JP2004298480A - Sandwiched display device for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sandwiched display device prevented from impeding opening/closing of a door of a game machine and turning a monitor at an angle position easily viewable by a user in necessary. <P>SOLUTION: This sandwiched display device which is installed between game machines and provides various types of information is provided with the monitor 3 rotationally mounted on a base body 10 provided in the inter-machine, a turning means 5 turning the monitor 3 relative to the base body 10, and a control means controlling the turning of the monitor 3 by the turning means 5. The control means, when the game machine is used, turns the monitor 3 to the user side and fixes the monitor 3 in a position easily viewable by the user and, when the game machine is unused, stores the monitor 3 in the side of the base body 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is provided in a game arcade having a game console such as a pachinko machine, a slot machine, a game machine, etc., and transmits game information provided by the game arcade and information transmitted by various television broadcasting stations between the adjacent game consoles. And a display device provided to a user through a monitor of the display device provided in the device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art There is a head-to-head display device that is provided between adjacent game machines such as pachinko machines, slot machines, and game machines, and displays on a monitor game information provided by a game hall and information transmitted by various television broadcasting stations. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-327571 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-9-192339
The display between displays described in these documents is provided with a monitor for displaying various information on the front panel of the ball lending machine between the game consoles, and the user can play the game. In order to be able to look at the monitor, it protrudes from the front of the gaming table such as a pachinko machine to the user side and is inclined toward the user side.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional head-to-head display device in which a monitor is provided on a head-to-head machine at an angle.
Are provided between gaming machines M1, M2, M3... Such as pachinko machines. Are provided in each of the inter-machines S1, S2, S3,..., And the monitors 101, 102, 103,.
[0005]
However, in the above-mentioned display device between the tables, the monitors 101, 102, 103,... Are fixedly provided between the game tables M1, M2, M3,. Cannot adjust the monitors 101, 102, 103..., And the visibility during a game is poor. When the monitors 101, 102, 103,... Are to be mounted at the optimum angular positions for the visibility of the user P, the space between the gaming tables M1, M2, M3,. There is a problem that the number of gaming tables M1, M2, M3,...
[0006]
Therefore, in order to improve the visibility to the user in the limited space of the machine, some monitors can be folded or adjusted in angle with respect to the main body attached to the machine. A possible one has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 3).
[0007]
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-11-239662
FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the display between stands described in the above-mentioned document. The monitors 201, 202, 203,... Provided.
However, the inter-table display device described in this document also has disadvantages in that it is difficult to securely fix the angular position after adjusting the angle position to a desired position, and the operability is poor. Also, an operation surface having switches and the like is fixed to the machine S1, S2, S3,..., And only the monitors 201, 202, 203,. However, the inter-table display device that rotates only the monitors 201, 202, 203,... Toward the user P has a drawback that operability is poor.
7 are rotatable, and the monitors 201, 202, 203... Are rotated to the user P side in the gaming table M1. , M2, M3..., The doors Ma of the gaming tables M1, M2, M3. Or cause breakage.
[0009]
In addition, even if the gaming table (for example, the gaming table M1) is in a non-operation state, if the monitor 201 is kept rotated to the user P side, the user P temporarily leaves the seat. There is a case where the gaming table M1 does not seem to be an empty table. Further, even if it is clear that the monitor is vacant, if the monitor 201 keeps rotating toward the user, the monitor 201 hinders the user from arriving at the seat, which impairs the feeling of the user P. There is also a problem.
Note that even if the doors Ma and the like of the gaming tables M1, M2, M3,... Are opened and closed, the monitors 201, 202, 203,... There is also known an inter-stand display device that prevents a failure or damage of the device (for example, see Patent Document 4).
[0010]
[Patent Document 4]
JP-A-11-4952
However, in the inter-stand display device described in this document, the monitor enters the area of the adjacent game table every time the door of the game table is opened and closed, which may disturb the user of the adjacent game table. There is a problem.
Further, the above-mentioned other problems still cannot be solved by the inter-table display device described in this document.
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems at once, and in a stand display device provided between the stands of a game table in a game arcade, for opening and closing a door of a game table, etc. It is another object of the present invention to provide a display device that can turn the monitor into an angle position that is easy for the user to see when the monitor is not required and the monitor can be turned only when necessary.
[0013]
[Means for achieving the object]
In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is provided between a stand of a game console, and in a stand display device for providing various information to a user, a base provided between the stands. A monitor rotatably attached to the monitor, a rotating unit for rotating the monitor with respect to the base, and a control unit for controlling the rotation of the monitor by the rotating unit. The means is configured to store the monitor on the base side when the gaming table is not used.
[0014]
In this way, when performing maintenance or the like while stopping the gaming table, the monitor can be stored at a position that does not hinder the maintenance work.
Further, when the game console is not used, the monitor is in the storage state, so that it is possible to easily determine whether or not the game console is empty.
The invention according to claim 2 is configured such that, when the gaming table is used, the control means rotates the monitor to the user side to fix the monitor at a position easy for the user to see. is there.
By doing so, the monitor can be fixed at an angle position that is easy for the user to see when using the gaming table.
[0015]
The invention described in claim 3 is configured so that the rotation angle of the monitor can be adjusted freely and the monitor can be fixed at an arbitrary angular position.
According to this configuration, it is possible to fix the monitor at an angle position that is most visible to the user.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means is configured to determine the use or non-use of the game console based on the presence or absence of a medium that permits the use of the game console.
The medium may be a coin, a coin, a bill, or the like, but as described in claim 5, a card such as a prepaid card or a membership card.
When the user inserts cards, coins, coins, bills, and the like to use the game console, the control device detects the insertion of these media and moves the monitor to an angle position that is easy for the user to see. When the game is ended or the card is pulled out, the control device detects the end of the game or the card being pulled out, and turns the monitor to be retracted.
By using a specific member card as the medium, the superiority of the member can be enhanced, the degree of use of the member card can be improved, and forgetting to remove the member card can be prevented.
[0016]
The control means may control the rotation of the monitor based on a command from a hall computer.
For example, when the store is closed, the control means rotates and stores the monitor according to a command from the hall computer.
[0017]
The invention according to claim 7, wherein a component of the gaming table that may interfere with the monitor is specified in advance, and when at least one of the components is moved, the control unit sets the monitor to the monitor. It is configured to output a command to store it on the base side.
Examples of the constituent members include a door provided on the front surface of the gaming table so as to be openable and closable, and a glass window.
Further, at the time of storage, as described in claim 8, a storage portion of the monitor is formed on the base, and the monitor is stored in the storage portion so as to be substantially flush with the surface of the base. It is good to make it.
[0018]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the rotation means includes a shaft that rotatably supports the monitor on the base, a gear provided on the monitor or the shaft, and a drive that rotates the gear. And a body. Further, as described in claim 10, the rotating means comprises a shaft body rotatably supporting the monitor on the base, a driving body for rotating the monitor at least in the storage direction, and The driving body may be configured to include a link mechanism that connects the driving body to the shaft body.
The present invention can be applied to a pachinko machine, a slot machine, and a game machine according to the eleventh aspect.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[First embodiment]
FIGS. 1A and 1B show a head-to-head display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a front view for explaining the entire configuration, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an inter-machine having the inter-machine display device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2A is a state in which the inter-machine display device is stored in the inter-machine device. (B) shows a state where the inter-table display device is rotated to the user side.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 1A, an inter-stand display device 1 includes a housing 2, a monitor 3 provided on the housing 2 for displaying various information, and a monitor 3 provided on the housing 2. And a switch panel 4 having a plurality of operation switches 41 for selecting information to be displayed on the monitor 3 and selecting ON / OFF of the monitor 3.
The base 10 provided in the room-to-room machine S is formed with a concave storage portion 10a for storing the room-to-room display device 1. The housing 2 of the stand-to-table display device 1 is rotatably attached to the base 10. Then, the housing 2 can rotate between a storage position stored in the storage unit 10a and a use position in which the housing 2 is turned to a user side from the storage unit 10a and becomes available. .
[0021]
The rotating mechanism 5 that makes the housing 2 freely rotatable is attached to a rotatable rotating shaft 54 whose both ends are supported by the base 10 and one end (the upper end in the example of FIG. 1) of the rotating shaft 54. It is roughly composed of a spur gear 53, a worm gear 52 that meshes with the spur gear 53, and a motor 51 that rotates the worm gear 52.
The motor 51 has a drive shaft that can rotate forward and backward. When the motor 51 is driven, the rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted to the spur gear 53 via the worm gear 52, and the rotation shaft 54 is rotated. Thus, the monitor 3 rotates between the storage position and the use position together with the housing 2.
In this embodiment, since the drive of the motor 51 is transmitted to the spur gear 53 of the rotating shaft 54 via the worm gear 52, if the monitor 3 is positioned at a predetermined angular position and stopped, the monitor 3 can be easily moved. There is an advantage that it is not possible to be rotated at a high speed, and the fixing property is excellent.
[0022]
The rotation of the housing 2 by driving the motor 51 can be performed by operating the open switch 4a or the close switch 4b of the switch panel 4. By operating the open switch 4a, the motor 51 is driven to rotate the rotary shaft 54 forward, and the monitor 3 can be rotated together with the housing 2 from the storage unit 10a to the user side, and the close switch 4b is operated. By doing so, the motor 51 is driven to rotate the rotating shaft 54 in the reverse direction, so that the monitor 3 can be rotated together with the housing 2 from the user side to the storage unit 10a side.
[0023]
The drive of the motor 51 by operating the open switch 4a and the close switch 4b can be set so that the motor 51 is driven only while the user continues to operate the open switch 4a or the close switch 4b. It is also possible to set so that the motor 51 is driven so that the rotation shaft 54 is rotated by a preset angle by one operation.
In the former case, there is an advantage that the user can adjust and stop the monitor 3 at a desired angle position by appropriately operating the open switch 4a and the close switch 4b.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 2, the machine S in this embodiment is a ball lending machine (hereinafter, referred to as a ball lending machine S) that lends a ball or a coin to a user in a number corresponding to the amount of money.
The ball lending machine S is provided with a bill insertion portion Sa for inserting bills, a coin insertion portion Sb for inserting coins, and a card insertion portion Sc for inserting a membership card C, a prepaid card, and the like. The base body 10 to which the inter-table display device 1 is attached is provided at a part of the front of the ball lending machine S so as to protrude toward the user.
[0025]
In order to rotate the housing 2 of the stand-to-table display device 1 to position the monitor 3 at an easily visible angle position, the condition may be that a user uses a game table.
For example, the driving of the motor 51 by operating the open switch 4a or the close switch 4b can be permitted on condition that the member card C is inserted into the card insertion section Sc.
Such control of the driving of the motor 51 is controlled by the control device 8 described below.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the control device according to this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of drive control of the motor 51 by the control device of FIG.
The control device 8 includes a control unit 81 for controlling the driving of the motor 51 and a card insertion unit Sc when the user inserts the member card C (see FIG. 2) into the card insertion unit Sc of the ball rental machine S. Receives the output signal and sends a detection signal to the control unit 81 to the card insertion detection unit 82, and receives the signal output when the open switch 4a or the close switch 4b of the display unit 1 is operated. Then, a signal output from an opening / closing switch operation detecting unit 83 that transmits a detection signal to the control unit 81 and a limit switch that detects opening / closing of the opening / closing door of the game console is received, and the detection signal is sent to the control unit 81. A game door door opening / closing detecting section 84 for transmitting, and a glass door for receiving a signal output from a limit switch or the like for detecting opening / closing of a glass door provided on a front surface of the gaming table and transmitting a detection signal to the control section 81. Open / close detector 8 And it has a door.
[0027]
Further, the control device 8 of this embodiment is in a state of the inter-chamber display device 1, that is, whether the housing 2 is turned to the user side or stored in the storage unit 10a. It has a state detection unit 86 for detecting whether or not it is in operation. The state detection unit 86 receives the signal such as a limit switch that outputs a signal when the housing 2 is stored in the storage unit 10a, transmits a detection signal to the control unit 81, and outputs the detection signal to the control unit 81. The state is notified to the control unit 81.
It should be noted that the state of the stand-to-car display device 1 is not limited to the limit switch, and can be detected by other detecting means. For example, by using a stepping motor or a servo motor as the motor 51 and counting the number of pulses for driving the motor 51, it is possible to determine which angle position the housing 2 and the monitor 3 are at.
[0028]
Further, the control unit 81 is also connected to the hall computer H, and can drive the motor 51 according to a command from the hall computer H. For example, when a store closing command signal is output from the hall computer H after the store is closed, the control unit 81 outputs a drive command signal to the motor 51 to store the housing 2.
[0029]
Next, a control procedure for driving the motor 51 by the control device 8 will be described.
When the game console is powered on, initial conditions are checked (step S11). Here, the “initial condition” refers to a condition required for rotating the monitor 3 together with the housing 2 toward the user by a predetermined angle, and in this embodiment, the door of the game console is closed. This includes that the glass door on the front of the game console is closed and that the hall is not closed.
If at least one of the initial conditions is NG, for example, if the glass door of the game console is open, the NG state is maintained until the glass door is closed.
[0030]
If all of the above initial conditions are satisfied (if OK), the process waits until the member card C is inserted into the card insertion unit Sc (step S13).
After the member card C is inserted into the card insertion section Sc (step S13), if the open switch 4a is operated, the control section 81 outputs a drive command signal to the motor 51, and the monitor 3 and the housing 2 are used by the user. Start turning to the side.
While appropriately operating the open switch 4a or the close switch 4b, the user positions and stops the monitor 3 at the most visible angle position (Step S15). Thereby, the monitor 3 is firmly fixed at the angular position.
If the door of the gaming console is opened, the glass door is opened, or the membership card is pulled out while the user is using the gaming console (steps S16, S17, 18, S19), the control unit 81 returns. A drive command is output to the motor 51, and the monitor 3 rotates together with the housing 2 to the storage position (step S20).
[0031]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In the present invention, if the monitor 3 is automatically stored when the member card is pulled out, the object can be achieved. In the second embodiment described below, when the user uses the game console, the monitor 3 is manually rotated to perform the positioning, but when the game console is not used, the monitor is automatically monitored. 3 is stored.
FIGS. 5A and 5B show a head-to-head display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 5A is a front view for explaining the entire configuration, and FIG. It is the elements on larger scale which were seen from the arrow II direction.
For the sake of convenience of explanation, the same portions and the same members as those of the head-to-head display device 1 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0032]
The rotating mechanism 6 of the inter-table display device 1 ′ of this embodiment uses a solenoid 61 having an operating body 61 a that moves forward and backward in a linear direction as a driving body for rotating the monitor 3 together with the housing 2. I have.
The forward / backward movement of the operating body 61 a is transmitted to a rotating shaft 64 that rotatably attaches the housing 2 to the base 10 via the link mechanism 62. The link mechanism 62 has one end supported by a spring 62d, a claw 62e at the other end engaged with a ratchet-shaped groove 64a formed on an outer peripheral portion of the rotating shaft 64, and is rotatable by a lever rotating shaft 62c. It has a lever 62a and a connecting member 62b for connecting the lever 62a and the operating body 61a.
[0033]
A spring 65 that constantly biases the rotating shaft 64 in one direction (for example, the direction in which the monitor 3 is stored in the storage unit 10a together with the housing 2) is provided on the other end (the lower end in the example of FIG. 5) of the rotating shaft 64. Is provided.
Further, a plurality of ratchet-shaped grooves 64a are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 64 as described above, and the claw 62e at the tip of the lever 62a is engaged with and disengaged from the groove 64a by driving the solenoid 61. It has become. Then, when the solenoid 61 is driven and the engagement between the claw 62e and the groove 64a is released, the monitor 3 rotates together with the housing 2 in a direction in which the monitor 3 is stored in the storage section 10a by the urging force of the spring 65. Further, when the driving of the solenoid 61 is released, the claw 62e and the groove 64a are engaged, and the rotation of the rotary shaft 64 in the storage direction is restricted.
[0034]
In this state, the user can manually turn the monitor 3 against the urging force of the spring 65 to fix the monitor 3 at a position where the monitor 3 is easy to see. Also, by forming an appropriate number of ratchet-shaped grooves 64a on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 64, the angle of rotation of the rotating shaft 64, the housing 2, and the monitor 3 can be finely adjusted arbitrarily by manual operation. Will be able to
Note that the drive command for the solenoid 61 described above is output by the same control device as in the first embodiment. Further, in this embodiment, the operation of the open switch 4a and the close switch 4b controls only the driving of the solenoid 61 which is the driving body.
[0035]
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.
For example, in the above description, the monitor 3 is rotated to the user side together with the housing 2 of the inter-table display devices 1 and 1 ', but only the monitor 3 is rotated to the user side. It is also possible.
In the above description, two examples have been given as examples of the rotation mechanism for rotating the monitor 3 toward the user. However, if the monitor 3 can be rotated toward the user, the rotation mechanism may be rotated. The moving mechanism is not limited to the above, and may be, for example, one using a rack and pinion mechanism, one using an air cylinder, or a rotating cylinder.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the monitor automatically pivots toward the user only when necessary, and the monitor is automatically retracted at other times, so that the door of the game console and the glass door can be opened and closed. When performing the operation, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the door or the like collides with the monitor, and it is possible to prevent the failure or damage of the display device between stands.
In addition, the monitor can be adjusted to an angular position with good visibility for the user, and the monitor is in the retracted state when the game console is not used, so that the convenience for the user can be improved.
In addition, by using a specific member card as the medium, the superiority of the member can be enhanced, the degree of use of the member card can be improved, and forgetting to remove the member card can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view for explaining an overall configuration of a display device between tables according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is the elements on larger scale seen from the direction.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of a stand-to-machine (ball lending machine) having the stand-to-head display device of the first embodiment. FIG. () Shows a state where the inter-table display device is rotated toward the user.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of motor drive control by the control device of FIG. 3;
FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing a head-to-head display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A is a front view for explaining the entire configuration, and FIG. It is the elements on larger scale seen from the direction.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an example of a conventional stand-to-stand display device in which a monitor is provided on a stand-to-stand machine at an angle.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a head-to-head display device according to another conventional example of the present invention, in which a monitor is provided so as to be able to adjust the angular position with respect to the head-to-head machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 1 'Stand-to-stand display device 2 Case 3 Monitor 4 Switch panel 4a Open switch 4b Close switch 41 Switch 5 Rotating mechanism (first embodiment)
Reference Signs List 51 motor 52 worm gear 53 spur gear 54 rotating shaft 6 rotating mechanism (second embodiment)
61 solenoid 61a operating body 62 link mechanism 62a lever 62b connecting member 62c lever rotation shaft 62d spring 62e pawl 64 rotation shaft 64a groove 65 spring 8 control device

Claims (11)

In a stand display device installed in a stand of a gaming table to provide various information to a user,
A monitor rotatably attached to the base provided between the tables,
Rotating means for rotating the monitor with respect to the base;
Control means for controlling the rotation of the monitor by the rotation means,
The control means stores the monitor on the base side when the gaming table is not used,
A display device for a game console. 2. The game console according to claim 1, wherein when using the game console, the control unit rotates the monitor toward the user to fix the monitor at a position that is easy for the user to see. 3. Stand display device. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a rotation angle of the monitor is adjustable, and the monitor is fixed at an arbitrary angle position. 4. The said control means determines the use or non-use of the said game table by the presence or absence of the medium which permits the use of the said game table, The stand of the game table in any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Display device. The display device according to claim 4, wherein the medium is a membership card provided to a specific user and inserted into a card insertion portion of the game console. 6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the rotation of the monitor based on a command from a hall computer. A component of the gaming table that may interfere with the monitor is specified in advance, and when moving at least one of the components, the control unit instructs to store the monitor on the base side. 7. The display device for a game console according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: A storage portion for the monitor is formed on the base, and when the monitor is stored in the storage portion, the monitor is rotated such that the surface of the base and the monitor are substantially flush. The display device for a stand of a game console according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The rotating means includes a shaft that rotatably supports the monitor on the base, a gear provided on the monitor or the shaft, and a driver that rotates the gear. An inter-stand display device for a gaming table according to claim 1. A shaft for rotatably supporting the monitor on the base, a driving body for rotating the monitor at least in the storage direction, and a link connecting the driving body to the shaft; The display device for a game console according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a mechanism. 11. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is one of a pachinko machine, a slot machine, and a game machine.

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