JP2002036706A - Plastic part of game machine and method for printing for plastic part of game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print with complicate colors at a low cost in a screen process printing on a plastic part of a game machine. SOLUTION: The screen process printing is done with an ultraviolet ray curing ink corresponding to each screen fabric (S1), and the ink is dried by irradiating ultraviolet ray (S2). After repeating the S1 to S2 processes by the number of times for plates, an irregular diffusion layer is printed (S3), and wrinkles of the irregular diffusion layer are generated by irradiating the ultraviolet ray (S4). As the screen fabric with 150 lines of line number is used, delicate expressions such as a gradation are capable for example, and this process can be applied to complicate designs and delicate colors required. The number of plates can be lessened and printing cost can be reduced because it is based on four-color printing by means of color separation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plastic part of a game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A variety of plastic parts are used in gaming machines, for example, pachinko machines and slot machines. Some of these plastic parts are embellished to be placed where they are visible to the player.
Although there are various methods for applying the decoration, they are often printed directly on a plastic part, or a printed film or the like is attached to the plastic part.

[0003]

In some cases, the above printing is performed by silk screen printing. However, since the ink remaining on the screen gauze dries and clogs the eyes, the number of lines is conventionally reduced to about 100 lines or less. Could not be finer. For this reason, for example, subtle expressions such as gradation were difficult. Further, when a complex color tone is required, multicolor printing must be performed, the number of plates increases, and the printing cost increases.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of printing a plastic part of a gaming machine, comprising the steps of: printing cyan, magenta, and yellow; In printing on plastic parts of a gaming machine by four-color screen printing in which printing is performed using a screen gauze serving as a printing plate, the screen gauze having a line number of 150 lines or more and an ultraviolet curable ink are used. I do.

Since a screen gauze having 150 or more lines is used, subtle expressions such as gradations can be made, and the present invention can be applied to cases where the design is complicated or a complex color is required. Since the ultraviolet curable ink is used, clogging due to drying of the plate hardly occurs, so that it is possible to increase the number of lines (to make the eyes finer).

In addition, since ultraviolet curable ink is used, it can be dried (cured) in a very short time by irradiating ultraviolet light after printing. Therefore, the waiting time for drying in the preceding process is reduced between each printing process of the three primary colors and the four-color screen printing of black, and printing can be performed very efficiently.

As described above, the number of plates is reduced, and the waiting time for drying for each plate is shortened. Therefore, the man-hour and time required as a whole are reduced, and the printing cost is also reduced. A printing method for a plastic part of a gaming machine according to claim 2 is the method for printing a plastic part for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the random diffusion layer is formed by shrink printing separately from the four-color screen printing of the three primary colors and black ink. Is provided.

In shrink printing, for example, screen printing is performed using an ultraviolet curable ink, and wrinkles are generated in a curing step by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. Details of the ink composition and the curing process suitable for the shrink printing are described in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2949121 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-53024.

In the method described in Japanese Patent No. 2949121, when the ultraviolet curable composition is cured, a wavelength of 25 is used.
Irradiation with far ultraviolet rays having a peak at 4 nm, followed by heating and then irradiation with high-pressure ultraviolet rays causes wrinkles to be generated on the cured surface. Also, JP-A-9-5302
No. 4 discloses a urethane acrylate containing an alicyclic isocyanate compound, an ester-based polyol and an acrylate compound having a hydroxyl group as essential components, an acrylate-based reactive diluent, and a molar extinction coefficient of 100 (at 400 nm or more) for light having a wavelength of 400 nm or more. l · mol ^-1 · cm ^-1 ), and a photoinitiator having an absorption property not exceeding
Having a maximum emission intensity at a wavelength of 300 nm or less;
There is disclosed a technique for generating fine wrinkles on the surface of a cured resin by irradiating and curing an ultraviolet ray using an ultraviolet ray irradiation lamp whose relative intensity of light having a wavelength of nm to 800 nm is 20% or less.

[0010] Shrink printing can be realized by the method disclosed in these two publications, but basically, it is sufficient to print using an ultraviolet curable ink and generate wrinkles in a curing step by irradiation with ultraviolet light. It goes without saying that inks and methods having compositions other than those exemplified here can be adopted.

By providing the random diffusion layer, light transmitted through the four-color screen printing layer can be diffused at random, and the diffused light increases softness and gives a three-dimensional effect, thereby further improving decorativeness. . In order to obtain the effect of the diffused layer, light needs to be transmitted through the diffused layer and the four-color screen printing layer. That is, the diffuse diffusion layer and the four-color screen printing layer are required to be translucent, if not necessarily the whole. For the same reason, the portion of the plastic component where the diffused diffusion layer and the four-color screen printing layer are provided also needs to be translucent. Of course, it is also possible to make only a part of the plastic component, the diffused diffusion layer and the four-color screen printing layer light-transmissive, and the other parts light-shielding. If necessary, it is only necessary that the portion where the effect of the turbulent diffusion layer is expected is translucent.

By the way, when a plastic part is used for an exposed portion of a gaming machine (a portion that a player can contact),
If the turbulent diffusion layer is exposed, the irregularities may make the player uncomfortable, or dirt may accumulate on the irregularities.
Also, even when it is not exposed, light from the front (illumination in the game store) is diffusely reflected by the diffused diffusion layer, which may impair the decorative effect. In other words, it may be better to provide the diffused layer on the back surface of the plastic component depending on the installation position of the plastic component, the relationship with the lighting, and the like. In such a case, a turbulent diffusion layer may be provided on the back side of the plastic component.

[0013] The plastic part of the gaming machine according to the third aspect is printed by the printing method of the plastic part of the gaming machine according to the first or second aspect, and thus has excellent decorativeness as described above. Manufacturing costs are also reduced. The plastic part of the game machine according to claim 4 is the plastic part of the game machine according to claim 3, wherein the plastic part is printed by the method according to claim 2 and the four-color screen printing is performed. Since the random diffusion layer according to claim 2 is provided on the surface opposite to the above, it is preferable to provide the random diffusion layer on the rear surface of the plastic component depending on the installation position of the plastic component and the relationship with the lighting as described above. Suitable when good.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plastic part of a gaming machine according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein the plastic part has a pattern used for indicating a hit or miss. Plastic film printed by the method.

This plastic film is used by forming a belt with both ends closed and wrapping it around a pulley or the like, or by attaching it to a reel (drum). Since the display of hits and misses is the most important part for the player and is the most frequently viewed part, by using the plastic film according to claim 5, the decorativeness of the important part of the game is enhanced and Can be entertained.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the manufacture of a symbol reel of a slot machine, which is a kind of plastic part of a game machine.

[0017]

[Printing process] The printing process of this embodiment is as shown in FIG. A screen gauze that is to be a printing plate for each of special colors such as cyan, magenta, yellow, black ink and, if necessary, gold is prepared by color separation in advance. Then, screen printing is performed using an ultraviolet curable ink of a color corresponding to each screen gauze (S1), and this is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to be dried (S2).

This screen printing (S1) and drying (S1)
2) is the same as known screen printing except that a 150-line screen gauze and an ultraviolet curable ink are used. After repeating steps S1 and S2 by the number of plates (the number of screen gauze prepared), the diffused layer is printed (S3), and wrinkles of the diffused layer are generated by irradiation with ultraviolet rays (S4). In this example, printing of the turbulent diffusion layer (S3)
And generation of wrinkles by ultraviolet irradiation (S4) are described in Japanese Patent No. 294.
The measurement was performed according to the method disclosed in JP-A-9121.

Since a screen gauze having 150 lines is used, subtle expressions such as gradation can be made, and the present invention can be applied to a case where the design is complicated or a complex color is required. Since the ultraviolet curable ink is used, clogging due to drying of the plate hardly occurs, so that it is possible to increase the number of lines (to make the eyes finer).

Further, since the ultraviolet curable ink is used, it can be dried (cured) in a very short time by irradiating ultraviolet rays after printing. Therefore, the waiting time for printing in the preceding step between the printing steps of each plate is reduced, and printing can be performed extremely efficiently.

As described above, the number of plates is reduced because only a special color plate such as gold is used if necessary based on the four colors obtained by color separation, and the waiting time for drying for each plate is shortened. And printing time is reduced. In addition, since the diffused diffusion layer is provided by shrink printing, light transmitted through the four-color screen printing layer can be diffused at random, and the diffused light increases softness and gives a three-dimensional effect. Is further enhanced.

[0022]

[Layer Structure] The plastic part printed in the above-described manner (in this embodiment, the band 10 for design display) has a layer structure illustrated in FIG. The belt 10 for displaying a symbol according to the present embodiment.
Is composed of a transparent film 12, a decorative print layer 14, and a shrink print layer 16. The transparent film 12 is made of polycarbonate, and the decorative print layer 14 is made of S1 to S2.
Thus, the shrink print layer 16 is formed by S3 to S4.

Since irregular surface irregularities (wrinkles) are formed on the surface of the contracted print layer 16, the incident light Li from the contracted print layer 16 side is irregularly refracted by the contracted print layer 16 and randomly. Light Lo in various directions. In addition, this causes an irregular amount of light (bright and dark).

When the diffused light Lo passes through the decorative print layer 14, a part of the spectrum is absorbed in accordance with the color of the part. Thus, the color of the spectrum is not absorbed by the light emitted from the decorative print layer 14. Then, the light passes through the transparent film 12 and reaches the player's eyes.

Since the irregular printing of the light quantity occurs in the shrink printing layer 16, the light passing through the decorative printing layer 14 also has an irregular brightness. The irregular light and darkness gives a three-dimensional effect. Further, the diffused light Lo emitted from the transparent film 12 is directed in a completely random direction, so that the player feels soft.

[0026]

Example of Use The belt 10 for displaying a symbol according to the present embodiment is used as a rotary display 17 as shown in FIG. The rotary display 17 is a symbol reel of a slot machine. The rotary display 17 includes a band 10 for design display (both ends are joined to form a cylinder) and a support 19 that supports the band 10.

The belt 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape with the shrink print layer 16 inside and the transparent film 12 outside. Since the contracted print layer 16 is provided inside, light from the front (illumination in the game store) is not diffusely reflected by the contracted print layer 16 and does not reach the player, and such reflected light may impair the decorative effect. Nor.

The support 19 is disposed at an annular support portion 21, a spoke 23 extending from the support portion 21 in the center direction, and a position where the spokes 23 are concentrated (that is, a rotation center portion). And a disk-shaped hub 25 connected to an output shaft of a motor (not shown). The support 19 is injection-molded using a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin, for example.

FIG. 4 shows the connection structure between the belt 10 and the support 19.
This is as shown in FIG. In the example of FIG.
The flange portion 2 extending in the radial direction is provided on the support portion 21.
7, a support base 29 extending in a direction perpendicular to the support base 29, and an engagement protrusion 31 projecting radially from the support base 29 are provided. The engaging projections 31 are provided at equal pitches over the entire circumference of the support portion 21, and in the present embodiment, twelve are provided.
On the other hand, the band 10 has the same number of the engagement holes 10 as the engagement protrusions 31.
a are provided at the same pitch as the engagement protrusions 31 and are respectively engaged with the engagement protrusions 31. The engagement hole 10a
Is located at a position corresponding to the engagement projection 31 when the edge of the band 10 is brought into contact with the flange portion 27.

In this rotary display 17, the band 10 is wound around the support 19 while engaging the respective engaging holes 10a with the corresponding engaging projections 31. At one round, both ends of the band 10 are adhered with double-sided tape. It is assembled in the procedure to be. Since the assembly is performed in such a procedure, it is not necessary to attach the band body 10 to the support portion 21 using, for example, a double-sided tape or an adhesive for synthetic resin, and the manufacturing process of the rotary display body 17 is simplified, and Is also reduced.

Moreover, the connection between the band 10 and the support 19 is based on the engagement between the engagement hole 10a and the engagement projection 31.
As an assembling operation, it is only necessary to wind the belt body 10 around the support portion 21, and the operation is extremely simple. During the winding operation, since the flange portion 27 functions as a positioning member, winding and engagement can be easily and accurately performed.

Further, the connecting structure between the band 10 and the support 19 may be a structure shown in FIG. This figure 4
In the example of (b), a fitting portion 33 extending along the axial direction is formed in the support portion 21, and the fitting portion 33 has a fitting having a width substantially equal to the thickness of the band 10. A mating groove 33a is provided. The edge of the band 10 is fitted into the fitting groove 33.
By being fitted to a, it is connected to the support 19. With this configuration, an operation of fitting the edge of the band 10 into the fitting groove 33a is required, and the workability is slightly inferior to the example of FIG. However, since both ends of the band body 10 can be bonded in advance to form a cylindrical shape, there is an advantage that the bonding operation becomes easier.

In either of the structures shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, there is no member (a cylindrical portion or a ladder-like portion of a reel in a conventional rotary display) that supports the inside of the band 10. Therefore, the rotating display 17 becomes extremely lightweight. The rotating display 17 is used to display a hit or miss, and the band 10 used therein has the above-described structure.
The use of this band 10 for the display of hits and misses, which is the most important part for the player and is the most frequently viewed part, can enhance the decorativeness of the important part of the game and make the player entertain.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and may be variously implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a layer structure of a band of an example.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rotary display body using the band of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a support structure of a band in the rotary display body according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Strip (plastic parts) 12 Transparent film 14 Decorative print layer 16 Shrink print layer (turbulent diffusion layer) 17 Rotation display

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) B41M 3/00 B41M 3/00 Z

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. When printing on a plastic part of a gaming machine by a four-color screen printing in which the three primary colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow and black (black) are overprinted using a screen gauze, the number of lines is reduced. Fifteen
A method for printing a plastic part of a gaming machine, wherein the screen gauze having zero or more lines and an ultraviolet curable ink are used. 2. The method for printing a plastic part of a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a random diffusion layer is provided by shrink printing in addition to the four-color screen printing of the three primary colors and black. How to print plastic parts. 3. A plastic part for a gaming machine, wherein the plastic part is printed by the method for printing a plastic part for a gaming machine according to claim 1. 4. The plastic part of a game machine according to claim 3, wherein said plastic part is printed by the method according to claim 2, and the random diffusion layer according to claim 2 is provided on the back side of said plastic part. A plastic part for a gaming machine, characterized by being made. 5. A plastic part of a game machine according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the plastic part is a plastic film printed by the method according to claim 1 or 2 for use in displaying a hit or miss. A plastic part for a gaming machine.