JP2009142557A - Push button type switching device and game machine provided with the push button type switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a push button type switching device, wherein the pressurizing operation of a button part does not become heavy even when the button part is rotated and the rotating direction and rotating angle range of the button part are not limited, and a game machine provided with the push button type switching device. <P>SOLUTION: The push button type switching device comprises a case part 32 for supporting the button part 31 movably along a pressurizing direction, a motor 33 for rotationally driving the case part 32, and a photointerrupter 46 for detecting that the button part 31 passes through a prescribed intermediate position, and the motor 33 is activated with the movement of the button part 31 by a pressurizing operation by a player as a trigger. Thus, even when the button part 31 is rotated, the pressurizing operation of the button part 31 does not become heavy. Also, since the button part 31 is rotated by the motor 33, the button part 31 can be continuously rotated both clockwise and counterclockwise, and the rotating direction and the rotating angle range are not limited. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a push button type switch device that is provided on a panel surface facing a player of a gaming machine and includes a button unit that is pressed by the player, and a gaming machine including the push button type switch device About.

Conventionally, as a gaming machine that provides entertainment to a player, a game that has a plurality of rotating reels with a plurality of types of symbols on the outer peripheral surface and causes the player to stop rotating rotating reels and align the symbols The slot machine to be used is used.
More specifically, when a player operates the start lever device after inserting medals into the slot machine, a plurality of rotary reels are rotationally driven all at once. Thereafter, when the push button type switch device is pressed, the rotary reel corresponding to the push button type switch device is stopped.
At this time, a prize is awarded when a plurality of symbols displayed in the reel window are arranged in a specific combination. When a prize is awarded, the number of medals corresponding to the winning combination is paid out to the player from the slot machine.

In such a slot machine, every time a game is performed, a winning lottery relating to whether the game is successful or not is internally performed, and by winning in this winning lottery, a winning flag corresponding to a predetermined winning combination is established, This makes it possible to win the winning combination. In other words, it is possible to stop a predetermined combination of symbols in the reel window only after winning in the winning / losing lottery.
When a winning combination corresponding to a special winning that gives a large profit in a winning lottery performed for each game, for example, a bonus game is won and a winning flag corresponding to the bonus game is established, the player As a result, it becomes possible to win a bonus game.

For this reason, when a winning flag with such a large profit possibility is established, in order to notify the player in the game to that effect, a decorative lamp is blinked or continuously lit, etc. A notification effect is performed.
As a slot machine that performs such a notification effect, the notification effect is performed by rotating the pressing surface pressed by the player of the push button type switch device that is pressed when the rotary reel is stopped. It has been known.
That is, the push button type switch device includes a button portion that is pressed by the player, a support cylinder that is inserted into a supported shaft that protrudes from the back surface of the button portion, and supports the button portion so that the button portion can be moved back and forth. A compression spring or the like that urges the button portion toward the front of the slot machine is provided.

The push button type switch device is provided with a pressing rotation mechanism that rotates the button part during a pressing operation, and a rotation blocking mechanism that prevents the button part from rotating during the pressing operation.
Here, the supported shaft of the button portion is integrally formed with a protruding portion that protrudes in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface thereof.
The press rotation mechanism is formed in a cylindrical shape into which the supported shaft of the button portion is inserted, and a spiral guide groove into which the projection portion on the button portion side is inserted is formed in the side wall portion. The spiral guide cylinder formed and a spiral guide cylinder fixing device capable of arbitrarily fixing the spiral guide cylinder in a non-rotatable state at a predetermined position are provided.

On the other hand, the rotation prevention mechanism is formed in a cylindrical shape through which the supported shaft of the button portion is inserted, and a linear rotation prevention groove along the pressing method of the button portion is formed in the side wall portion. A rotation prevention cylinder and a rotation prevention cylinder fixing device capable of arbitrarily fixing the rotation prevention cylinder in a non-rotatable state at a predetermined position are provided.
In normal operation, if only the rotation prevention cylinder fixing device of the rotation prevention mechanism is operated, the spiral guide cylinder of the pressing rotation mechanism moves together with the button part, and its movement is not restricted, and only the rotation prevention cylinder is attached to the button part. Since the movement is restricted, the button portion does not rotate during the pressing operation.

On the other hand, when it is necessary to perform a notification effect by winning a bonus game or the like, if only the spiral guide cylinder fixing device of the press rotation mechanism is operated, the rotation prevention cylinder of the rotation prevention mechanism rotates together with the button part, Since the movement of the button part is restricted only by the spiral guide cylinder without restricting the movement, the button part is rotated at the time of the pressing operation, and the fact that the bonus game is won can be notified. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-180893 (FIG. 2)

In the push button type switch device as described above, when the button part is moved by the pressing operation, the button part is rotated by guiding the protrusion part of the button part by the spiral guide groove of the spiral guide cylinder. Therefore, if the button part is rotated for the pressing operation, the pressing operation of the button part becomes heavy and the rotation direction of the button part is limited to the same direction as the turning direction of the spiral guide groove. In addition, the rotation direction is limited to only one direction, and when the protrusion reaches the end of the spiral guide groove, it cannot be rotated any further and the rotation angle of the button portion is limited to a predetermined range. There is a problem of being.
Accordingly, each invention described in each claim has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and the object of the invention is to make the button portion even when the button portion is rotated. It is an object to provide a push button type switch device in which the pressing operation does not become heavy and the rotation direction and the rotation angle range of the button portion are not limited, and a gaming machine including the push button type switch device.

Each invention described in each claim is made to achieve the above-mentioned object. The features of each invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings.
In addition, a code | symbol shows the code | symbol used in embodiment of this invention, and does not limit the technical scope of this invention.
(Claim 1)
(Feature point)
The invention described in claim 1 is characterized by the following points.
That is, the invention described in claim 1 is a push button provided on the panel surface (7) facing the player of the gaming machine (1) and having a button portion (31) operated to be pressed by the player. Type switch device (30), movable along the pressing direction of the button part (31), and rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the pressing direction of the button part (31), A base (32, 33) that supports the button part (31), an operating device (33) that rotates the button part (31), and a movement in which the button part (31) is movable by a pressing operation. A passage detection sensor (46) that detects that the button portion (31) has passed through the middle position of the range, and when the passage detection sensor (46) detects passage of the button portion (31), And a start control means (34) for operating the button portion (31) by actuating 33).

(Claim 2)
(Feature point)
The invention described in claim 2 is the invention described in claim 1, which has the following characteristic points.
That is, in the invention described in claim 2, the pressing surface (31A) pressed by the player of the button part (31) is formed with unevenness (35A) that the player can detect by contact. It is characterized by.
(Claim 3)
(Feature point)
The invention described in claim 3 is an invention relating to a gaming machine provided with the push button type switch device described in claim 1, and specifically, has the following characteristic points.

  That is, the invention according to claim 3 is a game in which a push button type switch device (30) having a button portion (31) to be pressed by a player is provided on a panel surface (7) facing the player. The push button type switch device (30) is movable along the pressing direction of the button part (31) and is parallel to the pressing direction of the button part (31). A base (32, 33) for supporting the button (31), an operating device (33) for rotating the button (31), and the button (31) A passage detection sensor (46) for detecting that the button portion (31) has passed through a middle position of a moving range that can be moved by a pressing operation, and the passage detection sensor (46) includes the button portion (31). And an activation control means (34) for operating the operating device (33) to rotate the button portion (31). It is characterized by.

(Effects of claims 1 and 3)
The present invention configured as described above has the following effects.
That is, according to the first and third aspects of the invention, the button portion is supported so as to be movable along the pressing direction of the button portion and to be rotatable around a rotation axis parallel to the pressing direction of the button portion. A base part to be operated, an operating device for rotating the button part, and a passage detection sensor for detecting that the button part has passed through the middle part of the movement range of the button part, and the button part has passed the halfway position described above As a result of this, the operating unit is configured to rotate the button part, so that a frictional force greater than the pressing force to the button part may be generated unlike when the part of the button part is guided by the spiral guide groove. In addition, even if the button portion is rotated during the pressing operation, the pressing operation of the button portion does not become heavy.

In addition, since the button unit is rotated by the operating device, if the operating device that can be operated in both the clockwise and counterclockwise rotating directions such as an electric motor is adopted, the rotating direction of the button unit is one direction. In addition, since the button unit can be rotated as many times as necessary, the limitation on the rotation direction and the rotation angle range can be released.
(Effect of claim 2)
According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the following effect is obtained.

  That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the unevenness that can be sensed by contact by the player is formed on the pressing surface of the button portion, if the button portion is rotated, the player rotates the button portion by touch. Can recognize that For this reason, even if the player concentrates on the game and does not watch the pressing surface of the button part, it can be notified that the bonus game has been won by the rotation of the button part.

Hereinafter, an embodiment that is the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Explanation of drawings)
1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front view showing an entire slot machine that is a gaming machine according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is according to the embodiment. 3 is a front view showing the inside of the slot machine, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a push button type switch device according to this embodiment, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3, and FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the pushbutton type switch apparatus which concerns on.

(Schematic configuration of slot machine 1)
In FIG. 1, a slot machine 1 as a gaming machine according to the present embodiment has a rotating reel 11 rotating so that a plurality of types of symbols written on each of the three rotating reels 11 form a predetermined combination. The game that stops the game is performed. As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 1 includes a housing 2 that houses various devices of the slot machine 1 and has a rectangular front shape.
The housing | casing 2 is a box-shaped member by which the whole front surface was opened. And the front opening of the housing | casing 2 is block | closed with the front door 3 attached to the said housing | casing 2 so that rotation was possible. The front door 3 is automatically locked when it is closed.

The front door 3 includes an upper panel portion 4 and a lower panel portion 5 that substantially bisect the front surface. Below the lower panel portion 5, there is provided a tray unit 6 integrally formed with a tray portion 6A for storing medals to be paid out at the time of winning a prize. Further, an operation console 7 for performing an operation relating to the game is formed between the upper panel portion 4 and the lower panel portion 5 so as to protrude toward the player side.
Here, the upper panel portion 4 and the lower panel portion 5 have a decorative plate made of synthetic resin attached to the surface in order to ensure an excellent appearance in terms of design.
(Upper panel part 4)
The upper panel portion 4 is provided with a display window 4A formed in a rectangular shape above the console 7 and in the center in the width direction in FIG.

Here, each of the three rotating reels 11 provided inside the housing 2 is marked with a plurality of types of symbols on its outer peripheral surface. The symbols of each rotary reel 11 are visible from the outside of the housing 2 through the display window 4A.
At the upper edge portion of the upper panel portion 4, there is provided an effect lighting device 4 </ b> B whose front shape is formed in an inverted trapezoidal shape that is elongated to the left and right. This lighting device for production 4B is arranged at substantially the center of the upper edge portion of the upper panel portion 4, and its both end portions are cut off at a position in front of them without reaching the corners of the lighting device for production 4B. It has become.
In addition, in the vicinity of both corners on the upper side of the upper panel portion 4, a pair of effect lighting devices 4 </ b> C for drawing a Chinese numeral “eight” is provided while the front shape is formed in a curved belt shape. Each of these effect lighting devices 4C has an upper end portion disposed in the vicinity of the end portion of the effect lighting device 4B, and a lower end portion thereof extends obliquely downward toward the side edge of the upper panel portion 4. It has become.

Furthermore, a pair of effect lighting devices 4D are provided on both side edges of the upper panel portion 4 so as to sandwich the display window 4A therebetween.
Each of these lighting devices for production 4B to 4D includes a light source such as a high-intensity light emitting diode disposed inside a red lens, and the visual in the game is turned on or blinking according to the progress of the game. This enhances the production effect.
A liquid crystal display device 4E for displaying a game effect image is provided between the display window 4A and the effect lighting device 4B. The liquid crystal display device 4E displays various images including moving images as the game progresses.

In the vicinity of both corners on the lower side of the liquid crystal display device 4E, audio output units 4F each having a speaker that generates sound effects relating to the game are provided.
(Operating console 7)
The console 7 is provided with various switches necessary for operations in the game.
That is, a key hole 7A into which a key for unlocking the front door 3 is inserted is provided at the right end portion in FIG. A medal insertion portion 7C having a medal insertion slot 7B for inserting medals is provided obliquely above and to the left of the keyhole 7A.
Three push button type switch devices 30 that are operated when stopping each of the three rotary reels 11 are provided obliquely below and to the left of the medal slot 7B. Among these three push button type switch devices 30, a max bet button 7E that can bet the maximum number of medals in one operation is located obliquely above and to the left of the push button type switch device 30 arranged at the left end. Is provided.

Further, on the left side of the push button type switch device 30 at the left end and diagonally to the left of the max bet button 7E, there is a start lever 7F that is operated when the three rotary reels 11 are simultaneously rotated. Is provided. A bet switch 7G that can be bet on one medal that is held in one operation, in other words, bet switch 7G that is operated when betting one medal at a time, is provided at the upper left of the start lever 7F. ing.
Further, a settlement button 7H for paying out medals stored at the time of settlement is provided diagonally to the left of the bet switch 7G.
(Lower panel part 5 and saucer unit 6)
The lower panel portion 5 is provided with a panel 5A on which a character or the like representing a model type of the slot machine 1 is drawn.

The saucer unit 6 is provided with a medal payout port 6B for discharging medals paid out toward the saucer unit 6A when winning a prize, and a speaker for generating sound effects related to the game, in addition to the above-described saucer unit 6A for storing medals. And an audio output unit 6C.
(Game device with built-in case 2)
Next, a gaming device provided inside the housing 2 will be briefly described.
As shown in FIG. 2, a main control board 2A having a CPU composed of a microcomputer for controlling the gaming operation of the slot machine 1 and three rotary reels 11 are rotatably supported inside the housing 2. A reel unit 10 having a motor (not shown) for driving each of the rotary reels 11, a container unit 21 for storing a large number of medals therein, and a hopper device 20 for discharging medals toward the tray 6A, a slot Game devices such as a power supply device 2B for supplying power to each device provided in the machine 1, and a sub-control board 2D for controlling an effect device (for example, a liquid crystal display device 4E) for effecting the game Is provided.

(Push button type switch device 30)
Next, the push button type switch device 30 operated by the player when stopping the rotating reel 11 will be described.
As described above, the push button type switch device 30 is provided on the console 7 which is a panel surface facing the player of the slot machine 1 and, as shown in FIG. It is equipped with 31.
In addition to the button part 31 described above, the push button type switch device 30 supports the button part 31 movably along the pressing direction, and supports the case part 32 rotatably. And a drive control device 34 for controlling the start and stop of the motor 33.

The button part 31 is provided with a disk-like pressing part 31B on which a pressing surface 31A to be pressed by a player's fingertip or the like is formed.
Here, a large number of small protrusions 35A are provided on the pressing surface 31A of the pressing portion 31B, as shown in FIG. 3, and the unevenness that can be sensed by the player by contact is formed on the pressing surface 31A by the large number of protrusions 35A. Has been.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pressing portion 31B includes a cylindrical side wall portion 31C extending from the peripheral edge toward the inside of the case portion 32, and the case portion 32 from the center of the back surface of the pressing portion 31B. A cylindrical shaft portion 31D extending inward is provided.

The side wall portion 31C is provided with a guide projection 36 protruding outward in the radial direction on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a stepped portion 37 that recedes inward from the lower portion is provided at the upper edge of FIG. 3 on the outer peripheral surface of the side wall 31C.
The side wall 31C is provided with an activation protrusion 35B disposed at a predetermined position on the lower edge in FIG. 3 on the inner peripheral surface. This starting protrusion 35B is for blocking the light of a photo interrupter 46 described later, and causing the photo interrupter 46 to output a starting signal which is an electric signal for starting the motor 33.
The shaft portion 31D is provided with a detection projection 38 on the tip surface. The detection protrusion 38 is used to output a reel stop signal, which is an electric signal for stopping the rotating reel 11, to the photo interrupter 39 by blocking light from a photo interrupter 39 described later.

The case part 32 includes a bottomed cylindrical container part 32A in which a space for accommodating the side wall part 31C of the button part 31 is formed, and a lid part 32B screwed into the other end opening of the container part 32A. It has become.
The container portion 32A has a lower end opening in FIG. 3 closed by a bottom plate portion 32C.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the container portion 32A is formed with guide grooves 40 corresponding to the guide protrusions 36 formed on the outer peripheral surface on the side wall portion 31C side accommodated therein. Yes. The guide groove 40 extends in the pressing direction of the button portion 31, and accommodates the guide projection 36 on the side wall portion 31C side in a movable manner.

Thereby, the guide protrusion 36 of the button part 31 is guided by the guide groove 40 and can move along the pressing direction of the button part 31, but cannot rotate along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical container part 32A. It has become.
A coil spring 41 is provided inside the container portion 32A to bias the button portion 31 in the direction of pushing it outward. The coil spring 41 is interposed between the bottom plate portion 32C of the container portion 32A and the pressing portion 31B.
At this time, the shaft portion 31D of the button portion 31 is inserted into the coil spring 41, and the lower end of the coil spring 41 in FIG. 3 is a ring-shaped groove portion 42 formed on the inner surface of the bottom plate portion 32C. It is inserted in. Thereby, when the button part 31 is pressed and the coil spring 41 is compressed, the coil spring 41 is inclined so as not to deviate from between the bottom plate part 32C and the pressing part 31B of the container part 32A.

As shown in FIG. 3, the photointerfacing provided on the inner surface of the bottom plate portion 32C of the container portion 32A in correspondence with the detection protrusion 38 provided on the tip surface of the shaft portion 31D on the button portion 31 side. A raptor 39 and a photo interrupter 46 provided corresponding to the activation protrusion 35B provided at the lower end edge of the side wall 31C on the button part 31 side are provided.
The photo interrupter 39 includes a light projecting element 39A that emits light and a light receiving element 39B that receives light emitted from the light projecting element 39A. When the light from the light projecting element 39A is blocked, the light receiving element 39B A stop signal is output.
When the push button type switch device 30 reaches the final end of the moving range in which the button portion 31 can be moved by a pressing operation, the detection protrusion 38 provided on the tip surface of the shaft portion 31D has a photo interrupter. 39 is inserted between the light projecting element 39A and the light receiving element 39B, so that the light from the light projecting element 39A is blocked and the light receiving element 39B transmits a reel stop signal. is there.

The photo interrupter 46 includes a light projecting element 46A that emits light and a light receiving element 46B that receives the light emitted by the light projecting element 46A. When the light from the light projecting element 46A is blocked, the light receiving element 46B is activated. A signal is output.
When the push button type switch device 30 reaches a position in the middle of the moving range in which the button portion 31 can be moved by a pressing operation, the activation protrusion 35B installed at the lower end edge of the side wall portion 31C has a photo interrupter. 46 is inserted between the light projecting element 46A and the light receiving element 46B, so that the light from the light projecting element 46A is blocked, and the light receiving element 46B transmits an activation signal. .

Brushes 43A for electrically connecting the inside of the container part 32A as a rotating part rotatably provided on the outer surface of the bottom plate part 32C of the container part 32A and an external device which is a non-rotating fixed part, 44A is provided.
Among these, the brush 43A is for making electrical connection between the light projecting element 39A and the light receiving element 39B of the photo interrupter 39 and the outside of the container part 32A.
The container portion 32A is provided with brushes 43A for two circuits corresponding to the light projecting element 39A and the light receiving element 39B.
The brush 44A is used for electrical connection between the light projecting element 46A and the light receiving element 46B of the photo interrupter 46 and the outside of the container portion 32A.

The container portion 32A is provided with brushes 44A for two circuits corresponding to the light projecting element 46A and the light receiving element 46B, respectively.
The lid portion 32B is a cylindrical member in which an opening for exposing the pressing surface 31A of the pressing portion 31B provided on the button portion 31 to the outside is formed. At the upper edge in FIG. 3 of the lid portion 32B, a flange portion 45 is formed that protrudes radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the lid portion 32B.
The flange 45 locks the stepped portion 37 of the button portion 31 so that the button portion 31 that is biased in the direction to be pushed out of the container portion 32A by the coil spring 41 does not go outside. This is a part for pressing the part 31 inside the container part 32A.

The motor 33 is a stepping motor provided with an output shaft 33A that is rotationally driven by pulsed power supplied intermittently. The tip of the output shaft 33A of the motor 33 is coupled to the bottom plate part 32C of the container part 32A provided on the case part 32 side. As a result, the case portion 32 is rotatably supported by the motor 33. The motor 33 is an operating device that rotates the button unit 31.
In the above, the case part 32 and the motor 33 are movable along the pressing direction of the button part 31, and the button part 31 can be rotated around a rotation axis parallel to the pressing direction of the button part 31. It is a supporting base.

Ring-side electrodes 43B and 44B that correspond to the brushes 43A and 43A on the case part 32 side and are coaxial with the output shaft 33A are provided on the surface of the motor 33 that faces the case part 32.
Here, the electrode 43B and the brush 43A corresponding to the electrode 43B are the first slip ring device 43 that makes electrical connection between the light projecting element 39A and the light receiving element 39B of the photo interrupter 39 and the outside of the container part 32A. Is forming.
The first slip ring device 43 includes two circuits of brushes 43A and electrodes 43B corresponding to the light projecting element 39A and the light receiving element 39B, respectively. Then, power is supplied from the drive control device 34 to the light projecting element 39A of the photo interrupter 39 via the first slip ring device 43, and a reel stop signal is transmitted from the light receiving element 39B to the drive control device 34. It has become.

The electrode 44B and the brush 44A corresponding to the electrode 44B include a second slip ring device 44 that electrically connects the light projecting element 46A and the light receiving element 46B of the photo interrupter 46 and the outside of the container 32A. Forming.
The second slip ring device 44 includes two brushes 44A and electrodes 44B corresponding to the light projecting element 46A and the light receiving element 46B, respectively. Then, power is supplied from the drive control device 34 to the light projecting element 46A of the photo interrupter 46 via the second slip ring device 44, and a reel stop signal is transmitted from the light receiving element 46B to the drive control device 34. It has become.

The drive control device 34 activates the motor 33 based on the state of the photo interrupter 46 that detects passage of the button unit 31 and the like.
That is, the drive control device 34 is connected to the photo interrupter 46 via the second slip ring device 44 as described above, and the photo interrupter 46 allows the button unit 31 to move by a pressing operation. It is now possible to determine that the position has been reached.
In the above, the photo interrupter 46 is a passage detection sensor that detects that the button unit 31 has passed through a middle position of a moving range in which the button unit 31 can be moved by a pressing operation.

Such a drive control device 34 includes an effect start signal for starting a button rotation effect for rotating the button unit 31 from the sub-control board 2D for controlling the effect device for effecting the game, and this button. An effect end signal for ending the rotation effect is sequentially received.
Then, when the drive control device 34 receives an effect start signal from the sub-control board 2D, it enters an effectable state. In this effectable state, when it receives an activation signal from the photo interrupter 46, it activates the motor 33, The part 31 is rotated. On the other hand, when receiving the reel stop signal emitted from the light receiving element 39B of the photo interrupter 39 provided in the other push button type switch device 30, the drive control device 34 stops the motor 33 and rotates the button portion 31. It is supposed to stop.

In addition, when receiving the effect end signal from the sub-control board 2D, the drive control device 34 enters the effect stop state, and when transitioning to the effect stop state, when the button unit 31 is rotating, the drive control device 34 stops the motor 33. The rotation of the button part 31 is stopped.
Here, when the button control unit 34 has not rotated when the transition to the effect stop state is made, the drive control device 34, after shifting to the effect stop state, until the transition to the effect enable state, Even when the activation signal is received from the raptor 46, the motor 33 is not activated.
In the above, the drive control device 34 is an activation control unit that operates the motor 33 to rotate the button unit 31 when the photo interrupter 46 detects the passage of the button unit 31. Here, when the button unit 31 is rotated, either the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction is set at random as the rotating direction of the button unit 31.

(Control system of push button type switch device 30)
Next, a control system for controlling the operation of the push button type switch device 30 will be described.
FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration of a control system that controls the operation of the push button type switch device 30. In FIG. 5, the drive control device 34 that directly controls the operation of the push button type switch device 30 is subordinate to both the sub control board 2D and the main control board 2A. The sub control board 2D is subordinate to the main control board 2A for controlling the gaming operation of the slot machine 1.
The main control board 2A is provided with hardware configured to include a CPU using a microcomputer and storage means such as ROM and RAM, and software for performing game operation control is installed in this hardware. is there.

Similar to the main control board 2A, the sub-control board 2D includes a CPU that includes a CPU using a microcomputer and storage means such as a ROM and a RAM, and performs the rendering operation control and the like on this hardware. The software for this is installed.
The sub-control board 2D includes an effect control board 2E for controlling the operation of the effect lighting devices 4B to 4D and the push button type switch device 30, and an image and sound output unit 4F to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device 4E. An image sound generation board 2F that generates sound to be output to 6C is provided.
The drive control device 34 includes an effect start signal and an effect end signal from the sub-control board 2D described above, a reel stop signal from another push button type switch device 30 received via the main control board 2A, and a photo interface. Based on the signal from the raptor 46, the operation of the motor 33 that rotationally drives the button unit 31 is controlled.

That is, the photo interrupter 39 is electrically connected to the drive control device 34 via the first slip ring device 43 and the photo interrupter 46 is electrically connected via the second slip ring device 44. ing.
Here, the reel stop signal output from the light receiving element 39B of the photo interrupter 39 is transmitted to both the main control board 2A and the drive control means 34.
The drive control device 34 is also electrically connected to the main control board 2A. As a result, the drive control device 34 can receive a reel stop signal emitted from the light receiving element 39B of the photo interrupter 39 provided in the other push button type switch device 30 via the main control board 2A. Yes.

When such a drive control device 34 receives an effect start signal from the sub control board 2D and then receives a signal indicating that the passage of the button unit 31 is detected from the photo interrupter 46, the drive control device 34 activates the motor 33 and presses the button. The rotation drive of the part 31 is started. Note that, as described above, the drive control device 34 receives the signal indicating that the finger contact is detected from the sensor electrode 35 in a state where the production start signal is not received from the sub control board 2D. 33 is not activated.
Then, the drive control device 34, while the button unit 31 is rotating, a reel stop signal output from the light receiving element 39B of the photo interrupter 39 provided in the other push button type switch device 30, and When at least one of the effect end signals from the control board 2D is received, the motor 33 is stopped and the rotation drive of the button unit 31 is ended.

Next, an effect produced by the push button type switch device 30 according to the present embodiment, specifically, a button part rotation effect process for rotating the button part 31 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
This button part rotation effect process is processed as a subroutine of this main routine, assuming that the game operation control process by the main control board 2A of the slot machine 1 is the main routine, and the game action control process by the main control board 2A and the sub control Processing is performed in parallel by the production operation control processing by the substrate 2D and the time division multiplexing method. Then, the button portion rotation effect process is started when the player operates the start lever 7F.

When the button part rotation effect process is started, first, as shown in FIG. 6, it is determined in step S1000 whether or not it is an effectable state in which an effect of rotating the button part 31 can be performed.
If it is not determined in this step S1000 that the performance is possible, the process jumps to step S1400. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1000 that the performance is possible, the process proceeds to the next step S1100.
In step S1100, it is determined whether or not passage of the button unit 31 is detected by the photo interrupter 46.
If it is not determined in step S1100 that the passage of the button unit 31 has been detected, the button unit rotation effect process is temporarily ended and the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1100 that passage of the button unit 31 has been detected, the process proceeds to the next step S1200.
In step S1200, an activation process of the motor 33 for starting the motor 33 and starting the rotation of the button unit 31 is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to the next Step S1300.
In step S1300, it is determined whether or not a reel stop signal has been received from the light receiving element 39B of the photo interrupter 39 provided in another push button type switch device 30.
If it is not determined in step S1300 that a reel stop signal has been received, the button section rotation effect process is temporarily terminated and the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1300 that the reel stop signal has been received, the process proceeds to the next step S1400.
In step S1400, it is determined whether or not the button unit 31 of the button type switch device 30 is rotating.
If it is not determined in step S1400 that the button unit 31 is rotating, the button unit rotation effect process is temporarily ended, and the process returns to the main routine.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1400 that the button unit 31 is rotating, the process proceeds to the next step S1500.

In step S1500, a stop process of the motor 33 for stopping the motor 33 and terminating the rotation of the button unit 31 is performed. When the stop process of the motor 33 is completed, the button part rotation effect process is completed and the process returns to the main routine.
According to this embodiment as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
That is, the case portion 32 that supports the button portion 31 so as to be movable along the pressing direction, and the case portion 32 that supports the case portion 32 so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis that is parallel to the pressing direction of the button portion 31. A motor 33 that rotates the button portion 31 by rotating the button portion 32, and a photo interrupter 46 that detects that the button portion 31 has passed the middle position of the movement range of the button portion 31. Since the case part 32 that supports the button part 31 is driven to rotate by the motor 33 when the intermediate position is passed, the part of the button part is guided by the spiral guide groove in the prior art. Unlike the above, a large frictional force is not generated by the pressing force to the button part 31, and even if the button part 31 is rotated during the pressing operation, the pressing operation of the button part 31 does not become heavy.

Further, since the button portion 31 is rotated by the motor 33, the rotation direction of the motor 33 can be switched from one of the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction to the other, and the rotation direction of the button portion 31 is limited to one direction. In addition, since the button unit 31 can be continuously rotated as many times as necessary, the limitation on the rotation direction and the rotation angle range of the button unit 31 can be released.
Then, since the operation of the motor 35 is started by the photo interrupter 46 that detects that the button part 31 has passed the above-mentioned intermediate position, there is a certain interval after the finger contacts the button part 31. The motor 35 starts operating, and the rotation of the button part 31 can be started with a certain time delay from the contact with the button part 31. It is possible to realize a time-delayed effect in which the rotation of 31 is started with a delay.

Further, since the unevenness that can be sensed by the player is formed on the pressing surface 31A of the button part 31, if the button part 31 is rotated, the player can confirm that the button part 31 is rotated by touch. Can be recognized. Therefore, even if the player concentrates on the game and does not watch the pressing surface 31A of the button part 31, the button part 31 can be notified that the bonus game has been won by rotating.
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, The deformation | transformation in the range which can achieve the objective of this invention, improvement, etc. are included.
For example, in the embodiment, the case portion 32 that supports the button portion 31 is rotationally driven by the motor 33. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the button portion 31 is supported by the motor 33, and the motor 33 is attached to the case. The portion 32 may be supported.

The passage detection sensor is not limited to a photo interrupter, but is a limit switch that detects the passage of the button unit by mechanical contact with the button unit, or an ultrasonic wave is emitted to the surroundings, and the reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave from the button unit. Sensors that use other detection formats such as an ultrasonic proximity sensor that detects the passage of the button part by receiving the signal may be employed. In short, the movement in which the button part is movable by a pressing operation What is necessary is just to be able to detect that the button part has passed through the middle position of the range.
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the passage detection signal from the photo interrupter 46 is directly input to the drive control device 34, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the passage detection signal from the photo interrupter 46 is sent to the sub-control board 2D. It may be inputted and inputted to the drive control device 34 via the sub control board 2D.

In the embodiment, the drive control device 34 receives the effect start signal and the effect end signal from the sub-control board 2D, but is not limited thereto, and receives the effect start signal and the effect end signal from the main control board 2A. You may do it.
Further, the gaming machine is not limited to a slot machine and may be a pachinko machine or a video game installed in a game arcade or a game center, and the present invention can be applied to all gaming machines having a push button type switch device. it can.

It is a front view showing the whole of a slot machine which is a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the inside of the slot machine according to the embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the pushbutton type switch apparatus which concerns on the said embodiment. It is sectional drawing in the IV-IV line of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the control system which concerns on the pushbutton type switch apparatus which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the button part rotation effect process to the said embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Slot machine as a gaming machine 7 Console as panel
30 Pushbutton switch device
31 Button
31A Press surface
32 Case part constituting the base
33 Motor as the operating device that forms the base
34 Drive control means as start-up control means
44 Photointerrupter as a passage detection sensor
35A Protrusions that form irregularities

Claims (3)

A push button type switch device provided on a panel surface facing a player of a gaming machine and provided with a button portion to be pressed by the player,
A base part that supports the button part so as to be movable along a pressing direction of the button part and rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the pressing direction of the button part;
An operating device for rotating the button unit;
A passage detection sensor for detecting that the button portion has passed through a middle position of a moving range in which the button portion is movable by a pressing operation;
When the passage detection sensor detects passage of the button unit, the push button type switch device includes an activation control unit that operates the operating device to rotate the button unit.   2. The push button type switch device according to claim 1, wherein unevenness that can be sensed by the player by touching is formed on a pressing surface of the button portion pressed by the player. A gaming machine in which a push button type switch device provided with a button portion to be pressed by a player is provided on a panel surface facing the player,
The push button type switch device includes a base portion that supports the button portion so as to be movable along a pressing direction of the button portion and rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the pressing direction of the button portion. When,
An operating device for rotating the button unit;
A passage detection sensor for detecting that the button portion has passed through a middle position of a moving range in which the button portion is movable by a pressing operation;
When the passage detection sensor detects passage of the button portion, the gaming machine is provided with activation control means for operating the operating device to rotate the button portion.

Images