JP2005130872A - Reel unit and game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reel unit individually replacing each rotating reel in a game machine. <P>SOLUTION: At least a single reel support plate 52 is attached to a front lower end part of a unit frame 50 rotationally in the front/rear direction via a journal part, guide means for assisting the turning of the reel support plate 52 are provided in either of or the both of the unit frame 50 or/and the reel support plate 52, fixing means for fixing the reel support plate 52 to the unit frame are provided in either or the both of the unit frame 50 or/and the reel plate 52, and reel locking means 7 regulating the movement of the turning reel 20 to a drive shaft 71 is provided in a drive unit 70 and the journal part 23 of the turning reel 20. The turning reel 20 is formed detachably from the drive unit 70. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a reel unit used in a gaming machine, and more particularly, to a reel unit in which a rotating reel is detachably formed, and to a gaming machine using the reel unit.

A reel unit used in a conventional gaming machine, for example, a slot machine, includes a unit frame in which a plurality of reel support plates are vertically fixed in parallel, a drive device such as a pulse motor fixed to each support plate, and each drive device. And a rotating reel formed by affixing a reel tape to a reel drum pivotally attached to the reel drum, and the unit frame is fixed inside the casing of the gaming machine. Then, by driving each driving device, the symbols displayed on the reel tape are variably displayed in the vertical direction from the symbol display window provided on the front side of the casing.
Here, the symbols displayed on each rotating reel are closely related to the game contents, and if the game contents are changed, the design of the symbols and the arrangement thereof are also changed. In general, in slot machines and the like, the period until the game content is changed is 2 to 6 months, which is much shorter than the service life of motors and the like. In many cases, the reel unit is reused by replacing only the reel tape at a recycling factory. When the reel tape is replaced in this way, the reel support plate must be removed from the unit frame, and the rotating reel fixed to the drive device must be removed. In addition, it is necessary to perform the above-mentioned work even when trying to perform maintenance and inspection of the reel unit at the game hall, but it is difficult to remove only the rotating reel while the unit frame is fixed in the housing. Such work has to be relied upon by a specialist.

In view of these problems, a reel unit has been devised in which a reel support plate assembled with a driving device and a rotating reel can be detachably attached to a unit frame. For example, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, a reel support plate (reel holding plate (51)) is rotatably engaged with a unit frame (reel box (40)) and is detachable. Each rotating reel can be individually removed even with the unit frame fixed in the housing.
On the other hand, from the viewpoint of reducing gaming machine replacement work at the time of “replacement”, reducing costs, and effective use of resources, a separate slot machine has been devised in which only the components necessary for changing game contents can be replaced. (See Patent Document 2). This separation-type slot machine is formed so that the reel unit and the main board can be detached from the housing as an exchange unit, but the reel unit has a large capacity and weight in the replacement part. However, it is only the reel tape that needs to be substantially replaced, and improvement is required.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-058883 (FIG. 4) JP 2003-169879 A

However, in the conventional detachable reel unit described above, when the rotary reel is to be removed, the reel holding plate must be removed from the unit frame. In addition, when replacing the reel tape, it is not efficient to perform the replacing operation in a state where the rotating reel is assembled to the reel holding plate, and the rotating reel is removed from the driving device fixed to the reel holding plate. In this case, it is necessary to remove a screw or the like that fixes the rotary reel and the drive shaft of the drive device.
Also, in the separation type slot machine, in order to minimize the number of replacement parts, it is conceivable that only the reel tape can be exchanged in the game hall while the reel unit is fixed to the housing. Therefore, it is not appropriate to replace it in the field.

Accordingly, the invention described in each claim has been made in view of such circumstances, and the object thereof is as follows.
(Claim 1)
That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a reel unit in which individual rotating reels can be individually replaced in a game arcade.
(Claim 2)
The invention according to claim 2 has the following object.
That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine in which only a rotating reel can be exchanged or a reel unit can be exchanged in a game arcade.

Each invention described in each claim has been made to achieve each of the above-mentioned objects, and features of each invention will be described below using embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings. .
In addition, the code | symbol in parentheses and drawing number show the code | symbol and number used in embodiment of invention, and do not limit the technical scope of this invention.
(Claim 1)
(Feature point)
The invention described in claim 1 is characterized by the following points.
That is, the invention described in claim 1 includes a unit frame (50) to which a plurality of reel support plates (51, 52) can be attached, and a drive device (70) fixed to each reel support plate (51, 52). The present invention relates to a reel unit (2) having at least a rotating reel (20) mounted on a drive shaft (71) of each drive device (70).

The present invention is a reel unit used in, for example, a slot machine. The reel support plates (51, 52) are for fixing the driving device (70) for rotating the rotating reel (20) and arranging the rotating reel (20) in parallel, and the unit frame (50) Is for supporting and fixing a plurality of reel support plates (51, 52) integrally. The rotating reel (20) has a cylindrical drum (22) that rotates about a shaft attachment part (23), and a reel tape (21) displaying a design is affixed to the drum (22). is there.
In the present invention, at least one reel support plate (52) is attached to the unit frame (50) so as to be pivotable in the front-rear direction via a shaft support provided at the front lower end of the unit frame (50). ) And / or the reel support plate (52) is provided with guide means for assisting the rotation of the reel support plate (52), and either the unit frame (50) or the reel support plate (52) Alternatively, a fixing means for fixing the reel support plate (52) to the unit frame (50) is provided on both sides.

Here, the `` shaft support portion '' provided at the front lower end of the unit frame (50) can be, for example, a hinge (55), and the at least one reel support plate (52) is the hinge (55). It may be fixed in a freely rotatable manner, or may be detachably attached. The reel support plate (52) is exposed from the unit frame (50) when rotated to the near side about the "shaft support", and the unit frame is in use (when the reel unit is in operation). (50) is housed inside.
Further, the “guide means” is for assisting the movement of the reel support plate (52) so that the reel support plate (52) does not shake from side to side when the reel support plate (52) rotates around the “axis support portion”. A guide rail provided on the frame (50) and an engaging portion provided on a reel support plate (52) that can be engaged with the guide rail can be used. The “guide means” may be provided only on the unit frame (50) or may be provided only on the reel support plate (52).

The `` fixing means '' is for fixing the side of the reel support plate (52) opposite to the shaft support portion in a state where the reel support plate (52) is housed in the unit frame (50), For example, an engaging protrusion (56) provided on the unit frame (50) and an engaging claw (54) provided on the reel support plate (52) can be used. Both the "fixing means" and the "guide means" securely fix the reel support plate (52) to the unit frame (50) so that no noise is generated due to vibration of the drive device (70). ing.
Further, a reel capable of restricting movement of the rotary reel (20) relative to the drive shaft (71) to the drive shaft (71) of each drive device (70) and the shaft mounting portion (23) of each rotary reel (20). Locking means (7) is provided, and each rotary reel (20) is formed detachably from each drive device (70).

  Here, the reel locking means (7) is provided on both the drive shaft (71) and the shaft mounting portion (23), and specifically, the rotational reel (20) moves in the rotational direction with respect to the drive shaft. Rotation fixing means (for example, a pin and a groove) that can restrict the movement and shaft fixing means (for example, a step portion and a flange) that can restrict movement in the axial direction can be provided. The reel locking means (7) can fix the drive shaft (71) and the shaft mounting portion (23), and can make the rotary reel (20) detachable from the drive shaft (71). It has a configuration that can be done. Specifically, for example, an overhang pin (72) provided at the tip of the drive shaft (71) and a cross-shaped on the side of the non-drive device of the shaft mounting portion (23), and on the side of the drive device of the shaft mounting portion (23) This is a groove where one letter appears, and the overhanging pin (72) can be penetrated from the driving device side, and the rotation reel (20) is rotated 90 degrees with the overhanging pin (72) penetrating on the counter driving device side. The overhang pin (72) can be locked.

(Function)
When removing the rotating reel (20) from the reel unit (2) according to the present invention, the "fixing means" that fixes the reel support plate (52) and the unit frame (50) is released, and the reel support plate Pull out (52) toward you. Then, the reel support plate (52) rotates around the “shaft support portion”, and the drive device (70) and the rotary reel (20) fixed to the reel support plate (52) are exposed from the unit frame (50). . At this time, the lateral movement of the reel support plate (52) is restricted by the “guide means”, and the reel support plate (52) can be smoothly pulled out to the front side. Then, the reel locking means (7) is released, and the rotating reel (20) is removed from the drive shaft (71).

In the present invention, all the reel support plates are rotatably attached to the unit frame (50), and each rotating reel (20) is moved to the front side of the unit frame (50) to be removed. However, at least one of the plurality of reel support plates may be rotatable. For example, as shown in FIG. 12 or 16, in the case of the reel unit (2) having three rotating reels (20), only the reel support plate for supporting the central rotating reel (20) can be rotated. Then, it is possible to attach and detach the left and right rotating reels (20) using the space formed when the central reel support plate (52) is pulled out to the near side.
(Claim 2)
(Feature point)
The invention described in claim 2 is characterized by the following points.

  That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, a unit frame (50) in which a plurality of reel support plates (51, 52) can be mounted in the housing (1), and the reel support plates (51, 52). A gaming machine equipped with a reel unit (2) having at least a driving device (70) to be fixed and a rotating reel (20) pivotally attached to a driving shaft (71) of each driving device (70), The reel unit (2) has at least one reel support plate attached to the unit frame via a shaft support provided at the front lower end of the unit frame so as to be pivotable in the front-rear direction, and the unit frame or reel support plate Either or both are provided with guide means for assisting the rotation of the reel support plate, and either or both of the unit frame and the reel support plate are provided with fixing means for fixing the reel support plate to the unit frame. And a drive shaft (71) of each drive device (70) and the above Reel locking means (7) capable of restricting the movement of the rotary reel (20) relative to the drive shaft (71) is provided in the shaft mounting portion (23) of the rotary reel (20), and the rotary reel (20) is driven. The present invention relates to a gaming machine formed detachably from a device (70).

That is, the present invention is a gaming machine in which the reel unit (2) according to claim 1 is housed in a housing (1). In the present invention, the reel unit (2) is detachably formed from the housing (1).
Here, as means for making the reel unit (2) detachable from the housing (1), for example, the clip (91) provided on the reel unit (2) or the housing (1) and the clip (91) The hook (92) that can be engaged with the hook (92) is provided, and the reel unit (2) can be removed from the housing (1) by releasing the engagement between the clip (91) and the hook (92). The reel unit (2) can be fixed in the housing (1) by engaging the hook (92).

(Function)
According to the present invention, only the rotating reel (20) can be attached and detached while the reel unit (2) is fixed to the housing (1), or the reel unit (2) is fixed while the rotating reel (20) is fixed. Can also be attached and detached.

Since this invention is comprised as mentioned above, there exists an effect as described below.
(Claim 1)
According to invention of Claim 1, there exist the following effects.
That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a reel unit in which individual rotating reels can be individually replaced in a game arcade.
(Claim 2)
According to invention of Claim 2, there exist the following effects.
That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a gaming machine in which only the rotating reel can be exchanged and the reel unit can be exchanged in the game hall.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings by taking a slot machine as an example of a gaming machine and dividing it into a first embodiment and a second embodiment.
(First embodiment)
(Explanation of drawings)
1 to 14 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
1 and 2 are exploded perspective views of the slot machine S, FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the reel unit 2, FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the reel unit 2, and FIG. . 7 and 11 are sectional views showing an engaging portion 58 between the reel unit 2 and the reel support plate 52, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are exploded perspective views showing the unit frame 50 and the reel support plate 52. FIG. FIG. 10 is a view showing another example of the reel unit 2, FIG. 12 is a front sectional view of the reel unit 2, and FIGS. 13 and 14 are perspective views showing a shaft mounting portion 23 of the rotary reel 20. FIG.

The slot machine S according to the present embodiment is formed by exchanging the upper door 30, the substrate unit 10, and the rotary reel 20, and roughly has an opening 11 on the front side as shown in FIG. A housing 1, a reel unit 2 fixed inside the housing 1, a substrate unit 10 detachably attached inside the housing 1, and a front door 3 that closes the opening 11 of the housing 1 so as to be openable and closable. Yes. The front door 3 is divided into an upper door 30 that covers the opening upper portion 13 of the housing 1 so as to be openable and closable, and a lower door 40 that closes the opening lower portion 14 of the housing 1 so as to be openable and closable.
(Case 1)
The housing 1 is a box opened to the front side consisting of a bottom plate 15, a side plate 16, a top plate 17, and a back plate 18, and a middle plate in the horizontal direction between the two side plates 16 at a substantially central portion in the height direction. 12 are provided. A power supply unit 4 is provided on the lower surface of the intermediate plate 12, and a hopper unit 5 is installed on the bottom plate 15.

The power supply unit 4 is attached to the lower surface of the middle plate 12 via a mounting plate or the like. Although not particularly shown, the power supply device is built in and a game store performs various settings on the front side. It has a switch etc.
The power supply unit 4 and the hopper unit 5 do not necessarily need to be replaced when a gaming machine is replaced, and can be left installed during so-called surface replacement.
In this embodiment, the slot machine having the hopper unit 5 is used as a payout device for storing medals and paying out medals. However, any device other than the hopper unit 5 may be used as long as the device can pay out game medals. An apparatus may be provided instead.

Further, on the left side of the front surface of the side plate 16, a housing engaging portion 19 for engaging the front door 3 (the upper door 30 and the lower door 40) and rotatably supporting the two is spaced in the vertical direction. It is provided one by one.
The back plate 18 is used for electrically connecting a board mounting frame 60 for installing the board unit 10 in the housing and internal devices installed in the lower opening portion 14 and the upper opening portion 13 of the housing 1. A harness cover 80 storing the harness is disposed.
(Reel unit 2)
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the reel unit 2 includes a unit frame 50 and three rotary reels 20 respectively pivotally attached to three drive devices 70. The reel 20 and the drive device 70 are unitized. Reel support plates 51 and 52 for fixed installation on the frame 50 are provided. The reel support plate 52 installed at the center is formed so as to be rotatable about the hinge 55 toward the front side, and each rotary reel 20 is detachable from each drive device 70.

(Unit frame 50)
As shown in FIG. 3, the unit frame 50 is a frame body made of a thin plate member having a substantially U-shaped cross-section opening at the front and side surfaces, and two reel support plates 51 between the top plate 50A and the bottom plate 50B. Is fixed vertically. The reel support plate 51 has a drive device 70 attached to the substantially central portion of the plate surface. The one reel support plate 51 has the drive device 70 arranged on the left side and fixed so as to close the left side opening of the unit frame 50. Has been. The other reel support plate 51 has the driving device 70 disposed on the left side, and is fixed so as to be located approximately one third of the right side opening of the unit frame 50.
In addition, a guide portion 53 that hangs down from the upper plate 50A is formed at an intermediate portion between the two reel support plates 51, and a hinge 55 as a shaft support portion is attached to the bottom plate 50B corresponding to the guide portion 53. ing. Here, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the guide portion 53 is a hanging piece provided in the front-rear direction from the front side of the upper plate 50A of the unit frame 50 to the back plate 50C, An arcuate guide groove 53a centering on the hinge 55 is formed. The cross-sectional shape of the guide groove 53a is as shown in FIG. 7A showing a cross section taken along line II in FIG.

  A reel support plate 52 having an upper end coincident with the arc of the guide groove 53a and having an engagement piece 52a engageable with the guide groove 53a is attached to the hinge 55. The reel support plate 52 may be detachable from the unit frame 50 at the hinge 55, or may be fixed to the unit frame 50 via the hinge 55. The reel support plate 52 can be rotated in the front-rear direction with the hinge 55 as a fulcrum. At this time, the guide groove 53a and the engagement piece 52a are engaged in close contact, and the movement in the front-rear direction is performed. The guide is designed to prevent left and right shaking. Here, the guide portion 53 and the engagement piece 52a may be formed as shown in FIG. That is, the upper edge portion 52b of the reel support plate 52 is engaged with the guide groove 53a formed between the two hanging pieces (see FIG. 9). The forms of the guide portion 53 and the reel support plate 52 are not limited to those described above, and when the reel support plate 52 is rotated with the hinge 55 as a fulcrum, the reel support plate 52 becomes the upper plate 50A of the unit frame 50. As long as it is formed so as to be able to restrict the lateral movement of the reel support plate 52 by guiding the rotation and guiding the rotation, any form or shape may be used.

  An engaging portion 57 for fixing the reel support plate 52 and the unit frame 50 is provided on the upper surface of the upper plate 50A and the front side upper end portion of the reel support plate 52. The engaging portion 57 is formed on the engaging protrusion 56 in a state where the engaging protrusion 56 protruding from the upper outer surface of the guide portion 53 of the upper plate 50A and the reel support plate 52 are installed inside the unit frame 50. It consists of a hook-shaped engagement claw 54 that can be engaged (see FIG. 5). The engaging claw 54 has elasticity, and can be removed from the engaging projection 56 by pulling the claw portion upward, and automatically when the reel support plate 52 tilted forward is pushed back to the unit frame 50. The engaging projection 56 is locked. When the engaging claw 54 is engaged with the engaging protrusion 56, the reel support plate 52 does not rotate forward. The engaging portion 57 is not limited to the above, but can fix the unit frame 50 and the reel support plate 52 and prevent the reel support plate 52 installed inside the unit frame 50 from falling to the near side. Any form or shape may be used.

(Drive device 70)
The drive device 70 is a stepping motor attached to the reel support plates 51 and 52, and a shaft 71 projects from the motor body. A reel locking means 7 for detachably holding the rotary reel 20 is provided at the tip of the drive shaft 71, which will be described later.
(Rotating reel 20)
The rotary reel 20 is a cylindrical rotary body in which the reel tape 21 is attached to the drum 22, and is pivotally attached to the drive shaft 71 of the drive device 70. As shown in FIG. Three pieces are installed in parallel in the frame 50 vertically.

The reel tape 21 is a strip-shaped tape obtained by printing a plurality of designs (not shown) on a plastic film, and is wound around and fixed to the drum 22 so that the designs appear on the surface. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 12, the drum 22 is configured to support a cylindrical frame with spokes 28 that radiate out from a thin columnar shaft attachment portion 23. A shaft hole 25 through which the drive shaft 71 can be inserted and a reel locking means 7 for detachably holding the rotary reel 20 on the drive shaft 71 are provided.
(Reel locking means 7)
The reel locking means 7 is for fixing the rotary reel 20 to the drive shaft 71 and for allowing the rotary reel 20 to be detached from the drive shaft 71 with one touch. Specifically, as shown in FIG. The projecting pin 72 is provided on the drive shaft 71, and the cross groove 26 and the detaching lever 24 are provided on the shaft attaching portion 23 of the rotary reel 20.

  The overhang pin 72 is a cylindrical or prismatic pin fitted in a pin hole provided in the axial direction at the tip of the drive shaft 71. As shown in FIG. 13A, the cross groove 26 is formed around a shaft hole 25 provided in the center of the shaft attachment portion 23, and penetrates the shaft attachment portion 23 along the shaft hole 25. It consists of a groove 26a and a locking groove 26b that is orthogonal to the through groove 26a and opens only on one side of the shaft attachment portion 23. Therefore, a cross-shaped character appears on the outer surface of the shaft-mounting portion 23 (the surface on the side opposite to the driving device when the rotary reel 20 is attached to the drive shaft 71), and a single character appears on the inner surface of the shaft-mounting portion 23. The through groove 26a is formed to have a dimension that allows the extension pin 72 to be inserted when the drive shaft 71 is inserted into the shaft hole 25. Further, the locking groove 26b has a dimension that allows the extension pin 72 to be accommodated. Is formed. That is, the drive shaft 71 and the overhang pin 72 are passed through the shaft hole 25 and the through groove 26a to the outer surface of the shaft attachment portion 23, and the rotation reel 20 is rotated 90 degrees and then the overhang pin 72 is fitted into the locking groove 26b. Then, the drive shaft 71 cannot be removed from the shaft hole 25 and the rotation of the drive shaft 71 is transmitted to the rotary reel 20. As described above, the overhang pin 72 and the locking groove 26b have a function as a rotation fixing means for fixing the rotation reel 20 and the drive shaft 71 in the rotation direction.

  As shown in FIG. 13 (A), the detachable lever 24 is a horseshoe-shaped plate member that is rotatably attached to the outer surface of the shaft attaching portion 23 via a hinge. A biased spring (for example, a coil spring) biases the shaft hole 25 and the cross groove 26 in the closing direction (white arrow direction). Further, as shown in FIG. 13 (B), the detachable lever 24 is formed so as to cover the cross groove 26 from the outside in a closed state, and an overhang pin 72 housed in the locking groove 26b is provided. It also plays a role of preventing outward protrusion (disengagement between the rotary reel 20 and the drive shaft 71). Then, the shaft hole 25 and the cross groove 26 are raised in the direction to open against the spring force of the hinge (FIG. 13A), and the rotary reel 20 can be detached from the drive shaft 71 using this as a clue. Thus, the detachable lever 24 has both a function as a knob for attaching and detaching the rotary reel 20 and a function as a shaft fixing means for assisting the fixing of the rotary reel 20 and the drive shaft 71 in the axial direction. ing.

  By the way, the reel locking means 7 is not limited to the above form. For example, a configuration as shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 14 (A), the distal end portion of the drive shaft 71 is provided with a flange-like flange 73 and a groove 74 over the shaft circumference on the distal end side of the flange 73, 25 is provided with a step portion 27 that forms an inner diameter larger than the shaft hole 25 near the outer surface of the shaft attachment portion 23, and an opening through which the drive shaft 71 can pass is provided in the detachable lever 24. Then, the flange 73 is locked to the stepped portion 27 to prevent the drive shaft 71 from coming out of the shaft hole 25 and the rotary reel 20 from moving to the drive device 70 side. By engaging with the groove 74 of the shaft 71 (see FIG. 14B), the engagement between the shaft attaching portion 23 and the drive shaft 71 is prevented from being disengaged. In this case, if the detachable lever 24 is formed of an elastic member and an appropriate tensile force is applied in the direction perpendicular to the drive shaft 71 when hooked in the groove 74, the shaft attachment portion 23 and the drive shaft 71 are connected. It can be locked more effectively. When formed in this way, the flange 73 and the stepped portion 27 function as shaft fixing means, and the detachable lever 24 and the groove 74 function as rotation fixing means.

(Removal of rotating reel 20)
A case where the rotating reel 20 is removed from the reel unit 2 formed as described above will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, since the right side of the unit frame 50 is opened, when the right rotating reel 20 is removed, it can be removed from this opening. In the case of the reel locking means 7 shown in FIG. 13, the detaching lever 24 is first raised, and the rotary reel 20 is appropriately moved to the drive device 70 side so that the overhang pin 72 protrudes outward from the locking groove 26b. When rotated 90 degrees later, the overhang pin 72 can be inserted into the through groove 26a. Then, the rotary reel 20 is moved to the right while holding the detachable lever 24, and when the drive shaft 71 comes out of the shaft hole 25 and the engagement between the shaft attachment portion 23 and the drive shaft 71 is released, the rotary reel 20 Can be taken out to the near side (see FIG. 12).

  When removing the central rotary reel 20, first, the engagement pawl 54 of the reel support plate 52 is lifted upward to release the engagement with the engagement projection 56, and then the upper portion of the reel support plate 52 is moved forward. The reel support plate 52 is rotated forward about the hinge 55 by pulling. At this time, the engaging piece 52a of the reel support plate 52 slides along the guide groove 53a of the guide portion 53, so that the reel support plate 52 does not sway left and right during rotation. By pulling the reel support plate 52 forward, the rotary reel 20 is exposed to the outside from the unit frame 50 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the reel support plate 52 is fixed to an appropriate position by hand, and the rotating reel 20 is removed by the above-described procedure. When removing the left rotating reel 20, first the reel support plate 52 is pulled out in the above-described procedure, and then the rotating reel 20 is moved to the right to engage the drive shaft 71 with the shaft mounting portion 23. Release it and pull it out to the front. That is, by pulling out the reel support plate 52 to the front side, a sufficient space is formed on the right side of the rotary reel 20, so that the rotary reel 20 can be easily removed (see FIG. 12).

Next, when attaching the rotary reel 20 to the drive shaft 71, the overhang pin 72 is aligned with the through groove 26a with the detachable lever 24 raised, the drive shaft 71 is inserted into the shaft hole 25, and the overhang pin 72 , The rotating reel 20 is rotated 90 degrees. Then, the overhang pin 72 is aligned with the locking groove 26b and the rotary reel 20 is pushed back. When the overhang pin 72 is stored in the locking groove 26b, the detachable lever 24 is tilted. The detachable lever 24 is biased in the direction of falling and is positioned so as to close the locking groove 26b from the outside, so that the overhang pin 72 can be prevented from jumping out from the locking groove 26b. .
When the reel support plate 52 is returned to the original position, the reel support plate 52 is rotated upward, the rear end portion of the engagement piece 52a is engaged with the guide groove 53a, and the guide groove 53a is formed. The reel support plate 52 is guided to an appropriate position. When the engaging claw 54 comes into contact with the engaging protrusion 56, the engaging claw 54 is pressed in the rear direction as it is, so that the engaging claw 54 is elastically deformed and engaged with the engaging protrusion 56, and the reel support plate 52 is moved to the unit frame. Fixed to 50.

  As described above, according to the reel unit 2 according to the present embodiment, the rotary reel 20 can be detached and attached with one touch, and any rotary reel 20 can be formed only by forming the central reel support plate 52 to be rotatable. Can be detached individually. That is, if the support plate 52 is formed to be rotatable, an extra number of parts is required as compared with the case where the support plate is simply fixed to the unit frame 50, but only the central reel support plate 52 can be rotated. Thus, the manufacturing cost can be reduced by reducing the number of necessary parts as much as possible. Further, since the guide portion 53 is provided from the front side to the back side of the unit frame 50, the guide is properly guided when the reel support plate 52 is rotated, and the right and left is moved when the reel support plate 52 is stored. Can be regulated. Further, since the reel support plate 52 and the unit frame 50 are also restricted from moving in the front-rear direction by the engaging portion 57, they may be misaligned or generate noise due to vibration accompanying the drive of the drive device 70. Absent. Further, the detachable lever 24 provided on each rotary reel 20 functions as a “knob” when the rotary reel 20 is attached and detached, and is engaged so that the engagement between the drive shaft 71 and the shaft attachment portion 23 is not released when the rotary reel 20 is fixed. Since it also plays a role of stopping, it contributes to the saving of the number of parts.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, you may form all the reel support plates 52 so that rotation is possible. In this way, for example, even when a liquid crystal display device or the like is installed on the right side of the reel unit 2 and there is no room for moving the right rotating reel 20 sideways, the rotating reel 20 can be easily removed. Further, although not particularly shown, only the left reel support plate 51 may be fixed, and the remaining two reel support plates 52 may be formed to be rotatable.
(Other examples of reel unit 2)
In the reel unit 2 described above, the rotary reel 20 can be detached with one hand while the reel support plate 52 is supported with one hand, but the reel support plate 52 is pulled out from the unit frame 50 for easier attachment / detachment. A stopper that restricts the rotation may be provided so that it stops at a predetermined position even if the hand is released in the state where it is released. An example is shown in FIG.

  The unit frame 50 is formed such that the upper surface and the rear surface are integrated and curved in an arc shape, and the reel support plate 52 is a fan-shaped plate member. The curved portion of the unit frame 50 is provided with a guide slit 53b formed from the front side toward the back side. As shown in FIG. 11A, which represents a section taken along the line II-II of FIG. 10A, the guide slit 53b is formed on the arc portion 53c of the reel support plate 52 formed so as to be rotatable around the hinge 55. It is formed to have a sandwiching width, guides the rotation of the reel support plate 52, and restricts left and right movement. On the other hand, the reel support plate 52 is provided with an engaging claw 54 and a stopper 58. The stopper 58 is a protrusion provided at the rear end portion of the arc portion 52c of the reel support plate 52, and as shown in FIG. 11B showing a cross section taken along line III-III in FIG. The width is slidable within 53b.

  In the reel unit 2 formed in this way, when the reel support plate 52 is pulled out to the near side, the reel support plate 52 rotates around the hinge 55, and as shown in FIG. The rotation is stopped by coming into contact with the engaging portion 53c at the front end of the slit 53b. At this time, since the rotary reel 20 is entirely exposed from the unit frame 50, even if the rotary reel 20 stops at this position, it does not prevent the rotary reel 20 from being attached or detached. Even if the hand is released from the reel support plate 52 at this position, the reel support plate 52 does not return to the rear because the center of gravity of the reel support plate 52 is on the near side due to the weight of the driving device 70. Therefore, since the rotary reel 20 can be removed using both hands, the attaching / detaching operation can be performed more easily, and the operation for removing the driving device 70 from the reel support plate 52 can be performed easily. Further, the reel support plate 52 pivots downward vigorously due to the weight of the driving device 70, and the rotating reel 20 collides with a device installed in the housing, for example, the power supply unit 4 or the hopper unit 5 and is damaged. Can be prevented.

In addition to the above-described example, for example, although not particularly illustrated, a rotation restricting means is provided on the hinge 55, or a reel support plate 52 is provided on the front edge of the middle plate 12 as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Although not shown in particular, the abutting portion that abuts the reel support plate 52 on the front edge of the bottom plate 50B of the unit frame 50 is provided to restrict the rotation of the reel support plate 52. To be able to.
(Substrate unit 6)
The board unit 6 includes a main board for controlling the gaming operation and the like of the slot machine S and a sub board for performing various effects in a board case. The main board and the sub board function as a control device that controls the slot machine. The substrate unit 6 is detachably attached to the back plate 18 of the housing 1 via a substrate attachment frame 60.

  Here, the board mounting frame 60 is pivotally supported on a bearing 64 provided on the back plate 18. As shown in FIG. 1, the substrate mounting frame 60 is a U-shaped frame member that opens to one side, and can be stored by sliding the substrate unit 6 into the opposing storage grooves 62. The board unit 6 is electrically connected to the power supply unit 4 and other internal devices by being housed and fixed in the board mounting frame 60. Further, shafts 61 projecting in the lateral direction are formed at both end portions on the opposite side of the substrate mounting frame 60, and this shaft 61 is a shaft hole of a bearing 63 fixed to the back plate 18 of the housing 1. By being engaged with each other, the substrate mounting frame 60 is attached to the back plate 18 and can be rotated about the shaft 61. Further, the board mounting frame 60 is fixed at a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 or 5 by a fixing device (not shown) provided on the lower surface of the back plate 18 or the top plate 17. At this time, the front surface of the substrate unit 6 is visible from the opening 11 of the housing. Then, by releasing the fixing device, it is possible to turn to the near side, and the substrate unit 6 can be pulled out from the storage groove 62 as shown in FIG.

Although not particularly illustrated, after the substrate unit 6 is fixed in the housing, a seal (for example, a seal seal or a seal pin) is provided between the substrate mounting frame 60 and the inside of the housing (back plate 18, side plate 16 or the like). It is preferable to leave a trace that the person other than the related person cannot touch the board unit 6 or tries to move it illegally.
(Upper door 30)
The upper door 30 is a plate-like door for closing the upper opening portion 13 of the housing 1, and is formed on the upper side of the side plate 16 of the housing 1 so as to be rotatable and lockable. As shown in FIG. 1, a display window 31 through which the symbol of the rotary reel 20 can be seen from the front side is provided at the substantially central portion, and a decorative portion 33 and a display device 32 for performing various displays are provided around the display window 31. Is provided.

Here, the decoration portion 33 may be formed by a lamp or the like, or the lamp may blink at the time of winning notification or other effects. Further, the display device 32 may be a device that displays numbers using a 7-segment LED or the like, or a liquid crystal screen or a CRT for displaying an image although not particularly shown.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, two upper door engaging portions 36 that can be engaged with the housing engaging portion 19 are provided on the rear surface side end portion of the upper door 30 at intervals in the vertical direction. On the opposite side of the upper door engaging portion 36, a lock mechanism 37 is provided. The lock mechanism 37 is configured by a latch mechanism having a hook-like locking piece that can be locked to a protruding piece (not shown) provided on the side plate 16 of the housing 1. The door is unlocked by the operation of the means and can be opened, and the door is automatically locked when the door is closed. In addition, a speaker 35 for outputting various sounds is provided on the upper rear surface of the upper door 30.

  The upper door 30 is detachably attached to the housing 1. In other words, the engagement between the housing engaging portion 19 and the upper door engaging portion 36 can be released without performing work such as removing screws, and the upper door 30 can be easily removed from the side plate 16. Yes. When changing the game content, it is necessary to change the shape and design of the upper door 30 when changing the game content. If formed as described above, the upper door 30 alone can be removed easily and easily. It is something that can be done. The form of the housing engaging part 19 and the upper door engaging part 36 is as long as the upper door 30 can close the opening upper part 13 of the housing 1 so that it can be opened and closed, and the upper door 30 can be attached and detached. The configuration is not limited to that shown in the drawings, and any configuration and shape may be used.

(Lower door 40)
The lower door 40 is a door that is thicker than the upper door 30 for closing the opening lower portion 14 of the housing unit 1, and is formed to be rotatable and lockable on the lower side of the side plate 16 of the housing 1. Is.
As shown in FIG. 1, the upper part of the lower door 40 is an operation unit 41 for operating the slot machine, and the upper surface of the lower door 40 projects forward from the upper door 30 when the door is closed. It is like that. In addition, a medal receiver 43 for storing the paid-out medals is formed at the lower part, and a panel unit 48 for displaying game contents and the like is provided at a substantially central part of the lower door 40. ing. The panel unit 48 is a panel frame fitted with a panel, and is detachably attached to the lower door 40.

As the operation unit 41, a medal slot 42 and a bet switch provided on the left side of the upper surface are provided at the upper right end of the lower door 40, and a start switch, a stop switch, and a key hole 44 are provided on the front side. The bet switch is for replacing the stored medal with medal insertion, and the start switch and stop switch are for starting and stopping the rotation of the rotary reel 23. The key hole 44 is for unlocking the front door 3, and when the predetermined key is inserted into the hole and turned, the lower door 40 is unlocked.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a medal selector 45 is provided on the back side of the lower door 40 to determine whether the medal is correct or not while guiding the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 42. In addition, two lower door engaging portions 46 that can be engaged with the housing engaging portion 19 are provided at the rear side end portion of the lower door 40 at intervals in the vertical direction. On the opposite side of the portion 64, a lock mechanism 47 is provided. The configurations of the lower door engaging portion 46 and the lock mechanism 47 are basically the same as those of the upper door 30. The unlocking means of the upper door 30 cannot be operated unless the lower door 40 is unlocked and opened.

Since the lower door 40 does not need to be replaced every time the game content is changed, the lower door 40 does not have to be detachably formed on the housing 1 like the upper door 30. This is because, in the lower door 40, the change in the front design of the slot machine accompanying the change in the game content is sufficient if the panel unit 48 is replaced.
(Replacement of replacement parts)
In the slot machine S configured as described above, a procedure for performing so-called “replacement” will be described.
First, the lower door 40 is unlocked, the upper door 30 is opened, the electrical connection between the upper door and the housing is disconnected, and the upper door 30 is removed from the housing unit 1. The upper door 30 is often replaced with a change in the front design of the slot machine, and even if it is not replaced, it is easier to remove the upper door 30. At this time, the substrate unit 6 is attached to the substrate attachment frame 60 so that the front side of the substrate case faces the front as shown in FIG. The reel unit 2 is fixed on the intermediate plate 12.

Next, the rotary reel 20 is removed, and a new rotary reel 20 is attached to the reel support plates 51 and 52. The removal and attachment method is as described in (Removal / removal of the rotating reel 20).
Subsequently, the substrate unit 6 is taken out from the housing. That is, the substrate mounting frame 60 is pulled down and pulled down, and the substrate mounting frame 60 is rotated to a position where the substrate unit 6 is substantially horizontal as shown in FIG. Then, the substrate unit 6 is pulled out to the front side. At this time, the electrical connection of the board unit 6 is disconnected. Then, when the substrate unit 6 is pulled out from the storage groove 62, the substrate unit 6 can be taken out from the housing 1.
Then, a new board unit 6 is attached to the board mounting frame 60. In other words, the board unit 6 is inserted into the storage groove 64 from the front side and pushed in such a manner that the opening of the board mounting frame 60 faces the front side and the front side of the board case is on the lower side. When the board unit 6 is pushed all the way in, the board unit 6 and other components of the slot machine S are electrically connected. Then, the substrate mounting frame 60 is rotated upward, fixed to the back plate 18 by a fixing device, and a predetermined seal is applied. When the substrate mounting frame 60 is thus rotated to the front side so as to accommodate the substrate unit 6, the mounting operation can be performed on the front side of the upper opening portion 13 of the housing 1, and the back of the housing can be performed. Installation work can be performed more efficiently than work with hands. Further, by fixing the substrate unit 6 to the back side of the housing, it is possible to prevent unauthorized actions, and since the front side of the substrate unit 6 is attached to face the front, it is also suitable for inspection.

Finally, the panel unit 48 of the lower door 40 is replaced, the upper door 30 is attached, the lower door 40 is closed and locked.
As described above, since the upper door 30, the rotary reel 20, and the board unit 6 can be separately attached and detached, although the number of parts for replacement has increased compared to the conventional one, the weight of each replacement part is reduced. The labor required for the replacement work is considerably reduced. Therefore, for example, even a worker who is inferior in physical strength, such as a woman, can easily exchange work, and even a normal worker does not have to lift heavy objects with an unnatural posture, so there is no fear of causing back pain.
Furthermore, since the rotating reels 20 can be individually attached and detached, the rotating reel 20 can be easily inspected and maintained not only when changing the surface but also during normal times. The trouble of removing and disassembling the can be saved.

(Second embodiment)
(Explanation of drawings)
15 and 16 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the reel unit 2 and the housing 1, and FIG. 16 is a front view of the reel unit 2.
In the slot machine S according to the second embodiment, in addition to the first embodiment described above, the reel unit 2 is detachably formed from the housing 1. That is, only the rotating reel 20 can be replaced, and the reel unit 2 can also be replaced. Specifically, a fixing device 90 for detachably attaching the reel unit 2 to the housing 1 is provided.

Note that description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment is omitted, and only the feature points of the present embodiment are described.
(Case 1)
As shown in FIG. 15, the housing 1 according to the second embodiment has a pair of guide rails 10 laid from the front side of the middle plate 12 toward the back side. Two hooks 92 as fixing devices 90 are erected on the outside. The guide rail 10 guides the movement in the front-rear direction when the reel unit 2 is housed in the upper opening 13 and when the reel unit 2 is taken out. The hook 92 is a hook-like plate member provided with the hook portion facing each other on the outer side, and the reel unit 2 is placed on the intermediate plate 12 by engaging with a clip 91 provided on the reel unit 2 described later. It is to be fixed to.

(Reel unit 2)
As shown in FIG. 15, the unit frame 50 of the reel unit 2 according to the second embodiment is a box body that opens to the front side in which both side surfaces thereof are closed with a reel support plate 51. As shown in FIG. The driving device 70 is fixed inside the two reel support plates 51 so as to face each other. Further, an arcuate guide portion 53 hanging from the upper plate 50A is formed on the right side of the middle of the two reel support plates 51, and the bottom plate 50B corresponding to the guide portion 53 has a shaft support portion. Hinge 55 is attached. A reel support plate 52 is attached to the hinge 55. The reel support plate 52 has an upper end coinciding with the arc of the guide portion 53 and is engageable with the guide portion 53. The reel support plate 52 may be detachable from the unit frame 50 at the hinge 55, or may be fixed to the unit frame 50 via the hinge 55. The reel support plate 52 can be rotated in the front-rear direction with the hinge 55 as a fulcrum. Further, a drive device 70 is fixed to the right side surface of the reel support plate 52 as shown in FIG.

A clip 91 as a fixing device 90 is attached below both side surfaces of the unit frame 50, that is, below the outside of the two reel support plates 51. The clip 91 has a movable part formed on the main body fixed to the reel support plate 51 so as to be rotatable up and down and extendable, and the hook 91 provided at the distal end of the movable part is hooked on the hook 92 so as to move upward. By pivoting, the hook portion is locked to the hook 92, and the unit frame 50 is fixed to the intermediate plate 12.
Further, storage guide portions 59 that can be engaged with the guide rails 10 laid on the intermediate plate 12 are provided at both ends of the bottom surface of the bottom plate 50B of the unit frame 50 in the front-rear direction.
When removing the rotary reel 20 from the reel unit 2, as shown in FIG. 16, the reel support plate 52 is rotated forward to create a space in the center of the unit frame 50, and the left and center rotary reels 20 are removed. Are moved to the right, and the right rotating reel 20 is moved to the left and removed to the front. When the rotating reel 20 is mounted, the left and right rotating reels are mounted with the reel supporting plate 52 pulled out forward, and the central rotating reel 20 is also mounted, and then the reel supporting plate 52 is rotated upward. And return it to its original position.

Further, when the reel unit 2 is taken out from the inside of the housing 1, the engagement between the clip 91 and the hook 92 is released, and the unit frame 50 is pulled out and taken out. When the reel unit 2 is attached to the housing 1, the rear end portion of the storage guide portion 59 of the unit frame 50 is engaged with the front end portion of the guide rail 10, and then the unit frame 50 is pushed inward so that the reel Unit 2 is guided to a fixed position. Then, the fixing device 90 may be used for fixing.
The fixing device 90 is not limited to the above-described form, and any form may be used as long as the reel unit 2 can be detachably fixed inside the housing. Further, the guide rail 10 and the storage guide portion 59 are not limited to the shapes shown in the drawings, and may take any form as long as they can guide the movement of the reel unit 2 in the front-rear direction.

According to the second embodiment, in addition to the advantage that the labor required for the replacement work is reduced and the inspection and maintenance of the rotating reel 20 can be easily performed, when the drive device 70 needs to be replaced, The entire reel unit 2 can be replaced, and various replacement operations can be performed.
Incidentally, in the second embodiment described above, the reel unit 2 and the substrate unit 6 are exchanged separately, but the reel unit 2 and the substrate unit 6 may be formed to be exchangeable at the same time. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, a support 100 to which the reel unit 2 and the substrate unit 6 can be detachably attached is detachably attached to the upper opening portion 13 of the housing 1. In this case, if the upper door 30 is attached to the support body 100, the upper door 30, the reel unit 2 and the substrate unit 6 can be replaced simultaneously. Further, the upper door 30, the reel unit 2 and the substrate unit 6 can be replaced separately, and further, the upper door 30, the rotary reel 20 and the substrate unit 6 can be replaced separately.

  In addition, this invention can be used for the slot machine in which the front door 3 is not divided | segmented up and down, and can also be used for game machines other than a slot machine.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a slot machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention with the front door 3 removed from the main body of the slot machine. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a reel unit 2 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a reel unit 2 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a side sectional view of an upper portion of a slot machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the reel unit 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention and showing the movement of the reel support plate 52. It is 1st embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is the II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a unit frame 50 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing another example of the unit frame 50 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the reel unit 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is 1st embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 10, and the III-III sectional view. FIG. 2 is a front view of the reel unit 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention and showing the removal of the rotary reel 20. 1 is a perspective view showing a reel locking means 7 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another example of the reel locking means 7 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of a housing 1 and a reel unit 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a front view of the reel unit 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, showing the removal of the rotary reel 20. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing another example of the slot machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

S slot machine 1 housing unit 2 reel unit 3 front door 4 power supply unit 5 hopper unit 6 substrate unit 7 reel locking means
10 Guide rail 11 Opening
12 Middle plate 13 Upper opening
14 Lower opening 15 Bottom plate
16 Side plate 17 Top plate
18 Back plate 19 Enclosure engaging part
20 reels 21 reel tape
22 Drum 23 Shaft mounting
24 Detachable lever 25 Shaft hole
26 Cross groove 27 Step
28 spokes
30 Upper door 31 Display window
32 Display device 33 Decoration
35 Speaker 36 Upper door engaging part
37 Locking mechanism
40 Lower door 41 Operation section
42 Medal slot 43 Medal plate
44 Keyhole 45 Medal selector
46 Lower door engagement part 47 Lock mechanism
48 Panel unit
50 Unit frame 51 Reel support plate
52 Reel support plate 53 Guide section
54 Engaging claw 55 Hinge
56 Engagement protrusion 57 Engagement part
58 Stopper 59 Storage guide
60 PCB mounting frame 61 axes
62 Storage groove 63 Bearing
70 Drive unit 71 Drive shaft
72 Overhang pin 73 Flange
74 Groove
80 Harness cover
90 fixing device 91 clip
92 hook
100 replacement unit 110 support

Claims (2)

A unit frame to which a plurality of reel support plates can be attached;
A driving device fixed to each reel support plate;
In a reel unit having at least a rotating reel mounted on a driving shaft of each driving device,
At least one reel support plate is attached so as to be pivotable in the front-rear direction via a shaft support provided at the front lower end of the unit frame,
A guide means for assisting the rotation of the reel support plate is provided on either or both of the unit frame and the reel support plate,
Either or both of the unit frame and the reel support plate are provided with fixing means for fixing the reel support plate to the unit frame,
Reel locking means capable of restricting movement of the rotary reel with respect to the drive shaft is provided on the drive shaft of each drive device and the shaft attachment portion of each rotary reel,
A reel unit characterized in that each rotary reel is detachably formed from each drive unit. In the housing,
A gaming machine equipped with a unit frame to which a plurality of reel support plates can be attached, a driving device fixed to each of the reel supporting plates, and a reel unit having at least a rotating reel mounted on a driving shaft of each driving device. There,
The reel unit is
At least one reel support plate is rotatably attached in the front-rear direction via a shaft support provided at the front lower end of the unit frame, and the reel support plate is attached to either or both of the unit frame and the reel support plate. Guide means for assisting rotation is provided, and either or both of the unit frame and the reel support plate are provided with fixing means for fixing the reel support plate to the unit frame, and the drive shafts of the respective drive devices And a reel locking means capable of restricting movement of the rotary reel with respect to the drive shaft at the shaft mounting portion of each rotary reel, and each rotary reel is formed to be detachable from each drive device,
The reel unit is formed to be detachable from a housing.

Images