JP3762837B2

JP3762837B2 - Game machine

Info

Publication number: JP3762837B2
Application number: JP22478798A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 隆藤井
Original assignee: アビリット株式会社
Priority date: 1998-08-07
Filing date: 1998-08-07
Publication date: 2006-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 2018-08-07
Also published as: JP2000051435A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、メダルを遊技媒体とするスロットマシン等の遊技機に関し、特にメダルの払い出しを行うホッパー装置の取り付けに係わる。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
一般に、スロットマシンにおいては、例えば特開平９−７０４６８号公報に開示されるように、筐体の前方開口部に遊技面を構成する前扉がヒンジを介して開閉可能に取り付けられているとともに、筐体内にメダルの払い出しを行うホッパー装置及びリール装置等の装置類が配置されている。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
ところで、上記ホッパー装置は筐体の底板上に配置されているが、その配置状態では上部のメダル補給口がリール装置据付け用テーブル等の内装部材で隠れてしまっている。このため、上記例示の公報にも開示するように、ホッパー装置を筐体の底板上をガイドレールに沿って前後方向に移動可能に取り付け、ホッパー装置の点検やメダル補給等のときには、前扉を開けてホッパー装置をそのメダル補給口が十分に見える位置つまりメダル補給位置まで引き出してから作業を行っている。
【０００４】
しかしながら、ホッパー装置は比較的重いものであるため、補給メダルを持ちながらホッパー装置を片手で引き出したりすることが難しく、ホッパー装置の取り扱い作業が面倒であるという問題があった。実際上、遊技場の営業中においては、ホッパー装置のメダル補給口にメダルを投入して補給するのに迅速性が求められており、ホッパー装置をメダル補給位置にまで引き出すセッティング作業を簡易かつ手短に行うことが要求されている。
【０００５】
本発明はかかる点に鑑みてなされたものであり、その課題とするところは、上記のセッティング作業を簡易かつ手短に行い、もってホッパー装置の取り扱い容易性の向上を図り得る遊技機を提供するものである。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記の課題を解決するため、請求項１に係る発明は、筐体の前方開口部に前扉がヒンジを介して回動可能に取り付けて開閉可能に設けられ、筐体内にメダルの払い出しを行うホッパー装置が配置された遊技機において、上記ホッパー装置を筐体の前後方向に移動可能に取り付けるとともに、上記前扉が閉じた状態から所定開度開いた半開き状態までの開き動作に連動してホッパー装置を筐体の前方開口部より所定寸法突出するメダル補給位置にまで移動させかつ前扉が半開き状態から閉じられるときの閉じ動作に連動してホッパー装置を筐体内に収納する連携手段を備える。また、上記連携手段は、前扉とホッパー装置とを連結する機構のものであって、ホッパー装置に取り付けられた係合ピンと、前扉の裏側に固定された取付部材と、この取付部材に支軸を介して揺動可能に取り付けられかつ上記係合ピンと係合可能なフック部材と、上記支軸の回りに装着されかつ上記フック部材を前扉の裏側から突出した状態に保持する捩りコイルバネとを有し、前扉が閉じた状態から半開き状態までの開き動作中はフック部材が係合ピンと係合し、前扉が半開き状態から全開状態にまで開けられるときフック部材と係合ピンとの係合が解除され、前扉が全開状態から半開き状態に閉じられるときフック部材が係合ピンと再度係合するように構成し、上記捩りコイルバネは、その付勢力に抗してフック部材を前扉の裏側寄りに回動させると付勢力の方向が反転してフック部材をその位置に保持するように設ける構成にする。
【０００７】
この構成では、ホッパー装置の点検やメダル補給等のために前扉を開けたときには、連携手段によってその開き動作に連動してホッパー装置が筐体の前方開口部より所定寸法突出する位置つまりホッパー装置のメダル補給口が十分に見えるメダル補給位置にまで移動されるようになり、セッティング作業が自動的に行われる。特に、ホッパー装置の取り扱い作業のうち、メダル補給時には前扉を全開状態とするまでもなく所定角度開いた半開き状態までの開き動作中は連携手段のフック部材が係合ピンと係合し、これらの部材が牽引部材となって前扉の開き動作に連動してホッパー装置がメダル補給位置にまで移動するので、遊技機の前に座っている遊技者を立たせたりすることなくメダル補給を行うことができる。一方、ホッパー装置の点検等のために前扉を全開状態にまで開いたときには、その開き動作途中（詳しくは半開き状態から全開状態までの開き動作途中）で上記フック部材と係合ピンとの係合が解除され、前扉とホッパー装置とが分離された状態になるので、ホッパー装置の筐体からの取り外しを容易に行うことができる。
【０００８】
その上、上記連携手段は、前扉とホッパー装置とを連結する機構のものであって、モータ等のアクチュエータを要することなく、前扉の開閉回動とホッパー装置の前後移動とを簡易かつ確実に連携させることができる。
【０００９】
【００１０】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施の形態を図面に基づいて説明する。
図１ないし図４は本発明の第１の実施形態に係るスロットマシンＡを示す。このスロットマシンＡは、筐体１の前方開口部に前扉２がヒンジ３を介して開閉可能に取り付けられてなり、ヒンジ３は、筐体１の左側板１ａと前扉２の左側縁とを回動可能に連結している。
【００１１】
上記前扉２は、その上部に３つのリール表示窓１１，１１，１１を、中央部にメダル投入口１３、スタートレバー１４及び３個の停止ボタン１５，１５，１５等の操作部を、下部にメダル払出口１６及びメダル受け皿１７をそれぞれ有している。上記筐体１内の上部には、図示していないが複数の図柄が各々描かれた３つのリールとこれらを独立的に回転させる駆動部とからなるリール装置が配置されており、リール停止時には各リールの３駒分の図柄が前扉２の対応するリール表示窓１１を通して外部に見えるようになっている。また、筐体１内の下部にはメダルの払い出しを行うホッパー装置２１が配置されている。
【００１２】
上記ホッパー装置２１は、多数のメダル２２，２２，…を収容するバケット２３と、ゲームの入賞時等にこのバケット２３内のメダル２２を所定枚数送出し口２４より前扉２のメダル払出口１６に払い出すためのモータ２５とを有している。上記バケット２３には、上方に開口したメダル補給口２６が形成されているとともに、前扉２のメダル投入口１３から投入されたメダル２２をバケット２３内に回収する回収通路２７が接続されている。
【００１３】
上記筐体１の底板１ｂ上には敷板３１がビス止めにより固定され、この敷板３１上に上記ホッパー装置２１の底板２８が筐体１の前後方向に移動可能に取り付けられている。上記敷板３１は、図５及び図６に拡大詳示するように、全体が略矩形状のものであり、その左右両側縁部にはそれぞれ縁部を上方に逆Ｌ字状に折り曲げてなるガイドレール３１ａ，３１ｂが形成されているとともに、前側縁部及び後側縁部にはそれぞれ縁部を下方又は上方に折り曲げてなるフランジ部３１ｃ，３１ｄが形成されている。また、敷板３１には２つのロールベアリング取付部３２，３２と１つのストッパー用長孔３３とが設けられ、各ロールベアリング取付部３２には、ホッパー装置２１の底板２８が滑りながら移動するように支持するロールベアリング３６が取り付けられている。
【００１４】
一方、ホッパー装置２１の底板２８は、敷板３１より一回り小さい略矩形状のもので、図７ないし図９にも示すように、その左右両側縁部にはそれぞれ縁部を下方に折り曲げてなるフランジ部２８ａが形成されているとともに、後側縁部にはその縁部を下方にＬ字状に折り曲げてなる脚部２８ｂが形成されている。また、底板２８の左右両側縁部にはそれぞれフランジ部２８ａの内側に合成樹脂製の滑り材３８が装着されている。そして、ホッパー装置２１の底板２８は、上記ロールベアリング３６により支持されるとともに、その左右両側縁部の滑り材３８及び脚部２８ｂが敷板３１に当接して支持され、この支持状態のまま左右両側縁部のフランジ部２８ａが敷板３１のガイドレール３１ａ又は３１ｂに拘束されて筐体１の前後方向にのみ移動できるように設けられており、ホッパー装置２１の筐体後側への移動は、底板２８の脚部２８ｂが敷板３１の後側縁部のフランジ部３１ｄに当接することで規制される。
【００１５】
また、筐体１の底板１ｂには、敷板３１のストッパー用長孔３３に対応して凹部４１が形成されているとともに、この凹部４１の近くで敷板３１のガイドレール３１ｂに隣接した位置にストッパー保持片４２がビス止めにより固定されている。このストッパー保持片４２は、底板１ｂに当接して固定された固定部４２ａと、この固定部４２ａの敷板３１寄り端部よりホッパー装置２１の底板２８のフランジ部２８ａに対向して垂直上方に立ち上がる第１垂直部４２ｂと、この垂直部４２ｂの上端よりホッパー装置２１の底板２８の縁部上方を水平方向に延びる水平部４２ｃと、この水平部４２ｃの内端より垂直上方に立ち上がる第２垂直部４２ｄとを有してなり、この第２垂直部４２ｄには支軸４３を介して棒状のストッパーピン４４が筐体１の前後方向（つまりホッパー装置２１の移動方向）に揺動可能に支持されている。
【００１６】
上記ストッパーピン４４の一端は、自重により垂下した状態ではホッパー装置２１の底板２８に形成された前後方向に長いスリット孔４５及び敷板３１の長孔３３を通して筐体底板１ｂの凹部４１内にまで達しており、この状態でホッパー装置２１を前方へ引き出したときには、ストッパーピン４４が上記スリット孔４５の後縁に当接してホッパー装置２１のそれ以上の引き出しを規制するようになっている。この規制は、ホッパー装置２１が筐体１の前方開口部より所定寸法突出しそのメダル補給口２６がリール装置据付け用テーブル等の内装部材に隠れることなく十分に見えるメダル補給位置で行われるように設定されており、また、この規制の解除は、ストッパーピン４４を揺動させてその一端を筐体底板１ｂの凹部４１内よりホッパー装置２１の底板２８のスリット孔４５上方にまで持ち上げることで行われる。
【００１７】
さらに、上記ホッパー装置２１の底板２８と前扉２の裏板２ａとの間には、前扉２の開閉回動に連動してホッパー装置２１を前後移動させる連携手段としての連結機構５０が設けられている。この連結機構５０は、図１０に拡大詳示するように、ホッパー装置２１の底板２８の前縁部に垂直に立てた状態で取り付けられた係合ピン５１と、前扉２の裏板２ａにボルト止めにより固定された取付部材５２と、この取付部材５２に支軸５３を介して水平揺動可能に取り付けられたフック部材５４とを有している。
【００１８】
上記取付部材５２は、前扉２の裏板２ａに当接して固定された固定部５２ａと、この固定部５２ａの上縁及び下縁よりそれぞれ水平方向に突出する上下一対の突出部５２ｂとからなり、この上下一対の突出部５２ｂ間にフック部材５４の基端部を配置し、この三者を支軸５３が上下方向に貫通して設けられている（図４参照）。上記支軸５３の外周には付勢手段としての捩りコイルバネ５５が配置され、この捩りコイルバネ５５の一端はフック部材５４に、他端は取付部材５２の上側の突出部５２ｂにそれぞれ連結されており、捩りコイルバネ５５の付勢力は、フック部材５４が図１０（ｂ）に示すような取付部材５２の突出部５２ｂの突出方向に略直線状に延びた状態から、図１０（ａ）に示すような傾斜した状態に姿勢を保持するように作用する。
【００１９】
上記フック部材５４には、その先端部に傾斜部５６が形成されているとともに、この傾斜部５６に連続した部位に係合ピン５１と係合可能な係合部５７が形成されている。この係合部５７は、前扉２が閉じた状態から所定角度開くまでの開き動作中に係合ピン５１と接触する第１接触面５７ａと、前扉２が所定角度開いた状態から閉じられるときに係合ピン５１と接触する第２接触面５７ｂとを有している。尚、図１０（ｃ）はフック部材５４をコイルバネ５５の付勢力に抗して前扉２の裏板２ａ寄りに回動し、連携手段としての機能を発揮しない状態を示す。この状態では、図１０（ｃ）から明らかに分かるように、捩りコイルバネ５６の付勢力の方向が反転してフック部材５４がその位置に保持される。
【００２０】
次に、上記連結機構５０の作動を、図２及び図１１等を参照しながら説明する。前扉２が閉じられているときには、図２及び図１０（ｂ）に示すように、フック部材５４は、取付部材５２の突出部５２ｂの突出方向に略直線状に延びた状態にあり、このフック部材５４の係合部５７の第２接触面５７ｂに係合ピン５１が接触して係合している。
【００２１】
このような状態から前扉２を開けるときには、最初、図１１（ａ）に示すように、前扉２（裏板２ａ）の開き動作に伴ってフック部材５４の係合部５７における係合ピン５１の位置が第２接触面５７ｂ側から第１接触面５７ａ側に相対的に変位するだけであり、ホッパー装置２１は、その底板２８の脚部２８ｂが敷板３１の後側縁部のフランジ部３１ｄに当接した状態のまま位置する。続いて、係合ピン５１がフック部材５４の係合部５７の第１接触面５７ａと接触して係合した状態からは前扉２の開き動作に伴って、図１１（ｂ）に示すように、ホッパー装置２１は係合ピン５１及びフック部材５４を介して前扉２側より引き出し力を受け、その底板２８が敷板３１のガイドレール３１ａ，３１ｂによりガイドされながら筐体１内の前方に移動する。
【００２２】
そして、ホッパー装置２１が筐体１の前方開口部より所定寸法突出しそのメダル補給口２６がリール装置据付け用テーブル等の内装部材に隠れることなく十分に見えるメダル補給位置にまで移動すると、ストッパーピン４４によりホッパー装置２１の前方移動が規制される。この半開き状態から前扉２を更に開けると、図１１（ｃ）〜（ｅ）に示すように、フック部材５４が支軸５３回りに揺動し、その揺動に伴い係合ピン５１がフック部材５４の係合部５７から抜け出て両者の係合が解除され、ホッパー装置２１（底板２８）をメダル補給位置に残したまま前扉２がヒンジ３回りに略９０回動して全開状態に開けられることになる。このとき、フック部材５４は、図１０（ａ）に示すように、コイルバネ５５の付勢力を受けて、取付部材５２の突出部５２ｂの突出方向に対し傾斜した状態に姿勢保持される。
【００２３】
一方、このような全開状態から前扉２を閉じるときには、図１１（ｄ）に示すように、前扉２を所定角度にまで閉じるとフック部材５４の傾斜部５６がホッパー装置２１側の係合ピン５１に当接する。この状態から前扉２を更に閉じると、図１１（ｃ），（ｂ）に示すように、その閉じ動作に伴ってフック部材５４が支軸５３回りに揺動して上記係合ピン５１がフック部材５４の係合部５７に係合する。この係合当初は係合ピン５４は係合部５７の第１接触面５７ａ側に位置し、前扉２の閉じ動作に伴って係合ピン５４が係合部５７内を第１接触面５７ａ側から第２接触面５７ｂ側に相対的に移動する。
【００２４】
そして、係合ピン５４が係合部５７の第２接触面５７ｂに接触してから後は、前扉２の閉じ動作に伴ってホッパー装置２１が前扉２側からフック部材５４及び係合ピン５１を介して押され、その底板２８が敷板３１のガイドレール３１ａ，３１ｂによりガイドされながら筐体１内の後方に移動する。前扉２を完全に閉じると、ホッパー装置２１は、図２に示す元の収納位置に戻る。
【００２５】
従って、上記第１の実施形態においては、ホッパー装置２１の点検やメダル補給等のために前扉２を開けたり閉めたりするときには、連結機構５０によって前扉２の開閉回動に連動してホッパー装置２１が筐体１内の収納位置とそれより前方でメダル補給口２６が十分に見えるメダル補給位置との間を移動し、セッティング作業及び収納作業が自動的に行われるので、ホッパー装置２１の取り扱い容易性を高めることができる。
【００２６】
しかも、上記連結機構５０は、係合ピン５１及びフック部材５４等によって前扉２とホッパー装置２１とを連結するだけのもので、モータ等のアクチュエータを必要としないので、安価に実施できるなど実施化を容易に図ることができる。
【００２７】
その上、前扉２が閉じた状態から所定角度開いた半開き状態までの開き動作中に係合ピン５１とフック部材５４とが係合してホッパー装置２１をメダル補給位置まで引き出し、前扉２が所定角度以上（つまり半開き状態以上）に開かれると係合ピン５１とフック部材５４との係合が解除されるので、ホッパー装置２１の取り扱い作業の内容に応じて作業性の向上を効果的に図ることができる。すなわち、ホッパー装置２１の取り扱い作業のうち、メダル補給時には前扉２を全開状態とするまでもなく所定角度開けるだけでホッパー装置２１をメダル補給位置にまで引き出すことができるので、スロットマシンＡの前に座っている遊技者を立たせたりすることなくメダル補給を簡易かつ迅速に行うことができる。また、ホッパー装置２１の点検等のために前扉２を全開状態にまで開いたときには、その開き動作途中で係合ピン５１とフック部材５４との係合が解除され、前扉２とホッパー装置２１とが分離された状態になるので、連結機構５０の構成部材により邪魔されることなく、ストッパーピン４４によるホッパー装置２１の引き出し規制を解除してホッパー装置２１を筐体１から容易に取り外すことができる。
【００２８】
図１２は本発明の第２の実施形態に係るスロットマシンＢを示し、このスロットマシンＢの場合、前扉とホッパー装置とを連結する連結機構としてリンク機構６０を用いてなる。
【００２９】
すなわち、上記リンク機構６０は、前扉の裏板２ａに固定された取付部材６１と、この取付部材６１の先端に一端が支軸６２を介して回転自在に連結された第１リンク６３と、この第１リンク６３の他端に一端が支軸６４を介して回転自在に連結され、他端がホッパー装置の底板２８の前側縁部に支軸６５を介して回転自在に連結された第２リンク６６とを有し、前扉の開閉時には第１リンク６３と第２リンク６６とが屈伸動作等をしながら前扉の開閉回動に連動してホッパー装置を筐体１の前後方向に移動させるように構成されている。尚、スロットマシンＢのその他の構成は、第１の実施形態のスロットマシンＡと同じであり、同一部材には同一符号を付してその説明は省略する。
【００３０】
そして、上記第２の実施形態においても、第１の実施形態の場合と同様に、リンク機構６０によって前扉２の開閉回動に連動してホッパー装置（その底板２８）が筐体１内の収納位置とそれより前方のメダル補給位置との間を前後移動するので、ホッパー装置２１の取り扱い容易性を高めることができるなどの効果を奏するのは勿論である。
【００３１】
尚、本発明は上記第１及び第２の実施形態に限定されるものではなく、その他種々の形態を包含するものである。例えば上記各実施形態では、前扉２の開閉動作に連動してホッパー装置２１を筐体１内の収納位置とメダル補給位置との間を前後移動させる連携手段としては、いずれも構成の簡略化ひいては実施の容易化を図る観点から、単に前扉２とホッパー装置２１とを連結する連結機構５０又はリンク機構６０を用いたが、本発明は、この各実施形態の如き連結機構又はリンク機構に限らない。
【００３２】
また、上記各実施形態では、本発明を、スロットマシンＡ，Ｂに適用した場合について述べたが、メダルを遊技媒体として使用し、ホッパー装置を筐体内に配置してなる他の遊技機にも同様に適用することができるのは勿論である。
【００３３】
【発明の効果】
以上のように、本発明の遊技機によれば、ホッパー装置の点検やメダル補給等のために前扉を開けたときには、その開き動作に連動してホッパー装置が筐体の前方開口部より所定寸法突出するメダル補給位置にまで移動してセッティング作業が自動的に行われるので、ホッパー装置の取り扱い容易性の向上を図ることができる。
【００３４】
特に、メダル補給時には前扉を全開状態とするまでもなく半開き状態までの開き動作に連動してホッパー装置がメダル補給位置にまで移動するので、遊技機の前に座っている遊技者を立たせたりすることなくメダル補給を簡易かつ迅速に行うことができ、またホッパー装置の点検等のために前扉を全開状態にまで開いたときには、その開き動作途中で前扉とホッパー装置とが分離された状態になるので、ホッパー装置の取り外しを容易に行うことができるという効果をも奏する。
【００３５】
その上、前扉とホッパー装置とを連結機構で連結するだけの簡単な構成によって、前扉の開閉回動とホッパー装置の前後移動とを連携させることができるので、実施化を図る上で有効なものである。
【００３６】
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１の実施形態に係るスロットマシンの分解斜視図である。
【図２】上記スロットマシンの横断面図である。
【図３】同スロットマシンの筐体下部の前方開口部より見た正面図である。
【図４】同スロットマシンの下部の縦断面図である。
【図５】敷板の平面図である。
【図６】同正面図である。
【図７】図２のストッパー保持片付近の拡大図である。
【図８】図７のＸ−Ｘ線（一部Ｘ’−Ｘ’線）における拡大断面図である。
【図９】図７のＹ−Ｙ線における拡大断面図である。
【図１０】連結機構の拡大図である。
【図１１】上記連結機構の作動を説明するための説明図である。
【図１２】本発明の第２の実施形態に係るスロットマシンの横断面図である。
【符号の説明】
Ａ，Ｂスロットマシン（遊技機）
１筐体
２前扉
３ヒンジ
２１ホッパー装置
２８ホッパー装置の底板
３１敷板
３１ａ，３１ｂガイドレール
５０連結機構（連携手段）
５１係合ピン
５２取付部材
５３支軸
５４フック部材
５５捩りコイルバネ
６０リンク機構（連結機構、連携手段）[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine that uses medals as game media, and more particularly, to attachment of a hopper device that pays out medals.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in a slot machine, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-9-70468, a front door that constitutes a game surface is attached to a front opening of a housing through a hinge so as to be openable and closable, Devices such as a hopper device and a reel device for paying out medals are arranged in the housing.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the hopper device is arranged on the bottom plate of the housing, but in the arrangement state, the upper medal supply port is hidden by an interior member such as a reel device installation table. For this reason, as disclosed in the above-mentioned gazette, the hopper device is mounted on the bottom plate of the housing so as to be movable in the front-rear direction along the guide rail. The work is performed after the hopper device is opened and pulled out to a position where the medal replenishment opening is sufficiently visible, that is, to the medal replenishment position.
[0004]
However, since the hopper device is relatively heavy, it is difficult to pull out the hopper device with one hand while holding a replenishment medal, and there is a problem that handling work of the hopper device is troublesome. In practice, when amusement halls are operating, there is a need for quickness to insert and replenish medals into the medal replenishment port of the hopper device, and the setting work for pulling the hopper device to the medal replenishment position is simple and short. Is required to do.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can easily and easily perform the above-described setting work and thereby improve the ease of handling of the hopper device. It is.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 is configured such that a front door is pivotally attached to a front opening of a housing via a hinge so as to be opened and closed, and a medal is paid out in the housing. in gaming machine hopper device is arranged, is attached movably to the hopper in the front-rear direction of the casing, in conjunction with the opening operation from a state where the front door is closed until the half-opened state had open the predetermined opening hopper There is provided cooperation means for moving the device to a medal replenishment position projecting a predetermined dimension from the front opening of the housing and storing the hopper device in the housing in conjunction with a closing operation when the front door is closed from the half-open state . The linkage means is a mechanism for connecting the front door and the hopper device, and includes an engagement pin attached to the hopper device, an attachment member fixed to the back side of the front door, and a support member for the attachment member. A hook member swingably attached via a shaft and engageable with the engagement pin; a torsion coil spring mounted around the support shaft and holding the hook member protruding from the back side of the front door; The hook member engages with the engagement pin during the opening operation from the closed state to the half-open state, and the hook member engages with the engagement pin when the front door is opened from the half-open state to the fully-open state. The hook member is configured to re-engage with the engagement pin when the engagement is released and the front door is closed from the fully open state to the half open state, and the torsion coil spring prevents the hook member against the urging force. On the back side Direction of the biasing force when the differential is reversed to the configuration provided to hold the hook member in its position.
[0007]
In this configuration, when the front door is opened for inspection of the hopper device, replenishment of medals, etc., the position where the hopper device protrudes by a predetermined dimension from the front opening of the housing in conjunction with the opening operation by the cooperation means, that is, the hopper device The medal replenishment port is moved to a medal replenishment position where it can be seen sufficiently, and setting work is automatically performed. In particular, during the handling operation of the hopper device, the hook member of the cooperation means engages with the engaging pin during the opening operation up to the half-opened state opened at a predetermined angle without needing to fully open the front door when the medals are replenished. Since the member becomes a pulling member and the hopper device moves to the medal replenishment position in conjunction with the opening operation of the front door, it is possible to replenish the medal without standing the player sitting in front of the gaming machine it can. On the other hand, when the front door is opened to the fully open state for inspection of the hopper device, the hook member and the engagement pin are engaged during the opening operation (specifically, during the opening operation from the half open state to the fully open state). Is released and the front door and the hopper device are separated from each other, so that the hopper device can be easily detached from the housing.
[0008]
Moreover, the linkage means is a mechanism for connecting the front door and the hopper device, and does not require an actuator such as a motor , so that the opening and closing rotation of the front door and the forward and backward movement of the hopper device are simple and reliable. Can be linked.
[0009]
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 4 show a slot machine A according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this slot machine A, a front door 2 is attached to a front opening of a housing 1 through a hinge 3 so as to be openable and closable. The hinge 3 includes a left side plate 1a of the housing 1 and a left edge of the front door 2. Are connected so as to be rotatable.
[0011]
The front door 2 has three reel display windows 11, 11, 11 at the top, a medal slot 13, a start lever 14 and three stop buttons 15, 15, 15, etc. at the center, and a lower part. Each have a medal payout opening 16 and a medal tray 17. In the upper part of the housing 1, a reel device including three reels (not shown) each having a plurality of symbols drawn thereon and a drive unit that independently rotates these reels is arranged. The three symbols of each reel can be seen through the corresponding reel display window 11 of the front door 2. A hopper device 21 for paying out medals is disposed in the lower part of the housing 1.
[0012]
The hopper device 21 has a bucket 23 for storing a large number of medals 22, 22,... And a predetermined number of medals 22 in the bucket 23 when a game is won. And a motor 25 for paying out. The bucket 23 is formed with a medal replenishing port 26 opened upward, and connected to a collection passage 27 for collecting the medal 22 inserted from the medal insertion port 13 of the front door 2 into the bucket 23. .
[0013]
A floor plate 31 is fixed on the bottom plate 1 b of the housing 1 by screws, and a bottom plate 28 of the hopper device 21 is attached on the floor plate 31 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction of the housing 1. As shown in enlarged detail in FIGS. 5 and 6, the floor plate 31 has a substantially rectangular shape as a whole, and the left and right side edges of the floor plate 31 are bent in a reverse L-shape upward. Rails 31a and 31b are formed, and flange portions 31c and 31d formed by bending the edges downward or upward are formed on the front edge and the rear edge, respectively. Further, the floor plate 31 is provided with two roll bearing mounting portions 32, 32 and one stopper slot 33 so that the bottom plate 28 of the hopper device 21 moves while sliding on each roll bearing mounting portion 32. A supporting roll bearing 36 is attached.
[0014]
On the other hand, the bottom plate 28 of the hopper device 21 has a substantially rectangular shape that is slightly smaller than the floor plate 31, and as shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. A flange portion 28a is formed, and a leg portion 28b formed by bending the edge portion downward in an L shape is formed on the rear side edge portion. In addition, a sliding material 38 made of synthetic resin is attached to the left and right side edges of the bottom plate 28 inside the flange portion 28a. The bottom plate 28 of the hopper device 21 is supported by the roll bearing 36, and the sliding members 38 and the leg portions 28b at the left and right side edges thereof are in contact with and supported by the floor plate 31. The flange portion 28a at the edge is provided so as to be restrained by the guide rail 31a or 31b of the floor plate 31 so as to move only in the front-rear direction of the housing 1, and the movement of the hopper device 21 to the rear side of the housing is The 28 leg portions 28b are regulated by abutting against the flange portion 31d at the rear edge of the floor plate 31.
[0015]
A recess 41 is formed in the bottom plate 1 b of the housing 1 corresponding to the stopper long hole 33 of the floor plate 31, and a stopper is located near the recess 41 and adjacent to the guide rail 31 b of the floor plate 31. The holding piece 42 is fixed by screws. The stopper holding piece 42 rises vertically upward from the fixed portion 42a fixed in contact with the bottom plate 1b and the flange portion 28a of the bottom plate 28 of the hopper device 21 from the end portion of the fixed portion 42a closer to the floor plate 31. A first vertical portion 42b, a horizontal portion 42c extending horizontally above the edge of the bottom plate 28 of the hopper device 21 from the upper end of the vertical portion 42b, and a second vertical portion rising vertically upward from the inner end of the horizontal portion 42c 42d, and a rod-like stopper pin 44 is supported by the second vertical portion 42d via a support shaft 43 so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction of the housing 1 (that is, the moving direction of the hopper device 21). ing.
[0016]
One end of the stopper pin 44 reaches the inside of the recess 41 of the housing bottom plate 1b through the slit hole 45 formed in the bottom plate 28 of the hopper device 21 in the front-rear direction and the long hole 33 of the floor plate 31 in a state where the stopper pin 44 is suspended by its own weight. When the hopper device 21 is pulled forward in this state, the stopper pin 44 comes into contact with the rear edge of the slit hole 45 to restrict further pulling of the hopper device 21. This restriction is set so that the hopper device 21 protrudes by a predetermined dimension from the front opening of the housing 1 and its medal replenishment port 26 is sufficiently visible without being hidden by an interior member such as a reel device installation table. The restriction is released by swinging the stopper pin 44 and lifting one end of the stopper pin 44 from the inside of the recess 41 of the housing bottom plate 1b to above the slit hole 45 of the bottom plate 28 of the hopper device 21. .
[0017]
Further, a connecting mechanism 50 is provided between the bottom plate 28 of the hopper device 21 and the back plate 2a of the front door 2 as a cooperation means for moving the hopper device 21 back and forth in conjunction with opening / closing rotation of the front door 2. It has been. As shown in an enlarged detail in FIG. 10, the coupling mechanism 50 is provided on an engagement pin 51 attached in a state of being perpendicular to a front edge portion of the bottom plate 28 of the hopper device 21 and a back plate 2 a of the front door 2. It has an attachment member 52 fixed by bolting, and a hook member 54 attached to the attachment member 52 via a support shaft 53 so as to be horizontally swingable.
[0018]
The mounting member 52 includes a fixed portion 52a fixed in contact with the back plate 2a of the front door 2, and a pair of upper and lower protruding portions 52b protruding in the horizontal direction from the upper and lower edges of the fixed portion 52a. Thus, the base end portion of the hook member 54 is disposed between the pair of upper and lower protrusions 52b, and the support shaft 53 is provided through the three members in the vertical direction (see FIG. 4). A torsion coil spring 55 as an urging means is disposed on the outer periphery of the support shaft 53. One end of the torsion coil spring 55 is connected to the hook member 54, and the other end is connected to the protruding portion 52b on the upper side of the mounting member 52. The biasing force of the torsion coil spring 55 is as shown in FIG. 10A from the state in which the hook member 54 extends substantially linearly in the protruding direction of the protruding portion 52b of the mounting member 52 as shown in FIG. It acts to keep the posture in a tilted state.
[0019]
The hook member 54 has an inclined portion 56 formed at the tip thereof, and an engaging portion 57 that can be engaged with the engaging pin 51 at a portion continuous to the inclined portion 56. The engaging portion 57 is closed from a state in which the front door 2 is opened at a predetermined angle and a first contact surface 57a that contacts the engaging pin 51 during an opening operation from the state in which the front door 2 is closed to a predetermined angle. It sometimes has a second contact surface 57b that contacts the engaging pin 51. FIG. 10C shows a state in which the hook member 54 is rotated toward the back plate 2a of the front door 2 against the urging force of the coil spring 55, and the function as the cooperation means is not exhibited. In this state, as clearly shown in FIG. 10C, the direction of the urging force of the torsion coil spring 56 is reversed and the hook member 54 is held in that position.
[0020]
Next, the operation of the connecting mechanism 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. When the front door 2 is closed, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10 (b), the hook member 54 is in a state of extending substantially linearly in the protruding direction of the protruding portion 52b of the mounting member 52. The engagement pin 51 contacts and engages with the second contact surface 57 b of the engagement portion 57 of the hook member 54.
[0021]
When the front door 2 is opened from such a state, first, as shown in FIG. 11A, the engaging pin in the engaging portion 57 of the hook member 54 is accompanied by the opening operation of the front door 2 (back plate 2a). The position of 51 is only relatively displaced from the second contact surface 57 b side to the first contact surface 57 a side, and the hopper device 21 has a leg portion 28 b of the bottom plate 28 whose flange portion is a rear side edge portion of the floor plate 31. It is positioned in a state of being in contact with 31d. Subsequently, from the state in which the engagement pin 51 comes into contact with and engages with the first contact surface 57a of the engagement portion 57 of the hook member 54, as shown in FIG. In addition, the hopper device 21 receives a pulling force from the front door 2 side through the engaging pin 51 and the hook member 54, and the bottom plate 28 is guided forward by the guide rails 31 a and 31 b of the floor plate 31 while moving forward in the housing 1. Moving.
[0022]
When the hopper device 21 protrudes by a predetermined dimension from the front opening of the housing 1 and its medal replenishment port 26 moves to a medal replenishment position where it can be sufficiently seen without being hidden by an interior member such as a reel device installation table, the stopper pin 44 This restricts the forward movement of the hopper device 21. When the front door 2 is further opened from this half-open state, as shown in FIGS. 11C to 11E, the hook member 54 swings around the support shaft 53, and the engaging pin 51 is hooked along with the swing. The engagement between the members 54 is released and the engagement between the members 54 is released, and the front door 2 is rotated approximately 90 around the hinge 3 while the hopper device 21 (bottom plate 28) remains in the medal replenishment position. Will be opened. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10A, the hook member 54 receives the biasing force of the coil spring 55 and is held in an inclined state with respect to the protruding direction of the protruding portion 52 b of the mounting member 52.
[0023]
On the other hand, when the front door 2 is closed from such a fully opened state, as shown in FIG. 11D, when the front door 2 is closed to a predetermined angle, the inclined portion 56 of the hook member 54 is engaged on the hopper device 21 side. Contact the pin 51. When the front door 2 is further closed from this state, as shown in FIGS. 11 (c) and 11 (b), the hook member 54 swings around the support shaft 53 with the closing operation, and the engagement pin 51 is moved. Engage with the engaging portion 57 of the hook member 54. At the beginning of the engagement, the engagement pin 54 is positioned on the first contact surface 57a side of the engagement portion 57, and the engagement pin 54 moves through the engagement portion 57 in accordance with the closing operation of the front door 2. It moves relatively from the side to the second contact surface 57b side.
[0024]
After the engagement pin 54 comes into contact with the second contact surface 57b of the engagement portion 57, the hopper device 21 moves from the front door 2 side to the hook member 54 and the engagement pin with the closing operation of the front door 2. The bottom plate 28 moves to the rear in the housing 1 while being guided by the guide rails 31 a and 31 b of the floor plate 31. When the front door 2 is completely closed, the hopper device 21 returns to the original storage position shown in FIG.
[0025]
Therefore, in the first embodiment, when the front door 2 is opened or closed for inspection of the hopper device 21 or medal replenishment, the hopper is interlocked with the opening / closing rotation of the front door 2 by the connecting mechanism 50. Since the device 21 moves between the storage position in the housing 1 and the medal replenishment position where the medal replenishment port 26 is sufficiently visible in front of it, the setting operation and the storage operation are automatically performed. Ease of handling can be improved.
[0026]
In addition, the connecting mechanism 50 merely connects the front door 2 and the hopper device 21 by the engaging pin 51 and the hook member 54, and does not require an actuator such as a motor. Can be easily achieved.
[0027]
Moreover, front door 2 is engaged with the engaging pin 51 and the hook member 54 during the opening operation until ajar state had predetermined angle open from closed pulled out hopper 21 to the medal supply position, the front door 2 Since the engagement between the engagement pin 51 and the hook member 54 is released when the angle is opened more than a predetermined angle (that is, more than a half-open state) , it is effective to improve workability according to the contents of the handling work of the hopper device 21. Can be aimed at. That is, in handling the hopper device 21, when the medals are replenished, the front door 2 does not need to be fully opened, and the hopper device 21 can be pulled out to the medal replenishment position only by opening a predetermined angle. It is possible to easily and quickly replenish medals without causing a player sitting on the stand. Further, when the front door 2 is opened to the fully open state for inspection of the hopper device 21, the engagement between the engaging pin 51 and the hook member 54 is released during the opening operation, and the front door 2 and the hopper device are released. 21 is separated, so that the withdrawal of the hopper device 21 by the stopper pin 44 is released and the hopper device 21 can be easily removed from the housing 1 without being obstructed by the components of the coupling mechanism 50. Can do.
[0028]
FIG. 12 shows a slot machine B according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this slot machine B, a link mechanism 60 is used as a connecting mechanism for connecting the front door and the hopper device.
[0029]
That is, the link mechanism 60 includes an attachment member 61 fixed to the back plate 2a of the front door, a first link 63 having one end rotatably connected to the tip of the attachment member 61 via a support shaft 62, A second end of the first link 63 is rotatably connected to the front edge of the bottom plate 28 of the hopper apparatus via a support shaft 65 at one end. When the front door is opened / closed, the first link 63 and the second link 66 bend / extend and move the hopper device in the front / rear direction of the housing 1 in conjunction with the opening / closing rotation of the front door. It is configured to let you. The other configuration of the slot machine B is the same as that of the slot machine A of the first embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
[0030]
And also in the said 2nd Embodiment, similarly to the case of 1st Embodiment, a hopper apparatus (the bottom plate 28) is interlocked with opening / closing rotation of the front door 2 by the link mechanism 60 in the housing | casing 1. Since it moves back and forth between the storage position and the medal supply position in front of it, it goes without saying that the operability of the hopper device 21 can be improved.
[0031]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said 1st and 2nd embodiment, Other various forms are included. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the linkage means for moving the hopper device 21 back and forth between the storage position in the housing 1 and the medal replenishment position in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the front door 2 is simplified in configuration. As a result, from the viewpoint of facilitating implementation, the connecting mechanism 50 or the link mechanism 60 that simply connects the front door 2 and the hopper device 21 is used. However, the present invention is not limited to the connecting mechanism or the link mechanism according to each of the embodiments. Not exclusively.
[0032]
In each of the above embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to the slot machines A and B has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to other gaming machines in which medals are used as game media and a hopper device is arranged in a housing. Of course, the same can be applied .
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the gaming machine of the present invention, when the front door is opened for inspection of the hopper device or replenishment of medals, the hopper device is predetermined from the front opening of the housing in conjunction with the opening operation. Since the setting operation is automatically performed by moving to the medal replenishment position protruding from the dimension, it is possible to improve the ease of handling of the hopper device.
[0034]
In particular, when the medals are replenished , the hopper device moves to the medal replenishment position in conjunction with the opening operation until the front door is fully opened and not fully opened, so that the player sitting in front of the gaming machine can stand up. The medals can be replenished easily and quickly, and when the front door is fully opened for inspection of the hopper device, the front door and the hopper device are separated during the opening operation. Since it will be in a state, there also exists an effect that a hopper apparatus can be removed easily.
[0035]
In addition, the simple structure of simply connecting the front door and the hopper device with a connecting mechanism enables the opening / closing rotation of the front door and the forward / backward movement of the hopper device to be linked. It is a thing.
[0036]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a slot machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the slot machine.
FIG. 3 is a front view seen from the front opening at the bottom of the housing of the slot machine.
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of the slot machine.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a floor board.
FIG. 6 is a front view of the same.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the stopper holding piece of FIG.
8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line XX (partial X′-X ′ line) in FIG. 7;
9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a coupling mechanism.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the coupling mechanism.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the slot machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
A, B slot machine (game machine)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Front door 3 Hinge 21 Hopper device 28 Bottom plate of hopper device 31 Base plate 31a, 31b Guide rail 50 Connection mechanism (cooperation means)
51 engaging pin
52 Mounting member
53 Support shaft 54 Hook member 55 Torsion coil spring 60 Link mechanism (connection mechanism, cooperation means)

Claims

In a gaming machine in which a front door is pivotally attached to a front opening of a housing through a hinge so as to be opened and closed, and a hopper device for paying out medals is arranged in the housing.
It said hopper is mounted movably in the longitudinal direction of the housing,
Half-open state and the front door is moved until the medal supply position to a predetermined dimension protrudes from the front opening of the housing of the hopper in conjunction with the opening operation from a state where the front door is closed until the half-opened state had open the predetermined opening In cooperation with the closing operation when it is closed from the hopper device, the hopper device is provided in the housing ,
The linkage means is a mechanism for connecting the front door and the hopper device, and includes an engagement pin attached to the hopper device, an attachment member fixed to the back side of the front door, and a support shaft on the attachment member. A hook member that is swingably attached and engageable with the engagement pin, and a torsion coil spring that is mounted around the support shaft and that holds the hook member protruding from the back side of the front door. The hook member engages with the engaging pin during the opening operation from the closed state to the half-opened state, and when the front door is opened from the half-opened state to the fully-opened state, the hook member and the engaging pin are engaged. The hook member is configured to re-engage with the engagement pin when the front door is released and closed from the fully open state to the half open state,
The torsion coil spring is provided such that when the hook member is rotated toward the back side of the front door against the urging force, the direction of the urging force is reversed and the hook member is held in that position. A gaming machine.