JP2016105942A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent fraudulent medals from being paid out by prohibiting impact due to static electricity from reaching an operation board, even if fraudulence is performed which generates static electricity in the outside of a stop switch or in a gap between the stop switch and a body case.SOLUTION: The game machine includes: an operation part 11 which is press-operated by a player; a body case 12 which movably stores this operation part 11; sensors 21, 22 which detect that the operation part 11 is press-operated; a luminous element 23 which irradiates the operation part 11 or the body case 12 with illumination light; a substrate 24 on which these projection element 21 and the like are installed; and a storage member 25 in which the projection element 21 and the like and the substrate 24 are stored. With the projection element 21 and the like and the substrate 24 stored in the storage member 25, there are structured as one unit the projection element 21, light receiving element 22, luminous element 23, substrate 24, and the storage member 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation switch device that receives an operation by a player and outputs a predetermined signal, and a gaming machine including the operation switch device, and in particular, an operation button operated by the player and the operation button are accommodated. The present invention relates to an operation switch device and a gaming machine that prevent fraudulent acts such as illegally sending static electricity into a gap between the main body case and the ball.

A gaming machine normally includes an operation switch device that receives an operation by a player and outputs a predetermined signal.
Specifically, for example, if it is a pachinko machine, a launch switch (handle) for launching a game ball onto the game board, and if it is a slot machine, a bet switch (bet button) for placing a credit medal into the game, There are a start switch (start lever) for starting the rotation of the reel, a stop switch device (stop button) for stopping the rotation of the reel, and the like.
These operation switch devices are movable so as to be able to accept an operation by the player, and the operation by the reception is detected by a predetermined detection means, whereby the operation by the player is converted into an electrical signal and output. .

Of these operation switch devices, the stop switch device generally has the following configuration.
The stop switch device is arranged in the middle of the front door of the slot machine, and a plurality of stop buttons provided corresponding to each of the plurality of reels and the plurality of stop buttons can be moved in the pressing direction. And a sensor for detecting a change in the light shielding piece formed at the end of the stop button, and an operation board on which the sensor is mounted is disposed in the main body case. .
The sensor is surrounded by a substantially concave housing member when viewed from the front with a light projecting element that emits predetermined light as detection light and a light receiving element that receives the detection light facing each other. When the light blocking piece of the stop button enters the letter-shaped groove space and blocks the optical axis of the detection light, it is possible to detect that the stop button has been pressed.
Further, the stop switch device is provided with a light emitting element such as an LED that emits visible light inside the main body case. By turning on the light emitting element at a predetermined timing, the front side of the front door of the slot machine is provided. The operation surface of the stop button exposed to the light is illuminated from the back, and the operation surface is caused to emit light.

Conventionally, improved techniques have been proposed for the operation switch device having such a structure.
For example, by connecting the back of the standing portion on the right side of the front view of the concave housing member that constitutes the sensor, the back surface of the standing portion on the left side of the front view, and the lower portion of the housing member that houses the light emitting element. There has been proposed a stop switch device in which the rigidity of the housing member is improved (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
If the stop switch device has such a structure, even when the stop button is strongly pressed, damage to the light projecting element, the light receiving element, and the light emitting element housed in the housing member with improved rigidity can be prevented.

JP 2005-118403 A

However, the stop switch device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it cannot prevent an illegal act described below.
For example, a small appliance that can generate static electricity, specifically an electronic lighter or the like is directed toward the stop button to generate static electricity and apply voltage to stop it. A large discharge current is caused to flow through the operation board arranged inside the switch device, and further, a discharge current is caused to flow through the harness connected to the operation board to the main control board and the sub control board to cause malfunctions of these main control boards, etc. There is an illegal act that induces and illegally pays out a medal as a game medium. Here, the malfunction of the main control board or the like may be, for example, that the control program is operated on the assumption that the present game state is higher than usual even though the present game state is not a game state in which the yield rate varies. In some cases, the credit card is not full, but it is misunderstood as being full. It was a big problem.

  In addition, the fraudulent acts targeting the stop switch device include, for example, those using lead wires in addition to the fraudulent acts using the electronic lighter described above. Specifically, when a foreign object such as a lead wire is inserted into the gap between the stop button and the main body case and the tip reaches the vicinity of the operation board, static electricity is generated and a large discharge current is generated in the device circuit on the operation board. In addition, the main control board or the sub-control board is erroneously operated to illegally pay out medals. Even when this fraudulent act is executed, the medal is illegally paid out, which leads to a loss of the game hall.

  Furthermore, if an electric shock such as static electricity or voltage is applied using such an electronic lighter or lead wire, a large discharge current flows in the device circuit of the operation board, which may destroy the operation board itself. .

Moreover, in the stop switch device described in Patent Document 1, as described above, the light projecting element, the light receiving element, and the light emitting element are housed in the housing member, and the operation board on which these light projecting elements and the like are mounted. Is located outside the housing member, and the operation board is in communication with the outside of the slot machine through a gap between the stop button and the main body case. For this reason, it is possible to access the operation board from the outside, generate the static electricity by performing the above-mentioned fraudulent acts, and let the discharge current flow from the operation board to the main control board to illegally pay out medals. Was possible. That is, in the stop switch device described in Patent Document 1, the above-mentioned fraudulent act cannot be prevented.
Further, in the stop switch device described in Patent Document 1, since the upper surface portion of the housing member in which the light projecting element or the like is accommodated is opened, the large amount of light is generated in the light projecting element or the like through the opening due to the generated static electricity. There is a possibility that a current flows, and a large current flows through the operation board, causing the operation board to be destroyed.

  The present invention is considered in view of the above circumstances, and even when an improper act of generating static electricity is performed outside the stop button or in the gap between the stop button and the main body case, the impact caused by the static electricity is applied to the operation board. An operation switch device and a gaming machine that prevent an illegal medal from being discharged and prevent a situation in which a discharge current flows through the operation board due to an impact caused by static electricity and the operation board is destroyed The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve this object, the operation switch device of the present invention includes an operation unit that is pressed by a player, a main body case that movably accommodates the operation unit, and a light-shielding piece of the operation unit that presses the operation unit. A sensor that detects that the operation unit has been pressed by moving along with the operation and blocking a path through which the detection light propagates between the light projecting element and the light receiving element disposed opposite to each other; Or an operation switch device comprising a light emitting element for irradiating illumination light to a main body case, a light projecting element, a light receiving element, and a substrate on which the light emitting element is mounted, the light projecting element, the light receiving element, the light emitting element, and the substrate The storage member includes a hollow base for storing the substrate, a first storage for storing the light projecting element, a second storage for storing the light receiving element, and light emission. And a third storage section for storing the element. The first storage unit, the second storage unit, and the third storage unit are arranged so that the path through which the detection light propagates from the element to the light receiving element and the path through which the illumination light emitted from the light emitting element illuminates the operation unit or the main body case do not interfere. Is disposed on the upper surface of the base, and a substrate on which the light projecting element, the light receiving element, and the light emitting element are mounted is inserted from an opening formed in the base of the housing member, and the light projecting element is inserted into the first housing section. By accommodating the light receiving element in the housing part, the light emitting element in the third housing part, and the substrate in the base part, the light projecting element, the light receiving element, the light emitting element, the substrate, and the housing member are configured as one unit. It is as a configuration.

  The gaming machine of the present invention is a gaming machine that executes a predetermined game, and includes an operation switch device that is operated as the game progresses. The operation switch device includes the above-described operation switch device. is there.

According to the operation switch device and the gaming machine of the present invention, since the board is housed in the housing member, an impact caused by static electricity generated outside the stop button or in the gap between the stop button and the main body case reaches the operation board. Can be prevented. As a result, fraudulent acts such as illegally paying out medals can be prevented.
Further, since the structure is configured such that the impact caused by the static electricity does not reach the operation board, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a discharge current flows through the operation board and is destroyed.

It is a front view showing the appearance of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the stop switch apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of a control unit. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of a control unit. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view (AA sectional view) showing the configuration of the control unit shown in FIG. 4. It is a figure which shows the structure of a stop switch apparatus, Comprising: (i) is a front view, (ii) is a horizontal direction cross-sectional view (BB cross-sectional view of (i)), (iii) is a vertical direction cross-section It is a figure (C-C arrow sectional drawing of (i)). It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the other structure of a control unit. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the other structure of a stop switch apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of a MAX bet button.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a gaming machine and an operation switch device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Game machine]
There are various types of gaming machines including an operation switch device operated by a player, such as slot machines, pachinko machines, and parrots. In this embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a slot machine will be described.

The slot machine 1 of the present embodiment is configured as a revolving game machine that can acquire medals as game media by rotating a plurality of reels, and as an operation switch device operated by a player, the reel rotation A stop switch device is provided, and a light projecting element, a light receiving element, a light emitting element, and a substrate built in the stop switch device are housed in one case and unitized.
Hereinafter, the slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in these drawings, the slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of reels 41a, 41b, and 41c that are pivotally supported, and a housing 1b having an open front side, and a housing 1b. It consists of a front door 1a that covers the front side so that it can be opened and closed. Inside, the main controller 8 is composed of a microcomputer and the like, and the lamps such as the speaker 7 and LEDs are controlled by commands from the main controller 8. The sub-control unit 9 and necessary machines and devices are accommodated.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the front door 1a is a door body that is attached to the casing 1b of the slot machine 1 through a hinge or the like so that it can be opened and closed. The front door 1a is provided with a plurality of operation means related to game operations. Thus, the front portion of the slot machine 1 is configured.

As operation means, a medal slot 2 for inserting medals, a bet button 2a for throwing medals stored as credits in the apparatus into the game, and a start lever 3 for starting rotation of each reel 41a, 41b, 41c, A stop switch device 10-1 provided with three stop buttons 11a, 11b, 11c for stopping the rotating reels 41a, 41b, 41c is provided.
The bet button 2a includes a 1-bet button 21a for placing one medal per operation and a MAX bet button 30 for multiplying the maximum number of medals that can be placed on a single game by a single operation. .
Further, the front door 1a is provided with a display window 5 on the upper side of each operation means so that the symbols displayed on the reels 41a, 41b, 41c can be visually recognized. In addition, a speaker 7 that outputs sound effects, sounds, and the like is provided on the upper portion of the front door 1a.

In the center of the housing 1b, a drum unit 4 including reels 41a, 41b, and 41c, a motor (not shown) that rotates each of the reels 41a, 41b, and 41c, a sensor that detects a rotation position, and the like is provided.
In addition, a medal payout device 6 for storing and paying out medals is provided at the lower part of the housing 1b. The medal payout device 6 is provided with a hopper 6a for storing medals, and medals inserted from the medal slot 2 are detected by the medal selector 2b and guided to the hopper 6a.

  The main control unit 8 includes a main board on which a control chip in which a main CPU, a main ROM, a main RAM, and the like are integrated, a board case that accommodates the main board, and the like. By controlling each device such as the drum unit 4 and the medal payout device 6 based on the signal from the medal selector 2b, the slot machine game having the following contents is advanced.

Specifically, when a player inserts a medal from the medal insertion slot 2, the medal is detected by the medal selector 2 b and a detection signal is input to the main control unit 8. Further, when the bet button 2 a is operated, the operation signal is input to the main control unit 8. The main control unit 8 monitors the number of medals that can be played from the presence / absence of these signals and the operation of the start lever 3.
When the start lever 3 is operated when the number of tokens that can be played is reached, the main control unit 8 controls the drum unit 4 to rotate and rotate the reels 41a, 41b, and 41c.

  Furthermore, when the start lever 3 is operated, the main control unit 8 performs an internal lottery to draw a winning target of the current game from among a plurality of lottery targets of a bonus role, a small role, a replaying role, and a loser, Based on the timing at which the stop buttons 11a, 11b, and 11c are pressed, stop control of the rotating reels 41a, 41b, and 41c is performed so as to stop at a combination of symbols according to the lottery result.

  Further, the main control unit 8 determines a combination of symbols that are stopped and displayed on the reels 41a, 41b, and 41c, and controls to pay out a predetermined number of medals to the medal payout device 6 when the combination is a predetermined symbol. And the medals are paid out from the medal payout exit 6b.

In the gaming machine having the above-described configuration, as described above, the stop switch device 10-1 for stopping the rotation of the reels 41a, 41b, 41c is provided in the middle of the front surface of the front door 1a as an operation means. ing.
The stop switch device 10-1 is provided with a stop button 11 that is pressed by the player (see FIG. 4). When the stop button 11 is pressed, this operation is detected by the main control unit 8. Then, control for stopping the rotation of the reels 41a, 41b, and 41c is performed.

In the stop switch device 10-1, a sensor for detecting that the stop buttons 11a, 11b, and 11c are operated is provided in front of the direction in which the stop buttons 11a, 11b, and 11c are pressed. When an illegal act that generates static electricity is performed in the vicinity of the stop buttons 11a, 11b, and 11c, a large current flows through the board 24 on which the sensor is mounted. There has been a situation in which a discharge current is caused to flow through the control board to cause a malfunction and illegally pay out medals.
The stop switch device 10-1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a light projecting element 21, a light receiving element 22, a light emitting element 23, and a substrate 24 in order to prevent a situation in which a medal is illegally paid out due to the fraud. The unit case 25 is configured as a unit.
The stop switch device 10-1 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[Stop switch device]
As shown in these drawings, the stop switch device 10-1 includes a plurality of stop buttons 11 (11 a, 11 b, 11 c) as operation units pressed by the player, and these stop buttons 11 (11 a, 11 b, 11c) is an operation unit for a stop button provided with a main body case 12 movably accommodated in the pressing direction, and further, as shown in FIG. 4, a base 13, a control unit 20a (20a1, 20a2, 20a3) And so on. In addition, about the thing provided with two or more components which have the same structure like the stop button 11 (11a, 11b, 11c), it attaches | subjects a different identifier (a, b, c) to each, and is a separate structure While clearly indicating that it is a component, and when explaining functions and structures common to these separate components, the identifier is omitted as appropriate.

  The stop button 11 is a movable part that can accept a pressing operation, and includes an operation receiving part 112 having an operation surface 111 that can accept the pressing operation, and a shaft that is formed to protrude rearward from the back surface of the operation receiving part 112. And is attached to the body case 12 while being biased in a direction opposite to the operation direction by a spring 114 inserted into the shaft portion 113.

  The control unit 20a is a set unit of electronic components that performs a function of detecting that the stop button 11 is pressed and a function of illuminating the operation surface 111 of the stop button 11, and is a predetermined unit such as an infrared ray. A light projecting element 21 such as an infrared LED that emits light having a wavelength as detection light, a light receiving element 22 such as a phototransistor that receives the detection light, and a light emitting element 23 (23a, 23b, etc.) that emits visible light. 23c), a substrate 24 on which the light projecting element 21, the light receiving element 22, and the light emitting element 23 are mounted, and a housing member in which the light projecting element 21, the light receiving element 22, the light emitting element 23, and the substrate 24 are accommodated. The unit case 25 has a lid portion 26 that closes the bottom opening 251 of the unit case 25.

The unit case 25 has a hollow thick plate-like base portion 252 having an opening 251 on the bottom surface, and a rectangular and cylindrical rectangular tubular portion 254 (254a, 254b) which is erected from the upper surface 253 of the base portion 252 and has an upper surface. And a cylindrical cylindrical portion 255 (255a, 255b, 255c) having an upper surface 256 and standing from the upper surface 253 of the base portion 252.
Two rectangular cylindrical portions 254 are erected from the upper surface 253 of the base portion 252, and one rectangular cylindrical portion 254 a is formed as a first storage portion in which the light projecting element 21 is stored. One rectangular cylindrical portion 254b is formed as a second storage portion in which the light receiving element 22 is stored. The cylindrical hollow portions of the rectangular tubular portions 254 a and 254 b communicate with the hollow of the base portion 252.
A plurality (three in FIG. 5) of the cylindrical portion 255 is erected from the upper surface 253 of the base portion 252 and is formed as a third storage portion that stores the light emitting element 23. In addition, each cylindrical hollow portion of the plurality of cylindrical portions 255 communicates with the hollow portion of the base portion 252.

In the unit case 25 having such a shape, the light projecting element 21, the light receiving element 22, the light emitting element 23, and the substrate 24 are accommodated in the following manner.
The unit case 25 and the substrate 24 are arranged so that the mounting surface 241 of the substrate 24 on which the light projecting element 21, the light receiving element 22, and the light emitting element 23 are mounted faces the bottom opening 251 of the unit case 25. Then, the substrate 24 is inserted into the bottom opening 251. In this insertion, the light projecting element 21 mounted on the substrate 24 is accommodated in one rectangular cylindrical part 254a, the light receiving element 22 is accommodated in the other rectangular cylindrical part 254b, and the plurality of light emitting elements 23 are accommodated. Is stored in each of the plurality of cylindrical portions 255, and the substrate 24 is stored in the base portion 252. Then, after the storage is completed, the lid portion 26 is fitted into the bottom opening 251 of the unit case 25 to close the opening 251. Thereby, the light projecting element 21, the light receiving element 22, the light emitting element 23, and the substrate 24 are accommodated in the unit case 25, and the light projecting element 21 and the like are completely covered by the unit case 25 and the lid portion 26. These are configured as one unit.

The unitized control unit 20 a is attached to the back surface 132 of the base 13 fitted in the back opening of the main body case 12.
The base 13 is a plate-like member formed in substantially the same shape as the back opening of the main body case 12 and is fitted into the back opening. Further, one or more screw insertion holes 131 formed in a circular shape are formed at predetermined positions of the base 13, and the screws 14 are inserted into the screw insertion holes 131, and the female screws (see FIG. The base 13 is screwed into a position where the back opening of the main body case 12 is closed.
Further, the same number of mounting recesses 133 as the outer peripheral shape of the upper surface 253 of the base portion 252 of the control unit 20a are formed on the back surface 132 of the base 13 in the same number as the control unit 20a. An insertion hole 134 for inserting the rectangular cylindrical portion 254 and the cylindrical portion 255 of the control unit 20a is formed in the concave bottom portion of the mounting recess 133. The rectangular cylindrical portion 254 or the cylindrical portion 255 is inserted into each of the plurality of insertion holes 134, and the base portion 252 of the control unit 20 a is fitted into the mounting recess 133, and the screw insertion hole 257 formed in the base portion 252 is inserted into the screw insertion hole 257 formed in the base portion 252. The control unit 20 a can be fixed to the mounting recess 133 by inserting the screw 15 and screwing it into the female screw portion 135 of the mounting recess 133.

In this way, the control unit 20a fixed to the back surface 132 of the base 13 effectively prevents illegal acts targeting the stop switch device 10-1 by having the above-described configuration.
For example, the substrate 24 on which the light projecting elements 21 and the like are mounted is housed in one unit case 25 together with the light projecting elements 21 and the like. The control unit 20 a is attached to the back surface 132 of the base 13. Therefore, the base 13 and the unit case 25 are interposed between the gap between the main body case 12 and the stop button 11 and the substrate 24, and the gap and the substrate 24 are not communicated with each other. ing. That is, the substrate 24 is inaccessible from the gap between the main body case 12 and the stop button 11. Therefore, when an illegal act of generating static electricity is performed outside the operation surface 111 or in the gap between the main body case 12 and the stop button 11 using an electronic lighter or the like, the static electricity is shielded by the base 13 or the unit case 25. Thus, the substrate 24 cannot be reached. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a discharge current flows due to the impact of the static electricity and the substrate 24 is destroyed. In addition, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a discharge current flows from the board 24 to the main control board and medals are illegally paid out.

Further, even when an illegal act is performed using the lead wire, the tip of the lead wire inserted from the gap between the main body case 12 and the stop button 11 is the base 13 or the unit case 25 (in the case of the unit case 25, it is rectangular). Either the cylindrical portion 254 or the cylindrical portion 255) is surely brought into contact with and cannot reach the substrate 24. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the substrate 24 from being damaged due to the influence of static electricity generated from the tip of the lead wire. In addition, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a discharge current flows from the board 24 to the main control board and medals are illegally paid out.
Furthermore, the control unit 20a is attached to the farthest position in the stop switch device 10-1 when viewed from the back surface 132 of the base 13, that is, the operation surface 111 of the stop button 11. Moreover, the base 252 of the unit case 25 in which the substrate 24 is accommodated is located outside the base 13. For this reason, for example, the structure is such that static electricity sent from the outside of the operation surface 111 using an electronic lighter hardly reaches the substrate 24.

In the control unit 20a, the light projecting element 21, the light receiving element 22, and the light emitting element 23 operate as follows.
When the detection light emitted from the light projecting element 21 accommodated in one rectangular tubular portion 254a is received by the light receiving element 22 accommodated in the other rectangular tubular portion 254b, the light receiving element 22 is A detection signal indicating that the detection light is received is output to the main control unit 8. The main control unit 8 determines that the stop button 11 is not operated based on the input detection signal.
Further, the light shielding piece 115 enters between the one rectangular cylindrical portion 254a in which the light projecting element 21 is accommodated and the other rectangular cylindrical portion 254b in which the light receiving element 22 is accommodated. When the propagation path (optical axis) of the emitted detection light is shielded, the light receiving element 22 stops receiving the detection light, and the light receiving element 22 mainly controls a detection signal indicating that the detection light is not received. To the unit 8. The main control unit 8 determines that the stop button 11 has been operated based on the input detection signal. (Or, the detection signal is not output from the light receiving element 22 that does not receive the detection light, and the main control unit 8 has operated the stop button 11 when the detection signal is not sent from the light receiving element 22. Judged.)
Furthermore, the illumination light radiated from the light emitting element 23 accommodated in the cylindrical portion 255 is emitted outward from the upper portion including the upper surface 256 of the cylindrical portion 255, and the operation surface 111 of the stop button 11 and the main body case 12 are passed through the upper surface 256. Illuminate from the back. In particular, the illumination light from the light emitting element 23 illuminates the edge 116 of the operation surface 111 of the stop button 11 positioned in front of the cylindrical portion 255 in the standing direction from the back thereof.

Here, as described above, the two rectangular cylindrical portions 254a, 254b and the three cylindrical portions 255a, 255b, 255c are all erected on the upper surface 253 of the base portion 252, but they are separated from each other. The three cylindrical portions 255a, 255b, and 255c are not arranged between the two rectangular cylindrical portions 254a and 254b, and the two rectangular cylindrical portions 254a and 254b are not arranged. It is arranged at a position that surrounds. Further, the height of the cylindrical portion 255 in the standing direction is higher than the height of the rectangular cylindrical portion 254 in the standing direction. For this reason, the detection light emitted from the light projecting element 21 accommodated in one rectangular cylindrical portion 254a is not shielded by the cylindrical portion 255 and is accommodated in the other rectangular cylindrical portion 254b. The light receiving element 22 can be reached. Further, the illumination light emitted from the light emitting element 23 accommodated in the cylindrical portion 255 can reach the edge portion 116 of the operation surface 111 of the stop button 11 without being blocked by the rectangular cylindrical portion 254.
As described above, the two rectangular cylindrical portions 254a and 254b and the three cylindrical portions 255a, 255b and 255c are provided with the detection light emitted from the light projecting element 21 toward the light receiving element 22 and the illumination emitted from the light emitting element 23. It is formed in a shape that does not interfere with light.

The unit case 25 in which the light projecting elements 21 and the like are housed is made of a material that transmits infrared light, and can transmit detection light that is infrared light emitted from the light projecting element 21. For this reason, openings (slits) are not formed on the opposing surfaces of the two rectangular cylindrical portions 254a and 254b on the path through which the detection light emitted from the light projecting element 21 propagates. Thereby, static electricity can be prevented from entering through the opening. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a large current flows through the light projecting element 21 and the light receiving element 22 to the substrate 24 due to the generation of static electricity and the substrate 24 is destroyed. In addition, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a discharge current flows from the board 24 to the main control board and medals are illegally paid out.
In addition, since no opening is formed in the unit case 25 as described above, the unit case 25 can be configured as a dust-proof type control unit 20a that can prevent dust and dust from entering the inside of the unit case 25.
The unit case 25 is formed of a material that transmits infrared light and also transmits visible light (or a transparent or translucent material). For this reason, the unit case 25 also transmits the illumination light emitted from the light emitting element 23. Therefore, the light emitted from the light emitting element 23 can pass through the unit case 25 and illuminate the edge 116 of the operation surface 111 of the stop button 11 from the back surface.

As described above, the unit case 25 houses the substrate 24 on which the light projecting element 21, the light receiving element 22, and the plurality of light emitting elements 23 (23a, 23b, 23c) are mounted.
Here, when the mounting surface 241 of the substrate 24 is viewed from above in the orthogonal direction, a plurality of light emitting elements 23 are arranged on a circumference centering on an intermediate point between the light projecting element 21 and the light receiving element 22 arranged to face each other. Has been placed. Specifically, in the case shown in FIG. 5, two light emitting elements 23 are arranged above the propagation path (optical axis) of the light emitted from the light projecting element 21 and one is arranged below.
Further, the distance between the intermediate point between the light projecting element 21 and the light receiving element 22 and each light emitting element 23 (the radius of the circumference around the intermediate point) is the same as the radius of the operation surface 111 of the stop button 11. Or approximate.
Further, in a state where the unit case 25 in which the light emitting element 23, the substrate 24, and the like are accommodated is fixed to the back surface 132 of the base 13, the rectangular cylindrical portion 254 and the cylindrical portion 255 of the unit case 25 are respectively the front 136 of the base 13. The edge 116 of the operation surface 111 of the stop button 11 is located in front of the cylindrical portion 255 in the extending direction.

With such a configuration, the light emitted from the light emitting element 23 propagates forward in the extending direction of the cylindrical portion 255, and the operation button 111 formed in a tapered shape on the stop button 11 made of a predetermined metal. The edge 116 can be illuminated from behind, and the edge 116 can be illuminated brightly.
In addition, since the plurality of light emitting elements 23 are arranged around the light projecting element 21 and the light receiving element 22 on the mounting surface 241 of the substrate 24, the control unit 20a can be downsized.

The lid 26 that closes the bottom opening 251 of the unit case 25 has a rectangular opening 261 formed at the center thereof, and the back surface 242 of the substrate 24 (the mounting surface on which the light projecting element 21 and the like are erected). The connector 27 disposed on the surface opposite to the surface 241 can be inserted.
The connector 27 is attached to the back surface 242 of the substrate 24, and is connected to each of the light projecting element 21, the light receiving element 22, and the light emitting element 23 via the substrate 24, and allows current to flow through the light projecting element 21. A wiring, a wiring for passing a detection signal output from the light receiving element 22, and a wiring for causing a light to flow through the light emitting element 23 to be emitted are connected from the outside.

Moreover, in the stop switch apparatus 10-1 shown in FIGS. 4-8, although each upper surface 256 of the some cylindrical part 255 in the unit case 25 of the control unit 20a is formed in the shape which obstruct | occluded, a cylindrical part 255 is not limited to this shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, an opening is formed in the upper surface 256 of the cylindrical portion 255, and a material that transmits visible light therethrough, or a transparent or translucent material It is possible to cover the cap 28 formed by the above.
Thereby, the light quantity of the irradiation light which reaches | attains the edge part 116 of the operation surface 111 of the stop button 11 among the irradiation light radiated | emitted from the light emitting element 23 can be increased, and the edge part 116 can be illuminated brighter. it can.
In addition, in this case, the light emitted from the light emitting element 23 only needs to pass through the cap 28 and does not need to pass through the unit case 25. Therefore, as a material for forming the unit case 25, A material that transmits only infrared light and does not transmit visible light can be used.

Moreover, in the stop switch apparatus 10-1 shown to FIGS. 4-9, although it is set as the structure which provided the light emitting element 23 and the cylindrical part 255 which each accommodates this 3 each, it is not restricted to 3 each. , One by one or plural. As a specific example, in the case shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 20b (20b1, 20b2, 20b3) in the stop switch device 10-2 is provided with only one cylindrical portion 255, and the substrate 24 (not shown in FIG. 10). 1), only one light emitting element 23 is mounted. Further, a light projecting element 21, a light receiving element 22, a light emitting element 23, and a substrate 24 (not shown in FIG. 10) are housed in one unit case 25, and these are configured as one unit. And this control unit 20b is attached to the back surface 132 of the base 13, and becomes a structure where the rectangular cylindrical part 254 and the cylindrical part 255 are exposed inside the main body case 12, respectively.
As described above, in the configuration shown in FIG. 10, similarly to the configurations shown in FIGS. 4 to 9, an illegal act of generating static electricity is performed outside the stop button 11 or in the gap between the stop button 11 and the main body case 12. Even if it is broken, since this static electricity cannot reach the substrate 24 stored in the unit case 25, it is possible to prevent a situation in which medals are paid out illegally or the substrate 24 is destroyed.

  Further, in the stop switch devices 10-1 and 10-2 shown in FIGS. 4 to 10, three stop buttons 11 are provided, and accordingly, three control units 20a and 20b are also provided. It has become. That is, the three stop buttons 11 are individually accommodated in the main body case 12, and the three control units 20 a and 20 b can be individually attached to and detached from the base 13 fitted in the rear opening of the main body case 12. Is attached. For this reason, even when one stop button 11 or the control units 20a and 20b fails for some reason, the failed stop button 11 or the control units 20a and 20b may be replaced, and the other stop button 11 or control unit 20a. 20b can be used as they are without replacement. Therefore, the replacement cost can be minimized.

Such an effect is remarkably effective in comparison with the conventional stop switch device. Some conventional stop switch devices have sensors and light emitting elements 23 corresponding to the three stop buttons 11 arranged on a single substrate. In this case, if one of the stop buttons 11 breaks down, the board connected to the stop button 11 must be replaced, and eventually the entire stop switch device has to be replaced.
On the other hand, the stop switch devices 10-1 and 10-2 according to the present embodiment, as described above, have the three stop buttons 11 and the three control units 20a and 20b that are independent of each other. The stop button 11 or the control units 20a, 20b may be replaced, and the entire stop switch devices 10-1, 10-2 need not be replaced. Therefore, the replacement cost can be minimized, and the stop switch device 10 can be used continuously.

4 to 10 show examples in which the control units 20a and 20b are provided in the stop switch devices 10-1 and 10-2. However, the operation switch device in which the control unit 20 can be incorporated is a stop switch device. For example, the MAX bet button 30 can be the target.
A configuration in which the control unit 20c is provided in the MAX bet button 30 is shown in FIG. In the MAX bet button 30 shown in FIG. 11, a diffusion plate 32 for diffusing illumination light from the light emitting element 23 is fitted inside a cap-shaped operation member 31 that is directly operated by a player. The member 31 is attached to the upper surface of the opening of the substantially cylindrical bottomed movable member 33, and the movable member 33 is inserted from the upper surface opening of the cylindrical main body case 34. Further, a control unit 20c in which a light projecting element 21, a light receiving element 22, a light emitting element 23, and a substrate 24 (not shown in FIG. 11) are housed is attached to the bottom surface portion of a cylindrical support member 35. It fits from the bottom opening.

In this configuration, when the operation member 31 is pressed, the movable member 33 moves in the operation direction inside the main body case 34, and the light-shielding piece 36 formed on the bottom surface of the movable member 33 is in the control unit 20c. The propagation path of the detection light from the light projecting element 21 to the light receiving element 22 is blocked, and a detection signal indicating that the light is blocked is output from the light receiving element 22.
According to such a configuration, since the substrate 24 is housed inside the unit case 25 of the control unit 20c, static electricity is generated outside the operation member 31 or in the gap between the operation member 31 and the main body case 34. Even when an illegal act to be generated is performed, the impact of the static electricity does not reach the substrate 24, so that a situation where the medal is illegally paid out can be prevented.

As described above, according to the operation switch device and the gaming machine of the present embodiment, since the substrate is stored inside the storage member, static electricity generated outside the stop button or in the gap between the stop button and the main body case. It is possible to prevent the shock caused by the movement from reaching the operation substrate. This can prevent an illegal act in which medals are paid out illegally.
Further, since the structure is configured such that the impact caused by the static electricity does not reach the operation board, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a discharge current flows through the operation board and is destroyed.

The preferred embodiments of the operation switch device and the gaming machine of the present invention have been described above. However, the operation switch device and the gaming machine according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. Needless to say, it is possible to implement this change.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, a slot machine is exemplified as an example of the gaming machine, but a pachinko machine, a parrot, or the like may be used.
In the above-described embodiment, the stop switch device and the MAX bet button are exemplified as the operation switch device in which the control unit can be incorporated. However, the present invention is not limited to these, and for example, switching of effects provided in a pachinko machine, etc. You can target a chance button to do. In this case, the number of light emitting elements accommodated in the control unit can be one.

  Furthermore, the cylindrical part of the unit case of the control unit can be formed separately from the base part and the rectangular cylindrical part. In this case, the cylindrical portion can be formed of a transparent or translucent material. In addition, when attaching a cylindrical portion to the base, a circular through hole is drilled on the upper surface of the base, and a flange is formed at the edge of the bottom opening of the cylindrical portion. Can be inserted through the through-hole, and the flange portion of the cylindrical portion can be locked and attached to the step on the inner periphery of the through-hole. Alternatively, the contact portion between the base portion and the cylindrical portion can be joined by ultrasonic welding or the like.

  The present invention can be suitably used for a gaming machine such as a slot machine having an operation switch device operated by a player.

1 slot machine (game machine)
10 (10-1, 10-2) Stop switch device 11 (11a, 11b, 11c) Stop button (operation unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 111 Operation surface 115 Light-shielding piece 116 Edge 12 Main body case 20 (20a1, 20a2, 20a3, 20b1, 20b2, 20b3, 20c) Control unit 21 Light emitting element 22 Light receiving element 23 (23a, 23b, 23c) Light emitting element 24 Substrate 25 Unit case (storage member)
251 Bottom opening 252 Base 253 Upper surface 254 (254a, 254b) Rectangular cylindrical part (first storage part, second storage part)
255 (255a, 255b, 255c) Cylindrical part (third storage part)
30 MAX bet buttons

The present invention relates to a gaming machine accepting an operation by the player.

An object of this invention is to provide the game machine which has an operation part .

To this end, the gaming machine of the present invention, along with the player has operated the operation unit, and a movable member movable from a first position to a second position, said movable member is said first position Moving from the light projecting element to the light receiving element to block the detection light irradiated from the light projecting element to the second position, and detecting means capable of detecting that the operation unit has been operated, and the operation a light emitting element capable of emitting illumination light to the part, and the light projecting element and the light receiving element and the substrate and the light emitting element is found with the interference preventing member capable of preventing interference between the detection light and the illumination light It is set as the structure provided with these .

Claims (5)

An operation unit pressed by a player;
A main body case that movably accommodates the operation section;
The operation unit is configured such that a light shielding piece of the operation unit moves in accordance with a pressing operation of the operation unit and blocks a path through which detection light propagates between the light projecting element and the light receiving element that are arranged to face each other. A sensor for detecting that the button has been pressed;
A light emitting element for irradiating illumination light to the operation unit or the main body case;
A substrate on which the light projecting element, the light receiving element, and the light emitting element are mounted;
An operation switch device comprising:
A housing member that houses the light projecting element, the light receiving element, the light emitting element, and the substrate;
The storage member stores a hollow base in which the substrate is stored, a first storage in which the light projecting element is stored, a second storage in which the light receiving element is stored, and the light emitting element. A third storage part,
The first storage so that a path through which the detection light propagates from the light projecting element to the light receiving element does not interfere with a path through which the illumination light emitted from the light emitting element illuminates the operation unit or the main body case. A portion, the second storage portion, and the third storage portion are disposed on an upper surface of the base portion;
The substrate on which the light projecting element, the light receiving element, and the light emitting element are mounted is inserted from an opening formed in the base portion of the housing member, and the light projecting element is inserted into the first housing portion. By storing the light receiving element in the storage part, the light emitting element in the third storage part, and the substrate in the base part,
The operation switch device, wherein the light projecting element, the light receiving element, the light emitting element, the substrate, and the housing member are configured as one unit. No opening is formed on a path through which the detection light propagates from the light projecting element to the light receiving element in each of the opposing portions of the first storage part and the second storage part that are erected on the storage member. The operation switch device according to claim 1. The operation unit has an operation surface formed of a predetermined metal that is operated by a player.
When the upper surface of the substrate is viewed from above at a right angle, a plurality of the light emitting elements are arranged on a circumference centering on an intermediate point between the light projecting elements and the light receiving elements arranged to face each other. And
The operation switch device according to claim 1, wherein an edge of the operation surface of the operation unit emits light by light emission of the light emitting element. The light projecting element, the light receiving element, the light emitting element, the substrate, and the housing member configured as the one unit as one control unit,
A plurality of the operation unit and the control unit are provided,
The plurality of control units are individually detachably attached to the main body case,
4. When one of the plurality of control units fails, only the one control unit is replaced, and the other control units do not need to be replaced. Operation switch device. A gaming machine that executes a predetermined game,
An operation switch device operated by a player as the game progresses,
The gaming machine comprising the manipulation switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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