【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、パチンコ機、アレンジボール機、雀球遊技機等の弾球遊技機、取り分けその外枠に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
パチンコ機等の弾球遊技機には、従来、特開平１１−２４４４９４号公報に記載されるように、外枠の前側下部の前板に、合成樹脂製の前板カバーを装着したものがある。この外枠はベニヤ板等の木材により構成され、左右に対向する一対の縦板と、上下に対向する一対の横板とにより矩形枠状に組み立てられ、左右の縦板の下端側の前側にその両者に跨がって前板が固定されている。また外枠の左側には、遊技盤等が装着された前枠が上下のヒンジを介して縦軸心廻りに開閉自在に装着されている。
【０００３】
前板カバーは、その裏側の左右両側に係合部が一体に形成されており、この係合部が前板に形成された係合穴部に挿入されて前板に係合されることによって、前板の前側に着脱自在に装着されている。係合部は上下方向に弾性変形可能な帯板部と、この帯板部の上面側に設けられた係合突起部とによって構成されている。また係合穴部は前板を前後に貫通する正面視４角形状の貫通穴により構成されており、係合穴部に係合部を挿入したときに係合突起部が係合穴部の裏面側の上縁部に係合されるようになっている。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
従来の前板カバーの取り付け構造では、前板の係合穴部の内上壁面と前板カバーの係合部の帯板部の上面との間に隙間があり、その隙間の分だけ前板に対する前板カバーの上下方向へのガタツキが生じて固定できない。仮に、前板と前枠との干渉防止用に前板の上端部に取り付けられた摩擦防止部材に前板カバーの上端部を当接させた場合には、前板カバーの上下方向のガタツキを防止できる。
【０００５】
しかし、この従来の構造では、前板に対する前板カバーの上下方向のガタツキを防止するために、前板の上側に位置決め用の他の部材を別途設ける必要があり、前板カバーの取り付け構造が複雑になって、その装着作業が煩雑になる問題がある。
【０００６】
本発明は、かかる従来の問題点に鑑み、前板の上下の部材の有無に関係なく前板に対して前板カバーを位置決めでき、前板カバーを簡単な構造で容易に装着できる弾球遊技機を提供することを目的とする。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は、遊技盤８が装着された前枠５と、該前枠５が縦軸心廻りに開閉自在に装着された外枠２とを備えた弾球遊技機において、前記外枠２は左右に対向する一対の縦板３２と、上下に対向する一対の横板３３と、左右の前記縦板３２の下端側の前側にその両者に跨がって設けられた前板３４と、該前板３４の前側に着脱可能に装着された合成樹脂製の前板カバー３５とを備え、前記前板３４に、その左右両端部で且つ少なくとも一部が前記縦板３２に対応する位置又は前記縦板３２の近傍位置に位置決め穴部３８を、該位置決め穴部３８間の中間に左右方向に複数個の係合穴部３９を夫々形成し、前記前板カバー３５は前記前板３４に当接してその略全面を前側から覆う前面板部４５と、該前面板部４５の上端縁から後方に突出して前記前板３４を上側から覆う左右方向の上カバー部４６と、前記前面板部４５の左右両端から後方に屈曲して前記前板３４を左右両側から覆う横カバー部４７と、前記前面板部４５の下端から後方に突出して前記前板３４の下端側の挿入部５４に挿入される左右方向の下板部４８とを一体に備え、前記前面板部４５の裏側の左右に、前記各位置決め穴部３８に前側から圧入される位置決め突部４０を、前記前面板部４５の裏側の中間に前記各係合穴部３９に前側から挿入されて係脱自在に係合する複数個の係合部４１を夫々一体に備え、下板部４８は前記各係合部４１に対応する部分を除いて前記前面板部４５の左右方向の略全長に設けられている。
【０００８】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施形態を図面に基づいて詳細に説明する。図１〜図９は本発明の第１の実施形態を示し、図１において、１は遊技機本体であり、矩形枠状の外枠２と、この外枠２の左側の上下のヒンジ３，４を介して開閉自在及び着脱自在に枢着された前枠５とを備えている。前枠５にはガラス扉６及び前面板７が装着され、その裏側に遊技盤８が着脱自在に装着されている。
【０００９】
前面板７には、発射用の遊技球を貯留するための上皿９が装着されている。前枠５の下部には、余剰球を貯留するための下皿１０が装着され、この下皿１０の側方に発射手段１１の発射ハンドル１２が配置されている。発射手段１１は、発射ハンドル１２を操作したときに駆動される打撃槌を備え、発射レール上に１個づつ供給される遊技球を打撃槌で打撃して遊技盤８側へと発射させるようになっている。
【００１０】
遊技盤８の前面には、発射手段１１から発射された遊技球を案内するガイドレール１３が環状に装着され、そのガイドレール１３の内側の遊技領域１４内に液晶表示手段１５、第１図柄始動手段１６、可変入賞手段１７、第２図柄始動手段１８、普通入賞手段１９等の複数の遊技部品が装着されている。
【００１１】
図２に示すように、前枠５の裏側には遊技盤８を裏側から押さえる裏機構板２０が開閉自在に装着されている。裏機構板２０には開口部２１が形成され、その上側に遊技球タンク２２及びタンクレール２３が、左右方向の一側に球払い出し手段２４が、下側に通路ユニット２５が夫々設けられている。
【００１２】
開口部２１には、遊技盤８の裏側に装着された裏カバー２６が嵌合されている。裏カバー２６は、遊技盤８に装着された液晶表示手段１５、第１図柄始動手段１６、可変入賞手段１７等の各遊技部品を裏側から覆うためのもので、遊技盤８に着脱自在に固定されている。また裏カバー２６には主制御基板等の各種制御基板を収納した基板ケース２７〜２９が着脱自在に装着され、その下方近傍では各種制御基板を収納した基板ケース３０，３１が裏機構板２０に着脱自在に装着されている。
【００１３】
図３〜図５に示すように、外枠２は左右に対向する一対の縦板３２と、上下に対向する一対の横板３３と、左右の縦板３２の下端側の前側にその両者に跨がって設けられた前板３４と、その前板３４の前側に着脱可能に装着された前板カバー３５とを備えている。また外枠２の左側にはヒンジ３，４のヒンジ板３６，３７が上下に固定されている。なお、ヒンジ３，４は外枠２側のヒンジ板３６，３７と、前枠５側のヒンジ板３６ａ，３７ａとを備えている。
【００１４】
前板３４には、この前板３４を前後に貫通する貫通穴によって構成された複数の位置決め穴部３８及び係合穴部３９が形成され、この位置決め穴部３８及び係合穴部３９に対応して前板カバー３５の裏面側には後方に突出する位置決め突部４０及び係合部４１が前板カバー３５に一体に設けられており、位置決め穴部３８と位置決め突部４０、及び係合穴部３９と係合部４１とによって前板カバー３５が前板３４に位置決めされて係止されている。
【００１５】
縦板３２及び横板３３は帯板状の積層合板等の木材からなり、縦長の矩形枠状に組み合わされて、その対応端がタッピングネジ４２等により着脱自在に固定されている。また下側の横板３３は一対の縦板３２及び上側の横板３３よりも前側に突出しており、その前側突出部３３ａの前端側は側面視において円弧状に形成されている。
【００１６】
前板３４は横長の帯板状の積層合板により構成され、その左右幅は、後述するように左右の縦板３２の左右外端間の寸法よりも僅かに小さく形成されている。そして前板３４は、その下面が横板３３の前側突出部３３ａの上面に、左右両端部の裏面が左右の縦板３２の下端側の前面に夫々当接されて、左右両端部に前側から挿通されたタッピングネジ４２等により縦板３２に固定されている。
【００１７】
前板３４の前面の木目は、そのタッピングネジ４２の挿通される部位に対応して左右両端側が横相に、それ以外の左右方向の中央部側が縦相に夫々構成されており、タッピングネジ４２の挿通によって前板３４の前面側の左右両側が木目に沿って裂けないようにされている。即ち、図６に示すように、前板３４は前面に縦相の木目を有する前板主構成材３４ａと、前面に横相の木目を有する前板副構成材３４ｂとを備え、前板主構成材３４ａの左右両端側にはその厚みの略半分程度だけ前側を切り欠いた切り欠き部４３が形成されており、この切り欠き部４３に前板副構成材３４ｂが接着剤等により固定されて、帯板状の前板３４が構成されている。
【００１８】
なお、外枠２の下端側の左右両端側には、縦板３２、横板３３及び前板３４の内側隅部に補強材４４が設けられ、この補強材４４により縦板３２、横板３３及び前板３４の固定部分が内側から補強されている。
【００１９】
前板カバー３５はＡＢＳ樹脂等の合成樹脂製であって、前板３４の略全面を前側から覆うように装着されている。前板カバー３５は横長の略４角形状の前面板部４５と、その前面板部４５の上端から後方に突出する前板上カバー部４６と、前面板部４５の左右両端から後方に突出する前板横カバー部４７と、前面板部４５の下端から後方に突出する下板部４８とを一体に備え、その前面板部４５、前板上カバー部４６、前板横カバー部４７及び下板部４８の内側に形成された空間に前板３４が嵌合している。また前面板部４５、前板上カバー部４６、前板横カバー部４７及び下板部４８は略同一の厚みに成型されている。
【００２０】
前板カバー３５の前面板部４５は、図４〜図７に示すように、少なくとも前板上カバー部４６及び前板横カバー部４７の厚み寸法分だけ前板３４よりも上側及び左右両側に大きい横長の略４角形状に構成されている。前面板部４５の下部側には左右の両端側を除いた略全長にわたって後側に凹入する凹入部４９が形成されている。また前面板部４５の裏面には、後方に突出する縦方向及び横方向の補強リブ５０が上下方向及び左右方向の略全長にわたって一体に成型されており、その補強リブ５０の後端面が前板３４の前面に当接している。縦方向の補強リブ５０は左右方向に複数本、横方向の補強リブ５０は前面板部４５の上下方向の略中央に１本夫々設けられている。
【００２１】
前板カバー３５の前板上カバー部４６は、図４、図５及び図７に示すように、前面板部４５の上端側に、後方に略水平に突出するように形成されており、前板３４をその上面に当接又は近接した状態で上側から覆っている。また下のヒンジ４のヒンジ板３７が前板３４の上面と左側の縦板３２の内側面とに跨がって外枠２に内側から固定されており、このヒンジ板３７に対応して前板上カバー部４６の左側には切り欠き部５１が形成されている。即ち、前面板部４５には、その左側にヒンジ板３７に対応して上端縁が前板上カバー部４６の厚み寸法程度だけ他の部分よりも低くなった段部５２が形成されており、この段部５２の上端側には前板上カバー部４６が形成されていない。なお、段部５２の上端側には後方に突出する補強リブ５０ａが形成されており、この補強リブ５０ａの後端面が前板３４の前面に当接している。
【００２２】
前板上カバー部４６は、その厚み寸法と略同じ又は若干大きい寸法だけ前板３４の後端から後側に突出しており、その後側突出部４６ａの後端部には左右方向の略全長にわたって上方に突出する立ち壁部５３が一体に成型されている。立ち壁部５３は前板上カバー部４６と略同じ又は若干薄い程度の厚みを有し、その厚みよりも若干大きい程度に前板上カバー部４６の上面から上方に突出している。また前板上カバー部４６の右端側の縦板３２に対応する部分には後側突出部４６ａ及び立ち壁部５３が設けられておらず、前板上カバー部４６の後端面が縦板３２の前面に当接している。
【００２３】
図７に示すように、立ち壁部５３は前枠５の下端部に対応して、前枠５の下面と前板上カバー部４６の上面との間の隙間を後方で塞ぐように設けられている。また立ち壁部５３の前面は閉状態の前枠５の後面よりも後方に配置されており、立ち壁部５３と前枠５とが接触しないようにされている。
【００２４】
前板カバー３５の前板横カバー部４７は、図４〜図６に示すように、前面板部４５の左右両端側の上下方向の略全長に、後方に突出するように形成され、前板３４をその両側面に当接又は近接した状態で横側から覆っており、後端面が縦板３２の前面に当接している。前板３４の左右両端縁は前板横カバー部４７の厚み分だけ縦板３２の左右両外端縁よりも内側にあり、前板横カバー部４７の外側面と縦板３２の外側面とが略面一状になっている。また右側の前板横カバー部４７は、その上端で前板上カバー部４６の右端に連続するように成型されている。
【００２５】
前板カバー３５の下板部４８は、図５〜図７に示すように、前面板部４５の下端側に、後方に突出するように形成され、その突出量は前板横カバー部４７の略半分程度となっている。また下板部４８は、係合部４１に対応する部分、即ち各係合部４１の左右に隣接する縦方向の補強リブ５０の間には設けられていない。一方、前板３４の下端側の前側には、図４及び図７に示すように、左右方向の全長にわたって下板部４８の厚み及び突出量に対応して切り欠かれた挿入部５４が形成されており、この挿入部５４に下板部４８が下側の横板３３の上面に当接又は近接した状態で挿入されている。また右端側及び左端側の下板部４８は、その右端及び左端で前板横カバー部４７の下端に連続するように成型されている。
【００２６】
位置決め突部４０は、図５、図６、図８及び図９に示すように、前板カバー３５の前面板部４５の裏側の左右両端側に、後方に略水平に突出するように前板カバー３５に一体に成型され、その突出量は前板３４の厚みよりも小さくなっている。位置決め突部４０は略円筒状の芯部５５と、その上下及び左右に十字状に形成される等、芯部５５の外周に周方向に略等間隔をおいて形成された周方向に複数個の位置決めリブ５６とを一体に備え、各位置決めリブ５６の後端側が芯部５５向きに傾斜した先細り状に構成されている。
【００２７】
また位置決め突部４０は前面板部４５の横方向の補強リブ５０に対応して前面板部４５の上下方向の略中央に配置されており、略同一の厚みに形成された横方向の補強リブ５０と左右の位置決めリブ５６との上面及び下面が夫々同一面に構成されている。
【００２８】
位置決め穴部３８は、図４及び図６に示すように、前板カバー３５の位置決め突部４０に対応する位置で前板３４を前後に貫通し且つ内周面が前後方向の全長にわたって略同径の略円形状に形成された貫通穴によって構成されている。位置決め穴部３８の内径は位置決め突部４０の前部側（根元側）の上下及び左右の寸法よりも僅かに小さく構成され、位置決め突部４０を位置決め穴部３８に圧入することにより、前板３４に前板カバー３５が上下及び左右方向に位置決めされるようになっている。また位置決め突部４０及び位置決め穴部３８は、少なくとも一部が左右の縦板３２と左右方向に重複する位置に配置されている。なお、位置決め突部４０及び位置決め穴部３８は縦板３２の近傍に配置しても良い。
【００２９】
係合部４１は、図５〜図９に示すように、前板カバー３５の前面板部４５の裏側に複数個、例えば左右両側とその中間とに３個設けられており、後方に略水平に突出するように前板カバー３５に一体に成型されて、前板３４の後端から後方に前板３４の厚みの半分程度だけ突出している。また左右両側の係合部４１は、左右両端側の位置決め突部４０よりも左右方向の内側に配置されている。係合部４１は、前部側の上下方向に弾性変形可能な帯板状の帯板部５７と、後端側の側面視において略３角形状に下向きに突出する係合突起部５８とを一体に備え、爪状に構成されている。
【００３０】
係合部４１の上側（係合突起部５８の突出方向の反対側）には、係合部４１の左右幅よりも大きい半径を有する前後方向の略円筒状に構成された保護部５９が前板カバー３５に一体に成型されている。保護部５９の下側の後部側には平面視略４角形状の凹欠部６０が形成され、この保護部５９の前側基部から係合部４１が一体に凹欠部６０内に突出しており、保護部５９によって係合部４１が上側から保護されている。また係合部４１及び保護部５９は、保護部５９が前板カバー３５の上下方向の略中央に位置するように配置されている。なお、係合部４１と保護部５９との後端は略面一状になっている。
【００３１】
係合穴部３９は、図４、図６及び図７に示すように、前板カバー３５の係合部４１及び保護部５９に対応する位置で前板３４を前後に貫通する貫通穴によって構成されている。係合穴部３９は、保護部５９の形状に対応して略円形状に構成され、下部側には下向きに略方形状に突出する案内溝３９ａが形成されており、前後方向の全長にわたって略同一断面形状を有している。案内溝３９ａは係合部４１の係合突起部５８と略同じ左右幅を有し、係合部４１の挿入の際に内下面に係合突起部５８が当接して帯板部５７を上向きに弾性変形させる程度の深さに構成されている。
【００３２】
図７に示すように、係合部４１の係合突起部５８は、その前端が前板３４の後端に対応するように設けられている。即ち、前板カバー３５の前面板部４５の補強リブ５０の後端から係合部４１の帯板部５７の後端（係合突起部５８の前端）までの寸法と前板３４の厚みとが略同じになっている。そして係合部４１の帯板部５７が係合穴部３９の案内溝３９ａの内下面に略当接し、係合突起部５８が係合穴部３９の下側で前板３４の裏面に係止されている。また係合穴部３９の上側及び横側の円形部分の内径は保護部５９の外径よりも若干大きくなっていて、保護部５９と係合穴部３９の内壁面との間には隙間が形成されている。
【００３３】
上記構成の前板カバー３５を前板３４に装着する際は、ヒンジ３，４の縦軸廻りに前枠５を開放状態、又は前枠５を外枠２から取り外した状態にしておいて、前板３４の位置決め穴部３８及び係合穴部３９に前板カバー３５の位置決め突部４０及び係合部４１と保護部５９とを挿入する。このとき、位置決め突部４０の後端側が先細り状に形成されると共に、係合穴部３９の上側及び横側が保護部５９より大きく構成されているので、容易に挿入できる。
【００３４】
次に、前板カバー３５の位置決め突部４０に対応する部位を前側から押圧して、前面板部４５の裏面の補強リブ５０の後端が前板３４の前面に当接するまで位置決め突部４０を位置決め穴部３８に圧入する。このとき位置決め突部４０及び位置決め穴部３８はその一部が左右の縦板３２に重複する位置に形成されているので、前板３４に後向きに力を加えるにもかかわらず前板３４が後方に撓むことがなく、位置決め突部４０及び係合部４１を確実に位置決め穴部３８及び係合穴部３９に挿入できる。
【００３５】
また位置決め突部４０の位置決め穴部３８への挿入に従って、係合部４１及び保護部５９が係合穴部３９に挿入されていく。このとき、係合部４１の係合突起部５８が係合穴部３９の案内溝３９ａの内下面に案内されて帯板部５７が上向きに弾性変形しながら後方に移動していき、係合部４１の係合突起部５８が前板３４の後端から完全に後方に突出したときに、帯板部５７が元の略水平状に戻って係合突起部５８が前板３４の裏面に係合し、前板カバー３５が係合部４１及び係合穴部３９により前板３４に係止される。また前板カバー３５は、位置決め穴部３８及び位置決め突部４０により前板３４に上下及び左右方向に確実に位置決めされる。
【００３６】
前板カバー３５を前板３４から取り外すときは、前板３４の裏面側で前板カバー３５の係合部４１の係合突起部５８と保護部５９とを指等でつまみ、係合部４１の帯板部５７を上方向に弾性変形させて前板３４との係合を解除し、前板カバー３５を前側に引き抜くだけでよく、簡単に前板３４から前板カバー３５を取り外すことができる。
【００３７】
このように前板カバー３５が着脱可能なので、例えば前板カバー３５を他のデザインに変更する際などは、容易且つ迅速に作業を行うことができる。また古い外枠２を取り外した後にも、木材の縦板３２、横板３３及び前板３４と合成樹脂の前板カバー３５とを簡単に取り分けることができ、夫々のリサイクルを促進できる。
【００３８】
この弾球遊技機は、外枠２の前板３４に複数個の位置決め穴部３８及び係合穴部３９を設け、位置決め穴部３８及び係合穴部３９に夫々対応する位置決め突部４０及び係合部４１を前板３４に着脱可能に装着される合成樹脂製の前板カバー３５に一体に設けたので、前板３４の上下の部材の有無に関係なく前板３４に対して前板カバー３５を位置決めでき、前板カバー３５を簡単な構造で容易に装着できる。
【００３９】
位置決め穴部３８及び係合穴部３９を前板３４を貫通する貫通穴により構成したので、位置決め穴部３８及び係合穴部３９を容易に形成できる。特に位置決め穴部３８及び係合穴部３９を前後方向の全長にわたって略同一断面形状に構成したので、位置決め穴部３８及び係合穴部３９を更に容易に形成できる。
【００４０】
前板カバー３５に前板３４の上側を覆う前板上カバー部４６を設け、その前板上カバー部４６の後側に前枠５の下端部に対応する立ち壁部５３を設けたので、簡単な構造で前枠５と前板３４との間の隙間から薄板等を挿入して不正をはたらく行為を防止できる。また前板カバー３５に前板上カバー部４６及び前板横カバー部４７を設けたことにより、前板カバー３５の撓みを防止できると共に、その強度も増す。
【００４１】
外枠２の左側に、前枠５を枢着するヒンジ３，４のヒンジ板３６，３７を取り付け、前板上カバー部４６の左側に下のヒンジ４のヒンジ板３７に対応して切り欠き部５１を形成したので、前板上カバー部４６とヒンジ板３７との干渉を防止でき、ヒンジ板３７を従来と同様に前板３４の上面に固定できる。
【００４２】
前板カバー３５の係合部４１を爪状の構造としたので、簡単な構造で確実に前板カバー３５を前板３４に係止できる。また係合部４１の上側に係合部４１を保護する保護部５９を設けたので、係合部４１の破損の惧れを少なくできる。さらに、係合部４１と保護部５９とを指等でつまむことにより係合部４１と前板３４の裏面との係合を簡単に外すことができる。
【００４３】
図１０及び図１１は本発明の第２の実施形態を例示する。この実施形態は位置決め穴部３８と係合穴部３９、及び位置決め突部４０と係合部４１とを夫々一体に構成したものである。図１０に示すように、係合部４１は第１の実施形態と同様にその上側に一体に保護部５９を備えている。位置決め突部４０は、保護部５９とその左右両側から突出する位置決めリブ５６とにより構成されている。位置決めリブ５６は保護部５９の前後方向の略全長にわたって形成され、その後端側が保護部５９向きに傾斜して先細り状に構成されている。また位置決めリブ５６の厚みは前面板部４５の横方向の補強リブ５０の厚みと略同一となっており、位置決めリブ５６と横方向の補強リブ５０との上面及び下面が夫々同一面に構成されている。
【００４４】
一方、前板３４には、図１１に示すように、一体に構成された位置決め突部４０及び係合部４１に対応して位置決め穴部３８及び係合穴部３９を兼用する略円形状の貫通穴６１が形成されている。なお、貫通穴６１の左右方向の寸法は左右の位置決めリブ５６の前部側の左右両端間の寸法よりも僅かに小さくなっており、位置決め突部４０をこの貫通穴６１に圧入することにより、前板３４に前板カバー３５が上下及び左右方向に位置決めされるようになっている。貫通穴６１は前板３４の左右両端側に、外枠２の左右両端側の補強材４４の内側近傍で形成されており、圧入の際に前板３４が撓まないようになっている。
【００４５】
この第２の実施形態でも第１の実施形態と略同様の効果を得ることができると共に、前板カバー３５及び前板３４の構成を簡単にできる。例えば、前板カバー３５の前面板部４５から後方に突出する突部４０，４１の数が少なくなり、前板カバー３５の成型に用いる金型の構成が簡単になる等、製作が容易になる。また前板３４を貫通する穴部３８，３９の個数が少なくなり、前板３４の加工が簡単になり、前板３４の強度も増す。さらに、係合部４１の上側の保護部５９に位置決めリブ５６を一体に設けたことにより保護部５９の強度が増す。
【００４６】
以上、本発明の各実施形態について詳述したが、本発明は各実施形態に限られるものではなく種々の変更が可能である。例えば、前板カバー３５の前板上カバー部４６、前板横カバー部４７及び下板部４８は必ずしも設ける必要はない。即ち、前板カバー３５は少なくとも前側から前板３４を覆い、位置決め突部４０及び係合部４１を一体に備えていれば良い。
【００４７】
位置決め穴部３８と位置決め突部４０、及び係合穴部３９と係合部４１の配置及び個数は適宜変更可能である。例えば、係合穴部３９及び係合部４１は１又は複数設けてあれば良く、実施形態の３個に限られるものではない。位置決め穴部３８及び位置決め突部４０も１又は複数設けてあれば良く、実施形態の２個に限られるものではない。また位置決め穴部３８と位置決め突部４０、及び係合穴部３９と係合部４１は、実施形態のように左右に複数設ける以外にも、上下に複数設けることも可能である。
【００４８】
また第１の実施形態では位置決め穴部３８及び位置決め突部４０は、左右方向において一部が左右の縦板３２と重複する位置に形成されているが、必ずしも左右の縦板３２と重複する位置に形成しなくても良い。その場合、前板３４に前板カバー３５を装着したときに、位置決め突部４０の後端側が前板３４の後端から後方に突出するようにしても良い。なお、圧入の際の前板３４の撓みを防止するためには、左右方向において位置決め穴部３８及び位置決め突部４０と左右の縦板３２とがなるべく近接していることが望ましい。
【００４９】
位置決め突部４０及び係合部４１の形状も各実施形態に限られるものではない。例えば位置決め突部４０は、位置決めリブ５６を設けずにその芯部５５を先細り状に形成しても良い。即ち、位置決め突部４０及び係合部４１は、前板３４側の位置決め穴部３８及び係合穴部３９を介して前板カバー３５を前板３４に位置決め及び係合可能であれば、その形状は適宜変更すれば良い。係合部４１の係合突起部５８は、下向き以外にも、上向き、横向き等に突出して係合穴部３９の上側、横側等で前板３４の裏面に係合するように構成しても良く、その突出方向に対応して帯板部５７の弾性変形可能な方向を適宜変更すれば良い。その場合、保護部５９は、係合突起部５８の突出方向の反対側から係合部４１を覆うように設ければ良い。なお、保護部５９は、その形状を適宜変更しても良いし、必ずしも設けなくても良い。
【００５０】
実施形態では前板カバー３５の前板上カバー部４６の後端側に立ち壁部５３を設けているが、立ち壁部５３は前板上カバー部４６の後側に前枠５の下端部に対応するように設けていれば十分であり、前板上カバー部４６の後側であれば後端側である必要はない。また実施形態では外枠２及び前枠５を積層合板等の木材によって構成しているが、合成樹脂材料、その他により構成しても良い。なお、外枠２の縦板３２、横板３３及び前板３４をタッピングネジ４２により固定しているが、その他のネジ、クギ、ボルト・ナット等により固定しても良い。
【００５１】
その他、本発明はパチンコ機に限らず、アレンジボール、雀球遊技機等の各種の弾球遊技機でも同様に実施することができる。
【００５２】
【発明の効果】
本発明では、遊技盤８が装着された前枠５と、該前枠５が縦軸心廻りに開閉自在に装着された外枠２とを備えた弾球遊技機において、外枠２は左右に対向する一対の縦板３２と、上下に対向する一対の横板３３と、左右の縦板３２の下端側の前側にその両者に跨がって設けられた前板３４と、該前板３４の前側に着脱可能に装着された合成樹脂製の前板カバー３５とを備え、前板３４に、その左右両端部で且つ少なくとも一部が縦板３２に対応する位置又は縦板３２の近傍位置に位置決め穴部３８を、該位置決め穴部３８間の中間に左右方向に複数個の係合穴部３９を夫々形成し、前板カバー３５は前板３４に当接してその略全面を前側から覆う前面板部４５と、該前面板部４５の上端縁から後方に突出して前板３４を上側から覆う左右方向の上カバー部４６と、前面板部４５の左右両端から後方に屈曲して前板３４を左右両側から覆う横カバー部４７と、前面板部４５の下端から後方に突出して前板３４の下端側の挿入部５４に挿入される左右方向の下板部４８とを一体に備え、前面板部４５の裏側の左右に、各位置決め穴部３８に前側から圧入される位置決め突部４０を、前面板部４５の裏側の中間に各係合穴部３９に前側から挿入されて係脱自在に係合する複数個の係合部４１を夫々一体に備え、下板部４８は各係合部４１に対応する部分を除いて前面板部４５の左右方向の略全長に設けられているので、前板３４の上下の部材の有無に関係なく前板３４に対して前板カバー３５を位置決めでき、前板カバー３５を簡単な構造で容易に装着できる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１の実施形態を示す弾球遊技機の正面図である。
【図２】本発明の第１の実施形態を示す弾球遊技機の背面図である。
【図３】本発明の第１の実施形態を示す弾球遊技機の側面図である。
【図４】本発明の第１の実施形態を示す外枠の斜視図である。
【図５】本発明の第１の実施形態を示す前板カバー３５の断面図及び正面図である。
【図６】本発明の第１の実施形態を示す要部の断面図である。
【図７】本発明の第１の実施形態を示す要部の断面図である。
【図８】本発明の第１の実施形態を示す要部の背面図である。
【図９】本発明の第１の実施形態を示す要部の斜視図である。
【図１０】本発明の第２の実施形態を示す要部の斜視図である。
【図１１】本発明の第２の実施形態を示す要部の背面図である。
【符号の説明】
２ 外枠
３ ヒンジ
４ ヒンジ
５ 前枠
８ 遊技盤
３２ 縦板
３３ 横板
３４ 前板
３５ 前板カバー
３６ ヒンジ板
３７ ヒンジ板
３８ 位置決め穴部
３９ 係合穴部
４０ 位置決め突部
４１ 係合部
４６ 前板上カバー部
５１ 切り欠き部
５３ 立ち壁部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine, an arrangement ball machine, and a sparrow ball game machine, and particularly to an outer frame thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine is one in which a front plate cover made of a synthetic resin is attached to a front plate at a lower front side of an outer frame, as described in JP-A-11-244494. . This outer frame is composed of wood such as plywood, and is assembled in a rectangular frame shape by a pair of vertical plates facing left and right and a pair of horizontal plates facing vertically, and the outer frame is placed on the front side at the lower end side of the left and right vertical plates. The front plate is fixed over both. Also, on the left side of the outer frame, a front frame on which a game board or the like is mounted is mounted so as to be openable and closable around a vertical axis through upper and lower hinges.
[0003]
The front plate cover is integrally formed with engagement portions on the left and right sides of the back side thereof, and the engagement portions are inserted into engagement holes formed in the front plate and engaged with the front plate. It is detachably mounted on the front side of the front plate. The engaging part is constituted by a band plate part that can be elastically deformed in the vertical direction and an engaging projection part provided on the upper surface side of the band plate part. In addition, the engagement hole portion is configured by a front-viewing quadrangular through hole that penetrates the front plate back and forth, and when the engagement portion is inserted into the engagement hole portion, the engagement protrusion portion is It is adapted to be engaged with the upper edge of the back side.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional front plate cover mounting structure, there is a gap between the inner upper wall surface of the engagement hole portion of the front plate and the upper surface of the band plate portion of the engagement portion of the front plate cover. The front plate cover with respect to the backlash in the up and down direction cannot be fixed. If the upper end of the front plate cover is brought into contact with a friction prevention member attached to the upper end of the front plate to prevent interference between the front plate and the front frame, the front plate cover will not rattle in the vertical direction. Can be prevented.
[0005]
However, in this conventional structure, in order to prevent backlash in the vertical direction of the front plate cover with respect to the front plate, it is necessary to separately provide another member for positioning on the upper side of the front plate. There is a problem that the installation work becomes complicated.
[0006]
In view of such conventional problems, the present invention can position the front plate cover with respect to the front plate regardless of the presence or absence of the upper and lower members of the front plate, and can easily mount the front plate cover with a simple structure. The purpose is to provide a machine.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a ball game machine comprising a front frame 5 to which a game board 8 is mounted and an outer frame 2 to which the front frame 5 is mounted so as to be openable and closable around a longitudinal axis. A pair of vertical plates 32 opposed to the left and right, a pair of horizontal plates 33 opposed to the upper and lower sides, a front plate 34 provided on the front side of the lower end side of the left and right vertical plates 32 straddling both, A synthetic resin front plate cover 35 detachably mounted on the front side of the front plate 34,A positioning hole 38 is provided at a position corresponding to the vertical plate 32 or at a position near the vertical plate 32 at both left and right ends thereof, and a plurality of engagements in the left-right direction between the positioning holes 38. A front hole cover 39 is formed, and the front plate cover 35 is in contact with the front plate 34 and covers substantially the entire surface from the front side, and protrudes backward from the upper edge of the front plate portion 45 to A left and right upper cover portion 46 that covers the front plate 34 from above, a lateral cover portion 47 that is bent backward from both left and right ends of the front plate portion 45 to cover the front plate 34 from both left and right sides, and the front plate portion 45. And a lower plate portion 48 in the left-right direction that protrudes rearward from the lower end of the front plate 34 and is inserted into the insertion portion 54 on the lower end side of the front plate 34. The positioning protrusion 40 press-fitted into the portion 38 from the front side, In the middle of the back side of the front plate portion 45, a plurality of engagement portions 41 are integrally inserted into the respective engagement hole portions 39 from the front side so as to be detachably engaged. Except for the portion corresponding to the engaging portion 41, the front plate portion 45 is provided substantially in the left-right direction.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 9 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a gaming machine main body, a rectangular frame-shaped outer frame 2 and upper and lower hinges 3 on the left side of the outer frame 2. 4 and a front frame 5 pivotally attached to be freely opened and closed via 4. A glass door 6 and a front plate 7 are attached to the front frame 5, and a game board 8 is detachably attached to the back side thereof.
[0009]
The front plate 7 is equipped with an upper plate 9 for storing a game ball for launch. A lower plate 10 for storing surplus spheres is attached to the lower part of the front frame 5, and a firing handle 12 of the firing means 11 is disposed on the side of the lower plate 10. The launching means 11 is provided with a striking rod that is driven when the firing handle 12 is operated, so that game balls supplied one by one on the firing rail are hit with the striking rod and fired toward the game board 8 side. It has become.
[0010]
A guide rail 13 for guiding a game ball launched from the launching means 11 is annularly mounted on the front surface of the game board 8, and the liquid crystal display means 15 and the first symbol start in the game area 14 inside the guide rail 13. A plurality of game parts such as means 16, variable winning means 17, second symbol starting means 18, and normal winning means 19 are mounted.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 2, a back mechanism plate 20 that presses the game board 8 from the back side is attached to the back side of the front frame 5 so as to be freely opened and closed. An opening 21 is formed in the back mechanism plate 20, a game ball tank 22 and a tank rail 23 are provided on the upper side thereof, a ball payout means 24 is provided on one side in the left-right direction, and a passage unit 25 is provided on the lower side. .
[0012]
A back cover 26 mounted on the back side of the game board 8 is fitted into the opening 21. The back cover 26 covers the game parts such as the liquid crystal display means 15, the first symbol starting means 16, and the variable winning means 17 mounted on the game board 8 from the back side, and is detachably fixed to the game board 8. Has been. The back cover 26 is detachably mounted with substrate cases 27 to 29 containing various control boards such as a main control board. Substrate cases 30 and 31 containing various control boards are attached to the back mechanism plate 20 near the lower side. It is attached detachably.
[0013]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the outer frame 2 has a pair of vertical plates 32 opposed to the left and right, a pair of horizontal plates 33 opposed to the upper and lower sides, and a front side at the lower end side of the left and right vertical plates 32. A front plate 34 is provided across the front plate 34, and a front plate cover 35 is detachably mounted on the front side of the front plate 34. On the left side of the outer frame 2, hinge plates 36 and 37 of the hinges 3 and 4 are fixed vertically. The hinges 3 and 4 include hinge plates 36 and 37 on the outer frame 2 side and hinge plates 36a and 37a on the front frame 5 side.
[0014]
The front plate 34 is formed with a plurality of positioning hole portions 38 and engagement hole portions 39 formed by through holes penetrating the front plate 34 in the front-rear direction, and corresponds to the positioning hole portions 38 and the engagement hole portions 39. A positioning projection 40 and an engagement portion 41 projecting rearward are provided integrally with the front plate cover 35 on the back side of the front plate cover 35, and the positioning hole 38, the positioning projection 40, and the engagement are provided. The front plate cover 35 is positioned and locked to the front plate 34 by the hole 39 and the engaging portion 41.
[0015]
The vertical plate 32 and the horizontal plate 33 are made of wood such as a strip-like laminated plywood, and are combined in a vertically long rectangular frame shape, and their corresponding ends are detachably fixed by tapping screws 42 or the like. The lower horizontal plate 33 protrudes forward from the pair of vertical plates 32 and the upper horizontal plate 33, and the front end side of the front protruding portion 33a is formed in an arc shape in a side view.
[0016]
The front plate 34 is formed of a horizontally long strip-like laminated plywood, and the width of the left and right sides is slightly smaller than the size between the left and right outer ends of the left and right vertical plates 32 as will be described later. The lower surface of the front plate 34 is in contact with the upper surface of the front protrusion 33a of the horizontal plate 33, and the rear surfaces of both left and right ends are in contact with the front surfaces on the lower ends of the left and right vertical plates 32, respectively. It is fixed to the vertical plate 32 by a tapping screw 42 or the like inserted therethrough.
[0017]
The grain of the front surface of the front plate 34 is configured so that the left and right ends correspond to the horizontal phase and the other central portion in the horizontal direction corresponds to the vertical phase corresponding to the part through which the tapping screw 42 is inserted. The right and left sides on the front side of the front plate 34 are prevented from tearing along the grain. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the front plate 34 includes a front plate main component 34a having a longitudinal grain on the front surface and a front plate sub-component 34b having a horizontal phase grain on the front surface. A notch 43 is formed on both the left and right ends of the component 34a by cutting out the front side by about half of its thickness. The front plate sub-component 34b is fixed to the notch 43 by an adhesive or the like. Thus, a band plate-like front plate 34 is configured.
[0018]
A reinforcing material 44 is provided at the inner corners of the vertical plate 32, the horizontal plate 33, and the front plate 34 on the left and right ends of the lower end side of the outer frame 2, and the vertical plate 32 and the horizontal plate 33 are provided by the reinforcing material 44. And the fixed part of the front plate 34 is reinforced from the inside.
[0019]
The front plate cover 35 is made of synthetic resin such as ABS resin, and is mounted so as to cover substantially the entire front plate 34 from the front side. The front plate cover 35 is a horizontally long front plate portion 45 having a substantially rectangular shape, a front plate upper cover portion 46 that protrudes rearward from the upper end of the front plate portion 45, and a rearward projection from the left and right ends of the front plate portion 45. A front plate side cover portion 47 and a lower plate portion 48 projecting rearward from the lower end of the front plate portion 45 are integrally provided, and the front plate portion 45, the front plate upper cover portion 46, the front plate side cover portion 47 and the lower plate portion are provided. The front plate 34 is fitted in a space formed inside the plate portion 48. The front plate portion 45, the front plate upper cover portion 46, the front plate side cover portion 47, and the lower plate portion 48 are formed to have substantially the same thickness.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the front plate portion 45 of the front plate cover 35 is on the upper side and the left and right sides of the front plate 34 at least by the thickness dimension of the front plate upper cover portion 46 and the front plate side cover portion 47. It is configured to be a large horizontally long substantially quadrangular shape. A recessed portion 49 is formed on the lower side of the front plate portion 45 so as to be recessed on the rear side over substantially the entire length excluding the left and right ends. In addition, longitudinal and lateral reinforcing ribs 50 projecting rearward are integrally formed on the rear surface of the front plate portion 45 over substantially the entire length in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the rear end surface of the reinforcing rib 50 is the front plate. 34 is in contact with the front surface. A plurality of longitudinal reinforcing ribs 50 are provided in the left-right direction, and one reinforcing rib 50 in the lateral direction is provided approximately at the center of the front plate portion 45 in the vertical direction.
[0021]
The front plate upper cover portion 46 of the front plate cover 35 is formed on the upper end side of the front plate portion 45 so as to protrude substantially horizontally rearward as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7. The plate 34 is covered from the upper side while being in contact with or close to the upper surface thereof. Further, the hinge plate 37 of the lower hinge 4 is fixed to the outer frame 2 from the inner side across the upper surface of the front plate 34 and the inner surface of the left vertical plate 32, and the front of the hinge plate 37 corresponds to the hinge plate 37. A notch 51 is formed on the left side of the plate upper cover 46. That is, on the left side of the front plate portion 45, a step portion 52 whose upper edge is lower than the other portions by the thickness of the front plate upper cover portion 46 corresponding to the hinge plate 37 is formed. On the upper end side of the stepped portion 52, the front plate upper cover portion 46 is not formed. A reinforcing rib 50a that protrudes rearward is formed on the upper end side of the stepped portion 52, and the rear end surface of the reinforcing rib 50a is in contact with the front surface of the front plate 34.
[0022]
The front plate upper cover portion 46 protrudes rearward from the rear end of the front plate 34 by a dimension that is substantially the same as or slightly larger than its thickness dimension, and extends substantially along the left-right direction at the rear end portion of the rear protrusion 46a. A standing wall portion 53 protruding upward is integrally formed. The standing wall portion 53 has a thickness that is substantially the same as or slightly thinner than the front plate upper cover portion 46, and protrudes upward from the upper surface of the front plate upper cover portion 46 so as to be slightly larger than the thickness. Further, the rear protrusion 46 a and the standing wall 53 are not provided in the portion corresponding to the vertical plate 32 on the right end side of the front plate upper cover portion 46, and the rear end surface of the front plate upper cover portion 46 is the vertical plate 32. It is in contact with the front surface.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 7, the standing wall portion 53 is provided corresponding to the lower end portion of the front frame 5 so as to block the gap between the lower surface of the front frame 5 and the upper surface of the front plate upper cover portion 46 at the rear. ing. The front surface of the standing wall portion 53 is disposed behind the rear surface of the closed front frame 5 so that the standing wall portion 53 and the front frame 5 do not come into contact with each other.
[0024]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the front plate side cover portion 47 of the front plate cover 35 is formed so as to protrude rearward at substantially the entire length in the vertical direction on the left and right ends of the front plate portion 45. 34 is covered from the lateral side in contact with or close to both side surfaces, and the rear end surface is in contact with the front surface of the vertical plate 32. The left and right end edges of the front plate 34 are inside the left and right outer end edges of the vertical plate 32 by the thickness of the front plate horizontal cover portion 47, and the outer surface of the front plate horizontal cover portion 47 and the outer surface of the vertical plate 32 are Is substantially flush. Further, the right front plate lateral cover portion 47 is formed so as to be continuous with the right end of the front plate upper cover portion 46 at its upper end.
[0025]
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the lower plate portion 48 of the front plate cover 35 is formed on the lower end side of the front plate portion 45 so as to protrude rearward. It is about half. Further, the lower plate portion 48 is not provided between portions corresponding to the engaging portions 41, that is, between the vertical reinforcing ribs 50 adjacent to the left and right of each engaging portion 41. On the other hand, on the front side of the lower end side of the front plate 34, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, an insertion portion 54 that is cut out corresponding to the thickness and the protruding amount of the lower plate portion 48 is formed over the entire length in the left-right direction. The lower plate portion 48 is inserted into the insertion portion 54 with being in contact with or close to the upper surface of the lower horizontal plate 33. The lower plate portion 48 on the right end side and the left end side is formed so as to be continuous with the lower end of the front plate side cover portion 47 at the right end and the left end.
[0026]
As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 8, and 9, the positioning protrusions 40 are arranged on the front plate so as to protrude substantially horizontally rearward on the left and right ends on the back side of the front plate 45 of the front plate cover 35. It is molded integrally with the cover 35, and the protruding amount is smaller than the thickness of the front plate 34. A plurality of positioning protrusions 40 are formed in a circumferential direction formed on the outer periphery of the core portion 55 at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction, such as a substantially cylindrical core portion 55 and a cross shape formed on the upper and lower sides and the left and right sides thereof. The positioning ribs 56 are integrally provided, and the rear end side of each positioning rib 56 is configured to be tapered toward the core portion 55.
[0027]
Further, the positioning protrusion 40 is disposed substantially at the center in the vertical direction of the front plate portion 45 in correspondence with the horizontal reinforcing rib 50 of the front plate portion 45, and is formed in substantially the same thickness. The upper surface and the lower surface of 50 and the left and right positioning ribs 56 are formed on the same surface.
[0028]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the positioning hole 38 penetrates the front plate 34 in the front-rear direction at a position corresponding to the positioning protrusion 40 of the front plate cover 35, and the inner peripheral surface is substantially the same over the entire length in the front-rear direction. It is comprised by the through-hole formed in the substantially circular shape of a diameter. The inner diameter of the positioning hole 38 is slightly smaller than the vertical and horizontal dimensions on the front side (base side) of the positioning protrusion 40, and the front plate is formed by press-fitting the positioning protrusion 40 into the positioning hole 38. 34, the front plate cover 35 is positioned vertically and horizontally. Further, the positioning protrusion 40 and the positioning hole 38 are arranged at positions where at least a part thereof overlaps with the left and right vertical plates 32 in the left-right direction. The positioning protrusion 40 and the positioning hole 38 may be disposed in the vicinity of the vertical plate 32.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 9, a plurality of engagement portions 41 are provided on the back side of the front plate portion 45 of the front plate cover 35, for example, three on the left and right sides and in the middle thereof, The front plate cover 35 is formed integrally with the front plate 34 so as to protrude rearward from the rear end of the front plate 34 by about half the thickness of the front plate 34. The left and right engaging portions 41 are disposed on the inner side in the left-right direction than the positioning protrusions 40 on the left and right ends. The engaging portion 41 includes a strip-like strip plate portion 57 that is elastically deformable in the vertical direction on the front side, and an engaging projection portion 58 that protrudes downward in a substantially triangular shape in a side view on the rear end side. It is provided in one piece and configured in a claw shape.
[0030]
On the upper side of the engaging portion 41 (opposite to the protruding direction of the engaging projection portion 58) is a protective portion 59 that is configured in a substantially cylindrical shape in the front-rear direction and has a radius larger than the left-right width of the engaging portion 41. Molded integrally with the plate cover 35. A recessed portion 60 having a substantially quadrangular shape in plan view is formed on the lower rear side of the protective portion 59, and the engaging portion 41 protrudes integrally into the recessed portion 60 from the front base portion of the protective portion 59. The engaging portion 41 is protected from the upper side by the protective portion 59. Further, the engaging portion 41 and the protection portion 59 are arranged so that the protection portion 59 is located at the approximate center in the vertical direction of the front plate cover 35. The rear ends of the engaging portion 41 and the protective portion 59 are substantially flush.
[0031]
As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, the engagement hole portion 39 is configured by a through hole that penetrates the front plate 34 forward and backward at a position corresponding to the engagement portion 41 and the protection portion 59 of the front plate cover 35. Has been. The engagement hole 39 is formed in a substantially circular shape corresponding to the shape of the protection part 59, and a guide groove 39a is formed on the lower side so as to protrude downward in a substantially square shape. Have the same cross-sectional shape. The guide groove 39a has substantially the same left-right width as the engagement protrusion 58 of the engagement portion 41. When the engagement portion 41 is inserted, the engagement protrusion 58 abuts on the inner and lower surfaces and the band plate portion 57 faces upward. The depth is such that it is elastically deformed.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 7, the engaging protrusion 58 of the engaging portion 41 is provided so that the front end thereof corresponds to the rear end of the front plate 34. That is, the dimension from the rear end of the reinforcing rib 50 of the front plate portion 45 of the front plate cover 35 to the rear end of the band plate portion 57 of the engaging portion 41 (the front end of the engaging projection portion 58), the thickness of the front plate 34, Are almost the same. Then, the band plate portion 57 of the engagement portion 41 substantially contacts the inner and lower surfaces of the guide groove 39 a of the engagement hole portion 39, and the engagement projection portion 58 is engaged with the back surface of the front plate 34 below the engagement hole portion 39. It has been stopped. In addition, the inner diameters of the circular portions on the upper side and the lateral side of the engagement hole 39 are slightly larger than the outer diameter of the protection part 59, and there is a gap between the protection part 59 and the inner wall surface of the engagement hole part 39. Is formed.
[0033]
When the front plate cover 35 having the above-described configuration is attached to the front plate 34, the front frame 5 is opened around the vertical axis of the hinges 3 and 4, or the front frame 5 is removed from the outer frame 2. The positioning protrusions 40, the engaging portions 41, and the protection portions 59 of the front plate cover 35 are inserted into the positioning hole portions 38 and the engaging hole portions 39 of the front plate 34. At this time, the rear end side of the positioning protrusion 40 is formed in a tapered shape, and the upper side and the lateral side of the engagement hole 39 are configured to be larger than the protection part 59, so that they can be easily inserted.
[0034]
Next, the position corresponding to the positioning protrusion 40 of the front plate cover 35 is pressed from the front side until the rear end of the reinforcing rib 50 on the back surface of the front plate portion 45 contacts the front surface of the front plate 34. Is press-fitted into the positioning hole 38. At this time, since the positioning projection 40 and the positioning hole 38 are formed at positions where part of them overlaps with the left and right vertical plates 32, the front plate 34 is rearward even though a force is applied rearward to the front plate 34. Therefore, the positioning protrusion 40 and the engaging portion 41 can be reliably inserted into the positioning hole 38 and the engaging hole 39.
[0035]
Further, as the positioning protrusion 40 is inserted into the positioning hole 38, the engaging portion 41 and the protection portion 59 are inserted into the engaging hole 39. At this time, the engagement protrusion 58 of the engagement portion 41 is guided by the inner and lower surfaces of the guide groove 39a of the engagement hole 39, and the band plate portion 57 moves backward while elastically deforming upward. When the engaging projection 58 of the portion 41 protrudes completely rearward from the rear end of the front plate 34, the band plate portion 57 returns to the original substantially horizontal shape and the engaging projection 58 is on the back surface of the front plate 34. The front plate cover 35 is engaged with the front plate 34 by the engagement portion 41 and the engagement hole 39. The front plate cover 35 is reliably positioned in the vertical and horizontal directions on the front plate 34 by the positioning hole 38 and the positioning protrusion 40.
[0036]
When the front plate cover 35 is removed from the front plate 34, the engagement protrusion 41 and the protection portion 59 of the engagement portion 41 of the front plate cover 35 are pinched with fingers or the like on the back side of the front plate 34. It is only necessary to elastically deform the belt plate portion 57 upward to release the engagement with the front plate 34 and to pull out the front plate cover 35 to the front side. The front plate cover 35 can be easily removed from the front plate 34. it can.
[0037]
Since the front plate cover 35 is detachable as described above, for example, when the front plate cover 35 is changed to another design, the work can be easily and quickly performed. Further, even after the old outer frame 2 is removed, the vertical board 32, the horizontal board 33 and the front board 34 of the wood and the front board cover 35 of the synthetic resin can be easily separated, and the respective recycling can be promoted.
[0038]
This ball game machine is provided with a plurality of positioning hole portions 38 and engaging hole portions 39 in the front plate 34 of the outer frame 2, and positioning protrusions 40 corresponding to the positioning hole portions 38 and the engaging hole portions 39, respectively. Since the engaging portion 41 is provided integrally with the front plate cover 35 made of a synthetic resin that is detachably attached to the front plate 34, the front plate with respect to the front plate 34 regardless of the presence or absence of the upper and lower members of the front plate 34. The cover 35 can be positioned, and the front plate cover 35 can be easily mounted with a simple structure.
[0039]
Since the positioning hole 38 and the engagement hole 39 are formed by through holes that penetrate the front plate 34, the positioning hole 38 and the engagement hole 39 can be easily formed. In particular, since the positioning hole 38 and the engagement hole 39 are configured to have substantially the same cross-sectional shape over the entire length in the front-rear direction, the positioning hole 38 and the engagement hole 39 can be formed more easily.
[0040]
Since the front plate cover 35 is provided with a front plate upper cover portion 46 that covers the upper side of the front plate 34, and the standing wall portion 53 corresponding to the lower end portion of the front frame 5 is provided on the rear side of the front plate upper cover portion 46. It is possible to prevent an illegal act by inserting a thin plate or the like through a gap between the front frame 5 and the front plate 34 with a simple structure. Further, the front plate cover 35 is provided with the front plate upper cover portion 46 and the front plate side cover portion 47, thereby preventing the front plate cover 35 from being bent and increasing its strength.
[0041]
The hinge plates 36 and 37 of the hinges 3 and 4 pivotally attached to the front frame 5 are attached to the left side of the outer frame 2, and the left side of the front plate upper cover portion 46 is cut out corresponding to the hinge plate 37 of the lower hinge 4. Since the portion 51 is formed, the interference between the front plate upper cover portion 46 and the hinge plate 37 can be prevented, and the hinge plate 37 can be fixed to the upper surface of the front plate 34 as in the prior art.
[0042]
Since the engaging portion 41 of the front plate cover 35 has a claw-like structure, the front plate cover 35 can be reliably locked to the front plate 34 with a simple structure. In addition, since the protective portion 59 that protects the engaging portion 41 is provided on the upper side of the engaging portion 41, the possibility of damage of the engaging portion 41 can be reduced. Furthermore, the engagement between the engagement portion 41 and the back surface of the front plate 34 can be easily released by pinching the engagement portion 41 and the protection portion 59 with a finger or the like.
[0043]
10 and 11 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the positioning hole 38 and the engaging hole 39, and the positioning protrusion 40 and the engaging part 41 are integrally formed. As shown in FIG. 10, the engaging portion 41 is integrally provided with a protective portion 59 on the upper side thereof as in the first embodiment. The positioning protrusion 40 includes a protection part 59 and positioning ribs 56 protruding from the left and right sides. The positioning rib 56 is formed over substantially the entire length of the protection portion 59 in the front-rear direction, and its rear end side is inclined toward the protection portion 59 and is tapered. Further, the thickness of the positioning rib 56 is substantially the same as the thickness of the lateral reinforcing rib 50 of the front plate portion 45, and the upper and lower surfaces of the positioning rib 56 and the lateral reinforcing rib 50 are configured to be the same surface. ing.
[0044]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, the front plate 34 has a substantially circular shape that serves as both the positioning hole 38 and the engaging hole 39 corresponding to the positioning protrusion 40 and the engaging portion 41 that are integrally formed. A through hole 61 is formed. In addition, the dimension in the left-right direction of the through hole 61 is slightly smaller than the dimension between the left and right ends on the front side of the left and right positioning ribs 56. By pressing the positioning protrusion 40 into the through hole 61, A front plate cover 35 is positioned on the front plate 34 in the vertical and horizontal directions. The through holes 61 are formed on the left and right ends of the front plate 34 in the vicinity of the inner side of the reinforcing member 44 on the left and right ends of the outer frame 2 so that the front plate 34 does not bend during press-fitting.
[0045]
In the second embodiment, substantially the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the configurations of the front plate cover 35 and the front plate 34 can be simplified. For example, the number of protrusions 40 and 41 protruding rearward from the front plate portion 45 of the front plate cover 35 is reduced, and the structure of the mold used for molding the front plate cover 35 is simplified. . Further, the number of holes 38 and 39 penetrating the front plate 34 is reduced, the processing of the front plate 34 is simplified, and the strength of the front plate 34 is increased. Further, since the positioning rib 56 is provided integrally with the protective part 59 on the upper side of the engaging part 41, the strength of the protective part 59 is increased.
[0046]
As mentioned above, although each embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not restricted to each embodiment, A various change is possible. For example, the front plate upper cover portion 46, the front plate side cover portion 47, and the lower plate portion 48 of the front plate cover 35 are not necessarily provided. That is, the front plate cover 35 only needs to cover the front plate 34 at least from the front side and integrally include the positioning protrusion 40 and the engaging portion 41.
[0047]
The arrangement and the number of the positioning hole 38 and the positioning protrusion 40, and the engaging hole 39 and the engaging portion 41 can be changed as appropriate. For example, one or a plurality of engagement holes 39 and engagement portions 41 may be provided, and the number is not limited to the three in the embodiment. One or more positioning holes 38 and positioning protrusions 40 may be provided, and the number is not limited to two in the embodiment. Further, a plurality of positioning holes 38 and positioning protrusions 40, and a plurality of engaging holes 39 and engaging portions 41 can be provided on the upper and lower sides as well as on the left and right as in the embodiment.
[0048]
Further, in the first embodiment, the positioning hole 38 and the positioning protrusion 40 are formed at a position where a part of the positioning hole 38 and the positioning protrusion 40 overlap with the left and right vertical plates 32, but are not necessarily overlapped with the left and right vertical plates 32. It does not have to be formed. In that case, when the front plate cover 35 is attached to the front plate 34, the rear end side of the positioning protrusion 40 may protrude rearward from the rear end of the front plate 34. In order to prevent the bending of the front plate 34 during press-fitting, it is desirable that the positioning hole 38 and the positioning projection 40 and the left and right vertical plates 32 be as close as possible in the left-right direction.
[0049]
The shapes of the positioning protrusion 40 and the engaging portion 41 are not limited to the embodiments. For example, the positioning protrusion 40 may be formed by tapering the core 55 without providing the positioning rib 56. That is, if the positioning projection 40 and the engagement portion 41 can position and engage the front plate cover 35 with the front plate 34 via the positioning hole 38 and the engagement hole 39 on the front plate 34 side, The shape may be changed as appropriate. In addition to the downward direction, the engaging protrusion 58 of the engaging portion 41 is configured to protrude upward, laterally, etc., and engage with the back surface of the front plate 34 on the upper side, lateral side, etc. of the engaging hole 39. The direction in which the belt plate portion 57 can be elastically deformed may be appropriately changed in accordance with the protruding direction. In that case, the protection part 59 should just be provided so that the engaging part 41 may be covered from the opposite side to the protrusion direction of the engaging protrusion part 58. FIG. Note that the shape of the protection unit 59 may be changed as appropriate, or may not necessarily be provided.
[0050]
In the embodiment, the standing wall portion 53 is provided on the rear end side of the front plate upper cover portion 46 of the front plate cover 35, but the standing wall portion 53 is located on the rear side of the front plate upper cover portion 46 on the lower end portion of the front frame 5. It is sufficient if it is provided so as to correspond to the above, and it is not necessary to be on the rear end side as long as it is on the rear side of the front plate upper cover portion 46. In the embodiment, the outer frame 2 and the front frame 5 are made of wood such as laminated plywood, but may be made of a synthetic resin material or the like. The vertical plate 32, the horizontal plate 33, and the front plate 34 of the outer frame 2 are fixed by tapping screws 42, but may be fixed by other screws, nails, bolts / nuts, or the like.
[0051]
In addition, the present invention is not limited to pachinko machines and can be similarly implemented in various ball game machines such as an arrangement ball and a sparrow ball game machine.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
In the present invention, in the ball game machine comprising the front frame 5 to which the game board 8 is mounted and the outer frame 2 to which the front frame 5 is mounted so as to be openable and closable around the longitudinal axis, A pair of vertical plates 32 opposed to each other, a pair of horizontal plates 33 opposed vertically, a front plate 34 provided on the front side of the lower end side of the left and right vertical plates 32 across the two, and the front plate And a synthetic resin front plate cover 35 detachably mounted on the front side of 34,A positioning hole 38 is formed at a position corresponding to the vertical plate 32 or at a position near the vertical plate 32 at both left and right ends thereof, and a plurality of engagement holes in the left-right direction between the positioning holes 38. The front plate cover 35 is in contact with the front plate 34 and covers substantially the entire surface from the front side, and protrudes rearward from the upper edge of the front plate portion 45 so that the front plate 34 is on the upper side. The left and right upper cover portions 46 covering from the left and right sides of the front plate portion 45, the side cover portions 47 covering the front plate 34 from both the left and right sides, and the front plate portion 45 protruding rearward from the lower end Positioning protrusions that are integrally provided with a left and right lower plate portion 48 that is inserted into the insertion portion 54 on the lower end side of the plate 34 and that are press-fitted into the respective positioning hole portions 38 from the front side on the left and right sides of the front plate portion 45. 40 in front of each engagement hole 39 in the middle of the back side of the front plate 45. A plurality of engaging portions 41 that are inserted from and engaged with each other are integrally provided, and the lower plate portion 48 is substantially the left-right direction of the front plate portion 45 except for portions corresponding to the engaging portions 41. It is provided for the entire lengthTherefore, the front plate cover 35 can be positioned with respect to the front plate 34 regardless of the presence or absence of the upper and lower members of the front plate 34, and the front plate cover 35 can be easily mounted with a simple structure.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a ball game machine showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the ball game machine showing the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view of a ball game machine showing the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an outer frame showing the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are a cross-sectional view and a front view of a front plate cover 35 showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIGS.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a rear view of the main part showing the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a main part showing the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a main part showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a rear view of an essential part showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 outer frame
3 Hinge
4 Hinge
5 Front frame
8 Game board
32 vertical plate
33 Horizontal plate
34 Front plate
35 Front plate cover
36 Hinge plate
37 Hinge plate
38 Positioning hole
39 Engagement hole
40 Positioning protrusion
41 engaging part
46 Front plate upper cover
51 Notch
53 Standing wall
