JP4753213B2 - Operation button device for gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation button device used in a gaming machine.

  Conventionally, in a slot machine, a stop button as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. In the slot machine, when the number of medals bet on one game is presented by the player and the start lever is turned on, the reels on which the symbols are drawn start to rotate. When the player appropriately presses each stop button, the rotation of the corresponding reel is stopped. Then, when the patterns drawn on each reel are arranged in a predetermined combination, a prize is awarded, and medals are paid out according to the type of the prize.

  When performing the slot machine, the player waits for the timing when the rotating reels are aligned and presses (stops) the stop button corresponding to each reel to stop the reels. In the slot machine, the operation of pressing this stop button is the main gaming act.

  Here, when the player operates the stop button in order along the arrangement direction of the three stop buttons, the finger hits the corner of the head of the stop button, and the player cannot perform the operation smoothly.

  In response to such a problem, the stop button disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with a meat relief portion having a tapered corner portion of the stop button facing the operation direction.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-146417

  However, according to the above-described stop button, when the stop button is pressed in the original movable direction, the fingertip hits the tapered meat escape portion, and the operation feel may be uncomfortable.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an operation button device that can provide a good operation feel even when continuously operated along the operation button array. .

  The invention according to claim 1 is an operation button device for a gaming machine in which a plurality of operation units for operating the push switch are arranged at intervals on the panel surface, and the panel surface includes the operation unit. An inclined portion having a sliding contact surface that is inclined upward toward the top of each operation portion along the arrangement direction is formed adjacent to each operation portion, and adjacent to each other along the arrangement direction. The inclined portion formed between the operation portion positioned forward and the operation portion positioned rearward is provided on the front end portion on the operation portion side positioned forward and the operation positioned rearward. Consisting of a rear end portion on the part side, and the front end portion is formed so as to incline upwardly from the same height as the top portion of the operation portion located in front of the pressing operation to the rear end portion, The rear end is continuous with the front end and is pressed It is formed to be inclined upwardly to the same height as the top of the operation portion located in the rear in the non-made state, the front end portion and the rear end portion are continuous, and the sliding surface of the front end portion is the A cross section in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction is curved, and the sliding contact surface of the rear end portion has a convex cross section in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction.

  According to the operation button device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, the inclined portion having a sliding contact surface that is inclined upward toward the top of each operation portion along the arrangement direction on the panel surface. Is formed adjacent to each operation portion, and when operating each operation portion from the arrangement direction, if the finger is moved while touching the inclined portion having the sliding contact surface, A finger is made to reach the top of each operation unit.

  In addition, the inclined portion formed between the operation portion positioned forward and the operation portion positioned rearward provided adjacent to each other along the arrangement direction is an operation portion positioned forward. A front end portion on the side and a rear end portion on the operation portion side located on the rear side, and the front end portion is substantially at the same height as the top portion of the operation portion located on the front side in a state of being pressed. Since it is formed so as to be inclined upwardly, when the finger is moved in the arrangement direction while pressing the operation portion located in front, the front end portion of the inclined portion formed on the panel surface is smoothly smoothed. Let your finger reach.

  Further, the rear end portion of the inclined portion is continuous with the front end portion, and is formed to be inclined upwardly to the same height as the top portion of the operation portion located at the rear in a state where the pressing operation is not performed. Therefore, when the finger is moved in the arrangement direction while touching the inclined portion, the finger smoothly reaches the top of the operation portion located at the rear.

  Further, the slidable contact surface of the front end portion is curved in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction, and the slidable contact surface of the rear end portion is in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction. Since the cross section is convex, if the finger is moved while touching the sliding contact surface that changes from a curved shape to a convex shape, the finger is surely moved along the arrangement direction of the operation units.

According to the operation button device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, when the finger is moved along the operation direction while touching the inclined portion formed on the panel surface, the finger smoothly reaches the operation portion of the push switch. be able to.
Therefore, the switch operation can be performed along the arrangement of the operation units with a good operation feeling.

  According to the operation button device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, when the finger is moved along the operation direction while pressing the operation portion of the push switch, the front end portion of the inclined portion formed on the panel surface You can make your finger reach smoothly.

In addition, when the finger is further moved along the operation direction while touching the inclined portion, the finger can smoothly reach the operation portion located rearward.
Therefore, it is possible to continuously perform the switch operation along the arrangement of the operation units with a good operation feeling.

  Furthermore, according to the operation button device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, when the finger is moved while touching the sliding contact surface that changes from the curved shape to the convex shape, the finger is surely moved to the operation portion located at the rear. Can be made.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a slot machine according to an embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the operation button apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing which further shows the structure of the operation button apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing which further shows the structure of the operation button apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing which further shows the structure of the operation button apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing which further shows the structure of the operation button apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a side view which shows operation | movement of the operation button apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a side view which further shows the structure of the operation button apparatus which concerns on embodiment.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, an operation button device 1A mounted on a stop button of a slot machine will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external structure of the slot machine 20. In the figure, the slot machine 20 is provided with a reel unit including three reels 22 a, 22 b, and 22 c behind a front panel 21. A plurality of types of pictures are arranged and drawn on the outer peripheral surfaces of the reels 22 a, 22 b, and 22 c and can be visually recognized through the display window 23 provided on the front panel 21.

  Below the display window 23, an operation console 29 is provided, a medal insertion slot 24 for a player to insert medals, a bet button 25 which is a push button switch for presenting the number of medals bet on the game, and each reel A start lever 26 is provided for rotating the motor. A stop button for stopping the rotation of each reel is provided near the center of the console 29, and the operation button device 1A is attached. That is, the operation units 5a, 5b, and 5c of the operation button device 1A are arranged at equal intervals in a horizontal row corresponding to the reels 22a, 22b, and 22c.

  Further, a medal payout exit 27 through which medals are paid out when winning a prize and a tray 28 for receiving medals discharged through the medal payout exit 27 are provided at the lower front portion of the slot machine 20.

  In the slot machine 20, after a medal is inserted from the medal insertion slot 24, the number of medals bet on one game is presented by the bet button 25, and when the start lever 26 is turned on, the reels 22a, 22b, 22c rotate. To start. When the player presses the operation portions 5a, 5b, and 5c of the respective stop buttons as appropriate, the rotation of the reels 22a, 22b, and 22c corresponding to the respective stop buttons is stopped. Then, when the patterns drawn on each reel are arranged in a predetermined combination, a prize is awarded, and the number of medals corresponding to the type of the prize is discharged to the tray 28 through the medal payout opening 27.

  Next, the configuration of the operation button device 1A will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external structure of the operation button device 1A.

  The operation button device 1 </ b> A is formed as a unit device, and press switches 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c as stop buttons of the slot machine 20 are accommodated in the casing 3 and integrated. Each press switch 2a, 2b, 2c is provided with operation units 5a, 5b, 5c that are pressed by the player, and each press switch 2a, 2b is operated by pressing each operation unit 5a, 5b, 5c. 2c is turned on.

  The panel member 4 attached to the casing 3 is a plate-shaped member formed of plastic, and has openings 41a, 41b, and 41c that are slightly larger in diameter than the operation portions 5a, 5b, and 5c. . And the top part of each operation part 5a, 5b, 5c is loosely fitted in opening part 41a, 41b, 41c, and is exposed toward the outside from the panel member 4. FIG.

  The panel member 4 may be detachably attached to the casing 3 by, for example, screwing or locking with a locking piece described later. The panel member 4 may be attached to the casing 3 with an adhesive or may be formed integrally with the casing 3.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. Although the three stop buttons of the slot machine can be operated in any order, the player usually operates from the left to the right toward the console 29, and therefore, in this embodiment, the operation direction is indicated by an arrow. The direction. Here, the operation direction is a direction along the arrangement direction of the stop buttons (operation units 5a, 5b, and 5c).

  In FIG. 3, a finger feed inclined portion 42 a that sends a finger to be operated to the top of the operation portion 5 a is formed on the surface of the panel member 4 adjacent to the operation start side (left side) of the operation portion 5 a. The finger feed inclined portion 42a is inclined upward toward the top of the operation portion 5a along the operation direction. The end of the finger feeding inclined portion 42a facing the operation portion 5a (the finger feeding inclined portion 42a rear end if the operation direction is followed) is almost the same height as the top of the operation portion 5a in a state where no pressing operation is performed. Protrusively located. That is, the finger feed inclined portion 42a is formed so that the surface of the panel member 4 is inclined upward along the operation direction, and is inclined to almost the same height as the top of the operation portion 5a in a state where the operation is not performed. Yes.

The finger feed inclined portion 42a has a sliding contact surface that slides a finger operated along the arrangement direction of the operation portions 5a, 5b, and 5c.
Similarly, for the operation portions 5b and 5c, finger feed inclined portions 42b and 42c are respectively formed on the surface of the panel member 4 on the operation start side.

  Further, a finger receiving inclined portion 43a for receiving a finger to be operated is formed on the surface of the panel member 4 adjacent to the operation end side (right side) of the operation portion 5a. The finger receiving inclined portion 43a has an upward slope along the operation direction. And the edge part which faces the operation part 5a of the finger receiving inclined part 43a (the front end part of the finger receiving inclined part 43a if it is along the operation direction) is substantially the same height as the top part of the operating part 5a in the state of being pressed. (It is depressed from the surface of the panel member).

The finger receiving inclined portion 43a has a slidable contact surface that slidably contacts a finger operated along the arrangement direction of the operating portions 5a, 5b, and 5c.
Similarly, for the operation portions 5b and 5c, finger receiving inclined portions 43b and 43c are formed on the surface of the panel member 4 on the operation end side.

  In addition, an inclined portion 46a is formed between the operation portion 5a and the operation portion 5b adjacent thereto. The inclined portion 46a is composed of a finger receiving inclined portion 43a and a finger feed inclined portion 42b. The finger receiving inclined portion 43a and the finger feeding inclined portion 42b are both continuous, thereby forming an inclined portion 46a.

  That is, the front end portion of the finger receiving inclined portion 43a is formed so as to be inclined upwardly along the operation direction from substantially the same height as the top portion of the operation portion 5a positioned in front of the pressing operation. . Further, the rear end portion of the finger feeding inclined portion 42b is continuous with the front end portion of the finger receiving inclined portion 43a and rises up to substantially the same height as the top portion of the operation portion 5b located behind the state where no pressing operation is performed. It is formed with a slope.

  Similarly, the finger receiving inclined portion 43b and the finger feed inclined portion 42c formed between the operation portions 5b and 5c are also continuous, whereby an inclined portion 46b is formed.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. This figure shows a cross section in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction (operation direction) of the finger receiving inclined portion 43a (the front end portion of the inclined portion 46a) facing the operation portion 5a. Referring to FIG. 4, the finger receiving inclined portion 43a has a slidable contact surface 44a having a curved cross section along a direction orthogonal to the operation direction.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. This figure shows a cross section in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction (operation direction) of the finger feeding inclined portion 42b (the rear end portion of the inclined portion 46a) facing the operation portion 5b. Referring to FIG. 5, the finger feed inclined portion 42 b has a sliding contact surface 45 b having a convex cross-sectional shape along a direction orthogonal to the operation direction.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the push switch 2a. The operation unit 5a is made of a material that passes and scatters light, and the disk-shaped head has a substantially flat surface shape. A cylindrical inner cylinder portion 6 is integrally formed on the back side of the operation portion 5a. The inner cylinder part 6 is slightly smaller in diameter than the head part of the operation part 5a, whereby a step part 51 is formed.

  A strip-shaped light shielding piece 12 is formed at one end of the peripheral edge of the inner cylinder portion 6. In addition, locking pieces 6b that can be elastically closed toward the central axis are formed at a plurality of locations on the other peripheral edge of the inner cylindrical portion 6. A wedge-shaped protrusion 6c is formed at the tip of the locking piece 6b.

  The casing 3 is formed with a cylinder portion 3a that houses the inner cylinder portion 6 of the operation portion 5a. Inside the cylinder part 3a, the sliding hole 3b which slidably inserts the inner cylinder part 6 of the operation part 5a is formed. The cylinder portion 3a is formed with a notch portion 3c for locking the locking piece 6b of the inner cylinder portion 6. The inner cylinder portion 6 of the operation portion 5a is pushed into the sliding hole 3b of the cylinder portion 3a, and the wedge-shaped projection 6c at the tip of the locking piece 6b is locked to the notch portion 3c of the cylinder portion 3a.

  The sliding hole 3b is formed with an opening 3d into which the head of the operation unit 5a is loosely fitted. The opening 3d has an opening diameter larger than that of the sliding hole 3b, whereby a step 3e is formed.

  At several places on the bottom of the sliding hole 3b, spring receivers 11 having protrusions at the tips in the direction of the central axis are formed.

  The spring 7 is a cylindrical coil spring, and one end thereof is in contact with the spring receiver 11. The operation portion 5 a is urged toward the outside of the panel member 4 by the other end of the spring 7 coming into contact with the top portion of the inner side 6 a of the inner cylinder portion 6.

  A substrate 8 is attached to the bottom of the cylinder portion 3a. A photoelectric sensor 9 that is a photo interrupter is mounted on the substrate 8. The photoelectric sensor 9 is turned on when the light shielding piece 12 enters the U-shaped sensing unit and blocks the signal light.

A light emitting element 10 such as an LED is mounted on the substrate 8. The light emitting element 10 can irradiate the back side of the operation unit 5a.
The press switches 2b and 2c have the same configuration.
The operation of the operation button device 1A having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the push switch 2a, the operation portion 5a is biased toward the outside of the panel member 4 by the spring 7, and the wedge-shaped protrusion 6c of the inner cylinder portion 6 is engaged with the notch portion 3c formed in the cylinder portion 6. Stopped and held.

  When the operation part 5a is pressed, the stepped part 51 comes into contact with the stepped part 3e of the sliding hole 3b, so that the pushing amount of the operating part 5a is limited. At that time, the light shielding piece 12 formed on the inner cylinder portion 6 shields the signal light of the photoelectric sensor 9 in conjunction with the operation portion 5a. When the photoelectric sensor 9 is shielded from light by the light shielding piece 12, the photoelectric sensor 9 outputs an ON signal.

  Next, an operation when the push switch is turned on by performing a continuous operation called “sinking” on the stop button of the slot machine will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7A is a diagram schematically illustrating a case where the player performs a pouring operation from the left to the right to sequentially turn on the operation units 5a, 5b, and 5c.

  This button operation starts when the player's finger touches the left end of the panel member 4. When the player touches and moves the finger feeding inclined portion 42a formed at the left end of the panel member 4 in the right direction, the finger feeding inclined portion 42a that is inclined upward along the operation direction A finger can be moved toward the top of the operation unit 5a. And a finger | toe can be smoothly made to reach | attain the top part of the operation part 5a with the edge part of the finger feed inclination part 42a which protrudes in the substantially same height as the top part of the operation part 5a. Then, when the operation portion 5a is pressed and the finger is moved to the right in the state, the end of the finger receiving inclined portion 43a at the same height as the top portion of the pressed operation portion 5a is smoothed. The finger can reach the finger receiving inclined portion 43a.

  When the player moves his / her finger while touching the inclined portion 46a composed of the finger feeding inclined portion 43b continuous with the finger receiving inclined portion 43a, the finger smoothly reaches the top of the operation portion 5b provided adjacently. Can be made. At this time, it is ensured that the finger is placed along the curved sliding contact surface 44a formed on the finger receiving inclined portion 43a and the convex sliding contact surface 45b formed on the finger feeding inclined portion 43b. Can reach the operation unit 5b. For example, the slidable contact surface 44a has a curved shape with a large contact area with the finger, and the other slidable contact surface 45b has a convex shape with a small contact area with the finger. By moving the finger, the finger is guided to the rear operation unit 5b, and the operation unit 5b can be reliably operated by a button.

Then, by pressing the operation unit 5b and similarly moving the finger in the right direction, it is possible to smoothly operate the buttons on the adjacent operation unit 5c.
Incidentally, FIG.7 (b) is a figure which shows the locus | trajectory of a player's finger corresponding to button operation of Fig.7 (a).

  In this way, smooth continuous operation along the arrangement direction of the stop switches is possible without moving the finger suddenly in the pressing direction.

  According to the operation button device 1A of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  When the player performs a button operation in the horizontal direction along the arrangement of the operation units 5a, 5b, and 5c, if the player moves the finger-feeding inclined portion 42a while touching the finger, the player faces the operating portion 5a of the finger-feeding inclined portion 42a. Since the end is positioned at substantially the same height as the top of the operation unit 5a, the finger can smoothly reach the top of the operation unit 5a.

  Further, when the finger is moved in the operation direction while pressing the operation portion 5a, the finger can smoothly reach the finger receiving inclined portion 43a at the same height as the operation portion 5a in the pressed state. Then, when the finger is moved in the operation direction while touching the inclined portion 46a in which the finger receiving inclined portion 43a and the finger feeding inclined portion 42b are continuously formed, the operation portion 5b provided adjacently is moved. It is possible to smoothly reach the top of the finger.

  Further, the finger can be surely caused to reach the operation portion 5b by moving the finger-contact inclined portion 43a from the curved sliding contact surface 44a to the convex sliding contact surface 45b of the finger feeding inclined portion 43b. be able to.

  In this way, the player can operate the three stop buttons smoothly and continuously without suddenly moving the finger in the pressing direction. Therefore, the player can operate the stop button with a good operation feeling.

  Further, in the operation button device of Patent Document 1, a meat escape portion is formed at the corner of the operation portion, and when the operation is performed from the normal pressing direction along the movable direction of the operation portion, the finger hits the meat escape portion, causing a sense of incongruity, etc. There was a problem. On the other hand, in this operation button device 1A, since the operation parts 5a, 5b, and 5c are substantially flat surface shapes, such a sense of incongruity does not occur.

  In addition, the panel member 4 of this embodiment may be detachable with respect to the casing 3 as follows. FIG. 8 is a side view of the operation switch 1A. Referring to the figure, a locking piece 4y that can be elastically closed is formed on the back surface of the panel member 4, and a wedge-shaped projection 4z is formed at the tip of the locking piece 4y. A flat flange portion 3z with which the panel member 4 abuts is formed on the operation portion 5a side of the casing 3, and a locking hole 3y into which the locking piece 4y of the panel member 4 is inserted is formed in the flange portion 3z. ing. When the locking piece 4y is inserted into the locking hole 3y of the flange portion 3z, the panel member 4 is attached to the casing 3 by the wedge-shaped protrusion 4z being opened and locked on the back surface of the flange portion 3z. Further, the panel member 4 is detached from the casing 3 by closing the wedge-shaped projection 4z and pulling out the locking piece 4y from the locking hole 3y. Thus, the panel member 4 may be detachable from the casing 3.

  According to the operation button device 1A having such a configuration, the panel member 4 is detachable with respect to the casing 3, and therefore, depending on the game form of the slot machine, the operation direction of each operation unit can be changed, and the player's preference It is possible to change the surface design and the like in accordance with only the replacement of the panel member 4.

  In the present embodiment, the stop button of the slot machine has been described, but the operation button device 1A may be mounted on various other gaming machines.

1A Operation button device 2a Press switch 3 Casing 4 Panel surface (panel member)
5a Operation part 42a Finger feeding inclined part (rear end part)
43a Finger receiving inclined part (front end)
44a Sliding surface (curved)
45b Sliding surface (convex)
46a inclined part 20 slot machine

Claims (1)

On the panel surface is an operation button device for a gaming machine in which a plurality of operation units for operating the push switch are arranged at intervals,
In the panel surface, an inclined portion having a sliding contact surface that is inclined upward toward the top of each operation portion along the arrangement direction of the operation portions is formed adjacent to each operation portion. ,
The inclined portion formed between the operation portion positioned forward and the operation portion positioned rearward provided adjacent to each other along the arrangement direction is arranged on the operation portion side positioned forward. Consists of a front end portion and a rear end portion on the operation portion side located at the rear,
The front end portion is formed so as to be inclined upwardly from the same height as the top portion of the operation portion located in front of the pressed operation state to the rear end portion,
The rear end portion is continuous with the front end portion, and is formed to be inclined upwardly to the same height as the top portion of the operation portion located at the rear in a state where the pressing operation is not performed.
The front end and the rear end are continuous,
The slidable contact surface of the front end has a curved cross section in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction,
The operation button device for a gaming machine, wherein the sliding surface of the rear end portion has a convex cross section in a direction substantially perpendicular to the arrangement direction.

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