JP2008093012A - Game machine parts - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dispense with connecting metal sections and a resin sections of a game machine parts composed of the metal sections and the resin sections with a screw or the like. <P>SOLUTION: A middle frame 1 is manufactured by forming a ball tank 7 which serves as the resin section and a bottom mechanical section 21 by injection molding by inserting the metal section that connects a left vertical member 2, a right vertical member 3, a top horizontal member 4, a core plate member 5 and a bottom horizontal member 6, which are aluminum alloy members, with each other into a metal mold, and by joining the resin section with the surface of the metal section. By joining the metal section and the resin section by an insert mold, the resin section can be formed while the metal section and the resin section can be joined together. More specifically, the process of connecting the resin section and the metal section with a screw or the like after the resin section is formed is required, so that the manufacturing process can be simplified. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention belongs to the technical field of gaming machines.

In a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a pachislot machine, a part in which a metal member and a synthetic resin member are combined may be used. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-181083 (Patent Document 1) discloses an inner frame of a ball game machine in which a metal vertical member and a synthetic resin horizontal member are combined. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-28330 (Patent Document 2) discloses that a metal member is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
JP 2003-181083 A JP 2002-28330 A

  In the prior art disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is necessary to connect a metal member and a synthetic resin member with a screw or the like.

The gaming machine component according to claim 1 is:
A metal part comprising a vertical member made of aluminum or aluminum alloy and a horizontal member made of aluminum or aluminum alloy and connected to the vertical member;
A resin part that is joined to a plurality of surfaces of the longitudinal member or the transverse member by injection molding with the metal part inserted into a mold, and arranged in a bridging manner between the plurality of members. It is characterized by comprising.

[Connection form of vertical member, horizontal member and resin part]
FIG. 1 illustrates some of the forms of the metal part configured by connecting the vertical member and the horizontal member. The vertical member V and the horizontal member H may be one each as shown in (a) and (b) of this figure, and the vertical member V and the like as (c), (d), and (e). One of the horizontal members H may be a plurality (the other is one), or a plurality of the vertical members V and the horizontal members H may be used in a frame shape as shown in (f), (g), and (h). It may be a ladder. Needless to say, the forms shown here are not all. Moreover, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, you may add a member like crossing. The vertical member and the horizontal member may be connected by a known method such as screwing with screws or bolts, caulking, welding, adhesion, or the like, and there is no particular limitation.

  A resin part is formed by injection molding with such a metal part inserted in a mold, and the resin part is joined to a plurality of surfaces of a vertical member or a horizontal member and bridged between the plurality of members. Arrange in the shape. For example, the resin portion R may be arranged in a bridging manner between two members as in the lower part of (a), (b), (d), (g) in FIG. e) It may be arranged in a bridge between three members as in (h) or (f), (g) It is arranged in a bridge between four members as in the upper part Also good. Further, a space may be provided between the resin portion R and the vertical member V or the horizontal member H as in (b), (d), and (g), or resin as in (e) and (f). The part R may be provided with a notch or an opening. Needless to say, the arrangements shown here are not all.

In addition, the vertical member and the horizontal member can be connected using the resin portion as a joining medium, and, as described in claim 4, a hook for guiding a game ball can be provided in the resin portion.
In the gaming machine component according to claim 1, since the metal part and the resin part including the vertical member and the horizontal member made of aluminum or aluminum alloy are joined by insert molding, the metal part and the resin are simultaneously formed with the molding of the resin part. The part can be joined. That is, after the resin portion is molded, an operation of connecting the resin portion and the metal portion with a screw or the like is necessary, and the manufacturing process is simplified.

In order to strongly bond the resin portion to the surface of the vertical member or the horizontal member made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, the surface of the metal portion to which the resin portion is bonded is finely uneven as described in claim 6. A layer is formed, and the metal part and the resin part may be bonded to each other by an anchor effect that a part of the resin part enters the fine uneven layer.
[Insert molding]
A fine uneven | corrugated layer is provided by forming the fine recessed part about 30-300 nm in diameter on the surface of a vertical member or a horizontal member. Although there is no special limitation in the formation method, it is good to form a fine uneven | corrugated layer by the fine etching of Claim 7.

The fine etching may be performed as follows.
First, aluminum is processed into an aluminum alloy and finished into a shape as a vertical member or a horizontal member, and these are connected to each other to form a metal part.

The surface to which the resin part of the metal part is bonded needs to be clean and thick and not oxidized or hydroxylated. Therefore, if there is rust on the surface, it is removed by polishing or chemical treatment.
Moreover, since the processing oil and finger grease are attached to the surface of the metal part after assembly, it is desirable to degrease using, for example, a commercially available aluminum degreasing agent. Of course, the degreasing treatment can be omitted if no oil, fat or the like adheres to the surface.

  Next, the surface layer is chemically scraped off by being immersed in an acidic or basic aqueous solution and etching. As the basic liquid used here, it is preferable to use a 0.5% to 3% alkali metal hydroxide aqueous solution, particularly a caustic soda aqueous solution, at a temperature controlled to 35 to 40 ° C. As the acidic solution, 0.5 to 5% of halogen hydroacid, hydrofluoric acid derivative and nitric acid can be used. In particular, it is preferable to use hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, or an aqueous solution of ammonium difluoride with temperature controlled at 35 to 40 ° C. The proper use of these depends on the material of the vertical member or the horizontal member (for example, alloy composition), and therefore it is desirable to select based on the test.

If the surface layer is chemically shaved by immersion in an acidic solution or a basic solution for several minutes and then pre-etched, it is washed with water and a fine etching process is performed.
The fine etching process is performed by immersing the metal part in an aqueous solution of ammonia, hydrazine, or a water-soluble amine compound.

  When ultrafine etching is performed by this immersion, these amine compounds can be adsorbed simultaneously with the etching. The adsorbed amine-based compound has a beneficial effect in joining the resin part.

  Etching is a broad meaning of amine compounds such as ammonia, hydrazine, methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, ethylenediamine, ethanolamine, allylamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, aniline, Other amines are included.

Of these, hydrazine is particularly preferable. The reason is that it should be taken into account during mass production such as low odor, effectiveness at low concentrations, and low cost.
The immersion for fine etching is performed at 40 to 80 ° C., particularly preferably 50 to 70 ° C., and the concentration varies depending on the compound used, but in the case of hydrazine, the concentration is 2 to 10% as hydrated hydrazine, particularly preferably. A 3 to 5% aqueous solution is preferable, and the immersion time is preferably 30 to 90 seconds. After this immersion, it is washed with water and dried (for example, hot air drying at 40 to 90 ° C.).

Note that it is sufficient that the fine uneven layer is provided only in the region where the resin portion is bonded, and therefore a portion that does not require fine etching may be protected.
The resin part is bonded to multiple surfaces of the vertical member or the horizontal member by inserting and molding the metal part on which the fine concavo-convex layer is formed by the fine etching exemplified above or by a different method from the mold. Let

  The synthetic resin (or composition comprising a synthetic resin as a main component) used for injection molding is not particularly limited except that it is essential to be thermoplastic, but polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is used. A thermoplastic resin composition as a main component is desirable. Specifically, polymer of PBT or PPS alone, polymer compound of PBT or PPS and polycarbonate (hereinafter referred to as PC), polymer compound of acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene resin (hereinafter referred to as ABS), polymer of polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter referred to as PET) A compound, a polymer compound with polystyrene (hereinafter referred to as PS), a polymer compound with polyamide, or the like can be used, and a polymer compound of PBT and PPS can also be used.

  Moreover, when a filler is contained in the resin composition, the linear expansion coefficient between the aluminum or aluminum alloy constituting the metal part and the resin part can be matched or approximated. Examples of fillers include glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, and other high-strength fibers similar to these, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, silica, glass, talc, clay, pulverized carbon fiber and aramid fiber, and other similar inorganics for resin filling A filler can be used.

  In order to match the linear expansion coefficient of the aluminum alloy (about 2.4 × 10 −5 ° C.−1) with that of the resin, the filler content is 25 to 50%, preferably 30 to 40% of the total compound.

  In addition, regarding the relationship between the cooling shrinkage of the aluminum alloy after insert molding and the molding shrinkage of the thermoplastic resin composition, even if the aluminum alloy belongs to the group with the largest linear expansion coefficient, the cooling shrinkage is the molding shrinkage of the resin. Smaller than. Therefore, even if a large amount of filler is included, the molding shrinkage rate of PBT, which is a crystalline resin, is somewhat large. Therefore, the molding shrinkage rate can be further reduced by adding an amorphous resin. In that sense, it is effective to use the above-described polymer compound.

It is preferable from the following points that PBT or PPS is a main component.
That is, when the metal part is immersed in an aqueous solution of a water-soluble amine compound (ammonia, hydrazine or water-soluble amine compound) for fine etching, it is presumed that the amine compound reacts with the aluminum atom and is chemisorbed. When the water-soluble amine compound remaining on the surface after withstanding water washing, drying and heating comes into contact with the molten PBT or PPS resin, an exothermic reaction (for example, amine decomposition reaction) occurs and the solidification of the resin is delayed. The penetration of the molten resin into the gaps between the fine irregularities formed by etching is promoted, and the resin part and the metal part with a strong anchoring effect by the resin entering and solidifying in the depressions of innumerable tens to hundreds of nanometers level Are considered to be firmly joined.

This is a fine etching by immersing the metal part in an aqueous solution of a water-soluble amine compound (ammonia, hydrazine or water-soluble amine compound), and a synthetic resin (or a synthetic resin as a main component) containing PBT or PPS as a main component. This is why the combination with the composition) is preferred.
[Example]
An embodiment in which the gaming machine component of the present invention is embodied as a middle frame of a pachinko machine will be described. The present invention is not limited to the following examples and the like, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2 ((a) is a front view, (b) is a left side view, (c) is an AA cross-sectional view) and FIG. 3 ((a) is a rear view, (b) is a right side view). Further, the middle frame 1 of the present embodiment includes a left vertical member 2 and a right vertical member 3 which are vertical members made of aluminum alloy, an upper horizontal member 4 which is a horizontal member made of aluminum alloy, a core plate member 5 and a lower horizontal member. And a member 6. The left vertical member 2 and the right vertical member 3 are extrusion molded products, and the upper horizontal member 4, the core plate member 5, and the lower horizontal member 6 are sheet metal press molded products. The upper horizontal member 4, the core plate member 5, and the lower horizontal member 6 are connected to the left vertical member 2 and the right vertical member 3, respectively.

The upper horizontal member 4 is provided with a connecting portion 11 for connecting the left vertical member 2 and the right vertical member 3, a support portion 12 for supporting the ball tank 7, an upright portion 13 serving as the upper side of the middle frame 1, and the like.
The ball tank 7 is made of synthetic resin (PBT in the present embodiment), and stores a storage portion for storing game balls and an alignment portion for aligning game balls flowing down from the storage portion (functional portion corresponding to a conventional tank rail). ) And an outflow port 14 through which the game balls arranged in a line at the aligning portion flow out.

The ball tank 7 is joined and integrated with the upper horizontal member 4 by insert molding.
Further, the upper horizontal member 4 has a connector support 17 for a connector (not shown) for attaching a game board, and a hinge bearing used for connecting the inner frame 1 and the outer frame (not shown). A member made of synthetic resin (PBT in this embodiment) such as a hinge mounting portion 18 for mounting the portion, a reinforcing portion 19 for reinforcing the upright portion 13, and an upper corner connecting portion 20 is inserted in the same manner as the ball tank 7. Joined by molding. Note that both the left vertical member 2 and the right vertical member 3 are used for the ball tank 7, both the left vertical member 2 for the left upper corner connecting portion 20, and the right vertical member 3 for both the right upper corner connecting portion 20 for insert molding. Are joined.

A relay unit 15 having a meandering bowl is connected to the outlet 14 of the ball tank 7, and the game ball flows from the outlet 14 through the relay unit 15 into the payout device 16.
When the payout device 16 is operated, the game balls supplied from the relay unit 15 are discharged as prize balls, and these prize balls flow into the lower mechanism part 21.

The lower mechanism portion 21 is composed of a core plate member 5 and a member made of a synthetic resin (PBT in this embodiment) joined to the front and back surfaces of the core plate member 5 by insert molding.
The core plate member 5 has a shape bent in a step shape as shown in FIG. 1C (hatched to clearly show the position and shape of the core plate member 5). In addition, openings 23, 24, and 25 for passing game balls, openings 26 and 27 for wiring, and the like are provided.

  The left and right ends of the core plate member 5 reach the left vertical member 2 and the right vertical member 3, respectively, and the lower end reaches the lower horizontal member 6. In other words, the core plate member 5 is arranged in a fitting manner inside the U-shaped structure formed by the left vertical member 2, the right vertical member 3 and the lower horizontal member 6.

  The prize ball discharged from the above-described payout device 16 and flowing into the lower mechanism portion 21 passes through the opening 23 from the back surface of the core plate member 5 to the front surface side, and is guided by the guide portion 28 made of synthetic resin. 29 is discharged sideways (from left to right in FIG. 1).

The discharge destination is a distribution chamber 33 surrounded by ribs 31 and 32 made of synthetic resin standing on the front surface of the core plate member 5.
Here, an upper plate bowl (not shown) placed on the front of the pachinko machine is inserted, and the prize balls released from the outlet 29 are normally received by the upper plate bowl and go to the upper plate. Be guided. However, in a state where the upper plate is full and the upper plate bowl is filled with game balls, the prize balls released from the outlet 29 cannot flow into the upper plate bowl but overflow into the sorting chamber 33. The overflowing prize ball flows into the opening 24 provided at the lower end of the sorting chamber 33. Since the front side of the sorting chamber 33 is closed by a sorting chamber closing plate (not shown) (the upper bowl is inserted from the hole provided in the sorting chamber closing plate), the prize ball is placed. There is no leakage to the front side.

  The prize ball that has flowed into the opening 25 flows out to the back surface of the core plate member 5, which becomes a back chamber 36 surrounded by synthetic resin ribs 34, 35, etc. standing on the back surface of the core plate member 5. Yes. The prize ball flows from the back chamber 36 into the lower tray bowl 37 made of synthetic resin. Since the back side of the back chamber 36 is closed by a back chamber closing plate (not shown) in the same manner as the distribution chamber 33, the prize ball does not leak to the back side.

  The lower plate bowl 37 includes a back surface portion 37 a joined to the back surface of the core plate member 5 and a front surface portion 37 b erected on the front surface of the core plate member 5 so as to penetrate the core plate member 5 back and forth. Is provided. The prize ball that has flowed into the lower plate bowl 37 is guided to a lower plate (not shown) arranged on the front surface of the pachinko machine.

  The opening 25 is also used for collecting foul balls. That is, a foul ball collection path 40 is formed between the synthetic resin rib 31 and the synthetic resin rib 38, and the foul ball flowing into the synthetic resin rib 31 is guided to the opening 25 by the synthetic resin rib 41, It is guided to the lower dish by the above-mentioned route.

  A stripe-shaped portion provided to be inclined next to the rib 38 is a mounting portion 42 of a firing rail (not shown), and a launching device (see FIG. (Not shown) is attached. The opening 26 is mainly used for passing wirings connected to the launching device.

  Further, the periphery of the opening 27 at the lower corner is a handle attachment portion 44 to which a firing handle (not shown) is attached. The opening 27 is mainly used for passing wirings connected to the firing handle.

The upper surface 45 of the lower mechanism portion 21 also serves as a member that supports the lower side of the game board. A connector support portion 46 similar to the above-described connector support portion 17 is also provided in the lower mechanism portion 21.
Further, on the back surface of the lower mechanism portion 21, a safe ball collection path 53 formed by synthetic resin ribs 47 and 48 and two out-ball collection paths formed by synthetic resin ribs 49, 50 and 51 are provided. 54, an out-of-machine discharge rod 52 made of synthetic resin is provided for guiding the game balls that have passed through the outside to the outside of the machine.

  The middle frame 1 configured as described above includes a left vertical member 2, a right vertical member 3, an upper horizontal member 4, a core plate member 5, and a lower horizontal member 6, which are aluminum alloy members, arranged in the illustrated manner. The ball tank 7 and the lower mechanism 21 (synthetic resin part) to be a resin part are formed by injection molding with the connected metal part inserted in a mold, and the resin part is joined to the surface of the metal part. It is manufactured by.

  The conditions for insert molding are as described in detail above, and a fine concavo-convex layer is formed in advance on the surface of the metal part, and a part of the resin part injected at the time of insert molding enters the fine concavo-convex layer. The metal part and the resin part are joined by the anchor effect.

  Thus, since the middle frame 1 of the present embodiment joins the metal part and the resin part having the vertical member and the horizontal member made of aluminum alloy by insert molding, the metal part and the resin part are simultaneously formed with the molding of the resin part. Can be joined. That is, after the resin portion is molded, an operation of connecting the resin portion and the metal portion with a screw or the like is necessary, and the manufacturing process is simplified.

  In particular, a fine concavo-convex layer is formed on the surface to which the resin part of the metal part is joined, and the metal part and the resin part are joined by an anchor effect due to a part of the resin part entering the fine concavo-convex layer. Because of this structure, the metal part and the resin part are firmly joined, and the strength of the middle frame 1 is excellent.

The illustration figure of the connection form of a vertical member, a horizontal member, and a resin part. The front view (a) of the inner frame of an Example, the left view (b), and AA sectional drawing (c). The rear view (a) and right side view (b) of the middle frame of an Example.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... middle frame,
2 ... Left longitudinal member,
3 ... right vertical member,
4 ... Upper transverse member,
5 ... Core plate member,
6 ... Lower horizontal member,
7 ... Sphere tank,
16: Dispensing device,
21 ... Lower mechanism part.

Claims (8)

A metal part comprising a vertical member made of aluminum or aluminum alloy and a horizontal member made of aluminum or aluminum alloy and connected to the vertical member;
A resin part that is joined to a plurality of surfaces of the longitudinal member or the transverse member by injection molding with the metal part inserted into a mold, and arranged in a bridging manner between the plurality of members. A gaming machine part characterized by comprising.   The gaming machine component according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal member is provided horizontally between the two vertical members.   3. The gaming machine component according to claim 2, wherein two or more of the horizontal members are provided horizontally between the two vertical members.   The gaming machine component according to claim 1, wherein a hook for guiding a game ball is provided in the resin portion.   The gaming machine part according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the gaming machine part is a middle frame on which a game board, a ball tank and a payout device are mounted. A fine uneven layer is formed on the surface of the metal part to which the resin part is bonded,
6. The gaming machine component according to claim 1, wherein the metal part and the resin part are joined by an anchor effect caused by a part of the resin part entering the fine uneven layer.   The gaming machine component according to claim 6, wherein the fine uneven layer is formed by fine etching.   The gaming machine component according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the resin portion is formed of a thermoplastic resin composition mainly composed of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or polyphenylene sulfide (PPS).

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