JPH1199240A - Prize-winning line displaying device of game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device which uniformly emits light for displaying prize- winning lines of a game machine in a line shape. SOLUTION: EL(electroluminescence) tapes are fixed on a back side 18a of a front panel 18, on which a symbol displaying window 4 is formed, corresponding to the total of eight prize-winning lines composed of three vertical lines, three horizontal lines, and two diagonal lines. A protective panel 22 is overlapped for incorporating into a panel frame 24, and a holding piece 25 is screwed for integrating. The panel frame 24 is fixed to a front door of a slot machine through a screw 29. Displaying of the prize-winning lines are performed by electroluminescence of the EL tapes 15, which enable observing through the symbol displaying window 4 in conjunction with symbols.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device for a winning line provided in a symbol display window of a slot machine, a pachinko game machine, or another game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-109977 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-19100, when the rotation of a reel is stopped, three symbols are displayed per reel in a symbol display window. In the three-reel type slot machine, a total of five paylines, three horizontal and two diagonal, can be set. Further, as described in JP-A-6-39085, a nine-reel slot machine in which nine reels each displaying one symbol per reel are used and arranged in three rows and three columns is used. A total of eight pay lines can be set by adding three pay lines.

When the rotation of the reels is stopped, the symbols displayed by the respective reels are combined according to the above-mentioned winning line, and it is determined whether or not the combination corresponds to a winning. In a slot machine in which a plurality of pay lines are set, the number of activated pay lines is generally determined by the number of medals inserted before the start of the game. For example, above 3
In the case of a reel-type slot machine, one horizontal line is activated when one medal is inserted, three horizontal lines are inserted when two medals are inserted, and two diagonal lines are inserted when three medals are inserted.
A total of five pay lines including the book are activated, and the activated pay lines are displayed to the player by the pay line display device.

A conventional pay line display device turns on a light emitting element such as an LED incorporated at both ends of each pay line, as described in JP-A-4-109977 or JP-A-5-19100. There is a form in which a winning line is constituted by a light guide, and the LED is incorporated at both ends or inside thereof so that the entire winning line emits a linear light.

[0005]

In the case of simply illuminating the light emitting elements at both ends of the pay line, the display is difficult to understand, but the display is difficult to understand, and a large light emitting element must be used for bright display. However, there is a problem that the space for incorporating the symbol display window in the thickness direction increases. Furthermore, the winning line is constituted by a light guide, and the light of the light emitting element is made incident from both ends to perform a linear light emitting display. In the center of the winning line apart from the light emitting element, apart from the light emitting element. Is likely to be dark, and it is extremely difficult to display the entire winning line uniformly in a line shape. In addition, in order to increase the amount of light for display, the size of the light emitting element is inevitably increased, which causes the above-mentioned difficulty.

A light guide in which a plurality of light-emitting elements are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the light guide can provide a clear line display, but the parts cost is high, and the assembling work is troublesome, which increases the manufacturing cost of the slot machine. Furthermore, since the thickness of the light guide itself becomes large, even if the light guide is structured to be embedded in the symbol display window, the mounting space in the thickness direction of the symbol display window becomes large, and additional processing must be performed on the symbol display window. Disadvantageous in terms of workability and cost. In addition, such disadvantages are not only slot machines, but also general gaming machines having a prize line, including gaming machines having the same game form as slot machines, for example, gaming machines incorporated as prize machines in pachinko gaming machines. It has become something.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, and has as its object to obtain a uniform band-shaped or line-shaped light-emitting display and to reduce a space for mounting the symbol display window in the thickness direction. Another object of the present invention is to provide a winning line display device for a gaming machine which is easy to manufacture and easy to manufacture.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a winning line is formed by a thin band-shaped electroluminescence tape (hereinafter abbreviated as EL tape), and the belt of the EL tape itself is formed. Is used for displaying a winning line. Electroluminescence is known as a phenomenon in which when an electric field is applied to a phosphor, an electric field generated in the phosphor causes excitation light emission. For example, a direct current or an alternating current is applied between the front and back of a light emitting layer containing a phosphor material such as ZnS. By applying a voltage, light emission of a color tone corresponding to the type of the phosphor substance can be obtained.

The EL tape used in the present invention is a belt made of a plastic sheet such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) as a support.
The overall thickness is as thin as 0.1 mm or less, which is sufficiently flexible. Therefore, even when used over the symbol display window of the slot machine, the thickness is hardly affected, and the manufacture is easy. Further, light emission and light emission stop control of the EL tape can be performed by turning on / off the drive voltage, and the circuit configuration is not complicated.

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a slot machine using the present invention. A front door 3 is mounted on the front surface of the housing 2, and the front door 3 can be opened for internal inspection and maintenance. The front door 3 is provided with nine symbol display windows 4 arranged in three rows and three columns. The symbol display windows 4 are each transparent, and the nine reels 5 installed in the housing 2 can be observed from each of them. A plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of each reel 5. When each reel 5 stops, only one of the symbols can be observed through the symbol display window 4.

Eight winning lines 7a to 7h are provided so that the symbol display windows 4 arranged in 3 rows and 3 columns are combined in 3 columns vertically and 2 columns obliquely, and these winning lines 7a to 7g are provided.
The combination position of the symbol is determined by the symbol.
That is, when all the pay lines 7a to 7h are activated, when the rotation of each reel 5 is stopped, if a combination of symbols on any one of the pay lines corresponds to a win, a win is achieved. Becomes

The number of winning lines activated at the time of winning determination depends on the number of medals inserted prior to the start of the game. For example, when the player inserts one medal from the medal slot 9, three horizontal pay lines 7a to 7c are activated, and when two players are inserted, three vertical pay lines 7d to 7f are activated. When three cards are inserted, two diagonal winning lines 7g and 7h are activated. As is well known, the operation panel 10 is provided with various operation buttons such as a credit button, a bet button, and a settlement button, so that it is not necessary to perform a medal insertion operation for each game. I have.

Operation for inserting a medal or operation panel 10
When the number of activated pay lines is determined by the bet button input from the player, the activated pay lines are displayed in a strip-like manner. Therefore, the player can start the game by operating the start lever 11 after confirming the activated pay line.

When the start lever 11 is operated, the nine reels 5 start rotating at the same time, and stop after a suitable time delay in a random order. One symbol is observed one by one from each symbol display window 4, and when the combination of the symbols on the activated winning line corresponds to the winning pattern, the winning line in which the winning is obtained blinks and emits light. To notify the player. Then, after the number of medals according to the type of the prize is paid out to the tray 12 or added to the credit, the blinking of the prize line stops.

In order to cause the pay lines 7a to 7h to emit light in a line, the pay lines 7a to 7h are each formed of an EL tape. FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the EL tape, and FIG. 3 shows the structure of the EL tape. The EL tape 15 is strip-shaped and highly flexible, and has a pair of electrodes 16a, 16a at one end.
b is provided. As shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a conductive layer 15b, a dielectric layer 15c,
The light emitting layer 15d, the dielectric layer 15e, and the conductive layer 15f are sequentially laminated, and the total thickness thereof can be suppressed within a range of about several tens to several hundreds of microns. Note that a protective layer may be provided on the conductive layer 15f in order to increase electrical insulation and physicochemical durability.

One of the electrodes 16a is connected to the conductive layer 15b.
The other is electrically connected to the conductive layer 15f. This E
Since the L tape 15 is opaque as a whole, the portion superimposed on the symbol display window 4 is made thin so as not to disturb the symbol when observing the symbol.
The portions a and 16b are wide to facilitate the connection work.

As the support 15a, a plastic sheet such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) can be used. When the support 15a is used as a display surface, a transparent or translucent material is used for the support 15a, and a material having high light transmittance is also used for the conductive layer 15b and the dielectric layer 15c. Further, the upper dielectric layer 1d of the light emitting layer 15d
It is effective to obtain bright light emission by using a transparent material for 5e and using a metal layer (Ag, Al, etc.) having high light reflectance for the conductive layer 15f. When the conductive layer 15f side is used as the display surface, the upper layer side of the light emitting layer 15d may have transparency.

The light emitting layer 15d contains ZnS (zinc sulfide) as a phosphor, and emits light yellow to yellow-orange by an electric field generated when a voltage is applied between the conductive layers 15b and 15f. As the phosphor substance that performs such electroluminescence, a substance based on Zn (zinc) or S (sulfur) can be used, and light can be emitted in a color specific to the phosphor substance.

The conductive layer 15 is used for efficient electroluminescence.
It is necessary to increase the insulation between the b and 15f.
Is mixed with a highly dielectric resin material, and the conductive layers 15b,
If the electrical insulation between 15f is enhanced, the dielectric layer 15
It is also possible to omit c and 15e, which is advantageous in reducing the overall thickness. In order to laminate the above layers on the support 15a, an appropriate method such as coating and bonding, vacuum deposition or sputtering is used, and these methods can be used in combination as needed.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the structure of the symbol display window using the EL tape 15. FIG. Back surface 18a of front panel 18 made of tempered glass (surface facing inside of housing 2)
Then, light-shielding masking by printing or the like is performed as indicated by hatching, and the transparent portions become nine symbol display windows 4 arranged in three rows and three columns. Instead of the above printing, a mask plate obtained by cutting out a thin light-shielding sheet is used by being superimposed on the back surface of the front panel 18, or an opaque frame having openings of 3 rows and 3 columns is used to cover each opening. To which a transparent plate is fixed. Also, the individual symbol display windows 4 are not divided into three rows and three columns, and
A single symbol display window may be formed by masking only the outer peripheral portion of 8a so that the symbols on each reel 5 can be observed through the entire symbol display window.

On the back surface 18a of the front panel, three columns are arranged.
A total of eight EL tapes 15 in three horizontal rows and two diagonal rows are fixed. Each EL tape 15 extends beyond the range observed through the symbol display windows 4 arranged in three rows and three columns, and both ends have a length reaching the masked outer edge portion. A transparent double-sided tape is used to fix each EL tape 15 at a portion overlapping with the symbol display window 4, but if it is transparent, a cellophane tape or an adhesive can also be used.

An EL tape 15 is provided on the back surface 18a of the front panel.
As shown in FIG. 6, both ends of the EL tape 15 and the back 1
8a, positioning marks 19a, 19b
It is good to attach. Further, only the back surface 18a may be provided with an outline mark 20 corresponding to the shape of both ends of the EL tape 15. As shown in FIG.
When the marks 19b and 20 are located outside the opening 3a of the front door 3 when the printer is mounted, the marks 19b and 20 can be formed as a transparent portion at the same time as the masking printing.

It is also possible to use a transparent plastic plate such as an acrylic resin for the front panel 18,
In this case, a concave portion or a convex portion may be provided on the back surface as a mark for positioning the EL tape. In particular, EL
Forming a concave groove into which the tape 15 is entirely fitted as a positioning mark simplifies the positioning and fixing of the EL tape 15 and at the same time, the EL tape 1
This is advantageous in eliminating the influence of the thickness of No. 5.

After the eight EL tapes 15 are fixed, a transparent protective panel 22 made of acrylic resin is further superimposed on the rear surface 18a of the front panel 18, and these are accommodated in a panel frame 24. The protection panel 22 has a function of pressing down the EL tape 15 so as not to peel off. Notches 23 are formed on each side of the protection panel 22, and these notches 23 allow the electrodes 16a,
Since the 16b is exposed, wiring work such as connection of a lead wire becomes easy. Of course, an opening may be opened at an appropriate place of the protection panel 22 instead of the notch 23.

After the front panel 18 and the protection panel 22 are fitted to the panel frame 24, the left and right
The retaining piece 25 is screwed to the panel frame 24 from the location. As a result, the front panel 18 and the protection panel 22 are integrally connected to the panel frame 24, and as a result, the EL tape 15 is
Sandwiched between two transparent panels. A rectangular opening 24a is formed in the panel frame 24, and an opening 26 is formed on each side, and a lead wire 28 (see FIG. 5) connected to the electrode of the EL tape 15 is drawn through the opening 26. Can be.

Since the EL tape 15 is sandwiched between the back surface 18a of the front panel 18 and the protection panel 22,
It is not always necessary to fix the entire surface of the EL tape 15 to the back surface 18a. For example, if only both ends of the EL tape 15 are fixed to the light-shielding masking portion provided on the back surface 18a of the front panel 18, an opaque double-sided tape or an adhesive can be used for fixing. Becomes Further, in order to increase the bonding and bonding strength at this time, it is preferable that not only the end provided with the electrodes 16a and 16b but also the other end be wide.

After the front panel 18 and the protection panel 22 are assembled, the upper and lower sides of the panel frame 24 are fixed to the rear side of the front door 3 with screws 29 as shown in FIG. In order to prevent the front panel 18 and the protection panel 22 from being damaged when performing this screwing work, the front side of the front panel 18, between the front panel 18 and the protection panel 22, between the protection panel 22 and the panel frame 24. An elastic body having a square frame shape may be provided as a cushioning material at an appropriate location. The EL tape 15 can be provided on the front side of the front panel 18, but it is preferable to cover the entire surface with a transparent cover plate in order to prevent the EL tape 15 from peeling off during use.

When the panel frame 24 is fixed to the front door 3, the front panel 18 is exposed from the opening 3a of the front door 3, and the symbol display window 4 is formed with the winning lines 7a to 7h formed of the EL tape 15 as shown in FIG. To be observed. Further, the reel 5 installed in the housing 2 is observed through the transparent protection panel 22 behind the symbol display window 4 so that one symbol attached to the outer peripheral surface of the reel 5 is observed. Become. The EL tape 15 constituting the winning lines 7a to 7h is
Since the thickness per sheet is extremely thin, the structure around the front door 3 and the symbol display window 4 is hardly affected, so that the present invention can be easily applied to a conventional slot machine.

Further, the EL tape 15 is connected to the EL tape 15 shown in FIG.
It is also possible to fix to the panel frame 24 after fixing the front panel 18 on the front side of the protection panel 22 shown in FIG. In order to position the EL tape 15, it is preferable to provide a mark indicating the fixed position, irregularities, and the like on the front side of the protection panel 22. As in this example, E
If the L tape 15 is fixed to the protection panel 22, the front panel 18 can be replaced independently.
In addition to the masking printing of the symbol display window 4 described above, the front panel 18 may print a display specific to the model, for example, information such as a combination of winning symbols and odds. At times, it is necessary to replace the front panel 18. At this time, if only the front panel 18 can be replaced as described above, especially when the position of the winning line does not need to be changed,
The EL tape 15 can be used for another model as it is.

As described above, when the eight pay lines are constituted by the eight EL tapes 15, the EL tapes 15
Intersecting portions are generated in stacking, and when viewed from the front of the slot machine, the luminescent display is hidden on the lower layer side. Therefore, a regular line-shaped display can be obtained for the uppermost layer, whereas the line-shaped display is interrupted on the lower layer side, and the display varies, which is not preferable.

In order to avoid this, as shown in FIG. 7, when the EL tape 15 is attached to the front panel 18, each EL tape is divided in advance at the intersection, and each of the divided EL tapes is cut along the winning line. It is stuck on the front panel 18 so as to be aligned. A space is opened at the intersection, and a strip 33 of the EL tape is provided in the space. Then, when displaying the horizontal pay line, the divided EL tapes 32a and 32b and the strip 33 may be simultaneously emitted. If the lead wire from the strip 33 is drawn out along the other EL tape radially provided from the strip 33, it will not be noticeable from the symbol display window. The strip 33 at the center can be omitted, and of course, these separated EL tapes can be fixed to the protection panel 22 side.

FIG. 8 shows another example in which eight EL tapes 15 are fixed to the back surface 18a of the front panel 18 and sandwiched between the EL panel 15 and the protection panel 22 similarly to FIGS. Nine symbol display windows 4 partitioned by light-shielding masking are formed on the front panel 18, and the outer peripheral portion is also masked so as to entirely surround the nine symbol display windows 4. Therefore, when viewed from the front side, the inside surrounded by the masking of the outer peripheral portion becomes the entire effective display surface, and the reels can be observed from the individual symbol display windows 4 respectively.

Each end of the EL tape 15 extends beyond the effective display surface to the point where the outer peripheral portion is masked. The protection panel 36 is larger than the size of the effective display surface and smaller than the front panel 18 so as to expose at least the end of the EL tape 15 on the side where the electrodes are provided. And is fixed to the back surface of the front panel 18 by bonding. According to this, the electrodes 16a and 16b can be exposed without providing a notch or an opening in the protection panel 36, and when incorporated in a slot machine and viewed from the front side,
The outer edge of the protection panel 36 is not observed through the symbol display window 4.

FIG. 9 shows another method for fixing the EL tape 15. In this example, a frame 38 having a rectangular frame shape made of plastic is used, and both ends thereof are fixed by bonding so that the EL tape 15 is stretched over the frame 38.
The EL tape 15 may be fixed to the front side of the frame 38. In order to determine the attachment position, a mark or the like as shown in FIG. The frame 38 to which the EL tape 15 is fixed is adhered and fixed to the back surface of the front panel 18. Marks corresponding to the four corners of the frame 38 are preferably provided on the back surface of the front panel 18 so that the bonding position of the frame 38 can be properly determined. The frame 38 is not limited to a plastic one, but may be made of a metal such as aluminum. The frame 38 may be integrally connected to the front panel 18 by using a screw or a clip.

While the present invention has been described based on the illustrated embodiments, the present invention can be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope described in the claims. For example, E
It is also possible to use a totally transparent L tape so that the symbols can be easily observed when the EL tape is not emitting light. The light emission display of the EL tape can be used not only for displaying a winning line, displaying a line where a winning is obtained, but also for displaying a demonstration. , Blinking can be determined as appropriate. If characters and marks are cut out on the EL tape, the characters and marks can be displayed together.

The present invention can be carried out irrespective of the number of reels and the number of winning lines, as well as a three-reel type slot machine. In addition, the reels are displayed in a pseudo image using a CRT monitor or the like. The present invention can be applied to a video type slot machine. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to an appropriate gaming machine that uses a reel in which symbols are arranged on the outer periphery and determines the presence or absence of a prize by a combination of symbols when the rotation of the reel is stopped. The present invention can equally be applied to a pachinko game machine in which is installed as a winning ball device.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, the pay line is displayed by the EL tape, and the pay line is displayed by the electroluminescence due to the application of the voltage. The display is easy to see, and the display effect can be significantly improved. Also, EL
The tape can be made much thinner than a light guide such as an optical fiber, and since it does not require a separate light source for luminescent display at all, it can be thin and compact.
The structure around the symbol display window can be easily incorporated without largely changing the structure, which is effective in reducing the manufacturing cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a slot machine using the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of an EL tape.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a layer configuration of an EL tape.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a symbol display window portion.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a main part of a front door including a symbol display window.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the back surface of the front panel.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing another configuration of the EL tape.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing another example of the mounting structure of the EL tape.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing still another example of the mounting structure of the EL tape.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Front Door 4 Symbol Display Window 5 Reel 7a-7h Win Line 15 EL Tape 18 Front Panel 22 Protection Panel 24 Panel Frame

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A game in which a plurality of reels having symbols arranged on an outer peripheral surface are rotated, and when these rotations are stopped, the presence or absence of a prize is determined by a combination of symbols arranged along a predetermined prize line. The winning line is formed of an electroluminescent tape that emits electroluminescence by applying a voltage, and the electroluminescent tape is fixed so that the electroluminescent tape can be observed through a transparent symbol display window arranged on the front surface of the reel. Wherein at least one of the activated prize line and the prize line in which the prize is obtained is displayed. 2. The electroluminescent tape extends beyond a range observable from a symbol display window,
2. A winning line display device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the extended end has a wide width and an electrode for voltage application is provided. 3. The symbol display window is composed of at least two transparent panels, and the electroluminescence tape is sandwiched between the transparent panels. One of the transparent panels is provided at an end of the electroluminescence tape. 3. A winning line display device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a notch or an opening for exposing the applied voltage application electrode is formed. 4. The symbol display window includes at least two transparent panels having a size larger than an effective display surface of the symbol display window, and the electroluminescence tape is sandwiched between the transparent panels.
3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein one of the transparent panels is smaller in size than the other transparent panel to expose a voltage application electrode provided at an end of the electroluminescence tape. Winning line display device. 5. At least one of two transparent panels,
The winning line display device for a gaming machine according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a mark for positioning the electroluminescent tape is provided. 6. A frame having a rectangular frame shape having a size larger than an effective display surface of the symbol display window is provided in the back of the symbol display window, and both ends of the electroluminescence tape are fixed to sides of the frame. The winning line display device for a gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein 7. A combination of symbols arranged along any one of a plurality of predetermined pay lines when a plurality of reels on which symbols are arranged on an outer peripheral surface are rotated and the rotation is stopped. In the gaming machine in which the presence or absence of a prize is determined, each of the plurality of prize lines is formed of an electroluminescent tape that emits electroluminescence by applying a voltage, and these electroluminescent tapes are formed of a transparent material disposed on a front surface of the reel. Fixed to a symbol display window or a transparent panel provided behind the symbol display window, and by light emission thereof, at least one of an activated prize line or a prize line in which a prize is obtained is displayed,
And a winning line display device for a gaming machine, wherein portions of the plurality of electroluminescent tapes which cross each other and overlap with each other are separated and removed.