BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine that is installed in a so-called
game arcade or the like.
Description of the Prior Art
[0002] Gaming machines which are equipped with staircase form medal accumulating parts comprising
a plurality of step parts, and which are constructed so that medals are paid out from
a step part (among the abovementioned plurality of step parts) in accordance with
the results of a drawing that is performed when it is acknowledged that a medal has
entered a medal receiving opening, have been known in the past (for example, see Japanese
Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-310077). In such a gaming machine, the paying
out of medals from the medal accumulating parts can be diversified so that medals
are paid out from the step part at the lower end and given to the player, so that
medals that are paid out from the step parts on the upper side are accumulated in
the step parts on the lower side, or so that medals are paid out from all of the step
parts and large quantities of medals are given to the player, in accordance with the
drawing results.
[0003] However, in a gaming machine such as that described above, since a medal receiving
opening is fixed in a prescribed position within the gaming space, there is little
movement in that medals are simply inserted in the same direction towards the medal
receiving opening, thus creating monotonous game contents, and hence the player may
experience boredom.
[0004] Furthermore, since the game contents are such that medals are simply inserted into
a fixed medal receiving opening, then whichever player plays the game, the frequency
of inserting medals into the medal receiving opening will be generally the same. Therefore,
the game results depend on the result of a drawing for determining whether or not
a jackpot has been activated, and it is difficult to reflect the skill of the player
in the game results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is devised with the foregoing problems in view, an object of
the present invention is to provide a gaming machine which creates a rich sense of
movement, and which allows the skill of a player to be reflected in the game results,
thereby allowing the player to play the game without experiencing boredom.
[0006] In order to solve the abovementioned problems, the present invention is constructed
as follows.
[0007] Specifically, the gaming machine of the present invention is a gaming machine comprising:
a gaming machine having a projection device for projection of medals into a gaming
space; the gaming machine having a medal receiving opening for receiving medals that
are projected by the projection device; wherein the gaming machine has a medal discharge
opening for discharging medals to the outside of the gaming space; wherein the gaming
machine has a plurality of medal accumulating parts, and is constructed so that the
plurality of medal accumulating parts are sequentially disposed and ranged along the
medal discharge opening, wehrein the medals that are paid out from the respective
medal accumulating parts are sequentially moved and accumulated in the medal accumulating
parts that are adjacent on the side of the medal discharge opening, and wherein the
medals that are paid out from the medal accumulating part that is located closely
to the medal discharge opening are discharged from the medal discharge opening and
given to the player;
detecting means for detecting the medals that have entered into the medal receiving
opening;
drawing means for performing a drawing in order to determine the presence or absence
of a jackpot when the medals are detected by the detecting means;
pay-out means for paying out medals from the medal accumulating parts in accordance
with the drawing results of the drawing means; and
moving means for moving the medal receiving opening.
[0008] Furthermore, in the gaming machine, the moving means is a moving unit in which the
medal receiving opening is disposed in a suspended fashion, the moving unit causing
the medal receiving opening to move upwards and downwards.
[0009] Furthermore, in the gaming machine, the moving unit comprises: a frame body fixed
to a ceiling part inside the gaming space; a raising and lowering motor provided inside
the frame body; and a rope winding part attached to the shaft of the raising and lowering
motor; the other end of the rope that is wound about the rope winding part being attached
to a member coupled to the medal receiving opening.
[0010] Furthermore, in the gaming machine, an openable and closable lid body is provided
in the opening section of the medal receiving opening into which the medals enter,
in such a manner that an opening and closing operation of the lid body is performed
with a prescribed timing.
[0011] Furthermore, in the gaming machine, the drawing means performs a drawing in order
to determine a presence or absence of a jackpot with respect to the paying out of
medals from two or more medal accumulating parts of the plurality of medal accumulating
parts, when the medals have been detected by the detecting means.
[0012] Furthermore, the gaming machine may comprise a notification means for making a notification
of the drawing results of the drawing means.
[0013] Furthermore, in the gaming machine, the notification means comprises an LED lamp.
[0014] Furthermore, in the gaming machine, the notification means comprises an LED pattern
display device.
[0015] Furthermore, in the gaming machine, the respective medal accumulating parts are disposed
above the medal accumulating parts that are adjacent on the side of the medal discharge
opening, and
medals in the respective medal accumulating parts are caused to move by their own
weight from these respective medal accumulating parts, and are accumulated in the
medal accumulating parts that are adjacent on the side of the medal discharge opening.
[0016] Furthermore, the medals used in the gaming machine in accordance with the present
invention may also include other medium, such as a coin or a token, as well.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017]
Fig. 1 is a perspective view which schematically shows a gaming machine constituting
an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view which schematically shows the game field that is disposed
inside the game space of the gaming machine shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view which schematically shows a moving unit provided
in the gaming machine shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a positional relationship which schematically shows one of the transporting
devices with which the gaming machine shown in Fig. 1 is equipped;
Fig. 5A is a plan view which schematically shows the medal accommodating part with
which the gaming machine shown in Fig. 1 is equipped;
Fig. 5B is a sectional view along line A-A in Fig. 5A;
Fig. 6 is a sectional view which schematically shows the area in the vicinity of the
launching device with which the gaming machine shown in Fig. 1 is equipped;
Fig. 7 is a block diagram which schematically shows the internal construction of the
gaming machine shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 8 is a flow chart which shows the game execution processing routine that is executed
in the gaming machine shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 9 is a diagram which shows one example of a drawing probability table; and
Fig. 10 is a flow chart which shows the medal supply processing routine that is executed
in the gaming machine shown in Fig. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] An embodiment relating to the present invention will be described on the basis of
the drawings.
[0019] Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing one example of a gaming machine
of this embodiment.
[0020] The gaming machine 10 comprises a housing 12 which has substantially the shape of
a hexagonal column. The interior of the game space 13 can be viewed via window parts
14 consisting of a transparent material that constitute parts of the housing 12. Furthermore,
the ceiling body 11 that forms a part of the housing 12 also consists of a transparent
material, so that the interior of the game space 13 can be viewed from above. Six
game fields 15 constituting targets at which medals are launched from a medal launching
device 16 (described later) are respectively disposed inside the game space 13 so
that the hexagonal shape is divided into six parts from the center. Furthermore, in
the figures, only two of the six game fields 15 are shown.
[0021] Five transporting devices 50 which are used for the upward conveying of medals that
have dropped into medal dropping openings 37 (not shown in the figures), and rails
45 that are respectively connected to the upper parts of the five transporting devices
50, are disposed in the vicinity of the window parts 14 inside the game space 13.
The rails 45 are disposed so that these rails are inclined downward from the upper
parts of the transporting devices 50 toward a medal accommodating part 90 disposed
in the central part of the game space 13. The medals that are transported upward by
the transporting devices 50 slide down the rails 45 and are accommodated in the medal
accommodating part 90. Furthermore, the rails 45 consist of a transparent material
such as an acrylic resin or the like, and are arranged so that the medals that slide
down the rails 45 can be seen from the outside.
[0022] Whenever a specified time (e. g., 5 minutes) has elapsed, the medals accommodated
in the medal accommodating part 90 are supplied to one of a number of medal carrying
locations 27 (not shown in the figures) that are respectively provided for the six
game fields 15. In this case, a drawing (hereafter referred to as the "supply drawing")
that is used to select the medal carrying location 27 that is the object of medal
supply among the six medal carrying locations 27 is conducted, and medals are supplied
to the medal carrying locations 27 in accordance with the results of this supply drawing.
[0023] Furthermore, the abovementioned transporting devices 50 and medal accommodating part
90 will be described in detail later with reference to the attached figures.
[0024] Launching devices 16 that are used to launch medals are respectively disposed corresponding
to the six game fields 15 in the lower part of the housing 12, so that a maximum of
six players can simultaneously play the game. These launching devices 16 are installed
so that the devices can pivot in the vertical (up-down) direction and left-right direction
within a specified range. The players determine the launching direction of the medals
by pivoting the launching devices 16 within the specified range in the vertical and
left-right directions, and launch medals by pressing a launch button 122 (not shown
in the figures), so that the medals are launched inside the game space 13.
[0025] Furthermore, the permissible pivoting range and the like of the launching devices
16 are set so that the launching devices 16 can project medals only onto the corresponding
game fields 15.
[0026] Moreover, a medal removal opening 31 is disposed beneath each launching device 16,
and medals that are discharged to the outside of the game space 13 via the medal discharge
opening 17 (not shown in the figures) described later are supplied to the medal removal
openings 31, and given to the players.
[0027] Furthermore, medal receiving openings 22 that are used to receive medals that are
launched by the launching devices 16 into the game space 13 and projected into the
game space 13 are disposed in a suspended fashion in a moving unit 100 for moving
the medal receiving openings 22 upwards and downwards. This moving unit 100 functions
as moving means which move the medal receiving openings 22. Two medal receiving openings
22 are provided respectively for each game field 15. Moreover, the moving unit 100
is attached to the ceiling body 11. If a medal is inserted into either one of the
two medal receiving openings 22 and the medal is detected by the medal sensor 28 (not
shown in the figures) provided in the medal receiving opening 22, then a drawing is
performed in order to determine the presence or absence of a jackpot with respect
to the paying out of medals from one or more of four medal accumulating parts 20 (20a
- 20d), which are described hereafter, and if a jackpot is activated, then medals
are paid out from a medal accumulating part 20 determined in accordance with the result
of the drawing.
[0028] The moving unit 100 is described in detail hereafter with respect to the drawings.
[0029] Next, the game fields 15 disposed inside the game space 13 will be described.
[0030] Fig. 2 is a perspective view which schematically shows one of the game fields 15
disposed inside the game space 13 of the gaming machine 10 shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore,
in the following description, one of the six game fields 15 provided in the gaming
machine 10 will be described.
[0031] This game field 15 comprises a medal carrying location 27 and four medal accumulating
parts 20 (20a through 20d). The medal accumulating parts 20 (20a through 20d) are
constructed from the inclined surface of the medal carrying location 27, opening-and-closing
doors 21 (21a through 21d) that will be described later, medal receiving openings
22 (22a through 22d) that will be described later, and side plates (not shown in the
figures). The side plates are disposed on both side parts of the inclined surface
of the medal carrying location 27 so as to contact the medal receiving openings 22.
Each of the medal accumulating parts 20a through 20d can accumulate medals that are
projected by the corresponding launching device 16. Furthermore, the medal accumulating
part 20a can accumulate medals that are supplied from the medal accommodating part
90 (see Fig. 1). The four medal accumulating parts 20a through 20d are sequentially
disposed and ranged along the inclined surface of the medal carrying location 27 toward
the player who is playing the game in front.
[0032] Opening-and-closing doors 21a through 21d consisting of a transparent material such
as an acrylic resin or the like are respectively disposed before the respective medal
accumulating parts 20a through 20d. The players playing the game in front of the medal
accumulating parts 20a through 20d can visually observe the medals that have accumulated
in the medal accumulating parts 20a through 20d via these opening-and-closing doors
21a through 21d.
[0033] The opening-and-closing doors 21 (21a through 21d) are respectively connected to
a stepping motor 32 (not shown in the figures) via a transmission member or the like
(not shown in the figures) that can convert the rotational motion of the stepping
motor 32 into a rectilinear reciprocating motion, so that the opening-and-closing
doors can be moved upward or downward and placed in an open state or closed state
by the operation of the stepping motor 32.
[0034] When the stepping motor 32 operates so that the opening-and-closing doors 21a through
21d are placed in an open state, the medals that are blocked slide and move downward
along the inclined surface of the medal carrying location 27 as a result of their
own weight.
[0035] LED lamps 23a through 23d that can emit light of a plurality of different colors
are respectively disposed on the left and right sides of each of the opening-and-closing
doors 21a through 21d. If the entry of a medal into a medal receiving opening 22 is
acknowledged, a drawing to determine the presence or absence of a jackpot is carried
out, and if it is ascertained that a jackpot has been activated, then the LED lamps
23 on the left and right sides are lit with the same color, thus providing notification
that a jackpot has been activated.
[0036] For example, if the entry of a medal into one of the medal receiving openings 22
of the two medal receiving openings 22 provided in a game field 15 is acknowledged,
a drawing for determining the presence or absence of a jackpot is carried out, and
if a jackpot has been activated with respect to the paying out of medals from a medal
accumulating part 20a of the four medal accumulating parts 20 (20a through 20d), then
all of the LED lamps 23 (23a - 23d) blink while sequentially changing colors, and
then all of the LED lamps 23 are lit with a specified color, after a specified period
of time has elapsed. In this case, if the color with which the two LED lamps 23a relating
to the medal accumulating part 20a are lit is the same color, then it is reported
that a jackpot has been activated, and the opening-and-closing doors 21a are driven
by the stepping motor 32 so that the opening-and-closing doors 21a are placed in an
open state. Thereupon, the medals that were blocked by the opening-and-closing doors
21a slide downward along the inclined surface of the medal carrying location 27, and
are accumulated in the medal accumulating part 21b located beneath the medal accumulating
part 20a.
[0037] Furthermore, if the entry of a medal into the medal receiving opening 22 is acknowledged,
a drawing for determining the presence or absence of a jackpot is carried out, and
if a jackpot is activated with respect to the paying out of medals from the medal
accumulating part 20a and the medal accumulating part 20b of the four medal accumulating
parts 20, then all of the LED lamps 23 blink while changing color, whereupon they
are lit with a specified color. In this case, the two LED lamps 23a relating to the
medal accumulating part 20a and the two LED lamps 23b relating to the medal accumulating
part 20b are lit respectively with the same color. Thereupon, the opening-and-closing
doors 21a and the opening-and-closing doors 21b are placed in an open state.
[0038] The medals that are paid out from the medal accumulating parts 20a through 20c respectively
move under their own weight into the medal accumulating parts 20b through 20d that
are adjacent on the side of the medal discharge opening 17, and that are positioned
lower than the medal accumulating parts 20a through 20c, and are accumulated in these
medal accumulating parts 20b through 20d. The medals that are paid out from the medal
accumulating part 20d that is located closely to the medal discharge opening 17 slide
downward, and are either carried on the field plate 34 (described later), or caused
to drop into the medal discharge opening 17 from the field plate 34 and given to the
player, or caused to drop into the medal dropping opening 37 (described later) and
conveyed by the abovementioned transporting device 50.
[0039] A horizontal medal push-out part 33 is disposed on the front part of the medal carrying
location 27, and a field plate 34 is disposed on the central part of the undersurface
of the medal push-out part 33. The field plate 34 is connected to a motor 35 (not
shown in the figures) via a transmission member (not shown in the figures) or the
like that can convert the rotational motion of the motor 35 into a rectilinear reciprocating
motion, and the field plate 34 is thus constructed so that this field plate can be
caused to perform a reciprocating motion between the front side and inside side by
the operation of the motor 35. The field plate 34 has a length which is such that
medals can be placed on the front side of the medal push-out member 33 even when the
field plate 34 has moved to the furthest inside point. When projected medals and medals
that have been paid out from the medal accumulating part 20d are placed on the field
plate 34 in a case where the field plate 34 has moved to the front side, these projected
medals are pushed out by the medal push-out part 33 when the field plate 34 subsequently
moves to the inside side so that other medals carried on the field plate 34 can be
pushed out and caused to drop into the medal discharge opening 17.
[0040] Furthermore, medal dropping openings 37 are disposed on the left and right sides
of the medal discharge opening 17. Projected medals, medals paid out from the medal
accumulating part 20d and the like slide down along the inclined surface of the medal
carrying location 27 and drop into the medal dropping openings 37, whereupon these
medals are transported by the transporting devices 50 and accommodated in the medal
accommodating part 90.
[0041] Furthermore, the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment need not necessarily be a so-called
pusher gaming machine comprising a medal push-out part 33 and field plate 34; for
example, the machine may also be constructed so that the medals that slide downward
along the medal carrying location 27 can drop directly into the medal discharge opening
17 or medal dropping openings 37.
[0042] Next, the moving unit 100 will be described.
[0043] Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view schematically showing a moving unit 100.
[0044] The moving unit 100 comprises a frame body 101 fixed to the ceiling body 11, a raising
and lowering motor 102 provided inside the frame body 101, and a winding part 103
installed on a shaft of the raising and lowering motor 102. One end of a rope 104
is wound about the winding part 103 and the other end of the rope 104 is fixed to
a coupling bar 106 coupled to the medal receiving opening 22.
[0045] The moving unit 100 is composed so that raising and lowering of the medal receiving
opening 22 is performed in a repeated fashion by switching the raising and lowering
motor 102 between forward rotation and reverse rotation, at a prescribed timing.
[0046] The timing at which the rotation of the raising and lowering motor 102 is switched
may be constant at all times, or it may be changed in specified conditions. Moreover,
the rotational speed of the raising and lowering motor 102 may be constant at all
times, or it may be changed in specified conditions.
[0047] The medal receiving opening 22 comprises a medal sensor 28, which is an infrared
sensor, provided inside the opening. A medal that has entered the medal receiving
opening 22 is detected by the medal sensor 28 and then continues to fall downwards
as indicated by the arrow with the double-dotted line in the drawing. The medal sensor
28 functions as detecting means which detect a medal that has entered into the medal
receiving opening 22. Furthermore, the medal sensor 28 is not limited to being an
infrared sensor, but may also be a magnetic proximity type sensor or a mechanical
sensor, or the like.
[0048] Next, one of the transporting devices 50 will be described with reference to the
attached figures.
[0049] Fig. 4 is a partially cut-away perspective view which schematically shows this transporting
device 50.
[0050] The transporting device 50 is a device in which medals that have dropped into the
medal dropping opening 37 (see Fig. 2), been caused to slide down the rails 51 communicating
with the medal dropping opening 37, and placed on a stopper 52 on the tip end of the
rails 51, are conveyed upward and fed onto rails 45 that communicate with the medal
accommodating part 90 (see Fig. 2). The stopper 52 on the tip ends of the rails 51
has a comb-form shape, and is constructed with the tip end being bent so that medals
that slide downward along the rails 51 can be stopped in the vicinity of the stopper
52.
[0051] The transporting device 50 comprises a medal elevator mechanism 70 that can lift
medals that have been placed on the stopper 52. The medal elevator mechanism 70 has
a plurality of buckets 71 that are used to accommodate the medals carried on the stopper
52, and a bucket driving device 72 containing a motor that is used to circulate the
buckets 71 in the vertical direction. A sprocket 73 is attached to the drive shat
72a of the motor inside the bucket driving device 72, and a chain 75 to which the
plurality of buckets 71 are attached is mounted on this sprocket 73 and another sprocket
73 that is positioned above this sprocket 73. The upper sprocket 73 is attached to
supporting plates 64a and 64b so that this sprocket 73 is free to rotate.
[0052] A medal supporting plate 71a that is used to support medals is disposed on each bucket
71, and the respective medal supporting plates 71a are inclined downward toward the
side of the supporting plate 64a from the side of the supporting plate 64b. Furthermore,
the end part on the upper side of each medal supporting plate 71a has a comb-form
shape, and when the medal supporting plate 71a is raised from the lower end, the comb
part of the medal supporting plate 71a and the comb part of the stopper 52 cross so
as to face each other, so that the medals carried on the stopper 52 are scooped up
when the medal supporting plate 71a passes the upper side of the stopper 52.
[0053] Furthermore, a medal stopper 76 that is used to prevent the medals from dropping
downward from the medal supporting plate 71a of each bucket 71 is disposed on the
supporting plate 64a. The medal stopper 76 extends in the vertical direction, and
when the medal supporting plate 71a carrying the medals reaches the upper end of the
medal stopper 76, the medals carried on the medal supporting plate 71a slide downward,
and move onto the rails 45.
[0054] Furthermore, a medal hopper that is used to perform the paying out of medals may
be disposed inside the housing 12, and the system may be devised so that medals paid
out from this medal hopper are supplied to the stopper 52 besides the medals that
are supplied to the stopper 52 from the medal dropping openings 37. By doing this,
it is possible to cause a maximum quantity of medals to be accommodated on each medal
supporting plate 71a, so that the player can be caused to experience a strong sense
of anticipation regarding the supply of medals from the medal accommodating part 90.
[0055] Furthermore, the system may also be devised so that medals that have dropped from
the medal dropping openings 37 are not supplied directly to the medal stopper 52,
but are instead temporarily accumulated in the medal hopper, so that medals paid out
from the medal hopper are supplied to the stopper 52.
[0056] As is shown in Fig. 4, each transporting device 50 is constructed so that the transported
medals can be visually observed from the outside; furthermore, as is described above,
the rails 45 that are connected to the transporting device 50 consist of a transparent
material. As a result, the player can visually observe the meals that are conveyed
to the medal accommodating part 90 by the transporting device 50 and rails 45 via
the window part 14 (see Fig. 1).
[0057] Next, the medal accommodating part 90 will be described with reference to the attached
figures.
[0058] Fig. 5A is a plan view which schematically shows the medal accommodating part 90
shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 5B is a sectional view along line A-A in Fig. 5A.
[0059] As is shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, the medal accommodating part 90 has a substantially
hexagonal spindle shape; furthermore, as is shown in Fig. 5A, six opening-and-closing
parts 91 are formed in the circumferential edge part of the medal accommodating part
90 so that these opening-and-closing parts can open and close.
[0060] When the opening-and-closing parts 91 are in a closed state, the medals that are
carried on the inclined surface 98 are blocked by the opening-and-closing parts 91.
Then, when the opening-and-closing parts 91 are lowered so that the opening-and-closing
parts 91 are placed in an open state, the medals carried on the inclined surface 98
slide downward, and move into the medal accumulating parts 20 (20a through 20d).
[0061] In the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, a supply drawing that is used to select
the medal carrying location 27 that is the object of medal supply among the six medal
carrying locations 27 of the medal accommodating part 90 is performed each time that
a specified period of time (e. g., 5 minutes) elapses. The opening-and-closing part
91 for the selected medal carrying location 27 is placed in an open state in accordance
with the results of this supply drawing, and the medals accommodated in the medal
accommodating part 90 are supplied to the medal accumulating part 20a disposed on
the medal carrying location 27.
[0062] As is shown in Fig. 5B, a tooth-form part 95 is disposed on the lower part of each
opening-and-closing part 91. Furthermore, a gear 93 attached to the shat of an opening-and-closing
motor 92 (not shown in the figures) is disposed in the vicinity of the lower end of
the tooth-form part 95. The gear 93 engages with a gear 94 that is disposed between
the tooth-form part 95 of the opening-and-closing part 91 and the gear 93, and the
gear 94 engages with the tooth-form part 95.
[0063] Furthermore, a raising limit position sensor 96 which is a mechanical type sensor
is disposed in the vicinity of the upper end of the tooth-form part 95, and a lowering
limit position sensor which is a mechanical type sensor is disposed on the upper side
of the gear 94 in the vicinity of the tooth-form part 95.
[0064] When the opening-and-closing part 91 is to be opened, the opening-and-closing motor
92 operates so that the gear 93 rotates in the right-hand direction, thus causing
the opening-and-closing part 91 to be lowered. Then, when a contact 95a disposed on
the upper end of the tooth-form part 95 is detected by the lowering limit position
sensor 97 during the lowering of the opening-and-closing part 91, the rotation of
the opening-and-closing motor 92 is stopped. Then, when a fixed period of time (e.
g., 5 seconds) has elapsed, the opening-and-closing motor 92 is caused to rotate in
the reverse direction (left-hand rotation), so that the opening-and-closing part 91
is raised. When the contact 95a is detected by the raising limit position sensor 96
during the raising of the opening-and-closing part 91, the rotation of the opening-and-closing
motor 92 is stopped.
[0065] The supply of medals to the medal accumulating part 20a from the medal accommodating
part 90 is accomplished by the raising and lowering of the abovementioned opening-and-closing
part 91.
[0066] Furthermore, in Fig. 5B, only the tooth-form part 95 disposed on one side (the upper
side in Fig. 5A) of the opening-and-closing part 91 is shown; however, the opening-and-closing
part 91 has tooth-form parts 95 on both the left and right sides, and is constructed
so that the both the left and right tooth-form parts 95 can be driven by the motor
92. Furthermore, the raising limit position sensor 96 and lowering limit position
sensor 97 may be disposed on both the left and right sides, or may be disposed on
only one side. In a case where the raising limit position sensor 96 and lowering limit
position sensor 97 are disposed on one side of the opening-and-closing part 91, the
detection of the contact 95a by the raising limit position sensor 96 and lowering
limit position sensor 97 is acknowledged, and the rotation of motors 92 respectively
provided for both the left and right tooth-form parts 95 is stopped.
[0067] Next, the launching device 16 will be described with reference to the attached figures.
[0068] Fig. 6 is a sectional view which shows the area in the vicinity of one of the launching
devices 16 of the housing 12 schematically. Furthermore, in Fig. 6, for convenience
of description, a state is shown in which a portion of this launching device 16 is
viewed in a sectional view.
[0069] As is shown in Fig. 6, launching device 16 is attached on the lower side of the window
part 14 of the housing 12 so that this launching device 16 can pivot within a specified
range in the vertical direction and left-right direction. The player can cause the
launching device 16 to pivot in the vertical direction and left-right direction by
operating a lever 120 that is disposed on the launching device 16. Furthermore, a
launch button 122 is disposed on this lever 120, and the player can launch medals
1 by pressing this launch button 122.
[0070] A medal loading opening 118 is formed in the left side of the launching device 16,
and a medal launching opening 119 is formed in the right side of the launching device
16. Furthermore, guide rails 123 that communicate with the medal loading opening 118
and medal launching opening 119 are disposed inside the launching device 16. These
guide rails 123 are disposed so that the rails are inclined downward toward the inside
end, and are bent upward at an intermediate point. Furthermore, a stopper 121 is disposed
inside the launching device 16, and a shutter 124 is disposed to the inside of the
stopper 121. The stopper 121 can be moved upward and downward by the operation of
a solenoid that is attached to the stopper 121, and the shutter 124 can be opened
and closed by the operation of a motor that is attached to the shutter 124. Furthermore,
the stopper 121 and shutter 124 are disposed at a spacing that is greater than the
diameter of the medals 1.
[0071] Furthermore, a launching roller 125 is attached to a launching motor (not shown in
the figures) on the right side of the shutter 124. The launching roller 125 can be
caused to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure by the operation
of the launching motor. Furthermore, the launching roller 125 is disposed so that
this roller contacts the medals 1 that slide downward along the guide rails 123. When
the launching roller 125 contacts the medals 1 that slide downward along the guide
rails 123 while the launching roller 125 is rotating, the medals 1 can be accelerated,
so that the medals 1 can be launched in a good attitude from the medal launching opening
119.
[0072] When a plurality of medals 1 enter the medal loading opening 118, the plurality of
medals 1 are blocked by the shutter 124. In this case, the stopper 121 is in an open
state, and one medal 1 is present between the stopper 121 and the shutter 124. When
the launch button 122 is pressed, the stopper 121 moves downward, so that the medal
1 that is present in front of the stopper is blocked; then, immediately afterward,
the shutter 124 is placed in a pivoted open state, and the launching roller 125 rotates,
so that the medal 1 that is present between the stopper 121 and shutter 124 slides
downward along the guide rails 123, is accelerated by contact with the launching roller
125, and is launched from the medal launching opening 119.
[0073] In the figure, as shown by the arrow of chain double-dashed line, the medals 1 launched
from the medal launching opening 119 are projected into the game space 13.
[0074] When a specified time (e. g., 0.5 seconds) has elapsed following the placing of the
shutter 124 in an open state, the shutter 124 pivots and is placed in a closed state;
furthermore, the stopper 121 moves upward so that a medal 1 is fed out as far as the
shutter 124. Then, when the launch button 122 is pressed again, this medal 1 is launched
by the method described above. Furthermore, for example, the abovementioned elapsed
time can be set in accordance with the period of time extending from the point in
time at which the shutter 124 is placed in an open state (when the launching device
16 approaches most closely to a horizontal attitude) to the point in time at which
the medal 1 passes the lower end of the shutter 124 or the like. Furthermore, it would
also be possible to install a sensor in the vicinity of the medal launching opening
119, and to devise the system so that the shutter 124 is placed in a closed state
when the medal that is accelerated by the launching roller 125 is detected by the
abovementioned sensor after the shutter 124 has been placed in an open state.
[0075] Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic view of the internal composition of
a gaming machine of this embodiment.
[0076] As shown in Fig. 7, a control part 60 is provided inside the frame body 12 of the
gaming machine 10. The control part 60 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 66,
a ROM 62 and a RAM 64.
[0077] The ROM 62 stores game programs that control the flow of the overall games of the
gaming machine 10, programs relating to the drawing that is conducted in order to
establish the presence or absence of a jackpot, programs used to conduct the supply
drawing that is used to select the medal carrying location 27 that is the object of
medal supply, audio data that is required in order to generate background music, sound
effects, and the like in accordance with the game conditions, and other data. Furthermore,
the ROM 62 also stores drawing probability tables that are required in order to conduct
the drawing that is used to determine the presence or absence of a jackpot, supply
drawing probability tables that are required in order to conduct the supply drawing
used to select the medal carrying location 27 that is the object of medal supply among
the six medal carrying locations 27, and the like.
[0078] The CPU 66 is connected to the medal sensors 28 and the LED lamps 23 (23a through
23d) via an interface circuit 61. When it is detected by a medal sensor 28 that a
medal has entered a medal receiving opening 22, a detection signal is sent to the
CPU 66 via the interface circuit 61. Thereupon, if a drawing for determining the presence
or absence of a jackpot is conducted and the jackpot is activated, then a control
signal is sent to the two LED lamps 23 relating to the medal accumulating part to
which it is determined to pay out medals on the basis of the drawing result, and this
control signal causes the two LED lamps 23 to be lit with the same color.
[0079] Furthermore, the CPU 66 is connected to the medal accommodating part 90 via an interface
circuit 63. Each time that a specified period of time has elapsed, the CPU 66 sends
a driving signal to the opening-and-closing motor 92, and causes the opening-and-closing
motor 92 to operate. When the CPU 66 receives a detection signal from the lowering
limit position sensor 97 during the lowering of the opening-and-closing part 91 by
the rotation of the opening-and-closing motor 92, the CPU 66 sends a control signal
to the opening-and-closing motor 92 and stops the opening-and-closing motor 92. Then,
after a fixed period of time (5 seconds) has elapsed, the CPU 66 again sends a control
signal to the opening-and-closing motor 92 and causes the opening-and-closing motor
92 to rotate in the reverse direction so that the opening-and-closing part 91 is raised.
Furthermore, when the CPU 66 receives a detection signal from the raising limit position
sensor 96 during the raising of the opening-and-closing part 91, the CPU 66 sends
a control signal to the opening-and-closing motor 92 and stops the opening-and-closing
motor 92.
[0080] Furthermore, the CPU 66 is connected to a stepping motor 32, motor 35, raising and
lowering motor 102, and speaker 46 via an interface circuit 65. The stepping motor
32 is used to open and close the opening-and-closing doors 21 (21a through 21d) of
the medal accumulating parts 20 (20a through 20d), and the motor 35 is used to cause
a reciprocating motion of the abovementioned field plate.
[0081] As described above, the raising and lowering motor 102 is used to move the medal
receiving opening upwards and downwards in the vertical direction.
[0082] As described above, the speaker 46 is used to output background music, voice, sound
effects, or the like, in accordance with the game conditions.
[0083] The game that is played in the gaming machine constituting this embodiment will be
described below with reference to Figs. 8 to 10.
[0084] Fig. 8 is a flow chart which shows the game execution processing routine that is
executed in the gaming machine 10 shown in Fig. 1. This subroutine is called up and
executed when the power supply of the gaming machine 10 is switched on.
[0085] First, the CPU 66 determines whether or not a medal has entered either of the two
medal receiving openings 22 (step S10). More specifically, the CPU 66 determines whether
or not a detection signal has been received from the medal sensor 28 provided in the
medal receiving opening 22 detecting a medal that has entered one of the two medal
receiving openings 22. In cases where it is determined in step S10 that no medal has
entered either of the two medal receiving openings, this subroutine is ended.
[0086] On the other hand, in cases where it is determined that a medal has entered one of
the two medal receiving openings 22, the CPU 66 next executes drawing processing (step
S12). At this step S12, the CPU 66 performs a drawing on the basis of the abovementioned
drawing probability table in order to determine the presence or absence of a jackpot.
The results of this drawing are stored in the RAM 64 as drawing data. In this drawing,
a drawing is performed that determines whether a jackpot has been activated or missed
with respect to paying out of medals from one or more of the four medal accumulating
parts 20 (medal accumulating parts 20a through 20d). When the processing of this step
S12 is executed, the control part 60 functions as drawing means.
[0087] Fig. 9 shows one example of the drawing probability table described above. Here,
a case is described where the probability of a jackpot being activated with respect
to the paying out of medals from one or more of the four medal accumulating parts
is 1/32. Of course, in the present invention, the table used in the drawing for establishing
the presence or absence of a jackpot activation is not limited to the example shown
in Fig. 9.
[0088] In the drawing probability table shown in Fig. 9, the type of medal accumulating
part to which medals are to be paid out is established in accordance with a random
drawing value drawn within a range of 0 to 16383.
[0089] For example, no medals are paid out from any of the medal accumulating parts, if
the random drawing value is in the range of 0 to 15871. In this case, it is ascertained
that the jackpot has been missed.
[0090] Moreover, if the random drawing value is in the range of 15872 to 15935, then medals
are paid out from the medal accumulating part 20a, among the four medal accumulating
parts 20.
[0091] Moreover, if the random drawing value is in the range of 16128 to 16159, then medals
are paid out from the two medal accumulating parts 20a and 20b among the four medal
accumulating parts.
[0092] In this way, if a drawing is performed on the basis of the drawing probability table
shown in Fig. 9, then depending on the result of the drawing, a jackpot is activated
with respect to paying out medals from two or more medal accumulating parts of the
four medal accumulating parts.
[0093] When the processing in step S12 is executed, the CPU 66 next executes processing
that causes the LED lamps 23 to blink (step S14). When the processing of this step
S14 is executed, all of the LED lamps 23 (23a through 23d) blink while sequentially
changing color. Furthermore, the blinking of these LED lamps 23 is performed for a
fixed period of time (e. g., 3 seconds).
[0094] When the processing of step S14 has been executed, the CPU 66 next executes processing
for causing all of the LED lamps 23 (23a through 23d) to light on the basis of the
drawing data stored in the RAM 64 as a result of executing the processing in step
S12 (step S16).
[0095] When the processing in step S16 has been executed, the CPU 66 next determines whether
or not the lit colors of the left and right-hand LED lamps 23 are the same (step S18).
In this step S18, the CPU 66 determines whether or not the lit colors of the left
and right-hand LED lamps 23 are the same, for all of the four medal accumulating parts
20.
[0096] If it is determined in step S18 that the lit colors of the left and right-hand LED
lamps 23 are different in the case of all of the medal accumulating parts 20, then
this subroutine is ended.
[0097] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S18 that the lit colors of the left
and right-hand LED lamps 23 are the same in the case of any of the four medal accumulating
parts 20, then the CPU 66 next executes processing for opening the opening-and-closing
doors of the medal accumulating part 20 at which the lit colors of the left and right-hand
LED lamps 23 are the same (step S20). In this step S20, the CPU 66 sends a driving
signal to the stepping motor 32 and causes the opening-and-closing doors 21 to be
lowered and placed in an open state. When this processing by the stepping motor 20
is executed and the opening-and-closing doors 21 are placed in an open state, the
medals that have accumulated in the medal accumulating part 20 are paid out.
[0098] When the processing of this step S20 is executed, the control part 60 and the stepping
motor 32 function as pay-out means.
[0099] When the processing in step S20 has been executed, this subroutine is ended.
[0100] As described with reference to Fig. 8, in the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment,
the entry of a medal into either of the two medal receiving openings 22 is acknowledged,
a drawing for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of a jackpot is performed,
and if the drawing results indicate that a jackpot has been activated, then the activating
of the jackpot is notified to the player by means of the two LED lamps 23 lighting
up with the same color, and medals are paid out from the medal accumulating part 20.
On the other hand, if the drawing result indicates that a jackpot has not been activated
(in other words, that it has been missed), then the two LED lamps 23 light up with
different colors, thereby notifying the player that the drawing result indicates a
miss.
[0101] Fig. 10 is a flow chart which shows the medal supply processing routine that is executed
in the gaming machine 10 shown in Fig. 1. This subroutine is called up and executed
when the power supply of the gaming machine 10 is switched on.
[0102] First, the CPU 66 determines whether or not a specified period of time (5 minutes)
has elapsed (step S40). In cases where it is determined that this specified period
of time has not elapsed, the CPU 66 again performs the determination processing of
step S40. On the other hand, in cases where it is determined in step S40 that the
abovementioned specified period of time has elapsed, the CPU 66 next executes supply
drawing processing (step S42). In this step S42, the CPU 66 performs a drawing on
the basis of the supply drawing probability table that is stored in the ROM 62, and
selects the medal carrying location 27 that is the object of medal supply among the
six medal carrying locations 27 on the basis of the drawing results.
[0103] When the processing of step S42 has been executed, the CPU 66 next sends a driving
signal to the opening-and-closing motor 92 in order to open the opening-and-closing
part 91 associated with the medal carrying location 27, that has been selected in
step S42, and causes this opening-and-closing motor 92 to rotate (step S44). When
the processing of this step S44 is executed, the opening-and-closing motor 92 rotates
in the rightward direction, so that the opening-and-closing part 91 is lowered (see
Fig. 5).
[0104] When the processing of step S44 has been executed, the CPU 66 next determines whether
or not a detection signal has been received from the lowering limit position sensor
97 (step S46). Specifically, the CPU 66 determines whether or not a detection signal
transmitted from the lowering limit position sensor 97 as a result of the contact
95a disposed on the comb-form part 95 being detected by the lowering limit position
sensor 97 during the lowering of the opening-and-closing part 91 has been received.
[0105] In cases where it is determined in step S46 that a detection signal has not been
received, the CPU 66 again performs the determination processing of step S46.
[0106] On the other hand, in cases where it is determined in step S46 that a detection signal
has been received, the CPU 66 next sends a stopping signal to the opening-and-closing
motor 92 in order to stop the lowering of the opening-and-closing part 91, and thus
stops the rotation of the opening-and-closing motor 92 (step S48).
[0107] When the processing of step S48 has been executed, the CPU 66 next waits until a
specified period of time (5 seconds) has elapsed, and maintains the stopped state
of the opening-and-closing part 91 (step S50). Then, in order to raise the opening-and-closing
part 91, the CPU 66 sends a driving signal to the opening-and-closing motor 92, and
causes the opening-and-closing motor 92 to perform reverse rotation (step S52). When
the processing of this step S52 is executed, the opening-and-closing motor 92 rotates
in the leftward direction, so that the opening-and-closing part 91 is raised (see
Fig. 5).
[0108] When the processing of step S52 has been executed, the CPU 66 next determines whether
or not a detection signal has been received from the raising limit position sensor
96 (step S54). Specifically, the CPU 66 determines whether or not a detection signal
transmitted from the raising limit position sensor 96 as a result of the contact 95a
disposed on the comb-form part 95 being detected by the raising limit position sensor
96 during the raising of the opening-and-closing part 91 has been received.
[0109] In cases where it is determined in step S54 that a detection signal has not been
received, the CPU 66 again performs the determination processing of step S54.
[0110] In cases where it is determined in step S54 that a detection signal has been received,
the CPU 66 next sends a stopping signal to the opening-and-closing motor 92 in order
to stop the raising of the opening-and-closing part 91, and thus stops the rotation
of the opening-and-closing motor 92 (step S56). When the processing of step S56 has
been executed, this subroutine is ended.
[0111] In the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, as is described with reference to Fig.
10, a supply drawing that is used to select the medal carrying location 27 that is
the object of medal supply is performed, and the opening-and-closing part 91 is placed
in an open state for a fixed period of time (5 seconds) in order to supply medals
to the medal carrying location 27 that is selected on the basis of the drawing results.
When the opening-and-closing part 91 is placed in an open state, the medals slide
downward along the inclined surface 98 of the medal accommodating part 90, so that
the medals move into the medal accumulating part 20 installed on the medal carrying
location 27.
[0112] As described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 10, in the gaming machine 10 relating
to the embodiment of the present invention, since the medal receiving openings 22
can be moved upwards and downwards by means of the moving unit 100, the game is played
while sequentially changing the speed, direction, and the like, at which the medals
enter into the moving medal receiving openings 22. Consequently, it is possible to
achieve game contents having a rich sense of movement. Moreover, in order to increase
the frequency at which the medals enter into the medal receiving openings 22, it is
necessary to adjust the speed, direction, and the like, at which the medals are introduced
into same, and hence the skill of the player is reflected in the game results. Therefore,
the player can become absorbed in the game, without feeling boredom.
[0113] Furthermore, in the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, medals are paid out from
two or more of the four medal accumulating parts 20, depending on the results of a
drawing that is used to determine the presence or absence of a jackpot, and hence
there is an opportunity of acquiring a large number of medals at one time, thereby
creating a strong sense of anticipation.
[0114] Furthermore, in the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, the medals that are transported
by the transporting devices 50 and rails 45 are accommodated in the medal accommodating
part 90, and these medals that are accommodated in the medal accommodating part 90
are supplied to the medal carrying locations 27 that are selected on the basis of
the supply drawing. Accordingly, in the stage in which the medals are transported
by the transporting devices 50 and rails 45, the medal carrying locations 27 to which
the medals are being supplied cannot be recognized. Accordingly, all of the players
playing the game using six game fields 15 can be enveloped by a feeling of anticipation
regarding the supply of the medals, so that the interest of the game can be sustained.
[0115] Furthermore, in the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, since the machine is constructed
so that the medals that are transported by the transporting devices 50 and rails 45
can be visually recognized by the players, the quantity of medals that are transported
by the transporting devices 50 and rails 45 can be recognized. Accordingly, all of
the players playing the game can be more strongly enveloped by a feeling of anticipation
regarding the supply of the medals.
[0116] Furthermore, in the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, the medal accumulating
parts 20a through 20c are respectively disposed at higher levels than the medal accumulating
parts 20b through 20d that are adjacent on the side of the medal discharge opening
17, so that the medals that are paid out from the medal accumulating parts 20a through
20c move as a result of their own weight, and are respectively accumulated in the
medal accumulating parts 20b through 20d. Accordingly, there is no need for a device
that is used to move the medals or the like, and as a result, the cost of manufacturing
the gaming machine can be reduced.
[0117] In the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, notification that a jackpot has been
activated is made by lighting both of the two LED lamps that are installed in each
of the four medal accumulating parts 20 with the same lit color. Accordingly, the
activating of a jackpot can be perceived directly. Furthermore, the feeling of achievement
at having activated a jackpot can be sufficiently experienced as a result of such
notification that a jackpot has been activated, and overlooking of the scenario in
which the medals are paid out can be prevented. As a result, the players can thoroughly
enjoy the game.
[0118] Furthermore, in the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, the players are notified
of the drawing results of the drawing that is used to determine the presence or absence
of a jackpot by means of LED lamps which are highly visible, and hence, the activating
of jackpots can be confirmed more reliably.
[0119] In the example described above, a gaming machine is constructed in such a manner
that the medal receiving openings can be moved upwards and downwards, but in the present
invention, the direction of movement of the medal receiving openings is not limited
in particular. For example; the gaming machine may also be constructed in such a manner
that the medal receiving openings can be moved rightwards and leftwards, or forwards
and backwards, and mover, the gaming machine may also be constructed in such a manner
that the medal receiving openings move in a circular fashion.
[0120] Moreover, it is also possible to provide openable and closable lids in the opening
sections of the medal receiving openings where the medals enter into same, these lids
being placed in an open state or a closed state at prescribed timings. By this means,
it is possible to make it more difficult for medals to enter into the medal receiving
openings, and hence the difficulty of the game can be adjusted.
[0121] Furthermore, in the abovementioned example, a case is described where a common medal
receiving opening is provided for a plurality of medal accumulating parts, entry of
medals into the medal receiving opening is acknowledged, and a drawing is performed
in order to establish the presence or absence of a jackpot with respect to the paying
out of medals from any one of the plurality of medal accumulating parts, but in the
present invention, for example, medal receiving openings are provided corresponding
respectively to each of the plurality of medal accumulating parts, entry of medals
into a medal receiving opening is acknowledged, and a drawing can be performed in
order to establish the presence or absence of a jackpot with respect to the paying
out of medals from the medal accumulating part relating to that medal receiving opening.
[0122] In the abovementioned example, a case is described in which medal accumulating parts
are respectively disposed at higher levels than the medal accumulating parts that
are adjacent on the side of the medal discharge opening, and the gaming machine is
constructed so that the medals from the respective medal accumulating part move as
a result of their own weight from the respective medal accumulating parts, and are
accumulated in the medal accumulating parts that are adjacent on the side of the medal
discharge opening. However, in the present invention, as long as the respective medal
accumulating parts are disposed so that these medal accumulating parts are sequentially
disposed and ranged along the medal discharge opening, there are no particular restrictions
on the positional relationship of the respective medal accumulating parts; for example,
the gaming machine may be constructed so that a medal accumulating part A among a
plurality of medal accumulating parts is positioned beneath a medal accumulating part
B that is adjacent on the side of the medal discharge opening, in such a manner that
medals that are paid out from the medal accumulating part A are moved into the medal
accumulating part B by means of a moving device, such as a conveyor or the like.
[0123] In the abovementioned example, a case is described in which medals that are supplied
from a medal accommodating part are accumulated in the uppermost medal accumulating
part of a plurality of medal accumulating parts provided in the medal carrying location,
but in the present invention, there is no particular restriction on the medal accumulating
part where the medals that are supplied from the medal accommodating part are accumulated,
and these medals may be accumulated in any medal accumulating part of the plurality
of medal accumulating parts.
[0124] Moreover, in the present invention, it is also possible to provide no medal accumulating
part in the medal carrying location; for example, medals that are supplied from the
medal accommodating part 90 may be caused to slide down an inclined surface of the
medal carrying location so that they can be given to the player via the medal discharge
opening.
[0125] In the present invention, for example, the gaming machine may be constructed in such
a manner that the collision of a medal with a movable target provided in a prescribed
position inside the game space is acknowledged, and a drawing is performed in order
to determine the presence or absence of a jackpot.
[0126] Furthermore, in the abovementioned example, a case is described in which notification
of the activating of a jackpot is made in cases where the lit color of two LED lamps
disposed in the medal accumulating part is the same color. In the present invention,
however, there are no particular restrictions on the method that is used to notify
the players of the activating of a jackpot. For example, such notification can be
accomplished by increasing the brightness of all of a plurality of LED lamps corresponding
to the medal accumulating part, or such notification can be accomplished by causing
all of a plurality of LED lamps corresponding to the medal accumulating part to blink.
For example, the activating of a jackpot can also be reported by displaying a stopped
combination of patterns or the like displayed by respective display devices comprising
a plurality of LED pattern display devices corresponding to the medal accumulating
parts as a specified combination (e. g., a combination in which all of the patterns
are "7").
[0127] Furthermore, in the abovementioned example, a case is described in which the passage
of a fixed period of time (e. g., 5 minutes) is acknowledged, a supply drawing for
the purpose of selecting the medal carrying location constituting the object of medal
supply is performed, and medals are supplied to the medal carrying location selected
in accordance with the results of this supply drawing. In the present invention, however,
there are no particular restrictions on the conditions used to select the medal carrying
location to which medals are supplied; for example, the activating of a jackpot and
resulting pay-out of medals from one of the four medal accumulating parts are acknowledged,
and the selection of the medal carrying location to which medals are to be supplied
is performed accordingly.
[0128] The present invention is a gaming machine comprising a medal receiving opening 22,
a medal discharge opening 17 and a plurality of medal accumulating parts 20(20a through
20d), wherein the plurality of medal accumulating parts 20a throuth 20d are disposed
so that these parts are sequentially disposed and ranged along the medal discharge
opening 17, the medals that are paid out from the respective medal accumulating parts
20a throuth 20c are moved sequentially and accumulated in the medal accumulating parts
20b throuth 20d that are adjacent on the side of the medal discharge opening 17, and
the medals that are paid out from the medal accumulating part 20d located closely
to the medal discharge opening 17 can be given to the player, the gaming machine comprising
drawing means which perform a drawing used to determine the presence or absence of
a jackpot when medals are detected, pay-out means 21a through 21d which pay out medals
from the medal accumulating parts 20a throuth 20d in accordance with the drawing results
of the drawing means, and moving means 100 which move the medal receiving opening
22.