JP2007307293A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To constitute a decorative panel using a thin decorative sheet, to use other components excluding the decorative sheet in two or more kinds of models, and to reduce the manufacturing cost of the decorative panel as much as possible. <P>SOLUTION: The decorative panel 22 is freely attachably and detachably provided on the front side of a light emitting means 42. The decorative panel 22 comprises the thin decorative sheet 58 to which prescribed decoration is executed, a light-transmissive front protective cover 59 for protecting the decorative sheet 58 from the front side, and a light-transmissive back pressing plate 60 for pressing the decorative sheet 58 from the back side and freely attachably and detachably clamping the decorative sheet 58 with the front protective cover 59. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine, and particularly to an improvement of an operation panel portion of a front panel thereof.

In a gaming machine such as a slot machine, an operation panel portion provided with various operation buttons and medal slot means is arranged in the middle of the front panel that can be freely opened and closed on the front side of the housing. A display window corresponding to game symbol display means such as a display reel unit having a plurality of symbol display reels is arranged on the upper side of the panel portion, and a decorative panel is detachably arranged on the lower side (Patent Document 1). . The operation panel section is slanted forward and downward and is long in the left-right direction. A 1-bet button, a max-bet button, etc. are provided on the left side, and medal slot means are provided on the right side.
JP 2004-16320 A

  The operation panel unit includes a predetermined decorative pattern, a decorative panel on which a decorative image is printed, game information indicating the type of winning combination and the number of medals to be paid out for each winning combination, in addition to the predetermined decoration, Generally, a decorative panel on which a display indicating a model is printed is provided. And this decoration panel uses what printed a predetermined decoration pattern, a decoration image, etc. on the back side of a transparent board, such as an acrylic resin, and uses this on the slope part of the panel body which constitutes the frame of the front door I try to wear it.

  However, in such a conventional structure, the decorative panel as a whole is a dedicated part dedicated to a specific model, and it is necessary to manufacture a decorative panel to be placed on the operation panel unit for each model. There is a drawback that the general cost cannot be promoted and the manufacturing cost is significantly increased. Moreover, since it is a dedicated part, when a large amount of inventory is generated, there is a drawback that it cannot be effectively utilized beyond that because it is limited to the degree of disposal and recycling.

  In view of such a conventional problem, the present invention can use a thin-shaped decorative sheet with a predetermined decoration, and this decorative sheet is used as a dedicated part, and other components other than this are used in a plurality of types. It aims at providing the game machine which can reduce production cost as much as possible by making it a common part which can be shared with a model.

  The present invention comprises an operation panel unit 20 below the display means for game symbols and the like on the front panel 3, and the operation panel unit 20 has a decorative panel 43, operation buttons 29-31, and an insertion port means 33 for inputting game media. The decorative panel 43 includes a thin decorative sheet 44 with a predetermined decoration, and a protective cover 45 that is light transmissive and protects the decorative sheet 44. A decorative panel 43 is fixed to the operation panel unit 20 by the operation buttons 29 to 31 and the insertion port means 33.

  In the present invention, a thin decorative sheet 44 with a predetermined decoration can be used, and the decorative sheet 44 is used as a dedicated part, and other components other than the common part can be used for a plurality of types of models. By doing so, there is an advantage that the manufacturing cost can be reduced as much as possible.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings illustrate a first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied as a slot machine. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a gaming machine main body, which includes a housing 2 and a rectangular front panel 3 disposed on the front side of the housing 2. The housing 2 is formed in a box shape whose front side is open, and a front panel 3 is mounted so as to close the front side so as to be freely opened and closed.

  In the housing 2, as shown in FIG. 2, a display reel unit 6 having a plurality of symbol display reels 5a to 5c in the left-right direction is arranged at the top, and a medal payout device 7, a medal auxiliary case 8, A power supply board case 9 is arranged, and a main control board case 10 is arranged in the middle in the vertical direction. The display reel unit 6 is detachably mounted on the intermediate shelf 11 of the housing 2, and the display reel unit 6 constitutes a first game symbol display means capable of variably displaying a plurality of game symbols. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the medal payout device 7 includes a medal hopper 12 for storing medals for payout, medal payout means 13 for paying out medals in the medal hopper 12, and a medal auxiliary case for medals overflowing from the medal hopper 12. The surplus medal discharge port 14 and the like to be discharged to the side 8 are provided, and are detachably mounted on the bottom plate 15.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the front panel 3 includes a panel body 16 constituting a skeleton body, and the panel body 16 is attached to the housing 2 through hinge means (not shown) on the left and right ends so as to be freely opened and closed. Yes. On the upper side of the front panel 3, there are provided a first display window 17 and a second display window 18 which are arranged vertically, and a vertically long effect lamp 19 which is arranged on both the left and right sides thereof. Further, a front cover 23 having an upper operation panel unit 20, a front operation panel unit 21, and a decorative panel 22 is disposed at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the front panel 3, and a medal discharge port 24, a medal tray 25, an ashtray 26, A speaker 27 and the like are arranged.

  The first display window 17 is formed in a rectangular shape corresponding to the symbol display reels 5 a to 5 c on the housing 2 side, and the player moves the symbol display reels 5 a to 5 c to the front side through the first display window 17. Is visible. The second display window 18 is formed in a rectangular shape larger than the first display window 17 corresponding to the display screen 28 of a liquid crystal display unit (not shown) mounted on the back side of the front panel 3. The person can visually recognize the display screen 28 from the front side through the second display window 18.

  The liquid crystal display unit also serves as a second game symbol display means capable of variably displaying a plurality of game symbols and a display means for variably displaying other effect symbols, game symbols, etc. Either one may be dedicated. A display reel unit 6 may be provided instead of the liquid crystal display unit.

  The upper operation panel portion 20 is inclined in a forward and downward direction and has a horizontally long shape in the left-right direction. The upper operation panel portion 20 has a 1-bet button 29, a max-bet button 30 and a cancel button 31 on one end side in the left-right direction. And a medal slot 33 that can insert a medal as a game medium is provided on the other end side. The 1 bet button 29 and the maximum bet button 30 are for betting medals from credits instead of inserting medals into the medal insertion slot means 33.

  The front operation panel 21 includes a start lever 34 for starting rotation of the symbol display reels 5a to 5c, stop buttons 35a to 35c for individually stopping the rotating symbol display reels 5a to 5c, and insertion of medals. A return button 36 and the like for returning the clogged medals are provided in the mouth means 33.

  The front cover 23 projects to the front side of the display windows 17 and 18 side of the front panel 3, and as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, a substantially vertical projecting portion 37 whose center projects in a gentle arc shape to the front side. The projecting portion 37 has an outer curved portion 39 that curves from the left and right sides to the rear side, an upper inclined portion 40 that tilts backward from the upper end of the projecting portion 37 to the lower side of the second display window 18, and the projecting portion 37. And an inclined portion (not shown) that inclines backward from the lower end to the lower side, and is fixed to the front side of the panel body 16 by a plurality of left and right screws (not shown).

  On the upper inclined portion 40, an upper operation panel portion 20 is provided between the left and right effect lamps 19, and a front operation panel portion 21 is provided on the front surface on the upper side of the overhang portion 37. The overhang portion 37 has an opening 41 and A decorative panel 22 is provided corresponding to the illumination means 42 on the panel body 16 side. The front cover 23 may be divided into two parts, an upper side including the upper operation panel unit 20 and the front operation panel unit 21, and a lower side unit other than these.

  A decorative panel 43 is attached to the upper operation panel unit 20 so as to cover substantially the whole. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the decorative panel 43 is made of a thin decorative sheet 44 disposed on the upper inclined portion 40 and a synthetic resin plate such as a light-transmitting colorless transparent or colored transparent acrylic resin. The upper protective cover 45 is formed and protects the decorative sheet 44 from the upper side.

  A stepped portion 46 is formed on the outer periphery of the upper inclined portion 40 so as to correspond to the decorative sheet 44 and the upper protective cover 45. The decorative sheet 44 is made of a transparent thin sheet material such as a polycarbonate resin sheet having flexibility or elasticity, and a predetermined decoration is applied to the back surface thereof by printing or the like.

  As described above, the decorative panel 43 is configured by the decorative sheet 44 and the upper protective cover 45, so that the name of the bet buttons 29, 30 and the like, the type of winning combination, the number of medals to be paid out for each type, and the like are provided on the decorative sheet 44. In addition to the display, appropriate decorations such as decorative patterns and decoration images unique to the model are attached as necessary to make the model a dedicated part for the model, and the upper protective cover 45 is a common part common to multiple types of models. Can do.

  Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced by using the upper protective cover 45 which is another component excluding the decorative sheet 44 as a common component. Further, since the decorative sheet 44 is made of a thin sheet material, waste is minimized as much as possible compared to the conventional case where the entire decorative panel 43 is a dedicated part, even though the decorative sheet 44 is a dedicated part. Less.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the upper inclined portion 40, the decorative sheet 44, and the upper protective cover 45 are provided with attachment holes (or cutouts) corresponding to the medal slot 33, the 1 bet button 29, the max bet button 30, and the cancel button 31. (Notches) 47 to 50 are formed, and by inserting a part of the 1 bet button 29, the max bet button 30, the cancel button 31, and the medal insertion slot means 33 into the mounting holes 47 to 50 from above, The decorative panel 43 is fixed to the upper inclined portion 40. Therefore, although the decorative panel 43 is constituted by the decorative sheet 44 and the upper protective cover 45, it is not necessary to provide special fixing means dedicated to the decorative panel 43, and the structure can be simplified.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the medal slot means 33 includes a medal guide 51 that contacts the upper protective cover 45, and a medal passage 52 that projects downward from the medal guide 51 and is inserted into the mounting hole 50. Have Then, the medal insertion means 33 inserts the medal passage portion 52 into the attachment hole 50, and attaches screws 55 from the rear side to attachment portions 53 formed on the left and right sides of the medal passage portion 52 below the upper inclined portion 40. Is inserted and screwed into the fixing portion 54 of the panel body 16, so that the decorative panel 43 is pressed and fixed to the upper operation panel portion 20.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the 1-bet button 29 and the cancel button 31 are provided on the upper side of the main body portions 29a and 31a inserted into the mounting holes 47 and 49, and on the upper protective cover 45. And a pair of locking claws 29c that are integrally formed on the outer periphery of the main body portions 29a and 31a and engage the upper inclined portion 40 from the lower side when inserted into the mounting holes 47 and 49. , 31c. The 1-bet button 29 and the cancel button 31 are decorated by inserting the main body portions 29a and 31a into the mounting holes 47 and 49 and engaging the locking claws 29c and 31c with the lower inclined portion 40 below. The panel 43 is fixed to the upper operation panel 20 while being pressed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the max bed button 30 includes a main body 30a inserted into the mounting hole 48, a flange 30b provided on the upper side of the main body 30a and contacting the upper protective cover 45 from the upper side, A nut body 30d that is screwed into the threaded portion 30c on the outer periphery of the main body portion 30a below the portion 40, and the nut body 30d is screwed into the screw portion 30c by inserting the main body portion 30a into the mounting holes 47-50. Thus, the decorative panel 43 is pressed and fixed to the upper operation panel unit 20.

  The decorative panel 22 of the front cover 23 has a horizontally long rectangular shape as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and FIGS. 10 to 12, and a thin decorative sheet 58 such as a polycarbonate resin sheet to which a predetermined decoration is applied. A front protective cover 59 and a back presser plate 60 that are formed of a synthetic resin plate such as a transparent acrylic resin having light permeability and that detachably hold the decorative sheet 58 from both the front and rear sides, and the lower side is a pair of left and right The upper side is detachably locked to the panel body 16 via a pair of left and right engagement claws 64 on the lower edge side of the opening 41 of the front cover 23 via the engagement protrusions 61 and 62.

  If the decorative panel 22 having such a structure is used, the decorative sheet 58 is sandwiched from both the front and rear sides by the front protective cover 59 and the back pressing plate 60, so that the decorative panel 22 is attached to the opening 41 while being fitted from the front side. Nevertheless, the decorative panel 22 can be configured using a thin sheet material as the decorative sheet 58. Therefore, the front protective cover 59 and the back pressing plate 60 excluding the decorative sheet 58 can be used for a plurality of types of models, and there is an advantage that the manufacturing cost of the decorative panel 22 can be reduced as much as possible.

  The decorative sheet 58 is made of a transparent thin sheet material having flexibility or elasticity, and a predetermined decoration is applied to the back surface thereof by printing or the like. The decoration applied to the decorative sheet 58 includes a name that can identify the model, other characters, a decorative pattern unique to the model, a decorative image, and the like. Other game information may be displayed.

  The front protective cover 59 protects the decorative sheet 58 from the front side, a rectangular plate-shaped protective portion 59a that curves in a gentle arc shape corresponding to the curved shape of the overhang portion 37, and the rear outer peripheral side of the protective portion 59a. And an outer frame part 59b that bends and protrudes to the rear side.

  The back pressing plate 60 presses the decorative sheet 58 from the back side with the front protective cover 59, and is curved in a gentle arc shape corresponding to the curved shape of the protective portion 59a of the front protective cover 59, and the front protective cover 59. The outer frame portion 59b has a rectangular plate-shaped presser portion 60a that can be fitted from the back side, and an inner frame portion 60b that is bent and protrudes rearward from the rear outer peripheral side of the presser portion 60a. A protrusion 60c is formed on the outer periphery of the rear end of the portion 60b, with which the rear end of the outer frame portion 59b abuts.

  The front protective cover 59 and the back pressing plate 60 having such a structure are coupled by the engaging means 63 in a state where the back pressing plate 60 is fitted to the back side of the front protective cover 59. Therefore, in handling, the decorative panel 22 itself can be handled as a single unit.

  The engaging means 63 are provided on both the upper and lower left and right sides of the decorative panel 22, respectively, and as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, between the left and right cut portions 63a formed in the outer frame portion 59b of the front protective cover 59. The elastic piece 63b projecting rearward from the protective part 59a, the engaged part 63c such as a hole formed in the elastic piece 63b, and the outer frame part 60b of the back presser plate 60 are formed to project outside. The engaging portion 63d is detachably engaged with the engaged portion 63c when the back presser plate 60 is fitted to the front protective cover 59. For this reason, the decorative panel 22 can be easily assembled. The elastic piece 63b has a length that substantially coincides with the rear end of the protrusion 60c, and the protrusion 60c is provided with a notch 63e at a portion corresponding to the elastic piece 63b.

  The inner frame portion 60b is provided with an insertion guide portion 63f corresponding to the elastic piece 63b so that a required member for elastically deforming the elastic piece 63b in the detaching direction can be inserted. The required member is a fingernail, a screwdriver or the like, and when this is inserted into the insertion guide part 63f, the elastic piece 63b is elastically deformed in the disengagement direction, and the engaging part 63d is disengaged from the engaged part 63c, The front protective cover 59 and the back pressing plate 60 of the decorative panel 22 can be disassembled.

  The insertion guide portion 63f may be provided on either the upper or lower engagement means 63. Further, the insertion guide part 63f may be provided on either one or both of the elastic piece 63b and the inner frame part 60b.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, the engagement protrusions 61 and 62 are provided on the left and right sides with respect to the lower side engagement means 63, and are provided on the left and right sides. 59b, which is integrally formed so as to protrude downward from the lower rear side rear portion of the inner frame portion 60b of the back pressing plate 60. The engagement protrusion 62 on the inner frame portion 60b side protrudes from the ridge portion 60c, and the engagement protrusion 61 of the outer frame portion 59b protrudes downward from a position slightly closer to the front side from the rear end. When the presser plate 60 is fitted, both the engaging projections 61 and 62 are substantially in contact with each other or close to each other. A fitting groove 61a is formed on one side of the engaging protrusions 61 and 62 on the opposite surface side, and a fitting protrusion 62a is formed on the other side in the left-right direction, and these are fitted to each other.

  A pair of engaging claws 64 are provided on the left and right sides of the engaging means 63 in the left-right direction, and are integrally formed so as to protrude substantially straight rearward from the outer frame portion 59b of the front protective cover 59. This engagement claw 64 has elasticity that can be deformed in the engagement / disengagement direction, and an engagement portion 64b is provided on the upper surface on the rear end side via an inclined guide surface 64a. On the upper side of the inner frame portion 60b of the back pressing plate 60, a recess 60d is formed corresponding to the engaging claw 64 so as not to interfere with the engaging claw 64.

  On the opening 41 side of the front cover 23, a fitting edge 65 that forms the opening 41 to which the decorative panel 22 is fitted, and a rear end of the decorative panel 22 that is bent inward from the rear end of the fitting edge 65. A receiving edge 66 is provided. On the lower side of the fitting edge 65, a pair of left and right engagement recesses 67 such as engagement holes for engaging the engagement protrusions 61 and 62 are provided, and on the upper side of the receiving edge 66 Is formed with a recess 68 corresponding to the engaging claw 64 so as not to interfere with the engaging claw 64.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the panel body 16 is formed with an accommodation recess 69 that is recessed backward corresponding to the rear side of the opening 41, and the illumination means 42 is accommodated in the accommodation recess 69. Yes. The illumination means 42 is for illuminating the decorative panel 22 from the rear side, and is configured by arranging a plurality of light emitters 42b on the front side of the reflection plate 42a. A plurality of lamps arranged in the left-right direction are used for the light emitter 42b.

  The panel body 16 has a pair of left and right engaging holes 69b corresponding to the respective engaging claws 64 in the vicinity of the upper side of the illumination means 42, that is, on the inclined portion 69a on the upper side of the housing recess 69. The front edge side portion constitutes an engaging portion 70 in which the engaging claw 64 is detachably engaged.

  Therefore, when the decorative panel 22 is fitted in the opening 41 by rotating the engaging protrusions 61 and 62 backward with the engaging protrusions 61 and 62 as a fulcrum in a state where the engaging protrusions 61 and 62 are engaged with the engaging recess 67. Since the engaging claw 64 engages with the engaging portion 70 of the panel body 16, it can be easily fixed. When the decorative panel 22 is removed, the engaging claw 64 may be removed from the engaging portion 70 by opening the front panel 3 and pressing the engaging claw 64 downward from the back side.

  FIG. 15 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the height of the step 46 on the outer periphery of the upper inclined portion 40 is slightly larger than the thickness of the decorative sheet 44 and the upper protective cover 45. If the height of the step portion 46 is increased in this way, even if the upper protective cover 45 is deformed upward due to secular change or the like, the peripheral portion on the step portion 46 side of the upper protective cover 45, for example, the front side is higher than that. Can be prevented as much as possible.

  FIG. 16 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the height of the stepped portion 46 on the outer periphery of the upper inclined portion 40 is made slightly larger than the thickness of the decorative sheet 44 and the upper protective cover 45, and the decorative sheet 44 and the upper protective cover 45 are disposed on the inner peripheral side. A groove 46a corresponding to the thickness of the decorative sheet 44 and the upper protective cover 45 is inserted into the groove 46a.

  In this way, the peripheral edge of the upper protective cover 45 can be securely held by the groove 46a even if the upper protective cover 45 is deformed due to aging, variations in manufacturing, etc., and the step 46 of the upper protective cover 45 is secured. It is possible to prevent the peripheral edge of the side from being lifted.

  Note that the groove 46a may be the one in which only the peripheral edge of the upper protective cover 45 enters. Further, the same effect can be obtained even if a plurality of pressing portions are provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral side of the stepped portion 46 and the peripheral portion of the upper protective cover 45 is pressed from above by the pressing portion. .

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to this Example, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. For example, in the embodiment, the shape of the decorative panel 22 is a gentle arc shape, but may be a flat plate shape or other shapes other than the arc shape. Further, the engaging means 63 for detachably engaging the front protective cover 59 and the back pressing plate 60 of the decorative panel 22 may be other than the structure exemplified in the embodiment. Further, when the engaging means 63 is constituted by the elastic piece 63b having the engaged portion 63c and the engaging portion 63d, the elastic piece 63b is provided on the inner frame portion 60b and the engaging portion 63d is provided on the outer frame portion 59b. May be.

  The engagement recess 67 with which the engagement protrusions 61 and 62 are engaged may be formed in the panel body 16. The engagement protrusions 61 and 62 may be provided only on either the front protective cover 59 or the back pressing plate 60, for example, on the front protective cover 59 side. The engaging claw 64 is desirably provided on the front protective cover 59, but may be provided on either the front protective cover 59 or the back pressing plate 60 when the engaging means 63 can secure a sufficient engaging force. Further, the engaging claw 64 may be engaged with the front cover 23 side. Engaging protrusions 61 and 62 may be provided on the upper side of the decorative panel 22, and engaging claws 64 may be provided on the lower side.

  Although the case where the decoration panel 43 is provided in the upper operation panel unit 20 is illustrated in the embodiment, the present invention can be similarly applied to the case where a decoration panel that does not include game information and other display information is provided. In the embodiment, the 1-bet button 29, the max-bet button 30, and the cancel button 31 are illustrated as operation buttons, but other operation buttons may be used. The fixing structure of the 1 bet button 29, the max bet button 30, the cancel button 31, and the insertion port means 33 may be other.

  Transparent stamp windows 60e are provided at the lower portions of the left and right sides on the back side of the back presser plate 60, and in correspondence with this, a transparent viewing window is provided on the decorative sheet 58 so that the stamp stuck on the stamp paste portion 60e can be viewed from the front side. 58e may be provided.

  Further, although a slot machine that uses medals as a game medium is illustrated, a game medium other than medals may be used. Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to a pachinko machine or other ball game machine, or a game machine other than a slot machine or a ball game machine.

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the same housing | casing side. It is a disassembled perspective view of the panel body and a front cover. It is a disassembled perspective view of the lower part of a front panel. It is a disassembled perspective view of the front cover. It is a plane sectional view of the front cover. It is sectional drawing of the medal insertion slot means part. It is sectional drawing of the same Max bet button part. It is sectional drawing of the same 1 bet button part. It is a disassembled perspective view of the same decorative panel. It is sectional drawing of the front cover part. It is sectional drawing of the front cover part. It is an expanded sectional view of the principal part of the same decorative panel. It is an expanded sectional view of the principal part of the same decorative panel. It is sectional drawing of the medal insertion slot means part concerning the 2nd Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the medal insertion slot means part concerning the 3rd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

3 Front Panel 20 Operation Panel 29 1 Bet Button 30 Max Bet Button 31 Cancel Button 33 Slot Means 43 Decoration Panel 44 Decoration Sheet 45 Protective Cover

Claims (2)

  An operation panel section (20) is provided below the display means such as game symbols on the front panel (3). The operation panel section (20) has a decorative panel (43), operation buttons (29) to (31), a game In the gaming machine provided with the medium inlet slot means (33), the decorative panel (43) includes a thin decorative sheet (44) provided with a predetermined decoration, a light transmitting property, and the light transmitting property. A protective cover (45) for protecting the decorative sheet (44), and the decorative panel (43) is connected to the operation panel portion (20) by the operation buttons (29) to (31) and the insertion port means (33). A gaming machine characterized by being fixed to   The decorative panel (43) has a horizontally long shape in the left-right direction, the operation buttons (29) to (31) are provided on one end side in the left-right direction of the decorative panel (43), and the insertion port means ( 33) The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein 33) are arranged respectively.

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