JP4360967B2 - Operation switch device and game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation switch device and a gaming machine, and more specifically, an operation switch provided in a box-type gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine, a slot machine, a sparrow ball machine, a pachislot machine, or a game machine used in a game center. It relates to the configuration of the apparatus.

As is well known, in a slot machine known as a revolving game machine as one of the gaming machines, particularly a box-type gaming machine, a plurality of reels are rotated by operating a start lever or a start button, There is an apparatus using a configuration in which rotation of each reel is sequentially stopped by operating a stop button, and a medal or a ball is paid out by a combination of symbols of the reels when the reel is stopped (for example, Patent Document 1).
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional example of a slot machine. In the slot machine 900, three cylindrical reels 903a, 903b, and 903c, a medal slot 904, and the reels are rotated at the same time. A start lever 905 for performing an operation for stopping the operation, and stop buttons 906a, 906b, 906c for performing an operation for stopping the rotation of each reel. Here, a plurality of types of symbols (not shown) are drawn on the peripheral surfaces of the reels 903a, 903b, and 903c, and these symbols can be viewed through a transparent display window 902 formed on the panel surface 901. ing.

  The start lever 905 is a lever switch that is turned on when tilted, and the stop buttons 906a, 906b, and 906c are push button switches that are turned on when pressed. Switches such as a medal insertion portion 904, a start lever 905, and stop buttons 906a, 906b, and 906c are arranged at appropriate positions on the console 908 formed integrally with the front panel.

  In the conventional slot machine 900, when a game medal is inserted into the medal insertion unit 904 by the player, the start of the game becomes effective, and the start lever 905 is tilted to rotate the reels 903a, 903b, and 903c all at once. When the player presses any stop button 906a, 906b, 906c, the reel corresponding to the stop button is braked and stopped. When all the reels 903a, 903b, and 903c are stopped and the symbols displayed on the reels are arranged in a predetermined combination, a prize is won, and a number of game medals corresponding to the type of the prize are paid out from the discharge port 907. ing.

  In the slot machine 900 having such an operation unit, an operation called so-called eye pressing, in which the player presses the stop buttons 906a, 906b, 906c described above to align the symbols of the reels 903a, 903b, 903c, is performed. It is the main gaming act. For this reason, the frequency with which the stop buttons 906a, 906b, and 906c are pressed is very high.

By the way, the above-mentioned conventional stop buttons 906a, 906b, 906c are fixed to the board surface constituting the front panel of the normal gaming machine, and the direction is fixed so as to face the player, the so-called operator.
For this reason, the player is limited in the posture to press these switches, and repeating the pressing operation of the switches may cause accumulation of fatigue in the hand and the like, making it impossible to enjoy the game.
Therefore, a configuration has been proposed in which the switch panel is tilted with respect to the board surface at an angle according to the player's preference (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2003-290432 A (page 2, right column, lines 17 to 25) JP-A-11-226178 (paragraph "0009" column)

However, in the case where a configuration for tilting the switch panel is provided, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, a tilt position holding mechanism for the switch panel is provided at a position extended in the direction in which the switches are juxtaposed, Depending on the size of the holding mechanism, the installation space inside the board surface may be increased. For this reason, the size of the gaming machine itself, particularly the size in the direction in which the switches are juxtaposed, may increase, and the number of gaming machines installed in the island area in the game arcade may be reduced.
On the other hand, the tiltable switch panel is often supported so as not to be inadvertently removed when it is attached to the board surface as in the conventional case.
The switch may be replaced because it is a part that is prone to wear and tear deterioration due to repeated pressing operations, but if it is supported so that it does not come off on the panel surface, it cannot be replaced easily. There is a case where it is necessary to take a procedure that it is possible to replace it only after removing it. For this reason, it is uneconomical to change the board surface frequently at the game hall. Therefore, unless the appearance of the switch surface or deterioration such as wear progresses very much, it will not be replaced. As a result, the player For this reason, it may give an impression that the switch operation is not comfortable.

  In view of the problems in the above-described conventional operation switch device and a gaming machine equipped with the same, an object of the present invention is to obtain a good operability in which fatigue is not easily accumulated in the hand in operation and to easily cope with switch deterioration. An operation switch device and a gaming machine provided with

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the operation switch device in which a plurality of switches that are turned on and off by a pressing operation by an operator are provided on a part of the panel surface corresponding to the non-moving portion, the switch unit that mounts each switch is at least The switch unit is rotatable between a direction facing the operator and a direction perpendicular to the direction, and the switch unit includes a plurality of engaging portions formed on a rotating peripheral surface of the switch unit, and the engaging portions And is supported by a latch mechanism having at least a locking member provided on the panel surface side, and is held at an arbitrary rotational position, and is locked to any one of them. The switch unit is provided with a wrist rest portion that projects horizontally when the switch rotates in a direction perpendicular to the direction facing the operator. That.

A second aspect of the present invention is the operation switch device according to the first aspect, wherein the switch unit is detachable from the panel surface.

A third aspect of the present invention is a gaming machine, wherein the operation switch device according to the first or second aspect is provided.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the gaming machine according to the third aspect, wherein the gaming machine is provided with a plurality of rotatable spinning reels, and each switch performs a stop operation of each of the spinning reels. It is characterized by being a stop switch associated with each other.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the switch unit for mounting the switch is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the board surface, and can be changed to a direction facing the operator and other directions by a rotation operation of the operator. Therefore, it is possible to select the switch unit so that the operator has less fatigue and the operability is good.
Further, since the switch unit is held at an arbitrary rotation position of the operator by a locking member that is locked to any one of the engaging portions formed on the rotation peripheral surface, the switch unit can be rotated. The expansion of the installation space in the gaming machine width direction as in the case where the holding mechanism is provided on the end surface can be suppressed.
In addition, when the switch unit is rotated in a direction perpendicular to the direction facing the operator, the wrist resting portion projects horizontally, so that the wrist can be lifted when pressing from the vertical direction. Without it, it becomes possible to reduce the burden of the arm on the shoulder and reduce fatigue during operation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the switch unit can be attached to and detached from the board surface, it is possible to reduce the labor burden required to replace the switch unit without removing the board surface.

According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, the operation switch, which is a member with a high operation frequency in the game, is less likely to accumulate in the hand and easy to operate for the player. In addition, it is possible to improve the replacement workability when the switch is deteriorated by replacing only the switch unit and replacing only one part equipped on the panel surface. .

  Hereinafter, a slot machine SM will be described as a preferred embodiment according to the present invention. Here, FIG. 2 is a front view showing the external structure of the slot machine SM. In the figure, a front panel FP designed as a decorative panel is integrally formed of hard plastic on the side facing the player of the slot machine SM. The front panel FP includes an upper panel part UP, a middle panel part MP, and a lower panel part LP, and slightly protrudes toward the player side between the middle panel part MP and the lower panel part LP. Are integrally formed. Note that switches, which will be described later, for performing a game operation of the slot machine SM are arranged at appropriate positions on the console OP.

  A liquid crystal display device 13 for displaying an image for producing a game is arranged in the approximate center of the upper panel unit UP, and the image of the liquid crystal display device 13 is viewed through a display window 14 formed of a transparent hard plastic plate. It has become so.

  Sound emitting portions 12a and 12b each having a plurality of slit holes are formed on both sides of the display window 14, and speakers (321a and 321b) (not shown) for producing sound effects for producing a game are provided on the sound emitting portions 12a and 12b. It is attached to the back side.

  In addition, a high-intensity light emitting diode is incorporated in the upper end portion of the upper panel unit UP, and an effect lamp 11 is provided for effecting light by lighting or blinking these.

  The middle panel portion MP is provided with a panel surface 21 made of a hard plastic plate or the like. A substantially rectangular transparent display window 22 is formed at the center of the panel surface 21 so that the three reels 23a, 23b, and 23c provided in the housing of the slot machine SM can be seen through the display window 22. Yes.

  Here, each of the reels 23a, 23b, and 23c has a cylindrical shape having the same diameter, and three reels 23a, 23b, and 23c are arranged side by side along the rotation axis. A plurality of types of symbols (not shown) are drawn on the outer peripheral surfaces of the reels 23a, 23b, and 23c along the circumferential direction, and the player can move the vertical direction drawn on one reel through the display window 22. Three symbols and three rows of reels arranged in the horizontal direction can be visually observed. In addition, the reels 23a, 23b, and 23c are rotated and stopped in accordance with the player's operation, thereby changing the type of reel symbols to be displayed.

  In addition, on the panel surface 21, for example, a game information display device 24 that displays information related to a gaming state such as internal winning for a winning combination with a lamp or the like, and a plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged in a matrix, and each light emitting diode is selectively displayed. A dot display device 26 is provided for effecting and displaying a dot image by emitting light. Also, below the display window 22, the number of game medals (hereinafter simply referred to as “medals”) credited (stored) in the slot machine SM, the number of medals earned by winning a prize, the number of winning prizes, etc. A numerical information display device 25 composed of a 7-segment LED for displaying numerical information is provided.

  In addition, on both sides of the panel surface 21, effect lamps 27a and 27b incorporating high-intensity light emitting diodes are disposed.

  The console OP has a flat surface that is slightly inclined toward the player side (forward). A medal insertion unit 31 for inserting medals is provided on the right side of the plane of the console OP, and a bet button 32 that is a push button switch is provided on the left side of the plane.

  Although not shown in the figure, the medal insertion unit 31 is provided with a select mechanism for determining whether or not the inserted medal is a regular one in the case. A medal insertion sensor (410) that detects and sends a detection signal to a later-described main control board (200) is incorporated in the selection mechanism.

  The bet button 32 is a button switch for presenting the number of medals bet on the game of the slot machine SM. When the game is started, by pressing the bet button 32, for example, three medals are bet on the game from the stored medals.

  A start lever 33 for instructing the start of rotation of the reels 23a, 23b, and 23c is provided on the left side of the front surface of the console OP. The start lever 33 is provided with a swingable operation rod having a spherical operation knob at the tip. The start lever 33 is turned on when the operation rod is tilted, and automatically when the hand is released from the operation rod by the biasing force of the spring. It is formed of a switch unit that returns to a position and is turned off.

  A stop switch unit SU for instructing to stop the rotation of the reels 23a, 23b, and 23c is attached to the front surface of the console OP. As will be described in detail later, the stop switch unit SU is provided with stop switches 100a, 100b, 100c using push buttons, and can be rotated in the vertical direction independently of the panel surface constituting the console OP. It is configured.

  The lower panel portion LP is provided with a panel surface 41 on which a picture or the like for introducing a game content or an appearance character of the slot machine SM is arranged. Below the panel surface 41, a discharge port 42 for discharging medals and a tray 44 for receiving the discharged medals are provided. Further, adjacent to both sides of the discharge port 42, sound emitting portions 43a and 43b formed from a large number of holes are respectively provided, and speakers (322a and 322b) (not shown) that produce effect sound are provided on the sound emitting portions 43a and 43b. Located on the back side.

  In the slot machine SM, when the player drops a medal from the medal insertion unit 31 or when the medal is credited, the start of the game becomes valid when the bet button 32 is operated. When the start lever 33 is tilted by the player, all the reels 23a, 23b, 23c rotate at the same time. When the reels 23a, 23b, and 23c reach a predetermined number of revolutions, the stop operation becomes ready, and the player can respond by pressing the stop switches 100a, 100b, and 100c of the stop switch unit SU in an arbitrary order. Reel rotation stops. When the symbols displayed by the three stopped reels 23a, 23b, and 23c are arranged in a predetermined combination, a prize is won, and the number of medals corresponding to the type of the prize is paid to the player. .

Next, the above-described stop switch unit SU attached to the slot machine SM for performing an operation for stopping the rotation of the reel will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing only a portion of the console OP. In FIG. 3, the stop switch unit SU has a region where the stop switches 100a, 100b, and 100c are arranged in parallel in the other portion of the console OP. It is configured to rotate in the vertical direction independently of the area surface.
FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing only the stop switch unit SU. In FIG. 3B, the stop switch unit SU has a flat operation surface on which the stop switches 110a, 100b, and 100c are arranged in parallel. A box member having a circular arc surface on the back side opposite to the operation surface is formed.
In the stop switch unit SU, the rotation shafts SU1 are provided on the wall surfaces at both ends of the stop switches 100a, 100b, and 100c, and the rotation shafts SU1 are adjacent to each other as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. It is inserted in support part SU2 provided in the board surface to perform.

  In FIG. 3 (C), the support part SU2 into which the rotary shaft SU1 is inserted is composed of an L-shaped groove part having an opening perpendicular to the board surface and reversed in side view. It can be inserted and removed. As a result, the stop switch unit SU is rotatably supported when the rotation shaft SU1 is located at the deepest part of the support part SU2, and is extracted from the opening or inserted through the opening along the shape of the support part SU2. By doing so, it can be exchanged. Note that the opening of the support unit SU2 is covered with a decorative panel (not shown) or the like disposed on the surface of the board so that it is normally invisible from the outside.

On the arc surface of the stop switch unit SU, there is provided a latch mechanism 200 for holding the unit SU in the rotating position.
As shown in FIG. 3B, the latch mechanism 200 includes a plurality of engaging recesses 200A formed along the circumferential direction of the arcuate surface, and a locking member 200B that can be engaged and disengaged in opposition thereto. Yes.
As shown in FIG. 3C, the engaging recess 200A is configured so that the stop switch unit SU faces the player in parallel with the board surface along the circumferential direction of the arc surface and is perpendicular to the board surface. Are formed at positions that can be set to a proper orientation and an intermediate rotational position between these orientations. In FIG. 2 (C), symbol L1 indicates the phase of the engaging recess 200A in which the operation surface of the stop switch unit SU can be set to face the player, and symbol L2 indicates the stop switch unit SU with respect to the board surface. The phase of the engaging recess 200A with the operation surface facing vertically is indicated, and symbol L3 indicates the phase at which the operation surface of the stop switch unit SU is in the middle (45 °) between the positions indicated by symbols L1 and L2. .
On the other hand, the locking member 200B is composed of a rocking arm whose side view is rockable by the fulcrum shaft 200B1, and one of the rocking ends can be engaged with the engaging recess 200A. A stop portion 200B2 is provided, and one end of a spring 200B3 that urges the locking portion 200B2 toward the engaging recess 200A is hooked to the other of the swing ends.

  When the stop switch unit SU is operated against the urging of the spring 200B3, the latch mechanism 200 can rotate when the locking portion 200B1 of the locking member 200B is disengaged from the engagement recess 200A. Depending on the engagement relationship between any of the engagement recesses 200A and the locking member 200B, as shown in FIG. 3A, the operation surface of the stop switch unit SU faces the player, the other direction, that is, As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the direction perpendicular to the board surface and the direction of the intermediate state between these directions can be set, although not shown.

Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, the player changes the orientation of the operation surface according to his preference or depending on the accumulated state of fatigue on the hand, with the stop switch unit SU facing to himself / herself. can do.
Thereby, the player can continue the game in a state in which the accumulation of fatigue in the hand is reduced.
On the other hand, the click mechanism 200 that holds the rotation position of the stop switch unit SU has an arcuate arrangement relationship between the engagement recess 200A for the arc surface of the stop switch unit SU and the engaging member 200B that can be engaged with and disengaged from the engagement recess 200A. It is located behind the arc surface so as to face the engaging recess 200A formed along the peripheral surface of the surface.

  According to the present embodiment, there are no members constituting the latch mechanism on both sides of the stop switch in the stop switch unit SU, and the space in the width direction in the gaming machine is expanded carelessly. Can be eliminated. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation where the number of game machines installed on the island is reduced, such as when the width of the game machine is expanded, and to suppress a decrease in the number of game machines operating at the game hall.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the present embodiment, when the direction of the stop switch unit SU is changed to be perpendicular to the board surface, a shoulder is provided by the pressing operation in a state where the arm is lifted by providing a hand receiving portion that is pressed from above the stop switch. It is characterized by having a configuration that can reduce the above.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, a plate-like wrist is placed at a lower position of the stop switch unit SU in the panel surface storing the stop switch unit SU in the console OP. The part 210 is slidably provided.
The wrist placing portion 210 has a size capable of supporting at least the wrist, and an end portion in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction is supported by a guide portion (not shown) provided in the board surface, and the hand on the upper surface is placed thereon. A rack 210A is provided at a position other than the portion.

  On the other hand, the stop switch unit SU is provided with a sector gear SU3 that meshes with the rack 210A at a part of the arc surface.

  Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the stop switch unit SU is in a direction facing the player, the wrist placing portion 210 is stored in the board surface. When the stop switch unit SU is rotated in a direction perpendicular to the board surface, the wrist placing unit 210 is placed on the board surface via a rack 210A that meshes with the sector gear SU4 as shown in FIG. To advance to the player side.

According to the present embodiment, when the wrist placing portion 210 advances from the board surface, at least the player's wrist can be supported by the wrist placing portion 210, and it functions as a so-called hand rest portion. Further, it is possible to reduce the burden on the shoulder that occurs when the hand and arm are lifted when pressing from above the stop switch.
Note that the present invention is not limited to the slot machine described in the embodiment, and can of course be applied to a pachinko gaming machine, a box-type gaming machine used in a game arcade, and the like.

It is a front view showing the external appearance structure of the slot machine by a prior art. It is a front view showing the appearance structure of the slot machine which is one of the games in which the operation switch device according to the embodiment of the present invention is used. It is a figure which shows the principal part structure of the operation switch apparatus by this invention Example, (A) is a front view of the console provided with the stop switch unit, (B) is a perspective view which shows only a stop switch unit, (C) These are the arrow views of the direction shown by a code (C) in (A). It is a figure which shows the one aspect | mode of the stop switch unit shown in FIG. 3, (A) is a front view of the console provided with the stop switch unit, (B) is a direction of the direction shown by the code | symbol (B) in (A). It is an arrow view. It is a figure for demonstrating the principal part structure of the operation switch apparatus by another Example of this invention, (A) is an arrow view of the direction similar to the case where it shows in FIG.3 (C), (B) These are figures which show the effect | action from the state of (A).

Explanation of symbols

SM slot machine,
SU Stop switch unit SU1 Rotating shaft SU2 Support part SU3 Sector gear 100a, 100b, 100c Stop switch 200 Latch mechanism 200A Engaging recess 200B Locking member 200B1 Locking part 200B2 Spring 210 Wrist mounting part 210A Rack L1, L2, L3 Engaging recess Phase of

Claims (4)

In an operation switch device in which a plurality of switches that are turned on and off by a pressing operation by an operator are provided on a part of a panel surface corresponding to a non-moving portion,
  The switch unit on which each switch is mounted is rotatable at least between a direction facing the operator and a direction perpendicular to this direction,
The switch unit is provided on the side of the panel surface, and a plurality of engaging portions formed on the rotating peripheral surface of the switch unit, and the switch unit can be engaged with and disengaged from the engaging portion and locked to any one of them. And is supported through a latch mechanism including at least a locking member and held at an arbitrary rotation position,
The operation switch device according to claim 1, wherein the switch unit is provided with a wrist placing portion that projects horizontally when the switch rotates in a direction perpendicular to the direction facing the operator. The operation switch device according to claim 1, wherein the switch unit is detachable from the panel surface. A gaming machine comprising the operation switch device according to claim 1. 4. The game machine includes a plurality of rotatable reel reels, and each of the switches is a stop switch associated with each of the reel reels to perform a stop operation. The gaming machine described in 1.

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