JP2011167250A - Button operating mechanism and game machine with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent risk in which a drive part for making a button pressurizing part project and enter is damaged when the button pressurizing part is pressurized with large power and a motor for transmitting power to the drive part is stopped. <P>SOLUTION: The button operating mechanism 20 has the button pressurizing part 41 provided so as to be pressurized on the front surface side of the game machine, the button pressurizing part 41 is provided so as to be moved back and forth relative to a support body part disposed on the front end side in the pressurizing direction, and the support body part is moved in the direction of projecting and entering from the game machine by being energized by a drive part 50 driven by receiving power from a motor 58. The drive part 50 has a conversion mechanism for converting rotary movements received from the motor 58 to linear movements for moving the support body part in the projecting and entering direction to the game machine. When the button pressurizing part 41 is pressurized and the size of loads acting on the conversion mechanism through the support body part exceeds a predetermined value, the drive part 50 interrupts power transmission from the motor 58 to the conversion mechanism. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a button operation mechanism including a button pressing portion provided on the front side of a gaming machine so that the pressing operation can be performed, and a gaming machine including the same.

  Conventionally, there is a pachinko gaming machine which is a kind of gaming machine in which a symbol variation display device is provided in the center of the gaming board and a button pressing portion is provided in a lower tray of the gaming machine (see Patent Document 1). . The pachinko gaming machine described in Patent Document 1 is a symbol variation pattern displayed on the symbol variation display device when a button pressing portion that is operable to protrude upward when the symbol variation display device is in a reach state is pressed. Can be changed to increase the variety of games.

  The button pressing portion is provided so as to protrude upward and downward with respect to the case provided in the gaming machine, the button pressing portion protrudes upward from the case by the urging force of the spring, and the button pressing portion is provided in the case. When abutting against either the engaging means or the flange, the button pressing portion is maintained in a state protruding from the case.

  A flange projecting outward is annularly provided at the lower end of the button pressing portion, and an engaging means is disposed on the side of the button pressing portion provided with this flange. The engaging means has an engaging piece that is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat from the side of the button pressing portion, and when this engaging piece moves to the button pressing portion side, it is biased upward by a spring. The upward movement of the button pressing portion is restricted in a state where the flange of the button pressing portion comes into contact with the engagement piece and the button pressing portion protrudes from the case with a relatively short length.

  When the engagement piece in contact with the flange moves backward from the button pressing portion, the upward movement restriction of the button pressing portion is released, and the button pressing portion protrudes further upward by the biasing of the spring.

  At the upper end of the case, an overhanging portion that protrudes to the inside of the case is provided in an annular shape. When this overhanging part comes into contact with the flange of the button pressing part that moves upward by the bias of the spring, the button pressing part moves upward with the button pressing part protruding from the case with a relatively long length. regulate.

JP 2007-296090 A (see paragraph number 0014, FIG. 4 and FIG. 7)

  In such a conventional pachinko gaming machine, the button pressing portion is urged by the spring and the protruding length of the button pressing portion changes from a short state to a long state, but the protruding operation of this push button is not a sudden one. The protruding operation of the button pressing part does not impress the player. For this reason, there is a demand for a button operation mechanism that can tell a player with a stronger impact that the button pressing portion is in an operable state.

  Therefore, as a mechanism for projecting the button pressing part from the case, a cam groove is formed on the side surface of the rotating body that is rotatably supported, and an engagement pin that engages with the cam groove is provided in the button pressing part, and is rotated by the motor. When considering a mechanism with a drive part that moves the engagement pin along the cam groove while rotating the body and makes the button pressing part protrude from the case, the button pressing part protrudes stepwise by the spring and the driving part. By doing so, it is possible to convey to the player with a stronger impact that the button pressing portion is in an operable state.

  However, in this structure, when the motor is driven to rotate the rotating body and the button pressing portion is pressed with a large force, the driving portion such as the engaging pin that engages with the cam groove is damaged, and the motor is There arises a problem that there is a risk of stopping.

  The present invention responds to such a problem, and when the button pressing portion is pressed with a large force, the driving portion such as the engaging pin engaged with the cam groove may be damaged, and the motor may stop. It is an object of the present invention to provide a button operation mechanism without a break and a gaming machine including the same.

  In order to solve such a problem, the present invention is a button operation mechanism including a button pressing portion provided on the front side of a gaming machine so that the pressing operation can be performed, and the button pressing portion is disposed at the front end side in the pressing direction. The support main body portion is provided so as to be able to reciprocate with respect to the support main body portion, and the support main body portion is urged by a drive portion that is driven by driving power from the motor and moves in a direction protruding from the gaming machine. , Having a conversion mechanism that converts the rotational movement received from the motor into a linear movement that moves the support main body portion in the protruding and entering direction with respect to the gaming machine, and the drive portion presses the button pressing portion to When the magnitude of the load acting on the conversion mechanism exceeds a predetermined value, power transmission from the motor to the conversion mechanism is interrupted (claim 1).

  The button pressing unit may be anything that can be pressed by the player, and may be arranged vertically in the gaming machine or arranged horizontally. For example, when the player presses the button pressing part, the button pressing part moves to the front end side in the pressing direction, and when the pressing operation is released, the button pressing part returns to the original position. When moving.

  The driving unit is driven by receiving power from the motor to move the support main body in the protruding and entering direction, and the rotational movement received from the motor is moved in the protruding and entering direction with respect to the gaming machine. It has a conversion mechanism that converts to linear motion. Specifically, the conversion mechanism includes a rotating body that is rotatably supported by the gaming machine and rotates by receiving power from the motor, a cam groove provided on a side surface of the rotating body, and a tension protruding from the support main body. It is provided with an engaging pin that is provided at the exit and is inserted into the cam groove and moves along the cam groove along with the rotation of the rotating body to project the button pressing part through the support body part. The

  The drive unit cuts off power transmission from the motor to the conversion mechanism when the button pressing unit is pressed and the magnitude of the load acting on the conversion mechanism via the support main body exceeds a predetermined value. Specifically, the conversion mechanism receives power from the motor via the clutch mechanism, the clutch mechanism has a pair of opposed clutch members, and one clutch member can be separated from the other clutch member. The clutch member is supported and urged toward the other clutch member by the elastic means (compression coil spring 75 in the embodiment), and the pair of clutch members have teeth that mesh with each other, and the teeth that mesh with each other. One has an inclined surface that inclines toward the clutch member provided with the other tooth portion as it proceeds in the rotational direction of both clutch members, and the other tooth portion that meshes with each other proceeds in the direction opposite to the rotational direction of both clutch members. It has an inclined surface which inclines to the clutch member side provided with one tooth | gear part (Claim 2).

  When the button is pressed by a large force and the load is applied to the conversion mechanism when the motor is driven and the conversion mechanism is operating, the toothed portion of the other clutch member is applied to the inclined surface of the toothed portion of the one clutch member. When the direction component in the direction away from the other clutch member is larger than the urging force of the compression coil spring, the force component according to the load is received, and when one clutch member rotates, The one clutch member is separated from the other clutch member, and the coupled state of the pair of clutch members is released.

  Thus, the load acting on the conversion mechanism acts to bias one clutch member via the other clutch member. For this reason, the predetermined value is determined in consideration of the load acting on the conversion mechanism, the angle of the inclined surface provided in the tooth portion, the elastic coefficient of the elastic means for biasing the other clutch member, and the like.

  When the coupled state of the pair of clutch members is released, the other clutch member is in a free state, and the button operation unit is in a state of being pushed in by this pressing operation. On the other hand, the motor is also free and the rotation of the motor is maintained. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the possibility that the drive unit having the conversion mechanism that receives the load from the button operation unit is damaged or the motor is stepped out and stopped due to a large load acting on the motor.

  Such a button operation mechanism according to claim 1 or 2 is provided in a gaming machine (claim 3). The game machine may be a slot machine in addition to a ball game machine such as a pachinko game machine.

  According to the present invention, it has a drive part which receives power from a motor and projects a button pressing part through a support body part, and the drive part receives a rotational movement received from the motor, and uses the support body part as a gaming machine. On the other hand, the drive unit has a conversion mechanism that converts it into a linear motion that moves in the protruding direction, and the drive unit has a predetermined value when the button pressing unit is pressed and the load acting on the conversion mechanism via the support body unit If exceeded, the power transmission from the motor to the conversion mechanism is cut off, and when the load acting on the conversion mechanism exceeds a predetermined value, the drive unit side becomes free and the button pressing unit is pushed into the gaming machine It becomes a state. On the other hand, the motor is also free and the rotation of the motor is maintained. For this reason, there is provided a button operating mechanism capable of preventing the possibility of damaging the drive unit having the conversion mechanism and the possibility that the motor may step out due to a large load acting on the motor and the like. A gaming machine can be provided.

The perspective view of the back side of the button operation mechanism concerning one embodiment of the present invention is shown. 1 shows a gaming machine provided with a button operation mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1 (a) is a perspective view of the gaming machine and FIG. 1 (b) is a side view of the gaming machine. 1 shows a gaming machine provided with a button operation mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1 (a) is a perspective view of the gaming machine and FIG. 1 (b) is a side view of the gaming machine. The button operation mechanism concerning one embodiment of the present invention is shown, the figure (a) is a top view of a button operation mechanism, the figure (b) is the front view of a button operation mechanism, and the figure (c). Is a left side view of the button operation mechanism, and FIG. 4D is a rear view of the button operation mechanism. The disassembled perspective view of the button operation mechanism concerning one embodiment of this invention is shown. The button operation mechanism concerning this invention is shown, The figure (a) is a partial structure figure of a button operation mechanism, The figure (b) shows the expansion perspective view of a clutch mechanism. The button operation mechanism is shown. FIG. 4A is a front perspective view of the button operation mechanism, and FIG. 4B is a front side internal structure diagram of the button operation mechanism. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the button operation mechanism concerning one embodiment of this invention is shown. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the button operation mechanism concerning one embodiment of this invention is shown.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2A (perspective view) shows a configuration example of a button operation mechanism having a button pressing portion 41 provided in the tray unit 3 disposed at the lower part of the gaming machine 1. The gaming machine 1 will be described by taking a pachinko machine as an example, but the gaming machine 1 is not limited to a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine, and may be a slot machine.

  First, the entire gaming machine will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), a front glass 6 is provided on the upper side of the rectangular frame member 5 in front view, and a symbol display unit (not shown) is provided on the rear side of the front glass 6. A game board 7 provided with a plurality of winning openings and the like is provided. A tray unit 3 is disposed on the frame member 5 below the front glass 6, and an operation handle 8 is disposed on the frame member 5 below the right end of the tray unit 3. The operation handle 8 protrudes from the frame member 5 toward the player and is operated by the player when the game ball is fired.

  A button pressing portion 41 that protrudes in the vertical direction and receives an operation by the player is disposed at the end of the tray unit 3 on the player side. The operation of the button pressing unit 41 is effective while guidance for prompting the pressing operation of the button pressing unit 41 is displayed, for example, in the case of a specific reach effect during a game, and the button pressing unit 41 protrudes upward from the tray unit 3. It will be in the state which moved to (2nd protrusion position Pu2 mentioned later).

  The button operation mechanism 20 that protrudes and enters the button pressing portion 41 provided in the gaming machine 1 configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 1 (perspective view), the button operation mechanism 20 includes a frame portion 21 formed in a box shape, and a button disposed on the upper portion of the frame portion 21 so as to be capable of reciprocating in the vertical direction. A button operation unit 40 having a pressing unit 41 and a driving unit 50 disposed in the frame body unit 21 to project the button pressing unit 41 into the frame body unit 21 are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (d) and FIG. 5, the frame body portion 21 includes a rectangular top plate portion 22 and screws 25 at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the top plate portion 22. It has a pair of side-plate parts 23 and 24 attached through and extending below. The pair of side plate portions 23 and 24 are arranged in a rectangular shape so as to face each other, and the drive unit 50 is accommodated between the pair of side plate portions 23 and 24. The frame body portion 21 is formed in a box shape with both end portions in the width direction and end portions on the bottom surface side opened. A button pressing portion 41 is disposed on the top plate portion 22 of the frame body portion 21.

  A long hole 23 a extending in the vertical direction is provided in the central portion of the side plate portion 23. The long hole 23a is inserted through a pin 44 (see FIG. 7B) provided in an overhanging portion 43b of the support main body 43, which will be described later, through the support main body 43 in the vertical direction of the button pressing portion 41. Guide the reciprocal movement. A hole portion 23b is provided in the side plate portion 23 below the long hole 23a, and a shaft portion 52 of a rotating body 51 (see FIG. 7A) described later is inserted into the hole portion 23b. An insertion hole 23c for inserting the protruding portion 43b is provided in the front center portion of the top plate portion 22.

  The button operation unit 40 includes a button pressing unit 41, a support main body 43, and a compression coil spring 45 from above. The button pressing portion 41 is formed in a cap shape with an outer shape formed in a cylindrical shape, a hollow inside, and a lower portion opened. The button pressing portion 41 is removably inserted into the upper portion of the support main body 43 disposed on the front end side (downward) in the pressing direction.

  The support main body portion 43 is formed in a columnar shape, and includes an insertion shaft portion 43a into which the button pressing portion 41 is inserted and a protruding portion 43b extending downward from the lower end of the insertion shaft portion 43a. The insertion shaft portion 43a has an outer diameter that allows the button pressing portion 41 to be inserted in a reciprocating manner. When the compression coil spring 42 is inserted into the inner space of the button pressing portion 41 and the button pressing portion 41 is inserted into the insertion shaft portion 43a, the upper end of the compression coil spring 42 contacts the top inner surface of the button pressing portion 41. Then, the lower end portion comes into contact with the upper surface of the insertion shaft portion 43a. When the button pressing portion 41 is pressed downward in this state, the button pressing portion 41 moves downward against the bias of the compression coil spring 42, and when the pressing operation of the button pressing portion 41 is released, The compression coil spring 42 extends and the button pressing portion 41 returns to the original position.

  The overhang portion 43b is formed in a columnar shape and extends substantially coaxially with the central axis of the insertion shaft portion 43a. The overhang portion 43b is formed with a smaller diameter than the insertion shaft portion 43a. For this reason, an annular step 43c is formed between the lower end of the insertion shaft 43a and the upper end of the overhang 43b. The step 43c functions as a valve seat for a compression coil spring 45 described later.

  A pair of pins 44 (see FIG. 7B) projecting at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction are provided below the front side surface of the overhang portion 43b. These pins 44 move along a long hole 23 a provided in the side plate portion 23 and guide the vertical reciprocation of the button pressing portion 41 through the support main body portion 43. A retaining ring 44a is attached to the tip of the pin 44 to prevent the pin 44 from being removed from the long hole 23a.

  An engaging pin 46 (see FIG. 7B) projects from the lower side of the rear side surface of the overhang portion 43b. The engaging pin 46 engages with a cam groove 53 (see FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B), which will be described later, provided in the rotating body 51 of the driving unit 50, and the rotating body 51 is rotated. The button pressing portion 41 is reciprocated in the vertical direction via the support main body portion 43.

  The support main body 43 has the overhanging portion 43b inserted from above the insertion hole 23c provided in the top plate portion 22 with the compression coil spring 45 inserted into the overhanging portion 43b, and extends from the insertion hole 23c. A pin 44 and an engagement pin 46 are provided on the lower side of the protruding portion 43b. The compression coil spring 45 is disposed between the step portion 43c functioning as a spring seat and the top plate portion 22, and when the button pressing portion 41 is pressed downward, the compression coil spring 45 contracts and the button pressing portion. When the button 41 is energized against the downward movement of the button 41 and the pressing operation of the button pressing portion 41 is stopped, the compression coil spring 45 extends to move the button pressing portion 41 upward. The compression coil spring 45 is configured such that the length when returning to the natural state is shorter than the length in the vertical direction of the overhang portion 43b. For this reason, even if the compression coil spring 45 returns to a natural state, the overhang | projection part 43b exists in the state extended below from the insertion hole 23c. For this reason, the button pressing part 41 can be further moved upward via the support main body part 43 by the driving part 50 described later.

  The drive unit 50 is provided on the rotating body 51 rotatably supported between the pair of side plate portions 23 and 24, the engagement pin 46 provided on the overhanging portion 43b, and the side surface of the rotating body 51. A cam groove 53 that engages with the engaging pin 46 to guide the vertical movement of the button pressing portion 41, a motor 58 that rotates the rotating body 51, and power that transmits the power from the motor 58 to the rotating body 51. And a transmission mechanism 60. Hereinafter, the engaging pin 46, the rotating body 51, and the cam groove 53 are collectively referred to as a conversion mechanism 55 (see FIG. 7B).

  The rotating body 51 is formed in a disk shape, and the center of rotation is at an eccentric position, and the shaft portion 52 is inserted at the eccentric position. The rotating body 51 is rotatably supported with respect to the shaft portion 52, and the front side surface 51a (see FIG. 7B) of the rotating body 51 is engaged with the rotating body 51 supported by the shaft portion 52. It arrange | positions so that the pin 46 may be opposed. A driven gear 61 (see FIG. 6) that is a part of the power transmission mechanism 60 is provided integrally with the rotating body 51 on the side surface 51 b on the rear side of the rotating body 51. The driven gear 61 is disposed coaxially with the shaft portion 52. The shaft portion 52 passes through the rotating body 51 and the driven gear 61, the front end portion of the shaft portion 52 is supported by the front side plate 23, and the rear end portion is supported by the rear side plate 24.

  Above the driven gear 61, a drive gear 63 (see FIG. 6) that is rotatably connected to the support plate 27 that is connected to the back surface of the top plate portion 22 and projects downward is engaged with the driven gear 61. Has been. A clutch member 65 (see FIG. 6) constituting one side of the clutch mechanism is provided integrally with the drive gear 63 on the side surface of the drive gear 63 opposite to the rotating body 51. The drive gear 63 is a part of the power transmission mechanism 60 and extends in parallel with the shaft portion 52 of the driven gear 61 and is rotatably supported by the shaft portion 64 attached to the support plate 27.

  The clutch member 65 is formed in a columnar shape, and teeth 65b extending radially from the rotation center of the clutch member 65 are circumferentially provided at the peripheral edge of the tip thereof, as shown in FIG. 6B (partially enlarged view). Are provided continuously. The tooth portion 65b that meshes with the tooth portion 66b of the clutch member 66 has an inclined surface 65c that inclines toward the clutch member 66 as it proceeds in the direction opposite to the rotational direction (arrow A direction) of both the clutch members 65, 66. The part 65b is formed in a triangular shape in a side view. The clutch member 65 is engaged with the clutch member 66 on the other side facing the clutch member 65, and the power of the motor 58 is transmitted to the drive gear 63. The operation of the clutch member 65 relating to the shape of the tooth portion 65b will be described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D and FIG. 5, the clutch member 65 on one side (drive gear side) is attached to the side plate portion 24 in a state where the drive gear 63 is supported by the frame body portion 21. The teeth 65b of the clutch member 65 are located outside the side plate 24 by being inserted from the inside to the outside of the provided insertion hole 24a.

  The clutch member 66 on the other side (motor side) is provided via a shaft member 69 attached to a shaft portion 58 a of a motor 58 disposed outside the side plate 24. The clutch member 66 on the motor side has the same configuration as the clutch member 65 on the drive gear side, and tooth portions 66b (see FIG. 6B) extending radially are provided continuously at the front end portion in the circumferential direction. . The tooth portion 66b that meshes with the tooth portion 65b has an inclined surface 66c that inclines toward the clutch member 65 as the clutch members 65 and 66 move in the rotational direction (arrow A direction), and is formed in a triangular shape in a side view. Yes.

  The shaft member 69 includes a large-diameter portion 69a attached to the shaft portion 58a of the motor 58, and a small-diameter portion 69b that protrudes from the large-diameter portion 69a and has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter portion 69a (see FIG. 5). An insertion hole for inserting the shaft 58a of the motor 58 is provided on the end surface of the large diameter portion 69a opposite to the small diameter portion. The small-diameter portion 69 b is inserted into a hole 66 a provided in the center of the motor-side clutch member 66, and a retaining ring 70 is attached to the distal end portion of the small-diameter portion 69 b, so that the motor-side clutch member 66 is detached from the shaft member 69. It regulates being pulled out.

  The shaft 58 a of the motor 58 is fastened to the large diameter portion 69 a by a set screw 71 that is screwed into the large diameter portion 69 a while being inserted into the shaft member 69. An annular projecting portion 69c projecting outward is formed at the end of the large diameter portion 69a opposite to the small diameter portion 69b. This protrusion 69c functions as a spring seat of a compression coil spring 75 described later.

  A compression coil spring 75 is inserted in a compressed state between the motor-side clutch member 66 and the protruding portion 69 c of the shaft member 69. For this reason, the motor-side clutch member 66 is always urged toward the distal end side of the shaft member 69 by the compression coil spring 75.

  The motor 58 is a stepping motor, and further from a state in which the button pressing portion 41 protrudes upward with respect to the tray unit 3 (see FIG. 2A) by the compression coil spring 45 (see FIG. 8B-1). It drives when making it the state which makes it protrude upward (refer FIG. 8 (b-5)), or when making it the state (refer FIG. 8A) which makes the button press part 41 retreat to the tray unit side. In order to move the button pressing portion 41 to the position that protrudes upward most with respect to the receiving plate unit 3 (see the second protruding position Pu2 shown in FIG. 8B-5), the button pressing portion 41 is moved by the compression coil spring 45. The amount of rotation of the shaft portion 58a of the motor 58 when the button pressing portion 41 is moved to the second protruding position Pu2 is set with respect to the position of the shaft portion 58a of the motor 58 when protruded upward. When the amount is reached, the power supply to the motor 58 is stopped.

  Further, the button pressing portion 41 is retracted to the tray unit side from the second projecting position Pu2, and the upper surface of the button pressing portion 41 is positioned substantially on the same plane as the upper surface of the tray unit 3 (the retracted position shown in FIG. 8A). In order to move the button pressing portion 41 so that the button pressing portion 41 moves to the second projecting position Pu2, the button pressing portion 41 moves backward relative to the position of the shaft portion 58a of the motor 58 when the button pressing portion 41 moves to the second protruding position Pu2. A rotation amount of the shaft portion 58a of the motor 58 when moving to Pd is set, and power supply to the motor 58 is stopped when the set amount is reached.

  The motor 58 is attached to a holding member 77 provided on the side plate portion 24 on one side of the frame body portion 21. The holding member 77 is formed in a U shape in plan view, and includes a mounting plate portion 78 to which the motor 58 is attached and a pair of plate-like legs 79 extending from both sides of the mounting plate portion 78 to the side plate portion side. Become. The mounting plate 78 is provided with a plurality of holes 81 through which the shafts 58a of the motor 58 and the screws 80 for fastening the motor 58 are inserted, and the motor 58 is attached to the mounting plate by the screws 80 screwed into the holes 81. It is attached to the part 77. A flange portion 79 a projecting outward is formed at the distal end portion of the leg portion 79, and the flange portion 79 a is fastened to the side plate portion 24 by a screw 80 inserted through the flange portion 79 a, and the holding member 77 is attached to the side plate portion 24. It is attached.

  When the holding member 77 to which the motor 58 is attached in this way is attached to the side plate portion 24, the motor-side clutch member 66 attached to the motor side is urged by the compression coil spring 75 to the drive gear-side clutch member 65. Join in the state. For this reason, when the motor 58 is driven, the power of the motor 58 is transmitted to the drive gear 63 via the pair of clutch members 65, 66, and the rotating body 51 rotates via the driven gear 61.

  A cam groove 53 that engages with the engagement pin 46 is provided on a side surface 51 a of the rotating rotator 51. As shown in FIGS. 8 (b-1) and 9 (b-1), the cam groove 53 is compressed by extending substantially in the same direction as the moving direction of the button pressing portion 41 toward the protruding side when the rotating body 51 rotates. A spring projecting groove 53 a that moves the button pressing portion 41 to the projecting side via the support main body 43 by the bias of the coil spring 45, and a radial distance from the rotation center O of the rotating body 51 as the rotating body 51 rotates. Is extended for a while, and the cam projecting groove 53b continuously connected to the outer end of the spring projecting groove 53a in the radial direction of the rotating body, and the rotational center O of the rotating body 51 in the radial direction as the rotating body 51 rotates. And a cam entry groove 53c continuously connected to the end of the cam projection groove 53b.

  As shown in FIGS. 8A and 9A, the rotating body 51 having the cam groove 53 configured as described above has the upper surface of the button pressing portion 41 substantially flush with the upper surface of the tray unit 3. When the spring projecting groove 53a extends in substantially the same direction as the direction of movement of the button pressing portion 41 toward the projecting side, the rotation of the compression coil spring 45 increases. The button pressing portion 41 protrudes upward through the support main body portion 43b by the biasing (see FIGS. 8B-1 and 9B-1). The position of the button pressing portion 41 when the button pressing portion 41 protrudes upward by the bias of the compression coil spring 45 is referred to as a first protruding position Pu1.

  As shown in FIGS. 8A and 9A, when the engaging pin 46 moves to the connecting portion between the spring protruding groove 53a and the cam protruding groove 53c, the button pressing portion 41 moves to the retracted position Pd. Thus, the compression coil spring 45 is fully contracted. The compression coil spring 45 when the button pressing portion 41 moves to the retreat position Pd is not limited to the fully contracted state, but may be a slightly expanded state.

  As described above, when the spring projecting groove 53a extends in the substantially same direction as the moving direction of the button pressing portion 41 toward the projecting side as the rotating body 51 rotates in the direction of arrow A, the button is pressed by the bias of the compression coil spring 45. The part 41 protrudes upward and moves to the first protruding position Pu1 (see FIGS. 8B-1 and 9B-1). Here, as shown in FIG. 9 (b-1), when the engaging pin 46 moves to the upper end of the spring protruding groove 53a, the compression coil spring 45 returns to the natural state (natural length). For this reason, the movement of the button pressing part 41 stops in a state where the urging to the button pressing part 41 by the compression coil spring 45 is lost. The compression coil spring 45 when the engagement pin 46 moves to the upper end of the spring protruding groove 53a is not limited to the natural state, and may be slightly reduced.

  When the rotating body 51 further rotates in the arrow A direction with the engagement pin 46 moved to the upper end of the spring protruding groove 53a, as shown in FIGS. 8 (b-2 to 5) and 9 (b-5). The engaging pin 46 moves in the cam protruding groove 53b. As a result, the button pressing portion 41 further protrudes from the first protruding position Pu1 via the support main body portion 43, and when the engaging pin 46 moves to the connecting portion between the cam protruding groove portion 53b and the cam protruding groove portion 53c, the button pressing portion 41 is It moves to the 2nd protrusion position Pu2 most protruded from the saucer unit 3 (refer FIG. 8 (b-5) and FIG. 9 (b-5)). Thus, the button pressing part 41 protrudes stepwise with respect to the saucer unit 3 by the compression coil spring 45 and the drive part 50. For this reason, it can be told to a player with a stronger impact that the button operation part 40 is in the state which can be pressed.

  When the rotating body 51 further rotates in the direction of arrow A with the engaging pin 46 moved to the connecting portion between the cam protruding groove 53b and the cam protruding groove 53c, FIGS. 8 (c-1 to 3) and 9 (c-2). ), The engagement pin 46 moves in the cam entry groove 53c. As a result, the button pressing portion 41 moves in a direction to enter the tray unit 3, and the engagement pin 46 moves to the connection portion between the cam insertion groove 53c and the spring protrusion groove 53a (see FIG. 8A). As described above, the upper surface of the button pressing portion 41 moves to the retracted position Pd located on the substantially same plane as the upper surface of the tray unit 3.

  When the engagement pin 46 moves to the position shown in FIG. 9C-2 of the cam entry groove 53c, the upper end of the compression coil spring 45 in which the lower surface of the insertion shaft 43a of the button pressing part 41 has returned to its natural length. It will be in a state of touching. For this reason, when the rotating body 51 further rotates in the arrow A direction in this state and the compression coil spring 45 is compressed as the button pressing portion 41 moves in the entering direction, the engaging pin 46 enters the cam. The side surface of the groove 53c is urged to apply a load to the rotation of the rotating body 51.

  For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the braking torque corresponding to the load acts on the clutch member 66 on the motor side of the pair of clutch members 65 and 66 in the engaged state. . However, even if this braking torque acts on the clutch member 66 on the motor side, the clutch member 66 is urged to the clutch member 65 on the drive gear side by the compression coil spring 75 as described above. Is relatively small, the motor-side clutch member 66 is not separated from the drive gear-side clutch member 65, and the coupled state of the pair of clutch members 65, 66 is maintained. In other words, the compression coil spring 75 and the inclined surface that bias the clutch member 66 on the motor side maintain the pair of clutch members 65 and 66 in the connected state when the magnitude of the braking torque described above is relatively small. Designed to be

  However, when the motor 58 is driven and the button operating unit 40 is pressed with a large force while the rotating body 51 is rotating, a braking torque corresponding to the load acting on the rotating body 51 is applied to the clutch member 66 on the motor side. Thus, a force corresponding to the braking torque acts on the inclined surface 66c (see FIG. 6B) of the tooth portion 66b of the clutch member 66 on the motor side. If the direction component in the direction in which the motor-side clutch member 66 is separated from the drive gear-side clutch member 65 is greater than the urging force of the compression coil spring 75, the motor-side clutch member 66 rotates. Accordingly, the clutch member 65 is separated from the drive gear side. As a result, the coupled state of the pair of clutch members 65 and 66 is released.

  For this reason, the clutch member 65 on the drive gear side is in a free state, the rotating body 51 is rotated by the pressing operation of the button operation unit 40, and the button operation unit 40 is moved to the retreat position Pd retracted to the tray unit (see FIG. 9 (a)). On the other hand, the motor 58 is also free and the rotation of the motor 58 is maintained. For this reason, there is a possibility that the drive unit 50 having the conversion mechanism 55 such as the engagement pin 46 provided in the button operation unit 40 may be damaged, or a large load acts on the motor 40 and the motor 40 is stepped out and stopped. It is possible to prevent the risk of the failure.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 20 Button operation mechanism 41 Button press part 43 Support main-body part 50 Drive part 55 Conversion mechanism 58 Motor 65, 66 Clutch member 65b, 66b Tooth part 65c, 66c Inclined surface 75 Compression coil spring (elastic means)

Claims (3)

A button operation mechanism including a button pressing portion provided on the front side of the gaming machine so as to be pressed,
The button pressing part is provided so as to be reciprocally movable with respect to the support main body part arranged on the front end side in the pressing direction,
The support main body portion is energized by a drive unit that is driven by receiving power from a motor and moves in a direction to protrude from the gaming machine,
The drive unit has a conversion mechanism that converts a rotational motion received from the motor into a linear motion that moves the support main body in a protruding and entering direction with respect to the gaming machine,
The drive unit cuts off power transmission from the motor to the conversion mechanism when the button pressing unit is pressed and the load acting on the conversion mechanism exceeds the predetermined value via the support main body unit. A button operation mechanism characterized by: The conversion mechanism receives power from the motor via a clutch mechanism,
The clutch mechanism has a pair of opposing clutch members, and one clutch member is detachably supported with respect to the other clutch member, and is biased toward the other clutch member by an elastic means,
The pair of clutch members have teeth that engage both clutch members;
One of the meshing teeth has an inclined surface that inclines toward the clutch member provided with the other tooth as it advances in the rotational direction of the clutch members, and the other of the meshing teeth is the clutch members A button operating mechanism having an inclined surface that inclines toward the clutch member provided with one tooth portion as it advances in the direction opposite to the rotational direction of A gaming machine comprising the button operation mechanism according to claim 1 or 2.

Images