JP4662253B2 - Sub-connector release prohibition structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sub-connector disengagement prohibiting structure used in a gaming machine or the like controlled by an electronic control circuit.

  Conventionally, it has a variable display device that can variably display a plurality of identification information such as numbers and symbols, such as a slot machine or a pachinko game machine, and the variable display device variably displays a plurality of identification information according to the establishment of a predetermined start condition. If the variable display is stopped in accordance with the establishment of a predetermined stop condition, and the combination of identification information at the time of the stop becomes a predetermined mode (all the same identification information is gathered, etc.), a big win or a bonus game There is a gaming machine that is controlled so as to be in a gaming state advantageous to the player.

  This type of gaming machine has various regulations on details such as the performance of the gaming machine and the function of effect production in order to prevent the gambling feeling of the player from being lifted. A gaming machine cannot be put on the market unless it is certified that it complies with these regulations. Therefore, the electronic control unit of this type of gaming machine, after receiving the certification of conformity in the inspection of the designated inspection agency, to prevent unauthorized modification of the contents of the electronic circuit and its storage device (ROM, RAM, etc.) Intrusion of foreign matter into the legitimate control circuit or unauthorized connection of the circuit is prevented.

  For example, these game machines use a large number of circuit boards, including a main control board that controls the overall progress of the game, and a sub-control board that controls various effects produced mainly according to the progress of the game. Each of these boards is sealed with a control board case in order to prevent unauthorized modification, but various connector portions for connecting the boards to each other are exposed outside the board case.

  As a technology for easily discovering such unauthorized modification of the connection part, when using a special connector to release the connector once connected, the connection will be released unless part of the connector is destroyed. Techniques have been proposed that make it impossible.

JP 2003-325911 A

  However, such a conventional connector disconnection restricting device requires a connector with a special and complicated structure, and thus there are problems that the cost of parts is high and the assembly work is complicated.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve such a conventional problem, and provides a subconnector disengagement prohibiting structure capable of prohibiting subconnector disengagement using a general-purpose subconnector and a simple member. Objective.

  In order to solve such a problem, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the first and second sub-connectors, which are capable of transmitting and receiving electrical signals by being coupled to each other, and the first sub-connector and the second sub-connector. After the sub-connectors are coupled, a sub-connector disengagement prohibiting structure comprising a disengagement prohibiting means for prohibiting the release of the connection, wherein the first subconnectors are electrically connected to each other by a resin molded member. A plurality of connection terminals embedded in the resin molding member and connected to predetermined circuit wiring formed on the circuit board so as to maintain insulation and a flange around the connection terminal are integrally formed from the flange. The second sub-connector is embedded in the resin molded member so as to be electrically insulated from each other by the resin molded member. A plurality of connection terminals connected to the nes, and a metal socket that has a flange around the periphery and is integrally formed with the flange and is coupled to the first sub-connector, and the first sub-connector and the first sub-connector The second sub-connector is a coupling release restriction that regulates the release of the coupling in a state where the first sub-connector and the second sub-connector are coupled to the flanges of the first sub-connector and the second sub-connector. The coupling release prohibiting means includes first and second coupling release prohibiting members, and the first and second coupling release prohibiting members are engaged with each other by a locking claw, a locking edge, and the engagement. A rib protruding from the inside of the first and second coupling release prohibiting members when the pawl and the locking edge are engaged so as to surround the outside of the coupling release regulating means; Means regulate release of said coupling In this state, the engaging claw and the engaging edge are engaged inside the first and second disengagement prohibiting members so as to surround the outside of the disengagement restricting means, and the rib is in the first sub The flange of the connector and the flange of the second sub-connector are configured so as to be positioned at a smaller distance than the outer periphery of the flange of the first and second sub-connectors.

  According to the sub-connector disengagement prohibiting structure of the first aspect, the sub-connector disengagement prohibiting structure is constituted by a general-purpose D-sub connector and a simple structure disengagement prohibiting member. After coupling the first and second D-sub connectors, the coupling release restricting means formed on the flanges of the first and second D-sub connectors regulates the release of the coupling, that is, the coupling is not released. To do. In this state, the first and second coupling release prohibiting members are configured so that the locking claw and the locking edge formed on the first and second coupling cancellation prohibiting members are prohibited from enclosing the first and second coupling release so as to surround the outside of the coupling release restricting means. Engage inside the member. At this time, the ribs formed on the first and second coupling release prohibiting members are formed between the flanges of the first and second sub-connectors between the flanges of the first and second sub-connectors. Located at a smaller interval than the outer periphery. The engagement of the first and second coupling release prohibiting members by the locking claws and the locking edge cannot be released unless the coupling release prohibiting member is destroyed after the engagement.

  The sub-connector disengagement prohibiting structure according to claim 2, wherein the first and second disengagement prohibiting members are formed such that side surfaces thereof are bent in a substantially U shape, and the locking claws are formed at one end of the bent portion. And is formed of a member having the same shape in which the engaging edge is formed at the other end. This sub-connector disengagement prohibiting structure is configured by using two members having the same shape as the first and second disengagement prohibiting members.

  According to the sub-connector disengagement prohibiting structure according to claim 1, a general-purpose D-sub connector can be used as the first and second sub-connectors, and after these first and second D-sub connectors are joined together In the state where the release of the coupling is restricted from the coupling release restricting means formed on the flanges of the first and second D-sub connectors, the two coupling release prohibiting members are engaged so as to be surrounded from the outside. Therefore, it is possible to prohibit the sub-connector from being released with an inexpensive member, and to prevent unauthorized modification.

  Further, since the outer peripheral portion of the coupling portion of the D-sub connector is engaged so as to be surrounded by two coupling release prohibiting members, it is possible to provide a sub connector coupling release prohibiting structure with good workability.

  According to the sub-connector disengagement prohibiting structure according to claim 2, in addition to the effect of the sub-connector disengagement prohibiting structure according to claim 1, the first and second disengagement prohibiting members include side surfaces. Is formed by a member having the same shape in which the engaging claw is formed at one end of the bent portion and the engaging edge is formed at the other end. The same member can be used to form the coupling release prohibiting member, and the member can be configured more inexpensively and with good workability.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment will be described taking a slot machine as an example of a gaming machine to which the present invention is applied. Here, FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of the slot machine, and FIG. 2 is a view showing the internal structure of the slot machine with the front door opened.

  First, the external structure of the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the slot machine 1, a front door 2 forming a so-called front mask is attached to an opening of a housing (see reference numeral 3 in FIG. 2) that is a substantially rectangular box so as to be opened and closed. The front door 2 is roughly divided into an upper panel portion 4, a lower panel portion 5 and a console 6 which are designed to enhance visual effects, and these are integrally formed of hard plastic.

  Illumination lighting units 7, 8a, and 8b that incorporate high-intensity light emitting diodes are arranged on the upper and side portions of the upper panel unit 4, respectively. In addition, sound emitting units 9a and 9b for production that have built-in speakers and generate sound effects related to games are arranged on the left and right sides of the upper panel unit 4, respectively. In addition, a liquid crystal display unit 10 serving as an effect display device that mainly displays images related to game effects is disposed between the effect sound emitting units 9a and 9b.

  Further, a panel unit 11 having a flat panel surface is attached to the upper panel portion 4, and a substantially rectangular transparent display window 12 is formed at the center thereof. The reels 13a, 13b, and 13c viewed through the display window 12 each have a cylindrical shape and can be independently rotated, and three are arranged in the direction of the rotation axis in the housing. The player can visually check through the display window 12 three symbols in the vertical direction and three rows in the horizontal row among the plural types of symbols arranged on the outer peripheral surface of each reel 13a, 13b, 13c.

  A console 6 provided between the upper panel portion 4 and the lower panel portion 5 has a medal insertion portion 14 having an insertion slot for inserting medals used in the game, a bet button 15, and a start lever 16. Stop buttons 17a, 17b, and 17c are provided.

  The bet button 15 is a button switch that can be pressed to present the number of medals to bet on the game of the slot machine. The start lever 16 is a lever switch that can be tilted to start the rotation of the reels 13a, 13b, and 13c. The stop buttons 17a, 17b, and 17c for operating to stop the rotation of the reels 13a, 13b, and 13c are formed from button switches that can be pressed, and are arranged side by side corresponding to the arrangement of the reels.

  The lower panel unit 5 is provided with a panel 21 for displaying a picture of an appearance character and the like so that the player can recognize the model type of the slot machine 1. In addition, a tray unit 22 having a tray portion 23 for storing medals is provided on the lower side of the lower panel portion 5. Further, the tray unit 22 is provided with a medal payout opening 24 for discharging medals at the time of winning a prize, and an effect sound emitting unit 25 that incorporates a speaker and generates an effect sound effect.

  Next, the internal structure of the housing 3 and the back surface structure of the front door 2 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, a control board formed of a microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and a main control board 30 that centrally controls the overall operation of the slot machine 1 is provided in the upper part of the housing 3. A main controller 31 covered with a hard plastic substrate case is attached.

  In the center of the housing 3, a reel unit 13 is provided as a variable display device including reels 13a, 13b, and 13c. The reel unit 13 is positioned and attached to the frame 32 of the housing 3 such that the reels 13a, 13b, and 13c face the display window 12 formed in the panel unit 11 of the front door 2.

  Further, on the upper part of the reel unit 13, a rotating device board (not shown) for sending a four-phase drive pulse signal to a stepping motor that rotationally drives each reel 13a, 13b, 13c is attached. The rotation, braking and stopping of each reel is controlled by sending the rotation drive (excitation) pulse data to the rotation apparatus substrate.

  Below the reel unit 13, a hopper device 33 serving as a medal payout device that stores medals inserted from the medal insertion unit 14 and discharges medals from the discharge port 33 a at the time of payout of a prize, overflowed from the hopper device 33. An auxiliary storage unit 34 that stores medals and a main power supply device 35 that distributes power to each device built in the slot machine 1 are provided.

  Next, the light emitting diode 43 constituting the above-described effect illumination unit 7 and the speakers 42a and 42b facing the effect sound emission units 9a and 9b (see FIG. 1) are attached to the upper part on the back side of the front door 2. It has been. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal display unit 10 is attached between the speakers 42a and 42b, and a sub-control board 40 for controlling and driving the liquid crystal display unit and the like is provided on the back side of the liquid crystal display unit 10. A sub-control device 41 covered with the case is attached.

  Note that the overall operation of the slot machine 1 is comprehensively controlled by a main control board 30 provided on the housing 3 side, and the sub-control board 40 is used for display control and production of effect video by the liquid crystal display unit 10. Control mainly related to game effects, such as illumination control using the illumination units 7, 8a, 8b and the like, and effect sound effect control using the effect sound emitting units 9a, 9b, 25, is performed.

  Below the sub-control device 41, a panel unit 11 in which a transparent display window 12 is formed is arranged. Further, the panel unit 11 includes a cold cathode fluorescent lamp 44 for illuminating the outer peripheral surfaces of the reels 13a, 13b, and 13c to display a design brightly, an inverter 45 for driving the cold cathode fluorescent lamp 44, a start lever 16 and A central display board 46, which is a relay board for transferring output signals of operation switches such as stop buttons 17a, 17b, and 17c to the main control board 30, is unitized.

  A medal sorting device 47 is attached below the panel unit 11. The medal sorting device 47 determines whether or not medals inserted into the medal insertion unit 14 (see FIG. 1) are appropriate, and selects only prescribed medals. The medal sorting device 47 sends a medal insertion command signal to the main control board 30 when detecting a medal in which the built-in medal sensor is inserted.

  Below the medal sorting device 47, a guide member 48 for guiding the sorted prescribed medal to the hopper device 33, and a medal (or foreign matter) removed by the medal sorting device 47 are guided to the medal discharge port 24. There are provided a guide member 49 for guiding the medal discharged from the discharge port 33a of the hopper device 33 to the medal discharge port 24 at the time of winning a prize. Further, a speaker 51 is attached adjacent to the medal discharge port 24 so as to face the above-described effect sound emitting unit 25.

  The slot machine 1 configured as described above enters a standby state when a prize is won in the previous game and the payout of medals is completed, or when a loss is confirmed in the previous game. In this state, when any one of the bet buttons 15 is pressed, a medal is bet on the game from the medal (credit) stored inside, and the game starts.

  When the start lever 16 is tilted in the game start state, the main control board 30 starts to rotate the reels 13a, 13b, and 13c all at once. At the same time, the winning combination is drawn by internal processing, and the result is stored in the drawing lottery flag (memory).

  Next, when the player presses the stop buttons 17a, 17b, and 17c in an arbitrary order, the main control board 30 sequentially stops the corresponding reels accordingly. When it is detected that all the reels 13a, 13b, and 13c are stopped, the combination of symbols displayed on each reel matches the combination of symbols related to the winning combination stored in the above-mentioned winning lottery flag. Judge whether or not. When they match, the winning is confirmed, and a medal with the number of payouts corresponding to the type of winning combination is added to the credit. When the credit exceeds the upper limit due to the payout of the winning prize, the excess medals are paid out from the hopper device 33 to the tray unit 23.

  The sub-connector disengagement prohibiting structure of the present invention is suitable for use in connecting the main control device 31, the sub control device 41 and the like to the circuit board of another control device.

  3 to 8 are views for explaining one embodiment of the present invention in detail. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a first sub-connector mounted on a circuit board. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the first and second embodiments. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the coupling release prohibiting member of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state where the coupling release prohibiting member of FIG. 5 is engaged. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, a female D-sub connector 100 as a first sub-connector is mounted on a circuit board 300 constituting an electronic circuit together with a plurality of connectors 310 and electronic components 320 for connection to other circuit boards. .

  The D-sub connector 100 includes a resin molded member 112 in which a plurality of connection terminals 111 are embedded so as to be electrically insulated from each other, and a second male D-sub that holds the resin molded member 112 and will be described later. A metal socket 110 to be connected to the connector and a flange 113 integrally formed from the metal socket 110 are provided. A pair of metal support plates 120 are fixed to the flange 113 with screws 125 on both sides of the socket 110. The support plate 120 is formed with bearings 124a and 124b that hold a fastener 121 formed by bending an elastic steel wire in a substantially Ω-shape so as to be rotatable at both ends 122a and 122b of the fastener 121. The fastener 121 is rotatably held by the bearing portions 124a and 124b.

  4 is a side view showing a state where the male D-sub connector 200 is coupled to the female D-sub connector 100 of FIG. In the figure, the male D-sub connector 200 includes a metal socket 210 that is coupled to the socket 110 of the female D-sub connector 100, and a flange 213 that is integrally formed from the metal socket 210. A pair of metal support plates 220 are fixed to the flange 213 by screws 225 on both sides of the socket 210. The support plate 220 is formed with engagement pieces 221a and 221b, which will be described later, which constitute a coupling release restricting means that regulates the coupling release of the two D sub-connectors 100 and 200 that are coupled. These engagement pieces 221a and 221b are formed by rotating the fastener 121 attached to the female D-sub connector 100 from the horizontal position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 4 to the vertical position indicated by the solid line in FIG. The engagement portions 123a and 123b (see FIG. 3) 121 are engaged with the engagement pieces 221a and 221b to restrict the release of the coupling between the female D-sub connector 100 and the male D-sub connector 200. It is something that can be done. In addition, when the fastener 121 is rotated to the position of the broken line in FIG. 4, the female D-sub connector and the male D-sub connector are allowed to be coupled and released. Further, a harness 230 connected to a plurality of connection terminals (not shown) of the male D-sub connector 200 extends from the body 214 on the opposite side of the socket 210 of the male D-sub connector 200.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the coupling release prohibiting member of the present invention. The unbonding prohibiting members 500, 500 used as a set of two are formed by molding a transparent hard plastic so that the side faces are substantially U-shaped. One bent portion 510 is formed with an extending locking piece 511 having a locking claw 513. The other bent portion 520 is formed with a recess 521 having a locking edge 523 inside. The outer side of the bent piece 520 is a bulging portion 525 corresponding to the concave portion 521 formed on the inner side, and is formed so as not to touch the concave portion 521 and the locking edge 523 from the outer side. A shelf-like rib 530 is integrally formed on the wall portion 501 between the two bent portions 510 and 520 of the coupling release prohibiting member 500 toward the inside thereof. Further, a bulging wall 540 bulging inward is formed at the upper center of the wall portion 501.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing a state in which the two joint release prohibiting members 500 and 500 are engaged by engaging the engaging claw 513 with the engaging edge 523. The locking piece 511 provided with the locking claw 513 is elastically deformed inward to the position where the locking claw 513 is locked to the locking edge 523 of the recess 521, and the shape is restored at the locking position shown in FIG. The two uncoupling members 500, 500 are engaged. In this state, the engagement state cannot be released unless a part of the coupling release prohibiting members 500 and 500 is destroyed. Further, the shelf-like ribs 530 and 530 projecting inward from the wall portion 501 of the two uncoupling release prohibiting members 500 and 500 are opposed to each other with an interval therebetween.

  FIG. 7 shows a state in which two uncoupled prohibiting members 500 and 500 are engaged with the two coupled D-sub connectors 100 and 200, and FIG. 7A engages the uncoupled inhibiting members 500 and 500. FIG. 7B is a plan view showing a state where the coupling release prohibiting members 500 are engaged with each other.

  In the drawing, the fastener 121 attached to the flange 113 (see FIG. 3) of the female D-sub connector 100 is rotated vertically, and the engaging portions 123a and 123b of the fastener 121 are connected to the flange 213 of the male D-connector 200. The coupling release restricting means, which is engaged with the engaging pieces 221a and 221b of the support plate 220 fixed to the base plate 220 and composed of these fasteners 121 and the indicator plate 220, is the female side D subconnector 100 and the male side D. Regulation is made so as to prohibit the release of the connection with the sub-connector 200.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (b), the two coupling release prohibiting members 500, 500 surround the coupling portion of the two D subconnectors 100, 200 and the coupling release restricting means including the fastener 121 and the support plate 220. Then, the locking claws 513 are engaged with the locking edges 523. At this time, the bulging walls 540 and 540 at the center of the walls 501 and 501 of the coupling release prohibiting members 500 and 500 are positioned so as to sandwich the body 214 of the male D-sub connector 200.

  In the state shown in FIG. 7B, it is impossible to allow the two D-sub connectors 100 and 200 to be released from coupling by rotating the fastener 121 of the coupling release restricting means in the horizontal direction.

  FIG. 8 is a side view showing the state of FIG. As shown in the figure, the bulging walls 540, 540 of the coupling release prohibiting members 500, 500 are positioned so as to sandwich the body portion 214 of the male D-sub connector 200, and the ribs 530 of the coupling release prohibiting members 500, 500, 530 is a gap between the flange 113 of the female D-sub connector 200 and the flange 213 of the male D-sub connector 200, which is smaller than the outer periphery of the flange 113 of the female D-sub connector 200 and the flange 213 of the male D-sub connector 200. The socket 210 of the male D-sub connector 200 is positioned so as to be sandwiched therebetween. Therefore, the two engagement release prohibiting members 500, 500 that are engaged do not fall down in the vertical direction in the drawing.

  As described above, according to the sub-connector disengagement prohibiting structure of the present invention, it is possible to prohibit sub-connector disengagement using a general-purpose D sub-connector and a simple member. Can be prevented.

  In the above-described embodiment, the coupling release restricting means is described as using the fasteners 121 and the engaging pieces 221a and 221b of the support plate 220. However, the flange 113 of the female D-sub connector 200 and the male D-sub connector are described. You may comprise the structure which fastens 200 flange 213 with a well-known bolt and nut.

  The sub-connector disengagement prohibiting structure of the present invention is not limited to slot machines but can be used for pachinko gaming machines and other gaming machines.

It is a front view of a slot machine as a gaming machine according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal structure of the slot machine of FIG. 1. It is a top view which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the principal part of FIG. It is a top view which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view showing a partially broken embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 1st subconnector 110,210 Socket 111 Connection terminal 112 Resin molding member 113, 213 Flange 121 Fastening (binding cancellation | release control means)
200 Second sub-connector 221a, 221b Engagement piece (coupling release restricting means)
230 Harness 500 Binding release prohibiting member (binding release prohibiting means)
510, 520 Bent part 513 Locking claw 523 Locking edge 530 Rib

Claims (2)

First and second sub-connectors that are capable of transmitting and receiving electrical signals by being coupled to each other, and decoupling that inhibits decoupling after coupling the first and second sub-connectors A sub-connector release prohibition structure consisting of prohibit means,
The first sub-connector includes a plurality of connection terminals that are embedded in the resin molding member and connected to predetermined circuit wiring formed on the circuit board so as to be electrically insulated from each other by the resin molding member. A metal socket that has a flange around it and is integrally formed with the flange and coupled to the second sub-connector,
The second sub-connector has a plurality of connection terminals embedded in the resin-molded member and connected to the harness so as to be electrically insulated from each other by the resin-molded member, and has a flange around the flange. Comprising a metal socket integrally formed with the first sub-connector,
The first sub-connector and the second sub-connector are in a state in which the first sub-connector and the second sub-connector are coupled to the flanges of the first sub-connector and the second sub-connector. It is provided with a decoupling regulation means for regulating decoupling,
The disengagement prohibiting means includes first and second disengagement prohibiting members, and the first and second disengagement prohibiting members include a locking claw, a locking edge, a locking claw, A rib protruding from the inside of the first and second coupling release prohibiting members when the locking edge is engaged so as to surround the outside of the coupling release regulating means;
In the state where the coupling release regulating means regulates the release of the coupling, the locking claw and the locking edge are prohibited from the first and second coupling release so as to surround the outside of the coupling release regulating means. The rib is engaged inside the member, and the rib is separated from the flange of the first sub-connector and the flange of the second sub-connector by a smaller distance than the outer periphery of the flange of the first and second sub-connectors. A sub-connector disengagement prohibiting structure, characterized in that the sub-connector is configured to be positioned at a position.   The first and second coupling release prohibiting members have side surfaces bent in a substantially U shape, the locking claw is formed at one end of the bent portion, and the locking edge is formed at the other end. 2. The sub-connector disengagement prohibiting structure according to claim 1, wherein the sub-connector is not formed from a member having the same shape.

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