Display device for game machine

Abstract

To make a display device showing the acquired quantity of pachinko balls and other game media easily attract the attention of a player.SOLUTION: The display device (100) is attached to the upper part of the game machine (200) and is provided with a display unit (120), a decorative body (130) and a driving device for vertically moving the decorative body (130). The decoration body (130) is vertically moved by a driving device between a first position where the most part of its lower part is positioned inside the display unit (120) and a second position where the most part of its upper part is positioned above the display unit (120).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device that displays the number of pachinko balls or other gaming media acquired on a pachinko machine or other gaming machine. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, a ball output amount display device that shows the number of balls output from a pachinko machine is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-35397. FIG. 15 is a front view of the ball output amount display device described in the same publication. As shown in FIG. 15, a horizontally extending board 2 is hung above a pachinko machine 1, and a semicircular display device 3 is disposed on the board 2. The display device 3 is divided into eight identical fan-shaped display plates 3a, each numbered 1 to 8 from left to right. Pachinko balls (outgoing balls) acquired from the pachinko machine 1 are counted by a counter 4 and then released into a pachinko ball storage passage behind the pachinko machine 1. The operation of the display device 3 is controlled by a control device (not shown). The control device receives a signal indicating the number of pachinko balls from the counter 4 and lights up the display board 3a at regular intervals according to the number of pachinko balls. For example, when the number of pachinko balls is three times or more but less than four times the regular number, the display boards 3a numbered 1 to 3 are lit up, as shown in FIG.

[0003] By using the display device 3, other players can also see the ball output status of the pachinko machine 1, which is expected to have an effect of attracting customers. Another example of a ball output amount display device that shows the number of balls output from a pachinko machine is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-5433. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the ball output amount display device described in the same publication. A display unit 31 is disposed above each gaming table, and the display unit 31 is provided with a plurality of lamps 31a. Each time a player acquires a predetermined number of game media, one lamp 31a lights up, allowing the player to know the ball output status of the gaming machine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-35397 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-5433 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the display unit 3 shown in Fig. 15, although the display board 3a is lit, the display unit 3 is kept stationary and does not move, so there is a drawback in that it is difficult for other players to notice. This point is the same for the display unit 31 shown in Fig. 16. The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems with conventional ball output amount display devices as described above, and aims to provide a ball output amount display device that makes it possible to display ball output in a way that is easy for other players to notice. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve this object, the present invention provides a display device (100) that is installed on a gaming machine (200) and displays the number of gaming media acquired on the gaming machine (200), comprising: a rod-shaped body (110) extending upward from the gaming machine (200); a display unit (120) that is supported by the rod-shaped body (110) and has a hollow shape extending horizontally from the rod-shaped body (110), and displays the number of gaming media acquired on the gaming machine (200); a decorative body (130); and a decorative body drive device (140) that moves the decorative body (130) up and down, wherein the decorative body (130) moves up and down by the decorative body drive device (140) between a first position where most of its lower part is located inside the display unit (120) and a second position where most of its upper part is located above the display unit (120).

[0007] For example, the decorative body (130) consists of a plurality of boxes (131-135) stacked vertically, and when the decorative body (130) is in the first position, the remaining boxes (131-134) of the plurality of boxes (131-135), excluding at least the topmost box (135), are stacked closely together, and when the decorative body (130) is in the second position, it is preferable that the plurality of boxes (131-135) are spaced apart from each other. It is preferable that the decoration (130) can be stopped at any position between the first position and the second position depending on the number of gaming media acquired on the gaming machine (200). For example, it is preferable that the display device (100) further includes a lighting device disposed inside the decorative body (130), which lights up when the decorative body (130) moves upward beyond the display unit (120).

[0008] The rod-shaped body (110) is attached to the gaming table (200) so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and it is preferable that the gaming table (200) further includes a rod-shaped body drive device (160) that moves the rod-shaped body (110) in the vertical direction. The display unit (120) is attached so as to be rotatable around the central axis of the rod-shaped body (110), and it is preferable that the display unit (120) further comprises a rotation device (180) that rotates the display unit (120) around the central axis of the rod-shaped body (110). The reference numerals in parentheses are used only to indicate the correspondence with the embodiments described later, and do not limit the scope of the rights. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the display device of the present invention, at gaming machines where players have acquired a large amount of gaming media, the decoration in the second position, i.e., the decoration above the gaming machine, is positioned prominently, attracting the attention of other players and thus having the effect of attracting customers. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front side; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the display device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the display device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a plan view of the display device when viewed from above with the ornament in its first position. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a front view of the display device shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a right side view of the display device shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is a left side view of the display device shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the display device shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the decorative body in a first position inside the display unit. [Figure 10] A front view showing the state in which the decorative body has moved to the second position. [Figure 11] A vertical cross-sectional view showing the state in which the ornament has moved to the second position. [Figure 12] 10 is a front view showing a state in which one of the game medium storage boxes is exposed above the display unit between the first position and the second position. FIG. [Figure 13] 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which one of the game medium storage boxes is exposed above the display unit between the first position and the second position. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an example of a rotation mechanism of a display unit. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional ball output amount display device. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another conventional ball output amount display device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front side, FIG. 2 is a side view of the display device 100, and FIG. The display device 100 is installed on the upper surface 201 of the gaming machine 200, and is used to indicate the number of gaming media (for example, pachinko balls) acquired on the gaming machine 200. The display device 100 is composed of a rod-shaped body 110 extending upward from the top surface 201 of the gaming machine 200, a display unit 120, a decorative body 130, and a drive device 140 (see Figure 9) that moves the decorative body 130 up and down. The rod-shaped body 110 is made of a hollow metal rod with a circular cross section, and is fixed to the upper surface 201 of the gaming table 200 via a flange 111. The display unit 120 is composed of a display panel 121 and a cylindrical connector 122 to which the display panel 121 is fixedly attached.

[0012] The display panel 121 has display surfaces 121A and 121B (see FIG. 2) on both sides thereof, and the number of acquired game media and other information are displayed on each of the two display surfaces 121A and 121B. The display panel 121 has a hollow box-like shape, and one end (the right end in FIG. 3) thereof is fixedly supported by a connecting body 122, and extends horizontally from the connecting body 122. The connecting body 122 is fixedly connected at its lower end to the upper end of the rod-shaped body 110 so as to be concentric with the rod-shaped body 110. The decorative body 130 (see Figures 2 and 3) comprises five game media storage boxes 131-135 stacked vertically, and a second game media storage box 136 placed on top of the top game media storage box 135. For example, each of the game medium storage boxes 131-135 is a box for storing pachinko balls (called a "dollar box"), and the second game medium storage box 136 is a box in which medals as game medium are packed so densely that they overflow onto the top (a state called "kachi-mori"). The decoration 130 is intended to attract the attention of players and does not need to have a particular shape and can be any shape.

[0013] As described above, the interior of the display panel 121 of the display unit 120 is hollow, and an opening (not shown) through which the decorative body 130 can pass is formed on the upper surface of the display panel 121. The decorative body 130 is disposed inside the display panel 121 and moves up and down between a first position and a second position (described later) via this opening. A drive device 140 that moves the decorative body 130 up and down is also disposed inside the display panel 121. Figure 4 is a plan view of the display device 100 when viewed from above when the decorative body 130 is in its first position, Figure 5 is a front view of the same, Figure 6 is a right side view, Figure 7 is a left side view, and Figure 8 is a bottom view of the same. FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the decorative body 130 in the first position inside the display panel 121.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 9, the driving device 140 is made up of a motor 141, a gear train 142, a conversion mechanism 143 that converts rotational motion into linear motion, and a cylindrical body 144 having a cylindrical shape. The operation of the motor 141 is controlled by a control device 150 located outside (or inside) the display device 100 . When the motor 141 is rotated by the control device 150, the rotational force is transmitted to the gear train 142, and then the rotational motion is converted into linear motion (up and down motion) by the conversion mechanism 143 (for example, a rack and pinion mechanism). Cylinder 144 is attached to the rear side of display surface 121A (or 121B) via attachment device 145 so as to be movable up and down. Cylinder 144 is operatively connected to conversion mechanism 143, and linear motion converted from rotational motion by conversion mechanism 143 is transmitted to cylinder 144, resulting in cylinder 144 moving up and down. Each of the five game medium storage boxes 131-135 is attached to a cylinder 144, and when the cylinder 144 moves up and down, the game medium storage boxes 131-135 and the second game medium storage box 136 also move up and down accordingly.

[0015] The display device 100 having the above structure operates as follows. 9, in the first position, the four game medium storage boxes 131-134 are positioned inside the display unit 120 in a state where they overlap each other (positioned below the top of the display unit 120), and only the game medium storage box 135 at the top and the second game medium storage box 136 are exposed above the display unit 120. Furthermore, in the first position, the second game medium storage box 136 is stored inside the game medium storage box 135, and the game medium storage box 135 is positioned a predetermined distance away from the game medium storage box 134 directly below it. Before the display device 100 starts to operate, the ornamental body 130 is in the first position (FIGS. 5 and 9).

[0016] When the number of game media acquired on the gaming machine 200 exceeds a predetermined number, a signal is sent from a game media counter (not shown) to the control device 150. The control device 150 receives this signal and activates the motor 141 to move the cylindrical body 144 upward. As the cylindrical body 144 moves upward, the decorative body 130 moves from the first position to the second position. 10 and 11 are a front view and a vertical cross-sectional view showing the state in which the ornamental body 130 has moved to the second position. 10 and 11, all of the five game media storage boxes 131-135 and the second game media storage box 136 are exposed above the display unit 120. Furthermore, in the second position, the five game media storage boxes 131-135 are positioned apart from one another at a predetermined interval, and the second game media storage box 136 is also positioned above and apart from the uppermost game media storage box 135 of the five game media storage boxes 131-135 at a predetermined interval.

[0017] When the decorative body 130 is in the first position, the four game media storage boxes 131-134 are stacked on top of each other, which indicates that the four game media storage boxes 131-134 are empty and therefore the four game media storage boxes 131-134 are closely stacked on top of each other. In contrast, when the decorative body 130 is in the second position, the five game medium storage boxes 131-135 are positioned at a predetermined distance from each other because the five game medium storage boxes 131-135 are filled with game media (e.g., pachinko balls). Therefore, unlike the case of Figure 9, the five game medium storage boxes 131-135 cannot be placed close to each other and must be spaced apart. The positional relationship between the second game medium storage box 136 and the game medium storage box 135 is similar.

[0018] When the player finishes playing on the gaming machine 200, or when all the acquired gaming media have been paid for, the control device 150 reverses the rotation of the motor 141 to lower the cylindrical body 144. Accordingly, the decorative body 130 lowers from the second position (FIGS. 10 and 11) to the first position (FIGS. 5 and 9). According to the display device 100 of this embodiment, at a gaming machine 200 where a player has acquired a large amount of gaming media, the decorative body 130 at the second position, i.e., the decorative body 130 above the gaming machine 200, is positioned conspicuously and attracts the attention of other players, which can be expected to have an effect of attracting customers. In particular, the decorative body 130 in the second position shows that each of the five game media storage boxes 131-135 is full of game media (and therefore the five game media storage boxes 131-135 cannot be stacked closely together), which stimulates the desire of other players to play and is expected to attract even more customers.

[0019] The structure of the display device 100 according to this embodiment is not limited to the above structure, and various modifications are possible. In the display device 100 of this embodiment, when the decorative body 130 is in the first position, only the game media storage box 135 (the second game media storage box 136 is hidden inside the game media storage box 135) is exposed from above the display unit 120 (see Figures 5 and 9), but it is also possible to arrange the display unit 120 so that all five game media storage boxes 131-135 are located inside the display unit 120. When the decorative body 130 is in the first position, it is sufficient that the majority of the lower part of the decorative body 130 (for example, 3 / 4 or more, 4 / 5 or more) is located inside the display unit 120. Similarly, when the jewellery 130 is in the second position, it is sufficient that the majority of the upper part of the jewellery 130 (for example, 3 / 4 or more, 4 / 5 or more) is positioned above the display unit 120.

[0020] Furthermore, the number of ornaments 130 is not limited to five, but any number equal to or greater than six can be selected. Furthermore, a lighting device (not shown) can be placed inside the decorative body 130. The on / off of the lighting device is controlled by the control device 150. For example, the control device 150 causes the lighting device to emit light when the rod-shaped body 110 and thus the decorative body 130 is raised or lowered. Alternatively, the control device 150 can cause the lighting device to light up when the decorative body 130 moves above the display unit 120 and turn off when the decorative body 130 moves down into the display unit 120. The lighting device may be configured to emit two colors of light, so that when the control device 150 raises the decorative body 130, it emits a first color of light, and when the control device 150 lowers the decorative body 130, it emits a second color of light.

[0021] (Second embodiment) In the display device 100 according to the first embodiment described above, the decorative body 130 is configured to move up and down between a first position (Figures 5 and 9) and a second position (Figures 10 and 11), but it can also be configured to stop between the first position and the second position. For example, when the decorative body 130 is in the first position, only the topmost game medium storage box 135 (with the second game medium storage box 136 hidden inside) is exposed above the display unit 120, but when the player acquires a predetermined number of game media, the control device 150 drives the motor 141 so that the game medium storage box 134 located directly below the game medium storage box 135 is exposed above the display unit 120, and when the player acquires another predetermined number of game media (twice the predetermined number in total), the control device 150 drives the motor 141 so that the game medium storage box 133 located directly below the game medium storage box 134 is exposed above the display unit 120.

[0022] 12 and 13 are a front view and a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the game medium storage box 133 is exposed above the display unit 120 between the first position and the second position. That is, each time the player acquires a predetermined number of game media, the game media storage boxes 131-135 rise one by one to be exposed above the display unit 120. Finally, when the player acquires four times the predetermined number of game media, the decoration 130 rises to the second position. In this way, by gradually raising the decorative body 130 in accordance with the number of gaming media acquired by the player, the player's motivation to play can be gradually stimulated.

[0023] (Third embodiment) In the display device 100 according to the first embodiment, the rod-shaped body 110 is fixed to the upper surface 201 of the gaming machine 200, but it is also possible to configure the rod-shaped body 110 so that it can move in the vertical direction H (see FIG. 3) relative to the gaming machine 200. The mechanism for moving the rod-shaped body 110 up and down can be configured, for example, in the same way as the mechanism for moving the cylindrical body 144 up and down. By raising the rod-shaped body 110, the display unit 120 can be positioned even higher, making the display unit 120 and decorative body 130 more likely to catch the eye of other players, and more effective customer attraction can be expected. Alternatively, the rod 110 can be moved up and down continuously to attract the attention of other players.

[0024] (Fourth embodiment) In the display device 100 of the fourth embodiment, the rod-shaped body 110 is attached to the gaming table 200 so as to be rotatable around its central axis (an axis passing through the center of the cross section of the rod-shaped body 110 and extending in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped body 110), and further, the display device 100 is equipped with a rotation device (not shown) for rotating the rod-shaped body 110. A conventional mechanism can be used as a rotating device for rotating the rod-shaped body 110. By rotating the rod-shaped body 110, the display unit 120 fixed to the rod-shaped body 110 can be rotated around the rod-shaped body 110, so that players all around the gaming machine 200 can see the display unit 120 and the decorative body 130 from the front.

[0025] Alternatively, instead of rotating the rod-shaped body 110, it is also possible to attach the display unit 120 to the rod-shaped body 110 so that it is rotatable around the central axis of the rod-shaped body 110, and to provide a rotation device that rotates the display unit 120 around the central axis of the rod-shaped body 110. Furthermore, it is also possible to configure the rod-shaped body 110 so that it can move up and down relative to the gaming machine 200 and the display unit 120 so that it can rotate around the central axis of the rod-shaped body 110. FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a display device 100B in which the rod-shaped body 110 is movable up and down relative to the gaming machine 200 and the display unit 120 is rotatable around the central axis of the rod-shaped body 110. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, a cavity 201 extending vertically is formed inside the gaming machine 200, and a portion of the rod-shaped body 110 including its lower end is located inside the cavity 201.

[0026] The rod-shaped body 110 is attached to the gaming machine 200 via a flange 170 so as to extend in the vertical direction. A through-hole 171 extending in the vertical direction is formed inside the flange 170, and the rod-shaped body 110 is fitted into the through-hole 171 so as to be slidable inside the through-hole 171. In other words, the rod-shaped body 110 is arranged so as to be movable in the up and down direction relative to the gaming machine 200. Rod-shaped body 110 is made of metal and has a hollow cylindrical shape with a circular cross section, with rack 111 fixedly attached to inner wall 110A. Rack 111 extends vertically, and teeth 111A are formed on the outward surface. A pinion 112 meshes with the teeth 111A of the rack 111. The pinion 112 is connected to a motor 113. The pinion 112 is driven by the motor 113, and by rotating the pinion 112, the rod-shaped body 110 moves up and down according to the rotation direction of the motor 113. As the rod-shaped body 110 moves up and down, the display unit 120 also moves up and down.

[0027] In this way, the rack 111 and the pinion 112 constitute a rod-shaped body driving device 160 that moves the rod-shaped body 110 up and down. A ring-shaped protrusion 123 protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the connecting body 122, and the connecting body 122 is supported by the rod-shaped body 110 so that it can rotate around the central axis of the rod-shaped body 110 by the protrusion 123 engaging with the inner wall 110A of the rod-shaped body 110. A rod-shaped vertically elongated gear 124A extending downward is formed on the bottom surface of the connecting body 122. The gear 124A is in mesh with a pinion 125, and the pinion 125 is connected to a motor 126. When the pinion 125 is rotated by the motor 126, the connecting body 122 (and therefore the display unit 120) rotates around the central axis of the rod-shaped body 110.

[0028] The gear 124A and the pinion 125 constitute a rotation device 180 that rotates the display unit 120 around the central axis of the rod-shaped body 110. Since connecting body 122 moves up and down together with rod-shaped body 110, gear 124A also moves up and down together with connecting body 122. If a short gear is used, the gear and pinion 125 will no longer mesh when connecting body 122 rises, so by using longer gear 124A, it is possible to maintain meshing between gear 124A and pinion 125 even when connecting body 122 and therefore gear 124A rise. As described above, according to the display device 100B, the rod-shaped body 110 is movable up and down relative to the gaming machine 200, and the display unit 120 is rotatable around the central axis of the rod-shaped body 110. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 100 Display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention 110 Rod-shaped body 120 display units 130 Decoration 140 Drive Unit 150 control device

Claims

1. A display device that is installed on a gaming machine and indicates the number of gaming media acquired on the gaming machine, A rod-shaped body extending upward from the gaming machine; a display unit supported on the rod-shaped body, having a hollow shape extending horizontally from the rod-shaped body, and displaying the number of game media acquired on the gaming machine; Decorative bodies and A decorative body driving device that moves the decorative body up and down; Equipped with A display device characterized in that the decorative body moves up and down between a first position in which most of its lower part is located inside the display unit and a second position in which most of its upper part is located above the display unit by the decorative body drive device.

2. The decorative body is made up of a plurality of boxes stacked vertically, When the decorative body is in the first position, the remaining boxes among the plurality of boxes except for at least the top box are stacked closely together, 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein when the decorative body is in the second position, the plurality of boxes are spaced apart from one another.

3. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the decorative object can be stopped at any position between the first position and the second position depending on the number of gaming media won on the gaming machine.

4. The decorative body further includes a lighting device disposed inside the decorative body, 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device emits light when the decorative object moves upward beyond the display unit.

5. The rod-shaped body is attached so as to be movable in the up and down direction relative to the gaming machine, 2. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a rod-shaped body driving device that moves the rod-shaped body in the up and down direction.

6. the display unit is attached so as to be rotatable around the central axis of the rod-shaped body, 6. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation device that rotates the display unit around the central axis of the rod-shaped body.

Images