gaming machines

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of improving amusement of a game in terms of a variable display, without increasing the size of a device structure.SOLUTION: Since a segment variable display can be performed by a central segment 727 in a reel display window 410 and a reel segments 440, 450 arranged along a surrounding of the reel display window 410, a segment variable display that is different from a variable display by a reel pattern 741a can be provided and amusement of a game can be improved in terms of a variable display. Since a segment variable display is performed by the central segment 727 in the reel display window 410 and the reel segments 440, 450 at an outer peripheral point thereof, a player can see the segment variable display while seeing the reel display window 410 just like when seeing the variable display by the normal reel pattern 741a, therefore, overlooking of the variable displays can be reduced and a size of a device structure is not increased.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a typical example of a gaming machine is a slot machine (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-162152 A (pages 4-11, figures 1-6) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the case of the conventional example having such a configuration, there is a problem in that it is not possible to further improve the entertainment value of the game with regard to the variable display.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a gaming machine that can increase the entertainment value of the game in terms of the variable display. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, the invention described in claim 1 is as follows: A gaming machine equipped with a variable display device capable of displaying a variable display of multiple columns of identification information that indicates whether or not a game state advantageous to a player has occurred based on the establishment of a starting condition, and a performance unit capable of executing a specific performance that is visible to a player in a manner different from the variable display of the identification information, The production unit is a light-transmitting display unit; a drive unit capable of moving at least the display unit in a predetermined direction; a light emitting unit capable of emitting light to at least the display unit, When the light is irradiated to at least the display unit, the light irradiated from the light irradiating unit is configured to be diffused to the front side where the player is positioned, The gaming machine includes: Predetermined change display In this situation, In a situation where specific identification information among the identification information is displayed so as to be relatively more conspicuous than identification information other than the specific identification information, the drive unit is controlled in a predetermined manner and the light irradiation unit is controlled in a specific manner. and a situation in which the driving unit is not controlled in the predetermined manner and the light emitting unit is not controlled in the specific manner. This is a gaming machine characterized by the above.

[0007] [Operation and Effect] According to the invention described in claim 1, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can improve the entertainment value of the game in terms of the variable display. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the gaming machine of the present invention, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can increase the entertainment value of the game in terms of the variable display. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a pachinko machine. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pachinko machine. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine. [Figure 10] An explanatory diagram showing the display content of the third pattern display device. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. [Figure 13] 1A is a perspective view of a front member that constitutes a center frame, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of a vertically oriented reel segment, and FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of a horizontally oriented reel segment. [Figure 14] 1A is a perspective view of the rear member and the reel unit that constitute the center frame, and FIG. 1B is a schematic explanatory side view of the storage portion of the rear member to which the reel unit is attached. [Figure 15] FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of the reel unit, and FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of the reel unit. [Figure 16] 10(a) to 10(f) are, in that order, a plan view, a left side view, a front view, a right side view, a rear view, and a bottom view of the reel unit. [Figure 17] FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of a reel surface light emitting device, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the reel surface light emitting device. [Figure 19] FIG. [Figure 20] 20 is a cross-sectional view of the center frame taken along line AA in FIG. 19. [Figure 21] (a) is a front view of the outer reel, and (b) is a front view of the inner reel. [Figure 22] (a) is a diagram showing a state in which the pattern on the inner reel can be seen through the transparent area of the outer reel, and (b) is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the reel display window, the transparent area of the outer reel, and the inner reel in (a). [Figure 23] (a) is a diagram showing the state in which the light-shielding area of the outer reel is positioned in the reel display window, and (b) is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the reel display window, the light-shielding area of the outer reel, and the inner reel in (a). [Figure 24] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a reel unit in which a light guide lens is displaceable between a storage position and a retracted position relative to a support member. FIG. [Figure 25] 10(a) to 10(h) are diagrams illustrating a lottery effect performed by the reel unit, vertically oriented reel segments, and center segment. [Figure 26] (a) and (b) are a schematic plan view and a front view of three reel units arranged side by side horizontally, and (c) and (d) are a schematic plan view and a front view of the reel units on both sides when they slide away from the central reel unit. [Figure 27] (a) and (b) are a schematic plan view and a front view of three reel units arranged side by side horizontally, and (c) and (d) are a schematic plan view and a front view of the reel units on both sides when the front sides of the reel units are rotated away from the central reel unit. [Figure 28] (a) and (b) are a schematic plan view and a front view of three reel units arranged side by side horizontally, and (c) and (d) are a schematic plan view and a front view of the central reel unit when the front side of the central reel unit has been slid back away from the front sides of the reel units on either side. [Figure 29] 10(a) to 10(c) are a plan view, a front view, and a right side view of a reel unit of a fourth embodiment. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a reel unit according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 31] FIG. 10(a) is an exploded perspective view of a reel surface light emitting device of Example 4, and FIG. 10(b) is a perspective view of the reel surface light emitting device. [Figure 32] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the center frame 47. [Figure 33] (a) is a diagram showing the state in which the light-shielding area of the outer reel is positioned in the reel display window, and (b) is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the reel display window, the light-shielding area of the outer reel, and the inner reel in (a). [Figure 34] 10(a) to 10(c) are diagrams for explaining the variable display image of the third symbol display device and the display in the reel display window of the reel unit in the super reach with the symbol drum reach performance of the fifth embodiment. [Figure 35] 34(a) and (b) are diagrams for explaining the variable display image of the third pattern display device and the display in the reel display window of the reel unit that are displayed following FIG. 34(c). [Figure 36] (a) to (c) are figures to explain that the variable stop points of the reel display window located on the new reach line are illuminated, while other variable stop points are not illuminated. [Figure 37] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which the reel surface light emitting device of the sixth embodiment is attached to the inner surface of the reel control board. [Figure 38] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the center frame of the sixth embodiment. [Figure 39] 13 is a cross-sectional view of a center frame when a reel surface light emitting device of Example 6 is provided with a light guiding lens with an inclined surface. FIG. [Figure 40] 1A is a partial side view of a modified inner reel in which a condensing lens is arranged on the rear surface, and FIG. 1B is a partial side view of a modified inner reel in which an annular light-guiding lens is arranged on the rear surface. [Figure 41] 10(a) and 10(b) are side views showing a modified LED mounting board that is driven to emit light in accordance with a specific symbol on a rotating inner reel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Various embodiments of a pachinko gaming machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a "pachinko machine") will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. [Example]

[0011] The pachinko machine of the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figs. 1 to 7 are a front view, a front perspective view, a rear view, a right side view, a left side view, a plan view, and a bottom view of the pachinko machine 10, respectively. Fig. 8 is a front view of the game board 30. Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10. Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the display contents of the third pattern display device 42.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the pachinko machine 10 comprises an outer frame 11 that forms the outer shell of the pachinko machine 10 and is fixed to the game island of the amusement facility (hall), an inner frame 12 that is supported so that it can be opened and closed relative to the outer frame 11, with one side (for example, the left side when viewed from the front) of the outer frame 11 acting as an opening and closing axis J1, and a front frame set 14 that is attached so that it can be opened and closed freely relative to the inner frame 12, with one side (for example, the left side when viewed from the front) of the inner frame 12 acting as an opening and closing axis J2.

[0013] The outer frame 11 is made of wooden plates that are rectangular in overall front view, and the plates are attached with removable fasteners such as machine screws. In this embodiment, for example, the outer dimension of the outer frame 11 in the up-down direction is 809 mm (inner dimension 771 mm) and the outer dimension in the left-right direction is 518 mm (inner dimension 480 mm). The outer frame 11 may also be made of resin or a light metal such as aluminum.

[0014] The inner frame 12 is roughly divided into a resin base 12a (see FIG. 2) as a main component that forms its outer shape, and a game board 30 (see FIG. 8) that is attached to the resin base 12a. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner frame 12 is also provided with a front frame set 14 that can be opened to one side on the front side of the resin base 12a.

[0015] Specifically, the resin base 12a is a plate-like member having an approximately rectangular outer shape when viewed from the front, and an opening (an opening of the same size as the game area 30a (see Figure 8) described below) with its center at approximately its center.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, the front frame set 14 is attached to the inner frame 12 so that it can be opened and closed, with the vertical opening and closing axis J2 as its axis on the left side when viewed from the front. In detail, the front frame set 14 is rotatable forward, with the left side as the opening and closing base end and the right side as the opening and closing tip end when viewed from the front.

[0017] The game board 30 (see FIG. 8) is detachably attached to the rear side of the resin base 12a so that the game area 30a is positioned in the opening of the resin base 12a.

[0018] Now, we will explain the front frame set 14 in a little more detail.

[0019] As shown in Figure 1, when viewed from the front, the front frame set 14 is broadly divided into a lower tray portion 13 located at the bottom, an upper tray portion 21 located above the lower tray portion 13, a glass frame portion 23 located above the upper tray portion 21, and a large three-dimensional character portion 25 located to the right of the lower tray portion 13 and upper tray portion 21.

[0020] The front frame set 14 is formed by attaching the lower tray portion 13, upper tray portion 21, glass frame portion 23 and large three-dimensional character portion 25 to various locations on the front side of the base plate body (not shown), which is a resin-molded part of the front frame set 14.

[0021] As shown in Figure 1, the lower tray portion 13 is a component that integrates the components that form the lower tray 15 and the components that surround that component, and is fixed to the lowest point in a front view of the base plate body (not shown) by fasteners such as screws so that it is located at the lowest point of the front frame set 14. This lower tray portion 13 is equipped with the lower tray 15 and a ball removal lever 17 on its front side.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lower tray 15 as a ball receiving tray is provided on the left side of the large three-dimensional character section 25 when viewed from the front of the pachinko machine 10, and is about half the width of the front frame set 14, and game balls discharged from the discharge port 16 can be stored in the lower tray 15. The ball removal lever 17 is used to remove (discharge) game balls from the lower tray 15, and by moving the ball removal lever 17 to the left in Figure 1, a circular discharge section 15a (see Figure 2) formed at a predetermined location (for example, approximately the center) on the bottom of the lower tray 15 is opened, and game balls stored in the lower tray 15 can be discharged downward to the outside through the opened circular discharge section 15a on the bottom of the lower tray 15.

[0023] The large three-dimensional character section 25 is equipped with a game ball launching handle 18 as shown in Figure 1. The game ball launching handle 18 is disposed to the right of the lower tray 15 and protrudes forward. In response to the player's operation of the game ball launching handle 18, a launching device 229 (see Figures 3 and 9) launches a game ball toward the game board 30 (see Figure 8).

[0024] As shown in Figure 1, the upper tray section 21 is a component that integrates the components that form the upper tray 19 and the components that surround that component, and is fixed to the lower part of the base plate body (not shown) in a front view with fasteners such as screws so that it is located at the lower part of the front frame set 14 (above the aforementioned lower tray 15), and is equipped with the upper tray 19 as a tray for receiving game balls. Here, the upper tray 19 is a ball receiving tray that temporarily stores game balls and then guides them toward the launching device 229 while aligning them in a row.

[0025] As shown in Figure 1, the glass frame portion 23 has a window portion 101 formed on the upper side of the upper tray portion 21, various decorative illumination portions (first decorative illumination portion 300, second decorative illumination portion 302, and third decorative illumination portion 304) arranged around this window portion 101, and a sound output portion 24.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the sound output unit 24 is provided at two locations, one on the left and one on the top left, when viewed from the front of the front frame set 14, and is formed of multiple output ports for outputting sound from speakers provided inside or on the back of the front frame set 14. Only a portion of these output ports is shown in Figure 1, and the entirety is not shown.

[0027] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the front frame set 14 has a window portion 101 of approximately vertically elongated elliptical shape formed in the center of the glass frame portion 23 located above the upper tray portion 21, so that most of the playing area 30a (see FIG. 8) of the playing board 30 can be seen from the outside. Specifically, the window portion 101 is approximately vertically elongated elliptical with a hollow center (opening 101a), and a glass unit (not shown) is attached to the rear side of the front frame set 14 so as to cover the opening 101a with a glass plate 137 of approximately vertically elongated elliptical shape or the like. This glass unit has a double-glazed structure in which two glass plates 137 are arranged close to each other in the front-to-rear direction. The approximately central portion of the window portion 101 may be linear, and the glass plate 137 may be configured to match that shape. Furthermore, the glass plate 137 is not limited to glass; any transparent plate with a predetermined strength may be used.

[0028] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 1, the glass frame portion 23 is provided with a first decorative illumination portion 300, a second decorative illumination portion 302, and a third decorative illumination portion 304 around the window portion 101. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 1, the front frame set 14 is provided with a first decorative illumination portion 300 (left side decorative illumination portion) incorporating LEDs or the like at the left side around the window portion 101 when viewed from the front, a second decorative illumination portion 302 (right side decorative illumination portion) incorporating LEDs or the like at the right side around the window portion 101, and a third decorative illumination portion 304 (upper side decorative illumination portion) incorporating LEDs or the like at the upper side around the window portion 101. The light emission modes of these decorative illumination portions are controlled to change, such as lighting up or flashing, depending on changes in the game state, such as when a jackpot is hit or a predetermined reach is reached, and serve to enhance the presentation effects during play.

[0029] In the pachinko machine 10, the first illumination unit 300, the second illumination unit 302, and the third illumination unit 304 function as jackpot lamps, and notify the player that a jackpot is occurring by lighting up or blinking when a jackpot is reached. In addition, the first illumination unit 300 and the second illumination unit 302 of the pachinko machine 10 are equipped with a prize ball lamp 105 that lights up when prize balls are being paid out, and an error display lamp 106 that lights up when a predetermined error occurs.

[0030] Additionally, a small window 107 made of transparent resin is provided at the lower right corner of the periphery of the window portion 101 so that part of the surface of the inner frame 12 and the surface of the game board 30 can be seen. A predetermined portion of this small window 107 is made flat, so that a certificate stamp or the like affixed to the lower right corner of the game board 30 can be easily read by machine from the flat portion of the small window 107.

[0031] Additionally, a ball dispensing operation unit 120 is disposed in the large three-dimensional character unit 25 at the lower right of the window unit 101, and the ball dispensing operation unit 120 is provided with a ball dispensing button 121 and a return button 122. When the ball dispensing operation unit 120 is operated with banknotes or a card (e.g., a prepaid card) inserted into a card unit (ball dispensing unit) (not shown) located on the side of the pachinko machine 10, game balls are dispensed in accordance with the operation. The ball dispensing button 121 is operated to obtain dispensed balls based on information recorded on a card or the like (recording medium), and dispensed balls are supplied to the upper tray 19 as long as there is a balance on the card or the like. The return button 122 is operated to request the return of a card or the like inserted into the card unit. The ball dispensing operation unit 120 may further be provided with a power display unit (not shown). This power display unit (not shown) displays the remaining balance on the card or the like. In addition, pachinko machines in which game balls are directly dispensed from a ball dispensing device to the upper tray without going through a card unit, so-called cash machines, do not require the ball dispensing operation unit 120. Therefore, decorative stickers or the like are attached to the installation area of the ball dispensing operation unit 120. This allows the ball dispensing operation unit to be standardized between pachinko machines that use card units and cash machines.

[0032] In addition, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the large three-dimensional character section 25 is provided on the front frame set 14 so that it faces the playing area 30a, allowing the player to naturally focus their attention on the playing area 30a.

[0033] 1 and 2, the large three-dimensional character section 25 is a character that is large enough to include at least a part of the game ball launching handle 18, and the game ball launching handle 18 is decorated with decorations related to the large three-dimensional character section 25 (for example, decorations having the same color, pattern, shape, or the like), so that the game ball launching handle 18 can be made to have a sense of unity with the large three-dimensional character section 25. Furthermore, a pachinko machine (game machine) that has the large three-dimensional character section 25 of this embodiment 1 can be clearly distinguished from other pachinko machines (game machines) that do not have such a large three-dimensional character section 25, and can stand out more than other game machines.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the front frame set 14 has a character section 26a in the shape of a scallop in the upper right corner when viewed from the front of the pachinko machine 10. This character section 26a is also an illuminating section that, for example, indicates a payout abnormality. As shown in FIG. 1, the front frame set 14 has a character section 26b in the shape of a woman's face (e.g., Marin-chan) in the upper left corner. As shown in FIG. 1, the front frame set 14 has a character section 26c in the shape of a crab in the sound output port 24 on the right side and on the left side, and a character section 26d in the shape of an octopus in the sound output port 24 on the left side and on the right side. The ball removal lever 17 is shaped like a fish, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0035] Next, the configuration of the game board 30 will be explained using Figure 8. As shown in Figure 8, the game board 30 is made of wood (e.g., plywood) and has a square-shaped play board 30b when viewed from the front, with both left corners removed, and its peripheral portion (the outer portion of rails 51 and 52 described below) is attached in abutting contact with the back side of the resin base 12a (see Figure 2) of the inner frame 12. The play area 30a, which is approximately the center of the front side of this game board 30, can be seen from the front outside of the front frame set 14 through the glass plate 137 of the approximately elliptical window portion 101 shown in Figure 1 of the base plate body (not shown) of the front frame set 14.

[0036] The game board 30 also has a general winning opening 31, a variable winning device 32, a starting winning device 33 (for example, an operating chucker), a third starting opening 34 (for example, a through gate), and a variable display unit 35. The general winning opening 31, the variable winning device 32, the starting winning device 33, the third starting opening 34, and the variable display unit 35 are respectively disposed in through holes formed by router processing in the game board 30, and are attached from the front side of the game board 30 with wood screws or the like.

[0037] As shown in Figure 2, the start winning device 33 is composed of a single winning device in which, from top to bottom, a first start opening 33a (e.g., an actuation chuck) and a second start opening 33b (e.g., an actuation chuck) are arranged one above the other. An actuation opening switch (passage detection switch) (not shown) for the first start opening 33a is provided in the first start opening 33a on the upper side, and a ball entering this first start opening 33a is detected by the actuation opening switch for the first start opening 33a. In addition, an actuation opening switch (passage detection switch) (not shown) for the second start opening 33b is provided in the second start opening 33b on the lower side, and a ball entering this second start opening 33b is detected by the actuation opening switch for the second start opening 33b. In either case, when the game ball enters the first starting hole 33a on the upper side or the second starting hole 33b on the lower side, it is still a starting winning, and these ball entries can be detected individually.

[0038] In addition, balls entering the general winning port 31 are detected by a detection switch (a winning port switch not shown), and balls entering the variable winning device 32 are detected by a detection switch (a count switch not shown), and based on the output of this detection switch, a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out to the upper tray 19 (or lower tray 15).

[0039] For example, when a ball lands in the first start opening 33a or the second start opening 33b, three prize balls are paid out. When a ball lands in the general prize opening 31 or the variable prize opening 32, ten prize balls are paid out. The number of prize balls is arbitrary and may be various.

[0040] Furthermore, when a game ball enters the third starting hole 34, the ball is detected by a detection switch (a passing detection switch not shown), but even if the ball enters the third starting hole 34, the game ball is not paid out.

[0041] 8, the game board 30 is provided with an outlet 36, and game balls that do not enter the various winning devices are guided through this outlet 36 to a ball discharge path (not shown). The game board 30 is provided with a large number of nails 39 for appropriately dispersing and adjusting the falling direction of the game balls, and various components (apparatuses) such as a windmill 37 are also provided.

[0042] As shown in Figure 8, the variable display device unit 35 is equipped with a first pattern display device 40 that variably displays a first pattern (e.g., a special pattern) as identification information when a winning entry into the first start opening 33a or the second start opening 33b is triggered, a second pattern display device 41 that variably displays a second pattern (e.g., a normal pattern) when a passing through the third start opening 34 is triggered, and a third pattern display device 42 that variably displays a third pattern (e.g., a decorative pattern) when a winning entry into the first start opening 33a or the second start opening 33b is triggered.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 8, the first pattern display device 40 is equipped with a first segment display unit 40a and a second segment display unit 40d, which are, for example, segment displays (for example, a 7-segment LED display with a decimal point) in which a plurality of segment light-emitting units are arranged in a predetermined manner. The first segment display unit 40a emits light in a variable manner based on the ball entering the first starting hole 33a. The second segment display unit 40d emits light in a variable manner based on the ball entering the second starting hole 33b. Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the first pattern display device 40 is equipped with a reserve lamp 40c that indicates the number of reserved variable displays in the first segment display unit 40a, and a reserve lamp 40f that indicates the number of reserved variable displays in the second segment display unit 40d.

[0044] The first segment display unit 40a changes the light emission of each segment light emitting unit randomly or in sequence based on the ball entering the first starting hole 33a, thereby generating a variable display state of the first pattern (in this embodiment, the light emission variable mode of each segment light emitting unit), and when the light emission variable stops, for example, if a symbol indicating a special jackpot (e.g., numbers or letters) is displayed lit up, it indicates a special jackpot (specific win), if a symbol indicating a normal jackpot (e.g., numbers or letters) is displayed lit up, it indicates a normal jackpot (non-specific win), and if a symbol indicating a miss (e.g., numbers or letters) is displayed lit up, it indicates a miss.

[0045] As described above, the second segment display unit 40d generates a variable display state of the first pattern (in this embodiment, the variable light emission mode of each segment light emission unit) by changing the light emission of each segment light emission unit randomly or in sequence based on the ball entering the first starting hole 33b, and when the light emission fluctuation stops, for example, if a symbol indicating a special jackpot (for example, numbers or letters) is displayed lit up, it indicates a special jackpot (specific win), if a symbol indicating a normal jackpot (for example, numbers or letters) is displayed lit up, it indicates a normal jackpot (non-specific win), and if a symbol indicating a miss (for example, numbers or letters) is displayed lit up, it indicates a miss.

[0046] When a probability variable jackpot (specific jackpot) or a normal jackpot (non-specific jackpot) occurs in this way, the variable winning device 32 enters a specific game state (for example, a jackpot state) described later.

[0047] Note that the first symbol display device 40 may employ a single or multiple LEDs capable of emitting light in at least two colors. Specifically, for example, if the first symbol display device 40 employs two LEDs capable of emitting red and blue light, the LEDs' colors may be alternately changed to produce a variable display state of the first symbol (the color pattern of each LED). For example, when both LEDs stop emitting red light, it indicates a guaranteed jackpot (specific win), when both LEDs stop emitting blue light, it indicates a normal jackpot (non-specific win), and when both LEDs stop emitting light in different colors, it indicates a miss. Furthermore, at least one of the first segment display unit 40a, the second segment display unit 40d, the hold lamp 40c, and the hold lamp 40f constituting the first symbol display device 40 may be configured with a liquid crystal display device, an organic electroluminescence display device, a CRT, a dot matrix display, or another type of display device, and may be configured to display the information on the display screen of the third symbol display device 42. In addition, the patterns displayed by the first pattern display device 40 may include a configuration in which multiple types of letters are displayed, a configuration in which multiple types of symbols are displayed, a configuration in which multiple types of characters are displayed, or a configuration in which multiple types of colors are displayed.

[0048] The second symbol display device 41 has a display section 41a depicting, for example, a "circle" for the second symbol, a display section 41b depicting, for example, an "x" for the second symbol, and a hold lamp 41c. Each time the game ball passes through the third start opening 34, the displayed symbol (normal symbol) by the display sections 41a and 41b changes, and when the changing display stops at a predetermined symbol, the second start opening 33b on the lower side becomes active (opens) for a predetermined period of time. The number of times the game ball has passed through the third start opening 34 can be held up to four times, and the number of times the ball has been held is displayed by lighting up the hold lamp 41c. The display sections 41a and 41b each have an LED (light-emitting diode) inside, and the display changes by switching the LED's light (or the lamp's light). In addition, at least one of the second pattern display device 41 and the hold lamp 41c may be constructed using other types of display devices such as a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display device, a CRT or a dot matrix display device, or may be configured to display on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 in particular.

[0049] In the third pattern display device 42, when the first pattern display device 40 performs a variable display of the first pattern and a predetermined display (stop display) based on winning in the first start hole 33a or the second start hole 33b, the third pattern display device 42 performs a variable display of the third pattern and a predetermined display (stop display) accordingly. Note that the third pattern display device 42 not only performs a display effect triggered by winning in the first start hole 33a or the second start hole 33b, but also performs a display effect during a specific game state to which the game transitions after winning a jackpot.

[0050] The third pattern display device 42 is, for example, a liquid crystal display device, and the display content is controlled by a display control device 45 (described later). The third pattern display device 42 displays three decorative pattern columns L, M, and R, namely, left, center, and right, as shown in FIG. 10 . Each decorative pattern column L, M, and R is composed of multiple decorative patterns, and these decorative patterns are variably displayed on the third pattern display device 42 by scrolling through each decorative pattern column L, M, and R. In this embodiment, the third pattern display device 42 (liquid crystal display device) includes a large liquid crystal display, for example, an 11-inch display. The variable display device unit 35 includes a center frame 47 disposed in front of the third pattern display device 42 so as to substantially surround the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 when viewed from the front. In this embodiment, a liquid crystal display device is used as the third pattern display device 42, but other types of image display devices (e.g., a plasma display panel (PDP), an electroluminescent display (EL), an organic EL, etc.) may also be used.

[0051] The variable winning device 32 shown in Fig. 8 is normally in a closed state in which game balls cannot win (or it may be in a closed state in which it is difficult to win), and in the event of a jackpot, it is repeatedly operated between an open state in which game balls can easily win and the normal closed state. In this way, the state in which the variable winning device 32 is repeatedly operated between the open state and the normal closed state in the event of a jackpot is called a specific game state (for example, a jackpot state), in which a large number of game balls enter (win) the variable winning device 32, and a large number of game balls are paid out in response to the win, making it an advantageous game state for the player. In other words, the pachinko machine 10 of this embodiment is capable of transitioning between a normal game state (game ball consumption state) in which the number of game balls inserted (the number of game balls fired into the game area 30a by the launching device 229) is greater than the number of prize balls paid out (the number of prize balls paid out based on game balls entering the general prize opening 31, variable prize opening 32, first start opening 33a, second start opening 33b, etc.), and a specific game state (for example, a jackpot state) in which the number of prize balls paid out is greater than the number of game balls inserted.

[0052] More specifically, when a gaming ball enters the first starting hole 33a, the first segment display unit 40a of the first pattern display device 40 changes its display, and when the display of the first segment display unit 40a after the change stops is a preset symbol, a specific gaming state occurs. For example, when a symbol indicating a probability jackpot is displayed, it indicates that a specific gaming state of a probability jackpot (specific hit) has been won, when a symbol indicating a normal jackpot is displayed, it indicates that a specific gaming state of a normal jackpot (non-specific hit) has been won, and when a symbol indicating a loss is displayed, it indicates that a loss (losing the specific gaming state) has been won.

[0053] Similarly to the above, when a gaming ball enters the second starting hole 33b, the second segment display unit 40d of the first pattern display device 40 changes its display, and when the display of the second segment display unit 40d after the change stops is a preset symbol, a specific gaming state occurs. For example, when a symbol indicating a probability jackpot is displayed, it indicates that a specific gaming state of a probability jackpot (specific win) has been won, when a symbol indicating a normal jackpot is displayed, it indicates that a specific gaming state of a normal jackpot (non-specific win) has been won, and when a symbol indicating a loss is displayed, it indicates that a loss (losing the specific gaming state) has been won.

[0054] When a specific game state occurs, the variable winning device 32 is configured so that its large winning opening 32a enters a predetermined open state, creating a state (jackpot state) in which game balls are more likely to win. Specifically, the large winning opening 32a of the variable winning device 32 is repeatedly opened a predetermined number of times (number of rounds), with the passage of a predetermined time in the open state or the winning of a predetermined number of games being counted as one round. The number of times a game ball has passed through the first starting opening 33a is reserved up to four times, and this number is displayed by the reservation lamp 40c. The number of times a game ball has passed through the second starting opening 33b is also reserved up to four times, and this number is displayed by the reservation lamp 40f. The reservation lamps 40c and 40f may be configured to display a reservation on a portion of the display screen of the third symbol display device 42.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 8, two rails 51, 52 are attached to the gaming board 30 to guide gaming balls launched from the launching device 229 (see FIG. 3) to the upper part of the gaming board 30. The gaming balls launched in response to the rotation of the gaming ball launching handle 18 are guided to a predetermined gaming area 30a through a ball guide passage 49 (described later) of the two rails 51, 52. The two rails 51, 52 are long, stainless steel metal strips attached to the gaming board 30 in a double layer, inner and outer, configuration. The inner rail 51 is formed in the shape of a substantially vertical ellipse, excluding the portion extending clockwise from the upper left to the upper right of the ellipse, when viewed from the front of the gaming board 30. A portion of the outer rail 52 (mainly the left side) is formed to face the inner rail 51. In this case, the guide rail is made up of inner rail 51 and outer rail 52, and the portion where these rails 51, 52 run parallel to each other at a predetermined distance (the portion on the left side) forms ball guide passage 49. Ball guide passage 49 is formed in the shape of a groove that has a contact surface with game board 30, i.e., a groove that is open on the front side.

[0056] A return ball prevention member 53 is attached to the tip of the inner rail 51 (upper left in Figure 8). This prevents a game ball that has been guided from the ball guide passage 49 between the inner rail 51 and the outer rail 52 to the top of the game board 30 from returning into the ball guide passage 49. Furthermore, when the game board 30 is attached to the inner frame 12, a return rubber 54 is located on the outer rail 52 at a position corresponding to the maximum flight point of the game ball (upper right in Figure 8: the portion corresponding to the tip of the outer rail 52). Therefore, a game ball launched with a force greater than a predetermined value will bounce off the return rubber 54. The outer rail 52 is a long, stainless steel metal strip, which allows the game ball to fly more smoothly, i.e., reduces frictional resistance of the game ball. As shown in Figure 8, the play area 30a is divided from the tip of the outer rail 52 (upper right in Figure 8) to the right tip of the inner rail 51 (upper right in Figure 8) by the positioning of a return rubber 54 formed on the inner frame 12 and a wall portion 55 (shown by a dashed line in Figure 8) formed on the inner frame 12.

[0057] 8, the lower right corner of the gaming board 30 is a space for attaching a sticker SL (which may be a plate) such as a certificate stamp (for example, bearing a serial number). By attaching a sticker SL such as a certificate stamp to the lower right corner of the gaming board 30, the gaming board 30 and the certificate stamp can be made unique.

[0058] Next, we will explain the play area 30a of the play board 30. As shown in Fig. 8, the play area 30a is defined in a substantially vertically oval shape by the inner periphery (inner and outer rails) of the inner rail 51 and the outer rail 52, and in this embodiment in particular, the play area 30a defined on the surface of the play board 30 is configured to be large.

[0059] In this embodiment, the play area 30a is defined as the area surrounded by the inner rail 51 and the outer rail 52 when viewed from the front of the pachinko machine 10, excluding the area of the guide rail, which is the parallel portion of the inner and outer rails 51, 52. Therefore, the play area 30a does not include the guide rail portion, and the left limit position of the play area 30a is determined by the inner rail 51, not the outer rail 52. Furthermore, the right limit position of the play area 30a is determined by the wall portion 55 (part of the inner frame 12) and the inner rail 51. Furthermore, the lower limit position of the play area 30a is determined by the inner rail 51. Furthermore, the upper limit position of the play area 30a is determined by the outer rail 52.

[0060] Although detailed drawings are omitted, the launching device 229 is supplied with game balls one by one from a ball outlet (not shown) of the front frame set 14 (a ball outlet leading from the most downstream part of the upper tray 19).

[0061] Next, the configuration of the back of the pachinko machine 10 will be described. As shown in Fig. 3, on the back of the pachinko machine 10 (actually the back of the inner frame 12 and the game board 30), various control boards are arranged vertically and horizontally, and predetermined control boards are stacked front to back (for example, the payout control board 311a in Fig. 9 described later is located at the front in the rear view, and the power supply control board of the power supply device 313 and the launch control board of the launch control device 312 are located further back than the payout control board 311a). Furthermore, a game ball supply device (payout mechanism unit 352) for supplying game balls, a resin protective cover 353, etc. are attached. In this embodiment, the various control boards are mounted separately on multiple (three) mounting bases 230-232 shown in Fig. 3, which are used as individual control board units, and each control board unit is individually attached to the back of the inner frame 12 or the game board 30. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the main control device 261 is mounted on the mounting base 230, the sub-control device 262 is mounted on the mounting base 232 and each is formed into a unit, and the dispensing control device 311, the launch control device 312 and the power supply device 313 are mounted on the mounting base 231 and formed into a unit.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 3, the payout mechanism 352 is configured by arranging various components (a tank 355, a tank rail 356, a case rail 357, a payout device 358, and a power switch board 382, which will be described later) in an inverted L shape when viewed from the rear of the pachinko machine 10, and the payout mechanism 352 and the protective cover 353 are also integrated into one unit, and this unit is sometimes referred to as a back pack, so here this unit will be referred to as the "back pack unit 203."

[0063] The back pack unit 203 is configured so that it can be attached and detached unit by unit without using any tools, and in addition, a support shaft is provided in part so that it can be opened and closed relative to the back of the inner frame 12 or the game board 30. This is also a device that makes it possible to easily check hidden components, etc., even if the back pack unit 203 and other components are placed one on top of the other.

[0064] The back of the game board 30 is provided with a winning detection mechanism for detecting the passage of game balls through various winning holes. Specifically, a winning hole switch (not shown) is provided at a position corresponding to the general winning hole 31 on the front side of the game board 30, and a count switch (not shown) is provided in the variable winning device 32. The count switch counts winning balls. An actuation hole switch (not shown) for the first starting hole 33a and an actuation hole switch (not shown) for the second starting hole 33b are provided at positions corresponding to the first starting hole 33a and the second starting hole 33b, respectively, and the entry of game balls into the first starting hole 33a and the second starting hole 33b are detected by the respective actuation hole switches. A gate switch is provided at a position corresponding to the third starting hole 34, and the passage of game balls into the third starting hole 34 is detected by the gate switch.

[0065] The winning port switch (not shown) of the general winning port 31 and the gate switch of the third starting port 34 are connected to a panel connection board (not shown) via electrical wiring (not shown), and this panel connection board is further connected to a main control board 261a (see Figure 9) in the main control device 261 (described later). Also, the count switch of the variable winning device 32 is connected to a special winning port relay terminal board (not shown), and this special winning port relay terminal board is also connected to the main control board 261a. In contrast, the operating port switches of the first starting port 33a and the second starting port 33b are connected directly to the main control board 261a without going through a relay board.

[0066] Although other illustrations are omitted, the variable winning device 32 is provided with a large winning opening solenoid for opening the large winning opening 32a, and the second starting opening 33b on the lower side is provided with an operating opening solenoid for opening the electric device.

[0067] The detection results detected by the winning detection mechanisms are input to a main control board 261a in the main control device 261, which will be described later. The main control board 261a then transmits a payout command (number of game balls to be paid out) according to the winning status at that time to a payout control board 311a. Then, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out according to the output of the payout control board 311a.

[0068] As shown in Fig. 3, the main control device 261 is mounted on a lower mounting base 230 when viewed from the rear of the pachinko machine 10, and the sub-control device 262 is mounted on an upper mounting base 232 when viewed from the rear of the pachinko machine 10. As shown in Fig. 9, the main control device 261 includes a CPU 501 that performs main control, a ROM 502 that stores a game program, a RAM 503 that stores data required for the progress of the game, an input / output port 505 that communicates with various devices, a random number generator (not shown) used in various lotteries, and a main control board 261a that includes a clock pulse generating circuit (not shown) used for time counting and synchronization, and the like. The main control board 261a is housed in a board box 263 (enclosure means) made of a transparent resin material or the like. The board box 263 includes a box base having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and a box cover that covers the opening of the box base. The box base and the box cover are unopenably connected by a sealing unit 261c, thereby sealing the board box 263.

[0069] The sub-control device 262 is equipped with a CPU 551 that controls audio and lamp display and the display control device 45 in accordance with instructions from a main control board 261a in the main control device 261, and a sub-control board 262a that also includes a ROM 552, a RAM 553, a bus line 554, an input / output port 555, etc., and this sub-control board 262a is housed in a board box made of a transparent resin material or the like. Power supplied from a power supply board described later is output to the display control device 45 via the sub-control device 262.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 3, a payout control device 311, a launch control device 312, a power supply device 313, and a card unit connection board 314 are mounted on the mounting base 231. The payout control device 311 is equipped with a control board including a CPU, which is the center of control, as well as ROM, RAM, various ports, etc. The launch control device 312 is equipped with a launch control board. The power supply device 313 is equipped with a power control board. The payout control board 311a of the payout control device 311 controls the payout of prize balls and loan balls. The launch control board of the launch control device 312 controls the launch device 229 (see FIG. 9) in accordance with the player's operation of the game ball launch handle 18, and the power supply board of the power supply device 313 generates and outputs the predetermined power supply voltage required by the various control devices, etc. The launching device 229 of this embodiment employs a solenoid-type launching component that launches game balls by striking them with a launching hammer (not shown) that moves back and forth in response to the energization / de-energization of a launch solenoid (not shown). Other types of launching devices 229 may also be employed, such as mechanical launching components that launch game balls by striking them with a launching hammer driven by a launching motor, or electromagnetic launching components that launch game balls by generating an electromagnetic field. The card unit connection board 314 is electrically connected to the ball dispensing operation unit 120 (see FIG. 1) on the front of the pachinko machine and the card unit (not shown), and receives ball dispensing operation commands from the player and outputs them to the payout control device 311. The card unit connection board 314 is not required in cash machines in which game balls are dispensed directly from a ball dispensing device or the like to the upper tray 19 without going through a card unit.

[0071] The dispensing control device 311, the launching control device 312, the power supply device 313, and the card unit connection board 314 are each housed in a board box made of a transparent resin material, etc. In particular, in the dispensing control device 311, similar to the above-mentioned main control device 261, the box base and box cover constituting the board box 311b (enclosing means) are connected unopenably by a sealing unit (sealing means), thereby sealing the board box 311b.

[0072] The dispensing control device 311 is provided with a state restoration switch 311c as shown in Figure 3. For example, when the state restoration switch 311c is pressed in the event of a dispensing error, such as a ball jam in the dispensing motor, the dispensing motor 358a (see Figure 9) is slowly rotated forward, and the ball jam is resolved (returned to the normal state).

[0073] In addition, the power supply monitoring board 261b is provided with a RAM erase switch 323. The pachinko machine 10 has a backup function, so that in the unlikely event of a power outage, the state at the time of the power outage is maintained, and when power is restored from the power outage, the state at the time of the power outage can be restored. Therefore, when the power is turned off in the normal procedure (for example, when the hall closes), the state before the power outage is stored and maintained, so if you want to return to the initial state when power is turned on, you turn on the power while pressing the RAM erase switch 323.

[0074] Next, we will explain the configuration of the back pack unit 203. As shown in Fig. 3, the back pack unit 203 is an integrated unit of a resin-molded protective cover 353 and a payout mechanism 352 for game balls.

[0075] The rear pack unit 203 has a tank 355 with an upward opening at its top, and this tank 355 is successively replenished with gaming balls supplied from the island facilities (gaming island facilities) of the gaming hall. Below the tank 355, a tank rail 356, which has, for example, two horizontal rows of ball passages and gently slopes downward toward the downstream side, is connected, and further, a case rail 357 is connected vertically to the downstream side of the tank rail 356. A payout device 358 is provided at the most downstream part of the case rail 357, and the required number of gaming balls are appropriately paid out by a predetermined electrical configuration such as a payout motor 358a. The gaming balls paid out from the payout device 358 are then supplied to the upper tray 19 through a payout passage (not shown) or the like.

[0076] Additionally, the tank rail 356 is provided with a vibrator 360 for applying vibrations to the tank rail 356. For example, the vibrator 360 is fastened to the tank rail 356 with, for example, two screws. Furthermore, the vibrator 360 does not come into surface contact with the tank rail 356, but rather comes into contact with the two screws, so that the vibrations from the vibrator 360 are transmitted more effectively to the tank rail 356. Therefore, if a ball jam occurs near the tank rail 356, the ball jam is cleared by driving the vibrator 360.

[0077] The dispensing mechanism unit 352 is provided with a dispensing relay board (not shown) that relays dispensing command signals from the dispensing control device 311 to the dispensing device 358, and also with a power switch board 382 for taking in main power from the outside. The power switch board 382 is supplied with main power, for example, 24 V AC, via a voltage converter, and the power is turned on or off by switching the power switch 382a.

[0078] The payout mechanism 352 from the tank 355 to the payout passage (not shown) is made of a conductive resin material (e.g., conductive polycarbonate resin), and a part of it is grounded. This suppresses noise caused by charging of the game balls.

[0079] 3, an inner frame open detection switch 388 is provided on the upper right side of the inner frame 12 to detect when the inner frame 12 is opened relative to the outer frame 11. When the inner frame 12 is opened, an output is sent from the inner frame open detection switch 388 to a computer for use in the hall (inside the pachinko parlor).

[0080] Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 will be explained using Figure 9. The pachinko machine 10 is equipped with a main control device 261, a payout control device 311, a firing control device 312, a sub-control device 262, a display control device 45, a power supply device 313, etc. Each of these devices will be explained in detail below.

[0081] The main control device 261 of the pachinko machine 10 is equipped with a CPU 501, which is a one-chip microcomputer that is an arithmetic unit. The CPU 501 contains a ROM 502 that stores various control programs and fixed value data executed by the CPU 501, a RAM 503 that is a memory for temporarily storing various data when the control programs stored in the ROM 502 are executed, and various circuits such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, and a data transmission / reception circuit.

[0082] RAM 503 is configured so that it can retain (back up) data even after the power to the pachinko machine 10 is turned off by receiving backup voltage from the power supply unit 313, and RAM 503 is equipped with memory and areas for temporarily storing various types of data, etc.

[0083] In other words, when the power is cut off due to a power outage or the like, the CPU 501 of the main control device 261 executes normal processing to the end, so that the RAM 503 only needs to store and retain the contents of the counter buffer and reserved ball storage area at the time of power cut (including the time of a power outage; the same applies below), and when the power is turned back on, the state of the pachinko machine 10 can be restored to the state before power cut. Specifically, there is no need to provide a dedicated backup area in the RAM 503 for storing values of each register, I / O, etc., related to game information during normal processing when power is cut off. Note that the NMI terminal (non-maskable interrupt terminal) of the CPU 501 is configured to receive a power outage signal S1 output from a power outage monitoring circuit 542 (described later) when power is cut off due to a power outage or the like, and when a power outage occurs, power outage processing (NMI interrupt processing) is immediately executed.

[0084] The CPU 501, which has the ROM 502 and RAM 503 built in, is connected to an input / output port 505 via a bus line 504 consisting of an address bus and a data bus. The input / output port 505 is connected to a RAM erasure switch circuit 543, which will be described later, a payout control device 311, a launch control device 312, a sub-control device 262, a first symbol display device 40, a second symbol display device 41, and other switches (not shown). The main control device 261 also has the function of controlling the variable display of the first symbol on the first symbol display device 40 and the variable display of the second symbol on the second symbol display device 41.

[0085] The RAM 513 of the payout control device 311, like the RAM 503 of the main control device 261 described above, is configured so that backup voltage is supplied from the power supply device 313 so that data can be retained (backed up) even after the power to the pachinko machine 10 is turned off, and the RAM 513 is equipped with memory and areas for temporarily storing various types of data, etc.

[0086] When the power is cut off due to a power outage or the like, the RAM 513 stores and holds information about the state of the pachinko machine 10 at the time of power cut so that the state of the pachinko machine 10 is restored to the state before the power was cut off when the power is turned back on. In other words, the storage of this RAM 513 is executed when the power is cut off by the NMI interrupt processing and the steps in the latter half of the payout control processing, and conversely, the restoration of the stored information in the RAM 513 is executed in the power restoration processing when the power is turned on.

[0087] The CPU 511 incorporating the ROM 512 and RAM 513 is connected to an input / output port 515 via a bus line 514 consisting of an address bus and a data bus. The input / output port 515 is connected to the main control device 261, the launch control device 312, the payout motor 358a, etc.

[0088] 9, the launch control device 312 permits or prohibits the launch of game balls by the launcher 229, and the launcher 229 is permitted to operate when predetermined conditions are met. Specifically, the launch control device 312 outputs a launch permission signal S7 to the main control device 261 on the condition that all of the following signals have been input: a card unit connection signal S4 (a signal output when the aforementioned card unit is connected to the pachinko machine 10) from the payout control device 311; a touch detection signal S5 (output when the player is touching the game ball launch handle 18); and a launch maintenance signal S6 (output when the launch stop switch 18a provided on the game ball launch handle 18 for stopping launch) have been input. In addition, a volume signal S10 corresponding to the amount of operation of the game ball launch handle 18 is input from the game ball launch handle 18 to the launch control device 312, and the launch control device 312 outputs this volume signal S10 to the main control device 261.

[0089] That is, the launch permission state is established when the launch permission signal S7 is ON (high level), and the launch permission state is established when the launch permission signal S7 is OFF (low level). That is, while the input launch permission signal S7 is ON, the main control device 261 repeatedly outputs to the launch control device 312 at a predetermined repetition period a launch control signal S8 (pulse signal) that controls a launch solenoid (not shown) that launches the gaming ball, and a ball feed control signal S9 (pulse signal) that controls a ball feed solenoid that sends the gaming ball to the launch rail. The amplitude value of the launch control signal S8 (pulse signal) is determined by the main control device 261 based on the volume signal S10. For example, the greater the amount of operation of the gaming ball launch handle 18, the greater the amplitude value of the launch control signal S8 (pulse signal). The launch control device 312 drives and controls the launch device 229 based on the launch control signal S8 and the ball feed control signal S9, and the gaming ball is launched with an intensity corresponding to the amount of operation of the gaming ball launch handle 18. Conversely, during the period when the input launch permission signal S7 is OFF, the main control unit 261 does not output the launch control signal S8 and the ball feed control signal S9 to the launch control unit 312, and no game balls are launched by the launch unit 229.

[0090] The display control device 45 controls the variable display of the third symbol (decorative symbol) in the third symbol display device 42. This display control device 45 includes a CPU 521, a ROM (program ROM) 522, a work RAM 523, a video RAM 524, a character ROM 525, an image controller 526, an input port 527, an output port 529, and bus lines 530 and 531. The input of the input port 527 is connected to the output of the sub-control device 262, and the output of the input port 527 is connected to the CPU 521, the ROM 522, the work RAM 523, and the image controller 526. The image controller 526 is also connected to an output port 529 via a bus line 531, and the output of the output port 529 is connected to the third symbol display device 42, which is a liquid crystal display device.

[0091] The CPU 521 of the display control device 45 controls the decorative pattern display on the third pattern display device 42 based on various commands sent after various commands from the main control device 261 are edited by the sub-control device 262. The ROM 522 is a memory for storing various control programs and fixed value data executed by the CPU 521, and the work RAM 523 is a memory for temporarily storing work data and flags used when the CPU 521 executes various programs.

[0092] The video RAM 524 is a memory for storing display data to be displayed on the third pattern display device 42, and the display content of the third pattern display device 42 is changed by rewriting the contents of this video RAM 524. The character ROM 525 is a memory for storing character data such as decorative patterns to be displayed on the third pattern display device 42. The image controller 526 adjusts the timing of each of the CPU 521, the video RAM 524, and the output port 529 to intervene in the reading and writing of data, and also reads the display data stored in the video RAM 524 from the character ROM 525 at a predetermined timing and displays it on the third pattern display device 42.

[0093] The power supply device 313 also includes a power supply unit 541 for supplying power to each component of the pachinko machine 10. The power supply unit 541 supplies the necessary operating power to the main control device 261, payout control device 311, etc., via a power supply path (not shown). In summary, the power supply unit 541 takes in 24-volt AC power supplied from an external source, generates +12V power for driving various switches and motors, +5V power for logic, backup power for RAM backup, etc., and supplies these +12V power, +5V power, and backup power to the main control device 261, payout control device 311, etc. Note that the firing control device 312 is supplied with operating power (+12V power, +5V power, etc.) via the payout control device 311.

[0094] 9, the main control device 261 includes a main control board 261a and a power supply monitoring board 261b separate from the main control board 261a, housed in a board box 263 made of a transparent resin material or the like. The power supply monitoring board 261b includes a power outage monitoring circuit 542 that monitors power interruptions due to power outages or the like, and a RAM erasure switch circuit 543 connected to the RAM erasure switch 323.

[0095] The power outage monitoring circuit 542 is a circuit for outputting a power outage signal S1 to each NMI terminal of the CPU 501 of the main control device 261 and the CPU 511 of the dispensing control device 311 when the power is cut off due to a power outage or the like. The power outage monitoring circuit 542 monitors the 24 volt AC voltage in the power supply unit 541, and when the time that this voltage falls below 22 volts exceeds, for example, 20 milliseconds, it determines that a power outage (power outage) has occurred and outputs a power outage signal S1 to the main control device 261 and the dispensing control device 311. By outputting this power outage signal S1, the main control device 261 and the dispensing control device 311 recognize the occurrence of a power outage and perform power outage processing (NMI interrupt processing).

[0096] Furthermore, power supply unit 541 is configured to maintain the output of 5 volts, which is the drive voltage of the control system, at a normal value for a sufficient time to execute the power outage processing, even after the 24 volts AC monitored by power supply unit 541 has fallen below 22 volts for more than 20 milliseconds. Therefore, main control unit 261 and dispensing control device 311 can execute and complete the power outage processing normally.

[0097] The RAM clearing switch circuit 543 is a circuit for taking in the switch signal of the RAM clearing switch 323 and clearing the backup data in the RAM 503 of the main control device 261 and the RAM 513 of the payout control device 311 according to the state of the switch 323. When the RAM clearing switch 323 is pressed, the RAM clearing switch circuit 543 outputs a RAM clearing signal S2 to the main control board 261a. When the power to the pachinko machine 10 is turned on with the RAM clearing switch 323 pressed (including when the power is turned on after a power outage is resolved), the data in the RAM 503 is cleared in the main control device 261, and when the payout control device 311 receives an initialization command from the main control device 261, the data in the RAM 513 is cleared.

[0098] Here, the relationship between the main control device 261, the sub-control device 262 and the display control device 45 in the pachinko machine 10 that executes a display effect of varying decorative symbols in response to a start winning will be explained below.

[0099] The main control device 261 shown in Fig. 9 is equipped with a jackpot random number counter for drawing lots to determine whether or not a jackpot state will occur, a jackpot pattern random number counter for drawing lots to determine whether or not a probability variable jackpot or a normal jackpot will occur, and a reach random number counter for drawing lots to determine whether or not various reach display effects will be performed in the variable display effect of the third pattern displayed on the third pattern display device 42, and determines whether or not a jackpot state will be won and whether or not reach display effects will be performed based on the random number values of the jackpot random number counter, jackpot pattern random number counter, reach random number counter, etc. when a ball enters the first start port 33a or the second start port 33b (see Fig. 8). In addition, the main control device 261 outputs a command according to the determination result to the sub-control device 262.

[0100] The sub-controller 262 outputs edited commands from the main controller 261 to the display controller 45, and controls the reel unit 600, reel segments (portrait and landscape reel segments 440, 450) and game rotation indicator light 490 (see Figure 8) described later based on the commands from the main controller 261.

[0101] The display control device 45 controls the display so that a variable display effect of the third symbol is executed on the third symbol display device 42 based on a command from the sub-control device 262. Examples of reach display effects include a normal reach which has a low expected value for a jackpot state, a super reach which has a higher expected value than the normal reach, a special reach which has a higher expected value than the super reach, a super special reach which has a higher expected value than the special reach, and a premium reach which always results in a jackpot state.

[0102] Meanwhile, as shown in Fig. 10, the third symbol display device 42 (liquid crystal display device) is set with three decorative symbol columns L, M, R, namely, left, center, and right, and each decorative symbol column L, M, R displays three decorative symbols, namely, an upper decorative symbol, a middle decorative symbol, and a lower decorative symbol, in a variable manner. In this embodiment, the series of symbols is composed of main decorative symbols SZ, each of which is numbered "0" to "9," and secondary decorative symbols FZ, each of which is a diamond-shaped picture symbol. The main decorative symbols SZ are displayed in ascending or descending order of the numbers, and the secondary decorative symbols FZ are arranged between each main decorative symbol SZ, thereby forming a series of decorative symbol columns L, M, R. The main decorative symbols SZ and the secondary decorative symbols FZ are displayed in a variable manner from top to bottom with a periodicity.

[0103] In this case, the series of decorative symbols are displayed in descending order (i.e., in order of decreasing main decorative symbol SZ numbers) in the left decorative symbol column L, and similarly, the series of decorative symbols are displayed in ascending order (i.e., in order of increasing main decorative symbol SZ numbers) in the center decorative symbol column M and the right decorative symbol column R. Then, the variable display stops in the order of left decorative symbol column L → right decorative symbol column R → center decorative symbol column M, and when the display stops, if the main decorative symbols SZ line up in a jackpot symbol combination (in this embodiment, a combination of the same main decorative symbols SZ) on any of the five active lines on the third symbol display device 42, namely, the upper line L1, the middle line L2, the lower line L3, the right-upward line L4, and the left-upward line L5, a jackpot is awarded and a special game video is displayed.

[0104] Next, the center frame 47 of the pachinko machine 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0105] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the game board 30. Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the game board 30. Fig. 13(a) is a perspective view of the front member 400 constituting the center frame 47, Fig. 13(b) is a cross-sectional view of the vertically oriented reel segment 440, and Fig. 13(c) is a cross-sectional view of the horizontally oriented reel segment 450. Fig. 14(a) is a perspective view of the rear member 480 and reel unit 600 constituting the center frame 47, and Fig. 14(b) is a schematic explanatory side view of the storage section 484 of the rear member 480 to which the reel unit 600 is attached.

[0106] 8 and 11, the center frame 47 is disposed at a predetermined location in the play area 30a of the game board 30. Specifically, when the play area 30a is divided into approximately three equal parts in the height direction, the center frame 47 is disposed in a location within the upper two-thirds of the play area 30a excluding the upper end portion and the left end portion.

[0107] 12, the center frame 47 includes a front member 400 attached to the front (surface) of the game board 30, a rear member 480 attached to the rear (back) of the game board 30, and a reel unit 600 attached to a storage section 484 formed on the right side of the rear member 480 when viewed from the front. A third symbol display device 42 (see FIG. 8) is attached to the rear of the rear member 480 at a location other than the storage section 484.

[0108] The configurations of the front member 400, the rear member 480, and the reel unit 600 will be described below.

[0109] As shown in Figures 8 and 11, the front member 400 is a frame-shaped member that covers the periphery of the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 (see Figure 8) when viewed from the front, and is a resin-molded product with a reel display window 410 formed on the right side when viewed from the front, through which the patterns of the reel unit 600 (such as the reel pattern 741a of the inner reel 740 shown in Figure 22) can be seen.

[0110] Specifically, as shown in Figure 12, when the front member 400 is attached to the front side of the gaming board 30, it has an insertion area portion 420, part of which is inserted into an opening 30c formed in the gaming area 30a of the gaming board 30 and the other part of which protrudes behind the gaming board 30, an annular outer peripheral flange portion 460 that extends along the surface of the gaming board 30 so as to cover the front peripheral edge portion 30d of the opening 30c in the gaming board 30, and a front protrusion portion 470 that protrudes a predetermined length (at least the length of one gaming ball) forward of the outer peripheral flange portion 460 (forward of the gaming area 30a).

[0111] As shown in Fig. 13(a), the insertion area 420 of the front member 400 has an annular peripheral wall 421 that protrudes rearward so as to face the periphery of the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 (see Fig. 8) when viewed from the front. Specifically, the peripheral wall 421 has an upper wall portion 422, a left wall portion 423, a right wall portion 424, and a lower wall portion 425 that protrude toward the upper, left, right, and lower edges, respectively, which are the periphery of the rectangular display screen when viewed from the front of the third pattern display device 42 (see Fig. 8).

[0112] The upper wall portion 422 is provided with a transparent wall portion 422a that is shaped to cover the front and bottom sides of a game rotation indicator light 490 (described later) and allows the game rotation indicator light 490 to be seen. The transparent wall portion 422a may be a colored wall portion (which may be formed of the color of the resin itself or may be colored afterwards by painting, etc.; the same applies below) while maintaining light transmittance, or may be a translucent wall portion, or may be a translucent and colored wall portion. The left side wall portion 423 is a colored transparent wall on which decorative irregularities are formed. The right side wall portion 424 is a wall portion that protrudes toward the right side of the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 and has a colored opaque area that hides the left side of the reel unit 600 so that it cannot be seen. The lower wall portion 425 is a transparent wall portion (which may be colored, semi-transparent, or semi-transparent and colored, etc.) that is erected a predetermined length (for example, the length of three game balls) upward from the rear end of the stage 426 described later and has a stepped shape that protrudes toward the bottom edge of the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 (see Figure 8).

[0113] As shown in Fig. 11, when the front member 400 is attached to the gaming board 30, the outer peripheral flange 460 of the front member 400 abuts against the front peripheral edge 30d of the opening 30c of the gaming board 30 as shown in Fig. 12. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 13(a), the outer peripheral flange 460 has through holes 461, into which screws are inserted to fasten the front member 400 to the gaming board 30, formed in a total of nine locations: two at the top, upper left and lower left locations, two lower central locations, a lower right location, and upper right and lower right locations. With the insertion region 420 of the front member 400 inserted into the opening 30c from the front side of the gaming board 30, the screws inserted into the through holes 461 in the outer peripheral flange 460 of the front member 400 are screwed into the gaming board 30, thereby fixing the front member 400 to the gaming board 30.

[0114] 13(a), the front protruding portion 470 of the front member 400 has a shape in which the right end of the upper portion 471, the right portion 472, and the lower portion 473 and the upper to middle portion of the left portion 474 are connected together in a front view of the front member 400, and protrudes forward of the playing area 30a, so that a game ball flowing down the playing area 30a can come into contact with the front protruding portion 470. For example, a game ball may roll left or right on the upper surface of the upper portion 471 of the front protruding portion 470 and flow down, or may come into contact with the right portion 472 or the left portion 474 of the front protruding portion 470 and flow down.

[0115] 13(a), the left side portion 474 of the front protrusion 470 is provided with a ball entrance 475 through which game balls can enter. The left side wall portion 423 of the insertion area portion 420 of the front member 400 is provided with a passage portion 423a (e.g., a warp passage) that guides game balls that enter the ball entrance 475. The insertion area portion 420 is provided with a stage 426 on the front side of its lower wall portion 425, on which game balls that have passed through the passage portion 423a can roll and are discharged back into the game area 30a. The passage portion 423a is colored and semitransparent (it may also be colorless and transparent or colorless and semitransparent, etc.) so that it is clear that game balls are passing through.

[0116] As shown in Figures 8 and 11, when viewed from the front, this stage 426 slopes downward from its left end toward the center to reach a valley 427, then slopes upward toward a gentle peak 429 formed in the center, and after passing the top of peak 429, slopes downward again to reach valley 427, and then forms a rolling surface that slopes upward toward the right end.

[0117] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, the stage 426 has an inclined recess passage 430 formed at the top of the hill portion 429, which slopes downward toward the lower wall portion 425 located at the back of the hill portion 429, and a ball guide opening 431 is formed at a location on the lower wall portion 425 corresponding to the downstream end of the inclined recess passage 430, into which game balls guided toward the back by the inclined recess passage 430 can enter, and a diving discharge passage 432 is formed below the top of the hill portion 429, which discharges game balls that have entered this ball guide opening 431 by passing under the hill portion 429 and again toward the start winning device 33 (particularly the first start opening 33a) of the game area 30a. For example, a game ball that is guided toward stage 426 and oscillates left and right on said stage 426 when viewed from the front may be caught by the inclined recess passage 430 of the hill portion 429, enter the ball guide opening 431 in the lower wall portion 425 located at the back of the hill portion 429, pass through the underwater discharge passage 432 and be discharged toward the start winning device 33 in the game area 30a, and enter the first start opening 33a or the second start opening 33b.

[0118] 11, each valley 427 of the stage 426 is formed with a valley downward slope 428 that slopes downward toward the surface of the game board 30. For example, a game ball that is guided toward the stage 426 and oscillates left and right on the stage 426 when viewed from the front may be caught by the valley downward slope 428 of the valley 427 and discharged again into the game area 30a. As shown in FIG. 8, the start winning device 33 is located directly below the peak 429, but the start winning device 33 is not located directly below the valley 427. Therefore, when a game ball is discharged from the valley downward slope 428 of the valley 427, it is more difficult for the ball to enter the start winning device 33 than when the game ball is discharged from the underwater discharge passage 432 of the peak 429.

[0119] In addition, as shown in Figure 13(a), the right side portion of the upper portion 471 of the front member 400, the right end portions of the right side portion 472 and the lower portion 473 protrude forward from the game area 30a, thereby preventing game balls flowing down the game area 30a of the game board 30 from colliding with the reel display window 410.

[0120] 8 and 13(a), the front member 400 has a plurality of (six in this embodiment) vertically and horizontally oriented reel segments 440, 450 arranged along the outer peripheral region 401 of the reel display window 410 when viewed from the front. Specifically, two vertically oriented reel segments 440 are arranged in a row vertically along the left side of the outer peripheral region 401 of the reel display window 410 in the front member 400, and two vertically oriented reel segments 440 are arranged in a row vertically along the right side of the outer peripheral region 401. Furthermore, horizontally oriented reel segments 450 are arranged in upper and lower regions of the outer peripheral region 401 of the reel display window 410 in the front member 400.

[0121] For example, as shown in Figures 13(a) and 13(b), a vertically oriented reel segment 440 includes an LED mounting board 442 on which multiple (three in this embodiment) LEDs 441 (light-emitting diodes) are mounted at intervals, and a rod-shaped light-guiding component 443 disposed on the mounting surface of the LED mounting board 442 on which the LEDs 441 are mounted. The rod-shaped light-guiding component 443 receives light from the LEDs 441, diffuses the light, and emits light from its front side (emission surface). The LED mounting board 442 in the vertically oriented reel segment 440 is, for example, rectangular in front view and thin plate-like in side view. The light-guiding component 443 in the vertically oriented reel segment 440 is rectangular in front view as shown in Figure 13(a), and has a semi-cylindrical shape with an arc-shaped emission surface and a linear incidence surface in side view as shown in Figure 13(b).

[0122] 13(c), the horizontally oriented reel segment 450 includes an LED mounting board 452 on which a plurality of LEDs 451 (three in this embodiment) (light-emitting diodes) are mounted at intervals, and a rod-shaped light guide component 453 disposed on the mounting surface of the LED mounting board 452 on which the LEDs 451 are mounted. The rod-shaped light guide component 453 receives light from the LEDs 451, diffuses the light, and emits light from its front side (emission surface). As shown in FIG. 13(c), the LED mounting board 452 in the horizontally oriented reel segment 450 is rectangular in front view and thin plate-like in side view. As shown in FIG. 13(c), the light guide component 453 in the horizontally oriented reel segment 450 is rectangular in front view and thin plate-like in side view with linear emission and incident surfaces.

[0123] As shown in Figures 8 and 13, the outer peripheral area 401 of the reel display window 410 in the front member 400 is, for example, colored and light-transmitting, so that the player can see the luminous displays of the above-mentioned vertically oriented reel segments 440 and horizontally oriented reel segments 450 through the outer peripheral area.

[0124] Next, the rear member 480 will be described. As shown in FIG. 14(a), the rear member 480 is a frame-shaped member that has a substantially rectangular outer shape when viewed from the front (when viewing the side that will be attached to the back surface of the gaming board 30) and is recessed toward the rear (in the direction away from the back surface of the gaming board 30). The rear member 480 has contact portions 481 formed at the top, bottom, left, and right locations on its outer periphery, and the contact portions 481 contact the back surface of the gaming board 30 when attached to the back surface of the gaming board 30. The contact portions 481 have through holes 482 formed therein through which screws can be inserted. With the rear member 480 positioned on the back surface of the gaming board 30, the screws are inserted into the through holes 482 of the contact portions 481 and screwed into the back surface of the gaming board 30, thereby fixing the rear member 480 to the back surface of the gaming board 30.

[0125] Further, in a recessed portion of the rear member 480 when viewed from the front, a screen opening 483 having a size corresponding to the display screen of the third symbol display device 42 (see FIG. 8) is formed, and a storage portion 484 to which the reel unit 600 is attached is formed on the right side of this screen opening 483. Further, among the recessed portions in the rear member 480, an upper recessed portion 485 located above the screen opening 483 is provided with a game rotation indicator light 490, and a lower recessed portion 486 located below the screen opening 483 is provided with the first symbol display device 40 and the second symbol display device 41 described above.

[0126] As shown in FIG. 14(b), the rear side member 480 is provided with: an elongated groove-shaped insertion support portion 487 formed on the rear side of the rear side member 480 below the storage portion 484; an insertion support portion 487 into which a lower end 602b of a metal rear plate 602 extending in the height direction along the rear side of the reel unit 600 can be inserted for support; two protruding pins 489 formed on the rear side of the rear side member 480 above the storage portion 484 so as to protrude rearward; and two mounting holes 602a (see FIG. 15) formed at an upper end 602c of the rear plate 602 at a laterally spaced interval; and a fixed lever 498 which can be rotated around a rotation shaft as the axis between an abutting state and a non-abutting state with respect to the upper end 602c of the rear plate 602.

[0127] 14(a), a partition plate 499 is formed between the screen opening 483 and the storage section 484. As shown in Fig. 11, when the rear member 480 is attached to the back surface of the game board 30 and the front member 400 is attached to the front surface of the game board 30, the right side wall portion 424 of the front member 400 is in proximity to the side surface of the partition plate 499 of the rear member 480 that is closer to the screen opening 483 as shown in Fig. 14(a).

[0128] As shown in Figure 14(a), the game rotating indicator light 490 comprises a transparent disk 493 (see the enlarged view shown within the dotted-dotted circle in Figure 14(a)) that is rotated by a motor 492 around a vertical rotation axis 491, an eccentric rotating reflector 494 which is a tongue-shaped member extending downward at an eccentric position on the underside of the transparent disk 493, an LED mounting board (not shown) on the upper side of the transparent disk 493 on which multiple (e.g., nine) LEDs are arranged in an arc around the rotation axis 491, with the rotation axis 491 as the center, and a reflector 497 shaped like a downward-facing bowl cut in half lengthwise, which reflects light from the LEDs and light reflected toward the rear by the eccentric rotating reflector 494 forward. As shown in the partially broken enlarged view of the game rotating indicator light 490 shown within the dotted line circle in Figure 14(a), the eccentric rotating reflecting portion 494 has a character 494b (e.g., a whale) formed on the surface 494a of the tongue-shaped member, and a reflective surface formed on the back surface 494c of the tongue-shaped member.

[0129] The game rotation indicator light 490 performs a light-emitting rotation display when a predetermined condition is met (for example, when a super reach, special reach, super special reach, or premium reach occurs).

[0130] Specifically, all the LEDs on the LED mounting board above the transparent disk 493 emit light, and the light passes through the transparent disk 493 and is emitted downward. At the same time, the transparent disk 493 is rotated by the motor 492, causing the eccentric rotating reflector 494 arranged on the underside of the transparent disk 493 to rotate eccentrically, so that the character 494b on the front surface 494a of the eccentrically rotating eccentric rotating reflector 494 and the back surface 494c (reflective surface) are visible alternately.

[0131] For example, when the back surface 494c (reflecting surface) of the eccentric rotating reflecting portion 494 faces forward, the light from the LED is reflected forward by this back surface 494c (reflecting surface), resulting in the back surface 494c (reflecting surface) emitting light. On the other hand, when the front surface 494a (the surface on which the character 494b is present) of the eccentric rotating reflecting portion 494 faces forward, the light from the LED is reflected back by the back surface 494c (reflecting surface) of the eccentric rotating reflecting portion 494 to reach the reflecting mirror portion 497, and is dispersed and reflected forward by this reflecting mirror portion 497. Therefore, unlike the case where the back surface 494c (reflecting surface) faces forward as described above, both sides of the eccentric rotating reflecting portion 494 on the reflecting mirror portion 497 (i.e., the portions not hidden by the eccentric rotating reflecting portion 494) emit light when viewed from the front.

[0132] The game rotating indicator light 490 is controlled to rotate by, for example, the sub-controller 262 shown in Fig. 9. Specifically, when the command from the main controller 261 is, for example, a normal reach which has a low expectation value of a jackpot state for the player, or a simple miss, the sub-controller 262 does not cause the game rotating indicator light 490 to light up and rotate.

[0133] In contrast, when the command from the main control unit 261 is, for example, a command indicating a super reach, which means that the expected value of a jackpot state for the player is higher than that of a normal reach, the sub-control unit 262 causes the CPU 551 to execute a rotation display control program for the game rotation indicator light 490, thereby causing the game rotation indicator light 490 to rotate at a first rotation speed and emit light in a predetermined color (for example, red).

[0134] In addition, when the command from the main control device 261 is, for example, a special reach which has a higher expected value than a super reach, a super special reach which has a higher expected value than a special reach, or a premium reach which always results in a jackpot, the sub-control device 262 causes the CPU 551 to execute a rotation display control program for the game rotation indicator light 490, so that the game rotation indicator light 490 rotates at second to fourth rotation speeds which are faster than the first rotation speed (the fourth rotation speed is the fastest) and the red light brightness increases in that order (the premium reach has the highest brightness).

[0135] For example, in the case of super reach, special reach, super special reach, and premium reach, a pattern change display is performed by the reel unit 600, and therefore the rotating light display by the game rotation indicator light 490 can make the player focus on the pattern change display by the reel unit 600, and can also perform a rotating light display corresponding to the type of reach performance.

[0136] In this embodiment, the rotation speed of the game rotation indicator light 490 becomes faster and its luminance increases as the reach effect with a higher expected value is achieved, but other types of rotation lighting display may be adopted. For example, various modes may be adopted, such as a mode in which the luminance is changed instead of the luminance, a mode in which the rotation speed, luminance, and luminance color are all different, a mode in which the rotation speed remains constant and only the luminance is different, a mode in which the rotation speed remains constant and only the luminance is different, a mode in which the rotation speed remains constant and only the luminance and luminance color are ... light is flashing, or a mode in which these are combined.

[0137] Next, the reel unit 600 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0138] FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b) are front and rear perspective views of the reel unit 600. FIGS. 16(a) to 16(f) are, in that order, a plan view, a left side view, a front view, a right side view, a rear view, and a bottom view of the reel unit 600. FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the reel unit 600. FIG. 18(a) is an exploded perspective view of the reel surface light-emitting device 750, and FIG. 18(b) is a perspective view of the reel surface light-emitting device 750. FIG. 19 is a front view of the center frame 47. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the center frame 47 shown in FIG. 19 taken along line AA. FIG. 21(a) is a front view of the outer reel 720, and FIG. 21(b) is a front view of the inner reel 740.

[0139] As shown in Figures 15 to 17, reel unit 600 has an outer container formed by a front transparent cover part 601 which is a transparent resin molded part located on the front side, a metal back panel 602 which is located on the rear side, a top part 603 which is a resin molded part located on the upper side, a bottom part 604 which is a resin molded part located on the lower side, a metal left side plate 605 which is located on the left side, and a metal right side plate 606 which is located on the right side, and this outer container has a double reel part 700 (see Figure 17) inside.

[0140] As shown in Figure 17, the double reel section 700 comprises an outer reel step motor 710 screwed to the inner surface of the left side plate 605, an outer reel 720 journalled to a rotating part 711 of the outer reel step motor 710 and rotatable around the rotation axis of the rotating part 711, a step motor 730 for an inner reel screwed to the inner surface of the right side plate 606, and an inner reel 740 journalled to a rotating part 731 of the inner reel step motor 730 and rotatable around the rotation axis of the rotating part 731, and positioned on the inner side of the outer reel 720 and rotatable without contacting the outer reel 720.

[0141] As shown in FIG. 17, the outer reel 720 includes a cylindrical portion 721 that is a resin molded product and has a transparent cylindrical shape, spokes 722 that are integrally formed on one opening side of the cylindrical portion 721, and a central abutment portion 723 that is formed in the center of the spokes 722 and is attached to the rotating portion 711 of the outer reel step motor 710. A long outer reel film 724, as shown in FIG. 21(a), is wound around the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 721. When the outer reel film 724 is divided in half longitudinally, as shown in FIG. 21(a), a transparent region 725 is formed in one half and a light-shielding region 726 is formed in the other half. A transparent, horizontally oriented rectangular central segment 727 is formed in the center of the light-shielding region 726.

[0142] 17, a through hole 723a is formed in the center of the central contact portion 723 of the outer reel 720, and positioning holes 723b are formed in two locations on either side of the through hole 723a in this central contact portion 723. A screw hole 712 is formed in the center of the rotating portion 711 of the outer reel step motor 710, and positioning protrusions 713 are formed in two locations on either side of the screw hole 712.

[0143] Then, with the positioning protrusion 713 on the rotating part 711 of the step motor 710 for the outer reel inserted into the positioning hole 723b of the outer reel 720, the screw inserted into the through hole 723a of the outer reel 720 is threaded into the screw hole 712 on the rotating part 711 of the step motor 710 for the outer reel, thereby attaching the outer reel 720 to the rotating part 711 of the step motor 710 for the outer reel.

[0144] 17, a connector 710a of the outer reel step motor 710 is connected to a connector 715a of a relay board 715 by a wiring cable (not shown). A connector 715b of the relay board 715 is connected to the sub-control device 262 (see FIG. 9) by a wiring cable (not shown).

[0145] 17, the inner reel 740 comprises an annular, light-transmitting inner reel film 741, spokes 743 which are resin molded products to which the inner peripheral edge of one opening side of the annular inner reel film 741 is adhered, and a ring 744 which is resin molded product to which the inner peripheral edge of the other opening side of the inner reel film 741 is adhered. The spokes 743 have a central abutment 743a at their center which is attached to the rotating part 731 of the inner reel step motor 730.

[0146] As shown in FIG. 21(b), the inner reel film 741 has, for example, ten reel designs 741a (reel designs 741a of "0" to "9") arranged in its longitudinal direction, and the area other than the ten reel designs 741a is a colorless and transparent background area 741b. The numerical portion of the reel design 741a showing "7" on the inner reel film 741 is a bright light display area 742 having a lower light transmittance than the background area 741b but a higher light transmittance than the other numerical reel designs 741a. The bright light display area 742 is transparent and has, for example, a light color (e.g., light red). The other reel designs 741a ("0" to "6," "8," and "9") are dark colors (e.g., dark blue) and have a lower light transmittance than the bright light display area 742. Therefore, the bright light display area 742 has a higher brightness than the other reel symbols 741a.

[0147] 17, a through hole 743b is formed in the center of the central contact portion 743a of the inner reel 740, and positioning holes 743c are formed in two locations on either side of the through hole 743b in this central contact portion 743a. A screw hole 732 is formed in the center of the rotating portion 731 of the inner reel step motor 730, and positioning protrusions 733 are formed in two locations on either side of the screw hole 732.

[0148] Then, with the positioning protrusion 733 on the rotating part 731 of the inner reel step motor 730 inserted into the positioning hole 743c of the inner reel 740, the screw inserted into the through hole 743b of the inner reel 740 is threaded into the screw hole 732 on the rotating part 731 of the inner reel step motor 730, thereby attaching the inner reel 740 to the rotating part 731 of the inner reel step motor 730.

[0149] 17, the inner reel step motor 730 has a connector 730a connected to a connector 770a of the reel internal circuit board 770 by a wiring cable (not shown). The connector 770b of the reel internal circuit board 770 is connected to the sub-control device 262 (see FIG. 9) by a wiring cable (not shown).

[0150] When the center frame 47 shown in Figure 19 is viewed in cross section along line AA, as shown in Figure 20, the outer reel 720 is rotatably attached to the rotating part 711 of the step motor 710 for the outer reel, which is attached to the inner surface of the left side plate 605, and the inner reel 740 is rotatably attached to the rotating part 731 of the step motor 730 for the inner reel on the inner periphery of this outer reel 720 without contacting the outer reel 720, so that the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 can rotate independently of each other.

[0151] Furthermore, inside the inner reel 740, a reel surface light emitting device 750 is provided which emits light toward the area of the inner reel 740 corresponding to the reel display window 410 (the area of the inner reel 740 onto which the reel display window 410 is projected).

[0152] Specifically, as shown in Figures 17 and 18, the reel surface light-emitting device 750 comprises a light-guiding lens 751 that diffuses incident light inside and emits light in a surface pattern, a support member 752 that supports the light-guiding lens 751, and three LED mounting boards 760 on which multiple (e.g., four) LEDs 761 are mounted, which are screwed to an upper portion 753, a middle portion 754, and a lower portion 755 on the rear side of the support member 752, respectively.

[0153] 18, the light guide lens 751 is an optical component that is rectangular in front view and arc-shaped in side view, and its front side (light exit surface side) is sized to fit within the reel display window 410 when the reel display window 410 is viewed from the front.

[0154] Light from the LEDs 761 of the LED mounting board 760 is incident on the rear side (incident side) of this light guide lens 751, and the incident light is diffused inside, causing the front side (exiting side) to emit light in a planar manner. Uniform planar light from the front side (exiting side) of the light guide lens 751 is irradiated onto the rear side of the inner reel 740 at a position located within the reel display window 410. In other words, the light guide lens 751 is changed so as to reduce the difference in light irradiation intensity onto the reel symbol 741a for each of the moving positions of the reel symbol 741a of the inner reel 740 when the reel symbol 741a is located at each of these moving positions within the reel display window 410.

[0155] As shown in FIG. 18(a), light guide lens 751 has locking holes 751a formed at its upper and lower ends.

[0156] 18(b), when the light guide lens 751 is attached to the support member 752, the locking claws 756a are locked into the locking holes 751a of the light guide lens 751, and the light guide lens 751 is held by the support member 752.

[0157] The support member 752 is, for example, a resin molded product, and by applying force to its inclined top portion 756 and inclined bottom portion 757 in a direction away from each other and bending them in that direction, the engagement between the engagement hole 751a of the light-guiding lens 751 and the engagement claw 756a of the support member 752 can be released, and the light-guiding lens 751 can be removed from the support member 752.

[0158] Furthermore, the light guide lens 751 is coated with a light-transmitting white coating (or a coating of another color) on its front side (exit surface side). The light guide lens 751 may also be coated with a light-transmitting white coating on its rear side (incident surface). Alternatively, the light guide lens 751 may be configured by stacking a front lens and a rear lens in the front-to-rear direction, and a white coating may be applied to the rear lens side of the front lens or the front lens side of the rear lens. Instead of this white coating, a light-transmitting white display film may be attached to the front side (exit surface) or rear side (incident surface) of the light guide lens 751, or to a transmitting surface therebetween. The light guide lens 751 itself may be a resin molded product that emits white light, or the light guide lens 751 may have an exit surface, an incident surface, or a transmitting surface therebetween that is textured to emit white light.

[0159] 18(a), the support member 752 has a plurality of (for example, four) openings 759 formed in each of an upper portion 753, a middle portion 754, and a lower portion 755. As shown in Fig. 18(b), when the light guide lens 751 is attached to the support member 752, the LEDs 761 of the LED mounting substrate 760 are positioned in the openings 759 formed in the upper portion 753, the middle portion 754, and the lower portion 755 of the support member 752, respectively.

[0160] 17, an intra-reel control board 770 is disposed on the inner surface of right side plate 606 at a location other than where inner reel step motor 730 is disposed, and controls the rotation of inner reel step motor 730 and controls the light emission of LEDs 761 on LED mounting board 760 of reel surface light-emitting device 750. Specifically, intra-reel control board 770 is screwed to the inner surface of right side plate 606 with insulating film 780 interposed between intra-reel control board 770 and metal right side plate 606, thereby improving the insulation of the inner reel control board.

[0161] As shown in FIG. 18 , an attachment portion 758 is formed on the right end side of support member 752, and a through-hole 758a is formed in attachment portion 758. As shown in FIG. 17 , a through-hole 771 is formed in intra-reel control board 770 at a position corresponding to through-hole 758a in attachment portion 758. Furthermore, a screw hole 606a is formed in right side plate 606 at a position corresponding to through-hole 771 in intra-reel control board 770. As shown in FIG. 17 , support member 752 is positioned at the corresponding position on intra-reel control board 770 attached to the inside of right side plate 606, and a screw is inserted through through-hole 758a in support member 752 and through-hole 771 in intra-reel control board 770 and screwed into screw hole 606a in right side plate 606, thereby fixing support member 752 to the inside of right side plate 606 via intra-reel control board 770.

[0162] As shown in Figure 20, light emitted from the LED 761 of the reel surface light-emitting device 750 is incident on the incident surface, which is the rear surface of the light-guiding lens 751, and the exit surface, which is the front surface of this light-guiding lens 751, emits light in a planar manner, and the light emitted from this light-guiding lens 751 illuminates the inner reel 740 from behind, and further, the light that has passed through this inner reel 740 illuminates the outer reel 720 from behind.

[0163] Here, a case where the reel symbol 741a of the inner reel 740 is displayed variably so as to be visible through the reel display window 410 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0164] Figure 22(a) is a diagram showing a state in which the reel pattern 741a of the inner reel 740 is visible through the transparent area 725 of the outer reel 720, and Figure 22(b) is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the reel display window 410, the transparent area 725 of the outer reel 720, and the inner reel 740 in Figure 22(a).

[0165] As shown in Figure 22(b), the transparent area 725 of the outer reel 720 is positioned in the reel display window 410, and as the inner reel 740 rotates, the player can see the changing patterns of the inner reel 740 (for example, the reel patterns 741a change in order of increasing numbers) through the transparent area 725 of the outer reel 720, as shown in Figure 22(a), and as the inner reel 740 stops rotating, the reel patterns 741a of the inner reel 740 are displayed as fixed patterns. In Figure 22(a), the reel patterns 741a of the inner reel 740, for example, "6" to "8," are displayed as stopped patterns in the reel display window 410.

[0166] 9, the reel unit 600 controls the rotation of the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740, and executes the above-mentioned variable symbol display of the inner reel 740. Specifically, when the command from the main control device 261 is, for example, a command indicating an individual drum variation or a command indicating a super reach (including a super reach with a drum reach effect in Example 5 described later), the sub control device 262 executes the variable symbol display of the inner reel 740 by having the CPU 551 execute a rotation control program for the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740. The ROM 552 of the sub control device 262 stores a rotation control program for the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740, and the RAM 553 is provided with a storage area for temporarily storing programs and data related to rotation control when the CPU 551 executes the rotation control program for the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740.

[0167] The sub-control device 262 controls the rotation of the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740, so the main control device 261 is not burdened with the rotation control, and the processing load on the main control device 261 can be reduced.

[0168] The reel unit 600 not only simply rotates the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740, but also controls the rotation of the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 so that they are at specified rotation positions, making it possible to position the desired reel pattern 741a, etc. in the reel display window 410.

[0169] Specifically, the outer reel step motor 710 and the inner reel step motor 730 are capable of detecting the reference angle positions (e.g., 0-degree positions) of their respective rotating parts 711, 731. The outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 are attached such that their attachment states relative to the outer reel step motor 710 and the inner reel step motor 730 are uniquely determined by the two positioning protrusions 713, 733 of the respective rotating parts 711, 731. The outer reel film 724 and the inner reel film 741 are attached in a predetermined positional relationship relative to the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740. Furthermore, the outer reel step motor 710 and the inner reel step motor 730 rotate downward in the reel display window 410 by a predetermined angle (for example, 1 degree, but other angles are also acceptable) in a "+1" step, and rotate upward by 1 degree in a "-1" step. From the above, by rotating the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 by a specified step from the reference angle position, the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 can be controlled to a specified rotation position, and a desired reel symbol 741a or the like can be positioned in the reel display window 410. Furthermore, as will be described later, the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 can also be rotated while maintaining the facing relationship between the center segment 727 and the bright light display area 742.

[0170] Next, the light-shielded area 726 of the outer reel 720 is positioned in the reel display window 410, and segment display by the reel segment display unit 800 consisting of the central segment 727 within this light-shielded area 726, the vertically oriented reel segments 440, and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450 will be explained using Figure 23 as well.

[0171] Figure 23(a) is a diagram showing the state in which the light-shielded area 726 of the outer reel 720 is positioned in the reel display window 410, and Figure 23(b) is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the reel display window 410, the light-shielded area 726 of the outer reel 720, and the inner reel 740 in Figure 22(a).

[0172] As shown in FIG. 23(b), the light-shielded area 726 of the outer reel 720 is positioned in the reel display window 410, and the inner reel 740 rotates so that the horizontally elongated portion (the horizontally elongated rectangular portion indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 23(b)) of the bright light display area 742 (the portion of the number in the reel design 741a indicating "7") of the inner reel 740 faces directly toward the central segment 727 of the light-shielded area 726. As shown in FIG. 23(a), the light-shielded area 726 of the outer reel 720 is positioned in the reel display window 410, and the central segment 727 of the light-shielded area 726 is illuminated. When segment display is performed, the rotation of the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 is controlled while maintaining the horizontally elongated portion of the bright light display area 742 facing directly toward the central segment 727.

[0173] 9 controls the rotation of the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 of the reel unit 600, and executes the above-described light-emitting display of the center segment 727 of the outer reel 720. Specifically, when the command from the main control device 261 is, for example, a command indicating a special reach, the sub-control device 262 controls the rotation of the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 as described above, and executes the above-described light-emitting display of the center segment 727 of the outer reel 720, by causing the CPU 551 to execute a segment display control program. The ROM 552 of the sub-control device 262 stores the segment display control program, and the RAM 553 is provided with a storage area for temporarily storing programs, data, and the like related to segment display control when the CPU 551 executes the segment display control program.

[0174] Since the sub-control device 262 performs segment display control, the main control device 261 is not burdened with the segment display control, and the processing load on the main control device 261 can be reduced.

[0175] Furthermore, when the central segment 727 of the outer reel 720 is illuminated, the sub-control device 262 also controls predetermined segments among the vertical reel segments 440 and the horizontal reel segments 450 shown in FIG. 19 to illuminate. For example, to display the numbers "0" and "8," all of the vertical reel segments 440 and the horizontal reel segments 450 illuminate. As shown in FIG. 19, when the central segment 727 of the outer reel 720 stops at the center of the reel display window 410, these segments display the number "8" as predetermined symbol information. When the central segment 727 of the outer reel 720 moves downward without being positioned at the center of the reel display window 410 and stops outside the reel display window 410, the number "0" is displayed.

[0176] More specifically, if the command from the main control device 261 indicates, for example, a special reach, the third symbol display device 42 displays a reach indication in which the left decorative symbol column L and the right decorative symbol column R shown in FIG. 10 stop at, for example, "8." After the middle decorative symbol column M stops at a number other than "8," the game rotation indicator light 490 rotates and the above-mentioned segment display is executed. This segment display begins by controlling the rotation of the outer reel 720, so that only the light-blocking area 726 is positioned in the reel display window 410, with the center segment 727 not positioned therein, and all of the vertical reel segments 440 and the horizontal reel segments 450 are illuminated. At this point, the number "0" is displayed as a segment.

[0177] After that, the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 spin, and the center segment 727 of the outer reel 720 appears in the upper part of the reel display window 410, and a downward-sliding display is performed. Then, in the case of a jackpot, the center segment 727 finally stops in the center, and the number "8" is displayed as a segment. In other words, the number "8" displayed in this segment and the stopped number "8" symbols in the left decorative symbol column L and the right decorative symbol column R of the third symbol display device 42 align to form the number "8," resulting in a jackpot. It is also possible to create an effect in which the center segment 727 passes the center position and then returns to the center position and stops again.

[0178] Also, if there is no jackpot, the central segment 727 does not stop moving at the center of the reel display window 410, but continues to move and stops outside the reel display window 410, and only the light-blocking area 726 is displayed in the reel display window 410, the segment display becomes the number "0", and the final result of a missed reach is displayed.

[0179] Furthermore, each reel symbol 741a of the inner reel 740 corresponds to a display unit (described later). The central segment 727 of the outer reel 720 corresponds to a display unit and a specific display unit. The inner reel 740 corresponds to a display member, a rear display member, and a reel member, the outer reel 720 corresponds to a display member, a front display member, and a reel member, and the reel display window 410 corresponds to a visual confirmation unit. The outer reel step motor 710 corresponds to a drive means and a first drive means, the inner reel step motor 730 corresponds to a drive means and a second drive means, the three LED mounting boards 760 correspond to an illumination means, the light guide lens 751 corresponds to a change means, the reel surface light-emitting device 750 corresponds to a specific display unit light-emitting means, the reel unit 600 corresponds to a symbol variation display means, and the sub-control device 262 corresponds to a control means.

[0180] The light-transmitting white coating applied to the exit surface of the light guide lens 751 corresponds to a color display member, which will be described later. The vertically oriented reel segments 440 and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450 correspond to light-emitting sections, which will be described later. The bright light display area 742 described above corresponds to a bright light display section.

[0181] As described above, the pachinko machine 10 of the first embodiment includes the inner reel 740 having light transparency and having a plurality of reel symbols 741a (for example, the reel symbols 741a of "0" to "9") arranged thereon, the reel display window 410 in which the reel symbols 741a of the inner reel 740 are arranged so as to be visible, and the inner reel step motor 73 which rotates the inner reel 740 so that the reel symbols 741a are displayed in a variably manner in a predetermined order (for example, in ascending order, i.e., in the order in which the numbers of the reel symbols 741a increase) through the reel display window 410. 0, three LED mounting boards 760 that irradiate light onto the back side of the reel pattern 741a that fluctuates within the reel display window 410 of the inner reel 740 that is rotated by the inner reel step motor 730 throughout the process of the fluctuating reel pattern 741a, and a light guide lens 751 that changes the intensity of light irradiated onto the reel pattern 741a at each of the fluctuating positions of the reel pattern 741a within the reel display window 410 so as to reduce the difference in the intensity of light irradiated onto the reel pattern 741a at each of the fluctuating positions.

[0182] Therefore, the three LED mounting boards 760 irradiate light onto the back side of the reel symbol 741a that moves within the reel display window 410 of the inner reel 740 rotated by the inner reel step motor 730 throughout the movement process. The light guide lens 751 is changed to reduce the difference in the light irradiation intensity onto the reel symbol 741a for each of the moving positions of the reel symbol 741a within the reel display window 410 when the reel symbol 741a is located at each of these moving positions, so that the reel symbol 741a that moves within the reel display window 410 can emit light with reduced unevenness in light emission throughout the movement process. To be precise, the light guide lens 751 reduces the difference in light irradiation intensity on the reel symbol 741a of the inner reel 740 for each of its varying positions within the reel display window 410 to a level that is indistinguishable to a player, thereby enabling the reel symbol 741a to emit light uniformly throughout the process of its movement within the reel display window 410. Therefore, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can easily display the reel symbol 741a of the rotating inner reel 740 that is moving within the reel display window 410.

[0183] Furthermore, the light guide lens 751, through which incident light from the reel surface light emitting device 750 passes and exits to the back side of the inner reel 740, has a light-transmitting white coating applied to its exit surface and is sized to correspond to the reel display window 410. Furthermore, the background portion 741b of the inner reel 740, which is the entirety of the inner reel 740 except for the reel symbols 741a, is transparent.

[0184] Therefore, the light-transmitting white coating applied to the light-emitting surface of the light-guiding lens 751 can hide the LEDs 761 of the reel surface light-emitting device 750 (i.e., the LEDs 761 on the back side of the inner reel 740) so that they cannot be viewed directly. Furthermore, since the light-emitting surface of the light-guiding lens 751 is sized to correspond to the reel display window 410, it is only necessary to apply a predetermined color to the light-emitting surface of the light-guiding lens 751, which has a size corresponding to the minimum necessary range of the reel display window 410, and the white light can be emitted to the area within the reel display window 410 on the inner reel 740. Furthermore, the background portion 741b, which is the entire area other than the reel symbols 741a of the inner reel 740, is transparent, eliminating the need for a process of applying a predetermined background color (background color) to the entire area other than the reel symbols 741a of the inner reel 740. Furthermore, light of the color can be uniformly emitted to the reel symbols 741a that move within the reel display window 410 of the driven inner reel 740. Furthermore, since there is no need to provide color display sections (to hide the light source so that it cannot be viewed directly) between the reel symbols 741a on the inner reel 740, the gaps between the reel symbols 741a on the inner reel 740 can be reduced.

[0185] It also includes vertically oriented reel segments 440 and horizontally oriented reel segments 450 arranged around the reel display window 410 when the reel display window 410 is viewed from the front, a central segment 727 which is a specific pattern among the multiple reel patterns 741a and which changes within the reel display window 410 and stops changing, and a sub-control device 262 which controls the combination of the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and horizontally oriented reel segments 450 to form and display predetermined symbol information.

[0186] Therefore, since the central segment 727 that fluctuates within the reel display window 410 can be made to emit light uniformly during the process of its movement, the combination of the central segment 727 that fluctuates within the reel display window 410 with the vertical reel segments 440 and horizontal reel segments 450 around the inner reel 740 in the reel display window 410 can reduce misidentification of the formation and display of specified symbol information (for example, the number "8" in this embodiment).

[0187] The reel display window 410 is also provided with an outer reel 720 located on the near side when viewed from the front, and an inner reel 740 located on the back side of the outer reel 720, and a plurality of reel symbols 741 a are arranged on the inner reel 740, and the outer reel 720 has a transparent area 725 through which the reel symbols 741 a provided on the inner reel 740 are visible, a light-shielding area 726 through which the reel symbols 741 a provided on the inner reel 740 are not visible, and a light-transmitting central segment 727 surrounded by the light-shielding area 726, and an outer reel step mode for rotating the outer reel 720. The sub-control device 262 is provided with a step motor 710 for rotating the outer reel 720, and an inner reel step motor 730 for rotating the inner reel 740. When the changing pattern display of the inner reel 740 is to be viewed, the sub-control device 262 controls the rotation of the outer reel 720 so that the transparent area portion 725 is located in the reel display window 410, and controls the rotation of the inner reel 740. When the changing display of the central segment 727 is to be viewed, the sub-control device 262 controls the rotation of the outer reel 720 so that the light-shielding area portion 726 is located in the reel display window 410, and controls the illumination of the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450.

[0188] Therefore, by positioning the transparent area 725 of the outer reel 720 in the reel display window 410 and rotating the inner reel 740, it is possible to display a varying reel pattern 741a by the inner reel 740 through the transparent area 725. Furthermore, by positioning the light-shielded area 726 of the outer reel 720 in the reel display window 410 and controlling the illumination of the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450, it is possible to hide the reel pattern 741a of the inner reel 740 by the light-shielded area 726 of the outer reel 720, and it is possible to easily view the varying display by the central segment 727 of the light-shielded area 726 of the outer reel 720 and the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450 located at predetermined locations around this light-shielded area 726.

[0189] Furthermore, the bright light display area 742, which is the location of the number "7" of the reel design 741a showing "7" among the multiple reel designs 741a on the inner reel 740, has a higher light transmittance than any of the other reel designs 741a (the reel designs 741a of "0" to "6," "8," and "9"). Therefore, when the transparent area 725 of the outer reel 720 is positioned in the reel display window 410 and the varying symbol display of the inner reel 740 is visible, in a gaming machine (such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine) that has a reel stop button (stop operation means) operated by the player, the bright light display area 742 can be used for eye-pressing operations when the player operates the reel stop button to stop the rotation of the inner reel 740.

[0190] Furthermore, when the light-shielding area 726 of the outer reel 720 is located in the reel display window 410 and the varying display of the central segment 727, which is part of this light-shielding area 726, is visible, the bright display area 742 is located on the back side of the central segment 727 in the light-shielding area 726 of the outer reel 720, so the central segment 727 can be displayed brighter than when a reel pattern 741a other than the bright display area 742 is located on the back side of the central segment 727.

[0191] The reel unit 600 includes a reel unit that displays the reel symbols 741a of the inner reel 740 in a variable manner in the reel display window 410 by rotating the inner reel 740 that has light transmission and on which reel symbols 741a of "0" to "9" are arranged, vertically oriented reel segments 440 and horizontally oriented reel segments 450 that are arranged along the periphery of the reel display window 410 when the reel display window 410 is viewed from the front, and a specific portion of the outer reel 720 that is located at a predetermined position (e.g., The reel display device 260 includes a reel surface light emitting device 750 that illuminates a central segment 727 located in a position (e.g., a central position), and a sub-control device 262 that controls the outer reel 720, the inner reel 740, the vertically oriented reel segments 440, the horizontally oriented reel segments 450, and the reel surface light emitting device 750 so as to perform a variable display (segment variable display) using the central segment 727 in the reel display window 410, the vertically oriented reel segments 440, and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450.

[0192] Therefore, when performing a variable display using the reel pattern 741a, by rotating the inner reel 740 with the transparent area 725 of the outer reel 720 positioned in the reel display window 410, a variable display can be provided in which the reel pattern 741a changes within the reel display window 410. Furthermore, a segment variable display (for example, a variable display in which the central segment 727, the vertical reel segments 440, and the horizontal reel segments 450 are randomly turned on and off repeatedly until they finally light up to a state showing desired numbers, letters, etc.) can be performed using the central segment 727 located at a specific location on the outer reel 720 and in the center of the reel display window 410, and the vertical reel segments 440 and horizontal reel segments 450 arranged along the periphery of the reel display window 410) can be performed. This makes it possible to provide a variable display (segment variable display) different from the variable display using the reel pattern 741a, and further enhances the entertainment value of the game with regard to the variable display.

[0193] Furthermore, since the segment change display is performed by the central segment 727 located within the reel display window 410 and the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and horizontally oriented reel segments 450 located on the outer periphery of the reel display window 410, the player can see the segment change display by the central segment 727, the vertically oriented reel segments 440, and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450 while keeping his eyes on the reel display window 410 in the same way as when viewing the change display by the normal reel pattern 741a, thereby reducing the chance of overlooking the change display by the reel pattern 741a or the segment change display. Furthermore, since the variable display utilizes the central segment 727 in the reel display window 410, that is, the segment variable display is made up of the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450 arranged on the outer periphery of the reel display window 410 and the central segment 727 in the reel display window 410, not only can a variable display be realized that is sufficiently large, but since no other variable display device of the same size is placed separately from the reel unit 600, there is the advantage that the device configuration does not become larger than a configuration in which such other variable display device is placed separately.

[0194] In this first embodiment, the reel unit 600 is provided with the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740. However, a single reel configuration may be used, in which a plurality of symbols are arranged on the single reel, and a predetermined portion of a specific symbol among the symbols may be illuminated. For example, the inner reel 740 of the first embodiment may be used as the single reel, and the reel surface light-emitting device 750 of the first embodiment may not include the light-guiding lens 751, and only the LED 761 located behind the horizontally elongated portion of the number portion of the reel symbol 741a indicating "7" on the single reel (inner reel 740) (the horizontally elongated rectangular portion indicated by the broken line in FIG. 23(b)) may be illuminated, so that only the horizontally elongated portion may be illuminated.

[0195] In this case, only the horizontally elongated portion (the horizontally elongated rectangular portion indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 23(b)) of the number portion of a specific reel pattern 741a (the reel pattern 741a indicating "7") among the multiple reel patterns 741a ("0" to "9") on a single reel (for example, the inner reel 740) emits light, so that the horizontally elongated portion of the specific reel pattern 741a can be used as the central segment 727, and it is possible to prevent the inner reel 740 from arranging a dedicated display unit that is unrelated to the fluctuations of the reel pattern 741a, separate from the multiple reel patterns 741a. For example, if a dedicated display unit separate from the reel pattern 741a is arranged among the arrangement of multiple reel patterns 741a on the inner reel 740, there is a concern that the presence of a separate dedicated display unit unrelated to the reel pattern 741a may give the player a sense of incongruity in the changing display of the reel pattern 741a. However, since a specified location on a specific reel pattern 741a (the horizontally long rectangular part indicated by the dashed line in Figure 23(b)) is used as the central segment 727, the player does not get the impression that a separate dedicated display unit exists, and the feeling of incongruity in the changing display of the reel pattern 741a can be reduced.

[0196] Furthermore, the sub-control device 262 controls the outer reel 720 and the reel surface light-emitting device 750 so that after the central segment 727 has been moved within the reel display window 410, it stops moving at a predetermined position within the reel display window 410 (for example, the central position) or at an external position outside the reel display window 410 (a position not visible to the player). Therefore, after the central segment 727 has been moved within the reel display window 410, it stops moving at the central position within the reel display window 410 or at an external position outside the reel display window 410. Therefore, in addition to the display where the central segment 727 is stopped moving at the central position within the reel display window 410 and the movement result is displayed by the central segment 727, the vertically oriented reel segments 440, and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450, it is possible to provide a display where the central segment 727 is stopped moving at an external position outside the reel display window 410 and the movement result is displayed only by the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450.

[0197] The reel unit 600 has a double reel structure and includes an outer reel 720 located on the outside, and an inner reel 740 located inside the outer reel 720 and having light-transmitting properties and having an array of multiple reel symbols 741 a. The outer reel 720 has an array of transparent area portions 725 through which the reel symbols 741 a of the inner reel 740 are visible, and light-shielded area portions 726 through which the reel symbols 741 a of the inner reel 740 are not visible, and a light-transmitting central segment 727 is formed in part of the light-shielded area portion 726. The reel unit 600 includes an outer reel step motor 710 that drives the outer reel 720, and an inner reel step motor 730 that drives the inner reel 740. The sub-control device 262 controls a reel display window 410 to display the changing display of the multiple reel symbols 741 a of the inner reel 740. The outer reel 720 is driven and controlled so that the transparent area 725 is positioned, and the inner reel 740 is driven and controlled, and when the segment changing display made up of the central segment 727, the vertically oriented reel segments 440, and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450 is made visible, the outer reel 720 is driven and controlled so that the light-shielding area 726 and the central segment 727 are positioned in the reel display window 410, and the inner reel 740 is driven and controlled so that the horizontally elongated portion (the horizontally elongated rectangular portion shown by the dashed line in Figure 23(b)) of the number part of the reel pattern 741a showing "7" among the multiple reel patterns 741a ("0" to "9") on the inner reel 740 is opposed to the central segment 727 of the outer reel 720, and the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450 are controlled to emit light.

[0198] Therefore, by positioning the transparent area 725 of the outer reel 720 in the reel display window 410 and driving the inner reel 740, it is possible to display a varying reel pattern 741a by the inner reel 740 via the transparent area 725. Furthermore, by positioning the light-shielded area 726 and the central segment 727 of the outer reel 720 in the reel display window 410 and controlling the illumination of the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450, it is possible to hide the reel pattern 741a of the inner reel 740 by the light-shielded area 726 of the outer reel 720, and it is possible to easily view the varying display by the central segment 727 of the light-shielded area 726 of the outer reel 720 and the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450 located at predetermined locations around this light-shielded area 726. [Example]

[0199] The center frame 47 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0200] FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the reel unit 600 in which the light guide lens 751 is displaceable between a housed position and a retracted position relative to the support member 752. As shown in FIG.

[0201] As shown in Figure 24, the reel unit 600 of Example 2 has an entrance / exit 607 formed on its right side plate 606 at a location corresponding to the light-guiding lens 751, the entrance / exit 607 being larger than the side shape of the light-guiding lens 751, and is provided with a lens displacement mechanism 610 on the outer side of the right side plate 606 that can be displaced between a storage position where the light-guiding lens 751 is stored in the support member 752 (a position on the light-guiding lens 751 shown by a dashed line) and a retracted position where the light-guiding lens 751 is retracted from the support member 752 (a position on the light-guiding lens 751 shown by a solid line).

[0202] 24 , the lens displacement mechanism 610 includes a movable part 611 (nut) to which the light guide lens 751 is attached, a ball screw 612 on which the movable part 611 slides, a motor 613 that rotates the ball screw 612, a bearing 614 provided at the tip of the ball screw 612, and a support wall part 615 that supports the motor 613. By rotating the motor 613 forward, the ball screw 612 rotates forward, and the movable part 611 moves along the ball screw 612 in a direction approaching the support member 752, so that the light guide lens 751 can be positioned at the storage position. By rotating the motor 613 in the reverse direction, the ball screw 612 rotates reversely, and the movable part 611 moves along the ball screw 612 in a direction away from the support member 752, so that the light guide lens 751 can be positioned at the retracted position.

[0203] In the above-described first embodiment, the light-guiding lens 751 is attached to the support member 752 by engaging the locking claws 756a of the support member 752 with the locking holes 751a of the light-guiding lens 751 as shown in FIG. 18. However, instead of such an engaging structure, the second embodiment employs a configuration in which the light-guiding lens 751 is supported by a movable part 611 as shown in FIG.

[0204] In addition, in the above-described first embodiment, two LEDs 761 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction on the LED mounting board 760 of the reel surface light emitting device 750 as shown in Fig. 18, but in the second embodiment, four LEDs 761 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction on the LED mounting board 760 of the reel surface light emitting device 750 as shown in Fig. 24. Note that a number other than four LEDs 761 may be arranged side by side in the horizontal direction on this LED mounting board 760.

[0205] In the first embodiment, three LEDs 441 are vertically aligned on the LED mounting board 442 of the vertically oriented reel segment 440 as shown in Fig. 13(a), but in the second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 25, seven LEDs 441 are vertically aligned on the LED mounting board 442 of the vertically oriented reel segment 440, and the light guide component 443 has partitions 444 formed between adjacent LEDs 441 to block light so that the light from each LED 441 can be displayed separately (see the reel segment 440 in the upper left of Fig. 25(a). In Fig. 25, the partitions 444 in the other reel segments 440 are not shown). Note that a number of LEDs 441 other than seven may be vertically aligned on this LED mounting board 442, or the above-described light guide component 443 may not be employed.

[0206] Here, a case where a lottery effect is performed using the central segment 727 of the reel unit 600 and the vertically oriented reel segments 440 arranged on the left and right sides of this reel unit 600 will be described below.

[0207] 25(a) to 25(h) are diagrams illustrating the Amidakuji effect performed by the reel unit 600, the vertically oriented reel segments 440, and the center segment 727. FIG.

[0208] The sub-control device 262 (see Figure 9) controls the rotation of the outer reel 720 and inner reel 740 of the reel unit 600, until only the light-shielded area 726 of the outer reel 720 is displayed in the reel display window 410 as shown in Figure 25(a) (i.e., the light-shielded area 726 of the outer reel 720 is located in the reel display window 410, but the central segment 727 is not visible), and then controls the illumination of the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and the drive control and illumination display control of the central segment 727 of the outer reel 720, thereby controlling the omikuji effect by lighting up LEDs, for example, as shown in Figures 25(b) to (h). In other words, the LED 441 of the vertically oriented reel segment 440 and the LED 761 of the central segment 727 move along the ladder-like path formed by the vertically oriented reel segment 440 and the central segment 727 of the outer reel 720, starting from one of the multiple starting ends (the two top ends in Figure 25) and moving to one of the multiple arrival ends (the two bottom ends in Figure 25) without repeating the same path once, as shown in Figure 25(h).

[0209] Specifically, when the command from the main control device 261 is, for example, a command indicating a super special reach, the CPU 551 executes the segment display control program in the sub-control device 262, thereby controlling the rotation of the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 as described above and executing the light-emitting display of the center segment 727 of the outer reel 720. The ROM 552 of the sub-control device 262 stores a control program for the lottery effect, and the RAM 553 is provided with a storage area for temporarily storing programs, data, etc. related to the lottery effect control when the CPU 551 executes the control program for the lottery effect.

[0210] The third symbol display device 42 shown in Fig. 8 is executing a variable display of the super special reach effect, and a display is made suggesting that the omikuji effect will be executed in the reel unit 600. Then, as shown in Fig. 25(a), only the light-blocking area portion 726 of the outer reel 720 is displayed in the reel display window 410. Then, the top (first) LED 441 of the vertically oriented reel segment 440 on the upper left side is lit, and the omikuji effect starts.

[0211] Finally, when the bottom LED 441 in the vertically oriented reel segment 440 on the lower left lights up, it indicates (suggests) that the player has lost the lottery, and when the bottom LED 441 in the vertically oriented reel segment 440 on the lower right lights up, it indicates (suggests) that the player has won the lottery.

[0212] 25(b), the top LED 441 in the vertically oriented reel segment 440 on the upper left side lights up, followed by the second and third LEDs 441. As these LEDs light up, the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 rotate, causing the center segment 727 of the outer reel 720 to appear from above the reel display window 410, and the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 stop rotating with the center segment 727 positioned at the location of the fourth LED 441 in the vertically oriented reel segment 440 on the upper left side.

[0213] Then, as shown in FIG. 25(c), the fourth LED 441 in the vertically oriented reel segment 440 on the upper left side lights up in order, and the leftmost (first) LED 761 in the center segment 727 lights up.

[0214] Next, as shown in FIG. 25(d), the second to fourth LEDs 761 of the central segment 727 light up in sequence, and the fourth LED 441 from the top of the vertically oriented reel segment 440 on the upper right side lights up in sequence.

[0215] Next, as shown in Figure 25(e), the fifth to seventh LEDs 441 in the vertically oriented reel segment 440 on the upper right side light up in order. Then, when these LEDs light up, all of the LEDs 761 in the center segment 727 go out, and then the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 start to rotate, causing the center segment 727 of the outer reel 720 to move downward within the reel display window 410 as shown in Figure 25(e), and the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 stop rotating with the center segment 727 positioned at the position of the topmost (first) LED 441 in the vertically oriented reel segment 440 on the lower left side.

[0216] As shown in FIG. 25(f), after the first LED 441 in the vertically oriented reel segment 440 on the lower right side lights up, the rightmost (fourth) LED 761 in the center segment 727 lights up, followed by the third LED 761.

[0217] Next, the second and first (leftmost) LEDs 761 of the center segment 727 light up, and the first to fourth LEDs 441 of the vertically oriented reel segment 440 on the lower left light up in order from top to bottom, as shown in Figure 25(g). Then, when these LEDs are lit, all of the LEDs 761 of the center segment 727 go out, and then the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 rotate, causing the center segment 727 of the outer reel 720 to move downward within the reel display window 410, as shown in Figure 25(g), and the rotation of the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 stops with the center segment 727 positioned at the location of the sixth LED 441 on the vertically oriented reel segment 440 on the lower left.

[0218] 25(h), after the fifth and sixth LEDs 441 in the vertically oriented reel segment 440 on the lower left light up, the leftmost (first) LED 761 in the center segment 727 lights up, followed by the second to fourth LEDs 761, and then the seventh and eighth LEDs 441 in the vertically oriented reel segment 440 on the lower right light up. In this way, the bottommost (eighth) LED 441 in the vertically oriented reel segment 440 on the lower right lights up, indicating that the player has won this time's lottery effect.

[0219] As described above, according to the pachinko machine 10 of the second embodiment, the vertically oriented reel segment 440 is provided with a plurality of (for example, seven) LEDs 441 arranged along the left or right side of the outer reel 720 at the left and right locations on the outer periphery of the outer reel 720, and the reel surface light emitting device 750 is provided with a plurality of (for example, four) LEDs 761 arranged along the length direction of the central segment 727 when the reel viewing window is viewed from the front, and the light sources (the LEDs 441 of the vertically oriented reel segment 440 and the LEDs 761 of the central segment 727) that light up are as shown in FIG. As shown in (h), the ladder-like path formed by the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and the central segment 727 of the outer reel 720 is controlled to light up in a predetermined order (the order of the flow direction of the ladder lottery) so that it starts from one of its multiple starting ends (the two top ends in Figure 25) and moves to one of its multiple arrival ends (the two bottom ends in Figure 25) without ever passing through the same path again, so that a display mode (ladder lottery display mode) can be provided in which the lit LEDs 441, 761 move like a ladder lottery along the ladder-like path formed by the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and the central segment 727 of the outer reel 720 as shown in Figure 25(h). [Example]

[0220] A pachinko machine 10 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0221] Figures 26(a) and (b) are a schematic plan view and a front view of three reel units 600A arranged side by side horizontally, and Figures 26(c) and (d) are a schematic plan view and a front view of the reel units 600A on both sides when they slide away from the central reel unit 600A.

[0222] In the above-mentioned Example 1, the pachinko machine 10 was provided with a single reel unit 600 on the right side of the third pattern display device 42, but in this Example 3, instead of the third pattern display device 42 and the reel unit 600 of Example 1, the pachinko machine 10 is provided with a reel display device 810 in which a total of three reel units 600A are arranged side by side horizontally as shown in Figure 26(b), which is different from the above-mentioned Example 1.

[0223] In Example 3, for example, in the location where the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 was located when viewed from the front of the center frame 47 shown in Figure 8 in the above-mentioned Example 1, three reel units 600A are arranged side by side horizontally as shown in Figure 26(b), and the storage section 484 at the right end of the center frame 47 shown in Figure 8 is eliminated, and a configuration is adopted in which the center frame 47 is located at the outer periphery of these three reel units 600A.

[0224] As shown in FIG. 26, the reel display device 810 has three reel units 600A, each including the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 of the first embodiment, arranged side by side in the horizontal direction.

[0225] As in the above-described first embodiment, each reel unit 600A is equipped with an outer reel step motor 710 that rotates the outer reel 720 and an inner reel step motor 730 that rotates the inner reel 740 so as to variably display the reel patterns 741a of the numbers "0" to "9" on the inner reel 740 through the reel display window 410A and to variably display the central segment 727 of the outer reel 720.

[0226] 26(b), each reel unit 600A has a reel display window 410A through which a portion of the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 can be seen. In the first embodiment described above, the entire front transparent cover portion 601 of the reel unit 600A was transparent. However, as shown in FIG. 26(b), an opaque member (e.g., an opaque seal member) is positioned on the peripheral surface of the front transparent cover portion 600A in a front view, and a transparent region located inside the opaque member serves as the reel display window 410A. Also, as shown in FIG. 26(b), a portion of the opaque member corresponding to the horizontally oriented reel segment 450 in a front view of the front transparent cover portion 600A is made transparent so that the horizontally oriented reel segment 450 can be seen.

[0227] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450 were disposed on the front member 400. However, in the third embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 26(a) and 26(b), two vertically oriented reel segments 440 are disposed vertically on the outer sides of the right side plate 606 and the left side plate 605 of the left reel unit 600A, and two horizontally oriented reel segments 450 are disposed on the top part 603 and the bottom part 604. This is different from the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 26(b), when the reel display device 810 is viewed from the front, the vertically oriented reel segments 440 of each reel unit 600A are located between adjacent reel display windows 410A. In other words, as shown in FIG. 26(b), the vertically oriented reel segments 440 are positioned close to each other between adjacent reel units 600A.

[0228] Furthermore, the reel display device 810 of Example 3 is equipped with a unit displacement mechanism 820 that can be displaced between normal positions in which the left and right reel units 600A are brought close to the central reel unit 600A as shown in Figures 26(a) and (b), and separated positions in which the left and right reel units 600A in these normal positions are slid (moved in a straight line) away from the central reel unit 600A as shown in Figures 26(c) and (d).

[0229] As shown in FIG. 26(a), the unit displacement mechanism 820 is roughly divided into a left mechanism 820A and a right mechanism 820B.

[0230] As shown in Figure 26(a), the left mechanism part 820A comprises a left unit motor 821A attached to the center frame 47, a left unit ball screw 822A rotated by the left unit motor 821A, a unit movable part 823 which slides along the left unit ball screw 822A and is formed on the back surface of the left reel unit 600A, and a bearing 824 which supports the tip end of the left unit ball screw 822A and is provided on the center frame 47.

[0231] By rotating the left unit motor 821A in the forward direction, the left unit ball screw 822A rotates in the forward direction, and the unit movable part 823 moves along the left unit ball screw 822A in a direction approaching the bearing 824, so that the left reel unit 600A can be moved to the separated position (see Figures 26(c) and (d)). Also, by rotating the left unit motor 821A in the reverse direction, the left unit ball screw 822A rotates in the reverse direction, and the unit movable part 823 moves along the ball screw in a direction approaching the motor, so that the left reel unit 600A can be positioned in the normal position (see Figures 26(a) and (b)).

[0232] As shown in Figure 26(a), the right-hand mechanism 820B comprises a right-hand unit motor 821B attached to the center frame 47, a right-hand unit ball screw 822B rotated by the right-hand unit motor 821B, a unit movable part 823 that slides along the right-hand unit ball screw 822B and is formed on the back surface of the right-hand reel unit 600A, and a bearing 824 that supports the tip end of the right-hand unit ball screw 822B and is provided on the center frame 47.

[0233] By rotating the right unit motor 821B in the forward direction, the right unit ball screw 822B rotates in the forward direction, and the unit movable part 823 moves along the right unit ball screw 822B in a direction approaching the bearing 824, thereby moving the right reel unit 600A to the separated position (see Figures 26(c) and (d)). Also, by rotating the right unit motor 821B in the reverse direction, the right unit ball screw 822B rotates in the reverse direction, and the unit movable part 823 moves along the ball screw in a direction approaching the motor, thereby positioning the right reel unit 600A in the normal position (see Figures 26(a) and (b)).

[0234] As shown in Figure 26(d), when the left reel unit 600A and the right reel unit 600A are slid to a position away from the central reel unit 600A, the vertically oriented reel segments 440 located between adjacent reel units 600A are spaced apart to an appropriate distance, making the reel segment displays of each reel unit 600A easier to see.

[0235] Specifically, based on a segment display execution command from the main control device 261, the sub-control device 262 controls the unit displacement mechanism 820 to slide the left reel unit 600A and the right reel unit 600A from the normal positions shown in Figures 26(a) and (b) to the remote positions shown in Figures 26(c) and (d), and controls the rotation of the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 to display the light-blocking area portion 726 instead of the pattern changing display of the inner reel 740 that was displayed in the reel display window 410A for each reel unit 600A, thereby executing and controlling the segment display on the reel display device 810.

[0236] In addition, based on a normal display execution command from the main control device 261, the sub control device 262 controls the unit displacement mechanism 820 to return the left reel unit 600A and the right reel unit 600A, which have been slid to the distant positions shown in Figures 26(c) and (d), to the normal positions shown in Figures 26(a) and (b), and also controls the rotation of the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 to execute a pattern variation display by the inner reel 740 within the reel display window 410A for each reel unit 600A, instead of the segment display in the reel display device 810.

[0237] Each of the reel units 600A corresponds to a display member, and the reel display device 810 corresponds to display means. The vertically oriented reel segments 440 located between the adjacent reel units 600A correspond to segment light emitting units, the reel segment display unit 800 corresponds to a light emitting display unit, the unit displacement mechanism 820 corresponds to displacement driving means, and the sub-control device 262 corresponds to control means.

[0238] As described above, according to the pachinko machine 10 of this embodiment 3, the light-shielding area 726 and central segment 727 of the outer reel 720 of each reel unit 600A arranged side by side are positioned in each reel display window 410A, and vertically oriented reel segments 440 are arranged on the left and right sides of the outer periphery of the adjacent reel unit 600A, thereby forming a reel display device 810. Furthermore, when each reel segment display unit 800 performs segment illumination display, the unit displacement mechanism unit 820 slides the left reel unit 600A and the right reel unit 600A to a position away from the central reel unit 600A so that the adjacent spacing between each reel segment display unit 800 is increased. This allows both vertically oriented reel segments 440 that are adjacent in the horizontal direction in the reel display device 810 to be spaced apart in the horizontal direction, making it easier to distinguish between the reel segment display units 800 of each reel display device 810 for each reel unit 600A, and making it easier to see the display of the vertically oriented reel segments 440 by each reel segment display unit 800.

[0239] In the above-described configuration, the unit movable part 823 is provided on the rear surface of the reel unit 600A, but it may be provided on the top, bottom, side, etc. of the reel unit 600A.

[0240] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 26(b), light from the reel surface light-emitting device 750 is irradiated from the back side of each reel unit 600A onto the area of the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 located within the reel display window 410A, causing the patterns located in the reel display window 410A of the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 to emit light, allowing the player to focus on the changing display of the patterns by each reel unit 600A.

[0241] In addition, instead of the state in which the symbols in the reel display window 410A are illuminated and displayed variably, as shown in FIGS. 26(c) and (d), when the left reel unit 600A and the right reel unit 600A slide to a position (distant position) away from the center reel unit 600A so that the adjacent intervals between the reel segment display portions 800 become wider, the sub-control device 262 controls the rotation of the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740, and the light-shielded area 726 of the outer reel 720 is positioned in the reel display window 410A, The areas of the reel display window 410A other than the central segment 727 are darkened, allowing the player to focus on the segment display consisting of the vertically oriented reel segments 440, horizontally oriented reel segments 450 and central segment 727 of each reel unit 600A, and by separating the vertically oriented reel segments 440 adjacent to each other in the alignment direction of each reel unit 600A in the alignment direction, it becomes easier to distinguish the vertically oriented reel segments 440 of each reel unit 600A from one another.

[0242] In addition, instead of the sliding movement configuration described above, a configuration may be adopted in which the front sides of the left reel unit 600A and the right reel unit 600A are rotated and moved to a position away from the central reel unit 600A, as shown in Figure 27.

[0243] Figures 27(a) and (b) are a schematic plan view and a front view of three reel units 600A arranged side by side horizontally, and Figures 27(c) and (d) are a schematic plan view and a front view of the reel units 600A on both sides when the front sides of the reel units 600A have rotated and moved away from the central reel unit 600A.

[0244] As shown in Figures 27(a) and (b), the center frame 47 is equipped with a motor 825 supported by the center frame 47 so as to be located above the rear right side of the left-side reel unit 600A, a rotating shaft 826 rotated by the motor 825, and a bearing 827 arranged at the lower end of the rotating shaft 826 and supported by the center frame 47.When the rotating shaft 826 rotates clockwise in Figure 27(a), the left-side reel unit 600A rotates clockwise around the rotating shaft 826, as shown in Figure 27(c), and the front side of the left-side reel unit 600A is positioned away from the central reel unit 600A.

[0245] The right-side reel unit 600A has the same configuration as described above, and when the rotation axis 826 rotates counterclockwise in Figure 27(a), the right-side reel unit 600A rotates counterclockwise around this rotation axis 826, as shown in Figure 27(c), and the front side of the right-side reel unit 600A is positioned away from the central reel unit 600A.

[0246] As shown in FIG. 27(d), the vertically oriented reel segments 440 located between adjacent reel units 600A are spaced apart at an appropriate distance, making the reel segment displays of each reel unit 600A easier to see.

[0247] In addition, instead of the above-mentioned configuration in which the reel units 600A on both sides slide or rotate, a configuration may be adopted in which the central reel unit 600A retreats to the rear and the front side of the central reel unit 600A slides to a position separated in the front-to-rear direction from the front sides of the reel units 600A on both sides, as shown in Figure 28.

[0248] Figures 28(a) and (b) are a schematic plan view and a front view of three reel units 600A arranged side by side horizontally, and Figures 28(c) and (d) are a schematic plan view and a front view of the central reel unit 600A when the front side of the central reel unit 600A has slid back away from the front sides of the reel units 600A on either side.

[0249] As shown in Figures 28(a) and (b), the center frame 47 is equipped with a motor 830 supported by the center frame 47 so as to be located at an upper rear portion of the central reel unit 600A, a ball screw 831 rotated by the motor 830, a movable part 832 that slides along the ball screw 831 and is formed at an upper rear portion of the central reel unit 600A, and a bearing 833 that supports the tip end of the ball screw 831 and is provided in the center frame 47.

[0250] By rotating this motor 830 in the forward direction, the ball screw 831 rotates in the forward direction, and the movable part 832 moves along the ball screw 831 in a direction approaching the motor 830, thereby moving the central reel unit 600A to the separated position (see the retracted position shown in FIGS. 28(c) and 28(d)). Also, by rotating the motor 830 in the reverse direction, the ball screw 831 rotates in the reverse direction, and the movable part 832 moves along the ball screw 831 in a direction approaching the bearing 833, thereby positioning the central reel unit 600A in the normal position (see FIGS. 28(a) and 28(b)).

[0251] As shown in Figures 28(c) and (d), the front of the central reel unit 600A is set back relative to the front of the reel units 600A on either side, and is positioned away from them in the front-to-back direction (set back position), so that the vertically oriented reel segments 440 between adjacent reel units 600A are appropriately spaced apart, making it easier to see the reel segment displays of each reel unit 600A.

[0252] In the above-described configuration for retracting the central reel unit 600A, the movable part 832 is provided on the upper surface of the central reel unit 600A, but it may also be provided on the lower surface, rear surface, etc. of the reel unit 600A.

[0253] Although the third embodiment has been described with reference to a configuration in which three reel units 600A are arranged side by side, the present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which a plurality of reel units 600A other than three are arranged side by side. [Example]

[0254] A reel unit 600B according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0255]

[0111] Figures 29(a) to (c) are a plan view, a front view, and a right side view of a reel unit 600B of Example 4. Figure 30 is a perspective view of the reel unit 600B of Example 4. Figure 31(a) is an exploded perspective view of a reel surface light emitting device 750 of Example 4, and Figure 31(b) is a perspective view of the reel surface light emitting device 750. Figure 32 is a cross-sectional view of the center frame 47. Figure 33(a) is a diagram showing a state in which the light-shielded area 726 of the outer reel 720A is positioned in the reel display window 410, and Figure 33(b) is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the reel display window 410, the light-shielded area 726 of the outer reel 720A, and the inner reel 740 in Figure 33(a).

[0256] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the front member 400, which is a component other than the reel unit 600, is configured to have a vertically oriented reel segment 440 and a horizontally oriented reel segment 450. However, the reel unit 600B of this fourth embodiment differs from the above-mentioned first embodiment in that it has a vertically oriented reel segment 440A and a horizontally oriented reel segment 450A, as shown in Figure 29(b).

[0257] As shown in Figure 29, the horizontal reel segment 450A of Example 4 includes a light guide 840 attached to cutout portions 601a formed in the upper and lower parts of the front transparent cover portion 601, a light-shielding portion 843 provided between the light guide 840 and the cutout portion 601a of the front transparent cover portion 601, an LED mounting board 845 arranged so that an LED 844 is located in a recessed portion of the incident surface 841 at the rear side of the light guide 840, an emission light area portion 842 formed in a horizontally elongated shape at a predetermined position on the front side of the light guide 840, and a reflective sticker portion 846 attached to a position on the front side of the light guide 840 other than the emission light area portion 842.

[0258] In order to explain the positional relationship between the reel display window 410 of the front member 400 and the reel unit 600B, in Figure 29(b) the reel display window 410 is shown by a two-dot chain line on the front side of the reel unit 600B, and in Figure 29(c) the front member 400 having the reel display window 410 is shown positioned in front of the reel unit 600B.

[0259] 29, the front member 400 is provided with opening windows 411, each of which has a size corresponding to the horizontally oriented reel segments 450A and through which the horizontally oriented reel segments 450A can be seen, above and below the reel display window 410. Note that instead of making the reel display window 410 and the opening windows 411 into opening shapes, they may be configured as transparent regions formed by, for example, transparent resin molding.

[0260] Next, a vertically oriented reel segment 440A according to the fourth embodiment will be described.

[0261] As shown in FIG. 31, the vertically oriented reel segment 440A of the fourth embodiment is formed by a reel surface light emitting device 750 of the fourth embodiment.

[0262] As shown in FIG. 31, the reel surface light emitting device 750 of the fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it employs a light guiding lens 751A, a support member 752A, and an LED mounting board 760A that differ in detail from those of the first embodiment.

[0263] As shown in FIG. 31, the light-guiding lens 751A of the fourth embodiment comprises a central lens portion 850 having a light-shielding sheet 851 (or a reflective sheet, etc.) attached to the left and right sides, two left lens portions 853 bonded along the left side of the central lens portion 850 with a light-shielding component 852 sandwiched between them, and two right lens portions 854 bonded along the right side of the central lens portion 850 with a light-shielding component 852 sandwiched between them, which are integrated together.

[0264] As shown in FIG. 31, the support member 752A of the fourth embodiment has two rows of three openings 759 arranged horizontally in each of its upper portion 753, middle portion 754, and lower portion 755, which is different from the support member 752 of the first embodiment.

[0265] As shown in FIG. 31, the three LED mounting boards 760A in Example 4 have six LEDs 761 mounted at locations corresponding to a total of six openings 759 formed in an upper portion 753, a middle portion 754, and a lower portion 755 of the support member 752A, and this point differs from the LED mounting board 760 in Example 1.

[0266] As shown in FIG. 31(a), the light-guiding lens 751A of the fourth embodiment has locking holes 751a formed at its upper and lower ends, and the support member 752A of the fourth embodiment has locking claws 756a formed on the inside of its inclined top portion 756 and inclined bottom portion 757, respectively. The locking claws 756a of the support member 752A are locked into the locking holes 751a of the light-guiding lens 751A, thereby holding the light-guiding lens 751A on the support member 752A.

[0267] As shown in Figures 31(b) and 32, the left lens portion 853 is located at the location where the left row of LEDs 761 (a total of six LEDs 761) are arranged on the LED mounting board 760A, the central lens portion 850 is located at the location where the middle row of LEDs 761 (a total of six LEDs 761) are arranged on the LED mounting board 760A, and the right lens portion 854 is located at the location where the right row of LEDs 761 (a total of six LEDs 761) are arranged on the LED mounting board 760A.

[0268] 31(b), of the LEDs 761 in the left column on the three LED mounting boards 760A (six LEDs 761 in total), light from the upper three LEDs 761 is incident on the upper left lens unit 853, and light from the lower three LEDs 761 is incident on the lower left lens unit 853, and these two left lens units 853 emit light. Also, light from the middle column of LEDs 761 in the three LED mounting boards 760A (six LEDs 761 in total) is incident on the central lens unit 850, and this central lens unit 850 emits light. Furthermore, of the LEDs 761 in the right column on the three LED mounting boards 760A (six LEDs 761 in total), light from the top three LEDs 761 is incident on the upper right lens portion 854, and light from the bottom three LEDs 761 is incident on the lower right lens portion 854, and these two right lens portions 854 each emit light.

[0269] The central lens unit 850 has a light-shielding sheet 851 (or a reflective sheet) attached to its left and right sides, respectively, so that light incident on the central lens unit 850 does not enter the left lens unit 853 and the right lens unit 854 through the left and right sides of the central lens, and light incident on the left lens unit 853 and the right lens unit 854 does not enter the central lens unit 850 through the left and right sides of the central lens.

[0270] 33(b), the outer reel 720A has segment light-transmitting areas 728 formed on both sides of its light-shielded area 726. As shown in FIG. 33(b), the inner reel 740 has a light-transmitting area where it overlaps with the segment light-transmitting area 728 of the outer reel 720A, and two right lens portions 854 and two left lens portions 853 are positioned behind this area.

[0271] Here, the segment display by the reel unit 600B of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0272] In the reel unit 600B, as in the above-described first embodiment, the rotation of the outer reel 720A and the inner reel 740 is controlled by the sub-control device 262 shown in FIG. 9, and the central segment 727 of the outer reel 720A is illuminated, and the vertically oriented reel segments 440A in the reel display window 410 and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450A at the upper and lower portions of the front transparent cover portion 601 are illuminated.

[0273] Specifically, as shown in Figure 33(b), the reel unit 600B positions the light-shielding area 726, central segment 727, and light-transmitting area 728 for segments of the outer reel 720A in the reel display window 410, and by rotating the inner reel 740 so that the horizontally long portion (the horizontally long rectangular portion shown by the dashed line in Figure 33(b)) of the bright light display area 742 (the number portion of the reel pattern 741a ``7'') of the inner reel 740 faces directly toward the central segment 727 of this light-shielding area 726, the light-shielding area 726 of the outer reel 720A is positioned in the reel display window 410, and the central segment 727 of this light-shielding area 726 is illuminated, as shown in Figure 33(a). When a segment display is performed, the outer reel 720A and the inner reel 740 are controlled to rotate while maintaining the central segment 727 and the horizontally elongated portion of the bright light display area 742 facing each other.

[0274] Furthermore, when the central segment 727 of the outer reel 720A is illuminated, the reel unit 600B also illuminates predetermined segments among the vertical reel segments 440A and the horizontal reel segments 450A shown in FIG. 33(a).

[0275] For example, when displaying the numbers "0" or "8" as segments, all of the vertically oriented reel segments 440A and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450A are illuminated. In this fourth embodiment, a case will be described in which all of the vertically oriented reel segments 440A and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450A are illuminated.

[0276] The reel unit 600B illuminates two right lens portions 854 and two left lens portions 853 provided behind the inner reel 740. The illumination of the right lens portions 854 and left lens portions 853 can be seen through the light-transmittable areas on both sides of the inner reel 740 and the segment light-transmitting area portion 728 of the outer reel 720A, and therefore, the vertically oriented reel segments 440A can be illuminated and displayed on both sides of the light-shielded area portion 726 within the reel display window 410.

[0277] 29 and 30, the reel unit 600B causes the LEDs 844 on the LED mounting board 845 located behind the light guide 840 of the front transparent cover portion 601 to emit light, causing the light guide 840 of the front transparent cover portion 601 to emit light, and causing the horizontally oriented reel segments 450A formed by this light guide 840 to emit light. As shown in FIGS. 29 and 33(a), the horizontally oriented reel segments 450A are located at the outer upper and outer lower portions of the reel display window 410, respectively.

[0278] As shown in Figure 33(a), when the central segment 727 of the outer reel 720A stops at the center of the reel display window 410, these segments display the number "8," and when the central segment 727 of the outer reel 720A does not position itself at the center of the reel display window 410 but continues to move downward and moves outside the reel display window 410 and stops, the number "0" is displayed.

[0279] In addition, when displaying the reel pattern 741a of the inner reel 740 in the reel unit 600B of Example 4, as in Example 1 described above, the outer reel 720A is rotated to position the transparent area portion 725 of the outer reel 720A within the reel display window 410, and the inner reel 740 is rotated to display the changing pattern of the inner reel 740.

[0280] As described above, according to the pachinko machine 10 of this embodiment 4, the reel unit 600B is equipped with a central segment 727, a vertically oriented reel segment 440A, and a horizontally oriented reel segment 450A, and therefore the reel unit 600B itself can perform segment display.

[0281] Furthermore, when the reel display window 410 is viewed from the front, the inner reel 740 is provided with vertically oriented reel segments 440A on both sides of the back surface of the portion thereof located in the reel display window 410, so that the central segment 727 that fluctuates within the reel display window 410 can be made to emit light uniformly throughout its movement, reducing misinterpretation of the fluctuating display due to the central segment 727 that fluctuates within the reel display window 410 and the vertically oriented reel segments 440A on both sides of the back surface of the inner reel 740 that is located in the reel display window 410. Furthermore, when the reel display window 410 is viewed from the front, the central segment 727 and the vertically oriented reel segments 440A are contained within the area of the inner reel 740 located within the reel display window 410, so that a fluctuating display due to the central segment 727 and the vertically oriented reel segments 440A can be performed without expanding the area of the inner reel 740. [Example]

[0282] A pachinko machine 10 according to a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0283] Figures 34(a) to (c) are diagrams for explaining the variable display image of the third pattern display device 42 and the display in the reel display window 410 of the reel unit 600 in the super reach with the pattern drum reach performance of Example 5. Figures 35(a) and (b) are diagrams for explaining the variable display image of the third pattern display device 42 and the display in the reel display window 410 of the reel unit 600 displayed following Figure 34(c).

[0284] In the above-mentioned Example 1, the execution of the pattern change display of the inner reel 740 in the reel unit 600 is explained based on a command indicating a single drum change, but in this Example 5, based on a command indicating a super reach with a drum reach effect, the change display image of the third pattern display device 42 is not a reach, but a new reach display is executed by the change display image of the third pattern display device 42 and the reel unit 600, which is different from the above-mentioned Example 1.

[0285] As shown in Figure 10 in the above-mentioned Example 1, the third pattern display device 42 displays, on a display screen arranged in an opening 30c formed in approximately the center of the game board 30, a variable display image of the third patterns (main decorative pattern SZ and secondary decorative pattern FZ) of multiple columns (left decorative pattern column L, middle decorative pattern column M and right decorative pattern column R) that indicate whether or not a game state advantageous to the player has occurred.

[0286] As shown in Figs. 8 and 34, the reel display window 410 has a size corresponding to the variable area on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 34, the vertical side length of the reel display window 410 is approximately the same as the vertical side length (the variable direction length of the third pattern) on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42, and the horizontal side length is approximately the same as the horizontal length of the right decorative pattern column R. Also, as shown in Fig. 34, the reel display window 410 is arranged side by side with the right decorative pattern column R, which is the variable area located adjacent to it, in a predetermined variable display state (super reach with a pattern drum reach effect). In other words, when viewed from the front of the third pattern display device 42, it is arranged side by side at the outer right side of the right decorative pattern column R on the display screen. Also, the direction of movement of the reel symbols 741a in the reel display window 410 is the same as the direction of movement from top to bottom in the right decorative symbol row R, as shown in FIG. 35(a).

[0287] As shown in Figures 17 and 21 in the above-mentioned Example 1, the reel unit 600 displays the reel patterns 741a of "0" to "9" in a variable manner within the reel display window 410 by moving the inner reel 740, on which the reel patterns 741a of "0" to "9" are fixedly arranged, relative to the reel display window 410.

[0288] On this inner reel 740, reel patterns 741a (reel patterns 741a having the same appearance as the main decorative patterns SZ of one column of "0" to "9") corresponding to the main decorative patterns SZ of "0" to "9" on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 are fixedly arranged. In addition, the reel patterns 741a on the inner reel 740 are sized to be approximately the same as the main decorative patterns SZ on the third pattern display device 42.

[0289] The sub-control device 262 controls the reel unit 600 so that, based on the establishment of a predetermined condition, a winning display is displayed using the main decorative pattern SZ, which has stopped changing on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42, and the reel pattern 741a on the reel unit 600.

[0290] Here, we will explain the super reach with drum reach effect below.

[0291] When the command from the main control unit 261 is a command indicating a super reach with a drum reach effect, the CPU 551 of the sub-control unit 262 outputs a command indicating the super reach to the display control unit 45, and the display control unit 45 displays the super reach on the display screen of the third pattern display unit 42 based on the command, and the CPU 551 executes the rotation control program for the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740, thereby executing a pattern change display on the inner reel 740, and thereby executing a drum reach effect as shown in Figures 34 and 35.

[0292] Specifically, the display control device 45 starts the variable display of the third symbol on the display screen of the third symbol display device 42 based on a command indicating a super reach from the sub-control device 262. As shown in Fig. 10, a series of decorative symbols (composed of main decorative symbols SZ each having a number from "0" to "9" and a secondary decorative symbol FZ consisting of a diamond-shaped picture symbol) of the left decorative symbol row L, the middle decorative symbol row M and the right decorative symbol row R are displayed variably from top to bottom on the display screen of the third symbol display device 42 all at once.

[0293] Then, the variable display stops in the order of the left decorative symbol row L and the right decorative symbol row R, and as shown in Fig. 34(a), a main decorative symbol SZ (third symbol) indicating, for example, "1" is displayed on the display screen of the third symbol display device 42 in a reach-to-win state on the middle line L2. For example, the main decorative symbol SZ of "1" on the middle line L2 shown in Fig. 34(a), which is related to whether or not a winning display will occur, is displayed at the first brightness. At this time, the LED 761 of the LED mounting board 760 in the reel surface light-emitting device 750 of the reel unit 600 shown in Fig. 18 is turned off, and the inside of the reel display window 410 of the reel unit 600 is dark as shown in Fig. 34(a).

[0294] Next, as shown in Figure 34(b), the variable display of the middle decorative pattern column M stops, and the secondary decorative pattern FZ is displayed stationary on the middle line L2 in the middle decorative pattern column M, indicating that the reach has been missed.

[0295] Next, as shown in Figure 34(c), the display control device 45 dilutes (lightly displays) the main decorative pattern SZ of "1", which is related to whether or not a winning display will occur among the variable display images displayed on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42, and the main decorative pattern SZ and secondary decorative pattern FZ of "0", which are other patterns.

[0296] At this time, as shown in Fig. 34(c), two new reach lines NL2 and NL5 are formed. Note that the main decorative symbol SZ of "1" related to whether or not the reach lines NL2 and NL5 shown in Fig. 34(c) will be displayed with a second brightness that is higher than the main decorative symbol SZ of "1" displayed with the first brightness on the middle line L2 shown in Fig. 34(a).

[0297] Next, as shown in Figure 35(a), the LED 761 on the LED mounting board 760 in the reel surface light-emitting device 750 of the reel unit 600 lights up, and the transparent area portion 725 of the outer reel 720 is positioned within the reel display window 410, and the pattern variation display of the inner reel 740 is performed.

[0298] 35(b), the reel symbol 741a indicating "1" on the inner reel 740 stops fluctuating in the lower part of the reel display window 410 when it is vertically divided into three equal parts, and a state is displayed on the new reach line NL5 in which the main decorative symbol SZ of "1" which is related to whether or not a winning display will occur among the variable display images displayed on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 and the reel symbol 741a indicating "1" on the inner reel 740 are aligned. Immediately after this, the variable winning device 32 is repeatedly operated between the open state and the normal closed state, and a large number of game balls enter the variable winning device 32 (win), and a large number of game balls are paid out in response to the win, creating a game state advantageous to the player.

[0299] Furthermore, the above-mentioned game board 30 corresponds to the game components described below. The above-mentioned third symbol display device 42 corresponds to the image display means. The above-mentioned inner reel 740 corresponds to the notation body, and the reel unit 600 corresponds to the notation body changing means. The above-mentioned sub-control device 262 corresponds to the change performance control means.

[0300] As described above, according to the pachinko machine 10 of the fifth embodiment, the third pattern display device 42 displays on the display screen a variable display image of the third patterns (main decorative pattern SZ and sub decorative pattern FZ) of a plurality of columns (left decorative pattern column L, middle decorative pattern column M and right decorative pattern column R) that indicate whether or not a game state advantageous to the player has occurred, and the third pattern display device 42 is arranged next to a variable area (variable area of the right decorative pattern column R) that is located adjacent to the variable area when a predetermined variable display state (super reach with drum reach effect) occurs in a display screen portion that is visible to the player when viewed from the front of the display screen of the third pattern display device 42, and displays a large image corresponding to the variable area. The reel display unit 600 is provided with a reel display window 410 having a fixed arrangement of a plurality of reel patterns 741a ("0" to "9"), and a reel unit 600 capable of displaying variable identification information within the reel display window 410 by varying an inner reel 740 with respect to the reel display window 410, and a sub-control device 262 that controls the reel unit 600 to display a winning indication using a main decorative pattern SZ, which has stopped varying, on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 and the reel pattern 741a on the reel unit 600 based on the establishment of a predetermined condition (a command indicating a super reach with a drum reach effect).

[0301] Therefore, a winning display variation can be performed using an image displayed in a stopped state (a variable display image of the main decorative pattern SZ displayed in a stopped state on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42) and a physical object (variable display of the reel pattern 741a by the inner reel 740 of the reel unit 600). In other words, if the result of the change in the variable display image of the main decorative pattern SZ displayed on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 is, for example, a miss (a state in which the main decorative pattern SZ of "1" is not aligned on the jackpot determination line because the remaining predetermined main decorative pattern SZ (e.g., "1") does not stop varying on the jackpot determination line), the actual inner reel 740 displays the variable reel pattern 741a, the reel pattern 741a of "1" stops varying at a predetermined location in the reel display window 410, and a state in which the main decorative pattern SZ of "1" and the reel pattern 741a are aligned (see the aligned state on the new reach line NL5 in Figure 35(b)) can be generated. Therefore, since there is no need to unnaturally re-variably display the result of the variable display of the third pattern display device 42, the player can be less likely to feel uncomfortable or distrustful of the variable display of the third pattern display device 42. In addition, when the variable display result of the third symbol display device 42 is not a reach, the variable display image is maintained as it is without any changes, and the variable display of the reel symbol 741a by the inner reel 740, which is the actual object, is added to supplement the result and lead to a jackpot, thereby providing a variable effect. As a result, the interest in the variable display can be further improved.

[0302] For example, in a configuration in which a variable display image displaying four columns of identifiers changes is displayed on a display screen, i.e., the display screen starts displaying the variable display of all four columns of identifiers, stops the changes in each column in a predetermined order, and reaches a final stop state in which all four columns stop changing, and a win is determined when three or more columns of identifiers are aligned with predetermined winning identifiers. Even if the identifiers in the first three columns stop changing and a loss is confirmed before the variable display of the fourth column stops, the player must wait for the variable display of the fourth column to stop, which can cause stress for the player. Furthermore, because the player must always look at the variable display of all four columns, the variable display presentation lacks visual variety. In other words, even if a winning result is confirmed when the variables in columns 1 to 3 stop, the player must wait until the variable display of column 4 stops. Even if the winning result is revealed when the variable display of column 4 stops, the four-column variable display remains unchanged, resulting in a variable display presentation lacking visual variety.

[0303] In contrast, in the case of the pachinko machine 10 of the above-mentioned Example 5, if the predetermined condition is not met (for example, a super reach with a drum reach effect), when the variable display image of the main decorative pattern SZ on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 is a win or a simple miss (a miss that does not result in a reach), the actual object does not move, so the player does not have to wait unnecessarily even though the result of the variable display is known. Furthermore, only when the predetermined condition is met (a super reach with a drum reach effect), a variable display effect of a winning display can be performed using an image displayed in a stopped state (a variable display image of the main decorative pattern SZ displayed in a stopped state on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42) and an actual object (a variable display of the reel pattern 741a by the inner reel 740 of the reel unit 600). Therefore, it is possible to change from displaying only the variable display image to displaying the stopped image and the actual object, and to provide a variable display effect with a different appearance.

[0304] Furthermore, in the reel unit 600, the reel pattern 741a that is the same as one row of the main decorative pattern SZ in the third pattern display device 42 is fixedly arranged on the inner reel 740, so that it is possible to perform a variable display image of multiple rows of the main decorative pattern SZ by the third pattern display device 42 and a variable display of one row of the reel pattern 741a by the inner reel 740, which is an actual object, and it is possible to realize these two systems of variable display. Also, since only a single inner reel 740 displaying one row of the reel pattern 741a is arranged side by side, only the minimum space required for arranging one inner reel 740 side by side is required. As a result, it is possible to realize these two systems of variable display in a limited space.

[0305] Furthermore, since the reel pattern 741a on the inner reel 740 is displayed at least as large as the main decorative pattern SZ displayed on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42, it is possible to provide an easy-to-see display of whether or not the main decorative pattern SZ in the variable display image by the third pattern display device 42 and the reel pattern 741a by the inner reel 740, which is the actual object, are aligned.

[0306] In addition, when the third pattern display device 42 displays the main decorative pattern SZ that has stopped changing on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 and the reel pattern 741a on the reel unit 600, the highlighting display, in which the main decorative pattern SZ of, for example, "1" (see Figure 35(a)), which is related to whether or not it will result in a winning display among the main decorative patterns SZ that have stopped changing on the display screen, is displayed relatively more prominently than the main decorative patterns SZ of "0", "2" to "9" and the secondary decorative patterns FZ, is different from the highlighting display when only the variable display image of the third pattern display device 42 is used for display.Therefore, it is possible to provide the player with the main decorative pattern SZ that is related to whether or not it will result in a winning display, by distinguishing between the case of displaying only the variable display image and the case of displaying the variable display image whose identification information has stopped changing and the reel pattern 741a of the inner reel 740.

[0307] In the case of the display using the image and the actual object, the main decorative pattern SZ, which is related to whether or not a winning display will occur, is prominently displayed on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42, so that the player knows to pay attention to the reel pattern 741a of the inner reel 740, which has the same appearance as the prominently displayed main decorative pattern SZ, and the player can be clearly indicated to the "1" reel pattern 741a to pay attention to in the reel unit 600, and can be directed to whether or not the "1" reel pattern 741a to pay attention to will stop changing at the variable stop point in the reel display window 410 located on the new reach line NL2, NL5, which is an extension of the arrangement direction of the "1" main decorative pattern SZ, which is related to whether or not a winning display will occur. As a result, the player can be provided with an easily understandable variable display of whether or not a new winning display will occur by using a part of the variable display image that resulted in a loss on the third pattern display device 42 and the variable display of the reel pattern 741a by the actual inner reel 740.

[0308] In this embodiment 5, as for "displaying the main decorative pattern SZ related to whether or not a winning display will occur so as to be relatively conspicuous," the identification information (main decorative patterns SZ of "0," "2" to "9" and secondary decorative patterns FZ) other than the main decorative pattern SZ of "1" related to whether or not a winning display will occur among the main decorative patterns SZ stopped varying on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 is dimmed, but they may also be erased. Also, in this embodiment 5, the main decorative pattern SZ of "1" related to whether or not a winning display will occur in the case of display by only the variable display image is displayed at a first brightness, and the main decorative pattern SZ related to whether or not a winning display will occur in the case of display by the variable display image in which the main decorative pattern SZ is stopped varying and the reel pattern 741a of the inner reel 740 is displayed at a second brightness higher than the first brightness, but these highlightings may be displayed differently by speeding up the blinking interval instead of or together with the brightness.

[0309] Also, as shown in Figure 36, the stoppage points of the reel display window 410 located on new reach lines NL2, NL5, which are extensions of the arrangement direction of the main decorative pattern SZ of, for example, "1", which is related to whether or not the identification information that has been stopped from changing on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 will result in a winning display, may be illuminated, and other stoppage points may not be illuminated.

[0310] Here, a display mode in which the variation stop points of the reel display window 410 located on the new reach lines NL2 and NL5 are illuminated and the other variation stop points are not illuminated will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0311] Figures 36(a) to (c) are figures to explain that the variation stop points of the reel display window 410 located on the new reach lines NL2 and NL5 are illuminated, while other variation stop points are not illuminated.

[0312] In this embodiment 5, after a missed reach is displayed on the third pattern display device 42 as shown in Figure 34, as shown in Figure 36(a), the middle and lower parts of the reel display window 410, which are divided into three equal parts in the vertical direction, are illuminated as the fluctuation stop parts of the reel display window 410 that should be noticed by the player, and the upper part of the reel display window 410, which is divided into three equal parts in the vertical direction, as the other fluctuation stop parts, is not illuminated.

[0313] Next, as shown in Figure 36(b), the movement of the inner reel 740 stops, and the main decorative pattern SZ of "1" on the third pattern display device 42 and the reel pattern 741a of "1" on the inner reel 740 are aligned on the new reach line NL5.

[0314] Finally, as shown in Figure 36(c), only the area on the new reach line NL5 in the reel display window 410, that is, the lower area when the reel display window 410 is divided into three equal parts vertically, is illuminated, highlighting that the main decorative pattern SZ of "1" on the third pattern display device 42 and the reel pattern 741a of "1" on the inner reel 740 are aligned on the new reach line NL5.

[0315] 36, the reach establishment lines NL2 and NL5 newly formed from the third symbol display device 42 to the inner reel 740 can be suggested to the player, and the notable variable stop locations (the middle and lower locations when the reel display window 410 is divided into three equal parts in the vertical direction) in the reel display window 410 are illuminated, so that the player can be easily shown such locations. As a result, the reach establishment lines NL2 and NL5 newly formed from the variable display image of the third symbol display device 42 to the actual inner reel 740, and the notable variable stop locations in the reel display window 410 (the middle and lower locations when the reel display window 410 is divided into three equal parts in the vertical direction) can be easily shown to the player. [Example]

[0316] A pachinko machine 10 according to a sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0317] Fig. 37 is a perspective view showing a state in which a reel surface light emitting device 750 of the sixth embodiment is attached to the inner surface of an in-reel control board 770. Fig. 38 is a cross-sectional view of the center frame 47 of the sixth embodiment.

[0318] In the first embodiment described above, the reel surface light emitting device 750 is provided with a light guide lens 751, but the sixth embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in that it does not include a light guide lens 751.

[0319] As shown in Fig. 8, the pachinko machine 10 of the sixth embodiment is equipped with a third pattern display device 42 that displays on a display screen a variable display image of third patterns (main decorative patterns SZ and sub-decorative patterns FZ) in multiple rows L, M, R shown in Fig. 10, which indicate whether or not a game state advantageous to the player has occurred, and a reel unit 600 that drives a light-transmitting inner reel 740 on which a reel pattern 741a is fixedly arranged in a reel display window 410 located alongside the third pattern display device 42 when viewed from the front of the third pattern display device 42, thereby variably displaying the reel pattern 741a within the reel display window 410. This point is the same as in the first embodiment described above.

[0320] 37, the reel surface light-emitting device 750 of the reel unit 600 is configured such that each LED 761 of an LED mounting board 760 is positioned in an opening 759 formed in each of an upper portion 753, a middle portion 754, and a lower portion 755 of a support member 752. Then, light from each LED 761 is irradiated onto the back side of the inner reel 740 at a portion located within the reel display window 410, as shown by the dashed arrow in FIG.

[0321] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 37 and 38, the pachinko machine 10 of Example 6 is provided with an LED 773 which is provided at a predetermined location (for example, at a location where the reel surface light-emitting device 750 is located and facing the inside of the support member 752) of the reel-internal control board 770 which is attached to the right side panel 606 (see Figure 17) which is located farther from the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 in the reel unit 600 when viewed from the front of the third pattern display device 42, and which irradiates light obliquely onto the back side of the inner reel 740 from a location on this reel-internal control board 770 facing the inside of the support member 752.

[0322] 37 , the in-reel control board 770 has, for example, six LEDs 773 mounted at intervals along the right side surface of the reel surface light emitting device 750 at a location facing the inside of the support member 752 where the reel surface light emitting device 750 is located. More specifically, the two upper LEDs 773 are provided corresponding to an upper portion 753 of the support member 752, the two middle LEDs 773 are provided corresponding to a middle portion 754 of the support member 752, and the two lower LEDs 773 are provided corresponding to a lower portion 755 of the support member 752.

[0323] 38, the light emitted from the LED 773 of the in-reel control board 770 is irradiated obliquely onto the back side of the portion of the inner reel 740 located within the reel display window 410. Specifically, the LED 773 is positioned so that the direction of its strongest illumination intensity is directed obliquely toward the back side of the portion of the inner reel 740 located within the reel display window 410.

[0324] Also, as shown in FIG. 38, the reel display window 410 is located closer to the player than a position P1 of the display screen of the third pattern display device in a plan view of the third pattern display device .

[0325] 38, the reel unit 600 is provided with a left side plate 605 on the side closer to the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 in a plan view of the third pattern display device 42. This left side plate 605 has at least a protruding length from position P1 of the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 to the reel display window 410, which is the depth length of the reel unit 600.

[0326] And, as in the first embodiment, this left side plate 605 is a metal plate member that is colored (for example, silver), and therefore blocks visible light. That is, light from the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 cannot pass through the left side plate 605 of the reel unit 600, and therefore does not pass through the left side plate 605 and enter the inside of the reel unit 600. In addition, light from the LEDs 761 and 773 inside the reel unit 600 cannot pass through the left side plate 605 of the reel unit 600, and therefore does not pass through the left side plate 605 and proceed to the outside of the reel unit 600.

[0327] As shown in Figures 17 and 38, the reel unit 600 has a double reel structure and includes a cylindrical outer reel 720 located on the outside, and a cylindrical inner reel 720 that is optically transparent and has a plurality of reel patterns 741a arranged on it located inside the outer reel 720.

[0328] As shown in Figure 38, when viewed from the front, the reel unit 600 has a step motor 710 for the outer reel on the left side panel 605 closer to the display screen of the third pattern display device 42, and a step motor 730 for the inner reel on the right side panel 606 farther from the display screen of the third pattern display device 42.

[0329] As in the above-described first embodiment, the outer reel 720, as shown in Fig. 38, has a central contact portion 723 located at the cylindrical center of the cylindrical portion 721 and attached to the rotating portion 711 (see Fig. 17) of the outer reel step motor 710, and spoke portions 722 connecting this central contact portion 723 and the opening portion on the cylindrical portion 721 closer to the third pattern display device 42. Also, as shown in Fig. 38, the inner reel 740 has a central contact portion 743a located at the cylindrical center of the inner reel film 741 and attached to the rotating portion 731 (see Fig. 17) of the inner reel step motor 730, and spoke portions 743 connecting this central contact portion 743a and the opening portion on the inner reel film 741 closer to the third pattern display device 42.

[0330] The inner reel 740 is a cylindrical reel member, and is fixedly disposed so that the reel design 741a is visible when the outer circumferential surface of the inner reel 740 is viewed. Specifically, the reel design 741a is printed on the outer surface of the inner reel film 741, which is the outer circumferential surface of the inner reel 740, but the reel design 741a may also be printed on the inner surface of the inner reel film 741, which is the inner circumferential surface of the inner reel 740, as long as the reel design 741a is visible when the outer circumferential surface is viewed.

[0331] Furthermore, the above-mentioned third pattern display device 42 corresponds to the image display means, the above-mentioned reel display window 410 corresponds to the viewing portion, the above-mentioned inner reel 740 corresponds to the display member, the reel unit 600 corresponds to the pattern variation display means, the above-mentioned right side panel 606 corresponds to the wall described later, the LED 773 of the above-mentioned inner reel control board 770 corresponds to the oblique light irradiation means described later, and the above-mentioned left side panel 605 corresponds to the light-shielding wall portion described later.

[0332] Furthermore, the outer reel 720 described above corresponds to the outer reel member described later, the inner reel 740 described above corresponds to the inner reel member described later, the step motor 710 for the outer reel described above corresponds to the first motor described later, the step motor for the inner reel described above corresponds to the second motor described later, the rotating portion 711 of the step motor 710 for the outer reel described above corresponds to the rotating portion of the first motor described later, the rotating portion 731 of the step motor 730 for the inner reel described above corresponds to the rotating portion of the second motor described later, the central abutment portion 723 described above corresponds to the rotation center of the outer reel member described later, the central abutment portion 743a described above corresponds to the rotation center of the inner reel member described later, the spoke portion 722 described above corresponds to the connecting portion of the outer reel member described later, and the spoke portion 743 described above corresponds to the connecting portion of the inner reel member described later.

[0333] As described above, according to the pachinko machine 10 of the sixth embodiment, there is provided a third pattern display device 42 that displays on a display screen a variable display image of the third patterns (main decorative patterns SZ and sub-decorative patterns FZ) in a plurality of rows L, M, R shown in FIG. 10, which indicates whether or not a game state advantageous to the player has occurred, and a reel display window 410 that is positioned alongside the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 when viewed from the front of the third pattern display device 42. By driving the inner reel 740 having light transparency and on which the reel pattern 741a is fixedly disposed, the reel display window 410 is displayed. The third pattern display device 42 includes a reel unit 600 that displays a variable reel pattern 741a within the reel unit 600, and an LED 773 that is provided at a predetermined location (for example, a location where the reel surface light-emitting device 750 is located and facing the inside of the support member 752) of an in-reel control board 770 that is attached to the right side panel 606 that is farther from the third pattern display device 42 in a front view of the third pattern display device 42, and that irradiates light obliquely onto the back side of the inner reel 740 from a location on the in-reel control board 770 that faces the inside of the support member 752.

[0334] Therefore, the reel unit 600 drives the inner reel 740 relative to the reel display window 410 aligned with the display screen of the third pattern display device 42, thereby variably displaying the reel pattern 741a within the reel display window 410. The LED 773 is provided at a predetermined location (for example, a location facing the inside of the support member 752 where the reel surface light-emitting device 750 is located) of an inner-reel control board 770 attached to the right side panel 606 farther from the display screen of the reel unit 600 aligned with the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 when viewed from the front. Light is obliquely irradiated onto the back side of the inner reel 740 from a location facing the inside of the support member 752 on the inner-reel control board 770, and the light obliquely transmitted through the inner reel 740 (see the two-dot chain arrow in FIG. 38) is directed toward the front of the display screen of the third pattern display device 42. In other words, it is directed toward the player positioned in the front location. Therefore, even if the reel unit 600 produces a light-emitting effect on the inner reel 740 surface when the player's line of sight is directed toward the display screen of the third pattern display device 42, light that passes through this inner reel 740 surface at an angle is emitted toward the player. In other words, since this emitted light is light that shines in from an oblique direction, unlike light from the display screen of the third pattern display device 42, the player can easily sense the light emitted from the inner reel 740 surface directed toward him or her, and can easily notice the light-emitting effect of the inner reel 740. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to change the reel unit 600 to an oblique position so that the inner reel 740 surface faces the player, there is no need to cause problems such as dead space occurring between the third pattern display device 42 and the reel unit 600 due to an oblique position, or the problem of the reel unit 600 occupying a larger width when viewed from the front of the gaming machine due to the oblique position.

[0335] Furthermore, since the reel display window 410 is located closer to the player than position P1 of the display screen when viewed from the front of the display screen of the third pattern display device 42, the difference in front-to-back positional relationship between the reel display window 410 being located closer to the display screen and the light from the inner reel 740 being located closer to the player is light that shines in at an angle to the player, making it easier for the player to distinguish the light that passes obliquely through the inner reel 740 from the light from the display screen. Furthermore, since the surface of the inner reel 740 that emits light within the reel display window 410 is located closer to the player than position P1 of the display screen, the attenuation (propagation loss) of the light that passes obliquely through the inner reel 740 until it reaches the player can be reduced, and an LED (light-emitting diode) or the like can be used as the light source.

[0336] Furthermore, when viewed from the front of the third pattern display device 42, the left side panel 605 located on the side of the reel unit 600 closer to the third pattern display device 42 can separate the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 from the reel unit 600, thereby reducing light from the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 from entering the inside of the reel unit 600 and light from the reel unit 600 from being directed toward the display screen of the third pattern display device 42. As a result, in a configuration in which the reel display window 410 juxtaposed with the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 is located closer to the player than the display screen, mutual interference of light between the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 and the reel unit 600 can be reduced, and the variable display image on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42 and the fluctuation of the reel pattern 741a in the reel display window 410 can be provided to the player without mutual interference.

[0337] In addition, the inner reel 740 has a cylindrical shape in which the reel pattern 741a is fixedly arranged so that it can be seen when looking at its outer surface, and its central abutment portion 743a is connected by spoke portion 743 to the opening portion of the inner reel film 741 on the side closer to the third pattern display device 42, so that an opening can be secured on the side of the inner reel 740 farther from the third pattern display device 42. Therefore, light from an LED 773 provided at a predetermined location (for example, the location where the reel surface light-emitting device 750 is located and facing the inside of the support member 752) of the reel internal control board 770 attached to the right side panel 606 (see Figure 17) located farther from the third pattern display device 42 in the reel unit 600 can be irradiated obliquely through the opening on the far side of the inner reel 740 onto the inner surface location of the inner reel 740 located at the reel display window 410, and the oblique light irradiated onto the inner surface location of the inner reel 740 is not blocked or obstructed by any component when the inner reel 740 rotates, so that the light that passes obliquely through the inner reel 740 can be suitably emitted towards the player.

[0338] Furthermore, the outer reel 720 and inner reel 740 that make up the double reel structure are each cylindrical in shape, and their central abutment portions 723, 743a are connected to the opening locations on the side closer to the third pattern display device 42 by spoke portions 722, 743, respectively, so that openings can be secured on the sides of the outer reel 720 and inner reel 740 that are farther from the third pattern display device 42. Therefore, light from the LED 773 provided on the reel internal control board 770 attached to the right side panel 606 (see Figure 17) located farther from the third pattern display device 42 in the reel unit 600 can be irradiated obliquely onto the inner surface portion of the inner reel 740 located at the reel display window 410 through the openings on the far side of the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740, and the oblique light irradiated onto the inner surface portion of the inner reel 740 is not blocked or obstructed by any parts when the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 rotate, so that it can be irradiated stably onto the inner surface portion of the inner reel 740, and the light that passes obliquely through the outer reel 720 and the inner reel 740 can be suitably emitted towards the player.

[0339] In addition, the reel unit 600 is provided with a step motor 710 for the outer reel on the left side plate 605 closer to the third pattern display device 42, and a step motor 730 for the inner reel on the right side plate 606 farther from the third pattern display device 42, so that the step motor 710 for the outer reel and the step motor 730 for the inner reel can be arranged opposite each other, thereby improving the weight balance of the reel unit 600.

[0340] As shown in FIG. 39, the reel unit 600 may be configured such that a light guide lens 751B is provided on the support member 752. The light guide lens 751B has an opposing surface 751b facing the back side of the inner reel 740 and an inclined surface 751c that diagonally irradiates light onto the back side of the inner reel 740. Even with a configuration including such an inclined surface 751c, light can be diagonally irradiated onto the back side of the inner reel 740. That is, the emitted light indicated by the two-dot chain arrow in FIG. 39 is light that is incident from an oblique direction, unlike light from the display screen of the third pattern display device 42. This makes it easier for a player to sense the emitted light from the surface of the inner reel 740 that is directed toward the player, and thus makes it easier for the player to notice the light-emitting effects of the inner reel 740.

[0341] In addition, an arcuate surface may be used instead of inclined surface 751c, in which case the boundary between opposing surface 751b and inclined surface 751c can be blurred.

[0342] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and other configurations that provide similar effects may be used, and for example, modifications can be made as follows.

[0343] <1> In the above-described first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 17, the light guide lens 751 is employed in the reel surface light-emitting device 750 located inside the inner reel 740, but as shown in Fig. 40(a), for example, a lens component 860 (e.g., a condenser lens) may be disposed at a location on the back surface of the inner reel 740 corresponding to the specific symbol 862 so that light from the LED 761 is incident even when the location behind the specific symbol 862 does not directly face the LED 761. In Fig. 40(a), four dashed line locations shown along the front side of the inner reel 740 indicate locations where the reel symbol 741a is displayed, and the specific symbol 862 among these reel symbols 741a is assigned a symbol. As shown in Figure 40(a), when viewed from the side of the reel unit 600, even when the specific pattern 862 is located between the LEDs 761 arranged in the vertical direction, the lens component 860 can focus the light, causing the specific pattern 862 of the inner reel 740 to emit light uniformly as it moves across the reel display window 410.

[0344] 40(b), an annular light guide lens 864 having a size that matches the back surface of the inner reel 740 may be disposed on the back surface of the inner reel 740. In FIG. 40(b), four dashed lines along the front surface of the inner reel 740 indicate the locations where the reel symbols 741a are displayed. Light from the LEDs 761 enters the annular light guide lens 864, and is diffused within the light guide lens 864, so that at least the light is emitted toward the location of the inner reel 740 that corresponds to the reel display window 410. Therefore, each reel symbol 741a can be illuminated uniformly as it moves across the reel display window 410.

[0345] 41, a configuration may be adopted in which the LED mounting board 760 moves so that the LED 761 maintains a position facing the specific symbol 862 on the back surface of the inner reel 740. As shown in FIG. 41(a), the LED 761 faces the position facing the specific symbol 862 on the back surface of the inner reel 740. Then, as shown in FIG. 41(b), when the inner reel 740 rotates, the LED mounting board 760 also moves to follow the specific symbol 862 on the inner reel 740. In this case, too, the specific symbol 862 on the inner reel 740 can be made to emit light uniformly while the specific symbol 862 moves across the reel display window 410. In addition, before the specific pattern 862 on the inner reel 740 returns to the reel display window 410 again, the LED 761 is temporarily turned off and returned to the state shown in Figure 41 (a), and the LED mounting board 760 is then moved in response to the specific pattern 862 being displayed again in the reel display window 410.

[0346] <2> In each of the above-described embodiments, the dual reel unit 700 is used, but a single reel that displays symbols on the reel surface in a variable manner or a single reel that displays symbols in segments may also be used.

[0347] <3> In the above-described third embodiment, as shown in Figures 26(c) and (d), the light-shielding area 726 of the outer reel 720 is positioned within the reel display window 410A, and segment display is described using the central segment 727 within the reel display window 410A, the vertically oriented reel segments 440, and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450. However, it is also possible to stop light emission from the reel surface light-emitting device 750 to darken the inside of the reel display window 410A, and perform segment light-emitting display using only the peripheral segments 440, 450 of the reel unit 600A.

[0348] In this case, under normal circumstances, light from the reel surface light-emitting device 750 is irradiated from the back side of each reel unit 600A onto the area of the outer reel 720 and inner reel 740 located within the reel display window 410A, causing the patterns located in the reel display window 410A of the outer reel 720 and inner reel 740 to emit light, allowing the player to focus on the changing display of the patterns by each reel unit 600A.

[0349] 26(c) and 26(d), the left and right reel units 600A are slid to positions (separate positions) away from the central reel unit 600A so that the adjacent intervals between the reel segment display portions 800 are increased, allowing the player to focus on the segment displays made up of the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450 of each reel unit 600A. For example, a segment light emitting display may be used in which a win is indicated when all of the vertically oriented reel segments 440 and the horizontally oriented reel segments 450 are lit, and a loss is indicated when at least some of them are unlit. Furthermore, by separating the vertically oriented reel segments 440 adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction of each reel unit 600A in the arrangement direction, the vertically oriented reel segments 440 of each reel unit 600A can be easily distinguished from each other.

[0350] <4> In the above-described embodiments, a 7-segment display is used, but a 14-segment display or a dot matrix display may also be used.

[0351] <5> In the above-described first embodiment, the background portion 741b, which is the entire area of the inner reel 740 other than the reel symbol 741a, is transparent. However, it is also possible to make only a portion of the inner reel 740 other than the reel symbol 741a transparent.

[0352] <6> In the above-mentioned Example 5, as shown in FIG. 34, the third pattern display device 42 has the same (for example, downward) changing direction of the third patterns (main decorative pattern SZ and secondary decorative pattern FZ) of multiple columns (left decorative pattern column L, center decorative pattern column M, and right decorative pattern column R). However, for example, in a first case where the changing direction of the third patterns of multiple columns is not the same (the changing direction of the third patterns differs depending on the column), or in a second case where a first changing display mode (for example, a changing display in which the identification information is displayed large and rotates) is used during a predetermined changing display, and a second changing display mode different from the first changing display mode (a changing display in which the identification information of multiple columns changes in a predetermined changing direction) is used during a specific changing display, a changing performance can be performed using an image (a changing display image of the main decorative pattern SZ by the third pattern display device 42) and an actual object (a changing display of the reel pattern 741a by the inner reel 740).

[0353] In the first case, the reel display window 410 is located next to a specific variable area among the variable areas for multiple columns based on the identification information of the columns on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42, and by making it approximately the same size as the length in the variable direction of this specific variable area, a variable performance can be performed using an image (the variable display image of the main decorative pattern SZ by the third pattern display device 42) and a physical object (the variable display of the reel pattern 741a by the inner reel 740).

[0354] In the second case, in the case of a predetermined variation display (for example, a reach variation display without a drum reach effect), a first variation display mode (for example, a variation display in which only a plurality of (for example, three) third symbols are displayed large and they rotate) is displayed on the display screen of the third symbol display device 42, and in the case of a specific variation display (for example, a super reach variation display with a drum reach effect), a second variation display mode (a plurality of (for example, three) third symbols are displayed in a predetermined variation direction (for example, Even in the case where the display is a variable display that changes in a direction (for example, from top to bottom), the reel display window 410 is positioned next to a specific variable area (for example, the variable area in the rightmost column) among the three columns of variable areas on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42, and is made approximately the same size as the length of the variable direction of this specific variable area, so that a variable performance can be performed using an image (the variable display image of the main decorative pattern SZ by the third pattern display device 42) and a physical object (the variable display of the reel pattern 741a by the inner reel 740).

[0355] <7> In the above-mentioned Example 5, the inner reel 740 is fixedly provided with a reel pattern 741a that has the same appearance as the main decorative pattern SZ displayed on the display screen of the third pattern display device 42, but it is also possible to provide a fixed reel pattern 741a that has the same content as the main decorative pattern SZ even if it has a different appearance (for example, one that is the same in that it shows the same numbers).

[0356] <8> In the above-described embodiments, the reel units 600, 600A, 600B according to the embodiments are described as being used in a pachinko machine, but they may also be used in other types of gaming machines such as a slot machine.

[0357] For example, the present invention may be implemented in various types of gaming machines (e.g., Type 1, Type 3, etc.), or in pachinko machines and the like of types different from those in the above-described embodiments. For example, the present invention may be implemented as a pachinko machine (commonly referred to as a two-time right machine or a three-time right machine) in which, once a jackpot is hit, the expected value of the jackpot increases until multiple jackpot states (e.g., two or three times) occur, including the first jackpot. Furthermore, the present invention may be implemented as a pachinko machine in which a specific gaming state is entered when a ball enters a predetermined winning slot after a jackpot symbol is displayed. Furthermore, the present invention may be implemented as various gaming machines other than pachinko machines, such as arranged ball pachinko machines, mahjong ball machines, and gaming machines that combine a pachinko machine and a slot machine.

[0358] A specific example of a gaming machine that combines a pachinko machine and a slot machine is one that has a variable display means that displays a variable sequence of symbols consisting of multiple symbols and then determines the symbols, but does not have a handle for shooting balls. In this case, after a predetermined number of gaming balls are inserted based on a predetermined operation (button operation), the symbols start to change due to, for example, the operation of an operating lever, and the symbol change is stopped due to, for example, the operation of a stop button or after a predetermined time has passed, and if the determined symbol at the time of the change is a so-called jackpot symbol, a jackpot state advantageous to the player is generated, and a large number of balls are paid out to the player in a tray at the bottom.

[0359] This specification also discloses the following invention relating to a gaming machine.

[0360] <1st assignment> A typical example of a conventional gaming machine is a slot machine. This slot machine includes, for example, a front door with a transparent viewing portion (e.g., a viewing window) formed in a portion thereof, a housing whose front opening is closed by the front door, three reels arranged side by side within the housing, each of which has a generally cylindrical outer shape and has symbols displayed in a circumferential order on its outer surface, and rotation mechanisms for rotating the three reels about the center of the cylinder as a rotation axis, so that the face of each reel located in the viewing window is visible to a player through the viewing window. Furthermore, the reels are equipped with backlight LEDs (light-emitting diodes) on their insides near the viewing windows that emit light toward the backs of the reels, so that the stopped symbols located in the viewing windows of the reels that have stopped spinning are brightly displayed (see, for example, Patent Document: JP 2010-162152 A (pp. 4-11, Figs. 1-6)).

[0361] However, the conventional example having such a configuration has the following problems. That is, in conventional slot machines, for example, the display portion (e.g., symbols) located in the viewing window of a display member (e.g., a reel) that has stopped rotating is brightly displayed so that the stopped symbols are easy to see, but for example, the symbols on the reel in a slow-spinning state before the rotation stops are displayed with different brightness depending on the reel rotation position. In other words, when the symbols on the slowly spinning reel are in a position facing the backlight LED, they are displayed brightly, and when they are in a position away from that position, they are displayed darkly. Therefore, there is a problem that the symbols moving within the viewing window are unevenly lit, making it difficult to see the symbols displayed on the spinning reel.

[0362] The following invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a gaming machine that can easily display a display section that moves within the visible area of a driven display member.

[0363] (A1) a light-transmitting display member on which a plurality of display portions are arranged; a visual confirmation section disposed in front of the display member such that at least one of the plurality of display sections is visible; a driving means for driving the display member so that the plurality of display sections are displayed in a variable manner in a predetermined order via the visual confirmation section; an illumination means for irradiating a rear surface side of the display unit, which is driven by the driving means and moves within the visible portion of the display member, with light throughout the movement process; a change means for changing the light irradiation intensity of the display unit so as to reduce a difference between the light irradiation intensity of the display unit and each of the positions of the display unit when the display unit is located at each of the positions of the display unit within the visual confirmation section; A gaming machine characterized by comprising:

[0364] According to the invention described in (A1) above, the illumination means illuminates the back side of the display unit that moves within the visible portion of the display member driven by the drive means with light throughout the movement process. The change means changes the light illumination intensity of the display unit so as to reduce the difference between the light illumination intensity of the display unit at each of the movement positions of the display unit within the visible portion when the display unit is located at each of these movement positions. This makes it possible to reduce unevenness in the light illumination of the display unit that moves within the visible portion or to make it light up uniformly throughout the movement process. Thus, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can easily display the display unit that moves within the visible portion of the driven display member.

[0365] The variable positions include the final stop position where the display unit is displayed in a final stop state within the visual confirmation area, and each position within the visual confirmation area other than the final stop position. More specifically, they include the final stop position within the visual confirmation area, each position within the visual confirmation area up to the final stop position, and each position within the visual confirmation area past the final stop position and beyond the visual confirmation area. For example, in the case where three display units are displayed in a final stop state within the visual confirmation area, the variable positions include the upper final stop position, middle final stop position, and lower final stop position within the visual confirmation area where these three display units are displayed in a final stop state, and each position between these upper, middle, and lower final stop positions.

[0366] Examples of the change means include a configuration that changes the light irradiation intensity of the display unit when the display unit is located at a predetermined position within the viewing unit so that it approaches the light irradiation intensity of the display unit when the display unit is located at each position other than the predetermined position within the viewing unit, and a configuration that makes the light irradiation intensity of the display unit the same for each position when the display unit is located at a predetermined position within the viewing unit and each position other than the predetermined position.

[0367] Specifically, examples of the change means include a configuration that uniformly irradiates light within the viewing area of the display element driven by the driving means, and a configuration that irradiates light in accordance with the display element as it fluctuates within the viewing area of the display element driven by the driving means.

[0368] (A2) In the gaming machine described in (A1), a color display member in which incident light from the irradiation means is transmitted and emitted to the rear side of the display member, at least one of the incident surface, the exit surface, and a transmission surface therebetween is a predetermined color, and the color display member has a size corresponding to the visual recognition portion; At least a part of the display member other than the display portion is transparent. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0369] According to the invention described in (A2) above, the color display member is transparent to incident light from the illumination means, and at least one of the entrance surface, exit surface, or transmission surface therebetween is a predetermined color. This allows the illumination means on the back side of the display member to be hidden from direct view. Furthermore, since the color display member is sized to correspond to the visible area, it is only necessary to apply a predetermined color to the color display member corresponding to the minimum necessary range of the visible area, and light of that color can be emitted within the visible area of the display member. Furthermore, since at least a portion of the display member other than the display area is transparent, there is no need to apply a predetermined background color to that transparent area. Furthermore, if the entire display member other than the display area is transparent, the process of applying a predetermined background color to the entire display member other than the display area can be eliminated. Furthermore, light of the desired color can be emitted uniformly to the display unit that moves within the visible area of the driven display member. Furthermore, since there is no need to provide color display sections (to hide the light source from direct view) between each display unit in the display member, the gap between the display units in the display member can be reduced.

[0370] (A3) In the gaming machine described in (A1) or (A2), a light-emitting section disposed at a predetermined location around the visual confirmation section when the visual confirmation section is viewed from the front, or at a predetermined location on the periphery of the rear surface of a portion of the display member located within the visual confirmation section when the visual confirmation section is viewed from the front; a control means for controlling a specific display unit among the plurality of display units, which is varied within the visual confirmation unit and then stops varying, in combination with the light-emitting unit to form and display predetermined symbol information; A gaming machine characterized by comprising:

[0371] According to the invention described in (A3) above, the specific display part that fluctuates within the visible area can be made to emit light with reduced unevenness in light emission or made to emit light uniformly during the fluctuating process, so that misinterpretation of the formation and display of specific symbol information can be reduced by combining the specific display part that fluctuates within the visible area with light-emitting parts at predetermined locations around the visible area or light-emitting parts arranged at predetermined locations on the periphery of the back side of the part of the display member that is located within the visible area. This "symbol information" is information to the player about the content or circumstances of the game, and includes letters, numbers, signs, marks, etc. that are used to represent certain content.

[0372] Furthermore, in the case of a configuration in which predetermined symbol information is formed and displayed by combining a specific display unit that changes within the visible portion with an illuminating unit arranged at a predetermined location on the periphery of the back side of the portion of the display member that is located within the visible portion, the specific display unit and the illuminating unit are contained within the area of the display member that is located within the visible portion when the visible portion is viewed from the front, so that a variable display can be made by the specific display unit and the illuminating unit while maintaining the area of the display member without expanding it.

[0373] Examples of the display of predetermined symbol information formed by the combination of the specific display portion and the light emitting portion described above include a multi-segment display (for example, a 7-segment display) and a dot matrix display.

[0374] (A4) In the gaming machine described in (A3), the display member includes a front display member located on the near side when the visual recognition unit is viewed from the front, and a rear display member located on the rear side of the front display member, the rear display member has the plurality of display units arranged thereon, the front display member includes a transparent region where the display unit provided on the rear display member is visible, a light-shielding region where the display unit provided on the rear display member is invisible, and the specific display unit having light transparency and surrounded by the light-shielding region, the drive means includes a first drive means for driving the front display member and a second drive means for driving the rear display member; The control means drives and controls the front display member so that the transparent region is located in the visible region when the variable display of the plurality of display sections of the rear display member is visually recognized, and also drives and controls the rear display member, and drives and controls the front display member so that the light-shielding region is located in the visible region when the variable display of the specific display section is visually recognized, and also controls the light-emitting section to emit light. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0375] According to the invention described in (A4) above, by positioning the transparent region of the front display member in the visible portion and driving the rear display member, the display portion of the rear display member can be displayed variably via the transparent region. Also, by positioning the light-shielding region of the front display member in the visible portion and controlling the light emission of the light-emitting portion, the display portion of the rear display member can be hidden by the light-shielding region of the front display member, and the variable display can be displayed easily by the specific display portion of the light-shielding region of the front display member and the light-emitting portions located at predetermined locations around this light-shielding region.

[0376] (A5) In the gaming machine described in (A4), a predetermined display portion among the plurality of display portions on the rear display member is a bright display portion, at least a portion of which has a higher light transmittance than any other portion of the display portion; The control means controls and drives the rear display member so that the bright light display portion is located on the rear side of the specific display portion in the light-blocking region of the front display member. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0377] According to the invention described in (A5) above, at least a portion of a predetermined bright light display portion among the plurality of display portions on the rear display member has a higher light transmittance than any other portion of the display portion, and therefore can be displayed brighter than the other display portions. Therefore, when the transparent region of the front display member is located in the visible portion and the variable display of the plurality of display portions on the rear display member is visible, it can be used for the timing operation when the player operates the stop operation means to stop the drive of the rear display member.

[0378] Furthermore, when the light-shielding area of the front display member is located in the visible area and the variable display of the specific display unit that is part of this light-shielding area is made visible, the bright light display unit is located on the back side of the specific display unit in the light-shielding area of the front display member, so the specific display unit can be displayed brighter than when a display unit other than the bright light display unit is located on the back side of the specific display unit.

[0379] (A6) In the gaming machine described in any one of (A3) to (A5), the light-emitting unit includes a plurality of light sources arranged at the predetermined peripheral location or the predetermined peripheral edge location around or along the periphery of the display member, the illumination means includes a plurality of light sources arranged in the specific display unit along its length when the visual recognition unit is viewed from the front, The light sources in the light emitting unit and the irradiation means are controlled to be turned on, off or blink in a predetermined order so that the light sources start from one of the plurality of starting ends along the ladder-like path formed by the light emitting unit and the specific display unit and move to one of the plurality of arrival ends without passing through the same path again. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0380] According to the invention described in (A6) above, when the visual confirmation section is viewed from the front, the plurality of light sources arranged at predetermined locations around or on the periphery of the display member and the plurality of light sources arranged along the specific display section are turned on, turned off or blinking in a predetermined order so that the light sources start from one of the plurality of starting ends and move to one of the plurality of arrival ends along the ladder-like path formed by the light-emitting section and the specific display section, never passing through the same path twice. This makes it possible to provide a display mode in which the light sources that are turned on, turned off or blinking move along the ladder-like path formed by the light-emitting section and the specific display section like a maze.

[0381] (A7) In the gaming machine described in any one of (A1) to (A6), The gaming machine is a pachinko machine.

[0382] The gaming machine described in (A7) above can provide a pachinko machine that can easily display a display unit that moves within the visible portion of the driven display member. The basic configuration of a pachinko machine includes an operating handle, and a ball serving as a gaming medium is launched into a predetermined gaming area in response to operation of the operating handle. The ball must enter an operating port (or pass through an operating gate) located at a predetermined position within the gaming area, and the dynamically displayed identification information (such as a symbol) on the display device is fixed and stopped after a predetermined time. Furthermore, when a specific gaming state occurs, a variable winning means (specific winning port) located at a predetermined position within the gaming area opens in a predetermined manner, allowing the ball to enter, and a valuable value (including not only prize balls but also data written to a magnetic card) is awarded according to the number of winning balls.

[0383] (A8) In the gaming machine described in any one of (A1) to (A6), The gaming machine is a slot machine.

[0384] The gaming machine described in (A8) above can provide a slot machine that can easily display a display that changes within the visible portion of the driven display member. The basic configuration of the slot machine is "a gaming machine equipped with variable display means that dynamically displays a sequence of identification information consisting of a plurality of identification information and then definitively displays the identification information, and which includes special game state generating means that starts the dynamic display of the identification information upon operation of a start operating means (e.g., an operating lever), stops the dynamic display of the identification information upon operation of a stop operating means (e.g., a stop button) or after a predetermined time has elapsed, and generates a special game state advantageous to the player, provided that the definitive identification information at the time of stopping is a specific identification information." In this case, typical examples of gaming media include coins, medals, etc.

[0385] <Second assignment> A typical example of a conventional gaming machine is a slot machine. This slot machine includes, for example, a front door with a transparent viewing portion (e.g., a viewing window) formed in a portion thereof, a housing whose front opening is closed by the front door, three reels arranged side by side within the housing, each of which has a substantially cylindrical outer shape and has symbols displayed in a circumferential order on its outer surface, and rotation mechanisms for rotating the three reels about the center of the cylinder as a rotation axis, so that the face of each reel located in the viewing window can be seen by a player through the viewing window (see, for example, Patent Document: JP 2010-162152 A (pages 4-10, figures 1-4)).

[0386] However, the conventional example having such a configuration has the following problems. That is, in conventional slot machines, for example, patterns change by spinning each reel, but in order to further increase the entertainment value of the game, when a configuration is made in which each reel is provided with a light-emitting display unit (for example, a segment display unit) configured by arranging divided light-emitting units (for example, segments) around the periphery of the reel (for example, a total of four units above, below, left, and right) when looking at the viewing window from the front, a new problem is anticipated in which, because the segments located between adjacent reels are close to each other, adjacent segments in the reel arrangement direction (horizontal direction) may be mistaken for a single segment, or the individual segment display units may be indistinguishable. In other words, there is a problem in that the display (segment display) of the divided light-emitting units by each light-emitting display unit (each segment display unit) is difficult to see.

[0387] The following invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a gaming machine in which the display of the divided light-emitting sections by each light-emitting display section is easy to see.

[0388] (B1) a display means in which a plurality of display members, each having a plurality of display units arranged in a predetermined direction, are arranged side by side; a visual confirmation section in which a part of each display member of the display means is arranged so as to be visible; a driving means for driving each of the display members so that the plurality of display sections are displayed in a variable manner in a predetermined order via the visual confirmation section; Each light-emitting display unit for each display member is configured by disposing a segmented light-emitting unit at least in a portion adjacent to the display member among the peripheral or edge portions of each area portion located within the visual confirmation unit for each display member when the visual confirmation unit is viewed from the front; a displacement driving means for displacing a predetermined display member so that, when a predetermined light-emitting display is performed by each of the light-emitting display sections, an adjacent interval between the light-emitting display sections is increased or a front-to-back positional relationship between at least one of the light-emitting display sections is changed; and A gaming machine characterized by comprising:

[0389] According to the invention described in (B1) above, within the visible portion, each region of each of the display members arranged side by side and each light-emitting display portion formed by arranging the segmented light-emitting portions around each region are positioned so as to be visible. When each light-emitting display portion performs a predetermined light-emitting display, the displacement drive means drives the predetermined display member to displace so as to increase the distance between adjacent light-emitting display portions or to change the front-to-back positional relationship of at least one of the light-emitting display portions. This makes it possible to move adjacent segmented light-emitting portions apart in the line-up direction or in the front-to-back direction, making it easier to distinguish the light-emitting display portions of each display member from one another and making the display of the segmented light-emitting portions by each light-emitting display portion easier to see.

[0390] In addition, examples of methods for displacing and driving a specified display member so as to increase the adjacent spacing between each of the aforementioned light-emitting display units include relatively translating at least one of the adjacent display members or rotating at least one of the adjacent display members so as to increase the adjacent spacing between each of the light-emitting display units.

[0391] Furthermore, when the front-to-back positional relationship of at least one of the light-emitting display units is changed, the width of each display member in the arrangement direction is not expanded, so the width of the display means can be maintained without being expanded, and the display of the divided light-emitting units by each light-emitting display unit can also be made easier to see.

[0392] (B2) In the gaming machine described in (B1), The display member is light-transmitting, The gaming machine includes: an illumination means for irradiating light onto each area portion located within the visual recognition portion of each of the display members from the back side thereof; an illumination control means for controlling the illumination means to stop emitting light when a predetermined display member is displaced so as to increase the distance between adjacent light-emitting display units or to change the front-to-back positional relationship of at least one of the light-emitting display units; A gaming machine characterized by comprising:

[0393] According to the invention described in (B2) above, light is irradiated from the back side of each area located within the visible portion of each display member, so that each area of each display member emits light, allowing the player to focus on the changing display of the display member by each display member. Moreover, instead of this state, if the adjacent intervals between each light-emitting display unit are increased or the front-to-back positional relationship of at least one of the light-emitting display units is changed, the irradiation of light to each area is stopped by the irradiation control means, so that each area becomes dark, allowing the player to focus on the light-emitting display unit of each display member, and by separating both divided light-emitting units adjacent in the arranging direction of the display member in the arranging direction or in the front-to-back direction, the light-emitting display units of each display member can be easily distinguished from one another.

[0394] (B3) In the gaming machine described in (B1), The display member includes a light-transmitting region in which the plurality of display units are arranged, and a light-shielding region that is formed longer than the width of the display units in the viewing portion in the movement direction and that shields the periphery of a light-transmitting specific display unit, The gaming machine includes: an illumination means for irradiating light onto each area portion located within the visual recognition portion of each of the display members from the back side thereof; a control means for controlling the driving means so that the light-blocking region of the display member is positioned within the visible portion when a predetermined display member is displaced by the displacement driving means so that the adjacent intervals of the light-emitting display sections are increased or the front-to-back positional relationship of at least one of the light-emitting display sections is changed, and for controlling the lighting means and the light-emitting display sections so that the specific display section of the light-blocking region positioned within the visible portion and the light-emitting display section perform a predetermined variable display; A gaming machine characterized by comprising:

[0395] According to the invention described in (B3) above, the illumination means illuminates the back side of each area portion located within the visible portion of each display element, causing each area portion of each display element to emit light, allowing the player to focus on the changing display of the display element by each display element.

[0396] Furthermore, instead of the variable display of the display units by each of the above-mentioned display members, if the adjacent spacing of each of the light-emitting display units is increased or the front-to-back positional relationship of at least one of the light-emitting display units is changed, the control means drives and controls the drive means, so that the light-shielding area of the display unit and the specific display unit are positioned within the visible area, and the control means controls the illumination of the lighting means and the light-emitting display unit, allowing the player to focus on the specified variable display by the specific display unit of each area portion and the light-emitting display unit of each display member, and by separating the two segment light-emitting units adjacent in the arrangement direction of the display member in the arrangement direction or in the front-to-back direction, it becomes easier to distinguish the light-emitting display unit of each display member from the other.

[0397] The predetermined variable display by the specific display portion and the light-emitting display portion described above may be a multi-segment display (for example, a seven-segment display) or a dot matrix display.

[0398] (B4) In the gaming machine described in any one of (B1) to (B3), The gaming machine is a pachinko machine.

[0399] The gaming machine described in (B4) above can provide a pachinko machine that can. The basic configuration of a pachinko machine includes an operating handle, and a ball as a gaming medium is launched into a predetermined gaming area in response to operation of the operating handle. The necessary condition is that the ball enters an operating port (or passes through an operating gate) located at a predetermined position within the gaming area, and the identification information (such as a design) dynamically displayed on the display device is fixed and stopped after a predetermined time. Furthermore, when a specific gaming state occurs, a variable winning means (specific winning port) located at a predetermined position within the gaming area opens in a predetermined manner, allowing the ball to enter, and a valuable value (including not only prize balls but also data written to a magnetic card) is awarded according to the number of winning balls.

[0400] (B5) In the gaming machine described in any one of (B1) to (B3), The gaming machine is a slot machine.

[0401] According to the gaming machine described in (B5), a slot machine that can do this can be provided. The basic configuration of the slot machine is "a gaming machine that includes variable display means that dynamically displays a sequence of identification information consisting of a plurality of identification information and then definitively displays the identification information, and that includes special game state generating means that starts the dynamic display of the identification information upon operation of a start operating means (e.g., an operating lever), stops the dynamic display of the identification information upon operation of a stop operating means (e.g., a stop button) or after a predetermined time has elapsed, and generates a special game state advantageous to the player, provided that the definitive identification information at the time of the stop is a specific identification information." In this case, typical examples of gaming media include coins, medals, etc.

[0402] <3rd assignment> A typical example of a conventional gaming machine is a slot machine. This slot machine includes, for example, a front door with a transparent viewing portion (e.g., a viewing window) formed in a portion thereof, a housing whose front opening is closed by the front door, three reels arranged side by side within the housing, each of which has a substantially cylindrical outer shape and has symbols displayed in a circumferential order on its outer surface, and rotation mechanisms for rotating the three reels about the center of the cylinder as a rotation axis, so that the face of each reel located in the viewing window can be seen by a player through the viewing window (see, for example, Patent Document: JP 2010-162152 A (pages 4-10, figures 1-4)).

[0403] However, the conventional example having such a configuration has the following problems. In other words, conventional slot machines have the problem that, for example, because the symbols displayed on the reel surfaces are displayed variably by rotating each reel, it is not possible to further improve the entertainment value of the game with respect to the variable display. Also, if a variable display device different from the reels is provided in order to improve the entertainment value of the game with respect to the variable display, not only is there a risk that the player will not know which variable display to look at and may miss the variable display, but there is also another problem in that the device configuration becomes larger due to the provision of this different type of variable display device.

[0404] The following invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a gaming machine that can increase the entertainment value of the game in terms of the variable display without increasing the size of the device configuration.

[0405] (C1) A symbol variably display means for variably displaying symbols within a visual confirmation section by driving a light-transmitting reel member on which a plurality of symbols are arranged relative to the visual confirmation section located in front of the reel member; a light emitting unit disposed at a predetermined location around the visible portion when the visible portion is viewed from the front, or at a predetermined peripheral location on the back side of the reel member at the location of the visible portion; a specific display light emitting means for illuminating a specific display located at a specific location of the reel member and at a predetermined position within the visual confirmation section; a control means for controlling the reel member, the light emitting means, and the specific display light emitting means so that predetermined symbol information is formed and displayed by a combination of the specific display portion in the visual confirmation portion and the light emitting portion; A gaming machine characterized by comprising:

[0406] According to the invention described in (C1) above, when performing a variable display using reel symbols, it is possible to provide a variable display in which the symbols within the visual section change by driving the reel member. Furthermore, predetermined symbol information can be formed and displayed by combining a specific display section located at a specific location on the reel member and a predetermined position within the visual section with a light-emitting section disposed at a predetermined location around the visual section or at a predetermined peripheral location on the back side of the part of the reel member located in the visual section, so that a variable display different from the variable display of reel symbols can be provided, and the entertainment value of the game can be further increased with respect to the variable display.

[0407] Furthermore, since the predetermined symbol information is formed and displayed by a combination of the specific display unit located within the viewing unit and the light-emitting unit located on the outer or inner periphery of the viewing unit, the player can see the predetermined symbol information formed and displayed by the specific display unit and the light-emitting unit while looking at the viewing unit in the same way as when watching normal reel pattern fluctuations, thereby reducing the likelihood of overlooking the formation and display of such symbol information. Furthermore, since the variable display utilizes the specific display unit within the viewing unit, that is, the predetermined symbol information is formed and displayed by the light-emitting unit located on the outer or inner periphery of the viewing unit and the specific display unit within the viewing unit, not only can the symbol information formation and display be realized at a sufficient size, but since no other variable display device of approximately the same size is disposed separately from the pattern variable display means, there is the advantage that the device configuration does not become larger than a configuration in which such another variable display device is disposed separately.

[0408] (C2) In the gaming machine described in (C1), The gaming machine is characterized in that the specific display portion is formed at a predetermined position of a specific symbol among a plurality of symbols on the reel member.

[0409] According to the invention described in (C2) above, a predetermined location of a specific symbol among a plurality of symbols on a reel member is used as a specific display area, so the predetermined location of the specific symbol can be utilized as the specific display area, and it is possible to prevent the arrangement of a dedicated display area unrelated to the reel symbol variation, separate from the plurality of symbols on the reel member. For example, if a dedicated display area were arranged separately from the symbols among the arrangement of a plurality of symbols on the reel member, the separate presence of a dedicated display area unrelated to the symbols could cause a player to feel uncomfortable when the reel symbol variation is displayed. However, since a predetermined location of the specific symbol is utilized as the specific display area, the player is not given the impression that a separate dedicated display area exists, and it is possible to reduce the sense of discomfort felt when the reel symbol variation is displayed.

[0410] (C3) In the gaming machine described in (C1) or (C2), The control means controls the reel member and the specific display unit light-emitting means so that the specific display unit moves within the visible unit and then stops moving at a predetermined position within the visible unit or at a position outside the visible unit.

[0411] According to the invention described in (C3) above, after the specific display unit is changed within the visible unit, it is stopped from changing at a predetermined position within the visible unit or at a position outside the visible unit. Therefore, in addition to the changing display result in which the specific display unit is stopped from changing at a predetermined position within the visible unit and predetermined symbol information is formed and displayed by the combination of the specific display unit and the light-emitting unit, it is possible to provide a changing display in which the specific display unit is stopped from changing outside the visible unit and the changing display result is displayed by the light-emitting unit alone.

[0412] (C4) In the gaming machine described in any one of (C1) to (C3), the reel member has a double reel structure and includes an outer reel member located on the outside and an inner reel member located inside the outer reel member and having light transparency and on which a plurality of symbols are arranged, the outer reel member includes a transparent area through which the symbols on the inner reel member are visible, a light-shielding area through which the symbols on the inner reel member are not visible, and the specific display unit having light transparency and surrounded by the light-shielding area, the symbol variation display means includes first drive means for driving the outer reel member and second drive means for driving the inner reel member; The control means, when visually viewing the variable display of the plurality of symbols on the inner reel member, drives and controls the outer reel member so that the transparent area is located in the visible area, and drives and controls the inner reel member; when visually viewing the variable display by the specific display area and the light-emitting area, drives and controls the outer reel member so that the light-shielding area and the specific display area are located in the visible area, and drives and controls the inner reel member so that a predetermined portion of a specific symbol among the plurality of symbols on the inner reel member faces the specific display area of the outer reel member, and controls the light-emitting area to emit light. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0413] According to the invention described in (C4) above, by positioning the transparent area of the outer reel member in the visible area and driving the inner reel member, the changing patterns of the inner reel member can be displayed through the transparent area. Also, by positioning the light-shielding area and specific display area of the outer reel member in the visible area and controlling the light emission of the light-emitting area, the patterns of the inner reel member can be hidden by the light-shielding area of the outer reel member, and the changing patterns can be displayed easily by the specific display area of the light-shielding area of the outer reel member and the light-emitting areas located at predetermined locations around this light-shielding area.

[0414] (C5) In the gaming machine described in (C4), a predetermined portion of the specific symbol on the inner reel member is a bright light indicating portion having a higher light transmittance than any other portion of the specific symbol; The control means controls the driving of the inner reel member so that the bright light indication portion is located on the back side of the specific indication portion in the light-shielding area portion of the outer reel member. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0415] According to the invention described in (C5) above, the bright light display portion, which is a predetermined portion of a specific symbol on the inner reel member, has a higher light transmittance than any other portion of the other symbols, and can therefore be displayed brighter than the other symbols. Therefore, when the transparent area of the outer reel member is located in the visible portion and the varying display of multiple symbols on the inner reel member is visible, this can be useful for the player's eye-pressing operation when operating the stop operation means to stop the drive of the inner reel member.

[0416] Furthermore, when the light-shielding area of the outer reel member is located in the visible area and the changing display of the specific display section, which is part of this light-shielding area, is made visible, the bright display section is located on the back side of the specific display section in the light-shielding area of the outer reel member, so the specific display section can be displayed brighter than when a pattern other than the bright display section is located on the back side of the specific display section.

[0417] (C6) In the gaming machine according to any one of (C3) to (C5), the light emitting unit includes a plurality of light sources arranged around or along the periphery of the reel member at the predetermined peripheral location or the predetermined periphery location, the specific display light emitting means includes a plurality of light sources arranged in the specific display section along its length when the visual recognition section is viewed from the front, The light sources in the light emitting unit and the specific display unit light emitting means are controlled to be turned on, off or blinking in a predetermined order so that the light sources start from one of the plurality of starting ends along the ladder-like path formed by the light emitting unit and the specific display unit and move to one of the plurality of arrival ends without passing through the same path again. A gaming machine characterized by:

[0418] According to the invention described in (C6) above, when the visual confirmation section is viewed from the front, the plurality of light sources arranged at predetermined locations around or on the periphery of the reel member and the plurality of light sources arranged along the specific display section are turned on, turned off or blinking in a predetermined order so that the light sources start from one of the plurality of starting ends and move to one of the plurality of arrival ends along the ladder-like path formed by the light-emitting section and the specific display section, never passing through the same path again once, thereby providing a display mode in which the light sources that are turned on, turned off or blinking move along the ladder-like path formed by the light-emitting section and the specific display section like a maze.

[0419] (C7) In the gaming machine described in any one of (C1) to (C6), The gaming machine is a pachinko machine.

[0420] The gaming machine described in (C7) above can provide a pachinko machine that can enhance the entertainment value of the game through the variable display without increasing the size of the device configuration. The basic configuration of a pachinko machine includes an operating handle, and a ball as a gaming medium is launched into a predetermined gaming area in response to operation of the operating handle. The ball must enter an operating port (or pass through an operating gate) located at a predetermined position within the gaming area, and the dynamically displayed identification information (such as a symbol) on the display device is fixed and stopped after a predetermined time. Furthermore, when a specific gaming state occurs, a variable winning means (specific winning port) located at a predetermined position within the gaming area opens in a predetermined manner, allowing the ball to enter, and a valuable value (including not only prize balls but also data written to a magnetic card) is awarded according to the number of winning balls.

[0421] (C8) In the gaming machine according to any one of (C1) to (C6), The gaming machine is a slot machine.

[0422] The gaming machine described in (C8) above can provide a slot machine that can enhance the entertainment value of the game with respect to the variable display without increasing the size of the device configuration. The basic configuration of the slot machine is "a gaming machine equipped with variable display means that dynamically displays a sequence of identification information consisting of a plurality of identification information and then displays the identification information in a fixed manner, and which includes special game state generating means that starts the dynamic display of the identification information upon operation of a start operating means (e.g., an operating lever), stops the dynamic display of the identification information upon operation of a stop operating means (e.g., a stop button) or after a predetermined time has elapsed, and generates a special game state advantageous to the player, provided that the fixed identification information at the time of the stop is a specific identification information." In this case, typical examples of gaming media include coins, medals, etc.

[0423] <4th assignment> A typical example of a conventional gaming machine is a pachinko machine. This pachinko machine, for example, includes a gaming board having a gaming area on the front side into which gaming balls are shot, a prize hole disposed in the gaming area of the gaming board and into which the gaming balls can enter, and a liquid crystal display device provided behind the gaming board so that the display screen is positioned in an opening formed in the approximate center of the gaming board, which displays variable identification information based on the winning of a ball into the prize hole. An image of the variable identification information is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device, and when the variable display result indicates a win, the player is placed in a gaming state advantageous to the player (for example, see Patent Document: JP 2003-181070 A (pages 4-5, figures 3-6)).

[0424] However, the conventional example having such a configuration has the following problems. That is, in conventional pachinko machines, a variable display image of the identification information is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device, and the variable display result suggests to the player whether it is a win or a miss. For example, if the variable display result is a miss, and a display effect is executed in which the variable display image is re-variably displayed to change to a win result, the player may feel uncomfortable that the miss has turned into a win, or may develop a distrust for the variable display of the identification information, which creates a problem in that it is not possible to further improve the interest of the game with regard to the variable display.

[0425] The following invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a gaming machine that can increase the entertainment value of the game in terms of the variable display.

[0426] (D1) In a gaming machine equipped with an image display means for displaying on a display screen a variable display image of multiple columns of identification information indicating whether or not a gaming state advantageous to a player has occurred, A visual recognition section is arranged next to a variable area located adjacent to the variable area when in a predetermined variable display state in a display screen portion visible to a player when viewed from the front of the display screen, and has a size corresponding to the variable area; a marking body moving means for moving a marking body on which identification information is fixedly disposed relative to the visual confirmation section, thereby moving and displaying the identification information within the visual confirmation section; a variation effect control means for controlling the notation variation means to display a winning display based on the identification information stopped from varying on the display screen of the image display means and the identification information in the notation variation means, based on the establishment of a predetermined condition; A gaming machine characterized by comprising:

[0427] According to the invention described in (D1) above, a variation effect of a winning display can be produced using an image displayed as a variation stop (a variation display image of the identifiers displayed as a variation stop on the display screen of the image display means) and a physical object (the variation display of the identifiers by the notation of the notation change means). That is, if the result of the variation of the image of the identifiers displayed on the display screen of the image display means is, for example, a missed chance (a state in which the remaining predetermined identifiers on the jackpot determination line have not stopped varying, and therefore the predetermined identifiers are not aligned on the determination line), the variation display of the identifiers by the notation, which is a physical object, is performed, and the predetermined identifiers stop varying at predetermined locations within the visual confirmation section, thereby creating a state in which the predetermined identifiers are aligned. Therefore, since there is no need to unnaturally re-variably display the variation display result of the image display means, the risk of players feeling uncomfortable or distrustful of the variation display of the image display means can be reduced. In addition, when the result of the variable display of the image display means is not a reach, it is possible to provide a variable effect that leads to a jackpot by adding a variable display of identification information by a real notation, while maintaining the variable display image as it is without making any changes to it. As a result, it is possible to further increase the interest of the game in terms of the variable display.

[0428] For example, in a configuration in which a variable display image displaying four columns of identifiers changes is displayed on a display screen, i.e., the display screen starts displaying the variable display of all four columns of identifiers, stops the changes in each column in a predetermined order, and reaches a final stop state in which all four columns stop changing, and a win is determined when three or more columns of identifiers are aligned with predetermined winning identifiers. Even if the identifiers in the first three columns stop changing and a loss is confirmed before the variable display of the fourth column stops, the player must wait for the variable display of the fourth column to stop, which can cause stress for the player. Furthermore, because the player must always look at the variable display of all four columns, the variable display presentation lacks visual variety. In other words, even if a winning result is confirmed when the variables in columns 1 to 3 stop, the player must wait until the variable display of column 4 stops. Even if the winning result is revealed when the variable display of column 4 stops, the four-column variable display remains unchanged, resulting in a variable display presentation lacking visual variety.

[0429] On the other hand, when the predetermined condition is not met, that is, when the variable display image of the identification information on the display screen of the image display means is a win or a simple miss (a miss that does not result in a reach), the actual object does not move, so the player does not have to wait uselessly even though the win or loss result regarding the variable display is known. Furthermore, only when the predetermined condition is met, a variable display of the winning display can be performed using the image displayed in a stopped state (the variable display image of the identification information displayed in a stopped state on the display screen of the image display means) and the actual object (the variable display of the identification information by the notation of the notation changing means), so it is possible to change from displaying only the variable display image to displaying the stopped image and the actual object, and to provide a variable display performance with a different appearance.

[0430] The aforementioned "variable area" is not limited to the area where identification information (for example, a pattern, etc.) is currently displayed variably, but may also be an area that includes at least one of an area for a reserved display related to a game (such as a reserved display for a start winning) or an area for displaying a background image or a decorative image other than identification information. Furthermore, the aforementioned "located next to" means, for example, when there are multiple rows of variable areas for displaying multiple rows of identification information (for example, three rows), being located next to the nearest variable area among the multiple rows of variable areas, or when there is only one row of variable area, being located next to that variable area, and also includes cases where there is a gap from the variable area that is smaller than the width of one piece of identification information, or cases where another member (for example, a decorative member or passage part with a width about the gap) is located between the variable area and the variable area.

[0431] As mentioned above, the visual confirmation portion has a size corresponding to the fluctuation region (which can also be said to be a size suitable for the fluctuation region or a size comparable to the fluctuation region). For example, if multiple fluctuation stop positions for identification information are provided along the fluctuation direction within the fluctuation region, it is preferable that the visual confirmation portion has a size equal to or greater than the size (minimum size) of the range including the identification information stopped at the most upstream fluctuation stop position and the identification information stopped at the most downstream fluctuation stop position, and equal to or less than the minimum size plus the size (maximum size) of the area upstream of the most upstream fluctuation stop position that is smaller than one piece of identification information and the area downstream of the most downstream fluctuation stop position that is smaller than one piece of identification information. The "fluctuation stop position of identification information" may refer to the position where fluctuation stop of identification information occurs on the valid line that determines whether or not the identification information is complete. Furthermore, when there is a single fluctuation stop position for the identification information along the fluctuation direction within the fluctuation area, it is preferable that the visualizing section be of a size that is equal to or greater than the size (minimum size) that includes the identification information that has stopped at that single fluctuation stop position, and is equal to or less than the minimum size plus the area portion upstream of the fluctuation stop position that is smaller than one piece of identification information and the area portion downstream of the fluctuation stop position that is smaller than one piece of identification information (maximum size).

[0432] Furthermore, the above-mentioned "a winning indication is made by the identification information stopped from varying on the display screen of the image display means and the identification information in the notation varying means" can be configured as follows: First, identification information that is identical in appearance or content to the identification information displayed on the display screen of the image display means is fixedly arranged on the notation. Then, if the losing identification information in the varying display image of the identification information showing the losing result displayed on the display screen of the image display means is replaced with winning identification information, the winning indication is made by displaying the identification information of the notation that is identical in appearance or content to this winning identification information in the visual confirmation section.

[0433] (D2) In the gaming machine described in (D1), The gaming machine is characterized in that the notation changing means has one column of identification information on the image display means arranged in a fixed manner on the notation.

[0434] According to the invention described in (D2) above, it is possible to display a variable display image of multiple columns of identification information by the image display means and a variable display of one column of identification information by a physical notation, thereby realizing these two types of variable display. Furthermore, since only a single notation that displays one column of identification information is arranged side by side, only the minimum space required for arranging one notation side by side is required. As a result, it is possible to realize these two types of variable display in a limited space.

[0435] (D3) In the gaming machine described in (D1) or (D2), The gaming machine is characterized in that the identification information is written on the notation in a size approximately the same as that of the identification information displayed on the display screen of the image display means.

[0436] According to the invention described in (D3) above, the identification information is displayed on the notation at a size similar to that of the identification information displayed by the image display means, so that it is possible to provide an easy-to-read display of whether the identification information in the variable display image displayed by the image display means and the identification information displayed by the notation, which is a physical object, are aligned.

[0437] (D4) In the gaming machine described in any one of (D1) to (D3), The image display means displays the identification information that has stopped changing on the display screen and the identification information in the notation changing means, and the image display means displays the identification information that has stopped changing on the display screen and that is related to whether or not it will be a winning display in a relatively more noticeable manner than the identification information other than this identification information, which is different from the highlighting displayed when only the changing display image is used.

[0438] According to the invention described in (D4) above, when the identification information that has stopped changing and the identification information in the notation changing means are displayed on the display screen of the image display means, the identification information that is related to whether or not the display will be a winning display among the identification information that has stopped changing on the display screen of the image display means is highlighted so that it stands out relatively more than identification information other than this identification information, and this highlighting is different from the highlighting in the case of display using only the changing display image, so that it is possible to distinguish between the case of display using only the changing display image and the case of display using the changing display image whose identification information has stopped changing and the identification information in the notation, and to provide the player with the identification information related to whether or not the display will be a winning display.

[0439] In the case of the display using the image and the actual object, since the identification information related to whether or not a winning display will occur is prominently displayed on the display screen of the image display means, it is clear that all the player needs to do is pay attention to the identification information of the notation that has the same appearance or content as this prominently displayed identification information, and the notation changing means can clearly suggest to the player the identification information to pay attention to, and the player can be made to pay attention to whether or not the identification information to pay attention to of the notation stops changing at the change stop point of the visual confirmation part located on the extension line of the arrangement direction of the identification information related to whether or not a winning display will occur. As a result, a changing display of whether or not a new winning display will occur can be provided to the player in an easy-to-understand manner using a part of the changing display image that resulted in a loss on the image display means and the changing display of the identification information by the notation that is an actual object.

[0440] Incidentally, "displaying the identification information related to whether or not a winning display will occur in a relatively conspicuous manner" may include erasing or dimming the identification information other than the identification information related to whether or not a winning display will occur among the identification information whose fluctuation has been stopped on the display screen of the image display means. Also, by increasing the brightness or shortening the blinking interval of the identification information related to whether or not a winning display will occur in the case of displaying the variable display image whose fluctuation has been stopped and the identification information of the notation, compared to the brightness or blinking interval of the identification information related to whether or not a winning display will occur in the case of displaying only the variable display image, it is possible to display and provide these highlighted displays differently.

[0441] Conversely to the above, when the display is made using the identification information stopped from varying on the display screen of the image display means and the identification information in the notation changing means, the highlighting, in which the identification information related to whether or not the identification information will be a winning display among the identification information stopped from varying on the d...

Claims

[Claim 1] A gaming machine equipped with a variable display device capable of displaying a variable display of multiple columns of identification information that indicates whether or not a game state advantageous to a player has occurred based on the establishment of a starting condition, and a performance unit capable of executing a specific performance that is visible to a player in a manner different from the variable display of the identification information, The production unit is a light-transmitting display unit; a drive unit capable of moving at least the display unit in a predetermined direction; a light emitting unit capable of emitting light to at least the display unit, When the light is irradiated to at least the display unit, the light irradiated from the light irradiating unit is configured to be diffused to the front side where the player is positioned, The gaming machine includes: In a situation where the predetermined variable display is being performed and specific identification information among the identification information is displayed so as to be relatively more prominent than identification information other than the specific identification information, a situation can be configured in which the drive unit is controlled in a predetermined manner and the light emitting unit is controlled in a specific manner, and a situation in which the drive unit is not controlled in the predetermined manner and the light emitting unit is not controlled in the specific manner. A gaming machine characterized by:

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