JP2956945B2 - Belt drive mechanism for play equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mechanism for driving a display unit in a game machine such as a slot machine.

In general, the display section has a structure in which a plurality of endless belts having several types of symbols, symbols, and the like drawn on the surface thereof are rotated, and when the belt stops, the symbols, etc., are aligned horizontally or diagonally.

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional game tool, in particular, a slot machine, there is known a method in which a plurality of rotating bodies on which symbols and symbols are drawn are rotated so that symbols and the like are obliquely or horizontally aligned when stopped.

However, in the case of the rotating body method, it is necessary to make the symbols and the like appearing on the display unit of the slot machine flat so that the player can easily see them. Therefore, there is an inconvenience that the diameter of the rotating body increases.

In addition, when the size of the rotating body increases, the size of the entire device increases, and it is impossible to make the device thin (small).

For this reason, a flexible belt is stretched between a pair of rotating bodies, and a pattern is applied to the surface of this belt. A slot machine in which a plurality of endless belt-shaped display bodies are mounted on a plurality of columns in parallel and the running of these displays is controlled by a motor controlled by a control device (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
Endless belt-type belts have been invented and known.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the case of such a conventional endless belt driving mechanism, since the driving mechanism is constituted only by wrapping the endless belt over a roller or the like, friction between the roller and the endless belt is reduced. Depending on the condition, the belt idles on the roller. Therefore, there is an inconvenience that the symbol does not stop at a predetermined place when the rotation is stopped. In this case, it is difficult to electrically determine the matching state of the symbols.

Further, there is a possibility that the endless belt slides on the roller and protrudes from the display unit.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the drawbacks of the related art, and has as its object to provide an endless belt that can rotate smoothly without skidding and can always stop a symbol at a predetermined position when the rotation is stopped. I do.

Means for solving the problem, i.e., the present invention is a plurality of partition plates that partition the upper plate and the lower plate parallel to each other at equal intervals, and a belt pulley with a flange axially mounted on the upper and lower sides of the partition plate A sprocket wheel larger in diameter than a belt pulley mounted at an intermediate position of the partition plate via a stepping motor, and holes are equally spaced at both ends suspended between the belt pulleys and meshing with the sprocket wheel. A plurality of endless belts, wherein the upper or lower belt pulley has a mounting plate having one end pivotally mounted on a partition plate, a bearing provided at the center of the mounting plate, and a second end of the mounting plate. For a bearing of a position adjusting mechanism comprising a drilled bolt hole, an arc-shaped groove provided in a partition plate, a bolt passing through the bolt hole and the groove, and a nut screwed into the bolt. This object is achieved by the belt drive mechanism of the attached play equipment.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the device according to the first aspect, the position of the belt pulley is adjusted by a mounting plate having one end pivotally attached to the partition plate, and a bearing provided at a central portion of the mounting plate. The position adjustment mechanism includes a spring attachment portion provided at the other end of the attachment plate, a bracket connected to the partition plate, and a spring having both ends connected to the spring attachment portion and the bracket.

In the apparatus according to the present invention, the endless belts are driven individually by sprocket wheels provided between the belt pulleys.

Since the sprocket wheel has a diameter larger than that of the belt pulley and is structured so that the endless belt sandwiches the sprocket wheel, even if the endless belt is expanded and loosened due to frictional heat, the sprocket wheel Gear part does not come off the hole of the endless belt.

Further, since the sprocket wheel is rotated by the stepping motor, and the endless belt is driven by the sprocket wheel, the endless belt is always forced to rotate reliably.

Since the sprocket wheel is configured to mesh with holes at both ends provided in the endless belt, the endless belt can be rotated while correcting lateral displacement.

Further, since the shaft of the upper or lower belt pulley is installed to be adjustable, even if the endless belt is loosened, the tension can be kept constant by adjusting it.

Embodiments Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a table, and the space between the table 1 and the upper plate 2 is partitioned into three chambers by a partition plate 3.

Belt pulleys 6 and 8 with flanges are pivotally mounted on the upper and lower sides of each chamber via a shaft 4 mounted on one of the partition plates 3.

The belt pulleys 6 and 8 with flanges are made of a cylindrical body, and the flanges protrude radially from both peripheral edges.

Stepping motors 10, 1 are provided at the center of the partition plate 3.
0,10 are installed, and the stepping motors 10,10,10
The sprocket wheels 12, 12, 12 which are substantially cylindrical and have a larger diameter than the belt pulleys 6 and 8 with flanges (in this embodiment, a diameter twice as large) are mounted on the rotating shaft.

Each sprocket wheel 12 is provided with trapezoidal teeth at equal intervals on both circumferential edges of the cylindrical body in the circumferential direction and in parallel.

These belt pulleys 6, 8 and sprocket wheel 1
Endless belt 1 with several patterns, symbols, etc. displayed by 2
4 is crossed. In this embodiment, the diameter of the endless belt 14 is set to twice the diameter of the sprocket wheel 12.

At both ends of this endless belt 14, sprocket wheels
A substantially rectangular hole 16 having a radius at each corner is drilled at the same interval as the 12 teeth, and a sprocket wheel is formed in the hole 16.
Twelve teeth 12a are designed to mesh.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a stepping motor.
A gear 17 having n teeth and a gear 18 having, for example, 2n teeth meshing with the gear 17 mounted on the 10 drive shafts, and a protruding portion 19 in which one end of the gear 18 is protruded in the outer peripheral direction comprises a photo sensor. When passing through the position detecting means 20, the number measuring circuits 28a, 28
This is a position detection mechanism configured to oscillate a clear signal at b and 28c. In the present embodiment, the gear
18 and the endless belt 14 are synchronized.

These position detecting mechanisms are, as shown in FIG. 3, a resin plate having an L-shaped cross section, which is joined to the back of the stepping motor 10.
A gear 18 is axially mounted on 10a, and a position detecting means 20 for detecting passage of an inverted L-shaped projection 19 joined to the gear 18 is mounted.

4 to 5 show a tensioning mechanism of the endless belt 14 mounted on the upper side of the belt pulley. One end of the mounting plate 21 is pivotally mounted on the upper side of each partition plate 3. The belt pulley 6 is located at the center of the mounting plate 21.
The mounting plate 21 is provided with a hole 21a for bolt penetration. Bearing 6a of mounting plate 21
A rectangular hole 3a is formed in the partition plate 3 at a position corresponding to the above, and a substantially arc-shaped groove 3b is formed at a position corresponding to the locus of the bolt hole 21a of the rotating mounting plate 21. In the present embodiment, the nut 34 is fastened and fixed by screwing the nut 34 to the bolt 33 penetrating the bolt hole 21a and the groove 3b after appropriately rotating the mounting plate 21 (fifth embodiment).
Figure).

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the tensioning mechanism of the endless belt 14, in which the mounting plate 21 is attached by a spring 36 connected to a racket 35 connected to the upper side of the partition plate 3.
It is configured to pull 21.

The stepping motors 10, 10, and 10 are driven by a drive circuit 25 as shown in FIG. 7, and a determination circuit 32 determines whether the symbols match when the endless belt 14 is stopped. .

 This will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

In the figure, the switch 22 and switches 24a, 24b, 24c for operating the random number generators 23a, 23b, 23c are connected in parallel.

The outputs of the random number generators 23a, 23b and 23c are
The drive circuit 25 drives each stepping motor 10 according to a drive pulse from the pulse generator 26.

Numerals 28a, 28b, 28c denote pulse number measuring circuits, which count the number of pulses after the count is reduced to zero by the clear signal from the position detecting means 20a, 20b, 20c.

A pulse generator 26 is provided to the pulse number measurement circuits 28a, 28b, 28c.
The result of ANDing the input voltages from the random number generators 23a, 23b, and 23c with the AND gates 30a, 30b, and 30c is input as a pulse.

The results counted by the pulse number measuring circuits 28a, 28b, 28c are output to the discriminating circuit 32, and the patterns and the like are aligned horizontally or diagonally from the relationship between the number of pulses and the symbols or symbols previously input to the discriminating circuit 32. Is determined.

The random number generators 23a, 23b, 23c are, for example, switches 24a, 24
A random number is generated when b and 24c are turned from ON to OFF, and power is supplied for a time corresponding to the generated random number.

This structure is almost the same as that described in JP-A-56-70779.

In the configuration described above, when the switch 22 is first turned on, power is constantly supplied to the motor drive circuit 25 because the switches 24a, 24b, 24c are on, and the drive circuit 25
Rotates the stepping motor 10.

Then, the endless belt 14 rotates at a high speed together with the sprocket wheel 12, and the symbols and the like continue to change on a display unit (not shown).

Then, the player sets each switch 24a, 24b, 24c one by one
When turned off from N, the random number generators 23a, 23b, 23c generate random numbers, and continue to supply power for a time corresponding to each random number.

Therefore, the stepping motor 10 continues to rotate even after the switches 24a, 24b, 24c are turned off, and stops after a predetermined time has elapsed.

During this time, the stepping motor 10 rotates in proportion to the number of pulses from the pulse generator 26. Therefore, the number of pulses of the motor with respect to the rotation of the endless belt 14 is measured by the pulse number measurement circuit 28.

In this measurement circuit 28, when the protrusion 19 joined to the gear 18 rotating in synchronization with the endless belt 14 passes through the position detection means 20, the measurement value is set to zero, and the number of subsequent pulses is counted. I have. Therefore, when the endless belt 14 makes one revolution, the measured value becomes zero.

The measured values are output to the determination circuit 32, respectively. Therefore, the matching state of the symbols is determined.

Sprocket wheel 12 by stepping motor 10
Is rotated so that the sprocket wheel 12 and the holes 16 at both ends of the endless belt 14 mesh with each other, so that the endless belt can rotate without idling as in the case of using the rotating body. Sprocket wheel at the center of the endless belt (larger diameter than belt pulley with flange)
Is installed so that the endless belt sandwiches the sprocket wheel, so there is no risk that the belt will come off even if the rotation speed increases.

Effect As described above, the belt drive mechanism of the playground equipment according to the present invention is configured so that the belt can be moved more reliably than the conventional endless belt type one and no displacement occurs. Accurate position determination similar to the case where a rotating body is used can be performed.

Further, since the configuration is such that accurate position determination can be performed even with an endless belt, it is possible to reduce the size of the device, which was impossible with a conventional rotating body.

Further, since the symbols and the symbols can be displayed substantially in parallel with the display section by the endless belt, it is possible to provide an easy-to-read one for the player.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 7 show an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a rotating part of the apparatus with a part cut away.
2 is a side view of the device with a part omitted, FIG. 3 is a side view of a stepping motor, FIG. 4 is a side view of a part of the device seen through, and FIG. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view of the device showing another embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a lock diagram of the entire device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Stand, 2 ... Top plate 3 ... Partition plate 4, ... Shaft 6,8 ... Belt pulley with flange 10 ... Stepping motor, 12 ... Gear 14 ... Endless belt, 16 ... Hole 17 , 18 gears, 20 position detecting means 21 mounting plate 21a bolt holes 22 switches 23a, 23b, 23c random number generators 24a, 24b, 24c switches 25 Drive circuit 26 …… Pulse generator, 32 …… Discrimination circuit 28a, 28b, 28c …… Pulse number measurement circuit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A63F 5/04

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of partition plates which partition an upper plate and a lower plate parallel to each other at equal intervals, a belt pulley with a flange mounted on the upper and lower sides of the partition plates, and an intermediate position between the partition plates. It consists of a sprocket wheel with a diameter larger than the belt pulley mounted via a stepping motor, and a plurality of endless belts suspended between these belt pulleys and having holes at equal intervals at both ends engaging with the sprocket wheel. A mounting plate having one end pivotally connected to the upper or lower belt pulley at one end thereof, a bearing provided at the center of the mounting plate, a bolt hole formed at the other end of the mounting plate, and a partition plate. Belt drive of a game tool mounted on a bearing of a position adjusting mechanism comprising an arcuate groove provided, a bolt passing through the bolt hole and the groove, and a nut meshed with the bolt. Structure. 2. A plurality of partition plates which partition an upper plate and a lower plate parallel to each other at equal intervals, a belt pulley with a flange mounted on the upper and lower sides of the partition plates, and an intermediate position between the partition plates. It consists of a sprocket wheel with a diameter larger than the belt pulley mounted via a stepping motor, and a plurality of endless belts suspended between these belt pulleys and having holes at equal intervals at both ends engaging with the sprocket wheel. A mounting plate having the upper or lower belt pulley pivotally connected at one end to a partition plate, a bearing provided at the center of the mounting plate, a spring mounting portion provided at the other end of the mounting plate, and a partition plate. A bracket connected to the
2. A belt drive mechanism for a game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said belt drive mechanism is mounted on a bearing of a position adjusting mechanism comprising said spring mounting portion and springs having both ends connected to said bracket.