JP3989908B2 - Tag support member for gaming machines - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a tag support member used when a thin plate-like tag is attached to an apparatus, a component, or the like.

  In recent years, RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) technology for recognizing ID codes in a non-contact manner via radio waves has been rapidly developed, and has been put into practical use for railway and bus commuter passes, highway toll collection, and the like. This technology is also used for the management of parts incorporated in industrial products, and promotes efficient and reliable management.

  For example, when an industrial product is manufactured in a factory or the like, an RFID tag that records various information (manufacturing date, shipping destination, shipping date, product name, manufacturing number, etc.) related to parts constituting the industrial product is first attached to the belt conveyor. Are transported through various transport routes. A gate or an antenna incorporating a reading device / writing device (hereinafter referred to as “R / W device”) related to the various information is installed at a predetermined position on the conveyance path, and a component with an RFID tag is installed. By passing, data communication is exchanged between the RFID tag and the R / W device. On the basis of the result, the distribution of the transport route and the individually necessary work are performed by an operator or a computer.

  Also, in game stores and the like, portable R / W devices that can be operated with a hand held by a user with an RFID tag attached to a member, unit, device, or board constituting a game machine to be installed, Information is read from and written to the RFID tag by operating toward the location where the RFID tag is provided. This RFID tag stores identification information (including encryption information) unique to the gaming machine and is used for management, monitoring, inspection, etc. of the gaming machine.

  When the information recorded in the RFID tag is read by the R / W device, the read information is transferred to the host computer that manages various information in the store via the R / W device. Further, when writing to the RFID tag, the R / W device appropriately reads necessary information from the host computer and writes the information to the RFID tag. In this way, various information related to gaming machines installed in the store is comprehensively managed by the host computer.

  RFID tags do not affect the function or performance of industrial products and are provided for the purpose of maintenance and management, so that they do not interfere with the configuration of the industrial products, and write to and read from RFID tags. It is preferable to be attached to any position of an industrial product that is easy to handle.

  However, industrial materials often use metals and metallic materials such as plating, printed wiring, and electric wires. When RFID tags that interpose radio waves in data communication are mounted on these metallic materials, The problem is that normal communication cannot be established because the reflected wave reflected by the metal surface cancels the transmitted wave from the R / W device, or the matching characteristics of the transmission / reception antenna held by the RFID tag change. May occur. In addition, similar problems may occur due to electromagnetic interference on electrical wiring paths such as printed wiring and electric wires. Therefore, the mounting position of the RFID tag is limited by the size and performance of the RFID tag and the material of the fixed object.

  An RFID tag can be formed into a thin plate, which is very advantageous in terms of space saving and versatility. However, if such an RFID tag is directly attached to an object to be fixed, an external force is required. Weak to For this reason, it is difficult to apply an external force, and it can be attached only at a position where the above-mentioned problems such as metallic substances do not occur.

  In addition, when the target to which the RFID tag is attached is a gaming machine installed in a game store or the like, it is desired to acquire a lot of gaming profits and tries to replace the members constituting the gaming machine with members that can illegally acquire the profits. There were not a few people, and it was necessary to devise measures to prevent unauthorized exchange.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a tag support member that protects a thin plate-like RFID tag from external force and enables attachment to a metal substance without impairing performance. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, a tag support member of the present invention includes an antenna and an integrated circuit, and is attached to attach a tag for fixing a thin plate-like tag for non-contact data communication to a predetermined member of a gaming machine. A main body portion having a surface, a fixing portion fixed to a predetermined member of the gaming machine, and connected so as to protrude substantially perpendicularly from a peripheral portion of the mounting surface of the main body portion to connect the main body portion and the fixing portion A connecting portion, and the attachment surface is provided on an inner wall surface formed by the main body portion and the connecting portion.

  The main body includes a base body on which the connection portion is continuously provided, and an openable / closable cover that covers the base body from a direction in which the connection portion having the fixing portion is continuously provided. It is preferable that the tag provided on any one of the base and the cover and attached to the mounting surface is covered with the base and the cover.

  In addition, when the fixing unit is fixed to a predetermined member of the gaming machine, it is preferable that the cover is restrained to the closed position by contact with the predetermined member of the gaming machine.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said main-body part has a detachable member in the state holding the said tag, and the said attachment surface is provided in this detachable member.

  A housing having an approximately square tube shape having an opening only on one surface, a fixing portion protruding from the housing to be fixed to a predetermined member of the gaming machine, and an inside of the housing. A tag holding portion that holds the tag inserted through the opening of the housing so as to be detachable and spaced from a predetermined member of the gaming machine, and a position for closing the opening of the housing. A closing member that is slidable at a position, and the direction in which the closing member is slid to the opening position is a direction toward the fixing surface when the housing is fixed to a predetermined member of the gaming machine. Good.

  In addition, it is preferable to have translucency so that the tag attached to the attachment surface can be visually recognized from the outside when fixed to a predetermined member of the gaming machine by the fixing portion.

  In the tag support member of the present invention, in order to fix a thin plate-like tag that includes an antenna and an integrated circuit and performs non-contact data communication to a predetermined member of the gaming machine, a main body having an attachment surface to which the tag is attached, A fixed portion that is fixed to a predetermined member of the gaming machine, and a connecting portion that is connected so as to protrude substantially perpendicularly from a peripheral portion of the mounting surface of the main body portion, and that connects the main body portion and the fixing portion. By being provided on the inner wall surface formed by the main body and the connecting portion, for example, when the specific member of the gaming machine to be fixed is a metal or a member in which a metal is used for a part thereof However, the data communication performance of the tag is not impaired by providing a predetermined interval between the tag and the unique member of the gaming machine by the connection portion protruding substantially vertically. Therefore, when the tag is attached to a unique member of the gaming machine, the degree of freedom of the attachment position can be increased without depending on the material. Further, by attaching the tag to the inner wall surface formed by the main body portion and the connection portion, it is possible to prevent the tag from being easily touched from the outside.

  The main body portion includes a base body on which the connection portion is continuously provided, and an openable / closable cover that covers the base body in a direction in which the connection portion having the fixing portion is continuously provided. The tag provided on either one and attached to the attachment surface is covered with the base and the cover, so that, for example, a thin plate-like tag that is vulnerable to external force can be covered with the base and cover to protect from external force. .

  Further, when the fixed portion is fixed to a predetermined member of the gaming machine, the cover is constrained to the closed position by contact with the predetermined member of the gaming machine, so that the tag covered with the base and the cover Can be prevented and security against crimes such as tag theft and replacement can be improved.

  In addition, the main body has a detachable member while holding the tag, and the mounting surface is provided on the detachable member, so that, for example, a thin plate-like tag that is difficult to handle has failed or damaged. In this case, the tag can be easily replaced by replacing the detachable member, and the main body and the like can be reused.

  In addition, when fixed to a predetermined member of the gaming machine by the fixing portion, the tag attached to the attachment surface is translucent so that the tag attached to the attachment surface can be visually recognized from the outside, so that the fixed tag can be easily monitored. It can be carried out.

[First Embodiment]
First, FIG. 1 shows an external view of an RFID tag. The thin plate-like RFID tag 2 includes an IC chip 3 including a storage unit, a power supply rectification unit, a transmission unit, and a reception unit, and a transmission / reception antenna 4. When the transmission / reception antenna 4 receives a radio wave transmitted from the R / W device, an electromotive force is generated by a resonance action. Based on the power, the IC chip 3 is activated to record information to be recorded and transmitted from the transmission / reception antenna 4. Information recorded in the IC chip 3 can be obtained by receiving the radio wave by the R / W device.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a tag support member to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 2A, the tag support member 10 includes a main body portion 11 having an attachment surface 14 to which the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 is attached, and a fixing portion that is fixed to a fixed object (predetermined member of a gaming machine) 20. 12 and a connecting portion 13 connected to the main body portion 11 and the fixing portion 12 so as to project substantially vertically from the peripheral portion 15 of the mounting surface 14. The fixing portion 12 has a hook 12a for locking to the fixed object 20, a flange 12b and a through hole 12c for bolting to the fixed object 20, and the connecting portion 13 is a hook side connecting member. 13a and a flange side connection member 13b. The attachment surface 14 of the main body 11 is slightly recessed from the peripheral portion 15 so as to be fitted to the thin plate-like RFID tag 2, so that it is not easily removed after the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 is attached. It has become.

  FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing an image of attaching the tag support member 10 to the fixed object 20. When fixing the tag support member 10 to the fixed object 20, first, the hook 12 a is locked through the hook fitting hole 20 a of the fixed object 20. Next, the tag support member 10 is fixed to the fixed object 20 by aligning the through hole 12c provided in the flange 12b and the fitting hole 20b provided in the fixed object 20 and fixing them with bolts. . In addition, although the flange 12b and the to-be-fixed object 20 may be fixed with a volt | bolt-nut, if workability | operativity is considered, a tap can be stood up to the fitting hole 20b and it can be bolted from the tag support member 10 side. preferable. Further, if the object to be fixed is thin and it is difficult to raise the tap, a nutsert may be inserted into the fitting hole 20b. The fixing method is not limited to the above, and a known method such as bolting on both sides or fixing by caulking or adhesion may be used.

  In the tag support member 10 fixed to the fixed object 20 as described above, the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 is fixed by the distance of the side 16 by the action of the connecting part 13 provided substantially perpendicular to the main body part 11. 20 can be lifted. Thereby, even if the to-be-fixed object 20 is a metal or the member in which the metal is used for the part, data communication can be performed, without receiving the influence. If the side 16 is too long, the attachment position may be restricted in the clearance in the height direction when the side 16 is attached to the gaming machine. Therefore, the length of the side 16 is affected by the fixed object 20. It is preferable that the minimum length not be received. For example, when the fixed object 20 is an aluminum plate, the length of the side 16 is preferably about 10 to 20 mm. Further, the attachment surface 14 of the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 is provided on the inner wall surface formed by the main body portion 11 and the connection portion 13, thereby preventing the thin-plate RFID tag 2 from being easily touched from the outside. can do.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an operational image of the present invention. The tag support member 10 to which the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 is attached is fixed to the lower front door 220 of the gaming machine 200 via the fixed object 20. By performing data communication by directing the R / W device 230 to the tag support member 10 and reading various information such as a manufacturing date, a shipping date, a model name, and a manufacturing number written in the thin plate-like RFID tag 2, a gaming machine 200 is used for management, monitoring, inspection, etc. Also, ID tag authentication is performed by fixing the tag support member 10 to which the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 on which the ID code is recorded is fixed to an important part such as a main board (not shown) that controls the gaming machine 200. Thus, for example, when the main board is replaced with an illegally profitable one, it is possible to improve the security such that it can be discovered in advance. Further, since the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 can be written, if the ID code is managed by a host computer (not shown) or the like and periodically changed, the ID code is prevented from being illegally used. can do. Note that the position where the tag support member 10 is fixed is not limited to the lower front door 220, and may be fixed to any position of the gaming machine 200 (including the device and the substrate) such as the upper front door 210, for example.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the tag support member 10. The tag support member 10 of the present embodiment protrudes substantially vertically from a main body 30 having an attachment surface 35 to which the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 is attached, a fixing portion 31 to be fixed to the fixed object 20, and a peripheral portion of the attachment surface 35. The connecting portion 32 is connected to the main body portion 30 and the fixing portion 31. The main body 30 includes a base body 33 to which a connection portion 32 is continuously provided, and a plate (detachable member) 34 that is provided with an attachment surface 35 and is detachable while holding the thin plate-like RFID tag 2. The peripheral portion of the mounting surface 35 is a surface 36 of the base 33 that faces the mounting surface 35 in a state where the plate 34 is mounted. The fixing portion 31 has a hook 31a for locking to the fixed object 20, a flange 31b and a through hole 31c for bolting to the fixed object 20, and the connecting portion 32 is a hook side connecting member. 32a and a flange side connection member 32b.

  Notch portions 37 a and 37 b are respectively provided at the joint portions of the connection portion 32 with the base body 33, and so-called slits are formed to hold the plate 34 detachably together with the surface 36 of the base body 33. In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, since the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 is directly attached to the mounting surface 14 of the main body 11, for example, when the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 is broken or damaged. It is difficult to replace only the thin plate-like RFID tag 2. In the present embodiment, the thin plate RFID tag is configured such that the plate 34 to which the thin RFID tag 2 is attached is detachably held by the slit formed by the notches 37a and 37b and the surface 36. Even when 2 is out of order or broken, by replacing the plate 34, the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 can be easily replaced, and the remaining portion can be reused. In addition to attaching the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 to the plate 34, an RFID tag molded in a plate shape may be used.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the tag support member 10. The tag support member 10 of the present embodiment includes a main body portion 40 having an attachment surface 45 to which the thin RFID tag 2 is attached, a fixing portion 41 to be fixed to the fixed object 20, and a peripheral portion 46 of the attachment surface 45 substantially perpendicularly. It is connected to the main body portion 40 and the fixing portion 41 so as to protrude from the connecting portion 42. The main body portion 40 includes a base body 43 to which the connection portion 42 is continuously provided, and an openable / closable cover 44 that covers the base body 43 from the direction in which the connection portion 42 having the fixing portion 41 is continuously provided. The fixing part 41 has a hook 41a for locking to the fixed object 20, a flange 41b and a through hole 41c for bolting to the fixed object 20, and the connecting part 42 is a hook side connecting member. 42a and a flange side connection member 42b. The main body 40 is preferably provided with a locking member (not shown) such as a hook that can hold the cover 44 in the closed position.

  In the second embodiment, since the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 can be easily replaced, the tag support member 10 may be fixed inside the gaming machine as shown in FIG. In the case of fixing to the outside of the gaming machine, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of security. In the present embodiment, the cover 44 that can be opened and closed that rotates about the hinge 40 is provided, so that when it is rotated in the direction of the arrow to the closed position, the base plate 43 and the cover 44 form a thin plate-like RFID. Since the tag 2 is covered and the thin RFID tag 2 can be prevented from touching from the outside and can be protected from external force, for example, security can be ensured even when fixed to the outside of the gaming machine.

  In addition, the cover 44 that covers the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 from the direction in which the connection part 42 is provided is connected to the fixed object 20 when the tag support member 10 is fixed to the fixed object 20 by the fixing part 41. The thin RFID tag 2 that is constrained to the closed position by the contact and covered with the base body 43 and the cover 44 is prevented from being attached and detached, and the security against crimes such as theft or replacement of the thin RFID tag 2 is improved. be able to.

[Fourth Embodiment]
The structure of the cover that covers the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 is not limited to the above, and may be as shown in FIG. 6, for example. In FIG. 6A showing the open position for attaching the thin plate-like RFID tag 2, the cover 50 is connected to the base body 43 in a state where two surfaces of the rectangular parallelepiped are open. From this state, the cover 50 is bent 90 degrees in the direction of the arrow with the sides 51 and 52 as axes, thereby closing the thin RFID tag 2 (position shown in FIG. 6C). become. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is preferable to select a material having excellent flexibility and to make the sides 51 and 52 easy to bend.

  However, in the case where the movement between the open position and the closed position is performed a plurality of times, there is a concern that the bent portions of the sides 51 and 52 may break, so the bent portions are connected by hinges. It is good also as a structure.

[Fifth Embodiment]
In addition, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of cost to provide a hinge or a bent portion. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the base 43 and the cover 60 may be separated. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7A, the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 may be attached to the base 43 side as in the third and fourth embodiments, or as shown in FIG. 7B. As described above, the attachment surface 61 may be provided on the cover 60, and the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 may be attached to the cover 60 side.

[Sixth Embodiment]
FIG. 8 shows a sixth embodiment of the tag support member 10. The tag support member 10 of the present embodiment includes a main body 40 having an attachment surface 73 to which the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 is attached, a fixing portion 71 to be fixed to the fixed object 20, and a peripheral portion 74 of the attachment surface 73 substantially perpendicularly. The connecting portion 72 is provided so as to protrude and is connected to the main body portion 70 and the fixing portion 71. The fixing portion 71 includes a hook 71 a for locking to the object to be fixed 20, a flange 71 b and a through hole 71 c for bolting to the object to be fixed 20, and the connection portion 72 is provided on the mounting surface 73. It is formed in a substantially square tube shape covering the entire outer periphery.

  The tag support member 10 in which the main body portion 70 and the fixing portion 71 are connected by the connection portion 72 having a substantially rectangular tube shape has a box shape having an opening only on the fixing surface 75 with the fixed object 20. After attaching the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 to the mounting surface 73 provided on the inner bottom portion thereof, the opening provided in the fixing surface 75 is blocked by fixing the thin RFID tag 2 to the fixed object 20 by the fixing portion 71. Thus, the same effect as when the cover is provided can be obtained. Moreover, according to this embodiment, since it can be integrally molded, the inexpensive and highly rigid tag support member 10 can be provided.

  9 to 11 show a seventh embodiment of the tag support member 10. The tag support member 10 of the present embodiment has a substantially rectangular tube-shaped housing 80 having an opening only on its end surface 80a, and a mounting surface 82a for attaching the thin plate-like RFID tag 2, and is inserted into and removed from the housing 80. A free plate 82, a shutter (closing member) 84 that can be slid between a position at which the opening of the housing 80 is closed and a position at which the opening is opened, and a projection projecting from the housing 80 to be fixed to the fixed object 20. The fixing portion 86 includes a hook 86 a for locking to the fixed object 20, and a flange 86 b and a through hole 86 c for bolting to the fixed object 20.

  On the inner surface of the housing 80, shutter rail members 80b to 80e and plate rail members 80f to 80i are provided. Each rail member is provided at intervals at which the plate 82 and the shutter 84 are fitted, and forms a so-called slit.

  The plate slit 90 made up of the plate rail members 80f to 80i is a tag holding unit that holds the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 attached to the plate 82 so as to be detachable and away from the fixed object 20 by a predetermined distance. Function as.

  Further, a through-hole 80j connected to a shutter slit 88 including shutter rail members 80b to 80e is formed in a surface of the housing 80 fixed to the fixed object 20, and the shutter 84 is connected to the shutter from the fixed surface side. The slit 88 can be inserted. The shutter 84 inserted into the shutter slit 88 closes the entire opening of the housing 80 and prohibits the insertion and removal of the housed plate 82. Further, when the fixing part 86 is fixed to the fixed object 20, the contact with the fixed object 20 closes the through hole 80 j, and the insertion and removal of the shutter 84 is prohibited, and the insertion and removal of the plate 82 is prohibited. Is done.

  The tag support member 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above may be a member in which the fixed object 20 is a metal, or a part of which a metal is used, as in the first to sixth embodiments. Data communication can be performed without being affected by this, and it is possible to prevent touching the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 from the outside and protect it from external force. Further, as in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, when the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 is broken or damaged, the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 can be easily replaced by replacing the plate 82. At the same time, the remaining part can be reused.

  In any of the first to seventh embodiments, the tag support member 10 is preferably made of a light-transmitting material such as ABS resin. Thereby, when the tag supporting member 10 is fixed to the fixed object 20 by the fixing portion, the thin plate-like RFID tag 2 attached to the inside can be easily monitored from the outside.

  In the above description, the game machine is applied to the industrial product to be attached, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to various industrial products.

It is an external view of a thin plate-like RFID tag applied to the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows 1st Embodiment of a tag support member. It is a perspective view which shows the operational image of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows 2nd Embodiment of a tag support member. It is a perspective view which shows 3rd Embodiment of a tag support member. It is a perspective view which shows 4th Embodiment of a tag support member. It is a perspective view which shows 5th Embodiment of a tag support member. It is a perspective view which shows 6th Embodiment of a tag support member. It is a perspective view which shows 7th Embodiment of a tag support member. It is side sectional drawing which shows 7th Embodiment of a tag support member. It is a front view which shows 7th Embodiment of a tag support member.

Explanation of symbols

2 Thin RFID Tag 10 Tag Support Member 11, 30, 40, 70 Main Body 12, 31, 41, 71, 86 Fixed Part 13, 32, 42, 72, Connection Part 14, 35, 45, 61, 73, 82a Mounting surface 20 Fixed object (predetermined member of gaming machine)
33, 43 Base 34, 82 Plate (detachable member)
44, 50, 60 Cover 200 Game machine 80 Case 84 Shutter (closing member)
90 Plate slit (tag holder)

Claims (5)

In a tag support member for fixing a thin plate-shaped tag that includes an antenna and an integrated circuit and performs data communication without contact to a predetermined member of a gaming machine,
A main body having an attachment surface to which the tag is attached; a fixing portion to be fixed to a predetermined member of the gaming machine; and a main body portion and the body portion, A connecting portion for connecting the fixed portion,
The main body portion includes a base body on which the connection portion is continuously provided, and an openable / closable cover that covers the base body from a direction in which the connection portion having the fixing portion is continuously provided.
The tag support member , wherein the attachment surface is provided on one of the base and the cover, and the tag attached to the attachment surface is covered with the base and the cover . 2. The tag support according to claim 1, wherein when the fixing portion is fixed to a predetermined member of the gaming machine, the cover is constrained to a closed position by contact with the predetermined member of the gaming machine. Element. The tag support member according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the main body portion has a detachable member holding the tag, and the attachment surface is provided on the detachable member. In a tag support member for fixing a thin plate-shaped tag that includes an antenna and an integrated circuit and performs data communication without contact to a predetermined member of a gaming machine,
A housing having a substantially rectangular tube shape having an opening on only one surface;
A fixing portion protruding from the housing and connected to be fixed to a predetermined member of the gaming machine;
A tag holding portion provided inside the housing, for holding the tag inserted through the opening of the housing so as to be detachable and separated from a predetermined member of the gaming machine;
A closing member slidable between a position for closing the opening of the housing and a position for opening the opening;
A tag support member characterized in that a direction in which the closing member is slid to a position to be opened is a direction toward a fixed surface when the casing is fixed to a predetermined member of the gaming machine. 5. The light-transmitting device according to claim 1 , wherein the tag attached to the attachment surface is translucent so that the tag attached to the attachment surface can be visually recognized from the outside when fixed to a predetermined member of the gaming machine by the fixing portion. The tag support member of Claim 1 .

Images