JP2009142550A - Saucer device and game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a saucer device of a game machine which enables players to take out medals easily and its maximum acceptable storage amount of the medal is large. <P>SOLUTION: The saucer device 14 includes a saucer 41 installed in the front face 13a of the lower door of a slot machine, a fixed frame 43 fixed to the front face of the lower door so that it can be above the saucer 41 and a bellows installed between the fixed frame 43 and the saucer 41. The saucer 41 can swing and rotate about the pivot 48 between a mostly horizontal initial posture and the maximum inclined posture in which the front part falls downward. The bellows 44 is extended when the saucer 41 inclines from the initial posture. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a saucer device for storing game media and a gaming machine equipped with the saucer device.

Pachislot machines and pachinko machines are installed in pachinko parlors, and these machines give a certain value to medals and pachinko balls and other games, and bet on these games ing. When playing a game and winning a predetermined winning combination, a number of game media corresponding to the winning combination is paid out to a tray provided on the front surface of the gaming machine (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). When the saucer is full, the game medium is transferred from the saucer to a portable storage box by the player or a hall clerk.
JP-A-9-56905 JP 2003-19320 A

  If the winning winning combination is a big hit, a large amount of game media is paid out, and the tray becomes full in a short time. However, if the player does not notice that the saucer is full, such as being crazy about the game, and the hall clerk does not notice this due to busyness, etc., the game medium overflows from the saucer and falls down There was a problem that.

  In order to cope with this problem, it is conceivable to increase the maximum allowable storage amount in which the tray can be stored to a maximum and delay the time until the tray is full. However, when the saucer is deeper than before, it is necessary to insert the fingertip all the way when the amount of the saucer stored is small, and it becomes difficult to take out the game medium. In addition, when the size of the bottom of the tray is expanded compared to the conventional case, the game medium is dispersed when the storage amount of the tray is small, so that it is difficult to take out the game medium. There is a limit to the expansion of the bottom surface size.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and a tray device in which the maximum allowable storage amount of the game medium is large and the game medium can be easily taken out even when the storage amount of the game medium is small, And it aims at providing the gaming machine provided with this saucer device.

  The tray device of the present invention has a storage portion for storing game media on the top surface, a tray provided on the front surface of the gaming machine, an initial posture for storing game media in the storage portion, and a front from this initial posture. Supporting the saucer so that it can swing between tilted positions where the part is lowered, and a saucer support part for biasing the saucer toward the initial position, and a front surface of the gaming machine so as to be positioned above the saucer A fixed frame that is fixed and has an opening that communicates with the reservoir, and a telescopic mechanism that closes the gap so that the game medium does not fall from the gap formed between the fixed frame and the tray. And a tilting amount of the tray from the initial posture increases as the weight of the game medium stored in the storage unit increases.

  It is preferable that a discharge hole communicating with the storage portion and a shutter for opening and closing the discharge hole are provided on the front surface of the tray, and the game medium stored in the storage portion can be discharged. When the tray is tilted from the initial position, the front surface of the tray is tilted downward, so that the game medium is efficiently discharged when the discharge hole is opened.

  A gaming machine according to the present invention includes the tray device described above.

  According to the present invention, the space inside the fixed frame and the cover, in addition to the storage portion of the tray, is a space where game media can be stored, and when the tray is tilted, the cover extends in the vertical direction and the cover Since the inner space is increased, the maximum allowable storage amount of the game medium is larger than the conventional one. In addition, when the storage amount of the game medium is small, the amount of inclination of the tray from the initial posture is small and the depth from the fixed frame to the bottom surface of the tray is shallow, so that the game medium can be easily taken out.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a slot machine 10 installed in a pachinko parlor has a slot machine main body 11, an upper door 12 and a lower door 13 provided on the front surface of the slot machine main body 11, and a front surface 13 a of the lower door 13. And a tray device 14 provided. The slot machine main body 11 has a storage box 15 which is divided into upper and lower parts, and an upper door 12 opens and closes an upper part of the storage box 15 and a lower door 13 opens and closes a lower part. A reel unit 16 is disposed behind the upper door 12, and a medal hopper 17 that receives medals (game media) and pays it out to the tray device 14 is disposed behind the lower door 13.

  The reel unit 16 includes a rotatable first reel 18, second reel 19, and third reel 20, and a plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surfaces of the reels 18, 19, and 20. The upper door 12 is provided with a display window 21 through which three symbols can be visually recognized per reel. In the slot machine 10, a total of five winning effective lines, which are three horizontal and two diagonal, are set. When the first to third reels 18 to 20 are stopped, the symbols are stopped on the winning effective line. Depending on the combination, it is displayed whether or not the winning combination in the game has been won. When winning the winning combination, the medal hopper 17 is driven and the number of medals corresponding to the winning combination is paid out to the tray device 14.

  In the lower door 13, a medal slot 22 for inserting medals, a start lever 23 for starting rotation of the first to third reels 18 to 20, and the reels 18, 19, and 20 rotating during the game are stopped. First to third stop buttons 24, 25, 26, MAX bet button 27 for betting three by one press, bet button 28 for betting one by one press, paying out a credited medal A payout button 29 or the like that is operated when performing is provided. A game can be started by inserting a medal from the medal slot 22 or by operating the MAX bet button 27 or the bet button 28 to bet a medal.

  In addition, the lower door 13 is provided with a medal discharge port 30 for receiving a medal discharged from the medal hopper 17 and guiding it to the tray device 14. The medal outlet 30 is disposed above the tray device 14 and protrudes from the front surface 13 a of the lower door 13.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the tray apparatus 14 includes a medal storage section 40 that stores medals, a tray 41 that is supported by the front surface 13 a of the lower door 13 so as to be able to swing and rotate, and the medal storage section 40. A fixed frame 43 disposed above the tray 41, and a telescopic bellows (for preventing the medal from falling down from a gap formed between the fixed frame 43 and the tray 41). Cover) 44.

  The tray 41 has a box shape with an open top surface, and includes a front plate 41a, a left plate 41b, a right plate 41c, a bottom plate 41d, and a rear plate 41e. A space surrounded by these plates is provided in the medal storage unit 40. It has become. The front plate 41a is formed with a discharge hole 45 for discharging the medals stored in the medal storage unit 40 to the outside, and the discharge hole 45 is opened and closed by a shutter 46 that can be slid left and right when viewed from the front. . The shutter 46 is provided with a gripping portion 47, which can be slid by gripping the gripping portion 47 with a fingertip.

  The tray 41 is rotatably supported by a pair of support shafts 48 and 49. The support shaft 48 is fixed to the lower door 13 via a support plate 50, the support shaft 49 is fixed to the lower door 13 via a support plate 51, and the support shafts 48 and 49 extend in the left-right direction. The support shaft 48 is inserted into a bearing hole 52 formed in the lower corner portion on the rear side of the left plate 41b, and the support shaft 49 is inserted in a bearing hole 53 formed in the lower corner portion on the rear side of the right plate 41c.

  The saucer 41 is urged by a coil spring 54 clockwise about the support shaft 48 (support shaft 49) as viewed from the right, that is, in a direction in which the front portion of the saucer 41 faces upward. A spring mounting member 56 having an L-shaped cross section is fixed above the left portion of the rear plate 41e on the front surface 13a of the lower door 13, and one end of the coil spring 54 is fixed to the vertical portion 56a of the spring mounting member 56. The other end is in contact with the inner surface of the rear plate 41e. A coil spring 55 and a spring mounting member 57 having the same configuration as the coil spring 54 and the spring mounting member 56 are provided on the front surface 13a of the lower door 13 and above the right portion of the rear plate 41e. The support shafts 48 and 49, the support plates 50 and 51, the coil springs 54 and 55, and the spring attachment members 56 and 57 constitute a tray support portion that supports the tray 41.

  A front surface 13a of the lower door 13 is provided with a stopper 58 (see FIG. 4) having an L-shaped cross section for stopping the rotation of the tray 41 at a midway position. The stopper 58 is fixed to the front surface 13a so as to be positioned below the tray 41.

  The tray 41 is rotatable about a support shaft 48 (support shaft 49). The upper position of the rear plate 41e is in contact with the front surface 13a of the lower door 13, and the bottom plate 41d is a stopper 58. It swings and rotates between the maximum inclination posture (inclination posture) shown in FIG. When the tray 41 is in the initial posture, the bottom plate 41d is substantially horizontal, and the inclination angle of the bottom plate 41d increases from the initial posture toward the maximum tilted posture. The force by which the saucer 41 rotates clockwise (as viewed from the right) by the coil springs 54 and 55 is greater than the force by which the saucer 41 rotates counterclockwise due to its own weight, and the saucer 41 is attached to the initial posture. It is energized.

  Although the medals are discharged to the medal storage section 40 of the tray 41 through the medal discharge port 30, the front end (front end) of the medal discharge port 30 is the rear plate 41e even when the tray 41 is in the maximum inclination posture. Therefore, the medals discharged from the medal discharge port 30 are reliably stored in the medal storage unit 40.

  The fixed frame 43 is a U-shaped member, and includes a front column 43a along the upper surface of the front plate 41a, a left column 43b along the upper surface of the left plate 41b, and a right column 43c along the upper surface of the right plate 41c. In the fixed frame 43, the rear ends of the left column 43b and the right column 43c are fixed to the front surface 13a of the lower door 13, and maintain a substantially horizontal posture. The opening 39 of the fixed frame 43 communicates with the medal storage unit 40, and the size of the opening 39 is the same as the size of the upper surface of the medal storage unit 40.

  A bellows 44 that can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction is provided between the fixed frame 43 and the tray 41. The bellows 44 includes a front bellows 44a that blocks a gap formed between the front plate 41a and the front column 43a, a left bellows 44b that blocks a gap formed between the left plate 41b and the left column 43b, and a right plate 41c and the right It consists of a right bellows 44c that closes a gap formed between the columns 43c. Each bellows 44a, 44b, 44c is in the most contracted state when the tray 41 is in the initial posture, and is in the most extended state when the tray 41 is in the maximum tilted posture. As the material of the bellows 44, for example, plastic or rubber is used.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When no medal is stored in the medal storage section 40 of the tray 41, the clockwise force by the biasing force of the coil springs 54 and 55 is larger than the counterclockwise force (viewed from the right) due to the weight of the tray 41. The tray 41 is in the initial posture.

  When a medal is paid out through the medal discharge port 30 and a small amount of medals are stored in the medal storage unit 40 during the game, a counterclockwise force corresponding to the weight of the stored medals is applied to the tray. 41 is slightly tilted from the initial position. Here, when the inclination amount of the tray 41 is small, the depth from the fixed frame 43 to the front portion of the bottom plate 41d is shallow, so that the stored medals do not become difficult to take out.

  When winning a big hit while playing a game, a large number of medals are paid out to the medal storage unit 40 in a short period of time. As the storage amount of the medal storage unit 40 increases, the inclination amount from the initial posture of the tray 41 increases, and the bellows 44 extends in accordance with the inclination amount. As shown in FIG. 5, when the storage amount of the medal storage unit 40 reaches a predetermined amount, the tray 41 assumes the maximum tilt posture, and the tray 41 maintains the maximum tilt posture even if the storage amount exceeds the predetermined amount.

  The space inside the fixed frame 43 and the bellows 44 in addition to the medal storage section 40 of the tray 41 is a space in which medals can be stored, and the bellows 44 extends and the bellows 44 as the amount of inclination from the initial posture of the tray 41 increases. The space inside becomes larger. For this reason, the maximum allowable storage amount, which is the storage amount of medals that can be stored as a whole by the tray apparatus 14, is larger than the conventional storage amount.

  When the shutter 46 is slid and the discharge hole 45 is opened while the tray 41 is tilted, the discharge hole 45 faces slightly downward, so that the medals stored in the medal storage unit 40 are efficiently discharged. Is done. A storage box is prepared below the discharge hole 45, and medals are stored in the storage box.

  As the medal is discharged from the discharge hole 45 and the amount stored in the medal storage unit 40 decreases, the tray 41 rotates clockwise (as viewed from the right) by the biasing force of the coil springs 54 and 55. When the medals in the medal storage unit 40 run out, the tray 41 returns to the initial posture.

  In the above-described embodiment, the support shafts 48 and 49 and the coil springs 54 and 55 are used as the tray support portions that support the tray 41. Alternatively, the tray 41 may be directly supported by a rubber material. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the tray 41 is supported by the front surface 13 a of the lower door 13 using two columnar rubber materials 100 and 101. In FIG. 7, the rubber material 100 is hatched for easy viewing. The lengths of the rubber materials 100 and 101 are about the same as the height of the tray 41. The front surface of the rubber material 100 and the rear surface of the left plate 41b are bonded with an adhesive, and the rear surface of the rubber material 100 is bonded to the front surface 13a of the lower door 13 with an adhesive. Further, the front surface of the rubber material 101 and the rear surface of the right plate 41 c are bonded, and the rear surface of the rubber material 101 is bonded to the front surface 13 a of the lower door 13.

  When no medal is stored in the medal storage unit 40, the tray 41 is in a substantially horizontal initial posture. When the medal is stored in the medal storage unit 40, the upper portions of the rubber members 100 and 101 extend in the front-rear direction ( As the distance from the upper end increases, the tray 41 tilts from the initial posture. As described above, the strength (elasticity) of the rubber materials 100 and 101 is adjusted so as to maintain the initial posture when no medal is stored in the medal storage unit 40.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, instead of the rubber material 100 (rubber material 101), rubber materials 200 and 201 (rubber materials 202 and 203) having different expansion / contraction rates may be used. In this case, the upper rubber material 200 (rubber material 202) has a higher expansion / contraction rate, that is, a material that stretches well. Thereby, the movable range when the tray 41 changes its posture can be increased, and the movement of the tray 41 does not become unreasonable.

  In the above embodiment, the tray 41 has a box shape having an opening on the upper surface. However, any shape may be used as long as it is possible to store medals. For example, the rear plate 41e is removed from the tray 41. You may make it surround the back side of a saucer with the front surface 13a of the lower door 13. FIG. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the fixed frame 43 was U shape, what is necessary is just to have the opening 39 connected to the medal storage part 40 of the receiving tray 41, for example, may be square shape.

  In the above embodiment, the bellows 44 is used as a cover that closes the gap formed between the fixed frame 43 and the tray 41. Instead, a durable flexible resin sheet is used, or there is elasticity. A rubber sheet may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the tray device is applied to the slot machine, but instead, it may be applied to a pachinko machine, and the pachinko ball may be stored in the tray device.

2 is an external perspective view of the slot machine. FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of a saucer apparatus. It is sectional drawing of a saucer apparatus when a saucer exists in an initial position. It is sectional drawing of a saucer apparatus when a saucer exists in an inclination posture. It is a use figure of a saucer apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view of the saucer apparatus which shows embodiment using a rubber material. It is sectional drawing of the saucer apparatus which shows embodiment using a rubber material. It is a disassembled perspective view of the saucer apparatus which shows embodiment using two types of rubber materials from which an expansion-contraction rate differs.

Explanation of symbols

10 Slot machines (gaming machines)
14 saucer device 39 opening 40 medal storage part (storage part)
41 saucer 43 fixed frame 44 bellows (cover)
45 Discharge hole 46 Shutter 48, 49 Support shaft 54, 55 Coil spring

Claims (3)

A storage part for storing game media on the upper surface, a saucer provided on the front surface of the gaming machine;
A saucer support that supports the saucer in a swingable manner between an initial posture in which the game medium is stored in the reservoir and an inclined posture in which the front part is lowered from the initial posture, and urges the saucer toward the initial posture. And
A fixed frame that is fixed to the front surface of the gaming machine so as to be positioned above the tray, and has an opening that communicates with the reservoir;
A retractable cover that closes the gap so that the game medium does not fall from the gap formed between the fixed frame and the tray,
The saucer device characterized in that the amount of inclination of the saucer from the initial posture increases as the weight of the game medium stored in the reservoir increases.   A discharge hole communicating with the storage portion and a shutter for opening and closing the discharge hole are provided on the front surface of the tray, and the game medium stored in the storage portion can be discharged. The saucer device according to claim 1.   A gaming machine comprising the tray device according to claim 1.

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