JP2005073838A - Start switch for slot machine, and slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a start switch for a slot machine where an illegal behavior of operating the start switch at regular intervals is prevented effectively. <P>SOLUTION: The start switch has: a start lever 10 having a member to be detected 15 provided at the other end 132 in an idling-possible state; and a sensor 60 for detecting movement of the member 15. The start switch is used for the slot machine which has: a plurality of reels pivoted rotatably; the start switch for rotate-operating the plurality of reels; and a stoppage switch for respectively stop-operating the rotation of the plurality of reels. That is, even when constantly controlling conditions of operating an operation member 11 (operation force, a speed, etc.), the relation between the member 15 and the sensor 60 cannot be predicted since the member 15 is provided in the idling-possible state. Consequently, operating timing of the start switch and outputting timing of a start signal are irregular, thereby the illegal behavior is prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a slot machine start switch and a slot machine using the same.

  The slot machine is provided with a start switch on a control panel provided on the front surface of the slot machine housing for inputting a credit for playing a game and then starting the rotation of the reel. The start switch includes a lever main body, an operation member provided at one end of the lever main body, and a sensor that detects the movement of the detected portion at the other end of the lever main body. The start switch converts the operation of the operation member into a movement of a detected member provided at the other end of the lever body, detects the movement by a sensor, and outputs a start signal. The output start signal is input to the control unit of the slot machine to start the reel rotation.

  As a sensor for the start switch, a switching element as a sensor for detecting movement in a non-contact manner such as electromagnetic or optical is often employed. For example, when a photocoupler is used as an optical sensor, the detected member changes the shielding state of the optical axis for detecting the motion of the photocoupler via the lever body by operating the operation member. A start signal is output from the photocoupler (for example, Patent Document 1).

Here, in the slot machine, whether or not to win is almost determined when the player operates the start switch. That is, a lottery program and a random number table are prepared inside the slot machine, and the lottery program always refers to the random number table. The lottery program circulates and references the random number table. The lottery program performs a lottery based on a random number on a random number table that is referred to when a start signal output by a player operating a start switch is input to the control unit.
Japanese Patent No. 3163038

  In the conventional slot machine, in theory, the lottery program circulates the random number table and refers to the cycle, and the same lottery result is obtained by operating the start switch at exactly the same timing for this cycle. Can appear. Using this theory, a machine that operates the start switch at a fixed interval (several times as long as the random number table circulates) is produced, and this machine is operated to operate the start switch so that it appears with the aim of hitting the inside. Fraud is taking place and is a problem in the market.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a problem to be solved by providing a start switch for a slot machine that can effectively prevent an illegal act of operating the start switch at regular intervals, and a slot machine using the start switch. To do.

  A start switch for a slot machine according to the present invention that solves the above problems is provided with a lever body that is pivotally supported, an operation member provided at one end of the lever body, and a free movement at the other end of the lever body. And a sensor that detects a movement of the detected member of the start lever. The start switch for a slot machine according to the present invention includes a plurality of rotating cylinders rotatably supported, a start switch for rotating the plurality of rotating cylinders, and rotation of the plurality of rotating cylinders. It is used for a slot machine having a stop switch for stopping operation.

  In other words, even if the conditions (operation force, speed, etc.) for operating the operation member of the start switch are controlled to be constant, the detected member is provided so as to be freely movable with respect to the lever body. The relationship becomes unpredictable. Therefore, the interval between the timing when the start switch is operated and the timing when the start signal is output is not constant, and it becomes impossible to operate the start switch at a certain interval aiming at the inside of the slot machine. Can be prevented.

  The detected member is an annular member, and the detected member is preferably loosely fitted to the lever body. In this case, it is preferable that the detected member has irregularities on the outer peripheral surface.

  Further, a slot machine that solves the above-described problems includes a plurality of rotating cylinders rotatably supported, a start switch that rotates the plurality of rotating cylinders, and a stop that stops the rotation of each of the rotating cylinders. A slot machine including a button, wherein the start switch for a slot machine of the present invention described above is employed as a start switch.

  The slot machine start switch and slot machine of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the embodiments.

(Start switch for slot machines)
The start switch for the slot machine of this embodiment has a start lever and a sensor. The start lever includes a lever body pivotally supported, an operation member provided at one end of the lever body, and a detected member provided slidably at the other end of the lever body. The start lever is operated by operating an operating member provided at one end of the lever body, so that the pivoted lever body swings, and the detected member provided at the other end of the lever body also moves irregularly according to the movement. .

  The member to be detected is preferably an annular member having irregularities on the outer peripheral surface and freely loosely fitted to the other end of the lever body. Examples of the outer shape of the posting member include a star shape, a tear shape, and an irregular shape having a distorted shape in addition to a triangle and a quadrangle. In other words, any shape that changes the apparent size in the movement direction of the other end of the lever body by rotating at the other end of the lever body may be used. The outer shape of the member to be detected is preferably irregular because it can be expected that irregularities in detection timing of the sensor will increase.

  The detected member forms a hole (free fitting hole) larger than the outer diameter of the other end of the lever body in the plate-like body or the columnar body having these outer shapes so that the detected member does not come off from the other end. The thing which provided the stopper is mentioned. The loose fitting hole formed in the member to be detected can be circular or elongated. In particular, it is preferable to employ a member in which a loose fitting hole is provided at the rotation center position (such as the center of gravity position) of the detected member so that the rotation of the detected member proceeds smoothly. Furthermore, it is possible to shift the position of the rotation center from the geometric center position by changing the plate thickness of the detected member around the loose fitting hole or using materials having different specific gravities. The change in the outer shape of the detection member is large and the rotation can be made smooth.

  In addition, the member to be detected can be formed of a non-flexible material, and a highly flexible member can be employed. For example, it is a member formed of a film-like or fibrous form or a flexible gel as a material. When a flexible member is employed as the member to be detected, it is possible to adopt a form in which the formation of the loose fitting hole is omitted and the member to be detected is fixed to the other end of the lever body. When a flexible member is employed, the detected member can be bent at the other end of the lever body to change the apparent size in the movement direction of the other end of the lever body.

  The detected member rotates at the other end portion by the movement of the lever main body, so that the apparent size in the movement direction of the other end of the lever main body changes. The sensor detects the movement of the detected member, but the movement of the detected member changes depending on the apparent size of the detected member in the movement direction of the other end of the lever body. Transmission timing varies.

  The sensor is a member that detects the movement of the member to be detected. The sensor that detects the movement of the member to be detected outputs a start signal. Examples of the sensor include non-contact switches using optical and electromagnetic actions such as photocouplers, magnetic proximity switches, electrostatic proximity switches, and dielectric proximity switches.

(Slot machine)
The slot machine of the present embodiment includes a plurality of rotating cylinders that are pivotally supported, a start switch that rotates the plurality of rotating cylinders, and a stop operation that stops the rotation of the plurality of rotating cylinders. A stop switch. The start switch for the slot machine of this embodiment described above is employed as the start switch.

[Start switch for slot machines]
(Constitution)
As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine start switch of this embodiment includes a start lever 10, bases 20 and 50, and a photocoupler unit 60 as a sensor. The start lever 10 is provided on the lever main body 13, the spherical operation member 11 fixed to one end of the lever main body 13, and the other end 132 of the lever main body 13 so that the detected member 15 can freely move in the rotation direction and the direction perpendicular to the axis. It has been.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the detected member 15 is a triangular plate-like body, and has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the other end 132 of the lever body 13 near the center of gravity, and is loosely fitted to the other end 132. A loose fitting hole 152 is formed. In addition, the star shape 15b, the long round shape 15c, and the like can be used. In addition, the shape of the loose fitting hole 152 may be a circle, a long circle, a slit, or the like. A stopper 134 larger than the diameter of the loose fitting hole is fixed to the tip of the other end 132 so that the detected member 15 is not dropped from the other end 132.

  The lever main body 13 has a through-hole 12 for pivotally supporting the base 20 near the center. The lever main body 13 relaxes the impact of contact with the base 20 from the through-hole 12 to the portion from the operation member 11 and softens the impact sound. Therefore, it is covered with a rubber member 16.

  The bases 20 and 50 have a cylindrical shape, and the start lever 10 is inserted into and supported by the inside. The bases 20 and 50 are bisected in the length direction of the cylinder for the convenience of assembly. The base 20 is cylindrical and has a base body 21 having a partition wall that bisects the inside in the length direction of the cylinder, and a flange 22 that is provided at one end of the base body 21 and whose back surface is in contact with and fixed to the control panel of the slot machine. And have. The base main body 21 has a pin hole 23 for inserting a pin for fixing the through hole 12 of the lever main body 13 of the start lever 10 and a connection hole 24 for fitting and fixing to the base 50 on the cylindrical side surface. A slit is provided in the partition wall of the base main body 21 so that the lever main body 13 can be inserted and swingable.

  After the start lever 10 is inserted into the base 20 from one end side, the through hole 12 and the pin hole 23 are pivotally supported by a pin (not shown). The other end 132 of the lever main body 13 of the start lever 10 and the detected member 15 are inserted through a slit provided in the partition wall and project to the other end side of the base portion 20. The neutral return cylindrical member 30, the compressed coil spring 40 and the washer 34 are set on the other end 132 side of the protruding lever body 13, and the E-ring 33 is fitted into a groove 133 provided near the other end 132 of the lever body 13. To fix.

  The base 50 is connected to the base 20. The connection claw 52 of the base 50 and the connection claw 24 of the base 20 are fitted and fixed. A photocoupler unit 60 is fixed to the base 50. The photocoupler unit 60 has a sensor portion 61 that protrudes in a U shape in the cylindrical axis direction of the base portion 50. The sensor portion 61 includes a light emitter on one surface side inside the U-shaped groove and a light receiver on the other surface side. The presence / absence of the detected member 15 inside the U-shaped groove is detected by blocking and opening the optical path, and a start signal is output. The start signal is output to the control unit (not shown) of the slot machine via the connector unit 70 connected to the photocoupler unit 60. Description of the circuit that outputs the start signal is omitted. The connector portion 70 is fixed by fitting the connection claw 54 of the base portion 50 with the connection claw 72 of the connector portion 70.

(Function and effect)
Since the slot machine start switch has the above-described configuration, it has the following effects. The start lever 10 is kept neutral by the restoring force of the compressed coil spring 40. That is, the coil spring 40 biases the neutral return cylindrical member 30 in the direction of the partition wall of the base portion 20, so that the flange portion 31 of the neutral return cylindrical member 30 and the partition wall of the base portion 20 are in close contact with each other. The inserted lever main body 13 is also perpendicular (neutral state) to the partition wall (FIGS. 3 and 4: solid line). Even if the player operates the operation member 11 and tilts the start lever 10 (FIGS. 3 and 4: broken lines), the player quickly returns to the neutral state by releasing the hand.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the start lever 10 is in a neutral state, the detected member 15 provided at the other end of the lever body 13 blocks the optical path in the sensor unit 61 of the photocoupler unit 60. When the player operates the operation member 11, the lever main body 13 swings around the pin inserted into the through hole 12, and as a result, the detected member 15 loosely provided at the other end 132 of the lever main body 13 also swings according to the lever main body 13. Move. As a result, the detected member 15 is separated from the sensor unit 61 and the blocked optical path is opened. The photocoupler unit 60 outputs a start signal when the optical path changes from the cut-off state to the open state.

  Since the relative positional relationship between the detected member 15 and the other end 132 of the lever body 13 is not constant, the degree of swing of the detected member 15 cannot be predicted accurately. In particular, when the detected member 15 rotates with respect to the other end 132, the relative size of the lever main body 13 in the swinging direction changes, and the light path blocking characteristic of the sensor unit 61 changes.

  For this reason, even if the operation member 11 of the start lever 10 is always operated under the same conditions, the time until the optical path of the photocoupler unit 60 is released when the operation member 11 is operated changes. The output timing changes. Therefore, even if the lottery is performed based on the periodic random number table in the control unit of the slot machine, even if the operation member 11 is operated at intervals corresponding to the cycle of the random number table, the internal lottery result is not constant.

[Slot machine]
The slot machine of this embodiment includes a plurality of rotating cylinders that are pivotally supported, a start switch that rotates the plurality of rotating cylinders, and a stop button that stops the rotation of the rotating cylinders. With. As the start switch, the slot machine start switch of the above-described embodiment is used.

  The slot machine is provided with a start switch 1 on the front panel of the slot machine housing for starting rotation of the spinning cylinder after inputting credits for playing a game (FIG. 5). ). When the start switch 1 is operated, a start signal is output to the control unit. The control unit performs lottery based on the timing of the input start signal. Specifically, the random number table in which the lottery program circulates in the control unit is always referred to, and the lottery is performed based on the random number value in the random number table at the timing when the start signal is input into the control unit. Based on the lottery result, the control unit determines a combination of patterns indicated by the spinning cylinder. The player stops each spinning cylinder with a stop switch. The pattern indicated by the rotating drum almost follows the lottery result, and the hit determination is performed by the combination of the patterns.

  Here, since the slot machine of this embodiment employs the start switch for the slot machine of the above-described embodiment, the operation timing of the start switch 1 and the timing at which the start signal is output are slightly shifted. Therefore, lottery is performed based on a periodic random number table in the control unit of the slot machine, and the internal lottery result does not become constant even if the lottery is operated at intervals corresponding to the cycle of the start switch 10 random number table.

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view of a start switch for a slot machine according to an embodiment. It is a model front view of the to-be-detected member in the start switch for slot machines of an Example. It is a schematic cross section of the start switch for the slot machine of the embodiment. It is a schematic cross section of the start switch for the slot machine of the embodiment. It is a schematic cross section of the control panel portion of the slot machine of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Slot machine start switch 10 ... Start lever 11 ... Operation member 12 ... Through-hole 13 ... Lever main body 132 ... Other end 15 ... Detected member 152 ... Free fitting hole 16 ... Rubber member 20 ... Base 21 ... Base main body 22 ... Flange 23 ... Pin hole 24 ... Connection hole 30 ... Neutral return cylindrical member 33 ... E ring 34 ... Washer 40 ... Coil spring 50 ... Base 60 ... Photocoupler unit 61 ... Sensor part 70 ... Connector part 9 ... Slot machine 90 ... Control panel

Claims (4)

A slot having a plurality of rotating cylinders pivotally supported, a start switch for rotating the plurality of rotating cylinders, and a stop switch for stopping the rotation of the rotating cylinders. A start switch used in the machine,
A start lever comprising a lever body pivotally supported, an operation member provided at one end of the lever body, and a detected member provided slidably at the other end of the lever body, and A slot machine start switch, comprising: a sensor for detecting movement of the member to be detected.   The slot machine start switch according to claim 1, wherein the member to be detected is an annular member, and the member to be detected is loosely fitted to the lever body.   The slot machine start switch according to claim 2, wherein the detected member has irregularities on an outer peripheral surface. A slot machine comprising a plurality of rotating cylinders pivotally supported, a start switch for rotating the plurality of rotating cylinders, and a stop button for stopping the rotation of each of the rotating cylinders,
The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the start switch is a start switch for a slot machine according to claim 1.

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