JP2006296571A - Operating device for adjusting ball-hitting force in game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operating device for adjusting ball-hitting force which is capable of recovering a turning operation body speedily to the setting position of an early stage even if turning the turning operation body from the setting position to the direction of increasing the ball-hitting force due to occurrence of a specific game state in a game machine. <P>SOLUTION: The operating device 10 is mounted to the game machine provided with a shooting device 3 to adjust the ball-hitting force by the shooting device 3. The operating device comprises an operating device body 11 fixed to the game machine and the turning operation body 21 provided at the main body in a turnable manner. The turning operation body 21 consists of wheels 22 and 23 arranged on a coaxial line. Then, the operating device is provided with a transmission means which cooperatively turn the wheel 23 in the direction when the wheel 22 is rotated in the same direction of increasing the ball-hitting force, which suppresses turning of the wheel 23 in the direction of reducing the ball-hitting force from the restraining position when the wheel 22 is restrained, and which permits single turning of the wheel 23 in the direction of increasing the ball-hitting force with the restraining position of the wheel 22 as a start point. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine equipped with a launching device for launching a game ball toward a target, and in particular to the gaming machine of that type, the impact force (ball striking force) of the game ball by the launching device is external to the gaming machine. The present invention relates to an operating device that can be adjusted.

  Conventionally, pachinko gaming machines are well-known as gaming machines using game balls, which are directed toward a board surface on which a prize opening and an accessory that operates by introduction of a gaming ball (pachinko ball) into the prize opening are arranged. In addition to having a launching device for launching a game ball, an operation device called a handle is installed at a lower position of the board surface close to the launching device.

  Such an operating device is for adjusting the increase or decrease of the hitting force by the launching device, and is generally incorporated in a gaming machine as a module part integrated with a saucer for storing a gaming ball for launching on the board surface. It has a knob-like operating device body that is fixed and a ring-shaped rotating operation body that is rotatably provided on the operating device body, and the hitting force by the launching device is adjusted to increase or decrease according to the amount of rotation operation It has come to be.

  Here, during the game, the rotating operation body is rotated so that the game ball is driven into the target position, and is held at a predetermined rotating position. It is extremely difficult to keep it in the rotating position, and the rotating operation body is spring-biased in the direction of decreasing the hitting force so that it returns to the initial position where the game ball is not launched when the player releases the hand. So, if you keep playing for a long time, your hands get tired. And if you release your hand from the rotating operation body to take a break, this will return to the initial position by the spring action, so you must reset the position of the rotating operation body when resuming the game. In the meantime, there is a problem that many game balls are wasted.

  For this reason, many players adjust the position of the rotary operation body, and then hold the rotary operation body in a predetermined rotational position by inserting a padding such as coins between the operation device main body and holding it. Like to do.

  On the other hand, as such an operation device (operation handle), there is known a device in which a ratchet mechanism is provided therein so that a rotation operation body (rotary grip body) can be held at a predetermined rotation position (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-24184 A (paragraphs 0024 to 0049)

  However, both of the operation handle disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the rotation of the rotating operation body that is generally performed by the padding have a situation in which the target position where the game ball should be shot must be temporarily changed. When this occurs, there is a drawback that the initial set position cannot be determined by the turning operation of the turning operation body.

  For example, depending on the type of gaming machine, it is necessary to maximize the hitting force when a specific gaming state (such as jackpot) occurs. At this time, in the above-described conventional example, the restriction of the rotating operation body is released. The rotating operation body is rotated to the maximum in the direction in which the hitting force is increased. Therefore, after the specific gaming state is finished, the operation of setting and holding the rotating operation body at a predetermined rotation position is performed again. In this case, there is a problem that a lot of useless balls are generated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to rotate the rotating operation body from the initial set position in the direction in which the hitting force is increased, for example, when a specific gaming state occurs. In such a case, it is an object of the present invention to provide an operation device for adjusting the hitting force in a gaming machine that can quickly return the rotating operation body to the initial set position.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an operation device for adjusting the hitting force in a gaming machine, which is installed in a gaming machine having a launching device for launching a game ball and is capable of adjusting the hitting force by the launching device. There is an operating device main body fixed to a part of the gaming machine and a rotating operation body rotatably provided on the operating device main body, and the rotating operating body is arranged on a coaxial line. And a second rotating member. When the first rotating member is rotated by the player in the increasing direction of the hitting force, the second rotating member is interlocked and rotated in the same direction. When the first turning member is restrained, the second turning member is restrained from rotating in the direction in which the hitting force is reduced from the restraining position, and the starting position is the restraining position of the first turning member in the increasing direction of the hitting force. Provided with transmission means for allowing the second rotating member to rotate independently. And wherein the door.

  In the operating device as described above, the transmission means forms an arcuate guide hole centered on the rotation axis of the first rotating member, and the protrusion inserted into the guide hole is rotated second. The interlocking rotation of the second rotation member by the rotation of the first rotation member is performed by the pressing of the projection by the one end portion of the guide hole, and the restraining position of the first rotation member is the starting point. The single rotation of the second rotation part is allowed by the sliding of the protrusion from one end of the guide hole to the other end.

  In addition, there is an elastic member disposed between the operating device main body and the protrusion, and the rotating operation body constituted by the first rotating member and the second rotating member is reduced in hitting force by the elastic member. It is biased in the direction.

  According to the ball striking force adjusting operation device according to the present invention, the rotating operation body is constituted by the first rotating member and the second rotating member arranged on the coaxial line, and the first rotating member is formed by the player. When the first turning member is constrained to rotate in the same direction when the striking force is turned in the increasing direction, the second turning member is moved in the second direction with respect to the decreasing direction of the hitting force from the restraining position when the first turning member is restrained. Since there is provided transmission means for allowing the second rotating member to independently rotate with respect to the increasing direction of the hitting force starting from the restraining position of the first rotating member while suppressing the rotation of the rotating member, the first time The moving member can be restrained and fixed at a predetermined rotational position to keep the ball hitting force in a stable state, and the first rotational member is constrained to the predetermined rotational position when a specific gaming state occurs in the gaming machine. In this state, the second turning member is turned alone to increase the hitting force, and the specific gaming state is When completion can be quickly returned to the second rotating member to the restraining position of the first rotating member is the initial set position.

  Therefore, even when an operation for temporarily increasing the hitting force is required during the game, the hitting force can be quickly and surely returned to the initial setting state after that, so that the hitting force can be reset. The waste balls involved can be greatly reduced.

  Further, the transmission means is formed by forming an arcuate guide hole centered on the rotation axis of the first rotating member and providing a protrusion to be inserted into the guide hole in the second rotating member. It is possible to reduce the apparatus cost by using a simple structure.

  Further, the rotating operation body having an elastic member disposed between the operating device main body and the protrusion, and the elastic member including the first rotating member and the second rotating member, reduces the hitting force. Therefore, when the specific gaming state is finished, it can be returned to the initial set position only by releasing the hand from the second rotating member.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of the gaming machine will be outlined with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a pachinko gaming machine as a gaming machine, wherein 1 is a main body frame, 2 is a board surface provided on the upper part of the main body frame, and its front is closed by a glass door. In the place, a plurality of winning holes, and an accessory that operates by introducing a game ball into the winning hole are arranged.

  A launching device 3 for launching game balls onto the board surface 2 is built in the main body frame 1, and an upper plate 4 and a lower plate 5 for storing game balls are provided below the board surface 2. Then, the game balls stored in the upper plate 4 are launched from the launching device 3 above the board surface 2 through an arc-shaped channel 6 formed at the left end of the board surface 2.

  In particular, an operation device 10 called a handle is provided adjacent to the lower plate 5 below the board surface 2, and the hitting force (the hitting force of the game ball by the launching device) is increased or decreased by the operation. Yes.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of the operating device, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the operating device. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes an operating device main body fixed to the gaming machine. The operating device main body 11 includes a base 12 and a head 13. The base 12 has a cylindrical body portion 15 that forms a U-shaped groove 14 on the outer periphery, and a ring-shaped flange portion 16 that is formed at the front end of the body portion. A sleeve 17 is formed across the portion 16.

  In addition, a plurality of through holes 18 communicating with the U-shaped groove 14 centering on the sleeve 17 are formed in the inner peripheral edge of the flange portion 16, and screws 19 passed from the U-shaped groove 14 to the respective through holes 18. Thus, the base 12 and the head 13 are fastened.

  The head 13 is a dome-like structure, and a plurality of (three in this example) hollow shafts 20 extending integrally toward the opening side are integrally provided on the inner wall thereof. The hollow shafts 20 are arranged on the same circumference corresponding to the through holes 18, and screw holes for screwing the screws 19 are formed therein. The hollow shaft 20 is not only connected to the base 12, but also secures a gap for arranging a rotating operation body described later between the base 12 and the head 13 and guides the rotation of the rotating operation body. It is useful for.

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes the above-described rotating operation body that is rotatably provided in the operating device main body, which is arranged between the base 12 and the head 13 so as to be relatively rotatable on a coaxial line. It is comprised from the wheels 22 and 23, and the hitting force by said launching device is increased / decreased according to those rotation operation amount. That is, when the rotating operation body 21 is rotated in one direction from the initial position, the hitting force gradually increases accordingly, and when rotated in the opposite direction, the hitting force gradually decreases accordingly. When the position is reached, the hitting force is zero, that is, the launching device is in an inoperative state so that the game ball is not launched at all.

  The wheel 22 (first rotating member) is a disk-shaped component having a diameter larger than that of the head 13 and disposed on the head 13 side. The piece 22A is provided integrally. In particular, as apparent from FIG. 2, the finger-hanging piece 22 </ b> A protrudes toward the head 13, so that a gap S is formed between the head 13 and a coin or the like. According to this, the wheel 22 can be restrained by inserting a filling such as a coin as before, but the present invention does not require this, and the wheel 22 is restrained by a holding force by hand. A mechanism that can fix the wheel 22 or mechanically restrain and fix the wheel 22 at an arbitrary rotation position may be provided.

  In addition, a through-hole 22B that forms the center of rotation is formed in the center of the wheel 22, and three arc-shaped long holes 22C are formed in the periphery of the through-hole 22B. 20 is penetrated.

  Further, the wheel 22 is formed with an arcuate guide hole 22D centering on the through hole 22B (rotation axis passing through the center) on the inner peripheral side of the long hole 22C. In this example, the guide hole 22D is penetrated in the thickness direction of the wheel 22, but it may be formed on a surface directed toward the base 12 side.

  On the other hand, the wheel 23 is also a disk-like component having the same diameter as the wheel 22, and is disposed between the base 12 and the wheel 22. Is provided. An operation shaft 23B that forms the center of rotation of the wheel 22 is integrally provided at the center of the wheel 22, and three arc-shaped long holes 23C are formed around the operation shaft 23B. The hollow shaft 20 is penetrated.

  Further, the wheel 23 is provided with a pin-like protrusion 23D to be inserted into the guide hole 22D at the eccentric position.

  Here, 24 is an elastic member disposed between the operating device main body 11 and the projection 23D, and this elastic member 24 is formed of a torsion spring having a coil portion 24A and two arm portions 24B, and the coil portion 24A. Is fitted to one end of the operation shaft 23B penetrating the through hole 22B of the wheel. The two arm portions 24B are respectively crimped to the hollow shaft 20 and the projection 23D, so that the wheel 23 having the projection 23D and the wheel 22 having the guide hole 22D into which the projection 23D is inserted have a hitting force. It is biased in a decreasing direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3).

  The other end of the operation shaft 23B is inserted into the sleeve 17, and a wire reel 25 is fixed to the tip of the operation shaft 23B protruding from the sleeve 17, so that the wire reel 25 and the firing device are mechanically connected. It has become.

  That is, according to this example, one end of the wire 26 is locked to the wire reel 25 as shown in FIG. 4, and the spring 27 (tensile coil spring) is connected to the other end of the wire 26, and the spring 27 is fired. Connected to the ball striking arm 31 of the device 3. When the wire reel 25 is rotated in the winding direction of the wire 26, the tensile force of the spring 27 against the ball striking arm 31 is increased, and the ball striking force by the tip flange 31 </ b> A of the ball striking arm 31 is increased. When it is rotated in the feeding direction, the pulling force of the spring 27 is reduced and the hitting force is reduced.

  In this example, the launching device 3 rotates the hitting ball arm 31 that performs the swing operation and the tip flange 31A of the hitting arm against the elasticity of the spring 27 to a predetermined position opposite to the hitting direction. A cam 32 and a stepping motor 33 (which may be a servo motor) for rotating the cam 32 in one direction are configured, and the stepping motor 33 is used when a predetermined rotational angular displacement occurs on the operation shaft 23B. Will start at a constant speed. Further, since the spring 27 urges the rotating operation body 21 in the direction of decreasing the hitting force, the elastic member 24 is not necessarily required in this example.

  Here, the operation of the operation device 10 of the present application will be described. FIG. 5 shows an initial state of the rotating operation body 21, and one wheel 23 has a hitting force decreasing direction (FIG. 5) by an elastic member 24 arranged between the operating device main body (hollow shaft 20) and the protrusion 23 </ b> D. The other wheel 22 is also urged in the same direction by the elastic member 24 via a projection 23D engaged with one end of the guide hole 22D. In this state, when the wheel 22 is rotated in the direction in which the hitting force is increased (clockwise in FIG. 5) against the elasticity of the elastic member 24, the wheel 23 is also pressed by the pressing of the projection 23D by one end of the guide hole 22D. It rotates in conjunction with the direction. For this reason, the operation shaft 23B integrated with the wheel 23 is also rotated in the direction in which the hitting force is increased, whereby the hitting force by the launching device is increased and the game ball is launched far away.

  Therefore, the rotational positions of the wheels 22 and 23 are finely adjusted while looking at the course of the hit ball, so that the game ball is hit at the target location (generally, the upper center portion of the board surface or the left side of it). Then, the wheel 22 is restrained and fixed by inserting a coin into the gap S shown in FIG. In this state, the game balls can be sequentially launched to the target location with a constant hitting force.

  On the other hand, when a specific gaming state occurs in the gaming machine and it is necessary to temporarily strike the game ball toward the right side of the board surface, the wheel 23 is used as a starting point from the restraint position of the wheel 22. Rotate in the increasing direction.

  At this time, the protrusion 23D that has been in contact with one end of the guide hole 22D rotates and moves from one end to the other end while sliding in the guide hole 22D. The hitting force by the launching device can be increased by rotating the wheel 23 in the direction in which the hitting force is increased in the state where the hitting force is maintained.

  When the specific gaming state is finished, if the hand is released from the wheel 23, the elastic member 24 rotates the ball 23 in the direction in which the hitting force decreases, and the position where the projection 23D collides with one end of the guide hole 22D (initial stage). The wheel 23 is stopped at the set position). For this reason, the game can be continued without returning the wheel 23 to the initial set position and re-adjusting the hitting force.

  Next, a modified example of the present invention will be described. 6 and 7 show an example in which a driving gear 35 is attached to the tip of the operating shaft 23B instead of the wire reel 25. In this example, a rotary encoder or a rotary variable resistor is provided in the base 12 of the operating device main body 11. A rotation amount sensor 36 is attached, and the driven gear 37 attached to the rotor shaft meshes with the driving gear 35 described above.

  Other configurations are the same as the above example except that the sleeve 17 shown in FIG. 2 and the like is omitted, and thus the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted. As the launching device, for example, an electromagnetic solenoid type is used, and the hitting force by this is adjusted in accordance with the output (output pulse or output voltage) of the rotation amount sensor 36, and the output of the rotation amount sensor 36 is The amount of rotation increases or decreases depending on the amount of rotation of the operation shaft 23B by the rotation operation of the rotation operation body 21.

  6 and 7, the sleeve 17 that rotatably supports the operation shaft 23B may be formed on the base 12 as shown in FIG. Further, the sleeve 17 may be omitted, and an annular rib 23E may be provided on the wheel 23 as shown in FIG. 9, and the rib 23E may be slidably fitted to the inner periphery of the flange portion 16 in the base.

  Although the present invention has been described above, the operating device is configured so that the wheel 23 (second rotating member) is the same when the wheel 22 (first rotating member) is rotated by the player in the increasing direction of the hitting force. The first rotation member is constrained to rotate in a direction, and when the first rotation member is constrained, the restraint position of the first rotation member is restrained from rotating relative to the direction in which the ball hitting force is reduced from the restraint position. It is only necessary to include a transmission means that allows the second rotating member to rotate independently with respect to the direction in which the hitting force increases.

  As the transmission means, in addition to providing the guide holes 22D and the projections 23D in the wheels 22 and 23 as in the above example, instead of the projections 23D, the wheel 22 side is arranged on the outer periphery of the wheel 23 as shown in FIGS. A protrusion 23 </ b> F that protrudes from the wheel 22 may be provided, and the protrusion 23 </ b> F may be locked to the finger-hooking piece 22 </ b> A of the wheel 22.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the operation shaft 23 </ b> B has a double structure of the inner shaft 41 and the outer shaft 42, and a wing-like protrusion 43 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the inner shaft 41 integral with the wheel 22. A barrier 44 may be provided on the inner peripheral portion of the outer shaft 42 integral with the wheel 23 so that the protrusion 43 and the barrier 44 engage when the wheel 22 is rotated in the increasing direction of the hitting force.

Front schematic diagram showing a pachinko machine Sectional drawing which shows the operating device which concerns on this invention Perspective exploded view of the operating device Explanatory drawing which shows the use aspect of the operating device Operation explanatory diagram of the rotating operation body Sectional drawing of the operating device which shows the modification (2nd Example) of this invention The perspective exploded view of the operating device showing the second embodiment Sectional drawing of the operating device which shows the modification (3rd Example) of this invention Sectional drawing of the operating device which shows the modification (4th Example) of this invention Front schematic diagram of the main part showing a modified example (fifth embodiment) of the present invention Schematic plan view of essential parts showing a fifth embodiment Partial sectional plan view showing a modified example (sixth embodiment) of the present invention FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line XX in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body frame of gaming machine 3 Launching device 10 Operating device 11 Operating device main body 12 Base 13 Head 21 Rotating operation body 22 Wheel (first rotating member)
22A Finger hanging piece 22B Through hole 22C Long hole 22D Guide hole 23 Wheel (second rotating member)
23A Finger hanging piece 23B Operation shaft 23C Long hole 23D Protrusion 24 Elastic member 25 Wire reel 35 Driving gear 36 Rotation amount sensor 37 Driven gear

Claims (3)

In an operation device for adjusting the hitting force in a gaming machine, which is installed in a gaming machine equipped with a launching device for launching a game ball and is capable of adjusting the hitting force by the launching device, an operation fixed to the part of the gaming machine An apparatus main body and a rotation operation body provided rotatably on the operation apparatus main body, and the rotation operation body includes a first rotation member and a second rotation member arranged on a coaxial line. And
When the first rotating member is rotated by the player in the direction of increasing the hitting force, the second rotating member is interlocked and rotated in the same direction, and the first rotating member is restrained when the first rotating member is restrained. While the rotation of the second rotating member with respect to the direction in which the ball hitting force decreases from the position, the single rotation of the second rotating member with respect to the direction in which the ball hitting force increases is permitted starting from the restraining position of the first rotating member. An operating device for adjusting the striking force in a gaming machine comprising a transmission means.   The transmission means is formed by forming an arcuate guide hole centered on the rotation axis in the first rotating member, and providing a protrusion to be inserted into the guide hole in the second rotating member. The interlocking rotation of the second rotation member by the rotation of the moving member is performed by pressing the protrusion by the one end portion of the guide hole, and the second rotation portion starts from the restraining position of the first rotation member. 2. The operation device for adjusting the hitting force in a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the movement is allowed by sliding of a projection from one end portion to the other end portion of the guide hole. There is an elastic member arranged between the operating device main body and the protrusion, and the rotating operation body constituted by the first rotating member and the second rotating member is attached to the hitting force decreasing direction by the elastic member. The operating device for adjusting the hitting force in the gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the operating device is adjusted.

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