 can also be hidden by placing non-prize items, such as balls, not only on the placement surface 11a but also on the inclined plate 51.

[0029] Furthermore, a fall prevention wall 53 is attached to the front end of the movable unit 50 so as to be movable integrally with the movable unit 50. The fall prevention wall 53 is not shown in FIG. 1 . The fall prevention wall 53 is provided to be approximately the same height as the fall prevention wall 22A around the drop opening 101a. In the left-right direction of the cabinet 2, the fall prevention wall 53 is provided in approximately the same range as the inclined plate 51, and its left end is bent toward the rear of the game space 100 to overlap with the fall prevention wall 22A over a certain range. The fall prevention wall 53 restricts the movement of prizes, etc., so that they do not climb over the inclined plate 51 and fall forward when the movable unit 50 is moved to the open position P2. Like the fall prevention walls 22A and 22B, the fall prevention wall 53 is configured as a transparent or translucent wall plate so as not to obstruct viewing of the prizes, etc. on the placement surface 11a from the front side of the cabinet 2. However, the fall prevention wall 53 may be made opaque if it does not obstruct visibility.

[0030] Because the fall prevention wall 53 is provided movably as one unit with the movable part 50, it is possible to move the fall prevention wall 53 simply by moving the movable part 50, thereby preventing prizes and the like from falling. The fall prevention wall 53 may be formed around the communication opening 102a to prevent prizes and the like from falling into the communication opening 102a, and its form is not limited to the example shown in the figure. For example, a sheet-like or bellows-like fall prevention wall may be formed around the communication opening 102a as the movable part 50 moves. In this manner, if the fall prevention wall is formed when the movable part 50 is moved to the rear, the presence of the fall prevention wall becomes difficult to notice while the movable part 50 is held in the closed position P1. This improves the visibility of the game space 100 during game play, or improves the appearance of the game device 1.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a state in which the upper opening / closing unit 41 and the lower opening / closing unit 42 are open and the movable unit 50 is moved to the open position P2 to open the communication opening 102a. However, the lower opening / closing unit 42 is not shown in FIG. 5. As is clear from FIG. 5, the housing 2 is provided with an inner wall 60 that closes the access space 102 on the opening / closing unit 40 side, in other words, at a position further back than the opening / closing unit 40 when viewed from the front side of the housing 2. By providing the inner wall 60, even when the lower opening / closing unit 42 is opened, the access space 102 remains closed and is not opened to the front side of the housing 2. The inner wall 60 is formed as a plate-like member that can be removed from the housing 2. By removing the inner wall 60, the access space 102 is opened to the front side of the housing 2. The inner wall 60 is made of a transparent or translucent member so as not to obstruct visibility inside the storage area 33. For example, the inner wall 60 is formed using a transparent or translucent acrylic plate. If the inner wall 60 is transparent or translucent, various items placed in the storage area 33 can be seen from the outside while the inner wall 60 is attached. Therefore, the inner wall 60 can be carefully removed to prevent the items from spilling out of the cabinet 2. However, if it is not necessary for the storage area 33 to be visible from the front side of the cabinet 2 or if it is necessary to hide the interior of the storage area 33 with the inner wall 60, the inner wall 60 may be made opaque. If the inner wall 60 is made opaque, it becomes difficult for third parties such as players to recognize the existence of the storage area 33 and the items placed therein. This can deter theft of items in the storage area 33 or improve the appearance of the game device 1.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, cutouts 60a, 60b, and 60c are formed in three locations on the left end of the inner wall 60. The housing 2 is provided with two left hooks 62 that can engage with the left end of the inner wall 60 in the front-rear direction. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 9, the housing 2 is provided with a right hook 63 that engages with the right end of the inner wall 60 in the front-rear direction. The inner wall 60 is movable up and down relative to each of the left hook 62 and the right hook 63. The inner wall 60 is also detachable from the right hook 63. As the inner wall 60 engages with the left and right hooks 62 and 63 in the front-rear direction, the inner wall 60 is held in the closed position P3 in FIG. 6, which closes the access space 102, as viewed from the front side of the housing 2.

[0033] Of the cutouts 60a, 60b, and 60c on the left end of the inner wall 60, the two lower cutouts 60a and 60b are moved to positions where they overlap with the upper and lower left hooking portions 62 in the vertical direction by moving the inner wall 60 upward. These cutouts 60a and 60b are formed to a size that allows the left hooking portions 62 to pass through. Therefore, by moving the inner wall 60 upward as shown by arrow C in FIG. 7 until the cutouts 60a and 60b overlap with the left hooking portions 62 in the vertical direction, and then rotating the inner wall 60 around the meshing portion between the right hooking portion 63 and the inner wall 60 as shown by arrow D in FIGS. 8 and 9, the inner wall 60 can be moved forward of the left hooking portion 62.

[0034] 8 and 9 , the inner wall portion 60 can be removed from the housing 2 by sliding the inner wall portion 60 forward and left and removing the inner wall portion 60 from the right hook portion 63. By removing the inner wall portion 60, the access space 102 is opened to the front side of the housing 2. To attach the inner wall portion 60, the above-described procedure can be reversed. That is, the right end side of the inner wall portion 60 is inserted into the right hook portion 63, and while supporting the inner wall portion 60 so that the vertical positions of the notches 60a and 60b are aligned with the left hook portion 62, the inner wall portion 60 is rotated using the right hook portion 63 as a fulcrum so that the left hook portion 62 passes through the notches 60a and 60b. Then, the inner wall portion 60 is moved downward so that the left hook portion 62 engages with the left end side of the inner wall portion 60. The notch 60c at the top of the inner wall 60 can be used as a handle to hold when operating the inner wall 60. By providing the notches 60a and 60b in the inner wall 60, the engagement between the inner wall 60 and the left hook 62 can be released simply by lifting the inner wall 60 slightly. This allows the inner wall 60 to be removed efficiently.

[0035] According to the above-described game device 1, by sequentially opening the upper opening / closing section 41 and the lower opening / closing section 42 of the opening / closing section 40, moving the movable section 50 to the open position P2 to open the communication opening 102a, and removing the inner wall section 60 from the cabinet 2, the game space 100 and the access space 102 can be communicated in the vertical direction, and these spaces 100, 102 can be opened to the front side of the cabinet 2. Therefore, a manager can enter the access space 102 to perform various maintenance and management tasks on various items and devices in the game space 100, such as the prizes and the acquisition mechanism 20. It is also possible to remove items placed in the storage area 33 or to carry items into the storage area 33.

[0036] The operation of moving the movable part 50 to the open position P2 may be performed before or after opening the lower opening / closing part 42. The operation of removing the inner wall part 60 is performed after opening the lower opening / closing part 42. The order of the operation of moving the movable part 50 to the open position P2 and the operation of removing the inner wall part 60 does not matter as long as the inner wall part 60 can be attached and detached even when the movable part 50 is in the closed position P1. If the inner wall part 60 is provided to be detachable assuming that the movable part 50 is in the open position P2, such as when the inner wall part 60 cannot be lifted when the movable part 50 is in the closed position P1, the inner wall part 60 is removed after moving the movable part 50 to the open position P2. When the maintenance work is completed and the housing 2 is to be closed, the inner wall part 60 is attached and the movable part 50 is returned to the closed position P1, and then the lower opening / closing part 42 and the upper opening / closing part 41 are closed sequentially.

[0037] As described above, in the game device 1, even when the lower opening / closing unit 42 is opened, the access space 102 is kept closed by the inner wall 60 at the back of the lower opening / closing unit 42. Removing the inner wall 60 opens the access space 102 to the front side of the cabinet 2. This reduces or eliminates the risk of the access space 102 being inadvertently opened, thereby suppressing or preventing problems associated with opening the access space 102. For example, even if items are placed in the storage area 33, which includes the access space 102, there is no risk of the items spilling outside the cabinet 2 when the lower opening / closing unit 42 is opened. Furthermore, because the access space 102 is not immediately opened when the lower opening / closing unit 42 is opened, security concerns can be alleviated. For example, during maintenance of the lower opening / closing unit 42, the inner wall 60 can be kept closed to restrict access to the storage area 33.

[0038] The equipment area 32 is located adjacent to the payout outlet 101b in the left-right direction, and the access space 102 is located away from the equipment area 32 on the opposite side of the payout outlet 101b. This allows for a relatively large distance between the payout outlet 101b and the access space 102 in the left-right direction. Therefore, by positioning the lower opening / closing unit 42 as far away as possible from the payout outlet 101b, the area on the wall 3A to the left of the lower opening / closing unit 42, i.e., the area on the payout outlet 101b side, can be effectively utilized as a relatively large area available for other purposes without being affected by the opening / closing structure of the lower opening / closing unit 42. For example, in the illustrated game device 1, the control panel 6 can be installed so that it extends relatively long in the left-right direction. If the access space 102 were located adjacent to the payout outlet 101b, it would be necessary to provide the lower opening / closing unit 42 corresponding to the access space 102, and the lower opening / closing unit 42 would occupy approximately the center of the wall 3A in the left-right direction. In that case, it becomes difficult to provide a control panel 6 that is long in the lateral direction so as to avoid the lower opening / closing unit 42, and there may be a case where at least a portion of the control panel 6 has to be provided above the lower opening / closing unit 42. In such a layout, the opening / closing structure of the lower opening / closing unit 42 has a large impact on other mechanisms and structures, such as the need to route various wiring taking into account the opening / closing of the lower opening / closing unit 42, or the need to configure a path for guiding coins inserted through the coin slot 9 to the coin selector or coin box as a variable path taking into account the opening / closing of the lower opening / closing unit 42. In that case, the configuration of the game device 1 becomes unavoidably complicated. The game device 1 of this embodiment is advantageous in avoiding or suppressing such complication.

[0039] While it is possible to provide the control panel 6 on the lower opening / closing section 42 side, in that case, various wiring for the control panel 6 would be provided on the lower opening / closing section 42 side. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a structure on the lower opening / closing section 42 side for routing the wiring so as not to interfere with the operation of opening the lower opening / closing section 42 and entering the access space 102. If the control panel 6 were provided on the lower opening / closing section 42, the weight of the lower opening / closing section 42 would increase, requiring a considerable amount of operating force to open and close the lower opening / closing section 42, which could impair workability. Furthermore, the hinges and other components that serve as the fulcrum for opening and closing the lower opening / closing section 42 would need to be strengthened to accommodate the increased weight of the lower opening / closing section 42. In light of these points, it is technically meaningful to provide the control panel 6 on the payout opening 101b side, to the left of the lower opening / closing section 42. Similar advantages can be obtained for various components, such as the coin slot 9 and coin selector, by providing them on the payout opening 101b side, avoiding the lower opening / closing section 42.

[0040] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be embodied in embodiments with appropriate modifications or changes. For example, in the above embodiment, the inner wall portion 60 is detachable from the housing 2, thereby opening and closing the access space 102 when viewed from the front side of the housing 2, but the structure for opening and closing the inner wall portion 60 is not limited to this example. Other examples will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 13. Note that the lower opening / closing portion 42 is not shown in Figures 10 to 13.

[0041] In the configuration shown in FIG. 10 , the inner wall 60 is attached to the housing 2 so that it can rotate, as indicated by arrow F, around one of its left-right ends, e.g., the right end, as a fulcrum, from a closed position P3 that closes the access space 102 to an open position P4 that opens the access space 102. This configuration allows the inner wall 60 to be opened more easily. The inner wall 60 may also be attached to the right hook 63 to allow a moderate range of movement in the vertical direction. In this case, the left end of the inner wall 60 can still utilize the functions of retaining the inner wall 60 in the closed position P3 by the engagement of the notches 60a and 60b with the left hook 62, and of releasing the engagement by lifting the inner wall 60. However, the notches 60a and 60b and the left hook 62 may be omitted, and a restraining mechanism that can switch between restraining the inner wall 60 in the closed position P3 and releasing the restraint may be provided. When such a restraining mechanism is provided, it is not necessarily required that the inner wall portion 60 be liftable relative to the right hook portion 63. For example, the right end side of the inner wall portion 60 may be rotatably connected to the housing 2 by a hinge means. Furthermore, the movement of the inner wall portion 60 between the closed position and the open position is not limited to the example of rotation. For example, the inner wall portion 60 may be attached to the housing 2 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction. Alternatively, the inner wall portion 60 may be configured as a sheet-like or bellows-like shutter that can be rolled up at the right end side, left end side, or bottom end side, thereby making the inner wall portion 60 movable between the closed position and the open position.

[0042] The inner wall portion 60 may be connected to the movable portion 50 so as to be movable integrally with it. For example, as shown in Fig. 11 , the inner wall portion 60 may be connected to the front end of the movable portion 50, and when the movable portion 50 is in the closed position P1, the access space 102 may be closed by the inner wall portion 60, and when the movable portion 50 is operated to the open position P2, the inner wall portion 60 may also retract, and the access space 102 may appear in front of it in an open state facing the game space 100 and the cabinet 2. In Fig. 11 , the retracted state of the inner wall portion 60 is shown by a solid line, and the advanced state of the inner wall portion 60 is shown by an imaginary line.

[0043] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 , the access space 102 can be opened not only to the game space 100 but also to the front side of the cabinet 2 by opening the movable part 50, thereby improving workability. In the example shown in FIG. 11 , the inner wall part 60 is integral with the movable part 50 so that it is inseparable from the movable part 50. This keeps the area at the back of the access space 102 closed by the inner wall part 60 when viewed from the front side of the cabinet 2. Therefore, even if devices are placed in this area, access to the devices is prevented, ensuring security. Since the area behind the access space 102 is not open, the storage area 33 is essentially nonexistent. By not providing the storage area 33, no items are placed in this area, eliminating the risk of an inconvenience such as a person entering the access space 102 tripping over an item. However, by making the inner wall part 60 detachable from the movable part 50 or by providing an additional opening / closing part on the inner wall part 60, the area behind the inner wall part 60 can function as the storage area 33.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the underside of the access space 102 is closed by the bottom 4 of the cabinet 2. However, as shown in FIG. 12, an opening 102b may be provided on the underside of the access space 102, so that the access space 102 is open to the underside of the cabinet 2. In this case, the manager who enters the access space 102 will stand on the installation surface of the game device 1 to perform various tasks. Therefore, the manager's own weight will not act on the bottom 4. This reduces the load on the cabinet 2. It is also possible to relax the performance requirements for the rigidity, strength, or load-bearing capacity of the cabinet 2. The opening 102b in FIG. 12 can be applied to any of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, 10, and 11.

[0045] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 and 10 , a portion of the lower region 13 of the housing 2 is used as the storage region 33. However, FIG. 13 shows an example of a storage region having a different configuration. In the example shown in FIG. 13 , a cabinet 70 is disposed below the intermediate wall 11 and at the rear of the lower opening / closing portion 42. The cabinet 70 is configured as a box-shaped container, and its interior functions as the storage region. Furthermore, the cabinet 70 can be removed from the housing 2 by pulling it forward from the housing 2, as indicated by arrow G in the figure. Removing the cabinet 70 opens the access space 102 to the front side of the housing 2. Meanwhile, by attaching the cabinet 70, the access space 102 is closed by the front wall portion 70 a of the cabinet 70 when viewed from the front side of the housing 2. Therefore, the front wall portion 70 a corresponds to an example of an inner wall portion for opening and closing the access space 102. The cabinet 70 may be approximately the same size as the access space 102, or may be sized to extend rearward beyond the access space 102. If there is space at the rear of the cabinet 70, the cabinet 70 may be configured to be able to be pushed backward. In this case, by pushing the cabinet 70 toward the rear, the access space 102 is opened toward the front of the housing 2, and by pulling the cabinet 70 toward the front, the access space 102 is closed. The cabinet 70 may be an open-type container whose top side is always open, or may be a closed-type container whose top side or any of the front, rear, left, and right sides can be opened and closed.

[0046] In the present invention, the movable part does not necessarily need to be slidable in the forward and backward directions. As long as it can open and close the communication opening connecting the game space and the access space, the movable part may be operable in any direction. For example, in the above embodiment, the rear end of the movable part 50 may be hinged to the intermediate wall 11 so that the movable part 50 can be flipped up diagonally backward from the closed position. Alternatively, the movable part 50 may be configured so that it can be flipped up upward using the right or left end of the movable part 50 as a fulcrum. The movable part 50 may also be configured so that it can slide left and right in the left and right directions of the cabinet 2. In any case, the movable part 50 may be configured to be movable by rotational movement, linear movement, or a combination thereof, as long as it can open and close the communication opening 102a. Furthermore, the movable part 50 may be configured to open downward. For example, the movable part 50 may be configured so that it moves downward to the rear of the access space 102 to open the communication opening 102a. A portion of the movable part 50 may be foldable. The movable part 50 may be detachable from the housing 2. In this case, the communication opening 102a is closed by attaching the movable part 50 to the housing 2, and the communication opening 102a is opened by removing the movable part 50 from the housing 2. In other words, the term "movable" in relation to the movable part 50 is not limited to the manner in which the movable part 50 moves on the housing 2, but also includes the concept of the movable part 50 moving between a state attached to the housing 2 and a state detached from the housing 2.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the opening / closing unit 40 is provided on the front wall 3A of the cabinet 2, but the present invention is not limited to this example. The opening / closing unit may also be provided on the left wall 3B, the right wall 3C, or the rear wall 3D of the cabinet 2. In any case, the opening / closing unit only needs to be provided so that the cabinet 2 can be opened and closed at a position different from the payout opening 101b, and the positions of the access space 102 and the inner wall 60 need only be set corresponding to the position of the opening / closing unit. However, providing the opening / closing unit 40 on the front side of the cabinet 2 has the advantage that the manager can enter the access space 102 without being obstructed by other game devices, walls, etc., present on the left, right, and rear of the game device 1.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the upper opening / closing unit 41 is configured as a sliding door that can be slid, and the lower opening / closing unit 42 is configured as a door that can be rotated, but the opening / closing structures thereof may be changed as appropriate. The opening / closing unit 40 does not necessarily have to be provided as separate upper opening / closing unit 41 and lower opening / closing unit 42. The opening / closing units may be provided so as to open and close integrally within ranges corresponding to the upper region 12 and the lower region 13.

[0049] In the present invention, prizes and other items are not limited to being placed on the placement surface 11a. Structures such as shelves and hangers may be placed within the game space 100, and items may be placed, hooked, or suspended from the structures. The acquisition mechanism may also be appropriately changed depending on the manner in which the items are arranged. For example, various mechanisms may be used as the acquisition mechanism, such as a mechanism that involves actions such as fishing up, hooking, or scooping up an item, a mechanism that transports an item using a conveyor such as a belt conveyor, or a mechanism that cuts a string suspending the item and drops the item from a drop opening.

[0050] The game device of the present invention is not limited to an example in which a player is positioned in front of the cabinet to play a game, but may also be applied to a game device in which a player plays a game by remotely operating an acquisition mechanism via a network.

[0051] Various aspects of the present invention derived from the above-described embodiments and modifications will be described below. In the following description, corresponding components shown in the accompanying drawings will be written in parentheses to facilitate understanding of each aspect of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated forms.

[0052] A gaming device according to one aspect of the present invention has a first partition (11) that vertically divides the inside of a cabinet (2), a game space (100) is defined in an area (12) above the first partition, a drop space (101) is defined below the game space, the drop space (101) is connected to the game space via a drop opening (101a) in the first partition and is connected to the outside of the cabinet via a payout opening (101b) provided in a wall portion (3A) of the cabinet, and an area (13) below the first partition is separated from the drop space by second partitions (31A, 31B), and a game device is configured to retrieve an item placed in the game space and drop the item. A game device (1) that provides a game in which balls are dropped into a lower space, wherein the cabinet is provided with an opening / closing section (40) that opens and closes the cabinet in a range that extends vertically across the first partition wall at a position different from the payout outlet, and a movable section (50) that opens and closes a communication opening (102a) that connects the game space with an entry space (102) set in the lower area is provided at a position adjacent to the first partition wall on the back side of the opening / closing section when viewed from the opening / closing section, and an inner wall section (60; 70a) that opens and closes the entry space at a position on the back side of the opening / closing section when viewed from the opening / closing section is provided on the cabinet.

[0053] According to the above aspect, even when the opening / closing section is opened, the access space is kept closed by the inner wall section at the rear side thereof, and opening the inner wall section opens the access area to the outside of the housing. Therefore, the risk of the access space being inadvertently opened can be reduced or eliminated. For example, even if an item is placed in the access space or the area further inside it, there is no risk that the item will fall outside the housing when the opening / closing section is opened. Alternatively, since the access space is not immediately opened when the opening / closing section is opened, it is also possible to eliminate concerns about security.

[0054] In the above-described embodiment, the following items can be further added. The following various items may be applied in appropriate combinations as long as they are not mutually contradictory.

[0055] In the above aspect, the inner wall portion may be detachably attached to the housing, and the access space may be closed by attaching the inner wall portion to the housing, and opened by removing the inner wall portion from the housing. In this way, the inner wall portion needs to be removed from the housing to open the access space. Therefore, the risk of the access space being inadvertently opened can be more reliably reduced or eliminated.

[0056] The inner wall portion may be attached to the housing so as to be movable between a closed position (P3) and an open position (P4), and the entry space is closed by moving the inner wall portion to the closed position, and the entry space is opened by moving the inner wall portion to the open position. In this way, the entry space can be opened by moving it from the closed position to the open position. Therefore, it is possible to open the entry space by opening the inner wall portion efficiently as needed, while reducing or eliminating the risk of the entry space being inadvertently opened.

[0057] A storage area (33) may be provided in the lower area, and at least a portion of the storage area may be set as the access space. In this way, when the access space is closed by the inner wall, the storage area is not open to the outside of the housing. This reliably prevents the access space from being accidentally opened and causing items stored in the storage area to spill out of the housing.

[0058] The movable part may be movable between a closed position (P1) on the near side and an open position (P2) on the far side when viewed from the opening / closing part, and the inner wall part may be connected to the movable part so as to move integrally with the movable part, such that the inner wall part closes the entry space when the movable part is moved to the closed position, and the inner wall part opens the entry space when the movable part is moved to the open position. This allows the inner wall part to be opened and closed by moving the movable part. This improves the operability when opening the entry space to the game space and the outside of the cabinet. Even when the movable part is moved to the open position, the area further back than the entry space remains closed by the inner wall part. This improves security when devices are placed in that area.

[0059] The opening / closing unit may be provided on the same wall (3A) as the wall on which the payout outlet of the cabinet is provided, and a device area (32) for arranging devices attached to the gaming device may be provided adjacent to the payout outlet in the lower area as viewed from the payout outlet side, and the access space may be set away from the device area on the opposite side of the payout outlet. According to this configuration, the access space can be set farther away from the payout outlet than when the access space is set adjacent to the payout outlet. As a result, the opening / closing unit that should be located in front of the access space can also be positioned farther away from the payout outlet, and a relatively large area closer to the payout outlet on the wall than the opening / closing unit can be secured and used effectively for other purposes without being affected by the opening / closing structure of the opening / closing unit.

[0060] The access space may be open on the underside of the housing. In this case, the manager who enters the access space will stand on the installation surface of the game device. This prevents the manager's own weight from acting on the bottom of the housing, reducing the load on the housing and making it possible to relax the requirements for the rigidity, strength, and load-bearing capacity of the housing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1. Game device 2. Case 3A Front wall of the enclosure 4 Bottom of the housing 11 Intermediate Wall 11a Placement surface 12 Upper area 13 Lower area 32 Equipment area 33 Storage area 40 Opening and Closing Section 41 Upper opening and closing part 42 Lower opening and closing part 50 Moving parts 53 Fall prevention wall 60 Inner wall 70 Cabinet 70a Front wall 100 Game Space 101 Falling space 101a Fallout 101b Payment outlet 102 Accessible Space 102a Communication port 102b opening P1 Movable part closed position P2 Open position of moving part P3 Inner wall closed position P4 Inner wall open position

Claims

1. a game device having a first partition dividing the interior of a cabinet in the vertical direction, a game space defined in an area above the first partition, a drop space defined below the game space, the drop space communicating with the game space through a drop opening in the first partition and communicating with the outside of the cabinet through a payout opening provided in a wall of the cabinet, and the area below the first partition separated from the drop space by a second partition, the game device providing a game in which an object placed in the game space is retrieved and the object is dropped into the drop space, The housing is provided with an opening / closing section that opens and closes the housing within a range extending in a vertical direction across the first partition wall at a position different from the dispensing outlet, a movable part that opens and closes a communication opening that communicates the game space with an access space set in the lower area is provided at a position adjacent to the opening and closing part on the back side of the first partition when viewed from the opening and closing part, The gaming device has an inner wall portion that opens and closes the access space at a position further back than the opening and closing portion when viewed from the opening and closing portion.

2. 2. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall portion is detachably attached to the housing, and the access space is closed by attaching the inner wall portion to the housing, and the access space is opened by removing the inner wall portion from the housing.

3. 2. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall portion is attached to the housing so that it can move between a closed position and an open position, and the entry space is closed by moving the inner wall portion to the closed position, and the entry space is opened by moving the inner wall portion to the open position.

4. 4. The game device according to claim 2, wherein a storage area is provided in the lower area, and at least a part of the storage area is set as the access space.

5. the movable portion is provided so as to be movable between a closed position on the front side and an open position on the back side when viewed from the opening / closing portion, the inner wall portion is connected to the movable portion so as to move integrally with the movable portion; 2. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall portion closes the access space when the movable portion is moved to the closed position, and the inner wall portion moves to open the access space when the movable portion is moved to the open position.

6. the opening / closing section is provided on the same wall as the wall of the housing on which the dispensing outlet is provided, A gaming device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or 5, wherein in the lower area, an equipment area in which equipment attached to the gaming device is arranged is provided at a position adjacent to the payout outlet when viewed from the payout outlet side, and the access space is set at a position away from the equipment area on the opposite side of the payout outlet.

7. 6. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the access space is open to the underside of the housing.

Images