Shooting game machine

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT

[0002] A generally known shooting game machine is such that a bullet made of cork is loaded at a muzzle and discharged toward a target placed in front to hit it.

[0003] However, in the above known shooting game machine, the bullet itself is relatively light and its trajectory is easy to deviate from a target position while it is flying. Even if the bullet hits the target, it is often by accident, but not by a result based on a shooting ability of a game player. Therefore, the conventional shooting game tends to lack ingenuity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In view of the problems residing in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a shooting game machine capable of improving the ingenuity of a game.

[0005] In order to fulfill the above object, according to the present invention, a shooting game machine for discharging a disk-shaped or substantially disk-shaped flying member made of a metal to hit a target, comprising: a target provided in a casing, a simulated gun having a muzzle arranged inside the casing and adapted to discharge—the flying member in such a manner that the thickness direction of the flying member substantially extends along a horizontal direction, and a detecting means for detecting that the flying member discharged from the simulated gun has hit the target.

[0006] These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external construction of a shooting game machine according to one embodiment of the invention,

[0008]
FIG. 2 is a front view of the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,

[0009]
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,

[0010]
FIG. 4 is a section along A-A of FIG. 3,

[0011]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the external construction of the shooting game machine of FIG. 1 without a simulated gun,

[0012]
FIG. 6 is a front view of the simulated gun provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,

[0013]
FIG. 7 is a section along B-B of FIG. 6,

[0014]
FIGS. 8A and 8B are an enlarged section of an upper part of the simulated gun of FIG. 7 and an enlarged section showing the upper part of the simulated gun of FIG. 7 with a maintenance cover as its part detached, respectively,

[0015]
FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C are a front view, a plan view and a left side view showing an essential portion of the simulated gun, respectively,

[0016]
FIGS. 10A and 10B are a perspective view showing the essential portion of the simulated gun when viewed in a direction A of FIG. 9B and a perspective view showing the essential portion of the simulated gun when viewed in a direction B of FIG. 9B, respectively,

[0017]
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the essential portion of the simulated gun provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,

[0018]
FIGS. 12A, 12B and 12C are a front view, a plan view and a left side view corresponding to FIGS. 9A to 9C and showing the essential portion of the simulated gun when a token is set in a token hitting position C,

[0019]
FIGS. 13A and 13B are perspective views corresponding to FIGS. 10A and 10B and showing the essential portion of the simulated gun when viewed in a direction A of FIG. 12B and when viewed in a direction B of FIG. 12B with the token set in the token hitting position C, respectively,

[0020]
FIG. 14 is a front view showing a token hitting portion of the simulated gun provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,

[0021]
FIG. 15 is a left side view showing the token hitting portion of the simulated gun provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,

[0022]
FIGS. 16A and 16B are perspective views showing a portion of a token push-out portion near a photosensor in the simulated gun provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1 when a bar is not detected and when it is detected, respectively,

[0023]
FIGS. 17A and 17B are front views showing a portion near a trigger of the simulated gun provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1 before the trigger is pulled and when it is pulled, respectively,

[0024]
FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of a main unit provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,

[0025]
FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view showing a construction of mounting interfering plates and target assemblies on the main unit and then mounting an identical cover,

[0026]
FIGS. 20A, 20B and 20C are a plan view, a front view and a left side view of the main unit shown in FIG. 18, respectively,

[0027]
FIG. 21 is a rear view of the main unit shown in FIG. 18,

[0028]
FIGS. 22A and 22B are a front view and a right side view showing a target portion provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1, respectively,

[0029]
FIGS. 23A and 23B are a front view and a plan view showing the target assembly (without a supporting member) provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1, respectively,

[0030]
FIGS. 24A and 24B are a rear view and a left side view showing the target assembly (without the supporting member) provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1, respectively,

[0031]
FIGS. 25A and 25B are a front view showing the target assembly (without the supporting member and a target) provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1 and a section along J-J of FIG. 25A, respectively,

[0032]
FIGS. 26A and 26B are a left side view in section showing the internal construction of a lower box provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1 and a right side view in section showing the internal construction of an upper box provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1, respectively,

[0033]
FIG. 27 is a section showing a token detecting section of the lower box provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,

[0034]
FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing the construction of a control unit provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,

[0035]
FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing a demonstration mode control executed in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,

[0036]
FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing a token detection control executed in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,

[0037]
FIG. 31 is a flow chart showing a target movement control executed in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,

[0038]
FIG. 32 is a flow chart showing a game mode control executed in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,

[0039]
FIG. 33 is a flow chart showing a token discharging mode control executed in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1,

[0040]
FIGS. 34A and 34B are a flow chart showing a token hit processing mode control executed in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1, and

[0041]
FIG. 35 is a flow chart showing a ticket issuing mode control executed in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0042] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the invention is specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external construction of a shooting game machine according to one embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the shooting game machine, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the shooting game machine, and FIG. 4 is a section along A-A of FIG. 3.

[0044] This shooting game machine 1 is provided with a casing 2 and a simulated gun (hereinafter, merely “gun”) 50. The casing 20 is formed with a window 3a in its ceiling surface, windows 3b, 3c in its opposite side surfaces, and a window 3d in its front surface. Transparent plate members 4a, 4b, 4c made of, e.g. an acrylic resin are fitted in the windows 3a to 3c. A transparent plate member 5 made of, e.g. an acrylic resin is also fitted in the front window 3d. This plate member 5 is formed with, for example, a substantially rectangular opening 5a, and a muzzle inserting member 40 is mounted in the opening 5a.

[0045] Inside the casing 2, two display devices 6a, 6b are provided on a rear surface 2a, the upper display device 6a being mainly adapted to display a score every time shooting is made and the lower display device 6b being mainly adapted to display a jackpot value. A plurality of (four in the shown embodiment) light sources for electric decorations, e.g. lamps 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d are provided on the rear surface 2a. Inside the casing 2 are provided one screening portion 10 and two target units 20, 30. The screening portion 10 is provided at a front position, the target unit 20 at a middle position and the target unit 30 at a rear position.

[0046] On the outer front surface of the casing 2 are provided a proximity sensor 8, a loudspeaker 8A and a ticket discharge opening 9. A ticket issuing device (ticket dispenser) 9A is provided inside the ticket discharge opening 9 (see FIG. 4), and a ticket dispensed from the ticket issuing device 9A is discharged through the ticket discharge opening 9.

[0047]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the shooting game machine without the gun 50. As shown in FIG. 5, the aforementioned muzzle inserting member 40 is mounted on the plate member 5 and includes two disk-shaped plate members 41, 42, and four coupling members 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d for coupling the plate members 41, 42 to each other while spacing them at a specified distance.

[0048] The two plate members 41, 42 are so provided as to hold the plate member 5 therebetween and are formed with slit-shaped muzzle insertion holes 41a, 42a. The positions and orientation of the muzzle insertion holes 41a, 42a are aligned with their longitudinal directions extending in vertical direction. The four coupling members 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d are provided at four corner positions of a rectangle, and are movable to up, down, left or right or in any desired direction within a specified range until they come into contact with the inner edge of the opening 5a while keeping defining the same rectangular.

[0049] A gun mounting portion 60 is mounted on the casing 2 before the plate member 5, and includes a gun mounting plate 61 inside the casing 2, an opening 62 formed above the gun mounting plate 61, an outer frame 63 mounted to close the opening 62, and a cover 64 mounted to close an opening 63a formed in an upper part of the outer frame 63 as shown in FIG. 4. The cover 64 is movable along the upper surface of the outer frame 63 and is formed with an opening 64a in its portion.

[0050] The gun 50 is mounted on the gun mounting plate 61 of the gun mounting portion 60 with the muzzle 51 inserted through the muzzle insertion holes 41a, 42a, and a supporting portion 52 provided at the bottom part of the gun 50 is inserted through the opening 64a of the cover 64.

[0051]
FIG. 6 is a front view showing the gun 50; FIG. 7 is a section along B-B of FIG. 6; FIGS. 8A and 8B are an enlarged section of an upper part of the gun 50 of FIG. 7 and an enlarged section showing the upper part of the gun with a maintenance cover as its part detached, respectively; FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C are a front view, a plan view and a left side view showing an essential portion of the gun 50, respectively; FIGS. 10A and 10B are a perspective view showing the essential portion of the gun 50 when viewed in a direction A of FIG. 9B and a perspective view showing the essential portion of the gun 50 when viewed in a direction B of FIG. 9B, respectively; and FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the essential portion of the gun 50. Further, FIGS. 12A, 12B and 12C are a front view, a plan view and a left side view corresponding to FIGS. 9A to 9C and showing the essential portion of the gun 50 when a token is set in a token hitting position C; and FIGS. 13A and 13B are perspective views corresponding to FIGS. 10A and 10B and showing the essential portion of the gun 50 when viewed in a direction A of FIG. 12B and a perspective view showing the essential portion of the simulated gun when viewed in a direction B of FIG. 12B with the token set in the token hitting position C.

[0052] This gun 50 is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, comprised of a fixed portion 53 provided at its bottom, a supporting portion 54 supported on the fixed portion 53 and a simulated gun main body (hereinafter, merely “gun main body”) 55 provided on the supporting portion 54. The fixed portion 53 includes a fixed member 53a fixed to the gun mounting plate 61, a vertical shaft 53b standing on the fixed member 53a, and a rotary member 53c rotatably provided on a horizontal plane about the shaft 53b. Two bearings 53d, 53e are provided between the shaft 53b and the rotary member 53c.

[0053] A shaft 53f is horizontally provided at an upper part of the fixed portion 53, and the supporting portion 54 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 53f about a horizontal axis with its rotatable range specified by stoppers 53g, 53h provided at the opposite sides with respect to its rotating direction.

[0054] The gun main body 55 includes a token inserting portion 56 at its upper end as shown in FIG. 8A. The token inserting portion 56 is comprised of a token insertion guide 56a having a slit, and an insertion hole 56b. In the token insertion guide 56a, a slanted surface is formed at a side where the slit is formed, so that a token 61 can be easily introduced to the slit by the slanted surface. The insertion hole 56b is provided with two facing members 57, 58 in the thickness direction of the token 61 as shown in FIG. 10, and two restricting members 70, 71 for restricting the diameter of the token 61 are between the facing members 57, 58. The restricting members 70, 71 have a thickness slightly larger than the thickness of the token 61, and a spacing between the facing members 57, 58 is equal to the thickness of the restricting members 70, 71 so that the token 61 can fall without any problem.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 11, the facing members 57, 58 have slanted surfaces 57a, 58a which are inclined outwardly toward their top, and vertical surfaces 57b, 58b are formed below the slanted surfaces 57a, 58a. The restricting member 70 is comprised of a wide portion 70a, a slanted portion 70b and a narrow portion 70c from its upper end, whereas the other restricting member 71 has a constant width. A spacing L between the wide portion 70a and the restricting member 71 is slightly longer than the diameter of the token 61 so as to prevent tokens having a specified diameter or larger from being inserted. The restricting member 71 is mounted while being tightly held between the facing members 57, 58, whereas the restricting member 70 is mounted on the facing member 57 by fastening unillustrated screws through oblong holes 57c of the facing member 57, and the spacing L can be changed by changing the position (horizontal position) with respect to the oblong holes 57c. Stoppers 72a, 72b are mounted at bottom positions of the facing member 57. Specifically, the stopper 72a is mounted on the restricting member 70 and the stopper 72b is mounted on the facing member 57 via the restricting member 71 by fastening a screw through a round hole 57d. A spacing L1 between the stoppers 72a, 72b is set shorter than the diameter of the tokens 61 to stop the fall of specified tokens 61 while allowing tokens 61 having a diameter shorter than the specified tokens 61 and not to be used to fall. A plurality of (two in this example) tokens 61 can be inserted onto the stoppers 72a, 72b. It should be noted that the insertion of the tokens having the specified diameter or larger may be prevented by providing the token inserting device 56 with slits separately prepared for tokens of different diameters.

[0056] Below the facing members 57, 58 is, as shown in FIG. 8B, provided a discharging member 83 forming a discharge path 73a for discharging smaller tokens not to be used to the outside. This discharge member 73 is integrally provided on a maintenance cover 55a detachable from the gun main body 55. Thus, the smaller tokens not to be used are discharged to the outside via the discharge member 73.

[0057] A token detecting sensor 74 is mounted on a horizontally extending portion 57y of the facing member 57. The sensor 74 is comprised of a sensor member 74a, a mount member 74b and a reflection type optical sensor 74 provided on the sensor member 74a. This optical sensor 74c has its sensing direction oriented toward an opening 57h as shown in FIG. 10B and detects the insertion of the token 61.

[0058] A gunbarrel mount hole 57e is formed at a side (left side of FIG. 11) of the facing member 57, and a gunbarrel 75 is mounted in the gunbarrel mount hole 57e by a screw (not shown). The gunbarrel 75 includes two substantially rectangular guide plates 75a, 75b, and token guide groove forming members 75c, 75d having a substantially triangular shape and provided between the guide plates 75a and 75b. The lower surface of the upper forming member 75c and the upper surface of the lower forming member 75d are spaced apart by a distance L2 slightly longer than the diameter of the token 61 over the entire length thereof. The thickness of the forming members 75c, 75d is slightly larger than that of the token 61, and the muzzle 51 is defined between leading ends 75c′ and 75d′ of the forming members 75c, 75d. The lower forming member 75d has a substantially triangular shape whose width increases toward the side of the muzzle 51, whereas the upper forming member 75c has a substantially triangular shape whose width decreases toward the side of the muzzle 51. The gunbarrel 75 is mounted in the gunbarrel mount hole 57e with the two guide plates 75a, 75b made integral to each other by unillustrated screws or the like while holding the forming members 75c, 75d therebetween. A longitudinally long hollow (longitudinal hole) enclosed by the guide plates 75a, 75b and the forming members 75c, 75d substantially serves an interior of the gunbarrel for discharging the token 61 such that the thickness direction of the token extend along horizontal direction.

[0059] Mount holes 57f, 57g are formed at a side (right side in FIG. 11) of the facing member 57, and a token push-out portion 76 is mounted in the mount holes 57f, 57g. The token push-out portion 76 includes a mount piece 76a to be mounted in the mount hole 57g and a vertical shaft 76b having its upper part supported on the mount piece 76a and having its lower part mounted in the mount hole 57f.

[0060] The token push-out portion 76 also includes a token push-out arm 76c having a pushing portion 76d, and a token pressing member 76e, and the token push-out arm 76c and the token pressing member 76e are integral to each other. This integral unit of the token push-out arm 76c and the token pressing member 76e is rotatably supported on the vertical shaft 76b with the vertical shaft 76b inserted through mount holes 76i, 76j formed in the token push-out arm 76c and with bushes 76f, 76g mounted in the mount holes 76i, 76j from the outside (see FIGS. 9A and 11). The token push-out arm 76c and the token pressing member 76e are provided at the outer side and the inner side of the facing member 57 with the facing member 58 therebetween (see FIG. 9B). A coil spring 76h for returning the token push-out arm 76c is provided between mounting pieces 76k, 76m in which the mount holes 76i, 76j are formed. The vertical shaft 76b is inserted through the inside of the coil spring 76h, and the opposite ends of the coil spring 76h projecting outward are held in contact with the token push-out arm 76c and the facing member 57 which are opposed to each other. The coil spring 76h biases a pushing force to the token push-out arm 76c in a direction of arrow E so that the token push-out arm 76c is brought closer to the facing member 57 (see FIG. 9B).

[0061] As shown in FIG. 9A, the token push-out arm 76c is provided with a suspending piece 76n, with which a bar 77b mounted on a hitting hammer 77a forming a token hitting portion 77 to be described later for dropping the token 61 can be brought into and out of contact. FIG. 9A shows a contact state while FIG. 12A shows a non-contact state.

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 14 (front view) and 15 (left side view), the token hitting portion 77 includes a horizontal shaft 77c secured to the hitting hammer 77a, and the horizontal shaft 77c is rotatably supported on bearings 77d, 77e mounted on a lower frame 55b of the gun main body 55. A bevel gear 77f is secured to the horizontal shaft 77c and is engaged with another bevel gear 77g, which is secured to a rotatable shaft 77i of a rotary solenoid 77h. Accordingly, as the rotatable shaft 77i of the rotary solenoid 77h rotates, the bevel gear 77g is rotated, which then causes the bevel gear 77f to rotate, thereby rotating the hitting hammer 77a to the right of FIG. 14 via the horizontal shaft 77c within a specified range. As a result, the hitting hammer 77a is retracted from a token hitting position C. Thereafter, the hitting hammer 77a is returned forward by the reverse rotation of the rotary solenoid 77h. The rotatable shaft 77i of the rotary solenoid 77h may be directly coupled to the horizontal shaft 77c. In the case of such a construction, the bevel gears 77f and 77g may be omitted.

[0063] A bar 77n is mounted on the hitting hammer 77a, and a photosensor 77j provided with a light emitter 77k and a light detector 77m is so provided as to face a rotatable range of the bar 77n.

[0064]
FIGS. 16A and 16B show a portion of the token push-out portion 77 near the photosensor 77j when the bar 77n is not detected and when the bar 77n is detected, respectively. When the hitting hammer 77a is retracted from the state of FIG. 16A to the state of FIG. 16B, a bent portion 77u at the leading end of the bar 77n crosses a sensing area of the light detector 77m and the photosensor 77j sends a return signal to a game controller 107 to be described later. The rotary solenoid 77h rotates in a direction reverse from the preceding forward direction in accordance with a signal from the game controller 107 to return the hitting hammer 77a forward. A coil spring 77p for returning the hitting hammer 77a forward is mounted on the horizontal shaft 77c as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, and the hitting hammer 77a is returned forward by the rotation of the rotary solenoid 77h together with an elastic biasing force given from the coil spring 77p. Consequently, a hitting member mounted on the hitting hammer 77a, e.g. a coil spring 77q is returned from the retracted position D to the token hitting position C. Identified by 77s in FIG. 14 is a stopper for stopping the hitting hammer 77a near the token hitting position C.

[0065] Further, as the hitting hammer 77a is returned forward, the bar 77b is elastically deformed upon coming into contact with the suspending piece 76c as shown in FIG. 9A, and this elastic deforming force returns the token push-out arm 76c in a direction opposite from the arrow direction E against the pushing force acting in the arrow direction E. On the other hand, when the hitting hammer 77a is retracted by the rotary solenoid 77h, the bar 77b is brought out of contact with the suspending piece 76n. Accordingly, the token push-out arm 76c is rotated in the arrow direction E, and the pushing portion 76d passes through the opening 57h formed in the facing member 57 shown in FIGS. 10B and 11 to have its opposite sides held by the facing member 57 and the token pressing member 76e as shown in FIG. 10A, and pushes the token 61 placed on the stoppers 72a, 72b in a direction of arrow F (horizontal direction). Consequently, the token 61 is moved in the arrow direction F on the stoppers 72a, 72b and dropped from the ends of the stoppers 72a, 72b to be set in the token hitting position C.

[0066] The rotary solenoid 77h starts operating by pulling a trigger 78 provided in the gun main body 55 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0067]
FIGS. 17A and 17B are front views showing a portion of the gun main body 55 near the trigger 78 before the trigger 78 is pulled and when it is pulled, respectively.

[0068] The trigger 78 is pivotal about a rotatable shaft 78a, and a cam portion 78b is formed at an upper part of the trigger 78. A microswitch 79 is provided above the trigger 78, such that a detector 79a of the microswitch 79 is pivotally provided in directions of arrows of FIG. 17A and a roller 79b provided at the leading end of the detector 79a is in sliding contact with the cam portion 78b. A switch portion 79c is provided near the detector 79a of the microswitch 79.

[0069] Before the trigger 78 is pulled, the detector 79a is away from the switch portion 79c as shown in FIG. 17A. When the trigger 78 is pulled, the detector 79a is pivoted upward by the cam portion 78b to push the switch portion 79c as shown in FIG. 17B, whereby the microswitch 79 detects that the trigger 78 has been pulled and outputs a detection signal to the game controller 107. The game controller 107 causes the rotary solenoid 77h to start operating in accordance with the received detection signal.

[0070] A gunsight 80 is provided on the top of the gun main body 55. The token 61 set in the token hitting position c is hit by the hitting member, e.g. the coil spring 77q when the game player pulls the trigger 78 while viewing through the gunsight 80. As a result, the token 61 is discharged from the muzzle 51 through the gunbarrel 75 to fly toward the target units 10, 20, 30. The coil spring 77q is provided to increase a force for hitting the token 61.

[0071] The aforementioned screening portion 10 and target units 20, 30 are constructed by mounting different interfering plates 10A, 20A, 30B on identical main units 10A, 20A, 30A constructed as shown in FIG. 18 (exploded perspective view) and then mounting identical covers 10C, 20C, 30C as shown in FIG. 19. The screening portion 10 and the target units 20, 30 are described in detail below.

[0072]
FIGS. 20A, 20B and 20C are a plan view, a front view and a left side view of the main unit 10A (20A, 30A), respectively, and FIG. 21 is a rear view thereof.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 18, a guide rail 12 is mounted on a supporting plate 11 and a mounting portion 13 is movable on and along the guide rail 12 in the main unit 10A. The guide rail 12 includes flanges 12d, 12e projecting outwardly from the ends of opposite side surfaces 12b, 12c of a middle portion 12a having a U-shaped cross section.

[0074] The mounting portion 13 includes a mounting member 13a having a mounting surface 13b elevated like a table formed in its middle and having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. Guide rollers 13c, 13d, 13e, 13f are mounted near the four corners of the mounting member 13a. The guide rollers 13c, 13d are in contact with the side surface 12b and the guide rollers 13e, 13f are in contact with the side surface 12c while the guide rail 12 is held between the guide rollers 13c, 13d and the guide rollers 13e, 13f. As shown in FIGS. 20B and 21, three guide rollers 13x, 13y, 13z are provided at the front side of the mounting portion 13, and three guide rollers 13x′, 13y′, 13z′ are provided at the rear side thereof. The guide rollers 13x, 13y, 13z are so arranged as to hold the flange 12d therebetween, whereas the guide rollers 13x′, 13y′, 13z′ are so arranged as to hold the flange 12e therebetween.

[0075] The supporting plate 11 is formed with round mount holes 11a, 11b at its opposite ends, and a motor 14 is mounted behind the mount hole 11a such that a rotatable shaft 14a thereof projects from the rear side to the front side of the mount hole 11a. On the other hand, a driven shaft member 15 is mounted behind the mount hole 11b such that a rotatable shaft 15a thereof projects from the rear side to the front side of the mount hole 11b. The driven shaft member 15 is provided with a tensioner 15b as shown in FIG. 21. The tensioner 15b is comprised of a supporting member 15d secured to a token entrance preventing cover 18 to be described later, a tensioning bolt 15e rotatably mounted on the supporting member 15d, a threaded bar 15c having one end mounted on the bolt 15e, an internally threaded portion 15h for allowing the passage of the other end of the threaded bar 15c, and a frame 15g formed with an internally threaded portion 15f for allowing the passage of an end of the shaft 15a of the driven shaft member 15. Thus, as the bolt 15e is rotated, the frame 15g and the shaft 15a are moved along transverse direction of FIG. 21.

[0076] A main drive pulley 16a is mounted on the rotatable shaft 14a of the motor 14, a driven pulley 16b is mounted on the shaft 15a of the driven shaft member 15, and an endless belt 16c is mounted on the pulleys 16a, 16b as shown in FIGS. 18 and 20. A fixed piece 16d is mounted on the endless belt 16c. This fixed piece 16d is fixed to a drive transmitting plate 13g mounted on the front surface of the mounting member 13a, and is moved along the guide rail 12 as the endless belt 16c rotates, with the result that the mounting member 13a is moved along the guide rail 12. A moving speed of the mounting member 13a is adjusted by the rotating speed of the motor 14, and a stretched degree of the endless belt 16c is adjusted by the rotation of the bolt 15e.

[0077] On the rear surface of the supporting plate 11, optical sensors 17a, 17b as two limit sensors are mounted while being spaced apart by a specified distance as shown in FIG. 21. Each optical sensor 17a, 17b is provided with a light emitter at one of its upper and lower sides and a light detector at the other of its upper and lower sides. On the other hand, a detectable member 13h having a U-shaped cross section is mounted on the rear surface of the mounting member 13a as shown in FIGS. 18 and 20C, and a lower horizontal piece 13i thereof is horizontally moved to pass between the light emitter and the light detector of the optical sensor 17a (17b). Both optical sensors 17a, 17b output a signal for switching the rotating direction of the motor 14 to a target movement controller 101 to be described later when light is blocked by the horizontal piece 13i, and the motor 14 rotates in either one of the forward and reverse directions in accordance with a signal from the target movement controller 101. In this way, the mounting member 13a reciprocates along the guide rail 12 within a specific range.

[0078] The token entrance preventing cover 18 is mounted on the rear surface of the supporting plate 11 as shown in FIGS. 18 and 21. On the other hand, cover mounting members 11c, 11d bent at obtuse angles are mounted on the front surface of the supporting plate 11 as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.

[0079] The main unit 10A is constructed as above, and the other main units 20A, 30A are identically constructed.

[0080] The cover 10C (20C, 30C) is mounted on the cover mounting members 11c, 11d of the main unit 10A (20A, 30A). However, target raising members 29a, 29b to be described later and shown in FIG. 3 are mounted on the cover 30C.

[0081] In the main unit 10A, an interfering plate portion 10B is mounted on the mounting surface 13b of the mounting member 13a as shown in FIG. 19. The interfering plate portion 10b includes a supporting member 19a having an L-shaped cross section and mounted on the mounting surface 13b, an intermediate supporting member 19b fixed to a shorter side of the supporting member 19a, and interfering plates 19c, 19d fixed to the opposite ends of the intermediate supporting member 19b. Sheets having a desired picture or pattern are adhered to the interfering plates 19c, 19d.

[0082] In the main unit 20A, a target assembly 20B is mounted on the mounting surface 13b of the mounting member 13a. This target assembly 20B includes a supporting member 20a having an L-shaped cross section and mounted on the mounting surface 13b, an intermediate supporting member 20b fixed to a shorter side of the supporting member 20a, and target portions 21A, 21B fixed to the opposite ends of the intermediate supporting member 20b. The target portions 21A, 21B are identically constructed.

[0083]
FIGS. 22A and 22B are a front view and a right side view showing the target portion 21A (21B), respectively.

[0084] The target portion 21A includes a supporting box 22, a target mounting piece 24 which is rotatably mounted on a support shaft 23 provided on the supporting box 22 between a standing position G and a laying position H reached when being rotated backward from the standing position G, and a plate-shaped target 25 fixed to the mounting piece 24. A sheet having a desired picture or pattern is adhered to the target 25. A fixed member 26a is fixed to the support shaft 23, and a substantially cylindrical stopper 26b is mounted on the fixed member 26a in a direction normal to a radial direction of the support shaft 23 while opposite ends 26c, 26d thereof project from an edge of the fixed member 26a. When the mounting piece 24 and the target 25 are at the standing position G, one end 26c of the stopper 26b is in contact with a stopping member 22a provided in the supporting box 22. When the mounting piece 24 and the target 25 are at the laying position H, an other end 26d of the stopper 26b is in contact with a ceiling surface 22b of the support box 22.

[0085] A light blocking member 27 having an L-shaped cross section is mounted on the fixed member 26a, and an optical sensor 28 is provided in a rotatable range of a bent light blocking portion 27a at the outer side of the light blocking member 27. In the optical sensor 28, a light emitter 28a and a light detector 28b are spaced apart by a specified distance in vertical direction, and the light blocking portion 27a passes between the light emitter 28a and the light detector 28b. When the state of the optical sensor 28 changes from the one where light which should be incident on the light detector 28b is blocked by the light blocking portion 27a to the one where light is incident on the light detector 28b, the optical sensor 28 outputs a signal representing that the token 61 has hit the target 25 to a token hit processing mode controller 110 to be described later upon judgment that the target 25 is moving from the standing position G to the laying position H.

[0086] The target 25 fallen down by being hit by the token 61 is returned to the standing position G by the target raising member 29a when the mounting member 13a is moved outwardly along the guide rail 12. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the edge of the fallen target 25 of the target portion 21A comes into contact with a slanted portion 29c of the target raising member 29a while the target 25 is moved in direction G, and the target 25 is thereby gradually raised and returned to the standing position G upon reaching a horizontal portion 29d.

[0087] The above applies also to the target portion 21B except that the target 25 of the target portion 21B is returned from the laying position H to the standing position G by the other target raising member 29b. Specifically, the edge of the fallen target 25 of the target portion 21B comes into contact with a slanted portion 29e of the target raising member 29b while the target 25 is moved in direction G, and the target 25 is thereby gradually raised and returned to the standing position G upon reaching a horizontal portion 29f.

[0088] In the main unit 30A, the target assembly 30B is mounted on the mounting surface 13b of the mounting member 13a as shown in FIG. 19. The target assembly 30B includes a supporting member 30a having an L-shaped cross section and mounted on the mounting surface 13b, a lower box 31 fixed to a shorter side of the supporting member 30a, an upper box 32, a plate-shaped target 33 rotatably mounted on the lower box 31, and a light source (one lamp 39 in the shown example) provided on the upper box 32. It should be noted that a plurality of lamps 39 may be provided as a light source.

[0089]
FIGS. 23A and 23B are a front view and a plan view showing the target assembly 30B (without the supporting member 30a) provided in the shooting game machine of FIG. 1; FIGS. 24A and 24B are a rear view and a left side view showing the target assembly 30B; FIGS. 25A and 25B are a front view showing the target assembly 30B (without the supporting member 30a and the target 33) and a section along J-J of FIG. 25A; and FIGS. 26A and 26B are a left side view in section showing the internal construction of the lower box 31 and a right side view in section showing the internal construction of the upper box 32.

[0090] As shown in FIG. 23A, the lower box 31 includes a support shaft 31b rotatably supported on a frame 31a, and the opposite ends of the support shaft 31b project out from the frame 31a and supporting pieces 31c, 31d are mounted on the projecting ends of the support shaft 31b. The target 33 is mounted on the supporting pieces 31c, 31d and is formed with a jackpot 33 which is an oblong hole and a rectangular opening 33b (!!!missing in FIG. 23A!!!). A meshed resin film (shown by hatching) 33c for transmitting a light from the lamp 39 is mounted in the opening 33b. An unillustrated sheet having a desired picture or pattern is adhered to the front surface of the target 33. This sheet is formed with openings corresponding to the jackpot 33a and the opening 33b.

[0091] A spring 35a having one end thereof mounted on a spring bracket 35 has the other end thereof mounted on the supporting piece 31c as shown in FIG. 26B, and the target 33 is held in a standing position M by a pulling biasing force of the spring 35a and is fallen back to a laying position N when the token hits the target 33. A fixed member 31e is fixed to the support shaft 31b (see FIG. 23A), a stopper 31h substantially in the form of a truncated cone is mounted on this fixed member 31e and comes into contact with the spring bracket 35. While the stopper 31h is held in contact with the spring bracket 35, the target 33 is held in the laying position N.

[0092] A light blocking member 31f having an L-shaped cross section is mounted on the fixed member 31e as shown in FIG. 23A, and an optical sensor 34 is provided in a rotatable range of a bent light blocking portion 31g at the outer side of the light blocking member 31f. In the optical sensor 34, a light emitter 34a and a light detector 34b are spaced apart by a specified distance in vertical direction, and the light blocking portion 31g passes between the light emitter 34a and the light detector 34b. When the state of the optical sensor 34 changes from the one where light which should be incident on the light detector 34b is blocked by the light blocking portion 31g to the one where light is incident on the light detector 34b, the optical sensor 34 outputs a signal representing that the token 61 has hit the target 25 to the token hit processing mode controller 110 upon judgment that the target 33 is moving from the standing position M to the laying position N.

[0093] The jackpot 33a is formed in the target 33 to allow the passage of the token 61 having hit it. A wide rectangular opening 32b formed in an upper part of the frame 32a of the upper box 32 is located behind the jackpot 33a, so that the token 61 having passed through the jackpot 33a enters the frame 32a of the upper box 32 through the opening 32b.

[0094] Inside the frame 32a, three slanted plates 32d, 32e, 32f are provided toward the bottom where a dropping hole 32c is formed, so that the token 61 having entered the frame 32a is guided to the dropping hole 32c by the slanted plates 32d, 32e, 32f. The slanted plates 32d, 32e, 32f are located above the spring bracket 35, the spring 35a, etc. provided in the lower box 31.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 26B, a pipe 32g for discharging the token 61 is provided below the dropping hole 32c, and a detector 36a of a microswitch 36 is so provided in an intermediate position of the pipe 32g as to project inside the pipe 32g. An outlet of the pipe 32g serves as a discharge port 32h. While falling down by being guided by the pipe 32g, the token 61 displaces the detector 36a from a non-detecting state 0 to a detecting state P. As the detector 36a is displaced, the microswitch 36 detects the entrance of the token 61 into the oblong hole 33a of the target mounting plate 33 and outputs a detection signal to the token hit processing mode controller 110. Thereafter, the token 61 is discharged through the discharge port 32h shown in FIGS. 24A and 26B and collected into a token collecting box 82 by a slanted plate 81 shown in FIG. 4.

[0096] The slanted plate 81 guides the tokens 61 to the token collecting box 82 except those having hit the interfering plates 19c, 19d. The tokens 61 having hit the interfering plates 19c, 19d are guided by slanted plates 83a and 83b provided at the front bottom side of the cover 10C to a dropping hole 83c formed between the slanted plates 83a and 83b (see FIG. 4). A token detecting device 84 shown in FIGS. 4 and 27 is provided below the dropping hole 83c.

[0097] The token detecting device 84 has a pipe 84a for guiding the token 61, and a detector 85a of a microswitch 85 is so provided in an intermediate position of the pipe 84a as to project into the pipe 84a. While falling down by being guided by the pipe 84a, the token 61 displaces the detector 85a from a non-detecting state Q to a detecting state R. As the detector 85a is displaced, the microswitch 85 detects that the token 61 has been sprung back by being interfered by the interfering plate 19c or 19d, and outputs a detection signal to a control unit 100. Thereafter, the token 61 is collected into the token collecting box 82 by the slanted plate 81.

[0098] In this embodiment, the moving speed of the interfering plates 19c, 19d, that of the targets 25 and that of the target 33 along the longitudinal direction of the guide rails 12 (transverse direction when viewed from the game player) are adjusted by the rotating speed of the motor 14 and are so set as to differ from each other. An adjustment of the relative positions of the interfering plates 19c, 19d, the targets 25 and the target 33 can be made by adjusting the positions of the optical sensors 17a, 17b as limit sensors.

[0099]
FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing the construction of the control unit 100.

[0100] The control unit 100 is provided with the target movement controller 101 for controlling the movements of the targets, a light source controller 102 for controllably turning the light source on and off, a display controller 103 for controlling a displayed state of a display device, a time administration controller 104 for executing time administration of the respective elements in accordance with a timer signal, a ticket issuance controller 106, the game controller 107 for controlling the entire shooting game machine, a game mode controller 108 for controlling a game mode upon entering it, a token discharge mode controller 109 for controlling a token discharge processing mode upon entering it, the token hit processing mode controller 110 for controlling a token hit processing mode upon entering it, first to fifth parallel processing controllers 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 and a sound controller 116.

[0101] The control unit 100 is provided with a CPU system and controls the respective elements of the shooting game machine 1 as the shooting game machine 1 is turned on and off and the operations of the respective controllers 101 to 104, 106 to 116.

[0102] The target movement controller 101 is provided with a CPU system, controls the operations of the respective targets upon receiving a command from the control unit 100 or a signal from a proximity sensor 8 and controllably rotates the motor 14 in forward and reverse directions in accordance with signals from the optical sensors 17a, 17b as limit sensors.

[0103] The light source controller 102 is provided with a CPU system and controllably turns the light sources 17a to 17d and the lamp 39 on and off in accordance with a command from the control unit 100 or the token hit processing mode controller 110. The sound controller 116 controls a sound output of the loudspeaker 8A.

[0104] The display controller 103 displays a specified score on the display device upon receiving a signal concerning the score from the token hit processing mode controller 110. For example, every time shooting is made, points correspond to the hit target are displayed on the display device 6a with 0 as an initial value. After the initial value becomes 100 upon hitting the jackpot 33a, a jackpot value which is a total of points added to the initial value 100 is displayed on the display device 6b every time shooting is made until the jackpot is hit next time.

[0105] The time administration controller 104 executes time administration for the respective elements in accordance with timer signals from the specified CPU systems. For example, the controller 104 executes a specified time administration in according with a signal from the optical sensor, a signal from the microswitch 79, a signal from the photosensor 77j or a like signal. The administered time data is read by the token hit processing mode controller 110.

[0106] The ticket issuance controller 106 discharges a specified number of tickets each representing, for example, 1 point through the ticket discharge opening 9 according to the score given by the token hit processing mode controller 110.

[0107] The game controller 107 controls the entire shooting game machine 1. For instance, the game controller 107 controllably rotates the rotary solenoid 77h in forward direction upon receiving the detection signal from the microswitch 79 or in reverse direction upon receiving the detection signal from the photosensor 77j. Further, the game controller 107 gives an operation starting command to the game mode controller 108 upon entering the game mode to be described later, also to the token discharge mode controller 109 upon entering the token discharge mode, and also to the token hit processing mode controller 110 upon entering the token hit processing mode.

[0108] The game mode controller 108, the token discharge mode controller 109, the token hit processing mode controller 110, and the first to fourth parallel processing controllers 111 to 115 are each provided with the CPU system and execute specified processings in accordance with control programs shown in FIGS. 29 to 35 set for the respective controllers 108 to 115.

[0109] The token hit processing mode controller 110 receives contents of processings from the first to fifth parallel processing controllers 111 to 115, changes and sets an order of processings of the respective parallel processing controllers 111 to 115. Further, the token hit processing mode controller 110 detects that the token 61 has hit the target 25 in accordance with a signal from the optical sensor 28, outputs a signal concerning points to be given (5 points) to the display controller 103, which in turn displays the points (5 points) on the display device 6a while displaying a value obtained by adding these points to the current jackpot value on the display device 6b.

[0110] Further, the token hit processing mode controller 110 detects that the token 61 has hit the target 33 in accordance with a signal from the optical sensor 34, and outputs a signal concerning points to be given (10 points) to the display controller 103, which in turn displays the points (10 points) on the display device 6a while displaying a value obtained by adding these points to the current jackpot value on the display device 6b.

[0111] Further, the token hit processing mode controller 110 detects that the token 61 has hit the jackpot 33a in accordance with a signal from the microswitch 36, and outputs a specified signal to the display controller 103, which in turn displays the same points as the score displayed on the display device 6b at this time on the display device 6a while displaying an initial value 100 on the display device 6b. Note that the term “hit the jackpot 33a” in this embodiment is meant to be an insertion of the token through an opening formed in a rear target 33.

[0112] Further, the token hit processing mode controller 110 detects that the token 61 has been directly dropped onto the slanted plate 81 without hitting either the target 25, 33 or the jackpot 33a after passing the interfering plates 19c, 19d when no signal is inputted from the optical sensors 28, 34, the microswitch 34 and the microswitch 85 even after the lapse of, e.g. 1.5 sec. following the discharge of the token 61, and outputs a signal concerning points to be given (2 points) to the display controller 103, which in turn displays the points (2 points) on the display device 6a while displaying a value obtained by adding these points to the current jackpot value on the display device 6b.

[0113] Next, contents of the operation of the shooting game machine thus constructed are described with reference to FIGS. 29 to 35.

[0114] First, as shown in FIG. 29, when the shooting game machine is turned on to start the operation, a demonstration mode is started by a command from the game controller 107 and a BGM (background music) and sounds in conformity with the title are outputted by the loudspeaker 8A and the lamps 7a as electric decorations are blinked (Step ST1). Subsequently, a target moving mode is started (Step ST2).

[0115] In this target moving mode, as shown in FIG. 31, the interfering plates 19c, 19d and the targets 25, 33 are moved to the right (Step ST10) and then it is discriminated whether the right limit sensor 17a is on (Step ST11). If the right limit sensor 17a is off, Step ST12 follows to judge whether an off-period is 4 sec. or longer, i.e. the right limit sensor 17a has been off for 4 sec. or longer. This routine returns to Step S11 if the off-period is less than 4 sec. On the other hand, if the off-period is 4 sec. or longer, a corresponding one of the interfering plates 19c, 19d and the targets 25, 33 is stopped (Step ST13) and an occurrence of an error is notified (Step ST14).

[0116] If the right limit sensor 17a is on in Step ST11, the interfering plates 19c, 19d and the targets 25, 33 are temporarily stopped (Step ST15), and they are moved to the left (Step ST17) after waiting for 0.6 sec. (Step ST16).

[0117] It is then discriminated whether the left limit sensor 17b is on (Step ST18). If the left limit sensor 17b is off, Step ST19 follows to judge whether an off-period is 4 sec. or longer, i.e. the left limit sensor 17b has been off for 4 sec. or longer. This routine returns to Step S18 if the off-period is less than 4 sec. On the other hand, if the off-period is 4 sec. or longer, the target (or interfering plate) is stopped (Step ST20) and an occurrence of an error is notified (Step ST21).

[0118] If the left limit sensor 17b is on in Step ST18, the target (or interfering plate) is stopped (Step ST22), and this routine returns to Step ST10 to move the target (or interfering plate) to the right after waiting for 0.6 sec. (Step ST23). This target moving mode is executed by the target movement controller 101.

[0119] Simultaneously with the target movement control, parallel processing is started (Step ST3) to enter the game mode as shown in FIG. 30. It is then discriminated whether the token detecting sensor 74 is on (Step ST4), and this routine returns to Step ST4 when the sensor 74 is off while the game mode is entered (Step ST5) when the sensor 74 is on. This parallel processing is executed by the game controller 107.

[0120] In the game mode, as shown in FIG. 32, the demonstration mode is stopped (Step ST30), and a sound presentation is made for the insertion of the token 61 (Step ST31). Subsequently, the aforementioned target moving mode is started, the BGM for the game is outputted and the lamps 7a and the like are blinked (Step ST32). It is then discriminated whether the trigger 78 has been pulled (Step ST33). Unless the trigger 78 has been pulled, it is discriminated whether the trigger 78 has not been pulled for 10 seconds (Step ST34). If the trigger 78 has not been pulled for 10 seconds, this routine returns to Step ST33 after a sound output is made in order to urge the game player to pull the trigger 78 (Step ST35). On the other hand, this routine directly returns to Step ST33 if the trigger 78 is discriminated not to have been pulled for less than 10 seconds in Step ST34. This game mode is executed by the game mode controller 108.

[0121] If it is judged that the trigger 78 has been pulled in Step ST33, the token discharge mode is executed (Step ST36).

[0122] In the token discharge mode, as shown in FIG. 33, the rotary solenoid 77h is rotated in forward direction (Step ST41) and then it is discriminated whether the photosensor (hammer sensor) 77j is on (Step ST42). If the hammer sensor 77j is off, it is discriminated whether it has been off for 1 sec. or longer (Step ST43). If the off-period of the hammer sensor 77j is 1 sec. or longer, the rotary solenoid 77h is stopped (Step ST44) and an occurrence of an error is notified (Step ST45).

[0123] On the other hand, if the hammer sensor 77j is on in Step ST42, the rotary solenoid 77h is rotated in reverse direction (Step ST46), and the rotation thereof is stopped (Step ST48) after waiting for 0.5 sec. (Step ST47). Subsequently, in Step ST37 of FIG. 32, a counter for counting the number of discharged tokens 61 is incremented by one. The token hit processing mode is then executed (Step ST38), followed by Step ST6 of FIG. 29. The token discharge mode is executed by the token discharge mode controller 109.

[0124] In the token discharge mode, as shown in FIGS. 34A and 34B, a hit flag of the target 33 representing 10 points is reset to 0 and hit flags of the targets 25 representing 5 points are reset to 0 (Step ST50) and then five parallel processings are executed thereafter.

[0125] In the first parallel processing, it is discriminated whether the microswitch (jackpot sensor) 36 is on (Step ST51) and this discrimination is repeated until the jackpot sensor 36 is turned on. When the jackpot sensor 36 is turned on, a sound representing the hit of the jackpot 33a is outputted, the lamps 7a and the like are blinked to notify the hit of the jackpot 33a, points corresponding thereto are added, and a ticket issuance requirement is given (Step ST52). The first parallel processing is executed by the first parallel processing controller 111.

[0126] In the second parallel processing, it is discriminated whether 1 sec. has not yet elapsed after the discharge of the token 61 (Step ST53), and it is then discriminated whether the optical sensor 34 relating to the target 33 is on (Step ST54). The above discriminations are repeated before 1 sec. elapses after the discharge of the token 61 and until the target sensor 34 is turned on. If the discrimination criteria are satisfied, the target-hit flag of 10 points is incremented to 1 in Step ST55. A sound representing the hit of the target of 10 points is outputted, the electric decorations (lamps 7a and the like) for the hit of this target are blinked, points corresponding thereto are added, and the ticket issuance requirement is given (Step ST56). The second parallel processing is executed by the second parallel processing controller 112.

[0127] In the third parallel processing, it is successively discriminated whether 1 sec. has not yet elapsed after the discharge of the token 61 (Step ST57), whether the target-hit flag of 10 points is set at 0 (Step ST58) and whether the target sensor (optical sensor 28) corresponding to 5 points is on (Step ST59). The above discriminations are repeated before 1 sec. elapses after the discharge of the token 61 and until the target-hit flag of 10 points is set at 0 and the target sensor (optical sensor 28) is turned on. If the discrimination criteria are satisfied, the target-hit flag of 5 points is incremented to 1 in Step ST60. A sound representing the hit of the target of 5 points is outputted, the electric decorations (lamps 7a and the like) for the hit of this target are blinked, points corresponding thereto are added, and the ticket issuance requirement is given (Step ST61). The third parallel processing is executed by the third parallel processing controller 113.

[0128] In the fourth parallel processing, it is successively discriminated whether the target-hit flag of 10 points is set at 0 (Step ST62), whether the target-hit flag of 5 points is set at 0 (Step ST63), and whether a missing area sensor (microswitch 85) is on (Step ST64). The above discriminations are repeated until the target-hit flag of 10 points is set at 0, the target-hit flag of 5 points is set at 0 and the missing area sensor (microswitch 85) is turned on. If the discrimination criteria are satisfied, a sound representing the missing of the targets is outputted (Step ST65). The fourth parallel processing is executed by the fourth parallel processing controller 114.

[0129] In the fifth parallel processing, it is successively discriminated whether 1.5 sec. has elapsed after the discharge of the token 61 (Step ST66), whether the target-hit flag of 10 points is set at 0 (Step ST67) and whether the target-hit flag of 5 points is set at 0 (Step ST68). The above discriminations are repeated until 1.5 sec. elapses after the discharge of the token 61, the target-hit flag of 10 points is set at 0 and the target-hit flag of 5 points is set at 0. If the discrimination criteria are satisfied, a target-hit flag of 2 points is incremented to 1 in Step ST69. A sound representing the hit of the target of 2 points is outputted, points corresponding thereto are added, and the ticket issuance requirement is given (Step ST70). The fifth parallel processing is executed by the fifth parallel processing controller 115.

[0130] The priority of the parallel processings in the above token hit processing mode is in the order of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth processings. Since the token 61 may hit either one (or both) of the 10-points target and the jackpot after hitting the 5-points target, all the parallel processings are continued even if a certain parallel processing is completed. Likewise, since the token 61 may hit the jackpot after hitting the 10-points target, all the parallel processings are continued even if a certain parallel processing is completed.

[0131] Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 29, this routine proceeds to Step ST6 to execute the demonstration mode. In Step ST6, it is discriminated whether the proximity sensor 8 has been off for 30 sec. This discrimination is made until the proximity sensor 8 has been off for 30 sec., and the targets are stopped and the BGM is stopped (Step ST7) when the off-period of the proximity sensor 8 reaches 30 sec. Thereafter, in Step ST8, it is discriminated whether the proximity sensor 8 is on. This routine returns to Step ST1 when the proximity sensor 8 is on while proceeding to Step ST9 when it is off. In Step ST9, it is discriminated whether the proximity sensor 8 has been off for 15 min. and this routine returns to Step ST8 unless the sensor 8 has been off for 15 min while returning to Step ST1 if the sensor 8 has been off for 15 min. If the token insertion sensor is turned on during the execution of Steps ST1, ST2, ST6, ST7 and ST8, the demonstration mode is completed and the game mode is entered. The demonstration mode is executed by the game controller 107.

[0132] If the ticket issuance requirement is made in the token hit processing mode, a ticket issuing mode is executed by the ticket issuance controller 106.

[0133] As shown in FIG. 35, it is repeatedly discriminated whether there is any unissued ticket (Step ST80). If there is any unissued ticket, the ticket issuing device (ticket dispenser) provided in the casing 2 is operated (Step ST81) and it is discriminated whether a response signal has been inputted from the ticket issuing device (Step ST82). In the absence of the response signal, an operation signal is given to the ticket issuing device and it is discriminated whether the response signal has been inputted during 2 sec. (Step ST83). If no response signal has been inputted during 2 sec., the ticket issuing device is stopped (Step ST84) and a sound output representing an occurrence of an error or replenishment of tickets is given at intervals of, e.g. 10 sec. (Step ST85). Thereafter, a ticket replenishment completion button provided near the ticket issuing device in the casing 2 has been turned on (Step ST86). This routine returns to Step ST85 if this button is off while returning to Step ST81 if it is on. This routine returns to Step ST82 if the response signal is inputted during 2 sec.

[0134] On the other hand, if the response signal is inputted in Step ST82, the ticket issuing device completes issuance of one ticket to reduce the unissued tickets by one (Step ST87). It is then discriminated whether there still remains any unissued ticket (Step ST88). Step ST80 follows if there still remains any unissued ticket. On the other hand, if there is no more unissued ticket, the ticket issuing device is stopped (Step ST89) and this routine returns to Step ST80.

[0135] As described in detail above, in this embodiment, the disk-shaped token 61 which is relatively heavy and is shaped to easily fly is discharged from the gun 50 such that its thickness direction extends substantially along horizontal direction. Accordingly, the token 61 is little influenced by buoyancy, its trajectory is likely to meet a target position and the aimed position and the actually hit target coincide with a high probability although it depends on the game player's skill. As a result, the shooting ability of the game player can be reflected on the shooting result, thereby making the shooting game more ingenious and interesting. Further, since the optical sensors 28, 34 and the microswitches 36, 85 are provided as the detecting means, the game player's skill can be securely estimated by the score detected by the detecting means.

[0136] In this embodiment, a plurality of kinds of targets including the targets 25, 33 arranged in two rows shifted in forward and backward directions when viewed from the game player and the jackpot 33a which is an opening formed in the rear target 33 are provided in the casing 2, and the respective targets are reciprocated along the longitudinal direction of the guide rails 12 (transverse direction when viewed from the game player). Accordingly, it is difficult to aim at the targets by the gun 50, which leads to an improved ingenuity of the shooting game. Further, the front targets 25 stand as a hindrance to the rear target 33, the game can be made more ingenious and interesting. Furthermore, since the interfering plates 19c, 19d are provided before the front targets 25 and the target 33, the targets 33 and the interfering plates 19c, 19d are moved at different speeds along the guide rails 12, the game can be made even more ingenious and interesting.

[0137] Since the gun 50 is installed such that the muzzle 51 can be aimed in an upward, downward, leftward, rightward, oblique direction or any direction when viewed from the game player, any desired target or jackpot can be aimed at.

[0138] In this embodiment, 5 points are given in the case that the token 61 hits the front target 25 and 10 points are given in the case that the token 61 hits the rear target 33. Accordingly, the game player is tempted to aim at the rear target 33 which has higher points, i.e. is more difficult to hit by being interfered by the front targets and the like, making the game further more ingenious and interesting. Further, points given in the case that the token 61 hits the jackpot 33 are a total of points given upon hitting the targets 25, 33, etc. until the jackpot 33a is next hit by the token 61 after previous hitting. Accordingly, the game player can enjoy an improvement in his skill in the case that he can hit the jackpot 33a, which is difficult to hit, with the token 61. Since the game player can get many tickets in this case, the game can be made extremely interesting.

[0139] Although the token 61 is so discharged that its thickness direction extends along horizontal direction (direction normal to vertical direction) in the foregoing embodiment, it may be discharged while being slightly laid within such a range as not to be largely influenced by buoyancy according to the present invention.

[0140] In the foregoing embodiment, 2 points are given when the token 61 passes the interfering plates 19a, 19b, 5 points are given when the target 25 is hit, 10 points are given when the target 33 is hit, and the jackpot value is given when the jackpot 33a is hit. However, according to the present invention, the respective points may be set at desired values.

[0141] Although two front targets 25 are provided in the foregoing embodiment, one, three or more front targets 25 may be provided according to the present invention.

[0142] Although one rear target 33 is provided in the foregoing embodiment, two or more rear targets 33 may be provided according to the present invention. In this case, the jackpot may be provided in each target or in one or more targets or may be omitted.

[0143] Although the targets are provided in two rows shifted in forward and backward directions when viewed from the game player in the foregoing embodiment, they may be provided in one, three or more such rows. In the case of only one row, it is preferable to mixedly use the targets 25 and 33 in order make the game more interesting.

[0144] Although the targets 25, 33 are moved along the guide rails 12 (transverse direction when the game player looks at the shooting game machine 1) in the foregoing embodiment, they may be moved in oblique directions or forward and backward directions when viewed from the game player or may make a circular movement on a horizontal or vertical plane or a plane inclined at an angle between the horizontal and vertical planes according to the present invention. Further, in the case of moving the targets in a circular manner, the targets may be arranged not only on one circle, but also on two, three or more concentric circles.

[0145] Although various targets are moved along the guide rails 12 in the foregoing embodiment, they may be stationary according to the present invention.

[0146] Although two interfering plates 19c, 19d are provided before the targets 25 in the foregoing embodiments, one, three or more interfering plates may be provided according to the present invention.

[0147] Although the interfering plates 19c and 19d are transversely moved when viewed from the game player in the foregoing embodiment, they may be stationary or may be omitted according to the present invention.

[0148] Although the moving speeds of the interfering plates 19c, 19d, the targets 25 and the target 33 differ from each other in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, they may be all moved in the same pattern or at least two of them are moved in the same pattern. In such a case, the targets and/or the interfering plates arranged one after the other and transversely moved in the same pattern when viewed from the game player may be obliquely shifted to each other or located at overlapping positions when viewed from front.

[0149] Although not clearly mentioned in the foregoing embodiment, the heights of the interfering plates 19c, 19d, the targets 25 and the target 33 may be differed. In such a case, they may be arranged such that the taller ones are located more forward than the shorter ones, or the shorter ones are located more forward than the taller ones, or desired heights are set regardless of their positions along forward and backward directions.

[0150] Although the ticket issuing device for issuing the tickets according to the result of the game is provided in the foregoing embodiment, a device for paying off medals according to the result of the game may be provided according to the present invention.

[0151] Although the tokens are used as flying members in the foregoing embodiment, coins, medals, disk-shaped or substantially disk-shaped metallic members may be used according to the present invention. The substantial disk-shape of the flying members may be an octagon or like polygon approximate to a circle.

[0152] This application is based on Japanese patent application serial no. 2000-014258 filed on Jan. 20, 2000, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0153] As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to embraced by the claims.

Shooting game machine

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CPC

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