JP2006081658A - Front display device of game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a front display device of a game machine for which a display panel is easily replaced from a front side (player's operation side). <P>SOLUTION: When the display panel 3 is inserted from the front side of a panel holding frame 2 to an opening part 7 while being kept curved so as to be in an arc shape projected to the front side, the peripheral edge part of the display panel 3 is fitted to a panel mounting groove 22 with the front surface of a backing panel 4 as a guide surface and then the force of curving the display panel 3 is released from the display panel 3, the display panel 3 is returned to have an original planar shape by its own elasticity, and the display panel 3 is attached to the panel holding frame 2. In the state of attaching the display panel 3 to the panel holding frame 2, when a person puts a hand into the opening part 7 from the front side of the panel holding frame 2 and draws the peripheral edge part of the display panel 3 in the direction of pulling it out from the panel mounting groove 22 while being in contact with the front surface of the display panel 3, the display panel 3 is turned to have the arc shape projected to the front side, the peripheral edge part of the display panel 3 is pulled out from the panel mounting groove 22, and the display panel 3 is detached from the panel holding frame 2 to the front side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a front display device of a gaming machine that is used in a gaming machine such as a slot machine and whose display panel can be easily replaced from the player's operation side.

FIG. 6 shows the slot machine from the front side. In FIG. 6, the slot machine includes a handle portion 36 on a side wall of a square box-shaped mechanism housing 35 opened only on the front side, and a front frame provided on the front surface of the mechanism housing 35 is an upper front frame 37 and a lower front surface. It is divided into a frame 38, and an upper front frame 37 is attached to the front side of the symbol display device 39 so as to be openable and closable in the front lateral direction by a hinge not shown in the figure. 35, the upper front frame 37 closes the top of the opening on the front surface of the mechanism housing 35 and is fixed to the mechanism housing 35 by a lock mechanism (not shown). The In the upper front frame 37, an effect display unit 40, a symbol display unit 41, and an information display unit 42 are provided in order from top to bottom. The effect display unit 40 electrically displays information that informs the player of the game situation. The symbol display unit 41 is formed of a synthetic resin having a property of transmitting light that shows the symbol of the symbol display device 39 to the player. The information display unit 42 electrically displays information such as the number of medals, the number of medals to be paid in advance, and the number of medals paid out as a winning result in order to inform the player. The lower front frame 38 includes the operation table 44, the front display device 1, and the tray 45 in order from the top to the bottom, and includes an ashtray 46 on the left side of the tray 45. On the upper surface of the operation table 44, a multiplier operation unit 47, a multiplier release operation unit 48, a maximum multiplier operation unit 49, and a medal insertion unit 50 are provided in order from left to right. An operation unit 51, three symbol stop operation units 52, a return operation unit 53, and an open / close lock 54 are provided in order from left to right. The front display device 1 includes a panel holding frame 2 attached to the lower front frame 38 and a display panel 33 attached to the panel holding frame 2. An illuminating device having a fluorescent lamp (not shown) for illuminating the display panel 33 from the back side of the display panel 33 is provided at a portion to which the front display device 1 is attached in the lower front frame 38. The tray 45 receives a medal as a game medium paid out from the receptacle as a winning result. FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the panel holding frame 2 and the display panel 33 in the front display device 1 from the back side. The panel holding frame 2 is provided with a rectangular plate-like front wall 6 penetrating in the front-rear direction by a synthetic resin having a property of blocking light, and the rim 8 is connected to the front wall 6 from the periphery of the opening 7. The upper and lower walls 10; 11 and the left and right walls 12; 13 extend from the periphery of the front wall 6 in the direction of the back side of the front wall 6, and a plurality of lower engaging portions 14 are provided on the lower wall 11. It is formed in a unitary shape. The lower engaging portion 14 includes a horizontal piece 17 linearly extending from the rear edge of the lower wall 11 and a hook 18 protruding downward from the rear end portion of the horizontal piece 17. On the back surface of the front wall 6, a lateral pressing member 19 positioned on both the left and right sides of the opening 7 and a plurality of lower pressing members 20 positioned on the lower side of the opening 7 are attached. A panel mounting groove 34 is formed between the front surface of the lateral pressing member 19 and the front surface of the lower pressing member 20. The upper engagement member 23 is individually attached to the upper back surface of the lateral pressing member 19. The upper engaging member 23 includes a horizontal piece 24 that linearly extends from the horizontal pressing member 19 to the back side, and a hook 25 that protrudes inward in a direction that faces the rear end portion of the horizontal piece 17. The upper engaging member 23 and the lower engaging portion 14 are for attaching the panel holding frame 2 to the lower front frame 38 by engaging with the lower front frame 38 in FIG. 6. The display panel 33 is printed with a symbol representing the type of slot machine and the name of the manufacturer of the slot machine on the back of a rectangular plate made of a colorless synthetic resin that transmits light, in order to inform the player. The certificate stamp display area 27 is formed in a print-out form from which the print forming the design and the manufacturer name is removed. In the certificate display area 27, the certificate paper 28 is displayed in the certificate display area 27 of the display panel 33 so that the front surface of the certificate paper 28 indicating that the sale of the slot machine is permitted can be seen from the front side of the display panel 33. Affixed from. FIG. 8 shows a cross section in which the front display device 1 assembled with the panel holding frame 2 and the display panel 33 is cut in the vertical direction. The display panel 33 has a property that it is impossible for a person to bend the entire display panel 33 by hand, and the thickness of the display panel 33 is as thick as 3 to 5 mm in order to exhibit the property. The panel holding frame 2 is inserted into the panel mounting groove 34 including the rim 8, the lateral pressing member 19, and the lower pressing member 20, closes the opening 7, and is attached to the back surface of the panel holding frame 2. For this reason, when the slot machine type is changed and the display panel 33 is replaced, the lower front frame 38 is provided with a lighting device. Therefore, after the panel holding frame 2 is removed from the lower front frame 38, the display panel 33 is replaced. Is removed from the panel mounting groove 34, and a display panel 33 suitable for a new model is fitted into the panel mounting groove 34 and attached to the back surface of the panel holding frame 2, and then the panel holding frame 2 is mounted on the lower front surface on the front surface of the mechanism housing 35. There is a drawback that it is troublesome to replace the display panel 33 because it must be mounted on the frame 38.
JP 2003-275372 A

  The problem to be solved by the invention is that the replacement of the display panel is troublesome.

  The present invention relates to a front display device of a gaming machine provided between an operation table and a saucer on the front surface of a mechanism housing, comprising a panel holding frame, a backing panel, and a display panel, the panel holding frame on the front wall in the front-rear direction The back panel has a plate shape that is formed larger than the opening by a synthetic resin that transmits light, and the back panel closes the opening and closes the back of the panel holding frame. By being attached, a panel mounting groove for fitting the peripheral edge of the display panel is formed between the back surface of the peripheral edge of the opening and the front surface of the backing panel, and the display panel is made of a synthetic resin having a property of transmitting light. It is possible for a plate-like person formed larger than the opening to bend the display panel as a whole by hand, and by releasing the curved force from the display panel, the display panel is restored to its original elasticity. Plate-shaped The display panel is inserted into the opening from the front side of the panel holding frame in a curved state so that the display panel is curved in an arc shape that protrudes to the front as a whole. Display in which the peripheral edge is fitted in the panel mounting groove when the peripheral edge is fitted in the panel mounting groove, and the bending force is released from the display panel so that the display panel has an arc shape protruding entirely to the front side. The main feature is that the panel returns to its original plate shape and the display panel is attached to the panel holding frame. In the front display device of the gaming machine according to the present invention, the panel mounting groove has a stepped portion that is recessed from the inner peripheral surface and the rear end surface of the opening into the inside of the panel holding frame, and the panel holding frame that closes the opening. May be formed by the front surface of the backing panel attached to the back surface of the display panel, or when the display panel is attached to the panel holding frame, the back surface of the display panel and the front surface of the backing panel contact each other and overlap each other. May be.

  According to the present invention, since the display panel can be attached to or detached from the panel holding frame while the front display device is attached to the front surface of the mechanism housing, the display panel can be easily replaced. There is an advantage that you can. In addition, the panel mounting groove has a stepped portion that is recessed from the inner peripheral surface and the rear end surface of the opening into the inside of the panel holding frame, and the front surface of the backing panel that is attached to the back surface of the panel holding frame by closing the opening. If formed, there is an advantage that a plate-like panel that does not have a depression in the peripheral edge can be used as the backing panel. Furthermore, when the display panel is attached to the panel holding frame, if the display panel is illuminated from the back side of the backing panel by the lighting device if the back surface of the display panel and the front surface of the backing panel overlap each other, There exists an advantage that the illumination light which permeate | transmitted the backing panel from the apparatus can illuminate a display panel appropriately.

  1 and 2 are the best modes for carrying out the invention. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a front display device 1 cut in a vertical direction for explaining how to attach a display panel 3 to a panel holding frame 2 applied to a slot machine which is a kind of gaming machine. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the panel holding frame 2, the display panel 3, and the backing panel 4 in the front display device 1 as seen from the back side. In this specification, the directions of “front”, “rear”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “upper”, “lower” indicate the front display device 1 and the mechanism in the state of FIG. 4 or FIG. The direction is specified when the player views the player from the operation side A of the player with the casing 35 placed. With the gaming machine installed, the side facing the player's operation side A is “front”, the opposite side is “rear”, the right side from the player's operation side A is “right”, and the left side is “ “Left”, upper part is defined as “upper” and lower part is defined as “lower” “Back” and “back” are in the same direction.

  The configuration of the front display device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The panel holding frame 2 includes a rectangular plate-like front wall 6 having a rectangular opening 7 penetrating in the front-rear direction by a synthetic resin having a property of blocking light, and a rim 8 that forms a peripheral portion of the opening 7. Provided in the direction of the back side of the front wall 6, provided with a step 9 at the rear end of the rim 8, and the upper wall 10, the lower wall 11, the left wall 12, and the right wall 13 from the periphery of the front wall 6, respectively. Extending in the direction of the back side, the lower wall 11 has a plurality of lower engaging portions 14 and is formed in an integral shape. The step portion 9 has a shape recessed from the inner peripheral surface 15 as the inner peripheral surface of the opening 7 in the rim 8 and the rear end surface 16 of the opening 7 in the rim 8 to the inside of the panel holding frame 2. The outer shape of the stepped portion 9 on the rear end surface 16 of FIG. 8 is a square larger than the diameter of the opening 7 surrounded by the inner peripheral surface 15 of the rim 8. The lower engagement portion 14 includes a horizontal piece 17 linearly extending from the rear edge 11 b of the lower wall 11 and a hook 18 protruding downward from the rear end portion of the horizontal piece 17.

  A lateral pressing member 19 positioned on both the left and right sides of the opening 7 and a plurality of lower pressing members 20 positioned on the lower side of the opening 7 are attached to the rear surface 6 b of the front wall 6. When a backing mounting groove 21 is formed between the front surface 19a of the lateral pressing member 19 and the front surface 20a of the lower pressing member 20, and the backing panel 4 is fitted into the backing mounting groove 21, a step portion with the front surface 4a of the backing panel 4 9 forms the panel mounting groove 22 shown in FIG. The upper engagement member 23 is individually attached to the upper portion of the back surface 19b of the lateral pressing member 19 by an attachment piece 26 provided at the front end portion thereof. The upper engaging member 23 includes a horizontal piece 24 that linearly extends from the horizontal pressing member 19 to the back side of the panel holding frame 2, and a hook 25 that protrudes inward in a direction facing the rear end of the horizontal piece 24. . The upper engaging member 23 and the lower engaging portion 14 are for attaching the panel holding frame 2 to the lower front frame 38 by engaging with the lower front frame 38 in FIG. 6.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the display panel 3 is a back surface of a member formed in a rectangular plate shape larger than the opening 7 by a colorless synthetic resin having a property of transmitting light, such as an acrylic synthetic resin. 13b, a pattern area 3c on which a symbol representing the type of slot machine and a manufacturer name of the slot machine is printed is surrounded by a two-dot chain line 29 on the back surface 3b of the display panel 3 as shown in FIG. Formed in the region. Further, in the pattern area 3c, the certificate display area 27 is formed in a form of printing without printing the pattern and manufacturer name. The outer shape of the display panel 3 is smaller than the outer shape of the step portion 9 on the rear end surface 16 of the rim 8. In the certificate display area 27, the certificate 28 is displayed in the certificate display area 27 of the display panel 3 so that the surface of the certificate 28 indicating that the sale of the slot machine is permitted can be seen from the front surface 3 a of the display panel 3. Affixed from the back surface 3b side. The display panel 3 can be bent by a human hand so that the display panel 3 has an arc shape that protrudes to the front as a whole, and the display panel 3 releases the curved force to display the display panel 3. The panel 3 has the flexibility and elasticity of exhibiting the property of returning to its original flat rectangular plate shape by its own elasticity. In order to exhibit such properties, the thickness of the display panel 3 is 0. It is determined in the range of 3 to 1.5 mm. The display panel 3 has a rectangular plate shape having an annular fitting margin 30 on the periphery of a portion 29 where the step 9 in the opening 7 and the inner peripheral surface 15 of the rim 8 intersect. The width of the fitting margin 30 is in the range of 1 to 2 mm. The backing panel 4 is a rectangular plate formed larger than the opening 7 by a colorless or white synthetic resin having a light transmitting property, such as an acrylic synthetic resin, and has a larger similarity than the display panel 3. The shape is a square plate. The backing panel 4 has a property that it is impossible for a person to bend the backing panel 4 entirely by hand with normal force. In order to exhibit the property, the thickness of the backing panel 4 is 3 to 3. The range is set to 5 mm.

  With reference to FIG. 1, how to attach the display panel 3 to the panel holding frame 2 will be described. In FIG. 1A, the backing panel 4 is inserted into a backing mounting groove 21 including a rim 8, a lateral pressing member 19, and a lower pressing member 20 in the panel holding frame 2. Mounted from the side. As a result, the rim 8, the lateral pressing member 19, and the lower pressing member 20 support the peripheral portion of the backing panel 4 in a front-and-rear direction with the front wall 6 of the panel holding frame 2. 2, the panel mounting groove 22 is formed by the front surface 4 a of the backing panel 4 and the stepped portion 9 of the panel holding frame 2. In this state, the display panel 3 is fitted into the panel mounting groove 22 from the front side of the panel holding frame 2 (player's operation side A). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1A, the front surface 3a of the display panel 3 is directed to the front side, and the person remains curved so as to form an arc that projects the display panel 3 to the front side as a whole. The opening 7 is inserted from the front side, and the fitting margin 30 which is the peripheral portion of the display panel 3 is fitted into the panel mounting groove 22 with the front surface 4a of the backing panel 4 as a guide surface. When the fitting margin 30 of the display panel 3 is fitted into the panel mounting groove 22, a person releases the hand from the display panel 3. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1B, the display panel 3 returns to its original elastic flat plate shape, and the display panel 3 is supported by the backing panel 4 from the rear side. It is attached to the holding frame 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, when the display panel 3 is attached to the panel holding frame 2, the display panel 3 is supported by the backing panel 4 from the rear side. There is an advantage that the form can be appropriately maintained. When the display panel 3 is attached to the panel holding frame 2, the back surface of the display panel 3 and the front surface 4a of the backing panel 4 are in contact with each other and overlap each other. When the display panel 3 is illuminated from the back side, there is an advantage that the illumination light transmitted through the backing panel 4 from the illumination device can appropriately illuminate the display panel 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, in order to remove the display panel 3 from the panel holding frame 2 in a state where the display panel 3 is attached to the panel holding frame 2, a person must place his / her hand in front of the panel holding frame 2. The fitting margin 30 is squeezed away from the panel mounting groove 22 while being in contact with the front surface of the display panel 3 around the fitting margin 30. Then, the display panel 3 has an arc shape that protrudes frontward as a whole, the back surface 3b of the display panel 3 is separated from the front surface 4a of the backing panel 4, and the fitting margin 30 is pulled out from the panel mounting groove 22, whereby the display panel 3 is It can be easily removed from the panel holding frame 2 to the front side. Thereafter, the new display panel 3 can be attached from the form shown in FIG. 1A to the form shown in FIG.

  In short, according to the best mode, the display panel 3 is attached to the panel holding frame 2 on the front side of the panel holding frame 2 while the front display device 1 is attached to the lower front frame 38 provided on the front surface of the mechanism housing 35. It can be attached to or removed from the panel holding frame 2. Therefore, there is an advantage that the display panel 3 can be easily replaced. Further, the panel mounting groove 22 closes the opening portion 7 from the inner peripheral surface 15 and the rear end surface 16 of the opening 7 to the inside of the panel holding frame 2, and the back surface of the panel holding frame 2. Since the back panel 4 is formed by the front surface 4a of the back panel 4 attached to the front panel 4, there is an advantage that a plate-shaped panel having no dent in the peripheral portion can be used as the back panel 4.

  FIG. 3 shows a different form of the display panel 3. In FIG. 3, the display panel 3 includes strip-shaped fitting margins 31 at the upper and lower edges of a portion 29 where the stepped portion 9 in the opening portion 7 and the inner peripheral surface 15 of the rim 8 intersect. The fitting margin 32 having a smaller vertical dimension than the left and right edges of 29 is provided. When the display panel 3 is mounted on the panel holding frame 2, the display panel 3 is inserted into the opening 7 from the front side while being curved so as to project in an arc shape as a whole, and is fitted vertically into the display panel 3. The margin 31 is fitted into the upper and lower panel mounting grooves 22 using the front surface 4a of the backing panel 4 as a guide surface, while the left and right panel mounting grooves 22 are set using the left and right fitting margins 32 of the display panel 3 as the guide surface. Fit into. Thus, since the vertical dimension of the left and right fitting margins 32 is smaller than the vertical dimension of the left and right edges of the portion 29 at the left and right edges, after the upper and lower fitting margins 31 are fitted into the upper and lower panel mounting grooves 22, By fitting the left and right panel mounting grooves 22 into the fitting margin 32, there is an advantage that the display panel 3 can be mounted in the panel mounting groove 22 more easily.

  The four corners of the fitting margin 30 in the display panel 3 shown in FIG. 2 may be cut obliquely as indicated by the dotted line L so that the display panel 3 can be easily mounted in the panel mounting groove 22. In FIG. 3, the left and right dimensions of the upper and lower fitting margins 31 are made smaller than the left and right dimensions of the left and right edges of the portion 29, and the left and right fitting margins 32 are formed in a strip shape having the same vertical dimension as the left and right edges of the portion 29. Good. Also, the vertical dimension of the upper and lower fitting margins 31 is made smaller than the horizontal dimension of the left and right edges of the portion 29, and the left and right fitting margins 32 are made smaller than the vertical dimension of the left and right edges of the portion 29. The fitting margin 31, the left and right fitting margins 32, and the portion 29 may be smaller.

  The upper front frame 37 and the lower front frame 38 shown in FIG. 6 may be integrally formed. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, an integrated front frame 57 is provided on the front side of the mechanism housing 35 so as to be able to be opened in the front lateral direction by a hinge 58 as shown in FIG. On the front frame 57, an effect display unit 40, a symbol display unit 41, an information display unit 42, an operation console 44, the front display device 1, and a tray 45 are provided in order from top to bottom. The operation table 44 includes a multiply operation unit 47, a multiply release operation unit 48, a maximum multiply operation unit 49, a medal insertion unit 50, a game start operation unit 51, three symbol stop operation units 52, and a return operation unit 53. An open / close lock 54 is provided. An ashtray 46 is provided on the left side of the tray 45. As shown in FIG. 5, a symbol display device 39 is provided in the upper part of the internal space of the mechanism housing 35 with the front frame 57 opened to the front side, and a power supply device is provided in the lower part of the internal space of the mechanism housing 35. 59, a hopper 60 for storing medals to be paid out as a winning result, and a spare box 61 for storing medals overflowing from the hopper 60. The hopper 60 incorporates a payout mechanism (not shown) for paying out medals. The medals paid out by the payout mechanism are paid out to the tray 45 from the payout opening 62 formed in the hopper 60 through the receiving port 55 opened to the back surface of the front frame 57. That is, the front frame 57 corresponds to a front frame in which the upper front frame 37 and the lower front frame 38 shown in FIG. 6 are integrally formed, and the symbol display device 39 is separated from the front frame 57.

(A) A figure is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the front display apparatus in the time before attaching a display panel to a panel holding frame, (b) A figure is a vertical cross section which shows the front display apparatus in the time after attaching a display panel to a panel holding frame. Surface view (best form). The disassembled perspective view which shows a front display apparatus from the back side (best form). The disassembled perspective view which shows a front display apparatus from a back side (different form). The perspective view which shows the slot machine with which the integrated front frame was closed from the front side (different form). The perspective view (different form) which shows the slot machine by which the integrated front frame was open | released from the front side. The perspective view which shows the slot machine with which the upper front frame and the lower front frame were closed from the front side (conventional). The disassembled perspective view which shows a front display apparatus from the back side (conventional). The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the front display apparatus in the time after attaching a display panel to a panel holding frame (conventional).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Front display apparatus 2 Panel holding frame 3 Display panel 4 Backing panel 6 Front wall 7 Opening part 9 Step part 22 Panel mounting groove 35 Mechanism housing 44 Operation stand 45 Receptacle

Claims (3)

  A front display device of a gaming machine provided between an operation table and a tray on the front surface of a mechanism housing, comprising a panel holding frame, a backing panel, and a display panel, wherein the panel holding frame penetrates the front wall in the front-rear direction. The back panel is formed in a plate shape that is larger than the opening with a synthetic resin having a property of transmitting light, and the back panel closes the opening and is attached to the back surface of the panel holding frame. A panel mounting groove for fitting the peripheral edge of the display panel is formed between the back surface of the peripheral edge of the opening and the front surface of the backing panel, and the display panel is larger than the opening by a synthetic resin that transmits light. It is possible for a plate-shaped person formed in a shape to bend the display panel entirely by hand, and by releasing the curved force from the display panel, the display panel can be elastically restored to its original plate shape. The ability to return to shape The display panel is inserted into the opening from the front side of the panel holding frame in a curved state so that the display panel is curved in an arc that protrudes to the front as a whole. The display panel with the peripheral edge fitted in the panel mounting groove is released by releasing the force that is fitted into the panel mounting groove and bending the display panel so as to form an arc that protrudes to the front as a whole. A front display device for a gaming machine, wherein the display panel is attached to a panel holding frame.   The panel mounting groove is formed by a stepped portion that is recessed from the inner peripheral surface and the rear end surface of the opening into the panel holding frame, and the front surface of the backing panel that is attached to the back surface of the panel holding frame by closing the opening. The front display device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the front display device is formed.   2. The front display device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein when the display panel is attached to the panel holding frame, the back surface of the display panel and the front surface of the backing panel are in contact with each other and overlapped.

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