JP3929716B2 - Grounding mechanism in gaming machines - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a grounding structure for a game control board in a gaming machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, gaming machines represented by pachinko machines, slot machines, and the like have been mainly provided with a mechanism for controlling various operations in games by electronic circuits. Hereinafter, the gaming machine will be described as a pachinko machine.
[0003]
This type of gaming machine is provided by arranging a plurality of game machines on both sides or one side of an installation table called a game island, and is operated by a game ball held and circulated on the game island. Such a gaming machine has a game board for playing a game on the front surface thereof. A game ball is launched on the game board, obstacles such as nails and windmills that change the falling direction of the game ball, winning a prize opening and start winning a prize opening when the launched game ball enters, and a game An image display device or the like for displaying an image related to the image is provided.
[0004]
In addition, on the front surface of the gaming machine, a speaker that outputs a sound related to the game, an electrical decoration device (decoration lamp, decoration LED) and the like for enhancing the visual effect are provided.
[0005]
On the back side of the gaming machine, a game control board on which electronic circuits for operating each of the above-described devices is provided. For example, when a game ball launched on the game board enters a prize opening and wins a prize, the player is notified that the prize has been won, and the image on the image display device is displayed in order to increase the effect of the game on the player. The operation of changing, outputting sound from the sound output device, or blinking the electrical decoration device is electrically controlled. In addition, most operations such as control for paying out a predetermined number of game balls by winning and control for launching game balls are performed by electrical control. Of course, the number of game control boards increases according to the type of control of the gaming machine.
[0006]
Then, there was a possibility that static electricity would be charged in a plurality of adjacent game control boards. This static electricity causes noise, failure, malfunction, etc. on the game control board itself.
[0007]
In addition, the gaming machine plays a game in a state where the game ball as a game medium is circulated while performing a ball polishing process or the like. The ball sphere polishing process includes a processing method in which a game sphere is passed through resin beads and dust and dirt attached to the game balls are removed by static electricity charged on the resin beads. However, the game ball itself is charged with static electricity by passing the metal game ball through the resin beads charged with static electricity. There is also a possibility that the game balls charged with static electricity may adversely affect the game control board by moving inside the game machine. Here, the adverse effect means that radiation noise such as electromagnetic waves generated by the discharge of static electricity charged on the game ball flies to a portion sensitive to static electricity on the game control board. Even when the game ball circulates in the game machine, the game ball is charged with static electricity by contacting each member (parts on the passage and the game board) or when the game balls collide with each other. Since it is unclear where in the gaming machine the discharge of static electricity charged in such a game ball is performed, it is difficult to cope with the discharge of static electricity.
[0008]
Therefore, conventionally, each game control board has been grounded in order to eliminate such an adverse electrical effect due to static electricity. Most of the grounding is a method in which each game control board is grounded separately using lead wires, or each game control board is connected to each other by lead wires or harnesses, etc. It is done by the method to do.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in any of the above-described grounding methods, it is necessary to perform grounding by connecting a lead wire or a harness or the like from each of a plurality of game control boards provided for one gaming machine. Therefore, in the manufacturing process, it is necessary to provide a process of processing a predetermined portion for attaching a lead wire and a harness to each game control board and a step of connecting the lead wire, the harness and the like. That is, the conventional grounding method has a problem that many complicated processes are required for the manufacturing work for grounding, and productivity is deteriorated.
[0010]
Furthermore, in the grounding method using a lead wire or a harness, even if the lead wire or the harness is brought into contact with a highly conductive member, the contact area is small and a contact failure is likely to occur, so that the grounding can be reliably performed. There was also a fear that it could not be done.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a grounding mechanism in a gaming machine capable of grounding a game control board in a gaming machine with an easy configuration. .
[0012]
It is another object of the present invention to provide a grounding mechanism in a gaming machine that can reliably ground each gaming control board in the gaming machine.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The grounding mechanism in the gaming machine of the present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems. That is, the grounding mechanism in the gaming machine of the present invention is a grounding mechanism that eliminates an electrical failure that occurs in the game control board that controls the gaming operation of the gaming machine, and a plurality of game control boards are connected via an insulating base member. A conductive and plate-like holding base that is held by each of the game control boards, and a conductive connection means for connecting the game control board and the holding base; and grounding the game control board. The game control board is covered with a covering means formed of a box-shaped insulating member having an opening on one side surface, and the connection means is electrically conductive. A cross-sectional crank including a first face plate portion, a second face plate portion, and a third face plate portion that are formed in a rectangular shape by an elastic member, wherein the first face plate portion and the third face plate portion are in a parallel relationship. Said nail Are provided on each of the side surfaces adjacent to and facing the opening of the covering means, and a part of the first face plate portion is provided so as to protrude into the covering means, and the first The third face plate portion is fixed to the holding base while a part of the face plate portion facing the holding base is engaged with the game control board covered by the covering means. The game control board is fixed to the holding base via the base member .
[0014]
When performing grounding from a single game control board using lead wires or harnesses as in the conventional grounding method, the larger the number of game control boards, the more grounding is necessary. The number of lead wires and harnesses also increases. Then, there is a possibility that those lead wires and harnesses interfere with each other and electrical noise due to static electricity is generated.
[0015]
However, the grounding mechanism in the gaming machine of the present invention has a configuration in which a plurality of game control boards are attached on a conductive holding base. Therefore, it is possible to ground all of the plurality of game control boards only by connecting a lead wire or a harness to one place of the holding base and performing grounding. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the interference of lead wires and harnesses and to minimize the generation of electrical noise due to extra static electricity.
[0016]
Further, by connecting the ground of each game control board via the holding base, the potential difference generated between the grounds of each game control board can be eliminated. Thereby, control of a gaming machine can be stabilized.
[0017]
In addition, the holding base in the present invention is attached to the back side of the gaming machine main body, and the gaming machine main body side is formed as a concave portion or a convex portion corresponding to the undulation shape of the gaming machine main body back surface.
[0018]
For example, in the case of a pachinko machine that uses a game ball to play a game, on the back side of the main body of the game machine (specifically, the back side of the game board), there is a passage leading to the launching device that launches the game ball, Alternatively, a passage or the like for discharging the rental balls is provided.
[0019]
Therefore, by providing the holding base attached to the back surface side of the gaming machine main body with irregularities corresponding to the undulation shape on the back surface side of the gaming machine main body, the holding base can be attached without making useless space.
[0020]
Further, the grounding mechanism in the gaming machine of the present invention has a connecting means for fixing a game control board for controlling each of the game and the entire gaming machine to the holding base.
[0021]
That is, the game control board is attached to the holding base by connection means. Further, since this connection means is conductive, static electricity charged on the game control board can be charged on the holding base. If the connection means is configured to come into surface contact with the holding base, the contact surface becomes large, so that the static electricity charged on the game control board can be easily transmitted to the holding base.
[0022]
Further, the game control board in the present invention is covered with a covering means formed of an insulating member, and the covering means is attached to the holding base via the connecting means.
[0023]
This covering means covers the upper part of the game control board with a box-shaped member formed of an insulating member such as resin. By covering the upper part of the game control board, it is possible to make it less susceptible to electrical adverse effects such as static electricity generated from other adjacent game control boards.
[0024]
The covering means is attached to the holding base by the connecting means. That is, it can be said that the holding base is a member to which the game control board and the covering means can be attached simultaneously.
[0025]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the grounding mechanism in the gaming machine of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.
[0026]
First, in order to smoothly explain the present invention, the gaming machine according to the present embodiment will be described. Note that the gaming machine in this specification is described as a pachinko machine, but this gaming machine has a feature in the peripheral configuration of the gaming control board that controls the gaming machine provided on the back side of the gaming machine. The configuration of the front of the machine is not particularly limited. Furthermore, although the gaming machine in the present specification is described as an integrated upper plate and lower plate, the present invention is not limited to this.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 1, a gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes an outer frame 2 that is configured with a vertically long rectangular frame and is firmly fixed to a place where the gaming machine 1 is installed, and one outer frame 2. The front frame 3 is provided with a side frame 3 that can be opened and closed with respect to the outer frame 2, and a window frame 4 that can be opened and closed at the upper front of the front frame 3. The game machine 1 is provided with almost all of the main components constituting the gaming machine 1.
[0028]
The main components provided in the front frame 3 include a game board 5 whose board surface is a game area, a launching device 6 provided on the back side of the game board 5 and launching a game ball on the game board 5; An operation handle 7 for operating the launching device 6, a game ball to be supplied to the gaming machine 1, and a part of a prize ball to be paid out from the gaming machine 1 when the game ball enters the winning opening 15 and wins a prize are stored. Examples include a tray 8, a ball payout unit (not shown) that discharges a predetermined number of game balls as required, and a game control board that controls various devices.
[0029]
More specifically, the gaming machine 1 is provided with a window frame 4 that can be opened and closed with respect to the front frame 3. The window frame 4 is provided with a see-through window 9 through which the entire game area of the game board 5 can be seen through the frame.
[0030]
A decorative LED 10, a decorative lamp 11, a speaker 12, and the like are provided along the outer periphery of the see-through window 9. The decoration LED 10 and the decoration lamp 11 blink according to the progress of the game. The speaker 12 emits various sound effects according to the progress of the game.
[0031]
The game board 5 is formed of a substantially square plywood so as to be housed and fixed in a housing frame (not shown) of the game board 5 formed integrally with the back side of the front frame 3. On the front surface thereof, a guide rail 13 that is planted in a substantially circular shape and guides the destination of the game ball launched by the launcher 6, and obstacles such as nails and windmills provided in the area surrounded by the guide rail 13 A plurality of items 14 and a winning opening 15 for receiving a game ball as a medium for paying out a prize ball are provided.
[0032]
Further, an out port 16 is provided at the lowermost part of the gaming machine 1 to receive a game ball that does not win any of the winning ports 15.
[0033]
Furthermore, an image display device 17 that displays various symbols and information in accordance with the progress of the game is provided in the center of the game board 5, and the display content of the image display device 17 can be changed directly below the image display device 17. A start winning opening 18 is provided for receiving a game ball as a trigger for squeezing. When a game ball enters these winning opening 15 and / or start winning opening 18, a predetermined number of gaming balls are paid out as winning balls.
[0034]
Further, a tray 8 for storing game balls is provided below the game board 5 on which the above-described components and devices are provided. The tray 8 is provided only for the gaming machine 1 and can accommodate a predetermined number or more of game balls.
[0035]
Further, an ashtray is disposed on the lower left side of the tray 8, and an operation handle 7 is disposed on the right side of the tray 8. The operation handle 7 incorporates a main switch (not shown) for operating the launching device 6 and a volume (not shown), and arbitrarily adjusts the momentum of the game ball launched into the game board 5 according to the operation of the operation handle 7. Can do. The launching device 6 is provided on the back side of the front frame 3 and is composed of an electric motor (not shown) that continuously operates a launcher (not shown) that launches a game ball.
[0036]
The above-described devices are controlled by an electric circuit assembled on each game control board provided on the back side of the gaming machine body 20 as shown in FIGS. Hereinafter, the main game control board will be described together with the description of the back side of the gaming machine body 20 based on the drawings.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the back side of the gaming machine body 20 is provided with a plate-like holding base 22 that can be opened and closed on one side inside the outer frame 2 of a rectangular frame. Yes. A plurality of game control boards for controlling the entire gaming machine 1 are provided on the holding base 22. The holding base 22 is made of a conductive material such as metal.
[0038]
Further, the back side of the gaming machine body 20 receives winning balls from a guiding passage (not shown) for guiding the gaming balls to the launching device 6 shown in FIG. 1 and a bullet ball tank (not shown) for storing gaming balls to be paid out when winning. Since a passage to a winning ball payout exit (not shown) for paying out the tray 8 shown in FIG. 1 is provided, there are some undulations. Therefore, the holding base 22 is formed with a concave portion or a convex portion on the gaming machine main body 20 side corresponding to the undulating shape of the back surface of the gaming machine main body 20.
[0039]
Next, each game control board attached to the holding base 22 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, main game control boards provided on the holding base 22 are a main control board 23, a power supply board 24, a launch control board 25, a payout control board 26, and a symbol control board 27. , Lamp control board 28 and sound control board 29.
[0040]
First, a firing control board 25 is provided on the lower left side of the holding base 22. This launch control board 25 operates a launch mechanism (such as an electric motor) for launching a game ball in response to an operation of the operation handle 7 shown in FIG. Launch control is performed.
[0041]
A payout control board 26 is provided on the right side of the firing control board 25, that is, on the lower right side of the holding base 22. The payout control board 26 controls electric components required when paying out a prize ball at the time of winning a prize, or when a game ball is rented out by cash or a prepaid card dedicated to renting a ball called a nicknamed “Pucky card”.
[0042]
A power supply board 24 is disposed above the launch control board 25. The power supply board 24 has a power supply that bears the driving force of the entire gaming machine 1. In addition to this, the power supply substrate 24 also includes a plug connection portion (not shown) connected to a plug for obtaining power as a drive source, and an AC current supplied from the power supply source (not shown) that converts an AC current to a DC current. A rectifier circuit, a storage battery (not shown) or the like for storing a part of the power from the power supply source are provided.
[0043]
Further, a main control board that performs main control over the entire gaming machine 1 is provided above the power supply board, that is, in the central portion of the holding base 22. The main control board 23 includes a plurality of components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and an I / O port (input / output port) (not shown). Note that control programs necessary for various controls are stored in the ROM. For example, it stores image data to be displayed on the image display device 17 shown in FIG. 1, the type of sound emitted from the speaker 12 according to the gaming state, and the like.
[0044]
In addition, the main control board 23 includes game signal communication means (not shown) for notifying game control boards and devices of game signals based on the progress of the game.
[0045]
Above the main control board 23, a lamp control board 28, an audio control board 29, and a symbol control board 27 are arranged in this order.
[0046]
The lamp control board 28 performs control for supplying electric power to the decorative lamp 11 and the decorative LED 10 that operate to give a visual effect to the player according to the progress of the game.
[0047]
Also, a sound control board 29 provided adjacent to the lamp control board 28 causes a predetermined sound to be output from the speaker 12 in order to give the player an auditory effect according to the progress of the game. Take control.
[0048]
A symbol control board 27 is provided adjacent to the voice control board 29. The symbol control board 27 controls the image display device 17 that operates to improve the visual effect of the player according to the progress of the game.
[0049]
Since each game control board described above is driven by electricity, each game control board is easily charged with static electricity. Therefore, these game control boards need to be grounded. Hereinafter, the grounding mechanism in the gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the plurality of game control boards described above will be collectively referred to as the game control board 21.
[0050]
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the grounding mechanism in the present embodiment that removes electrical obstacles such as noise and static electricity generated in the game control board 21 that controls the gaming operation of the gaming machine 1 is the holding base 22. And a conductive claw portion 36 (connection means) that is provided for each game control board 21 and connects the game control board 21 and the holding base 22, and grounds the game control board 21 via the holding base 22. And grounding means 32.
[0051]
As described above, a plurality of game control boards 21 are attached to the holding base 22, but these game control boards 21 are formed of plastic which is an insulating member, as shown in FIGS. It is covered with a box-shaped substrate case 30 (covering means). By covering the upper portion of the game control board 21 with the board case 30, it is possible to make it less susceptible to electrical adverse effects such as static electricity generated from other adjacent game control boards 21.
[0052]
Further, the substrate case 30 has an opening 31 on one side surface and the claw portions 36 on both sides of the opening 31.
[0053]
The claw portion 36 in the present embodiment is a claw portion comprising a first face plate portion 33, a second face plate portion 34, and a third face plate portion 35 that are formed in a rectangular shape by a conductive member such as metal. 36. The first face plate portion 33 is provided so as to penetrate one end of the first face plate portion 33 into the substrate case 30. A second face plate portion 34 is provided so as to hang from the other end of the first face plate portion 33 toward the opening 31. Furthermore, a third face plate portion 35 is provided so as to be perpendicular to one side of the second face plate portion 34 on the opening 31 side. That is, the first face plate portion 33 and the third face plate portion 35 are provided in parallel via the second face plate portion 34.
[0054]
Further, the third face plate portion 35 is provided at the same position as the opening edge 37 of the opening 31 of the substrate case 30 or at a position protruding from the opening edge 37.
[0055]
And this board | substrate case 30 is attached so that the upper direction of the game control board 21 may be covered. Each game control board 21 described above is attached to the insulating base member 38 and attached to the holding base 22. Therefore, the substrate case 30 covers the game control substrate 21 and is attached to the holding base 22 via the claw portion 36. At this time, it is more preferable that a screw hole is provided in the third face plate portion 35 of the claw portion 36 and fixed to the holding base 22 together with the substrate case 30 covering the game control substrate 21 with bolts, pins or the like.
[0056]
As shown in FIG. 5, when the board case 30 is attached to the game control board 21, the first face plate portion 33 protruding into the board case 30 comes into contact with the game control board 21. Further, since the third face plate portion 35 constituting the claw portion 36 is provided at the same position as the opening edge 37 of the holding base 22 or at a position protruding from the opening edge 37, the third face plate portion 35 is in surface contact with the holding base 22. It becomes.
[0057]
That is, since the game control board 21 and the holding base 22 are connected via the claw portion 36, static electricity charged on the game control board 21 can be released to the holding base 22. Of course, the holding base 22 is provided with a grounding method for releasing static electricity charged in the holding base 22 to the outside of the gaming machine 1 by a lead wire (grounding means 32) or the like. For example, a grounding method for discharging static electricity to the gaming island side where the gaming machine 1 is installed or a grounding method for discharging static electricity to a metal plate attached to the outer frame 2 constituting the gaming machine 1 is used. The possibility that static electricity is charged on the base 22 and affects other game control boards 21 is extremely low. Even if static electricity is released to the holding base 22, the game control board 21 is mounted on the insulating base member 38, so there is no risk of being affected by the static electricity. The lead wire (grounding means 32) for releasing static electricity may be connected to a ground terminal on the power supply substrate 24.
[0058]
As described above, in order to attach the game control board 21 and the board case 30 covering the game control board 21 to a single holding base 22, the holding base 22 serves as an attachment part of the game control board 21 and the board case 30, and a plurality of The game control board 21 can be grounded at a time.
[0059]
That is, according to the present invention, any one of the manufacturing processes in which the mounting portion for attaching the gaming machine 1 and the board case 30 and the metal plate for grounding the game control board 21 have been manufactured separately conventionally. It can be shortened. Therefore, the manufacturing efficiency of the entire gaming machine 1 is improved.
[0060]
In addition, a plurality of game control boards 21 can be grounded simultaneously by a single holding base 22, and a conductive claw portion 36 that is in surface contact with the holding base 22 on a board case 30 that covers the game control board 21. Thus, unlike the prior art, there is no need to install a plurality of lead wires for grounding the game control board 21, and electrical noise generated by providing a large number of lead wires can be prevented.
[0061]
Furthermore, since the claw portion 36 is in surface contact with the game control board 21 and the holding base 22, the static electricity charged on the game control board 21 can be efficiently released to the holding base 22.
[0062]
Furthermore, since the holding base 22 is provided with irregularities corresponding to the undulation shape on the back side of the gaming machine body 20, the grounding mechanism is efficiently provided without leaving an extra space on the back side of the gaming machine body 20. be able to.
[0063]
The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art can make various modifications without departing from the scope described in the claims.
[0064]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a grounding mechanism in a gaming machine capable of grounding a game control board in a gaming machine with an easy configuration.
[0065]
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a grounding mechanism in a gaming machine that can reliably ground each gaming control board in the gaming machine.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a gaming machine according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the gaming machine according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the gaming machine according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a board case and a game control board according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a state in which the board case according to the present embodiment is attached to the game control board.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 2 Outer frame 3 Table frame 4 Window frame 5 Game board 6 Launching device 7 Operation handle 8 Sauce tray 9 Transparent window 10 Decoration LED
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Decorative lamp 12 Speaker 13 Guide rail 14 Obstacle 15 Prize opening 16 Out opening 17 Image display apparatus 18 Start prize opening 20 Game machine main body 21 Game control board 22 Holding base 23 Main control board 24 Power supply board 25 Launch control board 26 Discharge control Board 27 Pattern control board 28 Lamp control board 29 Audio control board 30 Board case (covering means)
31 Opening 32 Grounding means 33 First face plate part 34 Second face plate part 35 Third face plate part 36 Claw part (connecting means)
37 Opening edge 38 Base member

Claims (1)

A grounding mechanism for removing an electrical failure that occurs in a game control board that controls the gaming operation of a gaming machine,
A conductive and plate-like holding base for holding a plurality of game control boards via an insulating base member;
Provided for each said game control board, and a conductive connection means for connecting the holding base and the recreation control board,
Grounding means for performing grounding of the game control board via the holding base,
The game control board is covered with a covering means formed of a box-shaped insulating member having an opening on one side surface,
The connection means includes a first face plate portion formed in a rectangular shape by a conductive member, a second face plate portion, and a third face plate portion, and the first face plate portion and the third face plate portion are It has claws with a crank-like cross section in parallel relation,
The claw portion is provided on each of the side surfaces adjacent to and opposed to the opening of the covering means, and a part of the first face plate portion is provided so as to protrude into the covering means,
Some of the surface facing in a direction facing the holding base of the first face plate portion, in engagement with said game control substrate coated on said covering means, said third face plate portion is the A grounding mechanism in a gaming machine, wherein the grounding mechanism is fixed to a holding base, and the game control board is fixed to the holding base via the base member.

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